The Sun. — London, England, 1852-06-26 00:00:00

titular paper, and for a trifling expense it might be fur nished with what it required without being encumbered with more than was necessary.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted that the Right Hon. Gentleman tee Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was a friend to education, would take the matter under his consideration, and next ses sion consent to the appointment of a Committee. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he thought the suggestion of the Master of the Rolls was one deserving the attention of the House. but before it could be carried into effect it would require much more consideration than could now be given to it. He appre hended, however, that the Printing Committee would take cognizance of the distribution of these papers. At the same time the suggestion of the Hon. Member for I Montrose with respect to distribution was well worthy of consideration. He believed it was little known with what facility, and at what cheap rates, the publications of the House of Commons might be obtained; and he thought it would be well it the public could be thus made acquainted with the nature of these Parliamentary publications, which he confessed he regarded as an im portant branch of the national literature. The more such publications could be disseminated the more would they redound to the honour of the House of Commons -• and the advantage of the people. Tile motion of the Master of the Rolls was then with drawn. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then rote to move the adjournment of the House tall Tuesday, but was interrupted by Mr. HUME, who said before that motion was put he had a petition to present, founded upon certain resolu tions recently agreed to in the Legislative As!,embly of Van Diemen's Land. The petitioners complained that from 1844 to 1851 they had constantly petitioned the Government of this country against the existing system of transportation to the colony, but without ef&ct; they complained that 20,000 out of the 70,000 persons form ing the population were convicts, and that the money which ought to be expended for the benefit of the colony was devoted to gaol accommodation for those convicts. The petitioners stated their determination to vote no further sums which should be so misappropriated, and they concluded by asking to have the management of their own affairs, and for a different adjustment of the convict system. The Hon. Member asked the Right Hon. Gentleman whether the Government were in re ceipt of any information with respect to the resolutions upon which this petition had been founded? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER be lieved that such resolutions had been received at the Colonial-office. OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE, Mr. BRIGHT, on behalf of his Right Hon. Colleague (Mr. M. Gibson), said the House was aware that many petitions had been presented to Parliament in favour of a reduction of what was known as the ocean postage between this and other countries. The project recom mended was that the ocean postage should be at one uniform rate of one penny, the scale of internal postage being left to be settled by the Governments of the re apective countries. The emigration now going on made this question more important than at an earlier period; and, with regard to Ireland, ho understood that more than one-third of all the letters crossing the Atlantic were either from persons in America to friends in Ire land, or vice versa. That he thought a startling fact, and when it was considered how large a portion of our population were settling in other countries, it was of the greatest importance to individuals, and not less to the country at large, that the greatest facilities with re spect to the transmission of letters should be afforded. By affording each facilities the foun dation of future harmony between those who emigrated and those left behind would be laid. lie now gave notice, on behalf of his Right Hon. Friend, that in the nest session of Parliament he would make a direct motion on the subject, or move for a Committee of inquiry; and he also begged to ask the Chancellor of the haehequer whether during the recess he thought he could turn his attention to this question, which, as it concerned the comforts and affected the social inter course of many of our fellow-countryman, was undoubt edly of importance? He did not think the loss to the revenue would be considerable, bat that the increased number of letters would balance the deficiency, even more speedily than when the change was effected in the' inland postage system. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER feared that his time would be much occupied during the re cess, but he would endeavour to consider the question of ocean penny postage, and likewise the petition just presented by the Hon. Member for Montrose.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman then moved the adjournment of the House till Tuesday, and the motion Was agreed to. SUITORS IN CHANCERY RELIEF BILL.— EXPLANATION. The MASTER of the ROLLS then rose to complain of what he contended were inaccuracies into which a Noble and Learned Lord (Lord Lyndhurst) had fallen on the previous evening, when alluding, in the Honse of Lords, to the share which ho (the Master of the Rolls) had had in the present Bill. Possibly the observations of the Noble and Learned Lord had been misreported, but it not they contained inaccuracies to which it was necessary that he (the Master of the Rolls) should call attention, as they involved a personal imputation. The Right lion. end Learned Gentleman then proceeded to quote passages from the reported speech of Lord Lynd hurst, and, in refutation of them, proceeded to say that be (the Master of the Rolls) had been no party to the introduction of the Bill, which was passed through the House by the Secretary of State for the Rome Department. The fees to which the Noble and Learned Lord alluded had been settled by the previous Lord Chancellor and Master of the Rolls, and therefore he (the Master of the ells) had made no alteration in them. The present Bill took away those fees, but a subsequent Bill gave a Power of appeal to the Treasury for compensation, and left with th e T re asury the settlement of fut ure salaries of the clerks. He regretted that the Noble and Learned Lord had not taken sufficient pains to make himself ac quainted with the true nature of the Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER under stood the Master of the Rolls to cemplain of statements alleged to be contained in a speech delivered by a Noble and Learned Friend of his (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer's) in another place. The MASTER of the ROLLS—I merely wish to set the matter right. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER re gretted that as there was no lawyer at present on the Treasury bench he could not enter into details. He be haved the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman had given notice to his Right Hon. Friend the Home Secre tary that he would call attention to the subject, but his 'tight Honourable and Learned Friend had been obliged to leave the House on urgent business. Ho (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) could not, however, allow the observations of the Master of the Rolls to pass Without remark. He was not prepared to go into de tails, but of the Noble and Learned Lord to whom re ference had been made he would say, that he was not glare distinguished for his accuracy than for his sagacity and learning—(Hear, hear)—and the most charitable View to take of the question was that his observations had not been diffused with the accuracy with which they Were delivered. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) Could not allow remarks to be made, and in a tone of reproof, on one who had been a distinguished ornament Of that House.—(Hear, hear.) Nor could he forget that this year that Noble and Learned Lord, although op- Pressed with physical infirmity, had shown that the brightness and energy of his mind rema in e d, a nd tha t his valuable services had been devoted to the interests of the public, and to the carrying through of those measures of which everyone admitted the importance.—(Hear.) At a later period of the evening, Sir J. GRAHAM, to referring to the same subject, said he thought it very 'nexpedient to refer to any discussion that had taken Place in the other House of Parliament. Is was, indeed, Contrary to the strict rules of the House to do so. This case, however, was somewhat peculiar. lie was not surprised, considering the high judicial station occupied by the Master of the Rolls, that he should seem hurt by any such imputations as had been referred to, especially When it was supposed that they had fallen from so high Sts authority as the Noble and Learned Lord in another Place. