Star.
London, England, 1818-08-21 00:00:00

DREADFUL EXPLatIOZA

At half-past Ern o'clock yesterday afternoon, the
inhabitants bet-wens the Obelisk, St. Geotge's-fieldt,
and the Asylum, went thrown into great consterna.,
don by a terrific explosion, occasioned by the ignition
of a large quantity of gunpOwtier and detonaemg
combustibles, compounded, into fire-works, as we are
informed, for Vauxhall Gardens. The explosion hap-
=in a large work-shop, situate at the end of
-place, used by Mr. IVIORTnAbff, artist in fire •
works. The first alarm was produced by a most vio-
lent shock, which shattered the glass in the houses
contiguous. Afew seconds after this, a boy and three
men came out torn and blackened by the explosion
in a shocking manner. They were taken instantly to
the Hospital. A second explosion blew off the roof,
and a scene was presented to the astonished specta-
ton beyond description. Rockets, saltpetre, and a
variety of fire-works, continued blazing and bunting
in a most surprising manner. The wood-work'of the
building was in flames, and the dread of being shot
or injured by rockets, which darted horizontally, kept
the spectators a considerable distance from the burn-
ing pile. Amidst the distress of the scene, an unfot'
tunate monkey exhibited peculiar misery. The ani-
mal had been secured to the roof by a chain, and he
was seen struggling to escape from the approaching
flamef, until the timber on which he stood being
burnt, poor Pug fell into the devouring element.—
The shed was detached fortunately trom the row of
houses iii Mead-place. It projected a considerable
distance towards the road, and we are happy to add,
that the damages, with the exception of broken glass,
was confined to the shed, which was burnt to the
ground. The report made by the explosion %vas
heard a long way from the spot. The houses in the
neighbourhood were shaken, and thousands of per-
sons ran with terror in their looks to ascertain the
cause of the shock. The tonflagration was suffered to
burn out, as no person could venture to go near ate
shed. The fire-works, of which there was a large
quantity in a chest, kept up a continued discharge.

Wednesday afternoon, as come young men were •
playing at cricket on Kennington Common, a yeting
man, of the name of Alexander Armstrong, had the
misfortune to have one of his eyes struck out.
This morning, as William Johnson, of Wallworth,
was coming ashore with some oysters at Billingsgate
his foot slipt, and he fell into the dock: he was taken
up immediately,• but had the misfortune to break sane
of his legs, just above the ancle. .
Wednesday evening last a fine boy, about nine years
ad, son to Mr. Butcher, of Kidney-street, Lime-
house, repaired with sevcralof his Companions, to
bathe in the River Thames, but he unfortunately
went out of his depth, and was drowned, althotief
every assistance was affotded. He was got cat the
same night, and taken home to his distracted parents.
The Ipswich Humane Society have voted a silver
medal to Master Edward Acton, aged IS, for having
preserved the life of Jonathan Archer, a boy eight
years old, on the 20th of July last, who must other-
wise inevitably have been drowned. The inscription
upon•the medal is as follows :—" The reward of feel-
ings possessed by a youth, more alive to the danger
of others than of himself."

Yesterday a poor man of the name of Winter, in
the employ of a chemist, at Bow, by some accide,:t
.fell into a copper of boiling verdigris, and was so
dreadfully burnt that he was conveyed to the Londca
Hospital with little hope of recovery.
Sunday a poor man, a labourer, named Luke
Rooney, in the employment of Mr. Monk, of Hunts-
town, near Fiuglas, suffered most severely by an at-•
tack from a vicious horse of Mr. Monk's :—The poar
man went into a field early in the morning, when he
was attacked by the infuriate animal. He was taken
to the County of Dublin Infirmary, but withouthope.
of recovery.
Friday se'nnight as Mr. Geoige Finlayson, far- •
mer, Ballcathie, near Arbroath, accompanied by a
young lad,, of the name of Alexander Smart, were
leaving a pleasure boat in a very small skiff, they
were upset nearly opposite the Bridge of Elliot,
when they sunk in about fourteen feet of water; and'
both perished. The bodies were found on the day
following.
Wednesday sennight five persons were hurt by the
explosion in a smithy at the Grange Toll, near Etin
burgh, three of whom are still dangerously ill.
Monday a young man, a butcher in Edinhurt,
while hanging up a piece of meat on his stall, fell
down dead. Surgical aid was immediately got, and
a vein was opened, but without et'ect.
SABBATIP•LREAKING—Sunday a man broke his leg
in leaping a dyke at the Port-Dandas Itor.l, and was
taken to the Royal Inthmary. Glasgow. He had laid
a wager that he would clear the dyke, which he did,'
but met with the misfortune.
A variety of fields of wheat, oats, and barley, have
been cut in the counties of Ayr, Renfrew, Dum-
barton, and Dumfries, and harvest promised to be
general in a fortnight, which is about a month ear-
lier than last year.
CORN-EXCIIANGE,MARIC..LANP, AVCIIST 21.—Fite
English Wheat being scarce and in demand, sold full
2s. per quarter higher than on Monday, and then
was also free sale for the best qualities of Foreign,
but the inferior descriptions continue dull sale, at
Monday's prices. Fine fresh Barley is more enquired
after, and 2s. per quarter dearer. Oats were heavy
sale, but not cheaper than on Monday. Peas zed
Boars being scarce, are 2s. per quarter highs