The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-15 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1853.

not forgetting the sham amnesty of Louis NAPOLEON,

have presented ample scope for conversation among
our foreign political quidnuncs at the clubs to-
wards the close of the week. Should the work of Maz-
ZINI and his brother
humbug, Louis KOSSUTH,—
the former living quietly among the cow-herds of Swit-
zerland, far from the scene of strife, the latter within a
mile of London town, still more safe, not soon be
finished, NAPOLEON will have something to do ; he must
assist Austria at all hazards. But the affair is over ; it
was a mere spurt, though it disturbed the marital peace
of the Emperor NAPOLEON 111, who did not at all expect it.
So at least I am informed by one redolent of the puff and
powder of the Tuileries. The Milanese scavengers, not-
withstanding the " blowing horn" of KOSSUTH, were
easily settled ; but there will be more of it :• MAzzINI is
worth half-a
-dozen KOSSUTHS in the cause of—Freedom,
in their acceptation of the word. With regard to the
French amnesty, it appears, on analysation, that the num-
ber, nearly 5000, is swollen by the insertion of the name
of the same party two or three times over,—the insertion
also of names of parties dead, &c. The amnesty, how-
ever, such as it is, appears somewhat incongruous with the
recent political arrests, which are at present very much
disliked in the French Capital. All sorts of rumours have
been current towards the close of the week; among them
the assassination of Louis NAPOLEON. They have afforded
a slight relief to the ennui of the clubs, which Lord
ABERDEEN and JOHNNIE RUSSELL have not yet achieved.
" Such things will happen in the best regulated fami-
lies," is a phrase fracuently in our mouths ;—but that a

schism, or anything like one, or cause of grumbling, or
dissentient voice should be heard within the walls of the
Royal Literary Fund Society, is almost incredible, yet so
it is, and that too on the score of expensive management.
Passing strange, seeing that almost the only two persons
really paid out of the funds are OCTAVIAN BLEWITT, the
secretary, and his man-in-plush. True, OCTAVIAN has a
bit of coal and candle o' nights, and chambers to live in :
surely these were not sufficient to cause the expense to
overrun the constable ! The Literary Fund ! How
many pleasant remembrances are conjured up by
the mere mention of the words! Truly it has long been,
yea still is, a corporate body, whose " right hand knoweth
not what the left doeth," or vice versa as regards the
hands

Fall many a hungry author, with shirt " coaxed
" on his bosom, have I known made glad by

into neatness

unostentatiously dispensed ten or twenty pounds of

the society : no one knew of it but the Secretary, sworn to
secrecy, and one or two of the Council. What though I
have seen a glorious but decayed writer indulge in a spitted
woodcock, and one humble glass of sherry, off the first end
of the bounty ! It was not much to one who had sub-
scribed his guineas in more refulgent days, and whose
tastes still lingered beyond their gratification. The
Literary Fund is not what it used to be ; there is not now

the noble eccentricity of genius and charity which charac-
terised the gatherings even twenty years ago, when

litterate

urs, wits, and bon vivants of the
period made the welkin of Freemason's Hall ring with

mirth and jollity, co-mingled with the " melting strain."

The laugh then was real, Tom MoonE, MACREADY,

POWER, LOVER, and a dozen etceteras, men with not a

groschen capital to begin with, but raised by themselves
—most of them to eminence—honoured the cause. About
this time they had CUSACK RONEY as Secretary, since of
great railway fame, and at present in Berlin catering for
the ensuing Dublin (I was about to say DARGAN)
exhibition. Then, too, it was that WILLIAM JERDAN,
I believe the senior literary workman on the London
press, became an iconoclast, cutting into ribbons DAN
MACLISE'S image of Old SOANE, the architect, over
the mantel-piece of the Fund Meeting-room, because the
aforesaid image was so like the snappish old man, that
he was constantly complaining of it. MACLISE, like a
skilful artist at Bartholomew's strapping an Irishman's
nose after a fray, laid on his sticking- plaister so nicely that
the picture became " ash good ash new." The late Sir
ROBERT PEEL, the present BEN DISRAELI, LANSDOWNE,
ABERDEEN, JOHNNIE RUSSELL, used to unbend on the
occasions I refer to, and hob-nob it with writers not
worth, in tin, a sous; aye, and invite on a Saturday to
dine.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY NEIJ S.

