The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-25 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN ST. PAUL'S
CHURCHYARD.

A fire, involving vast destruction of property, broke cont
yestez day morning, shortly before two o'clock, in the exten-
sive range of premises belonging to Messrs. Pawson and Co.,
warehousemen, of St. Paul's-churchyard. The outbreak
was discovered simultaneously by two policemen—one of
them being on duty in Cheapside, and the other at the cor-
ner of Great Carter-lane and Paul's-chain. They both ob-
served smoke issuing from the roof of Messrs. Pawson's
warehouse, and, hastening to the back entrance in Great
Carter-lane, they rang the bell violently, and at length suc-
ceeded in arousing the inmates to a sense of their danger.
Messrs. Pawson have no less than 300 young men in their
employ, one-third of whom sleep in the house. The dormi-
tory, library, and sitting-rooms are all at the top of the
house, and on the same floor is the kitchen and culinary
establishments. The fire seems to have originated in the
latter part of the building, and when the inmates were aroused
the flames had gained considerable ascendancy—all the pas-
sages being full of dense smoke. The greatest alarm pre-
vailed for some time after the discovery, and but for tho
providential means of escape afforded by an outlet on to the
roof, and thence over the adjoining houses, there is no doubt
great loss of life would have taken place. Mr. Pawson, and
his brother-in-law and partner, Mr. Merton, were both sleep-
ing upon the premises, and they had only just time to escape
in their trousers. The former displayed great presence of
mind under the trying circumstances, and would not leave
the premises until he had satisfied himself that all the inmates,
including the housekeeper and four female servants, were safe.
A young man named Gough, a buyer in the silk department,
had a very narrow escape. He made an effort to reach the
door, and was in the act of descending the last flight of stairs,
when he lost his balance, and pitched over the bannisters on
to his head. He was dragged out insensible, and remained in
a state of collapse for some time, but afterwards rallied. The
upper portion of the premises is almost entirely destroyed,
and a very costly quantity of lace and Coventry ribbons are
burnt. The whole stock is also considerably damaged by
water. The fire burned for a very long time with great
fierceness, and the hour by St. Paul's clock might be distinctly.'
seen from Waterloo-bridge. The firm have very heavy insur-
ances in the Sun and other fire offices. The firemen are said
to have performed their duty admirably.

SHERIFFS COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

BILLINGSGATE CUSTOH.-WRATTAH V. BUTCHER.

This was an action to recover the sum of 19s. for loss sus-
tained on the sale of fish, sold by defendant to plaintiff under
tho following circumstances : -

Mr. Hughes (instructed by Mr. W. R. Buchanan), appeared
for the plaintiff and stated the case. The plaintiff is a fish
stall-keeper in Billingsgate market, and defendant is a sales-
man. It appears that it is the custom of the market for
dealers to purchase the baskets or "pads" of mackarel with-
out their being opened, guessing at the number in each by the
weight by lifting, each " pad " being supposed to hold
80 to 90 fish. In the present instance, plaintiff bought
ten pads at 135., but on opening them he found that they
did not hold more than half-a-hundred, two or three more or
less, and it was contended this loss had .been occasioned
through " stuffing" the pads with wet straw rolled in sand,
and in one instance with fish gut.
Plaintiff was called and gave testimony to the above effect ;
but none of the other witnesses could say that there was any
sand or anything else than straw, and it was admitted that
it was necessary to use some in the packing.
His Honour, under these circumstances, gave judgment for
the defendant.

PRICES CF BREAD, (be., in LONDON and PARIS.

Annexed is a comparison of the present prices of wheat,
flour, and broad in London and Paris:—

" The highest quotations of wheat of the first quality in
Paris is 311 per 1 j hectolitres, which is equal to nearly 475.11 d
per quarter ; and the highest price of white wheat of the first
quality in London being 58s per quarter, it follows that wheat
is rather more than 21 'per cent dearer in London than in
Paris.

" The highest quotation of flour of the first quality in
Paris is 36f 25c the 100 kilogrammes, which is equal to
36s 8d per sack of 2801 b English; and the highest quota-
tion of flour in the London market being 46s the sack, it fol-
lows that flour is nearly 25i per cent. dearer in London than
in Paris.

" The price of bread of the first quality in Paris is 31c per
kilogramme, which is equal to 5d the 41b loaf English
weight ; and the price of bread in London at the full-priced
shops being 8d the 41b loaf, it follows that bread is nearly 49'
per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. The second quality,
of bread in Paris is quoted at 240 per kilogramme, which is
equivalent to rather more than 4id per 41b loaf."