The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-25 00:00:00

JUNE 25,

EVENING,

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

At six o'clock on Monday evening the Centaur, 6
steam-frigate, Captain Patten, with the flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Fanshawe, C. 8., steamed into Portsmouth harbour,
and yesterday morning went alongside the yard jetty to
land the admiral's luggage, who left for London in the
afternoon, his flag having been hauled down at sunset.
The Centaur will commence returning stores, &c , to-day
and will probably pay off early next week.
Before leaving the coast the Commander-in• Chief
promoted Second Master William Kiddie, of the Gladi-
%tor steam-frigate, Captain Adams, to the rank of
master, the vacancy having occurred by the death of Mr.
Barnes, of the steam-vessel Firefly. In making this
promotion Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, we are quite sure,
has only anticipated the intentions of the Admiralty.
No second master on the list had stronger claims than
Mr. Kiddie, and no officer ever received more handsome
recommendations at the hands of his captain than did
Mr. Kiddie from Captain Adams.
Lieutenant George T. Airey, R.N. (1815), a com-
mander in the Indian navy, and who for many years
has commanded the steam-vessel Pluto, in the China
seas, died at Singapore, April 20, in command of the
above ship.
Midshipman Mr. Coventry, of the Wolverine, 12, on
the coast of Africa, died in charge of a prize.

Columbia steam surveying-vessel, Conimsnder Short,
land, left Halifax, May 29, for the Bay of Fundy, to
resume surveying operations.
Hogue, 60, steam-ship, Captain Macdougal, left
Queenstown on Sunday evening, to join Commodore
Martin's squadron at Lisbon.
Heroine, 8, Commander Marsh, may be expected home
from the coast in a few days, she having sailed from
Ascension for England fourteen days before the Cen-
taur; but the latter vessel made her passage home chiefly
under steam.
Retribution, Captain Warden, and Sidon, Commander
Gardner, steam-frigates, both bent sails on Monday
evening; the former vessel is all ready for sea. The
Sidon has still a quantity of provisions to receive on
board. It is now said their services will not bo required
before Saturday next, and in the interim (on Thursday)
the Sidon will be docked, to have her copper cleaned,
although her crew were " hogging" her on Monday.
Rhadamanthus steam-transport, for the Cape, Master-
Commander Belem, arrived at Ascension from England,
May 22, and left for her destination.
Sampson, 6, steam-frigate, Captain L. T. Jones, had
returned to Ascension, from St. Helena, instead of pro-
ceeding to the Cape, as stated, and left for the Bights,
taking the station of the Gladiator the first week in May.
Sappho, 12, Commander Hon. A. Cochrane, left Hali-
fax for Newfoundland, May 30.
Comstoponz MARTIN'S SQUADRON.,--The Commander-
in-Chief, in his flag-ship, Prince Regent, 90, Captain
Harris, was at Lisbon on the 19th, with his frigate
squadron. On the previous Sunday ho ordered the
Dauntless screw-frigate, Captain Halsted, to get up her
steam and be ready to leave for England, with the bro-
ther to the King of Portugal and suite for England; but
the Prince having postponed his departure, the Dauntless
was ordered to be in readiness lust Sunday for the same
purpose. All in the squadron were quite well. There
was not much exercise going on.
Leander, 50, Captain Dacres, has been out on a cruise
by herself, for the purpose of exercising her guns; and
Arethusa, 50, Captain Symonds, was sent away on the
17th on a similar service. The Encounter, 14, screw-
corvette, was at Cadiz. The Janus steam-vessel, Lieu-
tenant-Commander Powell, had returned to Gibraltar.
The French fleet of four sail of the line, under the
command of a vice and a rear-admiral, was expected at
Lisbon.

CHATHAM DOCKYARD.—The following workmen have
been superannuated from this dockyard :—George Phil-
lips, furnace-man at metal-mills; John Bead, Robert
Featherby, Wm. Savage, Wm. Peacock, Thomas Harris,
ropemakers; and Mr. Booth, sailmaker—on 241. per
annum each.

