The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-17 00:00:00

THE LONDON DOCKS AND THE CUSTOMS.

The tory journals of Saturday contained, in common
with the Expros, a copy of the correspondence betwien
the London Duck Company and the Customs, the purport
of which was published on Tuesday in the Express.
They prefix to the same the following preliminary
statement, which fully supports oar allegation, that the
first approach to a compronsuo came from the Chairman of
Customs—a fact the Treasury rashly ventured to con-
, trodict :
. _ . _ -

• " A time since the chairman of the Board of Customs
having occaiion to visit the London Docks in company with
au othcial personage from Frans, the superintendent of
the company gttended these gentlemen round the docks.
In the course of the conversation which arose on that occa-
sion the chairman of the Board of Customs remarked to
the supermtendeut of the docks that he had no doubt
the Curtoms and the London Dock Company would be as
good friends again as ever after the pending disputes were
settled.' _ _ .

" Subsequently to this occurrence, information being re-
ceived that the Customs were preparing to take some more
of their cases against the company into court, sad the time
being near at hand when it would be necessary to make
effective preparation for meeting the same, the superinten-
dent of the company suggested that, before encountering
the further expense and harassiug interruption to business
attending the preparing these defences, it would be expe-
dient to ascertain front the chairman of the Board of
Customs the precise meaning of the expressions which ho
had made use of on the occasion referred to, more especially
as other intimations were not wanting that the Customs
I were desirous to put an end to the existing disputes.
" The superintendent was accordingly authorised to wait
upon the chairman of the Customs, which he did—referring
to the aforesaid observations addressed to him at the docks.
A discussion ensued thereupon on the actual state of the
differences between the Customs and the London Dock
Company. After some further interviews it was arranged
that the Customs would on their part give up the whole of
the goods under seizure, and withdraw the whole of the
67 prosecutions pending against the company, on condition
that the company should, on its part, admit in respect to
some of the insures that there were legal grounds for
making them on the score of irregularity—that it being
the invariable custom of the crown to exact a fine in such
Giles, a mere nominal fine should be imposed, not exceding
51., which fine, in order that the company should in no
way compromise ,itself, the company should pay under
protest.
" The directors felt no difficulty in' admitting that, in
respect of some of the goods under seizure, they were
legally liable to seizure on the score of mere technical irre•
gularity. They have, on other occasions, admitted that
technical irregularities, free from any imputation of fraud,
have occurred, as they will always be liable to occur, in the
vast pressure of business frequently going forward at the
docks.

The first of the Dock Company's letters was then ad-
dressed to the Customs. In order to avoid all misunder-
standing. the draft of it was previously shown to the chair-
man of the Customs, and agreed to. The term of the
Treasury minute to be issued in answer to this letter, re-
leasing the goods, was also agreed upon."
The statement, which follows the correspondence, further
supports the allegation of an intrigue between the docks
and the customs, with a view to " making things pleasant,"
which we also advanced, but which the Treasury, in ac-
cepting the docks submissien, so unceremoniously treated.
On Mr. Trevelyan's letter the directors remark:
"Tae company could not but be extremely surprised, on
receiving the foregoing communication, to perceive that,
contrary to the undentan iing which had been come to, and
on the faith of which the letter of the 29th October was
written, the amount of the fine had been increased from 51.
to 1001., and that without any intersecting communication
with the company; and further, that, instead of the Trea-
sury minute being drawn up in the form which had been
agreed upon with the chairman of the Customs, occasion
had been taken to introduce into the communication from
the Treassity inferences and conclusions Irons which the
company wholly dissented. The company had then to
consider whether they should refuse to receive back
these goods—plunge into a fresh sea of litigation—ex-
pend another 10,0001. or more in law charges—subject
their officers again to the harassing interruption in the
discharge of their duties occasioned by these proceedings—
or pay the sum of 1001. ; whether, in short, they should be
mulcted lOW. in the form of a nominal fine, or an additional
10,0001., or more, in the form of cost., involving in the
latter case the additional grievance of an enormous pressure
of inconvenience and interruption to their officers. Cousi-
deratiens of justice, it was plain, were to be equally vio-
lated in either case, but with a vast disproportion iu the
consequent results. The company, therefore, looking at
this state of things, and having in view the triumphant
vindication which they had established of the integrity of
the company's dealing., both in the long trial in the Court
of Exchequer and in the subsequent inquiry before the
parliamentary committee—looking to the emphatic with-
drawal of all imputation against the company's integrity
made by the Attorney General at the close of the aforesaid
trial, and considering that costs could in no event be
recovered from the crown—felt that they would be acting
most unjustifiably towards the interests committed to their
care, if they could go on wasting the company's money in
such a one-sided contest, and incurring the other griev-
ances already indicated, or consent to the payment of this
nominal fine."

The subject will bo found noticed in our leading columns.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Nov. 15.

