Star.
London, England, 1824-12-30 00:00:00

FLOODS AT ST. PETERSBURGH.

In the STAR of Monday we alluded to the official
statement published by the Russian Finance Minister,
iii order to tra►iquillize the mercantile world in general
on the results of the inundation.

The injury to goods in the private warehouses of
merchants and others, has certainly been considerable,
but yet much less than report had stated. The greatltt
loss, as we stated, fell on sugar, salt, hemp, and potash.
By an approximatiye estimate, the destruction of sugar
amounts to 300,000 puds; but there a►e still large
stocks of that article on hand, and as the damage
has occurred chiefly to commercial houses of great
solidity, there is no probability that a want of supply
will be felt by the consumers. The quantity of salt
destroyed is nearly the same, and gives occasion to
no serious disquiet, inasmuch as the price of the ar-
ticle ( :educting import duties) is very low, and as
to the general consumption, that is fully provided
for by the quantity stored in the depots of the Crown.
There were in store about 600,000 puds of hemp, a
great part of which is damaed ; but measures have
been adopted to relieve in some measure this loss. The
quantity of potash spoiled, comparatively with the ar-
ticle; abovementioned, is but small. The injury to the
boosts, quays, Ste. is not so great as was feared. Some
wooden houses and bridges have been carried away.--
?he breweries and sugar refineries have already re-
armed their work.
The injury to the Government stores has chiefly fallen
upon the articles of brandy, firewood, and a few others
of less consequence. That of brandy amounts to half
a million of roubles, a small sum, compared with the
quantities which the Government still has in store. The
chief defalcation of revenue will be on account of the
dutiespahich would otherwise have been payable on
sugar and salt.
The total number of lives lost at St. Pctersburgb had
also been much exaggerated; it amounts only to .500;
a lamentable destruction indeed ! but still much less
than report had stated.

A letter from Paris relates the following anecdote
One morning, as the King was going to hear Mass at
the Rial Chapel, an old emigrant placed himself in his
way ; Sire,' said he. I have an important secret to
communicate to ) on." Speak !' replied the King.
' But, Sire, I wish to have a private audience of your
Majesty. No, no, speak openly.' Sire, there is a
conspiracy against you in your own palace. Pray,
who conspires?' lam profoundly grieved to be
obliged to say, it is the Dauphin !' At these words all
the attendants lost their gravity, and a general burst of
laughter, in which the King could not help joining, was
the only answer received by the unlucky revealer of this
wonderful secret, who retired in confusion."
SPANISH FINANCES.—We learn from Madrid that the
revenue of this year will not exceed 240,000,000 of
teals, or £2,300,000, and we have reason to believe this
calculation is quite correct. In 1817 the expenditure
amounted to more than 830,000,000 (and now they
are increased), which will make the annual deficiency
590,000,000 reals. Who, after this, will give any coun-
tenance co the royalty loan which is now puffing off in
Paris, and which is only a snare for the credulity of
those capitalists who are sufficiently confident to trust
it ?—Constitertioanel. _

ACClDENT.—Yesterday afternoon, as a bricklayer
named Brimmer was giving orders to some workmen
at the new buildings near the Five-fields, Chelsea, two
of the scaffolding planks on which he stood on the se-
cor.d tier, accide.stally tilted up and threw the unfortu-
nate man to th./ ground, a height of about 30 feet.
The workmen • scantly ran to his assistance; he ap-
peared sensele, being stunned by the fall; they then
carried him o the ground and medical attendance was
procured. Or 'examining him there were no bones bra:
ken, but he ippeared to have received several bruises
about the body and limbs. The poor fellow soon after
recovered his senses, and was conveyed home in a very
feeble state.
Tuesday last, .11.. Hope, a butcher, residing at Ep-
som, directed a lad to take out a spirited horse belong-
ing to him, and walk the animal up and down in front
of his house. The boy bad no sooner got out of sight
of his master's house, than he was advised by a min to
mount the boise, which he accordingly did, and the
moment he was in the saddle, the hut se set off in full speed
on the London toad. In his career the horse came in con-
tact with a chaise-cart, the shaft of which entered his
chest, penetrated to the depth of-above A foot, and then
broke off, leaving the broken part of the shaft its the
wound. The b,,y was thrown into a ditch with the
shock, and received but little injury. The poor animal,
atter having met with the shocking accident, ran up-
wards of fifty yards, and then dropped down dead in
the road.

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