30 VESTIGES OF THE 



sliould prove to be the case, it would little affect tlie view 

 which we are taking of cosmieal arrangements. Analogy 

 would lead us to conclude that the combinations of the 

 primordial matter, forming our so-called elements, are 

 as universal, or as liable to take place everywhere, as are 

 the laws of gravitation and centiifugal force. We must 

 therefore presume that the gases, the metals, the earths, 

 and other simple substances (besides whatever more of 

 which we have no acquaintance) exist or are liable to 

 come into existence under proper conditions, as well in 

 the astral system, which is thirty-five thousand times 

 more distant than Sirius, as within the bounds of our 

 own solar system or our own globe. 



Matter, whether it consist of about fifty-five ingre- 

 dients, or only one, is liable to iniinite varieties of 

 condition under different circumstances, or, to speak 

 more philosophically, under different laws. As a familiar 

 illustration, water, when subjected to a temperature 

 under 32° Fahrenheit, becomes ice ; raise the temperature 

 to 212°, and it becomes steam, occupying a vast deal 

 more space than it formerly did. The gases, when sub- 

 jected to pressure, become liquids ; for example, carbonic 

 acid gas, when subjected to a weight equal to a column 

 of water 1230 feet high, at a temperature of 32°, takes 

 this form : the other gases require various amounts of 

 pressure for this transformation, but all appear to bo 

 liable to it when the pressure proper in each case is 

 administered. Heat is a power greatly concerned in 

 regulating the volume and other conditions of matter. 

 A chemist can reckon with considerable precision what 

 additional amount of heat would be required to vaporise 

 all the water of our globe ; how much more to disengage 

 the oxygen which is diffused in nearly a proportion of 

 one-half throughout its solids; and, finally, how much 



