The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-10 00:00:00

CUSTOMS REFORM.

Yesterday a very numerous deputation of merchants
and others interested in the trade and commerce of the
City of London, waited on Lord John Russell, at his
official residence, in Dawning-street, for the purpose of
submitting to his lordship the views and sentiments ex-
pressed at a public meeting, tall at the London Tavern,
on the 3rd of December last, on the subject of a reform in
the customs.. The deputation was introduced by J. Niwitcr-

man, Esq. M.P.
Lord Sohn Russell was accompanied by Lord Granville.
inc. MASTKIIMAN, in introducing the deputation, said
that their object Rai to submit to his lordship a representa-
tion founded on resolutions passed at Vac late meeting in the
City, and he (Mr. Mastermen) having presided at that
meeting, could state that h had never seen so
great an absence of all political feeling, so complete
an unanimity of sentiment and opinion, as was exhibited on
that occasion. (Hear, hear.) The fact was, that the preseat
constitution of t! c I.l.:ard of Customs was looked ni.un as a
general commercial grievanc,!' and their recent
.procLedines
against two most respectable bodies, the Loa-an rind St.
Katharine's Doek Companies, had very much increased the
feeling. (Hear, hear.) The fact of such ly.clies king
recklessly attacked made all commercial men feel more or
less insecure. (Hear, hear.) They had not come to dic-
tate any inea.sures to his lordship, at merely respectfully
to submit to him certain propodtions, and to urge the
necessity of some alteration in the system, or at lea,t the
early re-appointment of the select committee that had sat
last se,sion.

Mr. TR. \VERS, aschairman t f the committee appointed
to draw up the views of the merchants, then came forward,
and having stated that the committee thought it more re-
spectful to his I and more consistent with the import-
ant* pith. subject to have their viewsdr,,wit up in writing,
proceeded to read the following
Representation to tho Right Ilion. Lord Jilin Russell,
Pint Lela of her Majesty's Treasury, and meti;Jer fur the
City of London, by the deputatioa appointed at a public
meeting Mr reform of the Customs, held at the London
Tavern, the 3rd lkeember, 1841.
The re:mrt ant resolutions unanimouslyadouted at the
public meeting from which this deputation 'derives its
authority hare been alreativ laid before vour lordbhip, and
explain the reasons which have induced us to solicit the
favour of this interview. Whether for the purfmo of
further inquiry into the anuses end inAtlciency
of the Customs department of the public service, or of
proceeding at once to the recammendntion of complete
remedial measures, the deputatkin have been commissitor.cd
to express the earnest desire of the commercial ceases that
the select toinir.ittee of last sessi.m on the Customs, should
be re-appointed at the earliest period after the re-assembling
of parliament; and explicitly to ascertain the intentions of
government on this subject. Wo therefore take leave to
solicit the favour of an intimation of your lordship's deter-
mination in refemoce to the re-aopointment of the select
contruittcv. The deputation would be well contented here
to close their duties. But they have been charged with a
further commission, which, although, as Involving relict-

tions on intlieiduel,;, they ihould have been glue 6 NI re-
tiered from the painful fleece ity of fulfilling. they Teemed
so not less imperative upon them, thau imeortent in its
own results. IS e have bet n desired t mphatically to caress
the great dissatisfaction experienced by the men:anti:ls body
with that department of your lordseip • govcrnlaeat which
directs the administration of the Custom-bouee system.
When the merchant vote loins to the Glace= chargen
the collection of foreign revenue of irksome reetrictious,
useless forms, improper detentions, or unjust seizure's, the
latter plead in jet...title:llion of their riots a board's order or
the letter of the law. When the party aggrieved appeals
to the board that tribunal refers to the obligation of the
acts of parliament as its warrant, or to the want of power to
dispense with the nemisitious of statutes, the erose-ions of
the tariff, or the absence of a diemetionary faculty es its
excuse, rod throws the responsibility on the Treasury as
the solo depositories of discretionary powers in the lust re-
sort to grant dispensations from obviously sinju-t regulate=
or oppressive applications of the law. 't he public are thus
induced to regard the govermaeut as ultimately respeusible
for the abuses of which they complain, either by a misap-
plication of the powers it possesses or by neglecting to app.y
to parliament for the visibly to introduce such reforms as it
nem r r.fuses to the reasonable representation, of an admi-
nistration in which it repose* considence. a:cording the
'treasury as thu lend of the whole revenue branch of the
public service, we aro instructed ta charge it upon that de-
partment.
I. 'Phut the Beane of Customs, of which it is or ought to
be the master, is generally inefficient and incompetent; and
that it has been suffered to regulate its own time and attend-
ance on its public duties, and to neglect the ncomunida-
tions of suet:_--ive commissions, and even the ib-:ructious
of the Treasury.
2. That no improvement has been adopted in the system
of appointments, either of cosmaissioners, or inferior mike rs,
so as to pa-cure to the public the benefits of a competent
administration of the system.
3. That the commuseioners are inaccessible ; their pro-
=Winos conduced in secret ; the official represeututions on
which the decide concealed from the parties they affect;
and that their acts arc, therefore, altogether removed from
accountability to the public.
4. That their respunsibility, even to their superiors, Is
rendered practically a dead letter; inasmuch as In lineal
from theboard sesults only in a reference to the very tribunal
from whose decision the appeal is made.
5. That the very fact of the co-exiettneo of a Treasury
comntieeion, and pereiameutery c smmittee, to inquire into
and remove the acknowledged ebuses of the depart-
ment, is substantially an evidence of the general
conviction of the necessity of del, mtlng to other
parties the duties which properly devolve on the Trea-
sury, and of interposing to exercise its hauctioes to
ert the consequences of its neglect, or to remove com-
plaints which are caused solely by the want of a proper
supervision of its officers:. On referring to the twelve eeads
of measures of reform, suggested in the report adopted by
the public meeting' it may be seen that many of them
might have been carried into effect by the simple execution
of the authority of the Treasury; and tint, with regard
to such as required the interposition of parliament, to that
department of tle: government must be attributed the
omission or refuse! to propose the necessary measures for
effecting the desired alteration.
6. While many examples have been forwarded to the
committee, duly eutle aticated, of woes maladministration
of the Customs deportment, the deputation confine them-
selves to circumstances judicially recorded, or reported to
the legislature, find therefore known to your lordship, for
the justification of the public meeting in committing to this
deputation the painful duty they now discharge. From the
proceedings connected with the prosecutions at the instance
of the crown against the London and St. Katherine Deck
Companies, the following conclusions are but too plainly
deducible :

