Chapter IV (5)

I wish I could say with the same Freedom, that he receiv'd the Thanks of the Government, and Reimbursement of his Money as he deserv'd, but in this I have been inform'd, he met with great Obstructions and Delays, tho' at last, after long Attendance, upon a right Application I am inform'd he obtain'd the repayment of his Money, and some small Allowance for his Time spent in solliciting for it.

Nor can the Damage suffered in the River of _Thames_ be 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 of _Wapping_, and _Ratcliff 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 nothing to 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 from _Ratcliff Cross_ to _Lime-house Hole_, for that the River winding about again from thence towards the New Dock at _Deptford_, 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 between _Shadwel_ and _Limehouse_ inclusive, 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, the _Russel_ Galley was sunk at _Lime-house_, being a great part laden with Bale Goods for the _Streights_, and the _Sarah_ Gally lading for _Leghorn_, sunk at an Anchor at _Blackwall_; 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.

Near _Gravesend_ several Ships drove on shoar below _Tilbury_ Fort, and among them five bound for the _West 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 the _Bridge_: some Printed accounts tell us of sixty more sunk or staved between the _Bridge_ and _Hammersmith_.

Abundance of Lighters and Barges drove quite thro' the _Bridge_, 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 the _Thames_ often times Buries those it drowns, there has been no account taken. Two Watermen at _Black Fryars_ were drowned, endeavouring to save their Boat; and a Boat was said to be Overset near _Fulham_, 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 of _Thames_ is the best Harbour of _Europe_.

The heighth of the Tide, as I have already observ'd, did no great damage in the River of _Thames_, 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 at _Gravesend_, and on both sides in _London_, 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 the _Severn_; 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 of _Gloucester_ they compute at 12000 _l._ above 15000 Sheep drown'd in the Levels on the side of the _Severne_, and the Sea Walls will cost, as these Accounts tell us, 5000 _l._ 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.

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

The Harbour at _Plimouth_, the Castle at _Pendennis_, the Cathederal at _Gloucester_, the great Church at _Berkely_, the Church of St. _Stephen's_ at _Bristol_; the Churches at _Blandford_, at _Bridgewater_, at _Cambridge_, and generally the Churches all over _England_ have had a great share of the Damage.

In _King Road_ at _Bristol_, the Damage by Sea is also very great; the _Canterbury_ store Ship was driven on Shoar, and twenty-five of her Men drown'd, as by our account of the Navy will more particularly appear, the _Richard and John_, the _George_, and the _Grace_ sunk, 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 as they 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.

From _Yarmouth_ we 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, _Russia_ Men, 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.

The _Reserve_ Man of War was come in but a day or two before, Convoy to the great Fleet from _Russia_, 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; one _Russia_ Ship 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 in _Yarmouth_ Roads, 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 of _Flambro_, 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 it was, it was bad enough as our Letter from _Hull_ gives an Account. At _Grimsby_ it was still worse as to the Ships, where almost all the Vessels were blown out of the Road, and a great many lost.

At _Plymouth_ they felt a full Proportion of the Storm in its utmost fury, the _Edystone_ has been mention'd already, but it was a double loss in that, the light House had not been long down, when the _Winchelsea_, a homeward bound _Virginia_ Man was split upon the Rock, where that Building stood, and most of her Men drowned.

Three other Merchant Ships were cast away in _Plimouth_ Road, and most of their Men lost: The _Monk_ Man 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.

At _Portsmouth_ was 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; the _Newcastle_ was heard off upon the Coast of _Sussex_, where she was lost with all their Men but 23; the _Resolution_, the _Eagle_ advice Boat, and the _Litchfield_ Prize felt the same fate, only sav'd their Men: From _Cows_ several Ships were driven out to Sea, whereof one run on Shoar in _Stokes-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 the _Downs_ were driven over to the Coast of _Holland_, and some sav'd themselves there; but several others were lost there.

At _Falmouth_ 11 Sail of Ships were stranded on the Shoar, but most of them got off again.

In _Barstable_ Harbour, 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, whether was 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 of _Holland_, 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 in _France_, Printed at _Paris_, 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 into _English_, and adding to them the other Accounts, which the rest of the World can afford, together with some other Additions of the _English_ Affairs, 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, _France_ felt the general shock, the Peers, and Ricebank at _Dunkirk_, the Harbour at _Haver de Grace_, the Towns of _Calais_ and _Bulloign_ give us strange Accounts.

All the Vessels in the Road before _Dunkirk_, 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 the _Downs_ or _Yarmouth_ Roads, it would have fared with us in the same manner, for had there been no going off to Sea, 300 sail in _Yarmouth_ Roads had inevitably perisht.

At _Diepe_ the like mischief happened, and in proportion _Paris_ felt the effects of it, as bad as _London_, 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, in _Holland_ our 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 the _Gunfleet_, 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.

