Chap. 47-1 City overflowed -witl'I.(i-:-i. JjJ 



fhort time, to the great aftonifliment of the fpcflators, 

 began to move away, and was carried by the torrent 

 to a considerable diftance. In 1770 fome remains or* 

 this vineyard were ftiil to be Teen, but the greater part 

 of it was entirely deflroyeci. 



In vain did the terrified inhabitants of Catania recur 

 for protection to the miraculous veil, or expect defence 

 from the lofty walls of their city. After destroying 

 ieveral convents, churches, and villages, this fiery 

 current directed its courfe to Catania, where it poured 

 impetuoufty over the ramparts, which are near fixty 

 feet in height, and covered up five of its baftions, with 

 the intervening curtains. After laying wafte a great 

 part of this beautiful city, and entirely deftroying 

 ft vcral valuable remains of antiquity, its further pro- 

 grefs was flopped by the ocean, over whole banks it 

 poured its deftructive current. In its courfe from the 

 rent in the mountain, till its arrival in the fea, it is faid 

 to have totally deftroyed the property of near thirty 

 thoufand perfons. 



Still however did the infatuated inhabitants of Ca- 

 tania adhere to the remains of their almoft ruined city, 

 nor did even the more dreadful calamity with which 

 they were afterwards vifited, abate their attachment. 

 Twenty-four years after the fatal eruption of 1669, 

 a violent earthquake, which extended along all the eaft- 

 ern coafl, and deftroyed in one hour more than fixty 

 thoufand perfons, overthrew the remaining buildings 

 of Catania, and buried a very confiderablc number of. 

 its inhabitants under the ruins of their houfes and* 

 churches \ but again the place was rebuilt, a new and 

 elegant plan was adopted, and the city is now much 

 handfomer than before. The principal ftreets 

 wide, flrait, and well paved with hva. The cathedra), 

 which was founded in the year 1094, has lufferetl fb 



