ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. 363 



ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE PLANETS JUPITER AXD 



SATURN. 



At the British Association, Mr. Nasmyth presented a paper, in 

 which, after glancing at the theory of the original molten condition of 

 the planets, he stated, that he had been led to some interesting con- 

 clusions respecting the present condition of such enormous planets as 

 Jupiter and Saturn, which might tend to explain certain phenomena 

 in respect to their aspect. Assuming the original fluid condition of 

 the earth, and going very far back into the remote and formative 

 periods of the earth's geological history, we may find glimpses of the 

 cause of those tremendous deluges, of which geological phenomena 

 afford such striking evidence, and by whose peculiar dissolving and 

 disintegrating action on the igneous formations which at that early 

 period of the earth's history must have formed the only material of its 

 crust, we may in that respect obtain some insight into the source 

 whence the material which formed the first sedimentary strata was 

 derived. If we only carry our minds back to that early period of the 

 earth's geological history, where the temperature of its surface was so 

 high that no water in its fluid form could rest upon it, and follow 

 its condition from such non-oceanic state to that period at which, by 

 reason of the comparatively cooled-down condition of its surface, it 

 began to be visited by partial and transient descents of the ocean, 

 which had till then existed only in the form of a vast vapor envelope 

 to the earth, we shall find in such considerations, not only the most 

 sublime subject of reflection in reference to the primitive condition of 

 the earth, but also, as it appears to me, a very legitimate basis on 

 which to rest our speculations in regard to the probable present con- 

 dition of Jupiter and Saturn, - - both of which great planets, I strongly 

 incline to consider are yet in so hot a condition as not only not to per- 

 mit of the permanent descent of their oceanic matter, but to cause 

 such to exist suspended as a vast vapor envelope, subject to incessant 

 disturbances by reason of the abortive attempts which such vapor 

 envelope may make in temporary and partial descents upon the hissing- 

 hot surface o"f the planet. Recurring again to this early period of the 

 earth's geological history, when it was surrounded with a vast vapor 

 envelope, consisting of all the water which now forms the ocean, the 

 exterior portion of this vapor envelope must, by reason of the radiation 

 of its heat into space, have been continually descending in the form of 

 deluges of hot water upon the red-hot surface of the earth. Such an 

 action as this must have produced atmospheric commotions of the most 

 fearful character ; and towards the latter days of this state of things, 

 when considerable portions of what was afterwards to form our ocean 

 came down in torrents of water upon the then thin solid crust of the 

 earth, the sudden contraction which such transient visits of the ocean 

 must have produced on the crust of the earth would be followed by 

 tremendous contortions of its surface, and belchings forth of the yet 

 molten matter beneath, such as yields legitimate material for the iinag- 



32 



