The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-26 00:00:00

THE HAMBURG BORSEN HALLE.

There are few establishments in Europe more in-
teresting than the Borsen Halle of this place. Its
roots have deepened, and its branches have spread,
till it has become a moral, literary, and political
power. Originally a speculation of an enterprising
individual for the benefit of commercial men, it is
now not only an emporium receiving contributions
from a great part of the civilized world, but a cen-
tral point for the diffusion of social and general in-
formation. Standing here, surrounded by the poli-
tical and literary productions of many nations, a
man feels as if he belonged to a better and wider
brotherhood than that of selfish patriotism. The
periodicals of a country are the ambassadors of a
people ; individual ministers are representatives of
Kings and Courts. Newspapers are for the most
part, mad, especially, when springing from lands of
liberty, preachers of peace and good-will. In these
our days they are far• more so than at any former
period. Truer touchstones are beginning to be dis-
covered for the general interests of mankind, than
narrow nationalities have ever been, or ever can be;
and he is a useful co-operator in the commonwealth
of his race who, representing any portion of public
opinion, stretches out the friendly hand, which he
may be assured thousands will -be eager to grasp.
The Borsen Halle was established in 1804, by a
Hamburg merchant, Gerhard Von Hosstrup. It
is a handome building in the Bohuen-street, and is
supported by subscribers, varying in number from
800 to 1,000, who pay at the rate of 60 marks,
about V. sterling per year, with a deduction cf a
third, if the subscription be for three years at once.
The Halle is become the common place of assem-
blage for merchants, and all important events are
communicated by mitten announcements on the
tables, entitled " latest news." Commercial intel-
ligence of all sorts is gathered together in the same
way as ship news is collected at Lloyd's Coffee-
house. But the collections of the Borsen Halle
embrace the newspapers and periodicals, to the ex-
tent of nearly 150, as well as the current literature
of the day, with a considerable stock of foreign
dictionaries, statistical, geographical, and financial
standard works, such as are of the greatest import-
ance to the merchant for his guidance and instruction.
No less than five newspapers are published at the
Borsen Halle, and the exclusive proprietorship of
the whole is vested in M. Hosstrup. The Abend
Zeitung, or Daily Evening Paper, is that which is
generally known in England by the name of the
" Borsen Halle." It has a large circulation, and is
edited by M. Runge, a gentleman formerly a mer•
chant, and whose writings, without any classical co-
louring, are very remarkable for their statistical ac-
curacy, and for the geographical knowledge they
display. Thought his paper can scarcely be said to
be markedly liberal, its sympathies generally lean
towards the popular side. But the Censor would,
in any case, prevent severe animadversions on " the
powers that be"—though his offensive authority is
commonly exercised in an unoffensive way, and
rather by caution (I am told) than by correction.
The Censorship is held by M. 'Von Stenen, one of
the Syndics of the town. The valuable commercial
matter of the Abend Zeitung is furnished by M.
Niebour. Originally the Abend Zeitung was merely
a sort of Lloyd's List; but politics having gra-
gually been introduced, and occupying in it, at last,
a great proportion of the paper, it was found neces-
sary to publish the (2d) Schiff: Lisle separately,
which also contains commercial notices and matters
purely of business. (3d) The Litterarische Blalt
appears on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; its
editor is M. Ludwig, who was formerly the editor
of the Bremen paper, and his historical information
is considerable. He sometimes gives lectures on
historical subjects at the Borsen Halle. M. Nie-
bour is his coadjutor. This paper is principally a
sort of " extracter," it gives articles translated from
French and English magazines, accounts of new
books, and sometimes makes reference to domestic
affairs. Two English papers are published at the
Borsen Halle—the Hanzburg Reporter and the
Gleaner; they appear at the same time, and accom-
pany one another; publishing days Tuesdays and
Fridays. The first is a political and commercial
newspaper, about the size of the Moniteur ; the
other a quarto, and, as its name imports, a gleaner
from the periodicals of England. The price of the
two is about two dollars, or nine shillings English,
per quarter. The Reporter was started in February
1828, and is now met with all over the north of
Europe. The Gleaner was originally a magazine,
but took its present form, and was married to the
Reporter in April, 1829, when the latter had reach-
ed virility. M. Sinnett edits the Reporter, and D.
WTurm the Gleaner. The Reporter has a commer-
cial article made up at four o'clock on the day of
publication, which► frequently finds its way to the
English papers.
The Hamburg Correspondenten, which has a sale,
probably, of .5,000 copies, is edited by M. Rumkel.
It is a valuable property, and is, on the whole, a
liberally-disposed newspaper. It is here, frequently
that the despotic Governments of the Continent
put forth their feelers, and originate articles which
they do not choose to appear to emanate from them-
selves. This gives the Correspondenten a demi-
official character. The Neue Zeitung (New News-
paper), which has been lately rising in circulation,
has also become one of the channels of indirect
communication employed by the foreign Courts.
It appears four times a week, under the editorship
of M. Luenzmann. The paper of the people is the
Naehrichten (News), which appears every day—
though, oddly enough, its original title of Weekly
News (as it once was) is still borne on its front. It
is crowded with advertisements, and is to be seen
in almost every house, counting-house, shop, and
-cellar in the town. Dr. Roding is the Editor. It
1 has often done excellent service to the popular cause,

