EEYIEWS. 
415 
that -was done in those measures was done by law. Those laws gave direct 
proof of supremacy ; they were infallible ; they have continued from eternity 
till now. The three elements affected by the laws — earth, air, water — • 
were composed of and divisible into many parts ; each part, and the whole, 
were amenable to the laws.” Thus dust is an element, and earth is an 
element ; but dust is not earth, for it is of later origin ; and there are three 
elements, not four. Is not this “ admirable fooling P ” 
As far as we can understand it, the author’s geological theory, founded 
upon dust, is a Neptunian one, and he is in strong opposition to what he 
regards as the undue Plutonism of modern geologists. At the same time 
it must be observed that he considerably exaggerates the extent of this 
Plutonism; and, after the manner of his kind, quotes over-strong, and per- 
haps hasty statements of opinion on the part of individual geologists, as if 
they constituted the accepted body of geological science. In this pro- 
cess, being able to select his points of attack, he naturally sometimes gets 
the best of it ; and he is evidently a firm believer in the Shandean principle, 
that when you demolish your opponent’s theory you thereby establish your 
own. 
In Mr. Malet’s system of the earth “ air and water are active, dust is the 
passive element.” The sun is the sole cause of heat — its heat and the 
cold caused (he says “ gained ”) by its absence produce the circulation of 
air and water. This circulation produces force, which acts on dusts, which 
are thereby moved on dry land and in the water. These movements cause 
subtractions on the surface and on the water bed, which are consequently 
lowered in places, and the surface of the water is therefore always sinking (?) 
and dust is left high and dry. The three following aphorisms are curious : — 
“ Mountains are caused by the sinking of waters. The sinking of waters is 
due to the sun. Mountains are therefore due to the sun.” And in other 
parts of his book the author ridicules the idea of mountains being thrown 
up by any forces of upheaval, whether by the ejection of materials from 
the interior of the earth or by the crumpling of the crust in shrinking. All 
“sinkings, landslips, subsidences, fractures, earthquakes,” are caused by the 
removal of subterranean dusts by water. Further, there are combustible 
and incombustible dusts, which undergo pressure by the law of gravitation, 
and this pressure condenses dust. “Dust condenses heat. Heat acts on 
the dusts. Combustible dusts ignite ; gases expand. Condensed sunlight is 
set free. Eruptions ensue.” And you have an explanation of volcanic action. 
“The sun,” adds Mr. Malet, “is the root of these phenomena. The root of 
the sun is the Creator. The earth is as it is, because the elements have not 
forsaken ‘ His laws.’ ” The last axiom probably contains the greatest truth 
in the book. 
