Monmouthshire Merlin

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. I SPAIN. PARIS, JULY 29.—Madrid letters and journals of the 2.5th have been received. The former enclose circulars addressed to the Corps Diplomatique on the 24ili and 2.)lh ult., by Don Joaquin Frias, in his capacity of Min. ister tld interim for Foreign Affairs. They contain, however, nothing beyond mere routine cotit in -inic.-At tons. One of our letters states, that previous to his depaiture frjm Madrid, General Zurbano had an interview with M, Aston, who on deing told by him that he would endeavour to join the Regent, recommended him to advise the latter to abdicate. The Moniteur,'which with the other Paris journals of yestarday we have received by this express, contains it.tel- li.;ence of a somewhat astounding character. Espaitero, at the moment when all was completely over, in his regard, has it will be seen, bombarded the city of Seivlle, and re- duced to ashes one of its suburbs. We shall not stop to comment on this extraordinary proceeding, contenting ourselves 'or the present with laying before our readers (he terms in which it is announced. TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH Bayonne, July 29. "On the 26th Brigadier Ametler entered Saragossa with six battalions. "A brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Cotoner, left Madrid on the 26th for Galicia. "Madrid was tranquil on the morning of the 27th. Two divisions marched on the 26th, the one for Andalusia, and the other for Eslremadura. The Recent and Van Halen were, on the 21st, before Seville, bombarding that city. A suburb had been almost entirely destroyed. The Committee of the Finsbury Association have agreed to send a copy of Mr. S. Crawford's" Rights o the Working Classes" to every Dissenting minister in the Borough and to take SIX" NOllconfoTrlllsts" weekly to be placed at different coffee houses. The Rev. Mr. Solly, of Tavistock, delivered an able address, a few days ago, after which he strongly urged the propriety of the Association procuring a Complete Suffrage candidate, at Taunton. The Royal Cambrian Institution and Ancient Britons have resolved to give their valuable MSS. and printed books to the British Museum, for preservation and public advantage.

CRICKET.-A match between the gentlemen of the Clifton and Newport clubs (the latter assisted by three officers of the 73rd regiment,)came off on Durdham Down Oil Monday. The Clifton players went in first, and scored 89 the Newport gentlemen then went in and scored 56; the Clifton then took their second innings and Md scored 148, when at this stage of the game, in con- squeoce of some of the Newport men being oblidged to return the same evening, the wickets were dawn.

YORK.—Eitraordinwy Case.—Annie Peacock, a venerable lady of the age of seventy years and upwards, and of the most respectable connexions, was indicted for forging the will of one Abigail Mitford. The will which was alleged to have been forged was dated so long ago as the year 1806, to which there was a codicil dated in the year 1809. A person named Cooper appeared as a witness, the very person who, if the will had been set aside, would have been benefited but according to his tes- timony the whole of the will, beginning," I, Abigail Mitford," icc., was in the hand-writing of the testatrix heiself, which cir- cumstance would. as the law then stood, have been a due exe- cution of the will by her. It was alleged, however, that the signature was forged. The execution pruported to be attested hy two persons named Masser, one of them was a woman, and two persons named Masser were produced to prove that they never attested the execution. As to the codicil, it was ad- mitted that lhe whole, execution and all, was perfectly genuine. ) hese circumstances having been given in evidence, the learned council for the prosecution slated that he should proceed no further, as it was impossible to sustain the charge. The learned Judge then directed the Juiy to acquit the accused, and declared that he had never witnessed so infamous and dis- graceful a prosecution in the whole course of his professional lile-a prosecution for which there was not the slightest reason. BANK OF MESSRS. DIXON AND DALTON, DUDLEY.— Rumours of the failure of this Banking establishment having been in circulation, we copy the following from the correspondent of the Morning Chronicle at Dudley, dated Monday The bank of Dixton and Dalton is still open notwithstanding rumours, at a distance to the contrary. 11 is said that they have advanced little if anything short of f300,000 to iron and coal masters, who are unable to meet their engagements. Of Mr. Dixon's solvency there can be no doubt, but it is clearly a matter of doubt as to -Aether it would be prudent to carry on the establish- ment."

FAIRS TO BE HELD IN AUGUST. R GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Newport-^ 15 Campden_ 5 Cheltenham -5 Cheltenham -5 an6HIRf, Cirencester 7 Aberdare Lechlade 5-21 £ affp r„i™.h ■ 25 12 Pi ,y- Jfnt ■ 10 Stroud 21 St Mary-at-H.h Thornbmy -15 J'AWETL "15 WORCESTERSHIRE. Ystradowen „ ? A]vechu)ch BRVCONSHIRE. Bromsgiove 29 Devynnock • n Evues|)eaym 1 I 1 l4 Ponfneddfechan I g J Trecastle 14 r ..DTHRTOIIIIIJ SOMERSETSHIRE. CARMARTHENSIIIRE. Decuman'* St. -24 Cayo • • cO llminster 30 Llandilo-fawr 23 Keynsham -15 l.langendeirne 5-7 Langport 9 Newcastle in Emlyn- 20 Mark .20 New Inn • -19 fhiHips Norton" 1 2e White House on Tave -28 rvldljP 2J I7Ts..tre uhep,?n Mallett 8 HEREFORDSHIRE. «'atchet -25 Knighton ° Wigmoie 5

TO CORRESPONDENTS. The examination of the Rebercaites at Swansea, oblige us to postpone the important will case at our assizes, Lewis v. Lewis, reports of ihe Bieconshire Assizes, the Monmouth Gas and Water Works Co., and oth r interesting matters, till next week.

