and especially in Scotland. 297 



In describing the shock of 18th February 1786 (noticed 

 in the register as having been felt in this country as well as 

 abroad), Bertrand states,* that at St Quentin in France, and at 

 Berne in Switzerland, at both of which places the shocks seem 

 to have been distinct, if not severe, the barometer was parti- 

 cularly low. 



It may here be added, as a circumstance probably connected 

 with the depression of the barometer about the time of earth- 

 quake-shocks, that the atmosphere seems then to be in that pe- 

 culiar state which is almost always characterized by a depres- 

 sion. For example, Bertrand, in describing the phenomena in 

 France of the earthquake just alluded to, says, " Ce tremble- 

 ment, presque par-tout, a ete suivie, quelques heures apres, d*un 

 aifreux orage, qui a cause beaucoup de dommages. C'etait un 

 vent du Sud-sud-ouest. C'est a 8 heures du soir, qu'il souffloit 

 avec le plus de violence. On apper9ut encore alors, en divers 

 lieux, quelques secousses." It was then, as may be perceived 

 from the note below, that the barometer was lowest. 



In the account given in the Philosophical Transactions for 

 1757, of the earthquake which occurred on the 15th July of 

 that year, it is stated, that, on the preceding day, at 11 a. m., 

 there was along the SW. coast of England, where chiefly the 

 shock was felt, *' a most violent hurricane, which lasted five 

 or six minutes." 



Whilst the specific instances that have been adduced, afford 

 evidence that the barometer is below its usual average when 

 earthquake-shocks are occurring, there is a general remark 

 which tends in no inconsiderable degree to confirm that con • 

 elusion. It is well known that the average height of the ba- 

 rometer is always lowest during that part of the year (viz. 

 during the six winter months) when, as already shewn, earth- 

 quake-shocks are most frequent. Not only is the barometer 

 then lowest, but it is also subject to greater vacillation than 



* Histoirc Naturelle, p. 303. His words are, in regard to St Quentin — 

 " Le vent ctait Quest, peu violent, — le baromctre fort bas :" — In regard to 

 Beme, *' Le barometre ctait excessivement bas, et le thermoni^lre extraor- 

 dinairement liaut. Celui la etait \ 8 heures du soir a 25 pouces, b\ lignes, 

 seulemcnt domi-ligne au dessus du terme le plus bas. Le 19 a G heures du 

 matin, le thermometro avoit descendu do I04 degre's." 



