A public meeting of the merchants, bankers, and other commercial
de- nizens of the City, was held at the London Tavern, yesterday, to set on foot a subscription for the relief of the sufferers from the late awful fire quebec. The Lord Mayor took the chair; and was supported on the *germ by Mr. Fox Maule, Mr. Patteson, M.P., Mr. Thomas Baring, Alderman Sir John Pirie, Mr. G. R. Robinson, Mr. Alexander Gil- lespie -junior Mr. Mills, Mr. B. C. Glyn, Mr. J. J. Cummings, Mr. Bare- wall,NAhaniel Gould, Mr. Russell Ellice, and other persons of great infinence. Mr. Alexander Gillespie read the address from the Correspon- ding Committee of Quebec, and added a few additional facts— The acekants which had been received in the first instance had by no means exaggerated the calamity; with this exception, that no hospital had been de- strayed. Still, he grieved to say, that during the conflagration several invalid persons had been carried about from place to place, and had at last been put into what was supposed to be a place of safety; but, from the rapidity with which the flames spread, they eventually perished. The exact &meant of the loss of life it was extremely difficult to ascertain, in consequence of the population of French, Canadians, and Irish, being so much scattered; but upwards of forty bodies had been already found ; and, unhappily, there was no doubt that many more must have perished. Having alluded to the local subscriptions, Mr. Gillespie stated, that besides the 2,0001. from the public chest to be applied to the relief of the suf- ferers, Lord Metcalfe had himself contributed the sum of 5001. from his own private purse. Besides these contributions, there were instances of very great be- neficence on the part of many who were themselves sufferers by the loss of property caused by the fire. The Honourable Joseph Masson had given 6001., and his part- ner 2001. Both these gentlemen were French Canadians, and heavy losers by the calamity. Mr. James Gibb, also a loser, had contributed in like manner a sum of 5001.; and other inhabitants, in addition to parochial collections, had supplied clothes, provisions, and had opened their houses for the reception of the suffermg and houseless of their fellow-citizens. The people of Quebec had established a Mutual Insurance Company at St. Hoch; and, policies to the amount of 100,0001. d had been effected by them, though it was difficult to accomplish this, in conse- quence of the character of the buildings, which were mostly constructed of wood: but it was a fact not to be questioned, that the conflagration had been so exten- sive and the loss of property so great, that both assurers and assured were equally thrown upon the world.
Most of the gentlemen whose names are given above took an active part in the business of the day, warmly advocating the claims of tho affiicted. Resolutionswere passed unanimously, expressing deep regret at the calamity, seconding the appeal to the British public, and directing " That a subscrip- tion be now opened, and that books be left at all the banking-houses of the Metropolis, with a request that they will receive contributions for this object." Mr. Carter, the Honorary Secretary, read a long list of subscrip- tions, headed by Lord Stanley with 1001., and comprising many sums ranging from 1001. to 2501.
Previous page
