247 Destruction of the Caxton Printing-office. through the premises to see that every thing was safe; the whole of which he found and left secure. The day preceding that on which the accident happened, being the anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne, numerous sky-rockets were thrown into the air on the occasion, many of which were near the building, on the roof of which several globules of fire, when the rockets burst, were seen to descend. The most probable conjecture therefore that can be formed is, that a flying globule must have made its way through some window, and have thus lighted up this awful torch. The rockets were seen flying at various times, from about half past nine until eleven, not more than two hours before the flames attracted public attention. 248 the whole will be insufficient to cover the aggregate loss. In addition to this, the extensive trade which was carried on by the proprietor, has become so deranged, in consequence of this disaster, that some time must elapse before the stock can be replaced, to cause things to flow in their wonted channel, and furnish the regular supplies. Of this complicated calamity the disastrous effects will be felt by him for years to come. In the meanwhile, nearly a hundred persons in Liverpool are thrown out of employment which they had calculated on as permanent. Most of those employed in the Caxton Printing Office, have been there from their youth, and some ten, fifteen, and twenty years. The long period in which they have been thus employed is a strong eviOne gentleman, indeed, has declared, dence in favour of their sobriety and that he perceived a dubious light in good conduct; and perhaps, taking that end of the building where the fire them together, a more orderly, steady, originated, long before any alarm was industrious, and worthy set of men, could given; and that its undulatory appear- not be found in any printing-office ance so far excited his attention, that throughout the united kingdom. This he watched its doubtful aspect some testimony in favour of their general time before he retired to bed, which character, their uniform conduct dewas about half past eleven o'clock.mands from Mr. Fisher the proprietor, After this, one of the family got out of who has been twenty-two years in the bed, and again observed it through his establishment. window, when he called some others of the family, who continued to notice it nearly half an hour, its red appearance at this time bearing some resemblance to the mouth of an oven, shining only through one window of the building. But the gentleman to whom we allude, having no anticipation of the melancholy event which followed, and no interest in the consequences, declined making any exertion; especially as on a former occasion he had nearly lost his life while attempting to extinguish the flames which were consuming the premises of another. At this eventful crisis, if timely information had been given, the premises might have been saved, since many would have risked their lives in attempting to preserve the building, and the vast property which it contained. It is however, but just to observe, that since the occurrence of the awful event, he has expressed his sincere regret, that he had not instantly made known those ominous presages, which led to the melancholy catastrophe. Providentially, both the premises and the property were insured to a considerable amount in various offices; but It is a tribute of respectful acknowledgment, which is due from the proprietor to several gentlemen belonging to the trade in Liverpool, to say, that on hearing of the disaster, they kindly offered their assistance, in furnishing what types and presses they could conveniently spare, to assist in completing such works as demanded immediate attention. Others also, who had vacant premises, have, from true sympathetic feelings, voluntary offered them on the present occasion. To all these he finds himself bound in gratitude to return his public thanks, and thus to connect with the disaster in this memorial, a testimony of their kindness, and an acknowledgment of his own obligations. During the day on which the fire took place, several fragments of the tottering walls continued to fall, without the application of any external force; but many portions still remained standing, together with the lofty chimney, which, stripped of the adjoining buildings, exhibited a monument of desolation. This chimney, from its base to its summit, was about eighty feet, which, together with the correspondent walls, rendered it exceeds 249 Destruction of the Caxton Printing-office. ingly dangerous for any person either to pass through those parts of the streets near which they stood, to tread on the ruins, or to remain in the houses that were within the range of their fall. Attempts were therefore made to bring them to the ground. To accomplish the demolition of the chimney, a rope was wrapped round it, at the extremities of which many men exerted all their strength. Nearly twelve hours it resisted all their efforts, although it rocked from side to side like the mast of a ship when put in motion by the waves. The rope broke several times. It, however, at length gave way near the middle, and, in awful majesty, descended on the funeral pile of Caxton. Some of the remaining walls, which were deemed sufficiently strong to justify the attempt, were scaled, and the bricks thrown down one after another; but others, that were more hazardous, were either encompassed by ropes, or perforated to admit them, and by muscular exertion mingled with the common heap. On surveying this calamity, it is pleasing to reflect, that, notwithstanding the imminent danger to which many were exposed, no life was lost. For a short period during the fire, a report prevailed, that one man had been seen to enter the building, who had not returned, and painful apprehensions were entertained for his safety. Happily, however, the report proved without foundation; and after a little while the sensation subsided. 