cracks, and the great Tower or Steeple feem ed ready to fall. In the Theatins Convent of the Holy Apoftles, a whole Dormitory fell down, befides other confiderable damage they received: And the magnificent Arch erected before the Church of St Paul, belonging to the faid Fathers fell, together with thofe great and ancient Columns that for merly made part of the Temple Caftor and Pollux; there remaining only four of them ftanding, and thofe in a tottering condition; Out of thefe ruins there have been already dug 19 Perfons that were dead, and there was reafon to fear that the mifchief might have been much greater, it being fo near to a publick Market where there were great throngs of People. The Walls of the great Church of St. Dominick opened in many places; and great part of the Refeca tory fell down, as allo part of the adjoyning Palace, where many were killed; feveral other Churches of the Auguftins, &c. were ruined; and in fhort there is fcarce a Palace or Houfe that has not received fome confiderable damage. This occafioned very devout Proceffions of Perfons of all Ranks. The next day was another great Shock which threw down many of the Houfes that were before the mott weakened; and Yefterday there was another perceived, but without much damage; but this day we have felt nothing of it: However the Proceffions continue in great numbers, ar!

the Perfons of Qnality are all retired from hence. In the Neighbourhood of Udice, a City fixteen Miles diftant from thence, a mountain opened, and a Courier from Benevento a City belonging to the Pope, brings an Account that it was all ruined, and that of fix thousand Inhabitants there were but few left alive; The Arch-bishops Palace there was thrown down, and the Arch-bifhop himfelf drawn out of the ruins, being hurt in his Head and Arm. And there are Accounts of the like damages in feveral other places.

In a Letter from Rome June 12. 1688. There was this further Account; We have had nothing confiderable to entertain us here this Week but the fad Relations of the terrible Earthquakes at Naples, and feveral places about it. It happened at Naples on Sunday laft about 21 hours and a half (which at the same inftant was perceived by a great many here) On Sunday too it returned. Several Churches, Palaces, and Houfes are ruin'd, among the reft the famous Church of the Jefuits, reckoned the fineft in Italy, is all tumbled down, except the Walls and the High Altar. The particular number of thole killed and buried in the ruins is not known. The laft Letters fay, many of the Inhabitants lie abroad under Tents, in Couches, &c. and continually Prayers, Proceffions, publick Penances, &c. are performed; and every one runs a

bout

bout crying Miferecordia, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; Three Ships were funk in the Harbour, and the Water in the Wells rofe many Handfuls. Benevento is almoft totally ruined and of ten thoufand Inhabitants, they fay there remains fcarce fix hundred alive. Cardinal Urfini their Arch-bishop was taken out of the Ruins alive, but hurt. Several other Places and Seats are quite ruined and most of the Inhabitants fwallowed up. This City and the Country hereabout juft felt the Shock but received noharm. The damage is faid to be above fifty Millions.

LXII. In the fame year and Month, 1688. The London Gazett gave an account of a dreadful Earthquake and Fire at Smyrna; In a Lerter from an English Gentleman at Conftantinople, Dated July 8. 1688. As followeth. On June thirty between 11 and 12 at Noon there happened at Smyrna a violent Earthquake, which in a Minute threw down many, and fhattered all the Houfes in that City; It reached all the adjacent Parts, and Motelcne and Scio, where it did fome fmall Harm, and at the fame time that day it was felt here, though the force of it being spent by the diftance, it was not generally taken notice of. About four hours after the Earthquake, a Fire broke out in the Frank-Street from an Houfe called the Genovefe-Houfe, which by the strength of the Wind, and in that confterncation, having no opposition foon

con

confumed the Frank-Street and all the Town, except the Skirts and the Houfes on the fide of the Hill, which ftand fcattering and not contiguous. The most moderate computation of People destroyed is 5000. Some make it double the number, of which 400 Jews, and one of the moft famous Chaccham Rabbies of the Eaft, Aaron Aben Haim, who as he was much reverenced by them in his Life, fo particular lamentations are made here for his Death. The Metropolite of Smyrna with fome Papa's, went to the Church to Prayers, and were killed by its falling on them. The Patriarch alfo of Alexandria had the fame Fate. And many poor People were buried in the ruins before they could get help. Of the French Nation, only the Conful was killed. Of the Dutch one Merchant; And of the English three, and several others were bruifed and hurt, but not dangeroufly. The Conful and half of the Nation, it being Saturday, were abroad, but perceiving the Earthqurke came immediately to the City, and all went aboard their Ships in Port. In the interim betwixt the fhock of the Earthquake, and the breaking out of the Fire, great quantities of Goods were faved. So that the English as to their lofs in Merchandise have escaped much better than the Dutch, who had no Ships in Port. All the lower Ware-houfes in

chan are faved, but those above Stairs either by Windows left open, or by the Fire getting in at the Clefts of the Walls fuffered much and are moft fallen. The Castle at St. Giacomo-Point is quite funk under ground, A Capigee Baffa is fent from hence to Smyrna to look after the Grand Seigniors Intereft in taking the Estates of thofe dead without Heirs, which will add afflic tion to affion, but the publick neceffities here are great. And the Lord Ambaffador of England has fent down an Officer with command from the Grand Vifier to be affifting particulary to our Nation in look ing after their concerns.

LXIII. In December following feveral Earthquakes happened about Naples and Beneventum, but without fuch unfortunate Accidents as attended them fome Months before. Nevertheless that accident being fresh in Memory, it is not to be imagined in what a confternation the People were, and how they fell to their Prayers in fereral Churches. The Monks in thofe quarters made ufe of the opportunity to preach, That the end of the World was at hand, and for that Reafen endeavoured to awaken the People to give Alms. But in regard (faid my Author) that the People are not now to be impofed upon as formerly, when they ufed fuch ways to rear those costly Foundations that are scattered over all Furope, they refolved to keep what they had;

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