226 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



which they cannot be at all, and with respect to which even the great- 

 est volcanic efforts (accumulated cones) upon our globe are mere skin- 

 deep phenomena. We must regard seismic and volcanic phenomena 

 as both unequal effects and local evidences of a wide-spread and con- 

 stantly but unequally acting yet always active force, resulting in ele- 

 vation, which is not evidenced indifferently all over the surface of the 

 globe, but is mainly confined to broad bands conforming to its moun- 

 tain-ranges." 



We observe that Mr. Mallet dissents entirely from the doctrine that 

 earthquakes are agents of permanent elevation of the earth's surface. 

 All his investigations and researches point, he maintains, to a totally 

 opposite conclusion. Earthquake waves may, he observes, and un- 

 doubtedly do elevate the ground, but only for a moment ; for when the 

 shock is over, the surface returns to its normal condition. His investi- 

 gations, however, indorse the doctrine that seismic force generally fol- 

 lows the lines of elevation of the globe, such as mountain chains and 

 ridges, while, on the other hand, the areas of the smallest or of no 

 known seismic disturbance are the great oceanic or terra-oceanic basins 

 or saucers, and the great islands existing in shallow seas. Earthquake 

 energy may, however, become sensible at any point of the earth's sur- 

 face, its efforts being always more frequent as the great volcanic lines 

 of activity are approached. 



NEW SUBMARINE VOLCANO IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. 



During the month of July, 1863, a submarine volcanic eruption ac- 

 companied by the formation of a new island, took place off the coast of 

 Sicily in the Mediterranean, near the island of Pantillaria, and about 

 twenty-five miles from the shore. There is a report that a volcano ex- 

 isted here in the year 1701, and on an old chart there is a reef laid 

 down precisely on the spot where the volcano now is. It was first 

 seen by smoke rising from the sea, about the 1 2th of July. This grad- 

 ually increased in volume for several days, till fire was seen, and even- 

 tually a small island was thrown up above the surface, about eighty 

 or ninety yards long and twenty or thirty feet high, composed of cin- 

 ders. In the centre of this is a crater, which at the time when the ac- 

 count from whence we derive our information was written (July 30th), 

 was in a constant state of eruption, ejecting great volumes of steam 

 and smoke, as well as cinders and large stones. It is noticeable that 

 the appearance of this volcano was nearly coincident with tne occur- 

 rence of an earthquake in the island of Lamos. 



A correspondent of the London Times, writing from Malta, thus 

 describes the appearance of the volcano as seen on the 19th of August, 

 1863. He says, " when first seen, the volcano appeared like a low 

 black line, higher at each end than in the middle, with a column of 

 white smoke rising from the southeast end of it. Running our vessel 

 within a mile and a half, we landed in boats. The beach, which ap- 

 peared to be a mixture of ashes and sand reduced to powdei" was as 

 hard as the firmest sand ; but very few yards from the water side the 

 surface was extremely rough, composed of loose cinders of all sizes 

 heaped lightly together, and very hot to the touch. The summit of 

 the island we estimated to be about 200 feet above the sea-level. The 

 crater was at a less elevation, about thirty or forty yards in diameter, 



