THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE 323 



be known ; nor indeed would a much worse shock have made 

 any difference, for the ruin was now complete. Innumerable 

 small tremblings followed the great earthquake, and within 

 the first twelve days no less than three hundred were counted. 



After viewing Concepcion, I cannot understand how the 

 greater number of inhabitants escaped unhurt. The houses 

 in many parts fell outwards; thus forming in the middle of 

 the streets little hillocks of brickwork and rubbish. Mr. 

 Rouse, the English consul, told us that he was at breakfast 

 when the first movement warned him to run out. He had 

 scarcely reached the middle of the court-yard, when one side 

 of his house came thundering down. He retained presence 

 of mind to remember, that if he once got on the top of that 

 part which had already fallen, he would be safe. Not being 

 able from the motion of the ground to stand, he crawled up 

 on his hands and knees; and no sooner had he ascended this 

 little eminence, than the other side of the house fell in, the 

 great beams sweeping close in front of his head. With his 

 eyes blinded, and his mouth choked with the cloud of dust 

 which darkened the sky, at last he gained the street. As 

 shock succeeded shock, at the interval of a few minutes, no 

 one dared approach the shattered ruins; and no one knew 

 whether his dearest friends and relations were not perish- 

 ing from the want of help. Those who had saved any prop- 

 erty were obliged to keep a constant watch, for thieves 

 prowled about, and at each little trembling of the ground, 

 with one hand they beat their breasts and cried " Miseri- 

 cordia ! " and then with the other filched what they could 

 from the ruins. The thatched roofs fell over the fires, and 

 flames burst forth in all parts. Hundreds knew themselves 

 ruined, and few had the means of providing food for the day. 



Earthquakes alone are sufficient to destroy the prosperity 

 of any country. If beneath England the now inert subter- 

 ranean forces should exert those powers, which most assur- 

 edly in former geological ages they have exerted, how com- 

 pletely 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 edi- 

 fices? If the new period of disturbance were first to com- 

 mence by some great earthquake in the dead of the night, 



