Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

MISCELLANEOUS.
RECOVERY OF GOLD FROM THE ROYAL CHARTER.
Since our last issue the operations for the recovery
of the specie from the Royal Charter have been very
successful. The total found up to date amounts to
£275,000, which as the total shipped by this unfortunate
vessel was £322,400 (inclusive of 48,000 sove-
reigns) leaves only £47,400 to be recovered of the
gold on freight. The bulk of the sum brought by
the passengers will probably never be obtained. A
portion of a gold bar has been found firmly driven
into an iron plate by the action of the sea. The sand
in the neighborhood of the wreck is reported as " rich
with gold dust."
NEW SCHEME OF TAXATION At a meeting at
Liverpool, Mr. Bright thus indicated what he was
himself inclined to propose :-" He would propose a
tax of 8s. per £100 upon the whole property in
the country belonging to persons having £100 per annum
or more. This would produce about £27,000,000
per annum. (Hear, hear.) If this tax were adopted
we could abolish the duties on sugar, tea, coffee, insurance,
carriages, and a great variety of articles.
Such a measure would immediately increase the trade
of the nation, and spread happiness and contentment
amongst the great industrious population, whilst at
the same time the tax would not weigh heavily upon
those classes who would have to pay it. (Hear, I
hear.) As regards the duties on tobacco and spirits,
they produce about£18,000,000, and he would not propose
their abolition, at least for the present."
THE PROPOSED EXHIBITION OF ALL NATIONS.
The determination of the Society of Arts to proceed
with the project of the Great Exhibition is considered
in some practical and influential quarters to be extremely
ill-judged, and its failure, which will do us mischief
nationally, is already confidently predicted. Driven
from 1861, as being in the present state of politics
hopeless, the Society have advanced the scheme to
1862. But what security have they that Europe, or
England, will be in a more favourable condition for
such an undertaking in 1862 ? Yet in the face of
these discouragements the Society proceeds to force
upon the public a subscription to a Guarantee Fund
of a quarter of a million.
THE BORDEAUX WINE CROPS.-The circular of
Mr. Newton Crosland informs us that the produce of
wine this year in the Bordeaux country "may be
considered as about a third of an average. The disease
oidium, the hail in many districts, and the great
couture, or falling off of the grape when it first comes
out of its blossom, are the cause of this scarcity. The
quality cannot be decidedly determined at present ;
but as far as a cautious judgment can be pronounced,
the wines appear to be ripe and delicate, but without
much body, colour, or richness." Under these circumstances
claret will increase in price. The vintage
of 1858 is of "extraordinary excellence."
AN INTERESTING RELIC FROM THE ROYAL CHARTER.
-A curious and interesting relic from this ill-fated
vessel has been exhibited in the underwriters' rooms
It consisted of a bar of gold forced by some extraordinary
means into a piece of 2-inch iron plate. The
gold was pressed completely through the iron, the end
of it being visible at the other side. Attached to the
gold was a piece of wood, which was also pressed
through the front, the whole bearing marks of some
extraordinary pressure. Into this piece of wood there
was also pressed a sovereign, the coin having apparently
suffered little injury. This curiosity was picked
up by the divers. Many persons have collected in the
rooms to inspect it.
GREAT EASTERN SHIP COMPANY On the 13th
a meeting of dissatisfied shareholders of stock in the
Great Ship Company was held at the London
Tavern. The chair was occupied by Mr. Guedalla,
who had called the meeting. The discussion which
took place was of a very discursive character, and a
vote of no confidence in the Directors was withdrawn,
after having been moved and seconded. A pretty
generally expressed opinion seemed to be entertained
that a new company will require to be formed. The
Chairman severely censured the course of conduct
adopted by the Directors, but his views appeared to
be considered extreme. After a protracted debate,
the meeting, without adopting any substantive
motion, adjourned to the 6th of January. The terms
granted by the Directors for the loan of £40,000 for
six months on mortgage of the Great Eastern are 75
per cent, per. annum. The tender in Mr. McKenzie.
$