Page:The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious.djvu/69



HIS ''diſcourſe is but a neceſſary conſequence of the preceding. The whole no other than an eſſay, toward inveſtigating the true nature of the wonderful appearance of an earthquake. And ſomething is done toward it, if only by eradicating an old error. In attaining the propoſed end, I have endeavoured to lay all the neceſſary circumſtances together, which to our great amazement we have ſeen, and felt. That they may not be as ſoon forgotten, as they generally were, by the giddy multitude; equally thoughtleſs of what they knew to be paſt, as childiſhly fearful of an imaginary one, ſubſequent: for which there could not be the leaſt ground of apprehenſion. By ſober perſons it was, with great reaſon, thought a judicial infatuation, and as much to be wonder’d at, as an earthquake itſelf; a real panic. When a third part of this immenſe city ran out into the fields for half a cold night; alarmed with the filly prediction of a diſtemper’d fellow!''

Nothing could tempt one to commemorate the follies of our cotemporaries, but the hope, it