Star. — London, England, 1808-09-21 00:00:00

ably mangled, with broken limbs and dreadful bruises. A party of ruffians, taking advantage of the general consternation and distress, began to plunder, but eight of them were apprehended, and lodged In Covent Garden watch•honse. A gang of pickpockets also committed great depredations. At nine o'clock, how ever, a party of horst soldiers wic sent to keep off the crowd, and a party of foot soldiers to relieve the vo lunteers. The loss sustained by the dcstniction of this great property is estimated at A 150,000, of which not more than one-third was insured, as follows : The Royal Exchange - . E 5,000 The Phoenix - - .- 15,000 The Union - - - 5,000 The Sun - - - 25,000 Total £50,000 The money and all the title deeds which were in the iron chest have been saved. The money was saved by the activity of Mr. Hughes, and the ho :testy of the old woman who awoke him. He ran to the Treasury on the first alarm, and loaded her with two bags of money, with which he sent her off, with out any dress but her petticoat, to Mr. Boyce, a tax gatherer in York-street. On her arrival at Mr. Boyce's, however, and knocking at the door, the ser vant seeing such a figure at such an hour, refused ad mittance, supposing her a mad woman. The poor woman, thus excluded, and fearing to inform the pas sengers of the treasure, sat down upon the bags, at the steps of the door, and there remained until the re turn of Mr. Hughes, who had originally escorted her to the door. Of all the rest of this great property, Such was the fierceness of the flames, scarcely any t hing was preserved. The King's Arms, a Roman Eagle, Mother Goose,. a few other pantomimic devices and-pieces of mecha nism, and some pikes, halberts, &e. used in proces sions, were all that were preserved. They were broight out, and laid under the Piazza, where they were huddled together, presenting in the mixture a strange and whimsical appearance. Next to Mr. Harris, Mr. Kemble, and the other Proprietors of the Theatre, the musicians are the greatest sufferers. Mr. Ware lost a violin value 3001. It was the only time in a space of two years that he had left it behind him. The musicians are in the habit of leaving all t hei r instruments at the Theatre ; they were all - de stroyed, with all the musk, and other appurtenances of the Orchestra, estimated at 20,0001. value.— To aggravate the loss in this department, there are no copies of many of the best pieces. All the lite rary productions of the House are also destroyed, and of many of them also there are no copies. Miss - Bolton lost all her jewels, and Mr. Mundell his wardrobe, valued at 3901. All the other performers have also shared in the calamity ; and, according to the usage of the Theatre, their salaries cease uatil theft perfomiances can be resumed. By this cams teophe npvhrds of 200 other persons, with their fa milies, consisting of artificers, door-keepers, and other inferior servants, employed about the Theatre, are thrown out of bread. The event may therefore be said to have spread distress through the neighbour hood, and consigned many industrious families to actual want. Among the killed, whose bodies were conveyed to St. Paul's Chinch-yard, Covent-garden, were Joseph Holmes ' —Jones, an apprentice at No. 5, Oxford. road ; Joseph Kilbey and Richard Riglesnvorth, fire men belonging to the Phoenix Office; Crab, a butcher's boy, whose master resides in Paternoster row ; and an officer in the Duke of Cumberland's sharpshooters, name unknown. One of these suf ferers was recognised by his sister, by means of a nutmeg-grater, found in his pocket, of which she had, on the preceding day, made him a present. Of the mangled and contused, sent to the hospi tals, the following expired in the course of the day : Richard Bird, coachniaker, John Sayers, engineer of the Phoenix engine, Mr. Harris, optician, a young man, aged eighteen, and a member of the Blooms. bury Volunteer Corps, and Mr. James, an attorney ; be had only arrived in town from Wales, about a week ago, and lodged at the house of Mr. Watkins, tailor, York-street, Covent-garden. He was brought home to his lodging, but had scarcely entered the ship when he expired. Among those in a dangerous state at the hospitals are, Peter Fish, fireman of the Phoenix Office. A man brought into the Piazza Coffee-House, with his arm burnt, was in such agony, that, mad with pain, he tore the flesh down to the wrist. He was sent to St. Bartholomew's Hospital in