Alexandria Daily Advertiser

NEW YORK. Sept. 1.

Late Foreign Intelligence.

London July 8.

A Lisbon mail arrived yesterday morning, the letters by which we lament to say, mention the shock of an earthquake to have been felt at Lisbon on the 6th ultimo. It took place about four o'clock in the afternoon, and lasted about twelve seconds. The shock was so severe that several houses were much damaged, and the city thrown into the greatest confusion. But few lives were lost; several had their arms and legs broken, &c. by jumping out of the windows, under the apprehension of the houses falling on them. The shock was also felt at S. Ubes, Oporto and generally thro'out Portugal. It was felt on board the Lively frigate about eight miles off the rock of Lisbon. The following is a letter received from a gentleman resident at Lisbon:

Extract of a letter dated Lisbon, July 12.

"At four o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday last, the 6th instant, a shock of an earthquake was felt here, of very much more force, and longer continuance, than has been experienced since the dreadful one in 1755. In all parts of the city and suburbs the houses were abandoned, and the inhabitants on their knees, and the greater part in the most piteous and lamentable tones supplicating the Divine Mercy. The universal impression was, that a shock so alarming would be presently followed by others more fatal, and while some with a pious resignation awaited the expected crisis, others gave way to frantic despair and nothing could exceed the general horror. Happily however it terminated with the first great shock. The dread which it excited caused great numbers to leave the city and to pass the night in the open fields, but an undisturbed tranquility continued, which in the course of the next day was restored to order, and dispelled the agitations which more or less every one suffered. The prevailing opinion is that there were two shocks so instantaneously connected, as to be in effect the same as one. They were preceded by a terrific subterraneous noise, such as thunder might be supposed to produce, if pent up within the bowels of the earth, and when the shock commenced, its violence gave repeated and perfectly visible motion to every building in the city. I have conversed with several who lived here when the great earthquake happened which destroyed Lisboa in 1755, and they all agree that the violence of that did not exceed this, but it was of much longer continuance and many times repeated. Had this lasted two seconds longer half Lisbon would have been in ruins. As it is there are few houses that do not exhibit some proof of its effects, though except some old dwellings, that were thrown down, and which caused two deaths and several fractured limbs, the injury has not been great. The convents and churches have suffered most. The house we occupy is uncommonly strong, with walls two feet and an half thick, but it is shattered from one end to the other, more or less, and in some places the fractures extend from top to bottom. The ships in the river experienced a sensation similar to what is felt when striking and passing over a ridge of rocks.

According to the most authentic opinions as to its duration, it lasted from seven to ten seconds. Mr M- at the distance from each other

Tolerable certainty running from their chambers 10 to

ich c a before it subsided. They supposed about two seconds to have elapsed before to

Gained their seats, and they have ascertained by subsequent and repeated ments. that they could no: have been expeit than five seconds in getting down from,

It was equally felt at Cintra and Mafra, where the royal family were. The princess, who possesses great fortitude preserce with of mind it into snatched the garden up her the pine regent sunk under the alarm, and remained insensible for a considerable time.

Of the many shocks that have been here since the year 1755, two only have been distinguished but neither of them are considered means either in point of violence or duration, to that of which I write.

A subsequent shock, but of so slight a nature as not to be felt by the general of the people, is ascertained to have occurred about eight o'clock on Wednesday morning, the 10th instant. It was felt more sensibly at Mafra and other places than here."