The Sun.
London, England, 1820-08-04 00:00:00

TIMBER DUTIES.

MINUTES of EVIDENCE relative to the TIMBER TRADE,
taken befol•e the SELECT COMMITTEE of the HOUSE
of LORDS, appointed to inquire into the Means of extend•
ing and securing the FOREIGN TRADE of the COUN-
TRY, and to Report to the House.

(Continued from our Paper of yesterday.)
109 Junii, 1820.
WILLIAM STEW' ART, Esq. is called in, and
examined as follows :

In what business have you been engaged ?—I have been a
general merchant before I turned my attention wore particu-
larly to the Canada Trade; I had mercantile connections in
Ireland and elsewhere. - _ .

1-low lung have you been •in the Canada Trade ?—About
seven or eight years.
Have you been during that time exclusively engaged in the
Canada Trade ?—Not. exclusively; 1 still maintain my other
connections.

V•,••
But as far as the Timber Trade was concerned, you were in
the Canada Trade exclusively ?—ln the Canada Trade ex-
clusively.
Can you inform the Committee as to the qualities of Tim-
ber, the growth of the North American Colonies, as compared
wit liTimber the produce of the North of Europe. ?—The Timber
usually imported from America is not equal in quality to the
best Timber that is brought from Norway and other countries
on the Baltic, hut the British Colonies in North America can
produce Timber which I conceive to be perfectly equal to
the 'r MORT of Norway and other parts of the North of Eu-
rope, namely the red pine Timber. The reason perhaps. why
the second rate article is brought, is, that the consumption
of that &se' iption of 'Timber is mach greater: the consump-.
tion of this Country is perhaps two-thtrds for inferior pur-
posel.
Describe'what those inferior purposes are, as nearly as you
can state them to the Committee ?—ln minor buildings of
every description none but inferior Timber is used ; it is also
'used in the second rate houses ; fur other common purposes
it is equally applicable- Of the deals consumed in this
Country about one-third is by box-makers for packing-cases,
and for those purposes, inferior Timber, whether front the
Baltic, from Norway, or North America, has always been
used. There are many purposes fur which the American
Timber is preferred, and which also constitute a large feature
in the consumption; as in the manufacture of musical-inStru-
mews, picture-frames, window-blinds, and toys. I enume-
rate these, because it might not he generally known, that
these comparatively minor articles constitute a large feature
in the consumption ; to those might .be added the press-
boards used in cotton manufactures, and fur other purposes
where a large surface is required. For these purposes the
American Timber is preferred, because it is what is tech-
-niCally called cleaner, that is- free. from Knots and larger.
Then the reason of the preferenee,dues nut arise from the
circumstance of its beit cheaper I—lt is preferred for these
•pUrposes.
Would not then the Canada, Timber continue to'be employ-
ed for these purposes which you have last deScribd, even in
the event 9f the Duties on Timberfrom the North of Europe
being removed or diminished ?—lf removed, certainly not,
because it could not be. brought in competition. If reduced,
it must depend upon the extent of the 'eduction.
If the Duties on the importation of Timber from the Not th
of Europe were so far reduced as to make them exactly com-
pensate the difference of freight between the voyage from
Canada and-lhe voyage front the Baltic, would then the Ca-
nada Timber,continue to be preferred for t lurse purposes which
you have described?—The preference would continue, if
they were both brought into the market at the same ex-
pence. _ .

%Viten you speak of the expence, do you include the prime
cost of the are isle ?—I mean,- that if the two articles were of-
fered fur sale in this country at the saute price, the consumer
would
give the American .Timber the preference for those
purposes.
Is not the red pine" employed for putitoses totally distinct
from the purposes for which the other Canada Timber is em-
ployed, such as you have described
How then du you account for the greater consumption of
Canada Timber, fur the inferior purposes you have described,
iireventing,"as the Committee Understands you to say it does
"prevent, the best lint of red pine being brought for those
purposes ?—The Canada red pine is used for the saute purposes
.as the red pine Timber front the North., of Europe. The
yellow pine Timber of America, which is the leading article
of consumption, is used fur the same purposes as the white

