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

with all the precautions now taken many frauds were
committed. It was useless, therefore, to look for re-
MEETING OF MANUFACTURERS. lief by any relaxation of their regulations, for they
An important meeting of paper-manufacturers was were not more strict than necessary to prevent fraud,
held at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, yes- and nothing less than total repeal would be effective.
terdav, for the purpose of taking steps to procure On the occasion of their former meeting some oppoii-
the total abolition of the duty on paper in the ap • tion had been offered to the resolutions by the sta-
proaching session of Parliament. Similar meetings tioners, who then objected to the repeal of the duty.
were recently held at Manchester and Edinburgh, He did not know whether they contined to be opposed
and a deputation from the Manchester meeting, con- , to such a measure, but there were several causes,
sisting of Mr. Crompton, Mr. Potter, and another ' perhaps, to which much opposition might be attri-
gentleman, attended at the present meeting to offer buted. The stationer derived some advantage from
their co-operation. Sir William Magnay, Mr. the discount which he obtained from the manufacturer,
Dickenson, Mr. Gaussen, Mr. Pewtress, Mr. Law- who was obliged to give discount on the amount
rence, and a number of other gentlemen interested , of duty as well as on the material, though he had
in the subject of the meeting, were present. :to pay the Government in ready money. Some
J. Dicaetssoe, Esq., having been called to the stationers also took advantage, which the present
chair, said he had great satisfaction in explaining to state of the law afforded, of making bargains
so numerous and respectable a meeting the injurious by buying from those fraudulent makers who had
effects of the Excise-laws on the manufacture of not paid the duty; and the prices at which the goods
paper, and in calling on them to use their most stre- were thus bought were used as the means of screwing
nuous exertions to obtain a repeal of the duty that down the honest maker to the same scale.—(Hear.)
pressed so heavily on their manufacture. In 1836 But the stationers themselves suffered from the effects
the paper manufacturers obtained a partial reduction of the regulations for obtaining the drawback, and
of the tax, and they obtained an equilisation of the were also becoming aware of the injurious tendency
Excise duties on different kinds of paper; from which of the duty on the consumption of paper; therefore
measures, however, the manufacturers had not de- it was to be hoped they would no longer offer opposi-
rived the expected advantages, and he trusted they tion to the endeavours to obtain a repeal of the tax.
would be enabled to obtain redress for the intolerable The repeal of the duty would certainly lead to the
grievances which now oppressed the trade, by the employment of an additional number of hands; he
total removal of the duty; for he felt convinced that confidently believed double the present number would
by no other means could the remedy they sought he be employed, and that consideration alone rendered
procured. The reduction of duty before granted by the question apost important one in the present eon-
the Government had, indeed, been of service, and the dition of the country.—(Cheers.)
public had derived great benefit from the consequent Sir WILLIAM MAGNAY said he was glad to find, not
reduction of the price of paper. The reduction of price only by the presence of so large a body of paper ma-
had, of course, greatly increased the consumption ; and nufcturers, but by letters from different parts of the
thus it might have been expected to have benefited country, that they all concurred in the object they
the paper manufacturer; but the increase of consump- were assembled to promote. The stationers also, he
tion had not been adequate to the expected demand, understood, are not so much opposed to the repeal of
and reduction of price had exceeded the proportion the tax as they were, the only real difficulty with
due to the diminished duty ; consequently, the manu- them being the uncertainty in the trade which the
facturer had suffered, though the public had reaped agitation for the repeal of the duty occasioned
considerable advantage. The duty at present pressed whilst it lasted, as they did not like to
very heavily on some branches of the paper menu- purchase, and were afraid of loss on the
facturer, to the amount, in some cases, of 150 per stocks they held. With respect to the new mode
cent.; and on the larger portion of the produce of of making paper which had been adverted to by
the mills, it amounted to 80 per cent. The depres- their Chairman, he could not conceive why it should
