Before doing this, you will permit me to premise, that in consequence of my limited acquaintance with these branches of Natural Science, and the still more limited time, which other and important concerns allowed me to devote to the subject, I can do little more than give a general description. What my eye could catch, as I travelled from one country and wilderness to another, preserving occasionally a few of the most interesting specimens, was all I could do. The specimens you have received. The narrative I am about to give, is drawn principally from the notes which were taken on the journey, and will be confined to a simple statement of such facts as were either observed by myself, or derived from good authority. Their application to preconceived theories, I leave to those who have more leisure and disposition for speculation than myself.
A description of a few natural and artificial curiosities which came under particular notice, will not, I trust, be thought an improper digression. The whole is committed to your disposal; and if it shall add but one mite to the treasury of American Natural History, I shall be gratified, and rejoice to have made even this small remuneration for your unwearied efforts, to impart to one, formerly your pupil, a love for Natural Science.
The Author's Route.
My route was in a line nearly direct from Boston to New-Orleans; passing through the principal cities to Washington; thence, diagonally, through Virginia, East Tennessee, and the northwestern angle of Georgia; in a western course through the north division of the Territory of Alabama, to the northeastern boundary of the State of Mississippi; and thence in a line nearly southwest to Natchez. From this last place I descended the river Mississippi to New-Orleans. On my return I frequently varied from this course, and had increased opportunities for surveying the country. In both instances I passed through the countries belonging to the Cherokee, Chickesaw, and Choctaw tribes of Indians, and travelled among them, in all, about one thousand miles.
Geology of Virginia.
As others have described more minutely and accurately than I can, the country north of Virginia, I shall begin with a few remarks on the geological character of that State. It is there that the traveller, in passing from the Atlantic to the interior, crosses successively the most important formations of the earth, from the most recent alluvial to the oldest primitive. For a considerable distance from the coast, the country is alluvial. It then assumes an older secondary formation[30]—and sandstone and puddingstone are frequent. This is the character of the District of Columbia, and indeed of a great part of the valley of the Potomac.
Sandstone of the Capitol, &c.
In this valley, and adjacent to the river, is found the sandstone of which the President's house, and the Capitol are constructed. It is composed of fine silicious grains, is easily wrought, and from its colour, has the appearance at a small distance of white marble.
Beautiful Breccia.
It is also in the valley of this river, and not far from its famous passage through the Blue Ridge, that immense quarries of beautiful Breccia have been opened. This rock was first brought into use by Mr. Latrobe, for some years employed by the government as principal architect. It is composed of pebbles, and fragments of silicious and calcareous stones of almost every size, from a grain, to several inches in diameter, strongly and perfectly cemented. Some are angular, others rounded. Their colours are very various, and often bright. Red, white, brown, gray, and green, are alternately conspicuous, with every intermediate shade. Owing to the silicious stones which are frequently imbedded through the mass, it is wrought with much difficulty; but when finished, shows a fine polish, and is unquestionably one of the most beautifully variegated marbles, that ever ornamented any place. It would be difficult to conceive of any thing more grand than the hall of the Representatives, in the Capitol, supported as it is by twenty or thirty pillars formed of the solid rock, and placed in an amphitheatrical range; each pillar about three feet in diameter, and twenty in height. Some idea of the labour which is employed in working the marble may be formed from the fact, that the expense of each pillar is estimated at five thousand dollars. The specimens in your possession, are good examples of its general structure, but convey no adequate idea of its beauty.