The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-10 00:00:00

ALARMING FIRE AT CAMER.BURY

On Monday everting last a fire broke out, shortly
utter 8 o'clock, on the premises of a bookbinder,
named John Ashton, situate in Burgate-street, Can-
terbury, a short distance from the fine old Christ
Church gate, leading to the Cathedral, at the corner
of which is the registry-office connected with the
diocess. Assistance was promptly on the spot, and
no less than six engines were brought into play,
including one from the Cathedral precincts and
two from the barracks, the latter worked by the
military, who ably seconded the efforts of the
citizens, and rendered effectual service in thwart-
ing the progress of the flames. Next to the house
in which the fire broke out are the Town Clerk's
offices, containing the city books and records. Of
course attention was directed to these premises,
and happily with success, but the fire extended to
the opposite direction, three houses falling a prey
to the devouring element, while other premises
wore damaged by fire and water. Fortunately,
there was no wind at the time, or the greater
part of
Bargate-street must have
abedencdoemstprroiyseeda,
as most of the houses were old, n
great deal of wood in their structure.. They belong
to the Dean and Chapter o Canterbury, and are
fully insured, but the tenants were only partially
insured. The exact amount of the loss sustained
through the fire is not yet known, nor has the
cause of it been satisfactorily ascertained. Great
excitement prevailed in the city, as a fire is a very
rare occurrence but the event brought out the
defects in the water arrangements, and will no
doubt lead to the adoption of improved means in
future.

A more leisurely examination of the telegrams I
which we published yesterday does not alter the
general conclusion. We have General Pors's
word for it that the Confederates were repulsed at
all points, that before he finished his despatch,
they were retreating towards the mountains, that
he was, however, ton much cut up to follow the
enemy, but intended to do so when FITz JOHN
PORTER'S corps arrived; also that he had made
great captures," which we may be permitted to
doubt, till we have some better evidence that they
are not of about the same magnitude as the capture
of the ten thousand at Corinth which dwindled
down to a hundred hospital invalids left behind
unavoidably.

But let us try to estimate the value of POPE'S
"victory." Our materials are but slender for
doing so, but if we appreciate them rightly, he
has done little more than save Washington from an
immediate visit. One thing is quite certain. But
lately the Federals were beleaguering Richmond;
now the Confederates are threatening Washington.
While MTLELLAN was retreating with one part of
his army down the peninsula, the Confederates,
instead of pursuing him, which would probably
have given them an easy victory, took the
bolder course of marching northwards to meet the
army under POPE, which they knew to be threat-
ening them from that quarter. They must have
hoped to annihilate POPE before M'CLELLAN'S army
could unite with him. It was with this view that
they made the attack on him at Cedar Mountain
—the result of which was that Pore had to fall
back and endeavour to join BURNSIDE'S corps on
the Rappahannock, where the two armies were left
by the preceding mails—the Confederates feeling
their way to attack the Federals on the north of
the river. The river is crossed by the railway which
connects Washington and Richmond, and both sides
were obliged to keep to the line, in order to retain
their communications ; the one with Richmond, the
other with Washington.
It is quite clear that for some time the Confede-
rates
had the best of it. On the 23d they com-
pelled the Federals to abandon the line of the Rap-
pa
and to fall back to Warrenton junction,
a n
10 miles further north. Beyond this,
further north, is the famous Manas-
shtaant
station
k,
about 12 miles
sas junction and Bull's Run. Now, it is confessed
that, while POPE was at Warrenton, the Con-
federates so far outgeneralled him that they actu-
left, and took possession of
ally went round his
Manassas, cutting th
e telegraphic wires, burning,
ng— which, of course, shows
and destroying everythi
that they did not intend to retain it—and thus
cutting off POPE'S communications with Washing-
ton. It might have been supposed that the less of
his despatches and staff equipage by a previous raid
twelve miles in his rear, would have made him
more cautious; but we find him again committing
that greatest of strategic blunders--allowing the
enemyto visit his rear.
When Pope finds himself circumvented, he, of
course, trembles for Washington, and breaks uP
from Warrenton, to
driven back, making
which station he had been
hard for Manassas. Mean-
time the Confederates
seem to have gone a little
farther north, to Bull's Run, driving •
from thence. So audacious were they h e
that th e Federals
their
cavalry actually visited Fairfax, about 12 miles
from Washington. According to the accounts,
however, three Federal armies were now converg-
ing on the corps, apparently commanded by JACK-
SON, which had made the dash on the Federal rear;
POPE'S main body turning back from the North,
another under M`DowELL and SIGEL, and a third
under HEINZELMAN, all of them trained generals.
It was "old Stonewali's" turn now, having done
what mischief he could, to retreat. Hence POPE
found Manassas evacuated on the 28th, though it
was but a few hours before. Stonewall JACKSON,
however, in retreating, fell in with M‘DoWELL's
corps, with whom he fought till night compelled

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THE SUN.
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, 1862.