The Wabash Courier, Volume 23, Number 12, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 11 November 1854 — Page 1

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tor: FELLOW STUDENTS, LADIES &. GENTLEMEN: The "Geological Age of the World"

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LECTURE ON GEOLOGY.

The following lecture was delivered by one of the students of Green Mount Hoarding School, John Haines, proprie-

is a subject which for the last fifty years

which has excited no small degree of interest in the "circles of science." When we reflect that such minds as Buckland, Mantelle, Lyell, Miller, and a score of others, have for years been battling with their utmost powers, on the grounds which we now aspire to tread, we feel as though we were presuming too much, to attempt to entertain an audience with anything we can produce. Yet as it is the nature of man in every situation of life, to be reaching after something above his own sphere of action, we will proceed at once to the subject. Until the science of geology had reached some considerable degree of perfection, the scriptures were universally received as teaching the doctrine that the world which we inhabit had been ushered into existence from the hand of the Almighty, within the period of <six thousand years>. But as this science progressed with a rapidity never yet equalled by any other, this period was found altogether too short for a palpable elucidation of many geological phenomena and unless the scriptures could be so construed as to teach different doctrine, they must be laid aside, as antagonistic to the principles of science, and incompatible with the dictates of reason, or geology must fall.

That the earth has existed much more than six thousand years, is too apparent to every one who has impartially investigated the subject, to admit a doubt. Existed, not perhaps in its present state of perfection, but in some form suitable to the requirements of the multitudinous tribes of living existences which are shown by geological investigation to have peopled it.

Geologists almost universally acqui esce in the opinion that the surface of the earth is composed of a crust or shell of rock to the depth of about seven miles; that this shell is composed of various kinds of rock, which are deposited in regular layers; that each layer, with the exception of the volcanic rock, the position of which is readily explained, is found invariably in the same position with respect to the others and that each, with the exclusion of the lower igneous rocks, contains imbedded in it an infinite number of shells, and fossil remains, crustaceous, and molurcous life; from the minute infusoria up to the gigantic Mastadon [sic], Magatherium [sic], and Dinotherium of the land, and reptiles and saureans of the water. Now that these are indeed the relics of animals is beyond the shadow of a doubt, and that they were deposited when the rocks, of which they form a part, were in a plastic state, is an axiom.

Not that we wish to detract from the unlimited powers of the Almighty, for it <was> surely in his power to have created the world as we now behold it, but it is a characteristic which we observe in all his works, that he loves not miracles, but chooses rather to work by laws, fixed, and unchangeable, which he established at the beginning; and which will remain "<immutable> as <time>, while <time> his empire holds <eternal> as <eternity>."

Hence, so long as the principles of science do not conflict with the truths of

VOL. XXIII. NO.'12.

Bill BS revelation does not attempt to give instructions in tho principles of science «nd ns science does not presume to tench the peculiar truths of revelation the discrepancy wni soon soon found to he. not so formidable ns was nt first supposed and. indeed snme points which at first seemed to be irreconcila ble, were, on account of the peculiarity of scripture language, found to bo real in IM. 1 I^iui p* p» agretment. For example, the bible marked perhaps by some great change seems to contradict the established prin riple of astronomy, when it asserts thai ib« enrth is immovable, nnd that the sun rises nnd sets but that this is not the rase ns expressed in the language of se'-enee is too obvious to require proof. Admit it, and you take away iho very foundation on which the beautiful science of asirnnomy is based, and it must sink into oblivion, to bo remembered only as a legend tif the past.

revelation, when rig nterprei a Revelation when properly interpreted, properly understood, .ho .wo should be

each other. But if a coincidence occurs between the two, as is frequently the case, it will tend to strengthen our belief in both.

considered, as having no bearing upon

That the science of geology is not incompatible with the teachings of revelation, we shall endeavor to show by noticing a few points touching both.

