The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-08-10 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY', AUGUST 10, 1852.

CO3I.IIERCLIL AND MONETARY NEWS.

MONDAY NIGHT.
THE gradual fall of consols during the past week,
to the extent of nearly 11 per cent., has perplexed
most people, vtith respect to its actual cause or
causes. The decrease of bullion in the Bank of
England from £22,065,349 to £21,700,103, showing
difference of £355,241 on the week, has been urged
by some as the cause of alarm; and the position of
the potato crop, and the harvest generally, has been
urged by otherst Neither of these, however, we
consider, are sufficient to account for the fall; for
there is not, as yet, any reason to apprehend that
the state of the harvest is such as to render proba-
ble any drain of gold, which can inconveniently
restrict the circulation, bearing in mind the fact
that we are promised from week to week a continual
accession of supply from Australia and California.
By the arrival of the Stebenheath, from Port Philip
direct, we have dates to the 22nd of April; and the
accounts state :

" It appears that the production at the mines Ras
steadily increasing, and was now estimated at £lOO,OOO
per week, or at the rate of more than £5,000,000 per
annum for this colony alone. The present vessel has
brought about 60,000 ounces, valued at £230,000; and
the Vanguard, which sailed a few days previously, but
which has not yet arrived, took 17,490 ounces, or nearly
£70,000 worth. The quotation was 60s. to 61s. per ounce.
Great complaints continued to be made of the prevalence
of crime, owing to the influx of convicts from Van Die-
men's Land, many of whom were among the most suc-
cessful people at the mines. Rain had begun to fall at
Mount Alexander. but not so as to increase the facilities
for working, and in the other districts it was still delayed."
Another account, extracted from a letter received
in Liverpool yesterday, and dated Sydney, 3d April,
says:-- -
- • -

The golden prospects of this colony are wholly eclipsed
by the i mrnense yield of thegold districts at Port Philip, lat-
terly tl,e weekly receipts by governm en t escort there exceed
12,000 ounces, and at one time over 20,000 ounces : this,
exclusive of considerable sums brought in by private con•
veyance, and it is generally believed that when the supply
of water is more abundant, the' present yield will be tre-
bled ; at present the weekly receipts here do not exceed
4,000 to 6,000 ounces, but many rich deposits have for a
time been abandoned, in consequence of a succession of
heavy floods rendering it impossible to work them. Gold
digging is a most precarious pursuit, and altogether a
lottery, with some few splendid prizes, and very many
blanks."

Every vessel from that quarter of the globe may be
expected to have a large amount on board; and in
addition the supplies from California are being
regularly poured in upon us. We conceive that
an accidental decrease of the stock in the Bank
during any particular week may be accounted for
in a great measure by remittances made to the gold
diggings themselves, where it is well known that
coin is much wanted for the purchase of that very
material itself. Still the fact that, with such a
plethora as we now have in our coffers, nearly
equalling the whole amount of notes in circulation,
a decrease of £350,000 can create the slightest effect
at all, shows the extent to which confidence in our
present monetary system has been shaken by the
commercial calamities of 1847. Possibly some
effect upon consols may have been created amongst
timid people by the alleged threatening state of our
relations with the United States.

The return from the Bank of England for the
week ending the 31st July gives the following re-
sults when compared with the previous week :

Public deposits .. £3,195,152; Increase £392,791
Other deposits .. 14,506,774 ; Decrease 957,514
Rest .. 3,199,124; Increase 4,984

On the other side of the account—

Government securities £13,790,720 ; Increase 6,174
Other securities.. .. 10,799,655 ; Increase 17,473
Notes unemployed .. 11,849,700 ; Decrease 626,965
. .

. •
The amount of notes in circulation is £23,479,455,
being an increase of £248,045 ; and the stock of
bullion in both departments is £21,710,108, show-
ing a decrease of £355,241 when compared with
the preceding return.

