The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-01-12

might with propriey be subdivded into three states
First, when the epithet "withoat farm and void
would with most propnety apply to it; second when
it in the form Of fiery abyss; and third, when
il was in the form of watery abyss The last was
that form oft previous to the time when the waters
over the whole earth were separated into place,
and the form which has often been spoken of un-
der the name OF the "watery abyss" by philosophers
of every age
The existence of fiery abyss is proved from
great variety of circumstances and acceeded to by
the most enlightened biologists. Formerly such
belief was thought to be uncono rmable to the sacred
oraces, but laterly it is supposed to coincide with
them. The most prominent evidences Of the earth's
having formerly existed in the form OF fiery abyss,
are the facts that primary rocks havethe appearance
of an igneous origin, the evidences of tropical tenn
perature having formerly existed in high northern and
southern attitudes and the increase oil temperature in
the descent into the internal parts of the EARTH There
are innumcrabe evidences to show that the earth is
in state Of gneous fusion at It's centre at the present
period. This, with the testimony which has been ad
duccd is sufficient to establish the fact that it
formerly an entire body offire.
The primary rocks having been composed first,
formed the basis OF oil the other classes They were
formed, before stated, by the cooling and CONSOLE
daon of the at its surface, just water freezes.
As they not all alike the circumstances under which
they were formed were sufficiently unlike to account
for this want Of conformity The other classes were
formed afterwards succeeding each other IN the order
they have been mentioned They are supposed TO
have been formed of the threefod combination of the
ruins of former rocks volcanic and submarine erup
tons from the igned mass, and fossil remains. Be
ing coTaposcd different periods and the mate als Of
which they were formed being somewhat different
from each other, there sufficient variation m Their
construction to render it proper to divide them into
classes.
What is meant by former ruins, is the broken and
puversed condition that large portions OF rocks have
from the earliest periods existed in. From what might
be called an elemental strife, rocks i'll many places
broken in pieces lifted from their former posi-
tons, jammed and dashed against each other, and
pulversed to atoms. These, when the other materl,
ais which have been mentioned had become mingled
with them and they had reposed long enough TO be-
come consolidated, reconverted into rocks, and
one after the other Of the classes were formed accord
ing the period when they were brought into exist
cnce. Should all the loose soil now reposng upon
the more solid materials of the earth mingled as It IS
with fragments Of former rocks volcanic eruPtons
and fossil remains be thss consolidated, it would form
class similar to those which were formed in success
sion to each other after the primary class
Notwithstanding the different classes were compo-
sed one after the other reposng upon each other as
they were formed, yet when our observation Is ex-
tended to those which are in view, we ind them In
many places jumbed promscuously together the
different classes mingled upon the same spot Lest
this should not be fully cemprehended little further
explanation will be devoted 10 this particular
Il has been that the earth has not always ex-
isted in that uniform quiet and unchanging condition
we are inclined to suppose. Changes continually
taking place in times and history informs us
of greater changes than any which are known to pre-
dominate al the present period. Judging from this,
and from what seem be certain crerl0ns Of change
they existed in greater degree previous to the period
when history began to record the facts, than snce
that date. Wherever we cast our eyes, we behold
something to convince us of Tins large portion OF
the smaller rocks to be only fragments of larger
ones. Rocks, wherever they are found exhibit marks
of violence and agitation. Blocks of granite and other
formations, seeming to be only portions OF larger
rocks, present themselves in detached masses How
h.xxay nv fha had
wherever such rocks seen, the same thing is OBJ
served in them. Rough and broken edges are sure
accompaniments OF those which are detached, and
seams and rupures, and assures, of those which
only lifted from their original beds Wherever bed,
cliff ledge is behed, time has altered it, violence
has operated upon il, and change has marked it.
Even the mountain ridges and lofty eminences exit
BIT marks that show that they not Away such.
Dragged and broken, they throw up their towering
peaks and prccipices; and in ruptured condition, let
fall their loosened fragments, like dllaphated edifces,
falling pecemeal to the ground. The towering Alps,
the extended Apennnes, the lofty Andes If the marks
Of violence depicted upon them the same in those
which they in other things, were not always what
they are now. The earth has been convulsed, rocks
which were once entire have been ruplurcd, and for
nations which were beneath all Others have been ele-
waited In this way granite which was created first,
has been thrown up TO take It's place with rocks which
were created last.
little reflection will exhibit to the experienced OBJ
server the cause OF this well the of all the
most important changes upon the globe. The igne-
Gus mass winch furnished materials for the primary
rocks still exists in the centre Of the globe and is and
ever has been, the prime mover Of every disturbance
Water mingled with this mass, issuing through the
crevces Of the rocks, operates by expansion, after II
has been converted into steam TO renI the hardest
ada nant and upraise the ofticst emInences. Some
are merely broken, being raised only far enough TO
produce this effect Some raised 50 high, and are
Of such steep ascent that large masses are detached
and prccpitated 10 regions below. In some places
there il a perfect bursung-or more properly pro-
pulson Of rocks from their nethermos beds, so that
those which lie beneath all the rest are raised above
them all;just when quIre of paper Is divided by
sharp instrument, and the two portions are raised
where such division is made, the lowermost sheets
which before were concealed, lifted into fall view
and just az when globular body of any kind, from
some impulse from the centre, IL so operated upon
that s central portions open for themselves situa-
ton upon the surface.
Inpamerable situations upon the earth's surface
NAV be seen where tn has occurred. Granite, from
such cause crops out il is called upon the noun
tains and lesser elevations. More than half the gra-
mite scattered over the earth IL of that kind which
| once existed beneath the superintendent mass
| Earthquakes, like those which have occurred within
the remembrance Of people now upon the stage, were
among the Immediate, as were internal fres the re-
mote agencies OF these things. The jar oil an earth
au ke the al of which was at Lisbon was fe over
one quarter of the globe and land at the same time
was permanently elevated in some places, and swal-
| lowed up in others, never to be seen any more Vol
canoes Two hundred of which are now N existence,
are powerful agents in changing the condition fthe