a most deplorable state. A pillar of the balcony at the entrance of the Theatre, from Bow street, gave way, and two Volunteers, it is said, of the Blm)insbury Corps, were crushed to death. Two females, who had ascended the roof cf one of the houses destroyed in Bow-street, it is said pe rished in the ruins. It may be seen from the above account, that the men of the Phoenix Office were the prine;pal sufferers. On their arrival with their engine at the great door under the Piazza, they were met by Mr. Kemble, who had arrived at an early hour, and were humanely ap prized by him, though greatly interested in thesucce:s of their exertions, of the great danger of entering at .that door. He told them that the rooms of the Shake speare, immediately adjoining, were used as a ware house to the Theatre, and were filled with powder, s)il, and other very inflammable matter, and entreated them not to run any risk. These brave and bold fellows answered— ,, Where danger is there is our duty ;" and rushed forward. Mr. John Johnstone, a Comedian of inferior order, rushed in along with them, and shared their fate. A part of the Sliakspeare is irjured, and it is not improbable that sane of the powder stored in it may have exploded, blown up the ceiling at the entrance of the Piazza door, and spread destruction in that quarter. The persons without, who heard the crash, conceived it to be an explosion cf gun-powder. We forgot to mention, that seven other persons were killed by the fall of a wall in Hart-street. The precise number cannot be yet ascertained, but, upon a mo derate computation of the killed and wounded, it is supposed that they cannot be fewer than fiity. Du ring the whole course of the day the engines continued to play upon the smoking ruins ; but, about nine o'clock, the fire appeared to break out again in the angle that the element had spared in the morning, between Hart-street and. Bow-street. It was, how ever soon got under, and at twelve o'clock last night -there was no symptom of new danger. Upon enquiry this morning, we find that of nine perions carried to St. Bartholomew's liospitll yec terday, five died in the course of the night.—The ruins were falling in at intervals throughout the whole of this day. Every thing itt the Treasury Department, with the exception of the iron chest, which we believe has been found, was utterly destroyed • and it was not without considerable difficulty that Mr. Hughes, the Trea surer, who slept that evening in his apartments, es caped. It is usual to make up three receipts—the first includes the whole price, which is deposited in the iron. chest; and the two latter comprehending the halfprice accounts, which, as they are usually received at a late hour, arc placed in drawers, the amount of which was of course lost. Sloper, the Carpenter of the Theatre, who has been confined for some time by in disposition, was very near perishing; and Mr. Hill, the Copyist, has lost every moveable and article of furniture that he - possessed. At the Bar in the Saloon, a very serious and individual loss has been sustained to the amount of 200/. expended in wines, liquors, and refreshments, for the frequenters of the Theatre, not a single article of which was either saved or insured. It must have been a con soling alleviation to the anxiety of Mr. Brandon, that during this horrid scene Mr. Brandon and family were at their residence at Barnes. Several of his friends attempted to save part of his furniture, but 1 he entreated them to direct their exertions, as indeed his own constantly and assiduously were employed, to the general welfare of the concern, and it is a pity that such strenuous efforts were rendered una-1 vailing by the irresistible fury of this dreadful element. Mr. Harris, jun. arrived with all possible speed at the distressing scene of action, and immediately dispatch ed an express with the intelligence to his father, at Belmont, near Uxbridge. Ivlr. Kenible and Mr. Lewis were also present ; they supported the sight of this dreadful spectacle with as much firmness and presence of mind as they could command, and were laudably active in direction and personal exertion.