zon.

masterly manner. But with respect to the the archipelago of the coast is intersected, produce, in like greater part of them the uniformity of a life at manner, very irregular currents.” sea seems to have aflected the style and the

To the north of Cape Pilares a change in the imagination of the writers, and to have render- temperature both of the atmosphere and of the ed them dull and tedious. He therefore dwells sea became very sensible. Besides the usual atbut little on his naval adventures, and we shall fol- tendants, albatrosses and other animals peculiar low his example, extracting only a few passages. to those regions, the author says,

• Thus the evening gradually approaches, and is an. “We met with a very elegant porpoise, streaked black munced by a slight diminution of the current of air. It and pure white (Delphinus Leucorumphus), and that in numis in vain for language to attempt a description of the bers which seemed to border on the incredible: for the end of splı ndour of a sunset these latitudes. It is the only the shoal, which was pretty broad, was frequently indiscerni. time of day when the groups of singularly formed, yet ble from the topmast.... We were surrounded by them for light and transparent, clouds range themselves in the hori- several days. The observation that they were going in a south

Their transient existence favours the changing play westerly direction makes it difficult to divine the reason of of colours, because the refraction of the more oblique rays their emigration, because the Antarctic winter must in a of the sun produces the most extraordinary effects. Even few weeks commence, in the seas lying in that quarter. But after we have repeatedly beheld the rising or setting of the another phenomenon soon excited our attention in a much sun from the summit of the Alps, or indeed from the top greater degree. On the 12th of March, precisely at noon, of the Andes, we are constrained to give unconditional pre we were not a little alarmed by a considerable noise upon ference to the same scene as viewed on the tropical ocean. deck, and by the order immediately to lie to. The dirty While one side of the ship is still illumined with the last red colour of the sea had produced the very reasonable uncertain rays

of the setting sun, the sea on the other side suspicion that we were upon a shoal. However, upon darkened by the broad shadow of the sails, begins to sparkle. sounding, there was no bottom with one hundred and thirty One fiery point after another appears ; indistinct rays of fathoms. From the topmast, the sea appeared, as far as the light shine from a greater depth; and, as darkness sets in, eye could reach, of a dark red colour, and this in a streak, a new creation seems to be called into life. Luminous crea- the breadth of which was estimated at six English miles, tures glance in every direction through the dark expanse and which here and there spread into short side branches. of water; now shooting up like sparks—then rising in As we sailed slowly along, we found that the colour changed globules of firo, or passing away with the rapidity of light into brilliant purple, so that even the foam, which is al. ning—a great part are probably real nocturnal animals, ways seen at the stern of a ship #nder sail, was of a rose which conceal themselves in the sea from the light of the sun." Colour. The sight was very striking, because this purple

“We were now within four English miles of the cele stream was marked by a very distinct line from the blue brated Cape Horn, which has a twofold interest, as being waters of the sea, a circumstance which we the more easily the terminating point of an immense continent, and the observed, because our course lay directly through the witness of many of those vast enterprizes by which the midst of this streak, which extended from south-east to daring European ha: carried his empire and civilization to the north-west. The water, taken up in a bucket, appeared remotest regions. This promontory is indeed worthy to mark indeed quite transparent; but a faint purple tinge was vithe utmost limits of so vast a portion of the globe : from bible when a few drops were placed upon a piece of white whatever side it is viewed, it appears an isolated majestic china and moved rapidly backwards and forwards in the mass, boldly standing out in the stormy Pacific, and by its sunshine. A moderate magnifying glars proved that those calm grandeur attesting the victory of the solid over the little red dots, which with great attention could be perceived fluid. The large and solitary rock of which the Cape is with the naked eye, consisted of infusoria, which were of formed is not, like that of Terra del Fuego and of Staten- a spherical form, entirely destitute of all external organs land, split into various groups; the land, rising from the of motion. Their very lively motions were only upward north-east, unites in one rounded, unbroken, promontory, and downward, and always in spiral lines. The want of a and, after attaining its greatest elevation, sinks almost per- powerful microscope precluded a more minute cxamination; pendicularly into the sea towards the south. The enor- and all attempts to preserve some of the animals, by drying mous mass of black rocks, unenlivened by the slightest a drop of water on paper, failed, as they seemed to dissolve trace of vegetation, whose summit has never afforded ha- into nothing. They were extremely sensible to the effect bitation to man, and is inaccessible even to the savage, of nitric acid; for a single drop, mixed in a glass of this boldly bids defiance to all the storms of the Antarctic. animated water, put an end almost instantaneously to the Even the countless flocks of sea-birds which swarm in these life of the millions that it contained. We sailed for four latitudes do not settle there, for they find more secure re- hours, at a mean rate of six English miles an hour, through treats in the lower islands, and among the prickly grasses this streak, which was seven iniles broad, before we reached and umbelliferous plants of the Antarctic Flora.

