







 
   
     
       
         A true and perfect narrative of the late dreadful fire which happened at Bridge-Town in the Barbadoes, April 18, 1668 as the same was communicated in two letters from Mr. John Bushel, and Mr. Francis Bond, two eminent merchants there, to Mr. Edward Bushel, citizen and merchant of London : containing the beginning, progress, and event of that dreadful fire, with the estimation of the loss accrewing thereby, as it was delivered to His Majesty by several eminent merchants concerned in that loss.
         Bushel, John.
      
       
         
           1668
        
      
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         57886
         
           
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             A true and perfect narrative of the late dreadful fire which happened at Bridge-Town in the Barbadoes, April 18, 1668 as the same was communicated in two letters from Mr. John Bushel, and Mr. Francis Bond, two eminent merchants there, to Mr. Edward Bushel, citizen and merchant of London : containing the beginning, progress, and event of that dreadful fire, with the estimation of the loss accrewing thereby, as it was delivered to His Majesty by several eminent merchants concerned in that loss.
             Bushel, John.
             Bushel, Edward.
             Bond, Francis.
          
           [2], 6 p.
           
             Printed by Peter Lillicrap ...,
             London :
             [1668]
          
           
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             Imperfect: t.p. closely cropped at top.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Fires -- Barbados -- Bridgetown.
           Bridgetown (Barbados) -- Fire, 1668.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           true
           and
           pefect
           NARRATIVE
           OF
           The
           late
           dreadful
           fire
           which
           happened
           at
           
             Bridge-Town
          
           in
           the
           
             Barbadoes
             ,
             April
          
           18.
           1668.
           
           As
           the
           same
           was
           communicated
           in
           two
           Letters
           from
           Mr.
           
             John
             Bushel
             ,
          
           and
           Mr.
           
             Francis
             Bond
             ,
          
           two
           Eminent
           Merchants
           there
           ,
           to
           Mr.
           
             Edward
             Bushel
          
           Citizen
           and
           Merchant
           of
           
             London
             .
          
           Containing
           the
           beginning
           ,
           progress
           ,
           and
           event
           of
           that
           dreadful
           fire
           ;
           with
           the
           estimation
           of
           the
           loss
           accrewing
           thereby
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           delivered
           to
           his
           Majesty
           by
           several
           Eminent
           Merchants
           concerned
           in
           that
           Loss
           .
        
         
           Licenced
           According
           to
           Order
           .
        
         
           
             LONDON
             .
          
           Printed
           by
           
             Peter
             Lillicrap
             ,
          
           Living
           in
           
             Clerkenwell
             Close
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             
               An
               abstract
               of
               a
               Leter
               from
               Mr.
               John
               Bushel
               ,
               and
               Mr.
               Francis
               Bond
               two
               Eminent
               Merchants
               in
               the
               Barbadoes
               ,
               to
               Mr.
               Edward
               Bushel
               Citizen
               and
               Merchant
               of
               London
               ;
               concerning
               the
               late
               dreadful
               Fire
               ,
               which
               hapned
               at
               Bridge
               Town
               ,
               the
               cheif
               place
               in
               that
               Island
               
                 April
                 18
                 
                   th
                
                 1668.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 SIR
                 .
              
            
             
               THis
               Vessels
               sudden
               departure
               ,
               and
               our
               amazeing
               distraction
               gives
               us
               time
               to
               write
               to
               you
               ,
               onely
               2
               or
               three
               lines
               ,
               but
               upon
               the
               most
               dismal
               and
               afflicting
               occasion
               that
               ever
               offered
               it self
               from
               these
               parts
               ;
               for
               on
               Satterday
               evening
               last
               ,
               being
               the
               eighteenth
               of
               this
               instant
               month
               ,
               there
               hapned
               a
               most
               dreadful
               Fire
               in
               our
               Town
               ,
               which
               in
               the
               space
               of
               two
               or
               three
               houres
               time
               ,
               burnt
               and
               consumed
               almost
               all
               the
               whole
               buildings
               thereof
               ,
               
               save
               only
               a
               very
               few
               houses
               to
               the
               great
               astonishment
               of
               all
               those
               who
               were
               either
               concerned
               in
               the
               loss
               ,
               or
               spectators
               thereof
               .
            
