The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-07 00:00:00

DESTEUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION
IN EDIiVBURGIL

(Front the Caledonian Mercury of yesterday.)
It is our painful duty to-day to report the des
iruction, by fire, of one of the most ancient and
attractive pile of buildings in Edinburgh--the noble
palatial-like block at the head of the Mound.
Toe block is situated exactly at the head of the
Mound, and forms a portion of the ancient lino
which divides the Clid and New ['own, and serves
to impart to the city so much of its picturesque
grandeur.
The first intimation which the public had was by •
a crowd of lads in St. James's Court, who slroued.
" Fire ! fire !" and pointed to the issue of smoke
from the third storey off the large west stair.
With the assistance of a number of men, who
pliantly offered them-elves to the rescue of the
affrighted families, the dcor was g,.t ciceed, and,
amid frantic cries of mothers for children and chtl- I
drew for their parents, one family after another
was place I out of the reach of personal danger.
For neatly an hour not a dr .13 of water was to be
hid by erre of the four engines collece I at the
various peitit3 from which they c3uld readily have
operated oe the building ! Tii.ere they stood, man-
n-d. and ready to w...rk, without the ability to dis-
charge their duty.
When two o'clock arrived, and the engines had
begun to play upon the buildings, it was seen that
all effot ts to s tve the property were likely to prove
utterly futile. The lire had then gutted out th
fiat in which it originated, and seized the one im-
m-tdiatcly above it. From this period till three
o'clock the work of destruction went on. The
building being from the third storey t 3 the roof
mantled with fire, the triumph of the element ap-
peared to be complete ; and it was hoped that,
having exhaustel all it had to feed on, it would
gradually die out. This was not the case, how-
ever. Just when it had. obt tins 1 its greatest
strength above, the gable ends looking northwards
came down with a nar like distant thunder ; a
large opaque body of smoke, lighted up with streaks
of red flame, belched outward from the centre of
the bulding, and rolled over to mingle with a simi-
lar mass which surged upward from the hollow in-
terior. The effect of this was so terrific, that the
crowd in Bank-street and along the Mound fell
backward in a body, and were driven along some
distance by an uncontrollable panic ; while a num-
ber of women nd children shrieked as if they were
1 about, to be imbedded in the debris. The printing
eitablishment of Messrs. Pilians, out of which ore
this, at great hazard, a number of valuable articles
had been carried off, now fell a speedy prey
to the flames, the fall of the burning matter
upon the roof of his establishment having
opened up a way to the work of ruin within.
In a word, before 6 o'c'ock, seven flats of the one
" land" were totally destroyed with nearly every-
thing that they contained, the other two being
extensively damiged, and of the other or extreme
western land, four flats were entirely consumed,
the o hers being more or less injured. The fire was
not completely subdued till about ten o'clock last
night, when the engines returned to their quarters ;
about six o'clock, however, ail fear of its extending
_ _

further had been removed.
It is estimated that at least eighty persons, young
and old, are thrown upon society by this appalling
calamity.

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN AMERICA.

