Of the Damage to the Navy

Nor can the Damage suffered in the River ofThamesbe forgot. It was a strange sight to see all the Ships in the River blown away, the Pool was so clear, that as I remember, not above 4 Ships were left between the Upper part ofWapping, andRatcliff Cross, for the Tide being up at the Time when the Storm blew with the greatest violence. No Anchors or Landfast, no Cables or Moorings would hold them, the Chains which lay cross the River for the mooring of Ships, all gave way.

The Ships breaking loose thus, it must be a strange sight to see the Hurry and Confusion of it, and as some Ships had no Body at all on Board, and a great many had none but a Man or Boy left on Board just to look after the Vessel, there was nothingto be done, but to let every Vessel drive whither and how she would.

Those who know the Reaches of the River, and how they lye, know well enough, that the Wind being at South West Westerly, the Vessels would naturally drive into the Bite or Bay fromRatcliff CrosstoLime-house Hole, for that the River winding about again from thence towards the New Dock atDeptford, runs almost due South West, so that the Wind blew down one Reach, and up another, and the Ships must of necessity drive into the bottom of the Angle between both.

This was the Case, and as the Place is not large, and the Number of Ships very great, the force of the Wind had driven them so into one another, and laid them so upon one another as it were in heaps, that I think a Man may safely defy all the World to do the like.

The Author of this Collection had the curiosity the next day to view the place and to observe the posture they lay in, which nevertheless 'tis impossible to describe; there lay, by the best Account he could take, few less than 700 sail of Ships, some very great ones betweenShadwelandLimehouseinclusive, the posture is not to be imagined, but by them that saw it, some Vessels lay heeling off with the Bow of another Ship over her Waste, and the Stem of another upon her Fore-Castle, the Boltsprits of some drove into the Cabbin Windows of others; some lay with their Sterns tossed up so high, that the Tide flowed into their Fore-Castles before they cou'd come to Rights; some lay so leaning upon others, that the undermost Vessels wou'd sink before the other could float; the numbers of Masts, Boltsprits and Yards split and broke, the staving the Heads, and Sterns and Carved Work, the tearing and destruction of Rigging, and the squeezing of Boats to pieces between the Ships, is not to be reckoned; but there was hardly a Vessel to be seen that had not suffer'd some damage or other in one or all of these Articles.

There was several Vessels sunk in this hurry, but as they were generally light Ships, the damage was chiefly to the Vessels; but there were two Ships sunk with great quantity of Goods on Board, theRusselGalley was sunk atLime-house, being a great part laden with Bale Goods for theStreights, and theSarahGally lading forLeghorn, sunk at an Anchor atBlackwall; and though she was afterwards weighed and brought on shore, yet her back was broke, or so otherwise disabled, as she was never fit for the Sea; there were several Men drown'd in these last two Vessels, but we could never come to have the particular number.

NearGravesendseveral Ships drove on shoar belowTilburyFort, and among them five bound for theWest Indies, but as the shoar is ouzy and soft, the Vessels sat upright and easy, and here the high Tides which follow'd, and which were the ruin of so many in other places, were the deliverance of all these Ships whose lading and value was very great, for the Tide rising to an unusual height, floated them all off, and the damage was not so great as was expected.

If it be expected I should give an account of the loss, and the particulars relating to small Craft,as the Sailors call it, in the River it is to look for what is impossible, other than by generals.

The Watermen tell us of above 500 Wheries lost, most of which were not sunk only but dasht to pieces one against another, or against the Shores and Ships, where they lay: Ship Boats without number were driven about in every corner, sunk and staved, and about 300 of them is supposed to be lost. Above 60 Barges and Lighters were found driven foul of theBridge: some Printed accounts tell us of sixty more sunk or staved between theBridgeandHammersmith.

Abundance of Lighters and Barges drove quite thro' theBridge, and took their fate below, whereof many were lost, so that we Reckon by a modest account above 100 Lighters and Barges lost and spoil'd in the whole, not reckoning such as with small damage were recovered.

In all this confusion it could not be, but that many Lives were lost, but as theThamesoften times Buries those it drowns, there has been no account taken. Two Watermen atBlack Fryarswere drowned, endeavouring to save their Boat; and a Boat was said to be Overset nearFulham, and five People drown'd: According to the best account I have seen, about 22 People were drown'd in the River upon this sad occasion, which considering all circumstances is not a great many, and the damage to Shipping computed with the vast number of Ships then in the River,the Violence of the Storm, and the heighth of the Tide, confirms me in the Truth of that Opinion, which I have heard many skilful Men own,viz.that the River ofThamesis the best Harbour ofEurope.

The heighth of the Tide, as I have already observ'd, did no great damage in the River ofThames, and I find none of the Levels or Marshes, which lye on both sides the River overflowed with it, it fill'd the Cellars indeed atGravesend, and on both sides inLondon, and the Alehouse-keepers suffered some loss as to their Beer, but this damage is not worth mentioning with what our Accounts give us from theSevern; which, besides the particular Letters we have already quoted, the Reader may observe in the following, what our general intelligence furnishes us with.

The Damages in the City ofGloucesterthey compute at 12000l.above 15000 Sheep drown'd in the Levels on the side of theSeverne, and the Sea Walls will cost, as these Accounts tell us, 5000l.to repair, all the Country lyes under Water for 20 or 30 Miles together on both sides, and the Tide rose three Foot higher than the tops of the Banks.

AtBristolthey tell us, The Tide fill'd their Cellars, spoil'd 1000 Hogsheads of Sugar, 1500 Hogsheds of Tobacco, and the Damage they reckon at 100000l.Above 80 People drown'd in the Marshes and River, Several whole Families perishing together.

The Harbour atPlimouth, the Castle atPendennis, the Cathederal atGloucester, the great Church atBerkely, the Church of St.Stephen'satBristol; the Churches atBlandford, atBridgewater, atCambridge, and generally the Churches all overEnglandhave had a great share of the Damage.

InKing RoadatBristol, the Damage by Sea is also very great; theCanterburystore Ship was driven on Shoar, and twenty-five of her Men drown'd, as by our account of the Navy will more particularly appear, theRichard and John, theGeorge, and theGracesunk, and the number of People lost is variously reported.

These Accounts in the four last Paragraphs being abstracted from the publick Prints, and what other Persons collect, I desire the Reader will observe, are not particularly vouch'd, but asthey are all true in substance, they are so far to be depended upon, and if there is any mistake it relates to Numbers, and quantity only.

FromYarmouthwe expected terrible News, and every one was impatient till they saw the Accounts from thence, for as there was a very great Fleet there, both of laden Colliers,RussiaMen, and others, there was nothing to be expected but a dreadful Destruction among them.

But it pleas'd God to order Things there, that the loss was not in Proportion like what it was in other Places, not but that it was very great too.

TheReserveMan of War was come in but a day or two before, Convoy to the great Fleet fromRussia, and the Captain, Surgeon and Clerk, who after so long a Voyage went on Shoar with two Boats to refresh themselves, and buy Provisions, had the Mortification to stand on Shoar, and see the Ship sink before their Faces; she foundred about 11-a-Clock, and as the Sea went too high for any help to go off from the Shoar to them, so their own Boats being both on Shoar, there was not one Man sav'd; oneRussiaShip driving from her Anchors, and running foul of a laden Collier sunk by his side, but some of her Men were sav'd by getting on Board the Collier; three or four small Vessels were driven out to Sea, and never heard of more; as for the Colliers, tho' most of them were driven from their Anchors, yet going away to Sea, we have not an account of many lost.

This next to the Providence of God, I give this reason for, first by all Relations it appears that the Storm was not so violent farther Northward, as it was there; and as it was not so Violent, so neither did it continue so long: Now those Ships, who found they could not ride it out inYarmouthRoads, but slipping their Cables went away to Sea, possibly as they went away to the Northward, found the Weather more moderate at least, not so violent, but it might be borne with, to this may be added, that 'tis well known to such as use the Coast after they had run the length ofFlambro, they had the benefit of the Weather Shoar, and pretty high land, which if they took shelter under might help them very much; these, with other Circumstances, made the Damage much less than every Body expected, and yet as itwas, it was bad enough as our Letter fromHullgives an Account. AtGrimsbyit was still worse as to the Ships, where almost all the Vessels were blown out of the Road, and a great many lost.

AtPlymouththey felt a full Proportion of the Storm in its utmost fury, theEdystonehas been mention'd already, but it was a double loss in that, the light House had not been long down, when theWinchelsea, a homeward boundVirginiaMan was split upon the Rock, where that Building stood, and most of her Men drowned.

Three other Merchant Ships were cast away inPlimouthRoad, and most of their Men lost: TheMonkMan of War rode it out, but was oblig'd to cut all her Masts by the Board, as several Men of War did in other places.

AtPortsmouthwas a great Fleet, as has been noted already, several of the Ships were blown quite out to Sea, whereof some were never heard of more; theNewcastlewas heard off upon the Coast ofSussex, where she was lost with all their Men but 23; theResolution, theEagleadvice Boat, and theLitchfieldPrize felt the same fate, only sav'd their Men: FromCowsseveral Ships were driven out to Sea, whereof one run on Shoar inStokes-bay, one full of Soldiers, and two Merchant Men have never been heard off, as I could ever learn, abundance of the Ships sav'd themselves by cutting down their Masts, and others Stranded, but by the help of the ensuing Tides got off again.

Portsmouth,Plymouth,Weymouth, and most of our Sea Port Towns look'd as if they had been Bombarded, and the Damage of them is not easily computed.

Several Ships from theDownswere driven over to the Coast ofHolland, and some sav'd themselves there; but several others were lost there.

AtFalmouth11 Sail of Ships were stranded on the Shoar, but most of them got off again.

InBarstableHarbour, a Merchant Ship outward bound was over-set, and the express advice Boat very much shatter'd, and the Quay of the Town almost destroy'd.

'Tis endless to attempt any farther Description of Losses, no place was free either by Land or by Sea, every thing that was capable felt the fury of the Storm; and 'tis hard to say, whetherwas greater the loss by Sea, or by Land; the Multitude of brave stout Sailors is a melancholy subject, and if there be any difference gives the sad Ballance to the Account of the Damage by Sea.

We had an Account of about 11 or 12 Ships droven over for the Coast ofHolland, most of which were lost, but the Men saved, so that by the best Calculation I can make, we have not lost less than 150 sail of Vessels of all sorts by the Storm; the number of Men and other damages, are Calculated elsewhere.

We have several Branches of this Story which at first were too easily credited, and put in Print, but upon more strict examination, and by the discoveries of Time, appear'd otherwise, and therefore are not set down.

It was in the design to have Collected the several Accounts of the fatal effects of the Tempest abroad in Foreign Parts; but as our Accounts came in from thence too imperfect to be depended upon; the Collector of these Papers could not be satisfied to offer them to the World, being willing to keep as much as possible to the Terms of his Preface.

We are told there is an Abstract to the same purpose with this inFrance, Printed atParis, and which contains a strange variety of Accidents in that Country.

If a particular of this can be obtained, the Author Promises to put it intoEnglish, and adding to them the other Accounts, which the rest of the World can afford, together with some other Additions of theEnglishAffairs, which could not be obtain'd in time here shall make up the second part of this Work.

In the mean time the Reader may observe,Francefelt the general shock, the Peers, and Ricebank atDunkirk, the Harbour atHaver de Grace, the Towns ofCalaisandBulloigngive us strange Accounts.

All the Vessels in the Road beforeDunkirk, being 23 or 27, I am not certain, were dasht in pieces against the Peer Heads, not one excepted, that side being a Lee shoar, the reason is plain, there was no going off to Sea; and had it been so with us in theDownsorYarmouthRoads, it would have fared with us in the same manner, for had there been no going off to Sea, 300 sail inYarmouthRoads had inevitably perisht.

AtDiepethe like mischief happened, and in proportionParisfelt the effects of it, as bad asLondon, and as a Gentleman who came from thence since that time, affirmed it to me it was much worse.

All the N. East Countries felt it, inHollandour accounts in general are very dismal, but the Wind not being N.W. as at former Storms, the Tyde did not drown them, nor beat so directly upon their Sea Wall.

It is not very irrational to Judge, that had the Storm beat more to the North West, it must have driven the Sea upon them in such a manner, that all their Dikes and Dams could not have sustained it, and what the consequence of such an Inundation might ha' been they can best judge, who remember the last terrible Irruption of the Sea there, which drowned several thousand People, and Cattle without number.

