The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-08 00:00:00

PRICE 5d

AMERICAN NEWS

ARRIVAL of the GREAT WESTERN.
BRISTOL, TUESDAY MORNING.
This splendid vessel arrived at Bristol at half-
past ten o'clock last night, after a remarkably
fine passage (considering the season of the year)
of a little over 13 days. She brings 30 passen-
gers and 500,000 dollars. By this arrival we have
received our usual files of North and South
American papers, the date being from New
York to the 23d ult. There is no political news
of importance. Such extracts as are of interest
we subjoin.
We copy the following letter, which is of later date
than any of the papers received per Great Western,
dated Hale's Newsroom, New York, 1 P.m., Nov. 23,
the authenticity of which may be fully relied on :

" DREADFUL CONFLAGRATION AT ST.
JOHN'S, NEW BRUNSWICK.

"By the Boston boat just in, I learn that a destruc-
tive conflagration took place on the evening of the 15th
inst., at St. John's, New Brunswick. It swept away
all the buildings on Market-street Wharf, and down to
Whitney's Wharf, and from Prince William-street to
the water, the new Market-house, &c. Large quantities
of goods were placed in the Market-house for safety,
but were afterwards destroyed. 40 vessels are stated to
have been burnt, amongst them 5 ships. The fire was
still raging when the mail left, so that you cannot have
more particulars by the Great Western.
"We hear that 75 buildings were destroyed, and as
the wind was blowing a gale from W.S.W., it is feared
that the destruction of property will be much greater
than above reported ; as your folks the other side have
much interest in St. John's, I have been at some pains to
collect all the particulars I could get."
A dreadful fire had also occurred at Vicksburg on the
10th of November, of which the Vicksburg Whig says:—
"DESTRUCTIVE . CONFLAGRATION. TWO
SQUARES BURNED, AND ABOUT THIRTY
HOUSES DESTROYED.

" We stop the press to announce the most destructive
fire that has ever occurred in this city. It was disco-
vered about 12 o'clock last night in the kitchen of N.
Droz, Esq., in Main-street, from which the flames spread
with frightful rapidity, destroying in their course two
entire squares, one on each side of Main-street, from
Cherry-street to Locust-street. The wind was blowing
a perfect gale, and the noble exertions of our gallant
firemen were of but little avail, still all was done that
strong arms and stout hearts could do to stay the pro-
gress of the destroying element.
" At this late hour, wearied and worn down as we are,
we connot pretend to state the amount of the loss, but it
must be immense. We are unable to give the names of
all the sufferers. The principal losers, however, must
be W. H. Hunt and Co., furniture dealers, and the
Messrs. Vough, of the Union Hotel."
Lord Morpeth was at New York, and had been invited
by the British residents and a number of influential
citizens to a public dinner, to take place on Monday,
the 28th ult., which, it was expected, would prove a
grand affair, as the Governor of the State of New York
and several other distinguished personages had expressed
their intention of being present on the occasion.
The celebrated Mr. Fenimore Cooper had been
figuring in the Law Courts, in two actions for libel
against the New York Morning Courier and Enquirer,
for a review of his work, entitled Homeward Bound. One
of these causes was tried on the 20th, but had ended in
the Jury's being discharged without agreeing to any
verdict, after being locked up from three in the after-
noon until half-past nine o'clock in the morning. Upon
the second indictment the editor of the Enquirer had
written a letter of apology to the attorney, upon which
proceedings were stopped.
The New York Journal of Commerce of the 20th of
November says, " The Government of the United States
has filed a bill in equity in the United States Circuit
Court against the Bank of the United States, the object
of which is to annul all the assignments made by the
Bank as fraudulent, and to obtain the appointment of a
receiver to take into his possession the funds of the in-
stitution."