THE WRECK OF THE PEGASIJS STEAMER. I The Goldstone rock, on which the ill-fated vessel struck, is situate to the south-east of the entrance of the harbour of Holy Island, distant about two miles and a half, and is from three to four miles to the northward ol the inner or great Fern lights. The rock is covered at high tide, but there is a Trinity-house buoy attached to it, by which its position is cleat y indicated. Tlie Pegasus was on her accus'omed voyage from Leith to Hull, having left the latter port shortly after six o'clock on the evening of Wednesday; she struck upon the Goldstone about half-past twelve o'clock, and went down at about a quarter past one. The Martello was on her voyage from Hull to Leith, and she rounded Sunderland Point shortly after 4 o'clock on Thursday morning, when portions of the floating wreck were descried from her deck, as well as persons in the water. Six persons weie picked up alive, and seven other dead bodies re- covered, all of which were conveyed to Leith. Those saved consist of the mate, named William Brown, William Hood, the engineer Geo. lay lor, the carpenter; Daniel Campbell, fireman and two passengers, one of them a gentleman named Hilyard, and the other named Baillie. The latter had been in in Scotland with a lunatic, named Torry, who had been re- commended change of air and scenery. The account furnished by William Hood, the chief engineer, is very circumstantial.—"We left Leith at about 20 minutes past 6 o'clock on Wednesday evening, and passed Berwick harbour about half-past ten. I was a very good night, but a little hazy on the water. The wind was light from the north, and the sea smooth. About half-past 12 o'clock I was in the engine-room, which is on deck, the engine being a single one, when 1 found the vessel had struck against something. I in- stantly threw the engine out of gear, and whilst 1 was in the act of doing that, the captain, who was on the bridge between the paddle-boxes looking out, shouted to me to stop and put her back. I stopped and backed accordingly, and that brought the vessel clear; then the master ordered me to turn ahead, and after that was done I found the water coming in rapidly. One of the seamen was on the bridge along with the captain look- ing out. When I observed the water coming in 1 went up to the master and told him, when he ordeied the man at the helm to put the vessel about, with the intention of running her ashore. The man did so, and continued going ahead towards the shore from that time till about a quarter past 1 o'clock, when she went down. When L came from the bridge, having told the master of the water coming in, I went again into the engine-room, and saw the water coming in very fast. I then went to the man at the wheel, and told him how the water was coming in. and urged him to get the vessel ashore as fast at. possible. In returning to the engine-room from doir.g that, I met the mate coming out of his berth, as the watch was just being changed at that time. I then went into the engine- room and remained there, sometimes standing outside of the door, till I saw the watei up to the top of the cylinder cover. The steam was then nearly exhausted, and the engine was stopping. I then left the engine-house and went on the quarter-deck, when I found that the two boats had been lowered down into the water, and both of them swamped. The larboard boat, 1 understood, had been swamped in being lowered down, and the star board one by the rush of people to get into it. I then went foi ward, and to the top of the fore- get into it. I then went foi ward, and to the top of the fore- mast, in order to see if there were boats near, but I saw none, and returned to the quarter-deck. 1 then found that the vessel was fast going down forwaid. Just then mw the master, and we shook hands he exclaiming at the iuiie, I Good God we are all going to the bottom.' The captain complained of the boats being loweied down without his knowing it. We stood together for a short time; and then the master, I think, went forward, and I never saw him afterwards. The vessel then took a heavy lurch to the larboard side. The second mate was near to me, and I asked him to get a piece of loose wood that was lying on the deck thrown overboard to endeavour to save ourselves by. He threw it over, and we jumped into the water immediately afterwards, and got hold of it. The vessel, in recovering from the lurch, threw us on the deck again with the wood to which we were clinging. I then clung to the af- termast, and went up it as high as I could get, but there were two ladies hither up than I was. When I had been a minute or so upon the mast the vessel went down, and when I found myself amongst the water I hrew myself off, and swam a short time till I got hold of the gangway plank. There was a passenger on it at the time. After I had got on it, the appren- tice boy got on it also and we all three continued on it till about three in the morning, when the boy got exhausted and fell ofl'. The passenger remainel on it for about an hour longer, and he then fell off also and! remained on it till the Mar- tello steamer came and picked me up. It was then about half- past five on Thursday morning. After I had been a good while on the plank I saw William Brown in the small boat, a short distance fiom me, and we spoke to each other several times. There was a good look-out kept; the master and crew weie quite sober, and I cannot account for the boat having got upon the rock. I understood the boats weie lowered by the passengers." Mr. Brown, the mate, who still continues very weak, after describing the striking of the vessel on the Goldstone, the backing of the engines, &c., stated, that when the vessel struck he and the captain were standing together on the paddle box She went down head-foremost till about half of her hull was under water. She then violentlj righted herself, the stern go- ing down also, and in this manner settled at the bottom. He was drawn under water with the suction of the ship when he rose again to the surface he saw the master swimming. The sea was at this tirre covered with the sufferers in their last mor- tal agony, contending with the vaves; and he describes the scene as most fearful—shrieks anl prayers were heard on every side, and ever and anon some wretched sufferer disappeared beneath the whelming tide. He was fortunate enough to lay hold of a piece of wood. He soon after saw one of the boats full of water, her gunwale level vith the water's edge-he in- stantly made for it, and got into it, but with great caution as ihe slightest movement would have caused the boat to turn over Having established himself inside, he placed the wood across the boat, and so managed to steady her. In this condi- tion he drilted about till he observed the \lartellocoming down in his track. Though much exhausted, he contrived to make himself heard.

