The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-15 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

TEA. - A good business has been done in sound useful
qualities of Congons at about is 4d to is 6d per lb., but
common Congou ruled dull at 12d. The market generally
was quiet.
&MAP. For home consumption there was a better en-
quiry, and both foreign and colonial realised full rates.
For exportation the transactions were limited. The re-
fined market ruled rather easier, brown lumps 69s 6d to
70s per cwt.
COFFEE.—The supplies still continue on a very limited
scale. A fair business, however, has been done by private
contract in both Plantation and Native Ceylon at fully
previous quotations.
RlCE.—Holders of this article demand full rates, but
purchasers aro cautious in their dealings, and the business
transacted has been only for immediate consumption.
Lime.—The market is firm, fully previous rates being
current for all qualities.
SPICES. —Mace and nutmegs are steady; but ginger,
pimento, and pepper have been at improved quotations.
COCHINEAL.—Previous rates are current, but buyers are
cautious in their transactions. The stocks on hand are
rather increasing.

SALTPETRE.--The market has a firm appearance, and
full rates are current for all qualities.
TALLOW.—A. very limited business has been done, and
prices are rather easier. P.Y.C., on the spot, 55s 91 565,
and last 3 months 54s 9d to 55s per cwt.
GREEN FRUIT.—The fine weather has improved the de-
mand. Oranges and lemons have advanced in price, some
parcels of the former from Lisbon, Naples, and Palermo,
sold by Keeling and Hnnt, went at 2s. per package higher.
Lemons in proportion, the stock of which is short. Nuts
are in request, the backward state of home vegetation
leaving little else for consumption.

THE SILK Cnor.—Advices received from certain dis-
tricts of Italy give an unfavourable account of the pro-
gress of the silk crop.
Mr. Benedict's First Musical Festival at be r Majesty's
Theatre, will take place on the morning of Wednesday
June the 10th ; the second on June the 24th ; and the
third and last on July the Bth. Mr. Benedict is hon-
oured by the immediate patrcnage of her Majesty, the
Prince Consort, and the Duchesses of Kent and Cam-
bridge. There is no doubt but a brilliant assemblage
will on each of those occasions attest the high and recog-
nised merits of this eminent favourite in the musical
world.

MR. W. STEVEN'S BENEFIT.—The well known and
talented ballet-master of the City of London Theatre,
took his annual benefit last night. After " Ben Liel"
Mr. Stevens produced the ballet of " Somnambula" ar-
ranged by himself for his pupils, who most certainly do
him wonderful credit. Mies Laura Lewis, as Elvino,
was almost everything that could have been desired in
her pantomime, and everything in her dancing. Miss
Fowler does not seem very strong, but danced very grace-
fully as Amine. Master Nelson Lee was well made up,
and danced with great spirit as the Count; his panto-
mime for such a lad was excellent. But the gem of the
whole cast was Allessio, played by a child about nine
years of age, delighting in the soubriquet of Nancy. She
looked as if she had walked off some table de vertu ; her
pantomime was perfeot, and her dancing gained her an
encore. She is a credit to Mr. Stevens. The minature
coryphees were very wall up to the tr.iark, and the whole
arrangernl)ntq rt‘ffec4; the MOW credit on the, bmisficirrs.