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had spoken in terms not at all exaggerated of the merits and character of that distinguished person. The Right Hon. Gentle- bian claimed him as his friend. He (Sir J. Graham) also claimed him as a friend and colleague. lie admitted all Personage distinguished qualities of that No ble and Learned rersonage to which the Right Hon. Gentleman had called their attention. But there was one quality which Particularly distinguished his Noble and Learned Friend `that was his love of justice. And he was quite sa tisfied, after the explanation which had been given by th e Right Hon. Gentleman the Master of the Rolls of his conduct in respect to the Bill referred to—many Particulars of which he (Sir J. Graham) could, as an eye -witness, se er—he was satisfied that his Right Hon. and Learned Friend would be of opinion that the allega tions which were brought forward arose from a misap- Prehension of the facts. He was also persuaded that the Noble and Learned Lord would be the first to retract any imputations which were injurious to the high repu tation of his Right [lon. and Lear ned Friend the 'Master of the Rolls. He saw opposite to him the Right Iron. Gentleman, the President of the Board of Trade, Who served not only on the Commission over which the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Master of the Rolls presided, but who, also, was a member of the Committee in which this question of compensation for the fees given up was determined. He was satisfied that the Right lion. Gentleman would state that in the course of the inquiry or in the progress of the Bill nothi ng had occurred which in the slightest degree Could support the accusations that were made against the Right Hon. end Learned Gentleman, as to any dis position evinced by him to bear hard upon the clerks connected with the Court of Chancery, or any indica tions shown , that he wished to uphold the salaries and e moluments of the officers in his department. Any such allegations would be most injurious to the Right Hon. a nd Learned Gentleman's character , and he could well mderstand his anxiety to be relieved from the weight Zr them. He w as certain that the Right lion. and earned Gentleman's explanation would be considered moat satisractory to the public, and wou ld rem o v e the erroneous impressions that might be abroad in respect * 0 th e high patronage which he exerci*ed. Mr. HENLEY sa id he did not think he could do „ i l lther wise than say afew words on this subj e c t . It was w i t s.privilege and honour to servo on the Com mittee to g ulch the Right Hon. Baronet alluded with the Master the Rolls, and he was bound to say ho did not recol lect any question ever arising or suggested by any of the getabers, and least of all by his Right Hon. and Learned o , e rend, in respect to an alteration in the salaries of these a l 're —(Hear hear.) tie did not think , as far as he ,Ive , , , a 4 -ea.:. ri.Z.Olit Ot t tua frly h J.' t.vnr been 41;tetied, He felt bound to hay that he did not see any ranee between them in that Committee or the Com oision. 14 Indeed, it was somewhat extraordinary to see ri t .6.7,‘ S U N, such great unanimity prevailing as had existed amongst the Memb , ,ts of that Committee.—(Hear, hear.) THE TREASURY MINUTE WITH RESPECT TO CHICORY. Llrd D. STUART said, the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to a question, had stated that tho Treasury minute of 1840 had not been resciudod, and that if it were it would Ixt so re scinded as not to interfere with the fair traders of the country. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The fair trade of the country. Lord D. STUART—The words of the Right Hon. Gentleman, however plausible, and smooth, and soothing they might appear, would strike dismay into the hearts of hundreds, he might say thousands, of honest traders in this country.—(l laugh.) Now, considering thatan assurance had gone forth that the next Parliament would meet euriy, he suggested the postponement of any pro ceedings with respect to this article of chicory until that Parliament had met. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that if Treasury minutes could not be made without a particular vote of the House of Commons, it would:be as well et cue() to stop the whole administration of ( Hear, bear.) The Treasury minutes were, in fact, :made under particular Acts of Parliament. The minute to which:allusion bad been made had not been rescinded, and if it were rescinded the law would not remain in the same state as when that minute was made. If it were rescinded instructions would be given to the Board of Inland Revenue to leave the traders in a far different positiosi to that which they occupied before the minute was framed. For instance, before the minute was issued, treelers could not have chicory on their premises without making an acknowledgment. In case the alterations in the existing minute were resolved on persons would hare power to have any amount of chicory on their premises. The change, however, would not be made until oppor tunity was afforded for disposing of the adulterated stock. Mr. HUME said it was alleged that chicory had been sold instead of coffee, and in that way much fraud was committed. He believed that that was not the case—he believed that a great portion of the public preferred the mixture of coffee and chicory. The Treasury order existed for 11 years. It was founded upon this princi ple, that whereas in the previous years it was impossible for honest dealers to carry on their trade when the law prohibited the mixture of chicory with coffee, because they could not compete with those who sold the mixture es the genuine article, at, of course, greatly reduced prices, the Treasury was overwhelmed with applications from the most respectable grocers in the country for protection.' The Treasury minute of 1840 was conse quently agreed to. He was sure that the alteration of burl an order now, after its existence for- 11 years, would entail much injustice on many parties. He would, therefore, only ask the Government to postpone the question until the next Parliament, when they would have an ample opportunity for discussing it. - He thought it would be almost an act of spoliation to alter such an order without giving due notice to all parties concerned. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. A messenger from the Lords brought up the follow. ing Bills, to which their Lordships have agreed:— Navy Pay. Sunk Island Roads. Appointment of Ovorseers. AiElan and Backland Road. Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. Cambridge to Ely and other Roads. York and North iiidlaud Rail wv, without amendment ll , reditary Casual Revenues in the Colonies, with an amendment. Exeter Roads. South Yorkshire Railway and River Don Company 'Stile of Lease, &o.) Commercial Gas Company and British Gas Ligh Company, with amendmenti. Tbe House adjourned at Sewn o'clock until Tuesday PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 25. Minority of 41 who voted for Resolutions moved by Lord Granville in accordance with the Report of the Select Committee on the Mode of Printing the Proceedings and Reports of the Select Committees of the House:-- DUKE. EARLS. Ashburton Newcastle Harrowby Beaumont MARQUISES. Morley Brougham Clanricardo Rosebery Campbell Normanby Strafford Cranworth Ormonde Shaftesbury Crewe j EARLS. St. Germans Colborne Aberdeen Waldegravo De Manley Bruce Zetland ElPhinstona Chichester VISCOUNTS. p oiey Effingham Canning Leigh Fortescue Sydney Milford Fitzsvilliam BISHOP. IVlonteaglo Granville Worcester Stanley of Alderley Grey BARONS. Wodehouse Harrington Alvanley I Vrottesley ___ (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) FRIDAY. JUNE 25. METROPOLITAN BURIALS BILL. (IN TUE COMMUTEE.) Clause 2 (On representation of Secretary of State, her Majesty in Council may order discontinuance of Burials in any part of the Metropolis) :—Amendment proposed, at the end of the Clause, to add the words " Provided that no Burial Ground in the Metropolis where Burials shall have been discontinued by such Order as aforesaid shall be allowed to have any dwelling-house, shop, or warehouse erected thereon:"—Question put, " That those words be there added." The Committee divided:— MINORITY-AYES, 21. Acland, Sir T. D. Gladstone, W. E. Ponsonby, C. F. Brotherton, J. Glyn, George Carr Seymour, 11. D. ' Carter, Samuel Hatchell, John Thompson, Colonel Clay, Sir W. Headlam, ThomaS Willoughby, Sir 11. Dawson, T. V. Hindley Charles Wrightson, W.B. Elliot, John E. Mackinnon, W. A. TELLERS. Estcourt, J. B. B. Melgund, Viscount Ebrington, Viscount Evans, William Milligan, Robert Cochrane, A. D. BIAJORITY—NOES, 80. Aglionby, 11. A. Freestun, Colonel Naas, Lord Barrington, Via. Fuller, A. E. Napier, Joseph , Bell, Jacob Galway, Viscount .. Neeld, Joseph Bercsford, Willis.M Gordon, Admiral Pakington, Sir J. Berkeley, H. F. Grogan, Edward Patten, J. W. Berkeley, C. L. G. Grosvenor, Lord R. Philips, Sir G. R. Boldero, George H. Gwyn, Howel Prime, Richard Boyle, Colonel Hall, Sir B. Pugh, David Brisco, M. Ilamilton, Lord C. Repton, G. W. J. Buck, L. W. Harris, Captain Scott, F. Buller, Sit J. Y. Harris, Richard Seymour, Lord Butt, Isaac • , t 1" Henley, J. W. Sidney, Alderman Chandos, Marquis of Heywood, Jamea Smith, X. B. Christopher, R. Hope, Sir J. Stafford, Augustin! Davies, D. A. Hotham, Lord Stuart, Lord D. Disraeli, B. Hudson, George Sullivan, Michael Dodd, George Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Tollemache, John Duckworth, Sir J. Knox, Colonel Trollope, Sir J. Duncan, George Langston, J. H. Tyler, Sir G. Duncombe, T. Legh, G. C. Walpole, Spencer Duncombe, A. Lockhart, A. E. Walter, John Dunne, Colonel Lygon, General Williams, W. East, Sir J. B. Mandeville, Via. Wynn, H. W. Egerton, Sir P. Manners, Lord J. Yorke, E. T. Emlyn, Viscount Masterman, John Evans, Sir De Lacy Molesworth, Sir W TELLERS. Ferrer, James Morgan, 0. Lennox. Lord H. G. Fox, W. J. Mundy, William Knox, W,, S. THE BOARD OF CUSTOMS, The Select Committee of the House of Commons have presented their report on the Board of Customs. The Committee submit the following heads of re form, which they consider it advisable to adopt gene rally, leaving some of the outposts to be dealt with especially : " I.