The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-05 00:00:00

law upon the subject, including Lord Ellenborough,
Lord Tenterden, Lord Chief Justice Gibbs, Sir J.
Nichol!, Sir H. Jenner, and Lord Eldon.

18. Because there have been many convictions for
bigamy in Ireland where the, first marriage was
solemnised by a Presbyterian minister, although both
parties were not ,Dissenters, and the persona so con-
victed have been sentenced to transportation, an:'_
some of them are now undergoing the punishment
awarded to them. .

19. Because the Noble and Learned Lords by whos
opinion this judgment is affirmed, admit that they are
obliged " to overrule authorities to which the greater
respect is due;" all the • recent authorities are lin:-
fortnly in favour•of the validity of the marriage is
dispute ;—upon all questions it is'desirable' that when
the law has once been consideied settled by judicial
decision it should not be again disturbed; and this is
particularly the case with respect to thelaw of mar-
riage, for the sake of honourable women and innocent
children.:. CAMPBELL.

DREADFUL FIRE IN OXFORD-
STREET •
SIX LIVES LOST.
Last night, shortly before twelve .o'clock, a fire,
attended with great destruction of property,
and loss of life, broke out in the extensive
range of premises belonging' to Mr. Williams, situate
at 287, Oxford-street, the corner- of Gilbert street,
and known as the Crown and Cushion Wine-vaults.
The premises were four floors high, and had a consider..
able depth and frontage. The fire broke out in the count-
ing-house adjoining the bar; in which was deposited
la vast quantity of spirts.. Police-constable 98 C, who
was on duty near the spot, W. his attention directed
to the house by hearing a loud cry of " Fire." Upon
gaining the front of the building, he perceived that
the counting-house was one complete burning mass.
The officer, seeing it would be useless to try to ex-
tinguish the fire without the help of engines, imme-
diately sprung his rattle, which brought other assist-
ance to the spot, and then startedoff to the various
engine-stations with intelligence of the calamity. At
that time three children' were sleeping in the upper
part of the buildiag. There were also two female and
three male servants in the place, as well as Mrs.
Williams and her sister. Such was the fury of
the flames that in less than three minutes they
had extended to the bar amongst the spirits,
which once on fire spread with the most surprising
rapidity to the upper apartments. The excitement
which followed was most painful. At the second
floor front a young female; named Fritchby, male
her appearance ; and with such fury did the flames,
travel, that before sufficient time had elapsed to pro-
cure a ladder, she was compelled to. throw herself to
the ground to escape suffocation. Fortunately the
only injury she received was.a few burns about the
knees. By this time the St. Marylebone parochial
engine arrived, and was drawn in front of the blazing
premises, and an abundant supply of water was flow-
ing from the water-works belonging to the Grand.
Junction Water-works, from which the engine was
set to work. No sooner had the firemen got this
engine into operation, than one 'of the immense vats
of spirits burst, and the liquor becoming ignited, it
rushed forth through the windows with terrific vio-
lence, burning Mr. Bridge, the engineer, about the,
face very badly. The 4ing-street brigade engine
was the second to reach the spot, followed by others
from 'Wells-street, Baker-street, the County station.
in Regent-street, the Chandos-street, Crown-
street, and Holborn stations.. The West of Engler .:t
fire-engine, with Mr. Connorton, next reached tl'
scene. As the different engines arrived, they were
taken to the best positions, and were all set tz.-.
work—those of the London Fire Establishment undre
the direction of Mr. Fogo, the foreman of the di,.
trict.. By the time, however, they were got into full
play, thee flames had reached nearly every room in
the immense building, and they were rushing througit
the various windows, and also the roof, extendin4
half way across the street, causing the most fearful
apprehension to be entertained for the safety of the
contiguous buildings ; in fact, it was greatly fearel
that the whole of Grosvenor-market would have fallezt
a victim to the fury of the devouring element. Three
fire escapes, belonging to the Royal Society for tl e
protection of Life from Fire, were remarkably quick
in arriving at the scene of conflagration, and it is re-
ported that they were instrumental in saving the 1 ie
lof one or more persons._ At the time the reporter let;
Mrs. Williams was still missing, and it . was greatly
feared she had perished in the flames. Such we hore
is not the case. The fire Continued to blaze fiercel
until a quarter past one o'clock this morning, when it
became evident to_ the firemen that they had got the
complete mastery over it, and no further destruction
property occurred. In the course of anotherhalf holce
it was entirely extinguished, not, however, until alma it
every part of the building and its valuable contents
were destroyed. The total damage must amount to s
very serious sum. Mr. Williams is insured in the
Licensed Victuallers' Fire-office, but we understand
nothing near the amount of his loss. A great nunil)er
of other buildings are damaged, more especially the
following :—Mr. Truebick, potatoe-merchant,
ad-
joining, 1, Gilbert-street, and Mr. Godfried, tobacco.
nist, opposite. Both premises are extensively damaged
by fire, and the stock by removal, &c. The pro.
mises of Mr. Mash, 2 and 3, Oxford-street, and oit
Mr. Cook, baker, 286, in the same street, are Bios
wise much scorched by the heat of the fire. me
origin of the fire could not. be precisely ascertaimPa•
The police were of the greatest service to the- &eras*
in keeping back the many thousands of
_persons vrlmb.
had been drawn together to witness the progress 4
the conflagration.
THREE G'CLOCK.—The firemen, in searching- tb
ruins, have just discovered the lifeless body of •
youth, apparently about 12 or 14 years Of atie. The
unfortunate individual, who has thus premature"
been hurried into eternity is supposed to be
potboy.
Mrs. Williams. and another person are stilltaissisiaj
and there are strong grounds to fear that They heft
likewise fallen a prey to the fury of eae devour's.
element.

