The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-03

surf would not throw up those coral reefs 10 the
height we ind them; il u done by the whole mass
Of tho ocean pressed on by the trade winds for
long time that thus piles them up so far above the
ocean level.
MIR. RedJfeld made few observations on the ef-
fects produced the shape of shores, by what are
called converging waves, and their upheaval force.
A paper by Mr.. Wales on the geology OF Mis-
sssiPpi was deferred, as the specimens were not at
hand.
A paper of MIR. Weber, of Charleston, New
Hampshire, was ordered for reading Tomorrow
II is ion certain forms of Attraction whether It be
the form of attraction presented by ladies' bustes or
not, can't say. II was laid on the table--not the
hustle, but the paper.
Professor Rogers said that the committee of last
year had made call on the Secretary Of the Navy,
requesting him to cause observations to be made IN
relation to certain points in photography, meteor
ology, natural history, &C., DC. Now, sur, we
propose to send a request 10 the Secretary OF war
to institute new and separate line of inquiry on the
great subject Of the level of the contnent the obser
vations to be made at the mean tide level respect
ing the oscillations of this part Of North America
The rise and fall of great part of the coast OF Scand-
navia has been observed by the Swedish geoligists
and noted. And il is now pretty certain that no
part of the earth's surface is stationary.
Prof Sillimam.-I should like-to add inquiry into
a subject am ignorant of, and have no means OF IN
forming myself about. is the average elevation Of
continents above the level Of the sea.
The average elevation North Americas
a-The average elevation Of south America;
3-The average elevation Of Europe; -
a-The average elevation Of Asia;
b--The average elevation Of Africa.
BY the deduction Of particulars from known data,
we can come pretty nearly TO a correct data.
Prof Rogers--Humboldt has published data
about the mean level of certain lands. He gives
the mean level of Asia eight hundred feet above the
ocean; and it is astonishing how small a part the
mountains have to contribute to the earth's eieya-
ton.
SiAiman. What does he give, sir, as the eleva-
ton of North America
Rogers Some five or six hundred feet as the av-
erage.
Sillin,an. is even within my mark; have
said less than a quarter Of mile, and then have
been thought romancing; and even this may be
caused by the mass of the earth swelling by expan-
sion.
IRoger.-By probably the general wavering Of the
eaIth's crust; Sweden rises several feet century;
and it would not take long to bring all Europe to Its
present level.
: Prof Loomis-The pilots of Maine say that the
tide is sinking every year, and that certain rocks on
Maine shore are now visible which they could
formerly conduct vessels at any tide. Ii is so es-
pecially at the mouth Of the Kennebec.
Prof Rogers observed that the north shores APP
peared to be going down and the south coming up
else why were all our south shores sandy flats and
New England rock-bound coast from Cape Cod to
its northeast border The middle and southern
Sates--a the sea islands, from Long Island to the
Florida Keys--indicnte a general rise of the land
SOUTH This continent is sicnging on hinge or great
pipoi the point of which is ut about the Bay of Mas
sachusetts The south part is rising and the north
going down; not exactly in their moral or inteecu-
al qualifications, unfortunately, as recent changes
indicate. Laughter.l
Prof. Siiliman. Where did you put your pivot,
sir fLaughter.]
More laughter.l
Prof Silliman then observed that the change of
level in New Haven harbor must be owing to other
than merely the setting up Of silt, as is gen.
orally supposed.
Mr.. Redfeid pointed out the new chart of New
York bay where, few years since, there were forty
feet Of water it is now solid shore. This was done
by the continual abrasion of the ocean against the
holder shore Of Jersey south of Sandy Hook; this
was the principal source of supply for making sand
bars everywhere, and not what was brought down
by rivers from up the country.
President Desey said he once heard as reason
for the great rise Of the tides in the Bay of Fundy
that it had movable bottom (laughter) which sank
down very low and in came the tide; then the bot
tom swelled up again and out went the tide. He
was glad to find that were turning round prop
erly on pivot. Laughter
The convention then adjourned till tomorrow at
9 o'clock.