The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1840.

continuous, and, in less than a couple of hours, no fewer
than fifty engines were playing on the fire, but with little
or no avail, as it spread from shed to shed like magic,
till it seized on another spacious roofing covering the
Imogene, 26, also in dry dock. In about a quarter of
an hour this roof also fell, leaving the fated vessel in
one sheet of fire, seeming to mock all efforts to subdue
it. In this stage of proceedings the heat was most in-
tense, and the assembled multitudes were obliged to
turn hem the most violent of the conflagration,to endea-
vour to check its further progress.
On the east was a long and high range of stone-
buildings, surmounted with a turret and clock ; these
latter are much scorched, and it is a source of great
surprise, that the whole did not likewise fall a prey to
the devouring element.
By nine o'clock, A.M., the fire completed the area of
its destruction ; but as within that area were deposited
immense piles of timber of all descriptions, and a great
quantity of stores, carpenters' tools, &c., there was
abundant matter on which the subtle element might
feed. At this hour the fire on board the Minden had
been considerably checked, although not entirely over-
come. The roofing over the Talavera bad disappeared
in Colo, leaving the vessel one terrific cauldron of fire
from stem to stern, all her upper works having disap-
peared in its awful vortex. Adjoining it, a large shed
containing figure-heads of different vessels, some of
them both quaint and antique, had shared a like fate.
Piles of timber in all directions continued to pour forth
volumes of flame and smoke, the exertions of the fire-
men, &c., still being confined to the outskirts, and hun-
dreds being employed in removing to parts of the yard,
or throwing overboard, such timber or stores as Lay
within reach. The daring of those thus employed sur-
passes all belief, and it is indeed to be wondered at, that,
to this melancholy account we have not to append a
list of men either killed or severely maimed.
At eleven o'clock all apprehension of its further ex-
tension had pretty neatly subsided, although even at
this hour the fire raged very fiercely. The fire in the
Minden had been subdued, and, with but few excep-
tions, had been entirely extinguished. The head of this
vessel is very much damaged, and the whole of the
decks, to about one-third the length of the vessel,
almost wholly destroyed ; the centre and after-part
have sustained no injury, although it is generally sup-
posed that had this vessel been under a shed, it would
have been totally destroyed ; a large body of shipwrights
were at this time employed in drawing the bolts, and re-
moving the timbers from her bows in order to guard
against further risk from their re-ignition, as the fire
lay deeply rooted in some of the larger beams. The
immense gates between the two docks were nearly de-
stroyed, or at least rendered entirely useless ; but
within them lay the Talavera with its fiercely raging
fire, having consumed her exterior down to her lower
gun-decks, and the interior being a liquid sea of fire ;
with iron knees, copper bolts, charred and flaming
masses of timber, near which there could be no ap-
proach, and into which about twenty engines were
pouring their contents, without in the slightest degree
lessening the intensity of the fire, which was but tem-
porarily checked in one spot to rage with increased
fury in another. The space between this vessel and
the Imogene, which had been previously occupied by
buildings and piles of timber, admitted at this period
of a gradual but cautious approach, and large blocks
of wood were one by one dragged from the fire to
be conveyed to a place of safety, while ever and anon
the flames burst up in vivid sheets till checked by

the deluge of water discharged from the engines. The
Imogene lay in pretty nearly the same plight as the
Talavera being one stupendous fire. Numbers of
shipwrights were now engaged in throwing into the
docks large pieces cf timber, on which they after-
wards stood and commenced operations for scuttling
the vessels by boring and cutting large holes in their
;lulls to admit the water as the tide should arise.
Twelve o'clock being low water, the sluices were
opened to allow of the docks being filled with
water without at all interfering with the flood-gates ;
and as the tide arose the burning masses of timber were
thrown into the docks to be quenched by the water.
By five o'clock the water had risen within and without
the Imogene so considerably as to leave but a mere out-
line of the hull above its surface a rugged anti a
blackened mass. The dock, together with a very huge
one without, now in course of being constructed, were
heaped up with the timber which had been wrested
from the fire, either more or less burnt. The portion
of the Talavera above the water was still burning, al-
though the copious supply of water poured on it reduced
the intensity of the fire (now considerably abated) very
materially, and admitted of the operation of the firemen
within the vessel. An hour from this time it was en-

tirely extinguished, and with the exception of a few
smouldering heaps in different parts of the yard, scarcely
any fire was to be seen ; the whole area, indeed, being
reduced to a comparatively level surface, and which oc-
cupied, we should imagine, an extent of not less than

eight acres.

