The Express. — London, England, 1851-12-18 00:00:00

IT* 4fint%% No. 1,659.] LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1851. THREEPEN CE. tispojes Fir engleTrlld PNESENT MID NEW TEAWB GIFT. Authority ca thc 1141•1 romonts4 , l.ere. HE COMPLETE OFFICIAL I)ESCRIPTIVE T I,triTATED CATALOGUE el the LibIEAT EERIE!. t o 0 , the WORKS al INDUSTRY of ALL EA lI R IDES, In ttee dtravyme colinseti pre e Thr. e Guinean. C.catagne tea enly one that teal at all lbw. have the .4 nv ...t.tor to noilletalini the 0014 iatereding Iftturce of the it , nal Pat. re. athenteain thet for the °thew! Defendptive end Llustrated Catalogue a the &Vat Ealtitatain a •,...felani reputati.tn. It ha. an enduring lamed in the aura inf atnatbn of atomic evert deporip. h it rows' s. Eer.r ..fleet in the collertiini will ha found te int &wiped with the amount of par icalarity due to it." /us wick to altn pohlielted in Flee Porte : Perla I and 1, price 10s. yk . p a rt. t. t. end s. price 13r. emit n mo the GREAT EXHIBITION% Is 2 ^" o ""'^" o ""' Pe line a the orot arpolar ncemewroca and histories of the actual •inenation." -lithesome. 1 THE °FINIAL Loma:: FA LoGU F- Finally corrected and „ y „. o , ‘ „d, , ,itth,o, with , l Priced List& ote.. twice :P. 6.1 14PICER EROIIIEIO I , etationces. C,..0 - c*E4 end MPOB, Printers. 05611 Catakaree Oft Lie. .9. New ..gdgeditrent e gacutiars, awl a( all bookseller% E.Ulal TALE YOE KING of the GOLDEN RIVER ; Or, The Birk Orel burs. With r rad am by Rwe *en laormt. Pries Is. &I. idle fairy tale le by a muter bend. The story be. a eha-m -tee m ..ret tee writes Yeo extol:eat, that i' weld Ne herd to ! 3: eft I,.re met Werra to, the vee7 be two. Off the T ay emir GOAL" —Ezasiterr. Leedea: eer.ab, hider art Co.. 113. Cera&ll. JEWELLERY. X 111.11 ), Hitt t t 4u, •ude ride). jemslietr, allverrendbi, and Er i e . itoltc t Ilittpection of :belt eatesidre arMOKT gE .4 JET ONNAMEN rs. forming a ottotek tbe eh:remit nuke ltct ..4 draw In ettn.l.o, tint. chi", bum lete, hoop earrings, as. I • se mei 10 is Lowko. combat. rIAI/1 118.-}to W LAN DS' LA Li DOA, 1.4 ile Ate am coatievarm—lt ta di . 4 1npuished lor Ito ealretre:y plilit)ina' and tug:akin' of ats a the .lea, whoa, by na treks is do poem ••••I animate -rottory KIM:4 it riprla vii torpunties k ok aar...• r, Li :•yr • r •ry tendenty to haltanausetlon. and teal reartad:y dtrri;atoa• e l ardent, tan, pimple., earn, Weak% die •.-ava'iatm and otbfr entanowts viet - ttime. The reliant Mora. It * m a. ea me mock, anl tho raw as awl delicacy linu.:l It induce* N tae yak and arum render It rietiopme' , lc 4. every to let. (Mao tram Alec ohavinc. o.:: and it allay a.l lint that and Welmailled tho 01 wear A a :t,arnrairla..dad plararant. Bakke edagadany y'..• kat sir. T , te war& " Kalyelai • an ek e. ar.p,er .4 Me wenn^ ;mfr.% and "A. laarlbill Retro flaniem" aim magravet tie praline." seam e aket ry nria bartlo. ROW 410.01. and ko.ol.—lkid kg gm% and by Vienna Ws rietrueall. THE BISHOP OF EXETER ON CHURCH DECORATION. The following judgnnnt has been lately given by chi 14. 1 1, p of Exeter: ...1.1/4.i . :I:NT IN VIIMIMAINT AGAINST Tilt 11EV. J. SOUK/ KS, ItIa.TOIL AIILVIUSL, CUIANWALL. I has wad with lunch attention the clear, the able, and impartial report made by the rural dean on the painting now is prolpt. is the chancel of Shevioke church. On t h e one kind, a very great majmity of the communicants (chiefly, 1 of the poorer classes) . 19 out of :al, warmly approved and have wldmesecl a memorial to me in favour of the ;mint ier.; on the other hand, a yule condemning the paintings, awl pea; 'teg rue to Imo my authority, to require that what te already duo be 014,11, and what is further intended to la &in lie abandoned, w as missed ut a meeting of the vestry, railed for the morn,. with only one dissentient voice—the rirter's ; the us .atiu.; itself, however, consisting, as has hs4 n stated to ine ' of seven pesos only. Again, of four parbbioutra, who attended the rural dean, atter due wander. as complai.auts, three are not now communi cants. These are particulars which the rural dean has done most properly in reporting, lint which I deem it right to diem:,. altog. thee nom consideration in decid ing on the matter now before me. .1 hat matter, I must col tfir,t, il:VOISIA a question of right—the right of the teeter to a.luni the walls of the chancel at his own dis eretion, suaj. et to be euntrulle:l by the bishop, if he place there ail ornament of a character in itself open to just cen sure, w... u.. r es 'upend:tit/us, or indecorous, or otherwise improper. I hare no halation in etying that I recognise that 'mitt ut the rector, and disclaim, as bishop, all authority which is nut consistent with it. Looking at the question thus, I find very little which demands my inter ference in the partially execute.l designs for ornamenting the chancel of the church at Shecioke, or in what is further inteuchal. The north wall only is, as yet, at all dealt with. It is covered with a diapered ground of red and white, the white L is t lull utel to be gilt. On this ground are five circular apace. or' 41.41iimis,' each of about two feet six 'Melia in diameter. Within mese circles are delineated, in willeMoionss: I. TIN Annunciation; 2. Our Lord' in Ma jesty,' seated on a rainbow ; 3. Our LordJwing led to exe cution; t. Our L.r,l with Martha, Mary and Lazarus; G. The heat miracle in Cana of These representa tions are atitted to be all taken from Overbeek. They are all aeriptural subjects, and in design seem to be unobjec tioaabk, with a single exception. In the Annunciation the angel is kneeling to tile Virgin Marv. This is open to censure as implying that the Idtawal Vixtin is an object of adoration ; and this objection is not removed by the fact (in itself satisfactory) 44 the Virgin heMg also kneeling, with uplifted bands, as in prayer to th al. I direct that the seJadial of representing the angel as kneeling to the Virgin rimeored ; and if ft., be dime, there appears to he no part of the week hithertosaxecuted which I have any just aattiority to turbid. Any other painting begun, except on a part of the cant wall, and theme which are proposed, 1 deem it to be within the lawful discretion of the meter to adept as ornaments of his eltAnccl walla, as well as an in iehd window of stained glass, containing figures of Saint Stephen and Saint Alban. In an age when no decoration i. deemed too costly for the dwellings of the opulent among a., of all orders, it is surely a matter of just praise, rather than of reasonable censure, that a not opulent clergyman, modest and unpretending in his own home, devotes what ever 11141111•4 he can ce:nmand to the somewhat sumptuous, it m.y be, yet sober aid reverential adorning the house s: ;.41. " u. E;ETEit. " Itoliopotowe, Dim 6." TRIBUNALS OF COMMERCE. Yesterday an extraordinary meeting of the exe u, 'e and other promoters of the above project place at the London Tavern, on the requisition of Mr. I.pie. late honorary secretary, to hear some explanations