were prevented from overfetting. It fell almost as suddenly, for in 20 minutes there was no appearance left of more water than ufual at that time of tide. Nothing extraordinary was obferved lower down the river, nor any fhock upon the land. A veffel arrived fince from Hayl in Cornwall brings an account, that the fame day, about four in the afternnon, they had three heads of water, one after the other; and at St. Ive's, a few miles diftant, a veffel that was near dry, floated off fome distance from the place.

Further Particulars relating to the Earthquake at Lisbon.

The following Account was communicated by a Gentleman who was an-Eye-witness of every Thing therein related, and was firft published in the WhitehallEvening-Poft.

AVING finished my bufinefs

occafion'd my stay in the city near two years, I refolved upon my return home by the first fhip that fhould fail in November and accordingly (Oct. 30) I discharged three Portugueze and one Spaniard, retaining only my countryman, who had lived with me fome years; the following day I was bufy in fettling my affairs and turning my cafh into paper. The next morning, being the ft of November, (a great holiday in that country) about eight o'clock I began to pack up my apparel, all other business being compleated, and about 35 minutes after nine my man and I ftooping in packing up, were terribly furprized with a fhocking rumbling noife, not to be defcribed, and the houfe thaking fo terribly, that fome parts of it, and a great many others in our view, were falling, whilft we could fcarcely keep our legs to efcape from our houfe; at length we accomplished this part of our wishes, but found ourselves ftrangely bewilder'd, the earth fhaking in a moft tremendous manner, fome hundreds of houfes then levelled, and the greateft

fmoak of the rubbish being extremely great, confirmed this report: The confufion we were in may be conceived by a humane heart, but not defcribed by a humane pen; the horrid and innumerable fhrieks of all degrees of people, expecting every moment to launch into eternity, the priests in the open treets abfolving them as they made their flight, though a fcene terrible to behold, was not the worst that there made its appearance, the multitude in efcaping from the fquares to the open fields trampling under foot fome hundreds both of young and old; great bodies of people, in endeavouring to efcape, were fuffocated; and numberlefs others, being blinded by the smoke, loft their way, and fo ran head-long into the midst of the flames. In our way to Belem we were fo thronged that many received confiderable hurt; many others, efpecially women and children, and ancient people, died of the fright.

It was aftonishing to fee them, moft having croffes, or a faint exalted, in filver or wood, praying

to,

o, and of the latter fome large and very heavy.

When we arrived near Belem we took ourselves to the open fields, many of which we could not find room in; this first night was fpent in prayer, and in gazing on the burning city, without any refreshment from fleep or victuals: The fire continued burning the fecond day with redoubled fury; no refreshment till late in the afternoon, and then not one in twenty received any benefit by it: The third day the fire continued, and great numbers went to fee what effects could be faved; but unfortunately the far greater number never returned, and thofe that did were hardly recompenfed for their trouble. Gibbets being erected all round the town, nine Spanish deferters, who had been taken yefterday on their return from plundering the town, and who had loaded. themselves fufficiently with gold, were hanged up as a terror to fuch like mif

creants.

This day the English merchants at Belem opened their florehouses, whereby we were tolerably well supplied with provifions, but lay on the bare ground, and in the open air. The 4th day the fire feem'd to abate; but in the evening it broke out afresh in the western parts of the city, which it totally laid levil. On the 6th day we began to pitch tents, provifions and other neceffaries coming in tolerably plenty. Yesterday and this day feveral other Spanish deferters and Portugueze were hang'd up, to the number of 19. By this time a confiderable number of perfons had died in the open fields; the 7th day continued bufy in finishing tents, and railing fome other conveniences. Not one day has yet paffed without one or more shocks; but on the 8th day, a little after five in the morning, there was a violent fhock, which principally affected the city, and that in an uncommon manner, efpecially on the key leading to the king's palace, on which I was then ftanding

(in hopes to get on board a fhip by fome boat, for better quarters than in the fields at Belem, which I quitted the afternoon before, and alfo to be near at hand to fee if any of my effects could be recovered) the remains of which it threw down into the fea, and the remnant of the custom and East-India houfes it levelled to the ground. The river role upwards of 20 feet four different times and funk as much and as often. Fish is now in great plenty, fome American ships having delivered their cargoes. This fhock did other very great damages, efpecially in fhattering fome part of the mint, and levelling the steeples and remnants of other grand buildings, both public and private. On the the 9th day great numbers of the inhabitants ventured from Belem to fearch for effects.

