36 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1815. 
Laid the first Stone of this Bridge, which, connecting the City of 
London with the Borough of .Southwark, is called the . 
Southwark Bridge. 
. The funds for building the Bridge were raised by Subscription of 
private persons, incorporated by Act.of Parliament, and the work was, 
commenced at the glorious termination of the longest and most ex-: 
pensive war in which the nation has ever been engaged. 
24.—About one o’clock this 
morning afire broke out in the 
works of the Gas Company, in 
Dorset-street, which occasioned 
the most serious alarm to the 
whole of that neighbourhood: in 
a short time the whole of the 
newly-erected building for the 
supply of gas was burned to the 
ground, and the house attached; 
it being comprised chiefly of tim- 
ber and combustible materials, 
the fire spread with such rapidity 
that the most dreadful conse- 
quences were apprehended; no 
lives were lost, but several acci- 
dents were sustained in the con- 
fusion incident to such a catas- 
trophe. The fire was completely 
subdued by three o'clock. . 
25.—A fire broke out at the 
stables of Mr. Smith, a carrier, of 
_ Chipping Ongar, in Essex, in 
consequence of a candle being left 
in the stables, by which the sta- 
bles were destroyed, and five 
horses burnt to death; the great- 
er part of all the unfortunate suf- 
ferer possessed was destroyed in 
the conflagration. 
29.—An {inquest was held at 
the sign of the Ship, in Berkeley- 
street, St. John’s, Clerkenwell, 
on the body of Ann Power, of the 
above street, who died on Friday 
evening last, in consequence of 
her having taken a large quantity 
of laudanum. | 
Anthony Power stated, that he 
Joun Rennie, Engineer. 
was husband to the deceased * 
that about a month since, he be- 
ing in trouble for debt, his wife 
came to visit him, and tendering 
two phials with liquid in them, 
requested witness to drink the 
same, which would release him at 
once from all his cares. He an- 
swered, he was not yet tired of 
life, but should write to his friends 
in the country to assist him, 
which he did, and he received im- 
mediate relief. On Friday last, 
the deceased went to a closet in 
the room where they were sitting, 
and poured something from a bot- 
tle, which he thought was gin, 
into a cup, which she mixed with 
water, and drank the same, then 
leaving the room; soon after she 
returned, threw her arms about 
his neck, begged he would for- 
give her, that the deed was done, 
and desired that he would send 
for a surgeon; witness immedi- 
ately sent to Mr. Chamberlain, 
surgeon, in Aylesbury-street. 
Mr. Shipley, assistant to Mr. 
Chamberlain, who attended on 
the deceased, said that headmi- 
nistered medicines for her relief, 
and a quantity of laudaaum came 
off ber stomach, but could not 
extract the whole; after lan- 
guishing some hours she expired. 
The jury returned a verdict’ of— 
Lunacy. 
Volcanic Eruption.—Extract of 
a letter from an officer of the 
