The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-14 00:00:00

THIS DAY.)

GUILDHALL.
ALLEGED PERJURY.—Mr. Louis Castrique, described as
a merchant of the City of London, was charged upon a
summons with wilful and corrupt perjury at a trial heard
before Mr. Baron Bramwell, on the 19th of February last,
at the Court of Exchequer.
The summons was originally appointed to be heard on
Wednesday last, but, in consequence of the non-production
of the record of the trial giving rise to these proceedings, it
was adjourned till this morning at 11 o'clock, to be taken
first, so as not to interfere with the other business.
The complainant is a Mr. Twynham, a civil engineer of
Woolwich and Fenchurch-street, and the present charge
arises out of some cash and cheque transactions, detailed in
the evidence as under.
Mr. Francis appeared in support of the summons, and
Mr. Sawyer, instructed by Mr. Philp, for the defendant.
Mr. Francis said, at the request of the other side, all
witnesses would leave the court.
Mr. Sawyer then produced the record giving rise to this
case.

Mr. Twynham said—l am the complainant in this case.
I am a civil engineer, residing at Woolwich, and carry on
business in Fenchurch-street. I knew defendant before
Ootober last year. I had businelfit:transactions with him
through a Mr. Feist. I believe-defendant is a bill dis-
counter, and carries on business in Philfot-lane. I have
received cheques from Mr. Feist; 'l4-ihaire 'discounted 'his
cheques through Bertrand Feist.
Alderman—To what extent ? -3 era Y.O
Witness—About £6OO or £7OO. I lave Irte,eived -
defendant's cheques in business and ;some 'f- have:
discounted. They were not post-dated to my kneVdedge;
I generally held them over for a week or ten days. That
was by arrangement. On the 6th October the cheqtre pro-
duced was brought to me by Feist. It is on Messrs. May
and Co., drawn by defendant in favour of No. 41. I re-
ceived it from Feist. I can't say at what time of the day.
I can't remember whether it was the morning or afternoon.
I did not notice:the date of the cheque. I only looked at
the signature. I gave my own cheque (produced) for £lOB
to Feist in exchange for that of Castrique's for £llO. He
asked me to hold it for six or eight days.
Alderman—That's very near 100 per cent. per annum
£2 for a week.

Witness—l made no charge. Feist said, " I'll give a
' couple of pounds to do it." It was paid into my bankers.
I don't remember when. I believe on the 12th.
Plaintiff—lt:was returned dishonoured. The cheque was
presented a second time and again returned. The bond
put in is of the action subsequently brought. I have seen
Feist after this affair. I could not get him as a witness
at the trial. I made search for him. I never
received any money from Feist. When the cheque was
returned I asked him how it was that it had happened.
Mr. Sawyer objected to the question.
Witness—l have not seen Feist from the time of the tria
to this hour. I was present at the trial at the Guildhall
The action was tried on the 19th February. The defendant
was sworn and examined as a witness on his own behalf.
He swore that the cheque was post-dated. He said in his
evidence that he had received money from Feist (.E7O) on
the 6th October in the morning. He said that CO was no
part of the proceeds of my cheque. He said he had given
his own cheque to Feist in the afternoon, and received the
£7O from him in the morning. That account was pro-
duced and shown to defendant, and he admitted it to be in
his handwriting. That is an account between Castrique
and Feist. He said he had paid £lOO or £lO5 into his
banker's on the 6th October. He said the £7O he had re-
ceived of Feist formed part of the money he paid in.
The defendant was commited for trial but admitted to
bail.

INDIAN FINANCE.

