The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-17 00:00:00

TRF. PFRATHER, THE PARKS, &c.

The appearance of the Thames yesterday was singu-
lar. Not a steamboat could be seen pas,ing up or down.
Up to yesterday the North Woolwich Railway had been
enabled to convey their passengers from Shoreditch to
North. Woolwich, and pass them over to the Kentish
shore by means of steamboats. Yesterday morning, how-
ever, put an end to the previous facilities, for, on the
passengers getting to the North Woolwich station, it
was found impracticable for the small steamboats to cross
to the ,opposite side.
Between Greenwich and Woolwich a great accumula-
tion oi! ice has been frozen together, m such bodies that
it is n e:ct to en impossibility for any small craft to cross
the water.

At :Putney, Wandsworth, and even lower down the
river, no sort of ve,:sels can venture out. Several skaters
amused themselves upon the ice at Kingston yesterday,
as did. also many hundreds at Teddington and Barnes.
The thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's Re-
ceiving .louse in Hyde-park during the night of Thurs-
day i.►d lewd 20 deg., being 12 deg. below freezing point.
Yesturt:ay morning it way at 9 o'clock 20 deg. and at
noon .t. 1,6 deg., but at 5 o'clock in the evening it stood at
24 deg.., being 8 deg. below freezing, and towards th-•
evem it commenced rapidly to descend, indicating the
conti Lit tance of the present severe weather.

The barometer yesterday indexed 29.93 deg., being
25-100.1.1 s above what it was the preceding day.
Tb.e wind in the morning was east by south, which
changed in the evening; t. south-east by east.
The:barometer at 5 p.m. showed an inclination of going
down, so that a further fall of snow may be expected.
The ice on the iierpentine was 7i inches thick, and
the slid ers and skaters during the day was about 20,000.
At a le to hour on Thursday night a singular performance
took p%ace. A great numberof gentlemen, not wishing to
mingle with the crowd, proceeded in a body to tine Ser-
pentine after the regular skating hours had finished,
and, each with a lighted torch in hand and a policeman's
lamp- buckled in front, amused themselves on the ice
until nearly midnight. Mr. Superintendent
on b( informed of what was doing on the river, pro-
ceed‘ to the spot, but fortunately no accident took
place..
20,,000 persons, including nearly 250 women, ventured
on th ie ice in St. James's Park.

of (ftnJ•ridge, the Princess Mary of
Carob ridge, and a gut Ally -r,t,tetcywere
on the banks of Kensington-gardens witnessing the evo-
lettoni 1 of the skaters during the day.
The Long-water had sliders and skaters. The Round-
pond :I.iad 1,500 skaters and sliders, but no accident of
any in( anent occurred. The Regent's-park had about
15,00 Q sliders sad skaters on the frozen waters.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BE TTING AT MANCHESTER.-YESTERDAT.

On 'Wednesday St. Hubert, who had been very quiet
in the betting for some days, was fairly installed first fa-
vourit• e for the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes. For the
Grea% Northern Handicap-V.:nodal was a better favourite
than con Tuesday, 100 to 8 being the highest offer against
him. Yesterday sto 2 was the best Price obtainable
;t either St. Hubert or Lord of the Isles for the Two
Thous and Guineas. Metropolitan—Thar-Rains seemed to
be retrograding, there beingno takers of 4to 1. Steelyard
was hacked to a " pony"at 25 to 1. 500 to 30 was laid once
again.pt Miss Mowbray for the Liverpool Steeple Chase.
400 he) 50 was taken about St. Hubert for the Derby, and
35'to 1, to 251., about Wild Dayrell. To-day the Trout,
for tits' Liverpool Steeple Chase, was backed at 11 to 2.
Miss .15 10 wbray was supported at 100 to 6, and even 5001.
was la id between Dalkeith and Needwood., For the
Metro politan, Pharealus receded to 9 to 2, offered.
Great Northern—Vandal had friends at 12 to 1, while
there -were no tatters of 15 to 1 about Lord Palmerston.
100 to 6 was taken several times about The Yore.
Two. Thousand Guineas Stakes, 55 to 20 would have
been takcii freely about St. Hubert ; 3to 1 was currently
offei .eel against Lord of the Isles; 4 to 1 was taken to a few
pow • ide about Scott's lot, and after wards offered. The Ches-
ter Or p is nearly a dead letter at present; S to 1 would
have: 'been taken freely about St. Hubert for the Derby ;
Rill en lan has sprung in the market since Tuesday, 100
to 9 is sing the highest oiler against him to-day. Latest
qut•ta tions

LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
11 to 2 agst The Trout (taken)
10 to 1 agst Bastion (offered)
100 to 6 agst Miss Mowbray (takes)
100 to 6 agst Dalkeith (nominal)
100 to 6 agst Need wocd (nominal)
GREAT METROPOLITAN.
9 to 2 asst Pharsalus (offered)
GREAT NORTHERN.

