The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-24 00:00:00

Mr. Corrie—ls the secretary of the society here ?

He was answered in the negative.
Moses Simons, of No. IT, Brill-row' Somers-town,
having been sworn, said that on Monday last he applied
to the Great Northern Loan Society for a loan of 51.,
when he saw the prisoner, who gave him a printed form
for which he demanded 3d., and he was to pay ls. 6d.
for inquiries about his security, and he would have the
Si. loan on Thursday or Friday evening. He called
there according to appointment, but he could not see
the prisoner, the secretary, or anybody else belonging
to the society, and he with others who were served in
the same way, had no doubt the " establishment" had
been got up for the purpose of swindling the public.
On one occasion he asked for his money to be returned
to him, and he told him they were swindlers, when ho
(the prisoner) took up a shovel and threatened to beat
him with it.

Mrs. Mary Davis, of Britannia-street, Bagnigge-wells-
road, applied to the society, and gave similar testimony.
Mr. Corrie said it was suggested that they received
money from parties, and never made inquiries as to the
securities.

The Solicitor's Clerk—We have not had time to make
the inquiries.
Mr. Corrie—Who is to advance the money to the
applicants for loans ?
Clerk—A company.
_ _ _ .

Mr. Corrie—li loOks very like obtaining money under
false pretences. I should like to have somebody here
to show who pays the money. You have a large place
with great flaring letters, " Great Northern Loan So-
ciety," &c.. in front to attract public attention. It is
important that somebody should be here to show that
they have money to advance, and it is equally important,
if they are a nest of swindlers, that they should be ex-
posed.
John Sheehan, 442 A, said he had made inquiry and
ascertained that the prisoner a short time ago held pos-
session of a house which he had taken of a lady, and
kept a large dog. A. writ for 221. was found in his pos-
session.

The Solicitor's Clerk said he could produce parties
who had paid an advanced money.
Mr. Corrie said it was necessary to do so, and to show
that it was not a " swindling scheme ;" and he remanded
the case for that purpose.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 23.

The Cmsar, 91, new sorew-ship, is ordered to be com-
missioned at this port by Captain Robb. She will have
a complement of 850 men. Seamen-gunners were
draughted from the Excellent for her to-day. Her masts
are prepared for her, and her rigging has been got ready
in the rigging-house in the dockyard. She will form one
of the North Sea fleet. The pendant was not hoisted at
sunset to-day.
The Illustrious, 72, fitted as a block-ship, without
steam power, was commissioned this morning by Captain
Robert Harris. This ship will mount about 40 heavy
guns. She will be fitted with the masts and spars of a
26-gun frigate, and rated as a training ship for newly
raised levies of seamen.

The Thetis, 46, Captain Kuper, C. 8., sailed from
Spithead this morning for Plymouth to refit.
The Basilisk, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Comman-
der the Hon. F. Egerton, is expected to be refitted by
the let of February ; the Dauntless, 24 (screw), Cap-
tain Ryder, by the 3d ; and the Simoom, 18 (troopship),
Captain Smith, by the Isth of February.
The officers of the Royal Clarence Victualling Estab-
lishment, Captain Superintendent Courtenay, have
orders to make immediately several tons of pemmican,
to be ready by the let of April. This supply is to be
sent out to Beechey Island.
The Geyser, 6, paddle-sloop, was hauled out of dock
to-day, in order that the Colossus, 80, might go in and
be fitted with a screw without delay.
Fifteen seamen-gunners were drawn to-day from the
Excellent, for the James Watt, commissioned at Devon-
port.

WOOLWICH, JAN. 23.

APPOINTMENTS.

Captain James Willcox (1850), who was promoted to
that rank for his gallant services in the Chinese seas
and on the East India station, is appointed to command
the Dragon, 6, paddlewheel steam-frigate of 560-horse
power, commissioned this day at Portsmouth.
Captain William K. Hall (1853), to command the
Bulldog, 6, paddlewheel steam-sloop, of 500-horse
power, commissioned this day at Portsmouth.
Commander George P. Mends (1854), promoted last
week from First Lieutenant of the Trafalgar, 120, serving
in the Black Sea, to the James Watt, 90, screw steam-
ship at Devonport.

Lieutenants—Philip Saumarez (1847), from the Ex-
cellent gunnery ship at Portsmouth, to the Caesar, 90,
screw steam-ship, at Portsmouth ; Wm. Swinburn (1848),
recently serving in the London, 90, to the Caesar ; James
C. Campbell (1852), to the James Watt, 90, screw
steam-ship, at Devonport ; and Claude A. C. De Cres-
pigny (1854), promoted last week from mate of the St.
Jean d'Acre, 101, screw steam-ship, to the James Watt.
Paymaster John N. De Vries (1845) to the Illustrious,
72, at Portsmouth.
Mate Edwin C. Chaplin (1852) to the James Watt.
Clerks—Timothy Clinch (Paymaster of 1852) to the
Excellent gunnery-ship, at Portsmouth ; George Teart
(1848), from the Excellent gunnery-ship, to the James
Watt.
Clerks' Assistants—Charles Dimock, Thomas G. Glos-
ter, and Charles Chapman, to the Victory flag-ship at
Portsmouth.
One sergeant, one corporal, and 50 privates of the
Wnolwioh division of Royal Marines have been placed
under orders to proceed to-morrow by railway to Ports-
mouth for embarcation and service in the Illustrious, 72,
commissioned at that port by Captain Robert Harris.
The remainder of her complement of Royal Marines
will be made up from the Portsmouth division.
A detachment of 180 officers, noncommissioned
officers, and privates of the Woolwich division have also
been placed under orders to hold themselves in readiness
to proceed to Devonport, to embark at that port for ser-
vice in the James Watt, 90, screw steam-ship, commis-
sioned lsy Captain George Elliot.
The Volcano steam-vessel, Commander Robert Coote,
is to be paid down at this port on Wednesday, and her
officers and crew will then obtain six weeks' leave of
absence, when they will have to rejoin, as it is not now
intended to pay her off at present.

NOVEL MODE OF LIGHTING FLEET-STREET. - Be-
tween the hours of six and seven last night, a fire of a
novel character occurred opposite the extensive linen
drapery establishment of Messrs. G. W. Lees and Co.,
47, Fleet•street. A waggon, heavily laden with coke,
belonging to Mr. Thompson, of Crown•street,kSoho,
ignited into a blaze, and the damage would have been
great, but for the timely and valuable assistance of
Messrs. G. W. Lees and Co., and assistants, who
readily supplied the men with water in buckets passel
from one to another, which happily extinguished the fire
before the arrival of the fire engines. Too much thanks
cannot be given to Messrs. G. W. Lees and Co., for
their prompt and liberal services, considering the crowded
state of Fleet-street at the time, which was blocked up,
the police assisting with great activity.