250 the earliest alarm, and with a degree of speed and foresight which were scarcely their own, sheltered themselves in places of safety until the awful crisis was past. One man on this occasion suffered a slight contusion in his leg, but all besides escaped unhurt. On the morning of the fire, another man dislocated his ancle, and several received cuts, wounds, and bruises, but no personal accidents occured of greater moment than those which have been mentioned. This wall in its descent crushed to the ground an adjoining building, that was contiguous to its base; and its more elevated parts totally demolished a cottage which stood at a greater distance. The chimney of another cottage had also been struck down, and its roof broken in, on a preceding part of the day. Since the preceding paragraphs were written, it has been ascertained, that, independently of the building, the stock amounted to £42,000, out of which, in copperplates, paper, &c. about £5000 have been preserved. Of this loss, the public will be able to form some conception, on perusing the following list of articles, known, among others, to have perished in the flames.-Thirteen printing-presses; ten copperplate presses, and steam apparatus for heating the plates; four hundred original drawings; about five hundred reams of paper; ten thousand six hundred pages of stereotype plates; sixteen thousand pounds weight of types; two patent hydraulic presses; and three millions and a half of folio, quarto, and octavo numbers. The remains of the printing-presses, being of cast-iron, have lately been taken from the ruins: but all are rendered useless; the finer parts being either bent or broken, and the whole so corroded with the action of the fire, as to appear only as heavy and unprofitable lumber. Few things have been rescued from the rubbish, that can either be used, or that are worth repairing. But although no life was lost, ten men, on the day which followed that of the fire, had the most narrow escape from death, that it is possible to conceive. A huge portion of the wall standing contiguous to the yard, near the counting-house, which, no doubt, had been shaken by the falling chimney, and was severely pressed by the vast accumulation of rubbish within, was thought to portend danger, on which account it was deemed expedient to take it down. But as the large boiler, But notwithstanding the vast confrom which the building had been sup-sumption of books, &c. in the flames, as plied with steam, stood very near its stated above, we can inform our numebase, and which the falling materials rous subscribers to the various periodwould inevitably have crushed, an ef- ical works publishing at the Caxton fort was made to preserve it. In doing press, that about one million five hunthis, the men were busily at work, re- dred thousand numbers still remain in moving some loose rubbish, when on a London, and with the different agents sudden the wall above them gave way, in the various parts of the United and in an instant came thundering to the Kingdom, from which a continuation of ground. The men in a moment took their regular supplies may be expected, No. 25.-VOL. III. R 251 Destruction of the Caxton Printing-office. LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. 252 until arrangements can be made for | rendered by those who were on the their future accommodation. Some spot, particularly by his younger son, trifling delays may indeed be occa- Mr. Seth Nuttall Fisher, who, by his sioned, arising from the difficulties active exertions, preserved some valuwhich the different agents will have to able articles at the risk of his life. encounter, in obtaining the means of Feb. 13th, 1821. executing orders, from these distant depositaries and resources. But these temporary and unavoidable inconveniencies, we hope, will be patiently borne by our respectable friends, on the present distressing occasion. We therefore desire them to give their orders as usual, and to expect their supplies through the accustomed chan nels. The Imperial Magazine, the Bee, the Works of Isaac Ambrose, the Farmer's Directory and Farrier's Guide, are either already in the press, or will speedily be resumed, as arrangements have been made for their continuance and completion. The Caxton Printing-office, which was originally erected for a cotton manufactory, was 104 feet long, 45 feet wide, and, on the western side, seven stories high; but, from the rising ground, only six stories on the east. The whole building was lighted with 143 windows. The upper story contained the stock of books in sheets, and was completely full. The second, was nearly filled with numbers, and books half bound, for sale. The third, was appropriated to the drying and folding of sheets, the stitching of numbers, and the colouring of plates. The fourth, was the composing room. The fifth, was the press room. The sixth, was devoted to cop-. perplate engraving, and printing, and contained the paper warehouse. The seventh, included vaults for coals, a pump, cellars, &c. AMIDST the distresses which the preceding misfortune has occasioned, it is gratifying to hear the voice of sympa thy. The language of condolence is always pleasing to those who suffer from calamity, especially when dictated by feelings which nothing but humanity could excite. A sensibility of this favour, it is hoped, will be a sufficient apology for the insertion of the following Letters; to the former of which we give, in an engraving, a fac-simile of the writer's signature. Such was the Caxton Printing-office." LORD Galway is extremely sorry to But in an ill-omened moment, it was find by the Newspapers, that Mr. set on fire, in all probability by a fatal | Fisher has sustained so great a loss by Rocket, which, in a few destructive the burning of the Caxton Printing hours, reduced this stupendous pile, Press at Liverpool; and as Lord Galwith all its valuable contents, to a heap way has been a purchaser of "The of ruins. The rubbish still continues to Imperial Magazine" since its commencesmoke with deeply-buried fires, which ment, he hopes that valuable publicaOccasionally break forth into a visi- tion will not be obliged to be discontible flame, although nearly three weeks nued on account of that truly melanhave elapsed since the dreadful catas- choly catastrophe: from this circum trophe took place. When this fire stance Lord Galway has been induced broke out, it unfortunately happened to trouble Mr. Fisher with this letter, that Mr. Fisher was from home; he as he should lament with many others having gone to London on business, if it were so. Lord Galway begs Mr. not more than two days prior to this Fisher to address him, Seilby Hall, event. But his presence could have Bawtry, Nottinghamshire. added little to the assistance that was Seilby, Feb. 7th, 1821." 