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Melfi, 14th August, 1851.

From the past summer season, up to the moment in which we are writing (February, 1852), the earth has been frequently convulsed in several of the countries of Europe. All these earthquakes have had distinct centres of action, and a different intensity and extension.

It is our province solely to speak of that which with reason has been denominated the earthquake of Melfi, not merely because this unfortunate city suffered the most in the death of its inhabitants, and the ruin of its buildings, but because the cause of these calamities was felt in the surrounding countries, the ground on which this ancient and illustrious metropolis of Puglia is built having been the centre of convulsion, as we shall presently demonstrate. Journeying