crust of the earth, the more extensive must have been 

 the volatilization of these substances. Thus was pro- 

 duced the density of the atmosphere. 



2. It is said, that the cooling crust, formed by the 

 gradual retreat of the fires to the centre of the earth, 

 continued to augment, as the cooling process advanced. 

 Why should this mass augment 1 



If the materials mentioned as producing, by volati- 

 lization, a dense atmosphere, were kept by the high 

 temperature of the earth in a sublimated or aeriform 

 state, it f(il low^s that they w^ould be brought to their ori- 

 ginal condition, through the influence of cold. The 

 w'ater, lead, sulphur, mercury, and zinc, rendered aeri- 

 form, by heat, assumed their first form, when that heat 

 subsided. Too weighty to be kept in the air, they 

 were precipitated on the earth, and thus they aug- 

 mented its volume. When the t*emperature was still 

 further lowered, water, permitted to remain in its liquid 

 state, produced new accessions, by precipitation and 

 crvstalizati-m. 



The materials thus cast upon the earth, in cooling, 

 assumed various positions. Thus — the water is sepa- 

 rated from land, and poured into permanent basins : 

 the lead, sulphur, mercury, zinc, are branched off into 

 arteries throughout the body of the rocks. Why this? 

 A pressure of fluids, interior contractions, possibly the 

 influence of electricity, induced ruptures of the solid 

 crust of the earth. Thus deep chasms were formed, 

 and the water deposited upon adjacent^parts, rushing 

 to these depressions, formed lakes and seas. Internal 

 fires, breaking forth from the centre of the earth, melt- 

 ed rocks and metals, sent granites violently upwards 

 through superincumbent materials, effused the fluid 



