The true Democrat., 1856-10-28
Teiegraphic SOundimss from Newfound.
 land to Ireland.

The London Illustrated News publishes what appears to be an authentic statement of the results of the late surveying trip of the U 5. steamer Arctic, from St. John's, Ncwfouud- land, to Valenta Bay, in Ireland, under the d- rection of Lieuts. Bergman and Strain, of the U. $. Navy, from which we obtain the follow ing facts. The expedition appears to have been eminently successful, and the results obtained are highly satisfactory:
 The line which has been subjected to this | examination, corresponds with an arc of the great circle, the distance being 1,64O nautical, or l 300 statute miles. The difference of lon gitude Is Az A, and of latitu e 4 22; St. Johns being in 47.53, and Valatia 51.55. Soundngs were taken at intervals of about thirty miles, and at each sounding samples of the ocean bed were taken. This was done by means of qullls affixed to the sounding apparatus, the contents of which were preserved and OH the arrival of the party at Cork, were subjected to close microscopic examination It is proved by this exploration that for more than 1900 miles of the distance, the bottom of the ocean pre- sented an unbroken level, the depth of which below the surface is not stated The greatest depth of the sounding was 2,O7O fathoms, or two and third miles, The whole distance free from rocks of any kind. The substance of which the bed is formed is thus described Even the first cursory glance of the sam pies obtained, disclosed an abundance of the most fragile forms of shells, either of recent or of fossil infusoria, so delicate, and yet SO perfect, as to afford guarantee of the entire | absence of any current or movement of the water at these great depths; thus confirming in the most satisfactory manner the results of the previous soundngs. Not single rock has been met with, not particle of gravel or sand has been brought up, but it appears as if nature had provided bed soft as snow bank to use Maury's own words, for the ex- press purpose of receiving teegraphic cable. Lieut.. Bergman says that he IS satisfied that the lead, with the sounding apparatus, has fre- quently buried itself ten or fifteen feet deep in this soft material, and he doubts not that the cable will likewise sink and imbed itself in a similar manner.''
 The process by which the soundings were made is thus described:
 "The vessel being hove to- and made to remain as stationary possible, the lead is dropped into the water from a pulley on the fore-yard arm, and carries with 1t the line, which in its descend it rapidly unwinds from a large reel The descent, at first very rapid gradually dminishes in speed, in consequence, not or the enormously increased density O1 the water, as is usually supposed, but of the gradually increasing friction due to the length of line to be drawn through the water This dminuton of speed at different depths has been accurately noted by Lieut.. Berryman and is remarkably uniform. The descent in the deep soundings usually occupied abou, three hours. The arrangement of the me. chanicism is such that the moment the rod car. rying the quils touches the bottom, the wires which were previously supported by hooks become detached and allow the escape of the lead; while the quilIs and the register, which are attached to the rod, thus relieved of its load, are more easily drawn up again. Still the process of raising, though facilitated by discard ing the leaden weight of 60 pounds to l2( pounds, would be tedious and laborous fol human hands. There is therefore smal steam engine attached to the reel, having two oscillatng cylinders, whose piston rods worl direct upon crank on the axle of the reel by this means the raising of the apparatus occupies less time than its descent. Still it i slow process; and, occasionally, from thu occurrence of knot or twist in the line, it ha been snapped at the pulley, when nearly raiset and the whole labor of the sounding, together with the apparatus and specimens, have beel lest"