ftroyed the fame, and the barn adjoining The buildings being thatched, the flames, were fo rapid, that the family had but just time to fave their lives.

April 13. Yesterday morning, juft after a fhower of rain, the inhabitants of Stoke by Clare, Suffolk, were much alarmed at the fudden appearance of a numerous fwarm of animals on the village green, much of the shape and meagre frame of the grub graffhopper, fo called, with long black legs, black heads, and goggling eyes. They remained there for fome hours, and the herbage on which they preyed, was found foon after to have loft much of its verdure. They were seen this day, in the neighbourhood, grubbing a young hedgerow on the road fide, and are confidered as locus of a very deftructive fpecies, and their prefence much dreaded, as no attempts that have as yet been used to deftroy them have fucceeded. About 9 years ago, an infect, well-known to naturalifts to be a fpecies of locuft, but a larger, and of a more terrific appearance, was found on the college-grounds at Stoke, and other places; from which, it is conjectured, the prefent destructive warm owe their birth.-A correfpondent fuggefts the propriety of applying wooden rollers, or heavy bush-harTows, over the fields infefted, whether of corn or grafs, as the vegetation is not yet in that active ftate as to be injured by it. The hedge-rows, which, it is faid, are alfo fuffering depredation by the vermin, might be freed by beating them with faves.

April 18. An extraordinary large ashtree, just cut down at Broughton-hall, near Skipton, in Craven, Yorkshire, contained above 500 feet of wood perfectly found.

April 28. A fhort time fince, eight members of the Society of Cumberland youths made an astonishing attempt to ring 15,136 changes of Oxford triple-bobs on Edmonton church-belis. It requires spwards of ten hours time to perform this tafk, at 25 changes a minute. They had entered the wirth hour, when an unlucky accident befell Mr. Grofs, the composer of the peal: making an attempt to flacken his kneebuckle, his leg entangled in the coil of the rope, by which he was elevated to a confiderable height, and, thence falling down on his head, he broke his collar-bone.-Had not been for this accident, no doubt the feat would have been accomplished, and the performers crowned with perpetual honour, as nothing to be compared with fuch an atchievement of ftrength and skill can be found in the records of the campanilogers art.

April 30. A fire broke out in the house of Mr. Gates, at Spring field, co. Effex, and confumed the greatest part of it.

May 4. During divine fervice this day at Windfor, there was the greatest form of

thunder and lightning, attended with bail and rain, that has been known for many years: the streets were for forme time rendered impaffable; and the ftorm did great damage. The bailftones were fo large that the people who were out were glad to tike the nearest shelter; and in the green-houles, in his Majesty's garden, glass was broke to the value of upwards of 200 l.

Merton, near Bourn, May 6.

As various rumours have gone abroad concerning the form which terrified and afflicted this neighbourhood on Sunday laft; as it may not be unacceptable to ascertain in what manner, in what de gree, and at what hour of the day it vis fited different parts of the kingdom; I em brace this public opportunity of fubmittioș the following account, with the utmost deference and respect, to the attention of your diftant readers.

The early morning, confidering the fe fon of the year, was exceedingly hot; the nearer mid-day it became the more oppreffive. The air was calm; the sky ferens all was ftill; Fabrenheit, in a tempente fituation, being at 65. Providence, however, whofe wisdom is vifible in all h ways, whofe mercy is over all his work and whofe partial chaftifements tend to univerfal good, amidst this scene of appsrent tranquillity, held out feveral concur ring fignals, which trongly indicated an approaching change. 1. From 6 to A. M. there was a fudden augmentation of heat, which, in spring and fummer, is a certain prognoftic of much downldk 2. From 9 to 12, the barometer fell can fiderably, though not to that point at which we habitually expect an abundance of rain, 3. The pavements became wet. 4 A leaden bullet, fufpended by a white leathern thong in length 36 inches, though dry in the morning, was now loaded with moisture, and funk one-third of an inch. 5. Cattie were observed to assemble in groupes, ta retreat to barns and hedges, or to retura home. 6. Oxen bellowed extremely.

