The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-24
70 bio own honor to give way to the clearly e1.

ieas. let us wait with dignity the end of the Con-
terences, and be equally ready. if necessary, TO
draw the sword anew, or 10 extend the hand to
those whom we have fairly fought Whatever
may happen, let US occupy ourselves with the
means calculated TO augment the strength and the
riches OF France. Let u.s. if possible, draw closer
tue alliance formed by community Of glory and
sacrifices, and of which peace will far better ex-
hlbit the reciprocal advantages Finally, in this
solemn momsnt for the destinies of the world, let
US put our trust in God, to the end that He may
GUIDE our efforts in the direction most conducive to
the interests of humanity anu civilization"
A Dill has been prepared for lending S4,0OOoO0
sterling to the Credit Foncier to be applied to the
Improvement of agriculture
The Monteur contains the official announce
ment of the appointment of the widow of Admi-
rat bruat to the post of 'Gouvernante des enfants
de France"
misunderstanding of Covent Garden
Theatre.
AT an early hour Wednesday morning, the
9TH, caiamltouS fire originated in Covent Garden
Theatre which speedily reduced TO mass of shape
less ruins that magnificent building During the
whole night the theatre had been the scene of
bat Masq"e, under the management of Professor
Anderson, the so-called Wizard of the North, and
the rev els of the dancers had not concluded when
me coniiagraton broke out. The theatre was
we'll filed throughout tue evening and the enter
talnments were kept up with the vigor which gem
orally characterises such recreations. Many of
the dancers left between two and three in the
morning. and others remained much later; and as
hve O'Clock approached, not more than 2t0 Per
sons were assembled in front of the temporary or
chestra which, on this occasion, WIS thrown back
to the extreme end of the stage. The last orgie
was completed, and MIR. Anderson observi ing the
tagging spirits of his guests gave the signal his
master of the ceremonies to close the reves with
the usual finale of God save the Queen
at this moment a man. who was engaged in CON
yersation with Castle the fireman. observed
bright ght shining through the ehinks and crew.
ceS Of the flooring in the carpenter shop, high
over head. In an instant both of them left the
stage. and FASTENED up towards the point of dan
ger.
TEe orchestra had not ceased playing the Ma
lonal Anthem when the sudden descent upon Tie
stage u of ths beams, round which part of the
scenery was relied, give the first intimation of dsn
ger 10 the gssemblage below.
Nj. Anderson himself was the first to give the
alarm of "Firei" and the terror and tumult which
this announcement oecasoned may readily be iIl-
sg.uea Tbs few remaining masques rushed pre-
cipiiatSly 10 the various entranceS--of which the
police with ready presence of miad, took imme.
date possession, and were thus enabled to rescue
from tie selfish alarm of many of the stronger
their terror stricken partners. Several woman
were tr&mpled on, and some were carried out
but none were seriously injured. There
was something hideOus in this sudden change from
mad revelry to CHASTITY fear. Already the rush of
air towards the roof had famed the fire into bright
er life and tiercer energy Wreaths of white
smoke, with here and there lambent flame, be-
gan to curl from under the proScenium into the bo
dy OF the theatre. The musicians leaped from
their seat and fed, in many without even
saving their cherished instruments.
The interior of the theatre was almost mmedi-
ately cleared of the visitors. There was no time
tor thought or plan The flames rushed forward,
and whiriiHg round the interior made it at once
their own The police it ir only right to say, behav
ed witn the greatest coolnesS and courage. body
of officers under the direction of Superintendent
Darh in, took early possession of the various doors
and entrances and by Judicious efforts prevented
the excited multitude from forcing their way mad
ly into the burning house.
1t was now hardly o'clock, and yet in the few
minutes which had elapsed, the doom of the thea
tire had been sealed. The flames had burst through
the roof sending high up into all columns of fire,
which threw into bright reflection every tower and
spire within the circuit of the metropolis brilliant
ly Illuminating the whole fabric of St. Pauls and
throwing flood of light across Waterloo bridge,
which set out in bold relief the dark outline of the
Surry hills in the distance. This are operated as
speedy messenger in bringing up the fire engines,
which now proceeded from every quarter of Lon
don at tearing gaop, TO the scene OF the contia-
grafton. There Twas no " ant Of water but neither
engines nor water were of any avail i'll saving the
The theatre blaZed within its four hol-
low walls like furnace, and at half past O'Clock,
the roof fell in with q tremendous crash. Showers
of fiery sparks and burning charcoal were thrown
up and then poured down upon the streets, which
were now crowded with people.
thing fabulous. An approximate estimate may be
formed from the fact that in producing the several
operas contain ed in the repertoire of the theatre
when under the management OF Mr.. Delaheld, no
less than 100000 were expended, of which the
four operas, The Pr0phete, The HugUenOts LHcrezid
Borsia and La Donna del Lago cost 425 900. The
va liable dramatic library of the theatreunique of
It's kinds gone in the general wreck. The orr
gnal MSS. of The School for Scandal The Miller and
has Men, and the opera OF The Stare, and hundreds
>tIn 81 oroh hara rUaH ha
armory, consisting of more than hundred suits,
and occupying series of rooms, is wholly destroy
ed. In fact, nothing is spared.
1t has been stated that the building itself is IN
insured This is too true, and the loss will be ter
rible to those proprietors who hold large number
Of shares. Among them may be mentioned the
kemble family, the family of the late Mr Harris,
Mr.. Surman, Mr.. Robinson, Mr. Thomas Grieve
and others. The only assurances known to exist
in connection with the blding are two--one of
SSUO0 upon portion of the properties and another
of $4,000, effected by MIR. Anderson, when he en-
tered on the occupation Of the theatre for three
months, which insurance would have expired on
next
On Thursday, in the House of Commons in an.
swer to Mr. Baxter, Lord Palmerston said that
upon inquiry at the Foreign Office he found that
the papers relating to Central American affairs
could not be laid on the table before Easter.
The Liverpool Times mentions as an evidence of
Yankee go aheadism," that J. Hall Wilton who
was Barnums agent in bringing Jenny Lind to
America, came passenger from Australia in the
ship James Baine, for Liverpool, and got the Cap
tain to land him in Ireland from whence he went
by land to Liverpool, giving the latest news by
the James Baine, and having it published before
the arrival of the vessel
Miss Charlotte Cushman has an offer of G6,0OO
for professional engagement in Australia.
Italy.
The Americans in Rome celebrated Washing
tons BIZ th-day, on the 22d Feb, by dinner, at
which 30 gentlemen sat down. Hon. Mr. Quinsey,
ex-Mayor of Boston, presided. Initiatory steps
were taken towards making an effort to procure
funds to erect monument TO Lafayette in Paris.
Chinn..Great Fire in Macao.
The overland mail brings dates from Hong
Kong to January 18th. The correspondent of the
London Times, there, gives US the following sum
mary of intelligence:
Admiral Stirling, Commodore Elliott, and feet
remain in this harbor
AT Macao two large fires broke out on the 4th
and 9th inst and destroyed the greater portion of
the Chinese town. including the bazaar. Upwards
OF l,o00 houses are said to have been DESTROYED,
and property lost to the extent of more than ST.
900 600
Admiral Stirling has organized a system of con.
voy between the five ports, which promises to be
of ncniculable benefit to native and foreign trade
and highly efficient in suppressng piracy
The Chinese rebellion appears to be nal ing head
az ainst the government. in Kwangsi the rebels
have been successful and have entirely possessed
themselves of three prefectures in the province of