22 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO 1735. 



sated by a contrary wind some where or other ; otherwise some change must be 

 produced in the motion of the earth round its axis. 



jin Account, of the several Earthquakes ivhich have happened in New-England, 

 since the first Settlement of the English in that Country, especially of the 

 last Earthquake, Oct. IQ, \717* By Paul Dudley, Esq. F. R. S. N° 437, 

 p. 63. 



That this country (New England) is subject to earthquakes, is certain ; many 

 instances of which have occurred since the first settlement of the English here, 

 which now is about 100 years. The first and most considerable earthquake in 

 our history, and which seems to have been much like the last, was June 2, 

 l638. This is said to have been " a great and fearful earthquake : it was heard 

 before it came, with a rumbling noise or low murmur like distant thunder; it 

 came from the north, and passed southward ; as the noise approached near, the 

 earth began to quake ; and it came at length with such violence, as caused 

 platters, tiles, &c. to fall down. The shock was so violent, that some per- 

 sons without doors, could not stand, but were obliged to catch hold of posts, 

 &c. In less than half an hour after, came another noise and shaking, but not 

 so loud nor strong as the former : ships and vessels in the harbour were 

 shaken, &c." 



In l658, there was another very great earthquake, but no particulars are related. 

 In l66o, Jan. 31st, a great earthquake. In i6f)2, Jan. 26th, about 6 o'clock 

 at night, there happened an earthquake, which shook the houses, caused the 

 inhabitants to run out into the streets, and the tops of several chimnies fell 

 down. About the middle of the same night was another shake ; also in the 

 morning following the earth shook again. In l665, and in l668, and l66g, 

 the earth was shaken. Since which we have also had several tremors of the 

 earth, but not very considerable, till the terrible earthquake, Oct. 2g, 1727, 

 which amazed and terrified the inhabitants from one end of the country to the 

 other. 



Gilbertus Jacchaeus, in his Institutiones Physicae, cap. Terras Motus, 

 distinguishes earthquakes iinto four species ; in which he agrees with Aristotle 

 and Pliny, with whom the first species is a shake or trembling, which they com- 

 pare to the shaking fit of an ague. Our motion of the earth was not that 

 which Aristotle and Pliny call a pulse or an intermittent knocking, but one 

 continued shake or trembling ; and therefore must be ranked under the first 

 species, viz. a tremor or shake, without altering the position of the earth, 



* See another account of this earthquake in p. 348, Vol. vi. of these Abridgments. 



