The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-28 00:00:00

z C;A t •

(From the Manchester Guardian)

(From the Manchester Courier.)

NEW,

S R-WE R

P:7.
Chinkeang, the situation of whi V
of the Grand Canel with the Yan *i.ibretiii 7 ~, ,"i"
advantage over its formerly imp t#l2)-- ~
Soochow is the centre of the rich parovt
China, and was, therefore, certain to rtabve or
or less quickly from the state of desolation in which
the rebels had left it. But Nankin possesses no
such advantages, and although numbers of its
former inhabitants will, no doubt, gradually flock
back, and houses will again arise from their ruins,
it is very unlikely ever to attain either its former
eize, importance, or consideration. Even before the
advent of the rebels its prestige as the ancient
capital of China alone give it the pas of its far
wealthier neighbour—Soochow, and now it seems
likely that the latter will permanently eclipse it.
The present circumference of its walls is only 18
mike, instead of the 35 miles which it measurtd
when NAnkin was the capital of China; and at the
time of its capture by the Taepings only two-thirds
even of the lesser area was catimated to be occupied
by houses. Still, however, amid all its decadence,
it is a vast city, and of eufficknt importance to
fully justify the great weight attached by the Im-
perialists to its rcciptnre.

Earthquake in the North of England.

Between 12 and 1 o'clock on Monday morning
there was a shock of an earthquake in the north-of
England. At Leeds, Skipton, Silsden, Rochdale,
Hebden Bridge, Alanchester, and other places the
peculiar sensation resulting from the shock was felt.
In some places persons were awoke by the general
tremor, and various descriptions of the phenomenon
are given, some comparing it to thunder felt but
not heard, others to shaking and rocking. The
following particulars are from different correspon-
dents of the Leeds Mercury :

SKIPTON.—A strong shock of earthquake was
felt in the district of Craven about 12.30 yesterday
morning. The shock was preceded by a rushing
noise, not unlike that produced by the machinery of
a mill during working hours. Many persons were
awakened from their sleep, either by the noise or
the shaking of the bed. Many people describe the
effect experienced by them being similar to an elec.
tric shock. We have heard of no damage being
done. The tremor lasted for three or four seconds.
ROCIIDALE.—On Monday morning, between half-
past 12 and 1, the vibration of an earthquake was
with startling distinctness felt in Rochdale and its
suburbs. Watches and clocks were stopped, four
posters were violently shaken, doors and windows
were rattled, bells were tinkled, dogs were set bark-
ing and howling, and policemen on their beats
frightened. In one case a lady living in a villa on
the Manchester-road was so frightened by the
tremor of the earth that she got up and rung the
bell, called up the servants, had the gases lit, and
for nearly a couple of hours the household were in a
great state of alarm, waiting probably for another
shock, but their expect6Vons were agreeably dis 4
appointed. Superintendent Pickering, of the county
constabulary, was awoke while in bed by the shock,
and says he heard a noise as if a waggon with a
large boiler upon it was going down the street. In-
specter Cragg, of the borough police, while standing
in the police office with his hand holding a bannister,
felt it and the room violently shake, and heard a rum.,
blir g noise like distant thunder. Police officerO'Brian
walking his beat felt the earth beneath his feet shake,
and heard an unearthly sound. The night porter at
the railway station, seated in his cabin, was much
alarmed by the room and signal wires which pass
through it vibrate and rattle, and ho heard a noise
similar to that of an engine passing over an archm
way. A largeumber of other persons in the town
felt the shock, and most of them agree that it was
about a quarter to one when it took place.