But as our Foreign Accounts were not satisfactory enough to put into this Collection, where we have promised to limit our selves by just Vouchers, we purposely refer it all to a farther description as before.

Several of our Ships were driven over to those parts, and some lost there, and the story of our great Ships which rid it out, at or near theGunfleet, should have come in here, if the Collector could have met with any Person that was in any of the said Vessels, but as the accounts he expected did not come in the time for the Impression, they were of necessity left out.

TheAssociation, a Second Rate, on Board whereof was SirStafford Fairborn, was one of these, and was blown from the Mouth of theThamesto the Coast ofNorway, a particular whereof as Printed in the Annals of the Reign of QueenAnn's is as follows.

An Account of SirStafford Fairborne's Distress in the late Storm.

SIR,Her Majesty's ShipAssociation, a second Rate of 96 Guns, commanded by SirStafford Fairborne, Vice-Admiral of the Red, and under him CaptainRichard Canning, sailed from theDownsthe 24th ofNovemberlast, in Company with seven other CapitalShips, under the Command of the Honourable SirCloudesley Shovel, Admiral of the White, in their return fromLeghornup the River. They anchored that Night off of theLong-sand-head. The next Day struck Yards and Top-Masts. The 27th about three in the Morning, the Wind at West South West, encreased to a Hurricane, which drove theAssociationfrom her Anchors. The Night was exceeding dark, but what was more Dreadful, theGalloper, a very dangerous Sand, was under her Lee; so that she was in Danger of striking upon it, beyond the Power of Man to avoid it. Driving thus at the Mercy of the Waves, it pleased God, that about five a Clock she passed over the tail of theGalloperin seven Fathom of Water. The Sea boisterous and angry, all in a Foam, was ready to swallow her up; and the Ship received at that time a Sea on her Starboard-side, which beat over all, broke and washed several half Ports, and forced in the entering Port. She took in such a vast quantity of Water, that it kept her down upon her side, and every Body believ'd, that she could not have risen again, had not the Water been speedily let down into the hold by scuttling the Decks. During this Consternation two of the Lower-Gun-Deck-Ports were pressed open by this mighty weight of Water, the most hazardous Accident, next to touching the Ground, that could have happened to us. But the Port, that had been forced open, being readily secured by the Direction and Command of the Vice-Admiral, who, though much indisposed, was upon Deck all that time, prevented any farther Mischief. As the Ship still drove with the Wind, she was not long in this Shoal, (where it was impossible for any Ship to have lived at that time) but came into deeper Water, and then she had a smoother Sea. However the Hurricane did not abate, but rather seemed to gather Strength. For Words were no sooner uttered, but they were carried away by the Wind, so that although those upon Deck spoke loud and close to one another, yet they could not often distinguish what was said; and when they opened their Mouths, their Breath was almost taken away. Part of the Sprit Sail, tho' fast furled, was blown away from the Yard. A Ten-Oar-Boat, that was lashed on her Starboard-side, was often hove up by the Strength of the Wind, and over-set upon her Gun-Wale. We plainly saw the Wind skimming up the Water, as if it had been Sand, carrying itup into the Air, which was then so thick and gloomy, that Day light, which should have been comfortable to us, did, but make it appear more ghastly. The Sun by intervals peeped through the corner of a Cloud, but soon disappearing, gave us a more melancholick Prospect of the Weather. About 11 a Clock it dispersed the Clouds, and the Hurricane abated into a more moderate Storm, which drove us over to the Bank ofFlanders, and thence along the Coast ofHollandandFrieslandto the entrance of the Elb, where the 4th ofDecemberwe had almost as violent a Storm, as when we drove from our Anchors, the Wind at North West, driving us directly upon the Shoar. So that we must all have inevitably perished, had not God mercifully favoured us about 10 a Clock at night with a South West Wind, which gave us an opportunity to put to Sea. But being afterwards driven near the Coast ofNorway, the Ship wanting Anchors and Cables, our Wood and Candles wholly expended; no Beer on Board, nor any thing else in lieu; every one reduced to one quart of WaterperDay, the Men, who had been harrassed atBelle Isle; and in ourMediterraneanVoyage, now jaded by the continual Fatigues of the Storms, falling sick every Day, the Vice-Admiral in this exigency thought it advisable to put intoGottenbourgh, the only Port where we could hope to be supplied. We arrived there the 11th ofDecember, and having without lost of time got Anchors and Cables fromCopenhagen, and Provisions fromGottenbourgh, we sailed thence the Third ofJanuary, with twelve Merchant Men under our Convoy, all loaden with Stores for her Majesty's Navy. The Eleventh following we prevented fourFrenchPrivateers from taking four of our Store-Ships. At Night we anchored off theLong-Sand-Head. Weighed again the next Day, but soon came to an Anchor, because it was very hazy Weather. Here we rid against a violent Storm, which was like to have put us to Sea. But after three Days very bad Weather, we weighed and arrived to theBuoy of the Norethe 23d ofJanuary, having run very great Risks among the Sands. For we had not only contrary Winds, but also very tempestuous Winds. We lost 28 Men by Sickness, contracted by the Hardships which they endur'd in the bad Weather; and had not SirStafford Fairborneby his great care and diligence, got the Ship out ofGottenbourgh, and by that prevented her being frozen up, most part of the Sailers had perished afterwards by the severity of the Winter, which is intolerable Cold in those parts.

SIR,

Her Majesty's ShipAssociation, a second Rate of 96 Guns, commanded by SirStafford Fairborne, Vice-Admiral of the Red, and under him CaptainRichard Canning, sailed from theDownsthe 24th ofNovemberlast, in Company with seven other CapitalShips, under the Command of the Honourable SirCloudesley Shovel, Admiral of the White, in their return fromLeghornup the River. They anchored that Night off of theLong-sand-head. The next Day struck Yards and Top-Masts. The 27th about three in the Morning, the Wind at West South West, encreased to a Hurricane, which drove theAssociationfrom her Anchors. The Night was exceeding dark, but what was more Dreadful, theGalloper, a very dangerous Sand, was under her Lee; so that she was in Danger of striking upon it, beyond the Power of Man to avoid it. Driving thus at the Mercy of the Waves, it pleased God, that about five a Clock she passed over the tail of theGalloperin seven Fathom of Water. The Sea boisterous and angry, all in a Foam, was ready to swallow her up; and the Ship received at that time a Sea on her Starboard-side, which beat over all, broke and washed several half Ports, and forced in the entering Port. She took in such a vast quantity of Water, that it kept her down upon her side, and every Body believ'd, that she could not have risen again, had not the Water been speedily let down into the hold by scuttling the Decks. During this Consternation two of the Lower-Gun-Deck-Ports were pressed open by this mighty weight of Water, the most hazardous Accident, next to touching the Ground, that could have happened to us. But the Port, that had been forced open, being readily secured by the Direction and Command of the Vice-Admiral, who, though much indisposed, was upon Deck all that time, prevented any farther Mischief. As the Ship still drove with the Wind, she was not long in this Shoal, (where it was impossible for any Ship to have lived at that time) but came into deeper Water, and then she had a smoother Sea. However the Hurricane did not abate, but rather seemed to gather Strength. For Words were no sooner uttered, but they were carried away by the Wind, so that although those upon Deck spoke loud and close to one another, yet they could not often distinguish what was said; and when they opened their Mouths, their Breath was almost taken away. Part of the Sprit Sail, tho' fast furled, was blown away from the Yard. A Ten-Oar-Boat, that was lashed on her Starboard-side, was often hove up by the Strength of the Wind, and over-set upon her Gun-Wale. We plainly saw the Wind skimming up the Water, as if it had been Sand, carrying itup into the Air, which was then so thick and gloomy, that Day light, which should have been comfortable to us, did, but make it appear more ghastly. The Sun by intervals peeped through the corner of a Cloud, but soon disappearing, gave us a more melancholick Prospect of the Weather. About 11 a Clock it dispersed the Clouds, and the Hurricane abated into a more moderate Storm, which drove us over to the Bank ofFlanders, and thence along the Coast ofHollandandFrieslandto the entrance of the Elb, where the 4th ofDecemberwe had almost as violent a Storm, as when we drove from our Anchors, the Wind at North West, driving us directly upon the Shoar. So that we must all have inevitably perished, had not God mercifully favoured us about 10 a Clock at night with a South West Wind, which gave us an opportunity to put to Sea. But being afterwards driven near the Coast ofNorway, the Ship wanting Anchors and Cables, our Wood and Candles wholly expended; no Beer on Board, nor any thing else in lieu; every one reduced to one quart of WaterperDay, the Men, who had been harrassed atBelle Isle; and in ourMediterraneanVoyage, now jaded by the continual Fatigues of the Storms, falling sick every Day, the Vice-Admiral in this exigency thought it advisable to put intoGottenbourgh, the only Port where we could hope to be supplied. We arrived there the 11th ofDecember, and having without lost of time got Anchors and Cables fromCopenhagen, and Provisions fromGottenbourgh, we sailed thence the Third ofJanuary, with twelve Merchant Men under our Convoy, all loaden with Stores for her Majesty's Navy. The Eleventh following we prevented fourFrenchPrivateers from taking four of our Store-Ships. At Night we anchored off theLong-Sand-Head. Weighed again the next Day, but soon came to an Anchor, because it was very hazy Weather. Here we rid against a violent Storm, which was like to have put us to Sea. But after three Days very bad Weather, we weighed and arrived to theBuoy of the Norethe 23d ofJanuary, having run very great Risks among the Sands. For we had not only contrary Winds, but also very tempestuous Winds. We lost 28 Men by Sickness, contracted by the Hardships which they endur'd in the bad Weather; and had not SirStafford Fairborneby his great care and diligence, got the Ship out ofGottenbourgh, and by that prevented her being frozen up, most part of the Sailers had perished afterwards by the severity of the Winter, which is intolerable Cold in those parts.

A LISTof such of Her Majesty's Ships, with their Commanders Names, as were cast away by the Violent Storm onFridayNight the26th ofNovember 1703.the Wind having been from theS.W.toW.S.W.and the Storm continuing from about Midnight to past Six in the Morning.Rates.Ships.Number of Men before the Storm.Guns.Commanders.Places where lost.Fourth—Reserve—25854John Anderson—Yarmouth RoadsHer Captain, Purser, Master, Chyrsurgeon, Clerk and Sixteen Men were Ashoar, the rest drowned.Third—{Northumberland25370James Greenway—— ——}All their men lost.Restoration—38670Fleetwood Emes—— ——Sterling Castle—34970John Johnson—————Third Lieutenant, Chaplain, Cook Chyrsurgeon's Mate; four Marine Captains, and sixty-two Men saved.}Goodwin SandsFourth—Mary—27364Rear Admiral Beaumont, Edward Hopson———Only one Man saved by Swimming from Wreck to Wreck, and getting to the Sterling Castle; the Captain Ashoar, as also the Purser.Vigo—21254Thomas Long—}Holland—Her Company saved except four.Bomb. VesselMortar—5912Raymond RaymondAdvice BoatEagle—4210Nathan Bostock—Selsey—}Their Officers and Men saved.Third—Resolution—21170Thomas Liell—Pemsey—Fourth—Newcastle—23346William Carter—Drove from Spithead and lost upon the Coast near Chichester.Carpenter and twenty-three Men saved.StoreshipCanterbury—318Thomas Blake—Bristol—Captain and twenty-five Men drown'd; the Ship recover'd, and order'd to be sold.Bomb-VesselPortsmouth—444George Hawes—Nore—Officers and Men lost.The Van Guard, a Second Rate, was over-set at Chatham, but no Men lost, the Ship not being fitted out.

A LISTof such of Her Majesty's Ships, with their Commanders Names, as were cast away by the Violent Storm onFridayNight the26th ofNovember 1703.the Wind having been from theS.W.toW.S.W.and the Storm continuing from about Midnight to past Six in the Morning.

The Van Guard, a Second Rate, was over-set at Chatham, but no Men lost, the Ship not being fitted out.

This is a short but terrible Article, there was one Ship called theYork, which was lost about 3 days before the great Storm off ofHarwich, but most of the Men were saved.

The loss immediately sustain'd in the Royal Navy during the Storm, is included in the List hereunto annex'd, as appears from the Navy Books.

The damage done to the Ships that were sav'd, is past our Power to compute. The Admiral, SirCloudesley Shovelwith the great Ships, had made sail but the day before out of theDowns, and were taken with the Storm as they lay at or near theGunfleet, where they being well provided with Anchors and Cables, rid it out, tho' in great extremity, expecting death every minute.

