S70 rniLosoPHicAL transactions. [anno 1742. 



so very rough, that though he had a very fair wind, he expected every moment 

 to be lost. This must have happened just before the earthquake of the IQth of 

 Jan. above mentioned. 



From the 20th to 23 hours of Jan. 25, the ground was in a continual agita- 

 tion. And on the 26th, at 23 hours, there was a much greater motion than 

 that of the 20th day ; but from that hour till 18^ hours on the 27th, there 

 was not the least motion perceptible. At this time, however, was heard a most 

 dreadful noise, followed by a treble shock of the earthquake in the most fright- 

 ful manner, and beyond measure violent ; it began by a successive motion, and 

 followed by a sort of blow with dreadful violence ; and at last came another 

 successive motion, more horrible than the former. There was heard from 

 under-ground a hollow terrible rumbling, as if the whole earth had broken to 

 pieces : it had a motion like turning and continued moving ; the houses waved 

 30 or 32 seconds, from east to west; part of the door-case fell, and the par- 

 tition walls cracked ; the mortar fell all about like rain, the furniture and cloaths 

 hung to the walls fell all down. He without being able to seek safety out of the 

 house, stood fixed, and nailed up, as it were, by the surrounding crowd of fright- 

 ened wretches that flocked in upon him. At last, however, he got out, and could 

 hardly believe his eyes when he found the houses all standing, having figured 

 things much worse. Every thing suffered in some degree, there not being a 

 single edifice but what was damaged : but those which are well built have suffered 

 scarcely any thing : some must inevitably be rebuilt, chiefly those which remain 

 leaning on one side : which proceeds chiefly from the load occasioned by their 

 being raised so high. What was most surprising, was the number of cracks in 

 the walls of the collegiate church, which were built without sparing any cost, 

 to make them a complete piece of workmanship, and are of an extraordinary 

 thickness, as might be observed in some of the openings in the building and 

 vaulting, which was esteemed superior to any in the town : hence we may con- 

 ceive a just idea of the extreme violence of the roaring earthquake. Had not 

 the houses been in general very good, they must have come to the ground. 

 The ruins consist in the roof of the church of St. John Baptist, the con- 

 vent of Augustine Friars, the roof of a palace called Rosciano, belonging to the 

 family of Borghesi of Sienna. Besides these, there are few others of conse- 

 quence, and but 13 people killed. There is an immense quantity of iron chains 

 used, to keep the walls of the houses together. 



On account of the inconveniences attending this earthquake, an infinite 

 number of people went out of the town ; abandoned the houses and shops 

 instantly, to seek refuge in the great piazza : so great was the consternation, 

 that no one knew what he was about. It was an object of the greatest compas- 



