24 The East Anglian Earthquake.
The earthquake occurred during a period of general seismic
activity throughout the world. When with the progress of the
science of seismology a complete catalogue of the earthquakes
of the world is drawn up, in continuation of Mallet's great
work, and brought down to the present time, it will be found
that the Essex earthquake was one of a group extending
over a period of several years, and characterised by excep-
tional violence in various parts of the world. Without
expanding the present Report to an unnecessary length by
going too far back in time, it will be of interest to indicate
briefly the disturbances which have been felt in this country
for three years previous to the shock of April 22nd of last
year, together with the more violent of those earthquakes
which have been experienced in other European countries
during the same period10:—
1881. Jan. 12th, about 7 h. a.m. Bridge of Allan,
Stirling. Smart shock ; no damage. ('Nature,' Jan. 20th.)
1881. Jan. 27th, about 2h. 20 m. p.m. Over a con-
siderable area of Switzerland; church bells sounded, books
thrown from shelves and pictures from walls; over 100
chimneys thrown down in Berne. A slighter shock at 3 p.m.
the same day; the 24th, earthquake, and probably the most
severe recorded from Switzerland since Nov. 1879. Many
slighter shocks in Italy on Jan. 24th and 25th. (' Nature,'
Feb. 3rd.) Many shocks during this month also in Hungary,
Austria, &c. (Ibid., Feb. 10th, 1881.)
1881. Feb. 23rd. St. Michael's, Azores; 36 successive
shocks; church and 200 houses said to have been thrown
down and many people killed. Connected with a submarine
eruption. Shocks continued into the following month.
(' Nature,' March 3rd, on the authority of the 'Daily News.')
1881. March 4th, 1 h. 5m. 30s. a.m. The Island of Ischia;
Casamenella almost entirely destroyed and many houses in
Casamicciola and Lacco thrown down. From 100 to 130
persons killed and 160 seriously wounded. A terrific shock,
10 The list here given mainly comprises earthquakes of sufficient intensity
to produce structural damage; lesser shocks, which were very numerous
throughout Europe during this period, have been omitted, except as
regards Great Britain. The object of the list is simply to give an idea
how widespread and active the manifestation of seismic energy has been
during the last three or four years. The records have been chiefly
confined to Europe for the sake of brevity.