The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-21 00:00:00

LADIUM BY FIRE.

Letters dated St. Helena, June 10, received yesterday,
communicate the loss by fire of the ship Palladium, 400
tons burden, Captain Ravilly, while on a passage to
Bourbon. The ship left Nantes on the 15th of March,
with two ladies on board as passengers, the crew, beside
the master, amounting to fourteen men. On the 4th of
May, in lat. 23 52 south, long. 25 50 west, smoke was
discovered issuing from the lower hold, which eventually
proved to come from the cargo near the bottom of the
hold. On account of the inflammable character of tho
goods, chiefly pitch, oil, turpentine, oakum, timber,
&c., there was but little hopes of saving the ship
from destruction, nevertheless the men worked in-
cessantly on the pumps, but in less than an
hour they were forced to cease their efforts, the
smoke and heat becoming unbearable. The boats had
already been got over the ship's quarters, and the two
lady passengers placed in them, into which all on board
retreated, but all the provisions they could get at was a
small bag of biscuit and a keg of water, together with a
compass, a chart, and the ship's papers. Within half an
hour after they quitted the ship she burst into flames,
and continued burning until midnight. The sufferings
of the passengers and t,:e crew were subsequently fear-
fully severe. They were ten days before they sighted
a ship. At length the Sutlej, belonging to Liverpool,
bound to Calcutta, picked them up, the master affording
them all the comfort and attention himself and his crew
could bestow. A few days afterwards, the Sutlej
meeting with a vessel bound for St. Helena, they were
to it, and safely reached that island on the 9th of
June last. The loss is stated to be little short o
16,0001.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CHATHAM —Last night,
about half-past twelve o'clock, a fire broke out on the
premises of Messrs. Thompson, extensive boot and shoe
makers, High-street, Chatham. The fire was observed
to issue from the top of the house, when it was found
necessary to break open the shop door, as the inmates
appeared undisturbed. On proceeding up the stairs, the
passage was found to be one body of flame, and owing
to the suffocating state of the staircase, the party found
it necessary to retreat. It was afterwards discovered
that the inmates had escaped from the roof to the ad-
joining houses. The military from the garrison, under
the direction of the Brigade-Major, Capt. J. S. Wood,
and other officers, were soon in attendance, and were
most efficient in protecting the property, as they lined
the street for some distance, and would not allow any im-
pediment to the public rendering assistance. Besides the
garrison engine, there was one from the Royal Marines,
under the command of Colonel Menzies, K. 11., second in
command of the battalion; there was also the dockyard
engine, worked by the dockyard police, under directions
Pi Pte°t
control
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of Lieutenant Wise, R.N. ; as also another from the
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engine was also on the spot. The whole of these engines
were supplied most plentifully with water from Colonel
James Best's brewery at Chatham, which was brought
in their barrels on drays from that establishment, and,
notwithstanding the engines kept throwing a large body
of water on the burning building, the fire communicated
itself to the establishment of Messrs. Magnus and Son,
silversmiths and jewellers, and also to the house of Mr.
James Burrell, an extensive printer and stationer, and
also agent to the Royal Exchange Insurance-office.
The fire was not got under until four o'clock this morn-
ing. The damage done is very considerable; the amount
as yet cannot be estimated. The Messrs. Thompson are
insured in the Phoenix 2501., and in the Norwich 1,0001.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the military and
navy for their services on this as on all other similar
calamities. The Sun engine from Rochester did not
arrive until the fire was nearly extinguished.
CHURCH EXTENSION IN ST. PANC,RAS.—MUtiI-
VICENCE OF THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.—The population
of this extensive parish amounts to upwards of 160,000
persons, whilst the whole of the accommodation. furnished
by the existing churches is only sufficient for 23,000,
being one-eighth of the population. There are also more
than 8,000 children who are growing up without any
instruction in the doctrines and precepts of the gospel.
To remedy this deficiency the Rev. Mr. Dale, the vicar,
has set on foot a public subscription for the erection of
places of worship, and which amounts to upwards of
3,000.1. Within the last few days his Grace the Duke of
Bedford has made the munificent donation, in addition
to the funds already raised, of 5001., together with a site
of ground for the erection of a church subject to certain
arrangement; as to the building.