The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-28
\ FI"i.ht"a Hie~ "a ts,c Progressive
Theory.

A theory has for some time past obtained
and docs Q, the present Inon,nt command
the respect Of pseudo scientific persons, name
ly, tina. man is progressive animal, mas
much as.accor'ling TO the author Of that
spIendidly written, but scientifically erro-
neous work, I" Vc.,iges Of the Creation, he
could begin, and las begun as mere polype
and improved in his upward course through
the whole series OF animal creation until he
has arrived at the perfection in which we
now behold him. Paleontology was the
chief reliance Of these theorists, and the
same science now becomes, in the hands Of
shrewd observer, a complete dcath.warrant
10 the progressive theory.
We quote the following account of the
discoveries that led To the finding Of air
breathing animals in such strata that de-
molished the theory above alluded to, from
the illustrated London News. Mr. &.
KINGSLEY, who sends the report TO tina,
paper, we need hardly say, il the author Of
" Hypatia,' Alton Locke, and, latterIy,
Of Two Year, Ago =
GEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AT sWASAGE.
FROM atoresaoaaent.
went this summer in search of DR.. James
Hunt, who Is now becoming II known "a
eurer Of stammerlng. and who il. am bound
Yi.... Ia l.a
me 90 possess any scientific or rational under
standing Of that mcst distressing maialy. |
found him at NNanage, a spot unkaown, per-
haps. to threc-fourths of the readers Of hi. pa.
pet. but one well worth seeing, and when once
seen not easily to be forgotten.
Al the east end Of the Isle OF Purbeck Is little
semicIrculsr bay, ~ northern horn formed BY
high Gins Of white chalk, ending in white iso-
lated stacks and peaks, round whose feet the
blue sea nipples for ever In the centrc ol the
bay the softer "weadcn beds have been
worn away. forming an amphitheatrc OF low
sand clay ellis. The southern horn Is formed
by the dark limestone beds OF the rurheck mar.
bile. A quaint old.worid village slopes down
TO the water over the green downs, quaTried,
like some gigantic rabbit burrow, with the
stone workings OF 700 years. Iandloeked from
every breeze, huge elms flourish on the dry
sea beach, and the gAycst and tenderest garden
flowers bask under tho hot stone wais. A
pleasaHtcr spot FOR summer sea bathing is not
To- be fopnd eastward Of the Devon coast than
Swanage, and all which Is wanted 10 make 1t
famous il houses into which visitors can pat
then heads 1T night.
A Was TO be expected from the variety Of
soils, and the sheltered situation. | found the
neghborhood rich IN rare plants and insects
tho sea.beaeh -,rewn with numbarle-s sea
weeds bat the great attraction pt SgaHagc, TO
those who dabbIe IA science. is the eNtIaoId'
nary number and value u is fossil remains.
The excavation. 81 which send yoU view.
are interesting a. the scene OF important geo
logical discoveries, They owc their existence
30 the energy and acnteuc~s of one mans. II.
Beckles, ESQ. +. q. =, who began them in
December last, with . view OF ascertainlng II
naumaila. OF other airhte athng animals of a
high order, existed Ia any number during the
age IN which The Sc onIa,y rocks were de-
posted.
mammal law hal bern already discovered
by Mr. lrodie GA the shore a; the back of
Swanage Point. NJ. Beckrs' busines, Was to
trace the vein from which he Jaw had been pro-
cured, uirough II, course aions tbs clia above,
and 10 search Il ~ thoroughly as he could
with tbs practiced ssracity and zeal which dis.
tlagUsshas 40 many Of our scientific men, he
found the precious vein "a stratum about i've
inches thick, at the base Of the Middle Purbeck
bcds,) aud Sc to work. before he could lay il
OF torty.twu feet th,ck. forty feet oi which was
solid rock and again AMI again. after losing
the vein. where Il WAS shifted and snapped by
earihq lakes faults, to Try fresh cuttings at
fresh points OF the c,lN, In nine months he 70.
moved many Thousand tons Of rock, and laid
bare al area Of nearly 200 square ieeiuh .larg
e-t eating ever made for purely scientific pur-
pnsrs1, and, even more nit he educated
tha more intelligent Of has SNausge worhmen
lutfa iru~tv and uh~cTyaut fossil hunters.
\ gentleman, who thus for the pure sake Of
science, without a thought OF gaia, devoted bis
money and nine months of hi, HE 10 the com
ianu drdgery VI a stone breaker, deserves sue
ce-s And Mr.. Ieyklvs has attained what he
deserved Reptiles t3r,ui.es AMI ti,srtls) he
found in huudreds bat the most important dis
cosery was That OF the iaw- 81 al least fourteen
different species of mammaa. some Of these
were herhivurog> some caru,yotapS. connected
tive undcr-taniJ wiR our modern shrews,
mcle$. hedgchpgs, Nc, but al of Them perfectly
developed and highly organized quadrupeds
The detailed results Of M B,chies labor will
shortly b. published 10 the Transactions OF the
Geological Society.
10 all ct which eGg readers may answer Cu
hoao' AL this may ho amusing. curious; but
what's rs Use lis use is tGls. 10 Vas supposed
tn! very lately that Few I aUy Wsmmalia we're
"a be found below the tertiary rock. l. q, those
above the caA'k aHd Ibis Supposed fact was
very comfortable tO those " boo support the doc.
tfine u progressive Development and hold
with The notorious "N cstl~cs I'D Creation that
fish hy mere length 81 tame became reptile.
a lcmur an ape. ami finally an ape man --
hat here, "a, ia . hundred ether eases. facts.
when day invest gated. arc against their theo.
~. tNsrv aDciaut he'd al the secondary rocks
- found tUA Of ulAmmal,t, 81. pcl ;eci as most
which now walk tho earth 0ld MI Rcekles'
discoveries give reese >iTeGSth 20 the theoyy OF
oag best sticu;la- mva Tat E,i mUfrly species.
hat whole orders. were created from time 10
time by suln' absolute act oi the Almighty
W,ul as perfect a. iiic AJ.l moment ii fheir en-.
l,tsHtC :, a. ANY subsequent one. Thus are
the cn-clgsiaus 81 soun! ~,ieE.e saown more
ami more Sc COINCIDE w;th taus, of SQUAD reli.
gioa aaa every tngn who ik' Mr. Reckles. hy
disrovt log pas sieSl truls h,ir, Tie cause ~
spiritual uu,b, deserves N.l s, h, country.
eIen though ~ he vsib'y bslsS, them be few
laws Vt gatgaTksjsO.s NeFm.a,
g., AlNGsLsY.
How ruS isSns ~ NV SENATORS ARE
tAgp,---ihe terms OF Senators lor a State
Just admitted toto the Union arr ,ect.e,l by