EBSEAKCH COMMITTEES. 



521 



Earthquakes from 1856 to 1863, recorded by Mr. Triphook 

 — continued. 



The following information respecting the earthquakes of 

 1848 and 1855 is reprinted from documents that are now very 

 rare, copies having been lent to me by the Hon. W. B. D. 

 Mantell, F.G.S. :— 



Eartliqitakc of 1848. 



The 1848 earthquake has been very fully recorded by Sir 

 William Fitzherbert and the late Mr. Justice Chapman. It 

 commenced at 1.40 a.m. on the 16th October, as a violent rock- 

 ing motion. For three-quarters of a minute it was difficult to 

 stand, but the vibration gradually lessened, the whole lasting 

 about ten minutes, and during the night a tremulous motion 

 was more or less continued. The direction of the shock was 

 from north-east to south-west. On Tuesday, the 17th, at 

 3 p.m., another shock of still greater force occurred, accom- 

 panied by a loud roaring sound through the earth from the 

 north-east. The tremulous motion was now almost continu- 

 ous ; and on Thursday, the 19th, at 5 a.m., there was a still 

 stronger shock than either of the two preceding. The extreme 

 force was experienced for less than half a minute, but the 

 vibration lasted eight minutes. Slight shocks continued in 

 quick succession, sometimes as many as fifteen in an hour, 

 each lasting only two or three seconds, until the following 

 Sunday, 22nd October ; and up to the 18th November five or 

 six daily shocks were felt. Their direction gradually changed 

 more as if they were coming from the eastward. 



In the previous years Judge Chapman recorded fourteen 

 earthquakes in 1846, fourteen in 1847, and thirteen in 1848 

 prior to the date of the great earthquake, which is a larger 

 number than has been recorded in any subsequent year, not- 

 withstanding greater facilities for observations and recording. 



