The Virginia Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 12.

Extract of a letter from Barbados, dated Jan. 16.

"I am sorry to give you the following fatal news. On Saturday night, December 27th, about nine o'clock, there was the cry of fire; on which myself and people repaired to the place, where I found above 200 persons (white and black) rather looking on, and endeavouring to save what was in their houses, than using any proper means to stop the progress of the fire. We were once in fear that the house of Mr. Duncan must have been burnt; which, had that been the case, I do not know but the whole town would have been laid in ashes. There are from forty to fifty principal houses destroyed, besides stores, &c. and, I may say, every lumber yard. The loss is hardly to be computed, as every yard was filled with lumber, and the stores with provisions, and empty casks, for the ensuing year. I much fear that many will never recover this blow; and I fancy that your friends in Philadelphia, and elsewhere, will suffer, as it happened amongst the merchants, who sell chiefly on commission. We are now about settling six fire companies, in case of another accident of the like kind (which God forbid). You may wonder we should let it go so far to the windward; but as the lumber yards were all adjoining, it was scarcely to be prevented, although it was at the edge of the water."