Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-07-10
From the National lntelligcnccr.
THE SE A.

Among the many subjects which have at
,rnc,cd the attention Of both ancient nnh mod
ern philosophers, and at times been discussed
with great ability and zeal by Du MrLLrr and
others, is the constant and certain diminu,ion of
tho SEA, or the observable decrease uI the wa.
,ers Of tho Ocean. Facts can be produced to
show that Tie ocean line of coast has frequent
ly altered, projecting itself into the sea and
that rocks have appeared above the water which
were kow II IN former days 10 have been con-
sidcrably immersed. These facts have been
attributed by some to volcanic action, and by
others to gradual rising Of the land by interior
heat, expanding beneath and forcing the mass
above to rise. But we propose To show that all
these phenomena of tho charge in the ocean
line of seacoast, and appearance OF rocks above
the water, is caused by constant diminution
Of the waters OF the ocean and that process
is at all times going on ty which the substances
held in solution III the ocean waters are conver.
ted into solids. In order to make this subject
plain and lucid, all technical scientific nCmcn-
catures will be avoided and even the names
of tho busy and different classes Of architect,
in The great work of consolidation of the vast
unlathomable ocean will be called by simple
names. Tie object of scientific knowledge i.
not to cover up science by uames which cal
be only translated by the learned, but simply
to nako smooth the paths of Nature, and oper
her deep resources Of knowledge and Nature,
facts plainly and conciscly. | shall cndcavol
to do this in simple terms, and beg The Learned
and scientific savnn TO excuse me If use th,
vulgar terms and names, instead of the leurne,
classliications set down by themselves. Now
to my subject.
Tie sea, or the waters Of the sea, are com
posed partly of solid substances, held in solution
Some of these are salt, soda, and lime. 1t il
with these three we have principally to deal
From these are manufactured shells, conGenlel
coral reefs, islands, and banks, throughout lh
ocean depths. The Florida reefs, Antilles
coasts of Mexico, and all Polynesia or nearl,
all, are taken from the solid substances held il
solution by the waters Of the ocean. The for
nation of coral islands in the ocean is most sin
gular, curious, and wonderful. The little bus
scientific worknen employed in this specie
of architecture are so very minute that il re
quircs a powerful microscope 10 show even tn
semblance of some ur them, while others can b
detected by the naked eye. They are divide
into separate classes, and each class is perfect
/ master of his business. We find them no, onl
practical workmen, but scientific architects al
chemists. Let any one who feels any in'ero
, IN this subject take up few shells, sing
p valve, double and triple v9lve; examine the
closely he will find the interior Of the shell
U composed of lime mixed with large portion
0 soda, and, as ho approaches the exterior, i, wi
r be seen TO be 80 mixed with the three sub.tai
( cos--lime, soda, and salt-that it is as hard
; the most durabc stone. These sub,tances a
: taken from the waters Of the ocean, separate
by the animal lortped in the waters from when
y .they were taken, and made iEsoluG!e in Il
same substance in which they were held in s.
luton. This peculiar chemical separaiion-t'
precipitation Of each substance, in the sngul
manner performed by shell-iish III the fabric
Ition of their domicIls--has never ye, been o
n tanned by the mos. learned and practical che.
lst The little cora! insect, which SILENT
surely, and iudustriou,ly builds up from I
~ ocean depth his tree house, is, equally with t
V she'll fish, an accomplished architect and scic
~ ,iiic chemist. lie selects his materials from I
e. ocean, separates them, mixes them in prop
portions, and forms them into solids, in /
20 same medium from which the natsrials We
III taken. Each workman performs his part,
&c bandons j, when finished, and gives place