REPORT ON THE CUSTOM-HOUSE FRAUDS. The report of the commission appointed to investigate the recent frauds committed at the Custom house, has just been published. It occupies fifty pages, and contains matter of vital interest to the commercial classes, exhibiting how it has been possible for many houses to sell their foreign goods at a price with which honest-dealing tradesmen could not compete. It appears that NJ r. Purnby, a landing officer, had been for many years engaged in those fraudulent transactions which led to this investigation, and that at length, actuated by the very worst motives," he revealed his share in the nefarious proceedings to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on tbe 9th November, 1B42, when a Nlr. Homersham, a'so a landing-waiter, with a salary of £400. per annum, was induced to disclose all he knew in connexion with the frauds. It then transpired that Mr. Burnby had obtained so great an influence over Mr. Homersham, by means of loans 01 money, gifts, &c that the lattei was easily induced to connive with his more dishonest and designing con- federate. Other officers connected with the Custom-house establishment subsequently became implicated in the matter and a wholesale system of fraud and plunder commenced, which rrust have deprived the Government of an immense por- tion of its legal dues. Several laige houses in the city entered into arrangements with the conspirators, for the deduction of certain amounts of duties, making false entiies of the nature of goods imported, &c.; and by the repoit of the Commissioners now before us, the names of Messrs. W.and T. Cordingley (glove-dealers, in St. Paul's Church-yard); Candy and Co.; and Williams and Mottram (the late bankiupt, concerning whose affairs there were so many pPotracted enlllinations at the Court in Basirighall-street), have become linked with the trau- dulent Custom-house agents The various modes in which the rauds were practised is very curious. Machinery was exported by means of false certificates worthless wine was shipped as good wine, and large amounts in the shape of drawback were received simulated and not real shipments were made to ob- tain the drawback and cigars wete imported as marble. All these frauds were effected by means of false certificates, the in specting officer certifying one thing, while another, or the opposite, was the real truth Gloves were impoited in this ■vay ;-A case of gloves, containing, for example, 400 dozen in cartoons, was landed; the landing-officer entered the correct amount and description in pencil in his rough-book the gloves were removed to the importing warehouse if they arrived there safe, the entiy in the rough-book was obliterated, and 200 dozens substituted for the original amount. The duty was then paid upon this latter quantity. If any other officer, not in the secret, inspected the bale, after the first examination, of course the entry in the rough-book was retained. Immense quantities of silks were imported at a trifling duty, by means of false cer- tificates of the quality and nature of the goods, and by actually tearing out the leaves in which they were entered in the blue- booko," and substituting fresh leaves with new entries, and fresh seals by means of counterparts. Another ingenious pro- cess of evading the proper duties was by means of'' dummies." The dummy was a package containing common articles upon which a low duty was paid, put for the valuable package, by the connivance of the officers who were entrujfed with the exami- nation of the goods in the warehouses or on the quays. The Commissioners state in their report, that the landing officers accused of fraudulent practices, were all in the receipt of large salaries; and that it is evident that no amount of salary could be assigned to the Custom-house officers which could be put in competition with the sums which they may realize by an active co-operation with fraudulent importers—it being possible tor an officer, so conspiiing, to make as much in one day as his entire year's income from the Government. The Commissioners in their report represent the entire machinery of the Custom-house establishmenl to be conduted upon plans the most faulty and negligent, opportunities being afforded by the looseness of the system itself for the exercise of every kind of fraud. The land- ing waiters are compelled to find two sureties, each in £ 500., for their integrity and an officer, Mr. Pemberton, is engaged to report annually upon the existence and solvency of the se- curities. But with such negligence has he conducted this duty that one of Mr. Homersham's securities, a man of the name of Dennin, was actually tried and convicted of a seiious fraud three years ago and, although lodged in gaol at the suit of the Treasury, lie still continued Mr. Homersham's security. In a word, the Committee's report shows that the most gross mis- management and culpable neglect exist on the part of the su- perior officers of the Customs—that the whole system of administration of that business is defective and rotten at the core-that immense facilities for fraud are afforded by the loose way in which books are kept and accounts returned—and that the wholesale houses implicated in the frauds have first en- tangled the officers by means of credit for goods sold retail (such as silks for their wives), and then compelled them to co- operate with them in their dishonest views as the only condition upon which the Queen's Bench or Whitecross-street could be avoided.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Meilin. SIR,-Ilaving been charged with ungentlemanly conduct to- wards Mr. M'Donnell, of this town, I am very desirous of making a public explanation of the circumstances which have led to such a charge, in order that my friends and the public, or that portion of it who may take any interest in the matter, may judge whether I am justly charged or not. The facts are shortly these, which you would much oblige by inserting in your paper. From the time Mr. NI Donnell quitted the profession of an atlorney, which was in 1835 or 1836, till within the lasi two or three years, 1 transacted much business for him, and in consequence, received many letters from him. Some monthll back, Mr. M'Donnell having a law suit with Mr. Benjamin Marfell, he applied to me on several occasions, to lend him some of the letters he had addressed to me, which 1 allowed him to take most willingly and readily, and he selected such as he thought proper, and promised to return them to me whenever I desired. Having lately had occasion to refer to these letters, (the law-suit with Mr. Marfell having long since terminated,) I addressed the following letter to Mr. M'Donnell — Sin,—In making out my general bill against you, I find I shall ivant the letters addressed by you to me, which I let you take away from my office previous to the reference in yourself v. Marfell I must request, therefore, that you will return them to me. I am, sir, your obedient servant, D. E. PARHUDGE. To Francis M'Donnell, Esq. Usk, 3rd July, 1843." To this letter I received the following reply SIR,-It will be more agreeable to me that you should correspond with Mr. Llewelin, on my behalf, and I will give him all necessary instructions. I am, sir, your obedient servant, "FRANCIS M'DONNEI.I.. Usk, 4th July, 1843. To D. E. Partridge. Esq." Shortly afler 1 received this note from Mr. M'Donnell, I met him in the street, when I asked him personally for the letters he again, in the most cool and sneering way, referred me to Mr. Llei* elin, to which I replied, What on earth have I to do with Mr. Llewelin, in this matter, or any one else but yourself 1 1 lent you the letters, and I now ask you to return them to me, as you promised me you would when you took them away from my office." Mr. M'Donnell, however, again, in the same sneering manner, only referred me to Mr. Llewelin. I then remonstrated with him, Rnd a ked him if this was gentlemanly conduct, but I obtained no other answer than the reference to Mr. Llewelin being then irritated and annoyed beyond endu- rance at this conduct, I used some very strong language towards Mr. M'Donnell not to disguise the matter, as I wish to tell the whole truth, in fact, I told him in loud terms, that I consi- dered his conduct was that of a blackguard. To this Mr. M'Donnell made no reply, but quietly walked away. I made no application to Mr. Llewelin, and nothing more passed on the subject till the 22nd instant, when I received a very kind and friendly letter from Mr. Llewelin, offering on Mr. M'Don- nell's behalf to return me the letters, on condition of my giving up in exchange all papers, &c., I held of Mr. M'Donnell's. 0 Now I admit that I have papers and documents of Mr. M'Don- nell's in my hands, which came into my possession strictly in the way of business, and I am perfectly ready to deliver up every paper or document which I hold of Mr. M'Donnell's, on a proper settlement of accounts between us; and one object of my wishing to have the letters back, is to enable me to make out my bill. I contend that there is a wide and marked differ- ence between the way in which these papers came into my hands and the way in which the letters came into Mr. M'Donnell's. The one was in the way of business, and I am quite ready to return the documents on a settlement of accounts: the letters were lent in friendly confidence, and on an express promise to return them when required, and I contend that It was Mr. M'Donnell's duty, if he wished to hold the character of a gen- tleman, promptly to have returned the letters, without any con- dition or stipulation whatever. These are the real facts of the case, alod the question, therefore, is, was not Mr. M'Donnell's conduct towards me such as fully to justify me in making use ol the strong language I did ?—and whether I can justly becharged with ungentlemanly conduct 1 From something I have heard I am led to believe that one reason Mr. M'Donnell has for not giving me up the letters is that his doing so will be the means of enabling me to make out a long bill against him how far this may be true, I know not, but if it is true, it needs no comment from me. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, D. E. PARTRIDGE. Usk, 31st July, 1843.

