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J'Ji OP THE ii .A ij^lf JFirt i ; 'i i-t '^iSs*-'-' y%t^^' *^'\ %'''■ \ :fi- ■ t ■fh- ■r. 4^ >s-4-i' A m "1T!i 1^^ W Tfi Tj!« •7:?»' , . ' ' -^ ' ' : >iii "'¥he statements of Many of thf, scnERr;K&. - , ^ Al»i> 4 VAE5.ETJ' OF INIEKESTTN'G OCXC'RHKNC'lS'J^! ^ ' A'*.' '^ r * '^ i \*% TOGETHER \SniU lu'FO yM\. ^ ENTITLED * *■ ' T e E CO N F LA G 1.1 AT 5 O N . " , -/T .^' ,f*^>' .>* ' a21!»S5»/3!L^Kf^«Kit'55!3Sff*i2: — *-«,^ 4>; AH ibiugt cotndtftiiko to all, there »«««'* evem'to »bp liglitcoKii ■ -J . ajid Uie wickt'd. ~ EcclesiasNs^ c, W v. 2. H« doll' !JOt iiSiicj wiJIiiifly oJ grieve th«i c^|plrcn of mem- |,%^- H A :l I r Jk.v?c, at. s, ^ .^' Fnnted at tbt' office '^f P. J. HtS^x/ND. i..iMI«l»b<-*,4w*<~^ ii U\ %*• ?>■••?• *j»= V. 'W «»< o.^'SApe **A i. "-'^ ^m- L-*. ' S'r I i^ ^^^Aife-i^ypr^ 'S' ' V ''it f. •■?»• -Kt '€• ■S'^' yit.'ilMl , '•^V-'i PREFACE. 'W i4 »iump>:ng t9 delineate rti« occurrences that form the subject of the fol* Scwin;; pHge», wotne inacroracies will probably arise. The suddennegs of tbe ralarnitjut Miraniif hi prevented that cool and collected observation of facts, «o desirable to form the gromid-work of a correct narration. In addition, the present work ban been ratbef'hastilx prepared, tinder the impression, that by conveying a complete account of the losses and sofl'erings of this unhappy settle* ment, an increased feelirjj may be excited to aid the survivors. One of the unhappy sttfTerers has furnished the author with the details of the destruction, of which he was an eye-witness ; and, through the }os« of property, a victim : and the description throughout has been drawn from the best sources of infor^ roatioQ that could be obtained at Miramicbl, and at Halifaic, whither many ot xho nnfortunate people have retorted. The fires that have raged on other parts of this continent about the same period having apparently originated from causes similar to those which pro- duced this mo8t destructive conflagration, it has been thought proper to add such notices of them as could be obtained in time. A short account of the previous settlements en the River is also appended ; and in couclosioo, the reader will find a notice of the measures taken in the cities and settlements of, ^eW'Bruns* wick, Nova-Scotia and Canada, and in the United States, to afford assistaucc (• their di3lrefiA''?d breiliren. -Ma f * m- 'f Af- «^ ^ ^ •■,?* . — ,j'—„^» »_„.,. * •iliSKi, n*»rm.n Mmiimiii»>-«— r'y I' #' i T^ArvMiht ♦ -■wwww^- THE settlements on the river 'vliramichi have nourished almost beyond example in this part of the New World. The first town (hat was built there, called Chatham, lies on the south bank of the river, and dates its origin about 30 years from this period. Us advances were gradual, but New- castle, situate on the north side of the stream, counted previ- ous to the devastation in tiiis autumn, upwards of 4S0 houses in the parish or circle around it, where ten years since there were hardly a dozen buildings. — The lumber trade, for which the site of Newcastle is eminently favorable, has, within a ' vpry (ew years, given a rapid growth to the settlements on boihsides of the river. Large mercantile establishmentshave boen formed there, and a numerous population of emigrants were employed in cutting lumber in the woods, and bringing it to the place of embarkation. The country around was ra- pidly irnprovina:, and within three months of the last,summer 146 lavi^e vessels sail'?d from the port to Europe with full car- goes of timber. The forests seemed almost inexhaustible,aDd the spirit of industrv brought the blessings of trade and con- sequent aflluence (o the active inhabitants. Two printing presses had been established, one at Newcastle, and the other at Chatham, where a newspaper was commenced. The estimabie and energetic governor of New-Brunswick, Sir Howard Douglas, desirous of securing to the people of every section in the country under his management, the ad- vantage of having their situation, local wants, and resources, known to th^ executive, had gone in every direction through New Brunswick, receiving in his progress the most sincere tokens of personal respect and attachment. At Miramichi in particular, his visit gave the greatest satisfaction. The inha- bitants were charmed with seeing, for the first time, an oflRcer of his rank, come among them with parental solicitude,to see with his own eyes the state of thecountry. A new town 8 miles ^■s^ Vj^ nourished iw World. atham,iies II about 30 , but NeW' itecJ previ- \:bO houses since there , for which within a ements on iientshave emijf rants d bringing nd was ra- st.summer th full car- ]stibie,aDd > and con- printini; 1 the other Irunswick, people of ^ the ad- resources, n through )st sincere ramichiin The inha- an officer ude,to see wnSiuiles below Newcastle, was named Douglaatown in honor of his au^ ministration. He assisted in person at the cereinon)' of lay- ing the corner stone of a Church to be erected at Newcastle. lie was complimented with a public dinner by the people, and he left them impressed with a high sense of his public jspirit and zeal for the happiness of the colonists. Their cup of happiness was filled to the brim, when misfor- tune a« tremendous as it was unexpected, in one night, nay in a few hours, hurled the largest portion of the settlements into ruin, involving life and property in the vortex of desfruction. The summer of 1825 was unusuallv warm in both hemi- spheres* Its bad effects were visible in America, in the pre- valence of epidemical disorders, "and many fell victims to the intense heat. Emigrants in the United States (ol'tlie labor- ing classes) frequently fell dead, after indulfj;ing their intolera- ble thirst, with cold water. In No\a-S'cotia, tires raged in August and September, in the woodi?, throuijh the whole east- ern division of the peninsula, though little injury was sug- tained, the country being generally cleared for a considerable distance round the villages and farm-houses, and n»uch inter- sected with lakes and rivers that intercept and suspend the vi- olence of the fire. Rain had checked and nearly put out those fires about ihe middle of September. — In Miramichi the season had been very dry,rain had not fallen there during the whole summer ; but this produced no inconvenience, as the vicinity abounds with the most delightful and perennial springs. The woods to the north of the river in the direction oiUie dis- trict of Gaspe had been fired in some places in the early part of the season, and the flames were visible at Miramichi ; but firesin the woods are usual every summer in the British pro- vinces, being the mode of clearing the soil adopted by the far- mers, and no damage was anticipated nor the slightest appre- hension entertained. On the afternoon of Friday the 7th of October 1825, about half-past 3 o'clock p. m. a broad and den^' column of smoke was seen to rise in a vertical direction, at & considerable dis- tance in a direction N. W. of Newcastle. The atmosphere was partially obscured by it, but the wind, which was mode- rate though shifting,blowing from the north, appeared to car- ry it to the leeward of those parts of the river that were more thickly inhabited, and consequently, little or no apprehension of danger was entertained. It was, however, supposed that extensive fires must be raging in that quarter, but they excit- f • •>. l\ i^ «*>■ 'H jjife. '^>«j»H^ilocilv from the adja- cent woods, and in a momerit enveloped the devoted settle- men's of Newcastle, Douj.-lastowa,ar.d in fact.the whole north- ernside of the river,with flame,cinderR,asl)ej,and healed sand. The hope of preserving life became the sole idea that present- ed if self to the appalled and horror-stricken people, who iied in every direction with the most precipitate eagerness. In about three minutes from the appearance of the flame, their houses were all blazina;;. At this period the scene wasawfully terrible. The dazzling briiihtness of the flames — the tremendous blasts ot the stonp that swept them with an inconceivable impetuosity, over the surface of the earth and water — the a«»:onized feelinijs, and the horrors of the flyini:^ and distracted inhabitants — the screams oc the burnt, the burniu*^, and the wounded, minified with the cries of domestic animaM scorched and suflbcatinjj with the heat. Men fly injj half naked— the sick, of whom there were many from the epidemical fever, endeavouring to save their feebl in«r t glean Jnfa fatal up to confl; to be haps mjty Son their to ra( suflfer witho J;?norj i storm t this re I OUS Wi 'b lyin/f ri I castle, 1 fire wfi I than tl I tibie n fed the tants, i\ lives.— survive which t than th |cully St Iter; a * Many loiiiers pai 'Bpol, part fas ball a |lie £outl) iiieclioii, ixcruciuiii ngiys.; hardly be lunerhav- r iiiisttince, ity of the protracted 1 tho N.VV. ieneJ that dii as iisiiai ati)' further I ttie woods, J thicken the I o\ be distill- ■] unce of not | y after, the A np^ iijoreaud | \nd dismay- '| ent lounda- | recommenc- | ited vision ; »nse sheet of II) the adja- oled settle- hole north- eated hand, hat preseni- le, who ited rness. In ame, their rhe dazzling ]t the storip ty, over the hijs, and the llhe screanis led with the i|r with the there were save their feeble stake in existence — women with their infants,* all urg- ing; their way throii*;h the volumes of smoke and fire that p^lcsmed deetruclion around them and seemed to bar retreat. Jn fact no description can do justice to the miseries of those fatal moments, as the proximity of immense forests parched up to tinder by the s 'mmer's heat, and now in one universal conflagration, caused an ocean of fire that we may conclude to be unparalleled in the history of forest countries, and per- haps not surpassed in horrific sublimity by any natural cala- mity from this element, that has ever been recorded. Some of the people ran to the river side and pinniped up to their necks in the water for safety. Others betook Ihemseiveii to rafts of timber, iloatinj]^ logs, canoes, boats and scows, and suffered themselves to drift at the mercy of the wir.d and tide, witliout oars, sails, or any other assistance to j^uide them, and ijjnorant whether they could find an asylum froin the blazing storm that blew death and havoc among them. To many, this resource was ujiavailinjj, and they sunk in the treacher- ous wave never to rise. Hundreds took refuge in a ouirsh lyinjf near the river, and about half a mile southwest of iS'ew- caslle, expecting each moment would be their last, as the fire which they had left behind be.\jan to pursue them faster than they could lly before it. There was little of a combus- tible nature between the town and the marshjso that it prov- ed the pafest retreat which could be allbrded to the inltabi- lants, and this fortunate circumstance jaxed many valuable lives. — To detail the means by which the different persons who survived obtained their safety, or to describe the manner in whiciithe unhappy victims perished, would occupy more sp.ice than the limits of this work could afford : danger and dilH- culty stared the people in front, wherever they sous;ht sheN ter ; and their escapes were in many instances hiizardous in *Many were ob'.igeit to fly from theii beJ« wi«h no covering but a blanket, lolbers jiartly diesaed, ftw wiib aH iheir rlothes on, aud none bad time lo stop Ito jfiAve any part ot iheir i-Moiteity. Tbe cattle were j-firiiy desiroyed on Jba |ipol, part in eudeavoririg to effect ibeii escape wt i e drowned m the river, which was ball a mile bro.id at tliat placp, ;uid sinne soccccried in swimtning across to |he soiitb tide. Mt w, v,omi'n and elnldien were heard gcreeching in everjf iireetioii, some rusliini; froni the fire, t>eiiiodiiiiig tiie loss ot' tlieir bit^baud^, bliildrcn, parents, wives, bio'.hers, f'ii«^ii(?lotv |Jt(in2|- aci fainod tc hi could the wooi Iters wci The SCGI tleed. W| Jevions (h fnding nic • Th« mastfir of a vessel lying iu. Ibe sircain took up a bible and compare^ the predictions of the Last Day as there set out with the sights and sounds tha assailed him, and believed firmly al the moment that It was indeed the eud all ihiHgs. ^ fhe ships , are giv* extended ^Chaleur, I The shipping l^-ing in the river amounted to 129 sail of iirjuare rigged vessels ; and diirins; the whole of the hurricane iliey were in the most imminent danger from the violence of t|ie wind and the fierceness of the flumes. Numbers caught rein (he rigging and their lighter upper works. The assi- nous care and perseverance of the seamen saved them I with the exception of the three before mentioned*,andtwo hers that were at Ihe time on the stocks, belonging toMessrs. brams & Co. which were consumed : and, notwithstanding e seamen could barely preserve their own ves8els,they bold- exerted themselves in rescuing from the Wuter,some ofthose happy persons who had made it their refuge. The town ofClMtham on the southorn siiie of the river wa«; most ppily preserved, otherwise all the unfortunate beings who escap- with tlieir lives must have become the victims of starvation, or rishod for the want of shelter. The tires were raging both above d h(?low Chathan),and it was once actually on fire ; but the unre- Sttina: activity of its inhabitants extinj^uished the fire before it had tained too great an influence. It was so situated that hardly a fid could liive been saved from it, if the fire had gained a footing, ilic woods in every direction around it were burning, and the Iters were there too agitated and violent to admit of crossing. i«?chief, the IThe scene which morning presented to the eye, was melancholy rpassing all yced. Where villages,houses and improvements had existed on the o ._i- aey|Q,,s (l-ty^ blackened heaps of ruins met the view. Tall chimnies nding alone or in clusters, marked the sites of the large and ele« t wooden buildings, of which they Avere the sole remnants. Ves- s on shore, logs of timber adrift and scattered on the shores, with grnents of