Ditto, window-curtains

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In a lecture recently delivered at the Royal Adelaide Gallery, by Mr. Booth, F.S.S., on the fires of London, their causes and prevention, he stated that in a period of five years there were in London no less than 2476 fires. These he divided, as regards their causes, into three classes, controllable, partly controllable, and partly uncontrollable, and after expatiating upon these classes, the lecturer proceeded to observe that, notwithstanding all the vigilance of inquiry that was adopted, there remained a large number of instances in which the causes were unassigned. These he endeavoured to ascribe to spontaneous combustion, observing that certain chemical combinations would take place in bodies, by which heat was elicited sufficient to ignite the bodies themselves, or any substance with which it might be in contact. The series of circumstances under which this took place, was of a very important character, and sufficed to explain many fires of mysterious origin; and what confirmed this view of the case was, that many of the unknown fires originated in those trades in which substances were employed, in which spontaneous combustion was likely to take place. Mr. Booth enumerated fifty-five instances in which spontaneous ignition might ensue, many of which are well known, others of questionable authenticity. He then alluded to the occurrence of fires from very singular causes; amongst these were fires proved to have been produced by transparent substances, acting as lenses, and concentrating the rays of the sun; such as glass globes with gold fish, show-bottles in apothecaries' and chemists' shops, and water bottles in bedchambers, which had cach been known to ignite bed and window curtains. Coarse and blistered glass, used in sky-lights, had caused explosions in gunpowder manufactories; as had also lime, when used in the desiccation of that substance. Lime had likewise, by accidental flooding set fire to many buildings where it

• In thirteen instances, the firemen were not admitted into the premises, and therefore could not obtain any particulars.

was in contact with combustible substances. Under friction, Mr. Booth alluded to the danger of fire occurring from congreve matches, stating that they were liable to ignite after they had been thrown away as useless; the inflammable material was also frequently thrown aside to a considerable distance, and might be productive of great mischief. On these accounts, their use should be prohibited in warehouses and manufactories where combustible matters are kept or used. Amongst the causes of mysterious fires, might also be enumerated the embers of tobacco and cigars, which falling upon saw-dust, or being carried to hay-ricks, would prove their destruction, even after some time had elapsed, as they acted like touchwood, from the nitre which they contained.

Having entered thus minutely into a series of circumstances, little understood, and less guarded against, the lecturer stated, that by attention to the published causes of fire, great good would be accomplished. The number of fires continually occurring from overheated flues and stoves particularly demanded attention. The flues of buildings which had been constructed for heating merely by the simple combustion of wood or coal burned in open fire-grates, are not at all fitted to be exposed to the intense heat given off by several of the modern stoves. The great principle of these modern

contrivances was to obtain and diffuse as large a proportion of heat from as small a surface as possible, and with the least consumption of fuel; and one of the means, was limiting the draught of air. The air thus concentrated attains a very high degree of temperature, sufficient to ignite any combustible substances with which it may come in contact; besides which, the conductile power for heat of bricks and plaster becomes much modified by being constantly subjected to its influence. In this, Mr. Booth considers lies the great secret of the destruction of many modern public buildings; and the inquiry is of much public importance, because the causes of destruction may, even now, be in slow and insidious operation to the eventual destruction of other national, and particularly sacred edifices, from the general introduction of new fashioned stoves into such buildings. It was also, he remarked, notorious that there existed means of making buildings fire-proof, so that when a fire occurred,

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it might be confined to the apartment in which it originated.

Of the sixteen fatal fires, the following seem to require especial notice, attended as some of them have been by circumstances most distressing to the feelings of humanity, and most disgraceful to the police on duty in the several localities, who have shown a neglect and want of tact almost incredible.

The first of these fatal fires was that at Mr. Freeman's, in Parson's-street, Upper East Smithfield, 1 A.M., on the 10th of March, when a female perished, as before noticed. A coroner's inquest being held upon the body, the following verdict was returned:-" That the deceased, Ann Dillon, was burned to death at a fire that took place on the morning of the 10th of March, but whether it originated by accident, or otherwise, there was no evidence to show." May 3, 114 P.M. Mr. Berlyn, dealer in marine stores, Church-lane, Whitechapel. The bodies of the two children, Abraham Weller, and Edward Weller, were found after the fire was extinguished, at the back part of the ruins, burnt in a most frightful manner. A coroner's inquest was held the same evening, and after a lengthened and unsatisfactory investigation, a verdict of accidental death was returned.

