The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-03 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE IN THE CITY.

The reports of the fire in Bread-street, Cheapside, pub-
lished yesterday, convey but a very faint idea of the ex-
tent of ground laid in ruins, and the amount of property
reduced to -ashes by this disastrous event. Owing to the
vast body of fire in the various premises destroyed, the
engines and stand pipes were kept in active operation
throughout the whole of Sunday night and yesterday.
Even as late as eight o'clock last evening there remained
a great deal of fire in the ruins, and the firemen were
then obliged to keep a watchful eye over the immense
gap caused by the flames lest they should break out again.
Early yesterday morning Mr. Toplis, the surveyor to
the principal London insurance offices ; Mr. Hodsall,
his assessor of losses ; Mr. Connorton, the foreman of
the West of England firemen ; Mr. Fogo, the principal
officer of the A district of brigade ; and Mr. Superin-
tendent Braidwood, were all actively engaged in ascer-
taining what offices were interested in the losses, and
also, if possible, to trace out the origin of the fire.
As far as the latter is concerned it remains quite as ob-
scure; as it did on Sunday morning, and up to last tight
there was nothing to prove positively that the flames
originated in the Messrs. Townsend's hat factory, al-
though the fire was first seen from the street shining
through the first floor of their building. From the fact
of the roof of their ground-floor warehouse being erected
after the style of the late Crystal Palace, and covered in
with glass only it is the opinion of the firm that one of
the back premises had, in the first instance, become
ignited, and the glass of their warehouse being unable
to withstand the heat, had cracked, and almost immedi-

ately afterwards allowed the flames to rush through the
openings and seize upon the building. To some extent
the supposition is strengthened by the circumstance,
that a few minutes before the premises were closed, a
policeman had been in there, and had detected no
smell of burning. When the premises were locked
up for the night, the policeman on the beat
held his bull's-eye lanthorn for the =an, and
at that period there was not the least appear-
ance of any part of the building or the stock being on
fire. A more searching inquiry will no doubt yet
be made, with a view of finding out, if possible, on whose
premises and from what cause the fire originated, as
most of the sufferers, especially the Messrs. Townsend,
appear most anxious on that point.

The Lord Mayor attended at an early hour, and was
also very desirous of tracing out the cause of such a
serious disaster as this unquestionably is ; but his lord-
ship was unable to gain the slightest additional informa-
tion beyond what has been given above.
Yesterday morning Mr. Braidwood made out his
official report of the damages, which is as follows :
" Saturday, Dec. 31, 1853, 10i p.m.—Called to a fire
in Bread-street, Cheapside ; on arriving, found the pre-
mises of Messrs. Townsend, hatters, No. 5 in the street,
on fire. The building belongs to Mr. 0. Paynter, of
Richmond, and was insured in the Legal and Commercial
and Sun Fire-offices. Tho fire was extinguised by fire-
men and nine engines of the London Brigade and that of
the West of England office. The premises are burned
down, and the stock in trade consumed.

" Ditto, ditto, Messrs. Hutchinson and Spiller, carpet
warehousemen. Premises burned down, and contents
destroyed. Insurance unknown at present.
" No. 51, in the same street, Messrs. M'Kerrow and
Son, warehousemen. Back room third floor burned
out, roof damaged by fire, and contents damaged by fire
and water. Insurance unknown.

" Ditto, ditto, Messrs. Spencer and Hodson. Similar
damage ; contents not insured. Building unknown if
insured or not.

" Ditto, ditto, Mr. P. Shannon, warehouseman.
Similar damage. Insured in tho Royal Exchange Fire-
office.

" Nos. 7 and 8, ditto, Messrs. Douch and Cooth, in
the same line of business. Contents insured in the Sun,
Royal Exchange, Legal and Commercial, and Defender
Fire-offices.

" Side windows of first floor burned out, and walls
damaged by fire. Stock considerably injured by water.
Insurances unknown at present.
" Nos. 60 and 62, opposite, Messrs. Groucock, lace-
men. Front of premises very severely scorched. In-
surance unknown.

" No. 61, in the same street, Messrs. Foster and Co.,
linen warehousemen. Front of premises damaged by
fire. Insurance not known.

" No. 4, ditto, ditto, Mr. W. May, silk mercer and
trimming seller. Insurance unknown.
"The back warehouse burned down, and three upper
floors destroyed.
"Ditto, ditto, R. Greenless, shawl warehouseman,
insured in the Legal and Commercial and Sun Fire
Offices.

" Back warehouse burned down, and three upper floors
dbnsumed.

