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they die in a never ending scries of progression, love, |
joy, happiness, and death, the end of all created things. I
Front what source spring all these? Reason an-I
swers, God, boundless in knowledge, infinite in lie- |
uvvolct’.ce, is the author of all things.
Oh philosophy, rcveid unto me thy mysteries, but I
above all make me acquainted with my or. n mind, j
that spiritual essence, which thinks, wills, reasons, ,
grasps at immortality not only here but hereafter. 1
Make me to know myself. .Man is the image ot Ghd,
spiritually so. Our only mode ot comprehending,
conceiving of this Almighty Being, is through a
knowledge of ourselves—the plat ewe sustain in the
economy of nature, and shall wc not strive alter such
knowledge. We may make but one step, but by that
step we arc passing the threshold ot the Temple ot
God, and the bright vision ofthe Holy of Holies glan
ces in the distance. " •
THE BISHO I 1 ’ S BREECHES.
nr a. r. r. LAtraneix.
Bishop Boniface looked at the clock, jumped up
hastily and cried to his servant, “ Here Joseph, come
and help me dress! it is high time [was ready.”
Joseph hurried off to the wardrobe, and brought
out the good bishop’s pontificals, and articles of dress, I
among which was a pair of black silk breeches. Me
earnestly request our readers not to slick? their heads
at the name of this essential tn li< Ip of dress. They
play an important part in this tale of ours, but with
al) proper delicacy. We will only remark that it
seems to us very suspicious that the name of this in
nocent piece of clothing is, now-a-days, never men
tioned in polite society: to the pure all things arc
pure.
As the bishop was putting them on, he noth rd that
they were torn, or, more properly, ripped open.
“Give me another pair,” said be, take these to Agath,
and leave word to h ive them mended neatly.”
Agath was the right reverend prelate’s tailor. But
Joseph had just come from the country, so that he did
not know the respectable artist, and had never even
heard his name. He knew, however, that, not far
from the bishop’s palace, was a convent, know n by
the name of the Sisterhood of St. Agatha. This, it
occurred to him, must be the meaning ofyfgr/M, and,
being a simple-minded soul, he easily made up his
mind that the Bishop must be in the habit of having
all the in cdful repairs o his garments done by his spir
itual daughters. So he wrapped the breeches up in a
napkin, went to the cloister, and asked for the abbess.
The venerable dame :>s soon as she learned that one
ol the bishop’s serving-meii was waiting with a mes
sage to her, supposed that some important communi
cation was to be ni.de respecting the affairs ofthe
convent; so she hurried to the parlor, and ordered
the messenger to be sent for. lie entered the room,
made a clumsy bow, and began “The Lord Bishop
greets 3011 well, and sends you hire a patient be
wants you to cure:” so saying he opened his bundle,
laid the breeches in the hands of the abbess, w inch she
had just raised to heaven in astonishment, and hur
ried off. In horror and disgust, she threw the panta
loons (to use the genteelest word we can) on a chair,
and said to herself, “What shameful, unheard of au
dacity ? Our bishop must be mad, or else he must
be like St. Augustine, who says, in chapter thirty
one of his Confession that though drunkenness is far
from me, yet has intoxication sometimes overtaken
thy servant. Then she began to reflect what was to
be done, m this critical cmergenev. In her first de
spair she was almost tempted to seize on the offending
article with the longs, and let it bo consumed by fin 3
but she moderated her fury, and finally derided to
call a grand council of the virgin sisterhood.
The great bell of the convent brought together all
its inmates. They formed a curious anxious circle
round the abbess, who had covered over the corpus
delicti with a cloak.—“ Bi Jmp Boniface my dear sis
ters,” so she bagati, “has offered us a gross insult, in
sending to us, with a request to repair certain inju
ries it is alledged to have suffered a piece of clothing,
the very name of which a modest nun will not allow to
pass her lips much less take the article itself in her
hand.” With these words she removed the clonk that
covered the monster. The nuns uttered a shriek of
hioror and fled.
The abbess however called them back, assuring
them—-to allay their fears—that the objectionable
black silk had been again covered up. They return
ed dutifully, but held their fingers before their eves
the whole time. The question was submitted to the
female conventicles, what was to be done in this tick
lish business. The opinion of a large majority was
decided, that though it would never do to make an
enemy of the bishop, still nothing should tempt them
to take hold of the unmentionable monster. After a
long t'Kcussion the abbess conceived the idea of giv
ing the job to a novice named Antonia, whose year of
probation was not half out and consequently being
less sacred than her sisters, might he, perhaps, indu
ced to perform so worldly an office.
