_ 4 possessing property roundabout, and also for the

‘ ‘ ~sliftimintmilion, and a merchant brig was seized in the harbour.

»’ ‘ telligeuce on the 15th of June, and embarked the 25th re-i

. . weigh six ounces.

EX "I'RACI'S FROM LATE ENGLISH PAPERS.

PORT NATAL.

We mentioned-Jest week that the force under Capt. Smith, at Port Natal, had been relieved, by the arrival of the Southampton frigate in the port. The enemy dispersed 0n the reinforcements contained in the vessel landing, and the place is now securely in our hands. The following letter from an officer on board the Southampton details in a lively manner the operations which came under his no- tice, and also gives a general account of the origin and prog'ress of the hostilities of which Port Natal has been the scene:—

_ , Cape of Good Hope, July 22, 1842. “Amongst the possessions ceded to us by the Dutch, at the surrender of the Cape ofGood Hope, Port Niltlll,a provmce .mdwhsrbour on the S. E. coast of Africa, was included '; and Latter. keeping up a military establishment at that post for sane years, the troops were withdrawn. Shortly after the ‘ msnelpation of the slavesin the Cape colony, Dutch set—

up their farms, in consequence of supposed grievances from 'ithe British Government, particularly iit not being generally recompensed for the loss of their mggcrs, 2. Some of 'these mined in trade, others desperate characters, who con- sidered any change Would be for the better, left the Cape Jud fought their way through Cafl'reland ; and, finally, esta- .bhshed thetifiéltres in}he province of Natal, acotintry which ggnly requires labour tounake it the most productive of land, 'si it enjoys a delicious climate, numerous suinll rivers ih‘oundinw with fish, intersecting a rich sod of hill and dale ’it'nd'wooded pasturage, and a port (Natal) with every con- venience for trade with small vessels, which consists ofivory and skins. Here these Boors established themselves as a republic, under Pretorius, a German, as their President, and 'w has deceived these people by pretending to have the fat-1t ,ority of Holland iii the rebellion. John Bulltas usual, ' delpisod his enemies, and the consequences were disastrous. Six months ago, Captain Smith, in command of200 of the

.. 27th Regiment, ii handful ofartillery, with two six-pouiiders, marched from Graham’s Town, with orders to occupy Nutul in- thenamo of'fhe British, and to enforce obedience to the laws, 8w. of the colony. The Caffres and Zalas, tribes of spoierful coloured men, or rather savages, on the north cas- i-‘terh'bOundai-y of the Cape colony, who hate the patch, in _ ’eonsequcnce of the cruelties practised by them in olden “intend also latterly, by these Hours, are friendly to the ~English, and covered the advance of Captain Smith. Well “alum, for, in consequence of the thick-wooded country, ,- le'onllen state of the rivers, and roads being obliged to be cut for the artillery, .tliey were four months marchingr the. i distnneoof five hundred miles; and such was the nature of '3' the country, that frequently no more than three men abreast conic entrance, and a few resolute men in ambush might have cut them to pieces. They arrived, however, in May anddrove the Boors fi'om thopoiut ofland which coni- Magda the harbour ofNutal. Here he left a. small detach— , “teat -ofinei_i, and eiicainped with the main party about miles inland, at the beginning of the neck which "fhi’mil the Tfirbour. This was done in consequence ofEu-

,pndung'ground for his bollocks. The Hours now mustered 'very strong, armed with long rifles, and always considered flood-hots. In consequence oftheir taking some of Capt. ’Sfiifl'fiiolttle to their camp, called Congella, a night attack ' was. made, which ended in the defeat ofC-apt. Smith, and two firms taken,afier doing everything a brave man could do; 15 men were killed, and they had ,to retreat at once to Wish camp, round which they placed large wagons. Trenches about six feet in depth were dug, in which they to‘live‘ chiefly on horseflesh, and were for 25 days heiii- ,

'Vinsd icon every side by the Boers, who had also dug " ‘trench'eii With admirable skill, and who kept up an almost,

cousmnt fire night and day; a good idea ofthe fire kcpt’~l »w.ngsuy be shown by 240 round shots picked up in the, X ‘ one day. »’ A sally was made by Lieutenant Moles-

' f, c'ono‘tiigiit, and a great many of the enemy wen?

