434 
14th. This day a fire broke out 
at Pill, owing to the obstinacy of a 
gentleman’s servant, in setting fire to 
the thatch taken off some old build- 
ings; which communicating to the 
adjoining houses, three were burnt 
to theground. ‘Three poor families 
have been deprived of a home. 
_ 1oth. The thunder-storm of this 
day has done infinite damage in va- 
tious parts of the country. At 
Northfield End, near Henly, a fire- 
ball entered the chimney, and passed 
through the windows, after greatly 
injuring the house.—Two men and 
a boy, who were dressing wheat in 
abarn, at Harrington Tiger, near 
Huntingdon, were struck dead by 
the lightning, and the barn burnt ; 
as were a fat cow and three sheep, 
belonging to Mr. Handley, of Decp- 
ing Fen.—In Haddon lordship, two 
beasts, the property of Mr. Dean, 
and a horse near Cambridge, perish- 
ed.—A fire-ball entered the work- 
house at'Godmanchester, but passed 
out at the front door, without doing 
any injury. It afterwards entered 
the hut of a poor man opposite, M. 
Budge, who was killed while sitting 
ina chair; after which it exploded. 
—Three fat bullocks grazing in a 
field, and belonging to Mr. I’. Sad- 
ler, of St. Osyth, were destroyed by 
the lightning.—A barn in the pos- 
session of Mr. B. Wiggins, of Hag- 
geley, near Maldon, was consumed, 
together with the contents, part of 
the corn of this year’s growth. 
_ This evening, aboutseven o’clock 
as Mr. Nettlefield, stockbroker, 
with a female relation, was driving 
his gig towards Maidenhead, the 
horse took fright, and running ona 
bank, the lady was thrown out, and 
killed on the spot. 
_ Three children amusing themselves 
a few days ago in a sand-hole, at 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
Bank Top, Manchester, a part of the 
rock above them gave way, and 
killed them all on the spot. 
At Rudford, near Gloucester, 
two sheep were killed in a 
field ; and, on the ‘Tewkesbury 
road, a post-chaise horse, belonging 
to the Bell inn, was strack down, 
but soon recovered the shock. A 
poor man was killed near Staple- 
ton; he hada scythe on his shoulder, 
which, no doubt, served to attract 
the electric fluid. A very fine horse 
was killed at Tortworth, in Glou- 
cestershire. A valuable horse, the 
property of Farmer Daily, was 
struck dead at Witney; and two 
others were killed near Henley. One 
of the Bath coaches was overturned 
on Twyford bridge, by the horses 
taking fright at the lightning ; but 
none of the passengers were injured, 
though the ceach was thrown into 
the stream. At Godstone, in Sur- 
rey, the lightning struck two men 
who were hoeing turnips in a field, 
and killed one of them on the spot, 
The other, after remaining some 
time senseless on the ground, re- 
covered as from a swoon, and ap- 
peared much surprised and shocked 
at finding his companion dead, At 
Dunstable the lightning fell on a 
house, formerly the Bull inn, but 
now fitting up for a brewery, and 
fired a stable in which were five 
waggon-horses; they were got out 
safe.—Joseph Bridge, employed by 
Mr. Ford, of Rayleigh, near 
Shrewsbury, in mowing oats, en- 
deavoured to shelter himself under 
an oak, which he had nearly reach- 
ed, when he was struck dead. —A 
large oak growing iu a field in the 
parish of Sherstone, Wilts, belong- 
ing to Mr. John Deverell, was 
struck by the lightning. <A large 
limb, weighing four or five cwt. was 
a 
8 severed 