— The Prince of Wales's Volunteers, and the Duke of Chmberland's Sharp Shooters, arrived early, to keep open the passages to the Theatre, and prevent the in conveniences arising from a mob. These were soon followed by a detachment of the Life and Foot Guards, who continued at all the avenues leading to the scene of ruin, and in the different openings to wards Covent-garden, till their assistance was no longer necessary. In consequence of this afflicting event, the Perfor mers, Artists, Mechanics, &c. belonging to the esta blishment, will be deprived of their salaries, and many of them for some time of the means of neces sary subsistence. Those who know the merits, the worth, and excellent character of Mr. Harris, must sincerely sympathise with him in the vast loss he has thus unexpectedly sustained. The public will not, however, we trust, be long deprived of the admirable talents of the Company. It was a most unfortunate circumstance, that for a length of time no water could be procured, nor was there a free supply until a messenger had been sent to the River Head, near Sadler's Wells; in which interval the devouring flames raged with dreadful rapidity : the engines were, during this period, fur , nished from the private pumps of the Bedford and Piazza Coffee-houses. The following are the Volunteer Corps who attend ed yesterday upon this melancholy occasion: the Duke of Cumberland's Sharp-shooters, British Artificers, St. James's, St. Clemcnt's, St. Pancras, Blooms bury, and Gray's Inn Rifle Corps. They all ex erted themselves to the utmost, to keep off the crowd, and prevent depredation. How awful and distressing a situation must he a neighbourhood adjoining the spot in which such a fatal scene has been witnessed ! This should induce all per sons to be provided with some means to escape, when surrounded by that awful and most to be dreaded of ' all calamities—Fire I None, we have noticed, de serve the attention of the Public more than those made by J. Cooper, No. 9, High Holborn, where they may be inspected, and their utility described. Thursday afternoon, after laying the foundation. stone of the new Prison, at Edinburgh, the LORD PROVOST and Magistrates gave an elegant turtle feast to the Hon. WILLIAM MAULE, the Grand Master Mason Elect of Scotland, the Officers of the different Lodges, Lord Viscount CATI4CART, Commander in Chief, and a number of Noblemen and Gentlemen, who had been present at the interesting ceremony. BIPROVENIENTS IN WF.STNIINSTEr..—They have be gun the demolition of the old houses that stand be tween Palace-yard and the River Thames. The whole row, in which is the ancient Star Chamber, is to come down. The perspective view of Westminster Bridge thus admitted from the new opening, north of the Abbey, is extremely fine. An embankment is to be made in the River, to form a terrace walk. This , ought to be sufficiently broad, and to be carried the I whole length of the Parliament buildings, between the SPEAKER'S Garden and the River. The Royal en- trance to the House of Lords, commenced last year,' remains much in the same state. Workmen have be gun to restore the basement of the north front of Westminster Hall. St. Margaret's Church, we un derstand, is to remain on account of the great ex pellees very recently incurred in its repairs. Parlia ment voted, within these few years, 11,0001. for that purpose. It is in contemplation to enrich its exteric r with the new cement, so as to make it groupe better with the Abbey. The cost of repairing and restor ing the inside and outside of the Chapel of Henry the Seventh, is estimated by professional men at not less than 37,0001. Yesterday morning about three o'clock, slme thieves attempted to rob a silversmith's shop in the Borough. They had succeeded so far as to cut a square hole, about eight inches wide, in the shutters: But fcrlti 'lately an apprentice, who lay in a room adjoining the shop, hears them, and immediately gave an alarm, on which the villains decamped. Friday se'nnight, C. F. M. Bouchier, a French offi cer, a prisoner of war in this country, was conveyed from the county jail at Huntingdon, to Yaxley Bar racks, where he was hanged, agreeable to his sentence at the last Assizes, for stabbing with a knife, with an intent to kill, Alexander Halliday, in order to effect his escape from that prison. The whole garrison was under arms on the occasion, and all the prisoners in the different compartments were made witmoses of the impressive wile. FROM LAST NIGHT'S cAitTTE. -ADMiIiALTY•OPFICE, SEPTEMBER 20. Cory of a i.etto from Viee.Adtniral Sir Janie, Sanmarez, K. B. C Nrr tn.lader In Chief of his Majesty'sßhips and Vessels in the bai.tc, to the Hon. W. W. Pole. - Victory, off Rogerriviet, Aunst Sir—You will please to inform the Lords Commis sionims of the Admiralty,of my arriving off Oro yester