the end of it; and its superficies must therefore have been " It is pretty generally believed that, after reaching the about 163 English square miles. If we add that these western entrance of the Straits of Magellan, the doubling animals may have been equally distributed in the upper of Cape Horn may be considered as accomplished, and con. stratum of the water to the depth of six feet, we inust consequently all danger at an end. So far as it is scarcely fess that their numbers infinitely surpassed the conception possible for a ship to be driven back again to the meridian of the human understanding.” of that cape, or even to the eastward of it, the victory may On the 15th of March, before daybreak, the be said to be achieved. But the navigation of the coast coast of Chili was descried from the deck, and from Cape Horn to Chiloe is very dangerous; for this coast all waited in profound silence till the first beam is in many places surrounded by undescribed rocks, and on of the morning should enable they the whole very imperfectly known. There is a very power-Jof the land, which was about

I view ful current, at least periodically, in the direction of the Straits The weather being extre

int. of Magellan to the land; and the many channels with which scene, when the sun rose a

:

AND ON THB RIVER AMAZONS. mits of the Andes, was wonderfully striking and Before uz, in close tiers, lay more than eighty ships of all magnificent, and the author describes it in glow- sizes, whose crews were engaged in the various occupations ing colours. But when they approached the land, which always make the interior of a port an agreeable scene near the insignificant fishing village of San An- of human activity. The cloudless blue sky was spread over tonio, so that they could examine it in detail, us, and the powerful beams of the sun were tempered by a they were mortified to find that even their tele- cool breeze from the mountains. But this foreground was the scopes did not enable them to discover any of only agreeable part of the picture, ... The novice from norththose objects which are most welcome to the eye crn climes is usually struck, on his first arrival in a tropical of the navigator after a long voyage. Nowhere country, with all the wonderful objects which surround could they see any trace of man or his labours. him, now that he is far remote from his native hone. But The coast of Chili appeared nearly to resemble this is not the case in Valparaiso. We saunter down the the desolate regions of Terra del Fuego. Even only street in the city, towar Is the inconsiderable marketthe peculiar smell was wanting, which is usually place. On both sides are sho is filled with the productions perceived on approaching the coasts of countries of European industry, in soine cases displayed with all between the tropics; and of which even animals the elegance of our large towns. They alternate with the are so sensible, that they become restless, ap- spacious stores of the English merchants of the higher pearing to have a presentiment of the termina-class, and with the taverns for the sailors, from which protion of their long confinement, and often boldly ceed sounds such as we hear only in London and Hamburg. leap overboard to reach the shore, which they Ercept at the sultry hours of noon, this busy mercantile suppose to be close at hand. On this passage street is thronged with people, the greater part of whom, the author says in a note,

however, are foreigners, and the language of England is " Whoever has made a voyage to the tropical countries almost more prevalent than the senorous tones of the Spaof South America, or the West Indies, will always remem

nish Peninsula. The picturesque national costume is lost ber with pleasure the sensation which he experienced on

