The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-28 00:00:00

PtIE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 1845.

PORTUGAL-THE BUDGET.

LISBON, JAN. 22.—0 n the 19th instant Coant Tojal
laid before the Chamber of Deputies his anxio.:sly-ex-
pected budget for the year beginning on the Ist of July
next, awl ending on the 30th of June, 1846, from which
it appears that a surplus of about 39 contos is calculated
upon. The following is an abstract of this important
document :

REVENUE.
BOARD OF PUBLIC CREDIT.

Milreis.

For the payment of the interest on the home
debt
For the payment of the foreign debt

2,868,941

PUBLIC TREASURY.
Direct imports.
Indirect ditto
Crown lands and miscellaneous 417,832

7,888,013

Total revenue

EXPENDITURE.
BOARD OF PUBLIC CREDIT.

______ __ _ -----_
Milreis.
Interest on home debt
Interest on foreign ditto

2,868,457

General charges (including Civil
List) . 2,065,207
Home Department 1,098,351

Finance ditto
Justice ditto 423,216
War ditto 2,494,523
Marine ditto 868,194

Foreign Affairs ditto
.-- 7,849,085

_
10,717,542
Surplus

10,756,954

The presentation of this budget was preceded by a
very long programme, which the Finance Minister read
aloud to the Chamber, and the most important and inte-
resting portions of which we have selected for translation,
as follows, viz. : _

(TRANSLATION.)
"Sirs,—l have the satisfaction to lay before you the
budget of the receipts and expenditure of the State for
the financial year 1845-6.
" For my ability to do so I am indebted to the confi-
dence with which her Majesty the Queen has honoured
me; and assuredly never was it my duty to perform a
more pleasing and grateful task.
"The efforts by which the present Administration
has for three years preserved public order, maintained
the institutions of the country, and provided for the
exigencies of the State, are fully acknowledged and ap-
preciated.
" The triumph of the cause of royalty and legal liberty
—the organising and reforming measures adopted in all
branches of the public service—awl the punctual
fulfilment of all legally contracted engagements, have
been the bases upon which we flatter ourselves to have
established that public confidence without which there
can be neither political stability nor financial organi-
sation.

" Various measures promulgated in the course of last
year by the present Administration, are now become
laws of the land. Amongst them there is one which is
eminently tendent towards the organisation of our
finances. I allude to the farming of the united tobacco,
soap, and gunpowder comp'nies, in connection with the
raising of a loan of 4,000 contos, at five per cent, and
at par.
" A seriei of political events had long rendered the
solution of our financial problem extremely complicated
and difficult. Imperative circumstances arising out of
those events had caused a necessity for sacrifices which
the scanty resources of the treasury could ill support;
and to crown all other difficulties, the future revenues
were mortgaged to the extent of two-thirds of their
amount—a state of things which could not but inspire
the Government with the most serious apprehensions of
a crisis, the fatal consequences of which could easily be
foreseen.
It was in this alarming situation that the Govern.
ment conceived a thought pregnant with advantageous
results to the country, and calculated to put an end, a
great measure, to the torrent of embarrassments which
involved it on every side.
" The Decree of the 30th June last contained that
most important measure, to which we owe—
! " Ist. The loan of 4,000 contos at par, and at the
moderate interest of fire per cent., to be redeemed in
23 years.
" 2d. The augmentation, by 72,427 milreis, of the
price for which the tobacco, &c., monopolies have been
farmed.

" 3d. The redemption of the
_mortgages upon various
branches of the revenue. _ .

