Reply to Dr. Rae's Observations on an Inland Sea. 200 tween Dr. Rae and myself, is not like a transaction of adduced by him, I cannot but remark it to Dr. Rae as the day, which tomorrow passes over as utterly insigni- an anomalous and scarcely right procedure, to assume ficant; the phenomena, the very imagination of which fires the poetical spirit of Dr. Rae, remain ever apparent, and strike every eye; to the cultivators of geology, they possess a permanent interest, and with them can be recurred to after any intervals of time, with undiminished satisfaction. in his favour the whole body of the authority of the States Geologists. What was thought indisputable forty or twenty-three years ago, cannot now be considered an overwhelming authority-the Wernerian theory, then so generally adopted, having since been found so inadequate for the explanation of phenomena such as are inThe language of Dr. Rae, in commenting upon the volved in the present question, and though "up to the observations which 1 ventured to have published in the present moment there has not been a whisper against the original hypothesis," it is too vast a conclusion, and British American Journal, breathed a tone, it then seemed to me, of unnecessary severity—I think of some an unwarranted one, to infer from this circumstance, that "all observers (the States Geologists) concur in addogmatism too. If I recollect correctly, my observations were offered with no arrogance nor pretension that mitting that these vallies exhibit very evident traces of water having at some antecedent time burst a passage could justify severity. It is difficult to see the validity of Dr. Rae's right to pronounce the observations of through them." Nothing but the present expression of others, in matters purely scientific, heterodox and he- their opinions in favour of this view could justify Dr. I distinctly refuse to plead to his jurisdiction, Rae's protecting his hypothesis with a shield of authority and stand upon my own right to differ in opinion on so immense, and this shield is taken away from it if his such questions from anybody I please, for all that he right to adopt it is found to be invalid. It is not in my may think it such presumption to differ from so great a thoughts that Dr. Rae requires any authority to support genius as himself. Seriously, the gathering and esti- whatever conclusions he may arrive at, but the exhibimating of evidence being all that is concerned in the tion of such a force of it, whether intended to be so or question, and the nature of the pursuit being happily ex-not, is an appeal to popular sentiment, which has nothclusive of all contentious passions, let Dr. Rae and my-ing to do with the decision. self look to nothing but the evidence, and seek for nothing but the truth. resy. The attention of every person who, with an observ. ant eye, travels through any part of Canada, must be Let it be granted, as Dr. Rae advances, that were the arrested with those evidences of the action of ancient surface of this continent " tomorrow depressed a thou-waters that are visible in the finely expressed marsand feet, there are only four openings by which the ginal lines found on the slopes of vallies and the waters of the Atlantic could find admittance to the bed flanks of the mountains. To account for these it has of an interior sea thus created." It may also be correct often been supposed, and I believe generally understood, "that this subject has been a matter of careful and sci-that each of these marginal lines indicates the action entific investigation and accurate measurement, carried and elevation of an ancient inland sea, and that the on for a series of years by the Geologists employed by differences between them correspond with measures the several States for ascertaining all the facts connected of disruption in a supposed containing barrier. These with the science which their respective territories pre- disruptions in the barrier are conceived to have been sent, and embodied in copious reports laid before their brought about in points of the mountain ranges torespective Legislatures." With regard to the other ques-wards the mouths of the great rivers of the continent; tion of Dr. Rae-the formation of the several communi- that is to say, mountains of many miles extent are sup cations or vallies of the Mississippi, the Susquehana, the posed to have been extended across their mouths, and to Hudson and the St. Lawrence, it may likewise be cor- have been carried away by the waters in successive rerect that the Geologists who have examined this question bellious outbreaks. "I have not," says Dr. Rae, “the ❝all agree in ascribing their existence, or at least their materials by me to