iron that gentlenuin, and to consider the propriety of ac tepting his resignation. Mr. Frazier having been called to the chair, and a number of 1. IN r. of apology having been read, Mr. 1.1", i E. the promoter of the tribunals of commerce, tnt..r.,l into a lengthened statement, from which it app,,r,l that disagreements had arisen between that gent:email and the executive committee, some of the' m' mss r. of %Inch considered Mr. Lyue had been somewhat noutheious in remarks he bad applied to Mr. Baring, harm lloth•child, and other gentlemen, who objected to supp o rt th e sc h eme as p ropoun d e d by him ;,_ and, Mr. Lyne hoeing recently learn e d, through Mr. L. that isus!iug fur a similar object had, unknown to him, been heal at the house of Mr. Baring in June last, consi st, r, d that un attempt was making to get rid of him, and he published certain statements, which widened the breach between him unit the committee, and resulted in btr. Lye,- tendering his resignation as honorary secretary. gems. man now stated that he was prepared to do %about the committee, he having plenty of men of talent reoist him, if he was supported by the subscribers; but Mr. Frar, r roil other gentlemen having replica, the former R.ntl nun, as chairman, moved that the resignation of Mr. .Tr*' b actepted, and the co yinittec authorised to retir e the eiciy, assisted by hfr. Spencer, who has hitherto acted as no.ietant-scervary to Mr. Lyne. After some per wnal "nt'ersation the r.,,,tution was carried by a majority el right to two, aid thanks being voted to the chair, the taeetmg separated. MR. NIECHI. To Tita LOtToit ur TUlt IXTRItea. SM—Allow me a little space in 3-our caluable gals, r to make a f ew remar k s on M r . M e chi's balance 'beet, which appeared in your Friday evening's paper. It i+al very well fur Mr. Mechi to say that his farm ts bone hled to the tuunuot which he has lost od his 7( ar's opera bat top r . ose ho inert ased the value ot his manure '" h.• statement to that amount, I should like to know lyre it would stand at x! year. Or, as he has been ezpend - Ms about the saute amount of artificial food for several years, if he had valued at t h e same rate last year, would his eolance he the better for it this ? I say, thew, it is a fallacy to Pat all the loss down in that way, tbr If yes value it so tOt yna must another. If all the money Mr. Mechi is to he fo u nd i n th e land, it comes out I .", slowly, inasmuch as he only averages thirty_ sin bushels Of wheat per acre, while the person ohs had the farm befote him grew thirty-two bushels Per neve In your article you say "Nothing can One admirable than the courage Mr. Mechi displays," &c. b , Yon mast remember that Mr. Mechi has a flourishing in Loudon, whi c h cos t s him a considerable sum for j i r ; : "" i " , ent., and to that I look as the solution of his t. eueltage sad good temper whilst losing so much money A few huadreth a year sunk at Tiptree-ba ll `..1 vtut as in advertisement duty, and so forth, ,". act the n o t or i ety — t h at , s i r, i s th e secre t. Where is It? sf Mr. Mechi telling us how to farm ? We want to 6. . h ''w to • living uuder present rices, not how to year; we all know too well h p ow easily that may .411. e a:r , atly• Yours, ate.,__ A CONSTANT RIADILI. 9 1 1.UAT %ND ENNIS GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY. i'"tanlAy Matter Blunt confirmed the proposed cull of ket dime SR all those contributories mho bad mined "ft g FESTIVALS OF MECHANICS' LNSTITUTES. HALIFAX. The soirje of the Halifax Mechanics' Institute was held on Tuesday night, iu the Odd Fellows' Hall, and was most respectably attended. The company included John Waterhouse, Esq. the Mayor, who presided on the occa sion ; the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is one of the borough representatives; Richard Cubdtn Esq., M.P., John Abbott, Esq , John Baldwin, Esq , Alexander, Colonel Pollard, dke., The Rev. M. TURNER, the Secretary, reads very gratify ing report of the position of the Institute, showing that during the past year it has made cousiderable progress, and has now subscribing and ordinary members to the number of 628, besides an i xtensive and excellent library. The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the meetiag, and was followed by JOHN CItOSSLEY, Esq., who in a few appropriate re- I I marks moved that the report read by the secretary be adopted by the meeting. Sir CHARLES WOOD seconded the adoption of the re- ' port, and said he could nut hut look to these institutions as use great branch of that general education which he felt I deeply anxious to ace promoted throughout the length and ' breadth of the land. (Cheers.) Their worthy chairman (the Mayor) had alluded to some of the great difficulties which attended this subject of education, because of those ' feelings which are implanted in those interested in the ' promotion of education triensgs which, even if one ' thought them mischievous, they were bound to respect. (Hear, hear.) Education was, therefore, one of those subjects which must be pressed forward, but they must leave it to the people to speak for themselves, aid them in their efforts, and not drive them on faster than they are willing to go. (" Hear, " and applause.) He was glad to state to them his opinion that the—he would not call them prejo judices, but—strong feelings which hail interfered with the progress of general education, were Liss wearing away. (Hear, hear.) lle believed that the general conviction was, that education was one of the first things which they ought ra sromo n te t an t d w l t talit i tli u t lties, he h oj i t y h e o , i,e tt l a h t ing i : a w h i tch years they would see is much mute rapid prostre,x made in favour of general education than limit been the case for many years past . (Cheers) With regard to that portion d their mechanics' institution which provided instruction he the junior members, he felt the same interest as in the other departments ; he believed it be even mire useful than the other, as it tended to raise the character of society at large. (Hear, hear.) Now, with regard to that which was not a portion of general cluention—that which afforded the means of self-instruction which members of these institutions were able to acquire, he believed that to be of the greatest value. One of the greatest advantages which persons in easy circumstances possess over those less favourably placed than themselves, is the command of books and the means of ' information ; but institutions of this kind put into the power of the claws alluded to facilities which they I would otherwise be enable to obtain. Having at some length pointed out the importance to the working claws of using the opportunities afforded to them in these institu tions of access to useful information, he concluded by ob serving that they must look to others than himself for in formation to guide them. All he could do in this way was that which be had door, to express his approval of the principle of Mechanics