The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 21, 1853

is, therefore, by no means surprising that
he should have refused to " give up posses-
sion" (query, what possession, if the creditors
were in receipt of the rents ?), " and thereby
relieved himself of the responsibility he incurred in
becoming possessed of the property!" He might
well distrust the advice tendered by parties con-
nected with the scene of his misery. He knew
that, under the colour of law, he bad been de-
prived as well of his liberty as of the property he
inherited, and lie would not voluntarily relin-
quish the claim to which, perhaps erroneously, he
may have considered himself entitled. But surely
if he were in error the law should have interposed.
Obstinacy can scarcely be considered worse
than murder, and yet its punishment in this
instance has been more severe. There are few
persons who would not prefer speedy execution to
forty years of protracted suffering under the gentle
discipline of Winchester Gaol.
Mr. WRIGHT states that poor MILLAR, " had
offers of assistance from High Sheriffs to pass
through the Insolvent Court, as well as from
himself (Mr. WRIGHT), and thus in a legal man-
ner to be liberated from prison, all of which ho
(MILLAR) most obstinately refused !" The conclu-
sion at which the minister of the Gospel arrives is
that, " consequently, his remaining in gaol is his
own act, rather than that of any oppressor." He does
not, however, state when these offers were
made, or how long MILLAR had been pining in
his dungeon when it was so kindly proposed that
he should pass through the Insolvent Court. We
know that habit is second nature, that men be-
come accustomed to such privations, and will not,
after a certain time, be willing to mingle with the
world from which they had been so long se-
cluded—that they are no longer fitted to come
into collision with their fellow-men. On the
destruction of the Bastile, a prisoner, who
had been nearly as long imprisoned as poor
MILLAR, though probably with better diet
and greater provision for his comfort, ap-
plied to be admitted to some other prison—and
bad as was Winchester Gaol—the man, who had
been forgotten by his friends who was alone on
earth, might have dreaded a worse fate if he were
discharged. The public will, we believe, regard
the matter in a very different point of view from
that in which it has been considered by the
Chaplain of Winchester Gaol. They may possi-
bly question the expediency and justice of per-
mitting men to be imprisoned at the mere will
and pleasure of a vindictive and malicious credi-
tor who may have no equitable claim, and thank
that among the many inquiries recently instituted
with a view to future law reforms, one into
the system of imprisonment for debt may
be added. We cannot conclude our obser-
vations on this subject without quoting the
description of imprisonment for debt given by
Lord ELDON, who was little disposed to give reins
to his imagination. The Noble and Learned Lord
said in his celebrated speech on the slave trade

" The law of arrest for debt is a sanction to com-
mit greater oppression and inhumanity than is to
be met with in slavery itself—to tear the father
from his weeping children—the husband from his
distracted wife, to satiate the demoniac vengeance
of some worthless creditor !" We commend these
observations to the consideration of the Rev. Mr.
WRIGHT.

MONEY MARKET

AND
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

The English Stock market is very heavy this
morning, but there is not much doing. The poli-
tical intelligence has less influence now than the
state of the money market. Consols have been
9.1.- to g for transfer and account. The New 31
per Cents. have realised 92 ,!- to 1,. The speculators
are now looking rather anxiously to the answer
which Russia may give from St. Petersburg to the
demand for the evacuation of the Principalities ;
and / per cent. was given yesterday afternoon for
the " put " of a large amount, said to be 250,0001.
Consols, on Monday at 91. Bank Stock has been
lower again, having opened at 218, and been done
since at 215. Exchequer Bills have been worth 2s.
to 4s. premium. East India Bonds are at par.
Foreign Securities have been weaker in the ab-
sence of large transactions. Russian 4J per Cents.
have been done at 96k. Spanish 3 per Lents. brine,
44g. The Certificates are 5. Buenos Ayres Bond's
have been firmer at 57. French 41- per Cents.
realise 99 50, with the exchange at 24 95. Dutch
24 per Cents. have been 62/, after having opened
at 63.

The Ave Maria Gold Quartz Mining Company
have received advices that the preparations and
foundations for the Company's heavy machinery
completed, and ready for the erection of
&c. The specimens of Quartz lately
from the New York Mine have been as-
sayed,yielded most satisfactory results.
receivedta hr ee
now
engines,
Shares . have been exceedingly quiet,
Railway and
and at a further slight decline in prices. This ap-
plies to Great Western, South Western, Brighton,
and most others.
.French shares also are dull.
In the Gold Mine Shares there is continued
heaviness.

