^38 On the Call ft' of Earthquale;. 



of acquiring an early reputation ; and, ■when we have obtairtec? 

 it in that manner, tot) great a degree of felf-love obhgef 

 us to maintain our errors, and to cover them with darknefs^ 

 that we may preforve them from the attacks of troth. From 

 this weaknefs of the human mind, we mav judge how dafn- 

 gerous we become to thofe desirous of being in(truci:ed, when, 

 tinder the fhield of a repulatioft, we employ every mean? ir* 

 ©ur power to perpetuate an erroneous opinion. Men would 

 be much happier than thev are, if thofe whofe documents 

 they follow had proceeded only ftep by ftep iu ihiir re- 

 fearches, and had been able to free themfch'c-i from thofc 

 tranlports of pride which they improperly confound with 

 that kind of felf-love which condufts to good. They ou^ht 

 to have the courage to retract their errors; but unfortunatelv 

 we have no ichooi to teach u? to employ a few words fo dif- 

 ficult to be pronounced — " I am in the wrona." 



The habit of reflcfting on, and conyparing for a long time, 

 a great number of fiicls refpecting earthquakes, might em- 

 boldai me to pronounce in regai-d to the manner in which 

 fubterrancan matters inflame, either by the deconipofition of 

 water and pyrites, or by other caufes, neither the nature nor 

 movement of which is perceived. I, however, acknowledge 

 my infufficiency to be fuch, that I dare not venture to decide 

 on the real caufe of eartlujuakes. Had I Jiftened onlv to the 

 voice of felf-love, I fliould foon have fabricated a fvilem ; 

 but I cannot do better than fiibmit my remarks to the exa- 

 mination of the molt acute philoiophcrri, who, perhaps, will 

 fucceed much better than I could have done. I ihall there- 

 fore give an extract from a very e.xtenlive work which I com- 

 nofed on earthquakes, but which having been loft by the 

 burning of Cape Frangois, I can only mention the principal 

 obfervalions, which may ferve as data to ihofe employed in 

 limilar refearchcs. 



1. Earthcpiakes arc more flronglv felt in all parts which 

 front the welt, than in thofe which have a different fituation. 



2. The earthquakes felt in diftricls of great extent which 

 face the north have never occafiontd ftiocks fufficienlly ftrcni;^ 

 to throw dow^ houfes. 



3. DiflrJi-is V hich face the fouth have frequently CHperi- 

 enced thofe violent Ihocl s which occaf :n great damage; but 

 this fituation is lefs dangerous than that of diliricts which 

 front the wcfl. 



4. DiftritSts which look towards the eaft are fomctimes 

 Xubjc(9: to flisihl earthquake:?. 



5. Large illands, fuch as Madagafcar, Borneo, Cevlon, 

 Java, .Celebes, the Moluccas, the Philippine^ the Japaa 



4 '" ■■'' jflc?. 