We have received several communications from
which there can be no doubt that there was a slight
shock of an earthquake in this district, shortly after
midnight on Sunday. The time is variously stated
from 12.30 a.m. to 12.40 a.m. The shock is de-
scribed as having produced the sensation of the bed
having been lifted in some cases, while other ob-
servers state that houses were shaken. The curth-
quake, which was accompanied by a low rumbling
noise, lasted about two seconds, and seemed to pass
from n3rfh•east to south-west. It was felt in
Higher and Lower Broughton, in Greenheys, in
Pendiebury, at Hebden Bridge, and at Ciitheroe.
The night was very calm and rather warm. It is
rather singular that the last earthquake which was
felt over a large portion of this country occurred
about this time of the year, namely, on the ,Oth. of
October, 1863.

A rumbling noise, accompanied by a tremulous
motion of the earth, and other indications of the
shock from an earthquake, was heard in many parts
of this county and Yorkshire shortly after midnight
on Sunday. A Rochdale correspondent writes ;
" A very distinct shock of earthquake, preceded by
a rumbling noise, was felt at Rochdale about one
o'clock yesterday morning. Several of the inhabi•
tants were awoke from their sleep, and at a public.
house of the inmates, fearing there were burglars on
the premises, got up and searched the house. The
night porter at the railway station also experienced
the shock, and stated it to have lasted about twelve
seconds. In some instances there was a sensible
shaking of the whole building." Similar reports
have reached us from Bacup, Hebden Bridge, and
Broughton, but in Manchester and Salford the
shock does not appear to have been very sensibly
felt, though some people, concurring in a point of
time, speak of having felt a vibration which lasted
a few seconds.

(From the
_2llOnchcster Examiner.)

Shortly after midnight en Sunday a shock of
earthquake was felt in this neighbourhood. At
Heben Bridge, the railway porter at the station
was alarmed by the large factories near trembling
from their foundations, as he expressed it, " like a
cradle." Several persons in the village were awoke
by the general tremor that seems to have passed
through the village ; and various are the descrip-
tions of the phenomena, some comparing it to

thunder felt, but not heard, others to shaking, rock•
it.g, &c. The shock appears to have been felt by a
few persons in the neigbourhood of Manchester.
One gentleman, residing in Broughton, informs us
that he was awoke by it, at half-past twelve o'clock
Another gentleman, also residing at Brougton,says
that he observed it. At Pendlebury, too, we learn
that the shock was felt there at the same time as
in Broughton, In Regent road, Salford, and also
in Bonsall-street, Halme, a tremulous motion, last-
ing only a few seconds, was perceived. "An 0134

server," dating from Sedgley-park, Prestwick, says,
" Between twelve and four o'clock this morning I
was alarmed by a loud noise, as if a heavy weight
had fallen in the middle of the room. I was at the
time in a sound sleep, but I distinctly felt my bed
shake. lat once got up to ascertain the cause, but
none was visible. Others of my family felt the same
shock, and it extended to the stable yard where my
servant was sleeping." Our Bacup correspondent
says :—" On Saturday night, at half.past twelve
o'clock, many of the inhabitants were startled
out of bed by the sharp shock of an
earthquake, which in some houses set the pots
and pans violently rattling, and which was
felt through the town and suburbs. It appears
to have bees more severely left on the Yorkshire
side of Bacup—Todmorden-road and Brickficld.
The motion felt was not so much of a vibration as
a sharp, sudden shock, as if some giant power had
seized the houses and given them a violent, Inemm-
tary shock, and all was over. At the same time the
shock passed over the night was warm and star-
light, though not very clear. An hour before it was
intensely dark." From Haslingden a co-respondent
writes A severe shock of an earti q lake was felt
here this morning at 12.30, which lasted four
secouds. At the time there was a dense fog, and the
writer experienced a sense of enifoca' ion."

THE COST OF CAERGWYN. By Mary Howitt.
3 vols.—" This tale deserves high praise. It will be found
extremely interesting, not merely from its local truth, but
from the able manner in which different phases of character
aro contrasted in it, as well as the insight shown respecting
the workings of the heart and conscience. The care and
thought bestowed upon it raise it far beyond the ordinary
level ut fiction, and it will doubtless gain the poptdauty it
uierits."—Dispatck,