388 Notice of Meteoric Iron from, Cambria, N. Y. 



be far greater than in rough weather ; and that it is most straitened 

 in its hmits immediately after the occurrence of a great storm. 



Perhaps too Htlle consideration has hitherto been given to the 

 character and effects of the polar currents. These appear to be 

 well worthy of the attention of both the navigator and the phi- 

 losopher. We have seen that the moderate but unceasing flow 

 of these currents often interposes an icy barrier in one of the most 

 common routes of navigation. The observing geologist will also 

 discern in the courses of the ice-currents of the Atlantic, both 

 before and after their contact with the tropical stream, a striking 

 coincidence with the directions of the two systems of strias which 

 mark the abraded surfaces of the continental rocks ; the origin of 

 which must be referred to the early and prolonged period when 

 these rocks were situated beneath the ceaseless flow of the ocean 

 currents.* 



New York, December 30th, 1844. 



Art. XVI. — Notice of a mass of Meteoric Iron found at Cambria, 

 near Lockport, in the State of New Yoi^k; by B. Silliman, Jr. 



Nearly four years since I learned from an accidental interview 

 with the Hon. Henry Hawkins in the cabinet of Yale College, 

 of the existence in Lockport of a mass of iron which he sup- 

 posed to be of meteoric origin. I took note of the facts, but 

 circumstances prevented me from taking any further steps in the 

 matter until the past summer. I then addressed a letter to Mr. 

 H.J requesting further information, and if possible, a piece of the 

 iron. He at once sent me both, and the first sight of the portion 

 sent, left no doubt of its meteoric origin — which conclusion was 

 satisfactorily confirmed by a chemical analysis. 



The following letter from Dr. May, of whom Mr. Hawkins 

 purchased the mass, will convey all the information we possess 

 of its discovery and history. 



Lockport, August 28, 1844. 

 Senator Hawkins, — 



Dear Sir — The mass of meteoric iron that I sold your brother 

 for you, was found on the farm of William Temple in Cambria, 



* This Journal, Vol. xliii, p. 152, and Vol. xlv, p. 326. 



