The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-20 00:00:00

FOREIGN.

Central of France •• ..... • • • • • • • • •
Dutch Rhenish ••
31 a ria Antonia
ontereau end TroycS •• • • • • • • " ••
Northern of France •••• • • " •• • •
Orleans and Bordeaux.. • • • • • • • • •
Paris and Lyons • • • • • • •• • • • •
Paris and Orleans ..... .• • • • • • • • •
Paris and Rouen . • ... ..
Paris and Strasburgh •
Rouen and Ilavre • • • • •
Tours and Naute,s•• • • • ....

412%
134%
240

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WAPPING.
Yesterday morning, about a quarter to one o'clock,
as a policeman was walking his beat in Great- Hermit-
age-street, Wapping, he discovered that the premises,
No. 11, Crown-court, leading out of that street, were on
fire. The premises in question are a double house, with
one front door, but two staircases, and were let like two
separate houses, the front portion, containing four rooms
over each other, to Mr. James Stiff, and the back to Mr.
James Cander. The fire broke out in the front parlour,
and rapidly ascended the front staircase to the second
floor, where Mr. Stiff's family were in bed. The first
act of the policeman was to arouse the inmates and to
help the family of Mr. Siff down the staircase of Mr.
Candor's house, and a messenger having been dis-
patched to Wcllclose-square and other stations, several
engines of the brigade, as well as the West of Eng-
land engine and a private engine from the neighbour-
hood, wero promptly on the spot. The fire, however,
had by this time such a firm hold of the building, which,
although a double house, was merely run up with laths
and plaster, that it was impossible to save the front of
it, which was entirely burned out, and the latter portion,
although not eurnph tely destroyed, is rendered quite un-
tanantable. The home, No. 8, Great Hermitage-street,
in the occupation of T. J. Norrie, the back part of which
comes within a few 3 and of the premises in which the
fire originated, v.7as at ono time in considerable danger
of being destroyed, the window frame of the back room
second tlx.r being on fire; the indefatigable exertions of
the firemen, however, in an almost miraculous manner,
prevented the flames from extending, although consider-
able damage was done to this house and the furniture by
water and removal.

7'HE PREMIER AND THE MANCHESTER
REFORM CONFERENCE.

At the late Reform Conference held at Manchester,
the following resolution was adopted :—" That the follow-
ing gentlemen be a deputation for the purpose of seeking
an interview with Lord John Russell, to represent to him
the general views of this conference, and to urge upon
him the propriety of in'reducing a measure of reform
calculated to meet the views and enpectations,of this con-
ference:—The Right lion. T. U. Gibson, M.P., R. Cob-
den, M.P., J. Bright, M.P.. Sir Joshua Walraesly,
M.P., J. Kershaw, M.P., John Williams, M.P., Sir
E.Armitage, George Wilson, Manchester; Alderman
Forbes, Bradford; Alderman Carbutt, Leeds; Edward
Baines, Leeds; F. Crossley, Halifax; George Had-
field, James Watts, Manchester; H. Ashworth,
Bolton; P. J. Dixon, Carlisle ; the Lord Pro-
vost of Edinburgh; G. W. Harrison, Wakefield; W.
Biggs, Leicester; R. W. Philips, Manchester, W. Raw-
son, Manchester; C. E. Rawlins, Liverpool; and Charles
Potter, Thrwen. Mr. Milner Gibson was requested on
the part of these gentlemen to lose no time in seeking
an interview with the Premier, but on reaching London
we believe that ho found his Lordship had loft town for
Woburn Abbey. The Hon. Gentleman has since written
to Lord John Russell to ask the honour of an interview
for the deputation, and the following is the reply:—
" Woburn Abbey, Dec. 13, 1851.
" Lord John Russell presents his compliments to Mr.
Milner Gibson, and is sorry he cannot receive a depu-
tation from the conference which was lately held at
Manchester on the subject...Of Parliamentary reform.
"It appears to him that there would be great incon-
venience in receiving deputations from particular dis-
tricts on a subject of this nature, in which the whole
country is interested."

