The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1 44.

represent the case of the paper makers, and to urge
their claims for a total repeal of the duty.

THE LATE FATAL STEAM-BOAT
COLLISION.

COTTON AND PAPER.
(Frona the Times.)
As there is a general impression, whether well or
ill founded, that the income-tax, although it may
perhaps be modified, will not be repealed next session,
and as upon this ground a general reduction of taxation
is anticipated, it becomes a question of moment in what
quarter and in what articles the relief is likely to be
afforded. There are, of course, nsany conflicting inte-
rests involved in this prospect of amelioration, and every
branch of commerce will necessarily be on the alert to
supplicate and argue for the boon. One impost, how-
ever, the arguments for the repeal of which were dis-
cussed at Manchester on Tuesday, claims attention as
one of the heaviest in its pressure upon all classes, the
poor as well as the affluent. We mean the import duties
upon raw cotton, which affect both the manufacturer
and the consumer to an extent that few perhaps can
imagine. Looking to the competition which we are
obliged to encounter with America, where they have
the raw material on the spot, and pay no daty—a com-
petition increasing, be it observed, on all sides, and
which has already begun to affect our trade with
China—the consequences of which unequal rivalry
must inevitably be that the manufacturer, unable to
realise a fair sale for his goods, will be driven to curtail
the wages of the operative, and thereby render it a tax
upon labour ; taking into account at the same time the
connexion it has with the conforts of necessary clothing
for the poor ; we trust that our readers will agree with
us that this is one of tke fairest and fittest objects for a
suppression of taxation. A remission of duty upon an-
other article also, which we think claims consideration,
with a view to lightening, if not entirely removing, the
burden that at present acts injuriously upon all ranks
and orders among us, was suggesten at a meeting which
took place yesterday at the London Coffee-house. We
allude to the enormous duty upon paper, which every
one must perceive to be a serious check upon the pro-
gress of education, the advancement of literature, and
the convenience and intercourse of society at large. We
shall hope to see something done in both these instances;
and we refer our readers to the reports of the two meet-
ings, which will be found in another part of our impression,
for arguments which we hope will prove as convincing
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as they will to the
majority of the public.
(From the Post.)
It would seem that for the surplus revenue which has
accrued under the financial system of the present Go-
vernment there will be no lack of candidates. Among
the various claimants for a reduction or remission of the
duties that affect their particular trade, the paper
manufacturers have now come forward. At a meeting
held in London yesterday, Mr. Dickenson, the Chair-
man, Sir William Magnay, Mr. Crompton, and other
gentlemen, detailed the various grievances under which
the paper trade has become so seriously depressed.
These seem to be—apart from the amount of duty,
though that varies from 80 to 150 per cent.—the strin-
gent Excise regulations which are necessary to prevent
fraud, but far from successful in doing so—the exten-
sive damage occasioned by opening and repacking goods
entered at the Custom-house for exportation—the per-
mission to introduce fancy paper from France at the
duty chargeable only on " manufactured articles," and
the superior facilities afforded to foreign, over native
makers, in the export of paper even to our own colonies.
Reckless competition was also insisted upon very
strongly as a main cause of the depression that exists,
in consequence of the inducement it affords to dishonest
manufacturers, by collusion with the officer of Excise, to
undersell those who faithfully obey the law. This, and
the other matters we have mentioned, are to Lem the
subjects for the deliberations of a committee which the
meeting of yesterday agreed to appoint ; and communi-
cations with Government will then be opened, pre-
viously to the commencement of the ensuing session of
Parliament.

CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE SUFFERERS.
Yesterday Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent,
and a jury of 14 inhabitants of the parish of St. Mary
Alphage, Greenwich, assembled at the Eight Bells Ta-
vern, near the church, to investigate the circumstances
attending the deaths of Jeremiah Sullivan, aged 50
years, and James Shepherd, aged 45 years, who were
killed by the collision between the Orwell, Ipswich
steamer, and the Sylph, Woolwich boat, on the after-
noon of Tuesday last.
The proceedings evidently exc'ted great interest, the
room in which the inquiry took place being much
r crowded, even before the inquiry commenced, by persons
' anxious to hear the evidence.
Mr. Wilkinson (of the firm of Wilkinson and Cobbold,
of Lincoln's Inn-fields), appeared on behalf of the Or-
well Steam-packet Company ; and Mr. Cattains (of the
firm of Cattains and Fry) attended to watch the case on
behalf of the Old Woolwich Company.
The CORONER observed that he proposed in the first
place to take evidence as to the identification of the two
deceased parties, in order that he might issue the usual
warrant for their interment. This dose, he would pro-
ceed with the evidence upon each case separately.
The identity of Sullivan having been proved by a fe-
male named Ann M'Carthy, Mr. 11. R. Chappell, of the
Salutation Inn, Greenwich, recognised Shepherd, and
the inquiry commenced with the case of the first-named
deceased.