household utensils. The lofty pines stripped of their rdure and beautyj and standing scathed monuments of the devas- Jon. The bodies of the burned were to be seen in some instances so hor- llicbibuc- )lace over md South :k Rivers, 100 miles e miles of j9 of flame viewed the 1, the seat e day that Upper and i river Pe- ; for thirty le extent of pidity with inds, to find 3f America, t Lawrence ices. Such people, that terrible day hearts and •xposed the were burnt )Out ii 'w'**^* dy mangled that nature recoiled at the spectacle. Some that where ouib, cenesof dis- at once have len touched fell to pieces in almost a pulverized state, others mu- itcd. Of some the heads were partially destroyed and the brains urn oi human pstlng out of the integunjents; in others the entrails were bared, ular part, it my were so disfigured that they could not be recognized. In eve- direction such horrible objects were to be seen, frequently in the ivulsed posture in which their distracted tortures had terminated stence. The bodies of the drowned were cast on the shore, par- jlly burnt or otherwise mangled. The horses, oxen, sheep, dogs, in fine all kinds of domestic animals had shared with their pro- tor, man, the miseries and destruction of the horrible night, and re scattered around dead or dying on the land and the waters. and compaic sand sounds th indeed tUe etid I I. The ships Concord and Canada, and brig Jane. ■■■■II ^^^^ y^ ditjv-,: ^-ymm^ JO \\ Those persons who survived had in many instances their hands j, and feet much burnt, and the faces of some were much scorched anJ injured. Many were temporarily deprived of their vision, and near* iS^djfr In \y all had theii' eyes alTecled and rr>ddencd from the showers of hoti^"' to »" sand and ashes they had encountered. The fever had prevailed 1 Almighty much in Miramichi belore this fire, and very many who escaped the i ^^j g,^,g flames were sutlering under its inflictions. The appearance of th<; ' place and the physical surt'crinf}^ nnderg-one, were truly deplorable i ^^'*'^*'" hut the feeling-s of those unhappy persons at this conjunctr.re almosii) ^^^''®'"^" defy description. The sad reality of their losses weighed themdownl observaiii Here and there a solitary individual was to be seen broodina: in un- and at lei litterable ans^uish on the loss of property, of kindred, and ot bosomi tneaus of, friends ; while elsewhere a group of the heartless and disconsolate! j^ j^g^ ^ fufferers v/ere recounting their miseries to each other, and vainl)| essaying to extract a ray of hope from the horrible catastrophe be fore them. The insufliciency of means to provide for the wretched and destitute — the fears for the fate of the numerous parties of lum berers connected with the place and bivouacked in the recesses o the forest, of whom 3000 were known to be out, were the subject: \ of their lamentations. Very many were so astounded at what thejl had undergone, that they could not realize the truth of their appal!|^ ing calamities ; and man, confounded and bewildered at of liie jhores of M'nainiclii ar« laiii ir'irce ot thi ,' , , , ' , waste : indtnurnlfnt of the North wcM Biaticli, tlitt H.iilibogiK', and ihe Nani>»u V deplorable ■'* . < . r •^ . I .x fcjeitlemento, from one or two hundred peoiiie have ptMJyln^d wiihin immedmte inctrre almosii, ' t i y ed themdown^^ observation, and thrice that niimberare miserably burnt or oi!ierwJs« wounded ; roodin"" in un- ' and at least two thousand of our fellow rreaiuies are left dcstiiuie of the and of bosomi means of fubsistJ-nce, and thrown at present ujor; the hunr^nlty of the l*rovi:»ce id disconsolate Jjjjjew Brunswick. »r, and vainl|| atastrophe bf j i: the wretched parties ol' lum. the recesses cm e the subject! ', . ' liMnd devaitiaiion which the uari^^h of Newcastle at this niomeiit pre.^enla ; out it their appall J ^ * ' at «hc prostraill*^"*''^^'^''* of two htiudred and fifty housea and stoses, fourteen uf the least seemed to losdlonsiderablp only remain. The Cotnt House, Gaol, Church, Barracks, Mi's-.rs. arth,the woods^ilnaour, Rankin & Co. and Messrs. William Abranis & Go's Establishment* are r witness of th^gjyjjg J ^^ ^^^^^^^ ring humanity^ 'M "The loss of property is incalculable, for the Fire, borne upon the wingiofa eigiiDOurs, WurricaiK', rushed upon the wretched inhabitants! with such iticonceivable rapi. *' The number of lives that have been lost in the remote parts of the woods,, kmoDg the lumbering parties cannot be ascertained for some time to come, for It is feated thai few are left to tell the t»le. '' It i» not in the power of laognage to dcscnb;^ the nn^'aralleled scene of ruin lOUthful The dead ani re congregate Tient increase fferers, and di| Overwhel lad not the pr ►n appealed n ftcr the destru md 9t. John,a was received 'i R lOth, 18^5. ce« of the drea 4>i 12 by giving them supplies of Hritish and West India goods for the sea. son. The intelligence arrived at Halifax on the afternoon of Saturday the 15th October; and early on Sunday morning the 16th a town meeting was held, and ^^1200 subscribed on the spot. Committees were sent round the town and vicinity to solicit subscription?, and a young gentleman was dispatched overland, to carry intelligence to Miramichi, th.Tt provisions and clothing would immediately be for. elements warded. His Excellency Sir James Kempt attended theMeeting.and on the ensuing morning (Monday) convened his Majesty's Counci and in conjunction with the members of the Assembly then in Hall, fax, they directed j^ 1000 to be given out of theProvincial Treasury. The garrison and the navy in harbour gave a day's pay. Sermons were preached by all the clergy, and collections made in their res. Dective churches; and the greatest anxiety was manifested by all the inhabitants for their suftering brethren. Servants requested their employers to settle their wages, that they might contribute their mite to the cause. A ship of war, the Orestes, Capt. Litchfield, was despatched with provisions, &c. and thre? or four smaller vessels,an(l several military surgeons volunteered to go, that they might be of service tot)\e wounded. — The subscriptions in Halifax soon amount ed to upwards of ^^2000, besides the grant of £1000 from the Trea. sury, and articles of necessity contributed in lieu of money, and esti. mated at above j^IOOO ; and throughout Nova Scot.' a, as will be seen in the Appendix, the example of Halifax was promptly imitated. The subscriptions that were made in New Brunswick, Prince Ed- ward Island and abroad, as far as they have come to hand at the time of publishing this work, will be also found in the Appendix. ^nd the particulars of the loss of; lives and effects as more correctlV ascertained, are there stated. Great praise is due to the prompt zeal and enlightened benevo- lence displayed by Sir James Kempt on this occasion. The exam- pie of men in high station when it tends to good purposes, is efficaci- ous in the extreme ; and the readiness with which the people of No- va Scotia follow the good examples of eminent persons, is often manl fested. When the intelligence of these disasters reached Fredericton (it- self half destroyed by the same element) Sir Howard Douglas called a public me eting|;^ai)d addressed the people in the follovring terms :—Pt celled an hose catet '* The last Meeting was called to devise measures and raise fouds for the re lief of those persons who have suffered loss in the late calamitous fire ; and this wa» d^'Qe impressed with tbankfuloess to Almighty God, that however great ..Ihai calamity was, it had been assigned limits to by b\% mercifal interposition ■which have left some persons with means sufficient to assist others In those ca lamities which the menacing aspect of the woods and of the atmosphere portend €(J. Wh€ claims to ation we tiiictive e viiJtc, has here, and dilated, at the devoH olation, d fort. la 1 fa sacrej fVudly hoj its town h jrct for lh vijico too, aiiib cau8 rlbutariei liccour ai "When u» that a ef n doue ud doubt ittance f aiamity, (I by the ti'cctual a which will ve or six vid«d b iRDifested ccasioD, ion for ra( bem to en aaoy pcrst ling of a p participate r.:j4**vt«VMfa>v~n- ds for the sca< )n of Saturdaj le 16th a town Committees riptions, and a intelligence to diately be for. leMeeting.and esty's Council,; r then in Hall Id cc'. When I suggested ibis provision and i urpasr, I ant'c'jialtJ not dial sucli cldioislo both weresonear, or soawful ; but it has pbastJ God ihat the d«so« lation we here suffered, bas been driven wiih terrific fury elsewhere. The dtj- tiiictive element which was causing such devastations in these parts of the pro< viijC, has extended widely and terrifically, by the gale which w^bexperlv uccd here, and by which the mighty action more extensively au«i lapiiily iucieasin^, dilated, as it proceeded, to a most impetnous hurricane. Thus the curagej Ieraents,actiiig upon and exciting each othn, burst into a flood of dame upon- the devoted sitticments on the Miramichi lliver, and have occasioned ruin, de« olation, death and misery, where late I witnessed prcspeiity, plenty and cotu> cial Treasury,9^<''^^* 1° ^'^^^ town which is now laid in a^hes, I placed uu '*'*s remote fiom the seat of governranf, disastrous tflec's from tb-: ler vessels,an(]W>iH"t; cause have been produced; and on the Oroniocto, atd the Ut uUhigoDi-ih, sy might be ofStiibutarles of the river on which you live, cas^^s of the deepest dihtress call tor xsoon amDunt-Bsiiccour and comfort. rom the Tpg'i nl t 'M «\vhcn I first received the melancholy account of these caiamitics.I was dosir- 3ney, and esti.fl ^ as will be seeD'W"'* '''^* * subscription should be raised here, in addition to what hsve already y imitated. ^p^n done; but fearful to press upon the dlitress which weie then so rtcen', ck, Prince Ed<|vud doubtful whether they cotrld be so soon relievf^d, I sent a considerable re« md at the timeUnitiance from the King's Revenue, and my own funds, «o the site of the greater pendix, ^ndBalamity, and by aud with the advice of his Majrstv'sCouucil, who.deej.ly atfecN More correctlvn >Hed by the awful calamity, concurred with me as to the nooessity of adopting itened benpvo-a *''**^*"*' *'^'^®"S®™*'"*' for immediate relief, proceeded with other mta.uite.s The exam-B*''"^^ "'''^ c»nvey in a very few days to M.iamiciii, succcms to the extent ot ^es, is eihcacl-V^e or six thousand pounds. Means sulKcient for immediate relit f being thus people of No>piP9vid«d by the abundant good feeling, benevoleiiru, and chaiity, which havo IS Olten munir^j^^Q^fg^iQJ themselves in our own and in cnr Sistti P; evince, on »h's rae'aticholy I . . ,. —.ccasion, I revert to the reserved purpose of endfavouiing to procure piov:- Doufflas calleda*'^'' ^^^ more remote relief, in restoring ani relieviivg what this calimify has ring terms :— levelled and ruined, by a general fund, which I tru.Ht will be raised to relieve hose cases of greatest distrei^s, namely, persoirs of a condition which compels hem to endure their misery silently though severelj ; to rcestahlivh in bnsiueKs aany persons who have entirely lost their little capitu's inv sphere portend U '4 m k w \n mmlm ■TS^"^' 14 'I if 11 ! 1 towns, in a way which I hope the Leglslatare will tnforce to prevent the rccot' reoce of like daof^eri ; but which could not be eifected if the Buffeiers are cou> strained from insafficieney of means t0 recoDBtrnct their «8tabK8btn«ut» in the cheaper but more perilous manner and n*terial of the eoautt-y. " Tolhis fond, part of which should be immediately remitted for the use of yoor unfortonato fellow snfferers, (for the destruction of so much provisions and stores, puts it out of your power to send aid in kind,) I shall contribute farther from my private purse, in addition to what I have already given ; aud I bhall crave bis Majesty's liberalUy from his provincial fund, in aid : and baviu^ ihHs done all in my povrer for immediate and prospective relief aud lesioraticn, 1 am about to proceed to the seat of greater calamity, that I may be under uo uncertainty as to the sufficiency of means, ere the rigours of wiuter add to the severity of the catastrophe. " What good I may be able to effect there, I know not. Bat I obey the im* piiUe of feelings, and a sense of duty, which teii me, that where the people are in calamitous difficnlties that admit of alUviaiion, which by auy possibility may be withiu his power, there the Governor ought to be." His Excollencj' then set out for the scene of woe, to carry consola- tion and advice to the afflicted inhabitants. One is naturally led to reflect on the causes which produced these misfortunes, and the means which might have lessened their bad ef- fects, or prevented their occurrence. — That more caution than is at present used in No.ih America, with respect to the clearing of wood- land by fires, should be adopted, seems highly desirable. That set. tlements should never be made until a sufficient extent of'country be cleared to protect them from fires in the woods, seems alio iui object of the first importance ; and when we consider (he incalculable losses sustained in every direction, from the fallacious economy of preferring wooden houses to those of stone and brick, it seems very necessary that some additional nm] more efl'ecliial laws should be en- acted by the Legislatures of {he northern colonies, to meet the cir- cumstances in which (hey are now placed ; and to guard, as [nr as possible, against the recurrence of those evils. To those who have it in their power to add to the contributions already made for the suiTercrs under this unequalled misfortune, we would address the simple words of scripture — " Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." It is easy to conceive vvhat one placed under such trying circutnstanccs would hope for from the kindness and good will of his fellow creatures, subject, like himself, to be visii'ed in the same terrible manner. He would hope for the most ready assistanc.