The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-19 00:00:00

YARDS.--The Admiralty have issued orders to the dock-
yards to the effect that the officers visiting the Great
Exhibition are expected
to report to their respective
superintendents any new invention iu machinery, or im-
provements in articlesin general use, tools, &c., that
may attract their attention, or anything that may strike
them as useful or advantageous to the public service.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.—The Admiralty have
issued orders to all their establishments that the anni-
versary of her Majesty's birthday this year is to be kept
on the 31st inst., when the usual general holiday will be
granted.

- -
LIBRARIES FOR THE MANY.
LYDD.—Mighty as are the benefits mankind have de-
rived from the art of printing during the space of nearly
four centuries during which it has been in operation, they
probably amount to but a small portion of the whole
sum of good, which in its ultimate extension it is des-
tined to confer on our race. Literature and books, even
before the era of this great invention, were the chief
z sources from which the moral light of the world was
27% drawn. We can hardly conceive a form of civilization
without them. Even while books could only be multi-
-42% plied by the slow process of transcription by the hand,
19% although direst communication with them was necessa-
_ rily eonfined to a few, still their indirect influence was
extensive. We shall not dilate upon the immense mul-
-370/ tiplication of the power of books which must have in-
_ stantly followed the discovery of the art of multiplying
their numbers by the printing press. It was the mightiest
revolution which the history of the world had known.
The wave which it set in motion has been rolling on till
- now, and that wave has still much farther to roll. Mach
as he art of printing has already accomplished, its
rice greatest triumphs, we believe, are yet to come. Even
up to the present hour its advantages have been con-
fined. The great mass of the population still remains
26t0 be brought into actual contact with the enjoyments
36% and blessings of which it is the dispenser. We have
17% often seen cause to regret the want of Public Libraries
and Reading Rooms in places where the population was
7 20 amply sufficient to maintain a well-selected library; and
go we could only attribute it to the fact, that the plan of a
15 popular institution had not been exhibited. Our readers
s% are aware that the principle of " libraries for the many"
5
1130 has been successfully established at Ashford, and
8% other towns in this part of the county—all equally
36 zealous in promoting the spread of sound know-
-256 ledge of the Creator's works among all classes
isl 4 of the community; and we have now the pleasure
50 of recording what may be done in a field more limited,
46
and with smaller means. The desire to establish a public
434 library, &c., at Lydd, on which " a dawn of light has
is begun to appear," was entertained some time back; and
19 it was at length determined by the principal tradesmen,
15% farmers, &c., to associate together in the pleasant work
234
of mental improvement, and on such terms that all
2% classes might avail themselves of the benefit. With
lA% this view, application was made to the Rev. John
198.0 d Dufton, Rector of Warehorne, who, it is well known,
30 takes a lively interest in such undertakings, and in
6% improved popular education, and who, it was con-
-209221 ceived, by his ability and experience, would be of great
48 service in promoting the object which the people of
4 Lydd had so much at heart, and in furnishing a body
of suggestions for the formation and conducting the 2‘ in-
stitution in the mode which experience had proved to
be most likely to secure the full advantages of which
such institutions may be made productive. Accordingly,
price, on the 10th of April, a public tea meeting was held in
the Assembly Rooms, at which 107 persons were pre-
sent. Shortly afterwards the Rev. Mr. Dufton (whose
15834 gratuitous services were promptly and obligingly ren-
-70 dared) delivered an excellent lecture "On the British
V? Colonies and Emigration," and kindly consented, at its
5734 close, at the unanimous request of a crowded audience,
97 to visit them again, and address them on subjects adapted
110 to the occasion. Attracted by this announcement, on
Thursday evening last a numerous audience attended at
the Assembly Rooms, and the Rev. Lecturer delivered
"An Introductory Lecture" on the subject of public
Prim' libraries—the necessity of their being of acknowledged
and admited excellence—on the advantages and plea-
sures of knowledge and science (the Learned Lecturer
84 giving a brief outline of the most important and useful
145 of the sciences)—the privileges of literature, lectures,
11334 and true taste, &c., &c.—" the cheap amusements of a
mind at ease:"-
76% "What though no marble breathes, no canvas glows,
From every point a ray of genius flows!
is
Be mine to bless the more mechanic skill,
That stamps, renews, and multiplies at will."
The Reverend Lecturer was very cordially received,
price. and his address, occupying nearly two hours in the de-
livery, was listened to with interested attention. His
observations throughout were those of a mind which
15 has evidently devoted much thought to the matter on
which he treated, and has, besides, kept fully up with
16 the progress of the different branches of science. The
3
25 moral and Christian spirit which pervades Mr. Dufton's
lectures is also as elevated as the views which they pro-
pound are enlightened and comprehensive. A cordial
vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Dufton; and able
speeches were afterwards made in behalf of the institu-
tion by Messrs. Prescott (who liberally granted the use
Price. of the rooms), Mr. Cozens (scripture reader), Mr. Finn,
Mr. Buss, Mr. Geo. Finn, &c., &c. We offer to the in-
-' habitants of Lydd our sincerest wishes for the progress
50 of the institution, and its increase in every thing which
can add to the gratification of its members, and the
140 general improvement of the neighbourhood in which it
7° has arisen.—Kentish Gazette.
1831
42

