| Citation |
IL.783.049
26 May 1783:22 (5/264)
Naples, February 25. The affecting particulars which we
have hitherto given respecting the calamities of Sicily,
have only been collected from private letters and recitals,
and could not therefore be entirely relied upon; but they
are this day confirmed by the following authentic papers,
which was sent to the King from the Senate of Messina, the
day after the fatal catastrophe.
Sire, The tragic spectacle which began to present itself
at six in the morning of the 5th instant, . . . [6 lines]
this unfortunate city is reduced to a heap of ruins, in
consequence of the most horrible and unheard of earthquakes,
which still continue with the interval of a quarter of an
hour between each shock. All the buildings, without
exception, have been beaten down and destroyed. Of this
number are the Royal and Archiepiscopal Palaces, the
Theatre, the Monts de Piete, the Great Hospital, the two
Royal Banqueting houses, the Metropolitan church, with its
steeple, all the monasteries . . .
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