"4th. The rapid rise in the value of the public funds.
"sth. The development of the spirit of association,
inspired by confidence in the acts of. Government, anti
the tendency of capital towards useful undertakings,
which must promote the material amelioration and pros-
perity of the country.
" The Government purposes laying before this Cham-
ber at an early period a statement of the application of
the last loan of 4,000 contos, and to propose such mea-
sures as it may deem indispensable, in order that the
ordinary and extraordinary expenses of the year, ending
30th June, 1845, as well as any extraordinary demands
that may arise in the following year, may be provided
for without encroachment upon the revenue appropriated
to each of those years.
"I shall now proceed to state to you the estimated
revenue and expenditure for the year 1845-6.
(Here follow long details, the substance of which is
given in the above abstract.)
" The interest on the foreign debt is calculated at the
rate of one-half per cent. additional, in conformity to
the decree of the 2d of November, 1840. There would
therefore be, under that head, a deficit of 248,292
milreis; but by means of the accompanying project, No.
1, whic I have the honour to lay betore you that de-
ficit can be covered. It is proposed therein, that in ex-
change for the additional duties upon foreign imports,
which have hitherto formed part of the endowment of
the Board of Public Credit, shall be substituted an
annual allowanee of 900,000 milreis, 480,000 of which
to be paid from the Custom-house of Lisbon and 420,000
from that of Oporto.
"You will see by a comparison of the present estimates
with those for the years 1844-5, that reductions to the
following amounts have been made in the expenditure of
the several departments, viz.:—
Home 88,551 milreis.
Finance 122,029
Justice
War
Marine
Foreign Affairs

451,017 --

Add to which the reduc-
tion in the Pension List 64,035

Total saving 515,053
The Chamber will see from this statement that the
Government has been most solicitous to adopt all prac-
ticalle economical measures, in • der to avoid as much
as possible the imposition of further burdens upon the
country.
By a Royal Decree published in the Diario of the
18th instant, the Queen has ordered the assessment of
the decima tax for the financial year 1844-45, to be pro-
ceeded to forthwith, so as to be completed by the 31st of
May next. The decree further enjoins an inspection to
be made of all lands and houses, and a strict inquiry into
the means and incomes of all persons subject to the
payment of that impost, by the visiting Commissioners
appointed by virtue of the decree of the 7th June, 1e44 ;
as also that any Commissioner who may show himself
deficient in zeal, activity, or intelligence, in the disebarge
of his duties, shall be dismissed and substituted by ano-
ther and more capable person.

The project of law for the abolition of the foreign
Conservatorial Courts was voted unamimously by the
Chamber of Deputies on the 15th inst. _

In the course of his speech the Minister owned that
there had been great difficulty in inducing the British
Government to surrender the Conservatorial privilege
by the treaty of 1842, and that Lord Aberdeen had only
consented to the sacrifice on production of proof incon-
trovertible of the great amelioration which had been ef-
fected in the judicial machinery of the country. Of the
improvement in question her Majesty's Minister at this
Court had soon after a taste himself, having been for the
last year or upwards involved in a suit to recover the
value of a broken-winded horse from the rogue who sold
it to him warranted sound.

An attempt is making to form an opposition company
of " Public works," under the name of the " Alliance"
with a capital of 8,000 contos, but as the projectors, at
the head of whom is Count arrobo, are all of the anti-
Cabral party, the Government is endeavouring to
throw cold water upon it, by refusing to sanction its
code of statutes.

The Cortes have been occupied during the last few
days with a project for equalising the weights and mea-
sures throughout the country.

GENBILAL ANNUITY SOCIETY, 36, Coleman-street,
for Allowing Annuities to Decayed Merchants, Bankers,
Professional Mon, their Widows, and Clerks, and to
Single Females, the Daughters of Persons belonging to
such Classes.—Luke James Hansard, Esq., has, in a
communication full of good feeling, addres3ed to Mr. H.
F. Richardson, the secretary of this charity, munificently
presented 100/. The annual festival will be presided
over by Lord John Russell on the 30th of April. The
stewards comprise names of the highest rank of commer-
cial and professional importance.

SAVINGS' BANKS.—Under the recent Act of Par-
liament applying to savings' banks, various amounts of
interest have been fixed ; and it is a curious fact that
small institutions are allowing a higher rate than larger
ones, whereas the larger ones (reaping of course a
greater profit) ought to allow the higher rate of inte-
rest. Probably those conducting larger banks are de-
sirous to produce as much " surplus ' as possible, but
the Government has a surplus fund enough in hand
from savings' banks. Why, then, cramp depositors' in-
terest? The highest rate which can be allowed to them
now is 3 per cent., and that they ought to receive—not
a fraction less. The Government ought not to be bene-
fited at the expense of depositors.—From a Corp espondent. 1
It is mentioned as an extraordinary circumstance,
that the white thorn on which Lamb (who is accused of
murdering John Brill in Ruislip-wood), is said to have
hung the hat of the murdered young man, has not grown
the sixteenth part of an inch during the eight years that
have elapsed since the murder.

