APPENDIX.

THE following papers, and annual reports of the Fire-engine Committee, are inserted with a view to show the progress, the annual expense, and other particulars of the Establishment, which has been formed here under the directions of the General Commissioners of Police.

The regulations therein laid down are such as were judged necessary at the time when they were framed, which was before the actual effect of the system could be anticipated. If they were to be revised now, when experience has shown. both what is required, and what may be expected, some superfluous regulations might be left out, and several useful modifications might be introduced. The confidence which is now felt by all classes in the efficiency of the establishment, has had the effect of preventing the excitement which used formerly to prevail on every alarm of Fire; so that now, instead of multitudes congregating on such occasions, the firemen attract comparatively little notice while they proceed in a silent regular manner to do their duty; and if the intelligence were not communicated by the public press, few cases of fire would be heard of beyond the streets in which they take place.

In examining the Reports containing the annual state

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ments of expenditure, it must be kept in view that the Edinburgh Police bounds, which are protected from fire by this establishment, extend about three miles from north to south, and nearly the same from east to west.

The annual valued rental of the property, after deducting all buildings occupied as public charities, or for government purposes, or for the purposes of education and science, amounts to £462,388, containing a population of 130,000 souls. The property and population of the adjacent town of Leith are not included in the above, although assistance is occasionally given there when required.

No I.

FIRE REGULATIONS.

Council Chamber, Edinburgh, 27th January, 1825.

THE Lord Provost and Magistrates of the city, and the Sheriffdepute of the county of Edinburgh, do hereby enact the following Regulations, to be observed on occasions of fires within the bounds of police, and order the same to be printed, published, and circulated.

ALEX. HENDERSON,

Lord Provost. WILLM. PATISON, B.

ROB. WRIGHT, B.

ROB. MORTON, B.

PET. FORBES, B.

{(Signed)

AD. DUFF, Sheriff-depute of the county of Edinburgh.

I-GENERAL REGULATIONS.

1. A list of the engine-houses, and the residences of the master of engines and head engine-men in each district, shall be publicly advertised, that no one may be ignorant where to apply in cases of fire; and, in the event of fire breaking out in any house, the possessor shall be bound to give instant notice of it at the nearest station; and shall take particular care to keep all doors and windows shut in the premises where the fire happens to be.

2. "Fire-engine house" shall be painted in large characters on one or more prominent places of each engine-house; and the residences of the master of engines, head engine-men, inspectors of gas-companies, and water-officers of the district, shall likewise be marked there.

3. The head engine-men and firemen shall reside as near the engine-house as possible.

4. As, in the case of a fire breaking out, it may be necessary to break open the doors of houses and shops in the neighbourhood, in order to prevent the fire from spreading, it is ordered, that no possessors of houses or shops in the neighbourhood shall go away, after the fire has broken out, without leaving the key of their house or shop, as otherwise the door will be

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broken open, if necessary; and it is recommended that all possessors of shops shall have the place of their residence painted upon their shop-doors, that notice may be sent them when necessary.

II.-POLICE.

1. Upon any watchmen discovering fire, he shall call the neighbouring watchmen to his assistance,-shall take the best means in his power to put all concerned upon their guard,— and shall immediately send off notice to the nearest office and engine-house. The watchman who is despatched to give these intimations shall run as far as he can, and shall then send forward any other watchman whom he may meet, he himself following at a walk to communicate his information, in case of any mistake on the part of the second messenger.

2. Upon intimation of a fire being received at the main office, or a district-office, the head officer on duty shall instantly give notice thereof to the head engine-man of the district, to the master of engines, to the water-officers of the district, and to the inspectors of the different gas-light companies, and shall have power, if his force at the office at the time be deficient, to employ the nearest watchmen for these purposes; and, on intimation being first received at a district-office, the officer on duty in the office shall immediately send notice to the main office.

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3. Upon intimation being received at the main office, the officer on duty shall also instantly send notice to the superintendent of police, and the lieutenants not at the office at the time,—to the master of engines,—to the head engine-men of the various districts, to the superintendent of the water-company,-to the Lord Provost or chief magistrate for the time,-to the Sheriff of the county,-to the bailie residing nearest the place, to the dean of guild, to the members of fire-engine committee of commissioners of police,-to the moderator of the high constables, and also to the managers of the different gaslight companies.

4. The officer on duty at the main office shall, with the least possible delay, send off to the fire a party of his men, under the command of a lieutenant or other officer.

5. This party, on arriving at the spot, shall clear off the crowd, and keep open space and passages for the firemen and others employed.

6. The officer commanding this party of the police shall attend to no instructions except such as he shall receive from the acting chief magistrate attending; or, in absence of a magistrate, from any member of the committee on fire-engines; and the men shall attend to the instructions of their own of ficer alone.

7. Three or more policemen shall be in attendance upon the acting chief magistrate and fire-engine committee; two policemen shall constantly attend the master of the engines, to be at his disposal entirely; and one policeman shall attend with the water-officer at each fire-cock that may be opened.

8. The superintendent of police shall always have a list of extra policemen hung up in the police-office, who, upon occasions of fire, may be called out, if necessary, and twenty of these extra men shall always be called out upon notice of fire being received at the main office, for the purpose of attending at the police-office, and rendering assistance where it may be required. The superintendent shall likewise have a supply of fire-buckets, flambeaux, and lanterns, at the office, to be ready when wanted.

9. There shall be no ringing of alarm-bells, beating of drums, or springing of rattles, except by written order from the chief magistrate for the time; but the alarm may be given by despatching messengers, with proper badges, through different parts of the town, when considered necessary.

III-MASTER OF ENGINES.

1. On receiving notice of a fire, the master shall instantly equip himself in his uniform, and repair to the spot where the fire is.

2. The necessary operations to be adopted shall be under the absolute control of the master, who shall issue his instructions to the head engine-men and firemen.

3. The master shall report from time to time to the chief magistrate in attendance (through such medium as may be at his command, but without his leaving the spot), the state of the fire, and whether a greater number of policemen, or a party of the military, be required, and any thing else which may occur to him; and the master shall observe the directions of the chief magistrate attending, and those of no other person whatever.

4. The master shall frequently inspect the engines, and all the apparatus connected therewith; he shall be responsible for the whole being at all times in good order and condition; and he shall have a general muster and inspection at least once every three months, when the engines and all the apparatus shall be tried. He shall also instruct the engine-men, firemen, and the watchmen, to unlock the plates, and screw on the distributors of the fire-cocks, or open the fire-plugs.

5. Whenever any repairs or new apparatus shall appear to be necessary, the master shall give notice to the clerk of the police, whose duty it shall be instantly to convene the committee on fire-engines.

6. Upon a fire breaking out, the master shall lose as little