On the Earthquake in Chile, 1851. 397 
obtaining many new facts to relate. The disturbance had cer- 
tainly been greater at Curacavi and Casablanca than at the capi- 
tal and port, much property having been so injured that it was 
necessary to tear it down. Repairs were out of the question, for 
the wails were no longer stable. One crack in the earth, west 
of Casablanca, at the surface, was still nearly three inches wide, 
and about two hundred yards long. Its general direction was 
WNW and ESE. ‘The same fact was observed on the Almen- 
dral as had been remarked near the Angostura; objects were 
thrown from tables and shelves in every imaginable direction, as 
though each vibration was from a different quarter. No special 
agitation was observed at the surface of the sea, nor did any 
great wave follow to wash away prostrate buildings, of which 
some forty were level with the ground. One of the papers stated 
that a lead line thrown overboard at the time from the U. 8, 
frigate Raritan, was so buried in the sand that it could only be 
extracted with great difficulty; but this, like many of the won- 
derful stories told of earthquakes, should probably be received 
“cum grano salis ;” else we must conclude that the ships, being 
unable to heave them up, probably left their anchors in the bay 
when about to sail. There was no indication whatever that the 
Shores of the bay had been raised either by the great shock or 
the multitude of smaller ones continuing throughout the succeed~ 
ing fortnight. I examined the rocky shores closely during several 
tides, but could find no unprotected memento. 
Mr. R. Budge, F.R.G.S., considers* the motion to have been 
Westward, because water in basins, jugs, &c., spilt over the east 
side; clocks whose pendulums vibrated east and west stopped, 
while those beating north and south did not; walls standing east 
and west were cracked in every way—particularly lengthways, 
and vessels at sea felt it at an hour corresponding to the differ- 
ence of longitude. He supposes the phenomenon to have been 
subject to instantaneous cessations, and says that it turned round 
things on their base instead of throwing them down at an angle 
of 20°, showing a circular motion for at least an instant. 1 shall 
have something to say presently respecting the two vessels which 
felt the shock at sea. He goes on to remark: “I have experi~ 
enced at this place (Valparaiso) three ruinous earthquakes—t 
of 1822, which I passed in the house until the back fell, that of 
829, and the present. On the last occasion the barometer and 
thermometer indicated nothing, nor was there the least warning 
of any description ; but, as invariably occurs after a heavy shock, 
we had, on the third day after, a shower of twelve hours’ rain, 
for which I had already prepared, aware of its being the conse- 
quence, happen whatever season it may. I conceive also that I 
have felt less relaxed than before it. I cannot understand all 
: # Report of British Association, 1851. 
