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

OFFICERS AND CLERKS COM-
MITTEE—GUILDHALL.
UWE CHARGE AGAINST MR. FELLOWES, Dec 8.
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 an 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. Sonic state-
ments bad 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 statemeats were not the charges before the com-
mittee, but the vouchers and entries at the Cuszem-
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 refute 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 own 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 or 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 acitounts 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
until Friday.
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. Josx DEL RET.—A dividend of 103. 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 Hitchin's shaft at Wheal Josiah
being worth 801. per fathom. In Richard's shaft, 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, 40/. 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 winze sink-
ing below the 40, 301. per annum.
THE CALLINGTON MINES.—A dividend of 1,000/., or
1/. per share, was declared here on Thursday last, pay-
able on tke 16th.
Operations have been commenced preparatory to the
erection of the great central station at Carlisle.
The contracts for the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle
Railway have been let, and the works will shortly be
commenced along the whole line.
The East Lothian Central Railway project has been
revived, and is supported by almost the whole strength
of the county of Haddington. The line proposed is from
the North British Railway 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 mile
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.—Railway 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
t ember, and merchants and millers are, perhaps, less
inclined to add to their stocks about this period than any
ether time during the whole year. Under these cireurn,
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 deiveries
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 return,
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
1645. 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 s• 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 OF WHEAT DELIVERED IN WISDECEI MARKET.
Qrs.
From 27th Aug. to the 19th Nov. 1844 72,2368
From 26th Aug. to the 18th Nov. 1845 49.92$
From 25th Aug. to the 17th Nov. 1846 97,822
Excess over 1844, 25,5851 qrs. Ditto over 1845.
47,8321 qrs.
The somewhat discouraging advices from Mark lane
of Monday last have had less effect on the trade at the
leadit4, provincial markets than is usually the case. At
Liverpool, on Tuesday, business was even lively, owing
to a continued demand for the coarser sorts of wheat,
meel, &c., for shipment to Ireland. Wheat of all de-
scriptions was quoted 2d. per 70 bs. dearer than on that
day weeks and for Indian corn enormously high prices
were paid, Later in the week the inquiry for the former
article rather increased, and a further 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 cans, d
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 effect of the Irish demeind, the trade
has been less animated ; but, with the exception of a
decline of ls. per qr. at some of the towns in the agri-
cultural districts, where 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 had been brought forward. At Edinburgh,
on Wednesday, business in wheat was rather dull, but
prices were not quoted lower, and oats were, if arty.
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 6d. to Is. per boll
dearer.
From Ireland, we learn that the inquiry for all descrip-
tions of provisions had continued very active, and that
the fall which took place in the value of Indian corn in
November had again been recovered. The supplies of
grain from the farmers had, we are informed, scarcely
kept pace with the local demand ; hence very little was
being shipped to England ; indeed, when we state that
the price of oatmeal is higher in some parts of Ireland
than that of wheaten flour here, we do not see how we
can expect arrivals from thence.
The greater part of the 15,192 qrs. of wheat received
coastwise arrived in the early part of the week ; and
nearly the whole having gone direct into the hands of
the millers, the quantity exhibited at Mark-lane has
D" ,comparatively trifling. The receipts from the
tcoast have, however, sufficed for the immediate
want& of the town millers,' who have, consequently,
had little
uni,,,,r,__,aaoccasion to purchase in the market ; and
by aabl':l . has been the supply brought forward
proTeldag7.cli3vamples from the home counties,
it has
and to the demand. On the
other hand, factor;
the v'manifested no anxiety to
press business ;and few3
da sales effected on Wednes-
y and Fridty were closed
those current in the beginnin.antfte4;ms quite aTshheigEhngas_
lish Wheat having mostly come loehwaenedk.in Rood •
to employcoonld. I
114115i4. If has not been ranch necessity
consequently,ovv reportl
...,1/ ~ ~ .rloF,Wxing ; and we can,
•-s t,;` .ProYerjs either in the demand for
Zflril
ue
of
f
.:" e:4lltlipdil cil'of the latter. Secondary qualities
' t boa—. ati It is rather lively request for ship-
y
r.. 4 l'-....,? ;,1•;.t- i ''
4
to. ki, IfRU*4)