The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-28 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford are surrounded by
a distinguished circle at Woburn Abbey, and the
gaieties:of thelseason willibejprolonged to the end of next
week.
The Duke and Duchess of Cleveland are receiving a
succession of visitors at Raby Castle, Durham, where
the greatest hospitality prevails.
The Marquis of Anglesey is entertaining a large party
at Beaudesert, near Lichfield. Viscount and Vis-
countess Sydney, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, the Earl
of Uxbridge and Lady Eleanor Paget, Viscount and
Viscountess Maidstone, &c. are among the guests.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne have a
numerous and distinguished circle congregated at 13o-
wood Park, Wilts. Tire Earl and Countess Grey, the
Earl of Auckland, and Hon. Miss Eden, the Right Hun.
B. Macaulay, Mr. C. Baring Wall,
M.P., &c., are there.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry arrived
at Wynyard Park, near Stockton-on-Tees, on Wednes-
day last, accompanied by the Ladies Vane, from Mount
Stewart, Ireland. The Noble Marquis and Marchioness
are receiving a small party at Wynyard, but a large
circle will meet there this week.
The Marquis of Salisbury, since Thursday lsst, has
had a party at Hatfield House, Herts ; the Marquis
of Douro and the Honourable Captain Percy joined the
circle that day. There was a change of visitors on
Saturday.
The Marquis of Northampton's party at Castle
Ashby is confined to the family connexions. Viscount
and Lady Marianne Alford, Lord and Lady William
Compton, and Lord Spencer Compton arrived there
early in the last week. Lord Alwyn Compton has joined
the circle from service with his regiment in Ireland.
The Earl and Countess of Chesterfield have Count
D'Orsay, Viscount and Viscountess Newport, the Hon.
Cu!. and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, and a select circle visiting
t iem at Bretby Park, Derbyshire.
The Earl and Countess of Carlisle have a numerous
family circle at Castle Howard, Yorkshire, to pass the
festive season. Viscount Morpeth, the Hon. C. Howard,
the Hon. and Rev. Mr. and Lady Elizabeth Grey, and
other members of the family are there.
The Earl and Countess of Sefton are displaying their
elegant hospitality to a select circle at Croxteth Park,
near Liverpool. The Dowager Countess of Sefton and
the Ladies Molyneux have arrived there from visiting
the Duke and Duchess of Bedford at Woburn Abbey.
The Earl and Countess Cowper are dispensing their
hospitality to a brilliant circle of friends at Panshanger,
Herts.

The Earl and Countess Granville are entertaining
company at Aldenham Hall, Staffordshire. Tho Noble
Earl is not yet recovered from the effects of his recent
evident, being still compelled to have the aid of crutches.
The Noble Earl will not be able to hunt again this sea-
son with the buckhounds.
The Earl and Countess of Powis have a large party at
Powis Castle, near IN elshpool, pat ticipating in the gaie-
ties of this holiday season.
The Earl Talbot has a select party assembled at
Ingestre Hall, Staffordshire.

The Earl of Harrowby, with Viscount and Vis'
countess Sandon and a family circle, is at Sandon Hall
Staffordshire.

The Countess (Dowager) of Pembroke is surrounded
by a numerous family circle, comprising the Earl and
Countess of Clanwilliam, the Earl and Countess Bruce,
the Countess of Dunmore, and the Right Hon. Sidney
and Mrs. Herbert. at Wilton House, near Salisbury.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston have a large
party visiting at Broadlands, Hants. Viscount and Vis-
countess Jocelyn and Lord and Lady Ashley have joined
the circle.

Viscount and Viscountess Barrington have had a small
party meet at Becket House, Berks, this Christmas.
Sir Robert and Lady Peel are entertaining Viscount
and Viscountess Villiers, and a select circle, at Drayton
Manor.

TIIE PARRS.—Yesterday the ornamental water in
St. James's-park, the Serpentine, the Long-water and
Round-pond, Kensington-gardens, and the Regent's-
park, were partially frozen. The sudden transition from
trust to thaw of the last two days, together with the ten
dency to thaw of yesterday, rendered the ice extremely
rotten and dangerous. Notwithstanding this, golly:,
housands of persons ventured on during the day in the
Regent's-park ; however, towards noon the danger be-
came so threatening that it was deemed advisable to shut
the gates, in order to keep the people off the ice, which
was done at twelve o'clock. On the Serpentine, the
Long-water, and Round-pond, and St. James s- park, the
people were suffered to remain till the usual hour for
closing the gates. The Royal Humane Soeiety's men,
with their apparatus for saving life, were in attendance,
but fortunately their services were not required.
FIRE AND Loss or LIFE.—On Saturday night,
shortly after nine o'clock, an alarming tire, resulting in
loss of life, occurred at a house in Fox-court, Kent-
street, Southwark, occupied by deceased, whose name was
Ann Fleetwood, aged 40 years. The firemen promptly
attended, and, after throwing a quantity of water into the
room, they were able to enter the place, when to their
astonishment and horror, they discovered the lifeless
body of the female completely roasted to a cinder, and
all her clothing burnt off. After the fire bad been ex-
tinguished an examination was made of the premises by
Mr. Henderson, when that officer found that the deceased
woman must have fallen asleep before the fire, where her
clothes by some means became ignited, which communi-
cated with the apartment and caused the death of the
deceased.

