was the scene of their calamity, for of the magnificent Catania, there was not the least footstep ⟨to⟩ be seen. S. Bonajutus assures us, that of ⟨18900⟩ inhabitants, 18000 perished therein.
This and the two preceding accounts are ⟨taken⟩ from Encyclopædia Britannica 3d Editn. vol. 6—EAR.
An Account of the great Earthquake that happened at Lisbon, Nov 1st 1755.
THERE never was a finer morning ⟨seen⟩ than the first of November (1755); ⟨the⟩ sun shone out in its full lustre; the whole face ⟨of⟩ the sky was perfectly serene and clear, and ⟨not⟩ the least signal or warning of that approaching event, which has made this once flourishing, opulent, and populous city a scene of the utmost horror and desolation, except only such as served to alarm, but scarcely left a moment's time to fly from the general destruction.
'It was on the morning of this fatal day, between the hours of nine and ten, that I was ⟨sat⟩ down in my apartment, just finishing a letter when the papers and table I was writing on began to tremble with a gentle motion, which rather surprized me, as I could not perceive a breath ⟨of⟩ wind stirring; whilst I was reflecting with ⟨myself⟩ what this could be owing to, but without ⟨having⟩ the least apprehension of the real cause, the whole house began to shake from the very ⟨foundations⟩ which at first I imputed to the rattling of ⟨several⟩ coaches in the mainstreet, which usually ⟨passed⟩ that way, at this time, from Belem to the ⟨palaces⟩but