1. That if the nets charged against these companies have
been lilt gal, indictable, and fraudulent, they have been
practised tar many years with the sanction and concurrence
of that board which now charges these acts upon them as
highly penal offences. 2. That if the " nominal fine,"
accepted by government as a compromise, satisfies the
justice of the case against the dock companies, the prosecu-
tions were totally without excuse ; while, if the counts of the
indictments, and especially the charge of the then Solicitor-
Cie ne ral. were true, the withdrawal of the several proxentions
cannot easily be distinguished from compounding of felony.
3. That the attempt of the Solicitor of the Customs to
withhold front the accused before trial all information
of the particulars of the drone' charged against them,
which brought down upon the prosecutors the marked ani-
madversion of the Court of Exchequer, • and the subse-
quent endeavour to ignore the judicatory chosen by
rho crown, and to heap costs on the defendants
by moving for a new trial, are signal examples
of abuse of powers, and perversions of the first prin-
ciples of justice, for which no plea of public exigency could
afford even a feeble palliation. 4. That while the first care
and clearest duty of government is to support and meet
our great national institutions, the unmeasured accusations
and intemperate language by which the London Dock Com-
pany has been assailed by the public officers were calculated
to create the utmost alarm among our foreign consignors
for the safety of their property; to degrade the high esti-
mation entertained abroad of the character of our mer-
chants, and materially to affect our commerce ; while the
charge of the Chief Baron, and the verdict of the jury,
have proved such charges so expressed to have been
not 'merely untrue, but without reasonable justifi-
cation. 6. That the means adopted to compel the submis-
sion, and consummate the humiliation of the dock companies
have been even more discreditable than the end, having
been pursued by secretly taking the servants of the compa-
nies into the pay of the crown, by the subornation of wit-
nesses in the shape of subsistence money, and corrupt pro-
mises of future provision or employment, by converting the
servants of great mercantile institutions into spies, to the sub-
version of all discipline and fidelity, by sending public officers
to the chief customer, of the companies, to whisper away
their character and destroy their trade, and by perverting
the public money to the corruption of 62 dock servants, who,
for the purposes of the prosecution against their employers,
were taken into the pay of the executive. 6.
By practically ignoring the existence of the select
committee to whom the vases of the dock companies were
expressly referred by the llouse of Commons, by giving fresh
notices of trial in some cases, and otherwise keeping alivo
120 actions simultaneously, pending a parliamentary inves-
tigation ; thus piling action upon action, cost upon cost, and
fine upon powder, to the extent of upwards of 160,004
and concluding 'by the acceptance of two pitiful nominal
mulcts of 1001., to the outrage of public justice, and at the
risk of briuging our tribunals into contempt, by misapply-
ing their legitimate functions to the purposes of oppression.
7. By the arrest and arraignment of the most valued officers
of the companies, and the incarceration of some of their ser-
vants, and labourers in their casual employment, on charges
of smuggling and felony, without any justification what-
', ever, and on utterly futile pretences, by removing• the
trials from the Central Criminal Court to the Queen's
Bench; by wantonly withdrawing the record on the
very day of trial, at an oppressive cost to the de-
fendants; by keeping the ,e charges of felony, involving
penalties of upwards of 93,0001., suspended indefinitely over
their heads, at the same time refusing either to substantiate
or abandon them ; and then, having compromised the pro-
sccutions against their employers, by ultimately retracting,
without assigning reason, criminal charges proved to have
been preferred without cause. Such is the abuse of un-
constitutional powers, for the exercise of which the Treasury
is held by the public responsible to parliament. That it
has not erred in ignorance, or neglected its duty from not ,
knowing it, is but too certain. If it is not the author, it
has been at least the abettor of these scandalous proceed-
ings; and temperate and friendly remonstrance against
such unheard of acts has, we regret to say, been re-
ceived by the Chancellor mf the Exchequer with disre-
gard, and dismissed with discourten-. He has perse-
vered in the infliction of wrong until its very enormity

has alarmed its victims Wei submission ; ho has
broken the conditions on the honourable understanding
of which technical legal admissions were drawn from the
London Dock Company which rendered future resistance
impracticable, and, finally, he has concluded the nezatia-
Una by a gross misrepresentation of the COUCeSIiOII% of the
coinpitny, and by putting a construct:stir upon their words
which is Entirely negatived by the correspondence. On
these and other grounds we have been instructed to prom
upon your lordship Ca, necessity of recommending the re-
in:pink:men! of the select committee in the view of pro-
moting the reform. r.eommeinktl in the report adopt( I by
the public messing from which we ere deputed: and of
conveying to your lordship the expression of the deep and
general dissatisfactinit entertained by the commercial
classes with the administrntiun of the fiucal department of
your gorernment.—(By order and in name of the depute
ties`, J. I. Travers, Chairman; Robt. Wigram Crawiurd,
Deputy Chairman.-4, Charlotte-row, Dee. 8.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who had listened most atten-
tively to the reading of this document, said that of course
thee would not exp et that to an elaborate document, care-
fully prepated, and no doubt maturely considered, he would
be able at once to give a reply, further than an actmis.ion of
the importance of the case. It was ono which, concerning
as it did both the Board of Customs and the Treasury, was
of the highest possible importance. (Herr, hear.) Ile was
nut infeasible of the necessity of so arranging a department
that collected so large a portion of the public revenue in
such a manner as to Cause the least possible inconve-
nience to the lawful and most useful pursuits of commerce.
With that view a commission, consisting of Lord Granville,
and other efficient gentlemen, was apiaiinted, and at a later
1 period a select committee of the I louse of Commons, to con-
' skier the subject. And hero he might say that although it
had been represented that tho Clianeelior of the Exchequer
opposed the appointment of the committee, the fact was,
that so far as regarded the general administration of the
Customs, big right hon. friend did not offer any opposition ;
he had merely said that with regard to matters still pend-
ing in courts of law it was doubtful whether it was expe-
dient they should be referred to. It was, however, to be
remarked, that this Customs department, and the laws of
the Customs generally, faulty us the de putati nt might
think them—and he was ready to admit they were saseep-
WA.: of improremeat—had been framed by very able iaon
and he could well remember Mr. Mishima s tying he had
reformed the Customs la es, and holding up the volume in
exultation—and be it remembered that Mr. Huskisson
UASI a nun by no means unlit to be trusted with
`e.ua:ag a legislative meuure. Still, the 74) was no (*malt
bnt that great improvements might be made in the laws and
construction of the Board of Custo.ns. (Dear, hear.) With
coral to the present board, it so happened that during the
five years he had been in the Treasury he hud made no
opp,inttn, ats. Ile had left the board as he found it, the
emir appointment he had made being that of Mr. Pressly, a
getitleman well qualified for his °nice. He merely men-
tioned this to show that with regard to this pintimiar board
ho had no projudico one way or the other. (Rear, hear.)
But at the same time ho felt it to be his bounden duty with
respect to these charges not to say that they were guilty
until he had inquired into the facts buth frout the heal of
the bowie:lel we numbers. Now, without entering into
the varioas particelars as regarded these presets'.
times, he should say generally that it did not follow,
that became very respectable men belonged to a
company fraud might nut have been committed.
They had seen in the case of the Comptroller of the Exche-
quer's office, and in that of the Ecclesiastical COMMiC4iOII.
. .

