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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..52cabb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63322 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63322) diff --git a/old/63322-0.txt b/old/63322-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3cbedc2..0000000 --- a/old/63322-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2455 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and -Religious, by William Stukeley - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious - or, An Inquiry into Their Cause, and Their Purpose - -Author: William Stukeley - -Release Date: September 27, 2020 [EBook #63322] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILOSOPHY *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell, T Cosmas and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber Note: Text emphasis is denoted as _Italics_. - - - - - THE - - PHILOSOPHY - - OF - - EARTHQUAKES, - - Natural and Religious. - - OR - - An Inquiry into their Cause, and their - Purpose. - - _O Vita philosophia dux, virtutum indagatrix, expultrixque vitii!_ - - Cicero. - - By _WILLIAM STUKELEY_, M.D. Rector - of St. _George_'s, _Queen-Square_: Fellow of the - College of Physicians and Royal Society: - - The SECOND EDITION. - To which is added, PART II. on the same Subject. - - _LONDON_: - Printed for C. Corbet over-against St. _Dunstan_'s - Church, _Fleetstreet_. - - MDCCL. - - - - -To the Reader. - - -_The substance of the philosophical part of this discourse was -delivered at twice to the Royal Society, on_ March 15, _and_ 22: _The -theological, in my own church. I could not refuse the solicitation of my -friends, hearers in both places, to print it. I wish my intention, in -the compliance, may any ways prove successful; to show, how vain, and -unmeaning, are all our philosophical inquiries, when destitute of their -true view; to lead us into the more engaging paths of religion. That, -from speculation of material causes, we may become adepts in that wisdom -which is from above. Otherwise, like_ Epicurus, _and the ancient heathen -philosophers, we barter away our immortal part, for a curiosity, that -amuses us to no good purpose. Mean are these objects of our senses to be -accounted, in comparison of our spiritual natures, to which our principal -regard is due! For we must rightly say with_ Job: Lo, these are parts of -God's ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? and the thunder of -his power, who can understand? - -[Illustration] - - - - - TO - - _Martin Folkes_, Esq; LL.D. - - President of the Royal Society. - - - _March 26, 1750._ - -When so great and unusual a _phenomenon_, as an earthquake, and that -repeated, happens among us; it will naturally excite a serious reflection -in everyone that is capable of thinking. And we cannot help considering -it, both in a philosophical and a religious view. Any mind will take the -alarm when we perceive a motion that affects the earth, that bears the -whole city of _London_, and some miles round it. And at the same time -while it gives us so sensible a shake, so gently sets us down again; -without damage to any buildings, and without a life lost. - -'Tis hard to say, which is the greater wonder. But alas in the works -of nature, there are no degrees of great, and little; comparisons are -incompatible. We indeed are more affected with what seems great in our -own apprehensions: I would rather say, what is rare and unusual. An -omnipotent power admits of no distinctions. And when prodigious effects -are produc'd from causes imperceptible, it rightly claims our most serious -attention, as well as wonder. Nor need we lose sight of the theological -purpose of these amazing alarms; whilst we endeavor to find out the -philosophy of them. - -Among all the appearances of nature, which are the subject of the -inquiries of the Royal Society, none more deserves the regard of a -contemplative mind. And among the very numerous accounts received there, -from all quarters, being only Observations upon the manner of it, and -its extent: I judg'd, it became us to inquire into the _cause_ of so -extraordinary a motion: of which we could not form a proper idea; had we -not repeatedly seen, and felt it. - -The moderns have not improv'd upon the opinions of the ancients, in -this matter; any further than by the fancied analogy of some chymical -experiments. But these chymical experiments, and all sorts of explosions -by gun-powder, and the like, are to me a very unsatisfactory solution -they are merely artificial compositions, which can have nothing similar -in the bowels of the earth, and they produce their effects by violence, -by rending and tearing, by a _solutio continui_. This is indeed too -often the case of earthquakes, but _that_ is a partial degree, not -at all equivalent to the compass of the shock; and is very far from -being the constant concomitant of an earthquake. Quite the contrary. -Innumerable such happen, when there is no breach of the surface; and of -these three or four which we have now felt, nothing of it has appear'd. -But the immensity of the vibration of the earth which shook every house -in _London_, with impunity, and for twenty miles round, can never, in -my apprehension, be owing to so unbridled a cause, as any subterraneous -vapours, fermentations, rarefactions, and the like; the vulgar solution. -Nor does the kind of motion, which I discern in an earthquake, in any sort -agree with what we should expect from explosions. - -In order then to proceed with some degree of certainty, in our inquiry -after the cause of earthquakes, it will be useful, in the first place, -to set in one view, the general appearances remarkable therein; the most -usual concomitants: As we can collect them from our own observation, or -from the relations and writings of others. - - -Circumstances. - -I. That earthquakes always happen in calm seasons, in warm, dry, sultry -weather; or after a dry, frosty air. - -II. That they are felt at sea, as well as land, even in the main ocean; -and at that time, the sea is calm. - -III. That earthquakes differ very much in magnitude. Some shake a very -large tract of country, at the same instant of time; nay, sometime extend -to very many countries, separated by mountains, seas, lakes, the ocean. - -IV. That earthquakes differ very much in the quantity, of their vibratory -motion: Whence in some, tho' largely extended, they are innocuous; in -others, both small and great, they lay all in ruin and destruction. - -V. That a hollow, thundering, unusual noise accompanies them, or rather -seems to preceed the shock; which rolls in the air like the noise of -cannon. - -VI. That they are felt more sensibly in the upper story of houses than in -the lower. - -VII. That the shock is more violent upon more solid buildings, churches, -castles, and stone-houses, than upon those of slighter materials. - -VIII. That many people find themselves sick at stomach, with headake, and -pains in their joints, and the like, which sometime lasts for the day -after, or longer. - -IX. That earthquakes generally happen to great towns, and cities, and more -particularly to those that are situate on the sea. - -X. That earthquakes do not cause any damage to springs and fountains; but -the water in wells becomes foul for a short time. - -XI. That they are more frequent in the neighboring countries of a vulcano. - -This last circumstance, in my opinion, has led all inquirers in this -question, out of the true path; therefore I propose in the ensuing paper. - -I. To shew what it is not; the insufficiency of the vulgar opinion, of -subterraneous fires and vapours. - -II. To shew what it is in reality, as it appears to me. - -III. I shall conclude with the moral use we ought to make of these -prodigies of nature. - -I. The struggles of subterraneous winds and fires, that should heave -up the ground like animal convulsions, seem to me impossible: Their -powers, and manner of acting (if such there be) is quite incapable of -producing the appearance of an earthquake. That these should operate -instantaneously, in one minute, thro' a circle of 30 or 40 miles diameter, -or more, I could not conceive. Nor that there should be any possible, much -less ready passage thro' the solid earth, for such nimble agents, as every -one is apt to imagine that speak of this appearance; without sufficiently -reflecting on the insuperable difficulties in that _hypothesis_. - -We cannot pretend to deny that there may be such vapours, and -fermentations, inflammable substances, and actual fires, in the bowels of -the earth; and that there may be some caverns under-ground, as well as we -find some few above ground: such as _Pool_'s-_Hole_, _The Devil_'s-_Arse -in the Peak_ of _Derbyshire_, and _Okey-Hole_ in _Somersetshire_. -These, I believe, to have been so from the creation, never were made by -earthquakes. We know, there are hot springs running continually: There -are some vulcano's frequently belching out flames and smoke, and to these -perhaps some earthquakes may be owing, tho' not according to the vulgar -notion; as we shall see, by and by. - -But these matters are very rare, much rarer than earthquakes, both as to -time and place. _Vesuvius_ in _Italy_, and in that part of it abounding -with mines of sulphur: _Ætna_ in _Sicily_, and _Heckla_ in _Iceland_; -these are all we know of, in the old world. In the _Andes_ mountains of -_America_, there are some. The scarcity of these appears to me a strong -argument against the common deductions made therefrom, as to their being -the cause of earthquakes. - -Nor can I enter into the sentiments of those that hold the cavernous -state of the earth, so as to contribute to the forming an earthquake by -vapours running from place to place under ground. How many thousand acres -of coal-mines do they daily work in _England_, and have done for ages? I -have been myself 2 or 300 feet deep in a solid rock of native salt: I have -walked a mile lengthwise directly into the earth, and descending all the -way, in the proportion of one yard in five, 'till we came under the bed of -the very ocean, where ships were sailing over our heads. This was at Sir -_James Lowther_'s coal-pit, at _Whitehaven_. We were at this time deeper -under ground by the perpendicular, than any part of the ocean, between -_England_ and _Ireland_. - -We never hear, from the many hundreds of thousands of workmen in this -kind, at _Newcastle_, _Nottinghamshire_, _Yorkshire_, _Derbyshire_, -_Staffordshire_, _Somersetshire_, and _Wales_: from the infinite numbers -of workmen in the mines of lead, tin, and the like, of the cavernous -state of the earth, so as to give any colour for this _hypothesis_ of -earthquakes. The earth is generally of solid rock; in which there must be -now, and then, some clefts, and vacuities, small in compass, as naturally -so many heterogeneous _strata_ of the earth consolidate together. But -there can be no imagination of vapours breaking through, uniting, -traversing so suddenly, a large space of earth, so as to produce those -earthquakes, we have seen, and felt; much less such as we read of. The -workmen in all sorts of mines confess by their hard labor, that the earth -is not cavernous; nor are there mines of sulphur, nitre, and the like -inflammable materials in _England_. Or if there were, could they burn, -and cause convulsions of the earth, without proper cavities, pipes, and -conveyances of air; as vulcano's, and coal-pits, when set on fire. But -even from these coal-pits, when fired, do we ever find any thing like -an earthquake produced. Nor do we find earthquakes frequent in those -countries, that abound with coal-mines, as certainly would be the case, -if that _hypothesis_ was just. How easy would it be, on the slightest -occasion for earthquakes to happen in the countries abounding with -coal-mines, which are so full of artificial cavities communicating with -one another, for many miles together: The very thing supposed, by those -who hold the old opinion, of vapours traversing the earth for that purpose. - -In the coal-pits, some small natural cavities now and then are found; -which when opened, send forth a pestiferous vapor and a fire-damp which -runs for a long time together. And tho' there are many substances that -may generate air, within the bowels of the earth; yet these matters are -infinitely unable to produce an earthquake: Never would have force to open -a passage for themselves thro' the solid rock, of perhaps many hundred -feet in thickness. Nor did we observe in these last earthquakes any fire, -vapour, smoke, or smell, any kind of eruption, in the least; as must -certainly have been, in so great a struggle of the superfice, as affected -a circle of so large a diameter. Were there such, we could scarce hope any -otherwise, than that they would be too sensibly felt; to the destruction -of many thousands, by their pestiferous qualities. - -Indeed this consideration alone, of the extent of that surface, is -sufficient to overthrow any supposition, of earthquakes being chiefly -owing to subterraneous vapours: They cannot momentarily fly under so large -a tract of ground, if they were near the outward shell of the earth. They -could not do it without breaking ground, and discovering themselves to -the sight, or smell; and that for a long time after. It cannot possibly -be imagin'd, they could have so immense a force, as to lift up the city -of _London_, and never be perceived by our organs, and outward senses. We -have frequent accounts of a little fire-ball bursting in the air, at a -distance; yet it instantly propagates a sulphureous smell around. - -If the movement of a superficies of 30 miles diameter was owing to fumes, -and vapours; we ought reasonably to find some great discharges of them, -belching out smoke and fire, for a long time after, like vulcano's, -and coal-pits fir'd. The operation of the shock ought to be of hours -continuance, not instantaneous; and the evaporation of so vast a quantity -of matter, must darken the whole region of the air for a long time -after; or require a long time, if gradually it discharges itself. We see -how immense a volume of smoke is produc'd by a very small quantity of -gun-powder; and no vapour could be so subtle, that produc'd such effects, -and not be very obvious to our senses. - -Even in vulcano's, it is the opinion of the learned _Italian_ philosopher -_Borelli_, and of other great naturalists, that they are kindled first -from the surface, where there is a possibility of ventilation from the -air. They imagine, it begins at the top of the mountains; not by any -fancied fermentation of the _pyrites_ and sulphureous vapours arising from -subterraneous caverns, in the lower parts of mountains. - -There is another consideration, which utterly overthrows these -suppositions, of earthquakes being caused by anything under-ground; and -that is a due consideration of springs, and fountains perpetually flowing; -and that from the creation of the world to this day. If we would form any -tolerable idea of their nature, we must needs conceive, that God Almighty -has laid their pipes, and canals in the earth, from a great depth, even to -the surface; like as he has planted the veins, arteries, and glands in an -animal body. And likewise that they are more and more ramify'd, as they -nearer approach the outward shell of the earth; just so our veins, and -arteries, as they come nearer the skin. - -The workmen in coal-mines, and those of metals, minerals, and -stone-quarries, never fail to meet with springs, and currents of water, -every where. Often they ruin, and divert springs another way, only by -digging into the earth for foxes, and the like. Whenever they dig for -wells, in any kind of earth, they commonly find springs. The colliers, -and workers of mines, are oblig'd to drain the waters off with very great -expence. - -These are circumstances not favorable to subterraneous fires being in the -earth in abundance; much less to their being the cause of earthquakes. -And further, we cannot possibly think of earthquakes doing their work -that way, without absolutely ruining the whole system of springs, and -fountains, throughout the whole country, where they pass. But all this is -quite contrary to fact; even where an earthquake has been repeatedly. For -an instance from home. - -On _Wednesday, April_ 6, 1580, about six in the evening, just such another -earthquake was felt in _London_ and around it, as these two we have seen. -Another exactly similar 1692. In all these four, no houses thrown down, no -springs disturb'd thereby, no sensible eruptions nor smells. - -These considerations I apply only to this little inconsiderable space, -of a circle 30 miles diameter; as with us. But what is that to the -earthquakes we read of in history? In the year of our Lord 17, no less -than thirteen great and noble cities in _Asia minor_, were destroyed in -one night. _Tacitus_, _Pliny_, and many other authors mention it. The fact -is so notorious, that some persons here present, have seen a vast block of -white marble now standing near _Naples_; being the pedestal of a coloss -statue of _Tiberius_ the emperor; having carv'd on it the _genius's_, or -pictures of all those cities, with their names. The accurate _Bulifon_ and -others have wrote treatises upon it. These cities were rebuilt by that -emperor. But without going so far, we may see another evidence of it, a -coin of that emperor struck upon the occasion, with this inscription, - - CIVITATIBUS ASIAE RESTITUTIS. - -I have one of them, in large brass, which was found at _Colchester_. - -The compass of this earthquake may be reckon'd to take up 300 miles -diameter, as a circle. Now, we cannot conceive, how any subterraneous -vapour can produce such an effect, as instantaneously to demolish all -these cities; and that such an accident should never happen after. -That the whole country of _Asia minor_ should not at the same time be -destroy'd, its mountains be renversed, its fountains, springs, and rivers -broken up and ruin'd for ever. Instead whereof we find nothing suffered, -but those cities; no kind of alteration in the surface of the country; -it remains the same as it were in the beginning of time. In 1586 an -earthquake in _Peru_, that extended 900 miles. - -From these considerations, I cannot persuade myself, to enter into the -opinion of vapours, and eruptions being the cause sought for; and, after -we have treated the argument in a superficial view, we must go a little -deeper. - -If we would consider things like philosophers, let us propose to ourselves -this problem: Where is the power to be plac'd, that is requir'd to move a -surface of earth 30 miles in diameter? - -To answer this, consult the ingineers, and those that make mines in the -sieges of towns; they will acquaint us, that the effect of mines is -produced in form of an inverted cone. And that a diameter of 30 miles, in -the base, will require an _axis_ of 15 or 20 miles to operate upon that -base, so as to shake it, at least. Now the vapours, or whatever power we -propose to operate, according to the foregoing requisite, in order to form -the appearance of an earthquake, must be 15 or 20 miles deep in the earth. -But what mind can conceive, that any natural power is able to move an -inverted cone of solid earth, whose base is 30 miles diameter, whose axis -20? or was it possible; would not the whole texture of that body of earth -be quite disturb'd and shatter'd, especially in regard to its springs and -fountains? but nothing like this is ever found to be the consequence of an -earthquake, tho' fatal to cities. - -Apply this reasoning to the earthquake of _Asia minor_, and this vigorous -principle at the _apex_ of the cone must lie, at least, 200 Miles deep in -the ground. Enough to show the absurdity of any moving power plac'd under -the Earth! A cone of 300 miles diameter at base, 200 miles _axis_: I dare -be bold to say, that all the gun-powder made since its invention, if put -together and fired, would not be able to move it; how much less pent up -vapours? what must we say of a circle of 900 miles diameter? - -But, could that be admitted as possible, would any one be persuaded, -that such a subterraneous tumult, of so vast an extent, will be no ways -injurious to the internal system of springs and fountains, and that this -shall often be repeated without the least damage? We may as well imagine, -that we can stab a man 100 times and never touch vein or artery. - -Since I gave in my two papers to the Royal Society, a letter of Mr. -_Flamsted_'s has been printed, which abundantly confirms my sentiments. -The whole drift of it is, to show how invalid is the vulgar idea -conceiv'd, of earthquakes arising from subterraneous vapours and -eruptions: That the earth itself is not moved to any depth, and that the -shock must arise from the atmosphere. The circumstances which he has -judiciously collected, are extremely agreeable to mine; many of them the -very same, strongly confirming my _hypothesis_: And had that great man -known the properties of electricity, which we are now masters of, he would -have prevented me in this affair. - -"Considering (says he) what variety of substances, sand, gravel, stones, -rock, minerals, clay, and mold, our earth is compounded of, and how little -nitre, or explosive matter, a large quantity thereof will afford; I cannot -think, where we can find matter enough to move so vast a bulk of earth, -as all the South parts of _England_, all the _Netherlands_, with part -of _Germany_, all _France_, and perhaps _Italy_, (which were shock'd at -once the 8th of _September_ last 1692;) or part of _Asia_, and near all -_Europe_, which trembled together the same day, 91 years before. - -"But, allowing there may have been sufficient matter prepared for these -purposes, I can hardly think, there are continued cavities, at any -reasonable depth, all under _Europe_, wherein an explosion being made, -might shake the whole at once, and yet make no clefts, or separations, -in those parts where the minerals and mountainous rocks part from the -light mold and clay. If an hundred barrels of gun-powder could be fixed -in some cave, a thousand yards under ground; allowing the force of the -explosion sufficient to raise all the weight of earth incumbent on the -cavern; it would certainly break the loose mold from any large solid rock -we may conceive adjacent, and leave at least some clefts behind it. But we -seldom or never hear of such clefts, made in such places, when earthquakes -happen." - -Again, he writes thus: "I cannot apprehend, (if all earthquakes must -be made by explosions in subterraneous caverns) why sometimes a large -country, or whole continent, should be thereby shook all at once; why -there should be no eruptions in the neighbourhood?" - -From all circumstances consider'd, he concludes, that the abstruse, -effective cause of them comes from the air; and that a calm is necessary -before an earthquake. And these two particulars are likewise Dr. _Hales_'s -positions: "The earth-lightning, as he calls it, is first kindled on the -surface, and not at great depths, as has been thought; whose explosion is -the immediate cause of an earthquake. He says, long, dry, hot seasons, -are usually the preparatory forerunners of earthquakes." From all these -considerations I conclude; earthquakes are not caus'd by subterraneous -vapors. - -II. We are to inquire, what is the cause of earthquakes. - -In an age when electricity has been so much our entertainment, and our -amazement; when we are become so well acquainted with its stupendous -powers and properties, its velocity, and instantaneous operation through -any given distance; when we see, upon a touch, or an approach, between -a non-electric and an electrified body, what a wonderful vibration is -produc'd! what a snap it gives! how an innocuous flame breaks forth! -how violent a shock! Is it to be wonder'd at, that hither we turn our -thoughts, for the solution of the prodigious appearance of an earthquake? - -Here is at once an assemblage of all those properties and circumstances -which we so often see in courses of electricity. Electricity may be call'd -a sort of soul to matter, thought to be an ethereal fire pervading all -things; and acting instantaneously, where, and as far as it is excited. -'Tis every body's observation, that there never was a winter, like the -last past, in any one's memory, so extremely remarkable for warmth and -driness, abounding with thunder and lightning, very uncommon in winter; -coruscations in the air frequent, justly thought electrical by all -philosophers; particularly, twice we had the extraordinary appearance of -that called _aurora australis_, with colours altogether unusual; and this -just before the first earthquake: All the while the wind constantly south -and south-west, and that without rain, which is unusual with these winds. - -This state of the atmosphere had continued five months before the first -earthquake. Is it not hence reasonable to conclude, that the earth, -especially in our region, must be brought into an unusual state of -electricity; into that vibratory condition wherein electricity consists; -and, consequently, nothing was wanting but the approach of a non-electric -body, to produce that snap, and that shock, which we call an earthquake; a -vibration of the superficies of the earth. - -That the earth was in that vibratory and electric state we have further -reason to conclude, from the very extraordinary forwardness of all the -vegetable world with us. Every one knows, that, at the end of _February_, -all sorts of garden-stuff, trees, fruits, and flowers, were as forward -as in other years, by the middle of _April_. Conformable to which, -experiments abundantly show, that electrifying of plants quickens their -growth, equally as in animals it quickens the pulse. Nor will the unusual -driness and warmth of the weather solely account for such a precipitate -vegetation: because a necessary supply of rain was wanting, as in the -natural Spring-season. - -A very long dry frost will produce the same electrical state of the earth, -as it equally favours electrical experiments. Thus, _March_ 27, 1076, -a frost from the 1st of _November_ to the middle of _April_, a general -earthquake in _England_ succeeded. _Matt. Paris._ That of _Oxford_, 17th -of _September_ 1683, was after a frost. _Jan._ 4, 1680, An earthquake in -_Somersetshire_: The air was very calm; a frosty night. - -Mr. _Flamsted_ concurs with us, in our first position, That earthquakes -always happen in _calm_ seasons. He adds, "That _Keckerman_, a learned -author, who wrote on the subject, affirms, and backs it from the authority -of _Aristotle_ and _Pliny_." - -The 8th of _September_ 1601 was a very calm day but cloudy: And the -_Smyrna_ merchants observe the earthquakes there happen in calm, still -weather. The remarkable clearness and calmness of the morning was observed -in that of _Oxford_ 17th of _September_ 1683, and the air continued -so for five or six days after: Therefore we may infer, that it is not -impossible, what has been abundantly related, that some foreigners -from _Italy_ here in _England_, some from the _West-Indies_ (in both -which countries earthquakes are more frequent than with us) did seem to -apprehend our first earthquakes from the apparent temper of the weather; -and observations of this kind are as old as _Aristotle_. It is observed -in _Jamaica_, when the air is extraordinary calm, an earthquake is always -apprehended. - -We had lately read at the Royal Society, a very curious discourse, from -Mr. _Franklin_ of _Philadelphia_, concerning thundergusts, lightning, -the northern lights, and meteors. All which he rightly solves from the -doctrine of electricity. For, if a cloud raised from the sea, which is -a non-electric, happens to touch a cloud raised from exhalations of the -land, when electrified, it must immediately cause thunder and lightning. -The electrical fire flowing from the touch of perhaps a thousand miles -compass of clouds, makes that appearance, which we call lightning. The -snap which we hear in our electrical experiments, when re-echoed from -cloud to cloud, the extent of the firmament, makes that affrightning sound -of thunder. - -From the same principle I infer, that, if a non-electric cloud discharges -its contents upon any part of the earth, when in a high electrified state, -an earthquake must necessarily ensue. The ship made upon the contact of -many miles compass of solid earth is that horrible uncouth noise, which -we hear upon an earthquake; and the shock is the earthquake itself. - -In the relation received from _Portsmouth_, and the _Isle of Wight_, -concerning the last shock there, on the 18th of _March_, the writer -observes, the Day was warm and serene; but, upon a gentle shower falling -in the evening, the earthquake came. Here we have reason to apprehend the -electrified state of the earth, and the touch of the non-electric: which -caused the earthquake. - -The learned Dr. _Childrey_ observes, treating on this subject, that -earthquakes happen upon rain; a sudden shower of rain in the time of a -great drought. - -'Tis objected, that, if this was the case, nothing would be more frequent -than earthquakes; but these two circumstances concurring, a shower and -dry weather, must not necessarily cause it, any more than touching a -tube before it is electrified causes a snap. The earth must be in a -proper electrified state to produce it; and electricity has its fits; is -remitted, intended, ceased and recommenced. It has its bounds. All causes -must concur. And now, with us, all necessary causes did so apparently. -Tho' a shower of rain falling upon the earth when electrified, may cause -an earthquake, yet too much rain before, will prevent that state of -electricity, necessary. - -The day before the catastrophe of _Port-Royal_, the weather was remarkably -serene and clear. In that most dreadful earthquake, 1692, of _Sicily_, -where 54 cities and towns, beside a great number of villages were -destroy'd; but especially the whole city of _Catania_: It was preceded by -a most agreeable, serene and warm season, which was the more observable on -account of its being unusual at that time of the year. - -I have been inform'd, that in the morning of both earthquakes last past -with us, the air was serene and calm; on the morning before that 8th -of _February_, the air was observ'd to be remarkably calm; and that a -little before, a black cloud appear'd over great part of the horizon. Dr. -_Hales_, in his relation, says, the Centinels in _St. James's Park_, and -others who were abroad in the morning of the last earthquake, observ'd a -large black cloud, and some coruscations, just before the shock, and that -it was very calm weather: And that, in the history of earthquakes, they -generally begin in calm weather, with