The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-04 00:00:00

.1. s.sl s • , • '
SIIIPPLNG iNTELLIGENtE—(THIS DAY) 1. •
FROM LLOYD'S. (From the 1141 Pocket.)
: . .d .
,• •
S.W.-.s-Arrived from London, We regret to sidle that it falls to our lot this flay
the St. Anus, Mann, for Grenada; Eclipse, Donkin, to announce an event which will be a cause of deep
; -Melvin, Cousins, for:Jamaica; and AdaMs, regret to our readers, mid will almost be viewed us a
Pidstroni, fOr .Cadiz. • •
national calamity. That ancient awl splendid pile,
PEymotrirti;.FEa. 2..-Wind S.—Arrived the Rector,
'
Short, liens Naples, the York Minster, has, by some lamentable accident.
Hos nesn FEa froml with the particulars of which we are at present,: un-
Liver' Ql,,Zl7which The .Mery, M'Leish
th'e acquainted, been rendered a prey to the devastating
;ihreeiniles- east 'of this harbour, the 22d -ult., has bses effects of fire; and is, we fear, a scene of desolation
:,,:ttoat,:d wt. by , the casks and tm.vilid in her about 700 almost, if not totally, irreparable. We use not at
quarters of oats, in a dry state, have ken brought on shore present informed of the full extent of the damage this
froth bee: I venerable edifice has sustained. The only particu-
lars that have as yet readied us, arc contained in
the following accounts forwarded to us yesterday
from York :
" Yours, MONDAY, HALF-PAST ONE.—That mag-
nificent and beautiful structure, York Minster, is at
this moment nearly destroyed. About seven o'elolis
this morning it was discovered to be on fire. The
organ is completely destroyed. The roof; and every
part which would burn, from the organ to the
eastern window, being the whole of the prayer-
house, altar table, &c., are entirely consumed. The
vaults are on fire,.and most of the monuments are.
destroyed. The fire is still burning—the city is lid
in confusion—and the origin of the calamity is
wrapped in mystery."
" YORK, F.Fas.. 2.!---This. morning a little after
seven o'clock, one of the singers entered the Min-
ster, as is said, for the purpose of practising, when
he discovered that the organ was on fire. On the
alarm being given, it was:discovered that the. fire
had communicated with the -stalls in the choir, and
was extending through the whole -of the east
At ten o'clock tile flames issued from the roof, from
the, square tower. to the east window, in one colitis
nued flame. The. engines were promptly got to the
spot, but such was the. rapidity with which it
burnt, :that the whole of the roof has completely
fallen in.
TWELVE O'CLOCK.—I have just returned, en I
had a view into the interior, which %vas a body of
fire, from the organ to the; altar table. It is pro-
bable that the square tower and the west end may
be preserved. The wills, &c. which were deposited
in a part of the Minster, have all been-removed to
a place of. safety, -and some few. of the stalls. hie
also been removed into a large room near the spot.
Beilby Thompson, Esq. of liscreet, despatched
engine drawn by four horses, to the scene of de-
struction ; and the engines from Li eds were ei-
peeteil every minute. The military from the bar-
racks, with their powerful engine, were noticed very
active. As yet, amJuippy, to, say, Hot. any net.-
sonal injury has been received. hereare a number
of reports as to the cause of fire, but nothing satis-
factory. As I expect the coach every minute, I CAD-
not go so far again, but from a person just passing
I Understand, the flames are got under."
We have only to add to the above, that we hali.e
conversed with a gentleman who arrived by the mail
from York last night. He informed us,,that at the
time he left thatscity the cause of the fire was still it.
matter of surmise. The whole of the wood work in
the interior of the Minsters our informant stated to
be destroyed. The part, that had received the greatest
damage WaS the east end. The flames were subdued
before he left York. The damage is variously esti-
