The Sun. — London, England, 1859-03-17 00:00:00

ir deter- ened by . v --signed. cotting -3 of tak roduced Govern- Knight, cals and the hall meeting for the .?.re read rch 14. receipt of ropose at tingham, am entary .:ter from lank you xpression ich their L that the e settled anner as le subject b the Go atisfy the ;ards the nchise, it rublic. I 10, as ' an T be made T ; and I e occupa to that in nion that the fran ies which lem ; and t exercise 4ed to the LTER." Walter's n, voices nanhood plauded, elasseS is 7isions of extreme. .ovide for share in telligence eir ability • voter, in fulfil the franchise. to give it t resolu opinion measure require ;ion. s carried t resolu ?form, to tote the [ at least T person vote by e appor- Ith and solution, the new i, and a xl in the ) TILE [ Vienna ) articles an jour- that the .ruing the organ of aok at the its object rte serious red by the deny the to broad try 7, and rps. We alloyed in article in we could Lble senti- ►ut on the nk we are ;er wishes auses and irs in this ie opinion L rendered nue to be Germany a treaties It could low their to props than the aka about nary that t Austria pined the ea in the ably-arise Italy an r of peace , for the radiction :h people cause ? used to st day of acted on 3 not the between oned by has pro aggres- t a wide both at re; when Le defen back the the first govern debater; x it said o-Vene aggres- iedraont 6 4 The 4IONEY MARKET AND CITY NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocii. Although the existing uneasiness resulting from the disturbed state of continental politics pervades all branches of business, it is satisfactory to find that trade, in its various departments, is making favourable progress. From week to week evidence is afforded of this fact by the railway traffic returns, while the Board of Trade statistics, issued monthly, bear additional testimony to the satisfactory movement in commercial affairs. If a further proof were wanting, it is furnished by the increasing demand for money occasioned by the larg e supplies of mercantile paper brought into the market for negotiation. For some days past an impulse has been given to the inquiries for discount, so much so, indeed, that Messrs. Overend, Gurney, and Co. are now allowing 2 per cent. to depositors as they now find ample employment for money thus intrusted to them at remunerative quotations. Whether this increased activity will continue remains to be seen, but at present few bills are negotiated under 21 per cent.—the Bank minimum --whereas, a few weeks ago, choice descriptions of short-dated papers were discounted at 2 per cent., and, in some instances, a fraction lower. The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed heavily, and prices tended downwards. The sales only amounted to 6,000 bales. On the Stock Exchange a very limited business was transacted, and values exhibited a further slight decline. The whole of the gold by the Africa, viz., £133,000, has been taken for transmission to the Continent. At the Bank of England yesterday there were no bullion operations of public interest. The Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, have made a call of £2 to be paid by the 12th April; and the Oriental Inland Steam of £2 to be made on the " B" shares of the company, by the 11th May. There has been a special meeting of the proprie tors of the Ceylon Railway Company to-day, at which a proposal was made for allowing the share holders to make voluntary payments on their shares instead of paying calls, which had been previously submitted to counsel, and approved by them as within the privileges of the company. The arrange ment was approved by the meeting. There was very little animation to-day in the Market for Public Securities. During the morning a further decline of per cent. took place, but a reaction has since occurred, owing to increased firmness on the Paris Bourse. Consols, which were 95 p, are now 95 1 for money and account. India Stock is flat at 220, and the Loan Debentures at 084. Exchequer Bills are marked 345. to 375. prem. The Foreign Stock Market continues very in active, and prices exhibit no change of importance. