the line of coast will recede inwards, leaving a wider channel between it and the reef-the latter retaining its position, and being continually replaced upwards by fresh coral, as the lower portions of the mass subside. Sectional sketches would better illustrate these points; but, even without such aid, we think there will be no difficulty in conceiving them; or in further applying the same views to the other peculiarities of these formations the precipitous descent to vast depths of the outer side of the reef-the isles within the channel, seen as residual points of the old continent-the fringing reefs-the openings into the channels or lagoons, &c. We have spoken of this as a bold hypothesis; and it will not appear less so when we look at the magnitudes, both of space and time, which are involved in such interpretation of the facts. The extent it is needful to assign to some of the areas 'of subsidence may well alarm an imagination not accustomed to deal with these subjects. Spaces of many hundred thousand square miles exist in the ocean, occupied by coral isles of such description as to admit of no other valid explanation than the sinking of the bottom of the sea over this extent. The length of the Australian barrier reef, 1200 miles, proves that at least an equivalent line of coast has been subsiding since its formation began. The same inference extends to the great island of New Caledonia, in relation to the reef half encircling it. Mr. Darwin has delineated these several areas, as far as at present known, in a map prefixed to his work; adding to its value by designating also the areas of upheaval in the same oceans; and the sites of active volcanoes, which, it may be, interpret some of the actions concerned in these phenomena. For both these great events, of subsidence and upheaval of the solid crust of the globe, are familiar to the speculations of modern geology, and variously attested in different parts of the globe by facts which, though recent in discovery, are unequivocal in the inferences they afford. The magnitude of these movements and changes may seem inconsistent with our ephemeral experience; but here, as in so many other cases, we are compelled to adopt new measures of time and space, when dealing with the physical conditions of the globe before man became a tenant of its surface. If there be areas of upheaval as well as of subsidence in these coral seas, we may expect to find coral islands raised in places above the level at which these zoophytes effect their works. Accordingly, we have instances furnished by Captain Beechey, Mr. Jukes, and others, of coral masses some hundred feet above the sea; with the same assurance of their having been raised from below, that we possess in the case of any tertiary stratum containing sea-shells. In connection with this topic, however, we must notice one objection to Mr. Darwin's views, which may seem to have some force, viz., that if masses of coral of such enormous thickness exist under the sea, we might fully expect to discover them in some situation or other among the great strata of the globe; knowing, as we do, how large a portion of these have been submarine in origin, and raised afterwards into their present position. Admitting the weight of the objection, that no such coral masses are found on our continents, we may qualify it by remarking, first, that we are not assured as to the relative period in the records of creation when the reef-building corals began their work in the seas; secondly, that it is not impossible that some of the great oolitic, cretaceous, or other calcareous formations may actually represent coral deposits— formed as these are by the agglutination of various materials, and exposed for ages to physical conditions of which we can scarcely appreciate all the effect; and thirdly, that the geological character of the lands in the coral oceans is still very imperfectly known, and we may yet discover such masses at greater elevation than any yet found, and exhibiting perchance gradations yet unsus pected into the character of the older calcareous rocks. THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. WHAT mean the miles of gleaming wire Shall vibrate to the praise of man; The climax of all human might- Once they were messengers of GOD, And flashed through Heaven's remotest span, But now they've left their high abode, To herald out the ways of man. No more we'll trust the carrier dove, Or iron steed, or lagging gale, But call the lightnings from above, To spread the news and tell the tale. They far outspeed the rolling earth, And put the car of time abackBefore the future has its birth 'Tis past upon the spirit track. That track-the great highway of thoughtWhere distant nations converse hold; Ere word is said or deed is wrought, 'Tis whispered round and round the world. From east to west-from pole to poleWherever man has pressed the sodThe every thought of every soul Is omnipresent like as GOD. It binds the nations all in one, And thrills its pulse throughout the union, Till every kingdom, tribe and tongue, Shall live and act in full communion. Tribune. FARM IN THE WEST. ONLY night before last a pale, care-worn young man sat down upon one of the benches in Lafayette Square. His clothes were by no means new-his beaver had " 'gone to seed," and his shoes, like those of Julian St. Pierre, were "minus half their soles." As the breeze swept through the trees in the square, a shudder ran through the heart of the lonely man. He saw the yellow leaves drop from their boughs, and after being twirled and twirled around and around by the tiny currents of air, would at last be whirled away, Heaven only knows whither. He thought these leaves were like his hopes, and