The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1536
4..

of loss over and above that oces.inned by fires of the larger
cla3s. But this one fire cannot -be repaired for .25,000,000
dollars.
On the night preceding this unequalled calamity a fire
broke out in Water-street, which eventually destroyed eight
houses and other property there to the amount of 50,000
dollars. Before these flames were extinguished others were
seen to ascend in an upper part of the town, which proved
to be Chrystie-street, in the square between Delaney and
Rivington-streets, by which 11 houses were reduced to
ashes, and many poor shivering families were driven out
into the most severely piercing wind that has" been known
in this latitude for many years. So i,inteuss!?, indeed, was
the cold, that many of the engines were reA4qrp.ki
.inopc-
rative by the freezing of their hose, to say .nothing of the
exhaustion of the firemen. These two fires, however,
were only gentle preludes to the solemn requiem which was
soon to be heard—mere symphonies to the grand anthem of
desolation.
At nine o'clock on the night of Wednesday, the 16th of
December, 1835—a date which will long be memorable in
the history, not only of New York; but of the nation of
which she forms the first commercial emporium—smoke and
flames were seen to issue from a five-story building in Mer-
chant-street, formerly Hanover-street, in the vicinity of the
Merchants' Exchange, and in part of the city the most
crowded with wholesale warehouses and stores, filled with
the most costly productions of foreign and domestic manu-
facture.. The building was ascertained to be the, dry-goods
store of Messrs. Comstock and Andrews, No. 25, in that
street. The flames soon leaped forth in fury through every
aperture, and seized on the two adjoining houses for their
immediate prey. The street being narrow and confined,
and a fierce North-east wind having arisen with continually
increasing force, the flames embraced the opposite houses,
until the whole triangular block, formed by Wall, William,
and Pearl-streets, bcame one lofty altar of waving fires.
Taking, then, the direction of Wall-street, below Pearl,:'dri.
the one hand, -and Pearl-street below Wall, on the other,
the flames rolled on like angry billows upon a rocky shore,
and mocked all human efforts to restrain them.
The following is said to be a correct estimate of the
number of buildings destroyed :—Water street, 25 ; Pearl-
street, 72 ; South-street, 37 ; Waterstreet, 76 ; Front-
street, 80 ; Hanover-street, 16 ; xchange-place, 62 ; Ex- ,
change-street, 81 ; William-street,, 44 ; 33 ; Coen-
ties-slip, 16 ; Stone-street, 6Q ; Hanover-square, 3 ; Beaver-
street, 23 ; Governeur's-lane, 20 ; Jones-lane, 10 ; Guyier's-
alley, 20,; Mill-street, 38.—Total, 674.
Last night and ThurSday night strong bodies of cavalry
and volunteer infantry were patrolling the streets near the
fire, and preserved perfect order,,and, we believe, prevented
any further serious depredations.
The passengers descendihg. the Hudson saw the flames
from the -Highlands, forty-five Miles distant, and the light
was also distinctly seen in New-Jersey-as far as Cranberry.
All the fire engines froin
.Brooklya came promptly over
to our assistanee, as also two 'engine companies from New-
ark—for the active exertions of all which, the thanks of our
citizens are ..gratefully-rendered.
Meetings were held in the -different wards last evening,
and volunteer patrols organized to aid the civil authorities
in protecting the intnense amount of property that still lies
exposed in the streets.
A meeting of the Presidents of the Banks of this city was
held yesterday forenoon at the Bank of New York, at which
it was unanimously resolved to extend every possible facility
to the merchants and traders, and the public generally, in
the present emergency.---,-- -
Messrs. J. Campbell and Co., paper-deahn who were
burnt out at the great fire in iinn7strect, in August last, and
had removed into Merchant-street while their store was
rebuilding, lost their whole stock.
I. and A. Brown, importers of Irish linen in Merchant-
street, lost 40,000 dollars.
William Redmond, importer of linens and British dry
goods, in MerAantstreet, lost 100,000 dollars.
Hyslop and Sordest 40,000 dollars
Mr. Stephen. Whitney had just built 24 stores at an ex-
pense• of 10,000 dollars each—all were levelled to the
ground, and no insurance. • '
After raging 16 hours, the course of the fire was stayed,
but not until a further supply of powder had been obtained
from the mills at Red Hook to eXplode other houses. The
chief cause of this great devastation was the intense cold,
which .not only benumbed the firemen, who were already
greatly exhausted by previous efforts, but which speedily
congealed the water as it lay in the hose.
The most remarkable circumstance attending this tre-
mendous fire is, that very few persons are supposed to have
fallen its victims. Only those named in the Coroner's re-

