The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-19 00:00:00

the whole question would receive complete investigation.
After a short ccnversation the subject dropped.
CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL.
On the motion of Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY
this bill was read a third time and passed.
RACE HORSE DUTY BILL.
On the motion of the same noblia lord, this bill was
also read a third time and passed.
PAUPER MAINTENANCE BILL.
This bill was also read a third time and passed.
M UTINY AND MARINE MUTINY BILLS.
On the motion of Lord PANMURE these two bills
were read a second time.
SPEAKER'S RETIREMENT BILL.
On the motion of Lord GRANVILLE this bill was
read a second time.
EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL.
On the motion of Lord STANLEY of ALDBELEY this
bill was read a second time.
CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.
This bill, after a short discussion, was also read a 8r
mad time.
THE TURNER COLLECTION.
Lord St. LEONARDS rose to call the attention of
the house to the bequest of the late Mr. Turner, R.A.,
of his pictures to the nation. The noble lord, in his
opening remarks, passed a glowing eulogium upon the
talents of the late distinguished artist, and complained
of the manner in which the noble bequest had been
treated by the Government.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AND GREAT LOSS
OF LIFE.

A fire, involving a serious amount of property,
and unfortunately the lives of five persons—a mo-
ther and four children—happened at a late hour on
Tuesday night, and was not extinguished until an
advanced hour yesterday.
The scene of this terrible catastrophe was No. 8,
St. Mary's-terrace, Walworth-road, four doors from
Camberwell-gate, on the premises belonging to Mr.
G. Rayner, termed the South London Bonnet,
Millinery, Mantle, and Fancy Depot.
From inquiries made by a witness of the out-
break it appears that shortly after the warehouse
had been closed the unfortunate proprietor left the
house to transact some private business in the
neighbourhood, and almost immediately afterwards
a man, who was putting up the shutters in the next
house, had his attention directed to an unusual
glare of light in Mr. Rayner's house. He imme-
diately raised an alarm. Assistance arriving some
one injudiciously broke open the door, which caused
the fire—which was then confined to one portion
of the warehouse—to spread in every direction
round the place, lighting and seizing the staircase,
rolled up the same, igt.iting room after room in
rapid succession, and cutting off all escape for Mrs.
Rayner and the four unfortunate children ; the
former having previously succeeded in bringing
down ono of her children and handing it to the ser-
vant, and she then returned, regardless of losing
her own life, to endeavour to save the other four
children.

The scene at this period became of a fearful charac-
ter. The people in the street, knowing that at least
five human beings were in the house, cried most pite-
ously for help ; but unfortunately the nearest fire
escape belonging to the Royal Society was at the
corner of the London-road, about one mile and a
half distant. The moment the news reached the
station the conductor started with the fire escape,
and arrived before an engine. He then found the
flames belching forth from several of the windows ;
but being told that persons bast been seen at the
attic-window, he at once pitched his machine be-
tween the burning premises and the adjoining
house, hoping to be able to ascend the fire escape
and rescue the persons whose lives were so greatly
endangered. Unfortunately, however, when he
had got half-way up the fire,escape the flames
rushed through another window, and fired the es-
cape from the middle to the top ; but if this had
not taken place, the persons must have been burnt
to death, owing to the distance the fire escape had
to come.

The engines of the London Brigade, West of
England and parish, arrived as quickly as possible
when they found an abundant supply of water
flowing from the mains of the district ; the firemen
taking advantage of the same, set their engines to
work, under the able direction of Mr. R. Hender-
son, the district foreman, and Mr. Connorton, of
the West of England, but it was not extinguished
until the premises were nearly burnt out.
As soon as the ruins were caoled, Engineers Flyn
and Holloway discovered the mother and four
children, burnt almost to cinders. The remains
were forthwith removed to the deadhouse, to await
an inquest.
The cause of the fire is unknown.

DEPORT ON THE CUSTOMS DEPART-
MENT.

There has been issued a blue book, of 100 page 3
and upwards, containing the first report of the Com-
missioners of Customs on the Customs Department.
The report, of which, from its nature, it is difleult
to give a digest, treats on the origin and formation
of the Customs Department itself—the members,
cost, and functions of the department, the facilities
and diminution of Customs work, the facilities and
concessions given to trade, on smuggling, and on
the increase of commerce and revenues. The report
gives a resume of the alterations and charges ef-
fected last year. There are copious and valuable apr en-
dices to the report. The commissioners (pp. 37 and
38) refer to the vast increase in the commerce of Great
Britain, under the simplification of our tariff, the
reduction of dirties, and the facilities afforded to
merchants and shippers. They show that between
1831 and 1834 the first extensive steps were taken
towards the removal of prohibitions and the reduc-
tion and remission of duties. These were followed
in 1842 and 1844 by still bolder advances
in the same direction, culminating in the vastly re-
duced and simplified tariff of 1853. Now, the net
aggregate of these reductions amounts to above
10,000,0001., and yet, notwithstanding, the re-
venue of the Customs has scarcely varied for the
last 20 yearn, steadily ranging from 22,000,0001. to
23,000,0001. In 1835 the gross Customs income
was 23,149,000/., and in 1855 23,482,0001., or
nearly identical. "In order to produce such a re-
sult," observes the report, "it is obvious that both
the industry and the consuming power of the mass
of the nation must have augmented in an extraor-
dinary ratio." Statistics show that the official values
of our imports have increased from 31.4 millions
(in 1814-15-16) to 121.6 millions in 1853 4-5, the
official value of our exports from 53.8 to 248.1 mil-
-1 hong, and the real value of our exports of home
produce and manufactures from 46'2 to 97.2 mil-
lions. The same encouraging tale of commercial
progress is told by the tables of shipping. Thus,
the average tonnage annually added was for
1823-4-5, 98,900 ; in 1853-4-5, it had risen to
413,900 tons, and this after Cie repeal of the navi-
gation laws. " Under a continuance of the same
wise system," continues the report, "we may hope
for a continuance of the same satisfactory results.
By a further reduction of duties on all articles of
general consumption, as the condition of the
finances may suggest and permit, and by extending
to commerce the utmost possible facilities compati-
ble with the security of the revenue, we may hope
to insure a progress in future as rapid and as signal
as that of the recent past." Smuggling bas declined
with the reduction of duties, and "smuggling pro-
per" is now almost entirely confined to tobacco,
spirits (the duties on which are still notoriously ex-
orbitant), and watches. Passengers from the Con-
tinent will still do a little smuggling business in
lace and silk, but all these cases aro on the decrease,
although the habit of packing up contraband arti-
cles within the folds of ladies' dresses still prevails
and occasions very disagreeable disputes. The value
of our imports in 1855 was 117,402,3661. ; and that
of our exports 258, 424, 3941., including 226920,2624
of our own produce and manufactures, 31,504,132/.
of foreign goods. The tonnage of the total number
of ships entered inwards and cleared outwards in
1856 was 21,589,049. The registered tonnage of
the empire in 1855 was 35,692 vessels of 5,250,553
tons, and carrying 261,194 men.