ST. WOOLLOS CHURCH-YARD. To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin, Sin,—As a constant reader of your journal, I cannot but have witnessed your readiness at all times to give publicity to well-founded complaints of nuisances and other matters affect- ing the comfort and well-being of soeiety and I am therefore induced to solicit a space in your columns for a complaint re- specting what many residents in the neighbourhood consider an improper burial in St. Woollos's churchyard. On Monday afternoon last, my attention was directed to a newly-dug grave, close to the left entrance from the country- side into the churchyard, and very contiguous to the residences of many inhabitants. I found that the grave-digger had ended his task, and on examining the open grave, I found that it was only about three feet deep! so that when the coffin was placed in it, the corpse would be within eighteen or twenty inches of the paws of ravenous dogs. I enquired of the giave-digger the reason of this unseemly mode of interment, when I was e,lified by the announcement that it was only a dried up old woman to be buiied there, who was too aged to be offensive when putrid!" She had, the grave-digger further informed me, requested to be buried in this grave-zipoit her family. And so, regardless of the health and safety of the living, the wish of the dead was re- spected, and the old woman was just covered ovei with a few inches of earth in this heathenish style. For my own part, Mr. Editor, being a resident in the localitv of the churchyard, I cannot think this mode of interment con- sistent, judicious, or healthy nor do I think the request of the dead should be so outrageously attended to, to the injury, perhaps, of the living. 1 have written the foregoing with no desire to reflect further than deserved, either on the functionaries of the church, or the friends of the deceased. I hope that if the body be not disin- teried from the shallow pit—I cannot call it a grave—there will at least be some desire manifested by the authorities to prevent the recurrence of such an outrage on decency and propriety. Your obedient servant, A LOOKER-ON. Monday evening, July 31.

To the Editor qf the Monmouthshire Merlin. gIBt—I beg to ask, through the medium of the MERLIN— how many years is it since the accoums of theChepstow church- wardens were examined and passed? Many rate-payers, like myself, are anxious to know to what purpose the church-rate has been applied for some time. 1 am, Sir, your obedient servant, A CHURCHMAN. Chepstow, August, 2, 1843.

