﻿Nov., 1S5S.] 



ELLIOTT SOCIETY. 



289 



the room, and by several of the children, and by myself and my 

 wife was immediately recognized as an earthquake. A bunch of 

 keys, hanging from the one in the lock, was observed to be in mo- 

 tion some minutes after, and on going to the college, at least ten 

 minutes afterwards, the weights hanging on Atwood's machine, 

 locked up in the cases enclosing the philosophical apparatus, were 

 found still in motion. 



As soon as the motion subsided, I referred to a chronometer 

 which stood near at hand for the time, and after making due allow- 

 ance for the lapse of a few seconds in so doing, for the duration of 

 the agitation, and for the error of the chronometer, I estimated the 

 instant of greatest agitation to have been at 9h. 3m. 40s., A. M., 

 mean time at Charleston, and think this estimate cannot be ten 

 seconds from the truth. 



The direction of the agitation appeared to be in a line N. W. 

 and S. E., but whether from the latter point to the former, or the 

 contrary, could not be determined. No vertical motion was per- 

 ceived, and of the extent of the horizontal motion I could form no 

 reliable estimate. I heard a rumbling accompanying the motion, 

 but the street noises render it doubtful whether the two had the 

 same origin. I learned that in other parts of the city, the motion 

 attracted but little attention, while the noise accompanying the 

 agitation was so great as to excite alarm, and arouse fears that 

 some accident had happened in the house. In the country, where 

 circumstances permit greater quiet, this rumbling noise was per- 

 ceived in its approach, and recognized as a coming earthquake 

 before the agitation was felt. 



The earthquake which proved so destructive in Naples occurred 

 on the 17th, two days before ours, but it is doubtful whether the 

 two were connected; the disturbance of the 19th appears to have 

 been of limited extent. It was perceived in Savannah, and in 

 Georgetown, South Carolina, and near the Santee river, on the 

 road to Georgetown, from this city, but does not seem to have been 

 felt at Columbia or at Augusta. 



NOVEMBER 1st, 1858. 

 Vice President W. W. Smith in the chair. 



Contributions to Library. 

 W. Sharswood, Esq. : Agricultural Chemistry. H. Davy. 