" No. 3, in the same street, Mr. R. Marr, licensed vic-
tualler, damage to premises, &c., by water ; insured in
the Monarch Fire Office. The house belongs to Messrs.
Calvert, the brewers, and is unknown if insured or not.
"No. 41, Cheapside, Messrs. Fownes and Co., glove
manufacturers, insured in the Globe, Phoenix, Sun,
County, and Legal and Commercial Fire Offices. Back
front and roof damaged by fire, and ceilings and stock in
trade considerably injured.
"Ne. 64, Friday-street, Messrs. Foster and Co.,
warehousemen. Contents insured in the Sun, Legal
and Commercial, Atlas, Monarch, Union and Anchor
Offices ; stock greatly damaged by water.
" No. 61, ditto, ditto, Messrs. Lidiard warehousemen.
Contents insured in the London, Royal Exchange,
Union, Royal Liverpool, and Phoenix Fire Offices ; the
back warehouse and ground floors burned out, stock
damaged by water, and skylights broken.
ditto, T.
J, Mair, Son, and Co„ furniture
and removal, and two trap-doors
dam" aNgeo. 6d4'
burned. Insurance not known.
No. 63, ditto, Edward Willett and Co., warehouse.
men, window-glass broken. Insurances unknown at
present."
The property deposited in the various warehouses in
the immediate proximity of the fire was worth, it is
stated, two millions sterling, and it seems perfectly as-
tonishing that the damage, great as it has been, had not
been still greater. The preservation of many of the sur-
rounding warehouses may be entirely attributed to the
exertions of the firemen.

The ruins yesterday presented a singular appearance,
for the large icicles were to be seen hanging from the
windows and also from the floorings of those in which
the fire had performed its most perfect work of desola-
tion- The adjoining premises, where the fire had done
comparatively no damage, bat in which the war from the
engines had fallen,'were completely lined with ice, so as
to make it extremely difficult for business to be car-
L ried on,

PRESTON, MONDAY.—The predictions of the delegates
have been fully realised by the largely increased contri-
butions received from the various districts at the meeting
of the central committee held yesterday at the Tem-
perance Hall, in this town. It had been intimated that
the income of the weavers' committee would this week
reach 3,000/. ; the fund placed at their disposal to-day
actually exceeds 3,2001. This augmented income enables
the committee to advance the pay of the unemployed
weavers from 4s. to ss. 6d. per head, and to reserve a
balance in hand. The other classes of operatives are to
receive a proportionate addition to their week's pay.
All the districts sent in enlarged subscriptions, but the
chief contributors were the people of Blackburn, who
furnished 1,0001. The "New Year's Gift " (as the in.
crease of pay is designated) afforded matter for congra-
tulation to the speakers at an open air meeting held in
the Orchard at noon to-day. After some encouraging
remarks upon the subject by the chairman, Mr. LANG,
Mr. BROWN said he observed that the statement he
had made on a former occasion with respect to the Earl
of Wilton had called forth a letter in contradiction. All
he (the speaker) had to say in reply was, that he re-
ceived his information upon good authority, and at pre-
sent he saw no reason to retract his statement. Refer_
ring to the week's income, M. Brown remarked that
it had been shown to the millowners of Preston that
the delegates spoke the truth, and that Geo. Cowell
was a true prophet. Some time ago Mr. Cowell
promised that 3,000/. would be forthcoming for
the relief of the operatives of Preston, and this week
they had more than that sum. He (the speaker) antici-
pated that before three weeks more were over the com-
mittee would be able to raise the wages of the hands per-
manently.

Mr. Gao. COWELL commenced his address by wishing
those present a happy new year. He hoped that before
another year had rolled away this question would be
settled, and their (the delegates') occupation would be
gone. If any of their leaders were desirous that the
present state of affairs should continue those were men
who ought not to be trusted. For his own part, he
longed to see the time when the multitude-now without,
employment should resume-work, providing-thiTvould,4or4"!4,t
do so on terms honourable-to themselves and honourable
to their employers. He did not wish to gain a victory
over the employers. All he desired was, that justice
should be done to the operatives ; and that was, that
they should receive a fair day's wage for a-fair day's
work. Inquiries had been made respecting the promised
comparison between the Preston prices and those of
Blackburn and other towns. In reply, he begged to
say that the document was in course of preparation, and
would be issued as soon as possible.

Mr. CHEETHAM (of Oldham) advised his hearers not
to purchase those newspapers which were adverse to the
factory workers' interests.

The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Stevenson,
of Burnley, and Mr. Grimshaw, of Great Harwood.

A resolution was unanimously passed, pledging the
meeting to persevere in this struggle.
As usual, the proceedings terminated with cheers for
the 10 per cent.

MEMORIAL TO THE EARL OF
CLARENDON.

The subjoined is the copy of a memorial, which
is in the course of signature in the city of Chester.
The feeling in that part of the kingdom in favour
of a decided policy is very strong, and the present
policy of the English Government gives great dis-
satisfaction :

"To the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon,
her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs.

"The humble memorial of the undersigned
inhabitants of the town of Carnarvon—

"Shewetb,—That a memorial from this town was
some time since addressed to your lordship, respectfully
conveying to your lordship the anxious desire of the
memorialists, that the pledges given by the Government
of this country to protect the Turkish Sultan and his
subjects from the unprincipled encroachments of Russia
might be fulfilled. And that, in reply to that memorial,
the memorialists whose names were attached had the
satisfaction of receiving from your lordship an unquali-
fied assurance of the determination of her Majesty's
Government to maintain unimpaired the independence
of the Turkish empire, and the honour of the British
name.

