The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDN_ESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2,185 g.

that they had been there during the evening, de-
nied that there had been any attack on the pre-
mises, or that there had been any shooting, or that
any one had received injury ! It was afterwards
learnt, however, from a collier who there is reason
to believe was present, that the first shot wounded
two men, striking one in the arm and the other in
the breast. The next discharge, of four (but as he
supposed only three) guns, also took signal effect.
He says either six or seven were shot—one in the
thigh and others in various parts of the body. Al-
together there were eight or nine shot. The same
man states that they parted with their band of
music at Scholes, on the way from Wigan ; that,
in fact, they drove them away, not choosing that
the musicians should know what was further in-
tended to be done.

There was no further disturbance during the
night, nor up to the report leaving ; but there is
great doubt whether another attempt will not be
made in some quarter. About a quarter past two
yesterday morning the military were reinforced by
a troop of the Ist Royal Dragoons, under Captain
Ainslie, from Manchester, who have taken up their
quarters at the Royal Hotel, having left Manchester
at half-past ten on Monday night.

THE ABUSES CONNECTED WITH IMPRISON
SENT FOR DEBT AND CONTEMPT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I beg to suggest the importance of immediate
and general inquiry into the case of every prisoner for
debt, or contempt, in England—who has been confined
three months without applying to the Insolvent or
Bankrupts Court ; also the case of every other prisoner
who solicits such inquiry, and power for this purpose
should be vested in the commissioners of the Insolvents
and Bankrupts Court, for it is far beyond doubt tl.-
hundreds are imprisoned unjustly—in fact not to enfo-
payment, but to prevent the just application of propert:,
and for the purpose of more conveniently defraud:7g
their victims.
In building transactions such cases have been of com-
mon occurrence, on account of the high rate of interest,
large margin of value, opportunities for disputing evc...7
advance as the works proceed, and preventing the crea-
tion of income by withaolding the advances required io
finishing ; and because mortgages in building transac-
tions are usually executed upon arrangements to advance
funds as works proceed ; in fact, it is obtaining a mort-
gage without a shil.ing of consideration, and obliging
the mortgagor to exhaust his means and credit in im-
proving the security. It appearsincredible that such a
heartless system of fraud should exist in a great com-
mercial country where impartial justice is supposed to
be administered, yet such is the Lct, and to an enormous
extent. The course of practice is to select the most
valuable building estate which the apparent resp-r-
-tability and means of the mortgagee and his solicitor
will enable them to obtain, promising the owner every
assistance he may desire to create income by the erec-
tion of houses, and to rr ake the required advances as
works proceed under the direction of an architect acting for
the mortgagee, but at the same time inserting a much
smaller amount in the mortgage deed than the value of
the works planned by tie architect. This enables the
mortgagee and his solicitor to find some pretence for
disputing on every advance when required. The mort-
gagor is thus led into liabilities, and when the houses
are roofed the mortgagee will as soon after as possible
refuse further advances ; the debts for works and
materials therefore remain unpaid, notwithstanding
their value has been added to the security. Tne
houses, of course, remain unproductive, because they
are unfinished, interest in the meantime accu-
mulating, and professional costs and other charges
are increasing, and the mortgagee and his solici-
tor then commence their complaints about not being
able to obtain payment of interest, and return of the
amount advanced, which they have taken care the mort-
gagor shall not have the means of paying. The only
means contemplated for repayment having been by let-
ting and selling the houses, originally arranged to be
finished, by advances to be made by the mortgagee, and
from the period of signing the mortgage deed, the most
dishonourable means is taken to prejudice the mort-
gagor, which, added to the want of income, prevents
a transfer of the mortgage security. At this stage
of the fraud the mortgagee gives notice of save,
and if the mortgagor has not the means of protecting his
property by repayment of the advances, or by filing a
bill in Chancery, it will be sacrificed in its unfinished
state to the mortgagee, his solicitor, or persons con-
nected with him in the transaction, and shortly
the Mortgagor will have the mortification of seeing the
property producing a large income in proportion to
the outlay of the guilty party in the transaction.
Persons who carry on this description of fraud rarely sup-
ply the means of finishing houses for if they did so rents
would be created to pay interest, and the houses become
marketable to repay advances, thus defeating the fraud
originally contemplated. It is very common for such
)ersons to attack the mortgagor by a claim in Chancery.
Notice of sale, and also proceedings at law for rccovely
of the amount which they allege, are due from their vic-
tims. All these proceedings going on at the same time,
with the assistance of other legal proceedings by credi- '
tors that have been lea unpaid for the purpose of in-
volving their victims in debt and difficulty, and obtaining
judgments against them. The want of public attention to
this description of fraud has been the cause of deprivin3
thousands of wir:ows and orphans of property ample f
their support, if it had been fairly protected, an
t:mber, lead, iron, and other merchants and bankers
are also defrauded of their just claims. This estate-
stealing mortgage system is in principle similar to ht.',
stealing, but carried on by a more wealthy class GE
practitioners and capitalists, who have hitherto escaped •
prosecution, under the protection afforded by t'
Court of Chancery. Numerous cases of similar characLr
have come under my observation. The solicitors and s
money-lenders who practise frauds of this nature, calcu-
late on the aversion of men of property to expose them-
selves in the Bankrupt or Insolvent Courts to obtain pro-
tection.
The power of investigation would also protect
the public against much fraudulent litigation to which
the victims are at present obliged to submit. lam con- "
fident that if such power of inqury existed there would
not be one-half the number of prisoners confined for
debt or contempt, and at the same time it would assist in
obliging the fraudulent debtors to apply the best mr-ens
to! meet all just claims against them. The inquiry
should be held at the respective p:lsons after giving the
detaining creditors seven days notice. Of course the "-
commissioners holding toe inquiry must have the power
of discharging prisoners on such terms as may appear
just between debtor and creditor. There are other ques-
tions of importance worthy of consideration by the law
officers of the Crown, viz., that of obliging the detaining e
creditor to make an allowance to his prisoner as in other
countries. The extent c-f time for imprisonment for debt
and the limit of power to imprison beyond a certain
age, for within the last month there was a prisoner in
the Queen's Bench of the age of 83 at the suit of his
own son ; and two females in the same prison died, I
shortly before, at the respective ages of 86 and 9.1, both
victims of Chancery proceedings. In my opinion
females of all ages should be protected against imprson-
ment for debt, the same as the other sex during their
minority. The less credit they have the better for their
general comfort and happiness.
When a felon is taken by a police office:', he is removed
from the station to the police office for examination -
by the magistrate, before he can be committed to p:Lson,
and thus an opportunity is afforded him for explanation
and defence. lam therefore at a loss to understand •
why debtors, when arrested, are not taken from the
lock up house before a judge or commissioner at cham-
bers fo: private examination previous to removal to a
prison where, by confinement, the difficulties of honeet
creditors are increased, and consequently the means of
payment of their debts diminished. A similar invr.rti-
gation appears desirable previous to allowing a det"i ter
or vesting order—the latter particularly, because they .
are frequently applied for to enable dishonest solic:tois •
to obtain the management of property they would not
be entrusted with under any other circumstances.—i
am, &c., OBSERVER.

