The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-04 00:00:00

CLERKEIV WELL.

BROKERAGE ixTORTIO/4.—Mr. James. Pollen, a
broker, residing at 62, Eagle-street, Red Lion-square,
was summoned to answer the complaint of Thomas
Davis, residing at 34, Liquorpond-street, Gray's Inn-
lane.

The complainant deposed that he was a milkman.
He had been distrained upon by Mr. Pullen for rent
due to his landlord, Mr. Gunston, living in the same
street. The complainant then handed in the defend..
ant's bill of costs, which included the following items :
—" Stamp and oath, 3s. Bd. ; Bs."
Mr. GREENWOOD—Why, the Act of Parliament
allows but 2s. 6d. for the stamp-
Defendant—That may be so.
Mr. GREENWOOD—Then how do you make out
3s. 81. ? Defendant-2s. 6d. for the stamp, 2d. for
the paper, and is. for the oath.
Mr. GREENWOOD—The Act makes no allowance
for paper; however, it may be customary; but hew
about the oath ? Defendant—A shilling for the con-
stable before whom the appraisers were sworn.
Mr. GREENWOOD—The charge is illegal. The
constable has no right to receive a farthing for such a
purpose. Defendant—But I always make this charge.
Mr. GREENWOOD—I dare say you do ; but that
does not make the charge the more legal. Let that
item be struck off.

Complainant—On the day of condemnation (five
days after the seizure was made, and before the sale) I
offered Mr. Pullen the amount of his bill, as well as
the appraised value of the goods, but he refused to
receive it, but took them home, and told me
to call with the amount on the following day, and I
should have my goods back. I did call on that day
with the amount, but he refused to receive it, telling
me the goods had been sold.
Mr. GREENWOOD—Wm there a sale ? Complainant
—None whatever.

Defendant—But I assert there was; and the two
appraisers are in court ready to swear they were
there.
Mr. GREENWOOD—And who bought the goods ?
Defendant—The landlord, Mr. Gunston.
Mr. GREENWOOD—The landlord. Was there any
body but the landlord and the two appraisers at this
" sale ?" Defendant—No; but that makes no dif-
ference.
Complainant—But the landlord was not there.
Mr. GREENWOOD—Is that a fact? Defendant—
He was not there, but he was only a few doors away.
Mr. GREENWOOD —Then how can you have the
effrontery to say he bought the goods ? Defendant
—They were bought for him. Nothing is more cus-
tomary.
Mr. GREENWOOD—There has been no sale, let that
item be struck off. What did the goods cost you ?
Complainant—They stood me in 251. a very short
time ago, but they were valued at only 81.
Mr. GREENWOOD said this case was a fair specimen
of the system of brokerage practised in Clerkenwell.
Nothing could be more iniquitous or illegal. No sale,
but the goods of a poor family were swept away and
disposed of in some underhand manner for less than a
third, frequently less than a fourth, of their value,
whilst the full charges of brokerage were made, and
sometimes much more than those allowed by Act of
Parlia►nent. He would fine the defendant in three
times the amount of the overcharge-11. 7s. and the
costs.

The money-was paid, and the overcharge refunded
to the complainant, who thanked the magistrate hear-
tily, and left the court.

FACILITIES FOR RAILWAYS IN

IRELAND.

From the geological and topographical details re-
garding the surface of the country, it will be easily
understood that Ireland is most favourably circum-
stanced for the construction of railways. The great
limestone plane which occupies an area in the inte-
rior of the country of not less than 10,000 square
miles, presents facilities for rail way engineering
scarcely to be equalled. In the north and south the
mountain ranges afford some obstacles, which, how-
ever, are not beyond the usual run of engineering
difficulties, that are every day overcome in such un-
dertakings, and there is hence no physical reason why
this country should not rapidly acquire an efficient
system of railway intercourse. In nothing is the dif-
ference between Ireland and England more marked
than in the extent of navigable rivers, of canals, of
railroads possessed by two countries.
Independent of common roads, of which I do not
know any estimate, there are in
England. Ireland.
Canals (statute miles) .. • • ••• 2,478 372
Navigable Rivers ....... •• 1,820 380
Railroads 1,842 . .65
What renders this contrast the more remarkable is,
that the great majority of these facilities of internal
intercourse are spread over a surface not greater than
that of Ireland. In fact, the inhabitants of almost
every district of the sister kingdom have placed at
their very doors the means of the most perfect access
to markets for their produce and the materials of
their manufactures. They are thus enabled to pro-
secute their various departments of industry under
the most economical conditions. Time is money—
labour is money—the canal, the river, or the rail-
road, which places its facilities at the disposal of the
manufacturer or farmer in England, is an increase of
money price for what he brings to market, which
enables him to undersell and ruin the Irish artisan.—
Dr. Kane's Work.

