The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-14 00:00:00

', PRIDAY EVENING,

was not a mere ceremonial on his put, but that it
having been his lot in life to be brought into camn-
municatio❑ with those who represented industrial
and mercantile interests, he felt deeply and warmly
the eloquence of language, the justness of thought,
and the loftiness of aim which had characterised the
lecture. Many tut important suggestions had
been made upon points which were well deserving
of serious consideration in connection with any
future exhibition. Topics had been introduced and
clearly illustrated which were not only of the deepest
interest to a country like England, at all times, but
if he might be pardoned for a seeming paradox,
especially at the present time, when many facts
seemed to show that the commerce of the world was
as yet in its infancy, and though England in many
respects had an old commercial history, there was
yet a new and great career before her. It was in-
structive to see how the metals in which this coun-
try abounded were substituting other materials in
constructions of various kinds. We were in that
respect in a transition state, the extent and direc-

tion of which could be but imperfectly compre-
hended ; but enough was known to indicate immense
and important changes—changes which must, from
our command of the raw material, maintain Eng-
land in the future relatively on the high bases she
had hitherto occupied in the industry and the com-
merce of the world. (Cheers.)

The Professor briefly acknowledged the compli-
ment amidst renewed cheers.

EXTENSIVE FIRES AND GREAT LOSS
OF PROPER7Y.

Yesterday morning, about two o'clock, a fire of
a serious character, and attended with a great loss
of property, broke out in the large manufacturing
premises belonging to Mr. Selig, a cabinet-maker,
&c,, situate at 125, St. John's-street, Clerkenwell.
The discovery was made by the police-constable on
the beat, whose attention was attracted by the loud
and repeated barking of a dog. Thinking that a
robbery was being attempted in one of the houses
near induced him to make a diligent search, and
whilst doing so he noticed a dense mass of smoke
hovering over Mr. Selig's factory, and being now
satisfied that a fire was on the point of bursting
forth, he gave the necessary alarm, and set about
awaking the inmates of the front and adjoining
houses. That was not accomplished without Con-
siderable difficulty and loss of time, and before the
residents of Selig's dwelling-house and those ad-
joining could be made sensible of their impending
danger a huge sheet of flame shot forth from the
factory.
Adjoining that building was an open timber yard
in which a great amount of stock was deposited,
and communicating stood the dwelling house, and
on one side was the building belonging to Mr. G.
Sheane, watch spring maker (No. 124), and on the
other the premises belonging to Mr. T. C. Blundell,
a rope and mat maker, so that it at once became ap-
parent that unless the conflagration could be quickly
extinguished a great loss of property must ensue,
and unfortunately the latter turned out as was ap-
prehended.
Information of the disaster having been sent in
sundry directions, in almost incredibly short space
of time two escapes attended, as well as several
manual working engines of the London Brigade,
one of the parish, and the land steam-engine. This
force was under the command of Capt. Shaw, the
superintendent, his Grace the Duke of Sutherland,
Mr. Fogo, the chief officer of the B district, Engi-
neers Perryer, Flinn, and other officials.
Before sufficient time had elapsed to set a single
engine to work the flames belched forth from every
part of the factory, and were attacking with full
vigour the valuable stock of timber, including rose-
wood veneers and other goods. The greatest excite-
ment was then caused throughout the neighbour-
hood, and the occupants of several houses hard by
commenced removing their furniture and other
effects, by which much property was broken and
damaged by water.

By-direction of Captain Shaw the land steamer
was set to work from an abundant supply of water,
under the charge of Foreman Gerrard, whilst the
other engines were pumped by a great many hired
auxiliaries. Every one present exerted himself to
the utmost, including the noble duke, in endea-
vouring to stop the ravages of the devastating
elelement, and to a considerable extent they were
successful, for at one time the front house of Mr.
Selig end those of Mr. Blundell and Mr. Sheane
were all blazing away at the back with the
greatest fury. The steam-engine at once began,
by the great quantity of water it discharged
into the blazing premises, to tell in a palpable man-
ner upon the flames, and they were arrested in a
very brief period afterwards. Steam of 501bs. pres-
sure was obtained in 11 minutes after lighting the
fire of the boiler, and 200 gallons of water were
pumped per minute in and around the burning
buildings, and eventually the conflagration was ex-
tinguished ; but the damage done was considerable,
as will be seen by the following official report fur-
nished the reporter by Captain Shaw •--
"No. 125, St. John-street, St. John-street-road.
—Mr. S. Selig, cabinetmaker.—Factory burned
out, stock in open yard destroyed, front house used
as a d welling (communicating), and stock seriously
damaged by fire, &c. Cause of fire unknown. Con
tents insured in the Provincial Fire-office.