THE NEW CAVALRY REGIMENTS FOR INDIA. —ln
answer to numerous inquiries that have been made at
the India house by patties interested in military mat-
ters, it has been authoratatively denied that there is
any truth in the report for some time past circulated,
that three additional India cavalry regiments were to be
raised, one for each Presidency. Those, therefore, who
expect commissions in the new regiments will have
long to wait, seeing that no intention of raising such
regiments ever existed. Nevei theless, the applcatinns
through the Military Department at the India-house,
made by individuals and officer 3 seeking commissions,
have been cons:de:Able ; aid it has been thorght ad-
visable to disabuse such parties or the idea that any
new opening for entering the service ea.ists.
MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN OF FORTUNE.
—Yesterday, information was forwarded by Mr. Cook,
the summoning officer of St. Mary, Newington to W.
Carter, Esq., coroner for East Surrey, of the following
melancholy death of Mr. George Webster, a gentleman
of fortune, residing at Walworth. On Saturday morn-
ing last the unfortunate gentleman, while in the act of
crossing Parli:ment-etreet, near the Treasury, was
knocked down by ai.e of the Westminster omnibuses,
and on being raised from the ground it was found that
he bad sustained several severe injuries. The assistance
of Dr. M'Cann, surgeon, of Parliament-street, was
promptly procured by the police, but the deceased, at
his own urgent request, was conveyed to his residence at
Walworth, where it was afterwards ascertained that his
right leg was extensively fractured, from the effects of
which he gradually sank, and expired on Monday even-
ing last. The deceased gentleman, before his death,
stated that no person was to blame, but that the melan-
choly accident must have arisen from his (deceased's)
extreme deafness.

ENGLISH V. AMERICAN CLIPPERS.—ERRATUM.—In
Sre liking yesterday of the performances of the Aberdeen-
built clipper ship Sto.Joway, we stated that her com-
petitor in the i.. e i:om ChEna, was the Challenger,
whereas it shou'd have been the Challenge, a large and
powerful American ship of abou 2,000 tons. The Chal-
lenger is a Thames-built ship, from the yv.rd of Messrs.
Green al-4 Co., of B!ackwall, and has always done her
work well.

A CRUEL HOAX.—The Liverpool Mercury says :
The turn-outs at Preston were hoaxed last week by re-
ceing a letter dated "Boreland House, Chelmsford,
Ott. 24," signed "John Tyrrell," and containing some-
t ling in the shape of a cheque for OR which it was
t iought was a donation from Sir John T, Tyrrell, M,P.,
the colleague of the noted "W. 8."

20
20
10
St.

13i
20
20
50

50
20
20
25

SHADE MARKETS.-(YESTERDAY.)

BRITISH RAILWAYS.

Sta. In

Ed.i RAILWAYS.

Closing Prices
Monday.

Business done
this day.

St. b
20

Aberdeen
8 &mbg. Nottng. Bost
and Eastn. Junct
11 Birming. Wolverh. &
Stour Valley
8 Birkeuhd. Lancsh. &
Cheshire Junct
11 Do. Chesh. & Birk.,
£5O and £25 Cons.
si Do., £20..... ......
K Bristol and Exeter
0 Caledonian. .......
11 Chester & Holyhead.
11 Cork and Bandon
11 Cork, Black, & Pass

