The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-07 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET and-CITY NEWS

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

• . CITY, THURSDAY EVENING.
TIMES.—The failure of Messrs. Thomas Johnson
and Co., bankers at Romford, was advised in the City
this morning. The concern is, it appears, by no means
a large one ; but, nevertheless, much inconvenience is
expected to arise on the spot, the notes having some-
what extensively found their way into circulation.
A Correspondent refers to some material features of
the savings' banks question, which have. yet obtained but
a small share of public notice. Admitting to the full
extent stated the loss sustained by the Government in
keeping up these institutions, allowance should also be
made for the large sum which goes back to the,Govern-
ment, Rnder the head of " Separate surplus fund," and
a much greater amount, which will also. fall in as un-
claimed balances. The difference between the interest
received from the Government and that paid to the de-
positors,. after deducting the expenses of management,
constitutes the " surplus fund" of each bank. All of
them, in Their annual report to the Commissioners, state
.the amount of that fund for the year ; and the Commis-
sioners, after allowing something to remain as a balance
in the hands of the bank, appropriate the remainder.
By a return of this item made lately to Parliament, and
moved for by Mr. Masterman, its amount was shown
to be 368,0001. .for the whole period. The unclaimed
balances are believed to be a much more important
item. It is well known that a large number of de-
positors keep entirely secret the fact that they have
_runes so played, and as deaths are constantly occurring,
there are innumerable oases in which they are not ap-
plied for, or not recovered when they are so, for want of
legal evidence. Most of the savings banks of long stand-
ing are aware that large sums stand in their books for
which no application has been made for years ; and, in
fact, suggestions have been made on this head to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, that he should order re-
turns to be made by the trustees of savings' banks gene.
rally, of all balances which have been ten years without
any change or claim. This would be to adopt the same
course as that practised at the Bank of England in re-
gard to unclaimed dividends, and would probably in
proportion yield a larger sum to the Government. These
suggestions are well worthy of attention, for the system
is a very interesting one, and should have support even
at some foss to the nation. If there have occurred great
abuses under it which a little more vigilance might have
prevented, it is unfair to punish the innocent for the
guilty, which the new measure about to be introduced
will certainly de. The rate of interest to the depositor
should not be less than 3 per cent.; and the limitation
of deposits to 150 L, and of deposits and interest united
to 2004 seems to be a fair one, which there is no neces-
sity for altering. Attention is most urgently required
to the prevention, by restraining clauses, of any evasion
of that limit, and it is believed that there would not then
remain any just complaint of the expense to the nation
of maintaining these institutions.

SUN.—There was a slight decline this afternoon in the
value of Consols, but there were very few operations.
The rates were 98f to f. Bank Stock touched 200.
In the Foreign Market, also, there was a slightly re-
trograde movement. Spanish Actives left off at 23 to f ;
and the Three per Cents. at 34i I. Mexican were 35f.
Russian were done at 118 i; and Dutch Two-and-a-Half
per, Cents. at 61i to 1. Portuguese Converted were 46i;
and Belgian, 104 to 1041.
The additional transactions in Railway Shares have
been these :—Eastern Counties, New, were 58 to f ;
Harwich (Braithwaite) 4 ; Birmingham, Quarter, 23 ;
Croydon, 5 ; Newcastle and Darlington, 22 to ; Nor-
wich and Brandon, 5i ; South-Eastern, New, 6i to 7k ;
York and North Midland, Scarborough Branch, 17} to
164 ; and Paris and Orleans, 19f premium. Chichester
and Brighton, I ; Blackwall, 9. ; and Brighton, 3 dis-
count. Commercial Bank of London Shares were 9i
discount.

THE EMPEROR, br liusslA.—ln consequence of
the visit to our shores of the Autocrat of all the Russias,
every one is naturally anxious to know something of his
history ; and some very curious information may be
found in a couple of papers which have appeared in the
April and June Numbers of the New Monthly Magazine,
where the Emperor's personal history is detailed, with
some extraordinary revelations respecting the present
state of his dominions, his nobles, his serfs, and servants.
They are said to be written by one who passed several
years in various parts of that colossal empire, and had
innumerable opportunities of studying the character of
its powerful ruler. They bear the stamp of truth upon
them, and cannot fail to be read with the deepest interest.
A VESSEL RUN DowN.—Late on Sunday night a
collision took place on the river in Erith-reach, which resulted
in the wreck of a fine fishing smack, named the John Wal-
lace. The Sapphire, the Diamond Company's Gravesend
steamer, was proceeding on her last passage down from
London, when on nearing the reach the fishing-smack, Which
was beating down, made an attempt to cross her bows. The
steamer being one of the fastest boats on the river, and her
engines being at full speed at the time, the tide also running
down, it was a matter of impossibility for the master, Captain
Fox, to bring her up at the instant. The paddles were as
quickly as possible stopped and reversed, and the crew called
out to those on board the smack to alter their course, but in
the next instant a collision took place, and in a few seconds
the fishing vessel went down in deep water. The crew, how-
ever, were saved. At low-water the mast of the smack is
just visible; and in the course of yesprday two lighters were
moored near the wreck, and it is expected that she will be
raised in the course of to-day.
COSTS ON CoNvicrtoss.—Yesterday a further re-
turn from the clerks of petty sessions was printed, stating
the amount of fees received, number of convictions, and the
amount of costs. The costs arc very unequally borne; in
some cases the costs exceed the amount of the fines imposed,
with further costs for sending the offenders to prison. There
are instances set forth where the costs are considerably un-
der the fines, lint in others the costs are considerably beyond
the fines. At the Cambridgeshire Petty Sessions, a person
was fined 6d. for an assault, and the costs amounted to
14s. 6d. • in another case in Berks, the fine was is., and the
costs 11:0s. 6d. At the Gateshead Borough Sessions, for a
wilful damage, in which a fine of 21. was imposed, the costs
were 31. At another sessions, for an offence under the Game
Act, a fine of 21. was fixed, and the costs 21.85. The return
in question was moved for by Lord Worsley, and affords a
good deal of information respecting costs of convictions,
which has occupied some attention.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Preparations on an
extended scale are making at the Italian Opera-house, for
the reception of her Majesty and her illustrious guests, who
will honour this theatre with their presence to-morrow even-
ing. The three illustrious Sovereigns, with their respective
suites, will occupy her Majesty's box, as well as the box:of
her Majesty the Queen Dowager. We understand that
enormous sums are being paid for boxes and stalls, so great
is the anxiety to be present on this occasion. His Imperial
Majesty having expressed a desire to hear the Barbiere, that
delightful opera will be performed, and will be followed by
the ballet, Ondine.

