The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-03 00:00:00

GREAT and D SASTROUS FLOODS
3N THE COUNTIES OF INVERNESS, ROSS,
,AND SUTHERLAND.
(From the Inverness Courier.)
We have this week to discharge the sad and painful duty
of recording the most unexampled and disastrous series of
floods ever experienced, according to oral and written testi-
mony, in the north and west Highlands. Long-continued
and heavy rains, accompanied by a remarkable prevalence of
lightning, had fallen over the various districts in which our
Ilincipal rivers have their sources, and from which they
derive their ordinary supplies. The floods extended as far
West as Lochourn-head, mid included the districts watered
by the Quoich, the Garry, the Arhaig, the Oich, and lesser
streams, whence they were precipitated into Loch-Oich,
Loch-Lochs-, and Loch-Ness. The river running from the
first of these lakes has carried off the bridges of Aberchalder
and Fort-Augustus, besides occasioning several breaches in
the banks of the Caledonian Canal. The streams entering
the Lochy have broken up the roads and devastated fields
and plantations, including the picturesque grounds of
Achnacarry, the seat of Lochiel. Loch-Ness, over its wide
expanse of twenty-four miles, rose about fourteen feet—a
height unprecedented in the histrict. On its banks various
land-slips took place, and much damage was inflicted ; but
these have been trivial compared with the effects of its
waters on the river and town of Inverness. Never was the
Ness seen in such fearful volume and flood. It attained its
fall height more rapidly in consequence of meeting with the
Waters of the Canal. All were placed on one level, and a
breach was made in the Canal banks, above the lock at
Dochgarroch. By unremitted and strenuous exertions this
breach was prevented from widening; but the accumulated
waters rushed down their course of five miles, overflowing
the adjoining grounds, and finally destroying the important
stone bridge at Inverness and submerging nearly one-third
of the town. The alarm of the inhabitants was indescrib-
able—the losses and privations have been great—but in
the whole circuit and course of these floods we have heard
of no loss of life. To the real calamities of this awful oc-
currence visionary or exaggerated fears were superadded.
Most of our townsmen entertained an apprehension that, by
the flood overmastering the powers of control at the Canal,
the 'whole waters of Loch-Ness would be poured down upon
the devoted town. Now, it may be admitted that a serious
breach occurring in the Canal simultaneously with a great
flood (and of course it is then that there is the greatest risk
of such a breach), might have the effect of throwing an in-
creased volume of water down the river, but by no means to
the extent 'that is commonly believed. The quantity of
water that can run out of Loch-Ness must be limited by the
capacity of the upper outlet at Bona, namely, the narrow
channel which connects Loch-Ness and Loch-Dochfour.
This was, no doubt, deepened and widened to render it a na-
vigable channel of the Canal, but perhaps not to a greater ex-
tent than the increased volume of water which the river has
in flood, as compared with its low-water level in the natural
state—therefore, the utmost capacity of the present chan-
nel at Bona would be but equal to the discharge of a flood
of double the ordinary maximum. Again, the capacity of
the river channel itself from Loch •Dochfour downwards to
the town of Inverness is insufficient to discharge more than
a given quantity of water, which is limited by the size of its
narrowest part; nor in certain places would it derive any
great addition to its dimensions by having the width occu-
pied by the Canal (as the possible effect of the supposed
breach) annexed to it. There are a number of impediments,
however, which would gradually have to be overcome before
this effect could completely take place ; and although a new
and deeper channel might in some places be formed by the
rapidity of the current, yet even this would be a work of
time, and probably would not be finally brought about
before the gradual and simultaneous discharge of
the lake would restore matters again to their former
relative bearing, and render the rise and fall of the river
exactly similar to what it was in its original condi-
tion. It seems highly improbable, therefore, that any
sudden irruption of the waters of Loch-Ness could overtake
the valley below without giving of itself sufficient indications
of its approach ; and although it might be attended with
considerable damage to property, it would not 'he likely
Beriously to endanger life. It is imssible, however, to
describe the effect which this alarm, capoused by the breach in
At" Canal, had upon all classes of our townsmen, and we
devoutly hope that we may never again witness so awful and
distressing a crisis.
Turning,from our own severe calamity, we find that,
further north in this country, the district of Strathglass
'deo suffered. Glen-Affnck, Glen-Cannich, and the course
of the river Beauly were inundated. On the estate of
Lord Lovat farms have been destroyed, embankments
carried off, mills and steadings ruined. His Lordship will
be a heavy loser by this calamitous visitation. In Ross-
Shire, the sources of the Orrin, the Garve, and the Conan