SPIRIT Of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.

GLOBE —The following requisition is circulated
at Oxford; and our reaicrs will also find in our ad-
vertisement columns a notice on the same subject :

" T 3 THE REV. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND THE
MEMBERS OF THE HEBDOMADAL BOARD.

" We, the undersigned Members of Convocation, re-
spectfully but earnestly request that you will take imme-
diate measures for submitting to the Convocation about
to assemble on the 13th of February next, a resolution
conveying the formal censure of the University upon the
principles inculcated in the 90th number of the • Tracts
for the Times,' and a solemn repudiation of the modes
of interpreting the Thirty-nine Articles therein sug-
gested.
" We consider such a censure on the part of the
University imperatively called for, and peculiarly ap-
propriate to the important occasion already referred to;
inasmuch as we cannot but recognise in Mr. Ward's
Ideal of a Christian Church,' a legitimate development
of the principles of Tract 90, and a practical exhibition
of the pernicious effects which must necessarily result
from their adoption."
We consider this a mode of proceeding much more
proper than that which was originally proposed by the
Heads of Houses. The plain matter of fact is, that Mr.
Ward threw out a boastful challenge to the Church and
the University ; declared himself devoted to the Papal
See ; declared the Church he belongs to " radically and
vitally corrupt" ever since separated from that see—and
boasted of the impunity with which he had hitherto
been allowed to do all this, and of the principle of inter-
pretation of the Articles which admitted of his doing
it—interpretation, namely, in a " non natural sense."
Now, this purposely offensive proceeding was some-
thing exceedingly different from any ordinary latitude
of construction of the Thirty-nine Articles. It was an
open pronunciamento (in Spanish-American phrase)
against the whole constitution of the Church and Uni-
versities, as established and privileged by law. It must
be evident that if such a standard of religious revolu-
tion were followed, its followers would at once place
themselves on an opposite basis to that upon which the
Legislature and the laity have concurred in placing
the Church of England. They would place them-
selves on a basis on which they cannot consistently
stand, separate from Rome—whereas the claim of
the Church of England to its present position
depends unquestionably on its continuing to re-
fuse recognition to Romish supremacy. All this
has been rendered perfectly clear by the publica-
tion of Mr. Ward. That gentleman has, in fAct, let
the cat out of the bag; he has openly thrown off his
moral allegiance to English authority, and as openly
professed his " devotion" to that of a foreign see.
We understand that the less headstrong portion of
the Rotnanising party are disposed to let him suffer
for having sprung their mine thus prematurely.
But in our view Mr. Ward's fate is not the question.
The proceedings of the University must be aimed
(if at any oject) at declaring its own prin-
ciples. The main question before it is not whether
Mr. Ward personally merits degradation. We, for
our part, should be strongly against anything resem-
bling a privilegium ; and besides, with all Mr.
Ward's arrogance, ignorance, and presumption—we
like his explicitness much better than the studied
reserves of his precursors in that school. What (or
whether anything) should be done to Mr. Ward
is one (and the minor) question. Another, and
the more important one, is what the University
should say to his book. The University had placed
him in that order of her members who are looked to
as teachers of youth. Does the University recog-
nise as moral and admissible such principles of teach-
ing as he applies to the Articles ? Are not such prin-
ciples (legitimately developed from the notorious
Tract 90) worthy " the noble and glorious company
of St. Ignatius" rather than Protestant England ? Is
the University desirous of ranking with that noble
and glorious company in public estimation ? Let the
University be sure of this—it is Oxford that is upon
trial—much rather than Mr. Ward. Whether that
gentleman keep his degree and fellowship is of com-
parative unimportance. Our humble judgment,
expressed from the first, is to let him keep them.
We love no ex post facto laws. If Mr. Ward's
contempt and abhorrence of everything as at present
established—if his devotion and veneration for the
popedom—do not disgust him from continuing to de-
rive income from institutions which he spurns—as
being national—nor induce him to join the Church
which alone he reveres as Catholic—we should leave him
unmolestedly to repose in his taste and logic—and fel-
lowship. But the University will sink to Mr. Ward's
level, if it allows itself to be suspected of retaining
Articles, to be signed "in a non-natural sense." Let
it dispense with signature of Articles altogether, or
let it declare their non-natural signature the immoral
thing it is. Or, let it accept tacitly for its own the
doctrine of Tract 90 and Mr. Ward.