The subjugation of the revolted provinces of
Hindostan necessarily caused a heavy drain on the
resources of the Indian treasury, and now that the
warrior has returned his sword to the scabbard it
becomes the duty of the statesman to review the
condition of his finances. This task the Governor-
General has performed, an dproposed some important
changes in the revenue system which demand very
serious consideration. The statement which he pre-
sented to the Legislative Council, though mainly
applying to the expenditure incurredby the muting,
embraces the preceding year, at which period the
deficiency amounted to 104 lacs of rupees, Which
arose chiefly from the outlay on public works of
utility. With a view to economy this item of
disbursement was greatly reduced, orders being
issued that no work should be commenced of which
the cost would exceed 10,000 rupees, and these
restrictions were imposed on all the local govern-
ments. To this suspension of roads, canals, and
bridges, the Court of Directors were decidedly
opopsed, and to carry them on with proper activity
authorised the Governor General to raise a crore of
rupees, or one million sterliag, for their vigorous
prosecution. This was done ; the suspended enter-
prises were recommenced and fresh ones under-
taken ; but the estimate fixed by the Court of
Directors, in spite of the most careful supervision,
was exceeded by half a million sterling, and as the
treasury could not bear the burden the works were
again stopped before completion. By their cessation
"the public Exchequer was relieved, and a productive
harvest scattered the blessings of plenty throughout
the whole country, so that by these combinations the
financial department recovered strength, and at the
end of the year ending in April, 1857, exhibited a
prosperous appearance. The balance-sheet showed
that the former deficit had been reduced from 104
lacs to 18 lacs, although a large sum had been ab-
sorbed by the Persian war, the result of Lord Pal-
merston's turbulent and bellicose policy ; and an
additional outlay has been incurred by the measures
rendered necessary to secure ourselves in the occu-
pation of Oude, of which we had taken possession.
Those two items figured for an aggregate of 22 lacs,
so that if that outlay had not taken place there
would have been an actual surplus of four lacs, or
of £40,000--a trifle, it is true, but still on the
right side of the account.
The mutiny now broke out which will ever mark
a grand epoch, both political and financial, in Indian
history,"and if the measures recommended by the
Governor-General to the Legislative Council are
acted upon it will also be memorable as an era in
tariffs and taxation. It is right that the public should
know under what circumstances the financial changes
have been proposed, and also that the Indian Go-
vernment shoal . be vindicated against vague charges
of extravagant expenditure; and that vindication
fully appears in the sudden and alarming difficulties
of the crisis, which might have daunted the boldest
and embarrassed the most skilful. It appears from
the statement of Lord Canning, that sine May, 1857,
when the native troops revolted, there had arrived
at Calcutta from England 52 regiments of infantry,
9 regiments of cavalry, and 38 companies of artil-
lery and engineers. To keep that army in readiness
for the field it was strengthened by reinforcements
from Bengal alone of 20,000 men ; 165 transports,
mostly of large size, had reached Calcutta, with
5,000 horses, and, in addition, there had been large
arrivals from Bombay. It was of course necessary
to feed this host, and the commissariat expenditure
for the year 1857 exceeded two millions sterling.
In 1858 that item was doubled, and for the current
year, 1859, Lord Canning says "it would be
largely increased." Of munitions of war there
had been landed 70,000 stand of arms and 186,000
rounds of shot and shell. It may well be sup-
posed that the disbursements in each separate
branch of the war department to render this mighty
armament fully effective and to sustain it during
the struggle, must have been on a gigantic scale.
There was a general rise in prices, " from an
elephant down to a camp kettle, ranging in some
cases as high as 300 per cent." The cost of carriage
to the north-west provinces rose in 1858 to
£lO,OOO per month to Allahabad alone from Cal-
cutta. Ihe financial state of the country on the
30th of April, 1858, when the mutiny had lasted
one year. will be fully appreciated by the single
fact that there then • appeared a deficiency of
817 lacs of rupees, of which 601 were due to
expenditure in India and 216 to expenditure in
England. The Governor-General computes the
loss of revenue in the year ending 30th April, 1858,
at U 0 lacs of rupees, the loss of treasure at 130, and
the increase of military expenditure at 382 lacs, in all
862 lacs, or in English money, £8,620,000 ; and ex-
pressed his apprehension that at the end of April,
1859, the deficiency;would amount to 1,300 lacs, or
£13,000,000 sterling. It must be understood that
Lord Canning made this statement on the 12th of
last March, so that it stands clear of the Indian
Loan now floating in the London market. From
the several items he furnished at the date just men-
tioned the account would stand thus, partly from
what is known, and partly from what he anticipates
at the close of the Indian financial year ending
30th April, 1859:
Deficit on 30th April, 1858
Computed deficit on 30th April, 1859 13,000,000

Total
This has been met by debentures
in England £8,000,000
By loans in India of 1,914 lacs, or 9,140,000
Balance in Indian Treasury, 414
lacs of 1857 over 1858, or 4,140,000