This morning an acquaintance informed me my man was on board a Brazil fhip in the Tagues, which was very agreeable news to me; I got him acquainted with my fituation, and he foon after joined me with a reciprocal pleafure. We fet off among the ruins and rubbish to find the ipot where lately ftood our houfe; but, oh! dreadful fight, I believe I faw 8 or 9000 dead bodies, fome upon the rubbish, others half way up their bodies in the rubbish, standing like ftatutes; and I was told by many, that on the 5th and 6th days after the one o'clock shock, the groans, fhrieks, and cries of great numbers, who were buried in and under the rubbish, were fufficiently heard; and at this time the french was fo great that it was impoflible to stay long among the ruins. We found our fpot with much difficulty, and with affiftance, dug out my iron cheft, which contained a confiderable fum; but the bulk of my for mer labours being, as I faid before, exchanged for paper, and being left in my defk, was irrecoverably gone, the houfe having taken its part in the conflagration. I was fufficiently uneafy, and thought my conditi

оп

on bad, but had the mortification to fee many others much worfe, not having faved 59. in the world, and perhaps fome thoufands bad. They continue hanging great numbers of plunderers, and a far greater number are in cuftody, of whom there are three Irishmen, who belonged to an English ship.

On the 12th day they began to inter fuch part of the dead as lay above the rubbish, which is faid to amout to 12000. The English families are embarking on board any fhips for fear of further danger. On the 13th day many perfons employed to fearch for private perfons property were obliged to be brought down to the key, the stench being fo great that they were delirious. On the 14th day a great quantity of plate and money belonging to the English merchants, were brought down, and put on board Capt. -, with whom, I that day embarked, and next day went on thore again with my man, who infifted upon going to the ruins once more, and in the afternoon he returned with fome plate, and another fmall iron box, in which I ufed to keep cafh in my comptinghoufe; fo doubting of fucceeding much farther till the ruins were dug up by authority, I left my man behind to take care of fuch effects as might be recovered, on the 19th failed for France in my way to England. On the 8th to this day inclufive there were violent fhocks, which did incredible damage to one part of the coaft or other.

The number of the dead in the city and along the coaft is computed to amount to upwards of 70,000, among which number the Jews and Irith have fuffered greatly; but I can not believe the number of the Englifh fo inconfiderable as has been reprefented, becaufe many of them whom I knew are mifling, and many dead. In fine, in Lisbon on the 19th of November, there was not a houfe that had one complete ftory

ftanding, nay that was tenantable; the only buildings that could then be faid to be ftanding were the Englifh and Dutch chapels, and the greatest part of the mint, in which is immenfe treasure preferved almost miraculously.

There were not any eruptions in the city, fiery or othrwife, but the fire proceeded from thofe in the houfes, except the parochial church, St. Francifco, a part of the inquifition, and fome nunneries, which by a banditti of Spaniards and Portugueze were fet on fire to prevent a difcovery of their villainous plunder of the riches of thofe places, left the fhocks should leave them ftanding. About 100 have fuffered in different parts for fuch proceedings; one of whom confefs'd the whole, and declar'd, that if he had thought he fhould have fuffered, he would have fir'd Belinie, Belem, &c. The method of their execution was first cutting off the right hand, then nailing it to the gibbet before their eyes; they were then hang'd up till dead, when their heads were cut off and fix'd upon polcs in the moft confpicuous places, and their bodies denied Chriftian burial, neither were they allowed the attendance of priests.

There were no chafms in the earth in and about Lifbon, nor all along the coaft that I could here of. Upon the firft fhock people running down to the key gave from 10 to 50 pieces to get on board fome fhips in the harbour.

B

Lillon, Νου. 7. Ufinefs begun to be done at Belem yesterday; fhips were cleared out, and others entered in. The court has for the prefent taken off all duties and taxes whatever, and ships with provifions are to be particularly favoured and indulged. Some of our factory, who have warehouses of rice, flour, &c. have been to the fecretary of ftate, and offered them to the king's difpofal. Dry goods are to be

entered

and landed in

entered as before, warehouses about Belem.

TH

Libon, Nov. 19. Here have been feveral fhocks fince the great earthquake that happened here on the 1ft inftant, the moit confiderable of which was on the 8th, about five in the morning. The force of the earthquake feemed to be immediately under the city, and to have vented itself at the key, that runs from the custom house towards the king's palace, which is intirely carried away and has totally difappeared, and fome boats were fwallowed at the fame time. The up India houfe is alfo destroyed; but the mint, in which there is a confiderable treafure, is ftanding. The river rofe 20 or 30 feet, and funk as much four feveral times. Three parts in four of the inhabitants are ftill encamped in the fields and gardens; the houfes that are yet remaining are fo fhattered, that it is thought not one in fifty can ftand the winter. Several fhips are arrived from America with fifh. The number of the dead is confiderably less than was at first conjectured, and it does not appear that any of the nobility are loft, except the Marchionets of Lourical, the Countess of Lumeares and her daughter, Lady Anna de Mofcoco, and Don Francifco de Noronha, a principal of the patriarchal church and brother to the Marquis of Angeja. The dead have been interred, the fires are extinguifhed, and by the provident measures the king has taken, the people are fupplied with plenty of provifions. London Gazette.

