Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
VOL. VINO. 2 10.
The Storm Of I7O3.

The Storm Of l7O3.
! For one hundred and ffty years past,
an annual sermon has been preached in
the Baptist meeting house, little Wild
street, London. on the eth of Novem.
Der in rom,nemoration Of The extrsor.
dlnary storm Of Novrmbe 9Th, l7O3.
which was considered the most terrific
tempest throughout Europe which the
world has known since the universal del.
uge It's moral lessons were considered
SO important, that member of the
Church lef. sum of money, the inter-
est OF which was TO be appropriated for
ever, to support o sermon on each anni-
yelsary of the event. which is usually
delivered Dy some Of the most eminent
ministers Of the British me etropolis, and
has obtained The name of ..The Storm
Sermon Several OF them have been
printed.
The late DIR. Samuel S,ennett, pa stor
Of the Little Wild-street Church. and
author OF the hymns which bear his
name, in his printed sermon on The sub.
ject, in endeavoring to account for the
Storm, says that "having most proba bly
taken It's rise in America. it made its
way across The Western Ocean, and col.
lecting confederate matter in its passage
over the seas. spent its fury on those
parts Of the world. whittier this work OF
terrors was principally commissioned.
strong west wind set in about the
midole OF the month. the force Of which
increased every day to the eth. On the
24th the storm commenced, which reach
ed lis hight three days sfterward. The
violence Of the wini produced q hoarse.
dreadful noise, like one continued peal
OF thunder and the excessive darkness
OF The night added greatly TO the horror
Of the scene.
Many lives were lost. especially in
London. not few meeting death in its
most terrific forms. And great indeed
was the loss Of property. In London
and its vicinity more than eight hun
dred dwelling houses were laid in ruins.
above two thousand chimneys fell to the
ground, and .the lead which covered
the roofs Of one hundred churches. was
rolled up and hustled in prodigiors
Quantities, TO great distances
Nor was the devas,ion less throughout
the country. In one extensive plain on
the banks Of the Severn, not less than
fifteen thousand sheep were driven into
the river and drowned ; and in the coun-
ty Of Ken: alone, more than two hum
dred and fifty thousand trees were torn
up by the roots.
The ravages OF this awful storm were
at sea still more treme ndous. 1t was
computed that not less than three hun.
dred ships were entirely destroyed,
among which were fifteen of the British
Aoyal Navy. containing more than two
thousand seamen, who '.sunk as lead in
the mighty waters.' The whole loss
Of property was estimated at four mil.
lions of pounds Of money, of lives about
eight thousand, and Of cattle without
number.
On the evening Of the 9th, il pleased
God to abate the severity of the storm
until Il became an entire calm and men
left the retreats wherein they had taken
refuge. TO view the desolatio which
God had made in the earth. 1t will be
readily supposed that this was done with
variety OF feelings. in accordance with
their different characters.
In many cases, those who had been
most filled with terror aud confusion,
having had their fears removed, dread
only perverted its moral tendency, and
proved that ale, favor be showed 10 the
wicked, yet will :hey do wickedly."
Shakspeare's plays of the Tempest aud
Macbeth were twice acted in the week
succeeding this awful event, aud one of
them exactly a week after the storm
had arrived at its greatest fury. On the
whole, however, the general impression
was saluiasy, and He who brough, the
stormy wind Out Of his treasures, caused
ii 10 fulfill his word. Royal authority
appointed day of humiliation and
prayer. and the sense Of the nation was
expressed by immense crowds OF all
classes who attended public worship on
that solemn day. Many reviewed. with
humble gratitude. the deliverances which
God had wrought for them. = London
Uatchn,an.