Profefor Wi1111AMs on Earthquakes. 303° 
The fame caufes which have produced fuch effeéts on the 
farface, are undoubtedly ftill exiftent in the bowels of the earth, 
Proper periods of time may be requifite for them to grow ripe, 
or gather ftrength fufficient to caufe an explofion or earthquake. 
But as the materials from which fubterraneous vapours are form- 
ed, conftantly exift in the bowels of the earth, they will be as 
conftantly fermenting ; and thus increafing the quantity and 
force of the vapours,. till they fhall become futficient to break 
through all oppofition, and force for themífelves:a paflage thro’ 
the earth... And although they may in fuch ways be diícharged 
from time to time ; yet, fo long as the fame powers {hall fab. - 
fift in matter, new vapours will be produced ; and, of confe- 
quence,.the fame effects, after’ proper intervals of time, will 
again take place.. Nor are they to be viewed as marks of any 
diforder or irregularity in the works of nature.. For,. 
Notwithftanding all their terrible effects, earthquakes feem : 
to bea neceffary confequence of fueh laws of nature, and powers: 
in matter, as are, upon the whole, greatly beneficial to the globe, 
There is no phenomena in the whole courfe of nature, fo for-- 
midable as that of an earthquake.—Nor is there any. that has” 
fpread more univerfal horror, calamity and defolation.. Hiftory, . . 
ancient and modern; abounds. with accounts of large countries - 
that have been fhaken,—whole cities that have been funk and 
covered,—and immeníe numbers of mankind that have- been: 
deftroyed, by thefe dreadful convulfions of. nature. : In the- 
earthquake which fhook Sicily, in the year 1693, fifty-four ci- 
Hes and towns, with an incredible number of villages, were 
either deftroyed or greatly damaged, and about fixty thoufand : 
perfous perifhed. In that at Jamaica, in 1692, almoft the — 
whole of Port-Royal was fwallowed up, and large numbers of 
its 