^ — the most frank generosity. If then, reader, such would be your expectations from the humanity of your fellow ■^mn^ff ^ t t l nr 15 :> I I nt tbe rccar ftrttH are cou« sbaieuifr in ihe for the use of uch provistons hall contribute I given ; aud I and baviu^ id restoraticD, y be under uo ter add to tbe mortals, remember that very many have, in ihis instance, been de« prived of every thing that made life valuable to them ; and their conditio ' is therefore more [4ti»b!e than tliat x)f those who expired ill the flames. Recollect how little can be done with the few thoa< sand pounds that have yet been subscribed, and which hardly will suffice to keep in existence, during the coming winter, the relics of \hU once flourishing place. A population of fifteen thousand soul^ on this river have been all more or less sufferers in life, person, or properly, by this event ; and too much cannot be done towards rein- stating them in the means of ea.ning their livelihood,which, if neg- lected, will leave many of them wanderers and outcasts on the earth. Ill I obey the ini' the people are tossibility may irry consola- iduced tbese Iheir bad ef- on than is at ing of wood- . That set. 3f'countiy be lao iui object incuiculable economy of : seems very lionld be en- leet tho cir- rd, as [ixr as ontrlbutions sfortune, we to others as iceive what or from the ike himself, lope for the len, reader, your fellovr ■ ■jW^SBF- "'"V*^^ 16 i3J^DIX. • ^wwvwv - Extracts from the Sketches of New Brunswick. COUNTY OF NORTHUMBERLAND. River MiRAMiCHi.—Tlil!* is one of the finest rivers for lumber iu the province. iu bunks, a-i w< II as the bank) of the uiioierous streams that fall into it, are covered vritb pines of the f.ucst growth, which ap}iear to be almost inexhanstible, far aUhongh lu.ubering ha^ been prosecuted ou this river to a great extent for a tuimber of years past, there Is still abundance found by going a little back from the water. It is indeed the main source of the trade of the large county of Nortbn!nberUn<1. One bnnJred and forty one thousand three hundred and civilly fonr tons of timbtr were shipped at the portof Miramichi in 1824. Rafts ate taken down th's river with the greatest safety to the shipping, which load at different places from the month of the riverup to Fraser's Island. It has two main branches called the north we*t and south west, whidh run a great way ii}ti> tie country, Slid will: their nu.uerous streams lay open the inmost recesses C) this extensive county. Several fine islands lay in the course of this river, ( avercd with clurt,ash, butternut, &c. which in variably denote the most laxurious 8t>ll. Its waters are well stored with excellent salmon and other fish, which are caught here in great abundance. There are several settlements along this riret none of which merit a particnlar description, the improvement of the country being neglected for lumbering. The branches of this river approach io several ) laces very near to streams falling into the river St. John, which commutilcate by fhort portagen, 1 he county of N'orlhunihrrland j )lns Weeirnoreland on the southward, and is iiounded eastwardly by (he Gulph of Siint Lawrence, and Bay of Chaleur. On tiie northwestward by the Bay of Chaleur to the river Ristigoiiche, and west- wardly by a continuation of the western boundary litie of Westmoreland. The |iopu!ation of this county amounts to 15,829. This extensive county lies along the Gulph of Saint Lawrence having a gf«at extent of sea-coast, tt includes several Urge bays and rivers, and comprises more than one third of the province. It contains the following parishes:— Newcastle, Chatham, Ludlow, Northrsk, Alnwick, CarIeton,Bercsford,Olenelg .Saumarez, Wellington, and Nelson. It is a great iun),bering county, and furnishes more squared timber annually than the whole province besides. The pine is of the best qnalilr, and found in immense quantities along the numerous strtams, and rivers with which this part of the country abounds. The lumber shipped from this county genttrally commands a belter pi ice iu the British market than «fet4- ;r^ PSFTTS.- --^.' »•-■>■(«. ««r'- D. the province, into it, are nexhanstible, t extent for a tie bark from rge county of hundred and 11824. Rafts , Mfhich load nd. It has 1 a great wajr no(t recesses '■ of this river, lost laxurious >b, which are ongthis river the country icb in several cominuhicate liward, and is ibalQur. On , and went' reiand. The iviogagreat id comprises parishes :>- i>rd,Gl«oelg nd furnishes be pine is of IIS striains, ber shipped Qarlcet than 17 (torn auy other part of the province. The principal port for Mbipping i% Mirv micbi, which is crowded with vessclj during the summer and autumn. Newcastle is a considerable place for lo((.Vn)g,aud although it may be consi Iron and Copper, tons Corn, bushels Meal, barrels Rice, cwt«i. Beef and poi k, barrels Peas and beans, bcti rels Wine, gallonn Brandy and Gin, gallons Rum, gallons Molassea, gallons Coffee, cwts. Pimento, lbs. Sugar, cwts iialtytOBS 727 280 1,144 1,063 6,41)3 ^ 23.5^3 5 Hides, number 710 12.-. 9i. M Go,;ioo 34 200 8G,C*7 5 Mahogany, Logwood,&c. tons 23,533 5 Bricks, M. l26 J Stone ware, pieces t24 \ Slates M. 2,462 5 Barley, bushels 410$ British merchandize, pacliages, :>,600 EXPORTS IN 1824. 531 Vcssels-~94,800 Tons— 4,341 Men. Timber, tons 141,384 i Dry fish, quintals Pine boards and i)lai!k,M. feet 1,250 \ Pickled fish, barrels Staves, M. 304 J Smoked herrings, boxes Shingles, M. 8 | Flour, barrels Mastsaad spars 1400^ Brta(i,(io. Oars and oar rafters 702 ^ Rum, gallons Handspikes, number H88 i N'aval stores, barrels ^atbwood, cords 3,080 * Tobacco, cwts. [Tha number of iuhabitantsin the different paiishes in the county of Nortbunt berland is computed as fellows :] Newcastle, Chatham, Ludlow, ist district, Ludlow, 2d do. Northesk,l8'c d<>. Northesk, 2d do. Alnwick, Ist do. 41liwick,2d do. 1057 \ Carleton, - 1452 * Beresford, 918 \ Glineig, 390 I Sanmares!, Ist district, 1243 5 Saumarez, 2d do. 200 \ Wellington, 245 i Nelson, 373* 580 7f) 737 7 8,627 45 lOf* lOG.T lose. 8nn 941» 182S 155.1 il3| ■V, j 'A' ■i ¥. '.0 % Asi I '!.:■, :itw«Mm 'i^iit» ,« i »i' < 18 REMinKABLE iXST.lNCES OF SUFFERIXGS AND t7.V. COMMON INCIDENTS, ni'^HE miseries gu?;t}iined by some of the unfortunate people ■^ and manyof the iumi>erii]«; j)artie« in the interior, intinite* ly surpassed those whit-h others amonp; tlieni had to undergo. The followinij notices of extraordinary suflerinj*- have been selected, as showinij most c!earl> the horrors of the fire. A female had waded above her neck into the riverjto avoid \ho_ flames ; but while t!iui! seeking shelter from th'^ir violence, they pursued her with such force, that unable longer to bear t'le intense heat, she sunk intf» the stream and perished. Her body was discovered in the mornini» at some distance from the channel, near the border of a grass plot, whither the ^torm had thrown her. A livid scar beamed her countenance from above the left eye to the lower part of the right cheek. At about 14 miles distance from Newcastle two men were *^jrprized by the fire, and betook themselves to a brook for safety. They immersed themselves in the water, and thus were saved, while the flame passed speedily over them. One however had his face partly burned, as he had not succeeded in entirely covering it with water. in a house on the south side of the rivet^ half a mile from a settlement called Nelson, the fever of the summer had car- ried off the husband a few weeks previous to the fire. The wife was left with three children, all with the same complaint, i^he fled from the fire when it approached, and it has since been ascertained, that besides her dwelling, the three infants with' herself were consumed. A coloured girl had been imprisoned in the jail for makin<; away with an illegitimate ciiild. When thp doors were open- I'd, she ran out ; but finding the fire had communicated to (Hery part of the town, and perhaps supposing that to remain in a stone building might prove as safe as to be exposed out* side, she ran in again ; but by this time the stone had Helen literally heated as a furnace, and she was compelled to retire n second time, in attempting which she was burnt to d^ath. Two young brothei:s about 14 or 15 years of asre, who had iled from their home, which wa« taking fire, n^ade for a clear Hpot in the woods, which fhey supposed would not besubj^tt to the flames. In this they were mistaken, and the fire de- stroyed them both. On the following moriiing', they wei^ found clasped in each other's arms. #• ^•*4 -, ^^fB**Jj (t iiS^T^'.-yiV'L'ffe^ 19 YD U.y- e people infinite' iiiuicrgo. ;\ve been lire. ,to avoiil violence, r to bear L^l Her ince from ither the intenance I cbeek. [lien were brook for and thus im. One succeeded mile from r had car- e. The mplaint. as since e infants |r inakin<* jre open- licated to \o remain )ged out* [trad Helen to retire id^ath. [who had »r a clear |e subject fire de- ' A poor woman atNappan who had been some distance from her habitation, left her children at home, consisting of bro- thers and sisters amounting to five in number ; and before she could return in time to rescue them from the flames they were all burnt to cinders. A merchant whose establishment was situated several miles below Douglastown,lost his mother, sister, and five children in the fire, and his father died the following day of a severe cold he had caught, while standing in the water to avoid the flames. Ot a family of nine in number, not one escaped ; and out of another, seven perished — Some had their heads burned olT — some their brains exposed to view — some their bowels burst- ing out, vchile all other parts of their bodies were burnt as though it were tinder ; and others were so much burnt that the human form could scarcely be distinguished. Out of a lumbering party ofS in number, but one succeed- ed in saving himself. The fire came through the woods with that velocity, that in the situation of some of the lumberers, it would be as safe for them to attempt to penetrate it, as to re- treat from it. This individual reasoned in this manner, and recollecting the situation of a green hardwood grove in the vicinity of his camp, immediately made for it, where he met the fire and passed through it without receiving any material injury J A person attempting to escape from the flames, took his child in his arms,and in the coitfusioohe fell down with it,and it was trampled upon ; he succeeded in securing it, and made for the river t in this condition the flames came upon them, and it was with much difficulty that by a constant splai^hing ot the water over the child aiid himself,with the unoccupied arm, that they were saved with little or no injury. An inhuman wretch and a father of three children in the Jparish of Newcastle left them at home,and in the midst of the Iccnfusion resorted to plundering. His children were burnt |to death, and he t)jLit barely escaped himself. An honest laboring man whose wife and child were sick of the fever^ lost all his tooU^ household pro{^erty and clothing. ^\e was seen carrying his wife towards the marsh with only a >lanket around her, to shelter her from the severity of the [^ight. It was not until the afternoon of Sunday following lat he coald get them into a place affording even the most idiifereht accommodation. When he was observed requesting morsel of bread for himself, having almost totally denied ■ i I -k I i •■ - li . 20 / himself up to that period, that the objects of his care should be first served. Two or three families, comprising some sick persons, were obliged to erect a temporary platform under the eves of part of the south bank of the river, a short distance above Chat- ham ; and in this situation thev remained both day and night, exposed to the cold, deticient of provision, and with clothin:^ scarcely sufficient to cover themselves. On the morning after the fire, a poor man was seen depriv- ed of both his eyes, and from the incompetency of medical aid, he was under the necessity of having the wounds dressed in the best possible way,and their places wern supplied with lint ! A creature in the shape of a human being, took advantage of the hour of distress, and robbed his aged mother-in-law of £50 — the only cash she possessetf. The house of Mr. M'Callum in the vicinity of the marf^h at Newcastle was spared, and afforded a grateful shelter to the sick particularly , and to as many others as could obtain roon^ suflicient to either sit or stand. In this place one individual had the ingratitude to rebuke the kind host with a want of attention in not furnishing him with a place of rest similar to that which the diseased occupied. The same unconscientious wretch was pUcedin the possession of a piece of fine cloth,by a merchant who saved it in the stead of his books and desk, with which he immediately decamped. He was, however, pursued, overtaken, and the property regained. The next morning he requested a reward for his trouble [ One instance will be suificient to furnish the reader with an idea of the suddenness of the fire. A person was landed at the ferry at iXewcastle, just as the ashes and cinders were beginning to fall, wiien he itnmediately repaired to his lodg- ings. Me had not been (here long when he heard a tremen- dous roaring in the wooc's on the hill in the rear of the town, and perceived through the window a yellow cast in the at- mosphere — a total darkness having prevailed before, iie directly made towards the hill in order to ascertain the cause of the noise, and had reached a distance of 200 yards from the house, when the hurricane drovedownsBch quantities of ashes and smoke, that he was compelled to return. He had gone al)out half way, when his breast became oppressed with a painful sense of approaching sufibcation. He lost all trace oj where he was, and was in the act of making for the river,whe;i he inquired of a person who was running past him what par of the town they were in, and was informed, accidentally naai be^ rea wh( veJ( A sion deva catti insta main parte Th where ader w landed Iniiers were his lodg- a