351
which, as I contentedly submit to, so I thank God for what are yet leftstanding : Nepotibus urnbram l .
Lactantius reports of a people who worshipped the Wind , as some atthis day among the Indians do the Devil, that he may do them no harm.
1 This dreadful tempest is most pathetically described by the Rev. Mr. Winter, ill anannual sermon, instituted by Mr. Taylor, for the commemoration of that awful visitation.The Preacher says, “ It was in the year 1703, that this great tempest visited Europe , andfpent its main force on the British islands. A strong west wind set in about the middle ofNovember. Instead of subsiding, every day, and almost every hour, increased its force.On Wednefday the 24th, it blew furiously and did fome damage. Its violence was stillaugmented fo much, that on Friday the 26th, it became awfully tremendous, and the most(Headful consequences were with reason apprehended. It was not however till Saturdaythe 27th, about six in the morning, that it arose to its greatest height. Those who havewritten any account of this calamity, agree in their testimony, that it exceeded any stormthat had happened in the memory of man, or that could be found in any history. Theviolence of the wind, the length of its continuance, the prodigious extent to which itspread, and the innumerable calamities produced by it, rendered it one of the most'awfulevents in the history of the world, of which we have any knowledge, the general delugeexcepted. Blefsed be God that such judgments are indeed “ his strange work,” and thatthe wind is not often excited to such dreadful fury. In this city and its neighbourhoodmore than 800 houses were laid in ruins, in most of which the inhabitants were personalsufferers, and some lost their lives. About 2000 stacks of chimnies were blown down inand about London . The lead which covered the roofs of 100 churches was rolled up, andhurled in prodigious quantities to great distances. The devastation fpread alfo throughthe country; stacks of hay and corn innumerable, were thrown down and damagedMultitudes of cattle were lost. In one level in Glocestershire, on the banks of the Severn'15000 sheep were drowned. A certain person set himself the task of numbering the treesthat were torn up by the roots ; but when he had proceeded through but a part of thecounty of Kent, he counted 250,000, when he relinquished the undertaking. But thegreatest calamities were, as might be expected, on the water. In the river Thames , a tleast 500 wherries, 300 ship boats, and 200 lighters and barges were entirely lost, besidesa much greater number that received confiderable damage. The ships destroyed by thistempest were computed at 300. Of the Royal Navy , 12 ships vvere sunk with most oftheir crews. The Eddystone light-house, near Plymouth, was precipitated into the sur-'rounding ocean, and in it perished Mr. Winstanley, its ingenious architect. Having beenfrequently told, that the edifice was too slight to withstand the fury of the wind and waveshe was accustomed to reply contemptuously, that he only wished to be in it when a stormshould happen. Unfortunately, may we not fay, as a warning against presumptuous confidence, his defire was gratified. Signals of distrefs were made, but in so tremendous asea, no vefsel could live, or would venture to put ofifTor their relief.”
Yy 2