The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-20 00:00:00

leserve,

[The American frigate met with what she
Her commander, when he sailed from Lisbon, knew
that Oporto was blockaded, and therefore he had no
right to attempt to force a blockade. He must
have gone either as a spy or a mere braggadocio, to
show how completely a Yankee could set all the
laws, customs, and usages of civilized nations at
defiance. If he went as a spy, it is to be re-
gretted that he escaped with so little damage. If he
went as a braggadocio, we cannot but feel rejoiced
at seeing the bully meet with the sound thrashing
which it seemed was administered by the Portuguese
to "Brother Jonathan" in the present instance. It
was "richly deserved, and well laid on."—En. Sun.]

ANOTHER TREMENDOUS FIRE
AT GRAVESEND.—FORTY HOUSES CON-
SUMED—REPORTED 'LOSS OF LIFE.
Shortly after twelve o'clock last night, or rather this
morning, the town of Gravesend, which has of late years
suffered severely from frequent fires, was, we regret to
say, the scene of another calamity, the greater in magni-
tude, as regards the destruction of property, than any of
the former, consuming no fewer than forty houses, and
numerous other buildings to a very great extent.
Singular to say, its locality is the same as the former
fires. West-street extending along the water side from
near the Town Pier to the Rosherville Gardens, and it
is supposed that at least half of the street, with the
houses on each side is laid in ruins, including several on
the west side of High-street, and those bounding the
courts at the back.
From inquiries made it appears that about half-past
12 o'clock some watermen, who were at the Town Pier-
stairs waiting the arrival of a foreign steamer, observed
a body of smoke hovering over the premises occupied by
Mr. Garretes, tea-dealer, adjacent to the Pier Hotel; at
the eorner of West-street. Not having seen anything
of the kind before—their duty at the stairs being almost
nightly—they suspected all was not right, and deter-
mined to arouse the inmates. Before however they
could accomplish this,the flames burst forth from the back
premises with such violence as to light up the whole
town and the opposite shore, creating a general alarm.
The inmates having been got out in safety, steps were
taken to bring the Corporation engines, which were soon
on the spot, into operation ; but this for a time was im-
practicable, owing to the defective state of the water
mains and the inefficiency of those placed in charge
of them. The result was that the fire, which might have
been confined to the back premises with the aid of one
engine, extended itself to the buildings on each aide,
hence the destruction commenced with frightful rapidity,
sweeping every house in that portion of West-street at
the north-east corner to the water-side. The Mayor
and most of the Town Council arrived within a
quarter of an hour after the discovery, by which period
at least four houses on the west side oft's° street were in
flames from the basement to the roof, and the houses on
the opposite side were igniting. The excitement at this
juncture had increased to a most painful extent, it being
too evident that a vast number of the surrounding build-
ings would fall a sacrifice, if some stringent measures
were not adopted. The engines had been got to work,
but not effectively. The consequence was, that an order
was given for the engines stationed at Dartford and
Northfleet to be sent for, and expresses were
accordingly dispatched. The midtary at Tilbury '
Fort had been previously mustered by the
commanding officer of that fortress, who, with
every promptitude forwarded them to the assis-
tance of the townspeople, and it is but justice to
observe, the men, throughout the trying occasion, ex-
erted themselves in a most energetic manner for the
preservation of property. Their efforts, however, were
of little avail in stopping the career of the conflagration,
for at least four hours the wind, which was bl ew log
violent gale, completely baffling their operations, and
increased the magnitude of the fire to a frightful de-
gree. The scene by four o'clock, was most. awful, the
flames had crossed the
the
the whole
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were in flames, beside
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south side of West street the fire raged upwards in the
direction of the centre of the town, destroying in its
course a great number of low dwelling-houses in
the various courts. These were principally tenanted by
poor fishermen, hawkers, labourers, Bze., and the distress
that ensued amongst them in their endeavours to save
their lives and their trifling chattles, was of the most
poignant character. In one court their was no thorough-
fare, except from the approach in West-street, and that
was stopped by the dense body of fire. The greatest
sensation was entertained for the safety of the poor
creatures who tenanted it. The police and soldiers,
however, bravely exposed themselves towards rescuing
them, and which they succeeded in, by dragging them in
at the back windows of the adjacent houses. From their
excited state, and the dense suffocating character of the
smoke, it is impossible to say whether the whole of them
were saved. On this point there are many doubts, three
parties, up to the period of the account leaving, being
missing. In addition to the Gravesend engines, several
from Chatham and Dartford were brought to play
in the most available positions. The checking of
the fire tia the directiou it wa* extendi4 -, towards the