The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-17 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL BOROUGH BANK.

An adjourned meeting of the shareholders of the
Liverpool Borough Bank was held at the Banking-
house, Water-street, Liverpool, yesterday afternoon.
At the original meeting on Thursday (last, week),
the liquidators submitted a report and statement
of accounts, showing the progress which has been
made iu the winding up of the affairs of the bank;
and a sub-committee of five gentlemen was then
appointed to inquire into the accounts so submitted,
and to decide what steps should be taken in refer-
ence to them. That sub-committee drew 'up a
series of questions which it was resolved should
be put to the liquidators at the adjourned meeting
yesterday. A copy of the questions proposed to
be asked had been forwarded to the liquidators, in
order that they might be prepared with answers.
The chair was occupied by Mr. Joshua Dixon. •
The CHAIR:SIAN said,—The first question was as
to the good debts, property, &c. " Mr. Banner's
statement of Oct., 1857, exhibited goods, £758,000;
of this there appears to have been collected
£516,678, and further expected £147,000, making
is all, £664,000, leaving & balance of £941,000
apparent loss on this account. Is this a correct
view to take of it or not ?"

Mr. BANNER, accountant—That view of it is not
correct—(hear, hear)—and this is the explanation
of it. If the account of February is referred to, it
will be found that £81,867 is put down for letters
of credit. In the present account you find the
apparent loss on the account to be £94,000, which
is reducible by £40,000 letters of credit. Besides
that, we have in hand bills of exchange, which are
not used, and we have also in hand £193,000 ; and.
there will, belonging to credit and calls, pass to
credit, when received, £48,821, making £89,000
against the £94,000.

Thir. BLYTHE—As to £49,000 of bills not yet re
ceived, I think there is some doubt about this.

Mr. BANNER—I don't suppose so.
The CHAIRMAN—Your next question, Mr. Blythe,
is—" Doubtful and bad debts. In Mr. Banner's
statement of the 27th of October, 1857, this item
was thus represented :—£987,956, estimated then
to produce £361,842 ; received on account of this
to date, £90,410, and further estimated to produce
£172,109, making a total of £262,520, showing an
apparent loss on this account of £99,322 ; " w anted
some information as to how this loss has arisen—
whether from depreciation in property, debts, or
what cause ?"

Mr. BLYTHE—I simply wish for the explanation.
I want to know how it has arisen. I see you esti-
mated the formidable amount to produce £360,000,
but it has only produced £260,000, which makes an
additional loss of £lOO,OOO. We are £89,000 worse
than we were twelve months ago, bad as we were
then, even upon the last account.
Mr. BANNER—XIO,276 is applicable to that ac-
count, leaving the loss as you state.
The CHAIRMAN—The next question is, "Doubtful
of bad debts for calls, £96,355—a list of these re-
quired." The chairman referred to the unadvis-
ableness of submitting such a list in the presence of
the reporters, as such a course was likely to be
prejudicial to the interests of the bank, as the list
included many names from which something was
still expected.
After a lengthy discussion the list was read.
Another request by the shareholders was for
permission to employ an accountant to examine
the books belonging to the bank respecting any
period that might be thought necessary. With
this request the chairman stated the liquidators
had not the power of complying without an order
from the Court of Chancery.
After some further questions bad been asked,,
the shareholders appointed a sub-committee to
confer with the liquidators from time to time, and
the proceedings terminated.

THE NAVY.

The Government transport Enthusiast arrived
yesterday at Woolwich pier laden with war stores
from Gibraltar.

The screw steamer Tweedside, Capt. 'Watt, ar-
rived at Spithead at 7p.m. on Wednesday last from
Calcutta for London. She has been engaged in car-
rying troops to India, also between Madras and
Calcutta. The Tweedside sailed from Gravesend
with detachments in March last for Madras, which
port she reached in 73 days, including stoppages.
She proceeded to London after coaling.
On entering the Humber last Saturday night, her
Majesty's gunboat Sandfly ran down the brig Her-
mann, coal-laden, from Sunderland to London.
Most of the men on board the brig were in bed,
and just saved themselves by scrambling on board
the gunboat in their night attire, leaving a man at
the wheel, whom they afterwards saved. In about
20 minutes the brig went down with all sails stand-
ing. After being taken to Hull, the rescued crew,
who were destitute, were forwarded.to Sunderland,
after being lodged and provisioned, and having some
clothing given to them by Commodore D. Brown, on
behalf of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Association .
The naval cadets belonging toper Majesty's train-
ing ship Illustrious, Capt. R. Harris, at Portsmouth,
break up to-day: They will have six weeks' holi-
day, and on their return will join the Britannia.
Capt. H. Eyres, C. 8., is progressing favourably
from his late attack.