£21,280,000

Difference against the Government .... £340,000
The question, then, is how to meet the interest on
this war debt out of the Indian revenue ; and this
brings us to the new tariff and scheme of taxation
proposed by the Governor-General. At present the
tariff varies from 3f to 5 per cent. on British, and
from 5 to 7i per cent. on goods of foreign origin. The
plan embraces the principle of abolishing all protec-
tive and differential duties. As a general rule, articles
of luxury, not necessaries of life, are to pay 20 per
cent. Other articles, not falling under this definition,
will bo charged 10 per cent, excepting cotton yarn,
which will escape with 5 per cent. Beer, wine, and
spirits are to be assimilated to an ad valorem duty of 20
per cent. As these three articles do not fall within the
consumption of the natives, who have not the means
of purchasing them, even if their use were not pro-
hibited by their religion, this tax will fall exclu-
sively upon the English residents; but the Governor-
General urges that the impost will be lighter than
in the colonies. On cotton piece goods the duty
will be 10 per cent., or double the old duty, which
was only 5 per cent. The Governor. General re-
marks that the increase on the import of this
article has been steady, now amounting annually
to three millions sterling, and he does not think
that the extra charge will materially limit the con-
sumption ; but those conversant with Indian trade
remember that speculative •exports to India by our
manufacturers have been frequent, entailing heavy
losses. This was the case in 1854-55, when the
shipments were excessive, for a time checking the
trade ; and it may be that the recent large intro-
duction of piece goods indicates rather a temporary
reaction from a state of lethargy than the assurance
of sustained continuity in the demand of the article.
However, this is a point only to be decided by expe-
rience, should the new tariff be enforced.
We now turn to the exports. Grain of all kinds
is the only article on which an additional duty will
be raised, and from this Lord Canning expects a
revenue of 201- lacs upon the same amount of exports,
without pressure upon any class. The export duty
on silk has only yielded 11 lacs; and that on tobacco,
which is not of a quality to favour its introduction
to foreign markets, the mere nominal sum of
29,394 rupees,
so that the two together have only
produced £32,939
sterling. This is abandoned
as unproductive ; but an internal, or excise tax,
will be imposed on the growers of tobacco and the
cultivators of silk. The present export and import
duties realise £1,040,000, and by the new tariff it is
estimated that the amount will be raised to
£1,970,000. At a future date, of which notice will
be given, the duty on Malwa opium is to be raised,
from which an extra sum of £370,000 is expected,
without lowering the consumption or affording
encouragement to the smuggler. These are among
the.,ways and means for meeting the interest on
the War debt, but the experiment has yet to stand
fhe test of time. Such, then, is a narration of Lord
9anning's financial policy, on which for the present
we a.bstrain from comment.—Morning Herald.

COURT OF SESSION, EDINBURGH, Thursday.
The Court of Session opened to-day for the summer vaca-
tion, when Mr. Charles Baillie, late Lord Advocate, pre-
sented his commission as one of the Judges of the ourt,
in room of Lord Murray, deceased. Mr. Baillie afterwards
sat as Lord Probationer in the outer house with Lord Kin-
loch, and afterwards in the first division; and, having con-
cluded the usual formal probation, he will take his seat on
the bench to-morrow, by the title of Lord Jerviswood. The
new judge becoming junior Lord Ordinary, the senior Ordi-
nary, Lord Benholme will be transferred to the second
division, in which court a seat is vacant by the death of
Lord Murray. To-day, the new Lord- Advocate, Mr. Mure,
and the new Solicitor-General for Scotland, Mr. Patton,
also presented their commissions.
AN INSULT TO SCOTLAND.—The following letter
explains itself :—London, May s—Sir : I have received
your letter containing the strange charge of havinn.
in the House of Lords that the Queen had obtained BStactoetd-
land by conquest. I call it " strange" because you found
your interpretation on a perfectly correct report of my
I know of no other
---l Olds the kingdom of
some of the colonial de•
speech, which you quote as
iftioi,lalanjoem,sa-sty:
hhiecrh
empire
rirgre gracious Majesty
Scotland,
of the British Crown than these
ptecotni edtlebanynedwi
cteh,
eo
construction
conquest,onst
ru ctio andn of our
rt treaty." e a t
languagey.,,ifthyroeue—doringohttseeof
of
fsentence a successive applicationYooufmtuhset wbeordigs-
tinrehaetriy2t,antcoe "t
Maltao
sad Scotland,
_oth
in:hortaehrinittsan
other dependencies.—l am, &c.
"conquest" to India, and
(signed), MalmesburY• John Steill, Esq., Grange-road.—
,E6nburgh 2trorth ,Briton,

