Star.
London, England, 1818-01-10 00:00:00

DOMINICA, NOVEMBER it.

On the 21
.t we were visited by a very heavy
gale from the South-east, which totally destroyed
the plantains, and did much damage to the other
provisions ; a few buildings were thrown down and
unroofed, and the forward canes very much lodged,
•►l:ich will cause many estates to commence crop
ra.ch earlier than they otherwise would have done.
Ihe coffee, except two or three estates in the Grand
Bay quarter, has not suffered much—but little actu-
ally log ; and, as the weather
,has been remarkably
favourable since the gale, it is supposed the coffee on
tl.c trees will not be mach injured.
I3RIDGETOWN, OCTOBER es•.

Although much injury was sustained here, owing
to the gale Akar 21st instalu, we have great reason
to bt• tharitfel dust the consequences were not more
deplorable ; for at the same period, (according to ac-
couats that were received yesterday,) it blew a hur-
time at St. Lucie, which has reduced that island to
a state of 'desolation; and there is no doubt but Mar-
tinique, and probably other islands to leeward, have
been thus awfully visited.—The following are ex-
tracts from letters upon this melancholy subject :
e The town of Castries (St. Lucie) is literally in
reins, a great number of the houses blown down,
and the remainder unroofed, with the exception of
• two or three that were a little sheltered from the gale.,
The sea rose to an unprecedented height, burst into
the stores, and swept away or considerably injured
every thing that was in them. The barracks on
Monte Fortune arc completely blown away, not a
house standing. The Governor was so much bruised
by the falling of his house, that he is now at the
point of death. Major Burdett, who commanded the
troops, his wife, and child, were killed, and some se,
riot., accidents have happened. The country pre-
sents er.e general scene of devastation; in every part
of the island fro 4 which We have as yet melted in-

telligence, the plantations are completely destroyed,
and several lives lost. The inhabitants are exposed,
to all the inclemency of the weather, not having
wherein to shelter themselves. Every vessel in the
harbour was driven on shore, for nothing could efi
sist the violence of the storm. The hurricane of
11780 was not more direful in its effects."
A CASTRIES, (ST. LUCIE), OCT. 23.—T0 attempt,
at the plbsent moment, to describe the melanchaf
and dreadful hurricane which visited us on the 21st
instant, is impossible; I shall, therefore, briefly stage
that every building on Morne Fortune, with theex-
ception of the powder magazine, is levelled with the
ground: the same at theigie, Pigeon Island, &C.
and almost every thing destroyed. The town •
Castries is nearly in the same predicament ; for the
houses which are not blown down are all un-
roofed, and every vessel and boat on shore are totally
lost. .The number of lives lost that we at present
know of are not many, when the dreadfulness of the
case is considered ; but we have to lament the loss of
Major Burdett, his wife, and son, who were buried
in the ruins of their own house; and about twelve
soldiers shared the same fate. Major-General Sey-
mour is very seriously injured, (and great fears are
entertained for his recovery) as well as Mrs. Seymour
and one of the children; and a great many other • .
ficers considerably hurt, but I trust not dangerou ,
As for the number of men who are wounded, at .:,+
moment it is impossible to state with any degree, •
certainty. All the regimentatostores and other ,
lic buildings, are destroyed ; and this happened .
the sea having broken into the stores in town, in 441-
dition to the torrents of rain which fell, and set every;
thing afloat. The troops and every body are busily
employed, trying to arrange temporary erections:
one for the sick and wounded has been put up in the
remains of the old bake house; and every exertion is
and will be made te shelter ourselves for the Mo-
ment ; but our situation will become dreadful in 'the
extreme, should a heavy fall of rain come on, as the
whole country is destroyed, and cannot afford us the
least assistance or shelter in any direction whatever."
EXTRACT OF ANOTHER LETTER OF THE SAME DAVI.
" On the morning of the 21st, a most tremendinsi
hurricane commenced about seven o'clock, and cow
tinued td increase in violence until twelve, wise it
as
somewhat abated, so to enable us to look mend:
is
is the scene of destruction which presented itself is i
beydhd my powers of description; the rain pouri
.1
in torrents, and up to our middles in water, without,
the slightest covering over our heads, we passed the
night of that dreadful day, and yesterday commenced
to look round us ; but as neither nails, lumber, nor
workmen can be had, we are in a shocking state, and
unless you have escaped, and come to our assistance,
I really know not what will become of us, for most
of us are without a suit of clothes, and those that
have saved any are all torn and wet. Indeed, my
dear Sir, nothing short of ocular demonstration can
well convince you of our sufferings : and the dread-
ful apprehension of the sickness which will ensue is
distressing beyond measure. I have fortunately
, escaped with, my life, but was very nearly gone ;
for, about ten o'clock, the house I was in began to
give way, and I had hardly left it, when down it
came : three minutes more and I should not have
been here to tell'the tale ; but my head and .bones
ache at this moment to such a degree, that I im
scarcely able to write."