Profefor WirriiAMs om Earthquakes. 291 
whole country, fhould break out in many places, where it came 
near to the furface of the earth, is agreeable to the prefumption 
of theory. Thus it has been with feveral of our earthquakes. 
In that of 1727, there was an eruption at Newbury, attended 
with an effufion of fand, containing fmall mixtures of fulphur,. 
and a very noxious, ill-fcented vapour. Strong fulphureous: 
fmells were obferved in other places ; and, as fome fuppofed,. 
there were alfo appearances of flame. In the earthquake of 
1755, there were eruptions at Scituate, Pembroke, Lancafter, 
&c. with large effufions of fand, probably of a fulphureous 
nature. Whether this was the cafe with any of the other 
earthquakes, the accounts are not particular enough to deter- — 
mine. But in thefe, both the matter and fmell attending the 
eruptions, afforded ftrong marks and evidence of fubterraneous: 
vapours.: 
The earthquakes of New-England have alfomade fuch a/tera-- 
tions in the bowels, and upon the furface of the earth, asa {trong 
fübterraneous vapour would produce. Very confiderable altera 
tions might be expected in the bowels, and upon the furface of 
the earth, and in the fyftem.of fprings, fountains, currents and ` 
ftreams of water,. from.a vapour of fuch force as to break thro” 
the furface of the earth, and of fach extent as to reach from, 
one country to-another. Such effects have always followed the’ 
larger fhocks. In: that of 1663, incredible alterations are fid: 
to have been: made in. the furface-of te earth at Canada, for 
many leagues through the country. Rocks and mountains 
were; in fome: places, thrown down, and'confiderably removed ;. 
and the channel in fome parts-of the river St:- Lawrence, was: 
very much changed and-altered. In thofe of 1727 and: 1°75 55> 
the furface of the earth, in fome parts of New-England, was- 
confiderably — 
