On the Ccufe of Earthquahs. 337 



tables of time, fouudcd on his own aftronomical obfervalions ; 

 u-hich reform he propofed to pope Clement V. It was the 

 fate of this propolal to be negic6led ; whilfl the imperfedl 

 Gregorian reckoning, which it hath been found necefTary 

 Ciice to correct, wa^aJopted. I will dole this paper with a 

 tranilation of the words of Dr. Jebb, the learned editor of the 

 Opui Mujus, as they ftand in his preface : — " The propolal 

 iiiade by Bacon to the pope Clement was one of the nobleft, 

 efforts of human indultry : confidered in all the circumltances 

 under which it was framed and compofed, it is one of the 

 mod 'lupendous inftances of the force of human genius which 

 hath been recorded ; and will do honour to our learned coun- 

 tryman as long as the fun and moon endure." 



LVII. Obfer'vations which fecm to prove the Necejjity of ob-. 

 ferving and medtfuling a long Time before any decijive Opi- 

 nion is formed in Philofophy in general^ and particularly in 

 regard to the Caufe of Earthquakes, By CoUREJOLLES*, 



H. 



.OWEVER painful may be the refearches neceflfary for 

 difcoverina the C2\iks which Nature employs in her opera- 

 tions, we muft obferve with great attention and indefatigable 

 afliduity in order to colled thofe fafts which are properelt for 

 conducting us to the attainment of this objeft. It does not 

 belono; to men to invent caufes ; they exift in nature, and it 

 is their bulinefs to difcover them. 



If in the exaA fcienccs the precifion of a refult efcapes us, 

 and if we cannot extend our conception but to that term 

 where incommenfurability of dimenfions (lops calculation, 

 how can the creators of fytlems pretend to the privilege of 

 penetrating to the bottom of the abyfles where Nature has 

 conccaledher primitive caufes? Nothing then but experi- 

 ence, obfcrvation, and comparifon, guided by geometrical 

 method, can conduct us with wifdoni in our refearches. 



Senfibleof this truth, I have thought it my duty to follow 

 this progrefs in my obfervations on every thing that may re- 

 late to \he caufe of earthquakes; for it would be imprudent 

 to aflign one before a variety of fails are eftablifhed. This 

 method is the more certain, as Nature often fpontaneoufly 

 unveils herlelf : but a long time is neceflary to collect gond 

 obfervalions : and we oucrht never to be precipitate in niajc- 

 ing them appear, hecaufe in the ftndy of the fcicnces there 

 is an age at which the pallions blind us by a too ardent defirc 



• From fl;i' "ffiurnut de J''h\'lique, Pluvivft, an. 10. 



Vol. XII. No. 48. Y ©f 



