The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-30 00:00:00

1114111TP,Marit GO, iti4l.

VURKLY.

EXTENSIVE AND FATAL CONFLAGRATION
AT CONSTANTINOPLE-SUMMARY PUNISH-
MENT OF DEPREDATORS.

CONSTANTINOPLE, SEPT. 14.—Yesterday, the 13th
September, at half-past three in the afternoon, a
dreadful fire broke out at Pera, in the immediate
neighbourhood of the Galata Serail. The wind,
which was high at the time, increased to a hurricane,
and in a few minutes the fire had extended itself over
a considerable portion of Pera. At five o'clock it
had gained the houses near the new British Palace
on the one side, and Baluk Bazar on the other, a
distance of 50 houses in a straight line. At six the
alarm was given that the fire had broken out in the
very centre of Pera, in the direction of the small
burying ground, a considerable distance from the
original seat of the conflagration itself. Fortunately
for us the wind turned to the east, and the fire was
thrown towards an open space in the Picolo Campo.
At half-past six it was announced that another fire
had broken out in a Turkish quarter at Orta Kuey,
and thus the surplus of the spectators, firemen, and
water carriers, &c., were attracted towards that direc-
tion. At half-past ten the fire was mastered on all
sides, having consumed upwards of 250 large houses,
inhabited by the elite of our Perote families. Six-
teen of these were large stone mansions, which had
consequently become the depot of furniture and
goods. The British chapel, and several outhouses
appertaining to the new palace, were consumed. In
all, it is calculated the loss of property must exceed
a million sterling. Several persons perished on the
occasion, and among others, it is said, a young Eng-
lishman, who had remained in a house with the hopes
of saving some important papers belonging to a per-
son who was himself absent in the country. It is
likewise said that three villains, who were caught by
Fetri Ahmet Pacha, profiting by the misfortune to
rob the unfortunate sufferers whose houses were
taking fire, were by his orders throws into the fire
and burnt.

By the Austrian steamer which arrived yesterday,
we have received the important intelligence of the
death of Coletti. It is very probable the Greek ques-
tion now approaches towards an arrangement ; but
some time will elapse before it is finally settled, on
account of the obstinacy of King Otho.
The news received from Albania is favourable to
the preservation of peace. The army of the Sultan,
which was in vast force, had advanced into the moun-
tains of Malacastro, and had defeated the insurgents
in several engagements.
There will be some very important changes in the
Turkish high functionaries immediately after the Bai-
ram, but the exact nature of them can as yet be only
matter of conjecture. It is confidently stated by some,
that Mehemet Ali Pacha and Hosref Pacha will again
be brought forward.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have received files of papers from the Cape of
Good Hope to the 25th July.
From the seat of war, if the predatory aggres-
sions of an undisciplined horde of Kafirs must so be
called, there is no news of any moment. The razzias
still continued on the farms of the colonists, but no
decisive blow had been struck by the Government
troops to put an effectual stay to this unsatisfactory
state of affairs. The South African of the 17th of
July announces that sixty oxen had been driven off
from Manley's flat, about sixteen miles south of
Graham's Town—forty were the property of the
Government, a portion of which was rescued. A
Mr. Philips, a settler on the Great Fish River mouth,
states his losses in horses and cattle within the last
four months to exceed 300/.; and seven horses and
mares were swept off from the farm of Mr. Long,
on the Lower Bushman's River. Sixty head of
cattle were driven off Murray's farm at Cawood's
post.
The position of parties at the present time, both on
this side of the boundary and beyond, is very pecu-
liar. Under an external quiet, there is at work a
ceaseless restlessness of feeling, which is ever ob-
served to be the sure forerunner of outbreak, confu-
sion, and war. The colonist feels that the Kafir is
unsubdued—that his spirit still rises against submis-
sion, and that the foundations of a desirable peace
have not yet been laid. The Kafir knows that he is
distrusted by the colonist—is privy to the most secret
counsels of Government for his reduction, and is ready
at any moment to muster to the new encounter all the
forces of fierce resentment and terrible despair which
his savage nature can supply. Such are the feelings
at work ; and, like the gathering of a thunder-storm
from opposite points of the compass, so the hostile par-
ties are drawing towards one another, at least in in-
tention ; and we may venture to predict that a few
weeks hence will again witness them closing in ter-
rible encounter for ultimate triumph and undisputed
supremacy.
The all-absorbing topic at the Cape was a circular
issued by his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor,
dated June 26, calling for information upon the alle-
gations put forth in petitions from the inhabitants of
the eastern districts, to the Queen in Council, pray-.
ing for a separate and independent Government or
their province. Public meetings were immediately
held at Port Elizabeth in favour of the separate
Government, and meetings were also held on the
subject at Graham's Town, at Sidbury, and other
places.
The Minute of Finance was presented to the Le-
gislative Council on the 16th of July. His Excel-
lency gives a rapid sketch of the state of the revenue,
and of numerous alterations and additions in the civil,
police, and judicial establishments, chiefly with a
view to the more speedy and effectual administration
of justice throughout the colony, which the large
and constantly increasing revenue enables him to un-
dertake and provide for, without imposing fresh
burdens on the people.
It appears that, notwithstanding the pressure and
confusion caused by the Kafir war, during nearly the
whole of the year 1846, the gross income of that year
actually exceeded the estimates by 15,6501.
The revenue available for 1848 is estimated at
185,6731. Os. 4d., and the expenditure, including
various charges for the additions and alterations in
the several departments mentioned above, together
with a sum of 10,000/. for emigration from the United
Kingdom, principally with a view to supplying the
Eastern Province with labourers, is estimated at
179,6191. 19s. 7d., leaving a balance of 6,0531. Os. 9d.,
for unforeseen charges.
His Excellency also proposes an additional grant
of 5001. to the school establishment,