—CONSTITUTION OF THE BOARD Ur CUSTOMS. " The Beard consists of a Chairman, Vice-chairman, and six ordinary Commissioners, one of whom is by Treasury minute to be reduced to the next vacancy. The salaries are respectively 2,0001., 1,7001, and 1,200/. per annum, subject, under the Superannuation Act, to a deduction of five per cent., and they do not appear to be more than a sufficient remuneration for the due dis charge of the duties of the respective offices. Some of the Commissioners have been, prior to their appoint ment, in the serviee of the Crown. Without wishing -to limit the discretion of the Government in appointing, on their responsibility, to offices of such importance, your Committee would merely urge that such appoint mentsnught to be m a d e with✓a scrupulous regard to the poesesSion of the requisite qualifications of utility and experience, and not so rritiel from poliaieal or personal consideration, al, has hitherto been tee often the case. " itilany of the witnesses have strongly urged the ad vantage which would result from ss teenier some 'members of the Board of Customs from the mercantile liodY, and you Committee aro of opinion that the appoi&ment of at leaet one emelt Commissioner, provided he be otherwise fully qualified, would tend to inspire confidence among the mercantile community in the administration of the department of Customs. " It has been further suggested that the constitution of the board would be improved by the introduction of a superior practical officer. Your Committee do not question that among the superior officers of the Customs some may be, as some have been, found qualified for the higher duties of Csmm;ssioner, and that to such men the promotion might, from time to time, be benefi cially extended. • " Some witnesses have suggested that the Board of Customs should have a more independent action than it at present possesses, and that the law under which the Commissioners are disqualified from sitting in the House of Commons should be repealed, so that one Commis sioner should have a seat in Parliament. "It is not for your Committee to express an opinion as to this proposed alteration of the law; it involves po litical considerations of no small importance, not apply ing exclusively to the Board of Customs, and must there fore, in the judgment of your Committee, be left to the decision of Parliament. " The present Commissioners have ten to fifteen weeks' holidays annually, which appear excessive. Your Committee advise that a minute of the Treasury, dated the 2.1 of March, 1849, based on the recommendation of the Commissioners of Inquiry in that year and in 1841, enjoining them to visit the different docks-and wharfs in London where business was transacted, with a view of judging for themselves of the character of their officers and what rules and regulations should be issued, ought to be carried out, although temporarily suspended during the recent controversy a ith the docks. Complaints have been made to your Committee of the inaccessibility of the Commissioners. This is denied by them, and it ap pears desirable that the denial should become generally known, so - as to enable the public in future to profit by the facility of seeing the board. " 2 . —APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION OF OFFICERS. " The original appointments in the Customs depart ment embrace six classes. There does not appear to be much difference in the original examination and proba tion for them all, but the last five classes can never rise to the first; and lockers, in particular, hold situations of very great responsibility, and are frequently employed as landing waiters. Your Committee see no reason why in the case of meritorious officers the exclusion should he continued, hut every transfer from one class, or even grade, to another should be accompanied by a strict examination. The general pay of the officers does not appear to be too large, but this brings your Committee to the consideration of "3 —FINES AND SATISFACTIONS. "Up to 1847 the Beard of Inland Revenue divided the half of all penalties with the informer, its own officer. This being found to act against the credit of the wit ness, an Act was passed in that year appropriating the whole to the Crown, but the Treasury still allows part of the fund thus created to ho distributed among deserving officers, without reference to the seizures they may base made. The prac t i ce at the Customs is different. The officers detaini ng goods for wrong entry get the whole fines impos e d, w hi c h amount in London to an average of 500/, per annum, di v id ed among them, and a large pro portion of all seizures and satisfactions. In 1850, 24,252/. Bs. 9d. were received by tho Customs for all seizures, fines, penalties, or satisfactions a nd 10,8901. 7s. 7d. were divid e d among 1,948 officers. ' Ii is admitted that this has a t en d ency to make them too strict in the execution of the:l: duty, and occasionally causes vexa tious delay to th e merc h ant. Your Committee recom mend, therefore, that the practices of the Board of In land Revenue be adopted, and that the meritorious officer should look chiefly to promotion as bid reward. " 4.—AD VALOREM DUTIES. " Conclusive evidence has been furnished, both by merchants and officers of Customs, to your Committee, that these duties, however good in theory, operate badly in practice. The gross amount of them in 1850 was only 188,833/., while during the came period the number of seizures was 421, keeping up a greater staff of officers than would bo otherwise necessary, and giving great trouble to the board, which has to decide on the market value of so many different articles. By law, if the Crown stop goods for under-valuation, it has to pay the importer 10 per cent. over the value he puts on them. It then puts them up to public sale, frequently divided into such small lots as must affmt must injuriously the retail trader ; and, notwithstanding this pre caution, the loss to the Crown for the port of London alone thereon was, in 1850, 816/. 10s. 5c1., while the detaining officers, who get half of any profit, but are subjected to no share of lois, received 557/. 6s. 3d. Your Committee are of opinion that the number of articles subject to ad valorem duties may be largely reduced with advantage to trade, and without material loss to the revenue; and with respect to any which must necessarily be retained, it appears advisable to adhere to the orders some time since issued by the Board of Customs, which direct that, previous to the absolute seizure of articles for undervalue, the importers should be apprised of the value put upon the goods by the officers, and should be at liberty to decide whether they w ill amen d t h e i r en t r y or a b an d on t h e goods.' Your C omm i ttee, also, had strong evidence in the case of tea (before the last change), auger, and nutmegs, sh owing how difficult it is to assess duties varying on different classes of the same article, because the natural desire of the importer is to introduce articles of the very highest Quality admissible under the lowest rate of duty. " 5 . -SEIZURE AND STOPPAGES, AND ADJUDICATIONS OF THEM. " When an officer stops goods or ships he is ordered to communicate verbally to the owner or his agent as much i nformation for the grounds of stoppage as he con siders proper. .The owner then petitions the board in writing, While the detaining officer also makes his writ ten report to the board, which is not shown to the mer chant, and the latter, after the lapse of a period varying, in mOs' cases, from one to n i ne days, receives a verbal intimation of th e decision in his case, unaccompanied by any reaso ns f or it. If parties subsequently apply for a written answer, i t i s not refused them. I n li eu o f t hi s practice, Which w as condemne d i n t h e case of th e E xc i se by a form er P r i me Minister, the following plan has been strongly recomme n d e d by the evidence, and your Com mittee think th at a fair trial should be given to it—that an officer, whenever he seizes or stops property, shall state in writing the ground for that proceeding, eo that the merchant or his agent may know with what he is ch arged, and that he shall then have the option eith er o f petitioning as at present, or of demand ing to have his case heard in public; that for the latter purpose a C omm i ssioner shall sitdaily to hear the evidence both of the merchant and the detaining officer, and of their witnesses, and to adjudicate thereon. Independent of the manifest justice of this plan the committee believe that after it has been worked a short while it will save time to all parties, because nei ther the over-reaching merchant nor the litigious officer will like to be exposed to a public trial; and the Commis sioners will soon acquire a greater knowledge of their staff, and a greater uniformity of decision. The chair man of the Board of Excise stated to your Committee that he found hearing viva voce evidence most advan tageous, and that the result has been within the last twenty years a diminution of three-fourths in the num ber of cases tried. It appears in evidence that the num ber of mercantile applications to the board in London alone has been at the rate of 10,000 per annum, taking on an average two days to decide them; and as this loss of time must, in the present days of competition, press most severely on traders, your Committee suggest that, so far as it can be done without danger to the revenue, greater power in the amendment of entries, &c., might be given to the landing-waiter on the spot, or at any rate to the lauding surveyor, who is never far distant—the latter, of course, making subsequently his report there on to the board—and that, to use the language of a Treasury minute of the year 1814, ' the penalties in tended for the punishment of fraud should not be applied to accident or trivial omissions.' :"6.—LAWS OF COSTS AND PENALTIES. " The present state of the law of costs is this:—ln the case of information for arrears of duty, the Crown neither pays nor receives costs. In that of a seizure or return of goods for forfeiture into the Court of Exche quer, and subsequent claim made by the owner thereof on affidavit, the Crown has a right to demand 1001. se curity for costs on each indenture, the number of in dentures being theoretically unlimited, but each practi cally representing all goods seised at the same time and, place. If the Crown succeeds, it is legally entitled to its costs, although in practice the amount of the bond alone is generally exacted. If it fails it pays none, and the party whose goods were seized may, unless the judge who tried the case certifies that there was pro bable cause for the seizure, bring an action against the seizing officer, who is alone responsible, and who may not be worth proceeding against. Your Committee sug gest that the subject has a right to be pat on as goo a footing in regard to costs as the Crown; that the time allowed the subject for bringing an action is too short; and that some prescription should bind the Crown. It appears also to your Committee that in the case of goods no liable to more than 1001. duty a cheaper tribunal might with propriety be substita:ed for the Court of Exchequer., " TRANSIT SYSTEM. " Your Committee are of opinion that British shipping being now subjected to full competition with foreign, every facility should be given to the passage of goods and persons through this country; that, therefore, the prac tice be universally adopted ~f ex:lmitling no goods in :r.,, 0;e '.'i : tt.