EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 77, 25 April 1843, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON.

(From the New York Aurora.) In the Lynn Locomotive, we find the following extract of a letter from an eminent astronomer, connected with Yale College, at New Haven, to a scientific gentleman at Lynn. It will be found highly interesting to men of science, detailing some most astonishing changes in the great machinery of nature. It may be that these operations will strengthen the belief of those who give credence to the doctrines of Miller, in relation to the speedy winding up of the affairs of this world. Nevertheless, they are facts, and as such worthy the attention of our wise and learned men.

“ * * * * There is certainly some extraordinary change going on in the solar system . Whether the result will be a speedy dissolution of the present harmonious arrangement, is of course known only to Him who instituted the laws which govern the courses of the stars. For some time my attention has been directed to the rapidly developing phenomena, and I have been assisted in my observations by gentlemen eminent for their scientific attainments. And within a few days I' have had placed in my hands a paper from the celebrated astronomer Hanfl, of Berlin, detailing his own discoveries, and indicating that the subject is beginning to excite intense interest among the scientific of Europe.

“ It is evident that the inclination of the earth’s axis with the ecliptic is changing. There is now a nearer approach to a coincidence of equator and ecliptic than has evei* before beeri known. Since the autumnal equinox, the obliquity in the earth’s course has sensibly diminished ; and if no counteracting influence intervenes, there will soon be a perceptible change in the seasons and in the relative lengths of day and night. “ The change is so great already, that many intricate calculations for the present year will be found inaccurate. Some of the important calculations of the Nautical Almanac will be soon found perplexing to the mariner as he takes his observations. And some of those heretofore highly useful tables in tlie American Almanac, founded on the bearings of some of the fixed stars as well as planets, will prove entirely unsafe, if the progress of the change continues. Au experienced and intelligent shipmaster, a day or two since, casually observed to me that on a recent voyage from the East Indies, when he had sailed about six degrees to the nor£h of the equator —the regiori from which the'North Star is usually first seen after crossing the line, the haze rendering it invisible while nearer tlie horizon—he was astonished and perplexed in his observations; The unusual variation of his chronometer from the time indicated by stellar observation led him to doubt the accuracy of his former faithful guide.

“ Should these changes continue, a variation in the altitude of the North Star will soon be apparent to the most casual observer; at those points of time, April 15, June 16, August 23, and December 24, when all true time-keepers should agree with the sun, the chronometer will be found essentially varyirig; arid many other very important results will be developed. An attentive and accurate observer in the high latitudes, even at the next solstice, cannot fail to recognise various astonishing phenomena.

“ But the changes going on in regard to the earth are less remarkable, perhaps, than those which are affecting some of the other planets. The pales of Venus, to all appearance, are now elevated full thirty-five degrees, and she seems to be changing from her former clear radiance to a colour approaching that of Mars' ; the change in this particular, however, is as yet slight, barely perceptible, under close observation, to the naked eye. By the aid of a powers ful glass there may be perceived what appears to be waves of fire rolling over her disc. This appearance I have watched with much interest; it commenced some months since, on- the southern limb, and gradually advanced over the whole breadth, till the planet was completely enveloped. The motion of this planet in her orbit, too, seems to be retarded, as though she were under the influence of some neW power of attraction. “ Herschel has the appearance of having greatly diminished in size, and has failed to reach a given point of its orbit at the usual time, and, in short, seems to have broken the bonds which have connected it to the solar system, and commenced its course as a member of some remote celestial retinue. " Saturn, also, is assuming an unwonted aspect. To all appearance, there is a mighty

conflagration going on in the hitherto dark line which divides her rings. To such an extent has it already attained, that in one or two places the whole breadth has assumed the appearance of ragged ranges, glowing as if they were red hot iron, and throwing a lurid reflection upon the adjacent portions of the ring. The changes seem also to extend beyond our system. The beautiful star Betelgnese, in the constellation Orion, has varied to such an extent from the vernal to the autumnal equinox of the present year, that its distance may be ascertained. It seems to be approaching the solar bounds.

