tablished, that solar light possesses this property, it may lead to the most important inductions in electricity, galvanism, and magnetism. The whole science of chemistry may undergo a shock as revolutionary as that which it received when the gases were discovered. It might conduct us to the conclusion, that electricity, galvanism, and magnetism, are not only identical with each other, as is now generally admitted, but also with latent heat; and that, though subject to great and essential modifications, they all have their common origin in that decomposition of light which is effected by absorption. There are so many observed phenomena which point to the diurnal changes in the solar light as the cause of the diurnal variations of the magnetic needle, that we have long since considered that as a solved problem. If, therefore, future experiments should fail in proving the absolute magnetizing power of the solar rays, it would not necessarily follow that the decomposed rays of light- that is, decomposed by absorption, and converted into electrical currents did not possess that power in a very high degree. For that electrical or magnetic currents are produced by the action of the sun's rays upon the earth, has been so well proved, that it must now be taken as a postulate in the science.

No truth should be more frequently enforced upon the devotee of physical science, than this: that the grand chemistry of nature is performed with a sublime harmony and tranquillity, which scarcely make the results perceptible to our senses, save from the lapse of time. There are no violent agents, and reagents in her laboratories; no torture of analysis; no compound blow-pipes, or galvanic batteries; no open war of acids and alkalies, to carry on her mysterious and eternal series of production and re-production. All is inspired with the vital principle of vegetable production; and animal life seems to be but a natural consequence. The germs of vegetation must be coeval with the particles of matter: the vivifying rays of light can alone bring them into action, and mature them. What wonder, then, if we shall find hereafter, that the same noiseless but irresistible operation of solar light is the basis of all electrical excitement? How are we to account for the energetic action of the dry galvanic columns of De Luc and Zamboni, except from the excitement of a latent absorbed fluid, brought into action only by the attraction of opposite absorptions? The chemical action of the materials of the dry column is quite out of the question, whatever it may be in the galvanic battery of metallic plates and diluted acid. Upon the whole, therefore, it seems reasonable to suspect, that light is alike the source of all vegetable life, and electrical excitement, through the whole solar system.

That the universal presence of this mysterious power was the basis of Newton's almost divine philosophical system that he considered its existence demonstrated is apparent, from more than one passage in his Principia.' He appears to have entertained the belief, that future observations would make us more fully acquainted with its nature and properties; but for a century after, little or no progress was made in the vigorous investigation of the phenomena which he had suggested, and yet the elements of the science were familiar to thousands of philosophers. The electricity of amber the Greek name of which (elexToov) still gives the science its appel

lation—was known to the Greeks, and probably, from the earliest times. But it was not until the identity of lightning and electricity was established, that the science began to assume its proper rank and attraction. Incessant experiments have now raised it to such importance, that, considered as embracing galvanism, electro-magnetism, and last, not least, electro-dynamics, it has become the task of the best talent and the longest life to master it, in all its details.

The department of electro-dynamics-which is merely conversant with the force of electricity in motion-is daily and hourly extending its limits, and developing powers which are as astonishing in their mechanical effects, as they are mysterious and wonderful in their origin. The most successful cultivator of this branch of it, and one to whom science in general is deeply indebted, is Ampère, one of that illustrious band of French savants, who deserve to have statues erected to them in the temples of science, throughout the civilized world. Biöt and Arago, names reverenced wherever the light of science has penetrated, also engaged with ardor in the research. In England, Davy and Faraday, soon after, with equal zeal, entered upon the same career. The latter still lives to pursue the enlightened course of investigation by which he has already achieved so many honorable distinctions. Long may he live to reap the same enviable rewards of fame, which have thus far crowned his labors.