Imitations. The only ether way in which he could help them was by contributing to the new building, and if 100 f. would be of any service to them, they should be most heartily welcome to it. (Loud end repeated cheers.) Mr. RICHARD COBDEN, M.P., next addressed the Mee tin g, strongly recommending the Halifax people to emulate the example of their neighbours at Huddersfield, who possessed a much larger and more imitable institution, with one-third more members. Ile (Mr. C.) had heard Lord John Russell say something to the effect that an edu cational test would not be a bad franchise to be admitted into this country, and he had bevel trembling—he hoped their right hon. member would not say anything about it at the next meeting of the Cabinet. (Laughter and cheers.) Huddersfield has 1,650 members in its Mechanics' Institution, with only one member, while Halifax has two representatives, and only 600 members in its institution ; and while Huddersfield has built and pro sided accommodation suitable for her institution, Mati lda, which has gut plate-glees windows, luxurious private houses, and superior mills, has thrust her institution into garret. (Laughter, and cheers.) lie (Mr. Cobden) hoped nothing would be said about it out of that hall—(hear, hear)—but if it was, that it would be mentioned with the distinct understanding that the men of Halifax bad resolved that before the coming year runs out, this stigma—this great stigma—on so important a parliamentary borough should be wiped out ; and that they would have a nobler—a far nobler —institution than anything his friend Schwann could boast et at Huddersfield. (Cheers.) He was the other day at tending a dinner given to Mr. Walker, a distinguished American citizen, who was entertained at a public dinner in Manchester. In the course of his speech, Mr. Walker took the opportunity of counselling them in the same way as Mr. Abbot Lawrence had done, and telling them to see that tho people of this country were better educates'. Now he (Mr. Cobden) did not like it that people are to come from a new country and tell them that the people of old England were an ignorant set of people, cud wanted to be better educated. (Hear.) England should take the lead of America. About this ti twelve months, when alluding to this very subject in tfe Manchester Athenaeum, he quoted a remark made by a writer to the effe ct that there was more useful knowledge iu the Times newspaper than in the whole history of Thueyilides. Well, this was a strong opi nion to express, but he thought, after twelve months' re flection, that there was a great deal to be said fur it. For instance, he that day brought with him a copy containing the message of the American President, which would be of great importance to all time, but every particle of which was important to men of the present day; therefore, to tax newspapers was teatimes as bad as the taxes on the worksof Thucydides. But in the case of modem newspapers, they tax it twice, firstof all the paper, and then the stamp. (Hear.) But in addition to this advertisements were taxed, and a mechanic who advertised fur a situation had to pay Is. 6d. duty; while the malt who advertised an estate of 100,0001. had no more to pay. (blear, hear.) He then contrasted the conduct of England with that of America, it being in the latter country a fundamental principle that every thing which bore on the education of the people was freed from fiscal exactions. In conclusion, he said if be bad any claim upon the working men in tho way his friend Mr. Crossley had mentioned—that was in having been instrumental in cheepening their bread, he would implore them to spend what they now saved in the educes lion of their children, in giving them food for the mind. If they did this, it would be the means of raising society intellectually and morally. Mr. CROSSLEY, referring to the proposed new bun& ! log, suggested that tour large mill-owners, who employed es dee aggregate 12,000 workpeople, should subscribe 2,00111. seerept them ; and the rest should be raised by sulkier*. dem t the merchants, the bankers, and the car lasaity et • Mr. Alderman Baldwin, Colonel Pollard, and Mr. Wm. Fairbairn, of Manchester, having addressed the meeting, the latter in some practical remarks on the importance of mental culture to mechanics and artisans, the usual vote of thanks was given to the visitors and the chairman. The meeting did not break up uutil after 10 o'clock. NORTHAMPTON. On Tuesday night a soiree upon a scale of con siderable magnificence was held in the Corn Exchange of this town, to commemorate the opening of a new suite of buildings destined for the occupation of the Northampton and Northamptonshire Mechanics' Institute. The Com pany, who were in full dress, could have been little less in number than NO, and included the principal nobility and gentry resident in the neighbourhood, the families of the higher and middle classes, and those of a greet number of the operatives in the town. Earl Fitswilliam, presided, and among the noblemen and gentlemen who surrounded hint on the platform, were Lord Althorpe, Lord Henley, Lord Wodehonse, the Err. Lord Alwyne Compton; the Earl of Aboyne, the Hon. G. Fitzwilliam, Mr. V ernon Smith, Y.P., Mr. Layard, the distinguished antiqua r y and traveller, the Mayor of Northampton, Mr. Charles Knight, Mr. George Cruikshank, Dr. Conolly, the lion. R. Watson, the Revs. T. \V. Barlow, C. H. Hartshorue, E. T. Priest, G. Nicholson, T. James, and many others. Addresses were delivered by Lord Fitswilliam, Mr. Layard, the ex plorer of the rains of Nineveh, Mr. C. Knigkt, and several other gentlemen. REINTORCTMECTS FOR TIIT CAPT.—The Ist Bat talion Rifle Brigade, which returned last year from the Cape of Good Hops, are again to moored forthwith to that colony. EARTIIQUATE.—The Impartial de Sinyrne, in its correspondence from &Moira, has melancholy accounts of an earthquake at Beret. We learn that a part of the fort ress had been thrown down, and 400 soldiers buried in the ruins. Boma days after the catastrophe, and after great exertions, their lifeless bodies were withdrawn from the ruins, and their numbers ascertained. About &JO houses, two mosques, and a church suffered considerably, and many are no longer habitable. The Governor of Tatting sent teats and assistance to the remainder of the soldiers in gar rison there. Among Christians and Mussulmans, 800 per eons are miming, but it is as yet unknown how many among those have bean lost, or bow many have sought safety in Sight. Near to Beret the top of a mountain was detached from its Wee, sad thrown to a considerable distance. In the centre a crater has been formed, from which dense volumes of black smoke, atones, and lava are emitted. Fetid sulphurous exhalations escape and corrupt the air. The villages and environs of Bent have suffered great damage. BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN BAlLMAT.—Traffic for the week ending Deo. 14 :-1811. 24. IW. For the week ending Dec.l6, 1860, 137 1 . 134 . 