The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-27 00:00:00

The Storms of Yesterday.

IMMENSE LOSS OF PROPERTY.
A storm of lightning, thunder, and rain visited
the metropolis and the suburban districts yesterday,
which for its violence and the destruction of pro-
perty occasioned thereby has not been equalled since
the memorable tempest of Saturday the Ist of
August, some 19 or 20 years ago. This storm, we
regret to state, has been attended with a far greater
destruction of property than that before alluded to,
and will be bitterly felt by the poor ; for notwith-
standing the present high price of provisions, the
damage done by the storm must as a natural
sequence tend to increase the price of the staple
article of food.
According to the readings of Capt. Fitzroy's
storm glass at Messrs. Negretti and Zambra's estab-
lishment in Hatton-garden, although the principal
part of Thursday was so fine, the sun shining with
much brilliancy and not a fleeting cloud to be seen,
the glass indicated that in less than a dozen hours
the metropolis would be visited by a storm of no
little fury, which would not be confined to rain
alone, but would also be accompanied with light-
ning, wind, and thunder. Unfortunately the glass,
to the no small astonishment of we " Londoners,"
turned out to be correct, and property valued at a
high amount has been sacrificed in the metropolis
and surrounding districts, while several hundred
workmen have for a time been thrown out of em-
ployment.
This storm began as early as 10 o'clock on Thurs-
day night. At first only a few drops of rain fell,
which, owing to the sultry state of the weather, it
was stated and firmly believed were only "heat
drops," but such a change in less than five or ten
minutes came " o'er the scene" as to even terrify
men of the strongest nerve. Lightning, forked and
sheet, shot through the air. At the corner of the
Albany-road, Camberwell, the electric fluid riddled
au umbrella, broke the metal rods, and nearly blinded
the man carrying it. At the same time rain fell in tor-
rents; and gardens on the south side of the Thames,
especially in the neighbourhood of Epsom, Ewell,
and Cheam, had the plants literally washed out of
the ground, and they were sent floating down the
high roads in terrible confusion. Trees nearly a
hundred years old, which have stood many a pitiless
storm, were broken asunder, and in some cases u
rooted.

Many pleasure-gardens and parks about Kenning-
ton and Camberwell had their trees dismantled, beds
of flowers were uprooted, and even the gravel walks
were washed away. The main drainage works, ex-
tending from Addington-square to Southampton-
street, Catnberwell, were completely inundated, and
all hands were obliged to cease work until the water
is pumped out.
At Beckenham, which lies high, the rain fell in
such torrents that it ran down the declivity, filled a
cottage to the first-floor ; and it is stated that a poor
child was carried down the hill and terribly con-
tused.

Sydenham-hill presented a fearful aspect, the
lower portion of the lands resembling an immense
sheet of water, many imagining that the river had
overflowed. The houses at the bottom of the hill
had at least 18 inches of water in the basement, and
at one time the occupants made a precipitate retreat,
expecting momentarily that the water would reach
their bedrooms. At the premises of Mr. Roy, not
fewer than 11 fowls and 33 pigeons were drowned
by the rain that fell. The country residence of Mr.
Harris, of the Equestrian Tavern in the Blackfriars-
road, was for somo time under water. Upon the
breaking up of the storm the water passed away,
and no material damage was done.
A scene such as has rarely been witnessed in the
neighbourhood of Esher is thus described by Mr.
Tredwell, the great naturalist. He states that after
leaving the South-Western Railway he took a cab
for the purpose of proceeding to Egham. Ho had
hardly got a quarter of a mile when the water oozed
through the bottom of the vehicle and he became
immersed up to his knees. Fearing that he would
have to encounter greater difficulties if be proceeded
farther, he told the cabman to return, but as
he was doing so the water rose higher and higher
still until it reached his armpits. The work of de-

vastation amongst the flower gardens in this district
is most deplorable.
Chertsey, which lies somewhat higher, has also
suffered severely by the violence of tho storm, but
the beautiful grounds of Mr. Biddlecome of the
Royal Hotel, owing to the judicious precautions
adopted by that gentleman, have sustained very
little damage. Ellesmere, looking into Chcrtsey,

stands upon an eminence nearly 100 ft. from the old
turnpike road, and the water fell in such torrents

that only one vehicle was able to pass in the morning,

and that was the fish van from Billingsgate. The

:--
corn in the district, brown and ripe in ear, and

almost ready to be cut, has been beaten down upon
the earth, and it is feared has been nearly spoiled.
Along the Chatham and Dover Railway a strange
scene presents itself. Every bit of hollow ground is
under water, even the permanent way of the line is
rendered almost impassable. The trains in conse-
quence hare been from one to nearly two hours be-
hind their advertised times, the water iu the cuttings
being so deep as to reach the fire boxes of the engines.
The South-Western Railway did not escape the
ravages of the storm. Between Datchet and Wind-
sor the ponds overflowed, covered the metals, and
nearly reached the fire boxes; but with the exception
of a few detentions of the trains, everything passed
off tolerably well. Such, however, was not the case
on the Great Northern Railway; for persons who
had to pass from Hatfield, St. Albans, and other
places adjacent, were unable to wade through the
water to reach the various stations from whence
they intended to proceed to London.
The waterside premises on the banks of the river
Thames have been completely inundated, an great
damage has been done to le
the cellar stock by td he in-
flux of water. About Battersea and Fulham the loss
by the overflow of the Thames and the great fall of
rain has been most extensive.
Many parts of the Thames Embankment are
flooded, and the works are in many portions of it
entirely stopped.

DEATH OF LORD ROBERT PELHAM CLINTON.—
We have to announce the death of Lord Robert Pelham
Clintor, which took placa on Thursday nigb.t at garlo-
WM; Reigate, Surrey.