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Laa diagrammaa sulvants iilustrant la mAthoda. 1 2 3 4 5 6 \4 A SYStEM OF THE CREATIOlf OF OUR GLOBE, OF THS PLANETS, AND THB SUN OF OUB SYSTEM, rOUlfDBD OR THB riRST CBAPTEB OF GBlTBttS) Oir THB OBOLOOT OF THB BABTU, AKD Oir TriB h6dBRIT DlSCOVBRIBa lit THAf' SCIBMCK) ilfD THB KirOWB OPBRATION OF THB LAWS OF NATURE^ AS PROVED BY THB DISCOVERIES OP LAvblSlER^t^:;^'..!^::"^,-;:^ 1^ -I : :. •- I AN0 QTHBB8, IN PNEUMATIC GBi;»Ii«Sll^^;i #>(,.:; . M. ARAGO'S^^ ■-: abtronoiilcax. disoovkribb lately madb at tub paris obsbrvatort: and bt PROFESSOR FARADAY'S ilBCBNT LBCTURB OK "FURTIIBR RBSBARCHBS IN MAONBTISM.'^ '^>A^*^I^^^^N^>A#^'N^N«^>^« SEVeNTH EDITION. REVISED AMD ENLARGED. BY HENRY TAYLOR. *^l^^<*t A 4n NOTICE TQ 7HB RE^J»a, The Reader will fii^ tl^ extrfi natter for the Fourth, Fifthj and Sitth Editiona in the Appendix No. 2, at the end of the woxk ; and atoo a SnppiemeBt) eontaining the Extra Matter for the piffenl E^ciP* .M -*... V^il ."iibr ^iV:i N " V -■ In ni/( pearanc the onlj tion of I have 8 an extra below, t tioned b and Chi These a( to publ prevailed The tween tb< reverend afterward ■ few day water Tn la the work to A bee. Th latter recc I was soor year, and London, f pleased to presented sellers, wh( that of a pi was so grei stances pre up the inte ■)(.i. -t'^' "■■*r PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. ^e Fourtb, f at the end ; the Extra >^:" Ih inj endeavoar* to reconcile the present Geological ap- pearances of our Eanb, with the Mosaic account of Creationt the only certain means that appeared to me, were, the adop- tion of that construction of the first verse of Genesis, which I have stated in a part of this work» and it will be seen bjr an extract from the Quarterly Review of Apnl last, inserted below, that this construction has been confirmed and sane- tioned by the writings of Professor Buckland, Doctors Pusey and Chalmers, Bishop Gleig, and other eminent. Divines. These authorities liave removed the diffidence I had long felt to publish a different construction from what ha^ hitherto prevailed. The original manuscript of this ^ork was composed be- tween the years 1819 and 1 825. The writings of the above reverend gentlemen were published, I believe, several years afterwards, and none of them had been perused by me until a few days since, when I met with the Review of the Bridge- water Treatise of Dr. Buckland. In the summer of 1 829, 1 presented a prospectus of the work to Archdeacon Mountain, and to the Bishop of Que- bec. The former kindly complimented me or it, and the latter recommended my publishing it in London, for which I was soon to embark. I arrived there in October of same year, and presented the prospectus to the Lord Bishop of London, from whom I received a note, by which be was pleased to commend the design of the work. I subitequently presented the prospectus to several of the principal Book- sellers, who, on learning that the sise of the work would be that of a pamphlet,, informed me that the cost of advertising was so great that no pamphlet would pay it; and my circum- stances preventing me from incurring that expense, I gave up the intention of puUiahia^. • >:«(? iti ^ ; » In the mean time, % rererend gentleman of the name of Fairholme, was publishing a theological work connected with geology, and I enclosed to him a copy of the prospectus, and in a letter I received from him, dated October 14, 1833, he says, — " With regard to the creation of our earth or of the sun, and other members of the Solar System, I have neither found in the work of any writer, nor can I conceive the smallest grounds on which to form a consistent theory, nor indeed do I conceive that it belongs to the science of geo* logy at all.* Scripture has given us no insight into it. The existing laws of nature are equally silent, and yet^ these laws must have existed from the beginning" He then assumes, " that the granite mass has been formed before the existence of organized beings, as their remains are never found in it," an opinion which, I think, the reader will find answered in the body of the work ; and the assertion, that neither Scrip- ture nor the laws of nature give any insight into the creation, appeared to me so futile, that I have inserted the above ex- tract, solely to prove that the system I had formed, had not, at the date of that letter, been yet made by any other writer. By the following extract fVom the Bridgewater Treatise of the Rev. Doctor Uuckland, published long since the date of Mr. Fairbolme's letter, it will be seen, thcU my construction of the Ist verse of Genesis, has been sanctioned and con- firmed by the authorities mentioned above. And having presented my prospectus to the persons above named, and also to the Royal Institution in Albemarle-street, London, in 1833, I consider it a duty to myself to claim the originating of that construction, by which the general ap- pearance of gradttal deposition in the geology of the earth, (whose diameter must, according to the modern geologists, have existed millions of years) will, as well as this supposed age, be now reconciled, and satisfactorily e^Eplaiped by the Mosaic account. '* In tbU 1m wm right, it bclongi to tht icicnet of Coraaogony. fT^ name of cted ^ith ctust and 1833, he or of the re neither ceive the leory, uor ;e of i^eo- oit. The these laws n assumes, 3 existence and in it,* nswered in ther Scrip- le creation, i above ex- d, had not, ther writer. Treatise of the dace of onstraction >d and con- Irsons above iarle-Btreet| lo claim the [general ap- the earth, geologists, lis supposed [ned by the Imogony. Extract from Ae Review of the Bridgewater TreaHm. " *' If there are any lovers o^ science yet ignorant of the extent and fertility of the field which Geology has laid open— of the in- tensity and variety of interest by wbich those who explore it are repaid — here is a work to astonish and delight them. If there are any persons yet deterred from the study of this fascinating sci- ence, by the once prevalent notion, that the facts, or theories, if you will, that it teaches, tend to weaken the belief in revealed religion, by their apparent inconsistency with the scriptural ac- count of the creation of the globe,— here, in the work of a dignitai^ of the Church, writing ex'Cathedra, from the head quarters of orthodoxy, they will find the amplest assurances that their im- pression is not merely erroneous, but the very reverse of the truth : for that while its discoveries are not in any degree at variance with the correct interpretation of the Mosaic narrative, there exists no science which can produce in< re powerful evidence in support of natural religion — none which will be found a more potent auxiliary to revelation, by exalting our conviction of the power, wisdom and goodness of the Creator. Several hypotheses have been proposed, with a view of recon- ciling the phenomena of geology, with the brief account of crea- tion which we find in the book of Genesis and others. It has been plausibly stated that the Six Days of Creation must, each of them, be understood to imply, not as now, a single revolution of the globe, but some other cyclic period of unknown extent. Dr. Buckland, however, prefers that explanation which is sup- ported by tke high authority of Dr. Pusey, the Regius Professor <»f Hebrew in Oxford, and has the sancti8equent part r's work, that of vegetation, lese functions the clearest lessed by the 8 of Genesis,* t end of pro- re then a pal- nainelyt the iiiitnals duiing e and animal he geological o contain the d animal life ital functions we trust wc whi't " silica, other metals isically are;'* e be allowed mic waters of the elements te, hydrogen, by the vital tions of vast racteristics of ir H. Dsvy, is these different substances have been produced ; for, to show the wonderful effect of variety in the proportion of the ele- ments of bodies, we find that oxygen and asote, combined in one proportion, form the atmosphere we breathe and live in; but the same elements, combined in another proportion, pro- duce the strong and deleterious acid aqua fortis or nitric acid. I cannot, therefore, but believe, that by our theory of the formations from the waters of Genesis, we shall be able, in Sharon Turner's own words, '* actually to discern the pro- cesses of the succession, the causations, the agencies, the, laws, and the principles on which the primary and secondary masses were originally formed,*' and that these processes will be brought to light by our theory of the earth. To our construction of the true interpretation of the first verse of Genesis, we have given extracts from a recent pub- lication of the celebrated Dr. Chalmers, who has adopted our construction of that verse. We also quote from Dr. Clarke's Commentaries in further confirmation of our con- struction of said verse. ^ In this edition we have the great satisfaction of giving the sanction of the opinion of Mr. Arago, one of the leading astronomers of the present day, to our System of the Creation, as far as regards the formation of the earth ; first, by the condensation of its waters, from aqueous vapor, and the sub- sequent formation of its solid parts, and organic formations. We have, indeed, since the publication of the first edition of our work, received the verbal and written approbation of it from men of science, and competent judges in these Provin- ces; but, the confirmation of tne System by so eminent a philosopher of Europe, is peculiarly grateful. I have in this edition ventured an idea of the design in- tended by the Creator, to be effected by the internal fires of the earth, namely, the end of hardening the geological bodies, which must originally have been deposited from the waters in a soft and humid state ; and although we are accustomed to consider these fires solely in a terrific point of view, tbey may, perhaps, be found to add one more indication of Divine \ p ^ 1 fi I t i Wiidom, in the (InsI prrpftffttfoii oTour gbbe^ for tostMning the immense Telocitjr, and uncettiog contibnikj otrts double motioiurthrough the reglont of tpace. At the close of our Theory of the Sun, and of the means of supplying the waste of his light and heat, we have added in this second edition, some obsenrations on the ideas stated bjr Dr. Herschell, on the opaqueness of the sun, and on the spots that nppeiu <•«, or adjacent to his surface ; and it will be for niei» of s^ence, should our Theory meet their perusal, to form their own judgment thereon, and also, on the questions we itcv^ proposed to them on tht» subject. In this edition, we have commented upon Dr. Buckfand's opinion that vegetable and animal life did not exist previous- ly to the transition or secondary formations of the earth. And we trust to have shewn, that as all traces of shells and orgat^ic remains may be destroyed by a heat less than is re- quired for the fusion of the rocks that had contained them, so, the non exi$tene« of life in the earlier periods of creation cannot he ewttainedt but that, as it is highly probable the internal fires w«re then much more frequent and extensive, so all appearances of the more ancient remains of vegetable and animal life must have been completely obliterated and destroyed. The recent diacc^eies of Sir Humphry Davy, in his Galvanic Experiments on the primary earthii, appear too, to confirm the probability cf our theory. The granite mass is mostly composed of the^e primary earths, which he 'lias found to erMisist of metallic bases, united to oxygen in a solid state. Now oxygen is one of the most abundant con- stituents of vegetable and animal life. The basis of several metals also, we trust to have shewn in our work, are the pro- duce of the vegetable process. Mr. Good, in his Book of Nature, page S§9, says, " I have already had occasion to observe that Albumen and Fibrine are subatances formed by the action of ths living principle, out of the common mate- rials of the food, and that it is probable the Hme found in the bones and other parts, is produced in the same manner.'* Now, while it is allowed by all Geologists of modem date, brtttttatning oTstt doable of the meant at, we have I on the ideas of the tun, > h» sarface ; Theory meet eon, and also, I this sabject. rr. Buckland's sxist previous- of the earth. I of shells and ess than is re- mtained them, ds of creation ^ probable the and extensive, IS of vegetable bliterated and iimphry I>avy, earths, appear The granite •ths, which he o oxygen in a Abundant con- fasis of several ;, are the pro- his Book of occasion to formed by >mmon roate> Ume found in ime manner.** modem date. ■I •'^: i"«;4*. ^ TO THE THIRD EDITION. \ ' ■', §■,-•■ ?ti -JVtitU '^^^:ln'x y ♦ :<»•*"■ SiMCB the publication of the second edition of this work, I have found that the celebrated Button, as is stated by Keith, was of opinion, tlwt all the geological bodies of the earth had been formed by *' marine exuviae or remains." It is satisfac- tory to have this -part of the theory of the earth, which, pre- vious to my sieeing this opinion, I had formed and presented to the world, sanctioned by so great an authority. But Hutton*8 Theory of the Earth, being adverse to the Mosaic account of the creation, he drew upon himself much obloquy from the supporters of it ; and it is to be lamented that a due consideration of the first verse of Genesis had not occurred to him { as, most probably, his sagacious mind ^oAld have discovered, how completely the explanation we have in our theory given of that verse, will give the length of time which, in the opinion of many geologists, the various formations of the globe require. Many of the modern geologists, however, who had pub- Us)ied their works previous to the Rev. Dr. Buckland*s Bridgewater Treatise, in which the above construction of the first versc of Genesis is assumed, or who, having not yet sufficiently contemplated that construction, so as to adopt it themselves, and, probably, hot willing to come into collision with the sacred writings : these geologists, I say, have now abandoned the practice of forming any theory of the earth at all, and limit themselves to the collection of geological facts. Now, it appears to me, that if, on a due consideration of the facts which botany, chemistry, pneumatics and geology pre- sent us with, it be conceived, that, by a just combination of these facts, we can by fair induction and analogy gain an in- sight into the most mysterious operations of nature, and of the laws which its omnipotent Creator may have established for these operations ; there is then no just cause why such a combination of these scientific facts should not be attempted; ,'...( 1.1 >.', ,i MAMblbriMi'Mi^'^ ^ '»■' Xllt "■■■r I ^o df ttiiB work, I tated by Keith, if the earth had It is satiiifac- rth, which, pte- , and presented >rity. ; adverse to the Q himself much to be lamented Genesis had not sagacious mind explanation we ive the length of ists, the various , who had pub- Dr. Buckland'6 istruction of the having not yet io as to adopt it ne into collision say, have now of the earth at [geological facts, lideration of the id geology pre- combination of logy gain an in- nature, and of ave established .use why such a t be attempted; there is no just reason why the human mind should be fet* tered in the profoundly interesting science of cosmogony mora than in any other. There is nott perhaps, in the vast range of nature's works, one which excites in the mind a greater degree of mysterious wonder, than the inspection of the rocky formations of the earth. The perfect order in the move- ments of the heavenly bodies, their surprising distances and magnitudes, it is true, are of a more grand and sublirivc de- scription; but the rocky formations belong to our own domain, and however some may call in question the vast distances and magnitudes of tiie heavenly bodies, yet, of the enormous depths, breadths and lengths of the formations of our earth, we have the direct evidences of sight and touch. What are the agencies by which the Creator has formed these mysterious productions, is therefore the silent question which every close observer of nature asks himself. And, accordingly, numerous theories, not only of the crust of the earth, but of the earth itself, have long since been offered to mankind. Many of these, however, being founded only on the imaginative conceptions of ingenious men, have not main- tained their ground. None of them, I believe, but Hutton, as before mentioned, and a few of the German geologists, have offered any tangible mode of formation which the Deity may have chosen, for the production of the entire body of the geological formations of the earth. In the first paragraph of the preface to the first edition of this work, I have stated that my object in forming my con- struction of the first verse of Genesis, was to be enabled to reconcile the Mosaic account of creation with the time said by the modern geologists to be required for these formations; having done this, my next wish was to inquire what physical laws the Creator had chosen to produce these formations.-— By physical laws they are undoubtedly formed, as far as we have access to examine them; and we have the powerful sanction of every part of nature to conclude, by analogy, that the entire diameter of the globe is equally lo. By the 6tb, 7th and 9tb verses of the Ist of Genesis, we find the earth \" ,i was covered by the waters until the time of the separation. We have therefore just right to conclude it was formed in those waters of Genesis ; and, accordingly, as stated by one of the best modern geologists, "Every part of the earth, every continent and every island, exhibits the phenomenon of marine productions." » Our theory is founded on these Scriptural and geological fWcta-fsgnd we have a confirmation of the competent powers of the Vegetable and animal deposits and labours of the marine animals of the ocean to produce these formations of the earth, in the known and established fact, of an extent of land more than equal to one-eighth of the diameter of the earth, being formed by a few species of marine insects, for the Coral Islands and reefs of the Indian Sea and Pacific Ocean are 1,500 miles long by 60 or 70 broad. ■ In the course qf my journies through this Province, to offer my works for sale, I am happy to state, that a great majority of the people appear to be duly impressed with a belief in the sacred Scriptures; indeed I have met with some who seemed to think the Mosaic account of creation required no support. These were, however, generally persons unacquainted with the authenticated geological facts. It is unquestionable that- many of the formations have been produced by gradual depo- sition from the waters, and must have required a period for that deposition immensely greater than that since the crea- tion, being nearly 6,000 years. Some modern geologists claim indeed millions of years for these formations of the crust of the earth ; and, we trust, we can thoroughly satisfy these claims by the construction of the tirst verse of Genesis, now sanctioned by the eminent writers mentioned in the preface to the first edition. We trust also to have presented a palpable clue to the discovery of the mode in which it may have pleased the Deity to have constructed the solid machinery of our globe. The vastness of this machinery is indeed calculated to strike the mind with awful wonder, but it is His work, and, as such, a fair subject for the study and discussion of Hii creaturtSj as . ,h sration. med in , by one e earth, lenon of sological powers e marine lie earth, nd more th, being le Coral icean are B, to offer majority ief in the seemed support. ted with ible that al depo- eriod for he crea- to the le Deity The Irike the such, a turti, ai o. '^:';^^ I U.'> iSl the more it i» examined the ttove profoundly will !>• exhibited His bounty and His wisdom. We trust to have shewn, that the theory of the existence of animal life, pre^ous to the secondary formations, is tenable, and that the incandescence of the earth, as supposed by Dr. Buckland, does not over* throw it ; and, therefore, that we have a right to say, with a great modern geologist, ** That the causes at present in operation must have been producing the same effects in all preceding ages." We conclude, therefore, that attempts to form a system of the creation, when based upon authenticated scientific facts, are allowable, and the more so, that in the present enlightened state of the world, these systems can be duly examiied and their merits determined. We have, in this edition, at the close of the theory of the sup's formation, given some aecount of 9irlUchard Phillips* Theory of the Cause of the Motions of thejl#'jivenly Bodies. This theory offers an additional sanction tb^hose which we have stated, in favour of our theory of the existence of gaseous media in the regions of space. But we are by no means prepared to join Sir Richard in his opinions against the Newtonian theory of gravitation and attraction. We conceive that these great laws of nature may still exist, and that they may be reconcilable to, and be assisted by, the gaseous media; and, as we have shewn in note 6th of second edition, Sir Isaac Newton himself suggests "the existence of an ethereal and gaseous medium pervading all space;'* and perhaps the existence of this gaseous medium would serve to shew the physical cause of these principles of attraction and gravitation, and thereby account for their effects. We have also inserted an extract from Sir John Herschell's Astronomy of last year, also sanctioning our idea of the supply of the sun's waste by gaseous matter; and it is with the greater satisfaction we give this extract from Sir John's woric, that the late Doctor Herschell was of opinion that the sun might be habitable. Sir John has now declared hit opinion, that **the sun's zodiacal light is part of that medium Xfi which retutt the motkm of cmneu, and it toaded with tb» nateriab of the tnli of nittlionf of them which majr be slowly •abadii^ into the ibd.** These materials mast of course be gaseous; now the combustiMi of gaseous matter is nothing but the union of the base of the gas with that of oxygen gas» without which no combustion takes [dace, and the consequent extrication of the light and heat of this oxygen gas, by which we conclude, as per our theory, the waste of the sun*s light and heat is replenished. Accordingly Sir John, in another part of his work, states his ofMnion, that there is "an enormous heat in the sun.**— Dr. HerscbeU, his late father, says, that the sun*s luminous atmosphere is only 8,ff00 miles ftom the sun's surface.—- That these admitted facts can be reconciled with his opinion of the sun being opaque and habitaUe, when under the influence af suo^ eni' THE AUTHOR. i i ■-.■* ^/^ rttbth* i slowly lunebe DoUuDg sequent y which i*sUght I, feUtes lun.'*— aminoiis rface.— I apinion idcr th« id beat, '.e of an lave the from Dr. be will )8t cele- |day, Sir. losphere ly of this Iticularly le earth. [he pub- Ireation degree lies, and |t it may of the ke rising [OR. P • in^ :t:l PREFACE :r'^^^ TO THE SIXTH EDITION. In the third, fourth and fifth editions of this work, I have been enabled to shew sanctions of our theory of the sun's formation from two as eminent men of science as the present fertile age has produced, Sir David Brewster and the cele- brated M. Arago, the French Astronomer. In the present edition I have the honour of adding what I consider a great sanction of our theory of the earth, by the late surprising dis- covery effected by the Earl of Rosse's six foot diameter tele- scope. And here I beg leave to say, I consider his Lordship as an honour to the nobility of the land, inasmuch as, with a mind superior to the common employment of wealth, he has soared above its ordinary gratifications, and given a high sanc- tion to the pursuits of the sciences in general, and it is pro- bable his telescope will extend the most sublime of them, that of Astronomy. In my theory of the formation of the earth and planets, I started from the account we have of their formation in the waters of Genesis. By the modern discovery of the elemen- tary composition of water, I shewed how the waters of Genesis must have been formed by the combustion of their elementary gases; and, reflecting on the stupendous quantity of light and heat which must have been evolved by that combustion, I founded my theory of the sun*s formation on the belief that the most prominent and needful purpose to which that heat and light could be applied, was to form the suns of the planetary systems. The author of the theory of Formation of the Nebular Hypothesis did not deign to derive its origin from Scriptural sources : it proceeded from the discovery of the nebulae in the regions of space by Sir Wm. Herschell. Then Laplace, the French Astronomer, grounded his theory of the Forma- tion of the Earth and PUmets upon that nebular discovery. BS sviU That discovery, as will be shewn in this sixth editioo, hat been disproved by the high powers of Lord Rosse's telescope; and it has, 1 am infiMrmed, been abandoned by its great up- holder. Doctor Nichol. I therefore consider that our more humble hypothesis, grounded on the idea that the Deity has established laws in our own system, (which, if discovered by due scientific research, are perfectly competent to account for all the phenomena of the earth's formation), is now entitled to the more consideration. The present edition of this work' will, I trust, be found greatly improved, by having roost of the notes in the former editions transposed into the body of the work, by which the authorities we have quoted will be more directly brought before the reader, and prove a more powerful support of the system we have formed in the work. In this edition we have shewn extracts from the addresses of Dr. Nichol thd Dr. Scoresby, respecting the nebular hypothesis mentioned above. Lord Rosse has disproved the existence of the nebulae in the constellation Orion ; but there remain great numbers of them in otb^r regions of space, and one chief purpose of this sixth edition, is the carrying out of our System of Creation into those regions, becsuse we hope to be able to shew, by natural results of this system, what the probable design of these nebulae is, and more especially what are the real purposes of the comets in the vast domains of creation. The theory of the sun*s formation, of this work, having been sanctioned by the eminent philosophers above men- tioned, our intention to carry out our system, with the view just stated, cannot be considered presumptuous. We can- not, indeed, be assured of the success of our attempt, which we leave to a discerning public to determine upon ; but of this we are certain, that if the theory of the sun*s formation, which we have presented to the world, be ultimately con- firmed, the natural, and perhaps unavoidable, result of that system, will sanction our conception of those purposes which the nebulae are intended to effect ; and as to the real pur- , I i OD, hM escope; eat up- jt more eity hu ered by v 4 ^ aunt for r entitled ^ e found i former hich the , . brought *, tof the ddreeses nebular '' oved the .' >ut there ace, and g out of we hope no, what pecially domains \ having e men- he view Ve can- , which but of mation, ly con- of that ^ B which al pur- ■i SIX ""•■■ r~ poses we have assigned to the comets, we are happy to have the sanction of the immortal Newton in respect of them.— If we recollect aright, Sir Isaac Newton has said that one of the motions of the heavenly bodies could not be continued without the direct interposition of the Deity ; and we have also to add, that a like most important result will follow, if our theory of the sun's formation be ultimately adopted by the scientific world, namely, that we shall have proved the necessity of the existence of a continual and present act of creation of elementary matter by the "Great First Cause," which act of present creation must be totally independent of the existing laws of nature ; and we have now to refer the reader of the present edition to the Appendix, containing its extra matter at the end of the work, for our explanation of this important subject. Since writing the abovd, I have been favoured with the sight of that most valuable work called Cosmos, or a Sketch of a Physical Description of the Universe, by Alex. Von Humboldt, from which I am happy to give an extract con- firming Arago's discovery of the physical nature of the sun, first noticed in our fourth edition. For this extract, see page 29 of Appendix No. II., sixth edition. I now conclude the preface to the sixth edition of this work, with my acknowledgements to the Canadian public for the patronage bestowed by them on the former editions ; and as our System is now carried out into a more extended sphere, I trust the present edition may be found equally worthy of public favour ; and as the following extract from the Cosmos contains a powerful display of the advantages of scientific information, I beg leave to present it to the public :-— ** I take pleasure in persuading myself that it is possible for scientific subjects to be presented in language grave, dignified, and yet animated, and that those who are able to escape occa> sionally from the restricted circle of the ordinary duties of life, and regret to find that they have so long remained strangers to nature, may have opened to them access to one of the noblest enjoyments which the activity of the rational fiMuIties can afford to man. The study of general natural knowledge awakens in \ xs Of, u it w«re, perc«ptioiif which had long lain dormant : we •nter into a mora intimate commnnion with the external world, and no longer remain without intereit and lympathy for Uiat which at onoe promotes the indostiial progresi and intelleetoal ennoblement of man."— C»mim, voL I, p. SS. ■'■^■■^i^ \ ■< >; THE AUTHOR. :■-'«;'■ '/■ • '!■' ' '-■ .. « V, I ':' \- !• i ,;:: Is- w^ •* *# ^.'sr*■ w "^ 'I"" ■'■"] I ',''-■,!; -•*i ■;■■ '■, ;•'. ,1 ■ .*■ ' ■ .'.\ ■'- > > !• ;> f .'V •'.>^i ant: we il world, ' for that t«lleotMl 'HOR. ■ "». \'lV\. 1 - » 1 • A S Y 8 T E M or THE CREATION OF OUR GLOBE, 6lc. T i 'VM'WW-yVWVWW^ i 'WW-MVVWVtrtO The reader will have received some idea of tlie purpose of the science of Oeoiov V) from the pre- faces to the former editions of this work; and in order to exhibit to the Canadian public the pra'^ti- cal utility of this science, we extract from a late Geological work of some merit, namely, " Elements of Geology for popular use," by Charles A. Lee, M. D., of New York, his statement of this utility. In the first paragraph of his preface he says — " No department of the natural sciences possesses great- er interest or leads to more important practical results, than that of Geology. Of late years, it has attracted almost universal attention, not only from the fascinating wonders it discloses, but also from its obvious and extensive application to the economical purposes of life. Oi such importance has it been regarded, that many of our State Legis- latures, as well as the General Government, have authorized geological surveys to be made, in order that the natural resources of the country may be brought to light and fully developed. i '■:«■ "■■I fr Already have these surveys contributed millions in value to the productive industry of the land, and every year their importance is more and more demonstrated and acknowledged." Many of the influential men in the Hon. Legis- lature of this Province have honoured me with their subscriptions to my work, and I am happy to ob- serve that a liberal sum has since been appropriated by it, for a geological survey of the Province, which I have no doubt, if performed with diligence and zeal, may discover great sources of industry and wealth for it. I now proceed to give an account of the theory which the late discoveries of this and other sciences have suggested to me of the geological formation of our globe, and of the system of creation I had formed. In the year of our Lord 1819, I returned to the land of my birth, the Canadas, after an absence of nigh forty years in England and Nova Scotia, during which, I had undergone great misfortunes in an extensive line of mercantile business. The pleasing sensations I felt on this return to my native country, may have been experienced by many ; the intensity with which I felt them, may have been occasioned by so long an absence; and having now, as it were, fallen into the calm and ?ure resort of nature, the woods of Lower Canada, was never more happy than in the study of her works. From early youth I had been fond of the science of chemistry; and now, some books of geology fell into my hands : with them I frequent- ly compared the appearances I met with in my walks, which, being in unison with these books. ¥ 23 r gradually confirmed me in the opinion, that our earth was originally formed in a fluid, and was deposited from it. In the treatise on chemistry by Professor Chaptal, I found an account of the chaotic system of crea- tion of the ancients, by which it is supposed, that the chaotic mixture, being formed, the various substances were attracted to each other, by tlM laws of mutual affinity, and precipitated. On frequent reflection, however, on this theory, and contrasting it with the general state of tlw depositions of the earth in strata and Iamin», it appeared to me to be totally insufficient to account for these appearances : had a chaotic mixture been formed by the Creator, containing in solution all the various geological bodies, and had nothin^f more been required for their formation, than tb^ operation of their affinities and attractions, these must have taken place immediately, and they would be found in homogenous and exclusive masses, according to their various affinities and gravities : but the formations are generally found in alternate layers and laminse of frequently mixed substances, and this too without coincidence with the laws of gravity, and bear the certain marks, not only of being deposited from a fluid, but also, of a gradual and mixed deposition, at periods probably of im- mense distance from each other. This reflection led me to conceive that these depositions were gradually produced by some permanent and con- tinually operating cau'^e. ^ In the above mentioned work of Chaptal, I had found, and been much struck with, the beautiful and interesting theory he has given of the forma* 24 r ' } i I %( K tion of the various primitive eartlis, and many salts, metals and mineral substances, bv the processes of vegetation, which are found on tne decomposition of those vegetables by analysis and combustion: I was also aware, that vast tracts of the earth are formed by vegetable, animal and marine deposi- tions, and being one day occupied in reading attentively the account of the creation in the first chapter of Genesis, tlie waters therein mentioned forced themselves strongly on my attention and repeated consideration, until at last the idea grew upon me, that the geological bodies of the earth were, somehow cr ouier, produced in tiiese waters. That tl^e earth was formed in a fluid, I now felt thoroughly convinced of; that a great part of its crust consisted of vegetable and animal depositionb, even almost to the tops of the highest mountains, as stated by geologists, seemed to me a proof, that these marine vegetables and animals must have previously existed in waters which produced these depositary remains; and, as no inundation or de- luge is sufficient to account tor these universal ap- pearances of the formations in the earth ; therefore, the waters or oceans mentioned in the first of Genesis appeared to me the only and the truest sources by which we can account for them. During my reading and reflections on this sub- ject, and prsviously to my determining to form a Theory of the Creation, Archdeacon raley's Evi-t deuces of Natural Religion fell into my hands, in. which the atheistical doctrines of chance, and also,, the notions of BufTon, of the earth^s formation by a fragment knocked off by a comet from the sun, is related, and commented on, by the Archdeacon. 25 nany salts, rocesses of imposition bustion: I eartb are ne deposi- in reading in the first mentioned ention and 5 idea grew f the earth 86 waters. , I now felt part of its depositions, I mountains, k proof, that must have luced these ition or de- iiiversal ap- ; therefore, the first of the truest lem. m this sub« to form a faley's Evi-f ly hands, in. |e, and also,, jrmation by ^m the sun, Lrchdeacon. I shall, therefore, previously to advancinjr any things more on the System of Creation I had gra- dually formed in my own iiiind» beg leave to make some observations on those doctrines of chance for- mation, and thus endeavour to clear the way for a system, I trust, more consistent with reason and with our religion, -^itih i^ntt m im^w; "Amongst inanimate substances (savs Paley in p. 63 of his Theology of Nature, or Evidences of Natural Religion) a clod, a pebble, a liquid drop» miffht be; but never was a watch, a telescope, or organiied body^ ^ any kind, answering a valuable pui'pose by a complicated mechanism, the effect of chance; in no assignable instance hath such a thing existed without intehtion some where." " Now, it appears to me very singular, that Paley, after having so clearly exposed the absurdity of this theory of chance, should have thus conceded the possibility of a dod, a pebble, or a liquid drcp, being the product of it; a clod is a piece or part of the eartn ; a pebble is a fragment of some rock rounded by the waters ; a liquid drop is a part of diose waters. The same cause then, that produced the earth and seas, produced also the clod, pebble, and drop. But can there be any doubt that the earth itself contains marks of design and intelligence? That all its vegetables and animals contain marks of design, he has proved ; now, we cannot refuse the same evidence of design in the formation of the cartli and seas, if it were goiely as a matrix or habi- tation ft>r those plants and animals ; and, among the evidences of design which these last exhibit, I beg leave to mention one which, I believe, han C escaped the observation of tke. Archdeacon — it is the amazing varieties exhibited in every species of these plants and aniiaitls. Had they been sole! v the offspring of a ;'f blind conatus," there woulif^ probably,, have been but one speaies of each of them : but theit vast varieties show a nn:ister and designing hand to have directed their formaticm. The evidence of design which the earth exhibits, is not confined to its own formation ; this evidence is much more strong, when we find and cpiisider it as part of a system of planets revolving in known periods round a central sun^ whose light and heat are evidently,ihe,u%^<7i£2('(f sustainers of the life and enjoyments of the plants and inhal^ji- tants existing on this family of planets. :.ty It is also stated in page 92 of th^ at^ove work, that BufFon considers the Planets, to have been "shivered off the sun by some stroke of a comet*" Paley adds, " that he never could see the diil'er- ence between the antiquated * System of Atoms,' and Buffon's * Organic Molecules:'" and that " this philosopher having made a planet, by knock- ing on from the sun a piece of melted glass, in consequence of the stroke of a comet, and having set it in motion by the same stroke, both round its own axis and the sun, hnds his next diificulty to be how to bring plants and animals upon it," &c. Now« as to the solid parts of the earth ; allow- ing glass to be composed of a variety of materials, yet I believe no part of the interior of the earth is discovered to be vitreous, except in the vicinity of volcanic mountains, or where these have previously existed. How then has this glass, of which Buffon supposes the earth to have been formed ; how has w:.4.,..i.