The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-08 00:00:00

REMARKABLE. SERIES OF FIRES.

-~•

LONDON PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.

Yesterday, no lean than nevelt firm, some of them
of considerable extent, and one resulting in loss of life, broke
out in this metropolis. Shortly before five in the afternoon,
the extensive premises of Messrs. Oglelsy and Co., spernta-
ecti and oil refiners and wax chandlers, l'arailist-street,
Lambeth, near the Archiepiscopal l'alisee. The hailing
houses, melting rooms, &c. stood round an open yard which
was crowded with casks, containing oil and other inflam-
mable matters. The fire began in the press house, a build-
ing threefloors high, of considerable frontage, and
about 30
or 40 feet deep. Several tons weight "foil were in this building.
To add to the fears of the inhabitante, the extensive Ills_
tillery of Mears. Hodges was separated from the factory by
only a narrow court, and some dozen houses, mostly let oat
to poor people, flanked each side of the property. la as
brief a period as possible the various engines of the London
Brigade, West of England, parish, Messrs. Burnett the
distillers, Sir Charles Price, and other private parties
reached the scene of conflagration, and fortunately nn abun-
dance of water was furnished by the Lambeth Company's
mains. By that time, however, the fire had assumed a
most fearful aspect, for the entire length and breadth of the
pressing house was wrapped in flumes, and the oil m
a thorough state of ignition kept pouring from the various
floors, to the danger of tiring the adjoining property. The
firemen, seeing that not the least chance remained of saving
the building in flames in the first instance, their exertions
were concentrated upon one object, which was, to cut off
the flames in the direction of the distillery, and boiling
house. This way a work of no little difficulty, for the
flames were risiug some 20 feet above the roofs Of the dif-
ferent houses, and the heat was so intense that the men ran
great risk in approaching near the premises. They, how-
ever, worked must praiseworthily, and, atter some consi-
derable time, they sueceeded in stopping the progress of the
flames towards the surrounding buildings. That having
been done, the whole force was brought to bear upon the
pressing-houses; but, notwithstanding the many tuns of
water that were discharged into the blazing pile, at half-
past 8 o'cloek last night the fire was far front being entirely
extinguished, and three or four engines were then playing
upon the burning mass. All danger, however, of any further
extension of the fire was at an end. The botline-honse,
candle and oil stores, and the other buildings, fortunately
hale received no injury, so that business can be carried on
as hitherto. Respecting the rause of the misfortune not the
least idea ran be formed, us no fires of any description had
been used in the building during the day ; neither was the
furnace in the boiling-house alight at the time of the outs
break.

