The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-15 00:00:00

PACKAGES AND PARCELS FOR THE

CRIMEA.

VESTIGATION AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.
On Saturday the justice-room at the Mansion house
Mae densely crowded by respectable persons who had been
attracted there by reason of its having become known that
Mr. Parry, the barrister, was to attend and make a state-
ment on behalf of Mr. Wardroper, whose proceedings had
been called in question by Mr. Aldridge in connezioa with
ahartering a vowel called the Sparrowhawk with stores to
the Crimea. Mr. Alderman Wilson and Sir It. W. Carden
were the presiding magistrates.
Mr. Parry said—Sir, I have the honour of attending'
before you and Sir Robert Carden according to the promise'
I made on Thursday last, when, owing to some ntiesppre-
lassedes of the hour at which Mr. Wardroper was to attend,
=ere unfortunately absent. You are aware that no
charge—no charge of any kind—bar been made I
MOM Mr. Wardroper. A entails stmement was made I
publicly to you as a magistrate which induced you to make
certain inquiries and to solicit the attendance of Mr. Ward-
roper. Vs hamster I may think of then matters being in-
vestigated before magistrates without any formal charge
being made, I do not make any complaint of your
having instituted inquiries in the first instaree,
may wish, end I certainly wish it on behalf of Mr. Ward-
roper, that these inquiries had not been made public, and
that you yourself, as. a magistrate, had taken care that they
should out be made public until Mr. Wardroper had had an
opportunity cf stating the facts of the cue himself, and
of fully investigating and allowing you fully to investigate
the matter. However, that having been done, Mr. Ward-
roper seems to me to have no alternative but to appear
here and to state to you what really are the facts of
his case. I say most distinctly that lam not disposed in
any way whatever to say anything in reference to Mr.
Aldridge, or in reference to any motives that may Dave
animated Lim. It is possible that he may have been ani-
mated by the best motives ; it is also possible that he may
have been animated by motives of commercial rivalry.
He himself beicg in the same trade as my client—
a shipbroker—not a wholesale grocer, as I am given to
understand, it is possible that he may hare been sui-
mated by motives of a less worthy character ; however,
am iodiffereut as to him or as to what motives may have
actuated him. My sole object is to make • statement of the
facts to you, and in reference to Mr. Wardroper, and to
court the fullest inquiry by yourself in any way yen like
that the investigation should be conducted, and to satisfy
you and the public, and those who know Mr. Wardroper
especially, that he has not acted in this !ratter with the
slightest fraudulent intectien; that, on tho contrary, he
has acted only as a man of honour and integrity should act.
' Whatever may be the wisdom of hie proceeding—whatever
may be the cummescial character of it—whether the specu-
lation was likely to succeed, as be believed, and as he still
believe' it would, but which of course cannot succeed now
after what his putoicty gone forth (because I need hardly
say that an investigotten of this kind, even in reference to
the most henouralne speculation, would immediately crush
it) is another matter. lam only desirous of showing you
that he has acted with perfect honour and integrity
thoughout the whale of this business'. A ',tate-
meat was made by Mr. Aldridge to theeffect shut the
poor people or their relative., the noble fellows in
the Crimes, or some such expression, were prevented
from bring defrauded, owing to the public investigstem
that bad taken place here. Mr. Wardroper is himself a per-
son of good family. One of his brothers recently died, who
was a surveyor in the East India Company's Movie*. lie
has another brother in that service, and he has also a krother
a clergymen of the church of England. lie himself was by
profession and education a surgeon probably not a man
likely to succeed in a commercial enterprise—and for many
years lie was attached, if I may so speak, to the household
let his Grace the Duke of Riceland as • surgeon, and has
the full confidence of that faintly now as to his honour and
integrity, and that he is not a man of straw. I hope he may be
wrong in ts is idea, but he read in the Tones that anybody
who would freight a vessel to the Crimea with a cargo likely
to sell there, would sell it at • fair and reasonable profit—'
to the extent of 30, 40, or even 50 per cent., instead of 500'
per cent., ka commodities are frequently sold there.
Ile believed that if he embarked • small capital of
which he was possessed in a vessel fur that pur-
pose he should be able to succeed in his enter-
prise,. and through the intervention of Mr. Marsh,
au auctioneer, and for the purpose of carrying cut the ape•
culation he sold the reversion of a property for 1,5.101. lie
gave orders rather for the sale of it before be entered into
the speculation in any why. That mum y is now at his
actual command, and • very great deal of it no doubt wculd
have been used by him for this speculation. Ile has never
received a single sixpence from any one, because he ab-
stained from taking even the freight of the goods or any
thing of the kind from parties consigning those goods to
him until they were actually on bond Lit 'rue Its
entered into a negotiation with OH Galt and I believe some
other gentlemen to purchase out and out a vessel called the
Sparrowhawk, for which he was to give 1-001. Mr. Ward-
THE SUEZ CANAL COMPANY. roper told Mr. Aldridge when he called upon him that be
had entered into this agreement with Mr. Salt, although
The firman of the Viceroy of Egypt, authorizing it was not actually perfected. The fulleet icquiries might hue
been made whether this was true or untrue. Those inquiries
M. de Ltsicps to forma company for the purpose of were not instituted, but an es paste statement was made by
cutting a navigable canal &craft the Isthmus of Suez, that gentleman, which has been of the most serious injury
is worded as follows: to Mr. Wardroper. So firm and binding is the contrast
Our friend M. Ferdinand de Lesscps having called our considered by Mr. Galt, that he holds Mr. Wardroper
to it. Therefore when be advertised that he had
attention t the advantages which would accrue to Egypt letbarltee red a vessel, he did that which I believe any ma.
from a direct communication between the Red Sea and the under the circumstances might have been fully permitted to
Mediterranean, by means of a navigable ship-canal, and do, and did It at the instigation of Mr. Galt himself, who
having pointed out to us the possibility of forming a joint said to him, " Why don't you advertise ?" I have the caps-