They agree in representing our continents as formerly submerged beneath the ocean. That they were thus submerged, is one of the best settled principles of Geology; and that revelation teaches the same, appears throughoutthroughout the first chapter of Genesis And in Psalms 104th chapter, 3rd and 6th verses, the Psalms says, in addressing th Deity "Who laid the foundation of the earth, that it should not be removed forever? Thou coveredst it with the deep, as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains."

They IIIRO ugree in rejjresenting hent as one «d the chief ngents employed in producing geologicolchange which, in revelation nppears to be spoken of ns she "voice of d'.s thunder.-*" which may rendiiy be conceived to represent volcunic ngeucy. But in Second Peter-, 31 chap 10th verse, future change in the enrth is represented ns resulting Irom fire, "And the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also, nnd the works that are therein, shall be burned up."

They agree in the fact that the cren-

0 I

has enli»ied the attention of many "fi works. That this is the case, is directly our most able, and scientific men. and jjy revelation, and almost as directly by geology. But if the

ainong the last of God

remain

of man had been found among the earliest organic relics, which the bible represents the time of his creation to be less than six thousand years ago, it would be difficult to make the two records agree.

Some writers in attempting to make the science of geology coincide with the direct language of revelation, assert that those strata might have been deposited between the creation of man and the deluge, embracing period of about six teen hundred years. That this, in the general course of nature could not have been the case, is inferred from what we have just stated, that the remains of man have not been found in the fossiliferous rocks, which would evidently have been the case, had he existed at the time of their deposition.

Again, the time since the flood has been twice as long as sixteen hundred vears, and as the deposition of alluvium in this time has been very small, not the one thousandth part as much as the whole fossiliferous rocks, it is irrational to suppose that such theory could be correct, unless the mode of deposition should have been much more rapid ihen than now; an inference for which we have not the slightest foundation.

But how are we to reconcile the two accounts which seem so utterly antagonistic. Many theories have been advanced to elucidate this point, some of which are quite ingenious, but the one which appears most feasible, and the only one that we shall here notice, is, that the word "day," as made use of by the inspired historian, is the representative of an indefinite period of time; marked perhaps by some great change

in the nature of the strata that were then forming. In many instances to which we might revert, the word "day" is evidently used by the inspired writers to represent an indefinite period. For instance, Christ, in speaking to the Jews says: "And your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, &c."

And again we are told that the Sun Moon and Stars were not created until the 'fourth day,' and we know not that the earth had even revolution on its axis until that time. Consequently, some other standard must be given by which to measure the length of a day, which the historian tells us was 'light and darkness,' but of the duration of these periods, and how often they succeeded each other, nothing has been revealed.

We may also consider the 'seventh day' or sabbath, as not yet terminated and that it will not terminate, until God resumes his work of creation; that is, that it will continue from the creation to the annihilation of the earth, and there is no reason, if this be admitted, why the other days might not be considered of an equal length. For in order to reconcile the declaration of scripture with the discoveries of astronomy, we must, in many instances, depart equally as much from the apparent meaning, as in this interpretation.

We have already hinted that each day, or period, is perhaps represented by a distinct class of rocks. This <may> be a mere matter of fancy, an idle speculation, yet there are reasons for supposing it to be the case.

We notice in the history of creation, as given by Moses, that the work was progressive, commencing with the low order of existence, and terminating in man, whom 'God created in his own image.'

That geology teaches the same, is evident to every one who has inspected the organic remains peculiar to each formation. For instance the lower igneous rocks have never been found to contain any traces of organic beings, but as we proceed to inspect those of a more recent origin, we find that there has been a regular gradation from the mound, to man, who is the type of perfection, the master-work of creation.