WOOLWICH, JUNE 24.-The Right. Hon. Sir Francis
T. Baring held a levee at the Admiralty to-day, and it
was attended by the following officers: -
Captains-G. R. Munday (1837), F. D. Hastings
(1840), William B. Dobson (1841), Hon. Edward Thorn-
ton Wodehouse (1841), Woodford J. Williams (1841),
Sir Robert Hagan (1843), Charles Keele (1843), W.
Clark (1847), and James Anderson (1849), Lieutenant-
Colonel Ellis, C. 8., Royal Marines.
Commanders-Arthur Morrell (1823), Felix Edwin
(1835), P. B. Stewart (1841), Edward Collier (1845),
William Hoseason (1846), J. T. W. French (1847), G.
J. Napier (1849), J. H. Bridges (1850), G. F. West-
brook (1851), and P. Saumaurez (1851).
Lieutenants-F. Cutler (1812), Henry P. Dicken
(1815), James Smale (1825), T. A. Butler (1827),
Samuel Richardson (1828), and G. H. H. Greathead
(1846).
Paymaster and Purser-James Pinhorn (1831).
Rear-Admiral-J. W. D. Dundas, C. 8., held a levee
to-day, which was attended by the following officers:-
Rear-Admiral-Thomas E. Symonds.
Captains-George St. V. King (1841), W. J. Wil-
liams (1841), and Frederick Warden (1845), Com- ,
milder of the Retribution steam-frigate.
Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, Royal Marines.
Commanders-J. T. W. French (1847), L. Robert
(1849), and G. F. Westbrook (1851).
Lieutenants-Charles Friend (1812), Henry P.
Dicken (1815), Edward La Mesurier (1815), IL J.
Johnston (1818), [l. F. W. Ingram (1845), G. H. H.
Greathead (1846), Richard Dawkins (1848), and
Arthur M. Brock (1850).
Master-James Penn (1841).
Midshipman-W. Kelso.
Clerk-George B. Eccles (1851).

THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE, FIRE.
Even up to a late hour last night, so groat was the
fire in the ruins, that at intervals it illuminated the dis-
trict, and led many to suppose that a fresh outbreak had
occurred. Every precaution had been taken. The
floating engines and many of the land ones are detained
ready to act in case of any emergency.
The returns made by the surveyors and agents of the
different insurance companies of their respective losses
and other details regarding the buildings and proporty
consumed furnish the following interesting particulars,
and, at the same time, supplies an accurate amount of
the total losses.

The pile of warehouses destroyed occupied a fron-
tage of between three hundred and four hundred feet
in Montague-close, each extending backwards seventy
or eighty feet, to within a few yards of the walls of St.
Saviour's Church. More massive brick and stone build-
ings were not to be found in the metropolis, and, with
the exception of the dock warehouses, were the
largest. Each were divided by party walls two feet
thick, and the different stores being supported by im-
mense iron girders or pillars. The three consumed can-
not be rebuilt under a sum of 35,000/. This loss will fall
on the Sun Fire Office. Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop
factors, of Hibernia Chambers, London-bridge, rented
the upper stores of A warehouse. Several thousand
pockets of hops were in the stores. All was destroyed;
insured in the Royal Exchange. Nos. 2,3, and 4 stores
of the same warehouse were occupied by Mr. Hollings-
worth, of Turkey Mills, near Maidstone, paper manu-
facturer. Some 15,000 or 16,000 bales of linen rags filled
the floors. It is expected the whole were consumed. Mr.
Hollingsworth was insured in the Kent and West of Eng-
land Offices for 9,000/. No. 1 (same warehouse), Mr.
Hewett, cheese factor; contents of store supposed to be
destroyed; insurance unknown. Cellars beneath occupied
as stores by Messrs. Allan and Anderson, provision mer-
chants. The fate of these contents at present un-
known; the property is amply covered by insurances.
Warehouse B—Stores Nos. 7,8, and 9, of Messrs.
Kitchen and Thornton, hop-factors, each contained a
heavy stock of hops, number of pockets at present un-
known. All destroyed. Insured. Stores, Nos. 10, 11,
and 12, Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop-factors, filled
with hops. Destroyed. Thoy were insured in the
Royal Exchange office. Other merchants, whose names
have not as yet transpired, had property in store in
other parts of this warehouse. Like the others, every-
thing was burned. The goods were insured for 7,800/.
in several offices. Cellars also were occupied by Messrs.
Allan and Anderson, as stores, and were loaded with all
kinds of provisions. It is impossible to penetrate them,
consequently the fate of the goods, as in the other cel-
lars, is unknown. Insured.

