CHARLES WATERTON, ESQ. XXXV11 



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 me 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 



