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NEW-HAMPSHIRE CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Hon. JOSIAH BUTLER.

So. DEERFIELD, N. H., Aug. 26, 1846.
EBEN. MERIAM, Esq.

Dear Sir-Your letter of the 22d ult. making enquiries in regard to certain explosions, which have taken place in Deerfield and have been continued for several years, I will briefly answer.

1st. "Whether the reports are always during the night ?"

2d. "Whether they are continuous or abrupt?"

4th. "Whether they can be traced so as to determine that the convulsion appears in one direction from one person, and in the opposite direction of another person living at a distance of several miles, so that the origin can be located between the two?"

1. The reports have been heard in the day time as often, and more so than in the night. An explosion about one and a half years since caused the stone walls and a cellar wall to fall, and shook and jarred the earth and buildings. Last November, another shock building, window-glass, stoves inhouses, opening inner doors, and caused clocks to strike irregularly and tumbled stone walls within twenty rods of my house on the south road in Deerfield, and greatly alarmed the inhabitants. Another explosion the first of July last, which was succeeded, as rapidly as a field piece would be discharged, by ten or more lesser erports, was about midnight, and aroused every one from sleep. These three reports were the loudest that have ever been heard. The explosions have increased within the last two years, and have been heard in winter as well as in other seasons of the year.

2. They are generally abrupt, and very much resembling the blasting of rocks, and have been felt from two to three miles by the jar of buildings at the same instant they are heard; but one or two of the greatest appeared to the subscriber and some others, continuous, something like the earthquake, which was heard yesterday. the 25th inst., at 5 o'clock in the morning, in this State, and, as I learn, in some, if not all parts of Massachusetts-striking the easterly end of the house, and passing off from the north east to the south west. The earth and buildings, by the shock last November were agitated, or shook more than by the earthquake yesterday.

3. These explosions are heard in all parts of the town and also in some of the adjacent towns, especially in the northerly part of the town of Candia, to the extent of 15 to 6 miles in every direction from the place where the reports are supposed to originate, On the southerly part of Deerfield near the south road, so called, the explosions are the loudest, and the jar of the buildings is felt more than in any other part of the town, and I have therefore concluded that the reports are produced by some cause existing between or near the mountains and the south road. The mountains spoken of by a "Native of Deerfield," are on the line or between Nottingham and Deerfield, and the sounds are scarcely heard at the centre of Nottingham, three miles east of the mountains. On the west of these mountains at about two miles west from the mountains and near a small river called Lamprey river, the explosions are the greatest or loudest and most felt. The south road passes over a ridge of land three miles south west of the mountains. The shock in November last, which tumbled down a strong wall on the south road, was about as great near the said river as on the south road. The location of the explosions cannot be determined by the sound so correctly as by the jar of the earth and buildings. The jar is not felt more than three miles, but the reports are heard from 5 to 6 miles in every direction from the place where the explosions are supposed to take place, or from whence the sounds appear to come. About 50 years ago, iron ore was dug near the Lamprey river, but whether there is any combustible matter in the earth which causes these explosions I do not know. Respectfully yours,

JOSIAH BUTLER, Post Master, South Deerfield, N. H.

From the Portsmouth Journal. SINGULAR PHENOMENA AT DEERFIELD. The following is received from an authentic source, and may be relied on as strictly accurate :

Mr. Editor,-During the last twelve years, certain curious, not to say alarming, phenomena, in the town

of Deerfield, N. H., have excited the fears of the inhabitants, and we think, should ere this, have attracted the attention of the scientific. These are reports or explosions in the ground, apparently of a volcanic or gaseous nature. When first heard, they were attributed to the blasting of rocks in Manchester, a new town, some ten miles distant; but from the frequency of the reports at all hours in the night, as well as the day; from the consideration that they were so loud, and were heard in all seasons, winter as well as summer-it was soon concluded that they had some other origin. The explosions, if they may be so called, commenced on a ridge of land running S. E. and N. W., some five miles in length, and principally on that portion called the South Road. They have, however, extended, and are now heard in a northerly direction, The sounds have become louder, and during the last Fall, or the present Spring or Summer, as many as twenty have been heard in one night. Many of them jar the houses and ground perceptibly, so much so, that a child whose balance is not steady, will role from one side to the other. They are as loud as a heavy cannon fired near the house with no reverberation, and little role. Last Fall, some of the inhabitants were riding in a wagon when an explosion was heard, and they saw a stone wall which was apparently quite compact, fall over on one side of the way, and a second after, upon the other. The stone wall of an unfinished cellar also fell in. This can be attested by many witnesses. There is no regularity in these reports, as they are heard at intervals of the day, a week, and sometimes of months; but for the last year, they have become very common, and are heard every week, more or less.

Deerfield, lies in lat. 45° 8'; long. 71° 12', on the highest land between Portsmouth and Concord. The elevation of the summit, has been found by measurement, in the late railroad surveys, to be nearly 600 feet. The town is surrounded by hills on every side. On the N. W., are the Putaccoway Mountains, having three peaks, whose average height is 853 feet. On the North side is Saddleback Mountain, 1032 feet above the level of the sea; and on the West, a spur of Catamount. The town has never been geologically examined, excepting in the State survey of Dr. Jackson, and his observations were confined to the above mentioned Mountains, to consist mainly of scienate, granite, mica, slate, and a dyke of greenstone trap, crossing the summit of the Lower Pataccoway, dividing it into two parts.

These few observations have been made in the hope that they will draw the attention of the scientific, who, if they can show some natural cause for so curious a fact, will calm the fears of the inhabitants, and satisfy many of the curious.

A NATIVE OF DEERFIELD.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, County of Rockingham, N. H., September 21st 1846.

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Dear Sir,-Yours of the 15th inst., I have just received, and hasten an answer. Since I wrote to you on the 26th ult., I received several numbers of the "Municipal Gazette," and one copy of the New York Farmer and Mechanic," in which there was an account of the earthquake of the 25th August last, and which I sent to Concord, N. H., to have published, but it has not yet appeared. In these papers I found much interesting and instructive matter, and you will be pleased to accept my thanks for them.

