Great fires
Fires that burned churches, towns and cities, such as the fires at Peterborough in 1116 and Gloucester in 1122, and the Great Fire of London in 1666.
A diary for every day of the year
Samuel Pepys, from his diary (London, 1660–1669), in the edition of Henry B. Wheatley (London, 1893–99) · January 1660 to June 1669, written day by day (modern calendar)
Some of our mayds sitting up late last night to get things ready against our feast to-day, Jane called us up about three in the morning, to tell us of a great fire they saw in the City. So I rose and slipped on my night-gowne, and went to her window, and thought it to be on the backside of Marke-lane at the farthest; but, being unused to such fires as followed, I thought it far enough off; and so went to bed again and to sleep. About seven rose again to dress myself, and there looked out at the window, and saw the fire not so much as it was and further off.
Some of our maids sat up late last night to get things ready for our feast today, and Jane called us up about three in the morning to tell us of a great fire they saw in the City. So I rose and slipped on my nightgown, and went to her window, and thought it was at the back of Mark Lane at the farthest. But, being unused to such fires as followed, I thought it far enough off, and so went to bed again and to sleep. About seven [I] rose again to dress, and looked out of the window there, and saw the fire not so big as it had been, and farther off.
The Rooms of the Tremont House
William Havard Eliot, A Description of Tremont House, with Architectural Illustrations (Boston, 1830) · 1830, on the hotel opened in October 1829
A spacious and convenient Hotel, in a central and healthy situation, had been considered, for many years previous to the erection of Tremont House, a most desirable addition to the number of the public edifices of Boston. Since the destruction of the old Exchange Coffee House, in 1818, no hotel had been built in this city on a scale of equal extent with that structure, and none corresponding to the expectations and wants of the numerous visiters of the Metropolis of New England; and the unfortunate experience of those who had previously engaged in similar enterprises was sufficient to deter any individual from undertaking a work of so much labor, cost, and hazard.
A spacious and convenient hotel, in a central and healthy location, had been thought for many years before the building of Tremont House a most desirable addition to the public buildings of Boston. Since the destruction of the old Exchange Coffee House in 1818, no hotel had been built in this city on a scale as large as that building. None met the expectations and wants of the many visitors to the chief city of New England. And the bad experience of those who had tried such ventures before was enough to keep any one person from taking on a work of so much labor, cost, and risk.