The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-04 00:00:00

BRUSSELS PAPERS.

13RussEts, MAY 30.—Prince Esterhazy, Austrian Ambas-
sador at the Court of London, arrived at Brussels yesterday.
31.—The Senate has adopted almost unanimously the
motion of Count de Quarre to revoke the resolution by which
it had decided on the adjournment of the project of law re-
lative to the limits of the districts of the Tribunals in the Pro-
vince of Luxemburgh.
In consequence of this decision of the Senate, and of its
having amended the project of law, the Second Chamber is
convoked for the 6th of June, by a circular note of the Pre-
sident, who observes that this measure is of the highest im-
portance.
Another of those deplorable accidents by which so many
lives have been lost took place on the night of the 30th, in the
coal-mine of Bayemont, at Marchienne au Pont. An explo-
sion of fire damp took place when 116 men were in the mine;
101 escaped, the fate of the 15 others is not known, but. there
is too much reason to fear that they have fallen victims.—
Brussels Papers, June 1.

THE COAL TRADE.

In the latter part of last week Deputations from inland coal-
owners of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and
other counties, possessing upwards of twenty collieries, and De-
putations from several Canal Companies, interested in the carriage
of coals from these and other counties to the metropolis, waited
upon the Lord Mayor, for the purpose of informing his Lord-
ship that meetings had been held in their several districts, with
the view of aiding him in his great object of breaking down the
combination amongst the coalowners of the North, and causing
a constant supply of cheap and unexceptionable coals to the
London market.!
The Deputations stated that the Lord Mayor's exertions for
the accomplishment of so benevolent an object had roused in all
the coal counties a spirit which was calculated to insure the
success of those exertions, and that resolutions had been passed
for the important reduction of the tonnage dues upon inland
coals, which was appointed to take place on the Ist of June.
The price of the commodity would then be subject to no change
from trick or otherwise, and the delusion, so long existing,
that the coals of tht, combination were always the best, would
be shortly, and for ever removed.
The LORD MAYOR said that he had of late silently pursued
the means of destroying the combination, and found that, as he
calculated, the most active preparations had been made to
render him aid. He had had communications with vast num-
bers of persons connected with the trade, and he rejoiced to
be able to state that his hopes of complete success were
infinitely higher than they were when he commenced operations
against the monopolists. He was sure, too, that those whom
his labours were meant to affect were themselves apprehensive
of the result, notwithstanding the contempt which they pro-
fessed to entertain for all opposition. The public had been
quite ignorant of the cause of the tremendous price of the
article, and supposed that severe weather had the effect of im-
peding the operations in the pits. The poor shivered in
the cold, and spoke of the expense of fuel, without knowing
to what cause to attribute it, until the eyes of all
were opened by the salutary exposures in the press of
the system of humbug attempted to be foisted upon the
Chief Magistrate, by those who were interested in keeping up
the price. It was monstrous to think that upon two millions of
tons imported annually, the public had been paying ten shiliings
a ton more than they ought to have paid. A prejudice had crept
in from time to time, against coals brought in from other
colleries, than those which supplied what are called best coals,"
that the ashes produced from them were injurious to furniture.
Anything more unfounded or absurd could not he uttered. He
had tested a vast number of samples of different kinds, many
of which burned to white ashes ; but in no one instance had
he discovered that those ashes flew about the room or did
the slightest damage to the furniture. He had stated the re-
sult of his experience in that respect before ; but now he
was strengthened in his opinion by several unexceptionable
authorities, and amongst the rest by his Grace the- Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, who had got in forty tons of Lei-
cestershire coals, which proved to be most excellent. The
Archbishop had given the order against the wishes of
Mrs. Howley, who apprehended damage to the furniture from
the use of any but Newcastle coals. She, however, had
completely altered her opinion on the subject, for after an ex-
periment of some months she declared that there was no more
dust produced by them than by the Newcastle coals, over which
they had the advantage that whether the fire in a grate was
large or small, it never went out so long as there was any coal
at all to feed it.
The members of the Deputations said they were convinced
that the public would soon acknowledge that the supply of a
cheap and good commodity depended upon themselves. A
great number of pits were discharging as fine coals as could be
got in Newcastle at a very low price, and the reduction of
the canal dues would be immediately felt in the metropolis.
The LORD MAYOR—There is a very great increased con-
sumption, I have ascertained, of Yorkshire coals, which are of
superior:quality. The only objection to an enormous trade at
present is the expense of bringing up the coals by canal. I
have been, I think it proper to inform the public, in correspon-
dence with the Secretaries and officers of the different
canals upon the subject of lowering their tonnage upon
the principle of the penny postage. I have been ex-
tremely successful. There was a meeting at Leicester
a few days ago, at which the representatives of all the canals
came to a unanimous resolution to reduce their tolls from
Is. 6d. to 6d. per ton upon some parts of the line; and upon
one canal alone they had rechiced the tonnage from 6d. to 2d.
per ton. The new regulations are, as has been said, to come
into operation on the Ist of June, and I am anxious that every
one who unites with the wish for the prosperity of the City of
London,ahility to purchase, should try one ton of each of these
coals—Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, and Yorkshire. lam
convinced that they will all give as great satisfaction as has ever
been received from Newcastle, and at from Ets. to 10s. per ton
cheaper. The public must, however, take particular care that they
apply to coal-merchants who are not interested in keeping up
the combination at present existing in the Newcastle Coal-
trade. That combination, I rejoice to say, is secretly giving
way. I saw a gentleman the other day, who had just arrived
from Newcastle, where he had made a con ract for 10,000 tons,
2s. per ton under the combination price, with one of the priniepal
owners, so that the rules of the combination are secretly evaded by
the very combinators themselves, who are now getting suspicious
one of the other. 1 trust that as the reduction of tonnage dues
will commence on the Ist of June, the public will come for-
ward, and as soon as possible lay in the winter stock. I shall
have ready immediately a list of the names of coal-merchants
who will deal in these coals, and who will not send rubbish to
their customers, with the view of bringing discredit upon the
low-priced article.
The several deputations then withdrew after having ex-
pressed their admiration of the active and resolute opposition
given by the Lord Mayor to all the efforts of the monopolists.
We expect to have much important intelligence on the subject
in a few days.
The following is part of the correspondence which his Lord-
ship has had on the subject of the reduction of the tonnage on
inland coals

