The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-12-25 00:00:00

BATH, IncExam' te.

TOTAL. DESTRUCTION OF THE KINGSTON (OR
LOWER) ASSEMBLY ROOMS, BATH, BY FIRE!

Last night, about eleven o'clock, these extensive.
elegant, anti fershimed premises, were discovered
to he on fire. Clouds of smoke were seen to issue
from sonic of the lower apartments long before the
euttfl, (;ration became manifest ; at length the flumes
boon out with inconceivable fury, and soon present-
ed such a scour of terrific grandeur and desolation as
was never below witnessed in this city. The engines
and firemen arrived 011 the spot with great prompte.
tu.le ; at filet the fire-plugs afforded hut a scanty
eupply of water, which gave the destructive ele-
ment time to get sn tremeielous a head, that it then
•ppeerrti if the whole Avon had been poured upon
the tours, tors. nod stair-cases, it could not have
quenched, though it might have retarded the pro-
gress of the flames. The country around was a
sheet of elementary fire; the sky sod the hilly,
with the numerous surrounding building* appearing
"one-red." But, perliel s. the most magnificent
sight, mid most awfully impressive moment. was
shout two o'clock, when the long petit-up flames
iii the large ball room burst, as if by one mighty
effort, through the six great windows, and
seemed to glare defiance in volumes of liquid
flame. The conflagration of the card-room
Ipresented an almost equally heart-appalling display
of the irresistibility of tire. About three, the stu-
pendous roof began to fell in, nut with a sudden
crest' as had beets unticipated, but by successive
fraginetits of tile and blazing beams and rafters.
By six o'clock the mighty element had completely
effected its work of desolation, and the whole fabric
was reduced to a heap of burning ruins !
The !tett was an intense, and the smoke so over.
powering. that we lament to say hut a compurst.
tively *Mill portion of the property on the pre-
mists was saved firm destruction. Some of the
apartments on the north end had been handsomely
fitted up in the course of the last summer, fur the
resideuce of a gentleman, who, we understand,
is at present in Swansea. and who had embarked
considerable property in the concern, and deposited
in his rooms valuables to a large amount, in paint-
lege, plate, &c. the whole of which, we regret to
state. lava been derttoyed ; but we understand diet
it had been recently insured with one of the London
Offices.
The conflagration must have been increased by
a large quantity of oil (in which Mr. Mills largely
dealt), which was deposited in one of the rooms near
the spot where it is supposed the fire originated,
bring a small space used as a dreg-Mg-room to the
private theatre, where Mr. Se.versl had that
evening exhibited his Fantoccirii--but ibis is mere
conjecture. it was a fortunate eircuonstauCe that
Mr. Walker's magnificent Orrery bad been fe-
ttle's-est from the Rooms yesterday nsor ll itt g ; that
GeoOrman having Kasen Ins final lecture the pre-
ceding evening.
Though the crowd assembled was immense. and
great personal danger was incurred in many in.
01:111C0., yet tint a single accident has come to our
knowledge. Two or three wretches were detected
is. the act of thieving ; hut, in general, we be.
hew the property removed from the Rooms and
the contiguous houses has been carefully pre-
served. . .

It was happily a calm night, or the oppo'ite pre-
mises, belocging to Mr. Upham, sad others on the
Parade-walk., and particularly the row of houses
on the aouth aide of the Grove, would have shared
the same fate its the Rooms, and perhaps the vene-
rable Abbey would have sustained ni4terial injury.
The following is the amount of the isisulancoas
that have been, trier:tea on the property thus de-
stroyed :
Oa the Premises
she %Wet. of
Foraitore, are. too longing to do.— 4000 -7
Mr. ithh.'ii private affects 2404 Logland 01hr....
1
Property belonging to Capin aOOO : I...n,l'oi:lllmm
[EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LETTER ]
6' BATH, DECEMBER 2?.—HOW tilt kl, cident
loappentd is not known; the vaults, or radar the
moose under those opptoptiuted for balls, reading-
rooms, &e. were used as a private theatre, and •
play had been performed these that evening ; next
to which was a carve otet's *hop, and ailj•iiiiiiog
that a !Inge gluttony of oil ; conatipiesitly a the
lire okitig out ainitlst such inflammable matter,
could stot be otherwise than deoructive. A Gen-
tleman named Moulton, one cf the proprietors, had
lately tined up a suite of rooms in the premises, with
noicli taste and elegaloce. for lIIS ff %Weller, where
be had collected musical ionotonmerste, picture., and
many tine specimens of art, which can never be re-
placed : the whole of these were destroyed. The
loss to the renter. Mr. Mills. A worthy indu.trionia
man, wilt' a large faintly, is very great. Fort 11.
Gately no lives were lovt. The elegant chandeliers,
pictures of Beau Nash, &c. were all consolln,d.
Some Gentlemen were playing cards at the time
the tire broke out, but such was its fury that it
could not be gut under. Mr. Iloulion is partly in-
sured, and Mr. Mills, the realer also; but neither
to any thing pear the value. The ruins this more-
iiig present • horrible appearance: there was not :t
more oroavenieut or elegant art of rooms in the
kingdom." ....-

•The Creek, 46, Capt. A. MACKENZIE, arrived
at Rio Jain iro ou the !:4th August, trove England.