7d. LYONS AND AVIGNON RAILWAY. The French government having announced its in tention forthwith to concede this important line by public competition to a company for • term of 99 years, on the conditions of a law passed by the late Assembly, a special meeting took place yesterday, to consider and determine on the immediate steps to be taken under such urgent cir cumstances. The meeting was convened by the committee appointed by the persons having claims on the French go vernment in respect to the caution moneys deposited fur the railways from Lyons to Avignon, and from Bordeaux to Cette, now in abeyance. Of this committee Mr. Sato. muss was chairman, and that gentleman presided on the present occasion, observing, in opening the proceedings, that they had felt it right to call this meeting for the pur pose of seeking the advice and opinion of the share holders in the old Lyons and Avignon Railway Company, under the circumstances in which they were now placed. The meeting would recollect that in the IL year 1846 there was a combined company of English and French shareholders for the purpose of making a rails I t way from Lyons to Avignon. The whole of the capital was subscribed, and the concession of the line completed; but MI there were reasons to apprehend at that time that the el various details on which tile assumed capital and revenue were based were erroneous, and the dearth—or rather e s t famine, he might call it—which then took place in the rail way market, and threatened not only this county, but 54 almost all Europe, greatly strengthened these apprehen- IS shins. The French government were then applied to upon the subject of the concession made to this company, and 50 they agreed with the directors of the whimsy that there was reason to believe that the estimates were fallacious, and t. that it was desirable that the conditions of the con- U cession should be improved, in order to ensure the success of the undertaking. The French govern- as meat, convinced of the necessity of some modifications, lb brought into the Chamber of Deputies • prole! de 30 ' ,oi, embodying certain ameliorations of the conditions of the concession. The democratic portion of the legislature at. thought that the proposed ameliorations were so far advise M. able that they agreed to them, and the bill passed the Chem- Its her of Deputies. It was afterwards carried into the then 1 4 Chamber of Peers, where opinions were expressed in the It; course of the debates upon the s ubject that—looking at the Sa x position of Europe, and the probable scarcity of money that et.' would follow, and also the financial difficulties which had IC ; already been eaperienced in England by the failures in 1817 1, 1 5 1' —it would be snore favourable to French national inte rests that the company should be extinguished rather tu than the proposed ameliorations of the conditions re of the concession should be encouraged. The cons SO sequence was, that the bill was thrown out by the I lii Chamber of Peers, and the Lyons and Avignon 1: company hail no alternative but to dissolve themselves I; and to returns the money to the shareholders—the caution g money being left in the hands of the French government, 10 subject to future arrangements. From that day to this see- et . gottations had been going on (or the purpose of securing 6d' the return of the caution money. The claims of the Lyons 34 1 and Avignon Railway in this respect were of the first class, a, because it was admitted by the French government, as well el! as by the Chamber of Deputies, that the data upon widen M. the company undertook to construct the line was iusuni- : 1 1.1 cient. Consequently, the principles of equity, houesty, and 1 ; honour,would all combine to induce the nation to give such g Unproved conditions to the company as would enable them to construct the line, or to return the caution money. They 60 I were all aware of the great changes that had taken place in et. the government of France within the last few days. With r. those changes they had nothing to do. They met there as claimants, nut only on the government, but also upon le the honour and integrity of the French nation, and they is felt connlent that their claims could not be invalidated or le weakened. lie (the chairman) might observe, without in SO I any way conunitti g himself to the position of the French government, that he had had the honour of meeting Louis 7 Napoleon several times on the subject of returning the eau- 13 1 Lion money, and he had received from him nut only as- 9.1 suranees of his sympathy, but a promise that he would do all le in his pewee to place the shareholders ' English as well as s: French, in the best possible position. On the bat l) comber the late Chamber of France—almost its last act—gave their 2 9 approbation to the framework of a concession for making a to railway from Avignon to Lyons. lie had looked into the tO terms and conditions of the lease, and he was bound to say 3 " that they appeared to him to be moat ample and most favour- s'• able. lie was afterwards surprised to find that, without the notice usually given in such ea.ses, the present hue was to be is conceded ou the 19th inst., Friday next, to some company. .. As far as he knew there was only one company is treaty 30 for the line, consequently, if no second company applied, 39 ,,, this railway would be given to the company wham had been for a considerable time in negotiation with the French go- 25 vernment fur the concession of the hue. lle was sot ;5 aware that any English persons bad represented the in- it. terests of the shareholders in this competition, sud they wore therefore called together to determine what steps they ought eel to take, end whether they ought not to say that they would enter their protest against the line being given to any other company until they had hail time to see whether it waste their 4 4 interest to tender for toe line. There had been changes to in the French ni* 's try since this nutter was brought before the government of Frauce, and he (the chairman) had ad dressed every successive administration in favour of the share- ae holders, stating that if they were willing to carry the caution money to the company's account, they would fulfil ut their engagement by subseribiug the necessary sum for the Se completion of the line. to his opinion they ought not to be alarmed at anything that was going en in France. as Whatever might be tier position of the government, they might depend upon the integrity of tile people, who—as 10 was evidenced by the alterations which had recently taken so place in prices—were ke.nly alive to the value and pre- 15 serration of property. The tine, it appeared, was presumed jay to cost 120 millions of franc., of which sum it, millions t were to be furnished by the French government, and with 14 a view to ease the operatiou of finding the capital, there was „, to be a power to raise it on bonds at five per ceut., for which the government would give their guarantee. lie (the