that he was like the tree that parted with them. In the green spring-time of life his heart had put forth its blossoms and its branches, and many a bird of love trilled its sweet song amidst the dark green foliage of his mind. But now all seemed gone, and thought by thought, and memory by memory, seemed dropping from the bough of life. He heard the autumn wind sighing through his bosom, and clasping his hands over his eyes he shut out the gleams of the pale stars, and wept to himself. He thought of his youth, the golden visions that his mind had woven then, and how, like the diamond frost-work that is melted by the sun, they had all melted into "thin air." He thought of the struggles that he had gone through-the perils that he had passedhow from morn till morn he had labored, not for himself, but for others, and, more than all, how his proud heart had been obliged to bow to the "Spurns that patient merit From the unworthy takes." It was a deep and bitter thought that then ran through his heart, but he pressed his hand upon his breast and said "It is well." Gathering his scanty garments about him, he wended his way to his home, and after a long and weary walk, at last reached his humble place of abode. His wife ran out to meet him, and his children clasped him, one around the knees, while the other flung her little thin white arms around his neck. He thought of the morrow-he had not a dollar to give them, and though his heart was dropping tears of blood, still his lips wore a smile, and he cheered his family with words of hope and love. Kissing his children, he bade them good night, and slept and dreamed those cold grey dreams allotted to the children of poverty. The next morning, after he had eaten his humble breakfast, he came down town, to earn the pittance of those who are doomed to labor. His heart hung in his bosom like a load of lead, and he bit his lips in order to suppress his agony. His rent was due, and every farthing that he had on earth was gone. He thought of his palefaced wife and little children, and imagined that he saw them shivering in the cold air, houseless and defenceless. His face was bent towards the ground, and walking along with a heart brim full of agony, he suddenly saw a little piece of paper that looked like a bank note, lying on the pavement. He grasped it like a miser-but alas! it was only a ticket in the Havana lottery! He took it down town, however, and in a cabaret in the Third Municipality, asked what No. 33,661 had drawn. 66 Have you that number?" asked the bar keeper, with surprise. "Yes-here it is," was the answer. "That ticket, sir, has drawn $8000, and you have only to go to the firm of to get your money." Who could tell the thoughts that rushed like rainbow meteors through the poor man's bosom ! He was as wealthy as he wished to be, and could fling back with scorn the taunts into the teeth of those who had oppressed him. He hastened to his home, and the very ground seemed to fly beneath his feet. His wife's face grew livid at his approach, but when he told her of his fortune, she burst into tears. She could not speak for joy, but throwing herself down on her knees, she clasped her thin white hands and thanked her God for his blessings. She did not speak a word, but the mute heart's prayer rose upwards, as full of silence and of fragrance as the incense from the holy censer! The husband could not even smile, but for once in his sad life his eye was lighted up with the brilliant gleams of hope and joy. In a day the happy family were on their way to a home in the West. The husband clasped the waist of his wife, as they sat on the hurricane deck, and as the distance grew greater, saw the outlines of the buildings of New Orleans fade into the clouds, and the spires of her churches look like the masts of ships seen afar off. He thought of those who had died of the yellow fever-of those to whom he had been a friend, and who had treated his friendship with unthankfulness-and ah! how merrily rung the supper bell on board the boat-and how savory was the smell of the food upon the table. The wife, whose cheeks were no longer pale, and the husband, whose heart was no longer sad, went down and enjoyed their repast. And so it was from day to day for a week, until at last they reached their place of destination. An old Englishman, who longed to return to his native land, sold out to the lucky finder of the lottery ticket, his farm, consisting of nearly four hundred acres of the richest land, together with stock, farming utensils and everything else pertaining to the place. It was only a day or two before the young couple were safely installed in their new residence, and they were happy, perfectly happy. On the balcony of his little house, on the first night of their arrival, the husband sat smoking his pipe, and gazing on the beautiful scene that was spread before his view. The tall green trees around his dwelling seemed to bow to him and acknowledge him as their master. He heard the lowing of his kine in the cattle yard, and saw the broad fields that were teeming with the richest produce of the West. They were all his now! He saw the brook that, like a vein of silver, ran in the pale moonlight as softly as a dream. He thought how, on the morrow, he would take his gun and shoot some of the game that he heard chirping almost up to the very door-sill of his house. He went to bed with a heart as light as a feather, and dreamed pleasant dreams. The next morning, just as the sun was tinging with gold the summits of the hills, and the birds were singing their early songs to the light of day-he awoke-yes, to find himself still in Lafayette Square! He had been sleeping all the while, and the lottery ticket was but a portion of his dream. His hat, which had fallen off his head, was nearly full of dead autumn leaves. Amongst the yellow leaves there was a piece of paper. It was the fragment of a kite that had been caught in the trees and blown to pieces. On this piece of paper was written, in a bold round hand, "Patience and Perseverance will accomplish every-" and here the sentence broke off. It was evidently a leaf torn from the copy-book of a schoolboy; but the dreamer gave it a long, wistful look, and resolved to be a man in future.