MONDAY NIGHT.
AFTER the active business which has prevailed,
both in Commercial and Monetary circles, there
has been a lull, which, considering the natural ten-
dency to run into speculation, may have been more
beneficial than otherwise. It is not, however, that
the markets have shown any symptoms of a re-
actionary character, for prices generally have been
firm ; but the disposition seems rather to pause, in
order to watch the effect of recent monetary opera-
tions. Another week has passed over without any
further change having been made in the rate of dis-
count by the Directors of the Bank of England, so
that the primary cause of the alarm from French
speculations may be considered to be obviated; but
the returns published in the London Gazette show
a further decrease in the stock of bullion to the ex-
tent of above £340,000. This can hardly be said
to be satisfactory, though it is no doubt partly
owing to the continued shipments of specie to Aus-
tralia, from whence the returns are still compara-
tively small. The public funds have slightly fluc-
tuated in value, owing to the news of insurrectionary
disturbances in Austrian Italy, through the machi-
nations of Mazzini and Kossuth; but intelligence
of their suppression was received almost immedi-
ately afterwards, and large purchases, by Govern-
ment brokers and private individuals, soon restored
the funds to their former value, so that, taken as a
test of public confidence, the appearance of the
Money-market is in every way satisfactory. Although
the changes in the stock of bullion have lately
been looked at with far more interest than usually
attaches to this subject, it must not be forgotten that
there is still a very ample margin for future contin-
gencies, even with the Restriction Act of 1844 still
in force ; for the reserve of notes unissued is above
nine millions. In addition to this, we may shortly
expect the arrival of the steam-ship Great Britain,
and other vessels, from Australia, with large sup-
plies of gold, so that, as far as the simple question
of currency is concerned, there is not the slightest
ground for apprehension. The strangest part
of the affair appears to be, that whilst an attempt
was made to create alarm for the disarrangement
of commerce, owing to too great an influx of the
precious metals, the result as yet has been in
an opposite direction. It is gratifying, however, to
observe that the fears on either side have not been
realized, for, with the exception of Pig Iron, on
which we have previously commented, speculation
has been kept within legitimate bounds, while almost
all commercial markets have shown a most satis-
factory steadiness. The reports from the manu-
facturing districts state that the activity in almost
all departments still continues, and most descrip-
tions of goods maintain their value. There has not
been so active a demand for the raw material, but
that is solely owing to the recent large purchases
having placed the spinners better in stock, and their
disinclination to buy more freely until they see more
clearly the turn which the market is likely to take.

The Return from the Bank of England for the
week ending the sth February gives the following
results when compared with the previous week :
Public deposits .. 5,568,205; Increase £332,212
Other deposits .. 12,606,230; Decrease 459,963
Rest .. 3,308,432; Increase 89,991
On the other side of the account--
Government securities £13,764,651 ; Decrease 35,962
Other securities .. 13,705,812 ; Increase 51,647
Notes unemployed .. 9,338,820 ; Decrease 172,540
The amount of notes in circulation is £22,695,410,
being a decrease of £288,040 ; and the stock of
bullion in both departmer

ing a decrease of £342,
the preceding return.

Is is £18,700,812, show-
)23 when compared with

ISSUE DEE'
Notes issued .. £32,034,230 1

£32,034,230

BANKING D
Prop.'s capita1.X14,553,000
Rest
Public deposits. 5,568,205
Other deposits. 12,696,230
7.day, &c. bills. 1,439,998

