HAHRISOX— NOTES OS THE ORIGIN OF THE WOULD. 
413 
greater specific weight, such as we know to be liquefied lava, trap, and 
basalt. Although specifically lighter, the granite crust might for a 
long time remain in its original position, forming, as it were, the 
bottom of the superincumbent molten ocean. On such ocean of 
molten materials would float the scum and scoriae previously alluded 
to. Of such scoriae would be formed the various strata, by erosion 
and subsequent deposition. Portions of this scoriaceous mass being 
in immediate contact with the molten materials, might be metamor- 
phosed into gneiss, without being first redeposited by water ; whilst 
schists and slates may represent those strata deposited by water and 
afterwards metamorphosed by heat, through being brought into fresh 
positions, as a result of convulsive movements. 
This state of things, however, could scarce continue ; as the molten 
ocean penetrated the granite, or as portions of such granite became 
loosened and detached, immense fragments would necessarily rise to 
the surface, causing earthquakes, elevation of mountain-chains, or 
absolute protrusion of granite peaks, — just as the detached masses were 
large enough to cause the phenomena, or as the solidified crust was 
of sufficient thickness to ofl'er resistance to the immensely powerful 
elevating forces thus acting from beneath. 
It will be remarked that the assumed position of the granite in this 
theory exactly tallies with the hypothesis which supposes the granite 
to have been produced under an almost inconceivable amount of pres- 
sure, whilst the elevating forces thus necessarily generated by hy- 
draulic agency alone, are so vast as amply to account for the throwing 
up of any mountain-chain whatever. Nor must it be forgotten that 
the rising of such a semi-molten mass as the granite, by breaking of 
the partially consolidated crust, might bring within the influence of 
the central heat, rocks which, during the period of their aqueous depo- 
sition had been subjected to a very low temperature, thus accounting 
both for the deposition and the change by heat of the slaty strata. 
It is not argued that the above suggestions, which the author puts 
forward with the greatest diffidence, offer an explanation for every 
observed phenomenon in the earth's structure. Universal theories, 
like universal medicines, are ever open to suspicion. In the forma- 
tion of a world it is probable that every know'n force played its ap- 
pointed part ; neither is it assumed that continued risings of the 
granite mass are the causes of modern earthquakes or volcanos. Both 
of these may be the result of chemical and electrical action. The 
author simply gives what is, to him at least, a partially new theory, 
trusting there may be at least one proposition contained in it which, 
by promoting discussion, may lead geologists one step nearer the 
truth ; while he is fully prepared to relinquish the hypothesis when- 
ever future examination, or further discoveries, show^ it to be false. 
