HIGH TEMPERATURE OF THE INTERIOR. 115 



years and two months, to the depth of nearly 

 1,800 feet. The temperature of this beautifully 

 pure and abundant spring is 82, being about 

 30 higher than the average temperature of the 

 surface. The same fact was noticed in sink- 

 ing the Artesian well at Southampton. At the 

 depth of 520 feet the water which flowed into 

 it was from 61 to 62. The atmosphere of the 

 well at 50 feet was 54; at 160 feet, 60; and 

 at 543 feet, 65; showing a rise of temperature 

 with the descent. The phenomena of hot-springs, 

 volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes, all seem to 

 indicate a high temperature in the world within. 

 The heat of substances ejected from volcanoes 

 cannot be less than 1000 Fahr. 



Now, if the same increase of temperature 

 continued as we descended, supposing we could 

 bore to the depth of rather less than two miles, 

 water would rise up through the tube at the 

 boiling point, or 212 of Fahrenheit. Upon a 

 similar calculation, the increase of 1 for about 

 every fifty feet of depth, we should arrive at 

 the point of red heat on penetrating to the 

 depth of nine miles : at about forty miles' depth 

 all substances with which we are acquainted 

 would melt, and presuming that the same law of 

 increase prevailed, it is not difficult to reach a 

 point in the imagination when the temperature 

 would be great beyond all powers of expression 



