Francisco and Messina took place, which are still fresh in 



In 1895, 1896, 1897 three of the greatest earthquakes of 

 which there is any record occurred, namely, in 1895 at 

 Sumatra, which is said to have been nearly as powerful as 

 the Bengal Assam earthquake in 1897. In 1896 the great 

 Japanese earthquake with its en ormeust it la I waves occurred. 

 In 1897 the great Bengal-Assam earthquake, which Hutton 

 describes as being "the most powerful and widespread of 

 which we have any record, not excepting even the memor- 

 able event of Lisbon in 1755. The shocks were felt over 

 1,750,000 square miles." 



In 1838, 1839, 1840 a succession of violent earthquakes 

 occurred, namely, in 1838 in Transylvania, and parts of 

 Turkey and Russia, the shocks lasting a minute and thirteen 

 seconds, Etna and Vesuvius were subsequently in eruption. 

 In 1839 violent earthquakes occurred in the Island of Mar- 

 tinique, lasting two minutes, and also in <>t her islands in the 

 West Indies, doing immense damage ; also at Guatemala and 

 Burmese Empire, the former being very violent and destruc- 

 tive, and the latter extending over 1,000 miles from north 

 to south. In 1840 there were a great number of exceed- 

 ingly violent earthquakes of which the principal appear to 

 have been in the island of Ternate, preceded by a volcanic 

 eruption. In Upper Assam the earthquakes were preceded 

 by a total eclipse of the sun. In Burmah they were very 

 violent and destructive, eulmiuating in a series of violent 

 earthquakes throughout the whole district of Ararat in 

 Armenia, extending from June 20th to August 2nd. It is 

 reported that the whole aspect of the country was changed 

 by these formidable earthquakes, and enormous destruction 

 and loss of life occurred. 



In 1781, 1782, 1783 tremendous seismic disturbance was 

 felt. It is recorded that in 1781 "such numerous earth- 



