THK EARTH. 247 



Paul de Leon, in Lower Brittany,' there lies a trace of country 

 along the sea-side, which, before the year 1666, was inhabited, but 

 now lies deserted, by reason of the sands which cover it, to the 

 height of twenty feet ; and which every year advance more and 



Thames, only four ships remained between London-bridge and Limehouse, 

 the rest being driven below, and lying there miserably beating against one 

 another. Five hundred wherries, three hundred ship. boats, and one hundred 

 hghters and barges were entirely lost ; and a much greater number received 

 considerable damage. The wind blew from the western seas, which preven. 

 ting many ships from patting to sea, and driving others into harbour, occa. 

 Bioned great numbers to escape destruction. 



The Eddystone lighthouse near Plymouth was precipitated in the surround, 

 ing ocean, and with it Mr Winstanley, the ingenious architect by whom it 

 was contrived, and the people who were with him. — " Having been frequent- 

 ly told that the edifice was too slight to withstand the fury of the winds and 

 waves, he was accustomed to reply contemptuously, that he only wished to 

 be in it when a storm should happen. Unfortunately his desire was gratified. 

 Signals of distress were made, but in so tremendous a sea no vessel could 

 live, or would venture to put off for their relief."* 



The amazing strength and rapidity of the wind, are evidenced by the fol. 

 lowing well authenticated circumstances. Near Shaftesbury a stone of near 

 four hundred pounds weight, which had lain for some years fixed in the ground, 

 fenced by a bank with a low stone wall upon it, was lifted up by the wind, 

 and carried into a hollow way, distant at least seven yards from the place. 

 This is mentioned in a sermon preached by Dr Samuel Stennett in 1788. Dr 

 Andrew GiflFord, in a sermon preached at Little Wylde-street, on the 27th of 

 November, ITSi, says, that " in a country town, a large stable was at once re. 

 moved off its foundation, and instantly carried quite across the highway, 

 over the heads of five horses and the man that was then feeding them, without 

 hurting any one of them, or removing the rack and manger, both of which 

 remained for a considerable time to the admiration of every beholder." Dr 

 Gifford, in the same sermon, gives an account of " several remarkable deliver, 

 ances." One of the most remarkable instances of this kind occurred at a 

 house in the Strand, in which were no less than fourteen persons: 

 "Four of them fell with a great part of the house, &c. tJiree stories, 

 and several two : and though buried in the ruins, were taken out unhurt ; 

 of these, three were children ; one that lay by itself, in a little bed near its 

 nurse; another in a cradle; and the third was found hanging (as it were 

 wrapp'd up) in some curtains that hitch'd by the way ; neither of whom re- 

 ceived the least damage. In another place, as a minister was crossing a court 

 near his house, a stone from the top of a chimney, upwards of one hundred 

 and forty pounds weight, fell close to his heels, and cut between his footsteps 

 four inches deep into the ground. Soon after, upon drawing in his arm, 

 which he had held out on some occasion, another stone, of near the same 

 weight and size, brushed by his elbow, and fell close to his foot, wluch must 

 necessarily, in the eye of reason, have killed him, had it fallen while it was 



1 Histoire <le TAcaderaic dps Sciences, an. 1722, 

 • Belshaia's Hist of G. Britain. 



