“We insert with pleasure...”

Date

4-2-1812

Newspaper

Augusta Herald

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

Augusta, Georgia

Serial Number

767

Abstract

Long article on earthquake theory in which the newspaper defends ifs opposition to the electric fluid theory of earthquake origins.

Transcript

WE insert with pleasure the additional remarks of our correspondent on the physical causes of Earthquakes as well because we are pleased with the speculations of scientific minds on such subjects as because in this case the writer and ourselves are perfectly agreed, on the one great point, to which we before wished to direct the attention of our readers. It was not with a design of engaging in any discussion, that we subjoined our remarks to our correspondents former communication but merely from a desire to direct attention in a considerable degree, from the secondary to the great first cause of an event calculated much less to excite curiosity than seriously to affect the heart. We understand our correspondent to intimate that the meterological state of the atmosphere for some months past explained pretty satisfactorily the physical causes of the Earthquakes to have recently experienced; we therefore took the liberty to question the correctness of this idea by stating that they commenced, before the excess of heat and cold which was supposed instrumental in producing them. And to our former remarks we will not add that ever since the first settlement of this country "summer and winter, seed time and harvest" have succeeded each other-and in that period all the meterological varieties which occurred within the last 12 or 18 months have no doubt been often experienced and during this time the electric principle has been in constant operation-yet in all that period we have no account of such a succession of Earthquakes, as the present season has produced; that we conceive to be among the conclusive evidences, that the theory of electricity does not account for, or explain this phenomenon. Our friend however will do us the justice to recollect, that we before expressed a belief that this theory was as plausible as many other, but we still think it incumbered with insurmountable difficulty. The remark of our correspondent about the operation of secondary causes in the economy of the world is unquestionably correct, particularly under the (unreadable) to which he has restricted it, whether Earthquakes may or may not be included, among those extraordinary cases which he considers as exceptions if any exceptions these are, might perhaps constitute the chief difference of opinion between us. And we perfectly agree with him that "there is no impiety in supposing that the deluge was produced by the near approach of a comet to our earth"-the only objection we have to this opinion is that there is no evidence of the fact nor any necessity for its existence. Besides we will add that so little is known of the real nature of Comets, that no person whatever can tell what would be the consequence of the near approach of one to our earth whether it would produce a deluge or a conflagration-or whether it would merely produce a change in the earths orbit.-Nay it cannot be known whether the earth or the comet would be the greatest sufferer in the event of their actuality coming in contact. But asks our ingenious correspondent are there interdicted objects in nature too stupendous for the approach of philosophical investigation? We readily answer no; we only wish in cases evincing any stupendous and extraordinary display of divine power that philosophy would own with a modesty becoming finite capacities, what is the fact that it beholds things which it can neither account for or explain. And on every side we are presented with these things. What philosopher can explain the nature of the union between his own soul and body. Who can tell what those bodies are which are frequently presented to our view as spots on the sun's disk. Who can tell according to the idea of an ingenious writer how it is, that the sun has for ages continued to irradiate and enlighten the numerous globes within the reach of its influence, and yet that this great source of light and heat is in no respect diminished? If these and a thousand other things are inexplicable to philosophy, it is no reflection upon its wisdom, to question its ability to account for Earthquakes.-And our correspondent's remark too about lightning's being controlled by human ingenuity, must be admitted with many, very many grains of allowance. The inference of our friend from the positions of the poet, may be clear enough to those who admit the premises-but he will pardon us for saying, we are far from agreeing with Pope in the idea that the salt of a sparrow, and the perishing of man; the busting of a bubble and the destruction of a world are objects of equal indifference in the divine view. We are not inclined to extend our remarks on this subject now, but when we consider the birds of the air and the beasts of the field have by divine appointment been made subservient to the use of man; and when we consider the immense and stupendous sacrifice made to save a guilty world from destruction, we are far from believing the poetical extract to be as substantial in doctrine, as it is harmonious in sound.

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS