The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1821-07-11

,he thunder and lightning was over, tbsmas>
ter miner ventured down to the cntrsnce of
The gallery, and could sec nothing, but heard
o noise, which lasted for some time, and
scent Of sulphur and ssltpetre continued for
several hours, which changed TO an insup.
portable stencil. The waters absted by de-
grees, but continued to the last 70 take fire if
lamp was brought near the surface, though
the l,me might be easily exlinguished by tho
tanning Of hat ~
Peirifaetions 1T is question OF considera-
BILE importance among naturalisis, 70 ascertain
the time employed by nature in petrifyipg bo.
dies of an ordinary size. Leopold Empor-
or of Gerrf,aDy, was desirous that some steps
should be takeo for deciding this Question:
The Chevalier de Baillu, director of his cabi-
net Of natural history, and some other natural
lists conceived the idea Of making researches
which might throw some light on the subject.
All modern geographers and historians agreo
in stating that certain pillars seen in the Dan
ube, in Servia, near Belgrade, are the remains
Of the bridge which Trajan constructed over
that river. IL was presumed that these pal
lars, having been preserved for SO many ages
must be pettifed, and tina, they would furnish
some Information respecting the time which
nature employs in changing wood into stone.
The Emperor wishing TO satisfy his curiosity
ordered his ambassador at the court Of Con-
stantinope to ask permission to take up from
the Danube one OF the pillars of Tesgsn's
b.idge. IL was ,anted, and one Of the pill
lars was accordingly taken up, from which il
appeared that tie petrifactiou had advanced
no further Than ;hree quarters OF an inch in
The space of 500 years.
When tho foundations OF the city Of Quebec
in Canada were dug up, a petritied savage was
found among the last beds TO which the work.
men proceeded. Although it was impossisie
to form any judgement at the time at which
this man had been buried under the ruins,
yet his culver and arrows were in COED, pre-
servstioo.--In digging lead mine in Der.
byshire, in l744, q humao skeleton was found
among stag's norns. II was impossible TO say
how many ages this carcase had lain there.
In l695, the entire skeleton OF an elephant
was dug up 10 Thudngia, IN Germany; and
some time before, The pettihed skeleton Of a
crocodile was found in tho mines of that coun-
uy. About the beginning Of the las, centuiy.
the curate Of S essrp, in the Swedish prov.
ince Of Schonen, and several Of his parishon-
cts, digging ,urf in a dsained ma,shy soil,
found some feet below the surface of the
grouad an entire cart with the skeletons Of the
horses aud carter. Il is presumed that ,here
had once been lake or pond on that spot, aud
that the carter had perished in attempting TO
pass over upon the ice.
BY the falling down Of piece of the cliff,
on Walton shore, near Earwich, the skeleton
OF an enormous aoimal was discovered, mca.
surfing nearly 80 feet in iength.--Soms of,he
bones we're nearly as large as a mans body,
aod six or seven feet long the cavities which
cootansd the marrow, were large enough to
admit the introduction of a mans arm the
bones on being handled, broke to pieces. Ono
of the molar teeth was carried to Colchester,
by Mr.. w. Jackson, who took il from tho
spot, in whose possession it now Is il weighs
seven pounds, is of square form, and grind
Ing surface {; il is studded with several zig gag
rows Of iamina, which seems to denote that
| 1t belonged to a carnivorous animal.-There c
were moro teeth, which were unfortunately
broken, one Of which weighed twelve pounds
| 1t is probable tha, the ,usSs will be found, by
| searching further into The cliff, or amongst
the earth which has fallen down. The above
| skeleton is supposed to belong to an animal
OF the same species as that called the Nam
mouth hhe remains of which have been
found in North America, Great TartaIy, SC.
A aborer 10 stone quarry in the village
Of Paotin, near Paris, having detached a large
block OF stone, found in the middle skeleton
of a ram petrifed. Each part Of the stone
contained a pet feet half Of tho animal the
parts were very destinct. The block was dug
out OF a natural rock, at the depth of 80 fec,
from the summit Of the quarry. A petfifac'
ton so curious, was Immediately deposited In
the Nuxeum bG Ns,uta, His,o,v