The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-15 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN SPITAL

FIELDS.

About half-past ten o'clock on Saturday night the
neighbourhood of Spitalfields was thrown into the
greatest alarm and excitement by the sudden bursting
forth of a most destructive fire, which commenced on
the premises of Mr. Thomas Okey, timber-merchant
and basket-manufacturer, situated in Quakers-street,
Brick-lane. It was not discovered until the flames
burst forth with great fury from the centre of the ex-
tensive premises, which cover upwards of two acres of
ground, and is bounded on the south by Quaker-street,
on the north by Phcenix-street, on the west by
Wheeler street, and on the east by Grey Eagle-street.
Within a few minutes after the flames were discovered
they spread with alarming celerity over the extensive
workships, which, with numerous stacks of osiers, used
in the basket-making branch of the business, were soon
one body of fire. The first engine that reached
the spot was that belonging to the County Fire
Office, from Church-lane, which was soon fol-
lowed by that of the Brigade from the Jef-
frey-square station, and that belonging to Christ
Church. Fortunately, there being a good supply of
water, they were immediately got into operation from
Quakers-street, but their united efforts had no effect on
the raging element, which quickly extended its ravages
to the houses in Cro.vn-court, Quakers-street, to the
rear of nine others in Quakers-street, on the nne side.
to the back premises of the houses in Wheeler-street,
to the houses in Phoenix-street, and to the outbuildings
of those in Grey Eagle-street, nearly the whole of which
were at one moment on fire. By that time no less than
ten or a dozen other engines of the Brigade, and one of
the West of England Fire Office, had reached the
scene of the conflagration, and being quickly got into
operation, poured a continuous stream on the burning
buildings, and we are happy to say that by the united
efforts of the firemen the flames were, by one o'clock,
sufficiently subdued as to allay all fear of their extend-
ing further.
From the confusion which prevailed when our Re-
porter left, it was impossible to ascertain the whole
extent of the damage done. We, however, ascertained
that the whole of the premises of Mr. Okey were de-
stroyed, with the entire of the stock they contained.
He is insured, stock and building, in the Royal Ex-
change Fire-office, but we regret to state his stock far
under the amount of his loss. The backs of the houses
in Quakers-street are also burnt, and the looms of the
the weavers by whom they are inhabited destroyed.
Crown-court is also destroyed, as likewise several houses
in Phoenix-street, as well as those in Woodyard and
and other courts leading out of Phoenix-street, and the
backs of those in Grey Eagle-street, most of which
were inhabited by weavers, the generality of whose
goods, which are uninsured, are totally destroyed, thus
adding to the amount of misery to which that neigh-
bourhood has for a length of time been subject.

(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
On revisiting the ruins last night at seven o'clock,
the crowd round the place was very great. The en-
gines of the West of England, County, and ten of the
Brigade were throwing powerful streams into the vast
wrecks of property, which were on flames in many
parts, and the smoke that arose therefrom was exceed-
ingly dense and darkened the atmosphere all around
the place. The poor creatures who were burnt ou t
were huddled together, here and there, protecting their
little property, which was strewed in various parts of
the street, from the violence of the mobs which were
passing by. There are as many as one hundred families
wholly ruined by this dreadful occurrence, many of
whom are in a state bordering on starvation without
clothing or shelter. A strong body of the police were
in attendance, and orders had been received that the
whole of the engines and firemen were to remain on the
spot for the night. We have received a long list of the
damages caused by the fire for which we cannot find
space.

CANADIAN PRISONERS.-The result of the
long-contested points arising out of the alleged illegal
transportation of the nine prisoners from Upper Canada,
and which have so long occupied the courtiof law, has been
the discharge of them all—viz., of J. G. Parker, R.
Wizon, W. Alves, R. Walker, F. Malcolm, L. Watson,
J. Brown, Ira Anderson, and Paul Bedford, who were on
Saturday released from their long confinement.

On Thursday last, ten of the hands belonging
to the Lady of the Lake, which was about to set out on
her voyage, stated their determination not to proceed to
sea. The owners endeavoured to bring them to a sense
of their duty, by remonstrating with them on the impro-
priety of their conduct, but all in vain ; whereupon a war-
rant was issued, and the whole ten were brought before
Mr. Sheriff Marshall, in the Justice of Peace Clerk's
Office. On examination, they admitted the charge brought
against them, and alleged in excuse, reasons which were
found to be untenable. The Sheriff sentenced each to
thirty days' imprisonment in the county Bridewell.—
Greenock Advertiser. _ _

Some seem to have odd notions of what consti-
tutes a Christian. A fisherman who was exhibiting, the
other day, some strange monster of the deep, assured the
by-standers that "it had hands and pockets like a Chris.
tiara."

IMPORTANT TO REPORTERS------The school-
master of Climpy has at length completed his machine,
called the " Speech Recorder." Its principle is to divide
the mental and mechanical labour of speech reporting, but
allowing both to go on at once, thereby doubling the speed
of the most expert common reporter : consequently a whole
speech can be taken down by the time that the speaker is
half through his harangue. The idea of this wonderful
machine was taken from " Babbage on the Division of
Labour."

A GOOD SHOT AND GOOD GUN.---A well-
known sporting Baronet of the upper ward, who is an ex-
cellent shot, last autumn,with a single charge of his matchless
gun, brought down three brace of game ; but what is still
more wonderful, the shadow alone of this deadly shot in one
instant killed his dog, " Nimrod."

PAGANINI.—NISMES, JULY 2.---Paganini has
just pased through this city. He arrived on Sunday evit-
ing, and left us yesterday morning for the Balaruc Waters,
where he hopes to cure his rheumatic pains, to which is
superadded an almost complete extinction of voice.
CARNARVON.—We are glad to state that the
hay harvest in the vicinity of this town is nearly all carried,
and under the most favourable auspices, owing to the late
prevalence of fine weather. 'We believe that very few
fields in this neighbourhood are now standing, and in ano-
ther week, if the present beautiful weather continue, we
shall expect to see it all got in.—Herald.