The loss of the Light-House, call'd the Eddystone at Plymouth, is another Article, of which we never heard any particulars other than this; that at Night it was standing, and in the Morning all the upper part from the Gallery was blown down, and all the People in it perished, and by a particular Misfortune, Mr. Winstanly, the Contriver of it, a Person whose loss is very much regreted by such as knew him, as a very useful Man to his Country: The loss of that Light-House is also a considerable Damage, as 'tis very doubtful whether it will be ever attempted again, and as it was a great Security to the Sailors, many a good Ship having been lost there in former Times.
It was very remarkable, that, as we are inform'd, at the same time the Light-House abovesaid was blown down, the Model of it in Mr. Windstanly's House at Littlebury in Essex, above 200 Miles from the Light-House, fell down, and was broken to pieces.
There are infinite Stories of like nature with these, the Disasters at Sea are full of a vast variety, what we have recommended to the view of the World in this History, may stand as an Abridgment; and the Reader is only to observe that these are the short Representations, by which he may guess at the most dreadful Night, these parts of the World ever saw.
To relate all Things, that report Furnishes us with, would be to make the story exceed common probability, and look like Romance.
Tis a sad and serious Truth, and this part of it is preserv'd to Posterity to assist them in reflecting on the Judgments of God, and handing them on for the Ages to come.
Of the Earthquake
Tho' this was some time after the Storm, yet as the Accounts of the Storm bring it with them in the following Letters, we cannot omit it.
The two following Letters are from the respective Ministers of Boston and Hull, and relate to the Account of the Earthquake, which was felt over most part of the County of Lincoln and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The Letter from Hull, from the Reverend Mr. Banks, Minister of the Place, is very particular, and deserves intire Credit, both from the extraordinary Character of the worthy Gentleman who writes it, and from its exact Correspondence with other Accounts.
SIR,
I receiv'd yours, wherein you acquaint me with a Design that (I doubt not) will meet with that Applause and Acceptance from the World which it deserves; but am in no capacity to be any way serviceable to it my self, the late Hurricane having more frighted than hurt us in these Parts. I doubt not but your Intelligence in general from the Northern Parts of the Nation, supplies you with as little Matter as what you have from these hereabouts, it having been less violent and mischievous that way. Some Stacks of Chimneys were over-turn'd here, and from one of them a little Child of my own was (thanks be to God) almost miraculously preserv'd, with a Maid that lay in the Room with him. I hear of none else this way that was so much as in danger, the Storm beginning here later than I perceive it did in some other Places, its greatest Violence being betwixt 7 and 8 in the Morning, when most People were stirring.
The Earthquake, which the Publick Accounts mention to have happen'd at Hull and Lincoln upon the 28th ult. was felt here by some People about 6 in the Evening, at the same time that People there, as well as at Grantham and other Places, perceived it. We have some flying Stories about it which look like fabulous, whose Credit therefore I wou'd not be answerable for; as, that upon Lincoln-Heath the Ground was seen to open, and Flashes of Fire to issue out of the Chasm.
I doubt this Account will hardly be thought worth the Charge of Passage: Had there been any thing else of note, you had been very readily serv'd by,
SIR, Your Humble Servant,
E.K.Boston, Jan. 8. 1703.