Geology^ I ^cj 



situation of the earth in its orbit. This effect of the annual 

 parallax, respecting winch astronomers have disputed so 

 much for a century past, is an interesting fact : it thence 

 follows that the distance of the stars is not seven millions 

 of millions of leagues. 



GEOLOGY. 



The following authentic account of 2n ascent to the 

 summit of one of the highest mountains in the Tyrol, has 

 beeiji published in the Vienna court gazette : — "^ For some 

 years past, doctor Gebhard has been employed in explorincr 

 the Tyrol in all directions by tlie order of his royal highnes.^ 

 the archduke John, who exerts himself with so much zeai 

 and makes so many sacrifices to promote the good of his 

 country. One of the most interesting conscqueuccs of this 

 measure, which promises to furnish abundance of matter 

 to geology, botany, mineralogy, and natural history in ge- 

 neral, is the late ascent to the summit of the Orteier, the. 

 highest mountain in the Tyrol, which is covered with eter- 

 nal snow and ice. By his highness's orders. Dr. Gebhard 

 proceeded to Glurus in the Vintsehgau, and thence exa- 

 mined all the valleys which obtain their water from tlie 

 Orteier, in order to ascertain the most favourabk point for 

 ascending the mountain ; but he began to doubt of the pos- 

 sibility of accomplishing this enterprise, when a hunter of 

 chamois goats, from the village of Passaver, a man habi- 

 tuated to the dangers of these precipices, oflered to beconat; 

 his guide. Dr. Gebhard added to him as companions two 

 boors from the Ziller valley, who had attended him durinj^ 

 ills excursions among the mountains, and one of whom 

 possessed sufficient knowledge to observe two barometers 

 which they curried with them. 



About two o'clock in the morning, September £37, thev 

 set out from l^rol'ui, and between 10 and 11 reached the 

 very summit of the mountain. But they could scarcely 

 remain here four minutes. These thev employed in ob- 

 serving the baron)etcr ; and about eight in the evenint/ 

 relumed to Drofui half benumbed, and, at first, deprived 

 of the power of speech. Without restins; more than the 

 above four minutes, they had wandered durinp; seventeen 

 hours over rocks, snow, and >ee, in many places at the 

 liazard of their lives. Both the barometers observed on the 

 sunmiit were exceedingly good, and agreed. Corresponding- 

 observations wer« made at Mais. The height of the moim- 

 tain above Mais is therefore known, hut the elevation of 

 JVials above the sea has not yet been calculaUd. It mav 



h';\\e\ er 



