Post says:-"I had the pleasure a few weeks since, of witnessing the first experiment of the boat at that place, (opposite Trenton on the Delaware,) and was much surprised, that an invention of such great utility had not before been put in operation. There can be no doubt as to the practicability of the plan, and the competency of the power to be acquired for propelling heavy laden boats against rapids; for in the experiment I witnessed, there was towed up at the same time, a large Durham boat, two batteaux, and twelve persons! The Durham boat was old and leaky, and drew as much water as if loaded with three or four tons; and she ascended the rapids, (which run at about the rate of ten knots,) with as great rapidity apparently as when without any encumbrance. Many of our valuable rivers have not heretofore been navigated, on account of obstructions in them by rapids, which have been insurmountable; but by the invention of Col. Clarke, such difficulties no longer exist. Much credit is certainly due to him for the invention, as it promises to be of the greatest utility to this country in the navigation of our rivers; and it is presumed, that his plan will ere long be brought into general use throughout the United States."

98.-VOL. IX.

COMPENDIUM OF GEOLOGY.

(Continued from col. 102.)

Ir has been already stated, that "The strata of the earth are stretched out into two vast continents, which, nearly parallel to each other, extend north and south, from the vicinity of the antarctic circle to considerably within the arctic circle; and between these continents lie two immense oceans. In the midst of these continents several extensive mediterranean seas occur, and also many deeply indented gulfs and bays; but in no instance do any of these afford a communication from ocean to ocean: and, that the relative position of these continents and some islands have great effect upon these oceans, and also upon the general economy of this sphere." If we revert to the rotary motion of the earth, which is from west to east, we shall find that any given point upon the equator moves, in consequence of this rotary motion, upwards of a thousand miles every hour; while at the poles this motion is so trifling that it scarcely deserves a name; and between the equator and the poles every grade of velocity exists, from upwards of a thousand miles an hour to the revolution of a point in twenty-four hours.

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The

position of these two great continents and sundry islands, when this rotary motion of the earth is taken into the account, must be referred to an act of Infinite Wisdom.

It is in the nature of matter to be at rest, fluid matter as well as solid; such a disposition the immense congregation of waters, called the ocean, possesses throughout all its parts. From whatever cause, one of these continents moves from west to east, the other continent moves also in the same direction, and all the islands whether great or small; because these continents and islands are formed of solid materials of matter in a state of cohesion, and possessed of great specific gravity; and these rest upon a common base, and constituting a solid fabric, all the parts move together. Water is of less specific gravity than these continents, and every molecule in the mass is individual, having little or no cohesion with its fellows; the friction of one molecule in action may, and frequently does, put another molecule in motion; but the absence of cohesion leaves every individual molecule at liberty from its fellows, and therefore the action of part of the ocean does not necessitate an action of the whole. The same causes therefore, which act alike upon solid and fluid matter, do not produce the same effects. The attraction of the moon produces a tide of the ocean; but the same attraction, acting upon these continents, does not produce a rising or tide of the land; the fluid, being individual in its molecules, yields to the attraction; but the solid, being one mass, remains at rest. This is equally the case during the furious action of hurricanes of air; these terribly agitate the ocean, but do not, in a similar way, roll mountain over mountain, and disrupt the earth. We allow also, that the whole surface of an ocean may be acted upon, yea, even to extreme agitation, and the deep parts at the same moment may be at rest; this is actually the case during the most violent, as well as the less turbulent, storms at sea, and even during the highest tides, at great distances from land, in deep

water.

It is this difference in the effect between the action of the power which moves the earth upon the solid and the fluid matter of this sphere, that calls for the interference of these two continents and sundry islands, in the very positions which they occupy in the earth's crust, according to my view of things; and I think this will appear equally clear to others, upon their seriously examining the premises. The natural disposition of matter to rest, disposes the waters of the ocean to rest; but this sphere moves with immense velo

city from west to east, and the power which causes this motion, I conceive, acts only upon parts of these waters, and not equally upon the whole: those parts which are acted upon may, and do, dispose the other parts of the ocean with which they are in immediate contact to move also; but certain portions, not being acted upon directly or indirectly, are disposed to rest. This circumstance creates a difference in the rate of going, between the water and the land, and calls for two such continents, in order to form a trough wherein the waters of these two immense oceans may be carried round from day to day. In the absence of this trough, I conceive the difference in the rate of going, between the waters and the land, at the equator, would amount to a current of such terrible velocity, as to tear up the land, and even disrupt the crust of the earth, and devastate the surface of this sphere.

