Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Philadelphia, Jan. 25.
It rarely becomes our painful duty to announce so distressing a circumstance as that which occurred yesterday morning. That spacious building, reared by the munificence and humanity of our fellow-citizens, THE ORPHAN ASYLUM, is reduced to ashes!--About 3 o'clock, the Matron was aroused from her sleep by some of the children in the adjoining room. complaining of the house being full of smoke. She and her daughter immediately got up, and on reaching the door leading to the cellar, discovered it, to be in a blaze. She immediately hastened to the Children's apartments to assist them in their escape; by the time this was effected, the interior of the building was wrapt in flames.
Not a vestige of this beautiful Edifice remains, but cracked and tottering walls. All that was under the roof of a combustible nature has been destroyed, and nearly one hundred Orphans suddenly driven from their benevolent Asylum entirely destitute. From 20 to 25 of these unfortunates are still missing, but it is confidently hoped they escaped the fury of the flames, and have received protection from some of the benevolent neighbors.
Perhaps there never has been an event in our city, so strongly calculated to excite public commiseration and regret: or which so loudly calls for relief;--and we feel confident, that the mere statement of the melancholy fact will be a sufficient appeal to the humanity and generosity of our fellow citizens.
A consideration which ought further to excite the sympathy of the charitable towards the objects of this Institution, is, that at the last annual report there remained in the Treasurer's hands little more than two hundred dollars-- a sum, even if this calamity had been averted, utterly inadequate to meet the demands of the Establishment.
The Widows' Asylum on the adjoining lot, fortunately escaped, although several times in danger.
[Phil. Gazette.