Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-05

SMITHSONIAN LECTUREs.-In his fifth and con-
ciudlng lecture ON geology, at the Smithsonian.
Friday evening, DIR. Hunt proceeded to speak of
the crystalline stratitied rocks which he showed
were sands, clays and marls Of different ages,
sometimes as late the tertiary period which
had been metamorphosed by chemical action.
theory known those of Hutton and Werner
and applied them to the crystalline rocks This
metamorphism extends over wide areas and is
independent Of the intrusion Of igneous rocks
IL has been effected by the Intervention Of solu-
tions of alkaline carbonates there at peratures
even far below redness excite chemical reactions
which like a ferment alter the great masses Of
sediment. When these become pasty they lose
the marks of qualification, and by reason of pres
sure may force their way through assures In the
overly Ing strata and thus appear elected rscks
such as traps, traclytes and GRANTEES all Of which
have their chemical representatives I'm the indi-
geneous stratified and altered sediments The
heat which has produced these effects is due to
the rising of the isothernal lines in the earth's
crust from the accumulation Of sediments as ex-
plgined In a previous lecture. The reactions in
these heated and moist sediments often evolve
great amounts Of gases, which eventually over
come the pressure and break out In explosions,
melted strata, giving rise thus to the phenomena
of VOLCANOES and earthquakes.
This theory was explained at some length and
contrasted with the other theories Of volcanic
ton. 1t was shown to be due chiefly to Babbage
and Herschel, although German named Keftr,
stein had In many respects anticipated them. Vol
canic mountains were shown to be built up of the
elections from their crater, and not to have up
idea Of the upheaval Of mountains under any cir
cumstances by intrusions Of granite rocks from
below was combatted, and 1t was commended that
the elevations Of the earth's crust have always
been continental, producing little or no apparent
disturbance in the appraised regions which have
subsequently been modified by erosion and denu-
dalton. The erosion along ,antclinals, which are
lines of weakness, was explained by diagrams,
and the origin Of cynclinal mountains shown
The observations of Mr. James Hall, who first
pointed out the relation between the thickness of
sediments and the heights Of the mountains formed
Of them the researches Of the geologisss Of Penn
sylvznia in this direction, Were mentioned with
hiyh honor The structure Of the mountains of
North America was explained and the fact pointed
out that the newest mountains into which enter
the more recent ks the highest. The Andes,
Alps and Himmalayah were accumulated In the
bottom of the sea after the Alleghanies were
formed and uplifted The fact that volcanic
eruptions appear in all cases to break through
newer strata was alluded to, and was shown to be
a strong confirmation Of the theory which had
been proposed to explain volcanic phenomena
ACCIDENT Yesterday morning, scafolding
| In front Of new house at the corner OF second
and ID streets, was blown, down by the high
wind, and struck an old man named Pedicord
seriously. He was taken out from under the fallen
timbers and carried TO IFS house in an insensibls
condition Repeated warnings had been previous
N given to the builders Of the ffail condition o.
4 the scsffolding, without any attempt being mad
on their part to secure IL against accident
BxAn IN MIND the FESTIVAL Of the ladies o
wesley Chapel, which commences this eveninI
p in the build ng adjoining Odd FsliowF Han, ol
Seve0tn WeV1.s Et4IlftJ " - 4st