give the proof of the interior waters existence in the form they actually present to us, to the having burst through at all these points, and if I had agency of water bursting out from an inland reservoir." them, it would extend my paper to an intolerable length Dr. Rae adds, "upwards I think of forty years since were I to set about putting them to use. It will be sufthe evidences of it are so clear and strong-it struck the ficient for me to show that there are good reasons for bethen comparatively unskilled and unscientific observers lieving that the immediate agent in the formation of one as a thing the proofs of which were too palpable to be of these vallies was water forcing its way from the indisputed." terior, for if we are satisfied that it had to force its way Before adverting to the evidence which is subsequently at one point, we must of necessity conclude that there 204 Review Department.-Observations at the Meteorological and Magnetical Observatory, Toronto. could then have been no free passage for it at the others." gions, as throughout Canada at large, the terraces or This will never do. Let Dr. Rae beware of his marginal lines so often adverted to, nor would it be reconclusions. Sufficient, says he? Sufficient it may garded as extraordinary were the faces of the hills found be to clear the way of the St. Lawrence, but sufficient to to be abraded and furrowed by the action of those waters stop up for ever the mouths of the Hudson, the Susque- ascertained to have passed over the continent in a rapid bana and Mississippi. Here is a sea of vast extent im- deluge from the North West; but with submission it may prisoned by a barrier of mountains; its walls of rock be said that these appearances fail to prove the specific have long sustained impregnable the heaviest assaults— action which Dr. Rae supposes them to demonstrate; remained sulky and unshaken in a thousand storms. The and indeed it would be difficult to describe the phenowaves at length overmaster them at some weak point, and mena in rocky strata that would suffice for such proof, out rush they roaring and rejoicing, greatening at every pertaining to the action of currents and seas generally. phenomena distinguished by characters not usually apbound the gap of the prison wall, nor stop for a moment the laughing thunder of their sport, till they have effected No necessity requires the Geologist to ascribe the fora general delivery, and extorted the privilege of strolling mation of such a valley as the St. Lawrence to the acat large. But what use, let me inquire, could there be tion of water. Whatever work it may perform in them in making two or three, or four gaps? What use could afterwards, it is surely probable that most valleys of large there be? and how could they do it within when they alleged that the inequalities of the earth's surface are to extent were found by it ready mude. It has never been were out? If they could not knock down the mountain be attributed to water solely, or running streams and curacross the Mississippi before, how could they do so now when so many of them had gone away by the St. Law-lities, though it possesses no water at all, and if water rents. The moon is found to be bristling with inequarence? The deluge which subsequent to the tertiary were created on it, instead of having the trouble of formera has left behind it such various and vast proofs of its ing valleys, would have only to fill them. No matter how force, might have effected something in the way of dis-old the world may be, what was an inequality in its ruption, but Dr. Rae himself will probably assign this youth may be an inequality still. The valley of the St. deluge to a period antecedent to the supposed in- Lawrence may be an original engraving, and though we land sea, and besides this, instead of accounting for the marginal lines, is certainly the true cause of their frequent behold, as in the Ottawa, the waters cutting deep into the obliteration, where otherwise they should have been aprecent strata, sometimes of enormous thickness, yet are parent. To suppose that the said barriers were burst asunder by the waters acting in any thing like the present form of their existense, is to suppose that the four barriers agreed to be broken up at the same point of time, made the same agreement, too, at divers successive intervals, and adjusted at each time the measure of disruption that each should be subjected to. Nothing can be more evident, than that one barrier being removed, the force that would remain for the removal of the others must necessarily be reduced-the force reduced, and the opposing obstacle proportionably increased, i.e., the production of a condition which ren-are with the