VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 9 



coach rolling swiftly under the place. These groanings were also sometimes 

 heard where they were not followed by any sensible shocks. These shocks have 

 happened in all kinds of weather, dry, rainy, cold, &c. only it was always re- 

 marked, that it was calm at the time, and the wind rose afterwards. No hours 

 have been exempt from them. 



As to the consequences of these earthquakes: they were not at all fatal here. 

 The consternation was very great. Several persons felt very singular motions, 

 which they compared to the great electrical shock. Afterwards, they imagined 

 every moment that there were new ones. The rattling of glass windows was 

 the least ambiguous sign. China fell down from the chimney shelves. The 

 dishes in kitchens struck against each other. Some chimneys were thrown down. 

 Several walls cracked, and some arched roofs were damaged. As to the effect in 

 the mines of Houille, in the country of Leige: In a mine of QOO feet depth, 

 the workmen were sitting at breakfast on the 18th of February. Of a sudden 

 they were pushed violently against each other, so that they thought that some of 

 them were at play; but seeing that those who sat alone were shaken in the same 

 manner, they ran to ring the alarm bell. The overseer called out to them from 

 above, that it was an earthquake, from which they had no reason to be under 

 any apprehensions. On the same day, Feb. 18, there was an extraordinary mo- 

 tion in our waters, particularly in the Meuse, which was agitated as if by a 

 whirlwind; and the Jaur, a small river, which runs through our city, and was 

 full before the earthquake, sunk very low immediately after. In some places the 

 waters of wells were troubled; but they were not so with us. 



cm. On the Agitation of the Sea at Antigua, Nov. 1, 1755. Bt/ Capt. 

 Affleck of the Advice Man of War. p. 668. 



The year was ushered in here by the shocks of an earthquake, but not violent 

 enough to do any damage. On the 1st of November last, you had a remarkably 

 sudden flux and reflux of the sea at Portsmouth, and other parts of the coast, 

 which was agitated in like manner, at the same time, on the coast of America, 

 and all these islands. The tide rose here 12 feet perpendicular several times, and 

 returned almost immediately; the same at Barbadoes. At Martinique, and 

 most of the French islands, it overflowed the low land, and returned quickly to 

 its former boundaries. The people at Barbadoes were never more astonished; 

 the rising water in Carlisle bay appearing as black as ink, instead of the clear 

 sea green. Here it began at half an hour after 3 in the afternoon, on the 1st 

 of November last, and flowed, every 5 minutes, 5 feet perpendicular, till aS 

 much after 6, without any violent disturbance on the surface of the water. In 

 Martinique, in that remarkable flux and reflux of the sea, it was in some places 

 dry for a mile; and in others flowed into the upper rooms of the houses, and 



VOL. XI. C 



