[ 668 ] 
Fumes and lambent Flames fecn to iflfue out of the 
gaping Ground on thefc Difafters, as Relations tell 
us, wc juftly may pronounce them to be purely the 
Effect of EleCtricity. 
It mud be accounted no inconfiderable Argument 
in Favour of our Hypothecs, that the Northern 
Regions of the World are little fubjeCt to Earth- 
quakes, in comparison of the Southern j where the 
Warmth and Drinefs of the Air, fo ncccffary in 
Electricity, is common. Notwithftanding that we 
have a Vulcano in Iceland, yet we hear not of Earth- 
quakes frequent in that Latitude of the Globe. 
But whether our Conjectures upon this important 
Affair be well founded or no, it certainly becomes 
a Chriftian Philofopher, whilft he is invefligating. 
material Caufes, to look up to the moral Ufe of 
them ; for, in reality, every thing in the whole 
World was ultimately made for that Purpofe. And 
of all the great and public Calamities which affeCt 
us Mortals, Earthquakes claim the firft Title to the 
Name of Warnings and judgments ; none fo proper 
to threaten, or to execute Vengeance i Nor has any 
other thofe annexed Terrors, fo much of the un- 
nfual, the unavoidable, and the horrible Apprehen- 
fion of being crufh’d to Death, or buried alive. 
I cannot but infill upon my former Obfervation 
to be juft, that Earthquakes proclaim themfelves 
to Mankind in this Light ; becaufe peculiarly di- 
rected to great Cities and maritime 5 abounding with 
Wealth and Luxury. It would be childifh to make 
a long Recital of Particulars from Hiftory ; for had 
we no other fort of Notices of Earthquakes ? Look 
upon thofe two Shocks we have felt. We own, 
that 