and has now attached to it a soft of off-branch, the
Litterarischc illiscellen (Literary Miscellanies). A
Fremden Lisle (List of Strangers arrived) is pub-
lished every day ; but the police seldom interferes
with their sayings or doings. A variety of other
papers are printed at Hamburg. I have now before
me the Freischutz, the Bienc (Bee), the Originalien,
for the departments of Truth, Art, Mirth, and Fancy;
the Lesefruchte (Fruits of Reading), the Ham-
burger Wochenschrift (Weekly Paper), the Beo-
bachter (Observer), the Swintage Zeitung (Sunday
Paper), the Nord Deutscher Courier (North Ger-
many Courier,) Hamburg, a Paper for at home and
abroad, the Neuiecitstrager (the News-bringer—
an excellent title, by the way), the Archiv, for
Knowledge, Arts, and Industry, and the Haus-
fecund (the House-friend). I give these details,
because newspapers are of the highest importance
to the well-being, and singularly illustrative of the
state of society. All the genuine intelligence on
such a subject circulates over the world. I have
seen I know not how many translations of the ar-
ticles in the Westminster Review on this matter, and
the republication of such things is the best evidence
of the interest taken in Them.—Morning Herald.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH of MRS. PHILLIPS.

Yesterday, after the morning service had termi-
nated in the parish church of Finchley, a vestry
meeting was held in the room attached to the church,
for the purpose of transacting certain parochial
matters, and also to consider a letter which had been
addressed to the Chairman (the Reverend Ralph
Worsley, rector of the parish), by a gentleman
named Scott, who was deputed by Mr. Kerr and the
other executor to the will of the late Mrs. Phillips,
to ascertain whether or not it was the intention of
the .parish officers of Finchley to pursue the inquiry
respecting the manner in which the unfortunate lady
had lost her life, and the agency by which that event
was produced.
The members of the vestry were engaged' for a
considerable time in arranging matters connected
with the parish, and during the interval, Mr. Phil-
lips, husband of the deceased lady, and a friend, re-
mained in the adjoining churchyard, busily engaged
in looking over several newspapers which were
spread upon the tomb-stone where his friend and
himself were seated. Mr. Scott and Mr. Kerr, the
executor, were also in the church-yard, waiting to be
summoned before the vestry. The beadle at length
made his appearance, and intimated to the former
gentleman that his presence was required by the
vestry. lie accordingly moved towards the church,
followed by Mr. Kerr, Mr. Phillips, the friend who
accompanied that gentleman, and the reporter.
The Rev. RALPH WonsLtY, Chairman, then ad-
dressed-Mr. Scott, observingthat he had to acknow-
ledge the receipt of a letter addressed to him by
that gentleman on the subject of the late melancholy
transaction which had taken place at Finchley.
The Rev. Gentleman had proceeded thus far,
when he suddenly stopped short, and observed that
he perceived Mr. Phillips as well as other strangers
in the room.

Mr. Phillips—Understanding that something of
interest to me would be agitated here to-day, I have
felt it my duty to attend.

The CHAIRMAN said, he thought it would be as
well not to discuss the subject of Mr. Scott's letter
in the presence of Mr. Phillips-and other strangers
(alluding to the reporter and the friend of Mr.
Phillips.) These gentlemen, he said, must therefore
retire.

Mr. Phillips intimated his intention to remain,
and said he was desirous of asking some questions.

The CHAIRMAN—We are not bound to answer
questions. Your presence here, Mr. Phillips, is un-
necessary. We did not require it.
Mr. Phillips—l do not seek from the vestry
even the common courtesy of life. In claiming my
right to continue in this room, and to be heard, I
only ask that to which, as a parishioner, lam en-
titled. lam desirous of making some inquiries upon
a subject which deeply interests me; and I wish to
do so before any thing shall pass between Mr. Scott
and this meeting. lam now, as I have been at all
times, ready and willing to meet the most scrupu-
lous investigation, provided the inqUiry be brought
forward in a legal form.
A short discussion here took place between the
Rev. Chairman and the members of the vestry, as
to whether it would be proper to accede to the pro-
posal of Mr. Phillips. It was ultimately decided
that the strangers should withdraw, but that Mr.
Phillips might remain and propose his questions.
The strangers accordingly retired to the aisle of
the church, and after the lapse of about ten minutes
Mr. Phillips came out from the vestry-room, and
Messrs. Scott and Kerr were called in.

