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Show 66 GRANITE. NoTE XXIV. mars of granite, which forms the nucleus of the earth, was a pa:t _of the body of ~he fun bdore it was feparated by an explofion? Or was the fun onginally a planet, mhabitcd like ours, and a fatcllite to fame other greater fun, which has long been extinguilhcd by diffufion of its light, and around which the prcfent fun COI~tinues to revolve, according to a conjeClure of the celebrated Mr. Herfchell, and which conveys to the mind a mofl: fublime idea of the progreHive and inc1·eafmg excellence of the works of the Creator of all things? For the more eafy comprchenfion of the facts and conjcCl:ures concerning the fituation and prorluCl:ion of the v:uious flrata of the earth, I £hall here fubjoin a fuppofed feClion of the globe, but without any attempt to give the proportions of the parts, or _the number of them, but only tln:ir refpeB:ivc fituation over each other, and a geological recapitulation. CEOLQGICAL RECAPITULATION. 1 . The earth was projected along with the other primary planets from the fun, which is fuppofed to be on fire only on its furface, emitting light without much internal heat like a ball of burning camphor. 2. The rotation of the earth round its axis was occaGoned by its greater friction or adhefi.on to one fi.Je of the cavity from which it was ejected ; and from this rotation it acquired its fpheroidical form. As it cooled in its afcent from the fun its nucleus became harder; and its attendant vapours were condenfed, forming the ocean. 3 . The maffes or mountains of granite, porphyry, bafalt, and fl:ones of fimilar fl:ructure, were a part of the original nucleus of the earth; or conflfl: of volcanic produB:ions fince formed. 4· On this nucleus of granite and bafaltes, thus covered by the ocean, were formed the calcareous beds of Jimefl:one, marble, chalk, fpar, from the exuvi::c of marine animals; with the flints, or chertz, which accompany them. And were fl:ratified by their having been formed at different and very diHant periods of time. 5· The whole terraqueous globe was burfl: by central fires; i{]ands and continents were raifed, confilling of granite or lava in forne parts, and of limefl:one in others ; and great val\ies were funk, into which the ocean retired. 6. During thefe central earthquakes the moon was ejected from the earth, caufing new tides; and the earth's axis fuffered fome change in its inclination, and its rotatory motion was retarded. 7. On fome parts of thefc iflands and continents of granite or limefl:one were gradually produced ex ten five moraffes from the recrements of vegetables and of land animals; and from thefe morafles, heated by fermentation, were produced clay, marie, fandHone, coal, iron, (with the bafes of variety of acids;) all which were fl:ratified by their hav-: ing been formed at different, ami very dillant periods of time. 8. In the elevation of the mountains very numerous and dt>ep fiffures neceffarily were produced. In thefe fifTures many of the metals are formed partly from dcfcending materials, and partly from afcendi11g ones raifed in vapour by fubterraneous fires. ln O'llknown re._qzon, .ruppoNd to con.rt~·t of' .Lava kern £ /n a J'f:771l lll lll'rJ- .rtate by heal' under the van'o;,.t namu of' OramLl' Gmyi> '.Porplzory, .Moor.rtone, Wlzin.rt:one, .f?a.,_lJ..c;, ..!late, .BMalte.r. lmullm , Publi:rlud 1)~,.,.,-:,;,IJI, ~Y .T.,l,•lm.t'l.'/1 .f(.P,ml/ ('/wrrh Jtinl . |
