Star.
London, England, 1808-06-22 00:00:00

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE FIRE
• .4r TRIN/P4D.
• "tll
PORTi ;46. PRILII, loos.
Between ten and eleveno*cloik on the night ol the-
24th ultimo, the inhabitants of this town were sud,
denly awoke by the drums beating, the bells ringing
the alarm. Fire was soon found to be the cause, and
the house of Dr. Schaw, in. Frederick-street, one of
the narrowest, most populous,. and built altogether
of timber, the focus from whence the conflagration ;
issued, threatening, by its impetulsity, devastation
all around. •
The fire from the inflammable and combustible
materials of Dr. Schaw's shop, in which were stored
quantities of nitre, sulphur, ether, and.other roaitied
sp;rits, and essential oils, soon raged with inconceiv-
able violence : and diverging from that focus in every
direction, the whole of that street, together with
Henry-street on the East, Chacon-street on the West;
and King and Queen-streets on the North and South,
were soon enveloped in the devouring element ; and,
• to those tvho had time to reflect, afforded a melan-
choly presage of the total destruction of -the tosen.
The terror Which took possession of-the unfortunate
tenants and Proprietors of this neighbourlerA is not
to be described, nor can fancy paint a scene of such
astonishment and dismay.—They were roused from
their sleep to behold the very flames bursting into
their chambee:viindOirs, and had but sufficient time
to abandon allan:id. save their lives. The screams of
the women ancLchildren running distractedly through
the streets, in search of a place of safety—the neigh-
ing, ortather. iqualing of horses and mules, many
of which.were burned to death in their Itables—and
the loud and frequent reports of butts Of spirituous
liquors and of gunpowder as the fire reached them,
all together formed an assemblage of honor, as aw-
ful as it was terrific. Of lives we have not' heard of
any being lost, except a negro of Mr. Sandes;the
vendue-mister, whose house was contiguous to the
spot where the fire originated, and a 'Grenadier of
the 37t1., who generously devoting himself to save the
life of a child,
.succeeded in the attempt, but was so
scorched as since to have died of his sitgenings.
The Pump Company with the water-engines did
every thing that could be expected from them, to stop
the progress of the flames ; but from the number of!
years that the town, through a variety of hazards,
had escaped, and the late uncommon wet weather,
which had lulled the inhabitants into security, people
tvere off their guard, and the machinery of every
class attached to that establishment had been ne.
sleeted ; the want of water was anothersdifficulty
the wells only furnished the.-little that was procured,
but those were Soon drained or become inapproach-
able by the excessive beat of- the houses, and pailings
on fire around them.
His Excellency the Governor; with the Officers of
the Staff, and working partiei from the.37th and Bth,
were early at the scene of action ; but although their
efforts were vigorous,alid behaviour orderly and Me-
ritorious, under his Excellency's orders, it was
.all
in va:n ; human art or exertion could do, nothinT
against the progress of such a torrent of fire, ebtat-
'wally renewed and excited by fuel of such inflam-
mable matter.
When day broke, and the smoke which hovered
over the ground, and could not ascend from its own
density, had cleared away by the morning breeze, a
view of desolation presented itself to us not to be de-
scribed ; a large and populous town which, but a
few hours before, bore the second rank in our Wind-
ward Island possessions, had vanished, and nothing
remained but stacks of chimnies and walls in ruins;
not an atom of any thing inflammable escaped, and
in many places bottles and glass ware, and even pot
metal, were found to have been in a state of fusion.
On taking an account of the extent of the damage,
with the plan of the town in hand, we find that 12
squares or blocks have been entirely consumed, and
nine partially, making an ewe/fib/a of 435 principal
houses or stores with ihe fronts to the streets, besides
back stores and Out-offices, which may he estimated
at four times that number at leact, and the whole at
a moderate calculation worth 3,500,000 dollars, the
lodging or property of about 4,500 persons, who are
now in the streets, and numbers of them totally des-
titute. Of the value of the merchandize, produce,
and effects destroyed, we can A present form no idea:
but Government has called for the account of every
person's loss upon oath, which will exceed, we think,
half a- million sterling.
Of the public buildings, not one has been saved.
The Government-house, the Custom-house, the Hos-
pital, the Protestant Church, the Gaol, the Town-
hall, and a part of the Public Archives and the
Treasurers-offices, all have fallen a sacrifice to the
flarres. Most fortunately the Commissaries' stores
and King's provisions were by great exertion saved ;
and to this source of life, many now owe, in a great
measure, their subsistence, it having pleased his Ex-
cellency to proclaim martial law, and with his usual
goodness and humanity, to order rations to be issued
to the militia as in times of actual warfare ; all the
tents which could be spared in the garrison, have
been pitched in Brunswick-square, to lodge the un-
fortunate sufferers, who have neither house nor home,
and they are numerous.
On the part of Government, every measure .that
could contribute to alleviate the public rni:ery has
been taken, with a precision and promptitude which
does his Excellency infinite honour. Expresses have
been sent to the neighbouring Colonies, to the Spanish
Main, and to the United States, for supplies. A
Committee of his Majesty's Council, and of the prin-
cipal inhabitants, has been appointed to receive dona-
tions of every kind that can be useful, and di ...ribute
to those who are in need, rations of bread, flesh,.and
fish salted, and even fresh beef to the infirm, which
are purchased up by the Committee from a private
led for the relief of the sufferers, at

