Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Geology, Religious Authority, Religion, Superstition

    Describes the contest between the earthquake and priests at Naples, both of which are trying to be 'the more shocking'. Notes from a correspondent's report in The Times that priests and their flocks flogged themselves with ropes in chastisement for their sins, but observes that 'the earthquake had the advantage of the priests in shaking, even to overthrow, the monuments, at least, of their superstition'. One of these monuments is a Madonna 'who had granted some special favours during the earthquakes'.