felt in England, November 18, 1795. 361 
44 suspected an earthquake ; but this morning I was told that 
44 many persons had been much alarmed, said they heard a 
44 noise resembling the falling of a chimney, and went out to 
44 examine whether that was the case. A person just arrived 
“ from Derby says, that a ball of fire was seen to pass over 
44 the town, at the time the noise was heard. Many said their 
44 beds shook, and that they felt something like an electrical 
44 shock. At Derby some bricks were thrown down from 
44 chimnies. The noise was also described as resembling the 
44 drawing of a table over a floor, with a louder explosion at 
44 the last. 
44 The wind had blown violently from the south-west all 
44 day, but became calm in the evening, and the sky cleared. 
44 At the time the earthquake happened it was remarked that 
44 the air became very cold ; and this morning the ground was 
44 covered with snow ; which now melts, and the wind is 
44 changed to the north-east. 
44 These circumstances seem to favour the supposition of 
44 earthquakes being caused by electricity ; but it is only from 
44 a collection of numerous facts, that any rational theory can 
44 be formed on the subject/' 
In his second letter, dated December 21, Mr. Bennet says; 
44 I have been at Derby, and made inquiry about the ball of 
44 fire said to have been seen there, but could obtain no ac- 
44 count of any thing more than that several persons, who hap- 
44 pened to be out, perceived a flash of light, which they de- 
44 scribed as being like an opening of the sky. I had written 
44 to Mr. Chatterton to make every inquiry he could, but he 
44 heard nothing more than this, besides what was observed by 
44 others. I wrote also to Mr. Watson, of Bakewell, who says 
3 A 2 