eseek company for this purpose from amongst the capitalist, city of the vessel, the tonnage, and so on, in MeGalt's hand
writing, these particulars having been given to Mr. Ward-
s, all nations, we have accepted the proposals he has made roper, in order that he should fully understand the nature of
to us, end grant to ben by his present firman the exclusive the vessel; and he was on the point of going down to
privilege of forming and directing a company for the puff- Portsmouth, where the Sparrowhawk was lying, when this,
pose of cutting through the isthmus of Suez, and making a statement was made by Mr. Aldridge. As regards the
ship-canal to connect the two seas, with permission to cue paces
byak;lneblltridgWe arwroPseardatatryhef throughricalsaterem en t omes
Cate all the necessary works at the expense of the said corm opening in the door, and found that the 1%003
was
pony, after duly recompensing one indemnifying the private wretchedly furnished, or almost destitute of furniture. Just
landholders far the ground expropriated, according to the the reverse is the case. It is full of every fitting furniture,
conditions as follows : and has been all along it is • well and substantially
furnished room. A statement of that kind would be cal-
Art. 1. M. Ferdinand de Lessem will form a jciabstock
ealated to make. an impression upon your mind, but it is
company under the firm of the “Compagnie universals du utterly untrue. Mr. Aldridge also takes upon Wessell to
canal maritime de Suer," for cutting the Isthmus of Suez, rebuke the newspaper press for daring to insert the letter
making a canal navigable fee large ships, and farming the of Mr. Wardroper it, colonies before making inquiry,
end said that if inquiry had been made it would have
needful two ports, one at each end of the canal, the direr-
been found that when he wrote his letter he bad not got
tion of which company is entrusted to him. then a apartments. That is not true. On the contrary, the
Art. 2. The nomination of the directors of the company rooms were then furnished end had been taken some dsys
will for ever remain the privilege of the Egyptian govern- previously. Allusion has ban made to a little bit of paper
runt, and they will be principally selected from amongst that was stuck on the outside of the door. The room was
taken at Christmas; the rent was paid from that time, and
the largest shareholders. for two days there was a paper up until the name was
painted, because no kurnemnitn painter could be got to
Art. 3. The duration of the concession is find at 99
years from the date of the opening of the csnai and comple• work on boxing-day or something of that kind. Na doubt
Lion of the works. he put the advertisements in the newspapers for a superin-
_tenactacennait andl clerk, end desired to obtain from them deposits
Art. 4. The expenses of the undertikiog are to be borne
My might have gore to the Guarantee Society
exclusively by the company, to whom eU the requisite
(and I told him so), which would have been a preferable mode
grity . lie said that he acted according to the
not belonging to private individuals, will be given by ofetting security,
the Egyptian government wiihout indemnification. Any best of his judgment. and having chartered as he considered,
he thought also of chartering another), I appeal to you with
fortresses and other works of defence that may be deemed and still considers, and as he will consider, this vessel (and
necessary by the Egyptian government will be built at the
the fullest confidence, is there any harm in such a specula
expense of the latter. tion? This is the statement which it appears to me alone
Art. 5. The Egyptian government will receive 15 per necessary to make on behalf of Mr. Wardroper. lam only
cent. of the annual net profit on the undertaking, without anxious myself, as this matter has been before the pod
the
tt.iztacfewriatil Tamil" my pe
reckoning the interest and dividends on the shares, which I havewrthMe rfblirt dcwonrridenshcoo in
the viceroy reserves to himself the right of taking when rightistateents made to me ss statements of facts. 1 cannot, as
emitted, and without any guorantee on his part of the ems- Lou must be aware, personally vouch for them of my own
Galion of the works or the operations of the compete,. The owiedge, but 1 can state them to you and to Sir Robert
eemainder of the clear i profit is to be dieided as (el- Carden, and I can solicit the most searchiog investigation.
This speculation has now entirely failed, as I need hardly
lows : 75 per cent. for the shoreholders, and 10 per cent. for
the benefit of the originators of the company. tell you, and it would be impossible for the most
honourable speculation ever entered into to succeed
Art 0. The tariff of charges for the transit of ships if ex pert* statements were permitted to be made
through the Canal of Suez, agreed to by the Viceroy of iin
ver regatrd to Mr. Wardroper does not feel u
hrt
that you
bnil a Itrosnaehdanve aeAlisdaalif ro inln h u
complain
Egypt and the company, and which are to be collected by
Ole agents of the latter, shall be invariably the acme fur the coarse i
diet not ' guard & done
most the publication of this application
Rags of all nations, end no stipulation can ever be made in until there could have been a complete examination. Mr.
favour of any one country that shall not be common to all. Wardroper hu never received a single farthing of money
Art. 7. Should the company consider it advisable to fro any one of her Majesty's subjects in reference to this
ion, and he has already loet 2001. or 3001. If Mr. Galt
Imeneet the river Nile with the Suez canal, by means of a OPe
insiTitisautpon the fulfilment of his contract In reference to the
Navigable canal, the Egyptian government binds itself to sparrowbewe, my client will lose upwards of 1,0001. He
itie• up to the company the recesmiry tract of land without himself is rather an infirm man, and I am sorry to see that
knenneration, as far as they do not interfere with the there has been something like sneering at his icfirmity. lie
'tights of private property. On such lands no texts shall be may be insulted about Me intellects—as I believe he has
been—but I have a fect conviction of his being& man of
?Idled for • period of ten years from the opening of the
houour and • gentleman; and, in tonclueion, Ido most
Owl. During the succeeding eighty-nine years, that is to ly hops that as full a statement of these facts on hie
Me from the expiration of the first ten years, up to the Nadi behalf will go before the public as of the accusations that'
Id the concession, the usual land tel is to be paid by the! were made evilest him.
Wilson—Does the learned counsel contend that
eeeseelly to the Egyptian government. At the expiration Alderman
d fls stessmion the company as only retain pommel= of migietsates 1110014 not hear an en Paste statement or

