X 60 the great EARTHGUAKE of 1755. ^ 
at the distance of eight miles, and at least sixty feet 
than usual. It dashed against the west part of ];£i’ 
which is very rocky. Although its force was much 
by these rocks, it at length reached the walls, and 
the breast- work, which was sixty feet above the of^*^ (||J 
level of die water, removing pieces of the fabric, ° f 
weight of eight or ten tons, to the distance of 
fifty yards. At half past eleven came a second 
and this was followed by four others of equal niagij'^^)' 
Odiers, but smaller, and gradually lessening, contiiw j 
uncertain intervals until the evening. A consideraW^'y 
of the rampart was thrown down, and carried by Ji* 
rent above fifty paces. Several persons perished 
causeway leading to the Isle of Lesu. The 
brought to Cadiz reported that Seville had been 
damaged, and that a similar fate had attended St. b |. 
and Cheres. Conel was said to have been desti^/ 
and, indeed, with the exception of the provinces of 
Ionia, Aragon, and Valencia, tlie effects of this eaioiH 
were felt throughout Spain. /if 
At Madrid the shock was veiy sensibly felt soo ,V 
ten in tlie morning, and lasted five or six minutes^^^-/ 
first tlie inhabitants fancied tliey were seized with if 
raing in the head ; and, afterwards, that the 
faUing. In the churches the sensations were tlio 
and the terror so great, tliat the people trod eacb ^ y 
under foot in getting out. Those who were ■"'* 
towers were still more affrighted, fancying every 
while the shock lasted, that they were faUing to 
It was not sensible to those who were in carriages, ai ^ 
little so to foot passengers. . j«'' 
At Gibraltar it was felt about the same tii» 
Madrid, and began with a tremulous motion of 
which lasted about half a minute. A violent 
ceeded ; and this again was followed by a second^^^yiK 
lous motion, of the duration of five or six seconds. ^ 
■shock, not so violent as the first, subsided gradn2'’j-^.'jii^ 
the whole lasted about two minutes. Several of b .jvl'J 
on the batteries w-erc seen to rise, and otliers to jit j 
the earth had an undulating motion. The 
the garrison and inhabitants were seized with gid“J* 
sickness ; several fell prostrate ; others were s t 