sion in the price of paper had been occasioned partly be exempted from duty; for if so, other paper made
by the reduction of the duty, and partly by the eva- by a different process than usual might also be
sion of the payment of any duty by fraudulent exempted; and as it was, all the commoner descrip-
makers. The Excise had, for the purpose of pre- tions might be manufactured on the same plan that
venting frauds, adopted many stringent regulations, was now practised in making mill-boards and roofing
which were greatly annoying, and tended to injure paper. With respect to the damages done to pack-
the trade in many ways; hut, nevertheless, the frauds ages at the Custom-house, to which the Chairman
continued. In one instance that had come within his had alluded, he could bear ample testimony, having
knowledge, it was the practice of a manufacturer, himself suffered severely from it. He had frequently
whose name he would not mention, to pay the Excise sent out numbers of packages to the colonies, and as i
duty on half the paper he manufactured, and to re- frequently he was informed by the parties to whom
tain the duty on the other half. He (Mr. Dickenson) they were sent that one, two, or more of these pack-
had paid much attention to the subject of collecting ages on each shipment were damaged and obliged to
duties and preventing fraudulent practices; but he be sold as waste. This was a serious loss, and for a
felt convinced that it was impossible for any law or time he could not account for alleged damages, as he
regulation, however stringent, to prevent fraud in the had himself seen all the packages carefully secured.
paper maker, if so disposed, and it was a known fact He afterwards found that the damaged parcels were
that frauds to a great extent were still continued. those that had been opened at the Custom-house and
The Excise regulations greatly impeded trading ope- then repacked. This had been the case under the
tions, and the interference with the manufacture was former regulations, but now thet every package was
carried as far as it could be endured ; but notwith- opened, the damage would become ruinously eaten-
standing their vigilance, the Excise could not prevent sive, and all the foreign trade would be of necessity
fraud. The uncertainty of the law also afforded an- confined to the foreign manufacturer, who was not
other strong ground for the repeal of the tax altogether ; subjected to the annoyance. Sir William mentioned
for in some cases articles that came in direct compe- also instances of the frauds of foreign paper manu-
tition with the paper maker were at one time declared facturers, who stamp the names of English makers on
to be chargeable with duty, and at another time to their goods, and send them to England, where they
be exempt. Mr. Dickenson then alluded at some are reshipped for the colonies. In one instance
length to the process of manufacturing sheeting and he had caused a number of packages from
roofing paper, for which a patent had been obtained in Holland to be examined, on every one of which he
1833. In that manufacture the fibrous material, found his own name stamped. If the restrictions on
after being torn to pieces by passing it between spiked the paper trade were removed, he believed that at
rollers, was mixed with pitch and tar, and then rolled least double the number of people would be employed
out into sheets. The patentees got an officer of Excise in the making of paper, and the manufactures eon-
to examine their mode of manufacture, and he was of nected with it. It would be the means more espe-
opinion that it did not come within the meaning of cially of giving employment to women, of whose &is-
the Act imposing a duty on paper. The paper makers tresses they had lately heard so much, and for whom
complained of this, and in passing the Act of 1836 it it was extremely difficult to find suitable work. In
was intended that such manufacture should be ren- proof of this he produced a French ornamental paper
dered liable to the duty. According to the strict box, of which an immense quantity are now imported
letter of the law that species of manufacture was pre- into this country. Those boxes were allowed to be
viously chargeable ; but, when it was found that it imported as manufactured articles at the ad valorem
was about to be especially included in the Act of duty of ten per cent., though made altogether of
1836, the parties got Mr. Duncombe and others to paper, for which the English maker has to pay the
wait on Ir. Spring Rice, then Chancellor of the full duty. It was the practice of the merchant to
Exchequer, and in consequence of their representa- enter them at a very low price, knowing that they
tions a clause was introduced in the Bill to exempt would fetch little at a Custom-house sale, and the