In our Share market during the past week we
have had a large business. A preponderance of
speculation, with some few real sales, has tended
further to depress prices, and we are to-day some
5 per cent. lower all round than on this day week.
The issuing of a satisfactory report from the Midland
on Saturday, showing a dividend of 3 per cent. with
a surplus, and this for the worst half year of the
two, gave a slight check to the general decline, and
raised this stock from 71 to 731 ; this has been
pretty well maintained to-day, and there is a more
healthy look about the market, but it is not strong;
and the machinations of the bears will, most pro-
bably, further depress it; only, however, to be suc-
ceeded by a more decided reaction, for the power of
money must tell. The London and North-Western
divides 51: per cent.; the Great Western, 4; the
East Lancashire 2. The Royal Insurance meeting
passed over satisfactorily, and this company have
increased their dividend from 3s. to 4s. per share,
the additional is., however, being given as a bonus.
Gold Shares are dull, but steady in price. We
annex the quotations of this day's business :-
Caledonians, 20 19+; Eastern Counties, 10 7-16
7-16 P • East Lancashire, 171 aI. ; Lancashire and
Yorkshire, 80 1--li-L1801; ditto fifths, 4.0 ;
ditto pref. 6 per cent., 151; London stock, 126 5+
ditto new quarters, 31+ 1 -- 11; ditto
fifths, 4p; Sheffield stock, 32+ 1-1; Midland stock,
731 3 :.t; 1 1 3 - 3 1 ; Dover stock, 201 1* ;
Dublin and Drogheda, 50 : Dutch Rhenish, 2 1+ 2d.
There is little to remark upon in the state of our
Colonial Markets, the demand for produce conti-
nuing limited, both for the home trade and for ex-
port. RICE is perhaps the only exception, and
that more in regard to the extent of business than
any change in price. 50,000 bags have changed
hands during the week, chiefly American to arrive,
at 9s. in bond. The improved demand has arisen
on account of the late wet weather, and reports
respecting the Potato disease. With respect to
the harvest, we have little fear as yet, such reports
being always rife at this juncture. The crops, we
believe, will be large, and generally in as good con-
dition as in ordinary years. We are not so confi-
dent, however, as to the Potato crop, although we
think that the reports are exaggerated, and the large
breadth sown is not sufficiently considered.
PRODUCE.-Since the publication of the Brokers'
Circular a fair amount of business has been trans-
acted in Sugar. The sales comprise 215 hhds. Bar-
badoes, chiefly at 31s. 6d. to 375. ; 130 hhds. Deme-
rara at 30s. 7d. to 335. 3d.; 120 hhds. Antigua at
335. 6d. to 355. 6d.; 800 bags Benares at 38s. 6d. to
395. 6d.; 700 bags Bengal at 325. to 335. 6d, and
100 bags Pernams at 18s. per cwt. No sales of Nfolas-
ses have been reported. Of Rum only 120 puncheons
of Demerara have found buyers at previous prices.
The Coffee market is quiet at late rates. Tea is in
fair request, particularly descriptions suitable to the
wants of the trade. Rice is in more demand con-
sequent upon the reports of the Potato failure.
30,000 bags American have changed hands at 9s.
per cwt. Dyewoods continue steady ; we note
sales of 35 tons Jamaica Logwood at £3 12s. to
£3 15s. ; 50 tons Barrwood at £2 10s. per ton ; 35
chests Liver to Orange Shell Lac are reported at
395. to 51s. per cwt. ; 25 tons Cuba Fustie, all
faults, at £8 12s. 6d. to £9 12s. 6d., and 30 tons
Acorns at £4 to £4 15s; 70 bales Gambia have been
taken at 18s.; 300 bags Sago Flour at 14s. 6d. per
cwt., and 250 cases Castor Oil at 31d. per lb.
COTTON-The market during the past week has
been steady, but not so active as we had occasion
to report on this day week, the total sales being
57,000 bales. Prices also are a shade lower. The
sales of Friday, Saturday, and to-day are estimated
at about 277000 bales, of which_ speculators took

S,OOO and exporters 2,000. The import since
Thursday is 20,000 bales.
WooL.—The series of colonial wool sales, which
commenced in London on the 9th July, terminated
on Friday. They comprised—
Bales.
Australian
Port Philip and Portland Bay
South Australian 5,612
Van Diemen's Land.
Swan River 949
Cape 2,093

Total colonial..
East Indian .......... ... .....
German ..
Sundry foreign low ........