Antonia was the daughter of a rich farmer, a tenant
of the bishop’s, who had sent her to the convent be
cause she was bent on marrying the son of a poor
neighbor. The young lady had not yet lost her love
for the world, aud sighed sorely to get back to it.
When the abbess brought herdown and stated the
work she was wanted to do, she conceived a faint
hope that it might be of some advantage to her; so
the unhesitatingly agreed to do it. The nuns laugh
ed, and whispered each other, as Antonia, as coolly
as possible, took the breeches under her arm, and re
tired to her cell. The repairs, w hich had produced
such a commotion in the convent, were very slight
and might have been done in five minutes. But An
tonia was thinking of other things than sewing. As
soon as she had finished, she pulled out a concealed
inkstand, and began to w rite a letter to her Freder
ick, the presence ofthe breeches acting like that of a
familiar spirit to keep away all intruders. Jast as
she was al the end of her epistle, the heavy tread of
the old abbess was heard along the corridor, coming
nearer and nearer. If she should he caught writing
a love-letter! Antonia hardly knew, in her confu
sion, what to do w ith her billet-doux, so she slipped it
into one ot i.be pockets of the bieeches, took them on
her lap again, and began to sew zealously.
"he abbess a-kerl, as she came in, “Are’ you rea*
dy, child? “ Not quite yet, gracious lady,” was the
answer. “ How, you lazy one !” said the abbess
and clapped her huge spectacles on her nose to ex
amine the work. “ The torn place is repaired, is not
that all f”—“'f’herc—there are some buttons loose
besides, madam.” “We have no ca l ! to fasten them
00. Nothing is gained by excessive zeal.” So say
ing, she snatched the breeches away from the damsel’s
lap, and hid them under her cloak. Antonia, anx
ious to recover her letter, insisted on carrying them
for the abbess, and was so zealous in her politeness as
almost to use force ; but it was in vain the abbess pre
vailed. '
The next day happened to be the bishop’s birth
day, on which he gave a grand entertainment, to
which all the prelates and nobles round about were'
invited. The cups went round fast and full, for his
reverence loved to see Lis guests merry, and merry
enough they were, when our old acquaintance Joseph,
the shrewd servant, came in bringing a neat little
basket of flowers, which lie said had been left with
tlie porter, a birthday present, by some person or per
sons unknoan.
The bishop smiled as he looked at the delicate tex
ture ofthe basket, and said, “I wish I was as sure of
a cardinal’s hat as I am that is a conveht present.
You sec, gentlemen, I am in the good graces ofthe
venerable sisters.—There is some pretty present below
the flowers, I’ll engage.’* He turned out the flowers,
and soon came to a solid body pinned up in silver pa
per. He showed it round the table in triumph, and
challenged bis guests to guess its contents.
Each one prophecied something prettier than his
neighbor, till the bishop opened the paper, and out
came his old breeches ! The roars of laughter
with which his prize was welcomed,-confused him so
much that he could not at first, find or seek an expla
nation. But, a few questions to Joseph made all
clear, and a second chorus of laughter arose, in which
the right reverend joined as heartily as any one.
The bi'hop dressed himself early next day, mean
ing to go to the convent and explain the unlucky
mistake w hich his servant’s stupidity had occasioned.
He determined to put on the eventful pair of breeches
in question, byway of compliment to the ladies who
had repaired them. As he was putting bis purse into
one ol the pockets, he felt a folded paper. —“ O the
wicked sisters!” thought he at first—they have been
sending me in a tailor’s bill. When he opened the
letter, however, he read as follows:
Dear Fed.—Rejoice, n joice! I have found out a
way to do a service to the bishop; in a small way
enough, indeed. What do you think? I have turn
ed tailoress to bis holiness, and bugun my duties by
mending a pair of black silk breeches yesterday. See
him if you can, and tell him how much he is indebted
‘o me, without knowing it. Tell him the only pay
his tailoress will lake is her discharge from this
Here the manuscript ended abruptly.—The good
bishop laughed once again, at the merry boldness of
his tailoress and resolved to pay her for her labor in
the way she desired. After making his excuses to
the abbess, he sent for Antonia, who confessed at
once the authorship of the letter, and moreover, the
small vocation she fell for a monastic life. The bish
op, we have said, was a kind man, as well as a mer
ry; he used his influence with Antonia’s parents so
successfully, that, in a little time, she had left the con
vent, ami married Frederick, and to this day, she
maintains that the best day’s work she ever did in her
life was mending the bishop's breeches.
