The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-19 00:00:00

/7

j

ALLEGED INCENDIARISM- IN

GRAqCHTIRCH-STREET.

The inquiry into the circumstances attending :the fire
which occurred at No. 6, Gracachurcle:street, on Sunday
last, was resumed on Tuesday afternoon, at 5 o'clock at the
London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street.
The house, which is occupied by Mr. Plant, stands at the
corner of an arched gateway, known as. Corbet-court. A
private door opens into this court, and upon the left hand
on entering there is a glass partition •which separates the
shop from the passage leading to the staircase. Smoke was
first observed issuing from the above private door in question,
by a policeman who was passing.rthrottgli Cospet-court from
Gracechurch-strect. The officeriffirdediatily aroused the in-
mates, sevaral'of whom appear to have escaped with great di-
fficulty: The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Plant, with
an infant child, a young man- Pawed Jordan, who
was a nephew of Mrs. Plant, and acted as shin:van, two other
youths also employed in the shop, and a woman servant.
William Jordan was the first person who answered the po-
liceman when ho gave the alarm; who, when told that the
shop was " all on fire," replied; to use the Officer's words,
" Very wcll, very well."
Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent of the- London fire-
-engine estsblishment, gave it as his opinion, arising from an
examination of the premises after the flames were got under,
that there•had been two or three distinct fires in the shop.
He also stated that he found several parcels of hosiery and
other goods drawn partly out of the partitions in which they
were ordinarily kept, some of which had the ends of the
paper in which they were enclosed torn open, as if to facili-
tate their ignition. The fire had raged fiercest behind the
counter, but a partition on the opposite side of the shop was
much burnt, and marks of pitch or tar, or some such com-
position, were clearly discoverable on the panels in two
places. Altogether the appearances were such that he (Mr.
Braidwood) did not consider it at all probable the fire had
been the result of accident.
William Johnson, jun., a shopman in Mr. Plant's employ,
was called-41e said it was customary for the last person who
ltoockleodckanitd.
left the shop to lock the glass door in the partition, which
passagetold Itwitnesswas
s
He said " Lock the door, for I shall not go out to-night."
bolted separated
o n Saturday
rsdhaoyp
nfirgohn ti. the
Jordan
Witness was alarmed about four o'clock on Sunday morning
by a loud knocking at the door, and cries of "fire," and
escaped over the roof; in consequence of the dense smoke
which was coming up the staircase.
Mr. Robert Plant said he retired to rest about eleven
o'clock on Saturday night, and was awoke by an alarm of
fire about four o'clock on the following morning. When
aroused lie immediately got out of bed and followed his wife
down stairs. He believed the maid-servant passed him on
the staircase. When lie got down the street-door was open.
Witness wentinto Jordan's bed-room as he came down stairs.
Jordan was then pulling his trousers on. Witness, after
having obtained some clothing from a neighbour, returned
to the shop, when Mr. Braidwood pointed out the marks al-
ready alluded to. Witness had not the slightest know:edge
as to how the fire originated. Ile had passed through the
shop about a quarter-past ten on Saturday night, at which
time all was safe. There was no keyhole on the outside of
the private door, and no person could get into the house
unless he were admitted by some perssn from the inside.
Mrs. Plant confirmed the statement that the private door
was unlocked and the bolt drawn back on the Sunday
morning.
William Jordan was called—He said he had the manage-
ment of Mr. Plant's business, and left the shop a few minutes
before eleven o'clock on Saturday night, shortly after which
he retired to bed. He was awakened by an alarm of fire
about four o'clock on Sunday morning, and shortly after
escaped by the private door. After the fire was got under
witness went into the shop, and looked first to the box in
which the money was kept. Witness found that a 10/. note
and seven sovereigns were missing from the box. The
money was all safe at half-past five o'clock on Saturday even-
ing. It was possible that some person might have got into
the cellar during the evening, but witness did not think it
likely. The pitch marks on the side of the shop were not
there on Saturday night, and the parcels of hosiery were all
perfectly smooth when witness left the shop. Witness was
unable to form any opinion as to the cause of the fire. Wit-
ness never left his room after he went to bed until the alarm
of fire was given.
At the close of this witness's examination the Court was
Cleared of strangers.
2,lJpon our re-admission into the Court, we learned that the
verdict was to the following effect :—" Wilfully set on fire by
some person or persons unknown."
Eventually the following resolutions were passed by the
gentlemen of the jury:—
" That the prompt and energetic conduct of Police-con-
stable William Ledam (586 City), upon the occasion of the
late fire, at 6, Gracechurch-street, is deserving of the highest
praise; and this jury recommend him especially to the
notice of the Commissioner of the City Police, and to the
several fire-offices interested in 4lse preservation of the above
premises."