Retrospect op the Money Market. — A project has been talked of amongst the more influential capitalists, which, if carried into effect will secure the payment of the dividends on the newly issued Three per Cent. Spanish Stock for a period of five years; and it is understood that a gentleman of some authority in financial matters, and well acquainted with the state of feeling existing in this country toward Spain, is on his way »to Madrid, in order to make a tender to the Spanish government of the means required f©r the accomplishment of that object. If the purposes of the individuals are cordially met by Senhor Calatrava, there can be no doubt as to the advantage that will be derived by Spain with regard to its national credit; since upon the maintenance of the dividend payments in question the whole fabric of its financial prosperity now depends. A very interesting document has recently been issued by the firm of Ferguson aud Taylor, of Manchester, which takes a comprehensive view of the changes in the state of our trade, brought about by the recent disturbances in Lancashire. It has attracted much attention in the mercantile world, and is highly deserving consideration.

It appears that in addition to a sum 800,000/. advanced to the Bank of the United States under the contract which is designated as Denison’s loan, there is another of the same kind for 900,000/. negotiated by Messrs. Rothschild jointly with Messrs. Hope of Amsterdam. Thus, in the aggregate, there exists a debt of 1,700,000/. sterling owing by the United States Bank principally to English purchasers, and secured by deposit of American State Stocks, which pay neither interest or principal. It is not surprising, therefore, that much disquietude should prevail upon the subject; yet, as it is stated in the accounts lately received from the United States, that men of all parties and classes are beginning to occupy themselves seriously in the consideration of plans for the restoration of their national credit, we have great hopes that ultimately the very reasonable fears at present existing will turn out to be groundless.

Smuggling on the Frontier. Great preparations are making in Montreal by persons who intend to do a very large bnsinezs in smuggling upon our northern frontier during the ensuing winter season. Several houses have been established in Montreal with this object, having American and Canadian partners, and in this way they intend to “ work double tides’' in smuggling. The Americans will smuggle over flour from this side, and bring back their pay in British goods, and as soon as Winter sets in, hundreds and thousands of Canadian -ponies will be put on the route, and travel with goods thus smuggled on towards Boston, and elsewhere to be disposed off. Mr. Parmlee, the government agent, has been as far as St. John’s to see about this. He discovered that a good many horses had been smuggled over, and also found out that a large number of asses had been passed that way during the summer, and both statements are probably true. —New York Herald. Horse Training. —Mr. Catlin, in his work on the manners and customs of the North Ame - rican Indians, gives the following account of their method of taming the wild buffalo calves, and wild horses :

“ I have often, in concurrence with a wellknown custom of the country, held my hands over the eyes of the calf, and breathed a few strong breaths into his nostrils; after which I have, with my hunting companions, rode several miles into our encampment, with the little prisoner busily following the heels of my horse the whole way, as closely and affectionately as its instinct would attach it to the company of its dam. This iB one of the most extraordinary things that I have ever met with in the habits of this wild country ; and although I had often heard of it, and felt unable exactly to believe it, 1 am now willing to bear testimony to the fact, from the numerous instances which I have witnessed since I came into the country. During the time that I resided at this post, in the spring of the year, on fcny Way up the river I assisted (in numerous hunts of the buffalo, with Fur Company’s men), in bringing in, in the above manner, several of these little prisoners, which sometimes followed for five or six miles close to our horses’ heels, and even into the Fur Company’s fort, and into the stable where our horses were led. In this way, before I left for the head waters of the Missouri, I think we had collected about a dozen.” In the same way, the wild horses are tamed. When the Indian has got him well secured with

the lasso, and ft pair of hobliles on . his feet; “ he gradually advances, until he is able to place liis hand on tlie animal’s nose, and over his eyes, 'and at length to breathe 'in his nostrils, when it soon becomes docile nnd con-

quered ; so that he has little more to do than to remove the hobbles from its feet, and lead or ride it into camp.”

