The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-01 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE FIRES IN THE METROPOLIS.

Yesterday morning, about seven o'clock, a fire, that
caused considerable alarm, broke out in the premises of
Mr. Beckworth, a carpenter arid cabinet-maker, carrying
on business at No. 1, York-street, Kingsland-road. The
flames originated in a long rangeof workshops about 60ft.
deep, 50ft. wide, and from 30 to 40ft. high. From
the combustible nature of the stock on the premises,
the fire travelled with such surprising rapidity, that in
less than a quarter of an hour the whole of the property
presented one immense sheet of flame, the reflection
from which, although daylight, could be seen from a
considerable distance. With as little delay as possi-
ble, the engines .f the parish, London Brigade, and that
of the West of England Insurance Office, reached the
scene, and a plentiful supply of water having been pro-
cured, the machines were called into operation ; but in
spite of the exertions of the firemen and the powerful
streams of water scattered upon the flames, they continued
t{) spread so that at last the whole of Mr. Beckworth's
manufacturing premises were wrapped in one tremen-
dous sheet of fire. The firemen, however, kept hard at
work ; but notwithstanding, the premises in which the
disaster commenced, the valuable- stack in trade and
working tools, and a costly stock of veneers, were de-
stroyed. The total loss is considerable, but we under-
stand that the sufferer was insured in the Star Fire
Office.
A fire also happened yesterday morning in the premises
of Mr. C. W. Steer, wholesale clothier, situate at No.
105, Whitech ipel-road. The discovery was male by a
police-officer of the H division, who, in passing the pre-
mises, perceived smoke pouring forth from the lower
part of the building. He at once gave an alarm, and
sent off for tue escapes of the-Royal Society and the en-
gines. Wood, the conductor, arrived with the White-
cimpel escape, and was followed by the engines of the
parish, the London Brigade, and West England
Fortunately the inmates managed to effect a safe
retreat, and a plentiful supply of water having
been procured from the mains of the East London
Company, the firemen went to work in admirable style ;
but they were unable to get the flames conquered until
the whole of the valuable stock was, nearly destroyed,
and the premises considerably damaged by fire, water,
&c. The origin of this fire is unknown. The sufferer
was insured in the Scottish Union Fire Office.

A fire, attended with a considerable loss of property,
likewise took place in the premises belonging to Mr. L.
Solomon% a chair-maker, and Mr. J. Sharp, a gun-
maker, No. 7, Little Alie-street, Goodman's-fields. An
alarm having been given, the engines of the parish,
London Brigade, and West of England attended, and a
powerful stream of water was procured from the East
London Company's mains, from which the engines were
called ito operation, but in spite of which the firemen
were unable to get the flames extinguished until the
property of Mr. Solomons and also of Mr. Sharp was
e:;tirelv destroyed. The principal sufferer was insured
in the Phcanix Fire Office, and the building was insured
in the Sun.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Hertford passed
through Arwagli, on Monday last, on their way to Ben•
burb, on a visit to the Rev,. John Stephenson, rector of
Clonfeacle. The m ,rchioness, who is a native of Ar-
magh, it will be remembered, nobly shared the vicissi-
tudes of the war in India with her late lainented hus-
band, General M'Naughten, who perished at Affghan-
istan.

THE FRENCH COURT.—The Emperor and Empress,
after leaving Biaritz, are to take up their residence for
some days in the Chateau of Pau, so celebrated as the
residence of Henry IV. M. Bineau, the Minister of
Finance, and some of the officers of the Imperial house-
hold, have been at Pau to make the necessary prepa-
rations.