^....t_ saeon — it is 37 it beert' metamdV^dised into the Vast vfirie^y of ininenii produets wliicti geology discovers to us '2^ The internal substance of the earth down to ltd centre^ is supposed to bfe granite^ or bodies of greater density ; and neither grartite, nor Hie more external formations bear any rfesen^blianee to vitre- ous or volcanic matter* '-^ !, ,' ! But, if even the solid paVt of our e&rth, wiirifibt support such a theory, how are we to account by U for its waters? Is it in the nifidst of the molten glass of a burning-sun ^e are to look for them? Water, however, is Said to constitute three-fourths of the earth's surface^and the total inability of this theory or suppositi that if the planets were struck off from the sun, they must, in every revolution have returned to the sun again. I shall now notice the opiriionsi on Chance or Atheism, as causes to account; for the productions of nature in our giob^* '^^ ^«^ '«<*^ im^m'^x^ m nvxt The Organic Molecules of Bufifoh are thus stated by Paley, in page 4*27 of the above work. Evi- dences of Natural Religion, namely, " we are to suppose the universe reple.iished with particles endowed with life, but without organization of their own^ and endowed, also, with a tendency to marshal themselves into organized forms.'' ■ It appears to me almost impossible that the au- thor of this doctnne, if it be BufTon, could rest satisfied with this cause of Creation; because, r ¥ A - -J i altUofigh it should be allowed that these particles of life could infuse tbemselvea into organiaed bodies, we naturally inauire. How came these particles themselves into the universe ? This is the secret, undiscoverable without allowing an ** unknown cause." If Buffon would account for the existence of these particles by chance, I say, that from the time of their lindinj; their way into these Mole- pules, or organized rorms, there is so much, and so constantly exhibited in every one of these forms, what we call, in plain language, intelligence, and design to produce good and wise ends; that the term chance in the sense in which it would be employed by these Atheistical writers, completely comprehends intelliffence and design, for these are found inseparable from these organized forms; therefore, the doctrine of chance, instead of con- futing, proves the existence of an unknown creat- iug cause. 'u^ -^ ;j.,.^^ ^iMi£^^i:viJt.A: .m^' Were the term chance to be understood merely in the common acceptation of the term, as existinjr, for instance, in many of the events of life, it wnl still always be considered as too absurd and impo- tent to account for the productions of nature, oe- cause it is no/ in the nature of the human mind to rest satisfied with this absurd idea of creation. ^^. \._ Now, therefore, to finish with this, and with the notion of the planets being knocked off from the sun : to account for their creation thereby, without an intelligent Creator, I must say, I feel it to be a daring thing of this or any writer, to have at- tempted the overthrow of the established opinions of all Christian nations, as set forth in the Scrip- tures, handed down to us from the people whom it 29 rltJ.lf.'ii I,' > lin;!!.;! appears to me, were cKbsen by the defign o: ven, to preserve mankind in the faith and worship of one Creator; and which are, I believe, supported in their principal facts by the immortal Newton, in his System of the Universe, and were certainly believed by him. Previous to thus presuming to overthrow this sac^ed reli^^ion, it appears to me, this author should have formed a system less replete with absurdity, but fortunately too much so, to produce extensive- ly any evil effects. Christians, in general, are fixed in their notions of the true cause of all they sec, taste, and feel around them, and of their own existence. The Jewish nation was tauffht by a religion which, from the days pf Adam, had been followed by mankind, — a beliet in one Almighty Creator of all tiling's. This belief had nearly, however, disappeared from the earth in succeeding a^es. Men, enervated by the effects of those hot climates, and sunk in consequent sensuality, were tempted to throw off the wholesome restraints of a pure religion, and gradually fell into an idolatry, whose ministers, probably, permitted these sensual habits, to confirm their own power over these people. The Jews, alone, had preserved the wor- ship of one Almighty Creator, until their posterity, after the deliverance from Egyptian bondage, had sunk them into the same idolatrous practices as their forefathers. And here I beg leave to observe, that this re- peated defection of the Jews, and of the rest of mankind, from the worship of one God, appears to me a strong proof that Deism alone, in its purest state, is not sufficient to prevent mankind from C* ,-;jW:vWH<'!!^ \' •' f'-v- '' V-' T' \ , , .•■^•« falling into idolatrous worship. But, the Saviour promised in the Scriptures by the inspired writers, arose kt length to astonish mankind, and to bring them back for ever from that idolatry to a religion which alone is worthy of the highest degree of in- telligence to which the mind of man can arrive; a religion which, while it allows him the most exten- ded use of that intelligence in the contemplation of the works of Creation, teaches him, also, to be contented with the limits which appear to be fixed to it; and being convinced of the existence of an Almighty Protector, to feel the glowing pleasure of the adoration of Him, to be among his purest and most comforting sensations. These cheering reelings of the heart and mind, cold and joyless Atheism is void of, and thereby its errors' are proved; because the almost universal feeling of these emotions, and their cultivation by nations who have at all risen above idolatrous wor- ship, is a proof that these emotions cume from the hands of Nature and Reason, and they appear to form the links of a chain which connects this with a future state of existence. The supporters of the doctrine of chance, how- ever, disdaining to be contented with the Scrip- tural account of Creation, have formed various wild and futile notions to account for it, in order, no doubt, to seek for distinction by opposing the generally received doctrines ; but finding, as I trust to have shewn, the total impotence of chance, of APPETENCIES, PRINCIPLES OF ORDER, POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS OF MATERIAL FORMS, and of LAWS OF NATURE, &c. &c., to Satisfy the inquiring mind of man, they have been obliged to conclude with 31 telling U8, ** that neither thev nor we know any- thing about the matter. fVide pa^e 7, of Pakif* Theology.) But at that very point, where thev have thus found themselves stopt in the extension of their enquiries, is seen ^*the God whom we worship." There, where this proud, but false philosophy finds its ignorance begin to darken it, we have the clear and powerful light of the true religion to illumin- ate us, and to teach us to rest satisfied with the impenetrable veil which its Author has been pleased to fix between Himself and His creatures in this stage of existence. Oil a par with these doctrines of chance-creation is the idea of the materiality of the Human Soul; artd previous to dismissing this part of the subject I beg leave of the reader to offer some observa- tions on this docrine of Materialitv. ,«. The materialist supposes, that all the powers of the mind of man result from his organization alone. It follows then, as a natural consequence, that when this organization is destroyed, tli^ mind is destroyed along with it. Materialism, then, neces- sarily leads us to a disbelief in a future state. Now, in no part of Nature do we find faculties bestowed, which are not, generally, productive of certain purposes to these parts; therefore, if man were destined solely for existence on this earth; if his thoughts were solely the effects of the organi- zation of his frame; is it not probable his thoughts would have been confined to the actual sphere of liis destined existence ? Would he not have been unable to form those high imaginations and hopes of eternal happiness in more perfect regions? . ^ 32 For, if we may reason from the vast body of evidence of her works, Nature does nothing, and bestows nothing, in vain; she never appears to act with deception ; therefore she would not have ffiven to men of all ages and nations those hopes of uiture happiness, merely to disappoint them. <* I am posi- tive I have a soul," saia Laurence Sterne, "nor shall all the books with which Materialists have pestered the world, ever convince me to the con- . trary." The vast powers of intellect and of science, by which man hus been enabled to observe and to trace so exactly the astonishing systems of the heavenly bodies; those high passions and thoughts of future bliss which he is thereby led to hope for, in some, such regions, partake too much of the nature ot Spirit to suffer us to think they are solely produced by a more perfect organization than is bestowed on the horse, the mule, or the ass. It, moreover, has been proved by the anatomy of the brain of the ourang outang, an animal ap- proaching nearer to the human species than any other, that its brain exactly resembles that of the human species; and it is said, "It is surprising this resemblance is productive of so few advantages; the tongue and all the organs of the voice are simi- lar, and yet the animal is dumb; the brain is formed in the same manner, and yet the creature wants reason; an evident proof [as Buffon finely observes] that no arrangement of rhatter will give mind, and that the body, how nicely soever formed, is formed to very limited ends, when there is not infused a soul to direct its operations;** and I am the more happy in giving this quotation, as it shews . .1 -zi'^if.Mi^ty^ thai BuifiMi kas indeed the redeeminnf quality of not accedii^ to^ but of disproviiiff, tli^ oegracfing doctrine of Materiality. We feel lent suprised at the invention «^ such a doctrine, when we are in- formed who are its abettors or authors. Persons who, in the practice of their art, havinj^ been long; habituated to dissections of the human body, have thereby become more apt to form their notions from their eyes than from the reflections of their miuds, have sought to make the world believe, that the superiority ot the mind of man over other ani- mals, arose merely from a more perfect organiza- tion of the brain; and such an assertion reminds us of the Alchemists, who sought for the Philoso- phers' Stone in some of the most loathsome objects of nature. Had the Materialists watched and studied the operations of their own hearts and minds, in the hours of calm contemplation; had they allowed these parts of their frames to exert a due influence over their opinions, they would, pro» bably, have felt the force of the great poet's asser- tion, "'Tis the Divinity which stirs within us.** v? They may, indeed, have carried their anatomical science and skill to that exact point where body meets spirit; they may have discovered the pre- cious matrix in which this "immortal spirit" is destined at present to reside; but they would not thus have presumed to degrade its nature and its future destiny. . nl^,,, ^^T-ui ^^i^^^^ttk^'i-: -i^ /, In fine, this material doctrine of the mind may w^ll be said to savour too much of the shop ; and no well cultivated mind can, I think, for a moment assent to so degrading a doctrine; and I shall con- clude this subjeot wiUi an observation I have made 34 on the separate existence <^ mind irom body* — • Wlien two persons converse togetlier, tbe ideas of their minds pass from the organs of s^^^ecb, throug^h the air intervening between the two persons; in this passage, therefore, cm emanation of mind exists separate from the body from Mhence it aane. It is conveyed, indeed, by the vibrations of the particles of air it passes through, but it certainly has, during that period, an existence separate from tlie body and organs it proceeded from. An emanation of mind, therefore, can exist separate, from Its matrix, and in a form of matter entirely different from what it emanated from. Is it then not possible to con- ceive, that mind itself could be endowed with exis- tence in the eeriform state, as well as in the solid? ^''1 now resume the narration of the course of thought which has led me to form the present attempt at a theory of the creation of our system, and, by analogy, of the other systems of the heavenly bodies. Being, as before stated, convinced that the earth had been originally formed in water, the inquiry, then, naturally suggested itself, what waters we had any historical account of which could produce this effect ? The chaotic liquor of the ancients, I trust to have proved, is incompetent to account for the general geological appearances, and therefore fails. The waters of the deluge can only account for certain changes in the earth's surface j which they may have occasioned, and which, no dou'bt, give proofs of the reality of that deluge. But the proofs of formation in a fluid, reach far below the possible effects of an inundation which lasted only pne year. The vast mpss^ of mfHrine depositions -J>- 55 must bave required mitnerooft k^w M Atcutnolate) ami even the granUe inma eives pi-oofs of for tnation or of alteration in a< fluid, by tlie chrVstals and l»eterogeneoU8^ttb9tenice8 it (consists or; and this stupendous mass^ Wbiek is supposed to form the whole interior of the ^lobe, must have required a correspondent tim* for that formation. ' «^'>-'**^ **»^^' To sltew that it is not witliout good caiisej #d', in this work, attempt to vindicate the Mo^ic ac- count of creation, and,' by our explanation of the first verse of Genesis, to account for the immense period of time required by the modern geologists, we extract the following' note from a late ivork dn geology: — "Although the world is not eternal, it is nevertheless very ancient, and, in calculating all the time that was required for the formation of thie numerous beds which the globe presents to us, for the life and reproduction of all the animals and vegetables whose remains it contains, aceordiiig to the time employed for the actual' formations whose duration we know, we are forced to admit that the world is at least 300,000 years old:*— Bo?ibee's Qeol. PopulairCi page 1^ Paris, 1833. 'I'he only waters, therefore, with which histoi'y furnishes us to account for these phenomena, are certainly the waters of Genesis, Genesis, diopter \st, verse 9th : " And God said, Let'the waters under the firmament be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so." I then proceeded to inquire if the Scriptural account of these waters would warrant the conclusion, that the earth was formed in them by the deposition of the strata and other rocks which the latest disoove- ries in the science of geology Itave pronouncedHi to consist of. " 1^ ^;i- 36 .After a long Jiiid mature oonuderatioiiy I con- ceived Uiat the first ver§e of ^Geneait, "In the be» ginning, God created the heayent and' the earth," will not only warrant the above conclusion ; but, perhaps, also a like formation of all the planets and suns of other systems, by the highly natural causes and effects of those laws, which the latest discove- ries of geology and pneumatic chemistry have found to exist. ;ii*>si.. v ^ifitut I further considered, that if the Scriptural ac- count of creation could thus be reconciled to those discoveries; if the geol<^y of the whole earth could thus be brought in proof of the reality and neces- sary existence of those waters; the doubts of the unbeliever might yield to it, and the autliority of Scripture acquire new force. *- ^'k,-uv Yet it is be observed, that a great part of man- kind have, perhaps, received the erroneous idea from their infancy, ** that the world was made out of nothing." Now Doctor Chaln^ers, in a late publication of his, on Astronomy, says that ** no part of the scriptures asserts that the world was made out of nothing." Modern science lias proved that most of the liquids and solids of the. vegeta- ble kingdom are formed, in great pai^t, of gaseous ■ : f m offer be sus* } scope to the indue liberty rmed, in the first verse of ■medin 1825. ; into a chaos trary, there is ««the begin* arryine on, of le earth in the t theory ; and » earth having i depositions of I as appear** ^y bodies ; and the v^ry dlays ahd sands we walk on, which were formerly ootisidtired mere earths, have been proved by Sif ' Humphrey Davy's experi- ments in galvanism) to consist, In great part, of oxygen, which must bf3 combined with the bases of these earths in a soJid stale. '^ ' '. ^ ^ ;'*>^; But for the origin of the elementiii'y gas^s,' of ' whose composition or origin we are yet' ignorant, we must refer to a creating cause. By die famous discoveries of Black, Priestly, Lavoisier, and other chemists and philosophers, a new world has be«fn disclosed to us. The constitu- ent part of three-fourths of the globe, water, which was formerly considered as an element of creation, has by these discoveries been proved to consist of two separate bodies, oxygen and hydrogen. Our atmosphere itself, the common air, is no longer to be considered as one of these elements: it is com- posed of the oxygen and the azotic gases; but neither oxygen nor hydrogen, nor azote, have ever been obtained separate, in a liquid state. They have yet been found only in the form of gaseS) that is, combined with light and caloric. By the combustion of hydrogen or inflamable gas in oxy- gen gas, tiie caloric and light of the latter escapes, and water is formed, in a quantity exactly corres- ponding with the weight of the gases employed in the combiiation ; and the same water may again be decomposed, and returned into the state of the ^ses it was composed of. This, therefore, being incontrovertibly proved, — for all philosophical chemists are now agreed upon the fact, — it follows, that the waters of the Universe recorded in Genesis, MUST have been formed by the combustion of these 40. gases; it follows, that if any part of' these waters are composed of theni) every part must; and, there- fore, that the Deity, having nrst called these gases into existence, Iiutanees where found. A. Vegetable soil. ^ B. Sand, Clay, 'Gravel, with i Mouth of the Thames, and bones of same species aa } other Rivers, now exist. J ^ ' C. Def p beds of Gravel, large loose blocks of Sand, all mala belonging to species now extinct. TBKTIAHT STRATA. Surface of many parts of containing bones of ani- > England, and especially the J eastand south western parts. D. Sand, Clay, Pebbles, beds 1 Hampstead Heath, Bag- of Sand, white Sand- | shot Heath, coast of Suffolk stone, many sea Shells, Vand Norfolk, the stone of * '., . bones of extinct species i which Wiod«or Castle is ) of animals. J built. ► to eigVit ^ In an ar- »h papers, nion, that mth Seas, « of birds istonishing to cover a ogether. iting testi- i, and liave etables and ed in Eng- >f the order rocks which Jli*r« fmmd. Thames, «nd [Rivers. many parts of especially the » western parts. Heath» Bag- Mst of Suffolk the stone of Castle ie £. Altematipnaof LinwiloBe, ' : coDtainiilg freah water Shells, Claya of diliermt qualities, and I4me-stone containing marine Sheila. F. Thick beds of Clay, many ' Sea Shells, beds of Lime Stone, remains of extinct species of plants and fruits, land and amphi- bious animals. ■ft. «• >Xsle of White in England. Many placet round Lon- don, and a great part of Essex and North-East of Kent, Isle of Sheppy. 4' aiGONDAmT STBATA. G. Chalk with Flints. Do. without do. H. a. Chalk Marie. h. Green Sand. . c. Thick beds of Clay. Y Dover Cliffi^ Brighton i Hertfoidshhre,Flamborough I Head, in Yorkshire, Eng- j land. Many parts of S. coast. Many parts of Kent and Sussex. The Wolds of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. d. Yellow Sand, with beds) Neighbourhood of Hastings, of Iron. . j in the Isle of Purbeck. In an account of the geological appearances from the Lands' End, in England, towards the vicinity of London, the following facts are stated : The principal groups of secondary rocks, from the primary strata to the Chalk group, form the upper or more recent members of the division. The Chalk group, the Oolite group, the Red Marie group, the Coal group, t|i^ MoHUtain Li|n^ 46 Ston« tP^oup, the old Red Sand Stone ffronp, the Graiwacke group, are of the foUowing thicknesses : MoanC&in Lime Stone group, 900 feet thick. Old lied Sand Stone grbup, 1,500 feet thick. Coal group, 1,700 feet thick. Red Marie group contains niines of salt and marbles, alabaster and magnesia, with marine skeletons : its thickness is 2,100 feet. / v The Oolite group contains about twelve alter- nations of subordinate beds or systems of beds, consisting of Lime Stones of different qualities, and of Clays : their united thicknesses being about 2,600 feet, of which 1,100 are formed of two beds of Clay of five and 600 feet each. The whole group cbntains a vast abundance of animal remains^ ahnost exclusively marine. The Chalk group is separated from the Oolite froup by several beds of Sands, Clays, and Sand tones, and inchuling them, is 1,900 feet thick. It extends from Flamborough Head, in Yorkshire,, to Weymouth, ^he whole group abounds in organ^ ic remains of the same classes as Winford in the Oolite group. The above groups make 10,700 feet. Thus it appears, that both the Tertia and Se- condary formations of the earth, contain vast masses of the remains of marine productions, many of them belonging to species now extinct. Many of these latter are said to be of enormous sizes. The Coal formations must probably have been produced by the decomposition of inanne vegeta- bles, as they reach far too much below the surface of the earth to suppose them to be formed by those of a terrestrial species* ^^» "•''' ^ ''**' ^^'^''-n >'^"'*^ t • ^1^9 9eains of Coal whj^k i i , ary formations athallu!^^ beW tl,e Second- p™''P«» ^^m Geology n l«o • v^oai measures eontein rrLV^' ^^ says, <«Th*i land flood or riVeii ,„H 5 "?' '*««'' P'odiiced bv «?7 are found, t^y'l^/f-^f -We the »eZ birds and mamm !!a. Thl f.7 ™n«ained reptile,, jneas^e,, are fro™ 40 fe f »/°"»'' '"" th^se Ph.ll.ps say,, are quite nnll/f ' '""ft a-"! as «hat the Lrfl been known. iTdwZ ^^ " ""'""'5' "''^^ ^-a^ ^""'leux ha, remaned ttar^'"/'? «"»">•«»' -f^tlantie to 40 df.a...^«» ' .^ ^"^ basin of fkj Pr«.nfftheGu)fofSw rf '^'' ^"-^'e". X ii t J * I »f r "is » extending to the Black Sea."*— JSii/Z. {7mvfr«. 1800. "''Now then, to refer to the words of Cuvier, "the Levels on which marine productions are now fonnd, are far above the level oT the ocean, and at heights - to which the sea could not reach by the action of hny known cause." ^ To what cause can we then ascribe this pheno- menon, but to the substantial, plain and simple one, the original formation of the earth : all its geolo- gical appearances give evidence of formation in a fluid. Of no waters have we any record sufficient to account for these facts, save the waters recorded in Genesis. These, therefore, forcibly press them- selves 'on our attention, and appear perfectly com- petent to clear up all these phenomena of Creation. But water alone, that is, holding no extraneous substances in solution, either partial or complete, fl^sits Twthing, All its depositions are found to proceed from extraneous bodies. The petrifying power of certain waters, of which such fabulous opinions have formerly existed, is solely owing to the deposition of earths or salts it had previously dissolved, completely or partially. We shall, therefore, proceed to state our humble ' conceptions of those laws of nature, which the Cre- ator may have chosen for the gradual formation of ' our earth in the waters of Genesis, on the ground- work mentioned above, regarding the 1st verse of the 1st chapter of that book. Genesis, 1st chap. 1st verse. — "In the begin- ning God created the heavens and the earth." * Se« alM Note to 4th Edition, in the Appendix No. 2.'^i.'^ i 1 1 4d I wish first to premise, that, as I consider this Scriptural account of Creation to be the only one by which we can, naturally and reasonably, account for the geological phenomena of our earth ; so, the only thing in which I differ from the, hitherto, received opinions of that Creation is, in the con- struction which (from a desire to account for these phenomena, and to reconcile them with the Scrip- tural accounts,) I have put upon the meaning of this first verse of Genesis. As before observed, I had, in the course of these studies of nature, been led by them, and by read- ing and reflection, gradually to come to such a construction of that verse as the following: — That the term *Hhe beginning," pointir^ to no specijie time, may refer to numerous ages previous to the separation of the waters from the waters mentioned in the 6th, 7th, and 9th verses; and I moreover consider, that every man hath a perfect right to form such a construction of the Word of God as his understanding, after mature reflection on His works, and a diligent study of them, may lead him to; and more especially when his design is good, when he conceives he is thereby not only adding weight and authority to these Scriptures, by bring- ing the evidence of the geology of every part of the globe to their confirmation, but, perhaps, silencing thereby the infidelity of the sceptic, and, as he may hope, exhibiting, in a stronger light^ the power, wisdom, and glory of his Creator. In the 2d verse of Genesis it is said, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." ,1 i i - do By this verse, it would appear, the earth was completely covered by the waters; otherwise, the Spirit would have been recorded as having also moved upon the land; and t\te 9th verse is confir- matory of this circumstance, for it says, "And God said. Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land ap- pear: and it was so." This event, then, I consi- der to have happened many ages after the time of the first verse; which verse, I further consider, to point exactly to that period to which the Psalmist I^vid, in Psalm cii., 25th verse, refers, "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth'y^ and I consider this foundation to have been the formation of the aqueous globe of our theory, — the universal waters of Genesis. We now proceed to our statement : — The sea, or globe of water, mentioned above to have been formed by those gases which the modern discoveries in pneumatic chemistry prove all water to be formed of, and being destined by the Crea- tor to produce habitable earth or land, we shall conceive this aqueous globe to have been endowed by Him for that purpose, with amazing prolific powers of life, both of the vegetable and animal nature. The remains of many of those marine animals, whose skeletons have been lately discovered in the earth, of a species never known to have inhabited our seas, are of gigantic stature and dimensions, as compared to those of any existing species. The marine shells, the chalks, and lime -stone formations, which I consider to have been produced, as above observed, by the gradual disintegration r-^ 51 of these shells io the course of sufficient ages; the vast coal formations, also, prove the amazing masses of animal and vegetable life, which we shall now suppose, according to our theory, to have existed in ttiose waters of Genesis; and for proofs of which we accordingly refer our readers to the geological statements in the preceding pages. To account further for the primary earths, lime,* silex or sand, sand-stones, flints, gravels, clays or aluminous earths, terra ponderosa, magnesian earths, salt formations, metals, mineral substances of all kinds, and the rocks and other substances composed of them and of the primary earths ; we shall now proceed to a statement of those experi- ments, opinions and theories, which have been performed and maintained by several eminent chemical philosophers on this important head. In the treatise on Chemistry by Professor Chap- tal, mentioned in page 23, the following facts are stated to have resulted from the analysis made by him of certain vegetables: — "The herb Patience affords sulphur; vegetables, in their analysis, likewise present us with certain metals, as iron, gold, and manganese. The iron forms nearly one-twelfth of the ashes of hard-wood. It may be extracted by the magnet; but it is sel- dom in a naked state, but is combined with the acids of vegetation. The iron is not imbibed from the earth, but is formed by the vegetative pro- cess. Lime, constantly enough, forms seven-tenths of the fixed residue of vegetable incineration, usually combined with the carbonic acid. Next to lime, alumine !s the most abundant earth in vegetables; and next magnesia. Siliceous earth I 62 likewise exists, bat less abundantly; least common of all is barytes or terra ponderosa." As an evident and tumcient proof that all the products of vegetables are produced by the water, and, perhaps, the air, necessary for their growth, I extract also the foUowinjBf observation of Professor Chaptal: — "It appears proved by Van Helmont, that vegetables can live and grow with only air and water. He planted a willow weighing 59 lbs., and watered it with distilled water five years. It increased to 169 lbs., the earth it was grown in lost oidi/ two ounces." If one vegetable be thus proved to acquire its growth from water and air, the strong probability, is, that, as Chaptal says, ''all others do," and, by the uniformity of the laws of nature, wc may conclude this law applies generally to the vegetative process. It is true that Sir H. Davy states, in page 12, of his Lecture on ** Agricultural Chemistry," that the result of Von Helmont's experiment was shewn to be fallacious; but that the true use of water was unknown till 1785, when Mr. Cavendish mude the discovery, that it was a compound of two elastic gases, inflammable gus or hydrogen, and vital gas or oxygen. Now, although Van Helmont was ignorant of this discovery, tlie fact he proved is still maintained, that water is the great source of nourishment of plants. In vain would any of the modern discove- ries be brought forth to invalidate this great fact, since the vegetation of every part of the earth de- monstrates it. In the thickest and largest forests, the aboriginal woods of the earth, no sensible dimi- nutiou of the soil is obserrablei though under the ast common 53 operation of so vast a reeetation — whence then can the products of it be obtained but from the sur- rounding elements of water and air ? In fact, Sir Humphrey allows, in page 211 of same work, that *-nif>- 61 I here insert some observations on the composi* tion of the g^nite mass, which is supposen by some geoi<^^ts to form the internal parts of the earth, or frame-work of the globe. This mass is composed of the assemblage, some- times in thick, sometimes in very thin Mminse of various kinds of mineral substance, such as quartc, mica, feldspar, &c, all of which substances, i^ain, are composed of the various primary earths, Bme, magnesia, silex, alumine, barytes or terra ponde- rosa. The granite mass, then, is ultimately com- {founded of these primary earths, most of which we lave shewn to be produced by the decomposition of vegetables and animals ; and that this mass has been originally formed in, and deposited from, a fluid, appears to me proved by the crystals of quartz, minute scales of mica, and its appearance of so fine a granular structure, and more especially by the visible layers and laminae dispersed through- out that texture. I have counted above twenty layers of a white substance, in a fragment of granite or gneiss a foot square. Gneiss is a stratified granite. Had the granite mass not been formed by the gradual decay, decomposition, and depositions of marine vegetables and animals, as we nave stated in the theory* of Creation; had its materials been formed at once in the waters of Genesis, the various substances composing it (the mass) would have united according to their mutual affinities, and been •si tbe half by 30,000, and then always adding the other half to the amount found, and to on to the twentieth generation, and I have no doubt the products of the twentieth generation would fully verify the author's assertion. F 62 precipitated according to the laws of their gravity in vast homogeneous masses; but the visible depo- sitions of part of it in hiyers and laminae, seems to confirm the opinion of their having been deposited in the course, perhaps, of numerous ages, from the decomposition and depositions of vegetable and animal life. And though we should allow, with the Huttonians, that the crystalline appearance of this and other primordial rocks may be produced by the internal fires, yet this will not inform us, nor account at all, for the original production of their elementary particles. i Now, although, from the more ancient formation of the granite mass, few instances of visible vege- table or animal remains are found in its interior, yet, as we know that water of itself deposits nothing, out what it has held in previous solution, either partial or complete, and as we know of no other source, from which the substance of this solution could be derived in the waters of Genesis, but from vegetable and animal decomposition, and as we have seen, by the foregoing theory and data, that vegetable and animal decomposition affords the materials of which the granite mass is composed, I trust we are warranted in the conclusion, that having been deposited and lain many ages previous to the deposition of the secondary and tertiary strata, and thatt in a state of moisture, all its vege- table and animal organization has been destroyed from that cause, and from compression, internal heatS) and the volcanic fires of the earth; and that this granite mass has been produced by the same means, which appear to have been chosen by the Creator, for the constrilction of the more external /^ilS*- 63 parts of the globe, namelv> the generation, decay, death, decomposition, and depositions of the vege- tables and animals of the waters of Genesis. Accordingly we find, in the review of the third edition of Lyeli's Principles of Geology, it is stated, tliat *' the experiments of Watt prove that a rock need not be perfectly melted, in order that a re- arrangement of its component particles should take place, and a more chrystalline structure ensue." — We may easily suppose, therefore, [says Mr. Lyell,] "that all traces rf shells and other organic remains may be destroyed, and that new chemical combinations may arise, and, according to these views, gneiss ;>.nd mica schisti may be nothing more than micaceous and argillaceous stones altered by heat, and certainlvj in their mode of stratification and lamination, they correspond most exactly. — Granular quartz may have been derived from sili- ceous sand-stone, compact quartz from the same. Clay slate may be altered shale; and shale appears to be clay, subjected to great pressure. Granular marble has probably originated in the form of or- dinary lime-stone, having, in many instances, been replete with shells and corcJs now obliteratedf while calcareous sands and marles have been changed into impure chrystalline lime-stones." I have chiefly made the above extract from Mr. Lyell's work, in answer to the objection stated in the preface of my theory, made by Mr. Fairholme, regarding the granite mass; and I trust it will prove, that although this granite mass contains at present no organic remains, yet it may have con- tained them originally, and they may have been destroyed by the heats, fires, and consequent m i '•' 64 change or fusion tlio mass has undergone from those firefl, or perhaps from electricity. In fine, I must here repeat, that I find no cause, after the perusal of the latest works on geology, to vary from the theory of Creation I now venture to pre- sent. On the contrary, I find several of the Uer- man Geologists have adopted the same opinion, namely, **tlmt vegetable and animal life have been the cause of the production of the solid portion of the earth." The eminent geologist, Hutton, was of tlie same opinion. I, therefore, adhere to the opinion 1 have stated, that the discoveries of the marine organic remains will be satisfactorily explained by our theory, and the necessity precluded of supposing the earth more ancient, since the separation of the waters, than by the Mosaic account; and I now conclude with an observation from Sharon Turner's ** Sacred History of the World." "Therefore," he says, "it appears to me most probable, that whenever the riffht theory of the fabrication of the earth, and the era and succession of its organized beings shallr be discovered, it will be found to be compatible with the Mosaic cosmogony, in its most natural signification." " Happy should I be, if the theory I am now pre- senting to the world, should, in its estimation, be found to approximate to this description. The late discoveries in geology of Baron Cuvicr, Lyell, and Buckland and others, as they comprise not more than a few miles of the depth of the earth, (being a mere fractional part of its diameter), do not in the least invalidate the theory I have formed, which comprises the entire of that diameter. I, ii : u. ^Jf>^ 65 however, repeat and extend Here the observation! I have made already. Firtt, That Baron Cuvier, in his computation of the distance of time, namely, 5 or 6,000 years, (at which he places the date of his revolution as tne result), does not state by what comparison or scale he arrived at his decision; and it is difficult to conceive any scale he could have had, except a known quantity or depth of deposition from rivers or lakes, in a given time. If this, however, be the source on which he has founded Iuh computation, I cannot but consider it a very insufficient one. The power of deposition of lakes or rivers could no more be compared to the quantum of that power possessed by the waters of a deluge, or by the primeval oceans, than the currents of those rivers or lakes could be to the almost inconceivable force of the waters of a deluge overwhelming a great part of the earth, which must have been the case when the waters of Genesis, 9th verse, were gathering together. I should therefore humbly suggest the query, whether the period, at whicn these fossil remains of the bones of terrestrial animals were deposited, may ascend no higher than the time of the Deluge of Noah; and wliether the circumstance of no human bones being found in the particular place of these discoveries, has been owing to those parts not being then inhabited by our species. Or, secondlt/, allowing him to be correct as to the period of 5 or 6,000 years, at which he dates his revolution, and which, as he says, '^has buried and caused to disappear the countries formerly inhabi- ted by man, and the species of animals now most ^' •V 66 known, that, contrariwise, it has left the bottom of the former sea dry, and has formed on it the countries now inhabited/' I would ask, is not this period, which agrees very nearly widi the time of the separation of the waters by the Mosaic account, equally well accounted for by thai separation, and, therefore, instead of the countries formerly inhabi- ted by man ** havinir been then buried and caused to disappear," shall we not rather sa^, that the earth was then separated from the seas in which it had, according^ to our theory of Creation, been formed, and that soon after this period of the separation, Man was created. This theory will also account equally for the present appearance of those marine deposits and organic remains now found at the greatest depths of the earth to which mankind have yet penetrated. All these marine exuviae and organic remains, and the strata under which they are deposited, are satisfactorily accounted for by the construction of the Ist verse of Genesis we have formed, as the basis of the theory of the foregoing treatise ; and which construction has since been sanctioned by the eminent geologists and writers already specified. I shall nere add some observations on the Review of Lyell's Principles of Geology, of April, 1835, on the subject ot the antiquity of Mount iEtna. " It h thus," it is said, *' that volcanic formations confirm the evidence afforded by the sedimentary strata of the iminense antiquity and lengthened duration of even the most recent geological s^ras." But is it not probable that the eruptions of ^tna were much more frequent for ages after the time of its first eruption than what they have been since? 