The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-21 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 20.—Her Majesty's mortar
steamer Scourge returned from Aberdeen and the Shet-
land Isles on Friday night, to St. Helen's, and yesterday
went into the harbour to coal. The Scourge landed th(
corporal and men of the Sappers and Miners at Batts
Island, on Monday, and the next day left Unst, and got
to the anchorage at St. Helen's in 80 hours. Tlu
w eather was very fine on the coast of Shetland, but very
cold. The baggage of the two remaining companies of
the 74th Highlanders will be embarked in the Scourge
to-morrow, and next morning she is to take on board the
men, and proceed with them to Aberdeen.
The defects in the machinery of the Bulldog have not
yet been completed, and she is therefore still in the bar
hour; but it is expected she will be able to get away on
Tuesday. She has officers end dispatches on board for
Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker's squadron, and also for
Rear-Admiral Dacres, at the Cape of Good Hope. The
Bulldog's orders are for her to go to I)evonport to be
paid, and there receive any men, or dispatches, which
Admiral Sir J. West may have to send. A day or two
alter the Bulldog arrived here, her engineers re-
ported themselves sick, and unable to do any duty;
in consequence, on this being communicated by
Admiral Sir C. Ogle, the Admiralty had to send en-
gineers from Woolwich dockyard to supply their plAces,
but at the same time their Lordships ordered a Court of
Inquiry to be held on board the steamer, to ascertain if
the men were so sick as stated. Yesterday Captain
Pasco, and Commander Wilcox, of the Victory, and
Commander Slade, of the Recruit, were orders d to con-
duct this inquiry, and it has been reported by them that,
owing to the closeness of the packing of the engines and
machinery, and the went of a free passage at air, the
ventilation is so deficient that the health of the en-
gineers has suffered from the extreme heat. These offi-
cers have further stated that the men were really indis
posed, and unable to do any duty at that time, and fully
exonerate them from any attempt at imposition or ne-
glect of duty.
The Recruit brig, Commander Slade, is at Spithead,
ready for sea. It is expected she will be sent to the
Mediterranean, but she is to go to Plymouth first, to have
her compasses adjusted.
The Lightning Admiralty steam yacht has left their
Lordships, and arrived here on her way to Woolwich.
A Russian corvette, or storeship, from the westward,
anchored at Spithead this afternoon.
The Wasp, 16, is daily expected from the Island of
Ascension, and after landing her passengers and invalids,
is to go to Sheerness to be paid off.
The Admiralty have sent the Myrtle steamer to this
port to perform the duties of the Comet during her ab-
sence in Ireland with the Government money.
Four companies of the 2d Regiment of Foot have been
moved by the South-Western Railway from Winchester
to Gosport, to replace the 3d Buffs, transferred to Ports-
mouth; the remainder of the 2d will go down early next
week.

The freight ship Herald has brought to this dcckyard,
from Moulmein, the framework of two frigates, to be put
together bf• the artificers of this place. They are of
teak, from Burman.

A fine steamer belonging to the East India Company,
called the Conqueror, is at Spithead, bound for Bombay.
She is 1,600 tons burthea, and carried out her engines,
machinery, funnels, &c., with her, also some ordnance
stores. The Conqueror is barque rigged, and will sail
out to her destination.

All the noblemen's and gentlemen's yachts in this har-
bour, and at Ryde and Cords, as well as the steam-
vessels connected with the Isle of Wight, have had their
colours half-mast high since Friday, in consequence of
the death of their much-respected commodore, the Earl
of Yarborough.

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, SEPT. 18.—A large
business has been done in sweets this week, and prices
continue to have rather an upward tendency. The rum
market is quiet, but there is not much offering.—Bristol
Mercury.

FIRE AND LOSS OF tart AT -- Ur N
PRESTON.
About half-past eight o'clock on Friday nightoftst.4,,g..\_,7:s-1TA1,.64.7"
alarm was given by various tire-bf.ils thit the size;h4tuft./4 '.;',:t.r
of Air. Hibbert, in Staidey-street, was in flames. Itl'i.-:'0..,:;11:',>_
mediately on the fact being announced, the fire brig, Z'‘.ll,k.;l_,-Va
ii
with the hose-reel, was on the s-ot. Owing to tr,-;--t •`:.ttf,y4'
combustible nature of the mq.terials u ;ed in the wor , K . ,
the flames soon got to au alarming height, illuminatimu- ,
the neighbourhood to a vel7 considerable extenl, alMeg.. IV:4Bm ritz,
. ..
being visible in almost every pert of the town. .
The Victoria engine, and the engine of. Messrs. Hor-
rocks, Milkr, and Co., were ;on the spot a short time
afterwards,;.but a considerable time elapsed before either
engine was got into play, and a still further time before
they were effective. ,