31 I Z

22 1
St. 10
St. 101
50 a]
50 al
20 al

50 45 Dublin&BelfastJunc.
25 all Dundee Perth&Aber-
deen Junction
25 all Do. New
25 all East Anglian
18 all Do., (£lB E& H)
20 all Eastern Counties
. St. all Eastern Union, A
Stock
St. 100jDo., B. Stock
25 83,D0., New A -
St. 100 East Lancashire
East & West Ind. Dk
50 all & Binning. June
St. 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow
10 1. Edinb. and Peebles
St. 100 Edin. Prth. &Dundee
St. 100 Glasgow S. Western
St. 100 Great Northern Stk.
St. 100 Do., A. Stock
St. 100 Do., B. Stock
St. 100 Slt. Sth. &West. (Ire )
St. 100 Great Western
12 11 Irish South-Eastern
50 all Lancaster & Carlisle)
16 Do., Thirds
St. 100 Lancash.andYorksh '
20 171 Do., Fifths
14 114 Da. , Wst. Riding Un
50 all Leeds Northern
20 all Liv. Crsby. &Soutbpt
11i all London & Blackwall
10 7 Loud. Tilb. &Sthend.
St. 100 Loud. Bright & S.Cst.
St. 100 Loud. and N. Westn.
12 Do. Fifths
1 Do.lo/.5h.,M&8...0
00 London andS. Westn.
42:2 Do., £5O
34 Do., £4O
111 Lnndrry& Coleraine
111 Lndndrry. & Ennisk.
DO Manch.Shef.& Lineln
4-A Do., Man. & Lin. Un
DO Midland
)0 Do. Birnmg. &Derby
173 Midld. G. West. (Ire.)
1.74 Do. Half Shares
1.11 Newcastle & Carlisle
)0 Newmarket
44 Do., Bury Extension
I.7,l,lNwpt.Aberg. &Hrfd
7,3lNewry & Enniskillen
LB iiNewry Warrenpoint
and Rostrevor
)0 Norfolk
3A Northn.CountiesUn
North British
North Devon, No. 1
Do., No. 2
Do., 3 A Deferred
Do., I B Guaranteed
3 North Staffordshire
North Western
N. & S. Westrn. June
Oxford, Worcester,
Wolverhampton
Scottish Central
Scottish Midland
Shrewsbury &Bitmg
Do. L. & N. Westerr
Guaranteed St
Shre ,vsby. & Hereal.
Shrews'oy. & Chester
(S. W. Min ;
Do. Holvesl. e
Do. Oswestry
Shropshire Union
South Devon
South Eastern
South Wales
S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dur
Do..

100
100
100
100

all
all
all'
tOO
all

21s.
100
20
114
100-1

St. 100
St. 1100

. 1100
5 I all

C
(41 all

3 all

5 all
74 2
6I all

614 all
0 all
!O all

,t. 100
5 all

.0 10
6 all

100
t. 100
t. 100

It. 100
it. 100

It. 100
i 0 , all

t. 1100
5

.2I 10

12,31 all

0 all
6 3
`l,! all
f.)! all
221 84
100-
ft. 100

L6?,3 5
LO 6
it. 100
it. 100
it. 100
;t. 100
:0 all
it. 100

L 5 l5
8 all
i 0 all

10 10
25 all
10 1!,
.06 all

it. Imo

5 3
It. 100

.7 5
15 10

.0 5
5 3

!O all
!O 14
!O 8
!O all
!O 2
5 all
!O 10
!O} all
5 3

!O 15
0 10
5 2
5 3
.0 5

0 7
.4,
:0 all

4) all
.6 all

194 —20 i
4i
8 94
13 —ll dial

!O all
.0 all
0 10
.0 all
!O all

9 4
.04 104
0 all

►o all
;0 2
;0 6
;0 2s.
Si all
[0 10
;0 10
LO 4
10 ].2

16 18
54 —44 d
94 96
52 53
164
13 15

ii. -- ie

7i - 8i

44 3
-34 i
12A - 12

38 - 42
27 - 29

63 - 6

- 6

ii - ii

801 813,
57 59
124 126
104
801— 81a

85 - 88
10 -12 p
63:1 - 64
781 - 601
5 - 4AI
12i - 13-

8
Ipkin
95 9T d
1034 -103 i
id ; p
t
72 74
14 I
13 —12 d

192 -

60i - 614
33 - 351

52 54
d par
51 44(1

48 - 50
4 3.:1
26 ... 27
8 10

la 2
7
6 Rd
74 71.
par 2 pl

38 - 39
87 89
53 - 55
60 - 62

55 - 65
- *ll

15 -- 17
7
i-- 8
11 --1314
-- 3/d
14 -- 16
59 -- 61
333 -- 344

3 - 4

Stockton Hartlepl
Thames Haven Dock
and Railway
Vale of Neath '
Waterfd. & Kilkenny
Waterford&Limerick
West Cornwall
Wimblcdn & Croydon
York Newctl. &Berw.
T)o. Extensions
I 90. G.N.E. F arehase
York & N. Midland

28 - 2i
15 16

i; --

63 64
9 -- Bidi
3id,l
-47 i

~~ H

511 i i

4? f i

121

80 79}
5797
101
80

12 p m
621 i

96,i
104 3
12

73 i

19i
60 59i 601

11A. R

63 2i
111
'4
461

18 20

2i - 31

ii -: 119

.0G - 108
P - 4 P

7i -

64 -- 7
99 -- 101
95 -- 100
95 -- 100

id par
13+ 111 ,

2 - 3

12A - 13,1;

6 - 7
9 91
A --P

.. - ...

.

138 140
id

3 2 d
4 2d
12 13
21 2id
3
341)
Ad P
lip
2
2i lid
8 5
51,d
1 lg
1 13
d
lip
71

344 -34 i
12i -- 13$
74 8
164 -- 1611)

39 -- 40
36i -346 t
3 -- 1
2 -- p
18i -19 i
ld par
8 -- 8i
d
i
2 -- 4 p
3

dis
8 9 p
id
= 3 d

98 i

PM
Pm
133 i

1071
101

81 i
5
li i

LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS.

Shr.!P:

Ed.! RAILWAYS.