a black cloud. - -This observation precludes the suspicion of earthquakes arising from -tumults and commotions in the upper, or under region of the air. The -remarkable clearness of the air before earthquakes, observ'd by all, shows -evidently how free it is from vapours and the like. - -Agreeable to our _fifth_ position, Mr. _Flamsted_ writes, "A hollow noise -in the air always precedes an earthquake, so near that it rather seems to -accompany them. He refers us to _Philosophical Transactions_, N^o 151. p. -311. The noise was heard by many that liv'd in the out-streets, and alleys -of _London_, remote from the noise and tumult of the greater streets." - -This he speaks of that felt in _London_ 1692; but now the whole city heard -the noise, on both these earthquakes of ours. - -The gardener, who gave a relation to the Royal Society of what he observed -in the _Temple_-garden, took notice, that first he heard the most dreadful -noise imaginable, which he thought to be a great discharge of ship-guns, -on the river: and that the noise rolled from the water-side towards -_Temple-bar_, rather before the nodding of the houses. - -The gentleman who observed it about _Hartingfordbury_, says, the noise -preceded the shock. And this is a common observation, which at once both -strengthens our opinion of electricity, and confutes that of subterraneous -vapours; for, in the latter case, the concussion must precede the noise. - -Agreeable to out _second_ position, Mr. _Flamsted_ writes, "That -earthquakes are felt at sea, equally as on land. Our merchants say, -that, tho' the water in the bay of _Smyrna_ lies level and smooth as -a pond; yet ships riding there feel the shocks very sensibly, but in a -very different manner from the houses at land: For they heave not, but -tremble; their masts shiver, as if they would fall to pieces and their -guns start in their carriages, though the surface of the sea lies all the -time calm and unmoved." In Dr. _Hook_'s _Philosophical Collections_, N^o -6. p. 185. we are told, "That a ship felt a shock in the main ocean; that -the passengers, who had been asleep in their cabins, came upon deck in a -fright, fearing the ship had struck upon some rock; but, on heaving the -lead, found themselves out of soundings." - -All this is extremely agreeable to our assumption. The water receives the -electrical touch, and vibratory intestine motion of its parts, as well as -land. And the impression may be made solely on the writer a non-electric, -by the touch of an electric fire-ball, or the like; and that seems to have -been often the care. The proper vibratory motion is impress'd on the water -without ruffling its surface; and so communicated to all the parts of the -ship, gives the sense of a shock to the bottom, the shivering to the mast, -and the rest of the symptoms: which sufficiently proclaim the cause of it -to be an electrical impression upon the water. The president mentioned -a relation of a waterman, that felt it in his boat upon the river; he -thought it like a great thump at the bottom of the boat. And so the ships -at sea fancy, they strike upon a rock. - -This makes us apprehend, the reason of the fishes leaping up out of -the canal in _Southwark_, of which we had an account. So in that of -_Oxford_, 1683, one fishing in the _Charwell_ felt his boat tremble under -him, and the lesser fishes seem'd affrighted by an unusual skipping. -That electricity is the cause sought for, seems deducible from this -consideration. Several writers on earthquakes assimilate these vibrations -of the earth to those of a musical string. Experiments have shown, that -fishes in water may be killed by the particular tone of a musical string; -and 'tis known, that electricity will kill animals. They assuredly felt -the vibratory motion in the water, which they were absolutely strangers -to before. No doubt it made them sick; as those of weak nerves on land. -And this circumstance alone precludes any suspicion of subterraneous fires -under the ocean. Or, if we were to admit of it, would the boiling of the -water exhibit any appearance, like what we are speaking of, either to the -water, or to the ship? - -Mr. _Flamsted_ likewise concurs in our _eighth_ position, "That many -people found themselves suddenly sick at stomach, and their heads dizzy -and light; so that those that had formerly fits of apoplexies, dreaded -their return; particularly, one gentleman, a surgeon, feeling himself so -affected, and fearing a return of his apoplexy, resolved to be let blood, -without suspecting the earthquake." - -After these two shocks which we felt, many people had pains in their -joints and back, as after electrifying; many had sickness, headakes, -hysteric and nervous disorders, and colicks, for the whole day after, and -some much longer, especially people of weak nerves, weak constitutions; -some women miscarry'd upon it; to some it has prov'd fatal. - -To this we must attribute, that relation we had, of the dog lying asleep -before the fire; but upon the earthquake, he suddenly rose up, run about -the room, whining, and endeavouring to get out. - -Any solid matter is capable of being put into a state or electricity, -such as iron guns; and the more so, by reason of their solidity. And in -proportion to it, is the greatness of the snap, and of the shock; and -a kind of lambent flame issues from the point of contact; and likewise -somewhat of a sulphureous smell: So that if both flame and smell were -discernible in an earthquake; 'tis to be found, without going to the -bowels of the earth. - -Dr. _Hales_ mentions, that solid bodies are the best conductors of aereal -lightning; whence oaks are rent, and iron melted. And in our earthquakes -in _London_, the loudest noise was heard near such large stone buildings, -as churches, with lofty steeples. From the top of these we must apprehend, -that the electrical explosion goes off into the open air; as in our -experiments, from the point of swords, and the like. - -The electrical shock is proportionate to the solid electrified, agreeable -to our _seventh_ position. This fully accounts for earthquakes in general, -and for many in particular. What can be imagin'd greater than a shock of -the body of the earth? 'Tis greater, or less in proportion to the state of -electrification. And now we can account for several appearances. In the -first earthquake, the Lord Chancellor, Masters in Chancery, and several -Judges, were sitting in _Westminster-Hall_, with their backs to the wall -of the upper-end, which is of a vast thickness. They all relate the -severity of the shock, from the wall seeming to push towards them with -great violence. - -And thus in the earthquake of 1692, _Deal_ castle is one of them built -by _Henry_ VIII. the walls are of immense thickness, and strength; yet -they shook so sensibly, that the people living in it, expected it was -falling on their heads. And this is the case in all earthquakes: the more -substantial the building, the more violent is the shock: exactly the mode -of electrical vibration. And this Dr. _Hales_ takes notice of and others; -that an earthquake shatters rocks of marble, more easily than the _strata_ -of sand, earth, or gravel. In the earthquake here of 1692, a great cliff -fell down near _Dover_; and part of _Saltwood_-castle wall. - -'Tis from hence we account for that observation, that when we electrify -any person; upon a touch, the pain and blow of the shock is felt at the -joints, the wrist, elbow, and shoulder, for instance, more than in the -intermediate parts; because _there_ is the greatest quantity of solid. - -At the same time, that the force of electricity in solids, is as the -quantity of matter: we see most evidently, by innumerable experiments, -that water is equally assistant in strengthening, and conveying the force -of electricity; and _that_ in proportion too to its quantity. And hence -is to be deduc'd the reason of my observation; that the most frequent and -dreadful earthquakes have fallen upon maritime places. And I find the same -is taken notice of in some degree, by _Acosta_, by _Dolittle_, who wrote -on that in 1692, and others. - -In the dreadful catastrophe at _Port-Royal_ then, 'tis notorious, that its -violence was chiefly near the sea. So _Lima_ could not suffer without its -port of _Callao_. Even in those so lately felt by us, they were sensibly -more violent towards the river, than farther from it. - -In that earthquake which was felt in _England_, in the year 1692, (which -was very much like these with us) there were no houses thrown down, nor -persons kill'd: but it reach'd more particularly _Sheerness_, _Sandwich_, -_Deal_, _Dover_, _Portsmouth_, and the maritime parts of _Holland_, -_Flanders_, and _Normandy_. - -In this that happened on _Sunday_ the 18th of _March_ last, at _Bath_; -it was felt particularly and strongly at _Portsmouth_, seven miles -above and below it, on the sea-side; all round the isle of _Wight_, -at _Southampton_, the sea-coast of _Selsey_, south of _Chichester_, -_Arundel_, and the whole coast of _Sussex_, without going up the land; and -across the sea to the islands of _Jersey_ and _Guernsey_. - -On _Monday_ night, the 2d of this instant _April_, 1750, at ten o'clock, -at _Leverpool_, a shock of an earthquake. And felt in several other places -in the neighbourhood; but particularly at _Chester_, and _Warington_. - -If we look into ancient history, we find 197 years before Christ, an -earthquake shook terribly the isle of _Rhodes_, damag'd many cities: and -some quite swallow'd up. - -Seventeen years before Christ, many cities in the isle of _Cyprus_ -destroy'd. - -Six years before Christ, the isle of _Coos_ vehemently afflicted. - -During the _Peloponnesian_ war among the _Greeks_, the isle of _Delos_ -shaken, and the most beautiful temple of _Apollo_ thrown down. - -Soon after, the city of _Lacedæmon_ totally destroy'd. - -_A. D._ 79. Three cities in _Cyprus_ overthrown. - -_A. D._ 82. The city of _Smyrna_ ruined. - -In the time of _Valens_ the emperor, a terrible earthquake in _Crete_, -whereby 100 cities were destroy'd. - -_Feb._ 13, 1247, An earthquake, chiefly felt in the _Thames_. _Matt. -Paris._ - -_May_, 1382, A general earthquake, which did much mischief; the _Friday_ -following one less; the _Saturday_ following, one felt mostly by water. -_Henry de Knyhton._ _Holinshed._ - -_A. D._ 1456, In the city of _Naples_, 40,000 people lost. - -_Constantinople_ has often suffer'd; particularly in 1509, 13,000 people -overwhelm'd. - -1531, At _Lisbon_, 1400 houses thrown down; as many shatter'd. - -_April_, 1690, The _Leeward-Islands_, _Montserat_, _Nevis_, and _Antigua_: -At _Martinico_, and the _French_ islands, at St. _Lucia_, &c. a violent -earthquake. - -_Dec._ 8, 1703, An earthquake at _Hull_, a perfect calm. - -1702, At _Stroution_, in _Argyleshire_, which extended all along the west -coast of _Great-Britain_; but to no breadth on land. - -_Oct._ 25, 1734, At _Havant_, in _Sussex_, considerable, the air perfectly -calm. - -But instances enough, to show what I aim'd at, that maritime places are -most subject; which is a strong argument in favour of electricity; when -both the solid of the earth, and the quantity of the water concur, to make -the shock; exactly as in electrical experiments; when the bottle of water -is held in the hand. - -Thus when our mind is discharged of the prejudices of former notions, we -discern, that every appearance favours the principle we go upon. That, -agreeable to Mr. _Flamsted_, subterraneous explosions, could they pervade, -and traverse the earth at pleasure, must at last burst, and disperse -every thing in their way. Yet 'tis not possible for us to imagine, such -a kind of vibration should follow, either by sea or land, as that we are -treating of. But electricity compleatly answers it. This accounts for -that superficial movement of the earth, that universal instantaneous -shock, which made every house in _London_ to tremble, none to fall: That -quivering, tremulous, horizontal vibration, highly different from any -motion we must conceive, to be produc'd from subterraneous evaporations. -Hence authors tell us, _Dec._ 30, 1739, describing an earthquake in the -west-riding of _Yorkshire_: It seem'd as if the earth mov'd backward and -forward horizontally; a quivering, with reciprocal vibrations. - -Mr. _Flamsted_ rightly accounts the motion of earthquakes to be -undulatory; and by being continued, causes a like motion to a great -distance. As when you strike a long stretch'd string of wire at one end, -the motion is immediately continued to the other. So far he entered into -the nature of electricity. - -Tho' he be in the right, thinking the cause comes from the air, yet what -follows, contradicts his own hypothesis. For if a calm be necessary before -an earthquake; then 'tis not produc'd by any turbulence in the air. Nor -can we imagine that any aerial commotion, tho' it may shake windows, -chimneys, and the like, shall reach 500 miles distance, split the solid -earth, destroy whole cities, and cause those dire desolations we hear of. - -Mr. _Flamsted_ mentions a circumstance, that the earthquake here in 1692, -was not felt in the north of _England_, nor in all _Scotland_: for rain -fell that day in both. We may very readily conceive, the earth there was -not in an electrified state; and the rain would sufficiently prevent it. -We hence understand, how the southern regions should be more subject to -them, than our northern; where the warmth, and driness of the air, so -necessary to electricity, is more frequent than with us. - -From electric vibration only can we account for our _tenth_ position, of -springs, and fountains being no ways damag'd by earthquakes: The motion -goes no deeper into the earth, than the force and quantity of the shock -reaches; which generally is not far; yet it proceeds lower down when the -ready passage of a well offers, and _there_ affects the water contained in -it; puts it into an intestine vibration, as to foul it, and raise mud from -the bottom. - -It may seem difficult to conceive, how a large portion of the earth's -surface should be thus capable of electrification. This difficulty -is lessened by reflecting on the nature of electricity, and of the -electrical, ethereal fluid pervading all things: how it is excited by the -little motion of a small revolving glass globe. By this we electrify the -most solid bodies, to the greatest distance, and with a velocity equal to -that of lightning. - -Dr. _Hales_ observes, that the usual explosion of the cannon on great -days, in St. _James_'s-_Park_, is observ'd to electrify the glass, in the -windows of the Treasury. - -We must conceive, that when the electric shock is communicated to one part -of the earth, it extends itself proportionably to the force of the shock, -and to the quantity of electrified surface; and to the quality of the -matter more or less susceptible of it, more or less apt to propagate it. - -Set 1000 men in a row; let every one communicate with those next him by -an iron-wire held in their hands: on an electrical shock they all feel -it alike, at the same instant; and this gives us a very good idea of the -earthquake. - -When the earth is broken up in any large degree, 'tis by the sea-side; -where sometimes on a bold shore, whole streets tumble into the sea, or -into the gaping earth, now falling toward the sea. Sometimes on a flat and -sandy shore, whole streets are rolled along the level into the sea. - -I am not sensible of any real objection against our _hypothesis_, but -this, being the _eleventh_ of my positions, or circumstances. It seems -true, that earthquakes are more frequent in _Italy_, near _Vesuvius_, -and by _Ætna_, in _Sicily_. And the cause seems apparently owing to -these vulcano's. At first sight, every one would think so, but not from -the true reason. This has given the great prejudice to the judgments -of the curious, even at this day. But consider the matter impartially, -and it will appear, so far from being a strong argument in favour of -subterraneous eruptions, that it ought to be esteem'd a convincing proof -to the contrary, and most cogent in favour of my principle. In strictest -logic, there is no inference to be made from particulars to generals. -Quite the contrary. We have but these two or three vulcano's on one -quarter of the globe, and two of them toward the warmer climate of it; -whereas earthquakes are innumerable, especially in those of a warmer -clime. That there are no vulcano's, no discharges of fire and smoke for a -continuance, and abundance, after earthquakes; no suspicion of it either -from sight or smell, as we know by innumerable examples, as well as in -our own country, and experience: is demonstration, that this is not the -cause. If the vulcano's were the real cause of earthquakes, we ought -assuredly to expect, that in the countries thereabouts, the earthquakes -ought to be far more extensive than those in other countries, where are -no vulcano's; but this is altogether contrary to experience. For, as the -celebrated naturalist _Buffon_ observes, such are not extensive, as are -near _Ætna_ and _Vesuvius_. He further adds: _Histoire naturelle_, tom. -I. p. 508. speaking, among many others, of a _vulcano_ in the island of -_Ternate_, he remarks, "That this burning gulph is less agitated when -the air is calm, and the season mild, than in storms and hurricanes;" -and says, "This confirms what I have said in my foregoing discourse, and -seems evidently to prove, that the fire which makes _vulcano's_ comes not -from the bottom of mountains, but from the tops, or at least from a very -little depth; and that the hearth (or floor) of the fire is not far from -the summit of the _vulcano's_; for, if this was not the case, great winds -could not contribute to their conflagration." And this, in general, is a -corroborative proof of my whole hypothesis. For there can be no great fire -in the earth, where there is no great conveyance of air. - -We have one vulcano in the cold region of _Iceland_, and there is -sometimes an earthquake there; but, in the countries of that northern -latitude, and those of lesser, 'tis obvious in all history, that -earthquakes are less frequent than in the more southern. Therefore 'tis -easy, and very natural to conclude, from all considerations weighed -together, that these vulcano's help to put the earth about them, into that -vibratory state and condition of electricity, which is the requisite in my -_hypothesis_, and by that means only, promote a frequency of earthquakes -there. - -I have only one circumstance to add, which may seem not inconsiderable; -probably perceived by many, tho' not taken notice of. For a whole week -before the first earthquake, the partition wainscot of my house (between -the forward and backward rooms) made an odd kind of tremulous, crackling -noise continually, as if the wainscot would split; or as if some damage -was apprehended to the house. This was observ'd by the family, with a good -deal of concern. _That_ in the chamber crackled more than that below. -We never perceiv'd it before, nor since; and apparently, it shows the -vibratory state of the surface of the earth, at that time. - -But whether our conjectures upon this important subject be well founded -or no, it certainly becomes a christian philosopher, whilst he is -investigating material causes, to look up, and regard the moral use of -them. For in reality, every thing, the whole world, was ultimately for -that purpose made. When we see such a kind of spirituality impress'd on -mere matter, as this amazing property of electricity, it should kindle in -us a high ambition of asserting, and exerting the infinitely superior -value, and powers, and excellency of the spiritual part of us, destin'd -to an immortal duration. And of all the great and public calamities, -which affect us mortals, earthquakes claim the first title to the name -of warnings and judgments. None so proper to threaten, or to execute -vengeance upon a guilty people. Nor has any other, those annexed terrors, -so much of the unusual, the unavoidable, the sudden and the horrible -apprehension of being crush'd to death, or buried alive. And when in our -own sight, these rare and extraordinary _phænomena_ appear, it cannot but -be a lesson to us, to do our duty toward that great Being, who, by a drop -of water, can produce effects so prodigious. - -That earthquakes proclaim themselves to mankind in this light, is further -deducible from this observation, the _ninth_ in our recapitulation of -circumstances; that they are peculiarly directed to great cities, and -maritime towns, those nurseries of wealth, luxury, and of all the evils -naturally flowing therefrom. It would be childish to rehearse from old -history, or modern, a proof of it. We have no other notices of them. Look -upon these two shocks we have here felt. We own that _Hampsted-heath_, and -_Finchley-forest_, and _Kennington-common_ were affected with it; yet it -is notorious, that _London_ was the center, the place to which the finger -of God was pointed. - -And this leads us in the _third_ place, to consider the moral use and -purpose of these _magnalia naturæ_, and prodigies of the agency of -material causes. For nothing sure, but an electrical shock, and that from -a divine hand, could have been so well adjusted, as twice, nay four times, -so sensibly to shake every house in _London_, and not throw one down. This -duty we will endeavour to execute, from the words of that great man, king -_David_. - -[Illustration] - - - - - PSALM xviii. 7. - - _Then the earth shook, and trembled; the foundations also of the - hills moved, and were shaken; because he was wroth._ - - -This Psalm is a triumphal song, which _David_ deliver'd publickly before -God, in thankful remembrance of the great mercies he had receiv'd; -being firmly established on his throne: and all his enemies, foreign or -domestick, subdued. - -He does not attribute this happy situation of his affairs to his own -prudence and courage; but, like a consummate politician, absolutely to -the mediation of the divine providence. He draws up a most grand and -magnificent description of the advent of the deity, such as words never -before expressed. All the heathen pictures of the appearance of their -gods, are cold and lame, compar'd to this; which is deservedly so much -admir'd by all criticks that have any taste for religion, as well as -language. - -This verse, in our text, is the first movement in the scene, which was to -represent the appearance of _Jehovah_, without whose interposition _David_ -hoped for nothing fortunate. After describing all the pomp of light, -and darkness, celestial; hailstones, thunder, lightning, and the like -instances of majesty and terror, in the skies; he still keeps his eye on -the ground, and concludes with the earthquake, where he began. - -_Then the channels of waters were seen; and the foundations of the earth -were discovered; at thy rebuke, O Lord; at the blast of the breath of thy -nostrils._ - -Our holy psalmist, at other times, has exhibited the same images, in -different coloring; as a great master varies his works, to strike out all -the beauties. - -Psal. lxviii. 7. _O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people; when -thou didst march thro' the wilderness; the earth shook, the heavens also -dropped, at the presence of God. Even Sinai itself was moved, at the -presence of God; the God of Israel._ - -By this he means, the giving the law. _Exod._ xix. 8. _And mount Sinai -was altogether on a smoke; because the Lord descended on it in fire: and -the smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked -greatly._ - -Again, Psal. cxiv. when he is describing the passage over the _Red-sea_, -and that over _Jordan_; he brings in the machinery of earthquakes, to -testify the divine presence. - -_When Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among a -strange people; the sea saw it and fled. Jordan was driven back._ - -_The mountains skipped like rams: and the little hills like young sheep._ - -Then he asks the question, _What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou -fleddest? and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?_ - -_Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams, and ye little hills like young -sheep?_ - -He answers: _Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord: at the -presence of the God of Jacob._ - -He fails not to attribute these marvellous appearances, to their true -cause. Tho' he knew full well, that the God of nature administred the -ordinary course of the earth by second causes; yet he could not be so -blind but to perceive, when the waves of the ocean retreated; when the -waters of _Jordan_ divided; when mount _Sinai_ was all in fire, smoke, -lightning and thunder, with the trumpet of God sounding, and the whole -mountain shaking: he could not but perceive the presence of the author of -nature, in these extraordinary appearances. - -But every where in sacred scripture earthquakes are particularly singled -out, above all other natural _phænomena_, as having more of the majesty -and terrific pomp, to denote an immediate operation of God's hand; to -excite our fear, and shew his anger, as in our text, _because he was -wroth_. In imitation of the sacred writers, the heathen poets, both -_greek_ and _latin_, express the anger of their _Jupiter_ by an earthquake: - - _Terrificam capitis concussit terque quaterque - Cæsariem; cum qua terram, mare, sidera, movit._ - - Ovid. - -The moving meteors in the free air, lightning, coruscations, -fire-balls, tempests, thunders, or the dreaded comets, tho' frightful -enough; yet people that do not think to any purpose, hope, as they are at -a distance, to escape their effects. But when the terror comes home to -us, to our feet; when the earth moves on which we stand; what heart is -not moved? When our houses _shake_ over our ears, the greatest courage is -_shaken_. - -It is true, an earthquake causes an universal dread among all sorts of -people; even the philosopher immersed in speculation of second causes, -quakes; as well as the pious, whose fear proceeds from solid piety: a due -sense of the _anger_ of the almighty Being. - -We saw how the late earthquakes affrighted every one; but, as to the -generality, it was but for a moment. When they found themselves safe, and -alive; thoughtless they ran to their business, or their diversion: and -this not only the first, but the second time. And I am apprehensive, were -another, and another to come, they would only be less regarded than the -preceding. As the _Israelites_, to whom miracles became familiar; as the -_Jews_, in our Saviour's time, demanding of him to show them a sign from -heaven, in the midst of the constant scene of miracles innumerable. - -But 'tis my present business to call you to a due and serious reflexion, -on these extraordinary events; by considering, - -I. What the written word of God, the holy scriptures, informs us, -concerning the ultimate purpose of earthquakes. - -II. What we can learn from profane history. - -III. To conclude with our text, that they are strictly and properly divine -judgments; _because he was wroth_. - -Ever since the earth began, earthquakes have been look'd on as -extraordinary appearances, among the prodigies of nature, and executioners -of divine justice. In the case of _Korah_, _the earth opened her mouth and -swallowed them up; and their houses, and all the men that pertained unto -them; and all their goods_. - -In the miraculous victory obtain'd by _Jonathan_, and his armor-bearer, -over the army of the _Philistines_, I. _Sam._ xiv. There was a panic -terror infus'd into the _Philistines_, and an _earthquake_: it is call'd -_a very great trembling of God_. What the heathen attributed to _Pan_, an -imaginary deity of their own making: the _Hebrews_ rightly refer'd to the -true cause, the first, and supreme. - -In the new testament, at our Saviour's death, there was a great -earthquake, which was altogether miraculous; as much as the eclipse of the -sun then. The elements might well sympathize with the God of nature. _The -sun was darkened, the vail of the temple was rent in twain; the earth did -quake, the rocks rent._ - -Again, at his resurrection, _Matt._ xxviii. 2. _There was a great -earthquake. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back -the stone from the door, and sat upon it._ - -_And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men._ - -_Matt._ xxvii. 54. _When the centurion, and they that were with him, -watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, they feared greatly._ See the -consequence of it in one place; and thus in another: - -_Acts_ iv. 31. _The Apostles_, in the infant church, _when praying, the -place was shaken, where they were assembled together: and they were all -filled with the Holy Ghost_. The heathen centurion _feared_ upon the -earthquake: The christians praying, were _filled with the Holy Ghost_. - -_Acts_ xvi. 26. When _Paul_ and _Silas_ were in prison. _At mid-night when -they pray'd, and sang hymns to God, suddenly there was a great earthquake; -so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the -doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed._ - -Observe the consequence it had upon the gaoler; _He called for a light, -and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, -and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?