mated. We have heard that, at a rough calculation,
100,0001. would not be sufficient to repair the injti-
rieS the edifice has sustained.
(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
On the Sabbath evening there was service in the
Minster as usual, and all appeared to be left safe.-L-
Abont• four o'clock on
sMonday morning, a man
passed thiough the Minster-yard, and saw a light in
the building;' bat it not being very considerable, he
supposed that there might be workmen preparing :a
vault, or otherwise engaged, and he passed on with-
out inquiry.
Between Six and seven the discovery was,- how-
el, made in a most extraordinary manner. A
young boy, named Swinbank, one•of the chorister,
was passing through the Minster-yard, and accident-
ally stepping on a piece of ice, was thrown on his
back. -Titus placed,, and before he could recover
himself,
.he saw a quantitysf smoke issuing froth
various parts of the roof. The sight was ararming
and unaccountable, and he lost no time in going for
the man who keeps the keys. They returned to-
gether, and, when they entered, the sight was awful
beyond descriptiOn. A dense mass of smoke perva-
ded the whole building, and the beautiful wood-work
of the choir was extensively on fire.
On the arrival-of the work Men and others allow
seven o'clock; they feund the interior of the vestry,
in which the clergy and choristers usually uurobe,
completely consumed by fire. Its communication
with other pinta of the Minster was then easily
traced, and we arc sorry to say that the beautiful
wood-Work of the choir, together with the invalu-
able organ, which had not its equal in the kingdom,
were soon a heap of ruins.
COmmunication with the roof was not at first ap-
prehended; but, we lament to say, that the pillars
being of limestone, served as conductors of the fire,
and the roof of the choir being of very dry wood,
it soon was joined with the other wood-work, in one
general conflagration. All the fire-engines in the
city were on the spot, but they were found quite
insufficient ; and expresses were sent to the barracks
and to Tadcaster for others.
Notwithstanding every exertion, the flames got
through the roof of the choir, about half past eight;
and it is impossible for us to describe the awful pic-
ture which the devouring element rising above the
majestic building,and threatening it with desolation,
presented to the view. The effect produced by the
glare of light upon the stained glass of the windows
surpassed all attempts at description. -
About 9 o'clock the roof of the choir fell in.
:The
roofs of the side aisles were smoking when the mail
left; but there was reason to believe that die fire
bad been checked, and would be ultimately got
under.
The Minster has been once before seriously in-
jured by fire, twice burnt down and re-built. Its
origin may be dated from A.D. 626. In 741 it was
dreadfully damaged by fire, and remained in that
state till 767, when it was taken down, re-built,
completed, and consecrated in 780. Thus it stood
until 1069; when the Northumbrians, aided by the
Danes, having besieged the City of York, the gar-
rison set fire to several houses in the-suburbs which
fire unfortunately extended further than they in-
tended, and amongst other buildings burnt die Min-
ster to the ground. In 1137, the same fire which
burnt St. 'Mary's Abbey, St. Leonard's Hospital,
39 churches in the city', and one in the suburbs,
again destroyed the Minster; since which there has
not been may damage done to it by file, excepting two
trifling occurrences which have taken place through
the neglect of the workmen within the last sixty
years. Carelessness with fire or candles, has no
doubt been the only cause on the present occasion;
but we cannot point to any one as the culpable per-
son, nor can any one (at present) in the least calcu-
late the amount of the damage which has been dons.
'timour says 70,0001.

