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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 327
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the Black Art & Dealings of the Romish Priests; The Divine
Stroke is reported at the time of Enterance on that Festival. —
The Calamity Befalling the whole Maritime Coast gave alarm
to His Portuguese Majesty, who arrived in View to the down-
fall of his Towers, His Gorgeous Palaces, Solemn Temples,
and of his Metropolis (the Stroke being- particular at the City
of Lisbon) where fell the Custom house, the Key Rich with
Effects from all nations, and Crowded with People, Sunk at
once Fathomless! The Rich India House, with the remainder
of that opulent City left as a Rack behind! of which the best
Effects are Dissolved by the General Conflagration that
Ensued. — The King with Amaze and Fear retired under a
Tent, attended with the Lamentations and Shrieks of his
People, of whom the most were Naked, Destitute, Bereft of
alll And upon rough Computation amounts to Twenty
Millions Sterling and of People more than 50,000. The only
Relief left was the Mint Rich in Treasure, and some Provision
Vessels with Stores that fortunately arrived. — I know not its
Equal in Misfortune, But that of Sodom and Gomorrah —
destroy'd in the Land of the Canaanites, unless the Extention
of the Deluge.
Account from Paris, mention a Jesuit stil'd Nicholas the Ist
who is said to have assumed the Sceptre of Paraguay. It is
there given out the Title of King has Succeeded that of
Generalissimo, which he had before, as is the Custom of the
Country of the Missions, where all Troops are Subordinate to
the Provincial Father and alledge, the Natives of Paraguay
have made Surrender of the Soil to Them; therefore they
deem themselves Lords of the Soil and all things on it, and
consequently may put in a Plea against the New Regulation
of Limits between Spain and Portugal, at least their Title to
Paraguay is as good as that of the Bishop of Rome to the
Territories called St Peter's Patrimony. — Sure these Casuists
are from Satan! not from the Divine St Peter's whole King-
dom was not of this World.
It has been talk'd and is of a Proposition to Parliament of
raising 1,500 to consist only of Swiss and Germans, to be sent
to Pensilvania; if not compleated in Europe than of such
Foreigners in that Province, and the Command thereof to a
Mr Prevo a German; Here is a great Roar against it. — It
disagreeing with the Rules of Policy in Regard to Officers
here and America, I think it will be drop'd. On it's being
mention'd to me by Particulars, I gave for answer, There could
be no doubt of much Benefit from Forces sent to America,
But to be composed of Corps Foreigners Quarter'd particularly
at Philadelphia, in either Case with Submission I Judged would
give great Dissatisfaction in America: It would Enrich Pen-
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