in the unmeaning fashions of the north of Europe, and even approaching the land. Perhaps no sense is then so strongly the booths of the peasants present nothing to remind us affected as the smell; especially if you appproach the coast of the coasts of the Pacific. The market-place contains in the early hours of a fine summer's morning. On the only such objects as we have seen from our youth up, coast of Cuba, the first land I saw in America, on the 30th growing in our own country, or which are at least com. of June, 1822, all on board were struck with the very strong lent the grapes and oranges of the country may be, they

mon to all the southern parts of Europe. However excelsinell, like that of violets, which, as the day grew more warm, either ceased, or was lost amidst a variety of others want the attraction of novelty—even the expectation of which were perceptible as we drew nearer the coast. finding some new productions in the neighbouring ravines. During a long stay in the interior of the island, I became ac

(quebradas) is painfully disappointed. The few trees that quainted with the plant which emits such an intense perfume grow on this rocky soil, which is covered with a very scanty as to be perceived at the distance of two or three miles. layer of earth, are those of our hemisphere. No spreadIt is of the species 7'etr icera, and remarkable for bearing ing tamarind, no lofiy palm, no mango richly laden with fruit

, leaves so hard that they are used by the native cabinet-ma- remind us that we have traversed the wide expanse of the kers, and other mechanics, for various kinds of work. It ocean-scarcely a few grey olives bcspeak the mildness of the is a climbing plant, which reaches the tops of the loftiest climate, Even the few ornamental plants are European, and trees of the forest

, then spreads far around, and in the rainy the garden rue (ruta hortensia) has found this so congenial a season is covered with innumerable bunches of sweet-smel soil

, that it has spread far and near, over the arid mountains ling flowers, which, however, dispense their perfume during and lands, to remind us still more forcibly of the shores of of the times by judicious retrenchments,-have immensely

Mediterranean." the night only, and are alınost without scent in the daytime.',

Though there was so little to tempt the botanist The voyagers, after a passage of 110 days, en- winter season, whien he was assured that trav

in this dreary spot, yet the approach of the tered the harbour of Valaparaiso, where they elling in the interior would be equally difficult cast anchor for the first time since leaving the and unprofitable, induced him to stop for some Chesapeake, a voyage of 6000 miles.

a Valaparaiso itself, like the coast of the country, tion of some of his countrymen he obtained a

months in Valparaiso. By the friendly intervenwofully disappointed the expectations which they small house in the suburb of Almendral, which had formed of it. In the course of their long had long been untenanted, and where he was voyage they had amused themselves with reading the books that have been written concerning ble swarms of fleas, which are the plague of this

soon settled, but suffered much from the incrediChili. Almost all of them represent it as the

country. ever verdant garden of America, as another Sicily, which they describe in the most glowing the Russian corvette Moller, Captain Staniko

On the same day that he arrived in Valparaiso colours. The fancy readily yields to such plea- wich, came into the harbour, on her way to the sing illusions, and we may easily imagine that, Russian settlements on the north-west coast of in the dull uniformity of the dark blue ocean, on America. The officers of this ship, most of them the dreary coast of Terra del Fuego, and amidst young men of the first families, well informed the sufferings and dangers of the Antarctic and full of enthusiasm, accompanied him in his storms, they would fondly look forward to the first excursions in the environs. A few days promised land, as a new Cythera, rising in youth- later arrived another Russian corvette, the Sinrul bernt from the bosom of the deep.

iavin, which had been in company with the Mol..! we anchored was in the mouth ler, but was separated from her in a storm off

h ship of the line, the Cape Horn.

of sixty-four guns. "I was not a little surprised to find in the naturalist of

a

this ship not (n'y a German, but an acquaintance. D. times—even of those who, by general knowledge, acquaint Mertens, son of the celebrated German bolanist, accompa. ance with the language, and long residence, were quali, nied the expedition as a physician and botanist; and Baron fied to give a competent opinion, and whose judgment of Frederick son Kittlitz was on board as zoologist. There the country was not formed from preconceived notions.was a striking difference between the commanders of the *