In the meantime the fire gained a rapid ascendancy,
every portion of the building being soon under the un-
controlled dominion of the flames, and it then became
evident that no portion whatever of the stock or pro-
perly beyond the bag' outer wall.. modt-1 he saved.
Attention was of course direct.- dto sav;ng r. Pickles'
(the Sovereign) mill, the west wall of which ;s close up
to the size-house. The vofy thick sobstuntially'• built
walls of the mill proved inip,rvions to the fire. and that
property was saved, us were also the cettoges adjoining.
The close vicinity, not only of the Sovereign toil!, but of
Mr. Paley's, and the extensive premises of :Messrs.
Horrocks, Miller, and Co., gave to the tire, at one-time,
a very threatening aspect. Towards half-past ten o'clock,
however, owing to everything coashustible in the pre-
mises having been burned, tho flames abated.
The size-house, in which the fire originated, is en-
tirely gutted. The whole of the apparatus. stock, &c.,
is destroyed, and nothing but the bare walls remain
standing. It would be difficult as yet• to estimate the
loss, but we urelerstand that there was a considerable
quantity of warps on the premises. The stock and
building are insured to pretty nearly their full value.
The cause of the fire is not ascertained; but it coin-
menet din the top, or fourth story—a room used fur
drying warps, which is done by means of steam pipes.
The firemen appeared to work uncommonly hard, and
nothing could be more praiseworthy than their arduous
exertions; but they appeared as if wanting system, and
dependent upon desultory ,uggestions for guidance.
There was indeed much confusion and an evident want
of that promptitude and efficiency as hich is essentially
necessary on such occasions; and which is indispen-
sable in a town like Preston, velure so much lalusible
property is constantly at stake.
The most melancholy part of this unfortunate occur-
rence is the untimely death of Mr. Piekles. He was
pretty early on the spot after the alarm was given,
and feeling naturally anxious for the safety of his
property, was in h;s mill when the fire raged most
violently.
From the fourth story of the factory is a passage over
a portion of the size-house to the "Devil," or blowing-
room, a detached building. This passage was fireproof,
excepting the floor; which was flagged. Mr. Pickles was
standing at this passage with an overlooker at his mill,
of the name of Robert Wilson, when, stepping forward,
the flag upon which he had placed his foot immediately
snapped, having been cracked by the intense heat, and
Mr. Pickles was at once precipitated into the midst of
the flames, and falling through the third and fourth
stories alighted on the second floor, uttering as he went
down only a faint "oh!" A spiral flame' for a moment
hid the unfortunate man from the sight of Wilson, but,
on its subsiding, the latter saw the body of his master
stretched on the iron floor below, then glowing with a
white heat. This agonising sight was, however, soon
concealed from him, by the falling of portions of the
roof, flooring, &c., and the riling of a dense column of
smoke.

After the flames had subsided, the ruins were searched,
and the body of the unfortunate r'nan was found, sadly
burned ; the arms, legs, and face being dreadfully
scorched, the latter, indeed, almost wholly obliterated.
The dreadful fate of Mr. Pickles seemed to be most
keenly felt by all present and cast a feeling of deep
gloom over most of the people congregated on the un-
fortunate occasion. He was much re,pected by his
workmen, as a -kind-hearted master, and he has by
a
widow and four children to lament his untimely cud.—
Preston Chronicle.

ST. LAWRENCE'S CHURCH.—We understand that
the Lord Bishop of the diocese has made an appointment
to meet the Restoration Committee, at Reading, on this
day fortnight, when the arrangements for proceedirg in
this important work will be settled. The Right Rev.
Prelate takes considerable interest in the due restoration
of the venerable fabric, and we believe has suggested a
plan by which all professional differences of opinion as
to the plans sent in for competition will be removed.—
Berks Chronicle.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT BRlSTOL.—Yesterday (Sun-
day morning), at about one o'clock, 'a most destructive
fire was discovered to have broken out in Broadmead,
,ine of the most densely-populated portions of the city.
The fire commenced in the workshops of a Mr. Rich, a
cabinet-maker, which were situated in a lane in Broad-
mead, abutting upon, and joined by the stables and
coach-houses of Mr. Bland, one of the principal omni-
bus proprietors and carriers from the goods departments
of the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, South Devon,
and Bristol and Birmingham Railways. The buildings.
being very old, and filled with combustible materials, the
flames shot forth with awful rapidity, and at half. past
one o'clock the scene was one of the most imposing ever
witnessed. The flames rose to full 100 feet above the
houses, and having speedily caught the premises of Mr.
Staddon, and of Mr. lit' sit, cabinet-maker, burnt with a
rapidity that threatened the whole neighbourhood with
destruction. The valuable horses, &c, of Mr. Bland
were, however, rem:wed from their stables into a place of
safety ; and by the untiring exertions of the puiit e force,
under the command of Captain Fisher, their superin-
tendent,and the fire brigade (the West of Englaacl In-
surance Company's engine having been first on the spot),
at about six o'clock this morning the flames were got
under, and the adjoining properties, vt hich had frequently
caught fire during the night, were considered safe. -As
to the amount of damage, of course at present it would
be idle to speculate, but it must be very considerable.
TAB COBDEN NATIONAL TRIBUTE.—It will. be seen
by the advertisement elsewhere, that the subscriptions in
the Manchester district, up to last evening, amounted to
47,5631. This includesit he recent Huddersfield subscrip-
tions.—Manchester Guardian.

