Macquarrie Island the navigators began to sail round the Pole, which they endeavoured to approach as pear as they could: once only they reached the 70th degree. Near Macquarrie Island they saw many English whalers, who were hunting sea-elephants and seals, which are extremely numerous on the coasts of that island. They here, for the first time, felt a submarine earthquake. The shock was very violent, and the whalers had noticed three during the night. According to their account, an earthquake is felt on those seas every month. On the 11th of January 1821, they at length discovered an island surrounded with ice, to which they gave the name of Peter Island. It is in 69° 30′ south lat. and in 91° west longitude of Greenwich (939 20' west of the meridian of Paris.) It is the meridian of the Gallapagos islands. On the 17th of January, still sailing under the same latitude, they discovered a coast environed with ice, the end of which they did not distinctly see. They called it the Coast of Alex ander I., and sailed along it from the 73rd to the 74th degree of west longitude from Greenwich. They were inclined to believe that this coast is of no great extent. These two discoveries are highly interesting: they are the two nearest points of land to the South Pole with which we are acquainted, unless a vague rumour should be confirmed of land discovered in the Southern Ocean by an American whaler in lat. 72°. From Alexander's Coast the Russians repaired to the islands of New Shetland, which they examined with great care and accuracy. They increased the number by six, which makes the number of new islands added by this voyage to geography, amount to thirty. Those of New Shetland are smaller, and especially narrower than they were supposed to be from the account of Mr. William Smith. The Russians, when to the South of several of these islands, saw distinctly the English and American whalers at anchor to the North of them. The expedition proceeded from this point to New Georgia, whence it sailed, in 1819, to traverse the Polar Seas. Thus returning to the same point, it had completed the circumnavigation of the globe in the Southern Frigid Zone. Returning to Europe, it touched at Rio Janeiro and Lisbon, and arriving at Cronstadt 24th of July 1821, ended this great voyage, which had lasted two years and twenty-one days, during which time only three persons out of two hundred died. Refraction of Light in the Arctic Seas." The coast that has just been described," says captain Scoresby, "is in general so bold as to be distinctly visible, in the ordinary state of the atmosphere, at the distance of sixty miles; but on my last voyage into these regions, one part of this coast was seen, when at more than double this distance. The particulars were these:-Towards the end of July 1821, being among the ice in lat. 74° 10′, and longitude, by lunar observation and chronometer (which agreed to twenty-two minutes of longitude, or within six geogra phical miles), 12. 30. 15. W., land was seen from the mast-head to the westward, occasionally, for three successive days. It was so distinct and bold, that captain Manby, who accompanied me on that voyage, and whose observations are already before the public, was enabled, at one time, to take a sketch of it from the deck, whilst I took a similar sketch from the mast-head, which is preserved in my journal of that year. The land at that time nearest to us was Wollaston's Foreland, which, by late surveys, proves to lie in latitude 74. 25. (the middle part of it), and longitude 19. 50.; the distance, therefore, must have been at least 120 miles. But Holme's Foreland, in 21. W. long., distinguished by two remarkable hummocks at its extremities, was also seen; its distance, by calculation, founded on astronomical observations, being 140 geographical, or 160 English miles. In an ordinary state of the atmosphere (supposing the refraction to be onetwelfth of the distance), any land, to have been visible from a ship's mast-head, 100 feet high, at a distance of 140 miles, must have been at least two nautical miles, or 12,000 feet in elevation; but, as the land in question is not more than 3,500 feet in altitude (by estimation), there must have been an extraordinary effect of refraction equal to 8,500 feet. Now, the angle corresponding with an altitude of 8,500 feet, and a distance of 140 miles, is 34′′ 47′ the value of the extraordinary refraction, at the time the land was thus seen; or, calculating in the proportion of the distance, which is the most usual manner of estimating the refraction, it amounted to one-fourth of the arch of distance, instead of one-twelfth, the mean quantity. That land was seen under these circumstances there cannot be a doubt; for it was observed to be in the same position, and under a similar form, on the 18th, 23rd, 24th, and 25th July, 1821, when the ship was in longitude from 12° 30′ to 11° 50 W., and on the 23rd it remained visible for twenty-four hours together, and, though often changing its appearance, by the varying influence of the refraction, it constantly preserved a uniformity of position, and general similarity of character. In my journal of this day, I find I have observed, that my doubts about the reality of the land were now entirely removed, since, with a telescope, from the mast-head "hills, dells, patches of snow, and masses of naked rock, could be satisfactorily traced during fourand-twenty hours successively. This extraordinary effect of refraction, therefore, I conceive to be fully established." Aurora Borealis as observed by Captain Scoresby.