Price.

9, lB5l.

- Timothy Sullivan, aged about 39; both legs fractured,
and severe contusions
en the body and head. Remains
in a very dangerous condition, in the same hospital.
William Ransom, aged 24; right leg fractured, and
boiy much bruised; supposed to have received very
severe internal injuries.
William Whiting, aged 34; scalp seriously fractured,
with divers wounds and contusions over body; not ex-
pected to recover.
Thomas Carl:, aged 30; scalp lacerated, and ribs
supposed to be fractured; in a w,ry dangerous con-
dition.
John Cooper, aged 39; laceration of the scalp, and I
several severe contusions on the body; expected to re-
cover.

George Barham, aged 29 ; fracture of the legs, and
severe injury to the scQlp; hopes of recovery.
David Foley, aged 31; numerous wounds and bruises
over the body, and head much injured ; expected to
recover.

James Kirby, aged 28; head much cut, and lowerpart
of the body seriously injured; recovery doubtful.
Henry Perry, aged :38 ; slightly contused over the
body and head; nothitig fatal apprehended.
James Jenkins; slightly injure,l.
Three of the last named it was expected would be able
to leave the hospital during the week. The names only
of two of the sufferers stiU under the ruins can at present
be gleaned. One was named James Hartigan, the other
T. Connor. Three persons unquestionably are missing,
but it is hoped that the third may have left the building
in safety, and gone home.
Thousands of persons continued to flock towards the
scene of the melancholy catastrophe, and to keep the
immense crowd out of da❑ger the thoroughfare has been
barricaded at each end, and a strong body of police placed
on duty, under the command of Superintendent Hodgson
and Inspector Marchant.
The premises, it is stated, were erected under the di-
rection of Messrs. Bell and Corbett, who officiated in the
twofold capacities of builders and architects, while the
brickwork was intrusted to the superintendence of Mr
Dennett.

