Page:Historical account of Lisbon college.djvu/81

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HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF LISBON COLLEGE.
71

and abilities, who had lately taken degrees in the Sorbonne University. It was, however, particularly unfortunate, that at the time when the spirit which formerly had animated the Community was almost extinct, the internal direction of it should have been entrusted to a stranger. Ignorant of the peculiar mode of discipline, of the feeling and wants of the College, Dr. Barnard certainly did not meet with that success in his administration which might have been expected from his abilities, and the Lisbon Community still continued to reflect a sad but faithful image of the unsightly and half finished structure in which it resided.

Such was the state of the College when, in the year 1755, Father Manleyfell among the innumerable victims of one of the most dreadful earthquakes recorded in History. On all Saints Day, about ten o'clock in the morning the hour at which High Mass was to begin, the first shock was felt. The President had just been to Confession and was taking a few turns under the arcade near to the sacristy door. Occupied with his devotions he had not perceived the first concussion, but observing several of the students rushing forward in the direction of the street, he immediately followed to ascertain the cause of so unusual a proceeding. But before he had time to reach the threshold the second shock, still more violent than the first, had commenced. The ground everywhere undulated in the most terrific manner. Twice he fell, and whilst a second time he was attempting to rise a turret, or belfry, which was the only part of the old building which had been left standing when the new one was erected, fell and buried him in its ruins. Such of the Community as had fled into the street, after incurring a thousand dangers from falling houses, at length reached the river in safety, and found means to be conveyed to an English ship, on board of which they were kindly received. Besides the turret just mentioned, the wall of the church, against which stood the High Altar, was thrown down and with it fell in the greater part of the roof of the building. The other parts of the house.