74 



De. Macticar's Adaptation of the Philosophy of 



Pbim.^ital Abyss. 



Enveloped in an atmosphere of vapour, therefore, its extent depending 

 on the existing temperature, we thus arrive, in our hypothesis, at an 

 aqueous mass, in the bosom of the universal Eether, gathered till it 

 became a primaeval abyss. 



And therein, towards the central parts, as soon as it has attained to a 

 certain depth, there can be no doubt that a molecule so delicately con- 

 structed as a particle of water will have to yield under the crushing 

 effects of the tremendous pressure to which it is exposed. In fact, the 

 space required to accommodate a single particle of water (which con- 

 sists of only 36 atoms of vapour), is competent to contain no fewer than 

 100 of the latter, when compacted together as steam, at a maximum of 

 density. Such compacted vapour or steam, therefore, we may look for 

 in the central parts of our abyss. But though it is impossible for the 

 particles of that steam to reunite equatorially, so as to recover the form 

 of water while the pressure continues, there is nothing to prevent them 

 from coupling by their poles. And this they will tend to do, because 

 tlie six parts of which these poles consist are altei-nately dissimilar to 

 each other. We thus obtain as our second 

 molecular species a sort of double vapour (fig. 

 A in), more permanent than a particle of water, yet 

 considered as a form, more defective, inasmuch 

 as its poles are still six-partite ; and its equato- 

 rial region, instead of being the most expanded 

 of all, is more contracted than two other regions, 

 one on each side (forming the equators of the 

 particles of vapour of which it consists). Its 

 axis, under the law of sphericity, is also much 

 too long. Moreover, there is to be observed on the alternate summits 

 of the polar parts an setherial element which is both supernumerary to 

 the symmetry of the molecule, and so placed that by the discharge of 

 these supernumerary particles the axis will be shortened, and the molecule 

 improved. We are therefore to expect that when two atoms of vapour 

 unite thus pole to pole into a particle of double vapour (as soon as the 

 nascent state or epoch is over), they will give off six setherial elements, 

 thus reducing the weight of the new species from 2 x 45 = 90 to 90 

 — 6 = 84, which, when H = 1, gives 16' 8. So long, however, as this 

 molecule is naked, and its equatorial region so contracted, compared 

 with what may be called its thoracic and pelvic regions, it must be open 

 to such transformation as will improve it in these respects. And for 

 this an opportunity will occur, wlien one of the six elements, from 



A m 



