Miscellaneous Notices in Mineralogy^ Geology, ^c. 237 



Though adjacent to a turnpike where hundreds are daily- 

 passing, and exhibiting abundant ochreous indications, its 

 chalybeate character had remained unsuspected. It is now 

 much frequented, being found very beneficial as a tonic. 



In the neighborhood of Catskill I have met with several 

 beds of rich marl ; the proprietors were ignorant of the use 

 of this earth in agriculture ', and in the same vicinity, rocks 

 and extensive beds of calcareous tufa, deposited by streams 

 issuing from caverns in limestone hills. 



14. Catskill Lyceum, &fc. — Extract from the above letter. 



The attention of the well informed residents of Catskill 

 has been of late excited to the study of mineralogy, botany, 

 chemistry and agriculture, and they have recently organized 

 a scientific institution under the name of the Catskill Lyce- 

 um of Natural History, composed of between twenty and 

 thirty resident, and as many corresponding members, who 

 evince much zeal, and have formed a small cabinet of miner- 

 als and plants. The corresponding members are mostly of 

 the learned professions, and resident in the counties of 

 Greene, Columbia, Delaware, Ulster and Otsego, generally 

 elected at their own solicitation. I think that in time, the 

 Catskill Lyceum will become a numerous and efficient so- 

 ciety, well calculated to disclose the resources of the region 

 in which it is located. 



I have occasionally read to this society papers on natural 

 History, dwelling more particularly upon mineralogy, exem- 

 plifying the remarks by specimens to render the external char- 

 acters of minerals more familiar; I have endeavoured to in- 

 duce research by drawing their attention to valuable minerals, 

 which, from the geological character of the river valley, and 

 adjacent districts, may be met with ; as silver, lead, copper, 

 plumbago, iron, gypsum, alum, salt, coal, marble and marl. 

 I have found in different parts of the Catskill mountains, ex- 

 tensive ledges richly impregnated with alum, and salt licks 

 in the same region. Some springs of Columbia and Greene 

 county hold in solution muriate of soda. I have found 

 new localities in the valley of the Hudson for galena, plum- 

 bago, and iron. 



If I make Catskill my residence the ensuing summer, I 

 will explore the Catskill, Shuongunck and Highland ranges. 



