The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-19 00:00:00

INVERNESS GREAT SHEEP AND WOOL FAIR.

Our annual market commenced, as usual, on Thurs-
day last—the second Thursday of July. Its importance
to the whole northern counties is well known, for it in-
cludes the disposal of our staple products—sheep and
wool; and sales of the value of about 200,0001. are
transacted. A slight rise or fall in prices, extending
over large flocks and whole districts of the country, is
therefore regarded with lively interest ; and we are
happy to say that for several years there has•been a
steady advance in the value of both sheep and wool,
consequent upon the continued prosperity of the coun-
try. Last. year we recorded a considerable rise, and
this season the advance has been from 20 to 30 per
cent., including all the descriptions of sheep—lambs,
ewes, and wedders—particularly lambs, on which the
advance is greatest. All were in great demand. Fat stock
sold high last year ; the buyers made well by their Inver
ness purchases ; and, though the turnip crop is rather
under than over an average, it has revived with late rains,
and the demand for mutton can scarcely be met by the
supply. Our friends from the south, therefore, came pre-
pared to give good prices, and the farmers have not been
disappointed, In wool the sales have been limited, in
consequence of the prices asked. From 20 to 30 per
cent. on last year's prices, and even more, was offered,
and, in many instances, refused—the sellers of the great
lots being disposed to consign their wool to the commis-
sion agents at Liverpool. The wool purchasers from
England state that business is considerably unsettled by
the Turkish question and the rumours of war. The con-
sumption of wool has for some time exceeded the supply,
although there has been no falling off in the imports of
foreign wool. In fact, the general prosperity of the
country, and the increasing amount of our exports, affect
equally the value of the fleece and the carcase, and tend
to benefit the sheep farmers in no ordinary degree. Their
grain, however, is an index to the flourishing state of the
kingdom, and no one else can advance in trade without
extending the benefit to other interests, all of which are
mutually dependent on each other.
At the ordinary on Friday the large room of the Cale-
donian Hotel was filled to overflowing. As four o'clock
approached, the gentlemen formed parties in the

lobby, ready to Ulm possession as soon as the door
was opened ; and when this took place, there was a
tremendous rush towards the• seats, which were in-
stantaneously occupied, and many gentlemen forced to
retire. The chair was taken by Alex. Campbell, Esq., of
Monzie, who had previously been waited upon by a
party. of gentlemen connected with the market, and re-
Apasted to preside. The croupiefs were Provost Suther-
land, Mr. Kennedy, Kirkland, by Thornhill, and Mr.
Mactavish, Ness Park, town clerk of Inverness.
Around the chairman were. Provost Grant of Elgin,
Dr. Manson, Spynie ; Mr. Waterston, manager, Cale-
donian Bank; Mr. Brown of Linkwood ; Mr. Gunn,
Rhives ; Mr. Horne of Langwell ; Mr. Gillespie, Ar-
dachy, &c. The company consisted of gentlemen whose
names are elsewhere mentioned as constituting part of
the attendance at the fair. No district of Scotland
could produce a body of men of greater intelligence, re-
spectability, or enterprise. Ample justice was done to
an excellent dinner ; and the chairman ordered a copi-
ous supply of champagne, which had the effect of quick-
ening the animation and hilarity of the party.
The sales of wool are proceeding, and it is believed
that the total amount disposed of will not be so much
inferior to the sales of former years as was anticipated
early in the day. The good lots are from ss. to 7s. per
stone above last year's prices.—lnverness Courier.

CHARGE OF MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER
AGAINST THE CAPTAIN OF AN AFRICAN
SNIP.