uemen- If the lovvr., t in the at lo .fore. kle In the cause ing (he dis^tance from his loJ^innjs. At IIh juncture (he fire he^an to shower down in torrents, and he had onlv (imp to reach the house, secure a small parcel, and rp«»ain the street, when the roof was on fire, and the 'own beginning to be en- veloped in flames ! Amonj; the stranjje incidents which occurred on the occa- sion the following will serve to manifest the necessities and devastations to which all living creatures were subject: — The cattle wherever they could, resorted to the river, and in one instance a bear was discovered amongst them, where he re- mained until the danger had passed over, when he quietly de- parted without attempting to do any mischief. The salmon in the respective branches of the main river, where the conflagration had prevailed, were literally bruised to death and suffocated, from th6 substances which poured upon the waters and the disturbance occasioned by the hurri- cane, as immense numbers of them, with bass, trout, &c. were found on the shores the next day. The same causes produced the like effects upon the sea fowl — numbers of them, particu- larly gulls, having been discovered dead upon the shores. On the approach of the fire, the snakes made for ihe clear- ings, and in some places where th^y tould not make further effort! to escape from the flames which raged on both sides of the roads, many were found dead the next morning. On the point above Chatham, the fire raged and destroyed the woods and every thing that coOld be consumed around a dwelling house, for the distance of 60 yards, firoro it ; but fop iih I ^u^^^^iy the house did not receive the slightest injUrv,— The mn 1 _ .. _ .. ^_ .1- ___- r^ .1!. '^-Msb Church, rds from iies of ash the shes had goi\t\ jsed Nviih a tall trace 01 river,w hei m what par entally naav fire also came so near to the neiv Gothic Engl situated on An eminence to the southward of the point, that the wooden railings, which were not IS yards from the door, were burnt; and the building itself stood without the small- est symptoms of even the paint having been heated ! — A little beloW the point the wind was awfully furious — strong green trees were lifted by their roots out of the ground, and some which retained their hold were wrenched down in the centre y the weight of their tops. A green hemlock situated on th6 eree of the bank of the river, ofabout SO diameter inches,was roken oflTinthe middle,andthetop blown into the road,about feet from the stump which was left standing ! Within 50 yards around the house occupied byMr.Gilmour lie fire consumed every thing in its way ; and although this is u large wooden building and situate on an eminence,where r{ would imagine it impossible to escape, it was not injured. i I I S2 Wv J / The heat of the fire was intense beyond conception. In BOiue cases, gold and eilvcr cemented ; the largest pieces of iron were reduced a quarter of an inch, and pealed otT in flakes — some pieces ot that Hize were nearly consumed into ashes; brass and copper of considerable bulk melted like lead. In several places the fire burnt the soil to the depth of one and two inches. 4 The master of a regular trader from the Bay of Verte to ' Miraiiiichi states, that on the night of the fire while running before the wind, off point Escuminac, it became at once so dark, that from the helm he could not distinguish the main boom, and only now and then when the heavy and boiling seas broke upon his vessel, he could perceive the furious and fiery liquid ; that the ashes and cinders showered upon the vessel so dense, as to affect both sight and respiration ; and that al- though the wind was favorable to his course, it was with much dilBpulty be succeeded in saving his vessel. The lunes, be remarked, Appeared to be unusually confused and distressed on the day before, even though a storm was approaching, and kept up an incessant screaming. mistakes have been made as to the fires raging after the theconfiagratioa. T(iiB was not the case — All the damage that the fire coulfjl produce in the woods, particularly on the point above Chatham, and on the northern banks of the river, was effected on the night of the calamitv, as en the following morning U was nearly j^l extingul^ed without the agency of rainr-ior after Oiie ligi^t stuff had ^ii burnt, the strength of influence consump- tions ; but the smoke which issued from the earth, was, apparently, not great ; and flames were not to be discovered in the vicinity. In the interior parts of the woods, however, some fires re- mained. Proceedings at Chatham. For three days and nights after the fire, there was no wind of any consequence; the immense bodies of s^uoke therefore fell to the earth. On the succeeding Sunday, the weather be* ing calm, it was so thick that no objects could be distinguish* ed at a distance of only 30 yards. At 13 o'clock, the alaro was given that cattle had suffucated,and the wretched inhabi'r^'^'"®<'>"«i tants expecting it soon to be their own doom (a heavy pre^'l '//jat an p ^ure upon (he breast being already felt) prepared themselv6»'d tliesuffei 4he last alternative, by digging holes in the ground, to inhaWOout to jg^^ (he ten] aga ianc and seJv tack cartJ cut i rroa< aiJ vv ful su thinoi ti(i (o air fro tied ai ginnin/ i"g- it c ;i perfe u'aste Jiinged tiio lire, h wa: iiid ivas 'liio hudl dualjjj I '-'/ thesu. ^^' a Gj's r*^(I thcr •''cloc/c o 'loiiie of <'dioivii)( '"'•"gtlje/J That it \i ''owed to Jt Ma gis'rates v^^:,.:, :,■,'„=-.. ■,.^,v; f 'I ^; ^t n. In Bces of off i" ed iDto Le lead. I of one erte to running once 80 he main ling seas and fiery tie vessel d that al- ni\\ much lunes, he iistresaed ;hing, and ; after the [e damag.c ^rly on the f the river, J following e agency of strength ot ,<) influence X consump- lions ; but irently,not he vicinity, e fires re- ^as no wind Le therefore [weather be- Idiatinguisb- Ik, the alarm Ichedinhabi- heavy pres- \ themselves id, toinbaW 98 the freih turned up earth. The nir, however, continued in tlio same temperature until about 4 o'clock in ihe afternoon,when the cinders again began to fall and darlcened the atmosphere. A dtstrer^sing me- lancholy was immediately visibln in the countenance of ovi'vy one; and at Chatham, those who owned property began to exert them, selves for the safety ol the place, as it was thought that a stcund at. tack was not far distant, liy this time holes also were dug in the earth, to deposit the ino«it valuable articles ; and watchmtm were out in difl'erent directions to p,ive the alarm, when the fire was ap- proacliing. Tlierc w}ts, however, little to be discovered, tiiough all were ready to II3' (or their lives. — I he next morning the dread- lul suspense of the pt /^ple bejijHn to subside, rroni the smoke f^etltiig thiner,and the cinders ct -injjio fall : lucl tlioKc circums'iaucis prov- ed to be nothing more ihiui the li;.^ht burnt sub?(;u)ces tloalin^'; in tlic air from the previous conliati^raiou, as there was a ligl't and unset- tled air on Saturday which kept them above, and a heavy dew be- ginning to fall, brought tiu ui to the earth. Ou the Aillouing rnoru. iiig it cleared up and piesontcd lo the eye, as far as it could :-tret'[i^ a perfect view of tlio op; o.-iic side o! the rivor. iiut one bl ick waste was perceptible, aiiii nolliiiio' but slacks of chhnnir's which I'iuiged along its bank?^ uad a iiolu h*.'re and there uol touched f»y iliG lire, alone veraaincd as cnibiems of its once fi;ratif_ylng and pro^j- peruus condition. It was not uutil Tiiesdiy tlic llth October, that any eifoclual aid was rendered to the distressed and starving people, livery one niiohaditin his power cMerled b.in'.^ell strenuoiisly, tliougli indivi- dually, 10 apply immedlnle relief — but the tuj-buhnt state ol" .some: of the suifererMj the intense ardoi ofiheir benef;(Ctors,and the abseii co of a system by which to jemove theff Wi»nt§ eiiectually, deter- red them from cominj^- to any dticidcd arraQgemen's until ten o'clock of the morning oi Uiatday, when a meetiyig took place at tlie hou-e of Mr. (Jeorge Join. son at Chatham, which was aitcnded by tbe people of tliat I\irf--h. 'i'hey simultaneously asisented to the Ibllowing llesolutions, and in a lew minutes subscriptions to iht amount of eight hundred and five pounds ten shillings were obtained. THOMAS if. Pi'/rEKS, Esquire, in the Chair, ittsoLvED,— Tliat a coiniiiunioaiion be iumiediately madR to Head Quailirs jMatiiig (lie heni'fj culamily with which this {^h\cc lias beou visited. Tbat it is (he opiiiton of thi3 meeting, that no descrip(ion of irovisions be Ulowed (0 leave the River of Miramichi, and that i( be recommended to (hs Magjgtrates to take the necessary and prdper steps to canse the Eamc to he detained, until communications can be made to Head Quarters. 'ihat ail possible means bo tnkeu for the purpose of raising subscriptions (o ^id the sufferers by this calamity, and that all masters of vessels and others ll)Out to leave the place, be applied to for subscriptions to aid the cause. J i' 3"' w 24, That commuolcations be Iwmediately made to Fiederictoo,St. John,Halifaji, Piuou, Piiuce Edward Island, Quebec, &c. &c. to make known the deplorable Mtuaiiooot ibi8paitofihecouutry,aud ta solicit aid from those places. Tlmt Mr. Doiig'as Thoni sou is eutiiled so the thanks of this commanity for his SCI vioea already ptitormed as Seer- uiy olf the committee for the relief of thcsud'eici!«,aDd ihathe and Mr, Lfaac i'^by ba solited to discharge the duiie* of »f cre.aries in futuie,aiid il.al ihe pieseut ofBie be continued. 'ihat the necessary measures be adopted for the burial of the dead. Tiiat the cattle left wiihoiu fodder bfi immediately purchased on the best f.0!'«ilj!e leims.aiid .sailed, for ihe puipcse of adding to the stock of provisions. Tl at a committee he appointed to draw up the communication to His IZxcelleiicy the L.entenant Governor.aud to suggest such miasutcsas may be most efficaciouB iu relieving the snlTerers; to superintend the purchases of cattle and provisions of all kinds, that have or may arrive, and be required for the relief and support of the sufferers ; and that all the magistrates and the followi.-iij perfODOjto act as a commitlee of management : — J. M. Johnson, liichard Blackstock, John Ciaik, Alexander Hankin, Alexander Fraser, Jun. Thomas H. Peters, John Wright, Frtincis Peabody, Joseph Cunard, James Lcuden, George Taylor, •.■...•\,* '.' ^..; Thomas H. Peters*. Chairman, 'i!ip^-^/^Sk'^jf^xi M. Johnson, Secretary, •V*i'--> Isaac Paley, Secretary to the Committee. Soon after these arrangements had been made, the Messengers were accordingly tlii?patched ; and upon the arrival of Mr. Joplin at Fredericton, iiis Excellency Sir Howard Douglas held a Council on the 15th October, vyhen a resolution was passed to dispatch that Gentleman to (-Quebec, authorizing him to purchase 1000 barrels of Flour, 500 barrels of Pork, and an assortment of clothing, to the amount of 5 or ^£'6000, His Excellency also remitted £200 from His Majesty's Revenue, and £50 from his private funds, for the immediate relief of the sutferers. Several private letters were also dispatched in every directi«n, und those which were received in Halifax are subjoined. *lut and pio tbat of i from tot upon us* j«ei',sou, t vcdeulet C'f !he 7(1 and Tow Nappan, &i) destro It woul *bohav;* IrciB thei sueai?ure, s sAcrifjce frotu its bi if, which I tbeir book »'.oed in, r '01 (; this i;( H'e trtty !ihstal;!*!b Tijer^ are i';g?i cl!3ra • ave noda f easing oc tile season, "re to be d and will n( Extract «re now d*. most awful »ud nothing '•II burnt to fudNrljoo *ome hijjidi l^^'beridyiDi 'i ,Hiilifax, >plorable I. anity for 5 relitf of Lbe duiieft Ihe best visions. >n to His as may be es of cat lie ed for the e folio wiai* , Jun. n mil tee. »le3»enger3 jylr. Joplin a Council putch that barrels of ng,to the £200 from Is, for the r direclien^ 25 Extract of a letter^ to a GcntUman in Halljax^ dated Miramich%i Ocioher 10. *■ lu (he DiiJst of tbo uimcst coufusion, aDd the groalest destrnction of livefl and piopeily ever recorded, I write you those few lines, to solicit your aid, and tiiat of all fjicnds to huinuuity, to asiisl those of ns, who have partially escaped from total ruin, to support the nwmeroas distressed individuals who are throwa upon us'for food,8ljelter, raiment and medical assistance, at a most uufortuna;« jsensou, with ihe piospecl ofa iang aad severe winter befuri.' us, aud an unnre. «>cdealed scarcity of provisiona. The extent of destruction on the fatal uight iif ihQ 7th inst. is unkuowu and indescrihabie ; nearly the whole of the i^&iiih aud Town of Ntwcajile lie in smoking ruins. The seftlcoients of Baliibogne, Nappau, and back seiilements of Chatham and Newcastle arc not only neariy &i! destroyed, but few soub saviu, th;;f one half cl the peop!^: cu iliis Hiver are now destitute of house, home and pjoperty of any dc-icription. We haJ a most awful night on Friday' the 7ih inst. —The Fire apniared to cotue all at ou^e, aud nothing but destruction before our cyi-.T.— Newcastle and I>oiigiasiowu are iill burnt to the ground, except a few haus* «, aud it appear?^ k.' tiioiu^h Cha'hatn fud Neljoa were only preserved as a refni^e Ui thf clisireisi'il. Wti have now I »ome hiir.dreds in Chatham who escaped from (Jif. fiis, some half '■wvut and klberi dying from suffocation ; indeed It h net Ui tie nrwti cf ary i«u« '» I C 'd ■■^ ^yjSfr^ irnrrrrW-a) iMss- ' 'I y M ^^rt*- ' ii S6 de&ciibethe scene vhichweoow witiicss— men^womon and cliiiditn cqmIvh in from all parts of the River, witbont clothing to cover them.