en, persons had been found guilty of fraud, while littla or
no blame could be attached to the directing persons.
Therefore it did not follow, because the dock companies
were respectable, their officers might net have been guilty
of irregularities. Wel!, the Board of Customs had stated
that frauds existed to a considerable extent—perhaps they
were wrongly informed—they node representations to the
Treasury, and he thought that a very grave responsibility
would rest on the Treasury, and a very grave respausibt-
lity upon as representative of the City of London,
if, when the Commissioners of Customs informed him that
the revenue had been defrauded, he had, out of tear that
the merchants of London might be inconvenienced, pre-
vented the th cessary inve.tigatiou. He had felt this before
when asked to put a stop to these proceedings. He had
not found that the commissioner• had any doubt about the
rustler. With regard to the Chancellor of tho Exchequer,
he thought there were home to:Aid:tints in the statement
just read, of which he could not admit the justice. He
thought that his right honourablo friend wag hound not to
interbire with the course the Customs had recommended.

h is r.glit honourable friend had referred the matter to lulu,
and both had concurred in the opinion that it was not pose
'able to interfere. The statenieut also complained of an
understanding which had been broken with respect to the
fines. lie did not know exactly what that alluded to, but
with respect to the chan4ing of the 31. tine to 1001., he re-
collected thet in a Cl,O that occurred in ISIS, the arrange-
aunt was a fine of I per cent., and all expenses. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer had thought it better in the
present case toeget rid of such an arrangement which
might keep up irritation, and to take 1001. as
a mode of closing the matter. With regard to
the general statement that the Board of Customs must be
entirely wrong, or they would net have agreed to a com-
promise, every gentleman present must be aware that over
and over again revenue board. have given up prosecutions on
payme ut of a sum of money. Whether such a proceeding was
in consonance with strict practice might be a matter for dis-
ens-im, but it was certainly according tie titling prece-
dents. With regard to the very impertaut point of the
aple.hitmeat of a ceunnittee, he did nut know that there
was any absolute objection to such appointment, but ho
would not pledge himself, because, alter hearing the present
statement, be should like to see the chairman of the last
committee, and consult Aim as to the advantages
of its revival. Therefore, not seeing any strong ob-
jection, he 'tumid refrain from giving any de-
cided as:urance. lie could only assure the deputation that
the 6-abject ',Wald receive full consideration, and that any
arrangement which, while maintaining full security fur
the revenue, should give great( r facilities to the merchants
and the (lock companies, should meet with his moat
strenuous support (Cheers.)
Alderman THOMPSON, M.P., was ready to admit the
possioility of irregularities in great establishments like the
dock companies. What he complaint/ of was, that when
these charges were made by the Commissioners of Customs,
and the St. Katherine's Dock Company made application for
inquiry, stating that, inasmuch as they were liable at once
to the merchants and the crown, they had a deep in-
terest in the question, they were met with a decided nega-
tive by the commissioners. 'the same course had been
adopted with respect to the London Dock Company. Sub-
sequently the dock authorities had asked for particulars,
previous to going to trial, and the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer had refused, although he was about to arrest 53 of
the servants of the St. Katherine's Company and 07 of
the London. These circumstances had made a deep im-
pression throughout Loudon, and the merchants felt that
they had been treated more like a set of swindlers than a.;
British merchants ought to be treated.
Mr. J. D. POWLES, secretary to the London Dock Com-
pany, complained that the Customs' authorities had in their
case broken the understanding as regarded the fines. The
understanding was that the fines should be merely nominal,
to protect the officers of the Customs from ulterior proceed-
ings, and therefore great was their surprise when they
received a letter demanding a fine of 1001. They requested
the commissioners to refer the matter to the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, but those gentlemen had declined to do so.
Mr. Towles recapitulated the transactions between the Lon-
don Dock Company and the Commis.doners of Customs,which
have more than once been published, and submitted that
there was no justice in imposing a fine of 1001. on a com-
pany that had already spent 10,000/. in law proceedings
which had turned out to be wholly unnecessary. lie com-
plained that the applications of the company for interviews
or information as to the charge against them bad been met
with repeated negatives, and that up to the morning of
trial they were unacquainted with the case they had to
defend.

Mr. MITCIIELL, M.P., said he hoped that the noble
I,wd would give these grove charges his best consideration.
Ile could hardly ask his lordship to react the voluminous
evidence taken by the committee. but if the noble lord near
him (Lord Grant ille) would read it, he might be able
greatly to strengthen the noble lord's judgment in the
matter. If the noble lord thought that further inquiry
would be advantageous, he (Mr. Mitchell) was quite ready
again to give his services on tile committee. (Hear, hear.)