Her Majesty's troop and store paddle-vessels Rha-
damanthus, Mr. Sturdy in command, and Dee, Mr.
Pullen, arrived yesterday morning at Portsmouth
from Cork, with Government stores, which are
being delivered at the Royal Clarence Yard.
Her Majesty's troop-frigate Himalaya is being
supplied with coal from colliers admitted into the
steam-basin at Portsmouth. Her officers and crew
are berthed on board the Victorious hulk.

The Eagle, coast-guard depot, at Pembroke, has
received a large number of coast volunteers on her
books during the past six months, the corps having
become much more popular in the district, owing
to the judicious management of her captain to en-
sure the comfort and well-being of the men while
under his command. The Admiralty have also
provided accommodation for the officers.
The Greyhound, 17, screw, at Pembroke, build-
ing..—The launch of this vessel has been postponed
until March next.

The London, 90, atDevonport, was taken out on
Wednesday and tried at the measured mile, when
her engines gave perfect satisfaction. Mr. Dennen
was in attendance.

The Revenge, 91, screw, is now rapidly progress.
ing towards 'completion, at Pembroke, and will be
launched at Pembroke yard early in the ensuing
summer.
lie Dee, 4, paddle troop and store ship, Master
Commander Thomas C. Pullen, arrived on Wed-
nesday at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, and went into
Portsmouth Harbour yesterday. She is freighted
with stores and provisions from Cork.
The Bustler, steam vessel, left Woolwich yester-
day, having in tow barges laden with about 100
tons of antiquities, which were landed at West-
minster, and conveyed to the British Museum.
The Supply, steam vessel, is ordered to undergo
repairs to her machinery, and will then leave
Woolwich, for Boudroun, Asia Minor, to receive a
similar cargo.
The Rifleman, steam vessel, having undergone
repairs in the basin at Woolwich, will be removed
to No. 2 dock to-day for completion, and be brought
forward for service.
We understand an application has been made to
the Admiralty to make the distance between the
Breakwater and the Eddystone Lighthouse the line
and distance of trial of steam ships at this port.
The present measured mile, running parallel with
the Breakwater, is neither considered a sufficient
distance for a fair trial, nor is it considered safe, as
there is not sufficient space to round a ship with
trial speed on her without a risk of touching the
shoals.—Plymouth Mail.
DOCKYARD PENSIONS.—The following important
Admiralty order, relative to the pensions to be
granted to first-class dockyard labourers, was yes-
terday posted at Woolwich Dockyard, by direction
of the admiral superintendent :—I have to make
known to all concerned that their lordships have
been pleased to notify to me that leading men of
labourers, single-stationed labourers, labourers at
machines, and labourers employed with skilled
mechanics, who are selected from the ordinary
labourers, and who are permanently in receipt of a
higher rate of pay than that granted to ordinary
labourers, are to be allowed pensions, although
entered since the year 1833.—Signed, JOHN SHEP-
HERD, • Rear Admiral Superintendent, Dec. 16,
1858." This order, which will take effect in the
whole of her Majesty's naval establishments, has
given the utmost satisfaction, and will prove a
great boon to a large and deserving body of men.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :
Assistant-Paymasters—Henry J. Ray arid John Evans
to the Royal Albert.
Master's-Assistant—Alfred Thomas to the Liffy.

THE ARMY.

THE STAFF COLLEGE.
The following General Order was issued yester-
day

" Horse Guards, S.W., I)ec. 6.

