The Philadelphia correspondent of the .liforning Chronicle supplies particulars of
extensive seizures of British merchandise intended to have been smuggled into the United States- " For once I must refer you to the newspapers for all except the chief fea- tures of the current news of the day, as I intend devoting the major part of this letter to one of the must important subjects to a certain class of English manufacturers that has ever oceurred on this side of the Atlantic. It is a sub- hect, alas ! not only important to the manufacturers of Yorkshire, but to the importer and consignee in the United States—to the merchants of the United States—to the manufacturers of the United States—to commercial honour—to common integrity—to national character—and to every upright principle which renders dealings reciprocal and just between men and nations. " I allude to the inonenso seizures of Yorkshire woollen cloths, which have taken place in this ciiy, New York, Boston, and Baltimore. At first, when the captures by the Customhouse, were believed to lie confined to one or two transactions in New York, they excited little more than a passing notice. But now it is openly stated, that by an immense Yorkshire speculation, broadcloths to the amount of 500,000/. (2,500,000 dollars) were in the course of introduc- tion into the Atlantic cities, in such a manner that a part or the whole of the United States' duties have been, or are in the course of being evaded by various fraudulent devices. The amount stated I fully believe to be correct, as I de- rive the inform:diet] partly from an officer in the Customs, and partly from re- . speetable importing-merchants in this city. " The greater part of all these goods have been seized by the United States Customhouse-officers on the charges of smuggling or fraudulent entries, and arc 110C, deposited in the various Government warehouses of the four great Atlantic cities; where they are said to be ' libelled'—that is, taken possession -of, until the matter is tried and determined by due course of law ; when, if the
allegations on the m part of the Govern i eut arc proved, the whole will he con-
fiscuted, and the importers subjected to other penal enactments. This, how- ever, is not the worst part of the business. In all cases where fraudulent entries are proven, the parties will be prosecuted for wilful and corrupt perjury, and probably condemned to imprisonment and hard lahour. " The cases, taken as a whole, certainly present one of the most gigantic charges of smuggling and financial fraud tliat is anvwhere on record, " One of the parties is 110W ill prison in New York, charged with perjury. Three others were arrested on the arrival of time Liverpool. The quantity of goods seized in that r•-e-t is enormous. Time seizures in this city are inmiense; and while I am writhes, the United States officers are not only engaged in pro- secuting other searches in the neighbourhood, but a party of them are gone on to Baltimore ; where, I understood, a seizure has been Clfected. The system, to some extent, has been carried on (so say the merchants) for sixteen years; and mercantile men are here much eecited, but at the same time touch rejoiced that so iniquitous a mode of dealing is put an end to. " I have applied to numerous !f.lit aexc, whoa I believe to be in the pos- session of accurate int.:inflation ; all of them agree us to the fidlowing results- " First, That the :la:calm:en altogether was about 500,0004
"Secondly, That seizures have Ceen made to something like the following amounta:
1,900 eases or bales in New York and Boston, worth from Dollars.
600 to 800 dollars per case or bale, say 1,200,000
In Philadelphia cases, bales and pieces -unpacked, about 300,000
Baltimore as yet uncertain 1,500,001)
" Thus you will see, that most of the goods arc already in possession of the Government ; and front the figures hethre me, I and convinced that the above sum is a minimum as regards the value of the seizures, while other captures are fast going " In tiffs city the seizures began on Monday, in consequence of information which had tram.pired in New York ; and as the parties on whose premises the articles were seized are only commission-homes, to which (as they all state) the goods were merely consigned for sale, they :will not be affected with any portion of the inconvenience or loss, unless, as it sometimes happens, they Laid advanced mosey WI t:Ie COBSignment t. On Monday, goods variously stated to be worth from 80,o00 dollars to 110,600 dollars, were taken from the cons- mission-rooms of Mesers. Davis and Broadbent, iu Front Street. On Tuesday, a similar seizure, perhaps not quite SO ialVe, %CRS MAC at Mr. Blackburn's, Church Alley. On Wednesday, goods were taken from the auction-rooms of Messrs. Myers and Clegborn to at large amount ; and on the same clay, a large quantitv was taken from the premises of Mr. P. Brady, in Front Street. I hare already observed, that these houses sell ou commission, and therefhre are not amenable for the loss.
" All the importing parties ase Yorkebiremen, without, I belkve, a single exception. It is bat jiosice to s ate that none of the alleged hist:owes of fraud are from Leeds. Some of the cloths me from Saddieworth. in this particular, I speak only as far as some of the goods seized in this city are concerned. Other property besides that which 1 have mentioned has been stopped at the Custom house.'
The broad cloth was rolled up and concealed in bales of flannel. The latest accounts estimate the value of goods seized at about 430,0004
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