-It commenced in the north, and extended itself in an arch across the zenith, towards the south. A sort of crown was then formed in the zenith, which was most brilliantly illuminated, and gave out innumerable coruscations of great beauty,and with astonishing velocity. light appeared to be equal to that of the full moon; and various colours, particularly blue, green and pink, were stated by my officers to have been clearly observed. Its extreme distinctness, and the boldness of the coruscations, seemed to bringit to a low elevation; and, when the rays were darted towards the ship, it appeared almost to descend to the very mast-head. Between the parallels of 62° or 63° and 70°, the aurora borealis is of a very common occurrence, in the spring and autumn of the year. On the 3rd of April 1820, I observed the most interesting display of this meteor that nearly forty passages to and from the fishery had afford ed. The evening was fine and clear, the wind westerly. The aurora first appeared in the north, and gradually extended in a luminous arch across the zenith, almost to the southern horizon. A dim sheet of light then suddenly appeared, and spread over the whole of the heavens to the eastward of the magnetic meridian, while only a few insulated specks were visible to the westward. The eastern aurore were grey and obscure, and exhibited little motion; but the arch extending across the zenith, showed an uncommon playfulness of figure and variety of form. Sometimes it exhibited a luminous edge towards the west, in some places concentrated into a fervid brilliancy. The rays were a little oblique to the position of the arch; but generally parallel to each other, and commonly ran in the direction of the magnetic north and south. At one time they extended sideways against the wind; at another in the contrary direction. Now they shot forward numerous luminous pencils, then shrunk into obscurity, or dispersed into the appearance of mere vapour. The colours were yellowish-white and greyish-white. All the stars of the fourth magnitude were visible through the meteor, even in its most vivid coruscations. Ursa Major was at one time encircled with such a characteristic blazonry of light, that the Bear seemed to spring into figure, and to be shaking his shaggy limbs, as if in contempt of the less distinguished constellations around him. The Pleiades were almost observed by the light produced by the aurora; though Venus, and all the superior stars, shone with becoming splendor. I have never been sensible that the shooting of the aurora was accompanied by any noise; the turbulence, indeed, of the water at sea, or noise of the sails during calms, prevent the light sounds from being heard. Earthquake in Chile.-A government Gazette of Chile, published at Santiago on the 27th of November, contains an account of this dreadful calamity. A despatch of the supreme director, who happened to be at Valparaiso at the time of the earthquake, is dated at 10 at night on the 20th of November, and is addressed to the ministers, of whom he asks a report respecting the state of the capital. He says, that, on the preceding night, at 15 minutes before 11 o'clock, Valparaiso had received so severe a shock, that in two or three minutes all the buildings were either considerably damaged or thrown down; the sea receded and fell more than 12 feet; the movement of the earth, although weak, did not cease for an instant till half-past four in the morning, after which shocks more or less strong were felt every five or seven minutes. The inhabitants had retired to the heights, where they had encamped on the 20th. Fifteen or twenty individuals, being mostly soldiers, women, and children, were known to have perished in the ruins; it was, however, difficult, on account of the confusion, to ascertain the number of the victims, which it was feared would be found to be much larger. No public officer nor person of note had perished. The reply of the ministers is dated Santiago, 22nd November; and states, that the capital had not experienced the same terrible catastrophe which had ruined Valparaiso. On the 19th November, at ten minutes before eleven o'clock at night, a low heat and an extreme rarefaction of the air, having been previously observed for three or four hours, a horrible noise announced, and by a few seconds preceded, an earthquake such as had not been experienced