The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-08-27
From the .Neio York Com. Advertiser.
BURNING OF THE ROCKS

DOhNlNG OF 'It1E BOOKS.
1t is not often that we turn out to witness
the'fires to which our city, like all Others
must be incident. The truth is, that the
tremen get along better without the pres
ence OF the sovereigns than with them and
honest people would act wisely to remain at
home out of the way unless their own dwell
ings are in danger. The best rule upon
this subject is, to lie composedly in bed I'M
til the wall next you begins to grow warm.
If, then, the lounger does not make too
much haste in putting on his shoes and
picking up his inexpressibles, he will be
able to escape just in season to avoid the
cracking of the flames on the one side, and
twenty or thirty water-spouts on the other.
The confagration of Mr.. Montgomery's
bookstore, however, being connected with
the trade, formed an exception, although it
was the whole distance of block from US,
and the falling sparks did not reach our
domicil by several feet. We therefore sal
lied forth and mingled with the million of
citizens of all sorts-p ick-pockets, black
legs and would-be gentlemen-those who
sympathised with the industrious sufferer,
and those who came to plumber his goods
and those who found fault with the 6remen,
because-the fremen knew much better
than they what ought to be done. The
building was very large and high, and was
filed with combustible merchandise. The
consequence was, that the fire spread rapid
ly, and blazed furiously. AS the devouring
element spread from one story, and one
window, to another, the thick volumes of
smoke rolling forth as from the chimney
of Etna, were quickly followed by fierce
torrents of fame which poured ont as if from
the red-hot bowels of Nebuchadnezzar's
furnace. And while gazing upon this sub
lime and terrific spectacle, amidst the thick
coming fancies which crowded the mind,
we could not but image to ourselves the
different effects produced upon the flames
while consuming the various works, bound,
folded, or in sheets, which crowded the
shelves and ware-rooms.
1t was not strange that the ancients con-
sidered fire as an animal, and conceived the
idea of a salamunder. This element derives
its hue and visible form from the materials
on which it preys; and the vision presented
to our Imagination on this occasion was as
follows: The fire began in a regular and
business like manner to crawl all over and
round about pile of accumulated rubbish,
such as Paul Aliens History of America,
which John Neal says he wrote-Hannah
Adams's History of Religions-Funeral
Eulogies on Jefferson and Aaams-the Port
Folio after the decease of Denny-Root's
Arithmetc-a few half files of the
Albany Argus, and other particulars too
tedious to detail. All these matters were
honestly and cleverly burnt by methodi-
cal, household like fame, which did its bust
ness systematically and effectually. Next
tn lambent tongues of the destroying and
indestructble element seized on DR.. Brew
ster's New Edinburgh Encyclopedia, which
they despatched in deliberate way and
after they had performed their functions
they still pointed upwards and fiuttered in a
greedy manner, as if they were waiting for
the forthcoming unpublished volumes. But
they soon had other business on hand.
Don Juan was on the shelves Immediately
above and he was seized upon rapidly. He
ignited at once, and there was many col
ored blaze of blue and bilious colored yell
low and lurid light, awful enough to alright
the greatest sinner in New Harmony OF
Algiers. At the same time, by his side
Childe Harold mounted up in pyramid Of
clear white flame, which was however oc-
casionaly dimmed and tinged with smoky
hues. How long this pyrotechnical exhibit
ton would have continued is doubtful; but
the shelf above gave way, and half the
edition Of DIR. M'Henry's Wilderness fell
into the confagration. At first we thought
it was all put out; and the firemen surceas-
ed from their labors for while but though
the Wilderness could not burn;it became rec
hot, and communicated its ardor to the Pion
GERS, which was in the vicinity, and which
blazed like the forest on the Otsego noun
tains, notwithstanding Precaution lay OF
the top Of it.
The confagration now became general
In one corner ofthe ware house there seem
ed to be box of spices which had found it.
way there from neighboring druggist,
store; and in it we saw Lallah Rookl
mounting and exhaling in light and perfume
In another quarter our eyes were dazzlet
and delighted at the same time, as the works
of the Great Magician of Scotland, seemed
melting in mass of golden liquid light
which mounted upwards and formed itsel
into revolving halo, or glory, radlatin!
with pure resplendence, while in the centr,
were vaguely dscerned the eyes and Inca
ments Of a countenance both solemn an,
attractive We knew not whether it wa
the vision of the sacred birth, seen by tn
aichemist at the ecstatic moment OF success
full proiection-the awful visage revealed il
fire in the mysteries Of the Egyptian Isis
or that of Brahmah as he is to come accord
ing to the Hindoos, in his last Avatar,---bu
IL seemed to us more like the face off hon
est man of genius, and unwearied industry
Qlorifed by its circumvolving illumination
than any or either of those fantastic mag
nations Of olden times.