The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-03

Theory OF Tides tE
The course pursued by The present administration IN
securing the promotion OF Lieut. Maury, the honofs con
ferred upon him by some OF our nIsi senses VI ios
ing and The confidence rsposed in his talents and Iudg
men by the American people. mpart much interest TO The
tour abroad which that gentleman has just commenced
| for scientific purposes. aNa
Ii is known that Mr. Msury has devoted the principal
part OF his studies and researches TO the phenomena OF
ocean-eurreas OF water and air He has paid consdera
bic attention. also, 10 the transit OF clouds through The
atmosphere, and still more. apprehend, 10 the rise and
fall OF tides His published views these topics are OF
great importance and have doubt that his careful
observations and practical inquiries, while In other lands
and waters, will add very materially to the maritime
knowles of the world We shall assiduousy watch
the of his in the OF sciences and promp
ly pabsh all such facts the subject OF bis researches
as he may think proper TO communicate
The theory OF tides is one OF an em'nently practical
nature II deeply concerns the and travel OF
all the civilized nations OF the globe. Is It not very SIN
guar that such great variety OF opinions should Tor SO
long time have existed with regard io' And would
it not be strange if the yreceved opinion as to
the direct agency Of the moon IN producing The rise ana
fall OF oceans should prove TO be altogether taacious
Yet stranger things than this have happened especially
in this aye OF magnetic elegrsphs and j, may be that the
honor OF settling forever the theory OF tides is reserved
for the American lieutenant Maury-lhe young and gifted
countryman of franklin and Fulton, OF Whitney and
Morse.
For ourselves. we reject entirely the absurd and use
less theory that the moon has the least possible effect on
the tides of The oceans. We believe that the sun and the
stars have Just as much influence the tides az The
moon has--vz at ALL In our humble judgment,
all the almanacs, CHARTS scientific and nautical books
which based the theory OF lunar oceanic influence
are constructed upon wilma theory that has
foundation in fact Such publications. as at present
arranged not unwholly uncaled for, because they
reveal some OF the practical workings OF the tides at GER
tain times OF the month-,hose workings, however, we
repeat not being in the least degree in consequence Of
or dependent upon, the influence Of the moon; for the
moon has other effect the water or air or land OF
this earth, than 10 give light TO those who inhab them.
1t is true that at certain stages of the there exist
certain conditions of The tides. But this is not owing
in the slightest particular to the presence size, shape or
location OF the II is owing altogether, as we be-
eye, 10 CHANuEs PRODUCED ny THE REVOLUTIONS OF
THE These changes occur at stated periods. They
reach certain points OF elevation and depression al the
time the is in certain portions OF the surrounding
space. Consequently, when the Tide is in given stage,
given point The is in given condition OF full
ness OF leanness OF briiancy obscurity may be
owing to the revolutions of the earth. and TO those
through which it is itself passing, at given time.
The passage Of the tides through the oceans Is pro-
duced. in our opinion by the filling up and emptyng OF
certain corresponding cavities in the hidden surface OF the
globe When these internal caverns full of water,
The tides of the oceans are low on the surrounding
shores OF the earth When they empty. the water
flows out into The oceans, and the tides rice This plain
position susceptible, apprehenS OF complete demon
stra,on and indulge the fond hope that Leutenan,
Maury has been given 10 country and 10 this age for
the purpose Of practically unfolding this demonstration
10 the world We trust is he who is to show mankind,
by the OF his scientific attannents by his expert
mental owledge and personal explorations, aided by all
the lights Of advancing civilization, why 1t is that the
tides of the rise and fall the most where the outer
surface of the earth (anl undoubtedly it's nne surface
also) the most broken, where the volcanic fires have
been the most violent. where .
Earth from her cente to.',
And mou ntsins in the ocra rs lost
Torn piece meal by the boiling tide
II is to be shown we apprehend that the waters Of the
great American lakes do not rise and fall because OF The
even confined, close natures of the basins OF earth
which contain them. Whereas, il they were operated
upon as some contend, by the moon they ought TO rise
and fall al least much the Mediterranean. sea no
larger, no broader, deeper than of them. Bat
the The waters OF those lakes reach The river and
gulf Of ST. Lawrence they become connected with those
which pass in and out OF the internal cavities OF the
and hence they become parts of the tides of the
earth, and rise and fall with lis revolutions.
Ia Illustration of these facts, refer to the different
volcanic gaps through which the waters OF the oceans
and gulfs ADD bays, constantly passing for in
stance as the nals,room on the coast OF Norway. But
we have already extended observations beyond the
limits usually allotted TO US in these articles We there
fore reserve additional discussions of this import
| ami practical topic TO future occasions.
| HERMES