The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-23 00:00:00

THAMES.

A REVOLT AMONG LASOADS—CURIOUS DIFFICULTY.—
Mr. Crew, a clerk in the service of Smith, Simpson, and
Co., came before Mr. Selfe and asked his advice under
the following circumstances :—The lascars who assisted
in navigating the Schah Jehan, Captain Edington,
master, from Calcutta to London upon wages, were
bound to return in another ship to the Dot Indies on
the same terms and conditions if the Schah Jehan did
not go back to the East. That vessel was chartered for
another voyage, but not to the East, and the Lascars,
with their serang and tindal (boatswain and boatswain's
mate) were transported to the Tasmania, a large ship
bound to Australia and Madras. The Asiatic sailors
remained on board two days, and then deserted, and re-
fused to sign fresh articles of agreement, which they
were bound to do by the contract entered into with s
Capt. Edington. Three appointments were made for them
to meet Capt. Edington and Capt. Nourse at the shipping
office, to sign the new contract, but they never attended.
Under these circumstances, the Lascars were brought
before Mr. Yardley on a warrant, and they demanded a
month's advance before they joined the Tasmania, to
which the magistrate said they were not entitled. They
then complained that Captain Nourse, the master of the
Tasmania, was a cruel man, and would beat them on the
voyage, but there was no truth in the assertion. Other
frivolous objections were made, which Mr. Yardley said
were frivolous, and severely censured the tindal for
misleading his shipmates. Mr. Yardley did all in his
power to induce the Lascars to sign the new articles and
proceed to sea in the Tasmania, but they all most obsti-
nately refused to do so, and the magistrate was com-
pelled to discharge them, because Captain Edington
had not procured a certificate from the East India Com-
pany that the Tasmania was a proper ship for the pri-
soners to serve in, and that the new agreement was in
all respects a proper agreement for the Lascars to enter
into. The 23d section of the " Merchant Shipping
Act Amendment Act, 185.5 " required that to be done,
and he was surprised that had been overlooked by the
brokers of the ship.
Mr. Crew said that the certificate had been applied
for, but the officer who was at; the head of the Marine
department of the East India Company, and whose duty
it was to issue the certificates when applied for, said he
would not grant a certificate to the captain of the Sohab
Jehan until the Lascars signed the new articles.
Mr. Selfe.—Which they have refused ta do ? The
owners of the Schah Jehan are in a serious difficulty.
If the owners of the ship don't send the Lascars back
to India they will be liable to heavy penalties.
Mr. Crew said Mr. Yardley was of opinion be could
not punish the men for not procee3ing to sea in the
Tasmania until the certificate was granted.
Mr. Selfe was of the same opinion, and thought the
East India Company's officer bad taken a most erroneous
view of the matter. It was perfectly absurd to say the
officer would not grant a certificate until the Lasoars
signed the articles. He then directed Mr. Crew to go
back to the India House and state the opinions of the
Magistrates, that the certificate should ,be made out
forthwith, and before the Lascars signed the new con-
tract.
STEALING TEA IN THE LONDON Does.—James Sin•
clair, a labourer in the employ of the London Dock
Company, was brought before Mr. Selfe, charged with
stealing a pound of tea.
William Cornwall, a gatekeeper, said that he was sent
for to the tea department to search the prisoner, who,
he was informed, bad stolen some tea and secreted it
about his person. He asked the prisoner if he had any
tea, and he declared ho had not. He pulled off the pri-
soner's shoes and found in each of them a bag containing
half a pound of black tea.

Mr. Selfe—Undr:r his feet ?
Cornwall—Yea, sir.
Mr. Selfe—l wonder how he 'could keep half a pound
of tea in each shoe. It takes irn a large space.
Cornwall—It was so, sir. Here are samples of tea
similar to that found on the -prisoner which was taken
from a pile of tea. I asked the prisoner where he go
the tea, and he said he picked it up.
The prisoner, in defence, said be was sorry for what

he had done. He had a large family, and hoped the
ma;zistrate would be lenient.

Mr. Se:fe—l can hardly believe you are sorry. A large
faindy is no e \cuse for rubbery.

Cornwall, i❑ answer to a question, said the prisoner
had been employed in the dock nine years.
The forem:in of the tea department said the prisoner
bad been a nr n of good character.
Mr. Seife—l fine him 20s. for the "unlawful posses-
sion" of the tea, or three weeks' imprisonment.

DINNER TO THE GUARDS AT THE
ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.

The dinner to be given to the Guards on their return
from the Crimea takes place on Monday next. The ar-
rangements are as follows :—The Grenadiers, numbering.
739 ne n, w ill march from their barracks in Birdcage-
walk, over Westminster-bridge, past the Elephant and
Ca-, by the Walworth.road, up Amelia-street, to the
gar der The, Fusiliers, numbering 708 men, will march
ir t il,ir ba,rrAcks at Charing-crosk,,overWaterluo-bridge,
I,illow in/ the Grenadiers from the Elephant and Castle.
Tire CAistreams, numbering 562 men, will march from
the Tower, over London-bridge, by the Elephant and
Castle, and the same route thence to the Gardens.
The tetal number of non-commissioned officers and pri-
vates is 2,009, all wearing medals. They will arrive at
the Surrey Gardens at a quarter to 2 o'clock, and enter
by the usual entrance. An equal number of each regi-
inei.t will fill the ball, and take their places at the ta-
bles; the remainder will occupy the tables placed in
front of 1113 building, under an awning. While the
men are taking their places the drums and fifes will
play the "Roast Beef of Old England," and the bands
of the three regiments will station themselves in the or-
chestra. The chair will be filled by Serjeant-Major Ed-
wards, the senior Serjeant-Major of the Guards, and
the oldest soldier in the army, and Mr. Harker will al
elate as volunteer toastmaster. The soldiers will then
file off into the gardens, and the music-hall will be cleared
of all visitors in order to prepare for the concert.
AlLusements of various kinds will be found in the gar-
dens to occupy two hours. When ready to commence
the concert the soldiers will be marched into the ball,
the centre of which will be specially reserved for them.
M. Jullien's band will perform a number of pieces ar-
ranged fir the occasion, and conducted by him, and the
bands of the Guards will give their valuable services to
enhance the effect. After the concert the soldiers will
be placed on the ground between the hall and the lake,
and a grand display of fireworks, with suitable devices,
will take place. The soldiers will then be mustered and
marched home at 9 o'clock. The second act of the con-
cert will then be performed, and afterwards a
finale of
rockets and lofty fireworks will conclude the amusements.
The dinner provided for the men will comprise meats,
meat pies, salads, tarts, plum puddings, and fruits, with
other accessories. A bottle of stout will be supplied to
each man, a bottle of champagne to every three men for
the toasts, and each man will have a quarter of a pound
of tobacco to take home with him.