At Shanghai trade was improving ; teas a little
cheaper) and a good business doing in silks at re-
duced rates. Exchange, 6J. 61d.
Exchange at Canton, 41. 70.
Daring a gale on the sth instant the mule Times
and Agenoria got ashore in the harbour of
Alexandria.

(DT IT:BYLILINI AND DZITISH

MARSEILLES, SUNDAY.

The Vectis arrived at two o'clock this afternoon
with the India and China overland mail. Her
despatches have been forwarded.

SOUTH AMERICAN MAILS.

The royal Brazilian mail packet Severn, Captain
J. M. Dillies; Admiralty agent,.Lient. Darby, R.N.,
arrived at Southampton yesterday, with the South
American mails. _ _

Dates of sailing :—Buenoe Ayres' Dec. 2, 1854;
'
Monte Video, 3 ; Rio de Janeiro, 13. Bahia, 20 ; Per-
nambuco, 23 ; St. Vincent, 31; Teneriffe, Jan 3, 1855 ;
Madeira, 6 ; Lisbon, 9.

The Severn brings 31 passengers.
The following is the letter of the R.o correspondent
of the Daily Nets:
RIO DR JANEIRO, Dec. 14, 1854.
The Brsziiian squadron sailed for Paraguay on the
10th, and six mote vessels of war are to follow in
a few days ; but it is the general opinion that the
dispute will be amicably arranged.
Provisions of all kinds are becoming exceedingly
dear in Rio. The supply of cattle is falling off to an
extent which threatens a great scarcity of fresh
meat. The poorer classes are beginning to suffer
severely. The fact is, that the want of hands conse-
quent upon the suppression of the slave trade is begin-
ning to be felt.
The yellow fever has entirely left us, and the city
was never more healthy than at present.
Our coffee and exchange markets have been very
active. In imports generally little has been done.
Exchange opened on the 9th at 27f d. to 271 d., sod
some bills were negotiated at 28d. The total
amount passed since the :et we estimate at 340,0001.
on London, 800,000 francs on France, and 330,000
mares banco on Hamburg. The market closes very
firm at oar quotations.
In coffee nothing was done until the sth, when
dealers eubmitted to a decline of 150 reis, and a large
business was done. The Severn's Hews, although
unfavourable, did not produce a corresponding tiled
co the market, but great acti%ity has continued to pre-
vail, and we estimate, the total sales since the Ist at
160,000 bags, of which 100 are for Europe and 50 for
the States. Yesterday we noted an improvement in
the market, and the better qualities were sold at an
advance of 50 or 100 refs. Supplies come forward very
freely at the rate of 10,000 bags per day.
Freights have ruled somewhat higher.
Discousts rule at 7 to 71 per cent.

Of affairs in Buenos Ayres, the British Packet
of Dec. 2, says, in its monthly retrospect, that
business is at a dead standstill. The invasion of
Nov. 3 paralysed everything: the horizon is described
u turbid and lowering.

Tu& CUOLEU has bran out at Saluzzo, in
Piedmont.

contend thatl TiiE CUOLEU has broken ont at Sanzzo, Jul manna reverence cumIFY.TJ ray.Tw
uuccuen"
tatuatat Or Piedmont. Fetes. •