XXXIII, ed. 1761._
Just at the time, plans were under way for the opening of a theater at
Lausanne for the special performance of 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.
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