192 Scientific Intelligence, — Geology, 



lect that we can know nothing of the connection between the volcanris 

 of the earth and the phenomena distributed over the whole globe, of the 

 gradual elevation of certain portions and the sinking of others ; but it 

 is certain that the hollows which can be produced by the evacuating 

 agency of volcanos, even during thousands of years, are too inconsider- 

 able to be taken into account in the explanation of the vast phenomena 

 of which we are speaking. After this subject had excited general in- 

 terest, geologists directed their attention to the sea-shells of still living 

 species, which occur high above the present level of the sea mixed with 

 beds of earth, as a proof that the sea had at one period stood there, 

 that is, that the land had been elevated above the level of the sea. 

 Such observations were made at much earlier periods ; but it is only of 

 late years that observers have supposed that there is evidence of a con- 

 tinued elevation actually in progress. (Berzelius's Jahresherickt). 



7. Volcanic ashes at sea. — The following memorandum has been 

 handed to us by the Rev. Peter Parker, M. D., who was a passenger 

 in the Niantic from Canton to New York Ed. 



Ship Niantic, L. F. Foty, master, April 5. 1840, being in Lat. 7° 05' 

 north. Long. 121° 10' east, at 2 a.m. sixty miles west from Mindanao, 

 one of the Philippine islands, came up a fine breeze from the north-east, 

 which was attended with a shower of dust resembling that of ashes. It 

 came so thick that it obscured the moon and stars which were all out 

 very clear before ; it filled the sailors' eyes so full that they were obliged 

 to retreat from the deck below ; it lasted about one hour, and cleared 

 away. At daylight, the Niantic looked like an old furnace, completely 

 covered from the royal mast head down to the water's edge. The decks, 

 I should judge, one-quarter of an inch thick with the ashes ; we took 

 up one-half bushel, and might have saved three or four. It fell in small 

 quantities at different times for two or three days after. On the 14th 

 of April, spoke the English barque Margaret, whaler; reporled, like- 

 wise, on the 5th of April had a similar shower of ashes, being at the 

 time three hundred miles north-north-east from us ; he informed me 

 that on the 12th of April, he visited several villages on the island of 

 Madura entirely deserted by the people, from one of which he had taken 

 two brass cannon, and several other articles. This led us to think that 

 some volcanic eruption had lately happened in that neighbourhood. 

 After the 9th, perceived no more in proceeding northward. — American 

 Journal, vol. xl. No. I., January 1841. 



July 23d 1840. 



8. On Human Bones of great Geological antiquity, — Dr Lund, 

 now residing at Lagou Santa, in Brazil, has communicated, that 



