The station at Crabère is nearly in the middle of the interval which separates the Ocean from the Mediterranean. The eastern part of the chain of triangles served to determine its height above the Mediterranean; the other part gave the height above the Ocean. It is important to remark, that the calculations could have been made by a variety of distinct combinations, among which M. Corabœuf made choice of three. He ascended, in the first place, from the Ocean and the Mediterranean to Crabère, following the single series of vertices which bounded the chain on the south; then, secondly, by taking exclusively the northern vertices; then, thirdly and fourthly, by travelling diagonally, that is to say, by visiting alternately a northern vertex and a southern one. The following is the result of these various combinations:

The mean difference, 0,73 (2·4 Eng. ft.), is so small, particularly when we recollect the extent of the line which was levelled, that it cannot prevent the conclusion that, in a state of repose, the waters of the Ocean, and those of the Mediterranean, have a surface of the same level. At all events, there can be scarcely a doubt, that if any difference in this respect does exist, it is too small to be appreciated.

In this article I wish merely to prove that the subject of currents is far from being exhausted; that differences of level, to which hydrographers have recourse for an explanation of them, are either completely nugatory, or insignificant; and that there is still room for ample investigation. This object I conceive I have attained. I shall still, however, add a few reflections.

The theory of currents has made little progress hitherto, because those phenomena have chiefly been considered which affect the surface of the sea. Currents produced by differences of saltness and of temperature exist at all depths. There are currents, for example, in contact with the very bed of the sea, which transport the cold waters of the polar zones as far as the equator. Near the poles these waters, like the solid part of the earth that supports them, move at a very slow rate, from west to east. As they pass by degrees to temperate and warm regions, they arrive at greater terrestrial parallels, which thenceforth move quicker than they, and hence the relative currents which run from the east to the west, and of which the volume is equal to that of the polar

currents.

It is, if I am not deceived, by placing them in this point of view; by descending, in imagination, to the profoundest depths of the ocean; and by applying to the sea the theory which has already given a satisfactory explanation of the trade-winds, that we shall succeed in un

ravelling the subject under consideration. It will thus, in my opinion, be equally possible to conceive how currents of very inconsiderable velocity cross such immense extents of sea; how they are inflected and reflected in their course, by the coasts of continents and islands while yet at a distance; and how they deviate when they approach banks, such as those of the Agulhas or Newfoundland, on which there is not less than fifty-five fathoms of water!

SEA OF WEEDS (Varec).-Among the phenomena of the ocean, which, although so long known to us, may yet become the subject of curious investigation, I should be inclined to place that of the Weedy Sea, or the Sea of Wrack.

These names are applied to a portion of the Atlantic Ocean, situated to the west of the Azores. It is, on an average, from forty to fifty leagues in width; its extent in latitude is 25°: and the space which it occupies is nearly equal in area to the surface of France*. It is entirely covered, with plants (Fucus natans). The Portuguese call it Mar de Sargasso; Oviedo, Praderias (Prairies) de Yerva. In 1492 the companions of Christopher Columbus were greatly alarmed by it, they conceived that they had reached the remotest limits of the navigable ocean, and expected to be stopped by the weed, as their fabulous St. Barandan had formerly been by the ice of the polar regions.

By examining a multitude of observations on the subject, deposited in the archives of the English Admiralty, in order to determine the limits of the Sea of Sargasso, Major Rennell found that this great bank of fucus had undergone no change of place between the years 1776 and 1819, either in longitude or latitude. This remarkable permanency of position M. von Humboldt has shown to have existed so far back as the end of the fifteenth century, by discussing the observations of Columbus.

Three different explanations have been advanced to account for the existence of Fucus natans in this sea. Some are of opinion that there are, in these latitudes, numerous banks at the bottom of the ocean on which the fuci grow, and from which they are accidentally detached; others, that these plants vegetate, and develop themselves even on the surface of the water; but the opinion most generally received is, that the Sea of Weeds is merely the site where the Gulf-stream continually deposits the plants with which it is loaded on issuing from the Gulf of Mexico.

This last-mentioned hypothesis has been adopted by Major Rennell, although it is very far from explaining why a great proportion of the floating weeds in the Sea of Sargasso are, instead of being faded or decayed, in a state of great freshness. Indeed, English navigators never fail, when they speak of these regions, to mention the fresh weed, and the weed much decayed. Christopher Columbus himself, as M. von Humboldt has remarked, was likewise much struck with the mixture of yerba muy vieja y otra muy fresca.

The floating fuci of the Sea of Sargasso are always destitute of roots and fruit. If we suppose them to be developed in the same region

*It would therefore be 140 to 170 miles from east to west, and about 1700 miles from north to south; an area of about 264,000 square miles.-ED.

where they are found, we must consider them to be, as M. Meyen has done, similar to fresh-water algae, many of which multiply only by new branches. It will likewise remain to be explained by what means it is that the waters over such a great extent of sea escape so completely from the action of winds and currents, that centuries have not been sufficient to disperse the plants which were found collected there at the end of the fifteenth century, when the galleys of Columbus ploughed through them for the first time.

It doubtless appears more natural to suppose, that, in proportion as the winds and currents drive the floating fuci beyond the ordinary limits of the Sea of Sargasso, their places at the surface are occupied by others detached from the bottom. According to this hypothesis the fuci are stationary in appearance only; the sea would always appear alike covered over the region which produces them, yet the individuals would be continually regenerated.

What, then, is necessary at the present time to throw light on this curious point in terrestrial physics? A few experiments, which, though extremely simple, are still wanting to science,-soundings, sufficiently deep, made along the borders, and towards the centre, of the Sea of Sargasso.

[To be concluded in our next.]

