The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-10 00:00:00

OFFICERS AND CLERKS COM-

MITTEE— GUILDHALL.
THE CHARGE AGAINST MR. FELLOWES, DEC. S.
The Committee of the Corporation Officers and Clerks
met at one o'clock to investigate certain charges of im-
properly retaining money, which had been made against
Mr. Fellowes, the collector of the dues upon wines im
ported into the City. The case has excited great in-
terest in the City, and a very full meeting of the Com-
mittee was the result. There were nearly thirty mem-
bers present, and the Town Clerk and City Solicitor
were present.
Mr. Edwin James was retained by Mr. Fellowes, as
his counsel, and appeared with Mr. Annesley as his
solicitor.
Mr. JAMES stated that he had the honour to appear
before the Committee, as counsel for ar: officer of the Cor-
poration, against whom very serious accusations had been
made; charges which, if true, would not only justify the
dismissal of his client, but affect his character, and well.
being in society for ever afterwards. He wished to be
informed, before he undertook the defence, of the precise
nature of the charge, a right which he asserted on the
part of his client, and which was the privilege in this
country of every person put upon his trial. Some state-
ments had been made by Mr. Selson and Mr. Last,
members of the Court of Common Council, which he
trusted he could show were founded altogether in error,
and which he could most triumphantly refute.
The CHAIRMAN begged to inform Mr. James that
these statements were not the charges before the com-
mittee, but the vouchers and entries at the Custom-
house, which showed that larger sums had been received
by the collector than were paid into the city, and that
they wished his client to refL.te them. _

Mr. JAMES was obliged by the information, and pro-
posed at once to show that Mr. Selson was altogether in
error when he stated publicly that Mr. Fellowes was
chargeable with twelve times the amount of the duty
received on the guager's return, and proposed to cross-
examine Mr. Selson to that effect.

Mr. Selson, as a member of the Court, disputed the
right of any counsel to cross-examine him.

Mr. JAMES—If Mr. Selson is here to repeat any state-
ment in the shape of a charge against my client, whether
he be a member of the Court or not, I claim the right to
show from his owil, evidence that his assumptions are
erroneous, being founded upon data which are wholly
incorrect.

Considerable discussion ensued, and the room was
cleared for some time, and on our admission the Chair-
man decided that Mr. Selson and Mr. Lart should make
no charges at all, but that they were confined to the
tabular statement lying before them, and a copy of
which was handed to Mr. James.
Mr. Scott, of the Chamberlain's-office was examined
by Mr. James at considerable length, to show that the
test of multiplying the deputy gauger's return by 12
could not be fairly applied in any month to the amount
collected for the surplus due.
Various witnesses were then called from the Custom-
house to show errors in the accounts returned to the
Committee, and that, in many instances, the wines not
having been landed, the dues were returned to the con-
signers. The evidence occupied the Committee until
nearly five o'clock, when the proceedings were adjourned
Briday.
Mr. JAMES stated that he should be prepared with
more evidence upon Friday, and he reserved his address
until the whole of the case should be before the Com-
mittee.

MINING AND RAILWAY INTEL

GENCE.

ST. JOHN DEL lin.:-AZidend of 10s. per share
(5,5001.) has been declared here, payable on the sth of
January next.

DEVONSHIRE GREAT CONSOLS.—A correspondent
writes us of a great improvement in the mines of this
company. The lode in Ilitchin's shaft at Wheal Josiah
being worth 801. per fathom. In Richard's shalt, 301.
per fathom. At Wheal Fanny there is a load worth
about 601. per fathom in the 25 east, and 501. per fathom
west. In the 15 west of west engine shaft, 401. per
fathom, and 501. per fathom in a winze from the 15 west
of east engine shaft. At Maria the lode in the 50 east is
worth 20/. per fathom, and the same west, a wins° sink-
ing below the 40, 30/. per annum.
'ELIE CALLINGToti MINES.—A dividend of I,oooi, or
11. per share, was declared here on Thursday last, pay-
able on the 16th.

