Destruction of One Fifth of the City of Hamburgh by Fire

The city of Hamburgh, the great commercial emporium of Germany, is a heap of ruins. Her merchants were rejoicing at the prospect held out to them by the promised improvements in our commercial tariff; now they are mourning over their richly stored warehouses in ashes, their houses devoured by the flames, and their prospects of increased prosperity scattered to the four winds of heaven.

The fire, which broke out on Wednesday night, the 14th inst. and which there is every reason to believe, was the work of an incendiary, extended to fifty two streets, most of which were reduced to ashes. On a rough calculation, the loss of property was from three to four millions sterling, but it is believed that the total loss will be double that amount. No person can tell how many lives were lost but a great number of persons must have perished. The canals through the city were dry, so that no water could be found. The fire raged from Wednesday night till Saturday morning.

On the latter day, at nine o'clock, the Danish, Hanovarian, and Prussian troops entered the town, and being well supplied with gunpowder, commenced blowing up the houses to arrest the progress

of the flames. This was completely effected by Sunday morning. The Senate ordered every person to leave town and nothing could exceed the heart-rending spectacle of thousands of poor people frantic with their losses, and without the means of procuring food or shelter.

The destruction of Hamburgh is one of those calamities which will be felt in every part of the commercial world.-Great as may be the credit of the Senate and people of Hamburgh with foreign states, a century will elapse before the city can be replaced in all the prosperity destroyed by this conflagration. In the midst of the confusion an incident occurred characteristic of the government and the people. A public notice was every where put up, stating that the vault under the bank, containing the gold and silver bars, were fire proof, and that the bank books were all removed in perfect safety,

The Hamburgh Noue Zeitung of the 10th inst. thus sums up the results of the sad catastrophe:-

"Sixty streets, containing from 1500 to 2000 houses, lie smouldering [smoldering] on the ground, and form a fearful but picturesque ruin. Two splended [splendid] churches, with steeples exceeding 400 feet in height, another church with its tower, the Rath Haus, where the Senate hold their sittings, the old Exchange, the repository of archives, the building of the Patriotic Society , are all destroyed. Reichspost Amt, nearly all the booksellers, the offices of two newspapers, (the Borsenballe, and the Correspondent,) nearly all the great hotels and inns, (the Old London, the Belvidere, Hotel de Ruisse, St. Petersburgh, Street's Hotel, the Crown Prince, the Wild Man, the Bramer Anthaus, the Black Elephant,) the principle magazins des modes and repositories of fashion, and nearly all the chief apothecaries, are destroyed. The following are safe:--The cellar where the bullion is deposited at the bank, the Catharinenstrase der Wandralune, du Reichenstrase, &c."

RELIGION.-Is a flower whose bud is peace, whose blossom is joy unspeakable, and whose fruit is everlasting glory.

If you would be truly happy, strive to make others so and learn to cultivate good feelings towards all mankind.

TIMES AND SEASONS.

CITY OF NAUVOO.

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1842.