11 Bedford and
Bletchley....
11 B:rm. & Oxfd.
g aarantee....
611 Do. withoutgr
dl Birm.Wolv. do
Dudley guar.
dl Do. NN tilt guar.
Buekghamsh.
dl Clydesdale Jc.
10 E. Lincoln gr.
6 per cent.
dl Glstr.dt Dn. Fr
11 llrtlpl. Dk. &
Railway
11 Hull & Selby
.11 Do. 2 Shares.
dl Do. Shares.
ill Lon.&Greenw
Ell Do. Preference
)0 Lowestoft gr.,
4 per cent.
10 Do. 6 per et.
al Manch. Bxtu
and Matlock
all Middlesbro' &
Redcar
all Midld.Bradfd
all Northern and
Ea,sternsp.e.
Do. 6 per et.
11 Do. Fixeds p e
ll Prest. & Wyre

50 a]

304 a]
30,i a]

301 al
St. 101
50 a]
St. 10(

50 a
25 a]

Leasing
Compans.

Closing Prices
lil on day.

London &
N. West.

Business
this day.

Gt.Westn
Do

IDo
Do
L. &N. W
iCaledon ,

S 9 - 101
49 - 51

Gt.Nrthn.
Gt. Westn
Yk. New.
& Berw.
Y. &NMd
Do

138 - 142
30 - 32

[O7 - 109
534 - 542
26A - 2'4
134 - 14
21. j - 25

20.
20 10(

DS.oEastern

INorfolk..

L.& N. W.
& Midid.
Stckton &
Darlingt.
Midland ..1

2/ - 3

98 - 100

50
50 a
25 a

E. Count
Do

Do
L. &N.W
Sau&Yk
Do

12 1
St. 101
St. 101
25 1

2 Do. i Shares.
10 Roystn.& Hit.
Do.Shepth. St
8 Shef.Roth.and
Gooleg.s p.c.
9i S. Staftordsh.
di Wear Valleygr
6 per cent
.11 Do
10 Wilts&Somrst

GtNorthn
Do

Lancash&
Yorksh.
M.MClean
Stockt. &
Darlingt
Do

59 - 61

25 1
St. 11

... . --* --

137 - 142
137 - 142

dis
2

29i - 3041
95 -97 r!

ir 30
!97 6

iGtWestn.i

MINES.
1 all 1 ligua Fria
1 all Anglo Austrin. Gold Id par
10s. all Anglo Californian d— par
10 2 Australasian ll d
20 5 Australian
1 all Australian Cordillera g
1 all Australian Freehold # id
1 all Ave Maria — id
1 all Baden (Gd. Duchy of) id par
1 all British Austrlu. Gold * # d
20 13.5 British Iron
35 244 Brazilianlmp.(issued
at £5 pm 6 7 6 i
30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiada 22 3 2i
20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 34 —36
1 .3 Carson's Creek
40 all Cobre Copper 4l —43 42
5 1 Colonial
... 15 Copiapo
St. all ,dopper MM. of Eng 55 65
25 all Do. Pref. 71 p. cent 5 7pxd
5 all English and Austrin
Copper Smeltg.Co 2l 3
20 all General
2 all Great Nugget Vein a p
2 all Do. Registered
3 all Great Polgooth
1 all Lake Bathurst 4 d
1 all Liberty
3 all Linares
1 all Lond.&Californ.Gold
Quartz Crush. Co. 1
1 all Mariquita
10 9 Mexic ,uS:S.Americn 6# 74
1 all New Gr.- lada d— par
1 all Nouveau Monde i p
10 5 Nova Scotia Mining
and Copper Smeltg.
5 1 Port Philip
1 all Quartz Rock
50 all Rhymney Iron
15 15 )o. New —
30 10# "antiago de Cuba 41 4i
1 all F)utit Australian
10 7 Tin Croft 5 7
284 all United Mexican 3* 4 32 1
1 all Waller — dis
1 all West Granada
1 all West Mariposa
1 all Yuba - 1 d
JOINT-STOCK BANKS.
40 all Australasia 73 75 75 3
50 all British N. American
20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India,
Australia, & China 4 d-- 4 d 1i
100 25 Colonial
•••
100 20 Commercial of Lond.
20 10 English Scottish and
Australian, l4 lid
20 15 Lond. Chart. Bk. of
Australia 1 4p 154
50 20 Loudon and County ...
50 10 London Joint Stock 22 24
100 20 Lond. & Westminster 33 35
20 2 Loadou Bank of Aus-
tralia and India
50 211 National of Ireland ...
25 all Oriental Bank of
Corporation. 45 47
25 5 Do. New
100 25 Provincial of Ireland 45.
10 all Do. New — ... 48
5 1 Royal Australn. Bkg
& Gold Imp Co dis— par
25 all South Australia 39 41
25 all Union of Australia 7l 73 72
. . 2! Do. New 72 Si
50 10- Union of London lB 19
40 all Union of Madrid —

MISCELLANEOUS
100 35 Australian Agricult. 141 43 401
20 12 Australsn.Pcific.Maill
10 8 Australis. Royal Mail
50 381 Brit. American Land 55 60
100 321 Canada,
5 5 Crystal Palace — p 6 64
4 2 Crystal Pal. of France 21 2
20 3 Eastern Steam ••• ..•
1 1 Electric Telcg. of Ir
15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat
20 16 General Screw Steam
20 5 Irish Beetroot Sugar
1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel
10 3 Netherlands Land ll - id
20 10 Nrth. ofEuropeSteam
50 all Peninsular& Oriental
50 25 Do.
100 60 Royal Mail Steam
25 25 South Austral. Land 36 38
1 all Submar. Telegraph
5 2 Univcral Emigration
and Colonization.......-
100 281 Van Diemen's Land 15 —l6

HASTINGS MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

EAST WARD.
Bromley, J. R. (Liberal)
Coussens, John (Liberal)
Ross, Thomas (Liberal) 476
Picknell, Edward (Liberal)
Burfield, Charles (Tory)
Harvey, Anthony (Tory)
Four Liberals elected.