-N. O. Delta. 66 From the United Service Magazine. THE sun had just expended his last ray upon the ensanguined plain of Ortiz; the dreadful conflict which had raged with unceasing fury the whole day between the armies of Spain and Colombia had now terminated in the total defeat of the latter, which, under cover of the approaching night, was flying in every direction to escape the exterminating sword of its relentless pursuers; even Paez, the redoubtable Paez, who had never till then been known to turn his back upon a Spaniard, tore his beard, and foaming fled the fight." Vain had been the courage of the patriot band; fruitless the exertions of its brave commander; the shouts of the victors, mingled with the shrieks of the wounded, and the feeble moans of the dying, the wild ravings of thirst, cries for succor, and even prayers for death, were alike unheeded by victor or vanquished, both too intent on the object of pursuit, and escape, to attend to the lamentations of their fallen comrades-when, from a heap of mutilated corses which strewed a considerable portion of the well-contested field, forth crawled upon his hands and knees a young officer; the object which attracted him was a canteen invitingly suspended round the neck of a dead Spaniard. His eyes glancing with hope, he advanced as quickly as his weakness would allow him, to seize the envied treasure, nor was he disappointed; it contained some excellent brandy ; having swallowed a small quantity, he found himself greatly revived. to despondency, he quickly plucked up his spirits, Our hero had not much time, however, to devote to useless regrets; more important matters, connected with the preservation of his very existHe seated himself at a little distance from the ence, claimed his undivided attention. Some adplace where he had lain, (not forgetting to secure vantages, however, he had derived from his apthe spoil he had taken,) and began seriously to prenticeship, which in his present dilemma might reflect on the situation to which the fortune of prove of incalculable utility-he had acquired a war had reduced him. He first, however, ex-slight practical knowledge of phlebotomy, had amined his body and limbs, in search of the wound once or twice attended his master in a surgical which had so inopportunely placed him hors de operation, knew the best styptics in use to stop combat, but finding no visible mark of any, he con- hemorrhage, and "with these appliances and cluded (what was really the case) that he owed means to boot," he resolved to dub himself a the soreness which he felt in the head, and his surgeon pro tempore; at least to pass as such late swoon, to some contusion which he had re- with the enemy, trusting that his quality of nonceived in the fray. He perfectly recollected hav-combatant would rescue him from the fate which ing been opposed to a charge of the queen's would indubitably follow the avowal of his real hussars, in which he had been laid prostrate, and rank. Escape was impracticable even had his as this was quite sufficient to account for all the limbs been supple enough to admit of the exertion bruises he had sustained, he did not trouble him--he was totally ignorant of the position of the self with any further conjectures, but, as I have retreating army, and his flight would have been before said, began to ponder upon his present certainly intercepted by one or other of the parties position, and how he might best avoid the conse- of light cavalry which everywhere scoured the counquences which he foresaw were but too likely to try. His best policy then (and he adopted it) was accrue from it. It must be observed, that the war to remain where he was until the Spaniards should which then existed between Spain and her revolted send, which he doubted not would speedily be the colonies was one of extermination, neither party case, to collect their wounded. In the mean time giving quarter, and if by any chance prisoners his reveries were unbroken, save by the occasional were taken, they were immediately and deliberate- cries of the mutilated wretches who surrounded ly butchered. This fact, well known to my hero, him, several of whom were struggling in vain to did not tend greatly to facilitate the task which he defend their eyes from the attacks of the zamora, had allotted to himself. Captain O'Shaugnessy a large species of carrion crow, about the size of was, however, an Irishman, and as his countrymen are not easily abashed, or too ready to yield a turkey-buzzard, innumerable flocks of which covered the field, and preyed upon the offal. At was preparing, the glass of friendship circulated. At this moment an officer rode up, and catching a glimpse of the proscribed dress, appeared surprised at this unusual display of confraternity. He was soon, however, au fait, and turning to our hero, complimented him upon his gallantry. length a cry of agony roused his attention, and directing his look towards the spot whence the sound proceeded, he observed a human being stretched upon his back, striving fruitlessly with his feet to drive away a number of these carnivorous birds, that were evidently bent upon his destruction. Patrick's first impulse was