New-York, September 24.
CONFLAGRATION.
Destruction of the National Theatre, the French Pro
! testant Church, the Dutch Deformed Church, and
’ Zion's African Episcopal Church.
I Yesterday afternoon about half past four o’clock,
l some colored women who were employed in the lower
I part of the National Theatre, situated on the corner
| of Church and Leonard streets, discovered that what
■ is termed the gas-room was on fire, and in a few min
! Utes the w hole of that large edifice was enveloped in
j flames. So rapid WRS the conflagration that very lit
; tie, if any, of the costly scenery, ward robe, furniture,
1 or indeed any thing of value could be saved.
In the course of little more than two hours only the
i front wall on Church street, and the side wall on
Leonard street, remained to tell that there a spacious
I and costly edifice had stood. The loss of property,
! exclusive of the building, must have been very great
in the destruction of scenery, furniture of the private
■ boxes, green-room, dressing rooms, saloons &.C., mu
sic, and wardrobes ofthe performers as well as that
; belonging to the manager.
I Mr. Mackintosh, the leader of the orchestra, has
lost a very large and valuable collection of music,
and the performers of the orchestra all their instru
ments, Mr. Wallack has lost every thing—his exten
sive private wardrobe alone, which he had collected
in a professional life of some twenty years or more,
must have cost some thousands of dollars. The loss
in the interior ofthe Theatre has been computed at
40,000 dollars.
The National Theatre was built by subscription,
some six nr seven years ago, for the Italian opera, at
a cost $ 110,000, not including the ground, for w liich
$65,000 were paid. After three seasons the opera
was given up, and in the course ofthe next two or
three years the building was several times occupied
as a theatre, but with no profit to the managers or the
lessors. In the spring oflgtst year it was bought by
Messrs. Janies 11. Hackett (now Baron Hackett) and
i O. Mauran, for §70,000 : but the former, embarking
1 some time after for Europe, sold out his share at a
| considerable loss, as we have understood, and after
passing through several hands it finally came into the
possession of Mr. Washington Coster. It is stated
that there was an insurance upon the Theatre to the
amount of $55,000 —$40,000 in London and $15,-
000 here. Air. Wallack paid SIO,OOO per annum
’rent.
His severe loss excites much interest and sympathy
among his friends, and among the theatre-frequenting
portion of the citizens generally. His activity, en
terprize and judgment as a manager have been warm
ly eulogised, throughout the whole term of his man
agement. As an instance of his activity we may
state that recently he made three trips to and from
England within the space of sixty-six days, twenty
four of which were passed on shore.
The next building which took fire was the large
i Church on the South West corner of Leonard and
1 Church streets, immediately opposite to the Theatre.
I This was known as Zion Church, and belonged to
the African Methodist Episcopal Society; it was built
in 1820 at the cost some SIB,OOO.
The whole interior of the building is destroyed, the
walls only being standing, and those in a shattered
condition. There is an insurance upon the property
to the full amount ofthe loss, which is probably about
SB,OOO.
The building standing next on Church street is
very slightly damaged in the rear.
No. 62 Leonard street, adjoining the Church, a
two story brick house, occupied by colored families
partially damaged.
No. GO, a two story frame building occupied by
olored persons, considerably damaged.
No. 55, a two story brick front building, adjoining
the Theatre, a house of no questionable character—
roof burned oil’, and interior much damaged.
No 53, a small two story frame house, adjoining,
much shattered, apparently more injured by waler
than by the fire.
The French Protestant Episcopal Church du St.
Esprit stood at the corner of Church and Franklin
streets, fronting the latter. It was a splendid edifice
of white marble, the portico in front supported by ve
ry large granite pillars. It was erected in 1832, and I
j cost about SBO,OOO. The roof and whole interior of|
the building are destroyed. The walls are standing, |
and appeared to be but slightly damaged. Some of
the inside columns also remain. The fine organ, and
most ol the furniture ofthe Church, were saved, but
ol course in a damaged condition. There is an in
surance upon the property to the amount of $20,000.
