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With the freshest ADVICES,
FOREIGNand DOMESTIC.

Four Letters have been lately published, written by the
Reverend, Mr.George Whitefieldfrom Lisbon, to an English friend,which we are desired to insert,
for the Entertainment of our Readers. Mr.White-
field introduces them with the following Preface;

"------ ^If an infinitely condescending God shall vouchsafe to bless the Pe-
rusal in them to excite any, either at Home or Abroad, a more
"obediental and zealous Thankfulness for the Civil and Religious Liberies
"we enjoy; or make them any Way instrumental in stirring up my fellow
"Prodestants, and dear Countrymen to exert themselves more vigorously at
"this critical Juncture against those who, if Conquerors, would quickly
"rob us of those invaluable Blessings, I shall not repent that I have con-
"sented to the Publication of them."

LETTER I.

Lisbon, March 1754.
My dear Friend,
^By this time I suppose you have heard of my being at Lisbon,
and are wondering what led me thither, especially since my
last informed you of my intention of going to Georgia by Way
of New-York. This was really my design at the Time of
my Writing ; but being afterward called by Providence to
take with me several Orphan Children, I thought it most adviseable to go
and settle them, and my other domestic Affairs at the Orphan-House first ;
that I might visit the Northern Parts of America with more Ease and Free-
dom in my own Mind.--------It happened that the Success, Capt. Thomson
bound for Port Royal, South Carolina, (which is not very far from Georgia)
was then almost ready to sail. ----------I sent for the Owner, and finding that
the ship was to touch at Lisbon to unload some Wheat, it occasioned a
little Demurr ; but upon second Thoughts, believing that it might be Ser-
viceable to me, as a Preacher and Prodestant, to see something of the Su-
perstitions of the Church of RomeI took my Passage and embarked in the Success,
on the 7th of March. On the 14th we reached Cape
Finnister.------On the 15th came in sight of the Burlings;and on the 16th
anchored safe before Bellem, about four miles from Lisbon City, the Me-
tropolis of Portugal.------------ As I knew Nobody there, and had formed
but an Indifferent Idea of the Inhabitants, from the Account that had been
given me of them, I purposed within myself to keep on Board, and go
ashore only now and then in the Day-time.--------- But Providence order-
ed it so, that a Gentleman of the Factory, who had heard me himself, and
whose Brother had been awakened under my Ministry some Years ago,
immediately, upon hearing of my Arrival, sent me an Offer of his House
during my Stay.------ I thankfully accepted it; and special Leave being
procured for my going ashore, I was carried in a Chaise and Pair from
Bellemto Lisbon.------- A New Scene, both in respect to the Situation of the
Place, the Fashion of the Buildings, and the Dress of the Inhabitants pre-
sented itself all the Way.----- But what engaged my Attention most, was
the Frequency of Crucifixes and the little Images of the Virgin Mary,and
other real or reputed Saints, which were placed almost in every Street, or
fixed against the Walls of the Houses almost at every Turning, with
Lamps hanging before them.----- To these I observed the People
bow as they passed along; and near some of them stood several
little Companies, singing with great Earnestness.---------- This seemed
to me very odd, and gave me an Idea of what further ecclesiastical Curio-
sities would probably fall in my Way, if I should be detained any Time
here.----- These Expectations were quickly raised ;--------- For, not long
after my Arrival at my new Lodgings, (where I was received and enter-
tained with great Gentility, Hospitality and Friendliness) upon looking out
of the Window, I saw a company of Priests and Friars bearing lighted wax
tapers, and attended by various Sorts of People, some of which had Bags
and Baskets of Victuals in their Hands, and others carried Provisions on
their Shoulders upon Sticks betwen two. After these followed a mixed
Multitude, singing with a very audible Noice, and addressing the the Virgin
Mary in their usual Strain, "Ora Pro noblis." In this Manner they pro
ceeded to the Prison, where all was deposited for the Use of the poor Per-
sons contained therein.----- But a far more pompous Procession of the like
Nature (as a Stander-by informed me) passed by a few Days after.----- In
this there were near three hundred Franciscan Friars, many of which (be-
sides Porters hired for that Purpose) were loaded with a Variety of Food;
and those who bore no Burden carried either Ladles or Spoons in their
Hands.----- Sights of this Nature being quite a Novelty to me, I was fond
of attending as many of them as I could. Two Things concurred to make
them more frequent at this Juncture via the Season of Lent, and an ex-
cessive Drought, which threatened the total Destruction of the Fruits of the
Earth.-----For the averting so a great a Judgement, and for the imploring the
much longed-for Blessing of Rain, daily Processions had been made from
one Convent or another for considerable Time.---- One of these I saw.
It was looked upon as a pretty grand one, being made up of the Carmelite
Friars, the Parish Priests, and a great Number of what they call Brothers of
the order, who walked two by two in divers Habits, holding a long and

