ICE IN THE ATLANTIC.
ICE loosened from the Arctic fields is floating down the Atlantic to cool the Torrid zone ; Nature performing the office of a vast confectioner, in conveying from the stores of Winter the daintiest of luxuries to languid Summer. So the Atlantic flood bears on his embassy presents more precious, and not less lovely, thaw those which Bahadoor Jung leas brought from farthest Ind to Queen -Victoria. But the passing embassy makes itself know n to us mortals with dread consequences : our vessels are caught between the huge gems of ice, and crushed up; our mariners perish ; our very atmosphere at home is altered, and a chill comes upon our too temperate summer. These things have happened before ; and if we suffer, we derive an exalt consolation from an insight into n the working of the great causes that bring them about. Yet if we knew still more, we might avoid some of the conse- quences that hurt us. This is a functien for the "useless" " Arctic expeditions : they may serve to throw a light on the changes of the seasons in the region of winter, and tell us how to calculate these visitations of ioe-fields in the Atlantic. Thus, even a Frank- lin lost may purchase the salvation of many a good ship hereafter, to say nothing of the effects of such knowledge en our sanatory arrangements at home.
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