The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-02 00:00:00

LINTERPO.OL MECHANICS' INAtiTUTION:

LECTURES ON PHYSICAL GEOGRAPIIY.

On 'Wednesday evening Mr. John Smith, the highly popular
lecturer on education &c., commenced a course of instructive
lectures upon the beauties of geographical science. We were
inueh gratified. to behold a still more nomerous audience than
any which hai hitherto attended the lectures, a proof of the
progress which the Institution is making in public opinion.
On this occasion the directors showed their good taste by p'e r-
mittingthe pupils of the lower school to have a gratuitous ad-
Mission, and it was particularly Pleasing to witness their atten-
tion and orderly behaviour.
As a Verbal or written description of any object invariably
produces its imaginary representation upon the mind,. it is
'important that such mental picture should, as far as possble, he
true and faithful delineation. In order to contribute in some
[degree to this desirable result, the lecturer had availed him-
self of a number of beautiful views on glass, painted with great
attention and by first-rate artists, for Richard Vanghan
Yates, Esq., to whom they now belonged, but which he had no
doubt would, throtigh the munificence of that gentleman,
shortly become the property of the institution, to deliver a
coarse of lectures upon a number orinteresting natural phento-
Mena. .4,g4, town situated like Liverpool, whose inhabitants
onifk were ei.ted directly 'or indirectly, with those of the most
'distant -eiiirts, no subject could be more iteportant thap physieal
geograPhy,' and the lecturer trusted that whilst the facts -he
might lay before them would instruct and amuse" them, they
world be induced to give a greater attention to the subject than
ihev might have previously, devoted to it. , '
It is exceedingly interesting to contemplate the vast changes
which geologY shows us to have taken place upon the earth's
surface. To these he should not allude, as they would doubtless
be ably desetibed in their forthcoming course of lectures on that
science by Mr. 4couter. The changes, however; that are is
progress cooling fegititnately under- the head of geographylhe
shOuld merely allude to them. Amongst the most important of
these,, and th-oSe is hich are continually in progress, mustbe
enumerated the action of running 'Water, the breaking-demi of
prominent hind upon the cbasts;the' encroachment of sand,
the formation of 'new islandS, the eruptions of volcanoes, and
the phenomena of earthquakes. Nor should the varied labours
.
of man be forgOtten.
• -Taking the globe as we now find it,. there would appear to he
only three-tenths
,of it dry land, to seven-tenths of water, a clis,
'Proportion, 'which, to one unaccustomed to observation, would
appear startling. Of this t reetent ha of dry, land, eleven-six-
teenths appear to be situated in the northern hemiSphere, and
only fire-sixteenths in'tbe southern. The quantity of water in
the bed of the sea deterinines not only the quantity of land
Which shall remain uncovered, but the precise level of the sea
in-comparison with the land. From that level all our. motto-
fain, elevations are Calculated. It appears, indeed, that in
some places on the earth's surface, the sea does not form the
same margin of the laud which. it formerly did, the water
having in some instances retired; but it is also ascertained
that it bas advanced in other places, thus causing no varia-
tion in the mean level. It was formerly the Practice to give
the height of the tides at Liverppol froman arbitrary level
at the Old Dock sill. Such a aalculation afforded no sort
Of dentin to persons unacquainted With the loCality of Liver-
pool, and it is to be hoped that the discovery communicated by
Captain Denham, at the last meeting of the British Associa-
tion, that the half-tide mat k is invariably the sane at spring or
neap tides will be aced upon, and that at eVery,post,calculations
as well as observations aid be made front this line. The general
colour of the ocean is green; arising from the same optical cause
as the azure of the sky. There are other local tints arising
(ruin a variety of circumstances. Thus; the Mediterranean
occasionally has a purple tint. Iu the
.Gulph of Guinea the
sea is white; and -at the Maldive Islands it is black, and in
some places it has been observed to he red. With respect to
waves, their velocity has relation to their magnitude. Some
large waves proceed at the rate of from thirty to forty miles an
hour. It is an error, hoWever, to suppose that, the water ad-
vances with the speed of the wave. The formonly advances,
while the substance, except a little spray above, remains rising
and falling in the seine place according to the laws of the
pendulum, similar to the motion of a field of corn when agitated
by the wind, or to that of a shaken rope. 'Of course in a rising
tide the water itself travels forward, but waves are formed upon
the surface of still water. The magnitude of waves is matter
of controversy. According to one party their greatest eleva-
tion above the ordinary level of the ocean is ten feet ;. ac-
cording to another, tweay-five, which would give double that
amount of feet for the actual height of the wave in a severe
storm. In reference to this part of his subject, the lecturer ex-
hibited a
.beautiful view of the Eddystone Lighthouse, the
history of which, as well as the destruction of the previous
erection by a violent storm, he took the opportunity to relate.