SHORT LIFE AND LONG MOURNING.—The Court of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz has gone into mourning fit four-
teen days fur the infant son of Duke George, which sur-
vived at St. Petersburg three hours.
GENERAL HARVEST PROSPECTS. —The relciorts from
the various Continental markets, with respect to the
grain crops, are unusually satisfactory, and a marked
decline is occurring in the quotations. In Belgium the
fine weather h ‘cl an irresistible influence upon prices,
especially in Flanders, where the reduction was very
rapid. In some markets, wheat, as compared with a
fortnight since, has dropped sf. to 7f. per 24 bushels,
and 61. to 9f. The markets of the great towns had not
been so immediately affected as the others. From
France, Germany, and the north of Europe generally,
the advices are equally good.
WILL OF THE LATE DUKE OP PORTLAND.—The will
and codicil of the late Duke of Portland ha, just been
proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury by Mr.
AlTernon Frederick Greville, one of the exec:itors. in
which his grace expresses his desire to be buried at
Bdsover, if he should die at Welbeck, and that the cost
of his funeral should not exceed 1001. He bequeaths
5,0001. to be divided amongst his servants, as he may
direct in writing. No such directions have been found,
so that this sum will be divided as the executors think
fit. Mr. Oldershaw, of Doctors' Commons, is proctor
fur the estate. The deceased's personal property has
been sworn under 900,060/., the stamp ditty payable on
which is 12,0001.

MORE GOVERNMENT DEIPEATS.—Last night Govern-
ment again suffered two defeats—one in the Lords, and
the other in the Commons. In the Loris, on the ques-
tion of going into committee on the Drainage of Lands
Bill, Ministers were defeated by a majority of 23 to 13.
In the Commons, the defeat they sustained was on a
more important question, and un ier circumstances of a
more humiliating character. On the second reading of
the Board of Health Bill, moved by Lord Palmerston m
a speech of some length and of great earnestness, Minis-
ters were defeated by a majority of 74 to 65. Ministe-
rial defeats appear to be now the order of the day.
Every sitting seems to bring its own disaster with h.--
Morning Advertiser.
COLOGNE MINING COMPANY. Yesterday was the day
fixed by advertisement for holding the first annual ge-
neral meeting of the shareholders in this company, at
which it was expected the operations of the year would
have been reported on, and a statement of accounts sub-
mitted. Our reporter was refused admission.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—It is
expected that this company will, at the ensuing general
meeting, pay its usual dividend after the rate of 5 per
cent. per annum, carrying forward, in aid of the next
and best halt-year, about 30,0001.
THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND NORTH-
WESTERN RAILWAY.—The inquest was resumed yes-
terday morning, at Birmingham, when further evidence
was heard. The jury returned a verdict of man-
slaughter against William James Walker, the points-
man, who was committed to take his trial for the offence
at the ensuing Warwickshire Assizes.
ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—On
Sunday evening, as a man named Richard King, of
Charles-street, Fulham-road, was sitting at the edge of
the platform, at Kingston-station, he was caught by a
passing locomotive, and had one of his feet so severely
injured that amputation has been deemed necessary.
Very faint hopes are entertained of his recovery.
TURKISH TITLES.—The following are the Turkish
titles given by the Sultan to General Beatson and his
staff Excellency Shemsi Pacha, Lieutenant-Gene-
ral Beatson ; Daoud Bey, Colonel Green, Chief of the
staff; Naymi Buy, Colonel Steinb icb ; K. ijalo Bey,
o donel Creagh ; Yussuf Bey, Major Charles Lane
Fox ; Munir Bey, Major Lock. Dr. Sandvvith, staff-
surgeon and principal interpreter, and the Hon. F.
Walpole have not yet received titles.
THE NEW ACT FOR THE ABATEMENT OF SMOKE.—
To•day (Tuesday) the new act to abate the nuisance
arising from the smoke of furnaces in the metropolis,
and from steam-vessels above London-Bridge, comes
into operation. There are eight clauses in the Act.
Furnaces in the metropolis are to consume their
own smoke, as also steam-vessels on the Thames above
London Bridge. The penalty on a summary convic-
tion is to be not more than 51. nor less than 40s. for
the first offence, and 101. for the second. A penalty is
not to attach where a furnace has been constructed or
altered, and the person belonging to it " has carefully
attended t the sam, and consumed or burned as far as
Rts;ible the sitaiiniaeotsikoeencraiesrising from such furnace." Con-
stahles may be empowered to enter and inspect furnaces
and 4i-ism vessels. There are admitted difficulties in
t7irartying out the statute, and therefore the provision
of Police of Polio ot
authority no in
information
of the
Secretary of
fl
metropolis
State
trueonpo lorehtr.
the
ietocreoxin:
hemep
Commissioners
yntehor the
London.