rose to an unprecedented height. Several houses were
thrown down iu the village of Conan, and roads and fields
tech injured. The high grounds of Badenoch, in which
damage done to embankments and farms. In all parts of
the north, indeed, floods have been rife, but it is in the
t°llrse of the principal mountain rivers that the results have
eta so remarkable. The loss in many instances will be
irreparable—in all severe; and years must elapse before they
be obliterated. Private charity and benevolence must
be freely exerted, but much will still remain undone. We
:re no wish to see our northern communities pensioners of
e State, but there never was a time when the bounty of a
tternal Government was more required to assist our High-
d capital and its neighbourhood than at the present mo-
-„ entA peaceful and loyal people have been overtaken by
misfortune altogether unprecedented and extraordinary,
ail a it appears impossible that they can, unaided, regain
heir former position. With these general observations we
proceed
to detail the circumstances of the flood, which we
ave spared no pains to ren accurate and comete. I
addition
to what fell under ourder own observation, our reporter n has visited Fort Augustus, Beauly, and other localities, and
we have been assisted by the kind communications of various
correspondents.
TuE NESS. —We had barely time last week to an-
? Ounce that on Wednesday evening the river Ness
had attained to a height unsurpassed at any period since
the year 1834. Before our impression was worked off, the
printing-machine was three inches in water ! The
"SeS on both sides of the river were partially flooded,
and the banks impassable. Fears were even then enter-
tained for the safety of the Old Bridge, but no one antici-
iated that the flood would be so wide-spread and so dis-
ystrious in its results as it has proved. The night was wet,
dark, and stormy, and with every gust of wind the
Water continued to rise. By eleven o'clock it had at-•
a fearful and unprecedented height. It had over-
'2Nved the gardens and grounds in front of the houses
haad partially
'a Ness Bank occupied by Mr. Shortt and Mrs. Hunter,
entered the premises. Higher up some small
°"" extending from the Haugh road to the river-side
Were two feet under water, the fires extinguished, and the
flamiture floating about. In Bank-street, the lower floors
of the premises occupied by the Bank of Scotland, and
L art of our own buildings, were flooded. The low-lying
beets and lanes extending from Huntly-street as far
fotek as Fairfield-lane, were under water in seine places a
o deep, and as the ground floors of the houses are
st invariably beneath the level of the roadway, and
~.`r,ea, neither boarded ncr paved, the poor people began the
49,)aticholy task of preparing for the worst by temporary
atufts
wefts and expedients. No one expected that the flood
anwollid rise much higher. It continued, however, to advance,
bY midnight, the river rushed on in a magnificent but
its awful and alarming flood. It covered the roads on
hoesbanks to the depth of from two to three feet—the
Aise. • .
rising, as from the sea, on both sides. The lamps,
strap
partially submerged,
.continued to burn and threw
Coloured.
ge and sickly glare on the waters now foaming and
to Some families in the exposed localities retired
volest. t, but the great majority, if not already engaged in the
an,11.& of removal, watched the progress of the flood, their
them' increasing as the waters rapidly swelled around
an cr Lights were seen glancing from doors and windows,
a, the
4. figures of anxious and distressed women flitted
6anlit‘
dismay
they continued their preparations or looked on in
winter lsel
tinned ISDAY, JAN. 31.—Since Saturday the river has con-
satiVarodnicsoaupisarenicali
v°weilY to fall and it now flows at nearly its usual
water. * The ruins of the bridge are partially above the
Divine service was on Sunday performed in the
rchea in town. The clergymen of all denomina-
icthyedwsaserinons appropriate to the occasion, and the
reviewed and consecrated by pious. feel-
Newinnrl;tiorktnen are now actively engaged in restoring the
ferry-boa
to a safe state for the passage of vehicles, and
)q ts ply from side to side below the site of the Old
tairhe SPEL—Rain seems to have fallen in immense quan-
es upon the Badenoch side of Corryarrick. A correspon-
dent at Laggan
quarter from the 20th to the 25
The rain fell
instant,
in torrents in
.this
tertnission. The Spey rose to an unsptarnected'evnittheoduthaeinyhtm-
-B:Wering the whole glen to the depth of several feet. height—
t a
„t_ra•nger the whole district would have appeared—the water
-?_ssed into foam by the fearful winds—to be a great arm of
'Ol FA'-a, or outlet from it.
toA.rdverikie great damage has been done. The Marquis
I°_Abercorn's lodge was surrounded with water, and injury
I,lle amount of about five hundred pounds inflicted. The
Tjaa:' was shattered, and the chain-bridge broke to pieces.
escaped; no part of his embank-
-4'tilt is injured
soraC;n_tli_.e estate of Glentruim the embankment has given
places, and ahnasd the meadow is wholly covered
;I:gt;t:theeirrr-I:llTosfhe Spey is half way up the Badden, much
011 the burn ever it was known before. Two bridges—one
ean----are-(14 Breackachy, and the other a little to the
B