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 921 to 921 ; ditto New Loan, 781 to 781; and the 4 per Cents. are steady at 103 ; Brazilian 5 per Cents, at 1021 ; ditto 41 per Cents., 1852, at 95 ; and Portuguese at 46. Peruvian 41 per Cents. have receded to 91 ; and Austrian 5 per Cents, to 68 ; and the New Loan is 2 to 1 discount. _ The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up to this day, are in round figures as under :- 1859. 1858. North-Western South-Western 13righton ^9,181 Midland South-Eastern Great North ern 20,639 Lancashire and Yorkshire Bristol and Exeter North-Eastern East Lancashire 6,278 Lancaster and Carlisle Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton 4,168 West Hartlepool South Devon Dublin and Wicklow 1,353 Edinburgh and Glasgow 5,425 Glasgow and South-Western Grand Trunk of Canada Great Western of Canada 7,256 The above returns continue to exhibit a con siderable improvement on most of the principal lines in the United Kingdom. The increase on the North Western is £4,151; on the South Western, 1,694 ; on the Brighton, £2,785 ; on the Midland, £4,496 ; on the South Eastern, £2,069 ; on the Great Northern, £4,681 ; on the Lancashire and Yorkshire, £4,013; on the North Eastern, £3,325 ; on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, £2,092 ; on the Edinburgh and Glasgow, £277 ; and on the Grand Trunk of Canada, £490 ; but a decline of £216 is apparent on the Great Western of Canada. The price of the £1,000,000 Debentures, nego tiated by the East India Railway Company, is 1 to 11 premium. The transactions in the Railway Share Market have been on a very moderate scale, and prices are depressed, notwithstanding the very favourable character of the traffic returns, compared with those of the same period of the previous year, the decline, in most instances, amounting to about to per cent. Eastern Counties, Great Western, Brighton, North Western, and Midland have receded ss. ; Great Northern, South Western, North British, and South Eastern, 10s. ; and Vale of Neath, £l. In the Foreign Market the chief dealings have been in Lombardo-Venetian, which have exhibited no material variation, the Old Shares being at 81 8, and the New at Bto 81. The Colonial lines are flat. Grand Trunk of Canada declined 10s. ; Great Western of Canada, ss. ; and East Indian, ss. Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares are slightly depressed, but the transactions have been quite unimportant. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities India Stock' 220 Ditto Debentures NT Consols for Account 95 i March. June. Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO, 2d. & lid 36 1 Ditto :£5OO Ditto Small, 11d. PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE 0' CLOCK Brazilian 5 per Cent. Ditto 1852, 41 per Cent Peruvian 41 per Cent 9l Portuguese, 1853, 3 per Cent. Turkish 6 per Cent. 921 4 Ditto Account Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. Ditto Account Dividends on the above payable in London. Austrian, 10 Fl, 5 per Cent. 6B TWO O'CLOCK. Consols, Money Consols for Account (April) 951 ft THIS DAY'S SHIPPING. L4)l/flow, March 17.—Wind this day at noon, S.W. strong breeze, and cloudy at times. PORTSMOUTH, March 16.—Wind N.W.—Arrived— Mary Weir, from London for Pernambuco ; Minnie, from Shields for Cadiz, with loss of boats, spare anclwrs, cook house, stanchions and bulwarks, and other damage, having encountered very bad weather on the Ist March. PLYMOUTH, March W.S.W.—Arrived— Superior, from Cuba; Phcenix, Odessa, with slight damage to vessel, and two men washed overboard, having been struck by a sea on the 14th inst. TORBAY, March 15.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Adolphe St. Valery, from Newfoundland. CARDIFF, March 16.—Wind W—Arrived—Mary Mit cheson, from Gibraltar. