The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-09 00:00:00

No. I.

"!
Pi

i~

1

Young States can only gain wisdom by experience, and
t'.e governing men of poor Greece want much of the lat-
ter before they learn properly how to frame their measures
tinon the principles of the former. However, the Greek
Goi.ernment thought they were doing their beet when
they selected Mr. ORLAND() as Chief of the Deputation to
sypointed for the important purpose of negotiating a new
loan in Englani; not that any very high opinion was enter-
taxed in Greece of that gentleman's personal abilities, but
..tang to his local respectability in Hydra, and to his
being possessed of considerable property. The other two
Dep.:ties, Mr. ZAIMIS and Mr. Luarovvre, were (as we are
rrtlibly informed) selected by him, and instructed by the
Governtnent to act in a subordinate capacity to Mr. Da-
-1 A IS T.CT. It is not surprising that men, whooe sphere in
life had till then confined them t 3 occupation. of a far in-
terier nature to those which their Government thus sud-
denly called them to, should have fallen into a mut-
tipleity of errors that many others, equally inexperienced,
wou7d, in their place, not have escaped from. But it seems to
liar( been the principal misfortune of these gentlemen, since
tit it arrival in England, that they found themselves too
meets in need of other persons' advice before they would at-
tempt any measure of importance, and suffacd themselves
'oo eaFi!y to beled away by the persuasions of others. Under
such circumstances, it may be well imagined that their court-
oellcrsbecame numerous, and that many designing men were
prorrpted by motives of personal interest to add to the
number. Ilad the Deputies been men of the world and of
energy, many of those cff,:cts of mismanageLient, which
are now so much deplored, would not have been com-

YORK CITY ELECTION.—We are authorized to state
that it is rod Colonel Wilson's electioneering bills which
remain unpaid in York.—/ or!: Chronicle.
The Lords of his Majesty's Treasury have, within these
few days, issued an order, " that all brandies which may
have been warehoused for a period exceeding twelve months,
in warehouses which, from being surrounded by walls, or
otherwise, may be deemed by the Board of Customs to
be warehouses of special security, may be delivered for
home consumption, upon the payment of duty, according
to the actual gauge and strength at the time of delivery—
provided, however, that in no case shall au allowance be
made for under-proof, to a greater extent than 10 per cent."
Among the many important regulations which Govern-
ment have recently adopted, with the view of removing re-
strictions and bonito's from trade, there is not one that
will be more sensibly felt by all classes than that to which
we now allude. It will encourage the bringing of brandy to
this country, to he warehoused in depot ; it will enable the
owners of the brandies, which have for several years been
locked up in our public vaults, to dispose of them for home
consumption, which they have hitherto been prevented from
doing, by having duty to pay on the deficiencies occasioned
by evaporation whilst lying in the store; and it will thus
enable the public at large to obtain those fine old brandies
at moderate prices.