SPECIAL TRAMS TO HULL.—On Monday last
2,400 to 2,500 persons went by special trains from Leeds
to Hull, taking up passengers also at Woodlesford and
Castleford. The Leeds Old Temperance hand accom-
panied them, and with some of the party proceded, per
steamer, to Barton.- Others crossed the Humbsr to New
Holland, where Mr. Featherstone was holding, on the
bowling-green, the last of his series of dancing parties
this season. The streets and the docks, cathedral, and
suburbs of Hull were thickly lined with strangers during
the day, and in the evening they departed in one enor-
mous train of 65 carriages, drawn by three powerful en-
gines, the Liverpool, the Star, and the Express, dashing
along at the rate of 20 to 30 miles an hour. It was a
noble and cheerful sight. The weather was glorious,
and right merry were the party on their departure from
a town in which they appeared to have much enjoyed
themselves. Another special train, with 1,000 to 1,100
persons from Old and New Malton reached Hull the fol-
lowing day. The farmers' lads end lasses from both
sides the Dervvent required full 30 carriages, and well
tilled they were, when they agreed to come together to
see the port of Hull. This was the most rusticated com-
pany that we remember visiting Hull by any train.
They were extremely orderly. With what pleasure
must Mr. Hudson, a native of near Malton, and who was
in Hull that day, have beheld the cheerful faces of his
own country friends.—Leeds Mercury.
THE LATE CASE OF MILITARY FLOGGING AT
Homeseow.—On the evening of Thursday la 4, an order
from the Horse Guards was received by Lieue.Colonel
Whyte, the commanding officer of the 7th (Queen's
Own) Hussars, directing that regiment to prepare them-
selves to leave Hounslow Barracks cn route for Ireland
on this day (Monday). Ever since the conclusion of the
late inquest held on the body of White, the lower orders
of the town and neighbourhood of Hounslow, when they
have seen any of the officer. and particularly Lieut.-
Colonel Whyte, out of the Carracks, have assailed them
with upbraiduogs, couched in no very pleasant terms.
The farriers have also, when they have ventured into the
licensed houses in the neighbourhood, been publicly in-
sulted for the part they took in the infliction of the
punishment on White, and it, is believed that the know-
ledge of these. facts have induced the Horse Guards'
anthorities to issue the order for their removal. Their
departure from Hounslow Barracks is looked forward to
with much gratification by the majority or the inhabi-
tants, as it will allay much of that excited and irritated
feeling which still exists in that neighbourhood on the
subject of military flogging.
A NEW RECIPE FOR MAKING LOVE.—Yesterday
as one of the dock gatemen was gOing along Vauxhall-
road, he observed a man running in hot haste after a
woman. When the fellow had nearly overtaken her, he
pulled out a pistol, and deliberately fired it at her. The
woman fell, and the dock gateman seized the would be
murderer. Fortunately the woman had only swooned
at the sound of the pistol's discharge, and it is very pro-
bable that it contained nothing more than a charge of
powder. The man proved to be a ship-keeper, residing
in Benn's-gardens, named Frederick Douglas ; the
woman was his second wife, but it having been just
discovered that the first wife was not dead, she refused
to live with him. He was very much attached to her,
and had adopted a system of annoyance and terror to
compel her to return to her allegianee.• She continued
to refuse, and he, having met his ci.devant spouse,
threatened to shoot her if she did not come back. She m
became alarmed at so novel a ode of love• making, and
ran away, when he pursued and shot at her as before-
mentioned. The dock gateman handed his prisoner
over to the first policeman he met, and the husband of
two wives was brought before Mr. Rushton, who, on
hearing the chief of the above particulars, remanded
him until this day (Saturday) for further inquiry.--
Liverpool Mail of Saturday.
THE GAP IN PICCADILLY.—MOnth after month
having passed since the houses on the south side of
Piccadilly were pulled down to make room for a post-
office, as was at first said, but in reality, as it afterwards
appeared, for the Museum of Economic Geology, and
no movement being visible, we have been led to inquire
into the state of things there. So far as we can learn, it
appears that the idea is not so near being a reality as it
was some time ago. Plans were prepared, but not meet-
ing entire approval, were sent back, as we are told, for
alteration. A new administration has since come into
power, and up
.to this moment, we bllieve, nothing pre-
cise is determined on, in respect of the proposed building;
so that it seems probable that the dwellers around the
spot in question (some of whom have written to us on
the subject anxiously) will have the benefit of doubt
and a dirty hoarding for some time to come yet.—The
Builder,

MILITARY MAGNIFICENCE.—We learn from a letter
in the Naval and Military Gazette that each trooper in
the Bengal Horse Artillery has two native attendants for
his b.or. se—a groves and 4 forager.