Thus we see, that the science of geol-

but rather tends to give us a more cor-

ogy does <conflict> with the teachings

rect idea of their meaning. It enlarges

our conceptions of the Deity, by unfolding to our view many of his most wond- erful operations, which would otherwise

=======

In our hourly walks, whether on business or for pleasure, we tread with heedless step upon the apparently uninteresting objects which it embraces; but could we rightly interrogate the rounded pebble at our feet, it would read us an exciting chapter on the history of primeval times, would tell us of the convulsions by which it was wrenched from its parent rock, and of the flood by which it was abraided [sic], and transported to its present humble locality. In our visits to the picturesque and the sublime in nature, we are brought into immediate contact with the more interesting phenomena of geology. In the precipices which protect our rock girt shores, which flank our mountain glens, and which variegate our lowland vallies [sic]; and in the huge and shapeless mass at their base which the lichen colors, and round which the ivy twines, we see the remnants of uplifted and shattered beds, which once reposed in peace at the bottom of the ocean.

Nor does the rounded boulder, which would have defied the lapidary wheels of the giant age, breathe forth a less oracular response from its grave of clay, or from its lair of sand. Floated by ice from some Alpine summit, or hurried along 'mid torrents of mud or floods of water, it may have traversed a quarter of the globe, amid the crash of falling forests, or the death shrieks of the noble animals which they sheltered.

The mountain range too, with its catacombs below, along which the earth quake transmits its terriflic sounds, reminds us of the mighty power by which it was upheaved. While the lofty peak with its cap of ice, or its nostrils of fire, places in our view the tremendous agencies which have been at work beneath us.

But it is not merely amid the external powers of nature that the once hidden things of the earth are presented to our views. Our temples and our palaces are formed from the rocks of a primeval age, bearing the very ripple marks of a preadamite ocean, grooved by the passage of the once moving boulder, and embosoming the relics of ancient life, together with the plants by which it was sustained. Our dwellings too are ornamented by the variegated limestone, indurated tombs of moluscous life, and our apartments are heated by the carbon of primeval forests, and lighted by the gaseous elements which it confines. Trie obolisk [sic] of granite, and the collossal [sic] bronze which transmit to future ages the deeds of the hero, and the sage, are alike the productions of the earth's prolific womb. And from the green bed of the ocean has been raised the pure and spotless marble to mould the divine lineamenis of beauty, and perpetuate the expressions of intellectual power. ~~~~~~~

The Activity of the French Emperor. The Emperot flies nbout the Empire with great rapidity. Oo one day he nppcars at Bordeaux, the next finds him here in Paris. One week since saw him at the theater applauding Madame Rachel. in threo days nfier he manoeuvred a hundred thousand men at Boulogne, and to night he has returned to Paris. That he has nt heart the best interests of France can hardly be doubted nt the same ttmo lie i« not very populnr in Paris, as far us 1 can judge. There are those who have not forgotten the coup d'etat and Napoleon's repeated violations of his oath there are others who do not fancy the censorship of the press, atid who have friend* exile. Some people say, very naturally, "If we are at war with Russia, why are not Cavaignac. Chnngarnier, and our old Generals in the Eist Of course everybody knows that Napoleon fears their influence with the army, and for thai reason keeps them here n't home.

Attempts upon the Emperor's life are more frequent ih in people are aware of. Three conspiracies to blow him up with infernal machines have been detected within a month, and one scoundrel took a shot at him with a pis.ol, without effect .The nssasiin wns killed and planted at once. Napoleon is a man without fear, notwithstanding ihee attempt*. lie exposes himself freely at the opera, in ihe'sireeis. and espeoiaMy at Boulogne, it is said thai he expects 10 die violently some time, and that he has made arrangements 10 preserve order in case ill a 1 event shall take jilace.— Lornion ^jrretpiHdence, Lttetll Journal.

Some descendant of Solomon has wisely remarked that -those who go

"JJ'-nn I"JH

have lain forever entombed in deep and undeveloped obscurity. It appears that the science of geology ought to be considered as a new means of illustrating, rather than opposing revelation, since it leads us to understand many passages which before had been misinterpreted, just as astronomy did with regard to the heavenly bodies. And as the illustrations of natural religion from geology are more numerous, and important, than from any, and perhaps <all> other sciences, the few apparent discrepancies which seem to loom up before our mental vision, if not capable of being satisfactorily reconciled, should not, at least, be permitted to intercept the light which this noble science is destined to shed abroad for the mental illumination of the human family. For (in the language of Professor Agassis [sic]) Of all the studies which relate to the material universe there is none perhaps which appeals so powerfully to our senses, or which comes into such close, and immediate contact with our wants and enjoyments as that of geology.