67 Is it not probable the causes which produced that first eruption have since been greatly diminished by the numerous flowings of lava ? According to the force of the cause, so must have been the num- ber and frequency of those eruptions, and their frequency at first cannot be estimated by the erup- tions which have happened in our times. The age of tliis mountain may, therefore, be very far less than a computation formed on the frequency or deposits of its late eruptions would make it. The eruptions, also, may have begun for ages before the mountain emerged from the waters of Genesis, and these sub-aqueous eruptions been deposited before the separation of those waters. It remains now to offer some observations on the Salt formations of the earth. These formations offer strong evidence of our theory of the waters of Genesis. The salt, occa- sionally called common salt, sea salt, or marine salt, is entirely a creature of the ocean; no terres- tial vegetable that I know of has ever produced it^ except when growing nigh the salt water. These vast formations, found in various parts of the earth, must have unquestionably originated from saline waters; and one way in which the separation of the salt from the water, which held it in solution, may be accounted for is, that parts of these seas have been swallowed up by earth- quakes or volcanoej, and their waters exsiccated by internal fire*" i or, that these parts of the seas have, by some revolution, been separated, and not being replenished by any rivers, have been gra- dually dried up by the sun. 68 But I should suppose the quantity of salt pro- duced by these accidrntal causes would not nigh amount to the vast salt formations of our earth. — Some intentional operation of Providence is more likely to have been t'>e cause of producing an article so indispensible for the use of man ; and I therefore conceive, it is more probable that these formations have derived their origin from the de- composition of vast depositions of the marine plants of the waters of Genesis. These must have con- tained this salt in abundance, as do the marine plants of our seas, and the other products of their decomposition have united, according to their affinities, to form other geological bodies. These marine plants must have contained so- dium; and the marine acid, to form the sea salt, has probably been produced by the decomposition of sea water, as hydrogen is said to be the basis of that acid.- Sodium has the property of decompo- sing water, and, -according to Good, in his Book of Nature, "the gills of fish have it also." Or, if we adopt the analysis of sea salt by Sir H. Davy, the chlorine (being entirely a produce of the ocean) has entered into combination with the sodium to form the chloride of it. The substances, iodine, brome, and, above all, silicon, lately discovered, will probably ere long throw much light on the productive powers of marine substimces by combustion. Iodine, at the heat of 212, becomes a violet-coloured gas. It forms an active acid by uniting to hydrogen. — Brome is a dense liquid, and forms an orange- coloured gas by a gentle heat. 69 Silicon is procured from silica, or the earth of flints, by the action of potassium : it appears as a dark fawn-coloured powder, which is irj^mmahle, and which produces silica, or the *' sandy principle,'* by combustion. This silicon has been, in a part of this work, proved to be the offspring of the vegetative process. It decomposes water and acids. And here, therefore, we have some insight into the means by which nature has produced all the sands of the earth and the rocks composed of siliceous matter, namely, by the union of the silicon with the oxygen of the decomposed water, probably after the decomposition of the vegetable matter containing that silicon. -^^^ 'I* - >ff jtf Sodium, also, a metal lately discovered by Sir H. Davy, is obtained from soda, the basis of com- mon sea salt. This is, therefore, entirely a marine production. The sodium is stated by Sir Hum- phrey to be so very combustible, that when thrown upon water it swims on its surface, hisses violently, and dissolves; and that silica, or earth of flints, probably contains two proportions of oxygen and one of silicon. As a further proof of the production of siliceous earth, by the process of vegetation, we insert the following extract from Sir Humphrey Davy*s ad- mirable Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry. In page 54, he says, on the epidermis of plants, <^ In the reeds, grasses, canes, and the plants having hollow stalks, it is of great use and is exceedingly strong, and in the microscope seems composed of a kind of glassy net work, which is principally siliceous earth, and in the rattan, the epidermis con- tains a sufficient quantity of flint to give light when *.■ 70 f:n jl f 1 ^ struck by steel, or two pieces rubbed together pro- duce sparks " It is known, also, that the silicified seeds of the chara, a plant which grows at the bot- tom of lakes, abound in the flints of Auriliac, in France. In Evans's Agriculture, printed at Montreal, it is said, page dl, **The ashes of stalks of wheat gathered a month before the flowering, and having some of the radical leaves withered, contained 12 parts of silica and 65 of alkaline salts in 100 parts. At the period of the wheat flowering, and when most of the leaves were withered, the ashes con- tained 32 parts of silica and only 54 of alkaline salts." Thus, at one period the straw contains 12 parts, and at another 32 parts silica, and this just at the time the plant is coming to its full growth. Now, if this silica had been taken up from the soil by the roots of the plant, it would be absorbed by them in the same quantity at all times, and equally diffused through the straw; but if, as by our theory^ the vital functions of the vegetable form the earths just as they require them, the above most singular fact will be thereby accounted for.* Thus it appears that the latest discoveries of the celebrated chemist Sir Humphrey Davy, confirm the existence of the siliceous earth in vegetables. In fine, having had an opportunity of perusing the * It is also to be observed, in confirmation of our theory, that, as it generally happens the rains are more abundant in the early parts of the seasonE, more silica would be dissolved by them, than at the tiine of powering, whereas the above experiment proves that nigh thr^e times more silica is formed in th^ pilots at this period: and I coi^si4er that this is a complete proof that (notwithstanding Liebig'« opinion, that the earths are taken up from the soils) the silica otf vhe^t is actually foraged by the pro-i cesi of ve^etatioi), LrdMiH <^k*'i. 71 best and most modern works on the geology of our earth, I must here state that they serve to confirm my opinion stated in the theory of this work, that the processes of vegetation and animalization in the waters of Genesis, or universal Ocean, are the most highly natural, and reasonable means, by which we can account for the original formation of the geo- litgical bodies ; and that these having at that origin been deposited in horizontal strata, have since been subjected to innumerable convulsions, elevations, and disruptions by internal fires, or the electric power, and consequently to great chemical changes in their component parts, is beyond a doubt, and which the present appearance of almost every part of the crust of the earth confirms. It is, therefore, probable, that the metallic and mineral geological bodies may be combinations of the principles of vegetable and animal life deposited, as stated above in our theory ; which combinations have been ef- fected by the fires, or heats of the internal parts of the earth, and the joint action of chemical afBnities. In fine, the vegetable and animal kingdoms are already discovered, by analysis, to be reducible to the elementary principles oxygen, hydrogen, car- bon, azote, and perhaps heat, Rghtand electricity; and I think it probable, the mineral kingdom will, ere long, exhibit the same result. For who would have believed fifty years since, that from silica or the earth of flints, a combustible substance wo* Id be produced) reproducing silica or the sandy prin- ciple by its combustion, and consequent union with oxygen ? And, in fact, all the primary earths are now found to be oxyds containing oxygen as a com« ponent principle in a solid state. ^«W.i^ rsr h h- r :, I 72 In corroboration of our statement of the power of the vej^etative functions to produce the primary earths, we have now to add a statement from Sharon Turner. In his " Sacred History of the World," vol. 1st, page 93, he says, — " Vegetables have even some relation with the Mineral Kingdom ; for they not only form the carbon they contain, but some have been found to have copper particles" ; (and in a note it is said) " That copper exists in a great number of vegetables, was announced in 1817. — Mr. Targeau found five millogrames of copper in a killograme of grey quinquina, eight in Martinico coffee, and nearly eight in wheat." (Bull. Univ. p. 130.) He continues, " And several vegetables secrete flint and likewise sulphur, as in our com- mon corn ;" (and in a note it is said) *^ Sulphur exists in combination with different bases in wheat, barley? rye, oats, maize, millet, and rice." (Lind- say's Nat. l3ot. p. 393.) Mr. T'urner continues, " We may add iron and gold also, for both of these have been found in vegetables." And in page 393, in a note it is said, ^' The energy and even creativ6 agency of the living principle of plants appear in its power of convert- ing material particles into other substances. Ex- periments on vegetables seem to prove that the solid matter which entered into their composition in the more advanced period of their growth, must, in part at least, have been produced bt/ some action oftlie vital powers and could not have been obtained ab. extra." — Bui. Physic, p. 307, and Dr. Thomp- son's Ch. In the Edinburgh Review of Buckland's Bridge- water Treatise, the following extract appears from I r^" 7.3 that work: — " It is marvellous that mankind have gone on for so many centuries in ignorance of the fact, which is now fully proved, that no small part of the present surface of the earth is derived from the remains of animals that constituted the popu- lation of ancient seas. Many extensive plains and massive mountains form, as it were, the great char- nel house of preceding generations, in which the petrified exuviae of extinct races of vegetables and animals are piled up, into stupendous monuments of life and death, during almost immeasurable periods of past time." Mr. Ehrenberg, an eminent Naturalist, has, since Dr. Buckland's Treatise, discovered by the microscope the existence of fossil animalculse, or infusorial organic remains, which form extensive strata of tripoly or poleschiefer (polishing slate) at Frauzenbad, in Bohemia. The animals belong to the genus Bacularia, and inhabit siliceous shells, the accumulation of which form the strata of polish- ing slate. The size of one of these animalculse is the three hundredth part of an inch. Yet, not- withstanding the conviction which Dr. Buckland so forcibly expresses, of the vast profusion of vegetable and animal life which must have existed in the ancient seas, and which could be no other than the waters or ocean of Genesis, to which the Doctor agrees, by the extract from the Bridge- water Treatise, (see page 5 of our preface to nrst edition), yet, notwithstanding this, he gives an opinion, in another part of that treatise, that animal life did not exist previous to the formation of those strata of the earth where their remains are first found; namely, the transition or secondary forma- G T mrinmn p^^»i ^--iiw^mw' O- ■;. ly---' '""•i'"'iSt,_ 74 ,.k tions. We have given above Mr. Lyail's opinloMy **t]tat all traces ot shells and other organic remains may be destroyed in rocks, by a heat not amount- ing to fusion." If our system of the formation of the solid parts of our globe, by the primeval depo- sition of vegetable and animal remains, be ap- proved, it will perhaps shew, that internal heats and fires, generated by the gases and metals of these remains, were much more frequent in those early periods of the world than at present. It is, therefore, no proof that vegetable and animal life did not exist prior to the transition formations and dufing the primary, to say, that their org^anic re- mains are not found there : an immensely less heat than that which must have been occasioned by the subterranean fires of the earth, previous to the separatior) of Genesis, would be sufficient to destroy all traces of organic remains, and to produce a chrystalline structure and new chemical combina- tions, as we find them at the present day. This objection, then, to the pre-existence of animal and vegetable life, because no present remains are found in the primary strata, is not, in my opinion, tenable. A great argument of the modern geologists is, ^Hhat the causes at present in operation, must have been producing the same effects in preceding ages" Therefore, by a parity of reasoning, conceiving the design of the Creator to have been, to produce the whole circumference and diameter of our globe, by the instrumentality of those natural causes and laws which we now see every where in operation, we infer, that the races of vegetable and animal life were continually employed for that end, since the formation of the primeval ocean of Genesis, as ■ i: 75 stated in our system ; and, that these races were competent thereto, the present formation of a large tract of the earth by even a few species of marine insects, evidently proves; and it also proves, that the Deity could not have chosen, from among the laws of nature he had created, so energetic an agent of production, since even electricity, though much more sudden and violent in its effects, has not the continuity of the agencies of life. The ooral insect alone has produced, as shewn in this work, an extent of land equal in length to one- eighth of the diameter of our globe, and still con- tinues its operations; and it is even the opinion of aGuic ueulogists, that another continent will, in time, be formed in these seas by means of these insects. Doctor Buckland allows that some geologists a^e of opinion that fossil remains may have existed in the primary formations, and all traces of them may have been obliterated by the internal fires; but he appears himself to think (and gives a quotation, I believe, from another writer) that the incandescence of the earth was, during the primary formations, so great, that no animals could have existed in the ocean. Now, if our tlieory be well founded, that the same mighty energy of formation which has pro- duced so large a part of the crust of the earth, (namely, the labours of the marine animals during life, and their depositions and those of the marine vegetables after aeath) ; if we allow that these same most powerful causes may have produced all the formations of the earth through its entire diameter, the incandescence during the primary formations *;. ^*-i 1 f 7e will not render this theory untenable. By this theory, we account for the production of the inter- nal fires, by the ignition of the inflammable gases, and the metallic bases resulting from the decompo- sition of the vegetable and animal remains that nad been deposited in the oceanic waters, and attracted to a centre by the laws of gravity and pressure. When a sufiicient thickness of mass of these re- mains was thus accumulated, these internal fires would then be generated by the ignition of the inflammable matter of their remains, and, during the existence of these volcanic fires, an incan- descence might have been produced over a great part of the earth, vsrhichj for a time, would destroy the animals of the ocean near it; but, as these fires could last only until the inflammable matter that generated them was consumed, when that took place, the (then) crust of the earth would be cooled down by the waters of the ocean, and future depo- sitions of remains would take place, until again collected in sufficient thickness to reproduce inter- nal fires and incandescence ; when the same refri- geration must, in time, have taken place, all the fuel of these fires being again consumed. In fact, this incandescence may, perhaps, account for a geological phenomenon stated by geologists, that entire genera of marine animals appear to have existed at certain depths and have disappeared in subsequent strata, when other genera and species have succeeded them. May this not have hap- pened by the sudden destruction of these genera by the incandescence, and the reproduction or re - appearance of other genera when the refrigeration, as above described, had taken place? 77 But, further, if Doctor Buckland assents to the entire account of crea^on contained in the . 1st chapter of Genesis, which he may well do, after agreeing that its first verse will account for all the wonders lately discovered by geology ; in this case it will be seen that, in our concluding note, we have shewn U»at, by the 7th verse, the waters of Genesis existed odow the firmament, even allowing this word to mean the atmosphere, as thought by some writers. In this universal ocean, by our theory, we con- ceive the earth and planets to have been formed ; and we know, from the 9th verse, the earth and its oceans were separated from these waters at the six 5!v^5« IrAn*^^' ^ We now return to the course of our theory on the earth's formation. Vast tracts of the interior of the earth have, as above, been shewn to consist of the shells and remains of marine animals. The chalk and lime- stone formations, I trust to hav^ shewn, have also 7B' > m i retuked from the same remains;, and, also, that the coal formations hare been produced by the residue of marine ireji^etables and a charring neat, as well as the schisti or slate mountains. As, therefore, the proofs narrated in the foregoing pages are, I trust, sufficient to prove that every part of the earth has been formed in a fluid ; that many parts are visibly the remains of vegetable and animal decomposition, and that most of the geolc^cal bodies are resolvable into the elements of vegetable and animal life; we now arrive at our theory of the i formation of the solid bodies, namely, that the processes t)f vegetation and of ammaliza- tion, were the machinery chosen by the flrst Cause for gradually producing, in thj^ course OF sufficient AOESy IN THE WATERS OF GeNESIS, the VARIOUS GENERATIONS OF VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL life; WHICH, BY THEIR GROWTH, DECAY, THEIR DEATH, DFCOMPOSITION, DEPOSITIONS, AND THE LABOURS OF SOME SPECIES OF THESE ANIMALS, HAVE PRODUCED ALL THE GEOLOGICAL BODIES OF WHICH OUR EARTH IS COMPOSED. These bodies, as they were depositing, have been attracted towards the centre of the aqueouS globe by the great and universal law of attraction, and before and since the separation have, by the effects of internal fires, convulsions, or the electric power, acquired their present appearances. Now, in support of our theory of the earth, we add the following observations :— The law of gra- vity, or attraction, would necessarily occasion a vast pressure towards the centre of the aqueous globe, of all the particles of the geological bodies as the^ formed. The vegetable and animal remains 79 of which they werp formed, as stated above, would pass throuffh vf^rious staples of fermentation. — When a sufficient depth of deposition was formed, heat, inflammable and other gases, would be thereby generated; and these internal fires must have been in operation, pending many of the ages required for the formation of the entire diameter of the earth, in the waters of Genesis. Hence must have arisen, long before the separation of these waters, not only internal changes in the forms and original composition of the congregated masses of the geological bodies, but also numerous com- motions in the interior parts, which have produced probably many of the mountains, and must Certain- ly have produced those depressions on the surface of the earth, which served to form the beds of the original oceans or seas at the time of the separation of the waters. These internal fires of the earth, though at first sight they appear to us the effects of accidental causes, will probably be found to be an instance of the designing wisdom of the Author of nature. — - The depositions from the ocean, which, by our theory, have formed the earth, must ha\'e been originally deposited in a soft state. By the con- tinued pressure of the subsequent geological par- ticles towards the centre, they would no doubt acquire a degree of solidity; but perhaps the ope- ration of these fires was required, to give them sufficient hardness to resist the powerful action of the rapid motions of the earth. These fires are, at the present day, considered by the first geolo- gists to be occasioned by water coming into contact with the metallic basis of the primary earths, by •mm in: which the water h decomposed and combustion ensues; and in this case an absorption of oxygen by these basis must take place and their bulk be greatly increased, and this may have been designed by the Creator for enlarging the bulk of tlie earth. The electric agencV) also, has probably had great influence in these internal changes, both previous to and since the time of the separation»r>^i«4 >»^' ''..• On the subject of the internal and external changes, I wish now to call the reader's attention to the ingenious and profound researches of Mr. Cuvier in geology. It appears that, as the result of tliese researches, he comes to the conclusion, *_ have reached the time of Moses, or other Scriptu- ral writers, just as we have handed down to us the account of the deluge of Noah? ^ :* ^ * ii*^^)^^,^^. It were to be wished, therefore, that this eminent g[eologist had turned his attention to the waters of Genesis, as, I cannot but think, he would have therein found a more plain and easy solution of the phenomena he has so ably developed. The few miles of strata containing the remains on which he treats would, probably, have been deposited by: these waters in a very limited period, previous to the separation of those waters of Genesis ; which would satisfactorily account for the non-appearance of any organic remains of the human species in these strata, because it had not at that period been yet created; and it would equally well account for those fossil and organic remains of the marine ani- mals he had found in those strata; and the vast period of time, namely, millions of years, he and the other late geologists conceive these strata have reouired for formation, would be also accounted for. In fine, there is good and powerful reason to believe that the account of the creation must have been delivered to Moses by Divine inspiration.— It is not likely that he, of his own ideas, or even HQ from any traditionarv accounti could, in those tiroes, liave possessea that extension of thought that would have enabled him to frame such a sys- tem, or to form the conception that the earth was produced in a globe of water. That it has been so formed, has not been dis- covered by science until the present day, nigh 6,000 years after its separation from these waters; and, as I have said in the body of this work, we have no historical account of ant^ but the waters of Genesis, to which we can refer the phenomena of the earth, so I trust to have proved, that the best discoveries in geology and pneumatics are calcu- lated iQ sh«w 016 real and necessary existence ef those waters, and to add new force to the authen- ticity and authority of the holy Scriptures. It is, moreover, to be observed, that Cuvier gives us no scale, by which he has decided on the time of this revolution to have been 5 or 6,000 years ; and it is very difficult to conceive what data he could have. The time taken by rivers or lakes to form deposits of a known thickness would avail him nothing, as their power of deposition could not be pom pared to that of such a deluge. May it not, therefore, be possible that the revolution he refers to may have Ijeen that of the deluge of Noah, in parts of the earth not inhabited oy the human species ? Thus, by our construction of the first verse of Genesis, it would appear that the present actual state of the geological bodies, their frequent chrys- tallization, and their gradual depositions in strata and lamin», can be reconciled to the Scriptural account. That chrystallization and these strata «3 and iamintie must, according to tlie teViden Thus, a tract, nigh equal in length to one-fourth of the diameter of the earth, has oeen formed by a few species of insects alone. The vegetable and animal depositions of the ocean of Genesis, then, were first attracted to a centre by the univer- sal law of gravitation, and there formed the nucleus or centre of the earth.* This nucleus being con- * It may be proper to explain how the primitive races of the vegetable tribes may have been supported before the nucleus was formed. There are many aquatic plants which take no root in the earth at all, but grow and float in the water. There is a species of the fig-tree in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, which has grown for twelve years, suspended in the air and moistened with water; we have therefore a right to conclude, that if some species of land plants have this power, many of the first created marine plants of the ocean of Genesis would have it also. . In fact, many raariue plants of the present sea^ grow on the rocks> and must consequently derive their nourishnient from the water. But it is possible that, until the nucleus w&s formed, the primitive marine animals may have found their nourishment in the wkters^ for the microscope shews us that every drop of water contains myriads of the insect tribes. We know, also, that the gills of fi^ decompose water, by which they would obtain two of the elements of all vegetables — oxygen and hydrogen, hi <"' • '<• 87 36 islands:— '{^a V'i li'i*-^.' tinually augmented in bulk by the unceasing* de- positions of the ocean, until a great depth of the vegetable and animal remains were accumulated, internal heats and fires would be thereby generated, which would last until the combustible matter de- posited was consumed. The fires would then cease, until another sufficient depth of fresh depositions took place. Tlie fermentation of these would again produce heat, fires and incandescence, until again the combustible matter last deposited was con- sumed. The remains, after these combustions, would of course be incombustible, and would con- sist of all the primary earths, sands, clay, lime, magnesia, &c., and of the t*alces or oxydes of the various metallic and mineral substances con- tained in the original depositions of matter above stated. These alternate depositions from the ocean, must have continued to generate these periodic fires, pending the whole time required for the formation ot the diameter of the earth, that is, until the sepa- ration of the "dry laud" from the "waters" took place, as mentioned in Genesis, first chapter, and 9th verse. The depth or thickness of the deposi- tions required to produce each of these periodic fires, it is impossible to form any certain idea of. It may have required many miles of depth of de- posits, as they would contain carbonic, sulphureous, oily, gaseous, earthy, sidine and metallic matter mixed ; but it is well known that it requires but a small depth of veget^le matter alone, being moist, and heated by fermentation, to produce ignition. A common hay-stack is often fired by the sponta- neous ignition of its hydrogen. 88 Thus, according to this theory, we see that the internal fires of our earth at the present day, at least as far as they have been occasioned by the above original causes, cannot extend to near the centre of the earth, because the periodic fires, above stated, would consume all the inflammable matter at certain periods after it was deposited; each periodic fire would consume the combustible mat- ter deposited from the ocean since the previous fire, and, after each conflagration, the parts of the earth then formed must have femained in the state of incombustible calces, to form its rocks. This theory will perhaps also account for that singular phenomenon in geology, of entire genera ot marine animals disappearing at different depths in the earth. The incandescence had destroyed these genera, and it was not until the (then) sur- face of the earth was cooled sufficiently by the waters of the ocean of Genesis, between the times of the periodic fires, that fresh genera of animals could approach it. These fresh genera then ap- proached it, and, as they terminated the time of their existence, their remains went, with the other depositions, to augment the growth of the earth's bulk, and so on continually, until the separation of the land from the waters. The reader will here observe, that although by the above causes of the primitive fires having ceased to exist, and the residue of them being matter in a calcified or oxydized form, except in- deed the matter of the last depositions of the ocean of Genesis, (which may be one of the causes of the present volcanic fires), that therefore no central fire, arising from these primary causes, can exist ; ^■'. we see that the present day, at i^asioned by the end to near the iodic fires, above ^inmable matter leposited ; each >mbustible mat- ;e the previous the parts of the ned in the state I rocks. Lccount for that )f entire genera different depths had destroyed , the (then) sur- iciently by the ween the times lera of animals enera then ap- h1 the time of with the other of the earth's e separation of nit although by fires having them being |n, except in- of the ocean causes of the re no central ts, can exist; yet we do not mean to deny, that Subsequent causes of fire may hflVe, and are perhaps even povr taking place. . r TIte electric^uid, as is proved by late discove- ries of Sir H, jy&yy, on the primary earths, (of which the oxydized matter of the above conflagra- tions would mainly consist,) is capable of decom- posing these primary earths and water also. It is possible, therefore, combustion might be generated, even in the oxydes to which the original deposits were reduced. Thus, in the opinion of many geologists, there is a central fire in the earth. Mr. Lee, in his Elements of Geology, page 53, says, — ** From the result of all the observations hitherto made, we may safely conclude that the temperature of the earth increases as we descend, at the rate of one degree for every eight fathoms) consequently, at a depth short of a hundred miles, the materials of the globe are in a state of incan- descence." ' •" V"'^'* ' • ;•='• ■ • ; ,'t; '* Now, though I agree that, from the cause above assigned, the (electric fluid) internal fires might possibly be regenerated from the oxydized remains of the primordial fires, yet 1 should conceive these subsequent fires are more likely to be partial than general. I conceive that the intention of the Deity was, by the means of the primordial fires, to prepare and harden the geological bodies, to pro*- duce chemical decompositions and recombinations of numerous useful substances, to increase the coliesion of these geological bodies, to enable them to sustsBn their rapid and powerful motions in the heavens, to elevate the mountains, to diversify the earth's surface, and give mankind the use of their r 1 M n ! i J . : i f i ^ v« 90 mineral product!; aud I do not conceive these ends wouM be obtained, were the whole interior of the earth in a state of fusion from a hundred miles below the surface. The increasing heat of the earth, as we proceed downwards, can be equally well accounted for, by supposing the present fires to be occasioned by the more recent depositions of combustible matter from the oceanic waters of Genesis, which are still in a state of combustion. And there is one corroborative circumstance of this stated by Archdeacon Paley, in page 388 of his Theology of Nature, namely, that *' by a com- parative calculation with the force of attraction of a rock of granite, the earth was said to have twice the density of that rock, or about five times that of water/' which could not be the case if the earth were nearly all liquid fire; for, deducting the 100 miles of crust from the diameter of the earth, near 8,000, would leave an ocean of fire 7,800 miles deep. An idea so contrary to the ordinary course and wisdom of nature, appears to me preposterous.* I shall now make a few observations on the time that may have been required, according to our theory of deposition from the oceanic waters, to form the whole diameter of the earth. We have shewn, in page 60 of the present edi- tion, the power of geometrical progression in two generations of herrings, and that in twenty years of generation, a mass of matter could be produced, equal to ten of our globes^ that is, allowing these generations to be undisturbed. Now that must have been the case in the oceanic waters of Gene- * S«e pagea S and 9, Appendix No. II. 91 sis. In our seas, immense numbers are annually abstracted from the ocean < by the fisheries. Not so in the primeval ocean: there tras no abstraction of matter there whatever. The labours of the Zoophytes and other marine animals^ we infer, ac- cording to the opinion of the modern gaoioghtSf have been also *^ going on in all former ages as at present," and would be another immense source of geological formation. - i'>i^. .o,; !> siv *..^i: lirh-v >• It has been stated by some geologists, that the sedimentary rocks have taken a million of years in their formation. That is, no doubt, grounded on the supposition that past volcanic action and convulsion have been the same as at present I trust, however, to have shewn, in our theory, that volcanic and convulsive forces must have been im- mensely greater and more frequent in the primeval ages ; and I believe that a million of years ago, if the globe were then in being, there was detritus enough, arising from that volcanic action, to pro- duce c\ million times the masses of rock that any " causes now in operation" could do, and am more confirmed in this opinion, from the vast difference that must have then existed in the tenacity of the formations, compared with their present state. Whatever length of period, however, might have been actually employed, we trust we can give it by our explanation of the first verse of Genesis ; but we are not of opinion that the laws for the forma- tions of the globe have required any such immense periods of time as is supposed by some geoI<^ists. Their comparative scale of formation, drawn from the present actual formations, is totally inadequate. How, for instance, could the power of deposition «^< IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 laiM |2.5 K* Ui^ 12.2 U lili I.I 1.*^ 1^ BSI^S^^S II^^S^^SS III^E^SiE ^ 6" ► '-^r. ^y ■% »■ *^<^** '» Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTIR.N.Y, MSSO (71«) t7a-4503 mgn* r U I o£ lakes or ffiv*; ;; This very poetical effusion appears indeed every way worthy to be associated with the Arabian Tales. Countless ages, thousands of centuries, and other epochs stated in these << wonders," are tolerably latitudinary periods, even for fairy tales. It is remarkable, too, that although the author writes so highly of Dr. Bucklaiid, as a great geolo- gist, he has never mentioned the explanation of the first verse of Genesis, which the Doctor has adopted in his Bridgewater Treatise, purposely to account for these great periods of geological muta* tion. At the same time, Mr. ^£lntell affects to say, that geology, rightly understood, does not . confute the Scriptures, or, at least, the purest piety. He, at the same time, would entirely set aside, as by the above extract, the account given by Moses, that tho earth, since the separation of tlie waters in Genesis, has existed only 5,B00 years. Now» JJI'.!>'.:,1,. UifUn Si '0 H- I H: I- i. 94 if this important pari of the Bible is not founded on fiiot, what an argument wouid mankind have for disbelieving the remainder? But, fortunately, even these "a\ venders of geology" cannot effect this. For, first, I verily believe that the carboni- ferous formations offer sufficient evidence that they were produced before the separation in the univer- sal ocean of Genesis; I believe that these immense club mosses, these arborescent ferns,* so immensely larger than any of the present day, were marine; for I can never believe that any difference of cli- mate could make such immense difference in the size of the plants. In examining coal, that is, not including lignites or brown coal, in any part of the earth, we find no traces of woody fibre, which, had it been formed of terrestrial trees, would probably have been apparent. Coal appears more likely to have been formed of some soft pulpy matter, such as sea-weed, and to have acquired its present ap- pearance by great heat and pressure, and decom- position. This opinion of the marine formation of coal is supported by Mr. Maletrenck. In Sullivan's View of Nature, letter 38, page 109, Mr. Maletrenck, in treating on the origin of coal, says,-^—'' But this is a subject which we must examine more closely. Vegetables, as I have said, have been considered as the cause of the formation of pit-coal. A few forests, however, buried in the earth, are not sufficient to form the masses of coals ■■ ■■ I — ■ I ■ M I ■ ' I.I I ..