The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-06
TINE VALLEY o. TINE Aso.sN.

Lecture by Professor "A assiz.
Professor Agassz delivered last svsniA 8, IN 70
hall Of the Cooper Institute, lecture qoon INC
logical formation OF the Valley Of the vAA aazon"
wthssnding the comparatively high pri,sc admisss
adolartho hall completely filed, a.0d the suaH
frequently expressed their admiration or IN cie1
lucid exposition of scientific theories made tho ie0
turer In loud bursts OF applause.
At aquarter to eight o'clock Professor Aga zsteppcc
forward and At once commenced his iccture ne eAia
that the present year would orr 10 s"A
importance with reference progress Goa imorcs
and civilization had pleased the Emperor % Bras
to decree that the Valley Of the q eneo
10 the Of the world the I'd OF SeptN noof
next day corresponding In Brazil TO Fourth orr uy
II was emnenty proper therefore, that the commuA ~
and natural productions OF that valley order II A.
they may be prepared to anvil themselves OF those Y
in regard TO tho navigation OF that inland sea- tn
valley OF the Amazon, like all other inequalities on In
face OF the earth, owed lis existence succession n
events at long intervals Of No partof lcbV
had assumed ts present appearance at once by sudden
silent growth Of many ages. Professor Agassz tnena
entered into narration OF the geological history OF ootbs
gis.s, explaining al the same time the means by
which they had arrived at their present corvtc-
in the two continents He proceeded to observe that The
slope Of the Andes consisted OF large number
ION did not however owe its present Appearance othis
Il had been gradually modified through all time and y
Changes to those which had Occurred e The valley Of tho
Mississippi The first event which had happened 20 the
latter had been its separation from Inc Arctic Ocean By
the upheaval OF the Canadian hills. From that time
the Arcc Ocean ceased communicate with tho ocean
the SOUTH bong separated the then great Cana dian
island The next step the separation Of the Pacific
from the atlantic BY the upheavai Of the Alsghanss
longer washed central portions OF this oont
nent the land then sumed s present connguration
asae Character otS 81 south Ameca sso p.sn 70
had not been raised above the sea re,. free
muncstion between the table land OF Guiana or
Brazil. the valley OF the Amazon being broad strais
between two largo islands When u once became Cur
began an internal modelling, which is still going on The
valley of the Amazon doubtless valley, but Ike
the valley OF the Mississippi continental valley,
and embraced variety Of other valleys The
chanica1 power OF flowing water an agency,
which constantly went modelling and remodeliing the
surface Of the EARTH II had been ascerfaned thae
extensively than at present These various abradng in
uences produced the muor traits Ia the conguratlou
OF III conlinents and their effects were plainly visible in
the valley Of the Amazon. One OF the most curious
/ Titutoo % that valley the fact thas-
ito whole area was occupied by one kline
OF sediment, which filled the whole bottom ofr
the minor rivers These features In the conngusen Of
these comprehensive geological agens They were pre-
dced BY denuds that s BY abrasion, BY Tho wear
ing u the surface under the influence Of those syents
which were lncessanty ut work, tho change o. empofs
ture during the different seasons &c Frost and tAav
enough to disntegrats vast Of rock, and,
onoe dsinegrated, the frsgmsus OF rock wero easily
broken TO pecos by rains and frsehsts OF the valley
Ocean, and that sediment was OF recent date ooA-
sistfng Of cIays and sand These sodmentay deposits
had - ono time risen in tho valley 70 height Of eghs
moved them TO such extest that they wve now 0av
70 % oIscos cred IN portions OF the valley.