"That this Court has learned with astonishment and re-
gret that by a decree of the Court of Appeal of Brussels,
dated 27th February, 1857, Sir William Magnay, baronet,
an alderman and magistrate of this city, has been wijndg-
ea by default guilty of fraud, and condemned to three
years' imprisonment and a fine of 3,000 f.
" That this Court has learned from its law officers with
equal astonishment and regret that the London Corpora.
tion Act, 1349, 12th and 13th of Victoria, cap. 94, framed
with the especial view of securing the purity of this cor-
poration, by declarieg any of its members disqualified who
shall be convicted of fraud, is in this case inoperative, be-
cause the conviction has been by a foreign Court.
" That Sir William Magnay not having taken any steps
for the revocation of the judgment against him, this Court
feels bound to express its opinion that he ought no longer
to occupy the position cf an alderman of this city, and to
request that ho will relinquish that office."
Mr. BESLEY seconded the motion.
Mr. J. J. MILLARD proposed an amendment to
the effect,
" That it is repugnant to the law and usages of this
country in the ca =e f a British-born subject resident in
England to uphold the sentence of a foreign criminal court,
simply because it is a judgment, and thereby to abrogate
i the right of inquiry into the circumstances, more especially
as regaids a Belgian judgment, under which it may have
beau obtained. That the j udgmeut by default in question
was given on the public prosecutor's appeal against one of
acquittal from charges which had been previously ignored
by two successive tribunals, which acquittal had been
gained notwithstanding that the evidence on the part of
the prosecution bad been procured by the arrest of one of
the defendants in violation of an authorised assurance of
safety ; and for these, and other reasons, this Court is not
bound to express its opinion, that Sir William Magnay
ought no longer to occupy the position of an alderman of
this city."
-

Mr. ANDERTON said he had pleasure in seconding
the amendment, which he trusted the Court would
unanimously adopt. He contended that if any
parties were aggrieved it was the shareholders, and
it rested with them to institute proceedings against
the directors if they thought proper to do so. He
' believed Sir W. Magnay to be perfectly innocent
of the charges made against him.
Sir W. MAGNAY said he was prepared to justify
his conduct before any competent tribunal, and was
ready to submit to its decision. He bad been
charged with having, in conjunction with Mr. Mas-
terman, abs•racted 58,0001. from the funds of the
Great Luxembourg Railway Company. It had
been stated by the Belgian Attorney-General that
when questioned upon the subject they at once
admitted that no French party was in existence,
and that the money had been lost by a private
speculation of their own. A grosser, a more foul,
a more libelous insinuation bad never been macle.
He held in his hand letters from the parties to
whom the advances were made, showing in the
most incontestable manner that the transaction
was a regular and proper one—whether a judicious
one or not he was not going to say; but there was
a party—a most responsible and a most influential
party—in Paris for whom the shares were pur-
chased, and that Mr. Masterman was no more than
the agent in the matter. He was prepared to prove,
if time were given him, that not only was the
transaction a bona fide one, but that it was one,
under the circumstances of the case, which was
most justifiable, and which would have been most
advantageous for the company itself had it been
carried out.

At this state of the proceedings the discussion
was adjourned.
Yesterday the Court again met, when the dis-
cussion was resumed by Mr. De Jersey, who, at
the conclusion of a lengthened address, expressed
himself strongly in favour of the original motion.

After short discussion Mr. Millard's amendment
was put, and lost by a large majority.
Mr. H. 'f. FRY then•moved as a further amend-
ment,
" That it be referred to a special committee to examine
into the nature and truth of the charges brought against
Sir William Magnay in the Belgian courts, on which
judgment by default has been pronounced, and to report
to this Court to what extent those charges, if true, affect
his moral character, and whether in consequence it has
become necessary that he should be called upon to resign
his gown as alderman of this city."

Mr. Ross seconded the amendment, which was
put and carried.
Upon a division being called for, there appeared,
For the affirmative 39
For the negative 39
Mr. T. PARKEII—I beg to ask whether Sir W.
Magnay has voted in favour of the amendment.
Mr. WOODTIIORPE—Yes.

Mr. NORRIS (one of the tellers)—As the num-
bers are equal, I beg to ask your lordship whether
you vote or not.

The LORD MAYOR—I shall certainly vote for the
inquiry. (Loud cheers.)
The amendment was consequently carried by the
casting vote of the Lord Mayor.
The original motion of Mr. Blake was negatived
by a majority of 1.
A committee, consisting of Mr. Alderman Cubitt,
Sir J. Musgrove, and a commoner selected from
each ward, was then appointed to institute an in-
ventigation in accordance with the terms of Mr.
Fry's amendment.