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very large lighted Wax Taper in their right Hands.----Admist these wa
carried upon eight or ten Men's Shoulders, a tall image of the Virgin Mary
in a Kind of Men's Attire ; for I think she had a very fine white Wig on
her Head, (a Dress she often appears in) and was very much adorned with
Jewels and glittering stones.------At some Distance from the Lady, under
a Canopy of State, and supported likewise by six or eight Persons came a
Priest, holding in his Hand some noted Relick.----After him followed se-
veral Thousands of People, joining with the Friars in singing, Eandem
cantilenam, "Ora pro noblis," all the Way.-------Still Rain was denied, and
and still Processions were continued.------At length the Clouds began to gather,
and the Mercury in the Barometer fell very much.-----Then was brought
out a wooden Image, which they say never failed.-----It was the Figure of
our blessed Lord, clothed with Purple Robes, and crown'd with Thorns.
I think they call him the Lord of the Passion.-----Upon his Shoulders he
bore a large cross, under the Weight of which he was represented as
stooping till his Body bent almost double.----He was brought from the
Le Grais Convent in very great Pomp, and placed in a large Cathedral
Church ----Being on Board at the Time, I lost Sight ; but the subse-
quent Evening I beheld the Seigneur fixed on an Eminence in a larve Cathe-
dral Church, near the Alter, surrounded with Wax-Tapers of a prodigious
Size.----He was attended by many Noblemen, and Thousands of Spec-
tators of all Ranks and Stations, who crowded from every Quarter, and,
in their Turns, were admitted by the Guards to come within the Rails and
perform their Devotions.-----This they expressed by kneeling, and kis-
sing the Seigneur's Heel, by putting their left and right Eye to it, and then
touching it with their Beads, which a Gentleman in waiting received from
them and returned again.-----This Scene was repeated three Days
successively : and during all this Time the Church and Space before it was
so thronged with Carraiges and People, that there was scarce any passing.
-----The Music on this Occasion was extremely soft, and the Church was
illuminated in a very striking Manner.-----The third Day in the Forenoon
it rained, and soon after the Seigneur was conducted home in as great Splen-
dour, and much greater Rejoicing than when he was brought forth.-----
As my Situation was very commodious I saw the whole ; and afterwards
went and heard Part of the Sermon, which was delivered before him in the
Church to which the Seigneur belonged.-----The Preacher was full of
Action ; and in some Part of his Discourse, (as one who understood Por-
tugeseinformed me)pointing to the Image he said, "Now he is at Rest.
-----He went out in Justice, but is returned in Mercy."-----And towards
the Conclusion he called upon the People to join with him in an extempore
Prayer. This they did with great Fervency, which was expressed not only
by repeating it aloud, but by beating their Breasts, and clapping their Cheeks
and weeping heartily.----To complete the Solemnity, immediately after
the delivery of the Briefing, all on a Sudden, from the Place near which
the Image stood, there was heard a most soft and soothing Symphony of
Music, which being ended the Assembly broke up, and I retired to my
Lodgings, not a little affected to see so many Thousands led away from the
Simplicity of the Gospel, but such a mixture of Artiface and blind Supersti-
ion, of which indeed I could have formed no Idea, had I not been an Eye-

Witness of it myself.-------This concern still encreased by what I
heard from some of my Fellow Passengers, who informed me that about
Eleven one Night, after I came on Board, they not only heard a Fryar
preaching most fervently before the Seigneur, but also saw several Compa-
nies of Penitents brought in, lashing and whipping themselves fervently.----
How unlike this to those that cut themselves with Knives and Lancets
and cried out from Morning til Night,"O Baal hear us"------Methinks
I hear you say, and had I been present, I should have wished for the Spi-
rit of an Elijiah to------Hush, My Friend----I am content to guess at the
rest til we meet.----In the mean while let us comfort ourselves with this
Thought that there is a season approaching, when the Lord God of Elijiah
will himself come, and destroy this and every other species of Antichrist
By the Breath of his Mouth, and the Brightness of his Appearing, even by
the all-conquering Manifestations of his eternal Spirit.----Whether as men
Christians and Protestants, we have not more and more Reason to pray
Night and Day for the hastening on that glorious and long wished for Pe-
riod, you will be better able to judge, when I send you, (as I purpose to
do, if I have Time) a further account of a Lent Procession or two, of
which I was also a Spectator.------At present, I can only beg a continual
Remembrance at a Throne of Grace, as being, my dear Friend, Yours Etc.