Operations have been commenced preparatory to the
erection of the great central station at Carlisle.
The contracts for the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Car
Railway have been let, and the works will shortly bt
commenced along the whole line.
The East Lothian Central Railway project has been
re►ived, and is supported by almost the whole strength
of the county of Haddington. The line proposed is from
the North British Thilway at Linton to Haddington.
The reports of the progress on the Great southern and
Western works are favourable, and the great tunnel
under the barracks at Cork, which will be nearly a mite
in length, will shortly be commenced.
The London and North-Western Company intend to
entirely reconstruct their Liverpool station, in conse-
quence of the immense traffic carried on, and the inade-
quacy of the present accommodation. The station is to
be enlarged to a great extent, and the expense is esti-
mated at 300,0001.-1;a/bray Herald.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN

TRADE.

The sharp frost experienced during the week has been
favourable for thrashing; and the sowing of Wheat hav-
ing previously been nearly brought to a close, we may
expect increased supplies of grain from the growers.
We have now arrived at a period of the year when,
under ordinary circumstances, the trade usually becomes
dull; farmers having to provide for their Christmas
rents, &c., generally supply the markets liberally in De
cember, and merchants and millers are, perhaps, less
inclined to add to their stocks about this period than any
other time during the whole year. Under these circum-
stances it is not improbable that a temporary reaction to
a moderate extent may occur in prices; but we must
confess that we do not much expect anything like a re-
duction of consequence either in prices of wheat
or spring corn. Our principle reason for coming
to the conclusion that quotations of wheat are not
likely to give way, is the fact that the deliveries
from the growers have been on so liberal a scale since
harvest as to give rise to a well founded doubt whether
farmers will be very anxious to part freely with what
they may still have on hand, except at high terms. We
showed not long ago, by giving a comparative table of
the quanties sold at the towns which furnish the returns
for compiling the averages, that the deliveries in Sep-
tember, October, and November, in 1846, had greatly
exceeded those of the corresponding three months in
1ö45. This alone would be sufficient to lead to the be-
lief that farmers at present hold less than at this time
last year ; but when it is remembered that in the au-
tumn of 1845 an enormous quantity of the very produc-
tive crop of the preceding year was left on hand, whilst
this season—though the harvest was nearly a month
earlier than usual—the old stocks of home grown Wheat
were so reduced as to render it necessary to commence
upon the new almost immediately, the supposition that
the quantity in farmer's hands is decidedly small is
greatly strengthened. This view of the matter may be
regarded as somewhat vague, and we regret that, in the
absence of statistical information, we cannot put it in a
more definite form ; but wherever returns of the quan-
ties delivered are kept, they tend to prove that our in-
ference is correct. In confirmation of which we crave
reference to the following statement, giving the—
RETURN CF 'WHEAT DELIVERED IN WISBECH MARKET.

Qrs.
From 27th Aug. to the 19th Nov. 1844 72,2361
From 26th Aug. to the 18th Nov. 1845 49,9821
From 25th Aug. to the 17th Nov. 1846 97,822
Excess over 1844, 25,5851 qra. Ditto over 1845,.
47,832-a qrs.
Tile somewhat discouraging advices from Mark lane
of Monday last have had les:, eff‘et on the trade at the
leading provincial markets than is usually the case. At
Liverpool, on Tuesday, business was even lively, owing
to a continued demand fur the coarser sorts of wheat,
meal, &c., for shipment to Ireland. Wheat of all de-
scriptions was quoted 2d. per 70Ibp. dearer than on that
day week, and for Indian corn enormou,ly high prices
were paid. Later in the wock the inquiry tor the former
article rather increased, and a furth. r enhancement of
2d. per bushel was established, whilst for Indian corn
60s. and upwards was paid. The exports from Liver-
pool to Ireland, and the very great falling off in the sup-
plies from the sister isle to that port, have caused
a rapid reduction in the stocks there, notwith-
standing the large imports of bread stuffs from
America. At the markets in the interior, which do not
feel the immediate eff.ict of the Irish demand, the trade
has been less animated ; but, with the exc. ption of a
d dine of ls. per qr. at some of the towns in the agri-
cultural districts, a here the supplies have for the mo-
ment slightly exceeded the quantity required for present
use, no reduction has occurred in quotations.
By our advices from Scotland, we learn that a consi-
derable quantity of snow had fallen, and that the frost
had been severe. Outdoor work had therefore wholly
ceased, and farmers having been busily employed
thrashing, to obtain fodder for their cattle, good sup-
plies of corn bad been brought forward. At Edinburgh,
on Wednemday, business in wheat was rather dull, but
prices were not quoted lower, and oats were, if any-
thing, the turn dearer. The accounts from Glasgow of
the same date are of a more animated character, the first
named article being quoted fully as high as on that day
se'nnight, and barley and oats each sd. to Is. per boll
dearer.