Though Nature does not make her general two ships. The captain of the Moller, a native Russian, operations dependent on a fluctuating influence of the ho. was anxists only for the immediate business of his voyage, man race, yet the activity and perseverance of the latter and having taken in a supply of fresh provisions, soon put one are often able to give a very different and improved to sea Captain Lütke, of the Siniavin, a very amiable character to the surrounding scenery. Those arid mounand accomplished man, resolved, to the great joy of his oftains which we have described will, at no very remote pe ficers and naturalists, Is make a longer stay. A large house riod, appear to the stranger in a less repulsive form ; for was hired in the suburb of Almendral, which the activity cultivation has been commenced upon them since 1831, of the crew soon put in order, from the observatory to the and small plantations now break the melancholy waste, kitchen, not forgeuing that indispensable part of a Russian which under the influence of such a genial climate, will, for establishment, a tent for vapour baths. Not a day passed the most part, be adorned with verdant fields. The aspect without our making excursions together, which were ren of the town itself improves every summer; for almost all dered interesting by many little adventures. The Siniavin the straw huts bare disappeared, and many large balldings sailed after a fortnight's stay, accompanied by the good have been erected, because the citizen, who was acquiring wishes of the many Europeans who had become acqainted wealth, while consulting his own convenience, did not newith the officers."

glect the embellishment of the place. On the spot where Though our author's accounts of his botanical an insecure shed formerly stood, where rain and inundaexcursions, and his descriptions of the scenery tions annually destroyed merchandise to the value of many of the country, are in general interesting and thousand dollars, a handsome, solid custom-house, with sisstriking, we shall for the most part, pass them teen large warehouses, has been built; the difficulty of over, in order to have room for his report of the landing goods during a heavy sea has been remedied by the state of society, which in Chili, at least, is so ra- erection of a mole ; and the communication with the intepidly improving, that descriptions written only rior, at all seasons of the year, has been facilitated by the a few years earlier are become, in a great degree, construction of good roads. There will soon be a broad inapplicable. Dr. Poeppig thinks very favoura- and excellent road for carriages from Valparaiso, by way bly of the future prospects of Chili, and we shall of Quillota and through the valley of Aconcagua, to the give different extracts bearing on the subject.- foot of the pass of the Andes of Santa Rosa.” His intercourse with some of the tribes of native

“ Chili, till within these few years, was a country in Indians also furnishes new and striking details. which there were only two occupations for persons inclined · The shaking off of the Spanish yoke, the rapid rise of

to work; namely, mining and agriculture. It was unfor. commerce, and a sense of personal and national dignity, industry in either of these two branches was very limited,

tunate for the people, that the possibility of exercising their have not only influenced the moral character of the people for the working of mines required more resourees than a of Chili, but have also extended their efforts to the external appearances and forms of ordinary life. Hence a

man of the lower class ever could command; while very greater change has taken place in the aspect of Valparaiso to cultivate the ground in small portions, and as indepen

singular, one might almost say inhuman, laws forbade him during the last ten or twenty years than in a whole centu. dent possessions. It was the Congress and the Constitury afer the visit of Frezier and Feuillé. Since that time, tion of 1828 that abolished entails, the source from which the number of the houses and of the inhabitants has more the misery, poverty, and ignorance of the peasantry are than doubled. The wretched buts, in which even the rich were formerly contented to dwell

, are gradually disap derived

, as well as the cause of the great neglect of agripearing; and though it cannot be said that handsome build

culture, even in very fertile provinces.” ings arise in their stead, yet the Chilian has learnt to rel. After describing at considerable length the ish the comfort of houses in the European fashion, and to former state of the lower classes, the improveimitate them; and it may be expected, that Valparaiso, in a few ment that has taken place, and the favourable years, will not bear the most distant resemblance to the dirty, hopes that may be entertained of the future prosdisagreeable place which presented itself to the stranger on perity of the country, the author proceeds to his first arrival there after the beginning of the Revolution. mention some instances. To this the author subjoins the following note:

