306 Profeffor WiLLiaMs on Earthquakes. 
ed between different countries,—that all parts of the earth may 
be fupplied with fuch kinds and quantities of water and air, as 
the growth of bodies, in the bowels and upon the furface of the 
earth, may require ; and that the folid and fluid parts of the 
earth may be kept in their due place, connection and order.— 
And, in general, we may prefume, from the analogy of na- 
ture, that there may be, and no doubt are, many ends and ufes 
to which fubterraneous fires and earthquakes may ferve, of 
Which we have as yet no ideas or conje&ures. But however 
‘thefe things may be, 
It is probable, that our knowledge of this fubje& will in- 
creafe, as all other branches of natural knowledge have done, 
and by the fame means, obfervation and reafoning. In the con- 
tents and ftructure of the globe, the Creator of it feems to 
have made provifion for the production of fubterraneous va- 
pours and explofions. Earthquakes may of confequence be ex- 
pected, at proper intervals of time, in every country and cli- 
mate, fo long as the earth fhall continue to exift in its prefent 
form. As thefe events happen, pofterity will have opportuni- 
ty to examine their Taea dada pA effects iMt opens 
tions, and to mark all their differences and agreements : and, 
of confequence, they will be obtaining more and more infight 
into their nature, caufes and effects. The methods of reafon- 
ing which are now happily introduced into philofophical fub- 
jects, though their effects may be flow, are yet certain and pro- ! 
greffive, Every age will be doing fomething for the next. 
sand the íeveral philofophical focieties already eftablifhed, 
y Metis and recording obfervations, are, and will be, 
viding, — for the agés that are to come.—And 
"i a fuffici ien nt number of obíervations: fhall be thus collect- 
ed 
