The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-21 00:00:00

formed that there is a law in existence by which it is
enacted that before any horse is consigned to slaughter, it
shall be examined by an appointed officer, v Ito is entitled
to a small fee for his inspection. This law, we are told,
is every day avoided, so that great facility is given to
get rid of property of this description at a low price,
in order that the felon may escape detection. In the
case to which allusion is made, the evidence was so
slight that we should not have returned a true bill but from
the consideration of the manner in which the horse
had been disposed of for 15s. Some of the grsnd jurors
are gentlemen resident in the county of Essex, and they
have informed us that the crime of horsy-stealing is a very
prevalent one i❑ their vicinity, and they are of opinion that
they are frequently disposed of m the manner aLuded to,
in order to shield the robber from the arm of pursuing jus-
tice. We, therefore, hope that if a law upon the subject
exists, that the Court will enforce its observance ; and if
there be no such statute, that a law may be made suffi-
ciently stringent to meet the exigency of the case.
Mr. Sergeant ARABIN said that the Court hoped that
the new establishment in the Isle of Wight would have a
good effect, and prove of beneficial results to the juvenile
offenders. With regard to another subject to which allu-
sion had been made, he begged it to be understood that
the law was yet in full force to prevent horses from being
improperly slaughtered ; it had not relaxed in the least
degree, but the evil arose from culpable negligence ; but
the matter should be properly attended to. His Lordship
said he was acquainted with the miseries of horse-stealing,
for he had two valuable horses stolen sometime ago within a
few days of each other.

The Grand InqueEt retired, having ignored only eight bills.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE

MANSION-HOUSE.

Mr. Henry Flower, of Compton-place, Islington, who,
at the latter end of the mayoralty of Sir John Cowan,
complained that he had been charged, upon arriving at
Messrs. Knill and Jackson's Wharf, near London Bridge,
in a steamer from Boulogne, the sum of sixpence each for
some packages which were landed at the wharf, and subse-
quently applied, at the suggestion of Sir John, to the Com-
missioners of Customs and the Lords of the Treasury on
the subject, waited upon his Lordship in the course of yes-
terday. He stated that he had received an answer from
the Lords of the Treasury, which he con,idered himself
bound to hand to the LORD MAYOR. It was as follows :
( Immediate.) " Treasury-Chambers, Dec. 19.
" Sir,—l have laid before the Lords Commissioners of her
Mij,sty's Treasury your letter of the 20th of October last,
complaining of the charge of 6d. per package demanded by
the Proprietors of the London-bridre Wharf upon five pack-
ages containing your luggage, which were landed at that
wharf, on your arrival by the Magnet steam-vessel from
Boulogne, in the month of October last ; and I have it in
command from their Lordships to acquaint you, that they
have caused full inquiry to be made into the subject of your
complaint, and they find that they have no legal power to
interfere with the, charge in question. The charge is not made
on the part of the Customs or the Revenue, but by the owner
of the wharf, over whose demands my Lords have no con-
troul. From this statement, you will see that my Lords can-
not give any opinion, as between two parties, upon the
legal point put by you.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
‘, T. BARING.

" Mr. Henry Flower, Compton•place, Islington."
The LORD MAYOR observed that the answer was just
such a one as might have been expected. The wharf was
private property, and the owner might charge as he pleased.
If a gentleman thought their charge " exorbitant" he might
land his packages at the Custom House, or at some other
wharf; but, in his opinion, a vast deal of trouble and delay
was prevented by landing packages at the wharf in ques-
tion, compared with which trouble and delay the demand
was a mere trifle.

Mr. Flower said that his brother had arrived lately from
Boulogne, and had experienced a great deal of delay and
trouble before he could get his packages from the wharf, and
he believed that many could complain of similar treatment.
Mr. Nicholson, is ho has a wharf in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of London Bridge-wharf being present upon
other business, took the opportunity of stating that passen-
gers might insist upon having their packages landed at the
Custom House, but the authorities of the Custom House
had for the public convenience directed that passengers
should be accommodated with the delivery at the wharfs at
which the steam-vessels stopped.
Mr. Flower asked whether his Lordship was of opinion
that passengers from Calais or Boulogne were not obliged
to land at the London Bridge-wharf?
The LORD MAYOR—So Mr. Nicholson, who is the owner
of a wharf, says, and I have no reason to doubt it.
Mr. Flower expressed his gratification at receiving the
information, as he should take care to avail himself of it on
future occasions.