The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-15 00:00:00

THE

the directors, and to offer its hearty thanks to them
and to Mr. Pearson, the late chairman, for his un-
wearied exertions in procuring cheap and good gas
for the citizns."

Mr. VENABTES seconded it, and the motion was
carried unanimously and with loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks on behalf of him-
self and brother directors, and the meeting broke up.

CONFLAGRATION at GRAVESEND.
OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE.
GRAVESEND, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.—This day an
inquiry of some hours' duration was held at the
Town-hall, for the purpose of ascertaining how the
fire originated which destroyed such a vast amount of
property in High-street on Sunday morning last.
The following magistrates conducted the investiga-
tion—namely, Mr. Plane, the Mayor, and Messrs.
Oakes, Spencer, Ridge, Tickner, Troughton, and
Ditchbourne.
James Partlett said that on Sunday morning last,
about two or three minutes before two o'clocit, he
was on the pier. when his attention was directed to a
strong smell of fire. He immediately went into the
High-street, and, upon getting near the White Hart,
he saw a great quantity of smoke in Church- alley,
which was of sun a dense character that he thought
it impossible for any one to pass through. He in-
stantly went and told Sergeant Penman that he
thought the High-street was on fire. He (witness)
returned again, and found about 20 or 30 persons
congregated in the street. He then threw some
large stones up to the windows, for the purpose of
arousing the inmates. A man, then unknown to
him, knocked in the panel of Mr. Adlington's door,
when smoke came out in a great body.
By Mr. OAKES—When the panel was knocked in
he did not see any one come out by the front, and he
knew nothing of the construction of the back part of
the premises. He saw no indication of a fire burning
in Mr. Adlington's premises when the door was
forced in, neither could any glare be seen from the
windows.
Mr. 'U. Adlington, of No. 65, High-street, grocer,
said that on Sunday morning last he was awoke by
a cry of fire in the street. He jumped out of bed,
and pulled the bells in. order to awake the other in-
mates of the house. When he got up he saw no
fire in his own house, but on opening his sitting room
door he smelt it very !strong. He ran to his counting.
house, on reaching which he found that the key was
in his trousers pocke is upstairs. He went back to
his bed-room, and having secured his trousers, he
ran with them to the counting house, when on open-
ing the door he found a cupboard in flames. It looked
like a flare of gas, but he was quite sure it was not,
as he had turned off all the gas from his house the
previous night.
Mr. OAKES—What were the articles contained in
that cupboard ; was there anything at all inflamma-
ble ? Witness—. Nothing combustible unless a light
was applied to them. There were plate, glass, cocoa,
and spirits in the place.
The BENCH—Had any one been to that place with
a light? Witness—No one, he was sure, had been
to the cupboard with a light. He went to bed about
half-past twelve o'clock. Ile should say there was no
fire in Church-alley for half an hour after he was
alarmed. The cupboard was not next to the alley,
but on the north side.
The MAYOR—What is your opinion as to the place
where the fire began, and its cause ? Witness said
his impression was that the fire broke out in the next
house and burned through into his. If water could
have been procured at the commencement of the fire,
he had no doubt that it would have been soon ex-
tinguished. The next house belongs to Mr. Reed,
the tobacconist. He saw that person when he came
down. He was knocking at his door. The day after
the fire witness saw t het there had been a flue near
the cupboard, belonging to Mr. Reed. There was a
thin partition of brickwork between the two houses.
Mr. Oldness proved being present at the fire and
forcing the panel of Mr. Adlington's shop door, but
he could not then see any fire there. He had pres
viously been to the- back of the premises and had
forced the door. He did not see Mr. Adlington or
Mr. Reed then.
Mr. M. Reed, tob icconist, of No. 66, High-street,
said that he went to 'bed about half-past twelve o'clock
on Sunday morning, and was awoke by the cry of
fire. He then smelt something burning. He got up,
pulled the bell, and on opening his bedroom door saw
smoke on the stairs. He had by that time aroused
his wire, and taken his child and a few clothes on his
arm. When he got to the back, he found Mr. Ad-
lington and his family at the door. They were all
naked. Mr. Adlington was putting on his trousers
at that time. After being at the back of the house
he returned and went up stairs, and pulled a Mr.
Hawes out of his room. After that he saw flames
coming out of Mr. Adlington's back windows.
Mr. Adlington said that must Le a mistake, as there
were windows only to the kitchen.
The witness Reed. said, then they must have come
from the back door.
Mr. Adlington sW,d that he had seen a man who
would come furwara, and he had told him that he
saw fire coming from Mr. Reed's premises before it
came from his.
Mr. OAKES—Where is that stove situate that we
have heard of ? The witness Reed—lt is near the
back premises, on the basement floor. No fire had
been lit in it ; indeed, it is not yet finished.
Mr. OAKES—Who built it? Witness—l don't
exactly know. It was a man who I think used to
work for a builder in this town.
Mr. Simmonds, a hairdresser, said that at the time
of the fire Mr. heed told him that he had saved all
his books, papers, and everything else of consequence.
Since then he had heard him say that he had lost
everything.
Mr. Reed said the witness must have made a mis-
take, for he never said anything of the kind.
Mr. Simmonds said that he was quite positive that
Bead had stated to him what he had just repeated.
Mr. OAKES inquired. whether Reed appeared to be
making any effort to get the fire extinguished ?
The witness—No. He was standing with his arms
folded. He first saw fire come from Mr. Adlington's.
If both houses had taken fire simultaneously, there
would have been greater facility for its spreading in
Mr. Adlington's, on account of the draught by open-
ing the shutters.
A maid-servant to Mr. Reed said that she went to
bed on the night of the fire with her flannel petticoat
on. Mr. Reed's sister had two flannel petticoats on,
and also her stockings.
Mr. Reed's sister, in answer to questions from the
Bench, said it was quite true that she wore two flan-
nels and her stockings on the night in question. At
first she said that she was in the habit of going to bed
in that way, even in summer ; after that she said,
when they came to High-street, and finding the
houses built of wood, she apprehended something
would happen, and that was her reason for so doing.
Mr. Reed, in answer to questions from the Bench,
said that he was insured for 4301. ; he would lose up-
wards of 2001. by the disaster. He was quite sure
that when he came down stairs there was no fire in
his shop. He had occupied the premises about two
years, and had been insured during that period.
Before that time he lived on Windmill-hill. He had
a sort of a fire there in his coal-cellar. When he
commenced the flue in his kitchen he gave notice of
it to the Kent Fire-office, and promised to let the
agent know when it was completed; but be had
abandoned it.
The MAYOR said it appeared most extraordinary to
him that Reed should have employed a man he did not
know to build this chimney. To allow a stranger to
go to work amongst such a valuable article as tobacco
looked most extraordinary.
Several other parties having been examined, the
Bench said that without attaching any criminality to
Mr. Reed, there did appear to have been some want
of caution on his part. The Bench would be glad to
hear any evidence he could produce to prove that the
fire did not break out in his house.
Mr. Reed said he thought it had been plainly shown
that it did not begin in his house, as it was seen so
much sooner in Mr. Adlington's.
The MAYOR—That is explained by the fact of the
shutters having been taken down, allowing the draught
to enter.
The BENcn decided that the present inquiry would
prevent the expense of a coroner's inquest, and the
proceedings terminated, no conclusion being arrived
at as to the origin of the fire.

