66 On the Earthquakes of North- America. 



houses, so as to rock the chairs, tables, and chests of 

 drawers, and affrighted some of our women. The 

 others seemed like thunder at a distance, or a hollow 

 rumbling in the ground. If the observations of some 

 people hold good, we may expect another soon* ; for 

 we have now the driest season that, I believe, ever 

 was known. The ground near us has not been wet 

 plough-deep, since the beginning of March. Our 

 spring was extremely dry, windy, and cold ; and 

 since June, the weather has been very hot and dry. 

 Our fields have no more grass in them than in the 

 micist of winter ; and the meadow-ground, that used 

 to bear two good crops, has no more grass than the 

 middle of the street, both root and branch being 

 scorched as with fire ; and the ground is as dry as 

 dust, two feet deep. The very briers are withering, 

 and the fruit upon them appearing scorched, and dry- 

 ing up. Our springs have failed, and the runs dried 

 up. Yet, notwithstanding this extraordinary drought, 

 we have rarely been without rain for five days, since 

 March ; and during the winter we were not so long 

 without snow, though we had but three snows that 

 staid long with us, all the winter : most of the rest 

 would hardly cover the ground. Thus, in the sum- 



* I cannot find, however, that any earthquake was felt ahout this 

 lime. From 1744 to 1755, no mention is made by Professor Wil- 

 liams of any earthquake in the colonies. In the month of Novem- 

 ber of this year, an earthquake " the violence" of which " was the 

 greatest of any we have ever had in the country (Williams, p. 

 272)," was felt, and its influence extended to Pennsylvania, and 

 even farther south. Editoh. 



