The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-26 00:00:00

FIRES IN THE METROPOLIS.

Yesterday, between the hours of one and two, a fire
that did considerable damage broke out in the premises
belonging to Mr. S. C. Chapman, a plumber, painter,
and glazier, known as Seymour House, No. 38, Sey-
mour-street, Euston• square. It was discovered by the
police-constable on the beat, and an instant alarm was
raised. In a very brief period the engines of the parish,
North• Western Railway Company, London Brigade,
and West of England Fire-offices arrived, and there
being an abundant supply of water, the two first-named
engines were set to work, but not knowing the exact
seat of the fire, the branches from the machines were
placed through the upper windows, which was the
means of severely injuring the upper portion of the
house and its contents, whilst the fire was raging below.
At length, however, the water was scattered in the
right quarter, and the Nimes were speedily extin-
guished, but not until every article in the front
warehouse was much burned. The owners of
the premises were from home at the time of the
outbreak, having left about ten minutes previously.—
Whilst the firemen were engaged at this 6re, information
was conveyed to them that another had broken out in
the parcels office of the North-Western Railway, in
Whittenley-street. Various engines having been dis-
patched to the spot, the fireman found that
some sul-
phur had become ignited, and fired the partition in the
offices, but the damage done was inconsiderable, al-
though the alarm was very great.—About half-past
eleven o'clock yesterday morning a fire, which, had it
not been opportunely discovered, might have been at-
tended with serious consequences, broke outin the first
floor of the premises belonging to Messrs. Newton and
Co., the advertising agents, in Warwick-square,
Newgate-street. It was caused through making
a large fire in the drawing-room store, which
set the timbers under the hearth in flames. The
firemen, by ripping up the hearth and bond
timbers, succeeded in getting the fire out,—About the
same hour a fire broke out in High-street, Poplar,
to which the fire-engines were called. but owing to the
timely aid afforded, the damage done was confined to the
destruction of some furniture, &e.—At a late hour on
Christmas-eve a fire occurred at No. 6, St. Martin's-
court, Ludgate-hill, in the occupation of Mr. Wise, fish-
monger. It was caused from a defect in the flue of the
next house, which set the landing stairs on the second
floor in flames; the firemen were unable to get the fire
extinguished until the flooring, joists, and part of the
stairs, and the landing and ceiling below were cut away.
—About half-past eight, A,N., a distressing accident
happened by fire at 15, Clare-court, Drury-lane, which
it is feared will terminate fatally. A girl, sixteen years
of age, named Fanny Turner, by some means not clearly
ascertained set her dress in flames, and in order to ob-
tain assistance she ran from the first floor into the shop
with the fire raging round her. As speedily as possible
the fire was got out, but not until the poor girl was
frightfully burned. She was removed to King's College
Hospital without hopes of recovery.
Last night, shortly before eight o'clock, a fire, attended
with a serious destruction of property, broke out upon
the premises belonging to lir. Plummer, a coal sealer
and timber merchant, situate at 100, Great Dover-road,
Southwark. The premises, which were four stories
high, extended backwards a considerable distance, the
back portion being filled with piles of timber. The dis-
covery was made and alarm given by Sergeant Hay of
the M division. The flames soon shot through the
various windows, and extended almost over the road in
one immense body; at the same time they ascended so
high that the metropolis was completely illuminated.
So strong was the reflection, that multitudes of spec-
tators lined the various bridges to witness the
progress of the flames. With all possible expedi-
tion the engines of the London Brigade, with Mr.
Superintendent Braidwood and Mr. Henderson arrived
as well as the West of England engine. At that period
the whole of the timber in the open yard, as well as
the front premises, were enveloped' in one broad
sheet of flame, and the noise occasioned by the combus-
tion of the wood was like the discharge of sundry fire-
arms. Fortunately there was an immediate and an
abundant supply of water, furnished by the Lambeth
Company, from which the several engines were set to
work, but, in spite of the most strenuous exertions, the
fire continued to spread, and it was not extinguished
until the whole of Mr. Pluturner's extensive premises
were gutted, the bare walls only remaining. Besides
which the adjoining premises of Mr. Penny, trimming-
seller, aro extensively damaged, the roof being burnt off.
The loss is considerable, and at present it is unknown
whether the Isufferers were insured. Owing to the ab-
sence of all parties connected with the premises of Mr.
Plummer, fears were at one time entertained that the
inmates had been burnt to death, but, from the exami-
nation made by the firemen, there is every reason to
believe that no one was in the place when the disaster
commenced.

