The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-27 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

About eight o'clock on Saturday evening a barn in the
raiii;yatd of Mr. Smith, an extensive farmer at Northfleet-
green, in the patish of Northfleet, near Gravesend, was dis-
covered to be on fire, and messengers were at once dispatched
to Gravesend and Dartford for the engines. Before they
arrived, however, the wheat-stacks and range of out-offices ire
the yard caught fire, and upon the arrival of the Gravesend
engines the whole of premises were inflames. The Dart •
ford engines soon after arrived, and a good supply of water
being at hand, thew played with a sufficiency of success to
save the dwelling-house: but the barns, stables, and other
Mite:Aces, together with four levee stacks of wheat, and a
quantity of wheat, partly thrashed and partly unthrashede
which had been in the barn in which the fire originated,
were totally consumed. The horses and pigs were for-
tunately driven out of their respective houses of shelter
before the fire communicated to them. Mr. Smith
was in Gravesend when the alarm of fire apparmatly
in the direction of his house was given ; bat
until he approached its vicinity he was not aware of the
calamity that awaited his return home. All that it was
possible to do to preserve the dwelling-house was accom-
plished by the enginemen, assisted by the people of the
neighbourhood ; but the fire raged in the farmyard with la
fury altogether irrepressible by any effort of those parties,
or by any supply of water, however copiously discharged
upon it by the engines. The destruction of and damage to
property is estimated at 2,000/. The buildings are fully
insured, as is also the stock, the former by the proprietor, Mr-
Brenchley, of Woomble-hall, Northfleet, to whom the pre-
mises on the farm held by Mr. Mace, and which were burnt
down this time twelvemonth, also belonged, and the farm
stock by Mr. Smith, the tenant.
About seven minutes past five o'clock yesterday morning a
flame was observed by a policeman at the station-house,
Gravesend, to burst through a first floor window of the Black
Horse Tavern, nearly opposite the Town-hall, in High-street ;
an alarm being immediately given, the inmates of the house
rushed from their respective bed-rooms, some down stairs,
and seine into the large parlour on the first floor. From the
front room in the lower part of the house Mrs. King, the
landlady, and her daughter were compelled to retreat, and
leave the money and papers which it was their object to pre,-
serve, and endeavour to save their lives through one of the
first floor windows, many of the inmates having already
effected their escape in that way. When they got into the
large room alluded to, fifteen or sixteen of the lodgers, the
house being full, as it was the fair time, were endeavouring
to get out of the two windows, and Mrs. King leaped out or
one, followed by Miss King and a man named Aldridge. At
this time the flames also burst through the windows, and the
whole house, in an inconceivable short time, was one mass of
flame. By this time the Gravesend engines, which had been at
the fire at Northfleet-green, arrived on the spot, but no water
could be procured for nearly twenty minutes, an interval which
was occupied in communicating with the superintendent of
the waterworks, and during which the fire extended to the
houses on either side of the Black Horse. The Dartford and
Rochester engines arrived from Northfleet green, where they
had been detained in a successful attempt to save Mr.
Smith's house, but even when they arrived the water had
not been laid on. However, there was soon a copious supply,
and the efforts of the firemen were directed to the prevention
of the spread of the fire to the houses adjoining the Black
Horse on either side; but all their efforts were fruitless to
prevent the communication of the fire to the houses in the
rear of the Black Horse, as well as to those in the alley lead-
ing from High-street to Princes-street, and to the three
houses at each side of the Black Horse and fronting High-
street. The whole of these were one mass of flame, which,
despite the great quantity of water at this time dis-
charged upon it by the fire-engines, was not abated until it
had no more fuel to feed upon. About eight o'clock the
Black Horse Tavern and its extensive stabling and
other appurtenances, together with the house of Mr. Tolliss
butcher • Mr. Smith, grocer ; Mr. Hollingdale, draper ; Mr..
Harris, bootmaker ; and Mr. Hall, China warehousekeeper,
were totally destroyed. To the rear of those fronting
Princes-street, a slaughter•house of Mr. Tollis's and four cot-
tages belonging to Mr. Hall were also destroyed. The Ca-
therine Wheel Tavern, next to Mr. Smith's house, the party-
wall of which resisted the extension of the fire to the tavern,
was much damaged, as were the houses immediately above
Mr. Hollingdales. At the time the fire broke out there were,
as Mrs. King states, 26 persons, including lodgers, is the
house. One of them, a man belonging to Mr. Wombwell's
show-booth at the fair, is missing, and supposed to have been
consumed; but at the time of our reporter leaving last even-
ing no search for his remains, if he be destroyed, had been in-
stituted in the ruins. In leaping from the window Mrs. King
suffered a severe injury, having three of her ribs broken. Mr.
Aldridge was still more severely if not fatally injured in the
back. Miss King was also badly hurt. Mr. King, the landlord
of the Black Horse, was not at home. He is but partially
insured, and his loss, it is said, is little less that ruinous to
him. Neither Mn Hall nor Mr. Hollingdale is insured in
respect either •to stork or houses. Mr. Tollis's house was
folly insured, but his furniture was not, and he barely saved
his account boolcs, In Mr. King's desk was, as our reporter
learned, over 1001. in gold and notes ; the latter consumed,
and the former amid the ruins, as are the remains, as is sup-
posed, of at least the showman of Mr. IVombell. Mrs. King
does not appear to be quite sure of the number of lodgers that
night in the. house, as many came in from the fair at various
hours of the night up to three o'clock. How the fire origi-
nated is doubtful, but there are strong reasons for believing
that it was in the smoking-room. The policeman states that
when he first discovered it the flame was issuing from a win-
dow on the first floor. The loss is variously estimated, but
it would appear to be about 10,000/.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Oct. 25.
RE SCALES, AN INSOLVENT.

