On March 3, 1879, at 4.43 P.M., an earthquake was felt throughout Tokio, the strength of which, as judged by our feelings, was above that of an average shock. As registered by one of Palmieri’s instruments, it had a direction S.S.W. to N.N.E. and an intensity of 11°. On the same day there were several smaller shocks having the same direction, and these were succeeded by others on the 9th of the month. Immediately after these shakings it was discovered that almost every arch in the internal walls of the building here referred to had been cracked across the crown in a direction about N. 40° W. All the other arches of the building, of which there were a great number in walls at right angles to the direction of the shock, were found not to have sustained any injury. To this statement, however, there was one exception, which was subsequently proved to have been due to a settlement taking place. After examining these cracks the only cause to which they could be attributed was the series of shakings which they had just experienced. It seemed as if the heavy walls right and left of the arches had been in vibration without synchronism in their periods, and as a consequence the arches which connected them had been torn asunder. Although the time at which the cracks were formed and the peculiar positions in which they were only to be found pointed distinctly to their origin, to be certain that they were not due to settlement of the foundations, horizontal lines were ruled upon the brickwork and from time to time subsequently observed. The points to which the various cracks extended were also marked and observed. Beneath the walls as foundations there were beds of concrete about three feet thick and about ten feet in width. These had been under the pressure of the partially built walls for two years before the arches had been put in. As these foundations were unusually strong, being intended to carry so very much greater weight than that to which they had been subjected, if any settlement had been detected it would have been a matter of surprise. Some weeks after the formation of these cracks it was observed that they gradually closed. This was probably due to the gradual falling inwards of the two broken portions of the arch, their position when open being one of instability. [Illustration: FIG. 16.—Cracks in a corner house, Belluno, June 29, 1873 (Bittner).]