regarct to - the ixtertion
of th-e traty-of the 4th of July with the United States of
goodA faith
meri
of your l‘
Pol''ljiecs;, Y has also 'displayed the justice and
and expressed your desire of see-
ing those differences terminated in a manner honourable
for too great nations. An important document recently
published leads to a hope that this desire will- be speedily
realised.
"Your Majesty has made known to us that our fi-
nancial condition is satisfactory, and that the public re-
venues are receiving fresh and happy augmentations
through the sole fact of the 'general prosperity These,
Sire, are the results of order and liberty. We have wel-
comed this assurance, and we cherish the hope of at last
z;eeing the re-establishment of that equilibrium, which is so
necessary, between the public expenses and the extraordinary
resources of the State.
" The finance and other laws which ara to be presented
to us shall be examined with that mature consideration re-
quired by the interest of the country and the dignity of our
deliberations.
" Sire, FranCe begins to reap the fruit of her prudence
and her c.mrage. She has learnt from a long, and some-
times a terrible experience, that she can find safety only
under the protection of a constitutional monarchy. For
you it was reserved to satisfy this necessity of a great
people. Public reason, enlightened by the paSt,• is now
allied with a skilful policy, which under circumstances the
most difficult, has been able to unite energy with moderation.'
" The country, shaken by a glorious and legitimate re-
volution, is nevi 'acquiring strength, and she hopes to exist
,under the shelter of her laws and the shadow of your na-
tional sceptic,-;
ivigilant, firm, and at the same time a
-
will invariably find us anxious to se-
.,
jeuos:id
calculated to calm the public feeling,
and to protect the national interests.
" Sire, France, with a feeljno• of gratitude, will be indebted
to your reign forlierreme, her liberty, and her greatness.
This is your worthiest,r,ccompense, and it will also be your
glory." =, •
all. lle Tescher ascended the tribune to present some
general considerations on tile state of Europe, and to call
the attention of the Government to the fate. of unhappy
Poland. 'The Noble Peer contended that it was for the in-
terest and the dignity of France, to demand tke execution of
the treaties of 1815—treaties so onerous to France—and,
to insist upon the fUltilment of the stipulations made with
regard to the independence and the nationality of Poland.
He maintained that the peace of Europe depended on
the execution of those treaties, which had, in every in-
stance, been violated by the Russian Autocrat. After an
eloquent description of the various misfortunes sustained
by Poland, the' Noble Peer expressed his regret that a
',French diplomatic agent had not been sent to Cracow to
counterbalance foreign influence there, and repeated his
hope that France would insist upon the fulfilment of the
treaties entered into on behalf of Poland, which he regarded
as her surest barrier againSt the incursions of no: them bar-
barism. He declared that, had he felt assured of meeting
with sympathy from the Chamber, he would have proposed
the revision of the draft of the address by the Com-
inittetc, in order that a phrase analogouS to the sentiments
just expressed by him might be inserted in the document.
As it was, however, he would conclude by invitinc, the
attention of Government to the facts which he had sub-
mitted for the consideration of the Chamber.
_ _

The Count de Montalembert, in a speech of great length
and considerable ability, entered into an examination of the
influence exercised on the policy of Europe by the power of
Russia, which state he described as almost unknown before
the reign of Peter the Great:; but since that period daily
gaining fresh •accession of territory, seizing upon the east,
and at the same time threatening Europe with her prepon-
derance. The Noble Peer expressed his apprehension that
Russia, if allowed to retain possession of Poland, would
break down the last barrier between her own formidable
power and the interests of civilization: He concluded with
an eloquent appeal to tlie.Government on behalf of unfor-
tunate Poland. . _ _ _ _

The PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL declared that he sym-
pathised with the generous feelings which actuated the '
Noble Peer who had just sat clown, but the latter had
,not
rendered justice to the Ministry of 1832, when he said that
the circumstances in which France was then placed had
prevented her from exerting her. utmost efforts in favour of
Poland. The future historian, however, would do justice
to the illustrious individuaiivho Was at that period at the
head of the Cabinet: It Waia'ini4take to imagine that even
a humane interference with•another Government was always
seasonable ; it frequently counteracted the attainment of
the very object in view. No doubt treaties should be exe-
cuted to the .fuli extent-ottlitit ntrei and'spirit ; but, in
those which related to Poland, there was, in many instances,
a want of clearness and a degree of contradiction in the text
which led the Powers, who had concurred in framing them,
to give an erroneous interpretation to their meaning; and
to carry their own principles too far. But this difference,
as to the proper construction of certain phrases, was not
to be decided by force of arms. It belonged to the States-
men to settle the difficulty in the interests of peace and

