The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-21
LONDON. Feb. IS.

LONDON, Feb. IS
Drnry- lane Theatre consumed On Ffer
Last night this superb edihce was burnt
tsthe ground. We learned that about a quar-
ter past eleven o'clock at night, the flame
burst out at the lobby windows of the front
in Bridges street; while volumes of smoke
were seen issuing from every part of the
Theatre In less than quarter of an honr
IT spread into one unbroken flame, over the
whole of the immense pile, extending from
Bridges street to Drury-Lane so that the
pillar OF fire was not less than 45O feet in
breadth. 1t is impossible for the mind 10
conceive any thing more magnificent than
the spectacle, if the idea of :he horror and
ruin which 1T brought on the sufferers could
have been separated from the sublimity of
E the object
In about thirty minutes after its commence
nent the Apollo on the top fell into the nit.
and soon after the whole of the roof also fell
The reservoir of water on the top, which
our readers will recoilect, formed with the
ifon curtain, the topic of reliance for secu
rlty in the Prologue with which the new
Theatre was opened, was like a mere buck
etful to the volume Of fire on which it fell.
and had no visible effect in damping it. ANY
attempt to SO near the flames was totally i'm
Practicabie--and all that was saved from
rum was done by the presence of mind and
actiHity of Mr. Kent, a literary gentleman.
whowas the first to discover the flames. He
hhrriedto the door and gave the alarm
Mr. Powell the prompter, and MIR Johnson
the mechanist, with the two watchmen. and
Mr. Kent, were the emily persons present: for
being Friday in Lent, there had been no
play nor rehearsal.
They ascertained that the fire broke ont in
the hall, under the lobby at the Bridges.
street entry which has been shut up this sea
son, and where some plumbers had been at
work 1t was. when Mr.. Kent brok in. con-
flned TO that spot; and they made an inef-
fectua! attempt to get out the theatre engine.
ana play on it from their reservoir; but in
ten or twelve minutes it ran up the front
boxes and spread like kindled fax This
may be accounted for from the body of air.
which so large d hollow afforded, and also
to the circumstance of the whole beng a
wooden case. Finding it impossible TO pre-
vent the destruction of the building, the gen
tiemen saved the books from the room call
ca the treasury, and they were carried safely
to MIR. kenPs house, in Tavistock street.
u he only oher article saved was a bureau
IN Mrs. Jordan's room. MIR Kent broke the
panncls OF the door, and brought out the bu
reau. All further endeavors were rendered
impossible, by the excess of heat
About quarter before twelve, a BODY Of
horse, footgnards, and volunteers came to the
place, and the engines reached the SPOT from
every quarter, but they could do nothing.
Part OF the wall next to Vinegaryard fell
down, and the house of Mrs. Machcath. the
fIuiterer, caught FIRE The night was un.
commonly fine, and the body of flame snread
such mass OF light over tile metropolis. that
every surrounding object glittered with the
brightness Of gold
RlF. Sheridan was in the house OF comm, ans
assisting in the important discussion of Mr..
Porsonby's motion. The house was illumi
mated by the blaze of light and the interest
universally taken in the circumstance. inter-
rupied the debate. A motion was made n
adjourn, but MIR, Sheridan said, with preot
calmness, "Tblt whatever might be the ex-
teri OF the private calamity, he hoped II
would not interfere with the public business
Of the country" He then left the house and
the discussion proceeded. Many of his friends
accompanied him TO the scene, but il was
too late for any effort TO be made: and all
the engines could effect was to save the
houses N Vinegaryard and Russell street. the
roofs OF which had caught FIRE, from being
burnt down. Mrs. Macheath's suffered the
most.
About halfpas twelve, parts OF the ont.
ward walls. both IN Russel.Street and Vim
egai yard, fell down, apd completely blocked
up the passage, but fortunately no lives
werelcsh Tbs sdiss1 was insnfeg. bu, no,