The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-09-16
NEW LUNAR DISCOVERIES .
Concluded.

L nc next great ocean is situated on the western
s''e OF the meridian linz, divided nearly in the midst
ny 'he Inc OF the equator, and is about 900 miles in
north aud south extent 1t is marked C. in the
catalogue, and was tanciuy called the Mare Tran
pu'latis Its rather two large seas than one ocean,
ior IL Is narrowed just under the equator by strait
not more than one hundred miles wide. Only three
ann0iar islands of large size and quite detached
rom ITS shores, are TO be found within il though
several sublime volcanoes exist on its northern boun-
dary one OF The most stupendous of which is with
IN one hundred and twenty miles of the Mare Nee
iar's, before mentioned. Immediately contiguous
10 ihis second great ocean, and separated from it
only hy n concatonaon of fdislocated continents and
islands, is the third, marked ID and known as the
Mare Sereaitats. Ii is nearly square being about
$50 miles in length and width. But it has one
most extraordinary peculiarly, which is perfectly
straight ridge of hills certainly not more than five
miles wide, which starts in a direct line from its
southern to IT'S northern shore dividing it exactly in
The midst This singular ridge is perfectly sui
gencris, being altogether unlike any mountain chain
either on tins earth or on the moon itself Ii is
very keen, that It's great concentration of the solar
light renders it visible to small telescopes but its
character is so strkngly peculiar that could not
resist the temptation to depart from predetcr-
mined adherence to general survey, and esamnc
1t particularly Our lens brought it within the
optical distance of 800 yards, and its whole width
OF four or five miles snugy within that of our
Nothing that we had hitherto seen, more highly
excited our astonshmcnt. Believe it or believe it
not, it was entire crystalization Its edge
throughout its whole length Of $40 miles, is al.
acute angle of solid quartz crystal brilliant rs II
piece OF Dcrbyshre spar just brought from mine,
and containing scarcely fracture or chasm from
end to end What prodigious influence must
our thirteen times larger globeEhavc exercised upon
this satellite, when an embryo in the womb of time,
tic passive subject OF chemical affinity We found
that wonder and astonishment, rs excited objects in
this distant world, but modes and attributes Of
ignorance, which should give place to elevated cx5
pccaiion, and to rcvcrenlia confidence in the H.
imltablc power Of the Creator.
The dark cxpnnsc of waters to the south of the
first great ocean, has often been considered a fourth
but found it to be merely of The first class,
entirely surrounded by land and much more en-
numbered with promontorics aud islands than it has
been exhibited any lunar chart. One of It's
Iromontorics runs from the vicinity OF Piatus, No
i9) in slightly curved and very narrow line tn
BuIlialdus NO. 22) which is merely circular head
to it, 26l miles from its starting place. This is
another mountainous ring, IL marine volcano, near
ly burnt out, and sumbcring upon its cindcrs.
But Pta,us, standing upon bold cape of the SOUTH
ern shore, Is apparently exulting in the might and
majesty of its fires. The atmosphere being now
quite free from vapour we introduced The magn-
iers to examine a large bright circle OF bills which
sweep close Dcsuc tie western aDutHcntS Ol tnS
flaming mountain. The hills either of snow
white marble or semi-transparent chrysal, VIC
could net distinguish which, and they bounded
another of those lovely green Valleys which, how
ever nonOtonous in my descriptions, arc Oh para
diyaica beauty and fertility, and like primitive
Eden in the bliss ofthcr inhabitants. DIR. llershcl
here again predicacd another OF s sasacious iheo-
rcs. lie said the proximity Of the ilaling noun
tain, BuIIialdus, must he so great II local convcn-
rII,. "a y.I.. 1Iirfu
periodical absence Of solar light, as 10 render IT "a
,dacc Of popular resort for the inhabitants OF all the
adjacent regions, more especially as It's bulwark o
hills afforded il AN nalIiablc security against any
yoIcanick eruption fiiat could occur We therefore
applied our full power TO explore il, and rich lndces
was our reward.
"Thc very first obiec, in Ibis valley that appcare,f
upon our canvass was magnificent work OF art
II was "a templc--a fame of devotion, of science,
which, when consecratcd to the Creator, as yOtion
Of the oftest order: Tor IL exhibits ms attributes
purely free from the masquerade attire and blasPbe-
NOUS carica,rc of controversial crceds, and has the
seal and signature of his hand to sanction It's
aspirations. II was an cqui-trangular temple,
built of polish sappIrc of some rcsplendant blue
stone which, like it, displayed a myriad points of
golden light lwinklng and scintillang in the sun
beams. Our canyass though Gfy feet in diameter,
was too limited to receive than sixth part OF II
at ono view, aud the first part that appeared was
nearly the centre of one Of its sides, being three
snarc columns six feet in diameter at their base.
and gentle tapcring TO a height of seventy feet.
The inicrcolunniations each twelve feet.
We instantanty reduced our magnitude so as TO
embrace the whole structure in one view most beau
tful,-Thc roof was composed of some yellow
metal and divided into three compartments, which
were not triangular planes nclinng to the centre,
but subdiydcd curved and scparaicd as to repre-
sent mass of violently agatcd flame rising from a
common source of conilagraton and terminating v1
wildly waving points. This design was too mani
fest, and too skilflly executed 10 be mistaken for
single moment. Through few openings in thescI
mcalic flames. we perceived large sphere of III
darker kind of metal nearly of u clouded cop-I
per color which they enclosed and sccmingly|
RACED around, as f bcrogly phicalv consuming i'll