•
port are known to have perished, although it. szqmns almost
inevitable that many must have been overwhelmed by the
roofs or walls of such a multitude of houses.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

Extract of a latter from New York, dated the 19th and
21st ult., from a house of the first respectability
" Ourcity was visited' On the evening of the 16th, with
a dreadful Conflagration,' which destroyed fifteen millions of
dollars'in property. The fire was in our immediate neigh-
bourhOosl, 4nd was obliged to remove our books, which
was done early without confusion. The capital of some of
our fire insurance companies exceeds ten millions of dollars ;
all of which, save two or three, are bankrupts. The mer-
cantile interest will suffer severely, but not more than they
can bear. We do not look for any failures,;or any sus-
pension of moment, and none that will affect. any, houses
in 'England. Paris and Lyons will suffer heavily, particularly
the latter, as most of the French importers are burned out.
The wholesale grocers are the next sufferers, but their
stocks, if- good, are always light at this season. The capi-
tal of our Fire :Insurance Compani,eS are for the most
part lent out in bonds and akortgages in the city and county,
the immediate eallitig in of which would cause ~reat distress
and sacrifice of property. This will probably7be obviated
by the issue of scrip for several millions of dollars by the
State, on the city corporations, by security, to be paid to
these Companies, and receiving from them their bonds and
mortgages. In this manner the Fire CoMpanies will be
enabled to liquidate at once the claims the merchants may
have on them. This event is a great .calamity ; but we
are all in good spirits, and in a short time we shall sec our
city rise like a phoenix out of her ashes: Meanwhile busi-
ness is almost entirely suspended."

humanity.
M. Villemain concurred in all that had fallen from M.
Tescber, and maintained that France and England ought.to
unite in insisting upon the maintenance of the treaties by
which the nationality of Poland was guaranteed. • -
M. De Barbe-Marbois' cordially participated in every
sentiment that had been uttered in favour of Poland ; but
he-thought that Noble Peers should be guarded in the ex-
pression of their feelings, in order to avoid exciting hopes
which might never be Irealised •
- M. 'llehouchage followed on the same side, and -after-
wards expressed 4 wish that Ministers would present the
•Btidget to the Chamber immediately after the vote on the
two AddresseS:. By this means, he observed, the Peers
would be enabled to discuss that weighty question on which
they had hitherto never been allowed time to deliberate.
The Noble Beer was of opinion that the prosperous state of
the finances would admit of a reduction of the Five'per
Cents. and of a diminution of the taxes that pressed most
heavily upon the lower classes. He terminated by demand-
ing that the laws relative to the competence of the Court of
Peers, and the mode of proceeding before that high juris-
diction, should be submitted to the examination of the ex-
isting Legislature. •
The commencing paragraphs of the Address having been
successively adopted, -
The Marquis de Dreux-Breze wished to make .some ob-
servations on the paragraph which related to the policy ob-
served by the Government towards Spain. The Noble
Peer lamented that an artful female (:4s he designated the
Queen-Regent of Spain) should have been alowed to take
advantage of the last moments or her dying Consort to the
detriment of a Prince who, by his Urth, was entitled to
the throne of Spain.—(Violent murmurs.) The Noble
Marquis then complained of the Quadruple Treaty, which
he considered entirely in favour of English commerce,
while it imposed enormous and unprofitable sacrifices on
France.
The President of the Council stated that the Govern-

FRENCH PATPERS.

CHAMBER OF PEERS.-SITTING OF JAN. 6.

