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ture must be totall}^ changed before the earth would take 

 a solid form. 



On the supposition that the earth, previous to its fmid 

 state, had existed always in a solid state, and that sone 

 creation or accident produced the fire or water necessa- 

 ry to its liquefaction, we have in that case first to suppose, 

 that the order and nature of the general laws which had 

 kept it always in a solid state, were totally changed, to 

 produce a fluid state; and that another change in the ge- 

 neral laws which produced and kept it in a fluid state, 

 must have taken place previous to its having become 

 again solid. 



It may be doubted, whether the uniformity, order and 

 regularity of the general laws of nature, which have at 

 any time come within the liniits of our observation, can 

 warrant a supposition, founded on such complete changes 

 in the mode of action. 



The neptunists admit the fluidity of the earth, and 

 endeavour to prove that water must have been the- cause 

 of that fluidity; though to dissolve the greater part of the 

 substances now found on the surface, or as far under it: 

 as we have yet penetrated, would require two or three 

 thousand times more water than the solid contents of the 

 whole globe. How nature has disposed of that immense 

 quantity of water, now become unnecessary by the con- 

 solidation of the globe, is but one of the many difficulties 

 which arise out of the neptunian system. 



The volcanists, likewise, consider the fluidity of the 

 globe as a necessaiy foundation for their system; but in- 

 sist that fire must have been the cause of it, nor can they, 

 in a satisfactory manner, dispose of the immense quantity of 

 heat or caloric, become unnecessary by tlie consolidation of 

 the globe: difficulties that must always attend s\ippositions 