LETTER II

Lisbon, March1754.

My dear Friend
^THO' some other Business demands my Attention, yet I must
get to the Promise made you of a further Account of the
Lisbon. Some of those already mentioned were extraordinar
thier great Drought ; but that which is to be the Subject
ter was an annual one ; it being always customary at
Procession or another every Friday in Lent------And
who stood near me, was so good as to be my Interpr
as it passed along.----I say Dumb Shrew----Fo
Chiefly made up of waxen and wooden Images, and

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ders through the Streets, intending to represent the Life and Death of St.
Francis, the Founder of one of their religious Orders.----They were brought
out from the Franciscan Convent, and were preceeded by three Persons in
Scarlett Habits with Baskets in their Hands, in which they received the
Alms of the Spectators, for the Benefit of the poor Prisoners.----After
these, came two little Boys in Party color'd Cloaths, with Wings fixed on
their Shoulders, in imitation of little Angels.-----Then appeared the
Figure of St. Francis, very gay and Beau-like, as he used to be before his
Conversion.----In the next he was introduced under Conviction, and con-
sequently stript of his Finery.-----------Soon after this was exhibited
an Image of our Blessed Lord himself, in a Purple Gown, with long black
Hair, with St. Francis lying before him to receive his immediate Orders.----
Then came the Virgin Mother, (borreseo referens) with Christ her Son at
her left Hand, and St. Francis making his Obeysance to Both.------Here
if I remember aright, he made his first Appearance in a Friar's Habit with
his Hair cut short, but not as yet shaved in the Crown of his Head.----
After a little Space followed a mitred Cardinal gaudily attired, and before
him lay St. Francis almost prostrate, in Order to be confirmed in his Of-
fice.----Soon after this he appears quite metamorphosed into a Monk, his
Crown shorn, his Habit black, and his loins girt with knotted Cord.----
Here he prays to our Savior hanging on a Cross, that the Marks of the
Wounds in his Hands, Feet and Side, might be impressed on the same Parts
of his Body.------The Prayer is granted ; Blood comes from the Hands,
Feet and Sides ; and the Saint with great Devotion receive the Impressions.
-----This was represented by red waxen Strings, reaching from those Parts
of the Image to the corresponding Parts of St. Francis's Body.----------
Upon this he begins to do Wonders ; and therefore in a little While he was
carried along, holding up a House which was just falling.---------This
Miracle they say was performed (if my Information be true) at Madrid, but
the Particulars of its History I have forgotten. ----At length the Father
dies, and is brought forth lying in the Grave.---------But lo ! the Briars
and nettles under which he lay, are turned into fine and fragrant Flowers.
After this he is born along upon a Bier covered with a Silver Pall, and
four Friars lamenting over him.----He then appears for the last Time, but
with an Increase of Power ; for he was represented as drawing tormented
People out of Purgatory with his knotted Cord, which you may well
imagine, the poor Souls catched at, and took Hold of very eagerly.----
At length came a gorgeous Friar under a splendid Canopy, bearing in his
Hand a Piece of the Holy Cross. After him followed two more little
winged Boys, and the a long Train of fat and well-favored Franciscans
with their CalceisFenestratis, as Erasmus calls them ; and so the Procession
ended. Methinks you say it is full Time.-----And so say I----
For as the Sight itself disgusted me, so I am persuaded the bare Narration
