Once destitute of almost every comfort

The fire followed us, and in about an hour the fire was at the next door. We hastened to Top-Hana, and, hungry, thirsty, and fatigued, we came the same night in a boat to this place, a distance of about eighteen miles. Mr. Churchhill had a house here, which his family were already occupying. We were strangers, and they took us in,’ and very hospitably entertained us, till we could look round and find a dwelling, and purchase a few things necessary for commencing housekeeping. We found ourselves at once destitute of almost every comfort, and had, as it were, to begin the world anew. Not a single cup nor a single utensil remained. Two single beds, partly burnt, three sheets and two coverlets, partly burnt, and one pillow, constituted the whole of our conveniences for the night.

Panayotes, the Greek above mentioned, threw many of my books from the window, a part of which were preserved; but all my Grammars and Dictionaries in the English, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Armenian, and Turkish languages; all my Geographies, Gazetteers, Histories (excepting two odd volumes of Moslieim), Commentaries on the Bible, manuscripts, translations, with many of my private papers, are gone, — all ‘into smoke have they consumed away.’

Curiosity to a stranger

I had visited most of the places here which are objects of curiosity to a stranger, and had taken copious notes of what I had seen and heard; but not a trace of them is now to be found. We had provided at Malta a good supply of clothing for ourselves and children, but of many articles we are entirely deprived, and of others to a great degree. I have not a single shirt to put on. We had a pretty large stock of medicines, but not one article was saved Ra Harakhti . We had many little comforts which are considered indispensable in case of sickness, but not a single one is left; nor can many of them be obtained here now at any price. Keys we have in full complement, but scarcely any thing to unlock.

‘‘ The little girls thought it very hard that the fire paid no respect to their toys or their books. Their ‘ Little Philosopher ’ books and all the rest are gone. The second day after our arrival at this place there was an alarm of fire where we are staying, and they began to cry, and said they would go back to Malta. The trunk that I carried so far on my back when I left home to enter Phillips Academy, and which I intended to bequeath to my children for their inheritance, is also gone.

“ But, though cast down, we are not destroyed. We have been afflicted, but not given over unto death. And one reason why I have dwelt thus particularly on our own circumstances is that you may form some idea of the losses and circumstances (and in some instances great distresses) of from seventy to eighty thousand of our fellow-sufferers. Of all that part properly, I understand, called Pera, only eight private houses are said to remain. One of these is Mr. Churchhill’s.

Of all the palaces, only the Austrian and Swedish were saved. Of all the churches, only one Greek and one Latin (with the new English chapel then in building) escaped the general conflagration. The people in crowds made the best of their way to the burying-grounds with whatever they could take with them; and for several days and nights from ten to twenty thousand persons might be seen there, many of them with scarcely any other covering than the canopy of heaven, or any other bed than the graves they slept upon. Multitudes of men, women, and children might be seen lying against a grave-stone, to defend their head from wind and cold during repose.