_ - -The gaol trembled; and the gaoler trembled, as is observed by a writer on -this head, an earthquake could _soften_ his _hard_ heart, and _open_ what -he had _lock'd_. It awaken'd him out of his spiritual slumber, as well as -his natural sleep, and made his conscience, as well as the foundations of -the prison, to quake. A bad conscience is _as a troubled sea, that cannot -rest, but casteth up mire, and clay_. The gaoler perceiv'd the celestial -warning, and made a proper use of it. - -There are many circumstances in the nature of earthquakes, which render -them peculiarly proper to be the instruments in God's hand, to give -warning to a people, to amend their ways. - -The _suddenness_ is one. We saw, not long ago, what an effect was produced -by a solar eclipse, tho' it was expected long before. We had the -prediction, and calculations about it in all our almanacs; yet there was -an universal seriousness that followed it. All that morning, we could walk -the street, without hearing an oath, and the churches were full, in time -of prayer. But the _suddenness_ of an earthquake that comes at an instant, -unthought of, without warning, that seems to bring unavoidable death along -with it; is able to touch an adamantin heart. To see death stalking o'er a -great city, ready to sweep us all away, in an instantaneous ruin, without -a single moment to recollect our thoughts; this is fear without remedy; -this is far beyond battle and pestilence. The lightning and thunderbolt, -_the arrow that flieth by day_, may suddenly take off an object or two, -and leave no space for repentance: but what horror can equal that, when -above a million of people are liable to be buried, in one common grave! - -Another consideration that inhances the dread of earthquakes, is the -_unavoidableness_ of the calamity. Famine, and war, and rebellion, and -pestilence we may run from, the disease among the cattle, and locusts, and -the like stripes of angry heaven, we may have some chance to escape: but -no means, no precaution, no remedy, no prudence can screen us, from so -universal a desolation as this: 'tis as the presence of God. Whither then -can we go to hide ourselves? Must we call upon the rocks and mountains, -to cover, and shelter us from the divine wrath! _And they shall go into -the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the_ -Lord, _and for the glory of his majesty; when he ariseth to shake terribly -the earth_. Alas, those are the very instruments he employs for our -destruction; to be our tombstones! - -This _unusual_ kind of death too, strikes us with horror; to be buried -alive. The earth, the common mother of us all, and the common grave; to -eat up her offspring alive; crouds all the images of amazement together, -that can enter into the heart of man. - -The greater the terror accompanying earthquakes, the greater a blessing -is our deliverance from the danger of it! What can equal God's power and -judgment but his mercy? Consider the wonderful consequence; that the whole -city of _London_ should so sensibly be shaken, and yet no one inhabited -house to fall; nor one person kill'd. Amazing instance of power, and -goodness, in our preservation! And this not only once, but the second time -also; tho' evidently stronger was the concussion. So strong that almost -every person was throughly persuaded, that some part, at least, of their -houses, was falling down. Can we help admiring, that judgment should be -so temper'd with mercy! Do we look only at the second causes with our -unbelievers; and sport away the divine presence, as if it was an ordinary -occurrence of every day? They want to see a miracle. Nought can affect -them, but a direct, supernatural agency. - -I answer, behold a visible, and notorious miracle; plainly obvious, and -before all their senses. For can there be a greater miracle, can any thing -be more directly the finger of God than this, which we ourselves saw with -our eyes; that befell the whole city of _London_. - -We know the nature of the building of _London_ houses; which sometimes -fall of themselves, without shaking. Wonderful then is it to be thought, -and a miracle indeed, that every house in this vast city, should twice be -agitated, and rocked to and fro; and not one fall, nor one person receive -any damage. - -In vain will the philosophers seek for a solution of this problem, in -natural causes only. By their chymical experiments, they make some little -mimic imitations of tremors and fumes, and explosions. So by gun-powder, -we ape the regal voice of thunder. But where is the discretionary act of -mercy, and benignity, that separates between the vengeful and kind? These -second causes act according to their material nature, like the roaring -waves of the ocean, that flow in, and overwhelm every thing, where a -breach is made. They can observe no distinction between the lands of a -righteous man, and of a sinner: they cannot stop at the breach, and gather -themselves on an heap, and not enter in at all, as the waters of _Jordan_ -did. - -But in the case before us, the hand of the Lord, that stayed the flowing -of the waters, that quelled the raging of the sea, and its proud waves; -sets bounds to the trembling of the earth. Hither shall its vibrations go, -and no further. When alas, if it went but one inch further (in comparison) -a total ruin must unavoidably follow. - -Consider this particular, when apply'd to all the buildings in this -immense city: and wonder and adore, that almighty providence, which -overlook'd us, and prescrib'd the limits; so narrow, so precise; which -sav'd us from universal havoc! - -II. Did we escape; how much happier are we, than the millions that have -perished by the like calamity? _Josephus_ the famous _Jewish_ historian -records, that about 29 years before our Saviour's birth, there happened -such an earthquake in the country of _Judea_, that 30,000 men perished. - -In the fifth year of the reign of _Tiberius_, so dreadful an earthquake -happened in _Asia minor_, that no less than 13 cities were destroy'd in -one night; many of them great, and Royal: _Sardis_ in particular, said to -be second to _Babylon_. - -In _A. D._ 66. Another earthquake happen'd there, which destroy'd -_Laodicea_, _Hierapolis_, and _Colossus_. - -_A. D._ 79. Three cities in _Cyprus_ were overthrown. - -_A. D._ 114. The city of _Antioch_ suffered extremely; whilst the emperor -_Trajan_ was in it. And in the 7th year of that emperor, nine several -cities were destroy'd in _Asia_, _Greece_, and _Calabria_. - -To come nearer home, and our own times: In 1169, _Catania_ in _Sicily_ was -destroyed, and 15,000 people killed. - -1692, The whole city destroy'd and 18000 Inhabitants. - -1456, At _Naples_ 40,000 perished by an earthquake. - -1531, In the city of _Lisbon_, 1400 houses were overthrown there, besides -many damaged. - -We know the miserable and deplorable catastrophe of _Port-Royal_, -in _Jamaica_; which fell out in our own days. My blood shudders at -the relation of it. And not many months ago, the populous _Lima_ in -_America_, was wholly swallowed up. - -Have we not reason then to fear, for ourselves? 'Tis true, we have -hitherto escaped. But can we tell how soon God shall let loose the -avenging power of another; which may come, for ought we know, while we are -speaking of it. And if it must come, happy may it be for us, that it finds -us in this place, and so doing. - -III. And this brings us, to consider the uses of these admonitions; and to -show, that they are the effects of the divine anger. _For the earth shook -and trembled_, says the holy psalmist, _the foundation of the hills moved -and were shaken; because he was wroth_. - -And here we cannot possibly have a stronger and more convincing evidence, -of these convulsions of nature, being the immediate finger of God, than -this single consideration. Let us but reflect on what has been said, in -short; that these visitations only happen to great and populous cities, to -great and eminent ports, and maritime _emporiums_ flourishing in trade, -riches, and luxury. - -We hear not of barren desarts, uninhabited wildernesses, wide heaths, and -downs, rocky cliffs, and beaches of the sea, to be the usual subject of -earthquakes: but of towns and cities. Not so much of little villages, but -of those immense collections of people. God does not give his warnings -to birds, and beasts of the forest; to flocks of sheep; that punctually -execute the respective offices he has enjoined them: but to us, the lords -of the creation; to whom he has given reason, sense, and faculties, to -reflect, and judge of things, of our own actions, as well as his; of _his_ -doings, toward the children of men. - -We observed before, a plain and notorious proof of God's hand in these -judgments; that he cou'd move a whole city without throwing down a house. -And this is most assuredly a second proof; that he visits _only_ great -cities, with these judgments. And we must conclude this to be as strong an -argument of a divine interposition in these affairs, as any mathematical -demonstration. - -Some free-thinkers, or free-livers, when they find, they cannot set aside -this reasoning, shelter themselves, with the history of God's converse -with _Abraham_; about the cities of _Sodom_ and _Gomorrha_; assuring -themselves, there is no danger. For tho' they can't pretend to be the -meritorious people; yet they think God's mercy will be as signal to us, as -heretofore: and that we have among us, at least ten righteous persons, to -save the rest. - -But vain are such hopes: God will say to them, as heretofore to the -_Jews_: _If I bring my great judgments upon the earth, as I live saith the -Lord, tho'_ Noah, Daniel, _and_ Job _were there; they should save neither -sons, nor daughters, but their own souls only_. - -God can, if he pleases, by very extraordinary means, preserve such as -he thinks fit. But in general judgments, the righteous must undergo one -common fate, with the wicked. God's mercy will be shown to them after this -life, to make the superabundant amends. - -But this is a solid lesson to us, of the necessity of a future life. We -may as well banish God out of the earth, as to deny his attributes of -power, and goodness, and justice, and the like. And these will insure us -of a future state; when an exact return will be made, for our behaviour in -this; otherwise we might justly expostulate, as _Abraham_ did, _Will not -the judge of all the earth do right?_ - -Good men, who have endeavour'd to do their duty, may say, _God is our -refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we -fear, tho' the earth be remov'd; tho' the mountains be carried into the -midst of the sea; tho' the waters thereof roar, and be troubled; tho' the -mountains shake with the swelling thereof._ - -_Come behold the works of the Lord; what desolations he hath made on the -earth._ - -In the mean time, let us not think on running _away_ from the danger, so -much as on mending our _ways_; perfecting the christian life; reforming -the abominable crimes, so justly chargeable on great and maritime cities; -overflowing with riches, pride, and luxury, with vanity, pleasure, and -profaneness; with gaming, immorality, infidelity; and especially with the -notorious crime of sabbath-breaking, which is the foundation of all, and -comprehends all others; for it prevents people from amending of any. If -they fail of their duty towards God, in making their regular approaches -to his temple; no wonder they are guilty of all crimes; regard neither -God nor man. If they fail of coming, where they may hope for the kindly -influences of God's holy Spirit; we need not wonder at their egregious -wickedness: they become absolutely irreclaimable. - -But of you, my beloved brethren, here assembled, I hope better things. -You shun the degenerate corruptions of this evil age; you are not of the -number of those that frequent our public meetings of folly, from the -morning rendezvouzes to the mid-night assemblies; and _that_ protracted to -the morning light again. As if we ought to banish all serious thoughts of -our immortal interests; and _that_ in the sacred season of lent; destin'd -by the church, for this very serious purpose. - -Let us think, how this warning happen'd to us, in the time of lent; when -they were revelling in their places of entertainment, both morning and -evening, as if no such thing had been; and this on the very days; as -if they confronted, and dar'd almighty vengeance. Much of a parallel -case with that of the famous city of _Herculaneum_, which is now the -entertainment of the curious. First it was miserably shatter'd by an -earthquake; whilst the people were at their diversions in the theatre; -where all assembled perished. This was in the first year of _Titus_ -the emperor: but such a partial judgment not mending their manners; 9 -years after, the whole city was destroy'd by a lake of liquid fire and -brimstone, from mount _Vesuvius_, just in the manner we now find it; 50 -foot deep in cinders, and ashes. - -_When thy judgments, O God, are abroad, the inhabitants of the earth will -learn righteousness._ - -_The Lord is the true God; he is the living God; the everlasting King: At -his wrath, the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to -abide his indignation_; says the prophet _Jeremiah_, x. 10. - -God give us grace, that instead of these short-liv'd, and unsatisfying -pleasures; instead of palaces and houses here, ornamented in a sumptuous -and elegant _taste_; which may perhaps be swept away, with their owners, -in a moment; we may aspire towards that heavenly city, which is above; -whose foundations are not laid with hands, eternal in the heavens, _&c._ - - - _FINIS._ - - - [Illustration] - - - * * * * * - - - - - THE - - PHILOSOPHY - - OF - - EARTHQUAKES, - - Natural and Religious. - - PART II. - - _Philosophi ipsius, qui de sua vi ac sapientia unus omnia pene - profitetur, est tamen quædam descriptio; ut is qui studeat - omnium rerum divinarum atque humanarum vim, naturam, - causasq; nosse: & omnem bene vivendi rationem tenere, & persequi; - nomine hoc appelletur._ - - Cicero de Oratore. - - By _WILLIAM STUKELEY_, M. D. Rector of St. _George_'s, _Queen-Square_: - Fellow of the College of Physicians and Royal Society: - - _LONDON_: - - Printed for C. Corbet over-against St. _Dunstan_'s - Church, _Fleetstreet_. - - MDCCL. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -_This discourse is but a necessary consequence of the preceding. The -whole no other than an essay, toward investigating the true nature of the -wonderful appearance of an earthquake. And something is done toward it, -if only by eradicating an old error. In attaining the proposed end, I -have endeavour'd to lay all the necessary circumstances together, which -to our great amazement we have seen, and felt. That they may not be as -soon forgotten, as they generally were, by the giddy multitude; equally -thoughtless of what they knew to be past, as childishly fearful of an -imaginary one, subsequent: for which there could not be the least ground -of apprehension. By sober persons it was, with great reason, thought a -judicial infatuation, and as much to be wonder'd at, as an earthquake -itself; a real panic. When a third part of this immense city ran out into -the fields for half a cold night; alarm'd with the silly prediction of a -distemper'd fellow!_ - -_Nothing could tempt one to commemorate the follies of our cotemporaries, -but the hope, it may be useful hereafter: and to show the true cause -of this senseless terror; the want of a true sense of religion; and an -universal degeneracy, and corruption of manners: begun by the great ones, -and now propagated thro' all degrees to the lowest: begun in this great -city; and now advancing apace to every great town in the kingdom._ - -_'Tis from the great ones alone, that we can hope for a reformation: -and_ that _by a strict observance of the sabbatical duty. Example, we -know, governs the actions of mankind_. That _must restore the practice, -and the influence of religion: which alone can prevent the dangers that -infest every corner of our streets; every road in the kingdom. We mistake -the point, and betray our ignorance in human nature, when we think, -acts of parliament, laws, and executions will do it. They are very weak -in comparison of the impressions of religion, and conscience: as all -philosophy both natural and religious, has hitherto thought, and known._ - - - - - TO - - _Martin Folkes_, Esq; LL. D. - - President of the Royal Society. - - -Since I had the honour to lay before the Society, in the spring, my -thoughts upon earthquakes: we have had many further opportunities of -reflecting upon that most awful, and hitherto unusual appearance. An -earthquake was felt at _Eastwell_ in _Kent_, on _monday march_ 12, and on -_sunday, march_ 18, at _Portsmouth_, the _Isle of Wight_, _Southampton_, -and along the coast of _Sussex_, the isles of _Guernsey_, _Jersey_. -_April_ 2, a smart earthquake at _Manchester_, _Liverpool_, _Taunton_, -_Bath_, _Flint_, _Lancaster_, _Wrexham_, reaching 40 miles north and -south: 70 miles east and west. Since then at _Rome_, _Naples_, _Leghorn_; -in the south of _France_, and at _Pau_ under the _Pyrenean_ mountains: -_Oporto_, at _S. Macaire_ in _Guienne_, _Messina_ in _Sicily_, _Munich_ in -_Bavaria_, &c. &c. so that the year 1750, may rather be called the year -of earthquakes, than of jubilee. For since _February_ last, when they -began with us at _London_; as far as I can learn, they have appear'd in -many parts of _Europe_, _Asia_, _Africa_, and _America_. And have likewise -revisited many counties in our own island, and at length, on the 30th of -last _september_ gave much the most extensive shock, we have seen here in -our days. - -It may be well expected, that these frequent visits, in themselves so very -extraordinary, to us so rare, and _that_ in one year, should keep up our -attention: and as to my own part, induce one to reflect, on what I before -offer'd concerning them; and be a sufficient apology for the present paper. - -We have been acquainted, by those who remember it, that in the earthquake -of nov. 1703, which happen'd in _Lincolnshire_, the weather was calm, -close, gloomy, warm, and dry; in a degree highly unusual, at that season. -And thus it has been with us, all the year. And from the numerous accounts -we have receiv'd at the Royal Society, in the beginning, and ending of the -year; where any mention is made of the weather; they all agree in the like -particular. Which is consentaneous to what I remark'd, as the constant -forerunner of earthquakes; and what prepares the earth's surface, for the -electrical stroke: which I asserted to be the cause of them. - -In _may_ last, we had a paper read at the Royal Society, concerning -the second earthquake felt by us at _London_, on the 8th of _march_. A -shepherd belonging to Mr. Secretary _Fox_ at _Kensington_ (the sky being -perfectly serene, and clear) was much surprised with a very extraordinary -noise in the air, rolling over his head, as of cannon close by. He -likewise thought, that it came from the north-west, and went to the -south-east: a motion quite contrary, to what must have been the case, if -it were really of cannon. This noise pass'd rushing by him; and instantly -he saw the ground (a dry, and solid spot) wave under him, like the face -of the river. The tall trees of the avenue, where he was, nodded their -tops very sensibly, and quiver'd like a shaken spear. The flock of sheep -immediately took fright, and ran all away together, as if dogs had pursued -them. A great rookery in the place, were equally alarm'd, and after an -universal clangor, flew away; no less than if chaced by hawks. - -I was likewise inform'd, that in the same earthquake, a great parcel of -hens, and chickens, kept at that time in _Gray's-inn-lane_, upon the -shock, ran to the roost, affrighted. And the like was observ'd of pigeons. -And in our last account of the earthquake from _Northampton_, 'tis -remarked, that the birds in cages put their heads under their wings, as -to hide themselves. - -_June_ 21, at the Royal Society, Mr. _Jackson_ potter at _Lambeth_, gave -an account of some boats, cobles and lighters in the river, at that time; -the people in them seem'd to feel, as if a porpoise, or some great fish -had heav'd and thump'd at the bottom of the vessels. This is sometimes the -case of ships at sea, when all is perfectly calm: which seems evidently -owing to an electrical impression on the water. - -In the evening-post of _june_ 23, we had a paragraph from _Venice_, that -a terrible earthquake had been felt lately in the little rocky isle of -_Cerigo_, in the _Mediterranean_, south of _Morea_. It threw down a great -number of houses; and above 2000 of the inhabitants were buried in the -ruins. - -Another earthquake about that time, happen'd in _Switzerland_; which split -a vast, rocky mountain; and an old castle wall of an immense thickness. - -All these circumstances, and many more confirmed me in my former opinion. -But since then, these wonderful movements have stalk'd round the globe: -and again been lately felt in our own island; happily for us, to the -terror only, of many thousand people: beside those concussions of this -sort that appear'd in the western parts, in the more early time of the -year. - -I receiv'd a letter from my friend _Maurice Johnson_, Esq; the founder, -and secretary of the Literary Society of _Spalding_; which has now -subsisted these 40 years. He acquaints me, that on _thursday_, 23d of -_August_ last, an earthquake was very sensibly felt there, about seven -o'clock in the morning; throughout the whole town and neighbourhood; -and many miles round: but that it chiefly spread itself northward, and -southward. He says, that for a fortnight before, the weather had been -serene, mild, and calm. And one evening, there was a deep red _aurora -australis_, covering the cope of heaven, very terrible to behold. -This same shock was felt at _Grantham_, _Stamford_, and _Milton_ by -_Peterborough_; and generally at all the intermediate places: and from -_Spalding_ it fled northward, along the sea shore, to _Boston_: thence up -_Boston_ river, to _Lincoln_. - -Since then, I had a letter from Mr. Alderman _Taylor_ of _Stamford_, -giving an account of another earthquake, that happen'd there, _september_ -30, at 36 minutes after twelve o'clock at noon. He describes it thus. -They were suddenly surprised with an uncommon noise in the air, like the -rolling of large carriages in the streets, for about 20 seconds. At the -same instant they felt a great shake, or snap, as he calls it; insomuch -that it sensibly shook a punch-bowl, which was in his parlour, and made -it ring. He says, it was perceiv'd of most of the people of _Stamford_, -who generally ran out of their houses. At _Oakham_ the chief town of -_Rutland_, the congregation ran out of the church whilst the preacher was -in the pulpit. All the towns round _Stamford_, were sensible of it: and at -_Peterborough_, down to _Wisbech_. - -Thus far the Alderman. But we have had many advices from all hands, at -the first, and second meetings of the Royal Society, for the winter -season; with further particulars relating to this great concussion. That -it was felt at the same time, at _Rugby_ in _Warwickshire_, and reach'd -to _Warwick_, at _Lutterworth_, in _Leicestershire_: at _Leicester_, and -round about. It extended itself to _Coventry_, _Derby_, _Nottingham_, -_Newark_; then came eastward to _Harborough_, _Towcester_, _Northampton_, -_Rowel_, _Kettering_, _Wellingborough_, _Oundle_, in _Northamptonshire_; -_Uppingham_, _Oakham_ in _Rutland_; _Stamford_, _Bourn_, _Grantham_, -_Spalding_, _Boston_, and to _Lincoln_ in _Lincolnshire_; _Holbech_, and -all _Holland_ in that county. _Peterborough_, _Wisbech_, in the isle of -_Ely_; together with all the intermediate, and adjacent places. Then it -passed over the whole breadth of _Ely_ fen: was felt at _Mildenhall_, and -reach'd to _Calford_ by _Bury_ in _Suffolk_, and the country thereabouts; -of which we had notice from lady _Cornwallis_. An extent from _Warwick_ -to _Bury_ of about 100 miles in length; and generally speaking, 40 miles -in breadth. And this vast space was pervaded by this amazing motion, as -far as we can get any satisfaction, in the same instant of time. They -describe it, that the houses totter'd, and seem'd to heave up, and down: -tho' it lasted but a few seconds. It was attended with a rushing noise, -as if the houses were falling, and people were universally so affrighted, -as to run out; imagining that their own, or their neighbours houses -were tumbling on their heads. In the villages around, the people being -generally at divine service, were much alarm'd: both with the noise, -which exceeded all the thunder they had ever heard, beyond compare: and -with the great shock accompanying; which was like somewhat, as they -imagin'd, that rush'd against the church-walls, and roof. Some thinking -the pillars crack'd, many that the beams of the roof were disjointed; -and all, that the whole was falling. And happy were they that could get -out first. Many people fancied, that nests of drawers, and cabinets, or -the like heavy things, were fallen down above stairs: or that chimnies -had broke thro' the roof of the house: or that some persons fell down -stairs: and the like. Some perceived the crackling of inward wainscots or -partitions: as Dr. _Mortimer_ and I, observ'd in our first and second -shocks at _London_. A few slates, tiles, and parts of chimneys fell from -some houses: pewter, china, glasses and brass from shelves. A clock bell, -chamber bell sometime struck: windows universally rattled, and the like -circumstances of tremor. - -In regard to circumstances, they were pretty similar throughout. Many -people sitting in their chairs relate, that they and their chairs were -several times sensibly lifted up and set down again. A stack of chimneys -were thrown down in _College-lane_; a place retaining the memory of a -sort of university once beginning at _Northampton_. The windows of houses -rattled throughout the whole town: but no mischief done: in general it was -frightful, and innocuous. - -They fancied there, the motion of it, as they expressed it, to be -eastward. In streets that run north and south, the houses on the east -side of the way, were most affected. And Dr. _Stonehouse_'s dwelling, -the strongest in the town, was most sensibly shaken. So it was likewise -observ'd, that churches were most subject to its violence. They thought -too, that the motion seem'd rather horizontal, or lateral, than upward. -Some counted the pulses distinctly, to the number of four: that the -second, and third pulses were stronger, than the first, and fourth. - -From all these various accounts, there was no sulphureous smell, or -eruption; no fissures in the ground perceived. Yet several people were -sick upon it: infinite numbers terribly affrighted, and as soon forgot -the impression of it; or talk'd of it in a merry strain; as commonly with -us at _London_. So little are the vulgar assessed, without something very -sensible; and so soon is the sense of it worn out! - -It was more evidently perceiv'd, by people standing; most, by those -that were sitting: least, by such as were walking: and in upper stories -of houses, more than in lower; or in cellars. Some coming down stairs, -were in danger of being thrown forwards. Several sitting in a chair, and -hearing the hollow, thundering noise, and thinking it was a coach passing -by; when they attempted to get up, to see what it was, they were thrown -back again in their chair. Some heard the wainscot crackle, Some sitting -in their chairs leaning forwards, were thrown down on their hands, and -knees. Some people heard the noise without feeling the shock: others felt -the shock without hearing the noise. Some in a standing posture, were -forc'd to lay hold on a table, to keep themselves from falling. - -It was particularly remarked (as before observ'd) that birds in cages -were sensibly affrighted; thrusting their heads under their wings. Mrs. -_Allicock_ of _Loddington_, _Northamptonshire_, a lady in child-bed, was -so affected, that it caused her death. Mrs. _Hardy_, another lady in the -same circumstance, and in the same county, likewise expired upon it, Some -people felt a sudden shortness of breath, that they were forc'd to go out -into the open air, it so affected the pulmonary nerves. Many were taken -with head-achs, and other sicknesses. - -These are, in general, the circumstances and observations made, at -the time of these earthquakes; when we recollect ourselves, after the -suddeness, and fright. Give me leave to make the following remarks -therefrom. - -1st. As far as we can possibly learn, where no one can be prepar'd, -at different places, by time keepers; this mighty concussion was felt -precisely at the same instant of time; being about half an hour after -twelve at noon. This, I presume, cannot be accounted for, by any natural -power, but by that of an electrical vibration; which, we know, acts -instantaneously. - -2dly, Let us reflect on the vast extent of this trembling, 100 miles in -length, 40 in breadth, which amounts to 4000 square miles in surface. That -this should be put into such an agitation, in one moment of time, is such -a prodigy; as we should never believe, or conceive, did we not know it -to be fact, from our own senses. But if we look for a solution of it, we -cannot think, any natural power is equal to it, but that of electricity; -which acknowledges no sensible transition of time; no bounds. - -3ly, We observe, the vulgar solution of subterraneous eruptions receives -no countenance, from all that was seen, or felt, during these earthquakes. -It would be very hard to imagine, how any such thing could so suddenly, -and instantaneously operate, thro' this vast space: and _that_ in so -similar, and tender a manner over the whole, thro' so great a variety, as -well as extent of country; as to do no mischief. A philosophical inquirer -in _Northamptonshire_ had his eye particularly on this point, takes -notice, there were not any fissures in the ground; any sulphureous smells, -or eruptions any where perceiv'd; so as to favour internal convulsions of -the earth. The reverend Mr. _Nixon_ of _Higham_, and Mr. _Smith_, in his -letter from _Peterborough_ take notice, that they could not learn, there -were any sort of eruptions out of the earth, any where: no smoke, vapor, -or smell: tho' they made sufficient inquiry about that circumstance, -according to particular direction. Yet we learn from a letter at -_Uppingham_ in _Rutland_, that a plaister floor became crack'd thereby. -These kind of floors are frequent in this country; what we call _stucco_ -in _London_: and it gives us a good notion of the undulatory vibration, -produc'd by an earthquake; which some have compar'd to that of a musical -string: others to that of a dog, or a horse shaking themselves, when they -come out of the water. This last comparison would have pleased some of the -ancients, who would needs fancy, that the globe of the earth was a great -animal. _Plato_, _Plutarch_, and others, had such kind of sentiments. -Whence one may imagine, that they would conceive an earthquake to be, as -when a horse shakes a part of his skin, upon a fly touching him. Some of -our correspondents express the motion of an earthquake to be like a boat -lifted up by one wave, let down by another. - -4ly, The former earthquake that happen'd at _Grantham_, _Spalding_, -_Stamford_, (which towns lie in a triangle) took up a space which may, in -gross, be accounted a circle of 30 miles diameter: the center of which is -that great morass, called _Deeping-fen_. This comprehends 15 miles of that -30, in diameter: and where probably, the electrical impression was first -made. Much the major part of _Deeping-fen_ is under water in the winter -time; underneath 'tis a perfect bog. Now it is very obvious, how little -favorable such ground is, for subterraneous fires. - -In the second earthquake, not only this country was affected again, -but likewise a much larger space of the same sort of fenny ground, -rather worse than the former: all _Donnington-fen_, _Deeping-fen_, -_Croyland-fen_, _Thorney-fen_, _Whitlesea-fen_, _Bedford_ level, and the -whole extent of _Ely-fen_, under