The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-18 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

ARRIVAL OF THE HIBERNI
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING,
SIX O'CLOCK.
The following are extracts from the papers brought
by this arrival :
DEATH OF Asuan ROBBINS.—We learn by the Providence
Journal that the honourable and venerable Asher Robbins
died at 'Newport, on Sunday evening last, at the advanced
age of eighty-eight. He was a most distinguished
citizen of Rhode Island, and was equally the ob-
ject of esteem and respect for the purity of his per-
sonal character and the eminent usefulness of his public ser-
vices. He was for fourteen years the representative of his
State in the Senate of the United States," of which body,"
as the Journal justly says, " his profound learning, his iipe
scholarship, and his classical eloquence, made him a dis-
tinguished member."
FIRE.—The alarm of fire last night, between ten and eleven
o'clock, proceeded from the steam-boat Gazelle, plying be-
tween this and Piermont, in connexion with the Erie Rail •
road, lying at the foot. of Duane-street, which was much da-
maged' before the flames were extinguished.
The fire in Brooklyn last night, about eleven o'clock, was
No. 61, Fulton street, Occupied below by John Herbert, as a
grocery. and up stairs by Mr. Shaw's tailor shop, and law-
yers' offices; the upper part was destroyed, and the gro-
cery completely deluged by water. Mr. Prazier's stove ma-
nufactory, at 59, caught fire, but was put out without much
damage.
Moamoss —The Warsaw (Ill) Signal says that the Mor
mons at Nauvoo are in a state bordering on starvation, and
yet hundreds are flocking thither.
FRESHET IN THE CONNECTICUT.—The recent warm weather
and the rains have caused a very considerable rise
in the Connecticut. "On Saturday night," says the aorrant.
" the water at Hartford rose about eighteen inches, and was,
on Sunday evening, sixteen feet above low-water mark. On
Monday it rose about twelve inches more. The ice above
the bridge made a move, but soon stopped again. The ice is
said to remain firm at Pratt's Ferry below. Below Rocky
011, some six or seven miles above Middletown, the river is
said to be open. There is little doubt that in a short time
the navigation \sill be open to Hartford."
PURE MILE AND RICH CREAM.—One of the blessings con-
ferred upon this city by the Erie Railroad, is the inexhaustible
supply of purest milk and cream which it for ever secures
this city at reasonable prices. In our columns to day will
be found an advertisement from the Orange County ilk
Association, to which we invite attention.
The Post-office Bill has passed in Committee of the whole,
in the House of Representatives, with only one amendment of
any consequence ; the rates are fixed at five cents under, and
ten over, three hundred miles. This will doubtless pass the
House and be at once concurred in by the Senate.
The mail bag stolen at Albany has been found. Part of the
letters only had been opened, and it is ascertained that none
of them contained anthing of value.
The Governor of Connecticut has appointed Friday, the
21st of March, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, in
that State.
NEW YORK MONEY MARKET, FEB. 26.
SALES AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE.
$5,000 Ohio 6's blO 98;
5 shares Del. and Hudson 1321
12 State Bank, N.Y.
28 Manhattan Rank
21 Am. Ex. Bank ..... 83i
12 National Bank
50 N. Am. Trust
100 Morris Canal
10 Erie Railroad ... 301
25 Canton.....
150 Farm Loan s3o 30
100 shares Far. Loan...
150 East Boston
100 Longlsland.
21 Stonington
SECOND BOARD.
150 shares Nor and Wor
50 „ Farmers' Loan
300 „ Long Island s 3 78
150 „ Morris Canal
25 „ Stonington .. 42
25 „ Canton .b 60 53

43

...8 3 7

DARTMOUTH ELECTION COM
MITTEE.

The Committee a,,setnbled at Eleven yesterday, and imme-
diately proceeded to business. The first witness called was
.John James, who produced a deed purporting to be a
%fleas,.