             
               Divine
               Providence
               so
               ordered
               it
               ,
               that
               our
               house
               was
               one
               of
               the
               first
               sacrifices
               to
               the
               flames
               ,
               whether
               it
               begun
               in
               our
               or
               our
               Neighbors
               house
               we
               know
               not
               ;
               and
               help
               could
               none
               be
               there
               expected
               ,
               it
               being
               next
               door
               to
               the
               publique
               Magazine
               of
               the
               Island
               ,
               which
               somtime
               after
               blew
               up
               ,
               with
               great
               terrour
               and
               damage
               ;
               we
               having
               scare
               time
               in
               the
               mean
               space
               to
               save
               our
               Books
               and
               Papers
               of
               concern
               (
               together
               with
               our
               lives
               )
               from
               the
               merciless
               rage
               of
               that
               devouring
               fire
               ,
               and
               dreadful
               stroke
               of
               the
               powder
               which
               killed
               many
               with
               its
               violent
               stroke
               .
            
             
               The
               Lord
               sanctifie
               this
               affliction
               unto
               us
               ,
               and
               cause
               us
               with
               deep
               and
               serious
               contrition
               ,
               to
               be
               sensible
               of
               his
               severe
               displeasure
               ,
               which
               hath
               been
               revealed
               against
               us
               ,
               and
               others
               of
               this
               Nation
               .
            
             
               
                 Yours
                 SIR
                 .
              
               
                 Barbadoes
                 
                   April
                   the
                   20th
                   1668.
                   
                
              
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
               The
               abstract
               of
               another
               Letter
               sent
               from
               the
               aforesaid
               Persons
               to
               Mr.
               Edward
               Bushel
               dated
               
                 April
                 the
                 27
                 
                   th
                
                 1668.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 SIR
                 ,
              
            
             
               WE
               shall
               now
               (
               as
               having
               more
               time
               and
               leasure
               )
               give
               you
               a
               particular
               account
               of
               the
               sad
               callamity
               which
               befel
               on
               Satrurday
               the
               18
               instant
               ,
               mentioned
               in
               my
               last
               :
               that
               day
               we
               were
               at
               home
               busy
               ,
               writing
               most
               part
               of
               the
               day
               ,
               and
               at
               Evening
               about
               five
               of
               the
               clock
               ,
               (
               our
               house
               being
               washed
               and
               books
               and
               papers
               laid
               aside
               ,
               being
               our
               usual
               practise
               in
               order
               to
               a
               timely
               retirement
               for
               the
               Sabboth
               ;
               we
               two
               walked
               out
               as
               far
               as
               
                 Exchange-place
                 ,
              
               leaving
               three
               or
               four
               of
               our
               servants
               at
               home
               ,
               but
               we
               had
               not
               been
               gone
               little
               above
               the
               space
               of
               a
               quarter
               of
               an
               hour
               ,
               till
               we
               were
               allarum'd
               with
               an
               out
               cry
               of
               a
               fire
               ,
               which
               was
               said
               to
               be
               either
               in
               our
               ,
               or
               our
               Neighbours
               Garret
               .
               