^a . ■ ■ t ifc n II ■ I I.I I ■■ — ■ I , ■■ .. I. .iM.i . .■ I. I. — ■ . ■■■■■ ..Jm..— .-^ ^'* liCe, in hit Elementary Geology, page 67, says, "In treating on the coal formationa, Tegetables also, which are now mere herbSf then attained the sise of large trees, u, for example, ferof , which, though they now attain the height of a few feet at the most, then grew as large as our tallest trees.** tft^ e ig not founded lankind have for \vA, fortunately, f** cannot effect that the carboni- ^ridence that they ion in the univer- at these immense [IS,* 80 immensely ay, were marine; difference of cli- difference in the g coal, that is, not in any part of the f fibre, which, had 58, would probably (ars more likely to (ulpy matter, such ed its present ap- ssure, and decom- larine formation of renck. 'v:>f '\ e, letter 38, page Ig on the origin of ;ct which we must )le8, as 1 have said, se of the formation jver, buried in the te masses of coals which aM now mere , as, for exanapie. ftrni, bt of a few feet at the which exist in ita bowels. A greater eamei more proportioned to the mi^niitude of the.effecty is rei» quired, and we find it only in that prodigious qiua/i^ tity of vegetable matter which grows in tfie seas, and is increased by the immense masses which are carried down by the rivers; these masses iare agitated and broken down by the waves, and afterwards covered by argillaceous or calcareous earth, and are de» composed. Nor is it more difficult to conceive how these masses of marine and other vegetables may form the greater part of the coal, tlian that shelui' should form the greater part of the g-lobe. The direct proofs, in support of this theory, are the presence of aquatic and marine substances. The soils which contain coal are generally of schistut [and grit ; and as the formation of pyrites, as well us that of coal, comes from the decomposition of vegetable and animal substances, (for sulphur has »een proved to exist naturally in vegetaoles and inimals), all pit-coal is more or less pyritous, so ^hat we may consider pit-coal as a mixture of »yrites, schistus, and bitumen." Mr. Maletrenck thus supports our idea of the ^rigin of coal in the secondary formations. I have ' add, as a further support of this theory, that all? >al contains ammonia or its elements. Now tdlr<«' istrial trees or vegetables will not account for thif igredient of coal. We know, moreover, that tlie -. imains of immense masses of animals must have ^en deposited In the oceans. The remains of. [hales, sharks, salmon, and all other fish, many ^ >ecies of which, I believe, are seldom found in the trth fossilized, must have been deposited some* lere in the ocean, and it appears probable that ^• 96 coal Las derived its ammonia from these sources. At all events, terrestrial vegetables alone will not account for it, for they do not afford one of its ele- ments, azote. But, whetlier time and further observation will prove these opinions correct or not, still the story of the <* beautiful country of the Iguanodon" can be accounted for, without overthrowing the narra- tion of Moses. Volcanic action, as I have shewn above, must have been immensely more active be* fore the separation, and pending the subaqueous formation of the earth in the ocean of Genesis, than at present. It is possible, therefore, that some mountainous countries may have been elevated above the surface of the waters long previous to the separation of the entire ** dry land of Gene- sis," and that these mountainous countries may have been tenanted by these reptile tribes, and covered by these immense palms, coniferous ferns, club mosses, fine rivers, lakes, &c. for many ages previous to the separation, when the great bulk of the land was made to ** appear," and thus the Mosaic account will be yet maintained in its in- tegrity, notwithstanding the existence of the beau- tiful country of the " Iguanodon." In the preceding system of the creation which I have ventured to form, and to which I was deter- mined, as observed above, on reading the ideas stated by Archdeacon Paley to have been promul- gated to the world by Buifon and other philoso- phers, I have made some remarks on the assertion, or supposition of Buifon, that the globe we inhabit was formed by the stroke of a comet knocking off from the sun (as stated by Paley) a piece of molten m glast} and 1. trust to have shewn the great impro- babiUty and absurdity of this. Such a supjiosition would lead us to believe, that the creation of our planetary system was not the gift of an all bounti- ful Creator, but merely the elect of chance ; and if I have proceeded to any severe reflections on its irreligious tendency, I trust I mb warranted therein by the opinions given by Paley, oi this doctrine being founded on atheistical principles ; that is, if I understand it, denying the agency of a Supreme Ruler of the universe in the works of nature^^iiiv? An opinion so contrary to all our natural feelings of religion, it appeared to me the duty of every man to refute, whose understanding should dictate to him the errors of such a system ; and I hope t».^ have shewn, that, as it is completely unsaUsfactory to the mind of man, in the highest state of its ac- quirements, so it never can be productive of gene- ral assent; and, in the foUowing compendium of my theory of the sun*s formation, I shall re-advert to the above supposition of Buffon: — THEORY OF THE SUN'S FORMATION. As the great discoveries in pneumatic chemistry, made during the last fifty or sixty years, may not be known to many oi my readers, I here subjoin a short account of them. About the beginning of that period, Mr. Bhick, of ^nburgh, first dis- covered that the change of limestone into lime, by burning, was nothing more than the extrication of its carli^nic acid m from the lime-stcme by the heat employ^. This disoovery.exeited the f^tton- tion of chemical philosoobers to snrifovm b' t... « the science is cultivated. A few years afterwards, Mr. Cavendish discovered the highly important fact, that water waa^ composed of the basis of the two gases, oxygen and hydrogen, which was further proved by the experiments of Dr. Priestly, and the exact composition of water was finally confirmed by the accurate analysis of Lavoisier and other French chemists, who, having decomposed the water into its elementary gases, reproduced it by the ignition of the same gases; and finding, by re- peated experiments, the weight of the water always equal to the gases produced, and vice versa, that tlie gas^s employed to form the water always pro- duced ah equal weight of it. Subsequent chemists have^ verified these results, and it is now univer- sally allowed, that all water consists of one part of hydrogen, and eight parts of oxygen, by weight Our atmc»sphere has been found to be composed of eighty parts of mephitic or azotic gas, and of twenty parts of oxygen gas. These three gases, oxygen, hydrogen and azote, which may be called primary, have since been discovered by chemists in almost every part of the vegetable, animal and mineral kingdoms, in which also a great variety of compound gases are discovered every year. I now proceed, with due humility, to present to the reader a compendium of the ideas stated in page 40 on the sun's formation at the time the pri- mordial waters of Grenesis were created, accordiag to the construction I have put on the first verse of first chapter of Genesis, by the combustion of hydrogen or oxygen, or other combustible gases, created by the first cause, as stated in page 40 of this work. I have presumed that those gases were ! ' 99 Ignited by the electric fluid, by the blaze of comets, or other igneous bodies, and that the extrication of the light and heat, formed by the combustion of these gases, in order to produce the formation of the aqueous globe, destined thereafter to originate the earth and the other planets of our system, that the light and heat, so extricated, has formed the body of our sun, which forms the centre of the system, by the laws of his gravity and attraction. If I recollect right, heat and light have not as yet been discovered to have weight;* but our means of ascertaining this by experiment, in the usual way, is very dubious. The bulk of a grain of heat or light may, perhaps, be sufficient to fill a house ; therefore we could, perhaps, not ascertain the fact ; but heat and light are certainly sensible bodies, and therefore must have weight. Heat expands and increases the dimensions of the hardest bodies in an astonishing manner. Light is said to travel from the sun at the rate of twelve millions of miles a minute, and also penetrates the most dense substances. Although, therefore, the weight of these subtle agents be infinitely less than any other bodies we know of, they are, probably, sub- ject to the same laws of attraction and gravity. — We may therefore conceive, that the.heatand light extricated from the combustion of these aeriform substances, in the formation of the primordial waters, would unite and ascend, by the laws of their gravity and attraction, or by an original impulse of the Creator,! to their position in the regions of * Se« Note 1 to Second EdUion, »t the end of thia woric. t A> light it known to exiit in two tepnTate states, namely, latent and actire, and as we are told, in the 3d verse of (Genesis, '4 ^ >'f,V loa infinite space^ and form there the body of our sun, and that the planets, as they were formed, and were projected by the projectile force, became subject to its attractive influences. Whether this attraction be effected by an inhe - rent power of the sun, or, that it may be owinj^ in part to the influence of the vast stream of ssriform substance passing towards him, to supply him with fuel, I shall presently consider. I shall, however, previously make some remarks, in addition to those offered above, on the idea of Buffon, of molten glass having formed our earth and the planets of our system. It is, I consider, impossible to con- ceive that glass could exist in the stupendous heat of t&e sun's fire. Glass is formed in our planet of siliceous earth and pot-ash. The former we have before proved, on the authority of Linnseus, to be composed by the vegetable process; its parts are therefore formed oi the gases which the vegetable extracts from the water and air it imbibes for its nutrition. The latter (pot-ash) has also yielded to Sir H. Davy a metallic button. It is therefore an oxyde, and must contain much oxygen. Siliceous earth '* Darkness was on4he face of the deep," it is probable the light evolved in the combustion of the gases was diffused through the regions of space in its latent form, and was not elicited into its active and visible state until the time of the 3d verse; and it is remarkable, ibat the first operation of Deity, at the time of the separation, was the evolution of light in its active and visible state, and the collection of it into one vast foons, the sun of our system, as by the 4th verse. And I am happy to think that our theory of the formation of light, by the oombastion of the gases, will serve to remove a fireqotnt ejection to the Mosaio account, namely, the existence of light befbr« the sm it laid to h« Ibrmed In the first ehapter of Ocnetis. •^vytn^ .^w wiim^-^<^i4--'ti'-m*t'm^^j ^ t lifl and pot^ash^ th^ cbinpbnent parts of glast, are then mostly coiiipoSied 6f MtifbilM substatice. We know t^at the dilMioncI, which H probabty much more dense than siliceous earth, has been volatilized in part by burning lenses, pir by streams of oxygen gas in a stat^ of ignition. What can these neats be in comparisdn to the sun's fire? Perhaps as an atom to a worki« I trust, therefore, it is more consistent with the sacred documents we have had handed down to us by our religion, — with the operations of nature we are enabled to examine — with the admirable sim- plicity and order of the laws by which the First Cause has directed the operations of that nature — to believe, that having Jirst fonaied the principles which, in the present state of our kmiaieS^e, toe must call ele- mentary^ He proceeded, by the combination of these principles, by combustion, to (o'titi the waters which were destined thereafter to produce our earth and planets. It is indeed possible that these elements, oxygen, hydrogen and asote, may be compounded of other final elements of much greater energy than them- selves, but the rules of science forbm us to consi- der that as the fact, until we liave found it by experiment. We have, therefore, only to carry our knowledge of these principles into our reflec- tions on the construction of our system, and with . humility, praise and adoration, to conceive, that as most, or all, the geotogioal bodies we have analyzed, are found to consist of these pinciples, th^ may have been those with which the First Cause, witn amazing skill and^ effect, has operated the wonder- ful system of creation He hath bestowed on us. Ip2 '¥t In the contemplation of this creation, and of the recent diecoyeries in pneumatic chemistry, I trust to have shewn the possibility that our sun may have been formed at the time oi the formation *^rtf.f*> ^j^s' fV^W-i tJ^jV/' • ATTRACTION OF MATTER. It is said by pliilosophers that all bodies are at- tracted to the earth's centre: all bodies thrown into the air from the earth descend to the eartli's sur- face when the propelling force is spent, and when the body is arrested by the atmosphere throu|^h lod •((•" which it fNMses. It la said by Paky, ]>affe 449 of his Natural Theolog^y, that "One principle of gra- vitation causes a stone to drop towards the earth, and the moon to whirl round it$ one law of attrac- tion carries all the different planets round the sun.^ This, he says, philosophers demonstrate ; and at page 388 he adds, " Calculations were made some years ago of the mean density of the earth, by compcuring the force of its attraction with the force of the attraction of a rock of granite, the bulk of which could be ascertained, and the upshot of the calculation was, that the earth, upon an average through its whole sphere, was twice the density of granite, or about five times that of water." Now, respecting the principle of attraction, I have to remark, that in chemistry we know with certainty that particles of matter have a mutual and elective attraction called affinity. When an acid is united with a metal into a neutral salt by this attraction, it may be separated from it by any sub- stance with which the acid or its particles ha\e a greater affinity. Thus, if iron, or its oxydes, be dissolved in sulphuric acid, it forms green vitriol, commonly called copperas; but by adding an alkali to the solution, the iron precipitates, and a neutral salt is formed of the sulphuric acid and the alkali. In a lake or pond in the isle of Anglesea, in Wales, the water holds blue vitriol, or copperas in solution, which is a salt composed of copper and the sulphuric acid. When iron hoops are thrown into the pond or lake, they become covered with copper scales, which is scraped off, and found to be the purest copper in nature. This decomposi- tion of the blue vitriol takes place because the par- m^. 104 tides of \ti»n hate a gte6ter affinity or ekc^ve aN tractidn (bt* the sulphuric acid than the copper has. The Idbd-stene is well known to attract iron, even in a cold state. Pieces of iron rubbed with the load-^tone become also magnetic ; two pieces of wood, or cordago and wood, and probably many other substances, by friction t« a great degree, take fire; that is to say, they beccnie raised to that de- gree of temperature by that friction, that their par- ticles attract the oxygen frtiiif* the azotic gas, and from the light and iieat with which they are com- bined in our atmosphere. Certain stones also, as flints, being struck against iron or steel, heat the particles of the steel so as to calcine them; that is, they bring these particles to th«i temperature at which they also decompose the oxygen gas of the atmosphere, and disengage its latent light and heat. Thus the attraction of matter is certainly proved by chemistry. But how is the attraction of large and solid bodies proved in the usual temperature of the atmosphere, as in the case of the block of granite mentioned by Paley? One rock of granite placed alongside another will evince no attraction. It is said, in- deed, that some islands, having much iron ore, have attracted a vessel from her course, which, if it be the fact, may perhaps also prove the attraction of matter of a certain, description ; but I know no other way by which the attraction or density of the rock of granite could be proved, but by breaking it by some other body anrt ascertaining the weight of the stroke; thus, if a hundred- weight of granite required a stroke of a certain number of pounds to break it, and a rock of some other species required 105 only a force of half that number, its attraction or density might be said to be half that of the granite. Thus far, then, attraction would be proved by chemistry and geology also. But, that the Crea- tor originally fixed some such law as attraction, for the cohesion of the particles of matter, appears highly reasonable ; else, how should the earth and planets, travelling at such an immense rate in their orbits, be retained in their present forms, notwith- standing the power of such velocity of motion ? — A ball of snow, when impelled by the force of the arm, if it be not rendered sufficiently dense by compressure, separates into innumerable parts; and it must have been the same with the earth and the planets but for some law of attraction or cohesion, to resist the attrition of their rapid motion through the heavens. This attraction, then, of the particles of matter, seems to be indispensible to their existence as spheres; but the attraction of these for each other, though generally agreed to by the philosophers, appears more dubious and uncertain. This doubt is supported by their immense distances, which may, indeed, be founded on a crude idea, and the doubt may perhaps be dissipated on further consi- deration. \.'':..^'. -V' .•'- ■ ': :'^>-'>:'r :^^y- The moon is observed, in its approach, to occa- sion high risings or tides of the waters of the earth, which recede on its retiring. This, it seems to me, is an almost incontrovertible proof that the atmosphere (for storms are often generated at the same approach of the moon) and waters of the earth and seas are attracted by the moon. If the moan has this power, we may reasonably oonoiude that 106 other planets have this power also, §foverned by certain laws of distance and dimension. ^< v ri«» triT Now, as to the manner in which the sun exerts his attractive influence on the earth and the other planets. His attraction is said, by philosophers, to oe the cause why the earth and planets, having been originally projected in a rignt line, do not move in that right line, but in their respective orbits round the sun. As to the opinions of these philosophers, of the nature of the sun's substance, I am not aware, except as above stated by Paley, that BufFon supposes it to consist of molten glass. I trust to have shewn, in the foregoing pages, the improbability of this, and that it is more probable to be a body of light and heat. His density, in that case, cannot be equal, bulk for bulk, to the density of the planets, which are, with reason, considered to be inhabited, and must probably be formed of solid matter. But, as to the nature of the sun's substance, I confess I cannot conceive it possible that a body of such inconceivable heat, should consist of any thing else than gaseous sub- stance. We know of nothing here below that can produce light and heat with more intensity than the decomposition of oxygen gas. Why should we not reason by analogy, that the light and heat of the sun are produced by the same means? All the other means we have of producing heat by burning-glasses, or by friction, are derived from the sun; and nothing is more remarkable in nature, in her general principles, than uniformity of means. The principle of gravity is said to be the same in an apple falling to the ground, as in the motions of the heavenly bodie*. Is it not, then, impossibb f 107 to conceive that, in the sun's heat, solid or liquid substances could exist? The diamond is volatilized into vapours, and, if I recollect right, the perfect metals also, by the galvanic power. It has indeed been supposed by some, that the sun may be habi- table; that the neat of the particles of light is owing to their friction or attrition, in their passage to the planets. This idea, of no heat in the sun, arose in part from the existence of ice and snow on high mountains in the torrid zone, which is now thoroughly explained from terrestrial causes, by Lambin, De Luc, Bougan and De Saussure. By such a supposition, we should be forced to conclude that the planets farthest off from the sun were the most warm, which I imagine is totally contrary to probability, to the opinions of the greatest philoso- phers, and to the evidence of our own senses in the planet which we inhabit. " A fact well known," says De Saussure, *< and which proves strongly to my mind that the action of the solar rays (considered in themselves, and independent of all exterior causes of cold,) is as great on the tops of mountains as in the level country, is, that the force of a lens is the same at at all heights. I am therefore convinced with Bougan," continues he, <*that the principal reason of the cold which reigns on the tops of mountains is, that they are always surrounded and covered by an air that is invariably cold, and that that air is cold because it cannot be greatly heated, neither by the rays of the sun, in consequence of the transparency of this air, nor by the surface of the earth, on account of its distance from that surface." I 108 *< That the temperature,** a^ys Sir John Herg- chell, **at the visible surface of the sun, cannot be otherwise than very elevated, much more so than any artificial heat produced in any of our furnaces, or by chemical or galvanic processes, we Iwve indications of several kinds; first, from the law of decrease of radiant heat and light, which being inversely, as the squares of the distance, it follows that the heat received on a given area exposed at the distance of the earth, and on an equal area at the visible surface of the sun, must be in propor- tion to the area of the sky occupied by the sun's disk to the whole hemisphere, or as one to about 360,000.* ., ., , nMj -■.„... According to our theory of the sun, as above stated, we say that the sun is a mass of burning eerlform substance, such as hydrogen gas, or some mixture thereof, which has the power of decom- posing oxygen gas, and of throwing off its light and heat. The union of the basis of these gases, oxygen and hydrogen, would form water in the state of vapour, which would either be driven off into the heavens, and be in future decomposed, as happens in our atmosphere, by the electric fluid, or be otherwise condensed into aqueous globes, for the future formation of other heavenly bodies.f I shall now offer some observations on the above idea of the philosophers, on the existence of a vacuum in the spaces through which the planets move. * Thus, by Sir John's estimate, the he*t ef the son must be dM,000 times grcftter thsn that received from it by the earth. t See Appendix No. II., page 28. J'-^' 109 If we consider the projectile force to have been ah origine given to the planets by the Creator, we may suppose that this rorce was greater than what would have been required to promice their motions round the sun, if a vacuum had existed ; as thus, allowing the spaces between the planets and the sun to be filled with an aeriform substance of vast tenuity, (and, indeed, that such immense spaces should consist of vacuum is nearly incredible), yet it would still be possible that this aeriform substance should not impede the motions of the planets, be- cause, on the above supposition, the projectile force would have been made so much greater than would have been required for moving these planets through a vacuum only^ as the resistance of this seriform substance should render necessary to over- come that resistance by the projectile force. ; ;; If, then, we should adopt the idea that the heavenly bodies do not float in a vacuum, but should accede to the probability that the intervening spaces are filled up with an aeriform fluid, I humbly conceive we shall have found a satisfactory way of accounting for the influence of the moon on our seas and atmosphere. If the fact be certain, that the waters rise as the moon approaches the earth, and recede as she retires from it, may not this pheno- menon arise from the pressure exerted on the aeri- form matter above mentioned by the moon, on its approach to the earth, which pressure, at length reaching our atmosphere, presses on it also, and thereby on the waters of the ocean, causing them to rise and fall proportionably, and to occasion the spring, neap and daily tides? Should we not also have, by the same theory, a plain and simple way M? ip 1 f i 1 110 of accounting for the gret^t principle of attraction in the heavenly bodies? Tnat, by a power similar to that which propels bodies forward on the earth, seas and atmospnere, namely, the wind, so the heavenly bodies are propelled from their right line, and driven round their central sun by the repul- sion of this mighty current of eeriform gases in the regions of space. — fSee Note 6th to the l^econ^ ^f^iy- tion, at the end of the book. J . : S—'\.(../ ; Allowing the projectile force (by which I under- stand Sir Isaac Newton to have meant tlie primary projectile force directly given to the heavenly bodies by their Creator) and the attractive force of the sun, to be the causes of the, nearly, circular motions of the planets, still it appears to me clear, that this projectile force must be something very different from the species of impelling force which Paley, in his "Natural Theology/' speaks of in page 390 of that work. " If it were possible," he says, "to fire off a cannon-ball with the velocity of five miles a second, and the resistance of the air could be taken away, the cannon-ball would for ever wheel round the earth, instead of falling down to it " Now, if the ball were fired off in a direc- tion due north, it is evident that, in the course of the circle it would form, it must return by the south pole to the place it was fired from, to north; and therefore, in every revolution, it would return in an exactly opposite direction to where it was fired off from ; the force, therefore, by which it re- turns could not be the force of firing of, because it returns in a line directly opposite to that force. — fSee Note 4,J I therefore conceive the projectile force, impressed by the First Cause on the heaven in /' ^p^ i of attraction I power similar 1 on the earth, wind, so the heir right line, by the repul- m gases in the the Second Edi- which I under- int tlie primary the heavenly ractive force of nearly, circular ars to me clear, something very iiig force which /' speaks of in re possible," he 1 the velocity of ance of the air ball would for of falling down off in a direc- n the course of return by the from, to north; jit would return |o where it was by which it re- g of, because it to that force.-— [e the projectile on the heavcR ty bodies, is of ati 'ert^^y differeht h^t^^ft^ the projectile force of a cannon-ball May not the projectile force partake of the nature of electricity? Haviitg, in this sixth edition, formed our theory for supplying the waste of the sun's fire by the means of the comets, we beg leave to refer the reader to the Appendix No. II, where, under the head of "Extra Matter for the Sixth Edition," commencing at page 23, he will find the said theory, shewing how we conceive the waste of the fires of the suns of the universe are supplied with gaseous fuel by means of elaboratories established for that pur- pose by the Creator in the regions of space, and now these combustible gases are conveyed from those elaboratories to the suns by the comets of the sys'-^ tems.^ In I he same Appendix, pages 21 and 22, the reader will find our theory, (based on that of Sir Isaac Newton's, as stated in Note 6 to second edition), in which we shew how, by the agency of the electric fluid acting on an elastic medium, the heavenly bodies are carried round the sun. I have here to observe, the opinion formed and stilted, in this our Theory of the Sun's Formation, of an aeriform fluid or medium existing in the regions of space, has now been confirmed by the discovery of Encke's Comet. It appears the Newtonians had asserted that, *' either there was no such fluid, or that it was so thin and rarefied, that no phenomenon yet examin- rd by philosophers was capable of betraying its effects." Vide paffe 151, ffheweU's Bridgewater Treatise, 18*33, and same page it is said, "But the facts which have led astronomers to the conviction that such a resisting medium really exists, are cer- .i^euMtaSA... U8 tain circumstances occurring in the motion of s^ body revolving round the Sun, which is now usu- ally called Encke's Comet." It appears this body was first seen in 1786, and that the effect of the resistance of the ethereal me* dium from its first discovery, (in that year to the present time, say 1833,) has been to diminish the time of revolution, by about two days; and the comet is ten days in advance of the place which it would have reached, if there had been no resis- tance. (See page 154 o^ WhewelVs Bridgewater Treatise.) The Nebular hypothesis also appears to me to con^rm or support both the theory of the combus- tion of the gases which I have ventured to produce as the origin of the Earth and Planets, and also the cause and formation of new heavenly bodies by the products of the combustion of the gases for the replenishment of the Sun's waste of light and heat, as stated in a subsequent part of this work. This Nebular hypothesis is thus introduced by Mr. Whewell in his Bridgewater Treatise of 1833, page 143. "La Place conjpctures, that in the original con- dition of the solar system, the Sun revolved upon his axis, surrounded by an atmosphere, which, in virtue of an excessive heat, extended far beyond the orbits of all the Planets, the Planets as yet having no existence. The heat gradually dimi- nished, and as the solar atmosphere contracted by cooling, the rapidity of its rotation increased by the laws of rotary motion, and an exterior zone of vapour was detached from the rest, the central attraction being no long^er able to overcome the 113 r increased centrifugal force. This zone of vapour migljt in sdme cases retain its form as we see it in Saturn's ring, but more usually the ring of vapour would break into several masses, and then would generally coalesce into one mass, which would revolve about the sun. Such portions of the solar atmosphere abandoned successively at different periods would form 'planets in the state of vapour.' " Now it does not appear tliat La Place has given any clue to find how or of what this solar atmos- phere and vapours were formed. He does, indeed, support the idea, that planets may be formed by vapours and subsequent conden$iation, which is precisely the way the oceanic globe of our theory is conceived to have been produced ; and without infringing on the humility we wish to preserve, we may say we have presented to his consideration, in our theory of the combustion of the gasses, a real and competent cause for the production of the atmosphere and vapours of his ingenious hypothesis. But we have to observe on this theory of La Place's that we have more cause now to uphold our own theory of the formation of the Planets in the ocean of Genesis, as his nebular theory has now- been disproved by the discoveries made by Lord Rosse's Telescope. — (See extra matter for Wi Edi- tion at the end of the work. J Will not the combustion of the gases, of which we all now know water to be formed, as stated in the theory of the sun's formation, and the extrica- tion of their heat and light, account not only for this solar atmosphere, but also for the means by which the Great First Cause produced the snn itself? »»M j^ii^J*',^.'" i-.--e ,»;■■ I'-iJtubW 114 1 **'' 9^4 We now recur to Piftle.v*8 observation in page ^68 of his <* Theology of NaMire^'' tliat 'Vby a com- parative calculation with the force of attraction of a rock of granite, the earth wassaid to have twice the density ofthat rock, or about live times that of water." Has the mode of ascevtaiiunjj^ the force of this attraction of the earth been grounded on the sup- posed force of the. attraction of the sun ou the earth and planets? Has the earth's ^attraction in the above experiment been come at by calculating its proportionate bulk to that of the sun, and assigning It therefrom its proportionate attraction ? If so, and it should be conceded that the theory I have ven- tui'ed to propose, of tlie sun's power of attraction being created or increased by means of the elastic gaseous medium existing in space, as stated in the Appendix — if this theory be correctly founded in nature, it is evident the above experiment in the attraction of the earth cannot be correct in its results. The force of attraction of a body is composed of the united attraction of its parts; but if the sun's den- sity, has hitherto been considered by philosophers to be according to his powers of attraction, and it should be agreed to, that the elastic gaseous medium has a great influence in producing that at- traction, the density of the sun must, in this case, be much less than it has hitherto been estimated at, and of course the density of the earth also, if it has been grounded on this supposed density of the sun. I now conclude die theory of the sun's formation by some observations on the following extract from raley*s Work, page 380. Speaking of the inter- vening spaces between the planets, he says that " the intervals between thcni are made devoid of ii n? If so, and y I have ven- r of attraction - J of the elastic IS stated in the tly founded in riment in the 5t in its results, imposed of the the sun's den- y philosophers Iraction, and it lastic gaseous lucing that at- .t, in this case, [n estimated at, lalso, if it has ity of the sun. iun's formation ig extract from of the inter- he says that lade devoid of lift any iotrt iqatter, .either fluid or solid, because sneJli an intervening substance would, by its resistance, destroy those very motions which attraction is employed to preserve." I have before endeavoured to shew that there may be such SBriform substances existing in these spaces, which would indeed resist these motioivs of the planets, but that this resistance is sufficient only to diminish the velocity of these motions. To explain this more fully : — May not the moon have been originally projected by the Creating cause to mo.ve in its orbit or course at the rate of three thousand two hundred and seventy miles per hour? and, supposing the resistance of the media or aeriform fluids of my theory to be equal to one thousand miles per hour, this resistance would only diminish the rate of the moon's motion to two thou- sand two hundred and seventy miles per hour, which is the actual rate she is said to travel in her course round the earth. In fine, the theory of the sun's being replenished with fuel by means of aeriform fluids, is supported by another observation of Palev's. In page 350 of the above work, he says — " The light and heat of the sun follow the same laws, and, to us, appear nowise different from th^ light of a candle, and the heat of a coal fire." Why, then, may not this heat and light of the sun be supplied in the same man- ner as that of the candle and coal of fire? In our planet, this heat is now known to be produced by the decomposition of oxygen gas by those combustible bodies, and the consequent extri- cation of its latent light and heat; but if the light and heat of the sun be generated by the same laws '«M»i»...4». \i M Sill I, * 116 afid, as there i(i probably some physical eaose for the attraction of the planets by tne sun — and as this physical cause of the motion of those planets round their central Sun, may throw additional light on the great principle of his attraction — I therefore humbly submit the foregoing Theory of the Sun's Formation, and the means of supplying the waste of his combustion, to the scrutiny of a candid and enlightened world: and being sensible of my incom- petence in respect of that profound degree of scientific knowledge required in the attempt 1 have made to reconcile and explain the account of the Creation, handed down to us by our religion, with the great discoveries in the sciences of Geology* Chemistry and Pneumatics, I have only to hope I may, at all events, have exalted the utiKty of these sciences by shewing their tendency and power to diminish or quiet the doubts of scepticism, and to. open greater sources of our admiration of the goori- ness, power, wisdom and glory of the Great First C^use. Having now presented to the public the theory of the sun's formation, arising, as I conceive, natu- rally, from the stupendous quantity of light and heat wliich must have evolved from the combus- tion of the gases required for the formation of the ocean of Genesis, and having therein given my ideas on the manner in which the waste of the sun's light and heat may be replenished, I purpose now to make a few observations on the opinion stated by Dr. Herschell as to the opaqeness of the sun, and also of the spots which are found on, or adjacent to, his surface. Sharon Tiirner, in his Sacred History, page 46, ■ -f int-.ifi'ririh-ift- ';^L f ' I il cause for an — R"<^ tt* iose planotfl itional \\^^ -1 therefore 3f the Sun's g the waste I candW and )f my incom- [\ degree of tempt 1 l»ave •count of the •eligion, with of Geology, n\y to hope I imty of these and power to ticism, and to. n of the gooH- ,e Great First 117 / itory, page46, vol. 1st) Bay«r~"Of tbe actuul substance of the sun, so little satisfactory to our judgment has been dis- covered, that all which is mentioned concerning it, can rank no higher than conjectures more or less plausible. Dr. Herschell thought bis body to be opaque, with an upper stratum of black luminous cloucU. Black spots of varying magnitude and form are continually appearing upon it and rece- ding ;" and in a Note from La Place, page 20, it is said — **Dr. Herschell has inferred that what he deems the sun's luminous atmosphere, is 2,500 miles from its surface." The preface to Sharon Turner's Work is dated 1832. The first edition of mine was published in 1836; — his observations as to the substance of the sun could not, therefore, include it; and I shall now make one final observation in support of the probability of my system, namely, that it is, I conceive, highly probable, the Deity would con- vert the stupendous quantity of heat and light which must have been extricated from the com- bustion of the gasses of which the oceanic waters are formed, to some great purpose. The fabric of the sun thereby, was it not the most prominent and necessary one he could have applied it to ? Now, respecting Dr. Herschell's opinion as to the opaqueness of the sun, as I am well aware of tile exalted talents of that philosopher, and equally conscious of my own want of scientific knowledge to cope with them, I must leave the decision on the validity of my theory of the sun to men of scientific acquirements, should it meet their eye ; and in that case, I beg to submit to them, should they agree to that vaJioity, two questions: — ■-m^ 118 1st The luminous atmospfaere of Dr. Hersch^ll being, as he says, 2,500 miles from the sun, will it not be accounted for by the vast bodies of hydro- gen and oxygen gases which I have supposed, by their combustion, to serve as alimentary fuel for the sun ? Also — the spots on the sun's surface, or, as some say, adjacent thereto, may they not be accounted for by the abovesaid cause, from the denser volume of aqueous vapour which must be produced by this vast combustion of hydrogen? The combustible gases would probably be ignited at the distance mentioned, (2,500 miles from the sun) and no doubi. they would prove luminous enouj^h. 2d. If, as it has been lately suggested, our atmospheric heat is produced by the sun's rays operating on a calorific medium, can we allow this heat to be produced by any other means than by abstraction from that medium ? ?'