-johich occurred in SIcihj in March 1 823. 97 



buildings raised on an inclined plane, with one pait of the base 

 more elevated than the other : in this case it is evident that 

 the oblique pressure is compounded of two forces ; one per- 

 pendicular to the resistance, and which is overcome by it ; the 

 other parallel with the resistance, but which, not entering 

 into the action, operates in its own direction. The equilibrium 

 is thus destroyed, and the stability of such buildings cannot 

 be of long duration. 



Our author goes on to speak of the necessity of having 

 acute angles to many of the stieets on account of their crook- 

 edness, and how liable buildings are, from this circumstance, 

 to be thrown down ; that regular foundations are not very 

 much used, and even when used are soon destroyed by the 

 action of the atmosphere, by water, and many other causes. 

 He finds fault with the forms of the stones used in building, 

 with the cement, its want of adhesion ; and compares houses 

 constructed in this manner with those of ancient Tyndaris, 

 many of the walls of which, standing on the top of some of the 

 highest mountains, were so well balanced, the pieces so nicely 

 cut and jointed, even without any cement at all, that they have 

 stood firm for a thousand years. 



Upon foundations so infirm, and with materials so frail, 

 buildings are raised to the height of four or five stories. — He 

 next remarks on the disproportion of the thickness of the walls 

 to the weiglits they sustain. Though diminishing exceedingly 

 in thickness from bottom to top, they are still very much weak- 

 ened by the great number of windows, are overburdened by im- 

 mense cornices, and little chambers, and kitchens, projecting 

 fearfully beyond the sides ; and by terraces and balconies 

 loaded with enormous vases of stone. The beams which 

 support the floors scarcely touch upon the walls, are not 

 charred nor faced with lead to defend them against the mois- 

 ture, and are almost always injured by the lime in which they 

 lie. Many particulars of this kind our author has mentioned, 

 all tending to show the great want of prudence in the manner 

 of building. 



In the night of the 1st of September 1726, continues Pro- 

 fessor Ferrara, an earth(|uake destroyed, or very nnich in- 

 jured, all the buildings situated on the muddy soil, and many 

 (which were out of repair or badly constructed) placed on rock. 

 Karth, of the nature of the first, is less capable of receiving 

 nu)tion from a shock than the last, since it possesses less re- 

 sistance. But fads show that this advantage is more than 

 compensated by want of stability in edifices raised upon it. 



\'<>l.(i,5. No. '.'i22. /;•/'. 182.5. N At 



