^30 Natural History. [Chap. III. 



and threw them in every direction. The ashes of 

 this almost universal conflagration being the most 

 saline of the then existing substances, formed a 

 lixivium, which, filtering through the interstices of 

 the broken strata, produced the quartz and other 

 similar substances which now compose them. 

 Wherever this lixivium and quartzeous flux de* 

 posed large quantities of matter, granite was form- 

 ed; and, by a dilferent modification of the same 

 materials, other mineral bodies were composed. 

 This great conflagration occasioned hollows and 

 cavities of incalculable dimensions; which, being- 

 laid open by some violent shock, were filled by 

 v/aters of the ocean ; by which sudden retreat of 

 the watery element, large portions of the globe 

 were left dry, and formed new continents, while 

 ])arts of the old continents fell into hollows and 

 disappeared. Beside our earth, which has under- 

 gone this series of revolutions, an indefinite nunv 

 ber of like cold lifeless masses exist, resting invi- 

 sible in darkness and inactivity, waiting for some 

 favourable circumstance, which may bring them 

 to light, life, and motion. 



Such are the outlines of a theory which, though 

 exhibited and defended with some talents, may be 

 con.sidered as the most wild, and as involving the 

 most palpable opposition to every received prin- 

 ciple, that has yet been presented to the public. 

 Indeed, its unreasonableness and extravagance are 

 ho great, that it seems to have attracted but little 

 respectful attention among any class of philoso- 

 phors. 



This theorist was succeeded by another of the 



