The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-11 00:00:00

ALARMING FIRE-7111S D.Y.

Considerable excitement was created amongst
the inhabitants of Doctor's Commons, owing to the
springing of policemen's rattles and the general cry
of " Fire." It was then about three o'clock a.m.,
and owing to its being Monday morning none of
the privileged licensed houses were open for the sale
of refreshments, consequently few persons were out,
which was fortunate, as it enabled the escapes
and engines to pass along the narrow streets
from Ludgate-hill and St. Paul's without
any interruption. Messrs. Westley's premises oc-
cupy an immense space of ground in Friar-street,
facing the City Mission House, and in order to in-
crease their works, another house was added to
them, and the different rooms were used as paper-
cutting stores, and it was in this part of the works
that the fire commenced. Its discovery was made
by the policeman on duty by seeing red smoke
issuing from the basement. Mr. Bridge, the
senior foreman of the metropolitan brigade, as
well as Captain Shaw, the chief offi3er, came
down in rapid succession with several en-
gines, and a powerful force of firemen. The
mains of the New Company having been drawn, a
bountiful supply of water was obtained, the land
steamers, by Shand, Mason, and Co., were set t)
work, and the fire was prevented from reaching the
warehouses, in which many thousand volumes of
an expensive description were in different stages of
finishing. The damage done is thus officially re-
ported by Captain Shaw :—" No. 15, Friar•street
Doctors'-commons, Messrs. Westley and Co., book-
binders. The basement and ground floor used as
paper-cutting stores, and underside of stair from
ground, were much damaged by fire, and upper part
of building slightly by heat. The cause of fire un-
known. Insured in the Hand-in-Hand Offic."

COURT-M ARTIAL ON CAPTAIN A.
WILIIISHURST.

PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 9.

The court re-assembled at 9.30 this morning.
The first witness called was Navy Lieutenant
Molloy, who was re examined in relatio❑ to the
provisions landed from the Rajusthan, and the
distance between the pier-head at Ascen.iion and
the storehouses on the island.

Mr. Lewis, paymaster of the Flora, was the next
witness examined relative to the drawing up and
Bigniug of the statement and the bond respecting
the wreck of the Bremensis, and the delivery of the
cotton for conveyance to England in the Rejusthan.
The examination and cross-examination of this
witness was not concluded until past five o'clock,
but nothing of any importance was elicited the
whole day.

The last witness closed the case for the prosecu-
tion, and the prisoner requesting time to prepare
his defence, the Court granted him till Wednesday
morning.
The Court adjourned at 5.20 p.m.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-E ASTERN.

The total traffic receipts on the company's lines,
after deducting cost of collecting and delivering
goods, &c., and adding the receipts for rents and
sundries, and also for steam packet service, to the
traffic, amounted for the 20 weeks and one day,
ending the 19th of December last, to £620,886, and
the expenditure, including rates, taxes, tolls, Go-
vernment duty, and expenses of steam packet ser-
vice, to £268,127, leaving a net return of £352,759.