“We observed in a former paper...”

Date

3-5-1812

Newspaper

Augusta Herald

Page and Column

page 3, Column 1-3

Newspaper Location

Augusta, Georgia

Serial Number

763

Abstract

Long commentary on earthquake theory. Debates the electric fluid theory of earthquake origins.

Transcript

We observed in a former paper, that every philosophical theory of Earthquakes which we had seen was Incumbered with difficulties, and we intended to have subjoined a few observations to the essay on this subject in our last, to show that we did not think the theory adopted by our ingenious correspondent, an exception to this remark. Want of room then, obliged us to omit what we now publish, in a spirit of liberal enquiry. Human wisdom is desirous to explain, and human curiosity is gratified at discovering the cause of every event, which from its novelty excites peculiar interest or attention. But man limited in his faculties, is often compelled to wonder at occurrences he is incapable of explaining-and earthquakes we consider to be among those events whose physical cause, will never be satisfactorily discovered by human ingenuity. And indeed it would perhaps be to little purpose, that we should be able to explain the physical causes of this phenomenon, unless the explanation would teach us how to controul its operation, or evade its effects-it would still remain an awful and sublime evidence of that great, final cause, without whose concurrence and permission, all secondary or physical causes are perfectly inefficient and harmless. If for instance as suggested, from extreme heat, an excess of electric fluid is deposited in the earth, which afterwards produces convulsions from being obstructed in its usual outlets by excessive cold-how it might be asked was the heat and cold produced, or by whose direction was it, that the atmosphere was so tempered as to be instrumental in producing these effects. It will readily be seen from this consideration, that in this, as in every other case without exception, the secondary or physical cause, is but an agent commissioned by a superior power. to execute his purposes, and set in motion by various means to accomplish his designs. Electricity, the agent which our ingenious correspondent supposes imployed to produce earthquakes, is as competent perhaps as any other secondary power to produce the effect attributed to it-it seems however not to be free from difficulty If as suggested, the matter of "light emanating from the sun, and the electric fluid, be radically the same substance" why do not both undergo the same change or modification, by contact with, or absorption into the earth? If there is a continual absorption of the electric fluid in the equatorial regions, on what principle is it, that it seeks an outlet at the poles of the earth, and why does it not escape from other parts with equal facility, when it is known and admitted, that every part of the earth is provided with conductors for it?-Or why when obstructed at the poles as suggested, does not so subtle a fluid escape other ways with similar ease, as it is usually supposed to do at the poles, and without producing agitations and convulsions? And is not the supposition of a current of electrical fluid passing from the equitorial regions through the poles of the earth, rather an ingenious hypothesis, than matter of evidence? The last summer was no doubt as suggested, in many places extremely hot and dry, we are not certain that it was univerally so-at the southard we think hotter and dryer seasons have been experienced, and it would seem that this cause must have been general to have produced the effects attributed to it. Besides we would remark, that the first earthquake felt here was the January preceding the last hot summer, and of course, could not have received any influence, from the "meterological state of the atmosphere" for some months past. As an evidence too, that a hot summer succeeded by a severe winter, does not indicate, or help to explain, the phenomena of earthquakes we would observe, that the "greatest part of the Roman world was shaken by a violent earthquake,--which happened on the 21st of July, in the year 365." Meaco in Japan was destroyed by a like visitation in September 1596." The Island of St. Domingo, suffered by a tremendous earthquake in seventeen hundred and seventy, and the one which destroyed a considerable part of Lisbon, and in which fifty thousand persons perished, happened on the first of November 1753 And it may not be amiss to observe here, that slight tremulous motions of the earth were felt at Lisbon for four successive years, preceeding the awful calamity which that city afterwards suffered. And it might be easy to show, that earthquakes had happened in every month of the year, and that therefore the meterological state of the atmosphere during the past season, does not seem to assist much in a solution of their causes. Whether the Aurora Boreales, or northern lights may, or may not be justly ascribed to electricity is not we believe certainly known. In many of the northern latitudes these constantly appear in the winter season, and are not only singularly beautiful, but by their effulgence afford travellers a pleasing light during the night. In "the Shetland Islands they are called the merry dancers, and afford great relief amidst the gloom of long winter night," and indeed a wise providence seems to have intended them to answer some such benevolent purpose. They assume various appearances, and various colors, and astonish spectators by their rapid changes and brilliant exhibitions. But it does not appear that they are greatly affected by the temperature of the atmosphere, which they ought to be if as suggested these appearance depend upon the transmission of the electric fluid through the poles of the earth, which fluid is occasionally obstructed, by excess of cold. But we should exceed our intended limits, and trespass on the patience of our readers, to continue the subject further at this time--we suggest these few, from among the numerous reasons which might be offered, why in the case of earthquakes, as in many other cases, we pass lightly over second causes, and seek their true origin where only it can be found, in the will of HIM, who of old laid the foundations of the earth, and whose handy work the firmament displays. He layeth "the beams of the chambers in the waters-He maketh the clouds his chariot., and walketh upon the wing of the wind-He looketh on the earth and it trembleth; he toucheth the hills and they smoke." One important advantage of directing our views to the final cause, the true origin of events, particularly of those which are of a calamitous nature is, that it almost necessarily leads to an inquiry into the purposes they were designed to answer, and to an observance of the moral state of things which have occasioned them, and this often produces such a reformation, as to prevent the more distressing evils which might otherways have followed. By turning from "the evil of their ways," the men of Niniveh saved themselves and their city, when threatened with destruction. The salutary voice of warning is not heard in vain, by the reflecting and the wise.

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