Though fenfibly impreffed with these concurring figns, I was more particularly ftruck at the pertorbed and increasing Rate of the clouds; from 12 to 2, P. M. ragged fragments were inceffantly rifing higher and larger than the preceding, affembling and uniting towards the zenith; until, like the little one in the days of Elijah, they almoft covered the face of the sky. Aboạt this time, the Southern horizon, inclining rather towards the West, began to affume 29 uniform blackness. The thunder rolled, and the ftorm howled. The air was chilled, the wind rofe; and, what I esteem a mas certain prognoftic than any other, fmall clouds, formed like fleeces, denfer in the middle, and white towards the edge mounted with great celerity in front, and preceded the raft black tempert, which

was fast increasing behind. My well-difpofed neighbours were already affembled in the church, for the purpose of paying their weekly adorations to the Supreme Being. Alarmed at the approaching darknefs, and at the found of a mighty wind, fome ran into the porch, others into the church-yard, to fee the approaching storm. While thus affembled, our attention was fuddenly arrested by a vast column of fmoke, which feemed to arife from the ground, about a Southern mile from the place where we ftmod, juft like the fancied representations of Etna and Vefuvius. With feveral others I immediately afcended the steeple; but here description muft for ever fall fhort; no mind can comprehend, no tongue can tell, no pen can reprefent the scene now exhibited to the aftonished fight. I was just in time to have a better view of the phænomenon which alarmed us below; nor do I hefitate in believing, it proceeded from the fudden explosion of a large fire-ball, as the fmoke was far more tranfparent, and afcended in a manner very different from what terreftrial matter is accustomed to emit. A fharp cold mifty rain now began to beat upon me; the clouds now vaulted over one another in confafed impetuofity, just as delineated by the mafterly hand, in the tempestuous skies of Salvator Rofa. The edifice rocked, the wind roared, the thunder pealed, the light ning went abroad, and Nature feemed ftrag gling for her very existence. The fury of the ftorm now became exceffive; the fun withdrew his shining, and a partial dark nefs overspread the land. We could nei ther ftand without fupport, fee without difficulty, or hear any thing except the elements in diforder. We quickly defcended for fafety into the church. Here was a scene the most awful and extraordinary I ever witneffed through the courfe of my life; fuch as I fuppofed it was not in the power of the elements, in the ordinary course of natural operations, in fo High a latitude at leaft, to have effected; fuch, perhaps, as had not been difplayed from the beginning of time, even unto this day. Such windows as were not well-fecured, fell down into the nave of the church. The effects of the hail, aided by a dreadful wind, accompanied with peals of thunder, and flashes of lightning, upon the South and Western windows, if I may be allowed to compare fmall things with great, I can liken to nothing fo aptly as to an infinite number of mufkets pouring balls inceffantly upon the church, for the space of half an hour; for, the glafs, fhivered and incorporated, as it were, with the fhower of monftrous hail-ftones, beat quite acrofs, and ftruck the fides of the Northern aile with confiderable force. The confufed noife, occafioned hy the ruthg wind, by the glass and hail, by the

fhrieks of the women, the cries of children, together with the difmay visible in the faces of all, was much increased by a fedden hollow explosion, not unlike a gun difcharged either in a cavern, or with its muzzle close to a wall. This was foon difcovered to be the effect of lightning, which truck and fcorched the leg of a young man, who had retreated, with many more, under a pillar of the Western entrance, for fafety. As foon as the tempeft abated, the inhabitants, whofe continuance in the church was both uncomfortable and dangerous, eagerly returned to their re fpective houles; the windows whereof, towards the South and South-Weft, were alinoft entirely demolished. The cottage of the poor man, as well as the manfions of the rich, fuffered in the general wreck. None hath efcaped God's avenging, arm. Of 121 panes, in 8 fath windows in the Western front of the vicarage-house, `only 21 were faved; which was owing to the fathes being left up. Toward the South, of five windows with 231 panes, there are only 23 left. Add to this, I have a fmall green-house and stables in a very shattered condition. The villages in this neighbourhood, especially Hanthorpe, Stainfield, Haccomby, Dunfby, and Rippengale, fhared a fimilar fate, and exhibit, in appearance, houses in the metropolis, after they have been recently rescued from the ravages of fire, by dafhing out the windows, and by the feasonable exertions of the engines. The above damage, however confiderable in the houses, is trivial, I fear, in comparifon of the ravages occafioned by the tempeft in the field. The labours of the induftrious husbandman, in open fituations more especially, are entirely deftroyed in fome places, and injured differently in all. The forwarder the corn, the greater the lofs. Some fields of wheat in this lordship are cut off, and the tender blade entirely fwept away. The beans are beaten down. The hedges, in a great degree, ftript of their foliage, carry the appearance of arriving winter. Birds of the domeftic kind, young geefe, ducks, and poultry, fuffered greatly. I this morning found a pidgeon almost stript of its feathers and learn, that many have been taken up dead. About an hour after the storm, I walked into my garden, which I found in a state of complete defolation. Nothing was left by the destructive blaft. I found several hail-stones of an inch diameter. Another I took up of the following dimenfions: length, 1 inch and an half; breadth, 1 inch; thickness, half an inch. Since that I have been informed, on credible teftimony, that faveral were found as big as a pigeon's egg, measuring 5 inches in circumference. I know not by what means one can eftimate, with any tolerable accuracy, the quantity of water generated from the hail; but, if I may be

permitted

permitted to hazard a conjecture, by a pit facing my houfe, and filled within an hour, Iconclude that, as much defcended within, that given period as ever happens through out the fpace of a long winter's night. Brooks foon overflowed their natural banks, torrents buift out where none ever rag before.

