t HI 
and my Mind quite otherwife engaged, I was fur- 
prifed the fa id Hour with a moft dreadful Noife, 
which was followed by a treble Shock of the Earth- 
quake in the moft frightful Manner, and beyond mea- 
fure violent ; it began by a fuccuflive Motion, and 
followed by a fort of Blow with the horrible Vio- 
lence 5 and at laft came another fuccuiTive Motion, 
more horrible than the former: There was heard 
from under-ground a hollow terrible Rumbling, as if 
the whole Earth had broken to Pieces : It had a Mo- 
tion like turning, and continued moving ; theHoufes 
waved Thirty or Thirty-two Seconds, from Eaft to 
Weft. I looked upon myfelf quite loft, and expe&ed 
nothing lefs than the immediate Ruin of the Houfe, 
efpecially when 1 beheld part of the Door- cafe falling, 
and the Partition-walls cracked ^ the Mortar fell all 
about like Rain, the Furniture and Cloaths hung to 
the Walls fell all down; in this I was confined, 
without being able to feek Safety out of the Houfe, 
but ftood fixed, and nailed up, (as it were) by the 
furrounding Crowd of frightened Wretches that 
flocked in upon me : At laft, however, I got out, 
and could hardly believe my Eyes, when I found the 
Houfcs all handing, having figured things much worfe 
than I found them ; yet every thing has fuffered 
very much, there not being a ftngle Edifice but what 
is damaged ; although a great part of the Hurt within 
the Houfes proceeds chiefly from the Roguery of the 
Builders, who either when firft built, or in repairing, 
ufed bad Materials; thofe which are well built have 
fuffered fcarce any thing : Some muft inevitably be 
rebuilt, chiefly thofe which remain leaning to one Side ; 
which proceeds chiefly from the Load occafioned by 
their 
