314 Compcfition of Mountains. [Book VI. 



of the bed of the ocean, when the dry land appeared. 

 For, as was remarked in the preceding chapter, by 

 means of the reparation of the .aeriform fluids, which 

 conftitute the atmofphere, the evaporation of part 

 of the water into the atmofphere, and the gradual 

 retreat of the remainder, the various fpecies of earths, 

 before diflblved or diifufed through this mighty rnafs, 

 were difpofed to coalefce, and among thefe the fili- 

 tseous muft have been the firfl, as it is the lead foluble ; 

 but as the filiceous earth has an affinity to the other 

 earths with which it was mixed, fbnie of thefe muft 

 have united in various proportions, and thus have 

 formed, in 'diftinct maffes, the felt fpar, flioerl, and 

 mica, which compofe the granite. Calcareous earth 

 enters very fparingly into the competition of this ilone; 

 but as it is found in fhoerl, which is frequently a com- 

 ponent part of granite, it follows that it muft be one 

 of the primitive earths, and not entirely derived from 

 marine exuviae, as forne have fuppofed. Quart?, can 

 never be fuppofed to be a product of fire; for in a 

 very low heat it burfts, cracks, and lofes its tranfpa- 

 rency, and in the higheft degree of heat that we can 

 produce, is infufible, fo that in every eiTential point 

 it is different from gkfs, to which fome have com- 

 pared it. As granite contains earths of every genus, 

 we may conclude, that all the fimple earths are ori- 

 ginal. This, however, is no proof that they are in 

 reality fimple and uncompounded of other principles ; 

 but they muft be confidered as fuch in the prefenc 

 ftate of our knowledge. Though water undoubtedly 

 dates from creation, yet late experiments have fhewn 

 it to- be a compound, as was formerly ftated. 



Mountains, which confift of lime (lone or marbles 

 of a granular or fcaly texture, and not difpofed in 

 '.f'rata, feem alfo to have preceded the creation of 



animals, 



