The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-22


shall not rise upon the master get upon the slave.
(AppLanse)
THE Brooklyn Institute.
ISCTUsR ny PROFESSOR sILLInAH Ur0N THE yoL-
OASlC CHARAcTsR or ITALY.
Prof. Si!liman. of Yale College. Uew Haven, CT.
on Thursday evening delivered the seventh lecture
Of the course the above subject including the old
volcanoes about Rome, and their physical effects no
tees Of Roman ruins, Vcsuyus, and the buried cities
OF Pompeii and Hcrculaneum. The audience was
large, and the lecture very interesting. He COM
menced by observing that the condition of the planet
upon which God had fixed our residence was but i'm
perfectly known. The progress Of research however,
bad extended our knowledge, and the question WAS
longer to be discussed whether the heat greater
in the interior than the exterior of the earth II
had been satisfactorily demonstrated that the interior
of the globe heated far beyond the condition OF
the external part. This had been asccrtained by
deep borings. While digging the famous well in Pa
ris, and at which they had worked for seven years
without success, Arago gave as his opinion that if
they excavated under the beds Of chalk abundant
supply Of water would, in all probability, be OBJ
tanned After digging below this strata, the wa
ter rose up, in perfect cataract. to a height Of
one hundred and twelve feet, and was found to be
OF a very high temperature. II Is uniform result
that, by digging the earth is found to increase in
heat one degree for every fifty feet of descent. and
at distance of fifty miles melted rocks might be
found. Hot springs go to prove the existence of
large mass OF fire in the interior OF the earth, and
volcanoes 90 to the same account. The speaker re-
ferTed to the large boiling springs OF Lucca, in the
Apprentices, with temperature OF 40 degrees, and
the hot springs OF Bath, in England with a.empera-
ture of us degrees. What appears strange in the
latter instances, there no evidences OF volcanic
mountains; but he had no doubt they originated on
account Of volcanic eruptions at very early period.
The exploring expeditions to the south Pole had
shown Us that two large volcanoes burst forth from
icy mountains; and volcanic matter found in all por-
tons OF the globe proves the existence of intense
heat beneath. In Sweden there are no volcanoes.
but there s decisive proof fan internal power which
gradually raises the land ont of the water; and by
geological researches il il ascertaned that the coasts
OF Sweden continually rising at the rate OF about
seven feet IN century. On the other hand. Green
LAND j. sinking and the shores where the early mis-
siOnaries once pitched their tents il under wa
ter II is continually sinking, while Scandinavia is
rising. On the Rhine, in France and in Spain there
il ncontestbe proof Of the volcanic nature Of the
county. The West ludies, and the innumerablc
island, in the Pacific, all, without exception vol
canc OF coral lifted from the sea by commissions or
formed by insects. All along the western coasts of
America, in Central and in South America, volcanic
evidences are found, all of which goes to prove the
general condition OF our planet, showing that the
world is on fre-that it was so at the beginning il
so now, and in oil probability viii end with fire. In
abiding to recent journeyngs in Europe the lecturer
referred to the Alps, upon which sea-worn pebbles
volcanic action, and to Mount Baca, which is at
distance Of one hundred miles from the nearest sea-
where fishes have been obtained for time past.
Fishes taken from the mountains found in the
cabinets Of many scientific men in Europe. They are
OF various sizes nom yard TO five fec, long. Their
presence at such IN elevation shows that during vol
canc movements they were thrown with the mud
from the sea- They lie between uduroted mari aud
above them are found layers Of volcanic rocks. GA
the road from Verona TO Rome found lakes in
cratcrs OF volcanoes. To the south OF that city, to-
wards Naples, there Ia current of lava, from which
rocks are quarried for making roads. The pavements
made Of this stone in the time Of the ancient Romans
remain to this day. The speaker referred to the
catacombs under the Chapel OF StStephcn, which ex
tends fifteen miles one way and twelve the other.
During the time OF the prosecutions Of the
early Christians. they assembled here to worshp and
remained unmoeSted. They also buried their dead
here and many have not been disturbed to this day
Some seem to have been people Of good condition.
Judging from the ornaments that decorate their per-
Passing to the Bay OF Naples which is dcnomi
mated the most beautiful region in the world the
lecturer described NesuyinS which rises nearly in It's
centre The ascent TO IL top very comfortable and
easy tor mountain. For seven miles there is a fine
carriage road, at the termination of which and al
most ut the cone, the King of Naples erected an OBJ
soryatory, from which the prospect is very beautiful
but must be witnessed to be properly appreciated
The road, in many places, has been cut through
rocks formed OF lava. Professor MagouDy occupied
the observatory for q long time: but having dis
pleased the King by his advocacy Of liberal princ-
ciples he was elected On arriving At the top OF the
mountain the Professor found that the crater which
had been active few years before, in 1850, was
filed up, and he and the party accompanying him
dined in IL. Two new cratcrs had. however boaD
for1ned-CDe 400 feet in depth, and the other l0G0
He examined them, and found that the sides were
covered with sulphur. While looking into the large
crater il threw up great clouds osteam and volumes
OF smoke, which induced them 10 leave as soon "a
they conveniently could. Scyenty-nDe years before
the Christian era this volcano was in a state Of In.
activity aiiording other indications Of its volcanic
character THIN such dcducible from the rese
blance in its structure TO other volcanoes. Strabo
adyerted to its volcanic aspect Us form was very
different from that Which It now exhibits and the
sides were covered with fertile fields. and ut It's base
were the cities IL Hercuaneum and P0mpei The
frt symptom Of renovated activity was uuaking of
tie earth, shaking tie whole ueighborhood and in
August. 70, the eruption commenced. The elder
pliny who commanded the Roman fleet then sta
toned nj Miscnum IL ms desire to get near view
Of the phenomena, was sufocated by the cxhalatons
The eruption lasted for xix days and nights ar-
companied by thunder and lightning, Shower upon
shower oil cndcrs fell during that time, bit no lava.
When the amphithettre Of Hcrcuancuin was first
cleared out hes arranged on The steps just as
snow would lie had II fallen there II was tirt dis
covered by the accidental circumstance OF well
being sunk in ifBs, wsich came directly down uDon
the theatre where they found the stage, the CORR.
dor,, and the painting, iu good condition. Ihc
most striking t,iirc among he ruins Of Ponpeii i
thc house ~ Dcmcae, which presents ~ the il3Iti0
81 q Itmiy once residing there. u i evident that
When these showers came on DOnedc took Ills Nnuy,
comprising seventeen females. t. place he deemed
secure which was yaut archcd With brick. There
they remained uhtll sl30C0jCd, the imprint o, ther
bodies being plainly .ble on the Wall and =, ~
their skeletons reIC found Tier lap-e ~ 313