Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-19


point that all prouberances have been caused by up
heavngs But must abandon this subject asst is irrelevant
and has nothing to do with coral formations Permit
refer your correspondent to the seventh volume of the United
States Exploring Expedition and to the American Journal
of Science and Arts No g. July, page 25 for treatise on
coral islands and formations, by James D. Dana, and
Professor Smans analysis Of coral formations. BY casting
your eye along the globe will be found that the zoophes
these minute submarine archects-surround the world in
belt between the parallels of $50 s. and 39o NJ They are
constantly forming solids from the liquid The
of the composed of various substances which in
great increases their bulk. These held in sou
ton, and occupya large amount of space large that the
zoophts has already distracted sixteen million Of square
miles of solid material, and formed of it islands, eef &c.
1t is asserted and proved, by philosophical well chem
cal facts that all bodies in solid state Except ce) occupy
smaller solid than they did in their liquid gaseous
form. The elements from which the zoophtes form their
mansions still exist, but in another form; they longer
liquid, make portion of the of the ocean, and
occupy less space Where rolled many millions of waves
stand many millions of miles of firm rocks their bases
to old oceans sand their tops peesng above old oceans
blue On these islands man has already placed his
habtaton, rearing all that requires in food and luxury
from prolific soil and bamy atmosphere. Yet still he who
first created the zoophe and taught him his work, still
nues him in incessan toll to pursue his work and build up
reef after reef island succeeding island and finally continent
succeeding them Cast the eye along the herein
toned, and will be the zoophites stretching their
habiations from the of China and India towards the
continent of America. On the Atlantic side they pushing
out Florida towards the Bahamas clear the Of South
America, hedging in the Gulf Of Mexico and Caribbean
These two sheets Of eventually become lakes the
zoophe still work rapidly in the Gulf near the coast
Of Mexico than elsewhere. | account for this from the
temperature Of the and subteanean fires,
which doubt exist beneath the Gulf near the crust of the
earth We Judge this fact from the btumen constantly float
ing up from the bottom Of the Gulf much of which is seen
adhering to the coral formations.
The shores the Mediterranean have percepby risen or
the have receded from them from some cause
Biologists and most all appear agree this point but with
your correspondent must differ in my views This rising Of
the land Of Europe Asia and Africa within the Mediterranean
attributed to volcanic action But this alteration of shore
line peculiar to that sea, but is continued The Atlantic
coast and other Shores Evidences in mari formations and
submarine shells and teeth of animals which abound in
many places in Virginia, Jersey, along the Of Florida
and Louisiana show these lands have been once submerg
ed These mari beds correspond in appearance with con-
gomeate shell formations found among coral reefs and the
s,uhern shores of this continent The whole of Florida
indicates It submerged, among particles Of
white sand SHE'LL coral sand be detected either by the
eye analysis These congomeates Of shell are considered
the best materials for building FORTS being both solid and du
rabe, and resisting the blow given by shot SHE'LL causing
them to rebound in consequence Of its elasticity
Again, Mr. Schettery remarks Notwithstanding the
subsdence Of the in all large basins have no idea
that the actual quantity appening our planet is under
going dminution" Should it be admitted that the waters
the driven into smaller space by the upheavngs
Of land by suberanean res the shores known coasts
would appear to sink in consequence Of the rising Of these
elected waters from the surface of these upheavings harbors
would deepen, and rivers be thrown back their course
overfowing cities, towns and countries But have su
cien evidence to show and able and intelligent
dent admits D that rivers and lakes are continually ubsdng
The question is What becomes of the waters We have
shown that the substances which form the waters Of the
converted into solids, annhilated, some imagine
but being sodfed occupy less space and this process
continually going it is Of the incomPrehensioe ar
rangemen of the Divine hand which assist to make up
part the whole Of his admirable design.
My own mind has not yet been fully satisfied with the
theories advanced by geoogs on internal uPheavngs and
volcanic formations Your correspondent has advanced
hypothesis this subject and, he has treated in SO
mastery style, is be hoped be will continue the sub
ject Of those subjects which, IN connexion with
Others the scientific world now aRatngone which
any information that can be elected will be received by the
community with interest here must close, as see by my
paper that have already exceeded my limits but must re-
turn my thanks Mr. schstey for the valuable hints he has
thrown out relating the subsistence Of lakes &c., as he
has confirmed in the truth Of my theory. Il is to
be hoped he will not hide his light under bushe for one
have read bis short piece with much pleasure and derived
information from IT, discussion with 30 pleasant and able
writer gives mo pleasure, should meet with defeat
these points defeat victory establishes truth.
hope be will continue his subject Of volcanic action.
Yours, &c. w. d. PORTER.