The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-22 00:00:00

Great Fire in Rotherhithe.

At a few minutes before 3 o'clock yesterday morning a
destructive fire occurred at Rotherhithe. It appears that as
Police-constable M 40 was .passing the immense granary
belonging to Mr. Landoll, in Rotherhithe-street, he noticed
smoke proceeding from the second-floor window. In the
course of a few minutes two of the Royal Society's escapes
attended, followed by numerous engines, including those
of the London Brigade, the Surrey Volunteers, Hodges's
Brigade, the large floating engines, and four land steamers.
Before, however, the force came up, nearly every window
in the building and the roof were in flames. The fire
soon extended to the premises of Messrs. Shattell Brothers,
boat-builders, in Church-passage, Rotherhithe, which,
owing to the inflanunable nature of the stock-in-trade, were
in flames in a few minutes. Tho land, steam, and floating
engines were brought to bear upon the fire, but the flames
appeared to defy the great streams of water that were
thrown upon them, and they burnt with increased fury till
at length •the roofs and floors began to fall, which for a
minute or two appeared to stop their progress ; but that
lasted for only a brief period, and then they burst out again,
throwing out large of pieces of burning materials high into
the air, whence they were driven by the high wind upon
the housetops a considerable distance off, and the brigades
had to keep a good look-out in case some more distant
houses should become ignited. Afttr five or six hours of
hard work the firemen had the satisfaction of checking the
progress of the fire. The officers of the different brigades
have made a searching inquiry to ascertain in whose pre-
mises the fire began, and to learn its origin and the extent
of the property destroyed. Mr. S. Stephens, an oil and
colourman, living at the corner of Elephant-buildings,
immediately facing the premises destroyed, states that
upon being aroused by the police he got out of bed, and
on looking out of the window saw that the whole of the
eastern side of the boat and barge factory was on fire.
The flames had reached the opposite side of the street.
At the same time 15 of the side windows of Mr. Landell's
granary on the west side were on fire. From the direction
in which the flames spread he had not the least doubt
that the fire commenced in Messrs. Shattell's factory.
The inmates of Mr. Arnold's premises were, in less than
five minutes after the alarm was given, enclosed by the
flames extending across the street. Some of the residents
rushed downstairs from theirbedrooms, hoping to reach the
streets, but they found the carriage-road rendered impassable
by the flames, and as a last resource they made their way to
the back of the premises, and by climbing a wall were en-
abled to pass through one of the adjoining warehouses, and
thereby escape in safety. By t hat time the flames had begun
to attack the front of the oil and colour stores belonging to
Mr. S. Stephens. This house, which was of great anti-
quity, contained 13 rooms, and was built principally of tim-
ber. The occupier, having to supply a great many ships
and coasting vessels with stores, had upon his premises a
great quantity of pitch, tar, petroleum, varnish, &c. In
the upper part of the building were a couple of barrels of
gunpowder. Mr. Stephens, thinking that his premises
would be destroyed, had the presence of mind to rush to the
top of his house, and, having with assistance seized the
barrels of powder, ran with them to a neighbour's house,
where they were safely deposited. Ih order, however, to
reach that house he was obliged to cover the casks over lest
the sparks and burning pieces of wood wafted along by the
high wind should fall upon them and cause an explo-
sion. The wind was blowing from Mr. Stephens's ware-
houses, and that aided the firemen materially in saving
his property. The main body of flame continued in
the boat and barge factory and also in the granary. In
the latter building it is stated that there were 26,000
quarters of one description of grain stored away, which,
taking the average price of £1 per quarter, will make that
loss alone £26,000, unless a greater salvage is obtained from
the ruins than can at present be expected. Immense quan-
tities of oats are falling from the side windows and loop-
holes of the granary, but the walls are in such a dangerous
state that the firemen are unable to get near enough to re-
move any of the grain at present, and the 'probability is that
the whole must be destroyed. Of the boat and bargefactory
not a wall remains, and all that can now be seen are a few
partially consumed girders of the building and the stems
and keels of a few boats and barges. The whole of the
windows, doors, and shutters of Mr. Arnold's premises are
burnt away, so that the house is left entirely unsheltered.
Such is the dangerous condition of the walls that the police
have been ordered to barricade the streets leading to them.