CHILD FOUND IN PEMBROKE COLLEGE GARDEN,
CAMBRIDGE.—On Thursday evening, at six o'clock, an
inquest was holden before Mr. Cooper, at the Bell Inn,
Botolph-lane, on the body of an infant found in the
garden of Pembroke College. The following evidence
was advanced:—James Charles—l am gardener to
Pembroke College. On Monday morning about
eight o'clock, I found the child at the end of the college
garden, next to the Tennis Court-road, wrapped in
a white petticoat and pinner ; it was lying about a yard
from the wall. I had not been to that part of the garden
since the Tuesday or Wednesday preceding. I went to
that part of the garden in consequence of dreams wjiich
I had on Saturday and Sunday night. I dreamt twice
on Saturday night, and once on Sunday night, that I saw
a female throw a child over the college garden. I dreamt I
was in the Tennis Court-road, and that she was there also.
A surgeon who examined the body gave it as his opi-
nion that the child had been born alive. Mr. R.
Fergusson, a Fellow of Pembroke College :—I
was in the Fellows' garden on Sunday last, with Mr.
Stokes, who is also a Fellow of the College. I did
not see a bundle in white lying there. I think if there
had been we must have seen it, but I did not go close
to the spot where I am informed the child was found ;
I was within about fifteen yards of that spot. I was in
the garden from half-past one till two. The jury re-
turned a verdict to the effect that the child was born
alive, but there was no evidence to show how it came by
its death, or how it was placed where it was found.—
Abridged from the Cambridge Chronicle.

COMMITTAL OF Two YOUNG FARMERS FOR
POACHING.—On Friday last, the 17th instant, Thomas
and Henry Cumberland, farmers, living near Newtown,
Linford, were charged at the County Office, Leicester,
before T. Pares and I. Hodgson, Esqs., with night poach-
ing in the preserves of the Earl of Stamford, on Thursday
night. Joseph Harrison, a watcher, said—l was
lying in Blake Hay Wood last night, about half-past
seven o'clock, when I heard somebody down in the
wood for some time. They came nearer to me. I lay
down, and two men, whom I knew to be defendants,
passed me. I went and fetched Branston and Greasley,
and came back with them in half an hour, when I
heard more than one shot from an air-gun. De-
fendants came up by us and did not see us. We let
them pass, and then seized them and took theta
to Linford, whre we searched them, and found on
Henry the key and pump of an air-gun. John
Branston, a keener, said that after one of the air-gun
shots, a pheasant flew past. Defendants strug-
gled and got away, after being first taken. At Beck's
house (where they were searched) Thomas said he was
not the shooter, Henry was. Jsmes Beck said,
" When at my house, defendant Thomas wished Har-
rison t ) go out, as he (defendant) had something to
say to me. Harrison went out, and left me and
Thomas alone. Thomas then asked me to unbotton his
coat, as his arm was hurt. I did so, and found under
it the air-gun now produced. He wished me to lay it
away. I did so. It was then loaded with ball."
The defendant Thomas said to the bench that he be-
lieved the truth had been told, with two or three trifling
exceptions. Ile had never been in the wood, and never
struck any one. His brother Henry said that he was in
the wood, and had shot at some pigeons, when, as he was
going home peaceably, Branston and the others came on
them, and boat them unmercifully. The defendants were
sentenced, Henry to three months hard labour, and
Thomas to two months.—Leicester Chronicle.
FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PRICE OF RAILWAY SHARES.
—From the share-table recently issued by Mr. Wat-
son, of Glasgow, some curious particulars of fluctua-
tions in the prices of shares may be gathered. Thus
on the Bth of January, 1838, the shares of the Grea
Western Railway were at 12 premium ; at the cor-
responding period of 1832 they were at 13 pre-
mium ; in 1840 they had sunk to 1 premium ;
in 1841 they again rose to 31 premium ; in 1842 they
were 22i ; 1843, 26+ ; 1844, 32 ; and this year, on the
same day, they had advanced to 87 premium. They are
now much higher. The Liverpool and Manchester have
shown the following fluctuations as to premium :-1838,
97 ; 1839, 104 ; 1840, 85 ; 1841, 86 ; 1842, 96 ; 1843,
91 ; 1844, 130 ' • and 1845, 117. London and Birming-
ham fluctuated from the lowest point of 61 premium
(in 1840) to the highest (in 1844) of 137. The most
remarkable case is the York and North Midland, the
shares of which in 1838 were at 24 discount, and
rose by almost regular steps to 56 premium (on a
501. share) in 1845. The South-Western have in the
same period risen from 12 discount to about 47 pre-
mium on 391. shares. The Great North of England
were in 1838 marked " no price ;" in 1840 they were
at 25 discount ; in 1843 at 41 discount ; whereas in
1845 they were 47 premium on 100/. paid. The
Manchester and Leeds shares, on the Bth of January of
the same seven years, have stood thus:-1 premium ;
20i premium ; 10 premium ; 12 premium ; par ; 2 pre-
mium ; 31 premium ; 53 premium. The largest ad-
vance during 1844, was in Great North of England, 611.;
and the greatest decrease in Liverpool and Manchester
and York and North Midland, 14L—Railway Record.

