DOMAIN XI. DECOMPOSED. 



which seems to evince that they rose from be- 

 neath, having left an empty space in the direc- 

 tion of their ascent, into which the superincum- 

 bent bed subsided ; for if a mere rupture had 

 taken place, the descent of any substance from 

 above would not have altered the original level 

 of the beds. The eruptions of clay are frequent 

 in American volcanoes, and may arise like sand- 

 stone, from the subterranean waters, which seem 

 of far more extent and influence than is gene- 

 rally conceived. It ought also to be observed, 

 if these arrects proceed in a northerly and south- 

 erly direction, or on any point of the compass 

 from S. E. to N. W. ; for such seems to be the 

 common direction of chains of volcanoes, and 

 of earthquakes ; as perhaps in the desiccation of 

 this globe, and the contraction at the poles, rup- 

 tures of different sizes took place in the shell, 

 which were afterwards filled with subterranean 

 waters, and combustible materials ; while an ex- 

 terior crust was gradually formed, with a dis- 

 tant resemblance of those on some morasses, con- 

 sidering the horrible chasms beneath. It is far 

 from the intention of this work, a mere intro- 

 duction to the science, to support any system ; 

 as it is of an eclectic nature, choosing the 

 most authentic facts, and the most solid obser- 

 vations, from all the theories. If these ideas, 



