Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-09-27
TEMPEST AT NAPLES.

TEMPEST AT NAPLES,
In the year 1345, while Pctrach was at Naples hor,i
BILE tempest visited that city, which had fnGlo by an
asoloser The c1iistenation excited in the minds OF
the inhabitants, and the effects of it, thus described
by him. in letter ileud.
"A monk, who bishop a neigibouriny island and
held in great for his sanctity skill in arooCy
had oreold that Naples he destroyed by earth
quake on the 25h November This prophecy spread
terror through the city, that the inhabitants Abandoned
THEN affairs prepare themselves for death. Some hardy
spirits indeed diculed those who BETRAYED marks of fear
OH the approach of thunder storm; as soon as the
storm was over, Jcsingy ced OUT The prophecy has
ja5leG'
As to myself was in between fear and hone; but
must confess that fear sometimes got the ascendant Ac-
customed TO colder china aud in which a thunder storm
III winter was rare pheuumenNn considered VIVA, now
saw as Il threatening from heaven.
I'm the eve OF The night IN which the prophecy was to be
fulfilled number of female attentive to the mpen
"s cyl han I" Tie dec0rum Of their sex half
through the Streets pressing their children to their Uosoins
"ey hdSencd PROSTATE themselves i'll churches which
they deuged with their crying with all their
might, HUE mercy, Lo,d hare mercy upon rs!
Moved ami distressed with the general considerations
retired early 10 the of ST. Laurence The monks
"en' 10 rest al the usual hour II the seventh day the
moot: al.d as was anxious observe in what manner
MO tommy sight by ncighbouring mountains! , This was
little before midnight. The moon was gloomy and
overcast nevertheless ic myetolclaby composed nd
went to bed But scarce had closed my eyes when was
awakened Ivy the loud rattiiug my chamber windows
te!' the walls OF the violently shaken from their
foundations The lamp which always Kept liz 1s1 through
me night was cXtipsU:shet The fear deaR fast
hold upon me-
The whole city was in cummoGion, and YOU heard mo-.
un2 Du lamentations and confused e2hoTtations TO make
ready of Tie dreadful The MONKS who had risen
sing thci Tutn terrified By the movements OF the earh
an INTO my chamber armed with and relics mpo-
n@ the mercy OF Heaven. prior whose was David
aud VIII" was considered Il saint, their head Tn.
sight OF these inspired with little courage. We pro
'tdct L. ne church which already crowded: nd here
we remained during The rest OF the night, expecting everv
moment the completion OF the prophecy.
is impossible describe the horrors of thar iobt
ne elements weie let loose the noise of - lhuuter the
WINDS ana Tie RAIN the oa'img Of the enragtd the con-
WILSON'S OF The heav"g Garth, and the distracted cries OF
"S' WI" lei themselves staggering the rink of death
were dreadful beyond magnation. Never Wa there s,
Il night Assoom unprecedented that da Was a, HAND
the affairs were prepared and the priests dressed themselves
tor mass Trembling lifted up our eyes TO heaven and
thea ieli PROSTATE upon the earth.
Inc day at length appears But what u dly It's hor-
foS were much more terrible than those of the night. No
sooner tic higher parts of the city little Ino,e
ihdn we were struck with the ourricS which We heard TO-
wards the Anxious discover what had pass,d
there and still expecting nothing but death we became
desperate and instantly mounted horses and rode down
TO the shore.
Heaven what sight. Vessels wrecked lthe hafbor
The strand covered with bodies which had been dashed
against the rocks by the fury Of the Here YOU saw;
the brains ." some, and the enais of others; there the
struggles of yet remaining life. You might dis
tmgu the sroans of the men, and the shcks of the wo-
men, even through the noise the thunder roaring of
the pillows, and the crash of falling houses The sea
regarded not either the restraint of barriers of
nature Size longer knew the bounds which had bec 50,
by the Almighty
That immense mole, which stretching itself out on each
hard, forms the port buried under the tumu of tire
and the lower parts the city were So much
ed that you could pass along the without
of being drowned
We found the shore above a thousand Neapolitan
knights, who had assembled as were attend the
raj obeGueS of their country This splendid troop gave
ne little courage elf de-, said myself will he
At least in good company. Scarce had made tits rcec-
ton, when heard dreadful Glamour every whore around
me. The had Slapped the foundations of the place
where stood, and this instant giving away
fed therefore Immediately to elevated ground
Hence we behed Tremendous sight! The sea be-
tween Naples and Caprice covered with lnovpu poun
tHus they neither green, the ordinary state of
the ocean ro black rs in storms, but white
The young queen rushed of the palace bare Hoted
her hair dsheveed, and her dress in the greatest disorder
She followed by train of females, whose dress was M
loose and disorderly her They went 10 throw,
themselves at the feet of the blessed virgin, CA aloud
.HSTcE .HercB
Towards the close Of the day the storm abated the sea
was calm sad The heavens Those were upom
he land suffered now only the pains of fear butt was other
wise with those who upon the water. Some Mar
settles ealleys, last from Cypress and now ready 10 werh
anchor sunk before eyes; could give the
the least assistance. Larger vessels from nations met
with the same fate in the midst Of the harbour. Not soul
was saved
There very large vessel which had on board four
hundred criminals under Of death. The mode Of
their punishment had been changed and they were reserved
or1n hope, to be exposed in the first expedition against
Sicily This ship which stout and well built. sustained
the shocks Of the ll sunset but she began l.,
loosen, and 10 fill with The criminals who were
hardy of mcn au less disnaypd by death rs they had
lately seen him at band struggled with the Storm
and by bold and vigorous defence, kept death At bay till
tine approach Of night But their efforts were in vain The
snip began to sink Determined, howevert put off as IA
possible the moment Of dissoluon they ran ao and
hung upon the mas and rigging Az this moment the tenn
was aTPeased and these poor conyics the ,ny
persons whose lives saved in the port of Naples Luz
can says, Fortune preserves tie guilty. And do we not find
By daily experience that lives Of little moment easily escape
the Perlsto which they exposed?
Pearch wrote this letter the day after the earthquake
ard concludes with The following reflections