48 ORIGIN OF THE 



dered heavier, or more dense, than either of the 

 gases alone, and, consequently, would become 

 the first to be attracted towards the earth. But 

 we have seen, that, in this state, it was not 

 allowed to approach too near the earth's surface, 

 for a long time, without being again reduced to 

 its original elements ; and, when it was finally 

 admitted to come in contact with the surface 

 of the earth, in a state of extremely minute par- 

 ticles of vapor, it was instantly decomposed, 

 the oxygen uniting with the metallic surface, 

 and the hydrogen being again driven off into 

 space. How long this action continued, it would 

 be difficult to conjecture ; but we shall readily 

 perceive, that many ages would be required to 

 reduce the temperature of so large a body of 

 molten matter to a state to admit water to ap- 

 proach it without being decomposed. 



According to our hypothesis, the earth's sur- 

 face was then composed wholly of molten 

 metals, of the least specific gravity, such as 



