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 abe
has on board, after which she will be immediately
taken to Mr. Green's ship-building yard, at Black-
well, to be strengthened previous to her departure
for the arctic regions. Mr. Green visited her
to: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 fur 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
Cc., 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.
READING, FEB. 24.—An extensive conflagration
took place on Saturday night at Elm-lodge Farm, the
borough.ituad about
A About
wh
which
f the te
property of Mr. George Higgs, who resides on the
eta efrom the
the
town, adjoining the turnpike road to Oxford, but within
the limits' h i
s i
ball-pastuhtalfamile
te
in-
habitants were alarined by the report that a fire was
raging near at hand, and on rr aching the place the sight
was terrific. An area of at least half an acre was in
flames—barns, stables, cowhouses, granaries fail of corn,
wheat-ricks, even the cow-cribs in the yard, were all de-
stroyed by the devouring element. Providentially the
horses were saved. The carter had tried in vain to ex-
tricale them for some time, the roof being in flamer, and
be had left them as it were to perish, but on going out
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, was 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 if 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 homesteadv, and doubtless tie work of some vile
wretches with diabolical spirits. Mr. Higgs, who is a
resident director if the County Fire-office, is doubtless
fully insured..
FIRE AT CLAY-HILL HALL.—ENFIELD, SATURDAY.
—Last evening a very de,,tructiva fire happened a. the
seat of Mr. Bosanquet, the banker, 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, arid 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 was made to enter the building 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 pos-
session of 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
exact loss is net known, but it is stated that some very
choice b- ohs were stored in the building. The residen-
tial part of the property is not in the slightest injurel
The esta'e formerly belonged to Mr. Harman, the emi-
nent merchant.

FIRE AT THE NEW ENGLAND COFFEE-HOUSE.—
Saturday afternoon some alarm was caused amongst the
inmat9s of the New England Coffee-house, Threadneedle-
sireet, 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 the t
frora one of the hot iron plates bad set fire to the
flooring and joisting cf the kitchen on the second floor.
With the aid of a few buckets of water, and by cutting
the limbers sway, the fli•e was speedily extinguished.