" k's lietel, March 11, 1818.
" My dear Mr. Bindley—l ou;y1o; to have written long before
this, and to have announced my safe arrival in this inhospitable
climate, but I assure you I have been so occupied, from day to
day, as to leave me scarcely an 110111.6 leisure. It is quite impossible
to describe the state of disorder which the Stamp department here
exhibits. On my first arrival I proceeded to the Stamp Office. It
is situated at the end of a low dirty alley in the Old Town, and,
from its appearance, has never felt the refreshment of soap and
water since the Union. After paying my respects to the official
tenants of this delectable mansion, 1, after a time, sent for the key
of the ware-rooms, and found the stock (amounting, I think, by
their last return, to upwards of haft a million in value) lying in
complete disorder on the floor and shelves, without a single label of
any kind, no arrangement of the different class of vamp.; but all
teemed thrown together, like so many pippins and rusectins into an
apple-garret. I found, upon inquiry, that there was no neer/muse.
keeper, and that the whole lay at the mercy of the porter, who is
sent (or one of the clerks, if he is absent) to fetch whatever empties
are from time to time required. I next inquired how often the
Riding Inspector took the stock of the different distributors in
Scotland, and I was informed that it was taken once In two years.
The fact turned out to be. that Mr. Waddell, the Insyector, el joys
a very lucrative office as Clerk in the Court of Session, and can only
be spared for a few weeks once in a year, in the summer vacation;
that he consequently divides the kingdom into two circuits, north
and south; and when this period of recreation arrives he mounts his
gig, and (wind and weather permitting) sets off in one or other of
these directions, and ?miner from the different distributors their
account of the stock on hand. Now, it's very obvious, that as they
know to a day when he will arrive. they may very easily, shoula
they remit a few thousand pounds short, send up for the requisite
amount of Stamps from their agents, to make that amount appear
in stock, and afterwards return the supply. This, I have reason to
suspect, is no uncommon practice.
" All this will require the Board's consideration ; but I fear
there are mutters that will come before them of meet greater mo-
ment :a Afr. Bremner's department, and which ore cannot wil
!Overt to without considtrable seriousness and anxiety. The fact
is, I bought that the first and most regular step would be to take
the stock (finding things in the state thrive de.cribed), and I thtre-
fore spoke with the Excise warehouse-keeper, who has requested
ten days' leave of absence, and, with his son, are employed in so
doing from about ten till five every day. Finding no regular office
for the deposit of inventories and copies of wills (which you know
are required by the Act to be transmitted from the different Com-
missaries to the Solicitor of Stamps at Edinburgh), I went up to
Mr. Bremner to inquire where, and in what manna, they were
kern, and he accordingly opened a closet or two in his office, in
which they lay in dusty heaps quite wnarraagcd, and, in short, in
a most shameful state of disorder. I immediately said, a Mr. '
Bremner, this is really a sad mode of keeping documents of this
kind, which arc in the nature of public records, and which it may
be necessary at distant intervals to refer to.' His answer was,
' Oh, I can very readily lay my hand upon any of them.' Why,
I said, ' that may be; but suppose any accident were to happen to
you, I am quite sure it would be impossible for any oilier person
to lay their fiend upon any thing; and, indeed, 1 very much doubt
wheiler it could be very readily done even by you.' (Recollec:ing
that, among many other persons, Mr. Ramsay, of Bamington, wit
was a near neighbour of mine when in Edinburgh, had died worth
immerse property), I immediately said, "Fore Low, for instance,
Mr. Bremner, to the will of Mr. Ramsey, of liarnington, who,
you may remember, died about see year ego, and was reported,
I recollect, to have died worth half a miilton of money.' lie in.
atantly hesitated, and looked eery much confused. After a few
moments' consideration he said, • there has not been an inventory
yet delivered in of dlr. Ramsay's property ; there was some ?Aix.
take about the stomp, or something; I believe he got out a wrong
lump, but I have written frequently to Mr. Gibson, the executor,
to ledge an inventory ; in fact, 1 wrote to him but yesterday.'
• Well, but Mr. Bremner,' I said, • I wish you to explain this a
little more distinctly; for it re ally appears to me a very extraor-
dinary circumstance that an interval of six years should have
elapsed, and not only no legacy duty have been paid (when, to my
knowledge, lie left his daughter., and I believe there were nine
of them, ten thousand pounds each), but not even an inventory
lodged.' He said, ' lie really could not tell why it was not (lane;
but at any rate Mr. Gibson had got the stamp; so that that was
paid for.' Finding that he gave equivocating answers to every
question I put to him about the changing the stamp, I rent
fur Mr. Fender, the Comptroller. Nrhen 1 began to inquire
from him, he requested a brie time to look into his books, afficting
not to know exactly whether the stamp firstobtained was changed
for another of greater or less amount ; at last the fact turned out to
be this :—Mr. Janice Gibson, the executor to Mr. Ramsay, firm
obtained an inventory stamp for 2,7001. Willi person was the Soli.
ritor of Stamps during the .port administration of Mr. Foes Airs
Bremner being his deputy) ; this stamp lie kept by him for some
time, and after a conference with Mr. Bremner, it was returned to
the Board as having been taken out under too high an estimate,
and a stamp fur 1,050 e was obtained in lieu of it, and of course, I
suppose, Oa sum of 7501. was returned. A long period has clai sea

