\ 
[ 8o ] 
broke the windows, and fliattei'ed the walls and roof 
to a great degree. The fouth-eaft corner fuffered mofl; 
where it chiefly forced its way, and tore up the ground 
on the outfide, where it found vent. There is fome- 
thing very extraordinary in the difperfion of the ftones 
of the pinnacle to every point of the compafs, and to 
different diftances j fome of which were 700 pounds 
weight. I picked up one that weighed almoft 8 pounds, 
atthediftanceof 60 perches from the church j anddoubt 
not but others, and perhaps larger ftones, were carried 
further: it may be worthy remark alfo, thatfeveral of 
the ffones, fomc of which were not (mail, though they 
appeared clofe and firm, yet, on a very flight impreffioii 
of the fingers, mouldered into powder. The explo- 
fion,on the opening of the cloud, was as inflantaneous 
as terrible, and equalled the difcharge of at leaft a 
hundred cannon at once. 
It is matter of great wonder, that not only the 
church, but that every houfe in the village, which 
trembled to its foundation, was not reduced to atoms,, 
or lighted up into a general blaze ; and yet, ffupen- 
dous mercy! not a man, woman, child, or bead:, re- 
ceived the lead hurt. I am, 
Sir, , 
Your very obedient, 
humble fervant, 
William Paxton. 
XIV. yVonta^t 
