The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-21 00:00:00

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HIGH PRICE OF

VGALS.
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Mr. Bradfield at the moment entered the private room
for the purpose of making a fresh statement to the Lord
Mayor, as to the number of colliers in the river which were
waiting for weighers, and seemed to be quite gratified at
seeing the complainants, with whom he was, he said, desirous
to exchange a few words,
Mr. Metcalf had observed in the Newspapers that Mr.
Bradfield had been complaining generally against the coal
trade. About general accusations he (Mr. Metcalf) would
not have for a moment thought of troubling his Lordship,
especially from such an accuser ; but when he found that
the coal-factors were charged with being in the habit of
stealing a tenth part of the property consigned to them, he
could not help coming forward to contradict such a calumny
in the most positive terms. In fact, such a thing was quite
impossible if there were the disposition to be dishonest ex-
isting. The coal-factors were three miles from the place
where the vessels discharged their cargoes.
Mr. Bradfield—lt was the coal merchants and wharfin-
gers I said had been in the habit formerly of stealing the
coals to the extent you mention—half a chaldron out of
every five chaldrons ; and there is no more doubt of the
fact than of my existence. But I came here to inform the
Lord Mayor that there are, at this moment, numerous col-
liers in the river waiting for weighers.
The Lord Mayor—ls it possible ?
Mr. Bradfield—Not a doubt of it, my Lord, notwith-
standing the very perfect arrangements boasted of for the
benefit of the public.
Mr. Metcalf—Then I am to understand that you do not
charge the coal-factors with stealing coals, am I ?
Mr. Bradfield— I don't charge the coal-facters with
stealing coals, but I charge them with doing as bad.—
(Laughter,) You do all you can to advance the price of
coals, which is as bad as stealing them. You have belonged
to the committee of the coal market, and I dare say will
very shortly be a member of it again, and you perfectly well
understand what I mean.
Mr. Metcalf—l see that your object in coming forward
in this way is to make the Lord Mayor a stepping-stone to
some comfortable place.
Mr. Bradfield—l am, at all events, exposing as villainous
a system of plunder as ever existed in a great necessary of
life.

The Lord Mayor—Pray, Mr. Metcalfe, do you consider
that there is a sufficient number of weighers to do the busi-
ness of the trade ?
Mr. Metcalf--Certainly, my Lord, there is. There are
more than can be employed during some parts of the year
—the summer months, for instance. I believe the coals
sold yesterday are worked to-day by the weighers ;if not,
they will be worked to-morrow.
Mr. Bradfield—Yesterday 28 colliers were waiting for
weighers.
The Lord Mayor—That there is something wrong in the
coal trade I have not the least doubt. Probably it origi-
nates in the north ; but there seems to be a great deal of
obscurity, as well as trick, about it.
Mr. Metcalf—There have been already inquiries into the
state of the coal trade, and we are ready to give every in-
formation we can. The system we have at the coal market
is the best, in my opinion, that can be devised. We are
enabled by it to establish a steady price for the commodity.
. Mr. Bradfield—Yes, indeed, a steady high price.--(A
laugh.)
• Mr. Metcalf—A price merely remunerating to those en-
gaged in the trade.
Mr. Bradfield—Oh, dear ! Remunerating. Is that all ?
It is a monstrous and cruel imposition upon the poor ; and
the coal-factors are perfectly aware of it.
The Lord Mayor—Mr. Bradfield, I must not permit you
to attack these gentlemen, whom I know to be persons of
the highest respectability. In censuring what you consider
to be an abuse you most violently attack every body who
has any thing to do with the trade, You attack the mem-
hers of the Parliamentary Committee, the Aldermen, the-
coal-owners in the north, the coal.factors, the coal-mer-
merchants, and the wharfingers.—( Laughter.) That great
abuses exist I entertain not the least doubt, and I wish it
were possible to correct them ; but intemperate language is
opposed to the very principle and essence of inquiry.
Mr. Bradfield—l assure you, my Lord, they all deserve
it.—(A laugh). If your Lordship knew as well as I know
the villainous course pursued you would say so too. It is
enough to make any man of common feeling indignant.
The Lord Mayor—Pray, Mr. Metcalf, is there not an
understanding that if a ship delivers coals in London out of
what is called her turn, she will find some difficulty in pro-
curing coals again

M. Metcalf--That I cannot answer. I am not ac-
quainted with the system in the north. We take what
coals we consider necessary.
The Lord Mayor—And if the public want more you dare
not sell them ?

We understood Mr. Metcalf to answer in the negative.
The Lord Mayor—You'd be put out of the trade if you
were to break such regulation ?
Mr. Metcalf—l don't know. I did not expect to be
asked these qnestions, my Lord, and I am not prepared to
answer them ; but I am convinced that we do everything
to keep a steady market, and to serve the public.
The Lord Mayor—Are you acquainted with any case
in which a party having entered into a contract to supply
a certain quantity of coals could not get the article without
paying three shillings a chaldron more than any body else,
because he, on a former occasion, unloaded before his time ?
Mr. Metcalf—l am not acquainted with any case of the
kind.