L
cu
I
an

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f which no mystery can any longer be said to exist, that the i Department, at the Colonial Office. ""/ """t '''''' —"' '—' "" " ''''''' '"' "—"-- '''"'" doing from about ten till five every day. Finding no regular office self into a doubt on the stiffiCien•y of this clause for the purpose 01
terday, however, three men, named Duke, Webb, and I
hitherto much complained of mismanagement is to be - '
Mr Wilmot Horton left town ester a y d y for the seat Dorsey, incautiously tookcandleof 'd theA' transmutedf ey,a into the place; one are require by
for the deposit of inventories and copies of wills (which you know mceecution. However, Mr. 13reitinees doubt arose on the pare:-
Act to be from the different Cunt. thesis; his legal readin; of it was this :—' The silver must be a
of Viscount Palmerston, near Romney, on a visit to his t
ascertained. them was proceeding to knock some of the nuts off the ma- missaries to the Solicitor of Stamps at Edinburgh), I went up to brought to be marked, and it cannot be expose! to sale ,t 4
il Lordship.
chine, when the candle immediately ignited the gas it con- Mr. Bremner to inquire where, and in what manner, they were being marked ; but then It says, 'being if the ttii dant directed
I
Young States can only gain wisdom by experience, and A Board of the Lords of the Treasury was held on Thurs-ke"t, and he accordingly opened a closet or two in his office, in by law,' and their silver is Ma of the s!n,dard, and theref, re the,' I
paired, and theblew ' • lesion gasometer up witn an exp that
tiro governing men of poor Greece want much of the fat- day, at the Treasury Chambers.
. shook the whole edifice, burying the unfortunate men in whic they lay in dusty heaps quite emarr.anged, and, in short, in don't bri,:g it to be Ina, Ird and I don't see how we can ;vow te
h 1 lof disorder, I i r Isaid, '3l ' The will . 'surprised I h •rg
state
er before they learn properly how to frame their measures A King m messenger was sent up from the Foreign Office the ruins. Two of,D d Duke,
them,
Dorsey an were taken a most s ame.uithout
Bremner, this is really a sad mode of keeping documents of this as grossly stupid a construction of the law fiom a Soh- i
on Wednesday eveninre with despatches which it wasl
ro wain the principles of the former. However, the Greek s " . . " from underneath the rubbish immediately, very much kind, which are in the nature of public records, and which it may eilor of Shawls. I need not detail any of the diseu'uon
understood, were for the British Ambassador at Con- 1
• Y • ioi•erninetit thought they were doing their best when standee le. injured, but their more unfortunate companion Webb was be nccessaty at distant intervals to refer to.' His answer was, which passed upoit the subject: It ended in his wimps-
' Oh, I can very readily lay my hand upon any of them." Why, lodging it very likely that we might succeed in prosecuung. 1
not extricated for nearl an hour when his bode nresented
I dray selected Mr. ORLANDO as Chief of the Deputation to The health of the Countess of Eldon has slightly im- Y - • • • I arid ' that may be; but suppose any accident were to happen to that it was nut too late to prosecute the veodera of that et:-
a frightful aspect, being shockingly mutilated; lie was im- i
doubt he should
a new proved within these few days.you, am quite sure it would be inmuseible for any other person waniped plate which was in the office (bought in IMO, and that r
1
li
I he appointed for the important purpose of negotiating
loan in England; not that any very high opinion was enter- We perceive by the bills that Mr. Honeyman, of the
Surrey Theatre takes his benefit on Monda next Wei , little
mediated y conveyed to St. Thomas it Hospital, where oto lay their band upon any thing • anti indeed, 1 very in • t
ho were entertainedof his ; Duke •also :mg course of my inquiry on subject,
that liehad ne eer es en tali
pee
i
paired in Greece of that gentleman's personal abilities, but • 1 '• y ' conveyed to the same place ; and Horsey, after having been that, among tunny other persons, Mr. Rontsny, of Bantington, wit i the Lord Advocate's opinion, with re.iard to the Aril,' he entesineete y wish him a bumper, for the able anannerin which le
