74 



Topographical Geology. 



The most striking objects in the scenery of a country, where they 

 exist, are high and precipitous mountains ; especially if extensive 

 plains, traversed by rivers, stretch away from their bases. I shall 

 therefore, in the first place, describe those conspicuous peaks and 

 ridges in the State, whose summits afford wide and interesting pros- 

 pects, 



Massachusetts is peculiarly mountainous,. But mountain scenery 

 is not particularly interesting, if the slopes are gentle, and the outlines 

 of the hills are much rounded. It needs the sharp towering peak, 

 the craggy and overhanging cliff, and the roaring torrent beneath, to 

 arrest the attention, and excite strong emotions. Such objects are nu- 

 merous in this state, especially in the western part. Here we find 

 some scenery that is truly Alpine. I begin with the highest point in 

 the state, viz : 



Saddle Mountain. 



We have in Massachusetts three lofty and extensive ranges of 

 mountains crossing the State from north to south. The summit of 

 the Taconic Range, corresponds nearly with the west line of the 

 State. The Hoosic Range is separated from the Taconic by a val- 

 ley several miles in width. It occupies all the eastern part of Berk- 

 shire County, and the western part of Franklin, Hampshire and 

 Hampden : being from 30 to 40 miles broad, and extending easterly to 

 the valley of the Connecticut. East of this valley is a belt of mountain- 

 ous country, embracing the eastern part of Franklin, Hampshire and 

 Hampden counties, and the whole of Worcester County ; But no spe- 

 cific name has been applied as yet to this range as a whole. 



Saddle Mountain does not belong, properly speaking, to any of 

 these chains of elevated land ; though generally regarded as a spur 

 from the Hoosic range. But it is in fact an insulated eminence, mostly 

 in the town of Adams, and nearly surrounded by vallies, above which 

 it rises 2,800 feet, and nearly 3,600 above the tide water of the ocean. 

 It is chiefly the insulated character of this mountain, that renders it so 

 striking an object in the scenery. Its summit is supposed to bear a 

 resemblance to that of a saddle; and hence its unpoetic name. The 

 highest point of the summit has a much more appropriate designation, 

 viz. Graylock] from the hoary aspect which the upper part of the 

 mountain presents in the winter months. During that season,' the 

 frost attaches itself to the trees, which, thus decorated, it needs no great 

 stretch of imagination to regard as the graylocks of this venerable 



