The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-23 00:00:00

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Liverpool Cotton Brokers and LaneaShire
Spinners f-r

The Lancashire. Cotton Spinners' Association have
just issued to the trade some correspondence with
the Liverpool Brokers' Association, together with
some statements which are exciting a good deal of
attention at the present moment. It appears that
the former body on the 28th of October last
passed a series of resolutions proposing that in mat-
ters of dispute between spinners and brokers, in-
stead of referring them for arbitration to two
brokers, as at present, the spinners should choose
one arbitrator, and the broker the other ; that the
practice of stripping-the thin canvass off bales and
recovering them with thick and much heavier can-
vass, was a fraud and should be abolished ; that
the price allowed for returned cotton should be the
price paid for it, and not the price of the day when
returned, and that cotton now restricted to return
to three months (though formerly 12) should be
returnable and damages claimable within six months.
These resolutions were sent by Mr. M. Fitzgerald,
the secretary to the Liverpool Cotton Brokers' As-
sociation, with the expression of a hope that they
would see the reasonableness and fairness of the
propositions. On Nov. 11 Mr. Studley Martin,
secretary. to the brokers, replies, intimating that all
further communications had better not come direct;
but through the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Three resolutions were enclosed, in answer to those
of the spinners, affirming that the arbitration of two
brokers was the most satisfactory ; that the practice
of replacing the thin canvas on bales of cotton with
thick was one not countenanced by the Brokers'
Association, and was an evil which would cure itself ;
and the third resolution (taking no notice of the
proposition to which it professes to be a reply) says,
that a cotton broker is best qUalified to give a decision
in arbitration from his knowledge of the custom of
the trade. On Nov. 18 Mr. Fitzgerald forwarded
another resolution from the spinners, regretting the
reply of the brokers had been so unsatisfactory, and
wishing to know whether they intended adhering to
their intimation not in future to recognise the Cot-
ton Spinners' Association. Up to Dec. 5 this com-
munication was not even acknowledged, and then
Mr. Fitzgerald wrote again. On the 16th Mr.
Martin writes that the brokers had not thought it
desirable to hold a meeting specially in reference to
the subject, and saying, " You will please, there-
fore, accept the former reply." Having been thus
handsomely snubbed, the cotton spinners, on whose
committee are some of the leading firms of Lanca-
shire, including Messrs. James Marshall and Edward
Howard, Stockport ; G. Lord, Todmorden ; J. J.
Jackson, Blackburn ; T. Thomasson, Bolton ; N.
Eckersley, Wigan ; F. Rayner and H. Mason,
Ashton ; Woods, Wigan ; and D. Clarke and B.
Armitage, Manchester, have issued circulars con-
taining some facts and suggestions. Among the sug-
gestions is one as to whether it will not be better in
future to employ buying brokers unconnected with
the association, and men who would pledge them-
selves .to act strictly for the buyers' interest. They
say there can be no doubt that many of the Asso-
ciated brokers act both for sellers as well as pur-
chasers of cotton, thus fostering high prices and the
operations which for the last two years have kept
cotton at a price totally inconsistent with that which
would have ruled had the market been governed
simply by supply and demand. They calculate the
brokerage paid in the last year by spinners on
1,631,850 bales of cotton at £285,758, while the
profits on spinning have been absolutely nil ; and to
prevent brokers from becoming so deeply interested
in high prices (against the interest of the spinners
who employ them) suggest payment by weight in-
stead of the commission on price. They express an
opinion that, at all events, this large payment ought
to have secured to spinners the best services of the
Liverpool cottonbrokers. Among other grievances
they mention that cotton being so much dearer than
formerly, spinners are paying now, when they can
least afford it, five times as much per bale for the
same services as they did formerly ; that a broker
acting in the double capacity of buyer and seller dis-
sociates the interest of the spinner and the broker
who represent him, and suggest that brokers ought
to be distinctly either buying or selling brokers, no
speculator being allowed to act as broker, and that
such broker issue his own circular advising his cus-
tomers, instead of the Association circulars. They
point out that the Spinners' Association succeeded in
obliging the brokers to abandon the rule refusing
any allowance for false packing, and direct atten-
tion to the particulars of a trial at Birkenhead on
Dec. 8, in which Messrs. Partiugton and Allan, the
spinners' attorneys, recovered from Mr. Taylor, of
Oldham, £5 10s. from Mr. F. N. Good, a Liver-
pool broker, for false tare. On seven bales of cotton
the defendant had allowed 2 qrs. 251 b. for tare, but
the stuff in which the cotton was packed weighing
401 b. more he claimed a deduction of 2s. 4id. per
lb. the price of the cotton, and the Court gave a
verdict for the full amount.