The tide having been nearly at its height when the
fire occurred, two or three large vessels which had bun

lying- alongside the jetties, were immediately warped
to the centre of the harbour, and lay in a tier until
a Government steamer removed them to suitable
moorings.

The whole of the sheds and buildings in the imme-
diate neighbourhood (which form three sides of a qua-
drangle, of which the fourth is open to the sea), arc
much scorched and blackened, and their preservation is
to be ascribed wholly to the unremitting and most stre-
nuous exertions of every one on the spot, each of whom
seemed to vie with his fellow in his endeavour to sub-
due
the common enemy:
The supporters of the roofs were of wood, deeply
imbedded in pits wailed up with granite. Some of
these, although t! feet by 18 inches thick, have been
consumed entirely to a depth of 4 feet below the paved
surface of the ground, and others reduced to half their
original substauce, even at a depth of from 7 to 8 feet,
requiring in some instances the pits to be half filled with
water before the fire in them could be extinguished.
The Portland stone with which the docks are lined
has suffered most severely from the action of the fire,
the stones being splintered and cracked in all direc-
tions. The draw-bridges in the vicinity are almost de-
stroyed ; and the ground is strewed in all directions
with glass and lead molten into largo masses, and with
the copper with which the buildings were covered.
The exertions of the shipwrights of the yard (who were
all called in to assist), that of the marines, the different
regiments in garrison here, the sailors, police, and not
excepting the convicts, are worthy any share of praise.
Although called at such an early hour of the morning,
they continued to labour incessantly till nightfirll, many
having scarcely broken their fast for the day, being so
fully occupied with their fatiguing tasks.
And now comes another fearful relation, though hap-
pily as et built only on surmise, viz., that the awful
conflagration was the result of an incendiary ; the more
probable, as no sooner was the fire discover ed, than it
was at once beyond all human control. Policemen are
stationed at night all over the yard, some of them on
the identical spot where the fire occurred ; a sentry
had his heat under the stern of the Minden, on a
wooden bridge thrown across the dock, and others in
the immediate neighbourhood ; and yet the fire was dis-
covered by the crew of a vessel 720/ in the yard, who
were the first to raise an alarm. A strict and most
searching investigation must of course follow, and we
do sincerely trust that it may be proved to be the re-
sult of pure accident ; but the busy imagination, acted
upon by important proceedings elsewhere, is not long
in tracing to a source a reason for such at diabolical at-
tempt.
We regret to learn that an unfortunate shipwright had
his thighs broken by the falling of a piece of timber ;
and that another had very nee.rly lost his life through
suffocation. At one time the fire increased so rapidly
that an engine was obliged to be left, which, with its
hose, &c., was consumed, the copper delivery pipe being
partly melted. At least eighty engines were at one
time engaged in the yard pouring water on the fire.
At 7 P.M, when we left the yard, the fire had been
quite extinguished ; the engines, with a large body of
men, were, however, to remain on the spot all night.
The estimated amount of damage is variously stated.
Vs it heard several individuals roundly asserting it a
half a million sterling ; but we think in estimating it at
about 300,0001., that that sum is considerably less than
the actual loss to the nation.

• tl e occasion, as well as the officers and men from the
Victualling and Ordnance Departments.
The fire having been providentially arrested, it be-
comes necessary, while the ships referred to lie burning
in docks, and the timbers surrounding that part of the
yr.rd smouldering under subdued fire, that means should
be adopted to insure sufficient assistance and watch in the
Dockyard during the approaching night, for which pur-
pose the Admiral Superintendent requires that four fore-
men of the yard, and the whole of the inspectors of ship-
wrights, remain in the Dock-yard during the night, to su-
perintend, by reliefs, a strict patrol throughout the night.
and that 150 shipwrights, and 150 labourers, be also
retained in the yard, to attend the engines, and perform
any other duties which circumstances may require.
The principal resident officers in the Dock-yard, will,
the Admiral feels assured, adopt such an arrangement,
as may give to the security of the yard, the benefit of
the frequent or constant supervision of a sufficient num.
bcr of these officers, to render this arrangement effec-
tual. And a report is to be addressed to the Admiral
Superintendent every two hours, of the state of the
arsenal during the night.

The General has been requested to afford a strong
detachment of troops from the garrison, during the ap-
proaching night, and with these precautions, no doubt
exists of protection from the remains of the fire, which
although subdued, is by no means extinguished.
FREDERICK WARREN,
To the Respective Officers, Resident Officers,
and Director of Police.

