The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-25 00:00:00

HAMPSUIIIK.

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CONFLAGRATION CAUSED BY A FIRE BALLOON.—
On Friday evening a fire broke out in the eaten-ire farm-
yards, homesteads, and preolie s, the property of Mr. F. It.
Lacombe, one of the board of guardians for Asielm r. The
range of buildings denominated Wilderness Farm occupies
an area of several hundred feet, and, at the time of the out-
break, there were housed and stacked, in and around the
farm-yard, two large wheat stacks, three stacks of barley (the
produce of upwards of 25 acres), one pea rick, two doublet
barns full of unthrashed produce, besides other property in
live stock, and outbuildings stored with agricultural imple-
ments. A workman in the employ of Mr. Reynolds, env-
rier, had been engaged in the latter part of the
afternoon in making a balloon for a boy, the son of
his master, which balloon, at seven in the evening,
was hit ited by the igniion of a quantity of spirit,
and then despatched upon its aerial voyage. At that
time the wind WWI blowing strongly from the north-west,
taking the fragile machine over toe upper part of the town,
in the direction of the new church, situate at the top of the
High-street. In passing over the tower of the edifice it
struck one of the pinnacles. It then turned over, became
one mass of fl ime, and, in felling, alighted upon Mr. Los-
combe's premises, which are situate within a few peed* of the
church. The flames extended with extraordinary rapidity.
As soon as it was po•sihle the engines were brought to the
spot. Before this could be effected, however, the large barns
adjoining the stack-yard and the whole of the stebli s were
oa fire, and the flames mounted so fearfully, and progressed
with such rapidity, that but slight hopes were eats ra'ned of
preserving any portion of the property. The atteu'ion of the
parties engaged was now directed to cutting off any commu-
nication of the flames with the neighbouring streets, many
of the houses iu which are covered with thatch. Happily,
about S o'clock, the wind veered round to the south-west, so
that the houses in Marlborough-street and New-street were
saved, the flames bring drives in the direction of a large
rookery, adjoining the farm on the opposite side. Hero
several stately elms, which have for many years given pie-
turesque beauty to the immediate neighbourhood of the
Wilderness, were placed, and in a short time the devouring
element reached them, leaping from bough to bough, while
the rooks flew about in every direction, uttering, as they
hovered over the flames, the most discordant cries. Many of
the birds fell dead into the burning man beneath them, and
several of the trees were consumed. The lives of several
persons were jeopardised by one of these treks (under
which, a few momenta before, at least 50 persons were
congregated), falling with a loud crash. The further
progress of the flames in the direction of the ad-
joining streets and the church was finally checked
by the discharge of large bodies of water upon
the intervening property and the pulling down of some small
houses. The vicarage also had a very narrow escape from
destruction, also the extensive tanyards of Mr. Mortimore.
By midnight all danger of the further extension of the fire
was at au end. At the time of the accident, Mr. Loscombe,
the proprietor, was attending the market at Whitchurch,
seven miles from Andover, from whence he observed the
glare of the lire. Being impressed with the idea that the
conflagration was in the vicinity of Andover he hastened
home, and when he arrived within the borough boundary he
found, to his utter consternation, that his own farm was on
fire. The damage is calculated roughly at several thousand
pounds.
THE MONETARY CRISIS IN SOUTHAMFTON.—The
Hants Advertiser of Saturday says : " It is but just to the
large mercantile and trading hrms of Southampton, that we
should notice the mischievous, though happily unfounded,
reports that have crept into circulation affecting the stability
of establishments of long standing, and of individuals of
abundant means to meet their engagements three-fold. The
banks of the town have acted with considerable liberality
wherever required, but in no case have their judicious and
valuable services been improperly asked ior ; and we believe
we may point to Southampton as singularly favoured at this
extraordinary period of monetary pressure. Business seem'
to have been conducted with a provident forethought which
has rendered the storm that has shattered so many old esta-
blished houses in London and other ports, comparatively
innocuous in Southampton."