MR. LEITCH RITCHIE.—In our Thursday's obi-
tuary was recorded the death at East Greenwich,
on Monday last, of this well known author and amiable

_ . _..._ _....
and estimable man. In Edinburgh, where Mr. Ritchie re-
sided for several years while acting as literary conductor
of Clambers's Journal, the announcement will cause a pang
of sympathy and regret to every one who knew him. Of
quiet, retiring disposition, and occupied entirely in literary
pursuits, Mr. Ritchie had no large circle of friends ; but by
. _

that select, if small, number, he was respected and lcived as a

genial and cheerful companion,aecomplished and well read,
of kindliest and most gentlemanly manners and feelings.
As an author, Leitch Ritchie enjoyed an extensive reputa-

tion, originally acquired by some fortunate hits early in
life, and which his industry and perseverance, combined
with his true natural talent and excellent taste, enabled
him steadily to sustain throughout some 40 years of hard
literary labour. In the " Men of the Time" it is stated that
ho was barn in Greenock "about the beginning of the cen-
tury," but if this be correct ho looked a rough older man
than ho was—an effect, probably, so far, produced by the
wear and tear of his constant application to letters, and
heightened by the infirmity of deafness, by which he was
for many years afflicted. His tale of " Wearyfoot Com-
mon," originally published in Chambers's Journal, is that by
which readers of the later generation 'will best remember

A LONG CAPTIVITY.—The Abeille of Fontaine-
bleau gives the following account of the return of a
French officer after 32 years' captivity. This officer, Cap-
tain Bruxel, of the 20th Regiment of the Line, was taken
prisoner in 1831 by the Arabs in Algeria, and, nothing fur-
ther having been hoard of him, he was supposed to be dead.
It appears that he was at one moment very near being
ibe-
headed, but was ultimately taken 300 leagues into theam n
terior, where he was for long years employed as.llfsfsaniily
andnever found any means of communicating with
when al/
or country. But during the late Arab insuttrir
a camel and effected his escape.
dr
there embarked on
he reached the west coast of Africa, an
at the Carthagena.
men capable of bearing arms had left theridbineg, ho mounted
a Maltese vessel, which landed
Bruxelh
where he received
joined his regiment in garrison
enable him to \ proceed to
the necessary documents
position.
DARING
(Spain). Thence Captain
at
Paris and regularise his THREE PRISONERS FROA
DARING ESCAPE OF
wELL.
—mng
Thursday
THE LIVERPOOL BRlDEraoruing, 1-)
piimiporno,ceeded to France,
three prisoners made
early yesterday ,
nvderPac:rlObbeTryheirof
night, or
their escape from ,
Murray, and Banks. M`Shane was
names are M'Shane
charged with stabbing—an aggravated case;
debwuregillaartyLai
under remand,
under remandwas
Banks wasimprisoned for a serious assault
late • and Murray, is stated
It
plate •
the police.that Murray had pre-
the main bridewell
upon escaped from the Lunatic Asylum at Rain-
hill.vi° ;These three men were confined in se-.
parate cells, upon the same corridor, in the higher
part of the building, and, as far as can be ascertained,
their escape was thus managed :—The wicket of •
one of the cells, No. 19, had either been previously broken,
or was smashed by the prisoner who occupied the cell.
This man must have contrived to secrete some instrument
by which he was enabled to open or pick the lock of the
cell door. These locks are generally considered very
secure, and it is quite a mystery what means can have
been adopted for opening the one in question. Having
got into the corridor, the man must have, with the same
instrument, opened the locks of the two adjoining cell; in which the other two prisoners were confined. Under
ordinary circumstances it would have been impos-
sible for them to have got further than the corridor in
which they now found themselves, but, unfortunately,
there was at the time in course of construction, and incom-
plete, a lift or hoist intended to convey food from the higher
to the lower part of the building. The men, by this means,
were able to make their way to the ground floor, outside
the bridewell building, but within the walls of the yard.
They then contrived to scale a lofty wall which separatel
this yard from the police fire station, and thence made their
way into the street. The wicket of the fire station
Ti
he
found open soon after the escape was diseovehreep
risonerft
discovered.
bridewell keepers were on duty as usual when tHe
states .
a,
got
away.
Murray
has
been
captured.
Shtabn:
M'Shane picked the looks with a wire, and that Id`
and Banks have gone to Manchester.