To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin, SIN,—A letter appeared in you paper, of the 22nd ult. an answer to which may be nccessary, inasmuch as the readers 0» the MEBi.iN.may, unless it be contradicted, believe the state- ments therein made by the sagacious being whose name is attached to it- "e in consequence of an incorrect statement having appeared in your paper of the 9th instant, relative to a teetotal meeiinu held on the Green above Cae.leon a few days before that time sixteen of the Newport Ieetota lers went there las. Monday evening, lo cxfla'?'h?lrt Prindples to the inhabitants, and to persuade the drunkard to become sober, and to convince the alcohol drinker lhal[|g€e^^ ers are not to be frightened by the beating of aId kejMess, or the swearing of false oaths, or lhe throwing of f muiderous threats of maltsters, beer-sellers, and ottur ill-dtsposed persons. Now, sir, having been at the meeting held on the Goldcroft Common, P g p n which appeared in your paper of the 9th inst., and also at the last meeting, I unhesitatingly deny the hicorre s Paragraph, and challenge your cor- respondent to piove the truth of his assertion. Your correspon ent, by the quotation I have made from his letter, evidently is to wound but yet afraid to strike," And wou J*"?!1 y that his opponents are beings who have no reputation £ <e' or are very careless about it, but I appre- hend ne 1 C|ently known to prevent every assertion that may emanate from him to be so readily entertained as perhaps he could wIsh. I fearlessly assert that the supporters of the highly-respected individual whom he calls a bloated maltster" are not what he descnued them, but persons whose characters and conduct are such as enable them to regard with contempt the virulent but happily innocuous imputations of Mr. Edwards. As to your correspondent's boast that he had stopped the roanng of the lion, I opine the readers of your papers are much too intelligent to soppose it possible that the "biaymgofan aST h C->n mu<J!1 affect the thunders of the forest king. 1 nave no wish to enter the lists as a disputant with the com- mittee ot the Newport Teetotal Society on their piinciples, but 1 reserve the right to hold and express an opinion, and there- tore state my conviction that if declamation and aspersions against others be put into the scales against reason and argu- ment they will be found sadly wanting. 1 also believe that the lectuie* on teetotalism will be much more honouied in the breach than the observance." if such oratois as Mr. E. has proved himself are to be the promulgators of its doctrines. As to the superiority of talents and eloquence as a public speaker which Mr. E. talks so much about, 1 leave your readers to judge how supremely eloquent -how pure and con- vincing the arguments of that man must be who could possibly indite such an elegant epistle as that which brought out r, T Your obedient servant, Caerleon, July25,1843. JULIUS.

WEEKLY CALENDAR A ug. 6.—Eighth Sunday alter Trinity Lessons for the Morn- ine service, 1 Kings 13, Acts 4 p, u 1 Kings 17, Hebrew. 9. Evening Service, 11.—Half Quarter. Dogdaysefid. MOON'S AUK.—full, 10th day, 54 m. after 4 morn.

TIMES OF HIGH"WATER AT NEWPORT. HIGH WATER DEPTH AT DAYS. MORN. EVEN. DAYS. AIORN. DOCK GATFS AUGUST. II. M. II. M. Ir* IN. 6, Sunday 2 37 3 I 23 13 7, Monday 3 57 4 31 25 11 8, Tuesday 5 1 5 3U 27 13 9, Wednesday 5 55 6 19 29 9 10, Thursday 6 39 6 55 30 12 11, Frid,y ? 17 7 35 31 7 12, Saturday 7 40 8 5 31 3 — ——————————

