AMERICAN : 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &c. 
Art. 1.—On the Water Courses, and the Alluvial and Rock For- 
mations of the Connecticut River Valley ; by Aurrep Suitu.* 
1. Connecticut River. 
Sources and course.—Connecticut River rises on the southern slope 
of the Highlands which divide the United States from Lower Can- 
ada, where its head waters form a lake, three miles in length, 
which in recent-times has received the name of Connecticut. The 
surface of Lake Connecticut, is about one thousand six hundred 
feet higher than the level of Long Island Sound. The ample 
mill stream which dashes over the rocky outlet of this lake runs 
towards the southwest, falling about six hundred feet in the first 
twenty five miles of its course. The river then turns to a more 
southerly direction. Winding its way through frequent meadows, it 
passes by Lancaster, N. H. to the head of the Fifteen mile falls, 
which consist of a succession of rapids witha descent of three hun- 
dred and fifty feet in twenty miles. The base of the White Moun- 
* Mr. Smith, the author of the annexed article, has, within a few years, carefully 
investigated the topography of the great valley of the Connecticut. This investiga- 
tion, was undertaken on behalf of the inhabitants of the valley, with a view to the 
improvement of the navigation of the river; it was continued during several suc- 
cessive seasons, and led to an extensive and precise knowledge of the physical fea- 
tures of this great and important region, 
Mr. Smith, having been requested to embody his observations on the geology and 
topography of the valley, has written the annexed account, which, with the aid of 
drawings on a large scale, (those now published are greatly reduced copies,) has been 
recently read in the city of Hartford, as a part of a course of popular lectures 
which is sustained there, during the present season, by gentlemen of that place, 
who contribute their personal efforts to this laudable purpose. 
It has not been thought necessary to alter this essay from the form which it re- 
ceived, as a popular lecture.— Ed. 
Vol. XXII.—No. 2. Dy 