Prior to the examination of witnesses,
The CORONER remarked that he thought it would be
advisable to call the parties on board the Sylph in the
first instance. The Sylph was the smaller of the two
vessels, and had been run down by the Orwell ; it was,
therefore, desirable to hear what the parties on board
that vessel had to say en the subject, in order to know
whether a charge might rest against any individual.
Thi2 course was at once assented to by the jury; and,
all the witnesses having been ordered to withdraw, the
case was opened by the examination of
Richard Halcock, who described himself as a water-
man, resident at Woolwich, and said—l am at present a
foremast-man, in the service of the Old Woolwich Steam-
packet Company, and was on board the Sylph in that
capacity on Tuesday afternoon. We arrived at Green-
wich about two o'clock ; and, having put out our pas-
sengers at the pier, shaped our course over towards the
north shore. I was on the look-out at the time. The
weather was very hazy - but, on reaching about mid-
channel, I could just distinguish the shore on either
side. When we got abreast of Norfolk College I saw
something ahead, and called out to Captain Swais-
land, who was upon the bridge to that effect. From
the direction in which I observed it, I thought it
was a vessel riding at anchor. I was led to this sup-
position because, at this period of the year, we know
when to expect the arrivals of all the large boats, and
none were expected at this time. When I observed
something ahead, it may have been at a distance of 150

yards. f could not see anything in motion at that time,
but immediately afterwards I observed a large steamer
bearing down upon us. The moment after I had called
out to the captain he ordered the helm to be put a star-
board, which was done. The helmsman is generally
directed by a motion of the hand, but on this occasion I
distinctly heard the captain call out " starboard." At
this period we were going at our regular speed. When
the captain called out " starboard," he said in the same
breadth, " Ease her—stop her—turn her astern." The
orders were obeyed instantly, but the large steamer had
by this time come into close quarters, and I ran aft to
get out of the way of the blow. I had got as far as the
companion when the collision took place. I heard the
shrieks and cries of the passengers, and immediately
afterwards I got over the bows of the Orwell. The stem
of that vessel struck the Sylph about three or four feet
before the starboard paddle-box, and broke right through
the deck, the cutwater of the Orwell going through
the larboard side of the Sylph, while the figurehead of
the former hung over the larboard bulwarks of the latter.
From the deck of the Orwell I observed the extent of
the injury the Sylph had received, and seeing several
persons struggling in the water, which bad already made
its way into the fore-cabin, I made a rope fast to the Or-
well, and calling out to Higgins who was in command of
that vessel, "For God's sake don't move until the people
are got out," I threw myself over, and assisted to rescue
them. I had drawn three out of the water, when I came
to an elderly woman, who was firmly fixed in her posi-
tion by a piece of timber. A saw was thrown to me
from on board the Orwell, by the aid of which I suc-
ceeded in removing her also. I saw no more until the
vessels parted. They were locked together for ten
minutes or a quarter of an hour. After the vessels had
parted I got a boat-hook for the purpose of discovering
whether there were any other persons under the water
in the fore-cabin.—[The witness here, in reply to the
Coroner, explained that the Sylph was constructed with
water-tight bulkheads, the effect of which was to pre-
vent a leak in the fore part communicating with either
of the other compartments of the vessel.] In continua-
tion the witness said, in a very short time I found the
body of a man whom I knew to be Sullivan. He ap-
peared insensible, but I think " life was in him" at that
time. He was put on board a boat and conveyed to the
Dreadnought hospital-ship. I got assistance, and at
length discovered another body—that of Shepherd. He
was quite dead.
The witness here drew a sketch of the position of both
vessels, and said that from the position in which the
Orwell struck the Sylph, the helm of the former must
have been a-port, while the latter had already made an
angle of forty-fire degrees after her helm had been put
a-starboard. The witness added, he was quite confident
on this point, as had the Orwell put her helm a-starboard,
the two vessels would either have met on the paddle-
boxes, or the Sylph would have struck the Orwell upon
her bows, in which event the effects of the collision would
r.ot have been so disastrous.