•on to :itnp-o; bn in ten.kn to commit fraud; that it is not necessary to en force the regulations of the Bth and 9th of Victoria, c. 63, as to the transit of foreign manufactures with hni. L 0 .N 1) 0 N, S .A. TURDAY' tation of British marks, or of books possessing a British copyright, and that the system now introduced, of al lowing goods (including passengers' luggage) to be sent without inspection from Hull to Liverpool in railway vans, under the charge of an officer of Customs, might be extended to all parts of the country where the same means of communication exist, It has been alleged that the transit from one railway station to another in London might lead to fraud, but, with such respect able railway compani es , t hi s might b e eas il y guar d e d against, and the remov a l o f dutiable goo d s i n common carts, guarded by a lo c k er, from the whar f s to t h e up town warehouses at Liverpool has not been found to have that effect. Your Committee also suggest that where bonded goods are sent by coasting conveyances from one English port to another for exportation only, such a partial examination may be made as shall be deemed requisite to test the integrity of the transaction. The transit of packages of goods of all sizes, where no suspicion exists of f rau d , should also be allowed, ex cepting in the case of t n --ace°, and even then, where the packages are evidently meant as samples. There i 5 b evidence of trade having been obstructed by the ugula tions in the case of spirits, fiscal reason why the imp ortation Of arms of all kinds, I whether in transit or fo r h ome consumption, should b proh . bited. Your Committee also see no B . — TINEs o, )t SHIPPING. " Tour Committee are of opinion that the criminal re sponsibility Of tha crews of ve ss a, f or co, act of smug glin, . on' their part ought in most cases to be a sufficient security to the revenue, and that it is therefore not ex pedient to detain th e s hi p or to fine its owner, excepting when the fraud ha s bacn dO rn!pitted by chief mate, or when ouch- eztensive preparations for argde groat fraud haie been detect e d as to negligence on their parts.the captain or the ' " 9,-130NDIrro S ods is liable by law for YSTEM. ' " The original i m p orter of Roods all duties thereon, h owever long they remain in band, and although he ma y h ave Parted with his interest in , them ye ars b e f ore , an d the Property been transferred from one to another of var i ous parties. Many cases of consequent hardship have been brought before your committee, and they suggest that the ware house -keeper, not the importer, should be 1-, — etc' responsible for the du ties, with the following securities to himself:— " That the Customs locker be b oun d t o hand to the warehouseman in the care o f bonded goods a duplicate warrant for their delivery, such warrant to protect him against any action on the pa r t of the Crown. " That, in the case of an ex amining -floor, where the goods may bo said to pass in transit, either such war rant must be given, o r the Si g nature by the Customs books will be held equally valid. Y " That at the expi ra ti on o f f our years from the land ing of the go o d s , stoc k t h ereof may be taken by the Crown, so as to limit the r esponsibility of the ware houseman, and the Custom s s h ould then call on the then proprietor to re-ent er th e goods, officers of the warehouse-keeper's and in cases where the duty is assessed on'the landing weights or quantities, to pay up } the duty on such deficiency as to exist at the time, and cannot be traced to natural causes. " A question has been raised by the gentlemen con nected with Liverpool, as to the necessity of keeping UP the distinction which prevails in favour of warehousesof special security. It is asserted, that from the p r i v i lege en j o yed by those warehouses of an unlimited al lowance for waste, may be ascertained they have established a partial mon ovi _ , It may be further urged, that the mere circumstance of their being enclosed proportionately raised their charge s . Y with walls, however eff ctive when the was conferred, gives no sufficient addition a l security, now that the police and Customs regulation s h ave undergone such great improvements. - "The Board of Customs have gradually Y and very con siderably of late years extended within the port of Lon don the privileges of the ordinary wa rehouses, and your Committee, although fully aware how and have dis- Much caution is necessary in dealing with articles s ubject t o high duties, " the privilege of the several Classes mg yet think it advisable that the measur e o f of warehouses should undergo the serious consideration of the com petent authorities. "'A great part of the complaints Which have been brought under the notice of your Committ ee ha v e arisen ittee from questions connected with the provisions of the Warehousing Acts, and your Committee would there fore recommend to the serious consideration of her Ma- jesty's Government the necessity more equaliz ing ia lo jif y i ng these 1 Acts, so as to meet the exigencies of the increased trade I of the country. " " 10.-PASSENGERS' LU GGAGE, Your Committee examined on this p o i nt ono of the most experienced landing surveyor; an d see no reason why the luggage should not be ex amined on board steamers, particularly large ones, wherever there is sufficient sp ace on d ec k an d below. The objections to this practice hitherto appear to have aris en c hi e fly from the captains of the steamers. The savin g of time to Thamesrs would be very great, Particularly in the , where it is admitted that not one seizure a month takes place. This plan has been adopted in Liverpool, in the case of Canard's steamers. " 11. —HOURS OF ATTENDAN CE. "Your Committee are of opinion that the hours of attendance might be from - 7 A.m. to 5 r.ss. during the six summer months, in the out-door department, subject to a'break in the middle of the from Bto 4. A c l erk, with proper relief, should remain till 8 P.. to clea r out s hi ps . • day; and for in-doors " 12.- SMPLIFICATIONS OF UNTEIES OF FREE GOODS. "The: number of entries for free goods inwards in the port of London alone, for the year 1851, was 76,095, and each of them passed through the hands of 19;offieers of the Customs, creating much unnecessary labour to the officers, besides compelling the merchant's clerks to draw out two copies of each - entry, and take them to the Custom-house. For this the following plan has been submitted to your committee as a substitute:—That the ship's manifest, and the report of hor consignee, be the sole entry required in the case of free goods; that a copy of them he sent to the landing -waiter as his warrant, and that the information f or statistical purposes now obtained from the merchants enterin g g-oods should be given by the ship's consignee f rom the f re i g ht account. In order to dispense with the entry for goods (all now free) out wards, it has been s uggested to your Committee that every shipper should send t o the agent f or t h e s hi p a bill of lading, containing . on.. the b a ck the information required for statistical _purposes, which is the sole point that concerns the Cust; number of those documents, vom posing a cargo, the from the ship's agent should make out tom-house. • " It has been stated to your Committee that the statis tical information will be thus far more accurate than if furnished before the goods can be put on board, and, consequently, very often before the merchant is in pos session of the real contents of his shipment. Several one content for the Cus other amendments of, prac t i ce where dispatch in the execution of orders is requisite, the merchant might be our notice, but your Committee think it best simply to allowed a running refer them to the serious e n ,,, id . f the Commis eration sioners of Customs. accQuul--- have been. brought under •• " 13.—contp ICATION. " The Customs revenu e different Acts of Parliament, and an annual issue by the Commissioners of about 120 r ieW rules and regulations. It is admitted by the Boa th at these ought to be con. solidated. Some of the improvements now suggested can be at once carried out by the Treasury orders. while others will undoubtedly rQquire fresh Acts of Perlis is 'now collected under 23 went. Your Committee they strongly recommend that one or more consolidated Bills be brought in early nually published. A complete code could thus be oh next session, and that the rul es tained, accompanied perhap k 8 -Y a further revision of the tariff; and your Committee als o L uope that no Customs Bill, embodying any material oh ege, will in f uture b e introduced at a late period of the and regulations be au session. " 14.--ourt,orms, " Your Committee have heard witnesses from Liver pool, Hull, and Belfhst; many of their recommendations are already embodied in this report. A d es ire is strongly expressed by the witnesses from Liferpo that the local tor-general , should have power r - 0 decide on the spot all board, consisting of the collector, e s not involving more than 1004 of revenue—all such cases to be, of course, reported to Lo n d on subsequently, and your Committee see no reaso n why ibi s privilege should not be extended to all first ,. elass ports, where the controller and inspec officers must be of high standing, b ecause the central board would always have the pow er of checking any greater deviation from the uniformity o f sys to than is rendered necessary by th e p eculiar It is suggested that f o r th e - convenience of trade, the landing officers might also ha ve discretionary power to extend the credit on po s t e ntr i es to 1004 Your Com mittee recommend these su ggest i ons to the serious con sideration of the T reasur y. local circumstances. app to rest on any fixed rule; a n d , a complaint has pear classification of the different been made of it in the case of Belfast.' eutports does not 110 USE OF CEIARiTy The annual meeting of friends and a ssociates of the House of Charity, Rose-str ee t. Soho -square was held on Thursday at the institution ; the R e y . , L . vv • Li. Tupper, the warden, in the chair.