that manufacture from the payment of duty. The duty consequently does not amount to the fraction of
parties afterwards undertook to manufacture mill- a farthing; whilst the duty on English paper would
boards and scale- boards, as well as roofing and be three halfpence per pound. The number of women
sheathing by their patent process, but after a lapse of employed in France in making those boxes was not
two years the Excise again claimed the payment of less than twenty thousand, and but for the duty charged
duty on such articles. The parties pleaded their ex- on the paper, they might be made in England cheaper
emption, and as another Act for regulating the duties and better. Another instance of the encouragement
on paper was about to be passed, the matter was not given by the paper duty to foreign manufacturers
pressed. In the subsequent Act of Parliament a was afforded by the glazed coloured paper in which
clause was specially introduced for rendering such pieces of linen are usually done up. The parties
manufacture liable to duty. The words were very ex- have the paper cut into slips, with the names engraved
plicit ; they expressly stated that mill-boards, with on each, and in that state they came to this country from
whatever material made, or by whatever process manu- France as manufactured articles, at ten per cent ad
factured, should be chargeable with the same duty as valorem, the value being set at the very lowest rate,
paper-14s. per cwt. Notwithstanding this Act, for the paper would be of no use to any but the per-
the parties set to work in defiance of it, and though sons whose names are engraved thereon. In this
the case had been represented to the Board of Excise manner the English paper. maker is driven from the
again and again, they refused to interfere. He (Mr. market in that kind of ornamental paper, for which
Dickenson) went to Mr. Wood on the subject, and he there is now a great demand. Embossed gold paper,
obtained a promise that the matter should be examined cut into slips, comes from Prance in the same man-
and reported. The Surveyor-General of Excise did, ner, at an ad valorem duty as a manufactured
in fact, report that the process was altogether dil- article, to the encouragement of the foreign manu-
ferent from that of making paper, the material being facturer, and to the injury of our labouring popula-
in one case mixed, when dry, with pitch and tar, and tion, thousands of whom are thus deprived of ern-
in the other case the material was reduced to a pulp ployment. The system of making up goods in orna-
with water. It was, indeed, well worth making an mental coverings to invite purchasers had been in-
alteration in the mode of manufacture, if by that creasing for some time, and would probably be much
means an article serving the same purpose as many more extended, and if the labels and ornamental
kinds of paper would be brought into the market paper forthe ptubreposEencgoluisldb bmeaokbetrainweoduflrdombeFrqaunictee
duty free. He had no doubt, from the first, that the withoutunable
to duty
article was chargeable with duty, and he adduced. compete_. under. such disadvantage. It had
these variations in the opinion of the Excise officers, onlyhbeen within the last three months that it
and on the interpretation of the Act of Parliament,
bead been decided that these ornamental papers might
to show the great grievances to which paper manu-importedb at an ad valorem duty, and the result
facturers were subject, from the uncertainty. of the would e that all, these things would henceforth come
law as well as from the duty itself. It was impossible from France. he repeal was the only remedy.
for the fair trader to compete with those who manu-dt Mr. GAUSSEN rose to move a series of resolutions,
factured a similar article without payinganynhayd to the effect that great depression at present exists
and they who had long carried on a useful trade r _ among the paperenakers, which is attributable to the
tbris.ie
mleiy uencourageduegua
l; , thatbei u theg
as
muchduties
aasr e
80a t presentper eeut. e
oxn-
...excise laws ; that the manufacture of paper ought to
t)o el Tun a
asking
ai
it,
g least
for fittii rr playepea
l andf nt oh
efadvuotu .
a(Crhigeenrts
ptbaapte
suchr, t they eay
measurewou hl havewould
t the
greatly satisfaction.be neriocfiato thinking on
manyiths some branches of the manufacture, whilst on the other
some
articles regulations
o f
British insufficient
other trades besides their own.
b k Millwrights,iinderssm pub- descriptions it is but 20 per cent.; that the Excise
maautfoaetpurreeveanrte fraud; that
mould-makers, printers, booksellers,t trades,
would derive
by foreign articles not chargeable with the duty ;
fishers, and a great many otherltheorf
trbae,
tax and
s.
