1835.] BecquereVs Traitt Experimental, fyc. 69 



results in these successive changes. The temperature continuing to 

 lower, oxygen, hydrogen, and non-metallic bodies would act upon 

 each other, and give origin to water and acids, which would produce 

 a multitude of combinations. The first re-action upon the alloys of 

 potassium with the more combustible metals would be strong, and 

 give rise to heat sufficient to volatilize again many of the condensed 

 bodies. At this period, the saline and earthy bases would be formed, 

 and the oxygen having been absorbed by a great number of bodies, 

 much azote would remain, in consequence of its weak affinity for the 

 bases. As the diminution of temperature always continued, the 

 crust formed over the metallic bath would occupy less space, and 

 give rise to contractions and elevations which would produce the 

 mountains according to Beaumont's explanation. The waters he 

 conceives which began at first to cover the earth's surface were 

 strongly acidulated, and in filtering through fissures in the crust 

 would be accumulated in cavities, from whence they would fall on 

 the fused metals, and give rise to earthquakes and volcanoes. These 

 actions being frequently renewed the crust of the earth would in- 

 crease in thickness, and would allow liquids to pass with greater 

 difficulty, and eruptions would then become less frequent, in conse- 

 quence of the diminution of atmospheric temperature. Then began 

 organized beings to appear in the form of monocotyledonous plants 

 of colossal dimensions, flourishing in an atmosphere possessing a much 

 greater proportion of carbonic acid than now exists in it, an idea 

 which is strengthened by the circumstance of the contemporaneous 

 limestone containing shells of molluscous animals. 



In the last of the transition formations we meet with remains of 

 zoophytes and molluscous animals, then fishes, reptiles, birds, and 

 mammiferous animals. The air being purified, and the earth having 

 acquired greater stability, man appeared to rule over the hitherto 

 spiritless globe. The world being thus formed, disintegration of the 

 elevated matter, by electric, chemical, and other agencies, affords an 

 explanation of the newer deposits. 



Volcanoes. — The products of Vesuvius are lava, sometimes gra- 

 nite, mica slate, sulphurous and muriatic acid gases, sometimes car- 

 bonic, rarely azote. In the fissures of the rocks are found common 

 salt, sal ammoniac, chlorides of copper and iron, boric acid, sulphur, 

 sulphuret of arsenic. The volcanoes of America emit gases, differing 

 from those of Vesuvius ; Talima affords vapour of water, carbonic 

 acid gas, and sulphuretted hydrogen, as well as those of Purace, 

 Pasto6, and Tuqueres. Humboldt relates that a shower of fish was 

 discharged by a Mexican volcano. The most plausible theory con- 

 siders these phenomena to be connected with a communication existing 

 between the seats of volcanoes and the waters of the ocean ; for the 

 epoch when these eruptions were common, was when the communi- 

 cation was more easy. Then was effected that great depression in 

 the West of Asia, whose lowest level is the Caspian Sea, and Lake 

 Aral, (50 to 30 toises below the surface of the ocean) which extends 

 from Saratov to Orenburgh, and appears to have an intimate con- 

 nexion with the elevation of Caucasus and Hindoukha. This bason 

 or crater resembles Hipparchus, Archimedes and Ptolomy, on the 

 surface of the Moon, which are thirty leagues in diameter. 



