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by all appearances, doth, seem to have been the same way piodnced, doth 
still remain as a witness to prove this hypothesis. A like testimony to this. 
'* New islands are formed in two ways; either suddenly, by the action of subterraneous fires; or 
more slowly, by the deposition of mud, carried down by rivers, and stopped by some accident. With 
respect particularly to the first, ancient historians, and modern travellers, give us such accounts as we 
can have no room to doubt of. 
« On the twenty-fourth of May, in the year 2707, a slight earthquake was perceived at Santorini 
and the day following, at sun-rising, an object was seen by the inhabitants of that island, at two or 
three miles distance at sea, which appeared like a floating rock. Some persons, desirous either of gain, 
or excited by curiosity, went there, and found, even while they stood upon this rock, that it seemed 
to rise beneath their feet. They perceived also that its surface was covered with pumice stones and 
oysters, which it had raised from the bottom. Every day after, until the fourteenth of June, this rock 
seemed considerably to increase; and then was found to be half a mile round, and about thirty feet 
above the sea. The earth of which it was composed seemed whitish, with a small portion of clay. 
Soon after this the sea again appeared troubled, and steams arose, which were very offensive to the 
inhabitants of Santorin. But on the sixteenth of the succeeding month, seventeen or eighteen rocks 
more were seen to rise out of the sea, and at length to join together. All this was accompanied with 
the most terrific noise, and fires which proceeded from the island that was newly formed. The whole 
mass, however, of all this new-formed earth, uniting, increased every day, both in height and breadth, 
and, by the force of its explosions, cast forth rocks to seven miles distance. This continued to bear 
the same dreadful appearances till the month of November in the same year; and it is at present a vol¬ 
cano which sometimes renews its explosions. It is about three miles in circumference, and more than 
from thirty-five to forty feet high.” Hist, de l’Acad. an. 1708, p. 23 . 
It seems extraordinary, that about this place in particular, islands have appeared at different times, 
particularly that of Hiera, mentioned above, which has received considerable additions in succeeding 
ages. Justin tells us, that at the time the Macedonians were at war with the Romans, a new island 
appeared between those of Theramenes and Therasia, by means of an earthquake. We are told, that 
this became half as big again about a thousand years after; another island rising up by its side, and 
joining to it, so as scarce at present to be distinguished from the former. 
Ihe ancients who clothed in figure all the great phenomena of nature, represented this formation 
of islands, by the beautiful Fable of Venus (who was wedded to Vulcan) rising out of the ocean, 
Now, on her beryl throne by Tritons borne, 
Bright rose the Goddess like the Star of Mom; 
When with soft fires the mighty dawn he leads. 
And wakes to life and love the laughing meads;— 
W ith rosy fingers, as uncurl’d they hung 
Round her fair brow, her golden locks she wrung; 
O’er the smooth surge on silver sandals stood. 
And look’d Enchantment on the dazzling flood. 
The bright drops rolling from her lifted arms. 
In slow meanders wander o’er her charms. 
Seek round her snowy neck their lucid track, 
Pearl her white shoulders, gem her ivory back. 
Round her fine waist and swelling bosom swim. 
And star with glittering brine each crystal limb. 
—The immortal form enamour’d Nature hail’d, 
And Beauty blazed to heaven and earth unveil'd . 
Darwin. 