It is the same thing, whether a ship rides at anchor, and a current runs under her bottom at the rate of six miles an hour; or the water is at rest, and the ship sails at the rate of six miles an hour through the water: look over her side, in either case, and you behold the ship and the individual particles of water separate from each other with equal rapidity; and thus would the passing of the solid through the fluid create an apparent current of the waters, through which the solid must move, were not the fluid confined, as it is, in a kind of trough formed athwart its course, by these two immense continents.

The south pole, not being furnished with its land to the same extent as the north, furnishes us with an example of the effect above described, but in way so mild, as to become useful instead of injurious to this sphere. The Cape of Good Hope, which forms the southern extremity of Africa, and the, immense island of New Holland in the South Pacific, do not extend to forty south latitude; whereas Cape Horn, the southern extremity of America, approaches to sixty. Although the rotary motion of the sphere is comparatively small at this point, seeing it is not distant from the antarctic circle, yet a current strikes the south-eastern coast of America, thus left uncovered by its parallel continent, with such force that it passes along its whole line, through the tropic regions, even to Labrador and the great island of Newfoundland.

Doctor Franklin, speaking of this current, observes, that the water having been heated up in its passage through the tropics, comes warm to the coasts of the United States of America; and in coasting these

Some observations have taken place, as to the comparative level of the eastern and western coasts in certain portions of these continents, and the result hitherto has been, that the waters of the ocean are higher upon the eastern than they are upon the western coasts. Two of these observations I note. The first is, that in the bay of Bengal, on the coast near Gamjam, the surface of the sea is higher than on the western side of the peninsula of Hindoostan, near Bombay. The other is, that in the gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea, the surface is higher than the surface of the Pacific ocean on the western coast of America. This shews a tending of the waters to the west, or a tendency to rest in the ocean, while the land passes rapidly to the east, which, in its effects, amounts to the same thing-heaping up the water on the western shores.

Captain Parry, in his narrative of the voyages he made for the discovery of a north-west passage, (an extract from which may be seen in the Imperial Magazine for October last,) observes upon this tendency of the waters to the westward, noting, that all the eastern shores were freed from ice at a much earlier period than the western shores, and in general, that they were much more free from drifted ice; and adds, that drift ice, whether in islands or fragments, had at sea a slow, but sure motion, in a westerly direction, and that this motion was kept up, even in the teeth of strong breezes from the west.

"In the midst of these continents several extensive mediterranean seas occur, and also many deeply indented gulfs and bays; but in no instance do any of these afford a communication from ocean to ocean." No; each ocean is safely shut up in and near the tropic regions, where the danger exists, by continents which the waters cannot pass over; yea, hermetically sealed: not a single opening being left through which a current could be generated, in the tropic regions, or near those climes, round the sphere.

Had the positions of these two great continents been from east to west, instead of the direction in which they now lie, viz. from north to south, instead of two vast oceans stretching from pole to pole, as we now have in the Atlantic and the Pacific, three such oceans would have existed round the sphere, viz. one at the equator, and one

The two great continents, and the stratified islands, which are portions of creation undisrupted by the deluge, have, in general, bold westerly shores, and numerous ranges of mountains stretching in a direction from north to south, and a very great proportion of the precipitous escarpments of these high stratified ridges have westerly aspects. Whether these projections, fronting the direction in which that power which induces the rotary motion of the earth, acts, assist the acting power, by giving thereto hold upon the earth's surface, which, if perfectly smooth, like water, might not be afforded, is a theory which I leave to the decision of future discoveries.

We need not travel out of the island in which we live, in order to behold the circumstances above noted. The ranges of mountains throughout Great Britain are, for the most part, from north to south, and their precipitous escarpments are ranged in general with aspects to the west.

