Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-31
Subject Phases of the Atmosphere Being report Of
the three last lectures


In opening the second lecture Prof ROGERS REQUIRED
briefly to Of the topics of the preceding one, and
showed by reference to drawings that certain simple
pements, the bellows and sprinkng vase, in ia
miar use in very remote antiquity. But, the
great laws Of atmospheric force then unknown the
facts relating to them which accidentally discovered
and applied in the arts remained isolated and unpro-
ductive.
He then concluded the view Of the mechanical relations
of the atmosphere by remarks upon its action on
light in which he spoke of the color of the air. as shown
in the blue tint Of distant mountains and Of the sky and
referred to the increasing depth of this color ascend
to greater height This he explained blending Of
the blue proper the air above us with the backness
the exterior space He showed that the air, while re-
fecting the blue rays, transmit the red and yellow,
which, with the former to make the white light Of the
SUM- and thus arise the rich coors which appear upon the
clouds and sky sunrise and sunset In this connection
he spoke Of the cyanometer and of the polarization of the
light by the air by which its reflection is demonstrated
He then passed to the chemical relations of the atmo-
sphere. It's two principal constituents nitrogen and oxy-
gen, first exhibited and their chief properties IL
lusrated by experiment The fact Of their uniform inter
mixture at all heights and in all localities explained by
referring the law Of gaseous diffusion first discovered
BY Doton Hydrogen Of the componens of the water
which is necessary although variable Ingredient Of the
air, next exhibited in its leading properties after
which carbon and cabonc acid were treated Of at
length The probably organic origin Of the diamond was
alluded to- well the fact of its recent conversion into
substance resembling common coke
The solvent power Of water mbued with carbonic acid
was dwet on as the cause Of many important changes
formerly produced or in progress upon and beneath
the ears surface The action Of the nterng rain water
ms 1t passes through the riffs and channels Of limestone
rocks was described The formation Of was ex-
planned bv this solvent action aided in degree by
the wearing action Of the moving waters they flow
through the subterranean channels which they
tnuay charging Reference here made to the fire.
ouent in oil cacareous regions Of and
tunnels and 1t shown how by progressive changes
chains Of caves become converted into tunnels and these
again before the last remnant Of their roof falls in, form
natural bridges such that which celebrated in the
Valley Of Virginia
Prof r. then gave detailed history Of the process Of
accretion by which staactes formed in caves AND
by which the walls clothed with their stony drapery
He further explained the in which the streams IN
limestone regions deposte the cacareous matter with
which they charged and thus build up their channels
to higher level until at last they seen in some in
stances flowing in aqueducts Of their
sruotion. Prof r. concluded by impressing the import
ance Of these and other facts belonging to the chemical
phases Of the atmosphere and manfesting its powerful
agency in remodelling the earths surface