The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-02 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT RATE.

Mr. George Hartshorn, the occupier of a house in
Seymour-street, Euston-square, appeared to object to
an nuprovement rate ordered to be levied on the pre-
mises for three, years, to defray the expenses of some
iuprovements executed under the authority of the com-
missioners, and amounting to 211. He handed into
the court a schedule containing eight objections to pay-
ing the rate, the chief of them being that he was liable
under clause 88 of the Sewers Act for only one-fourth
of the amount charged. He had paid a former rate,
and had deducted three-fourths of it from his next
payment of rent ; but-Mr. James, the landlord, denied
his liability to pay any portion of the amount, and
had sued for the whole rent due, and distrained upon
his goods. He had brought an action against his land-
lord, which was now pending, and if he were called upon
to pay a second rate he should be oblLmd to commence
another action to recover it from Mr. James. He had
been put to 401. expenses already.
Mr. James, who was in attendance, said that he un-
derstood when he wts last at the court that he was not
liable for any of this rate. A pretty warm altercation
arose here betweet. the dispu-tants. Mr. James ex-
pressed a suspiciot that Mr Hartshorn was of " un-
sound mind;' and Mr. Hartshorn zeplying that there
were two of them there.
Toe Chairman stopped the dispute by peremptorily
deuastiirri.ipatties, if they had any question to
me thear
Janes-chheF'could not have been informedto put them through the
that he was not liable to this rate, as the court had
always refrained from expressing an Opinion as to the
interpretation of the 88th clause. The commissioners
ephetog,
did not sit there to give advice, but to enforce the law.
Mr. James was wrong to go to the expense of defending
these actions ; for as his tenant paid a rack-rent he was
entitled to claim back three-fourths of the whole rate
from the landlord. The parties, however, must arrange
that amongst themselves ; the court must order pay-
ment.

Mr. Hartcihorn urgently requested the court to sue
Mr. James, but was informed that the busit.ess must go
on in the regular course.
Both parties then withdrew.
The Court directed orders to issue on vestry clerks
for copies of pour rates as bases for district sewer rates.

Sir J. Burgoyne
TEE ORDNANCE MAPS.
wished to know whether the profit
on the sale of these the board or to the
to
commissioners? maps went

-- •
The Chairman replied thst it did not.
Sir J. Burgoyne
the commissioners of sewers ever paid the Orduaace for
the survey ?
The Chairman said they bad not. (A laugh).
said that that was a hard case. Had
The Court adjJurne d, after some further formal busi.
nese.

LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.--This a'ternoon the South
American and General Steam Navigation Company's
screw steam-ship Braziliera, Captain Cox, sailed from
the Mersey for the Braz3s, with a full complement of
Passengers and cargo on freight. She will call at Lisbon
and Madeira, The Lulstama, Captain Brown, with the
homeward mails, is now fudv due and hourly expected.
ELECTRICITY AND ITS USES : NEW DISCOVERY.—In
the last humber of the Revue des Deux Mondes is an ex.
cellent article, entitled •‘ L'Eleetricitd Ouvriere." by M.
Babinet, member of the French Institute, enumerating
the various elf cts already produced through the agency
of electricit whether artistic, scientific, or industrial. The learned writer traces his subject through all its
phases, physiological, philosophical, chemical, motive
power, light, heat, telegraphic, smelting, and working
of ores for the separation of rn tals, molecalaire action;
electro•pla.ting, galvano plastic, &c. The wh01.,, article
is one which every lover of electricity will read with
pleasure, and does infinite credit to M. Babinet.
At present the chief, and almost only means ern-
p!oyed in all the various uses to which electricity
has been applied, is the Voltaic agency, which is of too
troublesome and expensive a character to admit of elec-
t, icity being more universally used than it i., and un-
doubtedly would be, were a cheaper and easier medium
obtainable. We are confidently assured that this desi-
deratum is on the eve of consummation, ami that a
newly-invented magneto-electric machine has lately been
seen in operation in Onslow-square, Brompton, which,
overcomes ail the difficulties hitherto felt, by producing.
an immense quantity of fluid at little cost, and less
trcu.ble. Many scientific persons who have seen the
machine speak highly of its astonishing powers and
merits; and preilic!-. that through its agency electricity
will assume its high rank and proper position among the
industrial agents of manufactures, trade, and commerce.
We hope soon to lay before our readers a more detailed
account of this important discovery.