The sphere we now inhabit is a ruin of the primitive sphere. The Creator constructed the primitive sphere in Infinite Wisdom, and in Infinite Wisdom reserved, from the terrible effects of the disruption of the great abyss, and the oscillations of the general deluge, a world every way calculated for the convenience, comfort, and enjoyments of animal life, and especially for the head thereof-man. This wisdom, providing a due equilibrium of fluids and solids, and restraining each of these within due limits, so that the one should not operate to the destruction of the other, but each minister to each throughout the ages of time, will, as science progresses upon the earth, become more and more conspicuous: every fact, as it is discovered, will, I have no doubt, demonstrate this wisdom to man; and the fact, that these two immense continents, stretching from north to south, are original portions of creation, and were preserved when many portions of this sphere were disrupted and lost from the dry land, argues some especial design, as to the poses these were intended to subserve in the economy of this sphere, It was Jeho

pur

vah which exclaimed, "Who shut up the sea with doors when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it, and brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, and said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?" The answer is at hand; it was He, Himself, who performed all this; and He alone is capable of giving such a glowing picture of the ruin of a world, and the recreation of another world out of that ruin, at the awful moment of its disruption, during the general deluge. In the midst of wrath, He remembered mercy; and even while He destroyed He saved.

"In the year 1779, it pleased the Lord to begin a work of conviction in my mind, by means of a pious little girl, who preached Christ to me, and was soon after taken from my sight to be for ever with the Lord, My distress, on her death, grew very great. I thought of my late companion, now in heaven, and feared (as it was thought I should not live long) that I should soon be in hell.

"After a while, the impression wore off, but it soon returned. I read the scriptures, and heard the gospel preached, but had no idea of the way of salvation by Christ. And as I was several times thought to be in a decline, death stared me in the face, and I knew, by sad experience, what it was to be in darkness that might be felt.

It is probable, that certain portions of the primitive world, being disrupted, fell into the great abyss of waters; and the rushing forth of the ocean, triumphantly to occupy their places, is here finely and poetically described; the cloud and thick darkness seem to refer to the excessive rains, and the decreed place broken up for the sea, its present bed, formed at the moment of the general deluge. Triumphantly as the sea rushed forth, as if to possess the whole earth, He, who created the sea as well as the dry land, launches forth His bars and doors, confines it to its decreed place, and where its mighty surges lashed the confining shores, and shook them like the thunders of heaven, He decreed, and behold it stands

fast; "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed!" From the highest antiquity to the present moment, according to all recorded observations since the general deluge, the sea has not gained upon the land, except in immaterial and trifling instances, even to this day.

(To be continued.)

RESIGNATION IN AFFLICTION
EXEMPLIFIED.

THE following piece of autobiography, cannot but prove acceptable to all, who do not believe religion to be a cunningly devised fable. It was written by the suffering individual whose signature it bears, at the request of a friend, and has undergone no corrections, but such as are verbal.-ED.

"I was born in London on the 17th of April, 1774, and in July 1776 was seized with the small-pox, which I had with great severity. From that time I was so much afflicted, that I can truly say, I never remember enjoying good health one day in my life.

"In this state I remained with no better hope, than that I might know the way to heaven before I died, till December the 25th, 1785, when it pleased the Lord, in mercy, to break in upon my soul, with a ray of heavenly light, under the preaching of the word. I was then enabled, by the Holy Spirit's teaching, to behold Christ as having fulfilled the law for me; and as having his righteousness imputed to me. My ideas were indeed very imperfect, but they were sufficient to fill me with peace and joy in believing.

"About three weeks after this memora→ ble event, it pleased the Lord to visit me with a violent fever; but when all hopes of my life were given up, blessed be God, he favoured me with a hope full of immor tality. I longed to depart and be with Christ, feeling an assurance of pardon from the frequent repetition of that heart-cheering promise to my soul, I have blotted out thy transgressions as a thick cloud, and as a cloud thy sins.' At the time of the fever, all about me thought I was dying, and I rejoiced that I was going to Him who had redeemed me, to behold his face, and dwell with him for ever. At length my speech failed me, and I lay senseless for some time, apparently dead. I however revived again, and found myself in the body, instead of bowing at the feet of him who had washed me from my sins in his own blood.

