II.—On the Probable Seat of Volcanic Action

Extract

The igneous theory of the earth's crust, which supposes it to have been at one time a fused mass, and to still retain in its interior a great degree of heat, is now generally admitted. In order to explain the origin of eruptive rocks, the phenomena of volcanos, and the movements of the earth's crust, all of which are conceived by geologists to depend upon the internal heat of the earth, three principal hypotheses have been forward. Of these the first supposes that in the cooling of the globe a solid crust of no great thickness was formed, which rests upon the still uncongealed nucleus. The second hypothesis, maintained by Hopkins and by Poulett Scope, supposes solidification to have commenced at the centre of the liquid globe, and to have advanced towards the circumference. Before the last portions became solidified, there was produced, it is conceived, a condition of imperfect liquidity, preventing the sinking of the cooled and heavier particles, and giving rise to the superficial crust, from which solidification would proceed downwards. There would thus be enclosed, between the inner and outer solid parts, a portion of uncongealed matter, which, according to Hopkins, may be supposed still to retain its liquid condition, and to be the seat of volcanic action, whether existing in isolated reservoirs or subterranean lakes; or whether, as suggested by Scrope, forming a continous sheet surrounding the solid nucleeus, whose existence is thus conciliated with the evident facts of a flexible crust, and of liquid ignited matters beneath.