The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-06 00:00:00

FIRE IN PARIS.

A correspondent informs us, that a dreadful fire brait
out in the middle of the night of New Year's Day, at
Bazaar, on the Boulevard de Italiens. This fashitinai,;
lounge for strangers is wholly destroyed. So sudden air'
unexpected was this catastrophe, that hardly any ins
PcrlY could be saved, and as the little shops were occupie
principally by those whose whole fortune was their stock
in trade, these unfortunate people, who, by their Waste..
hail realised an easy independence, arc, by this calami:
reduced to absolute want. An immense Boa serpent,
teen feet long, and many other animals, perished in tie
flames ; the beautiful magazine of furniture at the come
of the passage was emptied into the road, and the elf.
articles all promiscuously were heaped upon each othe
and covered with mud ; the interior of the Rotund: s
completely destroyed by the ravaging element.
The following account is front the Cour rier Frameth :
" The fire at the bazaar was as destructive as we mats
yesterday ; all the accounts we have received agree is
stating, that the shopkeepers in this establishment are en-
tirely ruined. They have not only lost their capital, bu:
many of them had borrowed different sums for the prom,
of increasing their stock for the beginning of the bet
1 year, the day on which the retail trade is, of all others
Paris, the most productive. The total loss is estimate(:;
1 nearly 600,000 francs.
" Some wild beasts that were kept for exhibition in
apartment connected with the bazaar were burned. lit
Boa serpent, measuring eighteen feet in lenoh, hissed frig...
fully when it felt the first approaches of the flame: amid
crocodile, a cameleon, and sonic amphibious animals, were 3
like manner consumed by the tire, or iinfrocated by tit
smoke. The public have also to lament the destruction:
some of the Egyptian antiquities, eolleettil by the care!.
M. Belzoni, whose recent death was a loss to the sciene.
There could only be saved sonic works in granite r
bronze; but the entire of the Egyptian tomb, (item.
under his directions with such rare perfection and suilo.
correctness, has fallen a prey to the flames."

THE BRISTOL RAIL ROAD, versus THE SH2

CANAL.

Erzox A cotarsroxor.x7.l
The spirit of improvennut reigns universally in w
happy islaml, and one plan is soon excelled by another.
The projected Ship Canal for union of the Bristol
British Channels, bas excited a Company for a Rail IL-
from Bristol to London, the distance being only 1101
by land ; whereas, by sea, it must be betw•ceu Goo and
miles.

It is, on reflection, matter of deep surprise, that
Rail Road was not executed several years ago, fur the lies
tol Channel is a most dangerous coast to navigate, owie
to the rapid ebb and flow of the tide, from 311 to 4u
perpendicularly, and its mouth exposed to the Adair,:
gales.
This Rail Road certainly appears calculated to superset
the necessity for a Ship Canal ; at least, it dirt-emus ti
divide the profits expectal from the Canal. We coo-
airier that a Barge Coel may answer very well (particu-
laly from Taunton to Exeter), hut we have many team
for supposing the present Ship Canal will be abandonel.
The Rail Road will answer its chief purposes in conveyin;
goods in much Ices time, anti at much less expense, without
rink or insurance, direct to the metropolis. The Bristol -m-
-imeo (w!..0 are celebrated for being good watehnien)appor
to have slept till aroma d by strangers in self-defence, u
project a Rail Road, to which the Canal has given bird.
In every view this undertaking promises Bristol a success.
ful rivalahip against Liverpool and Manchester, in saw
anti means which time only can fully develop.
Bristol has long lingered, while Liverpool has qusiti-
rupleti its trade and population. Bristol may now
restored to its former prosperity, for goods landed thcie
will reach London much dumper and quicker, as it will ne
'2OO miles nearer to London, while, on the other basil,
exports to all parts of the world may be despatched mac
expeditiously than from London, avoiding the danger of
the Downs, and the risk of privateers in war. It is itel
known what immense fleets are tletaitictl every winter 0
Cie Downs, anti at Ramsgate, &c. where 300 are detainel
at this moment, and where dreadful losses of lives a3l
propel ty constantly occur.
Why not, then, cut a Ship Canal from Bristol direct to
London? Liverpool would rue the day such an Act tray
pass, which would revive Bristol. Thus, a spirit of emu-
lation is afloat, which must advance the Commonweal:h.
and form new eras of gas, steam, itke. and manufactures.

Arrnoactitxc ELCCTION.—The Ministerial party
• the west of Scotland are beginning to whisper, as use:,
about their great prospects of success at the next electi;-,
which cannot be far distant; but we do not know of a,
change likely to take place in that respect. In Lanarks6.:
Lord Archibald Hamilton is firm in the esteem and e'•
port of an overwhelming majority of the freeholders. 1
Renfrewshire Mr. Maxwell, we have occasion to kn..%
will decidedly have the majority. lu Argylesbire
Campbell, of play, there is every reason to helior•
will be re-elected. In Dumbartonshire the son of
Succoth will probably succeed Mr. Buchanan, which 5..1
be nu change; and as to Glasgow and the other )3Ur.',llS
tutted to it, Mr. Campbell. of Hlythswood is. as mat..
sure of the few leading Tories who constitute " the Bo''
Politic."—Gfasgote Fres. Press.
On Thursday last Sir R. Vyvyan canvassed liet,!,,
Wr.
where lie was very flatteringly received ; at the head of
WI) his carriage was accidentally overturned. but
innately Sir Richard escaped unhurt : the coat:blimp
caved a cut on his forehead.— N",,tern Lemino%q.
' Slr. Houldsworth has address,al a letter to the editor •t
the Chester Chronicle, in which lie disclaims any inter'-
.0
Ito " contest the representation of' the city of Chester. .1; ••
communication concludes in tl:e following words :----
am perfectly satisfied with the honour conferred on fir
the Electors of Pontefract ; and so long as I possess
confidence and support of that respectable Bei outlh, 1 v.:l
• never barter them for any other."
It is a curious fact that Sir A. M. Mackcorte. who !i
acted with the Duke of Athol for so mmv years in
tical imitters, has now " turned tail," anti refuses to To:,
for his Grace's friend at the ensuing election.—Dua.:‘:
roper.
Same evenings since, a few friends of the " right sot:.
in the mighbourhood of Eakenhani, having met to t 1 t
over the pleasures of the day's hunt, stir some
and no little noise, of the eft-/c of Sir Jacob, the
Hammitt, the skill of Dewing, and the steadiness of 1):1-
roy, a bet was proposed and accepted, that a Chesnut
Rig (('oyer) lately in the Melom hunt, and now the pr. -
perty of John Brown, of Pudding Norm), should, in
course of a month, carry his present owner over the clippet
holly fence iu Weasenham Park (not less than till tL.:
high, and about S fevt wide at the top) the rider being st
liberty to take the leap either into, or out of time park.
day is yet named for this extramdinary feat, but front t',.l
well-known character of the horse, aria no less celebrity vt
the rider, the performance is already backed at 6 to 4 :3
! !—Barg Go•:st.fr.