, -
Mr. M. CLARK trusted that the verdict obtained against
the Customs, as respected the frauds, would have its due
weight in influencing the noble lord's judgment.
Mr. W. J. lIALL said that the proceedings of the
Customs were disgraceful not only to the Customs but to
the Treasury. lie complained of the mode in which ho
himself had been written to fur a sum of 13/. 9s. 2d.,
threatening that in case of refusal his bonding privileges
should be withdrawn. Ile had been for forty years tor-
mented by the Board of Customs, and he did not hesitate
to say that it was the most incompetent public body in the
world. In one instance they had detained from him 3,000
chests of tea for eighteen months at a loss to him of 10,000/.,
while they had at the same time released the tea of au
American house under precisely similar circumstances.
Mr. MASTERMAN submitted that Mr. Hall had better
rest satisfied with the assurance of the noble lord. (Hear,
hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said that, not being acquainted with
the circumstances of the particular case, he could not say
anything about it.
The deputation then withdrew.

EXTILAORDLNARY CONDUCT OF A MERCIIANT
CAPT./IN.—A can of a somewhat singular nature was gone
into yesterday before the Bristol bench of magistrates. It
appears that about a fortnight or so ago the ship Elizabeth,
of Liverpool, was by stress of weather driven into the port
of Bristol, and at the time she had upwards of six feet of
water in the hold. She was bound to Africa, and had on
board a cargo of salt, by which one of the pumps had got
choked. Complaint was made by the shipping master and
tide surveyor of Bristol, that, although five of the men
were ill, the captain would not allow of their going
ashore, and he bad kept them on bread and water for la
days, the vessel also not being seaworthy. It was not con-
siderel right by the authorities that the vessel should put
to sea (which it was stated the captain was ready to do with
her crew in the state they were.) The magistrates directed
Inspector Alexander to go on board the Elizabeth, and in-
quire into the matter. Yesterday he attended, and con-
firmed the statement as to the men having been kept on
bread and water, two of them were ill, and three refused to
work. The captain had stated that he did not wish to
prefer a complaint against the men, and after a long in-
terview it was ultimately mutually agreed upon that
the matter should be left to the arbitration of Captain
Emerson, the shipping master of the port of Bristol.

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.

Yesterday, which was the first public day of the
Christmas fat cattle show of 1851, was quite as numerously
attended as that of any preceding year. The police and
officials in attendance say much more so; but the increased
space. prevented that incouveMence from overcrowding
which has been on former occasions with good reason com-
plained of. Throughout the day, from 8 o'clock in the
morning till 9 at night, the influx of visitors was incesant.
Butchers front the London streets and saburts, many of
thi :a mere lookers-eu, but certainly with a fair pro-
portion of buyers—Breeders and feeders from the pro-
vinces, some complaining, as is always the case
disappointment, of unfairness, others congratulating
themselves on the success of their efforts, others
again regretting that they had not entered the field of com-
petition, convinced if they had that they would have carried
off the highest prizas—these, with a general sprinkling or
the uninitiated nuhlic, the determined sight-seers, making
up the ever-moving and ever-changing group.
As the day wore on the moving ma's assumed a more
pietur-olue appearance by the addition of a number
of well-dressed ladies, who, though they could hardly
bo suopos,d to bo competent judges of fat stock,
scern—i to take as much interest in the show as
the breeders and dealers. The number of sales
etfece d was more than usually large far a first day; in
pigs mid sheep there was almost a complete clearance for
the finest animals, but in horned cattle, probably front the
high price asked, the prize beasts moved off much less
readily than those which had been less sure. sated in the
competition with the judges. In Class I, °Lan or steers of
any breed above 4 and not exceeding 5 years old, Mr. Wm.
Heath's 4 years not 10 months old Hereford ox, which took
the first prize of 39,., and the silver medal to the
breeder, was bought by Mr. John Mann, butcher,
of Croydon ; rind Prince Albert's Hereford ox, to
which the third prize of 5/. Ras awarded, was
purchased hr Mr. Paul, of Burdock (Jrzage, Dorset ;
a short hord bedunging to the Mare,ols of Exeter; another
exhibited by Mr. Watson, of Thorley. Northampton; and
a third belonging to Mr. Longhorn, of Cottesbrook. in the
same county • Her. feeds exhibited by the Earl of Warwick
and by Mr. either, of Woodstock, also found purchaser.,
the principal buyers being Mr. Philp, of Lower Ilelgra.ve-
street ; Mr. Speed and Mr. luglir. of Chelsea ; Mr.
'ley, of Dath; and M:. West, of line. A vary beautiful
Durham bullock Ia the same class, exhibited by Mr. Leeds,
of We t L,, sham, Norfolk, fur which .t was said did guineas
were offered,faili in obtaining a purchaser nt the price sic.
manded. The 30/. prize beast in the second ehiss—a 3 year
and S months ola litre:tad steer, bred by Mr. Long-
more, of Adlorton, Salop, and which also obtained
the silver medal to the breeder and the gold
medal as the best ox or steer in the lot, 111, 3rd, tth, and
Ith classes, was purehf.sed by Mr. Not?, of Birkenhead.
Another Hereford, wheh took the ~ecnd prize in the sane
claas,aas boughtby Messrs. Wrighton and Farrow of Itead-
ing; and a short horn,c %Whited by Mr. Derry,nf Geiney Loa;
Sutton, Lincoln, found a purchaser in Mr. Merton, of Ely,
for :hens—by no meant an out of the way price eau-
siderin4 the weight of the animal. In data 3, l'rince
Albert's second prize Hereford was sold to Mr. Alder, of
Esher. The first priz.t beast in class 5, the Earl of Leices-
ter's pure North Devon, of which wo spoke in terms
of commendation yesterday, found a purchaser in Mr.
Webber, of the Edgeware-road. Mr. Battle second prize
ILvon steer in Mr. Kiag, of Paddington-s retet ; atol the
only animal to which u prize was awarded in chess o—Mr.
Kindcrle7's Pembrolt..shire ox, in Mr. Collingwood, of
Lambs Conduit-street, a namesake of whom, Mr.

