some of Voltaire's rationalistic
dramas. But the enterprise was deferred. One writer says:

"The earthquake had made all men thoughtful. They mistrusted
their love of the drama, and filled the churches
instead."--_Tallentyre, "Life of Voltaire," p. 319._

So, in an age of rationalism and unbelief, men's thoughts were turned
toward God, and human helplessness and earth's instability were
recognized.

Extent of the Lisbon Earthquake

As to the extent of the earthquake, a writer of the period shows that it
was felt in Sweden and in Africa and in the West Indies, adding:

"The effects were distributed over very nearly four millions of
square English miles of the earth's surface, and greatly
surpassed anything of the kind ever recorded in
history."--_"History and Philosophy of Earthquakes" (London,
1757), p. 333._

The commander of an English ship, lying off Lisbon at the time, thus
described the scene in a letter to the ship's owners:

"Almost all the palaces and large churches were rent down, or
part fallen, and scarce one house of this vast city is left
habitable. Everybody that was not crushed to death ran out into
the large places, and those near the river ran down to save
themselves by boats, or any other floating convenience,
running, crying, and calling to the ships for assistance; but
whilst the multitude were gathered near the riverside, the
water rose to such a height that it overflowed the lower part
of the city, which so terrified the miserable and already
dismayed inhabitants, who ran to and fro with dreadful cries,
which we heard plainly on board, that it made them believe the
dissolution of the world was at hand; every one falling on his
knees and entreating the Almighty for His assistance.... By two
o'clock the ships' boats began to ply, and took multitudes on
board.... The fear, the sorrow, the cries and lamentations of
the poor inhabitants are unexpressible; every one begging
pardon, and embracing each other, crying, Forgive me, friend,
brother, sister! Oh! what will become of us! neither water nor
land will protect us, and the third element, fire, seems now
to threaten our total destruction! as in effect it happened.
The conflagration lasted a whole week."--_Thomas Hunter,
"Historical Account of Earthquakes" (Liverpool, 1756), pp.
72-74._