The Lord Mayor—l am ; and lam convinced of the
existence of a most injurious combination.
Mr. Bradfield—Yes, my Lord, and the coal-factors are
aware of it, and support it to the utmost.
Mr. Metcalf—My Lord, Mr. Bradfield may do what he
chooses to break up the combination, if such a thing exists;
but let him not accuse the coal-factors of stealing coals.
Mr. Bradfield—Allow me to ask you a question or two,
Mr. Metcalf.—(Laughter).
Mr. Metcalf—No, Sir, I shall not answer any question
from such a quarter.
Mr. Bradfield—Very well ; don't suppose, however, that
I have done with you yet.
The Lord Mayor had no doubt that Mr. Bradfield's
motive was good, and his perseverance and zeal were extra-
ordinary.

MAGISTRATES of SCOTCH BURGHS.

GLASGOW.—The Hon. Henry Dunlop, of Craigton,
Lord Provost. Henry Paul, Richard Kidston, John
Small, William Robertson, and John Bain, Esqrs.,
Bailies. James Browne, Esq., Dean of Guild. John
Neil, Esq., Deacon Convener. Henry Brock, Esq.,
Treasurer. Robert Hutchinson, Esq., Master of Works.
James Turner, Esq., Bailie of River and Firth of Clyde ;
John Whitehead, Esq., Deputy do. William Gilmour,
Esq., Bailie of Proven.

KIRKALDY.—A. 0. Ferrier, Esq., Provost. Frederick
Hill and Henry Beveridge, Esqs., Bailies. Thos. Ronald,
Esq., Dean of Guild. Roger Black, Esq., Treasurer.
INVERKEITHING.--Mr, John Spittal, Provost. Messrs.
William Miller and James Kirk, Bailies. Mr. John An-
gus, Dean of Guild. Mr. John Lochtie, Treasurer. Mr.
William Fraser, Town Clerk.
DuMBARTON.—Peter Denny, Esq., of Castlegreen,
Provost. John Paterson and Duncan M'Farlane, Esqrs.,
Bailies. Mr. Wm. Baptie, Dean ot Guild. Mr. Thos..
M'lntosh, Treasurer.
CANIPBELTOWN.—John Lorne Stewart, Esq., Provost.
John Colvill, jun., end Daniel Greenless, Esqrs., Sallies.
Robert M(Gregor, Esq., Dean of Guild and Harbour
Master. Mr. Archibald Andrew, Treasurer.
INVERARY.—Peter Campbell, Esq., Provost. William
Campbell and James Wright, Esqrs., Bailies, John Ro-
bertson, Esq., Treasurer.
PEEBLES.--Sir. John Paterson, Provost ; Mr. William.
Macnab, First Bailie ; Mr. James Cameron, Second Bai-
lie. Mr. William Smeal, Dean of Guild,
DUMFRIES.—David Armstrong, Esq., Provost. Messr!..
George Dunbar, Thomas Milligan, and Joseph Beck,
Jl3a:
Bai-
lies. Mr. James Gibson, Dean of Guild. Mr.oh
M‘Kie, Treasurer.

- -
NIONTROSE.—George Crawford, Esq., Provost. Messrs.-
William Sim, George Hall, and William Anderson, Bai-
lies. Mr. Frans. Japp, Dean of Guild. Mr. David
Mackie, Treasurer.
GREENOCK.—James Scott, Esq., Provost. Andrew
Muir, Alexander M'Callum, William Martin, and W. A-
Lindsay, Esqrs., Bailies. Adam M‘Leish, Esq., Trba..
surer.

An inquest was held on Monday at the General
Wolfe, Gray's Inn-lane, on the body of aremark.ably fine
male infant, which was found expo
exposed within the enclosure
of Red Lion-square, at about six inches from the iron
railing. The child was wrapped up in a kitchen towel and
in part of a black silk gown, and was hardly cold when it
was found. There was a slight discolouration over one or
the eyes, and blood was oozing from the mouth and nos-
trils. The child appeared to be full grown. No clue has
as yet been discovered to the person or persons implicated
in the transaction. A surgeon proved that the child was
born alive, but his evidence was conjectural as to the cause
of its death. The Jury, after some deliberation, returned
the following verdict--" That deceased was found dead
and indecently exposed by some person or persons un-
known ; (that the child was born alive, but that there Wee
not sufficient evidence tq prove how it came by its 40,411,"

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Mr. Metcalf, a coal-factor, and form\atlxfine oftiti coal _.-. market committee, waited upon the Lor4Akidetkiimilleitl
quence of the statement made by Mr.-Iti:adfield to his
Lordship relative to the body to which he belonged. He
was accompanied by the other coal-factors, who felt them-, selves aggrieved at what appeared in the Newspapers about
them.