The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-16 00:00:00

EARTHQUAKE IN AMERICA.

•
The following account of the recent shock of an earth-
quake in the northern part of the State of New York is
from the Northern Journal, published at Pulaski, Jeffer-
son county :

"A most singular occurrence happened in our village and
vicinity on Friday night, or rather Saturday morning last.
The day previous had been clear and mild, and the evening
closed in starry and cloudless. At about 10 o'clock the sky
became overcast, and unusual darkness prevailed, which
continued up to the time of the occurrence, which was
about half-past 2. The phenomenon commenced with a
heavy, distant, and rumbling sound beneath, somewhat like
distant thunder, except that it was more smothered, which
rapidly approached and increased to a climax, and then re-
ceded and died away. The roar as it approached was in.
terrupted by one gland explosion louder than the loudest
thunder, and by a series of reports less loud and less de-
fined, the whole ending with the same heavy rumbling
with which it commenced. The only intelligent description
that can be given of the sound is, that it was terrible and
appalling. Many who were awakened by it from their
sleep pronounced it unearthly. From the first a tremulous
motion was communicated to the earth, causing a rattling
of the windows, which increased with the roar to such an
extent that the buildings were violently shaken, displacing
furniture, rattling dishes, &c. The motion was sufficient
to cause the bell in the church to strike nine or ten times.

The Academy bell rang also, though lower down, and in a
position to be less affected by the vibratory motion of the
earth.
"Some who wore standingin their houses at the time of
the shock say that in the height of it it was quit,' impos-
sible to stand unassisted. In ono instance a chimney was
thrown down. In stone and brick buildings the effect was
greater anti more threatening. Our villagers were every-
where aroused, and many rushed into the streets, each
supposing that his neighbour's house was being overthrown
by some violent explosion.
"In other places, in particular directions, the shock and
reports scorned equally or more severe and terrific. Mr.
Calvin Wakefield, a candid man of undoubted veracity,
living seine six miles cast of this, says that the shock threw
several stones from his cellar

...
enintnttley.
Neighbours rushed wildly to
fearful in that
meetquarter.
said
Allto havebeen
concurred e
them, in turn, seeking some
distant neighbours, t
some
.:dire impeonndienvgereyvhilantdh,rteoatbeenaenclimt.heerired
friendly sympathy or P.
"The whole occurroenic.oete.-^iosn.
lieving
destruction.
" 4 What was it . is asked
in a thousand ways as diverse as the conceits of the ques-
,lVas it an earthquake?' '
ques-
tioned.
Was it a concussion of
the atmosphere, produced by some wild rushing meteor or
that
comet?" Was it the bursting of some wandering aerolite
in our midst?' Was it—what was it?'
"Nearly all Concur in pronouncing it an earthquake—a
genuine bond fide earthquake. What facts are at hand are
given to sustain this. First, the noise was clear subter-
ranean; the motion of the earth; the absence as all fi
of any light or flash ;no sudden b • i
rin,
arometic change. The
same facts, however, wouldgo to show there
disturbance or change in th was sufficient
dumb
atmosphere for
beasts to dis • thatsomethinge
discover unusual was about to oc-
cur. The dogs barked and howled in the streets for some
time previous, and those confined manifested the greatest
uneasiness. It is possible, however, that the muttering was
heard by them before it broke out loud enough to awaken
1 sleepers.
As for theidirection in which the shock travelled, we
are convinced it was from east to west. We have heard
from different points, from reliable sources, and find that
at Remsen, Trenton, and Holland Patent nothing was ex-
perienced; Turin quite heavy, at Copenhagen quite heavy,
at Watertown slight, at Adams heavy, and, if reports are
correct, heavier than here. From these facts it would
appear evident that the course of the—whatever it was—
was from east to west, or vice versa. The precise time of
the occurrence of the phenomenon was, by Lowville time,
22 minutes to 3 o'clock ; by the time of the Principal of
the Academy, lately adjusted by the Watertown time, a
quarter past 2 o clock.
" Twice before, we are informed, have similar phone•
as
mena been observable here, though never anythingheard
severe as this; one fifteen years ago. We have also
felt sub-
it stated there were two or three slight shocks
at in.
sequent to the grand shock on
This
risda affirmednight,
by those
tervals of about five minutes. iin,... viiinge.n
discoverable living east of this, though not_____the

DIPLOMATIC SERVICES.—From a return yesterday
issued (obtained by Mr. Oliveria, M.P.), it appears that
the salaries of persons employed in diplomatic services
amount to 117,9551., and the allowance for house rent
is 9,900/., making 127,8551. a-year. There is, besides,
7,6791. for diplomatic services in Persia.