Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 443, 3 January 1867, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Recent Measurements at the Great Pyramid. —The ordinary meeting of the Royal Society took place at Edinburgh, on Monday night, 9th July—Sir David Drews er in the chair. Previous to commencing the business the President presented tiie Neill medal to Professor Ramsay, Professor Piazzi Smyth then, in compliance with a request of the council, gave au account of the recent measurement of the Great Pyramid, and the deductions flowing therefrom, lie began by stating that, with a view to clear up the mystery which surrounded the origin and objects of the Great Pyramid at Jeezeh, he spent four mouths there, making observations and taking measurements. The conclusion he drew from tha investigations was that they confirmed tha hypothesis which was the oldest Eastern tradition and the youngest Western theory—namely, that the Great Pyramid was originally, whatever it was subsequently made into; intended for a standard of weights aud measures, not so much for reference as lor keeping these standards safe, for thousands of years, through all the vicissitudes of nations, lie then proceeded to shovr that the sides of the pyramid gave tire standard of linear measure, not according to the Kilometer, as had been supposed by some, but according to to the sacred cubit and the ancient Saxon standards. The coffer in what was known as the King’s Chamber in the centre of the pyramid was tha standard of capacity aud weight, aud contained the same amount as the Hebrew chomer and tha Saxon quarter. The central chamber gave tho average of heat; aud in the grand gallery he was led to look for the measurement of time. White contrasting the mean height of the gallery with that of the passage approaching it, he found that the height of the latter was about one-seventh of that of the former. It was in the chamber called the Queen’s Chamber, which had been such a puzzle to the learned, that he found the most conclusive evidence in support of liis theory. The room was seven-sided ; and not only so, but one of the sides was pushed outwards about twentyfive inches, as if to indicate that while six were ordinary days, tho seventh was more noble and glorious, lie concluded by some allusions to tho astronomy of the pyramid, and speculations as to the date of its erection, which he placed at 21S0 nr. Professor Kelland proposed a vote of thanks to Professor Piazzi Smyth for his very valuable address. Lord Neaves seconded the motion. There was a very large attendance of members. How to Teel the Weather. —Among signs drawn from the observation of the sky, the most valuable are the two which we know to have been proverbial among the Jews in our Lord’s time, that a rosy (not a deep red) sky at sunset presages fine weather ; while a red morning sky indicates much rain or wind. Grey is the most favorable color for the early morning sky, especially if the day breaks first on the horizon. A bright yellow sunset presages wind; a pale yellow, rain. A gloomy dark-blue sky is a sign of wind, white a light-blue is the strougest sign of tine weather. The sun’s setting or rising beliind a bank of clouds indicates rough weather, so do ragged, hard-edged, or tufted clouds; but soft delicate clouds, remaining nearly stationary, show calm weather. When clouds high up are seen blowing in a direction different from the lower clouos, or from tho wind felt below, a change of wind in the direction of the upper stratum will probably occur. The habits and instincts of animals should also bo noticed by whoever desires to be weather-wise. Thus leeches, when kept in water, remain low down in settled weather, but rise to the surface when wind or rain is impending; and when laudbirds keep near their homes, sea-birds do not go out to sea, and pigs carry straw to their sties, bad weather may be looked for. Dew and fog are indications of fine settled weather; but great clearness of the air and unusual refraction presaga wind, if not rain also. As to the duration of weather, it may be said generally that westerly winds do not bring lasting weather of any kind; while that accompanying easterly currente has more tendency io be permanent. ’Pans rain coming will* a SfE. wind lasts generally t.hs whole of cue or two days, while a S.W. ’wind brings a greater, fact usually a shorter downpour; and generally the wind from a west quarter leaves room for hope or fear that it will change into its opposite at some Erne of the day, especially at sunrise, noon, or sunset. There are manv other rules for foretelling the w??.th?r : hot they ore, for the most part, of 100 local of ucoLrful a canraeicr io Us oi any great value. Needless Transmission o? Monet.—"ltmight be expected,” says the Times, “that the opera i«u of Uit Aihinue Crine would remedy Uis useless M-c-ismission or money at the samu moment backward and forward between England sad Amen- ■ ca. At present, however, the process is going on, rmd white we have sent £350j)00 to New York 1 i during the past :>,v days, the Saxonis, from New York, ha? arrive! tils morning wife fTl.QOft”