circumstance again. You, I presume, are that matter than this, that the gentleman had died friend. without consummating the marriage. Judith had "In New York, I again resumed the school never mentioned to them any thing respecting it. which I had taught. Miss Bensaddi addressed Though communicative on all other subjects, she a letter to her Boston friend, Mr. Von Caleb; had never alluded to any love affair in her past after long delay, she received a letter from another history. gentleman there, a friend of his, saying that Mr. Danforth being summoned to dinner, I Mr. Von Caleb had gone, just a week before her took advantage of the opportunity to make my letter arrived, to reside in London: that being escape, unobserved by the party, and rode postleft in charge of his affairs at Boston, he had haste to the academy. opened her letter. He apologised that pressing circumstances prevented him from affording her any aid, but that she could write to her cousin in London, if she would. She desired no aid except friendly advice; so she wrote no more; but accpted my offer of employment as music teacher in my female seminary. "She lived very retired in my family,—seemed indisposed to mixed society;-but in private, with my family and a few friends, she was a delightful associate; while her extraordinary skill and assiduity as a teacher, were of great advantage to my school and to every pupil that she taught. "But a confined city life did not suit her natural taste and constitution. Though as cheerful as such accumulated misfortunes would permit any one to be, she evidently drooped and pined away; until about the middle of autumn, wheu we made an excursion up the Hudson, visited West Point, the Kattskills and Niagara. This tour had a wonderful effect on her health and SONNET. BY MRS. EAMES. (After reading a celebrated Book.) Recall'd at random in an hour of mirth- And deep Experience, eloquent with truth- Long may the stream of Time, cast on the Future's shore spirits. She was inexpressibly delighted with FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT. PARIS, JANUARY, 1851. the scenery on our route, and showed that a country life could aloue give her continued health and pleasure. On her account, therefore, as much as my own, I was gratified with the prospect of a The weekly minutes of the proceedings of the residence in upper Carolina, where the climate Academy of Sciences have furnished during the will doubtless suit me and my wife, and the vi- last two months an unusual amount of interestcinity of the mountains will suit the taste of Missing matter. I could easily occupy with them Bensaddi. I can see that her health and spirits the whole of the space which is allowed me in are already improved by the mere expectation the Messenger; but as it is the duty of your Paris of living near the mountains." "I hope that she will reside in the midst of them before long," said I, under a sudden impulse. Mr. D. looked surprised, and waited for an explanation. But as yet I gave him none. correspondent not to cater for the appetite of a particular class of readers but to endeavor to serve in his varied bill of fare a morsel for each, I must select from my scientific notices a few, and such as I think will prove of most general interest. "Do me the favor, (said I,) to keep this conversation a secret, for the present. I wish to re- M. Ed. Collomb has recently presented to the main unknown to Miss Bensaddi for a short time. Academy a memoir upon the origin and formaI reside but twenty miles from the academy, and tion of the polar ice and the glaciers of Europe. will see you there in a few days. I must also at There are indeed many very plausible reasons present withhold my name from you, until I can for assigning to these phenomena a not very make it known with evidences of its respecta- ancient date. The distinguished French geolobility." After he had given me the promise of gist, Constant Prevost, holds that their appearsecresy, I asked him if he had heard of Miss Ju-ance is recent in the geological sense of the word. dith's being engaged to marry a gentleman in M. Collomb not only adopts this opinion, but afEngland, about three years before. He had ter having made a scientific tour among the Alps, heard it from the English family in France, who in the Vosges, Alsace and the valley of the Rhine, could, however, give no other account of the he believes that he has been enabled to fix the epoch of the formation of glaciers in Central Eu- waters may be explained the alternate formation rope. He maintains that the marks date from and extension, decrease and final disappearance an earlier period than the recent tertiary forma- of glaciers which have marked that quarter of tions containing the fossil remains of the great the globe. pachydermata. They mark he thinks the last "Let us apply these considerations to Europe term of the series of geological times, or the as we find it at the present moment. Suppose a commencement of the modern era. Constant sinking of the earth's crust in Europe or a disPrevost himself undertook