New-York daily tribune., 1845-01-23

|
rFoi. SiiLIMAN and B. sILLEaAN Jr.
No l. Vol XLVlti. of ti.is valuable Journal has
Just appeared, and sustains well the high character
the work has acquitted We over the number,
cuing here and th-re fact for our readers, from
the many Of interest that presen, themselves,
The volume opens with well-written article
upon the Valley OF the Jordan ard the DEAD Sea,
by ]. D. Sherwood, containing sketch Of the gen.
cra features of this remarkable region and sciae
account 0; i,s Geology Pho Jordan Valley, ac-
cordipg to u recent triangular survey of English
engineers, is $50 feet below the Level OF the SIsd
t2sraneop, and l,4i0 below hat Of ihe Red Sea-
Ii lies between high ard almost perpendicular lime
stone uounte;as, "nose glazing sides cause an cp
pyess:Ye heat over ihe region, The !iver varies IN
width from go to 159 feet aad pours an uhi@il:nS
snpply OF fresh water into the Dead Sea. This sea
;s 40 miles long ard 6 to vide. From The North
srE shore the view OF the lake " sunk between It's
precipilous walls, is one OF appalling subiimiy,-
Ghers il lies. rno;ioncss aid dark, with no voice,
10 pulse Q! i:is around or within it. 10 fish iahaes
It's waters, no snail craHs aioag its shores, no race
OF ausht human or animate is any where 10 be
seen" The sea has never been thoroughly e2-
pored. Costignn, whose i'll late in an attempt at
exploration is dwet upon by Stephens, was re-
ported u Mr. Sherwood TO be as destitute OF scien-
tic and Instruments! knowledge as he proved to be
of ordinary prudence.
Art. H. Oa the Crystals which are found in the
tissues OF Plants by Prof ]. w Bailey ofWest Point
An article exhibiting great research ard presenting
some ,nost wonderful results. Prof. Is. shows tina,
the leaves and bari. CT iarge number OF plants
are filled with microscopic crystals in vast numbers
fig ures OF some of which he has given. They are
scarcely l-l2O0 OF an inch org, ye! have each a
number of polished facets as brilliant as those OF
cut gem. Those in the leaves are arranged IN rows
along every rami6cation OF The vascular bundles,
so that even1he mnutest vein OF the ieai Is repre-
sened by ils row OF crystalline particles This is
stated 10 be beautifully shown in the ashes left after
burning the leaf. Bya series ofezper;mens onihese
mere points, Pref B. escer!ained tsat they consist
cd Of o1aa,e Of lime, combination OF lime with
the ncd c So!rcl. THESE Investigations must prove
Of great importance 10 agricultural science, SIS they
indicate facts with regard 10 the iood essential TO
plants.
Arr. III. Review of Magnetic Investigations, by
Rev. Wm. ScoEesby. nv.
Art. ". GA Exponential and Logarithtnic inc
oyems, by Professor Theodore Strong
An. V. AnaI,sis Of Coproli,es from the New Red
Sandstone formation Of New Ensland, by Sam. h.
Dana, with remarks by Prof. Hitchcock. CopFo-
lite is the learned name for fossi! e1cremeu;s. PIoi
H. had before described the tracks OF numerous
huge birds of ancient times that walked the Con-
nec,icu, Valley while the rocks were still plastic
and here u e have discovery of their e1cremen'2'
as is shown by an elaborate chemic2l anaiy
Considering them as establishing the fact that Tie
supposed animal. had ar actual existence, the as
coysries must be deemed of unusual interest In le
article following Art VIZ Prot. Hitchcock gives a
description of some rse 'raeks from the C0nn'cii-
en-; VALLEY; and o,hersare described by Dr. penne
in article XVI.
Art. VII. Rs5ieto Of DR.. Blum on Pscndon0r-
oh9ns Mi4erais, or the changes which minerals
undergo in composition without an alters'ien IN