ART. II. _On the Geology, Mineralogy, Scenery, and Curiosities of Parts of Virginia, Tennessee, and the Alabama and Mississippi Territories, &c. with Miscellaneous Remarks, in a letter to the Editor._ By the REV. ELIAS CORNELIUS. _To Benjamin Silliman, Professor, &c._ SIR, Having recently returned from a tour of considerable extent in the United States, I avail myself with pleasure of the first leisure moment, to communicate, agreeably to your request, some facts, relative to the Mineralogy and Geology of that part of the country through which I passed. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 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._