The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-23 00:00:00

TREATY OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION
BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND BELGIUM.

The following is a summary of this document,
which is of considerable interest to the commercial
and shipping interests :
" His Majesty the King of the Belgians, and her
Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom, &c., &c.,
animated with equal desire to facilitate and extend
commerce and navigation between their respective
States, have resolved to conclude a commercial treaty,
and appointed as their plenipotentiaries, on the one
hand, M. Sylvain Van de Weyer, Envoy Extraordi-
nary, &c., &c., on the other, the Right Hon. Visconnt
Palmerston, &e., &c., and the Right Hon. Henry
Labouchere, &c., &c.; and who, after the usual pre-
liminaries, agreed to the following articles:—
"I. There shall be reciprocal liberty of com-
merce between all the States of the high-contracting
parties, and the subjects of each of them shall,
throughout the whole extent of their respective ter-
ritories, enjoy the same rights, privileges, &c., as are
enjoyed by naturals.
" 11. As regards the rights of the flag, it is agread
that merchandise of all kinds, without distinction of
origin, imported directly under the British flag from
any part of the United Kingdom, its colonies and
possessions, into Belgium, shall enjoy the same exemp-
tions, restitutions, premiums, and other favours, and
shall not be subjected to other duties or formalities
than those imposed upon imports under the Belgic flag,
except in the case indicated in art. 5.
" 111. As regards the duties of origin, it is agreed
that merchandise of all kinds, without distinction of
origin, directly imported into Belgium under the
British flag from any part of the United Kingdom,
its colonies and possessions, shall be admitted under
the scale of duties imposed upon imports under the
Belgic flag, in the manner the most privileged by the
general Belgian tariff, excepting in the cases specified
in art. 5. It is understood that all merchandise to
which the above articles are applicable must really
have been taken on board in ports of the United King-
dom, its colonies and possessions.
"IV. All merchandise, without distinction of
origin, imported into Belgium under the British flag,
from other places than those within the United King-
dom, its colonies and possessions, shall enjoy the same
exemptions, premiums, and other favours, and shall
not be subjected to other formalities, nor pay other
duties than if imported under the Belgian fig, save
and excepting the goods specified in the following

article:-
" V. Exceptions shalt be made to the above three
articles for the goods, and in the following cases :
" 1. As regards the third and fourth articles, for
upholstery and dye-woods, rice, sugar, coffee, to-
bacco, and cotton,* only where the importation shall
take place directly from a transatlantic country under
Belgian colours. Fruits, olive oil, and raw sulphur
—only when the importation takes place directly from
the place of production under Belgian colours.
" 2. As regards the disposition of articles 2,3, and
4, for salt. But his Majesty the King of the Bel-
gians engages first, to reduce two-thirds the duty ac-
tually imposed on rock salt imported from the
United Kingdom, under the British flag; secondly,
to assimilate mineral salt imported from the United
Kingdom with rock salt, as regards customs, excise
duties, exemption from excise in case of being des-
tined for manufacturers or bond. In order to enjoy
this favour, the salt must be accompanied by a cer-
tificate delivered by a Belgian consular egent, con-
firming the same to be of British mineral origin ;
thirdly, to remove the prohibition on the transit
through the Belgian territory of salt imported under
the British flag.f
" VI. Merchandise imported from transatlantic
countries under the British flag shall pay the same
duties with which they were charged in transatlantic
entrepots or transatlantic coen.ry of production.
" VII. Merchandise of all kinds, the importation

of which is, or shall be, legally permitted in the ports
of the United Kingdom, its colonies and possessions,
in British bottoms, may be equally imported in Belgic
vessels, without being subject to other or higher
duties, of every denomination whatever, than if im-
ported in British vessels.
" VIII. The reimbursement by Belgium of the
duties levied in the navigation of the Scheldt by the
Netherlands Government, in virtue of clause 3, art. 9,
of the treaty of 19th April, 1839, is guaranteed to
British vessels.
"IX. As regards all exportations, without distinc-
tion of origin or destination, and in all that concerns
drawbacks, premiums, or facilities, which the legisla-
tion of the two countries has or may establish, the
two contracting parties reciprocally assume to each
other the treatment of nationals.
"I. All articles of every kind whatsoever coming
from Great Britain, or expedited to that country, and
traversing Belgium by the State railways, shall be
exempted from all transit dues, and the prohibition
which still affects the transit of some of these articles
is removed—excepting always gunpowder and iron,
and the transmission into France of linen threads and

tissues, and coals. It is understood that it will be
necessary to adhere directly to the measure pro-
scribed by the Belgic Administration to prevent;
fraud. Belgian commerce shall, as regards transit
through Great Britain, enjoy the treatment of the
most favoured nation. [lt does not appear from the
above that reciprocity is guaranteed to England].
" XI. It is distinctly understood that the above
articles do not apply to coasting trade, which each
country reserves to itself the right of regulating ac-
cording to its own laws. The same is applicable to
all matters concerning national fisheries, save and ex-
cept that the two flags are assimilated as regards the
importation of fish of all kinds.
" XII. No tonnage, harbour, light-house, pilotage,
or any other similar or equivalent duty or dues shall
be levied in the ports of either country on vessels of
the other, come whence they may, that is not imposed
on national vessels in similar cases.