Nos. 90, 101 and 103 Franklin street, a row ol
modern-built three story houses, escaped with very
slight damage in the rear.
Adjoining this row is a two story brick building,
owned by the North-west Dutch Reformed Church,
and occupied by them as a conference room, and by
Fanning S. Worth, Esq. as a classical school. The
building is much damaged. It is insured fi>r $3,000.
The next building is the North-west Dutch Re
formed Church, under the pastoral care ofthe Rev.
J. Harkness. It is very nearly a total loss, the walls
only remaining standing. There is an insurance to
the amount of SB,OOO, but that sum will only defray
the expenses which have been lately incurred by the
Church for repairing and improving the building. It
is estimated that it will cost SIB,OOO to put the house
in as good condition as it was in before.
No. 115—The house next adjoining, occupied by
Forrest Sc Mulligan, as a school, although a frame
building, is but slightly damaged from the died of
the heat.
We were in a convenient position to watch the pro
gress ol the fl lines, and the spectacle was magnificent.
In the night it would have been of appalling gran
deur.
For a considerable time we entertained strong
hopes that the beautiful French Church would be sa
ved, having been, as it was supposed, fire-proof built.
The cupola surmounting the d.ome first took fire, but
as the dome itself was roofed w ith copper, hopes were
yet enrertained that even though the cupola were de
stroyed, the fire would descend no farther.
Meantime the roof of the African Church, on the oppo
site corner, took fire, and the progress of the flames was
as rapid as destructive. The destruction of the cupola of
the French Church was still gradual, until from the intense
heat of the volumes of fire rolling upward from the theatre,
the copper roofing of the dome dissolved and ran ell'like
water.
The whole dome was in a few seconds afterwards wrap
ped in flames, while at about the same time, all hope of
saving the church was dissipated by the bursting ofthe fire
from the windows below—the wood work ofthe interior
' having become ignited by the heat of the wall next the
theatre.
Presently the Dutch Church in Franklin street was in
a blaze, and the whole scene was grand and awful—par
ticularly the column of fire ascending to a great height,
whirling at times in spiral wreaths, from the dome of the
French Church, in the construction of which an immense
quantify of timber must have been used. We have seen
nothing in the, way of conflagrations equalling this sublime
spectacle, since the memorable fire of December, 1835,
and long may it be ere we are called to behold another.
Bat it may not be long, as next to Constantinople, New
York will bear away the palm for the frequency and ex
tent, aud destructiveness ofits fires.
One word as to the amount of property destroyed. It
will probably not be less than $220,000, and we must say
that in our opinion, a good deal of it might have been
saved, had the hook and ladder companies been as affec
tive as they ought to be. There are not enough of those
companies or they are not what they were a few years
ago. Ws do not know where to attach blame, and
must leave that for the fire and water committee to as
certain.
We do not know the total amount insured—-the follow
ing statement however, was made known at the stock ex
change this morning.
Mutual Ins. Co. $15,000
Fireman’s Ins. Co. 15,000
Equitable Ins. Co. 6,500
New York Fire Ins. Co. 6,500
Jefferson Ins. Co. 5,000
Eight Ward. 5,000
Total $53,000
Fiom the New- York Cour, and Enq. Oct. 7.
FIRES.
The public mind was deeply agitated throughout Satur
day by the accounts which reached us of the destructive |
i conflagration raging in Philadelphia, and ere our anxiety !
on that head was allayed, we were ourselves visited bv a I
succession of fires, the last of which is more extensive,
and has occasioned a greater loss of property, than anv
that ever occurred here, except the “great fire in Decem
ber, 1835.
First Fire— At about six o’clock on Saturday evening,
the first alarm was given. It proceeded from a two story
frame house, No. 6, Albany street, from the roof of which
the flames bmst forth and speedily communicated to the
adjoining frame buildings, No. 4 and No. 8, all of which
were burned down to the first story before the engines
could arrest the progress of the fire. The houses were
occupied by a number of poor families—black and white
who lost the greater part of their furniture. Several
buildings in the neighborhood took fire from the sparks,
but they were soon extinguished. Ti.ere is little doubt
that this fire arose from accident. The chimney bad been
on fire in the early part of the afternoon, and it is suppos
ed that some burning embers, proceeding from it, had lain
smouldering till the fire broke out.
