The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-27 00:00:00

THE SEIZURE OF AN ENGLISH

VESSEL BY THE PORTUGUESE.

The ship Duke of Cornwall, which arrived yesterday in the East
India-dock from St. Helena, has brought home the crew of the brig
Lady Sale, of Liverpool, which was seized on the coast of Africa by
a Portuguese man-of-war on suspicion of being fitted out for the
slave-trade.

The Lady Sale belonged to the respectable house of Charles Hors-
fall and Sou, of Liverpool. and was chartered for Rio Janeiro and
Congo, to get oil of palm and ivory, but had not been able to obtain
either, and was on her way to Ambrez to ship a cargo of copal, when
she was boarded by a Portuguese man•of--war, and seized, in conse-
quence of her having on board twenty-six casks of water, several
.I.lags of rice, a copper, and.some bars.
The Portuguese authorities, however, condemned the vessel, and
the matter has been taken up with some spirit by the Liverpool mer-
chants. The crew of the Lady Sale were detained for some time by
the Portuguese, and afterwards sent to St. Helena. The authorities
of St. Helena sent them home in charge of an officer of the English
navy, who left the Duke of Cornwall three days ago at Deal, and
nothing has since been heard of him. Tim owner of the Duke of
Cornwall waited upon Mr,. Broderip, at the Thames Police-
court on NVednesday,"and requested his interfer, nee. The Magis-
trate l eferred him to the superintendent of the Thames division of
police, who declined taking the men into custody unless some specific
charge was made against them. The owner of the Duke of Corn-
wall declined making any charge against the crew of the Lady Sale,
and said they had been sent home as passengers in this ship in Charge
of amide in the navy, who quitted her at Deal. The owner was only
anxious to he released of the men, for whose passage he was to re-
ceive 150/ from her Majesty's Government. Mr. Evans, the
superintendent of the Thames division, communicated the arrival
of the eleven men to the Board of Admiralty, and also to the Com-
missioners of Police, but received no authority from either party
to arrest the crew of the Lady Sale. Indeed neither the Admiralty
nor the Commissioners knew anything of the matter. On Thursday,
on the arrival of the Duke of Cornwall in the dock, some partial
connected with the ship requested Air. Evans, jun., an in-
spector of Thames police, to take the men Into custody, which
he refused to do unless some tangible charge was made. The
crew of the Lady Sale still remained on board the Duke of Corn-
wall, and are very anxious for some officers to take them into cus-
tody, and that the question as to the legality of their detention should
be tried. It is expected they will leave the ship this day, and put
their case into the hands of a procter or attorney, unless the Board
of Admiralty order them to be taken before a magistrate. No wit-
nesses have been sent to Englirsd to give evidence against the eleven
seamen. It is rumoured that the mate, who had charge of the men,
has either lost or mislaid the papers intrusted to him relating to the
seizure of the Lady Sale, and that lila non-appearance at the Admi-
ralty is owing to that cause. Several gentlemen went on Thursday
to the Thames Police-court and inquired after the crew of the Lady
Sale, and were much surprised to find that no order bad been given
to remove them from tile Duke of Cornwall. They expressed a
strong opinion of the illegality of the seizure, and came prepared to
bail the men If they had been in any legal custody. We believe a
strong representation relating to the seizure and condemnation of the
Lady Sale has been made to the Portuguese Ambassador by Lord
Aberdeen, and the case is likely to become a matter of discussion in
both Houses of Parliament.

A BERDEENSHIRE.— CONN ISSION S SIGNED BY THE
LORD LIEUTENANT.—James Duff, Esq., M.P.,Banffshire,
Turriff district; Alexander Dingwall Fordyce, sq., of Culsh
and Brucklay, Deer district ; and James Michael Leslie, Esq.,
of Balquhain, Garioch district.
MRS. TROLLOPE'S NEW NOVEL, " THE ROBERTSES
ON THEIR TRAVELS," in 3 vols., is published this day, by
Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough-street, and may now be
had at all the Libraries. Mr. Colburn has also just pub-
lished-2. Peers and Pr.rvenus, by Mrs. Gore, 3 vols. 3.
Sir Roger de Coverley, a Tale of the Court of Charles 11..
by the author "of " Maids of Honour," 3 vols. 4. The Ci-
tizen of Prague, edited by Mary Howitt, 3 vols. 5. Dun-
star Castle, a Tale of the Great Rebellion, by the author of
" Peter Priggins," 3 vols. And 6. The White Slave and
the Russian Prince, Second Edition, 3 vols. Also, now
ready, a Third and cheaper Edition, in one volume, of
" The Hist9ry of Margaret Catchpole," by the Rev. R.
Cobbold.

SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY. Yesterday the
nineteenth half-yearly general meeting of this company took place
at the offices in Bishopsgate-street. The chair was taken by Col.
Barlow, when the secretary read the report, from which it appeared
that the sum of 210,000/ , proposed to be raised for the purpose of
completing the inner dock, not having been responded to beyond the
extent of 82,0001., the directors had suspended the raising of the sum
required, but thought it could only be temporary, from the growing
importance of Southampton. The graving dock was progressing
satisfactorily, but owing to the extraordinary demand for stone at the
Government works, the directors did not cont mplate its being ready
to receive ships for repair until May next. The lichen wharf had
been made up to a length of 700 feet to the dock entrance, and
a sufficient depth of water obtained to admit colliers, as coal was
already an important item of business. The directors had much
satisfaction in calling the attention of the proprietors to the
proposed extension of the South-Western Railway to London-
bridge' for which the directors had applied to Parliament in the
present session ; a measure of the highest importance to the interests of
both companies, and thus enabling the above to purchase or rent ware-
houses in the port of London in connexion, by railway, with those
at Southampton. The comparative statement of the had-yearly
receipts for the last two years, upon that portion of the revenue
derived from goods passing over the company's quays, continued to
increase, being for the year 1844, 4,0181. 7s. Bd. ; and for the year
1845 8,3761, 6s. 3d. The balance on the capital account was
20,6441.88. Id., and on the general revenue account 9861. 2s. 9d. in
favour of the company. The total quantity of tonnage which en-
tered the docks In the year 1845 was 158,680, which was made up as
follows:—From the \Vest Indies, 5,572 tons; Mediterranean, 27,997;
America, 5,014; Baltic, 1,366; Cape of Good Hope, 1,223 ; Ichaboa,
809 ; France, 39,330; Jersey and Guernsey, 33,474 ; Western Isles,
1,059; coasters, 42,836. After the report was read some discussion
took place, in which one proprietor thought it would be better to
dispose of the concern to the South-Western Railway, or some other
company, for a fair remuneration, but it was not entertained by the
directors, or the majority of the meeting, who would rather rely ou
the growing importance of Southampton. Four directors, namely,
Count Eyre, Captain Ward, R.N., James Rigmaiden, Esq., and J. 11.
Forbes, Esq., were re-elected directors, and the report was adopted.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman, and the meeting
adjourned.
THE SEIKH GUNS.—Among the observations made
in the City by groups of eager piliticians commenting on the news
from India, should be noticed the surprise generally expressed at the
possession by the Seikh force of that powerful artillery which were
employed with such murderous effect against the British troops.
This has led to much questioning among the merchants connected
with India ; and some of them now call to mind that about five years
ago, while Runjeet Singh was yet alive, large purchases of cannon
were made in this country by the agents of that distinuguished
officer. General Ventura, then in the service of the Raja ; and that,
so far from any jealousy or suspicion being manifested by oar Govern-
ment respecting them, facilities wero given for their transport across
the desert, which otherwise could hardly have been accomplished.
Others profess to recollect, that as the vessels plying between Suez
and Bombay could only take a few of these guns at a time,
on account of their great weight, a merchant ship of great
power in the India trade was expressly employed to come up to Suez,
where they had accumulated in large quantities, and took away what
remained. Of course thin service was most liberally paid for, and
heavy duties were probably levied at Bombay on the landing of this
fatal cargo ; but money was of no consideration with the parties for
whom it was intended. The transition from the possession or the Raja,
• then on friendly terms with us, to the hands which hay turned this
murderous weapon at a most critical moment against the bravest and
the most distinguished of the British army, is perfectly
ac-
count for, if the facts here stated are Theyadmitted.
painful feelings wherever they have been mentioned,
than that of F
ill easya
vbeinghave
too
excitedicechange rumour, it is desirabl 0
_clew
set afloat, though with no better introduction itzhiterodu subjecte
tionshould further frxt--
call for the requisite infertile-
quired into by those who can M
witnt
willo be
rest
st
leastt n o
afopui
oleo foundation,
instruction, it be
to
great relief;
Bon. If the
those in power never to regard with indifference a great export of
warlike stores from this country, however improbable its being here-
after turned against us may appear.
ASSOCIATION FOR CLEANSING THE STREETS, &C.--
