1807.4 
the engine has made its appearance, a ter- 
rible and anxious iterval of halfan hour 
takes place; while fannlies are standing 
in silentgrief beholding their comfortable 
homes going fast.to destruction. During 
which time, the fire acquires such addi- 
tional strength as to require perhaps a 
hundred times the quantity of water to 
extinguish it. In the late fire at the Ha- 
berdashers als’ houses, the building was 
almost consumed before water could be 
had. In no case indeed is this powerfal 
antidote procured with all the prompti- 
tude which one would think it possible. 
Weare informed in the above-mentioned 
paper, that in Paris, besides other facili- 
ties, water is conveyed in large tubs on 
a separate carriage along with the engine, 
and every thing being in an admirable 
state of preparation, instantly plays upon, 
and crushes the infant flame. 
In Lisbon, where neither the firemen, 
the engines, nor the water, is comparable, 
in the particulars, to London, great fires 
are very unfrequent ; which is principally 
owing to the cefattention being devoted 
to that prime, that obvious,consideration, 
speed. Such diligence and activity is ex- 
erted, that water is found on the spot 
where the tire happens in considerable 
quantities even betore the engines arrive ; 
they do not need to grope “and bustle 
about forit for halfan hour. In the me- 
tropolis of Portugal, the inhabitants are 
supplied with water by the Gallicians, 
who perform that office by small wooden 
barrels, which they carry on their shoul- 
ders. These water-carriers are bound 
by a severe penalty to take home every 
might their barrels full, to be prepared in 
case of an alarm of fire; and by distri- 
buting very trifling rewards to those who 
are most exact and forward in perform- 
ing their duty, the utmost zeal and ala- 
crity is displayed in this business. _ These 
poor people are seen crowding from all 
quarters with their precious load, which 
being immediately thrown on the half- 
smoothered lame, before it has seized 
upon the larger timbers, generally pre- 
vents any farther damage. 
Were not their wood effects known, 
and proved by experience, the’ Parisian 
fireman with lus large tubs, and the Galli- 
cian, with his small ‘barrels, would be des- 
pised as altogether Judicrous and insigni- 
ticant. Such ¢ contempt must proceed from 
inconsiderate persons only, who forget 
that it is not so much the quantity of wa- 
ter, as its early application, which ought 
to be chiefly studied. When such vast 
sums are annually expended* for our se- 
Means of extinguishing Fire. 349 
curity against fire, we ought surely to en- 
joy advantages equal to our neighbours, 
We cannot, indeed, avail ourselves of the 
service of water-carniers; but having wa- 
ter itself in such abundance, seme means 
may be devised to make an equally speedy 
use of it as others. It cannot be sup- 
posed that above a dozen or two water- 
carriers are to be found im one street of 
Lisbon. If, then, small barrels, lyimg in 
different and distant parts, when quickly 
applied, are found so eifectual , whata pity 
it is that the large cisterns, with which 
every house in London is accominodated, 
should lie useless and untouched, when a 
whole neighbourhood is threatened with 
destruction. In cases when water ap- 
pears difficult to be found, every person 
Should for a moment tay aside all 
ceremony, and become a water-carrier, 
especially those who are likely to be in- 
_ volved in the same calamity. Such zeal, 
such active benevolence, do Englishmen 
of all descriptions display in affairs of an 
urgent or desperate nature, that I am 
persuaded this office would be performed 
with the utmost chearfulness. 
I recollect a fire some years ago, not 
two hundred yards froma the New River 
Head, in a public situation. Various en- 
gines, to be sure, arrived with expedition, 
but for above a quarter of an hour no use 
was made of them. In the mean time, 
frightful volumes of flame burst from the 
windows, and the outcry became gene- 
ral, ‘They can’t get water, they can’t get 
water.” How much did ih on that occa- 
sion, lament that sole dependence should 
be placed on the common means of sup- 
ply. I was then convinced that if it had 
been properly understood, and had been 
the practice, innumerable pails of water: 
would have been of unspeakable service. 
Nor can I see any good reason why the 
practice of the Parisian firemen above 
alluded to should not be tminediately 
adopted, unless, indeed, the additional 
expence should whe th ought an objection. 
Carriages witha eistern, or two or three 
large ries fixed on Sieca and continu- 
ally filled with water, Should be along 
side the envines, and be dragged with 
them to wherever the fire may be. Were 
these precautions used, I would confi- 
dently hope that, except im yery. com- 
bustible cases, ie serious fires would 
happen, 
¥ Of this expenditure the public are obliged 
to you for the ample statistical. account in 
your Magazine, No. 166. 
da 
