Preparation of the Report. 15
observable; but I have no reason to suppose there was any,
as Mr. Sly could discern none.
" Mr. Sly, immediately on his return home, informed his
family of this very astonishing and unaccountable accident,
and had not the least suspicion at that time of there being
any earthquake, either here or in any other part of the
world."—Phil. Trans., vol. xlix, pp. 364 and 365.
II. Preparation of the Report.
In striking contrast with those earthquakes by which
Britain was visited in early times, and of which the tale
travelled but slowly through the land, increasing in exagger-
ation, and becoming largely mixed with superstitious em-
bellishment as the news spread from town to town, the
occurrence of the present shock was made known and many
of the details made public throughout the country in the even-
ing papers of the day of the disaster. As soon as the news was
confirmed that the disturbance had originated in our county,
I communicated with some of our members living in and
about the area of destruction, with the object of getting
reliable information as to the nature and amount of damage,
being strongly impressed with the necesssity of putting upon
record, in the interests of science, a complete account of this
visitation, and feeling that the duty of undertaking such a
task naturally devolved upon the Essex Field Club, as the
only organized local scientific society extending its opera-
tions over the county. The subject was accordingly brought
under the notice of the Gilib, at the meeting held ou April
26th of last year, and I took upon myself the labour of
drawing up the report, the more willingly as I found that
Mr. William White, one of our most active members, was
much interested in the occurrence, and was prepared to give
me the benefit of his co-operation. Before commencing
work it was evidently essential to make a personal inspection
of the districts most severely shaken, and on May 3rd, the
earliest opportunity that presented itself, I left for Col-
chester, accompanied by Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S, (late of
the Geological Survey), and our Hon. Secretary, Mr. William
Cole. From Colchester we had the advantage of the local