The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-01-20

"
cal mania for geology have attracted universal atten-
tisn We are inundated with articles on this deeply
interesting subject. From ameng others we select
the following
Mn EpIroR-It is recommended to G. d., whose
article on Geology appeared in the Herald of Tues
day last, to study Chemistry and Natural Philosophy,
that he may understand the nature of caLOric and
capitalization and not to forget geometry, which
Will enable him TO communicate his arguments to
others, before he attempts again to expatiatc on that
science. He asks How does fire exist in the centre
OF the earth without common air.! Let him answer
how fire exists, even to a white heat, in thlry-wo
pound cannon ball, without common air? The gem
tleman does not appear to know any difference be-
tween concentrated cdl0ric and fdne. l think ne
will admit that after the surface Of the cannon ball.
or any other heated globe, no matter what may be
its magnitude, has cooled it will still be pretty warm
as he approaches the centre; and when no extrane-
Gus substances such water comes In contact with
the heated matter, there will be no danger OF rend
ing the globe in pieces" Let the gentleman heat an
IRON ball OF 81 pounds or upwards IN a furnace 70
wilderness, or even to red healthier cover It up IN
dry sand, and pour the sand sufficient quantity Of
water to penetrate to the ball, and he will have as
handsome representation OF an earthquake or sand
quake as can be given short OF Hstna or vesuvlus-
The only difference will be that he will not have the
material to form lava, which is nothing more than the
fluid state in which the earth at distance with
in the crust-say 60 or 100 or 500 miles.
There can be no doubt that every mountain whe-
ton of the matter of the earth when in fluid state,
rendered SO by the expansive power OF caloric and
that all subsequent volcanic erupuons nave been
caused by the stream of finding access through
assures Of the earth to its heated nucleus. think
that has been sufficiently established that the earth
increases in temperature as we descend below GER
tain DEPTH that s below the influence Of the solar
heat, whether in the torid temperate or fngid zones
There IS much curious matter on the subject OF Geo-
ogy and the theory of the earth, which have not
seen in Culver any other author but which 10 fair
~ deduclbe from the geological facts now fully esta-
blished JAMES BENNETT, Long Isla.d.
Thusatalks our namesake, the Philosopher of Long
Island, we being merely by way of distinction, the
Philosopher of New York. Professor Sillman the Phi
losopher of New Haven, and Mr.. Van Buren the Phi
osopher of Undertook. The Long Island Philoso-
pher has well considered the subject of Geology
Lava-he original substance OF the earth ?-'ls new
dea-bnt it may be so. There can be no doubt how
ever but that the wonderful facts daily developed by
Geology are producing complete revolution in our
IDEAS Of antiquity.
Professor Slliman is still lecturing to deeply enthu-
sastic audiences and highly intellectual, educated
and refined too in the Lyceum, and his startling facts
lead to differences Of curious and novel character
He shews concusivey, that all the present forms in
which nature appears the results of some eternal
Interchangeable laws impressed upon matter by the Di-
vlnity himself-that every thing we see around us,
mountains seas, rocks, vaes trees plants, animals,
living creatures, are all created furnished by the
same general laws; AMI that for any thing we know,
there may yet appear earth OF beings far
perior, more intelligent more ETHEREAL msre beautiful
mere heavenly, more happy than the present of
man and woman.
BY the character Of physical facts developed, and
the train OF reasoning pevadng his wonderful theo-
RES it would appear that Professor Siliman is of
opinion that the description of the creation of Adam
and Eve, given by Moses, is merely a fgurative his
tory Of process Of nature, which took place at the
proper time, soon this earth had reached par
tcular state, rich and ripe for the purpose by which
man was produced agreeable 10 the original impress
and will of the Divinity. Also at the present moment
the earth is going through natural and another
luton more rema kabls than any previous one In
course of time every tree, shrub animal, living
creature, on its surface, will give way to new races
and perhaps, higher order of beings. single drop
of is full of animal fe pound of beef placed
in the sun, in warm weather, will soon breed new
race Of beings To conception, to our powers, it
is as difficult 10 create man as to create worm.
More-Professor Silliman says that the mountains
are produced by the slew processes Of nature-that
vegetation existed before quadupeds-and quadru-
peds before men. The organic remains yet in exist
ence prove this idea, TO say nothing of the state
ments yet preserved in Holy Writ Man is a recent
production 1t required millions Of years before the
earth, from its original lava hot burning state was
fitted up for the growth of vegetation 1t also requl
red an equal proportion Of time to eapse before was
prepared for animal e In proof Of this we know that
the remains of vegetable life much more ancient
than that Of animal life-and Of more animal life than
of man. 1t is calculated from the buryng grounds Of
ancient nations that the race Of man has no, existed
beyond 10 or Is thousand years, while tbs remains Of
animals are supposed TO indicate so or 100 thousand
years.
Again the coal formations which were originally
vegetable matter, as now satisfactorily proved by
chemical analysis are Supposed TO have existed mil
lions of years since in the shape Of trees and shrubs
The anthracite coal which we now use to cock beef
steaks, and warm our wives and children Chose who
have them) were trees, shrubs or some other similar
species of vegetable, about 346 567 years ago, as
near as we can calculate.
But this is not all the wonders of nature. We doubt
whether the earth has yet reached ts limatory
point as the abode Of man. When that point is
reached, the race of man will gradually decay and
the earth will be slowly fitted up and made suitable
for another and superior of beings May il not