The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-08 00:00:00

to indulge in any lavish schemes for the army '
and navy, but to endeavour, as far as in me
lies to support what I believe is essential to the
welfare and the best interests of this country.
Colonel SMYTH, M.P., next rose, and was also
received with cheers. He said—My Lord Mayor,
Mr. Chaplain, and gentlemen, I, on my own behalf,
thank you for the manner in which my health has
been proposed and received as one of the city mem-
bers. We are met here to-day to celebrate a great
event—an event which you have, in my opinion,
most properly taken this opportunity of celebrating.
(Applause.) We desire to do so, not, as was said
by my noble friend (the Earl of Carlisle), if he-will
allow me to call him so, in any vindictive or boast-
ful spirit; we wish not to revive any of the pains
or the heartburnings which occurred at the time of
the Crimean war ; but we are met to-day, and I
don't hesitate to say so publicly, to celebrate a great
victory—a victory which would not have been wor-
thy of the fame it has obtained if our foes had that
day been less gallant, our enemies been less per-
severing than they were. We desire, in this city
of York, to express our admiration of the gallant
deeds that were performed at Inkermann, our com-
miseration and our mourning for those who fell on
that bloody field where over-matched and surprised
British soldiers held their ground against countless
numbers, whom the timely arrival of our French
allies enabled us successfully to resist. (Cheers.)
Yorkshireman as I am, proud of my country,
and deeply interested in all that concerns this city,
I rejoice—and I say so again—that you have deter-
mined to celebrate this anniversary. (Applause.)
Colonel Smyth then read a letter which he received
from his brother, who went through the whole of
the Crimean war, and which was written on the
day and after the battle of Inkermann. He de-
scribed that they had a hard day's work, stated
thrt his horse was shot under him, and that there
was no doubt they all did their duty. I believe
(remarked Col. Smyth) the officer of every regi-
ment in the Crimea might have said the same.
These, gentlemen, are the men who are the life and
soul of the British army. (Hear.) The British
officer and the British soldier will endure every
privation, every discomfort, rather than disgrace
his country. In my opinion we do not take as much
care as we ought to do of the British soldier.
(Cheers.) Many will tell you that a three or four
years' soldier is of a value which we hardly appre-
ciate. We drill, we humanise, we interest the raw
recruit until he becomes a skilful and accomplished
soldier and well-disposed man, and then we give
him little encouragement, but bad barracks, and
food which is sometimes distasteful to him. Doubt-
less we find some who come from the dregs of the
population, while there are others who join the
army from a desire for adventure or from a love of
glory. To those the words of the poet will apply :

"For gold the merchant ploughs the main,
The farmer ploughs the manor;
But glory is the soldier's praise,
The soldier's wealth and honour."
(Cheers.) It is not too much to say that of such
men as these we ought to take more care ; lye ought
to make their time less monotonous, to teach each
soldier a trade, arid give him more employment in
his leisure hours. We shall then make him more
civilised and more comfortable, and not make him
less gallant or less persevering. (Cheers.)
Among the other toasts were " the Lord Mayor,"
" the Dean and Chapter of York," " Earl de Grey
and the Yorkshire Hussars," and " Miss Nightin-
gale and the Ladies who assisted her in the Crimea."
The Hon. W. E. DLINCOMBE responded on behalf
of Earl de Grey, and in doing so he observed, he
believed that in engaging with the war in Russia
they were only fulfilling the high destinies of this
country. (Cheers.) •
The " Health of Miss Nightingale" was proposed
by the Hon. aad Rev. S. W. LAWLEY, who said,
after the battle of Inkermann the wounds of the
soldiers were stanched by the hands of women.
While they therefore remembered the glory of the
soldiers they ought not to forget the tenderness
and the services of woman. No Russian cannon
spoke with more clear-toned voice—no British gun
answered with clearer defiance—than that love,
spoken in clear tones, by the noble sacrifice and
devotion of our countrywomen. (Cheers.) There
was no manual labour ever performed by man, and
no duties more distasteful, which these women did
not perform. In fact, the glory of the British arms
secured its brightest lustre from the tenderness and
the love of woman. (Cheers.)
On the same evening about 70 of the men resi-
dent in York who in arms served their country in
the Crimea, sat down to a dinner which had been
provided by public subscription, when the valuable
services of the army were duly acknowledged.