" The subjoined list of successful candidates for
admission to the College Staff on the Ist of Feb-
ruary, 1859, with the number of marks gained by
each, and the examination numbers of those who
were successful, are published with reference to the
last paragraph of the general order, dated 3d of
June, 1858 :

bd
Rank and Name. Corps, Station. c; Remarks.
,4
Lieut. R. Grant RI. Ennrs. Jamaica. 10 2226 Passed.
Capt.W. C.Nangle Rl. Artilery Home .. 16 1802 Do.
Lieut. and Adjnt.
R. C. Goff 50th Regt... Ceylon... 40 1589 Do.
Lieut. A. ELWavel 41st Regt.... Jamaica. 5 1495 Do.
Cpt. H. Wilkinson { Thlt Home .. 23 1445 Do.
Qualified,
but there
is no va-
Lieut. J. B. King. RI. Artllery Malta .. 2 1317 cancy for
a 3d offi-
cer of the
Ord. Coil
Capt.H.F.Morgan 28th Regt... Malta .. 1 1230 Passed.
Capt. A. S. Jones,
V.O lBthH'ssars Home .. 14 1197 Do.
Cpt. E. M.Palliser Mltry.Train Home .. 17 1013 Do.
Capt. R. B. Stokes 54th Regt ... Bengal.. 1 845 Do.
W. Inds. 1 521 F'led in mat
E. Inds . In 515 Do.
Home .. 19 299 Do.
ADIETTED AS SUPERNUMERARY BY SPECIAL AUTHORITY.
Lieut. R. Taylor I R.Marines I Home 120 1756 I Qualified.

" The examination, which was conducted by the
Council of Military Education, comprised mathe-
matics, military history, fortificati3n, military
drawing, French, German, chemistry, and geology.
It was obligatory on every candidate to gain at
least 300 marks in mathematics and 75 marks in
French.

" By command of his Royal Highness,
" The General Commanding in Chief,
" G. A. WETHERALL, Adjutant-General."

The proceedings and finding of the general
court-martial which assembled at Chatham garrison
on the 20th of Nov. last, under the presidency of
Lieut.-Colonel C. E. Fairtlough, for the trial of the
traitor Thomas Tole, a private in the Ist battalion
7th Roy al Fusileers, who when serving with his
regiment before Sebastopol basely deserted to the
Russian enemy having been approved and confirmed
by his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief,
orders were yesterday issued at Chatham for a
general parade of the whole of the troops, com-
prising the first battalion of infantry, for the pur-
pose of hearing the sentence of the Court read.
The entire battalion was formed on the parade-
ground at 10 o'cloek yesterday morning, under the
command of Major H. D. Ellis, and, the depots
having been arranged in close column, the prisoner
was marched to the front of the battalion. The pri-
soner deserted to the Russians in the month of Jan.
1855, and it was doubtless the information he then
gave which led to a general attack on the English
lines shortly after. At the termination of the war
the prisoner, being afraid to return to England, re-
mained at gt. Petersburg until last year, when he
was sent home by Lord Wodehouse, and was shortly
afterwards apprehended in Manchester and charged
with being a deserter. Owing, however, to the
difficulty of proving that he was a deserter he was
released, but further proof having afterwards
been obtained he was again arrested and brought
to trial. The proceedings of the Court were read to
the battalion by Captain Sidebottom, the adjutant.
The Court found the prisoner guilty and sentenced
him to be kept in penal servitude for life. After the
sentence had been read the prisoner was removed
in charge of a strong escort, and will be sent to the
convict establishment at Millbank.

Yesterday the East India troopship Bloonier, 890
tons, Captain C. F. Smith, embarked the following
officers and reinforcements for Bombay and Kurra-
chee, from Custom-house-quay, Gravesend, viz.:—
Captain J. T. Ling, 2d (the Queen's) Dragoon
Guards ; Liejit. William S. C. Pinwill, 27th En-
niskillens ; Ensign Henry W: L. Paddon, Ist
batt. 7th Royal Fusiliers ; and Ensign C. Rochfort,
81st Regt., with the following troops, the whole of
whom proceed to Kuitachee :-32 men of the 7th
(Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards, 1 man of the
70th Regt., and 16 men of the 98th, from Canter-
bury' 18 men of the 81st and 20 men of the 94th,
from Chatham; and 28 men of the 27th Enn iskill en s
and 11 men of the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, from

