222 Earthquakes in Sicily, 



Our author goes on to speak of the necessity of having 

 acute angles to many of the streets on account of their crook- 

 edness, and how hable buildings are, from this circumstance, 

 to be thrown down ; that regular foundations are not very 

 much used; and even when used, are soon destroyed by the 

 action of the atmosphere, by water, and many other causes. 

 He finds fault with the forms of the stones used in building ; 

 with the cement, its want of adhesion ; and compares houses 

 constructed in this manner with those of ancient Tyndaris, 

 many of the walls of which, standing on the top of some of the 

 highest mountains, were so well balanced, the pieces so nicely 

 cut and jointed, even without any cement at all, that they 

 have stood firm for a thousand years. 



Upon foundations so infirm, and with materials so frail, 

 buildings are raised to the height of four or five stories. He 

 next remarks on the disproportion of the thickness of the 

 walls to the weights they sustain. Though diminishing ex- 

 ceedingly in thickness from bottom to top, they are still very 

 much weakened by the great number of windows, are over- 

 burdened by immense cornices, and little chambers, and 

 kitchens, projecting fearfully beyond the sides ; and by ter- 

 races and balconies, loaded with enormous vases of stone. 

 The beams which support the floors, can scarely touch upon 

 the walls, are not charred nor faced with lead, to defend 

 them against the moisture, and are almost always injured by 

 the lime in which they lie. Many particulars of this kind, 

 our author has mentioned, all tending to show the great want 

 of prudence in the manner of building. 



In the night of the 1st of September, 1726, continues Pro- 

 fessor Ferrara, an earthquake destroyed, or very much in- 

 jured, all the buildings situated on the muddy soil; and many, 

 which were out of repair, or badly constructed, placed on 

 rock. Earth of the nature of the first, is less capable of re- 

 ceiving motion from a shock than the last, since it possesses 

 less resistance. But facts show that this advantage is more 

 than compensated by want of stability in edifices raised upon 

 it. At Messina, in 1783, all the buildings upon a plain, and 

 upon earth thrown up by the sea, were destroyed ; while those 

 on the neighbouring hills were not moved. The same hap- 



