These are the results obtained at three stations in a straight line, but at different distances from the origin, of a disturbance produced by exploding a charge of dynamite in a bore-hole. A simple inspection of the diagrams shows that at the near station the disturbance consisted of back and forth motions which, compared with the same disturbance as recorded at a more distant station, were very rapid. Further, by examining the diagram of the motions, say at the near station, it is clearly evident that the period of the back and forth motion rapidly decreased as the motion died out.

Then illustrations are given, as examples out of a large series of other records, all showing like results.

Although we must draw a distinction between earth waves and water waves, we yet see that in these points they present a striking likeness. Let us take, for example, any of the large earthquake waves which have originated off the coast of South America, and then radiated outwards, until they spread across the Pacific, to be recorded in Japan and other countries perhaps twenty-five hours afterwards, at a distance of nearly nine thousand miles from their origin. Near this origin they appeared as walls of water, which were seen rapidly advancing towards the coast. These have been from twenty to two hundred feet in height, and they suc ceeded each other at rapid intervals, until finally they died out as gentle waves. By the time these walls of water traversed the Pacific to, let us say, Japan, they broadened out to a swell so flat that it could not be detected on the smoothest water excepting along shore lines, where the water rose and fell like the tide. Instead of a wall of water sixty feet in height we have long flat undulations perhaps eight feet in height, but with a distance from crest to crest of more than one hundred and twenty miles.

If we turn to the effects of large earthquakes as exhibited on the land, I think that we shall find records of phenomena which are only to be explained on the assumption of an action having taken place analogous to that which takes place so often in the ocean, or an action similar to that exhibited by small earthquakes and artificially produced disturbances if greatly exaggerated.

As a remarkable instance of such phenomena we may take the great earthquake of Lisbon on November 1, 1755. In Spain, northern Italy, the south of France and Germany, northern Africa, Madeira

and other Atlantic islands, the effects of the disturbance which created so much devastation in Portugal were also more or less severely felt as violent movements of the soil.

In other countries further distant, as, for instance, Great Britain, Holland, Norway and Sweden, and North America, although the records are numerous, the only phenomena which were particularly observed were the slow oscillations of the waters in lakes, ponds, canals, ete. In some instances the observers especially remarked that there was no motion in the soil.

Pebbly Dam in Derbyshire, which is a large body of water covering some thirty acres, commenced to oscillate as a strong current from the south.

A canal near Godalming flowed eight feet over the walk on the north side.

Coniston Water in Cumberland, which is about five miles long, oscillated for about five minutes, rising a yard up its shores. Near Durham a pond forty yards long and ten yards broad rose and fell about one foot for six or seven minutes. There were four or five ebbs and flows per minute.

Loch Lomond rose and fell through about two and a half feet every five minutes, and all other lochs in Scotland seem to have been similarly agitated.

At Shirbrun Castle in Oxfordshire, where the water in some moats and ponds was very carefully observed, it was noticed that the floods began gently, the velocity then increased, till at last with great impetuosity they reached their full height. Here the water remained for a little while, until the ebb commenced, at first gently but finally with great rapidity. At two extremities of a moat about one hundred yards long it was found that the sinkings and risings were almost simultaneous. The motions in the pond a short distance from the moat were also observed, and it was found that the risings and sinkings of the two did not agree.

Durings these motions there were several maxima.

These few examples of the motions of waters without any record of the motions of the ground at the time of the Lisbon earthquake must be taken as examples of a very large number of similar observations of which we have detailed accounts.

Like agitations it must also be remembered were perceived in North America and in Scandinavia, and if the lakes of other distant countries had been provided with sufficiently delicate apparatus, it is

not unlikely that like disturbances would have been recorded.

The only explanation for these phenomena appears to be that the short quick vibrations which had ruined so many cities in Portugal had by the time that they had radiated to distant countries gradually become changed into long flat waves having a period of perhaps several minutes, and in countries like England these pulse-like movements were too gentle to be perceived excepting in the effects produced by tipping up the beds of lakes and ponds. The phenomenon was not unlike that of a swell produced by a distant storm.

At Amsterdam and other towns chandeliers in churches were observed to swing. At Haarlem floods rose over the sides of tubs, and it is expressly mentioned that no motion was perceived in the ground.

At the Hague a tallow-chandler was surprised at the clashing noise made by his candles, and this the more so because no motion was felt under foot.

At Toplitz the pulsation of the ground appears to have manifested itself in effects upon the springs. The flow of the principal spring was greatly increased. Be fore this increase it became turbid, and at one time stopped. Subsequently it became clear, and flowed as usual, but the water was hotter and more strongly mineralized.

At one or two places, as, for instance, in Britain, slight earthquakes were experienced. These, however, were local, and in every probability were secondary disturbances produced by the pulsations causing ground in a critical state to give

way.