" XIII. All vessels which according to Belgian
laws are rated as Belgian, and all vessels considered
as British by British laws, shall, as regards the effects'
of this treaty, be regarded as British and Belgian
vessels.
" XIV. As regards all matters of wharfage, dock.
ing, loading, and unloading vessels in all ports, docks,
harbours, rivers, &c., no privilege shall be accorded te
the ships of one that are not accorded to nationn,l
vessels—the vessels of both nations are to be places'
upon a footing of perfect equality.
" XV. Vessels of either country may unload the
whole or part of their cargoes, and proceed with the
reminder to other ports of the same State, as the
captain, proprietor, or consignee may think fit.
" XVI. Should any ship of war or merchant vessel
of one State suffer shipwreck on the coasts of the
other, all parts or portions of the same that may be
saved, or the produce of the sale, shall be restored tc
those entitled to reclaim the same. In case these per.
sons should be absent, the said objects, merchandise ,
&e., as well as all papers found on board, shall b
consigned to the Belgian or British Consul of ths
district where the shipwreck toek place, and no °the)
expenses chall be charged to the consul, proprietors ,
or others entitled, except the payment of such ine -
penses for preserving the property, and for salve. ge ,
as would be paid by nationals. Goods saved sl Laid
not be charged with duties unless sold for c' n).-
sumption.
" XVII. Each of the contracting parties s' ha 11
have the right of naming consuls in the state and tel:-
ritories of the other. These consoler agents a ball
respectively enjoy all the privileges, immunities, 4 ka
enjoyed by similar functionaries belonging to Vele
most favoured nation.
" XVIII. The subjeets of each State residinj ; in
those of the other shall be respectively free to regu la te
their affairs themselves, or to entrust them to the ;a re
of others, such as agents, wharfingers, consign sea,
&c., on the sane footing as nationals, and they sl s; dl
not pay any salary or charges to persons not selec b
by themselves, they being perfectly free to settle a 11
matters of sale and purchase iu conformity with tl
Customs' regulation of the respective countries.
" XIX. The present treaty shall remain in vigvas r
during seven years, from the Ist of January, 165; t,
and to the end of one year after the term at while h
either party may announce the intention of witt -
drawing from the same.
"XX. The present treaty to be ratified before ti e
Ist of January, 1852.
" Dated at London, Oct. 27, 1851.
" PALMERSTON.

LABOUCHERE.
S. VAN DE WEYER."'
* According to this, the exception falls upon all tth e
great articles of colonial produce.
f This, if we understand rightly, admits of Mita
vebsis carrying salt to B-Igic ports without distinctio:
of origin, providing the same be fur transit.

STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND.—A blue bogs ,
cr,ntainiug further papers relative to the affairs of Neo
Zealand, in continuation of papers presented on the 14th 0 f
August last, has been issued by direction of the House o f
Commons. It anpears that the population of the colail -
wa,a251,31i.n13158.50,4,04. 7, against 3,372 in 1819, making the in •
crease on the year 675. The actual revenue in 1850 w/o i
3,506/. 18s. sd. against 2,394/. 12s. ltd. in 18,9, beim :
an increase of 1,1121.55. 6d., while the expenditure was les ;
by 2541. is 9d., the amount being 3.4681. Os. 8d in 1849, am 1
the
increase
of 1,576/. 10s.
would otherwiseeals.
lid, in 1850 The exports (including thee
e:eainstgwaisecleowere, in 1850, 7,116/., and in 1842, 8,692/. lft ,
for by
eof population consuming the flour, whA t
The decrease is accounts 1
, have increased
been exported. The imports, on U' 3
Ceroileasis.negd from 14,254/. Is. in 1849, t 4 ;
other hand
an increase of 3,2531. is. 61
17,507/. 2s. 6d. in 18A
of 315 horses, 4,158 hornsi I
The live stock in 1849
5,052 whilsthorned
ine 1850 there were 44l i
(increase 894),a ru I
70,960 sheep, being an increase ofalVe6
number of acres fenced in 1850, as '
horsescattle, (increaseand 53,
3 4986 ), sheep,
comparedl2. The increau IC; 1
Rangitkie, and Wair g . ai•
withl 1849,v ra 3
1,940; ditto cleared, 1,064; ditto culvate(l
native population within the districts of Wellington, I:V 'hi'
anarapa, in
tkble"per'o v(intaceki; fIUNa New ttl'
Munster, is 4,711, of whom 2,955 . tra
Christians. Of these, 1,148 can read and write, and 444 c as
read only. The total number of churches and chapels with j.
the province is 39. ,

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec. 22.

