Subterraneous Fires.

to time. The two best known mountains, which produce these are, Etna, in Sicily, and Vesuvius, in the kingdom of Naples. The accounts which are given of these two Volcanoes, are terrible. Sometimes a black vapour only is seen to issue out: at other times, a hollow bellowing is heard: these are immediately followed with thunder and lightning, accompanied with an earthquake. Then, the vapour brightens, and becomes luminous; stones are ejected with a great noise, and fall back again into the gulf, whence they were vomited. Sometimes these eruptions are so violent, that great pieces of rocks are darted up into the air, and turn there with the rapidity of a football; and the force by which they are ejected is so great, that in the last century, pieces of rocks, 300 pounds weight, were thrown up into the air, and fell at the distance of three miles!

However, even these eruptions are not the most dangerous; for at certain times, the vitrified entrails of the earth boil up, and rise, so that their formidable scum is poured out, and runs for miles over the adjacent fields, and overwhelms every thing that it meets with in his passage. This torrent of fire endures for some days; and one wave rolls after another, till they have reached the sea; and even here its violence is such, that it continues to run on for some time, without being quenched in the waters of the ocean! Who can think without terror, on the devastations occasioned by such eruptions! Towns and villages, with their fertile plantations, are entirely swallowed up: the crops are consumed; and the fields, olives, and

Subterraneous Fires.

vines entirely destroyed. In one eruption of Etna, we are informed, that the torrent of burning lava buried fourteen towns or cities, and that the rumbling of the mountain was heard at twenty miles distance.

But, of what use are these Volcanoes, which scatter so much terror and devastation over the earth? Why has the Lord created them? Whence does it come, that instead of bridling their fury, he permits them thus to destroy his creatures?—But, what am I, who dares to ask such questions? Have I a right to call Supreme Wisdom to an account for the arrangements it has made? The existence of these Volcanoes, however, cannot have been the work of chance; and I ought to conclude from this, that the Creator has had the wisest reasons for willing the existence of such upon the earth. Further, even here, I again find that beneficent hand, which provides for the welfare of this world.

Whatever ravages the eruptions of these mountains cause, they are nothing in comparison of the advantages which they procure to the earth in general. The inward parts of the earth being filled with fire, Volcanoes are indispensably necessary: they are the airvents, by means of which the action of this formidable element is interrupted and weakened. And although the countries where these subterraneous fires are found in greatest numbers, be subject to earthquakes, they would suffer more violent ones, if these mountains did not exist. Italy would not be the most fertile of countries, if the fire, which has its storehouse in the bowels of the earth, did not from time to time, issue

Comets.

out at these Volcanoes. And, after all, who knows but various other advantages, hidden from our eyes, may result from these frightful phenomena, the influence of which may extend over the whole globe. At least, this suffices to convince me, that they concur to accomplish the wise and beneficent designs of our Divine Author. And, if there be found here, matters which are obscure and inscrutable, let us put our hand upon our mouth, and say, Lord, thy judgments are just and true; and thy ways impossible to be found out. O God of Majesty, who dost such terrible things upon the earth, who would not fear THEE!

JANUARY XXV.

OF COMETS.

THAT extraordinary Star, which borrows its name from the vapour by which it is surrounded, is, certainly, one of the heavenly bodies which appertain to our system. It has its revolution round the Sun, as well as our planets: but it differs from all the rest, by its peculiar motion, its orbit, and its figure. Seen through a telescope, it appears full of spots and inequalities; but often the thick vapour, which surrounds it, prevents it from being distinctly perceived. The magnitude of Comets is subject to many variations. Some scarcely equal Stars of the third or fourth magnitude; while others surpass those of the first. In the centre of this appearance, we discover

Comets.

a very thick nucleus, which sometimes divides, and then resembles the edge of the disk. Its figure is not always perfectly round; nor has its light always the same degree of brightness and strength. Its tail is always in an opposite direction to the Sun, and is so thin and transparent, that we can see the fixed Stars through it. This tail sometimes extends from the horizon to the zenith; and gives to the whole of this body an awful aspect. The further the tail extends from the Comet, the broader it grows. Sometimes it divides its tail into different reflections and rays.

of

What we have said, is a part of the result of those exact observations made by Astronomers. But, doubtless, it is the least important part of what we should know, in order to acquire a perfect understanding of all things relative to these celestial bodies, many which are out of the reach of our sight. Is a Comet an aqueous planet, or a burning globe? This cannot be certainly determined; nor can a satisfactory answer be given to the following questions:-Can such a globe be inhabited, which sometimes, in the vicinity of the Sun, experiences so much heat; and at other times, passing far beyond the orbits of the other planets, is immersed in the thickest darkness, where, probably, even the rays of the Sun have no influence? Has the Judge of the earth destined such for the chastisement of his creatures? Are their gross surface (exposed, at different times, to violent degrees of heat and cold), the abode of disobedient beings, whom God has consigned to punishment? Shall these erratic bodies become one day the cause of turning the planets

Comets.

from their orbits, and thus effecting their destruction? Or, are they still deserts without form, and void, as the earth was, before the Creator rendered it habitable and fruitful? And, shall not these Comets accomplish their destination, till the earth be no more? As it is utterly impossible for us to solve these questions, we should be convinced, that human knowledge is very limited.

Men often lose sight of this truth. Were it present to their hearts, the appearance of a Comet would not beget in their minds, such a multitude of vain conjectures, which so ill accord with our limited understanding. Many consider a Comet, as the forerunner of heaven's judgments. Some read it in the destiny of nations, and the fall of empires. To others, it is a presage of wars, plagues, inundations; in a word, of the most formidable scourges. These superstitious persons do not consider, that a Comet is a natural body, the return of which can be calculated with certainty, and which, consequently, cannot disturb the order of things. They do not consider, that this body, as well as the other planets, must have a more important destination than that which superstition gives it. What! would the Supreme Wisdom have placed such prodigious bodies in the heavens, merely to announce to a few creatures, the fate which awaits them?

May the Comet, after having travelled over the immense distance, which hides it from our sight, be to me, on its return, not a messenger of misery, but a herald of the Majesty of the Most High! I wish to adore that Supreme Being, who has prescribed to it