224 Earthquakes in Sicily. 
lamity pass away, and the grand city of Palermo will be still 
more beautiful. When we reflect upon the immense list of 
earthquakes which Sicily has suffered, and the possibility of 
its increasing every moment, we feel the inevitable necessity 
of holding ourselves strongly prepared to meet the sudden 
assaults of so powerful an enemy. Messina, which suffered 
so much in 1783, although violently moved by this last shock, 
experienced from it no bad effect cts; for this noble city has 
risen from her ancient ruins, robust and majestic. Catania, 
in 1818, was convulsed in a terrible manner, but its inhabit- 
ants were enabled to contemplate without a tear “ the little 
injury sustained by their beautiful fabrics, 
% 
Succeeding Shocks. 
After the shock of the 5th, the black clouds which covered 
the heavens on the north and west, formed a dark band, 
measuring from the zenith towards the horizon 60°, and ex- 
tending from north to south. It was terminated at base bya 
oe line, passing from north to south, through the west, 
and elevated at the southern part about 30° above the hori- 
‘ - The sky itself was very clear, and its extreme bright- 
hess was increased by the contrast with the dark band above, 
and by the sun just on the point of setting. A little below 
the band were two other lines, parallel and perfectly regu- 
lar. This mysterious appearance inspired with fear the 
* After the fatal earthquake of 1693, in Catania, by which ei — 
thousand persons perished, the people began to build of one story, and 
hei 
and not with much solidity. Since the middle - the. last century, the 
excellent materials served them by Aitna, the good method and prudent 
regu tion of the jury have promised long duration to this city. It 
a) 
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ormil the wor 
the 5th of ‘March in Fees the lientenant, the pretor, senators, and 
police exerted all their fore They obliged proprietors to pro 
their houses within twenty-four ree or Ls rage them if they were 
not et es of propping. ‘The upon themselves the 
gestae repairi ine the houses of poor peer ee together with the €X- 
