The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-25 00:00:00

THE FIRE AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

WINDSOR, THURSDAY.
This morning a meeting of the inhabitants of
Windsor was held ►t the Town-hall, " for the purpose of
adapting congratulatory addresses to her Majesty and his
Royal llighneu Prince Albert, on the preservation of her
Majesty, the Prince, and the royal family and household,
under the perilous circumstances of the late lire at Windsor
Castle." The chair was taken by the mayor (W. B. Hol-
derness, Esq.), and amongst those present were Aldermen
Bedborough and Twinch, and most of the members of the
corporation, the Hey. It. J. Gould, and the Nev. F. H.
Morgan (curates of New Windsor), Captain Layard, Leslie
More, Esq., Messrs. Oiley, Last, Long, Phillips, &a. The
Mayor havinq opened the proceedings by reading the requi-
sition convening the meeting.
The Rev. lt. J. Goviu moved the following address to
her Majesty :

TO IKER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY KIKEEN VICTORIA.
" Mey it please your Majesty,
We, the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of New
Windsor, desire to approach your Majesty's throne with our
most humble, hearty, and loyal congratulations, on the pre-
servation of your Majesty, your royal Consort, and all other

members of tbe royal family and household, under the
alarming circumstances of the late fi•e at Windsor Castle.
" We feel that, as a Christian people, we are bound to
return our most humble thanlos to Almighty God kr ills ,
gracious dealings towards Us in thus preserving our beloved
sovereign, with her whole family and household, from all
personal inlury.
" That the same good and grad mo Providence, who has
so highly favoured us in this deliverance, may long con-
tinue to bless and protect your Majesty, will ever be the
prayer of your Majesty's loyal and devoted subjects."
The rev. gentleman, after describing the origin of the
fire, in much the same terms as have been alreirly used in
this journal, proceeded to describe the present state of the
rooms, immediately over the dining room, where the chief
fire took place. He said the beds, the floors, and every
morsel of wood about them were as black as a
grate. This particular nest of rooms forms the dormitory
of the domestics, and had the fire occurred but two hours
later, gn at would have been the loss of life, for the whole
of the servants must have inevitably been smothered in
their beds. The first intimation he b►d of the calamity
was the beating of the tattoo at the Infantry Barracks im-
mediately opposite his own house. It was then ball-past
ten o'clock, and it struck h;m as something very extraor-
dinary. Immediately afterwards there was a loud calling
by the officers of "all up ;" his family were dreadfully
alarmed, and they unanimously agreed that the French
were come at last. (Laughter.) It was only due to the
Guards to say that in less than five minutes from the first
call the men were all up and equipped, the barrack-engine
was drawn out of the yard, and the whole of the battalion
rushed towards the Castle. (Cheers.)
Mr. MINTON seconded the resolution.
Mr. Alderman Bannonovoit then proposed, in suitable
terms, the following address to Ms Royal Highness Prince
Albert:

"TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRISM! ALBIRT.
"May it please your Royal Highness,
" We, the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of
New Windsor, desire to approach your royal highness with
the espreuion of our most humble and hearty congratula-
tions en the preservation of her Majesty the Queen, of
your Royal Highness and the members of the Royal
Family, and household. under the alarming circumstances
of the late fire at Windsor Castle. We feel that, as a
Christian people, we are bound to return our most humble
end hearty thanks to Almighty God fur his gracious deal-
ing towards us in thus preserving our beloved Sovereign,
with your Royal flighnese and the whole Royal Family
and household, from all personal injury. That the same
good and gracious Providence, who has so highly favoured
us in this deliverance, way long continue to bless and pro-
tect her Majesty, your Royal Highness, and every member
of the Royal Family, will over be the prayer of your Royal
Highness's humble servants."
The address to the Prince wss seconded by Mr. JOHN
CLODS. . . .

Both addresses were ordered to be engrossed, and lie for
signature at the Town.hall until Saturday, when the one
to her Majesty will be presented through the Muse Se-
cretary, and that to Prince Albert through Col. the Hen.
C. B. Phipps.