The Storm: or, a Collection of the most Remarkable Casualties and Disasters which Happen'd in the Late Dreadful Tempest, both by Sea and LandDefoe, Daniel
History
The Storm: or, a Collection of the most Remarkable Casualties and Disasters which Happen'd in the Late Dreadful Tempest, both by Sea and Land
Defoe, Daniel
Storms -- Early works to 1800
At _Taunton_, a great Tree was blown down, the upper Part whereof rested
upon a Brick or Stone-wall, and after a little time, by the force of the
Wind, the lower part of the Tree was blown quite over the Wall.
In the City of _Hereford_, several persons were, by the Violence of the
Wind, borne up from the Ground; one Man (as it is credibly reported) at
least six Yards.
The great Fane at _Whitehall_ was blown down; and one of the four which
were upon the _white Tower_, and two more of them strangely bent; which
are to be seen at this Day, to the Admiration of all that behold them.
The several _Triumphant Arches_ in the City of _London_ were much
shattered and torn; That in _Leaden-hall-Street_ lost the King's Arms,
and many other rare Pieces that were affixed to it; That in _Cheapside_,
which represented the Church, suffered very much by the Fury of the
Storm; and a great Part of that in _Fleet Street_ (which represented
Plenty) was blown down: but, blessed be God, none as we hear of were
either killed or hurt by the Fall of it.
The Wind was so strong, that it blew down several Carts loaded with Hay
in the Road between _Barnet_ and _London_; and in other Roads leading to
the City of _London_.
_Norwich_ Coach, with four or six Horses, was not able to come towards
_London_, but stayed by the way till the Storm was somewhat abated.
It is also credibly reported, That all, or some of the Heads which were
set up upon _Westminster-Hall_, were that Day blown down.
There was a very dreadful Lightning which did at first accompany the
Storm, and by it some of his Majesty's Houshold conceive that the Fire
which happened at _Whitehall_ that Morning, was kindled; as also that at
_Greenwich_, by which (as we are informed) seven or eight Houses were
burnt down.
_Thus far the Author of_ Mirabilis Annis.
'Tis very observable, that this Storm blew from the same Quarter as the
last, and that they had less of it Northward than here; in which they
were much alike.
Now as these Storms were perhaps very furious in some Places, yet they
neither came up to the Violence of this, nor any way to be compar'd for
the Extent, and when ruinous in one County, were hardly heard of in the
next.
But this terrible Night shook all _Europe_; and how much farther it
extended, he only knows who _has his way in the Whirlwind, and in the
Storm, and the Clouds are the Dust of his Feet_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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