THE VICTORIA. PIRK..--PunLlc BATAS.---A com-
munication is said to have been made from the Directors
of the East London Water-works to her Majesty's Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests, in which the former
very liberally offer to supply two or more fountains in
the Victoria Park with an abundant quantity of water
gratuitously, provided it is subsequently permitted to
flow into public baths to be erected in the vicinity for the
use and accommodation of the poor. Several benevolent
gentlemen, at the head of whom is W. Cotton, Esq., the
Governor of the Bank, are at present projecting a plan
for the erection of baths at the east end of the metro-
polis, where the poorer classes of society may be enabled
to obtain luxuries so conducive to health, and of which
they are at yresent totally deprived, at a charge com-
mensurate with their means.

DUTCH PAPERS.
THE CONVERSION.

THE HAGUE, SKIT. 30.—The official journal pub-
lishes to-day a Royal Resolution, dated the 28th of
September, regulating the drawing by lottery of the
second series of bonds of the national debt bearing
interest at 5 per cent., which are to be repaired or
converted into inscriptions in the great book of the
national debt at 4 per cent. The amount of the in-
scriptions of two series to be designated by lot for re-
payment or conversion, is fixed at a capital of 25 mil-
lions of florins, but it may be increased to 27 millions,
if it appears at the time of drawing that this increase
will prevent the division of the same inscription, or
inscriptions, under the same letter.

The drawing will take place on Saturday, the 2d of
November, at seven in the evening.
The holders of the bonds drawn, who do not desire
to convert their stock into 4 per cent., are to declare
their intention at the latest on the 28th of December.
The holders of bonds at 5 per cent. may exchange
their capital for inscriptions in the great book at 4
per cent., without previous declaration, after Monday,
the 7th October, 1844, till this commission is re-
voked; but, at all events, not after Saturday, 26th
October, at two in the afternoon, in the form pre-
scribed by the 9th article of the Royal Resolution of
Bth August, 1844.

The price of the stock bearing interest at 4 per
cent., which will be issued on the Ist of October,
1844, in exchange for the capital converted by virtue
of the preceding article, and the interest on which
wil commence from that date, is fixed at 96i per
cent., consequently the holders of every 100 florins
converted will receive three florins in fifty in money,
without any other indemnity for the difference of in-
terest.

ROTTERDAM, SEPT. 26.—A private letter from
Batavia says, " 300 hogshead of wine, brought by the
French ship the Grand Duquesne, from Bordeaux
direct, were by the order of the Governor-General
seized by the police, and emptied into the sea. These
were not only adulterated, but mixed with deleterious
ingredients." We hope that this will be favourable in
future to the sale of wine from Holland direct, and
will contribute, when the unfortunate commercial
treaty with France expires, to prevent its being re-
newed, as it makes the importation of all French
articles in French ships from the mother country
direct absolutely impossible, and in particular has
caused the demand for wines from Holland wholly to
cease.

BERLIN, SEPT. 25.—1 t is said that the King will
make but a short stay here, intending to go to Stock-
holm, to be present at the coronation of King Oscar,
and that he will be attended by Baron Alexander
Von Humboldt.—Dutch Papers, Oct. 1.

BURSTING OF A STEAM-BOILER

SALFORD, WEDNESDAY. —An explosion of an
alarming nature took place this morning at Islington-
mill, in this township, which resulted in blowing up
a portion of the building, killing one man, andscalding
two or three others. The mill in question in the pro-
perty of Mr. Bateman, Kuypersley-hall, Staffordshire,
but is occupied bey Mr. W. Norris, cotton-spinner and
manufacturer. _Che engine had just been set in
motion, and had not made above a score of revolutions,
before a tremendous explosion took place, . which
shook the mill and all the buildings round about.
The rooms over the boiler-house were rent open,
the bricks and mortar flying about in all directions,
and one of the steam-boilers was seen to rise quickly
from its bed and make a complete summerset
into the field adjoining the premises, carrying
down the wall of the boiler-house in its progress.
The people in the mill were completely astounded.
Bricks, mortar, .and broken pieces of beams were
flying about in all directions. One large piece of
timber was blown upon the top of the factory, which is
seven stories high; the distance being upwards of 40
yards from the seat of the explosion, whilst slates and
bricks were blown into streets a distance of 200 yards.
Of course there was an immediate cessation from
work, and a search made far the parties who were sup-
posed to have suffered from the explosion. The watch-
man, Atkins, was found amidst some rubbish, with
his left leg broken, and his face frightfully disfigured.
He was alive, but insensible, and was being taken to
the Manchester Infirmary, but died on his way there.
Michael Tyman, the fireman, and a man named
Tipping, who were also near the spot at the time,
were found slightly injured.
_ _

Upon examining the boiler, it was found to be per.
fectly sound ; but at the upper end there was a rent
in the flue, the result, doubtless, of insufficiency o
water in the boiler at the time of the explosion.