ALARMING FIRE AT BROMLEY, NEAR BONY.—
Yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, a fire broke out
upon the extensive premises in the occupation of Messrs.
Samuel Berger and Co., starch-manufacturers, situate in
Devon's lane, Bromley, near Bow, Middlesex. It ap-
pears from inquiries instituted upon the spot, that flames
were first perceived, by some one passing along the lane,
to be issuing from the midst of the pile of building im-
mediately over the drying stoves. In a very short time
afterwards a huge body of fire appeared, and from the
fierceness with which it burned fears were entertained
for the safety of the whole building and its valuable
contents. Without any delay information of the occur-
rence was sent to Mr. Fogo, the foreman of the eastern
division of the London fire-engine establishment, who
arrived as soon as possible at the scene, followed
by the engine from Schoolhouse-lane, and the West
of England one from the Waterloo road. By prompt
measures the fury of the fire was allayed, and every
particle of the fire was eventually extinguished. Not-
withstanding the effective measures above named were
put so readily into requisition, much damage is done to
the stock and building. One of the drying stoves is
quite burnt out, and the other is materially damaged, and
the roof in both cases is burned through. A consider-
able quantity of the stock in trade is destroyed, and a
great deal of starch wrapped in paper for drying before
sent out so much injured as to be comparatively worth-
less. The proprietors are insured for 3,000/. in the Sun
and Imperial Offices. From all that can be learned,
there appears to be no doubt that the fire originated
through the overheating of the drying stove.
WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE.—We know not whether it
be on account of its vicinity to the Houses of Parlia-
ment, but so it is, that political journals at present
appear to take a lively interest in the state and pros-
pects of Westminster-bridge. After being long closed,
it is now re-opened, of which we are very glad, from a
habit, we suppose, of liking to go upon old ways. A
good deal of criticism has been expended on the pre-
sent appearance of the bridge, but it appears to us that
it is as convenient for travelling over as it ever was, and
that a much better view of the river is obtained from it
than there used to be in the days of the ballustrade
and boarding. But the stability of the structure is an-
other affair, and it certainly ought to be more carefully
attended to than it appears to be, if the statement of our
correspondent, " Observer," in another column, be cor-
rect. Great discussion is carried forward as to
the proper site of the new Westminster-bridge which
is to be built. A considerable number incline to the
site of the present bridge, and to that we should have no
objection, only that it would be highly inconvenient to
the bridge builders to build a new bridge on the site of
the present one, while the present one remains standing,
and no lass inconvenient to the public to have the pre-
sent bridge pulled down, and then to have to wait, we
know not how long, till the new one should be com-
pleted. We do not care bow near the site of the pre-
sent bridge the new one may be, but we should be very
unwilling to part with the present bridge (all its defects
notwithstanding) until another is ready for use. If,
moreover, it be true that the bed of the river, where the
present bridge is built, is peculiarly unfavourable for a
stable foundation, that is another strong reason for not
building a new one exactly in the same place. We
have, however, all due veneration for the interests of
Parliament-street, Bridge-street, and the Westminster-
road, and, therefore, we wish the new bridge to be
placed, not as an obstacle to them, but as much in their
way as possible.—Post.
DISMISSAL OF POLICE-OFFICERS.--On Saturday
tCmhonenitnrom2pi2osisiict(a)ffinneerpes of
officers
slice were reported
connected Pol
iee in
Scotwith
of
duties on Christmas day. The pilvl
oaa(a.rnsrr last, ar:uu:
performance
traskhdenee,centei ninnooeoenfsessfewer
their
re-
sult of which led to a rigid investigation of the circum-
stances. However, the whole of them were discharged,
notwithstanding many had been some years in the
force, which would have entitled them to a pension.
COBDEN TRIBUTE FUND.—The Manchester sub-
scriptions to this fund have been considerably increased
during the week, the principal contributions being from
places at a distance, including Tillicoutry, Scotland;
Norwich, Leek, and Newcastle-on-Tyne. Total of the
Manchester subscription, 52,5761. ls, 6d.—Manchester
Examiner.