June 8, 4 A.M. Astley's Amphitheatre, Westminster-bridge-road. Mr. Ducrow having been roused to a sense of his danger, he instantly collected his family and servants, and escaped with them in their night clothes: they first ran down stairs to the entrance leading to Westminster-bridge-road, but being unable to open that door, they retraced their steps, and descended a back staircase, amid clouds of dust and smoke, into the court-yard leading into Stangate-street. One of the female servants, named Elizabeth Britton, who had lived with Mr. Ducrow for many years, and to whom he was much attached, after escaping, was so imprudent as to return, under a vain hope of saving (as is supposed) her clothes, and was never again seen alive. After the fire was over, her blackened remains were found in a crouching position behind the door of the box entrance. The coroner's inquest returned a verdict that the deceased, Elizabeth Britton, was accidentally burned to death by going into Astley's Theatre, which had taken fire by accident." The loss of his property, and the melancholy death of his beloved servant, had such an effect upon Mr. Ducrow, that he never recovered the shock; his health fluctuated greatly, till February, 1842, when he suddenly expired.

July 2, 11 P.M. Mr. Reilly, chair-maker, Quicksett-row, New-road, Marylebone.

This fire was supposed to have been occasioned by one of Mr. Reilly's workmen, who lodged in the house, and returned home about 11 o'clock in a state of intoxication. He retired to his room, from which he never came forth alive, but perished in the funeral pyre he had unwittingly kindled, dying a most dreadful "drunkard's death."

October 11, 34 A.M. Mr. Merry, cheesemonger, High-street, Newington-butts. At the coroner's inquest on the bodies of the two sufferers, Mrs. Merry, and the maid-servant, Police constable 198 P said, "If I had known that the ladders were nearly opposite the fire, where I have since seen them, I think the old lady's life could have been saved!" Another policeman, 246 P, stated that, "when he entered the police force, he was not told where the fire-escapes were placed !”

It is a fact, that the parish ladders stand nearly opposite to the ill-fated building, and the spot is indicated by an inscription in legible characters stating where the keys are to be obtained. How ignorance of the circumstance could possibly be pleaded, seems passing strange. The parish engine from the same spot was soon brought out, for the sake of the reward; but there was no person present competent to set it to work, and the bringers were too much ashamed to apply for the reward, which was given to the West of England, the next to arrive, and the first to work on the fire. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," at the same time expressing their regret "that the police were not acquainted with the place in which the parish ladders were kept, as they might have prevented the sacrifice of human life." It was also determined to memorialize the commissioners on the subject.

Three fires, as already narrated, proved fatal to firemen; one terminated fatally from a sudden explosion of gunpowder; four were fatal to children from the ignition of the beds on which they lay; and three from the ignition of wearing apparel on the person.

The most extraordinary case of burning that ever came within my knowledge, is set forth in the following narrative from the Weekly Dispatch of May 9th last, which proves

Ormond's Head, Princes-street, Storey'sgate, Westminster, before Mr. Higgs, Coroner, on the body of Charlotte Furneaux, aged 16 months, whose death occurred under the following circumstances:-Frances Furneaux, sister to the deceased, stated that on Saturday morning she and the deceased were out walking in Tufton-street, when suddenly the upper part of her clothes burst out in flames. Witness cried out for help, and several people immediately came to the deceased's assistance. Deceased had no combustibles in her hand or about her dress, nor was there any one near whe could have set her clothes on fire. Thos. Parry, of No. 12, Chandos-street, coachpainter, stated that he was at work on the morning in question, at No. 57, Tuftonstreet, and hearing screams he looked out of the window and saw deceased in the street in flames. He and other persons from the neighbouring houses rushed out and extinguished them by throwing carpets, &c., round deceased. She was most dreadfully burnt, and he instantly conveyed her to the Westminster Hospital.

There was no one near who could set fire to her clothing. She had on a black pinafore, but there was nothing at all remarkable about the other materials of her dress. C. H. Garstin, Esq., house-surgeon to the Westminster Hospital, stated that deceased was burnt in a most horrible manner, and it was utterly impossible that any medical skill could have saved her life. She died in great agony on the following morning, The jury returned a verdict of 'Death by burning,' there being no evidence to show how the combustion of deceased's apparel had originated."