As a proof of the value entertained by the jury of the
services of the above officer, a collection was made by them,
and Mr. Deputy Stevens handed him the sum of I/. 16s.
The following resolve met with the cordial response of the
whole of the jury:—
" That the best and sincerest thanks are due from, and
are hereby given, by this jury to William Payne, Esq.,
coroner for the City of London, for the lengthened, patient,
and complete investigation, as to the cause of the fire at 6,
Gracechurch-street, on unday morning last, and they
further desire to express their great satisfaction at the
revival, by that gentleman, of the ancient practice of holding
courts of inquiry on all such fearful occasions in the city of
London, which we doubt not will be productive of most im-
portant results."

Mr. PAYNE returned thanks in a few words, and this
mysterious investigation terminated for the present.
It was stated in the inquest room, that a vestry meeting
will be forthwith called for further pursuing this inquiry.

THE BENEVOLENT .SOCIETY OF

-- - -
ST. PATRICK. - -
The 63d anniversary festival of this Society was celebrated
last evening at the Freemason's Tavern. The attendance
was not very numerous, there being only about 120 persons
present. Among the nobility and gentry assembled
we observed the following :—Lords Pahnersten Jaud
Lincoln, Viscount Courtenay, Baron Robeck, Admiral Sir
Malcolm, General Caulfield, Sir W. Somerville, General
L'Estrange, Sir T. B. Lennard, Sir R. Campbell, Sir J.' N. R.
Campbell, Mr. R. Archbold, M.P., Mr. J. Collett, M.P., Mr.
Butler, M.P.. Mr. J. W. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Sturman
Crawford, M.P.
The cloth having been drawn, and the usual loyal toasts
having been proposed and drunk with all the honcurs,
Lord PALMERSTON, who filled the chair, gave "The Army
and Navy." In introducing the toast he expressed a hope
that a period was fast approaching when wars would cease.
He hoped that means might be found of settling differences
which Might be honourable to both parties, without having
recourse to the lamentable struggle of arms ; but if it was
our misfortune ever again to be cempellcd by the violence or
injustice of any -other nation to draw the sword in defence of
our rights and honour, they might be sure they would find
our army and navy equal to any emergency. Their nerves
had not been unstrung, their energies not impaired, nor
their skill undiminished by the influence of peace. If such
an alternative should ever arise, he ww: sure that Ire-
land would have her share in the glories and triumphs of
their common country.