te tx.LAND.
An Account (From last night's Gazette.)
the Wee:Pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32,f0r
encling on Saturday, the 27th day of January, 1849.

ISSUE DEPARTMENT.
4gtes X.
" ••• • • 28,315,870

X.
Government debt .. 11,015,100
Other securities •• • • 2,984.900
Gold coin and bullion 13,813,798
Silver bullion • • • • • • 502,072

£28,315,870
Dated the let day of February, 1
BANKING D]
.X.
l'retturietors ' capital
14,553,000
*deposits • • • • ' • ' 3,488,107
i
1114 c
._ n-
(
&-cg Exchequer
is°,cltlssioners of
1, 4ticnal Debt, Say-
andDl-
-0 t accounts)•• 3,877,648
Eieve, deposits •. • ••• 11,642,799
blugday and other
. 1,112,840
£34,674,394
bated the let day 01. February'

£ 28,31b,870
M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier.
1849.
,EPARTMEN T. -

Government seenri-

ties (including Dead
Weight Annuity) • • 13,882,267
Other securities •• .. 10,427,581
Notes .. .• .. • • ...... 9,633,345
Gold and silver coin.. 726,201

£34,674,394
M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier.
1849.

-aim:lGß HoNouas._l'he senior wrangler of
s:el'ort,eBent year bears a Devonshire name—Mr. Pell—the
hp:" wrangler is of true Devonshire breed—he is Mr.
Rtri.'r, son of the Rev. J. Phear, now of Suffolk, but " true
"'" Jonathan would on both sides—his mother sh!.33g sister of Dr. Budd, of Exeter, and his father a Devon-
hainte 414,1; five of Mr. Phear's uncles have Wien high
,Virs at Cambridge—he is, in fact, the seventh member
this 6 same family who have distinguished themselves at
l
luiireraity. It is rather odd, but the senior wrangler
the native of California. In that distant region he first saw
2, light, and traced the golden path to learning.—Western
ones.
tarACCIDENT TO WILLIAM HOPE JOHNSTONE, ESQ..--•
url3r °R Tuesday morning week, as Mr. William Hope
,11.1 stone was reurning to Rachills, in company with ono
his brothers, at gamekeeper, and others, who had been out
vatching for night poachers he accidentally slipped, and fell
ti:er a bank 20 feet in height. When taken up, it was found
that he had been severely bruised about the face and neck ;
it:3lledical attendants are afraid that his spine has been in-
!". Moffat, Jan. 28.—We deeply regret to state, though
, ;Vt_i. Johnstone is still alive, that his medical attendants en-
ain great doubts of his recovery. Mr. Johnstone is the
ha son of J. J. Hope Johnstone, Esq., of Annandale, and
41.41 resided for some years at Moffat House, Moffat.—Scot-
heiGuardin.
40 A. dividend of ls. in the pound has just been an-
.on the estate of Messrs. Perkins, Schlueser, and
-."hens, in addition to 7s, already paid.
.