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Since November 1st we have experienced five or six tremblings 

 of the earth, principally during the first three weeks of that month. 

 To my great mortification, the seismometer made no record either 

 time, for this terrible visitant is of earnest interest to every one in 

 Chile, and the object of the instrument, though greatly perverted, 

 was a subject of much talk among the people of Santiago. The in- 

 verted pendulum has been made as sensitive as possible, and the 

 recording pencil only pressed against the segment in the slightest 

 manner to secure a mark — yet it has left no sign. True, the shocks 

 were of no great violence, though strong enough to creak the ceil- 

 ings overhead, and on one occasion to start, every one into the 

 street. Of the last I was warned by the rumbling noise, sufficiently 

 long, to take out my watch and note the periods and intervals of 

 its two shocks. To the best of our estimation the motion of the 

 earthquake is invariably from the westward, and more frequently 

 from W.S.W. than any other direction since November. One only 

 of the phasnomena, since our arrival, proved of serious injury ; 

 viz. that of November 18th, which kept the earth in motion in the 

 vicinity of Coquimbo for the space of 84^ seconds. Very slight 

 injury was sustained by the houses from this cause ; but it was 

 immediately followed by a wave 16 feet above high-water mark, 

 overwhelming the buildings and smelting furnaces on the shores of 

 the bay. In Santiago I was roused from sound sleep (6^ 10™ a.m.) 

 by the rocking of my bed and creaking of the timbers overhead, to 

 find all the inmates of the hotel flying to the streets. At Coquimbo 

 shocks were repeatedly felt on the 16th, 18th, 19th and 20th, seve- 

 ral each day. Dr. Lamont suggested an instrument to be formed 

 of three upright cylinders wrapped with photographic paper and 

 moved by clockwork ; three beams suspended horizontally by two 

 parallel threads each and a lamp in the centre. The subject was 

 talked over with Prof. Henry prior to leaving the United States ; 

 and as I have since written him respecting the instrument here, it is 

 greatly hoped one v/ill be made after Dr. Lament's suggestion and 

 sent out to us. 



I trust to hear from you as often as your leisure will permit, and 

 you may feel assured your suggestions will always be gratefully re- 

 ceived and carefully followed. 



The Secretary of the Navy has authorized me to notify to all scien- 

 tific correspondents, that their communications, if put under cover 

 to " Honourable Secretary of the Navy, Washington," will be for- 

 warded to me by the earliest monthly mail; and the Secretary of State 

 has directed the " United States Consul, Panama," to receive and 

 transmit free of expense any letters addressed to me. If, then, you 

 will deposit your letters with Mr. Abbot Lawrence, they will assu- 

 redly come ; or if put in the English West India mail, " care U.S. 

 Consul, Panama," on the 1st, they will reach me on the 25th of the 

 following month. 



With my most respectful remembrances to Mrs. Sabine, believe 

 me, dear Sir, Very faithfully yours, 



S. W. Gillies, 

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