WE have to chronicle one of the most horrible trage'
dies ever committed in this city, hardly excepting the
famous torpedo case whereby Mr. and Mrs. Allis, n met
with a fearful death by the diabolical agency of the un-
human Arrison. We affix the particulars, together
with the verdicts of the coronet's jury. The public in
the meantime are in a high state of excitement, and the
bloody ep'sode will long be regarded with fearful interest
by our citizens. About 4 o'clock yesterday morning
the mansion occupied by Mr. Nichols. T. Horton, in
Ohio-avenue, at the bead of Vine-street-hill, was
discovered to be on fire. Judge Parker, whose re-
sidence is upon the opposite side of the way, was
aroused by the screams of the inmates of Mr.
Norton's house, and speedily dressing himself,
he rushed to the scene, when upon entering
the hall he discovered a gentleman named Concklin
endeavouring to remove the prostrate body of Mr.
Horton. The smoke was suffocating, but between them
'they succeeded in carrying their charge to the lawn,
when was discovered that he was bleeding profusely
from a cut inflicted in the head, and a dreadful gash,
given evidently by the downward stroke of some sharp
weapon in the left groin, and which bad severed the
femoral artery. He appeared sensible, but was speech-
less, and in a few minutes breatbed his last. Previous to
this, and at the first alarm of fire, the mother of Mr.
Horton rushed into the ball, when she perceived her
unfortunate son-in-law staggering towards the bedroom
of his wife, who had but recently been confined, and
exclaiming, " Oh, mother, I am stabbed," he fell upon the
spot, where be was discovered by Judge Parker and Mr.
Concklin. In the meantime the excitement had spread,
and some firemen from the Mohawk engine-house arriv-
ing upon the spot the fire was soon ex inguished, and
suspicion having fallen upon a serving man named
Joseph Loefner, who had for up wards of two years been
eneaeed in the family of Mr. Horton, some persons
ha.tened to a house at the corner of Vine and Green
streets, in which Lnefner's wife resided. Ia a few
minutes afterwards, however, and while the party
assembled in front of the honse were yet in a state of
horrid bewilderment, Loefner was seen staggering
to wards them from a neighbouring orchard, bleeding
pre insely from a cut in the hand and a horrid gash
across the throat. Some of the party advanced to meet
him, but ho sunk upon the grass upon hands and knees.
They traced the blood to an apple tree, beneath which
they found a large sharp butcher's knife and a razor.
With the f inner he had inflicted the fatal blow which
had deprived Mr. Horton of life, and wits the latter he
had attempted to accomplish his own destruction.
Wt en int,-rrogated as to whether he had committed the
arson and' murder, he nodded (for he was speechless)
assent., and also that he had cut his own throat. In the
meantime the party who had first started in pursuit of
him arrived at the residence of his wife, but found the
door of the room locked. Subsequently they burstit in,
arta there stretched nearly naked upon the bed, but with
her shoes on ber feet, they beheld the dead body of the
ill fated wife of the murderer of Mr. Horton, no wound
upon her person but otherwise exhibiting marks which
mate it evident that she bad died from strangulation.
The wretched man, Joseph Loefner, was removed to
the Commercial Hospital, where at a late hour last
night he lay in speechless agony, the attendants
expecting momentarily that be would breathe his last.
He bad previously signified by signs that his motive for
committing this double tour fer, suicide, and arson, was
jealousy of his wife and Mr. Holton, and after being
taken to the hospital he succeeded in tracing upon a
slate the intelligible characters that be had reason to
believe that his wife on the day previous had given him
poisoned butter on his bread, and which had caused tbe
altercation that had led to her murder, after which he
had hastened to the house of Mr. Horton, in the front
basement of which he usually slept, where he kindled
the fire with the intention of burning the house and its
inmates, but meeting Mr. Horton, who was aroused by
the smoke, he inflicted the fatal stab, and then rushed
forth into the orchard to consummate his own destruc-
tion. The fire which Loefner bad kindled was immedi-
ately underneath the apartment occupied by Mrs.
Horton. Mr. Horton, in consequence of the recent con-
finement of his lady, occupied a sleeping room on the
other side of the hall, and in the rear of the house. He
was an old and respected cittzen, about 50 years ago,
and leaves his wife and six children to mourn his loss.
He was an extensive wan utacturer of grates and marbled
iron, doing business in Third-street, between Race and
Elm, the manufactory being in Plum-street. The firm
was known as Nicholas T. Horton and Co. Formerly
he was in copartnership with Mr. Baker, and more
recently the firm was known as that of Horton and
Macy, but this connexion was dissolved two years
since. Joseph Loefner, the murderer, is barely 22
years of age, and is said to have on several occa-
sions exhibited a violent and ungovernable dispo-
sition. He was engaged by Mr. Horton as a
gardener and to take care of the horses, and it is ,aid
that von one occasion when the harness became en-
tangled he seized a knife and cut it to pieces, after which
he turned and served his coat, which was hanging from
a pee in tbe stable, in the same manner. The evening
previous to the tragedy he had been reprimanded by Mr.
Horton for exsrcising undue cruelty to the horses, and it
is said that at that time he had muttered dark and ma-
lignant threats. He was a German by birth, but has
lived in this country for years. Francisca, his ill-fated
wife, was a beautiful German girl of some 20 summers.
Her maiden name was Koehler, and it was by this name
that both she and her husband were most Ire
quently called. She had contracted the ill-fated
marriage but a short eight months,
advanced in pregnancy. To a beautiful and
expres-
silver face, and form fauNess in its symmetry, she
of'
said to have combined the more lastinlagit charms
g y for ha.
and was five months
amiability of disposition, and—
'and unfounded
station—a refined and cultivateda msiinnCla
mona, she suffered by the green-eyedndnot, too, the same
suspicion of ber jealous tyrant,
_tor u
testimony
his pure and
Like De-de
death as that inflicted by teller, Mby
the testimony elicited
spotless wife. It will be
the fearful denoument her life had been
previous to
at the inquest held over hers body that for some time
to be invested •
situation, about for the first time with
clouded, and the- eager hope
.whicb, life
Kadin in her
Bthiteuasaticred title of mother, is ever supposed to shed a
rosy halo over the new and mysterious existence,
desirnyed by ber cruel and unamia,ble partner.—
Cincinnati Commercial, July 22.

