Page:The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious.djvu/87

Rh 7ly, We find from all accounts, ancient and modern, that the weather preceding theſe ſhocks, was mild, warm, dry, ſerene, clear, froſty: what notoriouſly favours all our electrical experiments. This is particularly obſerv’d by Mr. Johnſon and Mr. Smith, and other accounts. In the extenſive ſhock of ſunday, march 18, along the Suſſex coaſt, they take notice from Portſmouth, that the day was ſerene, warm, and dry, and that a ſhower of rain fell immediately before the ſhock. Mr. Bowman of Moulſey obſerv’d a ſhock there on may 24 laſt, and ſays, the air was perfectly ſerene, and clear. We very well know, that generally, all laſt winter ſpring, ſummer, and autumn, have been moſt remarkably of this kind of weather; more ſo, than has been obſerv’d in our memory; and have had all thoſe requiſites, appearances, and preparations, that notoriouſly cauſe electricity, that promote it, or that are the effects of it.

8ly, We find the blood-red auſtralis aurora preceding at Spalding, as with us at London. At the time of the earthquake at Mancheſter this year, it accompanied it. And this year has been more remarkable than any for fire-balls, ſtorms, wind, thunder, lightnings, and coruſcations, almoſt throughout all England. A large ball of fire, with a long fiery tail on july 22, that paſſed over great part of England northward. Another ſeen over London, paſſing