The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-14 00:00:00

PROFESSOR LIEBIG.

A letter, signed by about forty of the farmers of
East Lothian, was sent to Professor Liebig at York,
inviting him to a public dinner at Haddington. Liebig,
however, is under the necessity of leaving this coun-
try so speedily, that he was reluctantly forced to de-
cline the invitation. We subjoin a copy of the answer
he returned to the requisitionists :
" Edinburgh, Oct. 5, 1844.
" Gentlemen,—I have had the honour to receive,
through Professor Gregory, your letter of the 27th,
inviting me to attend a dinner in Haddington. I most
sincerely regret that I am compelled to decline this
honour, the extreme shortness of my stay in Scot-
land not permitting me to accept your very friendly
invitations.

" I frankly confess that this expression of your sen-
timents is to me a most precious recompense for all
my efforts to reduce the operations of husbandry to
rational principles. Although I could not but enter-
tain the rational desire- to see my labours crowned
with success I was yet far from hoping to obtain, in
so short a time, a degree of appreciation of those la-
bours surpassing my expectations.
" As proceeding from men whom I regard as the
first agriculturist; not only of Scotland, but of all
Europe, this testimony of your approbation will spur
me on to pursue the course on which I have entered,
and the thought that in a country so remote from my
native lanl, a large number of such men feel an in-
terest in my labours, and agree in my opinions, will
always afford me the highest enjoyment and the purest
satisfaction.
" I shall preserve your most gratifying invitation,
with the signatures attached to it, as a proud me-
morial of the intelligence of Scottish farmers, and of
their appreciation of the beautiful maxim of H. Davy,
that science belongs to no country, but is the com-
mon property of all mankind.'
" I beg once more to express my unfeigned regret
that I am unable to accept the invitation to a meeting
from which I should have derived so much pleasure.
" And I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
" Dr. JUSTUS LIEBIG."

Liebig stated to the gentlemen from East Lothian
who waited on him, that on the next occasion of his
coming to this country, he should have the greatest
pleasure in paying them a visit.

SPORTING PA.RSONS.-011 looking over the Game
Lists published last week we find that no fewer than
sixty of the Yorkshire parsons have taken out shooting
licenses for the present season.--Leeds Times.

EXTENSIVE SMUGGLING.
On Tuesday morning about nine o'clock, William
Simpson, acting chief officer of the Coast Guard, seized
a vessel called- the Joseph and Sarah, off the Powder
Creek in Long in the parish of Dartford, laden
with ninety-five bales of contraband tobacco, together
a ith five baskets of French apples, and twenty-three
other baskets. Mr. Simpson with four men boarded the
vessel off Greenhithe, and found two men in charge of
the vessel.

The vessel and cargo was on Friday brought up to
Woolwich, and the prisoners Henry Wilkins and Henry
Junes were taken in custody by the Inspector of the
Woolwich Police, before the sitting magistrate, bil%
Grove, when the follo‘Ning evidence was adduced.
Mr. Podbury, solicitor of Customs, attended to pro•
secute,
Mr. Simpson deposed that he bad examined the vessel
and found twenty-one bales of manufactured tobacco,
weighing eleven hundred and forty pounds, subject to a
duty of 9s. sd. per lb. ; thirty bales weighing fourteen
hundred and sixty-eight pounds leaf tobacco,
liable to
a duty of 3s. 2d. per lb. ; and forty bales of stalk to•
bacco, weighing two thousand two hundred and forty-
seven pounds, prohibited ; together with twenty-three
and five baskets of foreign-grown apples.
Mr. Thomas Cornell, Queen's appraiser of Customs,
deposed minutely as to the extensive manner in which
the revenue was evaded by the contraband trade of to-
bacco in the port of London, and stated the duty on the
twenty-one tales produced amounted to 5381. 13s. ; on
the thirty bales to 231/. 45.2 d. ; and on the forty-four
bales of prohibited stalk tobacco, valued at 3651. 2s. 9d,*
The value and duty, he said. amounted to 1,2281. 13s. 1 la.
Mr. Simpson said the present was the second seizure
he had made within twelve months. The first capture
he made was one of sixty bales, found on board the Iris,
which he was quite satisfied belonged to the seal
parties as owned the Joseph and Sarah, which vessel
was forfeited to the Crown as well as the cargo.
The prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge.
Mr. Grove told them they had made themselves each
liable to a penalty of 1001., and in default of payment
to be imprisoned during her Majesty's pleasure.
The prisoners said they were not in a condition to pal
the penalties.
Mr. Grove told them that it only remained for him to
commit them to Maidstone gaol.—Committed.