f the time the hon. member was on his legs_, _he was so
much interrupted that it was impossible to hear what the hon. member
said_)."

CHAPTER III.

Destruction of Royal Exchange--Sale of the salvage--Spring-heeled Jack
and his pranks--Lord John Russell's hat.

As a sad pendant to the Civic festivities at the close of 1837 comes the
destruction by fire of the Royal Exchange on the night of the 10th of
January following.

It was first noticed a little after 10 p.m., when flames were observed in
Lloyd's Coffee Room in the north-east corner of the building, opposite
the Bank, the firemen of which establishment were soon on the spot, as
well as many other of the metropolitan engines. But, before any water
could be thrown upon the building, it was necessary to thaw the hose and
works of the engines by pouring hot water upon them, as the frost was so
very severe; so that, by 11 p.m., all Lloyd's was a mass of flame.
Nothing could be done to stop the conflagration, it having got too great
a hold, and great fears were entertained that it would spread to the Bank
and surrounding buildings, the which, however, was fortunately prevented.
The Lord Mayor was present, and a large body of soldiers from the Tower
assisted the Police in keeping the crowd away from the immediate scene.

It must have been a magnificent sight, and somewhat curious, for amidst
the roar of the flames, and until the chiming apparatus was destroyed,
and the bells dropped one by one, the chimes went on pealing "There's nae
luck about the house," {23} "Life let us cherish," and "God save the
Queen." The fire was not completely got under until noon the next day,
but, practically, the building was destroyed by 5 am., and, so bright was
the conflagration, that it was visible at Windsor--twenty-four miles off,
and at Theydon, in Essex, a distance of eighteen miles; whilst from the
heights of Surrey on the south, and Highgate and Hampstead on the north,
the progress of the fire was watched by crowds of people.

The following account of the Exchange after the fire is taken from the
_Times_ of 13 Jan.:

"Yesterday afternoon the ruins of the Exchange were sufficiently
cooled to allow the firemen and a party of gentlemen, amongst whom we
noticed the Lord Mayor, Mr. Alderman Copeland, several members of the
Gresham Committee, and other persons connected with the mercantile
interest, to inspect them. In consequence of the loose fragmen