“ Thus, in 1827, the corn trade to New South Wales be. " This prediction, which was written in Valparaiso it. ing very much encouraged by the English government, the self

, was partly fulfilled before these pages left the press - value of the haciendas (farms) in Chili rose considerably, He who undertakes to publish to the world information re- in the hope that the exportation would continue and in. specting a people such as that of Chili, under the present crease, though it was in fact allowed by the government at favourable circumstances, it has to contend with very pecu. Sydney only from necessity. It is therefore not possible liar difficulties. A description of such a nation is seldom to state correctly the aver

of wheat in Chili, but correct after the lapse of a few years, whatever attention it may prob.bly be nea! and care the traveller may have bestowed upon it. Every or fourteen reals per year, nay, every month, brings visible changes and great trade was formerly mi improvements among this nation, which will soon leave its which often were scara neighburs far behind.

The atato of Chili the consumption of the will soon be so changed that the older generations will obstacles wh ch have bio beureely recognize their own country, and in a few years ble, means have been to the European stranger will find an infinite number of things, vinces, as about Conception, quite different from the accounts of the travellers of our mills of the

n

a

ture.

the rude machine described by Miers. The flour manu- two months, under the care of half-savage herdomen. The factured by them is considered in Lima to be fully equal in climate allows the cattle to roam at liberty in the open air quality to the best from North America ; and one mill, built all the year round, and their numbers render it necessary in 1829, near Conception, by Mr. Liljevach, a very respect that they should be permitted to do so; and hence there is able merchant, now grinds one hundred barrels of four in no trace on the estates of buildings which cost the Euroa day. Ship biscuit is baked in such quantities that the pean farmer such large sums. An inevitable consequence North Americans have lost this branch of their trade; for of letting the animal range about is that, especially in the the foreign men of war, and even merchant-men, supply more remote parts, they become excessively wild, and even themselves from the depôts, which the Chilians have csta- dangerous. People are sometimes suddenly attacked by blished in Valparaiso and Lima. Besides wheat, Chili pos- savage bulls, and compelled to seek safety by galloping at sesses many other kinds of agricultural produce, which are full speed on the roughest and most dangerous roads." of great importance for foreign trade. In addition to pulse, “ The breeding of cattle is, for two reasons, the branch the consumption of which is very great, both at sea and in of rural economy which is preferred by the Chilian to the countries to the north of Chili, where there is a very every other; in the first place, it gratifies his inclination numerous population of Negroes, the northern provinces for a wild and independent life, and his love of every thing have hemp, an article which is not cultivated on any other that is adventurous and bold, and requires violent, not uni. part of the coasts of the South Sea, and promises to be of form, exertions. The best educated men of the larger extraordinary importance to the country. This plant has towns, on an occasional visit to the country, take pleasure been long grown in the valley of Quillota and about Santia- in pursuing the cattle, and participating in the occupation go, but little attention was paid to it, because a very unfound in which the mountain herdsman (vaquero) is engaged. ed prejudice declared it to be of slight value. But it has * * * The Chilian, especially of the lower class, possesses lately been found, that the Chili hemp is far superior in a wild energy of character, which was misunderstood by quality to the Russian, and that the want of strength in the the former government, or at least not duly employed, and cordage made in the country was owing to the unskilful which inclines him to such occupations as disqualify him, preparation, and not to the bad quality of the material.” and probably will do for a long tiine to come, for a uniform

After some further observations, the author and sedentary employment. A second perhaps still more proceeds to treat of the state of horticulture, important reason is, that, since the expulsion of the Span. which was in a far less advanced state than a - breeding of cattle has proved more profitable than agricul.

iards and the introduction of a free system of trade, the riculture, but he thinks it most probable that, with a little encouragement, this branch of indus

The number of animals which a single try will become very flourishing, the climate be- landowner possesses would often appcar extravagant to a ing such that all the products of European gar- of 1000 or 1500, and consider a man as by no means rich