— We lave all been np these two nights past watching, and preparing for the wo>\si. GJuionr kV JKankin's stores and all their property except (heir dwelling huiiso, have been destroyed, Mr- Abrams escaped with his (amil), some of them \witb nothing bu: their lineo on ; Salters, Allan, Crano and Allison, Nesmlth, Elder, and iudc.ed all at the Conrt House have lost every thing, and Just escaped with life. — Gilmom & Rankin, Nesmlth, Duncan & Lock were the only persons who saved their Books and Papers." Exi'^act of a letter to a Gentleman in Halifax^ dated Chatham^ Oct, 10. " The enclosed will convey but an ioadeqiKite idea of the awlul aiaie of the country ;every house from this to Nelson is filled with the suffeiers. — Mr.Cail attempting to escape from the flames, fi 11 over the precipice, and was 8nppo,soii to have perished, until the morniD!', when he was found, droailfully »jr;il?j((Mi : Lis daughter (hat had been ill three weeks with a fever, bad a Himilav fall ta her father, and remained hours in the water to avoid being couBumed by (he (iiv ; many that are dangerously burnt and binised hare uoihad the ueiiefit of m< ih- cai aid : so numerous ate the calls, and sucii has been the. deniAud ou individua » toprotect themselves and property, that tbe tfyin;^ hu\« had «oex;'iie uo:i<*tic» d^ and tbe dead remain unbnricd- K.iin has ai la.^t ccnieto icHeve ii\e minds oi tbe people.— A meeting will t^jke ['lace in the njoujia^; to aotompHsU all dial ;.^, possible. From this to Ndsou cveiy Houpcis fril»vl wjih ihe untortuuate being* and it isdifficnlt to say how many are yet to arrive, as fioia eoino (jtiai ter n'> thing has been heardi and it is wti impossible uoiie rtntai.i 'o tell the tet(le xaent is laid in ashes, Ou the tveijinr; of (ho 7ih current, fiie conunntiicatecJ from the woods, which came wish such a dreadful violence, accompanied w ith n kurrican«, that it literally .^hov^-ered down fne and sand, so that it vvas with tht greatest diilicuUy w« eacapbd with our lives; poor '.villiam made bis retreat with Caroline to (he bous** of Mr li. Ri'Calluru, wl)ic!j escaped bch'g burnt ; ho got bis rip.ht hatid ymwU hurut in getting out ol tbe unusp ; Caii^llne is z% vr«',i &8 can be ex}»of.(«d. . I .«tcp;»fid btliind at I'lc stor?, endeivouiiot; to pave cur books, papers, &( hut it camefo fast (!iat I h?,d to run for my life, and Icava all behind,— 1 took to t!»e river, frosri whence I was taken np by a ship's boat and carried on board ; I bless God that our livrs are Kavcd, although our pro* petty U g€ue, Tbe ou'y thing we have saved ia our timber, and a tew thing* in L' fiom 1 find i( (Mnc ing al near, . . - ^'^.-^ -.v,-»rm ».■*.»<.—.-«- have all been t. Giliitoiir %*^ s«!, have been ttb Doibing bu! fj , and iuUfted all life.—Oilmon) hu i>aved Ibcir ^aa/i, Oct. 10. itl diaie of the eis.-Mr.Call ! was ftiipposoil illy njP!ils*(;ii : lilaj fall to her L"J by j'j« (he ; eiipfit of fn> i',;. ou iixlividuaj tiie minds of >Ush a!i iliat :;} tuiiate bti»t;« "■ (jUiHter no« the {/i!e.-Ij d, (here wiii 1. k/?/c(a', ^a/c(£ paiiied with r wfts v?!ih Iht Je bis retreat i'g I)nrnt ; bo iae is as vreli ; lo pave cur fe, and leavA a ship's boat ugh our pro* a tevF 1hi))g» $7 in L<'i''wca3t!e had no idea of the fire being »o ncAT, the smoke hsiving been ho great all day that none conld see where the flanr-'4 werf, until Ui?y came down upon them.— Many people have lost their liros: wliolo faiuiiios have bteu burnt to ashes round their dwelbogs. The Chatliaui »idft of tJiC river ha^ (scaped dastructiun ; but the Nevrcsstle side i» antii>?ly destroyed, with the ojicpption of a house here and there, in low sitoa* tion?, so that the fir? passed over them. Mr. and Mrs. Ilobson have taktn p^issagB iu the same vessel they cameoHt ?b" (which happened to b?. the .ship Luno fat Liverpool,) to lay a statement of our IfR* and itefsery before cur ajjent^^. The government of these two provincer will surely take into con^idtnation our deplorable condition. Last night I bad to take my turn to watch a Rtore of provisions, vvUich b;id been threatened by the hungry poor to be broken open. Tiie magistrates and others are doing tbt best they can to feed iheni far the present; bnt there are so many that it cao* cot last long without something else be done : Ni:u:ibershave expired <.vitb co'i and hunger ; and many poor sick people just rescued from the fever, have pe< rishedfrom the effeclsof fatigue, after having escaped the fire. " God only knows what h to become of this place ; for the only article of export we bad to depend npoa is, I fear, completely destroyed— for It seems even now, as though the whole country is in flames. The smoke is so gr«at| that in truth, the place seems buried in rains and stiffocation— it has indeed a most awful appearance. " You may publish the pRftlcn*ar<« of the abave, if you think proper, to that the distresses of the poor and miserable may ho taken into coiislderation.— God b'ess yon all, and preserve you from the like cr.iamiiy, Kxiract of a letter from a gentleman to his brother in Halifax^ dttH Eeaubair^s Island^ October 10. DrAK WitUAM,— I have the paiuiul and distressing task to inform yoti of the total destruction of Newcastle, with all the {property in it. I have this nro- ment learut that an express is ?olng off to Halifax, and have only to say, I have little else to think of, but to ofiVr up my prayers to heaven for the preservatlbV of wy life, it was sa»cd with our good friend A. S. in a canoe,- we took rtfuge^ on a raft of timber. The fire broke out about 9 o'clock at night ; in the country several hun-lreds of lives have been lost ; the country Is yet on fire ; the man te just going off, I will write you fully to-morrcw. iv I «^V f M i ■Ill t m mmmmimmmim^immmmfmm^ f, V •5^<. 3d 11 ■#•• in ^ M Aoclbev letter s!ato&.--" Tiia salmon arul (iauI wf le found immedliilhly vkfier the hurricane and the worst of ilie fiie, floaiii g on the water iti thoiisaiuls, and it »fl-8»j)j)0»f(! lliey wore killed by the heat of Die water. You {.rcl/ably BuRy form an iden of ihe state of ilie air, wlieii I tell you that in the vicirsitj cr Cballiam, 2 cows which vcie welt llie day after (he ftre, have beon suirocated with smoke, and it is t^ald am iuuneiise number oi otiicrs have abareJ the aamti fiite," • Eslituate of the Losses sustained. Fromihe nutuerous qtjantitiesand variety of property vvhicfe a prpy to (he flriines, no acctirate calculiition has yet been f raade afi to the extent oi' the io^^s ; but when it is conj^idered lat in so lar^e a rang^e of country as tliat which was subject to the ccnd th loet va!uabl< ti .lit was situa- ted, the destruction nsusl ha.vebef\n ereat ; and it is generally snppospd that little le^s than £700,000 would cover tho diama,!fes. The loss which Messrs. Gilmour, Kaukin & Co. «lone sijsiained, was upwards of j(j'40.000 ; and Messrs. Wmc Abranis & Co. abotU the Rame amount. Not move than i?5 buildinijs out of COO houses and stores in the parish of Kewcaetle are left slRiuiing ; 14 remain out of 260 in that town, 3 a«*e storef?, and the chief part of the re- mainder are the most inconsiderable of the place ; and only 5 remain at Douglastown. The Court Houf^e, Jail,Barraek9, the new Presbyterian Church, the new Seamen's Uo8pital,and tl;e new printing esfabliBhment, shared the common fate of the conflai^ratiun ; and but one Diercantile establishment out of 40 psc« ped. it is calculated that not less than S50 souls perished. The back settlements suffered severely, as aiBaltihogue»nd Nap* pan alone, from 60 to 70 are known to have been burnt to death : and about 60 have pince died through a want of medi- cal nttend; nee and the ef/ects of the danger to which thcjr were exnosed a.t t!ie time cf the fire. The timber was not so much damxijjed as was feared, and immense fors^ts are remnininjr without injury. The lumber- ing parties crmprise about SOOO men : but their injtiries were not so preat as wfis reported — j^evers'l parties,, however, lost sonie of liicir number— 4 out of 20, 7 out of 8, and 16 out 18, •were known to have been destroved: butujre.tt as these losses are, thf ir costruction did not exleitd much r«irll;pr. The uuii bi r of hou-es which escaped the (iames were in- adequate to contain the sufTerers, there being upwards of two thou! were] wilh< Soi idon lowii TOUg| Oouj 25!SaBas»"M« lioii84ii(J3, and iie vicioitj ct en siiiTocafed re J !he aioatt prty which s >et been ivoo.sidered as subject was situa- generally over the lin & Co. ssrs.Wm^ nd stores •main out >f the re- and only iarrackf, piul,and I fate of neat out J. The fid Nap- burnt to of medi- ich thejr 3(1, and liimber- ies were er, lost out J8, e losseM 'ere in- i of two fL9 4 thousand five hundred, and in many places 5 and famirteM were huddled together in one small rude dwelling, perhaps without a chimney in it, or any convenience in its stead. Some of the dead were carried to the grave yard in a cooi* mon box cart, without a pries^t, and only a few persons fol- lowing in an irregular manner. In some places they were Tougbly thrown into the earth and covered, and in the rear of DouglastowM ^ burnt bodies w<»re interred in this way. -WWWX'W- PROCEEDINGS AT JULWAX,i,'c, The awful intelligence reached Halifax on the afternoon of Saturday the 13(h of October, when the countenance of every individual soon bespoke the conviction of its horrid reality. Impressed with a sense of the situation of their unfortunate fellow creatures, the people lost no timein coming to the mosi decisive and eifectual arrangements for the alleviation of their miseries ; and, deeming it an instance of unparalleled neces- sity, handbills were immediately circulated throughout the town, calling a meeting of them at the County Court House, at 9 o'^clock on the follow inar morning, (Sunday,) when they convened accordingly. William Lavvson, Esquire, was call- ed to the chair, and 1200 pounds were instantly subscrib- ed by those present, for therelief of the sufferers. A commit- tee composed of S. Deblois, James Tobin, Samuel Cnnard, G; N. Russell and John Clark, Esquires, were organized to re- ceive the subscriptions and direct the distribution. Other committees were dispatched to collect subscriptions through the town and peniniula from those who were not present at the town meeting. The following resolutions were also passed :— "Tiiat provisions and other aiticles for the relief of the suffercr.% be sctit t» the store of Messrs. Del)!ois& Mitchell. *' That letters be written to different parts of the province, re€[ne8ting iheai«S of their inhabitants. '' That a Committee be appointed to request that collections may be made in the different places of worship, in this town, ou Sunday next, for this charitable purpose. ** We hardly think it needful to appeal to the sympathy and liberality of Jbo inhabitants of the province in general, an we entertain not the least doubt that the example of Halifax will b^ readily and universally followed. *' Subscribers are icqiiested to forward the amount of their sub^criptioDS }& tk« Rank, where the bookis ase left for further donations." :K« I !i % ii n ■ l\ 4. ; !B i i^j.j,^- ii ,j iii ■M T 30 A gentSeraan was dispatched on the same tiay, by tho land route, to convey int'onnatiDn of the proceedings to Miramichi. On Monday morning his Excellency the Lieutenant Gov- emor convened the Legislative and Executive Council, to cohsalt with them on tho measures which this melancholy oc- currence demanded. " His Excellency loformed the cosjnoil, Uiat Rear Ad nairal Lake, the Com »«D(!er in Chief of his Majesty's sbifs on tlji« statioB, had most kindly offernl loseud bis Majesty*!) ship Ote'ites to Miiamicll, to convey Mich rclKf as couti be traDsmitted from hence, aud he &Uo itiforme<' them that the niernbeifl of tli hou6e of Assembly residing iu town,— William Lawson, Lawrence UartKhurn' John Aibro, and Charles R. Fairbanks, Esquiies, bad waited upon him, <■> xssure bim of their conviction, that the HouAe of A.'^serably wonid most roaJhv Cfincnr iu a vote of lnon^y for thf relief of the tinfortnaate snr/erers, " His EKcellency also infonntd the counti!, ihat a meetiof, of the inhabitant:; cf die town, took place yesterday nioiuiitg, at which a cornmitlee had been ap* l)olnied to collect subscriptions in the town for the same purpose. ** The council were of opinion that tho province of Nova Scotia was imjiera* lirely called upon, to afford relief to their fellow Fubjocls in the sister coIodv under these distressing circuinsiances, and as tho wants of the suiTeiers were faaet pressing, aud the navigation of the river Miramichi would close hofors the General Assembly would meet,— tbey recommended to his Excellency to appoint a committee of his Majr^sty's Council, to communicate with the com- laittee appointed by iuhabitaute of the town, in order to ascertain iheanionnt of subscriptions in tho town of Halifax ; and what further sum would be requi< fi'Ue, to procure such articles of food aud clothing as crin be procured here, tft afford a temporary relief to those unhappy and u'estilute persons ;— which snm they recommended to his Excellency to advance out of tke treasury. " A committee was accordingly appoiuteJ, consisting of the Hon. the Atfor. noy General, Judge Halliburton and Euos Collins; this coniiuiitec repaired Immediately to the committee room ef his Majesty's Council, and gavenct'co to the committee appointed by the inhabitants of Halifax, that they W3te ready to communicate with tbem upon the subjact of this awful calamity. That committee consisting of the following gentlemen — i^amutl Cunard, Sle. jjhen Dehlois, James Tobio, G. N. Rusaell and John Clark, Esquires, attended at the CommiiteeRoom.io the course of a quarter of an hour; aud at 11 o'clock tJio committee of his Majesty's Council reported to his Excellency that the tubscriptions collected in town during jeslerday, amounted to the sum of ^1,800. ** That Ibe coBJttitteftof tlie town have al.cady invested that snra in procnr' y, by the land toMiramidii. Jtenani Gov- B Council, to ilancholy oc- I Lakp, the Com nt kindly offert d :li rcli{f a« couH nitmbeifl of tlr- Koe HdrjKhorn' d upou him, !,. nid mogt rradiiv re IS, «he inbabitanfs ee liad been ap. B, tia was impera* be sister colonv (Hiir-eiers wcie iltl close hefors Excellcucj (0 viiiU the com. lin ibeamoniit wnld be requi- 3ured bere, t» ;— which sTiin on. (he Atfor. nee repaired id gave nctico ?y W3te ready Cunard, Stc. res, attended At II o'clock ncy that the tbc sum of ra in procar. .31 iag Brtieles of the fir«» «-*- i. •".f'f ""-« '«f«r«.,io„ Of .i„„. ":,'' ^ " '""■ "»• 1««"c.r which woulj .b,-a",.o,H.