The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-20 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN MANCHESTER.

MANCHESTER, SATURDAY EVENING.—This evenin_
about five o'clock, one of the most alarming fires took place
here that has occurred for many years past. It commenced
in the cotton and twist warehouse of Mr. John Shawcross,
Half Moon-street, and raged with undiminished fury for
about three hours, threatening destruction to an immense
property in the vicinity, from the very confined situation in
which Mr. Shawcross's property was situated. The alarm
was excessive when it became known where the fire had
commenced, arising from the general conviction that it would
be impossible to stay its progress by any exertions that the
most efficient fire-engine establishment could afford. Be-
sides Mr. Shawcross's warehouse and stock, those of Mr.
Matchett, cotton-merchant, and Messrs. Hilton, paper-
makers, were completely destroyed. The supposed loss is
estimated at £30,000 or £40.000, but whether the parties
are fully insured, or insured at all, is matter of doubt, time
not allowing to make the inquiries in the proper quarter.
The narrow street in which the property was placed, as well
as the narrowness of the avenues leading to it, rendered it
almost impossible for the fire-engine force to be of the least
service. The contiguity of the principal haberdashers' shops
is St. Ann's-square was cause of great alarm to the respec-
tive owners and tenants, and considerable damage has been
done to the stocks of many parties in the attempt to save
- them, the parties fancying that the flames could not be ar-
rested within any moderate limits. At nine o'clock all fur-
ther danger was over.
(FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.)
Shortly after half-past four, flames were observed issuing
from the end windows of the second, third, and fourth stores
of Mr. Shawcross's warehouse, which look into Half-Moon-
street. A man who was at work in the warehouse of Mr.
Charles Read, merchant, which is situate in Half-Moon-
street, immediately opposite Mr. Shawcross's, was the first
to observe the flames, which had rapidly spread from one
story to another, by means of the teagle-holes in the several
floors. No one was on the premises at the time, the ware-
house having been closed for the night. Information was
instantly conveyed to the police-yard ; and the five power-
ful engines, Niagara, Water Witch, Thetis, Neptune, and
Aquarius, were dispatched, with the several complements of
men, with the least possible delay, and arrived at the scene
of the fire in an almost incredibly short space of time. They
were speedily disposed in the most favourable positions for
gaining access to the burning building, and commanding, at
the same time, a good supply of water. The Niagara, which
is the most powerful engine, being capable of throwing up-
wards of three tons of water at a stroke, was taken at once
into Half-Moon-street, to play upon the burning premises,
although there was little hope of any part of it being saved,
the building being at that time, one complete mass of flames.
Tae \Varer Witch was stationed in Bank-street, and supplied
from a plug in St. Ann's-square. The Neptune, also iii
Batik-street, was supplied from a plug in Back Pool Fold.
The Thetis was stationed in Back Pool Fold, and supplied
from a plug in King-street. The Aquacius, which was sup-
plied from the same plug as the Water Witch, was stationed
in St. Ann's-square.
It being soon discovered that there was no possibility of
savig- Mr. Shawcross's warehouse, attention was directed to
cutting the communication with the surrounding build-
ings. This was found to be impossible, from two causes—
from the light construction of the roofs, and from the fact,
that the whole of the four warehouses above named, had a
communication with each other in the bottom story, or
cellar, which was wholly occupied by Mr. Hilton; so that
the flames spread at once to both the top and the bottom of
the adjacent buildings, and were, as in the case of the first