Buttevant. The following proceed to Bombay :
Lieut. W. C. E. Scott, 51st Light Infantry ; Cornet
W. A. Atcherley and Cornet H. R. Abadie, 14th.
Light Dragoons ; Ensign J. Y. Allan, 71st High-
landers, and the following non-commissioned officers
and men :-12 men of the 14th Light Dragoons,
from Maidstone ; 32 men of the Bth Hussars and 32
men of the 17th Lancers, from Canterbury; 32 men
of the-56th Regt., from Colchester ; 20 men of the
71st (Highlanders). from Stirling ; 16 men of the
89th and 14 men of the 95th, from Fermoy ; and 16 .
men of the 57th, from Cork. The above draughts
complete the number of reinforcements held in
readiness to proceed to India.
Col. E. Wilmot, . R.A., Superintendent of the
Royal Gun Factories, Woolwich Arsenal, yesterday
gave an interesting lecture, in the Artillery school-
room, at Woolwich, to a crowded assembly of offi-
cers, non-commissioned officers, and-gunners of the
Royal Artillery, on the manufacture of ordnance,
as carried on in the Royal Arsenal gun factories.
The lecture was the second of a series commenced a
short, time ago by Col. Wilford, R.A., Governor of
the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. The
lecturer entered into a minute description of the va-
rious phases of the art of gun-making, and addressed
his discourse mainly to the non-commissioned offi-
cers and privates, taking peculiar pains to elucidate
his remarks by the most intelligible matter-of-fact
details suitable to the understanding of each of his
hearers, referring principally to the casting and
turning out of brass guns alone. He enlarged his dis-
course considerably by an historical reference to th*
ancient custom of casting in bronze, and illustrated
his remarks by constant allusions to various sketches
nailed to the walls of the room, which afforded his
hearers great facility in understanding the matter
before them. The lecturer took the opportunity
of introducing several specimens of the rude weapons
used in ancient warfare, such as spears, bows, breast-
plates, &c. The colonel then explained to his audi-
ence the nature and composition of gun metal, the
various chemical and other tests employed to ana-
lyse its character, &c., and remarked that as the
knowledge of gun-casting had hitherto been, as it
were, " a sealed book" to the professional soldier,
his endeavours to elucidate the matter could-not be
considered a task of supererogation. The informa-
tion, he said, was of importance ; and he was happy
in being able to edify them on a subject with which.
it was the duty of the Artillery soldier to be made
acquainted. He then gave a concise detail of the
present method of moulding and casting guns, so
manifestly superior to the old system, and proved,
with the assistance of a number of diagrams laid
out for the purpose, that the science brought to
bear now-&-day will be the means of an immense
saving to the country both of time and money. The
lecturer remarked with reference to the rifled
cannon that if a rifle can be constructed so as to
fire from a man's shoulder a similar weapon can be
r made, of lar er dimensions and calibre, and with
equal utility` 'fitted to a carriage. The colonel con-
cluded his ]lecture by many interesting remarks on
the mode of working the present factories, the
boring and finishing the guns, and passed a high
encomium on the former scientific officers in charge
of the proof department. He stated that the use-
ful records left by them were in a great measure
the means of the growing success of the establish-
ment, which he hoped, by the perseverance of all
concerned in it, would eventually prove to be worthy
of the name of this great nation. After a few en-
couraging remarks specially, intended for the
young soldier, the audience withdrew. A number
of the non-commissioned officers and gunners ap-
proached the tables on which were deposited the
various models, specimens, &c., on which the colonel
entered into a courteous conversation explanatory Of
the different items of ancient warfare on which they
expressed a desire to be further enlightened.
The War Department yesterday chartered the
transport Eleanor for the conveyance of militall,
stores from Woolwich to the Isle of Ascension, and
the Chebucto for Jamaica.

Major-General Sir W. F. Williams, Commandant
of Woolwich Garrison, has returned to Woolwich
from Nova Scotia.

PRESIDENT BUCHANAN UPON TIIS
FREEDOM OF THE UNITED STATES.

At the centennial celebration .of the occupahef
of Forts Duquesne and Pitt, held at Pittsburg ell,
the 25th of November last, among the letters 01
excuse for non-attendance was the following from
the President of the United States. Having regard
-to the present unsettled state of the country, the
opinions expressed by Mr. Buchanan possess a
peculiar importance :

" Washington, Nov. 22.
" Gentlemen,—l have had the honour to receive
your invitation to be present on the 25th inst., at
the centennial anniversary of the capture of Fort
Duquesne, and I regret that the pressure of public
affairs, at a period so near the meeting of Congress,
renders it impossible that I should enjoy this privi-
lege.
" Every patriot must rejoice while reflecting
upon the unparalleled progress of our countri
within the last century. What was at its cool'
mencement an obscure fort, far beyond the westerli
frontier of civilisation, has now become the centre
of a populous commercial and manufacturing city►
sending its productions to large and prosperAO
sovereign States still further west, whose territalliel
were then a vast, unexplored, and silent wilder•
ness.