Second Fire— Between twelve and one o’clock in the
night, another fire broke out at No. 127 Eldridge street
occupied as a shop by Sutton & Carpenter,
which was burned down. The premises were insured for
SIOOO, which will hardly cover the loss. This fire extend
ed to No. 125 and 129 in the same street, both dwelling
houses with brick fronts. The first occupied by Mrs. Rob
erts, and the last by Mr. Devoe. These were also consu
med. No. 131, occupied by Mr. Clendenning, was much
injured. All these buildings were insured. One small
house in the rear of 125, inhabited by colored people, al
so caught fire and was destroyed, as were two small houses
in the rear of 148, Forsyth. The bouses in Forsyth st.
were damaged in the rear, but the loss cannot be large.—
I he fur-dresser s shop in the rear of 44 Delancv belonging
to Messrs E reeborn & Co was destroyed; loss about $300;
no insurance. There is good reason to suppose that this
fire was caused by an incendiary.
Third J-ire—\\ bile the firemen were actively engaged
at the above fires, and nt about fifteen minutes after one
o clock, an alarm was given in the lower part of the city.
Our reporter was early at the scene, and at the time of
Ins arrival flames were belching forth from the upper sto
ries of a large brick store No 189 Water street, midway
between E ulton street and Burling slip. Some few citizens
who wore present, broke open the doors, and exerted
themselves to save a portion ofthe valuable stock of furs,
of its occupant, S. A. Halsey. /
I lie 1 bird Ward Hose Company, got up by privo sub-'
scription alter the “ Great Fire,” shortly arrived, and en
deavored to check the fury’ of the flames; but there was
so little 4»ead of water in the reservoir, that their efforts
were entirely’ fruitless; although it is certain that a plen
tiful supply from two or three streams at this crisis might
have arrested the progress of the fire. In the mean time
the wind began to freshen, from the south east, and soon
the adjoining stores on either side were enveloped in flames. 1
The intense heat and cinders soon ignited theioofs and 1
cornices on the opposite side of the street, and the U S
Hotel, late Holt's was seriously threatened ; but by the
zealous efforts of its inmates in covering every window of
the exposed sides with wet blankets, it was preserved with- | (
out injury. At half past three, the greater part ofthe on- i |
tire square between Front, Fulton and Water streets, and
Burling slip, consisting of thirty-two buildings, was in
flames* presenting a sight truly awful in its sublimity. Any
effort to save the least portion of it seemed futile and the
firemen, devoting themselves to the protection of threat
ened, but yet uninjured property, abandoned it to its late.
The square is now a mass of ruins, with the exception of
a lew stores on Fulton street, which have escaped total
destruction, though materially injured.
The whirling cinders had now ignited the roofs of a
range of large stores on Water street, beyond Burling slip,
by mentis of the dormant windows, and In fore serous at
tention was turned to this new out break, it had obtained
too strong a hold to be easily dislodged. The aspect of
the fire, at this time, about four o’clock, was threatening
in the extreme; when, fortunately, the wind shifted several
points to the eastward, subsiding at the same time, and
the firemen gathered new courage. Lines had been for
med to the river, and a plentiful supply of water obtained,
and the further progress of the devastation was stayed.
.It was six o’clock, however, before ail alarm was subsided.
The. Philadelphia Fire.— Wc copy from the National
Gazette, the following account of this disaster. We are
assured that the amount of the loss sustained is exaggera
ted, and that it does not exceed $375,000.
From the Philadelphia National Gazette.
Extensive Fire and Loss of Lr/e.—About eleven o’-
clocklast night, a fire was discovered in the basement
story of W J Stroup’s Provision store, No. 14 South
Wharves, between Chestnut and Market streets, facing the
Delawme river. Three Custom House watchmen, Wil
liam Abel, Pierson Horn, and James Lenten, broke open
the door, and state that a few buckets of water would have
extinguished the fire, but the draught created by opening
the door instantly increased it, and extended to various
combustible merchandize. In a few minutes the flames
burst out and reached the adjoining provision store of D.
W. Prescott. This house was built back to Water street,
facing No. 19 on that street. In the same range the store
of Geotge Merrill, took fire immediately afterwards.
Although the fire companies were promptly on the
ground, the progress of the flames was so rapid, that the
prospect of arresting them was, even at that early hour,
very doubtful. The grocery stores of C Cheesborougli
and of George A Wood, No. 15 south wbarver, the oil
store of Newlin & Allibone, and the commission store of
No. 17, the iron warehouse of Andrew M. Jones
<fc Brothers, the office of the Merchants’ Transportation
Line, and the general commission warehouse of C King
& Co. No. 19, were successively enveloped in the flames.