Sittings at Nisi nibs, before Mr. Baron MARTIN
and a Special Jury, at Guildhall.)
KELLER V. MORLEY.

Mr. liumfrey, Mr. Warren, and Mr. Bovill were
counsel for the plaintiff ; Mr. Knowles and Mr.
Hayes appeared for the defendants.
The plaintiff is a silk merchant and reeler residing
at Milan, and the defendants are silk manufacturers at
Nottingham, against whom this action was brought to
recover a balance of 1,2501, with interest, arising from
the execution of a large order given by them to the
plaintiff for the purchase and reeling of 25 bales of
white and yellow silk in January, 1850. The de-
fendants pleaded payment, and the main question be-
tween them and the plaintiff was, whether the order
had been unfettered as to price, or whether, having
been so given in the first instance, the defendants
had afterwards prohibited the plaintiff from purchas-
ing the cocoons at a price exceeding that charged by
him in the preceding year. These points depended
upon a very voluminous correspondence, which we
may be excused from entering upon. It may suffice,
therefore, to say that the jury, after a brief delihera-
tion, returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the full
amount of his demand.
The verdict was taken for 1,3191.
TRUMPLER V. LOCKETT.

Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. Knowles, and Mr. Phipson,
appeared for the plaintiff; Mr. M. Chambers, Mr.
Maynard, and another learned gentleman,were counsel
for the defendants.

In 1847 the plaintiffs purchased a quantity of or-
chills weed, whence is extracted a splendid crimson
dye, and shipped at Callao for Liverpool 349 bales in
the Helena, a vessel belonging to the defendants, the
residue of her cargo being guano, which, for the
purposes of this cause, may be stated to have belonged
to the defendants also. 200 other bags of the same
weed were shipped in the Thomas King, which,
though she sustained bad weather, shipping seas
among the orchilla weed, and thereby damaging it,
eventually arrived at Padstow, whence her cargo was
conveyed in another vessel to London, and there sold
as a damaged article at prices varying from 151. to
30/. par ton. The Helena also met with very bad
weather, and after the orchilla weed had suffered con-
siderable damage from the mixture of salt water and
the ammoniacal matter in the guano, the whole of it
was thrown overboard, in the hope of saving the
vessel and residue of her cargo. This hope was
realized, and the Helena having arrived safely
with the guano the plaintiffs made their
claim for contribution from the defendants
on a general average. The defendants as-
sented to the claim, but estimated the orchilla weed
at the value which it would have borne at the,port of
discharge, if it had not been thrown over, and, de-
ducting freight and charges, their average-stater
brought out, a sum of 911. The plaintiffs, however,
contended that they were entitled, in calculating the
general average, to take the orchilla weed at its full
value when shipped or just before the jettison took
place. By this calculation their claim amounted to
1,1471., for which sum this action was brought; and,
the defendants having paid 911. into court, the ques-
tions now raised were simply the point of time at
which the calculation for the payment on a general
average should he made, and the value of the orchilla
weed at that particular point. On these matters
lengthened evidence was gone into on both sides. The
plaintiffs proved the price at which the cargo of the
Thomas King was sold, and called upon the jury to
infer that the cargo of the Helena would have fetched
the same price. The defendants, on the other hand,
called the crew of the Helena to show that the orchilla
weed was so damaged before they threw it over, that
had a different course been successfully adopted, it
would have been utterly worthless on its arrival at
the port of discharge, and they proceeded to lay be-
fore the jury the basis of the calculation on which the
sum paid into conrt was made.
Sir P. TIIEBIGER hating replied,
Mr. Baron MARTIN left it to the jury to say whe-
ther the sum paid into court by the defendants was
sufficient to cover their admitted liability to contri-
bute to the general average.
The jury, after consultation, returned a verdict for
the plaintiff for 93/. is. Bd. over and above the 911.
paid into court.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Dec. 22.
(Before Mr. Commissioner EVANS.)
IN RE CIIIETHAM AND GILL.