GREAT NORMAL SCHOOL OF NATIONS.—The Great
Exhibition will serve as a normal school of courtesy, in
which nations will teach and be taught the deportment of
proprieties of those delicate conditions of society, the rela-
tions of guests and hosts. We love to contemplate its influ-
ence in this direction. The nice perception of what per-
tains to these reciprocal relations, makes the charm of the
most refined circles in private life. The spirit and grace
with which they ore filled are accepted as the first evidence
'of high cultivation. Look in upon a parlour party of
persons forming such a circle of acquaintance. See what a
bland spirit of courtesy graces the bearing of guest to host,
and of guest to guest towards each other. What mutual
deference, and gentle efforts to put each other in the highest ,
seat! What palpable wish to commend hospitalities with
the heartiest good-will on one smle ; to appreciate and enjoy
them on the other! What a school for courtesy! But
all the delicate responsibilities which attach to these con-
ditions of intercourse will devolve upon the millions
of different nations, who will meet in London at the Great
Exhibition. It will virtually be a Parlour Party of the
People of Christendom. They will put themselves into
these nice relations with each other on the magnificent oc-
casion. To the usual sentiment which attaches to the con-
ditions of host and guest, will he superadded the sense of
those proprieties which should illustrate and commend a
nation's hospitality to strangers on one side, and its appre-
ciation and recognition on the other. The nations repre-
sented in this mighty assembly will feel their honour staked
upon the deportment of their subjects who shall he present.
They will watch with solicitude that deportment, and will
experience a sense of humiliation, if it does not become
the courtesies of the occasion. So, on the other hand,
the whole British nation must comprehend the re-
sponsibilities involved in this magnificent act of
hospitality. leo committee of arrangements, nor London
with its millions, can assume and fill these responsibilities.
They will devolve upon the whole population of Great Bri-
tain, and concern the reputation of the entire nation.
Every man must assume the disposition or character of a
host ; not the rich only, who may invite foreign visitors to
his drawing-room, parks, or gardens, but the day-labourer,
the cabman, the waiter at the hotel, the railway porter, and
every person who is called to render any service to one of
the myriad guests of the nation. What a school fur cour-
tesy, not the mere bowing, Orally courtesy of conventional
etiquette, hut that which St. Paul deserfine, who had the
best idea of a true gentleman of any man that ever lived ; a
courtesy that breathes a spirit of kindness; that does as well , We understand that the ktovernment have under.
as bows ; that gas with a foreignneighbour twain when slaked ' taken to provide a sum which will furnish about 81. to each
to go a mile, to put him in the right way ; that, instead of ' of the Polish and Hungarian refugees who have just arrived
curling the lip at his language, interpets Isis words by the 1 at Liverpool from Turkey, for the purpose of paying their
intuition of good-will and sympathy ; that prefers 1 passage to America. Considering the extreme difficulty
him to the best place in the public walks ; that says' which foreigners now experience in obtaining employment
whenever he is met, in expressions of kindness he can un- ;in this country, and the sufferings which the Polish refugee*
derstand, without knowing a word of English, " Brother, I now resident here have already undergone, and the diffl-
am glad to see you : what can I do to make you happy ? " culty their friends find in procuring for them even a
j
Great will be the part which the cabmen, porters, waiters scanty support, and the great demand for labour which
&e., will take in this magnificent demonstration. Great lat present exists in America, the measure of the go-
will be the responsibility devolving upon them, in discharg- vernment appears to bo prompted by the most humane
log the first duties of the nation's hospitality. They will, I feelings towards the refugees. It appears, however' that
arc
we are sure, recollect that they a the first to act the host I certain gentlemen, belonging, we believe on what is called
towards these foreign guests ; the first to go out to meet ' the extreme democratic party amongst the Pules, have taken
them, with Britain's welcome ; the last to pay them the ! upon themselves the serious responsibility of advising these
parting hospitalities of the nation: to attend them IA little'. poor men to remain in England, at the risk of their being
on their way homeward. The first and last impressions i exposed to the most abject misery. It is not essay to conjeos
will be received and retained from the it deportment. Como, sure what motives may have inspired the authors of this
now, what a school for universal brotherhood will this be to 1 advice, but it is tolerably clear that unless they have largo
the labouring men of the metropolis and the nation! Per- : and immediate funds at their disposal, it cannot have ori-
vently hope we, that they will not only learn but teach the ginated in a due regard to the welfare of those to whom it
highest lessons in the law of kindness and courtesy.—EhAts is otfered.
Burrift. 1 . .. ---------

A second conflagration took place at 23, Skinner-street.
Clerkenwell. It originated in the apartment of a Mrs_
Smith, and on ROM' of the neighbonn, entering the place to
render assistance they found the unfortunate occupier lying
on the second fluor landing completely enveloped in flames.
The engines of the London brigade quickly attended, and
the fire was subdued, but not until Mrs. Smith was so
frightfully burned that the flesh peeled off her body when
touched. A medical gentleman promptly attended, who
gave it as his opinion that the posse creature could not pos-
sibly live a couple of hoots, her injuries being of such a
serious character. The origin of this tire is unknown.
About the same time, a fire, which at tint threatened
very serious eouse.tuencew, occurred on the wend.. of Mr.
Viretelly, the printer, of Peterborough-court, Fleet-stmt.
Owing, however, to, the exertions of the men employed oa
the premises and Sunday Times office, the flames were soon
subdued, but not until one of the staircases was LlCillii
destroyed.
At the same time a fire happened at No. 6, Upper Step.
mour-strcet, Euston-square, belonging to Mr. It. Holt, a
carpenter. Considerable damage WWI done to the premises,
&c., before the flame,, could be subdued.
At precisely the same hour a lire broke out in Chapman-
street, St. George's in the Ea-t, but owing to the timely
arrival of assistance the damage was confined to the &stria-
tion of the beds and furniture.

A QUANTITY OP VERY VALUABLE JEWELS have
arrived from Lahore, sent by the government of India, for
the Great Exhibition ;and It is understood that the arrivals
from India either have or will comprise a tent of large
dimensions, manufactured of silk and worsted mixed to-
Igether, which, in consequence of its extent, will probably
be found to require a space outside the building fur the pur-
pose of exhibition.

