Information received by the Literary and Historical Society, during the last year, on the localities of Minerals, Mineral Waters, and other miscellaneous matters

 

[Originally published by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in Transactions, Original Series, Volume 2 (1831)]

 

Copy of a letter addressed by the late Quetton St. George, Esq. of York in Upper Canada, to William Stanton, Esq. and communicated to the Society, together with the piece of virgin copper therein mentioned, on 27th December, 1830, by the Hon. John Hale.

 

York, 10me. Juillet, 1806.

 

Monsieur — Je vous envoye un morceau de cuivre vierge que je viens d'acheter d'un Sauvage. Je lui ai demandé d'où il l'avoit eu; il m'a répondu qu'il l'apportoit de bien loin; comme je n'entends pas bien le mississagué, il me seroit impossible de dire au sûr de quel endroit; mais autant que j'ai pu l'entendre, je crois que c'est au nord ouest de cette Ville, à deux cent milles plus ou moins, car il dit qu'il y a deux jours de marche d'ici à l'endroit ou la mine est. L'on dit qu'il y a un lac derrière la Rivière du 16, le Sauvage dit que c'est bien au de là de cet endroit, ce qui me fait croire que c'est dans le 44me. degré de latitude ou au commencement du 45me. Je dois vous dire aussi que le Sauvage dit qu'il y a une grande quantité à l'endroit ou il a eu celui-ci.

 

Je suis fâché mon cher Monsieur, de ne pas pouvoir vous donner d'autres enseignements à ce sujet.

 

J'ai l'honneur d'être, &c.

 

QUETTON ST. GEORGE.

 

William Stanton, Ecuier.

 

NOTE. — The specimen sent is about two ounces in weight, and has been hammered flat, as if in the intention of putting it to some useful or ornamental purpose. It has the appearance of being virgin copper

 

 

Extract from a letter received from the Rev. Joseph M. Bellenger, dated St. Paschal de Kamouraska, 31st May, 1831.

 

Monsieur, — J'ai l'honneur de vous adresser différentes terres ou ocres, assez communes à St. Paschal, surtout sur la terre d'un nommé Modeste Frechette. Il y a sept paquets, qui pourroient, je pense, être réduits à trois.

 

lo. terre rouge, ou ocre rougeâtre.

2o. terre, ou ocre jaunâtre.

3o. terre noire, propre à peinturer.

 

Sur la terre d'un nommê Charles Pelletier, on trouve trois buttes, qui depuis environ trente ans, s'élèvent hors de terre annuellement. J'envois des échantillons de ces substances, qui paroissent du charbon de terre (Houille) pétrifié ou minéralisé.

 

La grotte de St. Paul de la Valtrie, dont j'ai parlé, il y a quelques années sur les papiers publics, abonde en stalactiques de figures très variées, et mérite l'attention des naturalistes.

 

Un No. du Mercury du mois de Mai, mentionne une tête de flèche indienne, (Indian arrowhead.) présentée par F. Bélanger Ecuier, trouvée dans le chemin de la Valtrie. Mr. Jos. M. Bellenger, Curé, a envoyé une tête de flèche Indienne trouvée dans un champ de patates, près de l'Eglise de St. Paul, de la Valtrie, la chose en elle même est de bien peu de conséquence, si ce n'est que cette flèche fut trouvée près de deux pieds sous terre.

 

Monsieur, Votre trés-humble serviteur,

 

Jos. M. BELLENGER, Ptre.

 

Extract of a letter from John D. M'Connell, Esq. Collector of Customs at Gaspé.

 

Fort Ramsay House, Gaspe 8th. Oct. 1830.

 

Sir, — This will be handed you by Mr. Benjamin Patterson who takes with him a bottle of mineral water for the purpose of being analyzed, the produce of a spring in the vicinity of Gaspé Basin; he, as well as the neighboring inhabitants being desirous of ascertaining its medicinal qualities. I think it a very strong chalybeate.

 

The Indians have also discovered an extensive spring here, which emits a liquid bitumen, possessing all the qualities of the Barbadoes tar; it is my intention to forward a sample at early convenience.

 

I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.

 

JOHN D. M'CONNELL.

 

Jonathan Wurtele, Esq., Quebec.

 

NOTE. — The bottle of mineral water did not come to hand.

 

Extract of a letter from Dr. Dorwin,

 

Machiche, 30th Oct. 1830.

 

Dear Sir. — The mineral spring respecting which you are desirous to obtain information is situated in the township of Fredericton, three leagues from Machiche Church, on the bank of the Machiche river, about ten rods from the waters edge. It issues from the earth like boiling water, at the rate of about three or four quarts in a minute, attended by a crackling noise near the surface of the water, caused by the escape of a gas. The result of observations made in a hasty manner, and without any great attention to accuracy, lead me to conclude that the water holds in solution several salts: muriate of soda exists in great abundance and its taste predominates when drank. Carbonate of iron is another ingredient, as is also carbonate of lime in considerable quantity, being found deposited as tufa in the bottom of the fountain. The carbonates of magnesia and of soda are also found in the water. The gas evolved is a compound of carbonic acid and carburetted hydrogen, on the last of which depends its inflammability. Its effects when taken are much the same as those of the Saratoga waters, viz., cathartic, diuretic, sudorific, and tonic. It is the coldest mineral spring recorded. Fahreheits thermometer when immersed in it shewing a heat of 45° only.

 

Mineral springs possessing nearly the same properties as the one now described are found at intervals of some miles between this place and the village of L'Assomption.

 

I have the honour to be, &c.

 

LEWIS DORWIN.

 

J. Morrin, Esq

 

Extract of a letter from the Rev. John Jackson.

 

William Henry, 4th December, 1830.

 

Sir, — It may be interesting to the Society to be informed of the existence of certain saline springs in the neighbourhood of Varennes; from which, tradition says, salt used to be manufactured in the times of the French. That may well have been the case, for the.supply of fluid afforded by them is very abundant ,as I myself witnessed when on going up to Montreal some years ago, I visited the place. They are situated about midway between the post road and the St. Lawrence, on a flat piece of pasture ground, and issue up through several outlets from what I would call a common reservoir, covered with a thin crust of turf; the ground sinking here to the pressure of the foot; but all around, beyond their immediate locality, it is perfectly dry and firm.

 

The impression left on my mind is, that the water is of a milky hue and somewhat of the like consistency.

 

I remain dear Sir, &c.

 

JOHN  JACKSON.

 

Jonathan Wurtele, Esq.

Corresponding Secy. L. & H. S.

 

Information received from the Honble. Mr. Justice Taschereau, respecting a locality of slate.

 

Quebec, 3e. Janvier, 1831.

 

Cher Monsieur. — Je viens d'arriver de la compagne, d'où j'ai apporté plusieurs morceaux d'ardoise que vous m'aviez demandés: il y en a de plusieurs espèces, rouge, noire et

bleue; toutes de la Paroisse Ste. Césaire en ma Seigneurie Jolliet. Il n'a pas été facile d'en avoir à présent parce que la terre est trop gelée et couverte de neige: mais le printems prochain je vous en procurerai de plus beaux morceaux.

 

Je suis très-parfaitement, &c.

 

J. T. TASCHEREAU.

 

L'Honorable J. Sewell Ecuier,

 

Juge en chef &c.

 

NOTE. — The specimens of slate sent resemble the Welsh slate, and seem equally fit for the purpose of roofing.

 

The Society has much satisfaction in being able to announce the existence of steatite, in quantities apparently inexhaustible; in the township of Broughton, a few miles south of Quebec; for this information accompanied, by a sample, the Society is indebted to William Hall, Esq. of that place.