,c No. 124.—Mr. E. G. Sheanes, watch-spring-
maker.—Back front of buildings severely damaged
and contents by water. Contents and build-
ing fire,ginsured in the Sun Fire-office.
" No. 123.—Mr. T. C. Blundell, rope and mat
maker.—Back front of premises damaged by fire,
and roof of back Workshops injured by breakage.
Building insured in the Sun Fire-office, and the
contents were insured in the Phmnix Office.

"The police rendered great assistance to the fire-
men by keeping a large concourse of persons out
of danger."
Another very alarming fire broke out about the
same time as the one in Clerkenwell, in the pre-
mises belonging to Mr. W. Bond, a stationer, &c.,
carrying on business at No. 30, Cross-street, Upper-
street, Islington. The flames were discovered by
the inmates through experiencing a dense suffocat-
ing sensation, and those who were sleeping in the
front room first-floor found the flooring so hot as
to nearly draw the skin off their feet. Informa-
tion was at once sent off for the Royal Society's
escapes, and for the engines, and in a short space
of time two escapes, under the direction of Mr. In-
spector Baddeley arrived, as well as the engines of
the parish, and others belonging to the London bri-
gade. Plenty of water having been procured the
parish engineer and the firemen of the brigade went
to work in an admirable manner, but the flames had
previously obtained possession of the valuable stock
in trade in the shop, and also of the back rooms, but
by dirt of great perseverance the fire was confined
to the lower part of the building, but the damage
done is very considerable, as the whole of the stock,
fixtures, and other effects are nearly destroyed. The
loss will fall upon the Liverpool and London Fire-
office. The origin of this fire is also unknown.
About half-past four o'clock the same morning a
fire, nearly attended with a great loss of life, hap-
pened in the promises belonging to Mr. J. Laivand,
situated in Marshall-street, Golden -square, but let
out to numerous families as a lodging-house. The
police-constable on the beat in passing the house
heard a loud crackling noise, evidently arising from
burning wood. The officer, feeling satisfied that
the house was on fire, gave an immediate alarm,
when a scene of the greatest confusion ensued, for
owing to many persons sleeping in the various
rooms in the building, it appears miraculous that
any of the residents escaped with their lives. The
Royal society's escapes promptly attended, as well
as the engines of the London brigade, and also one
of the land steamers. Owing to the indefatigable
exertions of the brigade under Mr. Staples, the
foreman of the C district, the fire was extinguished,
but the lower part of the building was burnt out,
and the upper part damaged by heat and water,
besides the breakage of the furniture. Fortunately
the whole of the sufferers escaped, but they were
all uninsured.

- -
Snow has fallen pretty generally all over Ireland.
In the counties of Roscommon, Galway, and Leitrim there
have been heavy falle, and the same report comes from the
neighbourhood of Belfast. Stooks of corn, it is stated, may
be seen embedded in the snow in some places.

OVEMBER 44, NM

A 7 TEMPTED 111 UR DER AND SUICIDE
BY A MANIAC.

On the hitTning of Saturday last, James Stuart,
crofter, Hiilhead of Aneharnie, Forgue, mute a
most desperate attempt at his own life and that of
his Vvitei Christina Murray. It appeaDS that for
some time back Sttsart's state of mind has teen
giving great uneasiness to his friends, and that some
three months ago his conduct waa 39 alarming that
they deemed it necessary to put him under the
control of one of his sons. For some weeks, how-
I ever, previous to Saturday he was apparently
getting better, so much so that his son, who had
him in charge, with the consent of other friends,
thought it safe to leave him on Thursday last. On
that day, accompanied by his wife, Stuart went to
and returned from Rothie station, distance of some
16 miles. On Friday he appeared quite composed,
and did some work ofn the croft; but it now LlP-
pears that he had been premeditating the doing
of the horrid deed on Friday, as he was observed
several times eharpening an instrument like a razor,
which he always endeavoured to conceal if any one
approached him. On Friday night his wife accom-
panied him to bed, and during the early part of the
night both slept well. They were both awoke a
little before 4 o'clock sail., and talking to each
other, when Stuart, seizing the razor he had pur-
posely concealed in the bed, made a wound first in his
own throat and then in that of his wife. The other
parties in the house at the time were a son-in-law
and two daughters, and on Mrs. Stuart giving the
alarm they were instantly with her, and after a very
severe struggle succeeded in getting her out of the
grasp of her maniacal husband. The neighbour-
hood being raised, Dr. Manlius, Forgue, was in.
stantly sent for, who, on his arrival, sewed the
wounds. We are happy to say that the wounds
in neither case are expected to prove fatal ; but in
the case of Mrs. Stuart her escape was very provi-
dential, as if the wound had been one hair's breadth
further it must have proved instantly fatal.—Banff-
shire Journal.