192 Scientific Intelligence. -^Hydrography. 



grouped, with a view to extract from them the truths they con* 

 ceal. Now, has this procedure been adopted with regard to the 

 lunar influence ? Where do we find them refuted by such ar- 

 guments as science would acknowledge ? He who ventures to 

 treat a priori a fact as absurd, wants prudence. He has not 

 reflected on the numerous errors he would have committed with 

 regard to modern discoveries. I ask, for example, if there can 

 be any thing in the world more bizarre, more incredible, more 

 inadmissible than the discovery of Jenner ? Well ' the bizarre, 

 the incredible, the inadmissible, is found to be true ; and the 

 preservative against the smallpox is, by unanimous consent, to 

 be sought for in the little pustule that appears in the udder of 

 the cow. I address these short reflections to those who may 

 think that the subject of lunat influence is unworthy of any no- 

 tice. 



PIYDROGRAPHY. 



4. Instances of Ground Ice. — A striking example of the forma- 

 tion of ground-ice is mentioned by the Commander Steenk of 

 Pillau. On the 9th February 1806, during a' strong south- 

 east wind, and a temperature of -|- 34°.2 Fahrenheit, a long iron 

 chain, to which the buoys of the fair-way are fastened, and 

 •which had been lost sight of at Schappelts- wrack in a depth of 

 from 15 to 18 feet, suddenly made its appearance at the surface 

 of the water, and swam there ; it was, however, completely en- 

 crusted with ice to the thickness of several feet. Stones, also, 

 of from three to six pounds weight, rose to the surface ; they 

 were surrounded with a thick coat of ice. A cable also, 3^ inches 

 thick, and about 30 fathoms long, which had been lost the pre- 

 ceding summer in a depth of 30 feet, again made its appearance 

 and swam on the surface ; but it was enveloped in ice to the 

 thickness of 2 feet. On the same day it was necessary to warp 

 the ship into harbour in face of an east wind ; the anchor used 

 for the purpose, after it had lain an hour at the bottom, became 

 so encrusted with ice, that it required not more than half of the 

 usual power to heave it up. 



5. Avalaiiches in Grusia (Grusien). — By information lately 

 received from Grusia, it appears that a frightful and fortunately 



