The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-11 00:00:00

COLLIERS' CONFERENCE.

During the week the colliers have been holding a
conference in this town, which, we believe, has been
numerously attended by delegates. The following
are some of the resolutions which have been passed.
Mr. Roberts, the miners' solicitor, was present at the
proceedings : _ _

" That -a
Committee of five persons be appointed to
elicit all the information possible respecting the real
state and position of the miners and colliers generally,
for the purpose of petitioning the Legislature for an
Eight Hours' Bill for mines and collieries.
" That this Conference recommend each district to
give a premium, for the purpose of procuring the best
statistical information on the most vital points con-
tained in the thirteenth proposition of the programme.
" That this meeting approve of the second clause
contained in the thirteenth proposition on the pro-
gramme, viz., the working of coals by weight on the
beam and scale principle, but that the size of the tubs
be regulated according to the thickness of the mine.

" That a petition -be presented to the Legislature,
praying for a repeal of the duty on export coal.
" That a petition be presented to the Legislature
praying that an improved system of ,ventilation be
adopted ; also, that the various methods of ventilating
mines as laid down by humane and scientific indivi-
duals, be thoroughly investigated, so that which may
he considered best and safest for the protection of the
lives of the working miners and colliers, be brought
into general operation.
" That a petition be presented to the Legislature,
praying for the appointment of Government Inspec-
tors, for machinery, ropes, mines, &e., or with a view
of seeing that any law which may be obtained for the
safety and welfare of the miners, be fully and effi-
ciently carried into operation.
" That each sub-district or county secretary,
furnish the general secretary of the association
each month with a balance-sheet of the number of
members, good and bad, and with the amount of the
moneys paid to the separate funds." Wakefield
Journal.

The discovery of a very ingenious fraud has re-
cently been made at the Custom-house. It is known to
our readers, that a duty of is. 6d. per ounce is paid on
all silver plate stamped at the Goldsmiths' Hall ; and
that, should such plate be afterwards entered for exporta-
tion, the exporters may demand from the Customs a
drawback of duty ; in other words, they may claim the
repayment of the Is. 6d. an ounce which had been paid
to the Goldsmith? Company, when the plate was stamped
with the hall mark. The fraud to which we allude
consisted in this : after the articles of plate had been
stamped, they were enlarged by the addition of silver
which had not been stamped, and which had therefore
not paid duty ; yet, when the articles were sent to the
Customs for exportation, drawback of duty was claimed
on the whole weight—that is to say, upon such por-
tion of the article as had not paid duty, as well as
upon the portion which had. This fraud was carried
on to a great extent in silver knife handles, to which a
large ferrule was fraudulently attached after the handles
had been stamped; and thus drawback was obtained for
the entire weight, although the ferrules had not been in-
cluded in the weight upon which duty had been pre-
viously paid at Goldsmiths' Hall ; so that the revenue
was defrauded to the extent of Is. 6d. per ounce on such
ferrules. Upon being brought to the Searchers' office
for examination, Mr. Scanlan, searcher and landing-
waiter, acting either upon private intelligence or his own
observation, detained the plate ; and it has, we hear,
since been established, that no doubt exists as to the
fraudulent manufacture of the knife handles. They
have since been condemned ; but the other portion of
the plate has been given up, as it appeared that the ex-
porters were not parties to the fraud, and had paid to
the manufacturer of the knife-handles the full price for
them.—Sunday paper.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OP MR. SERGEANT AN-
DREWS.—Many painful rumours were rife throughout
Friday and Saturday morning at the Courts of West-
minster Hall, that the above Learned Gentlemen, who
was a leader of the Midland Circuit, had made an at-
tempt at self-destruction, which, on making inquires at
his residence at Hampstead-hill, unfortunately proved
but too true. From the statement of his medical
attendant, Mr. Headland, of Guildford-street, it appeared
that the Learned Sergeant had been for some period
greatly depressed in spirits, and had passed most
of his time in his library. On Thursday it was
apparent that the Learned Sergeant seemed un-
usually depressed, and after breakfast he retired to
the library, where, in the course of the morning,
Mrs. Andrews had occasion to enter, when she was
horror struck at beholding the Learned Gentleman de-
luged in his blood. Losing her presence of mind the
lady gave a dreadful scream, which was heard through-
out the house, and the servants of the household were
quickly in attendance. Mr. Evans, of Hampstead, was
immediately sent for, and rendered every assistance
which the emergency of the case required. Mr. Head-
land, the family surgeon, on being promptly apprised of
the melancholy transaction, lost no time in doing all
that human aid could suggest or skill accomplish for his
unhappy patient. At a late hour last night a long con-
sultation took place between the medical gentlemen,
when, we regret to state, the Learned Sergeant was not
considered out of danger.— Observer.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] A CERTAIN CURE FOR
ASTHMA BY HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.—Read the following
case:—James Holmes, a cotton-spinner, residing at
Ancoates, Manchester, had been asthmatical for these
last three years; he was frequently so bad, that when
rising from his bed he could scarcely speak or draw his
breath, and would cough mad spit for half-an-hour toge-
ther, and often thought he should be choked; he was
much reduced in strength, and after every other means
of cure failed he used these wonderful pills, which have
removed every symptom of asthma, and he is now as
free from it as when he was a child.—Sold (also
Holloway's Ointment) at Professor Holloway's establish-
ment, 224, Strand (where advice may be had gratis),
and by almost all respectable vendors of medicine
throughout the civilised world.
BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, Nov. B.—There is no
alteration to notice in our sugar market this week ; the
demand still continues limited, but prices are about sup-
ported ; the sales since our last are u nder 500 hhds.
West India, and 700 mats Mauritius. Irr rum there is