MATERIAL, UNIVERSE. 37 



had been expelled from the matter composing 

 the earth at that time, by the immense heat 

 acquired in its passage through space, (for, 

 it will be recollected, that the latent caloric, 

 which had kept all matter in a gaseous state 

 before the laws of attraction had been promul- 

 gated, had been set free,) but were attracted 

 towards it, to be in readiness to subserve the 

 purposes required by the Creator. Carbonic acid 

 gas, being the most dense, would first approach 

 the earth as its temperature diminished, did not 

 other effects intervene to prevent it. The caloric 

 escaping from the heated surface of the earth 

 ignited the hydrogen, which, attracting oxygen, 

 was condensed, or converted into water, pro- 

 ducing a brilliant flash of light, accompanied by 

 heat. This water, being more dense or heavier 

 than the gases in a separate state, would be 

 attracted towards the earth's surface, in a state 

 of extremely minute vapor ; but would be de- 

 composed long before reaching it, and be again 

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