The unwearied spirit of scientific research which so peculiarly marks the
times in which we live, has ascertained the positions of the northern and
southern magnetic poles to a degree of almost mathematical precision.
This discovery will be hailed with pleasure by every person at all
acquainted with the benefits derived to society by the labours of those
gifted individuals who have devoted their thoughts more particularly
to the study of this most abstruse and mysterious branch of physical
knowledge. The position of the northern magnetic pole was determined by
Sir John Ross, in his second northern expedition, fitted out at the sole
expense of a British merchant, to be in 70 degrees 5 minutes 17 seconds
north latitude, and 96 degrees 46 minutes 45 seconds west longitude,
near the western coast of the newly discovered tract named, after the
individual through whose munificence the boundaries of science have been
thus enlarged, Boothia Felix. Its place is now marked on the globes and
maps of the world published since the navigator’s announcement of the
solution of this long-sought-for problem. The day of the discovery was
the 1st of June 1831.
The position of the southern magnetic pole has not yet been ascertained
to so great a degree of precision. Excited by a noble spirit of emulation
caused by the success of the expedition fitted out by Mr Booth and led
by Sir John Ross, three expeditions have been fitted out to complete the
solution of the problem--to fix the position of the southern magnetic
pole, as that of the northern had been already fixed. The parties in
this noble rivalry are Great Britain, France, and the United States.
The British magnetic expedition, under Captain James Ross, sailed on
the 5th of May for Van Diemen’s Land. The only notices as yet received
of its progress are, that soundings were obtained at the depth of 3600
fathoms in the South Atlantic, about 900 miles S.S.W. of St Helena; and
again at the depth of 2680 fathoms, at 450 miles west of the Cape of
Good Hope. A dispatch from Captain Dumont d’Urville, commandant of the
French expedition, to the Minister of the Marine, details all the leading
particulars of his voyage, by which it appears that he has nearly though
not altogether succeeded in solving this part of the problem. On the 1st
of January the expedition sailed from Hobart Town in a southern direction
for 1350 miles, and in the latitude of 60 degrees south met with the
first island of ice, and shortly afterwards discovered land ranging
nearly along the south polar circle, and, as far as the navigator’s
observations went, between 136 degrees and 142 degrees east longitude.
The appearance was that of an ice-bound, barren coast, wholly unfit for
the habitation of man. The snow and ice which covered it gave its surface
an almost level appearance. Farther inward nothing was to be perceived
but ravines, inlets, and projections, without a trace of vegetation.
Whales, large porpoises, fur-seals, albatrosses, and petrels and penguins
of different species, were seen near the shore. The commander gave this
newly discovered coast the name of Terre Adelie. “This name,” he says in
his dispatch, “was intended to perpetuate the remembrance of my profound
gratitude for the devoted companion who has three times consented to
a long and painful separation, to enable me to achieve my projects of
foreign exploration.” On the 1st of February, in 65 degrees 20 minutes
south latitude, and 131 degrees east longitude, the expedition crossed
the meridian of no variation; and the magnetic observations afforded
the means of determining that the position of the magnetic pole must be
in the neighbouring land of Adelie itself, or on the compact ice which
adjoined it. Having so far succeeded in attaining the main object of his
mission, Captain Dumont bade a final adieu to these dreary regions, and
steered for Hobart Town, where he arrived on the 17th of February, after
an absence of forty-six days, having lost sight of the ice altogether in
the parallel of 57 degrees south latitude.
The American expedition, under Captain Wilkes, has been equally
successful in discovering the south polar island or continent, for
its geographical character has not yet been ascertained. The land was
first seen in 64 degrees 50 minutes south latitude, and 154 degrees 18
minutes east longitude, by a singular coincidence precisely on the same
day, 19th January, that it had been observed by the French navigator;
and Wilkes was enabled to run along the shore, for about 1700 miles, as
far as 97 degrees 45 minutes east longitude, so near the land as often
to find soundings with a few fathoms of line, and to be able to carry
away several valuable geological specimens of the rocks and soil. His
description of the appearance of the coast corresponds with that already
given.
Whether any immediate beneficial results, practically applicable to
the improvement of commerce and colonization, will accrue from these
discoveries, may be doubtful, but the experience of the era in which we
live forbids us to reject the prospect of ultimate benefits to society
from any discovery tending to enlarge the bounds of science, though
the means by which they are to be sought for are still out of sight.
The discovery of the extensive line of coast ranging nearly along the
south polar circle, serves in some degree to realize the conjectures
of former geographers, who, observing that by much the greater mass
of known land was in the northern hemisphere, laid down the position
that there must lie a countervailing quantity of land somewhere in the
southern hemisphere; so fully convinced were they of the existence of
this fancied continent, that in the maps constructed by Herman Moll and
other scientific artists of his time, the coast is laid down in a line
nearly corresponding in latitude with that of Terre Adelie, and continued
round the globe, so as to represent the whole of the south frigid zone
as a continent, on which they inscribe the name of Terra Australia
Incognita--the unknown southern region. With those who originated the
supposition, this unknown region was a mere creature of the imagination.
They were in possession of no facts to prove its reality; yet it is
singular that in this, as well as in many other fictions, the ideal
creature of the fancy has been discovered to have some foundation in the
realities of existence.
* * * * *
PAYING DOWN UPON THE NAIL.--The origin of this phrase is thus stated in
the Recollections of O’Keefe the dramatist:--“During the Limerick assizes
I saw a stuffed glove, about four feet long, hanging out from the top
of the Exchange, nearly across the main street; this was the accustomed
token that for a week or a fortnight, whilst the courts were sitting, no
debtor could be arrested. Debtor or creditor, this was a good thing for
the theatres, as during that time the city was thronged. An ample piazza
under the Exchange was a thoroughfare: in the centre stood a pillar about
four feet high, and upon it a circular plate of copper about three feet
in diameter; this was called _the nail_, and on it was paid the earnest
for any commercial bargains made, which was the origin of the saying,
‘Paid down upon the nail.’” Perhaps, however, the custom was common to
other ancient towns.
* * * * *
GENERAL USE OF TEA IN CHINA.--In China an ardent spirit is made from
rice, and called sam-shu, of which punch is made in a coffee-pot, and it
is drunk out of China cups; but the natives are not much addicted to its
use, a simple infusion of tea being the general beverage of all classes.
At all hours of the day the artisan, as he sits at work, has his little
tea-pot and miniature cup beside him, out of which he quaffs a little
at pleasure, or presents a cup to his visitor. The more refined class
make the infusion in cups, in the manner already described. After this
process, as nothing is allowed to go to waste in China, the tea-leaves
are collected, dried, and rolled up again, and sold to the English and
Americans, under the denomination of hyson mun-dun-go; that is, tea
having neither taste nor smell. None of this tea is sold in England under
its proper name, being for the most part mixed with other kinds, and thus
brought into the market. I never saw green tea used in the houses of the
natives, or of the Fanqui merchants, where of course the best kinds were
to be had. The fact is, the consumption of green tea is for the most
part confined to the lower orders and the opium smokers, who require
its stimulating effects to settle the disturbed state of their nervous
system; and with us it is found to correct the effects of an over-dose of
opium--_Dr Fulton’s Travelling Sketches._
* * * * *
PROGRESSION.--He that is good may hope to become better--he that is bad
may fear that he will become worse; for vice, virtue, and time, never
stand still.--_Colton._
* * * * *
“A great lie,” says the poet Crabbe, “is like a great fish on dry land;
it may fret and fling, and make a frightful bother, but it cannot hurt
you. You have only to keep still, and it will die of itself.”
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