Profeffor WILLIAMS on ‘Earthquakes MA 
"Ar 
could be a little more certain what knowledge the Egyptians 
pretended to in this matter. It is well known, that the fci- 
ences were much cultivated among that difcreet people, _ Geo- 
metry and aftronomy, if they were not begun, received very 
great improvements from them. The Greeks had all their af- 
tronomical learning from Egypt. Pythagoras got the know- 
ledge of the true fyftem of the univerfe from the Egyptian 
priefts—And their advances in feveral parts of the mathema- 
tics, were great and uncommon. How far they were acquaint- 
. ed with the aftronomy of comets, I am notable to fay. Some 
of the Chaldeans, and Pythogorian philofophers, taught many 
things as to thenature, orbits and revolutions of comets ; which, 
though long difregarded, modern aftronomy has adapted, “and 
abundantly confirmed.* “And that there was nothing impof- 
| fible,—nothing romantic, in attempting to predict their appear- 
ance, the great Halley has fully demonftrated. And whether 
they might not have fome knowledge as to the philo ophy of. 
earthquakes, which, thro' thei ignorance and barbaroufnefs of af- 
ter ages, might be loft to the world, feems worthy of enquiry. 
Enn pron this mE have been iti is at t dealt gm. that- 
as in (on ie maks ori nate deis isi 4i Wat v very lide that 
i$ yet known of the nature, caufes and:operations of thefe events. 
It will, probably, require the observations of many ages to di- 
geft and form them into a proper fyftem.—And a long courfe 
_ of obfervations may open new {cenes to pofterity, and enable 
them to form conclufions,—I had almoft faid- predictions, =- 
which to us would. appear wild, abfurd and ridiculous. To 
me there appears as much E e for fuch a usc as Se- 
"s E 
8 Gregory's Afizonomy. Book v. feat. 1, > 