wood, of Paddingten.. secured Mr. Druce'; short-horto7d
lierefoni heifer, which had carri:d off the find prise in
class 7 of 2UL:the. surer medal to the Lrccder, and the
cold medal at the lte..t cow or heifer esifieited in the itif,
sth, and 9th assns. Lord Favtrsluun's short-horn cow,
the successful animal in class 8, Mr. Cragg, of Mount-

street, bought. The butchers who meek Mho largest
number of purchases in cattle yesterday were, besides
thoso enumerated above, Mr. Foulco, of Hemmer.
smith ; Mr. Adam, of Windsor ; Mr. .1 y,
of Regent-street ; Mr. Sutton, of Dalston ; Mr.
Glass, of Lalabeth-walk ; Mr. Tucker, of Long-werc ;
Mr. Elphiek, of East Monkey; Messrs. Ilales, of Bath ;
end Mr. Withers, of Guildford, Sun. y. Of the sheep, the
prise peas in class lit, lon:; we. id wethers (Mr. Lee
Bradshaw, of Burley (near °Ahem), I.eicesters, elan 12 ;
Mr. lternan's Cotswold wetl.ere, thbli 1:k the Duke of

Richmond's Southelowla (Ist prii.e, nod gold medal as best
sheep in 15th, 16th, and 15th classes), and Mr. Sainshary's
Soutlidownl Und prize), class 17 ; Mr. John Villiers
Shelley 's Bouthdowns ; and Mr. S tinshory's Southdown
welder, which obtained the silver nu-dal in the cla,s far
extra stock (short-woolled sheep), were purchased nspre-
tively by Mr. Glae, of Lambeth-walk; Mr. L.wk-
log, of Walbrook ; Mr. Jeffrev of Foolr:rt's-place,
Regent-street ; Mr. Kitrr, of Pu'ildington-street ; und
Mr. Phi/tr., of Lower erosvenoust:ett. The pigs ap-
peared to have been in the largest demr.nd with the
country butchers,especially those of Reading, hat exten-
sive purchases were tn.:de by Mr. Squire, of Tottenham-
court-road ; Mr. Garland, of ()xfordstreet ; Mr. Wilcox,
of le:me-lane • and Messrs. Iledges of the Iturrow-rouel,

who secort ditto bee. tpen oC pigs, uceorthej to the aw trti

of the 121st cases. T Up to
eight o'clock in the evening, 112 sales were announced, the
total number of entries being 273.
Among.t the more distinguished visitirs of the show
during the day were the Earl of Leicester, Lord Berm:re,
Lord John Manners, the Marquis of Exeter, Lord Itanc-
lagli, Colonel Sibthorp, Major-Gene:al Wemys., Sir W.
Pell, Ur. Fisher llob'as, Mr. Drandreth Gibbs, and Mr.
Barker.
At the ordinary meeting of the club in the morning, the
judges' award was read nud confirmed, the Duke of Rich-
mond was re-elected to the office of President, and Earl
Ahoyne, the Earl of ilardwicke, Earl Spencer, the Earl of
Yarborough, and Mr. Philip Pusey, were elected Vice,
Presidents; the Duke of Richmond, Lord Portman,
and Mr. 13randretli Gibbs, were appointed trustees,
and the last-sunned gentleman was rc-appointed to
the office of Iluumary Secretary of the club. The
report of the committee appointed last year to con-
sider the advisability of classing the animals in dis-
tinct breeds at future shows was receive.:, and altar sonic
discussion adopted by a large majority. Accordingly, in
future years, the classos will be: Ist, Devon'; 2nd, Mere-
fords ; 3rd, short horns ; 4th, Scotch, Welsh, and Irish ;
sth, other pure breeds ; and, 6th, mixed and cross breeds.
Tito committee had also arranged sub-divisious of these
classes, each to have its separate judges ; but this part of
their report was referred back to them fur re-consideration,
it being understood that their final recommendation shall
be given at the meeting on Thursday next.

BIRMLNGIIAM AND MIDLAND COUNTIES
CATTLE AND POULTILY 8110 W.

BIRMING rug, TCESDAY.

This annual exhibition of cattle raid pottltry com-
menced to-day with the private view to the subscribers and
others; to-murrow the general public are admitted. The
show is a very successful one ; agriculturists of great expe-
rience have declared that a more meritorious class of
animals were never before exhibited.
No one at all familiar with exhibitions of this kind could
v.alk through
struck with the remarkable change which appears to have
been.wrought
the stalls
within the.last dozen or fifteen years; at ono time every
effort was directed to the piling on the animals of moun-
in the inlin,ds and
of pass
both today
breeder'without being
and feeders
tains of fat—at once worthless, wasteful, and extravagant.
A striking feature in connexion with the show to-day may
b. noticed; in lookints over the certificates of the exhibitors
of fat stock we remarked the decline in the quantity of oil-
cake used, and, consequently, the increased amount of
vegetable substance—a circumstance of some importance,
indicating as it must do an improved quality of flesh.,
The amount of competition and the extraordinary excel-
rerience in such
mattersshow. Oa e eoweneesuleati peat feature of this
hence of the stack exhibited is the
much perfection in
emi every
respect had never befere been witnessed by of
sonic idea may be formed from the fact of the
stock having been eatupied for eleven hours and a half os
unremitting labour in the performance of their duties.
Stock was exhibited from all parts of the country, awl
whilst on the subject of competition, it may be state". tkai
in one of the classes for sheep no less than five peer' were
exhibitors—the Earls of Radnor and Leicester, Viscount
Hill, and Lords Hatherton and Walsingham ; the prize
was, however, awarded to a tenant farmer (we believe)
Mr. J. Williams, of 'dockland, Farringdon, Berks, to whom
was also awarded the silver medal as the exhibitor of the
best pen of short-wools out of four classes.
Reverting, however, to the cattle, of which some 150
head were shown in fifteen classes, there was most sur-
prising excellence in every essential; indeed, the judges
declared that there were not half a dozen animals of doubt-
ful merit in the show. His Royal Highness l'rince Albert
has carried off the first prize in Class 1., and the gold
medal fur the same animal as the best ox in the yard. The
animal is of the pure Hereford breed. A fine four year
old ox in this exhibition, in this class, by the executors of
consulting
thatAs
so_,!.l,arge ex
the late Sir Francis Lawley, attracted very great atten-
tion, and was generally admitted to be a -fine specimen
both of breeding and feeding. In the third class, for
Hereford cows, seven splendid animals were shown. A
tenant-farmer from the neighbourhood of Leominster car-
ried off the first prize and gold medal, as exhibitor of the
best cow in the yard; and, indeed, a finer specimen was
never bred. There was very great competition, in this
class especially. Lord Ha:Judea showed a couple of re-
markably fine Hereford steers; but in the classes both
for steers and heifers there were such specimens
of early maturity as would have been thought
impossible a few years ago. Fifteen short-born
oxen were shown in class 5, all of them perfect animals, all
of them very superior to anything ever shown before in the
midland counties ; apart from the excellence of build and
form of the animals shown in this class, their appearance
indicated that their feeding would not be unprofitable.
The winner of the first prize was bred in Gloucester-shire,
and ex!,ibited by Mr. Spregoett, of Southern, in this county.
Two-and-twenty highly brid short-horn cows were shown
in class 6, the first prize being awarded to Mr. Beaman, of
esi
splendid
fct:oeh rade k aoti
dl
appearanceh ieuhrrcM ho
compactness,
r p cSofa nt heifer'e pureus e s l,
Moreton-m-the-Marsh, and the second to a well-known
n
bwlatre.wiriirleecyulsizigh.turowislinnnt,dialfecarliLotmezdtBhli.
fourteenbeaymrrp irceehYs
smallness of bone, and consequently lightness of offal.
Lord Hill obtained the first prize, and an eminent Worces-
tershire agriculturist—Mr. Woodward, of Bredons-Norton—
the second. Four very handsome Devon oxen shown in
class 9, were highly commended, the Earl of Leicester
obtaining the prize. All the Devon stock exhibited pos-
sessed great merit; the Earl of Aylesford sent some
beautiful Devon cows, a very rich maroon in colour ; such
L his lordship's anxiety to preserve the uniformity of his

