Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-11-20
VERY LATE FROM EUROPE.


Nv the packet ship Caledonia, Captain Ora
ham. at New York, from Liverpool London
pspers of October goth, and Liverpool of the
a1st. have been received. The Caledonia was
to have sailed on the 18th, but was detained
Eve DAYS in consequence of contrary winds.
The was very active demand in the Cotton
Market at Liverpool.
CONFEDERATION OF TIE TWO HOUSES OF PARLIA-
MENT.
The most interesting item Of intelligence fur
nished by this arrival is the destruction OF Inc
House Of Lords, and OF the Chapel Oh 81. STE
nhen by fire on the 10th Of October. This event
had naturally excited great sensation in the
british metropolis. "Itis not (the London Cou-
rier observes) that the buildings were valuable
In an architectural sense, for less slightly and
more announcement place for business can scarce
lv be conceived, that the loss is OF such painful
interest; but because on that spot in those halls
have passed some Of the most memorable events
in the history of our country. They were hal
lowed in our hearts by long train OF associa-
tions and we could have better spared more
splendid work In them had been rendered to
victorious Generals the thanks OF the assembled
nation-and in them had resounded those pa
triot words which hurried on the people indig-
nanty to national contest, or directed their en-
them sprouted forth the germs of all our civil
wisdom: and in them was cheered, when The pea
cemaker took his seat, the end OF our wars
They may be said to have been themselves an
epitome of our history by recalling all its strk-
ing FEATURES They are now at an end, never,
we presume to be restored for, interesting as
they were they had become, particularly the
Peoples House, no longer fit for their intended
uurpose and, like the institutions framed or ad-
vocated in them during many centuries, they re-
uured To be adapted TO the growthof the nation.
What the demands of orators could not achieve,
accident has accomplished, and there must now
be a new, and, We hope, convenient House OF
Commons"
The antiquity Of the House OF Lords We do
not recollect-but the House OF Commons was
originally chapel built by King Stephen and
dedicated to st. Stephen the Martyr. Ii was
rebuilt IN 1874 by Edward Ill, and assigned by
Edward vi after the reformation Tor the Sc
sions of the Commons House OF Parliament, to
which purpose il has ever since been applied
Roth these edifices which have thus stood for
centuries, are now in ruins. AS IN most cases
of conhagrations, rumour attributed II 10 IN
cendiarism. The latest London papers, how
ever generally concur that there is not the slight
est reason to suppose that its origin was other
than accidental.
The following account of particulars is from
the London Times:
LONDON. Oct. lS-Shortly before seven o.
clock last night the inhabitants OF Westmins-
ter and of the districts on the opposite banks OF
the river, were thrown into the utmost confu-
sion and alarm by the sudden breaking out OF
IN. most terrific confiagration, that has been
witnessed f,r many years past Those in the
immediate vlcinity of the scene OF this Calamity
were QUICKLY convinced OF the truth OF the cry,
that the House of Lords and Commons and the
adjacent buildings were on hre; the Ill news
spread RAPIDLY through the town, and the flames
hiuho nd ifrhn
with fearful rdpidity, attracted The attention of
not ONLY the passengers in the streets, but ii We
NAV Judge from the thousands OF persons who
in few minutes were seen hurrying to West
Minister of the vast majority Of the inhabitants
of the metropolis.
FROM the new pile Of buildings, in which are
Parliament Offices, down TO the end of the
speakers house, the flames were shooting fast
and furious thro' every window. The roof OF
Mr.. Ley's house. Of the House of Commons,
and of the speakers house had already fallen
in, and as far as they were concerned, II was
quite evident that the conhagration bad done
its worst The tower, between these buildings
and the Jerusalem Chamber, was a light on eve
nv floor. The roof had partially fallen in, but
had not vet broken clean through the hoors.-
The rafters were all blazing, aud from the vol
ume Of flame which they vomlted iorth through
the broken easements, great tears were enter
tanned for the safety of the other tenements In
Cotton. garden The fire, cracking and rust
ling with prodgious noise as il went along, soon
devoured all the interior OF this tower, which
contained, We believe, the library OF the House
of Commons. BY II O'Clock it was reduced to
a mere shell, illuminated, however, from its
base TO its summit in the most bright and glow
ing tints of flame. The two oriel windows,
which fronted the river, appeared to have their
frame-works fringed with innumerable sparkles
of lighted gas and as those frame works yield
ed before the violence of the hre, seemed to
open clear passage right through the edlhce
for the destructive element. Above the upper
window was strong beam of wood burning
6ercely from end to end. 1t was evidently the
main support of the upper part OF the building,
and as the beam was certain to be reduced in a
short time to ashes, apprehensions were enter
tanned of the speedy tall of the whole edifice.-
Al this time the voices Of the firemen were dis
tinctly heard preaching caution, and their shapes
were iadistincty seen in the lurid light fitting
about in the most dangerous situations. Stimuli
taneously we're heard, in other parts, of the
frontage to the river, the smashing of windows,
the battering down of wooden partitions, and
the heavy CHATTER Of falling bricks, all evidently
displaced for the purpose of stopping the ad
~ft