taken up. One more that was missing was never found. From that time the colliery was regularly worked.

Account of the late Earthquake

at the Caraccas.

The earthquake which took place last year at the Caraccas, and laid waste the fine city of that name, besides a great many others in this rich and extensive province, has been but superficially described in the newspapers in which I have seen it mentioned. The extraordinary convulsion has not (December 1812) as yet ceased; it has already caused, and may still occasion, so many calamities, that it deserves to be more particularly laid before the public.

On the 20th of March 1812, at five o'clock in the afternoon, the first commotion took place. The air was calm, the heat excessive: nothing preceded or announced such a catastrophe. A shaking was first perceived, strong enough to set the bells of the churches a ringing it lasted about six seconds, and was followed by an interval of ten or twelve seconds, during which the earth exhibited an undulation similar to the motion of the sea in a calm: the crisis was then supposed to have passed; but immediately extraordinary subterraneous noises were heard, and electrical discharges infinitely stronger than atmospheric thunder; the earth was agitated with a quickness which cannot be described, and seemed to boil like water when subjected to the heat

of a very strong fire; there wa then a perpendicular rumbling or strepitus for about three or four seconds, followed by agitations in an opposite direction from north to south, and from east to west, for three or four seconds also. This short but awful period was suffcient to turn the whole city of Caraccas topsy-turvy, with upwards of thirty towns, and the country houses and numerous es tablishments spread over the surface of that delightful province ! In an instant all was destroyed to an extent of 300 miles, and 80,000 inhabitants ceased to live, while thousands were dreadfully wounded.

The city of Caraccas, placed at the foot of the declivity of the highest mountain, called La Silla, and on the margin of an immense plain through which several rivers flowed, was considerably elevated above the level of the sea, and always enjoyed a cool and agreea ble temperature. The 20th of March (being Good Friday) had attracted all the inhabitants to the churches of the city which were destroyed; thus serving for their tombs: the churches of La Trinidad and Alta Gracia, which were in the more immediate vicinity of the mountain, experienced more forcibly the effects of the extraor dinary commotion; for although originally upwards of 150 feet high, no part of their ruins exceeded five or six feet in height; and some idea may be formed of the violence of the shock which over turned these stupendous edifices, when it is recollected that they were supported by columus and pilasters exceeding thirty or forty

feet

feet in circumference, and of which scarcely a vestige remained.

A superb range of barracks two stories high, capable of containing 4000 men, and serving as a depôt for the artillery, shared the same ruin a regiment of the line, in the act of marching to join in a religious procession, was almost wholly swallowed up; a few men only being left alive.

It is impossible to paint the terror and desolation which this catastrophe occasioned: disorder, confusion, despair, misery, and fanaticism were at their height. At first every person fled as well as they were able, prostrating themselves to supplicate heaven for mercy; in this state the indivividuals who escaped death, mutilated or wounded, covered with dust, their clothes torn, and carrying in their arms their children, or the sick and wounded, presented a most heart-rending spectacle. After the first moments of terror, in which self-preservation made every other consideration give way, the most painful recollections agitated those who had escaped every one with distracted anxiety sought for a relation or a friend, and inquired for them with looks of terror and affright: among the bloody and desolate ruins, those who remained of the unfortunate population were seen endeavouring to dig up, without other instrument than their weak and trembling hands, the living and the dead who were covered by the fragments: every one ran to and fro over this vast burial-place, throwing themselves occasionally on the rubbish, and listening with an attentive ear to the groans of the unfortunate whose lives were

:

preserved, although shut up, perhaps irrecoverably, in the very buildings where they had enjoyed tranquillity and happiness but a few minutes before.

The remainder of the day and the whole of the night were devoted to this interesting and pious occupation. Next day, it was necessary to perform the last offices to the dead, but it was impossible to bestow on them the rites of sepulture; instruments and a sufficient number of persons were not to be found in order to avoid the effects of a pestilence, therefore, from an infected atmosphere, the bodies were piled up at different stations and burnt with the timber of the ruins. The first sad moments after the catastrophe were thus spent: other labours, equally if not more distressing, remained to be performed.

Almost all the provisions, furniture, linen, and the usual necessaries of life were destroyed, or had been stolen by the lower class of the populace, or the negroes: ever thing was in short wanting. The violence of the earthquake had destroyed the water-pipes, and the rivulets were either dried up, or diverted from their usual course: there was in fact no water near the city; there were no vessels in which to collect it, and it was necessary to travel far off before a quantity sufficient to allay one's thirst was obtained, even by using the hands to carry it to the mouth.

Pressed by thirst and hunger and the want of an asylum, those who possessed country houses fled towards them on foot; but alas! nothing was spared-all was ruin and desolation; and they returned

to

to the city, where they seemed to be less miserable among their companions in misfortune, the silence and solitude of the country apparently adding to the dismal aspect of nature.

The markets were without provisions; the farmers brought none into town; and many, after wandering about in search of food, at length lay down and died of hunger: those who survived obtained sustenance with much difficulty. Had not some cocoa, sugar, and maize been saved, (which were retailed at a most exorbitant price,) more would have perished from hunger than from the effects of the earthquake.

Three thousand wounded of all ranks were collected and placed at first on the banks of a river, under the shade of some trees: but they were absolutely in want of every thing, even the most indispensable requisites: they were abandoned to the medicine of consolation: they were told that they must conform to the decrees of Providence, and that every thing was for the best.

During this awful crisis, a judicious observer of mankind might have witnessed a str king exhibition of the manners, character, and principles, by which the Spanish people are regulated in their conduct.