Mr. Robson, Solicitor to the Admiralty, sworn—Saw a
letter from Mr. Somes's solicitor to the Admiralty in De-
cember last. Got an order from Mr. S 3 dney Herbert in re-
ference to that letter, and took the necessary steps to cause
the transfer of Mr. Somes's contract to Messrs. Joseph and
Frederick Somes. Applied at their bankers', and fiaund the
answer satisfactory, and so reported to the Admiralty. (This
witness proved the several other documents necessary to
validate the transfer.)
Cross-examined by Mr. Sers,eant WRANG lAM —Tim deed
was executed on the 20th of December . 1844. -
Mr. John Henry Lescomb, shipowner, sworn —Has .0115
ship in which Mr. Some:i has a .hare; but bus several that
to has no share in. Ail wituess's accounts, &c., come
&rough Mr. Somes's office.
Mr. Edward Saxton, solicitor to Mr. Somes, sworn—ls re-
lated to Mr. Somes by marriage.
The next question put to the witness was objected to by
the petitioner's counsel, and a long legal argument ensued,
and, at its conclusion, the nom was ordered to be cleared.
On our re-admission, the CHAIRMAN said that, the Com-
mittee had decided that the question could not be put.
The next question was in reference to tha deed of transfer.
Witness said he made all the necessary inquiries as to the
state of the contracts; drew up a deed of release, and got it
properly signed mid witnessed, &e., conveying the contracts,
ships, &c., from Mr. Somes to his nephews.
Cross-examined—Received the deed back from the Ad-
miralty on the 16th of December; sent the deed down to
Dartmouth on the 17th.

Mr. J. H. Scott, senior clerk in her Majesty's Paymaster-
General's-office, sworn—Produced ready-money bilfs, drawn
by Messrs. Lackland and M‘Leod ; the date of the last is the
3d of January, 1845.
Mr Frederick Somes, nephew of Mr. Somes, sen., sworn
—Commanded the Sir Robert Peel ship for two years; is an
owner of ships also, the accounts of which were kept in his
uncle's office. His uncle, a short time previous to his election,
said that he was going to transfer his Government contracts
and sell his ships to him (witness) and his brother, but the
amount had not beeu then fixed; for there is a difficulty
of ascertaining the value of such without delay ; the
value has been ascertained since the election, some
time in the month of January. There certainly
was no understanding to the effect that if his uncle
should not be returned the sale was to have no effect—the
sale was an out-and- out bargain. When witness came of age
his fortune amounted to about 25,0001. His brother had an
equal share with him. Has since paid the amount of the
value of the contracts and ships sold him by his uncle ; paid
cash 10,000/. ; the remainder was paid by the two bills now
produced. Accounts were opened in his and his brother's
names with the Government for the contracts since the Ist
January, and had received payments, no portion of which does
he (witness) consider himself bound, either in law or in
honour, to pay his uncle. Was aware, before the election,
that he would be liable to a penalty for being a party to any
such understanding.
Cross-examined—Had no conversation with his uncle on
the subiect of the contracts before last December. Did not
recollect that his brother was present at the conversation.
Cannot say that the proposal made any great impres-
sion on his mind, though it was not one of every-
day occurrence. Did not know what ships were
engaged, or on their voyage at the time of the proposal.
Could nut say that he then formed any idea of the probable
amount for which he was about to become liable,
but knew it would be something very considerable.
Believes that he was to pay the debts to his uncle
that were then due by the Government to him.
Did not know how many ships were under contract. He felt
so much confidence in his uncle that he left the matter en-
tirely to him. (This witness underwent a long cross-exann-
nation as to the particulars of this transaction, the amount
he was to pay, the ships he was to get, the liabilities, ex-
penses, &c.)
To the CumnmAN—Witness understood from his uncle
that the debt due to him by the Government amomiteal to
about 50,0001., and that this sum included the ships then
under contract. There were other ships that were not in-
cluded.