The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-16 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION

AT GREAT EALING.—(THIS DAY.)
This morning, between the hours of two and
three, a fire, attended with a considerable destruction
of property, broke out upon the premises belonging
to Mr. Hall, a marine store dealer, situate at Great
Ealing, near the church. The flames were first dis-
covered by one of the villagers. An instant alarm
was raised, but such a strong hold had the flames
obtained, that in a few minutes the building, from the
bottom to the top, presented one immense'rsheetof fire.
Owing to the danger: to which the adjoining houses
were exposed, the various inmates were soon busily
engaged in removing their furniture to a more dis,
tant part for protection, and many of the parties had
scarcely sufficient time to dress themselves. Seeing
that the house was completely enveloped in fire, great
interest was evinced for Mr. Hall, the owner. Search
was made among the crowd of persons congregated
together, but the only tidings that could be obtained
of him was, that he was at the Rose and Crown
public-house opposite, drinking with a friend till a
late hour the overnight, and that no one had seen him
afterwards. The necessary intelligence having
been sent to the fire stations, the parish en-
gines from Ealing and Old and New Brent-
ford arrived, but the fire still progressing,
an express was sent to London for additional aid.
The moment the news arrived Mr. Staples started
with one of the brigade engines, and Mr. Connorton
with that of the West of England Company. Upon
arriving at the scene of the disaster, the building in,
which the flames commenced was almost gutted, and.
the only supply of water that could be obtained was
from a pump a long distance from the seat of the
fire. By attaching additional lengths of hose to the
engine the firemen were enabled to reach the flames,
and by great perseverance they happily succeeded in
getting the fire extinguished, but not before Mr.
Hall's stock in trade was totally destroyed, and the
building gutted.
When the reporter left Great Ealing, Mr. Hall had
not been seen by any of the firemen, and it is at pre-
sent unknown whether he has perished in the flames
or not.

THE PRINCE OF GONZAGA

MANTUA.

A letter from Turin, of November 5, says—The
unexpected apperance here of the Prince of Gonzaga
Mantua has raised a question of the gravest import-
ance in the higher regions of power. Every one
knows that his Royal Highness has been received
officially at Rome by the Holy Father, who by such
reception has solemnly recognised the Prince as the
true and legitimate descendant of the illustrious house
of that name, and consequently as the heir t© its
great domains. The Cabinet of Turin, which makes
it a point of honour to tread in the footsteps of
Pius IX., would hail with satisfaction as a neighbour
an Italian Prince restored to his rights, but a great
obstacle is opposed to this project; it is the Austrian
domination.

It appears that an illustrious personage has pro-
posed to his Highness, in compensation for the states
which were seized from his ancestors, the Duchy of
Modena, of which the actual possessor neither has nor
will have any children. This proposition, moreover,
is in conformity with the ♦iews of the European
Courts, who would not be displeased to diminish the
number of Italian sovereignties. However this may
be, we have ascertained from an undoubted source
that the Prince, without having positively refused,
has let it be understood that he should prefer re-
gaining his dear Mantua, and living in the midst of
his old subjects. This passed on the 3d inst.

It was also reported that his Highness visited his
Majesty the King of Sardinia, who manifested the
greatest interest and kindness towards him. I give
you this intelligence without vouching for it. All
that I can assure you is
ydipslyommthapatatitchte iPrinceywhoar7do.ogmahoays
oefxctihteedhigthleiest
rmanoisctinitihveel
Alexander de Gonzaga Mantua, born and brought
up in the school of exile, joins to a profound know-
ledge of men and things, amenity of character,
nobleness of sentiments, and a proved talent for mili-
tary affairs. A single interview has taught our
statesmen to appreciate his character, and he has in-
spired them with a high esteem for his person.
The numerous population inhabiting the de-
licious valleys of the Mincio, will, no doubt,
hail with delight the happy moment which
shall restore to them a Prince so generous,
so amiable, and so beloved, and who, as the
which is the
upanritoinzaonf liobfertthyewpitohlicryeligoifonP,iwusillirr-pOWerfully second
his efforts, if need be, with his sword in the honour-
able and difficult task which he has undertaken.
Assuredly, his official reception by Pius IX. is an act
of deep meaning, and affords the most illustrious tes-
timony of reparative justice, which it is possible to
render to rights forgotten and ignored by the
Treaty of Vienna, to the august descendant of
the house of Gonzaga Mantua. Alexander
King of Jerusalem, who deigns to honour us with
his particular support, and whom we know personally,
merits richly, by his solid virtues and by his talents,
to be restored to the possessions of his ancestors, who
were unjustly deprived of them, and that against the
loudly expressed desires of the population who
blessed their paternal Government. May our wishes
and those of our worthy correspondent be soon
realised in favour of the Prince. This is all the evil
that we wish to the land of Virgil and of so many
other geniuses.—La Voix Calholique de Geneve.

PRIVY COUNCIL.—Her Majesty will hold a Privy
Council on Monday next. Yesterday summonses were
issued to the several member of the Cabinet, for a
Council this afternoon.

WINDSOR CASTLE, MONDAY EVENING. - To-
morrow morning his Royal highness the Prince Consort
will leave the Castle, at nine, for Slough, and go from
thence by special train to London, to preside:at a meet-
ing of the Commissioners of Fine Arts. his Royal
lligi'ness will return to Windsor Castle in the afternoon.
Lord and Lady John Russell received a distin-
guished circle to dinner last evening, at the Noble
Lord's mansion, in Chesham-
The Lord President of the Council (the Marquis
of Lansdowne) arrived in town yesterday, from Bowood
Park, Wilts.

Notwithstanding their conditional acceptance, we
believe it is not finally decided by the Committee of
Lloyd's where the statue of the late Mr. Huskisson,
offered by his widow, shall be placed. The vestibule, in
which it has been suggested that it should stand, is not
only much too small for a colossal statue, but is already
Occupied by a statue of Prince Albert, who laid the
foundation stone of the Royal Exchange. In contiguity
with that, such a very large statue as that of Mr. Bus-
kisson would have the efl'ect of making it appear dimi-
nutive. Neither would the peculiar costume accord
with the graceful and full robe of Prince Albert. It is
doubtful, also, whether the floor is sufficiently sustaiNed
to bear the enormous weight of such a very large statue.
Besides, it may be a question whether strict etiquette
would quite warrant the statue of a subject being placed
in the contracted space already occupied by one of
royalty.
The Rectory of Clapham, Surrey (diocese of Win-
chester), vacant by the death of the Venerable Arch-
deacon Dealtry, 1).D., has been conferred on the Rev.
T. B. Bowyer, M.A.; patron, W. B. Atkins, Esq.
THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—On the Oxford
and Gloucester branches new carriages are running ;
they contain at the extreme end second-class carriages,
and the two middle, first class, and are lighted up, and
made very comfortable.
Rear-Admiral Dundas, C. 8., has returned to his
residence in the Admiralty from Windsor Forest.
His Excellency the Duke de Broglie received the
following distinguished circle to dinner at the French
embassy :—His Excellency the American Minister and
Mrs. Bancroft, the Earl and Countess Granville, Vis-
count and Viscountess Palmerston, Baron Koller, the
Right Hon. Thomas B, Macaulay, Mr. A. Fould, Count
and Countess de Jarnac, Count Henri de Beam, M.
Rabaudy, and M. Felix Cotter.
Mrs. Hele, late of Tunbridge Wells, has lAe-
queathed I,oook to the Sussex Hospital,.