the office of present- location upon a grand scale, which depressing ing to the Academy the memoir of M. Collomb. the level of the great basins which already exist He accompanied the presentation with a written original notice of his own upon the same subjeet. He rejects the thory of certain savans who account for the formation of icebergs and glaciers by supposing that at a certain epoch the earth became extremely cooled by traversing very remote and cold regions of space. He puts away too as untenable the doctrine that the sun at some distant period, obscured by the extension of its spots, momentarily lost its calorific power. We will let him describe his own theory in his own way. He says: should increase proportionably the elevation of the high grounds which separate them. We should then behold the sea occupying the valleys of the Seine, the Loire, and the Dordogne. The ocean would communicate with the Mediterranean, and this last would extend itself over the coasts of Italy, Spain, and Africa. The great valley of Switzerland, that of the Danube, all of Belgium, Holland and the North of Germany, Poland and finally Russia, would be submerged. The Alps, the Pyrennees, the Cerennes, the Vosges, the Black Forest. the Appenines, and the centre of Germany would be converted into islands or peninsulas around which would be produced an amount of evaporation greatly exceeding that which takes place at present. There would fall a greater quantity of rain and snow in winter; and a less amount of snow and ice “What are the conditions necessary for a glaeier? They are, 1st. that the water which falls from the atmosphere should remain upon the surface of the earth in the form of snow and ice. 2nd, that heat of summer should not melt all the snow which fell during the cold season. It would be melted during the summer. These efis the sum of these annual remainders which form and increase the glacier. But, the relative average temperature of summer and winter remaining the same, the amount of evaporation must also remain fixed. For if it diminishes, there will fall less rain and snow upon the mountains; the annual residue of ice after the heats of summer will consequently diminish or cease altogether, and existing glaciers will gradually disappear. The increase or decrease in the elevation of mountains must also be taken into consideration as an element in the resolution of this problem. Mountains it is known may become higher in consequence of volcanic dislocations or become less elevated from the action of the atmosphere and other causes. Now it may be well supposed that up to a given epoch in the existence of our globe, its own proper heat united with the action of the sun rendered it impossible for water to remain in the form of ice upon any portion of its surface. At a subsequent period, determined by the extent to which the cooling of the planetary mass had progressed, glaciers became possible wherever the amount of evapora tion occasioned in winter the fall of a greater quantity of snow than the average summer heat of the locality was enabled to melt. This annual residue was of course greater in moist than in dry regions. Thus according as a given por- The phosporescent animalcules of the sea have tion of the earth's surface may have been at va- recently been subjected to a rigorous course of rious epochs more or less submerged beneath the investigation and experiment, which the savant fects would be increased by the fact that this overflowing of the waters would moderate very sensibly the summer heats of Europe. The gla ciers of the Alps and of the Pyrenees would then gradually become again what they once were; and others would be formed among the Vosges, the Jura, the Cevennes, in Auvergne and in Brittany perhaps, which would grow and extend more and more until that should happen again which in fact did take place at the end of the tertiary epoch, that is to say until those portions of the earth's surface which we have just been supposing to be overflowed should successively emerge from the waters. It must be observed here that the explanation which I have just been seeking to give of the origin and growth of glaciers, and then of their decrease and final disappearance is only applicable in my theory to very large tracts of the surface of our globe; and that in other quarters phenomena of an exactly opposite nature may be simultaneously taking place. Thus the emersion of Europe may coincide with the inundation of a portion of the continents of Africa or Asia; and in this event glaciers might be produced, or assume unwonted magnitude in Asia and Africa while those of Europe would diminish in size or gradually disappear.” author, M. Quatrefages has made the subject of they had ceased to be phosphorescent. This struck an interesting memoir to the Academy of Sci- him as particularly worthy of remark, being in ences. He calls these animalcules noctilucs, (Lat. opposition to the general rule of organic phosnox, night, and lux light). Their structure he phorescent bodies, which only become phosphoric describes