USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 3 > Part 10
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Chimney-Swallow; Whip-poor-will, Night Hawk,
Hirundo pelasgia Caprimulgus europeus. B Caprimulgus americanus.
AMPHIBIOUS REPTILES.
Mud Turtle, Speckled Turtle, Toad,
Testudo denticulata.
Testudo carolina ?
Rana Bufo ? 2
Pond Frog,
Rana ocellata.
Green Fountain Frog,
Rana esculanta.
Speckled Frog,
Rana maculata,
Tree Frog.
Rana arborea.
Bull Frog,
Rana boans.
Sw 1
I acerta fusciata ?
Brown Lizard,
Lacerta punctata.
AMPHIBIOUS SERPENTS.
Rattle Snake, Crotalus horridus. .
The Rattle Snake is the moft venomous of all the ferpent tribe, in this part of America ; but its mo- tion is fo flow, and the found which it gives by rat- tling its tail, before it darts on its prey, is fo diftin- guifhable from the very few other noifes which are heard in the woods, that it is eafily avoided. The rattle fake of New-Hampfhire is of a darker colour, and lefs variegated than that which is found about the blue hills, in Suffolk county, Maffachufetts.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
There are certain boundaries, beyond which, to the northward, none have been feen in New-Hampfhire. Thefe are on the weftern fide of the country, Sugar river, a branch of the Connecticut, and Sawyer's river, a branch of the Saco. They have been very common about the fhores, and on the iflands of Winipifeogee lake ; but as the country is fettled, the number decreafes : In the autumn they retire to their dens, in the cavities of rocks, which are open to the fouth ; where they remain till the warmth of the fummer fun invites them to bafk in its beams. Dur- ing their torpid ftate, fome perfons make a practice of drawing them from their dens, with hooks, and deftroying them. In the hotteft weather, they re- fort to meadows, and other watry places. Some years ago, in a dry fummer, a number of people from Rochefter, went to a meadow in the woods with an intention to mow it, but found it fo full of rattle fnakes, that they fet fire to the grafs and quit- ted the place. The following fingular fact deferves to be remembered. A dog, belonging to a Mr. Wormwood, of Durham, being bitten by a rattle- fnake, immediately went in fearch of a foft loamy fpot of earth, in which he fcratched a hole and bu- ried himfelf all over, excepting his head. Here he remained, refufing all nourifhment, till the earth had extracted the venom. This fact was certified to me by John Smith, Efq. of Durham, lately de- ceafed.
Small Brown Adder, House Adder, Water Adder, Brown Snake, Green Snake, Black Snake, White Neck Black Snake, 1
Striped Snake,
Coluber striatulus. Coluber punctatus ? Coluber fasciatus. Coluher Sifedon. Coluber Saurita ?
Coluber constrictor. Anguis eryx ?
R
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mi In
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HISTORY OF
AMPHIBIOUS FISHES.
Lamprey, Sea Sucker,
Petromyzon fluviatalis ? Petromyzon marinus.
The Lamprey frequents moft of our rivers, efpec- ially where the paffage is not interrupted by dams. In Merrimack, they afcend to the waters of Pem- igewaffet, and are found in plenty as far as Plymouth. That part which is below the air holes is falted and dried for food. After the fpawning feafon is over, and the young fry have gone down to the fea, the old fifh attach themfelves to the roots and limbs of trees which have fallen or run into the water, and there perifh. A mortification begins at the tail, and proceeds upward to the vital part. Fifh of this kind have been found at Plymouth, in different ftages of putrefaction.
Thornback, Dog Fish,
Raja Fullonica. Squalus Acanthias.
Shark,
Squatus stellaris ? Lophius fiscatorius.
Monk Fish,
Sturgeon,
Lumpfish,
Acipenser sturio. Cyclonterus lumpus.
FISHES.
Eel,
Conger Ecl,
Cat Fish,
Snake Fish,
Haddock,
Cod,
Murana anguilla. Murana conger. Anarlichas lupus. Ophidium imberbe. Gadusaglesinus. Gadus Morhua.
The Cod comes into the river Pafcataqua, in the fpring and fall, and is taken at fea, in all months of the year. The beft are caught in the winter. The next in quality are taken in the fpring and begin- ning of fummer ; the third kind in the latter end of fummer and beginning of autumn.