herd in this respect, that any animal having a mark upon
it is immediately killed fa. domestic purposes. Class 13
at the show was appropriated to the old favourite breed of
long-hortud cows ; this breed has gone very much out of
fashion a late years, and seems to be pretty much worn
out—only two were shown. In two extra classes some
capital specimens of cross-breeds were shown. In the
mixed lasses the competition was very great, especially be-
tween the Devon short-horn and cows-bred heifers; as
agriculturists well know these ellsses arc always the most
interesting features in these exhibitions. The Scotch
and Welch cattle shown in class 17 were in fitio
trim; Messrs. Rob, from the neighlacurhood of
Th:rsk, perhaps tha greatest northern cattle feeders for
the London market, sent a splendid animal, which carried
off the second prise, and was by many considerell one of tho
lisst animal, in toe yard. Thirteim were entered in this
dam, all of them presenting ti.e appearance of that lino
quality—shortlegs and small frames, combined with a largo
amount of meat—that is so characteristic of the pare of
these breeds. Nothing approaching to an over or badly-fed
beast was shown. We h noticed that the Hereford
breed carried off both gold medals. The Hereford breed is
in the ascendancy of fashion just now, although many
eminent ;tulg,:s incline to the opinion that in souse respects
the Herons possess finer qualit.es. Certainly these shown
to-day were the best sp lams ns. The short-horn breed
has also been very much improved. Those here were cer-
tainly not a bit behind the Herefords ; many did net hesi-
tate to pronoun:l them superior.
. .

The :keep classes (all foi w then) were well filled, about
eighty peas hating been shown. '1 ho Cotswold and South-
downs are now decidedly the favourites although soma
rtry line spechnens of the old Leiorskr breed were exhi-
biud. Of the Shropshire and pure Southdown breeds
there was a reryline display. Tho medal to the breeaer of
the h. st pen in Lie first four classes was carried off by Mr.
J. 11. Lees, of C,leshill, Warwickshire, for long wools; arid
a medal for eras-breeds was awareed to SU. lwitchwell, of
Northampton hire, as the breeder.
There wee a good collection of pigs, both of large awl
small brct ds.

Decidedly the most interec.t:ag and novel attraction in
connexion with this t xhiUition is the display of p sultry.
Thero were cry snarly el..ven hundr.4 pens enter,' tie
competition, and amongst the comp, ti•on•wero pergolas of
the luglu of rank, fauns the Duchess Sutherland, through

• •
rely gi.atle of loviety Lind trout all partx of the country.

The Cana of the Cochin China fowls was C't/11111ttl at many
thou :ands o, vmnds ; and every known variety of domestic
iowl was exhibit d.
Amongst the cxhihitors were his pal Highness Princo
Ailart, the Duke of Sutherldnd, Lard llowe, Lord Hill,
Lord Ilathertou, Lord Aylesford, dtc. Eight tmslals were
a ,arded for poultry: Thr, e for Cochin Chinas, tw., f
Dorkings, one for game fowl, one to. turkeys, and ona for

geese.
Tha "private view" to-day was visited by 7,000 or ft,CO4l
..,oas, including th • Ma: „Ids and Marehiotters of Stati'..rd,
the Earls of Coltenham, AylesOrd, llowe, Dartmouth, and
families; LoOs 11111, Samlys, Curzon, Guernsey, M.l'.,
Lewilitarn, NVrottesley, llatherton, Laub, cud ladies;
Sir John I'4kinatuo, M.l'., Sir G. Chetwynd, Sir Oswald
.lo.dcy„; Mr. Spooner, Mr. Townley Parker, M.l'.,
and a 14,,,t of di•AOpttibltrd
TLc following is the award of prizes .
EAT CATTLE.
nfall/C3llll O‘r. pf 17.1 ICI. end foil w.ete, Va.
WC& priae lit. lot thrlwat ox or eeer ot any brreaL—Estgow,r,
Royal Ilighmeo l•ritwe Albert Ilercler, Mr. Stetartato,Hooston.
elr Tihict•. Set' e... 1 rare lt. ralithit,re, the CICCU,vIA ut .1:0 lota
nx part.. Maldktooduill breetter, tbo late Sit
Franco. Lawler,

