Page:Account of a dreadful hurricane which happened in the island of Jamaica, in the month of October, 1780.pdf/10

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tory, that ſaid more, much more than any tongue could utter. The firſt ſounds proceeded from the mouths of the moſt patient of Nature’s creatures-from the melancholy cow that had loſt its calf, and with frequent lowings invited its return; from the mother ewes, that with frequent bleetings recalled their lambs, which were friſking out of ſight, unconſcious of danger and unmindful of food: and which ſolemn and pathetic invitations, after ſuch a night, the contemplation of ſuch a ſcene, and the diſpoſition of the mind to receive pathetic impressions, came home with full effect to thoſe who has ſuffered but who wiſhed not to complain! If the diſtreſſes of the feathered tribe be taken into the deſcription, their natural timidity. their uncertainty of food, of ſhelter, and domeſtic protection, (illegible text) duly conſidered, trifling as theſe obſervations may appear, they certainly help to ſwell the catalogue of diſtreſs, to awaken the ſigh of ſenſibility, and to teach us that their exiſtence, and their end are (illegible text) the hands of the ſame Creator.

The morning of the 4th of October preſented (illegible text) with a proſpect, dreary beyond deſcription, and (illegible text) moſt melancholy beyond example; and deformed with ſuch blaſted ſigns of nakedneſs and ruin, (illegible text) calamity, in its moſt awful and deftructive moments, has ſeldom offered to the deſponding obſevations of mankind. The face of the country ſeemed to be entirely changed: the vallies and the plains, the mountains and the foreſts, that were only the day before moſt beautifully clothed with every v(illegible text)are, were now deſpoiled of every charm; and an expected abundance and ſuperfluity of gain, (illegible text) a few hours ſucceeded ſterility and want; and every proſpect, as far as the eye could ſtretch, was visibly ſtricken blank with deſolation and with horror. The powers of vegetation appeared to be an on (illegible text)