The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-13 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

Og Sunday morning, between the hours of three and
four, a fire broke out in the Castle Tavern, Bull Inn-
court, Strand, the property of Mr. Thomas Parker,
licensed victualler. The premises, which were three
stories high, were flanked on either side by numerous
dwelling-houses, and were adjoined at the rear by the
Adelphi Theatre. An alarm having been raised, a con-
siderable period elapsed before the proprietor and the
different lodgers could be aroused, by which time the
whole of the back of the buildings, composed principally
of timber, were completely wrapped in flames. With
such impetuosity was the fire then burning, that it was
with the greatest difficulty the inmates could effect a
safe retreat. As it was, the waiter, a man named James
Craner, together with a lodger, were obliged to leap
from one of the upper windows into the court, with
nothing on but their night-clothes. The waiter,
upon jumping out of window, started off in the state
he was to the Chandos-street Brigade Station, to
give intelligence. The engines from that depot were
quickly got out and taken to the scene ; these were
followed by others of the London establishment, with
Mr. Braidwood, the sup• rintendent, and also those
belonging to the West of England County Insurance
Companies. By the time, however, that they arrived,
the flames had broken through the roof, and ascended
so high into the air as to illuminate the greater portion
of the metropolis. There being only a lath-and-plaster
partition between the burning premises and the house
No. 7 in the same court, a few seconds only elapsed
before the latter also became ignited. The hose of the
engines having been attached, the branches were taken
down the court, but no water could at that time be ob-
tained from the plugs. For some time it was feared
that the Adelphi Theatre would have been consumed.
the skylight and trap-doors on the roof being several
times in flames. A number of persons, however, having
mounted the roof, a quantity of water, kept there in a
tank provided in case of, such a disaster, was scattered
about, and by that means the theatre was preserved.
As soon as water could be procured from the mains, the
engines were set at work, under the direction of Mr.
Braidwood. After labouring fur s )me time, the firemen
at length got the fire completely extinguished. The
damage done is very considerable, the whole of the stock
belonging to Mr. Parker, together with his furniture and
wearing apparel, is totally lost- The furniture of the
lodgers in the building, and that belonging to five fami-
lies in the adjoining house, is likewise destroyed. The
scene at one period was truly distressing ; the residents
of at least twenty houses in the court were to be seen
running. to and fro almost in a state of frenzy, carrying
along with them their children and what little property
they could lay hold of. The origin of the fire could not
be accounted for. The only, party out of the great
number of sufferers who was insured, was Mr. Parker ;
eight or nine families are therefore deprived of every-
thing they once possessed.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN THE WALIVORTH ROAD.—
On Sunday afternoon, the premises belonging to Mr.
Aldous, a corn chandler and seed merchant, situate at
No. 9, Baker's-row, Walworth-road, were discovered to
be on fire. The flames, it is presumed, originated at
the back of the shop amongst the stock, and passed
from thence up the staircase, and communicated to the
first and second floors. The intelligence was without
delay furnished to the engine stations, and forthwith
the brigade engines, from Southwark and Waterloo-
bridge-roads, arrived on the spot. By the period,
however, that the firemen could get to work, the flames
had obtained so strong a hold as to threaten with
destruction the numerous contiguous buildings. For-
tunately the mains of the Latnbetzt works afforded a
plentiful supply of water, and after labouring for nearly
an hour, the firemen succeeded in subduing the flames,
not, however, until the back part of the shop, together
with the stock in rade therein, and the staircase, with
the first and second floors, were nearly destroyed. Ti e
adjoining premises of Mr. Mars iall, No. 10, are also
datnaged by water and fire. The origin of the fire is un-
known. The building was insured in the Alliance-office,
but Mr. Aldous was uninsured.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN CLERKENWELL.—Saturday
morning a fire broke out upon the premises bel urging to
Mr. W. Farmer, an engin ca rying on business at
No. 33, Great Sutton-st eat, Clerkenwell. It -iriginated
from sound unknown cause in the factory at the rear of
the dwelling. Fortunately the building, a large o ie,
about forty or fifty feet long, was ,iettached, or the most
disastrous consequences might have been expected. The
engines of the London Brigade, p trish, Wes: of Eng-
lard, and Count); Companies promptly attended, and
there being in abundant stream of Mater supplied by the
New River Company, the engines were set to work, and
the firemen, after labouring for some ime, at length
succeeded in extinguishing the flames, not, however,
until the p•emises in which the fire began were, together
with the contents, nearly consumed. Mr. Freeman is
insured in the Sun Fire-office.

