The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,. 1841.

DREADFUL -FIRE IN PICCADILLY.;
al.)rtt 1.,a11.--pist nine o'clock, a fire i

heolte out on the pr;nnisesl-.0. 87, Piccadilly, in the pos-
session of Mr. Salmon, a fruit salesman, which was at-
tended with most disastrous resultS. Froin the con-
fusion, and the circumstance of the police peremp-
torily refusing admittance within a certain dis-
tance of the house, we found it unpossib
to ascertain how, or in what part of the house, the
fire originated ; however, the general opinion was, that -
it first broke out in the shop, and was caused by an escape
of gas. About ten o'clock the house was in one mass of
flames, and shortly after the roof fell in with a tre-
mendous crash. There being nothing but the bare
walls standing the fire Was soon got under. In a
short time after Wards it was found that the roof and
upper story of the Duke of Grafton's mansion, which
stands next to Mr. Salmon's house, had taken
fire, notwithstanding that the firemen kept the
hose continually playing upon it. The utmost
consternation prevailed amongst the domestics, as the
roof was in flames in three different places at the back of
the mansion, where it was found extremely difficult to
bring the engines into play. The firemen. succeeded
twice in subduing the flames, when it broke out
with redoubled violence, so much so as to induce. the
servants tc meditate the removal of the furniture, par-
ticulary some very valuable paintings, which were on
the first floor. Fortunately, about half-past twelve, it
was so far subdued as to induce no further fears for the
consequences. 'When the flames in Mr. Salmon's premises
were got under, two firemen, named Weaver and West,
entered the house, when a portion Of wood-work gave
way, and buried them beneath it. Every exertion- was
made, to rescue them by the large body of
firemen present ; but a considerable time elapsed
before the rubbish could be removed so as to en-
able them to be got out, and when it wa's effected,
it was stated that West was dead, and Weaver danger-
ously injured. Two cabs were called, in which they were
placed, and removed to the Hospital. In consequence of it
being Sunday, and the evening very fine, the vast number
of persons who were promenading in the western parks.
congregated in the Green Park, and at one time there could
not have been less than from 15.000 to 20,000 persons
present. We are unable to state whether or not Mr.
Salmon is insured •

THE• LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILROAD.
last key-stone of the Bayward's heath tunnel was
put in on Saturday. last, and there remains no obstacle
here to prevent the road being opened by the time pro-
posed. The whole of the line from Hayward's-heath to
London is now in a beautiful condition ; most of the
banks of the cuttings being smoothed off, the embank-
ments trimmed-down, and the spaces between the rails
cleared of rubbish. The station-houses are large and
handsome, and the Mertham and Balcombe tunnels are
lighted with gas from. small works erected on the 'spot
for the purpose.—Brighton Herald.
The Committee appointed at the meeting of
the inhabitants of Windsor' held a few weeks ago, have
determined to present to the Rev. J. A. Selwyn, of St.
John's College, in this University, the recently-elected
Bishop of New Zealand, a magnificent service of com-
munion plate for his Cathedral in that colony.
Walnuts are very plentiful this 'season ; they are
selling in and near Hereford at from 4d. to 6d. per 100.
Bristol Mercury.
In the garden of a tailor named Griffith, residing
at Glanrafon, in Bangor, twelve large apples are growing
upon one small shoot, which was grafted on the tree
about two years ago.-1V0135 Independent.
A foot race took place on Tuesday afternoon
last, on the North Road, near the Town Moor. New-
castle, between a man named Gillie, belonging to Tweed-
mouth, and a person known in Newcastle by the appella-
tion of ." the Doctor." The race was for 40/. a-side, and
the distance was about 140 yards. The " Doctor" won
by about three and a half yards. The race was run in
fourteen seconds.—Durkam Chronicle.
HANGED ON AN APPLE TREE.—At Shetton
Lugwas, Herefordshire, last week, Edwin Brown, being
at play with other children, climbed up an apple tree for
the purpose of plucking fruit, and, his foot slipping, he
la, but pawing through the boughs, his pinbefore, fas-
tened round his neck tightly, caught a branch, and sus-
pended him till he was strangled. Verdict—" Accidental
death."—Brighten Herald.
AN ANCIENT WARRIOR.—There is IlaNv
living in the house of industry an old man named Joseph
Watson, who entered the 4th battalion of Royal Artil-
lery in 1776. lie was wounded in the rigle- thigh at
Mud Island, near New York, and obtained his discharge
in 1779, and a pension of 6d. per day, consequently he
has received. from Government, during 62 years he has
existed since he left the army, the sum of 5651. 15s.
.Pretty well for three years' service. —Ramphire Inde-
pendent.

AMERICAN FUN.—" Mrs. Grimes, lend me
your tub."—" Can't do it—all the hoops are oll—its full
of suds—besides, I never bad one—l washes in a barrel
—and wants to use the tub myself."

SECRECY.—What is mine, even to my life, is
I love ; but the secret of my friend is not mine.—
Sir P. Sidney.