various denominations. This country, -under the turf, abounds with subterraneous timber of all sorts; fir, oak, -and brush-wood: and stags horns. Now and then they find a quantity of -hazel nuts, crouded together on an heap. I have some of them. This is a -matter common to all boggy ground over the whole globe, Such things are -the ruins of the _antediluvian_ world, washed down from the high country -where they grew, were here lodg'd upon the subsiding of the waters, and -by time are o'ergrown with the present turf. They that seek for any other -solution of this affair, than the universal _Noachian_ deluge, want to -account for a general effect, by a partial cause: and shut their eyes, -both to the plain history of this matter; and to the infinite, notorious -demonstrations of it, from fossil appearances. - -5ly, All this country, tho' underneath 'tis a watry bog, yet thro' this -whole summer, and autumnal season (as they can have no natural springs -in such a level) the drought has been so great on the superficies, that -the inhabitants were oblig'd every day, to drive their cattle several -miles, for watering. The drought was greater, than has been known in the -memory of any one living. This shows how fit the dry surface was, for an -electrical vibration. And we learn from hence, this important particular, -that it reaches but very little below the earth's surface. - -Mr. _Johnson_, in another letter which he wrote to me concerning the -second earthquake observ'd at _Spalding_; says upon this occasion, he was -obliged to scour his canal, and deepen it: that they came to a white, -quicksand; which afforded to all the neighbourhood, excellent water in -plenty. - -In the gravelly soil of _London_; and where the two shocks were felt by -us, in the beginning of the year; we know, there is not a house in the -whole extent of this vast city, and all around it, but a spring of water -is ready, upon digging a well, Whence we have much reason to believe, that -the interior of the earth, is like a sponge soak'd in water. So that the -only dry part is the superficies, which is the object, and the subject -of that electric vibration; wherein, according to my sentiments, an -earthquake consists. - -This shews the mistake of the ancients, who fancying that earthquakes -proceeded from subterraneous eruptions, built their prodigious temple of -_Diana_ at _Ephesus_, upon a boggy ground, to prevent such a disaster, -The marshy part of _Lincolnshire_, being my native country, the adjacent -fen, together with that in the isle of _Ely_, I have been perfectly -acquainted with; from one end to the other, ever since I knew any thing. -This vast extent of fenny level, from near _Cambridge_ in the south, -to near _Horncastle_ in the north, is 70 miles in length. And when I -perceiv'd, that it was, in whole, or in part, shaken by both the last -earthquakes: I could not but see, that it was no less than a demonstration -against the old notion of their cause. - -6ly, Earthquakes are truly most violent, in a rocky country: because the -shock is proportionate to the solidity of the matter electrify'd. So -that rocks, cliffs, quarries, old castle walls, and strong buildings, -are most obnoxious to the concussion. The isle of _Cerigo_ was more -liable, and more rudely handled by the late earthquake; both because -it was an isle, and because it was rocky. So we must say of the late -earthquake in _Switzerland_, that split the mountain, and the old castle -wall. Whence Mr. _Johnson_ in his second letter, says, it cracked a very -strong brick-house in _Gosberton_ by _Spalding_. Dr. _Doderidge_ observes -from _Northampton_ that Dr. _Stonehouse_'s dwelling being a very strong -one, was most sensibly shaken. And throughout the whole compass of this -great earthquake, we find, both the noise, the shock, and the terror -was greatest at the churches, whose walls and bulk made more resistance -than houses. And generally speaking, the churches throughout this whole -extent have very fair, and large towers, and very many remarkable spires -all of good stone, which no doubt quiver'd very much at top, if we could -have discern'd it. This same vibration impressed on the water, meeting -with the solid of the bottom of ships, and lighters, gives that thump -felt thereon; just as in common electrifying, we feel the stroke upon the -joints of our limbs chiefly. Yet of the millions of ordinary houses, over -which it passed, not one fell. A consideration which sufficiently points -out to us, what sort of a motion this was not, what sort of a motion it -was, and whence deriv'd; not a convulsion of the bowels of the earth, -but an uniform vibration or undulation of its surface, aptly thought -like that of a musical string: or what we put a drinking glass into, by -rubbing one's finger over the edge; which yet brought to a certain pitch, -breaks the glass; undoubtedly an electric repulsion of parts. And from -this remarkable similarity in the appearance of earthquakes we gather an -invincible argument against the old opinion of their cause; for the tumult -of subterraneous eruptions can have no possible place herein. - -7ly, We find from all accounts, ancient and modern, that the weather -preceding these shocks, was mild, warm, dry, serene, clear, frosty: what -notoriously favours all our electrical experiments. This is particularly -observ'd by Mr. _Johnson_ and Mr. _Smith_, and other accounts. In the -extensive shock of _sunday march_ 18, along the _Sussex_ coast, they take -notice from _Portsmouth_, that the day was serene, warm, and dry, and -that a shower of rain fell immediately before the shock. Mr. _Bowman_ of -_Moulsey_ observ'd a shock there on _may_ 24 last, and says, the air was -perfectly serene, and clear. We very well know, that generally, all last -winter spring, summer, and autumn, have been most remarkably of this kind -of weather; more so, than has been observ'd in our memory; and have had -all those requisites, appearances, and preparations, that notoriously -cause electricity, that promote it, or that are the effects of it. - -8ly, We find the blood-red _australis aurora_ preceding at _Spalding_, -as with us at _London_. At the time of the earthquake at _Manchester_ -this year, it accompanied it. And this year has been more remarkable than -any for fire-balls, storms, wind, thunder, lightnings, and coruscations, -almost throughout all _England_. A large ball of fire, with a long -fiery tail on _july_ 22, that passed over great part of _England_ -northward. Another seen over _London_, passing from west to east, in -_october_. Coruscations were seen just before that extensive shock of -70 miles long felt from _Lancaster_ to _Wrexham_, on _april_ 2, last. -Fire-balls more than one were seen in _Rutland_, and _Lincolnshire_: and -particularly observ'd. And Mr. _Smith_ from _Peterborough_ writes, that -a fire-ball was seen the morning of the earthquake, in the upper part -of _Northamptonshire_. All these kind of meteors are rightly judg'd to -proceed from a state of electricity in the earth and atmosphere: and how -far they are actually concerned in causing earthquakes, time, and accurate -observation must inform us. - -9ly, Mr. _Johnson_ in both his letters to me, on the first and second -earthquakes, at _Spalding_, remarks particularly, of their effects being -mostly spread to the north and south, and especially felt on the sea -coast. We may observe, that such is the direction of _Spalding_ river, -which both conducts, and strengthens the electric vibration: conveying it -along the sea-shore thence, up to _Boston_ channel; and so up _Boston_ -river to _Lincoln_, as we discern, by casting our eye on a map. - -We observe further, that the main of this second earthquake display'd -its effects along, and between the two rivers, _Welland_ and _Avon_: -and _that_ from their very origins, down to their fall into the sea. It -likewise reach'd the river _Witham_, which directed the electric stream -that way too, to _Lincoln_. For which reason, as there meeting the same -coming from _Boston_, the shock was most sensibly felt. It reach'd -likewise to the _Trent_ at _Nottingham_, which convey'd it to _Newark_. - -The first electrical stroke seems to have been made on the high ground -above _Daventry_, in _Northamptonshire_; where the _Roman_ camps -are, made by _P. Ostorius_ the proprætor. From thence it descended -chiefly eastward, and along the river _Welland_, from _Harborough_ to -_Stamford_, _Spalding_, the sea: and along the river _Avon_, or _Nen_, to -_Northampton_, _Peterborough_, _Wisbech_ to the sea. It spread itself all -over the vast level of the isle of _Ely_; further'd by very many canals, -and rivers, natural, and artificial, made for drainage. It was still -conducted eastward up _Mildenhall_ river, in _Suffolk_, to _Bury_, and the -parts adjacent. All this affair duly consider'd, is a confirmation of the -doctrine I advanc'd on this subject. - -10ly, I apprehend, it was not the noise in the air, as of many cannon let -off at once, preceding the earthquake, that so much affrighted people, or -affected the sheep, the rookery at _Kensington_, the hen and chickens in -_Gray's-inn-lane_, the pigeons. It could not be barely the superficial -movement of the earth, that disturb'd them all at once. I judge it to be -the _effect_ of electricity, somewhat like what causes sea sickness; such -a sort of motion, as we are not accustomed to. So the earthquake affects -all those of weak nerves, or that have nervous complaints; obnoxious to -hysterics, colics, rheumatick pains in their joints; several women were -seized with violent head-achs, before both the shocks we felt in _London_. -It was this that gave the people a shortness of breath. Mr. _Smith_ from -_Peterborough_ speaks of a person that found himself very sick upon it. -This made the dog run whining about the room, seeking to get out: this -made the fishes leap up in the pond at _Southwark_; like as the experiment -of electrifying the fishes: it makes them sick. And this causes the birds -in cages to hide their heads under their wings, because they cannot fly -away. Which is commonly observ'd of them in _Italy_, and countries, where -earthquakes are more frequent. - -11ly, I observe, the shepherd at _Kensington_ thought the motion of the -earthquake, and the sound, was from the north-west to south-east; the like -Mr. _W. Smith_ from _Peterborough_. On the contrary, Mr. _Byfield_ the -scarlet dyer in _Southwark_, thought the noise came from the river below -bridge, and went toward _Westminster_; where it rattled so, that he did -not doubt, but that the abbey-church was beaten down. - -Dr. _Parsons_ took pains to find out the way of the motion of the -earthquake, from the different position of people's beds; but from the -contradictory answers given, he cou'd not obtain any satisfaction, as -to that point. All this, and what was observ'd from _Northampton_, of -the motion being thought by some, to be upward and downward; by others -rather horizontal, or lateral: the counting the pulses, and the like, only -points out to us the prodigious celerity, and the vibratory species of the -motion of an earthquake. But far, very far is this from being owing to the -tumultuous ebullition, the irregular hurry of subterraneous explosions. - -12ly, How the atmosphere, and earth, are put into that electric and -vibratory state, which prepares them to give, or receive the snap, and the -shock, which we call an earthquake; what it is, that immediately produces -it, we cannot say: any more than we can define, what is the cause of -magnetism, or of gravitation; or how muscular motion is perform'd, or a -thousand other secrets in nature. - -We seem to know, that the author of the world has disseminated ethereal -fire, thro' all matter, by which these great operations are brought about. -This is the subtil fluid of Sir _Isaac Newton_, pervading all things: -the occult fire diffused thro' the universe, according to _Marsilius -Ficinus_ the platonic philosopher, on the _Timeus_ of his master. All -the Platonists insist on an occult fire passing thro', and agitating all -substance, by its vigorous and expansive motion. - -Before them, _Hippocrates_ writes in the same sense, _I. de victûs -ratione_, that this fire moves all in all. This ethereal fire is one of -the four elements of the ancients. It lies latent, and dispersed thro' -all the other three, and quiescent: till collected into a quantity, that -over-balances the circumjacent; like the air crouded into a tempest: or -till it is excited, by any proper motion. - -This fire gives elasticity: and elasticity or vibration is the mother of -electricity. We don't so much wonder at phosphorus arising from animal -substances; for this fire is in water, and betrays itself to our senses, -in salt water. Many a time when I have passed the _Lincolnshire_ washes, -in the night time; the horse has seem'd to tread in liquid flames. The -same appearance is oft at the keel of a ship. Fire exists in water, says -_Pliny_, as well as in human bodies. _nat. hist._ II. 107. Loaf sugar -beaten in the dark is luminous. Many vegetables, as indian cane, and -rotten wood the like, as _Bartholin_ largely recites, _de luce hominum_ -c. 4. All electric bodies have this privilege: that is, they more easily -discover it. Amber, gum lac, naptha, bitumens, some precious stones. -My old friend Mr. _Stephen Gray_ the father and great propagator of -electricity, show'd me experiments therein, in the year 1705, then at -_Corpus Christi_ college in _Cambridge_. Afterward in the year 1719, he -show'd by experiments before the Royal Society, that paper, ribbands, -silk, sattin, cloth, shavings, linen, goldbeaters skin, and in short, -almost all kind of substances discover electrical sparks of fire in the -dark: especially when well warm'd before the fire, or in a cold, dry, -nitrous air, and in a room where there is no company. This same quality is -found _in vacuo_, as Dr. _Desaguliers_ show'd before the Royal Society, -_march_ 31, 1720. He took an exhausted glass globe, and caused it to be -turn'd round violently, in an engine: by rubbing the hand upon it, it was -illuminated within side, with purple streams. This gave foreigners the -idea of using a glass globe, in electrical experiments. - -The operation of the ethereal fire is various, nay, infinite, according -to its quantity, and degree of incitement, progress, hindrance, or -furtherance. One degree keeps water fluid, says the learned bishop of -_Cloyne_: another turns it into elastic air, and air itself seems nothing -else, but vapors, and exhalations render'd elastic, by this fire. - -This fame fire permeates, and dwells in all bodies; even diamond, -flint, and steel. Its particles attract with the greatest force, when -approximated. Again, when united, they fly asunder, with the greatest -force, and celerity; it resists nothing quiescent, but when put into -motion, it disdains all resistance. All this is according to the laws -prescrib'd by the sovereign architect. This is the life, and soul of -action, and reaction, in the universe. Thus has the great author provided -against the native sluggishness of matter! light, or fire in animals, is -what we call the animal spirits; and is the author of life, and motion. -But we know not the immediate mode of muscular motion; any more than how, -in inanimate matter, it causes the vibrations of an earthquake. - -Of this fire, the excellent _Manilius_ thus writes, who liv'd in the time -of _Augustus_. - - -_Astronom._ I. - - _Sunt autem cunctis permisti partibus ignes; - Qui gravidas habitant fabricantes fulmina nubes: - Et penetrant terras, Ætnamq; imitantur Olympo: - Et calidas reddunt ipsis in fontibus undas. - Ac silice in duro, viridiq; in cortice sedem - Inveniunt; cum silva sibi collisa crematur. - Ignibus usq; adeo natura est omnis abundans!_ - - -Which may thus be english'd. - - Fire universal nature traverses. - It makes the thunderbolt in tumid clouds: - In dire Vulcano's penetrates the earth: - And sends the boiling water from its springs. - In hardest flint, and softest wood it dwells: - Which by collision shows itself in flame. - With fire so pregnant is all nature found! - -13ly, The great question then with us, is how the surface of the earth -is put into that vibratory and electric state, by heat and driness? we -must needs acquit the internal of the earth from the charge of these -superficial concussions. How then is the ethereal fire crouded together, -or excited, so as to cause them; seeing in our ordinary electrical -experiments, we make use of friction? - -But that friction alone does not excite electricity, we know from the -obvious experiment of flint and steel, where the suddenness of the stroke, -and hardness of the matter does it. Another method of exciting it, is -the letting off a number of great guns, which so crouds the ethereal -fire together, as to electrify glass windows; observ'd by my friend the -reverend Dr. _Stephen Hales_. The _aurora borealis_, _australis_, all kind -of coruscations, meteors, lightning, thunder, fire-balls are the effects, -and may reciprocally be the cause of electricity; but how in particular -we know not. Come we to the animal world, we must needs assert, that all -motion voluntary, involuntary, generation, even life itself: all the -operations of the vegetable kingdom, and an infinity more of nature's -works, are owing to the activity of this electric fire, the very soul of -the material world. And in my opinion, 'tis this alone, that solves the -famous question, so much agitated with the writers in medicine, about the -heat of the blood. How these, how earthquakes are begun, propagated, we -are yet to seek. - -We may readily enough presume, that the contact between the electric, and -the non-electric, which gives the snap, and the shock, must come from -without, from the atmosphere. Perhaps by some meteor that crouds the -ethereal fire together: which then flies off with that immense force that -causes the earthquake. In the point of contact on the earth's surface, -the same thing is done, perhaps, another time, by a shower of rain. Our -thoughts upon this matter must needs be as immature, as they are novel. -But we may readily conclude, that tho' the original stroke comes from the -atmosphere, yet the atmosphere has no further concern in it: no aereal -power, or change therein, can propagate itself so instantaneously, over -so vast a surface, as 4000 miles square. Therefore the impetuous rushing -noise in the air, accompanying the shock, is the effect, and not the -cause. And all this is strongly confirm'd by this observation, that the -barometer and thermometer receiv'd no change upon the earthquakes. - -But surely, there is not a heart of flesh that is not affected with so -stupendous a concussion! let a man estimate his own power, with that which -causes an earthquake; and he will be persuaded, that somewhat more than -ordinary is intended by so rare and wonderful a motion. That great genius -_Hippocrates_, makes the whole of the animal Å“conomy to be administred, -by what we call nature. And nature alone, says he, suffices for all -things, to animals: she _knows_ herself, and what is necessary for them. -We must extend this thought to the inanimate world. And can we deny then, -that he here means a conscious and intelligent nature, that presides -over, and directs all things, moves the ethereal spirit or fire, that -moves all things: a divine necessity, but a voluntary agent, who gives -the commanding nod, to what we commonly call nature, the chief instrument -in the most important operations of the vast machine, as well as in the -ordinary ones, particularly the human one: administring the whole Å“conomy -(as he says) without noise, unseen, unfelt. And this leads us, - -14ly, Lastly, in regard to the spiritual use we ought to make of these -extraordinary _phænomena_, or of our inquiries about them, I shall first -observe, that we find abroad, several of these earthquakes this year have -been very fatal. In the last we read of, at _Philippopoli_ in _Thrace_, -the whole city was destroyed, above 4000 inhabitants killed. At home, -where above half a score separate concussions have been felt, there has -not been one house thrown down, one life lost. This ought to inspire us -with a very serious reflection about them; nor is it altogether unworthy -of our remark, that they began with us in _London_, in _february_ last: -and after visiting the circle of the globe, at present, end with us. - -2dly, We may observe, that if we did but read the works of _Hippocrates_, -_Plato_ and his followers; of _Tully_, _Galen_, and the like ethic writers -of antiquity; whilst we study, and try the affections of matter; we should -improve in philosophy, properly speaking: we should lift up our minds from -these earthly wonders, and discern the celestial admonitions, they present -to us. - -The original meaning of the word philosophy, was rightly apply'd to -moral wisdom. We who have advanc'd both the natural, and moral, should, -as the ancients did, join them both together. By this means, we gather, -the truth of the highest, and most excellent philosophy, to be found in -those volumes of first antiquity, which we call sacred: and which, 'tis -our peculiar, and inestimable happiness to possess. We should adore that -divine light, which they hold forth to us. Especially in a country, where -the principles of true religion are open, and undisguised: where the -establish'd profession of it is rational, noble and lovely: worthy of the -moral governor of the world; fit for him to enjoin: for us to practise, -with pleasure and effect. - -_november_ 7, 1750. - - W. Stukeley. - - Read at the Royal Society, _december_ 6. - - _FINIS._ - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber Note - -Minor typos were corrected. A number of words are capitalized after a -comma which would usually be set as lower-case today but they were left as -is. Days of the week and month names were printed in lower-case. -Italicization as per the printed version. - - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural -and Religious, by William Stukeley - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILOSOPHY *** - -***** This file should be named 63322-0.txt or 63322-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/3/2/63322/ - -Produced by Tim Lindell, T Cosmas and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious - or, An Inquiry into Their Cause, and Their Purpose - -Author: William Stukeley - -Release Date: September 27, 2020 [EBook #63322] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILOSOPHY *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell, T Cosmas and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 241px;"> -<img src="images/cover.png" width="241" height="324" alt="The Philosophy of Earthquakes, by William Stukeley" /> -</div> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1001" id="Page_1001">[1001]</a></span></p> - - -<div style="width: 30em; margin: 2em auto;"> - -<h1 class="gesperrt">THE<br /> - -<span class="smaller">PHILOSOPHY</span><br /> - -<span class="msmaller">OF</span><br /> - -EARTHQUAKES,<br /> - -<span class="smaller"><span class="smcap">Natural</span> and <span class="smcap">Religious</span>.</span><br /> - -<span class="tdc msmaller">OR</span></h1> - -<p class="caption2nb">An Inquiry into their Cause, and their -Purpose.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="tdc"><i>O Vita philosophia dux, virtutum indagatrix, expultrixque vitii!</i></p> - -<p class="tdr2">Cicero.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="tdc">By <i>WILLIAM STUKELEY</i>, M.D. Rector -of St. <i>George</i>'s, <i>Queen-Square</i>: Fellow of the -College of Physicians and Royal Society:</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="tdc">The SECOND EDITION. -To which is added, PART II. on the same Subject.</p> - -<div class="bddbl"></div> - -<p class="tdc"><i>LONDON</i>: -Printed for <span class="smcap">C. Corbet</span> over-against St. <i>Dunstan</i>'s<br /> -Church, <i>Fleetstreet</i>.<br /> -<br /> -MDCCL. -</p> - -</div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1002" id="Page_1002">[1002]</a><br /><a name="Page_1003" id="Page_1003">[1003]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="To_the_Reader" id="To_the_Reader">To the <span class="smcap">Reader</span>.</a></h2> - - -<p><i>The substance of the philosophical part of -this discourse was delivered at twice -to the Royal Society, on</i> March 15, <i>and</i> 22: <i>The -theological, in my own church. I could not -refuse the solicitation of my friends, hearers -in both places, to print it. I wish my intention, -in the compliance, may any ways prove -successful; to show, how vain, and unmeaning, -are all our philosophical inquiries, when destitute -of their true view; to lead us into the -more engaging paths of religion. That, from -speculation of material causes, we may become -adepts in that wisdom which is from above. -Otherwise, like</i> Epicurus, <i>and the ancient heathen -philosophers, we barter away our immortal -part, for a curiosity, that amuses us to no good -purpose. Mean are these objects of our senses -to be accounted, in comparison of our spiritual -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1004" id="Page_1004">[1004]</a></span> -natures, to which our principal regard is due! -For we must rightly say with</i> Job: Lo, these -are parts of God's ways, but how little a portion -is heard of him? and the thunder of his -power, who can understand?</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 217px;"> -<img src="images/page4.png" width="217" height="117" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1005" id="Page_1005">[1005]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><span class="smaller">TO</span><br /> - -<i>Martin Folkes</i>, Esq; LL.D.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">President of the Royal Society.</span></h2> - - -<p class="tdr"><i>March 26, 1750.</i><br /></p> - -<p>When so great and unusual a <i>phenomenon</i>, -as an earthquake, and that -repeated, happens among us; it -will naturally excite a serious reflection -in everyone that is capable of thinking. -And we cannot help considering it, both in a -philosophical and a religious view. Any mind -will take the alarm when we perceive a motion -that affects the earth, that bears the whole -city of <i>London</i>, and some miles round it. -And at the same time while it gives us so sensible -a shake, so gently sets us down again; without -damage to any buildings, and without a -life lost.</p> - -<p>'Tis hard to say, which is the greater wonder. -But alas in the works of nature, there -are no degrees of great, and little; comparisons -are incompatible. We indeed are more affected -with what seems great in our own apprehensions: -I would rather say, what is rare and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1006" id="Page_1006">[1006]</a></span> -unusual. An omnipotent power admits of -no distinctions. And when prodigious effects -are produc'd from causes imperceptible, it rightly -claims our most serious attention, as well as -wonder. Nor need we lose sight of the theological -purpose of these amazing alarms; whilst -we endeavor to find out the philosophy of -them.</p> - -<p>Among all the appearances of nature, which -are the subject of the inquiries of the Royal -Society, none more deserves the regard of a -contemplative mind. And among the very -numerous accounts received there, from all -quarters, being only Observations upon the -manner of it, and its extent: I judg'd, it became -us to inquire into the <i>cause</i> of so extraordinary -a motion: of which we could not form a -proper idea; had we not repeatedly seen, and -felt it.</p> - -<p>The moderns have not improv'd upon the -opinions of the ancients, in this matter; any -further than by the fancied analogy of some -chymical experiments. But these chymical -experiments, and all sorts of explosions by gun-powder, -and the like, are to me a very unsatisfactory -solution they are merely artificial -compositions, which can have nothing similar -in the bowels of the earth, and they produce -their effects by violence, by rending and tearing, -by a <i>solutio continui</i>. This is indeed too -often the case of earthquakes, but <i>that</i> is a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1007" id="Page_1007">[1007]</a></span> -partial degree, not at all equivalent to the compass -of the shock; and is very far from being -the constant concomitant of an earthquake. -Quite the contrary. Innumerable such happen, -when there is no breach of the surface; -and of these three or four which we have now -felt, nothing of it has appear'd. But the immensity -of the vibration of the earth which -shook every house in <i>London</i>, with impunity, -and for twenty miles round, can never, in my -apprehension, be owing to so unbridled a cause, -as any subterraneous vapours, fermentations, -rarefactions, and the like; the vulgar solution. -Nor does the kind of motion, which I discern -in an earthquake, in any sort agree with what -we should expect from explosions.</p> - -<p>In order then to proceed with some degree -of certainty, in our inquiry after the cause of -earthquakes, it will be useful, in the first place, -to set in one view, the general appearances remarkable -therein; the most usual concomitants: -As we can collect them from our own -observation, or from the relations and writings -of others.</p> - - -<p class="caption2nb smcap gesperrt">Circumstances.</p> - -<p>I. That earthquakes always happen in calm -seasons, in warm, dry, sultry weather; or after -a dry, frosty air.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1008" id="Page_1008">[1008]</a></span></p> - -<p>II. That they are felt at sea, as well as land, -even in the main ocean; and at that time, the -sea is calm.</p> - -<p>III. That earthquakes differ very much in -magnitude. Some shake a very large tract of -country, at the same instant of time; nay, sometime -extend to very many countries, separated -by mountains, seas, lakes, the ocean.</p> - -<p>IV. That earthquakes differ very much in -the quantity, of their vibratory motion: Whence -in some, tho' largely extended, they are innocuous; -in others, both small and great, they -lay all in ruin and destruction.</p> - -<p>V. That a hollow, thundering, unusual -noise accompanies them, or rather seems to -preceed the shock; which rolls in the air like -the noise of cannon.</p> - -<p>VI. That they are felt more sensibly in the -upper story of houses than in the lower.</p> - -<p>VII. That the shock is more violent upon -more solid buildings, churches, castles, and -stone-houses, than upon those of slighter materials.</p> - -<p>VIII. That many people find themselves -sick at stomach, with headake, and pains in -their joints, and the like, which sometime lasts -for the day after, or longer.