55,340
.. 1,826
.. 859
.. 1.714

59,739
The following account of their progress is from the
circular of Messrs. Southey and Son :

"All apprehension of a short supply of colonial wool
this season having subsided, and an opinion prevailing
that the judicious measures taken to encourage emigration
will avert that evil for seasons to come, our buyers were
regulated in their operations at these sales by the present
state and prospects of their own markets, which did not
allow them to support the speculative prices of last sales.
" Nevertheless, the result of these sales is satisfactory
to importers ; prices commenced very close upon last
sales, the finer qualities showing a slight reduction ; after
some days the attendance of buyers fell off, and a further
depression became apparent ; but when this was known in
the north, many fresh buyers came up. and prices assumed
a firmer tone, which continued to the end.
" Purchasers on foreign account allowed many sales to
pass without operating, but towards the conclusion bought
freely of the middle and better qualities of combing wool,
and assisted much in supporting prices. We estimate
they took about 6,000 bales. _ _

The Wool market in Liverpool has been ra-
ther quiet this week ; but as the prospects of the
trade are good, holders are not at all anxious to sell,
expecting prices will be higher after the harvest.
In Ireland the demand is brisk, and the farmers'
parcels are eagerly purchased as they come to mar-
ket, at advancing rates.

laoN.—The recent advance in the price of Iron,
unaccompanied by a formal acknowledgment of the
fact by the masters, threatens to produce a strike
on the part of the men. The Birmingham Journal
says :

The puddlers in several of the works have given
notice of an advance of wages of ls. 6d. a ton. O❑
Thursday last a meeting of the iron-masters was held in
Birmingham to consider this notice, when they came to a
unanimous resolution not to advance the wages. The
ground upon which they have so decided is that the ar-
rangement by which prices of iron were to regulate wages
was to be determined by the " list prices," that is, the
formally declared price agreed to at the quarterly meet-
ings of the trade. if this be so, and the masters think it
well to dhere to the strict letter of the arrangement,
there can be no question about the legality of their de-
cision ; hut it is notorious that the " list price" does not
regulate the market price of iron, and it is equally true
that, although no nominal advance has been made upon
prices which ruled six months ago, in reality iron is
fetching higher rates in the market."

AMERICAN, VERSION OF THE FISHERIES

QUESTION.

The arrival of the Royal Mail steam-ship Asia puts
us in possession of the opinions of various sections
of the American people, with respect to the alleged
improper interference of the British Government for
the protection of their North American colonists from
the invasion of their fishing grounds by the fishermen of
the United States. The first of these which we feel bound
to notice is that of Mr. Webster, the American Secretary
of State and candidate for the Presidency. On the 23th
ultimo it appears that an address of congratulation was
presented to that gentleman on his arrival at Marshfield,
in replying to which he took the opportunity of stating
his views upon the question. After assuring his audience
that " the fishermen shall be protected in all their rights
of property and all their rights of occupation—protected
hook and line, bob and sucker"—and dwelling upon their
importance as nurseries of the American navy, the hon.
gentleman said of the course taken by the British Go-
vernment :

" It is now more than thirty years that they have pur-
sued the fishing in the same water and on the same coast,
in which and along which notice has come that they shall
be no longer allowed these privileges. Now this cannot
be justified without notice. A mere indulgence of too
long continance, even if the privilege were not an in-
dulgence, cannot be withdrawn at this season of the year
when our people, according to their custom, have engaged
in the business, without just and seasonable notice. I
cannot but think the late dispatches from the Colonial
Office:had not attracted, to a sufficient degree, the atten-
tion of the Principal Minister of the Crown, for I see
matter in them quite inconsistent with the arrangement
made in 1845 by the Earl of Aberdeen and Edward Everett.
Then the Earl of Derby, the present First Minister, was
Colonial Secretary. It could not well have taken place
without his knowledge, aud, in fact, without his concur-
rence or sanction. I cannot but think, therefore, that its
being overlooked is an advertence. The treaty of 1811
was made with the Crown of England. If a fishino
vessel is captured by one' of her vessels of war, and
brought in for adjudication, the Crown of England is
answerable, and then we know who we have to deal with.
But it is not to be expected that the United States will
submit their rights to be adjudicated upon in the petty
tribunals of the provinces, or that they will allow our
vessels to be seized by constables and other petty officers,
and condemned by Municipal courts of Canada and New-
foundland, New Brunswick, or Nova Scotia ! No, no,
no. (Great cheering.) Futher than this, gentlemen, I
do not think that it is expedient to remark upon this
subject at present, but you may be assured it is a subject
upon which no one sleeps at Washington. 1 reeret that
the state of my health caused my absence from Washing-
ton when the news came of this sudden change in the
interpretation of the treaties. My health requires re-
laxation. I shall feel it my duty, as soon as my health
and strength will justify me in undertaking the journey,
to return to my post, and discharge the duties devolving
upon me to the best of my abilities."
Mr. Webster, from the above, seems to contend rather
against the interruption, at this particular period, of an
indulgence permitted by the British Government to the
American fishermen, than for the maintenance of any
right possessed by the latter. His reference to the treaty
of 1811 is puerile, as the matters complained of, as exist-
ing under that treaty, were formerly settled between the
two governments under the subsequent treaty of 1818.
In the meantime, if it had been the object of that gentle-
man to excite the belligerent feelings of the American
people, with a view to the coming presidential election, it
will be seen from the tone of some portion of the American
press that he has been tolerably successful. The follow-
ing are a few specimens of that of the New York
Herald :