I bled, 'was enabled to proceed home. It is but justice to state was a near neighbour of mine when in Edinburgh, had died worth earned on this clause of the Plate Duty Act, nor instituted. a sing I
owing to his local respectahility in Hydra, and to his he has conducted that Theatre. ' immense property), 1 immediately Nod. • Turn Low, for instance, prosecution, by way a trying the pint, during the !turfy -fur 1
that the ofthe Coburg House have shawl'
being possessed of considerable property. The other two Yo RI CITY EL e erre) a:.—We are authorized to state proprietors..
I
• . very disposition in theirpower to assuage the afflictedrid,
Dev...tties, Mr. ZAIMIS and Mr. LUaIOTTIS, were (as we are that it is nut Colonel tl'ilson li electioneering bills which every
of the sufferers. you may remember, died. about six yea:: ago, and was reported,
~ seized by tl:e Inspector. es Milt; b lfw the standard and nnstam-•
I recollect, to have died worth half a million of money.' lie in. to lie locked up in his office, and the oftenders in all parts of next- a
remain unpaid in York.—/ode Chronicle.
credibly informed) selected by him, and instructed by the Ti his At the Shaftesbury Borough Sessions, on Saturday last, stand), hesitat«l, and looked
'dory touch confused. After a lew land to dilland the re 'one and evade the fere, during all the I
le Lords of Majesty's Treasury have, within these the N g moments' conaidevation lie said, ' there has not been an inventory period without check or control.
Governtnent to act in a subordinate capacity to Mr. Oa- fewdays, issued •el issue an order, " that all brandies which may fa istrates manifested a very tliff•tent. spirit from that t
yet delivered in oh Mr. Ramsay's property ; there was some rain. " This statement, I think, sill sufficiently account for the &-
LANDO. It is not surprising that men, whose sphere in have been warehoused for a period exceeding twelve months, ,• Mr. Rankes and other Justices are reported to have take about the stamp. r something; I believe he got out a wrong firieney of the prole rimy.
in warehouses which, from being surrounded by walls, Or'. done at Wisuborne on . Friday. On the entrance of the stamp. but I have written frequently to 3lr. Gibson, the executor, - I don't recollect whether I mentioned that I had been to Glas- 1
life had till then confined them la occupations of a far iti-
terit r nature to those which their Government thus sod- otherwise, may be deemed by the Board of Customs to , • ' •
he warehouses of special security, may be delivered for Reporter into the Justice-room, before the other Magis- to lodge an inventory ;in fact, I wrote to him but yesterday.' Row. I found every thing there kept in greet order, except the
tramsbada • IVell, but Mr. Bremner: I said, • I wish you to explain this a books of account, books of Inventory, &e., all which were in sad I
t
mired, he was recognised by Charles Bowles,
little more distinctly ; for ally appears to me a tror confusion. They hare now procured • new PC: of books, and de
lenly called them to, should have fallen into a mul- home co •the • ' consumption, upon payment of duty, according Esq. the worthy Recorder, who said, " Mr. Reporter, I
y no legacy duty have been
dinary circumstance that I
an interval of six cars should hav^ who will in fu ure now
pt under propor alohabetical entry and I
tip!icity of errors that many others, equally inexperienced, to the actual gauge and strength at the time of
delivery— a. m very glad to see you here, and you may depend upon elapsed, and not only y•' 'e 'regular tr ' 1 ert 1
wou!d, in their place, not have escaped from. But it seems to P
rovided, however, that in no case shall an allowance be it that at these Sessions you will never find hindrances, knowledge, lie left his daughters, and I believe there were nine " I shall write again soon, but lam a, incissantly occupied, and
I
have- been the principal misfortune of these gentlemen, since
Govern-made for under-proof, to a greater extent than 10 per cent." ..
but the utmost accommodation that it is in our power to of them, ten thousand pounds each), but not even an inventory so much fatigued, that I need plead no other apology for the inter-
Paid (when, to my index of reference, and brought into o. icia arrangem . •