Frost Fish, Pollack, Small Pollack;
Gadus luscus. Gadus pollachius. Gadus virens.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Hake, Snake Fish, Wolf Fish,
Gadus molva. Blennius Grenellus. Blennius anguillarius.
The Haddock, Hake and Pollack are taken at fea, in the fpring and fummer, and being dried, are fold under the denomination of fcale fifh.
Sculpion, Bearded Sculpion, Plaise, Flounder, Holibut,
Cottus quadricornis. Cottus catafibractus 2
Pleuronectes pilatessa.
Pleuronectes flesus. Pleuronectes Hippoglassus.
The Holibut is the largeft fifh which is taken for food. When full grown, it exceeds 5001b. in weight; thofe of 2001b. are frequently brought to market.
Dab, Red Perch, White Perch, Whiting, Sea Perch, Bass,
Pleuronectes papillosus.
Perca fluviatalis.
Perca lucioperca ?
Perca alburnus. Perca undulata ? Perca ocelata.
The Bafs was formerly taken in great plenty, in the river Pafcataqua ; but by the injudicious ufe of nets, in the winter, this fifhery was almoft deftroy- ed. After the mifchief was done, a law was made againft it ; but the bafs have never fince reforted to this river in any great numbers. It is faid by fome, that fifh which are fpawned in rivers, and defcend to the fea, return to thofe rivers, only where they are fpawned. If this principle be true, the breed might be renewed by bringing fome of the bafs, which are caught in Merrimack river, alive, over the land, to the neareft part of the waters of Pafcat- aqua, a diftance not more than twelve miles. This muft be done before the fpawning feafon, and might very eafily be accomplifhed,
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HISTORY OF
Shiner,
Chub, Bream, Stickle Back, Skip Jack, Mackrel, Pout, Salmon,
Perca nobilis ?
Perca philadelphica.
Perca chrysoptera ?
Gasterosteu's aculeatus.
Gusterosteus Salatrix.
Scomber scomber.
Silurus Felis. Salmo Salar ?
The SALMON formerly frequented the river Paf- cataqua ; but the numerous dams built acrofs its, branches, have obftructed the courfe of this valua- ble fifh, and it has, for many years, totally forfak- en the river. It ftill afcends the Saco, Merrimack and Connecticut ; in the two laft, to their fartheft head ; in the former, a projecting rock, in the great fall, near Sunday's rocks, forms an infurmountable obftruction ; but there is a free courfe for this fifh up the branch called great Offapy.
SALMON TROUT,
Salmo Trutta.
The Trout is found in all the ftreams which flow from the mountains, and very near their fummits. The fame is obferved concerning this fifh, in other countries. Sir W. Hamilton, defcribing the Ap- pennines, in Italy, fays ' the road follows the wind- ' ings of the Garigliano, which is a beautiful clear ' trout ftream, with a great variety of cafcades and ' cataracts.'* And Swinburne, in his account of the Pyrenees fays 'trouts are often feen fwimming ' down the ftream ; but if difturbed, retire into the bowels of the mountain.'t In fome of the bays of Winipifeogee lake and river, very large trouts are taken with the hook. Thofe from fix to ten pound, are common, and fome have been caught of twen- ty lb. weight.
SMELT, Salmo eperlanus.
PICKEREL, Or PIKE, Efox lucius.
Philos. transact. Vol. 67, anno. 1786, page 369.
t Travels through Spain, Vol. 2. page 311.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Atherine, Herring, Shad,
Atherina Menidia. Clupea harengus. Clupea alosa.
The SHAD afcend at the fame time with the fal- mon, and are taken frequently in the fame nets. The falmon fifhery is fo regulated by law, that three days only, in the week, are allowed to catch them.
Hard Head, Alewife,
Bret,
Sucker,
Menow,
Clupea dura lavi mystax. Clupea serrata. Clupea minima. Cyprinus Catostomus Forster. Cyrinus.
' There are many other frefh and falt water fifhes, not fufficiently known to be arranged.
INSECTS.
Horned Beetle, Carolina Beetle, Dunghill Beetle,
Apple Beetle, Golden Beetle,
Scarabæus simson.