,bsyonelod in the trenches, but he was obliged to retreat to _zhe.5;amii with the loss of one officer (Prior) and two pri- vates killed, and several wounded. Ufcourse the detncli-, "attentional the point were taken prisoners, with a quantity,

Such was the state of affairs when we received the iu~} l giméf'it, and Quartermaster-General Cloate in C0l11l‘tl:l'.l(l,l] and anchored off Port Natal on the 25th; the same evening‘

we sent up two rockets and fired two (SS-poundcrs, to give sheds and warehouses of Mr. ’teyner \verc rapidly envelo-

notice to Captain Smith of assistance beingat hand.

The attack was fixed for the morrow, and, accordingly, at day-break, on Sunday, 27th of June, we got the boats out, mounted their six-pounders, and towed the ships as near the bar ofthe harbour as the depth ofthe water would allow.- But 3' must give a description of the harbour, &c. ' On the

left entrance is a high bluff point, thickly wooded, whichEThe warehouses and sheds, on each side, were a mass of -runs may inland, the whole or it thick wood down to the , utter ruins.

beach, which forms one side of the entrance—opposite to this, and about one mile from the commencement of'tliis tongue ol'land, is a long reach of land composed of sand- hills thick with wood, running along for about three miles at right angles to the blufl‘, inside which is the harbour of Natal; the outsnle is exposed to the sea in Il'CllleIlllOllS’LSlll‘i; which prevents the possibility oflauding, therefore the pas- ftsage for small vessels and boats is not above 300 yards across from the bluff. On the sand-bills was the flug-stafl’aud two guns ;0n the blufl'point was one gun; this was all we could see from the ship, which was about 2,000 yards off: I should have mentioned, that across from the bluff point runs a bar, which iit times breaks violently, and is particularly danger- ous to boats; and also that the Conch schooner had arrived with a howitzer mounted, and about 100 soldiers of the 27th regiment from Algoa Bay. The day was fine, and alight bneze setting in the harbour, when the attack commenced in the following ordain—first, the schoone'; second, the launch, I4 sailors and 25 soldiers; third, the piiiiiace, 14 sailors, 23 soldiers; fourth, the yawl, (which I commanded) With 14 sailors and 18 soldiers and officers; fifth, the cutter, With 10 sailors and 1‘2 soldiers. flying, the guns loaded, and every man had his musket

(as the bouts were towed in by the schooner.) Shortly after cross": the bar, the enemy, well screened from view on the

Woody cight,comineuced firing. Two boats (pinnace and

:cutter) cast ofl‘anil engaged them with grape, canister, and

By this time we were rounding the sandy point, when the enemy

'_inusketry. I was then taken in tow by the launch.

opened a heavy fire from both sides, which we returned in

excellent style, and the ship, opening hcr68-pounders, com- We gave way in for

plimentcd them With shot and shell. the shore, when the enemy fled in all directions, the soldiers

, Bklrllllsllillg.ltflel' them through the wood on their way to Captain Smith, who, observtug liOW' matters stood, had the

satisfaction of treating the flying enemy with a few 18-pound shot.

of the Boers We could not ascertain. 400 men, armed with long rifles.

loyed in the boots.

3 heavy 'gale of wind, on the 15th inst. .

EXTENSIVE FIRES AT LIVERPOOL.

A Has, the most extensive and most destructive that ever

occurred in this town, broke out about three o’clock on Fri day the 23d September, in it paint inanuf‘actory and oil Ware

house in Paisley street, which is a small street leading from

Great Harvard-street to Bath-street ; it is surrounded by warehouses and sheds used for bonded good, and filled with produce to . the materials, and a stiff breeze . . . r the time, the fire spread with inconceivable rapidity, exteu: pi ding up to the front of Great Howard—street and across Forinby-street, and up to Neptunfistreet, covering an ex- w tent oftwo acres of ground. I fifteen warehouses ofthe first class. most of them five stories high, and about the same number ol'bouded sheds ofsmziller diinensious, had been burnt, and the fire was still unchecked, beino' reatlv favored b * urct’fo :tute that the dreiidful occurrence hushecn attended A livitli several casualties, and the loss of'muny lives. -