ALTERATIONS IN THE COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—
On Saturday Mr. Commissioner Goulburn presided in
the Court previously occupied by Mr. Commissioner
Fonblanque, who in future will hold his sittings in the
room where the late Sir C. F. Williams held his Court.
Mr. Commissioner Evans, as the senior Commissioner,
will be the Chief Commissioner.
ATTEMPT TO Ron A BANK.—An attempt was made
on Thursday evening last to force open the Warwick and
Leamington Bank, in the Markot-place of this town.
The doors had been forced by a crow-bar, but, fortu-
nately, the " locks, bolts, and bars," were too strong,
and the attempt was a complete failure. The Yeomanry
ball happening on the same evening, it afforded the
thieves an excellent opportunity to accomplish their per-
pose.—Birmingham Journal

CRICKETING CHRONOLOGY, 1844.
The following is a list of the great matches played
during th© year, and in what manner they ter-
minated:—

May 6.—Marylebone and St. John's Wood, at
Lord's ; Marylebone 81 and 22, total 103 ; St. John's
Wood 215—not finished. _ _ _

13. Two Elevens of Marylebone Club, A to K and
L to Z, at Lord's ; AtoK 79 and 64, total 143; L
to Z 73—not finished.

16. Marylebone Club and University of Cam-
bridge, at Cambridge; won by Marylebone, 303;
Cambridge 135 and 151, total 286—won by one
innings and 17 runs.
27. Two Twelves of the Marylebone Club, at
Lord's ; R. Kynaston, Esq.'s side 87 ; W. Mills, Esq.'s
side 73—not finished. _ _

30. Marylebone and University of Oxford, at Cowley
Marsh ; won by Oxford, 67 and 63, total 130—Mary-
lebone 43 and 82, total 125.
June 3.—Marylebone Club and Ground and Clap-
ton, at Lord's ; Marylebone 128 and 92, total 220 ;
Clapton 31—not finished.
10. Marylebone Club and Ground and County of
Surrey (with F. Pilch), at Lord's : won by Surrey,
58 and 76, total 134 ; Marylebone 80 and 52, total 132
—won by three wickets.
Nine Gentlemen and Two Players of Sussex,
and Nine Gentlemen and Two Players of Hants, at
Brighton ; won by Sussex, 141 and 41, total 182 ;
Hants 100 and 81, total 181—won by 10 wickets.
17. Gentlemen of Kent and Gentlemen of England,
at Lord's; won by England, 63 and 138, total 201 ;
Kent 116 and 82, total 198 —won by five wickets.
24. Marylebone Club and Ground and West of
England (with four Players of England), at Lord's;
won by Marylebone, 81 and 69, total 150; West of
England 97 and 52, total 149—won by two wickets.
27. Marylebone and University of Oxford Return
Match, at Lord's ; won by Oxford, 77 and 82, total
159 ; Marylebone 32 and 51, total 83.
Kent and Sussex, at Canterbury ; won by
Sussex, 46 and 153, total 199 ; Kent 90 and 107,
total 197—won by one wicket.
July I.—Kent and England, at Lord's ; won by
Kent 117 and 55, total 172; England 59 and 97,
total 156.

