Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-05-03

>"' ''e He" stoieS III inc Ola Durnt district
escaped with but little damage.
We return our thanks to Capt. Parker
for his communication, which we publish
this week. If our readers will permit us to
judge the matter, we have no hesitation i'm
expressing the humble opinion, that our
Correspondent is engaged in one of the
most interesting and useful departments of
scientific investigation. 1t has been said
"that the face Of heaven is an unfailing in
dex, and upon it can be read times and
seasons" Though Mcteorology is one of
the most natural of all the sciences, vet i,
Is true that there is a lamentable ignorance
: IN retution to- 'itsrauei rTrat few comparasS
lively of It's principles are known even to
the intelligent and we'll informed. Who
has not seen the humble husbandman cx
hibit foresight in reference to changes of
weather which seemed almost prophetic,
and who has not heard Of the experienced
mariner who saw in 1.-THE face of heaven"
tho premonitons Of the gathering storm !!
Who can estimate the advantages which
will flow from more accurate knowledge
of the principles Of Metcorology, and who
will dare say that this knowledge is unat-
talnable! Until of late years but little at
tention has been directed to the subject, and
So little regard has been had to principles,
that the "weathcr-wise" unable to impart
their knowledge to others, had it to die with
them. But the day Of neglect has now
passed away. The cutivators of physical
science throughout the world, have awoke
to sense of its importance, and in our
own country plan has been devised, which
1t carried out, promises the richest results.
1t is with pride we record that some of the
States OF our Union have made appropra-
tions for its prosecution, and we would like
to see others initiate the good example.
MIR. Espy, man of science and particu-
iarly distinguished for his valuable contri-
buttons to this department, is now in WASH
Inston lecturing our Congress upon the sub
ject, and we were panied TO see the bad
taste OF some members who thought the oc-
caslon mt one for smart sayings g. ridicuIe.
This, we conceive, is moi the age for such
conduct. There was time when darkness.
thick darkness oversprcad the earth; when
the most ordinary phenomena were believed
to be hid in the deep purposes of the AL
mighty, or were the mysterious workings
of some mighty Demon who rcigncd asccn.
dant for the season.
history tells us that the Demon Typhon,
was In the opinion of the ancient Egyptians
the cause of all physical evil, s. the Greeks
adopting the superstition, made this giant
spirit break up the deep foundations of the
earth, and with the arm Of om,ipotcnco
hurl the melting mountains te nc highest
heavens. Modern science is dispeline these
gross errors and bringing to lish, the mighty
agents which are at work in the laboratory
OF uaturo' and judging from its many glori
Gus 'r'"mpis in Chemistry, Astronomy,
Geology and other departments, we see not
how any one can set limits TO its successes.
1t is no impety now, nor is IL a useless
work, to look into the causes of thunder and
lightning, earthquakes, volcanoes, water-
spou's, or any of tho wonders around us.
When the immortal Franklin, with his
humble Kite made OF two cross sticks and
a silk handkerchief, went out upon the COM
mons ofPhiladclphia, to drat0 the lightning