We cannot leave the whin stone mountains, without adverting to the enormous accumulation of the fragments of their columns, which is found at the foot of all of them, which the writer has seen, either here, or in Scotland. These fragments, which have every possible size, from a few grains weight, up to 100 tons, very naturally result from the innumerable seams which divide even the firmest whin stone rocks, into what may be considered as a collection of columns, standing side by side, and so contiguous, as, on the whole, to form one solid mass. Other fractures run at right angles to these, in such a manner as to cut off the perpendicular columns into blocks of various lengths. It happens therefore, that whenever the tops of these columns become exposed to the atmosphere, in consequence of the washing away of the less consolidated matters which cover them, they become peculiarly liable to break off by the action of the weather. This occurs particularly from frost. The water insinuates itself into the crevices, and when it freezes, it happens, in consequence of the well known expansion of water, during its congelation, that the columns become strained, and have a tendency to separate, whenever the cohesive force of the ice is diminished; there-fore, especially in the spring, when the ice thaws, not only small masses, but even large columns, break off by their own weight, and fall to the bottom. At the West Rock particularly, one may see enormous masses which have fallen in this way; and such is the accumulation which time has produced there, that a sloping mass of ruins now extends more than half way up the mountain, affording strong confirmation of what was advanced in the early part of this essay, concerning the gradual demolition of hills and mountains by the action of the ele

ments.

The subject of the whin stone mountains (already extended perhaps too far) shall now be dismissed, with the single remark, that the columns so often alluded to, are not always perpendicular; sometimes they are greatly inclined; a remarkable instance of which occurs at the junction of the Hartford and Cheshire turnpike roads, near Mr. Whitney's, where the columns do not form

an angle if more than 8° or 10° with the horizon, and rest upon a stratum of sand stone, having the same inclination in degree and in direction, which is south

west.

From the West Rock, we bend our course westward and southward, along the brow of the hills, which now assume only a very moderate elevation. Frequent masses of granite, whin stone, quartz and sand stone accompany us along through Westfield, till we arrive within a quarter of a mile of the Derby turnpike, when a new species of stone presents itself, and very soon becomes the predominate stone of the country. Its color is bluish, inclining to white, its fracture hackly, its hardness is such that it may be scratched even by the nail. Its structure is schistose, the laminæ are often variously contorted, and frequently striated, with laminæ of quartz, and sometimes of mica, so that in many places it may be called micaceous schistus, and from its soapy feel it may generally be denominated magnesian schistus.

There are considerable varieties in its appearance; sometimes it inclines towards argillaceous schistus, or slate, but is distinguished from it, by its soapy feel, and, other times it approaches the character of serpentine. Here and there in this quarter, may be seen detached masses of porphyry, which seems capable of receiving a handsome polish, but no bed of it was observed, although it is more than probable it exists in the adjacent hills in considerable quantity.

Nothing occurs to detain us in passing over the hills which lie between the Derby turnpike, and those heights which overlook West-Haven, about midway between the Sratford road, and the Sound. Insulated blocks of granite, whin stone, porphyry and quartz are scattered every where along, but the magnesian schistus is predominant, and from the heights just now mentioned, to where they terminate in the flat ground, adjacent to the shore, we find nothing but immense strata of this magnesian schistus, rising every where to view, and discovering, whenever the road, a water channel, or a sidehill gives a view of the strata, an unvarying inclination

to the west and north, forming an angle of perhaps 35° with the horizon.

In some instances this schistus is sprinkled with beautiful spangles of golden coloured mica, which are very brilliant in the sun.

We have now made the complete circuit of the hills of New-Haven, and the Academy are in possession of the result of an investigation, which, from its being probably the first of the kind attempted in this State, may perhaps have some right to claim, as it will undoubtedly need, an indulgent reception.

Nothing has been asserted which has not been ascertained by actual examination; and if there are errors, they are not the result of indolent and remiss inquiry, but of deficient information, or erroneous judgment.

If however, this imperfect investigation should prompt to similar exertions throughout our state, the effort will not have been lost, and may lead to such discoveries as will certainly be subservient to science, and may not improbably open new sources of domestic wealth, and materials for architectural and manufacturing industry.

YALE COLLEGE, Sept. 1, 1806.

B. SILLIMAN.

No. V.

NUMBER OF DEATHS,

In the Episcopal Church in New-York, in each month for ten years—from January 1, 1786, to Dec. 31, 1795.

TAKEN FROM THE SEXTON'S BOOKS, AND COMMUNICATED

66 43 48 58 51 70 173 360 261 139 78 93-1440

12 12 14

་

5 11 8 21 18 25 25 14- 172

7

2 and 5,
5 and 10,

12

7

8- 107

20 and 30,

23 16 18 16 17 16

26 20 21-274

30 and 40,

36

36 24 24-286

40 and 50,

50 and 60,

10

100

2 0

It appears that in the four months of July, August, September and October, being one third of the year,

N

there died 933 children of two years old and under-almost two thirds of the whole number of deaths.

The influence of summer heat upon young children is apparent from the increased mortality in the month of July-an equal increase not taking place so early among the adults.

Of one hundred persons that die in New-York, according to this bill of mortality for ten years, there die of Two years old and under,

Between 2 and 5,

43

5 1-10

1

One to 211 dies between 90 and 100.

One to 1686 dies above 100.

In this account, children who had completed two years of age are included in the first number, contrary, I befieve, to usual practice. It is proper to remark the great proportion of deaths between the ages of 40 and 50. This proportion is far greater than it is in country towns.

This period of ten years, from 1786 to 1795, inclusive of both, was marked by several epidemic diseases, the measles and whooping cough and scarlatina Anginosa, which increased the mortality among children in 1789, 1792 and 1793-and the yellow fever increased the mortality among the adults in 1795. Taking the five healthy years of the period, viz. 1786, 1787 and 1788, 1790 and 1791, and the proportion of children of two years and under, is nearly 46 out of a hundred, not including premature births.