8. Marylebone Club and Ground and Hampshire
(with Fuller Pilch and Good), at Lord's ; won by
Marylebone l 18 and 175, total 293 ; Hanta 90 and 57,
total 147. _ _ _ _ .

11. Kent and Sussex Return Match at Brighton ;
won by Kent 147 and 176; total 323 ; Sussex 215 and
99, total 314.
15. Marylebone Club and Ground (with Fuller
Pilch) and Northern Counties (with A. Mynn), at
Lord's; won by Marylebone 97 and 76, total 173 ;
Northern Counties 105 and 55, total 160.

18. Marylebone Club (with Lillywhite and Hillyer)
and Audley End (with Fenner, Ringwood, and Dean),
at Audley End; won by Marylebone 74 and 143,
total 217; Audley End 56 and 156, total 212.
22. Marylebone Club and Ground (with Wenman)
and the County of Sussex, at Lord's; won by Sussex
154; Marylebone 50 and 92, total 142—won by one
innings and 12 runs.
25. Marylebone Club and Ground and County of
Norfolk (with F. Pilch), at Lord's; won by Norfolk
69 and 111, total 170 ; Marylebone 79 and 71,
total 150.

29. Gentlemen and Players, at Lord's ; won by
Players 130 and 141, total 271 ; Gentlemen 128 and
105, total 233.
Nottingham and Sheffield, at Sheffield ; won by
Nottingham 70 and 103, total 173 ; Sheffield 77 and
95, total 172.
August s.—Marylebone Club and Ground and
West of England (with four Players of England)
Return Match, at Lansdowne ' - won by West of
England 71 and 110, total 182; Marylebone 61 and
40, total 101.
Gentlemen of Sussex and South Hants, at
Southampton ; won by Sussex 140; South Hants 46
and 57, total 103—won by one innings and 37 runs.
8. Marylebone Club and Ground and County of
Herts, at Redbourn; won by Marylebone 82 and 51,
total 133 ; Herts 85 and 47, total 132—won by six
wickets. _ _

13. Kent and England Return Match, at Canter-
bury ; won by England 96 and 87, total 183 ; Kent
94 and 37, total 131.
16. Gentlemen of Kent and Gentlemen of England
Return Match, at Canterbury; Kent 107 and 64,
total 171 ; England 119 and 25, total 144, with four
wickets to go down—drawn by mutual consent.
19. Marylebone Club and Ground and Sussex Re-
turn Match, at Brighton; won by Sussex 171 and
287, total 458 ; Marylebone 153 and 219, total 372.
22. Marylebone Club and Ground and Petworth
Club and Ground, at Petworth; won by Petworth 77
and 87, total 164 ; Marylebone 47 and 116, total 163
—won by foar wickets.
26. Marylebone Club and Ground and Northern
Counties Return Match, at Leicester ; won by
Northern Counties 126 ; Marylebone 71 and 52, total
123—won by one innings and three runs.
27. Tunbridge and Tunbridge Wells, at Tunbridge;
won by Tunbridge 151 ; Tunbridge Wells, 53 and 66,
total 119—won by one innings and 32 runs.
29. Marylebone Club and Ground and South Hants
Club and Ground Return Match, at Southampton ;
won by South Hants 107 and 85, total 192 ; Mary-
lebone 143 and 45, total 188—won by five wickets.
September s.—Marylebone Club and Ground and
County of Norfolk (with P. Pilch) Return Match, at
Swaffham ; won by Norfolk 45 and 8, total 53.
7. Oxonians and Brighton, at Brighton ; won by
Oxonians 120 and 61, total 181 ; Brighton 53 and 51,
total 104.

9. Six Gentlemen of Nottingham and Five Players
of England, and Eleven Players of Nottingham, at
Nottingham ; won by Gentlemen, &c., 170 and 55,
total 225 ; Players 123 and 90, total 213.
12. Married and Single of England, for the benefit
of the Players, at Tunbridge Wells; won by Married
134 and 101, total 235 ; Single 82 and 144, total 226.
18. Etonians and Brighton, at Brighton; won by
the Etonians 216 ; Brighton 75 and 46, total 121—
won by one innings and 95 runs.

