This earthquake was most violently felt
in the district of Aarnes, and has there
also caused the greatest destruction, especially
in the diocese of Skalholt, where,
excepting the cathedral, only two small
buildings are reported to have escaped without
damage. All the rest, and among
them the houses belonging to the college,
were either entirely thrown down or materially
injured. Some persons, who were buried
in the ruins, were happily immediately dug out
without having sustained any injury. The
bishop, Mr. Finsen, and his lady, who,
together with the rest of the inhabitants
belonging to the episcopal residence, had
long been obliged to lie under tents, in
consequence of the constant succession of
rain and tempestuous weather, were now
reduced to the necessity of taking flight
with their whole family; it being impossible
to rebuild their palace before the win»
ter came on. The timbers, in falling in,
had broken, and were rendered unfit for
use; nor were any horses to be procured
for the fatiguing task of conveying fresh
beams from the mercantile towns, situated
at a distance.
The whole of the houses belonging to
the Episcopal See of Skalholt having been
in this manner destroyed, the University was
necessarily neglected during the following
winter. In the parish of Skeide, in the
district of Aarnes, we are informed that
all the farm-houses, two only excepted, had
fallen to the ground, and that three persons
in this district had lost their lives by the
earthquakes. Besides which, these destructive
earthquakes had every where caused
great mischief, not only in this district,
but also in the western part of Range-
valle, and, according to accounts that have
been received, have damaged two hundred
and fifty farm-houses on the estate belonging
to the Bishopric of Skalholt,, besides eleven
churches, and have totally thrown down
six other churches. On the other hand,
both in the eastern district, and likewise at
Vestmannoe as well as over the whole
* According to Mr. Sysselman Sivertsen’s information.,
transmitted to the Royal Treasury, at the first
shock which took place on the 14th of August, large
rocks were torn from the mountains, and fell down on
Vestmannoe, which was covered with smoke from the
base to the summit: and, as the smoke arose from