*' ' ^ ^ r Heat is undoubtedly a material substance, and from whencesoever it is abstracted by the sun's rays? and carried oif, must not a corresponding degree of cold be produced? and must not the whole extent of the space between the earth and sun become continually more and more refrigerated, unless some means are found for replenishing this waste of heat? and this we humbly conceive, our theory of the sun will do, I now present to the reader a short outline of Sir Richard Phillips* Theory of the cause of the motions of the heavenly bodies, taken from a work called "Wonders of the Heavens," Lecture 2d, page 30, printed for Richard Phillips, London. I malce this extract as presenting a singular sanction n 119 HerechfeU 5 sun, will s of hydro- pposed, by y fuel for surface, or, ley not be , from the ch must be hydrogen? be ignited ies from the e luminous gested, OUT ! sun's rajrs ve allow this |aus than by •stance, and [y the sun's ]rresponding lust not the ; earth and refrigerated, j niching this mceive, our It outline of lause of the from a work ,ecture 2d, iLondon. I liar sanction ii of our theory, of the existence of a gaseous medium in the regions of space; but do not agree with him in rejecting the Newtonian principle of gravity and attraction, and refer our readers to our observations thereon in the preface to the third edition. ,;^j|« ^"j vitvKt*' ^*» itTxiirw .|i«.-ti "About 100 years passed from the discovery of the theory of gravitation, without any remarkable addition to it, till the year 1818, when Sir Richard Phillips, in some essays on the proximate causes of the phenomena of the universe, impeached the entire theory founded on the simultaneous existence of universal gravitation, projectile force, and an alleged vacuum in space. This writer has shewn that Hook's Law of Gra- vity, which Newton so fortunately applied, is not a universal law, but a law created locally by the . transfer of motion through any medium, such as the medium of space, and that the motions of nature, necessarily propagated according to that law, are, in truth, the cause of all the phenomena which heretofore had been ascribed to the occult and unintelligible principles of attraction and gravita- tion. Hence, as the law called the law of gravity, which Newton applied to the problems of his Prin- cipiai is proved not to be universal, and not an innate property, but an accident of matter, so there no longer exists any occasion for the projectile force with which Newton endowed the planets to prevent their falling into the sun ; nor was it any longer necessary to extinguish the medium, which it may be supposed is co-existent with space, for the purpose of conferring perpetuity on the pro- jectile n>rce. .; ^ ■ i t ■ \ h !i<- I !■ ^ 120 He consiilered all matter as the possible parent of motion, and motion as power, and then proceeded to show, that all bodies on the earth are the parents of its motions, and that its motions are competent to produce all the phenomena which we witness on earth ; that weight or gravity is the mere effect of motion, or a tendency to move by tlie transferred impetus of the earth's motions ; in fine, that two- fold motions are powers of aggregation in all pla- nets; and that these motions, or that of the sun, propagated through the medium of space, diverge as the square of the distance, and act with the same precision through an elastic medium, as a lever of iron. He shewed also, that the fall of bodies to the earth, ascribed to terrestrial gravitation, is a neces- sary result of the twofold motions of the earth, and that all the phenomena heretofore explained, by a principle which, considered as universal, led to many false analogies, are mere results of motions, or accidents of matter, altogether local and mecha- nical. ' '"- ■•/' "^* ■*"' .«*>^i-^ .^•- V ..„.,, ^5^.,.., ,, The philosophy of material phenomena, promul- gated by Sir Richard Phillips, teaches that the universe consists of extension of matter under various expansive gaseous, fluid, and fixed forms of body, proceeding in relative density from the rarest and most extended fluid media, to the most condensed aggregate of fixed atoms. ' . ' [' " " In fine," says Sir Richard Phillipsj "motions of matter, subject to regular mechanical laws, act- ing absolutely or subordinately, generally or locally, on aggregates or atoms, and producing various den- sities, and diflerent degrees of locomotion, and niiinity, in atoms of matter, of different constituent kt t;' \a\ forms, are the proximate causes of all phenomena ; and as one series of phenomena depends on another, so all existing^ phenomena, are, in regard to others^ physically fit, compatible, and harmonious ; and as matter cannot originate its own motion, so in con- sidering motion as the proximate cause of all phenomena, we arrive, through the ascending series, at the necessary and sublime First Cause of all motion and all phenomena."* Poffe 35. I'he next sanction of our theory of the existence of gaseous matter in the Sun's atmosphere, we take from Sir Jphn Herschell's Astronomy of last year, jHiffe 407, chap* 12. "We shall conclude this chapter by the mention of a phenomenon which seems to indicate the exis- tence of some slight degree of nebulosity about the Sun itself, and even to place it in the list of nebu- lous Stars. It is called the Zodiacal light; and may be seen any very clear evening soon after sunset^ about the month of April or May, or, at the opposite season of the year, before sunrise, as a cone or lenticular shaped light, extending from the horizon, obliquely upwards, and following generally the course of the ecliptic, or rather that of the Sun's equator. The apparent angular dis- tance of its orbit from the sun varies according to circumstances, from 40^ to 90^, and the breadth of its base perpendicular to its axis, from Q^ to- 30^. It is extremely faint and ill defined, at least, in this climate, though better seen in tropical regions. '*' It being thought by tome that Sir Richard Phillips' Theory was of Atheistical tendency, I have extracted the foregoing para* graph to show the rererse. L ■Hy. h' 122 It cannot be mistaken for any atmosplierical meteor or Aurora BoreaUs. It is manifestly iu the nature of a thin lenticularly formed atmosphere, surrounding the Sun, and extending at least beyond the orbit of Mercury and even of Venus, and may be conjectured to be no other than the denser part of that medium, which, as we have reason to believe, resists the motion of comets, loaded perhaps with the actual materials of the tails of millions of them, of which they have been stripped in their successive perihelion passages, and which may be slowly subsiding into the Sun." It appears, hereby that Sir John completely sanctions the existence of gaseous matter in the Sun's atmosphere. And for what otlier purpose could it be there, but for the supply of the waste of its light and beat by the combustion of this gaseous matter ? And Sir John may well say, as he does in the above most admirable treatise on Astronomy, " that there is an enormous degree of heat in the Sun." The last extract we shall here make, as sanc- tioning our theory of supply of waste of the Sun's heat and light, is from a work published in 1841, called " Graham's Elements of Chemistry." <* It has always been observed that there is a black line or lines among the rays received from the Sun through the prism on a spectrum. These biiycJc lines Philosophers had never been able to account for. But the atmosphere of the Sun has now received an entirely chemical character from late experiments of tne celebrated Sir David Brewster, who found that on passing a ray of light from a common lamp through a medium of nitrous 123 oxi/d ffos. It imme^lsiteiy formed a thousand black lines on the spectrum* He, Sir David, tKence infers, (in accounting for the black lines when rays are received from the Sun) that gaseous mat- ter must exist in the sun's atmosphere, by which medium the black lines are produced on the spec- trum." Doctor Graham adds, *' that we may thus be able hereafter to explain how the light of the Suns of other systems is formed and maintained." He thus evidently considers that the mode of supplying the waste of our own Sun's l^ht and heat is explained by means of this gaseous atmos- phere, and thereby supports our theory of the com- bustion of that matter for producing that supply.**^ On a review of these concurrent testimonies, we, with humility, conceive therefore that our theory of the original formation of our Sun, by the light and heat evolved by the combustion of the gases for the formation of the universal ocean of Gene- sis; and of the mode of supplying the waste of the Sun's light and heat may be considered as nearly established. Having thus concluded my attempt on the sys- tem of the creation of >' ' ! !*t» ^••t-l . * The above extract U taken from memory, but the ■ubattpee will be found in Grahun't Elementi of Cbemiatry. t ^ i* fm A 124 ; DISSOLUTION OF OUR GLOBE. . By the authority of Scripture, we are informedy that the globe we inhabit is doomed to dissolution by the element of fire. We cannot, indeed, pre- sume to say, that the nature of this conflagration shall be the same, and be governed by the same laws as those which take place at present, but judging from the hitherto immutable nature of those laws, we shall proceed to consider the prin- cipal changes which, according to them, would take place at this general conflagration. There are, indeed, many parts in the external and internal phenomena of the earth, which subject it continu- ally to change and decomposition. The probable effects also, of its continual motion in the hearensy and the possible contact of other heavenly bodies, perhaps igneous, appear to confirm the destiny recorded in the Scriptures. The late discoveries however, in pneumatic chemistry, Irave proved to us, that what had hitherto been considered as destruction by fire, is only a change, or decomposition of the various combustiole bodies, into the elements of which they are com- posed. A great proportion of the vegetable world IS found to be reduced by combustion, into elastic vapour called gasses; and it is not improbable, (at least if we assent to the facts stated by, and the opinion of, professor Chaptal, which I have before mentioned, on the productions of the vegetative process; and also, the still higher authority, of professor Linnseus, quoted above, whereby many of the primary earths and metals are proved to be the products of vegetation,) that the various earths and metals, and their combinations, may hereafter hi t 125 .OBE. ! informedy dissolution ideed, pre- nflagratioii the same esent, but nature of r the prin- would take rhere are, id internal it continu* e probable le hearenSy nly bodies, le destiny pneumatic id hitherto is only a imbustible are com- ible world I to elastic ^bable, (at and the ive before fegetative Lority, of [by many red to be |us earths [hereafter be found to consistof cottipbunds of the bases of the gases of oxygen, hydrogen and azote, and of carbon. In the foregoing system of creation, I have stated that lead is found to gain an accession of weight by oxydation of nearly ten pounds in one hundred pounds, by the absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere. This oxygen must therefore exist in the oxyd, in a solid state. Pit-coal and pot-ash are found also to contain oxygen and hydrogen in the same state, and the Schisti or slate mountains are also said to have been compo- sed by. the decomposition of vegetables, which are primarily composed of these gases; and these schisti, therefore, in part, consist of solid oxygen, &c. In fine, from these facts, and many others stated in the foregoing pages, we have, in tiie theory of creation, come to the conclusion that the processes of vegetation and of animalization were the machinery chosen by the First Cause for the gradual production of all the geological bodies of which our earth is composed. Now, the marine vegetables of the waters or ocean of Genesis, can have imbibed their nourish- ment only from these waters and the air imbibed by them, and must have had the power conferred on their natures to decompose these waters, and to re-compose by the process of vegetation (as we find to be the case in terrestrial vegetables) a vast variety of new productions, all of which, however dense, must have possessed the constituent elements of water and air, oxygen, hydrogen, and azote, for their final elements. The depositions then of the marine vegetable world, having formed a certain and a very great L* 4 126 proportion of the geological bodies of the earth, the reuiainder of them we have conceived to have been formed by the depositions and labours of the marine animals. The habitations or shells of these, we have shewn in various parts of the foregoing the- ory, to compose a considerable portion of the earth's crust; and the vast generations of these animals, after their decay and decomposition, have, no doubt, according to their affinities and gravities by their deposition, formed or entered into the structure of the remaining geological products. In the course of our theory, we have endeavoured to show, that the vast chalk and lime-stone forma- tions ^f the earth, may also have been the result of the decomposition or disintegration of these marine shells. On this subject, we have to add one obser- vation ; bearing considerably on our present subject, namely, the ^/ta/ elements of the geological bodies. It is, that chalk and lime-stone, being carbonates of lime, must also, therefore, consist of a great proportion of oxygen in a solid state, their carbonic acid being compounded of oxygen and carbon. Lime itself, also, has afforded Sir H. Davy a metallic button ; it is therefore an oxyd, and contains oxygen in the same solid state. The marine animals, again, of the waters of Genesis, whether they derived their nutrition directly from those waters, or from the plants con- tained in them, or both, must finally have been composed of the constituent elements of water, the only mode of nutrition of these plants. But it is {)ossible, and even probable, that the marine animals lad the power of decomposing the imbibed air of the atmosphere, by whicli they would obtain ano- Jft- 127 the earth) d to have urs of the 8 of these) Toing the- ;he earth's I animals, , no doubt, i by their ructure of [leavoured me forma- e result of ;se marine Dne obser- nt subject, cal bodies, carbonates >f a great r carbonic carbon. Davy a d contains waters of nutrition lants con- ive been ^ater, the But it is |e animals led air of ftain ano- ther elementary principle. Azote,* This 16 an seriform substance, which is always found to be produced by the remains of terrestrial, and, no doubt, marine animals also. Thus we are led to conclude the final elements of all geological bodies, and of the marine plants and animals of the ocean, and of the vegetable and animal productions of the earth to have been ab origine, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Azote, Heat, and perhaps. Light and Electricity; and that the immense variety of proportions of these, blended together by the vital principle, constitutes the distinctive characters of those bodies. Now, in the event of the dissolution of the Globe by fire, the consequence would be, (as combustion is known to be nothing but the extrication of light and caloric, by the decomposition of the oxygen gas of the atmosphere, and the consequent absorp- tion of its oxygen by the combustible body,) that the elements of all combustible bodies would enter into new combinations. The waters of the oceans, if not directly decomposed by this vast combustion, but, merely evaporated, would probably collect together, be finally condensed into water, be attracted together into vast bodies, and form a part of an oceanic glohe^ which must obey the laws of gravitation and motion, and might thus form a part of the matrix of a future planet. , . On the contrary, should the watery vapours of our earth and ocean, be drawn into the conflagra- tion at this dissolution, and be decomposed by the intensity of its heat and the contact of the combus- * AtmoBpheric air is always decomposed in the lungs of terres- trial animals. w tible bodies, — which is indeed probable, — these vapours would thereby be resolved into their pri- mary elements, oxygen and hydrogen, in the state of gases ; and the vegetable and animal creation would, also, be decomposed into these gases and the azotic and carbonic gas. " ^^ The earthy, mineral, and metallic substances of the globe, many of which we have shewn in the foregoing pages of our theory, to contain an abun- dant quantity of these gases in a solid state, would be partly decomposed into these primary elements, and the remaining more indestructible parts, if not decomposed by the heat of the conflagration, would be revived by it into vapours; for we have found, as before stated, that even by the comparatively small degrees of heat which the art of man has discovered, the diamond, and some of the perfect metals, have been resolved into such vapours ; and, allowing even that these metallic, earthy, or mine- ral vapours, should not be decomposed into their final elements, even by the heat of the conflagra- tion, they must, after the combustion, be collected into vast bodies, mix with the other gases result- ing from the decompositions above stated, and, probably, by the agency of chemical affinity, find their decomposition effected by these gases; or, otherwise, their decomposition into the primary elements of oxygen, hydrogen, and azote, may be finally effected by the electric Jlutd* Thus, although it may be the design of Provi- dence to put a final period to the present state of existence of our globe ; yet, as the primary elements of which we have conceived it to be composed, are indestructible — at least in the present state of our lat -M»t u — these leir pri- he state creation ses and ances of n in the in abun- ;e, would lements, •ts, if not m, would re found, aratively man has e perfect |urs ; and, or mine- mto their tonflagra- coUected js result- [ted, and, lity, find lases; or, primary may be If Provi- It state of lelemenks )sed, are te of our 12d knowledge, these elements must unite to form the materials of a new mode of existence, unless, indeed, counteracted by the divine ordinances, by which these very elements themselves should be annihi* , lated. Now, that this globe is destined to dissolution, as I have already mentioned, is probable, from many facts in its internal and external phenomena. But its pit coal, sulphureous and nitrous combi- nations, the inflammable and other eases it produces, and the tendency of these to produce earthquakes and volcanoes, may not operate sufficiently deep in the earth to produce its total dissolution. This is, indeed, more likely to arise, from its various motions in the heavens, and the possible contact of igneous bodies, as comets, &c. We do not mean to imply by this that the earth is in daneer from comets in its annual course round its orbit, the chances of such dangers being very small. All we implv is, that the dissolution foretold in scrip- ture will be more probably brought about by means of a comet than by any internal cause in the earth, and it may form a part of the design of the Creator, that the heavenly bodies should thus be subject to continued changes ; yet, does it not appear consis- tent with the unceasing evidences we have of His benevolence, to suppose, these changes are not to destroy the final elements of His creation ; but to produce higher and better states of existence by their instrumentality ? Assuming, therefore, that the conflagration we are considering, shall have finally decomposed and resolved by combustion, and the power of mutual affinitv, or by the electric fluid, all parts of th^ J I; ISO earth and oceans, into the primary elements, oxygen, hydrogen and azote, or other elements, we nave now to consider how these elements would re-com- bine to form other heavenly bodies. These primary elements, having been drawn together by the laws of affinity or attraction, would probably be soon ignited and brought into combustion by the electric fluid, or the light and heat of the general confla- gration. The hydrogen gas would then unite with the oxygen of the oxygen gas, whose light and heat, or caloric, would be set free, and the forma- tion of watery vapours would ensue. These con- densing in the course of time (for it is probable the light and heat of the conflagration would, by laws of its gravity, And its way to the higher regions of infinite space) would form an oceanic globe, which, also, in obedience to the same laws of gravity and attraction, would be attracted or driven, according to our theory, round its central Sun; and being endowed by the powerful and benevolent ordination of the First Cause, with the most abundant, prolific and plastic powers for the generation of plants and animals, these would, exactly in the same way in which, (as we have stated in our theory of creation) the waters of Genesis produced our earth, be continually tending, in the course of sufficient ages, by their vast accumulation, their death, decomposition and depo- sitions, according to their affinities and gravities, to form the solid parts of their globe, wnich, by the laws of gravity, would be attracted more or less near the centre, and these decomoositions would thus accumulate, until the land shoatd finally appear on the surface of these waters.* > ..vghv'p : ■ * It is possible, however, that the primary elements of our ii t8, oxygen, , we nave Id re>coiii- se primary y the laws y be soon he electric ral confla- unite with light and the forma- ^hese con- st probable evould, by he higher in oceanic same laws tracted or ts central erful and use, with owers for jse would, we have waters of J tending, heir vast ind depo- gravities, mich, by . more or 1 positions lid finally lents of our 131 *■■ We must then supDowi tl.. .. i power of the CreatoVTooMT" ''*»*''»l«"ce aud endowing: them with li?e ^d ^ "^ '" "««''4 "•ay be thereby chand in the i8t other- binatioD) uction of re this to ruth and that this , and her 'Hipted to r, offer a ;e, and of '. Note 3.) ns on the mr globe easoning • systems jd by the knipotent eat poet, ^ee with venture L he has )e obser- 1 have ly of our Itics, will 133 warrant the conclusion I have drawn from the fore- going facts and experiments. In the theory of the sun, I observed that the water formed by the combustion of the hydrogen as, in supplying him with fuel, might, perhaps, e condensed into globes of water, destined here- after to form new worlds or planets, like those of our own system, by the means we have detailed in the theory of creation. I have now only to add, that we may well con- ceive this possible, from the incessant proofs of power, wisdom, and benevolence, we are permitted to discover in the operations of the Creator ; that, in fact, the recent discoveries of our astronomers, of planets never observed before by the vigilance of those of former ages,* may be a proof that new formations of heavenly bodies are always taking place, and that as we cannot presume to limit the attributes and power of a First Cause, so the re- productive and plastic powers with which He has endowed the laws of nature may be found in con- tinual operation, for the production of other systems of heavenly bodies, and that the Almighty attri- butes and energies may be thus continually giving life and enjoyment, in a scale probably infinite, and advancing, perhaps incessantly, in displays of His goodness, power, wisdom, and glory. * It is stated, by astronomeri, that the tail* of comets are stretched towards the sun, when '.hey are approaching him; but when they return, they are stretched in the opposite direction. May not this singular fact be caused by the comet depositing its gaseous tail into the sun's btraosphere as a supply of fViel, and taking up, by its attraction, thedenstr aqueous vapours formed by the cbmbustion of the gases, thus carrying them ofr into the regions of space to be condensed into planetary bodies ? For, it is observed, the tails in the returning course of the comet are much longer than when it goes towards the sun. May not these facts indicate a change in the nature of the tails ? See Sir Joh-:) Herschell's observationi on the tails of comets, at page 132 of this work. M ■ifcr^ 134 A,. TABLE OF GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS, /» the order (^f their Super potilion. By M. Al Dk Hcmboldt. This Table i$ Mtated by Baron Cuvier to have been formed by ht$ friend Humboldt, for hii (the Baron' $) late Geological works; and he add*, that the Table may ■) be contidered at containing a summary qf the tablet of the molt modern Oevlogittt. .^^i •/» Alluvial depiisits. Lime-Btone formation, with mill-Btone (menlieres^. Sand-fitnne and Rand of Fnntainbleau. Gyiwum wiih boin- 8. Siliceous lime-stone Course lime-stone. (Clay of London.) Tertiary Baud*8tone, with lignites (brown coal). Plastic clay. Molasse. NsglefluLe. a B . n hi Chalk, ( White, 600 < Soft, (taffeta) Feet. fChloritic. AnanehUea. ;*'»':, ft \ Green sand. 4U0 I Feet \ Wead Clay. Secondary lime-stone with lignites, Ferruirinnus aand. Quftdersandetein, or white Hand-stone sometimes above the lias. Ammonites. PlanulUet. Limc-stoue ul Jura. Muschelkalk. i' v'^ Ammonites nodnsus. Slaty and beds, with tish crastarea. Coral rag. , ,,,>^.. Dive clay. Oolites and Caen lime-stone. Marly or calcareous lias with gryphcp.a arcuata. Marls with fibrous gypsum arenacious layers. Saliferous variegated sand-stone. Pniduct. aculeat. Magnesian lime-stone. Zecb^tein. Coi»pery8late. Quartsiferous porphyry. (Alpine lime- stone). Co-ordinate formations of porphyry, rpd sand stone and coal. Transition formations. Slates with lydian stone, greywacke, diorites, euphotides, lime-stone, with orthoceralites, trilobites, and evom- phalites* Primitive Formations. Clayey slates, (Thonscbiefer). . Mica slates. neisB. Granites. o B •c * As far as this line, comprises 24,360 feet. The] -■>«■■ Ml This Taltlc htmbokU.for \e Table may molt modern a B I t<| SV lish and ie-e>tone. lias with a. •stone. lie). s S 'C g APPENDIX.^,.%,, ,^^^ The following Notes and IllustrtUions are recommended to the reader's attention, as illustrative of the Theory of Creation, and particvhtrly as containing observations on the late discoveries in Oeology. Note 1. — It seems, indeed, almost impossible (supposing for a moment the idea of Buffon as to the origin of our earth was correct) to conjecture by what means its waters could have been subsequently obtained. A body of molten glass would, necessarily, assume a spherical form in the heavens ; but it seems not probable, or possible, that such vast cavities, as the beds of the seas or oceans of the earth, could have been formed on it by its motions merely. Again, vitreous substances do not contain the elements that produce earthquakes and volcanoes. Hydrogen or inflammable gas is probably required for that effect, which is not contained in glass; therefore, the vast cavities of the ocean could not arise from internal commotions ; but, even allowing them to have been produced by some unknown cause, how is the origin of the waters to be come at ? Water is, I believe, sometimes generated in our atmosphere by the com- , bustion of hydrogen ; but this is a mere drop in the ocean, compared to the general cause that produces our rains. In fact, it could not, consistently with the safety of the produc- tions of the earth, or even of their embryos at the time of their formation, have been made a general law for the purpose of producing the waters of the oceans. On the other hand, ,„ the system of the formation of the earth, from waters gene- ' rated by combustion, appears to be a more natural and satis- factory solution of the phenomena of creation. These waters, formed and endowed, as we must conceive, according to the design of the Creator, with the most proliflc powers of generating plants and aniinalp, produced gradually sufficient deposits to form the earth. ' .atm wi. H^ "^IKm. m- 136 I have stated, in the body of the work, that a single herrings unmolested for twenty years, would, as it has been computed, produce ten of our globes ; and, allowing it to produce only one globe, what must the depositions of all the vegetables and animals of the waters of Genesis amount to ? In fact, on a consideration of the probable powers of deposition of these waters, and of the small proportion the known parts of the laud bears to our oceans, we might be incHned to conjecture that there may be vast tracts of land on the globe yet undis- covered, and it is remarkable that this idea is now verified by the discovery of an antarctic continent.* . ; Note 2. — It may be observed further, respecting this re- sistance of the seriform media of our theory, that, as our sys- tem itself, and I believe also the fixed stars, are allowed by astronomers to have some progressive motion, and which must be owing to the principle of attraction towards some centre ; therefore, the resisting aeriform media must move the same way also in their courses towards the sun, having thus two motions; they must be thus attracted towards the same centre as our system is said to be ; the resistance they give to the earth and planets in their rectilinear motion, though it may thereby diminish the velocity of that motion, y^t it cau- not "destroy it," these seriform media being themselves under the influence of the same attraction towards an unknown centre. — (See Note 4 in confirmation of this.) This idea of a general motion of our system, and of the fixed stars, will be found in the work I have so oflen quoted, * Our readers are aware, that Capt. Ross, of the British Navy, lately made a voyage of discovery to the South Sea. From extracts from his journals, published in some English papers, it seems that be has reached lat. 78*^ 8' south; and that he has discovered what he has called South Victoria Land, extending from latitude 70^*^ to 79, and how much fur- ther is unknown. Its eastern coast Ket between the 163d and 171st degrees of long. It was girt with a barrier of ice many miles in breadth, which rendered it inaccessible, the ice being in some parts 150 feet high. He represents the land •• rising in peaks from 9,000 to 13,000 feet high, perfectly eovtred with snow. He ww varioat voloanoes.— TVati- tcriptf March 19, 1842. -^ ;1e herrings computed, Dduce only itnbles and I fact, on a n of these arts of the conjecture yet undis- ow veiified ♦ ing this re- as our sys- allowed by which must me centre ; re the same a thus two the same they give , though it y6t it cau- Ives under unknown »nd of the en quoted, Jvry, lately lets from bis 1 fau reached Ulled South ' much iur* and I71st I in breadth, lO feet high. 13,000 feet et.— Tran* 137 " Paley's Natural Theology." He states, if I rightly remem- ber, " that the fixed stars have certainly small motions," and considers them to be attracted to a centre ; and if this be really founded in fact, it certainly offers one of the grandest ideas of the Deity the mind of man can conceive, namely, that if aH the systems of the heavenly bodies thus move round one common unknown centre, may we not conceive tfiat centre to be the Empyreal Throne of God mentioned in the 4th chapter of Revelations, from whence lie beholds continually the immense operations of his handn, performing their levo- lutions round Him ? The above idea, of universal attraction, also offers another very important one, of the cause of the projectile ibrce or rectilinear motion of the planets of our systeiii, namely, that this universal attraction to a common centre IS that cause. Since writing this Note I have seen the substance of the second paragraph confirmed by the eloquent discourses of Dr. Chalmers, lately published, on the Christian Revelation, in connection with the Modern Astronomy. ,j; .., : .M, i|f^ Note 3. — The reasoning in this work, in pages 131 and 132, is grounded on the idea that the entire substance of man, including the soul, is not destined to perish with tho material substances of the globe. On that idea I have sup- posed that the corporeal parts of his frame may be, by some arrangement of the Deity, reunited with the soul or intelli- gent part ; but should the future state of existence be one altogether spiritual^ the constituent elements of the body may then, perhaps, enter into indiscriminate combinations with other matter. All I wish to infer from the reasoning offered is, that the intelligent spirit or soul of man is indestructible, . Note 4. — It is said, indeed, by philosophers, that a body once put in motion, if all the resistance to it were taken away, would continue to move in its course for ever; that is a case, however, which never can be proved by actual experiment, and it must rest solely on the opinion or arguments of those philosophers. If, however, the above supposition of perpetual 138 notion of bodies moving in a vacuum be founded in nature, and that the heavenly bodies are made to move in a vacuum, to obtain the object of perpetual motion, we may, in addition to what we have observed in Note 2, on the subject of uni- versal attraction to an unknown centre, remark, that thia universal attraction (supposing our theory of the regions of space being filled with aeriform media to be correct) may be the cause which prevents the diminution of the projectile force in the courses of those heavenly bodies through those aeriform media. Note 5. — Having just now obtained a sight of the late publication of Lord Brougham of last year, 1 835, 1 here sub- join fLU extract from it, describing the late discoveries of fossil remains by Cuvier, Buckland, and other geologists, to which I add some observations bearing on the relation of these facts to our theory of creation. In page 33 of his work. Lord Brougham observes, "the discoveries already made in this branch of science (geology) are truly wonderful, and they proceed on the strictest rules of induction. It is shewn that animals formerly existed on the globe, being unknown varie- ties of species still known ; but it also appears that species existed, and even genera wholly unknown, for the last fiv« thousand years. These peopled the earth as it was, not only before the general deluge, but before some convulsion, long prior to that event, had overwhelmed the countries then dry, and raised others from the bottom of the sea. In these curious enquiries, we are conversant, not merely with the world before the Flood, but with a world which, before the Flood, was covered with water; and which, in far earlier ages, had been the habitation of birds, and beasts, and reptiles. We^are carried, as it were, several worlds back, and we reach a period when all was water, and slime, and mud, and the waste, without either man or plants^ gave resting place to enormous beasts like lions, and elephants, and river-horses ; while the water was tenanted by lizards, the size of a whale, sixty or seventy feet long ; and by others, with huge eyes, 139 in nature, I Tacuum, 1 addition :t of uni- that this regions of t) may be projectile ugh those ' the late here sub- is of fossil to which hese facts 3rk, Lord ie in this land they lewn that wn varie- t species last five not only Ion, long hen dry, In these with the efore the earlier reptiles. we reach and the place to horses ; a whale, je eyes, having shields of solid bone to protect them, and glaring from a neck ten feet in length; and the air was darkened by flying reptiles, covered with scales, opening like the jaws of the crocodile, and expanding wings, armed at the tips with the claws of the leopard. No less strange, and yet not less pro- ceeding from induction, are the discoveries made respecting the former state of the earth; the manner in which these animals, whether of known or unknown tribes, occupied it; and the period when, or at least the way in which, they ceased to exist. Professor Buckland has demonstrated the identity with the hyenas, of the animal's habits that cracked the bones which fill some of the caves, in order to come at the marrow; and he has also satisfactorily shewn, that it inhabited the neighbourhood, and must have been suddenly exterminated by drowning. His researches have been conducted by ex- periments with living animals, as well as by observations on the fossil remains." I have now to observe, that it is to be regretted the geo- graphical position of these discoveries is not mentioned by his Lordship. If they had been found in the vicinity of the countries inhabited before the Flood, by Noah or his ances- tors, it is singular that no oral or written tradition is given (at least that I am aware of) by Noah or his descendants, of this convulsion before the Flood. "We reach a period," says his Lordship, "when all was water, and slime, and mud, and the waste, without either man or plants, gave resting place to enormous beasts," &c. If this period of time, there- fore, is to be supposed r.s having been between the Creation and the Flood, it must probably have taken place in a part of the world very remote from the^iountry inhabited by Adam or his descendants, before the Flood; and if there were, as is stated, "no plants*' growing in these resting places for these "enormous beasts like lions, and elephants, and river-horses,** whence did they get their subsistence ? If no subsistence were prepared for them in these resting places in the land, is. U not probable these "enormous beasts" may have been Kr 140 marine or amphibiQUi P I must therefore say, ttiat the cir- cumstance of there being no tradition handed down to us by Noah or his descendants, of so great an event as this convul- sion, coupled with the fact, admitted by the geologists who have narrated these discoveries, that " no plants" are found to have existed in these *' resting places'* for the nutriment of these enormous beasts, (for allowing tlicm to be animals of prey, the animals they devoured must have had means of sustenance from the productions of the earth); therefore, these two circumstances would seem to wtirrant the opinion, that these skeletons, or organic remains, are those of marine animals, which had been deposited at their death more or less below the present surface of the earth from the waters of Gen^is, (according to our theory of Creation), before the time of the separation of the waters, as recorded in the first chapter and ninth verse of Genesis, when God said, "let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear ; and it was so." '< .