In regard to the several enquiries in your last, I will answer as far as I am able. Since writing to you on the 26th ult., I have made enquiries in the towns and places, I find that the explosions, about which I then wrote, were more extensively heard and felt than I mentioned in the letter. Instead of 5 or 6 miles from a common centre-the supposed location of their origin. I learn that they have been frequently heard for one or two years past, in the town of Lee, situate on the Lamprey River, about 16 miles North East from this place, also in Epping on the same river, about 12 miles East, and at Pittsfield, 16 miles North of this, on the Suncook river, which empties into the Merrimack river at Pembroke. Whether the earth was shaken in those places as in Deerfield, and how long since they have been heard in those places, I have not yet ascertained. I find that the shakes have not only been heard, but felt within the last year, much farther than I had been informed, especially in the neighborhood of the Lamprey river; and that they have not been heard very far from the

river. The Lamprey is a very small stream in Deerfield. There is a small branch of this stream about a mile North of the South road, where the explosion was greater than elsewhere, in November, 1845. From all the information I have obtained, the explosions have been greater or heavier, at the junction of this branch with the main stream, about two miles from the South road, than at any other point in Deerfield. In the town of Candia through which another small stream, (whose source is Martin's Pond in Deerfield,) runs one and a half miles from the South road, and empties into the Lamprey, in Raymond. In the vicinity of this branch, the shakes have been heard and felt, but three miles South from this little stream they are seldom heard and never felt. It is now nine years next month, since these explosions were first heard in Deerfield, not 12 years as mentioned by a writer in the "Portsmouth Journal," but for several years they were not heard in other towns. The explosions, however, have become more frequent, and are louder than formerly, and might not have been noticed in other places as they now are.

To your 1st enquiry, viz., "whether the explosion was in the night of the first day of July ?" I cannot ascertain from any means in my power. It was the first of the month.

2d. Whether the town is healthy, &c. ?" It is considered very healthy, and containing several aged people, 3 or 4, between 90 and 100, and many between 80 and 90 years of age. The population of the town is under 2000.

3d. There are not any electric fish in the Lamprey river, unless eels are so called.

4th. Whether the shakes affect the water in the wells?" I have never heard. Pumps are much in use in Deerfield.

5th. Whether the shakes felt at Newburyport in May, are the same as those felt here?" I do not know, nor cannot ascertain. We have explosions every month, and almost every week.

6th. No light has been discovered at, or about the time of the shocks.

7th. The average depth of our wells on the South side, is about 25 feet, but on the plains and in the valley, near the streams, it is much less. They do not terminate in rock generally.

8th. As to the state of the weather, or atmosphere, preceding and succeeding the shocks, I do not know. I have never observed any material change, except in one shock which took place on the 12th of this month, between the setting of the sun and dark. It was then extremely warm, cloudy, and the atmosphere rather oppressive.

This shock was the greatest that we have had since the first of July. It jarred some houses, and was heard at a great distance. In Epping about 12 miles easterly, it was heard and felt by many of the inhabitants near the Lamprey river. There have been several explosions since the 12th instant, but they were very light, and not noticed much by very many of the inhabitants. It was continuous-a rumbling sound but of short duration-not more than two or three seconds. This shake was not so great, or did not jar the earth so much, as the three others of which I informed you in my former letter. We have had numerous shakes which were light, and not regarded by the people generally, being like, or similar to the blasting of rocks in the vicinity. I am inclined to believe that the shakes have been more extensive than has been supposed, and think, that those, which were heard at Newburyport, were produced by the same cause which occasioned them in Deerfield, as I heard them at or about the 30th of May last. We shall hereafter critically observe any explosions which may take place, and it may be in my power to give you more particular and correct information concerning them. I hope it will be in your power to visit this region, and make some geological observations. If you have a map of New Hampshire you will see the relative situation of the several towns which I have named, and may find the small streams to which I have referred. Could you have heard the principal shakes, and have made some observations as to the state of the atmosphere here, you would doubtless, have been able to have expressed an opinion as to the disturbing cause which exists in this region. Yours very respectfully, JOSIAH BUTLER.

N. B.-By a neighbor. The explosion in July, was the 10th, about 5 o'clock. The South road is over a ridge 150 to 200 feet above the Lamprey river.

Letter from HON. JOSIAH BUTLER.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, N. H., Dec. 23, 1846. Dear Sir,-Be pleased to accept my sincere thanks for the several numbers of the New York Farmer & Mechanic, one of the best and most useful newspapers printed in the United States, which you have been so kind as to send me.

Since I wrote to you last, a letter has been addressed to me by Dudley Leavitt Esq. of this State, and published in the "Congregational Journal," accounting for the shakes in Deerfield, and I have answered it in the "Exeter News Letter." I send by the same mail, which takes this letter, both of these papers in one envelope or wrapper to you, and hope you will read D. Leavitt's letter, and especially my reply in the NewsLetter, as it contains further and more information than I have heretofore communicated to you, or the public.

Also since I wrote the reply to D. Leavitt, which was published in the "News Letter," I have been informed that the shakes which have been heard and felt in Deerfield, within the two last years, were heard at the Bow Pond in the town, now called Strafford, and also in Barnstead, on the Suncook River, and in Northwood, near the Waters in that town. With high respect, I have the honor of being your friend, JOSIAH BUTLER.

E. MERIAM, Esq.

From the Congregational Journal.

Letter from DUDLEY LEAVITT, Esq., of NewHampshire, to Hon. JOSIAH BUTLER, of So, Deerfield:

THE DEERFIELD PHENOMENA, To the Hon. JOSIAH BUTLER:

Dear Sir,-Reading in the papers the correspondence between you and Mr. Meriam, of N.Y., relative to the "Deerfield Phenomena," induced me to address to you the following remarks, on the same subject:

In investigating the causes of things, the principles of philosophy require,

1. That we must be careful not to admit more causes of natural things than what are true, and sufficient to explain the phenomena.

2. We must always assign the same causes for the same effects.

3. Propositions and conclusions, deduced from actual experiments, must be considered true and accurate, notwithstanding any hypothesis to the contrary.

The cause of the explosions and tremulous motions in the earth at Deerfield, which have excited in the mind of some a considerable degree of wonder, if not alarm, was undoubtedly the spontaneous combustion of hydrogen gas (inflammable air) generated in the earth, and fired by a spark or flame produced by the chemical action of certain different substances on each other. The effect produced by the ignition of hydrogen gas, either above or below the earth's sur face. is nearly, if not exactly, similar to that of gunpowder, which may be satisfactorily shown by the following