The loss of small Vessels hir'd into the Service, and tending the Fleet, is not included in this, nor can well be, several such Vessels, and some with Soldiers on Board, being driven away to Sea, and never heard of more.

The loss of theLight-House, call'd theEddystoneatPlymouth, is another Article, of which we never heard any particulars other than this; that at Night it was standing, and in the Morning all the upper part from the Gallery was blown down, and all the People in it perished, and by a particular Misfortune, Mr.Winstanly, the Contriver of it, a Person whose loss is very much regreted by such as knew him, as a very useful Man to his Country: The loss of thatLight-Houseis also a considerable Damage, as 'tis very doubtful whether it will be ever attempted again, and as it was a great Security to the Sailors, many a good Ship having been lost there in former Times.

It was very remarkable, that, as we are inform'd, at the same time theLight-Houseabovesaid was blown down, the Modelof it in Mr.Windstanly's House atLittleburyinEssex, above 200 Miles from theLight-House, fell down, and was broken to pieces.

There are infinite Stories of like nature with these, the Disasters at Sea are full of a vast variety, what we have recommended to the view of the World in this History, may stand as an Abridgment; and the Reader is only to observe that these are the short Representations, by which he may guess at the most dreadful Night, these parts of the World ever saw.

To relate all Things, that report Furnishes us with, would be to make the story exceed common probability, and look like Romance.

Tis a sad and serious Truth, and this part of it is preserv'd to Posterity to assist them in reflecting on the Judgments of God, and handing them on for the Ages to come.

Tho' this was some time after the Storm, yet as the Accounts of the Storm bring it with them in the following Letters, we cannot omit it.

The two following Letters are from the respective Ministers ofBostonandHull, and relate to the Account of the Earthquake, which was felt over most part of the County ofLincolnand the East Riding ofYorkshire.

The Letter fromHull, from the Reverend Mr.Banks, Minister of the Place, is very particular, and deserves intire Credit, both from the extraordinary Character of the worthy Gentleman who writes it, and from its exact Correspondence with other Accounts.

SIR,I receiv'd yours, wherein you acquaint me with a Design that (I doubt not) will meet with that Applause and Acceptance from the World which it deserves; but am in no capacity to be any way serviceable to it my self, the late Hurricane having more frightedthan hurt us in these Parts. I doubt not but your Intelligence in general from the Northern Parts of the Nation, supplies you with as little Matter as what you have from these hereabouts, it having been less violent and mischievous that way. Some Stacks of Chimneys were over-turn'd here, and from one of them a little Child of my own was (thanks be to God) almost miraculously preserv'd, with a Maid that lay in the Room with him. I hear of none else this way that was so much as in danger, the Storm beginning here later than I perceive it did in some other Places, its greatest Violence being betwixt 7 and 8 in the Morning, when most People were stirring.The Earthquake, which the Publick Accounts mention to have happen'd atHullandLincolnupon the 28thult.was felt here by some People about 6 in the Evening, at the same time that People there, as well as atGranthamand other Places, perceived it. We have some flying Stories about it which look like fabulous, whose Credit therefore I wou'd not be answerable for; as, that uponLincoln-Heaththe Ground was seen to open, and Flashes of Fire to issue out of the Chasm.I doubt this Account will hardly be thought worth the Charge of Passage: Had there been any thing else of note, you had been very readily serv'd by,SIR,Your Humble Servant,E.K.Boston, Jan. 8. 1703.

SIR,

I receiv'd yours, wherein you acquaint me with a Design that (I doubt not) will meet with that Applause and Acceptance from the World which it deserves; but am in no capacity to be any way serviceable to it my self, the late Hurricane having more frightedthan hurt us in these Parts. I doubt not but your Intelligence in general from the Northern Parts of the Nation, supplies you with as little Matter as what you have from these hereabouts, it having been less violent and mischievous that way. Some Stacks of Chimneys were over-turn'd here, and from one of them a little Child of my own was (thanks be to God) almost miraculously preserv'd, with a Maid that lay in the Room with him. I hear of none else this way that was so much as in danger, the Storm beginning here later than I perceive it did in some other Places, its greatest Violence being betwixt 7 and 8 in the Morning, when most People were stirring.

The Earthquake, which the Publick Accounts mention to have happen'd atHullandLincolnupon the 28thult.was felt here by some People about 6 in the Evening, at the same time that People there, as well as atGranthamand other Places, perceived it. We have some flying Stories about it which look like fabulous, whose Credit therefore I wou'd not be answerable for; as, that uponLincoln-Heaththe Ground was seen to open, and Flashes of Fire to issue out of the Chasm.

I doubt this Account will hardly be thought worth the Charge of Passage: Had there been any thing else of note, you had been very readily serv'd by,

SIR,Your Humble Servant,E.K.

Boston, Jan. 8. 1703.

SIR,I am afraid that you will believe me very rude, that yours, which I receiv'd the 12th ofApril, has not sooner receiv'd such an Answer as you expect and desire, and truly I think deserve; for, a Design so generous, as to undertake to transmit to Posterity, A Memorial of the dreadful Effects of the late terrible Tempest (that when God's Judgments are in the World, they may be made so publick, as to ingage the Inhabitants of the Earth to learn Righteousness) ought to receive all possible Encouragement.But the true Reason why I writ no sooner, was, Because, by the most diligent Enquiries I cou'd make, I cou'd not learn whatHarm that dreadful Tempest did in theHumber; neither indeed can I yet give you any exact Account of it: for, the great Mischief was done in the Night; which was so Pitch-dark, that of above 80 Ships that then rid in theHumber, aboutGrimsbyRoad, very few escap'd some Loss or other, and none of 'em were able to give a Relation of any body but themselves.The best Account of the Effects of the Storm in theHumber, that I have yet met with, I received but Yesterday, from Mr.Peter Walls, who is Master of that Watch-Tower, call'd theSpurn-Light, at theHumberMouth, and was present there on the Night of the 26th ofNovember, the fatal Night of the Storm.He did verily believe that his Pharos (which is above 20 Yards high) wou'd have been blown down; and the Tempest made the Fire in it burn so vehemently, that it melted down the Iron-bars on which it laid, like Lead; so that they were forced, when the Fire was by this means almost extinguished, to put in new Bars, and kindle the Fire a-fresh, which they kept in till the Morning Light appear'd: And thenPeter Wallsobserved about six or seven and twenty Sail of Ships, all driving about theSpurn-Head, some having cut, others broke their Cables, but all disabled, and render'd helpless. These were a part of the two Fleets that then lay in theHumber, being put in there by stress of Weather a day or two before, some fromRussia, and the rest of 'emColliers, to and fromNewcastle. Of these, three were driven upon an Island call'd theDen, within theSpurnin the Mouth of theHumber.The first of these no sooner touch'd Ground, but she over-set, and turn'd up her Bottom; out of which, only one of six (the Number of that Ship's Company) was lost, being in the Shrowds: the other five were taken up by the second Ship, who had sav'd their Boat. In this Boat were saved all the Men of the three Ships aforementioned (except as before excepted) and came to Mr.Walls's House, at theSpurn-Head, who got them good Fires, and all Accommodations necessary for them in such a Distress. The second Ship having no body aboard, was driven to Sea, with the Violence of the Tempest, and never seen or heard of more. The third, which was then a-ground, was (as he supposes) broken up and driven; for nothing, but some Coals that were in her, was to be seen the next Morning.Another Ship, the Day after,viz.the 27th ofNovember, was riding inGrimsbyRoad, and the Ships Company (except two Boys) being gone a-shore, the Ship, with the two Lads in her, drive directly out ofHumber, and was lost, tho' 'tis verily believ'd the two Boys were saved by one of theRussiaShips, or Convoys.The same Day, in the Morning, oneJohn Baines, aYarmouthMaster, was in his Ship, riding inGrimsbyRoad, and by the Violence of the Storm, some other Ships coming foul upon him, part of his Ship was broken down, and was driven towards Sea; whereupon he anchored underKilnsey-Land, and with his Crew came safe a-shore, in his Boat, but the Ship was never seen more.The remainder of the six or seven and twenty Sail aforesaid, being (as was before observed) driven out of theHumber, very few, if any of 'em, were ever heard of; and 'tis rationally believ'd, that all, or the most of them, perished. And indeed, altho' the Storm was not so violent here as it was aboutPortsmouth,YarmouthRoads, and the Southern Coast, yet the Crews of the three Ships above-mentioned declare, that they were never out in so dismal a Night as that was of the 26th ofNovember, in which the considerable Fleet aforesaid rid inGrimsbyRoad in theHumber; for most of the 80 Sail broke from their Anchors, and run foul one upon another; but by reason of the Darkness of the Night, they cou'd see very little of the Mischief that was done.This is the best Account I can give you at present of the Effects of the Tempest in theHumber; whereas had the Enquiry been made immediately after the Storm was over, a great many more of remarkable Particulars might have been discover'd.As to the Earthquake here, tho' I perceiv'd it not my self (being then walking to visit a sick Parishoner) yet it was so sensibly felt by so many Hundreds, that I cannot in the least question the Truth and Certainty of it.It happen'd here, and in these Parts, uponInnocent's Day, the 28th ofDecember, beingTuesday, about Five of the Clock in the Evening, or thereabout. Soon after I gave as particular Account as I cou'd learn of it, to that ingenious Antiquary Mr.ThorsbyofLeedsinYorkshire, but had no time to keep a Copy of my Letter to him, nor have I leisure to transcribe a Copy of this to you, having so constant a Fatigue of Parochial business to attend; norwill my Memory serve me to recollect all the Circumstances of that Earthquake, as I sent them to Mr.Thoresby; and possibly he may have communicated that Letter to you, or will upon your least intimation, being a generous Person, who loves to communicate any thing that may be serviceable to the Publick.However, lest I shou'd seem to decline the gratifying your Request, I will recollect, and here set down, such of the Circumstances of that Earthquake as do at present occur to my Memory.It came with a Noise like that of a Coach in the Streets, and mightily shak'd both the Glass Windows, Pewter,ChinaPots and Dishes, and in some places threw them down off the Shelves on which they stood. It did very little Mischief in this Town, except the throwing down a Piece of one Chimney. Several Persons thought that a great Dog was got under the Chair they sat upon; and others fell from their Seats, for fear of falling. It frighted several Persons, and caus'd 'em for a while to break off their Reading, or Writing, or what they were doing.They felt but one Shake here: but a Gentleman inNottinghamshiretold me, that being then lame upon his Bed, he felt three Shakes, like the three Rocks of a Cradle, to and again.AtLacebyinLincolnshire, and in several other Parts of that County, as well as of the Counties ofYorkandNottingham, the Earthquake was felt very sensibly; and particularly atLacebyaforesaid. There happen'd this remarkable Story.OnInnocent's Day, in the Afternoon, several Morrice-Dancers came thither fromGrimsby; and after they had Danc'd and play'd their Tricks, they went towardsAlesby, a little Town not far off: and as they were going about Five a Clock, they felt two such terrible Shocks of the Earth, that they had much ado to hold their Feet, and thought the Ground was ready to open, and swallow 'em up. Whereupon thinking that God was angry at 'em for playing the Fool, they return'd immediately toLacebyin a great Fright, and the next Day home, not daring to pursue their intended Circuit and Dancing.I think 'tis the Observation of Dr.Willis, that upon an Earthquake the Earth sends forth noisome Vapours which infect the Air, as the Air does our Bodies: and accordingly it has prov'd here, where we have ever since had a most sickly time, and thegreatest Mortality that has been in this Place for 15 Years last past: and so I believe it has been over the greatest part ofEngland. This, SIR, is the best Account I can give you of the Earthquake, which had com'd sooner, but that I was desirous to get likewise the best Account I cou'd of the Effects of the Storm in theHumber. My humble Service to the Undertakers: and if in any thing I am capable to serve them or you, please freely to command,SIR,Your most humble Servant,Ro. Banks.

SIR,

I am afraid that you will believe me very rude, that yours, which I receiv'd the 12th ofApril, has not sooner receiv'd such an Answer as you expect and desire, and truly I think deserve; for, a Design so generous, as to undertake to transmit to Posterity, A Memorial of the dreadful Effects of the late terrible Tempest (that when God's Judgments are in the World, they may be made so publick, as to ingage the Inhabitants of the Earth to learn Righteousness) ought to receive all possible Encouragement.

