Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1867-10-09

From the Boston Journal.
British Association.
, Ee o MIN ENT MEN.
Pet 7hsories-.Strange Doctrines.
LETTER FROM "CARLETON.r
DUNDEE. Sept. II. 1SG7.

TO the Editor Of The Boston Jounal:
A large number of the veterans of sci
ence are here. Allusion has already been
made to Sir Roderick Murchison, but he
has a co.laborer whose writings are even
better known in the United States than
those of the author Of "Siluria." Probably
no man has done more than Sir Charles
Lyell to develop the science Of geology.
SIR CHARLES LYELL
AS he stands upon the platform before
us, we see white haired man, rather un-
der size but standing very erect. saw
him on the street few moments ago,
walking with the vigor of mao in the
prime of life. He is dressed with fault
less taste, wearing black frock coat, and
cravat and standing collar, and black
ribbon for watch guard. He has a
smoothly shaven chin, with side whiskers,
which, like his hair. time has bleached to
sil;er whitenoss. He rises to speak, bows
to the President, to those around him, to
his audience, and is observant of nice
etiquette. He speaks sentence Auently,
commences on a second, then hesitates for
word, stammcrs, then speaks rapidly a
few more words and again hesitates But
he has positive ideas. He is talking up.
on the discoveries recently made in the
Bone Cave" of Devoushire.
These caves have been known for long
time, and explorations were made in them
twenty years ago Bones of bears and
other animals we're found, also flint tools
of savage races, and bronze tools of the
Roman age. Three years ago the British
Association commenced systematic ex-
poraton, and NJ. Pengally, who has had
the matter in charge, has just made re-
port. There is first deposit of black soil,
from two to six inches in depth in the
cave, and underneath this stalagmitc, or
lime formed,the stalagmite to the depth OF
four feet. in this line formation bone i'm:
plemeuts have been found-spindles, avis,
and rude combs In the mold, bones ol
animals and birds Of extinct race arc
found. Going down into the lime forma-
ton there arc indications of human ex.
istence--bones partially burned, flint
tools and chips of flint.
Sir Charles Lyell, commenting upon the
report. says that the bones found from
time to time in the cavern show that MAI
existed with the mammoth in England
and with three ditinct species Of the Gle
phant. Holding up flint Ratchet SC
that all in the room might see it, he said
Whatever skepticism may exist in tht
minds of those who are not skilled ii
archaeology, no one can look at these Hin
and hone instruments discovered in tina
cavern without being convinced that ther'
has been human agency employed in tLei
formation" f.4..
This geologist believes in the antiquity
of man, and that the received chronology
is all wrong, though he has made N
specific statements on this occasion.
TIE gentleman who reported the pape
sta ted that the stone formation Of the linn
deposit in which the bones and tools wer,
found. indicated that man existed grea
many thousand years ego. Biologists il
America. fancy, will not so quickly
accept such conclusion, for there is eyi
dence enough in Tennessee to show fha
lime formations 60 on rapidly for whil
-and then cease altogether, the change be
ing due to the turning Of the water, which
produces the deposit, into a new dircc
tion.
SIR WILLIAM THOMSON.
This gentleman is not so widely know
in America as many other men Of scienc
in England, but there are few who hav
done more than he to turn scientifi
knowledge to practical account. He wa
born in 1924, at Glasgow. His fathe
for loug while was Professor OF Math
ematics in the University of that city
When but % years Of age the son wa
elected Professor Of Natural Philosophy j
the same university, which position b
holds at the present time His disco'
cries in electrical science are Of great in
portance. especially the Curb key" fc
uo.I-;uo 1ono linea NJ snbmariue cablel