' [ 568 ] 
which fays, that he could neither obferve any con- 
nexion between the weather and the earthquakes, 
nor any prognoftic of them ; for that they happened 
alike in all kinds of weather, at all times of the tides, 
and at all times of the moon *. 
q,. If, however, it fhould flill be fuppofed, not- 
withftanding thefe inftances to the contraiy, that 
there is fome general connexion between earthquakes 
and the weather, at the time when they happen, 
vet, furely, it is far more probable, that the air 
'fhould be affeded by the caufes of earthquakes, than 
that the earth fhould be affeded in fo extraordinary 
a manner, and to fo great a depth ; and that this, 
* See Philof. Tranf. N° 4°9- or vol. vi. part 11 . p. 2 C 2 . 
Eames’s Abridgment.— To thefe authorities, we may add the 
opinion of Mor.f. Bertrand, who exprefles himfelf, upon this 
occafion, in the following manner. “ Ariftotle, Pliny, and 
“ Seneca, tell us, that earthquakes are preceded by a calm and 
“ ferene air. This is, indeed, often the cafe, but not always. 
“ I don’t know, upon an examination of the whole, if there are 
not as many exceptions to this rule, as examples that conn, m 
“ it. Some authors again have thought, that they might look on 
“ a dark fky, tightenings, and fudden ftorms, as the torerunne.s 
“ of earthquakes.” Then relating fome inftances of (bocks that 
happened in calm and ferene weather, he adds, “ On the other 
« hand, it appears, from the examples, which we have before 
“ related, that many earthquakes have happened at the time of 
“ great rains, violent winds, and with a cloudy fky ; fo that one 
“ cannot find any certain prognoftic of them in the ftate of the 
“ atmofphere.” See Memoires Hijlonqucs ct Phyf.ques Juries 
trcmblemens deTerre , par Monj. Bertrand , a fa Hayc I 75 7* . 1lS 
author, in thefe fenfible memoits, has obliged the public with a 
circumftantial account of all the facts he couid co cot, r< - ating to 
the earthquakes of Switzerland, or thofc of other places, that 
feemed to be connefted with them. The whole feems to be done 
with care and fidelity, and without the lead attachment to any 
particular fyftem. , 
