could, but to have been able to make but little way. Mr. Stone had but just time to wrap himself up in his calico night-gown, but having entirely forgot the steps he went up, was obliged to remain where he was: as it is a very high place, many are impatient to fee him come down.

I know you will be forry for poor L—y C———, and Mr. P; they were found buried under vast heaps of dirt, which, by the posture they are yet in, they seem rather to have drawn towards themselves, than to have fhov'd from them, as they ought.

As to my Lord Chesterfield, there is no getting at him yet, the weight of other people's houfes that have fallen upon him being immenfe; however, it is hoped, it may be removed in time. One of his fons was fwallowed up in the Duchefs of Kendal's houfe in St. James's Square, but they are not yet able to find in which part of it he is.

It is reported the confufion was very great in Bloomfbury Square; howeyer, Mr. Butcher was directed to anfwer, in his own name, all the letters received from foreign princes, by the laft mail; though it is faid, on the other hand, that fo far from any appearance of fear there, the company stuck to the pharaoh-table, during

the

the whole time, with a conftancy quite heroic; only, indeed, that night, they played ready money.

Little Mifs Afh is about town again as much as ever; though what hole fhe went in at, and came out of, nobody knows.

A certain pretty Lady you know, remarkable for her zeal last Westminster election, was taken near the Huftings, Covent Garden: fhe attempted to cry out, as fhe went down, Oh, my country! but her mouth was stopp'd before fhe could pronounce the whole fentence. Several ladies that had been playing at brag, were found with the naturals in their hands.

Some people were fo lucky as to find a way under ground, from the city, and rofe directly in the House of Lords, where they feemed to like this change better than their old one.

Lady Vane, who did not lie at home that night, knew nothing of the matter 'till fhe got up: fhe fays, The felt a great fhaking, but did not take it to be an earthquake.

Lady Anfon was a good deal frightened, but not hurt, by the fall of the tefter of her bed; it feems the upholsterers had forgotten to faften it, but by a very

flight

flight pack-thread, fo that the leaft motion it had beers put in must have brought it down long ago.

The goodness of the prefent glorious Miniftry upon this occasion can never be fufficiently commemorated: they were all the time picking all forts of people out of the dirt, and leading them into the Court at St. James's, for which use they had forcibly fet open the great gates, in fpight of those within, who defigned to have kept the place clear for perfons of figure; though fome people have the ill nature to ascribe to the hurry of fear, that the day before this accident a very great man difpofed of a place of 500l. per annum, in favour of a gentleman of great worth, and greatly recommended, even though his own footman had asked it.

The free independent electors met extraordinary that night, to drink fuccefs to earthquake the third; when Sir George Vandeput affured the company, that he would to the utmost of his power, and as far as in him lay, promote any future earthquake, which he looked upon to be the natural constitution of the land, and the only means of fettling things, and produced a letter from Admiral Vernon, which affured them of the fame on his part.

Mr. Whiston, the astronomer, on the firft beginning of the trembling, fet out on foot for Dover, on his way

to

to Jerufalem, where he has made an appointment to meet the Millennium: it is thought, if he makes tolerable hafte, he will arrive there first.

I have been told, but I won't anfwer for the truth of it, that Sir John Barnard has propofed to the Parliament, a tax upon fear and folly, to be levied on those that have transported themselves out of the reach of an earthquake.

The Prince of Wales behaved upon this occafion, with that humanity and generofity, which conftantly attend on all his actions; the firft of which diftinguishes him as much from the reft of princes, as the latter does from the rest of men: he was feen to weep during the whole time of the confufion, though he could help but little, otherwife than by conftantly warning thofe he faw in danger, There's a hole, you'll tumble into it! That boufe will fall upon your head! But, by a strange stupidity, people kept preffing on, in the same direction they fet out, till they all funk together.

This, Sir, is all I have hitherto been able to pick up, of what has happened in this horrible fubverfion of things. I don't doubt, but a little more time will furnish materials for many more, and much longer letters of the fame fort; as every moment, the more rubbish is re

moved,

moved, and the deeper they go into it, the more perfons of diftinction are found at the bottom of it. I am,

SIR,

Your most obedient fervant,

London, April the 5th.

P. D.

A fecond Letter from a Gentleman in Town, to his Friend in the Country, on Account of the late dreadful Earth.. quake; containing a Lift of feveral more Persons that bave been fince found in the Rubbish.

SIR,

As your laft letter fhews you more defirous of knowing the calamities and behaviour of this wicked. town upon the late earthquake, I fhall furnish you with as many particulars as I can.

All forts of people are still very hard at work in digging away the rubbish, and faving the lives of their fellow creatures, though we are fure there are many who, though not as yet quite dug out, are in no danger of dying, for the workmen have got near enough to overhear fome of their converfation.

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