C *S>0 ] 
was dredlng in my little Room next the Garden, 
about forty Yards from the Canal, when I heard a 
very furprifing Noife of Fire, refembling, as I told 
you at London^ as if a very large Quantity of Oil had 
been thrown into a great Bonfire, burning in its 
greateft Rage. I ftepp’d immediately to the Window 
which was open, where I faw the Middle of the 
Canal, which this dry Seafon has funk about fix 
Inches, in extreme Agitation, as rough as the Thames 
in a Storm, foaming and fmoaking, and forced up, 
to my Appearance, full two Foot above the Surface, 
but it might be much more, my Window being 
greatly higher than the Canal i and the Fellow who 
was at Work, whom I examined again this Morning, 
protefts he faw the Water, like the Spray of the Sea, 
above the Dwarf-Trees, which muft neceffarily be 
five or fix Foot. I wifh I had feen the Beginning 
of this uncommon Thammenon, the Duration of 
which, I think, might be half a Minute, and made 
the Houfe ftink, as if a Gun had been fired in it. 
My Canal bears Eafl: and Weft, and the Fellow 
fays he heard it coming from the Weft, bringing the 
Leaves of fome tall Trees from an adjacent Field in 
its Paffage ; but could not difeover any material or 
fubftantial Body to fall in the Water, where the 
Hifling, as 1 obferved above, was very loud and vio- 
lent j neither was there any Lightning or Thunder 
before or after, but the Day remain’d bright, ftill, 
and hot. I forgot to fay, the Space of the Canal 
that was afFeCled by it, might be twelve or fifteen 
Yards. 
Springfield in Eilex, ShsphsHtd'* 
Aug. 22. 1732. 