But the true Reason why I writ no sooner, was, Because, by the most diligent Enquiries I cou'd make, I cou'd not learn whatHarm that dreadful Tempest did in theHumber; neither indeed can I yet give you any exact Account of it: for, the great Mischief was done in the Night; which was so Pitch-dark, that of above 80 Ships that then rid in theHumber, aboutGrimsbyRoad, very few escap'd some Loss or other, and none of 'em were able to give a Relation of any body but themselves.

The best Account of the Effects of the Storm in theHumber, that I have yet met with, I received but Yesterday, from Mr.Peter Walls, who is Master of that Watch-Tower, call'd theSpurn-Light, at theHumberMouth, and was present there on the Night of the 26th ofNovember, the fatal Night of the Storm.

He did verily believe that his Pharos (which is above 20 Yards high) wou'd have been blown down; and the Tempest made the Fire in it burn so vehemently, that it melted down the Iron-bars on which it laid, like Lead; so that they were forced, when the Fire was by this means almost extinguished, to put in new Bars, and kindle the Fire a-fresh, which they kept in till the Morning Light appear'd: And thenPeter Wallsobserved about six or seven and twenty Sail of Ships, all driving about theSpurn-Head, some having cut, others broke their Cables, but all disabled, and render'd helpless. These were a part of the two Fleets that then lay in theHumber, being put in there by stress of Weather a day or two before, some fromRussia, and the rest of 'emColliers, to and fromNewcastle. Of these, three were driven upon an Island call'd theDen, within theSpurnin the Mouth of theHumber.

The first of these no sooner touch'd Ground, but she over-set, and turn'd up her Bottom; out of which, only one of six (the Number of that Ship's Company) was lost, being in the Shrowds: the other five were taken up by the second Ship, who had sav'd their Boat. In this Boat were saved all the Men of the three Ships aforementioned (except as before excepted) and came to Mr.Walls's House, at theSpurn-Head, who got them good Fires, and all Accommodations necessary for them in such a Distress. The second Ship having no body aboard, was driven to Sea, with the Violence of the Tempest, and never seen or heard of more. The third, which was then a-ground, was (as he supposes) broken up and driven; for nothing, but some Coals that were in her, was to be seen the next Morning.

Another Ship, the Day after,viz.the 27th ofNovember, was riding inGrimsbyRoad, and the Ships Company (except two Boys) being gone a-shore, the Ship, with the two Lads in her, drive directly out ofHumber, and was lost, tho' 'tis verily believ'd the two Boys were saved by one of theRussiaShips, or Convoys.

The same Day, in the Morning, oneJohn Baines, aYarmouthMaster, was in his Ship, riding inGrimsbyRoad, and by the Violence of the Storm, some other Ships coming foul upon him, part of his Ship was broken down, and was driven towards Sea; whereupon he anchored underKilnsey-Land, and with his Crew came safe a-shore, in his Boat, but the Ship was never seen more.

The remainder of the six or seven and twenty Sail aforesaid, being (as was before observed) driven out of theHumber, very few, if any of 'em, were ever heard of; and 'tis rationally believ'd, that all, or the most of them, perished. And indeed, altho' the Storm was not so violent here as it was aboutPortsmouth,YarmouthRoads, and the Southern Coast, yet the Crews of the three Ships above-mentioned declare, that they were never out in so dismal a Night as that was of the 26th ofNovember, in which the considerable Fleet aforesaid rid inGrimsbyRoad in theHumber; for most of the 80 Sail broke from their Anchors, and run foul one upon another; but by reason of the Darkness of the Night, they cou'd see very little of the Mischief that was done.

This is the best Account I can give you at present of the Effects of the Tempest in theHumber; whereas had the Enquiry been made immediately after the Storm was over, a great many more of remarkable Particulars might have been discover'd.

As to the Earthquake here, tho' I perceiv'd it not my self (being then walking to visit a sick Parishoner) yet it was so sensibly felt by so many Hundreds, that I cannot in the least question the Truth and Certainty of it.

It happen'd here, and in these Parts, uponInnocent's Day, the 28th ofDecember, beingTuesday, about Five of the Clock in the Evening, or thereabout. Soon after I gave as particular Account as I cou'd learn of it, to that ingenious Antiquary Mr.ThorsbyofLeedsinYorkshire, but had no time to keep a Copy of my Letter to him, nor have I leisure to transcribe a Copy of this to you, having so constant a Fatigue of Parochial business to attend; norwill my Memory serve me to recollect all the Circumstances of that Earthquake, as I sent them to Mr.Thoresby; and possibly he may have communicated that Letter to you, or will upon your least intimation, being a generous Person, who loves to communicate any thing that may be serviceable to the Publick.

However, lest I shou'd seem to decline the gratifying your Request, I will recollect, and here set down, such of the Circumstances of that Earthquake as do at present occur to my Memory.

It came with a Noise like that of a Coach in the Streets, and mightily shak'd both the Glass Windows, Pewter,ChinaPots and Dishes, and in some places threw them down off the Shelves on which they stood. It did very little Mischief in this Town, except the throwing down a Piece of one Chimney. Several Persons thought that a great Dog was got under the Chair they sat upon; and others fell from their Seats, for fear of falling. It frighted several Persons, and caus'd 'em for a while to break off their Reading, or Writing, or what they were doing.

They felt but one Shake here: but a Gentleman inNottinghamshiretold me, that being then lame upon his Bed, he felt three Shakes, like the three Rocks of a Cradle, to and again.

AtLacebyinLincolnshire, and in several other Parts of that County, as well as of the Counties ofYorkandNottingham, the Earthquake was felt very sensibly; and particularly atLacebyaforesaid. There happen'd this remarkable Story.

OnInnocent's Day, in the Afternoon, several Morrice-Dancers came thither fromGrimsby; and after they had Danc'd and play'd their Tricks, they went towardsAlesby, a little Town not far off: and as they were going about Five a Clock, they felt two such terrible Shocks of the Earth, that they had much ado to hold their Feet, and thought the Ground was ready to open, and swallow 'em up. Whereupon thinking that God was angry at 'em for playing the Fool, they return'd immediately toLacebyin a great Fright, and the next Day home, not daring to pursue their intended Circuit and Dancing.

I think 'tis the Observation of Dr.Willis, that upon an Earthquake the Earth sends forth noisome Vapours which infect the Air, as the Air does our Bodies: and accordingly it has prov'd here, where we have ever since had a most sickly time, and thegreatest Mortality that has been in this Place for 15 Years last past: and so I believe it has been over the greatest part ofEngland. This, SIR, is the best Account I can give you of the Earthquake, which had com'd sooner, but that I was desirous to get likewise the best Account I cou'd of the Effects of the Storm in theHumber. My humble Service to the Undertakers: and if in any thing I am capable to serve them or you, please freely to command,

SIR,Your most humble Servant,Ro. Banks.

We have a farther Account of this in two Letters from Mr.Thoresby, F.R.S. and written to the Publisher of the Philosophical Transactions, and printed in their Monthly Collection, No. 289. as follows, which is the same mentioned by Mr.Banks.

Part of two Letters from Mr.Thoresby, F.R.S.to the Publisher, concerning an Earthquake, which happen'd in some Places of the North ofEngland,the 28th ofDecember 1703.

You have heard, no doubt, of the lateEarthquakethat affected some part of the North, as the dreadful Storm did the South. It being most observable atHull, I was desirous of an Account from thence that might be depended upon; and therefore writ to the very obliging Mr.Banks, Prebendary ofYork, who being Vicar ofHull, was the most suitable Person I knew to address my self unto: and he being pleased to favour me with a judicious Account of it, I will venture to communicate it to you, with his pious Reflection thereupon. 'As to the Earthquake you mention, it was felt here onTuesdaythe 28th of the last Month, which wasChildermasDay, about three or four Minutes after Five in the Evening. I confess I did not feel it my self; for I was at that moment walking to visit a sick Gentleman, and the Noise in the Streets, and my quick Motion, made it impossible, I believe, for me to feel it: but it was so almost universally felt, that there can be no manner of doubt of the Truth of it.Mr.Peers, my Reader, (who is an ingenious good Man) was then at his Study, and Writing; but the heaving up of his Chairand his Desk, the Shake of his Chamber, and the rattling of his Windows, did so amaze him, that he was really affrighted, and was forc'd for a while to give over his Work: and there are twenty such Instances amongst Tradesmen, too tedious to repeat. My Wife was then in her Closet, and thought herChinawould have come about her Ears, and my Family felt the Chairs mov'd, in which they were sitting by the Kitchen Fire-side, and heard such a Rattle of the Pewter and Windows as almost affrighted them. A Gentlewoman not far off said, her Chair lifted so high, that she thought the great Dog had got under it, and to save her self from falling, slipt off her Chair. I sent to a House where part of a Chimney was shak'd down, to enquire of the particulars; they kept Ale, and being pretty full of Company that they were merry, they did not perceive the Shock, only heard the Pewter and Glass-windows dance; but the Landlady's Mother, who was in a Chamber by her self, felt the Shock so violent, that she verily believed the House to be coming down (as part of the Chimney afore mention'd did at the same Moment) and cried out in a Fright, and had fall'n, but that she catched hold of a Table. It came and went suddenly, and was attended with a Noise like the Wind, though there was then a perfect Calm.'From other Hands I have an Account that it was felt inBeverly, and other Places; atSouth Daltonparticularly, where the Parson's Wife (my own Sister) being alone in her Chamber, was sadly frighted with the heaving up of the Chair she sat in, and the very sensible Shake of the Room, especially the Windows,&c.A Relation of mine, who is a Minister nearLincoln, being then at a Gentleman's House in the Neighbourhood, was amaz'd at the Moving of the Chairs they sat upon, which was so violent, he writes every Limb of him was shaken; I am told also from a true Hand, that so nigh us asSelby, where Mr.Travers, a Minister, being in his Study writing, was interrupted much as Mr.Peersabove-mentioned; which minds me of worthy Mr.Bank's serious Conclusion. 'And now I hope you will not think it unbecoming my Character to make this Reflection upon it,viz.that Famines, Pestilences and Earthquakes, are joyned by our Blessed Saviour, as portending future Calamities, and particularly the Destruction ofJerusalemand theJewishState; if not the End of the World,St.Matth.24. 7. And if, as Philosophers observe, those gentler Convulsions within the Bowels of the Earth, which give the Inhabitants but an easie Jog, do usually portend the Approach of some more dreadful Earthquake; then surely we have Reason to fear the worst, because I fear we so well deserve it, and pray God of his infinite Mercy to avert his future Judgments.'Since my former Account of the Earthquake atHull, my CousinCooksonhas procured to me the following Account from his Brother, who is a Clergyman nearLincoln, viz, That he, being about Five in the Evening,Decemberthe 20th past, set with a neighbouring Minister at his House about a Mile fromNavenby, they were surpriz'd with a sudden Noise, as if it had been of two or three Coaches driven furiously down the Yard, whereupon the Servant was sent to the Door, in Expectation of some Strangers; but they quickly perceived what it was, by the shaking of the Chairs they sat upon; they could perceive the very Stones move: the greatest Damage was to the Gentlewoman of the House, who was put into such a Fright, that she miscarried two Days after. He writes, they were put into a greater Fright upon the Fast-day; when there was so violent a Storm, they verily thought the Church would have fallen upon them. We had also atLeedesa much greater Storm the Night preceding the Fast, and a stronger Wind that Day, than when the fatal Storm was in the South; but a good Providence timed this well, to quicken our too cold Devotions.

You have heard, no doubt, of the lateEarthquakethat affected some part of the North, as the dreadful Storm did the South. It being most observable atHull, I was desirous of an Account from thence that might be depended upon; and therefore writ to the very obliging Mr.Banks, Prebendary ofYork, who being Vicar ofHull, was the most suitable Person I knew to address my self unto: and he being pleased to favour me with a judicious Account of it, I will venture to communicate it to you, with his pious Reflection thereupon. 'As to the Earthquake you mention, it was felt here onTuesdaythe 28th of the last Month, which wasChildermasDay, about three or four Minutes after Five in the Evening. I confess I did not feel it my self; for I was at that moment walking to visit a sick Gentleman, and the Noise in the Streets, and my quick Motion, made it impossible, I believe, for me to feel it: but it was so almost universally felt, that there can be no manner of doubt of the Truth of it.