in Chile since 1730: its explosion showed itself by two strong shocks, which lasted two minutes and a half or three minutes; the latter, stronger than the first, was only of about twenty seconds. It was at first thought that the whole city was destroyed: the consternation was general, but fortunately no lives were lost, and only a few persons were hurt by falling fragments or tiles. The action of the earthquake was of the trembling description, and its direction from N.E. to S.W. Some walls of the churches of La Merced, San Augustin, San Francisco, &c., have fallen down; the Mint, the interior of the Cathedral, the directorial Palace, the steeples of the Treasury, and of the prison, are also damaged, and in some places threaten to come down. The walls of houses which were not very solid are much damaged. The earth was almost constantly in motion, though slight and only perceptible by the pendulum; but at times there were smart and sharp shocks. strong twilight. It is reported, that various other small meteors were seen towards the Cordillera. At 5h. 24m., there was another slight shock, preceded by considerable noise. Shocks succeeded each other rapidly, and increased the consternation, especially amongst women; most families have abandoned the city and retired to the neighbouring country houses; the lower classes are encamped in the public squares, the dikes, and aqueducts. On the 21st, at 4h. 25m. in the morning, and at 11h. 5m., other slight shocks were felt. Several families came to town to spend the day in their houses, with an intention to return to the country and to sleep there. The moon was full at 6h. 30m. p. m. This day, at 4h. 20m. in the morning, and 9h. 12m. and 9h. 22m. three smart shocks; they continue to this hour, seven o'clock in the afternoon; but some of them almost imperceptible. Scheme for sending Despatches to the East Indies by a SteamPacket. The Royal George, sir John M. Doyle, ran from Vigo to Plymouth in 84 hours, being nine and a half degrees, 570 geographic or sea miles; and from Plymouth to Portsmouth in 20 hours, being 135 miles; the former was at the rate of six miles six furlongs and a quarter, the latter nearly at the same rate. The following calculation in smoother seas is at eight miles, and on land at the rate of five miles an hour :— On the 20th, at 3h. 8m. in the morning, there was a slight shock, without any sensible noise: at 3h. 42m., a meteor ran in the same direction as the earthquake, from N.E. to S.W., in the form of a large train of fire, which for about four seconds produced a sort of From London to Marseilles, or Toulon, in France 540 4 12 From the coast of France to Malta. From Malta to Alexandria in Egypt From Alexandria, by Cairo, to Suez .... by land. 600 3 3 by sea. 480 2 12 by sea. 120 1 O by land. From Suez to Mocha, in the Arabian Gulf.... 1020 7 0 by sea. 1500 7 19 by sea 4260 24 6 ... If by sea, and round the southern coast of Africa, it will stand thus nearly seven geographical miles an hour:From Plymouth to Lisbon From Lisbon to the Cape Verd Islands From Cape de Verd Islands to St. Helena... From St. Helena to the Cape of Good Hope From the Cape of Good Hope to Johanna From Johanna to Bombay .... 720 6 4 6-7 1430 8 12 2-7 2160 12 17 4-7 1800 10 17 1-7 2100 12 12 1800 10 17 1-7 A new Fluid, with remarkable Physical Properties, discovered in the Cavities of Minerals.-A new fluid, of a very singular nature, has been recently discovered by Dr. Brewster, in the cavities of minerals. It possesses the remarkable property of expanding about thirty times more than water; and, by the heat of the hand, or between 75° and 83°, it always expands so as to fill the cavity which contains it. The vacuity, which is thus filled up, is, of course, a perfect vacuum; and at a temperature below that now mentioned, the new fluid contracts, and the vacuity re-appears, frequently with a rapid efferves cence. These phenomena take place instantaneously, in several hundred cavities, at the same time. The new fluid is also remarkable for its extreme volubility; adhering very slightly to the sides of the cavities; and is likewise distinguished by its optical properties. It exists, however, in quantities too small to be susceptible of chemical analysis. This new fluid is almost always accompanied with another fluid like water, with which it refuses to mix, and which does not perceptibly expand at the above-mentioned tem cavities in crystals, such as those opened by sir Humphrey Davy, which contain only water, and which, of course, never exhibit any of the properties above de scribed. Method of forming Three Haloes artificially round the Sun, or any luminous object. The following experiment, which illustrates in a pleasing manner the actual formation of Haloes, has been given by Dr. Brewster ;-Take a saturated solution of alum, and having spread a few drops of it over a plate of glass, it will rapidly crystallize in small flat octohedrons, scarcely visible to the eye. When |