humanity; "You appear, sir," said he, "to have been nor did the sight of a foe, as he hastened to his born under a lucky planet; if you are really a surassistance, check the current of his benevolence.geon, your services are at this instant required by one who will justly appreciated them." He quickly dispersed the feathered throng, and having administered a drop of his cordial to the Patrick, who did not anticipate having his skill parched sufferer, began coolly to practise the du- so immediately put to the test, felt extremely ties of his assumed profession, by an examination awkward. He might be called upon to perform of his patient's wounds. Both arms were severely an operation, in which his ignorance would be injured. Patrick, however, soon bound them up, manifest; he had, however, "staked his life upon (a shirt from a neighboring corpse supplying him the cast, and must abide the hazard of the die." with the requisite bandages,) the Spaniard regard-Bowing therefore to the officer, he expressed his ing him all the while with mingled looks of sur- readiness to make himself useful in any shape. prise and admiration. At last the exclamation of "Santa Maria Purissima!" burst from his lips; and he almost overwhelmed our hero with a torrent of thanks, who modestly waived the subject of his own praise, by inquiring if he had any hope of being removed before morning. 66 "Ay, by St. Jaques," cried he, "Diego Ramirez would never have been so long seeking his old friend, and comrade, Serjeant Juan Fernandez, of the queen's regiment of hussars, had he not been detained in pursuit of those confounded (rebels, he would have said; but his eye glancing towards Patrick's uniform, gratitude changed the offensive appellation, and he added) independents; but come, my lad," continued he, "cheer up; a Spaniard may possess a grateful heart, and though my arm is unable to defend thee, the word of Juan Fernandez, which has some weight with his comrades, may do thee equal service; but stay, give us another sup of thy cordial. Holy Virgin! my eyes deceive me, or surely this canteen belonged to Serjeant Rodrigues of the queen's." Patrick explained how it came into his possession. "Ah! then he has fallen at last, poor Roderigues! the merriest fellow in the corps, a touch of the Frenchman in his composition, and a true lover of Nantz." A stray horse was soon caught, upon which he was assisted to mount, and having bade adieu to Juan Fernandez, and his party, (who invoked every saint in the calendar for his protection,) he accompanied the stranger, who, attended by two dragoons whom he had not before seen, struck into a bye-path which led across the plain. After riding about three miles, they arrived on the verge of a wood, near which stood a bettermost sort of farm-house; several horses were piquetted outside, while the number of officers and orderlies, who were constantly passing to and fro, evidently showed it to be the quarters of a personage of nigh rank. This discovery did not lessen the apprehensions of poor Patrick. They alighted at the door of the house, when the officer, who had not spoken a word during their short journey, advanced, and throwing his own cloak over the shoulders of our hero, (doubtless, with the friendly view of screening him from the observance of the royalist party,) whispered him to be of good heart, and to wait his return in the latticed corridor, which, as customary in the country, extended the entire length of the building. Patrick, nodding assent, seated himself upon a wooden bench which he found unoccupied; several hammocks were suspended, in which their owners, fully accoutred, were swinging, smoking their cigars and enjoying el fresco, some of whom were conversing with each other on the events of the day. One officer, apparently of middle age, whose hammock was the nearest to where Patrick sat, was engaged in earnest conversation with a young man habited in a hussar uniform, who stood near him, some sentences of which, though they spoke in a low key, were audible to our hero. Here his enumeration of Roderigues' virtues was interrupted by a loud shout from a distant part of the field, and the glare of torches was plainly perceptible. Juan, declaring it must be Diego, requested Patrick to answer the call, which having done, a few minutes brought the party in view, our hero, notwithstanding the assurances of his new companion, feeling rather uneasy as the crisis of his fate approached. They appeared, however, to take not the slightest notice of him, their whole care and attention being engrossed by the wounded serjeant; but when they had heard "Aye," replied the youngest, "if I am rightly a relation of his sufferings, and learnt the obliga-informed, we may thank the egotistical vanity* of tion he had incurred to a patriot officer, not even the rebel garb he wore could save Patrick from being nearly smothered by the embraces of the delighted and grateful troopers. Whilst the litter "A confounded hard day's work we have had of it," said the eldest, "the rebels fought like lions; the fortune of the battle fluctuated more than once." *Egotistical vanity. A few days previous to the batnearly taken prisoner at Villa del Cura. Smarting under tle of Ortiz, Bolivar had been surprised, beaten, and the disgrace of his defeat, he took up a position a little the rebel leader for our success," who, it seems, | mittance to a small room, one side of which was wishing to appropriate the laurel of victory exclu- occupied by a camp bed, where lay extended a sively to himself, commenced the action without man of apparently forty years of age, of middle waiting for the support of his cavalry. Paez did stature: his countenance, though stern, was not