warehouse, rapidly communicated from one story to another,
by means of the sparks and burning materials falling through
the teagle-holes. In half-an-hour from the time of the engines
arriving, the four warehouses were enveloped in flames. At this
period it was that the greatest danger was apprehended ; the
flames having spread so rapidly to four buildings it was deemed
impossible that their progress could there be stayed. The
utmost consternation now prevailed amongst the inhabitants
on all sides of the blazing pile; and so confident were they
that no human power could arrest the ravages of the devour-
ing element, that, both in St. Ann's-square and Pool Fold,
persons were busily engaged in removing their property. As
the evening drew on, the flames assumed a more terrible ap-
pearance ; clouds of sparks and burning materials were shot
up into the atmosphere, and scattered about in the streets,
and upon the roofs of the surrounding buildings, many of
which were crowded with anxious and trembling spectators.
The disastrous event being thus telegraphed to the remotest
parts of the town, and for many miles into the country,
crowds were seen running from every direction towards the
fatal spot ; all the streets within a quarter of a mile were so
densely packed with spectators, that it was almost impossible
to force a passage ; St. Ann's-square, St. Ann's-street, Ex-
change-street, Red Lion-street, Market-street, Cross-street,
and King-street, were literally choked up for an hour and a
half ; while the more distant parts of the town, including the
public markets and provision stores, presented a most sin-
gular and deserted appearance, considering that it was Satur-
day evening. The flames was at their greatest height from
half-past six to seven o'clock, when all the streets within half
a mile of the spot, were brilliantly illuminated.
During the whole of this time, the exertions of the firemen
were incessant, and their task was rendered more than
usually perilous by the position in which they were placed.
All that human skill and energy eould accomplish was done,
but notwithstanding this, it was necessary in order to prevent
a still more wide-spread devastation, to abandon the four
buildings then in flames, and to direct the engines on the
surrounding property. In this, their exertions were cm_
pletely successful.
About eight o'clock the flames were so far subdued that
Mr. Rose felt confident their further spread might be pre-
vented. After that time the fire was rapidly got under; but
it was found necessary to continue the whole force of engines
and firemen upon the spot till after two o'clock yesterday
morning. Twenty men were then released, thirty remaining;
and during the whole of yesterday, the twenty men were on
duty, with two engines playing occasionally on the mass of
smouldering materials.
The amount of damage is of course not yet ascertained
with anything like accuracy ; but, upon a moderate estimate,
including both stock and buildings, it cannot be much below
£50,000. Probably the following may be an approximation
to the value of the several stocks :—Mr. Shawcross's, £9000;
Mr. Clegg's, £8000; Mr. Hilton's, £20,000; and Messrs.
Matelett's, (which consisted of an immense stock of cotton
waste), £9OOO. The whole of the buildings, three of which
are the property of Mr. Hilton, are estimated at about £4500.
The buildings belonging Mr. Hilton are said to be insured
in the Globe for £3OOO, which will probably cover the loss ;
Messrs. Matchett's buildings is also insured, but we have
not heard to what amount, nor to whom it belongs. There
is reason to believe that most of the stocks are insured to
the full value, but no positive information has yet been ob-
tained. Of the salvage from the whole of these premises,
the only article worth naming was between 5000 and 6000
bundles of twist worth about £3OOO, which were got out of
that part of Mr. Hilton's cellar, which went under the
warehouse gf Mr. Lea Birch. One or two of the firemen
were hurt, but not seriously injured, as well as some other
persons,' unconnected with the fire-police, who lent their
assistance.

