388 Scientific Intelligence. 
Sir W. Thomson clearly contemplates the _— of ree 
tion from without inwards as not impossible, for he says “If e 
erimenters will find the latent heat of fusion and the variation of 
than we have at present, and a ve pane of that nucleus may 
at 
it i paces that but a small part of the water contained in n any 
magma would become confined in the interior of the crystals. 
Here, however, the question arises whether it would be possi sible 
for a crust to form over a layer of molten rock in a condition of 
igneo-aqueous fusion. Would not the escape of the water cause 4 
to a certain depth ebullition would cease, and a crust be formed ; 
but that more water woul ready to separate to a greater depth 
when its affinity for rock became lessencd through the abstraction 
of heat, or diminution of — owing to the crust being par 
tially supported by corrugation. 
* The following remarks lee the above —— were received from a quarter 
disposes me to reliance on the 
ae It is probable, or paket sar that water substance, if it exists at great 
epths under great algae and at high temperature, is n ees a gas nor & "guid 
being above its critical ch on 
In this state 3 ca are oe dissolved in it, not however so mu 
account of a tendency to combine with water, as on a i apr 
rier of their own to dissipation. At still hi: water eo 
becomes i dissoci into oxygen ydrogen. But ‘t does 
follow that the dissolved substances will be precipitated. The affin- 
the more complet higher the temperature, , though the bonds of 
ity have fallen away, the prison-walls prevent. the elements from esca’ that 
of all the known regions of the Universe the to reason about is 
which is under 