In this case the insolvent, the well-known ex-Alderman
Scales, came up in custody on his interim order. His sche-
dule set forth his debts to be 1,810/.75. 4d., whilst his credits
were stated to amount to 6,4711.55. The insolvent was sup-
ported by Mr. King, and opposed by Mr. Vines, of Reading,
on behalf of the detaining creditor, the Hon. Shaw Lefevre,
the Speaker of the House of Commons, whose claim was for
law costs in some Chancery suit.
The insolvent stated that his debtti only amounted to 20/. ;
1001. was also placed in his schedule L's due to his bankers,
and. 1001. to his solicitor; to whom, howenr, he did not owe
more than 401. He further owed 301. for taxes, and, as he
had before said, 201. for debts, which he called debts, because
they contributed to his personal comforts.
Sir. Vines prayed for an adjournment, on the ground that
Mr. Lefevre, who was at Heckfield, in Hampshire, had only
received the required notice on the previous day.
Mr. King said he had left a notice at the Speaker's house,
in Eaton-square, on Thursday, and also on that day had sent
;:bny of it by post to Mr. Lefevre, and to the agents of his
solicitor in town.
The CoI):TISSIONER observed, that it was absurd for Mr.
Scales to say t.: at his debts only amounted to 201., when he
had stated them in his schedule to be 1,8101.
Mr. Scales-1,200/ a that sum is secured on freehold pro-
perty, which the creditors may sell. The remaining 6001.
was put in my schedule against my conviction by my soli
citor, as he said I was bound to enter the names. The in-
solvent added, that if his estate did not pay 20s. in the pound,
he had an annuity of 1201. per annum, a part of which he
would set aside for the payment of his debts and liabilities.
The Speaker of the House of Commons, as he was called, his
only detaining creditor, had persecuted him from day to day.
After some discussion between his Honour and the soli-
citors, an adjournment until the 10th November was agreed
to, on the ground of Mr. Lefevre's not having received suf-

