The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-25 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

The Ptarmigan, one of the vessels purchased for
Captain Austin's expedition, arrived at Woolwich
this morning (Saturday, Feb. 23) from Newcastle,
where she was constructed and sold by Mr. Smith,
her owner, to Government. On her arrival she was
taken alongside the wharf wall of the dockyard, near
Charlton-pier, to. discharge a quantity of coals ahe
has on board, tarter which she will be immediately
taken to Mr. Green's ship-building yard, at Black-
wall, to be strengthened previous to her departure
for the arctic regions. Mr. Green visited her
tc-day accompanied by several gentlemen. The Ptar-
migan, is a very fine and strongly-built vessel of
about 500 tons ; her frame timbers inside being lined
with planks of teak three inches in thickness, and
when she arrived to-day her draught of water
.was
12 feet. She was built for the East India trade, and
at the time she was purchased was loading a part
cargo of coals, intending to fill up with light goods
for Madras. She has never been at sea before, her
trip of three days from Newcastle to Woolwich- being
,the extent of her first voyage.
The workmen on board the Eider steam-vessel are
proceeding rapidly with the alterations, and the well
for allowing her screw-propeller to be unshipped
when requisite is already cut out in her stern. Her
engines of 60-horse power, by Boulton, Watt, and
Co., have been taken to pieces, to be carefully ex-
amined and re-adjusted in the best order before she
leaves on the searching expedition.

We regret to learn that the Duke of Rutland is
suffering from a cold, at Belvoir Castle.

property
iwt
.sh e.Ol.
which
Mr.
bsoiGtruoeatoitgreghde.
READING, FEB. 24.—An extensive conflagration
the
took place on :Saturday night at Elm-lodge Farm, the
half
h awhoat resides.:asilt
mild
t,e
inr
tomhne
thethi e-
etto:ewaiie,mjadjoining the turnpike road to Oxford, but within
about l lAbout
'
habitants were alarmed by the report that a fire was
raging near at hand, and on la teihing the place the eight
was terrific. An area of at least half an acre was in
flames—barns, stables, cowhouses, granaries fall of corn,
wheat-ricks, even the cow-cribs in the yard, were all de-
stroyed by the devouring element. Provider tially the
horses were saved. The carter had tried in vain to ex•
tricaits them for some time, the roof being in flames, and
he had left them as it were to perish, but on going cut
of the stable he called their names, and the poor ani-
mals came out. A boy who slept in one of the build-
ings was obliged to escape in a state of nudity. Two
valuable cows were burnt. Pigs and fowls shared the
same ate. The house on the farm, which is occu-
pied by Mr. White, a respectable miller, vi as by a
miracle saved, the flames being literally all round
it. Mr. White must be a considerable loser by the
hasty removal of his furniture. The three engines from the
town arrived, but no water was to be had, except from a
well. So quickly was the work r.f devastation done,
that in an hour and a half the whole of the build-
ings was destroyed. This is the third fire within 14
days that has occurred within three miles of Reading, at
farm homesteads, and doubtless the work of some
le
wretches with diabolical spirits. Mr. Higgs, who is a
resident director of the County Fire-office, is doubtless
fully insured.
FIRE AT CLAY-HILL lIALI.—ENFIELD, SATURDAY.
—Last evening a very de:tructive fire happened a. the
scat of Mr. Bosanquet, the balker, at Clay-hill, about
two miles distant, and was not subdued until a serious
destruction of property had taken place. The building
in which the fire originated was detached from the resi-
dence, and was being prepared, we understand, for a
library. It was of an old-fashioned construction, the
fronting covered with ivy. It appeared that some per•
sons had been engaged during the day in airing the
place, and about six o'clock in the evening smoke was
seen issuing from the windows by some lads who were
passing by. An alarm was instantly raised and an at-
tempt eat made to enter a e budding so as to ascertain
the seat of the fire. The heat and smoke, however, were
too overpowering to allow them to proceed far into the
interior, and in a very short time the flames had full pot-
session t f the building. Engines from this place were
promptly dispatched to the scene of conflagration, but
were not able to save any portion of the place. The
ex set loss is net known, but it is stated that some very
choice b..oks were stored in the building. The residen-
tial part of the property is not in the slightest injured.
'rho estate formerly belonged to Mr. Harman, the emi-
nent merchant.
FIRE AT THE NEW ENGLAND CoEFEE-HOUSE.—
Saturday afternoon some alarm wets caused amongst the
inmat ,s of tl:e New England Coffee-house, Threadneedle -
sircet, owing to a report being raised that the premises
were on fire. The engines of the London Brigade
quickly attended, when the firemen found that tie beet
' i from etre of the hot iron plates had set fire to the
fl,..oring and jointing of the kitchen on the second floor.
With the aid of a few buckets of water, and by cutting
the timbers away, the fire was speedily extinguished,