as very simple and curious. One when in a state of putrefaction. The room ocmight imagine them to be, says he, little melons cupied by M. Tessau was more than fifty yards of about a millemetre (0.03937 inch) in diameter, from the shore. He compares the flash of phosand of which the stem would be represented by phoric light that illuminated his chamber when a small moveable appendix. The body is formed the waves broke upon the shore to that of lightof a tough diaphanous membrane in which is ning. He attempted to read by its light, and discerned a hardly perceptible opening. Within was only prevented from doing so by the shortis perceived a small collection of granulous mat-ness of its duration. ter, semi-transparent, from which start in all di- In 1835 this subject was made the subject of rections irregular filaments composed of the same special study by M. Ehrenberg. at Heiligeland, substance. These filaments ramify and run into a Danish island in the German ocean, near the each other always touching with one extremity month of the Elbe. This philosopher attributed at some point of the enveloping membrane, the phenomena to the presence of marine aniwhich thus appears, as it were, carpeted inter- malcules which he called mammaria, which he nally with an extremely close net work. The supposed to be provided with special organs for substance composing these filaments is eminently the production of this light, as certain fishes are contractile in its character. known to be for the production of electricity. In The brilliant phosphoric luminosity of the this opinion he is at variance with M. Quaocean was made the matter of curious investiga-trefages whose experiments and observations tion many years ago by M. Tessau of the scien- prove to demonstration that the animalcule in tific corps attached to the frigate Venus in its question possesses no such organ. The investivoyage around the world. He considered the gations of this gentleman were conducted upon animalcules, which are now known to be the the Atlantic coast, near the French port of Boucause of this luminosity, to be the spawn or fry logne. They extended through a number of of fishes. When at the Cape of Good Hope, he years; and were originally directed exclusively collected large quantities of them by straining sea to the annellides, and ophyures, animalcules quite water through a linen cloth. The animalcules distinct from those of which we are speaking, but remained in the towel and were so abundant whose larger size renders them of more easy obthat he found them to constitute actually more servation. In reference to these, the microscope than half of the total volume of a bucket of water. discovered that the brilliaut flashes they emit are But his experiments were made upon an occa- made up of an infinite number of very minute sion when this phosphoric light was observed in suddenly illuminated points which are to be rea degree quite phenomenal. At those points of marked only upon the muscles in action. The the sea where the light was observed to be the flashes are frequent and brilliant in proportion strongest, the water was thick as a syrup, and of with the energy of the muscular contraction; a blood red colour. The globules examined by and they cease altogether when the animal is M. Tessau, through a magnifying glass, presented motionless, exhausted as it were by the frequency the appearance of "small, transparent, swolleu of the luminous discharges. bladders having near the surface a black point Touching the noctilucs, the animalcules to from which black streaks radiated in all direc-which the sea is indebted for its phosphorescent tions." This is evidently a similar object to that light, M. Quatrefages thus resumes the result of described above by M. Quatrefages. The his observations in the memoir lately presented "globules" collected by M. Tessau had a strong to the Academy of Sciences. fishy smell. Separated in the manner above To facilitate observation the noctilucs were mentioned from the water the globules appeared placed in a glass tube. Upon shaking the tube to M. T. highly phosporesceut, The least agi- they became luminous and by subjecting to a tation, the slightest touch caused them to emit a magnifying power of from six to eight diameters vivid greenish light; while the water which had it became quite manifest that with the great mapassed through the towel had completely lost its jority of the animalcules, phosphorescence was luminous quality. Pressed gently in the hand only partial; that in some cases it appears and the globules emitted a slight crackling sound like disappears alternately upon various points of that of snow when passed between the fingers. the body. Beneath the microscope and under a After remaining twelve hours in the vessel in magnifying power of 30 diameters, these facts which they had been deposited, those globules became perfectly evident, and it remains demonemitted an intolerable smell of putrid fish; and strated that the noctilucs do not possess a special organ like the glow-worm, whose function is the