The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-05

end traaspsetlne ~ nstsslsls chat form The dust
Of ~ geSs; and By disintegrating the rocky sub
stance; Y ~ss.ins away noa mt assisted y
in Auid state But in state Of vapor It il doing
wonders. Having recently made two voyages, in
vessels belonging TO tho finest line Of steamers in
took the opportunity to make one or two remarks,
particularly - he understood application has been
made to Congress for aid. The captains Of the
steamers be said in which his son and himself took
passage, permitted them to inspect these vessels
minutely; and no went on to explain the manner in
which they had been constructed, and their knees
and timbers 30 well secured by iron clamps and
bolts, that they became one compact body; SO much
he could not perceive them to YIELD in the least to
the violence Of the waves; was there the least
vibration. They arc also well provided against
FIRE, aud admirable means Of conveying water to
possible to provide efectually e aint danger; but
so far % that can be done, IL has been effected.
He said, he had no voice in tho affairs Of the nson,
but If the opportunity Of establishing tho Collins
l. would be most unfortunate-he might ada
disgrsceful occurrence From this depression the
Professor proceeded to consider the evaporation
which 10 continually taking place from the ocean,
lopg series Of ages, no said, the only inhabitants
of the earth were marine animals; and there never
would have been any other had it not been for the
subsequent elevation Of the land 1t was owing to
prived OF Its saline properties, and became adapted
TO the wants, and requirements, aud condition Of
man, whilet added to the beauty Of the scenery of
nature; for what could b more splendid aud beau
tful than the appearance OF the clouds after thua
der storm
I" When we look to the west, and the beautiful sky
Which the morning had couded is clouded NO mors'n
And much as the Italian sky had been extolled, he
said he saw nothing in it to exceed that OF this
country in point OF splendor In Italy, there are
mountains which arc elevated above the regions of
perpetual W; and this, he sad the secret OF
the fertilization Of Italy It frequently happens
there that IL does not rain for weeks, during which
the melting Of the snow on tho mountains, which
descends to the plains below, inundate and irrgate
the country. These, as they descend, bring with
them rocks Of various sizes. In the United States,
there no mountains which penetrate the regions
of perpetual snow. Those Of New Hampshire ap-
prosch the nearest; but they may be met with "a
California. He then noticed the glaciers, which are
vast rivers OF CONCEALED snow, extending from the
dec]ivites Of the mountains do wn into the valleys
below. One Of the most famous is the Mer dc
Glaze, In the valley of Cham0uni, about 200 feet
above the level Of the sea, which Professor Siman
visited Some of these frozen rivers descend dis
lance of fifty miles; and when they come together,
brig with them vast accommodations Of stone ard
earth, which are deposited along the edges of the
glaciers. ard are called "moraines." These are
often several fathoms high, and in 81 amor present
the appearance OF bottomless msr asses producing
no vegetation. These congo aled rivers flow on at
the rate of foot day, invading the fertile country
beneath; and cherries it is said have been pluoked
by person who had one foot on the glacier, which
appears like an immense wall Of ice. The Profess
sor said he had himself seen the grass, perfectly
green, growing at the foot Of one OF those GLACIERS.
There are often caverns under these rivers; and
Professor Siliman mentioned an instance where
TIVE e1ng Englisbmen went within one of those,
and impIudently discharged pistol The effect
was to detach the rocks and earth that were over
their heads, by which one of them was crushed,
and the other was seriously injured. BY means of
these
transported from place to place. and often to great
diet ,Dce Icebergs ALEC are found in great numbers
every car. drifting past Newfoundland, which are
loaded with sa nd and gravel, and which have come
all the way from Baf6n's Bay-some Of these are
almost covered with rocks There is little doubt,
therefore, that water and ice have transported rocks
from the most distant regions, and in this manner
building materials have been brought for the use of
man There are also discovered IN many parts of
the world. particularly in the United States and 10
the British provinces, marks, on the level surface
Of the rock which has been donuded OF earth, re.
sembling scratches, and tending from north to
scnth, indicating the rubbing OF ice and angular
substances; and large numbers Of boulder stones
and granite and other rocks arc found IN co antres
of an entirely different form alton, that must have
been deposited by ice which had hoated in that
direction. Intimately connected with the frag mont
ary rocks, (the Professor said,) are the beautiful
columns that support the dome Of the House OF
Represent atives, composed of what is called Poto-
mac marble. They consist Of comminuted stones
ard pebbles that have evidently been rounded by
attritoB, and deposited in the spot whore they are
now found, forming M indurated mass, among
whieh--a fact the Professor omitted to mention
the most delicate shells, which have not boen In
the east degree fractured or injured by any violent
action Masses Of copglomera.e, he said, are also 70
be found rcar Newport, Il ), and also at Fall
River. He concluded by aaverting TO the ciroum
stance Of the Capitol having been originally built
Of sar dstoDe, for which some excuse may BIO found
in the absence Of that scientific knowledge that is
universally diffused, Considering that in the
Capitol is to be found concentrated the mind and
will of the nation, be had always deeply regretted
the error that had been committed TIE building
had been subsequently painted white, so as to re-
sembe marble, which was in about rs good taste
ss filing up one or two fractures in the Potomac
marble columns with putty, and after wards paint
ing it in imitation Of stone At present, he said 60
veInment is doing what it should have done at first
building the wings Of tho Capitoland Patent Of.
6ce Of ble In cases Of this kind the question Of
cost ought not to be considered. The two best ma
terials for building are granite and white marble.
The Greeks understood this perfectly; and the Par
thenop, had it not been for the ravages Of war,
would have remained to the present time monu-
mept Of tho wisdom and intelligence which project
Cd its erection.