226 Geology, Mineralogy, Scenery, Xe. 
residence of the venerable senator, Roger Sherman: his 
house, a plain old building, is still pointed out, and his name 
will be remembered as long as talent, imtegrity, and patriot- 
ism shall command the respect of Americans. 
August 30th.—With the rising sun I left New-Milford, 
and bending my course East, passed a succession of rough 
and arduous ridges, to the Shepaug river. In the distance of 
five or six miles, the succession was gnelss—gneiss—gneiss 
—mica-slate—gneiss—gneiss,—which last terminates in 
an alluvial tract upon the banks ef the Shepaug, a river. which 
empties into the Housatonick. The rocks of mica-slate, 
abounded with garnets, and had time permitted, many fine 
specimens might have been obtained. 
Mine Hill—Quarry of Gneiss—Spathic Fron. 
At the Shepaug, I quitted my wheels, and, with a guide, 
proceeded, on horseback, two miles North, to the silver mine, 
as it has been called, siutated in a forest, upon the last ridge 
of gneiss which I had crossed. ‘The hill, from its steep- 
ness and roughness, and the thick forest by which it is al- 
most every where covered, is difficult to ascend.* 
This hill is called Mine-hill, from its having been ex- 
plored some years ago by mining operations. The ex- 
cavations were made at several places, but chiefly at one, 
where we soon arrived. I have been assured by a son 
of the person who carried on the work, that without any 
doubt, silver was obtained there in some quantity, but not 
enough to render it profitable, and the work after being car- 
ried on to.a-very considerable extent, a deep shaft having 
been excavated, and great quantities of different minerals 
thrown up, was abandoned. 
Of the silver, I could at present, discover no traces but, 
from some specimens, from this place, which I saw some 
years since, I am led to suspect that the ore was the sul- 
pburet or the vitreous silver ore of Werner. 
Every thing here, however, indicates a metallic vein, and 
the relics of the mine still remaining in great abundance,give 
suflicient indications as to the principal contents of the vein. 
* As a guide is indispensable to those who visit this interesting spot, it may 
not be amiss to mention for the benefit of future mineralogical travellers, 
that any information will be obligingly imparted, at the house of a respec 
table man, (Mr. Trowbridge,) who lives at the foot of the hill. 