„f,,,if,,/c.j;-'^^^^^^^ '■"" "'"'- »»""'-a„c,io„ .he lo,„ of . 1? ,"' "'» M«J«.j-« mih.a.r ,■.<) lbec(imtt,illoef„r,her,,.,^j „ " '° "'« n»Wic .(oir. *' r e» ™a, he fe™,,,^, ,„ ,„„ ^„ J^J " '"= '- ■»; foo. whence .„„he, .J ! , 0» »'"«'■ hi, E«<.,II,„cj.direc,ertV..„ ^ner:h:';:''^^rr'"°'''°"'-~-c^ '"ee tuat he xvonld take tho whol*. nf .i • '^^ assured the iow« •■•;; "r"" ••"■• •••« » «tw ™;';.;r,'' '"• -"•■■"•• ■"• "o-ght .. .he las. and a,vful du^ ^^ tSc^,' '"Z '■"f"'^' i:. I - )' »■ ■ f: I >^: I ■^ ■yuh i j - J r vij^jv ■'-*\,= r,t:r«»f.^ -^^_; ■^-i 39 ■| tatin^ element has hurried through the wildernesses of Maine on the Atlantic and swept onwards on the blast of the hurri* cane, until stayed by the waters ot the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On every side of its line of march, the forests, parched by the eicessiveand protracted heats of this uncommonly warm sea* ion, must be a prey to destruction ; and numberless lires of the wood settlers will be lost, of which no information can be attainable. The humanity of feeling; that pervades all North America^ will, we doubt not, display itself unsolicited at the affecting narrative ofthis unprecedented calamity, conveyed in the hur- ried accounts written on the spot. Halifax has done what its means would permit. Just recovering; from long; depressed tircumstances, it had not much to give ; but it is given in the warmest feeling of kindness to those with whom it is connect- ed by similarity of government, descent and manners. We wish to solicit our readers to add to this subscription, as tar as in their power ; but we are only able to state the facts, us the sensations flowing from a review of the subject are too scute to admit of eloquence er ornament in making this ap- peal to their hearts. On Tuesday his Majesty's ship Orestes, and the schooners Active, Albion, and Elizabeth, sailed with provisions and clothing, &c. for Mirarnichi. — Acadian Recorder, Lunenburg, October 19. Intelligence having arrived iiereat a lale houi yesterday afternoon, annoiiQe* ing the dreadfnl and destructive fire at IMiramichl, and of the destitute stated the inhabitants of that place, a meeting was called thin mo; uing of the iubabi. taot« of Itiis town, at as early an Lour as ihe state- of the weather would permit, for the purpose of taking speedy measures for ilieir relief. About 11 o'clock. A. N. a number of gentlemen haviug assembled at the Court House for the abovs W^ *■•"" of , parpose, John C. Rudolf, Esquire, was calkd to the chair, when the followingf •'"•neratei lesolulions were proposed and instantly adopted :— W '**® o Rf solved— That a Committee of five he chosen for the purpose of soliciimj" ' '"'"con fiobscriptions in aid of the unfortunate sufftrers at Miramichi, by the late dresJ fulaod destructive fiie j and that the following gentleineu compose the Ccoj uitiee:— Thomns Godfrey, Esquire, John Creighton, jun. E?q. Mr. William Rudolf, Mr. Michael Rudolf, Re «l]iMS t«S ll! Kea hev, ( ijonda «xpedi itesc ffqu^si Rpso fotmtrj A flul visions and ctober 19. rnoou, aonoiioe* [destitute state «• jgof tlie iu^al''' ler wou»ns >y the late dfpsii impose the Cc«' 33 Resolved — That ii>>tite bo imijud lately given to tho Magistrates of tbc towu- {ibi;'8 of Ciitstei' atiil N>.'W Dublin, iiitormiiig theui of the calamity, aiid lequeat* i«» then cxei-tioua in btliiili u( the. hiiircn'rs. KeaolvtJ— TliHl th;? liov. J. C, Cuclnau, Uev, S. C. Tnntiic, Rev. A. Moshell, Kev» George Oi lb, iuul lit V. W. Ddvls, be »fqii«sled to »?e ilu-ir iniiiience «u tjonday ni;:t, wiiii tlieir rinpcctive coni^regatloiis, io any mauiier they luay de«ai «xpedi('at \t furtherance of so desirable an object. Kesolved— That to give as much opportunity as poRtibir, some gentlemen b« rfqti«8ted to solicit subscriptions in various parts of the country. Resolved —That provisious of all kinds be accepted from the people in th« egtiutry and shipped off immediately for Miramichi. A subscription was then opened, and in iexs than an hour the sum of one hnn« iMCt of Rawdoii ; Bonjiimiu Oasey and Samuel Winr the middle district, anc] Jt^ibn M'l^ellan and lieniy l>est, tlic southern district of aaid township, and be a Committee to carry hnl>scriptioiis,and to solicit from the public, fliiur, clotbiog, StvAo 8f>nd to Halifax, to be forwarded to Miramicbi. — Halifax, October 26. The amount now collected in money exceeds j^2000, excliiaive altogether of tlie provisions, clothes, &c. which the charitable have contributed and also of the following sums, which were respectively collected at tho different places of worship on the last Lord's Day. A t St. Paul's £57 5 2 St. George's ..50 14 St. Andrew's, 44 13 St. Mathew's 41 9 10 Wesleyan Chapel. 24 16 10 Baptist Meeting 16 8 St Peter's „ 15 beef, which and re Dv. day, 1 iHnouii lly; (lie set foes, ^^ »v;irde( U!i the ( (ieor thai th i'tore '2. liu inle J' riptio rictou, From titer wi ui'd slio Ciijitain We ;. 'Viirds Ifi fciven at A me( A)r the f pointed i \^ ish, do iuidition, *old, aud the moat At Am ^ere ap «£id CIqu ■i'he sum The an A>lesforc Total.... * 4^849 6 10 The Qll'icers and Soldiers In the Garrison, the onicerfi tuid sftlloii of the Navy, have likewise contributed handsomely to $o humane uu object — £50 has been raised at Dartmouth,.^all which suras when added to the value of the provisions, and the ^1000 vofed from the Provincial Chest, will carry the siibscription well nigh ^1000. A private letter from Piclou statca that 2501. had been raised thercj before the post started. A letter from St. John, New Brunswick, also states, that 50001. had been raised in that city, for their distressed fellow sufferers «t_ Frecferlcton and Miramichi. If i * A letter, received by the Committee from Chester, states thatl^/'**ipel o immediately upon the receipt of the news a public meeting wajlhefof th convened, and a subscription list opened On Monday last t^vol^nade am* vessels arrived here wiih the following articles on board :— 23/. IqI Ah^oii" cash, 1 box of clothing, several bushels of when.t and barley, 7 bbisled alt cla '"'^'''itsassf* ■WWWWyHii ■^■■wWtfW jc 3li»t nlllino, i-J.VVltbrow, Ita eastern di»> a diHirict, atu2 ship, and be n fl'juv, clolhiMgi )ctober 26. »0, exclusive [iritalile have respectivolr Lord's Day. ^57 5 2 . 50 14 . 44 13 41 9 10 24 16 10 16 8 15 [849 6 10 iso humane m> ksum* when [oecd from tUt jglOOO. braised there, that 50001. Ivsutferers «t states that I meeting w»s Inday last t\vo ■fxrd :— 23i. in jarley, 7 bbls 35 beef, 3 Oo hulled barley^ 900 busiu:!:? potaJu'-^- a «nl>scrJj>lion, which, considering the (.'xtont oi'liif: settlcm<'iJl, in '^ ih-'ti libiUai. and reflects high credit upon their liumuie l'ociJ»)j»s. Dv, (iiievc, who arrived in the packot tioni Livv ^|>«& on I ^«. day, has paid over to the corurniitee li'lZl. : 1 . Q hi twh, b ac iiniouni orsul)5cription from thrt town. IJy a loiter, addressed to J. Clarke, I^o iVom Mr. J;is. WalKer of lite settloment of Blandford, wo ai-so Icani, that lib bushels of pota- toes, wore there checrlully subscribed, which will either be for- warded l>y the first opportunity to llalil'a.x or be kept till the s/riiig^ as the committee may direct. George IVl'-Leod, Esq. of Uaiiiie's iJrook, Gnlpli Shore, writer thai the inhabitants ol that small PclLlemcul have hron;;-iit to hi» jilore 'iL50 bushels of potatoes and sevcxMl articles of clothini*-, wiiich hii intended to send to Merifjornish, to be achied to n lii;eii>l -ub- j'Tiption prepadng there, and to bo iorwarileu lu Ibe Gomraittco. ut Pictou. From Autigonishe, advice^ stMc tint a cargo of provision'?, toge- ther with several artick s of citMhiu^;, iiJ<f the inhai>liati'c oftho township of Newport w.-^.Mhcl.J for the purpose of ividing in the good wurk, nud a committee was ap- pointed to procure .subicriptioi!;.. The fjum of ibOl. was obiained in c;ish, clothing and prodiico, and forvvarded to i\e>v IJrunswicU. in addition, sixty tons of i'i;uster of Paris were .s^^nt to the Lines to be *old, c'.ad the product oi' the samv! to be expended in the purch.if-e of the moat necessary articlt- s, to b,,- conveyed to Miramichi. At Annapolis, the inhabitants also assembled, and a committee were appointed to collect contributions in that place, at Griuiril'c "!u! Clements, and to corrcsp'Ond with the magii^trates of \Vi!mol. I i « ^^*-— — ~" r-""^-*"™"^ 36 praiseworthy and ffenernns olfcr of the St. John Fishing; C.'Oiiipanv, reccnll^y formed in tins city, tho j^entlomen coinpos- inj* which, nad niven their vessel (he Olive Branch, tor iho purpose of carryin. tor llio suiFerrra at I arul clolh- noon. Si;e ' speedy ar- iiisls princi- [, valuoJ ut en for p ro- ll in <>, to th'i! cton, to bo id i»50. ilic Society lel proceeds id to abuul of the suf" , when vi'e liled al the inianily r.nci \va.^ prom pi abundancu t the shock wcustle. — |irfi(i ])}' any ighty nine r valuablt* rai^•G(i to a led to car- eming thi^ Ise of their ed, £250 mocto,lho t St. An- d. Two lavid's, the ir evident c produc- 37 ti] among the inluibitanta. XGOOO in clothhig, provisions, iJ'C. were «()on obtained, and a vesdol was chartered by government to sail ear- ly in iVovember for Miramichi, where «he arrived on the 18lh. At Prince K Iward Island the subscriptions were also lil)eral, la- (lued flymptoma of apathy are scarcely to be discovered in any (juar- tcr. The most prompt and eflectual meastires wore embraced. — Supplies wero obtained and immediately forwarded to the scene of clistress and m.sery. About l^l()i)i\i clothing-, provisions, &c. were subscribed at New- foundland on thti arrival of the news, and a vessel was chartered to carry the aamo »o tbe snilerers. A letter from Sydney to tlic Committee at Halifax states that a vessel had hren dispatched t0 Miramichi with 1500 busiiel^ of pota- toes, tmd cthev .rticles of provisions, and clothing. • •wwww*- rnoCEEDLYGS LV THE UNITED STATES. SlncG the first part of this work was in type, the Vmerlca!) papriij have brought inteiiij^ence oflilx^ral subscriptions nndc in NewYojk, Boston, and Ka<;tport, for the unhappy snfteren in New-lirunswicK. One jrjcnoroijs flame of sympathy ai)pears to actuate our neighboii iii every direction. The citizens of Hoston a few years since gav*; tbe most prompt and adequate relief to the inhabitants of St. .John'?, Nc'.vfoundland, where a fire had swept aivay a large part of ihc town, and tbe people were on the eve of starvation, from the seasoji, and their distance from any place of supply. Tlio ^dm^i enlnrged fp.}linp,s appear still to prevail in that C')Untry, and while they iiave; hnndrods of destitute persons of their own to provitle for from th<^ (lestriictivc iiresln Maine, they have yet their henrts alive to the cry of distress, and :iympalhize with suueriag' humanity, without di.'tinu- (ion or projiidice. Who can be inseiisjble to the merit of such Cv^u- (li;ct ? It is thus that men vindicate thti honor of tlie human race — then most rpsembling" tluiir divine author, when they imitate his most favored attributes — T'encvolence and Mercy. At a public meeting held at Syke'sColfee House in New York c ?i tho 1st of November, a Committee were appointed to open a S..'>- !lv addressed them in tlie following words : — '' So soon as the airangcmtnts iieccstary for Uie immediAie relief and .snccour «f the dfslitute snlVe-.t iJi in \h^ lale calamitous couttagrations had hteu com* I'.eivd, I hastened hither lo do all that might further be in ray power, to reiiev« «Hd encourage this i-fiiictei poj uiuiion,nnd to dispel tliose apprehensions, with lespcct td wautdniny. die .ippioat hiug winter, which there was at one time t09 much reason loen'.eiiaio. " The extreme latpnfgs of die Mea&on, lifuiung my stay here to a very short period, Ihave couspii tliis mreiing to be announced to give the afilicted and the distressed an os>ponnp.ity ot access to their Governor, and to enable me t* address to them a few words ot comfort, condoleucc and eocouragemeor. But I feel I bare uu'iei takeu vybat I slull QOt t>e able properly to perform. For the . indulge snfferuig dismal Si late iuha , »|>«»k th( gloom an the iymp tj-r provi volence ^ tlie pos^i trieve in liave beei (h»ad ; bu C3i)ifal w ■■ictive, ei] ;COHntry, i ■•■••licb I 1 '^^SSp*'?**'*^^^''^ '■ ■ n.J.ilWI » tlgl ' - ' < w.i,l ll l '> ' l l w --<3aK«tl»«»rf.jet, alion, altei' )st deslruc- its highest is charitable iozos in Iktir \\i\\ the re« fiuenced by ere imme- xt day, the ihe Rivor l)eing car- altended a Iqiiest) and lii and snccoui' lad bteu com- Iwer, to relieve |hen8ion», with it one time too a very short Icted ami the dmbie me to (etueot. Hut )rBi. For the ll)2 ;u"/ii' tiarcg of havoc and devattdlion which I f^cc in this once flouvishiBg sptt't r. --lii ; !l.;it cltarsfd, hlackeiicd (o'est, and scorciscd !)auk, Ihe vast fuutvtal }n!e,in ..liTie ilamcs i^rcat nuii.I;r^t.s ofuui iVliov creatures nave perished; the diii'J'i!. 'i? ni-broakiii}' lale.^ of wjo \v\uc\\ I hear related of while f'aiiilies and v.i.ole v-'t'rnK'nts aNnihilistrd, or ih;^ stilt iiioie r.niicting accounts of fragments Mvod {.' m;)',un in tnisery.— i hoprcsrute too, of persons, (i\nd siiclj persous !^ nhoia i. ij! a'.vfal cabtuily lur< piu in luouunn^, or renuced from aflliieitce \o vant and ditriCHlly ; these altogether oTerpower me, and I cannot proceed in speech as I purpo8fd. " The impressiens made npon me, when I visited you In your prosperity, have created totlin^s, whose impulses on this melancholy occasion, I wo^ild not, nor could not rPMSt, to revioit you in your calamitv ; liow awful is the contrast ! yon have experienced one of thu most dreadful vijitations that ever (ell upon the cartii. —If ihe whole globe had been in combustion, not.more of terror, and little more in efF«'ct could have been accumulated on that desolate part. Wncro late I witnessed prosperity, plenty, and hilarity, their abodes are prostrated is ruins. TherPjin the fonndalionof a sacred edifice, about to be raised, I recent' ly placed the inscription and the coins which were designed to convey to rometo ages, how long that edifice had stood ; and I fondly hoped, how greatly this ftott^eraent had flourished.