< ij8 )■ 
low’d up by it. This Misfortune befel, according to 
Pliny , Tyndarida , formerly a famous City in Sicily. 
That m all probability Sicily itfelf, which, by the 
Teftimojffi'es of ‘Diodorus Siculus , Strabo 5 < Pomj>o» 
nius Mela , ‘Plinius , So linns, Juftinus' Seneca , and 
feveral others, both antient and modern Authors, appears 
to have been formerly annex’d to the Continent of Italy , 
by a fmall Neck of Land between the Cape of Mejfina 
and the lower Farts of Calabria , was feparated from it 
bv foine violent Succuflion of the Earth. 
" That the ignivomous /Etna, far from being the Caufe, 
as Come imagine, of the Earthquakes, which fo often 
defolate the Kingdom of Sicily , feetns rather to have 
been created by the allwife Providence, in order to fe« 
cure this Itland by its fiery Eruptions from more fre- 
quent Misfortunes. 
That contrary to what Jriftotle and fome others 
afiert, folid and rocky Places receive infinitely more 
Damage by Earthquakes, than loofe, fandy Grounds. 
This appears by the Ruins of Catania , Leontini, A- 
gofta, Syracufa, and Noto, which were all built upon 
a folid (tony Ground, whereas Meffina, though every 
where undermin’d by fubterranean Cavities, was abun- 
dantly lefs fhaken. 
The remaining Part of the Book is employ’d about ex- 
amining the Opinions of all the antient and modern 
Philofophers about the Caufes of Earthquakes, and efta- 
biifhing the Author’s own, which is, that the Earth is 
lhakenby the Violence of fub terraneous Fires, occafion’d 
by the Fermentation of the combuftible Minerals hid in 
its Entrails, and that the Effects of the Earthquakes may 
in all Regards be compar’d to the Effects of Mines. By 
the way, he.obferveth, that the Caufes of Thunder, 
Lightning and Winds may be deriv’d from the fame 
Principle. 
FINIS . 
