The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-06 00:00:00

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EXTENSIVE FIRE.

Last night the neighbourhood of Pentonville was visited
by a most alarming and destructive fire, which, for the space
of upwards of two hours completely illuminated the district.
The scene of its operations was a large superficies, whereon
were erected numerous workshops and storehouses, the pro-
perty of Mr. John Barnes, a builder, situated opposite the
Episcopal Chapel, Pentonville-hill.
The first discovery was made at a quarter past ten o'clock,
by Mr. John Barnes, jun., through seeing a strong light in
the paint stores, a building about 20 feet long by 34 wide.

He immediately spread an alarm, and Mr. Joseph Barnes,
without a moment's loss of time, ran to the parish engine-
station, and gave information of the disaster. On his return,
although not more than five minutes had elapsed, the fire had
travelled with such fury as to communicate with the whole
range of joiners' workshops. These buildings were well stored
with building materials, some finished, and some partly so.
Owing to the inflammable• character of the stock upon the
premises, the flames extended almost with the rapidity of
lightning, seizing upon everything in the building, including
the working tools of the numerous workmen.
The parish engine was remarkably quick in arriving, and
was got into play; the work of destruction, however, had
been so great, that, by the time the first drop of water
could be discharged, the fire had extended to the stabling
and smith's shop, and was attacking the front dwelling-
houses, occupied by Mr. Joseph Barnes and several other
parties. The parish engineer exerted himself to the utmost
in trying to arrest the farther progress of the flames ; in
that, however, he was unsuccessful, and very speedily two
or three houses in Lower Queen's-row were in flames at the
back. Messengers were dispatched to the different engine-
stations in the City, and more distant stations, and as soon
as information was received, the Brigade engines from Far-
ringdon-street, Holborn. Whitecross-street, Watling-street,
and Chandos-street depots arrived, and were set to work
under the directions of Mr. Colf, the foreman of the district,
and Mr. Braidwood, the Superintendent. At that time
several of the brigade, and the West of England
engines were at a fire which had previously broken
out at Dulwich. The light thrown up by this fire
was so great, that it could be distinctly seen from
the Surrey hills, and forthwith Mr. Connorton ordered
the West of England engine and firemen to return. After
some trouble the exact seat of the conflagration was dis-
covered, and the engine was set to work, but it was not
until past one o'clock that the fire could be said to be safely
subdued, and not before the whole of Mr. J. Barnes's work-
shops, storehouses, joiners'-houses, paint-sheds, stabling,
coachhouses, smiths' factories, and several other erections,
together with a stock-in-trade valued at some thousands of
pounds, were entirely consumed. Independently of which,
Mr. Joseph Barnes's private dwelling-house is gutted; his
furniture, worth upwards of 1,0001., deStroyed, and the
whole of his wearing apparel consumed. The house occu-
pied by Mr. Petty, hairdresser, is partially destroyed, as well
as that belonging to Mr. Bogg, confectioner, and the backs
of several houses at the rear are severely damaged.
As to the origin of the calamity, nothing that could be
depended upon could be hscertained, but it is the opinion of
Mr. Joseph Barnes that it was caused by some boys dis-
charging fireworks in the vicinity.
The principal sufferer is insured for, we believe, 3,000/. ;
but we were informed that that sum would not half way
cover his loss. His son, Mr. Joseph Barnes, who has lost
everything, we regret to state, is not insured 'for a single
farthing. As to whether or not any of the other sufferers
were insured we were unable to learn during the excitement
which prevailed.
The police. under the direction of Inspector Penny, VE-
erted themselves most admirably in preventing the crowd
from impeding the operations of the firemen.

FUNERAL or Du. BAcos.—The remains. of Dr.
Baggs lay in state on Wednesday week, in the vestibule of
Prior Park College, which was fitted up myth in the same
manner as on the occasion of the funeral of his predecessor,
Dr. Baines. On the coffin were placed the episcopal mitre
and crosier, and arranged round were the sacerdotal vest-
ments in hich the deceased bishop was wont to celebrate
the ceremonies of his church. On Wednesday night, by
torch-light, the coffin of the Right Rev. Dr. Baines, which
had been deposited above ground, in the college chapel, was
removed, .and, accompanied by a solemn procession of
bishops, priests, and students, was carried to a side chapel of
the new church in connexion with the college (which is
now in course of completion), where it was interred in the
vault destined to be its final resting-place. On Thursday
morning, at half-past nine o'clock, a solemn dirge was com-
menced by the priests, and the following bisheps of the
Roman. Catholic Church :—Dr. Griffiths, of London ; Dr.
Briggs, V.A., of the York District ; Dr. Waring, V.A., of the
Eastern District; Dr. Brown, V.A., of Wales; Dr. Sharpies,
Coadjutor V.A. of the Lancashire District. After the dirge
the body was removed to, the College Chapel, where high
mass for the dead was celebrated by Dr. Griffiths. The
several bishops present then by turns, and according to the
usages of the Church, incensed the coffin, and sprinkled it
with holy water. At the conclusion of the mass a funeral
procession was formed. A cross-bearer, twenty of the choir
in surplices, acolytes bearing torches, the priests present, in
order, and the students of the two colleges, preceded the
corpse, and the procession was closed by the bishops before
enumerated. Having proceeded around the outside of St.
Paul's College to the new church, the corpse was there in-
terred with the usual rites, in a vault adjoining that in
which are entombed the remains of Dr. Baines.—Somerset
County Gazette.
THE FIFTH or NOVEMBER.—More than usual ex-
citement prevailed yesterday in London and the suburbs. The
anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot (1605) afforded the boys the
customary sport of carrying the effigy of Guy Fawkes about the
town, and that of discharging fireworks in the evening, to the
great annoyance of many portions of the public—many seemed to
encourage the anti-Roman Catholic speeches of the boys; and in
the churches the service appointed for the day was performed.
DISPATCH OF BUSINESS AT THE OLD BAILEY.—
(The Recorder on the Bench).—The Recorder thought it was
very hot. Mr. Clarkson was of a similar opinion. The Recorder
said, that he remembered when he was a little boy he had been in
the practice of attending school, and he always found himself ex-
ceedingly hot. Mr. Bodkin said he once had a stick which he was
very fond of. Mr. Ballantine thought that sticks were very
useful articles. Mr. Payne was of a similar opinion. Mr. Brief-
less thought that the law of ejectment was a very important one.
The Recorder thought so also. He suggested that one of the
windows should be opened, as he felt the draught disagreeable.
Mr. Clarkson said, " Talking of windows, I once fell out of a three
pair back ; tut, wonderful to relate, I fell on my legs, and was
not the least hurt." Mr. Ballantine was surprised to hear that,
considering what a heavy man his Learned Friend was. The Re_
corder though; they were talking on subjects which had no con-
nexion with the business of the Court. The case of" John Smith
versus Elizabeth Buggins" was then proceeded with, and was
merely interrupted by about three hundred and fifty observations
from the Bar and the Bench, which had nothing whatever to do
with the business before the Court.—Punch.

DEATH OF SIR JOHN MORTLOCK.—The above
highly respected gentleman, one of her Majesty's Commissioners
of Excise, died at his residence, 11, Dorset. square, on Monday
evening last, after a lingering illness of several months. Sir John
was in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and held the office of Com-
missioner of Excise for nearly thirty years, and previously to that
of Comptroller in the General Post-office. By his decease an office
of 1,00(1. per annum will thus be placed at the disposal of the Go-
vernment.