The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-24 00:00:00

EVENING, JUNE 24, 1851

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE QUEEN'S YACHTS AND THE EXHIBIT:ON.L.The
officers, acamec, marines, and boys of the Royal Yacht
establishment at Portsmouth, will all proceed to London
to visit the Great Exhibition, to-morrow ( Wednesday).
Her Majesty the Queen has most graciously orlered that
a special train shall be in readiness at 6 A oa that day
to convey them to London via South-Western Railway,
and that a return special train shall be also in readiness
at the Waterloo Station, at 6 P.M., to convey them back
again, thus affording them the whole day to inspect the
Exhibition.
ARRIVAL AT PORTSMOUTH OF REAR-ADMIRAL FAN-
SHAViE, C.B.—The Centaur, 6, steam-frigate, Commo-
dore (now Rear-:Admiral) Arthur Fanshawe, C. 8.,
Acting Captain Patten, arrived at Spithead about ten
o'cleck yesterday morning; from the coast of Africa,
having been relevcd by the Penelope, 16, steam-frigate,
Commoclw e IT. W. Bruce, Captain Lyster. On her
arrival the Centaur still had the broad pendant flying,
but did not salute the flag of the Commander-in-Chief.
Captain Patten landed about noon with the public dis-
patches and letters, but the Commodore did not land till
the evening, when he was met by Admiral Sir Byam
Martin and General Faashavve, who have been awaiting
the arrival of the Centaur for the last two days at the
George Hotel.
The Centaur has had a quick passage home, having
been under steam nearly all the voyage; she left Ascen-
sion on the 24th of May.
The Penelope steam-frigate, Commodore Bruce ; the
Gladiator, 6, steam-frigate, Captain Adams; the Jackal,
tender to Gladiator; the Bloodhound, tender to Samp-
son; and the Alecto steam-sloop, Commander Lavie,
recently arrived from Ragland, were lying there. The
Penelope was about to proceed to the south coast. _

Theeentaur left Sierra Leone on the 27i—of June.
The Cygnet, 8, Commander White; Penguin, 6, Com.
mender E!heridgo ; and Volcano steam-vessel were
there. She brought about a dczni prisoners from that
place, and landed them a few days after at the Grand
Canary Island, where, we are sorry to state, the cho-
lera was raging most fearfully ; sixty or seventy per-
sons were dying daily from it. The Centaur landed
the prisoners, but did not further have any communica-
tion with the island. She touched at Madeira yesterday
week, and came from thence, under steam, home.
She has brought home Lieut. John Trevenen, late of
Firefly; Mr. J. A. Corbett, surgeon, late of the Ranger;
Mr. Main (boatswain), with about twelve invalided sea-
men, which the Sprightly conveyed to the hospital, she
having gene out to bring them on shore.
The islands and squadron were healthy. There was
scarcely anything doing in the slave trade ; no prizes
had bee❑ taken for some time past.
There were no orders down for the Centaur; but she
will probably pay off at Portsmouth. The commission
of the Commander-in-Chief, promoting him to the rank
of rear-admiral, WB5 awaiting him at Portsmouth, and
we are sorry to say the distressing intelligence of the
death of Mrs. Fawhawe was also communicated to him.

Mr. Barnes, Master of the Firefly, diedoff Congo
on the 12th of February, and Mr. Kiddie, Second Master
of the Gladiator, succeeded to the appointment.
The Sidon steam-frigate, Commander Gardner, fitting
for troops for the Cape, hoisted the Pennact and ensign
yesterday morning, and has since bent sails.
Wellesley, 72, Captain Goldsmith, late flag-ship of
Admiral the Earl of Dundonald, G.C.8., was paid off
yesterday morning at Chatham. The clacks began
paying the people at nine in the morning, and by two
o'clock all bands were out of the ship in the most or-
derly manner. The Ad.er steam-tender, took the Ports-
mouth and Plymouth peoplo to their respective homes.
The pay clerks took 8,0001. down, and brought back
5,0001, the latter sues having been allotted by the ship's
company-, another instance of the improved habits of our
seamen. The noble old Admiral was dawn on Friday
and dined with his officers, and never was a gallant ve-
teran better received than he was. The old Wellesley's
ribs echoed again and again with the hearty cheers of
every one. She has been a most happy and comfortable
ship.
Magicienne steamer, having had her compasses ad-
justed on Friday evening, sailed from Devouport on
Satut day morning, in charge of Mr. Bidellecombe, master
of the St. George, and party, for Woolwich, to convey
Mr. Brown with his party to Pembroke, to navigate
the Valorous from Pembroke to Woolwich.
Retribution ateaan-frigate, Captain Warden, is ready
for service, but she will wait for the Sidon steam-fri-
gate, Commander Gardner, who has to receive provi-
sions,
and both vessels will stow as much water as pos-
sible; for every gun discharged they have received one
of the largest class tanks. It is expected that both ves-
sels will go to Cork to embark the troops on Wednesday.
PLYMOUTH, SATURDAY.—Her Majesty's ship Cale-
donia, 120, Captain T. W. Carter, which went up har-
bour on the lath inst., has completed the delivery into
the dockyard of all her guns, masts, stores, &o. The
crew will be paid off on Tuesday.

DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION.

i [A. brief account of the fallowing appeared in our
Fourth Editicn of last night.]
Yesterday afternoon one of the most cxtensiveiy de-
structive fires which has occurred in or around London
for many years past took place in the borough of South-
wark. Four immense hop warehouses were utterly de-
stroyed, end a fifth so much burnt and injured as to
render it doubtful whether its entire demolition will not
be required.
The buildings referred to were five large warehouses
standing near the loot of London-bridge, and forming a
long and deep block of buildings of such extent that
each floor was let or rented as a storeroom, and was ca-
pable of holding an immense bulk of property. The
block of buildings abutted, on the north side, on Hiber-
nia-chambers, and the large warehouses adjacent to it.
now in course of erection; on the south, on the aisle of
St. Saviour's Church; on the east, on the Bridge-house
Hotel; and on the west, on a small dock and a set of
flour mills and stores. The length of the block of ware-
houses is about 450 feet by 80 or 90 feet in depth, and
each contained six floors, besides extensive cellars. The
conflagration commenced in the warehouse nearest the
bridge-foot and adjoining the Bridge-house Hotel. This
building was let to three different persons—Mr. Dresser,
a cheese merchant, renting the cellars; Plessrs. Hollings-
worth, paper-makers, of 2.laicirstone, rented the three
first floors, which were used as repositories for white
rags; and Mr. Wigan, a hop merchant, who suffered so
severely in a fire which occurred a few months since not
100 yards from the spot, occupied the two top floors.
About half-past three in the afternoon some persons
engaged near the spot observed a body of flame to shoot
from two windows in the basement story, apparently
coming from the stack of Messrs. Hollingsworth. They
instantly raised an alarm, and dispatched messengers for
the assistance of the fire brigade. The flames, however,
spread with unaccountable rapidity, and in lees than
twenty minutes they had ascended the staircase and dif-
fused themselves throughout every part of the building
—every aperture in which shot forth immense volumes
of fire. These ascended over the roof to such a height
as to render them visible from almost any part of the
metropolis. The engines summoned were quickly on
the spot, while the more distant stations were alarmed
by the fire itself. The bridges on the Thames became
rapidly crowded with spectators, while an immense
number ran to the scene of mischief. For several mi-
nutes after the arrival of the engines some difficulty was
experienced in procuring a proper supply of water, and
by the time they succeeded in getting into operation it
became evident that any chance of saving the burning
building was totally out of the question. The firemen,
under the direction of Mr. Braidwood, now confined their
attention to the safety of the Bridge-house Hotel and the
warehouse adjoining, both of which were in imminent dan-
ger. The scene which presented itself was fearfully grand.
The flames rose in eddying volumes to an immense height,
diffusing an intense heat around, and threatening the
warehouses adjoining Hibernia-chambers in front; while
the pinnacles of St. Saviour's and the windows in the
northern end of the aisle cracked and flew in all direc-
tions. While the most strenuous exertions were being
made to subdue this body of flame a gnat of wind drove
the huge volume over the roofs of the warehouses ad-
joining, the party walls of which proved sufficiently
solid to resist the intense heat. The mischief was fore-
seen, but no means of preventing it existed; the fire
spread rapidly along the roofs and increased the body of
flame to such an extent that the church was in imminent
danger. Under the directions of Mr. Braidwood the
hose of several engines was hauled up to the roofs, and
although the firemen were scarcely able to endure the
intense heat, they remained playing on the burning mass,
and retreated feet by foot as its encroachments rendered
a retreat necessary. Window after window became
reddened with the conflagration, which spread itself
downwards from the roof of the second warehouse, de-
stroying two more floors of hops belonging to Mr. Wigan,
and four belonging to Messrs. Kitchen and Thornton.
The owners of goods in the adjoining warehouses,
alarmed at the serious appearance of the fire, and its ra-
pid progress, determined to remove their property, and
accordingly, a considerable number of hop pockets, the
property of Messrs. Humble and Son, in the third ware-
house, were carted away. A considerable portion of
the stock of Messrs. Allan and Anderson, who occupied