chairman) had little hope that they should succeed in so their present endeavour, as lie believed that the whole affair had been arranged in the minister's office, and that three so or four English capitalists, or contractors, were the chief " parties to the concession. The lion. gentleman concluded i s zi by proposing that the following memorial be presented to ao the President of the French Republic, by the committee appointed to represent the claimants : "'That in the year 1816 the sum of ten millions of francs ~ was deposited by a combined body of English and French N capitalists as the caution money for the construction of a line of railway from Lyons to Avignon. flb " That the progress of the undertaking was delayed by the discovery that the official estimates of the cost of con- s t• struction, expected annual returns, &e., were based on very erroneous and imperfect data; and also by the impending dearth throughout Europe and the financial crisis curse- sl . quent thereon ; and that on representations being made to u the executive government, the conditions of the original con- el cession were agreed to be materially modified and ameliorated. " That measures for that purpose were adopted by the ,s 1 executive government and Chamber of Deputies, but were rejected by the Chamber of Peers ' not from any objection sl to or doubt of their justice, but solely from motives of pub- to o lie interest. SO "That these acts of the legislature, while unequivocally 3 recognisiug the right of the company to an amelioration of ss the terms of its original contract, were at tiro same time a 2 21 virtual admission of its equitable claim, in case such arnelio ration should net be conceded, to a restitution of the caution Se money. Bt a ,l That this equitable right hiss been in many ways vir tually recognised by successive administrations, andithat in e t. , the similar edit of the Bourdeaux and Cette Railway Com- its pang, also iu abeyance, you, sir, were pleased to express your sympathy with the suffering English and French in- I lis terest, and to evince every disposition to comply with their request. That, under the circumstances thus detailed, nothing alt, can or ought to prejudice the just and equitable claims of I tea your memorialists on the government of France its respect I he of their caution money ; and that if the government be I averse to the unconditional return of the same, the utmost it can reasonably require of your memorialists is that they t ' should undertake to complete the line of railway for the construction of which that Caution money was deposited. "'That your memorialists have reason to believe that the 19 conditions of the concession now proposed to be made of „ the Lyons and Avignon line are amply su ffi cient for the due ; execution of the works, providing for the return of the ; caution money of the original company. " That your memorialists are ready and willing to renew their engagement with the government of France upon the condition of the orginal caution money being brought into account ; wad, if the opportunity he offered them, they 14;s will be prepared to tender fur a concession of the railway a o from lions to Avignon, in pursuance of the terms of the law 2 0 of the late National Assembly authorising such concession. " And your memorialists resist Wally submit that, in case S .. such concession shall not be made to them, justice and le equity require that measures be taker: for the return to them of their caution money, consistently with the honour r s i and liberality always manifested by the government of to France, even at the most disturbed periods of its political 10 10 history." Mr. B. OTtirritta seconded the motion, which was mauls 2 : 0 mously agreed to. fM MT. BAGARAW, proposed, and Mr. J. GARRARD is seconded the next resolution, requesting the committee to se declare the readiness of their constituents to tender for the concession of the railway from Lyons to Avignon as with& rised be the law of the late National Assembly, or to adept, each (Alter measures as may be found expedient for secur ing the recovery of the caution money of the company now in abeyance. The resolution was carried, and was followed by * motion which expressed a hope that no English capitalists would, by engaging in negotiations for a concession of the Lyons and Avignon line, interfere to weaken or prejudice the in disputable claims of the former company.—Carried. Other resolutions in furtherance of the object were passed. MARIA ANTONIA Reawsr.—Trafac for the week ending Doe. 4, 1861, 2141.; 1860, 14W. RAILWAYS. THIS DAY. Two o'CLoct. There is very little business going forward in the railway share market, but the depressed feeling of yesterday has passed oft', and prices are in all cases well supported at previous quotatior.s, whilst in many instances a fractional improvement has oc curred. There is a slight rise in Midlands, Great Westerns, Lancashire and Yorkshires, South East erns, and some others. I In French shares there is more movement, and prices are all higher. SHAILLI - AND STOCKS ONOOARANTESD. alga to-4y up .to 1 p.m. MONEY MARKET. THIS DAY. Two o•Ccocx. Though with only a slight increase in the amount of business offering, the English funds to-day are de cidedly firmer, the market being supported at an ad- Tame of I percent. On the Paris Bourse yesterday after noon there was a rise of per oent., carrying the price to 1 1 ,. above par, and this produces a better feeling here, as the Paris market is attentively watched, even by those who profess to place little faith in the rise, when considered as an exponent of the stability of the new government, and the confi dence felt by the moneyed classes of France. The regular purchase on account of the sinking fund also assists in supporting the English market. Consols opened at an advance of 1,, being first called 981 to Z ex div. for the opening of the 16th Jan., and at this quotation they now stand, though at one time sold as low as 961. The government broker bought a parcel of Reduced Threes at 97Z. The official business figures are :—Three per Cent. Consols for Account, 96Z, 4, I ; Three per Cent. Re duced, 971, I ! ; New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., 98:,!. Long Annuities, 1860, 7. South Sat Old Annuities, 961, Bank Stock, 214;. 