The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-05 00:00:00

FIRES IN THE CITY.

Last evening, between 8 and 9 o'clock, a fire of a
rather formidable character broke out in the pre-
mises belonging to Messrs. Figgins, the well-known
type-founders, situate in West-street, Smithfield, at
the middle of Victoria-street, leading from Holborn
valley to what was originally termed the " Fleet-
ditch Den." The property of the Messrs. Figgins
covered a large superficies, whereon stood the foun-
dries, warehouses, packing-rooms, and machine
compartments. The buildings stretched in one direc-
tion at least 100 feet, it being next to an impossi-
bility to tell with accuracy the exact width, but it
is certain they were over 70 feet deep, and varied
from two and three to four and five stories in height.
Within a few feet of these extensive buildings are
the gutta percha works, separated only by the side
or back yard, while on the opposite side are the
premises of Messrs. Reynolds, the army gold-lace
manufacturers, and within a few yards the engi-
neering works of Messrs. Galloway. It is therefore
not surprising that a fire breaking out in the midst
of so much valuable property should excite so much
alarm, especially within the boundaries of the City.
From inquiries made on the spot while the fire was
raging, it appears that some one living near
the premises noticed smoke in dense volumes
passing out of the windows of the casting and ma-
chine departments, situate on the south-east side
of the factory, and in close proximity to many
other antiquated buildings. An instant alarm
was given, and messengers were sent to call the
engines of the London Fire Brigade at Farringdon-
i street station, as well as those at Watling-street,
Chandos-street, Southwark-bridge-road, Holborn,
Jeffrey's-square, Crown-street, and several others
at the more distant depots. In spite of the exer-
tions of the firemen, the work of destruction con-
tinued, and the flames rose from floor to floor in
that part of the building until the whole of the
founders' rooms in that angle of the factory, includ-
ing the machinery compartments and melting
rooms, were nearly burnt out, and it was not until
nearly 11 o'clock that the fire was entirely sub-
dued. The total loss is very considerable, for, in-
dependently of the great quantity of metal con-
sumed, the whole of the four floors of that part of
the premises are nearly destroyed, and the matrixes
are supposed to have been rendered useless. As to
the origin of the fire, nothing that could be de-
pended upon could be ascertained, but the opinion
of the manager of the factory is, that it was occa-
sioned; from one of the workmen in lighting his
pipe before leaving the premises having thrown a
piece of lighted paper upon the floor, as the flames
were first seen in the middle floor, and they ex-
tended to the other floors before the fireman had
time to get to the works. Although the business
of the firm will be somewhat retarded by the dis-
astrous event, it will not be wholly suspended,
and it is exceedingly fortunate that the many sur-
rounding buildings have not sustained the least
injury--not even the engineering works of
Messrs. Galloway. The type-foundry and
its contents are believed to be fully insured,
Last night Mr. Superintendent Braidwood received
information that another fire, which unfortunately
turned out to be very extensive, had broken out in
Doctors'-commons. In the course of a few minutes
as many engines as could be spared from the other
fire were despatched to the spot, and pending their
arrival the powerful steam fire-engine, the inven-
tion of Messrs. Shand and Mason, of Blackfriars-
road, was taken out of the Watling-street station,
drawn by three horses, and was for the first time
set to work. The fire commenced in the premises
belonging to Messrs. Thompson, box and packing
case makers, carrying on business in Carter-lane,
Doctors'-commons. The building, including the
basement, was five floors high, and contained a
costly stock of the manufactured goods. At the
time of the outbreak the only person in the house
was a daughter of Mr. Thompson, and upon her
descending the stairs to open the street door to let
in her mother, who had gone to purchase some-
thing for supper, she experienced a strong smell of
burning wood. Unfortunately, in her excitement
to aseertaiu whether anything wrong had hap-
pened, she opened the flap of one of the wellholes
leading to the lowermost part of the building,
and the draught thus given caused the flames to
extend with more than usual rapidity. The water
furnished by the New River Company was so
abundant that the fire was prevented from extend.
ing to the adjoining houses and warehouses. By
half-past 12 o'clock the fire was under the subjec-
tion of the firemen. The premises of Messrs.
Thompson were nearly burnt out, and, unfortu-
nately, the sufferers were not insured.

We admit that it may be true that free trade may
be the most sure means of facilitating an increase
of the stock ; it may also be true that free competi-
tion, by creating new wants, may increase produc-
tion ; but this is only applicable to substances the
production of which is unlimited, as silk, wool, cot-
ton, &c. Economical science is at fault if it thinks
those same principles are applicable to rags, which
are not sown, or planted, or reaped ; to rags which
are not created at will, and which the great pro-
ducer of this substance —that is to say everybody—
endeavour§ to produce as little as possibl-,, mna
word, rags are not merchandise the production of
which can be increased according to the demand
for them. When all the countries of Europe come
to buy up in our market all the rags they want,
without any one of them being able to restore us
this primary material, there will not be one pound
more of rags in existence ; only rags will be much
dearer, for the demand will increase the price all
the more as the quantity will not be greater.
We are aware that it is not proposed to make
the exportation perfectly free, which is now abso-
lutely prohibited, Protection would be substituted
for prohibition.

