204 Geology, Mineralogy, Scenery, &e. 
Beacon Mountain. 
Fourteen miles from New-Haven, we come to Beacon- 
mountain, a rude ridge of almost naked rock, stretching 
southwest. ‘The road, which is formed in the natural gap 
of the mountain, here winds through a bold gulf or defile, 
so narrow, that at one place only a single carriage can pass 
at once. On both sides the cliffs are lofty, particularly on 
the left; and on the right, at a little distance from the road, 
they overhang in a frightful manner. I climbed the hill at 
this place; the rocks on both sides are mica-slate with gar- 
nets and staurotide ; here they had fallen in large masses, 
and left the projecting strata impending ina vast natural shed, 
under which one might be protected effectually from the 
weather, but with the constant apprehension of being crush- 
ed by their fall. 
The ridges of the Beacon mountain present fine geo- 
logical and picturesque features, and are much more abrupt 
and grand than most of the mica-slate regions of Connecticut. 
Beyond this gap the road turns more to the left, running 
along a rivulet, and after three or four miles we rise some 
Hille and discover the Naugatuck a branch of the Housa- 
tonick passing along at the foot of other steep hills on the 
opposite side. It runs through a deep and narrow gulf and 
one looks down upon it from the high hills on which the 
road is laid. 
Gneiss, Granite, &c. 
The hills are composed of gneiss, running parallel with 
the ridges of mica-slate already mentioned. This is the 
first gneiss that occurs on the road from New-Haven at the _ 
distance of about sixteen miles. 
We now pass through the little village of Salem, consist- 
ing of a few houses on the bank of the river, and whose 
chure h situated on a high hill overlooking the river, forms a 
striking and pleasing object. 
From Salem, almost to Watertown, four miles, the rocks 
are gneiss—still preserving the same direction and parallel- 
ism. The county is hilly but very picturesque and beautiful. 
Near Watertown, granite begins to be abundant in loose 
masses, andin the town I found detached pieces with garnet 
and sappar. Watertown, on a commanding hill, with its 
two steeples and its pretty white houses formsan object such 
as is rarely seen in travelling in England. ‘Iwo miles be- 
