The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-18 00:00:00

SHOCK OF AN EARTHQUAKE.

(From the Cornish Telegraph.)
On Friday right last, about half-past 10, West
Cornwall was visited by a shock of earthquak, and
although we only experienced the effects of such a
terrible convulsion in the remotest and least alarm'
ing degree, enough was felt to give us some idea of
this phenomenon when it occurs nearer the earth's
crust. The shock was perceptible at the same time
and with similar results throughout the Western
Peninsula, and the only thing we have to note is the
effect it produced on various peeple. We have re-
ceived verbal accounts from St. Just, Madron, Hea
Moor, Marazion, St. Ives, Hayle, Redruth, and the
Isles of Scilly : all describe the shock as p: odicing
the same strong vibration as that caused by heavy
waggons or trains as they roll along. Many people
had retired to rest, and speak of the trembling of
their beds for a minute; in several houses in Pen-
zance glasses which stood on the table rang ; and in
one house the floor of the back-kitchen vibrated so
much that its occupant, in terror, caught at some
support. At the same time there was a sound like
muffled thunder, so it is narrated to us—that is to
say as if thunder had pealed near the town, but the
sound had been deadened. We' heard or felt
nothing of it ourselves, but then, like the old woman
in the nursery tale we live "under (and against)
a hill," and a hundred times a day feel floor vibra-
tions and hear the crockery jingle : accustomed to
the earthquakes of traffic we perceived nothing of
this growl of Dame Nature. Partly owing to their
seclusion and partly owing, probably, to their
proximity, to granite, Hea, Moor, Poltair, and
lrengwamton felt the convulsion sensibly, and at
the latter residence the earthenware was thrown
down and the inmates much alarmed. At Hayle
an old man who is a gatekeeper on the West
Cornwall line sprang out of bed in great anxiety,
exclaiming to his wife, " Surely a train has passed !"
Thoughts of a strong gate smashed into match-
wood, perhaps of an accident, and most certainly of
managerial displeasure, came and went; and were
not banished until the troubled watchman dressed
and ascertained that no train had swept past.
The St. Ives people thought awaggon, laden with
one of the immense Cornish boilers, had rumbled
along their streets. At St. Mary's (Islands of
Scilly) no shock or sound was experienced. The
only correspondent who has up to this time
(Monday) written on the subject is Mr. Burney,
RN., of Mousehole, and we have much pleasure in
appending his description and the result of his
experience :

Mousehole, Jan. 14, 1860,

Sir,—Last night, at 10.25, a smart shock of an
earthquake was felt here. The shock lasted nearly
a minute, and appeared to extend from south to
north. Those in bed felt as if on board a steamer
in a heavy sea. The noise resembled distant thun-
der, or, more properly speaking, as if a hundred
heavy cables were let go. The sea was greatly,
agitated, as if it were boiling, and directly after-
wards there was a heavy squall of rain and wind.
My eldest daughter had just gone to her bedroom,
and describes the scene as follows :—Her toilet-
table, at which she was standing, appeared as if a
person had taken it by one end and violently
shaken it. The glass, &c., rang, and the various
things on it positively appeared to dance. She was
naturally very much alarmed, but could not
duringm ove
as the floor appeared to rise and fall under her feet.,
gyicottases
For nearly a minute she stood tremblimn
the whole time everything insdsitdnhc:sciio.bdoerrici'at.uwassiansigf in
aa
motion. From one end to the other of
the shock was felt ; those in
passing
On inquiry this
waggon, heavily laden, was
severe
morning
tioifattthhee
whole village
felt it more
or less, but nearly all differ in their description;
all agree, however, as to the trembling sensation
and the noise. A few weeks since I felt a singular
sensation, and thought I might be deceived; but
last night there was no doubt on the subject, and,
paciecaulsteolmimeda.
last night teas_l am to similar sensations in a
sayingtro-
ever tfhelatt
.
ahsehsioteaktio
as I
was
lashsaevNe'erneohesitation in
haven
—I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient
servant,

W. J. W. BURNEY,
Master R.N.:Chief Officer, C.G.

The Modena Gazette publishes more documents
found in the archives of Parma, from which it appears that
various condemnations to the bastinado were executed in
1849 and 1850, under the reign of the Duchess, together
with other grave acts of severity.
MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT.—MANCHESTER,
Tuesday.—The advices from the East are favourable, itnd
the tone of the market is decidedly firm and cheerlai.
Prices of all sorts of yarns and cloth are tending upwards,
with a demand quite equal to the production. The G er-
mans are buying more freely, and fur the home trade them
is a good inquiry,