Researches in the Theory and Calculus of Operations. 301 



of the completely expanded wave. By subsequent conden- 

 sation and contraction, this (so-called) latent heat gradually 

 reappeared, occupying the planetary body in its progress, 

 and finally reaching its acme in the central Sun. The act 

 of condensation is always accompanied by the production 

 and radiation of heat; and since this process has persisted 

 ever since the commencement of the contraction of the 

 cosmical substance, it follows that the reigning tempera- 

 ture of external space is now far above absolute zero. The 

 condensing body becomes heated, as well as its surround- 

 ings. "We may therefore suppose that the heat of the plane- 

 tary bodies continued to accumulate until they arrived at 

 something like their present distances from the Sun, when 

 the process of cooling would begin. This cooling process 

 would proceed rapidly at first, reaching in time a sufficient- 

 ly reduced temperature allowing the predominating ele- 

 ment oxygen to combine with the commingling argilla*- 

 ceous, siliceous, calcareous, ferruginous, carbonaceous, and 

 alkalinaceous elements; in which compounded and com- 

 mingled condition they floated upon the surface of the 

 planet (the Earth, for instance) in a state of boiling fusion, 

 gradually losing temperature, portions at length solidifying 

 into granite rocks lying in perspiring ease under the de- 

 scending vaporous bath of combining oxygen and hydro- 

 gen. Long had the body of our planet been coated with a 

 molten fiery mass of heterogeneous materials; long there- 

 after this was transformed into a seething cauldron of tur- 

 bulent fluidity; till with ever-onward flowing time a quieter 

 age arrived, the granitoid peaks loomed into dawning visi- 

 bility through the thinning vapory atmosphere, the stilly 

 waters dropped their heavier precipitates, the reiterated 

 dashing showers due to incessant oceanic evaporation wash- 

 ed down the contents of the ever-drying hills, and layers 

 of earthy materials made their beds at the bottom of the 

 sea: their beds of rock, sufficiently soft and quiet for a time 