character of our climate, are perhaps the The meteorological observations, connected as they dered the disruption of the others by the same forces a most valuable portion of the work now under our conphysical impossibility. When the fountain Arethusa sideration, from their being more generally understood sunk under ground in the Peloponesus and rose in Sicily, throughout the community, than the "ponderous" and it performed a feat not half so admirable as the waters of scientific details of magnetic perturbations which come this inland sea in the removal of their mountain gates. only within the scope of a limited class. These meteoIt seems superfluous to notice that the regions border-rological observations were conducted with the most ing on the locality of the barriers supposed to have been perfect attention to extreme accuracy, and may thereremoved, will probably present traces of the action of fore be fully depended upon as affording indisputable water. The evidence furnished by Dr. Rae is abundant results. The remarks of Lieut.-Col. Sabine, we shall on this point, and the extensive range of his observations generally give nearly in his own words, while the tables gives his views a claim to be regarded with very great we condense to suit our columns. respect. We should naturally expect among those re they only removing the intruded materials that had diminished its original depths; and such, in point of fact, is part of the present business assigned them. (To be Continued.) Observations made at the Magnetical and Meteorological Observatory at Toronto, in Canada. Printed by order of Her Majesty's Government, under the superintendence of Lieut.-Colonel Edward Sabine, of the Royal Artillery. Vol. I.-1840, 1841, 1842. London LONGMAN & Co., 1845. : (Continued from page 180.) Thermometer.The highest temperature of the Observations at the Magnetical and Meteorological Observatory, Toronto. 205 day, on the annual average, is between 2 and 4 p. m. is at two A.M. in spring, summer and autumn, and in and the coldest between 4 and 6 a. m. In the winter winter it occurs two hours and occasionally four hours months, the minimum is at the later, and the maximum earlier. From the average heights of the barometer at the earlier hour; in summer, the reverse takes place, in the several quarters, the winter and spring quarters The mean daily difference in the height of the ther-are found below, and the summer and autumn quarters mometer in the several quarters of 1841 and 1842 were above, the general mean. The mean height in August is higher than that of any other month in 1841 and 1842, and February, in 1841, and January, in 1841, have the lowest barometric pressures of those years 17.15 respectively. as follows: Min. Difference. 6.9 6.1 6.50° = 9.9 10.9 10.40 11.5 11.2 = 11.35 Max. Winter,... 28.1 32.0 Spring, 47.3 50.7 Summer,. 74.3 71.3 Autumn,. 51.8 51.0 In the yrs. 50.1 50.9 Elastic Force of Atmospheric Vapour.-The elasIn 1841, June was the hottest month of the year tic force of the vapour at Toronto has but one and February the coldest; the respective mean tem- maximum and one minimum in the twenty-four hours. peratures were 66° 2′ and 23° 2′. The maximum occurs at two P.M. on the annual and In 1842, August was the hottest month and January the coldest, the separate quarterly averages. The minimum takes place temperatures being 65° 7′ and 27° 9'. The monthly at four A.M. on the average of each year and in each means were obtained by the result of observations separate quarter, except in autumn, 1842, when it was every two hours; the annual mean of 1841 being 43° at six A M.; but it the observations were made at 9', and 1842, being 44° 8', to 44° 35'; on the two shorter intervals than two hours, the minimum would years, probably be found to take place earlier in spring and summer than in winter and autumn. The average daily difference between the greatest and least elevated force of the vapour in each of the two years and in each quarter was ascertained to be in inches. The temperature in 1841 and 1842, as shown in quarterly and annual means, is ascertained to be Winter, Spring, Summer,... 24.6° 39.6 65.4 62.4 28.5° = 26.5 = = = Barometer.-The daily, monthly, and annual means of the barometer, for 1841 and 1842, were also obtained by observations at every two hours, at 32° Fah., and are reckoned at 29 inches + the numbers below. The daily difference in the quarters was— Max. Min. In the years,.. The following particulars relative to the diurnal variation of the barometric pressure are derived from the tables. The morning maximum takes place at eight Humidity of the Air.