" The construction of the treaty, as laid down by Mr.
Webster, will undoubtedly be maintained by our govern-
ment. The fishermen's rig htsinvolved are worth the hazards
of a little war, as preferable to the abandonment of those
rights. On the other hand, the uninterrupted interchange
of our commerce with Great Britain is of infinitely more
value to her than all the fisheries on the face of the earth.
* * * With the single article of cotton, we have the
power of maintaining the long-admitted rights of our
fishermen to the colonial waters from which they are now
to be expelled. * * * Let us have a war with Eng-
land. The time is propitious. We have provocations
enough to impel us, inducements enough to tempt us ;
and the sure and immeasurable advantages which would
follow, to us, to liberal principles, and to mankind at
large, all suggest the justice and the sound policy of a
war with England. Sooner or later such a war is inevi-
table ; and better have it sooner than later. Now is our
time. The fishery question affords the direct provocation
—the casus belli."

" Let it come. We 'are ready. Let us have all our
difficulties settledin the lump, the affairs of the north-east
coast, the north-west coast, Mexico, Central America,
Cuba, and Hayti, all together. * * * The
struggle may shake this old beldame earth like an earth-
quake ; but, when we emerge from the smoke and dust of
the conflict, the British North American provinces will be
ours, their fisheries will be ours, Cuba will be ours, and
the absorption of Mexico and Central America will be
left wholly to our discretion. Such are the splendid fore-
shadows of manifest destiny, and of a war with England.
Let such a war be declared, and in six months we could
muster a force of two hundred ocean war-steamers, and
the most powerful and swiftest on the ocean. In one
month we could muster a well-appointed and well-disci-
plined army of 300,000 men for the conquest of Canada ;
and, more terrible than this, with the first tap of the
drum Ireland would rise from the dust, like a giant re-
freshed by sleep, and burning to avenge the accumulated
wrongs of five hundred years. principal and interest. A
hundred thousand fighting Irishmen, from the United
States, would hasten across the sea to aid their country-
men in wiping out the disasters of the Boyne, Vinegar
Hill, and Slievegammon."
- - -

The cloven foot peeps out with tolerable distinctness in
the above paragraphs. The rabid section of the American
people, who are represented by the New York Herald,
seek only, in their agitation of this question, a pretext for
the commencement of a career of wholesale robbery un-
exampled in the history of nations.
The New York Courier and Inquirer treats the subject
in a more moderate tone. It assumes what is contrary to
the fact, " the despatch of a fleet of nineteen armed
vessels to enforce a new construction of a treaty different
from what has prevailed for thirty years ;" and adds :
" In one respect this indignity differs from almost
every other that has preceded it. It comes directly from
the home government, and therefore cannot be escaped
from, as is so frequently done, by the simple disavowal of
the action of subordinates. The British cabinet has, in
fact, taken a position which it cannot maintain without
incurring direct collision with this country, and yet
from which there is no side-path in any direction. It
must either come to blows, or retreat straight backwards."
His conclusion is, that Great Britain will make an
apology, and that no war will ensue.
The Washington correspondent of the Journal of Com.
merce says :
" The affair happens at an unfortunate time, for the
reason that the feelings it will excite will be aggravated
by a recollection of the recent novel demonitration_of

