The Sun. — 1858-04-08 (London, England)

DESTRUCTION OF TEIE EARL OF MORAY'S RESIDENCE BY FIRE.  (From the Caledonian. Mercury, of April 7.) It is our melancholy duty to announce the total destruction by fire of Donibristle Rouse, the charming of I residence of the Earl of Moray, and the ancient seat of the Moray family, on the Firth of Forth. The fire broke out between seven and eight o'clock yesterday morning ; and by ten o'clock, such was the devouring nature of the flames, the whole building was a mass of ruins, noti.ing remaining save smouldering wood and blackened walls. How the fire originated is not known. None of the family were residing in the hou-,e at the tune, and the servants who took charge of the mansion lived in a building apart. Fires, however, were put on in it, almost every day. and it is supposed that the conflagration originatel in some of the chimnies. It was first discovered breaking through the roof, and assistance not being immediately to be had, it soon gained such power as to defy all efforts to extirguish it. Fire-engines were obtained from Dunfermline, and on© was shipped from Edinburgh. Before they arrived, however, the flames had such a hold of the building that they proved of no essential service. A great number of pionle from Inverkeitbing, including the Magistrates, were present at the earliest moment to render assistance. When the fire was first covered, Mr. Tud, farmer, Latham, with his servants, hastened to the scene ; and, with the assistance of Mr. Smith, forester, and the gardeners and other servants on the ettato, saved the whole library and a number of valuable paintings (the Courts of Charles I. and IL, by Laly) from one of the drawing-rooms. Most unfortunately, ho Never, the rare and priceless paintings in the dining-room, including the family portraits, were lost, with the Exception of an original portrait of the Regent Moray, and one other saved by a slater named Young, from leverkeithing, and a man named Mitehe!l, at the risk of their lives, part of their clothes having been burnt off.  Donibristle, from Vie Firth of Forth, formed a prominent object, and although by no means a fine house, hats% ,sar_) cvt aheo si teLeov cace tkirua estr itseaa ll l 3Y it . T o the Moray family it is, in a cert.; speaking, was one of those dwellings with the ancient history of Scotland, destruction a matter of regret to all who tain sense, irreparable. The house was once burned hefore by dr , Earl of Randy, at the instigation, it is of King Jarae-i, when the "Bonnie Earl of supinsel, M.,;rAy," cf wheal the King was isAnus, was slain in attempting t.) escape. From Messrs. Fullarton's "Itu7 ,i,erial Gazaterr of Scotland," we take the following brief noV.:. of Donibri,,tle :--• ___  " The house of Doniiiristle, a seat of the Earl. of M ray, vas formerly the residence of tie Abbot; of St. Combe, but it has since been g,realy en'arged and unproved. Dolibristle was, in 1t92, the ecene of the cruel murder of the Bonnie Earl,' whose personal attracLicns and accomplishments, it is alleg ed by some h'etorians, .bad impressed the heart of Anne of Danmark, and excited the jealousy of ber royal spov•se. This at least was the popuair notion of the t me ; ' lie was a braw gallant, And he play'cl at the gluve ; And the bonny Esrl of Murray, Ohl ho was the queene'e The 1 as sustained, besides invaluable family 'relics, must be very great. We understand that the property WAS covered by insurance.