General L'ESTRANGE and Admiral MALCOLM acknow-
ledged the toast on behalf of their respective services.
The PRESIDENT then proposed " Health and Prosperity to
the Benevolent- Society of St. Patrick." in doing so, he
said that in most other countries the duties of public charity
were discharged entirely by the Government ; but in this
land they were mainly supported by the voluntary contribu-
tions of private individuals. Yet the sources of it never
dried up, and he could only liken it to those streams which
flowed from lofty mountain ranges, and which, however sup-
plied, were never found wanting for the purposes to which
Providencelad destined them. The poor Irish labourer who
came to this country was an object of peculiar compassion.
In the hour of his difficulty he was removed from friends and
relations. He believed that no greater service could ibe done
to him than by giving to his children, as this Society pro-
posed, the benefits of instruction.
The next toast proposed was the " Health of the Lord-
Lieutenant of Ireland."
The Earl of Lixcomi returned thanks, and on rising was
received with considerable applause. He said that it was
his duty, in consideration of the office which he had the
theonnaonutr, ttoo holdtha kt o t
hr
fionr t ht
he
ea besoemn cpel
noife
nt ht e
which
Lord-Lieutheybad paid him. He hoped that he might be allowed to
interpret the reception which he had met with as an ac-
knowledgment, with respect to the Lord-Lieutenant, of his
desire to co-operate in any measures which might -promote
the good of the country over which the Sovereign had
placed him as viceroy. In improving the condition of
Ireland, he was sure they would all agree with their
Noble President that education stood pre-eminent. He be-
lieved that GoVernment, and societies, and individuals might
do much separately for the amelioration of that unhappy
country, but the greatest good for Ireland would be effected
by the co-operation of all. The moment had arriti when
the Government was called on to make great exertions on
behalf of the physical wants of Ireland ; but he trusted that
private charity would flow not less uninterruptedly from pri-
vate sources.
The health of the various benefactors of the society, that
of the President, and various other toasts, were given and
drunk, and, the Secretary having announced the amount
of subscriptions collected to be about 9801., the guests dis-
persed.

The galleiy of the hall was graced with the presence of
many ladies, who were patient spectators of the festivities
going on beneath.
The band of the Coldstream Guards was in attendance,
and the musical and other arrangements were excellent.

IMPORTS of FOREIGN NVII---EAT AT GLOUCESTER.--
We have had, within the last few days, as will be seen from
our shipping list, some rather
extensive arrivals of foreign
are cornr
efproom r t
etdh; Arloe
feind i teeor
nr asnt
aena
tile,
From
from Catania, one ;
When. the free traadned Leghorn,fnreoeillasuroer's Odessa, three vessels
two • from Smyrna, one ;
0 f t ho'en eG; allve r
nwmh eeantt I aselheanll.
have been carried, the port of Gloucester will assuredly
participateliberal ‘'ery largely in the benefits to be derived from a
commercial policy. One indication of an expected
increase of trade may be observed in the progress
which is being made in digging out the foundation for
another very capacious warehouse, adjoining the Basin. It
is intended, we believe, for the use of the corn firm of Messrs.
Phillpotts arid Co. A Treasury order, we understand, has
reached this, in common with the other ports of the kingdom,
for the liberation of Indian corn and rice at the nominal duty
of ls. per quarter; but the importers are required to enter
into a customary bond to pay the higher duty (in the case of
Indian corn, Ils. per quarter), in case the Bill at present
before Parliament should not pass into a law. This stipula-
tion will, in all probability, induce the merchants to continue
their Indian corn in bond till the fate of the measure in Par-
liament shell be decided, or rendered tolerably certain. There
are something more than 1,100 quarters of this corn in bond
in Gloucester; and this, there can be little doubt, will in a
few weeks at the very farthest, be liberated for consumption.
—Gloucester Journal.
FITS WILLIAM MUSEUM.---Mr. Cockerell has submitted
'drawings for the completion of the hall and stair eases of the
Fitzwilliem Muieum, for which parts of the building Mr.
Basevi had not left designs in a settled farm. The Syndi-
cate have expressed their entire concurrence with Mr.
Cockerell's views as to the mode of finishing this part of the
Museum ; and have recommtnded that he be requested t
prepare working drawings and estimates corresponding wit
his designs, with a view to a contract being made for the
execution of the work. The designs are placed in the Fitz-
wallet)] compartment of the public library, for the inspection
of the members of the senate.— The Builder,
THE MIDDLESEX NEW PRISON.—We stated last weak
that the designs for the Middlesex House of Detention were
furnished by the Government Inspectors of Prisons; and this
has been generally reported. The fact is, however, that it
is from an original design of the county surveyor, Mr.
Moseley. The magistrates have determined to adopt that gen-
tleman's plan for the entire rebuilding, rather than that of
the " Surveyor General of Prisons," for its partial construct-
ion only ; and the Secretary of State having (subsequently
upon the report of the inspectors) sanctioned this more per-
fect mode of execution, the work is proceeding under the
superintendence of Mr. Moseley.— The Builder.