6j8 philosophical transactions. [anno 1755i 



noise. The water soon raised itself in a heap or ridge, extending lengthwise 

 about 30 yards, and between 1 and 3 feet above the usual level of the water ; 

 after which the heap or ridge heeled or vibrated towards the north, or left side of 

 the canal, with great force, and flowed about 8 feet over the grass walk on that 

 side of the canal, quite up to the arch. On the water's returning back into the 

 canal, it again raised itself into a heap or ridge in the middle; after which the 

 heap or ridge heeled or vibrated with greater force towards the south, or right 

 hand side of the canal, and flowed over the grass walk, and through the rustic 

 arch on that side ; and drove a small stream of water, which runs through it, 

 36 feet back upwards, towards its source. During this latter motion, the bot- 

 tom of the canal, on the north side, for several feet in width, was quite bare of 

 water. The water being returned into the canal, the vibrations became less and 

 less, but so strong as to make the water flow several times over the south bank 

 of the canal, which is not so high as the north bank. In about a quarter of an 

 hour from the first appearance the water became quiet and smooth as before." 

 The motion of the water was, during the whole time, attended with a great per- 

 turbation of the sand from the bottom of the canal, and with a great noise, 

 likened by the gardeners to that of water turning a mill. During the whole time 

 the weather was remarkably still, there not being the least wind ; and there was 

 no tremor or motion of the earth felt on the sides of the canal. 



The canal is near 700 feet long from west to east, and is about 58 wide : there 

 is a small spring, which constantly runs through it. The water at the east end, 

 where this appearance was observed, usually pens from 2 to 4 feet, being gradu- 

 ally deeper to the west end, where it pens to about 10 feet. No motion was 

 taken notice of in the water at the west end of the canal, the first vibration, 

 which drove the water over the grass walks, was from south to north. The grass 

 walk on the north side of the east end of the canal is 14 inches, and that on 

 the south side about 10 inches higher than the usual level of the water: the 

 highest part of the walk, over which the water flowed, is about 20 inches above 

 the water-level. 



Mr. W. was informed, that the water was affected about the same time in 

 the following places. In a mill-pond, at Medhurst in Sussex, the sudden agita- 

 tion and swell of the water rolling toward the mill was so remarkable, that the 

 miller imagined a sluice had been opened at the upper end of the pond, and had 

 let a back-water into it ; but on search it was found to be shut as usual. Below 

 the mill the swell of the water was so great, as to drive the stream upwards, back 

 into the conduit of the mill. At Lee, in the parish of Whitley, in Surrey, about 

 5 miles from Busbridge, between Busbridge and Medhurst; the water in a canal 

 or pond belonging to Mr. Luff was so violently agitated, that the gardener, on 

 the first appearance, ran for help, thinking a number of otters were under the 



