Genre:

Letter; Essay

Subjects:

Geology, Stratigraphy, Cosmology, Mineralogy, Chemistry, Physics, Climatology, Theology of Nature, Vulcanology, Natural History, Metallurgy

Publications cited:

Link 1794

    The subtitle reads: 'Thoughts on the Figure and Formation of the Earth, Subterraneous Fires and its Effects, the Deluge, and Origin of Mountains, Continents, &c.; from Whiehurst's [sic] Enquiry into the Original State of the Earth, Macquer, the celebrated Chymist, and the late Mr. Lavoisier, whose untimely fate will be ever deplored by the Literati'. Describes the formation of the earth from a 'fluid mass' to its present 'oblate spheroidical form' (375). Suggests that the 'sameness of quality which prevails in strata of different denominations' may also be ascribed to the laws of attraction that originally consolidated the matter of the earth into the atmosphere and oceans. Argues that 'the Mosaic account of the sun being created, or becoming visible on the fourth day of the creation' might be confirmed by the inference that the formation of the atmosphere led to the increasing intensity of heat and light from the sun. Gives an account of 'primitive islands' being raised from the sea. (376) Advances a theory that the convulsive action of the vast amount of steam produced when 'subterraneous fires' came into contact with the sea, was responsible for 'the deluge' and the formation of 'the Alps, the Andes, the Pyranean mountains &c.' (377). As a result of this action the primitive islands 'in all probability' became 'the bottom of the andiluvian sea; and the bottom of the andiluvian sea being more elevated, was converted into the post-deluvian mountains, continents, &c. This conjecture is remarkably confirmed by the vast numbers of fossile [sic] shells, and other marine exuvid, found embedded near the tops of mountains, and the interior parts of continents'. Comments that not only should these phenomena not be ascribed to a universal flood but that 'the mountains and continents were not primary productions; but of a very distant period of time from the creation of the world'. (378) Gives evidence to support these assertions by detailing the production of steam accompanying various volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, including Vesuvius in 1631, Ætna in 1755, and the Lisbon earthquake in 1755. Points out that the 'powerful and extensive effects of steam' are well known to metallurgists, citing Johann A Cramer's Elements of the Art of Assaying Metals (379).