The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register

New York, April 11.

SHIP BURNT.

The fine packet ship Newark, owned by Messrs. Scott & Laidlaw, with a full cargo of dry goods, bound to N. Orleans, for which she was to sail this morning, was, at eleven o'clock last night, entirely destroyed by fire. The ship had been ready for sea several days, waiting for fair weather, and lay half way between the Battery and Jersey shore. How the fire originated is unknown. The first alarm was given by the steward, who saw the smoke, instantly followed by flames, issuing from the hold. The Captain sprang from his birth, and had barely time to save a few clothes, and a chronometer—in five minutes from this time the fire had extended throughout the ship. The crew were happily saved by timely assistance, several boats from the wharves, the Austrian frigates lying near her, and other vessels in the stream being despatched to their rescue. It was several hours before she was entirely destroyed. There is nothing to be seen of her now, but her spars, sticking out of the water. The value of the ship and cargo is estimated at over 100,000. It has been ascertained that there is insurance to the amount of 40,000 on the cargo, and 21,000 on the ship. It is believed that most of the cargo was insured.

The spectacle was one of painful sublimity When the cry of fire was given at the Battery, as the windows of the houses fronting it were raised, strong gleams of light poured in from the ship, the deck of which was even then in a full blaze. Huge volumes of smoke rose majestically towards the lowering sky, while the flames lighted up the bosom of the waters, and rendered the masts, spars and rigging of numerous vessels visible with various degrees of distinctness, for a wide space around.

It was at first supposed to be one of the Austrian frigates, and not a little apprehension was felt, lest the anticipated explosion should endanger the lives and property of those in the neighborhood. For two hours were we spectators of the sublime and terrific scene. The flames proceeded slowly; but at half past 12, the masts and spars were in a blaze—the masts themselves presenting the beautiful spectacle of huge columns of fire. The spars caught gradually : and the rigging and the ropes as they were successively caught and sundered by the fire, vibrating to and fro, presented a scene of equal sublimity and terror. It was indeed "a fire ship"—not of the fevered imagination of a frenzied seamen, but in all the splendor and awfulness of the reality. Great interest was added to the burning exhibition by the boats which put off to the ship's assistance, as they danced about upon the shining waves—the oars flashing in the reflection with great brilliancy, at every stroke.

The fear was that lives had been sacrificed; but we believe all hands succeeded in making their escape. We might enlarge on the sublimity of the scene, without being able, however, adequately to describe it: but we have not room for another word.