• 7. , . - -

MEP MP'

his yard ; but by what
fire is all conjecture. •NV
lieve that there was no
*ditated in the affair : it
dent, and that is the best
town opilent ;and flourishing,
perry, has been destroyed ; it is
to the sufferers to be' informed 1_
mischief is done, and there is no remedy ; -dc it is at
least satisfactory to be assured that evil design had no
baud in at.

AMERICA
I-lALWAX, MAY 6. •
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, has
thought tit, with the advice of his Majesty's Codncil,
to appoint Friday, the 10th day of June next, as a
day of public fasting and humiliation throughout the
I'rov ince.
M,►Y 13.—Effects of thi Embargo. The bankrupt-
' cies in New-York, previous to the 10th of April,
amounted to ninety-one, for the enormous sum of six
millions five hundred and five thousand dollars.
MAY 20.--,Our papers from Boston, by the Emu-
lous sloop of war, are to the 7th inst.
The American Congress concluded its Session on
the `'2sth ult. .to meet. again on the 7th of November
next. The Supplementary Embargo Bill passed, with
some additions ; but the Bill authorising the President
to arm vessels of war, &c. was postponed indefinitely.
' The Vermonters have protested against the embargo,
which prohibits their tradewith Lower Canada, both
by land and the waters of Lake Champlain, as cut-
ting uff the only source of their prosperity.