253 On the Genius and Writings of Lord Byron. The following lines we copy from the Kaleidoscope, of Liverpool, for Feb. 6th, 1821. With the exception of those who suffered from the flames, scarcely any spectator could survey the blazing spectacle, without feeling something of poetic inspiration. The whole scene was terribly sublime. Every minute imparted a new feature to horror. The darkness of the night; the mounting flames bending before the easy breeze; their curling summits trembling with every conflicting corruscation; the sinking pile; and the burning timbers projecting from the desolated walls, communicated inconceivable grandeur to the conflagration. 254 TO THE EDITOR OF THE IMPERIAL SIR,-If the following observations are On the Genius and Writings of Lord There perhaps never was a man, in the whole annals of English literature, who attained so high a station amongst the poets, within so short a space of time, as Lord Byron. When we reflect, however, that the tendency of all writing should be to the side of virtue and morality, and that every author is SKETCH, AFTER THE RECENT FIRE responsible for the ill effects which his AT THE CAXTON PRINTING-OFFICE. DREAR was the night, and loud the whistling Swept o'er the sleeping earth, as lone I mus'd In vain the silv'ry streams of water writings produce, we cannot but look upon Lord Byron with a considerable degree of horror. The more powerful the genius of a man may be, if those powers are employed in the cause of vice and in the promotion of evil, the more they call for a louder denunciation against them; and we feel, that to praise such a man, would only be heaping destruction upon his head. He may become the idol of many, and be acknowledged as a master spirit; but we must recollect, that with such qualities he is like the image which the king of Babylon saw in his dream, part gold and part silver, but part brass and clay; and such an one must inevitably fall in pieces. When we speak of Lord Byron, we do it with a full consciousness of his Pour on the quenchless flames! Reckless the mighty genius; we speak of him as of blast a man gifted beyond all mortal calculation, as exploring the "untravell'd deserts of the soul," and as one who drops his line of research" deeper than ever did plummet sound." But while we acknowledge his power, we regret that it should be so misdirected; we lament to see a mind, so noblein itself, wasting its greatness in portraying characters so detestable, in' picturing murderers, adulterers, and assassins. Throughout all his writings there is none of that sweet balm, that holy tenderness, that supports and> heals the troubled soul. The force of piety he has never felt; his hope is not hope, for it is not that " anchor of the soul" which points to a future and a better world. The rock of faith he cannot rest upon, and the still small voice of peace speaks not to him. The 255 On the Genius and Writings of Lord Byron. heavenly feeling that cheers to the The first dark day of nothingness, Giaour. Again, in his song to Inez, in Childe The fabled Hebrew wanderer bore, 256 poets. But Lord Byron's love is wholly Eastern: he knows nothing of that feeling which bends before the object of its earthly adoration in purity and truth; he never tells us of that 'sweet constancy" that" happy time" in which a love-knot on a lady's brow Is fairer than the fairest star in heav'n. Wordsworth. No; his beings are only lovely to him, in proportion as their feet and hands resemble the whiteness of marble, and their long tresses that of gold. The features of the body he pictures, but he never gives them the heavenly features of the soul-his hero's are monsters-his heroines are harlots. In Mazeppa there is adultery-in Parisina incest-and in Manfred that which makes us shudder to trace ;-though the crime is obscurely told, yet there is sufficient to show us that he who can delight to revel in such scenes of wickedness is far gone Another specimen, and then I have indeed. From the shameless Don Juan done; he tells us, that religions take their turn. Will rise with other years till man shall learn There is not a single passage in all he has ever written, that can shed one ray of hope, or cast one gleam of peace, upon the soul. We take up his poems, no matter which-all is gloom and despair-the hero lives becomes a villain-dies, and "makes no sign." Look to his Manfred, his Giaour, his Lara, and all he has written. They are a chaos of fiendish wretchedness, horror, and misanthropy. He breathes -but it is the icy Sarsar wind of death: he looks-but it is the withering sneer of a demon. He is as devoid of patriotism also as he is of every amiable virtue. The man who could pass over the ground whercon his countrymen fell and bled, and address them as I will not pollute my page with a quo- are The only heaven to which earth's children may aspire. Childe Harold. When we take up the works of a poet, we expect to find in them something that shall give us an exalted idea of God and heaven-that shall raise our thoughts-or that shall at least create in us such a train of feelings, that when we close the volume, Ambition's honour'd fools there let them rot, though life be in some degree rough and we shall rise with a consciousness that deserves nothing but contempt. While thorny, yet the steady practice of rehis country was engaged in a desperate ligion and virtue will enable us to conflict, did he wield the sword-did he bear its ills with patience, looking devote his own powerful genius in her unto the recompense of reward. But behalf? No; rambling in a foreign who ever took up one of Lord Byron's Jand, he turned the powers he possess-poems with such feelings, and did ed against her, and falsely charged her as one who fights for all-but ever fights in vain. Love has been the theme of many not find that it cast a chilling damp over his thoughts—a gloom which endeavoured to chain his soul to earth and earthly things? Who, I ask, ever |