" From the standing point at which we have
arrived the anxious patriot cannot fail, while
reviewing the past, to cast a glance into the
future, and to speculate upon what may be the
condition of our beloved country when you;
posterity shall assemble to celebrate the secona
centennial anniversary of the capture of POT
Duquesne. Shall our whole country then compere
one united nation, more populous, powerful,
free than ony other which has ever existed ? Or
will the federacy have been rent asunder, a%
divided into groups of hostile and jealous States •
Or may it not be possible that ere the next celebrof
tion all the fragments, exhausted by intermediate
conflicts with each other, may have finally reunited
and Sought refuge under the shelter of one greet
and overshadowing despotism ?
" These questions will, I firmly believe, nucler
the providence of God, be virtually decided by the
present generation. We have reached a crisis wh,e:
upon their action depends the preservation of .o.'"
Union according to the letter and spirit of the coil'
stitntion, and this once gone all is lost.
" I regret to say that the present omens are fsr
from propitious. In the last age of the republic 10
was considered almost treasonable to pronoun'
the word disunion.' Times have since soil,'
changed, and now disunion is freely prescribed 11'5
the remedy for evanescent evils, real or imaginq
which, if left to themselves, would speedily vanis
away in the progress of events.
" Our revolutionary fathers have passed await'
and the generation next after them, who
inspired by their personal counsel and example'
have nearly all disappeared. The present genera
tion, deprived of these lights, must, whether the'
will or not, decide the fate of their postern;
Let them cherish the Union in their heart of hearta
—let them resist every measure which may to f
to relax or dissolve its bonds—let the citizens of
different States cultivate feelings of kindess ane
forbearance towards each other—and let all resoled
to transmit it to their descendants in the form an
spirit they havo inherited from their forefather*
and all will then be well for our country in future
time.
" I shall assume the privilege `of advancing yet°
in reference to another growing and dangeren!e
evil. In the last age, although our fathers, Ill'
oumelves, were divided into political parties whle,
'•
often had severe conflicts with each other, yet ire
we never heard until within a recent period of Oa
election*,emplyment of money to carry election,
this practice increase until the voters and the,:
representatives in the State and national Legit"-
tures shall become infected, the fountain of frva
government will then be poisoned at its source, env
we must end, as history proves, in a milites
despotism. A democratic republic, agree, eanne,
long survive unless sustained by public virtu e
_a
When this is corrupted and the people beee'm of
venal, there is a canker at the root of the tree
liberty which will cause it to wither and die. 5,
" Praying Almighty God that your remote Peco
terity may continue century after century, for agh,
yet to come, to celebrate the anniversary of
capture of Fort Duquesne in peace and Pre;
perity, under the protecting banner of the Oct-
stitution and the Union,--I remain, very resPe
fully, your friend,
" JAMES BUCHANAN?

,nef
ESCAPED FROM THE ICE.—The fine nen--
Edinburgh, which sailed a short time ago from Leith, e.
frozen in at Cronstadt. It was feared that she would,
main in that position for some months, and it was propos ip
rather than I)=6 the crew hope, to place them on 11,,,ti1e,
pay. The intelligence, however, has just arrived by
graph that the ice has been broken up by a sudden Wae
and that the Edinburgh last Sunday morning was °-
more on her way to the port of Leith. '
dges
WESTERN BANK OF SCOTLAND.—AII the ju jd
ofithe Court of Session, except Lord Murray, have deeLo
that the decree sought by the liquidators of the Wes'il- et
Bank of Scotland against the contributories who have tea
paid the late call of £lOO per share ought to be gran lit
without notice to the parties, and on the ex parte statetaeof
of the liquidators ; further that the minute of the qv
October, 1858, of the liquidators, stating the assets alliders,
bilities of the bank, and intimated to all the sharehe4_,a be
is prima facie evidence that a decree for the call woof
just and beneficial, and that it will be competent to ekllo
individual contributory to suspend the decree, and raise
question of his special liability by suspension.

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