Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-04-02

then our atmosphere will become expanded
and the present orbit Of our planet changed
for one of greater eccentricity, aad then oul
earth may take comets path, perform {
comets revolutions until it shall in the pro-
gress of ages acquire density, and again re
turn to its original orbit, new earth, ga new
creation"
! On the Doth day of February last the grea
volcano of Mauna Loa, (Hawaii broke iortl
IN terrible convulsion, at an elevation o
ten thousand feet above the ocean. The
light of its corruscations charged with cleo
trio energies Illuminated the Arctic reei ions,
and kindled up an Aurora Borealis that was
visible both in Europe and America, through
out the entire night. On the Goth day oi
August, exactly six months after, the voIca-
no of Mount Etna, on the opposite side ol
the globe, broke forth in a CONFUSION and
was still active when the last accounts were
received from there. In the year 1913 these
two volcanoes were also active. In 1913 the
New Zealand Islands were shaken for weeks
in succession by terrible earthquakes, ming
ling with the lurid flames Of volcanic fires,
and at the same time the Azores or Western
Islands were also convulsed by fearful earth
quakes, that lifted up masses of rock in the
bottom ofthe Ocean, to such an extent as to
endanger navigation.
During the sojourn of the vessels compo-
sing the GrinneIl Arctic Expedition in the
Polar seas, the officers Of the Advance kept
a sixty minute thermometrical record for me.
From the first day of October, 1850, to the
9th day of June, 1851, they recorded 1888
observations, being one every sixty minutes,
night and day, with the exception of one hum
dred and fifteen hours omitted for that long
term Of this term there were eighty-two
days of an unbroken Arctic night One of
the greatest changes in the temperature oc-
Cured in the middle of this Arctic night
the temperature rose from 8 degrees below
zero to degrees above in The short space OF
sixty minutes, being change of twelve de-
grees in ore hour This change was stimuli
taneous with great shocks of earthquake at
Malta Whenever the temperature rose
above zero, during the Arctic night, it was
simultaneous with the shock of an earth
quake, as is seen by comparing the Arctic
record CO temperature with my record OF
earthquakes. The atmosphere of the Arctic
regions was colder during the time the sun
was visible, in February, than at any time
during the long Arctic night. The DRIFT OF
the Arctic ice during the intense cold is
wonderful phenomena In the month Of De-
cember, 1850, the temperature was above
zero but single hour, and the day the drift
was the greatest was 81 degrees below zero,
and the average temperature of every hour
of that month was Is degrees below zero;
and still, Notwithstanding this severe and
unbroken cold the Advance and Rescue and
the ice on which they rested drifted from the
mouth of the Wellington Channel, first
southwark to Barrow's Straits, and then
eastward through those Straits to and into
Baffin's Bay. ten degrees of longitude in
thirty days. In six months and nine days
the ice on which the Advance and Rescue
were placed by an unseen hand drilted thr-
ty-three degrees of longitude east, and nine
degrees of latitude south-without human
aid and despite human effort. These vessels
were commissioned to search for Sir John
Franklin who had gone to the frozen seas in
search of knowledge wherewith to benefit the
human family. They were commissioned on
an errand of mercy and were most signaiy
favored, and every soul on board those two
vessels were returned in safety to their
homes. Surely the hand of Providence is
everywhere, and il is wonder that man,
who is in the constant enjoyment of Heav-
ems blessings is SO unnindiul of Divine pro.
lection and favor
Yours truly, E. Merriam.