“To the editors of the Augusta Herald....”

Date

4-2-1812

Newspaper

Augusta Herald

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

Augusta, Georgia

Serial Number

765

Abstract

Long article on earthquake theory that defends the origins of earthquakes based on electricity.

Transcript

To the Editors of the Augusta Herald. I SHOULD be wanting in that defference which I feel for the opinions of the editors of the Augusta Herald, though they happen to be in opposition to my own, respecting the theory of Earthquakes, as expressed in observations on the physical causes of Earthquakeswhich appeared in your paper of the 27th ult: If I did not give them a most attentive consideration and reply I avail myself also of the opportunity it affords me without appearing obtrusive of offering some additional illustrations in support of the theory of Earthquakes on the principles of electricity. From a general view of your observations, after passing over your introductory remarks, it would appear by the contest that we were at battle in our opinions as to the immediate superintendence of providence, in the physical and moral government of the world. Your words in one of the passages I allude to are-"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 Previous means to accomplish his designs." Really Messrs. Editors. I have cause to complain that you will not suffer me to be of your own opinions, although I had preceded you in the above sentiments in my publication of the 27th ult: I offer the following extract from it as in print. "Whether by his immediate will, or by secondary causes-by laws impressed on nature at the creation, the Earth trembleth, and the Mountains rock it matters me-in either case it emanates from the will and power of God." This accords substantially with your own idea and I conceive the sentiment to be so orthodox that every good man must accede to it. Again by a natural implication, it would seem by your concluding paragraph, that I have overlooked final causes-it will appear however by a reference to the publication in question that we are perfectly agreed that the first cause of earthquakes is "the reformation of the wicked." In matters of minor consideration, our sentiments? do not so exactly coincide. In the economy of the world it appears to me that God, generally and except in very extraordinary instances acts by secondary causes. A general and particular providence in my view of them are distinctions without a difference. God by his prscience here knows all possible events. With him nothing is contingent or fortuitous. By the concatenation of causes from the FIRST CAUSE no possible conjunction can arise, but is a link in the regular series or succession of cause and effect. There is no impiety, I conceive, in supposing as some have done, that the deluge was occasioned by the near approach of a Comet to the Earth. God (unreadable) to what an extremity the wickedness of the human race would arrive at that conjecture. The period and approximation of the Comet to the earth as appointed at the creation to coincide with that particular time. As man, perhaps, the moment of his breath,(unreadable) the lurking principle of death." . You, yourselves, I own do not deny secondary causes, but you-pass lightly over primary causes and seek their true origin where only (unreadable)are to be found in the will of him, who of (unreadable) laid the foundation of the earth, &c." I hold the same sentiment--(unreadable) I do not pass lightly over secondary causes for the following considerations. God, who does nothing in vain, has emplaned in us a disposition to investigate the phenomena of nature and has attached pleasure, and often benefit to our researches into natural science. I will adduce one instance. It relates to thunder and lighting. Taking into view its more frequent occurrence, and lightning is not less awful, and destructive, than Earthquakes themselves-yet can we find security from its fearful effects in the lightning rod. Had our countryman Franklin, by a moonstick superstition, or a mistaken reverential awe, been deferred from investigating this tremendous phenomenon, we had been still exposed, in all instances to its destructive influence. I differ therefore with you, as to the utility of investigating into the physical causes of Earthquake-for in my opinion it would be presumptuous to say, that the cause will for ever lay concealed from human perspicity-or the possibility of its leading to some discovery from which security may be obtained from its overwhelming ruin. Would not any person been ridiculed precedent to Franklin's discovery who would assert that lightning might be controlled by human ingenuity. Who then can say that the same fluid acting in the earth may not be restrained by some happy discovery, as effectually, as when its influence is confined to the atmosphere? But are their interdicted objects; in nature of natural phenomena to stupendous for the approach of philosophical investigation-or "When Earthquakes swallow-or when tempests sweep, Towns to one grave-whole nations to the deep," Ought the overwhelming catastrophe so to paralize our faculties as to preclude enquiry? I trust not-however it may inspire us with a proper sense of our dependence on the great disposer of events in whose eyes there is no distinction between great and small. "Wheras with equal eyes on God of all, A Hero perish or a Sparrow fall, Atoms or systems into ruin hurl'd And now a bubble burst-and now a world." To him no high no low, no great, no small. He fills he bounds, connects and equals all!" It follows, therefore, that as he regards no distinction.-So, neither can it be contrary to the will of God the universal criterion of right, that man should investigate, with equal freedom, the physical causes that involve the destruction of a world-or the chymical properties of matter I now proceed to answer your objections to the theory I have advanced in the order in which they are stated. If light and the electric fluid be radically the same, you ask, "why do they not both undergo the same change by their contact with, and absorption into the earth" The electric fluid, itself undergoes no change, but occasionally in degree, as positive and negative. By this circumstance. Light experiences a change, or modification, which though the fact is pretty evident-the manner, or means lies beyond, the perspicuity of human wisdom. It retains, however most of its radical properties-and when it occasionally receives a new motion, similar to what it had in its effluence from the sun, it appears in its natural form of light and heat. It retains in its new state, its original velocity Doctor Watson found by an actual experiment, that it traveled five miles along a conductor in less time than the senses could distinguish. The solar rays are devoid of heat except when converging in or diverging from a center. The same claims in regard to the electric fluid Neither of them communicate the smallest heat, but when passing through a resisting medium. Such transformations as light undergoes by its absorption into the earth, are perhaps not very uncommon, and is analogous to the change effected on heat by an alteration in the direction of its motion. In its affluent state, that is when tending to a centre? the heat is said to be latent & will not affect our senses, or the thermometer. When affluent the heat at becomes sensible-nay cold, itself is believed to be a modification of the matter of heat. The electric fluid undergoes a change by its contact with iron and ferringinous bodies-and is thereby, converted into the magnitude principle; for there is no doubt that electricty is the cause of magnetism. Here, again it claims after its transmutation, most of the original properties of electricity. Remainder in our next.

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