NUMEROUS FIRES AND GREAT
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

Saturday and yesterday were peculiarly and un-
fortunately prolific in fires, there being during a
period of little more than 12 hours several in diffe-
rent parts of what is called the metropolitan dis-
trict, which extends a circle of 15 allies from
Charing-cross.
One fire happened in the premises belonging to
Mr. J. Reihie, situate at No. 57, Richmond-street,
Caledonian-road, Islington. The fire commenced
in the front room first floor, and speedily extended
to the drawers and furniture in the first floor. The
engines of the London brigade were soon in at-
tendance, bUt, owing to the exertions of the in-
mates and police, the fire was subdued. The
damage, however, is considerable. The suffer
was insured in the Royal Fire-office.

Another fire took place in the premises belonging
to Mr. George Page, hairdresser, situate at No. 34,
Pall-mall. The discovery was made by smoke
issuing from the flooring on the first floor. Several
engines of the London Brigade and parish were
soon in attendance, but the flames were quickly
extinct ished. The loss will fall upon the Royal
Exchange° and Hand-in-Hand offices.

---
A third fire broke out in the beer-shop belonging
to Mr. J. Heath, carrying on business at No. 20,
William-street, Green-street, Bethnal-green. The
cause of this fire could not be gleaned; but when
the fire was first seen it was rushing up the parti-
tions on the ground floor, and in the course of a
few minutes it had extended up the lanc:ing to the
first floor. The engines of the London Brigade
were remarkably fast in their attendance, but owing
to the timely arrival of the police and strangers
the flames were got out during the interval. The
sufferer was uninsured.

A fire likewise took place in the private house of
Mr. R. Buckland, No. 10, Redmonds-row, Mile-
end. The flames commenced in a cupboard from
some unexplained cause in the second floor, the
furniture becoming ignited, and the window glass
breaking, it was feared that the whole building
would have been consumed ; but owing to the com-
bined exertions of all present the fire was subdued.
but the damage done was considerable. Unfortu-
nately the sufferer was not insured.
A fifth fire broke out in the premises occupied
by Mr. R. Rumbill, a tailor, &c., No. 3, Pleasant-
place, Holloway-road. The disaster was occasioned
by the light of gas burner in the shop coming
in contact with the stock in trade therein. The
engines of the London Brigade and parish, toge-
ther with the Royal Society's escapes, were re-
markably early in arriving, but the greater portion
of the stock in trade was destroyed before the fire
could be extinguished. Unfortunately the occupier
of the premises was not insured.

A sith fire broke out in the residence of Mr. W.
Lawson, No. 23, Doughty-street, near tha Found-
ling Hospital. It was caused from a spark flying
from a lighted candle, which set in flames the con-
tents of the third floor front. The engines of the
parish and London Bridge, as well as the Royal
Society's escapes, were quickly in attendance, and
owing to the exertions of the police and inmates
the fire was got out, but the damage done was con-
siderable, and it is to be regretted that the sufferer
was uninsured.
In addition to the above fires, another one took
place in the premises belonging to Mr. Lawrence,
the well-known clothier, carrying on business
facing the Royal Botanical Gardens, in the Jew's-
row, Chelsea, and within a few yards of the Royal
Asylum. The fire was discovered by a pensioner
as he was proceeding to the College, by noticing
smoke pouring from the lower part of the estab-
lishment. This convinced the man at a glance that
the premises were on fire, and forthwith he sounded
the necessary alarm, and sent off for proper assist:
ante. It was at one time feared that the whole of
the inmates were in their beds, and that they
would fall victims to the fury of the flames, but it
subsequently transpired that the whole of the resi-
dents had left some time previously for the purpose
of attending Divine service at their regular place
of worship. The engines of the parish, Lon-
don brigade, and that belonging to the
Grosvenor estate having been sent for, they
promptly attended, and a good supply of
the Chelsea company's water having been pro-
cured, the ,firemen went to work under the direc-
tion of Mr. Staples, chief officer of the C district,
but the flames could not be conquered until the
whole of the stock in trade was nearly destroyed.
The origin of the disaster is unknown. Owing to
the absence of all parties connected with the pre-
mises, it waS impossible to tell whether the,loss
:was covered by insurance or otherwise.
About the same time as the above fire happened,
another one took place on the premises of Mr. Cole,
No. 13, Bridport-place, in the City-road. Fl?nty
oefassistancehaVing arrived, the flames were quickly
xt.
ab, lenguished, 1)/4 - the damage done was consider-
' I.