day eveninrf, pursuant to my intOntion s to effect a j unc. lion with the Swedish fleet, which I had received an account from Rear-Admiral Nauckhoff was block. tided by the Russian fleet, consisting of thirteen sail of line-of-battle ships, besides frigates. It was not before this morning that I was informed by the Com mander of the Swedish frigate Champan, that the Rear-Admiral Nauckhoff, after being jo►ned by Sir Samuel Hood in the Centaur, and Implacable, had sailed from Oro Road on the 25th, in pursuit of the Russian fleet ; and on The day following had succeed ed in capturing and destroying the R.ussian line-of battle ship Sewolod, off Rogerswick, and in which port the remainder of the enemy's ships had been compelled to shelter themselves. I immediately made sail for Rogerswick, where I arrived this afternoon, and had the satisfaction to find the Swedish fleet, with tie Centaur and Implacable at anchor, watching the Russian force in the harbour. 1 inclose to you, for their Lordships' information, the duplicate of a letter which I have had the pleasure to receive from Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, de- tailing the account of his proceedings with his Majes-* rty , s ships under his orders, and the squadron of his Swedish lvlajesty, under Rear-Admiral NauckhofF, l and <<f the meritorious conduct of Captain Martin, of the Implacable, in bringing the enemy's sternmost ship to action, and whica struck her , colours to the `lmplacable, but was afterwards rescued by the ap proach of the enemy's Whole force, which had oblig ed Sir Samuel Hood to recal her. I also inclose a copy of a letter from Captain Martin to the Rear- Admiral, in which he gives due credit to Lieutenant Baldwin and Mr. Moore, the Master, and the other officers and men of the Implacable. The Russian Admiral having sent a frigate to take the disabled ship in tow, she was again attacked by the Implacable, and the Centaur laying her on board in the most gallant manner ; and by the exertions of Captain Webley and Lieutenant Lawless, and Mr. Strode, Master of the Centaur, her bowsprit was lashed to that ship, and there was every prospect of her being got off; but she having unfortunately grounded, rendered it impossible, and she was set on fire, after the prisoners and wounded men were taken from her. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on Rear- 1 Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, for the gallantry he dis played with the two ships under his orders in his pur suit of the enemy's fleet, when the bad sailing of the squadron of his Majesty's ally prevented their coming up with them, and bringing on a general action.— The brave and highly meritorious exertions of Cap tain Martin and Captain Webley, with the Officers and men under their orders, entitled them to the highest commendation in my power to bestow, and excited the amazement and admiration of the gallant Swedes who witnessed their heroic bravery and per ,severance. _ _ _ The present position of the Russian fleet within the batteries at the entrance of the harbour, leave but slender hopes of their being attacked with any pro bability of success. Admiral Nauckhoff has requested a body of land-forces to be sent from Finland; with a view of taking possession of the island of East Raga, which would effectually command the harbour; but as the enemy have been occupied in placing it in the best state of defence, it is very doubtful it a_ descent upon the island could be effected. I be to assure their Lordships, that every endeavour will be prac tised with the force under my orders, jointly with the Swedish squadron, that can tend to the further de feat of the enemy. I propose to detach a small squadron, under the orders of Captain Martin, towards Cronstadt ; and I shall order the Africa to repair to her station off the Malmo Channel, calling off Carlscrona for the con voy appointed to sail from that port for England.