The Hurricane in St. Vincent. 73 
observed that it was evidently getting under, and that I 
should run considerable risk without any necessity for 
venturing thither. Next morning I ascertained that it 
had taken place at Langley Park, Mr. CRICHTON'S resi- 
dence, who, finding that the mansion admitted the rain in 
every room, had fitted up a range of outbuildings for the 
temporary reception of his family and had only that even- 
ing completed the thatching of the roofs, taking the 
precaution before he retired to entreat the domestics to 
beware of fire, and examined the rooms himself to ascer- 
tain that all was safe. A few moments after intelligence 
was brought him that it was on fire, he rushed out and 
observed a burning patch on the roof, little larger than 
the palm of his hand, caused by a servant placing a 
candle on the shelf too near the thatch. It was barely 
out of his reach ; but in an instant the whole roof was 
ablaze. Fortunately the night was calm, and the fire rose 
up in a huge pillar without extending to any of the other 
buildings some of which were within a few yards. The 
mansion itself had a narrow escape, for just as the fire 
died out, the land breeze began to blow from the hills 
directly on the house ; which must have been reduced to 
ashes had the fire occurred half an hour later. As it was, 
it produced the greatest consternation among the house- 
hold, who on the alarm of " fire" being given, leaped 
from the windows and conveyed the furniture to the lawn 
in the park. I assure you I viewed the scene, though 
from a distance, with no little dismay, for fire following 
upon the calamities we had already experienced, would 
indeed put a finishing blow to all or any hopes of recov- 
ering from our losses. 
On another occasion, as we were one evening returning 
K 
