Chap. 48.] Earthquake at Lijbon. 365 



jsifhing, opulent, and populous city, a fcene of the ut- 

 moft horror and defolation, except only fuch as ferved 

 to alarm, but fcarcely left a moment's time to fly from 

 the general deftrudion. 



' It was on the morning of this fatal day, between 

 the hours of nine and ten, that I was fat down in 

 my apartment, juft finifhing a letter, when the papers 

 and table I was writing on began to tremble with a 

 gentle motion, which rather furprized me, as I could 

 not perceive a breath of wind ftirring ; whilil I was 

 reflecting with myfelf what this could be owing to, 

 but without having the leaft apprehenfion of the real 

 caule, the whole houfe began to make from the very 

 foundation, which at firft I imputed to the rattling of 

 feveral coaches in the main ftreet, which ufually pafied 

 that way, at this time, from Belem to the palace; but 

 on hearkening more attentively, I was foon undeceived, 

 as I found it was owing to a flrange frightful kind of 

 noife under ground, refembling the hollow diftant 

 rumbling of thunder; all this patted in lefs than a 

 minute, and I mud confefs 1 now began to be alarmed, 

 as it naturally occurred to me, that this noife might 

 pofiibly be the forerunner of an earthquake, as one I 

 remembered, which had happened about fix or feven 

 years ago, in the Ifland of Madeira, commenced in 

 the fame manner, though it did little or no da- 

 mage. 



' Upon this I threw down my pen, and darted upon 

 my feet, remaining a moment in iufpenfe, whether I 

 mould flay in the apartment, or run into the ftreet, as 

 the danger in both places feemed equal ; and Mill flat- 

 tering myfelf that this tremor might produce no other 

 effects than fuch inconfiderable ones as had been felt 

 at Madeira j but in a moment I was roufed from my 

 jdream, being inftantly ftunned with a mbft horrid 



cram, 