But splendid as have been the contributions of these illustrious individuals, to the mere science of electro-dynamics, in illustrating its principles, we think we may venture to claim for our ingenious countryman, Mr. DAVENPORT, the palm for a successful combination of mechanical ingenuity with the scientific principles of electromagnetic action. It would seem as if he had been guided in his researches by a sort of Yankee intuition, which enables a certain portion of that inventive race to run through a whole science by a series of shrewd 'guesses.' The history of his labors is too characteristic to be omitted. He first saw a galvanic magnet, it appears, about three years ago!—and from the wonderful effects produced by suspending a weight of one hundred and fifty pounds from a small galvanic magnet, he immediately inferred, without any knowledge of the theory or the experiments of others, that he could propel machinery by galvanic magnetism! He purchased the magnet, and produced his first rotary motion in July, 1834, only six months after. In point of date, this appears to be the first successful application of galvanism to the generation of motion, that promised to be of practicable application, upon a large and perhaps even an indefinite scale of power-limited only by the usual boundaries of size and expense. To attempt a description of it, professing to elucidate its construction, would, we fear, be more apt to mislead than to convey any clear idea of its parts, or its peculiar operation. Suffice it to say, that, by arranging a certain number of fixed electro-magnets in a permanent circle, and an equal number in a revolving wheel, the application of the electric current of a galvanic battery produces by means of a most surprising mechanical contrivance, in instantly reversing the poles, as the moveable magnetic circle revolves— a rotary motion, of the most astonishing velocity and power, considering the feeble agents employed.

But the eager inquiry is: Will it increase Can it be augmented in proportion to the enhanced size of the members of the machine? Will it yet supersede, by its superior cheapness, compactness, safety, and other advantages, the mighty agency of steam, in the various economical uses to which that is applied, for manufacturing and locomotive purposes? We can hazard no other answer to these questions, than that the probability is in favor of that sublime result, sooner or later. But as Nature often eludes our most unwearied and enlightened researches, it would be rash to predict that the application of the principle of Messrs. Davenport and Cooke's machine, may not meet with unforeseen difficulties, and even apparently formidable obstacles, that may for a time retard its operation upon a large scale. There are in every branch of physical science, so imperfectly explored as that of electro-dynamics, a thousand apparently contradictory experiments to be reconciled; a thousand hastily adopted results to be corrected; an infinite number of accompanying conditions to be weighed and tested, before we can pronounce à priori upon the successful application of a mere principle to any practical use of importance. If we were to reason only from what our ingenious and persevering countrymen have done in three years, under all their disadvantages, to what they are capable of doing, with the benefit of an enlightened experience, and all necessary appliances and means to boot, we should certainly anticipate nothing less than a triumph of genius and skill, of which it would beggar all human prescience to foretell the consequences. But we rather choose to repress our own enthusiasm, than to indulge, as yet, in visions of the future. Whatever may be the fate of the application of the principle of the machine in question to mechanical purposes, its admirable ingenuity — its felicitous and striking illustration of the power of electro-galvanic magnetism will still entitle the invention to the highest praise. The public, we hope and trust, will not rest satisfied, until they have an opportunity at once to gratify a laudable curiosity, and to contribute their mite to the cause of science, at a public and we hope not unproductive exhibition. The ingenuity of the inventors would easily put into motion a variety of useful machinery, which would exemplify the advantages and the wonderful ef fects of the invisible power which they have enchained and imprisoned as a mechanical drudge to dó fealty and service to the human race. A more novel and instructive spectacle could hardly be conceived, than such a practical application of it might be made to exhibit. We are glad to hear that individuals, whose enlightened views and intelligence are sustained by wealth and public spirit, have taken shares in this interesting enterprise, with a liberality and munificence which entitle them to rank among the benefactors to science. In the view of these manifestations of scientific ardor, of enlightened zeal, and mechanical ingenuity, we hope for the most favorable results for their efforts, if success may be commanded in this age and generation. No wonder that Professor SILLIMAN, in the contemplation of what has been already accomplished in the science of electro-dynamics, should break forth in the eloquent strain which concludes his article in the last number of his valuable Journal, upon the subject of this same machine.

