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The Fire of London.
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An Account of the vast Damage and Spoil made by the forementioned
Conflagration.
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That the Reader may the better judge of the Damages done by this Fire, some have
computed the Thirteen thousand odd hundred Houses burnt and destroyed, to be
worth
one with another 25l. Yearly Rent; which at the low Rent of 12 Years Purchase,
will in
the whole amount unto Three Millions and Nine Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling,
and upwards.
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A Computation of the Damages sustained by the Fire.
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And for the other Works of publick Concern, they have been thus moderately
estimated.
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An estimate of Losses.
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| In Houses burnt as aforesaid | 3 | 900 | 000 |
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J. Leyburn.
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In Churches and other Publick Edifices as follow:
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| The 87 Parish Churches, at 3000l.
each | 69 | 6 | 000 |
| Six Chappels, at 2000l. each | 12 | 000 |
| The Royal Exchange, at | 50 | 000 |
| The King's Custom-House, at | 10 | 000 |
| The 52 Halls of Companies,
1500l. | 73 | 000 |
| Three of the City Gates, at 3000l.
each | 9 | 000 |
| The Goal of Newgate | 15 | 000 |
| Four Stone Bridges, | 6 | 000 |
| The Sessions House | 7 | 000 |
| The Guild Hall, and Courts and Offices
belonging to it | 40 | 000 |
| Blackwell Hall | 3 | 000 |
| Bridewell | 5 | 000 |
| Poultry Counter | 5 | 000 |
| Woodstreet Counter | 3 | 000 |
| 939 | 000 |
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Towards the Building of St.
Paul's
Cathedral | 2 | 000 | 000 |
The Wares, Housholdstuff, Mo-
neys,
and other moveable Goods,
lost and spoiled, may probably
amount to | 2 | 000 | 000 |
In the Hire of Porters, Carts, Wa-
gons, Barges, Boats, &c. for
Removing, Carrying and Re-
carrying of Wares, Houshold-
stuff and the like, during the
Time of the
Fire and some
small time after; may well be
reckoned at | | 200 | 000 |
In Printed Books, and Paper in
several
Shops and Warehouses | | 150 | 000 |
In Wine, Tobacco, Sugar,
Plumbs,
&c. of which the City was at
that Time very full | 1 | 500 | 003 |
| 5850 | 000 |
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For Publick Works Enjoyned by Act of Parliament.
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For cutting a Navigable Channel from
the
Thames to Holborn Bridge | 27 | 000 |
For a Monument to be erected near to
the
Place where the Fire began. | 14 | 500 |
| 41 | 500 |
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Melioration Money paid to several Proprietors, who had their Ground taken away,
for
the making of Wharfs, enlarging of Streets, making of new Streets and Market
Places,
&c.
All which Particulars, viz.
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| For Houses burnt | 3 | 900 | 000 |
| For Publick Edifices burnt | | 939 | 000 |
For Losses sustained in Moneys and
in
Goods Burnt, and in Carriage
and removing, and by St. Paul's
Church being then almost
new
Built | 5 | 850 | 000 |
For Publick Works enjoyned to be
done
by Act of Parliament | | 41 | 500 |
| For Melioration |
| The Sum of all | 10 | 73 | 0500 |
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Of the strange Concurrence of several Causes, (hapning at the same time)
occasioning
the Fire so vigourously to spread and increase.
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BEsides the supine Negligence of the People (whether
Master of Servants) of the House, where this dreadful Conflagration began; Next
unto
God's just Judgments for the heinous crying Sins of this Nation and City in
particular;
Some have made Enquiry into other natural Causes, which might occasion such a
general Ruin, from so small a Beginning: And
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First, They consider the Time of the Night when it first began, viz. between One
and
Two of the Clock after Midnight; when all were in a dead Sleep.
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1.
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Secondly, It was Saturday Night when many of the most eminent Citizens,
Merchants,
and others were retired into the Country, and none but Servants left to look to
their City
Houses.
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2.
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Thirdly, It was in the long Vacation, being that particular Time of the Year,
when many
wealthy Citizens and Tradesmen are wont to be in the Country at Fairs, and
getting in
of Debts, and making up Accounts with their Chapmen.
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3.
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Fourthly, The Closeness of the Building, and Narrowness of the Street in the
Places
where it began, did much facilitate the Progress of the Fire; by hindring of the
Engines
to be brought to play upon the Houses on Fire.
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4.
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Fifthly, The Matter of which the Houses, all thereabouts, were; viz. Timber, and
those
very old.
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5.
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Sixthly, The Dryness of the preceeding Season; there having been a great Drought
even
to that very Day, and all the Time that the Fire continued, which had so dryed
the
Timber, that it was never more apt to take Fire.
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6.
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Seventhly, The nature of the Wares and Commodities stowed and vended in those
Parts, were the most Combustible of any other sold in the whole City: As Oyl,
Pitch,
Tar, Cordage, Hemp, Flax, Rosin, Wax, Butter, Cheese, Wine, Brandy, Sugar,
&c.
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7.
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Eighthly, An Easterly Wind, (which is the dryest of all others) had blown for
several
Days together before; and at that Time very strongly.
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8.
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Ninthly, The unexpected failing of the Water thereabouts at that Time; For the
Engine at
the North End of London Bridge, called the Thames Water Tower, (which supplyed
all
that Part of the City with Thames Water) was out of Order, and in a few Hours
was it
self burnt down, so that the Water Pipes, which conveyed the Water
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9.
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