20 ABOUT VOLCANOS AND EARTHQUAKES. 



around us, and of which these furious outbreaks, after all, 

 are but minute, and for the moment unbalanced sur- 

 pluses in the great account. The energy requisite to 

 overthrow a mountain is as a drop in the ocean com- 

 pared with that which holds it in its place, and makes it 

 a mountain. Chemistry tells us that the forces con- 

 stantly in action to maintain a single grain of water in 

 its habitual state ; when only partially and sparingly let 

 loose in the form of electricity, would manifest them- 

 selves as a powerful flash of lightning.* And we learn 

 from optical science that in even the smallest element of 

 every material body, nay, even in what we call empty 

 space, there are forces in perpetual action to which even 

 such energies sink into insignificance. Yet, amid all 

 this, nature holds her even course : the flowers blossom ; 

 animals enjoy their brief span of existence; and man has 

 leisure and opportunity to contemplate and adore, secure 

 of the watchful care which provides for his well-being 

 at every instant that he is permitted to remain on earth, 



ON THE HISTORY OF EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOS. 



(28.) The first great earthquake of which any very 

 distinct knowledge has reached us is that which occurred 

 in the year 63 after our Saviour, which produced great 

 destruction in the neighbourhood of Vesuvius, and 

 shattered the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum upon 

 the Bay of Naples, though it did not destroy them. 

 This earthquake is chiefly remarkable as having been 

 * Faraday : '* Experimental Researches in Electricity," 853. 