Warehouse D—The whole of the stores throughout
this building were rented by Messrs. Wigan and Co.,
the hop-factors. Between 16,000 and 17,000 pockets of
hops were stowed away. A great many were saved,
but the chief balk of the stock was consumed in the
building. Numerous merchants had hops deposited in
Messrs. Wigan's care; some are known to be insured,
others are not. Messrs. Wigan were insured.
Warehouse C—This building sustained very little in-
jury. The contents of the different stores, valued at
nearly 50,0001., were got out in safety.
The Bridge House Hotel received much greater da-
mage than represented. Every apartment in the build-
ing was saturated with water. The contents were in-
sured for 3,5001.

The principal sufferers appear to be the firm of
Messrs. Wigan and Co. Their property was insured for
60,000/.

As far as can be ascertained the offices interested in
the losses are the following, and to about the extent—
Sun fire-office, 50,0004; Royal Exchange, 30,0001.;
Guardian, 20,000/, ; Union, 10,000/. ; other offices,
10,000/.
Some days must necessarily transpire before the
exact amount of losses can be accurately ascertained.
According to the present estimates they can be little
short of 150,0004

EXPECTED SCOTTISH FANCY DRESS BALL IN THE
Crrv.—Yesterday a deputation, consisting of Lord James
Stuart, Sir Duncan DPDongall, Mr. G. Moffat, M.P., Mr.,
C. Guthrie, Mr. P. F. Robertson, Mr. W. Dallas, Mrf_ T.
M‘Gregor, Mr. D. Dewar, and Major:Adair, introduced by
.Mr.
Sheriff Hodgkinson, waited upon the Lord Mayor, to ask for
the use of the Guildhall, after the visit of her Majesty, for
a grand fancy dress and Highland ball, for the
_benefit of the
Scottish Hospital and Caledonian Asylum. The Scottish
Hospital is for the relief of aged and destitute residents in
London ; the Caledonian Asylum is fir the maintenance and
education of the orphans of sailors and soldiers who have
been killed or disabled in the service, and of Scottish parents
resident in London.
THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE'S ESTATE OF RAFOD.
—Yesterday Messrs. D. Smith and Son put up to auction, at
the Auction Mart, the extensive domain and estate' of
Hafod, the property and occasional residence of the late
Duke of Newcastle. It comprised about 14,000 acrd and
was situated between Shrewsbury, Rhayader, and Ab;ryst-
with, being about twelve miles distant from the latter town.
The lot, atter a prolonged competition, was knocked down
for 105,0001. The Messrs. Smith sold another property.
which was situated near Ilemel llempstead, and comprised
a farm with about 90 acres in the highest state ofcultivation.
It went for 7,000/., but this wll3 also under the reserved price.
FATAL ACCIDENT. -- EXETER, JUNE 21. —On
Monday evening two fishermen of Starcross, namkd Pep-
perell and Clements, were drowned while making round the
Start. A squall upset the boat, and before assistance arrived
they were lost. Clements has left a wife and five children to
deplore hill

1851.