But what does this protection signify if it is but
a nominal barrier to the exportation of rags,--if
England who, above all things, wants our raw ma-
terial, finds it worth her while to buy up rags in
France, even under the duty of 12f. per 100 kilo-
grammes, which the Bill proposes to establish ?
The report declares that protection to be suffi-
cient. It would represent 25 per cent. on the ave-
rage price of white rags, which the project of the
Government estimates at from 50f. to 55f. the 100
kilogrammes. But when that price, which is
already no longer the average, shall have increased
when free exportation will have raised the price of
rags to 64f. or 65f. the 100 kilogrammes, the duty
of 12f. will not represent more than a protection of
from 18 to 19 per cent.—that is to say, an insuffi-
cient protection to enable France to keep her rags.
For, is it not evident that the value of the produce
must be determined by the market price when that
price is highest ? It is therefore on the London
market price of rags-80f. to 90f. the 100 kilo-
grammes—that the duty ought to be calculated,
which it is proposed to substitute for prohibition.
We shall not dwell upon the serious errors con-
tained in the report on the Bill respecting the tariff
of duties ou the exportation of ;rags for making
paper, and which the delegates of the French paper
manufacturers have justly pointed out in the vari-
ous publications we have before us.

But we cannot help observing that, as regards
rope upon which the authors of the Bill propose to
fix an export duty of 3f. per 100 kilogrammes,
that duty does not represent 20 per cent. of the
value, unless old rope is estimated at 13f. to 15f.
Now, the price of old rope has never for many
years been under 25f. ; it varies actually between
34f. and 36f. We go further :—ln April of this
.present year the Minister of Marine sold his old
ropes at Toulon at 46f. the 100 kilogrammes ; at
Lorient, in the following month of May, at 53f.,
that is to say, nearly as high as good white rags,
and which is explained by the quality, fibre, and
solidity which old ropes give to paper.
Finally, the report declares that the paper trade
is not interested in the exemption of all export
duty on woollen rags, because they are not used in
the fabrication of paper, or at least in very small.
quantity. We may be allowed to observe that
woollen rags arc largely used in making packing
paper and pasteboard; that our manufactures of
tinted paper make large use of woollen rags to
make without mixture tapestry paper, which may
compete in price in foreign markets with the best
English paper hangings. The free exportation
of woollen rags would thus deprive our interesting
fabrication of coloured pavers of this superiority.
But may not considerations of a higher order
than those which touch even the interests of a
great branch of industry, the annual production of
which figures at 80 millions of francs, be indi-
cated here ?

The proposed law, bringing as an inevitable con-
sequence an increase in the price of paper, must
modify the economical conditions of the French
publishing trade. This law becomes an obstacle to
the development of progress in literature and
science—to the diffusion of every branch of
human knowledge; it tends to deprive the work-
ing classes of all those books which are meant to
instruct or to amuse them, to touch their
heart and intelligence; it will be prejudicial
to the fine arts—drawing, engraving, music, the
inspiration of which paper receives, preserves,
and multiplies. And what especially must not be
lost sight of is, that French ideas have no more
active, more powerful agents of propagation than
books; that, thanks to them, the influence of our
literature, of our customs, of our civilisation grows
and spreads throughout the world. If our books
become more rare, if their price increases, it is that
influence of the French name which will be les-
sened. Is this what the legislator aims at ?
" Commercial relations," says the report, " can
only established between nations in a durable and
useful manner by means of reciprocal and honest
concessions."

We seek in vain here for such a reciprocity.
We see clearly what England wishes to obtain from
us in this affair; we do not see what she offers
in return, unless it is, by a bitter derision, the free
entrance of French paper on the other side of the
Channel, when England at any price will buy up
in our markets the indispensable material for
making our paper. What requirement is there for
our paper in England, which produces already more
paper than she consumes ?
In fine, the passing of the law for the free ex-
portation of rags would inevitably lead to the ruin
of a portion of the manufacturers of French paper.
The Legislative Body will surely not give its sanc-
tion to so fatal a measure.