                 James
                 Costin
              
               was
               then
               in
               our
               counting
               house
               receiving
               of
               mony
               ,
               yet
               so
               ignorant
               of
               the
               mishap
               that
               he
               knew
               nothing
               thereof
               ,
               till
               he
               was
               made
               sensible
               of
               it
               ,
               by
               the
               peoples
               running
               up
               stairs
               ,
               who
               discovered
               the
               garret
               all
               on
               fire
               :
               nor
               can
               he
               give
               any
               account
               by
               what
               means
               or
               when
               it
               hapned
               ,
               that
               which
               is
               much
               suspected
               and
               most
               probable
               ,
               is
               that
               it
               was
               either
               done
               by
               a
               little
               
                 Negro
                 ,
              
               who
               lighted
               the
               Candle
               for
               them
               to
               tell
               the
               Money
               ,
               and
               might
               go
               up
               with
               the
               same
               into
               the
               Garret
               ,
               or
               else
               that
               it
               might
               
               be
               kindled
               by
               some
               spark
               accidentally
               falling
               from
               some
               of
               the
               Neighbours
               Chimneys
               ,
               but
               of
               which
               we
               cannot
               yet
               absolutely
               determine
               ,
            
             
               But
               we
               upon
               our
               return
               ,
               finding
               the
               Fire
               past
               recovery
               hasted
               to
               secure
               what
               was
               most
               considerable
               ,
               and
               what
               in
               such
               a
               sudden
               exigency
               we
               could
               carry
               away
               ,
               not
               daring
               to
               stay
               any
               long
               time
               ,
               the
               Fire
               prevailing
               so
               dreadfully
               upon
               our
               House
               ,
               and
               it
               being
               next
               to
               the
               Magazine
               of
               the
               Island
               ,
               which
               had
               in
               it
               about
               170
               barrels
               of
               powder
               ,
               which
               set
               such
               an
               amazement
               ,
               and
               struck
               such
               a
               terrour
               upon
               the
               hearts
               of
               most
               people
               ,
               that
               they
               durst
               not
               attempt
               to
               give
               that
               assistance
               ,
               which
               otherwise
               would
               have
               been
               done
               and
               performed
               ,
               and
               might
               have
               prevented
               (
               in
               all
               probability
               )
               a
               great
               part
               of
               this
               devastation
               .
            
             
               So
               that
               by
               what
               hath
               been
               demonstrated
               ,
               we
               must
               ascribe
               the
               cause
               of
               the
               Fire
               prevailing
               so
               far
               ,
               to
               be
               the
               cause
               of
               the
               Magazine
               ,
               which
               being
               in
               the
               middle
               of
               the
               Town
               ,
               was
               a
               terrour
               to
               every
               man
               for
               lending
               his
               assistance
               to
               the
               quenching
               of
               the
               flames
               ,
               well
               knowing
               that
               when
               the
               Fire
               came
               to
               the
               powder
               so
               near
               adjacent
               ,
               it
               would
               cause
               such
               a
               blow
               as
               would
               destory
               all
               near
               unto
               it
               :
               and
               indeed
               it
               is
               a
               miracle
               of
               mercy
               (
               that
               upon
               so
               little
               warning
               )
               it
               did
               not
               destroy
               many
               hundreds
               of
               people
               ,
               which
               either
               by
               covetuosness
               of
               saving
               their
               goods
               ,
               or
               impotency
               ,
               staid
               behind
               ,
               as
               it
               was
               likely
               to
               have
               done
               ,
               had
               the
               powder
               been
               in
               a
               low
               room
               ,
               and
               not
               above
               ,
               and
               questionless
               had
               it
               met
               with
               any
               opposition
               it
               might
               have
               caused
               a
               very
               great
               Earthquake
               (
               which
               Islands
               of
               this
               Nature
               are
               much
               subject
               unto
               )
               and
               so
               by
               consequence
               ,
               reason
               induces
               me
               to
               believe
               ,
               that
               very
               few
               in
               or
               near
               the
               Town
               had
               escaped
               alive
               .
               But
               God
               
               whose
               mercies
               are
               infinite
               here
               demonstrated
               it
               unto
               us
               ,
               and
               mingled
               pitty
               with
               his
               Judgements
               ,
               in
               not
               punishing
               to
               the
               full
               measure
               of
               our
               deserts
               .
            
