MITCHILL ON THE EARTHQUAKES OF 1811, 1812, AND 1813. 299 



it did not immediately become extinct ; but continued to burn until it 

 was consumed. While blowed upon, instead of being deadened, it 

 became brighter by the blast. The ashes formed during the combus- 

 tion were of a whitish colour; and when put into water, imparted to it 

 the quality of turning to a green the blue corolla of a phlox whose 

 juice was subjected to its action. By this, and other tests, the alka- 

 linity of the residue was fully ascertained. 



The Hon. Israel Pickens of Buncombe county, (N. C.) received a 

 letter from the Rev. John Carrigan, dated 28th of February, and con- 

 taining the following information : 



" During my travels lately to and from the state of Georgia, I made it 

 a part of my business to obtain the most accurate accounts of the pre- 

 sent shaking of the earth, from all parts. I have found that in all parts 

 of the continent the motion of the earth has been the same, and its 

 partiality remarked in the same neighbourhoods. In this country, the 

 first rocking (as it is generally called) was perceived on the 23d of 

 December, a little before daylight. Since that time it has been ob- 

 served almost every week through South Carolina and parts of 

 Georgia. Several persons in those states have told me that they had felt 

 it almost every day since. No damages have arisen, more than a few 

 bricks shaken off some chimneys. There is no truth in the report in 

 circulation respecting the fall of the Painted Rock, and other extraordi- 

 naries in Buncombe county. I gave my friend, Colonel Freeman, (in 

 Georgia,) a call, who informed me that he had particularly noticed some 

 tall poplars in his lane during the time of the second shock, rocking with 

 an equable motion from northeast to southwest, which I have found to be 

 general. On the 7th and 16th instant the shaking has been general here. 

 I do not consider it an earthquake proceeding from the usual causes. 



" Captain Robert Alexander, of Lincoln, (N. C.) gave me a most 

 alarming account of a phenomenon which was generally seen on the 



