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bodies, — the solid matter forming a spherical nucleus, every- 
where covered with a concentric layer of fluid, and this over- 
laid with a gaseous envelope; these varying layers of matter 
being in stable equilibrium at the respective surfaces of 
contact. The force exerted upon such a sphere by another 
of like origin would therefore act by and through the inter- 
mediation of these three states, — each successive stage of 
condensation, alike with the residual uncondensed nebulous 
matter of space, thus forming an essential link in the chain 
of gravitative action. But so soon as any portions of the 
solid nucleus emerge above the surface of the fluid covering, 
into abnormal contact with the gaseous envelope, a differential 
action of enormous magnitude, centering upon these upheaved 
land areas, would be at once originated, the first measure of 
which would be the cosmical value of the latent forces by 
which the fluid state of matter was constituted an essential 
intermediate link between the solid and gaseous states. In 
the view of the Author, terrestrial matter in all its phases is 
now related to space, and to bodies in space, in a manner 
analogous to that which might have resulted from such a 
hypothetical origin. Not only does this matter exist in the 
three leading states of earth, water, and air, but each of the 
simpler forms of inorganic matter can, under given conditions, 
successively assume the solid, liquid, or gaseous state without 
undergoing any chemical change. This universal threefold 
relation of terrestrial matter points strongly towards the 
simple hypothesis, that the causal laws which now regulate 
these interchanges of state are the reflex of fundamental laws 
underlying the entire constitution of matter in the solar system. 
Passing over the possible relation of the first land-upheaval 
to the early changes recorded by geology, and to the 
formation of heterogeneous solids, liquids, and gases, the 
differential force arising therefrom would be the initiating 
cause in the formation of the envelope of comminuted water 
or vapour which now encircles the whole globe. This 