He also exhibited the 'appearance of a cave in the Island of
Anglesey, looking towards the sea. The bottom of the sea ap-
pears to have similar inequalities to those upon the surface of
the earth, and in some parts it is so uncommonly deep that the
ordinary plumb lines hare not been able to reach the bottom.
The water of the ocean is of different degrees of saltness, this
arises from the quantities of fresh water which are inter-
mingled with it at different places. We find occasionally that
fresh water springs up in the sea; an instance of this kind oc-
curs near the fort at New Brighton, on a part of the coast
Covered by the tide at high water.
Springs are generally considered to owe their origin to the
filtration of water from higher ground. Sometimes, however,
We Meet with springs on the very summit of lofty hills, still in
these cases we have maser' to suppose that they derive their ex-
istence front higher hills, distant though they may be, the water
uniting an unseen passage through various natural channels.
In some few cases, probably, we may not be able to account for
the formation of springs, except upon the principle of 'capillary
attraction. Some springs, such as Bath and Harrogate, have
their waters combined with mineral or gaseous substances.
Rivers owe their origin to springs, to rains, and to the melt-
ing of ice and snow on the mountain summits. The union
of various springs or meltings forms rivulets, which, following
thedeclivity of the grOund, merge at different stages into one
great channel called a river, the waters of which are at length
discharged into the sea or some great inland lake. The lecturer
then presented a view of Dory river, New Guinea. All rivers
in this manner take their rise from, elevated positions, and
thase are the largest which hove to travel the largest distance,
in consequence of the nuinerous contributions which they re-
ceive in their passage: In South AmeriCa, couriers swim across
the mountain streams, taking care to tie their despatches in a
handkerchief round their head, so as to prevent their becoming
wet. A beautiful *illustration of this was exhibited as of the
Mode in which passengers and mules are passednver rivers or
deep ravines. Tbia is dime by an apparatus called a Tarabita,
which consists of an endlesS rope Passing through a pulley in
stakes well fastened on either side of the chasm or river. Sonics
tunes nature presents instances of natural bridges across
this sort of places. A very remarkable instance of this occurs
in Virginia, United States, called Hoek. Bridge, which is des-
cribed by Me: 'JeffersPri, formerly President of the United
States, as one of the most sublime of the production's of nature.
w A vie of this was;presented to the audience. Travellers in.
England can have but a taunt idea of• the labour and danger of
crossing the Andes. :Many of the passes' are nearly, four miles
above the level orate sea. lit some parts'irien, who hare made
it their sole occupation, carry the passenger up the most steep
and dairgerouS paths, Where one false Step would heinstant death
do a"kind 'of 'chair fastened, to their hacks; but, in general,'
the journey is made by travellers as was. represented in a view
which certainly appeared terrific, mounted on that patient and
surefooted animal the triple. , In connexion with this portion of
his subject, the leeturer exhibited a spirited view of the silver
mines of Potosi, which were discovered by accident in the year
„15,15, and which have been productive to, this day. The silver
mountain of Potosi, which, situated. in Bolivia, or Upper
Peru, has no equal its the world. It rises to the height of 16,000
feet, is 18 miles in circumference, and forms an almost entire
mass of oie. In Cornwall, as well as ininany parts of Bag,
hind, theleare mines 1000 or 1200 feet deep, and such is the
exhaustion produced by climbing up. the ladders leading into
them, that the hardiest sailors have been subdued in the at-
tempt. It issa good half day'S work for the miners themselves,
and is preferred to the risk incurred in being lowered or hoisted
by.ropes. Sometime ago, however, the polytechnic society of
Cornwall having offered a premium of ten guineas for the best
contrivance of ascension and deScension into the mines, a young
meehanic inverted an ingenious instrument for effecting this
purpose, a model of which was exhibited, by the lecturer. So
important and simple is the invention, that it is in a fair coin'so
of being adopted at all the principal Cornish mines. It consists
of a series of steps and landirg-places ten feet asunder, so con-
trived that at each stroke of the engine, the man is deposited on
a landing either ten feet higher or
.lower he then awaits the
return sti oke when he walks on to the step, is carried ten feet
farther on his journey, and thus, in a very short time, either
reaches the top or the bottom of the mine.
There are few objects in nature which affect the imagination
when first visited, snore than caverns. They are usually •
found in limestone rocks, owing to the facility with. which water
dissolves that substance. They generally abound in ataiactical
columns caused by the constant chapping of water containing
limestone in solution which, upon evaporation, leaves the lime.
stone behind. Of these the fatuous Gretto of Antiparos affords
an exceedingly interesting specimen. The lecturer presented
a view of this cave to the audience, as well as one of the Vale
of Aleteora, through which the River luli (the ancient Acheron)
pursued its course in silent loveliness.

