Great Fire in Liverpool

[From the Liverpool Mail, Sept. 24.]

Yesterday morning witnessed the most awfully destructive fire, whether as regards life or property, that has ever taken place in this locality-more destructive, indeed, than the memorable fire in 1802, which destroyed the Goree warehouses. On that occasion, the estimated damage was-warehouses 44,500 pounds; grain, 120,000 pounds; sugar, 60,000 pounds; coffee, 8,500 pounds; cotton, 30,000 pounds, sundries, 60,000 pounds;-total 323,000 pounds; whereas, on the present occasion, one article alone-cotton, has been destroyed to an extent exceeding the whole of the loss by that memorable fire.

All the buildings on Great Howard street, from Compton to Neptune street; on Compton, from Waterloo Road to Great Howard street; on Neptune, from the same to the same; and on both sides of Formby street, from same to same, and along Waterloo road, embracing an area of 694 square yards, were destroyed. Insurance on these amounted to 370,000 pounds. Forty-eight thousand bales of cotton were burnt, valued at 384,000 pounds. Total loss in merchandize [merchandise] and building reached the enormous sum of 500,000 pounds.

The distressing calamity has been far more tragical [tragically] in its results than the only event in the history of the town with which it can be compared. The loss of life can never be satisfactorily ascertained, but we should not be surprised if, including the infortunate [unfortunate] persons at present in the Northern Hospital, and those buried beneath the ruins, all traces of whom will be forever swept away before the removal of the burning materials-the number exceeded thirty.-Under the ruins there are, it is believed, from eighteen to twenty men, and from the dangerous state of many in the hospital, half that number, it is feared, will not survive. In the hospital there are now seventeen dreadfully mutilated, exclusive of three who died there yesterday.

It is estimated that about 15,000 bbls. turpentine have been consumed, besides a large quantity of produce of other descriptions.

The fire originated in Crompton street, formerly Wood street, at the north end of the town, near the docks. The three principal streets affected-namely, Crompton street, Formby street, and Neptune street, all nearly opposite the Borough Gaol [Jail], run east and west between Great Howard street in which the prison stands) and Waterloo road, close to the docks.

Two of the engines were also smashed, and we fear a considerable number of the firemen were killed.