TRIBUNALS OF COMMERCE.
A public meeting, convened by the secretary of the
committee for the establishment of tribunals of com-
merce, was held yesterday afternoon at Willis's Rooms.
Lord Marneliffe was to have acted as chairman, but
sent an excuse, stating that his ill health prevented him
from attending; and, in consequence, Mr. Montagu Gore
presided. In opening the proceedings, he observed that
the object of the meeting was one of great public utility,
and, if carried out, could not fail to be productive of
great good. The smallness of the attendance ought not
to discourage them, for they were aware that most great
measures in England had risen from small beginnings.
Tribunals of commerce had been carried out suc-
cessfully in France and Belgium, and he had no
doubt corresponding benefits would accrue to this
country by their introduction. It was very desirable
to collect all the information they could with
relation to the working of these courts in other
countries, to show the public the good that might be
expected to arise from them here. This he considered the
first point to which they should turn their attention.
His time and service would always be willingly given to
carry out this object. The scheme was not opposed to
the legal profession, but merely sought to protect com-
mercial men against the present expensive system and to
render the law accessible to them. The laws affecting
commercial matters did require revision, for in many
cases they were aware that the expenses had amounted
to thousands when they ought only to have been hundreds.
Mr. F. LYNN, secretary, said that the large merchants
of London, when he first introduced his project, were
totally ignorant of tribunals of commerce, and were, for
that reason, averse to them; but they now saw the bene-
fits they would prove both to the strong and weak.
Many who at first held back till they should comprehend
the principles of the scheme proposed, now understood
them, and came forward to tender their support. There
existed in Belgium a tribunal of commerce in every city
and county town, and in all towns of any commercial
or industrial importance; they were exclusively com-
posed of merchants and manufacturers chosen from the
most eminent, and particularly from among the prin-
cipals of the oldest established houses, having
a reputation for judgment and probity. The list
of judges chosen in each province or locality,
was submitted to the State authorities for approval.
The judges held office for two years. Each tri-
bunal was composed according to the population or ne-
cessities of the town or province. There was also a pre-
sident judge, and twelve, eight, six, four, or two judges
elected and constituted, besides an equal number of sup-
plemental judges. These judges occupied the bench on
each occasion, one of whom presided. They were at-
tended by a consulting barrister, who was alone a paid
functionary, the situation of a commercial judge being
purely honorary. Although they might not adopt this
system or the French one, yet it was most desirable to
ascertain how they worked. This was the object of their
committee. It had been proposed in the city to petition
the House of Lords on the subject, but it would be better
for them to wait and go there strong, and look out and
show them such a mass of evidence as would convince
them that these things were not a shadow, but a reality.
After explaining that he did not wish to say anything
against the legal profession, for whom he entertained
great respect, he said that quirks and quibbles were too
much encouraged in the law courts. These they wished
to remove, and, if they effected the change, the smallest
tradesman would benefit by it. They would now rather
lose 60/. or 601. than go to law. He concluded by show-
ing that these tribunals would afford equal protection to
both rich and poor.
Mr. RAINY moved the first resolution:—
" That this meeting considers the establishment of
tribunals of commerce would tend to diminish unneces-
sary litigation, as well as furnish the means whereby, at
a small cost and the least possible salary, differences
among commercial men and others may be satisfactorily
adjusted."

The 'questions they were to consider were, whether the
present legal procedure was such as to call for change,
and also whether the means proposed was sufficient for
the purpose. The evils of the present tribunals had been
loudly complained of, and through the press had been
made very generally known. He then detailed several
cases in the Court of Chancery to show the great ex-
pense and loss of time incurred in procedure in that
court.

Mr. H. H. LESTER seconded, and Mr. W. CARPENTER
supported the resolution, which was carried.
Mr. Green, Mr. J. P. Ball, and other gentlemen, ad-
dressed the meeting, and moved votes of thanks to the
press for their exertions in the cause of law reform, and
to the chairman for his conduct in the chair; after which
the meeting separated.

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AMERICA
The Commissioners to whom was referred the con-
sideration of the claims of Ireland to have one of her
western ports selected as the point of departure for
Transatlantic packet steamers have made an elaborate
report, which concludes as follows :
"It will be seen by what we have already stated, and
from the appendix attached to this report, that in the
protracted and detailed inquiry that has devolved upon
us, we have listened to all the arguments and facts that
have been urged upon our attention, and have sought
out such officers in her Majesty's service as have had
personal acquaintance with the western and southern
coasts of Ireland. We have asked opinions from
officers of the coast guard, and persons connected
with the merchant service; we have applied to municipal
bodies, to local committees, and to individuals who have
taken a prominent part on this question. We have found
a desire for the transference of the packet station
strongly entertained by many persons connected with Ire-
land, founded on the hope that it would produce inci-
dental benefit to the neighbourhood of the port selected,
and to those parts of Ireland which must be traversed
to rer,ch it. To this desire we have paid great deference,
and have considered the subject with an anxious wish to
arrive at a conclusion which would promote tho com-
mercial and general prosperity of Ireland. But, on a
careful review of the arguments that have been advanced,
we do not consider them to be suffieient to justify us in
recommending such a change. Some of those arguments
aro of a speculative character, depending upon improve-
ments which have not yet been effected, and which can-
not be anticipated with any certainty. The principal
remaining grounds upon which the measure is advocated
are, the benefits which Ireland would derive from being
made the medium of intercourse between Great Britain
and America, and the saving of time and reduction of sea
voyage which the United Kingdom generally would obtain
in the communication with that country. We have shown,
however, that the gain of time that could be calcula-
lated upon, would not, even under present circum-
stances, as regards the greater part of the United
Kingdom, be considerable, if compared with the whole
length of the voyage, and that it will be of still less
importance if the mail packets are required to touch at
Holyhead. On the other hand there is reason to believe
that the frequent transfers to which both passengers and
goods would be subjected in the transit between any
place in Egland and Scotland and a port of the west
coast of Ireland would prevent any large amount of
traffic between those countries and North America being
conducted by the new route. We find no reason to con-
clude that the local and particular advantages resulting
from the proposed measure would be so great, or the
saving of time so important, as to counterbalance the
large additional expense which would be entailed upon
the imperial revenue, and the evils and inconvenience
which would be inflicted on the great body of the mer-
cantile and travelling portion of the community by re-
moving the packets from the place were they were ori•
ginally established, as being the focus of the commercial
transactions of the United Kingdom with the North
American continent.—We have, &c.,
" GRANVILLE. " J. F. BURGOYNE.
" W. COWPER. "S. ELLERBY."
" JAMES A. GORDON.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