tjfflE MEIROWfl I NEWPORT, FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1843. JAVA AND BRAZIL AS MARKETS FOR IRON. We feel obliged and honoured by the favourable remarks of correspondents from the Hills and in Staffordshire touching our recent observations on the iron trade, and resume the subject, but in a very li- mited space this week. There are other markets than those of Europe and America for our iron, if Sir Robert Peel would only allow us to get access to them. The negocia- tion which has now failed with the Brazilian go- vernment, for a commercial treaty, based on the re- ciprocal admission of the produce of the Brazils, and the manufactures of England at reduced duties, na- turally leads to the enquiry whether the same prin- ciple may not be applied with success in other quar- ters, as a means of opening up fresh markets for our industry. The island of Java and other pos- sessions of the Netherlands, East Indies, present a field for the extension of commercial relations, which if thrown open to the fair competition of British enterprise, might shortly become little less important than the trade of the Brazilian empire. The cultivation of all the staple articles of tro- pical produce, and especially of sugar and coffee in these possessions, has increased of late years at the most extraordinary rate the whole labour of the natives, and of numerous bodies of Chinese emigrants, having been steadily directed to this ob- ject, by the somewhat arbitrary and tyrannical, but, on the whole, energetic and intelligent policy of the Dutch Colonial Administration. The export of su- gar from Java, which in the year 1826 did not ex- ceed 23,565 cwt. amounted in 1837 to 820,063 cwt., and has since risen to considerably above a million cwts. That of coffee, during the same pe- riod has increased from 45,341,200 lbs. to upwards of 100,000,000 lbs. of rice from 183,656 cwts. to 1,200,000 cwt.; of indigo, from 10,220 lbs. to upwards of one million pounds and other articles, such as pepper, cloves, nutmegs, &c., in a similar proportion. ,I The total value of exports in the year 1840 has reached the large sum of six million pounds, while that of imports amounted to a little more than two millions. The difference of these amounts is alone sufficient to show the nature of the system, which is, in fact, one of forced cultivation, for the benefit of monopoly. Under no system approaching to freedom of intercourse, would it be possible that a population should continue permanently to receive less than half of the value of the produce of their industry. In fact, the system hitherto pursued by the Dutch, has been one of a gigantic monopoly, vested in the Netherlands' East India Company, a sort of half political half commercial association, founded by the late King, who was the principal shareholder and managing director of the associa- tion. This association embraced the vast scheme of converting the whole cultivation, property, import and export trade, carrying trade, and the supplying of Java with European produce and manufactures into one huge monopoly, supported by the whole political influence of the state, and apportioning its profits among the principal towns of Holland. By the treaty of 1824, the Dutch government had formally consented to throw open the trade of their eastern possessions to the British flag, stipu- lating only for a duty of 25 per cent. on British merchandise, and 12J on that of the Netherlands, a differential duty, which if not exceeded would have given the principal supply of the Java market to the British manufacturer, especially after the Belgian revolution. The treaty, however, has been completely evaded by the extraordinary privileges conferred on the Dutch East India Company, which render it im- possible to compete, on equal terms, in the com- merce of the articles comprised within their mono- poly. Thus, although the differential duty is, no- minally, only 12k per cent. in favour of Dutch ma- nufacture, while it is notorious that almost every article can be produced at least forty or fifty per cent, cheaper in England, than the Dutch factories, which have been forced into existence under the unnatural system of restriction. The imports into Java in the year 1840, of national manufactures were valued at 15,225,586florins against 3,805,847 florins of British, and the value of imports under the Netherlands flag, exceeds that of imports un- der the English flag in the proportion of more than seven to one. As long as we had made up our minds in Eng- land, to exclude all the staple products of Java in favour of our own West India monopoly, it would, perhaps, have been of little use to protest against the manifest evasion of the treaty of 1824, but the moment we are prepared to open our markets to Java sugar and coffee, at reasonable duties, the question assumes a very different aspect. The only impediment then in the way of the certain exten- sion of a most important branch of commerce, and market for our manufactures, is to be found in the system of restriction and monopoly which has been evasively introduced by the extraordinary privileges of the Netherlands' East India Company. Against this system we have a perfect right to protest, and fortunately there are many circum- stances at present which may dispose the Dutch na- tion and government to abandon the restrictive sys- tem. Their East India Company, like most other attempts at trading monopoly, has, after a period of fallacious prosperity, become involved in great embarrassments. The abdication of the old King, who, from his position, possessed the means of keep- ing up the apparent prosperity of the company, by juggling with the colonial revenue, and sacrificing the other resources of the country, gave it a blow which has brought it to the verge of bankruptcy. The effect of forcing the cultivation of sugar and other produce by a monopoly, which at the same time restricted the trade with other countries, and limited the market for the constantly increasing amount of produce, ended as any reasonable man might have foreseen, in creating a perfect glut and ruinous depreciation, by which immense losses have been incurred both in the colony and among the merchants of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. At the same time the colonial revenue has fallen off, while the expenses have greatly increased, owing to con- stant insurrections of the natives occasioned by the severity of the measures enforced by the company. Under these circumstances, it is generally believed that the Dutch government would be glad to re- trace their steps and resort to a system of free in- tercourse, provided they were met in a similar spirit by foreign governments, and especially if they could obtain access to the important market of Eng- land, for the surplus produce of their eastern pos- sessions. Here is another grand opportunity for Sir Robert Peel's government, if they only have the courage to throw off the lingering remnants of the yoke of monopoly.

REBECCAISM. (From our own Reporter.) SWANSEA, August 1, 1843. The town presents a most animated appearance: the usu- ally quiet inhabitants are all on the qui live gay military uni- forms enliven the streets; grave officials from Downing street are seen chatting in little clusters; the inns are all ciowded hold Dragoons are going round with their billets, and the enli- vening military bugle is heard at intervals. Another troop o! the 4th Dragoons have arrived, and are to remain for some lime. A force of artillery is hourly expected and indeed, the report is credited in well-informed circles, that ere long there will be nearly a thousand soldiers in Carmarthenshire and 01.. • morgsmhire. The service is not uninfecting or ItDlxcitiog ia these picturesque districts at present but when winter cofnf on, if Rebecca do not go off her evil ways, it will be "d" than private-still hunting in Ireland. Mr. Maule, solicitor to the Treasury, and his assistant, >>rf at the Mackworth Arms he is without Jock Campbell time, who did the Ciown business with him in 1839, at Moo. mouth. A meeting of the magistrates has this evening taken place at the Mackworth Arms, at which were present, Mr.Ta)bot,M.P" Mr. L W Dillwyn. Mr. D Llewelyn, Mr. Vivian, M.P.. Dr. Hewson, Mr. T E Thomas, Mr. John Grove, Rev. J Collin" Rev. S Davies, Colonel Jones, and others. Colonel Love aDd Captain Napier were, we understand, at the conference. One of the most important and startling events of the "eek is the seizure of a case of arms: the case contained 12 rifleg, and a quantity of bullets, copper caps, &c. This dangerou* and alarming consignment was directed to Mr. Griflilh Vaughan, landlord of the Pontardulais InD, Carmarthenshire oo„ of the persons now out on bail, charged with a participatiOn in the pulling down of the Bwlgoed gate, and the charge agaidit whom is to be heard to-morrow. The Government had in". mation of the nature of the importation at the port of Swansea, and "stopt the supplies." It is currently bruited abroad that Sir James Graham hs' written a letter, couched in anything but complimentary termS, to the authorities, for not remanding, instead of liberating 01 bail, the parlies brought before them last week.. This great statesman, who wears the robe of office turoed inside out, has no just grounds for blaming magistrates who acted constitutionally. The right hon. baronet may, perhap5, like the Castlereagh doctrine of a vigour beyond the law." That very disinterested demagogue, Feargus O'Connor, I' said to be here, from Merthyr, and it is also said that the men employed in the copper works will "strike" at the forthcoming reduction in wagts of 12J per cent. When I compare ibl wages of these men, say an average of Sl per week, and io some instances, from J2 to £3, with the starving stipend of tbe colliers, which is from 4 to 5 shillings per week, with 2 shilling* for a boy, I think the copper men are unreasonable and in the present stagnant state of trade, I deem it probable that the master smelters will not regret the turn-out, should it come, S8 it is well known to every person conversant with the trade, th*' they are absoluiely losing by every ton of copper now made. I hear this evening with extreme regret, that instead of seltiog at once about a redress of grievances in Carmarthenshire, ar*" of 3d in the pound is about to be enforced for a rural I shall not wiite about the expediency of the latter measure* but I am quite sure that heavy wrongs promptly call for the former. Scores of the small farmers and the suffering peasantry 610 in a deplorable state- Need and oppression stare within their eye», Contempt and beggary hang upon their backs The world is not their friend, nor the world's law."