The lecturer next directed the attention of his audience to
the cultivation of the tea plant, in illustration of which herex-,
.hibited views of a tea garden, of a mandarin, his wives, ser-
vant, and plantation. The tea plant is a bushy shrtib, somewhat
resembling the rose or myrtle, and it shoots out leafy branches
almdst irom the bottom of the stem. When culttvated, the,
plants are set in rows, four, feet from each other, and for the'
convenience of gathering the leaves, they are artificially pre-
vented from rising above a certain height. The different qualities
of tea, arise from the age of the leaves, the, youngest being the
richest flavoured. The black and the green tea are produced
from two di&rent plants. The leaves being rolled up by hand
by females, are dried on thin earthern or iron .plates over a
charcoal fire. The merchants give it a second drying, and
separate the different qualities. Singularly' enough we owe
the origin of sugar to the same country that we are indebted to
for our tea. It was cultivated in China 201)0 years before it was
.known in Europe, and for a very long period even before other
eastern nations became acquainted with its use. Prom the va-
rious eastern countries the cultivation of. the sugar plant gra-
d-ually proceeded %estward until, after the discovers of America
by Columbus, it was conveyed to the West Indies and Brazil,
from the former of which England now receives its chief supply
ofsugar. tilt. Smith here exhibited a beautiful view of a sugar
plahtation and the Banyan tree, of the Cultivation of the former
of which he gave a full account; and having illustrated and de-
cribed the Cape of Good Hope, with its picturesque scenery
and Hottentot inhabitantsi, he concluded a highly interesting
lecture with thO exhibition of beautiful views of the Lakes of
Killarney and Loeb Leven.
The views .were shown by means of a magic lantern on a
screen, and. the room being previously darkened in the same
manner as theatre, the effect Was exceedingly good. Mr.
Smith' detivers his next lecture to-morrow evening, in which•
'he' purpose's making a tour to the 'Arctic regions, of which the.
views will be novel and 'characteristic.

It is said that the seat' for' Bridgenorth, which Mr. Henry
Hanbur% Tracey usurped for 'Abut six months. cost him six
thouganctp*,,nucis. This ispaying rather dealy for the privilege of
franking, and tae honour of , having P• ditched to o n e
names.

. At four o'clock yesterday evening, a large :American vessel,
which had been. bound for New York front Liverpool, was towed
into Kinstown harbour by one of the city of Dublin steamers,
distualited. . The crew. and .passengers ,were all.:safe. but the
vessel will have to undergo-general repair ..befor9 she can pro-'
teed on her voyage.—Dublin Evening Mail.

