208 Dr. Cooper on Volcanoes 
hundred and fifty parts by weight of water to one part of the 
substances in question.’ But the known quantity of water 
on the preceding data will be to the primitive formations: in, 
absolute quantity as 18 only to 150: whereas to dissolve 
them chemically would require six thousand times the weight 
of water known to exist. ‘ 
‘Chemical solution therefore can extend but a very little 
way, even with the aid of subterranean heat.’ Lacknowledge 
these calculations are not accurate : but they are founded 
on the present state of our knowledge ; and in sucha caleu- 
lation, minute accuracy is’ not necessary to the conclusion 
deduced; which is that the primitive crystalized rocks, 
constituting so large a portion of our present globe, so farvas 
its strata have been exposed to our view, have not been 
chemically dissolved, formed, and-erystalized in the mass 
of waters at present or at any ‘time actually known tous." 
It may be supposed, that the oceanic waters! are: less in 
quantity now than formerly : but this supposition is entirely 
gratuitous. It may be supposed, that the solvent powers of 
the water were increased by heat: this also is gratuitous. 
Nor does’ it appear certain that the silex is separated from 
the Geyser spring in crystalized masses.’ Nor is there any 
evidence, however slight, that the waters of the ocean ever 
reached deeper than their present bed = had they :held:in 
solution the ancient and lowest granite, they: wouldvhave 
been exposed to the direct action of subterranean fires, that 
burn now, and for soley we know, have never ceased to 
burn. saHORD 16k gt 2 ebook 
The inferences are “that ‘the crystalized pila: of thevold 
Giinkee and theother crystalized primitive rocks, has al- 
ways been, and is’ independent of any aqueous solution in 
the waters of the present: ocean : wt we can have: nO: evi- 
dence of any others) © saKlq ih 
But 2dly. ‘The present Sttata may il been mhodisi debi im 
the component parts and in their present disposition, by 
having been mechanically mixed with and suspended in the 
waters of the ocean, and from thence mechanically deposi- 
ted: and there is ‘sufficient evidence from present appear- 
ances to induce us to believe that this has been the case-: 
The transition’ and secondary strata, bear such manifest 
marks of subsidence from a state of suspension in a‘disturb- 
ed and turbulent aqueous fluid—there is throughout the 