• The report stated that during the year 56 men, 123 women, and 49 children had been duration of their admitted—in all 238. The average stay, while in search of employment, attending as out-patients, or preparing for enaigration, has been a month or five weeks. It is thought thats°a, more might be done to enable the inmates to obtain at , I c heYment—the warden and council therefore would revive the practice of assigning the cases where special help : -p as required to one or more associates. After ack noWledging the and ex perimental psi' the expediency of obtaining a permanent home. donations and legacies, the council An institution of this kind, and i dir ect attention to al these days, aiming at a high religious . standard, end. possessing more than the ordinary capabilitieswopfeeextap,aasoluoind both tion longer than is necessary for tectint, its principles and the measures by which they ar© to si;uBtfreerieigdiotoUs remain a nd i i t n s a b e c n o e n v a o n l e e n a t ;its worked out. For the last two years a wish had been expressed that the benefits of the house should be extended to certain classes not originally contemplated, nam e l y, the in curably sick; respectable aged or infirm persons, able to contribute such small.sums; and penitent women. The not be in warden and council b,..ve given much consideration to to astist in the re this question, and recommended that the pl ea of extee . otthheercahnadriptyermanent premises, as sien for the present include only the second class of per manent inms.tes. In conclusion, the report urges the friendsas erotaofl objects of the institution. The r i e th ed the ,nzg mwSO:OlvilttaatiesoSff for r n h and ht charityge a ~stions thrown to; and several other the expenditure was 1,2554; 0,.t le iv, were eho etrricA. The helten- s t, est showe d r r o e l izt ti w on as si u in nan n i e m co o i u d i e l n y ce a w g that the receipts for the year had been 1 ,515/, including leaving a balance in hand of 2604 the sale • of 3174 stock; EVENING / 2 NAVAL IN TELLIG.ENCE. Captain F. T. Michell ( 18 30) has been appointed Captain of the Queen, 116, on re - commissionine, vice Wise. In all probability Captain Michell will select the present efficient commander, Commander Burnett, for his second. Lieutenant B. Wrey, late additional of the Queen, has been appointed to the Spartan, 26, at Devon ort. Lieutenant W. A. Sullivan (1851) h as been appointed from the Excellent, as gunn e ry li eutenant of the Mean_ der, 44, at Chatham. Clerk—W. A. G. Young (1845) has been nominated by Commodore Talbot, as his secretary. Assistant Surgeon—William T. Carr, acting, to the Impregnable flag-ship, Davenport: Masters' Assistants—John R. Richards, to. the Ajax, screw-ship, Queenstown; W. E. M‘Grath, to the VW can, screw troop ship. PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—The Vulcan, iron troop steamer, Commander Von Donee, went out of Ports mouth harbour yesterday, to tgy her speed along the measured mile in Stokes Bey. The following is the result of eight runs:— Mile. See. Min. Sec. First run iu 658 8.612 Fifth run in 623 9.278 Second „ 619 9.490 Sixth „ 722 8.144 Third „ 711 9.333 I Strenth „ 839 6.950 Fourth „ 632 9.183 Eighth „ 917 6.440 Mean speed ; 8.84 knots. The Simoom, iron troop steam-ship, Captain John King - come, came through the Needles under sail, asel anchored at Spithead et two o'clock this mornirg. She has brought the Rills Brieade, about 1,000 strong, under Lieut.-Colonel Norco% with the women and children appertaining thereto, with some invalided sol diers, home from Quebec. She embarked the troops ea the 2d instant, and sailed the 3d; consequently has made the run home in 22 days, nearly all the distance under canvas, having only used steam a few bourn coming down the river St. Lawrence. Including her own crow she has crossed the Atlantic with no less than 1.476 souls on board. Two children have died on the passage. The Simoom has proved to be a very wholesome ship, and the soldiers have been very comfortable on board her. She sails well, steers and stays well; her only defect is in wearing, when she takes a long time paying off from the wind. Sho is a very good sea-boat. She expe rienced a terrific gale when on her outward passage, on the banks of Newfoundland, in which she lost a quarter boat, and carried away her mainyard (which, however, was a defective spar), but she was very dry and buoyant, and did not ship any water. She made her outward passage in 29 days, which is considered a good passage at the season of the year she went out. The troops are all in good health, and the Simoom will come into har bour to-night, and alongside the yard, and to-morrow morning the troops will land and proceed to Winchester by rail. The following is an account of the Simoem's run out: QUEBEC, MAY 23. As her Majesty's iron troop-ships have lately attracted a great deal of the attention of the public, particularly of naval men, I am desirous of giving you a few details re lative to the first passage of her Majesty's ship Simoom, Captain Kingcome: this ship is of about 2,000 tons, with en auxiliary engine of 350-horse power. At daylight, on the 24th of April, wo steamed out of Cork Harbour with detachments of troops for Quebec, in number about 400. At ten A.M., the wind being fair, up screw and made sail; the wind continued favourable for some days and the passage so far would have been very agreeable, had it not been that the main deck upon which the troops were berthed was wet fore and aft all day and every day in consquence (principally) of all the ports being very leaky, streams of water pouring into nearly all the cabins of the military officers including their mess.room; se veral of them had their kits very much spoiled, their bedding wet through, and not a dry shirt left; these gentlemen subsequently emigrated to the midship troop-deck on the crlops, where they slung in hammocks for the rest of the voyage. One inge nious method of getting the water from their cabins was by turning the doors into escape valves, opening and shutting them as the roll was favour able or otherwise; during one whole night a corporal and 12 men were told off in regular relief to bale the water from the mess-room. The officers, ono and all, bore their discomfort and loss with great philosophy and good temper, knowing that all that could be done for then; by the captaia and officers of the ship was done, and that great pains had been taken by the authorities in England to make them comfortable, particularly in their mess arrangements, which were very complete. Tho damper which I have mentioned (the only one) to the comfort of those taking a passage in the Simoom being remedied, which can be effected without any great ex. pense, she will, I consider, be a capital troop-ship; she sails very well, and taking into consideration the amount of horse-power, steams well; has accommodation for an entire regiment, carries twenty-five days' coal, and by means of Grant's stove condenses as much steam as is required to form 400 gallons of good fresh water daily, consuming no more fuel than is necessary for the or dinary purpcsea of cooking. May 4th. let. 51 deg. N., long. 40 deg. W., a strong westerly gale, at lo A.N. bar. 29.10, gale increasing; force of wind 10, with a very high sea, ship lurching heavily, quarter-boats threatening to part company; endeavoured to furl courses, unable to do so (Simoom has the masts and yards of a 1,200 ton frigate). Noon.—Ship under treble-reefed fore and maintopsaila and trysails. 1 .as., bar. 29.10; force of wind 11.— Carried away mainyard, about two-thirds from the slings; lost starboard cutter; split fore and main-topsails, cluesl them up, blowing too hard to attempt to furl them • ship under bare boles. At six, P.M., bar ome t er gradually rising, a heavy sea struck the ship on the port quarter. The helmsman, thrown over the wheel, had his leg broken. Jolly-boat washed away from the stern. Eight, P.M., bar 29.30, Captain Kingcome came to his cabin to change his dress; whilst doing so a heavy sea sent in the whole of the stern port, deadlight, &c., knocking him down, and deluging the cabin. It was not until several great seas had followed the first that the port could be temporarily blocked up. During the first watch b arometer steadily rising, gal e abating, still blowing very hard during the squalls. Ereylight on the sth, wind moderate, with a high con fused sea, unbent topsails and courses. On the 6th.— Down mainyard, commenced building a new one—apiece of eeamanship that no one is better up to than the inde fatigable captain; crossed ditto at noon on the 9th. Capt. Kingcome remarked that during upwards of forty years that he had been at sea ho had never seen such terrific weather. The ship lurched deeply and rolled quickly; but considering how deep she was abaft (hav ing consumed only ten tons of coal since leaving Cork), proved herself a capital sea-boat. She is not likely to have a more severe trial. May 11.—Steamed over the bank of Newfoundland at noon, one of the engines work ing badly, jumping at every stroke, stopped them, plumer-block upon which the crank shaft works very hot (it had always been necessary to keep a stream of water on this bearing). Engineer reported that it was absolutely necessary to raise the shaft. At eight Pad. on the 17th, the engines were completed, the main shaft having been raised 6-16th of an inch, by inserting a sheet of iron on the lower brass of the plumer-block; after which it worked very muoh better. On the east coast Newfoundland we fell in with several large ice bergs and numerous small ones. The largest we esti mated to be 200 feet high, and at least two miles in circumference. After having steamed twelve miles from it, it was still plainly visible to the naked eye from the deck. We anchored here this evening; weather very warm. Four or five days ago our rigging, from the track to the chains was covered with ice. The Sprightly port-steamer, Master Commander Allen, arrived from Plymouth with a few supernumera ries this morning. The Committee of Inquiry instituted by the Lords of the Admiralty, into the cause of the late explosion of a shell at the Firebaru on Southsea Common, by whieh three persons were severely mutilated and others dan gerously imperilled, have some to the conclusion that gas was the cause of the explosion, but how they ar rived at that conclusion we of course are not imformed. The officers of the Court of Inquiry were Lieutenant- Colonel Yea, of the 7th Fusiliers, President ; Captain Cockburn, R.A. •, Captain Gordon ' RE.; Captain Vire therall, Ist Royals; and Captain Halliday, R.M.A. The