The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

at the corner of Bread-street-hill, within a few feet of St

Michael's Church, and like the building which was de-
stroyed scarcely a fortnight since on the opposite side of
the street, adjoining Vintner's Hall, was fifty yards dis-
tant, it was one of the old city sugar-houses. Many
years back, this thoroughfare abounded with such fac-
tories, but such has been their fatality from the ravages
of fire that only one now remains, the whole of them
acing been burnt down. The warehouse in question
had recently been occupied by Mr. William Dunster,
wholesale stationer and rag merchant, and it was only
within the last few days that the floors had been stocked
with a large quantity of rags and other property.
The place had been closed since Saturday night ; all
then seemed quite safe, and nothing was noticed to
excite the least suspicion that a fire was kindling.
About two o'clock yesterday morning, one of the con-
stables on duty in the neighbourhood of the build-
ing had his attention called to an effluvium as if
something was burning. Accompanied by a brother
officer, he went round the surrounding property, with
a view of satisfying himself from whence the smell
emanated. But failing, and finding the stench increas-
ing, one of the constables was despatched to the chief
station of the brigade in Watling-street, for the aid of
one of the firemen in clearing up the mystery. While
this officer was away, another of the police, a few mi-
nutes after four o'clock, in passing up Bread-street-hill,
where the warehouse has also a frontage, perceived a
glare of light over the doorway of the basement floor of
the building. He had scarcely time to give a general
alarm before the heat broke the glass of the fanlight,
and the flames, obtaining vent, spread to the upper
floors with the rapidity, as the officers describe, of
almost lightning. Two of the engines connected with
the Watling-street station were brought to the spot with
commendable alacrity, and under the direction of Mr.
Braidwoed, the superintendent of the force, were got
to work in the most advantageous position'', and the
firemen, branch in hand, forced a passage into the
lower floor, with a view of checking the progress of
the fire, and following it up.
On reaching the stair-
case, however, they found it utterly impracticable to
proceed further, and so overpowering was the heat
and smoke that, for the preservation of their lives,
they were ordered to withdraw. They then directed
their operations from without. By this period the flames
were issuing with prodigious fury from the numerous
windows overlooking Bread-street-hill ; and although
the engines were worked with the utmost vigour,
and a vast body of water thrown on the several floors,
all appeared powerless in subduing the devouring ele-
ment. Adjoining the warehouse on the hill was a small
tenement, in the occupation of Mr. Dunster's foreman
and family. There was a communication between the
two on the attic floor of the dwelling, and the fire had
almost penetrated into the apartment, where several
females were asleep, before they were aware of their ex-
tremely perilous condition. It was only through the
perseverance of the police that they were got out. At
the other point of the building, in Upper Thames-street,
the flames had made their way into the back windows
of the house of Mr. Dougate, saddler and harness maker,
at the corner of Huggin's-lane, where a similar preserva-
tion of life took place. Two or three of the Watling-
street firemen made their way into the burning rooms
and happily succeeded in saving some females, who
in all probability would otherwise have perished.
Scarcely had half an hour intervened from the mo-
ment of the discovery ere the whole pile presented one
unbroken mass of fire, the floor and ponderous beams
and rafters being strongly seasoned, as it were, with
sugar and treacle, and more lately with-oil and other
combustibles, which had been stored therein, ignited
and burnt with a fierceness seldom witnessed. On
the flames bursting through the roof nearly the whole
of the central portion of the metropolis was vividly
lighted up, and, nowithstanding a most piercing frost,
and the late, or rather early, hour of the morning, a
large concourse of persons was attracted to the spot who
had doubtless been keeping up the " Christmas festivi-
ties." The City police mustered very strong in num-
bers, and rendered valuable aid in preventing the ope-
rations being impeded by the mob. Most of the en-
gines in the metropolis were called on, although consi-
derable difficulty was experienced in getting them to the
scene, in consequence of the severe frost, and the very
slippery state of the roads. As soon as they arrived,
they were got into play most effectively, but by far the
most valuable aid was rendered by the powerful steam
floating engine of the brigade, which fortunately enough
was moored at Southwark-bridge, off Queenhithe.
As quickly as possible on the alarm being raised, the
fact was communicated to the men who were on duty
on the float. With much promptitude the steam was
got up, and the craft brought to the edge of the
river, nearest the blazing building. Several lengths
of hose were then led up from the water side to
Thames-street, and on the machine being put into
work, the streams which it scattered over the flames
soon began to tell with most surprising effect. The
work of destruction, however, had proceeded too far
to admit of the least hope of any portion of the ware-
house being preserved. On the roof falling in, a large
body of fire rose to a considerable height, and so
great was the intense beat which it emitted, as to ignite
the weather boarding of the steeple of St. Michael's
Church, Queenhithe, and which for a time placed the
sacred edifice in muck peril. Several of the brigade at
once proceeded to the point of danger, and by means of
a constant application of water, saved the steeple, at
least, from destruction. Similar precautions were taken
to prevent other buildings from taking fire. It was 9
o'clock before the fire could be said to have been so far
subdued as to allay all fear of its further extension. A
great mass, however, still existed within the ruins, all
the floors having given way, nothing remaining but the
lofty blackened gable walls, portions of which fell into
Thames-street in the course of the morning, and until the
remainder either comes down or is secured, the street
will be closed to traffic, the police having taken those
precautions to prevent accident.

