The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-18 00:00:00

COVENTRY AND THE FRENCH TREATY.

The following correspondence has passed between
the Mayor of Coventry and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer :
" To the Rt. Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
" Coventry, Sept. 24.
" Sir, The Coventry riband manufacturers,
having applied to Mr. Pressly, of the Inland
Revenue-office, for a drawback of the excise duty
on paper which is destroyed in the blocking and
boxing of ribands, and the application having been
refused, I most respectfully beg to submit to you
what we conceive to be a serious grievance and a
gross injustice.
" All ribands prior to being sold have to be
blocked and boxed, which consumes a large quan-
tity of paper, irrespective of the ordinary packing
of goods, the paper having to be cut into narrow
strips from 1 inch to 5 inches in breadth, and 18
inches to 18 yards in length; this being entirely
spoilt for any other purpose, before being blocked
up with the riband. This and the pasteboard used
in making boxes is what we claim a drawback on,
and which we conceive for the following reasons
should in justice be allowed.
" The foreigner sends his ribands into our mar-
ket blocked and boxed in a precisely similar man-
ner, and in paper identical with that used by us ;
and these ribands being blocked and boxed abroad
the paper used in the same pays no duty, thus
giving an advantage of 4d. or sd. per box of six
pieces of riband over the manufacturer of this coun-
try. And as by recent legislation the foreigner
has been placed upon a footing of equality with us
in the disposal of his ribands in our market, we
claim in justice to be placed in a similar position
with him in an essential article in the product of
ribands for sale; and that either we should be
allowed a drawback of Excise duty on paper used
for the purposes described, or that the foreigner
should be charged duty on all paper used for simi-
lar purposes in ribandsimported into this country.
I believe the principle has been acted upon in many
instances by your predecessors of exempting the
duty upon paper and other excisable articles de-
stroyed in manufacturing products.
" I am sure you will pardon me for thus troubling
you, knowing it was your intention to have relieved
the country of the paper duty altogether.—l am
your most obedient servant,
" HENRY SODEN, Mayor of Coventry.
"P.S.—The secretary of the Riband Manufac-
turers' Association is in communication with our re-
presentatives, Messrs. Ellice and Paxton, on the
subject."

Mr. Gladstone sent a brief reply, promising at-
tention to the subject, and the following has been

since received :

" Hawarden, Oct. 9.

" Sir,—ln conformity with my engagement, and
with a great desire to relieve, if possible, the riband
manufacturer of this country from even the smallest
disadvantage which can be traced to the operation
of British law, I have had the request contained in
your letter carefully examined by the proper de-
partments—l mean by the Board of Inland Revenue,
as respects your desire that a drawback should be
allowed upon paper used in and in connexion with
the packing of ribands ; and by the Board of Cus-
toms as respects the alternative plan of a Customs
charge on foreign paper used in like manner for
foreign silk goods.
" I regret to say that the result is that her Ma-
jesty's Government cannot adopt either plan. I
think the amount of this evil is less than you esti-
mate it to be. But, be that as it may, lam of
opinion that relief could not be granted in the
former mode without giving rise to numerous ap-
plications, which would rest on similar grounds,
and which when awarded would gradually break
down the revenue from the paper duty. Mis-
chievous as I conceive the continuance of that duty
to be, I am under obligation to guard it equally with
any other branch of the revenue so long as it con-
tinues to be leviable by law.
" A charge upon foreign paper used in and about
the packing of foreign silk goods would entail such
annoyances, delays, and embarrassments to trade,
that it cannot be entertained.

" You will of course consider this letter as in-
tended for the general information of those on
whose behalf you write.—l have the honour to be,
sir, your very faithful and obedient servant,
" W. GLADSTONE.
" The 'Worshipful the Mayor of Coventry."

EXECUTION OF GENERAL WALKER.