THE LATE MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE
OF A DRUGGIST'S ASSISTANT.
(From the Chemical Times.)
It is surely a most unusual contingency, that at this
time, and in this metropolis, the task should devolve
upon us, alone, of commenting upon, nay, of even
announcing to the public ear, the occurrence of a
case of self-poisoning under cir
- _ • •. C?.ran. araltiO
of no little suspicion.
Notwithstanding the prevalence of the crime of
poisoning in England for several years—the public
has not yet been so accustomed to these matters that
a case of self-murder, occurring in the west of Lon-
don, should, under the ordinary working of circum-
stances, furnish no matter for comment in the daily
journals of the metropolitan press. Yet such a case
has occurred, and the journals have been silent, for
which silence rumour is not slow to find a cause.
The circumstances of the case, we understand, are
these :—The principal assistant in the firm of one of
the fashionable dispensing druggists of this metropolis
had been guilty of irregular enHes into the day-
boek of his principal :—Entrie which led to the
suspicion that a misappropriatio of money had, from
time to time, been effected. With the view of
determining this question, the assistant was called
to account; his answers not being satisfactory, the
son of the principal immediately proceeded to the
young man's securities, to bring the case before them.
TO this mission the principal himself was averse, but
the son persisted. On his return the assistant was
dead ; he had taken nearly an ounce of hydrocyanic
acid !
Thus far we do not challenge any one portion of
gs
ur
lotu da sv
leaves
r et
sn t enrl%tli n sus p i coi ounr,
cahnadl l
ethe
es aids rei
in
demeanour of the i principal. He had strong
inference.ing a
another direction, involving the t. ques ion why the
whole matter was veiled in such imperturbable
secrecy ? In the absence of the open intelligence to
which the public has a right in all cases of serious
import like the one before us, we are under the neces-
sity of publishing a rumour, one which seems, how-
ever, to come before us in a most consistent shape.
It is asserted that the unfortunate suicide in ques-
tion—a married man, and a father of many children
—had been, up to a certain period, in the receipt
of a salary usual to gentlemen filling the responsible
position of first dispenser in a large metropolitan
establishment—a salary of 2501. per annum. At this
period, in an evil hour, some difference occurred be-
tween the principal and himself, which led to his
receiving notice to leave. To the assistant, a man
with wife and family, this prospect of leaving
shadowed forth such scenes of penury and distress
that he determined to make a most abject apology
rather than subject himself to this fate. The apology
was made (so goes the tale) and accepted, but with
the cruel stipulation that the future salary should be
cut down to 601. !
We trust, for the sake of humanity, this state-
meut is not true,—that the publicity which we have
given to it will lead to such a disclaimer from a
responsible source, as shall silence the injurious rumour
at once. Whatever be the true explanation of the
mystery in which the case has been veiled, the prin-
cipal of the firm in question will, if the true spirit of
our remarks be properly appreciated, owe us a meed
of thanks for thus enabling him to correct. a state-
ment which, far from passing current in a few obscure
cliques of his own circle, was :the theme of specula-
tion—nay, of adverse comment, at the metropolitan
head-quarters of pharmacy—the Pharmaceutical So-
ciety, at their last reunion.
True or false, the rumour prompts us to comment
on a subject of painful notoriety, involving the misery,
we may say the destitution, of thousands of deserving
young men—nay, young
is a designation far too li-
mited to embrace the painful fact. Men of all ages,
gentlemen always by education, oftener by other
claims—from the youth of sixteen, brimful of hope,
of energy, of enthusiasm, ;to whom the future is an
El Dorado, a bright Atlantis teeming with unreal
things—to the quondam principal of an establish-
ment in earlier days: gentlemen from boyhood al-
most to the verge of old age, we are sorry to say,
may be found occupying the position of druggists or
surgeons' assistants ; and what is their pay'? Will
the general public credit the monstrous-looking
assertion, that such gentlemen—men whose duties
involve no less a responsibility than the guardianship
of human life—whose position requires the mainte-
nance of a gentlemanly exterior—whose avocations
render this a matter of greater than ordinary expense,
receive, in many cases, a paltry stipend of 151. a
year ? Yet such is the fact, as thousands of gentle-
men could at this moment testify. Surely a state of
bondage like this is teo crying an injustice to be
much longer borne without universal and public re-
monstrance. This remonstrance, however, should
emanate from the assistants themselves ; who, instead
of frittering away their indignation by solitary plaints
or useless individual wailings, should unite in a body
for the purpose of representing to the medical and
pharmaceutical professions the systematic and dan-
gerous injustice to which, as a body, the assistants
hare too long been exposed. " Aide toi et Dieu
t'aidera " should be their motto. From their own
remonstrance alone—powerful, though temperate, de-
cisive, though not factious, will any amelioration be
achieved.

