The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-08 00:00:00

COURT OF EXCISE, MARCH 6.

Zus, _

bers, who
Guardian,
Lord BrouBham has arrived in rarl3.
Viscountess Palmerston has issued cards for
soirees to-day, and on the 13th and 20th nst, instant, as yet there Is nu

—iqoner.

EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF SPURIOUS „ EA. —Edward
Glover, of West Ham, Essex, was prosecuted for having
in his possession upwards of 2,000 lbs. weight of fabrica-
ted ten.
The case on the part of the Crown was conducted by
P. Mayow, the solicitor of excise, and a gentleman named
Johnson represented the interests of the defendant.
Thomas Franklin, an officer, stated, that having received
a warrant from the Honourable Board of Commissioners
to search the defendant's premises, he and ten other per-
sons proceeded there a short time agn, and discovered an
immense quantity of leaves closely resembling China tea.
Some of it was in sacks and hampers, and a great portion
was lying about for drying, for which purpose the place
was fitted up with the necessary stoves and utensil.. They
immediately gave notice t] Government of the result of
their investigation, aid Mr. Golding Bird, the Surveying
Examiner-General of Excise, was ordered to make a fur-
ther examination. _

Mr. Bird, on being sworn, stated he received possession
of eight sacks of the rubbish, which was so fine an imita-
tion of tea that at first sight any person would have sup-
posed it to be a genuine article. On testing a sample from
each sack, he fund the whole to Le compri.el of black-
thorn, hats thorn, and fern leaves. Some of these leaves
he had opened, and he exhibited some fine specimens to
the Court ; the different species were strongly developol
Mr. Bird then produced eight samples of the stuff, and
mixed them with pure teato the extent of one-half of each.
The COURT, on inspecting them, expressed great sur-
prise, and said that purchasers in general could not dis-
cover the cheat.
Mr. B'sal observed, that be would convince the Tench
still further of the extent to which the public were imposed
on, and he exhibited various infusions of tea with and with-
out the rubbish, and the appearance was so good, that any
one was liable to bo taken in by it.
The COURT was struck with the proofs, and observed,
that the poor in particular must have suffered dreadfully
by the sale imitation.
Mr. Bird said it had had a very great sale amongst tea-
dealers, he was satisfied. Ho then prcceeded to state that,
on seeing Glover, he pointed to the apparatus which
contained some leaves quite warm, and asked hint, " What
is there?" and he replied, " Oh, that's a secret." Wit•
ness told him he would soon unravel the secret, and, having
taken a slight view, he told him that the leaves were
nothing more than dried cabbage leaves, when he replied,
" You are quite right. I make them into Mocha Farina.
Soe here, I have some made; it i 3 to be used instead of
ceffec. I sell much of i'." Witness asked him whether
it did not surprise him that people sse e so easily gulled ?
and his answer waa that ha hail found out that he could
not carry on so high a game with it now as formerly, and
that, at present, Ireland was the best market fur it. He
added, that the !eaves first taken away he manufactured
entirely himself, but he never sold them as tea; he intended
them for the making of Mocha,Freatartieaa,
secret
th
ahsethsehouldthhee Fneeaforirntah
cmoamkpeoosifticonabwbaags as
cabbage leaves. Witness inquired if
cab-
bage leaves?._-( Rears of lasighl r)--and defendant said,
" Whia I ail tell you. I pot 561bs. of rye, with chicory
and cabbage leaves together, and I grind them together
and send them in paeacts to London."
The COURT asked Lien if he had one of the packets?
Mr. Brd said he had, and it lied a strong smell of tab-
bage.—( Much laughter.) That, however, was not charg d
in the present effence. Witness told defendant that
his experience brought him to a positive conclusion, that
the leaves which so closely apfroached the appearance of
tea were manufactured expressly for bring mixed with
cpounresut
meae,rsnooft
te.
oilye to the injury of the revenue, but to the
Mr. JOHNSON commenced cross-examining Mr. Bird,
but finding that he was making the case worse instead of
bettea, he cut it short, and appealed to the Bench for miti-
naogfabinestg
gation.
given
t To
Allire. COURTBid rsaidr toobringing
them u
cc
alts praise
so
c, ceoluolyd
eceuse.l. No one who had heard him could for a moment
throw a doubt upon his judgment. It was a gross attempt
on the community, and those who exposed sneis sillany
and brought the offenders to justice were deserting of the
lig`aest praise.—Mr. Bird was asked how the stuff was
of Is. 6d. per lb., and they mu:lied it at 4s. and 4s. 6d.
sold to the grocers and tea-dealers. lie said at the rate
per lb.
The COURT after consulting,
ordered the defendant to
pay a penalty of 2001. The penalties were laid at 1,0001.
l eaves, and
A warrant was issued for the burning of thin
another for the recovery cf the penalty. default of
payment the defendant will suffar imprisonment with hard
labour far the space of twelve months.

The price of hay in the Pas de Calais was never
known to be much higher than it is at the present time—
fetching, in the towns and neighbourhoods of Boulogne
and Calais, quite 41. per ton ; and straw is equally dear.
o..ts, also, are worth better than 16r. the rasiere (cr 51
bushels), which, taking their ger.erally inferior quality into
consideration, is a price lit tle under that of. the midland
English markets. No wonder French farmers arc doing
well, inasmuch as three rents only are required to he made
by_ them, whereas little short of fire will keep the English
farmer in his place.
• .-netlishire Assizes commence on the 11th