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. .
.-...: • PARLIAMENTARY -PROCEEDINGS. *.
• HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 21. •
The Scots Local Militia Bill and the White Herring Fishery
Bill were brought up from the Commons by Mr. WHARTON
and other Members, and read a first time.
The West India Accounts Bill, the American Trade Bill, the
Smuggling Prevention Bill, the Barrack Accounts Bill, the British
Fisheries Bill, and the Hackney Coach Bill, were read a third
time and passed
The Pilots' Bill, the Cape of Good Hope Trade Bill, and the
Subdivision Returns Bill were read a second tune, and committed
for to-morrow.
The Land Tax Commissioners Bill, the Prize Goods Bill, the
Beer Licence Bill, the Post-horse Ditty Bill, the Promissory
Notes Bill, the Irish Spirits Bill, and the Irish Drawbacks Bill,
passed through Committers, and, were reported.
I . STIPENDIARY CURATES' BILL.
The Stipendiary Curates Bill was brought up by Mr. WIIAR •
i TON and other Members, and after a few words from the Earl
+ of LAUDERDALE, who wsaof opinion that the Bill contained
provisions of a very exceptionable nature, and hoped that sufficient
time would be given for its consideration, was read a first time,
and, on the Motion of the BISHOP of LONDON, ordered to be
I printed.
I ItOxnUnGH CAUSE.
1 The Committee of Privileges proceeded in the consideration of
the claims to the Earldom of Roxburgh. • l'he Hon. H. ERSKINE was
l heard on behalf of Brigadier-General Ker, one of the claimants.
This Gentleman for his client, and Sir %smuts.
the
on the
part of Sir JanesNorcliffe limes, another of the claimants, hav-
ing objected to Counsel (who attended) being heard in the Com.
Mince for Mt. Menden Key, he not having claitied the title,
and also having declared that they did not consent to Counsel
1 (who alscrattended) being heard for Lady Essex Kcr, who claim-
ed' the title, it was determined, on the motion of the LORD CHAN-
' cxctoa in consequence of this new case arising, to make a re-
i port to the House, and request an instruction with respect to fur-
-1 ther proceeding.
LOCAL MILITIA.
On the third reading of this Bill,
The Earl of SELKIRK repeated some of his former observa-
tions on the expediency of enrolling all the young men of a certain
age, instead of adopting the principle of ballot between two ages,
as resorted to in the present Bill ; and concluded by moving to
leave out the words " ballotted and," for the purpose of proceed-
ing to substitute in the Bill his own plan.
The question was about to be put, when
Earl STANHOPE expressed his surprise at the silence of his
Majesty's Ministers with respect to the amendment proposed by
the Noble Earl. He should support the amendment, because be
conceived the plan of the Noble Earl came mach nearer the old
Militia principle than the Bill as it stood. The modern Militia
principle, that of ballot, was, he contended, a bad one. He pre-
ferred the old constitutional principle of the psue cossitaNs. His
Lordship made sonic observations to *hew the necessity of taking
additional measures for the defence of the country, and concluded
by giving his support to the amendment.
Lord HAWKESBURY justified the silence of Ministers, by
observing, that the same amendmeit was proposed and discussed
' in the Committee, and therefore they might justly imagine, that
the NoNe Earl merely proposed it now, for the purpose of hay,
ing it recorded on the Journals. He must now as he did in the
Clmtnittee, oppose the amendment, being convinced that ballot
was the only principle on which an efficient force of this desalt/.
don could he raised. As to the pour cestitstsi 1, it was good is
theory, but it never had existed in practice as was evident at
the time the Militia was first instituted. Many alterations had
been made in the constitution of the Militia, but this Bill be con-
tended, came very near the old principle on which the Militia
was first established.
Lord Viscount SIDMOUTH observed, that the Amendment
I proposed by his Noble Friend was very different to the principle
of the pore coasitahu mentioned by the Noble Earl (Stanhope).—
He approved of the plan suggested by his Noble Friend, but at.
the same time, he was ready to admit that the present Bill, with
a view to all the considerations which the subject involved, was
the best that bad hitherto been brought forward.
The Amendment was negatived.
The Earl of RADNOR moved an amendment for the purpose
of extending the exemption with respect to those whollad served
in the Militia, or found substitutes or paid fines, which after a
fetr words in its support from Earl Stanhope, was negatived.
The Bill was read a third time and passed.
MR. PALMER'S CLAIM.
Lord ELIOT rose to make his motion, pursuant
to notice, on the Bill for allowing compensation to
Mr. Palmer, for his services in the Post-Office de-
partment. He observed that, in addressing their
' Lordships, he was influenced by no other than a
public motive. He then entered into a detail of the
circumstances which induced Mr. Pitt to confer. a
grant of 30001. per year on Mr. Palmer, and his sub-
sequent dismal from office. He then contended, that
by not performing the duties of the office to which
Mr. Palmer was appointed, he lost all claim to pub-
lic compensation, and concluded by moving that the
Bill be rejected. . ~
The Earl of MOIRA. expressed his surprise at the
procedure of the Noble Lord who had just sat down.
If ever there was a judicial question before the
House, this was one. It was 'a case where the jus-
tice of the nation was concerned. The claim of an
individual, who had performed meritorious services
1 for his Country, came to be fairly tried. The House,
under these circumstances, was called upon by the
Noble Baron to turn away the plea of justice, and to
disregard the minute discussion and decision upon
the question which had occurred in the other branch
,of the Constitution. If their Lordships did reject
1 the Bill, the most mischievous consequences would
ii ensue. The People would cease to appeal to their
1 Lordships for justice, and the claim of an individual
to public compensation would be frustrated by the
IConstitutional power Which ought to afford an int-
( partial and fair investigation. The Noble Earl then
entered into an eloque;.t argument in support of Mr.
I Palmer's claims, and contended, from the minutes
of evidence laid before the House on the subject,
that Mr. Palmer did not merit the obloquy and dis-
grace attributed to his conduct. It was not his in-
n tention to come to any decision respecting Mr. Pal-
mer's claim ; he merely opposed the motion for dis-
missing the Bill, in defiance of the decision of the
other House, and the attention which their Lord-
ships were bound in justice to pay to the claim of a
subject, who applied,for public compensation. Un-
'ir all the cite"- -tatices, he thought the present was
for the -House to come to