Experiment. If a quantity of clean iron-filings, or small new iron-nails, be put into a clean glass phial, and as much clean cold water be poured into the phial as will just cover the iron, and then about onefourth of the quantity of water, of strong sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) that has been kept from the air, in a clean glass vessel, be poured into the glass containing the iron and water, a sudden and rapid ebullition will take place; the outside of the phial will feel very warm if touched or grasped with the hand, and inflammable air will be produced in the (uncorked) phial, and ascend out of the mouth of the phial as long the gas will explode, sometimes with a considerable noise, and the effect of the explosion will sometimes break the phial. Cases may happen, however, where little or no common air has found its way into the phial to mix with the gas, a small brush of light will be kindled on one side of the mouth of the phial or bottle, and blaze for some time, without any explosion. I have myself found, and most electricians and chemists know, that when the inflammableair pistol is charged with hydrogen gas, and fired by the electric spark, the report is like that produced by the firing of gunpowder, as was before stated. It may thus be demonstrated that if a considerable

quantity of inflammable air or hydrogen gas be confined in the earth, and take fire there, an explosion and report will be the consequence, which will jar or shake the earrth to a considerable distance. A like effect has been observed to be produced by blasting a rock at the bottom of a well eighteen or twenty feet deep. Such an occurrence came under my own observation within a few weeks. I was sitting in a room about half a mile from where a blast was made in a well. The report was loud, and the concussion jarrred the house very considerably. I inquired of my neighbor how much powder he put in for a charge, and he told me to commonly put in from a quarter to half a pound. But it must not be inferred that when the explosions here treated are often repeated, or nearly continuous, they all proceed from the same vein or reservoir of gas; there are probably many of them at no great distance from one another, generated and set on fire in the earth by the fermentation of a moist mixture of iron ore and sulphureous matter which was found blended together in various places, in small or large quantities. If the locality of a vein or fountain of gas in the earth could be ascertained, and if practicable to bore to it, the gas would ascend above the earth, as silently and harmlessly as the lightning descends from a cloud to the earth, when conducted by the electric rod.

Respectfully, your obd't serv't, DUDLEY LEAVITT. Meredith, (N. H.) Oct. 28, 1846.

From the Exeter News-Letter. Reply of the Hon. JOSIAH BUTLER to D. LEAVITT, Esq:

TO DUDLEY LEAVITT, Esq.:

Dear sir,-In your letter of the 28th of October last, addressed to me in the "Congregational Journal," relative to the explosions which have taken place in Deerfield, you say that "they are produced by the spontaneous combustion of hydrogen gas generated in the earth, and fired by a spark or flame produced by the chemical action of certain substances on each other."

Since the date of your letter, we have had several shakes, four of which I heard and particularly noticed. The first occurred at nine of the clock in the evening of the 29th of October last. Being in the street near my house, I observed that the explosion came from the east, or rather north of east, and passed off to the southwest. It was a rumbling noise, and continued from two to four seconds, resembling heavy and distant thunder, and jarred the earth and several buildings, as represented to me by some of my neighbors. It was heard by several of the inhabitants in Epping, near the Lamprey River, and about ten miles east from this place, and was as heavy at that place as in this and other parts of Deerfield and Candia. It ap peared to be deep in the earth. The next shake took place in the night of the 31st of October last. Another occurred about two of the clock in the night of the 12th of November, and the fourth twenty minutes before eight of the clock in the evening of 2d of December inst.; but these last shakes were not so heavy as the first. Before, and at the time these explosions took place, there was a perfect calm in the atmosphere, and rain followed the last. I presume you have not been informed of the frequency, extent and violence of some of the shakes, especially of those which occurred in May and November, 1845, which I described in my correspondence with Mr. Meriam, of the City of New-York.

It is now over nine years since we first noticed the shakes in Deerfield. In 1838, we had several severe skakes, but none so heavy as those which took place in May and November, 1845, and another in July last. We have had a greater number during the two last years than in former years, and they have become more violent or severe. The earthquake which took place at five of the clock in the morning of the 25th of August last, and which was felt in several towns on Connecticut River, in Massachusetts, in Portland and Gardner in the State of Maine, and in Keene, Plymouth, and many other towns in this State, was not so heavy in Deerfield, as one of our shakes, which took place on the 24th of November, 1845, in the afternoon, when stone walls were seen to fall by many persons, and a tremolous motion was felt in every house on the south part of Deerfield. In my house, the windows, stoves and doors were shaken, and it

caused the clock to strike. The shake in May, 1845, was equally severe; and another, in July last at two, of the o'clock in the night of the 10th, woke nearly all the inhabitants of the town. These shakes which have occurred within the two last years, have been heard in Lee, in Epping on the Lamprey River, and in Pittsfield, nearly twenty miles from this place.

I have ascertained that the shakes were heard very distinctly, and sometimes felt on and near the Lamprey River and its tributaries, and on the Suncook River, but they were heard only a few miles from the rivers and ponds. I have also ascertained that three wells about three-fourths of a mile east of the Lamprey River, were disturbed this year, when, or about the time, the shake took place in July. Though two of these wells terminate in rock, the water was found to be muddy. The water in one of the wells was suddenly changed, and for some time after the taste and smell of the water was very offensive, so much so that the family have not used it in cooking. From the account given me by the family of the water after boiling it, I think it must be strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur.

The shakes have occurred in every season of the year, and in the day-time as well as in the night, and often preceding storms; and several of the explosions would have been denominated earthquakes, had they been as extensive as the earthquake of the 25th of August last.

I have found in the History of Newburyport, that the earthquakes which have taken place there and its vicinity in 1838, and almost every year since to this time, were very similar to some of our shakes. Very many of the earthquakes in Newburyport are described as light explosions resembling thunder. In 1638 and in 1727, the earthquakes in that town threw down the tops of chimnies, opened the earth in some places, and threw up sand near the river, and were felt in Boston, but many of them are represented as light. There was an earthquake on the 30th of May last, in Newburyport, which was felt at Haverhill, Salem, Hampton and Gloucester, as I have been informed by Dr. Perkins; but I can find no account of that earthquake being heard in other towns, or at a great distance. I learn also from Dr. Perkins, that a shock of an earthquake was felt in Salem and the neighboring towns in 1821, but not noticed in the Newburyport papers; and also that three shocks were felt in Boston in 1836, but not noticed in Newburyport.

I do not pretend to much knowledge of Geology or Chemistry, but I cannot concur with you in the opinion that all the shakes which we had in Deerfield are produced by hydrogen gas in the earth. I have supposed, as the shakes here are heard and felt most near our streams and ponds, that they might be caused by the electric fluid in the earth, or by steam generated by subterranean fires, as earthquakes are supposed to be produced. Had not our shakes have caused an undulatory or tremutous motion of the earth, I should not question your theory. I do not apprehend any danger from the explosions which have or may occur at Deerfield, but I am desirous of ascertaining the cause, aud shall be pleased to hear your opinion, and the opinion of other scientific men on the facts I have related, and which can be verified by many witnesses.

Dec. 16, 1846.

JOSIAH BUTLER.

SIMULTANEOUS CONVULSIONS IN THE EAST. We present below two accounts of convulsions in the East. In the Red Sea, near the Straits of Babelmandel, in lat. 15° 7' North, long. 42° 12'jEast and at Pisa, in Tuscany, in lat. 43° 43' 11," North, long. 10° 24' East. The former at about 10 A. M., the latter at a little before 1 P. M. Saddle Island, in the Red Sea, is 31' 41' East and 28° 36' 11" South of Pisa, as the difference in long. will make the difference in time between about 10 A. M. and a little before 1 P. M. These two localities are about 2,500 miles apart.