TERREHAUTE, IND.," NOVEMBER]!,!

The Imperial stables nt Boulogne, which are in close proximity to the llo tel Brighton, the Emperor's residence, arc an extempore construction of wood, erected in 15 days, but extremely convenient and well arranged, and covering nearly half an acre of ground. They contain 3G saddle horses fer the use of the E nperor. his suite, and visitors, 36 carriage horses for the Emperor's caleehes. charabancs, and other vehicles, and 3D post-horses The Enpcror's chargers, reserved for bis exclusive use at reviews and in the field, are six in number. They are all English, us are. indeed, the greater part of the saddle and carraige hordes, and is their former names nre retained, and every stall lias the horse's name painted over,ihe ani mal's head, the English visitor might forget that lie is in a foreign country, and inirigine that he was walliingtlirotigli tho st.ah'es of some English nobleman

The Emperor's favorite ste,d is 11 dark chestnut !iore called Piifi-lips. after Mr. Phillips, of Knighisbridge.'of whom the Emperor purchased him. .'lie is a noble and spirited animal, and is usually ridden by the Emperor when he reviews his tro-ips, where ho distinguishes himse'f bv hi.s beautiful action and by his habit of biwing nnd prancing when bo np-iroaches the colors of a regiment. (What an invaluable circus horse he would be As the Emperor nt the sumo time raises his bat, the luirse and the rider appear to salute the colors to gether. to the great delight of the troops. Both the Emperor's stud and establish ment nt St Cloud and that at Boulogne are under the superintendence of the premier piquer of his -j^iy. Mr Gamble, whose thorough knowledge nf ihe points and treatment of the animals under bis care is well known to the EnglUh sporting world. The general control of the stud is confided by the Emperor to Colonel Fleury, Premier Eviytr to His Majesty. In the saddle room are seen two gorgeous saddles and bridles presented to the Emperor by the Sultan, the saddle cloths of which nre most richly embroidered with gold, all the mountings being of solid gold, nnd the bit of silver gilt. One of these saddles. &c., wns used by the Emperor riding out one day with the Prince Consort. Its value is estimnted at 25'J 000 fruncs. Another splendid saddle, with crimson veivet seat, was present from Abdel-Kader, with three Arab horses. The Imperial carriages and liveries nre of dark green the former nil manufactured in Paris. Few things grieved "«is Napoleon more than being obliged. when President, to break up his stud and dispose of his horses but now thai his exalted position supplies him with the requisite resources he loses no occasion of obtaining the English horses that money can procure.—Boulogne let­

S 1 1

10

law for damages are sure to gat tbem.

THE OLDRST BINR.K IN AMERICA.— Dr J. R. Witherspoon. of Green«boroiigb, Aia., has a manuscript Bible, which he believes, on evidence of irndi lion nnd title page. 1) hnve been written about 840 or 850 A. making ii one thousand'ju ars old. ti is about eight inches broad, nnd five inches thick The substance on which ii is jvritten is parchment, ns soft and nearly ns fhin «s satin. The covers are of old English oak. and pegs of oak are used to wedg* in the thongs of deer skin that fasten in the leaves. The p^go is beautifully illuminated wit'i black, red and blue ink letter*—very large, at the beginning of each book.

GLASS BRICKS.—Among the recent inventions patented by manufacturers, we hear of one by Mr. Summerfield, of the glass works, Birmingham Heath, England, for what are termed chromatic glass, or glass-faced grooved bricks.— By Mr. Summerfield's process, red or any other clay can be combined with glass, and this will secure durability, entire resistance to moisture, and give an ornamental appearance to the building. The form of the brick is also, by means of a groove at the side and end, made so as to add greatly to the strength of the erection, the joints.by this means, being brought close together, and the mortar acting as a dowell [sic] from the shape of the

groove.

