On Volcanos and Earthquakes. 45 
mediate cause of earthquakes and voleanos that it ceases to 
be problematical how these fires under ground are not smoth- 
ered for want of oxygen, and how those under the sea are 
ose breaking out in a volcanic eruption, &c. &c. 
But it is high time to close this article, not because the 
subject is exhausted, for it seems to extend in proportion as 
we proc but b se the limits granted to a publication 
are perhaps already outreached. We will hereafter present 
yur readers ‘new considerations derived from the 
Joseru Du Commun. 
Objections to the above Theory.* 
ist. The experiments of Perkinst prove that air, and those 
of Mr. Faraday,{ that many gases, and from analogy, (ground- 
= so many established cases,) we may infer that all 
gases, under extreme compression, especially when aided by 
cold, lose their elastic form, and become fluid. 
is being the fact, all reasonings respecting the con- 
dition. of air under extreme pressure, must contemplate it as 
a fluid—(truly such while the pressure exists)—and resumi 
its elastic character, by diminution or removal of pressure. 
3d. Whether it would form a stratum, distinct from wa- 
ter, must depend upon the existence or absence of affinity 
* Forwarded to the author in a letter from the Editor. 
+ Jones’ Mechanics’ Mag. IV. 2. ¢ Phil. Transac. London, 1828; 
Vou. AV.—No. Is 4 