It rr

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

It is reported that the battalion of Royal Marines,
tinder Lieut. Colonel Willes, now lying off Waterford
in the Radamanthus and Albion steam-transports, 400
strong, is shortly to be broken up, and the officers and
men are to return to their respective divisions.
The Ganges, $4, Captain Henry Smith, C. 8., arrived
at Cork on Thursday, at 9 A.m., after a voyage of just
seven days, from the Nore. She is now alongside the
Crocodile, receiving ship, but she is to moor off Spike
Island, at the outer anchorage.
The Cambridge, 78, having been completed in her re-
pairs at Devonport, has been towed to her moorings.
It appears that the chief cause of the return of the
Amazon, 26, Captain E. N. Troubridge, was that she had
several cases of small-pox on board amongst her crew.
All the patients ware sent on shore to the Royal Naval
Hospital at Shoreham. She also reported some defects,
but the Commander-in• Chief, Admiral Sir W. 11.
Gage, G.C.H., did not at all conceal his surprise at the
Amazon putting back, frightened at such trifles as tbo
right arm and left hand of the figure head being washed
away, a little of the gammoning of the bowsprit gone,
the head of her mizen trysail mast sprung, or a slight
defect in the chain pump. A few dockyard artificers
were sent off to the Amazon, in Plymouth Sound, on
Saturday, and materials for snaking good the slight de-
fects by the crew of the ship were also sent off, and she
sailed again on Saturday evening. .As it came on to blow
strong from the S.E. there is no likelihood of having her
back again.
The Harlequin, 16, Captain Moore, arrived at Gibral-
tar on the 9th instant from Alicant, and left on the 19th
for Lisbon, to relieve the Racer, 12, Lieut. Commander
Bacon, order to Bacon. •

The Apollo troop ship, Commander Littlohales, com-
missioned at Deronport, is to hare a complement of 118,
as she formerly.had.
The Driver, 6, steam•sloop, Commander Johnstone,
arrived at Plymouth Sound on Sunday, from Ports-
mouth, haring sailed down Channel for the relief of the
wind-bound,

The Netley tender hes returned to Deronport, from
Portsmouth.

In Hamosze in commission are the San Josef, flag-
ship of the Port Admiral, Captain Sir Thomas Mait-
land, C. 8.; Agincourt, flag-ship of the Roar-Admiral
Superintendent, Captain W. B. Mends; Caledonia, 120,
Captain Carter; Express, 6, packet brig; Sylph, Netley,
and Natant), tenders; and Confiance steam-vessel.