50 CONCEPCION. 



prosperity of any country. If beneath England the 

 now inert subterranean forces should exert those 

 powers, which most assuredly in former geological 

 ages they have exerted, how completely would the 

 entire condition of the country be changed ! What 

 would become of the lofty houses, thickly packed 

 cities, great manufactories, the beautiful public and 

 private edifices 1 If the new period of disturbance 

 were first to commence by some great earthquake 

 in the dead of the night, how terrific would be the 

 carnage ! England would at once be bankrupt ; 

 all papers, records, and accounts would ffom that 

 moment be lost. Government being unable to col- 

 lect the taxes, and failing to maintain its authority, 

 the hand of violence and rapine would remain un- 

 controlled. In every large town famine would go 

 forth, pestilence and death following in its train. 



Shortly after the shock, a great wave was seen 

 from the distance of three or four miles, approach- 

 ing in the middle of the bay with a smooth outline; 

 but along the shore it tore up cottages and trees, 

 as it swept onwards with irresistible force. At the 

 head of the bay it broke in a fearful line of white 

 breakers, which rushed i;p to a height of 23 verti- 

 cal feet above the highest spring-tides. Their force 

 must have been prodigious ; for at the fort a can- 

 non with its carriage, estimated at four tons in 

 weight, was moved 15 feet inwards. A schooner 

 was left in the midst of the ruins, 200 yards from 

 the beach. The first wave was followed by two 

 others, which in their retreat earned away a vast 

 wreck of floating objects. In one part of the bay 

 a ship was pitched high and dry on shore, was car- 

 ried off, again driven on shore, and again carried 

 off. In another part, two large vessels anchored 

 near together were whirled about, and their cables 

 were thrice wound round each other : though an- 



