{ '75 ) 



have viewed burning volcanos, have only 

 defcribed in their relations the moft com- 

 mon and general phenomena, lefs adapted 

 to increafe the knowledge than to amufe 

 the imagination of their readers, and excite 



their wonder Shocks and undulations of 



the earth — the fea in commotion, and raging 

 without a tempeft ; here retiring and leav- 

 ing its ftiores dry, and there inundating vaft 

 tracts of land — fubterranean thunders, and 

 roarings in the air above — the fun difappear- 

 ing in thick darknefs at noon — whirhvinds 

 of fmoke, afhes, and flame, burfting from 

 the yawning gulf — burning ftones hurled 

 towards heaven, and falling in a fiery hail 

 — torrents and rivers of liquid lava, fulphur, 

 and bitumen, pouring down on the valleys 

 below, and carrying terror, defolation, and 

 death — iflands, now fuddenly produced by 

 fubmarine eructations, and now torn from 

 their foundations, and fwallowed up by 



earthquakes thefe compofe the ufual de- 



fcrlptions of volcanos, which, though they 

 may not be ufelefs when the fads are faith- 

 fully ftated, and not magnifred by the ima- 

 gination 



