522 
but muft crack and feparate from their 
fides, leaving intervals and difruptions ; 
but nothing like this is obferved, the dyke 
and contiguous matter, whatever it be, 
are folidly united together, forming but 
one mails. 
Mr. Richardfon, who feems more defi- 
rous of pulling down falie theories‘ than 
eftablifhing one of his own, fays, he thall 
probably make further inroads into the 
territories of Vulcan, and queftion the ig- 
neous origin of bafalt in general. He tells 
us, that his opportunities to procure in- 
formation upon it have been very fuperior 
to thofe of any other perfon: ‘I have 
lived, (fays be) very many {ummers in the 
mot{t important bafaltic country in the 
world, and my fondnefs for the fea, and 
poflefion of boats, have enabled me re- 
peatedly to explore our coaft, while I know 
that the advocates for particular opinions 
come to look for argumen's to fupport the 
theories they patronize 3 it is »ainful to 
follow fuch gentlemen, correcting their 
ftatements, and contradicting their affer- 
tions; nor are they curfory travellers 
alone who mifreprefent our facts; it will 
appear that men of {cence and ability are 
equally difpofed to fupport their opinions 
at any expence; a favourite theory is an 
adopted child, that muft be maintainei.”’ 
He then urges the neceflity of fiudying 
facts, becaufe, adds he, “ In our bafaltic 
country, thefe are curicus, as well as abur- 
dant ; and it will be from fuch of tiefe 
alone as have efcaped the attention cf my 
predecefiors, and from the geological coun 
try, that the arguments to be applied to 
the queftion of the igneous origin cf ba- 
falt will be drawn; and whatever inay 
be their weight, at leaft, they will baye the 
merit of ncv.l y to recommend them. 
Another paper laid before this learned 
body, ts an * Effay on Credulity,’’ by 
Wn. Presron, Eso. Inthe introduction 
to this Effay, the author contesds, that the 
** Principle of Credulity”’ is the moft pow. 
erful motive of human aGtion, which the 
daring and impetuous may. employ by 
. chance, the prefound and politi¢e on prin- 
ciple and by defign, to gain a powersand 
purchafe, by which they turn and wield 
the human inftrument, and meke it neft 
eficac.oufly perform the purpoled work 
of the mover. Epidemic credulity and 
popular delufion forward, or even pro- 
duce, preat revolutions: it is the great 
iprmg that agitates religious enthufiafms; 
it becomes the means of mifleading the 
public attention, and of impreffing falfe 
notions of the views and motives of go- 
| Proceedings of learned Socicties. 
{ Jan. 1; 
vernments, and ftates. Thefe and many 
other evils are pointed out as arifing from 
credulity ; and having pointed out its per- . 
nicious effeéts in a great variety of in- 
ftances, the author divides his work into 
fections, of which the firft is intended to 
fhew, that credulity is an innate principle, 
and diftinguifhed from rational belief. 
Its ufe is fhown; the reafons given why 
it is fometimes joined with dittruft ; and 
then fome inftances of fuccefsful impof- 
ture are adduced to fhow the general pre- 
valence of credulity. Of thefe latter it is 
faid, that the commencement of impofture 
has ufually been fortuituous. ‘* Thus 
(fays Mr. Prefton) it was with reipect to 
Mahomet. Being febject to attacks of 
epilepfy, and wifhing to conceal his in- 
firmity from his wife, he told her, that his 
convuliions were occafioned by the fight 
of the angel Gabriel, who came to reveal 
to him many things, in the name of God. 
Cadigha immediately went about, and 
told, from houfe to houfe, that her huf- 
band was a prophet, and endeavoured to 
procure him followers.’? A fimilar in- 
firmity induced Elizabeth Barton, of Eng- 
land, to commence prophetefs ; and it is 
net imprcbable, according to our author, 
that the infpiration of the Pythian prieft- 
_efs was of the fame nature, and that fhe 
afterwards acquired the power of working 
herfelf into trances and convulfions. 
In the fecond feftion, Mr. Locke’s 
theory refpeting credulity, which is a 
feeling, is examined ; and it is fhewn, that 
reafon ought to be employed to determine 
the grounds of diflent. In the courfe of 
this difcuffion, we are referred to the tra- 
gical tate of Calas family, at Thouloufe ; 
the pretended infpiration of Mifs Kuity 
Cadiere, and her extatic mtercourfe with the 
feraphic Pére Gerard ; the impotture of 
Elizabeth Canning; to the affair of the 
Cock lane ghoft, and to the pretended 
witchcraft in Scotland. Hence the fta- 
tute 33d Hen. VIII.; which makes it fe- 
lony, without benefit of clergy, to invoke, 
confult, covenant, entertain, employ, feed, 
or reward any evil fpirit. Judge Black- 
ftone is alfo reterred to with aftonifiment, 
that aman cf fuch talents fhould admit 
the poffibility, and even probaoility, of 
fuch a crime being committed. 
Tbe two remaining f{eétions are taken 
up in fhowing the “* grounds for ‘diffent- 
ing trom popular rumour,’ and m_ pro- 
-ducing methods by which ‘* popuiar cre- — 
dulity may be remedicd or prevented *” 
Do our veaders afk, what are the remedies — 
‘fuggelted by Mir. Prefton, he fhall {peak 
for himfelf: ** The promoting of a free 
circulation 