longer or shorter space of time, according to the production of light. If the magnifying power virulence of the liquid with which the experiment be increased to sixty diameters we begin to per- was being made. The envelope finally burst. ceive that the luminous parts are very far from If the experiment took place by night, a vivid presenting an equally diffused homogeneous lus-phosphoric light was observed to make its aptre. Very minute brilliant points appear and pearance first upon a single point of the body of disappear, sparkling here and there, and upon the animalcule. Gradually the light spread over borders of a still uniformly luminous surface. the whole body, and was of greater or less duraCarrying the magnifying power to one hundred tion, according to the nature of the liquid emand thence up to one hundred and forty diame-ployed. The very fragments of the body, espeters, and the number of these brilliant points is cially when the fragments were obtained by perceived to augment in the same proportion. crushing, retained their luminous quality for some The general luminous surface or ground is almost moments. But in no case did the phosphoric totally effaced and it is ascertained that the total light, thus violently elicited, reappear, after it lustre emitted by a noctiluc represents the sum had once become extinct. of light formed by an infinite multitude of very He placed in a long glass tube water charged small sparks or illuminations. The phosphores-with noctilucs. The tube was then closed with cent portions of the animalcule are, so to speak, a stopper, through which a thermometer was inso many nebula, resolvable under sufficient mag-troduced; after which the lower extremity of the nifying power into separate lights; only these tube was dipped into water, heated to about 80 nebulæ instead of being composed of fixed stars, are made up of instantaneous flashes or sparks. M. Quatrefages obtained the animalcules by the process adopted by M. Tessau at the Cape of Good Hope, straining sea water through a towel. The water after filtration was not phosphorescent. The animalcules collected emitted a vivid light. They were carefully washed in water not luminous and theu being again placed in the sea water, that water immediately became again phosphorescent. The experiment proved that the light emanated directly from the bodies of the noctilucs. degrees centigrade (176 degrees Fahrenheit). M. Quatrefages subjected the animalcules to Sparks drawn directly from the electrical mathe action of sulphuric, azotic, chlorhydric and chine did not produce very positive results; owsulfhydric acids, to the action of potash, sal am- ing probably to the unsatisfactory condition under moniac, alcohol, ether, spirits of turpentine, salt, which the experiments took place. It was not Owen's liquid, and fresh water. Nearly all these so, however, with Leyden jar or with Voltaic experiments were made for the purpose of com- battery. The effects of these were nearly the parison, both during the day and at night. They same. Discharges from a small jar strongly all gave very similar results, differing only in in-charged, provoked the phosphorescent light. tensity. To observe during the day the effect Three of these discharges sufficed to render the produced by these various agents he placed upon animalcules subjected to them luminous over the inferior glass of his compressor a drop of their whole body. To observe the action of the water containing the noctilucs. By the side of Voltaic battery, a glass capsule was filled with it he placed a drop of the liquid with which he water containing the noctilucs. One of the was making the experiment. He then brought poles was immersed in the water. and the other the superior glass to its place, and placed the at first was alternately immersed and withdrawn. whole beneath the microscope. Bringing the All the animalcules became speedily luminous glasses of his instrument gradually together, he over their whole body. A continued current effected the contact of the two drops without produced the same effect. It was remarkable in losing sight of them, and was enabled to observe all these experiments, that no matter which electhe first effects of the poison. When this was trode was left stationary, it was always toward sufficiently powerful he saw the ramifications of the zinc pole that the phosphorescence comthe internal filaments rapidly contract, and break, nenced and manifested itself with most vivacity. one after another, from the general envelope. A long glass tube was filled with mercury aud After a few instants all the filaments were thus reversed in such a manner as to obtain almost broken and drawn up to the centre from which a barometric vacuum. By means of a bent glass they emanated. The envelope itself resisted a pipe there was then introduced into the interior VOL. XVII-13 of the tube about 2 inches of the water con- perhaps, thereupon, to conclude at once that it is taining the animalcules. The layer formed by worth nothing. But, no! its truth would be such the noctilucs was