Earthquakesalonearesufficienttodestroytheprosperityofanycountry。
IfbeneathEnglandthenowinertsubterraneanforcesshouldexertthosepowers，whichmostassuredlyinformergeologicalagestheyhaveexerted，howcompletelywouldtheentireconditionofthecountrybechanged！Whatwouldbecomeoftheloftyhouses，thicklypackedcities，greatmanufactories，thebeautifulpublicandprivateedifices？Ifthenewperiodofdisturbancewerefirsttocommencebysomegreatearthquakeinthedeadofthenight，howterrificwouldbethecarnage！Englandwouldatoncebebankrupt；allpapers，records，andaccountswouldfromthatmomentbelost。Governmentbeingunabletocollectthetaxes，andfailingtomaintainitsauthority，thehandofviolenceandrapinewouldremainuncontrolled。Ineverylargetownfaminewouldgoforth，pestilenceanddeathfollowinginitstrain。
Shortlyaftertheshock，agreatwavewasseenfromthedistanceofthreeorfourmiles，approachinginthemiddleofthebaywithasmoothoutline；butalongtheshoreittoreupcottagesandtrees，asitsweptonwardswithirresistibleforce。Attheheadofthebayitbrokeinafearfullineofwhitebreakers，whichrusheduptoaheightof23verticalfeetabovethehighestspring-tides。Theirforcemusthavebeenprodigious；
forattheFortacannonwithitscarriage，estimatedatfourtonsinweight，wasmoved15feetinwards。Aschoonerwasleftinthemidstoftheruins，200yardsfromthebeach。Thefirstwavewasfollowedbytwoothers，whichintheirretreatcarriedawayavastwreckoffloatingobjects。Inonepartofthebay，ashipwaspitchedhighanddryonshore，wascarriedoff，againdrivenonshore，andagaincarriedoff。Inanotherpart，twolargevesselsanchoredneartogetherwerewhirledabout，andtheircableswerethricewoundroundeachother；thoughanchoredatadepthof36feet，theywereforsomeminutesaground。Thegreatwavemusthavetravelledslowly，fortheinhabitantsofTalcahuanohadtimetorunupthehillsbehindthetown；andsomesailorspulledoutseaward，trustingsuccessfullytotheirboatridingsecurelyovertheswell，iftheycouldreachitbeforeitbroke。Oneoldwomanwithalittleboy，fourorfiveyearsold，ranintoaboat，buttherewasnobodytorowitout：theboatwasconsequentlydashedagainstananchorandcutintwain；theoldwomanwasdrowned，butthechildwaspickedupsomehoursafterwardsclingingtothewreck。Poolsofsalt-waterwerestillstandingamidsttheruinsofthehouses，andchildren，makingboatswitholdtablesandchairs，appearedashappyastheirparentsweremiserable。Itwas，however，exceedinglyinterestingtoobserve，howmuchmoreactiveandcheerfulallappearedthancouldhavebeenexpected。
Itwasremarkedwithmuchtruth，thatfromthedestructionbeinguniversal，nooneindividualwashumbledmorethananother，orcouldsuspecthisfriendsofcoldness——thatmostgrievousresultofthelossofwealth。Mr。Rouse，andalargepartywhomhekindlytookunderhisprotection，livedforthefirstweekinagardenbeneathsomeapple-trees。Atfirsttheywereasmerryasifithadbeenapicnic；butsoonafterwardsheavyraincausedmuchdiscomfort，fortheywereabsolutelywithoutshelter。