. 187
. 145
. 136

WEST WARD
Deudney, Robert (Tory)
Peerless, John (Liberal)
Birch, Wm. (Tory)
Fi
Council. First
t otuwoc i l.elected, giving a Liberal majority in the
Town

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

:From the London, New Price Current of yesterday.)

SUGAR.—Today West India Sugar was held for previous
prices, the quantity on offer not being equal to last week,
but refining and grocery sorts were operated in with cau-
tion. At auction, Barbadoes went rather cheaper ; fine
yellow at 37s Gd to 38s Gd. middling to good 34s Gd to 375,
and low 32s Gd to 348 ; 22 tierces and 7 barrels Demerara
crystallized sold at 35s to 37s Gd for ord to mid yellow.
REFINED.—To-day refined sugar was not to be obtained
at a further reduction, still the home trade demand was
not better—brown lumps are 44s to 44s Gd, and low to fine
grocery 448 6d to 47s per cwt. Crushed sugar met with
little notice for shipping, and easier rates accepted for
British and foreign.
MAURITIUS.—This afternoon Mauritius sugar was only
in limited request, and in most cases the rates taken were
Gd per cwt under those of Friday. At auction 3,500 bags
were sold—low brown at 26s to 275, better sorts 27s 6d to
31s Gd, low to mid yellow 32s to 345, and good 31s 6d to
35s 6cl per cwt.
EAST INDIES.—This afternoon white Benares met with
a limited demand, and at auction 800 bags went at barely
previous prices ; ordinary to good at 36s to 38s per cwt.
In other sorts of Bengal little done privately, and sales
can easily be made at previous rates.
TEA.—In congou extensive purchases have been made
by home dealers, and large speculative contracts have been
concluded ; prices are still advancing, and rule ld to Lid
per lb above those current two weeks back. They closed
to-day for low to good ord at is Old to is Id, rather black-
ish leaf to blackish blackish is 14(1 to is lid, strong to
Pekoe sorts is 3d to 2s 4d, and fine new crop 2s 6d to 2s 7d.
The qualities from is 2d to Is 8d most in request. In green
tea the increase in operations is considerable, both for con-
sumption and speculative purposes ; prices are also on the
advance for all sorts.
COFFEE.—To-day holders of plantation Ceylon displayed
firmness, and offered none at public sale. Privately several
parcels were disposed of at full rates to a small advance for
coloury. Native is much wanted at 45s for good, and
at which there are no sellers. At auction 250 bags were
partly disposed of at 465. for real good ordinary unclean.
There is a better demand for Foreign Coffee, and the par-
cels of Brazil and Costa Rica sold privately were at full
prices. Mocha continues to attract little notice, still sales
are not pressed.
SPIRITS.—To-day brandy was less in request, and
Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1851 can be obtained
at 8s 5d to 8s 7d per gallon. For rum the market is inac-
tive, proof leeward at 2s 7d to 2s Bd, East India 2s 7d,
and Demerara at '3s Gd to 3s lld for 32 to 42 per cent. over
proof.

TALLOW.—There hasbeena further decrease in operations
in Russian for all purposes, and prices compared with this
day week show a decline of is 6d to 2s per cwt. Transac•
tions have been limited 56s 9d to 578 on the spot, for
first sort P.Y.C., at 56s to 56s 3d for delivery up to the
close of the year ; and 57s to Ws 3d for spring months.
Town tallow is not more plentiful, still prices declined and
rule at 58s cash. Other sorts of Tallow are cheaper by
is 6d, and transactions limited.
OlLS.—Transactions in Seal have decreased, and there is
a decline • pale selling at 37/ 108 to 381 10s, straw and
tinged 341 to 36/ 10s, and dark 331 to 341 per tun. The
market has assumed a quiet appearance for Cod, 3415 s to
34/ 10s, accepted being a decline. The value of low to fine
southern is 391 to 421, and stock is still in secend hands.
sperm Attracts little notice, and prices Wolin. downwards,l

THE WEST INDIES.