HALF-PAST THREE.-It iS now distinctly asN
tained that six persons have perished in the flate%
About ten minutes after three, the firemen, on.prone
cuting their search amongst the rubbish, cainam cow
tact with another body, making the fourth *ley 443
found. From the dreadfully mutilated, st`ste of SO
remains it was hardly possible to recogniF.e any trace,
of humanity, but the probability is, that it is the l
of one of the servants of the establishment who 5)43
in an upper floor, in front of the preMises facing Ox.
ford-street. The utmost danger is apprehended fro*
the fearful state of the walls, and from the auperin•
cumbent masses of brickwork, &c., which overhang
the interior of the building, the task of exploring the
ruins is rendered highly dangerous. Every credit is
due to the officers connected with the brigade andthe
police who are most diligent in their joint endeawurs
to explore every part of the ruins. The house is in
a most desolate state, and the anxiety of the populace
to view the scene of devastation increases as the dawn
of morning advances.
LATEST PARTICULARS THIS DAY..

The fire is reported to have originated from the
following circumstance. One of the servants wail
pumping some gin from the cellar, in doinp' which
it was supposed the spirit ignited, and. 'soon corn•
municated to the building. At the time of the dis•
astrous calamity, Mr. Williams was stv.ray from hems,
it is said, at Exeter-hall,. where -an tratorm was beint
performed. He parted with sl/4, Triend-he was w ith
some time' after, when on his, way home he heard of
the destruction of his valuable property, with the 1066
of his wife and family. It. is almost unnecessary to
state, that he is now in the most distracted state at
mind, at the house of a friend in the neighbourhood,'
The following are the names of the sufferers, sash
given to our reporter by Mr. Coole :—Mrs. Elite
Williams, Elias, Williams (between four and five
wars of age, William Williams, an infant in arms,
arah Woolgsen, and Charlotte Fish, female servants,
and the Airman, known by the Christian name of
Jacob. The walls of the house still reMain standing
and a large concourse of persons is collected in Ox•
ford-street.

• •
iRESERVATION OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL PROS
FIRE.—Yesterday (Thursday) a considerable number ut
workmen were employed within the boundary wall of Greet..
wick Hospital, laving. down iron piping, for the purpose d
more speedily extinguishing fire, should it at any time breSil
out in that national edifice, without the aid of fire engin al.
The principle is similar to that which has been for some ti
urged upon the Government, and tried in the streets of ' ile
metropolis. The water is conveyed in •pipes of
bore, laid from the capacious reservoir in the domain ofirsc
Royal Highness the Princess Sophia, immediately above rbe
observatory. Thence it passes along the declivity, sumiliaa
the Naval School, crosses the Woolwich-road, and catc-ris
the Hospital at the western gate. The piping is co he
laid throughout the whole of the exterior, rind it
is calculated upon hydrostatic' principles that the pressure cif
water will be sufficient, without the aid of machinery, V
force its way through lengths of leathern hose sufficient Ar
reach the highest part of the building. It has been. proved
by recent experiments made in town, that, though. water
conveyed through 5,300 yards of iron piping, consisting is
4,220 yaras of 20zinch main, 550 yards of 15-inch main, a,4
500 yards of 9-inch main, the force was sufficient to- drivc ii
through
_two lengths of 40-feet hose to a height of 60 fe
Hwing a delivery of 100 gallons per minute. At Greenw;
ospital it is intended to erect standcocks, so as to comma
every portion of thit extensive pile, and from the diameter as
the piping and the height cif the fall, there can. be no qu.
'ion but that the plan, when tried upOn a large scale, s, ix
prove. eminently -successful. •The men are working 1( .rfs
hours, in order to complete the work' as soon as possible.
FIRE AT KINGSTON.—On Wednesdny night l ast,
between 10 and 11 o'clock, a fire btoke out in- the extei jr„:eia
malthouses of Mr. Robinson, but csecuPied loy Mr. 31:acLaat
Wells, maltster, situated at Townsend/Kingston, Surrri
The fire was first discovered by some.' persons atcßients'lr
passing. The policeman on auty vent instantly,. for t
borough engines, and, a' plentifi.P supply, of water beLlig
obtained from the river, as welt•as from a well on the I.:e'
anises, these and other eng.inefa
,continued. to play on the
flames until nearly three o'clock, when the fire was ex; sop
guished, and no fiirther danger was to be apprehended. '
building has been very seriously damaged, and it-will cos
large sum of money to put, it-again in thorough repair.