Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-03-26
Herald Office, Norfolk, March 81.

na,bv for the sufferers of the calamity which
has befallen our sister town, that we an
nounce the occurrence of destructive hre
in Portsmouth this morning, which has LAID
q considerable part of that town in ashes
The fire broke out about quarter before
o'clock in the kitchen Of the tenement, at.
or the one next to, the corner OF Main ana
Market streets, and the flames spread with
uncomfortable rapidity to the Market house
and the adjacent houses, sweeping IN their
desolating career every building from the
corner, along the east side OF Market
Street to Mr.. Blown's dwelling, inclusive;
down Market Street TO Water-Street and
thence. with The exception of two buildings
of little value. over the whole extent below
from Main Street to the river--compllsIng
in all between 81 and 40 tenements.
From Mr.. Blow s to the lower end OF Main
Street the houses were saved only by great
exertion. The house of MIR. Leckie, on the
Ferry Street, also escaped. The violence
OF the wind, which was blowing at the fine
perfect gale from S. S. w. and the COM
bustible nature of the buildings generally,
would have de6ed any exertion or means
that could have been used to stay their pro-
gress.
The principal proprietors were Mordeca
Cooke and Richard Blow, Esq's. the heirs of
John Foster, DR.. Maupin. and Mr.. Thomas
Brooks. The three first named, we are in
formed, were insured-but no others DR..
Maupin's loss is great--he had valuable
brick dwelling and many other Improvements
destroyed, besides losing a considerable a.
mount of furniture, &c. Many others lost
their all-the earnings of years Of hard labor
and toni amongst these were Captain Sea-
ward. Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Spady and MIR.
Ar,nistead and number Of poor families
are left destitute by this affective visitation
and the widow and the orphan are de-
prived of home and sustenance. Here is in
deed call upon the benevolence of those
who can feel tor the distresses OF their fel-
Iow-creatures' Herald
Gazette Office, Salem, March II.
THE FIRE AT sURINAM.
Capt. Holmes, of the brig Cynthia, in 80
days from Surinam, states that the fire al
Paramaribo to have been greater than before
reported - 1t commenced about one o'clock
on Sunday the 2Ist January, and continued
burning about 90 hours. The most popu-
lous part OF 'he town was laid in ashes The
destruction involved almost all the public
and elegant buildings, among which were
two superb churches, Roman Catholic and
Dutch, together with 3i9 dwelling houses;
in the whole, including stores, negro houses,
&c. there were 1900 buildings consumed.
1t commenced in the northeast quarter OF
the town, directly to windward) and made
complete sheet in some streets 30 feet
wide. The engines were perfectly useless
in short time owing to the scarsci'y Of wa
ter and the hose bursting, when they were
left to the devouring element Many of the
inhabitants, instead o. trying to extnguish
the flames, were on their knees praying for
rain from heaven. The Jews were the
greatest sufferers. II originated accidental
ly in cock house, and about 10000 souls
were thus driven naked into the streets.
Vast quantities of provisions were Pouring
in from the country, and number Of Ameri-
con ,oe,oIe l>,1oI ,pe.a cleo fhoro. b,t -
no instance was there any eAtortion, govern
ment being very strict in preventing it.
Three English vessels arrived there with
provisions, found no market, and sailed in
CO. with Capt. II. bound to other potts.
Great thanks were given to the Americans
for their spirited exertions in subduing the
flames and saving the property.
1t has been long believed that leaves of
the elder tree put into thesubteraneous path
of moles, drive them away, but it is I)t so
generally known, that if fruit trees; flower
ing shrubs, corn or vegetables. be wiped
with the green leaves of elder branches, in
sects will not attach to them. An infusion
of elder leaves in water is good for sprinking
over rose buds, and flowers subject 10 blights
and the devastations of caterpllars.
IN. Philosophical Magazine, London.
From London papers By the Ann Maria, ar
r,ued at New York.
HOUSE OF LORDS, JAN. "a.
Earl Belmore moved an address from their