ON EARTHQUAKES IN GREAT BRITAIN. 193 
It is supposed by many, that when shocks occur in this country they are 
produced by subterranean changes taking place in the volcanic regions of the 
earth. If this opinion were well-founded, shocks should occur in this coun- 
tty and in those regions almost always at the same time. But seldom is there 
such coincidence perceivable ; though of course it may sometimes accidentally 
happen, that shocks should occur in this and in some other part of the earth 
about the same time. As an example of these accidental coincidences, it 
may be observed, that on the 3rd of March 1843, when, as already mentioned, 
a shock was felt at Lochgilphead, there was a slight earthquake at Guadaloupe. 
But, on the other hand, the more serious earthquake of the 8th of February 
1843, which eonvulsed the whole West India Islands, and destroyed several 
towns in Saint Domingo, was not marked in this country by any correspond- 
ing phenomenon, as would undoubtedly have been the case if the shocks in 
this country are produced by the excitement of volcanic action in other re- 
ions. 
5 The reference now made to the West India earthquake of 8th of February 
last, affords an opportunity of submitting to the Association a suggestion for 
extending the field of the Committee’s inquiries. Though, by the terms of 
thei appointment, they are not expressly limited in their inquiries to Great 
Britain, they certainly did not understand that they were to have a wider 
range. But if it be an object worthy the attention of the Association to col- 
leet from all quarters information calculated to throw light on the causes of 
earthquakes, there seems no reason why they should not make it part of the 
business of this Committee to receive and digest notices of foreign earthquakes. 
The one above referred to, which occurred in the beginning of the present 
year in the West Indies, and the effects of which were sensibly felt even in 
the Brazils, as well as in Mexico and in Ohio, affords very instructive details, 
which the Committee would have gladly availed themselves of but for the 
doubt above suggested. 
The Committee have had theit attention drawn to this proposed enlarge- 
ment of their field of inquiry, by two letters received by one of their number 
from two gentlemen, one of whom is now in India, and the other of whom is 
about to settle in Peru. 
The former gentleman, Lieutenant Baird Smith of the Engineers, and 
superintendent of the Doab Canal in Upper India, thus writes from the Hi- 
malayas on the 9th of September last :—“ Having occupied myself for some 
time past in collecting information relative to the occurrence of earthquakes 
throughout British India, I venture to place myself in communication with 
you, and through you to offer to the Committee my most cordial co-operation, 
so long as I may remain in this country. My attention was first specially 
attracted to the subject of earthquake-shocks by the occurrence of that of the 
19th of February last, to which many circumstances combined to give to the 
English in India a peculiarly exciting interest. Its most destructive influence 
was experienced in the valley of Jellalabad, the chief town of which of the 
same name was at the moment occupied by the small but gallant brigade 
under Sir Robert Sale. The details of this earthquake, which were felt from 
Jellalabad to Shalkur in Thibet on the north, and to Saharampore on the 
south, I collected as they became known, and have arranged and published 
in the local journals. The effect more than equalled my anticipation, for a 
large amount of additional information was furnished to me, and I have re- 
ceived assurances of active co-operation. Numerous corrections are neces- 
sary in my paper on the Jellalabad earthquake, and these it is my intention 
to make when I prepare the ‘ Register of Indian Earthquakes for the year 
1842,’ materials for which are rapidly accumulating. 
