Star.
London, England, 1827-08-01 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE Mtg.

-
Last nigh&, soon after nine o'clock, the neiglalsourho64l
of London Bridge was thrown into an indescribable'
state of alarm by the bursting out of a rapid confl ogre-
tion in the warehouses of Messrs FORSYTH and But"
to Fresh wharf, Lower Thames-street. About half-past
isiae o'clock these premises; which adjoin the Church of
Magnus, and almost abut upon the east side of
London Bridge, were discovered to be on fire, and in a
short time afterwards their destruction appeared inevi-
table. From the immense volume of same which sub-
01new •ly burst forth from the premises, it was supposed
that the goods deposited thereih Were highly combos-
tible. By ten o'clock, the blaze which they cast round
vas visible in every part of the metropolis, and
was distinctly sects upon Clapham Common and in
several of the adjacent villages. At the bottom
of Queen-street, many of the crowd turned. their
'steps to Southwark Bridge, and there pushed and
struggled as strenuously to pass the toll bar, as ever
they did to pass the check door of the theatre. On
stepping upon the bridge, the magnitude of the con-
fiagration became more apparent than ever. The whole
line of churches in Thames street was seen distinctly
through the gloom, and the Monument had a silvery
brilliance cast around it, which it is more easy to con-
Mee than to describe. Every thing between London
aid Southwark Bridge was distinctly seen in the " red
shadow.' which the burning building " flung across the
startled Thames." The windows of the houses on the
Southwark side of the river were burnished like molten
geld by the reflection of the flames, which camn cast a
lord light upon the numberless spectators that were'
gathered on its banks. There was a fine contrast'
htween the darkness. on the western bide of South.
work Bridge and the blaze of light on the easternl
tide of it. It was almost impossible to see St,1
hut's; but even the moat short-sighted, could discern'
the ancient and venerable structure of St. Saviour's,
lathe Borough. About eleven o'clock, the view doers
the river was, if we may use the expression, magn'fi-
cent. The rcof of the buildings had then fallen in, the
ascots were 'bootleg forth, through eight and thirty
windows, fast and furiously, long lines of liquid fire,
and, at intervals, as the rafters thundered down upon
the rooms below, columns of fire rose upwards in per-
pendicular flashes, as if some combustible substance had
been ignited, which till then had escaped the general
destruction. The walls towards the river appeared to
bend outwards; and an erpectation prevailed very ge-
rurally that the torrents of water which were seen play-
ing upon them from the direction of Fish-street-hill
would, before long, fling them into the river. The
aniety of the spectatois on the bridge, which was
crowded with vehicles of all descriptions, filled with
well-dressed people, was prodigious. The same was the
casino London Bridge, except that there the anxiety was
divided between fears of the consequences of the fire,
and fears of the numerous gangs of pickpockets. The
top of the balustrades, and even of the lamp-irons on that
b iJge, were crowded with individuals seated upon them.
Le coalagration, however, did not assume the sortie
reposing appearance here that it did when viewed at a
enter distance. It repaid, nevertheless, the trouble of
lapwing it by the terrible reality which it presented
tothe imagination. There was a clear and °minters
need view through the interior of these massy re-
sits, except where one immense beam,which had acted
ea support to two or shoe floors, was seen biasing
sway in solitary grandeur. The large erases, which
boated the river, were also oo fire, and at one time the
Follies and chains at the end of them •were red hot,
whilst the beams to which they were fixed were
absolutely burnt black by the violent heat which sur-
rounded mem. A sudden gust of wind, which died away
'as soon as it arose, cast aside for a minute the
don canopy of flume which rose 'above the building
' displayed the inhabitants of the houses opposite
' in ansious groups on their respective roofs
appeared during the short moment in which
toy were seen, as if they were quietly stationed in
ieniddle of an ocean of flame, and awaiting in utter
hiplosness the wave that was to overwhelm them.
LeTe were several individuals on the outside of St.
Ilagnus's church, busily employed in casting water
m the root ; and there were also o:hers in the inside,
ark appeared, owing either to the proximity of the fire,or
aloe other caue, to be completely lighted op. At one
sciock Cie fire was considerably got under ; bet long
lemethat time it had effected the destruction of the pre-
aists.The Picket Guard of the 69th Regiment, from the
Torre, were promptly' turned out by Lieut. Colonel Sir
aisle Collier, but they were found, along with the
local Constables and the City Police, unable to stop
Ike immense torrent of persons whom curiosity led to
de spot, and one hundred men, not upon duty, were
intently brought from the Tower in their undress, but
armed to keep the different thoroughfares free from
blocked up. It was ebb tide, and two most
powerful tiating engines on the River played upon
Thies mentioned, until they were obliged to retire
at° deep water. There was, however, a plentiful
if water, and all the engines belonging to the
Oirfetent Assurance Offices, with their men, did all in
°Zinn power to quench the flames, but to no purpose.
Auti *ere only enabled to confine the fire from de-
ittrlitit Saint Magnus Church, and the wharfs to the
yard. According to the best information which
secould obtain, the fire is supposed to have taken
4`e by a largequantity of brimstone having ignited,
aid which instantly communicated with many casks of
"s pitch, tar, C. which were then on the wharfs and
the warehouses. The property (from these wharfs
at all times receiving merchandise, both foreign'
'ic) consumed, cannot be estimated; but it
require our readers to see what these valuable
and property were yesterday morning, and
*at they ere o
while we are writing this account of the
calamity.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
vilThr &ewes first discovered in the ground tier of the
a`t by the watchman stationed in an adjoining war
" e-
' 'e; but before any adequate means to checkits
rtren could be adopted. the conflagration 'plead in
ZAzu. 311er detailed above. This forenoon was octet
an extensive inspection of the ruin caused by
ii'derastating element, and it is conjectured that some
agbtgorrage must have caught fire about sis. o'clock,
'Ol4 vas the last time any person was in the store-
which was first discovered in flames. The
metre of Fresh Wharf is burned down, and also an
le stock of merchandise, of that particular
jrsrion, imported from Lisbon, Teneriffe, Terciera,
',.ai and S. Michael's, mainly consisting of fruit,
barilla, Etc. A tier of ve,sels engaged
1."'18 trade alongside the wharf, but upon the co-
flinf spreading, the moorings were cut and the yes-
vete ifely moored off in the PiroL The loss c 'nnot