European ear. They speak with great indifference of herds dens, which degenerate in the tropical countries of America, will succeed in Chili. Even the who has three times that number. The haciendas in the cauliflower, which it is difficult to raise in North central provinces often have from 10,000 to 15,000, and America, and which no art or care can bring to many even 20,000, and the number of smaller estates perfection within the tropics, has found in Chili which have from 4 to 5000 is very great. Since the revoa soil perfectly adapted to it.

lution the value of this species of property has risen in an The cultivation of fruit-trees is, perhaps, still extraordinary degree; and the owners are very far from more neglected than that of the other kinds of doing as they did in former times, killing the animal for garden produce, though the soil might grow very

the sake of the hide, and leaving the flesh to be devoured

This banch of Chilian economy excellent fruit. From a general view of the pre- by the condors.

is however not without risks, which are not indeed fresent state of agriculture in Chili, and the improvements that have been made within these few quent, but cause astonishing destruction. In the years

1829 to 1932, a vast number of cattle perished in conse. years, the author has no doubt that it will in no great length of time become extremely prosper-quence of an unexampled drought which extended over all ous, and that Chili will find in it a scource of na- the provinces of Central and Northern Chili. It appears tional wealth, which none of the neighbouring

from an oficial statement, that in in the year 1831 alone

515,326 head of cattle died of hunger in the provinces of Cocountries can dispute with her.

quimbo and Copiapo : of these about 77,000 were horned “ In a great many parts of the republic the wealth of the Seattle, 10,000 hories, 23,000 sheep, 211,000 goats, &c. land owner consists chiefly in his cattle, which, however, Though the number may be rather exaggerated, because he did not learn, till very recently, to turn to the best ac- the landowners wished to make their loss appear as concount. With the very fruitful valleys, and better watered siderable as possible, still the injury was very great." plateaux where agriculture is carried on, or is at least prac.

The abundance of new or yet unseen objects ticable, great part of the soil is of such a nature that culti.

in all the kingdoms of nature, observed after a vation would produce very little. All those bare moun. tains destitute of shade, which in endless ramifications tra- few days residence in ('oncon, inspired that acverse the country in the central provinces much more than tive zeal in which a travelling naturalist finds in the south, are fit for scarcely any thing but pastures.--

his chief enjoyment, and which renders him inThose possessions are the most favoured which Wifferent to many harilships. One excursion the interior of the country, especially at the foot of the followed another, and though want of acquaint-, for they do not suffer so much froin want of water; ance with the country might have made them -sides this, large tracts of the wild mountain coun.

difficult, they were undertaken without a conin the uninhabited Andes (La Cordillera bravaj be. panion, and often to places which the natives

Thither the cattle are driven in the middle themselves do not visit.
1. after two or three days' journey, they " It was very rarely that I made an excursion on horse.

nes, in which the aniinals remain about back; experience soon proved that this was not a good inode, for many smaller plants were overlooked, and it is allude to, but I will add some particulars. The necessary to refrain from turning aside through almost im- remains of animals and tang, which adhere to penetrable but inviting ravines, and on the brink of dan. the rocks elevated in 1822, were certainly still to gerous precipices. The naturalist who has once settled be seen in 1831, and this is easily accounted for should never ride unless he wants to visit a distant point, by the very firm ligneous stem of the Laminariæ, and the intervening country is known to him. When he (Lessonia of Bory de St. Vincent,) especially as has arrived there, he may entrust his beast to any body and the sea often rises so high as again to cover the proceed on foot."

rocks that have been elevated.”