SEver

Lifeon, Nov. 20. Everal villains have been apprehended and executed, moftly foreigners, and to our reproach, among other nations, fome English failors, for robbing and plundering the palace and king's chapel of a great deal of rich plate. The others were French and Spanish deferters, and fome from the common prifons, which, in the general havock, let forth their con

tents in common with other edifices, A Moor, who got out with the rest, from the galleys where the flaves were confined, confeffed before he was executed, that he fet fire to the city in feven places, after the ceffation of the first shock. A French deferter confeffed he did the like in three places, one of which was to the India house, adjoining to the palace.

WE

Lifbon Dec. 15, 1755

to

E had on the 11th inft. about a quarter before five in the morning, the greateft fhock that has It been felt fince the firft of Nov. was very fenfible over the whole city and fuburbs, and fo violent as throw down the tower of the king's chapel, fome churches and feveral houfes which had been already much fhattered. This has greatly alarmed the people, who have fufficient reafon to apprehend, from thefe continued tremors, that the matter which caufed the earthquake is not yet fpent; fo that many perfons who feemed inclined to dwell in the few houfes ftill ftanding in the fuburbs, tho' almost all propped up, are now erecting tents and barracks in the fields. But this is only the cafe of thofe who have been fo happy as to fave fomething out of the general ruin. For it ought to be obferved, that although the king has exerted himfelf in daily acts of charity, and made feveral wife regulations to prevent the fatal confequences which were dreaded of peftilence and famine, the greater part of the inhabitants have no place to fhelter them from the inclemencies of the weather, nor cloaths to cover them, nor money to purchase the common neceffaries of life. I heartily with, for the honour of my country, as well as for the fake of thefe unhappy fufferers, that fome relief could be fent to them from England, which if it come with a good grace and fpeedily, would be a means of endaring our nation to this for ever.

I make

I make no doubt but you have heard of the unfortunate death of the Spanish ambaffador, who was killed as he was coming out of his palace. The French ambaffador, who lived oppofite to him, efcaped much better, for tho' his house was much fhattered, he not only faved his life, but all his furniture. This minifter immediately fent away an exprefs for France, and the next day went to court with his complements of condolance. Our envoy, Mr. Caftres, did not go to court till the fifth day after the firft great shock; nor was there any British veffel difpatched from hence, tho' feveral were then in the port, till capt. Linthorne voluntarily failed on the 11th; fo that it is to be feared, the account of this dreadful affair must have arrived late, unlefs it came by the exprefs directly dispatched by the French ambaffador.

I must now acquaint you with a certain particular which I believe, you will think not unworthy of notice. As there was a great number of British subjects in Lisbon of the poorer fort, especially Irish, who loft their all in this general calamity, they must have been reduced to the utmoft diftrefs, and very probably have perished, had they not fled to one Mr. Jofeph Morley's, who keeps an houfe of entertainment near the English burying ground; where he not only accommodated them all in the best manner he could within his gardens and other places adjoining, but generously gave fuch relief and fuccour to every one as their deplorable circumftances required. 'Tis true, about ten days after the earthquake, it was refolved at a factory meeting, that he thould be allowed

fo much per day for the fupport of every one of thefe diftreffed objects; but this does not take away the merit of the thing, fince he had no certainty at first of fuch a retaliation: and I think it is only doing him a common piece of justice to mention

I cannot omit one more circumftance which perhaps will not a little astonish you. On the 22d of laft month many of these poor people were shipped, by order of the factory, who paid fo much a head for their paffages, on board the brig Richard and Mary, capt. Overton, then ready to fail for Cork; but to the amazement and concern of every one, they were detained on board for twenty days in the port, for no other reafon, as I can learn, but the omiffion of those whose business it was to make a regular application for obtaining the requifite paffes. without which none can fail from hence at prefent, on account of the many robberies lately committed. The extraordinary expence the factory has been put to on this occafion, as well as the prejudice accruing to the captain from the delay, (both which might have been prevented) are the leaft inconveniencies. Let any one, not loft to all fenfe of humanity, judge what miferies thefe poor creatures, the greater part helplefs women and young children, all crowded together in fo fmall a vessel, mult have fuffered. Nor can this delay, with any juftice, be imputed to the Portuguefe miniftry, fince nothing can be more notorious, than that every one who properly applied to the fecretary of itate for a pals immediately obtained it. This fact is well known to capt. Dorrel, commander of his majefty's fhip the Penzance, as well as to feveral other gentlemen who failed under his convoy, to whom I refer you for farther particulars.