In an American letter dated Truxillo, September
18, we read—" General William Walker was shot
on the 12th instant, at eight o'clock a.m. He
showed throughout the greatest coolness, not even
changing colour when walking from the prison to
the plaza, where he was'shot. Two soldiers, with
drawn swords, advanced in front of him, and three
with fixed bayonets followed him. In his right
hand he carried a hat, and in his left a crucifix.
Before taking his seat on the fatal cauquete he re-
quested the priest in attendance, inasmuch as he
could not speak loud enough to be heard, to say to
the people that he asked the pardon of all whom he
had injured in his present expedition, &c., which is
variously reported by various persons. He then
sat down. A file of ten soldiers advanced and fired
on the instant. He died at once. The soldiers
gave three cheers and all was over. His remains
have been decently buried, with the usual rites of
the church. I think there was a deep feeling of
sympathy for his fate on the part of the people
generally, nor does there appear to be any spirit
of vindictiveness on the part of the Government
and its officers. Rudler is condemned to four years'
imprisonment, but I think he will be liberated
before long. Matters are getting. more quiet here,
but still American interests require Looking after,
and our countrymen feel very anxious to know if
we are to expect an American vessel in these
waters. The English war steamer is still
here, and so long as she remains there will
be no risk to foreigners. They will not,
however, sleep so well when she leaves,
not that the Government or people gene-
rally are disposed to violence, but because there are
always a certain number of ladrones to profit by
moments of excitement and a popular prejudice.
Such a prejudice does exist, and is mainly the
creation of the man who never succeeded, and who
now lies cold and stark in the Campo Santo .of
Truxillo. This goes by the steamer Osceola, be-
longing to the line established by Messrs. Squier
and Spofford, of New York, which now runs regu-
larly between this port and that of Batarano, in
Cuba, making two trips monthly. . We hear that
the same parties are about putting on another
steamer, to be called the Olancho, to run between
Cuba, Omoa, and Belize. I fancy they will do more
for the interests of the United States in these coun-
tries than all the filibusters, past, present, and to
come."
Another correspondent, evidently a Spaniard,
writes:—
days of imprisonment Walker had
ample his six
time for thought, and conscience smote him
on contemplating his prison, and also on seeing the
people that he had defeated and driven from their
homes on the 6th of August treating him with the
greatest benevolence and kindness. Carried to the
place of death and being ready to be executed, he
begged leave to address the people in these few
words I declare myself to be a member of the
Roman Catholic Church. I declare that I have
injured the people of Honduras to a great extent,
being led to do so by the people of the island of
Ruatan, who after calling me deceived me and
left me to my fate. I ask pardon for those
poor men that accompanied me, for they are
not as guilty as I am. If my life can be of any
benefit to society I lay it down with
the greatest readiness, pardoning my judges, that
I may be enabled to obtain my pardon in the next
world. These were his last words, and with these
the scene closed; it being worthy of notice that
although the port of Truxillo was attacked ruth-
lessly by him, yet the people of the town pitied
him, and in the whole crowd there was not one glad
countenance."

THE LEBANON. —T h e
b religiousbook
k withan d
pleasure.the reading
w e
world will hail Mr. Urquhart's
have no hesitation in saying thattat it
has is
hteheenreponsbt valuable
and interesting historical work that in
the present century.
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.—An accident of a most
frightful nature, involving the loss of one life and causing
serious injury to five other persons, occurred yesterday
morning on board the new steamship Ulster, built by
Messrs. Samuelson and Co.,
e Victoria at Hull, l,and at present being
th
fitted with machinery inDock. A number of
men had been working all Tuesday night ; and it was about
half-past five yesterday morning that the accident occurred.
A huge
allowve theighin g23tons,hadto
it
in
its
b e
propera
little,
ord orderpurpose a crane weighing nearly a ton,r engineers to place
position.
this F o
placed upon two largo beams, 14 inches by 15 inches thick
elevated above the deck, directly over theppaco in the ship
allotted to the engines, and which had Several times pre-
viously lifted the ponderous cylinder, was called into re-
quisition. A number of men were upon the two beams at
the crane, and another lot of men were in the bottom of the
ship placing packages under the cylinder, as it was being
raised by the crane. It had been raised to an elevation of
about three inches, which was all that was required, and
the men on the top were just abovt to fasten the crane,
when a sudden cracking was heard. Some of the men en
the top rushed on to the paddle-boxes, and one jumped
upon the deck, but in an instant one of the beams snapped,
and a man named Thos. Smith, along with the crane, was
precipitated to the bottom of the ship, a distance of over 40
feet. He fell underneath the crane, and was killed on the
spot. In falling the crane broke into several pieces, and five
other men who were engaged packing the cylinder were
severely crushed by the pieces falling upon them. The men
were immediately extricated and removed—Thos. Burton
and William 1 oatill to the Infirmary, and James Howland,
Martin Smiling, and Robert Garrett to their homes,

Ird, .