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday Morning. Wind W., blowing hard all night. Arrivecl--jupiter, from Cardiff; Argyll, steamer, from Carentan. Sailed—Clemence, for Cherbourg; Havre, steamer, for Havre. --•-- . LIVERPOOL, Thursday Morning. Wind S.W., fresh breeze. Arrived, March 16—Webster, from New York; De Maas, from Nantes. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning. Wlnd W., tide four hours' flood, weather fresh. Arrived, March 16—Pudsey Dawson, from Calcutta ; Alma, from Adelaide. Arrived, March 17—Sir James, from Singapore. Sailed, March 17—Gibraltar, steamer, for Cadiz. DEAL, Thursday Morning. Wind S.W ; fresh and threatening. Passed.—Her Majesty's ship Locust, from ' north to west. .......,. Anchored—Gibraltar, screw steamer, from London for Gibraltar. A large fleet at anchor. ST. JAMES'S HALL—The great success which attended the performance of Afendelssohn's "Ave Maria," by the Vocal Association, has induced the directors to re peat the work on Wednesday Evening, March 23d. Handers " Acis and Galatea" (with Mozart's additional accompaniments) will also be performed. The band and choir, under the direction of M. Benedict, will number 400 performers, . SHARE MARKET.-(THIS DAY.) ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS. -- - --- - ' Share Railways. 1 r a i d . Closing \ Busin el Price. 12.10 l Amberz., Notting. Bost. ' 1 and Eastern Junction 10 6 65 50 !Belfast and Ballymena all 13.14 "Bir., Wol., and Str. Val all 74 85 Stoe,k l l3irk., Lane., and Chesh Junction lOO 52 64 25 Blackburn 25 Blyth and Tyne all 131 33 Stock Bristol and Exeter 100 84 84-5 Stock Caledonian Stock Chester and Holyhead 50 Cork and Bandon all • 20 Cork, Blkrock,&Passag,e all all 55 20 Cornwall 10 Do. A (A rcves. no div all 5I 10 Do. B until6p.c.per an au hasbeen pd.toß 50 Dublin an dßelfast June all 25 Dun.,Perth,& Abr.June. a 85 9 Stock East Anglian lOO l6 17 164 Stock Eastern Counties lOO 595 fki 60 594 Stock Eastern Union A Stock 100 45 47 Stock Do. do. B Stock 100 30 32 25 Do.Nw.A.(lte.E.U3ds) 85 25 East Kent all 14 16 Stock East Lancashire lOO 924 935 20 East Suffolk all 10 Do StocklEdinburg and Glasgow 100 72 73 Stock :Edin.,Pertit, & Dundee. 100 27 274 27 0 5 10 'Forth & Clyde Junction all Stock Furness Stock Glasgow & South Westn 1(1) 93 94 10 Great North of Scotland all 10 105 Stock Great Northern lOO 1024 103 102 St o ck Do. do. A Stock lOO 88 90 88 7 100 133 134 Stock Do. do. B Stock Stock Cit. South.& Wstn.(lreld 100 104 106 105 Stock I Great Western Stock IDo.StrNl.Rail Gua.Stk lOO 56 58 12 Irish South Eastern all 50 Lancaster and Carlisle, all 83 87 161 "Do. Thirds 013 41Do. New Thirds l6 11 125 p Sto;lklLancashire & Yorkshire 100 94 4 95 16 'Do. do. F £l6 6 id 9 Dd . do. £9 shares 7 3 D o. West Riding Union 5 20 Do. So:ithport Stock London t:Tid Blackwall all 67 69 D o. N ew i ss. at £slosp.sh — Stock Lon.,Brighton ..tS.Coast 100 1115 1124 1114 Stock London & North Westn 100 9 4 5 05 24 4 4it 125 I Do. Eighths ... . Stock i London& South-Westn lOO 925 924 92 i 25 !L'derry & Coleraine all 25 "L'elerry & Enniskillen all Stock 'Man., Shef., & Lincoln lOO 37 374 10 Metropolitan" 3 2 1 d Stock' Midland lOO 094 1005 100 994 Stock'Do. Binning. & Derby. 100 75 77 50 Mid. Gt. West. (Ireland) all 25 Do. 4 Shares all 100 Neutastle and Carlisle all 25 New., Aber., & Herefd all 114 12 10 Newry & Armagh (def.) 9 20 Newry, Warpt., & Ros all Stalk Norfolk lOO 60 62 50 85 North. Counties Union 35 34 59 li 684 d Stock icorth British lOO 5 Stock Nor. Dev. Rail. &Dk. Stk lOO Stock Do.A ,Stk.—Arec.nodiv until 6p.c.hasbeenpdß 100 Stock;Do. B StoCk lOO St oc klNorth-Eastu.--Berwick 100 91 911 91i 5 25 Do. do. G.N.E.Purchas e 1613 4 1 15 d d Stock Do. Leeds lOO 45 01 46 100 Stock Do. York 75 2 • 76 Stock North London lOO 101 102 10 N. &S.Westn., Hampstd and City Junction £3 ls. 20 North Staffordshire 1 75 II 44 d 12 4 4 20 North-Western 10 No. & Sou. W. Junction all 7 Stock Oxford, Wor.,& Wolver lOO 324 335 33 10 Peebles - 20 Portsmouth l9 7 5 d 10 i?hymney — Stock Scottish Central lO OlO 110 112 Stock South. N.E., .Aber. Stock 100 264 275 Stock Do. Scottish Mid. Stock 100 84 85 St o ck Shropshire Union lOO 46 47 10 Sittingbourne & Sheer all 35 25 d Stock South Devon lOO 38 39 Stock South-Eastern lOO 704 115 70i 5 I Stock South Wales 20 ISouthYorks.