The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-08 00:00:00

THAMES-OFFICE.

Thomas Brown was charged on an information with con-
cealing and conveying away 4,436 ells of French blond lace, of
the value of 1431., which had not paid the duty, and by which
he had incurred the penalty of 429/.
The prisoner, formerly conductor of a Blackwell omnibus,
and supposed to be connected with a foreign steam vessel. was
observed by the Custom-house officer on duty walking from
the river side near the West India-docks with a camlet cloak
over his arm. The officer, suspecting that it concealed smuggled
goods, stopped the man, and taking the cloak found it contained
70 cards of lace sewed in between the camlet and the lining.
The Magistrates sentenced the defendant to pay a mitigated
penalty of 2141., which, together with the loss of the lace,
makes 3571. The prisoner was committed to prison until the
fine be paid. Brown is said to be in the employ of a large
foreign lace dealer in the metropolis.

SYMPTOMS OF AN EARLY WINTER.—A re-
markably fine woodcock was shot by the gamekeeper at Apley
Park, on Tuesday. the 25th ult.—Kidderminster Messenger.
BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, SEPT. 28,—We
hardly know bow to describe accurately the state of our sugar
market at present. Notwithstanding heavy arrivals during
the month, and a full stock (according to the usual compa-
rison), the show of samples is inadequate to meet the dispo.
sition to purchase, which appears to have been excited by the
advance that has taken place in London of Is. per cwt. in
consequence of the extension of the period for the payment of
the full bounty on refined. Immediately any thing of this
kind occurs we feel most prejudicially the effects of our limited
import. The control of the market being in few hands, they
have it in their power, on every occasion of a little competi-
tion among the buyers, artificially, for a time, to raise prices
above the natural level; and this continues, until an appre-
hension of a decline, or a suspension of business, from being
above other markets, causes a re-action. This is the general
history of the Bristol sugar market, as will be attested by the
experience of every man connected with it, and it has hdrdly
ever been more strikingly illustrated than in the present in-
stance : already above London, to an extent that has driven
some of our most respectable houses to make very large pur-
chases there, which they have been enabled to bring down
to Bristol and obtain a good profit upon ; yet the advance there
has been trebled here, simply because it wss catch who car, in
a bare, monopolised market. We know no remedy, until
such period as our import is doubled, except the buyers are
willing, one and all, to submit to a po‘sible inconvenience in
one shape, rather than precipitate it positively in another ;
until, in fact, they will, in good faith, bear a temporary sus-
pension of trade, because they won't buy, in preference to be-
ing reduce Mirth same alternative because they cannot sell.
—Bristol cury.

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY OF LONDON.--We
observe that the design for establishing
.a Botanic Society in
London has, at length, assumed a promising form. Her
ty
Ma-
i ‘st has consented to become its patroness; aod distin-
"yuished list of vice-patronesses, vice patrons, vice-presidents,
distin-
guished proposed fellows, is in circulation, with his Grace the
Duke of Richmond at their head a; president. The ground
selected is the space included in the inner circle of the Re-
gent's Park. consisting of eighteen acres ; which is to he dig-
- Posed in imitwion of the gardius e,f diffFrent countries Con-
servatories, lawns, terraces, parterres, statues. fountains, Ste_
go., are also promised-_a lhke..tor aquatic plants, and artifi
ficial rocks for the productions of mountain regions. The sci-
entific arrang,snents are to embrace the natural and artificial
systems ; and the formation of a medico-botanical division is
contemplated. A library and museum are also among the in-
ducements held out to subscribers, the lowest class of whom
are to
pay five guineas entrance and two guineas per annum.
Several materspropounded in this scheme ought to have
been accomplished by the Horticultural Society,
and some of
its obj,,ets, perhaps, by
.the Medico-Botani:.ar Society ; but
stir .an Institution is a deciard desideratum for the ea-
i
pitai ; and we trust t. will be carried into effect with spirit
and intelligence.--Literary Gazette.