98 
[Assembly 
ourselves in stating and disscussing theoretical points, but not to 
any great length, and only so far as is necessary to throw an in- 
terest over what may be considered by some, dry geological details. 
From these remarks, it will be seen that we have had two objects 
in view; ihe first in importance, was, to obtain a general know- 
ledge of the rock formation of the district; the second was to 
examine the metalliferous deposites, more particularly those of 
iron. But in order to avoid repetition, and to enable us to give our 
views to the public in some definite shape, wc shall state them 
under three heads. Under the first will be found all that relates 
to the topography of the district. Under the second we shall speak 
of the kind of rocks in this district, their mode of occurrence, 
their geographical boundaries, &c.; and in the third place, we shall 
give an account of its metalliferous productions. In an appendix, 
we shall give a list of a few interesting minerals of this section. 
1st. Topography. The Second Geological District occupies por- 
tions of two large but unequal basins: one is called the basin of 
the St. Lawrence, the other that of the Hudson. The former is 
much greater in extent than the latter. The sides of the St. Law- 
rence basin slope to the west, northwest, and north; and if we in- 
clude in it Lakes George and Champlain, to the east also. The 
southern and southwestern slopes belong to the basin of the Hud- 
son. Between these two basins there is a space of high table land, 
on which are based numerous conical peaks, which appear more 
or less independent, and unconnected with any minor ranges of 
mountains. This high table land stretches to the southwest and 
northeast; it is a part of the great Apalachian system of moun- 
tains, which trav&rse the States diagonally, from Alabama to 
Maine. The highest part of this mountain system is in New- 
Hampshire, where Mount Washington rears itself to the height of 
6,600 feet. 
The groupe of peaks and high land in the northern counties of 
this State, has been subdivided by geographers into five separate - 
ranges. Whether there is a foundation in nature for this subdi- 
vision, or whether there is such a linear disposition of them as 
makes it proper to speak of so many distinct chains or ranges, is 
yet to be decided. Those placed in the centre of this mountain 
district, were very early called McComb's mountains; thus they 
are namijd with much propriety, we think, as they were embraced 
in his extensive purchase. The highest peak among these moun- 