The _Association_, a Second Rate, on Board whereof was Sir _Stafford Fairborn_, was one of these, and was blown from the Mouth of the _Thames_ to the Coast of _Norway_, a particular whereof as Printed in the Annals of the Reign of Queen _Ann_'s is as follows.

_An Account of Sir_ Stafford Fairborne_'s Distress in the late Storm_.

_SIR_,

Her Majesty's Ship _Association_, a second Rate of 96 Guns,
commanded by Sir _Stafford Fairborne_, Vice-Admiral of the Red, and
under him Captain _Richard Canning_, sailed from the _Downs_ the
24th of _November_ last, in Company with seven other Capital Ships,
under the Command of the Honourable Sir _Cloudesley Shovel_, Admiral
of the White, in their return from _Leghorn_ up the River. They
anchored that Night off of the _Long-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 the
_Association_ from her Anchors. The Night was exceeding dark, but
what was more Dreadful, the _Galloper_, 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 the _Galloper_ in 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 it up 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 of _Flanders_, and thence along the
Coast of _Holland_ and _Friesland_ to the entrance of the Elb, where
the 4th of _December_ we 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 of _Norway_, 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
Water _per_ Day, the Men, who had been harrassed at _Belle Isle_;
and in our _Mediterranean_ Voyage, now jaded by the continual
Fatigues of the Storms, falling sick every Day, the Vice-Admiral in
this exigency thought it advisable to put into _Gottenbourgh_, the
only Port where we could hope to be supplied. We arrived there the
11th of _December_, and having without lost of time got Anchors and
Cables from _Copenhagen_, and Provisions from _Gottenbourgh_, we
sailed thence the Third of _January_, with twelve Merchant Men under
our Convoy, all loaden with Stores for her Majesty's Navy. The
Eleventh following we prevented four _French_ Privateers from taking
four of our Store-Ships. At Night we anchored off the
_Long-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 the _Buoy of the
Nore_ the 23d of _January_, 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 Sir _Stafford
Fairborne_ by his great care and diligence, got the Ship out of
_Gottenbourgh_, 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 LIST _of such of Her Majesty's Ships, with their Commanders Names, as were cast away by the Violent Storm on_ Friday _Night the_ 26_th of_ November 1703. _the Wind having been from the_ S.W. _to_ W.S.W. _and the Storm continuing from about Midnight to past Six in the Morning_.

| | _Number of | |
| | Men before | |
Rates. | Ships. | the Storm._ | Guns. | Commanders.
-------------+----------------+---------------+-------+---------------
Fourth-- | Reserve-- | 258 | 54 | John Anderson--
| | | |
{| Northumberland | 253 | 70 | James Greenway
Third-- {| Restoration-- | 386 | 70 | Fleetwood Emes
{| Sterling | 349 | 70 | John Johnson--
{| Castle-- | | |
| | | |
Fourth-- | Mary-- | 273 | 64 | Rear Admiral
| | | | Beaumont,
| | | | Edward Hopson
| | | |
| Vigo-- | 212 | 54 | Thomas Long--
Bomb. Vessel | Mortar-- | 59 | 12 | Raymond Raymond
Advice Boat | Eagle-- | 42 | 10 | Nathan Bostock--
Third-- | Resolution-- | 211 | 70 | Thomas Liell--
Fourth-- | Newcastle-- | 233 | 46 | William Carter--
Storeship | Canterbury-- | 31 | 8 | Thomas Blake--
Bomb-Vessel | Portsmouth-- | 44 | 4 | George Hawes--
-------------+----------------+---------------+-------+---------------

Commanders. | Places where |
| lost. |
------------------------+----------------+----------------------------
John Anderson-- | Yarmouth Roads | Her Captain, Purser, Master,
| | Chyrsurgeon, Clerk and
| | Sixteen Men were Ashoar,
| | the rest drowned.
James Greenway }| ---- ---- }| All their men lost.
Fleetwood Emes }| ---- ---- }|
John Johnson-- }| ---- | Third Lieutenant, Chaplain,
}| | Cook Chyrsurgeon's Mate;
}| | four Marine Captains, and
}| Goodwin Sands | sixty-two Men saved.
}| |
Rear Admiral Beaumont, }| ---- | Only one Man saved by
Edward Hopson }| | Swimming from Wreck to Wreck,
}| | and getting to the Sterling
}| | Castle; the Captain Ashoar,
}| | as also the Purser.
Thomas Long-- |} Holland-- | Her Company saved except
Raymond Raymond |} | four.
Nathan Bostock-- | Selsey-- }| Their Officers and Men saved.
Thomas Liell-- | Pemsey-- }|
William Carter-- | Drove from | Carpenter and twenty-three
| Spithead and | Men saved.
| lost upon the |
| Coast near |
| Chichester. |
Thomas Blake-- | Bristol-- | Captain and twenty-five Men
| | drown'd; the Ship recover'd
| | and order'd to be sold.
George 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.

