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

. _
. .
,
I') -
#:
" T.1'..1'. i vi a -,,, ~,,,
___
H ". 7 r \l. it i ra ji Ti- rt
,Y.. AL) il ..-.-f. ,r. 7 1 .i.!', :31 ii I.'
)// _
. .
~..,,..,:. --• ~ _- 2 ,-• ,•„..,..,- ~ •,,, r • 7
... e... , ii-± -i!--r '3 •orr yt,l.rivl a ir v., G. 7.)
.5„, yi •- 7 ,-iihrt ------fir.r.',l :!-ifi--------.% (cs-----1',"!4 r:i ;7 ^ A:0 7'';-:77::,, ,; 77' .17:-Ti : - /r-`: '.- e'f;"l7 l';:‘' '' ''' '.. -: ,
. ' ..;‘, 7,..i 'A !' '-' t;,!! --.7 • t:-: r.-',
.._. • , i ~ . ~ . •
'.,,'' .
044
( .
, . ,Lf4i* ' • -
. .. / .
71- . ~
~ 0.1.4
~—..,4
:244., *;:t , ,1;
~.. • - •
r : ::: )'C':.:.; ''
I i .' :4
/ ,V, ,' ' \ V, k*M, •.-. ,' - 'Z,', 1 : 1 •,,
--__:..*-.__-_.
...".„ , ••••• '''' la Wi • A . 9
\44 1,r," ) '.'
! ',
`,.‘" '.
, - .., „„,,,,' -------‘74 I ;11S it ! •al-; . :,-%•'
. ' ... •S'
—_ ~- :1W ~ zit.
t' ,',;'tl k 1 ,^7, ' ~,•!,,
iiII: , cti ''''''. * k VL°ll -----\- :11 14°' . ' .t....____„/ i ''''',.....-," 2/ \''' ' ' '' '
,N.- P)tf 1, A, -, ' r)31.0; T. ~, • ' *
t

ST. PATRICK.

' ALLEGED INCENDIARISM IN
Gli ACECHURCH-STREET.
The inquiry into the circumstances attending 'the' fin
which occurred at No. 6, Gracechurch-street, on Sunday
last, was resumed on Tuesday afternoon, at 6 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 bend
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 through Corbet-court front
Gracechurch-street. The officer immediately aroused the in-
mates, several 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 named William Jordan, who.
was a nephew of Mrs. Plant, and acted as shopman, two other
youths al4o employed in the shop, and a woman servant.
William Jordan was the first person who answered. the po-
liceman when he gave the alarm, who, when told that the
shop was " all on tire," replied, to use the officer's 'words.
" Very well, very well."
Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent of the London fire-
engine e,stsblisliment, gave it as his opinion, arising from an
examination of the premises after the flames were got under,
than 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
perreousaubellei ttlhiaetlfirehe (Mr.had
Bp lraacieds;v o °Ad) °led
been the result of accident.
liileort theeo nassipdpeeraiitl nacte
alwere such that:he (Mr.
hirakluvood) did not consider it at all
was called—He said it was customary for the last person who
William Johnson, jun., a shopman in Mr. Plant's employ,
left the shop to lock the glass door in the partition, which
seirarated the shop from the passage. It was locked and
He said " Lock the door, for I shall not. go out to-night."
bolted on Saturday night. Jordan told witness to lock it.
Witness was alarmed about four o'clock on Sundavtnorning
by a loud knocking at the door, and cries of.!ffi.res7,. and
escaped over the roof, in consequence. of the- dense smoke
which was coming up the staircase,. .
Mr. Robert Plant said be retired .to rest -about eleven
o'clock on Saturday night, and was -awoke- braerestitrnittf
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 paned tine on
the staircase. When he got down the street-door was open.
Witneas wenfintO 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 knowledge
as to how the fire originated. He 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 oatside of
the private door, and no person could get into the house
unless he were admitted by some person from the inside.
Mrs. Plant confirmed the statement that the private clOor
was unlocked and the bolt drawn back on the Sunday
morning.
William Jordan was calletl—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 101. 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 inte
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 tire. Wit-
ness never left his room after lie went to bed until the alarm
of fire was given.
At the close of this witness's examination the Court was
cleared of strangers.
=Upon 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."
....

