The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-28 00:00:00

A Night of Fires.

Daring the whole of last night, until an advanced
hour, this (Wednesday) morning, the firemen of
the Metropolitan Brigade were actively engaged in
attending and extinguishing fires, of which the fol-
lowing are the particulars :

FINSBURY.—One fire took place on the premises
of Messrs. Spicers, Marcus, and Co., manufacturers
of fancy leather goods, &c., No. 9, Eldon-street,
Finsbury. It commenced from some unknown
cause in one of the private houses, and in the course
of a few minutes the whole place presented a large
sheet of flame. Numerous land steam engines, by
Shand, Mason, and Co., had arrived, and plenty of
water having been procured the firemen went to
work but the flames could not be conquered until
the building in which the fire began was burned
out, and Nos. 7,8, and 10 severely damaged by
fire, water, &c. The loss will fall upon the West-
minster, Royal, and Royal Exchange Fire-offices.
ISLINGTON.—A very destructive fire, which for a

time lighted up the whole of the northern portions
of the metropolis, happened in the premises belong-
ing to Mr. J. Bell, picture-frame manufacturer,
which, in spite of the early arrival of the engines,
destroyed the workshops 60 feet long by 34 feet
broad, and severely injured several of the adjoin..
ing premises. Insurance not known.

CAMBERWELL.—A fire, which it is supposed was
the work of some vile incendiary, took place in
some unfinished houses belonging to Mr. W. Eloden,
Lavender Hill, Wandsworth-road, which resulted
in the destruction of two ten-roomed houses, and
damage to those adjoining.
HACKNEY.—Another took place in the premises
of Mr. A. Marks, a hatter, No. 169, Goldsmiths'-
row, Hackney, which destroyed the warehouse and
contents.

SPEECIIES OF 711 E EMPEROR NAPOLEON
AT ARRAS AND LILLE.

The Moniteur of yesterday announces that the
Emperor and Empress left Paris on Monday morn-
ing by the Northern Railway to be present at the
fetes in Lille, commemorative of the union of Flan-
ders with France. On the way the Imperial party
stopped at Arras for a couple of hours. " Numerous
deputations from the most distant parts of the de-
partment," says the Moniteur, "had assembled in
order to salute their Majesties. During this short
visit their reception was most enthusiastic and
hearty." The Mayor of Arras presented the keys of
the city to the Emperor, and delivered an address,
to which his Majesty made the following reply :
" Monsieur le Maire,—lt is with pleasure I find
myself among you after such a long period, and I
have seized with avidity the occasion of a national
fete to come and learn your desires, and to assure
you that my solicitude for all the interests of the
country shall never fail you. You aro right to feel
confidence in the future ; it is only feeble govern-
ments which seek in foreign complications a diver-
sion from home embarrassments. But when force
is derived from the mass of the nation we have only to
do our duty to satisfy the permanent interests of the
country, and while holding aloft the national ban-
ner, to guard ourselves from being led away by
ill-timed impulses, however patriotic they may
be. I thank you for the sentiments you have
expressed towards the Empress and my son. Rest
assured that they share my devotion for France,
and that their greatest happiness would be to put
an end to all misery, and to alleviate all misfortune."
The Emperor and Empress arrived at Lille at
half-past four. " Notwithstanding a drenching
rain," says the Moniteur," the gaily-decked win-
dows from the station to the prefecture were all
tilled with ladies waving their handkerchiefs.
More than 500,000 persons lined the route traversed
by the august visitors, and cheered them with an
enthusiasm which has never been surpassed. An
byad the
es was afterwards presented to the Emperor
mayor.

ARIS Aug. 27 (Evening).
The following is theP
text, of the reply made yes-
terday by the Emperor Napoleon to the address
presented to his Majesty by the Mayor of Lille:—
" When, some years ago, I came for the first time
to visit the department of the Nord, everything
smiled upon my wishes. I had just
espoused the
Empress, and I may say I had also just wedded
France before eight millions of witnesses. Order was
restored, political passions were lulled to rest, and
I foresaw for the country a new era of greatness
and prosperity. At home the union existing
among all good citizens presaged the peaceful
dawn of liberty ; abroad I saw our glorious flag pro-
tecting every cause of civilising justice. During
the last fourteen years many of my hopes have been
realised, and great progress has been accomplished.
Dark spots, however, have darkened our horizon.
But even as good fortune has not dazzled me, so
transient reverses will not discourage me. how
should I be discouraged when I see from one end of
France to the other the people greeting the Empress
and myself with acclamations, in which are unceas-
ingly associated the name of our son ? To-day I
do not come here only to celebrate a glorious
anniversary in the capital of ancient Flanders,
I also come to learn your wants, to heighten the
courage of some, to confirm the confidence of all,
and to endeavour to increase the prosperity of this
great department, by still further developing its
agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. You
will aid me, gentlemen, in this noble task ; but you
will not forget that the first condition of the pros-
perity of a nation like ours is to possess the con-
sciousness of its own strength, and not allow itself
to be depressed by imaginary fears, but to rely upon
the wisdom and patriotism of the Government. The
Empress, touched by the sentiments which you ex-
prom, unites with me in thanking you for your warm
and sympathetic welcome."

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKEI—TMs Day.

Cotton opens dull and drooping; prices irregular.
Sales probably 8,000 bales.

THE POTATO DISEASE.—In North and East York-
shire both growers and dealers report the potato disease
to have appeared very generally this season, attributed to
the prevalence of continued wet weather and a low tem-
perature. The most faulty crops are upon the strong clay
lauds, which are most retentive of moisture, and the early
sorts. of potatoes are stated to have suffered most, and in
many cases to have gone bad after being taken up. It is
hoped the present hot and dry weather will oheck the
disease.