Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-06-23

! loOlStOOl OF the polar regions, tOWerIug tar
above thc Alps and the Cordilleras piled
one ,I5on the other.-Picture to yourself
the immense perspective of their pTecipi.
tous mountains and their immense chasms
wrapped in the white and driven SHOWS as
if ali nature was cnshrouded in her wind
ing sheet.
Hear you rot tie hollow murmurs OF
the pillows beating on its wave-worn
shores and tie fearful howlings of the saw
aye bears and animals of preyl-Would
YOU not propunce this spectacle the SOL
emn pomp # the funeral rites, and say,
The vastbcean'S dead. behold his menu'
menl boundless in elevation and EXTENT
Yet 1t Is one, lnos which the waves OF
the south have erected a., ocoan of the
north; but the returning So shoII present
ly raise from the icy tomb horn in
FAINT, as the beauteous spring ., ushered
from the womb Of winter, and as T., living
generations owe their being to thoS who
sleep in death. Scarcely does the Str OF
life abandon the southern pole beloTeGe
animales that of the north; the seas of TN
first return to their primitive frozen state,
whilst he melts the second:-the currents
change their course; those of the north
drawn by the ayaporatiOns of the equato-
rial seas, are directed 10 the south; the
two hemisphcres lose their equponder-
ance; tho earth breaks her equilibrium.
and nclinng her northern pole towards
the sun, removes the opposing pole into
wlntry storms and continual night.
About the 20ih of March. at the vernal
equinox, the Aoatiug islands of ice com
meuce their annual journey TO the tempe
rate regions, to replace the exhausted wat
ers of the ocean.
Ellis, an Enghshman, who observed
them closely during his voyage TO Hudson's
Bay, says that they are perceived at the
distance Of twenty leagues by the lurld
glare which they reflect upon the horizon,
aud the extreme cold which they lmpart to
the atmosphere when the wind blows from
that quarter.
Denis, governor Of Canada, remarked
that the vessels fishing for cod often On
countered them on their route. They arc
found Of every height connected in Shain
of 100 leagues in length, and are so ca
prlciously and extensively lneen'eu tiat
The fishermen are often cSnged 10 COAST
Them several DAYS and uait tlll they drive
by. to traverse the Atlantic and reach
Newfoundland To their passage by the
coasts, is to be attributed the excessive
cold Of CanaCa
They sometimes ground upon the banks
of Newfoundland, although from fifty TO
hundred fathoms in depth, and advance IN
their progress towards the equator. as far
as the middle Of the temperate zone. Their
GOODNESS, as we'll as that of the currents
which bear them on, affects the atmos-
phere so sensibly, as frequently to give as
a chilly spring, and accompanied with A
prl showers.
Finally, they disappear as they approach
the northern torrid zone. A curious OBJ
seryation of our author here occurs, which
have myself VERIFIED II is that these
floating ice bergs 60 down suddenly at sea
between the 3Oth aud 10th degrees OF north
/ latitude, and leave not a vesuge OF their
existence on the surface Of the sea. Whe'
ther penetrated by the acton OF the sun,
and the already tepid waters IN which
they float. they are entirely dissolved; or
whether their bases. being surcharged
with rocks and stones upon which they
once reposed in the frozen zone they have
no longer ice enough to float them, are
suddenly submerged entirely m the sea, Is
yet unknown; but the fact itself respecting
their dlsaonearance is well ascertaIned.
We never encounter a single wreck oil
them, even, as we might expect IN these
climates. but large spaces arc frequently
I found. where The natural color OF the sea
is changed from blue TO green. Instantly
the cry of breakers - heard from aloli' and
they hasten 10 sound with the lead as 1t
upon a shoal; but often IN vain. Somo,
tunes however, the lead Is stopped ana
when drawn up exhibits no indication OF
the boftom. On these OCCASIONS, mere
are not wanting credulous seamen, who
lbelieye that 4 In upon the lack OF some
huge fsh ,,,
no but differing entirely from the sound.
;ags If these ATTITUDES so frequen.ed, and
lbe depths Of which are DWELL known.
Neyenheiess, this new shoal Is noted ia
The Journal, and inscribed upon the murine
charts Tor the instruction Of naylgaiors;
but as It 10 only the remains C. a suuken
iceberg, the succeeding year It's no long
. or to be found. | have seen a chart Of the
European seas, filled with these pretended
shoals. between the 30th and 10th degrees
Of northern latitude; but the constructor
bad at least conscience to mark them as
doubtful banks.
RIO De continued.