EARTHQUAKES. 263 



that the phenomenon is surpassed by no other as a 

 regenerative and restorative agent. Yet this is strictly 

 the case. But for earthquakes our continents would 

 continually however slowly diminish in extent 

 through the action of the sea-waves upon their borders, 

 and of rain and rivers on their interior surfaces. ' Had 

 the primeval world been constructed as it now exists,' 

 says Sir John Herschel, ' time enough has elapsed, and 

 force enough, directed to that end, has been in acti- 

 vity, to have long ago destroyed every vestige of land.' 

 It is to the reproductive energy of the earth's internal 

 forces that we are alone indebted for the very existence 

 of dry landv To the same cause, undoubtedly, we owe 

 that gradual process of change in the configuration of 

 continents and oceans which has been for ages and 

 still is in progress a process the benefit derived from 

 which cannot possibly be called in question. Our 

 forests and our fields derive their nourishment from 

 soils prepared, for long ages, beneath the waves of 

 ocean ; our stores of coal and of many other important 

 minerals have been in like manner prepared for our 

 use during the long intervals of their submergence ; we 

 build our houses, even, with materials many of which 

 owe their perfect adaptation to our wants to the 

 manner in which they have been slowly deposited on 

 what was once the bed of ocean, and compressed to a 

 due solidity and firmness of texture beneath its depths. 

 If it is indeed true, as Humboldt asserts, that 'the 

 destiny of man is in part dependent on the fashion 

 of the outer crust of the globe, on the partitioning of 



