The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-04 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Yesterday morning, at an early hour, a fire, attended
with a serious destruction of property and almost fatal
consequences to seven or eight persons, broke out in
the mansion belonging to Colonel Michell, C. 8., at No.
5, Langh am-place, within two doors of All Souls' Church,
Portland place. There were sleeping on the premises
the Colonel, his lady, the steward, butler, three or four
female domestics, and a young gentleman on a visit to
the family. The fire was discovered at a few minutes
before three o'clock, at which time it had obtained a
firm hold of the first floor front. The police-officer on
duty in the street without a moment's loss of time sprang
his rattle and commenced knocking at the street door
and ringing the bells, but some considerable time
was lost before he could make the residents
sensible of their great danger, and not until
the flames were rushing out of the drawing-room on to
the staircase. The inmates, in order to escape, were
obliged to resort to various expedients, but fortunately
they were enabled to reach the street. The escapes of
the Royal Society, with the engines of the parish, Lon-
don Brigade, and West of England Company, were im-
mediately sent for, but in spite of the strenuous exer-
tions of the firemen the flames were not extinguished
until a serious amount of property had been reduced to
ashes. Bow the fire originated is unknown, but there
seems no doubt that it had been smouldering all night,
for as early as seven o'clock on Sunday evening a strong
smell of burning wood was experienced, which caused
the servants to make a minute search, but without
tracing out the cause. The two adjoining mansions, oc-
cupied by Mrs. H. Ramsden and Mr. P. Robin, have
also sustained some damage, niore especially the former.
Fortunately the Gallant Colonel was insured in the
Westminster Fire-office.

A meeting of gentlemen assembled from West-
minster, Marylebene, and Lambeth, was held last night at
Charing-cross, to co-operate for the purpose of presenting
simultaneously the addresses to Kossuth from the me-
tropolitan boroughs. A committee has been appointed for
the purpose of communicating with Kossuth and the
other boroughs which have already adopted addresses, or
are about to hold meetings for this purpose. The meeting
at Lambeth takes place on Friday, at the Horns, Kenning-
ton, but it is not yet stated when the meetings for the bo-
roughs of Finsbury and the Tower Hamlets are to be held.
THE MONMOUTHSHIRE BANK FAILURES..--The
Registrar of the Bristol District Court of Bankruptcy, Mr.
S. Tuckett, has, in pursuance of an order of the Court, at-
tended several days during the past week at Newport, for the
purpose of taking proofs previous to the choice of assignees,
which will take place on Tuesday next, in the matter of the
petition "Re Williams," the Newport Old Bank. On Mon-
day last 152 proofs were taken, on Friday upwards of 25d,
on Wednesday 150, and on Thursday 105. The amount of
the total number of proofs exceeded 53,000/., and in conse-
quence of these proceedings. a large number of the poorer
classes of the community resident in Newport and the neigh-
bourhood will be saved the expense of attending the exami-
nations at Bristol.

The will of the late John Deacon, Esq., banker of
London and Windsor, disposes of the entire property to his
relict for life, including the mansion and estate at Mabledon
Park, and the furniture in any of his residences, advowsons,
freehold, copyhold, leasehold, funded, and personal property,
the personal estate being valued at 250,0001.; and authorises
her to continue in any business in which he might have
been engaged, or to discontinue the same, if she thinks
proper; and after her decease the property to be divided into
fourteen parts among his eleven children or their issue, his
elder son to take three shares, his younger son two shares,
and his nine daughters to receive one fourteenth share each,
and to his executors who are acting under the will in con-
junction with the widow, viz., John Deacon, Esq., the son,
G. C. Courthope, Esq., son-in-law, and the Hon. T. L. Mel•
ville and John Labouchere, Esq., of the firm, each a legacy
of 500/. The stamp duty was 3,0001. Windsor Express.

GERARD'S HALL.—Gerard's Hall, in Basing-lane,
City, with its very extensive crypt. was the last place named
for examination by the British Archxological Association, as
here the party were afterwards to dine. Stow says of Gerard's
Hall, " I read that John Gisors, mayor of London in the year
1245, was owner thereof, and that Sir John G ors, constable
of the Tower, 1311, and divers others of that name and
family since that time owned it. So it npeareth that this
Gisors' Hall of late time, by corruption, bath been called
Gerrarde's Hall for Gisors' Hall." The end of the thirteenth
century would probably not be too early a date to give the
crypt. The columns and groins are of stone, the vaults of
chalk. It was originally very lofty, about 16 feet high, per.
haps, to the crown of the arches, but there is now about 3
feet of ground in it, so that, except at one part, where it has
been removed, the bases of the columns cannot be seen.
This very interesting remnant of ancient London comes in
the line of the intended new street, and as it would stand
somewhat above the general level, is threatened with de-
struction. We sincerely hope, however, that efforts will be
made to retain it, and have reason to believe that this will be
re eo.o
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ent
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said as to the crypt in question, that it should be .
qrsNt veuhuip, sf
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if possible.—Builder.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITION OP THB WORK-
ING CLASSKS.—A respectable grocer of this town (who has
had long experience in his trade, and made his observations
on the aemands of his customers) informs us that a few yearn
ago, when food was dear in consequence of the operation of
the corn-laws, the working classes consumed large quantities
of red herrings, Scotch barley, oatmeal, and rice of inferior
quality, at the same time consuming chiefly the lower sorts
of tea, sugar, and coffee. Of late years, however, achange
has taken place in these respects: of the first-
the sale has almost entirely diminished, and w
better qualities
the latter he observes that only the finer and I
are generally sold—thus proving the reach
of within r
i but the luxuries of life have been brought
demand for lump
of the mass of the people. Theb increased.
cster Chronicle.
sugar is particularly remarka le.— naittnberdegaarrtiaclteso
tohfatc nhortisetn
iys
tpbeeacemfliterlrt3d
RELIGION.—The religior.i
—Lander.
I.—Cotton—This has been a week
oenoldommariknewt,aranadndpricl:fill:
GLASGOW, Nov.
per. lb. ‘4Se.a perlslan'd
good will—the religion
lassitude in the co
of great a %d to 1/dlh
Orleans maybe quoted a
Middling
is scarce, however, is rather higher. The sales
cotton, which
of all kinds during the month just closed do not exceed 7,000
ot-
tctohnnswt
Yarns and goods are also flat, the news by the Indian
bales.
ordinary kinds have decrease
4friomd.
mail to-day being considered very unfavourable. On the
coarser
kind of yarns there is a fall of from 2 to 21,i per cent.
rig Iron—Since our last pig iron has experienced almost no
alteration; rather more disposition to sell has been shown,
but the quotations remain nominally the same, viz., mixed,
Nos. f.o.b. warrants, 395. ; No. 1, g.m.b., against b.k., 395.
to 395. 3d. ; and No. 4, Gartsherrie, 415., cash.
A chimney connected with the steam power at a
paper mill, at Ecclesfield, which was in course of building,
and had reached the height of about 35 yards, fell suddenly
on Tuesday last in the middle of the day, but fortunately ne
person was injured.

A " COLOURIBLE" ANSWEIL—A connoisseur hap-
pening to be in a celebrated artist's studio, an animated die-
cusion arose as to the colon of immaterial objects. "Thus,"
said the one, " how would you colour a tempest, supposing
there were no clouds?" " Why," replied the artist promptly,
" I should say—the storm rose, and the wind blue."
UNION OF THE ORIGINAL SECESSION AND FREE
CMUL.CIIIIS.—The Perthshire Advertiser, of Thursday, states,
apparently on authority, that a union between these two
denominations of Christians is in contemplation, and fa.
vourably entertained on both aides.