On the 12th of August, at between 1 and 2 P. M., the shock of an Earthquake was felt at Fincastle Va., attended by a bright meteor in the atmosphere which was seen to explode.

An Equilibrium commenced on Brooklyn Heights

the evening of August 12, at before 9 o'clock, and lasted till near 7 next morning, and for the two next days storms of lightning, hail, wind and rain traversed an extensive surface, ranging from Natches, in Mississippi to Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. Several persons were killed by lightning, and great damage done by the hail and wind.

RECENT VOLCANO IN THE RED SEA. "A volcano in the Red Sea just bursting into action, was discovered on the 14th of August from on board the steamer Victoria, then on her upward voyage to Suez. The morning of the day in question was cloudy, and the atmosphere close and oppressive, without anything to indicate the approach of the squall that so speedily followed. About ten a.m., thick masses of vapour were seen to extend along the horizon from NW to SW. when a singularly vivid flash of lightning was followed by the rolling of distant but distinct thunder. The steamer was at this time abreast of the Zeboyer Islands, when smoke was observed to issue in a thin spiral column from what is set down as Saddle Island on the chart, lat. 15 deg. 7 m north long. 42 deg. 12 m. east. When little more than three miles off, the officers of the steamers observed a large mass of sulphurous-looking smoke taking the place of the vapour originally described; a sudden and violent squall then burst upon them, which obstructed their view. These phenomena are all characteristic of the usual concomitants of volcanic disturbance. Instructions have been given to have surveys taken, and a careful examination made all around, as nothing is more likely than that upheavals may have occurred and shallows been created, or that this may only be one of a series of similar phenomena now in prospect or progress. The Zeboyer Islands, and indeed the greater part of the eminences along the shore of Arabia from Aden to well up the Red Sea are of volcanic origin. Jibbel Teer, still so conspicuously marked with the characteristics of a recent volcano, is said to have been seen smoking by the officers of the survey in 1832. We trust that this is not the herald of the resumption of active operations amongst the Red Sea and Arabian volcanoes."

EARTHQUAKE AT PISA.

M. Pilla, Geologist to the University of Pisa, states as follows:

At

The day, the 14th of August, opened at Pisa serene and tranquil, like those which had preceded it. noon I was as usual in the Museum of Natural History of the university, and in the Hall of Mineralogy, where I was occupied in classing the minerals. In this Hall are several windows looking towards the plain in the side of the sea, and over the interior of the city, I felt a suffocating heat, accompanied by an inexpressibly painful sensation, I attributed this phenomenon to the air of Pisa, which is heavy for my constitution, and which made me say several times to the keeper of the Museum. "The air of Pisa is on fire today."

Never prophecy was more suddenly realized. At a few minutes before one I was alone in the Hall. The atmosphere was perfectly calm when I began to hear a sound which came rapidly from the sea coast. The impression I felt was like that of a boisterous wind advancing towards the city, but reflecting on the impossibility of such a phenomena occurring so suddenly in the midst of the preceding calm, I began to fear some accident. I cannot better describe this noise than in a line of our divine poet

Il fracasso. d, an suon gien di spavento,

DANTE Inf.

My suspicions were soon verified. The noise kept advancing with even increasing force, and suddenly the hall began to tremble. To this vibration succeeded a violent agitation in a horizontal direction, accompanied by a horrible rumbling, accustomed to these phenomena, which are not rare in my country. (Mr. Pilla is a Neapolitan.) After several unsteady motions I ran to one of the windows which opened on the garden of the neighbouring house, and there I was witness of one of the most terrible spectacles which are ever offered to the eye of man. The houses about were shaken in a dreadful manner. The trees in the garden by their motion announced the violent agitation of the atmosphere; these motions joined to those of the Hall, in which I was, gave me a sectigo which compelled me to support myself against the window

frame. The agitation continued evidently in a horizontal direction, going and coming, but with extreme violence. In this horrible situation the plastering began to fall from the ceiling. The cries which arose from the neighbouring houses augmented the horror of the scene. There was one moment when I thought the city could be swallowed up. Then, impelled by an instructive feeling, I mounted the window seat in order to jump into the garden, but a remnant of reflection held me back, and by degrees the ground became tranquil.

As soon as the shock was over I went out of the Museum and found the streets filled with people, who wore in their countenance the traces of the terror which they had suffered. Every where reigned that silence of which Tacitics speaks, which seizes the people when agitated by a common feeling.

After having assured myself of the safety of the persons who are most dear to me my first thought was for the Comparrile de Pise the leaning tower, I ran to see how it was. What was my surprise to see it standing and firm. What a spectacle it must have presented in that fearful moment. People who had an opportunity to observe it during the shock tell me that its balancing was a terrible thing to behold, but before examining the effects of the earthquake let us see what was its direction and duration.

The first motion of the earth was manifestly vibratory: there came a violent undulatory motion, which lasted to the end of the shock, except a slight lessening of the action towards the middle of it which finished by one doubly violent. The horizontal direction must have been the saving of Pisa. I observed it in the most distinct manner possible. If the sectical shocks had had the same intensity, the effects of the disaster would have been much more deplorable.

As to the duration of the oscilliation counting from the moment where the distant rumbling was heard, I think from twenty five to thirty seconds, some persons reduce it to twelve or fifteen seconds, but those date it only from the moment when the shock was most sensible felt. If the inhabitants of the country visited by the earthquake are questioned as to the duration of the agitation, they all answer, half a minute more or less.

It was to be dreaded that the phenomenon would not cease with the first shock. Two motions were afterwards felt distinctly, but of a more public kind. A great part of the population passed the night following in the squares and streets, overpowered at the sad news which constantly was brought in from neighbouring places.

The disasters the city of Pisa has suffered are slight in comparison with that they might have been. No one perished. The roof of the Church of St. Michael's is ruined, but without injury to any person. If it had happened the next day at the same hour there would have been many lives lost. A cross fell from the dome. The Campo Santo suffered some slight injury. The Comparrile (Leaning Tower) is unhurt. It remains to be discovered by examination whether its inclination has become greater. Finally, there is not a building in Pisa which has not been more or less damaged and cracked.

Letters from Leghorn and Florence describe the earthquake to have been still more terrible in those cities and the surrounding country. At Volentena a State Prison was thrown down, burying several of the prisoners under its ruins. Some of the accounts from Florence say that from thirty to forty persons had perished in that neighbourhood, and more than a thousand were wounded. The Grand Duke of Tuscany and his government have shown great zeal in assisting the sufferers and repairing the injuries produced by the earthquake. The Court which was in Sienne has returned to Florence. The Great Duke immediately visited the scene of the disaster, and subscriptions has been opened for the benefit of the families who have been afflicted.-Boston Daily Advertiser, Sept. 23.

THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY. The Earthquake at Florence and other places, so briefly referred to in the English papers, received by the Cambria, appears to have been a serious affair. In a letter written to the Boston Journal, by Mr. Hel

logy, one of the American Artists in Italy, the following description of the phenomena is given :—

"On the 14th of August, there was a violent shock of an earthquake here. I was engaged at the Royal Gallery at the time, (one o'clock P. M.,) and as it is a high building, standing most upon columns, the shock was frightful, for we all stood for the moment gazing speechless at each other, waiting for the time that we must be precipitated into eternity. The building rocked, and shook and grumbled for a space of several seconds, and the pictures were sliding and beating against the walls. No damage has been done in Florence, but accounts are sad enough from several other places in Tuscany.

The centre, or seat of the earthquake, was in the localities of the Due. Vicarati di Rali and Rosignano, bordering upon the Maremma. The greatest disasters occurred in the territories of Orcivno, Hisparbelle, Monticudajo, Guardestallo, Gocenzana and Nivago, and the distruction has extended to the cities in the neighbourhood, doing more or less damage according to their distances from the centre. Leghorn, Pisa, and Volterra, have received considerable injury; the first (Leghorn) scarcely contains one house that is not cracked, and some more are so much injured that they are deserted, and will no doubt, be pulled down. The Governor's house, and San Mareo Hotel, seem to have been injured most. I wonder the Hotel did not fall into a mass of ruins, for when I was there last June, I could scarcely sleep when there was a high wind, on account of the fear which the shaking of the houses occasioned.

After the shock ceased the inhabitants ran into the streets, or knelt down in prayer in their door-ways, and you can form no idea of the consternation unless you could hear an Italian eye-witness relate it. Soon after the earthquake multitudes of people were on their way to Monto Nero, to which the crowd were hurrying, men, women and children, to offer their vows and prayers and thanks. The distance is about five miles from Leghorn, and you can imagine what an exciting scene presented itself on a hot summer's afternoon in this moving mass of terror-stricken beings of all classes, high and low, rich and poor, making their way to the shrine of the Madonna, to supplicate her protection from further danger, and to render thanks for their present miraculous escape. During that night hundreds of the citizens staid out in the open fields for safety. Many slept, or rather staid upon the ships in the harbor for safety. It is somewhat astonishing that the famous leaning tower of Pisa, still stands a noble monument of the skill of the architect, which, neither the elements nor the earthquakes of the last six or seven hundred years, have been able to overthrow. The little town of Oricinao has been entirely destroyed, one house only remaining, one hundred and fifty wounded persons have been taken to the hospital at Pisa, from the surrounding country; and it said that forty died on their way thither. We have no exact accounts of the number who have perished in this dreadful visitation. It is certain that about eighty have been destroyed.

The Ganfalonier, of Florence, has implored and obtained permission of the Grand Duke to ask donations from the citizens in favor of the distressed families of those who may need assistance. This was done also some two years since, on the occasion of the great flood of the Arno, and great good resulted, as I have no doubt it will in the present instance; for the Italians are very liberal in giving of their means to the assistance of their unfortunate countrymen.

I have often thought that if one of our American cities should be so unfortunate as to be visited with such an earthquake as this, scarcely a single house would remain; but one vast pile of ruins would alone mark the spot where once a city stood. The thought is awful, but it should be a warning to all those who run up buildings four and five stories high with walls scarcely a foot in thickness. From fire, the inhabitants may escape and take a part of their property with them, but from such a shock as Leghorn has just received scarcely an inhabitant of one of our cities would be left to tell the tale of wo. May the Almighty protect us and teach us wisdom enough at least to preserve our lives by all such means as he has placed in our power. Journal of Commerce, of Sept. 23.

THE LATE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.-In the districts of Dariand, Rosignano, in the centre of the shocks, where the effects were most disastrous,

houses were thrown down, villages half destroyed, wells dried up, others filled with mud, masses of water appearing and disappearing, in various spots, bituminous waters left on the surface, and those who were not actually buried in the ruins, severely hurt and wounded, and the generality reduced to misery and destitution by the loss of all. About 40 individuals are ascertained to have perished, and more than double that number seriously injured, and generally in the head, who have been removed to the hospital of Pisa and Leghorn.

Whole villages have been thrown down in the Sautia, Lorenzana, Asciano, and Casciano, the centre of the oscillating motion, and about five leagues from Leghorn. At Voltera, a government prison fell, burying several prisoners. The number of persons killed are stated to be, in all the districts, 88, and 140 wounded, of which 58 seriously. The effects of the shock extended to Pisa. The vaulted roof of the old Church of St. Michael, fell at the first shock. The congregation had just left the building after divine service.

LONG ISLAND CORRESPONDENCE. Letters from BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON, Esq., the Historian of Long Island.

HEMPSTEAD, Dec. 25, 1846.

EBEN. MERIAM, Esq.
My Dear Sir-I cannot deny myself the pleasure
of telling you how much I was instructed and gra-
tified with the short interview, which myself and
friend Bolton had with you on Tuesday last. Your
theory of the atmosphere and the phenomena of elec-.
tricity and galvanism, appears to me, as not only ex-
tremely ingenious, but in strict accordance with the
principles and operations of nature.

I have certainly much reason to regret not to have made your acquaintance sooner, as I have thus missed many and great advantages, which might have been derived from your spirit of research, and diligent observations upon every thing presented to your view.

You could, and doubtless would, have essentially aided my researches into the geology of this island, by which the account contained in my history, might have been rendered more full and satisfactory.

I have looked over two numbers of your "Municipal Gazette" with very great pleasure, and cannot but think you will have rendered services which cannot fail hereafter of being greatly and extensively appreciated.

The ancient documents (in relation to the city of New-York) published in these numbers, exhibit your diligence, and a thorough acquaintance with the history of olden times.

I shall be happy to see you here, at your convenience, and will thank you for any document or facts ancient or modern, which may contribute to make a subsequent edition of my History of Long Island more valuable.

I hope this will find your family convalescent, and rejoicing in the expectation of speedy restoration to health.

I am, dear sir, very respectfully you obdt. servt., BENJ. F. THOMPSON. P. S.-I shall be gratified to hear from you at any time.

EBEN. MERIAM, Esq.

HEMPSTEAD, Jan. 6, 1847.

