( ^57 ) 



prifmatic form in the aiVy while others 

 remain irregular within the fea, 



X HE form, fize, and ftrudure of the 

 Eoiian ifles, the different materials of which 

 they are compofed, and the primordial rocks 

 from which thefe are derived ; the fires 

 which ftill burn in fome, and the pheno- 

 mena and changes which accompany them ; 

 with the comparifon between the prefent 

 conflagrations and thofe of ancient times, 

 conftitute the principal objeds to be confi- 

 dered in writing the volcanic hiftory of 

 fiich a country. And though we have al- 

 ready employed nine chapters on thefe fub- 

 jeds, we conceive the candid reader will 

 not accufe us of extreme prolixity ; both 

 becaufe we have had to treat of {^nqw. 

 iflands, and becaufe our object was to write 

 the I.ithology of this ancient and celebrated 

 country. The prefent chapter, we flatter 

 ourfelves, will, in like manner, be ac- 

 ceptable to the enquiring naturalift, as it 

 contains various obfervations and reflec- 

 tions 