ACCOUCUEMENT OF TUE COUNTESS OF CLARENDON.
—DUBLIN, SEPT. 28.—At a few minutes before eight
o'clock yesterday evening her Excellency the Countess
of Clarendon was safely delivered of a son. This morn-
ing the following bulletin was issued by Dr. Evory Ken-
nedy, the physician in attendance upon the Noble
Countess : " Her Excellency passed a good night, and
is going on as well as possible. The infant is quite
well."—Ecening Post.
APPROACHING MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—The
Marquis of Kildare, eldest son of the Duke and
Duchess of Leinster, will lead to the hymeneal altar
to-day, at Trentham New Church, the Lady Caroline
Leveson Gower, third daughter of the Duke and Duchess
of Sutherland. The noble bridegroom elect is in his 27th
year. Lady Caroline is a few years his Lordship's

junior.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S SOCIETY.--Yesterday after-
noon a Quarterly General Court of the President and
Governors of the Corporation for the Relief and Sup-
port of Disabled Seamen, and the Widows and Chil-
dren of those perishing in the Merchant Service, was
held at the offices of the society, No. 25, Birchin-lane,
Cornhill ; Mr. Faith in the chair. The minutes of the
last Court having been read and approved, the Court
broke up ; after which the committee proceeded to
consider forty six applicants, to whom pensions and tem-
porary relief were afforded.
Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the
East India-house, when Lieutenant-General Sir George
Henry Frederick Berkeley, K.C.8., was appointed
Commander-in Chief of the Company's Forces on the
Madras Establishment.
LUNATIC ASYLUM AT BIRMINGHAM.—Yesterday
the Mayor of Birmingham (in the presence of Miss
Harriet Martineau and a large number of the magis-
trates and town-councillors) laid the foundation-stone of
a new lunatic asylum for that borough. The inconve-
nience and increased expense arising from the want of
such an institution have been long very greatly felt—at
the present time there being no less than 1.49 pauper
lunatics chargeable to the parish of Birmingham in
asylums in various parts of the country.
The suicide of a somewhat eccentric person has
formed the subject of a coroner's inquest at Brighton.
Mrs. James Middleton, supposed to be the wife of a
butcher of the town, was discovered in a well, where she
had thrown herself head foremost, from what cause Was
not ascertained. The:witnesses described her as singular
in her habits, and subject to lowness of spirits. The
jury returned a verdict that " Deceased bad killed
mind
d-
self by jumping into ,a well; but in what state of min
see was in there was no evidence to show."
FATAL ErrEcrs or REAPING IN BED.--TllESdfly
Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest at the Devonshire
Arms, Duke-street, Manchester-square, on the body of
Mrs. Anna Jane Pochin, aged 63, of 17, Lower Sey-
mour-street, and relict of the late Charles Pochin, Esq.,
of Barkby Hall, Leicestershire. h Iht.taptpeared that de-
d' b d
ITS
an
in e
ceased had been in the constant a o
by means of an unguarded candle placed on a table by
er bedside. Her maid saw her safe in bed a little after
h
eleven on Saturday night, and about two next morning
was alarmed by the violent ringing of the bedroom bell.
She hastened to answer it, and discovered the room on
fire, but was unable to enter it, on account of the door
bolted on the inside. The alarm of fire was com-
being
1131113• led to the police, and by them transmitted tothe
ICa
conductor of the nearest fire-escape machine, which was
soon on the spot, and by its means the body of deceased,
fatally burned, was got out of the room, and the fire ex-
tinguished. Mr. Mathews, a neighbouring surgeon,
promptly attended, and tried all the usual means to re-
store deceased, who remained in a comatose state for
thirty-two hours, and then expired. All the witnesses
attributed the fire to accident. The Coroner com-
mented on the danger of reading in bed, particularly on
the part of aged and feeble persons, and said the practice
was invariably attended, sooner or later, by fatal conse-
quences.—Verdict," Accidental death."