THE Use OF SINGING.--It is a striking fact, that in Germany
—the country where, above all others, singing is made a revular
-branch of education in the schools, and where-all are taught to
use the voice and musical powers with which. their Creator has
end Owed them, consumption, the most fatal disease of the lungs
in this country, is almost unknown. This is probably-in no small;
degrNi, attributable to the cultivation of the voice, and prfictice.
of the lUrags in singing. The cultivation of music, besides col-
aterally improvin!, the mind itself, is bigiily beneficial to health
nd good spirits, as all must be able to testify who have practised
•he art of singing. Unfortunately for the young, it is nearly
unknown, or at least very little practised by the youth in this
country.

rmE, LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

fi:bipping Intellicsattr.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27.-14 ind E.
ArumEn.—Columbos, De Peystcr, from New York.
SAT LED.—Kingston, Alsop, for Africa.

William Ritchie. Rodgers. from Belfast at New Orleans
:ind Ambassador, hence, at ditto
British Heroine, hence. at Mobile
Gleaner, Maxwell, and Fairfield. Slick, hence, at Savannah
Uri wfOrd, Lawrence, hence, at New York„27th Jan
Michigan, from Now Orleans, at Havre
Caled6nia, ff from New Orleans o'Youghall, With inst
Carena. Hayden, from Trieste, oil the Saltees, 23th inst
Echo, ISlallett, from• New Orleans off Holybead,-25th inst •
Isabella (barque) off Ormshead 26th instant
Jane, Roberts, from Bristol ; Ent. rprise, Gibbs, from London ; Lady
Anti, Barcham, frrim Poole; jane'and Ann, with the cargo saved from
the I.iverpool, at 13r;antnarie-,111 for this port
NEW YORK, Jan. 31.—TLie Grenada, Tuzo; front Trinidad for Sa-
vannah, went on shore on tne South Breakers, liith instant. during
thick weather,„and it is feared will. be • lost : crew saved. FEB. 1.-
Accounts have been received of a tremendous gale on the coast of
CaliTornia, in which several vessels were lost or.much damaged
Charlemagne, Richardson, from New York, oft* the Lizard 20th
instant. On the 19th, saw a barque •taking the crew of a brig.
Passed ten sail disabled by the heavy sea, but could not communicate
with them •
Coax Feb. 19.—The Nailer, from Africa for Liverpool, on shore
at this port the 15th instant, has bsen run foul of, and cut down to
the water's edge abaft, arid it is supposed Must discharge

W4DNESD AY, FEBRUARY 28.—Wind E. moderate.
SAILF.D.-JF,tml V Pa biier, Easter, for Constantinople, Stn.—Martha
Calee, Lowther, the' Dunk Jeatt, for I;ahia—Preponitis,
lioweg. for llobil,.Constant, Van Schie, for AntWerp—tdone, Colpk-
bain, for Batavia—Spey. Dobson, for Madeira, 'Ste -Isaac Hick's, in-
11,,•rsolls.for New Orleans—United States.-Turnerjor Philadelphia—
Harriet, Wilson, for Bahia—Orozimbo, Crocker, for New Orleans—
Rhoda, Paul, for Antigua—and Gondola, Renne, for New York.

