105 



A short notice of Earthquakes. 



[January 



The theory of the subterranean movements being so intimately 

 blended with that of the whole terrestrial system, it appears advis- 

 able to consult various works on the formation and revolutions of 

 the earth, ancient and modern. In these it will be found that 

 a vast accession of knowledge, has been gained from modern physi- 

 cal and geological discoveries, geologists having of late years explored 

 many mysteries, the structwre of the earth being surveyed minutely 

 and in detail, the organic inscriptions of its different strata being 

 carefully exanjined, and comparisons made, facts have been ascer- 

 tained, beyond the reach of former philosophers, each of whom 

 had a creed of his own considered supreme, their system being 

 essentially dogmatic, having entirely disregarded the Mosaic account 

 of the creation, the only certain foundation to build upon. Werfc'er 

 and Hutton are two of the latest and most celebrated of these phi- 

 losophers, being the leaders of the rival factions of the Vulcanists 

 and Neptionists so called from their different definitions of the 

 terrestrial system. Werner considering that the globe was anciently 

 covered by a vast solution, differing from our existing seas, and 

 that this chaotic ocean contained the elements of the primitive 

 lands, whilst Hutton attributed every thing to the agency of mternal 

 fire ; his theory is the most elaborate, and comprehensive, that 

 has hitherto appeared ; giving a general abstract of it here would 

 however exceed the bounds allotted to this disquisition, the defects 

 and inconsistences of both systems have of late years been ably 

 exposed by Lyall, Ure, and many other practical naturalists. Ure 

 after criticising, both cosmological systems, compliments the authors 

 on having decked them out in very technical language although 

 he winds up this eulogium with stating that their theories are 

 almost as fantastical and extravagant as that of some of the an- 

 cient philosophers of the Tonic, and Attic^ schools. On perusing the 

 geolo<^ical works of Smith, Maccullock, Lyall, Ure, and other 

 late writers, it will be found that a new school has arisen, in which 

 speculative and dogmatic systems are entirely discountenanced. 

 In Lyall's account of the geological society of London, he states 

 that the svgtem in vogue is to multiply and record observations, 

 and patiently await the result of some future period, it being their 

 favourite maxim, that the time is not yet come for a general 

 system of geology ; but that all must be content for many years, 

 to be exclusively employed in furnishing materials for future gene- 

 rations; by acting up to their principles with consistency, he 

 says, that they have in a few years disarmed prejudice, and rescued 

 the science from the imputation of being a dangerous or at least a 



