The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-12

range nom l0o to l2S degrees The most striking
example in the old United States, il in Arkansas;
temperature Is high, he believed, as $50 degrees
They are still more remarkable in Oregon, particu-
ia!ly at the Cascade mountain. These facts, oon-
Joined with what We know of other parts Of the
characteristics every whore In South Anne
RIGA they are found on high mountains,
and at various degrees Of temperature From
this subject he passed on to that of volcanoes.
from which chiefly issues substance called lava
They generally rise in Notwithstanding from
under the sea. There is no age that does not in
dictate their existence and internal heat must have
been developed with the birth of the planet; hence
1t 10 probable that in its original condition, it was
an ignited mass, which has only lately become in
habitable And as long rs it endures volcanoes
must exht-shifting from one place to another-and
U Se sssS the Sys
tire crust would burst up: They are. therefore,
as necessary as are the valves Of steam engine
boiler. Sometimes volcanic eruptions are pre-.
ceded by, earthquakes; but this is not always the
case, and NO care or caution can discover an ap.
proac hing eruption. The instinct of animals, how.
ever enables them to provide for their safety the
eiIds ny to their covers, and the animals to their
dels, startled by the gases which precede the dis
charge Of lava, flame and cinders. One Of the most
striking phenomena which accom- anies these con-
vulsons ofnature the discharge of electrcity the
Lightning s most vivid, and Of that peculiar forked
character which is most terrific, and exposing to
view the clouds Of dust, sand and stones, which
shoot up perpetually. The smoke which rises is
accompanied frequently with condensed steam; sub
stances that happen to be in the way and which
not melted by the excessive heat, are also elected,
together with various gases. The cause of vapors
that accompany eruptons is, that their location is
generally but net always, the sea; torrents of
water also rush out, principally what is called
muddy water, bringing with II the contents of the
volcano. What is very curious fact is that some
times number of fishes arc thrown out. In South
America, he said, so many were thrown up on one
occasion that pestilence was the result 1t is
not to be supposed that these the Inhabitants
ofthe volcano, but from tho crcu instance that
it must have been connected with the ocean, or
some lake in its vicinity Sulphur, salts, So are
also elected from volcanoes But the priacipal sub
stance thrown out is black lava composed of often
rock, and it seems to be of no Importance what rock
is exposed to the intense heat OF the volcano-even
granite is liable to be melted. Sometimes the flow
OF lavais composed of melted matter-at others it
Is perfectly lmpid AS this lava cools it assumes
various forms Of hardness from pummice to glass;
and he said that it was a curious fact that lava,
when melted down becomes glass, and whom blown
up 1t becomes pummice. Sometimes volcanoes
shoot out rocks that are unaltered by the heat to
which they have been exposed; and it is no uncom-
mon occurrence to find among the exuvi@ Of the
volcanoes masses Of granite. limestone, Sc.
Prof Slman then proposed to make the
survey OF the globe, and to call the atten-
ton Of his audience to its most prominent
volcanoes, Of some Of which he said he could
speak from personal observation. In doing this, he
was much aided BY the numerous diagrams, which
were profusely displayed The first reference was to
the volcanoes Of Iceland which have been 80 nume-
rous and SO extensive that mountains are incrusted
with the sulphur they have elected, to the depth Of
some inches and pummice stone and lava have
been carried into the sea, forming promontories
extending three leagues from the shore, and where
formerly were forty tathoms of water. And what IL
strange ne remarked if we pass to the other pole Of
the earth, we find powerful volcanoes there in 1ul
play Si- James Ross discovered two of these on
tho continent, to which he gave the name of Victo-
ria. Dr. Silliman said he felt every degree of re-
spect for that estimable lady but the honor did not
belong 70 her, as the British officer did not make
the original discovery. 1t was seen by the Ameri
can squadron, extending distance Of fourteen
this continent burst forth two volcanoes called by
Sir James Ross Terror and Erebus after his ships,
the saE vessels which left England under the COM
mand Of Sir ] ohm Franklin If, therefore, the two
poles of the earth are undermined by internal fires
the rest of the globe must be undoubtedly subject
to their influence. From Iceland he passed on to
Scandinavia, which is slowly rising out of the wa
ter. There are no tides in the Baltic and on exa-
mraton it has been found that the shores are from
four to seven feet higher than they were formerly.
Another proof is found in beaches, at an eeva-
ton OF from tour to five hundred feet Ia Sweden,
barnacles. which will only grow on the sea- are met
with on rocks considerably above the level of the
ocean, proving that they have been rising for ages
On the east coast Of Greenland the land is sinking,
proof OF which is found in the fact that where the
missionaries once lived is now under water, thus
acting as lever. one end rising and the other going
down. Passing on to the Orkneys and Shetland
Islands, there exists there, he said no evidence of
volcanic action, but igneous 70 ,ks are found. In
Great Britain there no volcanoes, and there are
none in Ireland; but there exist hot springs anala
gous to those Of New Lebanon, which have been
used from the time of the Ro mans, and the baths
which they erected still remain. Professor Sill
man said he should not allude to the vol.
canoes of Europe on that occasion, bu. would pass
on to the Azores, where proof WAS not many YEARS
since afforded, that the power by which the land
has been elevated from the ocean is not yet extinct
During an extraordinary commotion of the adj AGENT
ocean, which occurred an island appeared, and rose
60 high that the captain Of the British frgate Sa
brina, with the avidty for acquisition which cha
rscterizes eur British foreathers, planted it the
Bstn nag sdappn1eM and
are igneous rocks; and in the Canaries there are
volcanoes. The Peak Of Teneriffe, of the sloping
sides Of which the island Of that name consists is
an extinct volcano, and has an elevation Of upwards
of $4,000 feet above the level Of the The Cape
Verde Islands the Professor described as being ig
neous; but no volcanoes exist there. He then
touched at st. Helena-rendered memorable By
being selected as the place of captivity of the EN-
reror Napoleon-where the rocks are of volcanic
origin. Thence he passed round the Cape of Good
Hope, glanced at the Isle Of France, Mauritius,
and the Isle Of Bourbon, which is Of volcanic origin,
and seems to be composed Of two enormous volcanic
other is in full activity. Turning to Palestine,
Professor Silliman said, we know from sacred and
profane history that volcanoes exist in that country;
and there is reason to believe that the Dead Sea
is subsderce caused by volcanic action the waters
OF which are SO strongly impregnated with saline
properties, that person cannot sink, but comes ont
incrusted with salt Mountains and stones Of the
same substance are also TO be found in that drec-
ton. 1t was also understood, he said, that there
are volcanoes in Asia, which shows that they are
not always in the vicinity Ct the sea. Returning
from this digression Professor Sillinan passed on
between Sunatra and Java, noting the evidences of
volcanic action to be met with there; and thence to
the neighboriIg islands, which have been remark
able for volcanic eruptions; for more particular
account Of that Of ISIS, the world he said is in.
debted to Sir Stamford Rafles, when the ashes
were carried several hundred miles, giving to every
thing around the appearance Of midnight at noon
day Thence, he visited New Zealand, which, as is
the case with the other islands, is of volcanic
origin. AT the spice Islands, he said, there were
evidences of series Of volcanic acton--a descrip-
tion Of which would be found in Capt. Wilkes ac.
co, mt of the exploring expedition. The Ladrone
ar d Loo hoo Islands are Of volcanic origin, where