The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-17 00:00:00

before him troths very day on which the said letter appeared,
trio which so unjustifiebly attacked the is ithoritithe nea of t
ee
par• h. The alleged intention of doing good to ec
sitous poor, and the pretence that the office of the coroner is
a most faithful barometer of the condition of the humbler
classes in this country, might be attributed to a
desire to court popularity and favour, to extend the
jurisdiction of the coroner's court. The report non-
living at length to condemn the course that the
deputy coroner had adopted, and the committee expressed
their opinion that it was the duty of the vestry to institute
os e
thsobtainhiessuproceedtthyeoionfpg;mnasiron. might
mofait
the
esb consideredec..unrdt
oet fnecessary,Several
gentlemen
inhnt oeumr d
eetr
at length, some reprobating, others defending
rconduct of Mr. Mills ; the majority, however, depre-
ciated the course pursued by the deputy-coroner, but still
considered it a matter about which the vestry ought not
to interfere to involve the parish in needless expenses.
It was also understood that Mr. Mills was willing to attend
the vestry and give any explanation requisite. A re-
solution was then moved, to the effect, " That the report be
received and recommended to the consideration of the
vestry." Mr. Bolting then moved, as an amendment,
" That the report be received and taken into consideration
that day four weeks." The resolution and the amendment
were then put from the chair, when the former was lost by a
majority of 5, there being for the amendment 16, end fur the
original motion 11. The vestry then separated.
RIIYMNEY IRON COMPANY.—Yesterday an ad-
journed special general meeting of the shareholders of this
I company was held at Ore London Tavern, 13ishopsgate-street.
Mr. Wilson, the chairman of the Board of Directors, pre-
sided. The original meeting had been held en the 18th No-
, vember last, for the purpose of determining the best mode of
raising the necessary sum for paying off the mortgage of
' 40,0001. to the Globe Insurance office, and of 39,4001. on
loan notes for which the company was liable. On that
occasion, the meeting appointed a committee of shareholders
Ito act in conjunction with the Board of Directors for the pur-
-1 pose of considering the various plans which had been sub-
mitted to them, and to report thereon to the proprietary at
the present meeting. The secretary (Mr. J. E. Scudamore)
now read the report of the joint committee. After stating
the points of reference, the report announced, " that it appear-
ing from the resultof a consultation with the Attorney-General
that the issue of bonds at a higher rate: of interest than five
per cent.' whether as interest or bonus (being for a longer
period than twelve months), would render the issuers and
holders thereof liable to the penalties attaching to the usury
laws, it then le came necessary to consider the possibility
of issuing new shares, and the committee were happy to
r. port that the Attorney. General is of opinion that by the
deed of settlement. there is an authority enabling the com-
pany to avail themselves of that resource whether as prefer-
ence shares or otherwise." The committee then went on to
rep art that "having given our best attention to the consider-
ation thereof, and of the several plans that have been refer-
redto UR, weave ofopinion that it would be expedient toadopt
the following resolution. :—First, a resolution creating 10,000
new shares of 151. each, such shares to be issued rate-
ably to the proprietors in the proportion of one new share
to each old share, at the price of 91. per share, such new
shares; to receive dividends in the proportion of 151. to 501.
Secondly ; that the said 91. be paid by instalments at the
following periods, viz.-41. on the lot. Feb., 1847 ; 31. on the
20th June, I'ul7; and 21. on the 20th Jan., 1848: scrip re
ceiets to be givsm on the payment of such instalments, and
the holder thereof, for the tine being, shall, on the comple-
tion of the payme,it of 91. per share, he entitled to the re-
spective number of new shires upon which such payments
shall have been mad., respectively, and, on executing the
company's deed, shall be certificates of proprietorships
accordingly." The thini resolution required the applications
fur new shares to be m ale by the existing shareholders on or
before the 9th Jan. next. The fourth provided that in the
event of the required instalments not being punctually,marle,
the right to claim the new shares to cease, and the shares to be
absolutely f,rfeited fur the be ustit of the company. The re-
maining resolutons up to the last, the 10th, had reference
to the details for carrying the preceding resolutions into
effect. —Mr. Coles Child, who wee stated to be the author of
the plan thus recommended by the committee for adoption,
addressed some explanatory uhaervations to the meting, and
declared that if the plan were carried out, it would enable
the company to stand before the public clear of all debts and
liabilities—that the profits of the company would form the
source of a dividend to the shareholders, instead of being,
as now, locked up in the payment of interest on loans, and
on the whole, a degree of prosperity not before known
would be brought about.—Mr. Wheeler expressed his
concurrence in the principles on which the reso-
lutions were based, but objected to sonic of the de-
tails, into which he went at considerable length,
out as the objections were not persisted in, in anything like
a tangible form, it is wholly unnecessary to repeat them.
Mr. A:d. Thompson, M.l'., supported the resolutions pro-
posed, though it was stated by the chairman that the worthy
alderman had submitted a plan to the joint committee. After
n lengthy and very de-ultory conversation, in which Mr.
Wheeler, Mr. Smith, Mr. Blackett, Mr. Alderman Thomp-
son, and other gentlemen, took part, the resolutions were
put seriatim, and adopted unanimously by the meeting alter
some slight modifications in those of detail. A resolution to
the effect that the Board of Directors be authorised to carry
the plan recommended by tnejeint committee into effect was
also unanimously agreed to ; and, after a vote of thanks to
the chairman, the meeting separated.