Great Britain on the Mosquito coast and on the coast of
Cuba. It is also still more unfortunate, because it will be
made use of by the ultra-Protectionists to defeat any con-
templated legislation on the subject of a reciprocity of
trade between the United States and the British American
provinces. The intelligence of the capture of an American
fishing-schooner in the Bay of Fundy, by the British
vessel of war Nettle, was received here to-day, by a tele-
graphic dispatch to the speaker of the house, and was
soon noised about, and produced a great sensation. In
tact, this first act of violence, committed under the order
of May 26th, and without the courtesy of a notice to the
United States Government, is of itself considered as an
act of war. The war is commenced, and it is idle to sup-
pose that this country will fail to meet it with resentment,
however unable we may be at present to meet it with
effectual resistance.
The Senate have, it seems, taken up the idea, borrowed
from some phrenzied Protectionist of New York, that
Great Britain has resorted to this assault on our fisheries
with a view to promote the passage of a bill by Congress
for the establishment of a reciprocity of trade with the
British provinces, and they already declare that no
legislation of the kind, and no negotiation referring to the
object, shall be tolerated. The idea is absurd that the
British high Tory-Protectionist ministry should make a
war for the protection of free trade ! But this preposte-
rous idea is used here for the purpose of defeating the
action of Congress on the measure of reciprocity which
the Committee of Commerce of the House is about to
recommend."

Thus far the organs of the war party, if any such there
really be ; and now let us see what is said by those of the
opposite section of the American people. The National
Intelligencer says of the stipulations of the treaty :
" On our part, we ' renounce for ever any liberty
theretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants of the
United States to take, dry, or cure fish on or within three
marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbours
of the British dominions in America,' &c., with a proviso
that we may enter such bays or harbours for shelter or
repairs, &c."
The writer proceeds to state that Great Britain has all
along maintained her present views, which the American
government have only met by arguments ; and he con-
cludes :

" The truth is, we suspect, that our government has
contented itself with remonstrating and protesting for the
last twenty or thirty years, simply because it has not con-
fidence in the construction which it puts upon the treaty ;
and hence all these protracted difficulties• The matter
should no longer be left in doubt, We have made the
treaty, and we must abide by it. Our motto is, Ask for
nothing but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong;' and we have fall confidence that the administra-
tion will act up to it."
Another writer—a correspondent of the New York
Tribune—thus summarily disposes of the whole statements
of Mr. WEBSTER and the war party, both in the United
States and this country :
" It is supposed that the right set up by Great Britain
is unjust to the United States, and unreasonable ; that
the rights she now claims are founded on a new construc-
tion of an old treaty, and are now advanced for the first
time; and that a large fleet has been suddenly sent out
from England to drive off or capture American vessels
fiercely, and without notice to any one. All these ideas
are erroneous. Within my own recollection this fishy
hubbub has occurred annually for upwards of twenty
years, and commonly snakes its periodical visitation with
shad and salmon. The large fleet of nineteen vessels was
not suddenly sent out from England. The Cumberland,
74, under Admiral Seymour, and all the larger vessels
under his command, are nothing more than the regular
squadron of the West India and North American station,
and the reason why they are on the Nova Scotia shores
now is, that Halifax, during the summer season, is always
the head-quarters of that fleet. All the additional force
brought into service for enforcing the provisions of the
treaty, this year, consists of some small vessels, the ad-
vent of which was duly announced to the government of
the United States some time ago."

THE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND ITS
LOANS.

AT the meeting of the Council on Wednesday, it was
stated that the Health Committee have been borrowing
to the amount of £2,000, at 3t per cent. This is enor-
mous, and on the part of a public body, which has secu-
rity to offer, is perfectly indefensible. With three-per-
cent. stock above par, and whilst bankers will not allow
any interest on deposits, the Health Committee ought to
have been able to borrow money at three per cent., if not
less. It would be news to know who are the lucky par-
ties from whom the £2,000 have been borrowed.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.

YESTERDAY.