* I am, Sir, &c. (Signed) JAMES SAUMAREZ. Cenr.ur, off Rogerswick, August 27. Sir—lt is with pleasure I acquaint you the Russian squadron, under the command of vice-Admiral Ha nickhoff, after being chased thirty-four hours by his Swedish Majesty's squadron, under Rear-Admiral . Nauckhoff, accompanied by this ship and the Impla cable, under my orders, have been forced to take shelter in the port of Rogerswick, with the loss of one ship of 74 guns. I shall have great satisfaction in detailing to you the services of the Captains, Offi cers, seamen and marines under my command ; and have also to state, that in no instance have I seen more energy displayed than that by his Swedish Ma. jesty's squadron, which, although from the inferiority of their sailing they were prevented from getting into action, Rear-Admiral Nauckhoff and the Captains under his command, from their perseverance and ju dicious conduct, were enabled to give confidence to his Majesty's ships ; and could we have forced the enemy to a general action, the whole of their squa dron must have fallen to the superior bravery of the, united force of our respective Sovereigns, in so just and honourable a cause. My letter of the '2sth will have acquainted you of the Russian squadron having appeared off Oro Road en the 23d. The arrangements for quitting that anchorage after his Swedish Majesty's ships from Jungfar Sound had joined Rear Admiral Nauckhoff, were completed on the evening of the 24th. Early the next morning the whole force put to sea ; soon after the Russian fleet was discovered off Hango the wind at N.E. Not a moment was lost in giving pursuit, and every sail pri.ssed by his Pswedish Majes ty's squadron. From the superior sailing of the Cen taur and Implacable, they were soon in advance : that at the close ofihe evening the enemy were not far off, and noticed in the greatest disorder, apparently to avoid a general battle. In the morning of the Wel, about five o'clock, the Implacable was abled to bring the leewardmost of the enemy's line 'U . battle ships to close action, in a most brave and gallant manner ; and so decided and judicious wi.s this ma neuvre executed, that the Russian Admiral, who, bore up with the whole of his force, could not prevent that marked superiority of discipline and seamanship being eminently distinguished, Although the enemy's ship fought with the greatest bravery, she was silenced in about twenty minutes; and only the near approach or the enemy's whole fleet could have prevewei Ler then falling, her colours and pendant bcinghoth o but I was obliged to make the signal for tli Irtpla cable to close me. Captain Martin's letter, stating the brave and gallant conduct of Lieutenant Bald 'win, his other officers and men, I sent hi re a'ith ; , and it would be needless for me to add more to von on their meritorious conduct. If words of miae could enhance the merit of this brave, wir.hy, and excellent officer, Captain Martin, I could do it with the utmost heartfelt gratification ; and the high esteem I have for him as an officer and a friend, no halt...age. can sufficiently express. The Russian Admiral having sent a frimce to tow the disabled ship, again hauled his wind, and the Im• placable being :-cady tx., make sail, I immetilately gave chace, and sooa obliged the frigate to cast eiTher tow, when the Russian Admiral again under the ne cesity to support her by several ci his line of battle ships bearing down ; and I had evert- prApect of this bringing on a general action, to avoid r.:.ich he avail. ed himself of a favourable slant of wind, and entered the port of Rogersv, ick. The line of battle ship engaged by the Implacable having fill 211 to leeward, grounded on a shoal just at the entrance claw port : there being then some swell, I had a hope she must have bcca destroyed ; but the wind moderating towards tile evening, she appeared to ride at her anchor, and exertions made to repair her damage. At sunset, finding the swell abated, and boats sent from the Russian fleet to tow her into port, I directed Captain Wcbley to stand in and endeavour to cut her off : this was executed in a manner that must ever reflect the highest honour on Captain Web ley, the officers, and ship's company of the Centaur, for their valour and perseverance in the support of my orders. The boats had made a considerable pro gress, and the enemy's ship was just entering the port when we had the good fortune to lay her on board ; her bowsprit taking the Centaur's fore rigging, she swept along with her bow grazing the muzzles of our guns, which was the only signal for their discharge, and the enemy's bows were drove in by this raking fire ; when the bowsprit came to the mizen rigging, I ordered it to be lashed : this was performed in a most steady manner by the exertions of Capt. Web ley, Lieut. Lawless, Mr. Strode the Master, and other brave men, under a very heavy fire from the enemy's musketry, by which, I am sorry to add, Lieutenant Lawless is severely wounded. The ship being in six fathoms water, I had a hope