W at the rear of Newcastle, in the vicinity of Douglastown and Moor- fields, and along the banks of the Bartibog.

Many persons heard the crackling of falling trees and shri- veled branches, while a hoarse rumbling noise, not dissimilar to the roaring of distant thunder, and divided by pauses, like the intermittent discharges of artillery, was distinct and audible.

On the 7th of October the heat increased to such a degree, and became so very oppressive, that many complained of its enervating effects About 12 oclock a pale sickly mist, lightly tinged with purple, emerged from the forest, and settled over it.

" This cloud soon retreated before a large dark one, which occupying its place, wrapt the firmament in a pall of vapour, and the heat became tormentingly sultry.

There was not a breath of air an irresistible lassitude seized the people ; and a stupifying dulness seemed to pervade every place but the woods, which trembled, and rustled, and shook with an incessant and thrilling noise of explosions rapidly following each other, and mingling their reports with a dis- cordant variety of loud and boisterous sounds At this time the whole country appeared to be encircled by a fiery zone, which gradually contracting its circle by the devastation it made, seemed as if it would not converge into a point while anything remained to be destroyed A little after four oclock an immense pillar of smoke rose in a vertical direction, at some distance of Newcastle, and the sky was abso- lutely blackened by this huge cloud ; but a light northerly breeze springing up, it gradually distended, and then dissipated into a variety of shapeless mists About an hour after, or probably at half-past five, innumerable large spires of smoke, issuing from different parts of the woods, and illuminated by flames, that seemed to pierce them, mounted to the sky.