The royal mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain
Abbott, arrived off Southampton yesterday after-
noon with the usual West India, Central American,
Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and Californian mails, in
charge of Lieutenant Tickell, R.N., Admiralty
agent. Her dates are—
Vera Cruz......... Oct. 5 Trinidad Oct. 12
Tampico ............ Sept. 30 Grenada — 13
Havannah ......... Oct. 11 Carriacoa — 13
Santa Martha Sept. 23 St. Vincent —l3
Greytown Oct. 7 St. Lucia — 14
Chagres — 9 Martinique — 14
Carthagena
Jamaica — 12 Dominique — 15
Hayti — 13 Antigua — 15
Porto Rico — 15 Montserrat — 15
Berbice
15
Demerara ...... 10 St. Kitts — 15
Tobago — 12 Torto's
Barbadoes —8, St. Thomas — 16
During the homeward voyage the Magdalena ex-
perienced very heavy weather, having met with a
succession of fresh gales, with a heavy swell from
the eastward. She brings 43 passengers, and on
freight specie from Tampico value $65,014, and for
account of the Mexican bondholders $28,134, the
total value from the Gulf of Mexico being $93,148.
No silver was shipped at Vera Cruz, the Avon
having encountered a very heavy norther while
lying off that city, which continued from 2 p.m. of
the 2d to 4 a.m. of the sth of October, when there
was a temporary lull till 8 a.m., during which time
the passengers managed to get on board. The
specie remaining at Vera Cruz will therefore be
shipped by the next homeward packet. The
Magdalena also brings gold dust value 7,5671.,
and gold value 26,9041. 10s., besides silver ore
value 811., precious stones value 7391., and platina
value 4901. The freight list also comprises 150
serons of cochineal, 11 serons of indigo, 94 cases of
cigars, 12 bales of tobacco, 9 casks and 18 tierces
of coffee, 53 bales of sarsaparilla, 359 packages of
pimento, 6 live turtle, 4 cases of tortoiseshell, and
90 packages of sundries.
An accident happened to the Royal mail steam-
ship Conway at St. Kitt's, which led to some de-
rangement of the intercolonial mails in the West
Indies. After the Magdalena's arrival at St.
Thomas's from England, on the 2d of October, she
despatched the intercolonial packets, the Teviot
and Conway, both starting together on their re-
spective routes, carrying mails and passengers ;
the former for Jamaica, the latter for the Wind-
ward Group. The Conway had on board 37 pas-
sengers, including Mr. Mackintosh, the Governor-
General, and Mr. Drummond Hay, Lieutenant-
Governor of the Leeward Islands, returning from
Tortola to the seat of Government at Antigua.
The Conway proceeded no further than St. Kitt's,
there unfortunately striking the ground at the south-
western extremity of the island, on the Belle Tete
Reef at a quarter-past 3 o'clock on the morning of
the 4th ult. It is dfficult for the uninitiated to
account for the accident, the land appearing dis-
tinct about two miles off. Being to leeward the
water was smooth ; and, after experiencing
some heavy shocks, the vessel lay quiet, but re-
fused to go off. The passengers, suddenly aroused
from their beds, behaved well, as scarcely any con-
fusion seemed to ensue. The ladies and others,
who expressed a wish to leave the ship, were soon
landed in the ship's boats without much personal
inconvenience—the Village of Sandy Bay affording
an asylum conveniently situated about 21 miles
distant. All the party who landed bore willing
testimony that West Indian hospitality has not
departed with the prosperity of the planters, for
nothing could exceed the kindness of Mr. Harper
(the proprietor of the sugar estate in the vicinity)
to the numerous guests who paid him and his
family so unceremonious and early a visit. Those
who remained on board found the vessel quietly
slip off into deep water, with a disabled rudder,
and leaking considerably, but not more than the
' engines could keep under. The rudder was re-
placed by an excellent jury one, obtained at Basse
Terre, not far off (the roadstead originally bound
for), whence she steamed back to St. Thomas's (speak-
ing the Magdalena en route), and, after obtaining a
temporary refit, proceeded to Savannah for repairs.
From Jamaica we have private advices to the
12th ult. The new Governor of the colony, Sir
Henry Barkly, had been duly inaugurated. He
arrived at Kingston in her Majesty's steam-ship
Brisk on Tuesday, the 4th of October. He landed
at the Government wharf in Port Royal-street, and
was received with the loudest demonstrations of

joy. Flags were hoisted at every available flag-
' staff, and the shipping in harbour decorated in the
gayest colours. He was driven to the railway
station in the carriage of Colonel Farquharson, who
met him at the wharf, and proceeded by special
train to Spanish Town, the seat of his Government.
The shrill sound of the whistle one full hour before
the time of arrival of the ordinary train attracted
to the station in Spanish Town a large assemblage
of persons, and the enthusiasm was equal to that
exhibited in Kingston. Nothing can convey au idea
of the manifestations of joy at Sir Henry Barkly's
arrival. The peculiarly momentous period of his
appointment, the painful state of public affairs,
arid Sir Henry's fame for conciliatory conduct in
British Guiana, all rendered the circumstance of
his arrival one of greater interest and importance
than are generally attached to the appointment of
a new ruler. On the 6th ult., two days after his
arrival, he was duly inaugurated into office, the
customary oaths being administered. There was
an unusually large assemblage of persons present
at the interesting ceremony. The second train
from Kingston on that particular day conveyed
2(X) passengers, a very large number for one train
on the Jamaica Railway. After his inauguration
his Excellency lost no time in entering upon his
important duties. Two proclamations were issued
immediately, one renewing the appointments held
under the former administration, the other calling
the Legislature together on the 18th of October for
the despatch of puilic business. The day was
looked forward to by all classes with natural

anxiety.
Sir Charles Grey, the former governor, had taken
private lodgings in Spanish Town, which he would
continue to occupy until his departure from the
island. The Hon. John Mais, a gentleman known

many years ago as a public man, died on the 9th
ult., in his 76th year. There was a very general
depression in business circles.. All descriptions of
provisions were scarce, and prices very high in
consequence. The public health was pretty satis-
factory. Coughs and colds prevailed, but the
yellow fever had disappeared. The weather was
becoming more pleasant than it had been for a long
time.

The accounts from Demerara are politically un-
important, no meeting of the Legislature having
taken place. From the interior, the complaint
was unive:sal that the canes were not yielding
well, and the crops would therefore be shortened.
The produce was, however, greatly ahead of former
years, and the average
,per acre was said to be a
hogshead and three-quarters, equal to a ton and a
half of sugar. The canes for next year were in the
highest degree promising. Trade was dull. The
weather was extremely hot, and fever was pretty
general in the colony, although yellow fever was
principally confined to the shipping and to the
Colonial Hospital. Smallpox had also been pre-
valent. One or two arrivals of Portuguese immi-
grants had taken place, but labour was still greatly
in demand, and in Essequibo the planters were
compelled to resort to the expedient of task gangs.
The steamer Rattlesnake, intended for ferry ser-
vice, had arrived at Georgetown.
From Trinidad our advices are to the 12th ult.
At a meeting of the Board of Council, resolutions,
embracing matters of considerable interest to the
financial state of the island, were passed.
A motion was also made by Mr. Rennie for re-
commending to the Secretary of State for_
the
Colonies that an agent for Trinidad should be ap-
pointed in London, at a salary of 3001. sterling per
annum. The report of the committee appointed to
inquire into the scheme sent out by the Colonial-
office for reducing the postage between
h the
and the colonies was adopted,
after
ther at an early
gland
council adjourned, to be called tog! s
theBs.
date for deliberation on the estimate
that
From St. Lucia we learn . weather,
though seasonable, had been governor of
The Count de Gueydon, thecjiprnessewively hot.
de France on the 23d
Martinique, arrived at
day issued a proclama..
of September, and the Fortnext
tion announcing
tion of the Government.
The island of Grenadahie essufaPhad been deluged with
rain, to the .
serious
estates serious detriment of the cane crops.
Many of the
had also received serious da-
mane from the
floods, where thecropslabourers'
cottages,
provision grounds had been more
or less and
damaged. The island was suffering from a
lack of labour, and, in consequence, the crop of
the forthcoming year was expected to be deterio-
rated in quantity.
The heat of the atmosphere had considerably
abated.