11 teasuida e., ire.-rriZe 31. end saver metal, to br-eder.
Waiter and twee in the Bight lion. Lord Ilatiacrten, Teddeery.
park.
Ilecreono Cows.- Chat prize let. and the gold metal, wall extra
pr 're of VI, Ice the best cow or Lei', r of inly urea 1.- enhibitar, Mr.
Wiliam Tduahr Clubetrey, tier larruinater ; breeder. the Rae.
Henry Mawr% Lettneadart, 1 leiv°ol a Mice. so neat prize, 5/.--Ex.
Miter, Me. Edmund Herbert, route% near Neurones ; breeder,
Mr. leen Berry, l'aoecTurd-eart, Hera Au tlehire ; age, lire years and
eight nimbi's. 'this clam, geremay earamenalcrl.
Iliaress.- Vest prie 5 lit -lixbidter, Mr. John Wal.
tier, Milner, near Ileeeforit ; breed. r, 'fns raw,
Berconshirc. Cenral Frier, 51.- Exhibitor and became, Mr. Henry
Hill, Stableford, near Brulganorth.
Snow-Home Od.m art Set iii.. -Fired prize, 1.1.-Exlehitov, Mr.
Rfolur i etwagAtatt, .Sauthetai, ue r Warwick; breeder..lr.
Iti,hard.. eihnecester-i.irr. tdoontl prow, U.-Fah:Mot
end :gander, Mr. W. De Captl litoo.e. Geateingtua.geuge, North.
'opt nelaire.
.Haar-aonx SI en nu. - Prr 5 5/. -I:slat:or and breeder, Mr. Tho-
Mae Pulver, Brourialen,Noilliamptonsuire.
Famine-tam:a Cows -Firet pore, He.- -Relaibiter, Mr. it Bert Be.
wean, Moreton.hutheaMarelo Ere. tier, Mr. John 'fordle, Lang-
feud, na .ar lectitade, Gloacerterelere Seem! pt Lae,. 2/. -Exhil..tor
areal breeder. Me. tsaudiel WheT. erail.by, near York.
enee.vaiimate 11.1...10.-Nine 1 Wm, 101., and rarer medal. an
treed r.-Exlehiter and brerrier, mho Eight Pon. Vl roett
Ilawka oar, near Shrewsbury. rieemid pen,.51.-Esinbiter .end
lowlier, Mr. William Weedwall, Breedagfe Norton, near Tewkes-
b ury .throe Oxim on Strellas.-Fiat prize, 101., anal sliver meant, as
breeder.-Exbibitor and bee:lee, the Weld. lion. the Earl of Let-
terer, llolkhanialbal, Nor-!h. Said ; riots, 31.-Exhitter, :he
Right Hen. the Yard of Leiceeter, Itollatam.huit, Noeloh; brester.
Mr. Willow Baker, It.shophi NKr.; ton, Hevenshlre.
De.voe tireuts.-Itrise of .a/.-Exhibitor anal breeler, the Right
Iloa. the Earl ofAk olad, rockietet..% near Ceeerntrv.
It, vote Cowe-Bret pea., IN.-Exhibitor, Ve Ititelb than, the
Fart of Ay leardel, Paeking:nn, near Vara:try; brooder, Mr. William
hiker, Writ Johnston, tear Swath Moulton, Itevershite. Second
prize, 3/.--Extubiter, Mr. Abraham Banbtre, W. anomleall, Leaming-
ton Spa: breeder, the late 3155 S. Bashers, Weinumbe'l.
llevose Iletrarax.- First prise, del.-Kshilater, Mr. Thomas New.
le id, itaginetan, ram Coventry; breeder, Mr. Ahr tiam Lluabera,
Weston-hall, I aan.ington Spa. ti a coed tree, 51. -Exhilet ir, the
Right lion. the Earl of Leicester, Norfolk; loeetioro
Mr. Turner, Marton, near }tenon.
Li..W• on firsrdre..--Viruiprlne, Inord e.lwr mead
ac breeder. Sadists, anal tatewler,Mr. ItiMmt Oiblis, Itlarktoraamaisl,
Henley-in-Anton. Meced..l prize, 01.-Exhlbitur' rdpiunt
horpe Con-tantine, tune T...inkur.t.: breeder, the lion. 31. W. Nu.
gent, Late of Ilisbaulagraugat, near Ilinekley.
EXTRA CLASSES.
tare on Sre.rde.„-Fite[ pride, 11.i.-Exhi..itor. the Right Roll.
Lord Leigh, btoneleigh-abhey, Kenilworth. Second in :eat, 52-Exhi.
biter, Mr. Rktuard Slimaggett, Southam, near Wurwlek ; braider,
Charles Barton, Halo at. Venn's, I .1',0401 ethire.
come.-Vand. prize, 101.-E ohilnier Mr. William Thum. Grand.
bonus% near riouthans. Mara alai:ire; breeder, Mr. Slows Cart-
wright, Stanton.hou-e, Derbyshire. Second prize, rd.-Enleibibm.
Mr. Matthew Ingle, Wigton, near Tanwortb.
UEIrAt..-I,lNt prise, lei, and etiwr medal no treater.-Pahl.
Ohm anal lareeder, Mr. Ablehom Umbers, Westonahnll, 'arming:on
Spa. Second prier, 51. -Exhibitor, the Right Hoe. the Earl of Lei-
cester, Malaita-hall, Nurtoak; broader, Sir. George Turner, Yazoo,
neer Exeter.
Serum ea Weren Ovate on Sr, tae.-First prier, 10/.-Exti abhor.
Captain Muegrure, MBverbrn.hill, near Leamaigton ; lairealer. Mr.
Campbell, of Kum. Ago, live years and nix nionthat. (Wert High-
Seernal paler, 3/.-Erhibitm, Mr. Joreph D. Ruh, Calton,
near Think. The whole class coraniellikxL
borpd. .11l Wrtru 51.-Exhibitor, Mr. John
Tidal:di, Mint-Louse, near Kendal, Weetungelatal.
SHEEP.
Lriceerns.-IFat %tethers net exceeding 22 months olit.)-First
Mont
el., and ether medal, us braider.-Exbibttor ant bra 1,, the
Moot Noble the Marquir of Exeter, E.G. Burghley-house, near Shan.
find. Second prier, Si.- -Exhibitor and breeder, Mr. George Wallas.
ley, Rudsten, near Bridlington.
Lotaarrea..-(Fat wethere, not teen-deg 31 months old.)-Firet
prize, M., anal sitter medial as breeder, anal Silver mall. exhibiler,
of the beat pen of Tong-wooled sheep in nature 19, 20, 21, anal 21.-
Exhibitor and bet-nice, Mr. John Henry Lees, lidionheenal,
Second prior, 51.-Bihibitor add breeder, Mr. Juhn Beery Lted,
BacorN-end, COICBI3III.
LONG•11-01,11.1.K0 Surer, nor perm Lerciorine.-(Fat ',ethers, not
exceeding 22 months old.)-First prier, 5/.. and river meld, ea
breeder.-Exhibitor and breeder, Mr. 55intern Caltheott, liver Nor-
ton, oxfordohare. Second prize, U.-Exhibitor and broader, Mr.
Coldicatt, Over Norton, Oxfordshire.
L05,,01001.1.141. Sneer, Nun' nmeu LEICAATEIte.-(1.4 withers, not
exceeding 31 mantel. ofd.)-Eint prier, MI., and silver medal an
breeder; exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Robert Bemire Muretor..in-the.
March, Gloucesterehire. Second prier,sl. • eibibilor Mr. thentrel
Sponge% Southani, :near Ware lee; breeder, Mr. Hunuel Perry.
lioseetun, Gluticesterolure.
wetherr, not exceeding 22 month/
°a!-- aft, and Oleo. medal, as breeder, anal .iiver
Ixexhirit'or'ti'rize
of the. best pen of short-wooll claims .1
ud cheep, in cla. 23, .
25, and 26; exhihiter and breed r, Mr. John William,, Bueriand,
Earinglon, Berke Second prize 51.; exhibitor and deed. r, Mr.
John Wi hams, Bucklanal, Eatuaidun, Berks. This chase gaderaUp J.
recommended.
Peat-hum Seeraumese.-(Fat wethers, not exacting 34 monad
ni.:.)-Firet prizes M., and serer medal, as breeder; exhibitor anal
breeder, Mr. Darwin Gahm, Faletoncaliall, mar Stratford-upon-Aron.
SUROPSRIZE AND OTHIM Saber-WOOLLUP SR.!, MP" SOVTR.
rows-(Eat 'tethers nut ...rending 22 months 0114-Firer prize.
N., and silver med breeder ; exhibitor ant breeder, Mr. John
Benjamin Twitch-al, Welby, mar Northampton. Snead prize, 51.;
eralt' anal breeder, Mr. lance Williams, Coheir -v
e-

