Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-11-08
CAPTAIN SYMMES.

CAflAlN SfMMES.
The Wheeling Gazette of the 29th ult. fur
nishes the following outline of the theory adj
vanced by Captain symmes, respecting the
formation of the Garth
On the evenings Of Monday & We'd
nesday Of The present week, Mr.. Rey-
nolds, delivered lectures to the citizens
of TINS place, on capt. Symmes's new
theory Of the world. All who heard
him were much gratifed, many were
convinced Of the plausihility, and some
of the truth of the theory.
Capt. Symmes supposes the south
polar opening to be 5000 miles in diam
eter, the verge commencing on one
point, at lat. 46, and on the other at lat.
81. Mr.. r. in his lectures confined his
observations principally to the north
polar opening, which is supposed to
be also miles in diameter, the verge
commencing on the continent of Eu-
rope, at lat. 6S, and on the Pacific
ocean 1t lat SIS. The captain has been
able thus infinitely to locate the verge,
from facts acquired by diligent re-
search and thorough investigation OF
the narratives Of different navigators.
He finds it indicated BY the dark color
of the sea. in its corresponding lati-
tudes, by its being the coolest part Of
the earth, and by tracing around it u
similarity in the productions ofnaturc:
he variation and dip Of the magnetic
needle, sc sc.
The shape of the earth at the verge,
independently Of its high latitude, he
argL:s is the cause OF intense cold, for
the same reasons that elevated situa-
tons in any part Of the world are the
Coolest; and the temperate e OF the at
mosphere in all parts of the earth equi-
distant from the verge will be the same;
hence we find the climate in England
Corresponds TO the climate in the state
Of New-York, both being about the
same distance from the verge. Where
as, ii the earth was spheroid, as is
generally supposed, the heat would be
in proportion to the distance from the
equator, which, it is well known, is not
the case. Many other phenomena Of
nature, hitherto considered inexplica-
be, are satisfactorily and nationally ac-
counted for by supposing the earth TO
be open at the poles, and hollow within.
For instance, the aurora Borealis, the
,ariation and dip of the needle, and o.
Tiers. which we will presently mention.
Navigators in high laiitudes, have fire.
Iutntly found the log lines, and celes-
tial ooser, atoms to indicate ourveture
Of the earth, which they thought i, in-
possible they could have passed over,
and at other times, they sailed an as
tonishing distance, before they gained
the natural curveture. If we suppose
they were sailing, in the first instance,
on the verge, and in the second, around
it, the solution will be easy In the
same regions, objects have been seen
80 miles and more, and the sun has
appeared TO Barrcntz, and other navi-
gators many days before his astronom-
ical time, these phenomena have been
accounted for, on the principles Of re-
fraction, but the new theory affords an
explanation far more satisfactory
Many curious facts, such as the mi
grafton of animals, fish, and birds, to
and from the arctic regions, are brought
to bear strongly in favor of the new
theory; and forcible confirmation Of
it is drawn from telescope view of
some Of the planets.
Capt. Parry relates, that when in the
northern regions, on the Dist Of Deem
Der, the twilight was so great that he
could see to read the smallest print by
it with ease The sun was then the
farthest from him, the moons dcclina-
ton was fifteen degrees, consequently
below the horizon, and il was Likewise
50 cloudy that very few stars could be
seen. file mentions particularly, that
whrn reading, he turned his face 10 The
south. The advocates for the new the
ory believe that the light must have
come through the polar opening.
Capt. Symmes believes, that naviga-
tors and travellers, have been nearly, or
quite beyond the verge. In the year
1870, Mr. Hearne, an officer OF the
Hudson's Bay Company, was sent to
prosecute discoveries in the northwest.
He passed through cold, barren coun-
try, where he found game extremely
scarce, and suffered many hardships.
From the mouth of Coppermine river,
he turned his course in that direction,
which, according to the new theory,
must have led him into the interior
world, and after travelling considera
bic distance in that direction, he found
a more hospitable cline, country
where game of all descriptions was "a
bundant, where the soil was rich and
loamy, and covered with timber of the