The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-15 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

It is only a tew weeks ago since we had to report
the loss by fire, at the Glenalbyn distillery here; and
now another casualty of the same kind falls to be re-
corded. In this case the scene of the fire was the
f trtn-steading of Cradlehall, within three miles from
Inverness, and not far from Culloden Tower. The
property destroyed consists of twelve fine stacks (,f
barley and other grain, eleven milk cows, and a bull,
with the machinery of the threshing-mill, &c. The
farm-house stands apart from the square. The latter
is of large extent, and the stable and byre formed two
sides, a third consisting of the threshing-mill and
straw-house next to the byre. Outside of all, and
next to the mill, was the stack-yard, with
eighteen or twenty stacks of grain. On Tuesday
evening last, the farm servants had been employed
at the mill with candles, but the door was locked
at eight o'clock, and the candles carefully extin-
guished, one inside and one outside. The flames
were first seen about twelve o'clock at night rising
from the roofs of the straw -house, the mill, and the
byre—the whole two sides of the square being then
in a blaze. The farm-servants turned out, but ap•
peared not to know the best way of proceeding ; and
in a few minutes the roof of the byre fell in upon the
milk cattle, and only one was saved. Eleven fine
cows and a bull perished ; and when the flames were
got under, the bodies of the animals were found
burned to cinders, never apparently having risen from
their beds. The horses were got out from the stable,
and, with the young cattle, were taken to a
place of safety. The fire now extended through
the byre and mill ; and, although a strong
westerly wind was blowing, driving the sparks in
a contrary direction, the heat was so great that
stack after stack caught fire. The flames were seen
from the high parts of the town, and the first intimaintima-
tionreached the police about one o'clock The bri-
gade were got out, and the large engine was hurried
to the spot, drawn by four horses. It arrived at
Cradlehall shortly before two o'clock. By this tune
the whole centre of the stack-yard was one mass of
blazing straw ; but the engine was got in, the mill-
stream afforded a supply of water, and under the di-
rection of Mr. Msbean (Superintendent Anderson
having started for the south, on business, the preced-
ing evening), the water was so pumped from the
powerful engine as to prevent the extension of the
flames to the remaining stacks, seven only of all in the
yard being saved. This melancholy circumstance is
most unfortunate for the young farmer, Mr. Macdo-
nald, whose first crop has thus been consumed, and
whom, we are sorry to hear it rumoured, is not in-
sured.—lnverness Courier.

BRITISH BENEFICENT INSTITUTION.—The Duke o
Leeds, the Marquis cf Anglesey, the Marquis of Tho.
mond, the Marquis of Stafford, the Earl of Ellesmere,
tae Hon. E. H. Stanley, Sir F. Lawley, Bart., Sir W.
Ross, R.A., Sir Win. F. F. Middleton, Bart., Sir Henry
Marsh, Bart., Sir Felix Agar, James Harmer, Esq.,
E4erton Warburton, Esq., Major-General Caulfield, Sir
James Flower, Bart., have recently joined this valuable
charity. The illustrious and gallant Commander-in-
Chief, his Grace the Duke of Wellington, has expressed
his int-ntiou of presenting to the institution a princely
contribution ; and, amongst the numerous donors to the
charity are found the names of Lord Hardinge, Lord
Shrewsbury, Colonel Sir Henry Fairfax, Bart., Sir Ar-
thur Brooke, Bart., M.P., Colonel Thos. Peacocke, Col.
James Brander, Sir H. R. Bishop, Sir W. C. Ross,
Lieut. General Sir W. G. Davy, C. 8., the Bishop of St.
David's, A. Raphael, Esq. The fJuudation dinner will
be held in the spring, and conduct,d on a scale cf mag-
nificence commensurate with the importance of a charity
which may, indeed, be so tarmed, as the most fiendless
will receive its aid without the aggravation of delay and
expense of canvassing the subscribers, and dissevered
from the tricks and evils of public elections, the election
being vested in the Patrons, Vice-Presidents, and Coun-
cil only, on the recommendation of subscribers. 301. per
annum is the annuity which will be paid to the elected.
REFUSAL TO RECEIVE CONVICTS AT MELBOURNE,
PORT .PHILIP.—We have, through the kindness of a
gentleman in town, been put in posses,ion of a letter
which he has just received from Melbourne, Port Philip,
dated the 17th of August, which says:— The other
day a vessel arrived at our port with 300 convicts on
board. They were not allowed to land, but were sent
off to Sydney. There is to be another great anti-trans-
portaton meeting held in the theatre hero on Monday
next.”—Scotsman.

THE COUNT DE NEUILLY.—On Saturday last his
ex-Majesty Louis Philippe and fanily visited Bauvard's
Panorama of the Ohio River. At the conclusion of the
exhibition his Majesty expresel himself to the le.:turer
as highly pleased with the correctness of the scenery
portrayed, and, although many years had passed since
he was there, yet many of the scenes were familiar to

his eye.
Tne Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
a committee meeting yesterday.