but rendered infinitely more appalling and conspicuous by the reflection of the water; burst upon his view in all its terrific grandeur. A light, or rather a hideous glare, that belonged neither to night nor day, illuminated the whole country for ten miles round; the conflagration, as an eye-witness has recorded, throwing itself up into the air, "in a most horrid, malicious, bloody flame, not like the fine flame of an ordinary fire.” As he approached London Bridge, the houses, with which it was at that time covered, were all in a blaze, describing one entire arch of fire across the whole of the river; Fish-street Hill, and the street beyond, presented another blazing bow of more than a mile in extent; above all, hung the angry and ensanguined hemisphere of the sky, which being reflected in the river below, gave to the whole scene the appearance of an immense globe of fire, of which the city formed the centre. Above ten thousand houses were all burning at once. The horrid hissing of the flames, the crackling and shaking of the

earth, and the hot sulphureous panting of the air, as it showered down fire-drops all around, suggested the idea that the elements were breaking up and contending together, preparatory to the final demolition of the world. From the universal horror and distraction of the people, as they ran to and fro, uttering the most appalling shrieks, cries, and lamentations; from the dismal noises and concussions, as the houses, churches, and towers burst, and fell thundering to the earth; from the explosion of the buildings that were blown up with gunpowder; as well as from the wrathful look of the heavens and the shuddering terror of the fire-smitten earth, it might indeed be well imagined that the day of doom was at hand, and that the world and its inhabitants were about to be swallowed up and consumed by the devouring element.

Many who had been impressed with this harrowing apprehension, felt consolation and assurance, as the wind blew away the dense masses of smoke, at the sight of the moon, now nearly

at the full. She was pursuing her unaltered course in a calm majesty of beauty, that contrasted forcibly with the desolating scene beneath, and, like the rainbow to Noah, seemed to be a sign from God that he would not destroy the world that he had made.

When Jocelyn was sufficiently recovered from his first amazement and awe, to pay some minute attention to the scene, he noticed the prodigious hurry and confusion of the river, to whose bosom all were anxious to commit their property, as the best place of security; although, in the dismay of the moment, much was thus lost. Upon every barge and lighter, goods of all descriptions were piled up to such a height that they frequently rolled over into the water: and Jocelyn repeatedly saw virginals; and other musical instruments, cabinets and costly furniture, floating down the stream, without any one attempting to stop them. As the night deepened, he could plainly see the flames spreading and catching from corner to corner, and leaping

from street to street, the floating flakes whirled upwards by the high wind, sometimes communicating to the wooden steeples that arrested them, and so lighting up a fearful pyramid in the air, which quickly burning down to the body of the church, became the focus of a new conflagration. In approaching the shore he beheld the people, who had remained in their houses till the fire actually touched them, clambering from the windows, and letting themselves down into boats; while the poor pigeons, not less loth to leave their dwellings, hovered about the windows and balconies till they burnt their wings and fell down.

Being prevented by the intolerable heat, as well as by the clouds of smoke, and shower of ignited particles, from landing where he first intended, he was obliged to be put ashore above Queen Hithe, where he intended to find his way to Alderman Staunton's residence. Such was the confusion, however, that none would answer his inquiries, and the devastation occa

sioned by the flames rendered it difficult, even for one well acquainted with the town, to find his way. The inexorable element raging and hissing, and lapping one building after another, with its myriad tongues, into its devouring maw, drove the terrified population from street to street, as if it were determined to expel the inhabitants altogether from London, and reduce the whole city to a waste of ruins. Enabled by the ghastly glare thrown upon every object, to read the names of the streets, and having general impression of the direction in which Aldergate Street was situated, he at length reached it; happy to find that it had been hitherto spared from the dreadful visitation of the flames. A shudder crept through his veins, as he beheld the house in which he had been attacked by the plague, which was still shut up, and apparently uninhabited. As he gazed upwards at the railed passage on the roof, constructed as a security against the very calamity with which the dwelling was now menaced, he saw male