port, 18+; London and North-western stock, 120,
ditto fifth-shares, 31p. ; Manchester, Sheffield and
Lincoln, 301; Midland stock, 781- ; Newry
and Warrenpoint, 82 ; South-eastern and Dover,
stock, 211- 24 24c+ 24 +; Lancashire and Yorkshire
6 per cent. pref., 15N. Borough Bank £lO shares, 11k.
PRODUCE.-Although the extent of business in
Sugar has not been great,-the market has been
firm, and 240 hhds. 8.P., and 3,000 bags Bengals,
realised full rates. In Foreign the sales were 350
bags of old Brazil, at 19s. for yellow, and 21s. to
225. 6d. for white, and about 3,000 boxes yellow
Havana. In Molasses nothing doing. In Cof-
fee, very little. Of Cocoa, 400 hags Para sold
at 245. 6d. to 255. per cwt., and of Pepper, 500
bags Eastern realised 3a.1. to 3:ld. per lb. In
Rice the business was very trifling, and the same
remark will apply to Rum. The market for Tea
is also dull, some few sales of common Congou
were effected at 10d., better sorts without alteration,
and Green in fair request at previous rates. No
sales of Indigo. Saltpetre dull, and Nitrate
of Soda without change. Turpentine has ad-
vanced in value, 1,300 brls. having fetched 13s. 6d.
Linseed Oil in active request. Spirits of Tur-
pentine in fair demand. Palm Oil, £32. 10s.
to £33. Tallow has slightly improved, but the
business has been trifling. Petersburg Y.C. has
been sold at 455. Of Jute, 150 bales fetched
£l9. 10s. per ton. To-DAY, there was an im-
proved demand for Sugar, and very full prices were
realised, the business, including Saturday's sales,
comprising 350 hhds. Demerara, to the Refiners, at
325. 6d. to 345. 6d. ; 400 bags Benares, at 375. 9d.;
1,750 hags Madras, at 31s. 3d. ; and 185 cases
Maceio, at 18s. per cwt. There is nothing to
report in Rum. A few tierces Plantation Ceylon ,
Coffee brought 58s. to 625., and 50 bags St. Do-
mingo 435. per cwt. In Tea there is nothing new
to notice. 100 bags black Pepper sold at 31d.
per lb., 40 brls. Ceylon Plumbago at 155., and 370
slabs Straits' Tin at 107 s. Gd. per cwt.
COTTON.-Owing in a great measure to the
manufacturers having supplied themselves suffi-
ciently for immediate consumption, the market
during the week was very inactive, with a tendency
to decline, and the advices from America by no
means tended to restore animation. On Thursday,
however, there was a slight improvement, and a
better feeling became prevalent, so that quotations
were left unaltered in Friday's circular. The
business done on Saturday amounted to 6000 bales,
including 2000 for speculation and for export, at
steady prices. To-DAY, the Europa's advices have
checked the demand; the sales are 4000 bales, at
1-16 d. to W. decline. Speculators are frightened
at the increase of the receipts. Last year they were
light in the two first weeks of February, and there-
fore an increase in the receipts is not to be wondered
at. It is possible we may see a further increase up
to March, but then, when a comparison is made
with the extraordinary heavy receipts of last year,
there is no doubt we shall see a great falling off.
According to appearance, the present flatness will
not be of long duration ; the last telegragh from
New Orleans of the Ist instant quoted middling
9ic., freight id., or equal to 5-87-d., and when they
have the advance on this side of id., we shall doubt-
less hear of higher prices, and all chance of import-
ing cheap Cotton will be gone. The shipments to
this port are again heavy. There are now at sea
350,000 bales of Cotton, including all sorts, destined i
for this country, the largest quantity we believe ever
known.

• I SALES
DESCRIPTION. PRICES. Week ' Previ- Week ,;s
ending ously ending Ph
,Feb.ll.,this yr. Feb.ll., ear. Feb. 11

IMPORTS.

(1. tl. i
Sea Island lB Ci:,3o S9O; 1310
Stained 7} 15 130 130 121442
Boweds 4} 6i, 12250. 55780 i
Mobile 4} 6ii
16450 I
6100' 21640 1 j
, I 1
New Orleans. 4} 711 2008047491 144333! 1
Pernains, &c. 6i 70'
I l 1
970; 7380 } .... 1 9919 } 17920
I
Aracati, &c —
Bahia, &c.
,
Alaranliam
sawginned. __ 1 260 2620 } .... .... 1 1 18370
Deinerara,Blcl 7 1
Egyptian ; 5/ II
llarbadoes .- I -

75C,82 I

394080

20
14730
Peruvian ' ....
Laguayra 5d— I 160 I i 1
COin.W.l.&c. 7i 20 } 1380
Cartliagena 4} 30
Smyrna 4i 4} 60 I i
Manilla — .... J j
Surat
Madras
Bengal i— .... ....I .... ....I 1010

13057

337 I
4340

I --
50150 257760 68936 266831 627850

Woo L.—The Yorkshire markets have been rather
flatter this week, but as stocks of All kinds are low,
holders are asking very full rates. Irish Wool is
not so much inquired for just now; former rates
are, however, fully maintained. There has not
been quite so much activity displayed in Wools
generally this week, owing to the anticipation of
the public sales in London, which commenced on
the 10th instant. From the accounts received this
morning there is a large attendance of the home
trade, but an unusual absence of foreign buyers,
in consequence of which the competition has not
been so spirited, and the advance quoted is about
1-,(1. per lb. on fine, and lsd. to id. per lb. on low
descriptions, as compared with the series in Nov.
last. In our Wool market we have no new feature
to notice; we have a brisk demand for low Wools
of all descriptions, and the late advance has so far
been fully maintained. Imports from all quarters
continue very limited, and stocks quite inadequate
to present requirements.
InoN.—ln Scotch Pigs we understand there is
literally nothing doing, and prices are gradually
dwindling down. There are further failures,
chiefly amongst the outsiders ; and it is feared
that many more will take place, from all we hear.
525. is about the nominal value, but no buyers.
Each sale results in a reduced quotation.

DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS.-

IMPORTANT CASE.

Yesterday, a most important case came before Mr.
Mansfield and Mr. Sands, at the police-office, at two
o'clock, at which hour an unusual number of spectators

had assembled in the court. The prisoners were the
principals of a respectable firm in Liverpool, and their
chief clerk, the whole of whom had been in custody since
the evening of Saturday. Thomas Fletcher, residing at
Rice-lane, Walton, and Alfred Frith, residing at King-

street, Edge-hill, the members of the firm of Fletcher
and Frith, fruit-brokers, 4, Temple-court, were brought
up on a warrant charging them with defrauding Her Ma-
jesty's Customs of a sum of money. William Kerfoot,
Rose-court, Park-hill, their managing clerk, was likewise
brought up on the charge of conspiring to defraud Her
Majesty's Customs of a sum of money. The case was
stated to be in the hands of Inspector Kehoe. The charge
was supported by Mr. Felix John Hamel, solicitor of
customs, London, and Mr. Beverley. For the prisoners,
Fletcher and Frith, Messrs. Davenport and Collyer and
Sir G. Stephen appeared. Kerfoot was not supported by
any solicitor. Before the trial came off, the solicitors for
the two principals applied to the court to accept bail for
the, prisoners, but, on being told that they might confer
with their clients, they did not press the request, and
Messrs. Fletcher and Frith accordingly remained in cus-
tody. When they were brought up at two o'clock, the
court granted leave for them to sit, during the course of
the trial, by the side of their counsel.

Mr. FELIX JOHN HAMEL, who appeared on behalf of
the Crown, said it would probably be necessary to a clear
understanding of the case that he should give an outline
of it, and explain the process, so far as he was acquainted
with it, by which the parties at the bar conspired to de-
' fraud the Customs. With reference to the importation of
oranges and lemons, there were two modes of charging
the duty upon them. In the first place, the rateable duty
was charged by measure ; but as, from the perishaLle na-
ture of the goods, many were rotten and worthless, the
duty was, in the second instance, charged upon value.
The question of the value was generally settled between
the officer of Customs and the importer. The practice in
Liverpool was—for the fruit-brokers to lodge the full
amount of the rateable duty with the Customs' officer ; to
receive the oranges, and put them up for sale ; when an
account of the prices received was submitted to the officer,
and on that the duty was charged. Now, if it appeared
that the account of a sale rendered by any broker was in-
correct and below the prices realised, then it would be at
once proved that the Crown had been defrauded. In the
present case there were a large number of frauds alleged
against the prisoners ; but, from the great number and
length of the documents which it would be necessary to
ge into, he did not propose to take more than three cases.
These three cases with which he proposed to trouble
the court related to the cargoes of the ships Daunt-
less, Uzilla, and Affeto. In the first case they paid
duty to the amount of ;£ll 12s. sd. ; in the second,
£8 4s. 4d. ; in the third, £22 6s. 10d. In the third case,
although the transaction was not completed, still he was
prepared to show that it had been so far similar to the
previous cases. In these, Messrs. Fletcher arid Frith
were the brokers ; Mr. Wm. Kerfoot their managing clerk,
and Mr. Howse the importer. In coupling the name of
Howse with the names of Messrs. Fletcher and Frith, it
was only due to that gentleman to say that he must be
acquitted, in the most unequivocal terms, of having parti-
cipated in the fraud which Messrs.: Fletcher and Frith
had practised, by submitting to the Customs officer ac-
counts of sales which were not true. It was left to the
broker's good faith and honour to submit a correct ac-
count, and to prove that these persons had not done so, he
would call witnesses who had been present at certain auc-
tions, who had taken notes of the sales which then took
place, and who were thus enabled to show the extent of
those particular cases of fraud by which he proposed to
support the charge against the individuals at the bar. In