ISEPT. 28, 1840.—The fire in the Arsenal was not
entirely got under until late last night, and the engines
are now (half-past eight, Monday morning) being
brought out. It is impossible to say the amount of
damage—certainly not so great as stated in my letter
of yesterday, as the Talavera was an old ship, and the
estimate of her worth, if sold by auction, the usual mode
of disposing of ships when unserviceable, is not above
20,0001., though to replace her with a new ship of the
same class would be from 70,0001. to 80 ,000/. The
other vessels must be estimated in the same way, ,but
the loss of stores is immense. The sheds, covered, as
they were with painted and tarred paper, cost from
10,0001. to 12,0001. each ; the cost, when covered with
copper, is from 30,000/. to 40,000/. each. The granite
facings of the docks are split to pieces. The fire was
' providentially stopped at the very point where the de-
struction would have been greatest, as property ainount-
ing in value to upwards of 5,000,000/. was deposited in
the very building adjoining that where its. Odigress was
terminated. Those best.informed are yet disposed to
place the act to the account of an incendiary. It is
expected one of the Lords Commissioners of the Ad-
miralty will come down to hold a court of inquiry.

LAUNCH OF THE LONDON AND

POLYPHEMUS.

(PROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The London, of 92 guns, was launched at Chatham
Dock-yard a few minutes after two o'clock yesterday.
This ship, which was constructed by Sir Robert
&ppings, is a most splendid specimen of naval
architecture. She has the same dimensions in length
and breadth as our 120 gun ships, though she has only
two principal fighting decs. This construction was in-
tended to raise the class of two-deck ships ; qualifying
them not only to carry heavier guns, and to use them
with more efficiency in action, by having the ports at a
greater height above the water ; but alio that, by
having a greater quantity of sail than our three-deck
ships of 120 guns, while they have much less weight
to be impelled, the great advantage of fast sailing will
be obtained. This ship is intended to carry on her
lower gun deck 32 guns-26 thirty-two pounders, nine
feet six inches in length, weighing 56 cwt., and 6 sixty-
eight pounders, weighing 64 cwt. ; on her main deck
30 thirty-two pounders, of nine feet in length, weighing
53 cwt., and 4 sixty-eight rounders, of eight feet in
length, weighing 64 cwt. ; and on her quarter-deck and
forecastle, 26 thirty.two pounders, of eight feet in length,
weighing 48 cwt. Thus will there be presented a most
feritidable battery of three ranks of guns, each of
which will be mo,t effectively placed.
The whole of this vast structure presents to the eye
the result of majestic design and skilful performance—a
complete man-of-war in parfect symmetry. For the
figure-head she has a female best, on the head of
which is represented the Tower of London. The design
of the stern is very Llegant,and too obvious to be mistaken,
while it exhibits to view the dignified appearance of a
tower of strength, its utility as a powerful battery is
manifest ;• and the neat execution of its ornamental part,
evinces superior taste. From-the stern lights and ports
being fixed the effective force of the stern was not ob-
vious ; but we consider that nine 32-pounders may be
made to bear on any point at the same time. 'Oa
examining the interior of the ship, every part was no less
imposing than the exterior ; the whole of the fitments
is an exhibition of refined taste and good workmanship.
appears to be in complete readiness for the re-
ception of men, and well adapted to brave the fury of
the elements ; and should martial conflict require her
aid, she seems, by affording. to British seamen ample
means for the display of theirvalour, fitted to defy the
arms of the foe.

At a quarter before two oVock she was named by
Miss Clavell, daughter of the-, Captain-Superintendent
of the Dockyard. When thittottle of wine was thrown
the bands struck up " God nave the Queen," imme-
E.. diately afterwards the chor Ctuaham, .assisted by
the choristors of Canters4d-Rochaster CAthodrals,
and amateurs from town, eo • d,sintrinfri ~. -,, ;„-„
" God save the Queen! Leiseive the,Queen.; —• . ,•
May her reign be prosprotal • .. ~ .
~
VICTORIA reigns ! may hik reign `be prosperous! •
The music was taken from Handel's Coronation An-
them. After silence was restored, the whole was very
impressive, from
.the deep interest of an immense con-
course of spectators, held in expectation of the signal
for this ponderous mass to be moved into her own ele-
ment. When all was ready, about five minutes past
two o'clock, the Master Shipwright gave orders for the
dog-shores to be knocked down ; and the ship glided
into the river, as the bands played " Hearts of oak arc
our ships." This was followed by reciprocal cheer-
ing ; and " Ye mariners of England" (Campbell) was
sung. " Rule Britannia !" and " God save the Queen !"
were played, and three cheers given, after which the
spectators •retired, apparently much gratified with the
occasion.