A fire which was well nigh being attended with cense-
quences uhnost as disastrous us that which occurred in
Mark-lane, broke out in the premises of Messrs. Grosvenor
and Chater, wholesale paper merchants and stationers, on
Cunthill. The engines of the London Insurance Company,
parish, rind brigade,attended, and owing to the exertions of
the firemen, workmen, and strangers, the tire was subdued,
but not until the cutting-room, on the second Hoer, was IC•
rerely damaged, and the stock injured by fire and water. Ths
window glass in that part of the premises is also demolished,
and the stuck damaged by water. Fortunately the 5r
was discovered early or it is probable that the whole of the
houses near would hare been destroyed.
At an early hour yesterday morning the factory of the
Patent Fire Lighting Composition Company, at Ltattle•
bridge, was burned down, as well as a storehouse.

THE POLISH AND HUNGARIAN REFUGEES-

EXTENSIVE FORGERIES ON THE BANK OP ENG- I
Ls/sp.—An extensive attempt has been made at ltoehdale
and in the neighbouring towns of Todmorden, Bacup,
Middleton, Castleton, Ileywood, and Littlehorough, within
the last few weeks to get into circulation forged Bank of
England notes. It is supposed that a large party are eon,'
netted with the issue of these forgeries, and the attention
of the Lancashire county police having been called to what
was going on, they have succeeded in apprehending two of
the utterers, who, it appears, arc men moving in a respects
able sphere of life, being flannel manufacturers at Rock-
dale. Upon one of these men, named John Whittles, no
leas than 3:.) forged U. Bank of England notes were found,
and four 101. forged notes. The other prisoner, Joshua
Butterworth, is charged with paying two U. and one 101.
Bank of England notes to Mr. Eccles, publican, Castleton,
and two 41. notes (all forgeries) also to Mr. Horton, publi-
can, Rochdale. Both prisoners have been remanded by the
magistrates at Rochdale in the expectation that other pay-
ments will be discovered further criminating them.
MAP OF TIIE SCENE OF WARIN BRITISH CA FFRARTA.
With his usual celerity, Mr. Wyld has produeed a small
map, on which may be seen at a glance the relative positions
of Fort Cox and Fort hare, and the movement, of the
forces under Mackinnon and Somerset may be traced with
ease. This map will be useful in the future history of the
Kaffir outbreak.

THE METROPOLITAN AND JOINT STOCK BREWERY
COMPANY.—The practical monopoly obtained by the Lon-
don brewers has long been a serious and crying evil. A few
months ago we did hear that the price of beer was to be re-
duced to the extent of ss. per banal, but it is evident that the
design is postponed, if not abandoned altogether. Yet the
I profits of the brewers are altogether outrageous, as will be per-
ceived from the following estimate, which is our own, and
not this company's. The price of malt, from the lowest
brown, ranges from 445. to Ms. per qr. We may, therefore,
assume 50s. as the average price of malt used in brew-
ing London porter. Seven pounds of hops, at 9d. per lb.,
will cost •ss. 31.; the charge for brewing, as has been
allowed by the brewers' brokers, is I ls. per quarter, though,
from the improvements in the arrangements and manipu-
lation, the real cost cannot reach that sum. Allow 6d. per
barrel fur delivery, and we have the total cost, from which
must be deducted 2s. for grains, and we have the nett
cost of a quarter of malt converted into porter and delivered
at the publican's. Now London porter varies in strength
from 191 b. to 221 h. of saccharine matter per barrel, say 201 b.
per barrel, and a quarter of malt of medium quality will
produce from 82 to titilb. of saccharine matter. We have
known it reach 9116. The account then stands thus:
Malt £2lO 0
rrops
Expenses

3 6 3
Deduct In d= .... 0 2 0

Per quarter .. „ , ._„

.... 3 4 3

wbich prodme Morels, at ......... „ 015 1i
Add mrt.iire
Cost per barrel
Pell'ne price
DiveoAlt live per cent .......... 0 1 Ti
Co' 0 1
I 15
71 ; 41,

DISTURBANCES IN NORWAY.