connexion with the cargo of the Uzilla, the following
witnesses were then called :
John Wignall deposed :—I am clerk to the Collector of
Customs, at the port of Liverpool. The document which
I now produce is a billiof sight. which I received on ac
count of Thos. Fletcher and Alfred Frith, in respect of
the cargo of the Uzilla, from Palermo. I received that bill,
and I likewise received £BO at the time. There is an
indorsement on one side by William Kerfoot. I know
Kerfoot, and recognize him now. I find £73 183.
paid. I cannot speak positively that this is William
Kerfoot's handwriting, as it was not signed in my
presence. It is in respect of 606 boxes of oranges and
lemons, yalue £63 14s. Bd. This is a collector's entry bill
I have in my hand, and refers to 520 boxes of oranges
and lemons, and 82 boxes of oranges and lemons, value
£7 3s. sd. The whole amount of duty is £73 18s. This
is a special certificate for the return of duties to Fletcher
and Frith in the case of the cargo of the Uzilla. There
is a gross sum of £147 14s. 9d. in respect of certain ves-
sels,- of which the £73 15s. formed a part, as it also did
in the application for the return of certain duties which
had been paid into the Customs. I find a receipt on the
back of this certificate by Alfred Frith, one of the firm.
I paid that sum either to Mr. Frith or to his young man;
Cross-examined by Sir George Stephen.—The name
of the young man was Kerfoot. I do not know that I
have ever seen, or have ever had any connexion, with
either Mr. Fletcher or Mr. Frith. For a good number of
years I can speak positively that I never had any transac-
tion with them. T leave been clerk to the collector for two
years, and, if Mr. Fletcher or Mr. Frith had paid duties
personally before that, I should not have known.
Robert Fisher said : I am a landing waiter in the
Customs ; 1 was on duty in the King's dock on the 12th
of December, 1851. The vessel called the Uzilla was
discharging shumac and oranges. On that day I received
this bill on sight, which I now hold in my hand. In
consequence I allowed the goods to be landed. The
goods are mentioned in the entry. I allowed 682 boxes
of oranges to be landed. On the 15th of December 14
boxes were taken for samples. They were delivered to
James Melling, then in the employment of Messrs.
Fletcher and Frith. On the 16th of December I saw the
prisoner Kerfoot. He endorsed this sight on the 16th for
506 boxes lemons. He paid the measurement value for
82 boxes, which was £7 3s. I saw Kerfoot sign that, and
put his address to it. The bill on sight was then handed
back to the parties. I received from Kerfoot an account
of sale; I have not got it : it is not customary to preserve
such documents, and they are generally either destroyed
by the surveyor or by myself. In this case I handed it to
my surveyor, Mr. Rich. That was on the 16th. I have
searched for it, but cannot find it. If the sights are per-
fected the account sale is afterwards waste paper, and
accordingly is never preserved. That document par-
ticularises the prices that the different lots of oranges sold
for, per box. The surveyor, in this case, did not approve
of the rate of duty, as he would not allow sound oranges
to go for ad valorem duty. In consequence of that refusal
that amount was paid for them.
Cross-examined by Sir George Stephen.—lt is twelve
months since I saw that account sale. The paper is
printed on both sides. I cannot say what the paper
contains. I only swear that it was produced, and that
the surveyor did not approve of it. The surveyor would
have the measurement, instead of the ad valorem, duty.
Mr. Kerfoot brought down the bill of sale to me from
Messrs. Fletcher's house.

Mr. Rich deposed : I am landing-surveyor in the
Customs at Liverpool. I was there on the 16th December,
1851. 1 received this document as a bill of sight for the
Uzilla, which I rejected. I claimed the full duty upon the
goods, as they were in a sound condition. In consequence
of that rejection they paid the full amount of duty, whit
the exception of upon 82 boxes, which were damaged.
In consequence of an application for the return of the
duty, the board ordered it to be returned. I find an ac-
count of sale in that application of 602 boxes, less 82,
which I had already returned as damaged. £lB 9e. Id.
was the sum returned upon this application. The prac-
tice with regard to the importation of oranges on
the 16th of December, 1851, was to demand the full rate
of duties on all sound boxes and to adroit demaged ones
at an ad valorem duty of one-third of the sale price.
When the goods are landed and examined, they have to be
landed by sight entry. Having been landed, a deposit is
paid sufficient to cover the full rate of duties. The goods
are then sold by public auction. The orange bookers of
the port are the sellers. I cannot swear that Messrs.
Fletcher and Frith were the sellers of that particular cargo.
The orange brokers, after the sale, give the officers a
copy, supposed to be authentic, of the account of the sale,
and all those boxes of oranges which have realised less
than ordinary prices are delivered on payment of the ad
valorem duty of 75 per cent. upon a third of the proCeeds
of the sale.

Cross-examined by Sir George Stephen.—l never
had any personal intercourse with Messrs. Fletcher and
Frith.

