4 | CONJECTURES on tHe 
permanent magnetifm of this globe, which it had not at 
firft, that its axis is at prefent kept»parallel to itfelf, and 
not liable to the changes it formerly fuffered, which occa- 
fioned the rupture of its fhell, the fubmerfions and emeér- 
fions of its lands and the confufion of its feafons. ‘The 
prefent polar and equatorial diameters differing from each 
other near ten leagues ; it is eafy to conceive in cafe fome 
power fhould fhift the axis gradually, and place it in the 
prefent equator, and make the new equator pafs through 
the prefent poles, what a finking of the water would hap- 
pen in the prefent equatorial regions, and what a rifing in 
the prefent polar regions ; fo that vaft trats would be dif- 
covered that now are under water, and others covered that 
now are dry, the water rifing and finking in the different 
extremes near five leagues,—-Such an operation as this, 
poffibly, occafioned ae Europe, and among thé reit, 
this mountain of Paffy, on which I live, and whieh is cOoMm-= 
pofed of lime ftone, rock and fea fhells, to be abandoned 
by the fea, and to change its*ancient climate, which feems 
to have been a hot one. ‘The globe being now become 
a permanent magnet, we are perhaps fafe trot any future 
change of its axis. But we are ftill fubje@ to the acci- 
dents on the furface which are occafioned by a wave in the 
internal ponderous fluid; and fuch a wave is producible 
by the fudden violent explotion’ you mention, happening 
from the junction of watersand fire under the earth, which 
not only lifts the incumbent earth that is over the explofi- 
on, but imprefling with the fame force the fluid under it, 
creates a wave that may run a thoufand leagues lifting and 
thereby fhaking fucceflively all the countries under which 
it paffes. I know ‘not whether T have expreffed myfelf fo" 
clearly, as not to get out of your fight in thefe reveries. 
If they occafion any new enquiries and produce ‘a better 
hypothefis, they will not be quite ufelefs. You fee I have 
given a loofe to imagination ; but I approve much more 
your 
