The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-14 00:00:00

FLANDERS AND DUTCH MAIL

BRUSSELS, MARCH 9.—The Chamber of Representatives in
its sitting to-day agreed to the project of law for the conver-
sion of 100,800,000 f. _ _ . ..._ . . ...

Count F. de Hanal, lately attached to the Belgian Lega-
tion at Copenhagen, set out this morning for Madrid, to act
in the same capacity to the Belgian Legation in Spain.
M. Mans, the engineer, has returned from his visit to Ire-
land, whither he was sent by the Government to inquire
into the advantages that might result from the adoption of
the system of atmospheric railways. Mr. Stephenson, the
celebrated English engineer, was requested to be present at
the experiment to be made at Dalkey, in order to enable M.
Mans to examine the advantages and inconveniences of this
system. The Belgian engineer has been furnished with every
information, and his report, which will shortly be published,
will be extremely interesting.
Some time ago two of our most important establishments
for the manufactory of machines were in negotiation with
the Russian Government for the supply of 150 locomotives.
The whole of the sum required was about 6 millions of
francs. An American house likewise made proposals which
have been accepted.
BRUSSELS, MARCH 10.—The King and Queen came to the
palace at Brussels to-day.
The municipal taxes of the city of Brussels produced in
the month of February 224,132 f., which is 12,232 f. more than
in February, last year.
BRUSSELS, MARCH 11.—The King and Queen set out this
morning for Ghent, where they will arrive at five this after-
noon. The object of their Majesties is to view the splendid
annual exhibition of the Horticultural Society, which is one
of the most distinguished for the beauty and variety of the
flowers exhibited that has been known for many years.
Many of the most eminent botanists of Holland, France,
Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, have come to Ghent,
to form ajuly to award the prizes.
BATAVIA, Nov. 10.—On the 2d and 3d of September, there
arrived in the road of Timor Koepang, the English corvette
the Fly, Captain Blackwood, and the schooner the Bramble,
Lieutenant Yale, and, after taking in refreshment, sailed on
the sth of September for Swan River. These vessels are
commissioned to make a survey of Torres Straits, an opera
tion which, according to Captain Blackwood, will take three
years to complete. They will come again to Timor Koepang
in January.
AMSTERDAM, MARCH 12.—We are happy to learn that his
Majesty will visit this city on Friday next, and that the
Royal family will, as usual, visit us after Easter.
The papers are filled with articles respecting the income-
tax, and some detailed reports of the speeches delivered in
the Second Chamber for and against the measure.

DISTRAINT AND SALE FOR
INCOME-TAX.

The circumstances attending the distraint on the pro-
perty of Messrs. Fielden, Brothers, of Todmorden and
Manchester, having transpired, and been published in
other journals, we may briefly notice and correct some
of the statements. It seems that Messrs. Fielden had
returned the papers which they were required to fill up
with their trade profits, &c., with the word " nil." The
Commissioners, not being satisfied with the return, as-
sessed tham in about 350 L Mr. John Fielden, M.P.,
the senior partner, appealed against the decision of the
Commissioners, when the assessment was confirmed.
Messrs. Fielden having refused to pay the amount, the
Commissioners issued a warrant of distress, with which a
sheriff's officer proceeded to Todmorden, to demand the
money. He was, however, met with a peremptory refusal
of payment, and he was told that he might distrain ;
the partners, who were on the premises, declaring that
they would turn out all their hands, and close their
works when he did so. However, it having incidentally
transpired that there were goods in the warehouse of
the firm in Manchester, supposed to be sufficient to
satisfy the claim, the sheriff's officer said that he would
first see the stock there, and if he found it adequate he
would withdraw the man he had brought with him,
and whom he then left in possession. The Messrs.
Fielden immediately stopped their works, and turned
out all their hands, thus causing considerable excite-
ment in Todmorden, and the bailiff in possession was for
a time in no very enviable position. The sheriff's officer,
finding that there was property enough in the ware-
house at Manchester to satisfy the amount clainied,
sent immediately to Todmorden, and withdrew the
man. On the officers proceeding to the warehous, No.
21, Peel-street, Manchester, Mr. T. Fielden gave orders
that no more business should be transacted until the affair
was settled, and refused to allow any goods to pass
either in or out of the premises. He refused all informa-
tion to the officers, and when one of them asked for the
key of a locked door in the upper story, it was refused,
and upon this the officer broke it open. In our paper of
Wednesday was advertised the sale by auction of a
quantity of grey domestics and sheetings on the follow-
ing Monday. The sale, under such circumstances, at•
tracted various parties, and it was well attended. We
should state that though the original amount due from
the firm as income-tax was about 3501., this had been
increased by costs and expenses to nearly 400/., and to
this extent the auctioneer was> authorised to sell. The
sale commenced shortly after eleven o'clock on Monday;
and Mr. Joseph Gale, the auctioneer, sold forty-one
lots, consisting of grey domestics and sheetings, of va-
rious lengths, widths, &c., at prices from 2d. a yard for
27-inch grey domestics, to 9id. a yard for 82-inch sheet-
ings; being, we believe, a little, but not much, under the
market prices of the goods. The 41 lots realised 4071.,
13s. 5d.; and though there were six more lots in the ca-
talogue, the auctioneer having sold sufficient to cover
the required amount, closed the sale. Manchester
Guardian.