The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-25 00:00:00

Labourer

THE I-7—ATE STORM.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
(From the John o' Groat Journal.)
The east coast of Scotland has lately been visited by
one of the severest and most protracted storms ever re-
membered to have occurred at this early period of the
season. The gale was preceded by a heavy fall of rain,
by which all the rivers, with their tributary streams,
were completely flooded. Soon after the rain had, to all
appearance, spent its strength, the wind began to blow
with tremendous violence, raising a surge beneath which
there is much reason to fear many a precious life and
much valuable property have been buried. The wind on
Wednesday week blew from an easterly direction, and
raised in our bay a swell greater than any of our oldest
citizens ever remember. To look from any direction the
sea presented a scene of wildness and terrific fury which
no pen can adequately portray. The mountain billows,
as they dashed against the shore, drove everything
before them, and covered the ground to an incredible
distance with spray, so much so that a number of corn-
fields are entirely destroyed ; and at several stations
along the coast, boats, which were supposed to have
been drawn up far beyond the reach of the sea, are
much injured. During the continuance of this fearful
gale a great number of vessels passed our shores,
some of them bearing signals of distress, and it is
much feared that many a sad and heart-rending
tale of woe will have to be told as the result of the
storm. So far as we have learned, no great injury has
been done in or to the harbours or creeks along our
coasts. At Pulteneytown Harbour, it was once feared
some disaster might occur amongst the shipping lying
there, as the sea was making a clean breach over the
South Quay, and even the inner harbour, hitherto con-
sidered secure, was in a state of considerble commotion
with the swell. Providentially, however, no injury was
done, save the breaking of a few ropes, every precau-
tion being taken by all concerned to prevent the occur-
rence of any catastrophe. We regret, however, to say
that on Thursday forenoon the schooner Tom, of Pres-
ton, foundered off Duncan's Bay Head, and melancholy
to relate the whole crew perished. The following par-
ticulars of this melancholy event have been furnished by
our correspondent :—" About eleven A.M. on Thursday,
the 9th instant, during a gale of easterly wind, with a
tremendous sea in the Pentland Firth, a schooner was
seen to founder amongst the breakers off the Ness of Dun-
can's Bay, and soon thereafter 'she drifted on her beam-
ends upon some outlying shoals, where she remained for
about 15 minutes, and then went to pieces. Some frag-
ments of the wreck have been washed ashore, and amongst
it a small piece of the stern, on which is painted (lately)
in large yellow letters, " Tom of Preston," and "Port
of Lancaster," round the rudder case. One of the bodies
of the unfortunate crew was washed ashore on the fol-
lowing day,and respectably interred in the churchyard of
Canisbay on Saturday, by the directions awl under the
superintendence of Mr. S. Davidson, ship-agent, Huna.
This ill-fated vessel is supposed to have been coal-laden,
as some few coals have since been washed ashore."
During the gale a Russian brig, name unknown, since
put into Longhope, had the mate and one of the seamen
washed overboard. The cook had three of his ribs
broken, and others of the crew were more or less in-
jured. At the same time stanchions ar.d rails were car-
ried away, and the cabin skylight broken. A vessel
from North America was also driven ashore at Long-
hope, but is expected to be got off without much damage.
It is much to be dreaded, that when the whole news of
the gale shall have been added togetheur it will pre-
sent a catalogue of loss, both by sea and land, of the
most deplorable character. In the interior of the
country, the storm raged with unabated violence, and
a good deal of injury has been done to the crops. Such
was the tremendous surf along the coast that between
Pulteney-town and Sarclet, several dead ling and skate
were found lying in the fields, at a considerable distance
from the high-water mark. On Sabbath the gale mode-
rated, and we were favoured with a lovely, but most de-
lusive day ; for on Monday the storm broke out again
with great violence, and the sea raged with extreme
fury. On Tuesday the weather became once more tran
quit, and we should fain hope that we will now be
visited with more genial and agreeable times, for at least
a few weeks, until the precious fruits of the earth shall
have been wholly taken in safety. There is much loss
of shipping in the Orkney Islands, particularly in the
islands of Sanday and Stronsay, but the full particulars
had not reached Kirkwall at the time the steamer left.
Accounts had been received of two wrecks at Stronsay
and three in Sanday—names not given. We are also
informed that a large vessel, supposed to be from the
Baltic, with timber, was also lost, with all on board, off
one of the Zetland Islands.

BUENOS AYRE
IDSEO AND MONTE

---
TO THE RICHT HON. THE EARL OF ABERDEEN, HER
MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECETARY OF STATE FOR FO-
REIGN AFFAIRS.
We, the undersigned merchants, farmers, artisans, and
other British subjects, residing in the city and province of
Buenos Ayres, in the Argentine Confederation, respect-
fully beg to approach your Lordship to state—
That a notice having been posted in this city, and
verbal message sent to the country districts, offering to
those who did not consider themselves and families se-
cure under the protection of this Government the means
of embarkation, as, in consequence of the refusal of the
Argentine Government to withdraw its forces from the
Bane Oriental, an interruption of diplomatic intercourse
was expected to take place between this country and
Great Britain on or before the 31st of July next, after
which period the civil protection hitherto dispensed to
us by her Majesty's Government would cease, as the Bri-
tish Minister Plenipotentiary woull embark on that day,
We have deemed it just and expedient to bring before
your Lordship our peculiar case, in the hope that the
prayer of our petition will be attended to, and, as British
subjects, our residence in this country may be peaceful,
and that each may be erabled to attend -with security to
his lawful affairs. _ _

It is scarcely necessary for us to state to your Lord-
ship that the circumstances above-mentioned have pro-
duced the greatest alarm amongst all classes, and that it
is utterly impossible for us to leave the country we are
in, where many of us are engaged in trade with Great
Britain, hold large stocks of British goods consigned to
us for sale, have heavy outstandings in a paper currency
daily depreciating from the political events around us,
others have their entire fortunes in this city and the
country districts, and if we adopt any extreme course
distress and ruin must befall us all.
By the 11th article of the treaty between Great Bri-
tain and the Argentine Republic, it is clearly stipulated
that if any interruption of the friendly intercourse
existing between the two countries should occur, we are
to be allowed the privilege of remaining and trading
therein as hitherto, and we are therefore the more sur-
prised that in a state of profound peace we should be
expected suddenly to leave this country, in which the
present prospects and well• being of ourselves and families
are entirely centred.
Some of us have resided for a great number of years,
annoudnttoryaltlhoefrnuossdtummrinpglethgeenpeerroiuosd ofau oduerffiroeissiudtenpereoteein
protection
has been afforded, and especially during the adminis-
tration Emanuel de Rosas, Govrnor
of his Excellencyes Brigadier-General
the province, charged with the foreign Don Juan
Captain-General eorifilthoef