210 Dr. Cooper on Volcanoes 
stones, that we find extending for many miles in length, and 
a few yards powiperstirely 3 in breadth. 
ave witnessed the fall of trees in the Ameri- 
can woods = the aoe ay hurricanes, extending fifty or six- 
ty miles in length, and from a quarter to half a mile per- 
haps in breadth, with vite exactly defined through the 
whole length, will find no difficulty in applying the force of 
Bede acting pe pean of limited direction and limited ex- 
how a pane: pi can be formed by solution in water, 
and su ent crystalization, or how by means of aqueous 
solution, ea veins can shoot into and permeate newer 
rocks, we must hesitate in admitting aqueous solution as 
the cause: and we ate lose nothing in the mean time by 
confessing our ignoran 
From the laws of Bins of aqueous fluids thus laid down, 
it will follow, that the deposits of solid matter from aqueous 
solution, must be more or less crystalline ; and from 
ere: mixture, they must be soft, pliable and pasty. 
nee, it will be impossible for mountain masses, amor- 
phous, and rising into peaked or abrupt eminences to be 
thus formed : for while in their soft state, they will of neces- 
sity fall down and subside in strata of comparatively even and 
uniform surfaces : itis manifest you cannot form an abrupt 
pent or a mountain-mass, out of mud. 
It will follow also, that as all apis depositions must as- 
sume a plane and uniform surface, so far as the subjacent 
rock will admit of it, no abrupt mountain mass can have beer 
formed by deposition from aqueous mixture : and the moun- 
tain eminences on the surface of our globe, must be ac- 
counted for onsome other principle. But we have no other 
principle left to account for them except the action of sub- 
terranean fire ; to which alone, if this reasoning be legiti- 
mate, we must ascribe their elevation : unless indeed we 
consider them as the waves of a fluid mass turning on ca 
axis ; but even this su | x will account for no 
or peak, or any abrupt eminence: such a Saoioeiil 
produce round-backed mountains but no cher, ae this 
