Manuscript - Prayers for Protection Against Plague, Instituted by Livorno Dayanim, Handwritten by Rabbi Refael ...

Manuscript - Prayers for Protection Against Plague, Instituted by Livorno Dayanim, Handwritten by Rabbi Refael Ergas - Livorno, 1832
Manuscript, prayers for protection against a plague, handwritten by R. Refael Ergas. [Livorno, 1832].
Autograph (semi-cursive Italian script), with deletions and emendations. Writer's colophon on the last leaf: "HaRafa" - presumably the acronym of R. Refael Ergas, a Livorno Torah scholar (author of Sefer HaZichronot shel HaRafa, JTS MS 3787; published in Brooklyn, 1985).
This manuscript includes special prayers instituted in Livorno in 1832, when the city was threatened by a plague. On leaf [2], the writer describes how this prayer order was composed by a committee of three dayanim, following a request from the local ruler: "Since the king requested to pray and plead G-d for mercy, regarding the disease which has struck other places, so that it should not affect us, G-d forbid, the dayanim immediately… formed a committee to compile a prayer order… and they resolved to fix Wednesday, of the second week of Cheshvan, 1832, and on this day, close to the time of Mincha… we gathered together in one of the synagogues… to pray and beg for mercy for us and all the Jews residing in the other places…".
The first leaves contain a special order of verses, followed by "Verses forming the acrostic - Livorno" (the initial letters of the verses form the word "Livorno"), and a special prayer composed for this misfortune.
On the first leaf, an inscription by the writer, dedicating this book to R. Avraham Coriat, a Livorno Torah scholar and dayan: "This book, which I handwrote, was made for my beloved and cherished friend... the Torah scholar R. Avraham Coriat…".
The closing colophon mentions once again the year 1832, as well as the Torah portion of that week - Vayera (read in Cheshvan), and the "three dayanim who composed this prayer".
At the foot of the last leaf, a later inscription was added, documenting that they availed themselves to this prayer order once again in Av 1835.
[7] leaves (12 written pages). 15 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Original paper cover, damaged.