The Association for promoting the improvement of the pavement
and the cleansing and draining the streets of London, and other large
cities and towns, celebrated for the second time the anniversary of
its formation by dining at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street,
yesterday evening. The attendance of the supporters of the Society
was numerous, and consisted of persons from all parts of the town,
over whom his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge presided.
There were also present most of the original supporters of the Society,
viz., Mr. C. Cochrane, the president (who is understood to have
made from his own purse the most liberal advances of money to
carry out the objects for which it is formed) ; Lord Robert Grosvenor,
Lord James Stuart, General Sir Henry Pynn, Messrs. D. Salomon,
R. Lambert Jones, Edward Brewster, Silk Buckingham, Luke J.
Hansard, &c. The musical arrangements were under the direction of
Messrs. Newton, Sporle, Genge, Crouch, and Edney, assisted by Miss
Thornton; and Mr. Toole attended to give out the toasts and preserve
decorum. The usual toasts were drank with the honours, and ap-
propriate songs were sung by the vocalists. The health of the
Royal Chairman called forth the long and loud cheers of the csm-
palsy, for which his Royal Highness acknowledged his grateful feel-
ings. Shortly before ten o'clock the Duke retired, and Lord J. Stuart
took the chair ; after which, Mr. Cochrane, Mr. S. Buckingham, and
several other gentlemen, addressed the company in advocacy of the
objects of the meeting, and the result was a list of liberal contribu-
tions, amounting to upwards of 7001. Notwithstanding this display
of liberality on the part of the subscribers, it is very problematical
whether their zeal in favour of cleaning pavements and streets does
not exceed their discretion. As all housekeepers are taxed and as-
sessed somewhat heavily in their respective districts to the expenses
of cleaning the streets, and are, moreover, liable to heavy and pe-
remptory penalties for suffering any accumulation of snow or
filth before their doors, it would seem that the energies of a pri-
vate society to do the duty of well-paid public functionaries and
the great mass of the inhabitants of cities and towns is un-
called for; and certainly if a society were formed for rousing
the contractors to do their duties, it would be a more effec-
tive mode to employ its funds for enforcing penalties for their neglect,
than to coax them into the performance of them by models of muck
machinery, or the distribution of birch brooms to paupers. Thee*
amateur experiments have hitherto been productive of little or no
benefit; and, indeed, one gentleman who addressed the meeting ad-
mitted that the streets of Paris (in which no society as this exists)
were better cleaned than those of this metropolis. What has yet
been done, though it may show that the promoters are actuated by
good intentions, shows little beyond it. Street cleaning, in so large
a city as London, is a national affair, and can be little helped pii);wa.
few scores of gentlemen dining together, and making p
ever eloquent, over their wine and dessert. That she esiegiteP of the
p funds are col,
streets is execrable is not to be denied ; that
leniable ; and it it
evoiuntary rnntri-
lected for keeping them in proper order is also:uluetnid
high time that some more effective measures than
such
things
into
the
buttons to shame those whose duty it is to see
FEB. Arrived this
THE BRAZILS.—FALsiouTH, t
performance of their duties, were adopted.—Times.
Lieittenan -Colette IHarrick.
• left Rio Jan. 9; freight, 7,0001. in gold and dia-
from the Brazils ; from Monte Video of Dec. 23.
morning her Majesty's packet Express.
monde. The Express brings
Monte Video,
further opposit on,
i and on December
The combined squadron, after repairing damages, had ascended the
Panama without
I b't Regiment;
secure from frwomholeanydepaartttamckentof
ofo ri3beihi'stufaohreedeshi
lotn.
minds
of
frritrle ofio theiai 45thahts andof
had calmed
Iles above Ittoisarie
Colonel
deserted from Rosas, Garribaldi had routed Larrelleia,
have
feeling th.et,mestreleveswi
captured his family and. baggage. Urguiza had been twice l'ep 1
before Salto. The province of Buenos Ayres is said to u
serters. raragoay has joined CorrieUlea hgainSt Ito be full of des
men from Paraguay have joined Paz, who had been d
gas and 5,000
in command of all the forces. Lopez, the *Oared General,
President of Paraguay,;
had declared war against the Dictator of Buenos
at Rio upon London, 26• X to 27 Ayres. Exchafigo
burgh, 660. peace; upon Paris, 356; upon H. am.
We regret to announce the decease of the infasitem
of the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, who expired on thursiliy
mansion in Belgrave-square. arising from teething, at the famUr
first year, and was the eldst The deceased infant had completed his
It will be recollected that son of the Noble Earl and her Ladyship.
out a few dap gum. we annotuiced Ur, With et a second *sou