-The mean degree of huA.M. in the summer, and at ten A.M. in winter; in midity in both years is 78, or on an average of the spring and autumn it is almost equally divided between whole year, the air contains a proportion of vapour of those hours. The afternoon minimum takes place at two which the elastic force is 78 parts of 100 of the amount P.M. in winter; six P.M. in summer, and at four P.M. in required for saturation. The spring is the driest quarspring and autumn and in the annual means. The se- ter, then the summer, then the autumn, and the cond maximum occurs at eight P.M. in winter, is equally winter is the most humid quarter. May is the divided between eight and ten P.M.in autumn, is atten F.M. driest month of the whole year, and December in spring, and at twelve in summer. On an average of It must be borne in mind that these calculations are based on the whole year it is at ten P.M. The second minimum observations at Toronto. Its position on the borders of Lake 206 Review Department.—Observations at the Magnetical and Meteorological Observatory, Toronto. In the years,...... 78 Pressure of Gazeous Atmosphere. The diurnal pressure has one maximum which occurs about the coldest hour of the day, and one minimum about the warmest hour. In summer, the maximum is about four A.M.,—in autumn, six A.M.—in spring, eight A.M and in winter, intermediate between eight and ten A.M. Winter Min. .445 .381 Difference. Direction and Force of the Wind.-The Anemometer used at the Observatory fully answers its purpose in recording the direction, but was less satisfactory in recording the pressure of the winds. In pressures of less than 1 lb. the plate did not move, or the record of its motion was very uncertain. Even in higher winds, the spring was insufficient to bring the pencil back to the zero, so that high pressures might continue to be marked after the wind had lulled. But these defects have been subsequently somewhat overcome, and more satisfactory performances obtained. In the present tables no pressures under 1 lb. are noticed. The force of the wind was In spring and summer the minimum is at four P.M.-in also observed by estimation on a scale of thirteen graautumn, intermediate between two and four-and in dations, designated by corresponding terms. The terms winter, at two. These differences are obviously con- of the scale, and their corresponding values, varied from nected with the variations of temperature in the difvery light, nearly calm," or 0.2 lbs., to "great storm," ferent seasons. The average diurnal variation in sumor 20 lbs. On comparing in detail the records by esmer is nearly double the amount at any of the other timation and by the instrument, the record is generally three seasons of the year. The diurnal variation of the satisfactory,-both record a preponderance of pressure gazeous atmosphere exceeds the diurnal variation of the from the N. and the W.; and in both years the hours barometer in every quarter, as well as on the annual ave-in which the winds blew from the points included berage. The annual variation consists of a maximum tween N. and W. exceeded those from any one of the other quarters. pressure in midwinter, and a minimum in midsummer. A great majority of the high winds were also from the same direction. The hours of calm The average amount of the difference in the daily pres in 1841 were 2669, and in 1842 were 2409; those at sure in the several quarters of 1841 and 1842, are 29 which there was more or less wind were respectively inches, the figures in the table. 6010 and 6250,-the hours of wind being to those of .066 .058.062 calm in proportion, differing little in either year from .072 056 064 that of 5 to 2; the balance to make up the number of .054 .074.064 8760 observations to the year, being 81 and 101, being In the years. .374 .383 .302 .314 072 .069.0705 the number of hours in the respective years during The quarterly and annual means for the two years are which the instruments were out of order. In reference 92 inches, the figures in the table. to the diurnal variation of the wind's force, its pressure is considerably greater during the day than the night; the force begins to increase between 6 and 8, A.M., reaches its maximum at noon, or soon after, and diminishes again until 10 or 12 P.M., undergoing little change during the remainder of the night. The pressure of the winds for 1841 and 1842, as taken by the anemometer, was respectively 4246.7 and 6247.0 lbs. ; and divided by the number of hours during which the several winds prevailed, with the whole recorded pressure, we draw the following result :— Hours of prevailing Winds. 795 ... 450 Spring. Summer Max. .511 .439 .446 .422 ..... .213 .276 .374 .366 .095 .159 .293 .342 Autumn.. .347 .416 ...... Winter.. Spring Autumn... In the years... ... .480 .411.446 .420 .395.408 .158 .225.192 .327 .379.353 Review Department.