12 to 1 agit Vandal (taken)
15 to 1 agit Lally Palmerston (offered)
-,aoo to 6 aget the Yore (taken freely)

THE TWO THOUSAND.

sto 2 agst St. Hubert (take 55 to 20)
3 to 1 agst Lord of the Isles (offered)
4to 1 agst Scott's lot (taken and offered)
CHESTER CIIP„
20 to 1 agst Andover (wanted)
20 to 1 agst Rotherham (offered)
4100 to 3 agst Arthur Wellesley (taken)
45 to 1 agst Honeysuckle (taken)
• 60 to 1 agst Pharsalus (taken)
100 to 1 agst Star of Surrey (taken)
DERBY.
15 to 2 agst St. Hubert (to.ke'B to 1 f.)
10 to 1 agst Lord of the Isles (taken)
100 to 9 agst Rifleman (take, 100 to 8 f.)

D 13! CBY RACES. —ln coneequence of the continued
sever i ty of the weather, these races, which were ap-
point A 'd to take place on Thursday next, the 22d inst.,
are p i ,stpoued until furt"er notice.
W )LVERIIAMPTON STEEPLECHASES.—These °basest are
agaiu postponed. Weather permitting, they will take
Pla C on Monday, the 26th inst.

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Mini,,g Journal of this day.)

few sellers of the heavy priced shares this week
ha, 'e caused this description of stock to he rather more
de; is esAd, but there has been a large amount of busi-
nes a doing in other shares, and the market is well
sui ntorted. Butlers and Bassets are offered without
fit ding buyers, thus making good our remarks a few
w( tells ago, as to the desirability of sub-dividing them into
I,t )24 shares. United from 1801. to 220. ; Trelawny, 32/.
to 341 ; West Basset, 281. to 301. ; North Basset,
17 10e. to 131.; North Trelawny sought after, at 5/.
11 Is. to 61.; in Sortridge Consols, a large amount of busi-
nt iss has been done, but the market not quite so firm as
st week, at 21. 17s. Gd. to 3/.
The Gold Mining Share Market continues neglected,
)t a single transaction having taken place yesterday.
In Iron Coal Companies, during the week, there has
b• ten but little alteration.
The Miscellaneous Share Market at the commence-
ent of the week exhibited considerable firmness. Yes-
terday prices were weaker.

CIVIL SERVIOE.—EarI Granville (Lord President of
tl ,e Council) has re•appointed Mr. Charles Boothby, of
tb ,e Council office, to be his lordship's private secretary.
-Mr. T. B. Lang has been appointed controller of the
L (land office, Post-office, Edinburgh, vice Moule, super-
snuated at 4071. per annum.—Civil Service Gal te.

?X‘'
•

DESTRUCTION OF THE ,STEAM SHIP

MAURITIUS.

[A summary of the fAlowlng, received by electric tile.
graph, appeared in the whole of our iuipre6sion of yes.
terday.]

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.

One of the most fearful conflagrations connected with
the shipping interest at this port which has ever been
known at Southampton occurred at the docks this
morning, causing the total destruction of the fine steam-
ship Mauritius, belonging to the General Screw Steam-
shipping Company. This vessel, which was built by
Messrs. Mare and Co., of Blackwall, for the purpose of
assisting the company in carrying on their mail con-
tract with England and the East Indies, via the
Cape, was launched in 1852, since which time she
has made two successful voyages to Calcutta and
back, the latter voyage being completed in August of
last year. Since that time the Mauritius has been in
the service of Government, and employed in the con-
veyance of troops, &c., to and from the Black Sea. She
was of 1,850 tons burden and 300-horse power, and cost
about 70,0001. On the return of the Mauritius from
the Crimea she arrived at this port, and has during the
last few days been lying in the new graving-dock, under-
going some necessary repairs previously to her return
to the duties of the transport service.
About 5 o'clock this morning several persons con-
nected with the docks were aroused by the alarm of
" Fire !" and Mr. Hedger, superintendent to the Dock
Company, and Mr. Levy, together with other officials,
were immediately upon the spot. In conjunction with
these gentlemen we noticed several officers connected
with the Royal Mail and Peninsular and Oriental Com-
panies' service, and also a strong body of men, under the
charge of the second officer of the United States mail
steam-ship Hermann, now lying at this port, who had
been ordered to render assistance by Capt. Higgins, com-
mander of that vessel. When first seen, the fire appeared
to have gained only a slight hold upon the ship, but the
time naturally occupied in the preparation of fire-engines,
together with the difficulty experienced in procuring water,
owing to the tide being at its lowest ebb, permitted the
fire to extend itself considerably. A short time after
the alarm had been made known, a strong detachment
of Sappers and Miners from the barracks, with their
engines, were speedily on the spot ; but the fearful ra-
pidity with which the devouring element extended itself
damped the hopes of all in the possibility of saving the
vessel. In short, no sooner had the fire made sufficient
progress to be thoroughly visible than it burst out into
one immense mass, almost instantly extending itself over
three-parts of the devoted vessel. However, every exer-
tion was made by those in attendance, but unfortunately
with so beneficial result, for the Mauritius now lies in the
new graving-dock totally destroyed, and, beyond the
iron with which she was built, the whole of which has
twisted into athousand different shapes, and her bowsprit,
jibboom, and cutwater, not a vestige of this once noble
ship remains. It was stated that a considerable quan-
tity of gunpowder remained on board, and this rendered
the danger of assistance imminent to many persons who
were otherwise willing to have volunteered their services.
But had such not been the case with such rapidity
did the flames travel throughout the vessel, that
hardly any time was left after the arrival of a suffi-
cient number of persons to save anything of material
value. It is fortunate that, although a large quan-
tity of the officers' kit, together with the plate, &c.,
of the ship has been totally destroyed, the ship's
papers were removed on shore yesterday and there-
by saved. For about three heurs the fire raged
furiously, and a strong breeze springing up from the
eastward considerably assisted the progress of the
names. About 8 o'clock the mizen and main masts fell
over the port side with a tremendous crash, and were
shortly afterwards followed by the foremast, the whole
forming a tangled and burning heap of spars and cordage.
Fortunately, no damage either to the docks or the mass
of people assembled occurred. For some considerable
time great fear was exhibited i❑ reference to the powder
magazine, and many persons left the docks or retired to
some distant part.