The Australian Land Companies' Shares are
lower, and in less request. The Banks are also
flatter.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
(Prom the Official List.)

Business dono.
Bank Stock ..
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities...... .....
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9li *
New 31 per Cent. Annuities 92i
.11 iii
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 ..
DittG 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859
India Bonds, £lOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO
C'msols for Account
Exchequer Bills, 2d.
21000
11500
Small 2 4 5 p
24 5 p
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
New Brazilian Bonds, 1829 dt 39, 5 per Cent 9B
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 57
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Peruvian Bonds, 43 per Cent. 72
Russian Bonds, 1C22, 5 per Cent. X St —
Ditto 43 per Cent 96N
Ditto Small
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 44
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent . 213
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. 5 p c
Dividends on the above payable in London.
French Rentes, 43 per Cent.
Dutch Exchange, 23 per Cent. 12 Gu11..... 63 2i i
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates .....

par 5 d
911 $ i i

THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols ,
Ditto October Account 9ll

GREAT FIRE AT SHAD THAMES.—Last night an alarm-
ing fire broke out in the premises of Mr. John Dudin,
granary keeper and wharfinger. The workpeople had
left soon after six o'clock. and the place was then locked
up ; but the attention of the police being attracted by
an unusual glare on the third floor they sent for the fire-
men and the engines. Before, however, they could
arrive the flames burst through the windows, and in a
very short time they resumed an attitude that seemed
to defy all 'ordinary means of checking their progress.
In this stat e of things the brigade sent for the powerful
steam floc' Ling engine ; but the fire continued to rage
till near mi dnight, after which time it gradually yielded
to the um :easing efforts which were employed. The
damage %V ill amount to several thousand pounds, and
one of the firemen was unfortunately so much injured
that it w.as: necessary to convey him to Guy's Hospital
Several others had a narrow escape. The cause of the
accident is at present unknown. The premises were
Insured.

