VOLCANIC DUST—CHIMERICAL.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5703, 29 December 1883, Page 3

VOLCANIC DUST—CHIMERICAL.

TO THB BDITOB ©V THB T—BBS.

Sib,—When a scientific man is asked to give his opinion on any subject with which he is supposed to be familiar, he must, it seems, gratify questioners by saying something. According to telegraphic communications to the Press more than one learned man has given his opinion that the peculiar sunsets that have been observed- during the present spring have been caused by floating volcanic dust. If such a curious opinion really was given by any learned man it must have been without thought or reflection. Where should or could the volcanic dust come from. "From the Straits of Sunda,'' says the quidnunc 1 About 3000 miles in a north-west direction from us; whereas the sun sets in a southwest direction from us. There might be . some volcanic dust in the neighbourhood of the Straits of Sunda for a day or two after the great eruption, but what that could have to do wit— sunsets thousands of miles-away to the southward won—l puzzle a philosopher to telL My own opinion is that from whatever cause the moisture accumulates the peculiar sunsets have been owing to thin vapor in the upper regions of the atmosphere. Towards sunset each evening the sky has assumed what Bailors call a "watery" appearance. But what about the unsettled weather, what has been the cause of it ? . Well, sir, I say emphatically, icebergs! Probably a warmer summer than usual (such occurs every few years) has set at liberty vast glaciers at the Soath Pole. These great bergs g—-

dually float northward, and cause disturbance in the weather. Such icebergs have been seen, of course much diminished, as far north as the Cape of Good Hope.. Now that we have so many direct steamers, the number*! sailing ships has been greatly lessened, consequently we have had no intelligence from the track of icebergs. I venture to say that we should have heard of a great many icebergs in the southern latitudes if sailing vessels had been continued to be employed as was usual. Yours, Ac, Old Salt. .