216 INFLUENCE 0^ GEOLOGY ON SCENERY. 
accustomed their minds to the habit of reasoning, i 
that they certainly, as a mass, greatly exceed in in* 
telligence the other labouring population of the 
district, which, with the exception of the fishermen 
and the sailors, is chiefly agriculture," &c.* 
Influence of the Geological Structure of the United 
States on its Scenery. 
That the peculiar scenery of any country is de- 
pendant on its geological formation, is too evident 
to need remark. Thus, in an alluvial or tertiary 
district, we expect to see the face of the country 
level and monotonous; in a secondary region we 
look for a surface, if not uniformly level, yet not 
characterized by lofty hills or abrupt mountains ; 
in a transition country we look for a surface of 
great irregularity, now swelling into lofty hills I 
and moderately elevated mountains, traversed by \ 
frequent valleys and gentle slopes, combining great i 
variety and beauty in its scenery ; as among the | 
table-land of the AUeghanies and the Blue Ridge. | 
In a primitive region we expect to see abrupt and 
lofty mountains ; the strata thrown into every de- | 
gree of elevation and the greatest confusion ; sharp 
towering peaks ; craggy and overhanging cliffs ; 
roaring torrents; all that is wild, and rugged, and I 
sublime, meet the eye and challenge admiration I ■ 
Owing to the variety of geological structure, no 
country in the world presents a more varied sce- 
nery than our own. No valleys on the face of jj 
the globe exceed in fertility and beauty those of !| 
the Housatonic, Connecticut, the Susquehanna, the 
Ohio, and the Mississippi. No villages ever built 
by man combine in their location greater advanta- 
ges and beauties than those of Springfield, North- 
ampton, Amherst, Pittsfield, Stockbridge, Shefiieldy 
and numerous others which sprinkle and adorn the 
* Geological Report on Cornwall, Devon, &c.y p. 46^ 