Hav:ng opened the door of her bedroom, she fatal
volume of hot smoke ascending -he staircase, wtial
nearly prostrated her; she therefore made fir till
back-window, and. without waiting a minute longer,
jumped out and fell upon the glass skylight over the
kitchen adjoining the White Hart Tavern in Botolph:
lane. Upon reaching the roof in that place she found_
herself so injured as to be unable to extricate herself.
She therefore remained in that critical position, with the
flames rushing from the windows towards her person,
when Joel King and Thomas Howard having broken *
pane of glass in a room of the White Hart, pulled the
poor creature through the hole, and found blood gush.
ing from various parts of her body. She was forthwith
placed in a cab and conveyed to Guy's Hospital, where,
we are sorry to say, she is likely to remain for some
considerable time before she can recover from the effect*
of the dreadful injuries she has sustained.
The persons living on either side of the premise*_
assert that they heard loud and fearful screams in .
building, that a man appeared at the third floor windo
and begged of some one to go and procure a ladder, ant,
immediately afterwards disappeared. A man named
Hart, living at Mrs. Blundell's, next door, then went
to the roof, and having opened the trap-door calledie
loudly to the persons within to make for that
part of h
building, but not receiving an answer he imagined that
probably they had made their escape from one of the
lower windows. Such, however, unfortunately was not
the case.
The police who were on duty near lost no tial°,ihne
sending for the fire-escapes and engines, and in.„.'„„
course of a few minutes numerous engines of the Lon"
don Brigade, her Majesty's Custom-house, West of
England
Company, and the parish were on the spot,
under the direction of Mr. Braid wood, the Emporia'
tendent, with Mr. Fogo, the foreman of the London
establishment, and Mr. Connorton, the chief offiner°
the West of England firemen. By that period the entire
range of premises belonging to Mr. Harvey were ell.;
veloped in one immense sheet of flame, and the fire btu
extended to the roofs of the houses on either side,
iibe:
longing to Mr. D. Beard, a baker, and Mrs. -Blundell,
fish-boiler. The White Hart Tavern, In Botolpli'leit,:
and the premises of Mr. Stuart, the fish-factor '—
Thames-street, were also burning with such rapidity Ise
to threaten the entire clump of houses in the immediate
vicinity with destruction.
Fortunately a plentiful supply of water was obtained
from the Now River mains, and the engines were
called into operation; but it at once became apparent that the firemen would be unable to save any pat
tion of Mr. Harvey's property; they therefore had th
hose of three or four engines conveyed round the
premises, so that the Brigade were enabled to cut off t":
spreading of the flames towards Tharnes.street
Botolph-lane almost simultaneously, and when that we'
accomplished the whole force was brought to bear eP°l2
the main body of fire; but, in spite of the most strent"
ous exertions of all present, the flames continued to rise
and, when the stock of liquors became ignited, they
luminated, for the space of a few minutes, she Whoa'
neighbourhood. During the period the firemen were s°
actively employed the utmost excitement prevailed se le
the fate of the unfortunate persons who were missing'
and supposed to be within the ruins. As soon, therefore,
as the fire could be got down sufficiently to enable ant
one to enter, Mr. Braidwood gave directions for seYel
lengths of scaling ladders to be attached, and some °
the firemen to search the upper rooms. Upon their ee
doing they beheld a most frightful scene. The lifeleee
bodies of tour human beings were discovered, three in
the attics and one on the second floor. They were a"
shockingly burnt and disfigured.
The following are the names of the unfortunate Of. ferers:—
Mr. Richard Harvey, aged 36, proprietor of the rinSe
and Crown Tavern, Love-lane, dead.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, aged 52, mother-in-law of the
last-named, dead.
Abraham Clark, a lodger in the house, dead.
George Sn, ezum, the potnaan, dead.
Elizabeth Chambers, aged 17, the servant seriously
injured and taken to Guy's Hospital. ,
During yesterday morning a minute examination wq made by the brigade, for the purpose of finding out, "
possible, how the calamity occurred, but nothing sates" factory could be arrived at; there is, however, every rev son for believing that it began in the back room on the
ground floor, and worked its way up the staircase he-
tore its existence became known to the inmates.
The four bodies have been removed to the deadhouge
of the parish to await the coroner's inquest.
The following is the official report of the damage
done:—

"No. 17, Love-lane, Lower Thames street—Mr. E Harvey, licensed victualler, and proprietor of the Rose
and Crown Tavern. Contents and building all but de-
stroyed. Four persons burnt to death, and one much
injured; cause of fire not known. Stock insured in the
Licensed Victuallers' Fire-office.
" No. 18, ditto—Elizabeth Blundell, boiling-house.
Roof damaged by fire and cutting away. Insurance not
icnown.

"No. 16, ditto—.fr. D. Beard, baker, similar damage.
"No. 25, Botolph-lane—Mr, E. Rayment, the White
Hart Tavern. Back windows burnt out, back room
second-floor and contents damaged by fire, and rest of
house by water. Insured in the Royal Exchange.effice.
" No. 104, Thames-street, Messrs. Stuart and Co., fish
factors. Back windows burnt out, and furniture damaged
by water. Insured in the Placsaix-office."