THE POET.-1 never see a poet yet that warn't
as poor as Job's turkey, or a church mouse ; or a she
poet that her shoes didn't go down to heel, and. her
stockin's looked as if they wanted darnin', fur its all
cry and little wool with poets, as the devil said when he
sheared his hog.;.—Sant
CONVERSION OF IRON INTO PLUMBAGO BY
SEAWATER.—M. Deslongehanaps has found lying near
La Rogue, where the naval battle was fought, some can-
non" balls, which, although they do not appear exter-
nally to have undergone any change, yet have lost two-
•thirds of their weight, and may be cut with a knife like
a black-lead pencil ; they contain no iron in the metallic
stale, and exert no influence on the magnetic needle.
Vice Admiral S►r Charles Adam, K.C.8., re-
hoisted his flag on Tuesday on board the Pique, 36,
Captain Yates, which arrived on Sunday from the East-
ward, and sailed to assume the command of the North
American and West India Stations. Sir Charles is ac-
companied by Lady Adam and family, and Lord Syden-
ham, the Governor-General of Canada. Commodore
Douglas will return to England in the Pique.—Western
Times.

The Borough Sessions took place on Monday
last, before W. C. Rowe, Esq., Recorder. The only case
of importance was that of a man called Randall, who
was tried fur making his escape from the borough gaol,
which he effected by gagging the turnkey, and tying
him to the bed in his cell. He then robbed him, and
having changed clothes with him, made his escape. He
was afterwards taken at Tavistock. He was sentenced
to transportation for life. Another prisoner, named
Martin, was found guilty of aiding and abetting him, and
was sentenced to 15 years' transportation.—Western
Times.

SOUTITMOLTON..---ACCIDENT.--Mn Thursday,
as William Lethbridge, a labourer working on the Comb-
martin new road, at Noody Cleave, while preparing to
blast a rock, incautiously used the iron needle instead of
copper, which ignited the powder and caused a premature
explosion, whereby he was dreadfully lacerated, and now
lies in a precarious state.— Western Times.

We are glad to see that the g►ocers, druggists,
drapers, &c., of this town follow up their rules of closing
their shops at eight o'clock during the winter months,
and we hope that others will follow their example, so
as to comer a benefit on their journeymen and appren-
tices.—Sliqffitti Mercury.
A statue. of the late William Van Mildert,
Bishop of Durham, has been brought from Rome, and
it is to be placed in the Cathedral of Durham. - [The
Bishop .of Exeter should look to this matter. There is a
strong savour of heresy in going to Rome for a prelate,
even in marble, and to place it in a cathedral too ! What
can Dr. Phillpotts be about, that he is insensible to such a
glaring- instance of the Church in. danger ?—Bristol Payer.
The beautiful planet Venus was eclipeed by the
moon on the 12th instant, in the
.morning; immersion at
thirty minutes past six, and emersion forty-two minutes
after seven.

SPORTING.-The following notice was served
on a neighbour a few dd'ys since by a farmer of Broad-
clist Sir—i do not fill satisfied by your taking such!
libertys over my ground by with means i forbid you And
all thither Sporting Uharitors from ti-epesing over the
Same with Ought my liberty."— Western Tines.
VIVIPAROUS C UMBE R.-The following ex-
traordinary circumstance took place at Goddingion, near
Ashford, the seat of the Rev. N. Tole. The gardener
(Mr. Pilcher) on opening a cucumber, discovered several
young plants which had perfected their seed-leaves ;
those be immediately placed in a frame, and in the
course of a few weeks he will be cutting fruit from them,
and at the same time from the parent plant, which is still
in good health and vigour.—Kent Herald.
THE LATE AIL-RDER IN NEWCASTLE.--A
man of the name of John Grey, a shoemaker, who had
been some time in custody on suspicion of being one of
the persons who murdered John Anderson, in Blue
Anchor Chare, Quayside; has been discharged: He
proved satisfactorily that he was not near the place of
the murder during the night on which it was perpetrated.
A woman of the name of liill has since been appre-
hended by the police, and there is reason to suppose,
from the contradictory statements she has made, that
she is acquainted with the actual parties who committed
the outrage. The evidence before the Coroner led to the
conclusion that the violation Of the unfortunate woman's
person was the object of her assailants ; but from cir-
cumstances which have since come to light, there is a
supposition that the deceased was robbed of some arti-
cles of trifling value.—Durham Chronicle.
SIR R. PEEL'S T A ILS.—Az a dinner of Mr.
George Byng the other day, Sir Thomas Wilde made
the following observations Robert Peel and his
party were very fond of taunting the late Ministry upon
the subjectof its tail, but had the Right Hon. Baronet no
tail ? He had several. He had an Orange tail, a tim-
ber tail—(A laugh)--a corn tail, and a sugar tail—(A
laugh)—and in crossing to the Treasury- benches, the
different tails wagged most• gloriously.—(A laugh.)
IThey had heard of the story of the man who advertised
for show a horse with his tail where his head should
be.—(A laugh.) The wag had reversed the usual posi-
ti'.m of his horse in the stable, and had placed him with
his tail to the manger.—(A laugh.) It appeared to him
that the tail of Sir Robert Peel was too powerful for
him, and would soon, also, get to the manger in spite of
them.—(A laugh.)
Several Members of the Cabinet had interviews
with Sir R. Peel Saturday morning at Whitehall. The
Right Hon. Baronet was visited in the course of the day
by several influentialAiNTTo po MA eDmi bEesr.s_o_fite
thisCsotantseedrvattii:a-et party.
Miss
Southmead, a venerable spinster, who died the other day
in St. Sidwell's, had made a will dividing her property
equally amongst all her relations. About two years ago
' she altered her will, and left the whole property to one,
" because he never called upon nor troubled her."—
.
i Western Tone&