The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-18 00:00:00

THAMES OFFICE.

yesterday Captain Thomas Clark, the Master of the
brig William from Sydney, was summoned before Mr. BAL-
LANTINE and Mr. BRODERIP, charged under the second
clause of the Merchant Seamen's Act, sth and 6th of
William IV. cap. 11, with taking on board a seaman
without first entering into an agreement in writing, speci-
fying what monthly wages be was to be paid, the capacity
in which be was to act, and the nature of the voyage in
which the ship was intended to be employed, by which
he had incurred a penalty of not less than 51., and not
exceeding 101.
Mr. PELHAM, for the prosecution, said the Legislature
had very wisely enacted that the master of every British
merchantman should enter into a written agreement with
every seaman he took out. This wholesome enactment
had not been complied with by the defendant, who, after
making a verbal agreement with his steward to pay him
21. 15s. per month, refused to pay him more than 21. 10s.
Robert Pollock was called, who stated that he shipped
on board the William, as steward and able seamen, on the
9th of March, 1836. The agreement was a verbal one,
and he signed no articles. The captain promised to pay him
21. 15s. per month, but he could obtain no more than
21. I Is. from him.

In answer to questions, he said he had been in business
at Sydney, and the captain sought him, and said he had re-
ceived such an excellent account of him, that he wished to
engage him as steward on the voyage home. He declined
going in consequence of the shortness of the notiee, as only
one day was given him to prepare, but he subsequently saw
the captain again, and agreed to go with him.
The mate of the ship, for the defence, said that Pollock
came alongside, and solicited the situation of steward, but
admitted that they were without one when he was en-
gaged, the steward who went out having been dismissed
at Sydney.
Mr. PELIIAM—Did he not do his duty satisfactorily ?
_ _

The mate said the steward did not do his duty very
satisfactorily, for he refused to appear on deck when it
rained, and refused to take the doctor's stuff when he was

sick.

Mr. BALLANTINE—You should have shipped an um-
brella for him.—(Loud laughter.) How was it he would
not take physic ? Mr. PELHAM—He had been a druggist
in Sydney, and did not like to take his own drugs.—(A
laugh.)
Mr. BALLANTINE said the law had beon violated, and
he convicted Captain Clark in the penalty of .5/. and costs.
As it was the first case under the Act, he was very sorry
his decision could not be appealed against.
Mr.PELHam—Your. decision, Sir, will check a grow-
ing evil, and much fraud on seamen.

BANKRUPTCY.—We have great pleasure in inform-
ing the Trade of Brighton that through the indefatigable per-
sonal exertions of Captain Pechell, the Lord Chancellor has
been induced to abolish the late ill-assorted list of Commis-
sioners appointed to act in Bankruptcy matters in this division
of the district, substituting a new list. As we never like to
do things by halves, we beg to call his attention to another
deep-rooted abuse in the same department of the law, which
requires that the holding of every meeting in Bankruptcy shall
be advertised in the London Gazette. Few persons ever see
the London Gazette—not a single copy of which is taken in
in Brighton, although its population now borders on 50,000
persons.—Brighton Guardian.
IIARRIAGES.—According to a return recently made
by order of the House of Commons, it appears that in the
parish of St. George, Hanover-square, during the year 1835,
eight hundred and ninety-six marriages were solemnized ; 219
by license, and 677 by banns. Fee to the minister, license,
6s. 6d. ; banns, 4s. To the clerk in either case 2s. Publi-
cation of banns, minister Is., clerk Is. In the Collegiate
Church at Manchester, during the same period 3,328 marriages
have taken place, 298 of them only having been by license.
The fees received on each marriage by license were 75., and
when by banns 4s. 6d. At St. Philips, Birmingham, Bs. arc
paid to the minister and clerk, if the parties are married by
licence ; if by banns, ss.

At the Hull Police Court last week a person named
Forster, who had been summoned by his apprentice for non-
payment of wages, resisted the serving of a warrant which had
been issued, by seizing a pistol, which on examination was
found to be loaded and ready capped. The officer succeeded
in wresting the weapon from Foster, who was held to bail.
Hull Observer.

PRIOR PARK COLLEGE.—The bigots at Bath it
seems are trying to get up a no- Popery cry, for the very bene-
volent and exceedingly charitable purpose of preventing per-
sons Prom subscribing towards the rebuilding of the mansion
which was lately so nearly destroyed by fire. The Bath Chro.
nicle all but excommunicates those who may subscribe, and has
set up a sectarian scream of horror most intolerant and hide-
ously orthodox.

Letters from Pesth state the death of Prince Gregorie
Soutzs, father of the Greek Ambassador to the Court of
Russia, who had fallen a ♦ictim to the cholera. He had been
interred with great pomp.