Bain — Earthquakes. 15 



Espy's theory, sometimes no more is necessary than an as- 

 cending current produced by the chimney of a manufactory, 

 to give rise to one of these formidable meteors. 



Bain. 



It is said to have been remarked in Italy, that, in propor- 

 tion as rice-lields multiply, the annual quantity of rain has 

 gradually increased, and that the number of rainy days has 

 augmented in proportion. 



Can it be imagined, that such circumstances as these can 

 ever be taken into account, in the combinations of the alma- 

 nac-manufacturers ] 



In the tropical regions of America, the natives regard re- 

 peated shocks of earthquake, as veelcome precursors of ferti- 

 lizing rains. Humboldt even relates, that violent shocks sud- 

 denly brought on the rami/ season, a considerable time before 

 the ordinary period. 



It is not probable that the influence of earthquakes is ex- 

 erted only in the vicinity of the equator. The povt^er of 

 predicting rain must, therefore, suppose an anticipatory know- 

 ledge of the number and strength of the shocks, which are to 

 be felt in the region for which the astrologer works. 



The following passage occurs in Bacon's works : — " Some 

 historians allege that, at the time when Guyenne was still 

 in the power of the English, the inhabitants of Bordeaux and 

 the neighbouring cantons made a request to the king of 

 England, to induce him to prevent his subjects of the coun- 

 ties of Sussex and Hampton, from burning the heaths in the 

 end of April, as they usually did ; because they thereby gave 

 rise, it was affirmed, to a wind which proved very hurtful to 

 their vines." 



I know not how far there were grounds for this request, 

 as the distance of Bordeaux from the county of Sussex is very 

 considerable ; but I must not fail to mention, that natural 

 philosophers are now disposed to assign a no less extraor- 

 dinary part to conflagrations. In the United States, a well 

 known philosopher, M. Espy, adopting the opinions prevalent 