Eventus 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 the 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 Sterens handed him the sum of lL 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 Sunday 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

The 63d anniversary festival of this Society was celebrate&
feet availing at the Freemason's Tavern. The attendance
was not very numerous, there being only about 120 persona
present. Among the nobility and gentry assembled
we observed the following :—Lords Palmerston and
Lincoln, Viscount Courtenay, Baron Robeck, Admiral Sir C.
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. Sharman
Crawford, M.P.

The cloth having been drawn, and the usual loyal toasts
having been proposed and drunk with all the honours,
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 compelled 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 was sure that Ire-
land would have her share in the glories and triumphs of
their common country.
General L'EsTnANGE and Admiral ltark,cktai acknow-

fledged the toast on behalf of their respective services.
The PnEsinExT than proposed " Health and Prosperity to
the Benevolent Society of St. Patrick." In doing so, be
said that in most other countries the duties of public charit7
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 lie 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
Providence had destined them. The poor Irish labourer whis
came to this country was an object of peculiar compassion..
In the hour of his difficulty lie was removed from friends and
relations. He believed that no greater service could (be dens
to him than by giving to his children, as this Society pre-
posed, the benefits of instruction.
LieTubteennaexnttatolarserlanpdroyosed was the " Tlehlth of the Lord-
The Earl -of Liscome returned thanks, and on rising was
received with considerable applause. He said that it was
in
noft
hteheabosilienccee
awhichthe heLo rhda-dLiethu_e
tenant, to thank them for the compliment which they
his
honourdut duty, in
had paid him. He hoped that he might be allowed to
inho considerationlcl, to rice,
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
Inland, he was sure they would all agree with their
Noble I'resident 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 arrived 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 gallery of the ball was graced with the presence of
many ladies, who were patient spectators of the festivities
going on beneath.
The band of the Coldstreatn Guards was in attendance,
and the musical and other arrangements were excellent. .

IMPORTS OP FOREIGN WHEAT AT GLOUCESTER,--
We have had, within the last few days,
our shippintlist,
oollirtetd ;e fromlI 1 i ter
Constantinople,r a n
some rather exFtrneninsivea:rrtilalr'of flczlzfr"ll
marernrefrp
from Catania, one ; Odessa, three
andfrom.Leghotraw,oo;aflo; mallSwmreata,laannin:.
When the free trade measures of the Government shall
have been carried, the port of Gloucester will assuredly
participate very largely in the benefits to be derived' from is
liberal commercial policy. One indication of an-exisected
increase of trade may be observed in the progreisF
which is being made in digging out the (=Maths for
another very capacious warehouse, adjoining the Basin. It
is intended, we believe, for the use of the corn tirm of Messrs.
Phillpotts and 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
bf is. per quarter; but the importers are required to enter
into a customary bond to pay the higher duty tin the cast of
Indian corn, lls. 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 iaPar,.
'lament shall be decided, or rendered tolerably, certain. TlAire,
are something more than 1,100 quarters or this .corn in Bond
in Gloucester; and this, there can be little doubt, will ins'
few weeks at the very farthest, be liberated for constimption.
_Gloucester Jow.nut. . ,
FITZWILLIAM ISILTSV,UM.--11r. Cockerel' has submitted,
drawings for the completion of the ball and staircases of the
Fitzwilliam Museum, for which parts of the building ' Mr.
Basevi had not left designs in a settled form. The 'Syndi-
cate have expressed their entire concurrence with--Mr.
Cockerell'a views as to the mode of finishing this part of the
f Museum; and have recommended 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-
iaiam compartment of the public library, for theinipeotion
of the members of the senate.— 773 Breil&r.
THE MIDDLESEX NEW Priam—We stated last Week
thht the designs for the Middlesex House of Detention Were
furnished by the Government Inspectors of Prisons; sintithis
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-
feet mode of execution, the work is proceeding umler the
Ottentmuliace tfla. Altraley.—Th. VOkkr.