The Virginia Gazette

Edinburgh, Jan. 15. Sunday Morning there happened one of the most terrible Storms of Wind that ever was felt in this Country. It began to blow pretty hard betwixt Eleven and Twelve o'Clock at Night, and before One rose to a compleat Hurricane, and continued with uprising Fury till Four in the Morning. As the Houses in the City are built high, they suffered considerable Damage, the Lead which covered the stately Buildings in the Parliament Close were carried off the Roofs, some of them above Forty Foot in Dimensions: The Cannongate Church has suffered extreamly, and the fine Portico, which belongs to it, almost demolish'd. Tis scarce possible to tell the Consternation the Inhabitants were in, which was heightened by the Alarm of the Fire Drum; the Brewery at the East End of the Meadow, belonging to Mr. Bryon took Fire, and the Wind increased the Flame. The Water-Works prov'd so many useless Machines, being stopt from playing with any Success by the Violence of the Storm: The whole Pile of Building was consum'd, and some low Houses, at a considerable Distance, catch'd the Flame, and was likewise reduced to Ashes. The Multitude of fright'n'd Spectators could be of no Service; and one of them venturing to go too near the Burning, is scorch'd to such a Degree that tis doubted if ever he can recover. Nor was the Loss by Fire confined to that Quarter, for, near the Cannon-Mills, on the opposite Part of the Town, a Farm House belonging to Mrs. Argus, likewise took Fire, which consum'd it, together with the Corn-stacks and Out-houses. These Fires happen'd not through any Negligence, the Misfortune was occasion'd by the Impetuosity of the Wind, which having got Entrance to the Houses, scatter'd the Fire and set it in a Glow. A large new House, at the Back of the Cannongate; consisting of five Stories, Is entirely beat down: This is more remarkable, as it has been twice destroy'd before, and the Owner had rebuilt it so strongly, that she promis'd against any Accidents of that kind. The Buildings in the Castle are prodigiously hurt; their fine Lead Covering are carried off, and thrown upon the Rocks; the Magazine is almost demolish'd, and a considerable deal of other Damage done. The Houses at the Mylnries Hill, which lay prodigiously expos'd, are almost all unroofed, and the new Play-House quite uncov'er'd.

We have to add to our Account of the sad Effects of the late Storm, that, by all we can learn, the Ruin it occasion'd was universal: The Farmers have suffer'd so much, that many of them will scarce ever be able to recover it; their Corn-stacks were blown away, and a variety of Grain is confusedly scatter'd all over the Fields. The terrified Owners, who were so hardy to endeavour to prevent the Destruction, were dash'd on the Ground, nor could Hay, to hinder their being carried away, and remained in that pitiful Position till the Violence of the Storm was abated.

We hear of no Place in the Country has escaped and Yesterday before Noon the whole Stock of Tiles were brought up, and many Houses must remain in Ruins till more are got ready.

January 18. The following is an Account of The Damage done by the late Storm among the Ships, &c. From Glasgow, that the Mercury, at the upper End of the Castle of Port Glasgow, overset, belonging to Mess. Oswalds: Prince William, belonging to Andrew Buchanan, and Company, damaged in her Quarters. The Molly, belonging to James Corbet, and Company, drove above High Water Mark, at the East End of the Bay, not overset, but must cost a great Sum to get her off. The Betty, belonging to Samuel M'Aul, and Company, drove up near the Molly. The Nelly, belonging to Col. M'Donald and Major Milliken, drove above the full Sea-Mark by the Castle, and overset, much bulg'd and flatter'd. The May, belonging to Andrew Buchanan, and Company, drove up near the Nelly, and much damag'd. Renfrew, belonging to Somerwell, and Company, drove also near the Nelly, but upright. The Martha and the St. Andrew, drove out of the Harbour to the North Shore, a Mile below Dumburton; the Martha overset, the St. Andrew upright, but lost her Head and Bowprit she sav'd two Men who were sinking in a Boat; the Martha belongs to Mr. Oswald, and the St. Andrew to Mr. Dunwoody. A Dublin Pink sunk at the Key, with some Tobacco, belonging to some Irish Gentlemen. Also an Irish Sloop drove up to the North Bar, and above the High-Water Mark.

From Greenock, that the Anne Galley, Crawford after cutting her Masts, and springing a Leak in Langness Road, drove from her Cables and run ashore on the Froon Point, betwixt Irvine and Air, and dash'd to Pieces next Day, but the Crew were sav'd, except one Servant who perish'd: She belonged to Robertson and Company, and with a Cargo valued at 2600 l. and no Insurance made. The Graham, belonging to Dreghorn, and Company, cut her Masts and rode it out.

The North Coast betwixt Renfrew and Glasgow is full of Gabarts, and small Boats drove up among the Corn Land. And by a Letter from Maybole we have an Account, that nothing is to be seen along the Coast but Pieces of Boards, Masts, Yards, Compasses, &c. also Rum and Brandy in Casks, near a Thousand of which have been brought to the Custom-house at Air.

We have also a very dismal Account from the Mearns where it has occasion'd a terrible Destruction. few Houses are left undestroy'd, several Churches are blown down, Numbers smother'd in the Ruins, and an universal Havock made among their Sheep and Cattle.

From Dumfries, that the fine new Church is unroof'd and the high Steeple much damag'd. At Dyart. a Woman in Labour, attended by the Midwife and some of her Neighbours, were all kill'd by the falling of the House. And the Carriers tell, that on the Road they see nothing but Corn and Hay scatter'd over the Fields in all that Country.

Some Gentlemen of undoubted Credit, who were in the Country at the Time of the Storm, relate, that having betaken themselves to Vaults and low Rooms, to preserve them, felt the Earth shake, and are positive the Tempest was attended with the shock of an Earthquake.