The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-05 00:00:00

GREAT FIRES IN GRAVEL-LANE AND
wEsiMINstEIt•ROAD.

Last night two extensive contingettiono hip
pen, il, ne Arty at the same hoar, on the Surrey stile of the
water, both of which were attended with considerable lose
of property.
The first fire commenced at a few minutes before ti o'clock,
in the premises belonging to Mr. T. Tipper, timber mer-
chant, at No. 28, 1if,1% LI•1110C, Southwark. It was disco-
covered by one of the workmen, living in the private house
adjoining the yard. at which period flames were rising from
a pie of wood stacked near the counting-house. The man
immediately gave an alarm, when several persons arrived.
and the most strenuous e tforts were made to extinguish
the fin., hut without and it kept rapidly extending,
until piles and layers of timber. covering about IWO
square feet. were wrapped in flames. The engines
of the briiride West of England, Messrs. C. Hodges, the
distillers, and some others reached the spot with as little
delay as whin dims were rising several yards into
the sir, whilst showers of sparks and immense flakes of
burning material were falling along the carriage roads. and
also upon the house tops for a long distance. To add to the
fears of the neighbours, the extensive mahogany and deal
yard belonging to Mr. Mutt adjoined the premises already
blazing so fiercely.
The engines having been set to work under the command
of Messrs. Henderson, ('onnooton, and Hambleton, vast
torrents of water were thrown upon the lire,which continued
to burn fiercely, when two persons, named 811:11C and
Nott, rushed into a store filled with veneers, which they
removed, and by that means saved some thousand pounds'
wueth of property ; for had the veneers not been taken
away the II tuxes would have been fed to such an extent that
in all probability every house in Bear-lane would have been
destroyed.
The tirsenen, although exposed to great danger, kept to
their work, end by following the fire as it was travelling
round the adjoining premises, they were at length enabled
to encompass it at every point, which prevented all further
danger. The main body of fire, however, continued for
some time to rose with a noise like several furnaces at full
work. Many tons of water were thrown upon the remain-
ing fire, when it was by 'even o'clock declared
by the firemen to be completely within their con-
trol. The property destroyed, at a moderate calcula-
tion, will reach to some thousand pounds, for although Mr.
Tipper's property is far from being entirely destroyed, yet
nor.. ro.enng an enormous area kw been levelled, and
@early piles of timber consumed. A deal of damage has
likewise been dune to the property of Mr. Hutt, also a
timber merchant, adjoining, and fire house, in (hovel-lane
are much injured by tearing out the windows and by
breakge.
The firemen had barely got the command over this fire,
when a policeman arrived with intelligence of another one
haring occurred in the Westminster-bridge-road, Lambeth.
As many engines as could be spared were taken away,
when the fire was found to he at the premix' of Mr.
Hareldine, a tobacconist. and Mr. Collins, a betting-oftioe
keeper, situate at No. 4, in the before-named road, and
nearly (acing the Fled Lion tavern.
When they arrived, the house, from the base to the roof,
was one immense sheet of flame. They set to work, and a
copious body of water was thrown from the mains of the
Lambeth Company ; but, notwithstanding. the fire enald
net be extinguished until the premises were completely
gutted, and some damage done to the Leopold coffeehouse
nest door.

SPORTING.
CH ESTER CUP.—AD
Dutch Lady, 3 yrs.
Waterfall. 4 yrs.
Mahal:. 6 yrs.
Consultation, 3 yn.
True Hid, 4 in.
Etbelwolf, 3 yrs.
Grand Decker, 3 yrs.
Lord of be Manor, by Auck-
land, 3 yrs.
Beseelona, 4 yrs.
little Savage, 3 yrs.
Eliza Middleton, 6 yrs.
Unity, 4 yrs.
Bess of Hardwick, 3 yrs.
Maid of Team Valley, 6 yn.
Constellation, 4 yn.
Toes Mooily, 3 yrs.
bird on the Wing, 3 yrs.
Ringleader, 4 yrs.

