VOL. XLI.J PHILOSOPHICAL TftAKSACTIONS. 401 



Concerning an Earthquake at Naples. By the Hon. Henry Temple, 



N" 436, p. 340. 



Naples, Dec. 12, N.S. J 732. 



— They say, the last earthquake here has made a great crack in the side of 

 Mount Vesuvius, above 30 yards long. But what seems much more extraor- 

 dinary, is, that the second shock, which was a very slight one, had a great 

 effect upon the nerves : I and all the company where I was, as soon as the 

 shock was over, were seized with a shaking, just as if we all had the palsy, 

 our teeth chattering in our heads to such a degree, that we could hardly speak; 

 and I find, that half the town felt the same effect from it. It would be natural 

 to imagine, that this shaking was caused by the fright, but it is easy to prove 

 the contrary ; because, in the first place, the first shock, which was much 

 more terrifying, had not that effect : 2dly, many people who were not sensible 

 of the earthquake, found themselves seized in the same manner : 3dly, Mr. 



who used to be troubled with convulsive fits, and had got quite cured 



of them here, was immediately seized with them again, after the earthquake ; 

 and, 4thly, every body, more or less, complained of head-achs for some 

 days after. 



Concerning a Monstrotis Child, born of a Woman under Sentence of Trans, 

 portation. By Mr. Timothy Sheldrake. N° 456, p. 341. 



Elizabeth Spencer, being tried at the Assizes for the city and county of 

 Norwich, for shop-lifting, and being found guilty of the crime, received sen- 

 tence for transportation ; for respiting of which sentence, she pleaded her 

 belly, which plea, as she was a married woman, appearing what was very pro- 

 bable, she was favoured by the mayor and the other magistrates, by being 

 allowed the full time that she said she had to go ; at the expiration of which 

 she was delivered of a child, which Mr. S. saw a few hours after it was born, 

 and was exactly, in every part, according to the following account. The 

 head had a rising on the top of it, and the nose was as if one nose was 

 on the top of another, but only 1 nostrils, and those at the bottom of the 

 lower nose. The arms were without the elbow-joint; the 2 bones, which 

 make the lower joint of the arm, in common, were in this extended to the 

 shoulder. Just under the ribs, and above the hips, was a deep place, as if a 

 cord had been tied very strait, so as to sink down below the reach of the eye : 

 this girding-in of the body, he believes might go almost round : he did not 

 turn it, to see whether it did or not, but it was continued as far about the 



VOL. vin. 3 F 



