Observing orogeny - Maria Graham's account of the earthquake in Chile in 1822

In November 1822, part of the Chilean coast was devastated by an intense Ea rthquake. This report of geological phenomena by Maria Graham, Inter Callco tt (1785-1842) - being one of the earliest derailed descriptions dealing wi th geologically relevant facts - gave rise to a vituperative debate lasting several years at the Geological Society of London about the effects of ear thquakes and their role in mountain building. Although Mrs Graham's account was entirely reasonable from a present-day view; she became trapped betwee n the millstones of two conflicting theories which were then held.