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

A Court of Common Council was held yesterday
at Guildhall, for the despatch of business, the Lord
Mayor presiding.
THE WAR AND NON-INTERVENTION.
Mr. Deputy WHITE—My lord, I beg leave to
submit the following notice of motion, " That a
dutiful and loyal address be presented to her Ma.
jesty, expressive of the deep regret of this Court at
the commencement of hostilities between Austria,
and France and Sardinia—(" oh, oh")—and its de-
cided conviction that the best interests of England
will be consulted by the observance of the strictest
neutrality consistent with the security and honour
of the nation." (Cheers.) I will ask your lordship
to appoint an early day for discussing the question.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ANDERTON—When it comes on I shall move
the previous question. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DARKLY—And I hope the hon. member will
withdraw it. (Hear, hear.)
The LORD MAYOR—I have seen several members
of this Court who are deeply interested in the dis-
cussion of this question, and I have told them that
if the Court permit me I will appoint Monday next.
(Loud cries of " No, no.")
THE LORD MAYOR'S COURT.
Mr. J. HUDSON, chairman of the Law, Parlia-
mentary, and City Lands Committee, moved tho
adoption of a report, delivered in at a previous
Court, on the nature, duties, and emoluments of
the office of Registrar of the Mayor's Court, the
principal recommendations of the report being con-
tained in the following paragraph :—" Your com-
mittee having carefully considered the duties and
heavy pecuniary responsibilities attached to the
office, are of opinion that it will be greatly to the
advantage of the public and suitors of the Mayor's
Court that the duties of Registrar of the Mayor's
Court should be performed by a gentleman who
has had great experience therein, and we are una-
nimously of opinion that Mr. Brandon, who now
holds the office of registrar pro tempore, has had
such experience, and that, if he be appointed regis-
trar, he should receive a salary of X7OO per annum,
to commence from the Ist day of January last, and
that he should also receive an increase of £5O per
annum so long as he shall hold that office, until his
salary shall amount to £l,OOO per annum."
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR objected to the proposal for
increasing the salary of the registrar £5O per
annum, until it should reach £l,OOO, and moved as
an amendment to fix it at £7OO permanently.
Mr. PEAD seconded the amendment.
Mr. DE JERSEY said Mr. Brandon received £5OO
a year as deputy registrar, and as registrar would
have to discharge duties which would be by no
means overpaid by £l,OOO a year, and would be
poorly paid until his salary reached that amount.
(Hear.) He would have to discharge the duties of a
Master in Chancery and a Master in Common Law,
and masters in chancery used to receive £2,000 a year.
After some discussion, the question was put from
the chair to a show of hands, when the amendment
was declared to be carried—a decision which was
affirmed on a division by 63 to 50—majority, 13.
The amendment was then put as a substantive
motion and agreed to.
THE OLD BAILEY SESSIONS HOUSE.
Mr. Deputy WHITE brought up a report from
the City Lands Committee, recommending the exe-
cution of certain works at the Sessions House, Old
Bailey, at the expense of about £B,OOO.
The report was ordered to be printed (without
being read) and its discussion adjourned.
NEW POLICE RATE.
Some weeks ago a report 7ivas•brought up from the
Police Committee, recommending the levying of a
rate of sd. in the pound for the three-quarters of
the year terminating at Christmas next, to which
recommendation objection was taken that the com-
mittee had in hand a large
.sum_ which they had
accumulated for the purpose of building new
police stations, which were not required, and that
the money so accumulated ought to be taken into
account as an available balance in levying the new
;ate ; the report was upon this ground referred
back to the committee for re-consideration, and an
amended report was now presented stating that in
deference to the wish of the court the committee
had given instructions to sell out £15,000 of the
reserved fund for building police stations, and recom-
mending that the rate, instead of being 5d., should
be reduced to 3d. for the three quarters, making
sd. in the pound for the entire year.
The report was unanimously agreed to.
THE BAILIEWICK OF SOUTHWARK.
The court then proceeded to the election ofaligh
bailiff for the borough of Southwark, the office
being vacant by the death of Mr. D. W. Pritchard.
There were'• only two candidates, viz., Mr. W.
Gresham, solicitor, and Mr. B. W. Jones, also a
solicitor, of 15, Old Jewry-chambers, of whom the
former was chosen by the court.
The court than adjourned.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING.

FRIDAY.
Selling Handicap of 10 sovs each ; the winner to be sold
for 100 sovs, if demanded, &c. Last 5 furlongs of R.M.
(6 subs.)
Mr. J. Evans's Surprise, Set 91b (Plumb) 1
Lord Clifden's Dejanira, 4 yrs, 7st 61b....(J. Fordham) 2
Capt. Bayley's Miss Eleanor, 3 yrs, 7st 71b (A. Edwards) 3
Snap and Lady Blanche also ran.

Betting-5 to 2 agst Miss Eleanor, 3to 1 each agst Snap
and Lady Blanche. Surprise made all the running, and
won by two lengths ; same distance between the second and
third.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each. Last half of. Ab.M.

(4 subs.)

Lord Stradbroke's Doubloon, 3 yrs, 7st 31b..(Fordbam) 1
Mr. Savile's Queen Charlotte, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (J Edwards) 2
Mr. R. Harlan's Cincinnati, 3 yrs, Bst (Hibbard) 3
Betting-5 to 2 agst Doubloon. Won by a head ; bad
third.