In this earthquake I think, then, that we have a clear case of the production of pulsations in the soil that were too slow to be felt by ordinary observers.

area, which may be regarded as an uncompleted effort in the establishment of an earthquake or a volcano. The very fact that we know that volcanoes rising from deep oceans have in the first instance forced their way against a pressure of at least three or four tons to the square inch, indicates to us the existence of internal pressures tending to raise the crust of the earth, which pressures are infinitely greater than any of the pressures which we have upon the surface. of our earth produced by tides and variations in the barometrical column. If we follow the views of Mr. Mallet in considering that the pressures exerted on the crust of our earth may in volcanic regions be roughly estimated by the height of a column of lava in the volcanoes of such districts, we see that in the neighborhood of a volcano like Cotopaxi the upward pressures must have been many times greater than the pressures already mentioned sea-level being taken as the line of hydrostatic equilibrium. The chief point, however, is that beneath the crust of our earth enormous pressures exist tending to cause eruption; and farther, that these are variable. Before a volcano bursts forth we should expect that there would be in its vicinity an upward bulging of the crust, and after its formation a fall. Farther, it is not difficult to conjecture other possible means by which such pressures may obtain relief.

Should these pressures then find relief without rupturing the surface, it is not difficult to imagine them as the originators of vast pulsations which may be recorded on the surface of the earth as wavelike motions of slow period similar to the motions in the outer area of a tract disturbed by a destructive earthquake.

or

That slow, undulatory motions changes in the vertical do occur in the crust of the earth, whatever may be their origin, we have numerous phenomena which certainly admit of explanation on such an assumption.

In Switzerland from time to time we hear of oscillations in the waters of lakes known under the name of Rhussen and Seiches. These, it may be remarked, are common to the lakes and inland seas of many countries.

This was on May 10 (April 28), 1877. The complete period was about twenty seconds, the amplitude being 15" and 2". One hour and fourteen minutes before this he observes that there had been a severe earthquake at Iquique, the distance to which in a straight line was ten thousand six hundred kilometres, and on an arc of a great circle twelve thousand five hundred kilometres.

On September 20 (8) in 1867, Mr Wagner had observed at Pulkova oscillations of 3", seven minutes before which there had been an earthquake at Malta.

On April 4 (March 23), 1868, an agita tion of the level had been observed by M. Gromadzki, five minutes before which there had been an earthquake in Turkes

tan.

Similar observations had been made twice before. These, however, had not been connected with any earthquakes, at least - Mr. Darwin remarks with certainty.

Like phenomena are mentioned by M. S. di Rossi, in his "Meteorologica Endogena."

Thus on March 20, 1881, at 9 P.M., a watchmaker in Buenos Ayres observed that all his clocks oscillating north and south suddenly began to increase their amplitude, until some of them became twice as great as before. Similar observations | were made in all the other shops. No motion of the earth was detected. Subsequently it was learnt that this corresponded with an earthquake in Santiago and Mendoza.

Another remarkable example illustrating the like phenomena are the observations which were made on December 21, 1860, by means of a barometer in San Francisco, which oscillated, with periods of rest, for half an hour. No shock was felt, nor is it likely that it was a local accident, as it could not be produced artificially. On the following day, however, a violent earthquake was experienced at Santiago.

This brings me to the end of the few important illustrations of the phenomena of earth pulsations which I have at my disposal. With a little trouble I have no doubt that these might be greatly multiplied. As they stand, however, I think that they are quite sufficient to convince us of the existence of phenomena which hitherto have been almost entirely over looked. That disturbances of the vertical are from time to time produced by long

Tokio, Japan.

From Chambers' Journal. UNCLAIMED MONEY.

THE 66 agony column" of our leading papers is invariably a source of considerable amusement to many people, by the extraordinary and generally romantic character of the notices to be found there, amongst which may be mentioned the curiosities of next of kin; and one and all naturally and justly arrive at the proper conclusion, that there is unquestionably a vast amount of property lying at the present time unclaimed in England. Perhaps it is less difficult to find heirs, now that communication with the colonies is so rapid and constant; but for all that, the number of advertisements for next of kin proves that a difficulty still exists; and, in fact, few people are really aware how much unclaimed cash is still lying dormant, and how much has been appropriated by government.

In novels, people are often made to pick up fortunes out of a chance newspaper, and the incident is dismissed by the reader as entirely growing out of the author's imagination. What ought to surprise us is, not that fortunes are sometimes thus obtained, but that millions of pounds sterling should be going about begging for an owner, and advertising themselves to an incredulous and indifferent public, who scarcely ever take the trouble to inquire about the large sums locked up in chancery, not to speak of unclaimed dividends, etc., still awaiting their proper owners. There are scores of people at present, belonging to a circle below that of the upper ten," who have really fair grounds for expecting a change of fortune in the right direction some day, but they lack the necessary clue on which all their hopes turn. Others there are, both at home and abroad, who fancy they will in time come into something hand. some. Meanwhile, they trust to chance, without searching for themselves.

While it is not the writer's intention to weary the reader's patience with an array of dry statistical accounts, the mention of a few monetary items may have the effect