144 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 
experienced in this country, the ice in the Connecticut river was in- 
creased to a great thickness and solidity. In many instances, the 
water in the river was literally frozen to the bottom. In the month of 
January, as usual, there came a great and sudden thaw, accompanied 
with incessant torrents of rain, which appeared to spread over an im- 
mense extent of country. The consequences were such as might be ex- 
pected; the snow which was over five feet deep,was quickly melted; every 
stream as suddenly became a river; and every river threatened to be- 
come an ocean. The Connecticut river was very soon raised almost to 
a level with its banks, and the ice, which was two and a half feet thick 
was borne away by the current in the most terrific majesty; for where- 
ever it was impeded in its progress, by an island, or the narrowing of 
the shores of the river, it was broken up, and immense masses raised 
into the air, until their elevated portions, preponderating over their 
floating foundations, were left to fall on the surrounding ice with a re- 
port, equal in some instances to that of small pieces of ordnance, 
This scene of awful grandeur was extended for miles to the north and 
south, and while thousands were contemplating the frightful spectacle, 
the ice, being very solid, and hurried on by a powerful current became 
obstructed at the mouth of the straits twenty-five miles below, near 
Middletown, and the whole force of the river for a short time was im- 
peded: the water set back and upward, and enormous masses of ice 
were hurried over the banks of the river, into the creeks and larger 
streams to a considerable distance from the river, into the meadows 
and low grounds: When on a sudden, from the pressure above, the ob- 
struction at the straits gave way, and this threatening appearance al- 
most in a minute vanished; the water fell to its natural state, and left 
huge masses of transparent ice in the meadows and intervals, to be re- 
removed only by the powerful influence of a summer’s sun. When this 
was accomplished, in the following season, large pieces of rocks and 
heaps of rolled pebbles were left exposed to view on an alluvial surface, 
on which before a stone could not be found for its weight in gold. 
These rocks and stones, from their characters, were known to be the 
same as those which composed the bed of the river many leagues 
above. 
[To Be ContTiINUED. | 
PI Ne 
