OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE. 1 67 



formed by successive starts, similar to volcanic eruptions, 

 though far more rare and more powerful ; and that the per- 

 cussions impressed by these starts upon the waters of the 

 ocean, were such as to form waves, sometimes of a moderate 

 force, as those at Lisbon or Callao ; sometimes of overwhelm- 

 ing magnitude, and capable of producing the effects described 

 in the Alps, in Germany, and in Russia. 



As the inferences derived from these distant facts are called 

 in question by some gentlemen of the highest authority in this 

 Society, I am happy to have it in my power to produce a set 

 of observations made in this immediate neighbourhood, whicli 

 seem in a manner no less satisfactory, to lead to similar con- 

 clusions. These are the subject of the second part of this com- 

 munication. 



PART II. 