The origin of the fire is yet to be ascertained; the pre-
sumption is that it must have resulted from the sponta-
neous ignition of some of the rags. Mr. Braidwood's
official report of the conflagration furnishes no ad-
ditional facts. The building is understood to be insured
in the Sun Office, and the stock in the Pheenix and
other offices. The total loss is very considerable.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

DEVONPORT, DEC. 25.

The Royal George came into harbour on Friday in
prime order. She appeared as manageable as a boat,
and was taken to her moorings without straining a rope
yarn.
The Pique was towed in by the Confiance and Jasper
steam-tugs, and is dismantling.
The Ueda, Dutch steamer, which put in here disabled,
had her defects made good, and sailed for Holland on
Friday.
The Sea Park, convict-ship,. arrived on Saturday.
She will get up her complement from Dartmoor, and
then sail for West Australia.

In the Sound—The Hogue, Vulture, Magicienne,
Eurydice, Sardinian frigate, and the Sea Park convict.

ship.
In Harbour—The Impregnable, St. George, Royal
George, Edinburgh, Rifleman, Racehorse, Saracen,
Sylph, Avon, Nautilus, Confiance, Jasper, Falmouth,
Aid, Camel, Hamoaze, and Tortoise lighters.

PORTSMOUTH, Dna. 26.
Courts-martial will be holden to-morrow (Tuesday)
on board the Victory, guard-ship, Captain Sir Thomas
Maitland, to try a marine artilleryman, on a charge of
" theft."

The Sidon, 22, Captain George Goldsmith, came into
harbour this morning to repair trifling defects ; aad take
1...0fu1l supply of coal. She leaves on Wednesday for the
.r.Nloditerranean, touching at Lisbon with despatches for
-"ear„ -Admiral Corry. Parties having friends in the
-1-11a1200n squadron" should take advantage of this com-
munication.
The Fire Queen, Master-Commander F. W. Paul,
went out of harbour this afternoon, having the Com-
mander-in'erlief Vim-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane on
board. She steered to the westward.
A general holiday
has been observed at this port to-
day, and, owing to the fineness of the weather, many
strangers have been induced to take advantage of so
great a blessing.

ATTEMPTED WIFE MIIEDBR AND
SUylaClDE.—Yesterday
izoriter named
a murderous outrage was committed
by
5, Willis upon his wife, at their lodgings, wa
Lee's-
buildings, Chancery-lane. It appears that the
who are somewhat advanced in life, Willis being Parties,
his wife about two years younger, had lived 6l
ery,
conland.
fortably together. Willis, however, came home atbe.-
be-
tween two and three yesterday morning, and without
any explainable cause seized a table knife, and going to
the bedside of his wife attempted to cut her throat.
She struggled violently, and after receiving several severe
wounds, she managed to get out of the room. Willis
then cut his throat with his razor, and getting into bed
covered himself up with the clothes. The police were
immediately called in, and the parties were removed to
King's College Hospital. The injuries of both are severe,
and those of Willis dangerous:
THE GREAT FIRE AT ESHER PAPER MILLS,—The
fire which broke out on Friday night in Mr.W.lVlurray's
mills is not wholly extinguished, The accident is now
attributed to the spontaneous combustion of rags ware-
housed in a damp state.