The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-26 00:00:00

THE GREAT FIRE.

The huge pile of ruins caused by this fearful dig-
ester continue' as unapproachable as ever. Even with all
the Residence afforded by the late heavy rains, and the con-
tinuous streams of water which are poured upon them on
all parts from the mains by night and day, the heat they
give elf is so intense that it is impossible to penetrate
beyond a few yards inside the blackened walls from the
land side. Nothing dare approach them from the river.
In the centre several large cellars of oil and tallow are
bluing as furiously as ever. The glare of these flames,
which is unseen during the day, shines out as brightly
se before with nightfall, when, of coon., the alarm is
spread fist the fire has again started on a fresh
career of deetruetion. Them is, however, we are happy to
say, not the least danger now of such additional loss. All
the ruins on the outskirts (except, as we have said, those
next the river) ere not only cold, but well saturated with
water. The burning cellars in the centre, which cannot be
reached, must burn themselves out; and, from what is known
of their contents, a long time must elapse before this take
placed they are left to themselves. The chiefs of the Fire
Itrigade, however, are of opinion that in a day or two more
they will be able to get the hose sufficiently forward to reach
even these centres of fire ; and, if so, we may soon hope to
see the bid embers of this tremendous conflagration ex-
tinguished. The cellar full of tallow, beneath the ware-
, house which leans so fearfully over the spot where Mr.
Braidwood's body was discovered, has almost burned dealt
away. Since Monday evening the hose of three engines
have been pouring is streams at one end, and driving the
great mess of fire it °Detains out at the other in the centre
of the ruins, where it I. impotent for further mischief. So
peat has been the quantity of water poured in here that
The 'mine have been dined flooded, and se immense qua.tity of the melted tallow floated completely out. The body
of flame at this spot is now so much reduced that the fire-
men have been enabled to advance far enough to reach with
warmth' walls at the end of the vault, through the apertures
of which the mass of dame has bees pouring since Saturday
afternoon, sod which are therefore almost white with heat.
Tremendous clouds of steam are thrown off here as
the jets of the hoes fall upon the brickwork. Un-
fortunately, however, this side of the warehouse ie as
much out of the perpendicular an the front, and is
certain to become still more no as the mass of brick-
work enamels in cooling, so that even when the fire is
entirely extinguished, the imminent danger will prevent
the spot being used as a base of operations for penetrating
further towards the centre, where she great vaults still boil
and awes unchecked. Adjoining the cellar which has thus
been partially extinguished is another, stored entirely with
lard and tome. This has never been on fire, though, to
judge from the hot jets of steam that have been issuing
from the loopholes since Sunday, the contents must have
been as effectually overdone as if the flames bad actually
found their way in. It is not true, however, as is generally
117M7sad hp been stated, that all of Messrs. ficovell's
d have been destroyed. Two of the largest forte-
antely escaped without any injury.
The origin of the fire seems to be involved in the deepest
eternity. It may have arisen from the earthman.' of •
neighbour, from spontaneous combustion, or from other
causes ; but the greatest surprise is felt by the wharf au-
thorilies that it should have occurred at all, so great has
been their care in storing combustible matter, and so stria-
gad have been their rules for the regulation of the work-
men. Thus, every day the dust-bins were emptied and doors
carefully swept, so as to prevent the possibility of sponta-
neous combustion arising from accumulation of refuse, while
no tolwiecopipe—filled or empty—was allowed to be brought
%moo the premises by anyone employed there if the fact
was known. Nor were any naked candles allowed to be
used. Lamps only were used, and theme ware placed
under restrictions as stringent as those existing In any col-
liery in the kingdom. There was a lamp-keeper especially
responsible for the lamps, which were numbered and placed
in his exclusive charge. He filled them, trimmed them, and
kept them in close custody except when required for actual
service. Then it was his place to light them, lock them,
keeping the key until the men brought them back again,
when be extinguished and locked them again. At night he
made up his list. and took it to the superintendent to show
that all was right. If, by chance, one was found to be
missing the man was sought for against whose name the
number was entered, and there was no rest for anyone till
the delinquent was found.
Among the visitors during the day and evening were the
following :—The Duke of Buceleuth, the Earl and Counties
of Cardigan, Mr. and Mts. Disraeli (the right hoe. gentle-
man being at first refused admittance to the gateway of the
wharf, because the policeman in charge did not recognise
him), the Lady Mayorma, Lord &Afton, Earl Sparser, Lord
Alfred Paget, end Lady Gower.
At a late hour the remains of Mr. Braidwood were re-
moved froth Oeiton's Wharf to his residence in Watling-
stied. It bad been arranged that the removal should take
piece at nine o'clock, but in order to avoid inconvenience it
was decided to postpone the removal until darkness should
have completely set in, notwithstanding which the hearse in
which the body was placed was followed to Watling-street
by • great body*/ people.
The crowds of spectators again increased in magnitude as
the evening shut in, and London-bridge, its footwaye, ear-
• rod, and parapets, as well as the river itself, its quays
end approaches, once more presented a scene of strange and
almost wild excitement.
After our report left yesterday the coroner's jury returned
a verdict of " Accidental Death ;" at the same
time the foreman expressed their deep sympathy
with the friends of Mr. Braidwood on his melan-
choly death. The inhabitants of Tuoley-street bad
uhfortunately obtained a notoriety with regard to fires, and
eighteen or nineteen years sgo,when there was nue which
destroyed Topping's Wharf, Fanning's Wharf, and
St. Olave's Church, some of them became evjuainted
With Mr. Brahlwood. They could not help expressing their
adeninttion of the manner in which be discharged his duty,
and they could not separate without expressing their deep
regret at his melancholy death.
Mr. Soovell also paid the tribute of his admiration and re-
spect to the memory of the deceased, and expressed the
profouodest regret at hie awful fate. He said he had seen
Mr. Braidwood in the discharge of his duties on many oc-
casions, lied had regarded him as the most efficient officer
be had seen in any capacity.
The verdict was then recorded, se were eimilar verdicts
in the other asses, the proceeding, connected with which
were uninteresting.