The following particulars oftliis (-alauiitousoccurrence'wc fr abridge from the Liverpool

Friday morning, on the premises of M r Peiiistou, bone- grinder and drysalter, Whose manufactory opened from Crompton-street. ' ‘ ' its, nearly to the amount of2,000 men and women, gave had taken place, the alarm was given ; the oflicers on tiie ' contiguous beats were summoned ; intelligence was the- patched to the fire-police station and through the town. Ln- gines, one after another, were sent to the spot, whither Mr. Whitby and Mr. Hewitt repaired immediately, and they soon got into play. All efforts, however, availed little, for the gale blew the flames irresistibly ouw-ard in a northerly di— rection, and, owing to the combustible materials of the pre—

tained, the fire continued to gain strength. In about twenty

their property was removed to a place of safety.

towards Formby-strcet, which, with the exception ofa range

Away we went, colours

The colours ofOld England were then hoisted at Port Natal about four o’clock. Our loss was very small, owing to the tremendous fire kept up on the Boers, and to the Safe manner in which the attack was made—four killed and six wounded. The enemy fired high, ifl iiiightjiidae of the

"whistling oyer my head; my boat was struck severiil times,

.. and a bullet hit a soldier’s musket and glanced off ou’ his back. I observed their very large size, and found them to

Every one behaved in the Way English- men generally do. It was a' glorious thing when three hearty

, dieers were given at the hoisting ofthe colours. The loss

'I‘hey mustered about

The captain, in his des-

Ipatch, has mentioned the gallant conduct ofthe officers em-

Letters of thanks have been received

om Colonel Clocte, in command of the troops, and also

’ fi'om Governor Sir G. Napier, written in very flattering terms. We sailed from Natal on the 4th July, and arrived here, after

/ i

the top. From the inflammable nature of from the N. W. blowing at N

Up‘ to half-past nine o’clock.

the high wind blowing. We re-

.leion of Monday :—- The fire was discovered shortly before three o’clock on

Immediately on the discovery of what

inises, as well as the nature of the goods which they cou- ii

minutes after its commencement, the building in which it had commenced, and two others adjoining it, Were complete- lv destroyed. Mr. Isaac’s oil and varnish works iicxt fella fl sacrifice to the flames. forts ofthe police. The continued torrents of water which, n without intermission, they poured upon the burning mass did notappear to make the least iiiipreSsion.

The sheds and cooperage of Messrs. Taylor and Graham were next assailed, and added fuel to the devouring element. These gentlemen are also extensive owners of carts, lor- rcys, and horses, and we are happy to state that this part of The wind, however, being,r chiefly from the north, fbi‘ced the flames ii

of new cottages at the top, and a dwelling-house opposite to them, in the occupation ofhlrs. Bark, consisted of ranges of splendid Warehouses recently built. The fire still advanced eastwardly towards Great Howard—street, devouring, in its. is onward course, several yards and sheds, and at length, reach- ed the yard ofthe Messrs. Molyncnx, the fi‘ont of which is

ceivcd additional strength from considerable quantities of

tanceliackwards in a Westerly direction. Here, again, it I'e- pi timber in the yards and sheds. The fluines still progressed l

C

onwards up Forn‘iby-strect, and caught some bonded \criptions, mixed with dwelling—houses. The largest portion These, with l is now levelled in utter ruins, or else is so injured as to be use- the goods which they contained, were soon added to the 1 less, and the only portions left in a perfect state are the row

of houses towards the docks, and ii newly-built warehouse pied the sites of the previous buildings, and left nothing behind them, and the buildingsaud warehouses at the lower All the sheds and yards i cud ofCronipton-street and Neptune—street.

sheds which li‘ouf Great l-loward-street.

