A gentleman, whose name is not given, attended at the
Mansionhouse on Monday, and stated, that a small parcel containing two copies of an
American book had been sent by a private ship from New York, whence it had been received through the Post-office, and the postage charged at 71. 5s. He refused to pay; and after several applications at the Post-office, and an ineffectual attempt to see Sir Francis Freeling, the Post-office carrier brought the parcel to him, and told him that the charge was reduced to 1.5s. Convinced that no legal demand of this kind could be made, he determined to resist the reduced postage ; and the parcel then remained at the Post-office, the claimant not choosing to admit the principle that the authorities had a right to take parcels directed to individuals by private ships, such ships' parcels being no letters. The Lord Mayor advised the applicant to apply to Sir Francis Freeling; who would not "as might be presumed from his well-known character," hesitate to satisfy the gentleman, who considered the de- mand an illegal one, upon the subject of the grounds on which it was made.
At the Queen Square Office, on Saturday, Lord King was fined 20s. and 25s. costs, for not having his christian and surname painted on one of his carts in conspicuous letters. On the same day, a gentleman called to say that his servant had picked up in the streets a bill for 500/., dated Niagara ; and gave his name and address in case a claimant for it should appear.
An action for false imprisonment, brought by a Mr. Cording, a pawnbroker, against Mr. Ballantyne, of the Thames Street Office, was tried in this Court before a Special Jury, on Tuesday. Mr. Bal. lantyne had caused the plaintiff to be imprisoned for non-payment of the value of as gun which had been destroyed at an accidental fire on his premises. The question was, whether, under the act for regulating their business, pawnbrokers were liable for the value of the articles de- posited with them as pledges, but destroyed by fire, not caused by care- lessness or design. The Court of King's Bench had decided that they were not liable ; therefore the plaintiff in the cause had been illegally imprisoned. Mr. Ballantyne had offered to compromise the affair, by paying the plaintiff, whose expenses had amounted to 43L, the sum of 40/. in full. This offer was rejected ; and Mr. Ballantyne determined to go into court. The Jury found a verdict for the plaintiff; damages 1301.
An inquest was held on Saturday on the body of Mr. Joshua Man- ning, an artist, who shot himself on the Wednesday previous. Mr. Manning was evidently insane. He had a little before shot one of his models, and had bought a leg of mutton, to ascertain how far he could shoot a ball through it. He had received several rewards from the
British Institution for his skill as an artist. A verdict of insanity was returned by the Jury.
The extensive sugar-house belonging to Mr. Banks, in Osborn Street, Whitechapel, was destroyed by fire on the night of Friday week. The tire is supposed to have arisen accidentally. Mr. Banks is insured to the amount of 20,000/. ; but it is doubtful whether this sum will cover his loss, as the stock of sugar consumed was very considerable.
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