Washington sentinel., 1853-12-09

Lecture OH GeOlOgy.-The second lecture on
geology was delivered on Wednesday evening, at
the Methodist Episcopal church, Green street, by
the Rev. r. S. Foster, ID. ID. The subject was
geological agencies, causes of changes, means Of
observations, &c The lecture was illustrated by
charts, symbols, orrery and globes The audi
ence was not numerous. The exercises of the
evening were opened with an appropriate prayer
DR.. Foster commenced by referring to the theories
to which attention was given in the former lec-
ture, (the La Placean, nebular theory of the
solar system, and the theory of gueous fusion of
our own panet) Yet whether they true or
false, he said, was question which but slightly
concerns the science of geology; they may or may
not be true, and it will but little affect the prnci-
Piles involved. However the globe was formed,
in fusion or a solid sphere, it had first virgin
surface AT that point geological inquiries prop
ery begin. Whatever may have been the primi-
tive condition of the EARTH one thing is certain
il had chrystaliZed crust; changes commenced
to operate on that crust. These changes consti-
tue the science of geology, and the subject of the
present lecture was, the changes produced on
those crusts. The changes began Immediately TO
transpire, and they have been very extensive; but
whether the earth originally fluid solid,
there was time when it presented an incrusted
form. That was the result of igneous fusion, and
gave the primitive granite rock. Rains beget
rivers-they the fathers and mothers of oceans,
and in the ancient earth must have been more
abundant than in the modern earth. The ancient
oceans were perhaps all tropical, and conse
guently deeper and more agitated. The Falls of
Niagara, Of which diagram was displayed, had
retreated seven miles from two heights, making
channel of four hundred feet Deep and from half
mile 10 mile and half wide, which had been
made through solid rock. The lecturer then re-
fer TO Lake Geneva, the Adratic. and the Gan
ges. The debris carried down by the latter he said
was about six thousand tons annually. But the
Mississippi has the largest drainage in the world !;
she drains a portion of the earth no less than one
million five hundred thousand square miles 1t
is found that the Mississippi had produced delta
with an area of thirty square miles and six hun
dred feet deep; it carries twice as much as the
Ganges, though il is not as old or as long en-
poyed as that great river. Doctor Foster then
referred TO the influence of the glaciers with their
high avalanches, the movements of the boulder
rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, upheavals subsd-
ences, description of strata, lifting Of mountains,
settling Of lakes which were illustrated by the
lecturer with much clearness and impressiveness
Herald, Nov. 25.
Mysterious Abduction The JERSEY CITY
Union states that young lady disappeared from
that vicinity on Wednesday night, under mys-
terious circumstances. She returned from
short walk, with female friend, just at night. On
arriving the door of the house she stopped, and
telling her companion to go into the house, she
started quickly down the road as she said, to look
for her handkerchief Her companion waited for
moment on the steps and saw her go few
yards, stoop down, and then turn back towards
the house, The friend then went into the house.
She had hardly shut the door behind her before
she heard faint cry. Thinking that her friend
was only calling 10 her not to shut the door, she
mischievously locked il and ran up stairs, intend
ing TO keep the young lady waiting at the door till
the servant should open it. From that moment
nothing has been seen or heard of her.
Her father and brothers fancied she had gone up
stairs; the friend in the way, fancied that she
had stayed below; and il was only after coming
down TO the parlor that both discovered the alb
sence of the daughter of the house, Search
was Immediately commenced, and the young lady's
shawl found close TO the house, but no other traces
have yet been discovered. She is young, pretty,
and accomplished, but is not known TO have been
upon intimate terms with any one of the opposite
! sex.