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by patent for life, he could not, upon the
. stated, have been divested of it by a writ cf
vadat. The agreement made by Mr. Pin with
t'alrner was, he untended, clearly established,
in itself a wise one, because, if the plan of the
had failed, he was to receive nothing ; but if it
succeeded, then he was to receive a percentage upon
increased revenue of the Post Oilice,.in order to
rte him to future exertio s. This bairgaini his
maintained, was binain3 upon The honour
of the country, equally with other contracts, to a
large am 'lint, which were annually entered into I,y
public officers ; and Mr. I'itt's consenting that the
consideration of this subject should go to a Committee
in the year 1797, was a proof thatie considered the
, •
agreement as not terminated by the acceptance of the
90001. a-year by Mr. Palmer.
Lord \VALSINGHAM stated several instances
..to chew that Mr.-Palmer appeared, whilst in office, to
art upon a settled plan of throwing obstacles in the
ivay of the Postmaster General, by retarding the de-
livery of letters, and in other ways.; and that thic
was more clearly shewn by the fact, that after Mr.
Palmer's suspension, the letters were delivered au hour
earlier than before that period.
The LORD CHANCELLOR opposed the mo.
Lion for the adjournment, and entered at some length
into the consideration of the Bill before the House.
Entertaining, as lie did, all due respect for the other
House of Parliament, which had sent up this Bill,
yet he saw no substantial reasons for adopting it,
,and remained precisely of the same opinion he had
formerly adopted, that whatever were the merits of
Mr. Palmer towards the Public, yet these had been
,sufficiently rewarded by a pension of 3,0001. a year,
and that.he had no Well founded claim to the grant
proposed in the present Bill.
Lord STANHOPE supported the question of ad-
journment, which was opposed by Lord REDEF
,DALE. The House then divided, when there app
peared for the Amendment—Contents 10—Non
Contents 31—Majority 24.
The original motion was then carried without
division.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Read a third time and passed the Paymaster's Bill, the Wan
housing Bill, the American Goods Bill, and the Lottery Bill.
Sir W. SCOTP moved for leave to bring in a Bill to extend
irovisions of an Act of the 45th of the King, for the better e
couragement of Seamen entering into his Majesty's Navy. Leave
was given, and the Bill was brought in and read a first time, and
ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.
Read a second time the Woollen Suspension Bill, the ltish
Spirits Bill, the Woolwich Water-Works Bill. Reported the
Welch Coals Bill, the Southern Whale Fishery Bill, the Silk.
Duty Bill; NPDowall's Estate Bill, the Vote of Credit Bill, the
Irish Gaols Bill, and the Iti,h Treasury Bills Bill, and ordered'
be read a third time to-mirrcw.
Mr. HUSKISSON brought up the Bill of Appropriation, which
*as read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time •
morrow.
Mr. HUSKISSO).: brought up an Account pf the Expenses
Cloathing the King's German Legion, conformably to an order
of the House.
Mr. HUSKISSON moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend
the Law for the Marking of -Bags and Pockets of Hops. Leave
was given.
Committed In a COMmittee of the whole House, die Brasil
Postage Bill.
Mr. EDEN wished to be Informed, *Milt& it was the inten-
tion of Government to found any measure upon the second
third Reports of the West India Committee
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that t.
,Belief already granted was not confined to the suspension of Distil-
lation from Corn ; but that lowering the duties on Coffee, and en-
creasing the duties on Brandy, would have the same tendency
with the other measure. It was not the intention of Government,
he said, to propose any other measure at present.
Mr. BARHAM gave notice, that he will make a motion r