The Freeman states that notice of trial is the case
of the proprietor of the World newspaper against Sir
Wm. Somerville has been served, and that the case
will be submitted to a jury during the after sittings
of the present term. The case will be tried in the
Queen's Bench, and before a common jury.
The Mail of last night makes the following state-
ment:—

The Spanish government have, we are informed, con-
ceded a grant of two hundred and fifty square miles of
country on the banks of tho Guadalquiver, in the pro-
vince:, of Andalucia and Estremadura, "containing more
than 160,000 acres of land, of the richest quality," to be
colonised by Irish settlers, under the following conditions :
Exemption from taxation for 2.5 years. Admission of their
furniture, clothing, and agricultural implements free of
duty. Privilege of felling timber for building in the royal
forests. Power to appoint their own municipal authori-
ties. The district in question having been depopulated by
the expulsion of the Moors has never since been fully
occupied.

The ceremonial of the investiture of his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, K. 0., and the
Right Hon. Robert Shapland, Baron Carew, with
the ribbon and badge of the Order of St. Patrick,
will take place at Dublin Castle on Tuesday next.
Twenty-five new petitions were filed in this court
during the past week, among them being a second
petition for the sale of the estates of the Right Hon.
Thomas Wyse, Arthur Quinn' petitioner. The net
yearly rental is set down at 3,4381. 21. ld.; incum-
brances, principal, 40,4081. 08.3 d.; interest or arrears
of annuity, 8,1141. 4s. 6d. Another petition, in the
matter of the Rev. Courtenay Turner, Edward
Courtenay, and another,
.petitioners ; net
.yeairxy
rental, 1891. 9s. 10d.; incumbrancea, princi ,
3,6811. 4s. 3d. ; interest or arrears of annuity,
3301. 19s. 2d. _ _ _ - -

The amount of funds distributed during the week
was 45,4281.
A project is on foot in Cork, to get up an exhibi-
tion of art, industry, and national productions there,
in the early part of next year.
The City of Pittsburgh, screw steamer, from Phila-
delphia, 19 days out, put into Queenstown yesterday
morning, short of coal.

TILE WRECK or um DEMERAIA.—Capt. Mangles,
managing director of the Royal West India Packet Com-
pany, with Commander HAM, his inspected the hull, and, it
is stated, has given it as his opinion that the vessel must be
abandoned to the underwriters. The most prevalent idea
is that the hull is far too seriously injured to admit of its
being repaired, and that the vowel mast be entirely broken
up, when, it is said, her materials might be sold for 12,0001.
An attempt at repair would Weals, the necessity of new
ceilings, Oinking', te.• every bolt must also be new and
larger, and altogether the expense would be greater than
the value which the Demerara would be estimated at when
completed. In the event of the most perfect repair of which
she is susceptible, she would have to undergo a searching
scrutiny by a government inspector before the company
would accept her, even if they accepted her at all, which is
considered doubtful ; and there are good grounds for be-
lieving that a decision has already been arrived at to supply
her place with a new ship. The vessel was insured for a
sans very little short of 50,0001., sad any question as to the
amount of damage will, as we understand, have to be set-
tled between Mr. Patterson eno the underwriten.—Bristol

Mercury.
NATAL APPOINTIONM—AIMIRALTY, NOV. 15.—
Kates : T. W. Oliver, to Rapid; and C. F. Smith, to Ajax.
Midshipman A. Eaton and W. F. Johnstone, to Hogue.
PORTSMOUTH, NOV. 16.—The following mates
and miiihipsma pared in navigation at the Royal Naval
Co at 16is port, on Thursday :—Heron. W. L. C.
Clark, Bsmp Palmer, Marcus Z. Stnithett, Maurice H.
Melees. Chanlhe F. Smith, and Alexander F. 0. Young;
and far Plemear—Mosen. Thomas C. Tilly, and William
haul*. The Iledeares, 14, Commander Lord W. Compton
arrived at Lestews am the Bth instant. The Dragon, stein;
frigate, C Gillard, arrived at Naples on the 4th inst.
from Leghtens, sad lelton the 6th for Malta.
AXALYIIII OF ran BREVET.—The United Silt-vice
Omar gives lb* follow'ag analysis of the numbers in the
moat Brswte—Promoted to be generals-211ine and l en-
Mow brallemantigeserals • Llsntensnt-Ocn.rak-46 line,
artliwy,4lo4,o7antel marineonajor-generals ; )(or-
damprob-87 I artillery, 3 engineer, and 3 marine,
colonels; line (2 cavalry, 10 guards, 19 in-
fantry, sail N half-pay), lb artillery, 12 engineer, and 1
sanne. liestraleads; LdeM.-Colossis-34 Lea (3 cavalry
Isal $1 imheiag), obi segiessr, =Os 1 Kters-79 line
(3 snaky, 2 geards,7l islestay).n pniseen, 17 artillery,
17 aglow, sad 13 marine, slew.