MADAME MICHAU'S JUVENILE

BALL.

BRIGHTON CHIT-CHAT.—The following very pretty
lines we find in the Brighton Guardian of Wednesday:—

A SONNET.

Oa seeing Elise, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George
Rubins, a little girl between five and six years of age,
dance the Cracovienne at Madame Michau's Juvenile
Bull on the 10th inst.
" I gaze upon the beautiful,
"And my mind responds to the inspiration."
Sweet infant ! Dancing is thy soul's delight,
Like an embodied joy just sprung to earth,
All hearts cling to thee for thy sportive mirth.
Thy laughing eyes with happiness are bright,
In innocence so pure, it charms the sight
Of old and young alike, who smiling gaze
With looks of love that speak the fondest praise,
While admiration fain would claim the right
To clasp thee like a parent to her breast.
Thou elfin sprite, thus bounding in the air,
Some witchcraft has thy little feet impress'd.
Kind Nature, too, with inure than usual care
Bestows on thee a treasure and a grace
That paints true feeling is thy cherub face.

F. L.

Mr. Wilkinson here attempted to show that the proper
course for the Sylph [would have been down the south
shore, bu• this was shown to be impracticable, owing to
the brigs and other craft which brought up in that direc-
tion. After a long discussion on this subject,
Samuel John Livett was called and sworn.—l am col-
lector on board the Sylph, and in summer captain of the
Flora. Shortly after leaving Greenwich-pier, whilst be-
low collecting the money, I heard the order giv n to
" ease," " stop," and " turn the vessel astern," and after-
wards, " stern with her," when I ran up.
James Swaisland, the son of the captain of the Sylph,
was then called. He deposed that he was call-boy on
board the vessel, and that he gave the orders to " ease,"
" stop," " turn astern," and afterwards "stern with her."
The orders were obeyed.
Two gentlemen, named Gillett Beach and James Row-
land, gave evidence that they were on the deck of the
Sylph, and that it was clearly apparent to them that the
collision was purely accidental.

Mr. Wilkinson, on behalf of the owners of the Orwell,
apologised for the absence of several of the witnesses he
intended to call, who were employed on board the Orwell,
which vessel sailed yesterday morning for Ipswich, and
would not be back until to-morrow, as the vessel was
freighted to bring to London a cargo of perishable
goods. These were the witnesses who would speak
as to the speed of the vessel. He would, however, call
Capt. Rackham of the Orwell, who had not charge
of the boat at the time of the accident, and would be a
competent witness.
Samuel Richardson Rackham deposed he was master
of the Orwell, and was not in actual command when
the accident occurred. I always have a licensed free
waterman on board, who takes charge of the vessel
at Gravesend, in coming up. His name is Wig-
gins. We left Ipswich on Monday, but were
compelled, on account of the weather, to bring to
on Monday afternoon in Sea Reach, and remained
there until nine A. 1. on Tuesday morning. We came
up very easy, and when at Woolwich the weather was
very hazy, and we proceeded very slowly. The Witch,
one of the Woolwieh Company's boats, passed at full
speed off Blackwall. I was on the look out, with four
or five others of the crew, in the fore part of the Orwell.
I first saw the Sylph about 65 yards distant. We had
stopped our vessel. I cannot say what the speed of the
Sylph was. An order had been given on board the
Orwell, of " quite easy," and I repeated it. The collision
was inevitable. Wiggins was on the paddle-box all the
way from Gravesend. He never left it. I hailed the
Sylph, but it was useless. Had we been coming at full
speed we must have run right over her. The Orwell did
not receive any injury.
Benjamin Kemble, steward of the Orwell, deposed that
he was in the after-cabin at the moment the vessels
struck. There was no shock. I am sure the engines
had been stepped. I could tell by the oscillation of the
vessel.
A long conversation then took place as to what day
was most convenient for an adjournment, which was ne-
cessary, in order to have post mortem examinations, and
it was at length agreed on that the inquiry should be
' adjourned until Monday, the 23d inst., at one raw.

SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY.—In
our number of the 12th of October will be found an
article stating that George Hayward, servant to Mr.
Knight, Manager of the County of Berks Union Banking
Company, had absconded from Newbury with a box
containing 195 L in gold and notes. On Tuesday morn.
ing last a letter was addressed to Mr. Milsem, chief
police-officer of Newbury, from Mr. Strattan, police-
officer of Great Malvern, Worcester, stating that on the
12th of October a stranger took up his lodging at the
Union Inn, Great Malvern, and on the 18th left, with-
out taking his carpet bag, or paying his bill. The
landlady, Mrs. Roe, took charge of the bag, and not
seeing or hearing from the person who left it, had the
curiosity, some weeks after, to open it, and found to her
astonishment gold and notes to the amount of 1661. 10s.
On reference to the Hue and Cry of the 11th of October,
no doubt remained that it was the property therein
stated, confirmed by a letter being addressed to Mr.
Hayward while there. On the receipt of this informa-
tion, Mr. Knight started for Malvern on Tuesday last,
and on Wednesday had the gratification to return home
with the amount, honestly handed to him by Mrs. Roe
in the presence of several most respectable inhabitants of
Malvern, who had taken some interest in the discovery
and subsequent restoration of the property.
BANK OF EN G LAND.—Yesterday the quarterly
General Court of the Proprietors of Bank Stock was
held in the court room of the corporation. The Go-
vernor took the chair at twelve o'clock. The minutes of
the last court were read, and,no further business offering,
the Court adjourned.

DEATII OF TUE ECCENTRIC BILLY BARLOW.--Yes-
terday, Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Queen's I-lead,
Flshion-streer, Spite Melds, on view of the body of Ben-
jamin Serjeant, alias "Billy Barlow," aged 30, the w ell-
known street representative of the American " Jim
Crow," who died in a miserable attic, at No. 53, Flower-
and-Dean-street, in the same parish. Mr. Benjamin
Hart, surgeon, who attended upon the deceased, said
that he was suffering from congestion of the lungs,which
was the effect of long exposure to cold, and which was
the cause of death. Verdict—Natural Death, accelerated
by exposure to the cold.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
CITY, THURSDAY EVENING.
TIMES.—We have heard to-day of a plan adopted
in some of the iron districts for evading the new banking
law, antirpky different from any of the various schemes
i that have been from time to time noticed under this head.
At certain periods the proprietors of iron-works require
advances to pay wages, or for some purpose of the
kind, and they address themselves, in the first instance,
to the neighbouring bankers. In some cases the bankers
have already issued all the paper that the new law allows,
and, at the same time, are anxious to afford the desired
accommodation. To do this they give a credit to some
party—probably a tradesman—in the vicinity, and in-
' form their applicants that, although they (the bankers)
cannot assist them, this party can aecom:nodate them
with small cheques. Of course there is nothing in the
law that can hinder a person keeping a drawing account
with a banker from drawing cheques fur any small
amount he pleases, and as the signature is perfectly well
known in the district, such cheques perform all the func-
tions of a local issue.
This scheme seems of all that we have heard the most
difficult to be dealt with by the Legislature, should some
supplementary Act be considered necessary to prevent
the different evasions. The difficulty would be to esta-
blish a legal distinction between these cheques, drawn
by a party who is a mere creature of the bankers to
enable them to' extend their accommodation, and the
cheques drawn by a bona fide depositor in the regular
way of business, so as to prevent the former without in-
terfering with the latter. There is this, however, against
the scheme, that it is not likely to be very widely .spread.
Indeed, it seems only possible in small localities, where
the parties are perfectly well known to each other.
There is also the risk that the party appointed by the
banker may abuse the confidence placed in him, and
commence drawing on his own account.
That the scheme has obtained a firm footing in some
districts, there seems no doubt ; indeed, we understand
that the bankers have been known to supply the draw-
ing party with cheques ready printed for the purpose
required.
To avoid that jobbing and speculation in railway
shares which must be the consequence of any partial in-
formation come to by the Board of Trade, a correspon-
dent throws out the following hint:—
" I beg leave to suggest that the Bo: rd of Trade, in
making their report on railways, should sire notice to
the public a week before they publish it, and that the
Chairman of each Board of Directors ..hould have a copy
transmitted to him, but all by the same post."
It was to be anticipated that the remarks quoted yes-
terday respecting the dealing in shares at the Stock
Exchange would provoke much observation from the
members of that is stitution. The annexed letter has
been first selected, as it appears to enter the most deeply
into the discussion, which has been invited solely from
the belief that the public, in their dealings in that de-
scription of securities, are not at present so fully pro-
tected as they ought to be :
" Your correspondent whose letter you quote in this
day's Times, does not, with all his boasted experience of
thirty years, seem clearly to understand the difference
between middlemen' and brokers' and ' jobbers.'
What have brokers always been but middlemen,' and
jobbers but 'bona fide' fundholders like himself ? He
would fain persuade us that a new class 'of operators has
sprung up, combining both share brokers' and share
dealers in one and the same person, and thus brokers
constitute themselves middlemen' to the prejudice,
and dishonestly too, of the public.' No doubt it
does sometimes happen that a broker may hare two
clients, one of whom is willing to buy what the other
wishes to sell, and if in such a ca e the transfer is
effected at the market price of the day, of what
has your correspondent to complain ? If he thinks a
new and very extensive branch of business can be carried
on in the old-fashioned way,' he is very much mis-
taken. Shares are not like Consols,' which can be
bought and transferred the same day, and there's an
end of it.' There are such things as stamps, transfer
fees, local offices,' &c. ; and if the jobbers' were the
bona fide holders, they would have to travel far and
wide, and in their turn pay these stamps and transfer
fees and travelling expenses, all out of the ' turn of the
market' that your correspondent speaks about. Now, I
cannot but imagine, if such were the principles of busi-
ness, these etceteras would not only be destructive' of
the great facilities' which a general currency in the
open market would afford, but, under the present system
of transfer by deed, would turn out a loss both to the
jobber and the public. I dare say if your correspondent
can suggest any better plan than that which is the pre-
sent practice—namely, the 14-day settlings, when the
names of bona fide buyers are passed from hand to hand
until each finds a corresponding seller, in all which
there is a vast deal of difficulty, the jobbers and the
brokers, of whom he speaks so disparagingly, will feel
greatly indebted to him.
" I do not doubt that the sweeping accusation he
brings against all share-brokers, charging them with
oftentimes taking a little more than their commission
from the one or other party, and sometimes from both,
arises out of the circumstance of these travelling tickets
alluded to, and from which the transfers are made out,
differing in price, perhaps, both of buyer and seller ; in
the latter case it may be a lower price ; this is passed
over by such men as your correspondent, but it may
sometimes happen to bear a higher price, and when it
does so the broker, who is bound to follow the price
upon the ticket, of course has robbed such an one of
the difference. Perhaps when your Correspondent has
had some thirty more years' experience he will under.
stand these matters more fully. Nothing can facilitate
the interchange of railway property but central offices
for transfer without a Government stamp, or Registered
Scrip Shares to pass from hand to hand like Exchequer-
bills."