4-)W . 7

MTV b 02

YORK MINSTER BURNT.

. .
The Alliance, from Campeachy to Loudon, was driven
on shore, the 17th inst., on Florida Reef, but got off with
iMnfiderable damage, and arrived at Key West.
The Amiableisabel,-front St. Domifigciiii-hist.betWeen
• that Island and Fayal. -
'The George, Farran, of New York, was totally lost
at royal the 29tli of December ; the 'crew, and moat of
--. the saved. • .•

TILE FUNDS.--(THIS DAY.)

CITY, TIVELVIi

Ai the period approaches when his Majesty's Speech will
be naade.known to,his subjects, and, connected, at it.is slap.
-Plied in the best intermed circles, with topics so impor-
- tent to the domestic and
.internal tranquillity of Ireland; a
4,oFresponiling anxiety exists in the monied interept to have
allencertainty set at rest on this important subject ; thus
then it, is that the Stock inat.ket has beta rather fidgety
all the morning, but unattended; with any important busi-
- new+, Consols: opened at 87i, immediately after became
• buyers, were sellers- at 874, and• for money at 871;
.they
May now be quoted at 814 / fur account, and 137/_# for
money ; the Commissioners gave 874. Exchequer Bills
66 8-,pin..; India Bonds 66 8. pm.
• • ::In the Foreign Funds Bonie business has been done 'in
POrteguese.Bonds at lower quotations, and the Stock has
• fallen from 52 to 5041 ; Buenos Ayics, 434 44; Mexi-
can and Colombian Bonds. are rather Tower, the 'former
being 19 4, and the latter 30; such is the credit of his
Catholic Majesty that Spanish' Bonds are now reduced -to
„Bi- 9. In Shares every thing- remains in its usual dull state.
Three per Cent. Coniels, 87f 4, Ditto, far Account,
1174 India Stock;:. 239 :49 Bank _Stuck, 2.12-13 ;
• ;mita .Bonds, 66 7 .pin. ; Exchequer Bills, 66 7 pin.
FoaxioN.—BraXilian,434 4 ; Buenos Ayres, 431 41 ;
Chilien; 22 ;. Colombian, 19 1 ; 'Danish, 64 ;
Greek, 141 154; Mexican, Five per Cent., 23 4.; Ditto,
Six per Cent.; no; Peruvian, 16 17;' Portuguese, 52 I;
Russian, 97.1 Spanish, 8i 9. •
Dliniza.—Auslo Mexican, 80 dis. ; Brazilian, 39 40
pm.; • Bonilla, 70 88 pm. ; Colombian, 17 16 ;
Baal Del Ninth!, 140 60 pt.* share ; United Mexican,
273- 264 dis.

TWO O'CLOCK.-
. $o"" little business has been doing in Consols that the
•',.rnsnabers.' have amused themselves by .chalkir. the Fobr
per Cent. part of the :market, and giving a sham ball, whiih
.attc•rded certain •Jobbers an opportunity of displaying
their wit: Consols have been 871, buyers, but 'are now
Vets:

Consols, 871

THREE O'CLOCK.

1111 MARKETS.-CTIIIS BAY.)

CORN EXCHANGE.
The supplies of all Grain this week arc moderate, except
of Oats from Ireland, of which there is a good arrivsl.
The quantity of Meir coastwise is unimportant ; the
factors are holding Wheat firmly at Monday's prices,
With little doing to•day, but .there is expectation of • a
considerable demand for this article when the intsnd navi-
gation is. reopened ;, Barley; Beans, and Pease each meet a
dull sale Oats barely maintain:the terms of Monday.—
lilt Flour trade remains very heavy..

The Lord Chamberlain has recovered from his
attack of the gout, and rode out yesterday for the first time.

A deputation of five of the committee from
the Spitalflehls weavers proceeded to the Treasury yester-
day afternoon, at two o'clock, followed by a very numerous
assemblage of the weavers, and presented a petition and a
letter for the Duke of Wellington, - which were received at
his house, and it was intimated that his Grace would send
an answer.

THIRD SA LE OF ROWLAND STEPHEN-
ION'S EFFECTS.-Yesterday the live stock, comprising the
best part of Stephenson's late property at Marshalls, was
sold, on the premises, in 100 lots, by Mr. Shuttleworth.
The stock appeared in good condition. The horses, 13
in number, and all but one grey, Stephenson's favourite
colour, sold at fair prices, as (lid the cows and calves;
but the sheep—Southdown ewes and wethers—the pigs,
and the poultry, produced remarkably high prices, the
sheep selling at 21. each, geese, 7s. 6d., ducks, 35., and
the fowls in proportion. Indeed, some of the prices were
astonishing. The sale was admirably conducted, and ter-
minated at five o'clock.