vol,. XXXIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 23 



leaving all things in the same state, except the falling down of the tops of some 

 chimnies, stone walls, &c. without dobrs; dishes and some other things within 

 doors, &c. 



That this earthquake was of the first species, is also proved from the sound 

 that accompanied it ; since tremulous and vibrating motions are proper to pro- 

 duce sounds. The noise that accompanied, or immediately preceded it, was 

 very terrible and amazing. Some people took this noise to be thunder ; others 

 compared it to the rattling of coaches and carts on pavements, or frozen ground. 

 One compared it to the shooting out of a load of stones from a cart under his 

 window. Mr. Dudley himself, being perfectly awake, tliough in bed, thought 

 at first the servants, who lodged in a garret over his chamber, were dragging 

 along a trundle-bed : but indeed the noise that accompanies an earthquake seems 

 to be sonus sui generis, and there is no describing it. This noise was instantly 

 succeeded by a shake much more terrible. His house, which was large and 

 well built, seemed to be pressed up together, as if a hundred screws had been 

 at work to throw it down ; and every thing in the house, particularly the bed, 

 and the building itself, shook so violently, that there was great fear it would have 

 tumbled down. 



As to the degree of the shake ; this will be best known from its effects. Be- 

 sides some circumstances before mentioned, a country farmer said he had 40 or 

 50 rods of stone wall thrown down by it; another person walking abroad at the 

 time, could hardly keep his legs : another that was riding says, that his horse 

 stood still, and, during the shake, trembled so that he thought he would have 

 fallen under him : some dogs barked, others howled and made strange and 

 unusual noises. Nor was the earth only affected with this shake, but the sea 

 also in the harbours, and the shipping were much moved by it. 



The extent of the shake was felt from Boston to Kennebeck River to the 

 eastward, and at Philadelphia to the westward, 1 60 leagues distant from each 

 other on a w. s. w. and e. n. e. course nearest : and no part of the intermediate 

 country, escaped it ; the colonies of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New 

 York being all affected, though not equally, particularly at Philadelphia they 

 write, it was a small shock. 



A person at Boston, who had a well 36 feet deep, about 3 days before the 

 earthquake, was surprised to find his water, which used to be very sweet and 

 lympid, stink so that they could make no use of it ; and thinking some carrion 

 had fallen into the well, he searched the bottom, but found it clear and good, 

 though the colour of the water was turned wheyish or pale. In about ^ days 

 after the earthquake, the water began to mend, and in 3 days more it returned 