the basement story of the second warehouse, was also
saved before the fire reached it, although it was some-
what damaged with water.
The utmost exertions were then made to save the
body of the third warehouse from ignition, as it was
evident that if this caught the whole range must be sa-
crificed. The roof of the first warehouse having fallen
in, leaving no hope of saving any of the property con-
tained, except the stock in the cellars, the jets from the
West of England brigade engines, with those of the
two floating engines, were brought to bear upon Nos. 2
and 3, and in a short time the flames had slightly abated,
rendering a nearer approach practicable. No time was
lost in improving the advantage, and by the most unre-
mitting labour the fire was so far subdued that all dan-
ger of its extending further seemed at an end by eight
o'clock. A short time after eight o'clock, however, in
spite of the continuous play of the engines, the flames,
stimulated by a slight rise in the wind, and by having
reached some inflammable goods in one of the
floors, again rose. Their spread was again most rapid.
In a very brief space the third warehouse was on tire,
from the basement story up, and the fire, gliding over
the roof of the fourth warehouse, ignite] the fifth,
which was also speedily in flames. The sight which
now presented itself was such as is, fortu-
nately, seldom witnessed. The huge block of
burning houses—red hot from the intensity of the fire,
and shooting forth flame and sparks like a volcano—
might bo seen from any elevated spot in the city and the
bridges, which were crowded to the utmost. The Bo-
rough market was so thronged as to be impassable, the
people being in momentary expectation of seeing St.
Saviour's Church ignite. The fire shone through the
windows with such brilliancy as to give rise to several
reports that the sacred edifice vas on fire, and the sight
of users actively passing buckets from hand to hand into
the interior strengthed the supposition. Nothing could
exceed the alarm which prevailed; the safety of distant
as well as proximate buildings was threatened by the
immense flakes driven off, while those whose goods were
at all exposed hastened to secure them from the risk of
burning, or the scarcely less imminent risk of having
them stolen by the gangs of thieves who are never idle
ea such occasions. The fourth warehouse several times
caught fire and was often extinguished, and up to 12
o'ulcck it withstood the flames around it. After that
time it was gradually damaged by the intense heat com-
municated through the party walls; but the contents
having been removed by 11 o'clock, the fire found little
or nothing to spread it further. The fire remained
burning all night, and was easily visible from a distance.
We are happy to state that St. Saviour's Church, though
somewhat damaged, has sustained no serious injury.
Aldersean Humphery, to whom the premises belonged,
was on the spot as soon as possible after the outbreak,
and directed some of the operations of the firemen. He
is insured in the Sun and Union offices to the full ex-
tent of the value of the buildings. The loss is estimated
at nearly 200,0001. No cause can be assigned for the
conflagration, (lb it was stated that the stock of rags was
perlecny dry, and would not, therefore, be likely to
ignite spontaneously. It is not considered probable that
it was the result of carelessness, as the persons em-
ployed on the premises would not require candles so
early in the afternoon. Upon the first alarm the flames
seemed to come from the direction of the foot of the
staircase.

As soon as Messrs. Barclay and Perkins were in-
formed of the conflaoTation which was raging in the
neighbourhood they ofnred to send all their hands to
assist in extinguishing it or removing property. The
offer, however, was not accepted, as there was a suffi-
cient body of police on the ground to do whatever was
required.
The scaffolding in front of the warehouses now erect-
ing along the river side became so heated that it was
deemed necessary to sand up men with tackle to draw
up buckets of water to cool it. The water so thrown
down fell upon the men working the engines beneath,
who after remonstrating several times persuaded a fire-
man, who was also drenched to the skin, to direct his
jet upon those above. This led to some very angry
words, and at length matters were adjusted by the se
of two engines being drawn up and directed so as to pre-
vent any risk to the buildings.
The greatest credit is due to the police for their effi-
cient conduct cn the occasion, and also for their for-
bearance, although their patience was sorely tried by
the pressing forward of eager crowds into situations of
danger.

