Office of the Historian

Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward.

No. 19.]
United States Consulate, Tunis, November 7, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to report that, between 8 o’clock on the evening of the 14th of September and 3 o’clock the following morning, there were nine shocks of an earthquake in this city, accompanied by a heavy rumbling noise; the first and last shocks were far the heaviest. No great damage was done, but at the time and during the following week great consternation prevailed. Thousands of people left the city in carriages and on foot, filling the villages around, encamping in the open fields, and some few departing by sea for the towns and villages along the shore. The only material result of all this stir is, so far as I can learn, the appearance of an island in the Mediterranean, the discovery of which is announced in the enclosed despatch from our vice-consul at the Goletta.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,

AMOS PERRY, United States Consul.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Untitled]

Mr. Consul General:

Captain Mohammed Aoun, of the Tunisian brig Wansow, having arrived at Leghorn, has announced to me the discovery of an island some 125 yards in length, situated in longitude 8.30 east, and in latitude 37.50 north, exactly on the Clerki reefs. I fulfil the duty of making known to you this discovery. The movements of the earth, of which we have experienced strong shocks at Tunis, may have occasioned that volcanic eruption. I do not doubt that the captain states a fact, the importance of which may be great both for science and navigation; particularly if the new island produced from the Clerki reefs by volcanic pressure remains permanent.

Yours, &c.,

CH. CUBISAL, United States Vice-Consul, at the Goletta, Port of Tunis.