180 Meteorological Tables. 



Earthquake in the West Indies. 



Ct^y of a Letter from R. J. Fayers, R.N., to his Excellency the Governor 

 of Bermuda^ concerning the Earthquake in the West Indies. 



Royal Mail Steam-Siiip, Forttt, 

 litk Feb. 1843.— Off Bermuda. 



Sir, — I think it expedient you should be in possession of circumstances 

 that have recently occurred, and the intelligence conveyed to you as 

 correctly as possible. 



An earthquake (I fear of great extent) has occurred. On the 8th of 

 February, at half-past 10 a. m., I was sitting at table with Mr Conirie, of 

 the Colonial Bank at St Thomas, his private house being on a declivity 

 half way up the highest part of the town. Wo were suddenly surprised 

 by a confused sound, very much resembling the action of a strong 

 draught of one of the large steamers' flues, with the door shut, attended 

 by a hissing sound. Our first impulse was to fly to the balcony ; every 

 thing was on the move — windows rattling, and plaster falling off*. 



The streets immediately under presented an extraordinary scene, peo- 

 ple rushing out of their houses, and crying in all directions, many faint- 

 ing. The shock came not perpendicular, but horizontal, then a perfect 

 calm. All business was suspended, and churches were opened for vror- 

 ship. The ships at anchor in the harbour felt the shock very plainly, 

 and those who were below, at the time came on deck to ascertain the 

 cause of the disturbance. 



A French brig coming to St Thomas's, felt the shock so severely, 

 whilst off* Tortola, that he thought the vessel had struck on a rock. The 

 Spanish man-of-war corvett Cubana, came in from the westward, and 

 though close in to the west end of St Thomas', did not feel any shock. 

 A vessel arrived from St Kitts, the Conrt-House and Custom-House had 

 fallen, but no mention of any loss of life. On the following day, at 8 a. m., 

 the royal mail steamer '^ Thames" arrived; the news brought by her 

 was, that, to the great dismay of all on board, the Thames was brought 

 up as if on a reef of rocks. The captain, Philip Haste, had his attention 

 called, by a passenger exclaiming. Heavens, look at the land ! All was 

 enveloped in a cloud of dust. The shock had passed Montserrat, which 

 continued, as the Thames passed, enveloped in a cloud of dust. God 

 only knows the fate of the islands to the eastward. I have the honour 

 to be, your Excellency's obedient Fervant. 



