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I. On the Historical Evidence of Volcanic Eruptions in Central France in the Fifth Century
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2009
Extract
Between Bishop Colenso and the volcanoes of Central France, and between these and ‘Rogation Days,’ there would at first sight seem to be but little connection. Nevertheless, a statement made by the Bishop was the cause of some curious information, which had previously been known to but few, being generally circulated; and as it then appeared only in one or two newspapers, and at different times, it may be useful to give a résumé of the controversy in a more permanent form. The Bishop, referring to Lyell (‘Elementary Geology,’ pp. 197, 198), adduced the exitstence of cones of loose scoriæ and pumice in Auvergne and Languedoc as an argument against the Noachian Deluge; because these, which ‘must have been formed ages before’ that happended, did not show the slighttest sign of having ever been disturbed. In the course of the endless controversy which has arisen from the Bishop's works, a Mr. E. L. Garbett addressed a rather angry letter to the ‘Guardian’ newspaper (Aug.24, 1864), taxing the Bishop with wilfully shutting his eyes to the fact that there had been eruptions in these districts in the fifth century, which had given rise to the ecclesiastical fasts commonly called ‘Rogation Days.’ The Bishop replied in a letter, which was refused by the ' Guardian' on account of its length, and was afterwards published in the ‘Daily News.’ However, in the ‘Guardian’ of Sept. 14, a summary of it is given, in which the following statements are made: (1) that volcanic cones do exist as above described; (2) that, according to Hoffman's ‘Lexicon,’ Rogations were instituted owing to earthquakes and to the irruption of wild beasts into Vienne; (3) that there are no volcanoes near Vienne; (4) that the authors who are supposed to describe volcanic eruptions, only speak of earthquakes and ordinary fires, or perhaps of lightning.
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References
page 242 note * ‘Solo tamen invectarum te auctore Eogationum palpamur auxilio, quibus inchoandis instituendisque populus Arvernus, etsi non effectu pari, affeetu certe non impari ccepit initiari, et ob hoc circumfusis necdum dat terga terroribus. Non enini latet nostrum sciseitationem, primis temporibus harumsee supplicationum institutarum, ciyitas cælitus tibi credita, per hujuscemodi prodigiorum terrieulamenta, vacuabatnr. Xam modo scense mcenium publicorum crebris terrse motibus concutiebantur: nune ignes ssepe flammati caducas culminum cristas superjecto favillarum monte tumulabant: nunc stupenda foro cubilia collocabat audaeium pavenda mansuetudo cervorum: cum tu inter ista decessu primorum populariumque statu urbis exinanito, ad nova eeler veteruni Ninivitarum exompla deeurristi, ne divine admonitioni tua quoque desperatio conyitiaretur.’—Sidon. Apoll., Epist. lib. vii. ep. 1.
page 243 note * ‘Et quidem terrorum temporis illius causas, multos nostrum adhuc recolere seio: siquidem ineendia crebra, terrae motus assidui, noeturni sonitus, cuidam totius urbis funeri prodigiosum quiddam minitabantur. … Quis enim in crebris ignibus, ignes Sodonuticos non timeret? Quis trementibus elementis ant decidua culminum, aut disrupta terrarnm imminere non erederet? Quis videns (certe videre se putans) pavidos naturaliter cervos per angusta portarura, usque ad fori lata penetrantes, non imminentem solicitudinis sententiam formidaret?“—Aleim. Avit. De Festo Eogat. Homel. (Monumcnta S. Patrum Orthodox., tom. i. p. 1777. Bale, 1569.)