. The Duty on Deals froni Sto 20 feet being paid upon 120
running pieces,without regard to their dimensions, the above
calculation is intended to stiew the amount ot Duty paid upon
_actual contents; whence it will appear, that the principle
adopted in preference to a graduated scale, operates as an
encouragement to import the largest and hest Deals; and
thus enables those countries where they are produced, and
%those freights are higher from the extent of their voyage, to
compete in the British market with those more contiguous,
but whose Timber is smaller. -
It shOuld likewise be observed, thatthe Duty on Deals less
than S fret, being too low in proportion, entire cargoes of
this description are imported, particularly from Norway, to
the injury of the Revenue; but a still more serious injury to
the Revenue arises from the wording of the clause regulating
the Duty on paling boards, and in consequence cargoes are
imported under that denomination at a Duty 0f.31. 14s. 6d.
per 120 running pieces, which being of the same substance
and dimensions as Deals, are applicable to the saute purposes,
and ought to pay the full Duty of 201. Iss. sd.
The Witness is directed to withdraw.
(lo he continued.)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MOST EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTION.

_
TOWN HAI L, SOUTHWARK. During the
greatest part of yesterday., Sir JOHN EAMER was
laboriously employed in the investigation of an
extraordinary case, in a summons granted at the
instance of a handsome young woman, against two
females, named Shurey and Cronan.
The defendant, Mis: Shurey; is a married wo-
.man, but lives with a man named -Michael. Cal-
laghan, in Kent-street ; -and the other prisoner is
their
ago,
the
lodger, and sleeps in the same room. About a
a
complainant had theinisfortune to get
acquainted.with
Callaghan, who professed a warm
attachment towards her and as he introduced
himself as a young man free from all incumbrance,
she allowed him to visit her where she m as at service,
on the footing of a lover. In an unguarded hour,
she became the victim of seduction, and being
unable to conceal her situation from her master
and mistress, the loss of her place was the con-
sequence. She then got lodgings 'in a wretched
alley in the Borough, where her. seducer still
:visits her, and promised faithfully to marry her,.
as.soon as his affairs were a little;
.arranged ; but
within a few. days of her accouchement, he desert-
ed her altogether. She. was )vithout friends or
.money, and during her illness experienced the
greatest privations ; she frequently sent to Cal-
laghan for some relief ; but he refused to give
her any. A day or two after her recovery,
she went to his lodging with the child (a fine
boy), and Presented- it to him ; he received
her in the presence. of the defendants with
,the, greatest scorn, and made many unfeeling
remarks on the poor child, in which he
was.joined by both the women. The complainant
'in a great passion, laid down the child and. went
away, but next morning, repenting what she had

done, site went back *WI Lilo lutinitioti of brinsis
ing it away, when to her great surprise, the ge",
fendant Shurey, denied that she.ever left a child
there ; the complainant, however, seeing her ow°
infant in the woman's arms, made, an effort to take
it away, on which the latter called loudly for as'
Sistance, and a number of persons came in fror
the street, to whom she represented that the cow'
plainant had forcibly attempted to take away her
child, and the consequence was, that the poor
woman was maltreated and turned into the streets
She made many subsequent attempts to gain pos''
SessiOn of the child, in all Of II hich she failed
meanwhile the infant had. shrunk to half its ors'
g-inal size, from the want of proper attention and
nourishment. Last Tuesday she made a last arty,
desperate effort to get the child, but was attacked
by both the prisoners, her clothes torn from lief
back, as well as two handfuls of her hair, and she
was finally kicked down stairs, and severely con'
tused about the head and body.
Mrs. Shurey now produced the child, in obe.
dience to the mandate of the Court, and a painful'
spectacle it presented ; its thighs were not thicker
than a middle-sized walking,stick, and the arms
w:..re about as thick as the haft of a knife, whilst,,
in various parts, the skin was excoriated. It up'
peare'd as if every means had been resorted to td
accelerate the poor child's' death.
The de!'eudant protested stoutly that the
child was her own offspring, and refused on aq
consideration to deliver it up to any one. She
called a number of witnesses, who stated their
belief that she had been delivered of a child withb,
the last. six weeks., which child they believed sbe
then had in her arms.