_Of the Damage to the Navy_

This is a short but terrible Article, there was one Ship called the _York_, which was lost about 3 days before the great Storm off of _Harwich_, 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, Sir _Cloudesley Shovel_ with the great Ships, had made sail but the day before out of the _Downs_, and were taken with the Storm as they lay at or near the _Gunfleet_, 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 the _Light-House_, call'd the _Eddystone_ at _Plymouth_, 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 that _Light-House_ is 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 the _Light-House_ abovesaid was blown down, the Model of it in Mr. _Windstanly_'s House at _Littlebury_ in _Essex_, above 200 Miles from the _Light-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.

_Of the_ Earthquake

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 of _Boston_ and _Hull_, and relate to the Account of the Earthquake, which was felt over most part of the County of _Lincoln_ and the East Riding of _Yorkshire_.

The Letter from _Hull_, 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 frighted
than 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
at _Hull_ and _Lincoln_ upon the 28th _ult._ was felt here by some
People about 6 in the Evening, at the same time that People there,
as well as at _Grantham_ and 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 upon
_Lincoln-Heath_ the 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_,
_Boston_, Jan. 8. 1703. E.K.

_SIR_,

I am afraid that you will believe me very rude, that yours, which I
receiv'd the 12th of _April_, 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 what Harm that
dreadful Tempest did in the _Humber_; 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 the _Humber_, about _Grimsby_ Road, 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 the _Humber_, that I
have yet met with, I received but Yesterday, from Mr. _Peter Walls_,
who is Master of that Watch-Tower, call'd the _Spurn-Light_, at the
_Humber_ Mouth, and was present there on the Night of the 26th of
_November_, 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
then _Peter Walls_ observed about six or seven and twenty Sail of
Ships, all driving about the _Spurn-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 the _Humber_, being
put in there by stress of Weather a day or two before, some from
_Russia_, and the rest of 'em _Colliers_, to and from _Newcastle_.
Of these, three were driven upon an Island call'd the _Den_, within
the _Spurn_ in the Mouth of the _Humber_.

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 the
_Spurn-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 of _November_, was
riding in _Grimsby_ Road, and the Ships Company (except two Boys)
being gone a-shore, the Ship, with the two Lads in her, drive
directly out of _Humber_, and was lost, tho' 'tis verily believ'd
the two Boys were saved by one of the _Russia_ Ships, or Convoys.

The same Day, in the Morning, one _John Baines_, a _Yarmouth_
Master, was in his Ship, riding in _Grimsby_ Road, 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 under _Kilnsey-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 the _Humber_, 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 about _Portsmouth_, _Yarmouth_ Roads,
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 of _November_, in which the
considerable Fleet aforesaid rid in _Grimsby_ Road in the _Humber_;
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 the _Humber_; 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, upon _Innocent_'s Day, the
28th of _December_, being _Tuesday_, 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. _Thorsby_ of
_Leeds_ in _Yorkshire_, 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; nor
will 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, _China_ Pots 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 in _Nottinghamshire_
told me, that being then lame upon his Bed, he felt three Shakes,
like the three Rocks of a Cradle, to and again.

At _Laceby_ in _Lincolnshire_, and in several other Parts of that
County, as well as of the Counties of _York_ and _Nottingham_, the
Earthquake was felt very sensibly; and particularly at _Laceby_
aforesaid. There happen'd this remarkable Story.

On _Innocent_'s Day, in the Afternoon, several Morrice-Dancers came
thither from _Grimsby_; and after they had Danc'd and play'd their
Tricks, they went towards _Alesby_, 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 to _Laceby_ in 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 the greatest
Mortality that has been in this Place for 15 Years last past: and so
I believe it has been over the greatest part of _England_. 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 the _Humber_. 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 of_ England, _the 28th of_ December 1703.

You have heard, no doubt, of the late _Earthquake_ that affected
some part of the North, as the dreadful Storm did the South. It
being most observable at _Hull_, I was desirous of an Account from
thence that might be depended upon; and therefore writ to the very
obliging Mr. _Banks_, Prebendary of _York_, who being Vicar of
_Hull_, 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 on
_Tuesday_ the 28th of the last Month, which was _Childermas_ Day,
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 Chair and 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 her _China_ would 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 in _Beverly_,
and other Places; at _South Dalton_ particularly, 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 near _Lincoln_, 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 as _Selby_,
where Mr. _Travers_, a Minister, being in his Study writing, was
interrupted much as Mr. _Peers_ above-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 of _Jerusalem_ and the _Jewish_ State; 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 at _Hull_, my Cousin
_Cookson_ has procured to me the following Account from his Brother,
who is a Clergyman near _Lincoln_, viz, That he, being about Five in
the Evening, _December_ the 20th past, set with a neighbouring
Minister at his House about a Mile from _Navenby_, 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 at _Leedes_ a 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.

_Of remarkable_ Deliverances

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. _Martins_ in 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 Gisser_ by Name, who
is a Neighbour of mine, living in St. _Martin's-street_ in the
Parish of St. _Martins_ in 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 Answer was, 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_,
Feb. 12. 1703. James King, _M.A._

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 to the 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.