The tavern kept by George Nealis was next attacked,
and thence the fire communicated to the large oil ware
houses of Shober, Bunting & Co., No. 21, extending
through to Water street. At this point the conflagration
became terrific. The ship chandlery of A 11 Hinkle,
No. 22, South wharves, and the commission warehouses
of Newbold & Haverstick, and of Smith &. Johnson were
in succession consumed.
Here the fire reached the corner of Chestnut street.
Returning to Water street, adjacent to Mr. Prescott’s
store, the fire is traced to John Harding, Jr’s extensive
wholesale grocery establishment, No. 17 ; thence to a
very large wholesale grocery of While, Stevens & Co.,
No. 21, and the storehouse of the same firm, No. 23 ;
tlience to El. Sloan’s general commission warehouse, No.
25. and thence to the large fireproof storehouse occupied
by W. R. Thompson & Co. Next to this building stood
the Fulton House, kept by J. Myers, at the corner of
Water and Chesnut streets, which, with all the houses
above mentioned, were utterly destroyed. The buildings
on the opposite, or west side of the street then took fire.
In this range were William R. Thompson & Co.’s store
house (a second building occupied by that firm); the Hibe
rnian tavern kept by J. Fitzpatrick; and between the latter
and Chesnut street three houses, occupied as tavernsand
clothing stores, the names of the owners of which we could
not learn. At the northwest corner of Water and Ches
nut streets, the clothing store of Gaskill & Barnes was
I next consumed.
From the rear of the latter row of buildings the fire
ccnimuiikated with those facing on the east side of E'ront
s reet. There, Wm. Steel’s Starch Factory, No. 27 was
partially injured ; Davis’s Suspender Manufactory No. 29;
and S. E. Davison’s Sacking Bottom Factory, No. 31,
were also injured ; Jas. L. Mifflin and Geo. Hill’s Commis
sion houses, Nos. 33 and 35, totally burnt ; Francis G.
Smith’s Commission store for the sale of Dupont’s Gun
powder, No. 37; Jehn Mee, Spice Factor’s stole No.
39; Wm. R. Thompson’s large Waiehouse and counting
bouse, No. 41 ; Patrick Donnelly’s Tavern, No. 43; Den
nis Lahey’s Tavern, No. 45 ; John Lloyd, Tobacconist’s
store, No. 47 ; and John Longhead’s Cooper sh.op, No.
49, were entirely destroyed.
I The house at the North east corner of Front and Chesnut
I streets, occupied by Thomas S. Diehl, S. C. Bunting, Thom-
I as M. Clark, and Paynter & Slaek, commission merchants,
[ was much damaged. The intense heat of the flying cinders
set. lire to the roofs of the stores of Geoge W. Richards &
Co,, and of Richards & Bi-liam, on the west side of Front
street- The upper stories of the former were burnt, the lat
ter partially injured. Here the fire was checked in this direc
tion, beyond the expectations of the spectators. Meanwhile
the flames had extended to the Steamboat Hotel, on the
south side of Chesnut street, at the corner ol Water. Next
door a cooper’s shop was destroyed, and the office and bag
gage depot of the Camden and Amboy line was materi illy
injured. At the southwest coiner of Water and Chesnut
streets, the fire reached the clothing store of Enoch Allen; 1
next the barber shop of William Gorgas, next to Martin’s
tavern, No. 57 Front, and to tiie German commission bouse
of Meisgics & Unkart, No. 59. These houses were wholly
consumed. The oilier store io the same range, of .). B. Mc-
Ilvaine, Wm. P. Hanna, anti Charles Field & Sun, were
slightly injured.
The spaiks set several buildings on fire in Taylor’s Alley.
J. Rowlauds’ liquor store was seriously damagedfand a large
four story building also injured.
In Chesnut street above Front the store of Durdon B. Car
ter was considerably burnt, and the storeof Hemy Risbtough
partially.
We h ive not yet been able to ascertain the names of the
owneis of the buildings which were iujuied or destroyed by
this calamitous fire. All which were within the circle ofthe
flames were burl literally to the ground. Not a particle of
wood work, is left in them, and the walls of many have fal
len entirely. There prevailed during the whole night a
strong north-east wind, which rapidly extended the conflag
ration and greatly increased the difficulties to operating
against it efficiently.
