The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-07 00:00:00

MARLBORO U Gil-STREET.

Several applications have been made to the ma-
gistrates of this office for warrants against a Mr. or
Captain Prescott, at present a prisoner for debt in
the King's Bench prison, on alleged charges of ob-
taining money and other property from various per-
sons under false representations; and after a good
deal of doubt and hesitation on the part of the
magistrates as to the sufficiency of the grounds
stated by the applicants, warrants were in the end
granted, and yesterday Mr. Prescott was brought
under their authority before the magistrates; but
this gentleman might just as well have been left
undisturbed in his prison, for he was only brought
here to be discharged from the very warrants under
which he was removed, the parties who obtained
them stating to the magistrates that Mr. Prescott
and themselves had the best possible understanding
with each other, and there was no occasion for
further proceedings. Mr. Prescott was of course
discharged.

Thomas Clifton, driver of the Paddington stage-
coach, No. 3,832, was charged with having assaulted
Mr. Toplis, of St. Paul's church-yard.
Mr. Toplis stated, that on Friday evening last,
about nine o'clock, he got into the defendant's
coach, about 150 yards west of Tottenham-court-
road. The defendant drew up at the public-house
at the corner of the Hampstead-road, and remained
there a considerable time. Finding he did not go
on, Mr. Toplis told him that unless he moved di-
rectly he should get out, which he attempted to do,
but was for some time prevented by the door- being
held against him, when he got out at the off-door,
intending to go by another coach. The defendant
followed him and demanded his fare. Mr. Toplis
refused paying it, on which the defendant forcibly
prevented him leaving, and gave him in charge. At
the watch-house, however, Mr. Toplis immediately
gave charge of the driver for the assault.
The defendant being called on for his defence,
and fang to give a satisfactory explanation of his
conduct, Mr. CoNANT observed that it was clear he
was guilty of an assault. The magistrate also re-
marked that the gentleman was perfectly justified in
getting nut of the coach; passengers were not to
be kept at the pleasure of coachmen:
Mr. Toplis subsequently agreed not to press the
charge, provided the coachman would make an
apology, and pay ss, to the poor-box, which the de-
fendant acceded to, and was discharged.

NOTES ON THE COMMERCE OF THE

UNITED STATES.

Among other pamphlets put into our hands a
few days ago by a friend returned from America,
is an account of the imports and exports of the
United States, which, though some years old,
derives a value from the fullness of its details.
We have extracted a few statements from it, with
the view of elucidating the habits of the people,
and the effects of their light taxation. The re-
sult is not exactly what the accounts of travellers
led us to expect. We did not imagine, for in-
stance, that the Americans, who have, generally
speaking, much more to spend than the people
of Britain, and get their tea at half the price
which it costs here, would consume less of it
than we do. Yet such is the case. Wine, too,
is lightly taxed in the United States, and very
cheap, and as its use at the table is a mark of
aentlemanship, we thought that a people like the
Americans, who love style, would have con-
sumed it largely. The " accursed wine," how-
ever, as Cobbett calls it, the index in his opinion
of domestic extravagance, seems to be in disre-
pute among our Transatlantic brethren. If they
follow our customs, we should think that the
whole quantity reserved for domestic use would
do little more than suffice for the funerals of a
sickly year. They have, however, the good
taste to prefer the weak and cooling wines of
France, to the fiery, liver-corroding port, which
shortens the days of so many honest fellows in
this country. Again, the preference of coffee to
tea by the Americans, is a feature in (heir do-
mestic life, which places them in strong contrast
with the people of Britain.
The details subjoined are for the year ending
30th September, 1824 ; and it may be necessary
to observe, that the results they present can only
be considered as approximations to the truth.
The quantity of each foreign article consumed
in the country, is found by deducting what is re-
exportal from what is imported. This method,
though sufficiently correct when a series of years
is included, may lead us into error when a single
year is only taken, as in the present case, be-
cause it does not make allowance for those fluc-
tuations and inequalities of importation and ex-
portation which must occasionally take place.
The presumption is, however, that the results
presented are not very remote from the truth.
The population is assumed to be 10,500,000,
including 1,700,000 slaves.
WINES.—The quantity of wine of all kinds
imported into the United States in the year was
2,101,000 gallons, the Custom-house value of
which was 1,050 dollars, or 2s. 2d. per gallon.
The quantity exported was 790,000, leaving
only 1,310,000 for home consumption, or 1-7th
of a gallon for each inhabitant. In Britain and
Ireland the wine consumed amounts to rather
more than 1-3 d of a gallon for each inhabitant.
The very small consumption of wine in Ame-
rica, notwithstanding its cheapness, and the easy
circumstances of the people, is a remarkable fact.
It may be ascribed partly to the great consump-
tion of cyder, sherbet, lemonade, and other cool-
ing drinks, made from acid fruits, but partly also
to a preference for spiritous liquors. Of the
wine imported into the United States, 102,000
gallons were from Madeira, about 900,000 gallons
from France, with 32,000 more from the French
West Indies, 338,000 from Gibraltar, 140,000
from Italy, Sicily, and Malta, 240,000 from
Spain. From Portugal very little. It will be
observed that the Americans, who are not re-
stricted in their choice by distinctive duties, shew
a decided preference for the French wines, which
constitute about one-half of all they consume.
There is little doubt that a similar preference
exists in Britain, but our absurd scale of duties,
which subjects French wine, costing 4d. per
bottle, to a duty of Is. 3d., while the strong and
high priced wines of Portugal pay only 10d.,
has almost excluded the former from the market.
Of 7,600,000 gallons consumed in Britain in
1828, the French wine constituted only 450,000,
or 1-17th.

