The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-15 00:00:00

BOSTON, JUNE 27, 1846:

A fire broke out, about one o'clock this morning, in
Quimby's lard oil factory, on Warren-street, Charles-
town, which, with all its contents, was entirely destroyed.
The fire also communicated to a dwelling house owned
by Mrs. Fennall, and occupied by Mr. Silas Crane and
Mr. Sylvester, which was likewise totally consumed.
The dwelling house of Mr. Kendall Bailey, next to the
oil factory, was considerably damaged. The wind being
in the right direction to carry the flames from the
house, it was finally saved, though Mr. Bayley's fine
garden in the rear was very much injured by being
occupied by the firemen in extinguishing the flames.
On the opposite side of Warren-street, the fire com-
municated to a large house, nearly new, belonging to
the heirs of John Coffin, from which the tenants had
lately removed. The upper story of the house was
ruined before the firemen succeeded in mastering the
flames, and the whole was completely drenched with
water. This house is in the care of Hon. Benjamin
Thompson, member of Congress, whose wife is one of
the heirs to the estate.

Two or three nice houses belonging to Mr. Coburn,
deputy-sheriff of this city, were very considerably da-
maged, but were finally saved by the persevering and
energetic exertions of the firemen.
The burning of the oil factory and its greasy contents,
made a most brilliant illumination, which lasted for over
two hours. It lighted up the city of Boston in splendid
style, and was the most imposing spectacle, in the
shape of a conflagration, that I have seen for a great
while.

It rained quite hard during a portion of the time that
the fire was raging. This was a fortunate circumstance,
for the oil factory was surrounded by wooden buildings,
that would have caught instantly, had it not been for the
drenching rain. The firemen of Boston, Cambridge,
and Chelsea, were promptly on the spot, and their exer-
tions, in conjunction with the Charlestown fire depart-
ment, saved the town from a wide. spread and destruc-
tive calamity. Some difficulty, I believe, was experienced
in obtaining an adequate supply of water. How the fire
originated is not known. It was pretty well under way
when discovered. The amount of loss and insurance I

am unable to give, as this letter is written very early in
the morning.
THE PROJECTED OCCUPATION OF CALIFORNIA.—It
is said there is a design entertained in some quarters, in
Washington, to organise a volunteer force of one thou-
sand men, to proceed to California, for the purpose of
taking armed occupation of that fertile country, and co:

lonizing it. It is'also stated that the plan has— received
the sanction of the President, but that it is to be kept
secret until a proper time arrives for putting it in exe-
cution. The force is to be drawn from New York and
New England, and is to be composed of hardy mecha-
nics, who are willing to settle in the country. Already
a company of artillerymen are on the point of leaving
this port for that destination, in the United States store-
ship Lexington. This looks very like extending the
ar, aof freedom to some purpose. The idea is a capital
one, and the enterprise is sure to succeed. Here is an
excellent opportunity for emigrating.
YET LATER FROM VERA CRITZ.—An arrival at Pen-
sacola on the 21st inst., from Vera Cruz, brought a letter
from a gentleman in the United States Frigate Raritan.
dated 4th June, off Vera Cruz, from which we learn

that the blockading squadron was enjoying good health.
The Princeton arrived there on the Ist of June. No
news is given from the interior.

We find the subjoined details respecting the tobacco
market, in a New York paper of the 30th ult.
Since the departure of the Great Western, the market
has been without any material alteration, either in the
general aspect, or in prices. It is stated that in a single
warehouse in Pittsburgh, there-are now lying, awaiting
transportation, at least 2,000 hhds. 1,900 of which were
raised in Ohio. The sales here during the week have
not been extensive, amounting to about 150 hhds. of
Kentucky and Virginia at 2i to 5, cents, 30 bales of
Baracoa at 18 cents, 4 months, and 237 Cuba on terms
not made known. A sale, by auction, of 10 hhds of
Maysville took place at 3 to 4, cents—average 3 dollars
80 cents, 60 days.
At Baltimore, during the week ending the 27th inst.,
no positive improvement was perceptible; but we are
glad to find the belief entertained that prices have reached
their lowest point, and that any change that takes place
will be for the better. The large stocks of common
qualities, both in this country and in Europe, will,
doubtless, tend to keep these descriptions at very low
rates, though, owing to the diminished production, some
advance may possibly take place shortly. The sales of
Maryland this week have been pretty extensive, at
former prices, which we continue, with the remark that
a lot which will bring no more than our lowest quota.
tion is rarely to be met with, viz.:—lnferior and com-
mon 1 50 a 2 50 ; middling to good 3 a 5 50 : good
9 dol. ; and fine 7a 12 dol. Ohio tobacco is in fair de-
mand, and sales to a moderate extent are making, but
prices are irregular, and very low rates have to be sub-
mitted to. We quote common to middling 1 50 a
3 50 ; good 4 50 a 6 dol. ;", fine red and wrappery
6 50 a 9 dol. ; fine yellow 9 a 11 dol. ; and extra wrap-
pery 10 a 12 dol. The inspections of the week are
1,298 hhds. Maryland, 987 hhds. Ohio, 13 hhds.
Pennsylvania; and 3 hhds. Kentucky—total 2,301 hhds.
The New York Sun of the same date states, that
American agricultural produce is sensibly affected by
the prospects of a plentiful harvest. The best flour is
selling at the very low price of four dollars per barrel.
Food is now cheaper in America than at any former
perm • d within the past twenty years, and nothing but
trhoemhuotpteer dofeaspadierm. anwdeinbeElienvgelatnhdatsathvetscoournr
Bfairilm has
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passed, and that belief alone induces the American
people and the American press to encourage a modifi-
cation of our tariff. Reciprocity is the order of the day,
and these mutual concessions between nations are greatly
facilitated, especially in England and America, by the
influence of a free press. The liberty of the Press and
the liberty of Commerce are identical. One cannot
exist without the other.

The fluctuations in the prices of grain and flour
during the past six months have brought ruin upon a
few speculators and bankers, but the disaster is happily
confined within narrow bounds. Some dealers in Ohio
and other Western States complain of deception being
practised upon them by sources of information in Eng-
land to which they had looked with implicit confidence.
—The scarcity in England and Ireland was undoubtedly
over estimated, but we think there was no intention to
deceive. Besides, great speculators are generally too
sanguine.

With regard to cotton the following report from an
extensive and respectable cotton broker at New York,
will show the present and future prospects of the trade:—
With reference to my circular under date of 15th inst.,
per steamer Hibernia, I have now to advise, that on the
day it was issued the steamer Great Western arrived from
Liverpool with dates to the 30th ult. ; the market there
was considered one eigtht easier to buy ; although quo-
tations were mainly the same as by the previous packet ;
her advice, had the tendency to create a dull market
here, as four days later accounts by the Caledonia were
nearly due, and holders were not disposed to abate in
their pretentions. The accounts by the packet re-
ferred to came to hand on Friday morning,
19th instant, and being confirmatory of the pre-
vious ones, a slightly easier market was percepti-
ble, in which buyers were aided by a general de-
cline in freights; which, with the advantage of a broader
selection from the increased amount on sale was equal
to a decline of a quarter cent.; yet, with this advan-
tage, the business has been small, the sales only occa-
sionally exceeding 1,000 bales per day. More purchases
have been made for the Continental markets lately than
for that of Liverpool, and the lower grades being more
generally called for have stiffened up, and inferior and
low ordinary descriptions are held one-eighth of a cent.
higher. The last three days the market has been quiet,
but closed Steady, and rather firmer,,st.the quotations
at top, which are varied slightly from those in my pre-
vious circular. The sales for the week ending 29th lust.