The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-14 00:00:00

ThE U.AOL DELIVERY UNDER THE NEW.
BANKRUPICY ACT.

In accordance with the regulations made by Mr. Com-
missioner Ilolroyd, the gaol delivery of poor debtors from
every prison throughout the United Kingdom commenced
on Tuesday. The following are the results as far as at pre-
sent ascertained. The return made by Mr. Keene, the go-
v-rnor of Ilorsemonger-lane Gaol, showed that on the Ist
of Nov. there were 42 male and 5 female prisoners in cus-
tody for debt, and on Monday and yesterday Mr. Registrar
Hazlitt discharged 18, amongst whom were the 5 females.
We may, however, mention, that since the Ist inst. 13 have
left the gaol, and of those who still remain several have
themselves petitioned the Insolvent Debtors Court. In
one case the debtor has been imprisoned since the 25th
of July, 1853, and on being brought before the registrar
refused to answer any of the questions put to him. He told
the registrar that he had no jurisdiction in his case, as
he did not owe any one anything, and therefore he could not
be made a bankrupt. When asked why he remained in ihe
prison he replied that for reasons of his own he would not
go out, but that he had had his discharge in his pocket since
the 23d March last, and that he should go out when he
liked. As he refused to answer the questions put to him,
the registrar threatened to report him to the court. The
prisoner replied, "That the commissioner could not com-
mit him until he was made a bankrupt." " Then," said
the registrar, "why do you not ask fcr your discharge ?"
The prisoner—" That is my business." In the case of a
woman who had been in custody since June, 1856, and had
petitioned the Insolvent Court almost immediately after, it
appeared that she had been ordered to do something in con-
nexion with the proceedings, but having failed to comply
with the order remained in prison. The registrar or-
dered her discharge, upon the ground that her detention
was upon a matter in abeyance, and no longer pending
within the meaning of the act, as it occurred so many years
ago. At the Queen's Prison Mr. Registrar Higgins hoard
seven cases, and discharged one, the others being adjourned
for consideration. At Whitecross-street Prison Mr. Regis-
trar Abrahall and Mr. Registrar Miller presided. The gaol
lists presented by Mr. Constable, the deputy-governor,
showed that the total number of debtors in custody on the
Ist inst. was 186.

➢ir. Alderman Challis, as chairman of the Gaol Com-
mittee, waited on the registrars, and informed them that
the c mmittee were desirous of giving every facility for the
attainment of the object of the proceedings, and with that
view they had resolved to defray any expenses for fees or
otherwise where the prisoners themselves were too poor
to meet them. They had also a fund at their disposal out
of which they would assist anyone who might be in danger
of being cast destitute on the world upon receiving his dis-
charge. They would, likewise, be happy to render every
assistance to the registrars in dealing with those cases in
which debtors had obstinately remained in prison for years,
and might still wish to continue in duress, notwithstanding
the new enactment.

The registrars expressed their thanks to Alderman
Challis, who then withdrew.

In the course of the day Mr. Abrahall went through 28
of the names which stood up the list. Of these, since
the Ist of November, 8 had been made bankrupts under tho
new Act, 1 had been remanded by the Commissioners of the
Insolvent Court, 4 had been discharged by their creditors,
1 had got out on bail, and 1 had paid. Five cases had been
previously adjudicated in the Insolvent Court, and one case
was that of a non-trader, who, not having been two months
in prison, could not be examined. Of the rest 4 were ex-
amined, and having been adjudicated bankrupt., were re-
leased, and 3 cases were adjourned. Mr. Registrar Miller
went through 10 cases, of which 3 had been discharged by
the Court of Bankruptcy since the date of the gaoler's re-
turn, and 1 had petitioned the Insolvent Court. One case
was that of an outlaw, who was examined, but no order
was made, as Mr. Barclay, the solicitor for the opposing
creditor, alleged that outlawry barred all his civil rights.
The number of those adjudicated bankrupts and released
was 5. Some of the prisoners at first objected to be adju-
dicated bankrupts, but none of them persisted in their
opposition, as such a course would have simply led to their
transference to Newgate. The grounds on which they
sought to avoid the Bankruptcy Court were generally
alleged negotiations with their creditors which were likely
to lead to a settlement in the course of a few days. In no
case, however, was the validity of such a plea admitted, and
they were condemned to receive an immediate discharge
from custody, which was not always received with much
apparent gratitude. In most instances, however, the prompt
liberation from confinement was evidently regarded as a
great boon. The wisdom as well as the humanity of the
determination of the Gaol Committee to afford assistance
to destitute prisoners upon their discharge was shown
in the second case that came before Mr. Registrar Miller.
It was that of a builder, who, though scrupulously clean,
appeared certainly in most woeful dishabille. He had been
in prison since the summer of 1858, but he nevertheless
urgently begged to have the hearing of his case postponed
to some future time, as if he were released he would be
without fit clothes with which to go into the street. The
registrar informed him he had no power to accede to his
request, and handed him his discharge with directions to
take it to the deputy governor. Upon leaving the room
however, ho for some time refused to deliver it, and at last
only gave it up with the greatest reluctance.

COUN2RY MARKETS.

..~ ~.

MULL—Noy. 12.
At our market to-day we had a fair supply of English
wheat, which sold firmly, and the prices of last week were
realised. Malting barley met with a rather firm demand,
and grinding qualities met a ready sale at former prices.
Beans and peas brisk. Oats unaltered.
Wheat.... Old white per qr. 64s Od to 65s Od
Old red
New white .. „
New red ....
Dantzic Konb , &c. old white 54s Od to 56s Od
Dutch, Belgian, and French. 50s Od to 58s Od
Baltic and Hamburg, red 62s Od to 63s Od
St. Petersburg and Riga, old 46s Od to 48s Od
Barley.... English malting 36s Od to 40s Od
Grinding 3os Od to 32s Od
Seal and Oderbruck

Holstein and Danish s2s Od to Els Od
Grinding 27s Od to 29s Od
Oats English, old
Archangel and Riga, per st oBl2ld to 13d
Friesland and Dutch oBl3d to 08130
Swedish and Danish oBl2ld to 0813 d
Beans ....English, old, per qr 4Bs oa to 50s Od
New pigeon 42s Od to 44s Od
New tick. 4os Od to 42s Od
Egyptian .. 38s Od to 40s Od
Peas Foreign breakers
Grinding
Tares ....Spring
Indian Corn
Linseed, feeding s2s Od to 56s Od
crushing
Linseed cakes (Hull) £lo 5 0 to £0 0 0
Foreign' BlO oto 9 0 0
Rape cakes 6 0 oto 6 5 0
Bones 415 oto 6 0 0