M. de Bastard, one of the Vice-Presidents, 'took the
Chair at half-past one o'clock. Shortly after that hour the
President of the' Council, and the Ministers of War, the
Marine, the Interior, Justice, and Public Instruction, took
their seats. •
M. Barthe, the reporter of the Committee entrusted with
the task of framing the draft of the Address, in reply to
the Speech from the Throne, ascended the Tribune, and
read the following :
" Sire—Once more assembled at the foot of your Ma-
jesty's Throne, our first thought has been to thank that Pro-
ridenc, which, on the_occasion of a most horrible catas-
trophe, protected the country by preserving your Majesty's
existence, and that of your sons.
" France, who knows that your days are for ever de-
voted to her, felt, in the horror inspired by the crime, a
redoublement of her gratitude for the benefits conferred by
you, and of devotion to your dynasty. She perceived with
affright the abyss, on the brink of which society, its in-
stitutions, and social order, altogether had been placed.
Shp viewed, with anxiety and apprehension, the provoca-
tions which gave birth to such monstrous attonmts ; and
she,dpumuded of the Legislature protection fur her future
prospects.
" Measures adopted in the course of the last session of
the Chambers have consolidated public order, and through
public order, our liberties and our institutions. This was
the object at which. we aimed, in concert with your Ma-
jesty's Government.
" Our hopes have not been deceived. Tranquillity pre-
vails in every part of the kingdom ; the general prosperity
is daily increasing ; the wealth of the country is multiplied
by its labour. New life has been given to the cities whose
existence had been menaced by disorder, and their industry
has received an unhoped-for development. Thus tranquil-
lity at home has multiplied all the elements of public hap-
piness, and has increased our power abroad.
" The expedition undertaken for the security of our
African possessions has been conducted and accomplished as
became the honour of France. The eldest of your race;
already gloriously tried, has proved his wish to participate
in the fatigues and dangers of our brave soldiers—noble
and generous enthusiasm of an ardent soul inspired with a
zeal for the honour of our arms. We have sympathised
with your Majesty's paternal anxiety ; and we now congra-
tulate ourselves on the new claims which the heir to
The Throne has acquired on the love of the nation and the
esteem of the army.
We congratulate ourselves, as well as your Majesty, on
the state of our relations with the European Powers, which
is becoming more and more satisfactory. Our intimate
union with Great Britain is daily cemented more closely by
a community of sympathies and interests, and everything in-
spires us with confidence that peace will not be disturbed,
" Sire, France, enjoying freedom through her laws, happy
in a revolution which is making a prudent progress, and re-
spected abroad, glories in a peace, which will find a lasting
guilFllnfice the 414141 Observance of treaties.
" We unite in your Majesty's wishes fqr the security of
the Throne of Isabella 11. May the measures taken by
your Government, by virtue of the treaty of the 28th
of April, 1664, ow-lir:hi:de tq stop the effusion of blood
in the 'Peninsula, and to re-establish the internal peace
'of a' country, whose destinies in so high a degree excite the
interest of France.
f: Y(l4r riSti aFeepted the friendly mediation of-
feredN
itiupi on the ilecOop cif t4l

meat of July, on its establishment, found the order of the
succession in Spain already modified. The decree proposed
by Charles IV., to the Cortes of 1759, abolishing the Sate
Law, had been already acted upon with the knowledge of
the fallen dynasty, which had made no remonstrance against
it. The Government of Julybad, in fact, found matters in
Spain precisely in their present state. The English Go-
' vernment had entered into an engagement to intercept the
transport by sea of supplies to the insurgents who wished
to overthrew the Government legally established in Spain.
France, on her side, had undertaken to prevent the intro-
duction into Spain of similar supplies by her land frontiers.
But this mutual engagement imposed no restrictions on com-
merce, except, perhaps on the trade of gunpowder, arms,
and uniforms—a trade which had never been permitted even
to France. The President then contended that the Qua-
druple Treaty was not more favourable to time commercial
interests of Fingland than to those of France.
The Duke of Noailles considered the policy of the
French Government, with regard to Spain, altogether
contrary to the interests of France, and complained that
the system of policy adopted by Louis XIV. had been
abandoned.
The Minister of the Interior contended that the policy
objected to by the Noble Peer who had just received his
scat was unavoidable. He maintained that the policy of
Louis XIV. had not been abandoned by any of the Govern-
ments which bad existed in France subsequently' to' the
reign of that Monarch. The present Government had ac-
cepted, not accomplished, the revolution in Spain, because
that Government was averse to propagandism. He denied
that the late GoVernment had protested against a change in
the order of the Spanish succession. He deplored the blood
that had been lavished in Spain, but, at least, that blood
had not been shed in presence of a French army, and after
the solemn promise of an amnesty--(Heer.)
The Marquis de Dreux-Breze replied, that the observa-
tions of the President of the Council by no means weakened
the force of his (the Noble Peer's) argument's, and he still
contended that. French trade in Spain had suffered greatly
front the Quadruple Alliance Treaty.
The President of the Council thought that his observa-
tions had been mitunderstood by the Noble Marquis. He
(time President) did not deny that French trade had suffered
from the present state of things in Spain, but he deni4lll*
the mischief was attributable to the Quadruple Treaty.'
The remainin PalllgValths of the Address were then
adopted, none of them giving rise to any discussion, with
the exception of the paragraph referriu,, to the AaWrico.ll
President's last Message, which M. DuCouohage considered
by no means satisfactory.;
The whole of the Address was then adopted, on the bal-
lot, by a majority of 99 to 8, and the deputation on whom
devolves the office of prescnt:ng it to his
been chosen by lot., • . .
I'll 9-4444 041.1.41tCe.4 WA the twit eenvocatiou of