In the paper alluded to Dr. Meyen says that, So much importance has been attached to the the province of Tarapaca has received from naquestion of the effect of earthquakes, as hav- ture a peculiar present, namely, minas de Leña, ing occasionally produced an elevation on the i. e. wood-mines,) which the inhabitants use as fuel coast of Chili, and so much, at times too acrimo- in their saltpetre works, though probably there is nious, controversy has arisen on this subject, not a single tree in all the surrounding country. that we have been induced carefully to look into This substance is not coal, but is stated to be the works of foreign travellers, in order to dis-dry timber, easily cleft

, immense forests of which cover any statements tending to confirm or re- are buried under the sand of that plain. The fute the theory. The question of the upheaving trees all lie prostrate, with their heads towards of part of the coast of Chili by the great earth- the coast, and are reported to be now covered quake of 1822 was, we believe, brought under with sand. This phenomenon, he adds, is one of discussion in consequence of the account given the most remarkable of the west coast of Ameriof it by Mrs. Graham, in her narrative of her ca, and till the subject shall be accurately invisit to that country, and probably with no an- vestigated it affords occasion for manifold conticipation of the angry feelings to which herjectures. If those forests belong to the existing statement was to give rise. The opinions of creation, the whole country must have been so the ablest geologists remain divided, and consi- changed by dreadful elevations of the Cordillera, derable sensation was excited by the confirma- that, instead of the damp plains of a tropical clition of Mrs. Graham's account by the Prussian mate, there are now the most dreary sandy traveller, Dr. Meyen, of which we gave an ex- wastes. The buried timber is said to be dry, as tended notice in No. XXIX. of this Review. As

easy to split as our timber, and to burn with an Dr. Meyen, being well acquainted with the con- equally bright flame. troversy that had arisen respecting the accuracy of Mrs. Graham's report, paid particular

“What can be a stronger confirmation of the gradaal attention to the subject, it was to be expected elevation of the Cordillera in South America, than the that the facts stated by him would have their terrace-like conformation of this chain, which I found to due weight. The extracts which we gave from be quite decided at most of the points of Chili and Peru Dr. Meyen's work were considered as so impor- which I visited? And does not the overthrow of these tant that an eminent geologist, deeply interested forests prove, likewise, such an elevation of this country in this question, in which he defended the accu- in recent times? I mention these remarkable facts, be. racy of the account of Mrs. Graham, called on cause many unfounded doubts have of late been expressed the Reviewer, to inquire whether Dr. Meyen in England concerning the elevation of whole tracts of had any observations besides the extracts given country in consequence of earthquakes or volcanic action by him, and to compare the translation with the in general, though they may be clearly observed on the original

. One point appearing to be expressed coast of Chili.” in rather a loose manner, it was resolved to

Notwithstanding the observations of Dr. Meywrite to Dr. Meyen, who returned a very polite en, confirming the elevation of the coast, answer, which now lies before us, and in which doubts were still entertained of the fact, and at a he says, “I was acquainted with Mr. Green- meeting of the Geological Society in December ough's dispute with Mrs. Graham from its com- last, two letters were read on the question mencement, and received last year (1834) all the whether the earthquake of 1822 had produced papers on the subject from Baron A. von Hum- any change in the relative level of land and sea boldt, to whom they had been sent by Mrs. Gra- on the coast of Chili? One of these letters was ham. You mention a passage in my work (p. from Lieutenant Bowers, R. N., the other from 213) which you think seems to be expressed in Mr. Cuming, an eminent conchologist, both of a vague manner, as if I doubted the reality of whom were at Valparaiso before and after the the elevation. I cannot see it in this light, but earthquake of 1822, (the latter, for several years you perhaps allude to the passage where I speak afterwards, a resident,) who declared that they of the elevation of a tract of country 100,000 had not noticed any such change. Great importmiles in extent, as affirmed by a late traveller. ance was attached to Mr. Cuming's statement in This statement certainly appears very strange, particular, because he had collected shells on as there are no facts whatever to show that the the rocks upon the coast, and it might be taken interior of the continent has been elevated, and for granted, that if any change had occurred he it is therefore impossible to estimate the superfi- must have perceived it

. cial extent of the country so raised; it is only Though Mr. Lyell, in the fourth edition of his on the coast that the elevation can be observed. Privciples of Geology, speaks of the elevation of In a short paper in Berghaus' Journal for No-the coast of Chili as an bted fact,—" we vember 1831, to which I refer you, I touch on know," says he, “that

ke may raise the essential points which you and Mr. L-the coast of Chili for

???ge