A moment’s consideration will convince the most sceptical of the prevailing fallacy relating to this subject. In the first place, we are situated between two great termini of active volcanic ranges, the nearest being Colima, 1,200 miles south, the other on the coast of Alaska, more than 1,300 miles to the north; the distance inclusive between the points being nearly or perhaps quite 2,600 miles, in which NO active volcanic vents abound, unless we make an exception of Mounts Hood and St. Helen in Oregon, of which the testimony is somewhat dubious, and the nearest of which is 700 miles. To the east there are no volcanoes for a distance of 2,500 miles, and to the west for a much greater distance than in either of the other directions. This, certainly, should be sufficient to palliate the fears of the timid, in some degree at least, and to silence in part also the sensational articles which appear from time to time in the press of this and the eastern States, as to California being an oven within the range of active volcanic action, and a volcanic country. In preparing this paper I have endeavored to obtain, as far as possible, the most correct information relating to the history of these phenomena in former years. It is my desire also to correct some of the misrepresentations and statements current relating to the severity of earthquake shocks in this country during the earlier periods of its history. I have at the present time some additional information relating to the great earthquake of 1812, which did not appear in my first paper on this subject, and which must now be placed on record. These facts relate more to the phenomena occurring during that year, rather than to the destruction of the missions, all of which will be found in their proper place below. From careful inquiry of the early settlers and residents I cannot learn that any more than one earthquake has occurred which was in any considerable degree of a serious character, and but one which has caused the destruction of either life or property to any extent. This earthquake occurred in the month of September, 1812, and destroyed the Mission San Juan Capistrano, in Los Angeles County, and the Mission Purissima (Viejo) in the County of Santa Barbara. The following is the history of that event as obtained from the older native inhabitants and foreign residents on the coast at that time.