The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-30
How New York II Supplied with Genevs
Watches.

Iron the London Times, Dec. o.
A letter has been received from NJ. Trev0b, repre-
senting M. Henry Touchon, manufacturer of Geneva
watches in Switzerland, detailing several grievances
sustained at the Custom House, some Of which in
yolve great hardship, while for the others the par
ties have chiefly themselves to blame. In the first
place, M Trevob complains of the arrangements I'M
der which watches coming here in bond have to be
submitted to customers who wish to purchase for
expectation. He states that at our landing wharyes
only one small room is allowed for exhibiting all
sorts of different goods imported by all sorts Of i'm
porters end he compares the obvious inconvenience
OF this arrangement with the system in force at the
Paris bonded warehouses, where each importer ia
allowed to have his own private depository, with two
Keystone in his possession, and one in that of the
Customs officials-and where there no formaties
beyond taking stock OF all that enters and leaves,
months. It appears, moreover, that in London
box containing watches must either be re.
exported or pay, duty within a. limited period
after breaking bulk, so that il there are 1000
watches in case, and twelve only sold to avoid
paying duty the case has to be sent to Boulogne,
and then returned when it figures as newly
ances are disgraceful and obviously remediable.
The one next described by NJ. Trevob involves
more delicate question He complains of the
seizure Of some Of his watches with the name
:. Roskell' on them, and that the Custom
House would not restore them although he agreed
to stamp Geneva" underneath, and they had
already passed some watches with the double inscrip
ton. Certainly this course does not at first glance
without the addition Of any locality the regulations
had been infringed, and notwithstanding an ex-
PLANTATION that was given, there something in it
that might be construed an attempt to sail under
false colors, the Custom House officials were not
bound to afford facilities to mitigate the results
although, perhaps, the circumstances would have
warranted them In doing SO. M. Trevob concludes
his letter by detailing the facts connected with .
case Of Geneva watches, with English manuta,
turers names affixed which were intended to be sent
to New York, but by mistake were sent to LondoLs
While at Boulogne, on the way, the mistake was di
covered. but it was on Sunday, when the Custom
House there was closed and the vessel sailed that
evening. Consequently, although endesvors were
made and recorded to stop the case in transitx 1t
came on to London, and, although an offer was made
to reexpOr it without landing It, this was not al
lowed, and it was seized. Unquesti0nably the Pc
nalty thus inflicted for mistake was very Sc
we're one; but here the question arises what right
had . firm to expect any other than the harshest
treatment who had been putting false names on their
goods, to the injury Of English manufacturers aud
for the purpose Of deceiving their American custo-
mers? Under the present constitution of the customs
the matter might have been carried to public
hearing. If euch course had been deemed expe-
dent For the future the best plan viii be to have
the goods stamped properly, and then there viii be
no danger in the event Of similar accidents