CAPTURE Or A SEAL AT APPLEDORE.—One of
these amphibious animals, so common in high northern lati-
tudes, but so rare on our coast, was seen swimming about in
Appledore-pool on Thursday morning last by William Henry
Fishley, the Waterman who plies the ferry between Apple-
dore and Instow. Having a gun with him, he fired at the
seal, and struck it on the side; he lost his object for a short
period, but on its again coming to the surface he repeated his
fire, and the third shot mortally wounded the animal, which
immediately made towards the shore and endeavoured to
walk away as fast it could. Fishley followed, and struck
it over the head with a boat's oar; the seal caught the oar
in its month, and did not quit its hold until it had lost two
of its front teeth in the struggle. It was then taken to the
boat and conveyed to Barnstaple, where it was exposed to
view at the Star Inn. It is a full-grown specimen, and
x
hibits an extraordinary affinity to the canine tribe. Ezeet e-r
Dying Post.

GLOUCESTER, ADERTSTWITII, AND CENTRALIVALES
RAlLWAY.—Yesterday a meeting in this matter was held,
before the blaster in Chancery (Tinney),
to consider the
validity of a variety of outstanding claims, about sixteen in
number, the principal being 3,000/. from Mr. Saunders, soli-
citor; 5,0001. from Messrs. hill and Everill, 4321. from
Messrs. Ravenhill, 35C/. from Mr. hawker, the secretary;
500/. from Mr. Thompson, engineer; 1621. from Mr. Powell,
and others, in all amounting to between 1000/. and 15.0001'
Mr. Hetherington opposed these claims on behalf oftP.e
shareholders for the official manager, against serecalelrabe
soli-
citors, who attended in support of them. Aftercons'
discussion, the Master allowed them simply as alleged claims,
giving the parties liberty to turn them n-
;at articular indivi-
duals action at common law, and as against particular
on inquiry,
duals or general members of the comP. y
C u means of a call in
might be found liable to pay the sam alebtsproved by
discharge of debts.
ERY TRADES.—The last Eird.
TIEIE LACE AND
are
eot commercial affairs in this town
rivals from America
alto-
gether for the prospects of
a more cheering character
t"7.leanefited by the improved state of af-
fairsbe more extensive )
- rosp•ects and lace ; the former will, perhaps.
as regards both
more particularly as regards fancy goods—.
last advices, .
class of block laces. But the time for
a certain
there, but the latter will also benefit partially by the
manufacture of goods for the ensu-
orders for the giving out _
de there has passed, as it takes some time to
*lig spring trade '
orders to any extent, unless manufacturers should
complete
be foolish enough to .
especially
have goods on hand in anticipation of
demand, which the experience of past years has taught them
very wisely to avoid. The demand for hosiery goods gene-
rally remains without much alteration. Some few orders
have been received from London houses in tl e general trade
for spring goods, but these orders are only yet very partial, as
it is commonly supposed that January is early enough for
these parties. The stock of goods held by hosiers generally
is smaller than usual for the average of years ; and in this
business particularly there is a prospect of a remunerative
business for some months in the en.uing year at all events,
The lace trade depends so much upon the whim and eaprice
of fashion, that it would be idle to speculate much upon its
prospect; its condition also may be more or less
or deteriorated, and will doubtless be kept in some uncer-
tainty, by the present and prospective condition of Eurel'e
Ko tlingitant Journul. improved
The mercantile advices from
on London
state that the fluctu :tions in the rate of exchang
alteratione in the
were very great, and were affected by
ever)
on gold was still
quotatiun of French Rentes. The premiument. From Milan it was
vienna of the 16th
30 per cent., and on silverin a few days,
stated that silk had risen 8 The accounts
and that the market sbowed
increase of business, American
from Trieste also describe annas
very low, being much in de-
cotton, the stock of which
yarn was sought at Advanced prices,
mud. At Vienna cotton y 25°
r perri a great er
activity_cen t .