168 Miscellanies. 
Nova Scotia grind stones, having already a great market, in the At- 
lantic States, will continue to maintain it on account of their excel- 
lence and of their being so easily transported by water, notwithstanding 
the successful introduction of our fine grained mica slate and arena- 
ceous quartz rock, for the same purpose; and asthe gypsum of Nova 
Scotia can be always brought to the Atlantic ports cheaper than from 
the interior of New York, and of the Western States ; itis therefore 
probable that these important interests will long contribute to a friend- 
ly intercourse between the countries; not to mention that the rich 
beds of iron ore may hereafter, either in the crude or wrought state, 
contribute to a similar result. 
The trap formation of Nova Scotia is most remarkable. Although 
no where over three miles in width, and often not over one mile, it 
tretches one hundred and thirty miles, in continuity, along the south 
eastern shore of the bay of Fundy ; it rises in stupendous precipices, 
and basaltic columns of three or four hundred feet in elevation, and thus 
fixes an impassable barrier to the restless tides; those raging waters 
which, twice in twenty four hours swell to the height of sixty feet, and 
whether fluent or refluent, rush, with frightful fury, along this rock- 
bound coast,.and into the Bay of Mines, and Chignecto Bay, and 
their ramifications, undermining and tearing away immense masses of 
rocks, and piling them in accumulating spoils, along the shores. It 
is obvious from the fine colored geological map and section, and from 
the beautiful scenic views, by which our authors have so fully illustrated 
and adorned their description, that there are few regions in North 
America, so well worthy of being visited, on account of their wild 
and picturesque scenery ; it is also obvious that no small courage 
and prudence are requisite in coasting, in boats, along these, other- 
wise inaccessible cliff, lest the sweeping deluge which scarcely stops 
longer than to reverse its course, before it again rushes along with irre- 
sistible violence, should engulf the adventurers, or dash them upon the 
cliffs, which afford scarcely a landing place ora shelter. Our authors 
themselves, once escaped, with great difficulty, by suddenly clamber- 
ing vertical cliffs of three hundred feet. ‘The minerals imbedded in 
the trap, and mixed with its fallen ruins afford a rich treat to the miner- 
alogist, and for beauty, variety and abundance combined, are, we be- 
lieve, without a parallel in the explored parts of North America. 
By the liberality of the gentlemen to whom we are indebted for these 
interesting observations, we have been allowed to receive, and have 
seen in the hands of others, crystals or masses of quartz, amethyst, 