DUTIES ON BALTIC DEALS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. _

SlR,—Your Correspondent of the 22d instant labours
under a mistake, when he says that the duties on Baltic
deals, exceeding twenty-one feet in length, is less'iti
proportion than on short lengths, because the duties are
now charged on the cubic contents, whatever may be the
dimensions. Formerly the duties were levied on under
six feet, under sixteen feet, and under twenty-one feet—
the duties amounting to a prohibition on anything above
twenty one, feet.
The present method of measurement is, however, pre-
judicial to the Baltic importers. The deals or battens are
piled, and the duty is calculated on the cubic contents of
the pile, no allowance being made for the loss arising
from the deals not lying perfectly close together. The
other day 98 loads, 45 feet of 3 by 11-inch, were mea-
sured by the Custom-house, 103 loads, 29 feet, and 163
loads, 5 feet 2i by 7-inch, were measured by the Custom-
house, 179 loads 23 feet. These differences are serious
on the original cost.--I am, &c.,
Liverpool, Jan. 25, 1845.

We had hoped that the evil spirit of incendiarism
was laid in this district by the numerous detections and
convictions which have taken place, but we regret
to have to announce two more fires in the vicinity
of this town. On Saturday night, between twelve
and one o'clock, the premises of Mr. Harrison, of
Timwarth, were discovered to be on fire, and
notwithstanding the most praiseworthy exertions, two
barns, two stables, a granary, cow-house with three
cows and a calf, and from 200 to 300 coombs of corn,
chiefly barley, were destroyed. One barn and the
dwelling house, which were in considerable danger
were preserved by covering the former with blankets
and pulling down a part of a building adjoining
to the latter. Mr. Harrison is amply protected by
insurance ; but the alarm to his family, and to one in
a delicate state of health, was very distressng, and makes
the character of the act the more diabolical. The build-
ings, belonging to the Rev. E. R. Benyon,- were also in-
sured. On Sunday night a stack of beans on the lands
of Mr. Gapp, of Walsham, standing alone, was destroyed
by fire.—Bury Post.
EXTRAORDINARY ATTACK UPON Two CHILDREN
BY A RAT.—The following extraordinary circumstance
took place at Wandsworth a few days since. and has
created some sensation. On Thursday evening Mr.
Harrington, a tobacconist in the High-street, was sitting
in the shop parlour with his wife, when they were
alarmed by the screams of the children, who had been
put to bed some time previously. They hastened up
stairs, and were astonished at seeing the bead and right
hand of their youngest child, a girl about six years of
age, bleeding. The other girl, who is eight years old,
was also crying, and presently shrieked out " something
is biting my toe." Mr. Harrington perceiving some-
thing move under the bed-clothes, instantly grasped it,
and from the squeaking that ensued he conjectured
it was a rat. He held it in one position until he was
satisfied that suffocation had taken place. Mr. Harring-
ton afterwards turned down the bed-clothes and drew 11
forth an enormous rat quite dead. Its tenth were of im-
mense size, and quite capable of doing fatal injury to the
children, liad it been undisturbed. The youngest child
stated that she was awakened by the rat biting her head,
and, fancying it was her guinea-pig, she put up her hand
to drive it away, when it buried its teeth deeper into
her head, and also bit her hand. The rat had evidently
got beneath the bed-clothes to hide itself. How it came
into the bed-room is a mystery; the room, as indeed was
the house, was strictly examined, but no rats' holes could
be discovered. It is supposed that it came in at the
front door from an opposite sewer, and asscended the
stairs immediately. The eldest girl was only slightly
bitten on one of the toes.
SUICIDE AT THE DUKE OF NORTIIUMINUAND'S.—
A man named Hollick, in the service of Mr. Hughes,
upholsterer, of Piccadilly, and who was employed with
others in preparing the mansion of the Duke of North-
umberland for the reception of the family, was on Sa •
turday morning discovered by his fellow-workmen to
have committed suicide by hanging himself in one of
the water-closets. For some days past the deceased had
been labouring under a depression of spirits, but he had
frequently expressed the greatest abhorrence at persons
committing suicide.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
MANSIOiV-HOUSE.

Two very simple-looking girls, named Sarah Jepson
and Amelia Dixon, were brought before the Lord
Mayor, charged with having committed a robbery in
the shop of Mr. Harris, linendraper, of Bishopsgate-
street.