In my last report, I noticed the formation, in June, 1840, of a local society for the protection of life from fire in the parish of St. James's, Westminster, in consequence of the sad calamity which had then recently occurred by the loss of two lives at a fire in Marylebone-street. This society (all the officers of which, including their indefatigable secretary, Mr. W. J. Newton, are honorary) has been in full operation during the last eighteen months, with the most gratifying success.

The principal fire-escape of the society (one of Wivell's) is deposited during the day in Argyll-place, and every night, at half-past eight o'clock, is placed in charge of the conductor, on the south side of

Golden-square, prepared to proceed, at a moment's notice, to any part of the parish or its vicinity where a fire may break out. The conductor, with his escape, has been in attendance, during his hours of duty, at thirty-three fires; twenty of which have occurred in St. James's, and thirteen in adjoining parishes.

At eleven of these fires he arrived several minutes before the turncock or engines; and in fourteen instances he arrived simultaneously with the first engine. In three instances he succeeded in extinguishing the fires before any other assistance arrived; and, upon one of these occasions, he was presented with a sovereign as a reward for his prompt and efficient services, by the British Fire Office, who had an insurance upon the premises. At one fire (Mr. Reeves', in Princes-street), the society's servants succeeded in saving the life of a fellowcreature, as already noticed; and the society have the gratification of knowing that no loss of life by fire has occurred within their district, since they commenced operations. In addition to the escape above alluded to, the society have stationed a sliding ladder escape at the south end of the Burlington Arcade, as well as two portable rope escapes, one at the workhouse entrance, No. 50, Polandstreet, the other at the residence of the collector, No. 41, Brewer-street, Golden

square.

In my last report, I alluded to the sensation which had been produced in the city by the occurrence of some fatal fires attended with a serious loss of life, under circumstances most disgraceful to the authorities. I also described in detail the measures which had been taken, up to that period, with a view to prevent a repetition of such calamities. I have now only to bring down the narrative to the present time. On the 24th February, the Police Committee, with D. W. Harvey, Esq., the Police Commissioner, and Mr. Braidwood, the Superintendent of the London Fire Establishment, met at Guildhall to receive and inspect the very excellent fire-escapes which had been made agreeably to their order; a notice of which meeting duly appeared in your 916th Number.

After these escapes had been examined and admired, they were deposited in a dark damp hole at the back of Guild

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hall, known as the "kitchen," where they have remained ever since, rapidly undergoing the decay that appertains to all sublunary things.

I have only to add the fact, that the makers' bills have been paid, and so ends

"This strange eventful history."

During the past year the deficiencies of the water supply have again been most seriously felt in several localities, especially in the neighbourhood of Bermondsey, where a timely or adequate supply can scarcely ever be relied on. In several other districts, however, similar misfortunes have likewise been experienced, and the whole question is now before Her Majesty's government, in order to ascertain if this highly important matter will not admit of some systematic improvement, by which a prompt and sufficient supply of water may be insured upon every occasion of fire.

In my last report I mentioned that an improved marine fire-engine was building for the Emperor of Russia, by Mr. Merryweather. During the past summer this magnificent machine has been completed, and now floats on the waters of the Neva, affording the protection of its immense power, in case of fire, to St. Petersburgh and its environs.

Fig. 1, (see front page) is a side elevation of this marine fire-engine, from a drawing taken at St. Petersburgh; and fig. 2 is a ground plan of the boat and machinery. It consists of a fine iron boat, 60 feet long, and 16 feet wide, constructed by Messrs. Fairbairn and Co., of Blackwall. The engine has three working barrels, A, 74 inches in diameter, with a 144 inch stroke. Manual power is applied to four cranked handles, H, 12 feet long, and 18 inches radius, which are connected by toothed gearing with a main shaft, C, carrying three 6-inch cranks. Connecting-rods, d, pass up from these cranks to three over-head levers, E, the fulcra of which are placed in the back part of the frame, behind the air-vessel, B: the other end of the levers being attached to the piston-rod slings. Each pair of the cranked handles is provided with a fly-wheel, W, 6 feet in diameter, to equalize the motion, and the handles, H, are all fixed at angles of 90° relatively to each other.

The engine occupies the middle of the boat, both ends of which are alike, to su

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