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

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

MY TELEGRAPH FROM PLYMOUTH.)

EXETER, Dsc: 12.

The I'ropontis arrived at Plymouth at midnight I
yesterday, having left the Cape, Nov. 13. The
news from Graham's Town, to (kt. 28, shows that
the state of Wain; is not improved.
Attempts of Mawr's° and his band had been par-
tially successful. _ _

4cirmishea had taken place, in which 400 of
the enemy were kiUtd and wounded, and tiO on our
side.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

TIIIS DAY.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
MIL/Okl MR. C 1.11141.101.1111 MOLIGAL,
IN RR Maness.

1 has was the certificate meeting in the case of Robert D.
Mercer, Silk merchant, of Church- passage, Spiral-aquae.
His Isalance-sheet, prepared by MeMrs. Hart, Brother., of
tleorge.yard, entrusted over two years and a quarter prior
to the failure in July last. Ile had begun with a capital of
9122 Ile now owed to unsecured creditors, 284/., besides
KOW. of liabilities. The property was put down at 3271.
The profit* had been 1,086!.; trade expenses' 3201.; house-
hold ditto, 988/. ; rent and takes, 3061. Mr. Nicholson, the
official a-soignee, reported that the bankrupt had compro-
mised with his creditors in 1817. Hie present failure had
arisen from that of Boyd, a silk manufacturer, whose estate
was expected to pay about '2s. in the pound. His expendi-
ture was to a large extent unvouched.
Mr. Lawrence supported.
Mr. Sturgeon opposed, for the assignees, on the ground
that the basikrupt had gone on trading without capital, and
had only kept himself afloat by extensive bill transactions.
In this he had been concerned with Boyd, who was now
not only ir bankrupt, but in Newgate on a criminal charge.
The bankrupt's expenditure, it was alleged, had been ex-
cessive—at the rate of about 6001. a-year for his personal
expense.. Mr. Archer, one of the assianees, had been in-
duced by the bankrupt to discount one of Boyd's bills for
4801, on the representation that the bankrupt was possessed
of some very valuable pictures, Before that hill wee due,
hr got mother of the same party for 1681., discounted by
Mr. Archer. Another ground of complaint was that the
bankrupt had paid some of the old creditors under the corn-
positiou deed out of the proceeds of his trading.
Mr. Archer, the assignee, was examined as to the cit.
VIIIIIMISCIII under which the bankrupt obtained the dis-
count of the bills. lfe stated that Boyd was the acceptor,
and the bankrupt the drawer of the bills. When the first
bill became due, and the bankrupt was applied to, he very
caudally stated he had not a farthing in the world. In
croswesamination, Mr. Archer admitted that he had dis-
counted largely Mr Boyd, to the extent of about 1,500/.
Bankrupt had asked him his opinion of Boyd, on the oc-
casion of the discount of the first bill, in June last.
The liankrupt, iu examination by Mr. Lawrence, stated
that he failed in 1847 for 20,0002 ; his meta were 25,000/.
That failure was in consequence of the failure of Boyd and
Banner, who owed him 6,0001. Boyd then obtained a
&stelar certificate from Mr. Commissioner ilolroyd. The
estate hail paid a dividend of Ils. in the pound. lie had
also lest 8,000!. by the failure of Smart. For two years
after he had no dealings with Boyd, and only opened an
account with him after asking the advice of Mr. Archer,
who, he understood, was supporting Lloyd. Mr. Archer
said he discounted fur Boyd, and thought he would do
well. On the faith of this representation he let Boyd have
goods. But for his second failure witness would have been
able to pay all his creditors in full. His capital was ia
pictures, in which he had dealt ; he borrowed 5001. to mai-
mince with, which he had shoes repaid.
His Honour said the practice of paying individual oo-
dles in full was greatly to be reprobated, unless the
debtor should feel that he was fully solvent, and not in any
peril of again becoming insolvent.
The bankrupt said that when he made the payment in
tpantion he considered himself more than solvent.

The ease is proceeding.
Mows Ma. Commumostas LAW I.
Ix at Cut:.
. . .

The bankrupt, Ilugh Clark, was described as a stock-
broker, of Citeshunt and of the Bank Chambers. This was
the tint meeting, fur proof of debts and choice of assignees.
Though the bankrupt's liabilities are stated at about
10.0001., there was not a large attendance of creditors. The
'awl. are espected to realise between 3,0001. anal 4,0001.
The case is • singular one, in some respects, as affording an
illustration of the benefits of the electric telegraph in
promoting the ends of justice, and as being the first oc-
casion on which the sub-marine telegraph had been put
in opt ration for that purpose. The bankrupt absconded
one Friday, two or three weeks ago ; it was suspected that
he had gone to Hattiburgh ; and Mr. Cu, of Pinner's-hall,
acting on behalf of a large body of creditors, caused a com-
munication to be transmitted to, the authorities as Ham-
burgh, giving a description of the bankrupt's person, and
stating that he hail absconded with 6001. in his possession.
As the bankrupt had assumed • false name on arr *at
Ilarnhurgh, he was at since taken into custody, and detained
until fin arrival of the messenger in bankruptcy, by whom
be was brought to this country, with the money in his pos-
session.

GREENWICH ELECEION.—A correspondent say.:
" A runtleman of high mercantile standing in the City,
Ind of liberal principles, has, as a member of the merchants'
committee for reform of the customs, been solicited to offer
himself as a candidate for the representation of Greenwich,
and ha. intimated hia intention of complYing with Shit re-
quest."

RIOT AT GRANTUAIL—For several days past a
large number of navvies employed under a contractor ow
the Great Northern Railway at this town, have been on strike
for an advance or 3d. I day epee their present wages.
2s. 3d. Oa Wednesday they heater es oatrageoua, setting
the authorities at defiance, and threatening to blow the
Awe Ile. that a messenger was despatched b 7 the evening
train to Nottingham for a detachment or military. Two
tv,cl4, under the command of *jar Jones, proceeded on
match, at half-oast S o'clock in the arming, and arrived in
Grantham at 10. They succeeded la dispeesiag the new,
about We in number, without:is= recount to erns,
sad they have time costlased