mass of burning and smoking ruins which now occu-

liut an outward Wall standing. between Cromptou-street and Formby-street were, in a few hours, either a mass of ruins or in flames; and, the still continuing to blow freshly from the north, the fire was t

communicated, about five o’clock, from the adjoining sheds Maw’s four warehouses, no numbers; Gray’s E 228; Grey’s to the rear ofthe fine warehouses and sheds on the north 0229; Taylor’s 933; Rodger’s 256, two; Rayner’s shed, 252; Gregsou’s 319, two; Horsley’s two sheds; M‘Knight’s two ditto; Poole’s two sheds ; 'I‘ayliii"s cooperages and other

stde of Formby-strce’t. 'l'liese buildings, principally stored with cotton, were speedily enveloped in clouds of smoke. In a very short time the flames burst forth with awful fury; timber yards. The whole is assessed at an annual value of

The value ofthe buildings, exclusive of the land,

warehouse after warehouse Was ignited; and, ultimately, the 1£3500. whole ofthe warehouses on one side of Fortnby- street were ! probably fi‘oni £35,000 to £40,000. The principal contents On the north sule ofthe street, in the course of were cotton, turpentine, flour, &c.

in a blaze. _ about two hours, four warehouses belonging to Mr. Nutha- uicl Rcyncr, one the property of Mr. Taylor, and tliree'bon- ded sheds belonging to Mr. Gray, were destroyed. The fire had now assumed a most awful irizigiiitudc, and biirucilwith great ferocity. These warehouses and sheds, though chiefly

lled--w-iit.l.i..c,ptton, containcdu very considerable quantities of other kinds 0,: merchandise. On the ground-floor of one of them there who no fewer than 1,000 barrels ofturpeu‘tiae, which, when'fit fliiuics, burned with an excess of energy to which no description can do adequate justice, and sot:= fire to the new sheds on the opposite side ofthe street, in the occu- pation of Mr. i‘i‘l‘Kiiight. About six o’clock the wind veered a little to the westward, and drove the flames over Forniby- street to the opposite warehouses and sheds. These were speedin in flames. The sheds of Mr. M‘Kiiight and the

. ped in one fiery flame. Mr. l‘il‘Kiiight’s property was filled with sugar and i'icc,just landed II‘OII'I the Bland, from Cal- cutta. Much ofthis was destroyed. Two iron warehouses, in Formby—strcet, owing to the inconibustible nature of their materials, though the fire for hours flamed against them with the intensity of a furnace, escaped destruction.

About six o’clock two of the fire-police engines’, with atull complement of men, were hard at work, pouring a coli- tiuucd discharge of water upon the sheds of Mr. ill-Knight, when, without any warning whatever, a great explosion or crash took place in one ofthe warehouses on the north side ofthe street, and almost over where the engines were being worked. Simultaneously with the noise, the wall of the warehouse fell, partly into the street, and partly upon a shed adjoining, belonging to Mr. Gray. Some ofthe men had the good fortune to make their escape, but such as had not time were buried in the ruins. With every promptittide such of the sufferers as were not entirely overwhelmed were re— leased. Three of these were in the employ of Mr. M‘Kuight, and were, when the wall fell, in the act of removing seine goods which had been lowered “'01” the sheds Ofthat "en- ,tleman. All the wounded were immediately taken tonthe Northern Hospital, where every attention was promptly paid to them. '

In addition to this calamity, we have to notice the death of a very useful and very active officer ofthe name of Samuel Hudson. About half-past six he and officers Bates and Tuck were holding _ their branches directing the water against the warehouses at the top of Formby-street. Tuck, it appears, had some idea of the wall falling, and gave iiiti- mation to that effect to the‘other officers. A burning bale ofcottoii, however, fell into the street, and Hudson ran to— wards it, to remove it out ofthe way, when the wall fell and buried him in the ruins. Ttick, 'at the moment, seized hold of Bates, and pulled him from beneath the falling mess, and thus, happily saved both their lives.» ' ’

