38 ORIGIN OF THE 



converted into its original elements, oxygen 

 and hydrogen gases. 



This process of conversion of these gases to 

 water, and of decomposition, would continue 

 until the earth's surface became sufficiently cool 

 to admit the water to come in contact with it. 

 This conversion of the gases into water would 

 be incessant, and produce a constant blaze of 

 light and heat, at first remote, and afterwards 

 nearer the earth's surface, until all the oxygen 

 and hydrogen had been combined, in due pro- 

 portions, in the form of water ; or, until the 

 temperature of the exterior had become reduced 

 too low to afford the heat required to unite them. 

 The ocean's bed would then be many miles from 

 the earth's surface, and so rare that the light 

 from the earth might be seen through it at im- 

 mense distances. But, as the heat at the earth's 

 surface would be constantly diminishing, the 

 water would be finally admitted to it, but in a 

 state of extremely minute vapor, which would 



