The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-07-20

A storm OF thunder, wind, and hail, was ex-
perienced at st. Andrews, Argenteuil, Canada,
June %, which is thus described in letter from
thence.
"We could distinguish three flashes of forked
lightning, which convinced me that there were
three thunder storms, (if may so express myself
combined in few hailstones began to fall
at considerable distance from each other, of a
bout one inch in circumference these soon in
creased about two fold, both in size and number,
and were succeeded, in less than one minute, by
most tremendous fall of the largest hailstones
that have ever been seen by the oldest inhabi-
tants of the country; and notwithstanding their
weight. the wind, was from the Y. +. drove them
with such fury, that in their fall they described
an angle of at least 45o every sqnare Of glass IN
windows exposed to that direction, were dashed
to pieces in an instant Happened to call TOR
shelter at genteman's house in the day, about
miles below st. Andrews, where If ragged with
the greatest impetuosity; the shingles were many
Of them dashed off the house in splinters, and
made such terrible noise upon the roof and sides
Of the house as prevented US from distinguishing
the thunder pealing over our heads, except " a
mid the pauses Of the tempest" the lightning
seemed to blaze in at every window-tbe floors
were white with hailstones aud swimming with
water. and the house shook to its base, while the
dismayed inmates gazed at each other in conster-
nation and alright, expecting every moment that
It would be dashed in fragments over our heads.
{" One hailstone, which was brought in after
the storm had subsidized, measured seven inches
and quarter. The Indian corn, the peas, beans,
rye, and potatoes, are totally destroyed other
grain, being not so forward has not suffered so
much-The trees. which a short time ago,
waving their branches in ma iestic grandeur over
the heads of their fellows and which perhaps,
have stood the tempests OF A thousand years,
were now laid low Some cattle were material
ly injured. but none that I have heard of killed
but it was fatal to great quantity of poultry
The path OF the storm however was but narrow,
its length have not been able to ascertain"
TIE Holy Od.-Extract Of letter from, Paris.
dated the 21st inst ;-'' The coronation of his
Majestry is at length defnitively fixed, for the
third time, to take place on the 25th of August
next A, the holy oil, the Sainte Empaule,
which, according to tradition, is absolutely
sential TO the ceremony, was destroyed during
the Revolution, new miracle will be necessary
for its production, and the Missionaries fancy
they hav- so well prepared the credulty of the
French nation, that they may hazard one with
out danger. Unfortunately the secret has escap-
ed too soon. One Of those holy men is now IN
structng carrier-pigeon to light on the shoulder
of an effigy dressed 10 the costume of the Arch
bishop Of Rheims.-It already performs its task
tolerably well, but by mistake sometimes lights
on that of its master: however, by the 25th Of
August there is no doubt of its being quite per-
feet in its part, and that it will alight with the
bottle of the holy oil tied round its neck, Oh the
Archbishop, at the proper moment, unless any
indiscretion in prophesyins the event, make the
mracle-worker change his intention. am far
from believing the Archbishop OF Rheims to be
capable of lending sanction to such an impious
cheat but it is not the less true that there is a
Priest weak enough to believe it might pass, and
wicked enough to attempt it. This exposure
will. it IS hoped, PREVENTS being carried furth
er.