Ill 



fluid enveloping our globe, and that it has two points of conver- 

 gence, which we call poles ; that this fluid has a motion from the 

 south to the north pole, and has an influence on all matter, 

 causing all bodies to fall towards the earth, which we call attrac- 

 tion of gravitation, and also tends to cause bodies to arrange 

 themselves in a meridional direction, called polarity, as shown 

 by the magnetic needle ; and that the latter action tends to propel 

 all matter northward ; and finally, that it acts both mechani- 

 cally and chemically on all matter. 



Secondly. This northerly movement is observed in the ocean, 

 which is found to carry all substances that happen to float in it 

 from the south to the northern regions. 



Thirdly. The grain of the primary crystalline presents a polar 

 structure in all parts of the world, thus showing the universality 

 of the action. The modification in the transitions of the different 

 rocks, the elongation, fractures and dislocations, show the gene- 

 ral northerly movement of the whole surface. 



Fourthly. Volcanoes and earthquakes appear to be the effects 

 of the chemical action and meridional force of the magnetic 

 currents. 



Fifthly. The formation of mineral veins, their general cha- 

 racter, order, and numerous dislocations prove the action of a 

 polar force ; the constant operation of which is essential to ac- 

 count for the observed subterranean phenomena. 



Sixthly. This northerly movement co-exists with the forma- 

 tion of our globe ; it is the increased density of the currents at 

 the poles which is the cause of its oblate figure; and it perpetually 

 changes the surface of the earth, by bringing the consolidated 

 masses, as they are formed in the southern hemisphere and other 

 parts of the globe, towards the north pole, and thus exposing 

 them to the temperature of different zones ; consequently we 

 find the relics of the southern in the northern hemisphere. 

 Such series of beds are never found in the south, nor is the 

 order of the deposits ever seen inverted. Therefore we have no 

 need to invent strange hypotheses to account for the observed 

 facts, but simply apply the natural operations of nature, i. e. the 

 prime mover of terrestrial physics — magnetism, to guide us in 

 our geological researches. 



If, then, this power is so extensive, and embraces that effect 



