The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-23 00:00:00

THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS.

At the last sitting but one of the Academy o
Sciences, M. d'Archiac read a report on a paper
presented in April last by M. Gaudry, relating to
the geology of the island of Cyrus, the author and
M. Damour having, in 1853, been entrusted by the
Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, as well as
by the Museum of Natural History, with a scien-
tific to that country. M. Gaudry's essay
is divided into three parts—the first treats of the
physical nature of the soil and its mountains ; the
second of the minerals which it contains ; and the
third is a detailed catalogue of the specimens col-
lected during his tour. The island of Cyprus has
two chains of mountains— the Cerines to the north,
and the Olympic range to the south ; between these
lies the plain of Nikosia. The Cerines, which end
in a narrow tongue of land called the Karpas, are
26 leagues in length, and from two to three in
breadth ; their highest point, Mount St. Hilarion, is
1,018 metres above the level of the sea. The Olym-
pic range, intersected by transversal valleys, has
greater altitudes Mount Machera rises 1,444
metres above the level of the sea, Mount Adelphe
1,639, and Mount Troodos 2,007. The oldest sedi-
mentary rocks in the island consist of black, gray,
or while limestone, sometimes superficially red,
emitting a bituminous smell when struck with the
hammer. It contains no organic remains and forms
the axis of the Cerines for a space of 24 leagues, its
breadth being one league. It is flanked on each
side by tertiary rocks consisting of sandstone of
various kinds. The white marl which follows gives
one half of the island that peculiar feature which
distinguishes the coasts of Syria and Asia Minor.
This marl gradually merges into pure chalk. It
contains but few fossils chiefly the Astrcea Guet-
tardi, the Chenopas pes-graculi, and the Toxobris-
sus crescenticus. There are also beds of silex, and
powerful gypsum strata, met with in the eastern
part of the island, chiefly at Camares and Neta, and
in the western at Drimou. The igneous rocks cover
about a quarter of the surface of the island, and
constitute the Olympic chain. Most of them are
ophitic and serpentine rocks, the latter rich in
nickel, and comprising also eupholite. Among the
ophitic rocks, ophitone is the most frequent, which
often degenerates into aphanite. Iron, as a hydrate
and sulphate, as also sulphutets and carbonates of
copper, peroxide of manganese, &c., are frequently
met with. Iu speaking of the minerals the island
contains, M. Gaudry chiefly mentions hyaline
quartz, jasper, agate, opal, various zeolites, and
emeralds. The catalogue comprises 1,696 specimens
of rocks now arranged in the museum of the Gar-
den of Plants, and 72 sections of the soil of Cyprus
with explanations. The report recommends that
M. Gaudry should be enabled to continue his inves-
tigations.

THE GREAT SHIP.—The preparations for the
almost immediate starting of the Great Eastern are proceed-
ing with very satisfactory rapidity; and in the meantime
the interest of the public in the undertaking increases
almost hourly. The office in King William-street is daily
crowded with applicants, some for tickets to view, but the
great majority for passages for the experimental trip, which
will positively take place about the middle of next month.
Already a very large number of berths have been engaged.
The bar silver b -ought by the last West India
steamer has been disposed of at 610., showing an advance
of id. per oz. The Mexican dollars have also been sold at
600., or id. above the rate realised after the last packet,
although id. lower than that obtained for the quantity from
the United States early last week,
The Brussels Independance reports that General
Changarnier does not intend to avail himself of the
amnesty.
WARLIKE PREPARATIONS.—During the last few
days engineer officers have made surveys in Waterford
harbour, preparatory to the erecting of a battery at Creden
Head, and batteries near the inlets of Broomhill and Ar-
thurstown.—Clonmel Chronicle.
The amount of Australian gold known to be at
sea on board five ships is £560,000, of which £313,000 is
due. The Avon, with £208,000, has been out 93 days ; the
Prince of the Seas, with £105,000, 86 days; the Star of
Peace, with £40,000, 79 days ; the Eagle, with £126,000, 74
days; and the Deechworth, with £BO,OOO, 72 days.