Yy JUl JbA J^i "i- Ji OpS-w

Loals Napoleon nnd bis Excessive Lore 7 of Horse-llesh. V. (I

The .Eaipnror's splendid stud of horses rxciied the inluiirntfon nf, ihe Prince's suite, and is not unworthy of notice^in connection with the Emperor's well directed efTiris to improve the breed of horses in France The cavalry of the French army nr« mostly bred jti Normandy, except tho horses of the light cavalry, which come from Trubes near the Pyrenees, and which have a mixture of Arab blood. With many excellent qualities of endurance, the horses of the French rnvalrv are capable of great improvement in point of blood and bone, and Nipolcnn's intention is uncasingiy directed to ibis object.— Largo purchases of English horses nre frequently made by his agents, and, seeing the prices which are given for good steeds, and the rivalry which exists between the buyers for the French arid German Governments to secure the best animals, some astonishment is expressed that English farmers do not more gen erally avail themselves of ihe facilities they possess for rearing first rate horses for so certain and so good a market. Besides the haras of the Emperor, he has stud and breeding establishment at St Cloud, at which colts of extraordinary value are reared from a mixture of English and Arab blood.

Thus,

for

-3*3 'L -J 1-'. a j* ftm-'v*'" rs' Mi

A HUMlMtKD YEARS AGDii: THE IIIGHWATMAN. Only ihree summers since, French gentleman in the Highlands was gazing wiiti so i'C surprise at the tranquil and order'v scene around him, and saying 'that his friends at Paris had advised him to come utvon his journey well provided with pistol and sword, since, ns they t)id him bear in mind, "you are going to the country of Rb-R-y We can scarce blame these Parisians for so faithfully remembering that little more than a hundred years ago Rib was nble to levy his "black mail" on all who came beneath the shadow of his mountains. But they might at least with equal,reason have applied the same advice to England for much less than a hundred years ago, the great thoroughfares near London-, and above oil. the open heaths, as Bagshot and Hounslow, were infested by robbers on horseback, who bore ihe name of highwaymen. Booty these men were determined bv some means to obtain. In the reign of George the First they stuck up handbills at the gates of many known rich men in Loudon, forbidding any ol them. i)ii pain of death ."to travel from town without watch, or wih less man ten guineas of money. Private car riages and public conveyances were alike the objects of atiaclc.

instance, in 1775, Mr. Nut-

lull, the solicitor and friend of rd Chatham, returning from Bith. in his carriage, with bis wife and child, was siopped and fired at near Hounslow, and died o( the fright In the same year the guar of the Norwich stage, (a .nan of different metal from the lawyer.) was killed in Epping Forest, after he had himself shot dead three highwaymen out of seven that assailed him. Let it not be supposed that such examples were few nnd far between they might, from the records of that time, be num bered by ihe score although in most cases the loss was rather of property than of life. The outrages appear to have increased in frequency towards the close of the American war. Horace Wnlp.de, writing from Strawberry Hill at that time, complains that, having lived there in quiet for thirty years, he cannot now stir a mile from his own house, nf ter sunse% without one or two servants armed «-|h blunderbusses. Some men of rank §f that period —Earl Berkley above nil were fumed for their skill and courngc in dealing with such assailants. One day—so runs the story ird Berkley, travelling after dark on liie Hounslow Heath, was awakened from a slumber by a strange fa.'e at his carriage window and a loaded pistol at his breast. "1 have you now, my lord,*' said tiie intruder, -'after all your blasts, as I hear that you would 4iev«r suffer yourself to be robbed "Nor would I now." said L'irJ Berkley, putting his hand into his pocket, as though to draw forth his pnrsu, "but for that fellow peering over your shoulder." Ihe highwayman hastily fjrned round to look at this unexpected intruder, when lhe Earl, pulling out instead of a purse a pistol, shot him dead upon the spot.— Lord Makon's History nf England.