Mr. Ellis, who has recently published a work on the subject, chanced to -read this account, when bn a visit in Yorkshire, and forthwith resolved to try the experiment. He and his friends were alike incredulous, and sought amusement from the failure, rather than knowledge by the result—but two experiments, all he was able to try, were both successful. Here are the particulars of one of them t—- “ Saturday, Feb. 12, 1842.—While the last experiment were being tried on the yearling, W. espied 8., a farmer and tenant, with several men, at the distanceof some fields, trying most ineffectually, on the old system, to break in a horse. W. proposed to go dowfi and show him what effect had been produced on the yearling. When the party arrived at the spot, they found that B. and his ifaen had tied their filly short up to a tree, in the corner of a field, one side of which was whiled, and the other hedged in. W. now proposed to B. to tame his horse after the new method. 8., who was aware of the character of his horse, anxiously warned W. not to approach it, cautioning him especially against the fore feet, as it had ‘ lamed’ his own (J3.’s) thigh just before they came up. W. therefore proceeded very cautiously. He climbed the wall, and came at the horse through the tree, to the trunk of which he clung for some time, that he might secure a retreat in case of need. Immediately upon his touching the halter, the horse pranced about, and finally palled away with a dogged and stubborn expression, which seemed to bid W. defiance. Taking advantage of this, W. leaned over as far as he could, clinging all the time to the tree with his right hand, and succeeded in breathing into one nostril, without, however, being able to blind the eyes. From that moment all became easy. W., who is very skilful in the management of a horse, coaxed it, and rubbed his face, and breathed from time to time into the nostrils, while the horse offered no resistance. In about ten minutes, W. declared his conviction that the horse was subdued; and he then unfastened it, and to the great and evident astonishment of 8., (who had been trying all the morning in vain to gain a mastery over it), led it quietly away with a loose halter. Stopping in the middle of the field, with no one else near, W. quietly walked up to the horse, placed his arm - over one eye, and his hand over the other, and breathed into his nostrils. It was pleasing to observe how agreeable this operation appeared to the horse, who put up bis nose to receive the ‘ puff*/ In this manner W. led the horse through all the fields to the stable yard, where he examined the fore feet, and then the hind feet of the horse, who offered no resistance; but while W. was examining the hind feet, bent its neck found, and kept nosing W.’s back. He next buckled on a surcingle, and then a saddle, and finally bitted the horse with a rope. During the whole of these operations, the horse did not offer the slightest resistance, nor did it flinch in the least degree.”

Two experiments are all Mr. Ellis has had an opportunity of either witnessing, or hearing the results of. But, as he states, these have been to him perfectly satisfactory; and, as he has no opportunity of carrying them on, since he is unacquainted with the treatment of horses, and neither owns any, nor is likely to be thrown in the way of unbroken colts, he has resolved to publish these particulars, that gentlemen, farmers, trainers, and others, may at least try so simple a plan, and thus test and determine its value. Mr. Ellis is of opinion, that this is the secret of the celebrated Irish horse charmers; and we remember that in more than one recorded instance of their power, they pretended to whisper to the animal,, and played with its head, and then probably breathed into his nostrils.— Atheneeum.

Machine for Making Bricks and Tiles . A very ingenious machine, constructed by Mr. Ainslie, is now on view at the pin-manufactory in the Borough*road. A very short description of the objects and operation of this invention will show its value to manufacturers of tiles or bricks, and more especially to thb'se persons who are engaged in . draining lands. The clay is thrown in on . the top of two circular cylinders k which are. placed perpendicularly at a distance of'about a quartet of ah'inch from each other, and the clay is thus gifdtind between them and falls into a receiver below, chnishingto atoms all stones or other impurities, so that even bad material can be used. The clay is then propelled forward against the iron plate on which, are cat the apertures through which the tiles, bricks, &c., to be manufactured are forced. The material moves forward on a sheet of felt, and a wire Cuts each tile or brick Us it moves forward into equal lefogtlis. The clay comes through the iron plate in three supplies at once, and it is calculated that on ah average 30 tiles of the most perfect form afe made in one minute under ordinary circumstances, but

much more may be done; bricks about the same, iflgt tiles double the number. The great advantages in this process are that :the articles made come from the machine in perfect form and ready for the kiln ; and, being thus perfected by machinery, the backs of the carved drainage tiles are stronger than those made by any other process. Here the substance must be of one thickness, and the shape uniform and smooth in all respects. The cost of making 3,000 drain tiles a day, by hand, is calculated at

1/. os. 6d., or of 1,000 at 6s k lOd. -The cost of manufacturing 10,000 of the same article in a day by the machine is 14s. 6d.

