99 



it, with the islands of Prochyta and IscJiia, appear like- 

 wise to have been raised in the same manner. 



Such wonderful operations of nature, are certainty 

 intended for some great purpose. They are not con- 

 fined to one country ; volcanos exist iu the four quarters 

 of the globe. We see the fertility of the soil ossasioned 

 thereby, in what was Thence called Compania felix. 

 The same is evident in Sicily, justly esteemed one of ihe 

 most fertile spots in the world. May not subterrane- 

 ous fire be considered as the great plough (if we may 

 be allowed the expression) which nature makes use of to 

 turn up the bowels of the earth, and afford us fie&ii 

 fields to work upon, when the former are exhausted ? 

 Perhaps likewise many precious minerals might have re- 

 mained unknown to us, had it not been for these opera- 

 tions of nature. 



There is great reason to believe that the whole island 

 of Madeira was at some remote period thrown up by 

 the explosion of subterraneous fire, as every stone, whe- 

 ther whole or in fragments, that is seen upon it appears 

 to have been burnt ; and even the sand itself to be 

 nothing more than ashes. And it is certain, that part of 

 the country near the sea is a very exact specimen of the 

 rest. 



7- Near Puzzuolo lies Monte Secco, which is Vesuvius 

 in miniature. Its summit, formerly a cone, is now sunk 

 into a concave oval, whose shortest diameter is about 

 one thousand feet, the longest one thousand two hun- 

 dred and forty-six. It is generally known by the name 

 of Sollafara. Though Vesuvius is twelve miles distant, 

 yet they have ^communication with each other. Hence 

 the subterraneous lire is quiet atSolfatara, when it has a 

 vent at Vesuvius: whereas the heat at the former in- 

 creases, when the latter is at rest. 



On this mountain are many cracks emitting smoke $ 

 the heat issuing from them is sometimes insupportable. 

 Hold a piece of iron over, one of these cracks, and a 



VOL. IT I, J 1 



