The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-10 00:00:00

THE FIRE IN THE TEMPLE.

On Thursday last several gentlemen connected with the
Hon. Company of Benchers instituted an investigation at the
Inner Temple Hall, for the purpose of inquiring into the origin
of the conflagration, and other matters. Several gentlemen
and watchmen of the Temple, were examined, and from their
testimony the Committee had not the slightest doubt that the
calamity which destroyed the buildings, Nos. 14 and 15,
Paper-buildings, was occasioned by accident, and to have
originated in the chambers of the Honourable and Learned
Member for Carlow. From the few particulars, that
could be elicited from one of the Inner Temple watch-
men, it scorns that about half-past four o'clock on the
morning of the fire, while on duty, he heard the cry of
" Watch, fire," and on proceeding to Paper-buildings saw Mr.
Mule standing on the steps of the street. door, with nothing
on but his shirt. As he approached Mr. Maule smoke was
pouring forth from that gentleman's chambers. Our infor-
mant inquired of Mr. Maule whether there were any persons
in the chambers, but not obtaining any satisfactory answer, he
crawled on his hands and knees into them, but he could not
find any one. At that period the wainscoating only was on
tire, and it might have been extinguished by a few pails of
water, of which none could be procured. Mr. Maule imme
diately gave the alarm of fire, went and aroused all the in-
mates, amounting to 10 persons, all of whom fortunately es-
caped. Mr. Thompson and a female were the last persons to
leave the premises, and they escaped by scrambling over the
roof to the adjoining houses.
Yesterday, the ruins having become sufficiently cool, by the
engines playing on them, a number of labourers were em-
ployed to turn over the ruins. In the course of the afternoon,
a large iron safe was dug out, and opened in the presence of
the Attorney-General and several geeLleinen, when it was
discovered that the whole of the contents were reduced to
ashes. The safe is the property of Mr. Hillyard, who states
that the contents were of gleat value, and in consequence of
their destruction will pre,duce great inconvenience, not only to
himself, but to others to a greater extent. Mr. Ilillyard is
insured to the amount of GOOL, which sum will not near cover
his loss.
The destruction of the house No. 13, is attributed to the
construction of the roof, running into that of No. 14, and
those of the whole range of buildings. The firemen had the
same obstruction to contend with in the present instance, as
°a the destruction of the Royal Exchange, which building
was burnt in the same manner, with regard to the roofs, as in
the Temple. At the commencement of the conflagration it
was the intenrion of Mr. Braidwood to blow the roof off 'with
gunpowder of No. 12, and sent to the Tower for assistance ;
and by eight o'clock a file of artillery, under the command of
Captain Bacon, marched into the Inner Temple. However,
in the interim the powerful floating:engine was brought up to
the Temple-gardens and was got to work, and by rattaching
upwards of 1,000 feet of leather hose, was brought to bear on
the roof, by which circumstance the range of buildings was
preserved.
It is a curious circumstance that the whole range of the
buildings situated in the Temple are insured except those in
Paper-buildings. A rather singular Coincidence is connected
with the event—that on Monday last a Committee of the Hon.
Company of Benchers took place for the purpose of taking into
c.eisideration whether the houses in Paper-buildings shouldjbe
insured or not ; but, as far as we could collect, no decision was
come to. The last fire of any extent which occurred in the
Temple was in 1782, when acme premises in King's Bench-
walk were totally consumed.
Her Majesty's Attoreey-General, is, we understand a great
sufferer, not being insured. The whole contents, of his
chambers are consumed, including his library, valued at 3,000
guineas. Some papers and documents relative to real and
personal property, and also respecting the Montague peerage,
are burnt.

---
CHURCH RATEs.---In consequence of Mr. Lim-
mer's opposition to Church Rates, and notwithstanding the
opinion of the magistrates on his case, the Tory Churchwar-
den (with a spirit of rancour and bigotry which does credit to
his cause,) yesterday caused a post to be erected at the end of
the passage leading from Brook-street to 9t. Stephen's Church-
yard, and also to the warerooms of Mr. L., with the avowed pur-
pose of preventing the transit of goods to the latter premises.
Green declares that he did this, solely because Mr. Limmer
resists the payment of the Rates. This act, in violation of
every tolerant and just principle, is exulted in by Mr. Green's
party, and Mr. Bristo, who himself refused to pay the rate,
and what is more, advised many of his neighbours not to pay
it, was foremost in expressing his approbation of this unjus-
tifiable proceeding. Dissenters and Liberal (Thurelimen are
alike loud in their denunciations of such conduct, and there is
no doubt that Mr. Limmer will be suppc,rted by both, in any
course he may, by proper counsel, ,teem correct to pursue.
Verily, the system continues to worlt well l—Stifolk Chronicle.
A tradesman who attends our market, and whose
expenses for stallage, &c. (luring each day, amounts to 35.,
took, on Wednesday fort.aight, 2d. ; on the following Saturday,
6d. ; and on Saturd.dy last, 12s. ; total for expenses, 93. ; re-
ceipts, 12s. Bd.--Nottingham Review.
BIRTH EXTRAORDINA RY.—On Monday morn-
ing last, as a fly boat from Athy to Dublin was passing through
the 18th dock, one of the passengers, a Mrs. M'Cann, of
Castlecomer (who had never been on the canal before), be-
came very much agitated and alarmed, and in less than half an
hour was seized with premature labour. There were only
three other passengers in the after cabin, whom the captain of;
the boat permitted to go into the first, leaving the other tie
is. M`Cann, who, before she reached Sallins, added two
boys and a girl to the number on board. On reach;:ag Dublin
she was put into comfortable lodgings, and, w',Ch her three
little one;, is getting on as well as possible, M'Canu, the
husband, was also a passenger' and seemed highly delighted,
these being his first-born.--Dublin Paper.
BISHOP OF EXETER.—This has been ai s
sad
neglectedweek
of tribulation to the meek and amiable Bishop who presides
over the spiritual duties of the see—when not otherwise en-
gagedvho h
i:npolaitviecalbeher
l'elsftintoLtoarkideotnh.e
careLe o
bat us,
our own souls,
h
now offer up a sincere prayer for his. Let us hope that he
flock,
will see the error of his ways—and being ultimately converted
to Christianity, fiad him a pattern and an ornament to his
diocese, instead of a stumbling block and a reproach to his.
more devout, but neglected flock.— IVestern Times.
At Vienna, on the 21st tilt. (last Wednesday sen•
night) the thermometer (Reaumur) marked 18 degrees belll4
Zero or 401 of Fahrenheit below the freezing point.