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`'•~

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.
(From the Morning Herald of Friday)
We have received from an occasional correspondent in the
French capital the following important communication, con-
sisting of a copy of the note recently addressed by M. Thiers
to Mr. Guizot, the ambassador from Louis Philip to this
country, and we hasten to lay it before our readers, having
no time, at the late hour at which it goes to press, to offer
any comment upon it, further than to point out that the
contents of this document fully confirm the intelligence we
recently proffered respecting the formal dissent of several
of the Allied Powers to the hasty and unadvised proceeding
of the Sultan in declaring the deposition of Mehemet Ali :
" Paris, Oct. 8. 1840.
" Monsieur l'Ambassadeur,—The grave question which
pre-occupies at this moment the attention of all parties, has
assumed an aspect altogether new, since the reply made by
the Porte to the concessions offered by the Viceroy of Egypt.
" Mehemet Ali, in reply to the summons of the Sultan,
has declared that he submitted himself to the will of his

august master; that he accepted the hereditary possession
of Egypt ; and that he placed himself, with rerpect to the
remainder of the territories actually in his occupation, en-
tirely at the magnanimity of the Sultan.
" We have made known to the British Cabinet the interpre-
tation which must be put upon this mode of expressing him-
self; and although Mehemet Ali would not consent to de-
clare immediately the full extent of the concessions to which
he had been led to agree by the pressing recommendations of
France, we have taken it upon ourselves to make them known,
and we have announced that the Viceroy resigns himself to
the necessity of accepting the hereditary sovereignty of Egypt,
and the possession during his life of Syria ; at the same time
consenting to abandon immediately Candia, Adana, and the
Holy Cities. We must also add that had the Porte adhered
to this arrangement we would at once have consented to gua-
rantee its fulfilment in concert with the powers which are oc-
cupied in determining the future condition of the Ottoman
empire. Every enlightened man was struck by the loyalty
of France, who, notwithstanding she was forced to proceed
on a separate path, never ceased to exercise her influence to
bring about a solution, at once moderate and pacific, of the
Oriental question ; nor has the wisdom which guided the
Viceroy in listening to the dictates of prudence and modera-
tion been less appreciated by the high intelligences of Europe.
" In reply to these concessions, the Porte, either acting
spontaneously, or else swayed by hasty and inconsiderate
counsels, proffered on the spot at the moment—the Porte, I
repeat, before any reference could be made to the allied
powers, replied to the submissive answer of the Viceroy by
declaring his deposition. Such a step, equally outrageous
and unexpected, goes beyond even the spririt of the treaty
of July 15, and exceeds also the most extraordinary results
which might have been expected to arise out of that docu-
ment. This treaty, which France was not able to invoke,
inasmuch as she had never adhered to or recognised it, but
which she now brings into notice, for the purpose of showing
the rapidity with which the subscribing parties have been
drawn into its most dangerous consequences—this treaty, in
the event of an absolute refusal on the part of the Viceroy to
comply with one and all of its conditions, gave the Porte the
faculty of withdrawing its first proposals, and of acting as it
might deem most advantageous to its interest, according to
the counsels of the allied powers. But still there were two
supposed contingencies involved in this treaty—namely, an
absolute and peremptory refusal on every one of the points
contained in it, on the part of the Viceroy, and a consequent
referencs to the four powers for advice. Nothing of the kind,
however, has taken place. The Viceroy has not offered an
absolute refusal, and the Sultan has not even given himself
the time to concert a reply in conjunction with his allies. He
met unhoped-for concessions by an act of deposition !
" The four powers could not approve of such conduct, and
we KNOW in EFFECT THAT SEVERAL of them HAVE ALREADY
EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPROBATION OF IT. Lord Pal-
merston has caused a communication to be made to our
Cabinet, that we must only look upon this proceeding in the
light of a threat, (comminatoired without any necessary or
effective consequences. The Count d'Appony, iii an inter-
view which I had with him on this subject, announced to me
that the same opinion was entertained by his cabinet of the
proceeding. We have willingly taken cognizance of this wise
intimation, and we now seize the opportunity of stating the
intentions of France with respect to this matter.
" France has declared that she will use every means in her
power to preserve the peace and the balance of power in
Europe. Now is the time for her to explain clearly what
meaning this declaration is to have. In accepting, with a
religious fidelity, the state of Europe, such as is settled by,
existing treaties, France has understood, that during the ge-
neral peace which has happily prevailed since 1815 this state
should not be changed either for the profit or to the detri-
ment of any one of the existing powers. It has been under,
this impression that she has always' declared in favour of
the Ottoman empire ; the Turkish people, by their national
qualities, amply merited, on their own account alone, respect
for the independence of that kingdom ' • but apart from this
consideration, the dearest interests of Europe were bound
up in the continued existence of Turkey. This empire, in
being prostrated, could only be made subservient to the ag-
grandisement of the adjoining states, to the detriment of the
general equilibrium, and her fall would have occasioned
such a change in the existing proportions of the great powers
