48 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1724. 



was transported for about 50 paces, where it now stands as firm as if it had 

 always stood there. 



There remains still one thing worth observing, and that is the very rise and 

 progress of this terrible succussion. It arose in the south, and proceeded from 

 thence towards the north. For it was first observed in the island of Malta; 

 then in the southern parts of Sicily; and last, always with some difference as 

 to the time, in the northern parts of the same kingdom. But the shakes were 

 less violent the more it approached to the north. For the rest, it extended 

 itself so far, that not only the island of Malta, but also Calabria, and some 

 parts in the kingdom of Naples, participated of its fury. 



Nor was this the end of all the miseries which befel this noble kingdom: for 

 the earth continued trembling for several months after, during the whole year 

 of 1693. In the remaining part of January, and from that time to the begin- 

 ning of the summer, the shakes cauie strong and thick, with hollow terrible 

 noises, and frequent eruptions of Etna. Towards the end of the summer, 

 the shakes were observed to lose a great deal of their force, and Etna to throw 

 out flames and ashes in less quantity; when on the 4th of September, this 

 mountain trembled and cracked all of a sudden, with so loud and thundering a 

 noise, as if some thousands of guns were fired all at once. This was succeeded 

 by a new opening, about 1000 paces from the old mouth, out of which imme- 

 diately issued a thick stench and smoke, followed by a great flame. The same 

 mountain opened itself in two other places, with the like noise, and eruption 

 of smoke and fire, the 25th of September, 1693, and the 1st of April, 1694. 

 After that time the shakes became visibly weaker and weaker, and at last en- 

 tirely ceased. 



As to the earthquake which happened April the '22d, 1717, early in the 

 morning, and of which the author has given a short account by way of appendix, 

 it need not be insisted on, being much the same with the former, though far 

 inferior as to the degree of violence. 



The remaining part of the book is employed in examining the opinions of 

 all the ancient and modern philosophers about the causes of earthquakes, and 

 establishing the author's own ; which is, that the earth is shaken by the violence 

 of subterraneous fires, occasioned by the fermentation of the combustible 

 minerals hid in its entrails; and that the effects of the earthquakes may in all 

 respects be compared to the effects of mines. By the way, he observes, that 

 the causes of thundt^r, lightning, and winds, may be derived from the same 

 principle. 



