Ill 



" Having hired a boat in company with four i-nore, 

 we launched, on the ?4th of March, from the harbour of 

 Messiwa, and arrived the same day at the promontory of 

 Pelorus. Our destination w as for tiie city of Euphsemia, 

 ia Calabria. But though we often put to sea, we were 

 as often driven back. At length, however, we ventured, 

 forward. Proceeding onward, and turning my eyes to 

 -dEtua, I saw it cast forth large voiumes^of smoke, which 

 entirely covered the whole island* This, together with 

 the dreadful, noise, filled me with apprehension. The 

 sea itself began to wear a very unusual appearance, co- 

 vered all over with bubbles. My surprise was increased 

 by the calmness of the weather. I therefore warned my 

 companions that an earthquake was approaching, and 

 making for the shore with all possible speed, we landed 

 at Tropac. But we had scarce arrived at the Jesuit's 

 College in that city, when our ears were stunned with a, 

 horrid sound, resembling that of an infinite number of 

 chariots driven fiercely forward, the wheels rattling, and 

 the thongs cracking. Soon after, the whole tract upon 

 which we stood, seemed to vibrate, as if we were in the 

 scale of a balance that continued wavering. This sooa 

 grew more violent, and being no longer able to keep my 

 legs, I was thrown prostrate upon the ground. In the 

 mean time, the universal ruin round me, redoubled my 

 amazement.. The crash of falling houses, the tottering 

 of towers,, and the groans of the dying, all contributed 

 to raise my terror. On every side of me I saw nothing 

 but a scene of ruin ; danger threatening wherever I could 

 fly. I recommended myself to Gad as my last refuge. 

 At that hour, O how vain was every sublunary happi- 

 ness ! Wealth, honour, empire, wisdom, all mere use- 

 less sounds, and as empty as the bubbles on the deep* 

 Just standing on the threshold of eternity, nothing but 

 God was my pleasure, and the nearer I approached, J 

 only loved him the more. After some time, however, I 

 resolved to venture for safety, and running as fast as I 

 could, reached the shore. 1 did not search long, till I 

 found. the. Imt in. which Ihad landed, and my comgani- 