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

This University is at length constituted by Royal Charter, of which the following is a verbatim Copy :

WILLIAM the FOURTH, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas, we have deemed it to be the duty of our Royal office, for the advancement of religion and morality, and the promotion of useful knowledge, to hold forth to all classes and denominations of our faithful subjects, without any distinction whatsoever, an encouragement for pursuing a regular and liberal course of education; and considering that many persons do prosecute or complete their studies, both in the metropolis and in other parts of our United Kingdom, to whom it is expedient that there should be offered such facilities, and on whom it is just that there should be conferred such distinctions and rewards as may incline them to persevere in these their laudable pursuits : Now know ye, that for the purpose of ascertaining, by means of examination, the persons who have acquired proficiency in literature, science, and art, by the pursuit of such course of education, and of rewarding them by academical degrees, as evidence of their respective attainments, and marks of ho

nour proportioned thereunto, we do, by virtue of our prerogative Royal, and of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, will grant, declare, and constitute,

Our right trusty and well-beloved cousin, William Cavendish, Earl of Burlington. The Right Rev. Father in God, Edward, Lord Bishop of Durham.

The Right Rev. Father in God, William, Lord Bishop of Chichester.

Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, Henry Baron Brougham and Vaux, and

Our trusty and well-beloved George Biddell Airy, Esq., our Astronomer Royal, and Fellow of the Royal Society.

Andrew Amos, Esq., Barrister-at-Law.
Thomas Arnold, Doctor in Divinity.
John Austin, Esq., Barrister-at-Law.
Neil Arnott, Esq., Doctor in Medicine.
John Bacot, Esq.

Francis Beaufort, Esq., Captain of our Royal Navy, Hydrographer of the Admiralty, and Member of the Naval Society.

Archibald Billing, Esq., Doctor in Me

Chancellor instead of the Chancellor occasioning such vacancy. That the office of Vice-Chancellor of the said University shall be an annual office; and the Vice-Chancellor hereinbefore named shall, at the expiration of one year from the 1st of July, 1837, go out of office, and the said Fellows or Members of the Senate shall, at the meeting to be holden by them for that purpose, on some day within a month before the expiration of the tenure of the said office, of which due notice shall be given, elect one other fit and proper person to be the Vice-Chancellor of the said University, and so from time to time annually; or, in case of the death, resignation, or other avoidance of such Vice-Chancellor, before the expiration of his year of office, shall, at a meeting to be holden by them for that purpose as soon as conveniently may be, of which due notice shall be given, elect some other fit and proper person to be ViceChancellor for the remainder of the year in which such death, resignation, or other avoidance shall happen; such person to be chosen from among themselves by the major part of the Fellows present at such meeting, and to be approved of by the Chancellor of the said University for the time being.

That we reserve to ourselves to be the visitor of the said University of London, with authority to do all things which pertain to visitors, as often as to us shall seem meet.

to one of our principal Secretaries of State, and approved of and countersigned by him.

That all questions which shall come before the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows, shall be decided by a majority of the members present; and the chairman at any such meeting shall have a vote, and in case of an equality of votes, a second or casting vote.

That no question shall be decided at any meeting unless the Chancellor, or ViceChancellor, and five Fellows, or, in the absence of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, unless six Fellows at the least, shall be present at the time of such decision.

That at every meeting of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows, the Chancellor, or in his absence the Vice-Chancellor, shall preside as chairman, or in the absence of both, a chairman shall be chosen by the members present, or the major part of them.

That the said Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows, for the time being, shall have full power from time to time to appoint, and, as they shall see occasion, to remove all examiners, officers, and servants of the said University.

That once, at least, in every year, the said Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows, shall cause to be held an examination of candidates for degrees; and on every such examination the candidates shall be examined either by examiners appointed for the purpose from among the Fellows by the That the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, said Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Feland Fellows. for the time being, shall have lows, or by other examiners so to be apthe entire management of, and superin- pointed; and that on every such examinatendence over, the affairs, concerns, and tion the candidates shall be examined in as property of the said University; and in all many branches of general knowledge as the cases unprovided for by this our charter, said Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Felit shall be lawful for the Chancellor, Vice- lows, shall consider the most fitting subjects Chancellor, and Fellows, to act in such of such examination. And whereas it is expemanner as shall appear to them best cal- dient to extend the benefits of colleges and culated to promote the purposes intended establishments already instituted, or which by the said University; and the said Chan- may be hereafter instituted, for the promocellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows, shall tion of literature, science, and art, whether have full power from time to time to make, incorporated or not incorporated, by conand also to alter any by-laws and regula- necting them for such purposes with the tions (so as the same be not repugnant to University created by this our Royal charthe laws of our realm, or to the general ter-We do hereby further will and ordain, objects and provisions of this our charter) that all persons shall be admitted as cantouching the examinations for degrees, didates for the respective degrees of Bacheand the granting of the same, and touch- lor of Arts, Master of Arts, Bachelor of ing the mode and time of convening the Laws, or Doctor of Laws, to be conferred meetings of the Chancellor, Vice-Chan- by the said University of London, on precellor, and Fellows, and in general touch-senting to the said Chancellor, Vice-Chaning all other matters whatsoever regarding the said University; and all such by-laws and regulations, when reduced into writing, and after the common seal of the said University shall have been affixed thereto, shall be binding upon all persons members thereof, and all candidates for degrees to be conferred by the same; all such by-laws and regulations having been first submitted VOL. II.

cellor, and Fellows, a certificate from any of the institutions hereinafter mentioned, to the effect that such candidate has completed the course of instruction which the said Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows, by regulation in that behalf shall determine.

That such certificates as aforesaid may be granted from our college called University College, or from our College

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