Mercury, the nearest planet to the sun, is a globe of about 3140 miles
in diameter, rotating on its axis in 24 hours and 5 1-2 minutes, and
revolving round the central luminary, at a distance of 37,000,000 of
miles, in 88 days.--From the earth it can only be seen occasionally in
the morning or evening, as it never rises before, or sets after the
sun, at a greater distance of the time than 1 hour and 50 minutes. It
appears to the naked eye as a small and brilliant star, but when
observed through a telescope, is horned like the moon, because we only
see a part of the surface which the sun is illuminating. Mountains of
great height have been observed on the surface of this planet,
particularly in its lower or southern hemisphere. One has been
calculated at 10 3-4 miles in height, being about eight times higher,
in proportion to the bulk of the planet, than the loftiest mountains
upon earth. The matter of Mercury is of much greater density than that
of the earth, equalling lead in weight; so that a human being placed
upon its surface would be so strongly drawn towards the ground as
scarcely to be able to crawl.
Venus is a globe of about 7800 miles in diameter, or nearly the size
of the earth, rotating on its axis in 23 hours, 21 minutes, and 19
seconds, and revolving round the sun, at the distance of 68,000,000 of
miles in 225 days.--Like Mercury, it is visible to an observer on the
earth only in the morning and evening, but for a greater space of time
before sunrise and after sunset. It appears to us the most brilliant
and beautiful of all the planetary and stellar bodies, occasionally
giving so much light as to produce a sensible shadow. Observed through
a telescope, it appears horned, on account of our seeing only a part
of its luminous surface. The illuminating part of Venus occasionally
presents slight spots. It has been ascertained that its surface is
very unequal, the greatest mountains being in the southern hemisphere,
as in the case of both Mercury and the Earth. The higher mountains in
Venus range between 10 and 22 miles in altitude. The planet is also
enveloped in an atmosphere like that by which animal and vegetable
life is supported on earth; and it has consequently a twilight. Venus
performs its revolution round the sun in 225 days. Mercury and Venus
have been termed the Inferior Planets, as being placed within the
orbit of the Earth.
The Earth, the third planet in order, and one of the smaller size,
though not the smallest, is important to us, as the theatre on which
our race have been placed to 'live, move, and have their being.' It is
7902 miles in mean diameter, rotating on its axis in 24 hours, at a
mean distance of 95,000,000 of miles from the sun, round which it
revolves in 365 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 57 seconds. As a planet
viewed from another of the planets, suppose the moon, 'It would
present a pretty, variegated, and sometimes a mottled appearance. The
distinction between its seas, oceans, continents, and islands, would
be clearly marked; they would appear like brighter and darker spots
upon its disc. The continents would appear bright, and the ocean of a
darker hue, because water absorbs the greater part of the solar light
that falls upon it. The level plains, (excepting perhaps, such regions
as the Arabian deserts of sand) would appear of a somewhat darker
color than the more elevated and mountainous regions, as we find to be
the case on the surface of the moon. The islands would appear like
small bright specks on the darker surface of the ocean; and the lakes
and mediterranean seas like darker spots or broad streaks intersecting
the bright parts, or the land. By its revolution round its axis,
successive portions of the surface would be brought into view, and
present a different aspect from the parts which preceded,'--(Dick's
Celestial Scenery, 135.)
The form of the earth, and probably that of every other planet, is not
strictly spheroidal; that is, flattened a little at the poles, or
extremities of the axis. The diameter of the earth at the axis is 56
miles less than in the cross direction. This peculiarity of the form
is a consequence of the rotatory motion, as will be afterwards
explained.
[Illustration: LATEST NEWS]
=Late Foreign News.=
The steamer Hibernia arrived at Boston on Saturday last, thirteen days
from Liverpool.
The British Government and people have manifested so much violent
opposition to the marriage of the youngest son of Louis Phillipe to a
sister of the Queen of Spain, that the celebration of the nuptials has
been postponed for the present, if not forever; and there is apparent
danger of a rupture between England and France on this account.
In Spain, Don Carlos having escaped from imprisonment, it is expected
that a serious insurrection will immediately take place.
Property to the amount of $800,000 has been destroyed by incendiary
fires at Leipsic. A line of electric telegraph has been put in
operation between Brussels and Antwerp.
Twenty thousand bales of cotton were sold at Liverpool on the 14th of
September.
=Latest from the Army.=
According to recent intelligence by private letters, Gen. Kearney has
taken quiet possession of Santa Fe, notwithstanding the considerable
preparations which the Mexicans had made to defend it. Gen. Armijo had
assembled 5000 troops to defend the Canon Pass, but on account of the
disaffection and insubordination of his officers and men, he was
constrained to retreat on the approach of a few companies of
Americans.
Gen. Taylor had advanced steadily, though slowly on Monterey, and has
probably ere this, taken possession, notwithstanding the strong force,
and full supply of well mounted cannon, concentrated to oppose him.
Should he prove successful in this, it would seem that Mexico is
destined to fall under the protection of the United States, whether
our Government desires it or not. What can we do? The Mexicans will
neither treat nor fight; and although our armies move as slow as
possible, they cannot well avoid progressing through the country in
time, and are bound to furnish protection as far as they go. We shall
see.
=The Sea and Wave Roaring.=
The steamer Great Western, which arrived at this port last week,
reports having encountered one of the most terrific storms ever known
on the Atlantic Ocean. Capt. Mathews is said to have remarked that at
three different times the ship was approached by seas of such
magnitude and power that he thought destruction inevitable; but
unexpectedly each broke just before reaching the vessel. The
passengers assembled in the cabin where they joined in religious
service, and in the solemn administration of the Lord's supper. Their
lives were preserved, but some of them appeared to forget their
obligations to their preserver very quick after getting safe on shore.
=An American Slave in England.=
Douglas, who escaped from slavery and found his way to England, has
received marked attention from the nobility and gentry of England. He
has attended their soirees, occupied the most honorable positions at
their dinner parties, rode in their carriages, flirted with their
daughters, walked arm in arm through their gardens with lords,
viscounts, counts and mayors of cities.
* * * * *
Many of the girls employed in the mills of the Nashua Corporation,
have refused to work by candlelight. They may be right.