The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-03 00:00:00

AMERICAN TORNADO.

The Salem Gazette gives trom an old record the following
account of a dreadfully destructive tornado, which occurred
about the Ist August, 1773 :
" The tornado took its course from the east, first struck
Salsbury point, and,,following the course of the Merrimac
river, spread havoc before it for the space of a mile in
width, extending to Haverhill. We have Rem an account
of this dreadful hurricane, with a list of the sufferers,
which was drawn up at the time by the Rey. Mr. Webster,
I then minister at Salsbury. The devastation was almost
beyond conception or description. Almost every house and
building from Salsbury point to a quarter of a mile above
Amesbury ferry, was levelled with the ground, unroofed,
or otherwise damaged. A Captain Smith, who belonged
to Beverly, was sitting in a sail-maker's loft, at Amesbury,
when the storm commenced, and in a moment be and the
whole building were carried away together, the building
rent to pieces and dispersed; Captain Smith was found
lying senseless 94 feet from the sill of the loft he was car-
ried from ; one of his legs was broken, and he was other-
wise bruised. A large white oak post, 14 feet in length,
and IV by ten inches, was transported 138 feet. Two res.
sels, of ninety tons, building in Amesbury, were lifted
from the blocks, and carried, sidewise, through the air,
ik2 feet. A large bundle of shingles was taken from the
ground and thrown 330 feet, in an opposite direction to
that of the post abovementioned, and at right angles to the
course the vessels were carried. Large trees were tern up
by the roots and cast into the river. Large oak planks
were hurled with the velocity of canon balls through the
roofs of houses ; and in tine, during the hurricane, which
lasted a few minutes only, the air was filled with every
thing that could be moved, whirling .with the most sur-
prising rapidity through the air, and surrounding the af-
frightened inhabitants, sonic of whom were taken up by
the winds, carried a considerable way, and let down safe:
others were buried in their cellars, but were dug out with-
out receiving any hurt. About LSO buildings fell.
" In Haverhill, the inhabitants fled in conateination
from one large dwelling-house which was blown down, and
thought to save themselves iu a barn, which was almost
new;.and filled with about 30 tons of hay; but the bars
was entirely blown to pieces in another moment, and some
parts of it carried to the distance of three miles.

" This tempest was preceded by heavirain, and grew
darkness ; and then it appeared first on the Merrimack
river, which was in the utmost tumult, rolling upon the
banks, and threatening to swallow up the affrighted inha-
bitants."

Roar •11 CATHOLIC INTOLLERANCISo--The Boston Ad-
vertiser of the Ist August states the following, upon the
authority of the Buenos Ayres :—" The House of
Representatives of the Provincepc7(rrdova has rejected
the 12th article of the Treaty of Peace and Commerce
concluded between Great Britain and Buenos Ayres, by
which article liberty of worship was allowed to the sub-
jects of Great Britain. T 'time is yet required, before the
dominion of priestcraft will be wholly abolished. The
freedom of the press and republican institutions are how-
ever fast achieving its downfall." There must he some
mistake here. The treaty of amity, commerce, and navi-
gation, between this country and the united provinces of
Rl3 d; In Plata, has been duly ratified by the Executive of
both Governments, and formally communicated to both
Mules of Parliament, by his Majesty's Ministers, in the
month of May last.
Lam Rows ix THY UNITED STATEII.—SCTCTSI velY
severe contests have recently taken place in Philadelphia
Imong the emigrants lately arrived from Ireland. On
-Monday afternoon, in particular, says the Phi!adelphio
lop-elic, three was a conflict which raged for some ime
groat violence on a wharf between Race and V ne
streets, shd in which it is said as many as one or two hun-
dred persotis were engaged, and the police officers, with
the Mayor'st 'their head, hail corn difficulty in tattOrMj.
cyder. . A number of.the ringleadega have been taken into
custody. These disputes, we understand, originated M a
difference of opinion among the emigrants respecting Ell•
ropean polities. The Orangemen on hoard one vessel
celebrated dhe anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne,'while
on their. pitsFage, to-this country. This gave great disatis-
faction to the Ribandmen,.and a. battle ensued on 5114)-
board, in which .the latter, being the weaker party, were
conquered. Arrived in this country, they found their
number increased, and renewed the contest.

asoNar.—A Baptist minister,snamed Elijah Mason.
in the state of Illinois, has been excommunicated by hie
congregation because he belonged to a lodge of Freemasens.
When called before the church to answer this imagirary
crime, he proposed the following questions:—" 1. IF "
moral good a sptritaal evil ? £, Is masonry a sin ? 3. 1.
masonry is a sin, wherein does it consist ? 4. Why tray I
not pursue what course I please, if it is lawful. and an ad-
vantage to rue, provided Ido not sin ? .5. When I have
neither done nor intended harm, why should I he
eluded ? 6. How can you judge of that of which y'on
know nothing?" His accusers could not extricate thrill-
selves from the difficulties involved in these questior ; ne-
vertheless the sentence of exclusion was pronnundFl. the
this extraordinary proceeding the Delnirare (Wi:mingten)
Gazette, of the 21st instant, has the following pertinent re-
mark :—" We will venture to say, that no man, who is ac-
quainted with the principles of masonry, will ever aver.
that they are inconsistent with the pre opts of the aosptl:
and for men to undertake to condemn that of winch they
know nothing, and censure others fur holding principles of
which they are totally ignorant, argues the existence 0!
feelings in their own minds which no one can mil or ad.
Yolk Evening Poss.