£ »8 ] 
not always obtain,- at leafl in the fmaller fhocka; 
and, fo far as I have had' opportunity to obferve, the* 
calmnefs of the air has more conflantly attended upon 
earthquakes, than its clearnefs. The white frofl on 
the morning of the. earthquake, which, when melted, 
I found to be of the depth qf of an inch, was 
almoft double of any white frofl we have had for 
feven years pad, and about five or fix times as great 
as we commonlv have. The barometer and ther- 
mometer underwent no alteration at the time of the 
earthquake : only, my barometer, which has an 
open ciflern of quickfilver, and flood in a chamber, 
was fo agitated, that part of the quickfilver was 
dafhed over the fides of the ciflern, and fcattered 
upon the floor. This ciflern was a cylindric cup, 
whofe fides were an inch higher than the furface of 
the quickfilver. 
I fhall not pretend to make a comparifon between 
the weather of the two fore- mentioned years, nor 
inquire how far Mr. Dudley’s conjecture (Phil. Tranf. 
N°. 437. p. 66.), as. to the influence of the weather 
in producing the earthquake of 1727, might be af- 
fedted by fuch a comparifon. I choofe to leave this 
to you, Sir, and to the other gentlemen of the Royal 
Society, who, I know, are much better able to make 
a proper judgment in this matter j and beg leave to 
fubfcribe, with the greatefl refpedt to that illuflriou$ 
Society and yourfelf, 
Cambridge in New 
England, 10 Jan. 
1756. 
Reverend Sir, 
Your moft obedient, 
and moft humble Servant, 
John Winthrop. 
II. The 