ment to Ireland, and several cargoes have been take n
during the week for that destination at very full rates.
In bonded wheat the operations have not been particu-
larly extensive, the high pretensions of holders having
checked business. The terms asked have been within Is. to
2s. per quarter of those at which similar qualities have been
offered free, the smallness of the stock under lock, and
the belief that no great addition can now be made to the
same by fresh importations till next spring, having im.
parted great confidence to holders. Several purchasers
from France have attended Mark-lane, but they appeared
to consider the rates demanded too high, and few bar-
gains have, consequently, been closed.
The concession made on Monday by the millers has
been followed by a somewhat more active business in
flour; still the operations have not been important, the
bakers having shown a determination not to buy more
than required for immediate use. Country-manufac-
tured flour has moved off steadily, at previous prices,
and for American barrels quite as much money has been
obtained.
The arrivals of English barley have been larger than
during any previous week since harvest ; and we have,
besides, received liberal supplies from abroad. This
grain has throughout the week been difficult of disposal,
vithout, however, any further reduction taking place in
its value. The conviction that our own barley crop has
yielded it,differently is quite as general as it was at the
time of harvest; still the maltsters are very reluctant to
pay the existing high pricos, and so cautiously have all
parties acted of late, that there has been no accumula-
tion of stocks in the hands of either maltsters, brewers,
or dealers.
folerrse.
going remarks are equally applicable to malt
as to barley, the operations in which have, during the
week, been on a strictly retail scale, and quotations have
remained nominally unaltered.
At length we have to report a somewhat increased
supply of oats coastwise, 3,360 qrs. of English and
8499 qrs. of Scotch, having come to hand within these
eight days; meanwhile we are without receipts from
Ireland, and though 30,604 qrs. have arrived from the
north of Europe, considering the previously bare state of
the market, the total supply cannot be regarded as very
large. That the high value of oath has caused a de-
creased consumption is plainly proved by the extreme
langour which has characterised the trade in this article
for some time past. The stocks in the hands of the
dealers have_ nevertheless, been gradually reduced, and
are now less than is usually the case at the correspond-
ing period of the year. Under these circumstances it is
reasonable to suppose that they will ere long have to
buy somewhat more freely ; and as we are not likely to re-
receive any further receipts of foreign of moment, high as
prices are, they must inevitably advance still further, unless
the receipts from Ireland should hereafter prove much
more liberal than; anticipated. The factors are fully
aware of this, and have, therefore, shown no disposition
to press sales. Slow, therefore, as has been the de-
mand, the tendency of prices has been rather upwards.
The cold weather has hitherto failed to increase the
demand for beans, and the trifling business done during
the week has been at about last Monday's currency.
Peas have been held with rather more firmness ; but
previous prices have not been exceeded either for white
boilers, grey, or maple.
Indian corn has been in brisk request for Ireland, and
no difficulty has been experienced in placing floating
cargoes at high terms. This article has become a great
favourite with the poorer classes in Ireland, and the
recent aEvance has brought the price on a level with
that at which fair qualities of wheat may be bought.