38 On Bowlders and Rolled Stones. 



yet scarcely a single fragment has been seen in any part of 

 the bank that has been removed. What has become of 

 it r Has it not in the course of time been ground to atoms, 

 (it being of a softer texture) and mixed with the powder of 

 the granite and other rocks, contributing to the richness 

 and fertility of tiie extensive plains in the valley of the 

 Connecticut river. We seldom if ever, find rounded slate 

 stones, although they compose many of the hills near the 

 Connecticut. This, probably, is in some measure owing 

 to their natural structure, but all the other kinds existing lu. 

 this region are found more or less abundantly, some kinds 

 never very far from those of the same kind in place, such 

 for instance as the soapstone. May not the detritus of these 

 rocks have been deposited in part in the great depths of 

 still water below, and again in time have recomposed other 

 rocks of the same kind or by different composition of dif- 

 ferent kinds. Vallpvs in a great measure similar to the one 

 above described, are seen every where, always presenting the 

 same indisputable evidence that similar causes have pro- 

 duced similar effects. This will account for the cavities 

 mentioned in your tour to Quebec, in limestone rock at 

 the head of Lake George. My impression is that these 

 cavities could not be traced, as the result of any natural 

 stream. There is a narrow and short valley at the north 

 end of Fairlee pond running between two high mounfains to 

 Bradford. On the highest ground in this valley, where 

 the waters divide and run northerly to Connecticut River 

 at Bradford and southerly to Fairlee poud which is proba- 

 150 feet above the level of Connecticut River, there are 

 cavities (I am told) worn in the solid rock. It was evi- 

 dently a greatly compressed body of water passing through 

 this narrow space that made the excavation of Fairlee pond. 

 That body of water at that time must have reached much 

 of the way to Lake Champlain through the valleys of On- 

 ion and Wait's rivers, by which route I understand there is 

 no perceptible rise of ground between the waters of the 

 Lake and those of Connecticut River. Again, mountains 

 at and near the Connecticut river often present precipices 

 of naked, perpendicular rocks, sometimes of the full height 

 of the mountain, unless where loose rocks pulled off by the 

 ice, by the roots of trees, or fallen by natural decay, are pil- 

 ed up against their sides. In time they will probably reach 



