Lacock Abbey,
Chippenham.
Saturday Oct. 31 – 1868
My Dear Constance
We have had an Event here which I think you will be very much surprised to hear of. We have had a little earthquake! Last night I was sitting alone in my library, and had been alone for more than an hour. I was reading the newspaper and all was quiet around me for the household had retired to rest, and Charles is absent. When suddenly I thought that some one rose up behind me and advanced with some noise, shaking the room and furniture. I was very much startled, dropped the newspaper, jumped up and looked around, but could see nothing. After a few moments of doubt, I understood that it was an earthquake, and looked at my watch, which marked 10h 39m P.M. I sat up 2 hours longer expecting a second shock, but none came.
This morning I made enquiry and found that Wilkins felt it strongly and was considerably alarmed He was gone to bed. His daughter also felt it, but his wife did not who was occupied below with some household business. Some in the village were alarmed with the rattling of their China and thought there were thieves in the house; others felt nothing. At Chippenham several felt it as the postman told us this afternoon. There has not been time for accounts to come from more distant places. I never felt an earthquake before, thought I have seen many of nature’s marvels and phenomena. I hope we shall not have bad accounts of it from other places.
Pray thank Monie and Mlle Amélina for their very interesting letters which I will answer in a few days. I was not surprised to hear that you had decided to spend the winter at Venice, and I am glad of it, for every other scheme seemed to present difficulties, and you all seem to be really comfortable at the Hotel de l’Europe and to find fresh objects of interest the more you explore the old city. I expect Charles back on Monday, he has not fixed any time for his departure, but I think he will find the Abbey too gloomy in November to wish to stay here much longer
Love to all Your affte
Henry