tgueunceersa 1 paperre b , .
advantage from the repeal
would use that the tax is greatly prejudicial to the publication
for several purposes to which of books , that the duty is the last Excise duty that
become an article
ofmaoethhermsourbe
now applied...presses on any considerable body of men ; and that a
shoal effects, produced great injury on the
The tax on paper, among. other impor-
tant prejudicial memorial be presented to the Chancellor of the Ex-
publication of books. The late Mr. Rees, of the firm chequer, and a petition be presented to Parliament,
C0.,0f Messrs. Longman and stated in evidence, be- embodying the resolutions, and praying for the repeal
fore a Committee of the House of Commons, that on
of the duty on paper. In moving these resolutions
an aterage not out
more that one book of
three sue- Mr. Gaussen dwelt at some length on the injurious
' themselves n ency which the duty had had on the consump-
tion of paper, and argued, from the great increase of
cueeeedeessdar3a,nfdorptabied
remuneratepiutbslisebxepresntsoes• it therefore became tendency d
cotton manufacture, consequent on the reduction of
the others. The authority of r• uoe
by the profits of the one successful. i‘blookmfocr
itfiebr
losses on duty on the raw material, that a similar increase
dheardivetdhefroEuxictisbee dpuretyseubteenduttawkewnaos
pamphletopinion, withoat the addition
pays
of twenty its ex- would have taken place in the manufacture of paper
ee
morenfir tmheade toneiis
• 'lege that was granted to the dealer in _ _ , having been an increase of 60 per cent. in the penses. According to the present Excise regulations,eottou
the privilege ff.620T,0110e01. revenue
tber
there
articles, was refused to facture manu-
and to other dealers in taxed
of paper since the reduction of duty in 1836 ;
to
the
publisher;
their goods in bend without paying duty until a sale and were the Lam •'? • e restrictions taken away the paper
was effected, the publisher was compelled to
thpea yduty
y manufacture would make most rapid progress, and
on all the sheets that were printed, thoughl
If greaterafford the means of employment to a large portion of
portion,
perhaps, became afterwards use ess.the the population.
thus injuriously on publication, it
tax operated' . . The resolutions were unanimously agreed to.
11 on education ; and in Ai e
ust also operate prejudicia y r. :NORRIS urged upon the meeting the absolute
n 'de ed the • ht
Inthese times, when education was
dutythe of richti tol vigorously, and bringing the question to a speedy issue.
provide the means, it was more than ever essen a No one could doubt that the 5 per cent. duty, which
great an hindrance to the spread of know- had been imposed, had, from the very first, been paid
that so
d. The dfficulties and delays out of the ledge should be removF pocket of the manufacturer.—(Hear, hear.)
drawback of the duty
which attended obtaining the
sof yHe thought that if, by any means, they could indem-
on paper exported, constituted anotherd source of injury nify parties who had a large stock on hand against
to the English paper maker, an gave hforeign loss, they would obviate any great difficulty and
manufacturer great and unfair advantages. Formerly secure more combined efforts.
the difficulties of obtaining the drawback of duty werefo Mr. CROMPTON, of Manchester, who attended as ,
only annoyances, without seriously affectingt the one of the deputation from a meeting held yesterday ;
heler,:
reign trade ; but, since the recent Cu
se.-effects of in that town, spoke most deSpondingly of the present
frauds, the Government, smarting under the
the losses they had sustained, had
.made new and he represented there were assembled the manufacturers
more stringent regulations on the sbhoipomksent of goods,
k of one-fourth the whole amount of paper made in
packages of paper an
and now all
d 'thvgn'e be ndlend England, and they were of opinion that nothing but
out of their cases, looked over, an e u ruin awaited them unless the tax was repealed.
