the two former of these, every child becomes early familiar, and the others are too expensive to be embraced in cheap cabinets. Quartz. The first letter of the alphabet, quartz, is nearly pure silex, or silica. It is the most useful of minerals, except iron, being essential in the formation of all varieties of glass for philosophical instruments, such as lenses, telescopes, and microscopes; also, spectacles, window-glass, glass ware, crockery and earthern ware, brick, cement, or mortar, &c. Silica enters into the composition of most rocks. and is the principal ingredient of many. Most of the "precious stones" mentioned in the Bible, are principally silex. It is essential to a good soil, and constitutes a portion of many important plants. Silex forms nearly half of the crust of the earth. No. 1. Common quartz. No. 4. Rose quartz. No. 5. Limpid quartz. No. 6. Ferruginous quartz. No. 9. Amethystine quartz. Feldspar. This mineral, the second letter of the alphabet, is very useful, being the prominent ingredient in China-ware and mineral teeth. It is capable of being formed into door-knobs, buttons, &c. It aids in the formation of several valuable rocks, and furnishes important elements to soil. No. 10. Common feldspar. No. 12. Tabular feldspar. No. 13. Flesh-colored feldspar. Mica. Mica, the third letter, is foliated, and is known to most children by a false name [isinglass]. It can usually be separated into very thin transparent laminæ, or leaves. It is useful for the transmission of light, where glass would be broken or melted. No. 15. Common mica. No. 16. Smoky mica. No. 17. Iridescent mica. Carbonate of Lime [Limestone]. The fourth letter of the alphabet is a very important mineral. When calcined, it forms quicklime, so important in building, and very useful in agriculture. It constitutes all varieties of true marble, for gravestones, ornamental building stones, and statuary. It is much employed for lithographic printing, &c. Carbonate of lime is an essential ingredient in good soils, as it enters into the composition of many useful vegetables. Probably an eighth part of the crust of the earth is carbonate of lime. Sulphate of Lime [Plaster of Paris]. The fifth letter of the geological alphabet is of great importance. It is the substance employed to form the moulds for casting stereotype plates, making casts of statues, ancient coins, &c.; also the casts sold as toys. A common name is gypsum. It is highly valuable when applied to soils deficient in lime, or sulphuric acid. No. 38. Common gypsum. | No. No. 39. Brown gypsum. No. 40. Selenite (crystallized gypsum.) Clay, or Argilite. This is the sixth letter of the geological alphabet. Its most important uses are in the formation of brick, brown carthernware, and in aiding to form the best varieties of soil. No. 41. Potter's clay. | No. 42. Claystones. Chlorite. This mineral, necessarily embraced in the geological alphabet, is of little importance in the arts, but aids in the formation of an extensive variety of rocks. It is usually dark green and very soft. No. 43. Chlorite. Talc. This, constituting the eighth letter of the geological alphabet, is important, as aiding in the formation of those classes of rocks in which gold and silver are found. Talc is the softest of all minerals, and can, when pure, be cut with a knife without injury. No. 44. Common talc. | No. 45. Green talc [foliated]. Hornblende. Hornblende, the ninth letter, is important only as it aids in the formation of rocks and soils, and furnishes beautiful specimens for the cabinet. It includes several crystalline minerals, known under other names. cotton stone. No. 46. Massive hornblende. No. 50. Common asbestos, or No. 47. Crystals of hornblende No. 48. Radiated hornblende, in limestone, [forming, when de composed, one of the best varieties of soil]. No. 49. Asbestos [ligniform]. No. 51. Mountain leather. No. 54. Pargasite. Two or more of the preceding simple minerals, when united, constitute many important rocks. No. 55. Granite,-quartz, feld-| No. 63. Talcose slate,--talc and spar and mica. No. 56. Granite, fine grained, No. 61. Clay slate,-clay and quartz. quartz. and No. 65. Serpentine,~talc, No. 67. Porphyry,--principal- No. 68. Sandstone,-quartz, lime and iron. No. 69. Sandstone, clouded. No. 62. Chlorite rock,-chlo- No. 70. Burlington sandstone, rite and quartz. with impressions of fu coides, rain-drops, etc. WASHINGTON COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.-The Association met at Waterbury on Friday, March 2nd, and was called to order at 1 o'clock, P. M., by the President. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Luce, of Waterbury. The Constitution and the minutes of the last session were read, and the following question was taken up and discussed, viz.– Is it judicious for the people who live in those school-districts commonly called "backward," to secure the services of the highest-priced teachers? The discussion was quite animated, and was closed by the President, with remarks bearing upon the true policy of such districts in the selection of their instructors. Mr. McDuffee, of Barre Academy, then read part of the "Merchant of Venice," occupying the time and holding the attention of the audience for about three-quarters of an hour. EVENING. Called to order by the President. On motion, voted to hold next session at Barre, on the last Friday of April next. The following question was then discussed --: Should more time be spent and care taken to instruct the younger scholars of a school, than is given to the same number of the older portion? After a short discussion, the Association were favored with an address by R. L. Perkins, Esq., of Stowe, which was listened to attentively by the audience. At its conclusion, the Association adjourned. P. B. FISK, Sec. THE GREAT ARE PASSING AWAY. DEATH OF PROF. GOODRICH OF YALE COLLEGE.-The Rev. Chauncey Allen Goodrich, D. D., died Feb. 25th, aged 70. About ten days prior to his decease, he had an attack of bilious pneumonia, from which he seemed likely to recover, until the morning of the day of his death, when he was prostrated by a paralytic stroke. and at 4 o'clock P. M., a second stroke proved fatal. Prof. Goodrich was born in New Haven in 1790: graduated at Yale in 1810: became a Tutor in his alma mater; and then Pastor of the Congregational Church at Middleton, Conn.: was Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Yale, 1817-39; and Professor of Pastoral Theology 1839-to his decease. In 1820, he declined the offered Presidency of William's College. For thirty years he has been largely known as the Author of a Greek Grammar, Latin Lessons, Greek Lessons; and as Editor of The Quarterly Christian Spectator, Speeches of Most Eminent British Orators, and especially of the Dictionary of his father-in-law. Noah Webster, to the extension and improvement of which he has devoted much time and labor. Several editions have been issued under his care, the last of which-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, New Pictorial Edition-forms a fitting close to the labors of a long and useful life. DEATH OF PROFESSOR ESPY.-We regret to announce the recent death of Professor James P. Espy, at Cincinnatti. He was among the best known of American scientific men. He was for many years engaged in the profession of teaching at Philadelphia, but his Theory of Storms attracted so much attention, in Europe as well as this country, that he retired from the profession, and devoted himself to the study of Meteorology. After having explained his theory in all the principal cities of the old world, he returned to this country and has since been engaged as Government Meteorologist. Prof. C. C. Felton, the distinguished Greek scholar, has beer. appointed President of Harvard College. |