The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-12 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION.HOUSB.

Mr. James Malcoimsun, ot the Louse of Forbes and
Co., waited upon the Lord Mayor in consequence of
the statement which appeared in the newspapers a few
days ago, relative to a person named Higgs who came
over to this country from India with a present of Ara-
bian horses from the Imaum of Muscat to Queen Vic-
toria, and complained that he was in deep distress, and
could not prevail upon those who were the means of
bringing him to this country to send him back to his
own.

The LORD MAYOR said that the circumstances which
were detailed to Mr. Hobler in his absence, had excited
considerable interest, and several inquiries had been
made at the Justice room by gentlemen who seemed to
have known the unfortunate man in India, and were
aware of the correctness of some of the leading facts.
He (the Lord Mayor) certainly thought it very unlikely
that a person to whom the care of such valuable animals
was intrusted, and under such circumstances, should be
abandoned the moment he performed his duty by de-
livering the horses safe in England.
Mr. Malcolmson said it was true that Higgs was in-
trusted with the present to her Majesty by the Imaum
of Muscat. The horses arrived at Liverpool by the
Higginson, at the end of August 1839, in charge of
Higgs, and a native groom, whose agreement with Aga
Mahomed Rabin Shirazee was advised to Sir Charles
Forbes, the agent of the Ensaum of Muscat, under date
May 8, 1839, as follows :
The native is to be sent back by the first vessel,
to have his expenses, during his stay in England, de-
frayed, with 30 rupees for himself : the European
(meaning Higgs) accompanies the horses for his pas-
sage only—he consequently has no claim to make."
Notwithstanding this agreement for the passage,
which cost a considerable sum of money, and which
money, with all otlwr demands, was long since paid,
Higgs applied to Major Hollinshead, Titley, and Co.
for cash to bring him to London ; and these gentlemen,
unacquainted with the foregoing agreement, advanced
him 301., for which he promised to account to Sit
Charles Forbes. That money Higgs squandered away
at races in less than a week, instead of applying it to
the professed object, and then renewed his application ;
but Messss. Hollinshead advised Sir Charles Forbes
and Co. of the request, who desired that nothing mot e
might be given to him. The firm had no idea that
Higgs wished to return to India, and supposed, from
the terms of the contract, that all he wanted was to
come over to England.

The LORD MAYOR said he felt quite assured that
Sir Charles Forbes had not only acted justly, but with
great liberality towards Higgs, but as the man had a
wife and five children in India, it appeared to be
extraordinary that he should have made no stipulation
for his passage back to them, and his great object ap-
peared to be to return. According to Mr. Hobler's
account, the man had nothing about him that indi-
cated a disposition to impose.
_

Mr. Hobler stated that a fair statement of the ap-
plication had appeared in the newspapers. A publican.
at whose house Higgs had been supplied with the ne-
cessaries of life, upon a representation similar to that
which had been made in the Justice-room, had called,
and given such a description of the man's fens' and
decent habits, as strengthened the belief that his ac-
count of himself was not without foundation.
Mr. Malcolmson said that there was no doubt what-
ever that Higgs had been in very prosperous circum-
stances in India, and was respected there, and that seve-
ral gentlemen connected with that country who were in
London, knew him well.

The LORD MAYOR—I trust that he will find amongst
them a friend who will send him to India, and not leave
him to be disposed of by our Poor-law Guardians.
The charge he has had was of very great value, and I
have no doubt he executed his commission well ; and I
am sure that her Majesty would, if informed of his
condition, give orders that he should be sent to his wife
and children ; for however sanguine his hopes might be
from visiting England, here he is without a farthing, but
I trust not without a friend.

Mr. Maienlmson—l dare say there will be no diffi-
culty.in the way of sending him back to India. I know
that in that country Sir Charles Forbes and Lady Mal-
colm, and other persons of high respectability, were
extremely liberal to him. My object in waiting on your
Lordship, however, was to give an explanation, as far
as regarded Sir Charles Forbes, who, as agent for the
Imaum of Muscat, paid all the expenses incurred by
the transmission of the horses.

Mr. Hobler said that Captain Irmo, of the East
India Company's service, had called at the Mansion-
House, and stated that he knew Higgs, and would
render him all the service required.
Mr. Malcolmson—No man is more capable of such
kindness than Captain Innes. Indeed, I have no doubt
at all that it will be practicable to send the man back
to India.

A. foreigner, named John Gazer, was charged with
baying bad smuggled tobacco in his possession.
A Custory-house officer stated that he had known
the defendant for a long time as a most inveterate and
incorrigible dealer in contraband goods.
Defendant (raising up his eyes)—Oh, never, never.
I he honest tradesman. No smu;:gle, no smuggle.
The Solicitor to the Revenue—My Lord, he is known
to the officers, and he knows them all. He is always
at the work.

Defendant—Oh, God forgive you. Never know
any body.
The Custom-house officer said that he had seen the
defendant and a boy together at Dock Head, and the
former ran away as quick as bis heels could carry him.
Witness apprehended the boy and found a quantity of
tobacco about him, and convicted him at the Thames
Police-office, and soon afterwards met the defendant in
the city, and caught hold of him. The defendant then
contrived to drop a paper in the street, containing
tobacco.

Defendant—Oh dear, all false. Ino bacco. 'Tway
him had bacco. He drop it and said, " Ha, ha, you
drop bacco." _ _

The defendant then dropped on his knees, and wanted
to be allowed to take his oath that he bad not Lad in
his possession a morsel of tobacco.

The Loan MA-you—Why, You are well known to
the officers as an old hand.

Defendant—No, no. If we was old hands, my wife
and I would not starve. Search me—not a farthing
in pocket.

The Solicitor to the Revenue—The moment he is
at liberty he will be ready for another job. It is his
ragular trade.

The LORD MAYOR then fined the defendant 'forty
shillings.
The Managing Director of the Sons of the Thames
Steam Company, accompanied by Mr. Hobler, jun.,
waited upon the Lord Mayor for the purpose of thank-
ing his Lordship for the manner in which he inter-
posed his authority on the occasion of Mr. Lintot's
complaint against the Captain of the Diamond, and to
mention that the Directors of the Sons of the Thames
had determined to adopt his Lordship's suggestion, and
leave London at the distance of a quarter of an hour
from the steamers of either of the other Companies.
The Loan MAYOR approved of the detdrmination,
and said, that if a case similar to that which came be
fore him on Thursday should occur again, he should
direct the City Solicitor to prosecute.