Scarabeus carolinus.
Scarabeus stercorarius.
Scarabaus horticola ?.
Scarabaus lanigerus.
Several new species, and others that have not been arranged.
Stag Beetle, Fluted Beetle,
Lucanus cervus.
Lucanus interruptus.
Dermestes lardarius.
Dermestes typographus.
Gyrinus natator.
Silfiha vespillo.
Coccinella 2-frustalata.
Several species.
Chrysomela-many species.
Bruchus fisi.
Curculio quercus.
Goat Chaffer,
Many species. Cerambyx coriarius.
Firefly,
Many species. Lampyris lucida.
Several species.
Skipper,
Elater oculatus. Many species. Cicindela carolina.
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Glow-worm,
Cantharides,
One or two other species. Buprestris mariana. Two or three other species.
Water Flea, Fetid Beetle, Lady Fly,
Weevil, Snouted Weevil,
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HISTORY OF
Water Beetle,
Black Beetle,
Blossom Eater,
Cockroach, Grasshopper, Cricket,
Locust,
Mole Cricket,
Froghopper,
Balm Cricket, S Large and small Water Fly, Boat Fly, Bug, Louse, on cabbages, Louse, on leaves of trees and 2 plants, S
Bug on plants and trees,
Butterfly,
Night Flutterer, Owl Moth,
Moth, or Miller, Apple Moth, or Canker Worm,
Dragon Fly, { Adder Fly, S
Oak Apple Fly, Saw Fly,
Wasp,
Hornet,
Bumble Bee, }
Wild Bee, S
Aunt,
Black Fly, Brown Fly, S
Horse Fly, Mosquito, Stinging Fly, Snow Flea, Father Long Legs, Spider,
Dytiscus ficcus. Dytiscus marginalis. Dytiscus striatus. Several other species. Carabus americanus, Numerous species. Moleo nigra. Stafthylinus maxillosus:
Forficula .- Two species. Blatta americana, (non indigenus.)
Grillus .- Numerous species,
Grillus gryllotalpa. Cicada .- Many species. 2
Notonecfa .- Several species.
Cinex .- Numerous species, Afthis brassica .
Aphis .- Numerous species.
Chermes .- Many species.
Numerous species,
Papalico.
and several non-de,
scripts.
Sphinx. Many new species. Phalana .- Numerous species, Phalæna wauaria ? Libellula .- Several species.
Hemerobius pectinicornis. Several species. Cynips .- Several species. T'enthredo betula.
Vespa .- Many species.
Anis .- Several species. Formica .- Several species.
Musca .- Numerous species. Tabanus .- Several species. Culex piniens. Conofis calcitrans.
Podura nivalis. Phalungium .- Several species. Aranea .- Many Species.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
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Crab, Lobster, Shrimp, Hermit Crab, Slender Crab, King Crab, or Horse Shoe,
Cancer .- Many Species.
Monoculus polyphemus.
Monoculus fuscinus.
Monoculus fulex.
Monoculus quadricornus.
VERMES.
Sea Clam, Squid,
Holothuria phantanthus.
Sefiia media.
Sepia coligo.
Medusa filearis.
Sea lungs, Star Fish, or Finger Fish, S
Asterias Caput Medusa .- Three ?. or four species. $
Sea Egg,
Echinus .- Several species.
Barnacle,
Lepas anatifera.
Hog Clam,
Mya arenaria.
Razor Shell Clam,
Solen ensis.
Long Shell Glam,
Solen radiatis.
Oyster,
Ostrea -.
Muscle,
Mytilus edulis.
'Cockle,
Nerita littoralis ?
Limpets,
Patella fusca.
Sand Shell Clam,
Sabella granulata.
Sea Anemone,
Anemone marina locomotiva.
