The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-20 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

A notification has been issued by the Post-office authorities
that on Good Friday no business will be transacted during the
day at the money order office, St. Martin's-le-Grand.
The Earl of Shrewsbury has sold 85 acres of land in Che-
shire to a building company for 35,0001., and has purchased
the estate of Cotton, in Staffordshire, with the proceeds.
_ .

The soiree at the liritishand Foreign Institute was a'

tended by the Duke and Duchess of Victoria, Donna Espar•
tero, and Colonel Gurrea, whose presence excited no little in-
terest. Thanks to the polite and efficient management of
Mr. Buckingham, the evening passed most agreeably.
Stockwell-green, a beautiful and open: piece of ground at
the corner of the road to South Lambeth, and nearly opposite
the Swan, at Stockwell, after being so many years the raost
open and healthy part of that vicinity, has now been nearly
covered with buildings, and to such an extent that nearly
all trace of the former green is lost. The large Tenter-
ground, nearer Kennington-common, is also being built upon,
so that the road, from Kennington to Clapham-common may
now be said to be a continuous street.

THE RECENT FIRE IN BERMONDSET-STREET.—The
fire which occurred in Bermondsey-street, as detailed in this
journal of yesterday, was not extinguished until a late hour,
and it was not until some time after that the fate of the re-
sidents was ascertained. For a considerable period it was
believed that all the parties residing in the house had met
the most horrible of all deaths. The utmost exertions to as-
certain the fact were made by the firemen under Mr. Braid-
wood's superintendence. The last time that Mr. Opperner
was seen was shortly after eleven o'clock, at which hour he
wished one of his neighbours good night. The supposition
of an extensive sacrifice of life was therefore entertained.
Whilst the firemen were, however, exploring the ruins, the
proprietor of the building came to the spot and informed the
reporter that he had been to see a friend, and that all his
family was safe, as his wife and children had gone to a place
of amusement in the Borough. He also said there was no
person in the house when the fire broke out. We are, there-
fore, happy to state that no lives were lest, as was at one
time apprehended. The following is an extract from the
official report supplied by Mr. Braidwood :—" No. 217, Ber-
mondsey-street, Mr. L. Opperner's, cabinet-maker and va-
luer—building destroyed, stock in trade and furniture burned :
insured in the Sun for the stock in trade, building insured in
the Guardian. Cause of fire very doubtful. No. 216, Mr.
Benjamin, clothier and salesman—the second and third floor
stairs and side front severely damaged by fire ; the rest of
the building and contents injured by water and removal.
Engines attending—six of the brigade, two of the parish,
with those of the West of England and County offices."
FIRES IN EAST SMITHFIELD.—Scarcely had the
firemen succeeded yesterday morning in extinguishing the
fire in Bermondsey-street, than intelligence was recceiyeialnodf
another alarming fire having broken out at th oil
colour manufactory, belonging to 111-essrs. llubbeck and
Sons, in East Smithfield. It originated in the ground floor,
in which was deposited a large quantity of oils, turpentine,
and other combustible articles. The engines quickly arrived,
and, by the exertions of the tiretnen, the flames were pre- I
vented from extending further ; they were not, however, I
entirely extinguished until considerable damage had been
done to the stock in the warehouse. The cause of the
disaster has been traced to the spontaneous ignition of some
waste sweepings.
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT. We are happy
to hear from a newspaper paragraph that " the spots on the
face of the sun are considerably less this year." This looks
as if old Sol had been taking the pledge, and thAt this im-
provement was owing to his having entirely renounced the
use of " mountain dew" and other alcohol. Let us hope,
now he has turned teetotaller, he will get up somewhat
earlier for the kliture, and endeavour to show his face in
London a little before 1 or 2 o'clock in the day.--Punch.