MONET MARKET.—The premium on gold at Paris
is 9 per cattle, which, at the English Mint price of
3/. 17s. 10. id. per ounce fur standard gold, gives an ex-
change of 25.37; and the exchange at Paris on London
at short being 25.35, it follows that gold is 0.08 per
cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from
Hamburgh the price of gold is 435 per mark, which,
at the English Mint price of 31. 17F. 10id. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.10; and the ex-
change at llamburgh on London at short being 13.9,
it follows that gold is 0.46 per cent. dearer in Ham-
burgh than in London. The course of exchange at
New York on London for bilis at 60 days' sight is 110
per cent., and the per of exchange between England and
America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the
exchange is nominally 0.42 per cat. in favour of Eng-
Land, and after making allowance for difference of
interest and charges of transport, the present rate
leaves a small profit on the importation of gold from the
United States.
EXECUTION.--The execution of Chriqopber, for the
Murder of the bailiff (Hogan), at Eagle-hill, took place at
Ballybricken. The culprit a ended the place of execution
(accompanied by the Rev. Meisrs. Tracy and Kent, the
sub-sheriff 9.nd governor of the gaol, &c.) with a firm step,
and addressed the people in front of the platform. He spoke,
in the Irish tongue, and stated in effect that he was no
more guilty of the crime for which he was about to suffer
r* attanled him. lie Om

geld

nd r

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tywor itlaLives were there, era toil them to navu no malice
or to his prosecutors. Tne hangmen then adjusted
the rope, pat a White cap over his features; pulled the fatal
bolt, and in a morhent Christopher was launched into eter-
nity. A Noldier fainted duling the ann.—Waterford/Vto.