THE C lONVICT CAROLINE SHERWOOD.—This wretched
woman r vmained in such a state of excitement for some
time aft( Jr her sentence of death was commuted to trans-
portatio a for life, that the surgeon of the prison found it
necessar y to order nourishment to be given to her be-
yond a Le ordinary prison diet, in order to keep up her
strengt .h ; and we understand that she still receives
more 'ban the prison allowance. The governor, in re-
ply t o a question from Mr. John Ellman, said the only
noti' .te that he had received from the Home Office was a
resTt)ite. The chairman thought it would be advisable
fox the visiting justices to send to the Secretary of
fox
to know what should be done with her.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCE.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 1,000 American
were taken for export. The market was quiet, but
closed firmly, at previous rates. The sales com-
prised. 4,500 American, 250 Pernam. and Maran-
ham at 6,7 d. to 71d., 150 Bahia at 6gd., 100 Egyp-
tian at 5/d. to 9d., 1,000 Surat at 3d. to 44d.
per lb. Railway Shares were dull with a down-
ward tendency.
In the colonial and foreign produce markets this
week less business has been doing, and prices are
in some instances rather lower. Holders are in-
clined to realise in order to obtain the requisite
funds for business purposes. Sugar, coffee, and
spices have been quieter. Tea, however, has been
in more request, and at advanced rates, compared
with a week or ten days since. Tallow has been
more dealt in during the last two days. The in-
digo auctions have been brought to a close and have
gone off rather flatly.
The colonial wool sales are going off heavily, at
a decline of 11d. to 2d. per lb., and of the 58,000
bales announced, a good deal will be withdrawn.
The following is the report of Messrs. C. Jacomb
and Sons
"We beg to advise you that prior to the opening of
our colonial wool sales this evening, it was announced
that in all probability at least 10,000 of the 58,000 bales
arrived in time for sale would not be.brought forward.
The attendance of buyers, both manufacturers and
dealers, has been very considerable, but prices have been
very irregular and biddings extremely languid, with great
indisposition to operate, except at a decline varying from
ld. to 20. per lb., averaging about 2d. as
compared
with August rates.
" The quantities arrived in time for sale consist of
about 19,200 bales Australian, 26,000 Victoria, 6,000
Tasmania, 4,600 Adelaide, 1,900 New Zealand and Swan
River, 5,600 Cape, making a total of 57,900 bales."
Mr. H. W. Eaton states that at the public sales
of silk, just concluded—
" The attendance has been moderate throughout, with
but little disposition to purchase, arising more from the
unsettled state of affairs, both political and monetary,
than from anything in the trade itself, which has seldom
been more healthy. About 200 Chinas, chiefly thirds
and fourths, have been taken in the room to-day, at
about ls. per lb. reduction on previous rates, but the
quantity cold altogether during the week, by private
contract, has been smaller than at any former sales.
In Bengals very little has been done, prices remaining
without alteration."
The state of affairs at Melbourne, at the latest
date, may be understood by the following extract
from a letter written by a firm there :
" Merchants are not pressing, but storing goods,
waiting for the opening of the roads. The danger which
we anticipate, however, is this :—The demand for stor-
age will become so excessive that the rates will ascend
to such a pitch as to compel holders to sell sooner than
to incur the ruinous expense. Prices of commodities
will thus be brought to so low a point that the posses-
sors of warehouses will be tempted to buy. To make
room for their intended purchases, they will give notice
to the owners of goods they have in their store to re-
move them. As no other storage can there be found, they
will be forced to sell—the market will thus be pushed
lower. The secret of successful operations here will thus
consist in ascertaining when this forcing process is com-
pleted."
The trade of New Zealand during the past year,
although it has attracted much less attention than
that of Australia, has been healthy and progressive.
Taking the small settlement of Nelson, including
the rural districts, it appears that the white po-
pulation in 1852 amounted to 2,454 males and
2,133 females, of whom 2,505 were Protestant
Episcopalians. The immigration amounted to
222 persons. The live stock comprised 7,591
horned cattle, 682 horses, 114,773 sheep, 2,058
goats, and 2,087 pigs, the total number of dwell-
ings was 869, the number of acres cultivated was
7,228 acres, exclusive of what the natives had under
crop. The shipping arrived amounted to 552 tons,
the revenue was 6,3711., and the expenditure
7,5021. The imports amounted to 22,0381., of
which 11,8081. were from Great Britain, and
10,229/. from the colonies. The exports were
valued at 10,300/., and included dairy and agricul-
tural produce, timber, fish, flax, and wool.
Intelligence has been received, this morning, of
a dreadful shipwreck off Beachey Head. The ves-
sel is the Dalhousie, and was on her way from
London to Sydney. Only one man was saved, and
as the ship was of large tonnage, there must have
been a great many m her crew. At Plymouth
she was to have received 35 passengers. She had
been recently overhauled and repaired, and it is
supposed some of the new work gave way, as
she was observed to sink by a schooner, which,
however, could, not render assistance, although
several men were seen in the water. There are
60,0001. insured upon her.
The next overland mail from India is expected
here about the 29th inst.

BRIGHTON RACES.

(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

SELLING PLATE.

Honesty

BRIGHTON HANDICAP.

Stamford
Madam Wharton

COURT OF B.ANKRUPTCY-(THIS DAY.

(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)

IN RE J. HEATH.
This bankrupt was described as of Cheshunt, Bucks,
chemist and druggist, and to-day was appointed for his
last examination.

The balance sheet, from December, 1852, to Septem-
ber, 1853, shows—Debtor to creditors, unsecured, 8201.
195.; to ditto holding mortgage, 4801. Creditor—By
good debts, 231.; property given up, 1521. ; mortgaged
property, GOO/. From the statement of Mr. Beard (from
Mr. Buchanan's) it appeared that the general property
had realised more than the bankrupt had estimated it
at, and that the property mortgaged would possibly
leave a surplus over the claims. He (Mr. Beard) there-
fore, on the behalf of the assignees, consented to the
bankrupt passing his last examination.

THE CHICORY TRADE.-IN RE METCALFE.
This was a dividend meeting under the estate of this
bankrupt, described as a merchant, in Fenchurch-street,
who had bean extensively engaged in the "chicory trade,"
and the great losses on the estate appear on the chicory
root between Sept. 1851 and Nov. 1852, through the
Treasury notice, the bankrupt stating his losses on that
account alone at 5,2631. From the accounts filed by
Messrs. Robinson and Knowles, it appears that the
debit side amounts to 2,8571., and the property is esti-
mated at 1,4001. By the bankrupt's previous state-
ment it appears that he embarked a capital of 1,1901.
The amount of the dividend will be officially declared in
due course.