46 ABOUT VOLCANOS AND EARTHQUAKES. 



at any instant has the acting kiminary 07i its horizon^ into 

 a state of strain ; and the whole area over which it is 

 nearly vertical, into one of compression. We leave this 

 point to be further followed out, but we cannot forbear 

 remarking, that the great volcanic chains of the world 

 have, in point of fact, a direction which this cause of dis- 

 ruption would tend rather to favour than to contravene. 