Mutton rather thnn Beef"--A. Plea fof Sheep. We sincerely, wish that all the American, people would substitute mutton for beef and pork to a much greater extent than thev have been in the habit of doing. Munon is more nutritious and wholesome than beef even, j^nd vastly more so than pork. In fact, the latter ought noi to be eaten at nil, ond espe ciaily the fat parts Where on earth are there so healthy and robust-looking people as the English of nil classes It is not simply the fogs and humidity of their 'jlimnte which gives them th-ir tobust appearance nnd good looks for people near them, with climate almost like theirs, look very differently. So far as meats are concerned they are mutton eaters probably more than half the animal food consumed in England being mutton.- But it is not Merlmnor Sixo ny mutton nor of the ragged, fence jumping creatures commonly kept over large districts of lhe United Siates. English. Scotch and Welch anil Irish mutton is mainly of improved breeds, well bred and thoroughly cared for. These we may hare in as high perfection as they, by nhtaining the breeds, nnd bestowing a.Utile pains in their propagation nnd feeding. We nre glad to know thai the niiemion of many of, our farmers is tunning to thai branch of stock, nnd we trtist that the good taste ond discrimination of our consumer* of meats will give a substantial encouragement to their endeavors.—Am. Agricultural.

VIXJT -LJN -AND NEWSPAPERS —The Lancaster Ledger furnishes ihe following illustrations vr •'We were travelling once out West and had taken passage on Mi«*issippi steamer for Louisville, Ky. On bonrrf

Explosion of nil Infernal Machine nt lSurle'.i Hotel,Several persons InjuredGreat excitement was occasioned be tweon one and 'two o'clock on Saturday afternoon in the neighborhood ol ih« Park, by a loud explosion which took placo al Etrle's Hotel, in Park row., shaking several buildings, ringing the signal bells in ihe office of the Chief oT Police, and injuring several persons who al the time were in ths hotel. It appears that an elderly gentleman- had asked boy in attendance at the hotel for his baggage, »:nd with the latter went behind ihe desk to get it, wta^p.ihe boy. in looking-for it, handled tho rest.of the luggage rather roughly, and, among other articles, a brown valise, which instantly exploded with a noiic like thunder.

Mr. Powers, b.ink-keeper, who was standing by, had his hair and whiskers burned and the skirt of bis coat torn. A Mr. I) uvd. who was talking to Mr. Powers was badly burned about the face. Another gentleman was lifted from his feet and his clothes much torn. Th" old gentleman above referred to and several others were slightly hurt. 0 ie man who was sitting on a settee in front of the house was thrown into the middle' of the street. The boy who was over hauling the baggage was severely in-j-ired, an taken to the N nv York Hospital. Mr. E trie, the proprietor, was struck in the face by a splinter torn off the dining room .or, which was forced from its nirigus. The Chief of Police. Capt. B.ennan, and others, were soort 011 the spot, and after the place was cleared, proceeded to search for the remains of tile valise and its contents.

They found a double barrel pii- I, with one barrel screwed oil*. anJ some other things, which when put together, formed a torpedo of a dangerous character.

there was gambler, who from morning till night «nd from night until morning 1 having been performed atone, he s«t up emuloved bis lime in dealing tanlune. in bed scnsaifoii nnd volition returnemployed, bis time in deding vantune. A number of lhe passengers played, while many would mereh look on Aswe stood by the table we ohservod sn old fellow watching the game intently.: At lasi hesnid 10 the blackleg. "I c««ild mnke money »t that two." l«»u sro at perfect trber'n. sir. to try it." replied the other. The old fellow »huflled.iha cards and dealt. In about three minutes he lost ten dollars, aud very abruptly vacated his seat. Many persons who *uppose newspaper publishing such a profitable business would probably find it as the old fellow found the game of vantune

A iwtilvc an 11 half pound powder keg and a ono pound canister were also found. Tiie contriv mc.e for exploding the machine was admirable. When the valise was held by both handles it would not explode, but when held by one only the interior work was set in motion, and the explosion took place The machine was handed to Mr. B'unt. gunsmith, for reconstruction. The building which was old. was much shaken, and many of the ceilings were badly cracked. Several windows were broken, and the columns shattered The damage is estimated at about 82.000. No person about the hotel seems to know how the valise got there, and no one has claimed it. Mr. Eirle is not conscious of having an enemy, and cannot account for the in troduction into his hotel of so dangerous an instrument. It is supposed that it was sent there in expectation of some one calling for it. and that the explosion was piemaiuro.—N. Y. Tribune.

