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


abiding to the subject Of mans youth, remarked,
that the dreaming thoughts Of youth were saner
than the awaking thoughts of manbeod, and con-
cueed with an eulogy upon the advantages Of its
enthusiasm.
Before the Smithsonian IasIiI ution, Wash
iDgt0n.
PROFESSOR sILLIMAN's FIFTH LECTURE UpoN THE
STRUCTURE OF IHE EARTH,
Professor SilInan, wis had been away to New
York since Monday, returned on Saturday, and
continued Lis series Of lectures Owing to the ne.
t6caticn Of the Professors return not being a. OK.
tensvely circulated as it should have been, the au-
diexce was not SO large as usual, although it was
very respectable in point Of numbers. After briefly
sdvertiDg to the subject Of the preceding lecture
with reference to internal heat he said it was very
probable that position is continually going on
in the interior Of the earth, through the agency Of
water, and beyond the reach Of atmospheric inau.
ence, owing to causes which he had already ex.
planned, but which, after ALL are referrabe to that
Being who is the author Of oil that We see around
us, and who has provided agencies by which Sc
ries OF endless charges may be perpetuated, among
the most powerful Of which may be classed that of
electricity. He ,aid he should not pursue this
may be the Of the internal heat of the EARTH
that Of volcanoes is evidently caused by igneous
rocks and lie here referred to various diagrams ex.
pafatory OF such rocks, the position Of which, he
On Monday evening. having got through with his
preparatory course, be should be prepared to con.
slider the dawn of ligh. upon this planet, and tho
introducticn of organisot beings He then, with
the AID OF diagrams, explained the manner in which
intrusive rocks such as trap, basslt, granite,
push the nselves through the Ata,
but which are often prevented from reaching tho
surface by TIE pres sure OF the earth and Sea and
expressed his conviction that at the bottom OF the
ocean there aIe mountains Of SUCH formation, the
result Of volcanic action.
Among the diagrams that were exhibited, was one
Of the Falls tf Niagara, and another Of the country
above and below, indicating the of the Mia
CARA river to its discharge into Lake Ontario bat
which the Professor thnks-and whoever has paid
attention to the ecenery about Lewiston will agree
with him In the conolusioE--must have flowed ORR
that the deep iissure through which the waters of
the upper lakes after having been dashed over the
falls, at present find their way, has been caused
BY their coptr uous actioI-thus entirely changing
the course OF the rver he should rather attribute
it, in the first instance. to some violent CONFUSION
Of nature, which probably opened this passage
Nor does Professor Silliman coincide with those
who suppose that the falls are gradually becoming
nothing hut an upheaying from below can drain
the upper lskes, even to q certain depth From
Niagara the Professor diverged to Derbyshire, in
England, which is an extensive mining district, and
to extend enc Of the mines, resulted in most ex-
traoIdinsry discovery. ALI at once, when at some
distance under ground, the mines broke through
into a. they had from
mine 1t, they found river passing through this
opening. which they subsequently, passed, and made
excavations for distance Of half q mile on the
ether tide; but without meeting with adequate on
coursgement. The Circumstance disclosed the in
eIestipg fact, however, that rivers through the
interior Of the earth The Professor visited this
river, where boctman constantly plies for the gra
tifcattn Of visiters, singing wild mountain air,
and occasionally letting Of skyrocket, which, as
may be supposed, has splendid effect, where the
light Of day is excluded. This river falls into an
abyss; and although tho rubbish acc lIoulated,
ss the workmen proceed, was thrown down, yet
1t had no seBsiblo effect in filing up the chasm.
Professor Sillimar said he omitted to state, on
former evening thatten Of his party started for the
ptrIote of attending the sharp como Of aunt Etna
IL was tn trtcrpiise of much difficulty and danger,
the reuto lying over detached blocks Of lava, or
where, vhen il fluid state, il had taken the form
Q! waves; and where they would have been dashed
to pieces If IL bad not been for the ssgscity Of the
mules ard the care and fidelity Of their attendants
They went On, however, in comparative safety,
until they came to The woody region, which is above
the Eeld OF lava, and IL covered chiefly with oak
ard hr, where were birds enjoying themselves, SO
cure irsm injay y man, with apsSuliar note and
psised the snowy regieB, consisting OF field six
or seven mies broad and ally stopped at the foot
OF an Accumulation Of crders AT length, whom
about to make the final ascent, one Of the guides
called out, "much wind - ard this intimation WAS
followed by perfect tempest, which rendered 1t
impossible to proceed. They compensated the m
selves however, BY looking down the chasm referred
to on former evening, the depth from the TOP to
the bottom OF which Ia 3, 500 feet.
The Professor ncxt considered water acting As
fluid both Ia dhsoviDg ard disinte gratinqeas q
medium Of Communication among natiops-and, By
its hydraulic ard ydrostatc power, i'm peng ships
locomotives, ard stationary machinery. This Is the
only fluid which was given for the permanent sup
port Of animal life. In oil Others he said, there
wss the Vresence CT watereven proof spirits one
half water IL L. therefore, evident that water Is
the drink which God intended for man; and al
though Professor Silliman disavowed any intention
Of giving temperance lecture, yet no very clearly
ir6jsatee what sre his views upon the subject Wa
ter, be said, is not simple body, rs was formerly
supposed, but Ia composed Of enc part Of oxygen
ard eight Of by droRen. This was one Of the dis
ctverts Of science and as the progress Of kno w
ledge goes on, men are enabled to discover other
fecren Of nature. He had seen locomotives,
propelled by steam, going faster than the
Wind. While travelling in England, in the
railears no found they were flying along
~ tno rate OF seventy.tvo miles m hour. This
was the result Of the application OF science; when
water acts as auid, IL exercises dissolving and
disnt.ErstIg power, and even metals cannot resist
ats influence II is continually ct work dissslving