The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-02-02
PU BLiSHED WEEKLY BY
HENRY VI. WHITNEY.


found To exist. Renarking upon the disposition
Of geologists u explain away glacial phenomenal,
because they cannot account for the intense cold
necessary 10 produce such rnmeuse masses Of ice,
the Professor said that if the existence and ac-
ton of glaciers could be proved We must accept
the theory, even if we cannot tell what caused
the intense cold On some of the highest peaks
Of the mountains surrounding the valley of the
Amaz)n bowlders found to rest, differing in
character from the rocky peaks on which they
are now perched. On either side Of the valleys,
upon the sides of their slopes, there were large
accumuI;.tions Of erratic powders, and their
transportation could only have been the work Of
glaciers Had water been the agent of trans
portation these bowders would have been carried
10 the bottom of the valleys, and could not have
remained upon the sharp ridges of mountains,
but would have been swept down their sides.
In reference to the intense cold, as a necessary
agent in the production OF glaciers, the Professor
gave certain facts and theories concerning the
changes in the temperature of the earth to show
that tine diminution in the temperature of the
earth had not been gradual, but by oscillations.
Since the opening of the tertiary period a
mIcal summer and winter have alternated with
each other-a tropical heat with arctic cold.
But from what source was derived a sufficient
amount Of moisture to produce such immense
masses Of ice? The amount Of moisture con-
tanned in our atmosphere would be totally made
quate. Prof. Agassiz suggested submarine vol
canoes as the only probable source. Within the
historical period there had existed the knowledge
of three submarine to two terrestrial volcanoes,
and there must have been Il boiling kettle of con-
4
produce these results.
have given only such of the salient points in
Professor Agassiz physOgrarhcal and geologi-
cal description of the AmazOnian basin rs have
been able to recollect, and in so short space it
would be impossible to give more than imper-
feet and meagre description of the physical phe-
nomena, as they pr' sented in the order of
their geological sequences.
We have here and in New York corps of
about dozen professional speakers. Each lee
turer is required to write but one lecture for the
season, which in the course of the winter he
rehearses in the principal cities and towns Of the
North
do not know that my notes on Prof. AgaSsiz'
lectures will interest you but it may awaken
a curiosity to investigate the subject discussed.
notice by the last Honolulu papers that an
agent of the Pacific Mail Company has visited
Honolulu and formed a contract with the Ha-
waIan Government for wharf privileges. The
contract, | observe, wants the signatures of the
Directors at san Francisco to perfect it. l fear
this is only to prevent any further move
ment of the supporters Of the Honolulu route, in
the direction of Washington, and that the Pacific
Mail Company will have it all their own way be-
fore the present session Of Congress. Should they
fail ut Washington, this session, to induce Con-
grcSs 10 modify their cOntract-leaving the lla-
waiian Islands out of their route-they will. in .
that case no doubt, complete their contract with .
the Hawaiian Government. The reasons which .
the Pacific Mail Company urge against including
Honolulu in the route to China not without
weight and only chance for steam commu- .
nicaiiOn with San Francisco is that the United
States and Hawaiian Governments will agree
upon a subsidy, to be given to an independent
line.
The fall elections have not disappointed, but
have probably exceeded your authorizations.
With the exception of few haunts of Copper
headi~m. tine leayen of Radicalism has spread it.
self over the entire North and over no incOn- f
siderable portion of the South. In truth, Radi-
csllism. which but recently repugnant TO
the sentiments of the majority, has come to be
synonymous with common sense and COnserva-
tisrn once 50 much in favor, Is now confined 10
the fashionable saloUrT -af the South, the gam
bling and drinking saloons Of the North, but is
only in the slums Of New York city.
The country has been quiet since the elections.
The Presidents message has fallen lborn upon
Congress. The Herald says truly-i it is like a
chapter before the deuge, and may be compared
to a history Of France, in which the French Rev
luton il omitted as n trivial matter it respects
the claim Of the Bpurbons to the throne.
Very truly yours, r. W. W.