BRAIN AND THOUGHT.

Richmond mentions the case of a woman whoso brains were exposed in consequence of the removal of considerable portion of its bony covering by disease. He says he repeatedly rViatle pressure on the brain, and each time suspended all feelings and intellect, which were instantly restored when the pressure was withdrawn. The same writer also relates another case, that of 11 man who had been trepanned, nnd who perceived his intellectual faculties failing,''nnd his exisVnce drawing to a close, every timo the ffjsed blood collected upon tho brain.

Professor Chapman, of Philadelphia, mentions, in his lectures, that he saw an individual with his skull perforated, and the bruin exposed, who was accustomed to submit himself to tho same experiment of pressure as the above, nnd who was exhibited by the Into Professor Webstef to his class. His intellectual arid moral faculties disappeared on the application of pressure to the brain they wero held under the thumb, us it were, and restored at pleasure to their own full activity by discontinuing the pressure.

BJI

the most extraordinary

caso of this kind within my knowfedge. and ono peculiarly interesting to lh^ physiologist ond metaphysician, is rela ted by Sir Astley Cooper in his surgical letters.

A tiinn by the name of Jones received an injury on his head while on board a vesnel in the Mediterranean, which ren dered him insensible. The vessel soon after this mnd 5 Gibralter. where Jones wns placed in lhe hospital, nnd remained several months in the same insensible t«tn. He was then carried on board the Dolphin frigate to Depiford. nnd from thence was sent to St. Thomas hospiwt

OTOLE NO. 1M

j: IM*- i^i.,' 1 i-r Jbr-vrt^ Mil L:ut

Experiments in Stopping Rapid Trains. It has been long a curious problem to determine the period of time in which a heavy train of carriages in rapid motion on a railroad, may be brought to a stop, by the application of the usual methods of retardation under the control of the driver of the train—and to apportion those periods to any degree to the rapidity of the motion to be suspended.

Inconsequence of the raising of the question lately in England, arising from a fatal collision on the Corydon railway whether all practical efforts were made in that case by the driver of a passenger train, moving at a speed of from 50 to 60 miles an hour, to bring it to a stand, from the moment of receiving notice of an obstruction on the track, a series of experiments were made under the direction of Capt. Tyler, of the Board of Trase, in concert with the officers of the South Eastern and Brighton railway companies, with a view of throwing light on the subject. The results of these experiments are deserving of notice, as they appear to have been made with care, and are satisfactorily authenticated.

The object aimed at was to ascertain within how short a time, and how small a distance, a train running at the speed thus described could be stopped. For this purpose two experimental trains were made up, one by each of the above named companies, laden respectively with 32 tons of iron properly distributed among the carriages, that being computed to be about the weight of the 450 passengers, who were in the excursion train to which the accident occurred. That the trial might compare as nearly as possible to an ordinary case of running at that rate of speed, the men in charge were not previously informed at what moment they would pull up, but were to await a signal arbitrarily given by Capt. Tyler, at a moment when they might not be expecting it. Four experiments were made—two by simply shutting off steam and applying the breaks [sic]—and the other two by the appli-

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cation of these means, and in addition, reversing the engine, with the further addition in the last of scattering sand on the track. The results were that the trains were stopped in the first instance in a space of a little more than a mile and a fifth—in the 2d, in a mile and ono sixteenth—the 3d, in a little over a mite—and the 4 h, in a little over three quarters of a mile.—<Boston Adv>. ~~~~~~~

