Page:The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious.djvu/73

Rh In may laſt, we had a paper read at the Royal Society, concerning the ſecond earthquake felt by us at London, on the 8th of march. A ſhepherd belonging to Mr. Secretary Fox at Kenſington (the sky being perfectly ſerene, and clear) was much ſurpriſed with a very extraordinary noiſe in the air, rolling over his head, as of cannon cloſe by. He likewiſe thought, that it came from the north-weſt, and went to the ſouth-eaſt: a motion quite contrary, to what muſt have been the caſe, if it were really of cannon. This noiſe paſs’d ruſhing by him; and inſtantly he ſaw the ground (a dry, and ſolid ſpot) wave under him, like the face of the river. The tall trees of the avenue, where he was, nodded their tops very ſenſibly, and quiver’d like a ſhaken ſpear. The flock of ſheep immediately took fright, and ran all away together, as if dogs had purſued them. A great rookery in the place, were equally alarm’d, and after an univerſal clangor, flew away; no leſs than if chaced by hawks.

I was likewiſe inform’d, that in the ſame earthquake, a great parcel of hens, and chickens, kept at that time in Gray’s-inn-lane, upon the ſhock, ran to the rooſt, affrighted. And the like was obſerv’d of pigeons. And in our laſt account of the earthquake from Northampton, ’t is remarked, that the birds in cages