Science,' says the learned and eloquent professor, ‘has thus, most unexpectedly, placed in our hands a new power, of great but unknown energy. It does not evoke the winds from their caverns ; nor give wings to water by the urgency of heat; nor drive to exhaustion the muscular power of animals; nor operate by complicated mechanism; nor accumulate hydraulic force by damming the vexed torrents; nor summon any other form of gravitating force; but, by the simplest means— the mere contact of metallic surfaces of small extent, with feeble chemical agents- a power every where diffused through nature, but generally concealed from our senses, is mysteriously evolved, and by circulation in insulated wires, it is still more mysteriously augmented, a thousand and a thousand fold, until it breaks forth with incredible energy; there is no appreciable interval between its first evolution and its full maturity — and the infant starts up a giant.

'Nothing since the discovery of gravitation, and of the structure of the celestial systems, is so wonderful as the power evolved by galvanism; whether we contemplate it in the muscular convulsions of animals, the chemical decompositions, the solar brightness of the galvanic light, the dissipating consuming heat, and, more than all, in the magnetic energy, which leaves far behind all previous artificial accumulations of this power, and reveals, as there is full reason to believe, the grand secret of terrestrial magnetism itself.'

THE DELUGE.

'AH, what a sign it is of evil life,

When Death's approach is seen so terrible!'

THE judgment was at hand. Before the sun
Gathered tempestuous clouds, which, blackening, spread,
Until their blended masses overwhelmed

The hemisphere of day: and, adding gloom

To night's dark empire, swift from zone to zone
Swept the vast shadow, swallowing up all light,
And covering the encircling firmament

As with a mighty pall! Low in the dust
Bowed the affrighted nations, worshipping.
Anon the o'ercharged garners of the storm
Burst with their growing burden; fierce and fast
Shot down the ponderous rain, a sheeted flood,
That slanted not before the baffled winds,
But, with an arrowy and unwavering rush,
Dashed hissing earthward. Soon the rivers rose,
And roaring fled their channels; and calm lakes
Awoke exulting from their lethargy,
And poured destruction on their peaceful shores.

The lightning flickered in the deluged air,
And feebly through the shout of gathering waves
Muttered the stifled thunder. Day nor night
Ceased the descending streams; and if the gloom
A little brightened, when the lurid morn

Rose on the starless midnight, 't was to show
The lifting up of waters. Bird and beast
Forsook the flooded plains, and wearily
The shivering multitudes of human doomed
Toiled up before the insatiate element.

SHAKSPEARE

Oceans were blent, and the leviathan
Was borne aloft on the ascending seas

To where the eagle nestled. Mountains now
Were the sole land-marks, and their sides were clothed
With clustering myriads, from the weltering waste
Whose surges clasped them, to their topmost peaks,
Swathed in the stooping cloud. The hand of Death
Smote millions as they climbed; yet denser grew
The crowded nations, as the encroaching waves
Narrowed their little world.

And in that hour,

Did no man aid his fellow. Love of life

Was the sole instinct; and the strong-limbed son,
With imprecations, smote the palsied sire
That clung to him for succor. Woman trod
With wavering steps the precipice's brow,
And found no arm to grasp on the dread verge
O'er which she leaned and trembled. Selfishness
Sat like an incubus on every heart,

Smothering the voice of Love. The giant's foot
Was on the stripling's neck; and oft Despair
Grappled the ready steel, and kindred blood
Polluted the last remnant of that earth
Which God was deluging to purify.

Huge monsters from the plains, whose skeletons

The mildew of succeeding centuries

Has failed to crumble, with unwieldy strength

Crushed through the solid crowds: and fiercest birds,
Beat downward by the ever-rushing rain,

With blinded eyes, drenched plumes, and trailing wings,
Staggered unconscious o'er the trampled prey.

The mountains were submerged; the barrier chains
That mapped out nations, sank; until at length
One Titan peak alone o'ertopped the waves,
Beaconing a sunken world. And of the tribes
That blackened every alp, one man survived:
And he stood shivering, hopeless, shelterless,
Upon that fragment of the universe!
The surges of the universal sea

Broke on his naked feet. On his gray head,
Which fear, not time, had silvered, the black cloud
Poured its unpitying torrents: while around,
In the green twilight dimly visible,

Rolled the grim legions of the ghastly drowned,
And seemed to beckon with their tossing arms
Their brother to his doom.