-Observations at the Magnetical and Meteorological Observatory, Toronto. 207 The greatest pressures of the winds during the two years, is recorded by the anemometer, gives 23 days between N. and W., 11 between S. and W., and 4 each between N. and E. and S. and E., 5 from the N., 2 each from W. and E., and O from S. The receiving surface of the anemometer rain gauge, was about 9 feet above the ground. It indicated 26°. 58' inches in 1841, and 42°. 80' in 1842. In 1841, these observations were still further augmented by two-hourly observations on every day of the year, except Sundays, augmented to hourly observations after July, 1842, of the declination of the magnet, and of the horizontal and vertical forces, with the temperatures of the bifalar and vertical force magnets. Attached to the larger volume, of which we have thus given a review commensurate with our space, but by no means with the importance of the subject, there is a smaller one, entitled "Observations on days of unRain Gauge.-An instrument for determining the nial Magnetic Observatory, under the departments of usual magnetic disturbance, made at the British Coloquantity of rain falling at different intervals was at the Ordnance and Admiralty, and published under the tached to the anemometer. Its receiving surface was about 9 feet above the ground. In 1841, 8.14 inches editor of the preceding. This publication has been superintendence of Lieut.-Colonel Sabine," the scientific fell in the month of July, which was the maximum; made in advance of the receipt of the observations from the minimum amount, 1.16 inches, fell in March. In all the parts in which the experiments are being con1842, the maximum quantity fell in September, ducted; and it is done in the hope that their early pubamounting to 6.16 inches; the minimum, in May, be-lication, and their " comparison with simultaneous obing 1.28. The whole amount which fell in 1841 is servations in other parts of the globe, may lead to the rated at 36.58 inches,—in 1842 at 42.80 inches. These suggestion of more specific points of inquiry, than are observations, however, are not sufficiently extended to at present apprehended, and possibly to the substitution permit of any very useful result. of improved instruments and modes of observation." The third and most voluminous portion of the work The four Colonial Observatories at which these expenow under consideration, consists of 340 pages of ta-riments are progressing, are those at St. Helena, Tobles, comprising the observations made at the Toronto ronto, Van Dieman's Land, and the Cape of Good Observatory, on the monthly term periods agreed upon Hope. But the observations recorded have principally in Europe, and taken at short intervals at mean Gottin- been made at Van Dieman's Land and Toronto, two gen time, Toronto being 5h. 57m. 12s. 5., or nearly six stations situated in different magnetic hemispheres, and hours west of the latter place. To show how very nu-nearly at opposite extremities of a diameter of the merous and minute these observations were, it will be globe, in both of which the magnetic phenomena, wheonly necessary to state, that in 1840 the declination of ther of declination, horizontal and vertical force, or gethe magnet was noticed throughout the 24 hours every neral disturbance, present a remarkable degree of five minutes, its horizontal and vertical forces every uniformity. ten minutes; and that hourly observations were taken Diurnal Oscillation. The first general result obof the barometer, the dry and wet thermometer, the di-tained is, that the regular diurnal oscillation does not rection and force of the wind, and the general state of consist in a simple movement from one extremity of the weather. At the end of the year there are reduc- the range to the other, and back, as Arago supposes tions of the observations of the declination and hori-for instance, but in an alternate progression and retrozontal intensity by curved lines, with the corresponding gression. Commencing at 2 P.M., the movement is curves as far as obtained from Boston, Philadelphia, and continuous towards the East until 10 P.M., when the Prague or Breslau, with the mean diurnal oscillations bar returns towards the West, and reaches at 2 A.M., a at Toronto. second Westerly limit. A second progression towards The meteorological tables consist of the two hourly the East then commences, and continues until 8 A.M., observations on every day of the year, except Sundays, being more decided in the summer than in the winter of the barometric pressure, the standard and wet ther-months, both in its amount, and in the precise hour at |