The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-02-09 00:00:00

Vampobire.

SOUTHAMPTON CUSTOMS ESTABLISHMENT. -Mr.
H. Brown, Surveyor-General from the Board of Cus-
toms in London, has been engaged for some days in
holding an investigation at Southampton into all the
circumstances connected with the recent case of em-
bezzlement of the light dues by one of the junior
clerks in the Custom-house at that port. The young
man in question was tried at the December sessions,
and sentenced to six months imprisonment. The in-
vestigation has, we understand, exposed a very loose
system of bookkeeping and accounts, which is any-
thing but creditable to a public department entrusted
with the collection of an important branch of the us-
final revenue. During his visit the surveyor went
to the borough goal and examined the young man,
who is there confined for the above offence, and we
are informed that he stated his embezzlements to
have commenced more than a year ago with a few
shillings, gradually increasing till they amounted to
some £2OO. All this time not the slightest detection
of his defidcation was made, and even at last they
were discovered by his own confession only, when he
became frightened at their extent.

THE OUTWARD EAST INDIA AND CHINA MAIL&
—The steam-ship Pets, Captain Hicks, left South-
ampton on Thursday, with the East India and China
mails, 31 first-class, and 21 second-class passengers,
a general cargo, and specie of the value of £217,714.
The Pere also takes out, for conveyance overland to
India, 227 troops, being detachments from various
regiments, viz.: 43 men of the let battalion of the
let Foot; Lieutenant Acklom and 28 men of the
44th; 36 men of the 3rd battalion of the 60th Rifles;
Ensign Weetropp and 60 men of the 66th; Lieut.
Jameson and 9 men of the 74th Foot ; 17 men of the
68th Foot; and 34 men of the 69th, with the follow-
ing officers, Captains Cole, Ferredy, and Bracken.
burg.

A SLIGHT PRZLIIITNART.—There wee one thing more
to be done before the young London gentleman could
honourably proffer matrimonial vows. There wee a
letter to be written. No wrong, save of the most re-
spectable character—so respectable that it passes in a
crowd for right—shall obtrude itself in our story. But
lam to tell the truth ; and the truth is, that Philip
Arundel had, in decorous language, to disembarres him-
self of a connexion. Happily for him and for his eon-
science in the last hoar, the great crime that lures •
helpless being to a life of ignominy is not to be laid to
his charge. But in • little box-like house in a suburb—
s tiny dwelling full of comforta and not without elegan-
cies, mostly his own presents—there waited for him, not
often in vain, ono whose erring but affectionate nature had
been developed by his kindness—and who in future would
wait in vain. There was to be an allowance, and I
think a small life assurance, and • confirmed gift of all
In the house; and—you are quite right, madam, what
more could • cavaturelexpeat or deserve? Nevertheless,
Arundel, having written his letter, gave It to his friend
to be delivered—that Philip might not know the hour
or the day when it would In received, and when the
pang which even creatures can fe I would be inflicted in
that quiet little home,