American lino of packet ship, Cornelius Grinnell, passed by this port yesterday, and landed several passen gers, among whom- were several English who had been trying their luck at the Californian gold diggings, and who may be numbered among the successful gold seekers who left England for that purpose. They all appear to have been well repaid for their labour, having brought home many hundreds of pounds' worth of gold, some in lumps, varying in value from 151. to 251., the result of their own researches. They state this gold is found 15 feet from the surface, and they feel satisfied that men who are inclined to be steady and work, can, without much difficulty, realise 1,0001. a-year. Among the pas sengers landed here from the Cornelius Grinnell is a shipwrights of New York, of the name of Webb, who has come o ver for the purpose of introducing a new model of a c lipper yacht, to beat (he says) the celebrated America of last year. He went to Cowes this morning. Her Majesty's screw yacht Fairy was taken on to the graving slip alongside the dockyard to-day to ship a new screw, which she went out to Spithead to try in the evening. The Gloriana, Captain Bell, from the East Indies and the Cape, passed the Wight this afte rnoon, and landed the following passengers:—Major M'Leod, Mr. Haworth, Rev. Mr. Ragland, Mrs. Apthorpe and fa mily, Mrs. W. H. Hope and family, &o. Dr. Ingram, surgeon of . the Gloriana, died on the passage to the Cape of a disease of the heart. Invalids from the 25th, 74th, and other regiments, to the number of 150 men, came home in the Gloriana under charge of Major Pat terson, of the 74th, and Lieutenant Jones, of the 25th Regiment. Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-vessel Adder, Mr. James Watt in charge, arrived here on Wednesday after noon from Chatham, with a dockyard lighter, and is lying at anchor near the Nora , Middle -ground, for the purpose of removing the cargo of a barge sunk some time since, but recently raised. Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-frigate Cyclops, 6, Lieutenant Secombe, of the Horatio, commanding pro tem, arrived here from Devonport and Portsmouth on Wednesday, at three P.N. DEVONPORT, JUNE 24.—Buzzard steamer, Captain Debbie, sailed last evening for the West India and North American station. Black Eagle Admiralty steam-yacht sailed this morn ing, at 10.30 A.M., having Mr. Stafford, Secretary to. the Admiralty, on board. Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, Surveyor of the Navy, arrived at Moorehead's Hotel last evening. This morning he wont out into the dockyard, and, with Commodore Seymour, minutely inspected the Sans Paroil screw steam-ship, just Commissioned by Captain Daeres. They left no part of the splendid ship witaout tieing thoroughly overhauled, as also the machinery. Id the afternoon they proceeded to Kesbatn, where they were met by Colonel Williams, the director of works. After a minute inspection, they returned to the dockyard. 1852, Sprightly sailed this afternoon for Portsmouth. In the Sound—Queen. In Barbour—lmpreonable, St. George, Sans Pareil, Magicienne, Spartan, Trincomalee, Ferret, Sylph, Con fiance, Diligence, and Camel lighter. The pay-books of the Queen were sent on shore this day, for transmission to the Admiralty, so that the ship may be ready for paying offin about eight or ten days. SHEERNEes, JUNE 25.—Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam•sloop Barracouta, 6, having on board Captain the lion. S. T. Carnegie, and a portion of the officers and crew of the screw-steam guard-ship Horatio, returned from her trial cruise in the Channel on the forenoon of Tuesday, the 22d inst. The Barracouta left this port on the 11th inst., with a strong tide and a fair wind, reached the Downs in four hours, without the aid of canna*, and proceeded down Channel, arriving at Dart mouth on Sunday. the 13th. The circumstance of a 144 n-o f-war putting into that email port is not of fre of whom (Pent occurrence• hence the Barracouta's appearance h ai: 6 d with delight by the inhabitants, large num bers,u ail th se e 'sit m ed or he . r g d o u f rin th g e tended under plain when 6120 weighed uln a', fall e,?eed, nod hreezo on the quarter, ""eher and proceeded out of harbour h S e r atu s r ta ci y a ' y w fo h l i l e n h wi e ng, with a moderate hour. In a fear dOrir s eleven from departure hauled close to the wind, Dart mouth the paddlesseneela her disconneetcd, the ship GAsin a ss tn liE s 3 a r; knots per were disconnect( and tonallentsoils set. Her speedw't6v the knots; the h ev under ren orclosesla neyßarracouta underart proceeded courses, s oe i cd t e o n a 4d p c : a di e n " .0 i m : nA I sw hack :. i : n r e d e r a c u l o f hours'aft was c a t s trial d ed, her voyage to Spithead, with a tolerably strong strong brecze eft; the square sails being set, her these eircum<tances to 113. knots, throeghout the entire distance, the ___, maintained chiller) , working extremely weal. Thewnoei 4?:' the ma nglnes are of which was under the nominal power of 300 horses, and were m a , a turgid by Miller and Ravonhill. They are on thendirf acting principle, with oscillating cylinders, and fitted with tubular boilers, but without a steam chest. With prersuro of 141bs. to the square inch, their power is in creased to 450. The Barracouta stows 280 tons of coal, a sufficient quantity for twelve days' consumption at full speed, and of working expansively for nearly double that period. her maximum speed per hour, under steam and canvas combined, is rather more than 11 knots; minimum ditto, when working on the lowest grade of expansion, 81 knots. From having no steam chest (which is the case with many of the modern built steam vessels) she does not keep steam well, hence her fires re quire to be forced. Her armament consists of one 10- inch pivot gun, weighing 85 cwt.; one 8-inch ditto, of 95 cwt. (the former throwing 841 b. hollow shot, the latter 681 b. solid shot); four 32-pounders, eight feet long, each 42 cwt.; two 24-pounders brass howitzers, for paddle box boats; one 12-pounder ditto for the pinnace, and 6- pounder itto for the cutter. She is of 1,043 tons bur den, and was built by the School of Reference. From all accounts it would appear, that when under steam she is one of the most efficient vessels of her class. Woovivicrt, JUNE 25.—The Isabel, fitted by Captain Beatson, and supplied with a large quantity of provi sions by order of the Admiralty, for a searching expe dition to the Arctic regions, was brought down the river yesterday evening, and taken into basin to-day to be examined previous to her departure, under the charge of Commanderlnglefield. Mr. Abernethy, formerly ice master to Sir John Ross and Sir James Ross's expedi tions, intends serving again in the Isabel, and expects to leave Woolwich immediately for Peterhead to en gage a hardy crew to navigate her. The Triton mail steam-packet, Lieutenant-Com mander Lloyd, having had her compasses adjusted by Captain Johnson, at Greenhithe, came up the river a! five A.M. to-day, and embarked Lieutenant Jackson, sergeant, 1 corporal, and 50 privates of the Woolwich division of Royal Marines, and left at 7 A.M. for Devon port, where they are to joia the Queen, 116, at that port, on her being recommissioned. Captain W. H. March, of the Woolwich division of Royal Marines, will continue to serve in the Queen .on her being re commissioned. The Emperor of Russia's Imperial steam yacht Alex andria arrived at St. Petersburgh on the 12th instant, after a rapid voyage of five days and four hours. She left Copenhagen on the 9th instant, and reached Cron stadt on the 11th, although she encountered a heavy gale in the Gulf of Finland, and was under the necessity of taking shelter for several hours under the Island of 11.,ghland. Since her arrival at St. Petersburgh she na3 been visited by all the naval authorities there, who have expressed their admiration of her in every respect. Taking into consideration that the distance from Black wall to St. Petersburgh is upwards of 1,700 miles, her average performance has been upwards of 134 miles per hour. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, June 25. (Nisi Pries Sittings for London, before Lord Chief Jus tice JERra.) STRIDE V. BRIDGMAN. This was an action by the endorsee against the ac ceptor of a bill of exchange, drawn 18th Dec., 1851, at four months, for 2001. The defendant pleaded tho ge neral issue; also that the bill was endorsed in blank for the accommodation of one Charles Henry Forbes, without consideration, end that Forbes deposited the bill with the plaintiff as security for repayment of 2001., advanced to him by the plaintiff, and upon the terms that the bill should be returned upon repayment of that sum, and that Forbes did repay that sum before the bill became due, yet the plaintiff, in violation of the agreement between him and Forbes, retained the bill without authority. On those pleas issue was joined. Mr. Honoyman was Counsel for the plaintiff; and Mr. Creasy for the defendant. The bill having been pat in and formally proved, Mr. Stride deposed that he had been honorary secre tary of the Mining Exchange. He knew Mr. Forbes. He was a gentleman engaged in mining transactions. Forbes brought him a bill on the sth March last, and asked him to lend him 2001. on it, which he did on re ceivirg by way of collateral security 100 North Devon scrip and another bill. The money was lent for a week, and he was to receive 10/. for lending it. The agreement was made at Forbes's request. Witness did not wish it, having never before been engaged in such transactions. It had been worth witness's while to give more than that as accommodation—as much as 54 for the use of 5001. for a day. Forbes owed him altogether about 4254 He had offered to take 3501. in full dis charge of it. Cross-examined—He had resigned his position as ho norary secretary of the Mining Exchange. His profes aion was that of a Parliamentary agent, but of late his chief occupation had been speculating in mining trans actions. He ceased to practise as a Parliamentary agent about three years ago. He then had offices in spring-gardens. He never signed the Parliamentary book, but ho had previously been in partnership with an agent who had. Mr. CREASY—Have you promoted any Bills? The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—Of course he has. He has promoted this one for 2004 Mr. CREASY.