The Wardenship of the Cinque Ports.— It is reported in the neighbourhood of Walmer that as the Queen desires a retired residence or tlie Kentish coast, the Duke of Wellington purposes to resign his office as Lord Warden o: the Cinque Ports, which will then be offered to !and accepted by, Prince Albert. In this cast Walmer Castle will be fitted up as a royal residence, and her Majesty will probably reside then for some weeks or months in the course of the year.

The celebrated Dr. Franklin once received a very useful lesson from the excellent Dr. Cotton Mather, which he thus relates in a letter to his son, Dr. Samuel Mather, dated Passy, May -12, 1801:—“ The last time I saw your father was in 1724 ; on taking my leave, he showed me a shorter way out of the house, through a narrow passage, which was crossed by a beam overhead. We were still talking as I withdrew, he accompanying behind and I turning towards him, when he said hastily, “Stoop! stoop!’ 5 I did not understand him till I felt my head hit against the beam. He was a man who never missed an occasion of giving instruction, and upon this he said to me, “ You are young and have the world before you, stoop as you go through, and.you will miss many hard thumps.” This advice thus beaten into my head, has frequently been of use to me; and I often think of it when I see pride mortified and misfortunes brought upon the people by carrying their heads too high.” •From an interesting letter from “An officer of the Ship Blundell, Chinese Fleet,” we give the following extract“ I took our cutter the other day-, and eight men, and, starting from our ship at five o’clock in the morning, went about forty miles up the labyrinth of islands, landing at several places, and going into their villages. The country was beautiful in the extreme—much more so than ever I saw. Fancy the most hilly country that can possibly be, one mountain rising from the foot of another in the most varied maimer, and cultivated in the highest degree to the very top ! In fact, their farming would not disgrace an English farmer; and I very much doubt whether a man put down here from the clouds would know that he was not in England but for tlie circumstance that pieces of land, which no Englishman would think of venturing his neck upon, are here in the most beautiful order! indeed, the resemblance between the two countries is in every respect most striking; and I decidedly think that the people I have seen are quite as much civilised, if not more so, than any you would find in England in the same situation—they certainly exceed them in politeness, one village I landed in. I sailed the boat up a beautiful creek for some distance, until I was stopped by some large lock-gates, when I landed, and walked up to the houses, alongside quite as good a canal as any I ever saw, with good strong locks and on precisely the same principle as our own. The stone bridges over it were beautiful, with heads, carved in stone, of angels and devils, stuck at different places on the sides. The houses were built of square stones, extremely neatly put together; and roofed with beautiful red tiles, each one ornamented with a different device. The inside was generally divided into three or four rooms, all very neat; and there the similarity between them and Old England, a place they never heard of, became most ridiculous. There was the plastered floor, the same shaped table and chairs, and the closet, with cups and saucers (of the most beautiful china, by-the-by); there, too, was the kitchen —the wash-house, with the boiler and sink. In the yard, again, the pigsties were very amusing—the identical pigsty door that they have at a place you know very well in Yorkshire, opening with a large wooden latch, and a hole to put your finger through from the outside to-lift it up, squeaking on its hinges when opened and shut, the same to half a note. They wfcre greatly amused with us, examining our clothes with the utmost astonishment. ’ They had never seen a watch, and danced and screamed with delight when they saw tlie inside. Our cutlasses and pistols they were much frightenfed of; a:nd two fellows I had with me, carrying iiiuskets ahd fixed bbyonets, could not get Within a hundred yards of a Chmariian, and I was obliged to order them to the boat before 1 cduld get near them. At one time there were at least eighty of them all i-bund us in a large yard, every man; with a hoe in his hand, just as ■ he had coble out of the field. They gave us tea just made; ■ they put a little in a chip and and pour hot water on it, and drink it without sugar or milk, which is much the best way. Upon the whole I had the most delightful trip I ever remember.”