STEALING A COAT.—Jane Leonard was committed for
trial for stealing a coat from the house of Denis Fenning,
Great Crosshall-street, which she afterwards disposed of
for 2s. 3d., to Denis Fannan, of Fontenoy-street.
ROBBERY IN MILL-STREET. Elizabeth Harrison,
Hannah Beresford, and Mary Ellen Beresford, the two
latter mother and daughter, were sent for trial, charged
with stealing some cotton dress pieces and a piece of oil
cloth frum the shop of Mess's. Falcon and Brothers,
drapers, Mill-street, on Friday last. The goods had been
temptingly exposed at the shop door, as usual in such
cases, and were not missed until some time after they
were taken. Information was given to the police, and
officers Grisenthwaite and Sullivan traced them to the
possession of the prisoners, who had pledged a portion of
them with a pawnbroker named Mason. The quantity
stolen amounted in all to 150 yards of cotton piecing, and
12 yards of oil cloth.
STEALING Booxs.—Two respectably-dressed men,
named John Wilson and John Eccles, were committed for
trial for stealing a quantity of books from the house of
Mrs. Malladew, in Vernon-street. The prisoners called
at the house on Monday last, and took lodgings there.
They remained until Thursday afternoon ; and, after their
departure, the books were missed. They had been kept
in a chest of drawers in a room which the prisoners occu-
pied, and consisted of a large family Bible, a Life of
Christ, and eight volumes of the Spectator, valued alto-
gether at £ll. The prisoners had disposed of the pro-
perty to Francis M`Kew, bookseller, South John-street,
for 20s. Gd. Wilson had been previously brought up,
when he stated that Eccles was employed by him, and
had gone to Manchester. Information was forwarded to
that town, and the prisoner Eccles apprehended there.
The prisoner Eccles was defended by Mr. Chilton, who
stated that his client was respectably connected.
STEALING A WATCH.—John Conigan was sent to
prison for two months, for stealing a watch from the person
of a sailor named Thomas Irving. The parties were pas-
sengers in a steamer from Dublin to this port, and had
been drinking together. The complainant fell asleep on
a chest, but tumbled from it on to the floor, and his watch
fell out of his waistcoat pocket, and hung by the guard.
The prisoner then cut the guard, and got possession of
the watch, for the purpose of, as he said, " taking care of
it." On the vessel nearing tha Pierhead, after her arrival
in the river, however, he jumped ashore, and attempted to
make off with it, but was captured, and given into custody.
ROBBERY OF PASSENGERS IN AN EMIGRANT SHIP,
BY SOME OF THE CREW.—Four men, named Loftus
Guest, John Gefnay, John Willis, and Frank Briggs, three
of them seamen belonging to the packet-ship Shannon,
were charged with robbing two of the passengers of that
vessel of several articles of clothing ; and Guest was fur-
ther charged with attempting to stab Stephen Davies,
another of the crew, because he interfered to prevent
them. It appeared, that while the vessel was lying in the
river on Saturday morning, and while the passengers were
being mustered on deck by the Government officers, that
the prisoners, who, with others of the crew, were engaged
in searching below for stowaways, took the opportunity of
rifling some of the passengers' berths, and stealing a lot
of their luggage, Information was given to the police,
and detective officers were sent on board who apprehended
the prisoners and recovered most of the missing property.
Richard Guest, a stove and grate moulder, said he took a
steerage passage on board the ship Shannon, for New
York. On Saturday morning, while the vessel was lying
in the river, he had in his possession a carbet bag, which
he placed for safety under the pillow in his berth. It
contained a top coat, an under coat, or " shooting jacket,"
two waistcoats, two handkerchiefs, four shirts, a shirt
front with a set of studs in it, a pair of black trowsers,
and several other small articles. The passengers were
called to muster on deck, and on returning he missed his
carpet bag. He told the officers what had occurred,
and they gave him leave to search among the crew for
it. He went into the forecastle and found his carpet bag,
which had been cut open, in possession of the prisoner
Guest. He claimed his property, but Guest said "he
never was decent enough to have such clothes as those."
Eventually, however, he got possession of most part of
them with the assistance of a police-officer.— -Hans Peter
Hanson (who spoke through an interpreter) said he was a
native of Denmark. He was a wheelmaker by trade, and,
wishing to emigrate to the United States, he took a pas-
sage in the ship Shannon, for New York. He was on
board the vessel in the river on Saturday morning, and
had his luggage with him, which he deposited quite safe
in his berth. He went away from his berth for a short
time, and on coming back discovered that several of his
clothes were missing. He told the mate of his loss, and
went on shore to give information to the police. Officer
Murphy accompanied him back again, and when he had
got on board he was shown a coat, which he identified as
part of his missing property. The clothes stolen were
worth about £4, in addition to which he lost about
two pounds of tobacco.—Detective officer Sullivan
produced part of the tobacco, which he had found
in the possession of the prisoner Briggs.—Stephen
Davies, a seaman on board the Shannon, said he was in
the forecastle of the ship on Saturday, when he saw the
prisoner, Loftus Guest, bring down the carpet bag be-
longing to Richard Guest, and commence ripping it open
with his pocket knife. He (witness) remonstrated, and
said he would not stand by and see the passengers robbed
in that way. The prisoner told him to mind his own
business, and a quarrel ensued. They were messing toge-
ther soon after, and the subject was renewed, when the
prisoner made use of very abusive language, and applied a
very opprobrious epithet to witness. Witness struck the
prisoner, and, anticipating a blow in return, raised his
left hand, and immediately received a wound from a knife,
which the prisoner struck at him with, and which nearly
severed two of his fingers. The first and second mate
irons,
the to his assistance, and the prisoner was put in
the witness being placed in charge of the ship's surgeon.
Officers Murphy and Sullivan (of the detective force) gave
evidence implicating all the prisoners, and produced the
property which they had recovered. The prisoners were
committed for trial at the ensuing assizes.

