"ddhich occurred in Sicily in March 1823. 99 



The damage done to Castelbuono is reckoned at twenty-two 

 thousand onze. 



The northern coast of Sicily, towards Cape Cefalu, after 

 bending to form the eastern part of the great bay inchided on 

 the west by the mountains to the left of Palermo, extends into 

 the sea towards Eolie (theLipari islands), and presents, towards 

 them, a hollow front, the western part of which is formed by 

 Cape Orlando, and the eastern by Cape Calava. Places situated 

 about this bay suffered the most violent convulsions. Nato, 

 containing four thousand souls, and situated on an elevation, 

 was almost entirely laid waste, and a great number of private 

 houses destroyed ; the monastery, hospital, the churches of St. 

 Peter, Anime del Purgatorio, St. Demetrius, and the cathedral, 

 were in a great measure overthrown. The Quartiere del Sal- 

 vadore suffered less : a transverse cleft was made in the earth, 

 and fears were entertained lest the whole elevation upon which 

 the city is built should be overthrown. Only two persons 

 lost their lives ; for the people, warned by a slight shock which 

 was felt some hours before, had all fled into the country. 

 Directly in front of Vulcano, (one of the -^olian isles,) Patti, 

 a city built on the declivity of a mountain, and at the distance 

 of half a mile from the eastern extremity of Cape Calava, 

 had its cathedral, bishop's palace, convents, and many pri- 

 vate houses injured. With the copious showers of the fifth 

 fell some roofs ; various houses in the country were ruined. 

 Pozzodigotto, Meri, and Barcellona were injured a little. At 

 Barcellona a wide cleft was made in the belfry of the church, 

 and threatened its ruin. The shock at Milazzo on the sea 

 was violent, as also at St. Lucia, six miles from it, situated 

 on an eminence; but without any bad consequences. Some 

 damage was done to the hospital, several churches, and pri- 

 vate houses, at Messina. In the interior of Sicily the motion 

 was communicated as if it were far from the centre of force : 

 in some places towards the south some buildings which were 

 old and out of repair felt the effects, particularly at Caltau- 

 turo ; and at Alimena, in the cathedral and convent of the 

 Reformed. The shock gradually wasted itself as it advanced ; 

 and at Catania so slight was the impression made on the peo- 

 ple, that they went to the theatre the same evening. It was. 

 perceived by a few persons only in Syracuse and in some of 

 the neighbouring towns. In the district of Modica, towards 

 Cape Passaro, scarcely one felt it. No bad effects were pro- 

 duced by it in the southern parts of the island : in the western 

 it was felt, but without injury. It was pretty strong at Alca- 

 mo, but slight at Trapani, 



Injuries at Palermo. — The ancient city of Palermo was 



founded 



