VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. Q^g 



his reckoning, and struck, upon a rock, and they instantly hawled out their long- 

 boat to save themselves, but happily brought the ship, though much injured, 

 into this harbour. 



The shocks lasted between 5 and 7 minutes. The very first shock was ex- 

 tremely short, but then it was as quick as lightning succeeded by two others, 

 which, in the general way of speaking, are mentioned all together as only one 

 shock. About 12 o'clock we had a second shock. Mr. W. was then in the 

 Terra do Paqo, or King's palace-yard, and had an opportunity of seeing the 

 walls of several houses that were standing, open from top to bottom, more 

 than a quarter of a }ard, yet close again so exactly as to leave no sio-ns of 

 injury. 



3. Abstract of Two Letters, by John Mendes Saccheli, M.D., F.R.S. dated 

 from the Fields of Lisbon, on the T th of November, and the \st of Decem- 

 ber, 1755. p. 409. 



The day before the fatal earthquake the atmosphere, and light of the sun, 

 had the appearance of clouds and notable ofl'uscation, and more strong and vi- 

 sible at the actual time of the great shock, which was by undulation, and lasted 

 from 6 to 8 minutes. It ruined not only this populous city, but all the southern 

 part of the country of Estremadura, and a great part of the kingdom of Al- 

 garve. The earth opened in fissures in several parts, but neither fire nor visible 

 smoke came out of it. The water in the sea rose several times, and in a few 

 minutes made 3 fluxes and refluxes, rising above the greatest spring-tides 2 

 spawns, or 1 5 English feet. 



4. Abstract of a Letter from Mr. J. Latham, dated at Zsu-queira, Dec. 11 



1755, to his Uncle in London, p. 411. 

 I was on the river on Saturday the 1 st of November, with a gentleman going 

 to a village 3 miles off. In a quarter of an hour the boat made a noise as if on 

 the shore or landing. About 4 or 5 minutes after, the boat made a noise as 

 before, which was another shake. We saw the houses tumble down on both 

 sides of the river. In Lisbon, a convent on a high hill fronting the river, the 

 most part of it came down, a great many were killed and buried in the 

 ruins ; many tumbled neck and heels in the water, others ran down to the river, 

 up to their middle and necks. A strong northerly wind blew from shore, which 

 covered the water with dust, and in our boat we could scarcely see one another \ 

 and it entirely hid the sun from us for some time. The wind soon dispersed the 

 dust, the shaking seemed over. In about three quarters of an hour we came to 

 the village, where we were called ashore, and met several gentlemen, who came, 

 out of the city on horse-back, but so frighted, that they did not know what was 

 the matter. In a quarter of an hour after our landing, the village was alarmed 

 with another shake. We got down to our boat ; in a moment the river rose so 



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