The prisoners, who were well, but not gaudily,
dressed, and who wept incessantly during the exa-
mination, attracted fur some time general compassion.
They were both very young, the latter, who appeared
to be the more youthful, not being 14 years of age.
The shopvnan of Mr. Harris stated that the two
prisoners walked together into the shop, and asked to
be shown some ribbons. A box or case of ribbons
was placed before them, into which they looked, but
they said that it contained nothing dark enough for
them, and then other pieces were shown to them.
Suspicion attached to them in consequence of a noise
which was heard by the person who was serving
them, and who, upon looking into the case, missed a
piece of ribbon, value five shillings. They were at
once taken into custody, and between the slaawl and
dress of the younger was found a piece of ribbon
which had just occupied a position in the box.
Here the prisoners declared that they had never
been in disgrace before.
The LORD MAYOR having asked whether the female
searcher at the Giltspur-street Compter had performed
her office towards the prisoners, and having received
an answer in the negative, sent for that official, and
gave her the necessary directions. The searcher re-
turned to the justice-room, and stated that she had
examined the clothes of the girls.
The LORD MAYOR —What sort of pockets had they ?
The searcher—The younger girl had a pocket in her
cloak which reaches to the very bottom of it.
The LORD MAYOR—Into which a considerable
quantity of goods might be conveyed ? The searcher
—Certainly, my_ Lord. There is a great deal of room.
There was a small pocket also loose under her apron ;
but there was no money.
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, Sarah Dixon, what
business had you to go into the shop to purchase rib-
bons when you had no money about you ? Amelia
Jepson—But I had, Sir. I had two shillings in my
bosom. Oh, dear !
The LORD MAYOR (to the principal turnkey of the
Compter)—Do you know anything of these girls,
'Gooch? Gooch—Sarah Jepson, my Lord, has lately
come out of the House of Correction, where she was
confined six months for a robbery, under the name of
Betsy Smith.

Tile LORD MAYOR—What do you say to that,
Sarah Jepson ?
Sarah Jepson answered only by sobbing.
The LORD MAYOR—It is impossible that I can do
otherwise than commit these two girls for trial. It
is evident that they have been deeply instructed in
this dangerous system.
The prisoners were then committed for trial at the
Central Criminal Court.

A big fellow, named Patrick Tushy, who trades in
Petticoat-lane, was charged with having given George
Ince, an umbrella-maker, a very severe beating.
The complainant, it appeared, was in the habit of
attending the Petticoat-lane market, for the purpose
of buying up the whalebone of old umbrellas. As
he was on the look-out one day, he saw a young
man enter the lane with an umbrella, and he imme-
diately called out to him not to sell the article for less
than eighteenpence. The defendant at once struck him,
whereupon he threatened to pull Mr. 'rushy before
the Lord Mayor. " D—n and hang the Lord Mayor,
and you together," said Mr. Tushy, " I'll knock every
drop of blood you have in your body out of you," and
he struck the witness a blow on the ear, which swelled
one side of his head to double the size of the other,
and interfered with the sense of hearing, probably
for ever.
The LORD MAYOR—I suppose he thought your
hint about the umbrella prevented him from getting
a bargain ? The complainant—No doubt that was
the case, my Lord.
The defendant admitted that he had committed the
assault, but, said he, " I do solemnly declare to you,
my Lord, that I have the greatest -friendship in the
whole world for my friend Mr. Ince.—(Laughter.)
Sure, don't I know him as a dealer in the lane this
many a long year ; and don't we meet every day of
our lives ?—(Laughter.)
The LORD MAYOR—I dare say you would have no
objection to make it up ?—(A laugh.) The defendant
—Objection ! I assure you, my Lord, I don't bear
him the least animosity on earth.
The complainant—l don't see why a man is to be
knocked out of his sense of hearing for nothing, and I
shall have nothing more to do NNith him but prose-
cute him.

The LORD MAYOR—He has admitted the assault
himself, and he shall not leave this without giving
sufficient bail for his appearance.
The defendant—Bail ! I can produce bail for 6,000/.
any day. How much do you want ?
The LORD MAYOR—Two sureties for 20/. each,
and yourself in 401.