There is a tradition, grounded on a paffage in Joffelyn's voyage to New-England, and repeated by Gordon, in his geographical grammar, of a Scarlet mufcle, found in the river Pafcataqua, in which is a vein, yielding a fcarlet liquor, which affords an in- delible ftain to linen. Having made inquiry, I have not heard of this mufcle, nor the place (Bak- er's cove) where it is faid to have been found. Mr. PECK, who is curious in his inquiries into the nat- ural hiftory of the country, has affured me, that the 'fanies of many teftaceous marine animals will give " the fame tint. There is a fpecies of the buc- ' cinum, or white cockle, which is very commonly ' found on the fhore, and not confined to any par- ' ticular place, which being broken, and the fanies ' taken up with a hair pencil, will mark linen with
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HISTORY OF
'a fine and durable crimfon. The colour is obfert ' ed to vary from its original yellow, to green, blue ' purple, and crimfon, which is its ultimate change
Vaft beds of mufcles appear in the river at low water, which are never ufed ; but might be taken out, and laid as manure on the adjacent lands.
Of the immenfe variety of infects, with which both the land and fea abcund, it is impoffible to give a particular defcription. There is an ample range for the curious naturalifi, both on the fe fhore, in the open land, and in the thick woods ; but if he engages earneftly in the purfuit, it may be ad vifeable to defend himfelf, after the manner of the Indians, by fmearing the expofed parts of his body with the oyl of the beaver.
The common Black Fly is not a native of the country, but was brought in fhips from the Weft Indies. The fame may be faid of the Cochroch which has not yet quitted the maritime towns. The Bumble Bee is undoubtedly a native ; but it has been doubted whether the Honey Bee is, or is not. That feveral fpecies of the honey bee were known in Mexico, before the Spanifh invafion, appears from the tribute-rolls, and other hiftorical paintings of that empire ; but it is probable that bees were firft brought into thefe northern parts, from Europe. Joffelyn is the only writer who mentions them, and this was his opinion, with which tradition concurs. They have multiplied exceedingly, and are frequent- ly found in a wild ftate, enclofed in the trunks of hollow trees, in all parts of New-Hampfhire as far northward as the State is inhabited, which is 44º .40' of north latitude. They chiefly delight in the neighborhood of : cultivation, as they derive their principal food from the labors of man.
The Caterpillars lay their eggs on the branches of . apple trees, and, being hatched by the warmth of
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the fpring, they form clufters, and inclofe them- felves in a web, whence they iffue forth in queft of food, and deftroy the leaves of this and other trees ; but the moft formidable enemy to the apple tree, is the canker worm. It comes out of the ground early in the fpring, and afcends the tree in the fhape of a white winged infect, where it depofits its eggs, which, being hatched by the genial warmth of the feafon, are converted into millions of black worms, about an inch in length. Thefe ftrip the tree of its ver- dure, and, by the middle of June, it has the ap- pearance of autumn. While engaged in this mif- chief, if the tree be ftruck or fhaken, each worm defcends to the ground by a thread, fpun inftantly from its bowels, and afcends, by the fame rout, when the danger is over. By the 21ft of June, they difappear ; the tree puts forth new leaves, but bears no fruit. The beft way of guarding againft them, is by putting a circle of warm tar round the trunk of the tree, and renewing it every day, during the time of their afcent; this arrefts and confines them, till they perifh. They were not known in New- Hampfhire till about twenty years paft, and there are fome parts which they have not yet reached. They do not appear every year, but there is no reg- ular interval between their appearances, nor is the caufe of the interruption known.
Befide thefe, there is another fpecies, which comes but once in many years, and deftroys the corn and grafs, as well as leaves of trees. Their laft appear- ance was in 1770. It was obferved that they did not touch the leaves of elder. From obfervations of this kind, a hint was taken to make ufe of elder, and ef- pecially the dwarf elder, as a means of preferving the feeding leaves of young efculent vegetables, and even the branches of trees, from being deftroyed by infects.
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. XI.
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Caverns, Stones, Fossils, and Minerals.
THIS chapter muft be extremely imper- fect, as many parts of the country are yet unex- plored ; and of thofe which are known, the knowl- edge is moftly confined to the furface and its vege- tation. Such things however as have occurred, fhall be noticed.
Among the many rocky mountains and precipi- ces, fome openings appear, which are generally fup- pofed to be the haunts of bears and rattle fnakes ; and are rather objects of dread than of curiofity. A particular defcription of one of thefe caverns in the townfhip of Chefter, by Peter French, an inge- nious young gentleman, deceafed, fhall be given in his own words.