Swansea, 3rd August, 1843: Yesterday morning we attended at the Assize Court, at I)iOf o'clock, in anticipation of an early commencement of the public business, but the magistrates remained in their private room till nearly eleven, when it was officially announced to those in tbe ureat hall that the court was opened, that is, that the proceed" ings against the parties charged with the demolition of the B."I' goed gate, were to take place in a small apartment, inconvente" to the magistrates, and insufficient to accommodate more thlo about 50 of the anxious public, when closely packed. The *•' signed cause for this very unpopular arrangement, against whtch we heard the good citizens of Swansea and the visitors (rot0 distant parts, strongly and loudly declaim in the precincts of the court, where several rate payers," in the peace of our so. vereign Lady the Queen, were constitutionally holding forth 00 the liberty of the subject, was, that on the former day of hear- ing, the feelings of the public in court were so loudly and ifr9* pressibly expiessed, that it was resolved to avoid such unseemly interruptions and annoyances this day, and thus give thepeop'* a O. great moral lesson." No sooner, however, were the ma. gistrates assembled, than the overwhelming heat produced bY the closely-packed audience in a small apartment, rendered 4 motion by Mr. Tripp, the solicitor, for an adjournment to capacious court, favourably entertained, and Colonel Ca^1e^ strongly expressing his disapprobation at the very limited »c" commodation, seconded by other gentlemen in the commissloØ, the Assize Cotirt was resorted to, which in a few minutes pre. sented an exceedingly dense mass the far greater proportion 01 which were farmers, and their country's pride, a bold peas* try," here and there relieved by bright-eyed Cambrian tain maids. Pontardulais and its neighbourhood poured its almost entire population into Swansea and as a great demonstration" expected to conduct the defendants (some of whom are gre" favourites in their respective localities) to the court house, procedure properly prevented by their legal advisers, the str« were thronged from an early hour of the morning. The report (since authenticated) that on the previous nlgh," Llanon toll house and gate, together with another trust" that locality, had been levelled with the dust, gave an ddi- lional interest to the proceedings of the day; whilst the pre. sence, to prosecute, of Mr. Maule, of the Treasury, assisted bY the able Mr. Haven, of the same Government departrnenl, brought to the Court House the most intelligent gentlemen ° Swansea and its precincts. The following magistrates took their seats on the bench Sir John Morris, baronet, Chairman. Colonel Cameron R Franklyn, Esq. J H Vivian, Esq, M.P Rev S Davies Rev Dr Hewson Rev J Collins J D Llewelyn, Esq. I J U Berrington, Esq. G Llewelyn, Esq. J w Dilwyn, Esq. T E Thomas, E'q. J Grove, Esq. H Thomas, Esq. W J Jones, Esq. J N Miers, Esq. R Lindsay, Esq. G H Smith, Esq. F E Leach, Esq. If Lucas, Esq.. The following defendants were placed at the bar Vaughan, an exceedingly well-looking rustic, Daniel LewiSt* unsophisticated young farmer, charged with being the RebeCC of the night of the 6th of July, and who would certainly 1°°^ more effeminate than masculine as a petticoated and heroioe, David Jones, a staid good humoured looking yeoO,*ljj and William Morgan, a merry-countenanced blade, whoseC*0 anything but a fellow addicted to deeds of darkness. d All the reputed Rebeccaites were accompanied and cheet to the court by numerous friends, and seemed to think that I would be all right." J. Ralley Tripp, — Jeffreys, and — Wallers, Esqs., s°'|C tors, defended the prisoners.. Mr. Maule rose and addressed the Bench to the effect He had the honour to be engaged by the Crowo the conduct of the present proceedings against the persons wbO stood there charged with having taken part in the breaking do* and destruction of a toll gale at Bwlgoed, disiant about eig"! miles from Swansea. The four persons then at the bar, namfi|* David Jones, William Morgan, Daniel Lewia, and Gri81tl1 Vaughan, had been liberated on hail, but this morning h*. surrendered, in order to have the charge against them invest" galed. The witness, upon whose testimony proceedings h* been taken against the defendants, would be placed in the bO- and examined before them, that being the most regular The gentlemen who appeared on behalf of the defendants w0,Vg then have an opportunity afforded them of cross-examining witness, and of using every other means of defence which 1 law placed at their disposal. In addition to the facts which witness Jones would prove, he (Mr. Maule) would be in • Po- sition to prove a circumstance of a peculiar nature affecting defendant Vaughan. The circumstance he alluded to was 0j most extraordinary character, but as it had nnly transp1'^ within the last day or two, he (Mr. Maule) was not abl# enter very fully into the details of the case. He would, tber f fore, merely state that a day or two ago a case, containing a arid addressed to Mr. Griffith Vaughan, Pontardulais, bad found at the warehouse of the Bristol Steam Packet Comps0*,J It would appear in evidence that after the case had arrive^ 1 j Swansea, a letter, countermanding its delivery, was the packet warehouse. 