The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-31 00:00:00

AWFUL STORM AT MONTREAL

The datk and thick weather which was exiseri-
.Jred in this city some lime hack, it appetite trout
he Papers, extruded throughout the United States.
is well as the neighbouring Provi.,ces. In the
district of Maine, the darkness was vrry great at
times, during which period there were occasional
peals of thunder and v.ry vivid lightning. The
appearance of the firnottneirt was awfally grand
and ten .fie, which excited ntsplearant Dros.stlo,S.

■nd gave rise to the most fesilul apprehensions in
the minds of many persous. In Nlositteol, also,
the darkness was very great, particularly on ■ Seb.
bash mt.
covered with a thick haze of a dingy mange colour,
during which rain fell of a dark inky appearance,
and apparently itnpregisated with venue black sub-
stance rerertiblisig soot. At this period many con-
jectures were afloat, among which. that a volcano
had broken ont in some distant quarter.
The weather after this became pleasant, until the
Tuesday fullowitio, when at twelve o'clock a heavy
damp vapour enveloped the whole city. when it
became necessary to light candles in all the houses;
the stalls of the butchers were also lighted. The
appearance was, awful sod grand in the extreinc.—
A little before three o'clock. • slight shock of an
earthquake was felt, accompanied with a noise re-
sembling the distant discharge of ■rulirry. It was
now that the increasing gloom engrossed universal
attention. At twenty ggg i t lutes past three, when the
darkness seemed to have reached its greatest depth.
the whole city was instantaneously illuminated by
the most vivid flashes of lightning ever witnessed sit
Montreal, immediately followed by areal of thun-
der, so loud and near, as to shake the strongest
buidings to their foundation, which was followed
by other peals. and accompanied by ■ heavy shower
of rain °Ellie colour above described. After four p. nee
the heavens began to assume a brighter appearances
and fear gradually to subtitle. Between four mid
five, it was discovered that the steeple of the French
Church in Notre Dame-street was on lire. The
flames were seen issuing from the top of the spire,
which, through the have, bad the oppearsoce of a
light house ►rta far at sea. A bowl, engine was
taken up ilia rtrePle, and the fire extinguished, after
'great exertions, betweru eight and siiiic at 'sight.—
At eight o'clock the iron crucifix fell with a tre-
mendous crash, sod broke in I pieces.

FOIMit;iV INTELLIGENCE.

, •

issolorl some immune ordinances for the relief
of the sufferers.
amigo, vacuum* 15.
Yesterday the Ministers had their sixth (*flier.
efiCe. The Committees are constantly enraged in
the important 'inflects referred to 'lwo, am. the
freedom of airmail trade, the interpretation of the
1,111 article of the Act of Union, the ►elief to be
grunted 111 -nine• case,' with respect to the cantle-
gents to ise foroisiled to the army of the Conf.-de►a.
;ion, the curial votes of the inediatized Princes. &c.
The health of Field-Marshal Prince Schwartsen.
berg is now al nost entirely restored by the care of
the aisle physician Dr. Czermsch.
ntinLits, DECZNIIIIR 21.
The novel Board of Censorship has stow entered
on it• functions. _ .

The Kink; of Sweden hap ordered 100 medals to
he struck in !odd, silver, and copper, in honour or
too itiMividttals of all nation.. who have contributed
to the civilisation and improvement of mankind.

COPENHAGEN. DIMEMBILit, 41.

A r►nort states that two persons have been an
r►sted here it the instance of the Ministers of Swe-
den and Norway, who circulated false political
news it: Norway. and are said to have sent to the
A'ortcny Alatimql Garette the article which has
made *a mach tiff!SP. in which the Norwegian army
wee en virulently attacked.—(Hombargh Papers,
Offtlftter 44.)