The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-28 00:00:00

WANDSWORTH.

Mr. PATXTBE desires to acknowledge the receipt of
a cheque for 10 guineas from " H. 8.," appropriated
with that gentleman's sanction to the Manor Hall
Asylum at Chelsea, an excellent but poorly patro-
nized institution for the reception of young women on
leaving prison.

NUMEROUS FIRES. .
Between the hours of ten A.M. on Tuesday, and the
same hour of Wednesday, not fewer than ten fires oc-
curred in the metropolis, which kept the firemen and
engines during that period in continued movement.
One fire took place at 3, Tennis-court, Middle-row,
Holborn, belonging to Mr. J. Quail', a carpenter. It
commenced In the cellar, in which a quantity of
shavings were deposited. Timely information having
been forwarded to the fire stations, with all speed the
engines of the London Fire Brigade and West of
England attended, and the engines having been set to
work, the Brigade succeeded, after much trouble, in
confining the flames to the lower part of the house.
Another fire occurred at 29, Plough-court, Fetter-
lane, by which a child nearly lost its life. It appears
that a young child had been left in the bookbinders'
room of Mr. F. Homer, when it set fire to a quantity
of paper cuttings, and the flames nearly encircled
her. Her screams brought assistance, and she was
fortunately rescued in the nick of time, and the fire
was soon extinguished. The third fire was at 20,
Colville-place, Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square, be
longing to Mr. Alfred Vile, proprietor of the Rose
and Crown Tavern. It was caused from some par-
tially-consumed tobacco falling in the stuffing at the
end of the skittle-ground. The inmates soon got the
flames out, before any material damage was done,
although the alarm was very great. About the same
time a fire broke out at 35, Fish-street-hill, belonging
to Mr. Arthur Snowden, butcher. It was caused
from a spark falling from a lighted candle, which set
a cupboard and the furniture in the second floor in
flames. About an hour previously, a fire, which at
one period threatened very serious consequences, took
place on the premises belonging to Mr. Donald
Robertson, a dairyman, No. 15, Sherrard-street,l
Golden-square. This was also caused by a spark from
a candle, which set the bed and furniture in flames.
The seventh fire occurred at No. 1, Bow-common-
lane, Bromley, in the occupation of Mr. N. Nealing,
which did considerable damage. About the same
time a fire broke out at five, liungerford-street,
Strand, belonging to a lodger named C. Brown. It
occurred in the first floor, but was not extinguished
until the bed and furniture were destroyed therein.
The eighth fire was at 5, East-street, Finsbury-
market, in the tenure of Messrs. James Roscoe and
Son, oil [and colourmen. The firemen, by dint of
great exertion, got the flames out, but not until the
shop and its contents were se'verely damaged by fire.
The ninth fire was at 74, Houudsditeh, belonging to
Messrs. Jones and Co., leather-sellers. It was
caused by a bottle, filled with whisky, bursting with
the heat of the counting-house fire. The firemen
soon got the flames out, but not before the stock with
basement was damaged by fire, &c. The other fire
was in Argyle-street, New-road, but the damage done
was not considerable.

RETAINER OF COUNSEL.
The following new rules of practise relating to the
retainers of counsel were adopted uanimously at a
special general meeting of the Incorporai-ed Law So-
ciety, held on Wednesday, the 29th of November :
GENERAIf RETAINERS.
1. That a general retainer applies to all courts in
which the counsel receiving it shall practise.
2. That if the counsel should be offered a special
retainer by the opponent of the party having given such
general retainer, in any other court than that in which
he shall usually practise,, the general retainer entitles
the party giving it to notice before the offered retainer
is accepted.
3. That the general retainer lasts for the joint lives
of the client and counsel, or so long as the counsel con-
tinues in practice, except it be lost, according to any of
these rules.
4. In case a spscial retainer or brief is offered to
counsel against the party who has given a general
retainer, the counsel is at liberty to accept the special
retainer or brief of the other party, unless within one
week after issue joined, or replication filed, a special re-
tainer or brief be, given by the party who gave the ge-
neral retainer.
5. Where a general retainer has been given and a
brief is not delivered to the retained counsel in any
action, suit, or other proceeding, in which the party
giving the general retainer is concerned (and pending in
the court wherein the counsel usually practises), the
general retainer is entirely lost, unless in cases where a
brief is given to 'a junior counsel only, and the- services
of the retained counsel appear unnecessary to the re-
taining solicitor.
6. Where a general retainer is given for one person,
and he is sued with others, and he defends separately,
the retainer is binding; but it is otherwise if he defend
jointly.
CORPORATION AND PARTNERSHIP RETAINERS.
7. Subject to the foregoing rules, a general retainer
given for a corporation will continue, unless the cor-
poration be dissolved, or the grant of a new charter be
accepted.
8. When a general retainer is given for a partner-
ship or firm, it continues so long as the style of the
partnership or firm continues, and extends to all mat-
ters aff,cting the partnership, notwithstanding all the
partners may not be included in the action or actions
brought.
9. A general retainer may be given for a provisional
committee in respect of any subject of action or suit,
by or against such committee, or any member or mem-
bers of it, arising out of the concern in which they are
provisional committeemen.
SPECIAL RETAINERS.
10. A special retainer may be given as well before as
after the commencement of an action at law or suit in
equity, or a proceeding in bankruptcy.
11. A special retainer gives the client a right to the
service of the counsel during the whole progress of the
cause, including interlocutory applications and bills of
exception and rehearing.
12. The retained counsel is entitled to a brief on every
occasion in which the case is brought before the Court in
which he usually practises, except where the services of
the junior counsel only appear to the retaining solicitor
necessary.