The New Hampshire Gazette

RICHMOND, SEPT. 14.

The Freshet.--The rain began to fall on Thursday or Friday week--and has continued, with some intermissions, almost to the present moment. On Wednesday and Thursday it poured down in torrents: the earth has been drenched with water, and on Wednesday the James River began to rise. The Freshet was rising at 6 o'clock last evening; but it was not so high by two or three feet, as the one which existed 5 years ago. From every account, which we have received, the rain has been very general and profuse; so that we may yet expect a large descent of the mountain water. in that case, the fresh will continue to rise, until the supply of mountain water abates. We fear it will do considerable damage to the corn on low lands, but this city has as yet sustained little injury.

Trent's bridge is covered with 3 or 4 feet of water--but it is placed very low, and most of the drifting timber passes innocently over it. A few only of the branching trees have been arrested in their descent--around which is collected a small hammock of brush-wood and timber. Though the whole bridge is covered, yet, if we may judge from the strait and unbroken line of the ripple, no part of it has yet yielded to the angry flood. We expect it will still defy its fury.

Below the bridge, with the exception of one or two scattering rocks, the whole surface of the falls is under water--the sight of the foam and the velocity of the stream are strikingly grand--its roar is awful.

Still lower, (at the foot of the falls,) is Mayo's bridge, built on piers--the river has risen nearly as high as all the rails--and just beyond the toll-house, which stands on an island, it covers the cross way, so as to cut off all communication, but what takes place in a canoe. In the course of the evening, the canoe was near being drifted away with: 2 or 3 passengers in it. No other portion of the bridge is under water; though here and there, it is splashed and wetted by the violence of the current.

Still further below, on this side of the river, the ravine, which is washed by Shockoe Creek, is overflown; and the cellars of some of the houses on the Market Bridge, are covered with several feet of water.

The river runs over the wharves at Rocketts --but no injury has been sustained by the shipping. It is when the fresh subsides, that our sea faring citizens must put forth all their skill.

One or two batteaus have been drifted down the river and dashed to pieces. There is a vague report that two or three persons have lost their lives; but, it is not sufficiently authenticated as yet to command belief.