“Communication, Earthquake”

Date

4-27-1812

Newspaper

Wilson’s Knoxville Gazette

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

Knoxville, Tennessee

Serial Number

454

Abstract

Account of feeling the New Madrid earthquake by an Unknown person in an unknown location. Article was signed Duke of Milan. “At forty five minutes after three o’clock A. M. on the 7th February last, a shock of an earthquake was very sensibly felt. and at forty minutes after ten o’clock, P. M. another slight shock was distinctly perceived, the vibration appeared to be from north to south, or rather west of north, and east of south; duration of first shock about a minute, of second shock about half a minute.” Rest of the account speculates on the causes of earthquakes.

Transcript

COMMUNICATION. EARTH-QUAKE. At forty-five minutes after three o'clock A. M. on the 7th February last, a shock of an earthquake was very sensibly felt, and at forty minutes after ten o'clock, P. M. another slight shock was distinctly perceived, the vibration appeared to be from north to south, or rather west of north, and east of south; duration of first shock about a minute, of second shock about half a minute. What a field of contemplation does these prodigies of nature open to the reflecting mind, a mind identified and in some degree confined, by a narrow wall of clay; yet it is almost commensurate with the whole expanse of creation-whilst the body is indulging on the bed of ease, the mind can dive into the bowels of the earth, mount a flaming column of combustable fluid, and ride through the various caverns, or rather arteries and veins of the earth; viewing with a chymical eye, as he swiftly passeth on, the many rich and useful mines and minerals, engendered and engendering, then with goodness commanding his swift courser to throw up to the surface, for the use of man, some of these richnesses, and with them itself a part to explode, expand, and seek its kindred in the heavens above, then to descend to the earth again, in refreshing rains and cheering breses impregnated with nitre and other salts, to nourish, and invigorate vegetation. But after thus, not only harmlessly, but beneficially disposing of the earthquakes, concussion or Volcano's burst, the mind with pause a moment to view the many disastrous consequences they are capable of inflicting on the human family, to see the earth open and swallow up a whole city with thousands of human beings, droping perhaps to the very center of the earth, (and even appearing to threaten, to swallow up its whole self turning as it were outside in), or still more majestic sight, a volcano burst and appear to threaten to vomit out the whole contents of the earths bowels, in Lava, smoke and ashes inundating whole countries, and as it were, the earth turning inside out, although with those who have not a command of themselves, by expanded reflection, a melancholy and frightful scene, yet to the mind accustomed to expanded thought, who viewing all things liberally, and at the same time with a scrutinizing eye, although not void of feeling yet knowing he hath not the power to control, the hand of heaven, or the process of nature, or if he for a time had such power, he might do more harm than good, the picture is majestic, the reflection grand beyond description. But a mind of the latter description does not stop here, after viewing all that's in and on the earth he inhabits, and every thing appertaining to it, he mounts the starr'y regions, fixes himself on a comets tail, and rides through the vast expanse of space, viewing worlds after worlds, harmoniously roling around their center sun, obediently keeping in the track, marked out by natures God to each, and at the same time ascertaining that his long tail's courser, heretofore believed to be a dangerous intruder, has his track also marked out, vigidly observes, and keeps within the same, and is himself only a part of one grand harmonious whole DUKE OF MILAN.

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