Fire At Carlton-Palace.
The Times, 1824-06-10T00:00:00

- The greatest fear prevaited- orf 'Tsday rilit- for tlied-nety of this splisdid-palade, In consequence nf a fire breaking outtiin the sbitng- room- adjoining the great hall. and next thle cFmlnon"c3iarn- ber. Hiis AMajesty, Sir Willitin 3ni K htnn, and suite-;rriva fromn Windsor about half-Past teno'cloek, and in about 20 mintutes after, the servants in the hall were surprised at a peculiar noise that pro- ceeded from the sitting roomn; however, they took no particularno. tice till they-Keardit agaiii'and then oneor twoof them opened the door, and a volume of smoke Bnd 9lame burst forth with alarniinsg rapidity. The whole establishment were immediately alarmed, and his Abjsty on heating the cause. went fo personl safety to atremote prof the building. Sir WVilliam KnIqbton -was one of the first on *.he spot, and tnok an active part in endeavouring with the servants to extinguish the fire whilst in its infanc. -Me.-- sengers were instantlv despatched for the engines,: an(d shortly those of Sr. .ames's parish arrived t ttlt Palace, and the pipes were conveyed into the interior of the edifice: a plentiful supply of water being obtained.thev were speedily put in motion, and after consider. able exertions the fire was hiappilv confined to thesitting-room, in wiich the damage sustained is most extensive and irreparable. The ceiling is emittiely consamed, and nothing but the girders are to be seen. Four inestimable portraits have been completely spoiled by the heat, the canvass is so blistered that scarcely anv trace of the portraits are visible. They consist of a beautiful full-length por- trait of the late Duke of Cumberland, painted by Sir Joshua Rev- nolds; another of his Royal J}ighness the Duke of Cla-ence, by the celebrated Hopner; another portrait, ef Louis XV. ;` antl another of the Duke of Orleans: this was supposed to be one of the finest pictures ever executed by Sir Joshua. A half-length portrait of George IL, and a full-length portrait of her late Alajesty Queen Cazoline, were the only two saved fronm the devactation. When the loss of the above valuable paint- ings was madc known to His DIajesty, he appeared evidently much concerned, as they were highly esteemed by his late revered father. The disaster Is supposed to have originated in the followning man- ner:-From the ceUing of the sitting-room, wlicll ha; of late yeah. been used as a waiting-room, was suspended a superb lustre, and to Leep the dust from. approaching it, it wasendosed in a large holland b'd, which hung below the bottom of the chandc-lier. rImmediately undler this bag stood a small table, upon which were placed some lighted candles, and it is therefore beyond a doubt the flame issuing from them caught the bag, and caused the sad calamity. There is no blame, we understand, to be attached to any individual connected with the Royal establishment. The fire was purely accidental. Wlle are informed, that during the fire His Illajesty came into the court.:yard, 4ressed in his usual plain manner, and wearing a tra- velling cap, Whilst walking about, he was accosted bv one of the watchmen of tle Palaee, who being unacquainted with his person, told him " he must not walk there, as no strangers were permitted to walk about that place at that hoar." The King took no notice of the mistake,and continuedtowalk about; but the watchman was not to be driven from what he considered! to be his duty, and.was in the act of laying hands on his Sovereign, for the purpose of puitting him out of the court, when some of the attendants came un, and informed him of the rank of the illustrious " stranger." The poor watcliman's consterqation at tbs discovery may be easily imagined: but the ling soon kindly relieved him from his embarrassment, by good- humouredly laughing at tbe cireumstance, and-telling him to think no more of It. IS R9AS' CAfLMlV-PALAdv. -