< . As to the flying serpents, by the account itself, they appear to have been marine inhabitants of the waters; and for the same reason that applies to the "enormous beasts," that "no plants" have been found in those resting places, so the "birds," mentioned in the above account, must probably have been marine or aquatic also, anu have existed, as above stated, before the separation of the waters at the six days of the creation. Now the effects of the Deluge, in the time of Noah, are, I believe, generally allowed to have made great changes on the face of the earth. The effects even of common inundations which have taken place and been recorded in history, have also had the same visible effects. Is it not, therefore, pro- bable that the effects of the mighty rush of waters from, over, and all round the earth at the time of the separation, must have had a corresponding greater effect, and produced the ■convulsion described by the geologists as having taken place 5 or 6000 years ago; and is not this effect the more likely, humi mair •8 all of ill not 141 , are, I on the Idations have J, pro- , over, must led the place likely. IVom the circumstance that the land must, at that period, have been in a soft and humid state, probably fn, are forced towards each other by the excess of an elastic pressure. It is possible, undoubtedly, to account for the effects of gravitation by an ethereal medium thus constituted, provided (as it is also necessary to suppose) that iWttii. p' i jC i DmWJi ^ 145 ^*^ ad oceans; formed «od Mieti, then became im- iehtral sun, anets of the same lawsP .■1y », r this work, , says, " We e than the >1. i. p. 300. I, it is said, " that I do tier, I have to propose ified about le suggests pervading argument, uced from light, and ir extreme )perties.— irer within nd comets, them, and e celestial of them, excess of o account lium thus pose) that the corpuscles of such « medium are repelled by bodies of common matter, with a force decreasing like other repulsive forces, simply as the distances increase. Its density, under these circumstances, would be every where such as to pro- duce the semblance of attraction. The hypothesis, in con- nection with the existence of a repulsive force in common matter, has a great advantage in point of simplicity, and may perhaps hereafter be capable of proof; but at present it can only be regarded, and was at first only offered, as an hypothesis."* .i .«'»..■.•>>: >♦■' M- Note 7. — The Right Hon. and Rev. Francis Henry, Earl of Bridgewater, died in the month of February, 1829, and by his last will and testament he directed certain trustees to invest in the Public Funds the sum of £8000 sterling, to be held at the disposal of the President of the Royal So<;iety of London, to be paid to the person or persons nominated by him. The testator further directed, that the person or per- sons selected by the said President, should be appointed to write, print, and publish one thousand copies of a work on the Wisdom and Goodness of God, as manifested in the Creation. There were eight treatises on various subjects.-— The Rev. Doctor Buckland was appointed to write tbe Bridgewater Treatise on Geology. * There mutt eertftinly be some mode existing to restore the vast WMte of heat and light emitted continaally hy tbe sun, and perhaps the tbedry of an ethereal medium, as shetrn by Encke's comet, may ftiraish tbe proof abovi- required of Sir Isaac Newton's bypothesier. Thns, tbe elastic medium adopted, at above, by Newton, being '*roucb rarer within the body of the sun," there must, therefore, be a continual motion of tbe distant and more dense parts of that medium towards tbe sun, which aifords another powerful cause by which the planets are carried round him in their respective orbits ; and, oo this important sahjeet, we have to refer tbe reader to onr Appendix No. 11., pages 21, 23. — The theory, therein atated, is powerfully supported by the cause above, •amely, the movement of the gaseous ethereal mcdinm of Newtoa towards the ran. N ; r f t i I ( >■ I 146 i-f^:^:;M , NOTE TO THIRD EDITION;a«*.(p«»*-^f NoTB.— I have perceived in Doctor Thompson's " Orgaoic Chemistry," some accoQiit of the experiment of Von Bel- mont, (see page 52), wherein it is said, that a certain author has stated an opinion that the distilled water used in it con- tained sufficient earthy matter to account for the increase of the willow. This, I venture to say, is incorrect ; for, in the first place, there is no earthy matter that is volatile at the heat of the boiling point of water ; neither, if the earth were reduced to a saline form by acids, would they be volatile or evaporable at that heat; moreover, the quantity of water used in the five years could not have been more than 456 gallons, that is one quart per day. Now, it is not conceivable that distilled water could contain more than one-quarter of an ounce of earth per gallon, which makes seven pounds.—^ The willow, however, gained 110 pounds in the five years, making 1 03 pounds produced from the water and atmosphere by tlie process of vegetation in the five years. , ,, ,^ >:-S-- l}n' ■ .-'■■■■ .. ■■' '' '- -•■•;?wr?''' ->»♦' NOTES TO SIXTH EDITION. v>; ;* yi\ I beg leave to call the reader's particular attention to the two following notes, being explanatory of the fixature of the sun : — Note 1. — In order to shew how Mr. Arago was led to foym the conclutiion he did respecting the constitution of our sun, as stated in page 10 of the Appendix No. II., I extract the fol- lowing from "Sketches of Conspicuous Living Characters of France," translated by R. M. Walsh, Philadelphia, 1846 :— '* It was while employed in his optical researches that Arago was Jed to observe the singular properties of the sub- stance called tourmalin^ which divides into two parts the luminous rays which traverse it. He perceived that when the light, passing through the tourmalin, emanated from an opaque body, it was identical in the double radiation produced J I L .M^ftfin>' -■«'* ■■■v'tMii'f'^. Ml- ">i '««^'; .fl. ..,.« i" ntion to the Rture of the led to form four sun, as act the fol- jaracters of 1846:— irches that Qf the sub- parts the that when ed from ai), 1 produce;;;; V^ .' j^ THIS WORK. ■■■'**^ ftT:.it I- .»<*^!Mv*v J>!^i •r",1? f ,. ••.3^f'*>■■iv^'■(i^ ;*wa >•* -M^ «s ^JJ(-r ■,.t .wt4l?t»A read Me 'ead 3,000 '*-4 f ^ - ■ •«■*•-•* /"'***■ _ ,.^^ ■ V .^_. .«r»,«i*J;»J:^V ^ ■■■:-/;• ;^f.^"-iii >."j /T*i^t»1> ,:..vv ...:.... INDEX: »e'^'r... I.. ..,,.■,... •■ REVISED FbH SIXTH EDITION, PnE»AC£ to firtt edition. 3 Ditto to second edition 7 Ditto to third edition 12 Ditto to sixth edition 17 Purposes of Geology , 21 Some account of the Author ........v.................... 22 Insufficiency of the Chaotic System of the ancients to account for . the Geological appearances of the Earth. 23 Formation of the PiimitiTe Earths, Salts, and Metals, by the Vegetative Process 2-4 Our Earth formed in a Fluid ib> The Doctrine of Chance Formation Refuted 23 Observations on the Doctrine of the Materiality of the Soul 31 The Ourang Outang — Brain similar to Man's,. 32 Age of the World by Boubee's Geol. Popul. Paris, 1833 35 This supposed Age explained and reconciled to the Mosaic account by our construction of first verse of Genesis ib. Extract from Dr. Chalmers' Natural Theology 36 Discq;rerie8 of Black, Priestly, and Lavoisier 39 The Combustion of the Gases "at the Beginning," produced the Universal Waters of Genesis 40 The Universal Ocean formed by Laws of Attraction ib. Account of Encke's Comet ib. Mode of Formation of the Solid Parts of our Earth 41 Order and Succession of Bocks and Organic Uemaina composing Cruat of the Earth 44 Extract from Sharon Turner's Sacred History, on Marine Plants 47 0*uf« of Marina P«-oductions being found above the level of the sea, to be sought in the original formation of the Waters of Genesis 48 ) / 152 TAOt. CtrboB the Mlidifyiof prindple of Yegetablef 53 Oxygen exieto in a ioltd state in all the Oxydes 55 The Earths, Metal*, and Minerals, foi^nd in Vegetables, are pro> dneed by the Vegetable Process ib. A Method suggested of forming Nutritire Matter not yet known to mankind 58 Silieeoas Earth proved by Professor Linnaus to be the result of the Vegetative Process 59, 60 Curious extract from a work on "The Animals and Monsters of our Oceans," proving tbat the offspring of one Herring is Builicient to form a mass of matter equal to ten of our Globes ib. The Granite Mass formed like the secondary and tertiary strata, by the deposition of Vegetable and Animal Matter 61 Extract from Lyell on Shells in the Earth 63 Rev. Mr. Fairbolme's opinion on the Grsnite Mats answered ib. On the supposed autiquity of Mount JEtna 66 Salt Formations 67 Means by which the Sands of the Sea and Earth have been formed 69 Extract from Evans's Agriculture, proving the formation of Silica by the processes of Vegetation 70 Observations supporting the Theory of Formation of this Earth 7 1 Extract from Sharon Turner's Sacred UiHtory of the World, proving the power of the Vegetative Functions to pre duce the Primary Earths 72 Great part of tbe present Surface of the Esrth derived from tbe remains of animals that constituted the population of ancient seas, (Dr. Buckland) ib. Animalcule form extensive strata of Polishing Slate in Bohemia ib. The cause of entire genera of Animals disappearing in the Forma- tions accounted for by our theory of Formation of the Strata 76 The theory in this work of the mode of Formation of the Solid Bodies of tbe Earth stated 78 The Wisdom of the Creator shewn in the Internal Fires uf the. Earth 79 Observations on tbe Researches of Cuvier in Geology 80 Cause of the Creation of Marine Plants nut being mentioned in Genesis, 1st chapter 64 Elucidation of the Theory of the Earth 85 Observations on Mr. Mantell's Wonders of Geology 92 The theory of this work, of tbe Marine Formation of Coal, sup- ported by Maletrenck 94 Theory of the Sun's Formation 97 A short account of Pneumatic Chemistry 98 Heataud Light 99 Note 6.- Note I NoteS LUto rxct. 53 , 55 >M, arepro> •• ib. yet known •• 58 ne result of 59, 60 Moneten of Herring is onrGlobei ib. i*ry strata, ' 61 63 wered ib. 66 67 sen formed 69 'o of Silica 70 bis Earth 71 >e World, > prrduce 72 from the >f ancient j ib. Bohemia ib. 8 Forma- >e Strata 76 he Solid 78 8 i}f the " 79 80 iooed in 64 85 92 al, sup- 94 97 98 99 153 ^ .7 ■ ■:'' V.-'l-.j^-- .;i\', 'tl^A-:}. ■ ■■ PAGE. Remarks on Buffon'i Theory of the Earth anCPlanatf 100 Attraction of Matter 102 Cause of the Cold on High Mountaioa espkuned frooi Terrestrial causes 107 An idea of the cause of the Projectile Force 109 Cause of the Tides explained bjr our Theory of the Gaseous Medinm in infinite space ib. Means by which the Waste of the Fire of our Sun and that of tbe other Stars or Suns are restored (see also Appendix No. II.) 1)1 Encke's Camet, from WheweU's Bridgewater Treatise, supports the theory of the aetiform medium of this work ib. Observations on HersehelPs idea of the opaqueness of the Sua ... 117 Two Queries presented to Men of Science in support of our theory of the Spots on the Sun 118 Extract from Sir Richard Phillips's Theory 119 Do. from Sir John Herschell's Astronomy of last year !21 Do. from Graham's Elements of Chemistry 122 Tbe Dissolution of the Globe considered from its existing Pheno- mena ; 124 Recombination of the separated Elements to form New Heavenly Bodies 132 The Immortality of the Soul of Man drawn as a conclusion from the Tndestructihility of the Laws of Nature 1 32 Table of Geological Formations 134 Appendix, containing tbe following Notes 135 Note. 1. — Observations on Buffon's Theory of the Earth ib. The late discoveries of land in the South Sea, by Capt. ' Ross, foretohl in first edition of this work, 1836... 136 Note$ to Second Edition. Note 6. — Sir Isaac Newton on Gravity, from Good's Book of Nature, shewing bow Gravity is caused by the Ethereal Gaseous Medium carrying the Earth and Planets round the Sun 144 Note$ to Siieth Edition, Note 1. — Shewing how M. Arago probably formed his conclusion - that our Sun is a "Grand Mass of Gaa** Agglomt< rated in Space 146 Not* 2. — Shewihg how our Sun (being, aeeording to oar theory, a grand mass of Gas) is Axed in tht regions of ■pace « ib. Liat of Subwribers to Snd and 3rd Edition 199 II, i .•:■-■ ' ■ 154 INDEX TO APPENDIX NO. II. ib. *,;;...;■ — ■ , ...',..i». ■ - ■--■ ;:>^-,'.t*M«^ ki^smfiinti^ > Extra Matter for the Fourth Edition ...........................Vr.V.\'' 1 Extract from Lardner'a Lectares 3 Our Sud'b surface proved'by Arago to be an Ocean of Flame 4 Extra Matter for Fifth Edition 8 Extract from L^al's Principles of Geology controverting Central Fire Extract from a work containing the Life of M. Arago, and his induction " That the Sun is a Grand Mass of Gas Agglo- merated in Space." 10 Extra Matter for Sixth Edition 12 Extract from London Globe and Dr. Scoresby, giving an account of Lord Rosse's great discovery 14 Electric Theory of the Sun refuted 18 ( Number of Comets computed in our system 20 Cause assigned for the Gravitation of the Planets round the San, considering him as a Body of Gaseous Matter 21 . Rlaboratories of the Gases formed by the Creator in the Nebuls of the distant Regions of Space 23 Recapitulation of our Theory of the purposes of the Nebulae and Comets 28 Extract from the "Cosmos" of Baron Von Humboldt 29 The New Planet, as a proof of our Theory of the Sun ib. Presentation of the Extra Matter of this Wofk to the Public and to Men of Science 32 List of Subscribers in Toronto, Hamilton, London, Woodstock, &c , i... 33 t . >^ A-vVii r- •)'.■!.■> "■ o'* ; ^.i ^,^.,. .:..'..■.. .. ,. . ..... . ••;■« ;n i. ,i'v*&t ,";«'»»i; '•<■■. v\ >ii.'\: *rt:.,-..> ,|^,:,' ii»j. »%,%'..} '.if-K-^ .tt iJ-. .. ....,, *••*:•(* •"^'^ .::; isiv'.. Lw t ,;• I..J ' ; « ■ •■^■JS'^ii^i ^- li- J lion. Daintry,! Grieves,! T. CaryJ Augustul Hall, Jt Cannon, Haddan, A. M'Gi W. LeC Wm. M' G. Fassv H. Tem Henry S James S< Smillie, ' A. H. P (Cameron M'Callui Alex. B A. Parr( 0. Leek, largeon, F. Cazei Header! Cannon M'Callu Antrobi P. H. » Dr. Fat Blacklo Hossac Rev. G J. E. James John C J. Bac Andre G. Fa^ _ I 155 f »>"(»> '^d:: ;& ">*;, 1 fFIame 4 8 ■ting Central ib. •go, and bis "* Gas AggIo< 10 12 [ an account 14 18 20 Dd tbe San, ;• 21 be Nebuls 23 'Nebulae and 28 29 ^ ib. Public and 1 32 Woodstock, '... 33 < t'-^V. !.'«■< ^'ri^iA ■*■• J,.- ^ NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS WORK, ^-^ .111, .: ; ,,...i .' , ■■-•■-. ..lii-:. ■-.'. .■.""iv.i .mv^ .«..l» ■<»•»«•.! I ... . ^ . -;■. .'iiil . .vmiiiM ,*< lion. Jadge Cochrane; Messra. J. Hale, M. J. Wilson, J. Datntry, D. Wilkie, M. Bell, J. S. Campbell, E. S. King, J. Grieves, — Clapham, F. B. Lindsay, D. McCarthy, J. G. Irvine, T. Cary, Edw. Burroughs, Louis Panet, T. A. S'tayner, George Augustus Bedford, H. Gowen, J. Musson, A. Macnider, George Hall, James Bouchette, Rev. R. R. Barrage, M. White, L. A. Cannon, T. G. Cathro, G. Pemberton, John Neilson, Alexander Haddan, William M'Master, Thos. Bickell, George Mountain, A. M'Gill, A. Wilson, W. B. Jefferys, D. Logie, C. T. Brown, W. Le Cheminant, L. Ballingali, J. liobrough, John C. Nixon, Wm. M'Grath, John Codville, John Bowles, jr., J. Childs, jr., G. Tassio, H. Carwell, J. Bolton, A. Laurie, David D. Young, H. Temple, P. Pelletier, W. 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Sewell, Dr. Fargues, L. G. Baillarge. Advocate, W. B. Lindsay, H. M. Blacklock, Rev. F. J. Lundy, E. Chapman, R. Stewart, James Hossack, P. Patterson, Wm. Baxter, Rice Meredith, D. Morgan, Rev. G. Mackie, J. 0. Brunet, J. Munn, P. Piton, T. H. Oliver, J. E. Oliver, Edyr.. Oliver, F. J. Young, F. Young, F. Rourke, James Qlearihue, R, C. Todd, Doctor Racoy, A. W, ]li)orin, John Childs, John Jeflf«;ry, James Armstrong, Charles F. Pratt, J. Bacq^et, Mrs. Glass, E. Taylor, P. Le Sueur, W. Drum; Andrew King, Samuel Wright, \V. M'Alister, J. I^ Laehear, G. Fawcett, H. D. Thielcke, W. S. Henderson, J. Bracken, sen.. I f 156 Thomu Braualie, J. W. PeMt, Regit Boy, R. Bfacfarlanr, Past I<«pper, ArtioiM Jackson, J. D. l^furgy, W. D. Dupont, Mri. Hendry, li. H. Scot, W. Andrews, W. lAne, Re?. W. Torrance, Ralph Hunter, J. J. Lowndes, P. Lenfeitey, Danbar Ross, C. Stuart, G. D. lialxaretti, A. M. Vidal, H. Black, Jos. Laurin, J. H. Kerr, C. S. Bourne, Mr. Benjamin, J. M. Fraser, J. Lill, Mrs. Young, Cbas. Smith, Anthy. Anderson, Doctor Kelly, A. M*Donaid, George Black, Wm. Thompson, Henry Jessup, IT. Dyde, Joseph Legare, fils, W. K. Rayside, Rev. Dr. Wilkie, Rev. Mr. Wood, Rev. Mr. Burroz. / 4'* EX r.;.i '■•:•„• ; .:<..•■.•■ LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THIRD EDITION, BIONTBBAIi, 1S43< Hon. Judge Pyke, Hon. Peter M'Gill, Messrs. M. J. Hayes, John Boston, — Gettes, Jas. Knapp, N. B. Doucet, Alex. Dyer, W. Murray, J. Thornton, J. George, D. Smillte, R. D. Bodley, T. Nye, H. Honslow, M. Solomon, M. M'Grath, James Hughes, John P. Grant, S. H. Anderson, R. T. Howden, J. Bell, A. F. Holmes, J. Ross, J. Jeffrey, J. Hutchison, C. Goldworth, H. J. J., J. J. Phelan, T. M. Tobin, J. Gilmour, W. Francis, jr., J. Bowman, J. Rattray, J. J. Day, R. Huchins, A. Furnis, C. Rollitt, H. Stuart, M. Sommervilie, — Mackay, — Hughes, R. Gerard, W. F. Grasett. L. A. Olivier, — Dyde, W. Gunn, T. Osgood, H. P. Thompson, C. D. Proctor, — Breckenridge, — Scott, F. Fraser, H. K. Bethune, C. Dorwin, J. Playfair, — Joseph, — Oldham, — Whipple, J. White, J. Mills, Colonel M'Leod, J. McDonald, A Benning, jun., Hon. C. S. De Bleury, Mr. Mackay, W. Sinclair, Robert M'Indoo, Allison M'Dooald, A. McDonald, T. Hounslow. R. E. Dep., Mr. Mack, E. M'Guire, A. Gundlack, Geo. C. Reiffeinstein, R. H. Hamilton, Rct. Mr. Torrens, Mr. Wells, Mr. Orr, The Bight Rev. Bishop of Montreal. acfarlaor, Paal Dupont, Mrt. . W. Torranctf, Danbar Rou, k, Jos. Lanrin, Prater, J. Lill, Doctor Kelly, Henry Jeuup, !v. Dr. Wilkie, .!.<.,-. , DITION, M. J. Hayes, :, Alex. Dyer, % D. Bodley, lines Hughes, len, J. Bell, 1. Goldworth, Francis, jr., . Furnis, C. Hughes, R. tV. Gunn, T. reckenridge, J. Playfair, ills, Colonel De Bleary, MDooald, E. M'Guire, h. Rev. Mr. of Montreal. APPENDIX. -_ t. '.,..:! No. II. EXTRA MATTER FOR THE FOURTH EDITION. I am happy to be able to present the reader of the Fourth Edition of this work with two important extracts from late scientific publications. The one is from the celebrated Arago, the French Astronomer, and the other from Lardner'a Popular Lectures in the American States. % I now present the following extract from Arago's Scientific Notices on Comets, in support of our theory of the sun, and of the spots on his surface : — "If the comet of Buffon, in striking the sun, had detached from it solid fragments, if the planets of our system had originally been such fragments, they would in a similar man- ner have grazed the surface of the sun at each revolution.—- All the world knows how far that it is from the truth. Did not our naturalist also believe the matter which composes the planets sprung from the solar globe, already formed into dis- tinct masses P He imagined, as I have said, that the comet had spouted forth a real torrent of fluid matter, in which the impulsions which the various parts received from each other, and their mutual attractions, rendered every assimilation with the movements of solid bodies impossible. The system of Bufibn affords explicitly as a result, that the solar matter— at least, the exterior of it — is in a state of liquefaction ; then, I should hasten to declare that the most scrupulous modern observations have not confirmed that idea. 'i^ to by'i^^i wti-^ " The rapid changes of form which the obscuhd and lumi- nous solar spots incessantly experience, the immense spaces that those changes spreaA over in very short times, bav« A ' ^yf". t; 11 already led to the very probable supposiHon^ for some years, that similar phenomena would occur in a gaseous medium. At present experiments quite of another nature, experiments on luminous polarization made at Paris observatory, incon- testibly establish this result ; and if the exterior and incan- descent part 3f the sun is a gas, the system of Bufibn is erro- neous in its most essential outset, and is no longer tenable.'* OBSERVATIONS ON THE ABOVE EXTRACT. I have shewn, in the body of the work, that the theory of Bufibn is not tenable. Mr. Arago now confirms the fact. — In another part of this edition, I have proposed a query on the ^subject of the spots on the sun, namely, whether they might not be accounted for by the combustion of the oxygen and hydrogen gases serving (according to our theory) as fuel for the sun's fire; and it is with great satisfaction I am now enabled to add to this fourth edition of my work, the sanc- tion given to this idea and to our theory of the sun, by the above extract from the work above named of the celebrated Astronomer, Arago. He states that phenomena, similar to the spots on the sun, might arise in a gaseous medium, and allows the possibility that the exterior and incandescent parts of the sun may be a gas, which is precisely consistent with our theory of the sun's formation, and the means employed by nature to supply the waste of his heat and light. In fine, it would appear, by the experiment on the polarization of light stated above, that the original idea of the great Newton, that the sun is a body of fire or flame, will still hold good ; and that, although he had not the advantage of the modern discoveries in pneumatic science to direct him, it shews that on this occasion, as on that of the combustibility of the dia- mond, the genius of the immortal philosopher had formed a just idea of the nature of the sun. I am happy to be able to add a further explanation of this discovery of Arago* s, from Dr. Lardner's very popular lectures in New York. In page 17, he says, on the subject of Light of the Sun:— i^ ■ "^^ th r -i?w I Boroe jears, 18 medium, experiments ory, incon- and iDcan- BTon is erro- vc teDable.** lACT. le theory of the fact. — (uery on the they might oxygen and ) as fuel for I am now c, the sane- sun, by the ! celebrated similar to edium, and sscent parts sistent with 9 employed it. In fine, arizatjpn of eat Newton, hold good; the modern : shews that of the dia- ad formed a ^ to be able of Arago's, York. In Sun: — /- ^X' <• In optics, A beam of light is proved to be sniceptible of a peculiar modification, called PfAwrizaHoh. Light may uiN dergo certain changes, which shall polarize it, impartidg to two of the sides of the ray opposite to each other a certain property which the other two do not possess. The question arises what are these properties P "They are various; one, however, is so simple and so nearly connected with the demonstration to which I call your attention, that I shall mention it. If a ray of light fall upon a reflecting surface with either of these two sides which are represented by the two red sides of this wand, it will be re- flected at an angle equal to that by which it approached the surface ; but if it stritie the surface upon the other opposite side — the blue — it will not be reflected at all : so that two of its faces are capable of reflection, while the other two are not. This is one of the qualities by which polarized light is characterized. In a ray which is not polarized, reflection talces place under all circumstances, but with polarized light only under certain conditions. Thus, we see that light may exist in two distinct states. Now this is the truth which has been contributed to this demonstration by the discoveries of modem optics. Let us turn to another branch of physics. " The science of heat has received more attention within a few years past than any other branch of physics. Fourier, a French philosopher, has done much in this department of knowledge. One of the conclusions he establishes is this : ' There are three states in which material bodies exist ; the solid, liquid, and gaseous.* Fourier proved that when a solid body became incandescent, the light which it emits is polari- zed; that the light emitted by an incandescent liquid (as molten iron) is likewise polarized; and that the light of incandescent gases is unpolarized. These facts are true, whatever may be the nature of the materials. Here is a dis- tinction established by this great natural philosopher between the light emitted by incandescent solids and liquids, and that emitted by gasea. This is the contribution from the science of heat. IV F> \f There they lay, containing a eonaiderable quantity of am> monia, received horn their contact with the animal depoiita of the oceans, and which ammonia cannot be accounted for by the theory of formation from terrestrial vegetablesi for these yield very little or no ammonia. In proof of the diversity of marine production, I ex*ract the following account of that immense sea plant, the **Fucu8 Giganticus,** from the celebrated Professor Liebig's familiar Letters on Chemistry.— Ztf^S^>^I^^Ni^^^^r^N^^S^^'*^^^»^^^^^^ ■** In tliis Fifth Edition of our work we are happy to be able to give two very important scientific extracts, the one from Mr. Lyal's sixth edition of his "Principles of Geology," vol. 3, page 431, whereby he confirms our theory of the earth's formation, as relates to there being no central fire therein.— The other important extract is from a work lately published in Philadelphia, called " Sketches of Conspicuous Living Characters in France," translated from the French. Extract from "Lyal's Principles of Geology," vol. 2, sixth edition: — "It may assist us, in forming a clearer view of the doctrine n^w controverted, of Central Heat, if we consider what would happen were a globe of homogenous composition placed under circumstances analagous, in regard to the distribution of heat, to those above stated. If the whole planet, for in- stance, were composed of water, covered with a spheroidal crust of ice, fifty miles thick, and with an interior ocean having a central heat about 200 times that of the melting point of ice, or 6,400 of Fahrenheit, and if, between the sur- face and the centre there were even every intermediate degree of temperature between that of melting ice and that of the central neucleus, would such a state of things last for a mo- ment P If it must be conceded, in this case, that the whde spheroid would instantly be in a state of the most violent ebullition; that the ice, instead of being strengthened annu- ally by new internal layer?, would soon melt, and form parts of an atmosphere of steam, on what principle can it be main- tained that analagous effects ivoidd not follow in regard to the earth, under the conditions assumed in the theory of Central Heatf* — Vide LyaVs Principles of Oeology, vol. 2. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ABOVE EXTRACT, It is with great satisfaction I find, by the above extract, that Mr. Lyal agrees in the results of our theory of the be kbl« »ne from jy," vol. B earth's lerein.— lublished s Living [. 2, sixth e doctrine hat would )n placed istribution let, for in- Boheroidal rior ocean he melting in the aur- ate degree hat of the for a mo- the wbdle »st violent ned annu- form parts t be maiu- \garcl to the jf Central 12. UcT. Ive extract, loiy of the Earth's formation, namely, that no central fire exists; which is stated at full in our elucidation of that theory in this £dmon. It is perfectly evident, that if the heat of the earth did increase down to its centre, in the same ratio as it is stated to do in the Artesian wells, and in other experiments on the subject, that an ocean of liquid (ire must be produced, of near 8,000 miles in depth ; it is equally evident that heat or caloric incessantly tends to diffuse itself into all surrounding bodies ; therefore, the enormous heat of this internal ocean of fire would be sufficient to melt down the hardest rocks composing the crust of the earth, with nearly equal ease and certainty as the ice would be melted, in the above statement of Mr. Lyal's. The idea, then, of this central ocean of fire is preposterous, as, in that case, the crust of the earth would long ago have ceased to exist. As to the cause of the existing internal heats and fires of the crust of the Earth, we have explained our ideas thereon in this edition, conceiving these causes to be the last depositions of combustible matter from the oceanic waters of Genesis, and that this combustible mattei being still in ignition, thereby produces the earthquakes and vol- canic actioii of the present times. In our fourth edition, I gave extracts from M. Arago, on Comets, and from Lardner's Lectures, showing that experi- ments on Light, made at the Paris Observatory, had proved that the atmosphere of the sun was an "ocean of flame." I have, since that edition was published, met with a "Life of Arago," and find that this great astronomer, after making subsequent experiments on light, has been led to ann<'unce his entire concurrence in our theory of the gaseous nature of the sun through its entire diameter; aud this opinion is of the more importance from the consideration, that he probably would not venture to propound it, had he not full and suf- ficient scientific grounds for so doing. I now beg leave to congratulate many of my readers who have, since the publication of the first edition, in 1836, given ! tne their approbation of the same : I congratulate them, that their judgment has been sanctioned by the high authorities stated in the third and fourth editions, and in the present, as will appear by the following eictract from a work called "A Sketch of Conspicuous Characters living in France,'* published in Philadelphia, and translated from the French : " Life of M. Araoc— Subjecting thus to the action of " the Tourmaline (a precious stone) the rays from the '^ Heavenly bodies, M. Arago was led, by induction, to con- " elude, * That the sun is kothing but a grand mass (( OF GAS AGGIiOMEBATEO IN SPACE. I now humbly beg leave to make a few concluding obser- vations on the very important confirmation which our theorv of the Sun's formation, as first stated in the first edition of this work, printed at Toronto in 1836, has received from the late discoveries on light. "V I founded that theory on the indisputable chemical fact of the elementary composition of water by the combustion of its constituent gases; and I was led to apply the evolu- tion of the stupendous quantity of Light and Heat which must have ensued from the combustion of the oxygen and hydrogen gases (required for the formation of the ocean of Genesis) to the formation of our Sun; and the supply of the waste of its light and heat by currents of these gases drawn into the Sun from the regions of infinite space. Nine years have now elapsed since the first publication of this theory. The sale of near 2,000 copies of the work proves that it has been approved of in Canada ; but it was, during a great part of that time, uncertain whether it would receive the concurrence of men of acknowledged science in Europe ; and I am, therefore, the more satisfied now, that it has done so. When we reflect on the immense distance from the Sun of some of the Planets of our system, (Herschell being 1,800 milliuns of miles off) we cannot suppose that a body in a state of combustion of less dimensions than our Sun, nearly Fori ^ hein, that lUthoritics ke present, rork called I France," le French : le action of g from the ion, to con- iVikW MASS uding obser- ih our theor V rst edition of received from chemical fact ;e combustion ply the evolu- id Heat which ,e oxygen and the ocean of the supply of ,f these gases I space. ,.st publication les of the work a; but it was, lether it would iged science in Ued now, that Lm the Sun of fcU being 1,800 [at a body in a our Sun, nearly 800,000 miles in diameter, would be sufficient to light and heat them. r: With respect to the tnode by which the light and heat of the Sun is conveyed to the Planets, there appears to be two theories; the one is that of Sir Isaac Newton, that they come in right lines from the Sun ; the other, that they act, by means of undulations, on an ethereal fluid. I embrace the Newtonian theory decidedly, and for this plain and sim- ple reason, that we have the direct evidence of our sight that it is the true one. A person observing the rays when the Sun is setting behind trees, will 8ee those rays reaching from the Sun all the way to the Earth in direct right lines. When we conxider the vast distance of the Sun from our Earth — 95,000,000 of miles, and the incessant tendency of all caloric to find an equilibrium, by diffusing Itself into surrounding space, we may conceive that a certain portion of the caloric of the Sun's rays may be thus lost in its pas- sage to the Planets; I therefore have, on reflection, been led to conceive that the particles of heat and light in the rays are, somehow, chemically combined, in their passage from the Sun to our atmosphere, to prevent this dispersion of their heat, and that, particularly in the lower parts thereof, where aqueous vapour most prevails, a decomposition of the light and heat takes place, and they are then set free to act, by which the cause of great degrees of cold in the higher re- gions will be accounted for, the decomposition and action of the rays not fully taking place until they have passed through those regions, and reached the more dense and aqueous parts below them. 't ;;*?..;;: . . •!?: / I now conclude with one observation on that part of our theory of the Sun relating to the supply of the waste of his heat and light. As the entire body of the Sun is, by the above authorities, considered gaseous, it follows indispensa- bly, that some mode of supplying its waste of combustion must be resorted to by nature ; and we therefore conceive our theory of the mode of supply receives greater confirmation.* * For this mode of supply, vid€ ** Tbcory of the Sun'i Formation." EXTRA MATTER FOR THE SIXTH EDITION. y?:- Since the publication of the fifth edition of this work, it appears that Lord Rosse, by the high magnifying power of his six foot in diameter telescope, (being the largest ever constructed), has made a most important discovery concern- ing the nebular hypothesis of the Astronomer, Laplace.— Before stating this discovery, I here give an account of these nebulae from Arago and Lardner's Astronomy, in 1845, page 24, under the head of "Fixed Stars" : — "One of these nebular beds is so rich, that in passing through a section of it, only in the time of thirty-six minutes, {I detected no less than thirty-one nebulae, all distinctly visi- ble upon a flne blue sky. Their situation and shape, as well as condition, seems to denote the greatest variety imaginable. In another stratum, or perhaps a different branch of the former, I have seen double and treble nebulae, variously arranged ; large ones with small, seeming attendants; narrow, but much extended ; lucid nebulae, or bright dashes ; some of the shape of a fan, resembling an electric brush, issuing from a lucid point; others of the cometic shape, with a seem- ing nucleus in the centre; or like cloudy stars Surrounded with an atmosphere; a different sort agnin contain a nebulo- sity of the milky kind, like that wonderful inexplicable phe- nomenon about d Orionis ; while others shine with a fainter mottled kind of light, which denotes their being resolvable into stars." i • .; . i. »\ ;,^. .r« Mr. Mullinger Higgins also gives an account of the nebulae, in his treatise on the " Physical Condition, &c. of the Earth," 1840:— "Nebulae exhibit a variety of appearances, sometimes pre- senting themselves as globular clusters of stars, and some- times as diffused nebulosity. Many are, no doubt, stars at so enormous a distance from us that they can only be dis- tinguished by the doubtful light they throw around them.— • Others have been supposed to consist of phosphorescent ^^r^:^ ZUI TION. '«.'t; lis work, it g power of argest ever , ry concern- Laplace.— iint of these 1845, page in passing six minutes, jtinctly visi- tiape, as well r imnginable. inch of the £e, variously ints; narrow, ishes; some •ush, issuing with a seem- 1 surrounded lin a nebulo- ilicable phe- ith a fainter ig resolvable the nebula, If the Earth," aetimes pre- p, andsome- lubt, stars at lonly be dis- ind them.— losphorescent matter, which either extends itself over the heavens, or it condensed around some star or dense matter. Sir William Hersehel has delineated a very beautiful nebulous appearance in Orion, which he observed with his large telescope.-^ Huygens, speaking of the same nebulosity, says, 'that its " appearance had the same effect upon an observer as that which might be supposed to proceed from raising a curtain that hid from the observer an ocean of light, the waves of which were irregularly illuminated.' " To the question, what is the ultimate designation of these nebulae, we can only answer by conjectures. Sir William Hersehel thought he could trace a regular series of changes from a simple distribution of nebulous matter to that of a nebulous star, and some astronomers believe that a conden* sation of this matter is constantly going on, and that new worlds are daily in the process of formation. This is a splen- did idea, and if the mind could at all adequately grasp it, would give an overwhelming conception of omnipotent skill ; but there are some who have no higher ambition than to ex- clude God from His works, and to invest with His dignity and ' sovereignty that indefinable thing they are pleased to designate chance. It is not to be doubted that the great mind of La- place was tainted with this unaccountable and unphilosopbi- cal desire; but, however tins might be, he has availed himself of the discoveries that were made by Sir William Hersehel for the invention of an hypothesis by which to account for the formation of the planets, and the sun itself, from a nebu- lous luminosity, which he is pleased to designate the primitive cause.'