38 



UNITED STATKS* 



Twenty miles below Poughkeepsie begiri rocky, 

 barren ridges, in a transverse direction, which re- 

 called to my remembrance Corsica and the "^''iva- 

 rais. The road is broken by these for the space of 

 five and tv/enty miles, and every where they display 

 blocks of greyish granite, disposed in shelves in- 

 clined to the horizon at angles of 45 or 50 degrees, 

 and covered with mosses, firs, and other stunted 

 evergreens. The river runs between similar banks 

 as far as West Point, where it has forced the bar- 

 rier of rocks opposed to its current by the last of these 

 transverse ridges, at the foot of which the Highlands 

 terminate, and are succeeded by the Lowlands, or 

 maritime country. 



In the latter, forming a plain as far as New York, 

 the left bank of the river is continually exhibiting 

 ledges of reddish or greyish granite, projecting out 

 of the ground in such a manner, as leads us to pre- 

 sume they run very deep into it. 



The mi^eralogical researches undertaken by Dr. 

 Mitchell,* siifKciently prove, that the granite tra- 

 verses the city of New York, and the rivers Hudson 

 and Harlem, and extends to ail the lirst rank of 

 hills in New Jersey The direction of these ledges, 

 particularly from the boundaries of Connecticut, is 

 from north-east to south-west, being parallel to the 

 coast ; their inclination is nearly vertical to the ho- 

 rizon, and their chain is supposed to continue as 



They also say, that Mr. Volney may rely upon it, that the bed of the 

 river at the Cohoz is shattered or fragile slate : thpt the Hudson at 

 the rapids of Fort Miller, and the falls near Fort Edward, descends; 

 over rocks of schistus. Even at the Baiistown springs, the Kyad«- 

 rossas runs over slate. 

 * See Med, Repos. vols» !♦ a^jd iii. 



