The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-16 00:00:00

THE StIN LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 16 1849,

FIRES AT STRATFORD AND

BRUNS WICK-SQUARE.
Yesterday morning, at a few minutes after six
o'clock., a fire, involving a serious destruction of
valuable property, broke out in the mansion belonging
to a gentleman named Vinks, situate in the Grove, at
Stratford, Essex. The building, although very ex-
tensive, was adjoined by other similar erections without
party wan!, which caused a far greater loss of property
than might otherwise have occurred. The flames,
when first perceived, were burning furiously in the
ground-floor back room, and although an instant
alarm was given, and assistance speedily arrived, it
was found impossible to stop their ravages, and in a
very brief period the fire had obtained complete
possession of the staircase. The various persons who
were sleeping in the upper rooms were aroused, and
fortunately all succeeded in escaping without re-
ceiving any personal injury. Two engines belong-
ing to the parish were promptly on the spot, and
were soon in full work, being abundantly sup-
plied with water from the East London Company's
mains. The fire, however, having obtained
too great a mastery to be extinguished by that force, a
telegraphic express was sent to town for additional
assistance. The moment the news arrived two of the
Brigade engines started for the scene of conflagration,
and were followed by the West of England engine.
The London engines were quickly set to work, but it
was nearly eleven o'clock before the fire was entirely
extinguished, and not until Mr. Vinks' premises were
destroyed, and the whole of his furniture reduced to
ashes. The premises of Mr. Moore, next door, are
likewise seriously damaged, one room being burned
out, the roof being nearly consumed, and the re-
mainder of the building greatly damaged by fire, and
' the furniture by water and hasty removal. The
premises of Mr. Blenkarn, on the other side of Mr.
Vinks', have also received some damage, and the fur-
niture is greatly injured by hasty removal. The total
loss must be very considerable, but, fortunately, Mr.
Vinks' furniture, &c., were insured for 1,0001., and
it is understood that a quantity of the plate has been
saved. The origin of the fire could not be ascertained,
neither could it be learned whether any of the three
buildings were insured. Mr. Moore and Mr. Blen-
karn were uninsured. _ .

Another disastrous fire also occurred yesterday
morning. The scene of this calamity was the piano-
forte manufactory belonging to Messrs. Hannah and
Hay, No. 30, Cromer-street, Brunswick-square, be-
hind Cromer-street Chapel. The fire commenced in
the upper range of workshops, and owing to the very
inflammable nature of the stock in trade, the progress
cf the flames was inconceivably rapid. Plenty of
water having been procured from the fire-plugs in
the district, the engines were worked with full vigour,
but, notwithstanding, the premises of Messrs. Hannah
and Co. were nearly destroyed, the windows in the
chapel broken, and the edifice damaged by water.
The premises of Mr. Tapp, tailor, No. 63, Harrison-
street, Gray's inn-road, and those of Mr. Hull, beer-
shop keeper, No. 28, Cromer street, have also received
some damage by fire and water. Messrs. Hannah
and Co. were insured in the Sun Fire-office, but the
other parties were not insured.
The origin of this fire is also unknown.

ST. Caoss HOSPITAL.—Her Majesty's Attorney-
General has filed ft bill in the Court of Chancery against
the Rtv. and Right Hon. Francis North, Earl of
Guildford, as master of the Hospital of St. Cross, near
Winchester, for the mal-administration of the revenues
of the said hospital. Orders have been issued that no
further renewals of the leases of properties held under
the charity shall be made, So. That the Earl enjoys a
valuable sinecure in the mastership of the Hospital of
St. Cross no one can deny. Its duties are with its profits
nearly 1,5001. a year, and he bas enjoyed them for more
than forty years. The income of the hospital arises
principally from the unappropriation of tithes of several
parish:la of Hampshire; some of the parishes are vicar-
aps, in which case the incumbent receives the small
tithe, as at Crondall, Twyford, Fareham, and Hurst-
bourne; whilst others are perpetual curacies, with a very
inadequate stipend allowed to the incumbent; thus the
parish of Aldershot, comprising about 4,000 acres, and a
population of 700, has an allowance of only 64/. for its
minister; the parish of Yately, one of the largest in the
county, comprising more than 10,000 acres, and con-
taining a population of 2,000, only 721.; Long Sutton,
acres 2,000, population 350, only 431: ; and Freefolk
acres 700, population 86, only 151.—Salisbury and Wilt
shire Herald.

EDINDURGH.—IRISII SOCIETY OF LONDON.--.YeS-
terday a meeting of the Scottish branch of the Irish
Society of London was held in Queen-street Hall, Her-
i wiles Robertson, Esq., advocate, presiding. A deputa-
' non from the parent society, consisting of the Rev.
John N. Woodrooffe, Vicar of St. Nicholas parish,
Cork, and the Rev. Lewis Hotter, Rector of Dromard,
county Sligo, addressed the meeting, giving some dis-
tressing details of the miserable condition of Ireland,
brought about and perpetuated mainly through the in-
strumentality of the Roman Catholic religion. Much
geed was being realised by the efforts of the Protestant
missionaries and agents. The meeting was very poorly
attended, but the addresses seemed to be listened to with
considerable interest.—North British Mail.