there for some time; but it would appear that little value was attached to it. Subsequently a ser vant of Major M'Arthur, conceiving that the tapestry was little better than a useless piece of lumber, offered it as a present to a man named Ware, one of the ticketporters employed about the House of Lords, who, however, would not accept it as a present, but gave the servant 5s. for it. He subsequently sold it for 15s. to a broker named Preston, who, in turn, made cent per cent upon the article, having sold it for 30s. to Mr. Thorn in whose possession it remained. The tapestry lay among other curious articles for some time in the wareroom of Mr. Thorn; and after the destruction by fire of the Houses of Lords and Commons, he considered that his purchase might be turned to good advantage. As it now became a precious relic of what the flames had destroyed, he set upon it a considerable price (said to be no less a sum than 4001.) The tapestry was for some time exhibited to the curious customers by whom his shop was frequented; and at length Mr. Thorn, conceiv ing that his Majesty's government might feel desirous to become the purchasers of so curious a memorial, wrote to Lord Melbourne upon the subject, and subsequently to his Grace the Duke of Wellington; in consequence of which the Commissioners of Woods and Forests ordered an inquiry to be instituted, with a view to ascertain by what means Mr. Thorn became possessed of the tapestry. In pursuance of that order application was made at Bow-street to Mr. Halls, under the authority of the Lord Chamberlain, for a summons against Thorn who was a broker, and dealer in pictures and curious articles of fur

niture, residing in Stanhope-street, Clare-market, calling upon him to explain how he became possessed of, and why he refused to deliver up, a portion of the tapestry of the late House of Lords, which was alleged to have been stolen prior to the destruction of both houses of parliament, and which had since been exhibited in the shop of Mr. Thorn, as a curiosity of considerable value.

Mr. Thorn accordingly attended at the office. A good deal of conversation took place between Mr. Thorn and the magistrate; the former refusing to produce the tapestry, as the officer who was sent to examine his premises had threatened to take possession of it by force. The magistrates said they could not proceed with the inquiry without the tapestry; and ultimately it was arranged that the inquiry should be adjourned till the following day, when the tapestry was to be produced.

When the parties appeared on the following day, Thorn again refused to produce the tapestry; till the magistrate, Sir F. Roe, pledged his honour as a gentleman, that if no case of felony was made out, the tapestry should be restored to Mr. Thorn. The tapestry was then brought in, rolled up in canvass, and placed in the care of Ellis, the offic r.

Mr. Thorn being called as a witness, stated, that, in May or June last, he bought the tapestry produced from Mr. Preston, in the same street, for 30s. Mr. Preston came to him early in the morning, and said he had a piece of tapestry from the House of Lords to sell. He saw it at Preston's shop, and gave him the price mentioned. Witness asked him how he got it, and he said he believed it came from a man who

Sir F. Roe-Was there a ticket upon it, upon which was written "Picce opposite the throne?"

Mr. Thorn-Yes. (He produced the ticket, and said he showed it to the first gentleman who called about the tapestry.)

Sir F. Roe-What was the size of the tapestry?

Mr. Thorn-twenty-seven feet by fifteen.

Sir F. Roe-Did it not occur to you that it was an improvident purchase, buying as you did so large a quantity of tapestry for such a sum, especially when you knew from whence it came?

Mr. Thorn-No, sir, I did not; for I have bought a whole room of tapestry, and not long ago, for

Mr. Preston deposed to selling the tapestry to the last witness, and said he bought it of a man named Ware, whom he had known many years. He told witness, that the tapestry was given to him by a servant to some gentleman belonging to the House of Lords. He did not choose to take it entirely as a present, and therefore gave the servant 5s. Witness added, that he understood the tapestry had been used as a carpet.

By Mr. Adolphus-I sold it to Thorn in open shop. It was in so bad a state, that I did not like to be encumbered with it. Major Edward M'Arthur was then sworn. Sir F. Roe

Did you ever,

Major M'Arthur-No. On the contrary, I thought it so important a relic, that I ordered it at once to be deposited in a place of security, and made a memorandum of the circumstance in a book, which I now produce. It was placed in a sort of press or closet over the room in the Great Chamberlain's office, in which my servant, George Sibien, a German, slept. This servant I had the highest opinion of. He had been for many years a soldier in the Imperial (French) Guards, and brought with him certificates of character of the first kind. left my service about the 9th of June last and went to Germany. I never authorised him to take or give away the tapestry in question. The tapestry never was used as a carpet.

He

Ware was then called, and being cautioned, that he was an accused person, and was not bound to say anything that might criminate himself, said, he was willing to state all he knew about the matter. He was and had been for many years employed as a porter plying for jobs about the House of Lords. He knew Major M'Arthur's servant by the name of "George" only. The latter said to him in June last, " Here is an old piece of tapestry, which has been used to lay down in the Great Chamberlain's office as a carpet. My master told me I might take it away, as it was a lumbering thing, and if you can make anything of it, you are welcome." He (Ware) said he would not take it as a present, as he might most likely make a trifle of it, and therefore gave him 5s. for it, and took it to Mr.

15s.

Sir F. Roe asked Major M'Arthur, if he was prepared to charge the man Ware (upon his belief) with being concerned in stealing the tapestry? and the reply of the Major was in the affirmative.

The Chief Magistrate then said, that in an ordinary case he should have had no hesitation in at once committing Ware to prison; but as it was necessary to delay the inquiry for a fortnight to procure the attendance of the German servant of Major M'Arthur, who was at present at Frankfort-onthe-Maine, he would take bail for his future appearance.

Bail was given to the amount of 400l. and Ware was liberated. On the 19th, Sieben appeared at Bow Street, and was examined. This statement was as follows:"In the month of June last, I left Major M'Arthur's service. A day or two before I went, I spoke to Ware, a porter at the House of Lords, and told him that there was an old piece of carpet (couverture), which was of no use, and that I would sell it. Shortly after Ware came into the place where it was, in a wooden chest, and I showed it to him, and after some conversation he gave me 5s. for it. My master had never given me this carpet, nor any permission to take it. I remember my master showing it to Lord Cholmondeley, and he afterwards asked me, if I had put it by. My belief was, that it was an old piece of furniture of no value. I saw Ware take the tapestry away, and

Sir F. Roe said, that Sieben had made his statement so frankly, that no imputation of felony rested upon him. From his own con fession, however, he had acted very improperly in disposing of the tapestry without the knowledge or consent of his master, major M'Arthur; but it appeared, that he considered it of no value whatever, and sold it as he would have disposed of an old coat, or any other worn-out article.

Sir F. Roe, agreeably to the pledge he had previously given, directed that the tapestry should be restored to Mr. Thorn.

THE BOOK-TRADE WITH FRANCE.-A table has been published in Paris of the importations and exportations of books between France and England, from 1821, to 1832, and their value. For the first five years, the increase was progressive; for the two following the number fell off; it again increased till the revolution, and has subsequently declined. In 1821, the numbers were:

Exportation from France Exportation from Engto England. land to France. vols. francs vols. francs. 81,127..407,534.... 19,086..110,375 In 1825..178,366..914,5 28.... 19,036..132,144 In 1830..108,897..554,545.... 12,714..154,276 In 1832.. 84,954..435,328 .... 19,682..131,318

According to this table the number of volumes exported from France to England every year may be averaged at about 400,000, while Great Britain has exported only 80,000.