In several of the stores the oil-, liquors, aud other combus
tibles, blazed for hours with intense violence. Explosions
were frequent, and several are said to have been kegs of gun
powder. At six o’clock this morning the indefatigable and
daring exertions of the firemen had reduced the flames, aud
further destruction of property ceased to be apprehended. It
is impossible to commend, in terms too ardent and grateful,
the labors of the firemen on this occasion. When they had
no. opportunity of working at the engines, or performing oth
er duties, they got drays and carts in the neighborhood, load
ed them with goods and furniture, and dragged them with
infinite toil to places of secure deposite. The Mayor and
the whole body of watchmen were on the ground, protecting
the property scattered about the streetsfaml preserving order
among the thousands of spectators who thronged to the dis- '
asti ous scene.
The amount of property of various kinds thus destroyed, it I
is impossible to estimate with precision, but it may be reason '
ably stated at about $600,000. This loss is most untimely.
Ni ver, wc learn, have the merchants of this city stood more
in need of regular and prosperous trade.
I he extensive warehouse of David S Brown, commission
merchant, we omitted to mention above amongthe buildings
sligi.t y injured. Although greatly exposed, it was saved by
the use of rvet blankets on the roof and in the windows.
The most painful portion of this recital yet remains-' Se
veral, wc know not how many, have beeti killed or severely
wounded. At 8 o'clock this morning the walls of Enoch El
len’s house fell with a tremendous crash, and buried in the ru
ins as we learn positively, a fireman named \V. Moreland, a
member of the Good Will, engine. He was instantly killed.
Others, it is feared, were also mortally hurt. Two of the
bounded were carried to the hospital.
William Field, a fireman, was severely injured.
James Smiley, a member of the Diligent' Hose Company
fell into a burning cellar, and had his head much cut and his'
hands burned. j
James Barber and John Douglass, members of the Good
Will Engine Company, ami a member of the Hope Ho, e
Company, whose name we did not learn, ate missing, and
the w<>i st is feared concerning them °
burut , .“ i “ d Tiln ‘ Ui,lS, alS °° r lh ° U,ter Company, is
Jacoh Lugler, fireman, badly burned
r 9
mid'dtiecS^ 1 iU ab ° Ul " ,re?
llobeit Reynolds and Charles lßr m . ln , members „ f lh ..
Wcccacoe Engine, were both seriously injure by ali I f
cotton thrown ft own the upper window of one of the stores
Many poor families have been thus turned from their
homes, and have lost a great portion of their furnitme and
clothing. There was generally insurance on the property as
far as we have been able to ascertain, but the particulars on
this bead w e cannot yet state with accuracy, his proper to
mention however that the disaster will not cause any failur<s
There are various surmises concerning the cause of the fire
which many suppose was the work of an incendiary. The
firemen arc now—twelve o’clock, M., leaving the scene of
the conflagration with their apparatus. This we believe, is
most destructive fire which has ever occurred in Philadelphia.
1 Os fifty-t wo buildings w hich were on fire forty are in total ru
i in, many of them largo new houses.
Fiom the Macon Telegraph.
Ma cox, September 23, 1839.
We, the undersigned, being engaged in commer
cial pursuits, and feeling the importance of presea tin •
1 for consideration, some light on subjects connecteti
with our mutual interests, have through this medium,
though proper to address you.
Whereas, the Notes of our citizens, given abroad
for Merchandise, being generally sent to our commer
cial opponents at Augusta, for collection, (rather than
to our Banks and citizens direct,) and the most illib
eral system of settlement exacted of us by them, in pro
scribing and refusing to receive in payment thereof
the current bills of various responsible Banks, receiv
ed by all our Banks and Merchants at par', and con
stituting at this time our principal circulation. From
the fact, that the Augusta Banks, have drawn in and
are holding up, most of their issues : thereby acquiring
over other institutions undue power, and exemption
from equal liability and common sympathy, violating
the spirit of their charters, and the confidence of Mer
chants, controlling weaker institutions with impunity,
by exercising rigorously the offensive functions of
Brokers, extorting heavy tribute from the victims of
their persecution in weekly settlements, (on a truly
broker plan,) monopolizing the exchanges, (of late
their chief business,) for which they exact usurious,
unreasonable, oppressive rates.
Therefore resolved, That in future under such cir
cumstances, we shall not feel ourselves bound to obey
the mandates from Augusta to pay our paper by spe
cie or select favorite bank notes as they may direct.