of it, though ever so short, cannot be very pleasant to you, who I know ab-
hor every Thing that favors Superstition and Idolatry. We will there-
fore take our Leave of St. Francis whose Procession was in the Day-Time:
but I must tell you it is only to inform you of another of a much more aw-
ful and shocking Nature, which I saw afterwards by Night. It was about
Ten O'Clock, when being in deep conversation with my kind
Host, in came an Englishman and told me in all Haste he has seen a Train
on nearlt two hundred Pentitents passing along, and that in all Probability I
might be gratified with the same Sight, if I hastened to a Place whither he
would conduct me. I very readily obey'd the Summons, and as Curiosity
quickened my Pace, we soon came up with some of these poor Creatures
who were making a Halt, and kneeling in the Street, whilst a Friar
from a high Cross with and image of our Lord crucified in his Hand, was
preaching to them, and the Populace, with great Vehemence. Sermon
being ended, the Pentitents, who had already been preached to, went for-
wards, and several Companies followed after with their respective preaching
Friars at theor Head bearing Crucifixes, These they pointed to and bran-
dished frequently, and the Hearers as frequestly beat their Breasts and
clapped their Cheeks. At proper Pauses they flopp'dand prayed ; and one
of them, more zealous than the rest, before the the King's Palace, sounded
out the Word Penitentia through a speaking Trumpet. The Pentitents them-
selves were clothed and covered all over with white Linen Vestments,
only holes were made foe their Eyes to peep out at. All were barefooted
and all had long very heavy Chains fastened to their Ancles, which when
dragged along the street, made a dismal Rattling : But tho' alike in Dress
yet in other Respects there was a great Variety amongst them. For some
carried great Stones on their Backs, and others dead Men's Bones and
Sculls in their Hands. Some bore large and seemingly very heavy Crosses
upon their shoulders, whilst others had their arms extended quite wide
or carried a Bow fullof Swords, with the Points downwards. Most of
them whipped and lashed themselves, some with Cords, and others with
flat Bitts of Iron. It being a Moon-shine Night, I could see them quite
well ; and indeed some of them struck so hard that I perceived that their
Backs (left bare on Purpose to be slash'd) were quite red, and swoln very
very much by the Violence and Repetition of the Blows. Had my dear Friend
been there, he would have joined me in saying the whole Scene
was horrible. So horrible, that being it was to be continued till Morning.
I was glad to return from whence I came about Midnight. Had you been
with me, I know you would have joined me in praising and grateful-
ly adoring the Lord of all Lords, not only for the great Wonder of the Re-
formation but also for the glorious Deliverance wrought out for us, in stopping
of our late unnatural Rebellion. O with what mighty Spirit
and Power from on high, must Luther, Calvin, Melacthon,Zuigluis, and
those glorious Reformers, be necessarily endued with, who dared first open-
ly to oppose and stem such a Torrent of Superstition and spiritual Tyranny !
And what Gratitude we owe to Him, who under God was instrumental in
saving us from the Return of such spiritual Slavery, and such blind Obe-
dience to a papal Power ! To have had a Cardinal for our King.----A Car-
dinal if not born, yet from his Infancy, nursed up at Rome.-----A Cardinal,
Sons is advanced to the same ecclesiastical Dignity, and both
Obligations to support the Interests of that Church, whose
as political State Principles,they have suck'd in and
eir Infancy.---- But, blessed be GOD, whose Snare is
livered.

