Back

The Conjuror’s Magazine

No 6 (January 1792) p.175-6.

OBSERVATIONS ON, AND LIST OF,

REMARKABLE FIRES IN 1791

THE following is an imperfect list of the many capital fires, which have happened in England, during the transit of Saturn and the Moon’s south node through Aries England’s Ascendant, and the oppositions of Jupiter he has there received. It is notorious, that there have been also formidable tempests and inundations, not only in England, but in countries and places subject to the same ascendant or others strongly aspected by it. But I here shall speak to England primarily.

All mischiefs arising from Aries are capital, because that sign represents the Head; and in addition to this it will be found, that in the new Moon of January twelvemonth, there were five Planets conjoined in Capricorn, (England’s M.C. or house of honour and grandeur) among which were Sun and Mars in mutual reception with Saturn, besides Mars being in the sign and almost the minute of his exaltation. In the lunation of February, Capricorn ascended .

The opposition of Jupiter, who is the benevolent significator of France, but rendered malevolent by the diametrical aspects of Saturn, who held him through the year or nearly, in his exaltation, disposing also at the above lunations of Venus, Jupiter’s domiciliar dispositrix and his cosignificator of France, shews these mischiefs to be aggravated by the vicious opposition of the late ruling powers of England to the mild, just, and generous and omnipotent regeneration of France; while the Afflictor Saturn, Austria’s significator in his fall, shews by his intimacy with England as well as with the people as with the governors, that the opposition avowed by that contemptible wretch Leopold II. has had but too much and too fatal weight in England. Saturn signifies at once England’s governor, peers, and private enemies.

Mars having exaltation in Capricorn has great signification in both the 10th and 11th houses of England: and whoever will look to the square aspect, which he cast to Saturn and Jupiter during their opposition at the close of 1790, and particularly to the night so dreadful in December, when Sun in square to Saturn and Jupiter and in conjunction of Mercury, and the Moon in opposition to Mars from Cardinal signs, and their own essential dignities and also from the dignities of the two superiors then opposed, produced in the elements a violence, which burst heavily on Lincoln’s Inn district and Chancery Lane, and in St. Stephen’s Chapel, a co-gressive attack on the Lawyers, who supported a part audaciously avowed by the Chancellor, will not require farther Astral reasons for the violences in England and the designation of those violences. If he be wise, he will likewise see, that they are typical, and expect a heavy and accumulating burst.

With respect to London in particular, and fires in particular, you will find by referring to my discourse on the solar eclipse June 4th, 1788, inserted in No.II. of this Magazine, that malconfigurations in Leo produce fires in these united cities, one of which is under Sagittarius and the other under Gemini. Now, at the period of which I speak, the GEORGIAN was the only planet in Leo, and in the new Moon in February, you will find he had just suffered several oppositions. And he in very truth is a heavy and inveterate afflictor. So take warning. B.

A Great part of the town of Minehead in Somersetshire destroyed.

MARCH.—The Albion Mills consumed; the damage computed, at least, at 70,000l

MAY.—Several houses destroyed near St. George’s Church in the Borough.

A great fire at the village of Kinnersley in Shropshire.

JUNE.—A large timber-yard in Rosemary-lane; several buildings destroyed, and near 40 dwelling houses received damage.

JULY.—Birmuham [Birmingham?] fires.

AUGUST.—Nine houses destroyed at the Water-gate, Deptford; the King’s ships moored near the spot, were much endangered.

SEPT.—Seventeen houses, a large tanner’s work, several barns and granaries, and a large quantity of farming-stock, destroyed at Newport in Shropshire.

A fire broke out at a cabinet-maker’s workshop, in Duke-street, Soho, which spread to Wardour-street and to Berwick-street, destroying near 20 houses.

A large timber-yard in Bermondsey-street.

A great conflagration in Rotherhithe, near 50 houses and warehouses destroyed: a ship under repair near the sh[ore] took fire from the houses, and after several attempts to scuttle her, sheered off into the stream. The efforts of several hundred people in boats, around, prevented any material damage to the numerous tiers which she passed through; the appearance of such a fire-ship in motion, in the midst of the shipping of the port of London, was a sight exceedingly singular, awful and interesting; she was at length with great dexterity, laid athwart the sterlings of London Bridge, where she burnt to the water’s edge.

NOV.—The great cotton mill at Clitheroe in Lancashire, built by Livesey & Co. was entirely destroyed; the damage was estimated at 20,000l.

DEC.—The porter-brewhouse at Worcester, nearly consumed. This was the largest brewery in Great Britain, those of London excepted.

Bugle Hall, a large house in Southampton, formerly the residence of the Earls of Southampton, entirely burnt down; the distress of the inhabitants of the town was much increased from a violent storm of wind and rain, which continued all night, threatening them at once with destruction from opposite elements.

The great cotton-mill at Warrington, in Lancashire; the damage computer at 18,000l.

The Duke of Richmond’s house in Privy-garden Westminster, destroyed in the day-time, notwithstanding the immediate assistance of engines, firemen, a regiment of soldiers, &c. The floors of this house had been lined with iron plates, and various other precautions had been taken to render it incombustible.