The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-08-13 00:00:00

EFFECTS OF THE LATE SPURN.

'On the ,:flcl instant, between five and sit o'clock,
during as violent a storm of thunder, lightning, and
73111, as has been remembered in the neighbourhood
of Holbeach for many years, a ball of ore descended
into the chimney of Mr. Thomas Peatfield of that
place, which it completely destroyed, and having
done some damage in the chamfer, forced its way
into a morn below, where it removed a partition
wall, tore two opposite doors from their hinges,
broke a looking-glass, with other furniture, and, in
its irresistible passage, took with it the whole of
ea:glass and lead of a large front window, to the
distance of more than thirty feet.
On the same day, about noon, the house of widow
King, baker, at Wood Newton, in Northampton.
shire, was discovered to be nn fire: As the premises
are situated in the middle of the village, considerable
alarm w.es excited for the safety of the town ; but
through the timely assistance afforded by an engine
from Lord Westmoreland's, the fire was extin-
guished with the loss of the premises where it first
appeared. As the conflagration commenced in the
house and an adjoining stable at the same time, it
is thought to have been occasioned by lightning.
Mrs. Juson and Mr. Smith had each a horse killed
at Mangreso, by the lightning ; the Rev. Mr. Long,
of Dunston, the Rev. Mr. Corbould, of Rracon-ash,
Mr. Feltham, of Shottesham, and Mr. Kt mp, of
Swardeston, had each; horse destroyed by the elec-
tric fluid. Many horse,: in the neighbourhood were
ao terrified that in rushing through the hedges they
received much injury. As Mr. Robert 'flower, of
Hempnall, was returning from No: wich, he was
sruck by the lightning, and dep ived of hi, sight for
nearly an hour. A large oak tree, at Newton, be-
longing to Mr. Kemp, of Swarths o 1, v ai st 1 t from
top to bottom, and stripped of it; bark twelve feet
from the ground, some of the bark was carried fifty
yards from the tree ; at Attleborough, a tree was also
split in two, and several others much shattered.
At Lynn, the tempest was unusually heavy at in •
tervals, from three till eleven o'clock. Mr. Pine-
right's 'hill, near the town, was much chattered ;
the elO-frie fluid passed through it in different diree-
tiam; three persons were within at the time, but re-
ce:vzt! no further injury than a shock. The fall of
_ .

rain was very grea‘r, nearly two inehos. A very
valuable horse, belonging to 11r. William Doe, of
Fineham, was struck dead by the lightning, which
was with the thunder, very terrible in the western
part of this county, in Cambridgeshire, and in the
cistern part of Lincolnshire.

Colonel FteDER Inn MAITLAND, from the 27th
Foot, is appointed Lieut.-Colonel in the 2911 Foot.
Licat.-Colonel J. Wit.vouottav Gonoos is ap-
pointed I aerrt.-Culonel in the 92d Foot.
Lird /01114 SUMTaSIT has obtained a ('nrnetcy in
the 7th Light DI -Toon% without put chase.
Saturday accounts were received from the squad-
ron utaler the orders of Sir K. CA Int., off Koch-
: the enemy have five sail of the line and two
frizates in readiness for sea. They use uncommon
er•ttions in the equipment of the two 74 gun ships
which w. re lately lauched there. and for this pur-
pose hare withdrawn the hands from all the small
craft. The too gun ship, which was laid down
about three months since, is so forward, that it is
mpposed the will be launched in the course of the
present year.

A I...cttrt from Canton says--u it is reported that
Mandarins have petitioned the Est raison to apply to
the British Asiatic Government for assistance in re-
ducing the rebels who continue to distrait this Em-
Pim. The rebels in the upper provinces appear to
have been furnished with cannon and arms from the
founderics of Agra ; but by what mode of convey-
ance is unknown."

Sir C. GR LEI; has issued a Proclamation at Sn•
Thum. allowing the importation of all kinds of Ame-
ttc-.n produce for four months, firms the let of June,
subject to a duty of 4 per cent. on the invoice. The
duty on the export of colonial produce was fixed at
e per cent.

A letter from Nagpore, dated April 6, says—
" An alarming deleAson has just taken place among
the troops tithe Bea & a RAJ A H :—this, co-operating
inth his other distresses, renders his situation in the
greatest degree embarrassing."
Average prices of British corn. from the returns
received in the week, ended the 4th August : Wheat
mit. 4d. kye 345. sd. Barley 30s. 3d. Oats 355.
104. Deus 38s. lUd. Peace 395. 94, Oatmeal 394.