Another Correspondent, a broker, writes as follows:
" With reference to the observations in your 'City
Article' of this day, respecting the mode of dealing be-
tween brokers and jobbers in shares, .1 bog to observe
that the imputation is much too general. The public, I
believe, are frequently injured by certain brokers, who
transact business under the general agreed rate of com-
mission, and then compensate themselves for the differ-
ence of the charge in the price rendered to their prin-
cipals, at their own discretion."
SUN.—There was no change in English Stocks from the
morning. Consols were 100 k 4 ; Exchequer Bills, 575.
to 595. premium ; and New Three-and-a-Quarter per
Cents., 103 k I. Bank Stock closed at 2084.
The Foreign Market was not active. Spanish Five
per Cents. realised 24 I, and the Three per Cents. 37t
Chilian were 99 to 100, and Colombian 144 k. French
Scrip was lk, and Belgian j- premium. Dutch Five per
Cents. were 99k.
The additional transactions in Railway Shares have
been these : —Bristol and Gloucester were 6k ; Dublin
and Belfast, 1 ; Dublin and Galway, it 4 ; Great
Southern and Western (Ireland), 41 to 5 ; Hull and
Selby, 19 ; Birmingham, 127 ; Brighton, 1 ; South
Western, ex New, 34i ; Midland, 12 to 13 ; Newcastle
and Darlington, 371 ; Ditto and Berwick, 6to6} ;
North Kent, ; Richmond and West-end Junction, lk ;
South Devon, 1 ; Trent Valley, 61 ; York and North
Midland, Selby Scrip, 46 ; Ditto, Extension, 12 ; and
Orleans and Bordeaux, 5i 1 premium. Eastern Counties
have been 101 ; Midland and Birmingham and Derby,
64; and Strasbourg and Bale, 1k discount.