Lesson xxxv.] EARTHQUAKES. 



wind was stirring ; the sea was calm, and the 

 weather as warm as in June or July in this coun- 

 try. At 35 minutes after nine, without the least 

 warning, except a rumbling noise not unlike the 

 artificial thunder in our theatres, a most dreadful 

 earthquake shook, by short but quick vibrations, 

 the foundations of all the city, so that many build- 

 ings instantly fell. Then, with a scarce precepti- 

 b!e pause, the nature of the motion was changed, 

 and the houses were tossed from side to side, with 

 a motion like that of a waggon violently driven 

 over rough stones. The second shock laid almost 

 the whole city in ruins, with prodigious slaughter 

 of the people. The earthquake lasted in all about 

 six minutes. At the moment of its beginning, 

 some persons on the river, near a mile from the 

 city, heard their boat make a noise as if it had run 

 aground, though they were then in deep water; 

 and at the same time they saw the houses falling 

 on both sides of ihe river. .The bed of the river 

 Tag us was in many places raised to its surface. 

 Ships were driven from their anchors, and jostled 

 together with great violence ; nor did their masters 

 know whether they were afloat or aground. A 

 large new quay sunk to an unfathomable depth, 

 with several hundreds of people who were upon it ; 

 nor was one of the dead bodies ever found. The 

 bjr was at fmt seen dry from shore : but suddenly 

 the sea came ruling in like a mountain; anci dboi.t 

 fielem Castle the water rose 50 feet aim -t u <<ii 

 insiant. About noon, there was another shock ! 

 when the walls of several houses that ytt remained 

 M 3 were 



