28 A GEOLOGICAL HISTORY. 



erbockers. This pond lay under that part of the 

 now city, which is Duane, between Cross and 

 Elm Streets, and between Elm and Orange Streets, 

 the middle of which is now called Centre Street, 

 and but a few years ago called Collect Street. 

 " The Hall of Justice," that Egyptian fabric, vul- 



continual throwing in of the heavy materials, raised the mud in some 

 places from 8 to 10 feet, above the original level of the water, this mud 

 became somewhat dry, and cracked open some 8 or 10 feet deep, falling 

 over the heavy material and exposing what may be supposed, was once 

 the under part and lay near the bottom of the lake; in this substance 

 were Hickory, Butternut, acorns and seeds of all the surrounding forest 

 trees, which had formerly skirted this pond; with great thickness of 

 leaves, and some limbs of trees, and other black vegetable matter resem- 

 bling peat; this induced the corporation of the city to employ men to 

 make what the Irish call hand turf, it being too soft to cut with a turf 

 spade; a large quantity of this turf was dried and carried to the alms- 

 house for fuel, but it had a peculiarity not dreamed of, and which could 

 not have been supposed as coming from the bottom of a fresh water pond, 

 namely, an overcharge of marine salt. This I proved by burning out 

 the vegetable matter, and leeching the ashes, (which consisted of a large 

 porous mass, as large as the size of the peat acted upon,) and concentra- 

 ting the lixivium to a pelicle. The knowledge of this analysis, caused 

 Dr. Pascalis to say that this small lake, had formerly been a natron lake, 

 similar to the natron lakes of Egypt. The salt in this mixture prevented 

 the turf from burning, and, of course, making turf from the bottom of 

 the collect was discontinued. It was about the year 1801 when they 

 commenced filling up the collect — the first earth thrown in came from 

 the excavations then making for the cellar and foundation of the " City 

 Hall," in the park. In this pond, where now Pearl Street is, between 

 Cross and Elm Streets, there was a natural island, with a powder-house 

 on it, which gave the name of Magazine Street to that part of Pearl 

 Street ; and at the corner of Anthony and Collect Streets, was a point of 

 natural ground. 



