ALL ROCKS FORMED FROM SOLUTION. 243 



yea, the " everlasting mountains" have silently 

 mouldered into ruins, and been transported to 

 other regions ; but nature remains for ever fresh 

 and vigorous, as in the morning of creation. 



The " sun himself may waste away, grow dim 

 with age," and pass into other modes of exist- 

 ence still, there is not the slightest evidence 

 that the primitive constituents of matter ever 

 change. Mr. Lyell has done a most important 

 service to the science of geology by proving, 

 that all the revolutions of the earth have been 

 brought about by existing causes. 



If then it be true that caloric is indispensable 

 to the existence of gaseous oxygen, and to its 

 combination with other bodies, as in combustion, 

 fermentation, and putrefaction to the genera- 

 tion of water, and its power of uniting with salts, 

 it is equally essential to the generation of acids, 

 and to their chemical combination with the al- 

 kaline, earthy, and metallic oxides, as in the 

 formation of salts and rocks. 



It is quite evident, that all solid bodies have 

 been formed from a state of chemical solution. 

 Volcanic rocks have been formed from a state 

 of fusion by subterranean caloric; while sedi- 

 mentary rocks have been formed from a state 

 of solution in water ; and I have proved that the 

 solvent power of water is owing wholly to ca- 

 loric that those bodies which are insoluble in 