Lower down the street, the wall of Mr. Gray’s yard gave way, inst as three or four labourers were removing some timber, and they were buried in the ruins. Inspector Riding was also at this spot, and by the falling of the wall had his heel-bone broken. He was taken up immediately and con- veyed to the Northern Hospital, as were also several other men, who were severely injured. Several men were en- gaged removing cotton from Mr. M‘Kiiight’s sheds when the warehouses on the sonth side of Formbv-street fell in. There was, between the backs of Mr. thnight’s sheds and of the warehouses, a narrow space, into which the ma- terials of the warehouses and the merchandise which they contained tumbled in heaps of ruins, breakinvr away a por- tion ofthe sheds, and, it is supposed, burying” several men. One or two ofthe labourers were dreadfully injured one of them having his head almost severed from his body while the other hail his thigh cut in two. , . .At seven and eight o’clock, in Formby-strect and in the ad- joniiug cotton slieds(Poole’s) in Great Howard-street the fire burned With an intensity that heated the atmospherdto a greatdistaucc around. Great exertions were made to save the houses at the top of Formby-street, but those on the north’sido, dwelling—houses, frequently cauwht fire cl,‘ .fi , b the iiitensit of the‘ fl s‘ i? ’ “l 3

y . y nine. in the buiiiin" warehouses below, the ruins and blazing materials of whigh were piled t0 the height of80 to 90 feet, throwing up immense vo- lumes of flame and smoke.

Shortly after nine o’clock, the gable end ofthe warehouse next to the fire proofone, fell inside, and we are happy ‘6 . say that no accident occurred. The flames, however, from . the cotton within, had now free egress, and the wind carried them over the sheds before mentioned. The flames then

who: I flotegsial ‘i’fiwawi

ed, a

kets,-which were well soaked witlr water.

remarkable appearance.

like blazing furnaces,

mountain. . I . . houses appeared like seas ofliquid fire, the neighbourhood was most intense.

Mr. LVll1208,1II the top ofNeptuue-street. without iiijuriug the shed at the corner of that street and Great I—loward-street. and other materials continued burning over the whole scene of ruin, and as there was now but little fear of fresh out- breaks, the firemen played on the flaming piles from every assailable point.

fi'om a distance, reflected in lurid brightness in the hazy at- {.3

ing. This was, happily, not the case,the glare arising mere- ly fi‘om the piles ofbui'ning cotton.

The fire set at defiance all the ef- 13 engines were kept continually in action, and the firemen

were continued incessanth throughout Saturday, and as the men succeeded in extinguishing the fire at the margin, they were enabled to climb over the heaps of embers so as to play on the interior.

Neptune-street, is 163 yards in length. ' Cromptomstreet (formerly VVood-street North,) is 209 yards

the other towards Great l-lmvard-street and the. Borough Gaol; on both sides of which, and especially to the side on which the wind drove the flames with the greatest vehe— meuce, there is a great deal of vacant ground.

pletely obliterated by the fallen ruins. The whole was overlooked by the old wind-mill, so long a conspicuous 0b- iii Grout Ilovard-street, and which runs a considerable dis- ject, and ofwliich the base is now turned iiitoa public-house,

orabout thirty thousand square yards.

wind ofthe buildings destroyed, and the goods supposed to be des-

by a competent authority, that 53,000 bales of cotton have been destroyed. in cotton; £150,000 in other goods; £35,000 in buildings— total—£715,000.

occurred at the fire, which were, as usual in such cases, grealy exaggerated by the tongue of rumour. Taking: them ’ at the best, however, they have been feariully great, and the loss of life has been deplorable. the fallen ruins, it is impossible to form a correct‘notion. The prevalent opinion amongst those ei‘iiployeil at the fire from the comiiieuceuient was, that not less than 18 or 20 had been thus imiiiureil. exaggerated action, for, in the confusion attendant on inci- dents so" fearful, iiolliing could be known with certainty. Hudson, an active officer, was buried beneath the walls of a warehouse.

falling walls. from his body, and another his thiin cut in two. those who were but slightly liurt were at once conveyed | such public business of imp.“- honie. Those who sustained more severe injuries were car- i cziriy iittcntiun. yet 1 nm ind"

d stoves in , . rezciiled Mr-ilgrtlggi’sfipgopemge, the 8P8.” ’1" s bulbs“, recewed’ {or the expo,“ w ici were - seeing that

Considerable anxiety we the destructive element was proceeding _ eptuue—street, lest the ‘Borough Gaol, crowded as It'lsl Wid— -isoners,shonld suffer. As soon as danger was appie jenh number of men were placed on the roof, land al t e ooden parts ofthe building were covered Witn wet blan-