EXETER HALL.—Haydn's beautiful work, tee
Creation, is to be performed by the Sacred Harmonic Society
this evening (Friday); for 'the last time this season.
HAYMARKET.TBEArRE.—His Excellency the Ame-
rican Minister and family attended this theatre last night,
expressly to witness the performance of Professor Risley and
his two infant sons. His Excellency was highly delighted
with the extraordinary and graceful performance, and upon
its conclusion presented the two little prodigies with a hand-
some present. This week is the last in which they will ap •
pear in England, having received a munificent offer from the
manager of one of the principal theatres in Paris.
ROBBERY OF A POST•OFFICE.—YeSterday morn-
ing information was given that the post receiving-house, near
Heaton new' church, had been broken into and robbed. The
postmaster is Mr. Bray, a hairdresser, who keeps a small
sh,p, No. 2, Haberdasher-place, adjoining the Haberdashers'
Arms Tavern, and only five houses distant from the police-
station of the N division, in Robert-street. Upon inquiry it
was stated that the entry had been effected 'from the yard
through the back parlour window, to which there was no
fastenings, and. the thief had then merely to walk into the
shop, where he broke open and abstracted the contents of a
small writing-desk behind the counter. Mr. Bray stated
that the desk contained about 761, two 5/. and a IW. Bank
of England notes in an old pocket-book, and the rest in cash,
of which 421. belonged to himself, and the remainder to the
Post-office, but unfortunately he had not the numbers or any
description of the Bank notes. The letter-box, which was
locked, was undisturbed, and the desk containing the money
appeared to be the only article in the place that had been
touched. • There were lodgers in the upper part of the house,
and Mr. Bray and his family slept in the kitchen, imme-
diately under the Shop, but not any of them heard any noise
in the night, or until six o'clock yesterday morning, when a
paper-hanger, who- had some work to do on the premises,
found tbe,shop-door a-jar, and walking in, gave the alarm.
The back of the house is so surrounded that access could only
be had from the yard of the Haberdashers' Arms, or by sealing
a high wall surmounted' by palisades, and passing over seve-
ral intervening yards and walls. The robber having appa-
rently entered that way, and obtained possession of the
money, let himself out at the front door.
TUB SUPPOSED MURDER AT WlMBLEDON.—Yes-
terday, at twelve o'clock, Charles Hall, plasterer, of Wimble-
don, who stands charged with the murder of Charlotte Hall,
his wife, was conveyed from the lock-up of Sevenoaks by
Joseph Bradley, the superintendent of police, to the offices
of Messrs. Austen and Holcroft, the clerks to the local ma-
gistrates, and placed in the dock, before Mr. Atkins, for re-
examination, upon a charge of having murdered his wife by
suffocation. The evidence, which was taken at great length,
was, with some slight exceptions, relating chiefly to threats
of violence on the part of the prisOner towards his wife, very
similar to that adduced at the inquest on the body, when
the jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from na-
tural causes. At .the conclusion of the investigation, Mr.
Charnock, who was for the defence, expressed his opinion
that there was no necessity for him to address the bench, as
he felt satisfied that there was no case against his client. Mr.
Atkins, however, said that he had fully resolved upon com-
mitting the prisoner for trial ; and Mr. Charnock, therefore,
in an able speech, contended that there was nothing in the
evidence:which in the least degree tended to establish the.
charge against the prisoner: hall was then committed to
Maidstone Gaol, the charge against him being for " feloni-
ously choking,. strangling, and suffocating Charlotte Hall,
his wife."
MR. .DUNCAN TILE AFRICAN TRAVELLER. —'\lr.
John Duncan, the African traveller, left town esterday by
railway for Portsmouth, to embark in her M"ajesty's ship
Cygnet, which sails immediately for the coast of Africa. Mr.'
Duncan will land at Cape Coast, and from thence- his purpose
is to reach the Niger by the way of • Coomitsie. Great addi-
tions to geographical knowledge may be expected from Mr.
Duncan's tried energy and perseverance. He leaves London
under very favourable auspices.