Mr. Phillips then, in presence of his friend and
the reporter, declared his readiness to state what
had just occurred between the vestry and himself.—
He neither wished nor sought for privacy, and if
the reporter desired to obtain what had passed, he
might use his name to the vestry for that purpose.
The Reporter accordingly applied to the Rev.
Chairman for the purpose of obtaining what had
passed between Mr. Phillips and the vestry. The
Chairman, however, positively declined to furnish
the information, upon which the reporter returned,
and then Mr. Phillips said that the questions which
he put to the vestry had arisen from certain asser-
tions contained in a report published in the Times
Journal of Thursday last, of what, had passed be-
tween Mr. Halls; the Magistrate, and Mr. Cox, the
solicitor, on the former day.. Mr. Phillips then
stated that his inquiries were shaped as follows :—He
asked the vestry whether the inquiry which had been
attempted originated with them—whether they em-
ployed any one to prosecute that inquiry—whether
they had been furnished with a bill of expences;
and lastly, whether any such expences had been de-
frayed by them. To these several questions, the
Chairman, in the name of the vestry, replied, that
the inquiry had not originated with them; that they
had employed no one to prosecute any such inquiry ;
that they had been furnished with no bill of ex-
pences ; and finally, that they neither had paid, nor
would they pay, any such bill, having taken no part
in the business. Mr. Phillips mentioned other
questions, which he also proposed to the meeting,
but as they had direct reference to a party who was
not present, we do not think it fair to refer to them.
The reporter, wishing to receive a confirmation of
what Mr. Phillips had stated relative to his inter-
view
with the vestry, proceeded back to the vestry-
room, and, repeating to the Chairman the questions
and answers which Mr. Phillips had proposed and
received, asked the Rev. g entleman if they were
correctly stated. The affair was one of great inte-
rest
and delicacy, and it was therefore of the greatest
importance that nothing but facts should go forth to
the public.

The CHAIRMAN replied, that the vestry were not
bound to answer any questions.
The Reporter then intimated, that as what Mr.
Phillips had stated was not contradicted, he would
take it for granted that it was correct, and should
therefore embody it in his report.
The answer given to the letter of Mr. Scott, or
the course which is likely to be pursued with respect
to a further and more effectual inquiry, remain un-
explained from any thing which transpired yester-
day, as the utmost secrecy was observed upon the
subject. It was stated, however, that no decisive
course has as yet been pointed out.

SUlClDE.—Yesterday a young woman, named
Cox, who had lived servant at the Cheshire Cheese public
hou.e, in Surrey-street, Strand, and had been dismissed
from her situation, put a period to her existence by throw-
ink; herself into the Thames, at the bottom of Strand-lane
Stairs. She had been a very short time in the water
when she was taken out by a Waterman, and he took her
to the parish work-house ; but all the efforts of the me-
dical men who were in attendance failed in restoring her
to life. She had been in great distress for some time, and
temporary relief had been afforded her by her late em-
ployer; she bad been for some days, it is stated, without
food and lodging, and was- de-en to the rash act by sheer
distresf.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, OcT. 21.
BROWN V. CAPEL.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that this was at,
action brought to recover a sum of 533/. due to the
plaintiff from the defendant, for a cargo of coals.
The plaintiff was a coal-merchant at Shields, and in
October last year sent a cargo of coals to London,
by a vessel called the Duke of Clarence. He also
sent a letter at the same time to a coal-factor of tht
name of Butcher, to dispose of the cargo on tin
Coal Exchange. On the 27th October Butcher sold
the coals to the defendant, for the sum which he
had mentioned, payable—one-third after the first
coal market-day; one-third after the second or third
market-day ; and the other third after the fourth
market-day. Before the money was paid Butcher
became bankrupt, and then the plaintiff sent notice
to the defendant not to pay to Butcher but to him.
If the defendant had had no notice from the prin-
cipal, he would be justified in paying the factor ;
but, after notice, he was bound to the principal, and
if he paid the factor, it was at his peril. By an Act
of the 47th of his late Majesty, it was required that
the contract should be entered in the hook of the
clerk of the market; and by the same Act the book
was made evidence; and from that book he would
prove the contract.
The contract was then read from the book.

Mr. GURNEY, for the defendant, stated that the
contract which appeared in the book was not the
contract between the parties. The fact was, that
on the day on which the purchase was made,. the de-
fendant had given the factor two promissory notes,
one of 2501. and the other for 2001., which the fac-
tor immediately discounted, and which the defend-
ant had subsequently paid ; and the factor was in-
debted to the defendant in a larger sum than the
balance.

13utcher, the factor, was called, .and stated the
contract to have been as stated by Mr. Gurney. To
account for his having given in a different contract
to the clerk of the market, he said that they usually
gave them in to the clerks according to a printed
form.

Lord TENTERDEN said, it was no wonder that
the public suffered when these abuses existed. The
factors were required by Act of Parliament to send
copies of the contract to a public officer, and evaded
the Act by sending not the real contract, but another.
Verdict for the plaintiff for 831. and a fraction.