</p> - -<p>IX. That earthquakes generally happen to -great towns, and cities, and more particularly -to those that are situate on the sea.</p> - -<p>X. That earthquakes do not cause any damage -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1009" id="Page_1009">[1009]</a></span> -to springs and fountains; but the water -in wells becomes foul for a short time.</p> - -<p>XI. That they are more frequent in the -neighboring countries of a vulcano.</p> - -<p>This last circumstance, in my opinion, has -led all inquirers in this question, out of the -true path; therefore I propose in the ensuing -paper.</p> - -<p>I. To shew what it is not; the insufficiency -of the vulgar opinion, of subterraneous fires -and vapours.</p> - -<p>II. To shew what it is in reality, as it appears -to me.</p> - -<p>III. I shall conclude with the moral use we -ought to make of these prodigies of nature.</p> - -<p>I. The struggles of subterraneous winds and -fires, that should heave up the ground like animal -convulsions, seem to me impossible: Their -powers, and manner of acting (if such there be) -is quite incapable of producing the appearance -of an earthquake. That these should -operate instantaneously, in one minute, thro' -a circle of 30 or 40 miles diameter, or more, I -could not conceive. Nor that there should be -any possible, much less ready passage thro' the -solid earth, for such nimble agents, as every -one is apt to imagine that speak of this appearance; -without sufficiently reflecting on the insuperable -difficulties in that <i>hypothesis</i>.</p> - -<p>We cannot pretend to deny that there may -be such vapours, and fermentations, inflammable -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1010" id="Page_1010">[1010]</a></span> -substances, and actual fires, in the bowels -of the earth; and that there may be some -caverns under-ground, as well as we find some -few above ground: such as <i>Pool</i>'s-<i>Hole</i>, <i>The -Devil</i>'s-<i>Arse in the Peak</i> of <i>Derbyshire</i>, and -<i>Okey-Hole</i> in <i>Somersetshire</i>. These, I believe, -to have been so from the creation, never were -made by earthquakes. We know, there are -hot springs running continually: There are -some vulcano's frequently belching out flames -and smoke, and to these perhaps some earthquakes -may be owing, tho' not according to -the vulgar notion; as we shall see, by and by.</p> - -<p>But these matters are very rare, much rarer -than earthquakes, both as to time and place. -<i>Vesuvius</i> in <i>Italy</i>, and in that part of it abounding -with mines of sulphur: <i>Ætna</i> in <i>Sicily</i>, -and <i>Heckla</i> in <i>Iceland</i>; these are all we know -of, in the old world. In the <i>Andes</i> mountains -of <i>America</i>, there are some. The scarcity of -these appears to me a strong argument against -the common deductions made therefrom, as -to their being the cause of earthquakes.</p> - -<p>Nor can I enter into the sentiments of those -that hold the cavernous state of the earth, so -as to contribute to the forming an earthquake -by vapours running from place to place under -ground. How many thousand acres of coal-mines -do they daily work in <i>England</i>, and have done -for ages? I have been myself 2 or 300 feet deep -in a solid rock of native salt: I have walked a -mile lengthwise directly into the earth, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1011" id="Page_1011">[1011]</a></span> -descending all the way, in the proportion of -one yard in five, 'till we came under the bed of -the very ocean, where ships were sailing over -our heads. This was at Sir <i>James Lowther</i>'s -coal-pit, at <i>Whitehaven</i>. We were at this -time deeper under ground by the perpendicular, -than any part of the ocean, between <i>England</i> -and <i>Ireland</i>.</p> - -<p>We never hear, from the many hundreds -of thousands of workmen in this kind, at <i>Newcastle</i>, -<i>Nottinghamshire</i>, <i>Yorkshire</i>, <i>Derbyshire</i>, -<i>Staffordshire</i>, <i>Somersetshire</i>, and <i>Wales</i>: from -the infinite numbers of workmen in the mines -of lead, tin, and the like, of the cavernous state -of the earth, so as to give any colour for this -<i>hypothesis</i> of earthquakes. The earth is generally -of solid rock; in which there must be now, -and then, some clefts, and vacuities, small in -compass, as naturally so many heterogeneous -<i>strata</i> of the earth consolidate together. But -there can be no imagination of vapours breaking -through, uniting, traversing so suddenly, a -large space of earth, so as to produce those -earthquakes, we have seen, and felt; much less -such as we read of. The workmen in all sorts -of mines confess by their hard labor, that the -earth is not cavernous; nor are there mines of -sulphur, nitre, and the like inflammable materials -in <i>England</i>. Or if there were, could they -burn, and cause convulsions of the earth, without -proper cavities, pipes, and conveyances of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1012" id="Page_1012">[1012]</a></span> -air; as vulcano's, and coal-pits, when set on -fire. But even from these coal-pits, when fired, -do we ever find any thing like an earthquake -produced. Nor do we find earthquakes frequent -in those countries, that abound with coal-mines, -as certainly would be the case, if that -<i>hypothesis</i> was just. How easy would it be, on -the slightest occasion for earthquakes to happen -in the countries abounding with coal-mines, -which are so full of artificial cavities communicating -with one another, for many miles -together: The very thing supposed, by those -who hold the old opinion, of vapours traversing -the earth for that purpose.</p> - -<p>In the coal-pits, some small natural cavities -now and then are found; which when opened, -send forth a pestiferous vapor and a fire-damp -which runs for a long time together. -And tho' there are many substances that may -generate air, within the bowels of the earth; -yet these matters are infinitely unable to produce -an earthquake: Never would have force -to open a passage for themselves thro' the solid -rock, of perhaps many hundred feet in -thickness. Nor did we observe in these last -earthquakes any fire, vapour, smoke, or smell, -any kind of eruption, in the least; as must -certainly have been, in so great a struggle of -the superfice, as affected a circle of so large a -diameter. Were there such, we could scarce -hope any otherwise, than that they would be -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1013" id="Page_1013">[1013]</a></span> -too sensibly felt; to the destruction of many -thousands, by their pestiferous qualities.</p> - -<p>Indeed this consideration alone, of the extent -of that surface, is sufficient to overthrow any -supposition, of earthquakes being chiefly owing -to subterraneous vapours: They cannot momentarily -fly under so large a tract of ground, -if they were near the outward shell of the earth. -They could not do it without breaking ground, -and discovering themselves to the sight, or -smell; and that for a long time after. It cannot -possibly be imagin'd, they could have so immense -a force, as to lift up the city of <i>London</i>, -and never be perceived by our organs, and outward -senses. We have frequent accounts of a -little fire-ball bursting in the air, at a distance; -yet it instantly propagates a sulphureous smell -around.</p> - -<p>If the movement of a superficies of 30 miles -diameter was owing to fumes, and vapours; -we ought reasonably to find some great discharges -of them, belching out smoke and fire, -for a long time after, like vulcano's, and coal-pits -fir'd. The operation of the shock ought -to be of hours continuance, not instantaneous; -and the evaporation of so vast a quantity of -matter, must darken the whole region of the -air for a long time after; or require a long -time, if gradually it discharges itself. We see -how immense a volume of smoke is produc'd -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1014" id="Page_1014">[1014]</a></span> -by a very small quantity of gun-powder; and -no vapour could be so subtle, that produc'd -such effects, and not be very obvious to our -senses.</p> - -<p>Even in vulcano's, it is the opinion of the -learned <i>Italian</i> philosopher <i>Borelli</i>, and of -other great naturalists, that they are kindled -first from the surface, where there is a possibility -of ventilation from the air. They -imagine, it begins at the top of the mountains; -not by any fancied fermentation of the <i>pyrites</i> -and sulphureous vapours arising from subterraneous -caverns, in the lower parts of -mountains.</p> - -<p>There is another consideration, which utterly -overthrows these suppositions, of earthquakes -being caused by anything under-ground; and -that is a due consideration of springs, and fountains -perpetually flowing; and that from the -creation of the world to this day. If we would -form any tolerable idea of their nature, we -must needs conceive, that God Almighty has -laid their pipes, and canals in the earth, from a -great depth, even to the surface; like as he has -planted the veins, arteries, and glands in an -animal body. And likewise that they are more -and more ramify'd, as they nearer approach -the outward shell of the earth; just so our -veins, and arteries, as they come nearer the skin.</p> - -<p>The workmen in coal-mines, and those of -metals, minerals, and stone-quarries, never fail -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1015" id="Page_1015">[1015]</a></span> -to meet with springs, and currents of water, -every where. Often they ruin, and divert -springs another way, only by digging into -the earth for foxes, and the like. Whenever -they dig for wells, in any kind of earth, they -commonly find springs. The colliers, and -workers of mines, are oblig'd to drain the -waters off with very great expence.</p> - -<p>These are circumstances not favorable to -subterraneous fires being in the earth in abundance; -much less to their being the cause of -earthquakes. And further, we cannot possibly -think of earthquakes doing their work -that way, without absolutely ruining the -whole system of springs, and fountains, -throughout the whole country, where they -pass. But all this is quite contrary to fact; -even where an earthquake has been repeatedly. -For an instance from home.</p> - -<p>On <i>Wednesday, April</i> 6, 1580, about six -in the evening, just such another earthquake -was felt in <i>London</i> and around it, as these -two we have seen. Another exactly similar -1692. In all these four, no houses thrown -down, no springs disturb'd thereby, no sensible -eruptions nor smells.</p> - -<p>These considerations I apply only to this -little inconsiderable space, of a circle 30 miles -diameter; as with us. But what is that to -the earthquakes we read of in history? In -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1016" id="Page_1016">[1016]</a></span> -the year of our Lord 17, no less than thirteen -great and noble cities in <i>Asia minor</i>, were destroyed -in one night. <i>Tacitus</i>, <i>Pliny</i>, and many -other authors mention it. The fact is so notorious, -that some persons here present, have seen a -vast block of white marble now standing near -<i>Naples</i>; being the pedestal of a coloss statue -of <i>Tiberius</i> the emperor; having carv'd on it -the <i>genius's</i>, or pictures of all those cities, -with their names. The accurate <i>Bulifon</i> and -others have wrote treatises upon it. These -cities were rebuilt by that emperor. But -without going so far, we may see another -evidence of it, a coin of that emperor struck -upon the occasion, with this inscription,</p> - -<p class="tdc gesperrt"> -CIVITATIBUS ASIAE RESTITUTIS.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="p0">I have one of them, in large brass, which -was found at <i>Colchester</i>.</p> - -<p>The compass of this earthquake may be -reckon'd to take up 300 miles diameter, as -a circle. Now, we cannot conceive, how -any subterraneous vapour can produce such an -effect, as instantaneously to demolish all these -cities; and that such an accident should never -happen after. That the whole country of -<i>Asia minor</i> should not at the same time be -destroy'd, its mountains be renversed, its -fountains, springs, and rivers broken up and -ruin'd for ever. Instead whereof we find nothing -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1017" id="Page_1017">[1017]</a></span> -suffered, but those cities; no kind of -alteration in the surface of the country; it remains -the same as it were in the beginning -of time. In 1586 an earthquake in <i>Peru</i>, -that extended 900 miles.</p> - -<p>From these considerations, I cannot persuade -myself, to enter into the opinion of vapours, -and eruptions being the cause sought -for; and, after we have treated the argument -in a superficial view, we must go a little -deeper.</p> - -<p>If we would consider things like philosophers, -let us propose to ourselves this problem: Where -is the power to be plac'd, that is requir'd to -move a surface of earth 30 miles in diameter?</p> - -<p>To answer this, consult the ingineers, and -those that make mines in the sieges of towns; -they will acquaint us, that the effect of mines -is produced in form of an inverted cone. And -that a diameter of 30 miles, in the base, will -require an <i>axis</i> of 15 or 20 miles to operate -upon that base, so as to shake it, at least. -Now the vapours, or whatever power we -propose to operate, according to the foregoing -requisite, in order to form the appearance -of an earthquake, must be 15 or 20 miles -deep in the earth. But what mind can conceive, -that any natural power is able to move -an inverted cone of solid earth, whose base is -30 miles diameter, whose axis 20? or was -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1018" id="Page_1018">[1018]</a></span> -it possible; would not the whole texture of -that body of earth be quite disturb'd and shatter'd, -especially in regard to its springs and -fountains? but nothing like this is ever found -to be the consequence of an earthquake, tho' -fatal to cities.</p> - -<p>Apply this reasoning to the earthquake of -<i>Asia minor</i>, and this vigorous principle at the -<i>apex</i> of the cone must lie, at least, 200 Miles -deep in the ground. Enough to show the absurdity -of any moving power plac'd under the -Earth! A cone of 300 miles diameter at -base, 200 miles <i>axis</i>: I dare be bold to say, -that all the gun-powder made since its invention, -if put together and fired, would not be able -to move it; how much less pent up vapours? -what must we say of a circle of 900 miles -diameter?</p> - -<p>But, could that be admitted as possible, -would any one be persuaded, that such a subterraneous -tumult, of so vast an extent, will -be no ways injurious to the internal system of -springs and fountains, and that this shall often -be repeated without the least damage? We -may as well imagine, that we can stab a man -100 times and never touch vein or artery.</p> - -<p>Since I gave in my two papers to the Royal -Society, a letter of Mr. <i>Flamsted</i>'s has been -printed, which abundantly confirms my sentiments. -The whole drift of it is, to show -how invalid is the vulgar idea conceiv'd, of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1019" id="Page_1019">[1019]</a></span> -earthquakes arising from subterraneous vapours -and eruptions: That the earth itself is not -moved to any depth, and that the shock must -arise from the atmosphere. The circumstances -which he has judiciously collected, are extremely -agreeable to mine; many of them -the very same, strongly confirming my <i>hypothesis</i>: -And had that great man known the -properties of electricity, which we are now -masters of, he would have prevented me in -this affair.</p> - -<p>"Considering (says he) what variety of -substances, sand, gravel, stones, rock, minerals, -clay, and mold, our earth is compounded -of, and how little nitre, or explosive -matter, a large quantity thereof will -afford; I cannot think, where we can -find matter enough to move so vast a bulk -of earth, as all the South parts of <i>England</i>, -all the <i>Netherlands</i>, with part of -<i>Germany</i>, all <i>France</i>, and perhaps <i>Italy</i>, -(which were shock'd at once the 8th of -<i>September</i> last 1692;) or part of <i>Asia</i>, and -near all <i>Europe</i>, which trembled together -the same day, 91 years before.</p> - -<p>"But, allowing there may have been sufficient -matter prepared for these purposes, -I can hardly think, there are continued cavities, -at any reasonable depth, all under -<i>Europe</i>, wherein an explosion being made, -might shake the whole at once, and yet -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1020" id="Page_1020">[1020]</a></span> -make no clefts, or separations, in those -parts where the minerals and mountainous -rocks part from the light mold and clay. -If an hundred barrels of gun-powder could -be fixed in some cave, a thousand yards -under ground; allowing the force of the -explosion sufficient to raise all the weight -of earth incumbent on the cavern; it -would certainly break the loose mold -from any large solid rock we may conceive -adjacent, and leave at least some clefts behind -it. But we seldom or never hear of -such clefts, made in such places, when -earthquakes happen."</p> - -<p>Again, he writes thus: "I cannot apprehend, -(if all earthquakes must be made by -explosions in subterraneous caverns) why -sometimes a large country, or whole continent, -should be thereby shook all at once; -why there should be no eruptions in the -neighbourhood?"</p> - -<p>From all circumstances consider'd, he concludes, -that the abstruse, effective cause of -them comes from the air; and that a calm is -necessary before an earthquake. And these -two particulars are likewise Dr. <i>Hales</i>'s positions: -"The earth-lightning, as he calls it, -is first kindled on the surface, and not at -great depths, as has been thought; whose -explosion is the immediate cause of an -earthquake. He says, long, dry, hot seasons, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1021" id="Page_1021">[1021]</a></span> -are usually the preparatory forerunners -of earthquakes." From all these considerations -I conclude; earthquakes are not -caus'd by subterraneous vapors.</p> - -<p>II. We are to inquire, what is the cause of -earthquakes.</p> - -<p>In an age when electricity has been so -much our entertainment, and our amazement; -when we are become so well acquainted -with its stupendous powers and properties, -its velocity, and instantaneous operation -through any given distance; when we see, -upon a touch, or an approach, between a -non-electric and an electrified body, what a -wonderful vibration is produc'd! what a snap -it gives! how an innocuous flame breaks -forth! how violent a shock! Is it to be wonder'd -at, that hither we turn our thoughts, for -the solution of the prodigious appearance of -an earthquake?</p> - -<p>Here is at once an assemblage of all those -properties and circumstances which we so -often see in courses of electricity. Electricity -may be call'd a sort of soul to matter, -thought to be an ethereal fire pervading all -things; and acting instantaneously, where, -and as far as it is excited. 'Tis every body's -observation, that there never was a winter, -like the last past, in any one's memory, so -extremely remarkable for warmth and driness, -abounding with thunder and lightning, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1022" id="Page_1022">[1022]</a></span> -very uncommon in winter; coruscations in -the air frequent, justly thought electrical by -all philosophers; particularly, twice we had -the extraordinary appearance of that called -<i>aurora australis</i>, with colours altogether unusual; -and this just before the first earthquake: -All the while the wind constantly -south and south-west, and that without rain, -which is unusual with these winds.</p> - -<p>This state of the atmosphere had continued -five months before the first earthquake. Is it -not hence reasonable to conclude, that the -earth, especially in our region, must be -brought into an unusual state of electricity; -into that vibratory condition wherein electricity -consists; and, consequently, nothing was -wanting but the approach of a non-electric -body, to produce that snap, and that shock, -which we call an earthquake; a vibration of -the superficies of the earth.</p> - -<p>That the earth was in that vibratory and -electric state we have further reason to conclude, -from the very extraordinary forwardness -of all the vegetable world with us. -Every one knows, that, at the end of <i>February</i>, -all sorts of garden-stuff, trees, fruits, -and flowers, were as forward as in other years, -by the middle of <i>April</i>. Conformable to -which, experiments abundantly show, that -electrifying of plants quickens their growth, -equally as in animals it quickens the pulse. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1023" id="Page_1023">[1023]</a></span> -Nor will the unusual driness and warmth of -the weather solely account for such a precipitate -vegetation: because a necessary supply of -rain was wanting, as in the natural Spring-season.</p> - -<p>A very long dry frost will produce the -same electrical state of the earth, as it equally -favours electrical experiments. Thus, -<i>March</i> 27, 1076, a frost from the 1st of -<i>November</i> to the middle of <i>April</i>, a general -earthquake in <i>England</i> succeeded. <i>Matt. Paris.</i> -That of <i>Oxford</i>, 17th of <i>September</i> -1683, was after a frost. <i>Jan.</i> 4, 1680, An -earthquake in <i>Somersetshire</i>: The air was very -calm; a frosty night.</p> - -<p>Mr. <i>Flamsted</i> concurs with us, in our first -position, That earthquakes always happen in -<i>calm</i> seasons. He adds, "That <i>Keckerman</i>, -a learned author, who wrote on the subject, -affirms, and backs it from the authority -of <i>Aristotle</i> and <i>Pliny</i>."</p> - -<p>The 8th of <i>September</i> 1601 was a very -calm day but cloudy: And the <i>Smyrna</i> merchants -observe the earthquakes there happen -in calm, still weather. The remarkable clearness -and calmness of the morning was observed -in that of <i>Oxford</i> 17th of <i>September</i> -1683, and the air continued so for five or six -days after: Therefore we may infer, that it -is not impossible, what has been abundantly -related, that some foreigners from <i>Italy</i> here -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1024" id="Page_1024">[1024]</a></span> -in <i>England</i>, some from the <i>West-Indies</i> (in -both which countries earthquakes are more -frequent than with us) did seem to apprehend -our first earthquakes from the apparent temper -of the weather; and observations of this -kind are as old as <i>Aristotle</i>. It is observed -in <i>Jamaica</i>, when the air is extraordinary -calm, an earthquake is always apprehended.</p> - -<p>We had lately read at the Royal Society, -a very curious discourse, from Mr. <i>Franklin</i> -of <i>Philadelphia</i>, concerning thundergusts, -lightning, the northern lights, and meteors. -All which he rightly solves from the -doctrine of electricity. For, if a cloud raised -from the sea, which is a non-electric, happens -to touch a cloud raised from exhalations -of the land, when electrified, it must immediately -cause thunder and lightning. The -electrical fire flowing from the touch of perhaps -a thousand miles compass of clouds, -makes that appearance, which we call lightning. -The snap which we hear in our electrical -experiments, when re-echoed from -cloud to cloud, the extent of the firmament, -makes that affrightning sound of thunder.</p> - -<p>From the same principle I infer, that, if a -non-electric cloud discharges its contents upon -any part of the earth, when in a high electrified -state, an earthquake must necessarily -ensue. The ship made upon the contact of -many miles compass of solid earth is that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1025" id="Page_1025">[1025]</a></span> -horrible uncouth noise, which we hear upon -an earthquake; and the shock is the earthquake -itself.</p> - -<p>In the relation received from <i>Portsmouth</i>, -and the <i>Isle of Wight</i>, concerning the last -shock there, on the 18th of <i>March</i>, the writer -observes, the Day was warm and serene; -but, upon a gentle shower falling in the evening, -the earthquake came. Here we have -reason to apprehend the electrified state of the -earth, and the touch of the non-electric: -which caused the earthquake.</p> - -<p>The learned Dr. <i>Childrey</i> observes, treating -on this subject, that earthquakes happen -upon rain; a sudden shower of rain in the -time of a great drought.</p> - -<p>'Tis objected, that, if this was the case, -nothing would be more frequent than earthquakes; -but these two circumstances concurring, -a shower and dry weather, must not -necessarily cause it, any more than touching -a tube before it is electrified causes a snap. -The earth must be in a proper electrified state -to produce it; and electricity has its fits; is -remitted, intended, ceased and recommenced. -It has its bounds. All causes must concur. -And now, with us, all necessary causes did -so apparently. Tho' a shower of rain falling -upon the earth when electrified, may cause -an earthquake, yet too much rain before, will -prevent that state of electricity, necessary.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1026" id="Page_1026">[1026]</a></span></p> - -<p>The day before the catastrophe of <i>Port-Royal</i>, -the weather was remarkably serene and -clear. In that most dreadful earthquake, 1692, -of <i>Sicily</i>, where 54 cities and towns, beside a -great number of villages were destroy'd; but -especially the whole city of <i>Catania</i>: It was -preceded by a most agreeable, serene and warm -season, which was the more observable on account -of its being unusual at that time of the -year.</p> - -<p>I have been inform'd, that in the morning -of both earthquakes last past with us, the air -was serene and calm; on the morning before -that 8th of <i>February</i>, the air was observ'd to -be remarkably calm; and that a little before, -a black cloud appear'd over great part of the -horizon. Dr. <i>Hales</i>, in his relation, says, the -Centinels in <i>St. James's Park</i>, and others who -were abroad in the morning of the last earthquake, -observ'd a large black cloud, and some -coruscations, just before the shock, and that it -was very calm weather: And that, in the history -of earthquakes, they generally begin in -calm weather, with a black cloud.</p> - -<p>This observation precludes the suspicion of -earthquakes arising from tumults and commotions -in the upper, or under region of the -air. The remarkable clearness of the air before -earthquakes, observ'd by all, shows evidently -how free it is from vapours and the like.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1027" id="Page_1027">[1027]</a></span></p> - -<p>Agreeable to our <i>fifth</i> position, Mr. <i>Flamsted</i> -writes, "A hollow noise in the air always -precedes an earthquake, so near that -it rather seems to accompany them. He -refers us to <i>Philosophical Transactions</i>, N<sup>o</sup> -151. p. 311. The noise was heard by -many that liv'd in the out-streets, and alleys -of <i>London</i>, remote from the noise and -tumult of the greater streets."</p> - -<p>This he speaks of that felt in <i>London</i> 1692; -but now the whole city heard the noise, on -both these earthquakes of ours.</p> - -<p>The gardener, who gave a relation to the -Royal Society of what he observed in the -<i>Temple</i>-garden, took notice, that first he heard -the most dreadful noise imaginable, which he -thought to be a great discharge of ship-guns, -on the river: and that the noise rolled from -the water-side towards <i>Temple-bar</i>, rather before -the nodding of the houses.</p> - -<p>The gentleman who observed it about <i>Hartingfordbury</i>, -says, the noise preceded the -shock. And this is a common observation, -which at once both strengthens our opinion of -electricity, and confutes that of subterraneous -vapours; for, in the latter case, the concussion -must precede the noise.</p> - -<p>Agreeable to out <i>second</i> position, Mr. <i>Flamsted</i> -writes, "That earthquakes are felt at -sea, equally as on land. Our merchants -say, that, tho' the water in the bay of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1028" id="Page_1028">[1028]</a></span> -<i>Smyrna</i> lies level and smooth as a pond; -yet ships riding there feel the shocks very -sensibly, but in a very different manner -from the houses at land: For they heave -not, but tremble; their masts shiver, as if -they would fall to pieces and their guns -start in their carriages, though the surface of -the sea lies all the time calm and unmoved." -In Dr. <i>Hook</i>'s <i>Philosophical Collections</i>, N<sup>o</sup> 6. -p. 185. we are told, "That a ship felt a -shock in the main ocean; that the passengers, -who had been asleep in their cabins, -came upon deck in a fright, fearing the -ship had struck upon some rock; but, on -heaving the lead, found themselves out of -soundings."</p> - -<p>All this is extremely agreeable to our assumption. -The water receives the electrical -touch, and vibratory intestine motion of its -parts, as well as land. And the impression -may be made solely on the writer a non-electric, -by the touch of an electric fire-ball, or -the like; and that seems to have been often -the care. The proper vibratory motion is -impress'd on the water without ruffling its -surface; and so communicated to all the parts -of the ship, gives the sense of a shock to the -bottom, the shivering to the mast, and the -rest of the symptoms: which sufficiently proclaim -the cause of it to be an electrical impression -upon the water. The president mentioned -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1029" id="Page_1029">[1029]</a></span> -a relation of a waterman, that felt it -in his boat upon the river; he thought it like -a great thump at the bottom of the boat. -And so the ships at sea fancy, they strike upon -a rock.</p> - -<p>This makes us apprehend, the reason of -the fishes leaping up out of the canal in <i>Southwark</i>, -of which we had an account. So in -that of <i>Oxford</i>, 1683, one fishing in the -<i>Charwell</i> felt his boat tremble under him, and -the lesser fishes seem'd affrighted by an unusual -skipping. That electricity is the cause -sought for, seems deducible from this consideration. -Several writers on earthquakes assimilate -these vibrations of the earth to those -of a musical string. Experiments have shown, -that fishes in water may be killed by the particular -tone of a musical string; and 'tis -known, that electricity will kill animals. They -assuredly felt the vibratory motion in the water, -which they were absolutely strangers to -before. No doubt it made them sick; as -those of weak nerves on land. And this circumstance -alone precludes any suspicion of -subterraneous fires under the ocean. Or, if -we were to admit of it, would the boiling of -the water exhibit any appearance, like what -we are speaking of, either to the water, or to -the ship?