Collies! DICKSON objected to the whole of the vote of
40,0001. for the permanent debits, because he did not ap-
prove of the camp being made too permanent.
Lord PALMERSTON thought the discussion had taken •
wider range than belonged to the vote proposed to the com-
mittee. They had been discussing whether they ought to
have bought • large nut of land for general movements of
the troops, and whether it wu expedient to have per-
manent barracks upon the land or use huts in
lieu of barracks, and they had been discussing the
question whether the command of the troops should be
continued for • certain time to certain officers, or whether
changed frequently for the better instruction of officers.
No doubt these were interesting topics to hon. gentlemen
who wished to discuss them, but they did not belong to the
vote Woes them, which wu one for the moderate sort of
7,0001. far the purpose of building nabling. The argument
of the hon. member for Liskeard (Mr. B. Osborne) went the
leugth of recommending that the whole thing should he I
broken upend the land sold. the huts pulled down, and sold
for firewood, and the banacks converted to other uses. I
If the hou. gentleman would make • distinct proposition to I
the committee they would have something to discuss, but I
at present be hoped the committee would not be led away
from the gumtree before them to discuss these general I
question., which had nothing to do with it. (Hear, hear.) 1
He wondered that Lis hon. friend the member for Lfskeent '
should doubt the expediency of establishing a amp at
Ablenhott. The British government had taken the hint
hew the French camp at &mks. ; and the French in Lieutenant-General Dupont, Inspector-General
their turn, taking example front Aldersbott, established • of Artillery, lua just been charged by order of the King of
mach larger camp at Chalons, and the expense of that camp the Belgians to address a report to the Yielder of War, on
was mach greater than ours. Another objection was, that lan Unrentlos caltubded to lead to a complete change in
the establithment of the camp at Aldersiant led to imam- military armament. It is • new arstem of musket, for
natty on the part of the men. But were they to put them ; which oo percumion cap will be repined. The cape now is
in a desert? What was Portamouth, or London. or any ! use are subject to peat inconverrieoem. a• they require a
other place where soldiers were quartered! The great . considerable outlay and mere a great loss of time, and it
connini" spluet Amershett was that it we, too will be therefore • very important paint if they can be die-
lately—that there wens no ameasmente for the men. peneed with. The inventor ia &Frenchman, now in Brunets,