CALORIFICATION; 381 



focus the solar rays, we have no such power 

 over the rays of fire ; the repelling power which 

 they manifest, eludes all attempts to their con- 

 centration ; wherever they exist, they be- 

 come the immediate cause of which the dilata- 

 tion of the surrounding parts are the effects ; 

 the effects which are produced bearing a cer- 

 tain and definite proportion to the quantity and 

 intensity of the fire which is applied. It is very 

 probable, that the electric fire, in passing 

 through the earth, was the primary agent in the 

 ignition of the combustible materials, which 

 were involved within its bowels, and in accom- 

 plishing the combination of the (latent) light 

 with them : the fatal and terrific effects of which 

 We have seen extended far and near. 



Great and astonishing as the power must 

 Unquestionably be, by the agency of which 

 these awful and frightful effects were produced, 

 it is, nevertheless, very probable, that it falls 

 infinitely short of what it was at the beginning, 

 -at that memorable epoch, the moment of the 

 creation,- at that memorable epoch, when 

 the earth was without form ; that is, when 

 matter existed without figure, and when 

 void, and when darkness was on the face of 

 the deep,- of the deep, or of that immense 

 space between the waters below and the 

 heavens above, in which no air or atmos- 

 phere existed to fill it, no light to illumi- 



