The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-29 00:00:00

THAMES.

STEALING WATCHES.—Antonio Andrew Eschardt, a
German watchmaker, was brought before • Mr. Yardley,
charged with stealing four silver watches, the property of
Mr. Samuel Protrowsky, a general outfitter, watchmaker,
and jeweller, of Nos. 68 and 69, St. George-street, alias
Ratcliff Highway.

It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner [had
been recommended' to Mr. Protrowsky, as an honest and
respectable man, and that he took him into his employ
about four months ago to repair watches and chronometers.
The prisoner continued in the service of Mr. Protrowsky
three months, and left without giving any notice on the 11th
instant. About ten days before that the prosecutor missed a
silver watch which had been entrusted to him to repair, and
he had ;to pay his customer for it. After the prisoner
had quitted Mr. Protrowsky's service more watches were
missing, and a police-constable, named Deeble, No. 195 H,
was consulted, who traced the prisoner to No. 19, North-
ampton-road, Clerkenwell, and took him into custody.
Upon entering the room where the prisoner was he said to
a female in broken English" Give Mr. Deeble the tickets,"
and several pawnbrokers' duplicates, relating to watches
which the prisoner had pawned at various places, were
handed to the officer. Three watches were produced by
pawnbrokers' assistants. A fourth had been pawned by
the prisoner, but it was not forthcoming. It was, however,
Mated that the pawnbroker who had it in his possession,
would restore it to the owner.
Mr. Protrowsky identified the three. watches produced
as his property, and said the prisoner had sent him a letter
in the German language, and a friend had translated a
portion of it, and it was an admission on the part of the
prisoner that he had taken the articles and sold them.
The prisoner made no defence, and was committed foip
trial.

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

HAY MARKETS.

.SMITHFIELD.--Meadow hay, £2 15s to £4 12s ; clover,
do., £4 Os to £5 5s ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 10s per load.
A steady demand.
CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £2 15s to £4 12s; clover
do., £4 5s to £5 5s ; and straw, £1 6s to £1 lOs per lead.
A fair demand, at our quotations.

WHITECHAFEL.—Meadow hay, £2 15s to £4l2s ; clover
do., £4 5s to £5 58 ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 10s per lead.
Both hay and straw were in request, at late rates.

COLONIAL.

TEA.—The market remains very quiet, prices being
without variation. Common Congou is quoted 131 d. per lb.
SUGAR.—There has been a limited inquiry for the better
descriptions, but prices show no material alteration. In
the refined market less activity has been apparent; pre.
viouS prices, however, are supported.
COFFEE.—The demand for Plantation Ceylon still con-
tinues active, and, owing to the shortness of stocks, prices
are well supported.
RICE.—The market is exceedingly dull, and the lower
descriptions have slightly receded in values.
RUM.—Good qualities of Demerara have been sold at 2a.
per proof gallon, but there has been a very limited inquiry
for other qualities.
SALTPETRE.—ScarceIy any business has been transacted,
and prices remain unaltered.
TALLOW.—The market has again exhibited little anima-
tion, and prices have shown a downward tendency. P.Y.C.
on the spot is quoted 535. ; April to June, 535. 3d.; and,
last three months, 535. 6d. per cwt.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING TILE
AMENDMENT OF THE LAW.

The following is the Report of the Bankruptcy
Committee, to whom was referred the consideration
of the Lord Chancellor's Debtor and Creditor Bill,
mid Lord John Russell's Bankruptcy and Insol-
vency Bill. It will be taken into consideration at
the general meeting of the society on the 4th,
April:—
" The consideration of the Debtor and Creditor
Bill and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill
having been referred to the committee, they have
to state that, from the great extent of these
bills, and the variety of the provisions which they
contain, the committee have found it to be
impossible to report minutely on their respective
details ; and, believing it to be highly improbable
that either of the measures will, in its present
condition, receive the sanction. of the legislature,
they have not thought it necessary to state formally
what appears to them to be objectionable in, the
principles of each. They have, therefore, agreed
to the following resolutions, as embodying their
own views of what is desirable in a proper
system of bankruptcy.
" 1. That it is expedient to diminish the present
expense of procedure in bankruptcy.
" 2. That all retiring allowances, and the salaries
of all judicial officers in the Court of Bankruptcy
should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.
" 3. That the distinction between trader and
none-trader should be abolished, and that all debtors
should be liable to the same laws.

" 4. That the present Jaw of imprisonment for
debt does not press with undue severity on the
debtor, and is essential for the due protection of the
creditor.

" 5. That greater facilities than now exist should
be given to creditors for obtaining adjudication in
bankruptcy.
" 6. That more prompt and efficacious means.
should be afforded to creditors for securing the
property of debtors for equal distribution.
" 7. That the court should have power to suspend
the discharge of the debtor as to personal liability,
and to suspend or wholly refuse such discharge as
to property (subject to the provision in resolution
10.)
"8. That the certificates or orders for such dis-
charge should be classified.
"9. That it is desirable that, in the administra-
tion of estates in bankruptcy, greater uniformity
should prevail in the judgments of the commis-
sioners, and that the present mode of appeal is
unsatisfactory.
"10. That there should be a chief judge in bank-
ruptcy, who, sitting with two commissioners in
London or the country, should form a court for the
decision of all questions of disputed adjudications,
and, when required by the assignees, the opposing
creditor or the bankrupt, of disputed certificates' or
orders of discharge ; and that such court should
be the court of appeal, from whose decisions there
should be no farther appeal, except in case of
a difference of opinion among the members,
or by leave of the court.
" 11. That proof of debts should be made either
by a creditor at a public sitting, or by
made elsewhere, and transmitted the assignee to
be exhibited at a public sitting. affidavit
" 12. That public sittings should be held for the
admission of debts, the audit of accounts, and the
making of dividends.
" 13. That whenever an estate is administered in
bankruptcy, it is expedient to retain the services of
the official assignee.
"14. That the county courts should have juris-
diction in all cases of insolvency where the debts
do
,nlost exceed
That aI 30
majority of sixth-sevenths of credi-
171IN1 h such
icoh
tors in number and. value should, in id cases of ar-
rangement,' &c., bind the minority.
cases a copy of the deed or
min,lo6r.andThat, cn
, IV1:1s ut
names, signatures, and amounts,
should be filed in the Court of Bankruptcy, and be
open for the inspection of creditors, but without
further publicity.
" 17. That a debtor, between whom and his
creditors a private arrangement is made under the
above provisions, should, upon complaint of a
creditor within a limited time, be liable to penal
consequences for fraudulently contracting a debt.
" 18. That the creditor in cases of bankruptcy
should have power to imprison his debtor if, and
for such time as, the court shall think proper, and
that the court should have power to direct a prose-
cution in the case of fraud or gross misconduct.,
" That, with regard to the estates of deceased
insolvent debtors, the estates of traders, at all
events, should be administered in bankruptcy,
-without distinction of special and simple contract
debts."

Sir Maurice Berkeley writes to his friends lat
Gloucester that, as he claims an existing peerage, his legal
advisers inform him he ought not to allow himself to be
elected a member of the House of Commons•