108 On the Origin of Hot Springs. 



respond with, or differ from, the opinions of others, I know not ; 

 as I do not remember to liave even seen any cognate views or 

 sentiments published upon this subject, I therefore beg leave 

 to submit the outlines of my cogitations to vour judgement ; and 

 if you consider them worthy of a place, your inserting them w ill 

 confer a favour. 



I do not conceive an effort of Nature equal to the production 

 of volcanic matter necessary to bring forth hot or boiling water 

 from the interior of the eartli ; the temperature and properties 

 of all s])riiigs must depend on the arrangement and quality of 

 the superior and intervening strata, the porosity or scissures of 

 the various layers, and the nature and quantity of the metals con- 

 tained in these strata. I hold all mineral stratification, whether 

 perpendicular, inclined or horizontal, on the mountain or in the 

 valley, as so many natural Galvanic piles, whose powers of de- 

 composition and deflagration must correspond with the number 

 and composition of the natural plates : — hence the graduation of 

 temperature and properties in hot,boiiing or mineral waters issuing 

 from these stratifications. Where the stratification presents a 

 pile of diminutive powers, a partial decomposition only, without 

 deflagration, takes place. The oxidable minerals take up the 

 ovygen, leave the hydrogen at liberty to act on the iron, the sul- 

 phur, the carbon, or whatever comes in its way : hence the sul- 

 phuretted and cari)uretted hydrogen gases that accompany these 

 •waters, and the iron in chalybeates; — or the hydrogen appears 

 in the horrifying shape of inflammable gas in coal-mines or 

 other underground workings; or escapes through the loose su- 

 perior strata into the upper regions of the atmosphere, loaded 

 with its mineral spoils, where, exploding, it produces thunder 

 and rain, and the elements, simultaneously collapsing to fill up 

 tiie vacuum, force into the centre the mineral particles carried 

 thither by the hydrogen, in a state of extreme ignition, and pro- 

 duce the meteoric sfmes, &c. that fall from the clouds. 



While the diminutive piles are only producing hydrogen, mi- 

 neral waters, hot-baths an<l boiling springs ; the great strata or 

 major piles are at work in the interior of the different regions 

 of the globe, and their effects brought to light by mounts Hecla, 

 Etna, Vesuvius, Strombolo, &cc. And the deflagration of metals 

 and minerals produced by the artificial pile on the small experi- 

 mental scale of the laboratory, are here produced in all the awful 

 majesty and glory of nature, infinitely beyond the reach of hu- 

 man effort. The intermitting of volcanic mountains must de- 

 pend on the quantity of water contained in, or connected with, 

 the mountain, the component parts of which I conceive to be 

 the grand reservoir of combustion. When the volcano ceases to 

 flame, it is when its anterior struggles have exhausted and dried 



up 