MADAME TIISSADD'S EXHIBITION.—A highly interest-
ing portrait model of the noble Premier has been placed
in the great room of this popular establishment. Lord
Palmerston is represented in the usual court dress of the
First Minister of the Crown—dark blue coat splendidly
embroidered with geld, and decorated with the most
no1)1-, Order of the Gaiter This portrait cannot fail to
create great interest to ,he visitors at this particular
time.

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20
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I[ADVERTISEMENT.]—.Lime Hallett, of Whitty Head,
near Netherbuty, Dorset, suffered for many years from
a bad leg. From the knee to the ancle it had several
wounds, so that she was unable to stand or move about
the house. She tried a variety of means and applica-
tions, but without obtaining a cure. By the blessing of
God and using only three pots of Poor Man's Friend,
and taking three boxes of pills, she was perfectly cored,
Dr. Roberts's Poor Man's Friend, for wounds and crop-
tions of every description, is sold in pots, ls. lid. and
2s. 9J. each. His -Piluim Antiscrophulas, fur all im
purities of the blood, is sold in boxes, ls. lid., 2s. 9d.,
46. 6d., Hs., and 225. each, by all medicine vendors
throughout the United Kingdom and Colonies.
[ADVERTIBEMENTJ-11olloway's Pills.—This medicine
bas been constantly increasing in public estimation for
yearg, and is now acknowledged to be the most wonder-
ful remedy in the world. It acts directly on the system,
removing all obstructions from the stomach, renovating
the springs of life, and purifying the blood, totally eradi-
cating liver complaint, that main spring of so many
diseases, indigestion, loss of appetite, pain in the side,
and general debility. It is also a remedy on which the
asthmatic may place the greatest dependence and obtain
perfect restoration to health.—Sold by all medicine ven-
dors throughout the world ; 'at Professor Holloway's
establishments, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-
lane, New York ; by A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A.
Guidich, Smyrna ; and E. Muir, Malta.

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100
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& Eastn. Junc
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Birrang. Wolverh. &
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Birkenhd. Lancsb. &
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Blackburn
Blyth & Tyne original
£25 (iss. at £45)
Bristol & Exeter-
Caledonian. ..
Chester & Holyhead
Cork and Bandon 1
Cork, Black. & Pass
Cornwall
Do.
Do. B
Dublin&BelfastJunc
Dun. P. daber.Janc
East Anglian
Eastern Counties
EasternUnion,A. stk.
Do., do. B. .......
Do. New
East Kent

1100
100
1100
all
all
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East Suffolk
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Edinb. and Peebles
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Great Northern

100 Do., A. Stock
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100 Great Wes 3rn.
100 Do. Str. V. R. gwa.St
all Irish Sou:1-Eastern.
all Lancaster &Car'isle.
141 De., Thirds.......
12 Do. New Thirds

St.
50
St.
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20
20
10
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1.00 Lancasb, &Yorkshire
6 Do., do. F. £l6
Do., Wet. Riding Un
all De. Southport....
all London & Blackwall
100 Lond.Bright. & S.Cst.
100 London &N. Western
all Do. Fifths . .
ail Do. ,IG/.5h.,M&8...0
2i Do. Eighths...
100 London & S.Western
all Lndndrry.&Coleraine
all Lndndrry. & Ennisk.
100 Manch.Shef. &Lincln.
1 Metropolitan
1 Do. J. L. Ricardo's
arrangement
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Do. Birming.& Derby
Midland 0.Wet.:;.(1r.)
Do. Shares .........
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& Rostrevor
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North Devon, Rail. &
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Dodo. G.N.E.Furch.
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N. & S. Wstn., Hamp-
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North Staffordshire
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Oxford Worcester &
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Portsmouth
ithymney
Scottish Central
Scot. N.E.lbrdn.Si
Shropshire Union
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'South Devon
South
th
per o t r n Do. 4 fiharee
.
j South Wales
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IDo..
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:Stockton & Darling
Do. do., 1854
Do. do., 18n5
Stockton h Hartlepl
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De. Pref., No. J....
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West
West End of Loudon
and Crystal Palace
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West Loudon ...
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Wmbledon 4/Croydon

100
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5
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all
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100