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The great Advantages of the Colonies to Great Britain. (From a late English
Pamplet.)

^Our M----s, like private Men, begin to see, that the surest Way of
livingin Peace, is to preserve the Character of being ready upon any
just Provocation, to hazard the Fate of a Combat. Indeed, it is the
true Method of Reparation and Security by fair Means, to show we are
resolved to have it by foul, if it cannot be other wise obtained. The Pre-
tentions our Neighbors have lately set up, so inconsistent with Justice
and the Laws of Nations, declare that once their ambitious Views,
and a Notion they seem to entertain that coming to a Declara-
tion of War, we will submit to any Terms ; but I am in Hopes, that
our Success in America, as well as the late Skirmish in Newfoundland,
will check their Ambition, and show the Vanity of their Notions, In
National Affairs as well as in private Life, even the Pandilio's of
of Honor are to be regarded, when we have to do with those, who
stand so much upon the Dignity of their Grand Monarch.

How much it is in the Interest of this Nation to keep a strict Watch on
all their Motions, and to prevent every least Encroachment upon our
Colonies, I need not say ; for to the wonderful Growth of these, we owe
the Strength and Populousness of this Island. To a Circulation of our
Commerce indeed it is owing that our Lands are so much more valuable,
and our intrinsic Wealth to much encreased, since the Acquisition of the
American Plantations ; which,however paradoxical it may appear, has
been demonstrated by some of our best Writers, and confirmed by a long
Experience. The natural Produce and Manufactures of every Country
have a certain limited Extent, which, without a Change of Circumstan-
ces, they cannot exceed, and when these are improved to a certain Pitch,
the Carreer of domestic Industry must cease, unless new Markets are opened.
In this Light will the American Colonies always appear one of the
brightest Jewels in the British Crown ; since the Inhabitantsof these
take off greater Quantities of our Commodities and Manufactures, than
if they resided among us. Thus will one of our Countrymen, settled in
America, furnish Employment for many hands in this Kingdom ; and
the Encrease of Labor producing and Encrease of Laborers, it follows that
in this Proportion the whole Nation will be multiplied. It would be need-
less to insist upon the manifold Advantages resulting to this Nation from
her Plantations. The great Men who have the Honor of supplying his
Majesty's Absence, seem fully apprized of them and are, in Consequence,
determined to preserve, in the full Advantages derived from our happy
Constitution, those valuable Parts of the British Dominions. The great
Lord Bacon calls it, " Impious and wicked to abandon a Plantation once
" in Forwardness ; for, besides the Dishonor, it is meer Treachery, and
" being guilty of Blood of so many miserable Men." Indeed, as Obe-
dience is required of those who are most remote, as well as those who
are nearest the Center of Government, so, whether we view it in a
moral or political Light, they are entitled to the same Protection and
Encouragement. The pacific Measures hitherto pursued by our Court,
as they were doubtless for good Reasons, and will now Justify them in
using rougher Expedients, so we may reasonably suppose that the late vi-
gorous and secret Steps were the Result of a Train of shrewd and politic
Schemes ; for I cannot imagine but they lie deeper than fitting out a Fleet
or two, or taking a few Ships, and then supposing that it will fright our
enemies into Submission : No, a general Resentment seems to prevail,
and we have Reason to to conclude, that our Looks will be followed by
Blows, and one Blow follow another, till they are reduced to the Neces-
ity of regarding their Word. It is with Pleasure, therefore, I suppose
the Strength and Weakness of the Enemy is fully considered, and the Temper
and Ability of this Nation to support War thoroughly weighed, and the
whole ministerial Projects, many of them perhaps at some Distance as
to the Execution, but all depending on and contributing to the Success of
the whole. It is with Pleasure, I say, I observe a steady Resolution of
preserving, in all its Parts, the British Empire, as of old among the
Greeks and Romans : Like theirs, our Constitution is of a mixed Nature,
though it may without Partiality be affirmed to be more happily com-
pounded, since Majesty and Liberty trespass not on each other, the Pre-
rogative of the Prince being without Restraint where it is exerted for the
Good of his Subjects ; and the equivalent Prerogative being this, That
the Prince can do no Hurt.

Z.Z.

NAPLES, August 1

^We have received from Sicily an Account of the following
extraordinary Affair. A Merchant of Valermo, to whom the Prince
de Ventimiglia owed 1000 Ducats, not having been able to obtain the
Payment of them, though repeated Application had been made for that
Purpose, at length applied to the Marquis de Fogliani, Viceroy, who sent
for the Prince, and enjoined him to satisfy his Creditor, which was
immediately done at the Prince's Palace ; but upon the Merchant's De-
parture, he was insulted and beaten by the Prince's Servants ; he thereupon
returned to complain to the Prince, who, without hearkening to his Com-
plaints caused him to be thrown out of one of the Windows of his Apart-
ment into the Street ; the Merchant was so bruised by the Fall that he dies
in a few Days after. The Viceroy, upon the first Notice of the Violence
caused a Party of Soldiers to invest the Palace of the Prince, who at the
Head of his Domestics, fired upon them from his Windows and killed se-
ven. To prevent more People being sacrificed by such a determined Per-
son, the Viceroy gave Orders to Fire on the Palace, which was immedi-
ately executed : This obliged the Prince to surrender, with his Domestics.
who confessed before the Judges, that it was by Order of the Prince that
they had mistreated the Merchant. The Marquis de Fogliani thereupon,
in twenty four Hours, caused the Prince to be tried, who was sentenced to
be tried, which was accordingly executed. Several of his Domestics were
hanged and others sent to the Gallies. In Consideration of the Prince's
Birth several of the Noblesse, applied to the Viceroy to respite his Execu-
tion till the King ahd been informed of the Fact ; but the Marquis answer-
ed The King has sent me to do Justice in his Name, I should blush to demand
fresh Orders concerning the Punishment of an atrocious Crime. The Conduct
of the Viceroy has been approved by all Men of Honor.

LONDON.

Sept. 1 We have long been conjoled and flattered by the French, but not
redressed, they may amuse and divert us with Congresses and Negotiations

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