AM OLD SJA:CER'S LISR .SI'UKE.—A correspondent of the Trov Daily I'-mu, writing from Berkshire, Mtss., auJ rem irking upj:i the great change which has tiken plane in that region, in consequence ol the suppression of lhe rum tnifli:, tdl-i the following good story of an old soaker w'10 has since reformed, and is now a regular total abstinence man. It is given in the old fellow's own words, as follows "I once got a leetle change together, nnd started off on a regular bznd-.r. I b.»u?ht a sni-tll keg with a bung-hole in the middle of it, tint it would-be handy to drink from, and had it filled with rum. Aft?r taking few good swigs, I hid it in cooper shop under soma shavings, and started for town. Falling in with soul acquaintances, we all got gloriously drunk, and the spire change of tho party wns soon oil gone. Fuddled as we all were, we started for lhe Cooper shop. Arriving there, after having travelled over much surplus ground, I got hold of what, supposed the keg or mm, but the bun" would'iit come out. E irh one of us tugged and pulled, dug and chewed at it,' but nil in vain. We separated in despair. 1 carried it home for a sober trial ami what do you think it was Why. it was tho hind of an o'd wlokn hi'tic. with ju.t enough of the handle left to stick in its place. My rum kag wns still in the shavings, and there

let"it stay. That wns my last spree."

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London. 1I« lay constantly upon his back, and breathed with difficulty. His pulse was regular, and each timo it beat he moved his finger. When hungry or thirsty, he moved his lips and tongue. Mr. Cline, the surgeon, found porti.in of the skull depressed, trepanned him. and removed the depressed portion immediately after this operation the motion of ihe fingers ceased, nnd ai four o'clock in the nfiernoon, the operation

ed and in four days he got nut of bed. mid conversed. The Inst thing he re inembered was the circumstance of taking a prize in the Mediterranean.— From the moment of ihe accident, thirteen months and a few days, oblivion had come over him, aud all recolteciion ceased. He had for more t:»an one year drank of the cup of Lathe, and lived wholly unconscious of existence, yei. upon removing a small portion of the bone which pressed upon ihe brain, he was restored to ihe-ftrll possession of ihe powers of his nflnd and body.—-Dr. Brigham.

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Ancient Inhabitants of Nebraska. 0 .1 the Upper Missouri iheru exists ft tract of country known by the nnrfte of the luvaises Torres, or Bid Lands ot one lime, probably, iho bonorn of an immense lake, in whieh perished thousands of animals having now no repre*

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appears thai illO

waters of tliis pond wero removed ifi some convulsion of naturo.and the sedimeni at its bottom became indurated.

Tho portion of lhe surface thus exenva* led forms a valley of ninety miles lit length by thirty In breadth. The remains of minimis, which llvtfd nnd breathed long before the ndvent of mart upon the earth, nre hero found in such abundance as to form of this tract an immense cemetery cf vertebrata. The bones are said 10 be completely petrified, and their cjvities filled with siheious matter They nre preserved in various degrees of iniegritv. sotnn being beautifully perfect, nnd others brok3n.

Two remarkable species of rhinrtcfiros, the first ever found in America, were discovered here, and also a sort of panther smaller ihnn the present variety—,TKJ likewise a number of strange animils with long names, unliko any thing which man ever saw alive. Wo know then.—that there were ontfo individuals in Nebraska as curious, and strnugoly shaped, and pugnacious, as any squatter which the present rush of emigration will carry ihiiber.

L*,*D Exraies.—There is jreat excitement at the land offices where shilling lands can ba entered. Crowds of psople have been »t Fayette during the past three weeks. List wday morning there were some eight hundred p?r»ons present, and no little excitement prevailed. They register their names and deposit® their money with different persons, who are acting as agents, and return to their homes. Agencies nre doing a cash business, not only for themselves, but for those'who employ them. Men, women and children are after homes. Success to them alt. Lsads for the landless tnd homes for the homeless,- is* our motto.—Gtosgme Tim*t, 12M.