" Loughborough, May 10, 1839.
" SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter,
written by the direction of the Lord Mayor, on the subject of
reduction of tonnage on the canals in which I am interested ; and I
beg you will assure the Lord Mayor that I shall be ever ready to ren-
der all the assistance in my power towards accomplishing the in-
creased consumption of inland coal in London and its vicinity, and
I consider a most important step towards the attainment of that
object, was taken on the Bth instant, when a meeting of depu-
ties from the respective Canal Companies between London and
the Derbyshire collieries was held at this place, when they all
resolved to recommend to their respective Companies to accede
to a scale of charges which was proposed by the coal proprietors,
and which they are of opinion would enable them to compete
with the sea borne coal in the London market. I beg to add
that I shall have pleasure in rendering the Lord Mayor any as-
sistance in my power on this subject, and am
" Sir, your's very obediently,
" THOMAS CRADOCK.
" C. Wilson, Esq., Mansion House, London."
" Nottingham, May 10, 1839.
"Me Loan,—l have much pleasure in communicating to
your Lordship that a meeting of delegates from the Grand
Junction and other Companies on the line from the Notting-
ham and Derbyshire coal district, was held yesterday, when a
reduction of tonnage in coal going to London was agreed upon,
so as to induce the coal masters in this neighbourhood to make
an attempt to establish a trade with the metropolis, and there-
fore Mr. Potter and I intend being in town in ten days or a
fortnight, to enter into an arrangement with the Regent's
Canal Company for the possession of the East Wharf in the
City Basin, by way of experiment.
" I have the honour to be, my Lord,
" Your Lordship's obliged humble servant,
" THOMAS NORTH.
" To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor."
" Leicester, Shardlows Hall, May 10, 1839.
" R,—Referring to the letter you addressed to my neigh-
bour, Mr. Clifford, and myself, by direction of the Lord Mayor,
I have the honour to inform you that the result aimed at by his
Lordship has been obtained at a numerous meeting of canal
proprietors, (at which I attended by desire of the proprietors
of the Soar Canal.) A deputation from the coal body of
Derby and Nottingham requested sundry abatements on the
tonnage on coals on the Erewash, Soar, Leicester, Union,
Grand Union, and Grand Junction Canals. The following
minute was made, and being agreed to unanimously, no doubt
it will be carried into effect.

" I shall be happy to attend to any suggestion that his Lord
ship may at any time favour me with.

" fhave the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
" '° onSTTON.
Resolved—That the reduced tonnage JAM
aEll she
canals re-
quested by the coal proprietors, commence on the Ist of June
next, and that this meeting will unanimously recommend their
respective Committees to accede to the same."

Miss Ellen Tree will, it is expected, return from
a most successful visit to the United States about the
middle of August.
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