Soon after five o'clock on Wednesday morning, a fire broke
out in the Boys' School of the London University. It was newly six.before any engines arrived, and then it was too late to save the school-house, which was full of wooden benches and tables. Nothing is left tut the walls and some iron props. The fire was prevented from communicating with the vestibule by great exertions. It is estimated that the building and its contents were worth about 5000/. ; but the loss is covered by an insurance of 10,000/. on the whole building. The set ool is continued as usual in another part of the College.
Yesterday week, four men were drowned in the Tha-nes off Purfleet, by the upsetting of a sailing-boat in which they had ventured, although the, weather was very squally, and they were inexperienced in the management of a boat. A collision took place on Sunday afternoon, in the Thames off the Globe Stairs, between the Royal Tar, Dublin Steamer, and a Greenwich steam-boat, by which the paddle. box, wheel, gangway-rail, and part of the deck of the latter, were torn away. The funnel came down with a crash, but none of the passengers were hurt. They were taken away in boats, and the disabled steamer was towed up to town, stern foremost. From the account in the papers, we should suppose that the Greenwich boat was in fault.
On Sunday last between five and six o'clock, a daring robbery was committed on the New North Road between West-end, Hampstead, and the branch road leading to the Regent's Park, by a gang of five fellows, having the appearance of men engaged on the line of works belonging to the London and Birmingham Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Entwistle, residing in Stamford Street, Waterloo Bridge, were returning from Barnet in a gig : when they arrived at the above-mentioned place, about 150 yards from the railroad, they were suddenly attacked by five men ; two of whom seized the reins of the horse, while the other three demanded their money and watches. Mr. Entwistle find. ing it useless to offer resistance, surrendered his purse, containing four sovereigns and six shillings in silver ; with which the robbers hastened across the fields in the direction of Kilburn, being alarmed by the approach of a carriage. On Tuesday night, Flora Cottage, East Regent's Park, the residence of Mr. Chissold, was robbed of a quantity of plate and other valuables, by two men, who had concealed themselves on the premises during the day. Mr. Chissold and his family were absent ; and only two female servants were in the house. The robbers went into the servants' room, and frightened them into silence while they plundered the house.
A tradesman who rents a house and garden at Shacklewell, in which there is a number of choice flowers, having been frequently robbed, resolved, if possible, to deter the thief from committing similar depredations: he therefore notified that man-traps were set. About one o'clock, he was alarmed by groans issuing from the garden ; and, accompanied by a man-servant, proceeded to the spot, where, to his surprise, he found his own brother caught by the leg. Surgical assistance was procured, but the sufferer was obliged to have his leg amputated on Thursday. [Let this be a warning to others against setting mantraps. Nobody has a right to maim for life, or perhaps kill, even a thief, whom the law would punish with only a brief imprisonment.]
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