Violent Storms.

On the 12th May 1728, in and about Croydon, fell such a violent storm of Hail and Rain, with Thunder and Lightning, as exceed any ever known before. Several Hailstones being measured, were 8, 9, and 10 inches round. Most of the glass windows that faced the storm, were shattered; beans, pease, &c. were quite cut off; and the cattle were forced into the ditches, where, in consequence of the water rushing suddenly upon them, they were drowned. The vehemence of the tempest, it is said, struck the Hailstones several inches into the ground.

In 1744, much damage was done by Lightning in and near Croydon; in Smitham Bottom, one Mark Welch, who was driving his cart there, was struck dead, and dreadfully scorched.

LIFE OF WHITGIFT.

SINCE the celebrated Primate, Archbishop Whitgift, bears so conspicuous a part in the preceding History, we think the following Sketch may be no unacceptable addition; though the life of this eminent person has been written by two competent authors, yet, because their performances are not at present in very general circulation, we have thought that it might be agreeable to our readers to have a brief memoir at hand, to which they might turn while the memory should be yet fresh with the impression of the Archbishop's charity and munificence. We contemplate only a sketch of his life, but it is at the same time, our wish to present the reader, with so much of it as shall be adequate to suggest a correct estimation of his character, and to constitute an interesting

narrative; with reference to the present undertaking, we cannot but apply to him the language of the elegant epitaph upon Archbishop Sheldon.

De tanto viro pauca dicere non expedit, multa non opus est*.

John Whitgift was descended from an ancient family in Yorkshire; his grandfather had numerous children, some of whom he educated as scholars, others he established in different situations of life, according to his ability. His son Henry was settled as a merchant at Great Grimsby, in Lincolnshire, and there married Anne Dynewell, a young woman of character and good family; the fruits of this union were a daughter, named Alice, and six sons, of whom the subject of this memoir was the eldest, born in the year 1530.

He received his earliest instruction from his uncle, Robert Whitgift, Abbot of the Monastery of Wellow, in the county of Lincoln, near Grimsby. He was impressed by a remarkable saying of his uncle, which, it would seem he remembered during the whole course of his

* Of so great a man to say little is not meet, to say much would be useless.