Samuel. Howse said—l am a merchant, carrying on
business in this port. I was consignee of the cargo by
the Uzilla of oranges and lemons in December, 1851. I
caused that cargo to be sold by public auction. The
brokers were Messrs. Fletcher and Frith. I had an
account sale furnished to me by that firm. I had more
thanone account sale. The first was on the 19th of Dec.
One has reference to 131 boxes of oranges, and 140 boxes
of lemons. The amount of duty said to have been paid is
£33 3s. Bd., besides an additional 5 per cent., £1 13s. 2d.
The next account stated to have been paid for duty is
£l6 9s. Bd. The separate accounts are dated the 15th,
17th, 22nd, 23rd, and 29th of December. The whole
amount of duty is £77 10s. 6d. These accounts have been
submitted to me, and paid. In the month of February,
1852, I received this credit note from Messrs. Fletcher
and Frith in respect of this cargo. I have no recollection
of that duty.
Edwin Duckworth Musgrove.—l am a landing-waiter
in the Customs. I received this paper (the credit note)
from Mr. Samuel Howse.

Mr. Howse's examination resumed.—That note has the
appearance of having been filed in my office, but I cannot

swear to it.

Examined by Sir George Stephen.—l believe that
Messrs. Fletcher and Frith are in a very extensive way
of business. Some hundreds of documents like that credit
note probably pass through their hands in the course of a
year. I know something of the fruit business, and those
engaged in it are obliged to be extremely expeditious in
their operations, from the perishable nature of the goods.
They employ a large number of clerks, as they have often
to effect sales on the same day on which the goods arrive.
James Adam, fruit-broker in Liverpool, deposed : I am
in partnership with my father. I attended the sale on the
15th of Dec., by Messrs. FLtcher and Frith. Goods are
knocked down to the highest bidders, the catalogues
being either printed or written. In the present instance
the catalogue was printed. 1 took a note of the prices at
which the various lots were disposed of. A few.of the
lemons were not sold, 180 boxes. If Messrs. Fletcher and
Frith state that 100 boxes fetched only 6s. it would be in-
correct. If they said that the whole of these goods were
sold on the 15th December, they were not sold at the
auction at all events. If they said that 26 boxes sold for
ss. 6d. that would not be correct. A few of the boxes, I
see, from notes made at the time, were sold for 10s. and
10s. 6d., 20 were sold at 10s., 15 at 10s. 9d., and 2 at Ils.
The prices given in the application of Messrs. Fletcher
and Frith for a return of the duty are much less than
those which the goods actually realised, so that the effect
would be that the Crown would receive less duty than that
to which they are entitled.
Cross-examined by Sir George Stephen : lam well ac-
quainted with Messrs. Fletcher and Frith. They are gen-
tlemen of very extensive business, and have borne hitherto
a high character for honor. I cannot say that mistakes are
of frequent occurrence in the department of the fruit trade
to which the documents produced refer. There may be
mistakes in the transactions of our firm with the Customs'
officer, but lam not aware of any. It is always our prac-
tice to have the account sales submitted to the Custom-
house examined by one of the firm. Great expedition
is necessary in the business. Examined by Mr. Hamel :
It is not necessary that an account to be expeditiously
done should be incorrect.
John Dring, clerk with Messrs. Badenach, fruit
brokers, who had attended on the 17th and 29th of Dec.,
at the sale of the goods by the Uzilla, and who had
likewise taken notes of the prices, gave evidence
to a similar purport as the previous witness. This
witness had been in the employment of the prison-
ers for two years, and in reply to the question
of Sir George Stephen, he said, Mr. Fletcher had many
clerks, and it was his habit to sign papers brought to him
for that purpose without reading them. I had nothing to
do with account sales when I was there, and I cannot say
positively he signed them without reading them. lam
in the employment of a fruit-broker now, and it is the
custom of the principal to sign papers without reading
them.

Robert Adams re-called.—The application made to the
Customs for return of duty is in Mr. Frith's handwriting.
This concluding the first of the three cases to be gone
into by the prosecutor, it was agreed that the case be ad-
journed till the following day (to-day), at twelve o'clock.
Sir George Stephen said he was quite at a loss to ascer-
tain on what ground the charge of fraud was founded ;
and, stating that it was a very serious charge indeed, not
only in reference to its character, but in reference to the
character of the gentlemen implicated, or said to be impli-
cated, complained that they had been taken into custody
on Saturday night without any previous communication
on the subject.

Mr. HaMel said they had applied in due course for war-
rants, and the officer to whom they were entrusted had
merely done his duty. There was no feeling on the part
of the Crown to deal hardly by the prisoners.

