the letter of our Yokohama correspouceut, dated 23rd July, which appears to-day, there is a paragraph which is curiously accentuated by the news which we publish in another column that there had been a terrible earth-{quake at Kumamoto in the island of Kiushiu, Japan, with great destruction of life and property. Our correspondent remarks:—" Another strange feature to be noticed is the continuance of earthquakes far into the summer. It seems strange to say so, but it is none the less true, that earthquakes as a rule are seldom felt here during certain mouths. For instance, we are seldom troubled by them later than May, that is, until the yest begins to grow old. This year, however, June and July have disap-inted us, the seismic forces having like other infinitely less unpleasant visitants failed to find rest apparently." The seismic forces proved their restlessness by overturning the large and populous city of Kumamoto on the day that this letter reached us. Our cor respondent had previously drawn attention to the very unusual weather that has prevailed in Yokohama this July, so exceptional that observers must have felt that there was some catastrophe brewing, This is quite in accord with the very few rules which earthquakes are kuown—but not always—to obey.
are told by scientists that usual conditions of the atmosphere generally precede earthquakes; irregularities in the seasons, sudden gusts of wind interrupted by sudden calms, and violent
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.