— What a lesson this, for human presumption ; what a subject for rrfl action and meditation— of thankfulness from those vv'^o have escaped, and of charity and benevolence towards the sufierers., " I am very sensible that the language, which »*uch rcHections have prompt* ed, is not that which is calculated to excite exertion : But I came ool hither lo indulge in despondency. My tears have already fallen at the recital of your sufferings, and I have poured the tribute of fresh afiiiction upon viewing those dismal scenes, where the tintimely anhea of the dead, and the cinders of their lai8 iahabitanls. He in prnmi^CHons heaps of ghastly ruins. I came hither to speak the Iftoguagft c>l bopa j lo i>«oourage exertion and occupation; to dispeJ gloom and Jespondoncy; to a^amo yon that thcg:)vernm5nt of your province— tlic sympathies and liberality of yonr fellow men—the succours which your sif- ter province has been prompt to throw in, and the* abundant charity aud bene- ' volcnce which will move the mother countries, Ijave already provided against tlie possibility of want, or will pour in more remote Hucrours, to restore and re* trieve in some degree, hereafter, what has been levelled and ruined: I.<4M8e8 :liave been sustained, vvhich no human mpaws can restore. We oaunot raise the doad ; but we ran relieve and comfort the living. We cannot reproduce thfi capital which has been utterly consuniffl ; hut we cf»n rreate wealth »gain, by active, enterprising industry. The pine .stands nnhnrf, in the vastforest.< of our roHntry.and the ollipr fields for exertion, the natural rcMOurofs of the country, "vhicb I have ?o often reromniendrd ^o•I to cultivate more industriously, are I: 1, ; h \ ,1 ! ■**» n t ^\ I- * i t C M .--.V 40 i»i if 4(5; ,1!t ' \ . ©jifi? (0 yen. Vet no man then, yielding to grnnnv^lesft despondency, quit tlie eoiiulry, liii riU2Ai>i in confidence, that with th«^ blessing of Almighty God, the eonutry will be cariicd and itupportefi ihio!if.^h its present dilliciiliies. Ii is light yon shon'd know, on what iufoiniation 1 i rosouuce this,ere the approach- ing long winter coniinenucj). So fcoon as I received the communication of thesn disit?tcrs, I as^euibled his Maj?sty'8 Council, to consult on the oaeasurcs, it v'0uld be expedient to adopt ; when it was instantly determined to «end an .'*j,'nit to Quebec, to purchase a supply of provisions and clothing, to the amonut Ibis service, and whose officers undertake it with zealous good feeling to befor- v&id on the occasion. 'I'htse succours will be dispensed by the committee of j'-Rnagement, cf whose indefatigable, humane and active exertions, I speak ami »(»! 1 PKi.'t stronely. It Is indeed a n)att«r of great consolation, and a refTectioti " iii(h will case my mixIi ly ulien I l«Jw sww- fairs « festioi agents jiientlj a popt been i eta gi •H ho h( tbere would commt tions ( *aiis9.- Charcl tormsd are sea to the tchcol ly, pr( and ph tield to want busioes may be iite* h s trade o «Dee; f'Ome ti st-at of of the I injurvc Were i of Mire be. T «stab!ii seeking purcha the coi pnrsull Dileijcy,q«it tlie mighty God, ilie jiliiciiliies. Il !•« re tliC apjvroacli- iiicatioo of tliesA the measures, it ined to send an (\g, to theainonut ras requested to ere, liP, too, bad ieii raised by th ' Two vessels In lies and blaukt is, I have been made r her share in thi> tly indebted too, vernor of our si, crunient and the I have reason t^ 8, wliich Admiral lities, assigned ?<> feeling to be for the committee o( ions, I speak ari and a reflection ,;sed thej«e qiia)i lion, and magr >■ ijraitons occasit'H. 1, aad priratioii' the succour .fOii lich maybe veiy before, the vroili ces or disadvait' to exist, in winal rrnovation niaj Fhich shall reacli I period and en- studied ; and to \ it *• On aiylatc visit to this place, I was forcibly struck with the inconvenievij dikadvantageotia, and greatly scattered condition of Miraoiichi. When |he af- fairs sf a country require the agency of meu of business in the different pro* :et«iou8 and trades which the concerns and v?ants of society require, thoie agents should congregate into dense community. Business cannot beconve•^ jiieutly, very productively, quickly or successfully carried on elsewhere. Her^. a population v/hich would be powerfuJ, and most generally prosperous, havi it been formed into one towa by timely measures, is scattered on opposite sides ef a great river, and extending for many miles on each bank. I appeal to all who hear me, whether ihey have not experienced, in this distended form, tliat tiiere is a term to success in their respective avocations, far short cf what ;♦. would be, vrhere there Is industry exercised in tbe greater field of a more denst; commnuity ; and whether it is net evident that tbe religious and moral instrutt* iions of the country suffer great detriment in utility and effect from the saoi»* ^aiufl.— At theextreojes of these scattered hamlet* stood tv?o rival towns. Tbe Church, instead of being placed in an important town, which those might havt; ibrmad, is situated in neither; several schools, none of them considerablti, are scattered to corresponJ with extended settlements; and not any convenient to the greater portion of those who should resort to them. The only graoimar «chool of the settlements is indifferent and insignificant ,In such a slate of socie- ty, professional men must be as country practiiionerd, instead of the solicitor and physician of the populous town. There is consequently too contracted a field to reward and retain talent and celebrity.— Jt-alouies, rival feelings, an;l want of harmony are sure to spring from such arrangement of society. Th» business of an exclusively peculiar trade in procuring the .staple of the couutry may bft eajried on any where ; but the business of the merchant, who gencraU iie* h s ccQcerns, will prosper most in the town. So long as the great staple trade of the country mAv last, the isolated merchant ntiy sutfer no inconveui» «nce; but I have always iold you, that this is a trude which must terminate some time or other from exhaustion of the material, and which will change its seat of businesu by migrating in the province to parts situated in the vioioity ot the next progressive forests; and which besides, is exposed at any time to injurvor cessation from external circumstances, over which we have controuL Were any or either of these circumstances to happen in the present condition of Miramichi, lean conceive nothing ni>)re ruinous than your sitiiatlou would be. The persons w!o carry on this peculiar trade, on the capital of exterior «stab!iKhment& would withdraw, and you would be left with every necessity seeking to be supplied by purchase, and to produce industry with which to purchase those wants. The persons, then, who feel that they have a stake it) (he country's real statistical progress, should dispose themselves to generaKu'e pnrsaits, and cultivate its real resources ; and distiibute popalatioi^, in a suit* t I' it >i X - 4 m '( / 4S jibKA oiaoucr. There is no objrct more ira{iort^ut hi proviiJiug for the proj^e^i; of aHtrong country, than tbat of providing ev d by Legib'ativc e very disatlvaH* y partly acconri? aitl many of'ti.*; is, tiierefor*?, is a r, to concent ra;e ed, depends teiy !)'. Should anv ch goueral fioo^i, AVK already tb>o le coiisivJerasioa lave had of iht;u" ceive it wiibthit [f tilings are va- e most serious co'iiS'deratioo lurselves, here' suadtd a'u I o^ after lifo, any Ich I endeavor pinion and (hi; Irsed for some Ibe batk seltli;« fevveabtle, the Co. and the |eiicy aitrnded upon at the to him au ad- [lively interest Ihis Excellen- to Beaubair's 4 I 4s TslancI, where he dined and remained dnring the night ; and on the followies; inorning be proceeded up the river in a birch canoe, on his return to the seat vf government. The Central Committee at Fredericton in poblishinfl^ a statement of their proceedings, annexed an address, request- ing: the aid of the British Nation, in favor of the New Bruns- wick sufferers. The folio wing is a copy ; — TO THE BUZTZSH XT ATZ027 I % The General Report ami Jlumble Appeal of the Central Committer, vi Fredericton.^ appoimed tinder his Excelienoj the Lieutenant Governor, Major-Gcneral Sir Ilozvard Douglas, Bart. K. C. B. S,'C. 4'C. ^-c. to inquire into, and relieve tht immediate wants and necessities of the siflferers by the late Ji res in jYeno Brunswick. WE, the undersigned having been appointed a Committee to dc'vise means tor the relief of those who have suffered in Fredericton, from the etfectji of the late lamented conflagration, deem it a duty which we owe to them, as well as to other.s involved in the same dibtress, to endeavour, through you to excite the compassion, and to call forth in their behalf the liberality of the British Nation-- This province, has hitherto in general been exempted in a remarkable manner, fioui visitations of an awful nature, until duriiii; the course of a few weeks past, we have been destined to tcel the destructive ravages of tire, in no common degree— On the IQth of last inciith, the Government House in tiie immediata vicinity of tljis town accidentally causht fire, and in spite of every <^tfort ta save it, it was in a short time, with the exception of a small part of the building, con- sumed. On the seventh of Octoijor, a M.-e was discovered on the premises of the commi88ioner of Crown Landa and Forests, about a mile trom town, this diew out the fire engines, the troops of the juarrisou, and the greater part of tho inhabitants, leaving tew in the town burwouieri eind children, and the least efG- •;icut part of the population. Whilst in this defenoeie!*8 state, afire most unfor- innately broke out in town. Whe-n (his was reported, as many as possibly could, jnadc every haste to reach tuwii ; but troin iUa fatigue, and exhaustion tb^y I'-ad previously undergone, (the weuihir then being intensely and nnseasouablv hot, aud the wind blowing with great violence,) they were for a long time unable to slop the progress of the (lames. The devouring element raged with great fuiy until near 9 o'clock at night, when it was through the persevering eti'urts of the inhabitants and military, aided by the blessing uf God, tiually checked. Forty one dwelling houses, with their out houses, besides stores; (being about ons third of the wh^ole town,) have been destroyed in Fredericton ; in a'i 8U build- ings. But this calaniity, dreadtul as it is, can scarcely be compared with what we have to relate ot other pans of ihc province. On the river Oromocto,aboiU v!5 miles from this place, 15 houses were destroyed on the same evening, tbreo children bur.tt to death, two others and the mother much burned, and the father anifsin^'; and also, on the il! fated night, the town of Newcastle, about 120 ntilfii distant on Miiamichi river, witli many of the surrouudinjj settlements, wore visited by one of the moHl tremendous hurricanes and conflagrations ever wit* nessed in any part of the wot Id, and which resentblcd more the immediate in* terposi'.ion of the band of the Almighty, than the rage of the eleiuf nts in an nidinary state of convulsion, fiut we cannot do better than to annex hereto their own heart rending narrative— The most deplorable part of the calamity, Sfl you will perceive, is the unprecedented loss of human lives attending it ; thus leaving itiauy surviving j'UfVerers, not only destitute of every means of re« }i«f, batina state of mental ditlress, grief ami anguish, beyoud the jjower of 4 ,1 .J U\ 44 langiiaxe to deseiibe. In order to afford immediate aid to the aiilferers in Fre. (ferietoD Bud its vifinity, bis Excelleucy Sir Howard Douglas convened a neeting of the inhabitants on the 8tb instant, and after having in an elbqnent and appropriate speech, explained the best meant$ to be adopted for that pnr. pose, a committee was tormed, and subscriptions entered into. At the hea?dt ^enf ro- •Lty. liy the means thns providentially put into our hands, we have liad ttie aatigfaclion of being able to relieve^ iu sosue degrt^e, the immediate wants of ii: > most necessitous iu Frodericlou; but wc suil feel ourselves u:i:« continued to advance in prosperity, to a degree not surpassed by any or liis Majesty's FosHeueiou?, until checked by the late melancholy events ; as a ptoj: of vvhich we beg leave to mention that no leais than a^'200,U0() wa^i paid Iniu Hm Treasury of Gieat Britain last ytar, from the commerco of thin Pioviticc. AltbojJgli we biive (l«<>med it our duty to state these facts, we are certain ihaf nothing is required to call forth the liberality of the British nition, but a well antlitTjticatecl tale of woe. It has ever bteo the glory of thut country to alleviate human misery in all ita various forms, f)y every mnaus within' tL» reach of human power. Whtu we call to rememt}rance that in the diffusion of this charity the distinction of Stranger and Foreigner bas been sunk iu that ut Man; and that even the natives oFa country, long hostile, wbea castas «xilc.9 upon the .ihores of Britain, in the shock occasioued by a grel!> ;oit>>^ aug(i8t and gracious Prince, at piesf lU ou ihe throne, wiil not iu this day o^ ;iet?p dislicsB, plead in vaiu. Signed by tbe Committee, GEORGE SHOTvE, of his Majesty's Council, THOS. BAILLIE, of his Majesty's Cotmcil, GEO.BESr, Arch'leacon of thcProvince & Uec.of Fredericlon. JAMESSOMERVILLE.A.M.Pres.oftheCoHegeofN.Bruus. EDWARD W. MILLER, High Sheriff, WiNI. J. BEDELL, Justice of the Peace, WILLIAM TAYLOR, Coroner, HENRY G. CLOPPER, Clerk of the Peace. Fredericton, N. B. October 25tb, 1825. ' w i i ""■■■"^is^il^yiiS'^- -T*iipi«'»>*9ir. «^^T^*t«&i -taiijeitr^v—^- 45 e sufferers in Fre. iigles convened a »g In an elbqnent pled for that pur- . At the heart of inue, and a doiiw. tbe siiiuof ()(!8 t (he commtju'p, ocnred, aud in an anks to (he May- unit gi»Mt ^enf ro. «e have had (l;e Jiate wants of \iu,, Abltt to lej.aii jLw lie, in the mntcit- 1 !»