THE PANORAMA OF THE NILE.—As it has been deli
nitively announced that this exhibition will close on Sa-
turday next, those who have not seen this magnificent
picture of the river Nile, should avail themselves of the
intervening period to do so. It is not only interesting cs
a picture of one of the most ancient countries, but it is
accompanied with an explanatory lecture, in which it is
clearly shown how modern' Egypt offers the most con-
vincing evidence of the truths of Holy Writ.

AT THE MARYLEIIONE POLICE COURT, LONDON, last
week, Charlotte Spain, a fine-looking woman, was com-
mitted for trial, for stealing from Alexander Young, of
Deptford, a £lOO note, which he had given into her pos-
session at Euston-square station, for the purpose of pro-
curing three railway tickets to Liverpool, having promised
to treat her and another woman to a trip to this town.
On obtaining possession of the note she proceeded to the
bank and had it changed.
ELECTION PETITIONS.—The fight of the controverted
elections begins this week before the select committee of
the House of Commons. Committees to try the merits
of the several petitions complaining of undue returns were
appointed yesterday in the cases of Tavistock, Bridgenorth,
Lancaster, and Canterbury, and will be to-morrow in the
cases of Blackburn, Clitheroe, and Chatham. The com-
mittee on the four first cases will commence their labours
on Thursday, and in the three last named on Saturday
next.

THE HEROES OF THE REFORMATION.-Mr. Lord de-
livered his second lecture at the Collegiate Institution, on
Friday evening, when he treated of Henry IV., of France
and the Huguenots, showing the causes of the failure of
Protestantism in France. The attendance was exceedingly
small. We understand that as regards the forthcoming
lectures, the programme has undergone some alteration,
the Rev. B. Percival, a clergyman connected with the
church, missions in Southern India, having kindly con-
sented to give lectures embracing leading subjects relating
to India, These lectures will be delivered during this
week and next.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE came on for trial in the
Court of Passage on Friday last. The plaintiff was
Antonio Bini ; the defendant, Paolo Pifferi. They are
both Italian refugees. Plaintiff was in the Republican
army of Italy before he came to England. Defendant
was at first a Roman Catholic priest, but afterwards
turned Protestant, and subsequently came to England.
Plaintiff had also come to Liverpool, and the action was
brought to recover £44 10s. for information which the
plaintiff says he gave defendant respecting events which
occurred during the revolution in Italy, and upon which
the defendant lectured or preached in Liverpool, and, as
plaintiff says, made a large sum of money. The jury
found on the first plea that there was no compact between
the parties. The assessor : that is a verdict for the de-
fendant, gentlemen, so we need not consider the second
question.

THE MAYOR ON BURNS AS A POET.—At the dinner
given by his worship on Thursday evening, to the sons of
Burns, Mr. Holme said : Time has tested the popularity
of the Scottish bard, not only in his own country, but in
every part of the civilised world ; and when 1 recollect
that a Liverpool man was the biographer of Burns, that
another (Mr. Roscoe) wrote one of the most charming
poems on his death,—and that, after an interval of fifty-
four years, we were favoured with the presence of two
sons of the poet, who have survived to witness to this day
the fame of their parent,—and when T add to this that
many of his countrymen are here present, some of them
the personal friends of those sons, all will agree, that a
tribute to the memory of Robert Burns is not unbefitting
the occasion which has assembled us together. Humour,
tenderness, and sublimity, were characteristic of his mind.
Who does not feel the touching pathos of his " Man was
made to Mourn ? " Many a time, when, in the stern ex-
ercise of duty, I have been compelled to refuse employ-
ment to " some poor o'erlaboured wight," have the words
of that poem flashed across my mind, and I felt that I
might be causing some " weeping wife or helpless off-
spring" to mourn.

DR. FISHER'S EXHIBITION OF DISSOLVING VIEWS.—
The exhibition which was given at the Hall of the Colle-
giate Institution on Tuesday evening, in aid of Kirkdale
Church, met with the success which it deserved. Not
fewer than one thousand seven hundred people were pre-
sent, including, of course, a large portion of the congre-
gation of St. Mary's Church, Kirkdale. The Rev. D.
James announced the objects represented on the canvas
during the first stage of the proceedings, offering an ap-
propriate passing remark on each. But when the pheno-
mena of the heavens and of the seasons came on, Dr.
Fisher explained briefly the diagrams until the close.
Nothing could exceed the beauty and the clearness of the
numerous views which the learned doctor had selected
for the occasion. Poppleton Church, in Yorkshire, co-
vered with snow, in the dead of winter, and Llamberris
and Snowdon exhibited during the same season, drew
from the spectators immense applausl. All, with the
exception of those who occupied the hindmost seats in the
body and lower gallery, whence, from the ill adaptation
of the ball for an exhibition of this kind, the views were
only partly visible, expressed themselves highly delighted.