On Saturday, at the Liverpool police-court, a charge
of murder was brought against Captain J. W. Chapman,
of the ship Cleopatra, trading between that pott and the
coast of Africa. From the evidence of the carpenter of
the ship, William Duncan, who was the complainant, it
appeared that the Cleopatra sailed from Liverpool for
Bonny River on the 16th of August, 1852, with 21 men
of a crew, including captain and mate. On the Ist of
October the Cleopatra fell in with the Vicar of Bray,
Captain Ilarrison. The two captains visited each other
several times, a boy named White being engaged in
rowing the boat of the Cleopatra from ship to ship. On
the night of the 2d of October, when it was dark and
squally, the boat in which White was placed was hauled
close to the Cleopatra in a very dangerous position. It
aan, dwlhVo
h refusedt
e continuedwi
twith
iepize
nitsd once, but rig
it.
This
swastoldthoted again,thecni, a
in t
an oath to allow any person to interfere with it, and the
result was that the boat again capsized and White was
drowned. Shortly after this the crew seized the captain,
kept him in irons in his own cabin, and, under the di-
rection of the first mate, navigated the vessel to Barba-
does, where the captain, by means of a doctor who
boarded the ship, communicated with the authorities,
who arrested the entire crew, and all, with the exception
of complainant, were tried for piracy and mutiny, and
sentenced to from one to three years' imprisonment. No
definite charge was made against the captain, and having
shipped another crew sailed again for Bonny River,
when, owing to some disagreement with the captain, lie
left the ship, and returned to this country in lanother
vessel, when he gave information to the authorities and
had the captain arrested. The magistrate, after some
discussion, declined to entertain the charge, as it bad
been fully investigated by the highest court at Barba-
does. The captain was discharged, but immediately
afterwards arrested on a charge of murder, which was
gone into yesterday (Monday) at the Liverpool police
court, when, after hearing all the evidence in support of
the charge, the magistrate expressed his conviction that
it was not sufficient to justify him in committing the
prisoner, who was accordingly discharged.

THE MAIM—SOUTHAMPTON, Monday, July 18.—
The Royal. Mail Steam Ship, Magdalena, Captain C.
M. Chapman, sailed this afternoon with the usual West
India and Pacific mails, in charge of Lieutenant Ticket,
R.N., Admiralty Agent. She took out 55 passengers,
among whom are Commissary General Darling, the
Right Rev. Dr. Hyne, &c. The Magdalena, has on
freight a valuable cargo of British and French manufac-
tured goods, and 14 boxes specie, value 16,1561. 19s. 9d.,
sterling, for St. Thomas, Jamaica, Chagres, and Guade-
loupe. La Plata, Captain Weller, will be the next
steamer homeward, due at Southampton on the Ist
proximo, with the West India and Gulf of
Naviga-
tion Mexico
mails. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam
iterraThneealnndmuasilswiiis.
left
atCompany's 2
p.m ,
to-day,
di pa y
, w Tagus,ith .
for
mail,
Vigo,
Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, passengers,
tChaegtain3oJ. K. Joy,
(.1
il aey with the outward India and
Ripon with the heavy portion of
Chinaleave Mails, and
eadnndest
h Southampton about Thursday next,
and specie valuec7h,ionoao.ansdtermlinegd.
City of London, Captain Cargill, having
tehxpeeEetaesdt t
olTnrhdeciaae,
The Madrid is due on the 24th instant from the Peninsu
lar ports.
forabeen fchartered
term by the Peninsularefourm onths
iands tOO leaver Oriental Companyaolnthe
27
t h
Smyrna, and C J n's tal a ti-
ni nospt ai
en. t, foonr Gt
hiebraa
11.
rt
iavra, l
oMalta,fth
steamer Valetta at Malta,
for which pcirt she sailed from Southampton on the 7th
instant, the Euxine, Captain Meehan, will be relieved,
and is ordered to proceed at once to Constantinople and
Smyrna, where a full cargo of produce has been engaged
for conveyance to Southampton. The United States'
Mail steamship, Washington, Captain E. M. Fitch, ar-
rived here yesterday, (Sunday) evening, and is to leave
for New York on Wednesday with the usual semi-weekly
American mails. The William Watkins arrived here
to-day from Cadiz, bringing the following wine con-
signed to Southampton and Hull, viz., 91 butts, 137
hogsheads, 84 quarter casks, 14 octavos and 1 barrel
sherry. _ _ _ _ _

THE CHOLERA IN COPENHAGEN.—On Tuesday last
there were 53 new cases of cholera, and 36 deaths.
Since the 12th of June 427 persons brave been attacked,
and 234 have died.