“From the Western (Kentucky) Citizen”

Date

4-17-1812

Newspaper

Edenton Gazette

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 4

Newspaper Location

Edenton, North Carolina

Serial Number

879

Abstract

Account from the Western Citizen about earthquake theory. Quotes Websters dictionary and the bible.

Transcript

From the Western (Kentucky) CITIZEN. MR. THEOPHILUS-I have read your letter on Earthquakes. I am in doubt, whether you, or even Dr. Franklin, could ascertain by any experiment made on any electrical machine, or in any other way, the natural causes of Earthquakes. I think after all that has been said by the most eminent philosophers on the secondary causes of Earthquakes, it might be better to attribute them to the power of GOD, who declares, he will not only shake the earth, but also the heavens. Habukkuk says of GOD, "HE stood and measured the earth, he behold and drove asunder the nations, and the everlasting mountains were scattered, and the perpetual hills did bow." Noah Webster the author of the spelling book in common use, has labored to assign causes of the pestilence. He has endeavored by historical facts to prove, that pestilence produced by Comets and Earthquakes. [unreadable] appears to me, somewhat like a learned lecture of the present day, viz. that the [unreadable] having drawn the electricity out of the [unreadable], the electricity in the earth [unreadable] forth to restore the equilibrium in them [unreadable] has produced the Earthquakes. This [unreadable] conjecture reminds me of another, [unreadable]. That the Comet having attracted the electricity from the atmosphere to itself, may [unreadable] it to the Sun, and perhaps all Comets made to collect electricity, and convey it [unreadable] unknown path, to the Sun, to keep [unreadable] from being exhausted, by the [unreadable] flood of rays, it is always pouring [unreadable] the planets or worlds by which it is [unreadable]. But if Mr. Webster had attended [unreadable] the Bible, which he professes to believe, [unreadable] might have seen that the pestilence, which [unreadable] a few hours destroyed 70,000 of the [unreadable], is said to have been effectuated, by an [unreadable], and when the angel stretched out his [unreadable] over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD [unreadable] him of the evil, and said to the [unreadable] that destroyed the people, it is enough [unreadable] now thy hand. It was also an angel that smote the Asyrian [unreadable] with pestilence and killed 185,000 men. [unreadable] the destroying of the first born of [unreadable], which is called in the 78th Psalm, [unreadable], is ascribed to GOD himself. For I [unreadable] pass through the land of Egypt, this [unreadable], and will [unreadable] all the first born in the [unreadable] of Egypt, both man and beast, and [unreadable] all the gods of Egypt will I execute [unreadable]; I am the Lord. Hence, let us [unreadable] to cease from "vain man that would [unreadable] one." I am well pleased with the latter [unreadable] of your letter; and especially with your [unreadable]. I know when the heart of the [unreadable] is fixed, trusting in GOD, he is not [unreadable] of evil [unreadable]; but can say:-- [unreadable] dire earthquakes [unreadable] to pole. [unreadable] Globe, and guilty nations [unreadable] sink in death and mild destruction! [unreadable text] my treasures, and possessions all [unreadable text] dear relatives, and faithful Friends expire in sad dismay, and bitterest [unreadable] yet will [unreadable] rejoice in God who made all worlds, and has a [unreadable] Right to [unreadable] them, as his holy, wise, and [unreadable] Will directs. [unreadable] comforts and My friends, to whom my heart is knit in [unreadable] Of [unreadable] love, were given by him; An should he take them all, "he'd take but what He gave." And he has given his word which [unreadable text] the foundations of [unreadable] that all the [unreadable] And [unreadable] of those who love his name [unreadable] in their [unreadable], and in his glory, and For when, at last, he'll burn the world and [unreadable] The mighty reins, wherein the wicked; his great [unreadable] Will be to [unreadble] that worst of [unreadable] [unreadable] and by the [unreadable] [unreadable] effect a UNIVERSAL GOOD." Yours with esteem PHILOBIBLOS

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