The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-02-14
VOICan0cs..Their Causes.

The general theory, embraced by some lead
inc men OF SCIENCE, in reference to the cause ol
volcanoes, is that they are the sln"ke-pipes OF
the great fire in the interior Of this EARTH
They believe that we are living on the top of
huge white.h"t cauldron, and that volcanoes
in different parts of the world are merely vents
of this eternal fire. The following are the
views of Professor SiIman, of Yale College,
on the subject, embraced in a lecture recent.
" delivered in New York city.
The internal heat of the earth is proved by
direct experiments. A gentleman is still living
in Paris. who frstscalled the attention of geol
ogists and philosophers to this subject. lie
was one 81 those scientific men who accompa'
MED Napoleon to Egypt, when he went on that
great expedition for Napoleon took with him
not only the weapons of war, but he took a
much more important cohort-that is, men OF
science and art, and literature, able to explore
and examine all the antiquities of the most
important and venerable country. \ great lii
erary work resulted from this expedition, viii n
proved to the world that the interior OF the
earth was in !, heated state, bringing '"gether
iacls already known in regard to mines and
springs.
THIS general principle announced. has been
followed up repeatedly BY very deep borngs
called arte>ian wells. The very deep well III
Paris had been worked upon for seven years,
without reaching water, when Arago came tor
ward aud gave the government assurance that
if tlev would continue the work, and 90
through the beds of chalk they would in all
probability find water. They continued their
work till they got down through the chalk,
when the water rose up in great volume OF
twelve feet This water still flows there, and
doubtless will continue to flow to the end OF
time. This water was found to be very hot.
Many other artesian wells have been made all
over Europe, for varions purposes, and the IT,
inform result has been, that. we find the earth
increasing in heat the lower we 30 down, Add
to this the testimony of those who work III We
ry deep mines, and we ascertain the fact
tina: the rate of heat increases about one de
gree for every fifty feet of descent; so that II
we were to 90 down two miles, we should
find boiling water, and at ten miles we
might reasonably expect to arrive at isnied
!! rocks. Is all, then, beneath Us on fire ? am
not prepared to say, with some, that this is
the case, although there is strong evidence to
Justify such theory. Witness the seysers OF
Iceland, where hot waters are gushing up from
the earth age after age and century alter
century. The result of all observation on
springs goes to show that they are thernal-
that is. Of higher temperature. The Azores
present a very important fact in example. The
hot springs Of Lucca, in The Appenne noun
tains, are large spoutiny springs of high
temperature, So copiuus that they may be re.
lied upon for hot baths all the year round
Another ,>e is tho hot springs of Bath, I'm
gland These are the more maIkable, as
. there are no volcanoes in the British Islands.
We know that from the time of the Romans
these waters have never ceased to gnsh up III
vast abundance.
The hot springs Of the Rocky Mountains are
| also very Important, and the great Salt Lake
in Virginia is very hot Taking the arte>ian
+ wells and the thermal, we have from these
sources the best evidence Of the heated tempe
rature OF the internal portion Of the earth, and
this is placed beyond all question, by the great
VOLCANOES in the world. Aud here we have
decisive evidence that the heat which will melt
the solid rock is not connected with any cXtcr.
nal rau>c for among the cold, icy mountains,
there are volcanoes bursting up to the height
of l2,OG0 feet.
In Spain ami South America we find great
volcanoes bursting out. The fact is, the world
is on fire. 1t h;s aIway IS heen on fire. 1t was
kindIrd at the time of its creatinr, and has
been burning ever since.
Dr. Auls,.l, Of this city, recently delivered Il
lecture, in which the same views are Developed
-as he embraces the electrical theory, he Ger
taiul initiates against the nebular theory
Both agree as to the internal heat viz that
we live on top Of turacc.-.Scient;fe Amer
icdu