Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-08-28

z OF the Probable changes IN the Globe
speaking of Arabia, says, ssArabia viii
out doubt can boast Of having been people
at as remote period as any part Of tIl
Globe. The high mountains of grant
prove the antiquity OF the country. A
the FIRST view Of il in map, il appears /
have been an island in the primitive age
OF the world. Before the existence of tn,
isthmus OF Suez, and when the Persian
Gulph joined the Caspian sea. Since
that time its extent has continually in
I creased; and in the lapse Of sofrfe cen
turtles, the straits of BabeImsndel viii
J probably be second point of contact be.
tween Africa and Asia. There is Arcade
but seven fathom of water between the
isthmus of Mehuh, or Perrin, which is The
usual passage of vessels. There is depth
,indeed of four and twenty faihnms IN the
wide passage. but this depth is confined
Ito the middle only, and is found no wl,ers
else in marS paris the sands and the
/ high bottoms prevent large vessels from
passing. The Red Sea is deeper ,hsu
the narrow strait, aud is aiaost every
where, between the Islands and rocks
which it contains, thirty or forty .fathoni.
Macy parts of II are even said to be un.
fathomable but this must be, owing to
the imperfe stioa OF the lines used in sound
ing; and, am persuaded, that hereafter
II will be large lake, like the Caspian
Sea, when time shall have shot up the
strait"
The terror which the yellow fever, So
fcalled, has raised throughout Europe, has
induced every enquiry into its true charac-
ter. The king Of Prussia has offere ed rich
lpreniiums for satisfactory answers to the
following enquiries respecting It. In re-
gard to the state of infected substances |;
ms connection with animal cxertions, the
discoveries of Chemistry; the duration
OF any contagious quality; its form or
character in different countries; i,s en-
demlc and local existence, and whether
confined to the sea coast.-Ail these en-
quiries appear TO be suggested by re-
gard to the safety Of life, as well as hy the
different opinions already adynced on
Ibis subject. The evidence of the sue,
cess OF the kline pox inoculation, IL with
increasing strength. DR.. Bremsr, of Ber-
I'm, reports, that in one hundred thousand
cases ct such incubation, no subsequent
small pox had been taken. And in Dem
mark, one report ascertains, that OUT of
nearly $4,000 persons inocu,ated, not one
died during the time or the operation OF
the pox. Sufficient time seems to have
e'apsea, TO prove that no, only is il tenn
porary, but an cHectuai guard agsinstthe
small Pox. To remove toe pubic scru-
pies and psejudices, the objection of in /.
terest should be removed. This has hecn.
done in Europe with great SUCCESS. The
experiment has been also made in Anne.
riea,> and the poor of the city of Quebec
have the kline pox gratis. The increase
of charitable institutions is found TO agree
with the love of liberty and The promotion
OF knowledge. IN London, il is said, in
Nay last, Six ,hcusaad cnarity children
appeared al st. Paul's, in new clothes.
discoveries OF the natural riches of our
country are received with ns,ional graft
trde. Professor Woodhouse, of Ph,la.
delphla, in the Philadelphia Medical Nj.
scum, informs of the discovery OF Maya.
nese Of the frs, quality, in the neiehbor
hood OF the Lehigh. LIS specific gravity
taken by w. HembI, sen. before ii had
absorbed water, was s,4l93, and after the
absorption II rose 10 3,7767. He affirms
that It's AR was equal in purity to thar af.
forticd by a specimen OF The foreign, Gen,
to him by DR.. Priestly, and he then re.
marks" II is useful to the physicians, in
consequence or the air il affords, and to
which some of the most violent diseases;
to which The human body is subject, have
gwen way, 70 the bleacher, paper-maIcr
and manufacturer ofgiass, as a destroyer
OF coionring matter, when combined with
the marine acid TO the potter, as giving
a black colour and assisting in glazing his
earthen ware, and to the philosopher and
artist, as containing gas, which, COM
oined with certain comhustible bodies, win
generate degree Of heat uoattaiuable by
osher means" He then adds paragraph
which we repeat with pleasure 80" AS
the science OF Mineralogy is little attend
cd 10 in the United States, the invention
OF this communication is, to induce gem
tlemen residing IN the country, to pay
some attention 10 the mineral productions
OF their fields, by which means they NAV
greatly benefit themselves, aud render The
most important services to the arts.'' The
/ professor then assures that his viii "a =,