Le estimated from thocttensive destruction iff prope).!y
belonging to different shippers. In the adjoining ware.
rooms and whirls the dambge is inconsiderable, the
conflagration being almost entitely confined to Fred'
wharf. A great qUihrity of the boles of oranges and other
frnits,&c. pt ',erste.' from the con(' ovation, ale now pled
up in the vicinity, guarded by a few soldiers of the 69. h
Regiment, and not the Foot Guards, who were repre-
sented to have been upon that duty last night.—lm-
melba crowds have been the whole of this forenoon as-
sembled viewing the burning and smoking ruins.

lase on London B
divided between
and fears of the r
top of the balustri
b iige, were crow
col.fl4gratio
imposing appeari
rater distance.
*petting it by
tithe imaginatic
opted view thrt
its, except wh
as a support to I
away in solitary
booted the river,
Follies and nisei!
whilst the beau
absolutely burnt
rounded them. A
almost as soon a
don canopy of
rod displayed tl
Mated in ansiou
Tttey appeared
tey were seen.
theiniddle of an
inplsssness the
rare were sews
/gnu I's chore,
a the roof ; an
ti: appeared, or
*me other can: e
o'clock Cie fire s
iMosethat time'
aists.The Pic ke
Toes, were ptc
Chula Collier,
Leal Constable
Ike immense tot
the Vat, and of
instantly brougl
armed to keep
king blocked
• powerful Cat'
tbe 90.9's menti
wo deep Watt
(t" wate
*firm Assure
hreln power
Ilael were onll
*gng Saint
Act
'et Could obtait
I.tart by a lar
ad which inn
Ids pitch, tar
so- to the watch(
being, at all i
and dolue.tic
would requir,
ter
Smiles and
1*..,4( they are
te nwansity.
I.
or
Ere oat'
want by the
h'u'e; but b
Pores cool(
' manner o
?ma is ezi
t • thederastati 6
notage
"014 was t It
•
melts which
entire of Fre,
stn
"qt7l t' •
0 sp son, it
ft'eni and
ty mock, oils, bat
"118 trade
41
• 471;4' Sspread,
tte safe