THE HARVEST IN CANADA. —The weather is
most propitious for the growing crops, which in this neigh-
bourhood never looked better. The young wheat, oats, and
the hay are doing splendidly. Every kind of garden stuff
is also flourishing satisfactorily. Quebec seems to be pre-
eminently favourable to the growth of small fruits, such as
gooseberries, currants, strawberries, raspberries, and others.
The whole country abounds with strawberries—they aro in
every field, and even flourish along either side of the roads.
—Letter from Quebec, June 15.
HIGH PRICE OF 13liTCHER'S MEAT.—At a nume-
rously attended meeting of the operative classes residing at
Stratford and its vicinity, the following resolution was
adopted :—" That the present high price of butcher's meat
places that portion of our daily food beyond the reach of
the operative classes, and we therefore strongly urge the
necessity of abstaining from such food until it is sold at a
more reasonable price." A committee was formed to arrange
for holding an aggregate meeting on the same subject at
Manby-park, Stratford-grove.
[AvvEwrisEMENT].—Holloway's Pills and Ointment:—
Cherish hope. Let no sufferer despair of care 'till a fair
trial has been given to these incomparable medicaments.
Marvellous cures are constantly reported of invalids being
restored to health when all hope had long since vanished.
All complaints of the chest, all irregularities of the heart,
all impurities of the blood, all derangements of the stomach
and liver, are banished by Holloway's preparations. The
Ointment must be well rubbed over thejparts affected twice
a-day at least, and oftener in urgent cases. The use of
this Ointment, aided by Holloway's Pills, will cure all sores,
ulcers, piles, fistulas, and skin diseases. However old, or
all eventually yield,
obstinate to their power,

During Tuesday Rear-Admiral the Hon. F. T.
Pelham, C.B. (one of the Lords of the Admiralty)
went on board the guardship of steam-ordinary
Wellington, 72, Captain Astley C. Key, C. 8., in
Hamoaze, and inspected her. It is reported in
Devonport that some other ship will be appointed
to this duty, and the Tndus, 78, has been-named.
Admiral Pelham went also on board the paddle-
wheel steam frigate Terrible, 21, Capt. Frederick
H. H. Glasse, C,13., in Plymouth Sound, which
subsequently got up steam and left for the Mediter-
ranean. She will be for the present at • claw-
fleet there, and her head-quarters will be at

The new contract-built steam gui vessel Penguin,
4, was taken outside the Breakwater, Plymouth, on
Tuesday, by Commander Risk, to prove her machi-
nery, the first trial not having proved entirely
satisfactory. She returns to Hamoaze.
A trial of the machinery of the screw steamship
Orion, 91, Capt. J. B. Frere, was made on Tuesday,
alongside the jetty in the basin at Keyham steam-
yard. She was ordered to be taken out of the
basin yesterday.
The riggers have commenced their work on the
lower masts of the paddlewheel steam sloop Geyser,
6, Commander George M. Jackson, at Devonport.
The screw steamship St. George, 90, Capt. the
Hon. Francis Egerton, slipped her moorings in
Hamoaze on Tuesday, and went into Plymouth
Sound.

The screw steam gun vessel Viper, 4, Commander
W. N. W. Hewitt, which arrived in Plymouth
Sound from the West Coast of Africa on Monday
evening, was appointed to be inspected yesterday
by Captain Jerningham, of the gunnery ship Cam-
bridge, and to go up to Hamoaze, when her crew
will be paid off.
A committee appointed by the Great Yarmouth
Town Council has met Col. Haddon, R.E., with
respect to a site for a fort at the mouth of the har-
bour. A space of about three acres was selected
and approved. The estimated expense of the works
contemplated is stated to be from £lO,OOO to £20,000.

Letters received from the fleet in the Downs
state that they are ordered to Plymouth Sound
thence direct.

The Fire Queen, paddle, Master-Commander Paul,
lit fires and got up her steam in the steam basin at
Portsmouth yesterday, to test her machinery at the
conclusion of repairs. Workmen are engaged on
the sheer jetty in Portsmouth dockyard in putting
together Jones's target of ships' angular plate armour.
The whole, when placed in position and in readi-
ness to be affixed to the Sirius target-ship, will
weigh about 25 tons. Several other targets are
already attached to the sides of the Sirius's broad-
side for experimental gunnery practice. Two of
them consist of slabs of 4-inch iron, 15 feet 9 inches
each in length, by 3 feet in breadth. One of these
consists of three-quarters scrap and one-quarter
puddle. The other slab is composed of all scrap iron.
Two other targets on the Sirius's side may be termed
" chain armour," as it is composed of half-inch
round steel bars interlaced with each other, and re-
presenting a flat and closely wicker-worked iron
hurdle. Six of these are bolted together, and then
present a mass of chainwork protruding 11 inches
from the sides of the vessel it is intended to protect.
Two other targets have yet to arrive, and be at-
tached with the others to the Sirius's side. The
experiments will be under the superintendence of
Capt. R. S. Hewlett, C. 8., of her Majesty's ship
Excellent.