The late heavy wind and rain have been productive of great mischief to the mills, corn, &c. &c. in and about this neighbourhood . . . We are informed that the devastation at Norfolk is inexpressible. Four or five and twenty sail of ves[sels] are run on shore there, many of which are irrecoverably gone. The Mercury ship of war is also aground, and it is thought will remain so for some time. One of the tenders, that was in the same predicament, is burnt by some of the people of Hampton, whom, we are told, have taken six of her men prisoners, among whom is the gunner. Master Squires, the magnanimous commander of this mighty vessel, nearly escaped. He was obliged to take shelter under the trees that agreeable night, and in the morning went in disguise to some negro's cabbin, from whom he borrowed a canoe, by which means he got off. We have intelligence likewise of a brig that was drove ashore on Curratuck, just beyond the Capes, which stove to pieces, when two passengers, and every hand on board, except the captain and an apprentice, perished. Messieurs Eilbeck and company have sustained great loss on account of this dreadful weather.