On the other hand the complainant, in the
most earnest manner, declared that it was a co"'
spiracy amongst them to detain the child till it
died for want of care, which would exonerate it'
inhuman father from the claim which the parist',
would necessarily make on him for the
support. She also called a number of. womeot
who bore testimony to the birth of the child, aPa
identified the one Which Mrs. Shurey carried as:
the same of which she had been delivered itt
their presence.
Amidst all this conflicting testimony, the we'
thy Magistrate.was at a loss how to act ; but oh":
serving . the prisoner giving the breast to the
child, he desired that she might be examined,
when, to the astonishment of all pregent, it 14'3,5
discovered that she had no milk at all, and th''.
presenting the breast to the child was
more than an attempt to impose upon the Mag,is"
trate ! Her confusion, when desired to shed,
that she possessed_ breast milk, entirely deprive
her of utterance ; she could make no excuse, the.
question was so direCtly pointed, but handed the'
child over to the complainant, who, on receivill;
it, pressed it to her bosom with maternal fowl:
ness, whilst she bathed the little innocent with

tears of joy.
To add to the confusion of the woman Shureil
a female who was present, stated that she
been on terms of intimacy with her for mat!Y
years, and she believed she never had a chile
her life.

Sir
JOHN EAmrat said, he did not at that 111°1
ment recollect any law that would punish suc,l:
flagitious, such infamous conduct, especiall;"
neither the defendants. nor their witnesses Jo
been sworn to their eviaence. There could 1)e
little doubt of their object in detaining the chilu,,
Its appearance sufficiently justified every susr,
don on that head, and if it had died (and it I°'
very surprising it did not,) they would have lieu
most assuredly hung for the murder. With re"
gard to the assault, that was sufficiently prove",
and he should order them to be detained till diet
procured good bail.
The defendants were-accordingly held to 01'

DARING GANG OF ROBBERS.
Bo W-STREET.—Yesterday another investigatil
took place before RicaAlin BIRNIE, B-Sq• 11:14
BRERETON, Esq. respecting the dari%
and outrageous conduct of gangs of robbers 8,
the opening of the Regent's Canal, near Hae
Fields, on Tuesday. It appeared from the state'
went of Davis, a constable, that there were seve°
ral gangs of thieves assembled upon the occasi°llo./
and it is supposed that there has not been sucil,t
desperate and numerous assemblage since We'
End Fair last year. One of the gangs aniount,
ed to between fifty and sixty, and the rflos,,t,lY,
merous gang he estimated at nearly one Ivo"
We regret that only one of these during villains WI.,
secured. He said his name was Joseph Elling'a
The charge against him was for being concerne. 07.
with a number of others, in violently assatlitlit
and robbing -John Aird, Esq. of Mare-street;
Hackney, who it appeared was pushed or li:Orthe
,ed down by a gang of robbers, in a field, in .0
most daring manner, and a desperate atteinpt
made to rob him of his watch, in which till° ti
.o;.
tains' intention was frustrated, owing to its begin;
tight in his pocket, but they succeeded in for
away his chain, seal, and kev. On his rec°,s,ets
big himself, he found one of his breeches I:we'd
turned inside out, and three 10/. two 51., a
three 1/. Bank of England notes stolen. rciv'
Mr. John Wells, of Batten's-court, Chu tot
street, hackney, a tailor, saw the prosectiad
on the ground after he was knocked down,
helped to pidc him up. He also saw time Por
soner running away afterwards, on the c,r/oot
" stop thief!" being raised, but be couluidd
ident;fy him as one of the men who WWII 'e•
the prosecutor after he was knocked down.
veral witnesses corroborated this statemen•fettod
The prisoner in his defence said lie had .0 at
the Bank notes, and accounted for his ru09,1, as
the time the hue and cry of " stop thiefee the
raised,. by saving that he was running t° se for.
boats pass, whereas the boats did not pass
half an hour afterwards. The
The prisoner was committed for trial' oi
prosecutor, N' VllO is infirm, was very reitict3ll
bound over to prosecute

e3t
o. O r
LONDON : Printed by .1. B. CARSTAIBS, "f
°sr,
11);:id,s- roefet
Ni()1. u7i:ens-osquittial rei‘; aipitt,s,dn.sptiii.ebei
ti,,hta.at ltd
:4)
Office, No. 114, Strand ; where Adveitiseelentif
Letters, &c. (post-paid) must be addresscd.