Patrin formed the opinion, that in the beginning all the matters which now com pose the exterior part of the globe were held in solution, or suspension in a fluid ; and that of these, some were deposited in a crytallized state, as the granite, &c. whilst those that were not in a state of actual solution formed the different schists, and other earthy, saline, and me tallic strata, regularly and concentrically disposed. Whilst thus existing in a soft and yielding state, the different substan ces, by acting on each other, he supposes to have passed into a state of fermenta tion, necessarily productive of a swelling or raising up, which taking place first of all in the granitic and saline pasty masses, these were elevated, carrying with them, or bursting through the other strata, thus forming the rocks and mountains now existing on the face of the earth.
That respectable and excellent mine ralogist, Mr. Kirwan, has zealously endea voured to form a system which may ac cord with the Mosaic account of the crea tion. He supposes the superficial parts of the globe to have been in a fluid state, being held in solution by water conside rably heated. From the coalescing and crystallization of the contents of this solu tion, the various metallic substances, the different earths, &c. were deposited in various combinations, forming, according to the predominant proportion of the in gredients, granite, gneiss, phorphyry, and the other primeval rocks. By the crys tallization of these immense masses,a pro digious quantity of heat was generated, even to incandescence, and the oxygen uniting with inflammable air occasioned a stupendous conflagration ; by this the solid basis on which the chaotic fluid rested was rent to a great extent. From the extrication, by this heat, of the oxy gen and nitrogen gases, the atmosphere was formed: and from the union of the oxygen with ignited carbon, carbonic acid being absorbed by cal careous earth, was precipitated in combi nation with it, forming the primitive lime stones. The level of the ancient ocean becOming then lowered to the depth of 9000 feet, fish were created ; and the va rious stratified secondary mountains were formed within it during its retreat, and after the creation of fish. Soon after, the higher tracts of land being left uncovered by the retreat of the sea to its bed, the land became supplied with vegetables and. animals. The deluge he considers as a miraculous effusion of water, both from the clouds and from the great abys, which originated in, and proceeded from, the great southern ocean below the equator, and which, rushing into the northern hemisphere, descended south wards, and at length spread over the face of the whole earth.
M. de la Metherie, who has investigat ed the subject with much attention, is of opinion, that all the mountains, vallies, and plains, composing the crust of the earth, were formed nearly in the state in which they now exist, by crystallization of the mass of water which surrounded the earth. The matters composing the highest mountains, he shows, have evi dently been held in solution : the water, therefore, must have reached above their summits, and of course have stood 18,000 feet, at least, above its present level. But
this being admitted, it becomes necessary to determine what has become of the im mense quantity of water which has disap peared since that period. Of this he ima gines that some part has escaped by eva poration, and passed into other planets, but that by far the greatest part is buried in the immense caverns which exist in the interior part of the globe.
On reviewing the systems which have been just enumerated, it is obvious that some are so abundant in fanciful conjec ture, and so deficient of probability, as not to require any further remark ; whilst in others of a more specious appearance, there are some points which cannot be allowed to their ingenious authors. On these particular doubtful points, it is thought best to offer a few remarks, ra ther than separately examine each system. With respect to crystallization from an aqueous solution, a supposition which has not yet been generally adopted, it may be remarked, that the' primitive mountains and valfies give exactly that irregularity of appearance, from lofty needle-like forms shooting up in some parts, and ex tensive plains existing in others, which are observable in cases of crystallization on the small scale. It has been objected, that the secondary mountains do not every where cover the primary on which they rest ; this circumstance must, in all probability, have depended on particular local circumstances, and especially on such as would, as in ordinary cases of crystallization, direct the formation or crystals more numerously on one spot than on another. Particular currents may perhaps be considered among the causes which assisted in producing these effects, as well as in forming particular chains: whilst to the action of contrary currents may be attributed the formation of sepa rate mountains. The formation of secon dary mountains seem also to concur with what is generally observed in the ordinary progress of crystallization, where it is observed, that after one series of crystals are formed of the least soluble matters, others are then formed of those substances which the fluid was able to hold still longer in solution. It has been objected against the system of crystalliza tion of rocks, &c. that nature seems to perform nothing of that kind at the pre sent period ; but were this the fact, the objection would not possess much force, since a most satisfactory answer might be yielded, by asserting that the operation has ceased, in consequence of the task being accomplished ; and, speaking with respect to the granitic and phorphyry rocks, all the materials being employed. The formation of stone by crystallization is, however, carrying on in various situa tions at the present moment ; the incrus tations formed in certain springs, and the various stalactitic formations which take place daily, are instances of this kind.