The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-07-21
The Foreign News.


The Foreign News.
| The Britannia arrived at Boston last Saturday
morning, with intelligence half month later from
all parts OF Europe. 1t is OF very little consequence
| in political way but in commercial point OF view
it is interesting, if not important, especially to the
Southern States We refer the public to the careful
compilation on the outside. They can there see the
gist as well as the detail.
| The Great Western with ono day later news was
due yesterday, and we hourly expect her arrival
The Late Great Flre-Ono or Two Rehec-
| lions Thereon.
| A great public calamity, such that which has
just visited our city, is by no means subject which
we would prefer to dwell upon in thought or on
paper the mind instnctivey feels a repugnance TO
do So and discretion would tell US to forget Its hor-
rors, if that were possible, at the earliest moment,
But who can forget the rapid march OF the destruc-
| tive clement, marking its course with dsmay and
terror, What mind is formed as 10 discharge the
pand impressions produced by devastation OF pro-
perry and loss Of lite the elegant mansion toterng
| to its fall the munihcent resources Of commerce
the various production Of mechanical ingenuity; the
priced accumulaons of exemplary industry, all con-
found ed in one overwhelming and indiscrlminating
ruin Such sad realities bind the attention III pain
ful durance and it is neither unbccoming to admit
the bonds nor sympathize with the greater sufferers
from the physical causes.
Little space is afforded by the columns of daily
paper to indulge in reflections such the morast
would make How many salient and appropriate
observations might be his on the instability of hu-
man possessions, the evanescence OF mortal hopes,
and the liability of man, however prosperous, to ad-
hat ia MT
forded by granite walls and iron doors against the
career of the elements What feeble shield are in
srance institutions to protect the sanguine trader
from absolute pauperlsm. Helpless, indeed, seems
the dwellers in large cities when attacked by the
insdous hostility Of the elements; all they can do
il to take proper precaution and use the means at
hand to guard against recurrence OF evil
1t becomes matter of paramount interest to In
qure if there are not precautions never yet used
against the awful contlagratlons which are now
awfully common, and which so often vlctimize New
York. We think there are; not perhaps practical
BILE by Individuals but within the power OF munich
pal authority One or two words then to those who
are delegated to watch over public safety, and who
represent the aggregate Of the population in that
pacity. It is proper nay, it is absolutely necessary
for them to interpose their power between the
thouphtless as we'll as the malevolen and the secu
rity of the public they called upon to inquire
whether the culpable neglect of parties has been IN
strumenta in causing the late loss OF property and
life There are good grounds for suspecting such
was the 1t is notorious fact that the fire that
has laid wealthy and business district OF the city
in ashes, originated in oil store; II is also true
that the awful explosion that contributed fearfuy to
the spread of the flames, was that OF store hlled
with materials of highly dangerous character, to
be found in the heart of densely built neighbor-
hood In other places of this erring world, conbas
tbe and explosive substances are banished to re-
mote situations where they incapable OF inurlng
life or property; but in New York it would appear
as though we possessed an indemnify tfom the eff
fects of rashness and folly, for he who so peases
may stuff a warehouse In the most popllous street
with gunpowder. salpetre, salt of tartar and sulphur
whose union produces of the most explosive
compounds known. Now this is q nuisance and
worse. There ought to be end put to 1t. No
m an ought TO be at liberty to fill his store with these
dangerous substances, any more than be permitted
to set nantraps and sprlnggun In the public streets.
or point loaded fire arms at the breasts OF his neigh
bors for no better than to satisfy his humor.
We expect to see an inquest held on what has taken
place, and measures taken to prevent such fragrant
delinquency in future.
On another topic connected with this fire, one or
two words. There is some ground for suspecting
that business men of other cities may, in endcavor
ing to turn this visitation upon New York to their
own advantage, add new injury to that which it
ually suffers New York has ardent rivals for com
mercial prosperity. The custom Of the Southern
merchants, who are accustomed TO come here to
he bonn for Tho
chants Of Philadelphia, Boston, or Baltimore, and
they may, very likely, take some pains to convey
the impression that the price and supply of goods
may be affected in this market by the destruction
that has occurred All such attempts ought to prove
futile, as they will, we think for there no good
grounds for any such representation that New
York cannot supply her customers as wel-nay bet
ter, as usual, than any competitor. That there has
been heavy loss of mercantile commodities is true,
but it amounts to but drop in the fountain of
chandze that is held by her opuent and enterpriz-
ing merchants. No market on the continent offers
The same facilities to purchasers to do their business
az New York. 1t must continue to have the
precedence as long as her harbor is navigable and
her credit unlmpaired.
UNITED STATES SHIP NORTH CARolINA-ERRoR
CORRECTED. In our account in yesterdays paper OF
the great fire, reporters from mlslnformation did
not do Justice to the officers and crew of the "Norh
Carolina" Immediately the outbreak of the
conilagranon, and when it perceived that its
rivages were likely to be extended as to demand
all the aid which could possibly be rendered, the
First Lieutenant, A. G. Gordon, Esq, sent the men
on shore under command Of Lieut. Rowan. The
boats Of the ship, laden with a supply gunpowder,
under command Of Lieut.. Ward, did shore duty
The marine guard Of the ship was also shore UNI
der proper command. Indeed, the fact is, as we
asccralned yesterday, only twelve were left in
charge of the vessel-to such excess, we think
we can truly say, the generous desire of the Of
icers to aid their felow-czens in that hour of ex-