The Late Gale.
FISHGEARD, SOUTH WALES, Monday Night.

Yesterday morning (reports Mr. Wm. Vaughan) the
Fishguard (the Sir Edward Perrot) lifeboat, belonging to
the National Institution, was fortunately the means of res-
cuing the crew of the schooners Albion, of Teignmouth,
and the Emma, of Barrow, both vessels being at anchor in
our bay. The former came in hero on Friday last wind
bound, and the latter ran in yesterday at noon, having
carried away her jibboom, mainboom, and several
sails. Both vessels being strangers hero came to
anchor rather too far out in the bay, and the wind
having suddenly shifted to the N.N.E., and consider-
ably increased in violence, with a tremendous sea running,
both vessels were in imminent danger. The gale being on
the increase with every prospect of a terrible night, it was
determined to launch the Sir Edward Parrott Lifeboat, and
send her out to see if any assistance was required, and she
was hailed with the greatest joy, and after having carefully
secured their vessels both crews were but too glad to go
ashore in the boat; all were safely taken on board and
landed at Goodwick. The lifeboat behaved admir-
ably on the occasion, and, notwithstanding the heavy
sea and broken water she had to go through,
she steadily went on and never lost her at all
This morning about nine o'clock the Albion parted both
chains, rapidly drifted on the rocks, and in a few minutes
became a total wreck. Had the crew been on board every
soul must have perished, as it would have been impossible
to have rendered them any assistance, as she so rapidly
broke up and heeled over. I cannot close these remarks
without speaking in the highest terms of our excellent cox-
swain and the crew, whose conduct on this occasion de-
serves the highest commendation.
NORTH BERWICK, N. 8., Monday Night.
I have to report (says Mr. Woodrow, officcir of Coast-
guard) that the lifeboat of the National Institution on this
station, was launched this morning to the assistance of an
open yawl which was at anchor under the lee of Craig
Leith Island, a distance of three-quarters of a mile north
from the harbour. The wind was blowing a moderate
gale from N.N.W., and there was a heavy sea on. The
lifeboat behaved admirably, and succeeded in taking off
the crew, consisting of a pilot and two men, from the yawl
which was namad the Matchless, of Newhaven. The life-
boat returned at 10 o'clock with the resued men on board.
The latter were nearly perishing with cold and hunger,
having been 28 hours exposed in their open boat to
the cold and the sea, which was continually washing
over them, with the thermometer two degrees below
freezing point. The poor fellows are very grateful
for the assistance rendered to them by the lifeboat,
as it would have been impossible for them to have survived
long in the cold and exposure, with only a small piece of
bread on board, and that saturated with water. The cost
of this lifeboat was defrayed by the late benevolent A. W
Jaffrey, Esq., of St. Mildred's-court, and his father.
SEATON CAItEW, DURHAM, Monday Night.

I regret to report (says the Rev. John Lawson) that a
very sad loss of life has just occurred on this coast. At 8
o'clock this morning a fishing yawl, belonging to Whitby,
came on shore about three-quarters of a mile to the north
of Seaton. The crew, instead of waiting until assistance
could be rendered them by the lifeboat of the National
Lifeboat's Institution, unhappily immediately took to their
little boat, which was at once swamped, and they were all
—nine in number—drowned. This took place not more
than five minutes after the vessel had struck. If the poor
men had only remained on board their craft they would all
have been saved by the Seaton Carew lifeboat,

