204 H. G. FOEDHAM — THE EAETHQTJAKB 



paper of tlie earthquake having been felt in the East of England, 

 so it may be interesting to mention that three people in dilferent 

 rooms in this house distinctly felt it. Two were awakened by the 

 shock, and the third, already awake, with a candle lighted, saw 

 that it was half-past five a.m. They spoke of it when they came 

 down, and it was suggested that it might have been caused by 

 a passing traction-engine, but the motion was described as quite 

 of a different kind — not a quick -v-ibration, but rocking. — I am, 

 Sir, your obedient servant, Florence [Lady AlwyneJ Compton, The 

 Palace, Ely, 18th Dec. — Cambridge Independent Prens, 24 Dec, 1896. 



SUMMAEY AND CONCLUSIONS. 



It will be seen from the foregoing notes and communications that 

 the earthquake was more or less definitely felt over the whole area 

 of the County, seventy-three observations distributed over forty- 

 seven distinct localities having been recorded, leaving no part of 

 the County of any considerable extent untouched. 



The shock was more marked on the western than on the eastern 

 side of the County, and I cannot learn that it extended into Essex. 



There seems to be no clear difference in its recorded effects as 

 between localities at various altitudes above the sea, or between 

 those situated on different rock-formations, or on superficial clays 

 and gravels as compared with those on the bare chalk. Had the 

 movement been more pronounced and striking in its effects, no 

 doubt classification would have been possible on such lines. 



Nor is there any special deduction of scientific interest to be 

 obtained from the experiences of observers relative to the character 

 or duration of the earth-movement. My information comes almost 

 entirely fi-om persons who were in bed at the time of the earth- 

 quake, and their sensations are generally expressed in much the 

 same terms ; a lifting or rolling movement of the bed is almost 

 universally spoken of. Opinions vary as to the direction to be 

 ascribed to the movement, and the ideas of persons suddenly awoke 

 from sound sleep, as occurs in many cases, would necessarily be 

 vague. The position and structural arrangements of the building 

 in which an observer is placed, seem to affect the local movement, 

 and may, in some cases, seriously deflect a horizontal tremor. At 

 best a human being is a very unsatisfactory instrument for recording 

 with any exactness the eff'ects of terrestrial vibrations. 



As to inanimate objects, we have a few scattered details. They 

 relate to the movement of pictures suspended on the walls of houses 

 (St. Albans) ; to the stopping of a clock and the falling of a vase 

 (Pirton) ; to the ringing of a bell (Watford) ; the swinging of the 

 handles of furniture (Watford), and of the flaps of a table 

 (Bengeo) ; the opening of doors (Little Gaddesden, Watford, and 

 Aldenham) ; the throwing down of bottles piled up in a cellar 

 (Hatfield) ; the swaying of bed-hangings (Hitchin and Westmill) ; 

 and the falling of ornaments from a mantelpiece (Ardeley). The 

 rattling of windows and of crockery and other light articles of 

 furniture was pretty-generally noticed. 



