Abstraction of Nitrogen from the Atmosphere. 5 
also. shows an abstraction of oxygen from the atmosphere ; 
of rocks which pre-existed to organization ; it being a con- 
stituent of animal bodies, and existing also in inpl shit 
follows, that the density or mass of the atmosphere, must have 
n diminished by the quantity of nitrogen existing in the 
organized products entombed in rocks, and which constitutes | 
living matter. Ses i 
The density of the atmosphere is as the pressure; and't 
pressure is as the quantity of matter; (all things else being 
the same) all our observations show, that the temperature of 
the atmosphere is, as the density, or quantity of matter.con- 
tained in it. The greater the temperature, the greater the 
quantity of water held in solution. ‘The greater the: ty - 
of water in the atmosphere, the greater the heat, and the 
greater the moisture at certain times ; and the greater the 
rains, torrents, winds, storms, inundations, and other abrading 
powers of the earth, The powers or increase of life, are al- 
so in the ratio of heat and moisture. 
at are the geological facts which require at one period 
of the earth—a greater heat—a greater degree of moisture— 
greater alternations of land and water—and greater pow 
adhesion, than exist now, or than existed anterior to some 
of the last geological revolutions of our globe. The facts 
are exhibited by coal, salt, mechanical products and marine 
shells, and in this order, I shall cursorily consider them. 
In the primitive class of rocks, we have no coal, no salt, 
nor even gypsum. The app of the substanc 
menced with the mechanical rocks, or where kno _geologi- 
eal causes began their operations. From the period of the ope- 
rations of known causes, theory ought to be admitted ; for fact 
and theory can mutually subserve each other ; whereas, either 
alone, from the imperfect manner in which facts are collect- 
_ * Such as yield prussic acid, ferment of the French chemists, gluten, &e. 
i tia 
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