On the Earthquakes of North- America. 61 



two centuries, this period, so brief in the annals of 

 nature, has supplied us with numerous proofs, that 

 earthquakes have been violent and frequent through- 

 out this region, in former ages, and that they have 

 occasioned those subversions, of which the maritime 

 country affords continual and striking indications*. " 



" I have already observed," continues our author, 

 " that no trace of earthquakes is to be found in the 

 western country ; that the Indian languages contain 

 no word corresponding with this phenomenon : I 

 may add, from the authority of Dr. Barton, that they 

 no longer have in use a name equivalent to volcano, 

 of which they can perceive no vestiges amidst the 

 lakes, but of which there are numerous remains on the 

 Allegheny. I was informed, at Detroit, that the nor- 

 thern Indians relate a story of a mountain, somewhere 

 far inland, which sometimes throws out smoke : but 

 the report wants a surer foundationf." 



I feel no disposition to claim the honour of having 

 first suggested the theory which Mr. Volney h&s pub- 

 fished, concerning the cause of the difference in the 

 arrangement of the strata of stoney matters in the 

 countries east and those west of the Alleghaney- 

 mountains. It may not, however, be amiss to ob- 

 serve, that this theory was communicated by me to 

 Mr. Volney, when I had the honour of enjoying his 

 society in Philadelphia, in the years 1797 and 1798. 



* American translation, page 97. 

 t Ibid, page 100. 