Mr.Peers, my Reader, (who is an ingenious good Man) was then at his Study, and Writing; but the heaving up of his Chairand his Desk, the Shake of his Chamber, and the rattling of his Windows, did so amaze him, that he was really affrighted, and was forc'd for a while to give over his Work: and there are twenty such Instances amongst Tradesmen, too tedious to repeat. My Wife was then in her Closet, and thought herChinawould have come about her Ears, and my Family felt the Chairs mov'd, in which they were sitting by the Kitchen Fire-side, and heard such a Rattle of the Pewter and Windows as almost affrighted them. A Gentlewoman not far off said, her Chair lifted so high, that she thought the great Dog had got under it, and to save her self from falling, slipt off her Chair. I sent to a House where part of a Chimney was shak'd down, to enquire of the particulars; they kept Ale, and being pretty full of Company that they were merry, they did not perceive the Shock, only heard the Pewter and Glass-windows dance; but the Landlady's Mother, who was in a Chamber by her self, felt the Shock so violent, that she verily believed the House to be coming down (as part of the Chimney afore mention'd did at the same Moment) and cried out in a Fright, and had fall'n, but that she catched hold of a Table. It came and went suddenly, and was attended with a Noise like the Wind, though there was then a perfect Calm.'

From other Hands I have an Account that it was felt inBeverly, and other Places; atSouth Daltonparticularly, where the Parson's Wife (my own Sister) being alone in her Chamber, was sadly frighted with the heaving up of the Chair she sat in, and the very sensible Shake of the Room, especially the Windows,&c.A Relation of mine, who is a Minister nearLincoln, being then at a Gentleman's House in the Neighbourhood, was amaz'd at the Moving of the Chairs they sat upon, which was so violent, he writes every Limb of him was shaken; I am told also from a true Hand, that so nigh us asSelby, where Mr.Travers, a Minister, being in his Study writing, was interrupted much as Mr.Peersabove-mentioned; which minds me of worthy Mr.Bank's serious Conclusion. 'And now I hope you will not think it unbecoming my Character to make this Reflection upon it,viz.that Famines, Pestilences and Earthquakes, are joyned by our Blessed Saviour, as portending future Calamities, and particularly the Destruction ofJerusalemand theJewishState; if not the End of the World,St.Matth.24. 7. And if, as Philosophers observe, those gentler Convulsions within the Bowels of the Earth, which give the Inhabitants but an easie Jog, do usually portend the Approach of some more dreadful Earthquake; then surely we have Reason to fear the worst, because I fear we so well deserve it, and pray God of his infinite Mercy to avert his future Judgments.'

Since my former Account of the Earthquake atHull, my CousinCooksonhas procured to me the following Account from his Brother, who is a Clergyman nearLincoln, viz, That he, being about Five in the Evening,Decemberthe 20th past, set with a neighbouring Minister at his House about a Mile fromNavenby, they were surpriz'd with a sudden Noise, as if it had been of two or three Coaches driven furiously down the Yard, whereupon the Servant was sent to the Door, in Expectation of some Strangers; but they quickly perceived what it was, by the shaking of the Chairs they sat upon; they could perceive the very Stones move: the greatest Damage was to the Gentlewoman of the House, who was put into such a Fright, that she miscarried two Days after. He writes, they were put into a greater Fright upon the Fast-day; when there was so violent a Storm, they verily thought the Church would have fallen upon them. We had also atLeedesa much greater Storm the Night preceding the Fast, and a stronger Wind that Day, than when the fatal Storm was in the South; but a good Providence timed this well, to quicken our too cold Devotions.

As the sad and remarkable Disasters of this Terrible Night were full of a Dismal Variety, so the Goodness of Providence, in the many remarkable Deliverances both by Sea and Land, have their Share in this Account, as they claim an equal Variety and Wonder.

The Sense of extraordinary Deliverances, as it is a Mark of Generous Christianity, so I presume 'tis the best Token, that a good Use is made of the Mercies receiv'd.

The Persons, who desire a thankful Acknowledgement should be made to their Merciful Deliverer, and the Wonders of his Providence remitted to Posterity, shall never have it to say, that the Editor of this Book refus'd to admit so great a Subject a Place in these Memoirs; and therefore, with all imaginable Freedom, he gives the World the Particulars from their own Mouths, and under their own Hands.

The first Account we have from the Reverend Mr.King, Lecturer at St.Martinsin the Fields, as follows.

SIR,The short Account I now send to shew the Providence of God in the late Dreadful Storm, (if yet it comes not too late) I had from the Mouth of the Gentleman himself, Mr.Woodgate Gisserby Name, who is a Neighbour of mine, living in St.Martin's-streetin the Parish of St.Martinsin the Fields, and a Sufferer in the common Calamity; is as follows,viz.Between Two and Three of the Clock in the Morning, my Neighbour's Stack of Chimneys fell, and broke down the Roof of my Garret into the Passage going up and down Stairs; upon which, I thought it convenient to retire into the Kitchen with my Family; where we had not been above a Quarter of an Hour, before my Wife sent her Maid to fetch some Necessaries out of a Back Parlour Closet, and as she had shut the Door, and was upon her Return, the very same Instant my Neighbour's Stack of Chimneys, on the other Side of the House, fell upon my Stack, and beat in the Roof, and so drove down the several Floors through the Parlour into the Kitchen, where the Maid was buried near Five Hours in the Rubbish, without the least Damage or Hurt whatsoever: This her miraculous Preservation was occasion'd (as, I afterwards with Surprize found) by her falling into a small Cavity near the Bed, and afterwards (as she declar'd) by her creeping under the Tester that lay hollow by Reason of some Joices that lay athwart each other, which prevented her perishing in the said Rubbish: About Eight in the Morning, when I helped her out of the Ruins, and asked her how she did, and why she did not cry out for Assistance, since she was not (as I suppos'd she had been) dead, and so to let me know she was alive; her Answerwas, that truly she for her Part had felt no Hurt, and was not the least affrighted, but lay quiet; and which is more, even slumbred until then.The Preservation of my self, and the rest of my Family, about Eleven in Number, was, next to the Providence of God, occasion'd by our running into a Vault almost level with the Kitchen upon the Noise and Alarm of the Falling of the Chimneys, which breaking through three Floors, and about two Minutes in passing, gave us the Opportunities of that Retreat. Pray accept of this short Account fromYour Humble Servant, and Lecturer,James King,M.A.Feb. 12. 1703.

SIR,

The short Account I now send to shew the Providence of God in the late Dreadful Storm, (if yet it comes not too late) I had from the Mouth of the Gentleman himself, Mr.Woodgate Gisserby Name, who is a Neighbour of mine, living in St.Martin's-streetin the Parish of St.Martinsin the Fields, and a Sufferer in the common Calamity; is as follows,viz.

Between Two and Three of the Clock in the Morning, my Neighbour's Stack of Chimneys fell, and broke down the Roof of my Garret into the Passage going up and down Stairs; upon which, I thought it convenient to retire into the Kitchen with my Family; where we had not been above a Quarter of an Hour, before my Wife sent her Maid to fetch some Necessaries out of a Back Parlour Closet, and as she had shut the Door, and was upon her Return, the very same Instant my Neighbour's Stack of Chimneys, on the other Side of the House, fell upon my Stack, and beat in the Roof, and so drove down the several Floors through the Parlour into the Kitchen, where the Maid was buried near Five Hours in the Rubbish, without the least Damage or Hurt whatsoever: This her miraculous Preservation was occasion'd (as, I afterwards with Surprize found) by her falling into a small Cavity near the Bed, and afterwards (as she declar'd) by her creeping under the Tester that lay hollow by Reason of some Joices that lay athwart each other, which prevented her perishing in the said Rubbish: About Eight in the Morning, when I helped her out of the Ruins, and asked her how she did, and why she did not cry out for Assistance, since she was not (as I suppos'd she had been) dead, and so to let me know she was alive; her Answerwas, that truly she for her Part had felt no Hurt, and was not the least affrighted, but lay quiet; and which is more, even slumbred until then.

The Preservation of my self, and the rest of my Family, about Eleven in Number, was, next to the Providence of God, occasion'd by our running into a Vault almost level with the Kitchen upon the Noise and Alarm of the Falling of the Chimneys, which breaking through three Floors, and about two Minutes in passing, gave us the Opportunities of that Retreat. Pray accept of this short Account from

Your Humble Servant, and Lecturer,James King,M.A.

Feb. 12. 1703.

Another is from a Reverend Minister at —— whose Name is to his Letter as follows.

SIR,I thank you for your charitable Visit not long since; I could have heartily wish'd your Business would have permitted you to have made a little longer Stay at the parsonage, and then you might have taken a stricter View of the Ruins by the late terrible Wind. Seeing you are pleas'd to desire from me a more particular Account of that sad Disaster; I have for your fuller Satisfaction sent you the best I am able to give; and if it be not so perfect, and so exact a one, as you may expect, you may rely upon me it is a true, and a faithful one, and that I do not impose upon you, or the World in the least in any Part of the following Relation. I shall not trouble you with the Uneasiness the Family was under all the fore Part of the Evening, even to a Fault, as I thought, and told them, I did not then apprehend the Wind to be much higher than it had been often on other Times; but went to Bed, hoping we were more afraid than we needed to have been: when in Bed, we began to be more sensible of it, and lay most of the Night awake, dreading every Blast till about Four of the Clock in the Morning, when to our thinking it seemed a little to abate; and then we fell asleep, and slept till about Six of the Clock, at which Time my Wife waking, and calling one of her Maids to rise, and come tothe Children, the Maid rose, and hasten'd to her; she had not been up above Half an Hour, but all on the sudden we heard a prodigious Noise, as if part of the House had been fallen down; I need not tell you the Consternation we were all in upon this Alarm; in a Minutes Time, I am sure, I was surrounded with all my Infantry, that I thought I should have been overlay'd; I had not even Power to stir one Limb of me, much less to rise, though I could not tell how to lie in Bed. The Shrieks and the Cries of my dear Babes perfectly stun'd me; I think I hear them still in my Ears, I shall not easily, I am confident, if ever, forget them. There I lay preaching Patience to those little Innocent Creatures, till the Day began to appear.Preces & Lachrimcæ, Prayers and Tears, the Primitive Christians Weapons, we had great Plenty of to defend us withal; but had the House all fallen upon our Heads, we were in that Fright as we could scarce have had Power to rise for the present, or do any thing for our Security. Upon our rising, and sending a Servant to view what she could discover, we soon understood that the Chimney was fallen down, and that with its Fall it had beaten down a great part of that End of the House,viz.the Upper Chamber, and the Room under it, which was the Room I chose for my Study: The Chimney was thought as strong, and as well built as most in the Neighbourhood; and it surpriz'd the Mason (whom I immediately sent for to view it) to see it down: but that which was most surprizing to me, was the Manner of its Falling; had it fallen almost any other Way than that it did, it must in all Likelihood have killed the much greater part of my Family, for no less than Nine of us lay at that End of the House, my Wife and Self, and Five Children, and Two Servants, a Maid, and a Man then in my Pay, and so a Servant, though not by the Year: The Bed my Eldest Daughter and the Maid lay in joyned as near as possible to the Chimney, and it was within a very few Yards of the Bed that we lay in; so that asDavidsaid toJonathan, there seem'd to be but one single Step between Death and us, to all outward Appearance. One Thing I cannot omit, which was very remarkable and surprizing: It pleased God so to order it, that in the Fall of the House two great Spars seem'd to fall so as to pitch themselves on an End, and by that Means to support that otherPart of the House which adjoined to the Upper Chamber; or else in all Likelihood, that must also have fallen too at the same Time. The Carpenter (whom we sent for forthwith) when he came, ask'd who plac'd those two Supporters, supposing somebody had been there before him; and when he was told, those two Spars in the Fall so plac'd themselves, he could scarce believe it possible; it was done so artificially, that he declar'd, they scarce needed to have been removed.In short, Sir, it is impossible to describe the Danger we were in; you your self was an Eye-witness of some Part of what is here related; and I once more assure you, the whole Account I have here given you is true, and what can be attested by the whole Family. None of all those unfortunate Persons who are said to have been killed with the Fall of a Chimney, could well be much more expos'd to Danger than we were; it is owing wholly to that watchful Providence to whom we all are indebted for every Minute of our Lives, that any of us escaped; none but he who never sleeps nor slumbers could have secured us. I beseech Almighty God to give us All that due Sense as we ought to have of so great and so general Calamity; that we truly repent us of those Sins that have so long provoked his Wrath against us, and brought down so heavy a Judgment as this upon us. O that we were so wise as to consider it, and tosin no more lest a worse thing come upon us! That it may have this happy Effect upon all the sinful Inhabitants of this Land is, and shall be, the Dayly Prayer of Dear Sir,Your real Friend and Servant,John Gipps.