Accounts from Christiana (Norway), of the 22nd,
contain details relative to the recent events in the town of
Levanger, province of Drontheim, in that kingdom. It has
already been stated that communist doctrines have unfortu-
nately become very popular among the working populations
of the north of Norway, and that the disturbance,. at Le-
vanger took place in consequence of the arrest of a com-
munist propagandist, named Michels. n, who had formerly
been condemned by justice. The first thing the populace
did was to break open the doors of the Town-hall, where
the man had been interrogated, and, not finding hint
there, they then made an attack on the prison to release
him; but Miehelsen himself appeared at the bars of his
cell, and supplicated them to do nothing, saying that
he was glad to suffer for the good cause. The
crowd in consequence of this appeal withdrew. This
was ou the 6th. Great agitation prevailed all day,
and, the next morning, when the numistruto of Woo-
suit arrived to interrogate Mich.:hen, he was pelted
with stones, seriously hurt in the shoulder and the breast,
and at last obliged to retreat from the town. Two battalions
of infantry were then sent, and on their arrival, on Satur-
day, the populace attacked them, and pelted them with
stones. On Sunday, the 9th, no disturbance took place,
owing to the respect felt by the people for the Lord's
Day. But on Monday they assumed a menacing attitude,
and occupied in compact masses the principal parts of the
town. The municipal authorities caused detachments of
cavalry to be marched into the town, and to he stationed
round the Town-hall. In the afternoon, a multitude of
persons marched on the Town-hall from the different streets.
Elie cavalry charged them, and they lid ; but their flight left
the place free to a great number of men armed with clubs,
forks, and long sticks surmounted with iron. Thin hand rushed
on the cavalry and wounded the horses, most of which took
fright and retreated. Eighteen of the soldiers were thrown,
awl were trampled under foot by the 'Lorre. The rioters
then retired, and there was a short truce to about eight
o'clock. At that hour the streets became filled with
ill-
looking fellows, who by means of stones broke every win-
dow in every hour of decent appearance ; alter which
they went into the houses, smashed the furniture, and
threw everything of value into the street. Whilst this was
going on they uttered loud hurrahs in honour of commu-
nism. The next day strong reinforcement.. of troops,
accompanied by several batteries of artillery, were
sent to the town, and this put an end to the
revolt • but, says a letter, "God only knows how
long Calm will last." In the environs of Levan-
ger, and especially in the district* of Stuerdalen, great
excesses were also committed by the people. In the latter
district extensive depredations were made in the forest.
These news caused a profound and most painful sensation
at Christiana. The King, who is in that town attending
the Storthing, immediately convoked the council of state,
and presided at its deliberations. When the council rose,
one of the King's aides-de-camp was seat off to Lounger.
In the Storthing the affair also created a great sensation,
and M. Lie, an opposition deputy, proposed an address to
the King, beseeching him to take measures to ameliorate
the condition of the poople, awl stating that the agitation
which prevailed in the kingdom was owing to the fact that
, nothing was done to develop social relations in a popular
spirit. The Storthing took the motion into consideration,
and referred it to a committee.
It is known that, in Sweden, the laws in defence of the
religion of the state art excessively severe. Sonic time ago,
a law student of Upsal, named Nickelson, was condemned
by the civil tribunal of that town, to banishment for life,
to the loss of civil and political rights, and to the confisca-
tion of his property, for having openly professed and endea-
voured to propagate anatiaptist doctrines. Ile appealed
successively to the Royal Court awl to the Supreme Court,
but both confirmed the judgment. Ile then applied to the
king for pardon, but his Majesty, by a decision given ten
days ago, only consented to release him from the contioca-
thin of his property. Thereupon M. Nickelson left the
kingdom for Denmark, where full liberty of conscience now
prevails.

Profit, per barrel CO IS 9
Allowing the moat ample interest for capital, it is evidentthat
there is !sufficient margin for the profit of 70 per cent. assumed
in the prospectus, to be divisible between the public and the
shareholders. We are quite sure, therefore, that if this
scheme be practically worked on an extended scale, and
with ordinary capacity, the shareholders will find it the
best investment in the market.—Merchant and City
Chronicle

AT THE ROYAL CARRIAGE DEPOT, WOOLWICH,
the authorities are working early and kite to get many there..
tions effected by the period of opening of the World's Fair.
Messrs. Fox, Iliendenion, and Co., are employed to do the
extensive rouge of iron and glass roofs, and the Avlialte of
Seyssel Company have contracted for the general roadways
through the place. In the application of Ens material a
railway and engine are employed, which running under the
iron roofs above-named, gives the Tot the appearance of a
railway station.