LIFE IN ARMENIA.—It would appear that no-
where is the patriarchal -system carried to a greater ex-
tent than among the Armenians. During the lifetime of
the father, all the sons and their descendants live together
in one common dwelling ; and thus houses may be found
which from the number of their inhabitants, resemble bee-
hives, often comprising three and four generations. All
the property is held in common by the descendants of
the head of the house. Brothers and sisters inherit
equally, but until the death of the head no one can pos-
sess anything separate from all the others. Until mar-
riage, the Armenian girls go about as they like ; they are
unveiled, and enjoy as much freedom as they could do in
European countries, flirting, love-making, and marrying
to please themselves, as in more civilised - lands. But
once married, and all is changed. From that time until
she bears a child, she never speaks to any one except her
husband, and then only in private. After she becomes a
mother, she may speak to her mother-in-law first, and
after the lapse of certain periods, to her own! mother, her
sisters-in-law, and her own sisters. She is always veiled,
even in her own house ; she never speaks to male stran-
gers, and she seldom or never leaves the house. Her
finery, jewellery, and ornaments can be shown only to
those of her own sex; and in every way her
° se
heclusion is
n t other
as complete as that of the Turkish women.
bard work ;
hand, the Armenian women seldom
they remain at home while their husbadnodsanlYabour in. the
fields, and they enjoy, probably on
respect and
quaintance prior to marriage, haccmouorent of their fic_
ditovitdhee
wiltarhetwcof
confidence from their husbands tnihurcasfaltol
the Turkish wife, who, moreover,
or
respect which her
or three rivals the little affection
bon
As the Armenian
husband deigns to bestche
woman can only talk iniatwirvooswnmayhouse below her breath,
hear what she says, it
that none of her. male re
follows that the consequence which usually results from
the residence of h
so many, women m one ()use, incessant
quarrelling., is quite avoided. Custom, the strongest of all
laws, forbidding them to speak above a whisper, a war of
words could only be carried on under groat difficulties ; and
as yet, at least, speaking on the fingers, which would also
require a knowledge of spelling, an accomplishment very
few of them possess, is not introduced to facilitate the in-
terchange of hostilities between those ancient enemies,
mothers and daughters-in-law. Yet it is not easy to realise
the idea of a large family circle in which all the ladies sit
mute, or only converse among themselves in whispers.—A
Journey from London to Persepolis, by John Usher, F.R.G.S.

TIMID EDfif(&.

SUN OFFICE, 6 O'CLOCK

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM)
st E d "oti,)
(Continuedfrom our Fir
President Davis, in continuation, said that
in that conference, in which he had so
anylas naplumed himself with • arrogance, hef v
man
supposed in-
deedtalking to his masters. If
supposed he (Davis) would, under any circum-
stances, be an agent for the reconstruction of
the Union, he mistook every element of his nature.
With the Confederacy he would live or die. If
half the absentees returned to Lee's army, Grant
would be taught a lesson such as he had never
received, even on the road from the Rapidan.
Beauregard had another army on Sherman's
path, and it would be soon shown that Sher-
man's march through Georgia would be his last.

The Richmond Sentinel says the result of the
conference has again roused the spirit of '6l through-
out the South.

Grant's left commenced moving on Monday. The
3d Division of the sth Corps advanced along the
road leading from Duncan Road along Boylton
Plank Road, driving the Confederates from their
breastworks at Dabnye's Mills. In the afternoon
the Confederates made a determined attack along
the whole line, expecting to break through or cut off
the 3d Division. Simultaneously they, made an
attack in front, and part of the 3d Division being
cut off from communication, gave way and retreated
in disorder to the breastworks erected by the
2d Corps. Part of the 3d Division of the 6th
Corps, which had just crossed Hatcher's Run,
and become demoralised, were rallied, and assisted
in driving the enemy back. The Federals during
the retreat abandoned two artillery waggons.
Shortly afterwards the Confederates attacked the
left of the Second Corps, near Armstrong House,
on Duncan Road, but were repulsed with loss. The
Federals lost on Sunday and Monday 1,180 men.
On Tuesday they occupied the ground lost on the
previous day. Grant's permanent lines now ex-
tend from what was formerly the extreme left at
Fort Cummings, or Squirrel Level Road, to across
Hatcher's Run, at Armstrong Mills.
Lee's report states that on Sunday evening he
moved a strong force to Hatcher's Run. Part of
his infantry crossed, and proceeded to Cattab
Creek and the cavalry to Dinwiddie Court House,
where they encountered the Federal cavalry and
retired. In the afternoon Hall's and Gordon's
troops demonstrated against the enemy on the left
of Hatcher's Run, near Armstrong Mills, but find-
ing him entrenched, withdrew during the night.
The force which advanced beyond the creek was
reported recrossing. On Monday morning Pe-
gram's division moved to the right bank
of the creek to reconnoitre, when it was
vigorously attacked. The battle was obstinately con-
tested for several hours, but Pegram being killed,
and Col. Hoffmann wounded, some confusion oc-
curred, and the division was pressed back to its ori-
ginal position.
Van's division was ordered to support Pegram's,
and charged the enemy, forcing him back, but was
in turn compelled to retire. Mahoney's division then
arrived, and drove the enemy rapidly to his defences
at Hatcher's Run.

