The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-23 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

whole peaceable, and he gives it to be understood
that further negotiations for peace may possibly ensue.
It is reported on good authority that the Ilassian
troops which were echelonedon the Austrian frontier
have left for the Crimea. .

Advices from Konigsberg state that an Imperial
ukase orders that baptised Jews, who have hitherto
been exempted, shall furnish thirty recruits for every
1,000 souls to the Russian army.
A letter from St. Petersburg, of the sth, in the
News of Hamburg, says :

The Synod of St. Petersburg has presented an address
to the Emperor, earnestly praying him to show himself
more disposed towards conferences of peace, in so far as
the political interests of the State would permit. It
is not known how the Emperor has received this address.

UNITED STATES.
The royal mail steamship America has brought
New York papers of the Ath inst.
The Know-Nothings were losing ground : they had
gained the municipal election at Washington by only
a small majority, but lost at Norwich, where they
were strong before.
The new southern political organisation has been
commenced, based upon constitutional principles, de
signed to effect a union of the people of the south
upon simple platform opposition to abolitionism.
The cholera was raging as an epidemic in New
Orleans.

Sab3 anb Valict.

STRAHAN, PAUL, AND CO.
A meeting of the creditors was held at the Law In-
stitution on Tuesday, to consider the steps to be
taken to secure a full investigation of the petition
recently opened in bankruptcy. It was explained by
Mr. Futvoye, who has adopted the initiative, that a
number of the creditors who have suffered largely
were desirous of a thorough inquiry into the affairs
of the firm, and prepared to pursue such measures as
shall insure that object. As it appeared from all that
could now be ascertained that the partners had been
aware of their position for the last six years, it was
necessary to carry out a strict examination. Mr.
Lawrence intimated that, as the representative of the
petitioning creditor, he was most ready to state the
course that had already been pursued and would con-
tinue to be pursued for the benefit of the creditors
and to insure the legal distribution of the assets.
Observations bad been made on the manner in which
the petition in bankruptcy had been adjudicated, and
the effect of friendly influence in relation to it; but
he thought he should be able to show that the step
had been taken with a desire to protect the estate
against extents from the Crown and other claims
which interfered with the interests of the general body.
Having been called in and consulted, without pos-
sessing the slightest previous knowledge of Mr.
Strahan or Sir J. D. Paul, and having only a partial
acquaintance through one professional transaction
with Mr. Bates, he had given the best advice in his
power, and the result was that, acting for the peti-
tioning creditor, he had recommended the course in
question. This had occurred after the house had
been culpably kept open up to the Saturday, the plea
of the partners being that they expected assistance.
Through the run on the Friday and Saturday the
funds of the establishment had been diminished
between 22,000/. and 24,0001., and, notwithstanding
their promptitude with the petition, the sheriff's
officer entered on behalf of the Crown, and secured
2,0001., the remainder of the available cash, besides
which it was necessary to give him an undertaking
to pay 7001. or 8001. additional to preventhim seizing
the books and closing the premises altogether. An
important question would arise as to the source of
the hints which may have induced many to withdraw
or reduce their balances, and if it could be clearly
proved that any intimation had been given the court
would interpose its power and order restitution. After
a long consultation, in which the deplorable condition
of the estate and the heavy sums for which certain
contractors stand indebted to the firm were alluded
to, Mr. Barwis, an accountant and navy agent; Mr.
Montagu Tatham, a proct. r; and Mr. Appleyard, of
Lincoln's-inn ; were appointed assignees to the
estate. It was stated that there is scarcely a trades-
man among the debtors under the estate, the legal
profession, through themselves or their clients, being
the principal sufferers. The two firms of Messrs.
Strahan, Paul, and Co., and Messrs. Halford and Co.,
are identical, but the opinion is that the latter will,
as far as its separate position is concerned, be found
in a much better position than the former. Some
French railway concessions may, it is thought, pro-
duce an addition to the assets.
On Wednesday Mr. Robert Meakin Bates, the
third partner in the firm, was placed at the bar of
Bow-street Police-court, before Mr.Jardine, to answer
the charge of having, in conjunction with Messrs.
Strahan and Paul, unlawfully negotiated or otherwise
disposed of certain deeds or securities of the value
of 6,0001., which bad been intrusted to them for safe
keeping by Dr. Griffiths. Attempts had been made,

it was then stated, to apprehend the other two part-
ners. Sir J. D. Paul was, indeed, actually taken
into custody on Tuesday evening, at his residence
at Nutfield, near Reigate:—
The officers found Sir John at home, and succeeded In serving
the warrant upon him, but, it being too late to return to London
the same night, allowed their prisoner to go to bed, sitting up
all night themselves within view of his room. Next morning
they conducted the prisoner to the Reigate station, arriving
barely in time to save the train. Tickets were procured hur-
riedly for the three, and, according to the statements of the
officers, the train was actually in motion when Sir John took his
seat in a second-class carriage. The constables were following
him into the same carriage, when a railway porter pulled them
bask, exclaiming, " The train is in motion, and you can't get in."
The officers replied, " We are police•constables ; he is our pri-
soner, and we must accompany him ; resist us at your petit."
To this the porters merely rejoined that they were only carrying
out their orders," to prevent any one entering a carriage while
the train was in motion," and having elosed the carriage-door
against the officers, the train went off without them. The con-
stables state that they immediately rept muted the facts to ',hi
superintendent and showed him their authority, but he refused
to " signal" the train to stop, although consenting to seed a te•
legraphic message to the London station. This was done by
desire of the officers, who proceeded to town by the next up-
train, which reached London-bridge only ten minutes after the
one they had missed. On inquiry, however, of the station-
master at London-bridge if their prisoner had been detained, ha
replied that he did not know Sir John Paul by sight, and had
taken no steps in the matter. The police-officers, who had been
in some measure disarmed by Sir John's suavity of manner, had
thus the mortification of finding that their prisoner had effeci-
tually escaped, and throughout the day no trace of him mull
be found. They were also unsuccessful in their pursuit of Mr.
Strahan, who was expected to keep an appointment at the bank,
but who did not make his appearance, although anxiously looked
for throughout the day.
Some formal evidence, respecting the disappearance
of certain Dutch bonds belonging to Dr. Griffiths,
and intrusted to the firm, being given, the prisoner
was remanded.

DANIEL Mr/CHELL DAVIDSON and COSIIO WILLIAM
GORDON, who carried on business as general mer-
chants and colonial and metal brokers at Mincing-
lane, and Cousin-lane, City, and as distillers at West
Ham•lane, Essex, were brought up on Wednesday et
the Guildhall for final examination on the several
charges of not surrendering before the Commissioners
in Bankruptcy, of obtaining utider false pretences
large quantities of goods on credit within three
months of their bankruptcy, of concealing a portion
of their effects, and of feloniously uttering fictitious
spelter warrants with intent to cheat and defraud
their creditors. The case against the prisonerso
which has been repeatedly investigated at great
length, was then concluded, and they were fully com-
mitted for trial at the Criminal Court.
THE SHERIFF OF DERRY advertises a sale of the
goods and chattels of the Londonderry and Coleraine
Railway, under several writs of ti. fa. The locomo-
tive engines, passenger carriages, vans, waggons,
horses and carts, loose rails, sleepers, &c., are in-
cluded in the list of vendibles.