The Sun.
London, England, 1809-02-25 00:00:00

BIRTHS

On the 2ist inst. the Lady of Richard Arkwright, Esq.
of a. Daughter.
Yestenidiy. morning, the Lady of John Ellis, Esq, of
james.:streeti ituckingham-Cae, of a Son.

MARRIED.
On Tuesday the t4th inst. at New Windsor, Mr. jamfs
Stout, to Miss Rogers. '' • •

DRURY LANE TIIE-4TRE. - •

It ii with extreme concern that we lave Wan?
nOunce the entire destru6tion of this superb and
beautiful edifice, which was one of the chief orna-
ments of the British capital. At about a quarter.
before eleven last night the first symptoms of fire
appeared, anti in a very short time the' whole ex-
panse of the theatre was in a blaze. it continued
to rage with the utmost fury Irmo that period, and
excited strong apprehensions that it would commu-
nicate to Vinegar-yard, Russell-court, 'Drury-lane,
and, indeed, the whole immediate vicinity. At
about one o'clock, however, the fire began to give
indications that its fury was abating, and that it was
not likely to extend beyond the boundaries of the
theatre, -
The origin a this dreadful event, which involves
the misery and ruin of so many dependants on the
—. •
vast property thus destroyed, has not yet beep as
but many reports are in 'circulation. Ac-
cording to one account, the calamity resulted from
the negligence of some Plumbers who had been at
work in the passages_leading to the water-closets.;
and our Readers will recollect that,'owing to similar
carelessness, the beautiltfi strature of, St. Paul, Co-
vent Garden, was destroyed a few years ago.

The engines were brought with great rapidity,
from the several Fire-insurance Offices, but the con-
flagratien was SP furious tnd extensive, as to bid de-
fiance to their efforts, and the idea of saving any
part of ,the Theatre itself was wholly out af, the.
question. It ought to be mentioned, howevet:, that
the firemen exerted themselves to the utmost in en-
deavouring to confine the flames to the Theatre ;
and happily there was po want of. water.
Atiaong other' reports, it was stated that there
had been a rehearsal of some splendid SpeEtacle in
the course of the evening, but this accoent, we are
assured, had do foundation.
The fire was so violent and so rapid in its pro-,
gress, that' all attempts to, save its contents would,
in a short time after its commencement, have been
sure destration. to the parties who made them. It
is however said, that Mrs. JORDAN'S dressing-room
was broken open very soon after the first appearance •
of the flames, • and Much valuable property belong-
ing to her. was rescued from their, fury. By the
resolute efforts of Mr. PEAKS, the Treasurer,' we
find also that many private papers were secured, as be
rushed into the danger, contrary to the most earnest,
solicitations of his friends, and the people who were*
near him in the street. We are happy in tindiug
that he Suffered no person's!, injury, but it is impos—
Bible to describe the agitation of his mud, arising
from his concern for the property. It is said also
that some property btilonging to Mr. SPRING, the
Box Book, and f?l'offse-keeper, was preserved, but
all that could be rescued from this rapid and dreadful
conflagration must be comparatively of
,a trifling
nature.

The metropolis was illuminated to the remotest
parts of the town, and the intelligence of the scite of
the calamity seemed to spread with equal 'rapidity,
as people from all parts came flocking towards the
melancholy scene of action, as to a central point.,--
The crowd near the fatal spot was,imMerise, and alf.
the streets leading to it were thronged with people,
yet perhaps there is na instance on record in which
there appeared less turbulence and confusion: As
far as. it was possible to detach the Mind of the spec..
tators from the awful and tremendous calamity in
view, the appearance of the metropolis was in the
highest degree;` striking and magnificent: The tbpS of
the houses in all direCtions were covered with people,
and those whesrood' upon any house, from which a
view of WestminSter and Blackfriars Bridges could 'be
seen, could see every passenger ge. over them, and
distinctly mark the ballustrades. The Patent7shet'
MaitufaciorY, 'and, indeed, every large edifice on the
Sonth.of the Thaines, as well as those on the other
side, were illumineted with great splendor, and con-
tributed to render' the coup d'eeit the' grandest spec 7
fipeancle of the kind that perhaps has ever been wit 7
nestled since that memorable calamity, emphatically
denominated the fire of London. The refte4tion'al
the lire on the Thames was another striking feature
in the general magnificence of the scene...
But all sense of the grandeur of the speciacle must
vanish from the Mind, in contemplating the wretch,
ed condition to which so many people must be re-
duced, by a calamity so sudden and extensive. We
rely, .howeyer, upon the prompt humanity 'and be 7
nevOleece of the British Charader, and doubt trot
that means for their relief will be adopted `ith all
possible celerity.
Some of the trifiing property saved in this im-
mense-wreck was carried to Mr. JonNsrmix's,
,the
cbtneditin,', Tavistockfrow t to Mr. ,GRUISLI'S
Mr. BOW t.lties, in Brydge's-street ; to Mr. KENT'S,
in 'raviitncic-street I and to many other contiguous:
houses, the owners 'of which most. readily opened
their deers to receive whatever wa* brought for their
protection.
The stave 9f things it) Vinegar-yard,
court, and other places immediately adjacent to the
Theatre, was distressing in the highest degree. Some