o yours faithfully, . . r
afford you. lodged.' He said, •he really could not tell why it was not done; val that may pass between my letters.
Among the many id
peed, regulations which
the it arrival in England, that they found themselves too went have recently adopted, with the view of removing re- but at any rate Mr. Gibson hail got the stamp; so that that was " With best wishes to the Board, belies, me, toy dear Sr. Sir
AIFLICTTNO COINCIDENCE.—It seldom occurs to us to
1
t-iecit in need of other persons' advice before they would at- strictions and burthens from trade, there is not one that "Jas. SEUGwIt. a.
have to record a more melancholy instance of the visitation of Di. paid
questionfor. Finding that he gave equivocating answers to every .
Esq."
we are about to State relative to the 1 put to him about the changing the stamp, I rent "J. Bindley,
Within the apace ofi
will be more sensibly felt by all classes than that to which family of Mr. Mills, of Nu. 79. Dttiry-lahe'
at vine Providence than the case
tempt any measure of importance, and suffered themselves tut Mr. Pender, the Comptroller. 11' hen 1 began to inquire No. 111.
we now allude. It will encourage the bringing of brandy to
• iso !WRY to bekd away by the persuasions of others. Under a tew days, the wife,
her side, and beheld
and now widow, of Mr. Mills, was seized with from him, he requested a lisle time to look into his books, affecting . " Dumbreck's Hotel, 211th April, MEL ,
" My dear Mr. Ilinalev,—l am extremely obliged by your con - 1
this country, to be warehoused in depot •it will enable the the small-pox, underwent i that state the goings of labour, buried not to know exactly whether the stamp tirstobtained was changed
such circumstances, it may be well imagined that their coun- owners of the: brandies, which have for several years been oi ne child,sa her husbandibi teethe his last by
hwursitmwnodrwenasiaricising fatherless ba . . for another of greater or less amount :•t last the fact turned out to muniesvion of this morning, end the more so, because 1 knot s
t
sellorsbecame numerous, and that many designing men were locked up in our public vaults, to dispose of them for home hes pining for want. The body of her be this :—Mr. James Gibson, the executor to Mr. Ramsay, first letter of four sides to be the product of no slight exertion to both
1
t inventory for 2 700/(this •the Soli
obtaineda 1 stamp , . person sus - your hands and your eyes, which, however, though you say they
;,, °milted by motives of personal interest to add to the eionsumption, which they have hitherto been prevented from creature, unablem • have hail their best days,' do certainly bear no very decided testis 1
ost•oedifeoarvethehperurbpeodse.
ionfabesitangteidnfietrhreerml,
dasntdpt,hiednputiorirt
Going, by having duty to pay on the deficiencies occasioned anguish, is thus left helpless Much to the praise of the (her. ribs of Stamps during the short administration of Mr. Fox, Mr-
Bremner being his deputy); this stamp he kept by him for some mot yto the truth of year assertion.
eumber. Had the Deputies been men of the world and of
by evaporation whilst lying in the store • and it will thus seers (particularly Mr. Silk, of bong-acre). every assistance the pa-our last re niftvnce improved upon its
••aergy, many of those effects of mismanageLient, which enable the
public at large to obtain those fine old brandies rochial funds would allow has been aestimate,predecessors • i declare to
time, and after a conference with alr. Bremner, it was returned to 'I am glad to hear that
ate now so much deplored, would not have been coin- at moderate prices. a subscription will be instantly set an foot to alleviate the awful and a stamp fur 1,93 y. was obtained in lieu of it, and of course,_ I fraud, irregularey, and connivance which prevail in. every s
;fisted ; and we u,gentatsi the Board as having been taken. out under too high an _
..
.Heaven it astonishes me,
~,een. I seethitrt.e,
I
visitation. suppose, the amp of 430/. was returned. A long period hiss clap sea con,tetel with the Si: mp Revenue here, haw our remitioaces bate
•
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r 1
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CL',