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My Dear Sir-I duly received your interesting and instructive letter of the 26th ult. and sincerely thank you for the same, as well as the additional numbers of the Municipal Gazette, a work highly creditable to the conductor and calculated to diffuse much useful information, in addition to the many statistical details which fill its pages. It seems you have not only been a considerable traveller, but a close observer of the phenomena of nature; and being somewhat of an enthusiast in science, with your eyes and ears open, could not but happen, that you should have a vast fund of useful knowledge. In relation to the geology of Long Island, it is not in my power to add any thing material to what is contained in the first volume of my history, compiled as it was from every source of intelligence upon the subject, which came within the circle of my inquiry, to this is added whatever I had acquired from close observation traversing on foot, every part of the island-one thing strikes the atten

tion of every careful observer, to wit: the water-worn appearance of every stone or pebble south of the ridge of hills,extending from New Utrecht, in the neighbourhood of Fort Hamilton, to the extreme part of Oysterponds; no matter to what depth you dig for water, the same internal evidence of its oceanic origin demonstrates that this portion of the island has been made from the sea, or that the sea in which it was once submerged had retired therefrom. Nothing like a rock in situ, is found upon this side, but on the north side of the ridge, angular stones are found, sandstones, granite, and great variety of conglomerates. Immense boulders are also seen upon the highest points throughout the island-but I have not the means of ascertaining the sub-stratum of the island as excavations and borings have only been extended as far as necessary for the obtaining of water-the existence of lignites far beyond the surface, of bodies of trees found at the depth of 100 feet and more, and in a sound state, are curious facts, requiring more light to explain, than has yet been shed upon the subject. You will flnd numerous instances of this in my work, and it would afford me much pleasure to have your speculation upon so curious a subject. In some places where the sand is finest and whitest, the most beautifulclays, resembling ochres are found, which are manufactured on the spot, or transported to New-York, Boston and other places to be made into various articles of pottery-below the clay-beds, we find sand again to a great depth, but as the centre springs intertervene, it is impossible, without incurring great expense, to ascertain whether the island stands upon a rocky basis or not. At Oysterpond, which is generally free from stones, Mr. Latham, from a single boulder on his farm, made 80 rods of heavy stone wall, and he thinks enough if the same was left in the ground to have made 20 rods more. What a mass, for a single stone! I know of three or four others in different places, either of which (if in this village) would be worth hundreds of dollars for building materials.

The fact of one kind of timber succeeding another is fully illustrated upon many parts of the island, particularly in places which have been burnt over, by the extensive conflagration so often occurring through the central parts of the island. In these cases oak generally follows, pine, and pine and red cedar follow oak. But in places where the timber is cut off, and suffered to sprout again from the stumps, no material change is visible. Your theory of Long Island, being a great natural magnet, is not only in my opinion highly ingenious, but true and capable of being demonstrated. Nothing is more common than to witness the most constant and vivid flashes of lightning, and loud thunder to the north and south of us, while the island itself escapes their effects altogether. The currents must, therefore, as you suppose, be conducted along the sound and the shore of the ocean, in consequence of the vapor constantly existing in their localities. I think the geology of King's county, and that of Newtown and Flushing, more interesting, and presents greater variety than any other part of this island. The north shore from Williamsburgh to Hempsted harbor, is in many respects like the opposite coast of the sound, preventing a similar soil and the same natural features.

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Dear Sir-Your letter of Dec. 26th was duly received, and inclosed was a letter to E. Marks, Esq., superintendent of the Onandago Salines, which was delivered as requested. I also received from you several papers, for which accept my thanks. I observed in the "New-York Farmer and Mechanic" of Dec. 17, 1846, under the head of "The Weather," that you have noted the temperature of the atmosphere for eight days ending Dec. 15th; also noted the degrees of the Meteoric Magnetic Electric Wires." This instrument I am unacquainted with, but suppose it gives you the degrees of electricity which gathers in the atmosphere. I have often thought that electricity had much to do with storms. In summer during the hottest weather when the barometer fluctuates but little, storms gather and are many times accompanied by electricity, which when very active seems to exert a powerful influence upon the temperature of the atmosphere, many times depressing it and causing heavy rains to fall when the due point is high, July 20, 1845, we were visited at this place with a very severe rain storm in which electricity was unusually active with heavy thunder. This storm commenced at 9 o'clock, P. M. and lasted about five hours with a dew point of 72 degrees, which is about the highest degree reached at this place. The barometer fell during the storm 25-100 inch. and the depth of the rain which fell was 2 50-100 inch. Sept. 5th it commenced raining at 7 o'clock, P. M. and rained about two hours, barometer fluctuating only 6-100 inch during the day; electricity was very active, rain measured 70-100 inch. July 11, 1846, rain commenced falling at 4 o'clock, P. M. with a high due point and lightning active, barometer fluctuating 4-100 inch, rain fell 50-100 inch. Sept. 3d. Dew point high, electricity very active with heavy thunder, the mercury in the barometer fell 10-100 inch, rain measured 1 85-100 inch. Many such storms occur during the summer months, showing conclusively that when a cloud becomes highly charged with electricity, and during a thunder storms when it passes from the clouds to the earth it depresses the temperature of the atmosphere, thereby causing much of its vapor to condense upon the same principle that it condenses by being carried up by moving columns of air as indicated by the barometer. Tuesday, Dec. 15th. My barometer indicated an equilibrium of atmosphere, standing at 29 70-100 inch for about twenty-four hours, at the end of which time it rose 6-100 inch. Dec. 16th. About noon it commenced falling with fair indications of a snow-storm. 17th. In the morning the telegraph announced that a snow-storm had commenced in NewYork city. This storm reached Albany in the evening of the same day; Uticaat 1 o'clock, A. M. on the 18th, and Syracuse about 9 o'clock, A. M. of the same day, and moved on toward the week at the rate of about twelve miles an hour. The barometer fell at this place during the storm one inch. The depth of snow which fell at New-York and Albany during this storm, I was not able to learn. In Utica it fell about eighteen inches, Syracuse fourteen inches, and less in depth as it moved west. Sunday, Dec. 20th. About noon the telegraph announced, that in New-York city the storm was over, and the sky clear, while at Syracuse, at the same time, it was snowing as fast as at any time during the storm. If those persons who are engaged in taking meteorological observations at the different telegraph stations on the line from NewYork, Boston, and from there to Buffalo, would furnish each station with the observations taken twice or three times a day, I have no doubt but that the pro

If it shall become well established, that anthracite coal-ashes, will answer as a manure upon the great plains of the island, the value of our lands (of this description) will be increased six-fold, and nothing, but the difficulty of obtaining water, can impede a speedy improvement of them. This town alone has from 10,000 to 15,000 acres of land, which the plough has never touched, and capable, by proper cultivation, of producing an immense quantity of grain and grass, thereby adding to our agricultural riches, and sustaining three-fold our population at present. Chemistry has caused a revolution in the old systems of farming, and is doubtless destined to effect still greater changes, both as to facilities of cultivation, and the increase of product without some most important revolution in this respect, Long Island must cease to be an agri-prietors would allow them to be transmitted, free of cultural country, for in the old modes of raising hay and grain she cannot compete with the towns upon the North river, and places made accessible by railroads, &c. I was pleased to hear of the improved condition of the health of your excellent wife and daughter, and sincerely hope they may soon be restored to health, I shall be glad to see you, or hear

charge, thereby enabling them to be published daily.
It would be a very useful record to all concerned, and
I hope that the matter may be considered.
Respectfully yours,

LYMAN W. CONKEY.

