CHAPTER IV. 



CHEMISTRY OF THE INTERIOR. 



WE have seen that on the surface the powers 

 of the chemistry of creation are never at rest ; 

 that the repose which, prevails is apparent, not 

 real, and that there is a ceaseless law of change 

 influencing all the objects which have been 

 presented to our notice. Must we suppose 

 that the earth's chemistries are only on the 

 surface, and that all within is quiescent ? Could 

 by some power a chasm be rent through the 

 crust on which we stand, and we look down 

 into the fearful gulf below, we should doubt- 

 less find that there was no scene of quiet, no 

 symptom of repose. It might be thought that, 

 without such a means of ascertaining what was 

 going on in the interior of the earth, there was 

 little for the student of nature's chemistry to 

 investigate upon this subject. But we shall 

 proceed to show that in various ways a very 

 large and very interesting amount of informa- 

 tion is afforded us, as to the chemical processes 