the late Reports of the Committee appointed to consider of
means of relieving the West India Planters on Thursday nest.
SCOTS JUDICATCRE, BILL.
The Scots Judicature Bill was recommitted
Committee of the whole House.
Mr. HORNER objected to the Clause, enactin;
that no appeals. shall be permitted from Interloci
tary Judgments of the Coen of Session without
consent of the Court. In this objection he was !
ported by Mr. Abercrombie and Sir Samuel Romi
and opposed by the Lord Advocate and Solicitor
neral for Scotland, and the Chancellor of the El
cicier. After a conversation of considerable len;
Sir Samuel Rotnilly proposed an Amendment tt.
Clause, that Appeals shall not be permitted again:
Interlocutory Judgments, by introducing the we
" except in cases where there is a difference of
nion among the Judges."
The SOLICITOR • GENERAL opposed
amendment, as tending to encourage vexatious _
peals, to the great delay,of legal proceedings, and
the grievous inconvenience of the suitors.
After some further discussion, the Lord Advocate
acceded to Sir Samuel Romilly's amendment, •
was agreed to.

On another part of the same Clause,
Mr. HORNER remarked, that as he had former)
objected that appeal's were not allowed in a suffie.
number of instances, so must he now submh
they were granted on too many. He objected
part of the clause by which parties, who, from their
own negligence, or that of their men of business, al-
lowed Decrees or Interlocutors to become final agaiut
'
them, had it in their power, after the period ofpre.
seating petitions was elapsed, to petithm, and, if the
other party declined to answer, then to appeal to the
House of Loris. This he esteemed an unwarrauta-
ble and improper privileges,-
Mr. J. ABERCROMBLE supported this objection.
The LORD ADVOCATE declared, that he had
no predilection for the Clause. The words were of
course expunged.
On the motion of Mr. HORNER, it was ordered
that the quorum of the Judges of the two chambers,
instead of four, be three.
Mr. HORNER, alluding to those appeals Which
were withdrdwn before hearing,or dismissed for want
of hearing, and which he considered the worst kind
of appeal% proposed a clause for the disposal of all
such afterwards hi the Court below, but was informed
that he must bring this forward at a future stage of
the proceedings.
On the Clause appointing Commis-inners to report,
in what cases Jury Tria?could be beneficially intro•
duced, and for other purposes'
Mr. HOILNER inforced the propriety of these
Commissioners being nominated by Parliament, and
not by the Crown.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, he could figure the pos-
sibiliq of a case existing, in which the Crown, if M.
vested with such a power, Might say, :cif you will
not give me al victims the persons
Jury alt

. _
. _
at tritons his out-ogees eltitght-itirezrvatipade known ; and thettg' bacfEwa' rd ed to him l
We firmly and religiouslYlsi- the or for his zeal and goo sgrices, and made grounds :
no design immediate or prone- hip; aNo leman, as lfie aee from Stqckhotin 'Gr.- cart facia
was undoubtedly owing; to acct. aeue oldie 2d of June. • . n 1.. Mr. Pah
"est face we can put upon 4..,'A . Burhovden's Proclamation of i 21st of kara, and was
arishing, and. an immense pro- indicates that the Ruisians trusted that wil-Tinland aft
erler hal
dyed ; it is of' little consequence was conquered, and that the Swedish army would sede
informed how it happened ; withdraiv to Sweden. . - • the lucre
.
there is no remedy ; but it its A , stinnulati
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