c 644 1 
I have been informed, by thofe who were up, 
and abroad, the preceding Night, and early in the 
Morning, that Corufcations in the Air were ex- 
tremely frequent (which confirms us in the Notion 
of the Eatth’s being then in an cledrify’d State) and 
that, a little before the Earthquake, a large and 
black Cloud fuddenly cover'd the Hemifphere ; 
which probably occafion’d the Shock, by Difcharge 
of a Shower. 
It may be faid, That, if this were the Cafe, 
Earthquakes would happen much oftener than we 
find them. It may be anfwer’d. That they pro- 
bably do, much oftener than obferv’d : But flight 
ones; becaufe of the Earth’s bein ^ flight ly electri- 
fied. And fuch a Winter as this has not been 
known before 5 to which we attribute the prefent 
Earthquake. 
The Rcafon is obvious, why Earthquakes are not 
fo frequent with us, and the Northern Regions in 
general, as in Italy , and more Southern Climes; 
and a due Confidcration of it confirms our Reafoning. 
All Electricity requires great Thrynefs and IVarmth ; 
and 1 dnubt nor but Earthquakes, of a fmall Degree, 
have and do frequently happen. And many Peo- 
ple now recoiled, that they have been lhaken in 
their Beds ; tho’ they took no notice o' it then, 
having had no Experience of an Earthquake? 
Ad that we have laid upon the Subj'd receives 
great Strength from this Particular, That Water 
Rrengthcns and conveys the Force of Eledricry. 
From whence we may account for that Obfcrva- 
tion, that the moll dreadful Effeds of Earthquakes 
are always felt in maritime Towns j as Tort-Royal 
in 