2131. This last-named stock maintains its value welL The unfunded securities are firm, at 48s. to 51s. preen. for Exchequer Bills, and 395. to 625. prem. for India Bonds, with rather more movement than of late. _ _ . The appearance of the foreign bond market is good, and an advance has occurred in Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese, Peruvian likewise show ing a tendency to improvement. Rather more business is offering in this department. The sales of the morning, as officially recorded, are as follows :-Brazilian Old Five per Cent. Bonds, 94. Dutch Two•and-a-Ralf per Cents., 59i •, ditto Four per Cent. Certificates, 901, 891. Mexican Bonds, 281; ditto for account, 31st of December, 261, t. Peruvian Five per Cents., 1849, 90, 1 for account. Portuguese Four per Cents., :33. Russian Four-and a-Halt' per Cents., 103. Sardinian Five per Cent. Bonds., 841, 1;64, 1. z•panish Active Five per Cents., 201; ditto for account, 21, 20Z ; ditto Five per Cent. div. from May, 1841, 191; ditto, 1842, 191; ditto, 1813, 184; ditto, 1844, 181; ditto, 1843, 171 ; ditto, Three per Cents., 40, 1. Venezuela Three-and-a- Quarter per Cents., 33% French Five per Cent. Rentes, 100 fr.; ditto 'Throe per Cents., 621 r. 30e. (exchange in both cases, 23fr. 23c.) The market for the Californian gold shares is quiet. Agus. Fria shares are quoted Ito prem. ; Golden Mountain, par to ,1 prem.; West Mariposa and Ave Maria, Ito din. ; Anglo-Californian, to 1 prem. Nouveau Monde, Ito 1 prem. The engi neers and staff of this last named company, number in 24 parsons, fully equipped, we are advised, let Southampton yesterday, on their voyage to Cali fornia. To-day's advices from Liverpool report another large import of specie from the United States, being 822,300 dots., or 175,000/., by the Atlantic. From the same port we have intelligence of another mercantile failure, but the liabilities arc small. The traffic returns on the majority of the English lines of railway continue highly satisfactory, and the aggregate comparison still shows a large difference in favour of the present year. he London and North Western receipts for the last week were 41,268/.,against 41,481/. in the corresponding week of 1830, being a decrease of 216/. ; the Midland, 22,1961., against 20,8931.-increase, 1,303/. ; the Lancashire and York shire, 16,306/., against 14,1821.-increase, 2,3241.; the South Western, 9,1941., against 8,3931.-in crease, 799/. ; the Great Western, 16,3381., against 15,632/.-increase, 706/. ; the York and North Midland, 7,3181., against 6,6591.-increase, 8391.; the Bristol and Exeter, 3,3151. against 3,5471. -decrease, :321.: the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 13,1021. against 13,2121.-decrease, 110/. ; the Great Northern, 10,402!. against 6,8141.-increase, 3,5881. ; the North Staffordshire, 4,688/. against 4,3141.--in crease, 1741. The Spanish financial commission have issued notice of the due payment of the dividends payable on the Ist January next, on the Consolidated and Deferred Three per Cents. The commission state that, in proportion as the new stock of the Three per Cents. lkferred is issued, the holders will receive the dividend they may be entitled to. There is a moderate amount of movement in the market for bank shares this week, and good prices are obtainable. British North American shares are marked at a considerable advance, but Provincial of Ireland are rather weaker. The sales reported are:-Australasia (40/. paid), 391. British North America (50/. paid), 481 ' 49; Colonial (251. paid), 231; London Joint Stock (101. paid), 18, ; London and Westminster (20/. paid), 29, 1; Provincial of Ireland (231. paid), 44, 431; Union of Australia (251. paid), 331; Union of London (10/. paid), 13, 1,4, .4. Dock shares are firmly supported at the late nes. and London stock has further advanced to 120. Commercial stock is worth 831; East and West India, 145 ; St. Katharine, 81. In Steam-boat shares the feature of the week is a considerable rise in Peninsular and Oriental, which have advanced to 75; whilst the new shares (10/. paid) are marked 17, 1 , 18, 171 ' and 181. Royal Mail Steam arc quoted 801. General Steam Naviga tion, 271. In the market for insurance shares, prices are well maintained, and there is an advance of 41. in Royal Exchange stock, besides an improvement in British Commercial shares The latest quotations of the market are as follows :-Albion, 86 ; Alliance, Bri tish and Foreign, 21 ; ditto, Marine, :421 ; Anchor, 1 ; Atlas, 171; British Commercial, 7 1 ; Church of England, 21, 3 ; Clerical, Medical, and General Life, 271; Crown, 15 ; Eagle, 61; Equity and Law, 41; English and Scottish Law Life, 3 ; European Life, 12; General, 51; Globe, 133; Guardian, 33!,, 53; Imperial Fire, 243; Imperial Life, 18; Indemnity Marine, 48 ; Law Fire, 31 ; Law Life, 461; Legal and General Life, 42 ; London Fire, 201 ; London Ship, 201 ; Marine, 15 ; Medical, Invalid, and General Life, 24 ; Monarch,l9s.; National Loan Fund, 24 ; Pelican, 38 ; Phmnix, 160 ; Professional Life, Z ; Provident Life, 30 ; Rack Life, 64 ; Royal Exchange, 223 ; Sun Fire, 209 ; ditto Life, 48 ; United Kingdom, 4 ; Victoria Life, 5, 51. The General Reversionary and Investment So ciety's shares are quoted 93 ; Equitable Reversionary, 1071 ex div. • Loudon Reversionary, 44 ; Reversion ary Interest Society,lool. Miscellaneous shares are quoted as follows in the official list:-Assam Tea Company, 9; Australian Agricultural, 15 ; Australian Trust, 20,1, ; Anglo /leak:an Mint, 241; Canada Company, 49; Hud son's Bay Stock, 206; South Australian, 231 • Van Diemen's Land, 1; Electric Telegraph (A) shares, 201. paid, 20. The latest quotations of exchange at foreign places on London are as follows: Previous Latest Quotations. Quotations. Alexandria Adelaide, 8. A. Amsterdam, short Ditto, 2 months Antwerp, short Berlin, 3 months 6.231 6.231 Bahia 29 d. 281 d. Buenos Ayres Bombay (document bills), 6 months Calcutta (document bills), 6 months Canton Copenhagen, short Ditto, 3 months Christiania, 1 month Galata Frankfort, short 931 1191 1 1191 1 941 _ Gothenburg, 90 days WM if Hamburg, short l3m. 7 13m. 61 Ditto, 3 months Leipzig, 3 months Lisbon, 90 days Manilla, 30 days — 48. 76. 71d. Ditto, 6 months ... Moats Video Mauritius 7l per et dia. 8 10 per et. dis. Madrid 60.60 60.60 iii i set EAILWATd. 50 . 10 . f bt.rdies Si Amberg., Notting., Bodo. I awl East Junction . ISt 12'!11n.V . , , 01y. StostrValle Birkeshial, Lamas! Ches. Jun.. late 33/. .1100 20 Cheater an 1 Relybead 45 I Dualla sad Bateau lam— all Dundee, rank and Aber deen Junction . . sz. item Ati in (LIS a is De. and (CS s. 20 (tutees Onatlea 25 eastern Wove, Clam A.. (late F.. U. AL) -. L 5 lie. clam B and C dlti. 25 East Laaeaehire GI Do. New shares 50 But ay/est jr,tl4l and Birm. 1117drTn7: 16 fidiaburib m d Olargow Edintursh, Perth,llittule , ton Gin glw St South Wester': ss Great Niwthern _ IYjr ' a WZares,A,Dien4, I'2 W. 4 pharem, 11, 6 wet. SO GC Stalk. and Wait. (Ire. . M lasoist*r and .. 111 Dm Tblrd , ilO9 (metre and IS Do. =no Till Fa. So !Ueda Northern .. I 11,, LueJue end 100 L'.. Brightm, S. Comi 109 Leaden aft North-Wateri n ,!e., e'tsree I! tr,. Fittba I Du. SI 0 Ned 100 Lntlm & &QUI-Western 4 . 3', I) . . $4 D. £lO . Maocia.,Box., sod Natloi: 100 11ancla..Sbef..101.1eroinA. 4L Lisa Union I - 17t7iina . .ratilliA4 474 Nidt 7 . 1 Irual (heat Wartern(l) )6 Newmarket ... . . Abe;gnislu and lierdarcl 7a Si SI II ab 7 Ne;ey.;)lin&lakihen lOU Norhik .. ... ... 15 Do. New AIL_ ... ... 31 Northern COUM44 Mho. 35 North British .. ... .. I 7; North Stalfordabire.. . . 9. North Devon ~. ... . 3., North &South Weat.Joite. 00 Oxford, Wore., & %Mee. 2.5 ...Mall Central ... 5). )loottiah Midland ... 