1818.
ith the
'N Es.

47, le
Far as I
le me.
trifling
'e is me
wo as t,
'can.

in t?.
e Lord

Brent.
a week
in the
1 in one
icurred,
'lnds for
'sac the
of tin*,
Vl:en he
a before
,that ea
le to the

:le him.
rpose of
ust be
without
iirr,ted
re theft
rot•ee to
h, arias
leussion
lcknow.
:euting.
tat un-
nd that
t, in the
n taken
: enter.

a single
-ty.pnr
he plate
tamped.
:icut-

ill that

the de-

Olas-
ept tit*
in sad
and the
dry and
merit.
ied, and
le inter-

wit K.

nu.

Itt corn-
know•
to both

p i they
ed tami.

readied the amount they have even hitherto arrived at. The fol-
lowing memoranda will, I think, impress the Hoard with the mime
trait g oa this point :
SIANDATEs—STAMP st.
o These are what we term in England warrants to prosecute and
sans, ts to defend.
Lis would of smote produce 10s. to the Revenue nn every
cow above 40s. The officer% of the different Courts make no
hesits,ion in receiving them without a MOT ; and I ant conti-
dentialiv informed by two or three of the most respectable writers
in Edinburgh, that they are not stamped In one MSC out of a hen-
dad,
taking the whole of !Scotland, as in Aberdeen, Perth, lawn-
fries, (Ilasgow, and other places, they are almost wholly evaded,
though charged to the client, as by law is anthorizrd. Oa this
head of fraud there is neither check nor control. The Inspector
oc,wiartally makes • report of certain offenders to the Solicitor, but
no prosecution ever ensues.
"1111.T.S OF LADINO, 3s.
o These merry racily used on stamps (sca reely ever), though it
certainly ought to he a very productive *mum of revenue.
" ATTORNIES. CERTIFICATES-2U.
~I found very early after my arrival here that these were
evaded to a great extent. The mode, or rather the pretence under
which it Is evaded, I hate explained oft the docnnirnt itself, here-
with enclosed, which I obtained that I might fully understand the
process in detail. I knew the system of evasion to have been long
within the knowledge of 111 r. ltremner, and I spohe to him very
strongly on the subject : his answer was. • that it had always been a
dispoted point here as to whether it was payable, and upon what in.
itritnieni,and whetherthe enter of admission was liable, and indeed
a was the very snhject upon which lie was preparing a case Pr the
opinion of the Lord :Id:mesh% and which he wished to get before
livn, before he went to London.' Accordingly, as you will see by
the enclosed note, I received some days afterwards a copy of this
ease, 16 pages in length (which I shall send up by the mall with
.thrr papyri to the Board). There is no opening for any doubt on
:he point; but the fart is, as you will easily perceive, Mr. Itremner
hal not:cunt for having so long arynkseed in the fraud, but that of
laying been perplexed by the tilfficulty for 20 years, which in plain
troth he never fell, PO, could feel, even for a moment. Judging by
the length of the case, and the 20 guineas of fee therewith to the
advocate, you would suppose it would involve a point of very
complicated nicety. I took the pains to go through with it, std, to
be sum never 11.--s nothingness better concealed by prolixity. It
hesins with the Act of /I'llilant rad Mary, which has as non!' to
do with the matter as any Act n.f Thomas and Sally; and it travels
through all the Statutes seemingly from that date downwards;
however, as it will be before you soon, I need say no more upon the
ca tiffs of It.
APFRAISEMENTS.
" These instruments are seldom stamped in the northern parts of
Scotland, and are much evaded even in Edinburgh, and the larger
wens in the west.
"I.EASES.
" The stamp duty on leases is very generally evaded throughout
all this part of the kingdom. The contract is thus managed : for
instance, the Duke of (ardon, for one, never uses any stamped in-
rrutuent in granting a lease to any of his tenantry. but his factor
enters the name of the tenant, the Fetus of Me tack, as they call it
here, and the rent to be paid, in the rental book ; and I ant told
twine!), of course, gives currency as well as confirmation to this
saecies of fraud) that the Court of Session and House of Peers
hive. by their judgment, affirmed, locks thus verified, than fuL
hexed by powsslon, to he to all intents valid and rtreetutd. I
should like to be able to get at some record of this derision ; if its
carisequences are not counteracted by some positive statute, we
gall, in vain, expect any revenue from this source.

