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not satisfy me. You will remember in one part of his paper Mr. Thompson 
objects to the predominance of water in the earth, and states that if that were 
the case, then the specific gravity of its solid parts must be nearly that of 
gold. Now, were that so, not only should we have a new Pl/ntonic theory ! 
but it would really after all be only in accordance with what was stated in 
the address of Mr. Grove, as President of the British Association, last 
August— namely, that instead of the heaviest matter of the earth being near 
its surface (as we have long been taught), it is probably more solid and 
heavier as it gets nearer the centre. But apparently Mr. Thompson’s sole 
reason for rejecting this, is merely that it is contrary to the Newtonian 
theory as to the mass of the whole earth ; for it is upon that theoretical 
assumption, and not upon fads , that the whole reasoning is based. It is 
enough for me to point out, that at any rate, that theory has not stood in the 
way of Mr. Grove propounding, as now most probable, what is not only con- 
trary to the Newtonian doctrine as to the earth’s mass, but also to the nebu- 
lar notion that the earth’s centre is filled with matter in a state of igneous 
fluidity. In conclusion, I am obliged to say that if we consider that MM. 
Daubree and Bischoff made certain experiments with granite which convinced 
them that it is a watery crystallization, and also that they have brought over 
the leading geologists to this view, although it was contrary to all their pre- 
conceived notions and previous teaching, I think it was incumbent upon Mr. 
Thompson to have noticed the experiments of these eminent chemists, and, 
if he could, to have shown where they were defective and faulty ; and not 
merely to have made a detached and single experiment of his own, which 
appears to prove very little, and even that little, in my opinion, to be rather 
against what he deduces from it. 
Mr. Hopkins. I can see clearly, from the observations of Mr. Thompson, 
that he has been making experiments from cabinet specimens of granite. 
Suppose you were to make experiments from cabinet specimens of wood, to 
ascertain something as to the sap of a tree in its living state, you would ob- 
tain very strange results 1 Now, if you want to ascertain the real constitution 
of granite, you should study the granite in situ. For instance, in one place 
you may have a granite undergoing change. That granite is composed of 
lornbiende, felspar, mica, and so on, and is undergoing lamination. If you 
take a piece of that granite, and cut a block of it, and weigh it, you wifi find 
that it loses weight after exposure to heat, just the same as minerals. We 
allow so much for.' water, and we call that water mechanically combined 
Granite is saturated with water ; it is always saturated, and is not a mere 
dry block. — 
Rev. W. Mitchell.— May I ask you, Mr. Hopkins, to answer one question, 
as you are well acquainted with deep mines, Whether you can go to any depth 
where you do not find water ; and whether water is not the greatest enemy 
oi the mmer ? * J 
Mr. Hopkins.— It is the most difficult thing the miner has to contend 
1 , <md ; you cannot g° t0 al >y depth without finding it. Wherever you go 
you come to water, whether in granite or any other formation. With refer- 
2 B 