13, ohrece. A Wen., Clan. Al 1.....) Do., Clan. 1t... ... . . C 4 1trowehuryealereron1Diu al; .4orowahoire and Chore, (Nor. W. Mm.) ... .. an Do. Halves ... ... 20 Do. °worry ... r . .1,e2)l attire Union... 50 lout)) Deco. .. ... . it) South Latter. ... ... .. 30 South WOO% ... 15 loath Yorksh.7kßlvreDu 15 01irhog out Dunfertn`m). 1•,.), r &Ate. and Ilarr.ep) .1 10 lloonesHorenl&ekle&k.o II West Cornwall all rtatortcd and '2)asertair 125 V ork,Ne.a.olletaikr woe 21 Do. dn. Kate...on) 9 INLO.N.E.Purebare 30 York and North 14.1111 e) LIMES LIMED AT 91112 D lirculnkhannaolloreLlanil 171 161 31 51i:3 1 a s 6% 61 76 60 S Si Ps 37 1 671 dL Si Si • 14 lb 61 7 N SS 1131 116 3 SI gis 2 2 Si 64 6 7 BA 6 1 11 11 13 31 21 die 331 27 16 20 42 11 131 dig 3 2 di G 11 74 64 446 1) 134 14 144 9 24 7 6_ 61 411 , t l . 4i 3ay 14 16 7 " l e as si 3( glia 14 16 214 29f 4 3m 11 10 11 IS 16 13 Ms 170 12 74 7 Ms Si Si n 211 22 1i 6"lif Dl9 6 4 41• 8 is 0 II I 8 6 46 2 4 " dis 9 9i Si Si 9i Si dis 1111 fa $O4 I °KIWI' U 19 I outer 6.6-: co ut. Li 301'Dittio without o ((Manatee'. (Wised to tirelaWestern 20 39 all Wm., %Vole and Dudley eatiedulip4orwitlatuir. (lewd to OrcutWeitern i $ 10 pen AR tto witboutagaurantee, I (Mowed to lireatskesterns 7 9 pat 113 Backinahannaire (leaiedl to LoadoniliN.Westerni; in 181 SO Ciyilii-dim Junction i ilt•rocil to Caledonian ,41 13 3i I CastLincolask.gueir 6s.Ct ((ured to Gt. Nortlicin) 322 33 90 fOlolicausr It Dais Voce .t , I (leased to tirentWastet n l 4 239 s SA liullkaelby(LYoetaiNAlid 104 il:6 ZS I 130.41 eisins (ditto) ! $ 6 l O / big 121, Do. 1 Moan ( ditto) 14 23 4 30 Leftist Braduird , Midland 1 101 l 1211)104on awl Greenwich I (leased to South kiwitin 119 119 20 'Ditto Prifersuce (ditto)' 14 23 21.0 'Lowestoft Duar.4perCent (Irian' to Norfolk) s 30 'Northern% Fiottrn Spinet , i Wad to End-counties, 43 DAto ildto New 3$ Preston& Wyrc (leas. L RN.Westist-anc.tiYork 11 Ditto 1 skirt:sin (ditto) 90 Resd.,Guiki.,andlleigate , (lowed to siouth Nostrils 6): Royston and Ritchie (leen to tircit Nortnern RD*. Bkepreth Enten.(ditto 11,•;doeth0tallordshire Unsaid' to Kr. Useless U Wog Valley, 6p. M-11)0 inland to StocatontLitur 100 Wilt. lk tluineteet (leased to Great Western. • 14 If 64 36 4 6 ra ei IN Pa 11i 24 7 P,. 2 If die IS 39 43 93 PiaItPERENCX 111161173. 10 °Calt.lontan £lO .. ... 11, q IS , Clarter u.l Llolybeed ... 161 16 all Manske. Perth. sod Aber. I deer J•tocutat ... ... 1 1 dlet 31 &let 4.lgitati(3(.los)6p.a. 21 21 6;"Ea3teruCuuntlee neuron, 3 per Ct No. 1 1 Ipm RI Ditto do. No. 2 par pet 10 Uo. Now tl for Cent. stock! 101 II Pt East-Uolon,Sertpo.6l3.l 5/ 101 3 Ettlnbontb, Fit% mad $ 1 Dundee, 31 per Lot ... 1 IDa 13, ,Great Nor2sern 3 welkin, 1 111 11, 1 ,1:10.3.itedeetnebleacrip 1 pen 111 1 0t.nt“Westrntltkinittial 1 11 en' % ILaseishirraYorks. P£d die 100 'Do. 6 per Cent. Stock ..4112 113 Igo llaadon,Brislit.,t6S.tkoa" I I Prot..tpro.N.Stock lit 11 Ile 1233.11mitterrAptiOast , U; laidos Is 2.33er.(Cez i t i kSursou2) 3 per Cent... estlestrttitWeeteria ' 4 ,Illaw.lfbefliklAtte. Iso Nal t:lakr .10 Do. New file ... WO Ilullets.Con..llr.kl3.7 11 Ditto Prete t rare pp 3fortAa Esteems .. ... A Do.Outrauteed St poet. ill North ftlefforttibir• ...... 2 ti. Worcester, iPt6l W01ver.,6113.6 per Oust 11 htetrastitirns.NewOner. PO Shreps-tteheatetlNoe.W. Mitt) 6 per Cent... ... 23 loath Devoe ... IT York, Nerremetle,St Beres., Ot.Nert6 of Eue.pureb.l I I Ditto Ihtto ... ...I II le Tork63l.llA.ll.llt...Pareie .141 143 /OBEID. M. qa "Booloir . and Amiens . 10 'Centro !Prance (Vternw Dunn llttenlah . 15 least lotion 5 Groot 'la= having, I) Do. Do. „. 13 Lozendiours lu Du. (Railway) „. 27i Maria Antonia -6( 110. do. New ... „ 20 Namur and Lien 19 Si.rlbern of Frame Ikleans bed Bordain 2 ran. and Orleans . 3,1 .Parta and Rona '3 earned's. .. bl 'Bonn and lions -4unbra owl Mena - 10 :m4.1 Ronan •• n Wait Plandrn I 14 pa 11 116 II 144 132 133 1 Pr 1 dIA 134 Ib l 6 4 44 4/ I ;W par to/ In ►aj 111 11 la 151 163 3 41 1 1 Ala ,WAy!l. Ini 14 ISII 41 la i a me is i 1 ei I 231 I I I 94 I I - ICSTICES Or THE PLACE.—Yesterday It return to Vol;enrtewl.PrilnBl4, 2 " l:s 2 ti w oits hiel is " lre sa =ot ' h g e peace, and T2lOll of them have daidieL In Wales there are 1,b50 in the amaslasiem, of with 117 bass guidilied. In Ireland the number is the B,llli, and 3,188 have dallied. Titers IMi empoisestea in England and Wake, and la Ired le. are only 28 stipendiary or paid magietrates in liadaWS sad Wales, and 71 in Ireland. In Scotland there an WI mom exer cising magisterial inactions, of which IN SIN paid, and 11 red• 0w"... 1 , ... yesterday. loi lot 4j 5 0 10 10 dls 131 lit 20 20i 23 21 tie 41 111 26 21 S Si :i , 1 1 MI 116 13: 16& IQ 54 4 1 1 Sh i 3 2 5 711 Naples New Orleans New York Oporto Odessa l'ernambuco Palermo, 3 months 66A 68.16 Paris, short Div°, 3 months Rio Janeiro 2Bl d. 281 d. Romo Riga ni 1. 37 15.16 d. St. I'etersburg, 3mo 37.1-16 Id. 37 5-16 d. Id. San Francisco, short Ditto Sydney (bank bills) Shaughac Stockholm, short Ditto, 96 days l2 12 Trieste Vienna EN OEIBII PUN I)S.—Teis TAT. Dank Stnck, 413 i 134 Long Anututu . chat 3 per CL Deduced. r 74 I If Oil ettpck. *hut 3 per Ct. Conf.ol.l, lbw. Ditto Ban, 1.000 f., 594 63... 34 r, Ct. Cvneols, 94 , 4 i Exchequer Dille, LIAM. 444. 41.. Count& for Acct., Ik4 I FOREIG 41 p Ct. Rel.lll. AA 90 b per et. Brazilian. V 3 5 Do. New, 92 4 6 per Ct. ltuenim Ayers. 48 61 per Ct. ChM... 97 100 3 per et. Milian. el 4 3 per et. Daoh. 757 24 per et. Dutch, 60 03 4 per Ot Dutch, ST 90 ►quads. ej 34 1 ver Cl. tinualla, 131 146 dardlnlast 6 FUNDS. 3 per Ct. Netkart. 261 5 Pcr Ct, Pertmtp.. 68 1.0 Unto Deferred. 40 61 5 par Ct. Porttrtue.,, DV 3 5 per Ct. ku4.415a, 111 13 44 per Ct. 1164450. 153 4 p.:r Ct. )4464151, Acura. 101 11 3 per 01. 6046145. Ni MN M. Morro. fit` r Ct. Ve.,eruela. 34 , . Deferre.l. 114 12) LS Cent..Bl to J. COMMERCIAL AND M_4RKETS. MINCING LANE.-THIS DAY. SVGAR.—The market continues dull. The public sales arc going off heavily; qualities Rood to very fine, from 365. to 435., sell at previous rates; other descriptions scarcely support them, and importers are buying in freely; refined steady ; grocery lumps, fair to tine, 43.. MI. to 488. COPFE6.-70 hales of Mocha sold in public sale at about previous rates, long berry, 80s. 6d. to 81.. 450 bags Itio offered, partly sold, 38s. to 435. 900 bags of East India were also offered, and chiefly bought in. CurroN.—The public sale of 4110 bales Tinncvelly went off steadily at previous rates, 4.1 per lb. Them has been a fair demand for strong Deme rara the last two days. limn remains steady. TEA.—The market continues inactive. In other articles ao material alteration. TALLOW MAIM ET.-THIS DAY. The market is very inanimate to.tby, at the subjuined quotations, viz :—Town T,dlow, 371. net C.bil Petersburg Y.C. on the spot, new, Nis. 9d. ; old, 3q4. 34. ; new year (I 8 2), 381. ; January and March, 363. Gd. to 365. 9d. SMITHFIELD HAY MAHKET.