&Riv.Dun all 12 14 20 Do. do lB 20 Staines, Wok., & Wek all 8 11 25 Stockton & Darlington all 37 38 37 4 25 Do. do. 1854 225 25 Do. do, 1855 7 Stockton & Hartlepool' 164 Stock l Taff Vale lOO Stock;Do. Preference, No. 1 25 IThamesHavenDk&Rall 22 Stock; Vale of Neath lOO 68 72 70 69 Stock,Waterford & Kilkenny 100 - 50 ; Waterford & Limerick all 20 West Cornwall 10 W-end Lon. & Cry. Pal all 5 IDo.A.—Arecv.nodiv.till 7 p.c. has been pd. to B all 2 3 5 Do. B all 6 4 20 West London 10 Do. Ist Class all 20 ,Do. 2d Class all - -- Buoin ess PREFERENCE SHARES. _ ~, Closing] Business Sh ar e Railways. Pa w' Price. Done. 25 !Blythe and Tyne R per c. pref. (issued at £5O) all 49 51 1 Stk IBris. & Exet4p.ctStock 100 94 96 20 i Do. do. do. Shares 9 tockCaledon XlO, 45 per cent 100 103 105 12.10 ,Do. Quar. Shares, No. 2. 7.10 -- Stock l Chester Sr Ilolyhd, 55 pc 100 127 129 Stock Do. do. sp. ct. 6 1 (Cork & Bandon, 55 p. c all &IlDun. Perth, & Aber.Jun all 6 65 k E.Angn. Class A 7 & spc 100 98 101 Stock Do. do. Class B 6 pc lOO 110 115 Stock) Do. do. Class C 7 pc Stock'E. Coun. Ex. 5 pct. No.l 100 114 116 Stock Do. do N 0.2 100 112 114 Stock Do. New 6 per ct. Stock 100 129 131 Stock Eastern Union, 4 per ct. I 100 80 82 Stock East Lanc. 6 per et i 100 5 lE.& W. York. Jcn. fifths, all Stock Edin.&Glas. spc shares! 100 Stock Edin. Perth,& Dun. 4 pc. 100 72 74 Stock Furness, 5 per cent lOO Stock l Glas. &S West , * a. spc 100 • 110 112 Stock Great Northern, sp. ct 100 118 120 Stock Do. 5 pcltedm.,lop.c.pm 10 0 110 112 StockiDo. 45 p. c. do. do. 100 'Do.sp.c. Redm.,s pc. pm GO 64 66 : 64 10 Gt. Nh. of Scotia, Ist pf all 11 115 S ( Gt. Sn.& W (Ireland) 4 1 ~ p. ct. pref. Stock .. j 'oo Great West. (Berke an d 6 Stock k Hants) Ext. 5 p.ct... Stock Do. Redeemable, 4 1 p ci. 100 95 97 96i Stock Do. Redeemable, 4p. ct.l 100 86 £8 87 i St cck Do. Irredeemable , do. . 1 100 87 89 Stock Do. sp. et. Redeem.Prk 100 99 101 10 0 5 100 8 Do. Birm. Pref. Shares all 91 10} 10 Gt. West. Ches. 8 p.c.pf shares all 165 171 10 Do. do. sp. ct. pref all '9l 10} Stock Do. Birming. guar. stock 100 72 74 264 Do. Chester guar.shares all 184 195 134 Do. do. do 20 Do. do. do. Stock Lan. & York 6 p.c. stock 100 140 142 Stock Lon.&Brig - .spc. gu. No.l 100 Stock Do. pref., sp. c. ...No. 2 100 Stock Do. New gua., 6p. ct lOO Stoek Do. do. sp. c. No. 4 100 Stock Lon.&N.W.Cov.(l - Nr n eaton, sp. ct. Stock Lon.&S. W, 7 p.ct. stock, late 3d shares lOO 160 16.5 121 iLondondy & Cole, 5 shs all 121 I,ondop.dy.& Ennis ssh all Stock Man.,Sh., & Lin., 6p. ct lOO 123 125 6 Do. .66 44 i IP 5 Stock Do. 31 per cent. 125 ,Maryport & Car., 4 p.c all Do. 4 per cent 11l .. 125 f Do. Stock Mid. Con. 6p. c. Stock 100 1 _ _ . Stoc k Do.Con.Bris.&Bir.6p.ct lOO 1139 141 139 Stock Do. 41 p. c. pref. stock lOO 'lOl 103 102 6 Do. with option till 1860 3 i g .- „ Stock Do. Leic. & Ritpref. st. 100 gl 98 10 1 NewportAber,&e. p ret .5 1 all 91 95 p. c. redeem, at 5 p. c. n m 10 Do. Perpet, 6p. c. with option till 1866 all 111 11/ 10 Norfolk Deb. 4 p.c.shares all 9 95 Stock Do. sp. c. Ext.Sock,lB46 100 Stock Do. 5- p. c. Pref. t do. 1847 100 Stock Do. Way.rai.Ex.SklB47 100 Stock North British, 5 per cent 100 111 113 Stock Do. New, gua. 5 per cent 100 Stock Nth.Dev.Rail.& DA.Co. 100 Stock N-East. irred. 4 p.c. Deb. 100 Stock Do. Berwick, 4p. c. Pref. 100 97 98 17 Do. do. do. 20 Do. Leeds, 6p. c. No. 1 l3 125 Do. do. Quarters, 1846 25 Po. York, H. &S. Purch. 10 5 d p 20 North Staffordshire . all 23} 231 Stock Ox. wr. & Wol. 6pc. lst,g 100 122 124 Steck Do. do. do., 2d Cita lOO 115 120 118 Stock Do. 41 p.c. Db. stk.in perp 100 99 101 81 Scottish Central, new pi all StockiScottish N.-Eastern deb 100 — St ock Do. 35 per c. pref. stock 100 _ Stock Do.Aberdeen.gua.6pc. Stock Do. 7p. c. pref. stock. 