LATEST PARTICULARS.—(Two O'CLOCK )
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE LOSSES.

The brigade still hold safe possession of No. 3 ware-
house, and are employed on the roof discharging the
water from soma four or five engines, including the
floating engines, on to the flaming ruins of each side, and
there seems every expectation that they will succeed in
their purpose. The fire, however, still continues to rage,
and is likely to do so for some hours yet. Undoubtedly,
it is the largest fire that has happened in the metro-
polis for a great number of years.
One of the chief officers has, during the last hour,
been engaged collecting a list of the sufferers and the
property destroyed. Its contents, which we subjoin,
will convey some idea of the fearful character of the
conflagration:—
No. 1 warehouse, the property of Mr. Alderman
Humphery, M.P., totally destroyed. It was occupied
as stores and warehouse-room by the undermentioned
persons:—Cellars, by Mr. Hewett, American provision
merchant; basement stores, by Mr. Dresser, cheese-
factor; first, second, and third floors, by Mr. Hollings-
worth, paper manufacturer, of Turkey-mills, near
Maidstone; and the remaining floors by Messrs.
Wigan and Co., hop factors, of High-street, Bo-
remelt. Tho merchants were partly insured in Igeveral
offices.
No. 2 warehouse, belonging to Mr. Aldermen Hum -
phery, destroyed. It was divided into six stores; four
of them were rented by Messrs. Kitchen and Thornton,
merchants, and the remaining by Messrs. Wigan and
Co., the hop merchants, insured.
No. 4 warehouse, also the property of Mr. Alderman
Hutephery, totally destroyed. The whole of the stores
were rented by Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop factors.
The firm we are informed had nearly 20,000 pockets cf
hops in this warehouse. The whole is destroyed, value
of each pocket averages from 121. to 151.
The Bridge-house Hotel, the portion adjacent to No
1 warehouse, iejtred by breakage nod water, insured.
Six almshouses in the rear damaged by fire and water,
occupants uninsured.
St. Saviour's Church roof damaged by fire. The in-
terior damaged by, water. The edifice is insured.
Several wharfs fronting Alderman Humphery's ware-
houses severely scorched and their contents damaged by
water.

Respecting the amount of insurances effected on the
property very little information could be elicited. The
warehouses of Mr. ilunaphery (which were only erected

in 1839, at a cost of nearly 100,0001.) were insured in
the Sun Fire-office only to the extent of 40,0001.
The merchants occupying the stores were for the
most part insured, but not to an extent to cover the value
of their property.
It is feared the total loss will amount to little short of
150,0001.

Up to the present hour the Brigade authorities have
not been apprized of any loss of life.

LATEST PARTICULARS.—(THIS DAY.)
At twelve o'clock today, although the flames had
been long completely got under, there still existed in all
the three warehouses au immense body of smothered
embers, which sent up dense volumes of smoke, and
rendered necessary the continual working of several en-
gines, placed in Montague-clone and St. Saviour's-
passage, to restrain it from bursting out into flames.
The floating engines, also, manned by 200 men, were
still at work, throwing torrents of water on the ruins.
All the three warehouses aro completely demolished,
and of the warehouse in the occupation of the Messrs..
Wigan and Co., which caught fire last, nothing reunnts
but the fofir bare Ivens. The corner nearest to the mar-
ket presents a very dangerous appearance; large gaps in,
the walls on both aides ere widening every hour, and
great fears are entertained that before long that corner,
at least, will fell in. Montague-clue in some places is
covered uncle deep with hops, smoking with smothered
embers, and in others is flooded with the streams of
water which have been poured on the buildings.
Next to the extraordinary circumstance the fire
taking a sudden leap from the second to the fourth of
the pile, passing over entirely Messrs. Allen and An-
derson's premises, the greatest wonder is how St.
Saviour's Church escaped- Beyond having all its win-
nows cracked, and the walls blackened, this ancient pile
has sustained little or no injury.
The unfortunate fireman who was so terribly scorched
at the time wnen the flames were first discovered in
Messrs. Wigan's warehouse lies in a very precarious state.
It is feared that his sight is entirely destroyed, and it is
miraculous how, not only he but the body of firemen
with him at the time, escaped with their lives, so sud-
denly and powerfully did the flames burst forth.