The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-01 00:00:00

11t1111:11

We have seen a blovernment Gazette of Chile, published at
Santiago on the 27th of November, Which contains an account
of this dreadful calamity.
A dispatch of the Supreme Director, who happened to be at
Valparaiso at the time of the earthquake, is dated at ten at
night on the 211th of November, and is addressed to the Mini.
stern, of whom he asks, a report respecting the state of the ca.
.He says, that on the preceding night, at 15 minutes be-
fore 11 o'clock, Valparaiso had received so severe a shock, that
in two or three minutes all the buildings were either consider.
ably damaged or thrown down ; the sea receded and MI more
than 12 feet ; the . movement of the earth, althotigh week, did
not tease for an instant till half-past font in the morning, since.
when shocks more, or len strong were felt every five or seven
minutes. The inhabitants had retired to the heights, where
they had encamped on the 20th. Fifteen or twenty individuals/
being mostly 'Adieu,. women, and children, were known to
have perished in the ruins; it was, however, difficult, on ac.
count of' the confusion, to ascertain the number of the victims,
which it was aared would be found to be much larger. Na
public officer nor person of note had perished,
The reply of the Ministers is dated Santiago, 22d November,
After congratulating the Supreme Director on his personal
safety, the report proceeds to state, that the capital had not ex.'
perieneed the same terrible catastrophe which had ruined
Valparaiso.
On the 19th November, at ten minutes before eleven o'clock
at night, after having for three or four hours previously obsere,
ed a law heat and an extreme rarefaction of the air, a horrible
noise announced, and by a few secoads preceded, an earth.
quake such as had not been experienced m Chile since MO ;
its explosion sheweel itself by two strong shticks, whieh.laited
two minutes and a half or three minutes ; the latter, stronger
than the first, was only of about twenty. seconds. It was et first
thought that the whole city was destroyed • the consternation
was general, but tattoo** ne lives were lost, and only. a 'few
persons were hurt by failing fragments or tiles. The action of
the earthquake was of the trembling description, and its direc.
from to S.W. Some walls of the churches of La Merced,
San Augustin, San Francisco, ttc., hive fallen down ; the
Mint, the interior of the Cathedral, the Directorial Palace, the
steeples of the Treasury, and of the prison, are also damaged/
and in some places threaten to come down. The walls of houses
which were not verygood are much &winged. The earth wad
almost constantly in motion, though slight and only perceptible
by the pendulum ; but at times there were smart and sharp
shocks. •

On the 20th, at 3h. Bm. in the morning, there was a alight
shock, without any sensible noise : at 3h. 42m., a meteor ran
in the same direction as the earthquake, from N.B. to S.W.,
in the form of a large train of tire, which for about 4 seconds,
produced a sort of strong twilight. it is reported, that various
other small meteors Were seen toward the. Cordillera. At
24in. another slight shock, preceded by considerable noise.—
Shocks succeeded each other rapidly, and increased the conster-
nation, especially amongst women most families have atom-,
Boned the city and retired to the neighbouripg country-houses
the lower classes are encamped in the public squares, the dikes,
and aqueducts.
On the 21st; at 4h. 25m. in the morning, anti at 1 lb. Syr.
other slight shocks. Several families came to town to spend the
day in their houses, with an intention to return to the country
And to sleep there.
The moon was full at Oh. 30m. p. m. •
This day, at 4h. 20in. in the morning,, and fth. and tib.
22m. three smart, thocits-; they continue to this hour, seven
o'clock in the afternoon; but some of' thern almost impercepti-
ble. Several families have returned to their houses, and set up
sheds and bowers in the court-yards, not th remain under the
roofs, especially at night. According to the advices reached,
the departments sit
thett
ee e
South.N6 torhthq47pl:de Thethhaodss " 4nn4eZej e
ahte tAse :fp:irtictge on
I It: duet aelptm those ct
Itanceigua leis, and at Colchagua hardly any.