-THIS DAY. Messrs. Cooper and Davis report very little doing at the following quotations:—Prime meadow Hay, 70.. to 745.; inferior, SSs. to 6.55.; ltowen, 555. to 6:14. ; Clover, 70s. to 80a. ; second cut, 60s. to 70s. ; Str►w, 225. to Th. COALS.-...-T-oNDOX, DEC. 17.-CLOSE OP TUE MAR- Ker.-Can.'s Hartley, 15e. ; Hastings' Hartley, Rm.; New Tentkohl, 151. ; Newcastle Hartley, l re. ; Itavenes worth West Hartley, 165.; Tanfleld Moor, Lis. 3d.; Tan field Moor Butes, his.; Townley, 16s. Gd. ; Wylam, 161. 6J.; Walls End Acorn Close, 16.. 6d. ; Walla Eud Clark, lie. 9d.; Walls End Clennel, 15*. 34.; Walls End lioslorth, 16s. 91. ; Walls End 'Liston, 17s. ; Walls End Heliburn, 16s. 64.; Walls End Lawson, IGs. 3d. ; Walls End Riddell, l6s. 911, ; Walls End 16s. 6d.; Eden Main, 17s. bd. ; Walls End Bell, 17e. CA. ; Walls End Belmont, 17s. 6d.; Walls End Braitilyll, Pis.; Walls End Helton, 18,.134. ; Walls End Landiton, 16s. ; \Valls End Pensher, 17s. 3d.; Walls End Russel's Iletton, ; Walls End Scarborough, 17s. 6d.; Walls End r:hotton, unscrecned, 16s. 6d. ; Walls End Stewart's, Ills. 14.; Walls End Bowden Close, Lis.; Wane End Caimloo, 17s. 3d.; Walls End Denison, 17a.; Walls End Ileugh Hall, 17s. 34.; Walls End Kelloc, 18s. ; Walls Elul North Hartlepool, 15s. 31. ; Walls End South Hartle/mat, 17s. 94.; Walls End South Kelloc, 17s. 3d. ; Walls End Thornley, 175.; Wnll3 End Adelaide Tees 17s. 9d.; Walls End Cleaveland Tees, 175.; Walls End Maclean's Tees, 161.31. ; Wail. End Tees, 18s. 3,1. ; Cowpen Hartley, los. ; Der wentwetcr Hartley, 153. ; Hartley, 14s. tid. ; Nixon's Merthyr and Cardiff, 214.; Sidney's Hartley, 165.-Ships at market, 188 i sold, 78. LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVIMPOOL, DEC. 17.—The market has been eery dull to-day, at rather lower prices :—Ambergute and East Junc tion, 31d.—Caledonian, 1 , 11 15—Eastern Counties, 61-I.an cailiire and Yorkshire, 57 i I—Ditto (fifth shams), 80. — London and North Western ((new t-shares), land, 6. i—North British, a —South Eastern and Dover, 20j—Yurk and North Midland, 21! —Belfast and Bally mena, 301e.—Great Southern and Western, 341. Mutant., Dec. 17.—The market to-day presented no alteration from yesterday's rates, curl the business was not very extensive. We have no alterations to quota in the current rates of shares. MANCH LSTEIt, Dec. 17.—There was not much spirit in the market, and prices gave way, not so much owing to any pressure of shares upon it as from the absence of spi en lativc buying. The concluding sal, s were : Sheffield, 32.1; Midlands, 541; Doren, 2(4 ; Leeds, 571; York and North Midlands, 211. Broxiaoosar, Dee. 17.—This market was steady to day, with prices generally in tvlrance. London anu North Armtern, New Quarters, were dont. at 31 prem., 01.1 Bir mingham Canals at 0,51, and Birmingham Town and Dia trict Bank at 12. LEEI4, DEC. 17.—Share8 hive been eery inactive this mornint. The only business dune was in York and North Midlands at 21j, and Think Extensione, No. 3, at j din. TRADE IN PALM OIL.—By the entries in tho Liverpool Customs, it appears that during the 11 months of the present year ending on the Ist inst., no less than 23,180 tons of palm oil have been imported from Africa , thug proving that the natives who formerly exported their brethren as a matter of traffic, now find sat least an equally profitable trade in the exportation of the vegetable pro duets sat their native soil. In addition to the quantity of oil already received this year, the billowing vessels are she shortly expected to arrive in Liverpool with the same ankle, viz. :—Hants, 700 tons; Lord Elgin, 400 tons; Roe, 228 tons; Ariel, 220 tons; Dido, 204 tons; Mediterranean, 146 tons; Mercury, 140 tons; Iluskismn, 398 tons ; Wi lliam Hutt, 285 tons; Golden Eagle, 99 tons ; Taplin, 459 toes ; Magistrate, 518 tons • Lydia, 362 tuns; Juverna, 209 tons ; Banshee, 145 tuns ' • ' Swiftsure, 208 tons ; Was, 125 tons ; British Queen, 339 tons ; Cleopatra, 508 tons; America, 690 tons ; Petrel, 132 tons ; St. Lawrence, 360 tons ; Cronin, 177 tons ; Mary Gillespie, 264 tons; Vesta, 202 tons ; Down, Davis, 417 tons ; Mary, 45 tons; Scotland, 562 tons; Se vern, 362 tons ; Ellen Jenkinton, 149 tens ; Sarah More. 199 tons; Druid, 3:10 tons ; Stile 499 toss; Zephyr, 214 tons; Princess 'loyal, 612 tons; Abeona, 1,000 toss; Celicia, 922 tons ; Tipperary, 185 tons ; Adnaun, 285 tons. SERIOUS GAS EXPLOSION AT BRISTOL.—At about 11 o'clock in the forenoon of yestcrdsy, a gas explosion, at tended by very serious consequences to one person, oc curred upon premises occupied by Mr. B. H. Hickman, grocer, in Temple street, Bristol. It would seem that from some leakage of one of the GM Light Company's mains, the precise locality of which has not yet been discovered, the gas found its way into the private drains of four or tivc houses situated in the middle of Temple-street. Ito pre sence was most strongly recognised iu those inhabited by Mr. Hickman, and Mr. James King, boot and shoemaker, whose house forms the corner of Bear-lane; but it was also perceptible in the houses of Mr. C. Schwa:, watch and clockmaker, and Mr. Morris, tailor and outfitter, whose re sidenees are intermediate between those of the two &ra mmed parties. Upon coming down to breakfast Mr. Hick man at once remarked the strong smell of gas in his house, more particularly in a parlour behind his shop, and suspect ing that the escape might be on his own premises, he min utely examined all his gas fittings and his gas meter. All these proved to be sound, and he soon discovered that the stench came up from the drain. He then caused one of his assistants to pour a large quantity of water down the drains, in the hope thereby of lessening the stench, and he was engaged in superintending this operation when the ex plosion took place, tearing up the floor of the room, over turning and breaking the furniture, forcing out the sitting room and shop windows, and doing other dama ge . It un fortunately happened that Mrs. Hickman was sitting in the shop parlour at the time, and was thrown from her seat among the debris of the room and furniture, and received a severe fracture of her right leg, both bones being broken, and several severe bruises on other parts el her perdon. The effects of the explosion were felt, although with less severity, in other houses. At the premises of Mr. King a sitting ream floor was shattered, but happily no person was in it at the time. The matter, ea may be supposed, has caused a great deal of excitement and consternation in the neigh bourhood, and an active inquiry is being instituted into it in order to see whether blame rests with the gas company or any other parties. SALE OE THE CHINESE COLLECTION.—This inte resting collection of objects illustrating the arts, mantilla,- tures, and customs of the Chinese, and which has been so long exhibited at Knightsbridge, was sold by auction during the last five days, by Messrs. Christie and Manson, at their rooms. It was the property of the late Mr. Dunn, nod had been collected by him with great care during his residence in Ohba.