The bankrupts were described as shipwrights, of
Strood. This was the last examination meeting.
The accounts showed 1,8591. due to creditors. The
assets consisted of, good debts, 896/. ; property, 3841.;
the profits were, 945/. (over a period of twenty-two
months); trade expenses, 386/. • interest, 266/. ;
drawings out by Cheetham, 253/ ; by Gill, 214/. ;
losses, 4421.
Mr. Linklatsr supported the bankrupts ; Mr. Lucas
represented a creditor.
Mr. CostrxoN, for the assignees, did not oppose,
but required the balance-sheet to be amended in re-
ference to some bills of exchange, the acceptances of
which in the bankrupts' names they represented to
be forgeries. It was alleged they bad been accepted
without authority by a person who had been com-
mitted at Rochester on the charge, and was now out
on bail.
His HoNoua doubted whether he could pass the
bankrupts under those circumstances ; and, after con-
sulting Mr. Commissioner Holroyd, he decided to
adjourn the case till after the Maidstone assivs.
IN RE BUCKLAND. _

The bankrupt, J. Backiond,;:s a wine-merchant,
Queenhithe. This was the last examination meeting.
The accounts showed—Creditors, 1,1691.,; assets, 1501.
The bankrupt passed.

Commissioner Mr. Sergeant STEPHEN.)
BANKRUPTCY COURT, Dec. 22.
MID GLAMORGAN BANE HE PHILIP
THB BRISTOLmef
oo rNerCouo
TnIBI

meeting for the choice of assignees
under
JONES LLANGSTOCK BANKES.
The alleged liabilities are very
heavy; and, from the connexion of the bankrupt
with the Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire Joint
This
thewas fiaat.
Stock Bank, the case excited much interest.
appeared for the petitioning creditor;
Mr. Stone, of the Western Circuit, and Mr. W.
for the London Joint-Stock
the firm of Protheroe, Toogood,
and Protheroe, for the Monmouthshire and Glamor-
havhq tendered a proof for 14,0001,
BBgMaaernnv.sakhnTi: ir
elssol°rlni.solicitor,
Backot'oof 1r
;:Loaafn:di o n'l. r . Charles Bevan and Mr.
Overton, for other creditors.
E obitetE d that the proof was on various
promissory notes drawn by the bankrupt, and
into the bank, and had got mixed up
Mr..l‘ir. TILSONsToN
ac-
cepted by other parties, and which in some manner
y into the bank, and had got mixed up
with the account with the bankrupt, and for which
securities to a great extent. He sub-
ftmwohiuiett found
bedatdhtuhtekhe aial:ctecwltodhuae y had no right to pick out those notes
from the and prove on them, they
holding securities for the balance of their claim. He
was instructed that the bankrupt had held between
4,000 and
general
5, j
the bank, which were held
as security. Mr. Frazer, the manager of the bank,
Oaccount
in
shares
was now prosent, and he should like to ask him where
were the certificates for those shares ?
Mr. Frazer—The bankrupt never had any.
Mr. STONE said, of course not. The bankrupt had
received the dividends, and yet the bank held the
securities. It, was clear the bank claimed a lien on
them, and that they were entitled to hold them till
the calls were paid, and also as security for the general
balance. _ _ _

DO1J•••••.w.
Mr. TILSON had deemed that no objection could be
urged against the proof. He had tried to steer clear
of objections and difficulties which he foresaw would
arise on any proof being tendered for the balance ;
hoffeerheaTdldi,hetabironetoesftorebo,enecnare which carefully abstained from making
it.
the present proof was
at all mixed up with the ge-
neral account. They were bills which the bank had
discounted.
Mr. STONE remarked that the bankers were at
liberty at any time to put the amount of the notes,
even if they bad not done so, to the debit of his ac-
count, and then make the securities which they held
available for the balance.

His HoNoaa—lf there are any securities I suppose
they will be put in as exhibits.
Mr. TILSON said the bills formed no part of the
account at all, the only exhibitions were the bills of
exchange themselves. The bankers claimed to have
no security on account of the bills, and if they had
they would give them up.
Mr. BEVAN—You could not do that. You are a
public officer.
Mr. STONE said he should produce a bankers' pass-
book, which the bankrupt had received from the
bankers, and some of the bills, if not all, would be
found entered in that account.

The COURT said, this being a matter of fact, it
could easily be ascertained.
Mr. Timm said that the book in question was not
a pass-book which had been kept between the parties,
but a copy of the ledger, which the bulk, on being
applied to, had sent to the official assignee. When
an assignee was chosen he should present a proof,
stating the securities and the balance which the
bankers claimed.
Mr. 13F.vax stated that there was no disposition on
the part of the creditors generally to deprive the bank
of proof for any sum which might be due to them,
but the accounts would require looking into very
minutely. What did his Honour think had been
charged from 1841 half-yearly for interest ? No less
than 35,0001,, to say nothing of commission and dis-
counts. This would have to be inquired into. Be-
sides, the bank had a security for 40,0001., and other
securities.
ills llosoun—Do you dispute their debt?
Mr. STONE—No ; we sav they have a larger debt
than they ask to prove for, but we say all the trans-
actions are covered by securities, whirl: ought to be
exhibited. The matter ought to come fairly before
us, and let us see how it stands.