fine arts.
THE NEW ART-UNION PRINTS. The London
Art-Union has just put forth the prints due to the subscribers
fur the year ending the 31st of March last. The collection
(for such it really is) consists of two line engravings—. The
Last Embrace" and " The Neapolitan Wedding," engraved
by Frederick Heath and Charles Rolls, after pictures by T.
L wigs, ILA., and seven engravings in outline after seven of
the best rejected cartoons in the recent competition fora pre-
mium of 1001. offered by the Art Union " for an original pio-
ture illustrative of British History." The engras iota after
Uwins are very good Art. Union prints, and very tolerable
priumeiler's prints. So much of Mr. I.lwine. excellence con-
sists in colour, that the engravers have found a difficult task
in catching the real merits of his style, while the prineipal
defect of the artist—his want of expresaion—has out b.en
bettered in the transfer from canvass to steel. In short, we
have nothing more than a very pretty, though tame, pair of
prints, welcome enough, no doubt, to many of the rah-
scribers, who know no better, and who receive something
for their money; but encumbrances rather than additions to
the portfolio of the educated collector. The outlines are
after designs by G. Scharf, W. B. Scott, W. P. Salter, J. N.
Paton, B. Corbould, Marshall Claxton, and E. Armitage.
There is little to admire ha them, not enough, we should
think, to induce the committee (one of the best good-natured
committees we can call to mind) to offer another 5001. for
such a collection, or for such a picture as Mr. Selena, tae suc-
cessful competitor, has painted for the money.

AND CLERICAL.

Ostrow), Ocr. 24.—1 n the convocation to be holden on
Tuesday next the nomination by triturator et the Taylor Imitation
of M. bet as French teacher, and 41. Friderokelf r Germso teacher,
on that foundation, will be submitted to the been.. Also for the
purr of electing a fellow oo the kmadatian of Males Finer, Esq.,
ui the room of Mr. Rogers, late fellow of Oriel College, resixoed.
The fellowandp la tenable for 10 ram, with in marl stipend of rt.
The perm elected must be a cormberof the rivalry, and if not a
barrister at the time of Ws election he must become one within a year
afterwards.
The curators or the Taylor Institution, with view to the
nomination of a professor of 1210/k1 n FairoPean tonsures on that
foundatlon, request that all testimonials from gentlemen desirous at
being candidates for the oilae may be rent. on or before the let Dea
neat, toil. Ur. Dr. Blies, registrar of the university. The impair=
list, just published, =tains 144 names.

CAMIIRIDOB, Om. 23.—At a congregation holden to-day
the Rev. G. T. Drifilaid, ILA., of Bresetiose Coll., (Ilford, irav adf.
milled ad rundeln grads... At the mine congregation all the graces
(which were published in this paper of Friday; passed the ornate.
Pazytove EXAMINATION, Michaelmas Term, 1848.
Al!free, John's ; Reber, Calm; Biekersteth, Trinity; Bud, Christ's;
RhYdli. TN?: Bond, Trinity; Cayley, Trinity; Connell, Corpus;
F:versilleld, John's; Frank, Trinity; Gee, John's; Gill, Conine ; GM-
don, Trin. H.; Harvey, Queen's; Hicks, John's; liwortii, hlagd.;
• Hooper„ Trinity; ; Howard, Tin.. H.; Howard, John'.; Halbert,
Peter's; Hutton, Trinity; Keene. Trinity; ICall, Carl.; Haight,
Queen's; Leeward, Queen's; Law, Corpus; Itansel, Trinity; Ma-
son, Pemb.; Marae, T., Jesus; Nunn. Jima ; Parry, Peter's: retry
tnth.• Peek, Peter's; PresWn, Queen's; Ralph, Trinity; Soutt, A.,
Trinity; Bbuldhasa, Trinity; Pidebottom, Trin. IL; Smith, Trinity;
Trougluon, Queens;' Turnbull, Johns; Vansittart, Sidney 8. ;
Vivian, Trinity; Ware, rel. n's ; Wtoeldon, John'. i Wood Christ's;
Wyvill, Jews; Yeoman, Trio. 11.
The l'rofesi.or of Modern History (Smith ha.
Herr I. Lichtenstein teacher of the (iceman to this
ardversity.
Br. Paysn'o CoLLioa.—Tku3 funeral of the late master
(IN. Hodgson) took place on Frklay ; it wax atteeded ly the master.
of the cultism (the kilos. being pelf-heam•ii 'b. Wk*-41'
the Maeters of Clare, Neabroke, Ulric's, Trinity, Kninase
Soren and DOWD the colleges; Bc. The body w In a
vault in the elm
of the college. Dr. Hodgson • and'ell al
kit k - B•in ',tea, Cumberland, and, war educated ; ami mori. ,1,4,11 i
School, Carlene. The nomination .or the
Frirlsy next. ~ ,„,.....' iiip. ~_„ . . I'd
TIMMY CoLLEoz.—The prior for the ..D€w ...., _ 0
been adjudged to Alfred Barry. ..r. ..,"'"
Os post), Ocr. 24.—The lord bishop of the d' 'gni .' PS
a sermon this morning. at the parish chunk of St. . .'ll4l ' '' . Z
city, in ski of the fund for budding area endowing 'AI, 4 .
Headiarcia Qum,. The tonection unmated to 611. 'lrisat'.!..," le