</p> - -<p>Mr. <i>Flamsted</i> likewise concurs in our <i>eighth</i> -position, "That many people found themselves -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1030" id="Page_1030">[1030]</a></span> -suddenly sick at stomach, and their -heads dizzy and light; so that those that had -formerly fits of apoplexies, dreaded their -return; particularly, one gentleman, a surgeon, -feeling himself so affected, and fearing -a return of his apoplexy, resolved to -be let blood, without suspecting the earthquake."</p> - -<p>After these two shocks which we felt, many -people had pains in their joints and back, as -after electrifying; many had sickness, headakes, -hysteric and nervous disorders, and -colicks, for the whole day after, and some -much longer, especially people of weak -nerves, weak constitutions; some women -miscarry'd upon it; to some it has prov'd -fatal.</p> - -<p>To this we must attribute, that relation we -had, of the dog lying asleep before the fire; -but upon the earthquake, he suddenly rose -up, run about the room, whining, and endeavouring -to get out.</p> - -<p>Any solid matter is capable of being put -into a state or electricity, such as iron guns; -and the more so, by reason of their solidity. -And in proportion to it, is the greatness of -the snap, and of the shock; and a kind of -lambent flame issues from the point of contact; -and likewise somewhat of a sulphureous -smell: So that if both flame and smell were -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1031" id="Page_1031">[1031]</a></span> -discernible in an earthquake; 'tis to be found, -without going to the bowels of the earth.</p> - -<p>Dr. <i>Hales</i> mentions, that solid bodies are -the best conductors of aereal lightning; whence -oaks are rent, and iron melted. And in -our earthquakes in <i>London</i>, the loudest noise -was heard near such large stone buildings, as -churches, with lofty steeples. From the top -of these we must apprehend, that the electrical -explosion goes off into the open air; as -in our experiments, from the point of swords, -and the like.</p> - -<p>The electrical shock is proportionate to the -solid electrified, agreeable to our <i>seventh</i> position. -This fully accounts for earthquakes in -general, and for many in particular. What -can be imagin'd greater than a shock of the -body of the earth? 'Tis greater, or less in -proportion to the state of electrification. And -now we can account for several appearances. -In the first earthquake, the Lord Chancellor, -Masters in Chancery, and several Judges, were -sitting in <i>Westminster-Hall</i>, with their backs -to the wall of the upper-end, which is of a -vast thickness. They all relate the severity of -the shock, from the wall seeming to push towards -them with great violence.</p> - -<p>And thus in the earthquake of 1692, <i>Deal</i> -castle is one of them built by <i>Henry</i> VIII. -the walls are of immense thickness, and -strength; yet they shook so sensibly, that the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1032" id="Page_1032">[1032]</a></span> -people living in it, expected it was falling on -their heads. And this is the case in all earthquakes: -the more substantial the building, the -more violent is the shock: exactly the mode of -electrical vibration. And this Dr. <i>Hales</i> takes -notice of and others; that an earthquake shatters -rocks of marble, more easily than the -<i>strata</i> of sand, earth, or gravel. In the earthquake -here of 1692, a great cliff fell down -near <i>Dover</i>; and part of <i>Saltwood</i>-castle -wall.</p> - -<p>'Tis from hence we account for that observation, -that when we electrify any person; -upon a touch, the pain and blow of the shock -is felt at the joints, the wrist, elbow, and -shoulder, for instance, more than in the intermediate -parts; because <i>there</i> is the greatest -quantity of solid.</p> - -<p>At the same time, that the force of electricity -in solids, is as the quantity of matter: -we see most evidently, by innumerable experiments, -that water is equally assistant in -strengthening, and conveying the force of electricity; -and <i>that</i> in proportion too to its quantity. -And hence is to be deduc'd the reason -of my observation; that the most frequent -and dreadful earthquakes have fallen upon maritime -places. And I find the same is taken -notice of in some degree, by <i>Acosta</i>, by <i>Dolittle</i>, -who wrote on that in 1692, and others.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1033" id="Page_1033">[1033]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the dreadful catastrophe at <i>Port-Royal</i> -then, 'tis notorious, that its violence was chiefly -near the sea. So <i>Lima</i> could not suffer without -its port of <i>Callao</i>. Even in those so lately -felt by us, they were sensibly more violent -towards the river, than farther from it.</p> - -<p>In that earthquake which was felt in <i>England</i>, -in the year 1692, (which was very -much like these with us) there were no -houses thrown down, nor persons kill'd: but -it reach'd more particularly <i>Sheerness</i>, <i>Sandwich</i>, -<i>Deal</i>, <i>Dover</i>, <i>Portsmouth</i>, and the maritime -parts of <i>Holland</i>, <i>Flanders</i>, and <i>Normandy</i>.</p> - -<p>In this that happened on <i>Sunday</i> the 18th -of <i>March</i> last, at <i>Bath</i>; it was felt particularly -and strongly at <i>Portsmouth</i>, seven miles -above and below it, on the sea-side; all round -the isle of <i>Wight</i>, at <i>Southampton</i>, the sea-coast -of <i>Selsey</i>, south of <i>Chichester</i>, <i>Arundel</i>, -and the whole coast of <i>Sussex</i>, without going -up the land; and across the sea to the islands -of <i>Jersey</i> and <i>Guernsey</i>.</p> - -<p>On <i>Monday</i> night, the 2d of this instant -<i>April</i>, 1750, at ten o'clock, at <i>Leverpool</i>, a -shock of an earthquake. And felt in several -other places in the neighbourhood; but particularly -at <i>Chester</i>, and <i>Warington</i>.</p> - -<p>If we look into ancient history, we find -197 years before Christ, an earthquake shook -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1034" id="Page_1034">[1034]</a></span> -terribly the isle of <i>Rhodes</i>, damag'd many -cities: and some quite swallow'd up.</p> - -<p>Seventeen years before Christ, many cities -in the isle of <i>Cyprus</i> destroy'd.</p> - -<p>Six years before Christ, the isle of <i>Coos</i> -vehemently afflicted.</p> - -<p>During the <i>Peloponnesian</i> war among the -<i>Greeks</i>, the isle of <i>Delos</i> shaken, and the most -beautiful temple of <i>Apollo</i> thrown down.</p> - -<p>Soon after, the city of <i>Lacedæmon</i> totally -destroy'd.</p> - -<p><i>A. D.</i> 79. Three cities in <i>Cyprus</i> overthrown.</p> - -<p><i>A. D.</i> 82. The city of <i>Smyrna</i> ruined.</p> - -<p>In the time of <i>Valens</i> the emperor, a terrible -earthquake in <i>Crete</i>, whereby 100 cities -were destroy'd.</p> - -<p><i>Feb.</i> 13, 1247, An earthquake, chiefly felt -in the <i>Thames</i>. <i>Matt. Paris.</i></p> - -<p><i>May</i>, 1382, A general earthquake, which -did much mischief; the <i>Friday</i> following one -less; the <i>Saturday</i> following, one felt mostly -by water. <i>Henry de Knyhton.</i> <i>Holinshed.</i></p> - -<p><i>A. D.</i> 1456, In the city of <i>Naples</i>, 40,000 -people lost.</p> - -<p><i>Constantinople</i> has often suffer'd; particularly -in 1509, 13,000 people overwhelm'd.</p> - -<p>1531, At <i>Lisbon</i>, 1400 houses thrown -down; as many shatter'd.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1035" id="Page_1035">[1035]</a></span></p> - -<p><i>April</i>, 1690, The <i>Leeward-Islands</i>, <i>Montserat</i>, -<i>Nevis</i>, and <i>Antigua</i>: At <i>Martinico</i>, -and the <i>French</i> islands, at St. <i>Lucia</i>, &c. a -violent earthquake.</p> - -<p><i>Dec.</i> 8, 1703, An earthquake at <i>Hull</i>, a -perfect calm.</p> - -<p>1702, At <i>Stroution</i>, in <i>Argyleshire</i>, which -extended all along the west coast of <i>Great-Britain</i>; -but to no breadth on land.</p> - -<p><i>Oct.</i> 25, 1734, At <i>Havant</i>, in <i>Sussex</i>, considerable, -the air perfectly calm.</p> - -<p>But instances enough, to show what I -aim'd at, that maritime places are most subject; -which is a strong argument in favour of -electricity; when both the solid of the earth, -and the quantity of the water concur, to -make the shock; exactly as in electrical experiments; -when the bottle of water is held in -the hand.</p> - -<p>Thus when our mind is discharged of the -prejudices of former notions, we discern, -that every appearance favours the principle we -go upon. That, agreeable to Mr. <i>Flamsted</i>, -subterraneous explosions, could they pervade, -and traverse the earth at pleasure, must at last -burst, and disperse every thing in their way. -Yet 'tis not possible for us to imagine, such -a kind of vibration should follow, either by -sea or land, as that we are treating of. But -electricity compleatly answers it. This accounts -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1036" id="Page_1036">[1036]</a></span> -for that superficial movement of the -earth, that universal instantaneous shock, -which made every house in <i>London</i> to tremble, -none to fall: That quivering, tremulous, -horizontal vibration, highly different from any -motion we must conceive, to be produc'd -from subterraneous evaporations. Hence authors -tell us, <i>Dec.</i> 30, 1739, describing an -earthquake in the west-riding of <i>Yorkshire</i>: -It seem'd as if the earth mov'd backward and -forward horizontally; a quivering, with reciprocal -vibrations.</p> - -<p>Mr. <i>Flamsted</i> rightly accounts the motion -of earthquakes to be undulatory; and by being -continued, causes a like motion to a great -distance. As when you strike a long stretch'd -string of wire at one end, the motion is immediately -continued to the other. So far he -entered into the nature of electricity.</p> - -<p>Tho' he be in the right, thinking the cause -comes from the air, yet what follows, contradicts -his own hypothesis. For if a calm be -necessary before an earthquake; then 'tis not -produc'd by any turbulence in the air. Nor -can we imagine that any aerial commotion, -tho' it may shake windows, chimneys, and -the like, shall reach 500 miles distance, split -the solid earth, destroy whole cities, and cause -those dire desolations we hear of.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1037" id="Page_1037">[1037]</a></span></p> - -<p>Mr. <i>Flamsted</i> mentions a circumstance, that -the earthquake here in 1692, was not felt in -the north of <i>England</i>, nor in all <i>Scotland</i>: -for rain fell that day in both. We may very -readily conceive, the earth there was not in -an electrified state; and the rain would sufficiently -prevent it. We hence understand, -how the southern regions should be more subject -to them, than our northern; where the -warmth, and driness of the air, so necessary -to electricity, is more frequent than with -us.</p> - -<p>From electric vibration only can we account -for our <i>tenth</i> position, of springs, and -fountains being no ways damag'd by earthquakes: -The motion goes no deeper into the -earth, than the force and quantity of the -shock reaches; which generally is not far; -yet it proceeds lower down when the ready -passage of a well offers, and <i>there</i> affects the -water contained in it; puts it into an intestine -vibration, as to foul it, and raise mud from -the bottom.</p> - -<p>It may seem difficult to conceive, how a large -portion of the earth's surface should be thus -capable of electrification. This difficulty is -lessened by reflecting on the nature of electricity, -and of the electrical, ethereal fluid pervading -all things: how it is excited by the -little motion of a small revolving glass globe. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1038" id="Page_1038">[1038]</a></span> -By this we electrify the most solid bodies, to -the greatest distance, and with a velocity equal -to that of lightning.</p> - -<p>Dr. <i>Hales</i> observes, that the usual explosion -of the cannon on great days, in St. <i>James</i>'s-<i>Park</i>, -is observ'd to electrify the glass, in the -windows of the Treasury.</p> - -<p>We must conceive, that when the electric -shock is communicated to one part of the -earth, it extends itself proportionably to the -force of the shock, and to the quantity of -electrified surface; and to the quality of the -matter more or less susceptible of it, more or -less apt to propagate it.</p> - -<p>Set 1000 men in a row; let every one -communicate with those next him by an iron-wire -held in their hands: on an electrical -shock they all feel it alike, at the same instant; -and this gives us a very good idea of -the earthquake.</p> - -<p>When the earth is broken up in any large -degree, 'tis by the sea-side; where sometimes -on a bold shore, whole streets tumble into the -sea, or into the gaping earth, now falling toward -the sea. Sometimes on a flat and sandy -shore, whole streets are rolled along the level -into the sea.</p> - -<p>I am not sensible of any real objection -against our <i>hypothesis</i>, but this, being the -<i>eleventh</i> of my positions, or circumstances. -It seems true, that earthquakes are more frequent -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1039" id="Page_1039">[1039]</a></span> -in <i>Italy</i>, near <i>Vesuvius</i>, and by <i>Ætna</i>, -in <i>Sicily</i>. And the cause seems apparently -owing to these vulcano's. At first sight, every -one would think so, but not from the true -reason. This has given the great prejudice to -the judgments of the curious, even at this -day. But consider the matter impartially, and -it will appear, so far from being a strong argument -in favour of subterraneous eruptions, -that it ought to be esteem'd a convincing proof -to the contrary, and most cogent in favour of -my principle. In strictest logic, there is no -inference to be made from particulars to generals. -Quite the contrary. We have but -these two or three vulcano's on one quarter -of the globe, and two of them toward the -warmer climate of it; whereas earthquakes -are innumerable, especially in those of a warmer -clime. That there are no vulcano's, no -discharges of fire and smoke for a continuance, -and abundance, after earthquakes; no suspicion -of it either from sight or smell, as we -know by innumerable examples, as well as in -our own country, and experience: is demonstration, -that this is not the cause. If -the vulcano's were the real cause of earthquakes, -we ought assuredly to expect, that in -the countries thereabouts, the earthquakes -ought to be far more extensive than those in -other countries, where are no vulcano's; but -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1040" id="Page_1040">[1040]</a></span> -this is altogether contrary to experience. For, -as the celebrated naturalist <i>Buffon</i> observes, -such are not extensive, as are near <i>Ætna</i> and -<i>Vesuvius</i>. He further adds: <i>Histoire naturelle</i>, -tom. <span class="smcap">I</span>. p. 508. speaking, among many -others, of a <i>vulcano</i> in the island of <i>Ternate</i>, -he remarks, "That this burning gulph is less -agitated when the air is calm, and the season -mild, than in storms and hurricanes;" -and says, "This confirms what I have said in -my foregoing discourse, and seems evidently -to prove, that the fire which makes <i>vulcano's</i> -comes not from the bottom of mountains, -but from the tops, or at least from -a very little depth; and that the hearth (or -floor) of the fire is not far from the summit -of the <i>vulcano's</i>; for, if this was not -the case, great winds could not contribute -to their conflagration." And this, in general, -is a corroborative proof of my whole hypothesis. -For there can be no great fire in -the earth, where there is no great conveyance -of air.</p> - -<p>We have one vulcano in the cold region of -<i>Iceland</i>, and there is sometimes an earthquake -there; but, in the countries of that northern -latitude, and those of lesser, 'tis obvious in -all history, that earthquakes are less frequent -than in the more southern. Therefore 'tis -easy, and very natural to conclude, from all -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1041" id="Page_1041">[1041]</a></span> -considerations weighed together, that these -vulcano's help to put the earth about them, -into that vibratory state and condition of electricity, -which is the requisite in my <i>hypothesis</i>, -and by that means only, promote a frequency -of earthquakes there.</p> - -<p>I have only one circumstance to add, which -may seem not inconsiderable; probably perceived -by many, tho' not taken notice of. -For a whole week before the first earthquake, -the partition wainscot of my house (between -the forward and backward rooms) made an -odd kind of tremulous, crackling noise continually, -as if the wainscot would split; or -as if some damage was apprehended to the -house. This was observ'd by the family, -with a good deal of concern. <i>That</i> in the -chamber crackled more than that below. We -never perceiv'd it before, nor since; and apparently, -it shows the vibratory state of the -surface of the earth, at that time.</p> - -<p>But whether our conjectures upon this important -subject be well founded or no, it certainly -becomes a christian philosopher, whilst -he is investigating material causes, to look -up, and regard the moral use of them. For -in reality, every thing, the whole world, was -ultimately for that purpose made. When -we see such a kind of spirituality impress'd -on mere matter, as this amazing property of -electricity, it should kindle in us a high ambition -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1042" id="Page_1042">[1042]</a></span> -of asserting, and exerting the infinitely -superior value, and powers, and excellency of -the spiritual part of us, destin'd to an immortal -duration. And of all the great and public -calamities, which affect us mortals, earthquakes -claim the first title to the name of -warnings and judgments. None so proper to -threaten, or to execute vengeance upon a -guilty people. Nor has any other, those annexed -terrors, so much of the unusual, the -unavoidable, the sudden and the horrible apprehension -of being crush'd to death, or buried -alive. And when in our own sight, these -rare and extraordinary <i>phænomena</i> appear, it -cannot but be a lesson to us, to do our duty -toward that great Being, who, by a drop of -water, can produce effects so prodigious.</p> - -<p>That earthquakes proclaim themselves to -mankind in this light, is further deducible -from this observation, the <i>ninth</i> in our recapitulation -of circumstances; that they are peculiarly -directed to great cities, and maritime -towns, those nurseries of wealth, luxury, and -of all the evils naturally flowing therefrom. -It would be childish to rehearse from old history, -or modern, a proof of it. We have -no other notices of them. Look upon these -two shocks we have here felt. We own -that <i>Hampsted-heath</i>, and <i>Finchley-forest</i>, and -<i>Kennington-common</i> were affected with it; -yet it is notorious, that <i>London</i> was the center, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1043" id="Page_1043">[1043]</a></span> -the place to which the finger of God was -pointed.</p> - -<p>And this leads us in the <i>third</i> place, to -consider the moral use and purpose of these -<i>magnalia naturæ</i>, and prodigies of the agency -of material causes. For nothing sure, but -an electrical shock, and that from a divine -hand, could have been so well adjusted, as -twice, nay four times, so sensibly to shake -every house in <i>London</i>, and not throw one -down. This duty we will endeavour to execute, -from the words of that great man, king -<i>David</i>.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 254px;"> -<img src="images/page43.png" width="254" height="226" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1044" id="Page_1044">[1044]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="PSALM_xviii_7" id="PSALM_xviii_7">PSALM xviii. 7.</a></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Then the earth shook, and trembled; the foundations -also of the hills moved, and were -shaken; because he was wroth.</i></p> - - -<p>This Psalm is a triumphal song, which -<i>David</i> deliver'd publickly before God, -in thankful remembrance of the great mercies -he had receiv'd; being firmly established on -his throne: and all his enemies, foreign or -domestick, subdued.</p> - -<p>He does not attribute this happy situation of -his affairs to his own prudence and courage; -but, like a consummate politician, absolutely -to the mediation of the divine providence. -He draws up a most grand and magnificent -description of the advent of the deity, such as -words never before expressed. All the heathen -pictures of the appearance of their gods, are -cold and lame, compar'd to this; which is -deservedly so much admir'd by all criticks that -have any taste for religion, as well as language.</p> - -<p>This verse, in our text, is the first movement -in the scene, which was to represent the -appearance of <i>Jehovah</i>, without whose interposition -<i>David</i> hoped for nothing fortunate. -After describing all the pomp of light, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1045" id="Page_1045">[1045]</a></span> -darkness, celestial; hailstones, thunder, lightning, -and the like instances of majesty and terror, -in the skies; he still keeps his eye on the -ground, and concludes with the earthquake, -where he began.</p> - -<p><i>Then the channels of waters were seen; and -the foundations of the earth were discovered; -at thy rebuke, O Lord; at the blast of the -breath of thy nostrils.</i></p> - -<p>Our holy psalmist, at other times, has exhibited -the same images, in different coloring; -as a great master varies his works, to -strike out all the beauties.</p> - -<p>Psal. lxviii. 7. <i>O God, when thou wentest -forth before thy people; when thou didst march -thro' the wilderness; the earth shook, the heavens -also dropped, at the presence of God. -Even Sinai itself was moved, at the presence -of God; the God of Israel.</i></p> - -<p>By this he means, the giving the law. -<i>Exod.</i> xix. 8. <i>And mount Sinai was altogether -on a smoke; because the Lord descended -on it in fire: and the smoke ascended as the -smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount -quaked greatly.</i></p> - -<p>Again, Psal. cxiv. when he is describing -the passage over the <i>Red-sea</i>, and that over <i>Jordan</i>; -he brings in the machinery of earthquakes, -to testify the divine presence.</p> - -<p><i>When Israel went out of Egypt, and the -house of Jacob from among a strange people; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1046" id="Page_1046">[1046]</a></span> -the sea saw it and fled. Jordan was driven -back.</i></p> - -<p><i>The mountains skipped like rams: and the -little hills like young sheep.</i></p> - -<p>Then he asks the question, <i>What ailed thee, -O thou sea, that thou fleddest? and thou Jordan, -that thou wast driven back?</i></p> - -<p><i>Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams, and -ye little hills like young sheep?</i></p> - -<p>He answers: <i>Tremble thou earth at the presence -of the Lord: at the presence of the God -of Jacob.</i></p> - -<p>He fails not to attribute these marvellous -appearances, to their true cause. Tho' he -knew full well, that the God of nature administred -the ordinary course of the earth by -second causes; yet he could not be so blind -but to perceive, when the waves of the ocean -retreated; when the waters of <i>Jordan</i> divided; -when mount <i>Sinai</i> was all in fire, -smoke, lightning and thunder, with the trumpet -of God sounding, and the whole mountain -shaking: he could not but perceive the -presence of the author of nature, in these extraordinary -appearances.</p> - -<p>But every where in sacred scripture earthquakes -are particularly singled out, above all -other natural <i>phænomena</i>, as having more of -the majesty and terrific pomp, to denote an -immediate operation of God's hand; to excite -our fear, and shew his anger, as in our -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1047" id="Page_1047">[1047]</a></span> -text, <i>because he was wroth</i>. In imitation of -the sacred writers, the heathen poets, both -<i>greek</i> and <i>latin</i>, express the anger of their <i>Jupiter</i> -by an earthquake:</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Terrificam capitis concussit terque quaterque</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Cæsariem; cum qua terram, mare, sidera, movit.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> - -<p class="tdr">Ovid.</p> -</div></div></div> - -<p class="p0">The moving meteors in the free air, lightning, -coruscations, fire-balls, tempests, thunders, or -the dreaded comets, tho' frightful enough; -yet people that do not think to any purpose, -hope, as they are at a distance, to escape their -effects. But when the terror comes home to -us, to our feet; when the earth moves on -which we stand; what heart is not moved? -When our houses <i>shake</i> over our ears, the -greatest courage is <i>shaken</i>.</p> - -<p>It is true, an earthquake causes an universal -dread among all sorts of people; even the -philosopher immersed in speculation of second -causes, quakes; as well as the pious, whose -fear proceeds from solid piety: a due sense of -the <i>anger</i> of the almighty Being.</p> - -<p>We saw how the late earthquakes affrighted -every one; but, as to the generality, it was -but for a moment. When they found themselves -safe, and alive; thoughtless they ran to -their business, or their diversion: and this not -only the first, but the second time. And I -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1048" id="Page_1048">[1048]</a></span> -am apprehensive, were another, and another -to come, they would only be less regarded -than the preceding. As the <i>Israelites</i>, to -whom miracles became familiar; as the <i>Jews</i>, -in our Saviour's time, demanding of him to -show them a sign from heaven, in the midst -of the constant scene of miracles innumerable.</p> - -<p>But 'tis my present business to call you to -a due and serious reflexion, on these extraordinary -events; by considering,</p> - -<p>I. What the written word of God, the holy -scriptures, informs us, concerning the ultimate -purpose of earthquakes.</p> - -<p>II. What we can learn from profane history.</p> - -<p>III. To conclude with our text, that they -are strictly and properly divine judgments; <i>because -he was wroth</i>.</p> - -<p>Ever since the earth began, earthquakes -have been look'd on as extraordinary appearances, -among the prodigies of nature, and -executioners of divine justice. In the case of -<i>Korah</i>, <i>the earth opened her mouth and swallowed -them up; and their houses, and all the -men that pertained unto them; and all their -goods</i>.</p> - -<p>In the miraculous victory obtain'd by <i>Jonathan</i>, -and his armor-bearer, over the army of -the <i>Philistines</i>, I. <i>Sam.</i> xiv. There was a panic -terror infus'd into the <i>Philistines</i>, and an -<i>earthquake</i>: it is call'd <i>a very great trembling -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1049" id="Page_1049">[1049]</a></span> -of God</i>. What the heathen attributed to <i>Pan</i>, -an imaginary deity of their own making: the -<i>Hebrews</i> rightly refer'd to the true cause, the -first, and supreme.</p> - -<p>In the new testament, at our Saviour's -death, there was a great earthquake, which -was altogether miraculous; as much as the -eclipse of the sun then. The elements might -well sympathize with the God of nature. <i>The -sun was darkened, the vail of the temple was -rent in twain; the earth did quake, the rocks -rent.</i></p> - -<p>Again, at his resurrection, <i>Matt.</i> xxviii. 2. -<i>There was a great earthquake. The angel of -the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled -back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.</i></p> - -<p><i>And for fear of him the keepers did shake, -and became as dead men.</i></p> - -<p><i>Matt.</i> xxvii. 54. <i>When the centurion, and -they that were with him, watching Jesus, -saw the earthquake, they feared greatly.</i> See -the consequence of it in one place; and thus -in another:</p> - -<p><i>Acts</i> iv. 31. <i>The Apostles</i>, in the infant -church, <i>when praying, the place was shaken, -where they were assembled together: and they -were all filled with the Holy Ghost</i>. The heathen -centurion <i>feared</i> upon the earthquake: -The christians praying, were <i>filled with the -Holy Ghost</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1050" id="Page_1050">[1050]</a></span></p> - -<p><i>Acts</i> xvi. 26. When <i>Paul</i> and <i>Silas</i> were -in prison. <i>At mid-night when they pray'd, and -sang hymns to God, suddenly there was a great -earthquake; so that the foundations of the -prison were shaken. And immediately all the -doors were opened, and every one's bands were -loosed.</i></p> - -<p>Observe the consequence it had upon the -gaoler; <i>He called for a light, and sprang in, -and came trembling, and fell down before -Paul and Silas, and said, Sirs, what must I -do to be saved?</i></p> - -<p>The gaol trembled; and the gaoler trembled, -as is observed by a writer on this head, -an earthquake could <i>soften</i> his <i>hard</i> heart, -and <i>open</i> what he had <i>lock'd</i>. It awaken'd -him out of his spiritual slumber, as well as -his natural sleep, and made his conscience, as -well as the foundations of the prison, to -quake. A bad conscience is <i>as a troubled sea, -that cannot rest, but casteth up mire, and clay</i>. -The gaoler perceiv'd the celestial warning, -and made a proper use of it.</p> - -<p>There are many circumstances in the nature -of earthquakes, which render them peculiarly -proper to be the instruments in God's -hand, to give warning to a people, to amend -their ways.