Richmond Enquirer

much further, as the city is considerably elevated above the back land. Should, however, the crevasse, as we call them, not be stopped shortly, very serious losses and inconvenience will be experienced, and great apprehensions may be entertained of a sickly summer.

INUNDATION AT NEW-ORLEANS.

We have been favored with the perusal of letters from New-Orleans, of as late a date as the 9th instant, at 6 o'clock, A. M. which represent the inundation occasioned by a crevasse or breach in the levee, six miles above the city, as on the increase, and threatening extreme injury to the city and its neighbourhood.

The crevasse or opening, was two hundred feet; to prevent its widening, the sloop of war Louisiana was to be sunk in the centre of the breach, supported on each side by piles of fifteen inches square.

The Governor had placed all the workmen in requisition, and they were to commence their operations immediately.

The inhabitants under the dread of an epidemick, which, from the deposit of mud, and consequent exhalations, was considered inevitable, were seeking places of retreat and refuge during the summer.

The wild beasts were leaving the woods, and several had been already killed in the city.

It was not believed that a single house would escape being inundated; and the best hope was that heavy rains, by cleansing the surface of the ground, might yet avert the threatened epidemic.

[Register.

New-Orleans, May 9.

INUNDATION.

On Monday morning about 8 o'clock the levee in front of the upper part of Macarty's plantation two leagues above the city, was undermined by the water and broke through; the breach has since rapidly increased and is now (Wednesday evening) fully an acre in width. An immense torrent of water is rushing thro' inundating the country several miles above. But its principal course is through the cypress swamp and into the Bayou St. John, which is swelled to an alarming height, its banks and the adjacent country being completely overflowed. During Tuesday night, rapid and dangerous encroachments were made upon the rear of the Fauxbourg St. Mary and that tract of ground, lying between the city and the swamp. The burying ground is covered to the height of several feet--indeed the back part of the city itself is overflowed and probably before the expiration of 12 hours the whole of Dauphin and Bourgogne streets will be filled with water.

Amid the awful scene that surrounds us, it is some consolation to learn that measures have been adopted effectually and speedily to put a stop to the calamity. The governor has employed, at the expence of the state, an able engineer, who has pledged himself to close the mouth of the crevice in a very few days. As he has an abundance of materials, and more than a sufficiency of hands at his disposal, we see no reason to believe him too sanguine in his calculation, or why, with the blessing of Heaven, he will not be successful.