28 On Bozolders and Rolled Stones. 



it has every appearance of a most magnificent rocking 

 STOne ; but it is immoveable. This very sinj^ular rock is 

 on the land olEbene'zer Squire, and 4| miles from Fitts- 

 fielH village. It is in the woods, and is beautifully and 

 romantically shaded. 



Tliere is, if 1 am correctly informed, a rocking stone 

 in the south parish of New-Marlborough in Berkshire 

 county. 



Akt. Vlil. — On Bowlders and Rolled Stones. 



July 20iA, 1 823. 



TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. 

 SlR- 



I HAVE comraimicated for your journal a ^ew observations 

 on the appearance of the face of the earth, in one or two of 

 the northern states. 



Inclination, business, and amusement in my younger 

 days, and since, often led me over the mountains, and 

 through the valleys, generally near Connecticut river. I 

 soon began to enquire why or how, so many rocks of such 

 various :?ize?, should have become so perfectly roundedj why 

 they should be found on the highest mountains, as well as 

 in every valley ; why piled in such immense ridges j as well 

 where no stream of water was ever known to flow, or accord- 

 ing to every appearance, ever had or could have flowed, 

 as well as in those places, where larger and smaller streams 

 still existed. 1 enquired why every where on the face of 

 the earth, when an excavation is made by nature or by man, 

 do we see incontcstible evidence, that the whole has been 

 modified by the mechanical agency of water; why do the 

 uncovered faces and angles of the granite and other rocks, 

 bear the same marks of having been worn and ground as the 

 rounded rocks.'' An answer was suggested to me by the fol- 

 lowing observations. Being at Newport, R. 1. I went down 

 to the sea shore after a storm and found the mighty process 

 Still going on. "While I stood on the elevated bank, the 



