Last night about 10 o’clock, just after I had gone to bed, I was alarmed by a very sharp shock of an earthquake. It lasted several seconds and was generally felt, even in the playhouse, and occasioned some alarm. From the long continued heat and dry weather it has been expected. But the rain seems now to set in. I hope we shall have no more. My curiosity is completely gratified. It was strong enough to wake me, and lasted some time after I sat up in my bed, not quite determined what to do. To-night we are all going to a very grand ball at Mr Villiers’ the envoy, on his going away, universally respected and regretted. I have the highest esteem for him and owe him some gratitude for his kindness to me. A better or kinder man could not be, and he was much esteemed by the natives. Lord Wellesley is expected here, though this is only what I hear as a report. Lord Wellington leaves this to-morrow for the army.
I wrote to dear Emily by the last packet about some friends of mine, most amiable good people, to whom I, as well as every English Officer, owe a great deal. I am sure you would like them, and I therefore beg you to second my petition for them to stay with you some time, should they be forced to quit the country, till they can get settled in some degree in England previous to going to Brazil.
With kindest love to all, believe me, My dear Mother, Yours affectionately,
Wm. Warre.
The Ball was very handsome, and also the supper in grand style, which table many of my Portuguese friends, who dined at No. 3, did not seem to disapprove.
Lisbon, October 26, 1809.
My Dear Father,
As I write to my mother by this conveyance, and tell her all the news, this merely serves to enclose 1st and 2nd of exchange, for some wine shipped by your house at Porto for Capt. Otter by the direction of Major Brown. I have not yet received that from Lt.-Col. Delaney, for a pipe shipped by his order to Sir D. Dundas, but will remit it as soon as I do. I also enclose my final account current with Messrs Armit & Borough, Dublin, and their bill on Hammersley’s for the balance, £53, 18s. 8d. Greenwood & Cox must therefore have 5 months’ pay of mine in their hands, and I enclose accordingly a bill for £90, which I will thank you to place to my credit.
I observe with the greatest surprise, in a letter from my Dear Mother, that my expences at Porto amounted to £500, nor can I imagine it possible, and accordingly write to Pedro Alvez for a statement. I should have thought £100 far beyond the mark exclusive of Genl. ... account, and ... bill for 133 dollars, and I really am completely at a loss to account for it. It is true I was in one respect at an unnecessary expence, and gave the servants a present each. Poor devils, they had lost all they had, and told me, except old Domingos, my uncle’s allowance to them had ceased, and compassion for their sufferings made me give more than at the time I thought I could afford.