             
               This
               blow
               so
               dispersed
               the
               Fire
               ,
               and
               shattered
               all
               the
               houses
               ,
               that
               the
               whole
               Town
               became
               presently
               a
               prey
               to
               its
               flames
               ,
               it
               being
               supposed
               there
               is
               no
               less
               then
               800
               houses
               consumed
               in
               this
               terrible
               conflagration
               ,
               with
               a
               very
               great
               value
               of
               goods
               ,
               the
               Town
               being
               very
               rich
               in
               Commodities
               ,
               of
               which
               very
               little
               was
               saved
               ,
               most
               off
               those
               goods
               being
               too
               cumberous
               as
               to
               admit
               of
               a
               sudden
               removeal
               .
            
             
               
                 Sir
              
               
                 this
                 is
                 a
                 short
                 but
                 true
                 account
                 from
                 your
                 faithful
                 Friends
                 .
                 J.
                 B.
                 F.
                 B.
                 
              
               
                 Barabdoes
                 
                   April
                   27.
                   1668.
                   
                
              
            
          
        
         
           This
           
             Bridge
          
           Town
           was
           the
           chiefest
           place
           in
           all
           the
           
             Barbadoes
             ,
          
           both
           for
           richness
           in
           Commodities
           ,
           and
           numerousness
           in
           inhabitants
           ;
           there
           were
           above
           Twenty
           able
           Merchants
           living
           in
           the
           same
           ,
           who
           drave
           a
           great
           Trade
           in
           Tobacco
           ,
           Sugar
           ,
           Ginger
           ,
           Indigo
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
           The
           losses
           that
           accrewed
           by
           this
           great
           and
           sudden
           conflagration
           ,
           amounted
           to
           above
           four
           Hundred
           thousand
           pound
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           since
           estimated
           ,
           and
           and
           by
           some
           able
           knowing
           Merchants
           delivered
           in
           unto
           his
           Majesty
           .
        
         
         
           This
           Country
           of
           
             Barbadoes
          
           lies
           on
           the
           
             North
             East
          
           of
           St.
           
             Vincent
             ,
          
           in
           the
           Latitude
           of
           13
           degrees
           and
           20
           minutes
           ,
           it
           is
           of
           an
           Oval
           form
           ,
           17
           or
           18
           miles
           in
           compass
           .
           The
           soil
           in
           shew
           is
           like
           that
           of
           
             England
             ,
          
           but
           far
           more
           fruitful
           ;
           on
           the
           
             East
          
           side
           thrusting
           out
           it self
           with
           points
           and
           angles
           ,
           which
           yeild
           some
           Bays
           ,
           but
           full
           of
           Quick-sands
           ,
           and
           unsafe
           for
           shipping
           ;
           on
           the
           
             South
          
           furnished
           with
           a
           large
           and
           commodious
           Harbor
           ;
           not
           very
           well
           provided
           of
           for
           Fruits
           or
           Cattel
           till
           made
           a
           Collony
           of
           the
           
             English
             ,
          
           who
           have
           brought
           thither
           from
           their
           ow●
           Country
           ,
           Swine
           and
           Kine
           ,
           
             Oranges
          
           and
           the
           like
           from
           others
           ,
           The
           chief
           Commodities
           thereof
           ,
           are
           (
           as
           we
           have
           said
           )
           Tobacco
           ,
           Sugar
           ,
           Ginger
           ,
           Indigo
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
           Of
           which
           they
           furnish
           other
           Countries
           yearly
           in
           great
           abundance
           .
        
         
           This
           Plantation
           is
           said
           to
           be
           worth
           all
           the
           rest
           which
           are
           made
           by
           the
           
             English
             ,
          
           who
           are
           the
           sole
           Collony
           in
           the
           Island
           ,
           and
           have
           prospered
           very
           much
           ,
           until
           this
           unhappy
           accident
           before
           recited
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
  