</p> - -<p>The <i>suddenness</i> is one. We saw, not long -ago, what an effect was produced by a solar -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1051" id="Page_1051">[1051]</a></span> -eclipse, tho' it was expected long before. We -had the prediction, and calculations about it -in all our almanacs; yet there was an universal -seriousness that followed it. All that morning, -we could walk the street, without hearing -an oath, and the churches were full, in -time of prayer. But the <i>suddenness</i> of an -earthquake that comes at an instant, unthought -of, without warning, that seems to bring unavoidable -death along with it; is able to touch -an adamantin heart. To see death stalking -o'er a great city, ready to sweep us all away, -in an instantaneous ruin, without a single moment -to recollect our thoughts; this is fear -without remedy; this is far beyond battle and -pestilence. The lightning and thunderbolt, -<i>the arrow that flieth by day</i>, may suddenly -take off an object or two, and leave no space -for repentance: but what horror can equal -that, when above a million of people are liable -to be buried, in one common grave!</p> - -<p>Another consideration that inhances the -dread of earthquakes, is the <i>unavoidableness</i> -of the calamity. Famine, and war, and rebellion, -and pestilence we may run from, the -disease among the cattle, and locusts, and the -like stripes of angry heaven, we may have -some chance to escape: but no means, no -precaution, no remedy, no prudence can screen -us, from so universal a desolation as this: 'tis -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1052" id="Page_1052">[1052]</a></span> -as the presence of God. Whither then can -we go to hide ourselves? Must we call upon -the rocks and mountains, to cover, and shelter -us from the divine wrath! <i>And they shall -go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves -of the earth, for fear of the</i> <span class="smcap">Lord</span>, <i>and -for the glory of his majesty; when he ariseth -to shake terribly the earth</i>. Alas, those are the -very instruments he employs for our destruction; -to be our tombstones!</p> - -<p>This <i>unusual</i> kind of death too, strikes us -with horror; to be buried alive. The earth, -the common mother of us all, and the common -grave; to eat up her offspring alive; -crouds all the images of amazement together, -that can enter into the heart of man.</p> - -<p>The greater the terror accompanying earthquakes, -the greater a blessing is our deliverance -from the danger of it! What can equal -God's power and judgment but his mercy? -Consider the wonderful consequence; that the -whole city of <i>London</i> should so sensibly be -shaken, and yet no one inhabited house to -fall; nor one person kill'd. Amazing instance -of power, and goodness, in our preservation! -And this not only once, but the second time -also; tho' evidently stronger was the concussion. -So strong that almost every person was -throughly persuaded, that some part, at least, -of their houses, was falling down. Can we -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1053" id="Page_1053">[1053]</a></span> -help admiring, that judgment should be so -temper'd with mercy! Do we look only at the -second causes with our unbelievers; and sport -away the divine presence, as if it was an ordinary -occurrence of every day? They want -to see a miracle. Nought can affect them, -but a direct, supernatural agency.</p> - -<p>I answer, behold a visible, and notorious -miracle; plainly obvious, and before all their -senses. For can there be a greater miracle, -can any thing be more directly the finger of -God than this, which we ourselves saw with -our eyes; that befell the whole city of -<i>London</i>.</p> - -<p>We know the nature of the building of -<i>London</i> houses; which sometimes fall of themselves, -without shaking. Wonderful then is -it to be thought, and a miracle indeed, that -every house in this vast city, should twice be -agitated, and rocked to and fro; and not one -fall, nor one person receive any damage.</p> - -<p>In vain will the philosophers seek for a solution -of this problem, in natural causes only. -By their chymical experiments, they make some -little mimic imitations of tremors and fumes, -and explosions. So by gun-powder, we ape -the regal voice of thunder. But where is the -discretionary act of mercy, and benignity, -that separates between the vengeful and kind? -These second causes act according to their -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1054" id="Page_1054">[1054]</a></span> -material nature, like the roaring waves of the -ocean, that flow in, and overwhelm every -thing, where a breach is made. They can -observe no distinction between the lands of a -righteous man, and of a sinner: they cannot -stop at the breach, and gather themselves on -an heap, and not enter in at all, as the waters -of <i>Jordan</i> did.</p> - -<p>But in the case before us, the hand of the -Lord, that stayed the flowing of the waters, -that quelled the raging of the sea, and its -proud waves; sets bounds to the trembling of -the earth. Hither shall its vibrations go, and -no further. When alas, if it went but one -inch further (in comparison) a total ruin must -unavoidably follow.</p> - -<p>Consider this particular, when apply'd to -all the buildings in this immense city: and -wonder and adore, that almighty providence, -which overlook'd us, and prescrib'd the limits; -so narrow, so precise; which sav'd us -from universal havoc!</p> - -<p>II. Did we escape; how much happier are -we, than the millions that have perished by -the like calamity? <i>Josephus</i> the famous <i>Jewish</i> -historian records, that about 29 years before -our Saviour's birth, there happened such an -earthquake in the country of <i>Judea</i>, that -30,000 men perished.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1055" id="Page_1055">[1055]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the fifth year of the reign of <i>Tiberius</i>, -so dreadful an earthquake happened in <i>Asia -minor</i>, that no less than 13 cities were destroy'd -in one night; many of them great, -and Royal: <i>Sardis</i> in particular, said to be second -to <i>Babylon</i>.</p> - -<p>In <i>A. D.</i> 66. Another earthquake happen'd -there, which destroy'd <i>Laodicea</i>, <i>Hierapolis</i>, -and <i>Colossus</i>.</p> - -<p><i>A. D.</i> 79. Three cities in <i>Cyprus</i> were -overthrown.</p> - -<p><i>A. D.</i> 114. The city of <i>Antioch</i> suffered -extremely; whilst the emperor <i>Trajan</i> was -in it. And in the 7th year of that emperor, -nine several cities were destroy'd in <i>Asia</i>, -<i>Greece</i>, and <i>Calabria</i>.</p> - -<p>To come nearer home, and our own times: -In 1169, <i>Catania</i> in <i>Sicily</i> was destroyed, and -15,000 people killed.</p> - -<p>1692, The whole city destroy'd and 18000 -Inhabitants.</p> - -<p>1456, At <i>Naples</i> 40,000 perished by an -earthquake.</p> - -<p>1531, In the city of <i>Lisbon</i>, 1400 houses -were overthrown there, besides many damaged.</p> - -<p>We know the miserable and deplorable -catastrophe of <i>Port-Royal</i>, in <i>Jamaica</i>; which -fell out in our own days. My blood shudders -at the relation of it. And not many -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1056" id="Page_1056">[1056]</a></span> -months ago, the populous <i>Lima</i> in <i>America</i>, -was wholly swallowed up.</p> - -<p>Have we not reason then to fear, for ourselves? -'Tis true, we have hitherto escaped. -But can we tell how soon God shall let loose -the avenging power of another; which may -come, for ought we know, while we are -speaking of it. And if it must come, happy -may it be for us, that it finds us in this place, -and so doing.</p> - -<p>III. And this brings us, to consider the -uses of these admonitions; and to show, that -they are the effects of the divine anger. <i>For -the earth shook and trembled</i>, says the holy -psalmist, <i>the foundation of the hills moved -and were shaken; because he was wroth</i>.</p> - -<p>And here we cannot possibly have a stronger -and more convincing evidence, of these -convulsions of nature, being the immediate -finger of God, than this single consideration. -Let us but reflect on what has been -said, in short; that these visitations only happen -to great and populous cities, to great and -eminent ports, and maritime <i>emporiums</i> flourishing -in trade, riches, and luxury.</p> - -<p>We hear not of barren desarts, uninhabited -wildernesses, wide heaths, and downs, -rocky cliffs, and beaches of the sea, to be -the usual subject of earthquakes: but of towns -and cities. Not so much of little villages, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1057" id="Page_1057">[1057]</a></span> -but of those immense collections of people. -God does not give his warnings to birds, and -beasts of the forest; to flocks of sheep; that -punctually execute the respective offices he -has enjoined them: but to us, the lords of -the creation; to whom he has given reason, -sense, and faculties, to reflect, and judge of -things, of our own actions, as well as his; -of <i>his</i> doings, toward the children of men.</p> - -<p>We observed before, a plain and notorious -proof of God's hand in these judgments; -that he cou'd move a whole city without -throwing down a house. And this is most -assuredly a second proof; that he visits <i>only</i> -great cities, with these judgments. And we -must conclude this to be as strong an argument -of a divine interposition in these affairs, -as any mathematical demonstration.</p> - -<p>Some free-thinkers, or free-livers, when -they find, they cannot set aside this reasoning, -shelter themselves, with the history of -God's converse with <i>Abraham</i>; about the -cities of <i>Sodom</i> and <i>Gomorrha</i>; assuring themselves, -there is no danger. For tho' they -can't pretend to be the meritorious people; -yet they think God's mercy will be as signal -to us, as heretofore: and that we have -among us, at least ten righteous persons, to -save the rest.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1058" id="Page_1058">[1058]</a></span></p> - -<p>But vain are such hopes: God will say to -them, as heretofore to the <i>Jews</i>: <i>If I bring -my great judgments upon the earth, as I live -saith the Lord, tho'</i> Noah, Daniel, <i>and</i> Job -<i>were there; they should save neither sons, nor -daughters, but their own souls only</i>.</p> - -<p>God can, if he pleases, by very extraordinary -means, preserve such as he thinks fit. -But in general judgments, the righteous must -undergo one common fate, with the wicked. -God's mercy will be shown to them after this -life, to make the superabundant amends.</p> - -<p>But this is a solid lesson to us, of the necessity -of a future life. We may as well banish -God out of the earth, as to deny his attributes -of power, and goodness, and justice, -and the like. And these will insure us of a -future state; when an exact return will be -made, for our behaviour in this; otherwise -we might justly expostulate, as <i>Abraham</i> -did, <i>Will not the judge of all the earth do -right?</i></p> - -<p>Good men, who have endeavour'd to do -their duty, may say, <i>God is our refuge and -strength, a very present help in trouble. -Therefore will not we fear, tho' the earth be -remov'd; tho' the mountains be carried into the -midst of the sea; tho' the waters thereof roar, -and be troubled; tho' the mountains shake with -the swelling thereof.</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1059" id="Page_1059">[1059]</a></span></p> - -<p><i>Come behold the works of the Lord; what -desolations he hath made on the earth.</i></p> - -<p>In the mean time, let us not think on -running <i>away</i> from the danger, so much as -on mending our <i>ways</i>; perfecting the christian -life; reforming the abominable crimes, -so justly chargeable on great and maritime -cities; overflowing with riches, pride, and -luxury, with vanity, pleasure, and profaneness; -with gaming, immorality, infidelity; -and especially with the notorious crime of -sabbath-breaking, which is the foundation of -all, and comprehends all others; for it prevents -people from amending of any. If they -fail of their duty towards God, in making -their regular approaches to his temple; no -wonder they are guilty of all crimes; regard -neither God nor man. If they fail of coming, -where they may hope for the kindly influences -of God's holy Spirit; we need not -wonder at their egregious wickedness: they -become absolutely irreclaimable.</p> - -<p>But of you, my beloved brethren, here assembled, -I hope better things. You shun the -degenerate corruptions of this evil age; you -are not of the number of those that frequent -our public meetings of folly, from the morning -rendezvouzes to the mid-night assemblies; -and <i>that</i> protracted to the morning -light again. As if we ought to banish all serious -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1060" id="Page_1060">[1060]</a></span> -thoughts of our immortal interests; and -<i>that</i> in the sacred season of lent; destin'd by -the church, for this very serious purpose.</p> - -<p>Let us think, how this warning happen'd -to us, in the time of lent; when they were -revelling in their places of entertainment, -both morning and evening, as if no such -thing had been; and this on the very days; -as if they confronted, and dar'd almighty vengeance. -Much of a parallel case with that -of the famous city of <i>Herculaneum</i>, which is -now the entertainment of the curious. First -it was miserably shatter'd by an earthquake; -whilst the people were at their diversions in -the theatre; where all assembled perished. -This was in the first year of <i>Titus</i> the emperor: -but such a partial judgment not -mending their manners; 9 years after, the -whole city was destroy'd by a lake of liquid -fire and brimstone, from mount <i>Vesuvius</i>, -just in the manner we now find it; 50 foot -deep in cinders, and ashes.</p> - -<p><i>When thy judgments, O God, are abroad, -the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness.</i></p> - -<p><i>The Lord is the true God; he is the living -God; the everlasting King: At his wrath, -the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall -not be able to abide his indignation</i>; says the -prophet <i>Jeremiah</i>, x. 10.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1061" id="Page_1061">[1061]</a></span></p> - -<p>God give us grace, that instead of these -short-liv'd, and unsatisfying pleasures; instead -of palaces and houses here, ornamented -in a sumptuous and elegant <i>taste</i>; which -may perhaps be swept away, with their -owners, in a moment; we may aspire towards -that heavenly city, which is above; -whose foundations are not laid with hands, -eternal in the heavens, <i>&c.</i></p> - - -<p class="caption2nb gesperrt"><i>FINIS.</i></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 224px;"> -<img src="images/page61.png" width="224" height="114" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2001" id="Page_2001">[2001]</a></span></p> - - - -<div style="width: 30em; margin: 2em auto;"> - -<h1 class="gesperrt">THE<br /> - -<span class="smaller">PHILOSOPHY</span><br /> - -<span class="msmaller">OF</span><br /> - -EARTHQUAKES,<br /> - -<span class="smaller"><span class="smcap">Natural</span> and <span class="smcap">Religious</span>.</span><br /> - -PART II.</h1> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Philosophi ipsius, qui de sua vi ac sapientia unus omnia pene -profitetur, est tamen quædam descriptio; ut is qui studeat -omnium rerum divinarum atque humanarum vim, naturam, -causasq; nosse: & omnem bene vivendi rationem tenere, & persequi; -nomine hoc appelletur.</i></p> - -<p class="tdr2">Cicero de Oratore.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="tdc">By <i>WILLIAM STUKELEY</i>, M. D. Rector -of St. <i>George</i>'s, <i>Queen-Square</i>: Fellow of the -College of Physicians and Royal Society:</p> - -<div class="bddbl"></div> - -<p class="tdc"><i>LONDON</i>: -Printed for <span class="smcap">C. Corbet</span> over-against St. <i>Dunstan</i>'s<br /> -Church, <i>Fleetstreet</i>.<br /> -<br /> -MDCCL. -</p> - -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2002" id="Page_2002">[2002]</a><br /><a name="Page_2003" id="Page_2003">[2003]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="PREFACE2" id="PREFACE2">PREFACE.</a></h2> - - -<p><i>This discourse is but a necessary consequence -of the preceding. The whole -no other than an essay, toward investigating -the true nature of the wonderful appearance -of an earthquake. And something is done toward -it, if only by eradicating an old error. -In attaining the proposed end, I -have endeavour'd to lay all the necessary circumstances -together, which to our great amazement -we have seen, and felt. That they may -not be as soon forgotten, as they generally were, -by the giddy multitude; equally thoughtless of -what they knew to be past, as childishly fearful -of an imaginary one, subsequent: for which -there could not be the least ground of apprehension. -By sober persons it was, with great -reason, thought a judicial infatuation, and as -much to be wonder'd at, as an earthquake itself; -a real panic. When a third part of -this immense city ran out into the fields for -half a cold night; alarm'd with the silly prediction -of a distemper'd fellow!</i></p> - -<p><i>Nothing could tempt one to commemorate -the follies of our cotemporaries, but the hope, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2004" id="Page_2004">[2004]</a></span> -it may be useful hereafter: and to show the -true cause of this senseless terror; the want of -a true sense of religion; and an universal degeneracy, -and corruption of manners: begun -by the great ones, and now propagated thro' -all degrees to the lowest: begun in this great -city; and now advancing apace to every great -town in the kingdom.</i></p> - -<p><i>'Tis from the great ones alone, that we can -hope for a reformation: and</i> that <i>by a strict -observance of the sabbatical duty. Example, -we know, governs the actions of mankind</i>. -That <i>must restore the practice, and the influence -of religion: which alone can prevent the -dangers that infest every corner of our streets; -every road in the kingdom. We mistake the point, -and betray our ignorance in human nature, -when we think, acts of parliament, laws, -and executions will do it. They are very -weak in comparison of the impressions of religion, -and conscience: as all philosophy both -natural and religious, has hitherto thought, -and known.</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2005" id="Page_2005">[2005]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><span class="smaller">TO</span><br /> - -<i>Martin Folkes</i>, Esq; LL. D.<br /> - -<span class="smaller">President of the Royal Society.</span></h2> - - -<p>Since I had the honour to lay before -the Society, in the spring, my thoughts -upon earthquakes: we have had many -further opportunities of reflecting upon -that most awful, and hitherto unusual appearance. -An earthquake was felt at <i>Eastwell</i> -in <i>Kent</i>, on <i>monday march</i> 12, and on <i>sunday, -march</i> 18, at <i>Portsmouth</i>, the <i>Isle of Wight</i>, -<i>Southampton</i>, and along the coast of <i>Sussex</i>, -the isles of <i>Guernsey</i>, <i>Jersey</i>. <i>April</i> 2, a -smart earthquake at <i>Manchester</i>, <i>Liverpool</i>, -<i>Taunton</i>, <i>Bath</i>, <i>Flint</i>, <i>Lancaster</i>, <i>Wrexham</i>, -reaching 40 miles north and south: 70 -miles east and west. Since then at <i>Rome</i>, -<i>Naples</i>, <i>Leghorn</i>; in the south of <i>France</i>, -and at <i>Pau</i> under the <i>Pyrenean</i> mountains: -<i>Oporto</i>, at <i>S. Macaire</i> in <i>Guienne</i>, <i>Messina</i> in -<i>Sicily</i>, <i>Munich</i> in <i>Bavaria</i>, &c. &c. so that -the year 1750, may rather be called the year -of earthquakes, than of jubilee. For since -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2006" id="Page_2006">[2006]</a></span> -<i>February</i> last, when they began with us at -<i>London</i>; as far as I can learn, they have appear'd -in many parts of <i>Europe</i>, <i>Asia</i>, <i>Africa</i>, -and <i>America</i>. And have likewise revisited -many counties in our own island, and at -length, on the 30th of last <i>september</i> gave -much the most extensive shock, we have seen -here in our days.</p> - -<p>It may be well expected, that these frequent -visits, in themselves so very extraordinary, -to us so rare, and <i>that</i> in one year, -should keep up our attention: and as to my -own part, induce one to reflect, on what I -before offer'd concerning them; and be a sufficient -apology for the present paper.</p> - -<p>We have been acquainted, by those who -remember it, that in the earthquake of nov. -1703, which happen'd in <i>Lincolnshire</i>, the -weather was calm, close, gloomy, warm, and -dry; in a degree highly unusual, at that season. -And thus it has been with us, all the -year. And from the numerous accounts we -have receiv'd at the Royal Society, in the beginning, -and ending of the year; where any -mention is made of the weather; they all -agree in the like particular. Which is consentaneous -to what I remark'd, as the constant -forerunner of earthquakes; and what prepares -the earth's surface, for the electrical -stroke: which I asserted to be the cause of -them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2007" id="Page_2007">[2007]</a></span></p> - -<p>In <i>may</i> last, we had a paper read at the -Royal Society, concerning the second earthquake -felt by us at <i>London</i>, on the 8th of <i>march</i>. -A shepherd belonging to Mr. Secretary <i>Fox</i> -at <i>Kensington</i> (the sky being perfectly serene, -and clear) was much surprised with a very -extraordinary noise in the air, rolling over his -head, as of cannon close by. He likewise -thought, that it came from the north-west, -and went to the south-east: a motion quite -contrary, to what must have been the case, -if it were really of cannon. This noise pass'd -rushing by him; and instantly he saw the -ground (a dry, and solid spot) wave under -him, like the face of the river. The tall -trees of the avenue, where he was, nodded -their tops very sensibly, and quiver'd like a -shaken spear. The flock of sheep immediately -took fright, and ran all away together, as -if dogs had pursued them. A great rookery -in the place, were equally alarm'd, and after -an universal clangor, flew away; no less than -if chaced by hawks.</p> - -<p>I was likewise inform'd, that in the same -earthquake, a great parcel of hens, and chickens, -kept at that time in <i>Gray's-inn-lane</i>, upon -the shock, ran to the roost, affrighted. -And the like was observ'd of pigeons. And -in our last account of the earthquake from -<i>Northampton</i>, 'tis remarked, that the birds in -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2008" id="Page_2008">[2008]</a></span> -cages put their heads under their wings, as to -hide themselves.</p> - -<p><i>June</i> 21, at the Royal Society, Mr. <i>Jackson</i> -potter at <i>Lambeth</i>, gave an account of -some boats, cobles and lighters in the river, at -that time; the people in them seem'd to feel, -as if a porpoise, or some great fish had -heav'd and thump'd at the bottom of the -vessels. This is sometimes the case of ships -at sea, when all is perfectly calm: which -seems evidently owing to an electrical impression -on the water.</p> - -<p>In the evening-post of <i>june</i> 23, we had -a paragraph from <i>Venice</i>, that a terrible earthquake -had been felt lately in the little rocky -isle of <i>Cerigo</i>, in the <i>Mediterranean</i>, south -of <i>Morea</i>. It threw down a great number -of houses; and above 2000 of the inhabitants -were buried in the ruins.</p> - -<p>Another earthquake about that time, happen'd -in <i>Switzerland</i>; which split a vast, -rocky mountain; and an old castle wall of an -immense thickness.</p> - -<p>All these circumstances, and many more -confirmed me in my former opinion. But -since then, these wonderful movements have -stalk'd round the globe: and again been lately -felt in our own island; happily for us, to -the terror only, of many thousand people: -beside those concussions of this sort that appear'd -in the western parts, in the more early -time of the year.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2009" id="Page_2009">[2009]</a></span></p> - -<p>I receiv'd a letter from my friend <i>Maurice -Johnson</i>, Esq; the founder, and secretary of -the Literary Society of <i>Spalding</i>; which has -now subsisted these 40 years. He acquaints -me, that on <i>thursday</i>, 23d of <i>August</i> last, an -earthquake was very sensibly felt there, about -seven o'clock in the morning; throughout the -whole town and neighbourhood; and many -miles round: but that it chiefly spread itself -northward, and southward. He says, that -for a fortnight before, the weather had been -serene, mild, and calm. And one evening, -there was a deep red <i>aurora australis</i>, covering -the cope of heaven, very terrible to behold. -This same shock was felt at <i>Grantham</i>, -<i>Stamford</i>, and <i>Milton</i> by <i>Peterborough</i>; -and generally at all the intermediate places: -and from <i>Spalding</i> it fled northward, along -the sea shore, to <i>Boston</i>: thence up <i>Boston</i> -river, to <i>Lincoln</i>.</p> - -<p>Since then, I had a letter from Mr. Alderman -<i>Taylor</i> of <i>Stamford</i>, giving an account of -another earthquake, that happen'd there, <i>september</i> -30, at 36 minutes after twelve o'clock -at noon. He describes it thus. They were suddenly -surprised with an uncommon noise in -the air, like the rolling of large carriages in -the streets, for about 20 seconds. At the same -instant they felt a great shake, or snap, as he -calls it; insomuch that it sensibly shook a -punch-bowl, which was in his parlour, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2010" id="Page_2010">[2010]</a></span> -made it ring. He says, it was perceiv'd of -most of the people of <i>Stamford</i>, who generally -ran out of their houses. At <i>Oakham</i> the -chief town of <i>Rutland</i>, the congregation ran -out of the church whilst the preacher was in -the pulpit. All the towns round <i>Stamford</i>, -were sensible of it: and at <i>Peterborough</i>, down -to <i>Wisbech</i>.</p> - -<p>Thus far the Alderman. But we have had -many advices from all hands, at the first, and -second meetings of the Royal Society, for the -winter season; with further particulars relating -to this great concussion. That it was -felt at the same time, at <i>Rugby</i> in <i>Warwickshire</i>, -and reach'd to <i>Warwick</i>, at <i>Lutterworth</i>, -in <i>Leicestershire</i>: at <i>Leicester</i>, and -round about. It extended itself to <i>Coventry</i>, -<i>Derby</i>, <i>Nottingham</i>, <i>Newark</i>; then came -eastward to <i>Harborough</i>, <i>Towcester</i>, <i>Northampton</i>, -<i>Rowel</i>, <i>Kettering</i>, <i>Wellingborough</i>, <i>Oundle</i>, -in <i>Northamptonshire</i>; <i>Uppingham</i>, <i>Oakham</i> -in <i>Rutland</i>; <i>Stamford</i>, <i>Bourn</i>, <i>Grantham</i>, -<i>Spalding</i>, <i>Boston</i>, and to <i>Lincoln</i> in <i>Lincolnshire</i>; -<i>Holbech</i>, and all <i>Holland</i> in that county. -<i>Peterborough</i>, <i>Wisbech</i>, in the isle of <i>Ely</i>; -together with all the intermediate, and adjacent -places. Then it passed over the whole -breadth of <i>Ely</i> fen: was felt at <i>Mildenhall</i>, -and reach'd to <i>Calford</i> by <i>Bury</i> in <i>Suffolk</i>, and -the country thereabouts; of which we had -notice from lady <i>Cornwallis</i>. An extent from -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2011" id="Page_2011">[2011]</a></span> -<i>Warwick</i> to <i>Bury</i> of about 100 miles in -length; and generally speaking, 40 miles in -breadth. And this vast space was pervaded -by this amazing motion, as far as we can get -any satisfaction, in the same instant of time. -They describe it, that the houses totter'd, and -seem'd to heave up, and down: tho' it lasted -but a few seconds. It was attended with a rushing -noise, as if the houses were falling, and -people were universally so affrighted, as to -run out; imagining that their own, or their -neighbours houses were tumbling on their -heads. In the villages around, the people -being generally at divine service, were much -alarm'd: both with the noise, which exceeded -all the thunder they had ever heard, beyond -compare: and with the great shock accompanying; -which was like somewhat, as -they imagin'd, that rush'd against the church-walls, -and roof. Some thinking the pillars -crack'd, many that the beams of the roof -were disjointed; and all, that the whole was -falling. And happy were they that could get -out first. Many people fancied, that nests of -drawers, and cabinets, or the like heavy -things, were fallen down above stairs: or that -chimnies had broke thro' the roof of the -house: or that some persons fell down stairs: -and the like. Some perceived the crackling -of inward wainscots or partitions: as Dr. <i>Mortimer</i> -and I, observ'd in our first and second -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2012" id="Page_2012">[2012]</a></span> -shocks at <i>London</i>. A few slates, tiles, and -parts of chimneys fell from some houses: -pewter, china, glasses and brass from shelves. -A clock bell, chamber bell sometime struck: -windows universally rattled, and the like circumstances -of tremor.</p> - -<p>In regard to circumstances, they were pretty -similar throughout. Many people sitting in -their chairs relate, that they and their chairs -were several times sensibly lifted up and set -down again. A stack of chimneys were -thrown down in <i>College-lane</i>; a place retaining -the memory of a sort of university -once beginning at <i>Northampton</i>. The windows -of houses rattled throughout the whole town: -but no mischief done: in general it was frightful, -and innocuous.</p> - -<p>They fancied there, the motion of it, as -they expressed it, to be eastward. In streets -that run north and south, the houses on the -east side of the way, were most affected. And -Dr. <i>Stonehouse</i>'s dwelling, the strongest in the -town, was most sensibly shaken. So it was likewise -observ'd, that churches were most subject -to its violence. They thought too, that -the motion seem'd rather horizontal, or lateral, -than upward. Some counted the pulses -distinctly, to the number of four: that the -second, and third pulses were stronger, than -the first, and fourth.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2013" id="Page_2013">[2013]</a></span></p> - -<p>From all these various accounts, there was -no sulphureous smell, or eruption; no fissures -in the ground perceived. Yet several people -were sick upon it: infinite numbers terribly -affrighted, and as soon forgot the impression -of it; or talk'd of it in a merry strain; as -commonly with us at <i>London</i>. So little are -the vulgar assessed, without something very -sensible; and so soon is the sense of it worn -out!