3 66 Dr. Gray's Account of the Earthquake 
44 much as it was at eight o'clock, dark and gloomy, without 
44 any particular appearance; the air was quite calm, and mild. 
44 When I got up in the morning, I was surprised to see the 
44 country covered with snow ; the trees in the park were 
44 loaded with it ; I believe no morning in the last winter 
44 could have presented more appearance of extreme severe 
44 weather. My man slept at Nottingham ; at the house where 
44 he was, the earthquake was so violent as to cause the cham- 
44 her bells to ring. I inquired of two soldiers belonging to 
44 the barracks, situated on the high ground in the park near 
44 that town, what was felt of the earthquake there. They 
44 told me the shocks were very strong, so much so as to alarm 
“ them greatly, and to shake the plates off the shelves. I 
44 farther inquired whether any blaze of light, or ball of fire, 
44 was seen when they first heard the blast, or during the 
44 shocks of the earthquake. They said, that no light was seen 
44 at either of these periods, nor did the centinel on guard per- 
“ ceive any singular appearance whatever. 
44 Here, in the vale of Belvoir, most people were in bed, and 
“ were awakened by the shocks, which they describe to me, as 
44 raising up the bed, and then shaking it; so that at first they 
“ thought somebody had hid themselves under the bed, and 
44 was playing tricks to frighten them ; but, when they heard 
44 the doors rattle violently, the plates on the shelves move, 
44 glass, china, &c. jar together, they were aware that the cause 
44 of all this was an earthquake. Very few were awakened by 
44 the blast, and none I have conversed with saw any meteor, 
44 or other appearance of light. The shock was so strong at 
44 Colston Basset (two miles from Langar) as to shake a small 
44 dog off the bed on which it slept. Bricks, such as were 
