Star.
London, England, 1827-09-06 00:00:00

THE LATE FIRE AT PADDINGTON.

Courage's laduear.—Yesterday evening an-Inquisi-
tion was taken at the Coachmakers' Arms, Be'grave
Mews, Grosvenor-place, before T. Hums, Esq. the Co.
russet for Westminster, on view of the body of Caleb
Gudsbell, a fine youth, aged 17 years, who was burnt
to death at the fire in Chapel-street, Edgeware-road, on
Monday morning last.
Mr. John Farebrother, late of No. 29, Chapel-street,
Eigeware-road, eating-house-keeper, being sworn,
stated, that the deceased was his shopnaan. On Sunday
night last, witness, after seeing that all was safe, as he
thought, wired to his bed room on the first floor with
his wife and three children; the deceased went up stairs
before him to kis bed room, on the second floor: between
two and three o'clock in,the morning he was awoke by
his wife, who said that the dog was making a noise in the
passage, and she thought something was amiss. Witness
instantly got up, and found that the room was nearly
filled with smoke; he hurried on his small clothes, and
told his wife•for GOD'S sake, to rouse the children, as
he was sure the house was on fire. On opening the door,
great quantities of smoke rushed into the room ; he with
-ome difficulty got op stairs to the door of the deceased's
bed room, at which he knocked most violently, apprising
him of the danger, and begging him to come down as
quick as possible. The deceased answered him and got out
of ned ; witness then rushed down stairs, and entering his
bed•r,,om again, opened the window, and with all his
strength let down his wife and three children from
a balcony, into the arms of the watchmen and some
ocher persons. By this, time the flames had reached the
room, and the night-cap of one of his children was
partly burned ; he lastly threw out his dog. which was
in the habit of reposing on the landing.place; witness
was unable to save any property except his pocket-book,
which he always kept about his person ; he saved himself
by dropping from the balcony into the street; his family
wei e compelled to escape only with their night clothes on,
and all 'were more of less hurt by being let out of the win-
dow in the manner described; witness did not see the
deceased till he was in the arms of a person in the street;
he was then quite insensible, and appeared to be dread-
fully burnt; he cannot account for the origin of the fire ;
he kept no combustibles on the premises except some
shavings.
Mr. Henry Lemon, of E Igeware-load, hair-dresser,
deposed that he heard the alarm of fire: on going to
the spot, he was told that a boy was in the house ;
the smoke and flames were at this time issuing from
the lower part of the house, near the shop-window;
with the assistance of a watchman and Mr. Drake,
a neighbour, the door (which was fortunately not very
strong) was burst open, and witness observed the de-
ceased lying at the fact of the stairs, with his legs up-
right at this time the flames were on both sides of him ;
the deceased appeared to make a last effort, and stag-
gered towards the doer like a drunken man; he was laid
hold of, and taken into a house close by. and medical
advice sent for; he was afterwards brought to the
hospital.
Mr. Thomas Tatum, hou,e surgeon of St. George's
Hospital, stated, that the deceased was admitted on
Monday morning last, about half-past three o'clock ;he
was most extensively burnt ; everything proper was
done for him, but he died about six o'clock the same
eve,ing ; the burns were the cause of death.
The evidence being concluded, the Coroner addressed
the Jury in a few words, who returned a verdict—
" That the deceased was burnt to death, but whether
from accident or otherwise there was no evidence
to prove."

Paoaassa OF POPULATION IN AUIRICA.• The vil-
lage of Rochesttr, in the north westtru part of the
state of New York, was first surveyed and laid out in
lots in the year 1811, and the first settlement made in
1812. The progressive and rapid increase of inhabi-
tants since that period is truly astonishing. In Sep em-
ber 1818 the village contained 1049 inhabitants : in
August 1820,1502 ; in September 1822, 3130; in 1824,
,4274, and in 1825 (the last census of America) they
amounted to 5271. This thriving town is situated on
the line of the Great Erie Canal, which extends from
the city of Albany on the River Hudson to the village
of Buff4lo on Lake Erie a distance of 362 miles.

trlwowsrisie or Lloxr.—The rays of the sun, when
passed through a lens, cause a variation in the magne.
tic needle of two or three degrees. And it also appears
when the focal rays are passed through different co.
loured glasses, and made to impinge on the side of the wat
surrounding the needles,that they have different effects on
the opposite poles. The blue rays formed in this manner
attract the south pole and repel the north. The blue
and violet ray produces a variation of several degrees,
when directed to the south pole. The rays of the son,
whether undivided or separated by the prism, do net
appear to exert their influence long on the magnet, in
producing a variation ; and this arises from the effects
of the solar beam being suddenly diffmed over the
whole needle.