SIR,

I thank you for your charitable Visit not long since; I could have heartily wish'd your Business would have permitted you to have made a little longer Stay at the parsonage, and then you might have taken a stricter View of the Ruins by the late terrible Wind. Seeing you are pleas'd to desire from me a more particular Account of that sad Disaster; I have for your fuller Satisfaction sent you the best I am able to give; and if it be not so perfect, and so exact a one, as you may expect, you may rely upon me it is a true, and a faithful one, and that I do not impose upon you, or the World in the least in any Part of the following Relation. I shall not trouble you with the Uneasiness the Family was under all the fore Part of the Evening, even to a Fault, as I thought, and told them, I did not then apprehend the Wind to be much higher than it had been often on other Times; but went to Bed, hoping we were more afraid than we needed to have been: when in Bed, we began to be more sensible of it, and lay most of the Night awake, dreading every Blast till about Four of the Clock in the Morning, when to our thinking it seemed a little to abate; and then we fell asleep, and slept till about Six of the Clock, at which Time my Wife waking, and calling one of her Maids to rise, and come tothe Children, the Maid rose, and hasten'd to her; she had not been up above Half an Hour, but all on the sudden we heard a prodigious Noise, as if part of the House had been fallen down; I need not tell you the Consternation we were all in upon this Alarm; in a Minutes Time, I am sure, I was surrounded with all my Infantry, that I thought I should have been overlay'd; I had not even Power to stir one Limb of me, much less to rise, though I could not tell how to lie in Bed. The Shrieks and the Cries of my dear Babes perfectly stun'd me; I think I hear them still in my Ears, I shall not easily, I am confident, if ever, forget them. There I lay preaching Patience to those little Innocent Creatures, till the Day began to appear.

Preces & Lachrimcæ, Prayers and Tears, the Primitive Christians Weapons, we had great Plenty of to defend us withal; but had the House all fallen upon our Heads, we were in that Fright as we could scarce have had Power to rise for the present, or do any thing for our Security. Upon our rising, and sending a Servant to view what she could discover, we soon understood that the Chimney was fallen down, and that with its Fall it had beaten down a great part of that End of the House,viz.the Upper Chamber, and the Room under it, which was the Room I chose for my Study: The Chimney was thought as strong, and as well built as most in the Neighbourhood; and it surpriz'd the Mason (whom I immediately sent for to view it) to see it down: but that which was most surprizing to me, was the Manner of its Falling; had it fallen almost any other Way than that it did, it must in all Likelihood have killed the much greater part of my Family, for no less than Nine of us lay at that End of the House, my Wife and Self, and Five Children, and Two Servants, a Maid, and a Man then in my Pay, and so a Servant, though not by the Year: The Bed my Eldest Daughter and the Maid lay in joyned as near as possible to the Chimney, and it was within a very few Yards of the Bed that we lay in; so that asDavidsaid toJonathan, there seem'd to be but one single Step between Death and us, to all outward Appearance. One Thing I cannot omit, which was very remarkable and surprizing: It pleased God so to order it, that in the Fall of the House two great Spars seem'd to fall so as to pitch themselves on an End, and by that Means to support that otherPart of the House which adjoined to the Upper Chamber; or else in all Likelihood, that must also have fallen too at the same Time. The Carpenter (whom we sent for forthwith) when he came, ask'd who plac'd those two Supporters, supposing somebody had been there before him; and when he was told, those two Spars in the Fall so plac'd themselves, he could scarce believe it possible; it was done so artificially, that he declar'd, they scarce needed to have been removed.

In short, Sir, it is impossible to describe the Danger we were in; you your self was an Eye-witness of some Part of what is here related; and I once more assure you, the whole Account I have here given you is true, and what can be attested by the whole Family. None of all those unfortunate Persons who are said to have been killed with the Fall of a Chimney, could well be much more expos'd to Danger than we were; it is owing wholly to that watchful Providence to whom we all are indebted for every Minute of our Lives, that any of us escaped; none but he who never sleeps nor slumbers could have secured us. I beseech Almighty God to give us All that due Sense as we ought to have of so great and so general Calamity; that we truly repent us of those Sins that have so long provoked his Wrath against us, and brought down so heavy a Judgment as this upon us. O that we were so wise as to consider it, and tosin no more lest a worse thing come upon us! That it may have this happy Effect upon all the sinful Inhabitants of this Land is, and shall be, the Dayly Prayer of Dear Sir,

Your real Friend and Servant,John Gipps.

Another Account from a Reverend Minister inDorsetshire, take as follows,viz.

SIR,As you have desired an Account of the Disasters occasion'd by the late Tempest, (which I can assure you was in these Parts very Terrible) so I think my self oblig'd to let you know, that there was a great Mixture of Mercy with it: For though the Hurricane wasfrightful, and very mischievous, yet God's gracious Providence was therein very remarkable, in restraining its Violence from an universal Destruction: for then there was a Commotion of the Elements of Air, Earth and Water, which then seemed to outvie each other in Mischief; for (inDavid's Expression, 2Sam.22. 8.)The Earth trembled and quak'd, the Foundations of the Heavens mov'd and shook, because God was angry: and yet, when all was given over for lost, we found our selves more scar'd than hurt; for our Lives was given us for a Prey, and the Tempest did us only so much Damage, as to make us sensible that it might have done us a great deal more, had it not been rebuk'd by the God of Mercy; the Care of whose Providence has been visibly seen in our wonderful Preservations. My Self and Three more of this Parish were then strangely rescued from the Grave: I narrowly escaped with my Life, where I apprehended nothing of Danger; for going out about Midnight to give Orders to my Servants to secure the House, and Reeks of Corn and Furses from being blown all away; as soon as I mov'd out of the Place were I stood, I heard something of a great Weight fall close behind me, and a little after going out with a Light, to see what it was, I found it to be the great Stone which covered the Top of my Chimney to keep out the Wet; it was almost a Yard square, and very thick, weighing about an Hundred and Fifty Pound. It was blown about a Yard off from the Chimney, and fell Edge-long, and cut the Earth, about four Inches deep, exactly between my Foot-steps; and a little after, whilst sitting under the Clavel of my Kitchen Chimney, and reaching out my Arm for some Fewel to mend the Fire, I was again strangely preserved from being knock'd on the Head by a Stone of great Weight; it being about a Foot long, Half a Foot broad, and two Inches thick: for as soon as I had drawn in my Arm, I felt something brush against my Elbow, and presently I heard the Stone fall close by my Foot, a third Part of which was broken off by the Violence of the Fall, and skarr'd my Ancle, but did not break the Skin; it had certainly killed me, had it fallen while my Arm was extended. The Top of my Wheat Rick was blown off, and some of the Sheaves were carried a Stones Cast, and with that Violence, that one of them, at that Distance, struck down oneDaniel Fookesa late Servant of the LadyNapier, andso forceably, that he was taken up dead, and to all Appearance remain'd so a great while; but at last was happily recover'd to Life again. His Mother, poor Widow, was at the same time more fatally threatned at Home, and her Bed had certainly prov'd her Grave, had not the first Noise awaken'd and scar'd her out of Bed; and she was scarce gotten to the Door, when the House fell all in: The Smith's Wife likewise being scar'd at such a Rate, leapt out of Bed, with the little Child in her Arms, and ran hastily out of Doors naked, without Hose or Shooes, to a Neighbour's House; and by that hasty Flight, both their Lives were wonderfully preserved. The Sheets of Lead onLyttonChurch, were rolled up like Sheets of Parchment, and blown off to a great Distance. AtStrode, a large Apple Tree, being about a Foot in Square, was broken off cleverly like a Stick, about four Foot from the Root, and carried over an Hedge about ten Foot high; and cast, as if darted, (with the Trunk forward) above fourteen Yards off. And I am credibly inform'd, that atEllwoodin the Parish ofAbbotsbury, a large Wheat Rick (belonging to oneJolyffe) was cleverly blown, with its Staddle, off from the Stones, and set down on the Ground in very good Order. I would fain know of the Atheist what mov'd hisOmnipotent Matterto do such Mischief,&c.SIR,I am,Your Affectionate Friend and Servant,though unknown,Jacob Cole,Rect. ofSwyre in County ofDorset.

SIR,

As you have desired an Account of the Disasters occasion'd by the late Tempest, (which I can assure you was in these Parts very Terrible) so I think my self oblig'd to let you know, that there was a great Mixture of Mercy with it: For though the Hurricane wasfrightful, and very mischievous, yet God's gracious Providence was therein very remarkable, in restraining its Violence from an universal Destruction: for then there was a Commotion of the Elements of Air, Earth and Water, which then seemed to outvie each other in Mischief; for (inDavid's Expression, 2Sam.22. 8.)The Earth trembled and quak'd, the Foundations of the Heavens mov'd and shook, because God was angry: and yet, when all was given over for lost, we found our selves more scar'd than hurt; for our Lives was given us for a Prey, and the Tempest did us only so much Damage, as to make us sensible that it might have done us a great deal more, had it not been rebuk'd by the God of Mercy; the Care of whose Providence has been visibly seen in our wonderful Preservations. My Self and Three more of this Parish were then strangely rescued from the Grave: I narrowly escaped with my Life, where I apprehended nothing of Danger; for going out about Midnight to give Orders to my Servants to secure the House, and Reeks of Corn and Furses from being blown all away; as soon as I mov'd out of the Place were I stood, I heard something of a great Weight fall close behind me, and a little after going out with a Light, to see what it was, I found it to be the great Stone which covered the Top of my Chimney to keep out the Wet; it was almost a Yard square, and very thick, weighing about an Hundred and Fifty Pound. It was blown about a Yard off from the Chimney, and fell Edge-long, and cut the Earth, about four Inches deep, exactly between my Foot-steps; and a little after, whilst sitting under the Clavel of my Kitchen Chimney, and reaching out my Arm for some Fewel to mend the Fire, I was again strangely preserved from being knock'd on the Head by a Stone of great Weight; it being about a Foot long, Half a Foot broad, and two Inches thick: for as soon as I had drawn in my Arm, I felt something brush against my Elbow, and presently I heard the Stone fall close by my Foot, a third Part of which was broken off by the Violence of the Fall, and skarr'd my Ancle, but did not break the Skin; it had certainly killed me, had it fallen while my Arm was extended. The Top of my Wheat Rick was blown off, and some of the Sheaves were carried a Stones Cast, and with that Violence, that one of them, at that Distance, struck down oneDaniel Fookesa late Servant of the LadyNapier, andso forceably, that he was taken up dead, and to all Appearance remain'd so a great while; but at last was happily recover'd to Life again. His Mother, poor Widow, was at the same time more fatally threatned at Home, and her Bed had certainly prov'd her Grave, had not the first Noise awaken'd and scar'd her out of Bed; and she was scarce gotten to the Door, when the House fell all in: The Smith's Wife likewise being scar'd at such a Rate, leapt out of Bed, with the little Child in her Arms, and ran hastily out of Doors naked, without Hose or Shooes, to a Neighbour's House; and by that hasty Flight, both their Lives were wonderfully preserved. The Sheets of Lead onLyttonChurch, were rolled up like Sheets of Parchment, and blown off to a great Distance. AtStrode, a large Apple Tree, being about a Foot in Square, was broken off cleverly like a Stick, about four Foot from the Root, and carried over an Hedge about ten Foot high; and cast, as if darted, (with the Trunk forward) above fourteen Yards off. And I am credibly inform'd, that atEllwoodin the Parish ofAbbotsbury, a large Wheat Rick (belonging to oneJolyffe) was cleverly blown, with its Staddle, off from the Stones, and set down on the Ground in very good Order. I would fain know of the Atheist what mov'd hisOmnipotent Matterto do such Mischief,&c.

SIR,I am,Your Affectionate Friend and Servant,though unknown,Jacob Cole,Rect. ofSwyre in County ofDorset.

This Account is very remarkable, and well attested, and the Editor of this Collection can vouch to the Reputation of the Relators, tho' not to the Particulars of the Story.