But shall regard our ciedit/uzr/y protected in tender
ing itt payment promiscuous current Bank Notes, es
timated and received by the whole community here
at par.
And that henceforth commercial men controlling
our paper, and not regulating properly and directly
its collection, here, but through Augusta as usual,
shall cease to receive in any way, our patronage and
support.
Wm. B. Parker, J. P. Lord Co.
Charles Collins, Brown Ik, Denton,
Solomon, Griffin &. Land, Samuel J. Ray &. Co.
E. R. Graves, A. G. Smith & Co.
Levi Eckley, Wm. Collins &. Co.
Wijliam J. Hobby, Jr. John J. Bennett,
John L. Jones, Ira E. Fort Co.
Chandler Smith & Co. Fort &. Clopton,
Geo. A. Kimberly, J. G. Moore,
Wrigley St Hart, Wm. A. Ross,
Story Russell, Thomas A. Brewer,
C. A\ Ells, J. H. & W. S. Elik,
Geo. W. Price El Co. Church & Strong,
Heldt, Aldrich & Co. Winn &. Shannon,
Harvey Shotwell, R. Carver Si Co.
H. L. Cook St Co. Wm. Cowles,
Wm. J. Anderson Si Co.
The dead body of John Hunton, was found, in the
woods on Saturday last, about three miles from this
place. His head was badly fractured, though it is
probable one blow inflicted the deadly wound. On
the day following, a coroner’s inquest was held, which
resulted in a verdict, that the deceased was murdered,
and by the hands of his own son, a lad we understand
to be about fourteen years of age. As the youth is
committed to prison, and will have to stand his trial
before a jury of the country, vve forbear farther re
marks. and gladly would have been spared the pain
of saying so much as we have said.— Southern Spy.
United States Bank stock has fallen to 1044 percent,
which is within about three per cent as low as it stood
when the renewal of the charter was defeated bv the
piesident. It then wentdown to 101A. The decline of
this stock is now doubtless caused, in a great measure, bv
the general pressure in the money market, and perhaps
bv want of confidence. These, however, are not the
only causes, for during the last three weeks holders of
stock, who have no fears, have changed their securities
for the purpose of making money. These holders inv».
sold largely at about 107, and 'invested their luikls.--
Post notes at eighteen per cent per annum discount.
By this measure, calculating the dividends at eight, ihev
would be clear gainers of ten per cent, which added to
107, would give them equal to 117 per cent in 12munth.«.
This is an operation woich shrewd capitalists well un
derstand.— N. Y. Express.
Letters by the Great Western.—No less than the sum
of two thousand five hundred dollars was received on Sat
urday, for letters sent by the Great Western—a laig. r
sum than was ever received on any similar eccasiou ; the
number of letters being about ten thousand. They were
despatched from the Merchants’ Exchange Reading Roo,.
Hale’s Reading room ana Letter Office, and from the’
office of Mr. Irvin, the agent ofthe Great Western, Mr.
Gilpin, of the Exchange, received $ 1600, and Mr Hale
we suppose the bulk of the balance.— A". F. Gazette.
»
American Humming Bird.—N couple of waggish bovs
having taken a nest of hornets and plugged up the en
teiance, took it to an Irishman who happened to be leis
urely passing up the towpath, while the boat in which he
1 was passsenger was getting through the lock,and sold it to
I him for a nest of American hummingbirds. His instruc
tions were that he should not allow them to come eut
except 111 a tight room, and to entice them back he was to
beat upon their nest, which would induce them to return
to l ieu habitation. \\ ith this information he hastened on
board the boat, and called upon his comrades to go with
him into the cabin to examine the qualifications of this
rare specimen of American ornithology. Having give
the nest to his partner, with instructions to call them back
tl any person should come to interupt them, Pat pulled
out the plug, when one came and lit upon his hand. “Och
fait, look what a beautiful cratur! surely ould Ireland
utver had the like.” Just then several had come out, and
one had planted his sting just above Patrick’s eye. “Och*
thunder and turf! bate the hive!” cried Pat, throwing his
arms around at every fresh sting. “The divil’s bad luck
till ye, Jamrnie, why don’t ye bate the hive,” while Jam
nuc used what little time the hornets left him in pounding
the nest.
Why is whispering always forbidden? Because it is not
allowed [aloud.]