The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-17


The high reputation which Mr.. Lyell has long en-
joyed as geologst attracted very respectable au-
dience at the Tabernacle last evening. There were
aoou,six hundred persons present, among whom we
recognized many of the literat of our city.
The science Of Geology is, on many accounts.
calculated excite the deepest interest in the mind
OF every one who takes the trouble of thinking about
the external world and his relations to H. The sub
J-cs which it embraces, and the very nature Of its
Investigations, are marked by mysterious sublimi-
~ which are well-fiued to excite our most earnest
and admlrlrg attention But, respecting the science
Of Geology, the most vague ideas are entertained BY
the masses, and il is only by very few that the
grand and imposing results which have been al
ready attained in It's successful prosecution, are
known and appreciated. We therefore welcome the
advent of Mr.. Lyell as popular exponent of the
splendid discoveries and startling conclusions of that
science to which he is zealously devoted. But
We fear that this gentleman has not adopted altogeh-
er the most judicious plan Of popuIarixipg his
subject.
Mr.. Lye's lecture last evening, was occupied by
the explanation of series Of very beautiful ustra
tions, got up ON quite magnificent scale. These
consisted of representation Of the geological as
pect Of portion of central France, in the neighbour
hood of Mont Dora "ground plan" of France
drawings illustrative of various " sections of diff
ferent orders of stateand representations OF severa
species Of fossil remains These illustrations occupy
many hundred feet of canvass, and were enlarged
from Scroes' work, and executed by Mr.. Phillips Of
London in very superior STYLE The scene which
the lecturer chose the subject Of explanation is
certainly Of the strikingly descriptive and
instruct We which could have been selected ,inasmuch
as il displays very remarkable series Of geological
phenomena. The mountains in this region present
specimens OF all the great classes OF "rscks," the
formation Of which is easily rsfeSable to different
periods, and many very distinct causes Mr.. Lyell
went back to the period when this region was only
three thousand feet above the level Of the sea- and
had a surface composed of fundamental granite,
with mountains very feaureless 10 their appearance,
without any picturesque outline He then described
the gradual changes which took place in the diAe.
rent subsequent geological "perods," until the
country reached its present elevation. Those
who might be surprised at his speaking of the
upheavings Of great districts Of country he remind
ed that he would soon have opportunity Of show
ing that much more extensive regions were now in
the act Of raising above 1.-The level Of the sea and
il was only to suppose the occurrence of series of
movements, such as he would demonstrate 10 be
now going on in many parts Of the EARTH to be able
to account for the phenomena in the particular
gion he had chosen for demonstration. Mr.. Lyell
then proceeded to speak Of the many races Of quad
rupeds that had once inhabited the earth, but had
long since passed away for ever, but Of whose ex-
istence we had indisputable evidence in the fossil
remains which present themselves to inspection
in such abundance. He also entered into some in
terestng details relative to the formation of indu
sal limestone" and their geological productions
but il was this loose and desultory mode of dealing
with his subject that appeared to US 30 injudicous
To those somewhat acquainted with the elements
of the science, all this would have been very well,
but to those unacquainted with these details, such
references were inexplcable, and of course useless
Had Mr.. Lyell devoted one lecture to familiar ex
position of the fundamental principles of the
science, and an explanation Of what we may
call its alphabet, and followed such . dis
course by lecture somewhat of the character
of the one delivered last night we think il would
have been more acceptable, and decidedly more in
structive to the majority Of his hearers However,
from his lecture. all were enabled to form idea
of the great succession Of events which the student
OF geology is called On to contemplate, and were
taught the absurdity Of supposing that the various
geological movements" TO which their attention
was directed, could have been formed at once, and
in the same manner-that they could not possibly
have been called into existence at the same time a.
the nucleus of the planet itself 1t was alss made
pretty clear that the various formations were not
produced simultaneously. but were the work of
very different causes. -some owing their existence
to the action of water, others to fire; and were also
produced at very different periods oftime, by causes
appointed by the great author Of Nature to govern
thel successive changes of the inanimate, and pos
Silly also the animate soor,H.
Although, therefore, we regret that Mr.. Lyell did
not condescend to attempt the initiation of his au
dtors into the alphabet Of the science Still his lee
ture was extremely interesting, and we anticipate
much to entertain and instruct In those which are to
follow.
The next lecture will be given at the same place
ON Saturday evening
Arrival Of the Misslsslppl.
The steam frigate Mississippi, Capt. Sslter. arrived
yesterday morning from Norfolk. Virginia and came
to an anchor the Bauewithout firing salute, mot
even one gun, owing, probably, to the scarcity Of
saltpere She was brought up in fine styIe, although
not at very rapid rate, by Amar Cowan, Of the New
York pilot boat Washington.
The Mississippi is q war like, sound, substa ntial
looking steam ship, painted black with white
streak, and very loy rugged, too much 90 We think
for steamer For i'll we are to have steam sh ps,
let them be such, and not sailing ships with heavy
masts and spars and sale, offering a resistance 10
| lhs wind of two or three miles an hour to their
speed.
We have now ia our harbor the two great Amer
lean war steamers,ihe Missouri and Mississippi. One
s at anchor off the Battery, and the other off Brook
yn. So far we can tell by the experimental trips
of both, the Missouri, built here, is the superior
sci. but we shall wait till they take Trip Together,