The Virginia Gazette

NEW YORK, October 31.

Extract of a Letter from Kingston, in Jamaica, September 16, 1771.

On the 3d Instant, about eight o'Clock, we had a most dreadful and terrible Earthquake, which lasted about one Minute; had it continued about Half that Time longer, every House in this City must have been levelled to the Ground. The Shock was so severe that it was with much Difficulty People could keep their Feet. The general Terrour among the Inhabitants can be better conceived than expressed, every One being in dreadful Expectation of instantaneous Death. It pleased God, however, to spare us, and in his Judgments to remember Mercy. My House rocked like a Cradle, and I fully expected it must have rent asunder. Think, my Friend, what must have been the Situation of my Mind on this Occasion! To see my Wife and Family flying frantick and wild, seeking Protection from me. Good God! I would not pass such another Minute though to purchase Millions of Worlds. About Half an Hour after we had another Shock, though not so violent, and between nine and ten at Night another Something harder than the last. The next Day there were no less than five Shocks more, and between that Time and the Date of this Letter scarce a single Day has passed without our feeling these dreadful Convulsion of Nature; and still this City is preserved is a Monument of God's Mercy and Goodness. The late Earthquake at Hispaniola being called to our Minds afresh, you may well imagine added much to our Apprehensions.