Their extreme insensibility is scarcely credible: I saw fathers of families who had lost five or six children, friends, relations, and their whole property, without shedding a tear; most of them consoling themselves by holding a

conversation with an image of the Virgin, or some privileged saint.* Others gaily drowned their sorrow in rum; and all appeared much less grieved at the event, than they would have been at the loss of a process which affected their rank as nobles, or deprived them of their precedence in a public company or at a religious procession.

It is too true, that human beings, naturally superstitious and ungrateful, never so cordially respect their deities or their kings when they are beneficent as when they are severe the more rigorous they are, the more just and equitable are they esteemed. Such is the lot of mankind! they forget benefits; and governors, in order to acquire the homage which is due to them, must be feared: gratitude and love are sentiments too delicate to be common among mankind.

Good Friday is without doubt the most imposing of the Catholic holidays: it is that which ought to inspire the most pious reflections; but at the Caraccas, as in many other places, on this occasion, the women are occupied with their dress, more anxious perhaps to appear amiable in the sight of men than to worship the supreme Being: they think of nothing but amusement, and they almost forget that Being who does not manifest himself openly. But scarcely had they experienced the earthquake, when they said it was the thunder of Heaven sent to punish the crimes of mortals: their elegant clothes were immediately laid

aside; those who had it in their power changed them for coarse garments, by way of showing their penitence: sackcloth, cords, and chains, were substituted for elegant fashions and seductive headdresses. The ladies now subjected themselves to monastic discipline, and beat without remorse their bosoms, but a short time before adorned with the most costly jewels: many of the gentlemen at the same time forgot their gallantry for fanaticism; and, in order to appease the anger of Heaven, they walked night and day in processions, the body entirely uncovered, with the exception of a large girdle, barefooted, and with long beards, a cord around their necks to which was frequently attached a large stone, and on their shoulders they sometimes carried a wooden cross 100 or 150 pounds in weight.

In the city and throughout the country there were processions day and night; every mountain was transformed into a Calvary, where the people dying with hunger implored the Divine mercy, embracing with groans the relics of their tutelar saints.

Every one accused himself of having called down the anger of Heaven, and of having caused the universal calamity: those who could not meet with a priest openly confessed their sins upon the highways, accusing themselves of robberies and murders which they had secretly committed.

In less than two days about 2000 individuals (who perhaps never had any intention of the kind) were married: relations formerly despised or neglected on account of their poverty were now recognised: many unfortunate chil

dren, the fruits of an illegitimate intercourse, who had never known father or mother, were now acknowledged and legitimated. At the same time an infinite number of restitutions were made, and law-suits terminated. But notwithstanding all this remorse, a singular and paradoxical spectacle was exhibited to the eyes of the philosopher: while one half of the multitude thus hastened to expiate their offences, the other half, who perhaps never had been guilty of any great crimes before, but possessing an accommodating conscience, profited by the confusion, and with the utmost composure committed every imaginable excess.

In the meantime the shocks from the earthquake continued; every day and every hour some ruins fell, which had been only shaken by the first commotions. On the 5th of April, at four in the afternoon, there was a shock so violent that several mountains were rent asunder, many inclined from their centre of gravity, and enormous detached rocks were precipitated to the valleys.

From the above hour until nine o'clock next morning the shocks were violent, and so frequent as to admit of an interval of about five minutes only between each; and during these intervals a rumbling subterraneous noise was heard, and the earth was continually agitated.

The succession of these phænomena was not interrupted in the month of December 1812, when I left the place, and those were reckoned the most tranquil days, in which there were only fifteen or twenty shocks! Every thing was destroyed; the ramparts of La

Guyra,

Guyra, not les than twenty feet in thickness, were thrown down. As a natural consequence of the opening of the mountains, which are the great reservoirs of water, some rivers were observed to have considerably increased. Many high mountains were rent right across the centre, and that called La Silla has sunk more than sixty fathoms.

It is difficult to say what will be the close of this dreadful event: it may be bazarded as a conjecture, however, that it will end in the opening up of one or more volcanoes in the mean time the unfortunate inhabitants of these countries, attached to their native soil, and not wishing to abandon the ashes of their fathers, have with great labour erected rude halitations, in which they await with stoicism and resignation the termination of their calamities.

J. H. S.

DECRIPTION OF DRONTHEIM IN NORWAY.

to make the time you spend in Drontheim a time of gladness This warmth of heart, this conviviality and sympathy, appear to be characteristic of the inhabitants of this town. They are in fact by no means foreign to the character of the whole nation, and are here displayed as we might expect to find them among men of higher refinement and cultivation.

But how are we to account for the refined tone which prevails in the societies of this place, for the graceful and attractive manners, and the taste, which greatly exceed any thing we meet with in Christiania? This is more than we expect, and more than we have a right to expect; for Drontheim lies in fact very high northwards, and is separated by numerous obstacles, great distance, and high and impassable mountains, from the other parts of the world. The general prosperity of the place may have greatly contributed to this, and perhaps also the fortunate circumstances that almost all the generals and superintendents (Stiftsamtmännern) sent here from Denmark have been distinguished for their worth and superior politeness. We must own, however, that this circumstance is not in general of such universal influence. Probably this superiority of disposition may have arisen from some accidental circumstance, the consequences of which still continue to operate. May Heaven grant that this character of the noble inhabitants of Drontheim remain long uncorrupted! It is indisputably true, that in no district of Norway is there such an attachment to their country, such true patriotism, and public spirit as in Drontheim;