Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/452

Rh be investigated, in the intimate nature of their alternations and periodical intumescences." ('Cosmos,' vol. i., p.214.)

Had this Report not already so very far exceeded the length which I had originally projected for it, some deductions of a practically constructive character, as to the proper methods of structure for safe houses and other edifices in earthquake countries resulting from my opportunities of observation in this research, coupled with previous professional knowledge, would have been not unsuitable, especially to our nation, the mother of so many colonies in earthquake regions.

I must reserve such for some other opportunity, however, merely stating here my conviction, that the evils of the earthquake, like all others incident to man's estate, may be diminished, or even nullified, by the exercise of his informed faculties and energies, by his application of forethought and knowledge, to subjugate this, as every other apparent evil of his estate, by skill and labour.

The earthquake is, therefore, but the subject of superstition, when viewed or denounced as a curse or a judgment; it is as much the operation of one part of a beneficent machinery, as "seedtime and harvest."

All human difficulties, to be dealt with, must be understood: were understanding and skill applied to the future construction of houses and cities in Southern Italy, few, if any, human lives need ever be again lost by earthquakes; which there must recur, in their "times and seasons." In some degree this has been seen by Italian writers, and Colosimo, in his little account of the Calabrian shock of 1832, points out some of the conditions that should be structurally observed.

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