ly proceed from the rarefaftion of fuch principles, we may fup- 
pofe that thofe vapours, which produce fuch great commotions in 
the^/V, may caufe a confiderable difturbance in the earthy when 
pent and locked up by cold, or any fuch like accident. 
2 We may therefore take notice of the weather which happen^ 
ed before, and at the time, l^fow I very well remember, that 
the latter part of the firft week in September was fo rainy, that 
mod people were apprehenfive of a fiood^ and upon Sunday the pth 
of September there fell fome very confiderable fhowers in the after- 
noon, but from that time it cleared up, and to the end of the next 
week continued very warm and pleafant weather, as I remember 
by a great many circumftances. The plcafantnefs of the evening 
invitingme to walkout with fome friends, upon Sunday the i6th 
day, as weeamehome we perceived it very chilling, and inclina- 
ble tofroft; nay fome in the company fancied they faw a little 
skim of Ice arifing upon the water 5 the next morning it was found 
to be a very hard froft for the feafon, and then about feven of the 
clock, the day being very clear and calm, the earthe^uake happen- 
ed. The like obfervations of cold preceeding are in Dr. WalHs 
account of an earthquake n» 10. of the PhHofofhical TranfaEiions^ 
asalfo in that of Mv.Bojlevi* 1 1. concerning the fame earthquake^ 
which happened in an ^T^m;?^, as this laft did in a mornings and it 
hath been an old * obfervation that they happen moft commonly 
at fuch times. 
3 The height of the quicksilver in the Barmeter was as confide- 
rable at the time of this earthquake^ as that which they defcribed, 
I could not for want of a gUfs ukc notice of it my felf, but I 
am told by the Operator in Chjmiflrj here, that It flood as high 
then, as at any time thefe three years; which together with a 
remarkable calmnefs of the air, a matter generally looked upon 
as one of the. circumftances, which accompany earthquakes^ and by 
many reckoned amongft the p^ns which forerun them, may be fuf- 
ficient to fhew how free the air was from vapours that time, 
and furely the fewer there were above, the more may be fuppo- 
fed below. 
4 It may not be improper amongft other circumftances to 
take notice of thofe ignes fatui^ which were frequently feen a few 
days hdox^xhh earthquake happened 5 for lam credibly informed 
by fome, who were eye.witnefTes, that they faw two at once as 
they were walking one nighr, and that feveral perfons had at 
other times obferved the like ; which may pafs for a probable ar- 
gument, at leaft, to fhew how full the earth was then of damps 
Sf 2 and 
