# A Natural and Historical Account of the Islands of Scilly/Of Islands in general

SOME Naturalists are of Opinion, that Islands were formed by the Deluge; others think they have been rent and separated from the Continent, at other Times, by violent Storms, Inundations, or Earthquakes. The last of these observe, that the East and West-Indies abounding in Islands more than other Parts of the known World, are more annoy'd with Earthquakes, Tempests, Lightnings, Vulcano's, &c.
It is certain that some Islands have emerg'd from the Bottom of the Sea, as Santorini formerly, and three other Isles near it lately; the last in 1707, after an ​Earthquake, that loosened it from its Hold. Nor is it less certain, that some new Islands are formed by the casting up of vast Heaps of Clay, Mud, Sand, &c. As that of Tsongming was formed in the Province of Nanquin in China.
Varenius thinks most of those Opiniona true in some Instances of Islands having been each Way produced. Ascension, St. Helena, and other steep rocky Islands he supposes produced by the Sea over-flowing their neighbouring Champaigns. By the heaping up large Quantities of Sand and other terrestrial Matter, he thinks the Islands of Zealand, Japan, &c. were formed. Sumatra and Ceylon, and most of the East-Indian Islands, he rather thinks were rent off from the main Land-by Inundation or Irruption of Waters; and concludes, that the Islands of the Archipelago were formed after the same Manner: Imagining that Deucalion's Flood contributed thereto.
​The Antients had a Notion that Delos: and some other Islands rose from the Bottom of the Sea, which, how fabulous so ever it may appear, agrees with later Observations. Seneca takes Notice, that the Island Therasia rose thus out of the Ægean Sea in his Time, of which the Mariners. were Eye-Witnesses. They had also an Opinion that there are some Islands, which swim in the Sea. Thales, indeed, thought the whole Earth, which we inhabit, floated, thus in the Ocean; tho' his Opinion is easily refuted by the Channel of the Sea being found continuous to the Shore. Floating Islands are however no Ways improbable, especially if the Earth whereof they consist be light and sulphureous. Seneca says that near the Cutiliæ he saw such an Island, and mentions several others of the same Kind; and it was a. common Opinion among the Antients, that the Cyclades had been all floating Islands.
It appears from Phil. Transact. No. 361. p. 1014. that Sunk-Island, in the River Humber, recovered from the Sea. And several old: People remembered it a ​a Waste of barren Sand, at low Water, when, for the Space of four Hours only, it shew'd its Head, and then was buried till the Retreat of the next Tide.
It appeared and disappeared till the Year 1666, when it began to retain its Ground against the Encroachment of the Sea; and about which Time it was entirely recovered by the Art of Colonel Gilby, who raised high Banks about the rising Grounds, and cut deep Channels for receiving and discharging the Water; whereby it became a firm and solid Mass, and afforded good Pasture for Sheep and Cattle. This Isle is about nine Miles in Circumference, within the Banks, which seem to render it impregnable against all future Attacks of the Sea, and being of a very fat and fertile Soil, afford good Corn, and Hay; and is stock'd with numerous Flocks of Sheep of larger Size, covered with finer Wool than those in Holderness, from which Place this Isle is divided by about two Miles Breadth of Water; and from Lincolnshire by about four. It is stored with a vast Number of Rabbits; ​whose Furs are reckoned the finest in England, being of a dark Mouse-Colour, shagg'd and soft as Silk. Cows and Horses constantly seed there; it has great Plenty of Wild-Fowl; and is inhabited by about three Families.
The yearly Income to the Proprietor (Mr. Gilby) amounts to about 800l. From the Marches of Offringham there is a Passage over the Sands to the Sunk at low Water. This Island lies to the Southward of Holderness, in the River Humber, and to the Northward of Lincolnshire, distant as aforesaid.
Another Instance of the Alteration of Land is the Goodwin-Sands in Kent, being once cultivated and inhabited: For in the Reign of King William II. we read of 400 Acres drowned by the Sea.
The last Instance of the Production of Islands, which I shall observe, is an Account given by Mr. Forster of an Island raised out of the Sea, near Tercera, (vid. Phil. Trans. No. 372, p. 100)
​December 10, 1720, John Robinson, Master of a small Pink-Snow from Piscata, in New-England, arrived at Tercera, when (at about 17 Leagues Distance bearing S.E.) he observed a Fire break out of the Sea. December 18, he got under Sail at Two o'Clock in the Morning, and stood for Angras, S.E. The next Day, at Two in the Afternoon, he made an Island of Fire and Smoak, still continuing his Course, till the Ashes fell all Night on the Deck like Hail or Snow. He then bore from it, the Fire and Smoak roaring like Thunder, or great Guns. At Break of Day he stood towards it again. At Twelve o'clock he had a good Observation two Leagues Southward from it. He sailed round it so near that the Fire and Matter it threw out had like to have done him Damage. In Consternation they all then betook themselves to Prayers, being in Danger of driving a-shore upon it; when a small Gale sprung up at S.E. and carried them clear, to their great Joy. The Breeze was accompanied with a small Shower of Rain, which caused a great ​Dust to fall on the Deck. With the said Breeze he stood away for Tercera; and the Governor thereof informed him, that the Fire broke out Nov. 20, 1720, in the Night, and that, with prodigious Noise, it caused an Earthquake, which shattered several Houses in the Town of Angra, and Places adjacent. Prodigious Quantities of Pumice Stones and half-broiled Fish, were found floating on the Sea for several Leagues round the Island, and Abundance of Sea Fowl hovering about it.
Mr. Forster aforesaid was informed by an Acquaintance of his, that in a Passage from Cadiz to London, the latter End of April, 1721, he observed the Sea from Cape-Finister almost to the Chops of the Channel, covered with Pumice Stones; some of which, being taken up by him, were presented to Mr. Forster, as a Curiosity.
The Islands of Scilly, by Tradition, being once joined to the County of Cornwall, and their Separation from that Land being now no more than the Distance of 30 Miles, having still a Connection in their ​Culture, Plants, Produce, Tinnery, Fishery, &c. as likewise in the Diocese, and other particular Jurisdiction, the following Description or View of Cornwall is added for the Satisfaction of the Curious: Being the perfectest Account extant of that County.