The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-14 00:00:00

FURTHER EXTENSIVE SEIZURE

OF ILLICIT SPIRITS OF NITRE.

No circumstance has for some time past created greater
interest in the trading and mercantile circles than the recent
seizures by a most indefatigable officer of the Customs of an
immense stock of contraband spii its of nitre, the pro-
duce of the illicit distillery in the Globe-road, Stepney, s.me
particulars of which appeared in the Morning Herald-of Mo-
nday last.

since that time the same officer has been actively engaged
in pursuing his search, with a view still further to carry out
the important information be received at the time of his
capture of the distillery, and, if possible, to recover the
whole of the immense stock of spirits that had been removed.
As was alluded to in a former notice of these organised and
illegal transactions, the goods were deposited at a carrier's
wharf in the City-road, and from thence delivered to their
destination. From orders given at this place, it was ascer-
tained that a large stock of the same description of spirits
had lately been sent by the canal boats to Birmingham, the
order for their dispatch being given by Bailey himself.
The officers lost no time in communicating this &et
to the officers of Excise in Birmingham, with the
most ample information as to the peculiar marks by
which the illegal article might be immediately identi-
fied. The Birmingham officers, acting on the information
they had received, proceeded to the premises of Philip
Harris, a chemist, and it appeared so accurate was the in-
struction of their informant that they found no difficulty
whatever in at once discovering the object of their search,
and pronounced the stock of spirits as being part and parcel
of the goods manufactured at the illicit distillery in the
Globe-road, and, as above stated, sent down by the carriers
to Birmingham. The quantity seized on this occasion
amounts to between 1,500 and 1,600 lbs., the duty upon
which, if legally charged, would be 2s. 2d. per lb. It was
understood that the purchase had been made at a much lower
sum than it could possibly have been manufactured for had
the transactions been legal and regular.
The Birmingham officers of Excise took possession of the
spirits, and transmitted information to the chief officers of the
Board of Excise in London, of the seizure. It will be for her
Majesty's Commissioners to determine whether it shall be
brought to London ' - but it is generally believed that it will
be condemned, and disposed of in Birmingham.
Several of the respectable chemists in town and country
have lately refused to purchase the article, as from the price
it was offered at, they were perfectly satisfied that it could
not have been legally manufactured at any such sum, or ob-
tained by fair and honourable means.
In consequence of the refusal of several owners of wharfs on
the banks of the river, to give information to the officers as
to the reception of the illegal articles, and almost a resistance
to allow a search of their premises, proceedings have already
been taken against them for penalties to the amount of the
bonds given by them.
To show the extent of the traffic that has been carried on,
it will only be necessary to state that the illicit trade has
been carried on for a period of ten months, and the average
produce of spirits from the distillery amounted to 400 gallons
per week, and.each gallon was liable to a duty of 7s. 10d.
No less than 300 tons of coals, it has been ascertained, were
consumed in their trade in the space of three months. It
appears that considerable expense has been incurred by the
officer, and no pains spared in tracing this article during a
period of four months, wbick great public service, there is
little doubt, will be amply rewarded.—Hentkl.