—Yes; and I hope, like the others, i ill be thrown out. Examination continued—l cannot remember the names of any of the Bills. One of them was a Bill connected with Carshalton. Before I was a Parlia mentary agent I was an attorney's clerk. My late part ner, as a Parliamentary agent, sought me out in con sequence of my notoriety as a good man of business. The 2001. lent on the bill was repaid in about ten days. I keep no books. I should not think it satisfactory that such transactions should appear in my books. When the bill was paid the scrip was returned to Forbes, but not the bills. Oa the 9th of March I lent him 1501. and he deposited with me a cheque of Pike's. That money was repaid about the 20th. He gave me 51. for the loan, and 21. a day so long as I held the cheque. I cannot tell bow many actions have been brought on these bills. My attorney can tell you that. I have been too busy to attend to the matter personally; besides, it was out of my line of business. I have got judgments in two actions, and the costs have been paid. I have not offered to let the judgments stand over for a bonus of 501. I consented to settle the whole affair for 3501. By the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—The first money I lent Forbes was in February; that was 1501, I next lent him 200/. That was paid in about ten days. I did not return the bill on account of the cheque transaction on the 9th. Stop, I am wrong. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—WeII, begin again. " As you were," as they say in the army. Witness—ln February I lent him 150/., one Satur day, on a cheque of Mr. Pike's, and he returned it on the following Monday. On the 24th of February I lent him 2001. on the North Devon scrip. He gave me 10/. for the loan, and repaid it in a few days after the time appointed. On the 4th of March I lent him 150/. again on a cheque of Pike's. I think he gave me a sovereig n for that loan, and paid it b an k t h e next day. O the sth of March he borrowed 2 00 1 . on a hundre d i North Devon scrip and these bill s . H e gave me la im. 8e that, and repaid it in a few d a y s . I returned the ri; but not the bills. On the 9th h e h a d another 150orr; another cheque of Pike's, which h o repa i d on the 2 1 0 • t i: On the 11th I lent him 3001. on some minin g Wales and a bill for 298/. 10s. Thi s is still aha n r e s in °w I renewed that transaction on th e 25th f or 201. at it at his request. I did not want t o d o i t. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—Oh, no. liv derstand. All this was done by y ou e clearl un lawyers call duress. You have told us c , li e nde r wh a t we and we understand IL SO several times, Witness—On the 23d March he had 1251 . , ..... to have 10/. for that for a w e ek. He di d - n 4 "‘. I forgot to mention that on the 20th ct repay that. retur March there was a small transaction of 25/. Re-examined—When I No rth Devon scrip the 1501. was owing me on ne- o f the 9th. 'Messrs. Forbes never asked a the the cheque The me for the bills. judg ments are still unsatisfied. The LORD CHIEF, JUSTICE Wll Mr . Creasy, it now becomes a question P °- credit -...." - I.. Mr. Stride and Mr. Forbes. Mr. Stride says between s left with him, not only on account of a the bill transaction, i but also in respect of subsequent particular t t r h a at G was settled. If Mr. Forbes swears to the ones after that be for a jury to contrary, judge between them. Mr. CREASY -41 Lord lasi, sorr y to say Mr. Forbes g is not here. I have hisevid ence in my brief, and I have sent t o hi m to say that ho must come; but he ap pears to be u n d er Some aaelusiou about being arrested, and refuses to come, though it has been explained to him i that he is perfectly ' sa fe. That is a most unfortu- The Lome CHIE F /spice-- nate cleleion, and'rperfectly unfounded. It ought to be dispelled. Neither Mr. Forbes nor Mr. Bridgman need be under any appre hension' of arrest whilst attending here as 'witnesses. Mr. C REASY -- I a m sorry to say, my Lord, that Mr. Alan Bride- is i n bed a nd at the point of death. The L ORD CHIEF JUSTICE (to the jury)—Gentle men, however much we ma y condemn the conduct of i the witness, it would not be safe for us to act o n e p ecu- i lation and disbelieve his evidence. He has no doubt i Tagil most exorbitant interest; but if be has not told ...pm I. the truth, Mr. Forbes might have been called to tWill.• tradia him. As Mr. Forbes has been sent for and Arill not come, you must return a verdict for the plaintiff. Verdict for the plaintiff. A CUSTOM OF LONDON. In the course of a subequent case, White and others v. Binstead and others, it being necessary to give evi dence that a person named Prebble was in partnership with Binstead, a man who hul been in their employ Wa s called for that purpose; and he stated, amongst other reasons, that he knew they were partners, because when Prebble came into the firm he had " had his shoes chalked." Being asked for an explanation, he said it was a custom in London, when a new member came into a firm, for the men Lb draw a chalk mark on his shoes, and then some beer was necessarily given to wash the mark out. COURT OF .i.'XUtIEQUER, June 25. (Sittings at Nisi Prins before Sir F. Poi.',oak, Chief Baron, and Special Juries ) LINES V LORD CHARLES RUSSELL. Mr. E. Jamei and Mr. G. Allan r7ere counsel for the pleintiffvthe Attorney• General and Mr. Weisby ap peared for the defendant. T. - I, `.t e - h d i e s f tae ant a p c le ti a io d lt n r o e s t p a as u s i I s t ; d a f r a l d s e a i m i p u r s i t s i fi o n e a m t i c o n: : i Plaintiff s a servant of the Earl of Verelau, and was s.umnioned to give evidence bef re th'e Select Committee of theiluse cf ,Corrimens to inquire i n t o t h e l ast S t. Alt.ians election. His evidence was of such a character that the chairman of the committee. Mr. Ellice, issued n .sr rant for his commitment under the 11 and 12 Yid., c. 98, 8. 83, which gives the chairman of a Coin iniitee of the House of Commons authority to commit any witness for " , prevarica:Mg or misbehavi eg in the giving or withholding of evidence." Under this warrant the defendant, who is the Sergeant -at-Arms of the House of Commons, arrested the defendant on Saturday the sth of April, end he was detained in custody till th e fol following Monday. when he was discharged by order of the House of Common.... It iffi was contended by the plain tiff that the warrant was nsucient, because it merely S tated that the plaintiff had been committed for prevari cation and misbehaviour, without adding that it was in tthbeellygcionincgurorfede „, - ` lB , Lonnstup said that he had the opportunity of was sufficient. o v_idence before the Committee. to o—suiting the other judges on the subject, and retired take their pipion.. 10 . a hie . return , .. he stated that must be presumed- thatbetreated everything had been rightly done, and that its jurisdiction until the contraryigh courts of the country and it Shown, He should, therefore, direct a verdict for th e I ° . : plaintiff might tender a bill for the defendant on issue, and asB had not been exceeded, the P s aietiff on the first h Mr. JAMES said that was or rid. The counsel for . t e ingiy tendered a bill of excep h tl: sx9" n t s tatention, and accord tions to that ruling. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. LAMBETH. ELECTION SQUABBLES.—Yesterd ay the Lion, G. C. e Norton was occupied for upward s o f two hours in inves tigating a charge of assault pref erre d by Mr. Wil l i em Ayarst, a blacking-manufacturer, carry i ng on busneso at No. 7, Herbert-place, St. Georg e ' s N ew Town,i and ane Thomas lec Lee,tor for a the c u n s borough ol belonging i s n o; bet Thomas Lee, a co n stable be l on g ing tot h L divisi on of, a gainst ja nzes police. Mr. Barton ' a solicitor, and Mr. Parry, th e b arrister attended on behalf of the defendant; Mr. Evans, th e " defendant's superintendent, was also present to watch the case, and during the proceedings the court wa s mucth crowded by the electors of Lambeth, all of whom ap geared to take a deep interest in the result. The prcceedings, if given in detail, would occupy a whole page; but the facts, as well as they could be collected from the contending parties, were these: —On Monday evening lust a meeting of the pro fessed friends and supporters of Mr. Harvey, the new candidate for the representation of the borough of Lambeth in Parliament, was appointed to take place at the Horns Tavern, Kennington-common, a t which the honourable oandulate was to make a de claration of his political principles, and the electors were invited to hear him, and put such questions to Mr. Harvey as they might consider necessary. On this invitation several of tie electors, who have been and are the strenuous supporters of Messrs. D'Eyncourt and Williams, made their appearance at the meeting, and the complainant amongst the number. Mr. Taylor, one of the churchwardens.ot the parish of Lambeth, took the chair, and commenced addressing the meetings but in a few minutes after Mr. Harvey made his appearance in the room, and three cheers for him were then called for. This call was responded to, and before the applause had subsided, the complainant, Mr. Ayerst, in a stentorian voice, called out for Three cheers for Messrs. D'Eyn court and Williams. This call was also responded to with more fervour, us the partisans of the latter gent 19- man assert, than that the former, while the friends of Mr. Harvey declare the direct contrery; but, at all events, the circumstances gave rise to so much disturbance that the chairman, supported, it was said, by a majority of the meeting, called on the defendant Lee to remove Mr. Ayerst, and he was by force expelled from the meetinga. The complainant, who appeared in the dress of a cel . lerman or liottle-washer, with a leather apron up to hia chin, said that he had been seized by the collar, and un merethilly lugged out of the meeting, by a person whom he believed to be the defendant. It was not his wish, however, to punish him or do him any harm. All he wished to establish was that ho had no right to interfere in the manner he had done, or treat a gentleman with insult and violence, though that gentleman might by chance have a leather apron on. Mr. Parry—l feel assured that had you acted as a gentleman, that you would have been treated in a gen tlemanly manner. Now, Mr. Ayerst, I wish to ask you, as you appear very much excited, whether you have been drinking anything to-day? Mr. Ayerst, in a loud tone of voice—Yes, I have just had a glass of brandy and soda.