' At about five miles diftance from Chefter meet- ' ing houfe, and very near the road leading to Con- ' cord, is an eminence called rattle fnake hill. Its ' bafe is nearly circular, and about half a mile in ' diameter. It is very ragged, efpecially on the ' fouthern fide ; where it is almoft perpendicular ; ' and its fummit frowns tremendous, about 400 feet ' high. In this fide, at the height of ten yards, is ' an aperture in the rocks, of about five feet high, ' and twenty inches broad ; which is the entrance " to what is called the Devil's den ; concerning which, ' many frightful ftories are told, to increafe the ter- "rors of the evening, among the children of the ' neighbouring villages ; and indeed I have obferv- ' ed the eyes of men affume a peculiar brightnefs; 4 while recounting the imaginary dangers which '' they had there fortunately escaped.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
'.This entrance is about fix feet long ; it then "contracts its height to two feet and a half, and dif- ' plays its breadth horizontally on the right, fifteen 'feet ; where it is irregularly loft among the con- 'tiguous rocks. This form of the cavity continues "about ten feet ; when it fuddenly becomes about eight feet high, and three wide ; the fides nearly perpendicular, continuing thus about nine feet. In - "the midway of which, on the fame plane, and near- 'ly at right angles on the left, is an aperture of five ' feet high and four wide, which continues ten or ' twelve feet, where it is loft irregularly among the ' rocks. Oppofite to this, on the right, lies a fpa- " cious chamber, parallel to the faid plane ; elevated about four feet, fifteen or twenty feet fquare, and " about three feet high ; floored and ceiled by a reg- "ular rock, from the upper part of which are de- pendent many excrefcences, nearly in the form of a ifipear, fome of which are more than an inch long ; ' but there is a much greater number of every pof- fible inferior fize ; thefe are eafily feparable from ' the rock, and feveral of them are depofited in the ' mufeum at Cambridge, where they are fhewn for ' petrified water. Their colour and confiftence are \' thofe of a common ftone; but when approached ' in the cave with a flambeau, they throw about a ' fparkling luftre of almoft every hue. This appear- 'ance is caufed by a large drop of water, which ' hangs about the end of each ; and when the echo ' of its fall has reverberated round the vault, anoth- " begins to kindle in fucceffion.
' At the end of the above mentioned nine feet, is : ' a perpendicular defcent of about four feet ; where ' the paffage, becoming not more than eighteen in- ' ches wide, but at leaft fifteen feet high, and ftill «!' nearly perpendicular, bends gently to the right, in ' an arch of a very large circle, for about thirty feet ;
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HISTORY OF
' where eight or nine feet of the height falls into ' breadth, and all in feven or eight feet more is loft ' among the rocks, in inconfiderable chinks.
' The general direction of this cave is nearly north,
"and upon an afcent of about three degrees. The ' cavity is terminated by rocks, on all fides ; fave: ' that the above mentioned thirty feet has a gravelly! ' bottom, at the farther end of which rifes a fmall!
' rivulet, ftrongly impregnated with fulphur. This ' rivulet increafes imperceptibly in its defcent, along ' the thirty feet; when it falls fuddenly into a tranf- ' verfe chink, about three inches wide, which receives" ' it perpendicularly about ten feet ; when the little' 'fubterraneous cafcade is intercepted by fome thin: ' lip of a rock, and thrown about in quite a merry ' ftrain, for fuch a folitary manfion.
' The rocks which wall this narrow paffage, are ' cafed with a fhell of a reddifh colour, about half ' an inch thick ; which is cafily feparable from the' 'rock, in flakes as large as a man's hand. Thefe ' flakes emit a ftrong fcent of fulphur, when thrown ' into the fire ; and this circumftance has given rife ' to a conjecture, that fubterraneous fires have for- 'merly raged here ; but whatever truth there may ' be in this opinion, the cave is now exceedingly ' cold, and a more gloomy fituation is fcarcely im- 'aginable.'
In the town of Durham there is a rock, which is computed to weigh fixty or feventy tons. It lies fo exactly poifed on another rock, as to be eafily mov- ed by one finger. It is on the top of a liill, and its fituation appears to be natural. Many other fingu- lar appearances among the rocks and mountains at- tract the attention of the curious, and ferve as ob- jects of amazement to the vulgar.
