The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-20 00:00:00

WOOL.

During the past week, the imports of Wool into Lon-
don have been on a very moderate scale, namely, 161
bales from Ilamburgh, 67 ditto from the Cape; 64 ditto
from Seville, 13 ditto from Ostend, and 60 bags from
Callao. A slight improvement must bo noticed in the
demand for English Wools, at full prices, but all other
kinds are a very slow inquiry, at barely late rates.

TALLOW.
This maket continues very steady, at last week's im-
provement in the quotations. Our St. Petersburgh letter,
ust at hand, states that the demand there is less active.
About 3.000 casks had been sold at 125 money, for MIAy
and June; and 126 with 10 down for August delivery.
P.Y.C. on the ,spot is 50s 9d to 51s per cwt. Rough Fat
is scarce, at -2s 10d per Blbs.

BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner SHEPHERD.)
IMPORTANT DECISION AS REGARDS COUNTY COURTS.
—ln a case before his Honour a claim was made to
prove a debt, admitted to have been due, but the objec-
tion to the proof was that the claimant had sued the
bankrupt in the County Court of Hertfordshire, and
obtained judgment for 201., and had therefore condoned
all further claim. It was urged on the other side, that
a plaintiff might sue for a portion of his account if that
account was made up of different deliveries of goods, and
yet sue at law or prove under bankruptcy for the balance.
His HONOUR said that :he entertained a very dif-
ferent opinion on that point—the object of the County
Courts Act was to simplify the legal mode, and
reduce the expense of obtaining debts, and to do
that plaintiffs were at liberty to reduce their claim, but
that must be taken to embrace the whole of the account
then due. He, therefore, must decide against the proof.
The solicitor hoped his Honour would not decide a
point in bankruptcy when it was pending in the supe-
rior courts, and several cases were depending on the
judgment.
His HoNoun said, he was bound to decide in equity,
and he conceived he had put the just and equitable con-
struction of.the Aq of Parliament.

INSOLVENT COURT-(T HIS DAY.)

IN RE EDWARD FOWNES.
In this case the insolvent had been connected with
some proceeding in the Ecclesiastical Courts in relation
to a disputed will. The proceedings bad cost 9001. on
one side, and about 7001. on the other.
Mr. Commissioner Law remarked that such a state of
affairs was quite horrible. The Learned Commis
sioner added, after a pause, "It is a stable that wants
cleansing."
Mr. DOWSE, w ho, append in the case, said, " I sup-
pose it w:11 be in ti.ne."
The insolvent said the suit had been in the Ecclesias-
tical Court for two years.
The COURT said, although two years in litigation, the
busin. as might be done in a short time.
The insolvent was discharged.

SURREY SESSIONS.—(THIS DAY.)
These sessions commenced this day, in the Newington
Court-house, before J. P. Puckle, Esq. (chairman), and
a full bench of magistrates.
The calendar exhibits a list of 73 prisoners charged
with various offer.ces, a great proportion of these being
hetty felonies. Out of this number three were stated to
ave received a good education ; 39 were said to have
been imperfectly edacated; while 31 were unable to read
or write.

After the usual forms of swearing in juries had been
gone through, and
Tile CHAIRMAN bad addressed the grand jury, and
dismissed the m, the Court proceeded to take some oases
of trivial interest.

GUILD HALL.-(THIS DAY.)
Charles Smith, aged 42, was charged with stealing a
great coat, &c., from the Gresham Hotel.
The waiter stated that on going upstairs he met the
prisoner coming stealthily down with a bundle and um-
brella under his arm. Witness knew the umbrella to be
his own, and suspected therefore that the bundle con-
tained property belonging to the house. He was also
clothed with his (witness's) greatcoat. On being inter-
rogated as to his business there, the prisoner said that
he was looking out for a gentleman with whom he had
an appointment at the Gresham. He was given into
custody.—The prisoner was committed for trial.

MARLBRO'-STREET-(THIS DAY)
A gentleman, who gave the name of George Gould,
bolding a commission in her Majesty's service, was
brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with assaulting
police-sergeant 4 C, while in the execution of his duty.
At half-past three on Sunday morning complainant
was on duty in Piccadilly, when he saw the defendant,
who was intoxicated, treating a great disturbance. On
being requested to go quietly home, defendant refused,
and struck eomplainant a violent blow in the face, and
cut his lip. Complainant then took him into custody.
Defendant, who treated the matter very flippantly,
was committed to the House of Correction for seven days.

It gives us much pleasure to be able to state that
Lord John Russell has almost entirely recovered from
his recent indisposition. His Lordship attended a Ca-
binet Council at the Foreign-office yesterday (Saturday),
and was present at the performance of the Italian Opera
last night. The temporary illness of the Premier was
confined to an attack of the prevailing epidemic of the
season, and has yielded, as was expected, to change of
air and to slight relaxation from public business. The
rumours respecting any more serious or permanent ill-
ness were entirely destitute of foundation.—Observer.
THE FUNDS OF TUB BRITISH MUSEUISI.—SiT R.
Peel, a few evenings since, presented a petition to the
House of ;Commons from the trustees of the British
Museum, in which it is stated " That the only funds
belonging to the petitioners for the support of the
British Museum consist of 30,0001. Three per Cent.
Reduced Bank Annuities, the annual dividend whereof
amounts to 9001.; of a bequest of the late Earl of
Bridgwater, the annual proceeds of which amount to
4151. ; and also a bequest of the late Lord Farnborough,
the annual proceeds of which amount to 86/. 3s. 4d."
They then go on to say that the establishment is attendtd
with an expense far beyond the annual produce of the
above-mentioned sums, and as the trust cannot, with
benefit to the public, be carried on without the aid of
Parliament, they pray for the grant of further support
towards enabling them to carry on the execution of the
trust reposed in them for the general benefit of learning
and useful knowledge.
TERRIELN CATASTROPHE.—OH Saturday infor-
mation was received at Lloyd's of the following extra-
ordinary and fatal occurrence, which took placa on
board the barque Neptune, belonging to Jersey, but
lying in the Welsh Pool. It appears that on Wednesday
last the vessel was loaded with coal, and was lying, for
the night, at Cardiff. The hatchways were all fastened
down, and, from whet subsequently occurred, it is quite
clear that a considerable quantity of gas was evolved
from the coal, for on the chief mate, a young
man named John Grovey, striking a match to light his
pipe on the hatchway, a terrible explosion took place,
resembling the discharge of cannon. The cabins and
main hatchways were blown to atoms, the deck was
forced as high as the main rigging, and the unfortunate
deceased was killed on the spot and frightfully mangled.
Several others of the crew were likewise much injured,
but, it is believed, not fatally. The damage done to
the vessel will exceed 400/. An inquest has been held
on the body, and a verdict of " Accidental death" was
returned.

Sir William Molesworth paired off in favour of Sir
Benjamin Hall's motion for extending the income-tax to
Ireland, with General Morrison.