The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-13 00:00:00

FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE.

BRENTWOOD, JULY 12.

Yesterday morning, between 11 and 12 o'clock, a
most destructive fire took:place upodeome farming property
belonging to Lord Headley, in the vicinity of Watley, near
here, which ended in the loss of two, if not more, lives, and
• very serious destruction of property. It appears that a
few evenings back a party of Irish amps (haymaker) slept
in a barn attached to an oB•haad farm, the house being
occupied by a Mr. BotteshalL The tramps had left some
heifer matches behind in • cattle pen, and four of Mr.
Botteshall's children going into the barn to play, they found
the Waren. With them they soon struck • light, and
as quickly, innocently enough, Bred the place. The
straw, which was lying about in all directions, gene-
rally ignited, and but for the prompt and daring action
of a labourer named Willey, the children would doubtless
have all perished. Observing the position and alarm of the
little ones, he rushed into the blazing barn, and succeeded
in dragging the whole four of them out. Two, however, •
little boy and girl, were so shockingly burned that they
survived but a short time, the other two being hurt. Willey
in his noble elation' sustained considerable injury, and
continues in • very sad way. The engines from the barracks
of the East India Company at Worley, sad those of this
place were promptly conveyed to the scene of the Bre, but
not in time to prevent the Games extending to other parts
of the farm. Eventually they were subdued, the dwelling-
house being fortunately preenved. The farm and contents
are undenmod to have been insured.

ADMIRALTY, JULY 12.—APPorta9[ENTS.—Captain
A. C. Hey, to elwspAios; Master B. Maunder, to Brisk.
Porramourit, JULY 12.—The Duke of Wellington,
131, screw swam ship, Captain H. B. Martin, C. 8., Belled
from Spithead this morning on a cruise. 13he steamed
away from her anchorige at about 6 o'clock, and was out of
sight before 9, going down Channel. The Sphynx, 6,
paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Commander F. A. Shadwell,
arrived at Spithead this morning from the But India and
China station. Her news from the Cape of Good Hope has
been anticipated by the last mail from that colony, the
Sphynx leaving for England on the same day as the mail
steamer. She called in at Plymouth on Sunday night, and
left for this port yesterday afternoon. She sails
this afternoon for the eastward, to be paid off.
The Black Eagle, Admiralty steam yacht, Master-Com-
mander Petley, strived at this port to-day, from Holyhead,
whence she had gone to attend on her Majesty. The royal
yacht, Victoria and Albert, Captain Crispin, and the Fairy,
steam tender, Muter Commander Welch, which have been
telegraphed as putting into Plymouth last night, on their
return to this port, are hourly expected. About 2,500 persona
came to this port to-day, by special exeursion trains from
Brighton and London, to view the fleet at Spithead, de.
They have found ample employment for several steam
boats, in which they have sailed through the fleet and to
the Isle of Wight, whilst large numbers have visited the
dockyard and other government establishments.
EAST INDIA PROPRIETORS.—Yesterday a return
procured by Mr. Bright was printed respecting the proceed-
ings of the East India Directors, of some importance at the
present period. On the 3rd June there were 1,78.5 proprie-
tors of East India Stock-1,374 males and 411 females. Of
the number 1,035 males and 320 females entitled to one
vote, 23.5 males and 72 females to two votes, 60 males and
12 females entitled to three votes, and 34 males and 7
females entitled to four votes. In 11444 only 206 (203 males
and 3 females) of the proprietors of East India Stock actu-
ally voted on the occasion of the election ot the ten bat
elected directors, and on the 13th April last the number
was 1,612-1,236 males and 376 females. It seems that,
with few exceptions, out of 1,753, about 1,500 on an average
hare rated.