PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS. 
5 
and a geographical distribution of the rocks of this country. At that period, it was impossible 
to give the connected and systematic information which years of experience have enabled us 
to acquire; and no attempt was made, farther than to identify our strata with those of the 
eastern continent. 
It would be useless to follow, in chronological succession, those who have labored at the 
same task, viz. not to develop the system of rocks as they are, but to identify them with 
the known formations of Europe. This undertaking, as we have learned from experience, 
was at that period a hopeless task; for only very recently have we obtained any thing like a 
correct classification of the older deposits in England, while on the continent much yet 
remains to be done. Under such circumstances, it is not surprising that many errors were 
committed, and our progress in the science consequently retarded. 
The name of the late Stephen Van Rensselaer will always be remembered with reve¬ 
rence by the American student of geology, and perhaps scarcely less so in other branches of 
natural science. Through his munificence, Professor Eaton was enabled to make a very 
extended and systematic survey of the rocks of New-York ; and if, in his report, some things 
are not perfectly in accordance with recent discoveries, we must remember that at that period 
he was almost entirely without a guide in these older formations ; that he was in fact describ¬ 
ing rocks which at that time were not understood in Europe, and which no geologist had yet 
attempted to classify. Had he evinced still more independence of European classifications — 
as is now recommended from high authority on the other side of the Atlantic — pursued the 
investigations of the subject to a more thorough detail; published sections illustrating the order 
of superposition from the older to the newer rocks, with their fossils so numerous and so cha¬ 
racteristic, he would have left an undying fame to himself and his noble patron. We can 
only regret that this was not done in the most extended and perfect manner, since it is evident* 
that on the part of Mr. Eaton every desire existed to do so, while the means furnished by Mr. 
Van Rensselaer were unlimited for illustrations of every kind ; yet so trammelled was the 
former by European authorities, that no more was produced than the imperfect sketch then 
presented to the public. 
In that work (Survey of the Canal Rocks), which was published in 1824, it is evident 
that the author was fully aware of the great extent of our undisturbed strata as compared with 
those of Europe. He remarks, that “ Our secondary rocks along the canal line are several 
“ hundred miles in extent, and remarkably uniform in their leading characters.” 
“ After examining our rocks with as much care and accuracy as I am capable of doing, I 
“ venture to say, that we have at least five distinct and continuous strata, neither of which 
“ can with propriety take any name hitherto given and defined in any European treatise which 
“ has reached this country. The late work of Philips and Conybeare describes many of the 
“ beds, and some of the varieties found among the rocks referred to; but the nomenclature 
“ of these very able geologists cannot be adopted in our district, without mangling and dis- 
“ torting the unprecedented simplicity of our rock strata.”! 
* Canal Rocks, pages 8 and 9. 
f lb. page 7 . 
