Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-06-23
MISCELLANEOUS
FROM THE NANTUCKET ENQUIRER.
A FRAGMENT,
on TIE THEORY OF TIE UNIVERSE,
BY ST. PIERRE.

the tuOSl elevated mountains OF the 8iCOe
are comparable to the two icy oceans
which surround the pole. These are scat
tered about the continents to be the sources
ofthe mighty rivers winch lrrgdc them,
and TO cool the atmosphere of the torrId
zones, where, for the most, they arc loca-
ted.
But the icy oceans, placed at the ex-
rcmllies Of the axes OF the earth, are EVIL
IDENTIFY destined to be the sources Of fluid
seas, to replace the eyaporaJed waters by
+ Jheir currents, to cool the heated water as
well as TO warm the chilled, and to pre-
serve the equilibrium of the earth. Cast
your eye upon a geographical globe, It is
evident that the two hemlsphercs are
not Of equal weight; the northern contains
/ the largest portion Of the continents and
/ their mountains, whilst the southern hem
/ isphero comprises the greatest extent OF o.
ccan We might call the first the terres
trial and the last the aqueous hemisphere.
The northern is then the hcaviest.--Thls
simple sketch Of the matter would sui-
( flee to convice US of It's truth, but we
/ find the first proof of this in an almanac.
/ The earth presents this hemisphere to the
sun five or SIX days longer than her south,
/ ern section: thus from the 10Th OF March
: to the Dad of September, there are IS6
days, during which tune the sun is north
Of the equator; and from the 22nd Of Sep
tember to the Both Of March, during which
period no Is in the southern hemisphere,
there are but 40 days; behold then the
bounteous GIFT Of Providence, we have sey.
en- days more Of warmth 10 j year Of 36j
days.
This is not all, if our hemisphere was
always heavier than the southern, II would
undoubtedly be constantly presented to
the sun, continually heated by has ardent
rays, aud would be rendered unnnabtabe.
Ii would be living III perpetual day. Ia
like manner If the eQuCous hemisphere was
always hghtest 1t would be forever beyond
the Influence OF the star Of day, buried u
everlasting SHOWS and cnshrouded IN pei
2etual night.
But divine wisdom, not wishing 10 rca
der the earth useless, by the supple opera
ton of mechanical laws, preserves the mai
mony of nature: lie has placed at the
southern pole an ocean of ice far more con
siderable than IN the north, which balan-
ccs the weight of continents IN the terrcs-
trial hemisphere. The cold, winch arises
from the ocean and chllls the southern
world, is at least four degrees greater than
with US IN the same lIttitudes; itls felt even
ia the torud zone and Arguments IN pro-
portion as we approach the pole.
But the Illusul0us Cook, who is, ] be-
heye, the only European who has made
the circuit of the globe, can alone give us
an adequate idea of its aspect. lie Gu
couutered, at more than five hundred
leagues distance from the pole, islands OF
floating ice driving towards the equator by
northern currents. The observation Of
this fact destroys the system of the New
tonians, who suppose that the world Is
hauened at the poles, and that the currents
aud the tides come from the line by the
pressure or attraction of the moon. We
have exposed the Glsity Of this opinion,
and the experience Of Cook proves evident
ly that the earth Is elongated at the south
crn pole. since the general currents flow
from it during It's summcr.-Ihs was
gain proved by the barometer OF his ship
which fell in proportion as he approached
the pole. At length Cook, by dlnt Of per-
severenco, advanced TO Il 10 OF south
latitude. where lie was arrested IN his pro
gress by the immense cupola Office (which
he has made the tour. This was IN the
last o. January which corresponds to the
month Of July with us:-thus this Cupola
had already undergone the most ardent
heats of the southern summer
At this period it was still more than
three thousand leagues in circumference.
As to ITS height, he compared 1t to the
highest mountains he had ever seen, but
as he could perceive only the half melted
edges OF the mass, there can be no doubt
If lis being intellectually lOi0cr at the cen
tire.
Thus, valuing it only at two leagues OF
reduced height, there will still remain an
immense dome of ice, formed Of the ruins
only OF this frozen ocean. But If we esti-
male its extent and elevation al the conclu-
-lon of IFS winter, that Is, at the aummnal
t.ouinox IN September, we may safely Judge
III 10 be once as large again at least, that Is
/ * thousand leagues IN circuit, aud four
! soeues ofreduced height But how shall
apply 10 the laws OF calculation TO an
Meet which man has never approached at
rs season of the year!---Is It not just to
t,pose that this extensive ocean accumu-
rs as great quantity Office IN winter as
itssipates in summerl We might draw
/ conclusion from tne remarks of Cook.
,atve TO the dissolution Ofthe polar ices