* In the London Olobe the following article appeared:— ** Dr. Nichol, who has been lecturing in Edinburgh, under the auspices of the Philosophical Association of that city, atated to the audience the result of Rosse's recent observa- ' tions on the nebula of Orion. * He had,' he said, * received a letter from Lord Rosse, dated so lately as the 1 9th of March, 1 846, in which he said he had obtained so favourable a view at to be enabled to retolve the whole of one part of XIT I !i I I! Orion into separate stars ; and that he had no doubt, from there being only one-third of the magnifying power of the telescope employed, that in favourable states of the atmos* phere the whole would be resolvable. This, then, completely cuts away the ground from under the nebular hypothesis, and leaves Laplace's very ingenious deductions among the many cosmogonies with which the world has been amused. There was a new subject of wonder, however, opened on the human mind, overwhelming it with the boundless riches of the bene- ficent Creator. Orion, from its immense bulk and the im- measurable distance it is thrown back into the regions of space, must be composed of a greater number of stars than those of our visible Armament, so that here was another uni- verse, as it were, discovered to the human race. What had formerly the appearance of gold dust sprinkled in the sky was now distinctly seen to be separate stars, but firmly com> pressed together, giving out a great effulgence of light, and not in the spare manner they appear in our system/ '* Dr. Nichol is Professor of Astronomy in Glasgow, of high character, and though he had published a work on the nebulae, it appears he has now abandoned the nebular hypothesis. The next extract is from another paper : — " We gather a few interesting particulars, concerning the power of this great telescope, from a lecture recently delivered in Dublin, by Dr. Scoresby. By means of this instrument. Lord Rosse has discovered that the four stars, called the trapezium in Orion, are six stars. But the extraordinary powers of the instrument were best exhibited when turned upon the nebulae, of which Sir John Herschel and his father examined and catalogued about two thousand. Of these a great many have been found resolvable into stars ; nut there were still a great mat)y of these nebulae that no telescope could resolve into any thing except misty specks ; whence astronomers, anxious to find support for the nebular hypo- thesis, had hastily concluded that they were absolute nebulae as yet uncondensed into stars. About the close of last year, the Earl of Rosse succeeded in getting his great telescope IL XT tubt, from ver of the ^he atmos- :oinpletely thesis, and the manj^ d. There the human ' the bene- nd the im- regions of stars than mother uni- What had in the sky irmly com* [ light, and pw, of high the nebulae, othesis. .„ erning the delivered tistrument, called the traordinary len turned his father Of these a but there telescope ; ¥rhence ular hypo- ute nebulae f last year, t telescope V into complete operation, and, during the first month of his observations, on jifty of these uoresolvable nebulae he suc> ceeded in ascertaining that forty'three of them were already resolvable into masses of stars. Thus is confirmed the opinion, that we have only to increase the power of the in- strument, to resolve all the nebulae into stars, and the grand nebulae hypothesis of Laplace into a splendid astronomical dream. The telescope of the Earl of Rosse has also enabled him to make some discoveries in the moon, which we may notice hereafter." *.-* Thus it appears that this nebulase hypothesis, by which it has been attempted to shew the world how the earth and planets had been formed, is now disproved ; and I cannot but consider that a great obstacle to the more general recep- tion of my system of the Creation is removed. Its theory h founded on the Scriptural history of the formation of our eaith in the waters of Genesis, and on the idea that the Deity has established laws in our system, which, when investigated by due scientific research, are competent to account for all the phenomena of our earth's formation ; and as our attempt to give the time required by Geology for the formation of the crusf of our earth and our theory of the sun, have been sanctioned by the high authorities stated in the work, we consider it will not be presumptuous to carry out the system to a greater extent, more especially as we trust, by natural results from this system, to be enabled to shew, (that as what has been called nebulous matter yet exists in very distant regions of infinite space) : we trust to be able to shew what the design of thoee nebulae is, and also what are the real purposes of the comets in the vast scale of Creation.— And I consider it will be fortunate if, starting from known and established facts in Scripture and in the sciences, and advancing into the yet unknown and profound regions of the formation of the systems, we may, by a just combination of these facts and data, be enabled to establish a theory which will receive the assent of science, in opposition to the absurd doctrines of chance formation. We now proceed to shew % xri why we consider that nebulae may yet exist in distant regions of space, and what the purposes of these nebul« are, as indicated by natural results of our theory of supplying the sun's waste in combustion. If the sanction given to our theory of the sun by the great Astronomer, Arago, be sustained, it will of necessity result, that immense quantities of the combustible gases must be supplied to restore bis waste. And here may, perhaps, be the proper place to notice a few theories of the sun which have been presented to the world. The great Newton always maintained that the sun was a body of jire; but the science of gaseous bodies being then unknown, he did not, nor could not, explain of what that fire consisted; but it is very remarkable, that this opinion of the immortal philosopher ilow bids fair to be confirmed by the recent discoveries of the French Astronomers on the polarization of light. The next noticeable theory of the sun is that of the late Sir Wm. Herschel, who conceived that " the appearance of the spots in the sun was explained by ruptures occurring in the sun's atmosphere, and exposing the solid globe of the sun to view." Now the reader, on referring to what Mr. Arago says, in page I of the Appendix, No. II, to this work, will find that of these spots on the sun it has been proved that they might occur in a gaseous medium; this result, he says, has been established incontestibly ; and this agrees exactly with our theory, that the spots are occasioned by the dense volumes of aqueous vapour which must be produced by the vast combustion of the oxygen and hydrogen gases for the supply of the sun's waste. Sir John Herschel states, in his late treatise on Astronomy, that, by the law by which heat is governed, namely, that it diminishes according to the square of the distance, ''that there must be an enormous degree of heat in the sun." Sir Isaac Newton states, that this heat must be ^' many thousand times greater than red hot iron." How, then, is it possible to suppose that any solid or liquid body could exist with this enormous degree of heat on its surface ? Dense clouds and winds, in our own ZfU iDt regions Ik are, as plying the y the great 8»ty result, 8 must be terhaps, be BUD which ton always the science , nor could it is very )bilo8opher eries of the of the late )earance of ccuriing in i of the sun At. Arago work, will roved that he says, 368 exactly the dense ed by the }es for the Ues, in his lich heat ng to the enormous ates, that than red that any degree of I our own atmosphere, do certainly intercept some degree of heat from the sun, it being ninety* five millions of miles away; but what would be the effect if the sun were close upon us? I do not believe that any power of either reflection or refraction could then save the earth from instant combustion ; and the san»« must be the case with any solid matter in the sun. Again, I have lately learnt that a theory of the sun has been proposed, on the idea that his heat and light are pro- duced by electricity. It is thus supposed that all difficulties as to the great cause of the light and heat of the sun will b« at once removed by the single terra "electricity," and that the inquiring mind of man may now rest quiet on the subject; much in the same way that Atheistical writers formerly sup* posed they had cleared away all their difficulties, by referring them to chance formation. Electricity has, till very lately, been looked upon as so mysterious and occult a science, that the cause of it had almost been thought unfathomable, and those who have now sported the idea, that the sun is merely a great galvanic machine, probably believe they have found the "ne plus ultra'* of causation. That profoundly ingenious Chemist, Liebeg, has now, however, pretty clearly shewn that electricity is equally subject to, if not produced by, chemical action, as any other body. Without the previous action of aqueous, acid, or saline substance, on the metals employed, 110 electricity is evolved by galvanism. Before, therefore, we can refer to electricity as the cause of the light and heat of the sun, we have first to find whence is produced the indis- pensible "materiel" of this electricity. By the idea of the above writers, of the Sun's being a galvanic machine, we should have to imagine that plates of solid zinc and copper exist in it. Now as we have shewn in the fourth and fifth editions of our System of Creation, that first-rate Astronomer, Arago, has proved to "mathemati- cal demonstration," that the Sun's atmosphere is an "ocean of flame"; and by subsequent induction from later experi- ments on light, he has concluded that the entire mass of the Sun is a body of gas in a state of combustion. In this st«- • •• - ZVllI pendous heat, then, do solid body could exist. But what ' appears to me almost an unanswerable refutation of the above idea is, that the light and heat as it comes to us from the Sun, is of a totallv different nature from the electric fluid. The rays of light and heat from the Sun produce the most genial and vivifying effects on all nature. It has been proved by experiment that a ray of light has no im» -pulsive power whatever. " It has been aslced, whether the rays of light — whose velocity is enormous, since, as we shall show, it exceeds 70,000 leagues in a second — have any appreciable impulsive force : but the most delicate experiments have detected nothing of the kind." — Arago and Lardners Astronomy. - , On the contrary, electric shocks, even from our atmos- phere, generally prove destructive where the fluid strikes.— Would not therefore electric shocks from so vast a galvanic noachine as must be supposed by the above idea to exist in the Sun, possibly have the effect of rending the Earth and Planets in sunder? Our distance from the Sun can be no argument against this, for distance appears to have no effect whatever on electricity. In short, the actual effects of the light and heat of the Sun, on coming to our earth, are so opposite to those of the electric fluid, that I cauuot but con- sider the above idea as totally untenable. Now our theory of the mode by which the waste. of the Sun's light and heat is restored, gives the source from which the "materiel" of the Sun's combustion is supplied, namely, (according to the theory we have preferred in the present edi- tion), by means of the comets.* * I have to state, that having reconsidered that part of our theory relating to the means of supplying the waste of the sun's fire, (as in the former editions), by currents of the combustible gases rushing through the regions of space, I have come to the conclusion, that as these gases must then probably pass through the atmospheres of the planets by which they migh; chance to be inflamed, I have, therefore, in the pre- sent edition, corrected that part of our theory, and adopted, instead, that of the gases being supplied by means of the comets, whereby, as XIS But what ion of the to us from lie electric in produce e. It has las no im- ht — whose it exceeds t impulsive 3 detected ronomy. 3ur atrnos- l strikes.— a galvanic , to exist in Earth and I can be no re no effect tcts of the th, are so ot but con- ste.of the rom which id, namely, resent edi- f our theory ei (as in the ing through these gases planets by in the pre" ted, instead, whereby, as The idea I have formed of electricity is, that it consists of heat and liglit combined together in some unknown and unique manner, and that the energy and violence of its effects is occasioned by the mutual expansive efforts of the light and heat to disengnge themselves, and I am therefore inclined to believe that in the portion of electric fluid exist- ing in the combustible body, these efforts arc assisted by the decomposition of the oxygen gas ; that the fluid is decom- posed, and the light and heat of this electric matter is evolved, and then forms a part of the combustion. So far only, I believe that electricity may be concerned in the Sun's combustion.* The other theory I notice is one called "Vestiges of the Creation," very lately published in England. The original source of the production of the heavenly bodies, of this work, appears to be much of the same description as that of the Primitive World, by the Abbe de Sales, except that the author of the "Vestiges of Creation" calls his origin " a Are mz«/,'* instead of central Are. But from what cause or source he gets this Jire-mist from which the Sun and Planets, as he says, originated, he does not inform us. Neither does he nor the former writer explain how the solid bodies of the ea?th and planets could be produced from Are alone^ although this would be a very puzzling discovery for his readers to make. Having now finished our observations on these various comets have never been known to come near those atmospheres, no danger is to be apprehended, and I have the more willingly adopted this alteration, that I am therein sanctioned by the authority of the great Sir Isaac Newton. * I have to add, that by the present theory of combustion, even if the sun were a solid body, producing heat and light by volcanic action, still that heat and light must be ultimately derived from gaseous matter. The wood and coal of our terrestrial fires produce the heat and light by absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere, and thus setting free the heat and light that retained that oxygen in the gaseous state, and thereby we learn that gaseous matter is actually the great souree of combustion even in our planet. "' f ; - • . . I « ^ ir theories, we return to our previous proposal of shewing what we conceive the purposes of the nebulae may be, as indicated by the natural results of our theory, for supplying the waste of the 8un*s fire. In the thiid edition of this work, on the subject of Sir David Brewster's discovery of the existence of gaseous matter in the sun*s atmosphere, as related by Dr. Graham's Elements of Chemistry, the Doctor adds, "We may thus, hereafter, be enabled to explain how the light and heat of the suns of other systems have been formed and maintained." Sir Isaac Newton considered that there must be an enormous waste in the sun, from his unceasing emana- tions of light and heat, and he conjectured that this waste was restored by the means of the comets. " By far the greater number of comets," says Dr. Lardner, "appear to be iiere masses of vapour, totally divested of all concrete or solid matter." About seven millions of comets are computed by Lardner and Arago to be contained in our solar system.* What, then, can be the purpose of such a vast number of cometary bodies? Thcy,3L\, least, cannot be habitable; they are aeriform, — stars have been seen through their central ncuclei, — and we can conceive no idea more probable than that they are designed to distribute their aeriform matter into the atmospheres of the suns, for the purpose of restoring the waste of tlieir combustion; and on this we shall shortly state our theory. lint having had the question put to me, how the attraction of the planets by tlie sun could be accounted for, if he were only a body of gas in combustion; I here reply to this im* portaiit question as follows : — In note 6, second edition, I have shewn, from Good's Book of Nature, that Sir Isaac Newton himself did not consider gravity to be an essential property of matter; but that he considered it might be ex- plained by means of "an elastic gaseous medium, by which * Sir John Ilcrgchcl, in treating on the Zodiacal Light, (See Index for Sixth Edition of System of Creation), says, the actual materiola of the tails of millions of comets, of which they have been stripped in their successive perihelion passages, may be slowl/ subsiding into the bud. ■ ■^'rS, ing what ndicated he waste k, on the Btence of i by Dr. ds, "We light and med and lere must g emana- his waste y far the lear to be ncrete or computed r system.* number of able; they L-ir central )able than rni matter f restoring all shortly attraction f he were o this im • edition, I Sir Isaac n essential ^ht be ex- by which , (See Index materiali of )ped in their the Bun. XXI means the celestial bodies are forced towards each other by the excess of an elastic pressure." Mr. Good also agrees that it is possible to account for the effects of gravitation by an ethereal medium thus constituted. So does Sir PJchard Philips in his theory of the Heavenly Bodies. That there is such a gaseous medium existing in space, is proved to the satisfaction of most Astronomers. In note 17, first edition, from WhewelFs Bridgewatcr Treatise, it is said, "But the facts that hava led Astronomers to the con- viction that such a resisting medium leally exists, are certain circumstances occurring in the motion of a body revolving round the sun, which is now usually called Encke's Comet." All the operations of nature we know of are produced by physical laws. Gravitation is the most energetic and uni- versal of all the operations of nature, therefore there is the more reason for believing that it is brought about by the same mode which we find employed by the Creator in all the operations that are going on under our eyes, namely, by those physical laws. And in addition to the strong arguments employed by Newton himself, (which will be seen in note 6, second edition, containing his explanation of gravitation by means of the elastic gaseous medium), I have to st:;. °, that it is known that electricity pervades almost all nature. Our atmosphere, our earth, and all water, especially when in a vaporized state, are charged with the electric fluid. Our earth is pervaded by magnetic and electric currents; and what I wish now to state, therefore, in addition to Sir Isaac Newton's arguments on the ethereal gaseous medium, is, that I conceive that medium is also pervaded and excited to mo< tion by the electric fluid. I believe that this electric fluid is a most potent agent of nature, by which she keeps the ethereal gaseous medium in a constant state of motion and activity, for producing the force which carries the planetary bodies in their courses round the sun ; and I believe this is the very purpose for which this ethereal electric medium exists in space. As above shewn, it appears that the great Sir Isaac himself thought this ethereal gaseous medium was r, ,i J !■ zxu l!1' sufficient to account for gravitation, and I now humbly beg leave to add my belief, that, with the aid of the vast powers known to be possessed by the electric fluid, there can be no doubt of these united forces being competent to produce the effect of the gravitation of the heavenly bodies round the sun. In corroboration of this physical cause of gravitation, I am happy to be enabled to give the following short extract from the celebrated author of " Cosmos,'* Baron Von Humboldt. In Vol. 1, page 137, he says, on the subject of the revolu- tions of the double stars, *' But whether the attracting forces depend solely on the quantity of matter in these systems as in ours, or whether there may not co-exist with gravitation other specific forces, which do not act according to mass, is, as Bessel has been the first to shew, a question of which the solution is reserved for later ages." Now I have shewn above, that Sir Isaac Newton did not leave the world without giving it his opinion how the great*^ principle of gravity, discovered by him, was produced and carried on, and as the electric fluid is found to pervade all nature, we cannot suppose that the ethereal gaseous medium is void of it; repulsion and attraction are the great attributes of electricity. I, therefore, humbly offer these considerations to men of science, on the forces by whose influence the planets are carried round the sun, considering it, as Arago says, to be a vast mass of gaseous matter in a state of com- bustion. If, therefore, our theory of the sun be substantiated, (as indeed it has already in part, by the induction formed by Mr. Arago, that the sun is nothing but a grand mass of gas agglo- merated in space), it necessarily follows that the waste of this combustion must be supplied by currents of gaseous matter, and the peculiar attraction of the sun will have to be reduced to the degree of that power which his weight, as a body of gas, will give him. The remaining quantity of attraction or pressure required to carry the earth and planets round the sun, will arise from the elastic gaseous medium existing in space and acted upon by electric forces. Proceed we now the wast bustible continu( hiiles, m though, enabled of the oi reasonin yet how lable qu for the d mers stai I have may be e in the di short of restoring in the su conceivec in the co the nebul be elaboi tion of th The p their unif place whc mation of conceded, stars or si might be ter might of the eai fore com< must be e in which mentary d xxm imbly beg mi powers can be no oduce the d the BUD. tion, I am tract from [lumboldt. he revolu- ting forces Items as in gravitation :o mass, is, which the ton did not f the great"^ tduced and pervade all us medium t attributes isideiations luence the , as Arago ite of com- itiated, (as ned by Mr. gas agglo- le waste of of gaseous have to be eight, as a [uantity of ind planets iS medium Proceed we DOW in support of our theory. By it we conceive that the waste of the sun's fire must be replaced by gaseous com- bustible matter. Tiie vast quantity of this matter for the continual supply of our sun, whose diameter is nigh 800,000 hiiles, may indeed be conceived, and perhaps calculated ; but though, as Dr. Graham says above, " we may henceforth be enabled to explain how the light and heat of the suns or stars of the other systems is formed and maintained," and which, reasoning by analogy with our own sun, we certainly may do, yet how are we to contemplate the stupendous and incalcu- lable quantity of gaseous matter which would be required fur the due supply of the millions of suns which the astrono- mers state to exist in the universe ? I have therefore conceived and adopted the idea that there may be elahoratories of these gasses appointed by the Creator in the distant regions of space ; for, believing that nothing short of a direct act of creation would be adequate for restoring the stupendous quantities of gaseous matter wanted in the supply of all the suns of the universe, I have therefore conceived that, although Lord Rosse has resolved the nebulae in the constellation Orion into stars, still some or many of the nebulee discovered in other regions of space may actually be elahoratories established by the Deity for the forma* tion of this gaseous matter. The positive fact of the tails of comets being gast^ous, their uniform courses round the sun, the changes which take place when they leave him, all appear to me a great confir- mation of the sun's gaseous nature, and if this be ultimately conceded, we have every right to conclude that the other stars or suns 1,1 the univctse are gaseous also, and though it inight be conceived that ;. sufficient quantity of gaseous mat- ter might be found in a space that is infinite, still the saffsty of the earth and planets precludes that idea. I have there- . fore come to the conclusion, as is stated above, that ther« must be elahoratories for the formation of the gases required, in which elaboratory a constant act of creation of the ele- mentary matter of those gases would be indispeDsable, to 4 li XXIT h supply the uncensiiig and itupendoas waste. If, therefore, our theory of the sun coDtinues to be substantiated, (and, as will be shortly shewn, the planet lately discovered offers a strong confirmation of it), and as nothing short of a direct act of creation could produce a supply of gaseous matter for all the suns of the universe, we must refer to such an act of creation for that supply, and we trust we shHll indeed thereby lead our readers "through Nature's works up to Nature's God.** We believe we shall have found a more clear end posi- tive proof of the reality of an existing and actuully present creation of matter, than has yet been offered to tnankind. Another reason why I am led to believe that there arc various elaboratories established by the Creator for the for- mation of the gases is, that it is indispensable to suppose, that as there may be various gases required, both for replenishing the waste of the atmospheres of the planets and also oxygen and hydrogen for tlie waste of the suns of the various systems, these gases must therefore be formed and collected in sepa- rate repositories, to be afterwards taken up by various comets, and carried by them to their intended destination, by laws established by the Creator for their direction in their courses, consistent with the safety of the planetary bodies, as we shall shew shortly. Having now stated our conception how alone an inexhaustible source of supply of the combustible gases, can be obtained, we sliall extract from Arago and Lardner's Astronomy, and from lliggins oil the Earth, some account of the Comets, as far as they relate to their physical constitu- tion and laws of their motion. MuUinger Higgins says, in page 54 of his Physical Con- dition of the Earth, that '* Newton discovered that comets are bodies moving in fixed orbits round the sun. As soon as this philosopher had discovered the laws of universal gra- vitation, he applied them to the determination of the motion of comets ; for having proved that, according to the condi- tions of that force, a body might describe any conic section about the sun, he conceived that comets, in their apparently hregular motions, might be governed by that principle. Tha of itti tmi 80 grea atwrat the CM Were p iKastrifl that th( netafry 1 thoi^ oi paths.*' have bei that the greatest million 1 of 1680 In Ai bodies u and une verse, course directed the same sun all ir against t in anoth( of Newtc 'thealira conclude decline u and that opinion latest ho( the greaf vapour, t< prevalent ^' m herefore, (and, as I offers a ' a direct natter for an act of i thereby Nature's end posi- ly present lankind. there are )r the for- >pose, that plenishing Iso oxygen IS systems, i in sepa- |us comets, by laws ir courses, 19 we shall how alone ible gases. Lnrdner's account of constitu- sical Con- lat comets As soon vcrsal gra- he motion the condi* Qic section apparently pie. The ctttttet 6fieA0,irlnch «ti)M^hed xWvtii to within ooe-tix^b of itt diitniefier^ ^niftbled him to tcit tlirtniUi 6t Kff conjec- tAVe $ attd he pirbved that it nioied iii so tttvpi\tA cirhit of BO great eccentricity that it coiilllinot he ^ttuiguisfaecl.frdm a parabola, having the sun ai one/ df its foci; afid that, aa in the cftse of the planets, the areas described Aboilt the sun Wefe proportionij to the times ; a law discovered by the itfastrioQS Kepler. From this calctllatioO it became evident that the comets were governed by the same laws as th6 pla- netary bodies, and that the orbits of the former differed from thof^ of (he latter in the great elongation of their elliptical paths.** And in page 56, he says, " The calculations that Lave been made to determine the dimensions of comets prove that they are by far the largest bodies in our system. The greatest length of that which appeared in 1 759 was sixteen million leagues; that of 181 1, thirty-six million; while that of 1680 was not less than forty-rtie million leagues." In Arago and Lardner's Astronomy, it is said, "Th^ib^ bodies usually are observed to rush into our systems suddenly and unexpectedly from some particular quarter of the uni-^ verse. They first follow in a straight line, or nearly so, i\i4\ course by which they entered, and this course is commonly directed to some point not far removed from the sun." In the same work it is also said, " The planets move round the sun all in one direction. Comets, on the other hand, reliel against this law, and move, some in one direction and some in another." Again, it is said, in page 66, same work, "One of Newton's conjectures respecting comets was, that they are ' the aliment by which suns are sustained ;' and he therefore concluded, that these bodies were in a state of progressive^ decline upon the suns, round which they respectively swept ^ and that into these suns they from time to time fell. This opinion appears to have been cherished by Newton to the latest hours of his life." And in psge 67 it is said, "By far the greater number of comets appear to be mere masses of vapour, totally divested of all concrete or solid matter. So prevalent is this character, that some observers hold it to be c ii (I .'!l inLrerMl. SeneeA mentioiis the fret of ttara baviiig bees distinctly teciD through conetf. A ttar of the uzthaagni* tude WM seep through the centre of the head of the eomet of 1795, by Sir William Hei«cheI.*V It &i seen, then, by theae extracts, that comets more under fixed lawu ; that their course u towards and round the sun ; that in general they consist merely of gaseous matter ; thai the opinion of that first of Astronomers, Sir Isaac Newton, was, that "they are the aliment by which suns are sustained.** Comets have been a fertile source of amazement and terror to mankind for numerous ages previous V our times. No longer ago, indeed, than the year 1833, an Astronomer having cal- culated that the comet of that year would strike the earth sfNnewhere, many of the people of Paris became so alarmed, that the French Government directed Mr. Arago to investi- gate the circumstance. It is remarkable that, except Sir Isaac Newton*s opinion, that the comets were employed in supporting the waste of the sun*s fire. Astronomers have not, that I have learnt, made any further researches on this point. Now, as we consider by our theory, that the sun is a body of gaseous matter in com- bustion, for the purpose of heating and lighting the earth and planets, and as it is indispensable that the waste of this com- bustion must be restored, we therefore conceive this to be the very purpose of the numerous comets of our system, and of those of others. We conceive that the various combustible and other gases required to restore the waste of the atmos- pheres of the planets, and also the waste of the suns of the universe, — we conceive, I say, that these various gases are taken up by the power of attraction by the comets, from the elaboratories of these gasses in the nebulae, (as we have stated in our theory of these elaboratories), and that these comets then, directed by the unerring laws of their courses, disttibute these gases to our sun and to the various suns of other systems, thereby restoring the waste of their heat and light. Now, it is a known fact in Pneumatic Chemistry, that neither the oxygen nor hydrogen gases are combustible,/)«»' «r. Bg b«tB nagni* f tomet re under the tun ; sr; that Newton, Btained.** terror to lo longer ^ving cal- the earth alarmed, iavesti- B opinion^ iste of the Imade any isider by r in com- earth and this com> to be the m, and of inbustible le atmoB- ns of the I gases are from the we have Lhat these Ir courses, lis suns of heat and |islry,tbat iUyper if, kXTii that it, by themtelvet alone: before combustion can eniue, theae gates mutt be mixed in certain proportiont. In order, therefore, to enture the tafety of the planetary bodiet, we mutt conceive these two combuttible gates to be taken up from teparate nebulae, some comett being charged with oxygen and others with hydrogen gas, the only two primary combut- tible gates. By this separation neither of them can be ig- nited, as they may pass the orbits of the planets at the nearest approach comets have been known to make to those orbits. The comets having then arrived near enough to our sun and to the suns of other systems, their gaseous tails are then attracted by the draft of the Bre of the suns and deposited in them, thereby restoring the waste of their combustion. We consider the extracts above given to be a powerful support of this theory of the comets, in which we trust to have shewn how they perform the vast purpose of restoring the waste of the suns ; and when we reflect on the stupendous quantities of the combustible gases required for it, we need DO longer be surprised at the millions of comets said by the Astronomers to be contained in the universe; neither, for th« tame reason, need we doubt that the Creator may hart established elaboratories in some part of the regions of space, for the replacing the enormous waste "^f the suns, either by certain laws, or by His own immediate agency. The above important purpose is not, however, the onljr one which we humbly conceive the comets are intended to perform. By the combustion of the oxygen and hydrogen gases for the supply of the suns of the ani verse, stupendous quantities of aqueous vapor muM be generated. Without the removal of these masses of vapor, the light and heat of the sun might be in part obstructed. We have therefore conceived that another great purpose of the comets is, to take up (by their power of attraction) and to transport these vast masses of vapor into various regions of infinite space, for their future condensation into oceanic waters, and in which, by the same processes by which our earth wat formed, io the ocean of Genetis, at shewn in tbit work, to in future ZXVIU ages new systeins of planets may be generated. And to place the probability of these operations in a inore promineivt point of view, I here subjoin a recapitulation of oar theory oi^ the probable design of some of the nebulae, and of the real purpose of that vast number of comets said by the astrono- mers to occupy the regions of space. 'tin this theory it is conceived that, by the supply of the cases to the suns of the systems, nature effects a twofold ob- ject, namely, the supply of the waste of the sun's fire and the reproduction of other planetary bodies by means of the masses of aqueous vapour produced by that combustion. "Nature," 6&yi the immortal Newton, "could not exist without motion," (action). And the eminent Goeth6 has in his works the same idea. We may therefore conclude that the reproductive powers of nature are ever in action. We have also reason to believe that the heavenly bodies now existing are not to last for ever. " The great globe itself," says our immortal Bard, "shall dissolve, and, like the baseless fabric of a vision, leave not a wreck behind." And, in fact, stars that have been formerly well known in the heavens have now disap- jpefered. The heavenly spaces, we are told by all astrono- mers, are infinite, therefore we have a right to suppose that the laws first established by the Deity are in continual ope- ration, both for replacing exhausted systems and augmenting His bounty and His glory. Thus we have conceived, as stated in our theory, that the stupendous masses of aqueous vapours, formed by the combustion of the gases for the supply of the waste of the suns, are carried off by the comets from those suns into the regions of space, for the purpose of being condensed into oceanic waters^ which, by the deposits of their vegetable and animal kingdoms, will form the solid parts of new planetary globes. Hence would arise the conversion of these gasses into the liquid and solid matter of those globca enduring many ages, and hence the necessary conclusion we haVe drawn in the theory, that a present and constant act of creation is required tQ supply the unceasing and enormous waste of those gasea, and h«nce we hate conceived the exis* And to trominenA IT theory )f the real ( astrono- ily of the refold ob- e and the he masses 'Nature," t motion," i the same )roductive Iso reason are not to ' immortal )f a vision, that have low disap- astrono- lose that iiiual ope- Qgmenting ceived, as aqueous the supply mets from te of being its of their parts of iversion of ose globca elusion we tant act of enormous i the e^8« nix . . . J V- - -7 tfoee of elabontoriM for tliic porpow in some of the nebabe of the dUtant rcfioni of space. Now, as all gaseous matter is indispenisably associated with caloric and light, which pro- bably forni part of their constitution, so it is highly probable these elaboratories would have the exact appearance in the regions of space wliich the nebulae are said to present to the telescope. As to the other purpose of the comets, namely, the sup- plying the waste of the sun's combustion, I have explained that at large in the theory thereof, and, as a confirmation of its necessity, I conclude with an extract from the celebrated Baron Von Humboldt's work, called " Cosmos," confirming Arago's discovery of the constitution of the sun, and to which discovery, as a Canadian born, and zealous for the honour of Canada, I now lay claim. It was published in the first edi- tion of my System of the Creation, in 1836, Toronto, C. W. In vol. 1, p. 37, above work, it is said — " When Huygliens first applied himself, in 1678, to the enigma of the pheno- mena of the polarization of light, exhibited in doubly re- fracting spar, and observed the difTerence between the two portions into which a beam of light divides itself in passing through such a crystal, it was not foreseen that through the admirable sagacity of a physical philosopher of the present day, the phenomena of chromatic polarization would lead us to discern, by means of a minute fragment of Iceland spar, whether the light of the sun proceeds from a solid newleus, or from a gaseous covering. '^ '.' The new planet just discovered affords a strong corrobora- tion also of our theory of the sun. This p'.anet is found to be 30,000 millions of miles from the sun.* Its diameter is nigii six times greater than our earth ; and on reflection on the highest degree of heat we receive from the sun, it seems impossible that a planet at such an enormous distance could be warmed and lighted unless the sun were in a state of combustion through its entire diameter. * Profeaser Olmatead styi this planet is 3,600 milliona of miles from oar eartli, which would give 3,695,000,000 of miles from the aun. C3 I ft', m IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I I 1.25 U£ Uii |2.2 m H4 us m 1.4 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRCCT WEBSTH.N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 ! In eoirob«ration of our tbe(^, of the punopei of tke conioti, I b^ extmet Me icbbdn^ frbte ;^h^ 4iil Li^> ii«i<'o Aitronomy, of ekiUget hi Hie i^>p^Mt«i^f knd htdk of tke taifii of certini«mneti Mid, in tbe *tk)?e^work, **Tht comet of 175!