Historical Introduction. 18
not at Barnet; just perceived at Richmond in Surrey, Bromley
in Kent, not at Deal or Canterbury; the news mentions it at
Calais and in Italy."—' Gentleman's Magazine,' vol. xx.,
p. 89.
Tuesday, March 8th (o.s.). " This morning, at half
an hour after five o'clock, the town [London] was again
alarmed with another shock of an earthquake, which is
generally allowed to be more violent and of a longer con-
tinuance than that felt this day month; great numbers of
people were awakened from their sleep merely by its violence,
which however has done no other mischief than throwing
down several chimneys, and damaging some houses. The
shock was so great in some parts, that the people ran from
their houses and beds almost naked. In the high grounds
by Grosvenor Square, &c, it is said to have been felt more
than in other parts, the brasses and pewter of several
kitchens being thrown down and to some distance from the
shelves. In St. James's Park, and all the other places, the
ground moved very perceptibly, and the noise seemed to
break three times. About five o'clock was a continual,
though confused lightening, till within a minute or two of
the shock being felt. It is reported by many people, that
there was a small shock between one and two this morning.
A lady in Piccadilly, a curious collector of old china, who had
piled it on stands, had it flung down and broke ; and a great
china-shop in St. James's Street had the like accident: bells
in several steeples were struck by the chime hammers; and
great stones fell from the new spire of Westminster Abbey. A
maid-servant in Charterhouse Square was thrown out of bed
by the shock and broke her arm. The dogs were sensible of
it; and some of them howled in an uncommon manner, and
fish jumped half a yard above water.
" The shock was felt at Cheshunt, Hertford, Ware, Copthall
near (not at) Epping, Beckenham in Kent.''—' Gentleman's
Magazine,' vol. xx., p. 137.
In Noorthouck's ' History of London,' 1753, this shock is
said to have been felt also at Loughton, and " in the skirts
of Epping next to London but not in Epping Street, likewise
at Thegdon-mount [Theydon Mount ?] and Nettswell ....
and very violently at Waltham; also at Bromley, Becken-
ham and Croydon in Kent, at which two last places it
occasioned the hammers of the clocks to strike upon the
bells."