JUNCTION OF THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS.
—The project of forming a junction between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans, by means of a gigantic canal cut
through the Isthmus of Darien, from Port Escosees, on
the Atlantic, and San Miguel, on the Pacific, has at
length assumed a tangible shape. The promoters have
been assiduously employed in perfecting their arrange-
ments for the formation of a public company. Their
labours have been successful so far; and a direction com-
posed of Lord Wharncliffe (chairman), John P. Heywood,
Esq. (deputy chairman), and Messrs. J. S. Brownrigg,
Thomas It. Crampton, G. D'Olier Gowan, W. J.
Hamilton, Lewis H. Hazlewood, T. H Hope, Captain
M'Kinnon, R.N., Melvil Wilson, Alexander Wilson, of
London ; Messrs. Charles Brownell, Edward Cropper, J.
C. Ewart, Hugh Hornhy, of Liverpool ; Admiral C. E.
Moorson, R.N., of Birmingham ; A. Montoya, Consul-
General of New Granada ; Francisco de Riveiro, Minister
Plenipotentiary from the government of Peru, in Paris ;
and Ezeg Rogas, Minister of New Granada, in Lon-
don. The proposed capital is £15,000,000, divided into
150,000 shares. The plan proposed by Mr. Gisborne, out
of three selected as the most feasible, is to form inter-
oceanic navigation by means of a canal without locks.
SELECT VESTRY.—On Tuesday, at the meeting of this
body, the Rev. Rector. Campbell presided.—There were
reported to be present about 2,120 inmates in the Work-
house.—Mr. Mellor complained that some Protestant
children in the governor's books had been taken to a
Roman Catholic Chapel every Sunday, by somebody.—
Mr. Hughes retorted by giving the names of seven boys

who were Roman Catholics, bny had been forced to attend
the church in the Workhouse on Sunday last.—The Rev.
Chairman suggested that the matter should be referred for
inquiry to the Workhouse Committee. Agreed to.—The
Vestry then proceeded to the election of three district
medical officers. The following gentlemen were chosen :
Mr. E. B. Durkan, 21 votes ; Mr. D. P. Thomson, 16
votes ; and Mr. Newton, 15 votes.—The next business
was the appointment of a parish surveyor. The salary is
£3OO a-year ; and private practice is allowed, so long as
from ten to five o'clock each day be devoted to the public
service. The Finance Committee submitted the fol-
lowing four gentlemen for the selection of the Board:—
Mr. W. H. Weightman, Mr. H. D. Morgan, Mr. W. H.
Graham, and Mr. Thomas Wylie. After a long debate,
the votes were taken, when there appeared fot Mr.
Weightman, 12 ; Mr. Morgan, 4 ; Mr. Graham, 0 ; and
Mr. 'Wylie, 8 votes. Mr. Weightman not having a majo-
rity of those present, the Board again divided, with a
different result. There then appeared for Mr. Weight-
man, only 9, and for Mr. Wylie 15 votes. Mr. Wylie
was accordingly elected. Mr. John Jones, slate merchant,
was appointed a vestryman in the place of Mr. Baxter,
resigned.

PROGRESS OF SOUTHPORT.—From seventy to one hun-
dred new houses are about being erected, in addition to
the two hundred built in the last two years. There are
only two houses to be let in the whole town, and engage-
ments are made as soon as the foundations are laid, by
new tenants applying. Workmen of all classes are in
great demand. The contract has been made for the direct
line to Manchester via Wigan. A Welsh firm have con-
tracted to make the line for £70,000, the company finding
the iron.—Preston Chronicle.

THE SOUTHPORT DONKEY-DRIVERS' PETITION.—The
following jeu d'esprit was written by one of the barristers
on hearing the discussion by counsel relative to the lately-
proposed bylaws :
"THE HUMBLE PETITION OF MICHAEL O'MULLEOAN, DRIVER
OF A SADDLE ASS, TO THE COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS,
EIRKDALE
" The humble petition of Michael O'Mullezan
Shows that his bead with confusion is full again,
From the rules the commissioners lately promulgated,
Which have puzzled him more than ever the vulgate did.
And their end, men and asses, in Southport desiderate,
If your honours will just be so kind and considerate,
For the mixture of bridles, and drivers, and asses,
And stands for the donkeys, and stands for the lasses,
Male donkeys, she drivers, and all the localities
The commissioners fix for the sexes and qualities,
Have so bothered the brain of your humble petitioner,
He don't know an ass from a Southport Commissioner."