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bling (for as yet It was fcarce more) increafing, I 
foon got out of bed, and went towards the window 
on the other fide of the chamber, to obferve, if there 
was any thing unufual in the appearance of the fky, 
or heavens. By the time I had got about half way 
acrofs the room, which might be fix or feven feconds 
from my firft awaking, the fliaking was a little abated ; 
fo that I imagined the height of the fliock was paft. 
But this thought no fooner came into my mind, than 
I found how much I was miftaken; for inftanta- 
neoufly the fliock came on with redoubled violence, 
and loud noife : the windows, doors, chairs, (^c, 
being prodigioufly agitated ; and indeed the whole 
houfe rocking and cracking to fuch a degree, that 
I concluded it muff foon fall, or be racked to pieces, 
unlefs perhaps it fliould be fwallowed up intircj 
Having hrft jufl looked out at the window, I haften- 
ed down flairs, unbolted and opened the door, with 
an intention to go into the flreet, thinking, though 
without reafon, almoft every place freer from danger 
than that where I was : but, upon opening the door, 
I found the fhock was fomething abated, and having 
looked out at the door a moment or two, returned to 
my chamber, and opened a window, at which I flood 
for the fpace of five or fix feconds ; the fliaking and 
the noife were by this time much Icflened, and flill 
kept decreafing, as though all would very foon be- 
come flill and quiet. However, there was after this 
a little repetition both of the trembling and the noife, 
though no ways to be compared to what had been 
before. I then went to the other fide of the chamber. 
fo*r my watch, returning with it to the window, in 
order to obferve the time, which I did feven or eight 
feconds 
3 
