EARTHQUAKE AT NAPLES IN 1804.

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singing the Litany aloud. My landing was impeded by thethrong of those embarking. Arrived within the city—nofurther shocks were felt, but the pavement coveredwith fragments of balconies, parapets, and sheets of plasterfrom the walls, indicated the severity of the concussion.Just as I ventured the strada Toledo, the second shock,which proved the last, occurred. Never shall I forget thehorrid, sickening feeling, or the dizzy sight! Never could Ihave believed the lofty houses, and towers and walls of stonecould rock, and be inclined so much from their perpendicu-lar, without crumbling to pieces! Although I kept to themiddle of the street as much as possible, large fragmentsand flakes of plaster fell upon me ! The houses were alldeserted, the doors left open ; each person endeavouring togain the squares or open country, took with them scarce anything but what they had snatched up in the moment ofalarm. Children were crying for their parents—who alittle further on, were seen running to and fro distracted intheir search! Patrols of cavalry and infantry under thedirection of the Veteran Duke of Arcoli, were peram-bulating the city. But thanks to the good conduct of thepopulace, those ill-understood and much calumniatedLazzaroni, there was no call for their interference.

At length I arrived at the house of Mr. Bottalin, aboutthe middle of Toledo. The great gates were open ; so werehis stable and coach house doors;—horses and carriagedeparted—my horse alone and unattended. The great stonestaircase was cracked and opened from top to bottom,several steps were displaced, and seemed upon the brink offalling. I went up alone—the house door wide open—everything in confusion. A large lamp which hung against awall of the ante-room lying broken on the floor. Furtheron the dining-room was strewed with plaster from the walls,together with the fragments of a large glass gold-fish vase,