1835. | GREAT WAVE. 305 
dust which darkened the sky, at last he gained the street. As 
shock succeeded shock, at the interval of a few minutes, no one 
dared approach the shattered ruins; and no one knew whether 
his dearest friends and relations were uot perishing from the want 
of help. Those who had saved any property were obliged to keep 
a constant watch, for thieves prowled about, and at each little 
trembling of the ground, with one hand they beat their breasts 
and cried “ misericordia !” and then with the other filched what 
they could from the ruins. The thatched roofs fell over the fires, 
and flames burst forth in all parts. Hundreds knew themselves 
ruined, and few had the means of providing food for the day. 
Earthquakes alone are sufficient to destroy the prosperity of 
any country. If beneath England the now inert subterranean 
forces should exert those powers, which most assuredly in former 
geological ages they have exerted, how completely would the 
entire condition of the country be changed! What would be- 
come of the lofty houses, thickly packed cities, great manufac- 
tories, the beautiful public and private edifices? If the new 
period of disturbance were first to commence by some great 
earthquake in the dead of the night, how terrific would be the 
carnage! England would at once be bankrupt; all papers, 
records, and accounts would from that moment be Jost. 
Government being unable to collect the taxes, and failing to. 
maintain its authority, the hand of violence and rapine would 
remain uncontrolled. In every large town famine would go 
forth, pestilence and death following in its train. 
Shortly after the shock, a great wave was seen from the dis- 
tance of three or four miles, approaching in the middle of the bay 
with a smooth outline; but along the shore it tore up cottages 
and trees, as it swept onwards with irresistible force. At the 
head of the bay it broke in a fearful line of white breakers, which 
rushed up to a height of 23 vertical feet above the highest spring- 
tides. Their force must have been prodigious ; for at the Fort a 
cannon with its carriage, estimated at four tons in weight, was 
moved 15 feet inwards. A schooner was left in the midst of the 
ruins, 200 yards from the beach. The first wave was followed 
by two others, which in their retreat carried away a vast wreck 
of floating objects. In one part of the bay, a ship was pitched 
high and dry on shore, was carried off, again driven on shore, 
