346 
: <ETX. 
AN ACCOUNT OF AN EARTHQUAKE IN NEW-ENGLAND. 
BY HON. SAMUEL TENNEY, Esa. 
‘Communicated in @ letter to Joshua Fisher, M. D. 
—: Sa 
Exeter, 29th March, 1811. — 
DEAR SIR, |. te 
THE earthquake, which happened on the evening of the 9th of 
November last, appears, by accounts from various quarters, to have 
been felt through a considerable extent in this part of New England. 
In the judgment of most elderly people it was more severe than any 
other that has been observed since that of the year 1755, commonly 
called the Great Earthquake. For this reason, but more especially 
because it was accompanied by some very singular circumstances» 
Thave thought that an account of it might not be unworthy of a place 
on the records of the American Academy. I shall place at your dis- 
posal a description of its various phenomena, as they appeared to me 
and several of my neighbours, with the addition of some circumstan- ; 
ces collected, by inquiring from many persons in various. quarters 
and at different distances. As I was perfectly free from surprize or 
agitation, I think I can ive it with accuracy ; and I shall certainly 
give it without colouring. 
«As I was sitting by the fire-side, the younger part of the family 
being in bed and the house perfectly quiet, at about a quarter past 
9 o’clock, I heard a very heavy and singular noise directly under my 
feet. My first idea was, that the foundation of the chimney and the 
walls under that end of the house had suddenly given way, an and been 
violently forced into the cellar ; and I cast my eyes on the hearth, ¢ ex- 
