The largest trees were torn up by the roots, many houses were swept from their foundations, and the sea broke over its aeeustomed bounds, carrying destruction wherever it went. The scene was awful: the inhabitants were in the greatest eonsternation; and Mr Sharp’s family came into the room where I was, which, indeed, was almost the only one in the house that had received no damage at that time from the storm. I assured them that their God reigned; that winds and waves were his ministers, sent to fulfil his will; and commanded them to call on God in this day of trouble, assuring them that he would hear them. Aceordingly, they all knelt down, and prayed to their heavenly Father for protection. When they rose from prayer, they observed the house ready to fall, whieh obliged them to leave it. With great diffieulty, they reached the baek of a rising ground, that lay about a quarter of a mile from their house, whieh sereened them from the fury of the contending elements. They had not left their house above three minutes before the whole fabric came down with a erash, and was soon so completely scattered, that, when daylight appeared in the morning, they could hardly diseover the plaee where it stood.
But what a seene of misery did the morning light unfold! The family, though upon their own estate, knew not where they were. A village, which had stood opposite to their house, was earried away, and nothing but the raging waves of the sea were to be seen there. Vessels, of various sizes, were lying wrecked in the fields; and not a house or cottage was left standing in all the country round them. In the midst of all these ravages, they were made happy by my conversations, and hoped that God would provide for the supply of their wants.
About noon, one of the children came running to his father with the joyful hews that he had seen a cask of flour, which had been driven hp the eountry by the wind, but had been providentially caught in a large bush. This eask was brought, and in a short time part of its contents was prepared for food, which was the first they had tasted sinee the preceding day. The hand of God was so visible in this relief which was necessary for the preservation of their lives, that I never saw a family stand up with such eheerfulness, and thank God with such fervency for a single meal. I desired them to eontinue in this happy frame, and the Lord would provide.
They expressed great anxiety to hear of the eieumstances of their Christian friends and neighbours. Though the wind was still boisterous, it was not so furious as formerly. Several of the stoutest of the family went in scarch of such of their neighbours as might have survived this awful