I should have been able to havt towed her out in that position, but an anchor had been let go from her unknown to us, which made it impossible to effect it. At this period much va lour was displayed on both sides, and several attempts made to board by her bowsprit ; but nothing could withstand the cool and determined fire of the marines under. Captain Bayley and the other officers, as well as the fire from our stern chase guns, and in less than half an hour she was obliged to surrender. On this occasion, I again received the greatest aid from Cap. min Martin, who anchored his ship in a position to heave the Centaur off, after she and the prize had grounded, which was fortunately effected at the mo ment two of the enemy's ships were seen under sail standing towards us, but retreated as they saw the ships extricated from this difficulty. The prize proved to be the Sewolod, of 74 guns, Captain Roodneff ; she had so much water in her, and being fast on shore, after taking out the prisoners and wounded men, I was obliged to give orders for her being burnt ; which service was completely ef fected under the direction of Lieutenant Bidduiph, of this ship, by seven o'clock in the morning. I cannot speak too highly of the brave and gallant conduct of Captain Webley, and every officer and man under his command ; and I beg leave to recommend to you;for the notice of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Lieutenant Lawless, for his exertions and gallant conduct, and who has severely suffered on this occasion ; and I also must*beg leave to re commend Lieutenant William ease, the Senior Offi cer of this ship. Herewith you will receive a list of the killed and wounded on board this ship and the Implacable, and from every information that it was possible to collect, that of the enemy's ship captured. I have the ho. nour to be, &c. (Signed) SAM. HoOD. P. S. I . send herewith a list of the Swedish and Russian squadrons. His Majesty's ship Implacable, off Packerort Light Howse, Aug. 26, 1809. Sin—The action. this morning between the Impla cable and the rear ship of the Russian line, was so immediately under your own observation, that it would be superfluous to trouble you with any state ment upon that point ; but in transmitting a list of killed and wounded, I trust I may be allowed the op portunity to express ply thankfulness to the Officers and ship's company of the Implacable, fortheir eager and active exertions to close with the enemy, and the truly noble and splendid conduct which they displayed during the engagement ; but it is my duty to acknow ledge, in a more particular manner, the great assist ance I derived from Mr. Baldwin, the hrst Lieute nant, and Mr. Moore, the Master ; and if the fact of our opponent being completely silenced, and his co lours, (both ensign and pendant) down, when the approach of the whole Russian fleet occasioned your recalling me, can tend to make the affair worthy of being distinguished by any mark of approval from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, it is impos sible their patronage can be bestowed upon a more thoroughly deserving officer than Mr. Baldwin. (Signed) T. B. MARTINI. To Sir Samuel Hood, K B. Kc:ar-Admiral of the White, ice. &c. &c. A return of the men and Wounded on board Ilk. Majesty's ship Centaur, August 26. Killed—P. Jackson, landman; 11. Brass, private of marines; J. I - iwksford, ditto. WOUNDTD. Officers—Mr. P. Lav,-Ic4q, l'int I .itutenaot, severely; Mr. Morton, boatswain, badly n the thigh and breast. Petty Officer—J. Robinson (1) yeoman of the sheets, slightly on the back awl r-rat. .—..... . Seamen—T. Moxt,7, quarter-gunner, badly in the belly; I. 11.icalen, kaptain of the forecastle, severely on the leg; J. Daniels, ordinary, severely on the arms R. Strangrarn, ditto, severely on the arm and breast ; J. Kenny, titto, slightly on the face andarm; T. M'Dettale, 'ditto, severely • A. Honey, ditto, slightly on the thigh; J. Conway, ditto, b adly on the head ;J. 'Jerks, ditto, slightly cn tha kg; O'Britn, ditto, slightly on the hand ;T. But, lartintan, slightly; M. Citatory, ditto, slightly on the kg ; R. Vt,'llliams, (Lite. si:ghtly tin the thigh ; I. Hudson, ditto, slightly on the neck ; E. Pletcher, ditto; slightly on the buttock; J. Smith, ditto, slightly on the hand. Marines—J. Shores, private, badly on the aria ; W. istiKess ditto, badly or. both thi ghs; J. Gumbleton, din% dingo- rously ; S. Leach, dittoooverely on the leg )..B...Giloert. . [lora over.