Et fuperjeto pavidæ naturunt

Aquore Dame.

The main body of the tempeft, as far, at leaft, as the hail extended, certainly did not exceed, in this parish, three miles and an half from Weft to Eaft, and, probably, about 15 miles in length, from South to North. In what county it was generated, through what extent it ran, when at its height, and whether it was exhaufted before it reached the fhores of our island, which I expect to be in the neighbourhood of Grimsby, remains to be discovered.

Yours, &c. SAM. HOPKINSON." This ftorm, extending about fix miles in width, was equally violent in its effects at Kettering and neighbourhood, where Boughton-house alone has received damage to the amount of 300l. From thence its direction may be traced, by remarking the dreadful rayages at Dean, the feat of Lord Cardigan; Lord Carberry's, at Laxton, where fcarce a pane was left whole in front of the hall, in which it broke several valuable looking-glaffes, tore up trees, and killed a cow; at Finefhade, the Hon. J. Monckton's; Kirby, the Hon. Finch Hatton's; Bulwick, Blatherwick, Harring worth, Wakerley, Barrowden, Daddington, Collywefton, Eafton, Ketton, Tickencote, the Caftertons, and as far as the 84th mile-ftone on the North road, which appears to have been its boundary that way; Ryal, Witham-o'-th'-Hill, Grime ftorpe, where the Duke of Ancaster's caftle is much injured; Bourne, where its ra vages are shocking, it being computed, that 700l. will not repair the damage done to the houfes alone: Sleaford alfo sustained confiderable injury.

At Lincoln the rain fell in torrents, attended by thunder and lightning almoft without intermiflion. In many parts of the city the pavements were forced up; feveral waggon loads of ftone were brought down the hill into the street of the lower town, and confiderable damage was done to a windmill belonging to Mr. Potter.

May 14. At Warwick and Dunchurch, the oldeft inhabitants never withelfed to dreadful a form of thunder and lightning as happened this day, accompanied with hail of an uncommonly large fize, which did confiderable damage to the gardens and fruit trees; broke the glafs in the hot and green houfes, as well as the windows in many dwelling-houfes, and did other material injury.

May 23, Gen. Manners, and two more

gentlemen, in a postchaise and four, wat stopped near Wade's-mill, on the road to Cambridge, by two highwaymen; ost of whom, demanding the General's moonry with threats, was fhot dead by him, and the other immediately rode off.

A midwife at Sherborne, who had ushered into the world 3,330 perfons, and is the parent of near 100, lately collected and entertained her entire family, at the chrift ening of one of her great-grand-children.

Mr. Biffett's long-expected magnibos Directory, defcriptive of the manufds ries and other curtofities of Birmingham, s now published. It is abellished with 13 fuperb plates, and i plan of the town.

We are authorized to contradict the demolition of the tower at Forbili, a the ftorm of the 16th init.; only the left folding round it, and a timber-f; me, hal 110 feet above it, having been blown down, without the lead injury to the building.

DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.

Sunday, April 6.

This night, about 11 o'clock, a dread frul fire broke out at the house of 34 Benfon, in Lower Grofvenor-ftree', and in a short time confanied the upper at of the premises; but, by the tha.elv vigia co of the firemen, the hall, parlour, and the lower apartments, were preferved from the conflagration. Miis B. had that day dined out; about the hour above-mentioned the returned home, and, on the fervant opening the door, faid there was a strong fmell of fire, and that either her houfe, or the adjoining one, was on fire : terrifiel with that apprehenfion, the fummoned the fervants, and made immediate fearch is perfon; when, finding the parlours, the drawing-rooms, &c. free, the began to think it was only the chimney of a neighbouring houfe; but, on opening the dor of her bed-chamber (the front room of the second floor), the flames burst out, and immediately ipread over the house. Overpowered with the fhock, neither Mas B. or the fervants, had presence of mind to fhut the door, every one confidering only of fafety by flight. Mifs B. was removed to a Nobleman's house in Graffenor-fquare, after having fecured her writings and plate. Much the greater part of the valuable furniture was preferved, and conveyed through the gardens into the fta bles: no injury attended the perfons em ployed in the removal; nor do we fjad that any accident happened. The fervanti were the greatest fufferers, their property being all in the attic ftory, and none (aved, Monday, April 7.