—(Laughter.) Mr. Parry—l thought you must have had something, you seem so " spirited" and excited. Pray did you go to the meeting in your present dress, with your leather apron on? Mr. Ayerst—Yes, with my leather apron on. Mr. Parry—Had you the apron placed over your head to give you a more conspicuous appearance? Mr, Ayerst—No, 1 did not. Mr. Parry—Did you use any offensive language to the chairman, Mr. Taylor? Mr. Ayerst—No, I did not use offensive language to any one. Mr. Parry—Did you not call him a snob? Mr. Ayerst—Certainly not, for I felt that I was a such my. self.—(Loud leughter.) Mr. Parry—Did you see Mr. Harvey at the meeting? Witness—l did. Mr. Parry—And heard him make a speech? Wit ness—No; not make a speech, but read it.—(Laughter.) In conclusion, the witness denied having used a tm abusive or improper language towards Mr. Harvey, Several witnesses were called by the complainant, an of' whom said the complainant had been treated with un necessary harshness in being expelled from the tweeting, witnesses were but admitted that the constable had acted under di rections of the chairman. All the witnesses th e : llp , were admitted to be in the interest of Messrs. ;V e il - i s - W s and D'Eyncourt. For the defence an equal slumber of w the as their opinion called, all of whom deposed that it sole purpose of disturbing it; that his that the complainant had attended meeting for the and that his removal was conduct was most noisy, so much so that his expulsion necessary; Some of the witnesses also spok e was absolatelY earnest request of a large "s at the desire and majority of the meeting• wit nesses acknowledged that ' he even of the complainant " a very excitable person, and (Mr. Ayerst) attending the- had some objection' tot his• meeting he told that question, on account of his meeting on the night in one of his own Another witness descrih atate ee t . n a ti n ailegien a t s . such an , after he ever went to --- enthusiastic partisan of m e . l i il - E - 4, 0 , -- a t, ps that at a re centin pulling him out." While in a Harvey's presence he said, " That if th de _ Mr t,:d a muff, they must go to Lambeth H c electors w.w. - Mr. Parry addressedeu".' the ma gistrate on behalf of the he shbouo.nldn-nral'o—seliesouarstnarditedratoef t a h n e h t g o ' ur lf Mr. Ao R TON w h ich observed that defendant in the pre sent case case w " Placed in a very difficult position; and feeling, fret all the nirctun s t a uees ' and tho evid e n ce pro and con, , that he bad not exceeded his duty, h e s should distl the complaint. At the same time he hoped thats the partisans of the differ en t candidates would act during t he f ort h coming elec tion t or , the bo W ith that rough the spirit of fairness and goo d h umour which woo t h e characteristic of English men . The decision a nd remarks of his Worship were received With loud cheers. A s,,B.TH.,rr FOR AN INQUIRY BY THE L ORDS OP oi r.—We are informed that one day last week a THE ADAL- ass boy on board one of her Majesty's steamers at laced on a man's back, and forcibly held there at • 11fiisrs P °t d -d e ci r s wi o s e;he first lieutenant whilst another man violently him with a cane ; the pain made the sufferer struggle himself, which he effected, on which the first i hfit ; h r d : e teri ?° an ree t ordered two men to replace him is his former po sition on the other's back, which was done ; the " horse," howe ver, being unable to hold th e b oy i n t h at pos i t i on, the s aid lieutenant caused the quartermasters to seize him up to the Jacob's ladder; the boy was accordingly so seized, and, triced up by his wrists and ancles, his feet not touching the dec k The said lieutenant then directed the caning to pro ceed. After a time the caning was suspended by the order of the lieutenant for a few minutes, and then re-commenced ; the castigation was after a time stopped a second time, and ulti mately re -commenced ; after this, the boy was cut down, and confined under the after part of the main deck ! This con duct, if substantiated, is a violation of the Admiralty instruc tions. It is said the captain of the ship was not acquainted with the proceedings, which, we believe, took place in the presence of another lieutenant, the surgeon, and the engineer of the! vessel alluded W.—Portsmouth Times and Natal Gazette. THE IRON ORE OF NORTHAMPTONSHLRE."--MF. S. H. Blackwell, F.G.S., of Dudley, recently delivered a lecture " On the Iron-making Resources of the Kingdom before the Mechanics' Institltc at Northampton, in which he introduced a referenco to the ore recently brought into notice. Mr. Blackwell said that iron had been llirgely smelted in Northampton at the time of its occupation by the Romans, as well as in many other parts of the country, where it had been discontinued since the substitution of coal for wood as fuel. His attention had been called to the ore some eight or ten years ago in the grounds of the lunatic asylum, but it did not strike him as warranting public no tice ; and it is probable it would still have remained unob served but for the Exhibition of 1851, he having obtained some specimens from General Arbuthnot and . forwarded them. It was, howe ver, i n the churchyard of Ingham Fer rers he was led to examine the ques tion more closely, by ob serving that the B e d e Ilonse was built with alternate layers of iron -stone, of - very marked character. Hitherto the stone had been found to y i e l d from 20 to 50 per cen t , of iron. It may be found lar ge l y developed a ll a l ong the line of railway from Peterborough to Gayton and Towcester, but Mr. Black well does not think it will be found to . any extent farther south. In admixture with other ores makesil i iron of goad i quality, may b e cheaply raised, and s practically naztaustx. DlCl‘...rVorCesterMiro Oro**. COURT CIRCULAR. The Earl of Derby had an audience of the Queen yesterday, at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert attended a brigade field day, at half past eight o'clock yesterday morning. in Hyde-park. The brigade was composed of three batt.tions, viz,, the Ist battalion of Grenadier Guards, the 2d battalion of the Scots Fusilier Guards, and de tachments of the third battalion Grenadiers and the first battalion Coldstream Guards were formed into one batta lion. His Royal Highness commanded the brigade, attended by Colonel Bouverie. His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided yesterday afternoon, at a meeting of the Commission for promot ing and encouraging the Fine Arts in the rebuilding the Palace of Westminster. His Royal Highness, attended by Colonel Bouverie, arrived at the Palace of Westmin ster at three o'clock. The Commissieners present were the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Canning, Lord Mahon, Lord Colborne, the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Sir Robert H. Inglis, and Mr. Hallam. Sir Charles L. Eastlake, the secretary, attended. The meeting broke up at half-yast four o'clock. Their Ro s y - al Highnesses Prince Arthur and the Prin cesses Helena and Louisa took drive yesterday morning in an open carriage and four. The Queen had a dinner party yesterday at Bucking ham Palace. The company included her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess de Montpensier, his Highness Said Pasha, the Duchess of Athol!, the Prussian Minister and Madame Bunsen, the Spanish Minister, the Turkish Minister, the Marquis of Abercorn, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, Lady Fanny Howard, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess de Montpensier, the Baroness de Spetb, the Earl of Mansfield, the Earl of Malmesbury, and the Earl and Countess of Listowel. Mr. Oswald, M.P., had an interview with the Earl of Malmesbury yesterday, at the Foreign-office, to present a copy of resolutions, agreed to at a meeting of the county of Ayr, and a memorial from the proprietors and farmers of the same county, on the present state of the guano-trade. Sir John Cathcart and Sir William Colebrooke had interviews yesterday with Sir John Pakington, at the Colonial-office. The Rev. Dr. Symons and Count Metaxa had also interviews with the Right Honourable Baronet. A deputation of the Birkenhead Dock Trustees, con sisting of Mr. Joseph Bailey, M.P. (chairman); Mr. Penny (deputy chairman); Mr. Laird, and Mr. "Hull (solicitor), had an interview with the lion. C. Gore yes terday, at the Office of Woods and Forests. Mr. Wilson Patten, M.P., had an interview with the. Right Hon. J. W. Henley yesterday, at the Board of Trade. Mr. Robert Milligan, M.P., had also an inter view with the Right Hon. Gentleman. Dispatches were sent from the Colonial-office yester day to the Governors of the North American Provinces. R E AR-ADMIRAL AUST.EN AND HIS FLAG-SHIP.-- A letter from Rear-Admiral Austen on this subject appeared in the Times of Thursday. With the Editor's remark we fully Concur, especially as we are in possession of the fact— which he is not—that the Hastings might have anchored off Rangoon if she had been taken there, that is if the profes sional opinion of the navigating officer of her, Mr. Brehaut, her master, is worth anything.—Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Pills have eff ec t e d a wond — erfu i l l° Cre a o Y'S fßh O cu i ro n a t t m il n .— ta M ti r ci . Donald McKellar, of Alurrumbid e, New South Wales, writes to Professor Holloway as followsg —:" A man of about fifty years of age, employed by John Peter, Esq , Justice of the Peace in this colony, suffered for twelve months from an at tack of rheumatism, brought on by an exposure to wet and cold. He was so painfully afflicted that his body was bent nearly double : in this d plorable condition he commenced wing Holloway', Ointrnery and Pils, and su speedy wa• the cure effected by them that it seemed to those whotad witnessed his sufferings little less than a miracle. —Sold by all Drug gists and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, Loudon. t,