A great Preservation in the late StormAbout Three of the Clock in the Morning, the Violence of the Wind blew down a Stack of Chimneys belonging to the dwelling House of Dr.Gideon Harvey, (situate in St.Martin's Lane over against the Street End) on the back Part of the next House, wherein dwells Mr.Robert Richardsan Apothecary, at the Signof the Unicorn; and Capt.Theodore Collierand his Family lodges in the same. The Chimney fell with that Force as made them pierce thro' the Roofs and all the Floors, carrying them down quite to the Ground. The two Families, consisting of Fourteen, Men, Women, and Children, besides Three that came in from the next House, were at that Instant dispos'd of as follows, a Footman that us'd to lie in the back Garret, had not a Quarter of an Hour before remov'd himself into the fore Garret, by which means he escap'd the Danger: In the Room under that lay Capt.Collier's Child, of Two Months old, in Bed with the Nurse, and a Servant Maid lay on the Bed by her; the Nurse's Child lying in a Cribb by the Bed-side, which was found, with the Child safe in it, in the Kitchen, where the Nurse and Maid likewise found themselves; their Bed being shatter'd in Pieces, and they a little bruis'd by falling down Three Stories: Capt.Collier's Child was in about Two Hours found unhurt in some Pieces of the Bed and Curtains, which had fallen through Two Floors only, and hung on some broken Rafters in that Place, which was the Parlour: In the Room under This, being one Pair of Stairs from the Street, and two from the Kitchen, was Capt.Collierin his Bed, and his Wife just by the Bed-side, and her Maid a little behind her, who likewise found her self in the Kitchin a little bruis'd, and ran out to cry for Help for her Master and Mistress, who lay buried under the Ruins: Mrs.Collierwas, by the timely Aid of Neighbours who remov'd the Rubbish from her, taken out in about Half an Hours Time, having receiv'd no Hurt but the Fright, and an Arm a little bruis'd: Capt.Collierin about Half an Hour more was likewise taken out unhurt. In the Parlour were sitting Mr.Richardswith his Wife, the Three Neighbours, and the rest of his Family, a little Boy of about a Year old lying in the Cradle, they all run out at the first Noise, and escap'd, Mrs.Richardsstaying a little longer than the rest, to pull the Cradle with her child in it along with her, but the House fell too suddenly on it, and buried the Child under the Ruins, a Rafter fell on her Foot, and bruis'd it a little, at which she likewise made her Escape, and brought in the Neighbours, who soon uncovered the Head of the Cradle, and cutting it off, took the Child out aliveand well. This wonderful Preservation being worthy to be transmitted to Posterity, we do attest to be true in every Particular. Witness our Hands,Gideon Harvey.Theo. Collier.Robert Richards.London,Nov. 27. 1703.

A great Preservation in the late Storm

About Three of the Clock in the Morning, the Violence of the Wind blew down a Stack of Chimneys belonging to the dwelling House of Dr.Gideon Harvey, (situate in St.Martin's Lane over against the Street End) on the back Part of the next House, wherein dwells Mr.Robert Richardsan Apothecary, at the Signof the Unicorn; and Capt.Theodore Collierand his Family lodges in the same. The Chimney fell with that Force as made them pierce thro' the Roofs and all the Floors, carrying them down quite to the Ground. The two Families, consisting of Fourteen, Men, Women, and Children, besides Three that came in from the next House, were at that Instant dispos'd of as follows, a Footman that us'd to lie in the back Garret, had not a Quarter of an Hour before remov'd himself into the fore Garret, by which means he escap'd the Danger: In the Room under that lay Capt.Collier's Child, of Two Months old, in Bed with the Nurse, and a Servant Maid lay on the Bed by her; the Nurse's Child lying in a Cribb by the Bed-side, which was found, with the Child safe in it, in the Kitchen, where the Nurse and Maid likewise found themselves; their Bed being shatter'd in Pieces, and they a little bruis'd by falling down Three Stories: Capt.Collier's Child was in about Two Hours found unhurt in some Pieces of the Bed and Curtains, which had fallen through Two Floors only, and hung on some broken Rafters in that Place, which was the Parlour: In the Room under This, being one Pair of Stairs from the Street, and two from the Kitchen, was Capt.Collierin his Bed, and his Wife just by the Bed-side, and her Maid a little behind her, who likewise found her self in the Kitchin a little bruis'd, and ran out to cry for Help for her Master and Mistress, who lay buried under the Ruins: Mrs.Collierwas, by the timely Aid of Neighbours who remov'd the Rubbish from her, taken out in about Half an Hours Time, having receiv'd no Hurt but the Fright, and an Arm a little bruis'd: Capt.Collierin about Half an Hour more was likewise taken out unhurt. In the Parlour were sitting Mr.Richardswith his Wife, the Three Neighbours, and the rest of his Family, a little Boy of about a Year old lying in the Cradle, they all run out at the first Noise, and escap'd, Mrs.Richardsstaying a little longer than the rest, to pull the Cradle with her child in it along with her, but the House fell too suddenly on it, and buried the Child under the Ruins, a Rafter fell on her Foot, and bruis'd it a little, at which she likewise made her Escape, and brought in the Neighbours, who soon uncovered the Head of the Cradle, and cutting it off, took the Child out aliveand well. This wonderful Preservation being worthy to be transmitted to Posterity, we do attest to be true in every Particular. Witness our Hands,

Gideon Harvey.Theo. Collier.Robert Richards.

London,Nov. 27. 1703.

These Accounts of like Nature are particularly attested by Persons of known Reputation and Integrity.

SIR,In order to promote the good Design of your Book, in perpetuating the Memory of God's signal Judgment on this Nation, by the late dreadful Tempest of Wind, which has hurl'd so many Souls into Eternity; and likewise his Providence in the miraculous Preservation of several Persons Lives, who were expos'd to the utmost Hazards in that Hurricane: I shall here give you a short but true Instance of the latter, which several Persons can witness besides my self; and if you think proper may insert the same in the Book you design for that Purpose; which is as follows. At theSaracen's Head inFridayStreet, a Country Lad lodging three Pair of Stairs next the Roof of the House, was wonderfully preserv'd from Death; for about Two a Clock thatSaturdayMorning the 27th ofNovember, (which prov'd fatal to so many) there fell a Chimney upon the Roof, under which he lay, and beat it down through the Ceiling (the Weight of the Tiles, Bricks,&c.being judged by a Workman to be about Five Hundred Weight) into the Room, fell exactly between the Beds Feet and Door of the Room, which are not Two Yards distance from each other, it being but small: the sudden Noise awaking the Lad, he jumps out of Bed endeavouring to find the Door, but was stopt by the great Dust and falling of more Bricks,&c.and finding himself prevented, in this Fear he got into Bed again, and remain'd there till the Day Light, (the Bricks and Tiles still falling between-whiles about his Bed) and then got up without any Hurt, or so much as a Tile or Brick falling on the Bed; the only thing he complain'd of to me, was his being almost choak'd with Dust when he got outof Bed, or put his Head out from under the Cloaths: There was a great Weight of Tiles and Bricks, which did not break through, as the Workmen inform me, just over the Beds Tester, enough to have crush'd him to Death, if they had fallen: Thus he lay safe among the Dangers that threatned him, whilst wakeful Providence preserv'd him. And SIR, if this be worthy your taking Notice of, I am ready to justify the same. In Witness whereof, here is my Name,Henry Mayers.Dec. 3. 1703.

SIR,

In order to promote the good Design of your Book, in perpetuating the Memory of God's signal Judgment on this Nation, by the late dreadful Tempest of Wind, which has hurl'd so many Souls into Eternity; and likewise his Providence in the miraculous Preservation of several Persons Lives, who were expos'd to the utmost Hazards in that Hurricane: I shall here give you a short but true Instance of the latter, which several Persons can witness besides my self; and if you think proper may insert the same in the Book you design for that Purpose; which is as follows. At theSaracen's Head inFridayStreet, a Country Lad lodging three Pair of Stairs next the Roof of the House, was wonderfully preserv'd from Death; for about Two a Clock thatSaturdayMorning the 27th ofNovember, (which prov'd fatal to so many) there fell a Chimney upon the Roof, under which he lay, and beat it down through the Ceiling (the Weight of the Tiles, Bricks,&c.being judged by a Workman to be about Five Hundred Weight) into the Room, fell exactly between the Beds Feet and Door of the Room, which are not Two Yards distance from each other, it being but small: the sudden Noise awaking the Lad, he jumps out of Bed endeavouring to find the Door, but was stopt by the great Dust and falling of more Bricks,&c.and finding himself prevented, in this Fear he got into Bed again, and remain'd there till the Day Light, (the Bricks and Tiles still falling between-whiles about his Bed) and then got up without any Hurt, or so much as a Tile or Brick falling on the Bed; the only thing he complain'd of to me, was his being almost choak'd with Dust when he got outof Bed, or put his Head out from under the Cloaths: There was a great Weight of Tiles and Bricks, which did not break through, as the Workmen inform me, just over the Beds Tester, enough to have crush'd him to Death, if they had fallen: Thus he lay safe among the Dangers that threatned him, whilst wakeful Providence preserv'd him. And SIR, if this be worthy your taking Notice of, I am ready to justify the same. In Witness whereof, here is my Name,

Henry Mayers.

Dec. 3. 1703.

A great Preservation in the late StormWilliam PhelpsandFranceshis Wife, living at the Corner ofOld Southampton Buildings, over againstGray's-Inn GateinHolborn, they lying up three pair of Stairs, in the Backroom, that was only lath'd and plaister'd, he being then very ill, she was forc'd to lie in a Table-Bed in the same Room: about One a Clock in the Morning, on the 27th ofNovemberlast, the Wind blew down a Stack of Chimneys of seven Funnels that stood very high; which broke through the Roof, and fell into the Room, on her Bed; so that she was buried alive, as one may say: she crying out,Mr.Phelps,Mr.Phelps,the House is fall'n upon me, there being so much on her that one could but just hear her speak; a Coachman and a Footman lying on the same Floor, I soon call'd them to my Assistance. We all fell to work, tho' we stood in the greatest Danger; and through the Goodness of God we did take her out, without the least hurt; neither was any of us hurt, tho' there was much fell after we took her out. And when we took the Bricks off the Bed the next Morning, we found the Frame of the Bed on which she lay broke all to pieces.William Phelps.Another great PreservationMr.John Hanson, Register ofEaton College, being atLondonabout his Affairs, and lying that dreadful Night,Nov.26, at theBell-Savage InnonLudgate Hill, was, by the Fall of a Stack of Chimneys (which broke through the Roof, and beat down twoFloors above him, and also that in which he lay) carried in his Bed down to the Ground, without the least hurt, his Cloaths, and every thing besides in the Room, being buried in the Rubbish; it having pleased God so to order it, that just so much of the Floor and Ceiling of the Room (from which he fell) as covered his Bed, was not broken down. Of this great Mercy he prays he may live for ever mindful, and be for ever thankful to Almighty God.

A great Preservation in the late Storm

William PhelpsandFranceshis Wife, living at the Corner ofOld Southampton Buildings, over againstGray's-Inn GateinHolborn, they lying up three pair of Stairs, in the Backroom, that was only lath'd and plaister'd, he being then very ill, she was forc'd to lie in a Table-Bed in the same Room: about One a Clock in the Morning, on the 27th ofNovemberlast, the Wind blew down a Stack of Chimneys of seven Funnels that stood very high; which broke through the Roof, and fell into the Room, on her Bed; so that she was buried alive, as one may say: she crying out,Mr.Phelps,Mr.Phelps,the House is fall'n upon me, there being so much on her that one could but just hear her speak; a Coachman and a Footman lying on the same Floor, I soon call'd them to my Assistance. We all fell to work, tho' we stood in the greatest Danger; and through the Goodness of God we did take her out, without the least hurt; neither was any of us hurt, tho' there was much fell after we took her out. And when we took the Bricks off the Bed the next Morning, we found the Frame of the Bed on which she lay broke all to pieces.

William Phelps.

Another great Preservation

Mr.John Hanson, Register ofEaton College, being atLondonabout his Affairs, and lying that dreadful Night,Nov.26, at theBell-Savage InnonLudgate Hill, was, by the Fall of a Stack of Chimneys (which broke through the Roof, and beat down twoFloors above him, and also that in which he lay) carried in his Bed down to the Ground, without the least hurt, his Cloaths, and every thing besides in the Room, being buried in the Rubbish; it having pleased God so to order it, that just so much of the Floor and Ceiling of the Room (from which he fell) as covered his Bed, was not broken down. Of this great Mercy he prays he may live for ever mindful, and be for ever thankful to Almighty God.

