The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-24


missing the present civil ncumbents and authorizing
the a, pointment OF officers Of the Navy, But few
officers command such universal respect and esteem
in the service this gentleman, while ms Soclai
qualities have for him the admiration OF every
one who has enjoyed the privilege oil has aeqoaih'
ance on shore The dignity OF the epauiet'e and 'he
eagle button will be sustained IN the bravery,
integrity and capacity OF Lieut.. H. lie carries with
him the beat wishes of all.
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREAT
LAKES.
In 1874 the waters of Lake f lie receded to such
an extent that the Erie canal, for several miles, was
left without water and great fears were entertained In
that vicinity that th ebbing Of the lake would CON
tnue 30 long and TO such extent that this portion oil
the canal would for time be rendered useless
During the prevalence Of strong eastery winds,
this end Of the lake greatly affected during TINS
general subsidence of its waters.
| had frequently heard it remarked by persons re
siding in the country bordering upon the lakes mat
these waters rise and fall every years. have
watched the account Of the rise and fall OF The lakes
for near thirty years, and have ascertained during
that period that the rise is not periodical but ocea-
sondt,
Chicago, on Lake Michigan, during the land specu-
ations ia village lots extended its borders so Tar to-
ward the lake during period Of the subsidng OF the
waters, that the occasion OF the great rise OF The
lakes the outside village lots were five feet under
water.
The rise of the River Nile, in Egypt, the inhabi-
tanis watch with much care and they have the
means Of determining the stage of water each sue
cessve year by means Of measure called Nileom'
eer the Dotings Of which recorded. The mum
dations of this river generally annual, and hap
pen the period Of the Summer Solstice but have
known Two years during my recollection that there
was not the usual annual nundation, and much SUI
fering produced in Egypt by the consequent fail
ure of the crops.
A large pond in the township of Concord, Massa-
chusets, has its rising and falling during the interval
of several years, and these appear to be dsconnect
ed with years that wet an those that are dry
The inhabitants in TIE vicinity have, in noticing the
rise and fall of the waters, what is equal IN some
respects to the "Nileomeier." On the beach Of
the pond which is Of white sand, when the pond
is low, wagon and horses be driven the
whole circuit of the pond between the water
and the bushes which border the beach but in
years of high water, the pond extends distance
into the bushes covering the beach The oldest in
habanls hat have noticed this Using and falling Of
the pond far hafa century more, unable TO &C
count for these changes. The pond has visible
inlet or eutet, and covers of about one hun
bred acres.
The great lakes not influenced in any notice
able extent by seasons of hot OF dry weather.
/ The area of surface drained by the Great Lakes,
including the ST. Lawrence, is computed at $4,000
waters of the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio &c. N
about 100 900 square miles. The length OF course
Of the waters ofthe lakes and the ST. Lawrence may
be estimated at 200 miles, and the width of the ba
sin about 425 miles. That of the Mississippi may
he estimated at 600 miles length OF course with a
mean width OF $50 miles of basin.
Il The area of surface drained by the Nile is estima
ted at about 42O 600 square miles, with length of
course of $50 miles and breadth of basin of
about $50 miles.
cc LII.
great surface, while the waters of the Mississippi have
narrow channel. The rise of the former is conse-
quently slow, while that of the latter compare
lively rapid.
The waters Of the Great Lakes and those of the
tributaries of the Mississippi mngle together at the
very high spring floods, when the Lakes at the
greatest height. The waters of the Great LAX. IS
which flow into the Gulf Of the ST. Lawrence pass
over that portion Of the surface of our Continent
which forms the curve of the sphere.
The head waters of the Mississippi come from an
altitude which, when added To its northern latitude
would give a climate of the temperature of lee
land.
The cause of the rise of the lakes may be placed
among those which caused the aov of arctic ice at
greater extent some years than others.
II we should find that the rise and fall of the Great
Lake are periodical and at long intervals Of time,
men IN that case we must look for the influence of
some solar or terrestrial body belonging to our sys-
TEN as the cause Of these changes.
Il some sections Of the Continent have long periods
Of drought. Here is an atmospheric phenomenon
which is beyond the reach Of human science 10 de-
termine.
! Whatever disorders may find in t e order of
things, are part of the great system and help TO make
up the harmonIes of Nature. The thunder and rs
electric hre are, IN view commissions OF the air
but Nature has placed these among its harmones -
So OF the earthquake, the tornado, and the frost.
i The Great Lakes occupy the successive terraces
OF the Garth, IN the great slope 10 the st Lawrence
and could we but view them from an elevated posi-
ton, with telescope eye, we should beauties Of
high order
i The waters Of the Great Lakes are not of that fer
zng quality that are possessed by the waters Of the
| Nile and Mississippi. Yet Of these is as much
the hing Of Lakes of the others is the hing OF
! Rivers Brooklyn Star
| SAILOR SEIZED ~ A SnARK.-The Boston Mer.