234 Earthquakes in Sicily. 
While Nicosia and the whole space between Madonia and 
#tna were in such commotion, Sicily to the west and all the 
northern coast enjoyed perfect quiet ; but a sad reverse was 
preparing. In October Atna ceased throwing out sulphurous 
ashes and sand, and with it ceased all its noises, and shocks, 
and all was calm. In ebruary in the beginning of the next 
year, small motions of the earth were felt along the northern 
side of the island, which were the preludes to the scene that 
presented itself in March. 
The direction of the motion was from N_ E. to S. W. as 
it Pe Sat sa would be injurious to pee J make all haste to correct 
In 1822, neither ata great nor at a small distance from the crater, 
the earth opened ; and the matter thrown out is volcanic ashes, perfectly 
like that which has usually been expelled by this volcano; at least for 
the forty years that I have studied it. It did not come out in she form of 
mud, but in awehioly fine dust, which afterwards became wet wi 
the vapour condensed within the very edges of the fissures, or whieh felt 
in brine. It is a long while since any of the writers on volcanoe: - 
mg to es serpin $e RG Ate eruptions of mud,” have seiaed tat of 
sea-water and shells in 1 a. poneaE sreaaiy bass 5 A have beer 
Sampelied te to ca away, — fee possible proof. This rror of 1822 
es ee: ir arguments and lead on to other errors. 4 have yiven 
gue anand 2 to a illustrious | cere 
ni , who wrote me on- bject, with th 
characterizes and gop has rendered him one is a RE in 
oth her es, on a eee Song Nard of nature. With re- 
spect to the nature of this voleanic ashes, although 1 am convinced that 
2 differs not at all from that — has always been ejected, yet I wished 
consult the oracle of Chemistry upon it, since it is his delight to dis- 
Sivek the composition of dies: 1 mean the illustrious Vauquelin, 
whose noble interest in me has conferred on me so much honour. My 
a Sato meat ie my regret and that of the — chemist who 
pecting it. r reached its destiny ; but I renewed it, and the 
penal ‘hall haye pace. in my continuation of the sistas of #tna from 
1818 where I left it, which I shall soon publish. 1 will add to finish this 
such, even according to to the imaginary ideas of Plato, who admitted riv- 
ers of mud in the interior of the globe, to which end he alleged 
eruptions in Sicily. Nothing comes up from the depths of the: earth but 
streams of carburetted hydrogen gas, which finding above, the argilla- 
ceous chalk, of which the soil is formed, loosened away by rain water, 
it forces it up and causes it to psi in muddy streams. In times of 
drou Se ee its passage aw. whistling is made like 
o im s wind. Even of our Lake’ of the Palici, they believe that 
the» gas comes from the entire of the eart ri and wonder that it never 
retiiows. Why do they. ase observe that in dry years it entirely evape- 
Pee nd that nothing comes out of the chinks at its bottom but teak 
r, which give to fe Ae of when 
wait there A he star iets appearance pct | 
