The National Register.
London, England, 1811-10-06 00:00:00

AL REGISTER

geon ; the cook-room stood in its cefitre—and the surgery con•
stituted its left extremity. These two sides, the north and'west,a
are completely gutted, with the exception of the Dispensary and
Surgery, which, however, are considerably damaged. The build-
ing, of which the walls alone.are standing, without the slightest
vestige of the timber-work, has the appearance of an edifies
which the all-subduing hand of time had ruined, and a person
unacquainted with the fact, could scarcely believe that such
dreadful devastation was effected in a very few hours.—When
the flames were raging at their greatest height, it is impossible to
describe the awful grandeur of the scene. One continued blase
extended along two sides of the building, a space of at least SOO
feet, and displayed a sight as novel as it was terrific. The south
side of the edifice, which is inhabited by 1)r. Robertson and Sur-
geon Miller, has escaped uninjured. The east side, which is ap-
propriated to the patients under the care of the Physician, is also
saved. Most fortunately the fire did not break out, nor extend
to this part of the Infirmary. If it had, the consequences must
have been dreadful, as many of the poor men are labouring ui:dee
illnesses which utterly prevent them from making the smallest
exertion—while .a great number of those who were under the
care of the Surgeon, on the west side, were sufficiently strong and
active to assist themselves—their complaints principally arising'
from old wounds and casualties. When it was discovered that
the Infirmary was in flames, all fear for the Hospital itself, of
course subsided, as the building for the reception of the sick is
totally distinct from it, and at a considerable distance.
The fire, which, it appears, was quite accidental, began in the
north-west corner of the upper corridore, in one of the rooms be-
longing to the Assistant-Surgeon. The apartment where it be-
gan had been for some time uninhabited ; and there being no
stove in the fire-place, a fire sa as made on the hearth, to rendes
the place dry and habitable. Through some interstices near the
hearth, the fire penetrated, and before the least notice could be
taken of it by the Assistant-Surgeon, the beams underneath the
flour were burning most intensely. The alarm was then imme-
diately given. The cellars beneath the range of buildings which
has been destroyed, are filled with coals and faggots, but they are
covered with strong arch-work which baffled all the fury of the
flames. We are extremely happy to announce, that although one-
half of the Infirmary has been completely destroyed, no lives
were lost, nor did we hear of any serious accident having occurred
during this dreadful conflagration.

POLICE.

BOW-S'I'REE r.

A private examination took place on 'Wednesday last, at this
Office, before Mr. READ, upon a warrant granted from the
Secretary of State's Office, owing to an information being Litt
against an engraver and copper-plate printer, employed by
Messrs. Adlard and Jones, of Avemaria-lane. It appeared that
a copper-plate printer had rolled up a spoilt
,foc simile letter,
published in The Encyclopedia Londinensis, relative to the re-
bellion in Ireland, in 1798, and sent it with other things to a,
Mr. Butters, who, upon reading it, conceiving It contained re-
voluntionary principles, sent it to the Secretary of State, who
immediately granted 4 warrant to apprehend both the engraver
and copper-plate printer; but upon its being explained, that it
formed a part of the account of Ireland, now publishing in
The Encycloprdia Londinensis, the Magistrate dismissed the
charge.
William Hickey was charged with uttering a nate, purporting
to be a .501. Lank of England note, to Mrs. Mary Richards, of
Ship-yard, Temple-bar. The He
went toAodge with the
prosecutrix a few days since. He asked her to art him change
for a 501. note, which the agreed to do, and pt 'fi changed at a
neighbours, hut she wily gave the prisoner 21. perceiving him to
be intoxicated. She had known him for home time, he having
lodged with her before On the following morni• g the note
was returned to Mrs. Richards as being bad, when she gave it
back to the prisoners and asked how he came by it. The only
account he gave of it was, that be took it between London and
Bristol. He soon after made an excuse to go into the yard,
after which two notes were found there by Mrs. Richards's
servant girl, for twenty pence and Sve pence, in imitation of
201. and 51. Bank-notes, which the prisoner had torn and thrown
away.
Mr. Hartley, the perfumer, in the Strand, who gave Mrs.
Richards change for the note, said he did it in a hurry, but. be-
lieved it at the same time to be a 501. Bank of England note.
On examining it, however, oh the following day, he discovered,
that after the word fifty, it was blotted very much, as he 'up-
posed over the word pounds, but on close inspection, he perct ived
ato be pence instead of pounds. It was payable at she Bank in
England, and was one of those fictiour notes which have
lately been so much in circulation. The note was dirtied and
blotted so much as to prevent a discovery, except upon a close
examination. The prisoner was cot mitted for trial.