Star.
London, England, 1830-02-16 00:00:00

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGLISII

- - - ••
OPERA-HOUSE,
m te. BY PIRE. -
About the hour of one 7crock this morning the pit of
the English Opera-house,- which runs as far back as
Exeter-street, was discovered to be on fire. The police
on duty instantly gave the alarm, and, having procure !
hatchets and crowbars, with the assistance of sonic mine
persons in the adjoining houses, burst in the doors, for
the purpose of checking the fire, which they imagined
had only just that moment commenced. The event
proved otherwise. On the admission of the air the flanic4
burst forth with incredible fury, and speedily com-
municated with the houses in the range in Exeter-
street, adjoining thu theatre. Nothing could
exceed the dreadful scene of confusion which ensued.
Some of the unfortunate inmates were to be seen throw-
ing their several articles of furniture through the windows
—others were running in wild despair and half dressed
into the street. The screaming of the women and cbildren
added to the horror of the scene. One poor woman we.:
observed to fling herself out of a window on the second
story of a house in the range, but was fortunately saved
by some of the police, who caught her by the clothes
previous to her coming to the ground, and thereby pre-
vented the fatal consequences which would have ensued.
About a dozen houses were thoroughly on fire, and burn-
ing furiously before any engine could be brought to play
upon them. We do not know at what hour the fire-
men were apprised of the necessity for their presence.
but nearly an hour elapsed from the first discovery of
the flames before any engine made its appearance ;
and when they did arrive, there was for a considerable
time that usual want of water which has bean so
often complained of, so often lamented, and which
seems to be wholly without remedy. The Policemen
were on the alert, and rendered most effective assistance
in rousing the sleeping inniiltes of the houses, in pro-
tecting their property, and in keeping off those depreda-
tors who on such occasions are ever on the alert to pilfer
from the unhappy sufferers the few valuables with
which they may have been enabled to effect their escape.
About five o'clock the flames were completely sub-
dued. By that time the theatre, and fifteen houses
on the southern side of Exeter-street, as far as the Foun-
tain Tavern, had fallen a prey to the flames.
The houses of Mr. Poland, the furrier, of Mr. Niel,
the Courier office, and' thers in the Strand, immediately
in front of the Theatre, seemed every instant doomed to
the same fate, the wind being nearly north and carrying
the flames in that direction ; but the wall of the Theatre,
which runs behind, being of great thickness, and not
perforated by any opening, except immediately at the
back of Mr. Poland's, which was consequently in the
most imminent danger, protected them.
Not a single article of scenery, dresses, decorations.
or properties, has been saved in the The Are ; and little if
any thing of the property of individuals. A large mirror,
shattered to pieces, might t be seen lying in one part of
the street ; pictures, china, and glass, crumbled or broken
into fragments, in heaps at another. Beds, bedding,
and pieces of furniture, were trodden in the kennel :
but little or nothing of the fittings up of the whole of the
house—and in some cases they were expensively fitted
up—can be said to he saved.
We understand that there was fortunately no money
left in the treasury of the Theatre. Mr. Arnold estimates
the building itself, with its fittings and properties, to be
worth 80,0001. and from their quality, the central situe-
tion of the Theatre, and the revenue be derived from it,
we apprehend it is not much above its value. The
houses in Exeter-street were let at from sixty to eighty
pounds a year. This large property, we fear, has been
only partially insured.
_
Prince Leopold came to town yesterday morning from
his residence at Claremont. His Royal Highness se-
turned to Claremont in the afternoon.
Roasevr Owati.—This gentleman's addresses to va-
rious classes, published in the newspapers during the lam
two months, are now collected in a pamphlet. The sub-
jects which he discusses are of the deepest interest to so-
ciety, and the agitation of them is sure to do good, be-
cause the means he proposes are purely benevolent, and
his main principles based on true philosophy. Among
theorists, it would be difficult to find one so mild, so to-
lerant, and so disinterested, as Mr. Owen.

ST. JAMES'S HAYMARKET—THIS DAY:
Coarse Heavy Lowland Meadow Hay, Al ss. to 42 15$. Useful,
Meadow Hay, .1818 s. to 43 Ifie. Ass Upland Meadow sod
Rye Grass Hay. .13 to id. Clover Hay, 43 12s. to £5 sa. Oat
&raw, do to 42 Its. Wheat &raw; 42 ss. to 12 is. per load of
56 trusses.—The badness doing was not very great.
SMITHFIELD HAYMARKET—THIS DAT.
Floe Upland Meadow Hay, 43 16s. to 44 185. Ueda Old
Meadow Hay, £3 to 0113 lits. Coarse Hoary Lowland Meadow
Hay, AV 21. to .12 4e. Clover Hay, AS Se. to 415 a. Oat Stassr•
Al 16e. to Al les. Wheat Straw, 42 to £9 45.
NEW FARRINGDON MARKET—THIS DAT.
Val was rather scarce at this nsarket today ; of othee reel
there was a Sae 'apply. Prices per ih.
YIRAL-1,81. 71d. Lila, 714. Breast, 7&d.
Hain.—Floest Roosting Slid. DIM Deft& 41d. gra
Sid. Ramp Samba SoL Romp .1 Beet. 6d. Winos
—Lag, 614 H. Ild. Saddle td.' Neck, Sid. am* abli
Polua (asostay fed)..441. to lid:
..aes
Lamm s IFelolad wad Published br.Joits Hems., at
Oassas No.l, Fisher plessample Ike.