100 _ 10s. South Devon. Ann. 10s. all 10} 101 10 Do. Fixed 41 percent. all 1.0.6. South Eastern (Reading Ann.. 1.0.6.) Stock Do .45 per cent i 100 102 104 St oc k Do. Fixed 41 p.c. 14418 1 100 102 104 Stock Do. New do., 2d issue lOO Stock South Wales, gua. 4 p.c lOO Stock Do. 41 per cent lOO 20 5.-Yorksliire, 4 p.c. gua all 14 175 25 1 Stockton and Dar. 5 p.e all 29 30 25 i 1 Do. 6 per cent all 33 34 Stock Waterford & Kilkenny, 6 per cent. LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Paid. Leasing Closing Business Co.'s. Price. Done. Lndc N.W Ln & N.W Caledonin E.U.SEE C Gt.Nerth. E.Counts. I Caledonin Do. Gt. west. Yk.N.&Br Yk.N.Md. Do. Do. S. East Do. Peto &Co Do. Norfolk Do. LN W&M Stk.& Dar Midland . E.Counts. Do. Do Do. L&N V/ &L.Yk. Do. I Gt. North. Lan.& Yk T Brassoy M'Clean Stk.& Dar Do. Gt. West., L.&Brgtn' DOCKS. 98 100' 102 104 17 18 143 145 li t 41 1109 111 64 66 115 120 92 03 96 98 i iP I 57 59 1 1138 140 /1 ni 11 14 89 91 8 9 ... i Paid Cl os ing Bu Hine" rrioe. Done. f 4 ?4,1 19g.".4 100 100 100 100 100 100 Railways. Bedford and Bletchleyl Buckinghamshire .... Clydesdale Junction.. I Colchester, Stour Pal• E.l.incolnshire,g. 6 p.c.' E Union.llarwichShs. , Do. Woodbridge ...1 GI s.Barr.&Neils,Drct.l New Gloster& Dean Forest artlpool.Dek.&Rail Hull and Selby Do. Shared Do. Shares London &G reenwich Do. Preference Lon T ilby. & Soutend Do. Barking Shares .Lowestoft, glut. 4 p. ct Do. 6 per cent Man c., Buxtn &3fa tk Midsh.& Redcr, g.Cp.c d. BradfordPrf. Stk Newmarkt.,Bury p.Ex guaranteed 5 c. 5 Northn.& Eastn. 5 p.c. Do. do. 6 per cent. Do. Fixed 5 per cent. Preston and Wyre. Do. Shares ......A. Roy stn, Shep Shf.Roth.&Gol.g.sp.c. Shrowsbrv& Hereford South Stiffordshire Wear Valley, g. 6p. c. Do. do. Wilts and Somerset Wimbledon& Croydn. Share Docks. Stoel: Commercial Stock Do I perCent.Pref.Min Stock Eat and West India Stock London •.•• Stock St. Katharine ....... :. • ' Stock Southampton 1 gii)Ciltictoria loi I 20 )D0 NOW •• 611111.411•04 18 I WARWICK RACES. Sharo I Railways. !Pail Closinm I Business Price.' Done. (THIS DAY). [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] £4O HANDICAP PLATE. Macbeth Puritan Madame Moet Nine ran, ELECTION FOR CORONER-(THISDA n The election of a successor to the late W. Baker, Esq., to the office of coroner for East Middlesex, took place this morning at the sessions -house, Clerkenwell. The Sheriffs, Mr. Alderman Hale, and Deputy Conder having arrived, and the necessary forms having been gone through, Mr. GEORGE OPFOR, of Hackney, came forward and proposed Mr. Humphrey as a fit and proper person to fill the vacant office. Dr. GASKILL, of Chelsea, said it afforded him great plea• sure to second the nomination. Mr. Alderman and Sheriff HALE asked if there was any other candidate to propose, and no response having been made, he declared Mr. Humphreys duly elected. Mr. HUMPHREYS was then sworn into office, and re turned thanks for his election. After a few observations from Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Dempsey, the proceedings terminated. LAW INTELLIGENCE. -(THIS .DAY.) ROLLS COURT. (Before the Master of the Rolls, Sir John Romilly.) JUDGMENT.-TILLET V. CHARING..CROSS BRIDGE COMPANY. The plaintiff filed his bill for specific performance of an agreement entered into by the defendants with him, to form a new street from Charing-cross to the bridge, and erect certain houses along the same of a particular description, as should be fixed and settled by Mr. C. Lee on the one part and Mr. R. Witherell, on the other, or their nominee, in case of differences. The memorandum is dated July, 1853, and a regular contract was subsequently entered into by the parties in terms of their original agreement. His Honour the Master of the Rolls, in delivering judg ment, said that he must hold the memorandum as part of the contract, but on reading the contract, and looking to the evidence in support of it, he could not decree specific performance of the contract, in respect that the particular description and character of the buildings had not been fixed and determined by the referees or their nominee. Whether it could yet be done was very questionable ; there was nothing done and no nominee named, and he could not decree specific performance of the agreement. His Honour, on the authority of the case of Gregory, 18 Vessey, junior, in 1793, and the case before Lord Eldon, of Miller and Green, and the case of Darwin and Whitaker, held that the agreement in this case could not be enforced. His Honour dismissed the plaintiff's bill, but without costs, because a contract had been entered into between the parties. