The Sun. — 1850-08-24 (London, England)

THE CONVICT HANNAH CURTIS.—RESPITE. GLOUCESTER, FRIDAY.—Tue execution of Hannah Curtis, now in Gloucester County Prison under sentence of death for the murder of her:husband, at Frumpton Cotterelleby poison, was fixed for to-morrow, and all the awful preparations had been made. At a late hour last night, however, a Queen's messenger arrived post-haste from Scotland, where Sir George Grey is at present sojourning, with a letter containing a respite of the execution until her Majesty's pleasure shall be known. The messenger only started from London on Tuesday last, and had travelled night and day in order to arrive in time. A consultation was immediately held between the governor of the gaol, Capt. Mason, and the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Herschel], when it was arranged that in consequence of the lateness of the hour it would not be advisable to disturb the convict, and the announcement of the respite was accordingly made to the prisoner this day by the chaplain, in the presence of the governor. The rev. chaplain introduced the subject in a few fitting remarks, during which she was greatly agitated, and on the final announcement being made she swooned away in the cell. Her behaviour has been since her condemnation anything but what might be expected from a creature whose hours and minutes were numbered. She declares her innocence, and although she joins in religious devotion with the chaplain, she does net appear fully aware of her awful situation. Her present bus. band, Curtis, has had frequent intercourse with her, and she enters freely into conversation with him, giving instructions as to household matters with the air of a person about to return shortly to her home. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT TORRINGTON, NORTH DEvoise—On Tuesday last the handsome little town of Torrington was in great danger of destruction by fire. During the night a fire broke out on the premises of a Mr. Friendship, ropemaker, which, being fed by a quantity of pitch, spread rapidly to the adjoining buildings, right and left. Before the three fire-engines of the town could be got out three dwelling-houses, a carpenter's workshop, a stable, &c , were in flames. By the greatest individual exertion the fire was prevented from destroying a row of small dwellings, which abutted on one end of the burning mass. These caught fire at least three times; and, had they taken fire, there is no doubt that the whole town must have materially suffered. It was only by cutting a passage through the burning buildings, at a very great risk, that the premises on the right of them were saved. By this very courageous and ready contrivance the engines were brought to play upon the rear of the adjoining premises, which had already ignited on this side. The loss is considerable, and, had it not been that a very large proportion of the inhabitants turned out to render assistance and supply the engines with at least three hogsheads of water per minute from the neighbouring pumps alone, the consequence might have been mist serious to the whole town. The three dwelling-houses consumed were the property of Mr. Adams, of Torrington, and a portion of the remaining properties the Rev. Mr. Welcome's, of Cornwall. We understand that neither the premises nor the stock, &c., were insured. Six children of Mr. Friendship were snatched cut cf their beds while the fire was in their house, and two womsn had to be dragged through the si le windows of the abutting heueer escape by the front doors being impossible. A