'That case was found to contain itoto t to twelve guns, ammunition, caps, bullet moulds, &c., hrace of pistols. The defendant Vaughan might be in a p% lion to explain satisfactorily the reason for having arms io jj quantities directed to him, and he ( Mr. Maule) hoped he do so but as the case stood, he was bound to ask the eg trates to admit that fact in evidence. The degree of importaø 11 to be attached to it, he, of course, would leave to the B6?c The prisoners stood charged with having been concerned 10 I" public outrage committed some short time since. The slatU 0 7 and 8, Geo. IV., c 30, s 14. enacts—" That if any Pe!SOf# shall unlawfully and maliciously throw down, level, or wise destioy, io whole, or in part, any turnpike gate, ot 3 wall, chain, rail, post, bar, or other fence, belonging 1° J turnpike-gate, set up or erected to prevent passengers Pof by without paying any toll, directed to be paid by any Act Acts of Parliament relating thereto, or any house, building)^ weighing engine, erected for the better collection, ascertaiome or security, of any such toll, every such offender shall be of a misdemeanour, and being convicted thereof, shall be P^j nished accordingly." 'The several defendants were c^ar^( wilh having been participators in the destruction of a toll g* called the Bwlgoed, on 'Thursday, the 6th of July last, 80 the charge was substantiated, it would become the duty of magistrates to commit them for trial. The learned gentleman then called John Jones, the infor*0e!' and on his appearance the indignation of the peisons in the b" of the court could scarcely be repressed by the officers; bi*» were first loudly heard, and when calls of order" and were authoritatively called, a slight under current of was muttered..e Jones was very firm and collected, and gave his iyjf» without apparent embarrassment. He was examined by • Maule. The examination took place in the Welsh langa*g|6 which was cleverly interpreted by Mr. Glasbrook, a trader of Swansea. ¡¡' Witness said that he lived at Cwm Skeach, In the parish of I felach, in this county is a labourer, lives about two miles {ronl Bolgoed gate. I was out when that gate was destroyed. It waS .,gd stroyed on the night of the 6th of July last. I saw the gate destroy t between twelve and one o'clock somewhere. It was calculated 1 there were about '*50 people there. I saw no women there. one of them had something remarkable in their dress. Some oRO" white shirti. on, and some had women's bedgowns on. They had e men's caps upon their heads. I observed that some of the vaen jg, armed. Perhaps there were a hundred guns there, some were do barrelled. They had uickaxes, handsaws, and cross saws with 'o.ujl# they destroyed the toll-house by pulling it down with pickaxes. this w.is going on there was firing of guns all the time. It too* £ 0 about ten minutes to destroy the toll-house and toll-bar. Beside dresses which I have described, some of them had their faces ^'e^nlripf with some sort of handkerchiefs tied round their heads, and over their faces like veils. I did not observe that any of the') tea their faces blackened. They were not all on foot, one was 100 on a white horse. I heard the people address the man up° y) horse. They called him mother." (Laughter.) I was so them as enabled me to hear them talking. 1 heard the people the man upon the horse 6aying, Is it time for us to go?" t 8clt that before the house was pulled down. The man on bors asked them, Is it time for us to go ?" An answer was made t oJl question They thought it was time for them to go. The in aø4 horseback had a white shirt over his clothes, a cap on his 'petr a bor.net over the cap. (A laugh.) He spoke a few words to I' j,0uld pie. 1 know who that man was. It was Daniel Lewis. 1 ^rda, know him again if I were to see him. [Witnes then stood ^jt- pointed out the prisoner Daniel Lewis, who smiled derisively 8;je» ness.] I knew him before that night He is a weaver, and -jgtt1 near the Goppa, but I do not know in what house. I saw Mr- jyjr> Vaughan, of the Inn, there. 1 mean the Pontardulais Inn. I Vaughan now in the hall. He was in the middle of the cr0,*T' had a gun with him. He was dressed with some sort of a whIte Ùltell over him, and a cap and bonnet. He fired the gun off two or 1 ss times while the people were destroying the toll-house and bar. j » David Jones, of Tantwm, there. I see him here now. He ggit double-barrelled gun in his hand. 1 saw John Morgan, of O j » there; I see him here. He was disguised like the others, an gun with him. There were no shoutings or noises. They speaking; only firing. 1 joined them on the lower part of (ioppa, by Velin-ucha. it was between eleven and twelve o' joined them. People came from a" directions. I learned [> w ere going to. They said they were going to break the Bolgoe 1 had my coat turned inside out, and a handkerchief abou stoP.- After they had broken down the bar and the house they did __ollBt»' ininute, but every one went away to he side of Bolgoed