The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

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 paper, 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 26th instant, and which has continued increasing till the very moment that the Senate, with tears in their eyes, give the relation directly to your Majesty, without making the usual representation to his Excellency the Viceroy, cannot fail to afflict your Majesty in the highest degree, since, by the divine dispensation, 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 and the Convents, which were immediately evacuated by the religious who occupied them, on the first shock of this dreadful earthquake, and who, with a part of the inhabitants, have miraculously escaped. What a mournful sight, Sire, to behold most of the citizens killed, and many others crushed by the ruins, without a possibility of affording them any assistance, for want of Masons, and those people who are proper to be employed on such occasions. The shrieks, the groans, the lamentations, and the cries with which every avenue resounded, were the more generally distressing, as it was not in their power to afford each other any relief. To a scene so terrible and distressing of itself, was added another calamity: this was fire; the ruins of the shattered palaces, and those of the houses, were consumed by the flames, the second shock having happened about dinner time. Nothing, however, was neglected by the King's Lieutenant, who ran with his men to assist, but without being able to produce any effect, there being no carpenters, nor any instruments to be got to stop the progress of the flames: nor could all the efforts of one of the King's frigates, which fired repeated broadsides, extinguish them; and if the fire continues, it must reduce to ashes the remainder of the city, which was formerly the glory of Princes, and the most flourishing in this kingdom. To all those combined evils others have since succeeded, which no pen can describe: the granaries of the city being destroyed, consequently there was an immediate dearth of bread. The Senate instantly took every measure which this pressing want rendered necessary, by stopping all the vessels in the harbour that were laden with corn; but, Sire, how can we convert the corn into bread, whilst the ovens and the proper implements for the purpose, are buried in the ruins, and most of the bakers have either perished or fled? To complete our misfortunes, the course of the rivers have changed, and the public fountains no longer supply us with that necessary element. The mills can no longer work, and the disorders have been so great at this tragic juncture, that they have completed the ruin of those who were left without bread: and what redoubles our distresses, and adds to the wounds of our hearts, torn by such various disasters, are the piercing cries of the unfortunate, some lamenting the loss of property, others that of their dearest relations. But notwithstanding the care of the Lieutenant of the Police, who, with his men, shewed the utmost zeal and activity in preventing theft, there were many so totally void of either morality or religion, as to add to the scourge with which God had afflicted their country: not content with rifling the private houses, they have even ransacked the ruins of the public buildings. It is only for the powerful arm of
your Majesty to prevent the consequence of all these misfortunes, by giving new life to this city, which is still in a state capable of being repaired. The Senate desire of your Majesty a speedy supply both of money and workmen, that the streets, which are now filled with ruins and dead bodies, may be rendered passable. They at the same time implore of your Majesty's paternal kindness, that you will send them, with the utmost speed, a supply of provisions, lest those who are dispersed in the country round about, and who are destitute of every thing, sink under their misfortunes, or at least be forced to quit the place entirely, which would in the end prove a great loss to your Royal Treasury, to which, however, the duties of Gabel, and of the Customs, must at present remain suspended and unpaid. Finally, the Senate entreat all necessary supplies, such as ovens, workmen, &c. that not only the baking houses may be re-established, but also the palaces, and the habitations of the citizens."