The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-07
MISCELLANEOUS.


Terrestrial ...S~sssss. ssd Ms elects tho ssn'-
nusd sarfacs Of ths earth.
No. many years ago " magnetism SIMPLY consid-
cred that peculiar species OF attraction exhibited BY the
magnetic needle but find that is property in,
herent in all matterhe active principle OF the mineral
kingdom; and It has most important influence IN the
general economy OF nature Indeed when we duly re-
fect that globe is constantly enveloped BY this uni
versa subtle power. its presence being long known in
every part Of he civilized world somewhat surpris-
Jag tina, philosophers should have long neglected this
grand primary force and that they should have assumed
other forces which not only unknown, but inca
pable of giving satisfactory solution OF the multfarous
Operations daily observed, which accounted for
by the simple universal law OF magnetism. The rela-
tons between chemistry and eectro-magnetsm between
animal and vegetable physiology becoming every day
and the enombed organic remains Of planet, finds it.
self dependent on this great natural agent working IN
obedience TO fixed law Hitherto geological science has
been designated vague and useless doctrine by many
OF practical miners; and il is true that primary
rocks with their mineral VEINS have been left by specua
tive geologlsts as terra tneognua, IN complete obscuy
But happy 10 observe change tor the better the
science is beginning to have useful and prac
teal bearing, and men getting more anxious to learn
1T; and It is 10 be hoped that with this combined nfu
ence, and the dlgent accumulation OF new facts such
degsee of certainty will be attained may enable them
10 predicate with some confidence not only questions
connected with mineral deposies, but likewise all phenom
ena which it comprehends.
We have been led to make these observations on this
interesting subject IN consequence Of repeated appca
tons from correspondents, requesting us to give
short sketch OF Mr. +. Hopkins new system OF geology,
which. in consequence oil its practical application TO
for all phenomena connected with terrestrial physics,
becoming all but established system with practical
men. The interest has been considerably enhanced Of
late owing to the recent discoveries male by the indie
fatigable DR. Faaday, coroboratnz, in remarkable de-
gree, Mr. Hopkins general views as explained in his
Polarity of roks--It is known from time immemoria
that the rock called loddstone, when freely suspended
points north and south; but according to Mr. Hopkins,
this is also its natural position in stu II matters not
whether the rock be foot or mile IN LENGTH the effect
would be the same; and as all our primary rocks are
more or less magnetic, 1t follows that, possible to
IN the crystalline film Of any given area and make it to
float, and left undisturbed, would eventually occupy
Qke the loadstone precisely the position end for end
asst did before its polar grain would return
TO its natural medona bearing the the loalstone
or magnetic needle The primary rocks forming the
et srsa IN as we as ns
The oh end OF the needle in the south, and the south
end Of il in the northern extremity with tremendous
substance OF the globe able to account for erup
tons, heavals, and other disturbances by which it is
globe is large magnet, exerting the influence
mailer as we ind on experimenting with ARTIFICIAL magnets
there must be decomposition and decomposition constant
ly taking place whilst the in ciFcalaion
ing IN al the porh and emerging again from the south
end a the aris
Wkasv.s substances may be aeooa51,sea and con.
ysssrs lsy xAAss, zza rstesEs. tie szxn0t-
ing cza - Es.rr,ps. w1aseves may
sse ss.onss agsls " HAxas OF ihas r.Ecs41g pphz,
f1rrss fae AsY Nsrs .saore tAeY sxsSs ss te b- OF
vsg.1ahts, wEsss-a,rsrs arsrss tse 5-slts
* as scrt. and nsn Seports af vegetable sa4 4nlr3
Eisy zshs z. s sisteyEse ot raagax sss4 eEa1n
ths sane rnant- a. GTtrgnsaasss sxY ssssrasas- The
latsarty OF sse ssfn * me scrrs1s n.rs--ay De
As taess eeasfy The POLES coa9re4.ea Ssdiese
tae cor -emtase power Of tie FyeryIGy aud eos.vsry
lax czres and the attractive fogre 7ar5es inye.ely
az The square cube isereasss- Mfr Hopkins consider.
thai the nssros-st 1s ia: assyn 20 the polar
axis are areas sOgnde BY the arctic and aiaStc CIRCLES
After some e1ceIssa, aad lucid o5sesYa,soss the
IDENTITY Of magnetic and zzvanIc curent. and the filing
solution similar manner a. effected By chemical AIT
The Effects of the poles Of the globe all substasess
within, the Itrh,s Of their actions metallic sepos,es, polar
Hy 81 earthquakes, tic, he proee.s 10 pore the nor
wasf and nndala'iDg movement oi the sar;hs surface
en- masx, BY the constant circulating acu0n oi mag
nsiis currents Mr Hopkas not only eaabiishsa that
the dry land does NOT possess that hgiiy oi position
Is It that solid ard onoyabe formerly supposed
bat that the surface is flexible crystalline compound
Heating on some dense fluid. and subject perpetual
aoyemens that The land, well IA the currents
- continually advancing with uudua,ofy movement
to0nrda me npr and tina, the magnetic Tension Causes
thpsc splits and assures the crystalline rocks, which,
becoming hed with The deposlies u metallic solutions
are called mineral Iodes VEINS, Among the facts refer
red to 10 proof Of this northern movement Of the eanhs
surface, he notices the fact that all The surveys
and astronomical observations made IN South America
show northery increase IN latitude. That what has long
been called the procession oi the equnoxe arises from the
northern advance Vi the land which at present
also Ins ~ seconds pei annun and this change in the
lapse Of T1ofsfais number Of years destroys the ar
fanxeneni oil The Catalogue oi the stars, and makes 1t
necessary 10 reconstruct than
Since the formation Of the eares, record, the place Of
peculiar and gradual change and said that the heavens
and the stars appeared to change by The Egyptian
priests also acquainted Herodo,us that, from the
lcncement of the dynasty of their kings 900 years0
The had apparently changed his the heavens
four lines lie also instances the changes OF temperature
IN northern chimes evidence OF this movement With
in The limits Of historic records, there abundant proof
u the climate Of Europe getting colder and that the in
ablanis Of the north continually setting south ward
The first settlers Iceland found extensive districts OF
that dreary country covered with extensive forests
Of birch and fir; bailey and other grain also cutva
ted, while the whole island dreary desert On
the discovery and what is called the settlement OF Ice
land, relics found which showed it had been preyi
ously Inhabited There a country called Vinand,
wiihna few days sail Of Greenland, waieed by
yielding fine salmon, the banks Of which
loaded with delicious fruits: the temperature mild
and the soil fertile Among the fruits grapes. from
which arose the tile "he land OF wine" This VInland
was doubtless Newfoundland Wine was formerly made
from grapes which grew the open fields OF England
and the north Of France and there ample proofs of
similar reduction o temperature other parts OF
the continents Of Europe and America
- IN the northern regions hDt the relics OF man
and his works and probably the greater pari have dis
appeared from the RAPID destruction and oxidation 81 the
land at the north pole Al geooxsca RESEARCHES Prove
that in The northern latdes ind the animal spoiis 81
the southern countries, and the marine sxsvH 81 the
southern sezs ba, in the southern find re-
Of animals, vegetables, shells Belonging 10 ne
northern but those only Of the nesxhoog are