After the launch was over, Captain-Superintendent
Clavell gave a grand dcjeuner, attended by Sir Charles
Adams, Sir William Symonds, Sir Richard Digby,
A•lmiral of the port, and more than a hundred military
and naval officers.

John Fincham, Esq., Master Shipwright of the Dock,
likewise gave a dejeuner, which was attended by Mr.
Campbell, Dr. Beattie, and other highly talented scien-
tific and literary gentlemen, at which a number of ap-
propriate toasts were given, and speeches made.
The subjoined are the principal dimensions of the
London :

Feet In.
Length on gun-deck
Ditto for tonnage l7O 6
Extreme breadth 54 2
For tonnage .. 53 6
Moulded
Depth in hold
Burthen in tons 2,602 f (old rule).

The Polyphemus, a fine steamer of 800 tons burden,
was launched about an hour before the London. The
features of ohfis a
brow,rene venerable
wits bl
Polyphemus is intended partly to fight and partly
transport men and munitions of war. She seems well
calculated to do either ; her sides arc sharp and almost
perpendicular, and the little windows along the after-
cabin will give her the appearance of carrying a second
tier of guns.' The figure-head does not give the spec-
tator any idea of the horrid chief of the Cyclops ; in-
ae
stead of the bust of a grim one-eyed giant, who would
of
swallow a man with as much ease as one of us would
dp iesrpsaotncalig
ea herrwithnagw
rweeath"w the
laurel feaar
u

Duke-street,
south-
first stone
S, about 50.0
iacttebnd.ed in their canonicals.
1:e-1,03,1..10yr:to, ,
but d thetb c
CLAPIIANI NEW CHURCII.—The
of ancthur new church was laid on Thursday last Ity-li
Thornton, Esq. It will contain 1,200 sitting
of whi,..:11 will be free, and the cost, including fittings,
,lii doc,exta
ict2o,n
estimated at 6,600/. 4,0001. has already been subs2.igifb'edis
Dr. Dealtry, the rectogr,inAtor,ne
wholeTewea Itihwer district
was
i fca,lecrugbr}ia'e,bd
, weree 1
lig
numerous company assemplatform,well protected by a
spacious awning over the
_f, and_ a marquee, erected
ark. We obset ved u
the Platform, and a number of in-
by Mr. Benjamin Ed
tlumtial gentlemen cn
i soon subs'cribnedd it
is
hoped the
2,000/. required will _ , preventing any
Government fund
application to the Go for building new
churches. an has We
' The Earl of Cardin , are told, brought
a tother officer of his regiment underi the notice of the au-
thorities of the Horse Guards,cof ntlecourse of the last few
days, for an imputed
breach
that discipline, and disobedience
of orders ; but as the sea, any public notice of the
at this.
circumstance would creatoc,,,:n
%rparticular juncture is fully
appreciated, the allegd II 't
a has merely been ; '
praate,y
reprimanded. The circuins ancees, as they have
been re-
lated to us, arc as follow : A t a
w-ays ag° Lis Lordship,
whilst driving in his phaetonthrough the streets of Brigh-
..r
ton, happening to meet LieutenantC. Forrest of h's
regiment, who had been
of
ome time past on duty
at the Pavilieti, gut out,. °' his earriarr
~e, and in lan-
me ions
guage the most contu i
ent at the t.
(being evidently in a state
of considerable exciter'? 'me) asked him how
ait '
" he dared" to persist in
ret
possession the key of his guar- '
ters ; of which he had . keptthem,
during his tem-
porary absence from 1,11
had,
expressly
n accordance with a rule
which the Horse Guards
<<mad e and pro-
viled" for such cases 1 Mrr. . . Forrest a:tempted, of
course, to justify himself from the breach of discipline
With which he stood charged, ,but respectfully declined to
surrender the key of his rooms, on the ground that he
had not had an opportunity of removing his property
from them, and that he had not infringed any standing
regulation by
this detention. The next day a complaint
was made by Lord Cardigan to the Horse Guards, and
Mr. Forrcst has, we unerstand, since received a severe
reprimand for his contumacy.— United Service Gazette.
THE SUICIDE IN ST. JAMES'S PARIC—II
has been aFeertained that the individual who committed so
determined an act of self.destruction on Saturday night, in
is `lr. George Povey,
• St. James's Park, ag,ed 29, a cloth-
worker and chow, residint; in Fullwood'4-rei,'ta, 1-1Q11),-xr.