A FINE YOUNG MALE LION arrived on Saturday from
the Cape, was landed yesterday from the ship Devon,
was sent to Mr. Hulse's establishment, Dale-street.
It is but six months old, of the African breed, and ging
every promise of proving a large animal,

IMPORTANT EMIGRATION CASE.

The case of the ship City of Lincoln has recently excited
the indignant notice of all who feel an interest in the mode
in which emhzration is carried on from this port. On
Wednesday and, by adjournment, on Saturday, an in-
quiry into the circumstances took place, before the sti-
pendiary magistrate and Mr. James Aikin, at the police-
court ; an intending emigrant, John M'Turk, having
summoned the charterer, John Johnson, for the return of
the passage-money, £l5, and compensation under the
passengers' act. Mr. HULL, solicitor, appeared for the
plaintiff; and Mr. FORSHAW, solicitor, for the defendant.
It appeared from a statement made by the former, that the
ship City of Lincoln was bought by Mr. Johnson from a
person named Stock, for the purpose of conveying emi-
grants from this port to Australia; that Johnson pa,id
over the greater portion of the purchase-money, leaving a
balance of about £1.600. The charterer immediately
took steps for the purpose- of obtaining passengers, and
by the end of June a good number of berths
were taken, and placards were issued, stating the
time when she would sail. The balance of purchase-
money had not, however, yet been paid, and Mr. Stock
declined to give up the charter. The vessel, conse-
quently, was unable to clear out, and the emigrants were
kept in the river day after day, until fifteen days had
elapsed since the time of her being advertised to take her
departure.
The chief point at issue was as to the time at which it
was contracted, between the plaintiff and defendant, the
vessel should sail, Mr. Hull contending that the time
specified was the 20th of July ; while Mr. Forshaw argued
that no time whatever was mentioned in the contract.
Mr. Hum, further contended that had no contract as
to the date of sailing existed, the ship ought to have been
despatched within a reasonable time, in which Mr. Mans-
field concurred with him. Mr. Hull, apart from that,
maintained that Mr. Johnson fixed the time the moment
he sent the vessel into the river. He asked whether there
was not a delay or a default within the meaning of this
act of perliament, and whether Mr. Johnson could be said
to have fulfilled the contract in taking the passengers into
the river, and allowing the vessel to remain moored fifteen
days, when he had not even the necessary sails on board to
carry her to Australia. It was very hard upon the emi-
grants to say that they should wait until Mr. Johnson and
the original owner had entered into some arrangement. He
thought it was a matter of great grievance to them that,
since Wednesday, the vessel had been removed from
George's Pierhead to the mouth of the river, so as to
render it almost impossible for the emigrants to get on
shore.

Mr. FORSHAVV explained that she had been removed
for the purpose of being sold, Mr. Johnson having failed
in procuring on mortgage the requisite sum to pay for
her ; and further that no breach of agreement as to date
of sailing had taken place, as the emigrant had been pro-
vided with a berth, and the vessel had really commenced
her passage.
Mr. MANSFIELD remarked that it was futile to say she
was on her passage, when there were no sails to aid in
propelling her, when she had not cleared out at the Cus-
toms, and when she had got no certificate of register.
At this stage Mr. MANSFIELD adjourned the hearing
until to-day. _ _

A large number of the emigrants, many of them re-
spectable, smart-lookingc, men, were in the co.irt during
the hearing, and, just bebre leaving, one of them ex-
pressed an opinion that the City of Lincoln never would
sail for Australia, and that, if he could get his luggage on
shore, he would immediately part company with her.
Mr. FORSITAW observed that it was by his orders the
luggage of the emigrants had been detained on board, be-
cause he thought some of them might be foolish enough
to endeavour to leave the ship. He assured them that
every exertion would be used to settle the affair, and in-
dulged in a hope that, before Tuesday morning, they
would be on their voyage.