The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-07-02 00:00:00

DOWAGER DUCHESS OF RUTLAND'S

This Lady gave a most elegant party, at her
!:rise, in Sack ville-street, last night, which WAS at•
tended by all the fashion in t•wn. His Royal High-
ne,s the Prince of WALES, the Dukes of CAM BRIDUE
and susses, the Duchess of Goat:owe, the 'Marchio-
ness of SALissu v, the Countesses of CLAMS, Dowa-
ger SEFTON, Dowager ESSEX and CA rk: Derr, Lady
er.CIL, Lady G. CAVENDINI4, Miss CAVENDISH,
the Marquis of DOUGLAS, and 400 Nobility were
present.

His Royal Highness the Du!:e of CUMSEItt. AND
entertained a selelt party at dinner on„Sirnday, at
Kew Green. In the evening I lis Royal Highness's
band played for two hours, and attrasled all the
Joinr and belfry of the neighbourhood.
The Earl of CAMDEN gave a grand dinner at his
house in Arlington-street, yesterday, to the Duke
of Yoke, the Earl of Co ATNAM. Lords MVIORAVE
and Low r itk a, Generals GaLNvILLs and S rkwa kr,
and several others.

`Princess CASTEECICALA is indisposed, at her
house in Wimpole-street.
The Duchess of Ihvoresetrut, we are concerned
to state, is indisposed, at as vonshire House.
The Hon. General Er nixox and Lady CIIAR.
Lorre Les :ox arrived at Portsmouth on Saturday
morning, and viewed the dock-yards.
The amiable Lady CHARLOTTE RAWDON, sister
to thi Earl of Mora A, is returned to Ireland, to
attend on her venerable and amiable mother, the
Countess of Mots A, Baroness Hungerford.
The theatrical campaign has opened at Richmond,
under the management of Mr. LACEY, with great
promise. The company is extremely well sele:ted.
ANACREON MOORS is returned to town from DU:i
nington Park, the Feat of the Earl of Mortsa.
Lord MI/LC/CAVE will give a grand dinner next
Thursday, at his Villa at Fulham.
The Earl of MOIRA is at present at Glasglw. The
Countess of Louttiou is gone to her seat in Ayrshire ;
the Earl will very soon follow her.
The beautiful Mrs. AUSTEN, sister to Captain
Ca tMPTOR, is arrived in town front Dublin.

the mdtriAge of bliss

A York Paper
Farthing to Mr. Ifs/fie/v.
Tne Dowager Countess of CORK has called is the
aid, elegant taste, and fancy of Captain Ce A MPTON,
in designing and arranging her splendid entertain-
ment on Thursday next.
Viscount and Visconntess CREMOHN e have taken
a house at Southend for the Sommer, and intend
going there early next week.
The Earl of Esstit has sold his house in St.
Jarnes's-place, and has taken one in Hill-street,
Berkeley-square.
Colonel Braun says, in answer to Colonel CRAtb•
TURD'S attack, that an irregular is more efficient
than a regular Colonel: inasmuch as a quack kills
more Iliac a regular physician.
T,iou AST,/ R WHITT JON cS, Esq. M P. and family,
left town yesterday morning, for their seat, near
Roehamptun.
On Wednesday morning last, his Grace the Duke
of Gosnon left Urquahart's Hotel, Edinburgh, for
Gordon Castle.

The Musical Festival last week at Oxford, was
lniMainly attended. The ball at the Town Hall,
on Wednesday evening, displayed a very large and
splendid assemblage of beauty and fashion.
Mrs. Smoorts was to perf ,rm Mrs. Rater on Sa.
turday last, at the Edinburgh Theatre, for the be-
nefit of the Edinburgh Charity Workhouse.
The fineness of the day on Sunday drew crowds
to Richmond. The Star, the Castle, and the Tal-
bot, vied in entertaining t!;em.
Stamford 'Theatre opens this night with Mr. Cot,
liar's last Comedy of Who wan-es a Guinea? Miss
Woonv Att., late of Drurv.lane and the Haymarket
Theatres, is the heroine of the drama.
'the Earl of DAkLINGION has presented a purse
of fifty guineas for the races of Shrewsbury. 'they
will last four days.
It is said that Dr. R ENNELL'S son is a principal
c,)ntributor to The Aliviature, a periodical paper,
which has lately been published by the Gentlemen of
Etnn College, anJ which vies with its predecessor
Ariericosin.
The Bach Theatre closed on Saturday, for some
time, ith The Honey Motto and Three IYreks after
Alareso,,e,
The Duke of Rut t tin is daily expeaed at Hat*
%licit, to join his Regiment now in Harwich barracks.
The Earl of A 222222 EN% 'a house is prepared for
his Grace's reception. His beautiful and amiable
Duchess and family are eapeeLed to accompany him.