leWk
low.
orrtre Brronr-WOnttlia Bluer nor risivn Snort.
n0wn7".•"... nether not ex...citing 31 months o:d.) —First pf.r.e,
q., Oliver medal as breedir • exhibitor and breeder, the Right
ion. the Earl of Aylesford. Pleklegton, mu Coventry. Second
prize, 3/. ; exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Michael Goodall, Ecet,th Manor.
Shifflud, Fairy.
Caosi-enyt, Sneer. —f Pat wethers, not esti:ding 21 months eI.L)
—First prize, Id,, and silver medal as her der, end eilver medal as ex.
htbitor u: the best pen lit era:Wired duels in class's and 21; el-
bibltor awl breeder, Mr. John Benjamin Twitcheil, Weiby near
Northampton. Second prize, U.—Exhibitor and broede
Liam GClett, liouthkigb.
CROSS-UARD SUREr.—Tat wethers,' not exceeding 31 months old.)
—Firet prize, U., and silver medal as breeder ; exhibitor and breeder.
the itight lion. the Earl Howe, GopeaL Leiceetershire ; fed on cake.,
corn, ate. second prone, M.—Exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Abraham
Nuree, Ashby Pane, riser Luttcrworth; led on oileeke, gram, and
turnips.
An excellent cob oetion of root; grown by Lord ILithcrtst, the
Earl of Aylest rte, Mr. Bretberton, Mr. Wiggan, Mr. K
and Mr. G. Peters, and exhibited by 31r. P. Burbridge, were in.
epeeted by the judges cf the cattle and sheep, and highly coma
mended by them. The co'lectlon Included very line specimens of
mivagollvwurzel, swedes, cabbages, Kohl Rabbi, green-topped tar.
nips, &.e.
PIGS.
PAT Pll% war exerrorso Tag Mennen Orin. First prize, 101..
end direr medal, ea breeder.—Exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Jansen
Taylor, Moseley-bait, near Birmingham. Second mize, 3L—Exlda
biter, Mrs. Martha Ernuits,llandeworth ; breeder, Mi. John Catherell.
Mole, Salop.
FAT PIOS. COT EXCTEDIRO 13 Motions OLD.--Flrst prim. 101., and
sliver medal, as breeder.—Ezhibitor and breeder, Mr. Thomas Stud-
Wilkins, Peddemoor.hall, near Sutton CeildSe!,l. Second
prize, 31.—Exhibitor and breeder, Mr. W. D. Hollister, Ilaraptteads
mill, near Birmingham.
Par Pio, szegiud Nu 15 Megrim Ot.n.—Firet prize, 51., and slicer
medal, as breeder.—Exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Arthur Perks, hinges
bury, Warwickshire. Second prize, U.—Exhibitor and breeder, 3ft.
Thomas Beaumont Shileock,, Hose, Leloesterehire.
Want of space would not penult • detailed account of tho
award of prizes in the poultry department; in class 40 the
first and second prizes were obtained by Prince Albert and
the Duke of Sutherland.
Stewards of the Show-yard—Mr. C. Wedge, of Dicknall;
W. Newton,
rth. of Pakisigton;
Tamwo and Dir. U. Lowe, of Comber-
ford, near

&WS., near a UW.WWILI.
ELECTRIC TELECRAPIIIC COMMENICAT t
number of telegraphic stations now open, and i "s,•11
within Le ththeburycen,tralamsotautniot ntoof2,t2h6o. EelmecbtrnacciTnegledlgm A
towns in the kingdom, between which commc
.4
rate despatches are arc transmitted and anew •••
a few minutes. Of the total 226 stationst neatly 7
i 1 dbm' ' 7
princip, commercial stations,' at which the:attoftdanOs WIN 0 •1r
what is called constant, that is to say, day mil 'night; the .4„„, 41,
length of the lines of communication extending MI 2000 •"7 CO
miles, with 800 in progress of suspension. • s