not arrive till late in the affair, and then only ac- ferocious, yet there was something in it that companied by a few of his guard, who, being better checked familiarity, and inspired the beholder with mounted than the rest, were enabled to keep pace a feeling of respect bordering upon awe; it prewith him. "By St. Jago, he contrived, notwith-sented a fair type of the sea in a calm, and like standing, to make a terrible diversion in favor of that fickle element, the slightest breeze of passion his party; had his whole force come up, the that agitated its surface would suffice to create a result might not have been so favorable to our whirlpool capable of swallowing all within its royal arms. vortex ! On the back of a chair near the couch "True," answered the eldest, "few as his was thrown loosely a richly-embroidered coat, procompanions were, they made sad havoc with fusely decorated with the insignia of various orders; the regiment of Catalonia; he personally fought two officers, seemingly of rank, were seated at a with the savage ferocity of a wild beast, and when little distance, anxiously regarding a third person he found his cause hopeless, he was borne from who was kneeling, and applying to the wounded the field foaming with rage and vexation. But limb cloths which were absolutely saturated with the honor of the victory mainly appertains to the blood. The old woman resumed her station at gallantry of the corps to which you belong; the the fire, where it was evident she had been prequeen's hussars, young man, have this day covered paring some cordials. On our hero's entrance, themselves with immortal glory!" the general raised his eyes, and fixed them steadily upon his face for a few moments, when, (as if satisfied with the scrutiny,) his features relaxing from the expression of hauteur which they had first displayed, he said in a weak though clear voice, and in good English, "They tell me, young man, that your humanity has been already exercised in behalf of a fallen enemy; I also require the aid of your healing art; are you a member of the London or Edinburgh school?" “As an individual of the regiment," said the youth, "I sensibly feel the flattering eulogium you have paid us, but we must not forget that all our brave fellows deserve their meed of praise; yet tell me, Don Sanches, how is it (here his voice became lower) that we do not follow up the advantages we have gained-why rest we here supine, when, by an immediate pursuit, we might annihilate the retreating army ere it reached San Fernando, which is evidently its rallying point?" "Tush!" said Don Sanches, "I will let you into a secret. Our captain-general now lies in this house severely wounded; our stupid surgeons have been these two hours endeavoring in vain to stanch the blood which flows from it, and unless his tutelary saint interferes in his behalf, he stands a fair chance of exchanging his newly-acquired countship, and the laurels of to-day, for a blessed immortality!" Our hero was prevented from hearing their further discourse by the arrival of the officer, who made a sign to him to follow; he had heard sufficient, however, to satisfy him that the person to whom he was on the point of being introduced was no other than Morillo, Count of Carthagena, and captain-general of the Spanish armies in South America, a knowledge by no means calculated to augment his self-confidence; he had, however, no time allowed him for reflection; his conductor led him through an anteroom, at the extremity of which was a low door; this, on knocking, was opened by an elderly female, and gave them ad 66 The little knowledge which I possess, your excellency," answered Patrick, (and he blushed as he uttered the equivocation,) "has been obtained in Dublin." "You are then a native of Ireland," said the general, and he added, “I presume a Catholic?" Our hero bowed an affirmative to both ques tions. “"T is well, sir; I resign myself to your skill. Señor Gomez," said his excellency, in Spanish, addressing the man who still continued kneeling, " you will prepare yourself to follow implicitly the directions of the Irish surgeon, and (pursued he with a sneer) you may chance to acquire a lesson in practice, which your boasted Caraccanian college, it seems, taught only in theory!" The abashed Creole rose from his humble posture, and as he relinquished his place, darted a look full of malignity at Patrick, who, having divested himself of his jacket, proceeded (not without symptoms of trepidation) to take a survey of the wounded limb. His fears were, however, in some degree alleviated on discovering that the hurt was not of so serious a nature as he had first in advance of Ortiz, his right being defended by a deep surmised; a musket ball had traversed the fleshy and rocky ravine, subsequently ascertained by Colonel part of the thigh, and the wound owed much of English to be impassable for cavalry. Here he might have kept the enemy in check until the arrival of Paez its irritation to unnecessary probing, to allay and Sedeno, who, with four thousand horse, were advanc- which, and stop the hemorrhage, appeared to be ing to his assistance; but his extreme jealousy of all the principal objects. These our hero accomcompetitorship led him into error; he descended into the plain, and encountered the defeat he merited. His sub-plished, to the manifest satisfaction of his patient, sequent rage was indescribable when he learnt that the in a very short period, and having administered a enemy (whose cavalry alone he had been taught to esti- sleeping draught, composed by himself, desired that the general might be left to repose. All in mate at fifteen hundred) did not amount, in toto, to more than two thousand men! |