10G Volcanos. 



characterized by that neatness and precision, for which its 

 publishers are so justly distinguished. 



In conclusion, we would only remark, that it has fully an- 

 swered the expectations we had formed of it, from a know- 

 ledge of the high attainments of its author, and that, in our 

 opinion, it constitutes by far the most valuable treatise that 

 can be put into the hands of a person just commencing this 

 delightful study. To those who are acquainted with Mr. 

 Nuttall's former productions, it need not be mentioned, that 

 his style is simple, condensed and highly perspicuous ; pre- 

 cisely what a style ought to be in all works of a similar nature. 



Art. XVI. — Volcanos. 



Among the physical phenomena of our planet, none arrest 

 the attention of its inhabitants more forcibly, than those con- 

 nected with earthquakes and volcanos. These tremendous 

 displays of power cannot fail to interest even barbarous na- 

 tions, who consider volcanic craters as the residence of de- 

 mons, and their eruptions as the demonstrations of their 

 anger, and as the means employed by them to spread destruc- 

 tion. The Missionaries in Owyhee, (Hawaii,) have given us, 

 (see Ellis 1 Tour and the analysis of it, Vol. XL p. 1, of this 

 Journal,) a very interesting account of the Goddess Pele, and 

 of the highly poetical mythology, which the natives have built 

 upon her supposed dominion. 



It is not surprising, that such terrific appearances should be 

 imputed by barbarians to the agency of a local deity, and 

 that the visitations of earthquakes and volcanos, should be 

 regarded as malignant and vindictive inflictions. 



Much of the poetical machinery of the Greeks and Ro- 

 mans was fabricated out of physical phenomena. The 

 struggles of the Titans, buried beneath the mountains, by the 

 anger of the Gods, were assigned by poetry, as the causes of 

 the earthquakes of Italy, and Vulcan and the Cyclops, ac- 

 cording to the annals of fable, forged their thunder bolts in 

 the bowels of Etna and of the neighboring Lipari Islands. 



But in modern times, since the exact sciences have received 

 so much attention, volcanos have been studied with a philo- 

 sophical spirit. Sir William Hamilton, Spallanz?ni, Ordi- 

 naire, Brieslak, Brocchi, Humbolt, Von Buch, Beudant, Mac- 

 kenzie, Monticelli, De la Torre, Bory St. Vincent, Webster, 



