The Virginia Gazette

BRIDGETOWN, May 24.

The printers flatter themselves they need make no other apology for not publishing a paper on Saturday, the 17th instant, than giving the following melancholy account of the dreadful conflagration which happened on Wednesday the 14th. It began at the house of Mr. William Chase, in High street, about half after 11 o'clock at night, by what means we cannot yet learn. The flames were next communicated to the house of Jonathan Blenman, Esq; Attorney General; and the wind blowing very fresh from the N. E. the fire took its course (with the greatest rapidity almost ever known) through Phillips's alley into Broad street, Swan street, and the Wharf; and in the course of about four hours laid waste every dwelling-house and store as far as the Old Church Yard. The wind then shifting to the southward, the flames returned to the back streets and alleys at the lower end of Broad street, carrying every thing before it until about 9 o'clock on Thursday morning, when it was providentially got the better of. The confusion and distress of the inhabitants on this occasion may be better conceived than described, many losing not only their habitations, but the major part of their furniture and goods, by not having sufficient time to remove, or by being obliged to remove them two or three times. We hear of no person being burnt, but Captain David Frearon, commander of the ship John and Mary, from Liverpool, who lodged in the house where it began. The number of principal houses consumed, including the Custom House, and other publick offices, is about 140, the annual rents of which were 16421 l. besides a great number of stores and sheds.

Many principal stores at the east end of the town, well filled with provisions, have, by God's great goodness, escaped the fire; and no day has passed since without the arrival of one or more provision vessels, which have entirely relieved us from the dreadful apprehensions of immediate want.

And as it may afford general satisfaction to each reader to be informed of the benevolence and charity of the publick, several contributions have been made, and large benefactions received, for the present relief of the poor distressed sufferers; and our legislative bodies are daily sitting, and taking into consideration every expedient for the rebuilding of the town and our future safety.

His Excellency, who had fixed the time of his departure to the 20th of this month, has good-naturedly postponed it until Tuesday the 27th; and we flatter ourselves with the hopes that he will make such a representation of the dreadful calamity to our Royal Sovereign, as will induce his Majesty to extend his gracious bounty to the relief of his distressed colony.

On Thursday last the Rev. Mr. Thomas Wharton and William Thorpe Holder, Esq; paid into the committee for receiving donations the sum of 302 l. collected by them in the parish of St. Philip, for the relief of the inhabitants who have suffered by the fire.