New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-23
DR.. Smiths Lectures on Geology.

90 ,rodsce the result should be obtained, for that
Wa. easy enough but how i, should have been ap-
piled according to the law which we find did &C
tuallv govern it. After some brief remarks upon
this point, he said he would farther digress from
The main subject to state, that geological facts,
| taken collectively, explain phenomenon which
has engaged the attention of philosophers for many
years-namey, the extraordinary power and in
auence which England has so long exerted upon
the globe. Different persons ascribe her over
sladowing supremacy to different causes: the
| shipping interests ascribe it 10 the navigation
| laws the manufacturers to the manufacturing sys-
tenn the lawyers to the advantages of the common
law over The civil law. The first two causes had
been refuted by ADAM SMITH: the latter had pro-
comparatively slight. Others ascribe it to the con-
aection which existed between Church and State.
| But Bishop HOBART thought that this union did
the Church no good and probably, said Dr.. s.,
The Oxford Theologians ,hnk SO too. Some
4scribe it again 10 the superiority Of the Anglo
Saxon blood yet this blood exists on the Cont
aent likewise, for it came thence. Some of these
causes, without doubt, have had their influence !;
5ut the great cause in DR.. Smiths judgement, lies
IN her physical advantages, and mainly in her geo.
osical structure. She has, in this respect, d
most decided advantage over ell other nations of
he earth. The only country that compare
with htr is New-Zealand; for this island Is said TO
De in the Pacific Ocean what England is in the
German. 1t is an established fact that her saw
ages surpass all the other savages OF the earth IN
| physical strength.
| The physical advantages which England enjoys
lver other nations consist. FIRST in her being an
| ,land, and al island too, of considerable size
| ireland is not large enough tobe independent and
| yet too large to be quiet as dependent power
There is, to be sure, tuck in the history and
greatness of England, which has greatly aided her
! progress.
The folly of John and the stu idity of James the
second have doubtless contributed not little 10
ger advance; bnt these causes only partial and
,econdary. But being an island, she is obliged
. keep in standing, for purposes of self-defence
20 large an army as are the Continental nations,
,ince nature has already furnished her defence.
Chen the harbors of England are very fine, much
hyperion to the French, and this will account for
he great Importance that has been attached to the
possession OF Antwerp. The soil too is adnira-
le-not yielding spontaneously, but still very pro-
Iuctive, provided it is laborously and Industrious
y cultivated Then the climate predisposes her
citizens to the laborious exertions rendered
.arv by her soil and also sustains them it. Her
'minent men take more violent exercise III the air
han in other countries, and the climate fortihes
heir con sttutions. 1t Is found thus that the Eng
ish physically the strongest men on the globe.
Finally, it is this very upheaval Of the strata Of
which we have spoken that gives England the de-
.ded advantage over other powers. Coal and
Their minerals, iron, clay, lime and the materials
or manufactures are brought close to the surface
~ these convulsions, and are moreover brought
lose together and easily available. 1t is the min
eral wealth Of England them with these, other cir
:umstances already mentioned, that enables her to
carry on her manufactures more easily than other
nations; and therefore to sell her productions
cheaper than they and thus to drain them of their
wealth and build up her power upon 1t; for the
most powerful nations, as well as individuals, are
e,tosc that have the money. BACON in his
lay said that knowledge was power, but now-a-days
money is the main element of influence.
Rcvcrtng to the regular subject, DR.. S. said
hat in order that the granite of the earth should
;ool, the chemical changes already noticed must
AXE place. Calcium must unite with oxygen, and
Drm lime and SO of other substances. The ten
lency to combination is so strong that this must
ave taken place at an early day. After while
yater, which is the result of the combustion of
,xygen and hydrogen, would be formed. Whether
his was done suddenly, or slowly by gradual pro-
ess, it is not very easy to say. DR.. ). thought 1t
vas done in both ways. The atmosphere beiog at
hat day very impure, its combustion would be
low.
The next step was probably the combustion of
he immense quantity of carbon to which refer
nee has already been made, to form carbonic acid
The dreary condition of the globe at that time
may be readily imagined When the earth cooled,
/ either formed large cavities, or it did not. Ii
lot, as the surface of the ocean to that OF the
and as 3 to l. and as the depth of the is found
10 vary from 3 to 10 milcs-generallyf fixed at 3-it
would readily be perceived that when the water
vas forming, the whole of the earth must have
| been covered BY water mile two deep. IF
hat had been the fact, we should have no means
Of determining it, because there were then no
shells OF other materials to pcrpeuate to Us the
evidence Of the fact. All the proof we have tends
| 10 show that there were large basins in which the
water rested; is shown TO some extent by the
! iiistric, of Auvergne, in which are now found pu-
tonic pebbles, formed BY the abrasion OF the rocks
ny the water, as mentioned the other evening.
There were FIVE miles, then, of sea- and the
pressure upon the bottom as will be seen, must
nave Been enormous. Salt water in weis ht Is to
ron nearly as TO | the result, then, would be
list wa should have pressure equal 20 tina; OF
solid column of iron more than half mile in
light. Ii we suppose the shells, then at the
bottom to have had heat applied to them, and
hen 10 have been subjected to this prodigious
pressure, wc should see how shells coHld be con.
Serted to marl. and all traces of them would be de-
| troyed. This is confirmed by observations of
marble, especially OF the Carrara marble. This
proves to be merely dolonlite, subjected to heat
aud pressure sufficient to convert it to s:atuary