• country, uhi. h onfi.jentiy autif i. his coiuij'iy when dear to man in nd aiiaohiHyut to jle wiihjot which iiieuced them.— ihe Province I';* d by any of his cuts ; as a fuoj; va^paid into Uia f litis Province. are certain ihaf tion, but a well thut country to leans within' (hc> il the diffusion of 1 snnk in that of !8 cast as «xiles ovolniiou, tbiinil Dgu of a peopif , the game origin, of govi'.iiuitn:, u lovfilty io HI". this diiy o.^;Je.?y c.ofFrederietoD. legeofN.Bruns, i When his Excellency Sir flowarJ Douglas roceiveJ (ha news of (he tire from Miramichi, he dispalcherl a leller to hi-s Excellency Sir James Kempt, appealinf^ to him for assistance ill relieving the aillicted people ; but his Excellency had pre- \iousl)' received information of the calamity, and had already forwarded to Sir Howard a report of the proceedings of the Town Committee, expressing at the same time, the cordial co- operation of Admiral Lake in sending his Majesty's ship Orestes at the shortest notice, with the supplies of clothing, food, &c. to the sufferers. In replying to Sir Howard's com- munication his Excellency attached a second report of the proceedings of the Committee, stating thatjgS^Ol : 19 : 11 had already been forwarded in supplies — thatj£il33:10 :l remain- ed in their possession — that they were engaged in preparing other articles of the same description — that his Excellency might rely upon their affording them every assistance in their power, — and that as soon as the Committee could close their accounts, they should not fail to make a final report of their proceedings. ■ The subscriptions have already amounted to £25,000, and the Committee at Chatham had commenced the distribution of supplies to the sufferers. A man, wife and four children were allowed a suit of clothes, with shoes to each, 24 yards of osnaburgh, two pair of blankets, a barrel of flour, one of meal, one of pork or two of fish, six barrels of potatoes, with tea and sugar: and by the approach of the Cold weather the suffer- ers would be made comfortable for the winter. This is a pleasing fact, and when it may b<9 calculated that additional sibscriptions will be sent from Great Britain, there will ho sufiicient to relieve every sufferer in a way that will deter him from deserting the place and enable him to recover his losses. Prerious to the departure of the Orestes from Miramichi, the fol- lowing address was presented to Captain Litchfield by the Committee of Management at Chatham : — i^iR,— With the roost lively tense of gratitode, we the iindergigned persouti, in behalf of ourselves and theinhabitanis of iVIiraniichi, hcg peimission, prior to yonr departure from thi« place, respectfully to express our sincere thanks for the philanthropic and humane exertions of yourself and officers, to assist the stifterers by the hte disastrous fire in (his part of the ProTiuce. 'J'be zoal r^.nd promptitude wiih which yon proceeded to Miraniicbi with celtcf for the fiuiierers — tiie judicious and important assistance yon have afforded in the distribution of that relief ; (and that too, when in a state of health that would hardly justify your leaving your couch) and tbe waim interest yon have taken Ib the caiiHC throu|;hoiit, manitci't a degree of magnanimity and henevoleuce of niiici ti>at calls forth our highest admiration and praise j and long will the naute i :m^ !Uii-r^-aJii<_,C«:i-' /.'• -1 :^<. f V 46 jU^ I «f" Lil^lifiol-^ ^;,<(? tijeofrKfiso' the Orestes," be remembered by Ibeiuhabilanti Accppi ihis maik ol r''«f h re'':ir«l ; anil may (hu Supreme Diitctoi <».' ilir l.'tiivcise speedily ronlots you ic !ii>al!li,wa!i li over \ou and jmoi ct >:)ii !!i!nti«:li lif« — and that our mo"! jM'anon'^ Sovpieii^u ' m»y bfslow upon yuii die jnsi iuid merited reward ot an >»<-'!ive, luimane and ilt- iiftviujj ofliccr, ;s t!i. iudeiit wishul our hearts, l*eriJii! Us a!'o lo iKg, flint jon will expiess to Roar Adin'ral Lak'^,oui warni" eft acknowlodgineiits for his bf'U<'volcnl and synuialholic ccuiiict on ilie orca- • iou; and wititevtiy wish for ilie snccoss oi the Ore-ti s, We have ihti honor lo be, Sir, with the j;ic;i;tst respect, ^our obcditnt servants, Francis Peabody, William AbraiDK, 1 bomas Peters, John Clarke, Jolin Fraser, Joseph Cunaid, H. Street, Richard Black^tork, Alexander Fraser, jr. Thomas C.Allen, Chris. V. Clarke, Artliibatd Raukiu. I 1^1 s To the Committee for the Relief of the Sufferers, and InhabilanU of Miramiclii : — GENTr.EMEN,~l recelvft >our addrcss Mrithmnch pride and satiBfaclion :--0n behalf of my Officers and myself, I most cordially thank you for tbia liaudBome mark of rettprct and attention, I regret that it h not in our power to remain with yon longer, to aid and aiisist in the difttribution of yonr Charity. It our humble services or presence, have in any way contributed to relieve orassist the distressed, the object of our missioii is answered, and we feel truly happy and proud, that we anchored in your port. 1 have witnessed the resignation and jnagnanimity which have hitherto been dieplayed on this melancholy occaoion by all clagses ; and I atn delighted to see, that amongst their other good qnalitiee, the Unfortunate are endowed with Christiap fortitude and submission to the Divine Will, to enable them to bear even this most heart rending calamity. I shall not fail to express in the strongest manner to Rear Admiral Lakb, your acknowledgements; and lam certain be will feel i^ : ily gratified, if b*sbenevo« lent exertions hav« in any way attended to alleviate Khf distressed of the uofor^ funate sufferers. Before we part, aik><«v me to congratulate yon upon the great blesiing you possess, amidst your rolsfortunee, iu having so able atid rxcetleut a man to pr«' side over your Province as bis Excellency Major General Sir Heward Uungla* He has sympathised deeply with you— he has taken a lively interest in all that concerns you : but I need not mention these facts, they are your own sentlmentnv Anticipating, as I do, a continuance of your exerlious and active measure;), ^'M atfbrding relief to the fatherless and widows in their afHirtion, I take my |«ave ; and that the Almighty may continue to give you and all your iamilies Strength of mind to endure lhi» stroke of affliction, is Ibtr earnest wish and tlevout prayer of your faiiiiful and obliged servant, MENRY LITCHFIELD, CooiTOander of H. M. S. Orestes. Miramiehi, N. B. Nov 18, 1825. Onthearrival of the Orestes at Halifax from Miramicbi, the Committee of His Majesty's Conncffl andj tbe Committee of Charity in aid of the sufTererR presented an address to Captain Litchfield, expressinR tti^ir approbation of bin services on the melancholy occasion, and congratulating him on his arrival ^ t» ^hicb be returned a suitable r«ply« AH! The I I When To tl |\o «ilk^ Who I How ch| Thai I Vc herol Havef |Ve niit^lj That llhe fiaiiJ OVr II I'l'Iie sky Ketioc loin po W Uile lAiii.1 bar< i'he 80 I'lli", soil iWiiore or Hew SI hundrei \V'tM« t !V> liiie iht rom ll [lach villa Oil Mil 5P0I1 wra] With b !ie burk In iUvn lOi in th h prot iis glitt'i And 8W -lioni fei And sti ii ! heal Tis th( My lilll ^he scr 11) ro' yor .She spi Ent Iremi Aud sU 5SSi^Sii«5'^'»*'*'^^^^^" -f=^Mi^^-sS5'^9(S«'.^rf'!l*»>SWW'*'**^5*»^'''«***'• "**** ' 47 by lliehihahiiantil u lo tii'alfli.waiiti anions Sovfipjijii , liuuiatie and iit- Lak'', onr warar iiict oit ilic oroa- iuve tiiti honor lo •rk, I Inhabitanli of itisfaclion :--0n or tbia haudsotne to aid and afisist rcaetice, have in ct of our mission ed in your port, e hitherto been delighted lo see, e endowed with le them to bear liral Lake, your I, if htsbeoevo^ li of the uofor* it blesiing yei> |it a man to pre< iward DiMiglM test in all that iwn sentimental [live measur??, In, I take my 111 your lamilies Tiieat wish and rJ. S. Oiestci. I Committee of the ijnfFereiT. jobation of liis lis arrival ; t« Tiae fJ@Mlfiig;rati#M AH ! who can now relate The lenorH ot that ni|«iit, When tbefuddrn storrn ul F^tte To the (oiesi l.ronght atiilght ? Yp sillten sons olease, Who liaid>liip never felt — How can the jtictnre ^.-leasp. Thai (he boldest lieart vtuuld melt. (jnick circling coni'-s tli«* f\n " My child, my child" she ciiea- lls sti(liMf» sobs cxpiie, She bugii it and nht dios, Where in the deepesi aliade A luml)ering party dwoll. And ply their busy trade, And tallefet timber fell. i Ve heroes who of war Have heard liie thunder roar— \ e niit;ht know the sounds afar That were heard upon our shore. The flame volcanic spri-ad OVr mountain and o'er plain — Tiie sky's terrific r^-d Kellocicd un iho oaiji), m poinl to point it flow, '.\ !somfd in the wiod, . " Wiioreon a whirlwind's bUst, Mew svuit the fiery lijod. ;\ luindred leaguf^s away \v'lm« the smoking ashes boine, i'\Vliile the sand and cimters grev I'rom th' stubborn glfb'i were torn. •!ach village, cot and fpire, On Miramichi's stieum, ron wra}it in fatal fire With blazing Huins gleam. l!ip burksthat proudly ride, 111 tksnes appear around ; . • ior in the swelling tide Is protvcling Safety found. iis glitt'ring torch Death shakes, And sweeps the univ'ritii; isand, • lioni fear too late awakes,— And stalks upon the land. ii ! hear that angnish'd cry — Tis the mother and her child — My little one niu!>t die," ^he screams with frenzy wild. !iro' yonder arching trees She speeds to save its life, nt tremor shakes her knees Aud »lic sinks beueatb the strife. Alarmed they cluster row, And try sctiie. hope lo gain, Or send to Heaven their vow, VVhilo spreads the fire amain.. Now, now the loaded air Hus shut all pro;»pect in ; Thfiy lute remember wheie I'lii'ir safety they might win,. Hcv rush tlito' lhick«'st p'a->;!i 'Miilst i!ie linrricauo's bla'-l — Tiify Stan, itjeir fieiv i"!nb Is circling :oniid ihetn fa«t. '• A 'as there's no ret real" E'lch tonujui' now fain wonid «ay j But chok'd with parcliiiig heat, I'lie frtint sound Jits awiiy, Dismay, Jesj.air and grief D;ni every itianly eye — ■ No tear brings it's reliof To calm their agony. .My wife, !ny bab»^s, thfj thought liy wliiclr their hearts are rive* ; By some the mercy's sought Of all o'erseeing heaven. A blast like the Simoom Has taken their breath away ;. Tht y fall in lite'.> Tail bloom And mingle with the clay. The desolating scourge That o'er the vv'oodJand flies — His murderous darts must urge, Ali deaf to huniaa cries. See madd'ning wretches speed, And leave their yonog to death, th feeble age tba>t needs A little loufftfirbrisyith. Li n k ed iQ ^eh piker's in r ms ^ Two ]^6ttWtit brothers lie — si Or both would 'scape those harmi, Or boih tog«ther die. .■^■ * ;■-' ^ w ^ r t 'M M M',' 48 It.- Oil! oobleslght— ilie (nnoetQU ^.M^fod fri»»»rnaUo«e :— '*^"^'iB»i«W ill bli»s above. N^»r >0^i#NewcaMle'a rislug town, N.d«r'I^M|^ to (be left, The jciiiiippmf wr4>tcbet^rry dowD, - Of «^Ilt;|ilt,earib bertft. Bewildered by the daiZUti^ ligbt Headiong oVi cii^,tbey ivill, Or w^de into the aiieuw tlut oigbt, ' AVml« t^ribi bbakes ibeii'soui* Tbe fevered palfptit fl^hiybad tcarce An hoiii ot'lUo losttvc, Hit* wasied iioibfi tVoiu slti^tbcf jt^ftr^i Mk} rusb«»iu tM«Ave. < :?«■ Th*fOfti t.ig of th« flame |4t^iniu{<>iuian8 ligbt^ptf^ play. Tbe faithful dog bii naMer 9^*^ And sbarea with bim ftMjH^jCir Maujifbltr,' r^i The Are is Bp«nr, t|ti|l»rjiitrt>|ei)is at ■ last, ■ '■^■'•' '..^'•*>- Vl'tth the >ni) reeoJiceJion ^^^P*** i Tbe boii8ele5&, kejiriteu wimlrersaink oppreoa'd* ?<.:,' And inifl«rjr siis trlmnpbaatMi^ tkeir] breast. B»i een(>rdii9'CI»aihani ojpea her gates, And1ight,aiid life,and»nccouPbMwgs FfQiid to do good each heart dilator, Aud b<>aliug bvars beneath its wings. Thro' all Colnmhia speeds the tale, And ttbowering tear* alt oyes oveiHuvv " Quick man the batk aud sprtail th>i sail, " Ard b<'ar relief to sooliie t'lsii woe." Jt Ffr.vt sends iier.^ e Ualifax~ ei(,;!ibor fteln ^^:^" i--%.f'---y-':-^ t/ pfi.'ji-v.g t'srctli af pefli||j[^ *o|k8 viin^n iMfi tri^iap sikail caU- ; - ■' To its wifrdwiw, vacb.stiU'l. ;; v;tpW Chmi thfo' tLe *loiui : ;: •. 1 1 i »; lirt'tfi' 9 1 ; >'! n i» to r «♦ tUa jj J av g ; ■iiiSiljv'J desiibw* ill Alfcrm, 4. v^ J^^^^ !*h»Jrk bad; and will nbtsgiiizp UiijHte i She for a siiffmnt^ u I St. John, St. Aiidrew- \ Boslop, long fiijifeW for noble 'died», Swilt in the woik of piiy seen , !ia.tji t_and «j y ■•<*♦ (i fM^ t Thf ':.-? d^jpg sci earn, .the heart- wnH g»;eft« ■ 1-1 Uiii^J^pg wi^h4be bapUss rt»«£kD> IXesu^iicii W4J|fee?. Iier voic*'. T(>6 pcofl'llte tc9liA|>^&bti!^'r AiMc}: Tiie 1 it It t'nil great|mB' fii^rrjBb^^dtfc, Net i»eir» vvor3tTit)^T<^Jice.' Bath lXottgla8!owrt:&l^d HaitibogU^ The jir^Mm.BBnpvoljjtitfeMsttJWji, MHhe t^! f^' Ac^iaV^iei^t f>oirodf. 6nt! bQj^e|lieM syntpXtliy o'ejrlqtvs ' ^feKempf an»Tlj>fiiii,'ia.'',wbo bav ~ - a^n'ii F^ie»«08t in battle'.s tidAan;i-r,{»^ WliolTe buinierg wa|,V«alof{ khsi ',S, Marshalled 40 pronde?t rarik olk.'.mv, The !ii{|«e:fbMt jifiibeF,bumb!t^ l4y 'iilt«e (ba6ki» sbili'>^«WL>t boner') now ; TlreJtalwelBtftf thethVib tile »fi?.y, i'be oaken «ariatirdc|:o.wn8 their Lrov< . Are b!acktiitng.t#ap8*ijeaih yon red i For mtpy a Mtd^ settler cwe», ■r:- And ri^biand leMl||i^,j^me8 are driven TKf0*gvoVc4 wffb"j^aichiug summer W^ beasts fopet tbefr sat||rv d ber^^^j^^ftfety with ih " pcor.giifcii'shakjg^isaft'i ' fin •Wir .-.'■^**''' His life to their prjoin^it zeal and caro; Weil HBay the war worn knight repose. Who knows both how to do and dar^ n may the villages restored, "•' '",:; ' Jlfface the horrors of the fire, lasting structures grace the spo:, H\h balls and towers and holy spa? i€e, ;^;^S3JSSKK9®Siwww^:S^i^sS5w.»;»^'t itrgbirealisat ■A rerssiak aat^io^ tlieir \» k«r iatf s, COUPbMUgS irt dilaton, lb its wings. the lale, Iresove/flinv sothe tNsii ifax— JOr fteln J port hdi'tr, I reveaig. te'd ;«(!«, seen ; ncceeds, promprand tl>oiiDffs usi 'i3, k '0< 1 '.rt.<. :« lAy ioncFfl Row; llie!rU-ov>, land caro; bt repose, anU dar;2 ire, the spo:^ holy »pii3. • ?en.sf ; 8 sHi'vive ,■ ^ ♦'v