EESEARCH COMMITTEES. 523 



The second grand shock occurred about 3 p.m. on Tuesda}-, 

 the 17th October. The day was beautifully fine, the wmd 

 variable but light. A slight report and shock first occurred, 

 followed instantly by a loud roar and tremhlement dc terre. 

 The noise came from the north^\•ard. The earth in some parts 

 was moved in waves averaging about 12in. in height. Some 

 persons were thrown down (partly, perhaps, from fear), but all 

 found more or less difficulty in walking. The movement may 

 be defined as a horizontal rapid concussion. Several brick 

 buildings and walls were thrown down, and there were three 

 lives lost. The duration of this shock was ninety seconds. 



The third grand shock occurred about 5 a.m. on Thursday, 

 the 19th October. It was accompanied by a loud roaring noise, 

 and was the most violent of the three. It happened in the 

 midst of a terrific storm from the south-east, with the same 

 temporary lull observable at the first. It completed the 

 destruction of the brick buildings. 



Subsequently to the three grand shocks numerous slight 

 tremors occurred : forty were counted in the course of one 

 afternoon, but their character differed altogether from that of 

 the first. In the two last of the three grand shocks the roar- 

 ing was certainly considerable, but it was inconsiderable as 

 compared with the concussion, whilst in the minor shocks the 

 vibration was trilling as compared with the report. Loud 

 reports, precisely resembling the discharge of distant artillery, 

 or the escape of gas, were heard from the northward, succeeded 

 by slight concussions. Sometimes these concussions were 

 vertical, sometimes horizontal ; a motion travelling beneath 

 the feet was palpably perceptible. On all occasions persons 

 walking or riding felt the shocks much less (in some cases, not 

 at all) than those sitting, and these again much less than 

 those lying down. Horses, cows, and poultry evinced great 

 alarm. 



One extraordinarily high tide occurred during the period of 

 the earthquakes ; it was not, however, contemporaneous with 

 any j)articular shock, and may be rationally accounted for 

 otherwise. The south-east wind, which blows directly into the 

 harbour, had prevailed for a long time, and, an unusuallv large 

 quantity of rain having fallen, the harbour overflowed. Tlie 

 rise of tide was about 18in. above its ordinary level. It was 

 observed that the shocks occurred at all times of tide, at all 

 indications of the barometer, in rainy and in fine weatlicr. 



Several rents were observed in the ground, chiefly where 

 the soil was gi^avelly or of a loose character, along the edges of 

 cliffs and terraces ; but none were of any considerable depth or 

 breadth. 



The thickest walls fell the most readily, unless there were 



