The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-08 00:00:00

The Members' Plat©.

R.lipus
Kissa•way
Philosopher

WATERLOO-BRlDGE.—Yesterday the half-yearly
meeting of the Waterloo-bridge Company was held at
the Freemasons' Tavern, Mr. William Anderson in the
chair. The report stated that the tolls for the half-
year, ended 23d of February last, amounted to
7,4451. 15s. lid., and those for the corresponding period
in the preceding year to 6,606/. Os. Id., showing an in-
crease of 839/. 15s. 10d. A further increase in the
horse and foot traffic had taken place since February
last, amounting to 686/, 165., the former being
4361. 7s. 7d., and the latter 252/. Bs. sd. At the last
general meeting there remained a balance in reserve of
861. 55., after providing for the interest of the company's
bonds, and for the payment of a dividend of 3s. in the
pound on the several annuities in August last. The
present report exhibited a balance of 23. 10s. 3d., after
appropriating 62/. 14s. 9d. of the previous balance to the
payment of interest on the company's bonds, and to pro-
vide for a dividend of 2s. 10d. in the pound on the seve-
ral annuities in February. The report of the commit-
tee and that of the auditors having been adopted, a vote
of thanks to the chairman was passed, and the meeting
was adjourned to the first Thursday in December.
HAMMERSMITH-BRIDGE. Yesterday the annual
general meeting of_the proprietors of this company was
held at the British Hotel, Ccckspur-street. Reporters
were not admitted; but we understood that a dividend
was declared, and that Messrs. Boileau, Barton, Coe,
Greenhill, and Hedges, who retired by rotation, were
re-appointed on the committee of management. We
understand also that a statement of accounts was sub-
mitted, from which it appeared that the receipts of the
year, including a former balance of 185/. 10s., and
bridge and pier tolls of 3,1181, and other items,
amounted to 8,963/. 9s. Id. The expenditure reached
the same amount, with 429/. 16s. 6d. in the bands of the
treasurer. _ _ _ .

CoLossEum.—Prince Henry of the Netherlands,
the Duchess of Roxburgh and party, Duke and Duchess
of Montrose and family, the Marquis of Salisbury,
Countess of IVlcigrave, Viscountess Hawarden, Lady
Jersey, Lady Clementina Villiers, Lady Cardigan and
party, Lady Cathcart, Lard Beaumont and family, Lord
Kennedy, Lord Petre and party, Lady Manvers and
parry, Lady Hope and party, Lord Alford, Lord Downes
and party, Lady Nightingale and party, Sir Charles and
Lady Lemon, &c., were among the numerous visitors to
the Colosseum this week.
ELECTION FOR SOUTII WARWICKSHIRE.—WAR-
WICK, THURSDAY.—The election of a representative for
the southern division of this county, iu the room of Mr.
Shirley, resigned, took place in the County Hall to-day.
It was rumoured last night and this morning, at Lea-
mington and W ern ick, that an opposition was contem-
plated, and the name of Mr. Lucy, of Stratford-upon-
Avon, was freely used as that of the probable candi-
date. This step, if at all contemplated, was not, how-
ever, adopted; and Lord Guernsey (the eldest son . of
the Earl of Aylesford) alone made his appearance at
the nomination, as a claimant for the vacant seat. His
Lorthhip was accompanied by the Hon. C. B. Percy, Mr
Barnard, Mr. Greaves, and many of the most influen-
tial landowners and farmers of the southern division.
The usual formalities having been gone through, the
El n. C. B. Percy proposed the Honourable 11. Finch,
commonly called Lord Guernsey, as a fit and proper
person to represent the southern division of War-
wickshire in Parliament. Mr. Barnard seconded the
nomination. The High Sheriff inquired three
times whether any elector had any other candidate to
propose, and not receiving any answer, he declared Lord
Guernsey duly returned as Member of Parliament for
South Warwickshire. In his speech of thanks, Lord
Guernsey assured his auditors that he should " fight the
battle of the English farmer," and expressed his hope
that " the time was not far distant when those interests
now suffering under the baneful influence of free trade
would be restored to that measure of protection so essen-
tial to their weltare and prosperity." Thanks were then
voted to the sheriff; and the court broke up.
THE FIRE AT ST. Loves.—Our city was visited
with a most destructive fire on the 18th of May, which
consumed nearly half the business portion of the city
before it could be arrested. Included in the buildings
destroyed were five bsnking-homes, and every insurance-
office in the place; 27 steam-boats, lying at their wharves,
caught fire and shared in the general conflagration. The
telegraph-office, which was subsequently removed to the
other side of the river, was also consumed. At ten
o'clock on the night of the 17th a fire broke out on board
the steam-boat White Cloud, lying near the head of the
landing, and (the wind at the time blowing a gale from
the north-east) soon spread from the White Cloud to
other steam boats, lying below along the Levee, and
from them to the warehouses aid stores—continuing its
work of destruction during the night and today, until
(at the time I forward this dispatch) one-half of the
richest, the business portion of the city of St. Louis, has
become a heap of ruins, and yet the progress of the fire
continues. The whole river front of warehouses, from
Locust-street to Chesnut- sire et—three squares—were de-
stroyed, and, extending to Main-street, the flames swept
toth sides to Market-street, crossing to Second-street
diagonally, thence taking a course southward. More
than a mile in length, by three blocks in width, of the
centre of the city, has been laid waste, and the fire will
probably continue until it reaches St. George's-street
On the river, at Market street, the progress of the fire
was stayed by blowing up the drug store of Messrs.
Doenich and Valloux. About 25 steamboats, lying at
the Levee, were destroyed. Three persons were killed
by an explosion on board the steamboat Alice; and it is
probable that as many as 20 lives have been lost during
the progress of the destroyer. The City. hall was several
times on fire, but it is saved. The printing-offices of the
Republican, the Reveille, the Era, and the Organ, were
all destroyed, only one daily paper printed in the English
language, the Union, being left. At least 300 houses are
o dispatch
e is buildings
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from
a and,
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burnt, and the loss will be several millions of dollars.
Many robberies were committed, of course. The tele-
in
cgornalaseqh-uoeffinecee,wths dasiami
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town, on the opposite side of the river.—.Neto York
Paper.
FIRE AND Loss OF LIFE IN THE HACKNEY-ROAD.
—The firemen Laving succeeded in extini,uishing
the
fire which broke out yesterday morning upon the pre-
mises of Mr. Duncan, solicitor, No. 7, St. James's-
place, Hackney-road, a search was made for the child of
the unfortunate occupier, which was missing. As soon
as the firemen could enter the first floor back they disco-
vered upon the rafters, near the spot „here the bedstead
had stood, the blackened remains of the poor child. It
was quite clear that it had been burned in the bid, and
when the bedstead fell a prey to the flames, the deceased
fell with it. An inquiry was yesterday instituted by the
brigade authorities, for the purpose of ascertaining, if
possible, how the misiortune arose; the result of which
leaves no doubt that a spark from a lighted candle fell
upon the bed furniture in the first floor, which became
instantly ignited. Mrs. Duncan made a most desperate
attempt to save her child. She rushed through the fire
to the bed-side, but the flames so completely encircled
her as to cause her to fall from exhaustion. Her husband
fortunately succeeded in pulling her out, but not until
she was terribly burned on the hands and face, and other
parts of her body. Mr. Duncan was &so much burned
in rescuing her. Both parties have since been obliged
to keep their beds. Mr. Baker, the coroner, has been
informed of the occurrence, and the inquest on the body
will, no doubt, be held to-morrow.