Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-06-17
concerned
% PORTESTS DIRE,n

The accumulated calamlies OF he last few
weeks will tend 10 revive, in The hearts OF those
inclined 10 supernatural fears, should there be
any such, the ancient superstition about The bale
fn effects Of comets This last vsiler, whose
vapour of light has cluded orr gaze, late ana
early. has certainly been accompanied by most
signal misforiunes and strange events. WARS
and rumors Of wars" destructive fires, dnels,
suicides civil outbreaks &C., have marked It's
proaress-but, of course it will be only the most
grossly superstitious minds that will draw any
inference Of "cause and effect
The last month has been signalizcd by an un-
Interrupted series of disastrous fires throughout
The country. The Fine Arts seem 10 haze been
especial victims "a circumstance deeply TO be
regretted for our country can boast OF but few
specimens. The other day, we recorded the de.
sruc,icn of the famous "Panoroma of Athens
at Cambridge--ard The following from the Ma
lional lnrelligencer brings lhe sad information
OF the loss OF the Philadelphia Academy oil Fine
Arts:
"A lille before midnight of Wednesday The
Academy of Fine Arts in philadelphia believed
10 contain The best collection Of Paintings IN
the United States, was consumed hy lre sup
posed 10 have been communicated BY an incen-
diary
"The fire was frs, discovered beneath the sta
tue Gallery, which was ent rely destroyed with
all i S contents; and, spreading 10 The Library
room, large number OF pictures were DESTROYED
before lhey could be removed. Several pictures
of great value were also lost in the Rotnndo.-
With great efforts, the valuable Library, chiefly
a present from Napoleon. Bonararte, was saved
though considerably injured The losses OF pic
lures, in many instances, arc irreParaole
"'Thc Ledger says, that at about ! o'clock on
Wednesday evening fire broke out IN me celiar,
in the rear of, and under the gallery oil The AGA
DENY O. Fine Arts, which, in short time, enve'
loped the whole building totally destroying Inc
collection of ancient statues belonging 10 The
Academy. The flames then extended 10 The build
ing occupied by the picture gallery, but fortunate
Is the principal pictures were removed 10 place
of safety by the nei.hbors and those Interested 10
the institution We do not know, however, whe-
Their Vests great painting OF DEAN on IN: rae
Horse was so fortunate. When we lett The
ground at IL o'clock, the flames had not been
subdued and the impression was, that The pant
inc in question was destroyed, or damaged 10y The
heat md smoke OF this, however, we cannon
speak for certain, it was impossible, AMID tiie
confusion. 10 obtain information when couu DC
relied upon. Certain il is that The statues, some
OF them The work Of ancient masters, from one TO
Two thousand years ago, some the work OF the
greatest modern artists. and all elected at an
immense cost IL the institution have been totally
DESTROYED From the place where the fire orgl-
mated and the manner in which the buildings are
cul of from The main street, the flremen lound II
extremely Difficult! 10 operate with effect IN SUP
DUNG the destroying element, but they worked
viii Great earnestness. From the fact, that no
fire was used about the premises We are led 10
conclude that this was the work OF an incendiary,
an acr of Vandalism, which merits more than or
binary punishment"