GQO PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1755. 



high as obliged us to take to our heels, and run for our lives into the fields and 

 high ground, the water flowing across the road, which, from the low tide, was 

 above a quarter of a mile ; the ships were whirled about, and several people 

 taken into the water, others driven ashore and dashed to pieces. From the 

 high grounds we could see the sea at about a mile's distance come rushing in 

 like a torrent, though against wind and tide. A fine new stone quay in Lisbon, 

 where the merchants land their goods, where at that time about 3 thousand 

 people were got out for safety, was turned bottom upwards, and every one lost ; 

 nor did so much as a single body appear afterwards. It being a holy-day, great 

 numbers of the natives being at their devotion in convents and churches, whose 

 large buildings suffered most, it is computed about 6o thousand souls, and a 

 hundred and odd of the foreigners, and all sorts of cattle perished. The reli 

 gious houses being illuminated with wax-lights, and the images dressed, by the 

 shakes were set on fire by night, in several places, and by Monday morning en- 

 tirely consumed, with the rich furniture of convents, nuimeries, and nobility's 

 houses, and all the merchants and tradesmen's goods, besides jewels, gold, plate, 

 and coined money. There have been a great many shakes by nights and days : 

 even on the 8th of December was felt a strong one : it was much more violent 

 in some places than others. The ground was opened ; in some places you 

 might put your hand down broad-ways, and not feel the bottom with a long 

 stick. A sea port, called St. Ubal's, was entirely swallowed up, people and all. 

 5. Observations made at Colares,* on the Earthquake at Lisbon, of the 1st oj" 

 November 1755, by Mr. Stoqueler, Consul of Hamburg, p. 413. 



The 1st of November, the day broke with a serene sky, the wind continuing 

 at east; but about Q o'clock the sun became dim, and about half an hour after 

 we began to hear a rumbling noise, like that of carriages, which increased to 

 such a degree as to equal the noise of the loudest cannon ; and immediately we 

 felt the first shock, which was succeeded by a 2d and 3d ; on which, as also on 

 the fourth, were seen several light flames of fire issuing from the sides of the 

 mountains, resembling what is observed on the kindling of charcoal. In the 

 spot on which he remained till the 3d shock was over, he observed the walls to 

 move from east to west. 



In the afternoon of the 3 1 st of October, the water of a fountain was greatly 

 decreased : on the morning of the 1 st of November it ran very muddy, and 

 after the earthquake it returned to its usual state, both in quantity and clear- 

 ness. Some fountains, after the earthquake, ran muddy, some decreased, 

 others increased, others were dried up; and one, that with the earthquake was 



• It is about 20 miles from Lisbon, and lies behind the rock, about 2 miles from the 

 0ea. — Orig. 