P. S.-You will do me a favor by writing and giving me your views in relation to thunder storms, whether

my notions are erroneous in relation to vapor condensing, more freely during those storms. Also explain to me the use of the electric wires, and whether they are of any use to the meteorologist, and if so how to construct them.

L. W. CONKEY.

VIRGINIA CORRESPONDENCE.

Letter from W. P. MILNOR, Esq.

SALTVILLE, Washington Co. Va., 4th January, 1847.

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Mr. E. MERIAM,
Dear Sir.--I hand you herewith my Meteorological
Record for the last month.

On the 1st we had a light rain from daylight until 10 A.M., cleared off in the night, wind during the day light, N.E. 2nd, rain-calm morning and night, wind fresh, S.W., at noon. 3rd, at 7 A. M., wind fresh, S.W., continued all day. 4th, wind moderate, S.W. 5th, moderate, N.E. 6th, light rain all day and night, wind N.E. 7th, light rain nearly all day, calm. 8th, light rain all day, wind variable. 9th, wind generally N.E., light rain all night. 10th, daylight, wind S.W.. from 2 P. M., remainder of day and night a gale from the West. 11th, gale. a little moderated wind generally, S.W. 12th, wind fresh from S. W., at night calm. 13th, same. 14th, light rain after dark, wind generally S.W. 15th, wind generally N.E. 16th, 2.30, P.M., commenced snowing, wind fresh, N.E., increased by sun-set to a gale, moderated about midnight, 6 inches snow fell, most in the night. 17th, 9 A.M., wind changed to S.W., 11.30, A.M., changed again to N.E., breeze moderate -very stormy on Clinch Mountain in the morning. two inches snow fell during the day. 18th, light snow all day about one inch, wind S.W., at sun-set very fresh. 19th, wind fresh all day and night from S.W. 20th, still blowing from S.W., but much moderated. 21st, wind moderate S.W. 22d, wind light, generally S.W., snowed all day and all night, snow disappearing very fast. 23rd, wind S. W. 24th. wind variable. 25th, wind fresh S.W. 26th, wind moderate, S.W. 27th, wind S.W., at 10 P. M., blowing very hard, continued all day and night. 28th, still blowing hard, S.W., light fall of rain at noon, moderate at night. 29th, a lovely day, rain at 11 P. M., wind N.E., generally, blew fresh from the S. W., in the night. 30th, another lovely day, wind moderate, S. W. 31st, another beautiful day, wind light and changeable, at 7 P.M., faint streaks of light visible in the heavens, diverging from the North as a centre, and spreading half over our sky--duration half an hour only. The sunset of night was the most impressive I ever beheld. The gorgeous colors of the West, as the king of light gave a last strong impulse to an expiring year, contrasted most strangely with the dark foreboding aspect of the East, when the Moon as she peered through the fissure of a maddened cloud, looked dim as her image in a sheet of water, ashamed to show her sickly face, while yet the Sun in splendor blazed, a cloud darker and more drear than all the rest, cast himself across her pale and gastly visage, and then the Earth was overpowered with clouds of the blackest dye, forming upon us as if full of dark and angry feeling, and we turned for relief, to gaze where the Sun in love and kindness kissed the West, and cast a deeper blush on its quite happy cheek, was the birthnight of a new year. Such was the picture on one side, the frowns of an offended Deity upbraiding millions for their misdeed and misuse of the many privileges bestowed at his hand-on the other, a smile of forgiveness and encouragement to better works in future. May such an admonition be impressed on all hearts. On the 19th, I had the pleasure of receiving your interesting favor of the 7th. The multitude of pigeons which visited this locality on the 27th of November last, were traversing from due North to South. The fact called my particular observation at the time. The weather was extremely cold on their arrival, and had been for several days previous, their flight from North to South, had evidently been forced by the severe gale and snowstorm of the 25th and 26th. They sojourned a day or two with us, and then winged their way Southward. I had never heard that their visits were attended with sickness, until mentioned by you. My enquiries on the subject have strengthened my own

belief upon that point, that although the bird may at times in its far flights use as sustenance berries of a poisonous kind, and to a slight extent make their meat unwholesome to those who eat them, yet their appearance cannot I think be made the forerunner of disease.

You will notice by my table of temperature annexed, several equilibriuus during December, that of the 16th, continued until 11 P.M., the time of my last notice. On the night of the 27th, the Mercury at 8 o'clock was 48; 9, 47; 10, 51; 11, 54; my latest observation, and at 6 and 7 o'clock next morning at 54. Very likely an equilibrium all night; during that day (281) the temperature vibrated but 4° from 6 o'clock in the morning until 11 at night; the wind during the time blowing a gale from S.W. The weather during the remaining three days of the month, was for the same, most extraordinary. On the 29th, the temperature at 2 P. M. was 62. 30th, at same hour 64, and 31st, at 3 P.M., 7 1-2. Such unusually mild weather has given a Spring time appearance to several kinds of vegetation, we dread its consequence upon the health of the country. The weather this month, (January,) is a little cooler so far, although entirely out of season. We had a sudden and hard gale of short duration on the night of the 1st from the S. W.

The descent of our river as you suppose, is a thrilling one, especially for the first 50 miles-I regret I have no means of ascertaining for your satisfaction and my own, the fall in that distance-in that space the contents of several tributary creeks increase the volume of water after heavy rains to a great extent, which in places where the fall is most rapid is pressed into a very narrow compass, by hills of several hundred feet of perpendicular height. The scenery of the most imposing character, the velocity of the river and the eminent peril of the passage, render a trip upon the Holstein extremely interesting, but far from pleasant.

Mr. Preston has had his new furnace for the manufacturing of salt in operation about one month. Its performance has fully realized his most sanguine expectation. The improvement made by Mr. Preston in this establishment, elicits the admiration of all who see it. His novel mode of suspending the kettles in cast iron plates, and an arch under the kettles, and have both proved very efficient when completed, and although in operation the furnace is far from finished. The whole will form a model of perfection in salt-making, not heretofore surpassed in any country, and a pattern for those who wish to imitate. The salt made upon this furuace is of a very superior quality, and will compete for quantity, purity, and beauty, with that of any manufactory.