people were running away with their goods•, chests,
bureaus, beds, &c. ; others were carrying objeas
more dear to them, their children, some naked,
others nearly so, astonished and crying as they passed
along the scene of blazing horror. Indeed one con-
tinued flame spread over the Theatre, within half
an hour after the fire broke out, extending to be•
tween 4 and 500 feet in breadth.

The statue of Apollo, on the top of the edifice,
remained longer on its station thin could be expea-
ed, considering the violence of the devouring ele-
ment below, and when fall, with other parts
of the building, the impression was most awful and
terrific.

It is said that Mr. KENT, whose •namewe have
previously mentioned, was the first tp give the alarm,
by which means something at least was saved, and
particularly the papers in the Treasury.

All attempts to get at the reservoir in the theatre
were ineffettual, arid -'We cannot wonder that the
flames spread with so much rapidity when we reflea
that, except the inerh outward walls, almost the
whole of the structure was of wood. Though the
walls on the` north and south side of the thuntre fell
soddenly, and blocked up the passages in Ithsseil-
atreot, and Vinegar-yard, we bare the consolation ,
of hearing that no life has been
Sacrificed hy this
dreadful event, and., indeed, that no corporal injury
of any kind occurred:

The heat was so great in I3rydges-street, and in-
deed
in ail parts nearly surrounding the Theatre,
'that it effeaualjy kept otf the criand. By the inces-
sant efforts of the respecaiva firemen, though the
whole neighbouthood seemed to be threatened with:
ruin, the houses in the vicinity were preserved, and
only one or two, particularly that of Mrs. i*P
BE41:}1, a vender of oysters, fruit, .Scc. suffered in
the rod.

Mr, SHERIDAN was in the Raise of Commons
wlien he received the first :intelligence' of the fatal
event, and though be was evidently muchaflected by
the 'shock, yet when it was observed that it would be
proper to adjourn a debate in ' which he was ex,
pected to take a part,, he stimmoned fortitude
enough to , say, (hat however lamentable the
event might be as to himself, he thought it ought
not to interrupt the business of the Country. Next
to the injury which this Gentleman will suttee i 9
that which 'befalls Mrs. RICHARDSON end her f°llr
amiable daughters, whose sole dependence W. °n a
quarter retl part of the Theatre, of which theY -)13-
priefors.
The vast body of inferior performers and ether
dependants of the Theatre4 will doubtless be asaea
by a public subscriptiou, to which every frionti Pi
humanity will of course most readily contribute. ".,
We understand that in Lambeth, Knightsbridge,
and other villages equally distant frail London, the
people might have been able from the efrea of the
light to havepursned r all their ordinary occupatios*
At nine o'clock the watchman of the theatre Went
his usual round, -and observed nothing that ceeo
give ihe least idea of the impending ealamilY. '4IICI
. first appearance of the (lames We 4 4rydges4tteet,
in some work-rooms immediately :above the Dna
Saloon allotted to refreshMente, in which there sva4
a model of the statue of Girtalcit, in WesuPinitel.
Abbey. •• • • ..
Police Officers and several' Volunteer Carpi
ssr: in order to prevent depredations, and
cna. the firemen to do their duty LAU We 143°C
repeat what we have said, 'to the honour Of the vast
number of people assembled, that we never saw less
tendency to disorder off'every kind, and .;11 seemed
to be absorbed:in silent .horror who wets: not in 3
situation to render aaive assistance. •

The various churches in the Metropolis and,everY,
large strait= as far Hi the eye could reach, were os
distindly tisjble in all parts as in open day.
s' Thus lias this noble strualure, one of the 'c'4it

features, pad one of the most conspicuous ornamepit
of the great capital of the world, in the short sphctj
of an hour or two, been levelled in the dust, add!"g'
by its melancholy consequences, an impressive l s-
son to the counsels of experience, on the instability
of all human. possessions. 'Though the progress
this terrible evant was efietaually checked,
fire was strongly prevalent upon the ruins when' 00
Paper was put to press.
The following, we 'have authority tn. say, is
as
insure
exaa statement of ‘the.amount of the sans
on the Theatre, at'the-respefliva fire-offices. • ,
..
The British s,oco
•t nipeo3l - i 3,000
- , lo,oucr
EaVe - :6,i"

Total - 34,403)

It is evident that the above such Itaist by ino".
siderable indeed, in comparison with the extent °I
the injury which this deplorable event has °cc'''.