A parliamentary paper, issued yesterday morning,
gives the names and salaries of the colonial governors and
bishops. Among the governors the highest salaries are
received by the Governors of Victoria, 10,0001. ; New
South Wales, C. ylon, and Canada, 70001. each ; Mauri
rains, 60001. ; Jamaica, Gibraltar, and the Cape, bOOO/
each ; Malta, 45001. ; Barbadoes, British Guiana,
Tasmania, and South Australia, 40001. each. The
lowest salary is that of the presiding magistrate of the
Bay Islands, 4001. ; the chief magistrates of Montserrat,
Nevis, and the Falkland Islands have 5001. each.
The firm of Messrs. Carr, Brothers, and Co , the ex.
tensive coal owners, of Newcastle and Wales, hAva 8".
pended payment.

LONDON AND NORTH-WEStEIN,

The directors of this company have jusl.. iNsued their
report. It shows that the receip., for the past half_ye•ar
from passengers, parcels, mai's, &c., amounted to
769.5441. against 742,2761. at the cot pe Hod
of 1856, showing an increase of 27,2631.: the rer,eipta
for merchandise, &c., amountel to 736,9741. 'against
748,3471., showing an increase of 38,6271. P.te total
receipts fir the past halt-year amounted to 1,656,518/.
against 1,490,6231., showing a total increase of 65,8951:
The working expenses amountel to 631,°471. sgainst
597,4001. at the corresponding period of 1853, showing
au increase of 34.447/. The profits of the uast half-yr-sr
have been 572,3321, and the directors :tn.: enabled to

