The Virginia Gazette

EDINBURGH, January 22.

A particular Account of the Fire which broke out in the Lawn Market Saturday last.

For the Satisfaction of our Country Readers, many of whom will, no Doubt, have near Connections, as well as the Sufferers, in the contiguous Buildings, and consequently may naturally have been greatly alarmed, we shall now endeavour to be as particular on this Subject as possible.

The Fire was first discovered only a little before six o'Clock in the Evening, in the Garrets of the large Stone Tenement at the Head of the old Bank Close, though it had by that Time got a great Length, and baffled all the Efforts that were made to put an immediate Stop to it, by its having communicated itself to the Story below, when it burnt with amazing Violence, especially on the back Side. Here, therefore, the principal Strength of the Fire Engines was directed, by being placed in Gosford's Close and the old Bank Close, while one from Leith played in the Front. All Means, however, to stop its Progress downwards, proved abortive. It descended with amazing Rapidity, until it got to the second Story, when many People flattered themselves with the Hopes of its being got the better of, by the Furniture having been all got out, and the Lining of the Rooms, as well as every other Piece of Timber Work about them, being knocked down and thrown over the Windows. These necessary Precautions, however, were equally unsuccessful with every other which had been formerly put in Execution; and though its Appearance was far from being so alarming as when in the upper Stories, as there was so little Fuel left, yet it was found impossible to prevent its reaching the Shops on the Street, which it accordingly did, and the Fire was not entirely extinguished until yesterday Morning at eight o'Clock. The Shops were possessed by Messrs. Dalgleish and Henderson, Grocers, and by Mr. Rhonnaldson, Baker; the first Story by General Lockhart of Carnwath, the second by Mr. Porterfield, the third by Hay Campbell, Esquire, Advocate, the fourth by Mr. John Bell, Writer to the Signet, the fifth by John Hume, Esquire, of Ninewells; and the Garrets, we hear, were occupied, at the Times, by the Servants of some of the Gentlemen in the under Stories.

Mr. Cunningham's House, Writer to the Signet, was the next adjoining in the back Part; but by the Gable Wall being very thick and strong, it remained untouched by the Fire. Various are the Accounts which have been circulated concerning the Beginning of this melancholy Affair; but as we do not choose to give any Thing to the Publick on vague Reports, we shall be silent on that Head, farther than just observing that it is more than probable it was occasioned by the Negligence or Carelessness of those Servants who had been in the Garrets in the early Part of the Afternoon.

We cannot enough applaud the publick spirited Conduct of every Gentleman of this City, shown so conspicuously in the Part they acted on Occasion, who were equally assiduous and enterprising, in endeavouring to put a Stop to the Conflagration, with the Firemen, and other Tradesmen, assembled for that Purpose. They could not, indeed, be more so; for the only Emulation among the Whole seemed to be who should be the most forward in stopping the Flames, or preventing their spreading farther, regardless of Danger, and every other Consideration. To the proper Directions given by the Magistrates, and this intrepid and Praise-worthy Spirit...
in the Gentlemen and Firemen, is to be attributed, in an eminent Degree, the confining of a Fire which once threatened Destruction and Devastation to the whole Side of the Street within the Walls of the Tenement where it first began, though the very next Land to it was a wooden One. Two of the People employed in these laudable Attempts, one of the name of Mitchell, a Carpenter, and the other Robertson, a Cadie, unhappily perished, by the Roof falling in; and several more were greatly bruised and Scorched, whom the Magistrates have ordered all imaginable Care to be taken of. The two unfortunate Sufferers were this Day interred, whose Funerals were attended by the Magistrates, and many of the principal Inhabitants.

It is impossible to describe the Fear and Consternation with which the Breasts of most People were filled who had their Dwellings near the Place at which the Fire broke out, as it had so dreadful an Appearance. Every One was anxious to save their most valuable Furniture, expecting an immediate Visitation of this Calamity; and many, we are afraid, will be great Losers, by trusting their Effects to those Miscreants who are always ready to offer their Assistance upon such Occasions, in Order the more effectually to plunder the distressed. The Magistrates, who constantly attended the Fire, in Order to prevent the wicked Designs of such Wretches as much as possible, applied for, and obtained, a Party of the Military from the Castle, whom they stationed at proper Places, to prevent thieving; and also gave Orders for the New Church to be opened, for the Reception of the Goods and Furniture of those who resided below the Fire, and the Weigh House for those who resided above it. And this Day a Proclamation was issued, for the Owners to appear and claim them; and for every One, in whose Custody any Goods were lodged, without knowing the proper Owners, to bring them to the Council Chamber, in Order to be claimed.

We hear the most Part of this once spacious and elegant Tenement was insured in the Edinburgh Friendly Insurance Office, except the Shops, which we hear are insured in the Sun Fire Office.

We had almost forgot to mention the necessary and active Part the Brewers in this City and Suburbs took in this common Calamity. To their Praise be it said, Nothing was wanting on their Part to supply the Engines with Water, having their Carts constantly employed in driving it in Barrels from all Corners to the Fire.

We hear that a strong Box, belonging to Mr. Hume of Ninewells, containing some very valuable Papers, is found, but that it is almost the only Thing in his House which has escaped the Flames.