DITIOSLL NOXIZIA7IONS.
Sledaerr, 4 yrs.
Hesse Homburg, 4 yrs.
Loci*, 3 yrs.
,• View Halloo, aged.
Amos Smith, 4 yn.
Old Dan 'fucker, 6 yrs.
England's Glory, 4 yrs.
Dismay, 4 yrs.
Ekes, 3 yrs.
SCSIIICTOW, 3 yrs.
The Cutler, 4 yrs.
•
Doubt, 6 yn.
Mine, 3 yrs.
Old Rowley.
Phantom.
Wilmont.
Viva/vitae.
Rose.
Don Carlos.

LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE.
sooß ADDITION/J. USTIUSL,-XlilfOrd, Sialpie, Hardy, awl
• bi

TAE NEW CIENsORSIIIP OF TOE STAGE.—On Fri-
day evening last • Wane was Muted by her Majesty's cham-
berlain, the examiner of all theatrical entertainments, prohi-
biting the representation of • harmless and perfectly loyal
arse in one of the pantomimes at a minor theatre, merely
because it gave • picture of " royalty at home." The pub-
lic must have been prepared for this new coup by the
recent circular of the Lord Chamberlain, commanding all
managers of theatres not only to transmit the manuirripts
of the opening, but also the seems of the harlequinade in
the Clienteles pantomime., for approval. In obedience to
ill• above mandate, Mr. Smith, the lessee and manager of
the Maryleteme theatre, transmitted before the allotted time
of seven clear day. before representation the plot and
changes of the pantomime to be produced at his theatre, en-
titled " Sir John Ilarle7corn; or, Harlequin and the Fairies
of the Hop and Vine.' In the comic business he had pre-
mired • scene, which he meant to be complimentary to her
Majesty for her patronage of the drama by encouraging the
engagement of theatrical performers by our aristocracy and
the revival of • taste for the legitimate. The scene was
made to represent the exterior of Old Drury covered outside
with bill., announcing, " Promenade concerts, horse-riding,
Presently a crowd of Thespians enter, engaged in
every trade and occupation but the right one; and, lastly,
" Avon's herd," attended by Hamlet, King Richard Me
Third, ite., the orchestra playing the air, " We have so
work to do." After some allusions pertinent to the decline
of the drama, and its attempted revival by Mr. Bunn, the
Clown propees his remedy, sad to that end tires • piece of
ordnance, which causes a change to • transparent circular
painting of the interior of the Ruben, Room in Windom
Castle during the Christmas representation of " Hamlet,"
her Majesty and the Prince Consort being very conspicuous
in the royal boa; at the same time the band strike up the
National Anthem, and the audience applaud with vehe-
mence. The lease, not having received from the lewd
Chamberlain any reply as to his manuscript, played the
pantomime on boxing-night and every succeeding night up
to Friday lest, to the infinite satisfaction of crowded houses,
who loyally acknowledged it to be the most telling mese
in the entertainment. On Friday night, however, the
manager was surprised to receive, by hand, a printed docu-
ment, dated fully fourteen days previossly, and signed
Breadalbene," which, while it permitted the ahoy, enter-
tainnsent to appear, obliged the manager to leave out the'
seems M reference to " Wiiasor Castle, Ike." Probably'
there are but few persons able to discover any impropriety
in pmertraylag the domestic noses of a court, whilst the
mane scenes are engraved in etc illustrated journals, and
are etherwies exhibited is every prise shep in the kingdom.
DEPARTURE Or THE ASIA.—On Saturday morning,
the British and North American royal mail steamahip Asia,
Copt. iodides, left the Money Per New York direct, with
upwards of My passengers, tbe usual mails, and •
large
sad valuable serge. Owing to the state of the tide,
Asia left the river at as early hour, to get clear of the bar
at the mouth et the elanasl. but the mails and passingers
were embarked es beard the Satellite and another -steam
tender, and, tar mak* them an board. the Ada mood
oat to ase banyan Elm sot tea elide.