Isaac Solemons, a member of the Jewish fraternity,
was placed at the bar before Alderman Farebrother,
charged with being unlawfully in possession of various
articles of silver plate, alleged to have been stolen.
John Charles Walker said—l am an apprentice to
Mr. Sirrell, the gold and silver refiner of Barbican.
Yesterday morning the prisoner called at our shop, and
without saying a word to any one, he put into the scale
the property produced. Having received information
that a burglary had been committed in a house in
Broad-street-buildings, on the previous night, I informed
Mr. Sirrell of the circumstance, and he advised me to
call in a constable and give the prisoner into custody.
I went to the door for that purpose, when prisoner di-
vining my object, rushed past me into the street, and
tried to make his escape, and finding I pursued him, ho
turned round, and returned with mo to the shop. I
compared the articles with those described in the in-
formation, and found they tallied in every respect. When
prisoner first stopped he clasped his hands, and said
"Oh pray don't.' He did not ask any price for them;
bat they would not have been worth more than 10/. as
old silver. I have known prisoner as a customer at our
shop.
Alderman FAREBROTHER—TO buy?
Witness—No, sir, he brought us old silver to sell.
Mr. Jenkin Elwin, 20, Broad-street-buildings, sur-
geon, said, the articles produced, consisting of a pair of
sugar tongs broken, a caddy spoon,
a thimble, a silver
canstie holder, and the top of a smellin
my bottle,'
are my
property. On Sunday night, at a hour,atehouse
was broken into by some parties, and the above things
taken from various desks and 'dra Some of the
articles I saw safe at seven o'clockiwnerthe evening, and
others were put away about R. weekago by Ml's. El'vin'
Alderman FAREBROTHERLTh en we shall want Mrs.
Elwin, for she will be a material witness.
Fuller, 152, took the prisoner into custody.
William Whitcher, 50, said—l was called in to exa-
mine the premises by Mr. Elwin. I found several desks
broken open in several rooms, and on going into the
kitchen I saw that the house had been entered by the
window in the back kitchen. I then examined the back
premises, and found that the iron bars of the window
bad been wrenched away, andthere were footsteps of two
persons having passed from the wall in Bloomfield-
street, over which they must have climbed to the window
in the kitchen. One of the desks in the surgery had
been forced open, and Cl. 10s. in gold and silver ab-
stracted.
Mr. Elwin—l put the money in the desk just before
I went out on Sunday evening. I never put money in
that desk before.
Alderman FAREBROTHER—It will be necessary to re-
mand this case to make some inquiry about the pri-
soner. Did you seareh the prisoner's house, officer ?
Fuller, 152—Yes, your Worship; but I found nothing
wrong, as prisoner sent there before me. On searching
his bag that he carried round to collectiold clothes, I
found a new artillery jacket, with all the gold lace and
other marks, denoting the rank of the wearer to be that
of a sergeant.

Alderman FAREBROTIIER—I iluppoise you bought est
in the way of old clothes? Prisoner—l bought that 01.