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XXV. Account of the late Earthquake at the Caraccas*. 



x HE earthquake which took place last year at the Ca- 

 raccas, and laid waste the fine city of that name, besides 

 a great many others in this rich and extensive province, has 

 been but superficially described in the newspapers in which 

 I have seen it mentioned. The extraordinary convulsion 

 has not (December 1812) as yet ceased; it has already 

 caused, and may still occasion, so many calamities, that it 

 deserves to be more particularly laid before the public. 



On the 26th of March 1812, at five o'clock in the after- 

 noon, the first commotion took place. The air was calm, 

 the heat excessive : nothing preceded or announced such- 

 a catastrophe. A shaking was first perceived, strong 

 enobgh to set the bells of the churches a-ringing : it lasted 

 about six. seconds, and was followed by an interval often 

 or twelve seconds, during which the earth exhibited an un- 

 dulation similar to the motion of the sea in a calm : the 

 crisis was then supposed to have passed ; but immediately 

 extraordinary subterraneous noises were heard, and electrical • 

 discharges infinitely stronger than atmospheric thunder; the 

 earth was agitated with a quickness which cannot be de- 

 scribed, and'seemed to boil like water when subjected to 

 the heat of a very strong fire ; there was then a perpendi- 

 cular rumbling or strepitus for about three or four seconds, 

 followed by agitations in an opposite direction from north 

 to south, and from east to west, for three or four seconds 

 also. This short but awful period was sufficient to turn 

 the whole city of Caraccas topsy-turvy, with upwards of 

 thirty towns, and the country houses and numerous esta- 

 blishments spread over the surface of that delightful pro- 

 vince ! In an instant all was destroyed to an extent of 300 

 miles, and 80,000 inhabitants ceased to live, while thou- 

 sands were dreadfully wounded. 



The city of Caraccas, placed at the foot of the declivity 

 of the highest mountain, called La Silla, and on the margin 

 of an immense plain through which several rivers flowed, 

 was considerably elevated above the level of the sea, and 

 always enjoyed a cool and agreeable temperature. The 2Gt.h 

 of March (being Good Friday) had attracted all the inha- 



• This interesting narrative is tlie production of a Frenclj gcutlemnn, 

 who hii redded may years at the Caraccas, and was an eye-witness to the 

 tctnes which lie describes. He was taken prisorer, on his retuin to France 

 on board the American ship Dolphin, by Capt. Malcolm of the Rhin fri- 

 gate. To the latter gentleman our readers arc indebted for theptiblication 

 »f the narrative. — Eurr. 



Vol. 41. No. 179. iV/arc/i 1813. L bitantf. 



