Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-02-28

In France, moreover sea cliffs, Of from two to
three hundred feet in height, have been found lar
from the sea and they are known 10 he sea ciiiis
from the barnaces found adhering TO theirs. In
South America, Darwin found sea-beaches hun
dreds Of miles inland. These phenomena cannot
be produced by the retiring of the sea for II has
no place to go to--and II it had, TINT place would
have been filed up. They result from the elevn-
ton Of the land.
Another fact of great interest has also been pro-
we'd by the borings for Artesinn wells in the SUD
urbs of Paris namely, that as we go towards the
centre of the Earth the temperature increases at
the iaio of about one degree Tor every fifty feet.
That the whole interior portion OF the Earth, or
at least great part of it, is an igneous ocean Of
melted rock, agitaed Ivy violent winds, though
dare not nfiirm it, is still rendered highly proba
eby the phenomena of volcanoes. The facts
connected with their eruptons have been nscer-
TUNED aud placed beyond dispute How then are
they 10 I've accounted for? The theory prevalent
some years since that they are caused by the CON.
bustion of immense coal heds is perfectly puerlle,
and is entirely abandoned. All the coa IN the
world would never afford fuel enough Tor single
capital exhibition of Vesuyius., We must look
higher than this. aud have Slitlo doubt that Tie
whole rests the action of electric and galvnhic
principles, which are constantly in operation III
the Earth. We know that when certain metals
are brought together powerful electric action IS
evolved aud light is produced, superior even III
elluIgence to the spleudor of The Sun. Now u Il
small arrangement produces such results, what
may we NOT expect from the combinations OF those
immense beds of metal 10 he found in the Earth i:
Here we have the key to all the grand phtnuinn.
mn of volcanic action. An illustration on II small
scale may he seen in M instrument Called the
themso electrical battery made of zinc, hlsrnulh
and anthony packed in box and vanished. IT.
this heat is evolved below, while the top Is cold ;
and here we have the very case of the 'nlrann,
when in the interior fiery ocean is hcaying lis
surges while its peak is capped with everlasting
snow.
The Lecture, of which Tor lack of room, we
have here only given sketch, was concluded 10y
description of the glaciers of the Alps aud The
theory of their formation. Immense fields OF Ice
are often seen to descend from the summit OF Mont
Blanc TO the valleys below aud in this way rocks
are often transported TO localities far removed from
those they ut first occupied. The fun explanation
OF the mode of transplanting these travelling rocks
as they are called, was deferred until the next lee
ture. II is proved that these glaciers do not dc
scend from the mountains solely by their own
gravity, because they only travel in the summer
and never move in the winter. They are full OF iS-
sures, into which the snow falls is melted Ivy tie
Sun, and falls down TO the rocks below, where it
congpals. Thus sand and stones are mingled with
the glacier, which, it travels onward p!ougis
burrows in the rock regular as they could he
made by the tools Of mechanic. Cascades, too,
are often formed by The melting Of the ice. Deep
holes ore often made by the falling water. Perch
ed upon the Jura Chain are often found rocks as
large us a church, which must have travelled from
localities at least fifty miles distant.