^ wet now observed in vafioiM placet. It eontibued to be leeh at Dresden, also at Leipsic, Boulogne, Bruuels, Liabon, Cadic, &c. Its course being obserred, it was found that it arrited at its penhelion, or at its nearest point to the sun, on the ISth of March, between three and four o'clock in thie morn- ing; exactly thirty-scTen days before the epoch first assigned by Clairaat, but only twenty-three days previous to' his cor- rected prediction. Tbe comet on this occasion appeared very round, with a brilliant nucleus, well distinguished from thf surrounding nebulosity. It had, however, no appearance of a tail. About the middle of the latter month, it became lost in the rays of the iun while approaching its perihelion ; it afterwards emerged firom them on its departure from the sun, and was visible before sunrise in the morning on the 1st of April. On this day it was observed by Messier, who states that he was able to distinguish the tail by his telescope. It was again observed by him on the 3rd, Iffth, and 17th of May. Lalande, however, who observed it on the same occa- sions, was not able to discover any trace of tbe tail." I have here to observe, that in the first account of this comet given in the above work, before it had arrived at its perihelion, or nearest distance from the sun, it is not said it bad no tail, therefore we conclude it had one; but, as appeart by the above extract, when it had arrived, on the 1 3th March, at its nearest distance, it had no tail. Now, it appears to me, our theory of the intended offices of comets will account for these facts. The comet, on arriving at the sun, deposited its gaseous matter or tail, therefore, as Lalande says, **he oould not discover any trace of a tail.** In page 64, of Arago and Lardner*8 Astronomy, it is said, **It had been observed, however, in the southern hemi- ^ihert at Pondiobeiry by Pere Coeur-Doux, mud at the isle .am 'sii' OTnn wium i*> < ■.".,v» .¥;'"*,*# -7 1 i^,J*r. #?•■*■* ** ■■iM .'.- If of the r 1)1^ (if e leeh at n, Cadic, it arritied (I, on the be norti* atsigned )' his cor- appeared ihed from >pearance it became irihelioD ; from the »n the Itt fho atatea :ope. It 1 irtbof me occa- It of tbia 'ed at its ot said it 8 appears h March, ipears to account eposited ys, «*he ^t is said, hemi- the isle ■n-. (»f BearbpB bjLa Caille, ander more favowsshle ciDeamslap* SM ; and' both of these astrdooihers i^ in etetlog' t&U^ft m^fM distinctly visible by the tukid ejre, a0dalice with the former eppearancee of th(Q%tate bO^T.** fhal, at this time, it had again acquired a long tdll, wmc!h> I conceive, can be well accounted for, by its havin|(, wtw^eg the two observations, attracted the mass of aqueous' Vkpbtir in the vicinity of the sun, which then formed its new appen- di^. ^^ Now it is plainly visible that our theory of this part of the purposes of comets will account naturally and with perfect ease for the increase of their tails, by the absorption by attraction of the aqueous vapours it found near the sun'i atmosphere, after having deposited therein the combustible gases they were previously charged with. We now conclude out extracts with one from Mr. Higgins'a work, to shew the vast length of the tails of comets:— *'Th« nature of comets, and the purposes they serve in the system to which they belong, are almost entirely unknown. No probable explanation has yet been given of the character of that train of luminous matter frequently appended to fhemi and very inappropriately termed the tail, since it frequently precedes the body itself. The tail is sometimes of very con- siderable length. Aristotle states that the tail of the comet that appeared in 371 A. C, occupied a third of the hemi- sphere, or 60^; that of 1580 is said to have covered an ex- tent of more than 70<^ ; and that of 1 6 18, 1 04°. But' a tail is not a necessary appendage to a comet, for some have been quite destitute, as were those of 1585 and 1763 ; but there are also some that have several tails; that of 1744 had no less than six, which, spreading out in the form of a fan, ex- tended over a space of nearly 30°. A very amall condensed spot has been observed in the heads of some comets, but thu ixed stars may be seen through the densest parts of many; and Arom the circumstance that none of them have exhibited nxii i Vj^)?^. 61^ ^ir«!**l1?'?^^ !?1l4y? ^ ey imaoaDtediy sbine by nllectea.li|nt, we ^T|(iiher that they fatve no plaim to be contidered m iou^ l^iet, but We in all probability the condition of thclighteat Vapour.** , • > Kbwian^in great hopes that should my theory of the purposes oif tbe comets reach Mr. Arago's eye, he will afpve, that as vast masses of vapour must be formed by the com- bu8tiop,of the gases, that these masses must be attracted by the comets, and the formation of their tails be the natural contoquence. The great author of the "Cosmos*' says, in page 10j6, Ist vol., "The little knowledge which we yet possess of the physical qualities of the comets, renders it difiBcult to separate \ the essential from the accidental in phenomena recurring at intervals, and whH,'h have been observed with more or less accuracy." And happy I should be, if our present theory of these bodies should, in the opinion of that profound phi- losopher, throw a new light on this important subject. ,, We have now to conclude this Sixth, and probably the last. Edition of our work. We hqmbly conceive we have, from natural results of our System of the Creation, shewn a high degree of probability of what may be the purpose of the nebulae and cometary bodies, to produce in the stupendous scale of the universe of the Almighty, either by laws estab- lished by Him, or by His immediate and unceasing agency ; and we have now only to present these efforts to the calm consideration of a candid and intelligent public, and more especiall}' to the enlightened niinda of scientidc men, being welt convinced that the greater their zeal for the advance- ment of science, and the greater their powers therein, the more favourably they will rec.eiM our humble attenipts to advance the study and the kno\v^dge of it. , ^|^ timm.:,. '- 'W^^mm' WmMi^'k ' .*^)&'-'^h«9« 'to aa^ijt -u'wm 'b^hm' . M ted.ltfiit,fe nred m wud rtbt lightest deory of the levUl Agree, by the com- be attracted B the Diktaral age 10!6, Ist ssess of the It to separate I recurring at more or less resent theory trofound phi- ubject. •ably the last, e have, from shewn a high rpose of the e stupendous y laws estab- sing agency ; I to the calm ic, and more c men, being the advance- therein, the attempts to r>:-n [ihw» fkX:tX SUBSCRIBERS TO OTE' SIXTH EDITION. •?.;•: ■',". ■ 'i.l. ; if) 1 :^l'-i^n-^^>. .tl ^. . •■•I ''f The Lord Bishop of Toronto i Hon. ChleiT JTustiee JKObiosoiv (^ j) Dr. Williamson; Wm. Ketcham; Russel Inglis; Wm. Atkinson } A. V. Brown; J. McDonald; Edwafd^Hipkins, Richmond Hill^ P. W. Barrpa, U.C.Coll.; Wm. W^son, Mont. Bank ;^ JR. Stanton; A. Murray; G. Michie; Dr^Boys; A. Mercer; E.W. TJiompson,; D. C. G. Clarke; T. H. Thprnson, A. CO; T. Baines; Rev. ip. Ryersou; Rev. R. Murray ; H.'J. Bodlton; J. B. Berry ; D.Bethunt ; G. M. Hawke; Dr. Crewe, Toronto^.; J. S. Howard; S. B. Harrison; H. N.Gwynne; John McQueen; John Foreman; Wm. Scholfield; John Roy; Rev. W; M. Harvard » Wm. Wakefield.; John Cameron, Com 1. Bank; JbhaG. Howard; W. Williamioo'; Rev. A. Green; Angus Dallas; A. B. Townley; W. Campbell; C. Gamble; G. Nanton; C. B. M^cara; W. B. Phipps; John Lander; J. G. Spragge ; G. Morphy ; Capt. L^roy ; J. McGlashan ; Miss C. Chisholm; J. R. Armstrong; John Ewart; A. Hunter; Mr. Justice Macaulay ; — — Corbett; Jas. Browne, Jr., Kingston ; Chas. March; Thos. Ewart; Ci S. Gzouskie ; B.Jackson; S. Wood; J. S. Booth; Dr. MoCaul; B. Sbae, Othawaj Mr. Hurdi Owen & do.; Yen. Archdeacon Stuart, Kingston} Jos. Spragge i Rev. Saltern Oivins; O. Wightman. Thos. Craig (5); J. Shanly, Jr. ; John Michie ; D. Smith ; John Wilson; Dr. A. Anderson; Jas. Stearns; Rev. B. Crttnyn ; Tkos^ Ohristie; J. Hamilton; John Scott; B. Harris; Thos. C. DikonV L. S. Pomroy ; Wm. Durand ; H. Murray i H. B. O'Conner; RefC E. Evans; J. B. Strathy ; H. J. Askin; John Dimond ) H. Uurwelli J. Norval ; W. Blainham ; H. D. Lee; Waterman ; J. Forsyth ; E. T. Eocleston; Dr. Going; Jas. Salmon; Peter Buchanan; John Cowley ; Chas. B, Brown ; Allen, Jr. ; W. B. Lee } J. Balkwell; Holcroft Clench; D. O. March; Riohd. Thompson; -— - Mathewson ; Dr. Shepherd; Peters; Jas. Brett; D« Matheson, Ingersoll ; Wm. Hook, Beaohville. WOODSTOCK* Benjamin Frank ; Wm. Belton; Judge McQueen ; L. Waller i Jas. Hay; W. Lapenitiere; W. L. Bartindale; Thos. Cameron ; Christ'r. Goodwin ; R. Graham, Com'r. R. N.; Robert Wilson ; Col. A. W. Light; Thos. Lowe; James Aboumet; Chas. Smith; Wm. Oiey ; H. P. Brown ; Jas. Canall ; Robert Deedes; T. QUveri Mr. Tturt^uand (8.) ttsif ft. fltrobridgei A. H. Stratford ; JoMph Bttet i Jm. Kwrbyi W. Johnston I Sluirp; Richard Lunbert; Henry Hydt; MiehMl Simmon) Wm. Ridhndtoat Mn. Sterent; Mn. Waten; P. D. Hart; H. Lemmoni W. Muirhcad ; J. Steele; E. EUiottf John H7. WUkina. AROASVBB. Oeofge Bloweon i Henry Partona ; R. Halsen 1 & Mnmy ; George Byrne; Jaeob Oabiel; A. Eeleaon; Bfatthew Ward; A. A« Tooni ; Jas. Loder; Thoe. Clane ; John Sjitherland. SVlfDAS. Wellington JefFert; R. Spence; J. Tenant, Paria; R. Diekie; T. Roberto; W. Gonbon; ilr. Rolph; J. Revel; B. Paulding; D. Calder; Geo. Colcleugh; James MieheU. « HAStlJLTOlf . Jon. Howden; A. W. Crooks; Jas. YoUit; J. Vankonghnet; D. C. Van Norman; D. McLellan; John Gardner; J. Runsay; Richard. P. Street; Geo. W. Barton; Alex. Stnart; T. Ijncott; J. B. Holden ; Donald Urqohart ; James Jackson; J. Piingle; Jas. Kirkpatrick; Richard Terry; G. W. Baker; J. Robinson; T« W. Tisdale; W. Biega; W. P. Gilbert; Arthnr Sherry; W. Fairelongh ; John Anttin; Rev. J. G. Geddes; R. W. Law; jBdward Lealan; Josias Bray; H. B. Wilson; Robert More; J. Bowen; W. J. Price ; H. H. Hills; E. Acreman ; W. Press; John A. Lane; Rev. Thos. Rattry; Sam. Meadows; T. S. Hill; W. H. Mills; W. Jones; — -Glen; J. McKellan; A. Ogihriet Hiram Cook ; J>» Harris. . . .9 it T M«X if M. Kerby; 117 Hydt} n.Waten; I. Mamj ; lew Ward; lerUnd. R. Diekie; Paulding; ikonghnet; F. Runaay; T. laooott; J. Pringle; , RobiniOB; br Sherry; IW.Law; l)ert More; W. PreM; T. S. Hill; i. Ogihriei • i . * ' '%"&■ VSii*'- ADDENDUM. The following extract from Anigo and Lardner'i Astro- nomyy having been unavoidably omitted in this work* and containing a great proof of that part of our theory of the purposes of the comets^ which relates to their taking up by attraction the masses of aqueous vapour formed by the com- bustion of the gaseS) for restoring the waste of the sun ; (vide page 27, of AppendiXy No. 11,) we now make the present Addendum. In A. and L.'s Astronomy, it is said : *' It will doabtlest excite mrpriie, that the dimsnriona of a comet ■honld be enlarged as it recedes from the aoarce of heat. It has been often obaerved io Aatronomieal inquiriea, that the efieeta, which at firat view aeemed improbable, are nevertheleas thoie which frequently prove to be true; and so it is in thii case. It was long believed that comets enlarged as they approached the son ; and this tappoaed eflbct was naturally and probably aaeribed to the heat of the son expanding their dimensions. Bat more recent and exact observations have abown the very reverse to be the fact. Comets ineretut their volatM as they feeedefrom the tun; and thit m a law to tohieh there appears to be no teell aeeertained exception." Now, as it is evident that our theory of the mass of aque- ous vapour being attracted by the comets, will perfectly wdl account for their increase of volume on recedmg from the suns, we therefore consider the above extract as a great sanction of that part of our theory. ff ; nm !.■'■ ?s; i'. ■■''V' . -p^- • >',;;,«! i ^■i.t:* '^niA**} ssi^yf v4l .«il m^%4'-.^i.\ ^4-';.«-.'i ■'\ ': ^ « -'■ »>;$&, "iij-ij^^ sirs .. ^ •%;■>■.;.-, -■* '."I cT-- -.'.-•-'' •:..., „,t> ....,.,*.,-. '.J. i^-" V^n . "ii. . i ' •••ft li, -.' '■•":(',' '•■: * t?c- K!0 SUPPLEMENT TO THE SEVENTH EDITION, OF TBB SYSTEM^ or THE CREATION OF THE GLOBE, PLANETS, AND SUN, CONTAINING TBI XXTKA MATTXft OF THIS PRXSBNT SblTION. MMMMV^MlMmMMM^M wtmt^0ti0»0^^^ In the sixth edition of this work, in page 21 of the Appendix No. 2, I shewed how the planets were at* tracted round the sun, supposing it, according to our theory (as sanctioned by the great astronomer Arago,) to be a body of gas in a state of combustion. I there showed how the immortal Sir Isutc Newton considered this attraction was efiected, as narrated in note 6th to the second edition of Grood's Book of Nature. In the same part'of the work, I stated my belief that electricity had a great share in the rotation of the planets, by ** keeping the ethereal gaseous medium of Newton in a constant state of motion and activity, for producing the force which carries the planetary bodies in their courses round the sun*" I therefore beg to refer the reader to those pages 20, 21, and 22, of that Appendix, No. 2, by which he will be made more clearly to comprehend the purpose of my inserting the following extract from the recent lecture of the celebrated chemical philospher l^araday, given in London (England. ) In " Chambers* Edinburgh Journal " of April 18, 1846, is the following article— " Professor Faraday's Further Researches in Magnetism : " '/ .^j-— , — - ^«;l XXXVl. ** In No. 114 of the prtbent seriei of the Journalf we give & brief report of Mr. Fuadsy** lecture on the relation of light aad magnetism. Since its delivery, he hue explained away a misapprehenilon existing in the minds of many per- sons as to his experimenti^ whrch it was imaffined were meant to i>rove that the luurinoosness of a ray of Tight is due to magnetism. The truth, however, resolves itself simply into this : that, regardless of any of the existing theories on the nature of li^ht, Whatevei^ is magnetic in a lay only has been effected ; the. line of magnetic force was illumina- ted by the ray of light used in tto experiment, as the earth is illuminated by the sun : thert wuno crtation <^f light ; the ray was required to show that light in common with pon- derable matter, is acted on by magnetism.* <* A second lecture was deliverM by Mr. Faraday, at the beginning of March, * On new magnetic actions and on the magnetic condition of all natter.* So great was the inter- est excited by the announcement of the subiect, that the en- trance-hall of the institution was.thron|[ed, loqgbi^ore the hour of admission, by a dense body of individualsfrom among the most scientitio class, who afterwards filled theUieatre to overflowing, many beiiur unable to obtain seats. It was impossible to look round on the intellectual-looking assem- bly, without being struck with the reflection that they had met to do homage to some of the highest truths of science. ** Punctual to the hour, the lecturer made his appearance, and ofaoerving that he would not wmate time in idte regrets that a portion of the audience was unable to find accommo- dation, proceeded to the discussion of the subject . The ap • {laratus used on this occasion was the same as at the former ecture, with a little difference of arrangement. The helix stood perpendicularly on the floor, connected as before by wires witn the electro-galvanie battery ; and the lacge horse- shoe magnet was pkbced so that two poles only were seen rising through openings to a level with the surface of the table in front of toe operator, who, by this arrangement, had the great power of the aj^ratus completely under command, whife it afforded the hest means of exhibiting the effects — * This shews that Faraday does not ooniider light and mag. netism as the same thing.. J* -frn 'J.A XXXVII. we give lation of q>kiined &ny per- ed were lit is due if simply theories ray only llumina- he earth 7i\h pon- Yt at the id on the he inter- Lttheen- efore the m among heatre to It was g assem- tbey had scienee. )earaDcef 9 regrets BCODUnO- Theap- le former %e helix lefore by i;e faorse- rereseen ce of the aenty had ommandf ffects — and mag. A few experiments were made to display the energy of the magnetic forcei with less than which^the lecturer observed) it would be in vain to look for the phenomena. He suc- ceeded in showing, with a quantity of iron nails, the line of force passing from one pole of the magnet to the other ; along this curve they were seen clinging to each other, and deseribinga regular arch several inches in length and height; which position they retained until, on breaking communica- tion with the battery, they instantly fell in a confused heap to the table. <'Mr. Faraday next adverted to the popular ideas of mag- netism with regard td iron and some other metals, which point freely north and south, and explained the importance of showing the relation of the power he employed to eom- mon magnetism. A smidl bar of iron was suspended by a thread to move freely in the line of force between the poles, and, on charging the magnet, the bar was seen to obey the natural law bv pointing north and south, in a line from one pole to the other, or what the lecturer terms the axial line. This simple experiment was necessary to enable the au- dience to understand the allusions to the axial Ime in the subsequent portion of Uie lecture. Among the metalf,.nickel, cobalt^ platinum, palladium, titanium, and a few others pos- sessed of the same property, are classed as magnetics. ** The power here afforded for testing the magnetism of all substances, was noticed and exemplified by suspending, in the place of the iron, a small bar of copper, which was found to be neither attracted nor repelled, remaining, with the exception of some very feeble manifestations, inaifi^rent to either position. A piece of paper was also tried, and, after some vibrations, proved to be magnetic, by remaming sta- tionary in the axial line. *m currents of air. On placing a small bar ot the heavy glass in the stirrup, instead of pointing north and south, it todc up a directly contrary direction, bast aiq> WBST, or what Jhe lecturer termed the equatorial, in contra- distinction to the axial line ; >?f»scribingit, furtheras* a ten- dency of the particles to movt? outwards, or into the position of weakest magnetic action,' the whole of the particles being jointly exercised in producing the cfifect. tih^-^rr **0( all the metals, b^smtsth is found to be the most ener- getic diamagnetic ; and to show that such substances are repelled by either pole of the magnet, a long glass tube, ba- lanced horizontally, was charged with a piece of the metal, at the end within the line of force ; at the other end a piece 01 coloured paper was fixed, which, by the sweeping arcs it described, demonstrated the repelling power of the two poles as the piece of bismuih was alternately brought y ithin their influence. Sufficient care was taken to show thnt this is not an accidental, but a constant result in the numerous sub- stances which have been put to the test of experiment, among which were phosphorus and water ; the latter con- stituting nine-tenths of nature, may play a meet important part as a diamagnetic. All n'^trral substances are affected one way or the other, either magnetically or diamagnetical- 1y. A slice of apple cut with a si^7er knife, a piece of wood, bocf, breadj and a thousandothv^tr obiects— aman, even could he be suspended with the requisite delicacy — all would point east and west, or in the equatorial line. They are all acted on by magnetism, though not magnetic, as iron. ** Some curious facts came out with regard to gases, which appear to fill a place, as yet unoccupied by any other sub- stance, between the magnetics and diamagnetics. Whether flnnse or rare, the phenomena produced are the same ; from v^'hlch it haR been inferred 'that air must have a great and perhaps an active part to play in the physical and terrestrial arrangoment of magnetic forces." •'The gf'npral mvn of the experiments may be best given i %.^ bearing tft etic paper, ject of the s chamber, . small bar ting north f BA8T AlfD in contra- as *aten- le position icles being most cner- tances are 8 tube, ba- the metal, >nd a piece ing arcs it > two poles ithin their ;hflt this is lerous sub- xperiment, latter con- : important ire afiected lagnetical- ce of wood, even could vould point re all acted ses, which other sub- . Whether ime ; from L great and terrestrial « » best given ^ XXXIX. in a quotation from Mr. Faraday's published observations on the subject r— « Having arrived at this point, I may observe that we can now have no dfficultv in admitting that the phenomena abundantly establish the existence of a maffuetic property in matter, new to our knowledge. . • . All the phenomena re- solve Uiemselves into this, that a partion of such matter, when under magnetic action, tends to move from stronger to weaker places or points tion of the idea stated in that Appendix, namely, " that electricity has a great share in eiTecting the rotation of the planets round the sun." fj- -^^ •.■^lur^>^ j w-.-, • v ». " If Saturn," says the Professor, "were a magnet, as the earth is, and his ring composed of diamagnetic mat- ter, the tendency of the magnetic forces would be to place it in the position which it actually has." The immortal Newton made the discovery of the great xli. principle of the attraction of the heavenly bodies, which has ao excited the admiration of mankind. He waa at that time of opinion, that our sun was a body of fire, but it was only in his latter writings that he gave his opinion by what physical fcMroes Uiis attraction was eiftcted, which we have shewn in note 2, to our second edition, from *' Crood*s Book df Nature ; " and our idea of electricity being employed for that efiect, is now strongly corrobo- rated by tlM above extract from Faraday's lecture. By that lecture it appears, that all the bodies of matter on our earth, except a few of the metds, &c., are diamag- netics, that is, are attracted east and west. That being the case, we have the strongest analogy for believing that it is the same with the other planets. Now, east and west b the very course which the planets take in their orbitual rotation round the sun ; and knowing that electro<-magnetic currents are flowing continiKally over our earth, oceans, and atmosphere, we have every reason from analogy to believe, that electricity is the grand agent of nature, acting upon the gaseous elastic medium of space, to produce this rotation of the earth and planets. I therefore feel happy in being able, in this edition of my work, to present the reader with so important a corroboration of the above idea of tho rota- tion of the earth and planets, as is sliewn in this lecture of the eminent Professor Faraday. Since the publication of the sixth edition of my Sys- tem of the Creation, I have fallen in with a work, enti- tled "A New Philosophy of Matter," published by Crocker and Brewster, Boston, and George Brewster, Adrian, 1843. In my sixth edition pages 16 and 18, of the Appendix No. 2, I noticed " a few theories of the sun, which have been presented to the world :" amongst these, there was one theory founded " on the idea that our sun's heat and light are produced by electricity." To this notice (written of course before I knew of Mr. * •*$^ xlii. ' Brewster's work,) I beg leave to refer the reader, for as the ** New Philosophy of Matter," is also founded on the idea that our sun's heat and lisht are owing to its electricity, but without shewing what this electricity is generated from, I now propose to make some obserra- tions on that and other parts of the work. I must commence with paying a welUmerited compli- ment to the style, energetic boldness of thought, and ta- lent, of this author. His idea that " each ultimate particle of the electricity that makes a bar of steel magnetic and keeps it magnetic, has opposite polarities, as well as the whole current," appears to me very ingenious and well supported. But, in his endeavours to solve the difficul- ty which perplexed Dr. Franklin, — " the repulsion of two negatives," the author makes an assertion which much surprised me, namely, — "that motion is never proauced in ponderable matter, by the mere force of moving currents of electricity." How then is it, that the terrific effects of these currents (which he has so well described in another part of his work,) are produ- ced ? I have witnessed these efiects myself. I have seen a pine tree rent asunder and shattered into frag- ments by lightning ; and the direful effects of these currents on ponderable mattter is universally known. The cause of lightning in its descent to the earth, may depend on polarity ; but that it has no effect on the pon- derable matter which obstructs that descent, appears to me an unaccountable assertion. Again, this author adds : — ** If this were the case, (if motion in pondera- ble matter were produced by electricity,) our earth would have been instantaneously battered into atoms by' the light which first struck it from the sun." it is plain that the author here considers light and electricity as one and the same body, according to the theory of his work, but the fact which he states, that light from the sun does not <' batter the earth to atoms," is a clear xliii. for as ed on to its cjity is- aerva- ompli- ind ta> article lie and as the id well iffieul- lion of which never »rce of t, that has so produ- I have ) frag, these nown. may le pon- )ars to author ndera* earth )ms by" plain city as of his >m the clear proof that light is not electricity, nor electricity light ; for we all know that the electric fluid produces the most destructive effects wherever it impinges ; while light, as is proved in Arago and Lardner's Astronomy, has no impidsive power whatever ; and we shall have more to say on this subject as we examine other parts of the work. In pages 67 and 70, the author gives an ingenious theory of the formation of acid and alkaline tastes on tongue, which he believes are produced by electricity. It is possible, indeed, that this theory may be founded in nature ; but it must be observed, that the saliva contains various salts in solution. May not the posi- tive current decompose most or all of these salts, and thus produce an acid taste ; and may not the negative current be able to decompose only a certain number of these salts, and so produce an alkaline taste ? for it is well known that electricity will decompose saline sub- stances. In his endeavours to account for oxygen gas go- inff to the positive pole, supposing it to be itself positive, as ne does, I think this author has totally failed. He con- siders oxygen gas to be electricity itself ^^ formed, as he says, by Uie positive elecritcity taking up a certain " in- casement of watery particles," which gives it the ap- pearance of gas ; but he must have forgotten that posi- tive electricity decomposes water, therafore, such in- casement could not exist. His error probably lies in not believing oxygen gas can be negative, and at the same time support combustion ; but according to the hitherto received theory of Lavoisier, combustion is no- thing but an affinity of the combustible body for the oxy- gen of the oxygen gas with which it combines ; and the heat and light that kept it in a gaseous state is evolved. Now, this neat and light would be evolved, whether the oxygen gas were positive or negative ; it is merely a consequence of this gas being in a highly rarifiod btate, and of course evolving much heat and light. #• <-^-: xliv. This author has fallen into the same error irith re- ^ spect to hjrdrogen gas. He stateS) " that it is not inflam- mable at all, and goes on to shew, that " if a lighted candle be inserted in a jar of hydrogen, it will be ex- tinguidied,*' wfaioh is true enough; but nobody in na* ture will bum. or be influnmable, without the access to it of air or oxygen, and setting free their heat and light ; for oxygen itself will not burn by itself, ^^it is not in- flammawe, it is merely the supporter of the combustion of combustible bodies, by Uie mode above shewn, when in contact with them. The author subsequently attempts to account for the combustion of hydrogen in air, or oxygen gas, by opposite electricities ; but as I oonceive 1 have shown that his theory of the nature of oxygen gas is untenable, and as oxygen gas goes constantly to tl^e positive pole^ I cannot oxioede to his explanation of this cause of the combustion^ In page 162^ of his work, Mr. Brawster very candidly states, that if any person is prepared in any other plau- sible or rational way than that of his theory, to account for the otherwise unavoidable waste of Uie sun, he will willingly become a learner, ^d I am now preparing for the press this sevisndi editton of my work, oidled a ** System of the Creation of our Globej Planets, and Sun ; " and I, with humility, shall be happy to present Mr. Brewster witii a copy, should an opportunity offer. In this work I trust to have shewn the great probability that our sun was originoUy formed by the combustion of the gases of oxygen and hydrogen, which must have taken place at the formation of the waters or ocean of Genesis. I have presumed that the Deity could not have applied to a more needful purpose a part of the stupendous quantity of heat and light which must have been evolved by that combustion, than the concentration of that heat and light to form a sun for our system. In page 10 of the Appendix No. 2 to the work, it will »» xlv. he ^(!ftv tllnl the great astronomer Arago has sanctioned this theory of the sun. After having proved to math- ematical demonstration, as Dr. Lardner says (as shewn in page 4 of the Appendix,) "that the atmosphere of the sun is an ocean of flame," Arago, from subscquerit experiments concludes, ** that the sun ip nothing but n grand mass of gas agglomerated in ppace.'* Now, with respect to ** accounting for the unavoidable waste of the. sun," I have to say, that Sir Isaac Newton, with tho same wonderful sagacity with which he foretold thr: combustibility of the diamond, suggested that the comets w^re employed in restoring this waste oT the light and heat of the sun. It was known probably in his time, that the courses of the comets generally were toward the sun ; and since the discovery by Professor Black and others, of tiie gaseous sciences, it has been shewn that the enormous trills of the comets, some near fifty millions of miles long, are gaseous ; I have therefore adopted this idea of Newton in my theory of the sun, and believe that it will naturally ** account for the supply of the unavoid- able waste of the sun's material." ' Mr. Brewster's idea that the light returns to the sun, reminds me of BufTon's theory, that the earth and planets were struck off from the sun by the stroke of a comet, which theory has been long disproved by the astronomical fact, **that if that were the case, < they must return to tlie sun in every revolution ; sn this idea of light returning to the sun after leavin/; its heat with the earth and planets, which it must rin, would seem to form a very insufficient cause for restor- ing the waste of heat in the sun. Besides thi?, mi]f>t not two counter currents of light mutually oppose and retard each other ? I submit, therefore, to the candid sa- gacity of the author of the '* New Philosophy of Matter," whether there be any necessity to refer to that tiicory, when the known fact of the gaseous t^ils of the comets xlvi. I rushing continually to the sun, and as Sir John Herchell ' says, "millions of them depositing their tails there," is not aniple evidence of their purpose being to restore the waste of his heat and lighu With respect to this au- thor's question, *^ Whftt beoomes of the light, if it does not return to the sun I ^* I answer, light is known to enter int6 combination with almost all bodies on the - earth, and by analogy, on the planets alsa It changes the colours of all bodies, and probably by some un- known process of nature, assumes in them a liquid or a solid state. The lately discovered Daguerreotype is a proof of this ;* the rays of light from the countenance fall on a plate coated with iodine, or other chemical mixture, and the impression of the countenance is em- bodied and solidified in it : now, light is supposed to be imponderable, but I believe that is only supposed, be- cause we have no moans of weighing ii ; for a grain of light may perhaps be enough to fill a house. What an immensely small space, then, light must require when entering into combination with, and becoming absorbed by the liquid and solid bodies on the earth, planets and their satellites, their oceans and atmospheres, and assu- ming the liquid or solid state. To shew the immense tenuity of light, I will state, that Sir Isaac Newton calcu- lated that even the tail of a comet, forty or fifty millions of miles long, might, if solidifiedj be almost comprised in a nutshell. In page 71, the author says, " Heat is only light in a state of diffusion. Tln« is proved by the fact, that if you condense it sufficiently, you make it light." But the effect of heating anything is not to condense it, but to rarifif it. The author falls into the same error here as in Ihe case of hydrogen and oxygen above stated. He supposes the light to come from the heated iron, whereas it is produced hy heating it to that degree at which it absorbs the oxygen from the ntmospbeie, aud sets free xlviL 1- Flerchell leret" is itore the this au- f it does npwn to i on the changes )ine un- iquid or type is a itenance chemical e is em- ed to be 3sed, be- grain of l^hat an re when absorbed nets and ;nd assu- nmense n calcu- millions inprised 'ht in a ^ if you !ut the but to Iheie as He hereas Ihich it Its free its light and heat. To prove this, if the author analyzes the external scales of the heated iron, he will find them contain a calx oroxyde df iron, by the absorption of the oxvgen from the atmosphere^ Moreovert if Ug^t were only heat condenseid, how. is it that the light of the moon gives no heat 8t- In page 150 of the "New Philosophy," the author states that, from certain analogies he has brought for- ward, he infbrpif ** that no creation of materials is- pro* gressing to supply the waste of the sun." In page 29 of the Appendix No. 2 to the 7th edition of our By stem of the Creation, I have said :< juiiiiertioe rtiM'^j ^i fivmll" *Pifji»"i,';'.'>J'l':' ■T»^vv.,., xlix. conh ippen* ^heory in the )f the jcupy oxy- ^ gen and hydrogen gases thus conveyed to the sun to re-* store it9 waste are by that combustion transformed intd aqueous vapoT) and we oooceive it to be a two>fold purt- pose of the comets on their ctBturn, to carry off by their power of Attraction this aqueous vapor into distant regicms of space, to be afterwards condensed into oceans, for the purpose of forming new planetarv liodies, just as our earth was formed Id the ocean of Ijrenesis. Hence the gaseous matter conveyed by these comets would be ul- timately changed into the liquid and solid bodies of these new planets ; hence the original stock of gaseous mat<- ter, however immense, would be in time consumed ; and hence we concluded that a constdnt new creation of the elementary matter of these gases must be continually going on. The Author of the "New Philosophy}^' considers *'that the supposition of a new creation to supply any deficiency would be derogatory to the skill of the great architect/' I, on the contraryi conceive it would be greatly adding to our conceptions of his omnipotence and glory. ** Nature,'' say Shakespeare and Goethe, ^( could not exist without action." The astronomers tell us that old stars have disappeared from the heavens, and new one^ have been discovered. He who created one world, can, without doubt, create millions ; and we have reason to believe the benevolence, wisdom, and power of the Deity is not circumscribed, while there is infinite space for their exertion, and thereby to be re- plenished with life and animation, enjoyment and hap- piness. Now, the gaseous matter supplied, being con- verted into the liquid and solid matter of the new pla- netary bodies created, we therefore humbly conceive, that the creation of elementary matter for the supply of the waste of the stars or suns (as they arc allowed to be by all astronomers*) of the universe, is proceeding at this moment as it was at the time of the creation of our system. •'TH.;V In pace 204, Mr. Brewster states a theory, by which the earm and planets are carried round the son. < This movement he considers is done by the power of eleetri* city. In page 31 of the Appendix No» 3, to our sixth edition of the System of the Creation, I stated that-^; i ^ " In addition to the strong arguments employed by Newton himself, (which will be seen in note 6, second edition, con- taining his explanation of gravitation by means of the elas- tic gaseous medium), I nave to state, that it is known that electricity pervades almost all nature. Our atmos- phere, our earth, and all water, especially when in a vaporifeed state) are clnurged with the electric fluid. Our earth is pervaded by magnetic and electric currents ; and what I wish now to state, therefore, . in addition to Sir I«aac Newton's arguments on the ethereal ffaseous medium, is, that I conceive that medium is also excited to motion by the electric fluid. I believe that this electric fluid is a most potent agent of nature, by which she keeps the ethereal gaseous medium in a constant state of motion and activity, for producing the force which carries the planetary bodies in their courses round the sun; and I believe this is the very purpose for which thia ethereal electric medium exists in space." , • In this very important \part of liis work, I have theii the pleasure of partly agreeing with him ; for altnough our theory of the sun goes to shew that the enormous waste of his light and heat is restored by the oxygen and hydrogen gases brought to his vicinity by the co- mets ; still, we are well aware, that both positive and ne- gative electricity are evolved in the combustion of those gases, and, most probably, that is the mode by which t sufficient quantity of electric [fluid is furnished to the system, which electricity, actine upon the gaseous me- dium of Sir Isaac Newton, produces sufficient force to carry the earth and placets in their revolution round the sun ; and I should conceive that to effect this pur- pose, there are two currents of electricity employed by ( ^ ;>- -•-^ ^«*^*^ H«^'.','rtfM>"!^ .i'>-tr«.r,\t-.,-:rM-*?.r li. ich 'hit . jlri- Ixth ., '1 con- elas- lown ,mo8- in a Ouf ; and x> Sir idiaiUf iooby i inost hereal stlvity, bodies is the lexisu d then mough ►rmous xygen Ihe co- kd ne- If those jhich & to the iusme- ►ree to round lis pur- ed by nature, one forcing the earth and planets in a right line, corresponding with the projectile force, nnd the other operating upon the planets in a sidelong direction, nine* ty degrees to the northward of the right line current, both which currents, operating upon the surrounding gaseous medium, would, 1 humbly conceive, produce ample force to carry the planets in their present orbits round the sun. While we agree, then, that electricity is a very pow- erful agent of nature in carrying the earth and planets in their orbits round the sun, we have, in conclusion, to observe, on the ** New Philosophy of Matter,'' that al- though the author of that work derives his electricity from the sun, his theory does not show how that elec- tricity is forfned there, whereas, our thewy shows it to be produced from the combustion of the gases that are supplied by the comets to restore the sun's waste. ERRATA. In Supplement, eighth line from commenrement, fnr " of Good's Book of Nature/' read from Good's Book of Nature. In paga xliii , ninth line from lop, for *' tnatos on," read tastes on the. y