The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

FIRES, AND LOSS OF THREE LIVES.

Yesterday morning, between two and three
o'clock, the inhabitants of Whit echapel were greatly-
alarmed owing to a fire of a serious eh a.racter break-
ing out in the premises of Mr. IL Hopps, cabinet-
maker, No. 4S, Backchurch-lane, which, unibrtu-
nately, was attended with fatal consequences to
three persons. The fire was first discovered by a
policeman of the H division noticing dense volumes
of smoke issuing from the lower part of the building.
At that time the whole of the inmates werein their
beds. Information was promptly forwarded to the
Royal Society's fire-escape conductor, and forth-
with Samuel Wood attended with his machine, but
by that time, although only a. few minutes had
elapsed, the fire had taken the complete possession
of every part of the structure, and the parents were
unable to save three of their children, who were in
their beds sleeping at the time. The parish engine
was quickly in attendance,lollovred by four of the
London Brigade from Wellclose-square, Jeffrey-
square, Watling-street, and Whitecross-street sta-
tions. An immense supply of the East London
Company's water having been procured, the firemen,
under the direction of Mr. Bridges, the chief officer,
went to work, hut were unable to get the flames ex-
tinguished until the premises and all they contained.
were.clestroyed, As soon as the ruins were suffi-
ciently cooled, search was made for the missing
persons, and the conductor of the fire-escape, with
the brigade-men, found the bodies of Sarah
Hopps, aged 11, Elizabeth, aged 8, and Henry,
aged 5 years, terribly burnt, showing that
death must have been almost instantaneous.
The origin of the catastrophe is enveloped in obscu-
rity. Unfortunately Mr. Uopps was uninsured.
The escapeman attended the moment he was called,
but the three children were then beyond all means
of escape.

A fire likewise took place on the premises of Mr.
J. Astrop, tailor, 2, Wells-street, Camberwell. The
fire commenced from some unknown cause in the
front room ground floor, and spreading assumed a
threatening aspect. The Royal Society's escapes,
the engines of the parish, and three of the London
Brigade from Waterloo and South wark-bridge roads
were remarkably early in arriving, as well as
another from Watling-street. The firemen, under
Mr. Henderson, the chief officer of the I) district,
went to work in a praiseworthy manner, but they
were unable to get the fire extinguished until the
house was partially destroyed. The loss will fall
upon the Atlas and Phenix Fire-offices.

The most extensive fire that has occurred in the
neighbourhood of Holborn for a long time past
broke-out about half-past 11 o'clock yesterday fore-
noon, and was attended with the destruction of a
large amount of property. The premises in which
the outbreak (commenced were those of Messrs.
Payne and Sons, toy merchants, 16 and 17, High
Holborn, and were of considerable ex tent,The upper
floors being used for store rooms. The fire appears
to have been discovered by a lad left in charge of
the property experiencing a strong smell of burn-
ing wood. Upon going to the lower part of the
buildings he found they were on fire, the flames
rushing towards the upper part. He at once gave
an alarm, and went to the Holborn station for the
brigade engines. These and several others of the
brigade from different stations were soon in attend.
ance, being aided by a plentiful supply of water.
Several hours elapsed before the firemen could get
a mastery over the flames, but at a late hotir last
evening they had succeeded in entirely extinguish-
ing them. The damage done to the premises of
Messrs. Payne is very serious, as also to those ad-
joining. Mr. Payne, sen., who was at his house at
Hampstead, was sent for, but was unable to give
any explanation as to the origin of the fire. The
principal sufferers are understood to bo insured.

FROM THE GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, DEc. 24.

Orders for the Court's going into mourning on Thursday
next, the 27th instant, for her late Majesty the Queen
Dowager Desiree of Sweden and Norway, grandmother of
the reigning King :
The ladies to wear black silk, fringed or plain linen,
white gloves, necklaces, and ear-rings, black or white
shoes, fans, and tippets.
The gentlemen to wear black full-trimmed fringed or
plain linen, black swords and buckles.
The Court to change the mourning on Thursday, the
10th of January next :
The ladies to wear black silk or velvet, coloured ribbons,
fans and tippets, or plain white, or white and gold, or
white and silver
stuffs, with black ribbons.
The gentlemen to wear black coats, and black or plain
white, or white and gold, or white and silver stuff waist-
coats, full trimmed, coloured swords and buckles.
And on Thursday, the 17th of January next, the Court
to go out of mourning.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, Nov. 15.

-----
The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Frede.
rick Jonson, Esq., now British Vice-Consul at Acapulco,
to be her Majesty's Consul at Tampico.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, DEc. 21.

- -
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. henry
Rhodes, as Consul for the Port of Victoria and other ports
of Vancouver's bland, for the King of the Hawaiian
Islands.
The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Mr. Sigis.
mund Cahimanu as Consul in London for their Serene
Highnesses the Princes of Schwarzburg Rudolstadt, and
of Schwarzburg Sondershausen.
BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED.
William Burgess, dealer in soap, Pimlico, Middlesex
Edward Barons Bowman, apothecary, isaoton.
William Thomas, publican. Cardifl. '-
John Johnson, Richard Clarkson, turd Frederick Fur-
ness, tailors, Ashton-under-Lyne.

BANKRUPTS.
John Griffith, bookseller, 4anway-street, Oxford-street,
to surrender, Jan. 4; at two, and Feb. 8, at
Charles West, baker, Brasted, Kent Jan. 8'
Court of Bankruptcy. one, at the
Nathaniel Shattswell Dodge and It
and Feb. 7, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy..- at eleven,
Rifheil oLonis Gian-
donati, warehousemen, St. Paul's-churchyard, Jan. 8, at
Curt of Bank-
half-paat one, and Feb. 7, at two, at the o
ruptcy.
linty of Brecon, Jan. 15
John Bound, draper, in
the county
District Court.
and Feb. 12,-at eleven, at the Bristol
Jan. 10 and 31, at
David Rollin, shoemaker, Lnel ham.
eleven, at the Shirehall,
eepil°,totfuerset, Jan. 7. and Feb. 4,
George Besley,
innki birstrict Court.
of eleven, at the Briete- builder, Weymouth, Jan. 4 and 31,
Petb.7 Wc.ston M e
I tsei District Court.
at twelve, at the 9
.Enxtumber, Barnsley, Yorkshire, Jan. 14
Matthias Wood, ", at the Commercial-buildings, Leeds.
and Feb. 4. at elevegrocers
Hoolcy Hill, Audenshaw, Lan-
John Den,l7,':gi;kci 31, at twelve, at the Manchester Dia..
cashire, Jan. A
trict Courßt.
ear,wheelwright, S
d
Snow's fields, Bermondsey,
Robert
Jan. 9, at tsrep and Feb. 6, at twelve, at the Court of Bank-
met!' Tra tfield, milliner, South Molton-street, Oxford-
stre
"et, ."3 -Jan' 8, at three, and Feb. 12, at half-past two, at
Court of Bankruptcy.
the
Joseph Agate, grocer, Emsworth, Hampshire, Jan. 8, at
three, and Feb. 12, at,-past .
half t two, at the Court of Bank.
ruPtcY•