TEA.—The quantity of tea imported into
the United States, was 8,930,000 pounds ; the
quantity re-exported amounted to 1,150,000,
leaving 7,780,000 for home consumption, or
nearly one pound for each free inhabitant. The
Custom-house value of the whole tea imported
was 2,786,000 dollars, or about ls. 4d. per
pound. The tea consumed in the British Isles,
in 1828, was 26,790,000 pounds, which gives
about 1. lb. 2 oz. for each inhabitant, or a rate of
consumption a little greater than in the United
States. As tea is one-half cheaper in the
United States than with us, we should expect
the difference to lie the other way; but the fact
is perhaps to be explained by the greater con-
sumption of coffee in America.
COFFEE.—The coffee imported into the
United States was 39,200,000 pounds, of which
19,400,000 pounds were re-exported, leaving
for home consumption about 20,000,000 pounds,
or almost two pounds for each inhabitant. The
coffee consumed in the British Isles was only
8,000,000 in 1824, but is now 16,509,000,
which is fully two-thirds of a pound for each
inhabitant, or about one-third of the American
rate of consumption. In what regards the use
of this article and tea, we see that the Americans,
in their taste, resemble the Continental nations
more than the British.

FOREIGN SPIRITS.—The quantity of foreign
spirits imported was 5,400,000 gallons, the
quantity exported 450,000, leaving for home
consumption 4,850,000 gallons. Of the im-
ported spirits 720,000 gallons appear to have
been gin, and nearly all from Holland ;
24,000 gallons spirits of some kind from Bri-
tain, 1,615,000 brandy from France, 220,000
brandy from Holland, the remaining 2,580,000
gallons seem to have been chiefly rum from the
West Indies. Deducting what is again ex-
ported, the Americans appear to consume about
2,400,000 gallons of gin and brandy, and
2,250,000 gallons of rum, which amounts to
about one-fourth of a gallon of rum, and rather
a larger quantity of gin and brandy, for each free
inhabitant. In the British Isles the rum con-
sumed is at the rate of ona!sixtli of a gallon
(old measure) for each inhabitant ; the gin and
brandy only one-fifteenth, a new proof of the
great influence of our heavy duties in restricting
consumption.
Suumt.—Of this article the Americans im-
ported 93,300,000 pounds, and exported
14,000,000. But no inference can be drawn
from this fact respecting the consumption, as a
great deal of
fsduguatyr ison now raised
as follows in 1823, but have been
r aoifs e tdh eprecedingwithin
e
articles
alteredtnilic heeeds
sincerSvva tt
eae rtsee

Per Old 'Wine Gallon.
Cents.
WlNE.—Madeira and Burgundy 100 4s. 40.
Sherry - 6O 2s. 74.
Lisbon, Oporto, B.:e 5O 2s. 20.
TeneritTe and Fayal 4O 1 s. 84.
Claret in bottles
All other wine l5 70.
The duties in Britain are, on Claret and

other French wines 6s. per old gallon, on all
other kinds, 4s.

SPIRITS.—If from grain, pay 42 to 60 cents
(Is. 9d. to 2s. 7d.) per gallon. If from sugar
or grapes, 38 to 70 cents pergallon (Is. 7d. to 35.)
In Britain rum is subject to a duty of 9s. 3d.
and brandy to one of 18s. 9d. per old wine
gallon.

TEA.—The American duty w.is 12 cents
(6d.) per pound on Bohea, 25 cents (Is. ld.)
on Souchong, 40 cents. (Is. Bd.) on Hyson,
and 50 cents (2s. 2d.) on imperial.
SUGAR.—The duty on brown sugar was ikd.
(3 cents) per pound, and on white 2d. The
duty in Britain is 275. per cwt., or nearly 3d.
per pound.—Scotsman.

FATAL AFFRAY BETWEEN THE ROCK-

ITES AND THE POLICE.

MARTBOROUGH, OCT. S.
Last night a patrolling party of policemen passing
near Rathleague, about a mile from this town, heard
a shot, and immediately proceeded in the directioe
of the sound, until they came upon a large body of
Rockites. They had surrounded the house of a.
Protestant farmer, named Claxton, who was in the
act of delivering his fire-arms out through the
dow, when a volley from the patrol created a diver'
sion in his favour. The banditti, who were well
armed, returned the fire; and, having intrenched
themselves behind the farmer's cattle, kept up the
'contest for some time. But the superior practice
and determination of the policemen, who were call
five in number, at length prevailed ; arid their law'
less opponents retired, leaving one of their gang i 0
the hands of the victors. Serjeant Whiteside, who ,
commanded the patrol, received two slugs in his
neck ; but the wound, though severe, is not cool'
dered dangerous. On the other side it is supprXeJ
that many were hurt. Blood has been tracked 10
various directions; and one fellow, who was shot 11*
as he climbed over a wall, was seen to tumble heel
over heels into the field behind the house. A ON:,
and a pool of blood found on the spot where he fell
wjll tell the rest. From the hands of the prisoner*
blunderbuss was taken, which has been recognised..
one of the weapons "borrowed" some time of
from Mr. Bournes' establishment at Kilminchy.
The bravery of the police, who maintained a se!'
cessful combat against at least ten times their
numbers, is the theme of universal praise ; and the
vigilance and attention of their Chief, Mr. Watt
entitle him to the gratitude, not only of the if-distil'
tants, but of the rulers of the country. A more te'
lented or efficient officer does not belong to ell
branch of the public service.
A party of police, aided by the detachment of the
92d Highlanders, quartered here, are this day en'
gaged in scouring the country in quest of the
wounded who escaped.