SIR,The Design of your Collecting the remarkable Accidents of the late Storm coming to my Hands, I thought my self obliged to take this Opportunity of making a publick Acknowledgment of the wonderful Providence of Heaven to me, namely, the Preservation of my only Child from imminent Danger.Two large Stacks of Chimneys, containing each five Funnels, beat through the Roof, in upon the Bed where she lay, without doing her the least Harm, the Servant who lay with her being very much bruised. There were several Loads of Rubbish upon the Bed before my Child was taken out of it.This extraordinary Deliverance I desire always thankfully to remember.I was so nearly touch'd by this Accident, that I could not take so much notice as I intended of this Storm; yet I observ'd the Wind gradually to encrease from One a Clock till a Quarter after Five, or thereabouts: at which time it seem'd to be at the highest; when every Gust did not only return with greater Celerity, but also with more Force.From about a Quarter before Six it sensibly decreas'd. I went often to the Door, at which times I observ'd, that every Gust was preceded by small Flashes, which, to my Observation, did not dart perpendicularly, but seem'd rather to skim along the Surface of the Ground; nor did they appear to be of the same kind with the common Light'ning Flashes.I must confess I cannot help thinking that the Earth it self suffer'd some Convulsion; and that for this Reason, because several Springs, for the space of 48 Hours afterwards, were verymuddy, which were never known to be so by any Storm of Wind or Rain before: nor indeed is it possible, they lying so low, could be affected by any thing less than a Concussion of the Earth it self.How far these small Hints may be of use to the more ingenious Enquirers into this matter, I shall humbly leave to their Consideration, and subscribe my self,SIR,Your humble Servant,Joseph Clench,Apothecary inJermynStreet,nearSt. James's.Dec.8, 1703.

SIR,

The Design of your Collecting the remarkable Accidents of the late Storm coming to my Hands, I thought my self obliged to take this Opportunity of making a publick Acknowledgment of the wonderful Providence of Heaven to me, namely, the Preservation of my only Child from imminent Danger.

Two large Stacks of Chimneys, containing each five Funnels, beat through the Roof, in upon the Bed where she lay, without doing her the least Harm, the Servant who lay with her being very much bruised. There were several Loads of Rubbish upon the Bed before my Child was taken out of it.

This extraordinary Deliverance I desire always thankfully to remember.

I was so nearly touch'd by this Accident, that I could not take so much notice as I intended of this Storm; yet I observ'd the Wind gradually to encrease from One a Clock till a Quarter after Five, or thereabouts: at which time it seem'd to be at the highest; when every Gust did not only return with greater Celerity, but also with more Force.

From about a Quarter before Six it sensibly decreas'd. I went often to the Door, at which times I observ'd, that every Gust was preceded by small Flashes, which, to my Observation, did not dart perpendicularly, but seem'd rather to skim along the Surface of the Ground; nor did they appear to be of the same kind with the common Light'ning Flashes.

I must confess I cannot help thinking that the Earth it self suffer'd some Convulsion; and that for this Reason, because several Springs, for the space of 48 Hours afterwards, were verymuddy, which were never known to be so by any Storm of Wind or Rain before: nor indeed is it possible, they lying so low, could be affected by any thing less than a Concussion of the Earth it self.

How far these small Hints may be of use to the more ingenious Enquirers into this matter, I shall humbly leave to their Consideration, and subscribe my self,

SIR,Your humble Servant,Joseph Clench,Apothecary inJermynStreet,nearSt. James's.

Dec.8, 1703.

SIR,This comes to let you know that I received yours in theDowns, for which I thank you. I expected to have seen you inLondonbefore now, had we not met with a most violent Storm in our way toChatham. On the 27th of the last Month, about Three of the Clock in the Morning, we lost all our Anchors and drove to Sea: about Six we lost our Rother, and were left in a most deplorable condition to the merciless Rage of the Wind and Seas: we also sprung a Leak, and drove 48 Hours expecting to perish. But it pleased God to give us a wonderful Deliverance, scarce to be parallell'd in History; for about Midnight we were drove into shoul Water, and soon after our Ship struck upon the Sands: the Sea broke over us, we expected every minute that she would drop to pieces, and that we should all be swallowed up in the Deep; but in less than two hours time we drove over the Sands, and got (without Rother or Pilot, or any Help but Almighty God's) into this Place, where we run our Ship on shore, in order to save our Lives: but it has pleased God also, far beyond our expectation, to save our Ship, and bring us safe off again last Night. We shall remain here a considerable while to refit our Ship, and get a new Rother. Our Deliverance is most remarkable, that in the middle of a dark Night we should drive over a Sand where a Ship that was not half our Bigness durst not venture to come in the Day; and then, without knowing where we were, drive into a narrowplace where we have saved both Lives and Ship. I pray God give us all Grace to be thankful, and never forget so great a mercy.I am,Your affectionate Friend and humble Servant,Henry Barclay.Russell, atHelversluceinHolland, Dec. 16. 1703.

SIR,

This comes to let you know that I received yours in theDowns, for which I thank you. I expected to have seen you inLondonbefore now, had we not met with a most violent Storm in our way toChatham. On the 27th of the last Month, about Three of the Clock in the Morning, we lost all our Anchors and drove to Sea: about Six we lost our Rother, and were left in a most deplorable condition to the merciless Rage of the Wind and Seas: we also sprung a Leak, and drove 48 Hours expecting to perish. But it pleased God to give us a wonderful Deliverance, scarce to be parallell'd in History; for about Midnight we were drove into shoul Water, and soon after our Ship struck upon the Sands: the Sea broke over us, we expected every minute that she would drop to pieces, and that we should all be swallowed up in the Deep; but in less than two hours time we drove over the Sands, and got (without Rother or Pilot, or any Help but Almighty God's) into this Place, where we run our Ship on shore, in order to save our Lives: but it has pleased God also, far beyond our expectation, to save our Ship, and bring us safe off again last Night. We shall remain here a considerable while to refit our Ship, and get a new Rother. Our Deliverance is most remarkable, that in the middle of a dark Night we should drive over a Sand where a Ship that was not half our Bigness durst not venture to come in the Day; and then, without knowing where we were, drive into a narrowplace where we have saved both Lives and Ship. I pray God give us all Grace to be thankful, and never forget so great a mercy.

I am,

Your affectionate Friend and humble Servant,Henry Barclay.

Russell, atHelversluceinHolland, Dec. 16. 1703.

SIRAccording to the publick Notice, I send you two or three Observations of mine upon the late dreadful Tempest: As,1. In the Parish of St.Mary Cray, Kent, a poor Man, with his Wife and Child, were but just gone out of their Bed, when the Head of their House fell in upon it; which must have kill'd them.2. A great long Stable in the Town, near the Church, was blown off the Foundation entirely at one sudden Blast, from the West-side to the East, and cast out into the High-way, over the Heads of five Horses, and a Carter feeding them at the same time, and not one of them hurt, nor the Rack or Manger touch'd, which are yet standing to the Admiration of all Beholders.3. As the Church atHeyesreceived great Damage, so the Spire, with one Bell in it, were blown away over the Church yard.4. The Minister ofSouth-Ashhad a great Deliverance from a Chimney falling in upon his Bed just as he rose, and hurt only his Feet; as blessed be God, our Lives have been all very miraculously preserv'd, tho' our Buildings every where damag'd. You may depend on all, as certify'd by me,Thomas Watts,Vicar ofOrpingtonand St.Mary Cray.

SIR

According to the publick Notice, I send you two or three Observations of mine upon the late dreadful Tempest: As,

1. In the Parish of St.Mary Cray, Kent, a poor Man, with his Wife and Child, were but just gone out of their Bed, when the Head of their House fell in upon it; which must have kill'd them.

2. A great long Stable in the Town, near the Church, was blown off the Foundation entirely at one sudden Blast, from the West-side to the East, and cast out into the High-way, over the Heads of five Horses, and a Carter feeding them at the same time, and not one of them hurt, nor the Rack or Manger touch'd, which are yet standing to the Admiration of all Beholders.

3. As the Church atHeyesreceived great Damage, so the Spire, with one Bell in it, were blown away over the Church yard.

4. The Minister ofSouth-Ashhad a great Deliverance from a Chimney falling in upon his Bed just as he rose, and hurt only his Feet; as blessed be God, our Lives have been all very miraculously preserv'd, tho' our Buildings every where damag'd. You may depend on all, as certify'd by me,

Thomas Watts,Vicar ofOrpingtonand St.Mary Cray.

There are an innumerable variety of Deliverances, besides these, which deserve a Memorial to future Ages; but these are noted from the Letters, and at the Request of the Persons particularly concern'd.

Particularly, 'tis a most remarkable Story of a Man belonging to theMary, a fourth Rate Man of War, lost upon theGoodwinSands; and all the Ship's Company but himself being lost, he, by the help of a piece of the broken Ship, got a-board theNorthumberland; but the Violence of the Storm continuing, theNorthumberlandran the same fate with theMary, and coming on shore upon the same Sand, was split to pieces by the Violence of the Sea: and yet this Person, by a singular Providence, was one of the 64 that were delivered by aDeal Hookerout of that Ship, all the rest perishing in the Sea.

A poor Sailor ofBrighthelmstonwas taken up after he had hung by his Hands and Feet on the top of a Mast 48 hours, the Sea raging so high, that no Boat durst go near him.

A Hoy run on shore on the Rocks inMilfordHaven, and just splitting to pieces (as by CaptainSoam's Letter) a Boat drove by, being broke from another Vessel, with no body in it, and came so near the Vessel, as that two Men jumpt into it, and sav'd their Lives: the Boy could not jump so far, and was drowned.

Five Sailors shifted three Vessels on an Island near theHumberand were at last sav'd by a Long-boat out of the fourth.

A Waterman in the River ofThameslying asleep in the Cabbin of a Barge, at or nearBlack-Fryers, was driven thro' Bridge in the Storm, and the Barge went of her self into theTower-Dock, and lay safe on shore; the Man never wak'd, nor heard the Storm, till 'twas Day; and, to his great Astonishment, he found himself safe as above.

Two Boys in thePoultrylodging in a Garret or Upper-room, were, by the Fall of Chimneys, which broke thro' the Floors, carried quite to the bottom of the Cellar, and receiv'd no Damage at all.

SIR,At my Return home onSaturdayat Night, I receiv'd yours: and having said nothing in my last concerning the Storm, I send this to tell you, that I hear of nothing done by it in this Country that may seem to deserve a particular Remark. Several Houses and Barns were stript of their Thatch, some Chimneys and Gables blown down, and several Stacks of Corn and Hay very much dispers'd; but I hear not of any Persons either kill'd or maim'd. ANeighbour of ours was upon the Ridge of his Barn endeavouring to secure the Thatch, and the Barn at that instant was overturn'd by the Storm; but by the good Providence of God, the Man received little or no harm. I say no more, not knowing of any thing more remarkable. I am sorry that other Places were such great Sufferers, and I pray God avert the like Judgments for the future. I amYour real Friend to serve you,Hen. Marshal.Orby, Dec. 18. 1703.

SIR,

At my Return home onSaturdayat Night, I receiv'd yours: and having said nothing in my last concerning the Storm, I send this to tell you, that I hear of nothing done by it in this Country that may seem to deserve a particular Remark. Several Houses and Barns were stript of their Thatch, some Chimneys and Gables blown down, and several Stacks of Corn and Hay very much dispers'd; but I hear not of any Persons either kill'd or maim'd. ANeighbour of ours was upon the Ridge of his Barn endeavouring to secure the Thatch, and the Barn at that instant was overturn'd by the Storm; but by the good Providence of God, the Man received little or no harm. I say no more, not knowing of any thing more remarkable. I am sorry that other Places were such great Sufferers, and I pray God avert the like Judgments for the future. I am

Your real Friend to serve you,Hen. Marshal.

Orby, Dec. 18. 1703.

SIR,I have no particular Relation to make to you of any Deliverance in the late Storm, more than was common with me to all the rest that were in it: but having, to divert melancholly Thoughts while it lasted, turn'd into Verse the CXLVIII Psalm to the 9th, and afterwards all the Psalm; I give you leave to publish it with the rest of those Memoirs on that Occasion you are preparing for the Press.SIR,Your, &c.Henry Squier.

SIR,

I have no particular Relation to make to you of any Deliverance in the late Storm, more than was common with me to all the rest that were in it: but having, to divert melancholly Thoughts while it lasted, turn'd into Verse the CXLVIII Psalm to the 9th, and afterwards all the Psalm; I give you leave to publish it with the rest of those Memoirs on that Occasion you are preparing for the Press.

SIR,Your, &c.Henry Squier.

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