! MEHEMET ALI AND THE FOUR
I POWERS.

The following is the official Egyptian account of the
last interview of the Consuls with the Ministers of the
Pacha of Egypt. Its authenticity is guaranteed by the
Reparateur de Lyons, which publishes it.
" Note of the Conference which took place on the sth
September, 1840, in the drawing-room of his Highness
the Viceroy of Egypt, between their Excellencies
Rilaat Bey, the Envoy of the Sultan, and Sarni Bey,
Privy Councillor to his Highness the Viceroy, in the
presence of Ibrahim Bey, Captain of the Port of Con-
stantinople, a Colonel, and a Caimakan of a Dragoman,
a Secretary, and of the Consuls-General of Russia,
England, Austria, and P 1 ussia, with their Drago-
mans :

" His Excellency Rifaat Bey first spoke, and, ad-
dressing himself to Sarni Bev, said—' Since his High-
ness the Pacha, finding himself indisposed, has autho-
rised your Excellency to represent him here, all that you
say shall be considered as corning from the Pacha
Sami Bey replied—' Undoubtedly, all I shall
have the honour to tell you here will be considered as
proffered by his Highness himself.'
" Rifaat 13ey—' As the twenty days granted to his
Highness to consider about accepting th succession of
Egypt are expired, you must necessarily give us an
official aLswer:

" Sarni Bey—" The general reply of his Highness has
been already sent to the Sublime Porte, and from thence
will be communicated to the Great Powers. The
answer now given to you is, that the hereditary posses-
sion of Egypt, the principal point of the Eastern ques-
tion, was officially accepted in the first conference, held
before the expiration of the term fixed by the Sublime
Porte. This acceptation is renewed and confirmed. As
to what relates to the question of Syria, his Highness
will not put himself in opposition to the Porto as to
what has been agreed upon between it and the Great
Powers, in bringing forward obstacles to the solution of
this affair. The servant of the Sublime Porte, whose
heard has become grey during his long years of service,
flatters himself with being able to obtain from the Im-
perial clemency and generosity the favour which he
solicits ; and as the Powers have not treated him ac-
cording to the merit of his submission, he consequently
demands that justice should be rendered him, in order
that the Powers may be convinced of the reality of the
proofs of his obedience.'
" The Consuls of Russia and England observed that
his Highness's acceptation could only be of avail when
ho should have given up the Ottoman fleet, and placed
in their hands an order to withdraw his troops from
Syria ; without that, his adhesion would not be accepted.
" Sami Bey replied to the Consuls :—"l'he resolu-
tions taken by the Great Powers have two questions
for their special object. The first concerns Syria ; the
second relates to the possession of Egypt, and is the
most important. Now, this last point being accepted,
the other can only be secondary. The disser.t which
exists with respect to Syria cannot destroy the right to
accept the principal clause of the treaty. Nevertheless,
this affair will not be settled without the adhesion of
your GaNernments. It is for this purpose that the
supplication which has been forwarded to the Sublime
Porte will be communicated to the Great Powers ; and
if you con&der the acceptation of his Highness neither
just nor available, we will leave the affair to be judged
by the said Powers ; if you are not of this opinion, it is
of little consequence.'
" Tne persons present approved of what was said
above. The English Consul said immediately—' His
Highness some time back evinced his desire for our de-
parture ; perhaps lie will now insist on it ?'

. .
" Sami Bey—' When you were told to go, affairs
wore a very different aspect from the present. As you
have yourselves announced your intention of declaring
war in case that Syria was not evacuated, on this account
you were told to quit, your presence is that country not
being then necessary. But as long as things remain
in their present state, your safety is assured. If, how.
ever, you think differently, you are at liberty to remain
or lcave.' _

The Russian Consul—' In remaining here, can you
answer for the safety of our persons and our flags ?'
"Sarni Bey—' At present we can guarantee your
tranquillity, and your safety is assured at all events.'
" ltifaat Bey—' Have the kindness to prepare your
answers to the despatches I have brought.'
" Sami Be)'—' You have heard the answer that I was
commissioned to make : take it.'
" And here ended the conference."