112 



Scientific Intelligence. 



1851. May 15. — Three severe shocks in San Francisco. During this 

 earthquake, windows were broken and buildings severely shaken. A large 

 amount of merchandize was thrown down in a store on California street. 

 The shipping in the harbor rolled heavily. An eruption of Mauna Loa 

 in the Sandwich Islands, on the same day. 



May 17. — A light shock in San Francisco. 

 May 28. — A light shock on the Salinas. 



June 13. — A smart shock in San Francisco, which was felt at San Luis 

 Obispo and San Fernando. 



Dec. 2. — A shock at Downieville. 



Dec. 31. — A smart shock at Downieville. Total number recorded in 

 1851 is six. 



1852. From the beginning of this year, until past its third quarter, 

 no disturbances were noted, until the month of November. 



Nov. 26. — The number of shocks noticed on this day at San Simeon 

 was eleven, and at Los Angeles and San Gabriel the same number. The 

 same number, or nearly so, was observed by parties having in charge a 

 government train in transit from Camp Yuma to San Diego. This earth- 

 quake was felt over the entire country east and south of San Luis Obispo, 

 to San Diego and the Colorado river, covering a line of about 300 miles 

 square. Subsequent accounts prove that it affected the country south of 

 the Colorado as far as Guyamas in the province of Sonora. 



For the term of six days subsequent to the 26th, the entire south part 

 of the State was convulsed, with slight intermissions. During their con- 

 tinuance a mud volcano broke out upon the Colorado Desert, and another 

 south of the Colorado, one of which was visited by a portion of the U. S. 

 command under Maj. Heintzleman. 



Dec. 17. — Two smart shocks occurred in San Luis Obispo, which frac- 

 tured the walls of two adobe buildings, and threw down part of the wall 

 of the house belonging to, and occupied by Don Jesus Pico and family. 



During the month of December the southern and middle portions of 

 California were much disturbed, and the effects were felt as far north as 

 the 37th parallel. 



The shocks continued into the month of January, and were noticed 

 until the 5th of this month on the San Joaquin. 



The period of time inclusive between the 16th of November (the date 

 of the sad earthquake of Banda Neira, in the Molluccas) and the 26th of 

 January, 1853, cannot but be regarded as one of the most remarkable 

 periods of modern date. During this period a greater proportion of the 

 earth's surface was convulsed by subterranean forces, than has been known 

 for many years, in the same length of time. 



The area most severely affected by these phenomena is included between 

 the parallels of 40° south and 37° north latitude inclusive, making 76 

 degrees of latitude, and extend from 120° east to 45° west longitude, 

 making 210 degrees of longitude, or nearly equal to three-fifths of the 

 equatorial circumference of the earth. 



At this time the coast of eastern Asia, the islands of the South Indian 

 Ocean, Singapore, the Molluccas, the east coast of China, the north, east, 

 and south of Australia, the coast of California, Mexico, and South Ameri- 

 ca, with portions of the Atlantic coast, south of the 34th parallel, shared 