as to have altered the aspect of the globe altogether. France,
and the other powers in common with her, so strongly felt
this contingent result, that she, in concert with her allies,
has constantly and loyally united in maintaining the Ottoman
empire, however deeply their respective interests might be in-
volved relatively to the preservation or fall of that kingdom.
" But the integral portion of the Ottoman empire spreads
itself from the shores of she Black to those of the Red Sea.
It is as essential to guarantee the independence of Egypt and
Syria, as the independence of the Dardanelles and the Bos-
phorus. A prince vassal has succeeded in establishing a firm
rule in two provincts, which during a long period the Sultans
of Constantinople were unable to govern, This prince vas-
sal, if he has not been able to introduce into the countries
which he governs, the humanity which distinguishes Euro-
pean civilisation, and which probably would all comport with
the present manners of the country he administers, has, at
least, introduced a greater degree of order and regularity in
them than exist in any other part of the Turkish empire. He
has found the means to levy a public force ; he has raised
troops, and has created a fleet ; he has roused the pride of
the Ottoman people, and has restored to them somewhat of
that confidence in themselves which it is indispeusible for a
nation to possess, in order to be able to defend and maintain
its independence. This prince vassal has become, in our view,
an essential and necessary part of the Ottoman empire. If he
"be destroyed, the empire will not the more acquire, now-a-
days, the means which were formerly wanting to enable the
Sultan to govern Syria and Egypt ; and the Porte will lose a
vassal who is at this moment, one of its principal bulwarks.
Other pachas will succeed who will be disobedient to their
masters, and who will be the dependants of every foreign in-
fluence. In a word, one portion of the integral Turkish em-
pire will be compromised, and, together with this, the gene-
ral equilibrium will be endangered. In the opinion of France
the existence of the viceroy of Egypt, in the provinces which
he governs, and in the seas where his power is exerted, is
essential for the purpose of ensuring the proportions, as they
actually exist, between the different parts of the globe.
" In this conviction France, equally disinterested in the
Oriental question with the four powers who have signed the
protocol of September 17, believes herself to be under the
necessity of declaring that the deposition of the viceroy, if
put in force will be, in her estimation, a blow given to the
general equilibrium.
" The question with respect to the limits which ought to
be established in. Syria, in order to divide the possessions of
the Sultan from those of the Viceroy of Egypt, might with
safety be left to the chances of the war now actually in pro-
gress; but France cannot prevail upon herself to abandon
such a chance as the existence of Mehemet Ali as prince vas-
sal of the empire. Whatever territorial limits may ultimately
separate the two powers, by the fortune of war, their conti-
nued double existence is necessary to Europe, and France
cannot consent to admit the suppression either of the one or
of the other. Disposed as she is to enter upon, and take part
in every acceptable arrangement which shall have for its basis
the double guarantee of the existence of the Sultan and that
of the Viceroy of Egypt, she confines herself at present to
the declaration, on her part, that she cannot consent to the
carrying into execution of the act of deposition pronounced
at Constantinople.
"In other respects the spontineous manifestations of
several of the powers, who have signed'the treaty of July 15,
prove to us that in this respect we understand the term
' balance of Europe' in the same sense that they do, and that
in this respect their views are not at variance with ours. We
should regret this disagreement, which as yet we do not per-
ceive, but we could in nowise swerve from this manner of
comprehending, and of assuring the maintenance of that
equilibrium.
" France entertains the hope that Europe will appreciate
the motives by which she has been induced to break the
silence hitherto preserved by her. Her love of peace may be
relied upon, as that sentiment has constantly animated her,
notwithstanding the proceedings of which she believes she has
a right to complain. Her disinterestedness may also he
relied upon, for it is not possible even to suspect her of as-
piring to any acquisitions of territory in the east. What she
does aspire to is the maintenance of the equilibrium of Europe
This is also the care of the great powers in common with her
and it ought to form at once the object of their glory and o:
their ambition.—Acct, &c.
(Signed)

"A. THIERS."

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE

KING OF THE FRENCH.

We (Herald) have just received, by extraordinary express,
from our correspondent in the French capital, the following
communication :

" PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING, Nine o'Clock.—Another
attempt has been made to assassinate the King of the French.
At six o'clock this evening, as the royal carriage was leaving
the Tuilieries, returning to St. Cloud, he was fired at, but
neither he nor any person of his suite was wounded. The
assassin was instantly seized, and the king, who displayed his
accustomed coolness and courage, ordered the postilions not
to stop, and continued his route to St. Cloud.
" The assassin is a young man, a native of Marseilles, who
avows his criminal intention, and -manifests much regret at
having failed. He declares that he has no accomplice, and
that he is connected with no secret society. When examined
as to his motives, he said he wished to rid his country of a
tyrant, and that he had no other object than his country's
good.
" The funds were slightly affected at Tortoni's, and the
three per cents. fell to 70f. 60c. from 72f."