“ After the great shock, those people who escaped got on board ships in the harbour, where many continued above two months; the shocks all that time being so violent, and coming so thick, sometimes two or three in an hour, accompanied with frightful noises like a rushing wind, or a hollow rumbling thunder, with brimstone-blasts, that they durst not come ashore. The consequence of the earthquake was a general sickness, from the noisome vapours belched forth, which swept away above 3000 persons. ”

“ The fissures of the earth were in some places so great, that one of the streets appeared twice as broad as formerly, in many places it opened and closed again, and continued this agitation for some time. Of these openings, great numbers might be seen at once, in some of them, the people were swallowed up at once; in others, the earth caught them by the middle, and crushed them to death; while others more fortunate, were swallowed up in one chasm, and thrown out alive by another. ”

“ All the wells in the island, as well as those of Port-Royal, from one fathom to six or seven deep, threw their water out at the top with great violence. Above 12 miles from the sea, the earth gaped and spouted out, with prodigious force, vast quantities of water into the air: yet the greatest violences were among the mountains and rocks; and it is general opinion, that the nearer the mountains, the greater the shock, and the cause thereof lay among them. ”

“ One of the most remarkable towns which was destroyed was Casal Nuova, where the Princess Gerace Grimaldi, with more than four thousand of her subjects, perished in the same instant. An inhabitant happening to be on the summit of a neighbouring hill at the moment of the shock, and looking earnestly back to the residence of his family, could see no other remains of it than a white cloud which proceeded from the ruins of the houses. ”

“ During two years repeated shocks continued to agitate the affrighted minds of the inhabitants of Calabria and Sicily, but the principal mischiefs arose in the months of February and March in the last year. For several months the earth continued in an unceasing tremor, which at certain intervals increased to violent shocks, some of which were beyond description dreadful. ”

“ Amidst these scenes of devastation, the escapes of some of the unhappy sufferers is extremely wonderful. Some of the inhabitants of houses which were thrown to a considerable distance, were dug up from their ruins unhurt. But these instances were few, and those who were so fortunate as to preserve their lives in such situations, were content to purchase existence at the expence of broken limbs and the most dreadful contusions.
During this calamitous scene, it is impossible to conceive the horrors and wretchedness of the unhappy inhabitants. ”

“ ALTHO' this kingdom is happily free from the dreadful calamities experienced in many other parts of the world, from these terrible contusions of nature, yet occasional shocks of earthquakes have been felt in Scotland, within these 13 years. ”

“ Leaving this feat of desolation, we prosecuted our voyage along the coast, and the next day came to Rochetta, where we landed, although the earth still continued in violent agitation. But we were scarce arrived at our inn, when we were once more obliged to return to our boat; and in about half an hour we saw the greatest part of the town, and the inn at which we had set up, dashed to the ground, and burying all its inhabitants beneath its ruins. Proceeding onward in our little vessel, we at length landed at Lapizium, a castle mid-way between Tropæa and Euphemia the city to which we were bound. ”

“ Upon the 16th June, 1786, a smart shock of an earthquake was felt at Whitehaven, in Cumberland, which extended to the Isle of Man and Dublin, and was also felt in the S. W. parts of Scotland. Upon the 11th of Aug. 1786, a very alarming shock of an earthquake was felt about two o'clock A. M. in the N. of England, viz. Northumberland, Cumberland, and in Scotland, across the island, and as far N. as Argyllshire, and in all these places at the same instant of time. This shock extended above 150 miles from S. to N. and 100 from E. to W.—"Upon the 25th Jan. ”

“ Robertson's house of Lawers, a rumbling noise like distant thunder had been heard at intervals for two months; and at the time of the shock, a noise like the discharge of distant artillery was distinctly heard. Mr. Dundas and Mr. Bruce of Edinburgh were standing before the fire in the drawing room and they described the shock, as if a great mallet had suddenly struck the foundation of the house with violence. At the village of Comrie, the inhabitants left their houses and ran to the open fields."—"On the 11th Nov. ”

“ At this time I took notice the waters retired so impetuously, that some vessels were left quite dry, which rode in seven fathom water: the river thus continued alternately rushing on and retiring several times together in such sort, that it was justly dreaded Lisbon would now meet the same fate, which a few years ago had befallen the city of * Lima.
'Perhaps you may think the present doleful subject here concluded; but, alas! the horrors of the first of November, are sufficient to fill a volume. ”