recommend a dividend for that, the lets productive half-
as
isosiel not
fhatsh
ebesenb
rgopiv9ehnireto
Cttenabl authorising
wreeaythehcnodnvefoee
year, at the rate of 5 per cent. per annual. The Royal
a
converting Shropshire Union Stock in the prop rtionr
of 100/. for 50/. London and North-Western 'stock ;
i
also to the bill for an extension of the . ' I?l')irt
and Disley Railway to Buxton, by which. the lines
of this company will be broughe into, iremedlaetes
connexion with that popular waterieg place. The
Watford,
are of
progress made in the construction ,f the new
branches
widening,
t c„ satisfactory,betw between
nd
Londonth o
portiont r fo
the w
rapidly progressing. The Stockport, Deley, and Wha-
ley-bridge Railway was opened for peteie traffic to
Wha ey-eridge on the 9th of dune ; a7,(3
t,19 traffic,
which is ai yet limited to paesengers, is e„ti,factory.
Oa the night of the 9th of June the large warehouse at
Camden etation, occupied by Messre Pickford, as carry.
ing agerts of this company, was totally destroyed by
fire. Insurances had been effected on the building and
its contents to a large amount. Owing to the prompt
measures adopted, and the energy displayed by the
agents, litt'e or no interruption of the traffic was exp.
riencei. It is not yet possible accurately to estimate
the loss by the fire, but there seems uo reason t r suppose
that the amount to be borne by revenue will exceed
14,0001., towards which there ie 8,000.!.. at the credit of
the insurance fund. The directors take this opportureity
of recording their sense of the zeal and good coneb,ot of
the company's servants on this trying OCC:1810:12 ',cme of
whom risked their lives in their endeavours to save the
property.
The award of Mr. Gladstone, as to the matters re-
ferred to him by this company, the Mialend, the Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln,hire, and Great Northern
Companies, was made on the 22d of lepr'd. The several
companies are deeply indebted to Mr. Gladstone for the
great labour bestowed by him in dealing with the im-
portant question submitted to his decision. Tee di-
rectors, in conjunction with the other companies inte-
rested, have brought their negotiations with the Go-
vernment, for an improved postal ard passenger commu-
nication with Ireland via Holyhead, so nearly to a
conclusion, that they hope very shortly to' be. able to
submit the terms of a contract for the considexation of a
special general meeting to be called for tlet, purpose.
As already intimated to the proprietors, the Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company bate thoneht fit to
declare at an en 6, and and without any notice, the
agreement which was made between the companies in
July, 1854. The correspondence and documents which
have been placed in the hinds of the proprietors will
enable them to form an opinion as to this peoceeding.
The effect of this step on the part of the Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company is to extend the
competition for Manchester and London traffic, by
means of an additional, but circuitous route, and ova
never contemplated by Parliament.
The report states that in consequence of proceedings
in Chancery. instituted by Mr, Borkill, a holder since
the 23d of Deceraber last of 2001, stock in the company,
and also a director of the Great Northern Railway Com-
pany, a traffic agreement between the London and
North-Western and Midland Railway Companies was
cancelled and put an end to, in order to avoid the
expenses of protracted litigation ; but this was done
without interfering with the friendly relations which
have so long subsisted between the two companies.
They menden the circumstances in order to show how
difficult it is to maintain similar friendly relations with
the Great Northern Railway Company. The directors
request the vote of the proprietors for useful works
requiring an outlay in the aggregate of 107,255/. The
balance brought into the account this half year amounted
to 8,040/., and the amount carried over to the next
account 7,776/. ; while at the corresponding period of
1856 the amount brought into that account was 48,5111.
and 14,0761. carried over to the following account.
The half-yearly statement of accounts is appended to
the report, and it is as usual elaborate and clear. The
total receipts on capital account to the 30th of June last
amounted to 33,925,3401., and the expenditure to
32,941,4071., leaving a balance of 983 9331. The expendi-
ture on the main lines and rolling stock amounted to
27,741,6051., and on lines in which the company have
an interest 199,801/. The loan account shows that
10,691.160/. bad been borrowed on debentures, of which
462,2751. was at 5 per cent., 1,350,5961. at 44 per cent.,
5,988,0811. at 4i per cent., 297,2841. at 4.} per cent.,
1,362,918/. at 4 per cent., 154,2501. at 31 tier cent,,
710,656/. at 33/4 per cant., a d 361,200/. at 3,/
per cent. The working stock recount shows that
3,005,889/. had been expended upon it, the traffic on
909 i miles 01 railway had been worked, and the average
c at per mile of the working stock was 3,3051 per mile.
Tho expenditure on capital accent from the 31st of De-
, cember. 1849, to the 30th of June, 1857, ateounted to
4 749,3761. including 233,816/. for tee past half-year.
The renewal of road account ?hews a total expenditure
o 799,3071, of which 241.4511, is to be provided out of
capital and 557,855/. out of revenue, of which 484,7471.
has been paid, leaving a debit againet revenue on this