"From that time my soul was less joyous, but not without hope. Like many other children in the school of Christ, I idolized the minister through whose instrumentality I had believed, but knew very little of my entire dependence on the Lord for a blessing on his labours to my soul. Thus I went on, looking to the man more than to Jesus, till 1787, when death was commissioned to waft this servant of the Lord (my idol) to his Father's

house above. My sorrow was so excessive, | that I gave way to despondency, and, restraining prayer before God, no wonder that I fell into temptation.

"Being solicited by a female companion to take a walk on the Lord's day evening, instead of going to his house, I complied, and accompanied her twice; but it was not long before conscience accused and condemned me for pursuing my pleasure on the Lord's day, instead of seeking him in his house, and I keenly felt the force of these words, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.'

"After this I walked much in the dark, seeking the Lord sorrowing. But though he spake against me, he remembered me for good, and comforted my soul with these words, Turn, Obacksliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you.' I rejoiced with joy inexpressible, on receiving this manifestation of God's unchanging love to my soul; and could afterwards say, in the confidence of faith, He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure.'

"In November, 1791, I was confined with the scarlet fever, which settling in my left side, so increased my debility, that I was unable to do any kind of work that required exercise. But my father being a journeyman carpenter, I was obliged to sit pretty closely to my needle, although repeatedly told by a medical gentleman, that if I continued to do so, the complaint would become immoveably fixed. Necessity, however, forced me to follow my calling, though with much pain and difficulty, and to leave the event with God.

"In April, 1799, my troubles were augmented by the death of my father; and as my mother was not able to earn much at any kind of work, I was confined more closely than ever, early and late, from Monday morning till Saturday night: yet after all my labour, I was unable to procure those necessaries which my constitution required.

"In this way, working and suffering, beseeching the Lord, if consistent with his will, to alleviate my sorrows, I continued till November, 1800, when an inflammation fixed an internal abcess, which, with other complaints, confined me to my bed. I had now no means of subsistence, nor any earthly friend to look to, to provide for me. In this distress I solicited the assistance of a visiting society, and the Lord graciously inclined the hearts of his people towards me; giving at the same time these words for faith to feed on, The barrel of meal

shall not waste, and the cruse of oil shall not fail, till the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.'

"I grew worse, and thinking the time of my departure was at hand, rejoiced in the prospect of shortly being with Him, whom having not seen I loved. Like the man that had dwelt among the tombs, I prayed that I might be with Him; but, like his, my suit was denied ; and, like him, I have been called in providence ever since to tell how great things the Lord hath done for me, both in providence and grace. And though open enemies to the truth, and false friends, have repeatedly tried to cut off the bread and water from my mouth, yet, glory to the Lord, the meal and oil continue still.

"In November, 1813, my mother was laid aside with the pleurisy, and from that time till her death, Nov. 10, 1816, my trials, from various causes, were very great. My heart was often overwhelmed within me; but even then the Lord led me to the rock that is higher than I,' and I found the promise verified, As thy day is, so shall thy strength be.'

"But although I was thankful to see a happy end of my mother's afflictions, and I was certainly eased of a great burden, yet I compared myself to a sparrow left alone, and I mourned like a dove that had lost its mate. Yet God, who comforteth those who are cast down, soothed me with those words, As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.'

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"I have since that time lost many friends by death, and the length of my confinement has made others grow weary of assisting me. I still remain dependent (under God) on Benevolent Societies, and donations from my friends, for support; and, I humbly trust, He that has provided for me in this way upwards of twenty-five years, and has all hearts in his hands, will incline some of his people to fill up the vacancies death has made, and enable me still to sing 'The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted.' Thus, while I can truly say, I feel disposed to love and thank every earthly benefactor that has contributed to my support, and assisted me to pay for that attendance which, being wholly confined to my bed, is absolutely necessary, I endeavour to keep my eyes fixed on Him from whom every good and perfect gift cometh. And to whom, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one covenant God of salvation, be ceaseless praise. Amen.

"Nov. 2, 1826."

"MARY PARSONS."