The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-08-22
NUMBER y.

nd obs rvations during The interesting expedi-
I on He said tha. it would hardly he expected
of him, after the full and highly interesting
statement Of the chief OF the expedition of the
astronomical corps, that be should make any ex.
tended remarks in regard to the astronomical
observations made in the course OF the enter
prise. Bat. nevertheless, there were questions
Of physical nature and Of physical Importance
which called uron him for few reflections
They had hoped to have had fuller means and
facilities for the solution of these inquiries, but
the observation Of the heavens at a moment when
the phenomena was at the height of its interest
prevented the full accomplishment of the original
design Of the expedition. The visible darkness
Of the whole atmospheric expanse was the chief
cause of the interruption Of the astronomic OBJ.
scryations. But In the course Of the progress Of
the expedition there were presented certain
physical phenomena which led him to think that
whether some of these phenomena connected
with former eclipses, but never yet explained,
and supposed TO depend on undiscovered laws,
might not be reasonably referred to laws and
principles well known and established lie did
not allude to the rosy clouds Of which So
much bad been said, nor to the branches of light
or luminous matter which were everywhere pre-.
sented, ard which are to be met on the North
American coast, in Algiers, Nubia, and other
Eastern countries. Unfortunately from circum.
stances already stated, they were unable TO sup
ply the information needed lie could, howcy-
or, draw attention to a curious phenomenon
TO the breaking up OF the clouds, which must
have been generally seen, and which is remark.
able in annuar ccpscs-;hc dissolution Of tho
last lingering rays Of light just the eve Of the
total eclipse This breaking up of the light, in
the annular eclipse, was first observed by Fran
els Bailey during the eclipse Of 1887, and tho
strange appearance Of the light after 1t was bro
ken up gave TO the phenomena the name OF Bal
leys beads. As we observed II, there were in
Vulnerable fragments Of light, which did not
present that rotund form that would justify the
name Of Bailcys beads. During the obserya-
tions and Immediately prior to them, the chief
of the expedition had enioncd on the corps of
observation the strictest silence. Not one word
was heard among the whole company, except tho
low tones of one man who was counting the Sec
onds. But so cnrapturcd were all of us, and
even our worthy chief himself that on the ap-
pearance of the luminous rays Of light to which
| have referred, he could not help cxclaiming
"Iailcy's beads" l.aughler)
Dr. Alexander here intcrposed to correct the
speaker Although the words "Bailey's beads"
were uttered 10y one of the party at the juncturc
alluded to, he Nas not the person. The chief Of
the corps on hearing the words, merely called
out 'bc still" Qau.hter)
Dr. Barnard rcsaaIiug, said he was glad to
hear the President cAculpate himself; but by his
own confession he had also broken through the
rules We were curious to ascertain how many
points Of light there were but we did not see
the luminous points. Our Canadian friend,
Lieut.. Ash, of Quebec, was the frs who got =
glimpse Of it, The surrounding rays of light
were OILY to be compared to strings of beads.
1t was on the side On which the rim of the sun
was coming On towards the edge Of the moon.
There were also seen number Of small but
elongated lines. The Yest Cf the statement of
this Professor in reference 10 the appearance Of
The eclipse was very much Ike the previous
statement Of Professor Alryandcr. The phc-
nomcnon was 50 difficult OF observation that he
could not count the tiMc bat g1t 50 excited that
he actually lost the first numbers he had taken
he next alluded to tho irradiation Of the clouds,
and denied the theory that the telescope des-
t?Oycd irradiation. The truth was that the tel
escopc did not destroy i:ITdation, but that it
was more difficult to be subducd when the light
was intense. When the expedition passed the
Straits Of Belle Islc they entered upon a rare
display of optical phcuomona surprising every
thing that h5 had hitherto passed through, and
continuing great part Of two days. The Pro-
fsssor here entered into an explanation Of the
operations Of the rays Of light, in order to euci-
date the character Of the miragcs which present
ell themselves ON the coast cf Labrador When
ever these appearances or niiragcs appeared.
there was always a visible tgrmulosity Of tho
water, caused by the action of the heat. Ho.
then described a variety Of these phenomena
which he had seen, and alluded particularly 10
two pyramids of clouds, which presented the
most exquisite Kaleidoscope effects. The mira
ges in these waters, he said were most remark
able. lie saw two icebcrgs, which gave an cx-
cecnt idea Of the mutation to which he alluded
They passed through the most peculiarly varied
shades in the most rapid and unaccountable man
ner. Then they assumed the form of a capital,
then of a column, and gradually taking all tho
shapes and positions tlia. could be conceived
He had always had his SET opinions in regard to
icebergs, believing that they were clear and dia-
pharoous; but in this he had been deceived.
The iccbcrgs are all Opaque. Although they
are intensely white, when in the course Of for
nation from glaciers. the assures which they
sometimes present arc filled up by an infltration
Of water, which assumes thick, dark form.
These iccbergs were among the phenomena of
the waters and coasts Of Labrador. There were
different opinions as 10 the size or maximum d.
menSions Of these bergS. BY the closest meas
one of them was shown to be nearly
400 feet high. On the return of the vessel some
daES alter Tst seeing them, tie berS hati rapidly
disappeared and there was nothing to be seen
but their ragged fragments floating upon the
water. There we're ether things totally uncOn-
nccted with the Astronomical observation but
vet Of sufficient Importance 10 warrant men
ton lie would first speak Of the large number
Of auroras seen, ard perhaps it would be right
for him also to mention the cxtraordin; ~ mag
netic disturbances which prevailed. During tho
expedition they observed no less than fifteen au-
roras, number Of them being very lasting but
not very dense. 1t was his impression at first
that the presence Of the moon had the effect of
the bTilIiazcy of these phenomena;
but at later period be iiad the opportunity Of
seeing the aurora and the moon and twilight at
the same time. and vet the northern lights burned
steadily despite of the two lights with which it
nad to contend. OF the stupendous grandeur Of
Inc scenery on the coast Of Labrador, the ex-
President had already spoken, and he could add
nothing to the description. Every spot on that
shore where loose stones can lio IS covered with
he Debris Of shattered rocks. and where these
ire not found the solid rocks themsclyeS are to
DC seen. What has been the cause CT the break.
Dg up of the rocks which form so large portion
& the continent would be hard % say. but it
;ee.ns probable that their decay has been brought
bout by TIE ialiitration Of water into their deep
occsses. Perhaps in the interior Ct Labrador
here might be finer lands but en- the coast there
vas nothing but barroaness and nddesOiatlon. Al
hough there must be some living animals there,
bcv have s17nosf alfncrafhcr f.zsutsearod and all