The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-01 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION.

One of the most serious fires that has visited the
metropolis for some time past broke out yesterday
morning in the immense range of; premises belonging
to Messrs. Horne (late Hon'ditch), coach manufac-
turers to her Mjesty, situate in Long-acre, immedi-
ately facing Bow-street. The building was erected
a few years since, at the expense, it is stated, of
30,000/., and at the time of the outbreak upwards of
100 carriages were on the premises.
Owing to the very inflammable nature of the stock
within the place, the flames travelled with the rapidity
of lightning, and as the fire rushed through the roof
and various upper windows, immense flakes of burn-
ing material were wafted by the strong breeze over
the roofs of the houses a long distance off, to the
danger of their destruction. Three persons, who
were sleeping on tha premises, were with great diffi-
culty aroused by the police. They fortunately made
their escape in their night-clothes. The equestrian
troop of horses belonging to the Theatre Royal
Drury-lane were located in Clarke's stables, at the
side of the blazi❑g property, but fortunately they
were extricated in time.

The fire-escapes and engines of the London brigade,
Combo and Co.'s brewery, and West of England Com-
pany, arrived with all promptitude, and plenty of water
being obtained, all hands were set to work, but at
five o'clock the flames had travelled completely round
the building, and had descended three floors, of course
destroying all that they contained, and there seemed
every probability of the entire range of premises fall-
ing a prey to the fury of the devouring element. It
was nearly noon before the fire was wholly extin-
guished.
The total loss must reach to several thousand
pounds, but great as it is, it would have been far more
extensive had it not been for the indefatigable exer-
tions of the firemen, several of whom narrowly escaped
with their lives.
Respecting the cause of the disaster nothing positive
is known ; but the prevailing opinion is that it must
have originated from the spontaneous ignition of pain-
ters' wipings or lamp-black.
The following is the official report of the damage
broke
i‘okire.
done, as certified by Mr. Braidwood :
out
at "
half-pastSUNDAY,
threeA UGUAsTm.
,310,n N.
Horne, coachbuilder, Nos. 93 and 94, Long-acre.
ItBhsel.premises A
fire
re
o
The third and fourth stories burned out, and roof off;
the second floor seriously damaged by fire and water ;
the first, ground, and cellar floors severely damaged
by water only. Part of the stock on ground-floor da•
maged by removal. The building belongs to the
Mercers' Company, and is supposed to be insured
in the Royal Exchange Fire-office. The con-
tents were supposed to be insured in the Alliance and
another fire-office. The cause of fire unknown."

THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER AND BRISTOL.—
From the latest accounts received from the Continent it ap-
pears that the health of the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and
Bristol has much improved, and his Lordship hopes to be
able to commence his visitation of the diocese in the last
week of September. lie has been joined by Mrs. Monk and
the members of his family.
FATAL ACCIDENTS ON THE RlVER.—Yesterday the
body of a man, 'who fell from off one of the Gravesend
steamers at Woolwich, was picked up on the bank at East
Charlton, and conveyed to Woolwich dead- house to be
i
owned, and for an inquest. It s that of a man about 65,
dressed in brown frock coat and light moleskin trowsers.
The body of Mr. ChittiEfield, of Fountain-court, Strand,
who fell from off the Sunbeam steamer on Tuesday, was
, found yesterday at Lambeth, and removed to the workhouse
in Princes-road.