The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-28 00:00:00

PoRT OF LIVERPOOL.

In consequence of the numerous complaints of the
paucity of officers of the landing department at this port
to take the accounts on the part of the revenue of goods
and merchandise imported from foreign parts, at,d the
consequent and necessary obstruction to business thereby
catued on all occasions, and particularly in the event
of an influx of shipping and pressure of business, when
the trade of the port has been in a manner completely
at a stand still for want of officers to clear the ves-
sels, a number of officers of the subordinate branches
of the landing department have been permitted to
take the accounts of low duty and free goods, leaving
the higher and more important branches of the landing
duty to officers of established rank and more competent
experience, until the general arrangement for the in-
crease of the establishment of this important and flou-
rishing port, which is at present in progress, shall be
carried into effect. This arrangement has effected an
important degree of assistance in clearing the import
vessels and despatching the other business of the port.
With respect to the increased establishment, we believe
that although the Commissioners of Customs have sub-
mitted a draft of the amount and descriptions of in-
crease which it will be advisable to make, in order
to meet the pressing demands of the merchants
and trade of the second commerciai port in
the kingdom, and have obtained the sanction of
the Lords of the Treasury fur an increase in the manner
and to the extent recommended to be made, nothing has
yet been done in the shape of actual appointments to
the extras about to be made. It is understood that
there is to be, what there never has been at Liverpool
yet—viz , a separate class of officers for the wine end
spirit department, as is the case in the port of London.
It has hitherto been the practice for the officers of the
landing department at Liverpool to undertake both
duties, so that on an influx of wet goods a number of
oaicers had to be taken from the regular corps of
landing-waiters, to the inconvenience of the other
branches of trade. The new arrangement will rectify
this system, and will, of course, leave the number
usually employed in the guaging for the ordinary duties.
In addition 10 this, the number of landing waiters is to
be further increased, and it is understood that their
salaries will be considerably augmented, in a manner
approaching the London establishment. Additional
superintending officers will also be appointed, and in
consideration of the vast quantities and descriptions of
goods now allowed to be imported free of duty, of which
particular articles a very large proportion is brought to
the port under notice from the United States, &e., it is
understood that there will be a class of officers
formed ' from the subordinate branches of the
landing department to take the account of such goods,
and to be available for the subordinate duties of the
landing waiters' department, leaving the superior duties,
a 3 we have before remarked, to elder and more expe-
rienced officers. Further than we have stated, we be-
lieve nothing is at present known as to whether this in-
crease to the Liverpool establishment will be selected
from experienced London officers, others being appointed
in their room, or whether it will consist of entirely fresh
appointments. We believe it principally, if not entirely,
rests with the Customs Beard as to what they shall
recommend to the Treasury, the matter being at
present left in their hands, though of course it will ulti-
mately have to be submitted to their Lordships for
the it approval. The merchants and the trade generally
of the port of Liverpool are naturally very anxious that
the proposed and sanctioned increase should take place
as speedily as possible ; and although nothing is dis-
tinctly known as to the actual period, there is no doubt
that it will take place as speedily as the necessary ar-
rangements will permit, when it is expected that it will
answer the requirements of the extensive shipping trade
and commerce generally of this improved and flourishing
port.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The following is an extract of a letter from an
officer of tie Erebus, begun on the Ist July, let. 68 N.,
and finished' at Whale Fish Islands, 10th July, 1845:
" The fair wind which blew us from our friends the
steamers did not last long, and we had one continued
succession of westerly and north-west rly winds (re-
lieved now and then by a fair wind), till the 21st
.June, when we found ourselves 134 miles due east of
Cape Farewell. Here we had a calm, with a most
tremendous heavy swell, in which we did roll.
" During our journey thus far, we went within 60 or
70 miles of Iceland, but it was ton cloudy to see Mount
Hecla. We did not go within 70 milts of Cape Farewell,
but rounded it with a gale right aft, which followed us
in our course with a heavy sea. We kept close-reefed
topsails and reefed foresail, and. made the old craft go
eight knots through it. The only difficulty we had was
to get our gallant chief, Sir John Franklin, to shorten
sail when it was wanted. He is full of life and energy,
and of all men the most fitted for the command of an
enterprise requiring sound sense and great perseveience ;
and he is full of benevolence and kindness withal.
"On the 22d we were north of Farewell. The t her-
motneter had scarcely ever varied three degrees for
three weeks, being about 43.
On the 25th we saw our first iceberg in shore, and
the beautiful sharp, craggy, snowy coast of Greenland in
sight, an immense distance of. Since then we have had
delightful smooth seas ; sometimes-a calm, sometimes a
foul wind, light, and much fair wind. For the last few
days we have been nearer the land, and yesterday we
were catching cod near the must glorious assemblage of
ice, rock, snow, and clouds, being about thirty- miles
from the coast about Lichtenfiels. To-day we have had
a splendid breeze right aft, with a strong current in our
favour.' A most splendid semicircle of icebergs appear
a-bead and under the land— we count 65 from the crow's
nest ; I have just been on deck looking at one above 200
feet high, which came down with a crash and raised a
mist like an avalanche. It is now_twelve o'clock, though
the :stn is up, so I i3h411 go to bed and finish this to-
morrow, o:2ugh it is a pity to sleep on such a fine, clear,
sun shining night.
• Disco, Jl,l,ir 2.—The scenery of Disco is grind iP
the extreme, and the beautiful icebergs in bold relief
against the dark, almost black looking coast, present a
curious appearance. We have ale most heavenly
weather here, clear, calm, with a hot sun, ansi icebergs
glistening in all directions, I counted 280 iceberg* from
the top of a hill the other night, big' mosquitos biting our
party all the time.
" JULY 10.—We shall sail for the Lancaster Bui.ind
on ;he I%lh with three years' provisions. You have no
coneepti,th how happy and comfortable we are ; in feet
there is incessant mirth from morning to night. We
hear tha `, this i$ supposed to be a remarkably clear
season, but we have no anthen,tig information."

RICHMOND ROYAL REG ATT A. - Eighteen free
watermen of Richmond contended on Tuesday for a purse of
sovereigns, subscribed by the ladies and gentle.n•:n residing in
the vicinity. The match was in h4cour of Prince Albert's
na al day, and the exceeding fineness of qv weather and the
prospect of good sport induced a very large assemblage of
highly respectable persons both on the shore and river. The
race was won by Richard Messam and Thomas Ellard.