" PLATE IWTY.
Thedeficiency, under thi, head of • ..ty, 1 bad occasion to ex-
plan; in a forma

" CARD&
Duty-paid cards are seldom used out of Edinburgh, and not
much used in it, excist among the higher circles, and at the club
hot: en. My attention was first called to this by Mr. 31`Kensie. •
Supervisor of Excise here, who being known to me, had called,
with the hope, as he expressed it, that he might sow be able to ob.
tain somethmg, as his share of the penally, some seizures of
Lards, made some years ago ; he had deposited them with Mr.
Bremner, in a large trunk, of which he gave me the key, together
with the annexed note of particulars. When I first spoke with Mr.
Brentnee he was. of course. not aware of the extent of my infor-
n.a.inn, and he affected to have almost forgotton the circuons an-e;
Le believed three were soi..e seizures some years ago, anti, if he re-
collected right, they were lodged fit the Excise I ire. I told him
I understood thy were lodged in the Stamp Office, and that I wan I
besides quite sure they would never lave been received into the
Excise warehouse, not being au Eeciseable article. When I
shised him the key of the trunk containing. them, he then remem-
bered they were in a closet below. I inquired whether the parties
hap been prosecuted ? he said. c the Magistrate wouldn't give any
piaahaes ; he didn't know oliv, but it was, he believed, because
they were v.coml-hand rtsrdef I said, if they are, I itippose they
were seized for being sold without the wrapper ; perhaps it might
to v', be really couldn't tell. 1 proceeded below to take
a look a°. them ; the instant I looked at the ace, I saw they
were sot second-hand cards • and not suspecting at first that
Fe had told me a falsehOod, I said 31'Farlane was the
Magistrate at that time, and I will go to him immediately,
Cu I kn,.w him ritzy well, and ask him on what ground it
was that he refused to condemn these card., and give judgment for !
the penalties;' upon this he said, he didn't know who was the
Magistrate, for he didn't prosecute, as he didn't think he could
emcee I was really so much disgusted with this gross neglect of
duty, as wellasby the stupid prevarication under which he attempted
to shelter it, that with the pack of cards in my hand I walked away.
raids, which have the words ,Ar exportation' on the my, and'
which I suppose have been fraudulently relanded. hut which have
:RC( paid duty, are in very common sae, and may be got in Glas-
gow and other places with very little ddficulty.
"Combining all these with the extensive and gross evasion of the
Lowy and Probate Duties (of which I shall shuly forward some
curious specimens), I think the Board will be as much disposed as
I am to wonder how we get what we do, and to be thankful for
linen mercies.
" I learn that Mr. Bremner is in a sad fright : he is very busy OR
all reienne ynarterr, for I was privately informed this morning by
a frier.d of the potion appointed to survey them, that the houses
and property of three persons, via. Mark Watts, tobacconist, Thos.
Todd. tanner, and Bailie Spotteswood, are at this moment under
survey and appraisement, by order from the Stomp giftee,fur what
Tarpew he couldn't tell. The former has been dead twenty year:,
we two latter aheutjlf.teen.' I suppose there will turn out to be pro-
perty upon which no Inventory has yet been given, nor any legacy
duty paid ; however, it show, at any rate that they are preparing for
some ease* that may chance to be hit upon. I suspect I shall surprise
Illtßrentner when 1 come suddenly to revive the memory of How 3
wnthira—but there are really such a host of thein,that I really don't
brew hardly in what order to call them up. I think Ido not at all
over.estitnue the amount when I say, that in my opinion, in duty
and penalties, there is not lees titan HALF A MI LLI ON CLEARLY
RECOYE AAAAA • There is much to be done, undoubtedly, anti
much lahour to be gone through, before it can be got at; but I am
quite sure it may be accomplished. Independently of this, were
the present abuses corrected, and an efficient system established,
wider which the Stamp Revenue might be tairly and fully collected,
I am satisfied it would exceed its present amount by a hundred
aionr;ml a year.
3ly fingers are getting stiff and my head stupid, and it wants
but ten minutes to one, all which circumstances mem to intimate
that I should retire to bed; so good night, and with best remem-
!sante to the Board, believe me, _ _