without care into the cases again andhd shipped.been Thethe Mr. PEWTRES3 inquired whether there had been
mischief did not end there, for it a
eenthe West any intimation received from the Government of their
custom to pack books and paper. going to intention. to repeal the duty, or whether any comn:u•
in
Indies, or on long sea voyages, in tin cases,b and _ - nication had taken place on the subject ?
the resoldering of these cafes and examining_ the pack- Mr. DICKENSON said there had been no communi-
a es, the books and paper were frequently sodel, and cation made yet, as it was deemed requisite to have
byg the carelessness in resoldering the whole contents the support of a general meeting before application
damaged. These vexatious regulations was made. Now that they -
were often
paper imported for subse- lutions of this meeting did not apply to French
they should go to the Chan-
colonies could now cell
or exportation, therefore our ce or of the Exchequer with greater confidence, and
readily, and
be supplied with foreign paper more
better
condition,than paper of English manufacture, as the soapmakers and glaismakers had done.
received greater facilities for A Pereeete
for the foreign maker RE& from
the country, who principally
the English manu-
sending to our colonies than manufactures the lower class of papers, said he had
facturer. No hostile tariff could have a worse severely felt the effects of the introduction of the
effect on the trade than these Custom-house French boxes. lie had formerly received extensive
regulations, and if these obstacles were conti- orders for an article called " button board," used in
.
paper trade must be ruined, making boxes, but latterly the orders •
need the foreign
had been dis-
to point
•id he had endeavoured continued by his customers, and he was at a loss to
Mr. Dickenson said
out some of the most prominent disadvantages attend- account for it. The mystery was now solved ; for he
ing the duty on paper, and some of
the benefits that had no doubt that it
'was the importation of those
would he derived from its repeal; but no one could Trench boxes that had caused the discontinuance of
conceive the whole extent of the good that would re- the manufacture for which the article was employed.
suit from the total emancipation of paper from the After some discussion, in the course of which it
excise. H e felt assured that nothing less than a total was stated that the London paper makers intended to
The Board of Excise had endea- act in concert with those in the county
repeal would do.
be as littley, and would
voured to snake their arrangements so as to be glad to have their co-operation a committi e was
vexatious as possible to the fair trader, but nothing
appointed for drawing up the memorial and petition,
short of very strict supervision could detect fraud, and and for waiting on the members of the Government to

IJUTY ON PAPER

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20,

THE LATE FATAL STEAM-BOAT
COLLISION.
CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE SUFFERERS.
Yesterday Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent,
and a jury of 14 inhabitants of the pariah 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
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, i❑ order that he might issue the usual
warrant for their interment. This done, he would pro-
ceed with the evidence upon each case separately.
The identity of Sullivan baring been proved by a fe-
male named Ann M'Carthy, Mr. H. 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.
This 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 first observed
something ahead, it may have been at a distance of 150
yards. I 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 ♦essel 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 had 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 foro 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-skip. I got assistance, and at
length discovered another body—that of Shepherd. Ile
was quite dead.

The witness hero 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 farmer must
have been a-port, while the latter had already made an
angle of forty-five 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
Lot have been so disastrous.

Mr. Wilkinson here attempted to show that the proper
course for the Sylph .would have been down the south
shore, but 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, " ster❑ with her," when I ran up.
James Swaisland, the son of the captain of the Sylph,
was then called. Ile deposed that he was call-boy on
board th• 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. Itackham, of the Orwell, who had not charge
of the boat at the time of the accident, and would be a
competent witness.
Samuel Richardson Beckham 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 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 Woolwich 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 Ho 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 modem examinations, and
it was at length agreed on that the inquiry should be
adjourned until Monday, the 23d inst., at one P.N.

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/ 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 166!. 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 ENGLAND.—Yesterday the quarterly
General Court of the Proprietors of Bunk 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.
DEATH OF THE ECCENTRIC BILLY BARLOW.—Yes_
terday, Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Queens Head,
Fashion-street, Spitalfields, on view of the body of Ben-
jamin Serjeant, alias "Billy Barlow," aged 30, the well-
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. Benjami❑
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.