The outburst was accompanied with violent shocks of earthquake. It is the opinion of Captain Newell, of the _Alice Frazer_, that considerable shoaling has been the result of this submarine action. ON THE DIRECTION AND VELOCITY OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN CALIFORNIA, JANUARY 9, 1857—BY DR. JOHN B. TRASK. The earthquake which occurred in various parts of this State, on the morning of the ninth January last excited at the time considerable attention. This arose from two causes. First, from the varied reports that appeared on the following day through the press of the city, detailing its occurrence in remote mountain towns, and for which there was no foundation. Secondly, from the great extent over which the commotion was felt, as was subsequently proved. Immediately following the occurrence of the phenomenon, letters were addressed to all the principal towns between Mariposa and Downieville, east of the valleys, for the purpose of learning how far the shocks may have extended eastward of this city. These letters were forwarded by the Pacific Express Company to their agents, and through them answers were returned in every case but two through the same source. From the facts thus obtained, it was found that in no locality east of the foothills, _was any shock felt on that day or night_. Another report, equally unfounded, reached us on the arrival of the steamer from the southern coast, to the effect that several houses had been demolished in San Diego from its violence, while the facts in the case are _that the steamer left that port twenty-four hours before the shock occurred there_. This earthquake, or more properly speaking the series of shocks that began on the night of the eighth in this city, and which continued in the south part of the State during the following day and night of the ninth, was probably the most extensive of any on record on this portion of the Pacific coast, excepting, perhaps, that of the wave of the Simoda earthquake in December, 1854. The linear distance over which we are able to trace its course, amounts to six hundred and two miles, and its breadth, so far as now ascertained, is two hundred and ninety miles. It has all the appearance of having been the terminal movement of some more violent commotion at a distance from our coast. From the best evidence obtainable at present, it seems to have had its origin to the west and traveled in an easterly direction. This is conclusively proved from the fact that it was felt earlier at San Francisco than at any other locality east of this city within the State. We have no record as yet of its occurrence along the coast of Mexico or of Oregon.