account of 73,1091. The revenue account for the half-
year ending 30th of June last, shoed that 1,620,1321.
find been received, including 16,522/. for rents, and
51,2901 d vleends from investmente i.e otl,er lines. Ti e
working expenses, including 33,412/. for rates and
taxes, and 24,8561. for paFsert.;tr duty, amounted
690,1121.;0 the interest on loans to 235,006/. ;
rent+ to 5,6521, expenses of Pete, borongh
2 5001. ; Parliamentary and legal Fxnenses, 10,0001. ;
Preston and Wyre deficiency, 5 5281. ; Iluckingbani-
shire, 18,299/, ; North Union, 25.7191. ; Shropshire
Union, 12,218/. ; Matlock, 1.3301, ; West London,
1 2991. ; Leeds, Seo., canal, 904/. ; Stour Valley, 9.4101 ;
Haydon•square, 2,182/. ; and renewal of r0ede28,333/. ;
leaving a balance of 572,332/. The disposable balance
for dividend amounts to 580,373/.. and the proposed
dividend to 572,596/., leaving a balance of 7,7761 for
the next account. The dividend on the consolidated
stock at the rate of 5 per cent per annum will absorb
526,204?.. ; the 123/4/.-shares at ls. each, 10,914/. ; the
Dewsbury and Huddersfield stock, 28 727/. ; and the
Nuneaton, at 5 per cent., 6.7501. The dividend ware
rants will be payable on the 24. h inst.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I regret to see that in your leading article to.
day, you seem to consider the opposition of the British
Ambassador at Constantinople to the line of policy
which the French Government eal adopted in the Dante.
bian Principalities, as a pure matter of rival diplomacy,
and that you view the possibility of a Foreign Prince in
those unhappy lands from the same point of view. Your
columns are renowned for their ad veeacy of oppressed
nationalities. I do not believe that you have hoisted
different colours lately, and theref ire I venture to ask
you to look at the two questions which I have alluded
to from another posii,m, and one that deeply interests
the feelings of humanity, and those sentiments of honor
and liberality which the majority of Britons possess and
are proud of.
What has brought about the change of the Turkish
Ministry and the triumph of France I Simply this, that
England promised the Moldo-Wallachians, by the treaty
of Paris, full liberty to express their views as to how
they would like to be governed in future, and that Lot 4
Redeliffe aided and abetted Austria and Turkey to break
that promise by means and measures for which, tyranny
and injustice of the deepest dye, convey but a faint im-
pression. France in this instance (whatever be her other
faults) saw not only thediplomaticerror, but t he injustice
of our policy, and, backed by a good CAUFP, has pushea met
tere to the present point. Perhaps it %Vasa pleasant change
to Louis Napoleon to have justice on his tide:and to tied
honest and straightforward England linked arm and arm
with upright Austria and n eteintieguing Turkey. Should
are that
the Emperor of the French continue. first
fair play for the Principalities —lnd the chances
not 'med.
if he continues obstinate in in. justice. be
all events have
in demanding
late when backed by justice,
I "nw him at Osborne,
done something for humanity.t.e
invoke will be brought to bear
.I.,Peci
oppref,,ed moido.
willk at
the aids you
but, knowing the wishes of tt
. its to get
eleoldo-Wellachi
.. their .ff. t
a may
which I wish you
hWimallactohianjosin lin that their
fail. Now, the second p
E 7:10 , a andu3er
c, tdhi
ti sa
bi
e. lig united under a
millions of inhabitants is in _
their only guarani ee of a future. This
to be aware of is, that
.the. wilr.le hope of the five
foreign prince, as
is e
De
ground of
ceaalledthif3orithtahlelirthi
question
and breaches of faith on the part of England,
Austria, and Turkey, and given the ‘tan tege
i s notE,.,ti
nanFtrheantehhaisd
honesty (whilst serving at the same time their own views)
to France, Prussia, Russia, and Sarditeia. It mattered
little to the Principalities whether they have a Cubourg
or a Buonaparte—whether he be Greek, Protestant, or
Catindic. They will risk King Lee or Kim, Stork—
but their wish is a foreign prince f ;United Nioldo-Wal-
Ischia, adherence to their treati,e; with the Porte, their
right of autocracy, at equality of all c',..asBes of the
population in the eye of the law. I have to ask forgive-
ness for the length and boldness of my communication,
but feel satisfied that yo II will grant it in the name of--
JUSTICIFA TO THE OPPRESSED.
Landon, Aug. 5.
. •..•.•. . . . • • . .

............ • ........" , __ _ _ ___ _ _ _
ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-I'OAT INsTrruTrox.--Yester.
day a meeting of this instiArt
John-street, Adelphi—Tholva a C !_sq,,. .p.,
in the chair. There were preaa ht, Captainpil washington
ion took place at its honer,
the!ew of the French
GtO L.llYaen'ry. Pomeroy,cl Major
Rydrographer of the Admiralty
Palmer, and other gentlemen. 'rho silver medal (if the
W. Uio u),
pociety and 2/. each were voted „.., _
I.
cjhoiseefpbhoaLtmeya,npoiflotth,
schooner Rochellaire, Wrecked pilot, and
on l9th not. on
. Bar, off the coast of Corn wall. The same
Megavissey
award was made to Peter Inkstey ant.l J. Blanes for
ef
for coast
gni card
t ;h
rescuing men capsized from a loat'off \Vhalsay Island,
Shetland, a few weeks since. Other smaller awards were
made. It was reported that (luting the past month the
institution had sent two of its first-class life•boate to the
Irish coast to be stationed at You.bal and Candir, and
that the European Commissior ers had aPPelote a baat
of the same design for the mouth of the Dana/.
_ . _