The Universe* SS 



nature. It is the intermediate space be- 

 tween the mountain's top and the sea- 

 shore that forms the habitation of plants 

 and animals. While there is sea-shore 

 and high ground, there is that which is 

 required in the system of the world ; 

 take that away, and there would remain 

 an aqueous globe in which the world 

 would perish. 



What the internal or central part of the 

 earth is composed of is utterly unknown 

 to us, though many opinions have been 

 formed respecting it ; the utmost depth to 

 which it hath been penetrated by human 

 art not being more than 2400 feet, or less 

 than half a mile, which, when compared 

 with the length of the diameter, is a very 

 -short distance indeed.. From its mean 

 density, however, which is to that of wa- 

 ter as 9 to 2, and to common stone as 9 

 to 5, it is presumed that it contains great 

 quantities of metals. 



The figure of the earth is that of a 

 spheroid, having its equatorial diameter 

 longer than its polar diameter. It is con- 

 sequently flattest at the poles, and more 

 protuberant at the equator. 



With respect to the magnitude of the 

 C2 



