CHARLES WATERTON, ESQ. XXXVIi 
swallowed up alive by the yawning earth, at a mo- 
ment’s notice, made you sick at heart, and rendered 
you almost fearful of your own shadow. 
The first shock took place at six in the evening, 
with a noise as though a thousand carriages had 
dashed against each other. This terrified many 
people to such a degree, that they paced all night 
long up and down the Alameda, or public walk, 
rather than retire to their homes. I went to bed a 
little after midnight ; but was roused by another 
shock, about five o’clock in the morning, It gave 
the bed a motion, which made me fancy that it 
moved under me from side to side. I sprang up, and, 
having put on my unmentionables (we wore no 
trousers in those days), I ran out, in all haste, to 
the Alameda. There the scene was most distress- 
ing: multitudes of both sexes, some nearly in a 
state of nudity, and others sick at stomach, were 
huddled together, not knowing which way to turn, 
or what to do. 
«‘ Omnes eodem cogimur.” 
However, it pleased Heaven, in its mercy, to spare 
us. The succeeding shocks became weaker and 
weaker, till at last we felt no more of them. 
I now began to think it high time to fly. I was 
acquainted with a Swedish captain, by name Bolin; a 
most excellent man, and of surprising intrepidity and 
coolness. His brig having been long laden with fruit 
for London, he was anxious to depart ; and he formed 
a plan to escape from the harbour, There was no 
getting a regular clearance at the custom-house; 
b 3 
