24 
rind of ? only having penetrated in some few localities to a 
depth of one-six or eight-thousandth part of the radius 
from centre to surface. By perpetuation of the crude hypo- 
theses, current among geologists, that the disrupted aspect 
of mountain chains, as well as the alternate elevation 
and depression of vast areas of the earth's surface, are the 
result of mysterious movements of an incandescent mass 
beneath its crust, necessity for investigation as to principles 
of caiisation is practically denied. But the earnest student 
of physics, and investigator of the agencies in nature effecting 
terrestrial changes, as well those of the position or inclination 
of the earth's poles, to the actual or assumed plane of her 
orbit, as of the waste, renovation, or alteration of aspect of 
her external crust, must scrutinize even accepted theories, and 
absolutely reject every assumption unbased on veritable 
facts. "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good," 
should be the motto of the scientific investigator. More espe- 
cially, no theologian, or recognized orthodox preacher, should 
accept as undoubted scientific truth, assumptions based on 
conjectural data, affecting, by a hair's breath, the strict 
veracity and accurate statement of fact contained in the 
inspired Word, whose Divine Author is at once the Architect 
and Almighty Controller of Nature, and who doeth according 
to His will throughout the vast universe, yet probably by 
operation of designed natural laws effecting predetermined 
sequences. 
Mallet observes that " an earthquake, however great, is 
incapable of producing any permanent elevation or depression 
of land whatever, unless as secondary effects. Its functions 
of elevation and depression are limited solely to the sudden 
rise, and as immediate fall, of that limited portion of the 
surface through which the great wave is passing momentarily. " 
I submit that the phenomena of earthquakes may be but 
notifications in nature of effectuation of a change— of 
exceptional energy — in the earth's centre of gravity. At sea, 
earthquakes cause apparently a shock of vertical impulse to 
the superincumbent oceanic surface, uplifting and throwing 
off a wave, or film of volume, directed by the course of 
impidse, or the tend of the change thus being effected ; the 
usually noticed primary action upon surrounding coast lines, 
— the receding wave, being probably caused by the rush of 
water to fill the vacuum, or depression of surface, resulting 
from the ejectment of the wave of impulse, prior to the 
reflex of the succeeding waves, of devastating characteristics. 
In noted phenomena of the past occurrence of earthquake 
waves, there is presumptive evidence in favour of a con- 