LSTEivnrintr.s.

AL:VINING FIRE. AT WOOLWICH

At half past nine o'clock, on Sunday night, an
alarming fire broke out in the Royal Arsenal, l.itely
Woolwich Warren, close to the Powder Magazine,
which threatened the whole place with destriqion.
There was a long range of wooden store-houses,
parallel to the Magazine, and at a distance from it
of between 10 and I'.l yards. This range was filled
with empty boxes for ammunition, hemp, cordage,
oil for paioting,%and other combustible matter. Pa-
rallel to it, stood a seconl range of store-houses, built
with the like materials, and tilled with like matter,
except the ground floor,which was fitted up as itahles
for the horses, used in the business of the Arsenal.

The distance between these two ranges was not
more than sufficient for a waggon to pass, and it
was in the second or more remote of the two ranges
from the Magazine, the fire broke out. The fire,
as might he expeaod from the nature of the build-
hag and its contents, made a rapid progress; and
before the expiration of many minutes, after it was
discovered, the two ranges of store-houses were one
dreadful blaze.

The store-houses being completely enveloped in
flames, and there being on chance of saving them,
tie attention of tilo,,e who first came to the spot was
di•eSted to the mag.azine. A great number of wad-
mill tilts °arise pieces of stuff, like carpets, but
much thicker and coarser, and made of coarse

woollen yarn) were hauled up upon the (ace of the
magazine, fronting the fire, and carried over the
roof. The engines of the Arsenal and town of
Woolwich were instantly brought to bear upon the
magazine; and, though of a small capacity, they
kept the wadmill tilts so wet, as to prevent them
froth catching fire, notwithstanding the fury and
proxirnsty of the flaming store•hnases. We do not
know the exaCt quantity of pow ler in the maga-
zine; but it has been stated to us at between
200 and 300,000 barrels. The greater portiort of
this is of course deposited in apartments proteClei
against accidental fire. Still, however, a great
quantity of it remained in an exposed state, from
the necessity of having it convenient and at hand
for the workmen daily employed in making car-
tridges, &c. The apprehension that prevailed at
Woolwich, on the first report of the fire, was, that
it had broken out in the Magazine, and every inha-
bitant of the place momentarily expeCted that the
Magazine would blow tip, and that the whole town
would be involved iu universal ruin. The hor-
ror, consternation, and confusion that ensued,
would be difficult to describe. The women
and children lost not a moment to make their
escape. Some fled to Shooter's Hill. some to
the Barrack-field, some in other direCtions. In
every approach to the town they might be seen,
some dressed, others half dressed; particularly
children, who had gone early to bed, and were sud-
denly roused from their slumbers. Several houses
were al-o stripped by their owners, who were busily
employed in carrying off their furniture, and deposit.
ing it in a place of safety. Fortunately, however,
the engines succeeded in preventing the flames from
extending to the Magazines, and the two ranges
of storehouses were, in about two boors, totally
consumed, without doing farther mischief. About
twelve o'clock, several engilics had arrived from
within a distance of several miles ; but the fire had
completely subsided, an they only set vied to restore
confidence to the trembling inhabitants. It is uni-
versally believed at Woolwich, that the place was
intentionally set on fire,tas no fire or candle has ever
been allowed within these storehouses. Had the
wind blown at S. W. no effort could have saved the
magazine. Stach being the result, perhaps this hor-
rible attempt is more matter of congratulation than
of regret, as it will, no doubt, induce some precau-
tionary npiasures that will prevent its repetition,
and add to the security of the place. The above is
a correEt account of this atrocious attempt, which
last night produced a variety of false rumours and
much exaggeration. Some stated, that the town of
Woolwich was fired in four several places at the
same time ; others, that several men were taken up
on suspicion, and that strong evidence of a plan to
destroy the arsenal was discovered. We believe,
however, that nothing has transpired more than we
have stated.
The Camp at We.ymo.uth will --I-segin forming on
the 4th of July, and he complete on the 15th. The
following are the Corps of which the Camp will
consist
t Troop of Horse Artillery (British) . . 135
"fro ip of the Royal Home Guards Blue . 164
15th Light Dragoo.is . . . .b 17
The Light Dragoons of the German Legion . 551
21st Regiment of Foot . • . . . 650
31st Regiment of Fuot . . . • -
35th Regiment of Foot
The North York Militia .
Lanrashire Militia

. 94
. 573
. . 1010
. . . MO

• •

. .