The quantity of rain which fell during the month of December, was 2 inches and 69-100 of an inch, snow about 9 inches.

I am indebted to you by last mail for the Journal of Commerce, Brooklyn Star, and Farmers Mechanic, for which, please accept my thanks. I anticipate the pleasure of hearing from you shortly.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM P. MILNOR.

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Dear Sir.-In my previous communications to you, I briefly referred to numerous natural phenomena and indicated some propositions which if well founded would modify the received theory of the immediate causes of solar and planetary motions. I assumed that motions of atoms in chemistry and of orbs in Celestometry represent directly the uncancelled differences of attraction and rejection between atoms or globes, and express the same inversely according to squares of distance.

If two one thousand pound balls in all respects composed alike out of one hundred kinds of atoms be placed in space four thousand years apart, free from all other substances, let it be granted that fifty kinds of atoms in each, reciprocally agree to come together by an attraction equal to fifty pounds, this would happen with an accellaration duplicating as squares of distance decrease, provided the remaining fifty atoms are quiescent or offer no resistance, but if at the beginning, the appetences of one class are equal to the opposing force of the other the two bodies will remain in station.

If however the dispersive tendencies have fifty pounds ascendency over the aggregative forces then the two bodies must remove apart until an equation is attained, between their reciprocal attractive and repellant forces.

There is however no example of absolute similitude between the atoms of related globes and were they at rest, as supposed, the slightest difference in quality or quantity must originate motion to be equalled by greater or less distance and relative velocity.

All observation in the laboratory and in the wide domain of

the skies proves that any related bodies differing in mass or in kind of constituents, can execute a variety of movements necessary for adjusting their appetences, whether in near contact, or at points widely separated.

The departure of orbitual direction from a right line is a sequence of the one mass being greater than the other and the greater velocity of the lesser, demands wider spirality than the greater, while both advance around a common central line.

If any two mutually related stars should happen to be expressly alike in all respects they might, if not disturbed by other masses, advance toward the center of all creation in parallel lines indefinitely, or until attomic dispersion should happen.

The necessity for greater spiral eccentricity, as observed in the paths of lesser orbs related to greater masses, secures periodic equations of time and place, and when well apprehended will be acknowledged to be the only certain means to prevent collisions between solids in the celestial expanse.

The spiral path of the moon round the earth and of both round the sun were calculated by the ancient Herriaic astronomers for the long term of thirty-six thousand five hundred and twenty two and a half years, at the close which cycle, estimating from the equinoctial recession at the first of Capricornus, these bodies should relatively occupy the same attitudes with each other, but the earth and sun were expected every cycle of 24,348 years (25,200 ostensible years) to resume the same attitudes in regard to each other.

It is even boldly asserted by them that twice the Heavens have revolved around the solar system.

The theory was that orbs remain poised in space upon cones of relations extending between them and the reciprocal eminations were supposed to possess mitescent affinities analagous to accordaners in musical tones, while the opposing relations resembling discords in musick were also affilliated. Under this Theory of all the elemental properties embracing two atoms or worlds were repellant, chaos of their whole constituents was inevitable, but afterwards their period of night elapsing, a dawn of light and an organizing energy appeared and now the mitescent principle compromising all discrepancies arranged the new egg or world of being.

In animal aud vegetable physiology is witnessed a world of diversified agreements and disagreements in the elementary changes which for a while constitute the vital structure and manifest its functions.

Man's complex structure exhibits physically and intellectually concert and rebellion in many phasis and when some "interior embodiment," fashions the truisms of mind into instruments for searching the vast empires of abstract science, then are conceived the astonishing discrepencies in morals consciously attaching even in the same personalty.

The superior conceptive agency in the astronomer, orders his muscles to convey him to the observatory, commanding the relations of gravity and the law for disentegrating masses, as well as his own mere animal appetites to become subservient to star gazing.

A glance at such subjects shews the impolicy of forming theoretic systems out of less than a perfect knowledge of all the principles involved, if we would expect them to be immutable in all respects; a pretension never claimed or intended to be made by Sir I. Newton, for his astronomic theories.

But even if the Newtonian hypothesis of gravitation enlists no error, still the uniform variance of opinion entertained by his talented predecessors, now justifies careful revision and comparison.

Admitting the Creator gives impulse in direct line to every world and implants gravity outside of the mass to draw orbits into curves, yet must the same Creator also grant special impulss to all atomic action as a carrolary?

Even, if the magnetic property epitomises gravity and the expanding clectric attributes rive the oak, or if in efforts at equation along telegraphic wires, these qualities of matter hold contests, sometimes regardless of matter and sometimes fiercely agitating atoms and great globes, must all enquiries' respecting these phenomena be judged of only by some theoretic positions laid down by Newton? That eminent master of science did not so intend to fetter his subsequent votaries in celestrometry.

By substituting momental tendency as the opponent of the gravitating law instead of admitting motion as a product expressing the difference between the dispersive and aggregative attributes of matter, complexities of the theorems were yielded which no intellect inferior to his own could have unravelled and made consistent with the verities of Astronomical calculations.

Had Newton examined the related stars with Herschell and Struve, had he visited Davy's laboratory, or seen Frankiin's kite in the clouds, or the telegraph line or the photographic pictures, his principle would have been made less obscure and more simple.

Imponderable gravity after centralizing the sun and the earth, flies from the face of each body reciprocally and taking adversary or peaceable possession, holds those bodies ballancing around a common center if so, may not imponderable emination of luminosity, caloricity or electricity also traverse like space after home duties are satisfied?

An apple falls and the Aurora corruscates along the terrene shadows and truly at the vestibule of telescopic scanning Lyrics and Epics appear without light enough to read them.

All masses in a system all classess of systems, though varient as are the leaves of Valambrosa exhibit so many analogies as to shew unity of design and similitude of law thronghont the whole mechanism.

The cometary gems of future suns or perhaps sometimes infantile parasites to supply wastes in subsisting systems fly with electro-magnetic celerity in approximating our regions and as if committing a trespass seem to reverse their poles of headlong motion-repellence pursuing it as fast as it met the attractive invitations.

If two hollow india-rubber balls be compressed both will form a round body, but will fly apart on removing the pressure, and if very light they will alternately fly to and be rejected by a charged Leyden jar.

1 would ask what influence would concentrated magnetic forces have upon polarizing properties that disturb photogomic images! The circular or rather spherical departure of light from a lamp, shews it does to some extent regard the gravitating properties

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