Meteorites ami What t/wi/ Tetich us. — llenxoldt. Si 
liquid, and that probably all the fixed stars are similar masses 
in different stages of cooling. We furthermore find traces of 
mighty igneous action on those planets which are nearest to 
our observation, for instance the moon, which is covered in 
many parts of its surface with volcanoes on the grandest scale 
(now, as it seems, extinct for ever) and our own earth yet dis- 
plays mighty volcanic forces which seem to have been grander 
still in the past. 
What, therefore, can there be improbable in the supposition 
that among the myriads of those fiery drops or half cooled 
orbs, but in whose interiors mighty volcanic elements still are 
busy, one should explode now and then and people the universe 
with its fragments. We have evidence to prove that in past 
periods of the earth's history the explosive force of vapors 
held in confinement has been great enough to blow away 
mountains ten miles in diameter, leaving chasms which are 
now, in many instances filled by lakes. On the island of Ti- 
mor, for instance, an active volcano, which was visible from a 
distance of 300 miles at sea, was blown away during a terrific 
eruption, and the circular lakes of Italy, Auvergne, the Eifel, 
etc., mark the sites of ancient volcanoes. The remarkable 
ring-mounds which we observe on the moon have in the writ- 
er's opinion, originated in the same manner and tell a tale of 
explosions so stupendous and terrible that the mind can bare- 
ly conceive it. What eruptive forces have been able to achieve 
on this globe even a few years ago is shown by the occurrences 
on the island of Java and during the still greater eruption 
of Papandayang in 1772 more than half the mountain was 
blown away, it was in one single night reduced in height from 
9000 to 5000 feet. 
That heavenly bodies, such as planets, should be capable of 
exploding seems not only possible but extremely probable. If 
in the interior of our own planet the force of vapors held in 
confinement has been great enough to transplant gigantic 
mountains and to effect the most appalling changes in the as- 
pect of the surface, there is nothing illogical in the conclusion 
that vast accumulations of gases may lead to the scattering 
of whole worlds or that the violence of explosion may ruin 
them partly, hurling fragments far enough to place them be- 
yond the attraction of the remaining wrecks. On such stu- 
pendous explosions taking place it is almost certain that great 