FIRE ON BOARD A SHIP.—On Saturday morning.
about twelve o'clock, the barque Thomas Henry, of
Exeter, Captain Jewry, lying in Messrs. Curling and
Young's deck, Limehouse, was discovered to be on fire.
The issue of a dense mass of smoke from the after deck
made the watchman aware of the fact. An instant alarm
was spread, and intelligence was dispatched to the dif-
ferent engine stations. Upon entering the after cabin, the
flooring was found to be on fire, and was blazing most
furiously, threatening destruction to the entire ship.
The crews of several vessels instantly set to work, but
so firm a hold had the flames obtained that they defied
the utmost exertions of the parties present. The parish
engine was the first to arrive, and was sp..edily set to
work. This was followed by the brigade engines from
Schoolhouse-lane, Jeffrey and Wellclose-squares, Wat-
ling-street, an I the West of England statione. Owing
to the combined exertions of all parties the fire was
eventually extinguished, but not before considerable
damage was dune. The origin of the fire has been traced
to a defect in the stove.
FIRE AT THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY
STORES.—A fire, caused by the explosion of some fug
signal lights, occurred in the above stores, situate
near Cealk Farm. There being a quantity of cotton
wipings in the place, the same became ignited, and for
some time considerable alarm prevailed lest the entire
building should fall a prey to the fury of the flames. The
fire-engine belonging to the Company was quickly got
out and soon at work, and by judiciously distributintz
the water the flames were extinguished, but not until
the floor of the building was much burned ane the con-
tents damaged by fire and water.

EXTENSIVE FORGERY AT HULL

The second edition of the dud Packet of Frid4y con
:aims a rep•.rt of the examination of Edwin and Ben

jamin Adamson, at the Hull Police-court, on a charge of
forgery on Messrs. Brovinlow, Pearson, and Co., of Hull,
to the amount of 2,379 L 15s. The prisoners, who were
apprehended on Monday, had been, after a private exa-
mination, remanded, and were brought up again on
Friday morning. 11 ojamin Adamson is a man about
forty years of age, and keeps a tavern, called the Dur-
ham Ox. lie had been previously in the employ of
Messrs. Brownlow. The other prisoner, who is nine-
teen years of age, has been a clerk in the house
of Brownlow and Co. for five years. The for-
geries consisted of a series of cheques purport-
ing to be drawn by Brownlow and Pearson,
on Messrs. Pease and Liddell, their bankers, for amounts
varying from 50/. to 360/. The date of the first forgery
was June 3, 1844, that of the last Oct. 9, 1845. The
evidence against the prisoner Benjamin was very slight,
but at the conclusion of the examination the Magistrates
stated that they thought it was sufficient to warrant his
committal.

The elder prisoner appelred very powerfully affected
at this decision of the Magistrates, and turning round
to his brother, said in a tone of great agony, " Edwin,
Edwin, how can you see me suffer for what you know
lam innocent of? You know as well as Ido that I
not only had nothing to do with the cheques, but never
knew aught about them. You know as well as Ido
that the indorsements of those three cheques are not
in my writing but your•, and that I can prove i❑
any Court in England." The younger prisoner imme-
diately turned to the bench, and in u tone carrying con-
viction along with it, said " Indeed, gentlemen, what
my brother has said, is quite true. He knew nothing of
the matter until he was apprehended, a-id he never had
a farthing's consideration in the whole transactions. I
cannot deny that I am guilty, for I wrote the whole
three endorsements which have been sworn to ha►e been
written by my brother. He shall not suffer for my
guilt,: there were three of ue concerned, Doran is one,
arid my brother Thomas the other." Duran is a junior
clerk in Mr. Brownlow's office.

tie was immediately apprehended, and with the other
prisoners remanded. The police officers have been in
pursuit of Thomas Adamson for the last week.

THE CORN-LAWS, &c.—At the meeting of the
\larylebone Vestry, the Rev. Dr. Spry in the chair, Mr.
Flood, the vestry-clerk, laid before the vestry a letter he
had received from Sir James Graham, acknowledging
the receipt of the petition to the Queen from the parish
of St. Ntarylebone, signed by 8,000 of the rale-payers,
Praying f.r a total and immediate repeal of the corn-
laws, and promising to lay the same before her Majesty
at the earliest opprtunity. The letter was ordered to
entvrcd on the minutes,