The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-13


1t pleasant 10 the careful student OF Mature, and e.
pecaly lhoss dssirous OF devong science to ite proc
teal development OF civilization and The consequent M
umph Of republican principles, 10 observe me recent ae
ton of The Scientific Convention at Cleveland ONO
The appointment by that convention OF eom"iiee OF
scientific genuemea TO memohaiNe Tue 'oin' Io'a'y
Committee of Congress, with view TO placing IN the
Library complete sci OF maps charts. al
sses globes surveys and all the necessary geographical
works and apparatus, may justly be regarded with pde
and pleasure by countrymen one OF the most i'm
porisn' movements of lis kind OF the present age We
speak, of course. the fair presumption that the pa
otc measure will at once meet the favor OF the nation
and lis legislature.
All additions the stock OF AHerican scientific know-
edge active elements in the progress Of the world
for il is we'll known now, that the natural energy OF the
American character is destined TO carry every dis
covery 10 its alma thule. II is this view that we
hail with delight the scientific maritime investigations OF
such the American Lieut. Maury, and every other
increase Of the geographical Information Of country
men.
We observe that an intelligent traveller through
portions OF the adjacent British rivers has been
municnng some OF the results of his observations TO
the Boston Times. His statements with regard to
that extraordinary river, the Saugenay, are well cal
culated. think, 10 sustain the views advocated By
US in these articles the true theory OF tides.
Writing OF the river deposit of mountains in that
you enter the mouth of the Saugenay river, you find
yourself between two parallel ranges OF mountains
uhieh Use abruptly from the ra'e,s edge, and have such
remarkable correspondence OF progression and ndenta
,ion and such similarity Of regulation such wellde-
fined limits both banks that is impossible 10 doubi
that they formerly rupurcd by conuuon Of Ma
fe. The depth OF water great the whole length OF
the river and at its mouth is absolutely untahOabe
II had expressly employed survey 10 illus
trae, by actual observations, views respecting tides
could no, have obtained more perfect satisfaction
than furnished 10 by this admirable letter from the
correspondent OF the Times for il will be remembered
by readers that base tidal theory, part, on
the DEPTH flow, and rise and fall OF the tides in this Sau
genay river, and the contiguous waters of the Gulf OF ST.
Lawrence and Bay OF Fundy is in precisely that por
ten of the of the Atlantic ocean, flowing into the
openings OF the land that the tides rise and fall at the
rate OF from thhtyio srty jsa in day! And
why! Because of the well known facts adduced by this
recent travellers because the mountains. with their cor
responding valleys and gorges, and internal cavens are
just there cast far out into the because, he saie
at The mouth OF the Saugenay the mountains lift them
selves directly from the depths of the ocean, and
the waters 'absoiafeiy unfattomabLe,
Where do those waters go as they fall! Whence do
they they rise Our to these questions
is-lo and from the basins and caverns Of the buried
mountains Of the sea! The truth Of this answer, are
firmly convinced the results OF careful observation will
shape, or Influence OF the moon.
Let US pass with agreeable traveller further up the
winnings of this wonderful Saugenay About twenty
FIVE miles from the mouth Of the river you reach ST.
Johns Bay. "On each side Of this bay, continues our
correspondent rses perpendicular eck to the height
OF fifteen hundred feet of which well called Eier-
nifty Points" for there to be no bottom TO the
ers below What and awful caverns are there !!
What profound depths open their subteranean jaws 10
receive and dsgoge the deep. dark river il and
falls with regular revolutions OF the earth Enter these
tidal caves
-" Long, long, on pid wing
You sail through empty, nameless regions vas',
Where utter nothing dwels, uniformed and void
There neither eye nor ear, nor any sense
OF being most acute finds object; there
For aught external sill you 81 arch In vain
There unclaimed continents OF desert gloom
1mmense where grsvitation, shifting, urus
The other way and TO some dead, unknown,
Inis rnal centre, downward weighs
Ii is al such s.Pont OF Eternity" this, looking in
those fearful deeps where lie the of the mighty
tides OF the oceans, that fell the full force OF the CON-
mand Of Jehovah "Ihou shalt make 10 thee the like
of an yhi~g that is in BENEATH on THAT
i WATERS UNDER THE EARTH"
For here is something beyond the power OF man. He
cannot reach it. He cannot explore it, He cannot
yet, even sound it. He make OF II no Likeness
But, for The purposes OF civilization, of humanity, he
may stand al the ocean gae-ways Of these sublime
depths, and with the wel-rmned lamps and charts Of
fall Of the tides around him 10 minister the increased
safety Of navigation and consequently promote The hap
piness OF his ieuow.man.