The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-01 00:00:00

FIRE ESCAPES.

The LORD MAYott laid before the Court the follow-
ing letter from the Marquis of Normanby, enclosing a
communication on the subject of fire escapes :
" Whitehall, Sept. 22, 1840.

" My L,rd—l beg to transmit to your Lordship the
oncloseil copy of a letter from the Joint Vestry Clerks
of St. Giles Without, Cripplegate, on the subject of the
prevention of the loss of life in cases of fire, and I beg
to inform your Lordship that the suggestions contained
in this letter appear to me worthy of consideration.

" I have the honour to be, my Lord,
"6 Your Lordship's obedient servant,
" NORMANBY.
" To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor."
(Cory.)
" 22, Redeross-street, Sept. 16,1840.
" My Lord,—We are directed by the ward and parish
authorities, in consequence of the loss of two more lives
at the fire in Milton-street, on Sunday morning, caused
through the want of fire escapes, and the more efficient
aid of the police, to call the immediate attention of the
police committee to the subject. By the 14th Geo. 111.,
cap. 78, clause 75, every parish is bound to keep engines
and ladders for the first, second, and third stories, but
we are instructed to add, that it is considered essential
for the proper protection of life, that every parish should
possess a fire escape that the police should be able to
manage, and that positive directions should be given to
them as a part of their duty, on any and every fire
breaking out, the escape to be brought to the spot with
all speed.

" in the examination of the City police at the inquest,
and on reference to their previous instructions, it was
too evident that the important duty of the preservation
of life is not sufficiently enforced, and too much left to
the discretion of policemen, many of them young and
inexperienced, and constantly changing. The opinion
expressed by the inquest, that the rules and regulations
should be immediately revived, contain the following in-
structions :

" On a fire breaking out, to alarm the inmates of the
house, spring their rattles for assistance, procure the
fire-escapes or ladders, give notice to the turn-cock, en-
gine.station ,and police-station, and never to break open
door or window to admit the current of air, or allow any
one else to do it, until the arrival of the engines, unless
for the preservation of the lives of the inmates.
" We have the honour to be,
" Your Lordship's most obedient servants,
(Signed) " PETER EARNSH4W,
" ALEX. J. BAYLIS,
" Joint Vestry clerks, St. Giles-without
Cripplegate, London."
The Marquis of Normanby's letter and inclosed com-
munication were then sent to the Police Committee, to
whose consideration the important subject of fire es-
capes has been referred.

Mr. Farncomb, the new Sheriff, was allowed to take
his seat within the Court, and the Court, after transact-
ing some business of a merely local nature, adjourned.

• -
PUBLIC DINNER TO THE MARQUIS OF
NORMANBY.—An invitation has, we understand, been
transmitted to the Marquis of Normanby to accept a public
dinner, in his capacity of High Steward of the borough of
Hull during the festival week. The Noble Marquis has,
we perceive, returned to London from Mulgrave Castle,
and we trust he will be enabled to abstract a day or two
from official engagements, to gratify his friends in this
quarter by joining in their festivities. The occasion will
be well suited to his Lordship's reception, as a nobleman
of refined taste in literature and the arts, and the first
municipal officer of the borough. Many noblemen and
gentlemen who will be glad of an opportunity of testifying
their respect to an enlightened and distinguished member
of the present Administration, are expected in Hull during
the festival, and the contemplated entertainment in honour
of the High Steward will be to them, as to many others, a
very agreeable addition to the enjoyments of the time,--
Uliserver.