The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1837-07-15

course of Lectures OIL Geology, at New
port, N. Ii. We extract the following
notice Of The second lecture from the
Newport Spectator
The lecturer said it was tremendous
thought, that the centre OF the earth was
vast mass Of liquid boiling fame. But
that 1t was so, was in the highest degree
probable. lie then glanced at the VOL
canlc regions on the globe, beginning with
Iceland, which is wholly volcanic, being
the hottest and coIdest country in the
world. He said il was well ascertained
that Sweden was rising out Of the water
at the rate Of four ieet in century !;
that is gradually receediog from the shores
Of tha; country, as the water marks plain
, Iy indicate. Tbs he supposed to be ow-
Ing 10 the expansion of that part Of the
earth, produced by internal heat.
In England there are no volcanoes,
and 20 evidence that there ever were
any But in the city of Bath there arc
known to have existed in their present
state for more than two thousand years.
These walers can be heated only by in
ternal fires.
In France, there is a series of extinct
volcanoes along the borders of the Rhine
They are also to be found in Spain and in
Portugal, in Italy and IN the Medieran-
can. A volcanic island emerged from the
sea about four years ago. There is there
fore, reason to believe that It reposes on a
bed Of fire.
There is abundant evidence that volca-
noes have been in Palestine the last
probably were those connected with the
destruction OF Sodom and Gomorrah. -
They are clearly traced around the Cas-
plan Sea, and in centre of Asia.
In the Azores, the existence Of forty
volcanoes is discovered. So likewise
they are found in The Madeira, the Ca
nary and the De Verd islands, in NADIA
gascar, Bourbon, along the Red Sea, in
Sumatra, Java Kamschalka, aud on the
north west coast OF America. They have
not existed on the eastern side. Suflic-
lent relief had thus far been had on the
western coast, bu. should these safety
valves be obstructed for any length Of time
very probably there would be volcanoes
on the eastern coast.
The Pacific Oceanic very great ex-
tent, stands upon basis Of fire. There
are on the globe three hundred chimneys,
through which the fire can escape from
its prison in the center of the earth. Vol
canoes are justly denominated safety
valves, the conservative principles of our
globe.
The invariable precursor Of volcanoe
is an earthquake, generally attended with
detonations. Chasms are opened in tho
earth, and sometimes cities are swallow
ed up. Changes in the atmosphere are
alos visible. The seasons are irregular I;
animals utter cries Of alarm dizziness Of
the head is experienced by men.
The waters Of the Ohio were affected |
by the earthquake a. Lisbon. In the e.
ruptIon Of volcano, rocks are dashed a
gainst each other and either ground into
powder, or broken into fragments. White
smoke first emerges fom the crater, then
black, rising like the trunk of tree.
The most remarkable volcano in the
island of Hawii, one Of the Sandwich
group. THIS has ben visited and scien-
lfically examined and described by the
American Missionaries, to whom Mr..
Silman awarded high praise, not only for
zeal, bet Tor their attainments in
science and lera,eure. Science as well
as christianity is under oblIg ations to
Them for their devotedness and enter /.
prise.
The cause Of volcanoes Is eternal fire. ,
That it exists, there is satisfactory evil
1pnoe. There is a gradual increase OF !:
heat as we descend into the earth. AT
wo miles below the surface, water will !
,oil at ten below, rocks become red hot.
The frozen crust Of the globe is supposed "
o be about fifty miles thick. We can
'ot be perfectly secure against the effects =
4 this fire. The crust OF the earth is il :
BILE ut any time to be broken. Our Sc
urlty and dependence are upon Him =
Tho made the world, who gave to matter q q
II its laws, and who controls It's wondcr- :.
Al movements. .,
p
The Mayor of Savannah. in conformity ~ ~
nth vote Of the City Council, has IS ~
led procla nation offering reward Of :"
500 for the master aad mate OF the brig "
usan, for secretiog and carrying away ~
Thomaston IA fugitive slave, the proper :. =.
oi james and Henry Sugers. g. -
A Bear was shot in Pomlret, W. last y,
uesday, weighing about 800 lbs. II was W,
'st discovered in Sharon, aud was pur- re
led about five miles over hill and dale nc
:. tu