302 Mr D. Milne on Earthquake- Shocks in Great Britain, 



face of the waters, as if a torch of burning matter had been pass- 

 ing over them." * Meteors were seen to accompcany the earth- 

 quakes which occurred on 2d February 1776 in Rhode Island, 

 and in November of the same year in South Carolina." f 



It is mentioned in Mier'^s Chile, J that in four hours after 

 the severe earthquake of 19th November 1822, a luminous 

 meteor was seen, in apparent size little less than the moon. 

 It left behind it a long train of light, and afterwards seemed 

 to explode. It is added, that in most of the Chilean earth- 

 quakes such meteors are seen. 



(4.) Frequent and vivid displays of the aurora borealis 

 are noticed as having been remarked in this country, at and 

 about the time of earthquake-shocks. See in particular the 

 notices under date 2d April and 23d August 1750, 24th Feb- 

 ruary 1759, 24th September 1816, and September 1833. 



The various meteorological phenomena just enumerated, as 

 having been frequently and indeed usually observed at or 

 about the time of earthquake-shocks, lead plainly to the infe- 

 rence, that there is, during their occurrence, a great develop- 

 ment of electricity. Indeed, there are several cases, where 

 this is not left to be inferred. Thus, on the 14tli September 

 1777, when a severe shock occurred, it is mentioned that " a 

 lady felt a stroke on the top of her head, as if of electricity." 

 When the earthquake of 18th November 1795 occurred, lu- 

 minous appearances and some remarkable clouds were seen, 

 which convinced the spectators that they were " occasioned by 

 electric light, with which the clouds were highly charged." It is 

 added, that '•' many persons felt something like an electrical 

 shock," — " and several persons in delicate health passed the 

 night (of the earthquake) in a restless uneasy manner, with- 

 out knowing why."" It is related that, on the 6th and 7th Sep- 

 tember 1801, on both of which days shocks occurred, the at- 

 mosphere was apparently much charged with electricity. 



These notices, no doubt, describe only the impressions and 

 sensations of individuals. But reliance in them is increased, on 

 finding tliat, in other countries, electrical instruments have given 



* Account by Mr Tartt, given in Edinburgh Philososphical Journal of 

 1820, vol. ii. p. 300. 

 t Amprican Journal of Science for 1840, p. 336. % Vol. i. p. 388, 



