New-York tribune., 1873-01-03
THE LECTURE PLATFORM.

THE REV. J. p. NEWMAN ON THE POLAR
REGIONS.
The Rev. j. p. Newman, ID. d., Chaplain of
the United states Senate ectured last evening at Assc
citation Hall, on "Greenland's Icy Mountains" The
audience small owing mainly, stated to neglect
advertise the lecture properly. though undoubtedly
tho distractions Of the season had their effects also
The lecturer spoke in an easy, ofhand manner. with
excellent ntonation and without notos. His language
apt and graphic and OF the descriptions were
exceedingly picturesque Tho title, however served as
mere fgurehead the lecture aboundinS principally In
accounts OF scientific research specuaons theories OF
glacial formation Of the aurora displays as
well as descriptions of sights in the polar regions char
acterstics and customs OF the Greenlanders, climatic
changes and Influences, etc.
His accounts were largely based upon observations
during his trip to Greenland in the Summer OF 1871 IN
the United States steamer Congress- sent out with pro-
visions for Capt Halls expedition, now busiy endeayor-
ing to discover entrance TO the open sea- which is be-
eved by scientific men exist about the North Pole
In connection with this subject, DR.. Newman stated
that upward OF 100 expeditions had been dispatched to
these regions either to strive to reach the North Pole to
search for explorers lost there gather scientific in
formation and that present time there were SIX
different expeditions engaged in this Undertaking. oi
which two from this country To the query as 10
what was to he gained by these he believed tho york To
DC most Important as the Tes0uton OF pr9Dlems oi
science ever In regard to the existence OF an open
Polar sea- he considered the evidences very conclusive
Hudson wei as Won Raugle. Penny Hayes, ana
others. IT, and described t bOundless, and per
fecty clear from ce with its waves gstening brightly
~ the sunlight Others again however dispute the no
tion, and claim that they beheid simply large water
spaces, which abound in that region. For his part he
was satisfied that such did exist, and would IN time
be proved beyond doubt. In support Of this belief he
spoke of the two thermal currents running from the
tropics-one the Gulf Stream, along the coast OF the
United States. Labrador, around Greenland aud the
other that from the Indian Ocean, running through
Behring's straitsto the North Pole, which must exert
Isles
There had also been discovered drift-wood known 70
be from the West Indies whales with harpOOns In their
bodies, and an abandoned vessel which had dIlted O
miles from the place where she Lad been left, all OF
which must have passed through some yet undiscOy
cred passage reach the where they found
AS oompements the warm currents he spoke also OF
Kennedy Channel and the other back through Behr-
ings straits beneath the incoming one.
DIR. CROSBY on ORIENTAL MoNARCHIES.
The fourth lecture Of the free course given
ct tho University tho City of NewYork delivered
last night tho University Chapel by the Rev. Howard
Crosby d. d., Ii. D.. Chancellor OF the University His
subject was "The Ancient Oriental Monarchies" He
reviewed minutely the traditional history Of Oriental
mOnarchies from the creation, which he set at $4,000
He followed up the almost endless line OF Kings,
through thousands Of years giving hs audience the
benefit OF the eomhned researches OF the DesI
on thls subject Ile Lecture was s,eneu 10 " Ia -
audience and the speaker frequently applauded.
THE REV. J. CLEMENT FRENCH on TIE YOSEMITE
The Rev. j. Clement French, pastor of West
minister Presbyterian CHURCH. at Clinton and firstpace,
South Brooklyn repeated his lecture entitled Yosemite
and the Big Trees" by special request, at his church.
last night The Of this church is one Of the largest
in Brooklyn and for the first time in its history was well
filed
The speaker be artist well as an orator,
and custrarcd the lectures crayon cartoons OF
the big trees, Yosemite Falls Cathedral Rocks, ECap-
itan Bridal VAIL and Vernal Fall. These cartoons, as
well a. q map OF the valley, finely drawn AT the
close the lecture, which lasted nearly two hours
motion inviting its second repetition at the same place.
on Jan. .. was passed.