The Lords of the Admiralty have givan 150 guineas, as a reward to the humang and intrepid exertions of fome fibermen at Winterton, in Norfolk; who, at the

Friday, April 11.

This afternoon, as the Chatham and Rochefter coach came out of the gateway of the inn-yard of the Golden Crofs, CharingCrofs, a young woman, fitring on the top, threw her head back, to prevent her from Striking against the beam; but, there being Lo great a luggage on the roof of the coach as to hinder her laying herfelf fufficiently back, it caught her face, and tore the flesh up her forehead in a dreadful manner. She was conveyed to an hofpital, where she died on the 19th.-A Coroner's Inqueft was, on the 220, held at the Westminster Infirmary on the body of the above young woman, who, it appears, was only 19 years of age; and brought in their verdict, Accidentai Death; but, on account of apparent negligence in the coachman, they fined him five pounds. It appeared, that the deceafed had come to town to vifit a lying-in fifter, and was on her return to Chatham, when the accident happened.

Monday, April 21.

Two children belonging to Ms. Dandels, meffenger at the Poft-office, playing in the room where the arms are kept, the eldeft (a boy), taking hold of a piftol, fired it at his fifter, the contents of which entered into her breast, and came out at her loins: the languished in great mifery for about a quarter of an hour.

Tuesday, April 29.

Cannons, near Edgeware, was this day put up to auction at Garraway's Coffee. houle, by Mr. Phipps, and bought-in by its prefent owner, Col. O'Kelly, at 36,700l. It was erected on the fite of the centre of the celebrated manfion of the Duke of Chandos by the late Mr. Hallet; and, on his decease, fold by his grandson to the uncle of the prefent poffetfor; who, not finding tenants to take it, determined on this unfuccessful mode of disposing of it.

Wednesday, May 7.

The Duke of Bedford having difpofed of the materials of Bedford House for five or Goool. a fale of the furniture, pictures, c. by Mr. Christie, commenced this day,

when, the most crowded affemblage were gratified with a laft view of this defign of Inigo Jones for the Earl of Southampton, father of the amiable relict of William Lord Ruffel; from whence the dates many of her letters, published by Mr. Selwood; and refided in it till her death, 1723. The late Duke fitted up the gal, lery (which was the only room of confe quence in the house), and placed in it Sir James Thornhill's copies of the Cartoons, which that artist was three years about which he bought, at the fale of that emi ́nent artist's collection, for 200l.; and are now purchased by the Duke of Norfolk for 450l. to put up in Arundel caftic, the only manfion capable of admitting them : as alfo, the marble chimney-piece of the fame gallery for 300 guineas. St. John preaching in the Wildernefs, by Raphael, fetched 95 guineas. A beautiful painting, by Gainsborough, of an Italian villaggo guineas. The Archduke Leopold's Gallery, by Teniers, 210 guineas. Four paint ings of a Battle, by Caffanovi, which coft his Grace rcool, were fold for 60 guineas. A moft beautiful Landfcape, by Cuype, for 200 guineas. Two beautiful bronze figures, Venus de Medicis and Antinous, 20 guineas; and Venus couchant, from the antique, 20 guineas. Another of the pictures was the duel between Lord Mắhôn and the Duke of Hamilton. The week after, were fold the double rows of limetrees in the garden, valued, one at gol, the other at 8ol.; which are now all taking down, and the fite of a new fquare, of nearly the dimenfions of Lincoln's-IanFields, and to be called Ruffel-fquare, has been laid out. (See p. 435-)

The famous ftatue of Apollo, which was in the hall at Bedford-house, has been removed to Woburn-abbey, and is to be placed on an eminence in the fquare between the abbey and the tennis-court and riding-houfe. It originally cost a thousand guineas,

Tuesday, May 13.

At a meeting of noblemen and gentle men concerned in erecting the iron railing for inclofing gardens to their houfes in the Green Park: (fee vol. LXIX. pp. 221, 877-) it having been taken into confideration, that Mr. John Hanfon, of Bruton street, Smith and furnishing ironmonger to the King, had undefervedly been the subject of two expen five profecutions, in confequence of his hav ing, at the defire of two of his customers (the Marquis of Salisbury aud Lord Romney), examined the bills delivered to them for iron railing to their gardens in the Green Park, and given his opinion on the charges therein contained; the gentlemen prefent, being fatisfied of the integrity and fairness of Mr. John Hanfon's conduct in that bufinefs, thought it right to declare their opi nion That the sorduft of the faid

John