MORE FRAUDS ON THE CUSTOMS.—A few days
ago, says the London Mercantile'✓Journal,we gave publicity to
an investigation of certain suspicious transactions on the
part o' bonded warehouse-ke. pers. The veil of mystery
which at all times enshrouds that misgoverned establish-
ment, the Custom-house, precluded at the time, and even
now precludes, our giving full particulars of the iniquitous
operations alluded to. It is, nevertheless, our intention not
to let pas: any opportunity of gising the fullest exposure we
can to the abuses of this deplorably regulesed govern-
ment department, until the whole is remodelled and
carried out upon sound principles, by honest repre-
sentatives. We have this week to expose a fraud of
a most extensive character', committed in one of the
largest warehouses belonging to the St. Katherine's Da k
Company, by the connivauce of the customs' officer in
charge of that warehouse. We und, ret and the amount of
which the revenue has been defrauded, in this single in-
stance, to be between twenty and thirty thousand pounds.
Sugar is the article by which this fraud has been effected,
and the way it has been done is simply this :—Upon the pre-
sentation of warrants for the delivery of goods to the com-
pany's clerks, it is the practice to present the document to
the locker on the premises, fur him to certify that he has re-
ceived the necessary order from the Custom-house that the
duty has been paid, before the delivery is allowed to take
place. In this instance the locker asserted that he was in re-
ceipt of the "order " when such was not the case, no duty
having been paid. The Dock Company delivered the sugar,
and, we presume, stands exonerated. The locker has de-
camped with, we suppose, half the amount in his pocket,
weich may be considered not a bad exchange for a man
whose duty commences at seven o'cleck in the morning,
with a salary of ninety pounds a-year without the chance of
preferment. It was a " split " among the actors which
brought this affair to light, and it is to similar differences
that the public are mainly indebted for all they know of the
frauds upon the Customs, and the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer for all he may have received, in the shape of verdicts,
from fraudulent traders.
RELIEF TO CASUAL POOR.--The Poor-law Com-
missioners Kaye just issued a circular, cal ing on all boards
of guardians to state what accommodation is provided for the
casual poor; the time they are allowed to remain when
admitted; and whether any limitation is placed on the
number admitted.
DETENTION OF TILE MAILS.—Dn consequence of
the snow, a number of mail bags are still overdue. The
following is the General Post-office list of the missing
harts up to last evening: South Shields, two bags of the
14th, and two bars of the 15th ; North Shields, one bag of
the 14th, and two barn of the 15th; Sunderland, the mid-
day bag of 15th. The mails of Wednesday morning:
Alnwick, Berwick, Belford, Felton, Morpeth, Newcastle-on-
Tyne, North Shields, South Shields, Sunderland, Whitby,
Belfast, Derry, Newry, Wexford, Cardigan, Heverfordwest,
Milford, and liorbeth.—Third day mails: Alnwick, Belford,
Berwick, Durham, Felton, Gateshead, Heehaw, Leith,
Morpeth, North Shields, South Shields. Newcastle-on-
Tyne, Sunderland, arid Edinburgh. Most of the mails
which did arrive were many hours behind time. The Ham-
burg mail, due on Sunday last, arrived by the General
Steam Navigation Company's Packet, the John Bull, which
had been brought from Cuxhaven, where the begs had been
transmitted with great difficulty from Altera, near to where
the Giraffe lies ice-'iound in the Llh. The Caledonia, with
the Holland mail of Sunday is still due. The Lisbon and
Gibraltar, and also an American mail, arc overdue.
FIRES.—No less than eight fires occurred in the
metropolis on Tuesday night, but none of them were of any
importance except the following. It broke out at a quarter
to four, a.m., at 35, Cannon-street, St. George's-in-the-
East, the property of Mr. John House, wire-blind maker ;
and was caused from overheating ashen furnace built against '
the division wall. Although an instant alarm was raised,
and several of the brigade engines were promptly on the
spot, the flames had obtained such a firm hold, that before a
drop of water could be discharged, the workshop and the
rooms over it, were burning with great fury. The firemen,
alter much exertion, at length succeeded in extinguishing
the flames. Tho damage dune is thus reported by Mr.
Braidwoodl—" No. 3.3, Cannon-street, Mr. John House,
wire-blind manufacturer: the workshop and rooms over,
destroyed, and rest of house sever. ly damaged by fire. Con-
tents nut insured, building insured in the Dissenters.—No.
34, Cannon street. Mr. Wm. Bradfield, glass-blower: shed
behind burned down and dwelling-house damaged by tire
and water. Uninsured.—No. 36, Cannon-street. Mr. Rob.
Perk., rule-maker : the workshop and two rooms over it
at the rear of dwelling-house considerably damaged by fire.
Stock unir.sured, land the building insured in the Dissenters
office.--K o. 33, Cannon-street. John Thomas, undertaker :
stock and furniture slightly damaged by water and removal.
ItitIUESTS YESTERDAY.—SUICIDE OF MAJOR R. F.
Eeatita.—By Mr. Bedford (continued, from Friday), on
the body of Major Richard Fairfax Eames, aged 60, who
e,,ommitted suicide, as was mentioned on Saturday. Mr.
Rernlyn Note, assistant-surgeon in the Madras Service,
knew the deceased intimately, About 18 months back he
came with him from India on board ship. He was at times
highly excited, so that in conversation all persons were ob-
liged to be very guarded. He had been invalided on account
of an affection of the brain. If he took the smallest quantity
of wine or spirits he became so excited as almost to emoutit
to insanitt . During the voyage he frequently shut himself
in his cabin, end was heard muttering and making ell sorts
of remarks on his fellow-passengers. On one occasion the
captain of the ship, in the course of conversation, mentioned
" Dutch courage, ' upon which the major became consider-
ably excited, and said he would not allow such language in
his presence, as he was an officer and a pewit 'man. The last
time he saw him alive was about a fort'aight back, when he
appeared most cheerful, and told him that he was about pur-