about 0.15748 inch. Immedi- a mortal reproach to them that they may well be ately after their introduction into the tube, they excused, considering human frailty, for wishing became totally luminous. The brilliancy, how it to be false, and holding it to be so until it shall ever was of very short duration, and it completely be proved to be true without their aid, and even disappeared. After the lapse of an hour and a in spite of them. It would be unnatural and quarter, air was introduced into the tube; but contrary to all experience and precedent for these not the slightest sign of light could then be elici- scientific men to give in, and abandon promptly, even in face of manifest truth, the doctrines they have taught, the errors they have cherished during their whole lives. The history of Harvey's great discovery is full of painful instruction upon this subject. ted from the noctilucs. Four glass tubes filled with water containing the noctilues were placed side by side. After a moment or two, a portion of oxygen was introduced into one of the tubes; hydrogen into another; carbonic acid into a third; and chlorine Before dismissing astronomers and astronomy, into the fourth. The action of the first three let me just mention that the distinguished Rusgases was exactly similar and the same in all sian savant, Struve, has been making the newly respects with that of atmospheric air. The discovered planet Neptune, and its satellite, the globules ascending in the tubes, emitted a tran- subject of special study. It results from his obsitory phosphoric light, caused by the agitation servations that the mass of Neptune is equal to of the water. Chlorine, on the contrary, imme 1 diately determined the phenomena observed to 14446 part of that of the sun; a weight much have been produced by all irritating agents. superior to that ascribed to it by the English The light emitted was vivid, continuous, extend-observers. The revolution of its satellite is ing over the whole body; but it was of short performed in 5 days, 21 hours, and 8 minutes, duration, and was very rapidly extinguished. At the end of a quarter of an hour the tubes were shaken. That into which the chlorine had been introduced gave no signs whatever of phosphorescence, The other three might have been taken for tubes containing merely a quantity of air globules. The Academy of Sciences of Paris have just awarded the Lalande-medal to the distinguished young Italian astronomer, Gasparis; for the discovery made by him on the 14th April, 1849, of the little planet Hygeia, one of the little group revolving between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The astronomical prize for 1850 was awarded conjointly to the same M. Gasparis and to the English astronomer Mr. Hind, for the discovery by them of three new planets all of the same group; viz. Parthenope, on the 11th May, by M. Gasparis, Victoria, on the 13th September, by Mr. Hind, and a third, the name of which is not yet known, discovered on the 2nd November, by M. Gasparis. The prize in Mechanics (fr. 1,800) was awarded to M. Lesbros for his inventions and experiments in experimental hydraulics. A prize of 1000 fr. was also given to MM. Maurel and Jayet for their ingenious and laboriously invented Calculating Machine. I had prepared for insertion here, a notice that would have occupied two entire pages of the Messenger, descriptive of a new astronomical theory which has just been made the matter of a stout volume. It makes the sun not only the centre of our system, and the grand source of attraction and heat, but also the prime mover of all the planets, by the force of its rotary motion combined with attraction. It proposes to efface completely from all scientific books the known idea of an original mysterious impression of motion in a straight line impressed upon planets, which became a circular motion by the force of attractiou. The new theory is broached by a man quite unknown in the scientific world; and is so paradoxical, that, just before closing my letter, I have concluded to withdraw what I had written, and submit the theory to a more careful examination before giving it the honor of publicity in your columus. If, upon examination, I do not conclude to put it away as of no value. it shall England on whose Empire the sun never sets. have a prominent place in my next letter. The Webster. It was used previously by either Burke or theory made its first appearance about two weeks Mackintosh. A curious parallelism is, however, farnishsince. It does not appear to have created yet the immense landed estates of the wealthy Romans "quæ ed by Ammianus Marcellinus, who says, in speaking of much sensation in the scientific world. Arago a primo ad ultimum solem se abunde jactitant possiand Leverrier are silent respecting it. I ought 'dere." Amm. Marcell. lib. xiv. c. vi. § 15. M. Hurtant received a prize of 1000 fr. for his memoir upon the physiological and therapeutic effects of the emanations from tobacco as observed upou the workmen in the manufactories of Paris. COINCIDENCE. W. W. M. Sce H. |