Accounts from Barbadoes state that the House
of Assembly had agreed to a petition to the House
of Commons in favour of a reduction of the duty
on British Plantation sugar. A good deal of rain
had fallen in the island. Business was very full,
and there had been few arrivals of shipping.
The legislative session of Tobago was opened on
the 13th of September by a speech from President
Yeates, Which gave an unfavourable view of the
position of the affairs of the island. The Tobago
Chronicle reports favourably of the promises as to
the ensuing year's crop, the weather being good
and estate work proceeding very satisfactorily,
notwithstanding a paucity of labourers.
Her Majesty's ship Duzzard arrived at Jamaica

-
(from a cruise on the 27th of September., and sailed
on the Ist of October for Portobello. The steam-
sloop Brisk, 20 days from Madeira , with Sir
Henry Barkly, the new Governor, on board, ar-
rived on the 4th ult. Her Majesty's !ship Vestal,
17 days from the Bay of Fundy,. a,:nd the brig
Daring, from a cruise, arrived at Poll Royal on
the 10th ult. Her Majesty's steam-fig ate Megwra
arrived at St. Thomas's, from Tortola c ,n the 11th,
and left the following day for Barba.doc:s.
The Royal mail steamship Avon -was on the
Gulf of Mexico station • the Clyde, in -the Spanish
Main ; the Conway, at Savannah ; the Dee, at
New York ; the Derwent, on the Northern Islands
route ; the Eagle, at Jamaica ; the Esk, at St.
Thomas's ; the Medway and Teviot, on! the Spanish
Main routes. When the Magdalena left St.
Thomas's, at 4 p.m. on the 16th ult., the new
steamship Solent, which left Southampton on the
3d of October, had not arrived out, and has not
been spoken by the Magdalena. The Solent on
the 16th ult. was 13 days out from Southampton.
On the 27th ult., in lat. 41.7 N., long. 28,41 W.,
the Magdalena signalled the English merchant ship
Patricia, steering about S. W. by W. She had
a large black ball painted on her foretopsail.

NEW PENNY RECEIPT AND DRAFT STAMPS.

The following correspondence, in reference to the New
Stamp Act, will be found serviceable to all engaged in
mercantile transactions :

"TO THOMAS KEOGH, ESQ., INLAND REVENUE, SOMER•

SET•HOUSE.
"Union-road, Plymouth, Oct. 18, 1853.
" Sir,—There is a great deal of misunderstanding
about the New Stamp Act, and I should feel much
obliged if you would kindly reply to the following
queries :—lf I receive a promissory note at thirty days,
two or three months, or a banker's draft at seven or
fourteen days, am I obliged to give a stamped receipt
for the amount ? Are railway companies obliged to
give stamped receipts for fares above 408., received in
cash over the counter at the station ? Are auctioneers
compelled to give stamped receipts for amounts above
405., for goods purchased at auctions ? Are farmers and
cattle-dealers obliged to give stamped receipts for corn
and cattle sold at fairs and markets ?

" Is it necessary to give a stamped receipt for moneys
paid on account of a. bill delivered, not actually settled,
or is a stamped receipt merely necessary at the settle-
ment of the account ? Are tradesmen obliged to give
stamped receipts for goods sold over the counter, such
as grocers, drapers, &c. ?
"Drafts on Demand.—Can one merchant draw a
draft on another merchant for the amount of an accoun t
without passing through a banker, provided the penny
stamp is attached thereto, and if so, will an acknow-
ledgment on the back of the draft to be a legal receipt ?
" I have seen some cheques with postage stamps and
receipt stamps on' them, but I imagine that neither of
these are valid, and I presume that the proper draft on
demand' stamps must be on these 'to order' cheques.
"Trusting you will kindly answer the above queries,
" I have the honour to remain, sir,
" Your obedient servant,
" WILLIAM E. RENDLE."

"TO THOMAS KEOGH, ESQ., INLAND REVENUE, SOMERSET-

HOUSE.

" Union•road, Plymouth, Oct. 21, 1853.
" Sir—l am sorry to trouble you with these additional
queries, but trust that you will reply to them at your
convenience.

"According to an old act of Parliament, I believe it
was enacted that if a letter was sent through the Post-
office, acknowledging the receipt of money, it was held
to be a legal receipt. Has this law been repealed or
not, and if not, how does it affect the new law ?
"If I draw a draft on demand to order on a stamped
form, will a receipt given on the back be a sufficient
legal receipt ?
" An answer to the above at your convenience will
much oblige, sir, your obedient servant,
" WILLIAM E. RENDLE."