The water had reached a sufficient height to lead many
to presume that the portion of the ship containing the
ammunition a as entirely inundated, and that any danger
from the explosion of gunpowder was rendered thereby
utterly futile ; but about half-past ten o'clock a terrific
explosion took place, and large fragments cf the burn-
ing wreck were scattered in all directions, fortonstely
without doing any injury. Some fear existed in conse-
quence of there being several pieces of loose timber and
a huge quantity of shavings lying on the dock quay,
some of which took fire, but was speedily extinguished,
As is usual in similar cases great difficulty exists in
tracing the origin of the fire, and every exertion is being
made by those in authority to satisfy themselves on this
point. From the particulars we have gleaned it ap-
pears that during the whole of last night some men
were engaged in repairing the boilers of the ship,
and were provided with two fires as necessary to the
carrying on of their work, and, beyond a small stove
in the forecastle, there was every reason to believe
no light of any kind existed on board. About half-
past four o'clock, while proceeding with his work, one
of the men had reason to suspect the ship was on fire,
and, on reaching the upper deck, perceived through
the bull's-eyes, which are used for admitting light to the
main deck, a large quantity of flame. An alarm was at
once given, and, although eight or nine seamen were on
board, together with the ship-keeper, hardly a drop of
water could be procured, and in a very short time all
hands left the ship. One of the officers of the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steam-ship Tagus, lying in the
docks. as scan as he hecame ecouainted with the fact,
went on board the Mauritius, and, seeing the danger of
the fire spreading, although it was only slight at the
time requested that about a dozen buckets of water
should be brought him, as he thought he could then ex-
tinguish the flames ; but this was refused hint with a
grin and the question, " Who is to pay the men for
fetching the water 1"
Captain Eugledue, superintendent of the Peninsular
and Oriental Company, and Captain Vincent, of the
Royal Mail Company, were in the docks shortly after the
commencement of the fire, and immediately made such
arrangements as to insure the safety of those vessels be-
longing to each company which are new hi port. The
Orinoco was instantly shifted from her close vicinity to
the scene of the conflagration, and other ships were
without delay moved to a safe distance.
A very strong opinion exists among many persons in
this port that the destruction of the Mauritius was more
the result of design than accident. This opinion has justly
been excited from 'Deny circumstances. It will be re-
membered that, at the commencement of the week, a
charge was instituted by the company against several
seamen connected with this ship for having broken faith
with the company, by non-fulfilment of the articles they
had signed previously to her departure for the Black
Sea, by deserting on her arrival at Portsmouth. This,
it is presumed, has greatly incensed the men against the
company, and we have been told that one of the crew
was hoard to express his intention yesterday of putting
the " ship in flames."
Independently of the severe loss occasioned to the
General Screw Company by the destruction of this splen-
did ship, the inconvenience to the Government will be
considerable, as the Mauritius was to have been ready
in eight or 10 days to embark 1,200 men for the
seat of war in the East. In the present posture of
affairs the services of such a ship can ill be spared by
the country. We have been unable to obtain any re-
liable information as to whether the disaster is fully
covered by insurance, but it is believed that only a small
policy had been effected on the vessel. Captain Stewart,
the commander of the Mauritius (1 ite of the Golden
Fleece), has lost all his nautical instruments and effects,
and the officers saved nothing, the whole of their ward-
robes having been consumed. Captain Stewart took out
the first detachment of troops to the East at the com-
mencement of the war, and has done great service with
the Golden Fleece during the past year. After success-
fully braving the dangers of capture, shot, and weather
in the Black Sea, ho expresses great disgust at having
the ship under his command ignobly burnt in a dry dock
at home.