Palinurus, Nor Man, and Murray; lionston, hence at Jamaica
Rapid, Thomas,-hence at ditto 17th Jan.
James Ray, Qraysnn, frnin London, at ditto, 18th
Zeno; Lawson, hence for St Jiihn; N.B. put into Rio Bueno, (Ja-
maica) 29th ylt. after being out eight weeks •
hledora„Harrison, hence at Barbadoes, 12th Jan.
Sophia, , frbm Monte Video, at Havana
Francis, Russell; hence at St. Thomas 14th Jan.
Rochdale, NeversOn, hence and:Madeira. at St. Vincent
Limena, Snowdon, hence at Trinidad 25th Dec.
Robert Syera, Nichol, hence at laguira 12th Jan.
Anne Baldwin, Crawiord, hence at Valparaiso
Horsford, Warnock, and Mercer, Mercer, hence at Leghorn
Cynosure, Brice, and Win. Harris, Luly, hence at Trieste
Marengo; Gillespy, from New York, at' Deal . ,• • Margaret, —, from Sierra LeOne for this port, is supposed to
have put into Antigua
Albyn,,--, sailed from Jamaica for this port 13th Jan. and the
Jamaica was to soil for this port the 20th • • • •• -
Sarah, Adey, sailed from Leghorn for this port•lhe Bth instant •
Laura, Day, sailed from Vilest rot this port 10th instant
Sarah, from St. 'John, N. 8. at the COre.
Caledonia, Coffin, from New Orleans.; at ditto
A large brig, from Jersoy orGuernsey,.was seen ashore at the North
and South Rock the 28th instant, and-expected to'be a total wreck
Spartan, Leitch, was lost the 17th Sept. near Pacasruago, (Central
America)
. .
• A ship dismasted, with a ship and brig in attendance, was passed.
18th instant, about 45 miles E. and S. of Scilly, by the Carrabou,
Portetis, arrived at Star Cross, from Monte Video
A large three masted vessel was reported off the Engstones, (county.
of Wicklow) from whence she dragged, and was'obliged to cut away
- her masts " • • .
Oporto. Smith; hence for Oporto, was spoken 15th instant, in
50, long. 7 48
Mary Hartley. Jones, hence for Antig,ua, was spoken 16th instant,
in lat. 49 39, long. 8 39, with loss of foreyard
Coca, Feb. 21.—Part of the masts of a schooner, (supposed the
Fanny Voase) are visible the wreck is about a mile south of the
Light-hduse, in about 1 fathoms of water, and on a rocky bottom
Wrxebity. Feb. 26.--The Paragon, from Liverpool for Pernambuco
went to pieces on the evening of the 24th instant ; part of the cargo
saved . • • .
PENZANCE. Feb. 25.—A quantity of wreck is driving on shore
from a vessel that must have gone to pieces last night, as the oranges
(St. Michael's) are quite fresh ; apiece of• stein timber has come on
shore painted' 'green, and black above, and an upper bar of a crate
marked It. W. & B.C. St S 7 '
DUBLIN,. Feb. 27,—The Volusa, of Salcombe, and Bowan, of Bel.:
fast, are wally lost near Drogheda ; crews drowned. The Dundalk,
of Dundalk, is on shore at Balbriggan, and likely to become a total
wreck

THURSDAY, MARCH 1.
ARRIVED.—IsabeI, Graves, ffoni Lima—and New Orleans, Broad
foot, for New Orleans.

SAILED,—Europe, Marshall, for New York—Emigrant, Petrie, for
Savannah—Hercules, Snow, for Mobile—Adriana. Jones, for Berbice
—Gondola, Rennie, from New York—and• David Cannon, Broadfoot,
for New Orleans.
Olive & Eliza, from New Orleans for Liverpool ; and Benney, and
Rachel; from Charleston, were spoken 20th Feb.
Agnes. Broadfoot, hence at Arico
Henry Leeds, sailed from F1010,...ad for Mobile 28th Feb.
Eliza Johnstone, Petrie, from Pernambuco for Liverpool, at Water-
ford; sailed 16th Jan,
Fenwick Keeting, Allailbr, hence at the Cove, with loss of rudder
and leak, out 42 days, botffid to St. John, N.B.
Kensington, Curtis, hence, at Miramichi
Superb, Boult, hence for Pernambuco. at Kinsale, with damage,
having been in contact with an Arherican ship, the latter lost bowsprit,
foremast, and figurehead
Mohawk, and Victoria, from New Orleans, at Havre
WExFoa, Feb. 27.—The Orisa, Crawford, from Glasgow for Bris-
tol, was driven on shore at Ballimony ; cargo expected to be saved
TUR LIN, Feb. 23 —The Clydesdale, simpson, hence for New-
foundland, has put back into this Cove, under jury foremast and much
damaged