The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-08 00:00:00

(No. 12,.583.)

'EARTHQUAKE.

(From the Cambrian.)

Three shocks of earthquake were distinctly felt
in this town and neighbourhood on Friday night, and
on Saturday and Sunday mornings last. That on
Sunday was considerably stronger than those expe-
rienced on the preceding day; and several officers,
wt o have served in various parts of the globe, de-
clare that it was equal in violence to any they ever
felt. The following letter, add,essed to us by a
highly respectable gentleman of this town, fully
agreeing with our own observations on the subject,
supersedes the necessity of our entering more into
detail, further than to observe, that the shock on
Sunday was felt severely in various parts of the
Principality
TO THE EDITOR OF THE CAMBRIAN.

Gloucester• place, Swansea, Jan. 3, 1832.
Sir,--I beg to offer the following observations in
regard to the shocks of earthquake which have been
recently felt in this neighbourhood.
The first happened about eleven o'clock on
Friday night last, December 28. This was slight,
and felt most to the west of Swansea, near the coast.
The second shock, which was stronger, occurred
about half-past seven A.M. on Saturday, Dec. 29. This
was very distinctly felt by persons in bed and out
of bed, in the house and moving about the fields.
Ir does not appear that these excited much alarm.
Such was not the case, however, with the third
shock,which took place at half-past eight on Sunday
morning, Dec. 30.
In some houses and situations this earthquake was
felt in such force as to excite a considerable degree
of alarm in the strongest minds. The bells were set
ringing in many houses. Some portions of chimneys
were thrown down. The vibrations of the build-
ings were so strong as to make many apprehend
that their houses would fall or be overthrown; a
distinct movement was observed in some lofty
houses, and slight rents have been the consequence.
I was sitting at an upper window of a lofty house
which faces the eastern portion of the Bay of Swan.
sea, and so near the water, as to have an opportu-
nity of observing most distinctly the surface of the
sea; indeed, I was at the time admiring its tran-
quillity as contrasted with the great agitation lately
presented during the long series of very wet wea-
ther recently experienced. The first impression
which I received of this last earthquake was that of
something very heavy upon or through a part of my
house, accompanied with a dull, hollow, and, I
may say, terrific sound—a very strong vibration or
shaking of the house and every thing in it; almost
instantaneously a second and more violent shock
followed, of the same character, and then a fainter
rumbling noise in conclusion. I should limit the
duration of the whole to three or four seconds.
Such was the alarm of myself and family, that we
were about to rush out of the house for fear of its
falling upon us. At this time there was not a breath
of wind, the tide was flowing with the utmost calm-
ness and regularity, and within five minutes after
the shock, 1 walked upon the shore, unable to dis-

ingutsh any agitation :of the waters. My atter,-

tion was par'icularly directed to the sea, because
very striking phenomena have been observed upon
its surface and shores.during earthquakes.
Some sheep which were feeding under my win-
dows, and dogs in and about the house, showed no
signs of terror. But I have been informed, from
good authority, that for a very short time the sea
appeared to recede in an untisibil manner at. the mo-
ment of this last earthquake, and likewise, that a
flock of small birds, sitting near to the Infirmary,
seemed to be almost paralyzed with fear.
The thermometer was about 40; the barometer
30. The latter had been rising gradually for some
days, but in neither of the glasses did the mercury
appear to be much affected by the shock.
My sensations impressed ►ne with the conviction,
that subterranean concussions or eapksionl must
have been the cause of the movements and terrific
noise which accompanied this earthquake; and I
shall remain convinced from these impressions, that
there must be great vacuities in the bowels of the
earth to produce such effects.
It appears probable that the shock came from
the west or south-west, being more felt in that di-
rection than to the eastward. The shock and vi-
brations were most distinctly felt at sea. How far
this earthquake was owing to a sub-marine volcano,
or dependent upon a dreadful catastrophe at a dis-
tance from us, time will probably show.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,

JAMES GIBBON, M.D.

A correspondent at Neath says—" On Sunday
morning, about eight o'clock, the inhabitants of this
town and neighbourhood were alarmed by a smart
shock of earthquake. The vibrations were very
powerful, and were attended by a peculiar rushing
and moaning sound, described by many who noticed
it particularly, as unlike any other sound they ever
heard."

Our Llandovery correspondent writes—" On
Sunday the inhabitants of this town and its neigh-
bourhood were considerably alarmed by the shock
of an earthquake, which took place about eight
o'clock in the morning. Those who were in bed at
the time felt as if some person had wtempted taking
the bed suddenly from under them; others who
were up describe the sensation as if the floor was
waving under their feet. It appeared to move in a
direction from north-west to south-east. We have
heard that the shock was felt at Carmarthen, Lla-
nelly, Llansawell, and other places."
Our Fishguard correspondent says—" On San.
day last a smart shock of an earthquake was felt
here by many of the inhabitants. The event oc-
curred about half-past seven o'clock in the morning,
and in some of the houses its effects were such as to
put in motion chairs and other articles of furniture.
It is supposed to have lasted about five seconds. It
was likewise felt at Newport, and in several places
in the neighbourhood. On Monday a dreadful gale
followed, which must have proved destructive to
many vessels on this coast. The John and Peggy,
of Cardigan, from Swansea to Cardigan, with cutm,
was totally wrecked behind Fishguard Fort in the
morning of that day; crew saved."
[Among the most striking phenomena with which
the great earthquake that destroyed Lisbon on the
Ist of November, 1755, was attended throughout
the greater part of Europe, we extract the follow-
ing account of its effects in Swansea river, from the
Encycloycedia Britannica, and which may not, per-
haps, be generally known :—" At 'White Rock,
about two hours ebb of the tide, and near three
quarters after six in the evening, a vast quantity of
water rushed up with a prodigious noise, floated
two large vessels, the least of them above 200 tons;
broke their moorings, drove them across the river,
and had like to overset them. The whole rise and
fall of this extraordinary body of water did not last
above tcn minutes, nor was it felt in any other part
of the river, so that it seemed to have gushed out of
the earth at that place."]

THE NEW ROMANCE, "THEBUCCANEER."

—" An admirable historical romance—full of interest._
and with many new views of character. It is an histori.
cal romance, and yet unborrowed from SCOTTit has not
his mannerism—it is sui generis, which is saying a great
deal. The author has introduced CROMWELL in the fore-
ground as the principal character, and done justice to the
genius of the man. The I.lot is extremely well conceived
—very artful and progressing—the story never flags--aral
you open at once upon tLe main interest. 3lrs. HALL
has a considerable mastery of style, and evinces very
markel talents for the stage,"..Tbe author of " Pelham,"