The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-14 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

At about half-past two o'clock on Sunday
morning, the inhabitants of Holborn, Little Queen-street,
and the surrounding neighbourhood, were thrown into the
greatest state of alarm and confus!,n by the breaking out of
a fire in the timber-yard of Messrs. Vizers, cabinet-makers, 7,
Little Queen-Street. The,fire was first discovered by the watch-
man, in Great Queen-street, perceiving the sparks bOrne by the
wind, which was then blowing rather smartly in the direction
of Lincoln's-inn-fields. An alarm was quickly given, and not-
withstanding the advanced hour of the morning, when it might
be considered difficult to obtain assistance, a great number of
engines were collected • but the difficulty of obtaining .a speedy
supply Of water rendered them inoperative for a long time,
so that the flames, fanned by the wind,' obtained such an
ascendancy as to require the incessant play of between thirty
and forty engines for better than two hours before they were
at all mastered;. and not until en immense quantity of property
was altogether destroyed. The tire being confined within a
square of lofty houses, extending one way from Great Queen-
street to Holborn, and from Little Queen-street to Newton-
street the other, the firemen found it difficult to play on it with
any thing like effect; and even what was done was effected only
by passing the hose through the windows, and some intervening
walls, in doing which two of the firemen were precipitated
from an eminence into a heap of blazing timbers, and were
' both most seriously bruised and and scorched. The premises of
Messrs.Vizer, which had been partially restored since the recent
conflagrations, were now totally deStroyed ; the rear. of Messrs.
Bentley and Wood's, perfumers and chymists, Mr. Go,nell's,
printer, the type-foundry of Mr. Pouchee, and Mr. Jaineson's
coach-factory adjoining, suffered considerable damage ; and '
the various property consumed is estimated at between 10,0001.
and 12;0001: value The inhabitants of the different houses on
that sidofled from their beds in the greatest terror, and almost'
in total nudity ; they were, however, accommodated by their
opposite neighbours, who threw open their houses for the recep-
tion of them and their property, which was removed under the
protection of Avory and Thompson, of the Bow-street patrol,
who rendered themselves extremely active in keeping off the
immense horde of thieves that were assembled; on this, as on
every similar occasion. At about seven o'clock, the fire was
got completely .under ; but up to a much later hour, the streets
were still lined with engines, some of which continued playing
on the smouldering, ruins, to prevent its breaking forth afresh.
It is remarkable that for - seven successive Sundays there has
' been afire of greater or lesser magnitude in the metropolis.

INDSOIR; MAltda l 2.—We state from autho-
rity that there is no foundation for an assertion in one of the
Morning Papers of Monday last, from which it might appear
that the late melancholy ceremony at Eton, was witnessed with
levity, and unconcern. We are informed from those whose
duties gave them the best means of knowing the truth, that the
decorum, and proper feeling generally shown by the boys on
that occasion, was as creditable to themselves as it was honour-
able to the memory of their unfortunate companion.
DuLL.—A meeting took place at four o'clock
on Satuiday afternoon on Hurst Common, near Oakingham,
perks; between P. A—rt, Esq. and a Gentleman of the name
of Cr—b—e, in consequence of a dispute about a courtezan.
The parties were surprised by enemies on Wingfield Plain in
the morning, through the anxiety of the female. Mr. A. was
shot in the shoulder in a second fire, and the ball lodged. He
was conveyed home to his cottage at Shiplake, three miles from
where the duel was fought, attended by Surgeon Hughes of
Sunning.
SOMNOLENCY.—A man who lodged at the
Golden Lion, King's-bridge, Cambridge, on Thursday night
last, got out of bed in his sleep, walked down All Saints'-lane
to the river, paddled in the water, and returned to his lodging
still asleep. He was covered.only with his shirt, and carried a
candlestick in his hand. He was followed by a watchman, and
several other persOns-; and the former, at first, hardly knew
whether to take him for a " spirit of health—or goblin damn-
-1 The landlord was aroused, and the man returned to his
bed; )n the morning he was not aware of having been en.
I gaged in any nOsturnal ranibleS.