SUBTERRANEAN CHEMICAL FORCES. 417 



keeping the air, the ocean, and the earth, in a 

 state of unceasing circulation converting solids 

 into liquids, gases and vapours, which are suc- 

 cessively changed into plants and animals. The 

 atmosphere is continually wasted by oxidation r 

 combustion, and the respiration of animals. But 

 is it not as constantly reproduced by vegetable 

 and animal decomposition? and are we not 

 authorized to conclude, that if the whole at- 

 mosphere were annihilated, it would be again 

 reproduced? or that if all the waters of the 

 ocean were extinguished, they would be gra- 

 dually regenerated by igneous chemical agency? 

 Wherever there is chemical action there must 

 be liquids and gases generated.* During respi- 

 ration and putrefaction carbonic acid is gene- 

 rated, the appropriate of food of living vege- 

 tation, which returns a portion of oxygen to the 

 atmosphere under the influence of solar light. 

 During the decomposition of organic matter, a 

 portion of atmospheric oxygen combines with 

 its hydrogen, forming water, and so on through 

 all the endless ramifications of nature, we per- 

 ceive that death is only a transformation of 

 matter, by which the earth is perpetually re- 

 novated, and crowned with immortal beauty. 



* Hence the improbability of the astronomical hypothesis, 

 that the moon, Vesta, and some other planets, have no atmos- 

 pheres ; or that the atmosphere of Ceres is more than 668 miles 

 high, and that of Pallas 465 miles, according to the observations 

 of Shroeter and others. 



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