The Federal loss is small, and the enemy's loss is
not supposed to be great. The object of Grant's
movement has not transpired.
Nothing direct has been received from Sherman.
A report prevailed at Richmond that he had
effected a lodgment on the railroad between Branch-
ville and Augusta. The only fact confirmatory of
this report was that the telegraphic communication
with Augusta was interrupted.
There were also rumours that Branchville had
been flanked and captured, growing out of the
receipt of news by the War Department that the
Confederate advance guard under Maclaw had
fallen back within 30 miles of Branchville, through
fear of being enveloped by the enemy's advance.
Augusta papers report two corps of Sherman's
army to be on the Georgia side of the Savannah
river.

Beauregard made a speech at Augusta declaring
that he would fight to the bitter end, and if he
failed, he could pay his passage to a foreign
country.

A Washington despatch asserts that military ope-
rations have been resumed below Wilmington.
A large Confederate force is reported on the
Arkansas side of the Mississippi, near Mound City,
preparing to cross into Tennessee.
New Orleans papers reassert that advices from
Mobile of the 25th confirm the evacuation of Mobile.

The Confederate Senate has almost unanimously
rejected the bill putting 200,000 negroes into the
Confederate army. The Senate has also confirmed
the appointment of Mr. Breckenridge as Secretary
for War.

The Vice-President has officially informed the
Federal Congress that Lincoln and Johnson have
been elected for four years. Two hundred and
thirteen electoral votes were cast for Lincoln and
Johnson, and 21 for M'Clelland and Pendleton.

The Governor of Kentucky has sent a message to
the Legislature recommending the ratification of the
constitution amendment, but thinks the Government
should pay Kentucky $34,000,000, the value of the
slaves in that State.

The Delaware Legislature has rejected, and the
Ohio Legislature has passed, the constitutional
amendment.

President Lincoln has communicated to Congress
the correspondence relating to the French transport

Rhine.

In reply to a letter from the Mexican Minister,
Romero, informing Mr. Seward of the passage of
French troops across the Isthmus of Panama, and
also referring to the trade between San Francisco
and Acapulco, and other points relating to the
neutrality of the United States between France and
Mexico, Mr Seward says the instructions already
given by the Treasury Department to the San
Francisco authorities to prevent these transactions
would be renewed.
The Nova Scotian Parliament assembled on
Thursday. The Governor, in his message, recom-
mends the unbiassed consideration of the Confede-
ration scheme.

The Australasian and City of London have arrived
out.

MEXICO.
NEW YORK, Feb. 10 (Evening.)
The Havana correspondent of the Associated Press
denies the statement that Mexico had ceded any ter-
ritory to France, and that Senator Gwinn had been
appointed Viceroy.
Gwinn had been unsuccessful in pressing his
claims in Mexico, and was en route for Europe, in
order to urge them there.
The New York journals publish advices from
Mexico to the 20th, according to which the French
were concentrating upon Oaxaca.
liavana correspondence states tnat many towns
were throwing off the Imperial yoke.