the opinions of Stukeley and Beccaria on this head, does not absolutely decide which of these two philosophers has advanced the more probable opinion; but he thinks a more feasible general hypothesis than either of them, may be formed out of both. Suppose, says he, the electric matter to be some way or other accumulated on one part of the surface of the earth, and, on account of the dryness of the season, not easily to diffuse itself; it may, as Beccaria supposes, force itself a way into the higher regions of the air, forming clouds in its passage out of the vapours which float in the atmosphere, and occasion a sudden shower, which may further promote the passage of the fluid. The whole surface thus unloaded, will receive a concussion, like any other conducting substance, on parting with, or receiving any quantity of the electric fluid. The rushing noise will likewise sweep over the whole extent of the country. And, upon this supposition also, the fluid, in its discharge from the country, will naturally follow the course of the rivers, and take the advance of any eminences, to facilitate its ascent into the higher regions of the air. Whether these arguments in favour of the electrical hypothesis be absolutely conclusive, it is not my intention to inquire. But since the above eminent writers have delivered their respective opinions on the subject, a very ingenious naturalist, whose close attention to subterraneous geography, and the variety of new observations and interesting facts he has adduced, render his opinions highly deserving of notice, suggests the idea, that subterranean fire, and steam generated from it, are the true and real causes of earthquakes. And he thinks the elasticity of steam, and its expansive force, are every way capable of producing the stupendous effects attributed to earthquakes, when it is considered that this ex pansive force of steam is to that of gunpowder as 140 to 51. Such are the respective hypotheses concerning earthquakes. I leave my readers to form their own opinions of the probability of each, and shall conclude this paper with the following excellent moral lines: How greatly terrible, how dark and deep MALLET. No. LIV. ON VOLCANOS AND SUBTERRANEOUS FIRES. Horrificis juxta tonat Etna ruinis, VIRGIL. Etna roars with dreadful ruins nigh, Whitehurst's Inquiry into the Original State and Formation of the Earth. With loud displosion, to the starry frame, J. WARTON. Of all the volcanos, or ignivomous mountains, with which so many parts of the earth abound, Mount Etna, or Gibel, in the island of Sicily, is unquestionably the most ancient on record. As Homer, however, who flourished about 980 years before Christ, makes no mention of a phenomenon at once so tremendous and extraordinary, this mountain is supposed not to have burned before his time. Pindar, who lived 480 years after Homer, is the first poet who has given us a description of its fiery eruptions. He has feigned the giant Typhoeus to be overthrown by Jupiter, and overwhelmed by Etna, whose agitations and eruptions were caused by his vain attempts to release himself from its incumbent pressure. Of this fiction, Mr. West has given the following translation: Now under sulphurous Cuma's sea-bound coast, By snowy Etna, nurse of endless frost, The pillared prop of heaven, for ever pressed: Far o'er the redd'ning main huge rocky fragments pour. But he, Vulcanian monster, to the clouds The fiercest, hottest inundations throws, pansive force of steam is to that of gunpowder as 140 to 51. Such are the respective hypotheses concerning earthquakes. I leave my readers to form their own opinions of the probability of each, and shall conclude this paper with the following excellent moral lines: How greatly terrible, how dark and deep MALLET. No. LIV. ON VOLCANOS AND SUBTERRANEOUS Horrificis juxta tonat Etna ruinis, VIRGIL. Ætna roars with dreadful ruins nigh, 1 Whitehurst's Inquiry into the Original State and Formation of the Earth. With loud displosion, to the starry frame, Her shattered entrails wide the mountain throws, J. WARTON. OF all the volcanos, or ignivomous mountains, with which so many parts of the earth abound, Mount Etna, or Gibel, in the island of Sicily, is unquestionably the most ancient on record. As Homer, however, who flourished about 980 years before Christ, makes no mention of a phenomenon at once so tremendous and extraordinary, this mountain is supposed not to have burned before his time. Pindar, who lived 480 years after Homer, is the first poet who has given us a description of its fiery eruptions. He has feigned the giant Typhoeus to be overthrown by Jupiter, and overwhelmed by Etna, whose agitations and eruptions were caused by his vain attempts to release himself from its incumbent pressure. Of this fiction, Mr. West has given the following translation: Now under sulphurous Cuma's sea-bound coast, The pillared prop of heaven, for ever pressed: Far o'er the redd'ning main huge rocky fragments pour. The fiercest, hottest inundations throws, |