"ly dear sir, most faithfully yours.
"Jas. SEM:MICK."
" MS.—Tuesday Morning —I have this morning sent up by the
mail a drawing, which will give the Board a distinct view of
Dambreck's Hotel, and its situation as it respects the Excise Offices
You will see the advantage of thus consolidating by this puretase
the p:operty of Government. It might, perhaps, be :al well to
show this to Mr. %%maiden or Mr. Harrison. I eV.: write to the
?minty on she subject by this post.
" I thought after finishing my I:stter that it would, perhans, be
best that my letter to the T.--.esury should go through the Board,
as the plan might be shown to them by whoever went to them upon
the subject. The Provost and Council here are using their influ-
ence with Mr. Ind. Moulds, to procure a Stamp-office to be built;
and 4 is rascal interview between sonic Member of the Board and
Mr. !Edison will best counteract all this under-plot. hi. desirable
to get the ruremse adjusted as early as possible. llumbreck's Hotel
is to the left of the drawiug, the Elrille Opt in the centre, and
the British l.inen Company's Bank on the right. I thought it best
to hares view takers that gave two sides of the Hotel. Excuse this,
fat the postman is waiting. " J. S."
I shall take an early oppottuni.y of publishing my further cor.
LaPendenee with Mr. Bindley, together with several of his letters
it reply, which I find preserved among my papers. I am un.
%Xiog, at present, to extend this letter, lest I should intrude be.
yard the space which can conveniently be spared by a daily Journal.
What has here appeared Is but introductory to the infinitely more
ir.:porsant documents which I shall speedily lay before the public
andwhich will abundantly repel the aspersions which your Report
- - - -

!as cast upon me. But I rcscrve the production of these till I
crane to address Lour) 31E1.V IL LE hinutlf:

!ha there is one subject to which I feel it incumbent upon me to

'z'tver,, before I conclude this letter—the charge of corrupt collu-
s•ct which you have endeavoured to fasten upon me, with regard
g fraud which you aver to have been practised upon the Revenue
br the County Fire Office, of which for the time being I chance to
brute of the Directors. As you have given your Report to the
withnut the Appendix, which contains the evidence (a tie.
• •Instance not a little remarkable), I have no means of examining
the Appendix appears I will dissect the whole, and I
it thoroughly and openly. As to the charge itself, I repel
a loth disdain. I use no measured language ; the occasion is not

‘zittsl to it. If I take the pains to sift it, which I shall do, it will
not be to exculpate myself, for I have no need of exculpation, but
!)etable the public to decide upon its origin and its object; but for
that. I would cast it from me with the ind'gnationin:pired by my
cubteropt for it.
I subscribe myself, Slr,
Your moat obedient Servant,
JAMES SEDOWICK.
House, Sept. 8, 1828.

1[1p001: NUM
noel a p Office, Somerset