on Shore with the least Appearance of Security:
and the same Mr. Hay (the Consul) seemed resolved
to do, the last time I conferred with him about it.
I most humbly beg your Pardon, Sir, for the Disorder
of this Letter, surrounded as I am by many in Distress,
who from one instant to the other are applying to
me either for Advice or Shelter. The Packet
has been detained at the Desire of the Factory, till
another appears from England, or some Man of
War drops in here from the Streights.
This will go by the first of several of our Merchant
Ships bound to England. I must not forget
to acquaint you, that Sir Oliver Vyell and
Lady are safe and well, and have the Honour to be,
&c.”
From the Same to the Same. ’BELEM, November
7th, 1755.
“Sir,—. . . The present Scene of
Misery and Distress is not to be described; the Kingdom
of Portugal is ruined and undone, and Lisbon,
one of the finest Cities that ever was seen, is now
no more. The Escape of the forementioned Sir.
O. Vyell is one of the most providential Things
that ever was heard of; for whilst he was riding about
the middle of the City in his Chaise, on the first
instant, he observed the Driver to look behind him,
and immediately to make the Mules gallop as fast as
possible, but both he and they were very soon killed
and buried in the Ruins of a House which fell on them;
whereupon Sir Oliver jumped out of the Chaise,
and ran into a House that instantly fell also to the
Ground, and buried him in the Ruins for a considerable
Time; but it pleased God that he was taken out alive,
and not much bruised. His Lady likewise was
providentially in the Garden when their House fell,
and so escaped. About half an Hour after the
first Shock, the City was on fire in five different
Parts, and has been burning ever since, so that the
English Merchants here are entirely ruined.
There have been three Shocks every Day since the
first, but none so violent as the first. The
King has ordered all the Soldiers to assist in burying
the Dead, to prevent a Plague; and indeed upon that
Account the Fire was of Service in consuming the Carcasses
both of Men and Beasts. The English have
miraculously escaped, for notwithstanding the Factory
was so numerous, not more than a Dozen are known to
have been killed; amongst whom was poor Mrs. Hake,
Sister to Governor Hardy of New York,
who suffered as she was driving her Children before
her; and the Spanish Ambassador was killed also,
with his young Child in his Arms. Every person,
from the King to the Beggar, is at present obliged
to lie in the Fields, and some are apprehensive that
a Famine may ensue.”
An Extract of a Letter from on board a Ship in
Lisbon Harbour, Nov: 19, to the same Purport.
