EVERY inquiry into the nature and constitution of i 

 the universe falls into three divisions astronomy, 

 meteorology, and geography. The first investigates 

 the nature of the heavenly bodies, the size and 

 shape of the fires that ring-in the world. It inquires 

 whether the heavens are solid, composed of strong 

 rigid material, or woven of a fine thin stuff; whether 

 they receive or impart motion ; whether the heavenly 

 bodies are beneath them or fixed in their texture ; 

 in what manner the sun maintains the succession 

 of the seasons ; whether he returns upon his track 

 or not, and all the other questions of a similar 

 character. The second division deals with what lies 2 

 between heaven and earth, to wit, clouds, rain, snow, 

 and 



Thunder that frights the heart of man : 



in short, all that the atmosphere does or suffers. 

 This subject is called meteorology (sublimia raised 

 on high), because it deals with phenomena exalted 

 above the low earth. The third part inquires 

 about waters, lands, trees, crops, or to use a legal 

 phrase, everything that is contained in the soil. 



How comes it, you ask me, that you have put the 3 

 question of earthquakes in the division under which 

 you are going to treat of thunder and lightning ? 

 For that is my plan. Well, the earthquake is due 



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