MU. II. U. WOODWARD OX THE EARTHQUAKE OR 1S8I. 
35 
'J'liat lliis wa.s not the case with the strata lower down seems 
evident from some interesting facts brought forward by ^Ir. C. E. 
l>e Ihince. lie remarked that the earthquake had produced a 
marked cliange in the level of underground waters in the district 
most affected by the shock. Thus at Colchester the Avater-supply 
is derived from a deep artesian well in the Clialk, the supply from 
wliich having lessoned, the suction pipes had been lengthened. Tlio 
necessity for still further lengthening them was under discussion, 
wlicn the Water Committee wore agreeably surprised to find that 
the earth-wave of the 22nd had caused an increased flow of water, 
and a rise in the water-level of seven feet. In a well at Booking, 
miar Braintree, after the earthquake, the water rose about twenty- 
live inches above its ordinary level. Mr. Do Banco observeil that 
these facts tend to show tliat the earth-wave caused fissures to open 
in the (’halk, ami thus permit a freer circulation of water under 
ground ; for although Chalk absorbs water freely, it parts with it 
slowly, tlio water derived from chalk-wells being due more to svater 
travelling in tlio joints and fissures, than to the water stored in the 
t’halk itself.* 
It would be out of place here to* enter into a discussion upon 
British Eartlnpiakes. Those who wish to pursue the subject may 
consult Mr. Mallet’s Catalogue :+ and very likclv some of the 
earthipiakes not specially noted as being experienced in the county, 
may nevertheless have affected Norfolk. The earthquake of 1884 
reminds us that a similar catastrophe might at any time overtake us ; 
but the record of British earthquakes shows that disturbances 
causing so much destruction of property are exceptional in this 
country ; and we can only trust that such may continue to be the 
case. 
• ‘Nature,* May 8tli. 
t Report^ Brit. Assoc. 1852—53 (reprinted 1858); see also ‘London 
3lagazine,’ vol. xi.x. (1750) p. 102, and S. J. Mackie, ‘ Geologist,’ vol. vi. p. 401. 
[Since this paper was read, two important articles on the Earthquake have 
been published. (1) “On some Geological Aspects of the East Anglian 
Earthquake of April 22nd, 1884,” by Raphael Meldola, ‘Proceedings of the 
Geologists’ Association,’ vol. ix. pp. 20 — 12, with map. Mr. ileldola 
promises to i.<sue a fuller report. (2) “ Notes on the Earthquake that took 
place in Essex on the morning of April 22nd, 1884,” by G. II. Kinahani 
‘Proceedings of the Ro 3 -al Dublin Society,’ vol. iv. pp. 318—325.] 