ticient notice.
Mr. Commissioner GOITLIIMIN" recommended that the
insolvent should be at once dischargfid from custody, as he
thought there could be no apprehension if his absconding.
Mr. Vines, who appeared very unwilling to adopt the sug-
gestion, ultimately gave -c7sy to the feeling of the Court, and
the insolvent was immediately liberated.
RE GARDINER, AN' INSOLVENT. •
The insolvent, described as Jame,
Cavendlly Gardiner, of
Aloftlake, Ealing, and Harley-street, ish-square,
" gentleman," was an advertising money-lender. The insol-
vent's debts were put down in his schedule as amoolting to
10,389/. Os. id., and his credits were stated at 1;1161.
Mr. Wright opposed on behalf of Colonel Wilson of Alton-
hail, Warwickshire. It appeared from the examination of
Gardiner that he had been an advertising money-lender, and:
that, amongst other transactions, he bad obtained bills from
Colonel Wilson, of the value of 3,5001., which had been dis-
counted by the well-known Mr. Flight, the Colonel receiving
1,5001., the insolvent retaining 700 i., and Mr. Flight the re-
After a short discussion, the Learned Col.:2missioner maing 1,3001.
ad-
journed the case until Wednesday, to consider ve: hether the
insolvent had been trading as a money-scrivener.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
Mr. Alderman Wilson attended on Saturday to hear g
counter statement to a complaint made before him last
week, by Messrs. Lewis and Lowe, newspaper adver-
tiscment agents, relative to the vexatious detention for
a week of a cheque for 2001., drawn in favour - of
Messrs. Lewis, and as to Mr. Lewis being refused per-
mission to see the directors when he applied fcr the
balance of his account. Mr. Hill, the deputy-chairman
caoiyftotCrh,oewmasappapnoluiyi,
ocs
said
itdti
soOnaxt
Tuesday,
eouirledtsi,
bideu3b't,
eaeasnnhdic ahtmeh
erllierpasoiolrilts;
on
r. Miller,
of town, he refrained from moving until he returned. He
bad given Mr. Lewis notice of his intention to appear this ,
day, and he had strong ground to complain that Mr. Lewis
had made a statement calculated to prejudice Mr. Miller,
without notice. When the account for advertising was
brought to him by the solicitor, he asked if he intended to
present it at the next board, and if the bill was correct. The
solicitor replied it was not. The charges were exorbitant, .
and he heard that Messrs. Lewis and Lowe bad charged other
parties 50 and 100 per cent. beyond the amount actually paid
to the newspapers; and in this case there were charges from
15 to 25 per cent. beyond the proper amount. This was
ascertained by applying to some of the country papers. Mr.
Hill, upon this, required that the account should be ex-
amined with the vouchers, and, up to this time, Mr. Lewis
had declined to produce the vouchers. Sir James Duke, the
Chairman of the Company, said the agents had at all events
expended a considerable sum, and he proposed that a cheque
should be drawn for 2001., the amount of the bill being 6271.
Mr. Lewis had notice of this, but neglected to call for a week.
Mr. Lewis had stated the cheque was obtained by Mr. Miller,
butt(ltsrw.
Hasill), untrue. It remained in the possession of the appli-
cantand it was Mr. Lewis's own fault that he did not
have it. The Company was ready to pay what was justly
due, but it was the duty of the directors to see that the
money of the shareholders was not improperly expended.
With respect to what passed at the last meeting, when a
policeman was sent for to remove Mr. Lewis, nothing could
be more quiet and circumspect than the behaviour of Mr.
Miller towards Mr. Lewis, and there was nothing to justify a
complaint to a magistrate.
Mr. Alderman WILSON had no doubt the newspapers that
noticed the matter before would do so again. The fairness of
the charges must be discussed in a civil court.
Messrs. Lowe and Lewis came in just as Mr. Hill had
finished his statement, and Mr. Lewis stated, in explanation,
that Mr. Hill was mistaken as to tickets being givenfor sums
paid for each advertisement. No such vouchers could be
produced. The newspapers had a scale for charging such
advertisements, which might be seen at his office, and the
truth of which might be tested by inquiry at the .offices of
the respective newspapers. His bill was a fair one, and he
should enforce payment of it. The parties then withdrew.

THE LORD MAYOR AND THE PARISH OF ST. STE'
MIENB, WALIIROOK.-00 Saturday the following paragraph ap.
peared in a morning paper :—This Parish of Walbroek—Amongst
yesterday's on Tits it was stated that the master's report upon the
subject of the dispute between Lord Mayor Gibbs and the pa.
rishioners of Walbrook, sponged the Lord Mayor's claim for
1,800, and brought him indebted to the parish 501." We are
given to understand that the Lord Mayor's legal adviiers and
friends declare solemnly that there is not the slightest foundation
for the statement, and that no report has as yet been made by the
master.

HEATON PARK.—The purchase of the mansion
and park of the Earl of Wilton, we understand, has been
Fompkted by one of the four rival railway companies.pro-
ungerstaud; tO
companies•pro-
jected between Manchester and Bury, a distance of eight or
nine miles. The noble owner is to receive, it is stated; the
eum of 500,0001. for this property. The [park, which 'is
about three miles northof Manchester, is, we
be laid out in sites for villas...Maw/tester Guardtan.