</p> - -<p>It was more evidently perceiv'd, by people -standing; most, by those that were sitting: -least, by such as were walking: and in upper -stories of houses, more than in lower; or in -cellars. Some coming down stairs, were in -danger of being thrown forwards. Several -sitting in a chair, and hearing the hollow, -thundering noise, and thinking it was a -coach passing by; when they attempted to -get up, to see what it was, they were thrown -back again in their chair. Some heard the -wainscot crackle, Some sitting in their chairs -leaning forwards, were thrown down on their -hands, and knees. Some people heard the -noise without feeling the shock: others felt -the shock without hearing the noise. Some -in a standing posture, were forc'd to lay hold -on a table, to keep themselves from falling.</p> - -<p>It was particularly remarked (as before observ'd) -that birds in cages were sensibly affrighted; -thrusting their heads under their -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2014" id="Page_2014">[2014]</a></span> -wings. Mrs. <i>Allicock</i> of <i>Loddington</i>, <i>Northamptonshire</i>, -a lady in child-bed, was so affected, -that it caused her death. Mrs. <i>Hardy</i>, -another lady in the same circumstance, and in -the same county, likewise expired upon it, -Some people felt a sudden shortness of breath, -that they were forc'd to go out into the open -air, it so affected the pulmonary nerves. -Many were taken with head-achs, and other -sicknesses.</p> - -<p>These are, in general, the circumstances -and observations made, at the time of these -earthquakes; when we recollect ourselves, -after the suddeness, and fright. Give me -leave to make the following remarks therefrom.</p> - -<p>1st. As far as we can possibly learn, where -no one can be prepar'd, at different places, by -time keepers; this mighty concussion was felt -precisely at the same instant of time; being -about half an hour after twelve at noon. This, -I presume, cannot be accounted for, by any -natural power, but by that of an electrical -vibration; which, we know, acts instantaneously.</p> - -<p>2dly, Let us reflect on the vast extent of -this trembling, 100 miles in length, 40 in -breadth, which amounts to 4000 square miles -in surface. That this should be put into such -an agitation, in one moment of time, is such -a prodigy; as we should never believe, or -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2015" id="Page_2015">[2015]</a></span> -conceive, did we not know it to be fact, from -our own senses. But if we look for a solution -of it, we cannot think, any natural -power is equal to it, but that of electricity; -which acknowledges no sensible transition of -time; no bounds.</p> - -<p>3ly, We observe, the vulgar solution of subterraneous -eruptions receives no countenance, -from all that was seen, or felt, during these -earthquakes. It would be very hard to imagine, -how any such thing could so suddenly, -and instantaneously operate, thro' this vast -space: and <i>that</i> in so similar, and tender a -manner over the whole, thro' so great a variety, -as well as extent of country; as to do -no mischief. A philosophical inquirer in -<i>Northamptonshire</i> had his eye particularly -on this point, takes notice, there were not any -fissures in the ground; any sulphureous smells, -or eruptions any where perceiv'd; so as to favour -internal convulsions of the earth. The -reverend Mr. <i>Nixon</i> of <i>Higham</i>, and Mr. -<i>Smith</i>, in his letter from <i>Peterborough</i> take -notice, that they could not learn, there were -any sort of eruptions out of the earth, any -where: no smoke, vapor, or smell: tho' -they made sufficient inquiry about that circumstance, -according to particular direction. -Yet we learn from a letter at <i>Uppingham</i> in -<i>Rutland</i>, that a plaister floor became crack'd -thereby. These kind of floors are frequent -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2016" id="Page_2016">[2016]</a></span> -in this country; what we call <i>stucco</i> in <i>London</i>: -and it gives us a good notion of the undulatory -vibration, produc'd by an earthquake; -which some have compar'd to that -of a musical string: others to that of a dog, -or a horse shaking themselves, when they -come out of the water. This last comparison -would have pleased some of the ancients, -who would needs fancy, that the globe of the -earth was a great animal. <i>Plato</i>, <i>Plutarch</i>, -and others, had such kind of sentiments. -Whence one may imagine, that they would -conceive an earthquake to be, as when a -horse shakes a part of his skin, upon a fly -touching him. Some of our correspondents -express the motion of an earthquake to be -like a boat lifted up by one wave, let down -by another.</p> - -<p>4ly, The former earthquake that happen'd -at <i>Grantham</i>, <i>Spalding</i>, <i>Stamford</i>, (which -towns lie in a triangle) took up a space which -may, in gross, be accounted a circle of 30 -miles diameter: the center of which is that -great morass, called <i>Deeping-fen</i>. This comprehends -15 miles of that 30, in diameter: -and where probably, the electrical impression -was first made. Much the major part of -<i>Deeping-fen</i> is under water in the winter -time; underneath 'tis a perfect bog. Now -it is very obvious, how little favorable such -ground is, for subterraneous fires.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2017" id="Page_2017">[2017]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the second earthquake, not only this -country was affected again, but likewise a -much larger space of the same sort of fenny -ground, rather worse than the former: all -<i>Donnington-fen</i>, <i>Deeping-fen</i>, <i>Croyland-fen</i>, -<i>Thorney-fen</i>, <i>Whitlesea-fen</i>, <i>Bedford</i> level, -and the whole extent of <i>Ely-fen</i>, under various -denominations. This country, under -the turf, abounds with subterraneous timber -of all sorts; fir, oak, and brush-wood: and -stags horns. Now and then they find a quantity -of hazel nuts, crouded together on an -heap. I have some of them. This is a matter -common to all boggy ground over the -whole globe, Such things are the ruins of -the <i>antediluvian</i> world, washed down from -the high country where they grew, were here -lodg'd upon the subsiding of the waters, and by -time are o'ergrown with the present turf. They -that seek for any other solution of this affair, -than the universal <i>Noachian</i> deluge, want to -account for a general effect, by a partial cause: -and shut their eyes, both to the plain history -of this matter; and to the infinite, notorious -demonstrations of it, from fossil appearances.</p> - -<p>5ly, All this country, tho' underneath 'tis a -watry bog, yet thro' this whole summer, and -autumnal season (as they can have no natural -springs in such a level) the drought has been -so great on the superficies, that the inhabitants -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2018" id="Page_2018">[2018]</a></span> -were oblig'd every day, to drive their -cattle several miles, for watering. The drought -was greater, than has been known in the memory -of any one living. This shows how -fit the dry surface was, for an electrical vibration. -And we learn from hence, this important -particular, that it reaches but very little -below the earth's surface.</p> - -<p>Mr. <i>Johnson</i>, in another letter which he -wrote to me concerning the second earthquake -observ'd at <i>Spalding</i>; says upon this occasion, -he was obliged to scour his canal, and deepen -it: that they came to a white, quicksand; -which afforded to all the neighbourhood, excellent -water in plenty.</p> - -<p>In the gravelly soil of <i>London</i>; and where -the two shocks were felt by us, in the beginning -of the year; we know, there is not a -house in the whole extent of this vast city, -and all around it, but a spring of water is -ready, upon digging a well, Whence we -have much reason to believe, that the interior -of the earth, is like a sponge soak'd in water. -So that the only dry part is the superficies, -which is the object, and the subject -of that electric vibration; wherein, according -to my sentiments, an earthquake consists.</p> - -<p>This shews the mistake of the ancients, -who fancying that earthquakes proceeded from -subterraneous eruptions, built their prodigious -temple of <i>Diana</i> at <i>Ephesus</i>, upon a boggy -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2019" id="Page_2019">[2019]</a></span> -ground, to prevent such a disaster, The -marshy part of <i>Lincolnshire</i>, being my native -country, the adjacent fen, together with that -in the isle of <i>Ely</i>, I have been perfectly acquainted -with; from one end to the other, -ever since I knew any thing. This vast extent -of fenny level, from near <i>Cambridge</i> in the -south, to near <i>Horncastle</i> in the north, is 70 -miles in length. And when I perceiv'd, that -it was, in whole, or in part, shaken by both -the last earthquakes: I could not but see, that -it was no less than a demonstration against the -old notion of their cause.</p> - -<p>6ly, Earthquakes are truly most violent, in a -rocky country: because the shock is proportionate -to the solidity of the matter electrify'd. -So that rocks, cliffs, quarries, old castle -walls, and strong buildings, are most obnoxious -to the concussion. The isle of <i>Cerigo</i> -was more liable, and more rudely handled by -the late earthquake; both because it was an -isle, and because it was rocky. So we must -say of the late earthquake in <i>Switzerland</i>, that -split the mountain, and the old castle wall. -Whence Mr. <i>Johnson</i> in his second letter, says, -it cracked a very strong brick-house in <i>Gosberton</i> -by <i>Spalding</i>. Dr. <i>Doderidge</i> observes -from <i>Northampton</i> that Dr. <i>Stonehouse</i>'s dwelling -being a very strong one, was most sensibly -shaken. And throughout the whole compass -of this great earthquake, we find, both -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2020" id="Page_2020">[2020]</a></span> -the noise, the shock, and the terror was greatest -at the churches, whose walls and bulk made -more resistance than houses. And generally -speaking, the churches throughout this whole -extent have very fair, and large towers, and -very many remarkable spires all of good stone, -which no doubt quiver'd very much at top, -if we could have discern'd it. This same vibration -impressed on the water, meeting with -the solid of the bottom of ships, and lighters, -gives that thump felt thereon; just as in common -electrifying, we feel the stroke upon the -joints of our limbs chiefly. Yet of the millions -of ordinary houses, over which it passed, -not one fell. A consideration which sufficiently -points out to us, what sort of a motion this -was not, what sort of a motion it was, and -whence deriv'd; not a convulsion of the bowels -of the earth, but an uniform vibration or undulation -of its surface, aptly thought like that -of a musical string: or what we put a drinking -glass into, by rubbing one's finger over -the edge; which yet brought to a certain pitch, -breaks the glass; undoubtedly an electric repulsion -of parts. And from this remarkable -similarity in the appearance of earthquakes we -gather an invincible argument against the old -opinion of their cause; for the tumult of subterraneous -eruptions can have no possible place -herein.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2021" id="Page_2021">[2021]</a></span></p> - -<p>7ly, We find from all accounts, ancient and -modern, that the weather preceding these -shocks, was mild, warm, dry, serene, clear, -frosty: what notoriously favours all our electrical -experiments. This is particularly observ'd -by Mr. <i>Johnson</i> and Mr. <i>Smith</i>, and other -accounts. In the extensive shock of <i>sunday -march</i> 18, along the <i>Sussex</i> coast, they -take notice from <i>Portsmouth</i>, that the day was -serene, warm, and dry, and that a shower of -rain fell immediately before the shock. Mr. -<i>Bowman</i> of <i>Moulsey</i> observ'd a shock there on -<i>may</i> 24 last, and says, the air was perfectly -serene, and clear. We very well know, that -generally, all last winter spring, summer, and -autumn, have been most remarkably of this -kind of weather; more so, than has been observ'd -in our memory; and have had all those -requisites, appearances, and preparations, that -notoriously cause electricity, that promote it, or -that are the effects of it.</p> - -<p>8ly, We find the blood-red <i>australis aurora</i> -preceding at <i>Spalding</i>, as with us at <i>London</i>. -At the time of the earthquake at <i>Manchester</i> -this year, it accompanied it. And this year -has been more remarkable than any for fire-balls, -storms, wind, thunder, lightnings, and -coruscations, almost throughout all <i>England</i>. -A large ball of fire, with a long fiery tail on -<i>july</i> 22, that passed over great part of <i>England</i> -northward. Another seen over <i>London</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2022" id="Page_2022">[2022]</a></span> -passing from west to east, in <i>october</i>. Coruscations -were seen just before that extensive -shock of 70 miles long felt from <i>Lancaster</i> to -<i>Wrexham</i>, on <i>april</i> 2, last. Fire-balls more -than one were seen in <i>Rutland</i>, and <i>Lincolnshire</i>: -and particularly observ'd. And Mr. -<i>Smith</i> from <i>Peterborough</i> writes, that a fire-ball -was seen the morning of the earthquake, -in the upper part of <i>Northamptonshire</i>. All -these kind of meteors are rightly judg'd to -proceed from a state of electricity in the earth -and atmosphere: and how far they are actually -concerned in causing earthquakes, time, -and accurate observation must inform us.</p> - -<p>9ly, Mr. <i>Johnson</i> in both his letters to me, -on the first and second earthquakes, at <i>Spalding</i>, -remarks particularly, of their effects being -mostly spread to the north and south, and -especially felt on the sea coast. We may observe, -that such is the direction of <i>Spalding</i> -river, which both conducts, and strengthens -the electric vibration: conveying it along the -sea-shore thence, up to <i>Boston</i> channel; and -so up <i>Boston</i> river to <i>Lincoln</i>, as we discern, -by casting our eye on a map.</p> - -<p>We observe further, that the main of this -second earthquake display'd its effects along, -and between the two rivers, <i>Welland</i> and <i>Avon</i>: -and <i>that</i> from their very origins, down to their -fall into the sea. It likewise reach'd the river -<i>Witham</i>, which directed the electric stream -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2023" id="Page_2023">[2023]</a></span> -that way too, to <i>Lincoln</i>. For which reason, -as there meeting the same coming from <i>Boston</i>, -the shock was most sensibly felt. It -reach'd likewise to the <i>Trent</i> at <i>Nottingham</i>, -which convey'd it to <i>Newark</i>.</p> - -<p>The first electrical stroke seems to have been -made on the high ground above <i>Daventry</i>, in -<i>Northamptonshire</i>; where the <i>Roman</i> camps -are, made by <i>P. Ostorius</i> the proprætor. From -thence it descended chiefly eastward, and along -the river <i>Welland</i>, from <i>Harborough</i> to <i>Stamford</i>, -<i>Spalding</i>, the sea: and along the river -<i>Avon</i>, or <i>Nen</i>, to <i>Northampton</i>, <i>Peterborough</i>, -<i>Wisbech</i> to the sea. It spread itself all over -the vast level of the isle of <i>Ely</i>; further'd by -very many canals, and rivers, natural, and artificial, -made for drainage. It was still conducted -eastward up <i>Mildenhall</i> river, in <i>Suffolk</i>, to -<i>Bury</i>, and the parts adjacent. All this affair -duly consider'd, is a confirmation of the doctrine -I advanc'd on this subject.</p> - -<p>10ly, I apprehend, it was not the noise in -the air, as of many cannon let off at once, preceding -the earthquake, that so much affrighted -people, or affected the sheep, the rookery at -<i>Kensington</i>, the hen and chickens in <i>Gray's-inn-lane</i>, -the pigeons. It could not be barely -the superficial movement of the earth, that disturb'd -them all at once. I judge it to be the -<i>effect</i> of electricity, somewhat like what causes -sea sickness; such a sort of motion, as we are -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2024" id="Page_2024">[2024]</a></span> -not accustomed to. So the earthquake affects -all those of weak nerves, or that have nervous -complaints; obnoxious to hysterics, colics, -rheumatick pains in their joints; several women -were seized with violent head-achs, before -both the shocks we felt in <i>London</i>. It -was this that gave the people a shortness of -breath. Mr. <i>Smith</i> from <i>Peterborough</i> speaks -of a person that found himself very sick upon -it. This made the dog run whining about -the room, seeking to get out: this made the -fishes leap up in the pond at <i>Southwark</i>; like -as the experiment of electrifying the fishes: -it makes them sick. And this causes the birds -in cages to hide their heads under their wings, -because they cannot fly away. Which is commonly -observ'd of them in <i>Italy</i>, and countries, -where earthquakes are more frequent.</p> - -<p>11ly, I observe, the shepherd at <i>Kensington</i> -thought the motion of the earthquake, and -the sound, was from the north-west to -south-east; the like Mr. <i>W. Smith</i> from -<i>Peterborough</i>. On the contrary, Mr. <i>Byfield</i> -the scarlet dyer in <i>Southwark</i>, thought the -noise came from the river below bridge, and -went toward <i>Westminster</i>; where it rattled so, -that he did not doubt, but that the abbey-church -was beaten down.</p> - -<p>Dr. <i>Parsons</i> took pains to find out the way of -the motion of the earthquake, from the different -position of people's beds; but from the contradictory -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2025" id="Page_2025">[2025]</a></span> -answers given, he cou'd not obtain any -satisfaction, as to that point. All this, and what -was observ'd from <i>Northampton</i>, of the motion -being thought by some, to be upward and -downward; by others rather horizontal, or lateral: -the counting the pulses, and the like, -only points out to us the prodigious celerity, -and the vibratory species of the motion of an -earthquake. But far, very far is this from being -owing to the tumultuous ebullition, the irregular -hurry of subterraneous explosions.</p> - -<p>12ly, How the atmosphere, and earth, are -put into that electric and vibratory state, -which prepares them to give, or receive the -snap, and the shock, which we call an earthquake; -what it is, that immediately produces -it, we cannot say: any more than we can define, -what is the cause of magnetism, or of -gravitation; or how muscular motion is perform'd, -or a thousand other secrets in nature.</p> - -<p>We seem to know, that the author of the -world has disseminated ethereal fire, thro' all -matter, by which these great operations are -brought about. This is the subtil fluid of Sir -<i>Isaac Newton</i>, pervading all things: the occult -fire diffused thro' the universe, according to -<i>Marsilius Ficinus</i> the platonic philosopher, on -the <i>Timeus</i> of his master. All the Platonists -insist on an occult fire passing thro', and agitating -all substance, by its vigorous and expansive -motion.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2026" id="Page_2026">[2026]</a></span></p> - -<p>Before them, <i>Hippocrates</i> writes in the same -sense, <i>I. de victûs ratione</i>, that this fire moves -all in all. This ethereal fire is one of the four -elements of the ancients. It lies latent, and -dispersed thro' all the other three, and quiescent: -till collected into a quantity, that over-balances -the circumjacent; like the air crouded -into a tempest: or till it is excited, by any -proper motion.</p> - -<p>This fire gives elasticity: and elasticity or -vibration is the mother of electricity. We don't -so much wonder at phosphorus arising from -animal substances; for this fire is in water, and -betrays itself to our senses, in salt water. Many -a time when I have passed the <i>Lincolnshire</i> -washes, in the night time; the horse has seem'd -to tread in liquid flames. The same appearance -is oft at the keel of a ship. Fire exists in -water, says <i>Pliny</i>, as well as in human bodies. -<i>nat. hist.</i> II. 107. Loaf sugar beaten in the -dark is luminous. Many vegetables, as indian -cane, and rotten wood the like, as <i>Bartholin</i> -largely recites, <i>de luce hominum</i> c. 4. All electric -bodies have this privilege: that is, they -more easily discover it. Amber, gum lac, -naptha, bitumens, some precious stones. My -old friend Mr. <i>Stephen Gray</i> the father and -great propagator of electricity, show'd me experiments -therein, in the year 1705, then at -<i>Corpus Christi</i> college in <i>Cambridge</i>. Afterward -in the year 1719, he show'd by experiments -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2027" id="Page_2027">[2027]</a></span> -before the Royal Society, that paper, -ribbands, silk, sattin, cloth, shavings, linen, -goldbeaters skin, and in short, almost all kind -of substances discover electrical sparks of fire -in the dark: especially when well warm'd before -the fire, or in a cold, dry, nitrous air, and -in a room where there is no company. This -same quality is found <i>in vacuo</i>, as Dr. <i>Desaguliers</i> -show'd before the Royal Society, <i>march</i> -31, 1720. He took an exhausted glass globe, -and caused it to be turn'd round violently, in -an engine: by rubbing the hand upon it, it was -illuminated within side, with purple streams. -This gave foreigners the idea of using a glass -globe, in electrical experiments.</p> - -<p>The operation of the ethereal fire is various, -nay, infinite, according to its quantity, and degree -of incitement, progress, hindrance, or -furtherance. One degree keeps water fluid, -says the learned bishop of <i>Cloyne</i>: another -turns it into elastic air, and air itself seems nothing -else, but vapors, and exhalations render'd -elastic, by this fire.</p> - -<p>This fame fire permeates, and dwells in all -bodies; even diamond, flint, and steel. Its particles -attract with the greatest force, when approximated. -Again, when united, they fly -asunder, with the greatest force, and celerity; -it resists nothing quiescent, but when put into -motion, it disdains all resistance. All this is according -to the laws prescrib'd by the sovereign -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2028" id="Page_2028">[2028]</a></span> -architect. This is the life, and soul of action, -and reaction, in the universe. Thus has the -great author provided against the native sluggishness -of matter! light, or fire in animals, is -what we call the animal spirits; and is the author -of life, and motion. But we know not -the immediate mode of muscular motion; any -more than how, in inanimate matter, it causes -the vibrations of an earthquake.</p> - -<p>Of this fire, the excellent <i>Manilius</i> thus -writes, who liv'd in the time of <i>Augustus</i>.</p> - - -<p class="tdc"><i>Astronom.</i> I.</p> - -<div class="poem-container"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Sunt autem cunctis permisti partibus ignes;</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Qui gravidas habitant fabricantes fulmina nubes:</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Et penetrant terras, Ætnamq; imitantur Olympo:</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Et calidas reddunt ipsis in fontibus undas.</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Ac silice in duro, viridiq; in cortice sedem</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Inveniunt; cum silva sibi collisa crematur.</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Ignibus usq; adeo natura est omnis abundans!</i><br /></span> -</div></div></div> - - -<p class="tdc">Which may thus be english'd.</p> - -<div class="poem-container"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Fire universal nature traverses.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">It makes the thunderbolt in tumid clouds:<br /></span> -<span class="i0">In dire Vulcano's penetrates the earth:<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And sends the boiling water from its springs.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">In hardest flint, and softest wood it dwells:<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Which by collision shows itself in flame.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">With fire so pregnant is all nature found!<br /></span> -</div></div></div> - -<p>13ly, The great question then with us, is -how the surface of the earth is put into that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2029" id="Page_2029">[2029]</a></span> -vibratory and electric state, by heat and driness? -we must needs acquit the internal of the -earth from the charge of these superficial concussions. -How then is the ethereal fire crouded -together, or excited, so as to cause them; -seeing in our ordinary electrical experiments, -we make use of friction?</p> - -<p>But that friction alone does not excite electricity, -we know from the obvious experiment -of flint and steel, where the suddenness of the -stroke, and hardness of the matter does it. -Another method of exciting it, is the letting -off a number of great guns, which so crouds -the ethereal fire together, as to electrify glass -windows; observ'd by my friend the reverend -Dr. <i>Stephen Hales</i>. The <i>aurora borealis</i>, <i>australis</i>, -all kind of coruscations, meteors, lightning, -thunder, fire-balls are the effects, and -may reciprocally be the cause of electricity; -but how in particular we know not. Come -we to the animal world, we must needs assert, -that all motion voluntary, involuntary, generation, -even life itself: all the operations of the -vegetable kingdom, and an infinity more of -nature's works, are owing to the activity of this -electric fire, the very soul of the material -world. And in my opinion, 'tis this alone, -that solves the famous question, so much agitated -with the writers in medicine, about the -heat of the blood. How these, how earthquakes -are begun, propagated, we are yet to -seek.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2030" id="Page_2030">[2030]</a></span></p> - -<p>We may readily enough presume, that the -contact between the electric, and the non-electric, -which gives the snap, and the shock, must -come from without, from the atmosphere. -Perhaps by some meteor that crouds the ethereal -fire together: which then flies off with -that immense force that causes the earthquake. -In the point of contact on the earth's -surface, the same thing is done, perhaps, another -time, by a shower of rain. Our thoughts -upon this matter must needs be as immature, -as they are novel. But we may readily conclude, -that tho' the original stroke comes from -the atmosphere, yet the atmosphere has no further -concern in it: no aereal power, or change -therein, can propagate itself so instantaneously, -over so vast a surface, as 4000 miles square. -Therefore the impetuous rushing noise in the -air, accompanying the shock, is the effect, and -not the cause. And all this is strongly confirm'd -by this observation, that the barometer -and thermometer receiv'd no change upon the -earthquakes.</p> - -<p>But surely, there is not a heart of flesh that -is not affected with so stupendous a concussion! -let a man estimate his own power, with that -which causes an earthquake; and he will be -persuaded, that somewhat more than ordinary -is intended by so rare and wonderful a motion. -That great genius <i>Hippocrates</i>, makes the -whole of the animal œconomy to be administred, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2031" id="Page_2031">[2031]</a></span> -by what we call nature. And nature -alone, says he, suffices for all things, to animals: -she <i>knows</i> herself, and what is necessary for -them. We must extend this thought to the -inanimate world. And can we deny then, that -he here means a conscious and intelligent nature, -that presides over, and directs all things, -moves the ethereal spirit or fire, that moves all -things: a divine necessity, but a voluntary agent, -who gives the commanding nod, to what we -commonly call nature, the chief instrument -in the most important operations of the vast -machine, as well as in the ordinary ones, particularly -the human one: administring the whole -œconomy (as he says) without noise, unseen, -unfelt. And this leads us,</p> - -<p>14ly, Lastly, in regard to the spiritual use we -ought to make of these extraordinary <i>phænomena</i>, -or of our inquiries about them, I shall -first observe, that we find abroad, several of -these earthquakes this year have been very fatal. -In the last we read of, at <i>Philippopoli</i> in <i>Thrace</i>, -the whole city was destroyed, above 4000 inhabitants -killed. At home, where above half a -score separate concussions have been felt, there -has not been one house thrown down, one life -lost. This ought to inspire us with a very serious -reflection about them; nor is it altogether -unworthy of our remark, that they began with -us in <i>London</i>, in <i>february</i> last: and after visiting -the circle of the globe, at present, end with us.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2032" id="Page_2032">[2032]</a></span></p> - -<p>2dly, We may observe, that if we did but -read the works of <i>Hippocrates</i>, <i>Plato</i> and his -followers; of <i>Tully</i>, <i>Galen</i>, and the like ethic -writers of antiquity; whilst we study, and try -the affections of matter; we should improve in -philosophy, properly speaking: we should lift up -our minds from these earthly wonders, and discern -the celestial admonitions, they present to us.</p> - -<p>The original meaning of the word philosophy, -was rightly apply'd to moral wisdom. -We who have advanc'd both the natural, and -moral, should, as the ancients did, join them -both together. By this means, we gather, the -truth of the highest, and most excellent philosophy, -to be found in those volumes of first antiquity, -which we call sacred: and which, 'tis -our peculiar, and inestimable happiness to possess. -We should adore that divine light, which -they hold forth to us. Especially in a country, -where the principles of true religion are open, -and undisguised: where the establish'd profession -of it is rational, noble and lovely: worthy -of the moral governor of the world; fit -for him to enjoin: for us to practise, with -pleasure and effect.</p> - -<p><i>november</i> 7, 1750.</p> - -<p class="tdr2"><span class="smcap">W. Stukeley.</span></p> - -<p class="tdc">Read at the Royal Society, <i>december</i> 6.</p> - -<p class="caption2nb gesperrt"><i>FINIS.</i></p> - - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="transnotes"> - -<p class="caption2nb">Transcriber Note</p> - -<p>Minor typos were corrected. A number of words are capitalized after a -comma which would usually be set as lower-case today but they were left -as is. Days of the week and month names were printed in lower-case. -Italicization as per the printed version. 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