Of the different kinds of Earths and Clays, which
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
are found in New-Hampfhire, it would be endlefs to give an account. The towns of Exeter, New- market, Durham and Dover, abound in clays. The fame may be faid of feveral towns on Connecticut river. In many of the new townfhips, clay does not appear till after the earth has been opened and cul- tivated. Marles, though found in great plenty in fome places, are feldom ufed. Immenfe treafures of this precious manure will be referved for future generations.
*; Red and yellow ochres are found in Sommerf- worth, Chefterfield, Rindge and Jaffrey. It is ob- fervable that in feveral places, a ftratum of yellow is found under one of red ochre, without any inter- vening fubftance. Thefe have been purified and ufed with fuccefs in painting.
At Orford on Connecticut river, is found the Soap- Rock, ( Steatites ). It has the property of fuller's earth, in cleanfing cloths. It is of a confiftence be- tween earth and ftone. It may be fawn or cut with carpenter's tools, into any form whatever. To de- termine its capacity of enduring heat, I carefully meafured and weighed a piece of it; and having kept it for one hour, in a glowing fire of coals, and cooled it gradually, I found its fize was not in the leaft diminifhed. It loft a fixty-fifth part of its weight. It was evidently cracked, and was eafily broken, by the hand. It was equally foft as before, and as capable of being cut or fcraped. Its colour was changed from a light grey, to a micaceous yel- low. The piece on which this experiment was made, weighed between feven and eight ounces.
In various parts of the country is found that tranf- parent fubftance, which is commonly called Ifing- Glafs, (Lapis Specularis.) It is a fpecies of Talc ; and is found adhering to rocks of white or yellow
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HISTORY OF
quartz, and lying in lamina, like fheets of paper. The moft of it is white, fome is yellow, and fome has a purple hue. The largeft leaves of this curious fub- ftance are found in a mountain, in the townfhip of Grafton, about twenty miles eaftward of Dartmouth college. It was firit difcovered in the following manner. A hunter took fhelter for the night in a cavern of the mountain ; and in the morning found himfelf furrounded with this tranfparent fubftance ; a large leaf of which he faflened to the branch of a tree, near the cave, as a mark by which he might again find the place. This happened during the late war, when window-glafs could not be imported. The fcarcity of that convenient article brought the tale into repute. Many perfons employed their time in blowing the rocks, feparating the lamina, cutting them into fquares, and vending them about the country. This fubftance is particularly valuable for the windows of fhips, as it is not brittle but elaf- tic, and will ftand the explofion of cannon. It is al- fo ufed to cover miniature paintings, and to preferve minute objects for the microfcope. The difadvan- tage of it for windows is, that it contracts duft, and is not eafily cleaned ; but for lanterns, it is prefera- ble to glafs.
Cryital and Chryftalline Spars have been found at Northwood, Rindge and Conway. They are of va- rious fizes, generally hexagonal, and terminating in a point. The largeft which has fallen under my knowledge, was found at Conway. It was fix inches in length, eight in circumference, and weighed thir- ty two ounces ; but it was not throughout pellucid.
Allum ore has been found at Barrington, Or- ford and Jaffrey. Vitriol at Jaffrey, Brentwood and Rindge. It is generally combined in the fame ftone with Sulphur. Thofe ftones which I have feen are
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
fhelly, and the vitriol exudes at the fiffures. I have one, which has been kept perfectly dry, for above twelve years ; and it produces the white effforefcence as plentifully as ever. It was taken from Lebanon, in the county of York ; where there is an immenfe quantity.
Free-ftone has been difcovered at Hanover and Piermont. At Orford are many Slate Rocks, and a grey ftone, which may be wrought to great perfec- tion, either for building or for Mill-Stones. It is faid to be nearly equal to the imported burr ftones ; and is in great demand.
Iron Ore is found in many places ; moft common- ly in fwamps. It generally difcovers itfelf by the colour and tafte of the water, which runs through it ; and there are many fprings in almoft every part of the country which are impregnated in different degrees with it. Black Lead (plumbago) is found in large quantities about the grand Monadnock, in the townfhip of Jaffrey. In the fame neighborhood, fome fmall fpecimens of Copper and Lead have been feen. There is alfo an appearance of copper in fome rocks at Orford ; but no metal except iron has been wrought to any advantage.
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