" Inland Revenue, Somerset House, London,

Oct. 27, 1853.
" Sir,—ln answer to the questions submitted ix your
letter of the 18th inst., I am directed to acquaint you
that if a receipt be given for a demand satisfied bymeans
of a bill or note of any description, it must be on a.
stamp 2 • and if receipts be given in any of the cases men-
tioned by you, they must be on stamps ; but there is
nothing in the Stamp Act imposing an obligation on the
person receiving money, in any case, to give a receipt
unless he be required to do so by the person making the
payment. _ _

" A draft to bearer or order on demand may be drawn
on any person with a penny stamp, and a receipt for the
contents when paid may be written on the back without
a receipt stamp. No other than the stamp provided for
the particular description of document can be used. A
draft stamp cannot be used for a receipt, nor a receipt
stamp for a draft, and a postage stamp is good for
neither.

" With reference to your letter of the 21st inst., I am
directed to acquaint you that letters by the general-post,.
acknowledging the safe arrival of promissory notes, bills
of exchange, and other securities for money, are exempt
from the stamp receipt duty ; the law in this particular
is the same as it was previously to the passing of the
new act.

" A receipt may be given on the back of a duly-
stamped draft for its contents.
" I am, sir, your obedient servant,
" THOMAS KEOGH.
"To Mr. William E. Rendle, seed-merchant, Plymouth."

THE CHOLERA.

( Front the General Board of Health.)
DUNDEE.

Deaths.

Oct. 31- -Cholera .

EDINBURGH.

Oct. 29—Cholera
ARBROATH

Oct. 29—Cholera

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
Oct. 31—Cholera
Diarrhoea
WOLSTANTON.

Deaths.

Oct. 29—Diarrhoea
TENDRING (ST. OSYTII).
Oct. 29—Diarrhoea ........
EASINGTON UNION.
Oct. 16.. Cholera 1
This case (which is just reported) occurred at Seaham
Harbour, in this union. There was another case about
five weeks ago, which also occurred at Seaham Harbour,
but no return was then made. The description of the
locality is that the situation is confined and the walla
damp.

2

Deaths.

THORNE UNION.
Oct. 29 and 30—Cholera
LUTON.
Oct. 29 and 31—Cholera .
At Erith and Bexley attacks of choleraic disease, as
well as Asiatic cholera, have been reported as having re-
cently occurred.

METROPOLIS.
From retth Lis made by the superintendents of the
F, kl, K, L, M, P, and Thames divisions of police, and
transmitted to the General Board of Health, it appestra
that nineteen cases of cholera have occurred in tho se
districts since the last reports therefrom ; in ten in-
stances the result was fatal. In one case death ensuml
S hours after the attack, and in another "after 4 hours'
illness. This case occurred in Bennett's-buildings, Ken...,
ningtou-lane. In a third, death followed after 161:1
hours' attack ; in another 121 hours, and in another 12--
hours after seizure. In four other cases death followed
within twenty-four hours after attack. In three in-
stances the houses are described as " badly ventilated,'"
there being no back doors, windows, or yards. In one•
case also no water is laid on, neither is any privy at-
ciannnthoet
tached to the house. In the other, " the privy is in
within
nt o
thatts:unP Ptdl ylaeyys 1;i:ill::
front, for the use of several houses, and swells very
offensive." The case which ended fatally after 16i
hours' illness was the second
drain bad, and the adjoining houses in a similar condi-
tion. house. The privy is described as offenstil
htioouns.es,Tahnedrethies
inbhuatboitnaentwsacteorrr-tlap i
get sufficient water for common use. The house in whiclh
the death occurred after 12/ hours' illness is also des-
cribed as "very small Trivy, and drain close to a back-
door, in bad repair and offensive ; also a ver
drain, and a quantity of dust and vegetable
refuse • •
within
a few yards of the front door." The i
plain of its being very seldom el inhabitants com-
plain and of the
being badly paved. This is the third ' place
place (Suffolk.place, Bermondsey), case in this same
From another police within 15 days.
return it
31st October, a death from Asiaticappears that, on the
a common lodging-h ous cholera took place in
after 11!1 hours' ill ein Old Kent-street, Southwark,.
Illness. Another death occurred on the
same day in a n
Blue Anchor- non-registered common lodging-house in
Westminster Yard ,Whitechapel, Peter-street, St. James's,
, 31st October, 1 cholera (21 hours). A
death from cholera occurred in Regent-street, Westmin-
ster, on Saturday, 14 hours after attack. In this in-
stance the privy was in the house, and was so very offen-
sive
that the medical men, on entering the premises,
were completely sickened by the effluvia. So bad, in-
deed, was the smell, that the lindlady was obliged to
take tiles off the roof of the privy to effect some kind of
ventilation. The landlord is now introducing a water-
closet instead of the cesspool, and a quantity of quick
lime has been thrown down to counteract the effect of
the offensive effluvia of the cesspool.
ST. JAMES'S, WESTMINSTER.—MarIborough-court,
Carnaby-street, Oct. 30, cholera, 1. This case is de-
scribed as occurring in a narrow court, in a densely
populated neighbourhood, the sewers of which are all
undergoing repairs.
KING-STREET-TERRACE, NEW NORTH-ROAD.—Out. 29,
cholera, 1 (12 hours.)
ST. OLAVE'S UNION.—From returns made from the
board of guardians of the St. Olave's Union, Southwark,
it appears from the 27th of September to the 28th of
October there have been 98 cases of choleraic diffeame
within that district, 12 of which have resulted fatally.
In one case death ensued five hours after attack, and it
is remarked that the "pavement of the row of ho uses in
which this occurred is also, without exception, 'broken
up, and the smells proceeding from this and the- water-
closets are most intense. ' In another case the mo-
ther of the patient had recently died of cholera in the
same house.
FULHAM UNION.--The medical officers of this union
have just reported 6 cases of cholera and 4 deaths. In
one instance death ensued after 7 hours' illness, and
another 10 hours after ficiauv,