Morning herald., 1839-09-26

EHciacmts connected with the late Fire.
| The various amus;.g and graphic incidents con-
rected with the late disastrous coniagration would
ill a volume but we shall give few of the most
prominent ones part aud parcel Of the history Of
the times. The National Theatre will never be re-
built upon the spot although the three churches
will be possible, for the insurance meney
viii effect their restoration.
Of all these buildings, most deeply regret the
injury done to the beautiful French Episcopal
Church. Of which we gave superb representa-
tions yesterday. Its history i connected with the
entire history Of the Husuenots, who fled from
France the revocation Of the edict Of Nastz, by
Louis the I4th, which had afforded protection to the
| Hugaenots from 1876 10 1885. This unfortunate
people then scattered abroad over the face OF
| the world, and in I704 they arrived in New York,
and afterwards erected church on Pine street,
on the spot where the Custom House now stands.
This building stood for more than hundred years.
To this spot came the Heguenots 10 worship, whe
had settled in New Rochelle: they walked hther TO
worship, distance Of twenty miles, and walked
home the day. III 1882, the church and grave
yard purchased, and the building Of the pre-
sent church Of the Holy Spirit was commenced at
the corn, Of Leonard and Church streets. In 1884.
divine service commenced in il. II was not,
therefore, six years in building, stated in the
i" Courier The first pastor Mr. Rou; the Sc
cond, MIR. Moundars; the third, Mr.. verren, the
rresen. amiable and accomplished pastor.
The splendid organ of this church was said To
have been saved. Ihls is not 50; it has been de-
stroyed with the exception Of few pipes, which are
comparatively useless. ISe ADORE ioood cat is
most admirable repre- sentaton of this excellent in
strument Its dimensions these: height twenty
one feet; width, thirteen feet; DEPTH feet
| the designs Of the Athenian Ionic, cor
responding with the style of the church, and il
constructed of beautifully polished mahogany. Il
contained 20 stops and 1908 pipes j, had two key
boards for the great full organ, snd the other for
the choir and swell. with pedals for the double
taves. II cost $4,000, and built BY Mr.. H. Err
ben. The church was truly beautiful in every
spect and trust will be rebuilt precisely similar
to the original structure, with the exception Of the
wooden rafters, cross pieces, and moulded ceiling
supporting and beneath the entabature and roof Of
the pedment The most striking feeling created both
by the interior and exterior Of this beautiful building,
was that Of extreme chastcness and simplicity The
character Of classic elegance sustained through
Quit was an extreme Of elegant painness, and the
effect was produced by beauty Of form and harmony
Of proportion. The dome, surniountcd by lantern,
was very beautiful much censure has been bestowed
spon this unfortunate lantern because il the first
place which caught fire; but il should be remem-
be red that of the size and pattern Of that
At the monument Of Lyscrates atAthcns (conce rnng
which Mr.. Stevens, the traveller, has made such
gross blunder vulgarly called the lantern Of Demos
themes. The effect Of the light thrown into the
church by this lantern was pleasing as IL
novel. The decorations of the dome were in fine
tastc the interior surface divided into
pannels, with elegant and simple mouldings, and
II
where il sprung from the ceiling rich and grace
ful. The whole ceiling arched, resting on mas
sve entablatures, supported either side by rows
OF futed columns with ornamented capitals. There
were galleries, and the pillars judiciously
placed pect OF distance from each other as not
TO diminish, in the least tho apparent magnitude OF
the interior. Such was L'Eglise du Saint Esprit,
which is now heap of smouldering ruins.
During the Gre, the appearance Of the French
Church splendid in the extreme. The door Of
the dome was open, and the flames from the theatre
caught the beading and cornice work inside, and this
burning of dropped into the body Of the church and
the whole interior fire Nothing could exceed
the grandeur Of this portion of the The Lysi
crates lantern never well liz up before; the
flames spread round and round its base, and up tie
sides of the pillars, and along its summit, forming
first light su'pherous blaze, which broke
INTO fourteen distinct pinnacles of fame shooting ther
forked tongues far up into the blue vault of Heaven
When the body Of the church was completely enve-
lopeu in flame, the scene most curious; men and
women crowded under the beautiful portco, to look
through the large door which opened Immediately
into the body Of the church; the flames played round
and round the columns, aud shot in four streaks
towards the pulpit over which they formed perfect
arch dfre. Ever and piece Of the falling roof
would scare away the gazers, and they would rush
down the steps tumbling promIscuously over ea-h
other in,e the street. From the upper story Of
the pastors house there flight of steps lead.
ing . the roof Of the church; here there was hose
led up and some dozen persons looking al the FIRE;
hnsliy the flames escirced this curious group, aud
4 they with difficulty made their escape; throwing
down their hose and ladders and hooks in confusion
ne last man cutting away the staircase. lmmed-
aey after this the roof fell in, and the flames burst
on, o. the front entrance, lighting up the portico,
win ~ lliapey surprising in splendcr even the