the Origin of Meteoric Stones. 33? 



separate lodgings for them in the atmosphere. But by what 

 vagary of the imagination these things can be supposed to be ac- 

 comphshed Mr. M. has not told us; he has not given us so much 

 as a single hint how to proceed, but has left us entirely to our 

 own resources ; and, considering the creative powers of this gen- 

 tleman's fertile imagination, and the difficulty of the undertaking 

 which he has imposed upon us, it does not appear verv handsome 

 thus to leave us in total darkness. 



However, lest it should be imagined that we object to trifles, 

 let us suppose that all these difficulties are overcome; yet even in 

 this case our labours are far from being ended ; for after we have 

 got the two gaseous solvents collected, and mounted far beyond, 

 the clouds, or accommodated with separate chambers in the air, 

 we have still an arduous task left; they must be kept from mixing 

 with the atmosphere, till some favourable circumstances bring 

 them into contact. But how this is to be done is not so easily 

 perceived: for it is well known that all kinds of gases, yet dis- 

 covered, diffuse themselves through atmospherical air whenever 

 they come in contact with it, even when kept perfectly still; — how 

 much more quickly then must they be mi^xed in an agitated at- 

 mosphere ! And as the quantity of either oxygen or hydrogen 

 which has ever been known to issue from the earth, is so very 

 trifling when compared with the surrounding atmosphere, they 

 must, in every case, be completely diffused in it : nay, even in the 

 extreme case of a volcano sending forth a quantity of hydrogen 

 gas, it would in a few days be so diffused, that it is very doubtful 

 whether it would amount to such a quantity at any one place as 

 to be appreciable by the most accurate methods yet known. This 

 is a circumstance which Mr. Murray ought to have been very 

 careful in guarding against, as an oversight here must prove fatal 

 to his hypothesis: for if the gases get mixed with the atmosphere, 

 the mixture would be far too weak to be capable of ignition, even 

 if we suppose the different states of electricity still to remain, and 

 the electric explosion to take place. 



As Mr. Murray says that in hypothetical cases '' we are at li- 

 berty to suppose what we will," I shall avail myself of this liberty, 

 by supposing, however improbable or absurd the supposition may 

 be, that all the foregoing objections and difficulties are not worth 

 noticing, and that his hypothesis is still admissible and entitled 

 to our serious consideration : yet even this gigantic effort in its 

 favour will avail but little: for the consecpienccs which he asserts 

 would follow, could not possibly flow from his premises. He says, 

 " The two electricities rushing into contact would produce cx- 

 ])losion ; the gases would be ignited, the stony materials undergo 

 fusion, — and in that moment the formed aerolite would take its 



Y 2 flight 