" That, entertaining sentiments of the sincerest respect
for your lordship's position and personal character, and
fully appreciating the onerous nature of the responsibi-
lities of her Majesty's advisers at the present crisis, your
memorialists would not on light grounds have presumed
again to trespass on your lordship's kindness and atten-
tion.

" But that they feel assured that for so doing they
will be deemed to possess an ample justification in the
events which, since the date of your lordship's communi-
cation, have occurred or are in progress—viz., the inva-
sion and occupation of two Turkish provinces by a
Russian army, combined with the plunder of the public
treasury, and the conscription of the militia of those
provinces ; the destruction of a division of the Turkish
fleet under circumstances that have created a deep and
earnest sentiment of indignation in this and in other
civilised countries ; the active and unrelenting prosecu-
tion by the Russian Emperor of these and other mea-
sures of aggressive war, in the presence of the fleets of
England an France, in open defiance of treaties, and
in violation alike of the law of nations and of the dictates
of humanity.
" That the highest interests of this country, as well
as its national honour, are indissolubly connected with
the maintenance of the Turkish empire from the unprin-
cipled encroachment on its dominions now in progress,
and with the repression of the lawless designs of Russian
ambition. And that by his noble and heroic refusal to
violate the laws of good faith and hospitality (by betray-
ing the Hungarian and Polish refugees), the present
sovereign of that empire has obtained an imperishable
claim to be ranked among the most illustrious defenders of
the principles of freedom, civilisation, and humanity—a
claim which should ensure to him the firm and consistent
protection of the Governments of England and France,
which they trust will be extended to him henceforward."

THE A.RMY.

THE ARMY IN INDIA.

The following tribute has been paid to the memory of
Major• General Godwin, C. 8., who was a guest of Sir
William and Lady Gomm at the time of his decease ;
and the same has been notified in general orders to the
army by his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief in
India :

" Head-quarters, Simla, Oct. 26, 1853.
"With deep sorrow—a sorrow sacred te the memory
of rare private worth and recorded public merit—the
Commander-in-Chief in India makes known to the army
the death at Simla, after brief but severe illness of
Major-General Godwin, C. 8., commanding the Sirhind
division, and recently holding chief command of the com-
bined force which achieved the conquest of Pegu.
" Sir William Gomm feels assured that the army at
large will regret with him the sudden departure from
amid its ranks of a distinguished soldier, a gallant leader,
and an ardent promoter of its interests ; while some,
perhaps, will mourn with his Excellency over the loss of
a long-tried and justly-valued friend, faithful and true,
from youth upwards to the close of a useful and honoured
life.

"W. M. GOMM, General,
"Commander-in-Chief East Indies.
"(By order of his Excellency the Commander-in.
Chief),
"H. T. TUCKER, Lieutenant-Colonel,
"Adjutant-General of the Army."
The Commander-in-Chief passed the following high
encomiums, in a general order, dated October 24, 1853,
on the three distinguished regiments, the 18th, 51st, and
80th, now OR their march for Calcutta, where they are
to embark for England :
" Her Majesty's 18th Royal Irish and 80th Regiments
of Foot are on the point of returning home, after each
completing a term of nearly seventeen years' foreign
service.

" Many gallant and many arduous services mark the
career of both these distinguished corps, comprised
within the period above cited.
" Her Majesty's 18th contributed essentially to the
success of our arms in China. Her Majesty's 80th as-
sisted actively throughout the first Sikh war, and con-
spicuously at the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, and
Sobraon.

" Both corps have since maintained the high charac-
ter already gained for gallantry, soldier-like steadiness,
and endurance under privations and the enervating
effects of climate, throughout the recent operations in
Burmah.

"The Commander-in-Chief cannot take leave of corps
which have so well upheld the character of the British
soldier in India, through a series of years, without ten-
dering to them severally his warmest wishes for their
future welfare, and for their rapid restoration to health
on their passage home.
" Neither can his Excellency forego the opportunity
thus afforded him of expressing his view of the recent
services, on the same field, of her Majesty's 51st Light
Infantry, also about to proceed home—services repeatedly
brought to his notice by the major-general commanding
the field force in Burmah, in the course of its operations
—and of offering to this regiment, which will be relieved
from the Madras Presidency, the same earnest good
wishes as to its brethren in arms of the 18th and 80th.

DUBLIN, Jan. 2.—Major-General Cochrane having
left Dublin for Scotland on leave of absence, the troops
in the garrison of Dublin and Dublin district report to
the Lieutenant General, Commanding (Sir E. Blakeney)
through the Assistant Adjutant-General and Assistant
Quarter-Ma3terGeneral of the district and the Town
Major.