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.) BOW-STREET. IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—Mary Sullivan was placed at the bar before Mr. Hall, charged with stealing a decanter and several other articles. From the evidence of the prosecutrix it appeared that last night, about 6 o'clock, the prisoner came to her shop, in Gil bert's-passage, Clare-market, and offered a decanter for sale, which she instantly recognised as her property, and which must have been stolen but a few minutes before from her shop door. She told Sullivan that she did not intend to buy the decanter, as it was hers already, but she would stop her stealing. A constable was then called, and she was given into custody. A large pair of shears was also found in her possession, stolen from the same shop. The landlord of the public-house in Bear-yard said last night the prisoner entered his tap-room and stole a large iron tea-kettle from off the fire. It was full of boiling water at the time. She afterwards came in front of the bar with the property wrapped up in an old apron, and had half a pint of beer. She had a short time previously been refused credit for some gin, and he supposed that it was in consequence of this that she had stolen the tea-kettle. Several other cases of robbery having been clearly proved against her, Mr. Hall sent her for trial at the sessions. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 17, 1859. P.ROG_RPSS . OF TYRANNY. THE PHCENIX PROSECUTIONS. At the present time Continental Europe seems to be in complete subjection to military tyranny. Not only are those free institutions overthrown which enabled the people to check the assumption of power, and by creating a European public opinion gave to small States some influence over affairs, but the material interests of mankind are every where sacrificed to the grandeur of potentates and their jealousy of each other. Without any cause of discord, at a time when railways and the course of trade are every day bringing the Continental nations together, when the desire of every people is for quiet and freedom to pursue the acquisition of wealth, the great empires of Europe are engaged in adding to armaments which are already without a parallel in history. Not only are the respective populations burdened to provide conscripts by land and sea, to build fortifications, to construct dockyards, ships, and machinery, and to complete the prepara tions for ever-menacing campaigns, but the perpetual disquiet caused by the apprehension of war blights enterprise and prevents the growth of international confidence. The nations of Europe see a large portion of their earnings spent yearly in keep ing up armaments, the only use of which is to hinder those earnings from being far greater than they are. It is the old fable of the eagle slain by an arrow winged with its own feather. The loss occasioned by these immense armies is twofold, — they are raised ostensibly to give security to the State, and they cre rte the distrust which they are intended to allay. France, is of course, the most striking example of this political evil. Here we hare a nation plunged deeper into debt every year, in order—so its rulers would say—to be secure against a European combination. No Government existing in Paris during , the last 40 years has pro fessed any desire for guropean conquest, nor has there been a mile of territory added to the French limits at the expense of a neighbour. The same amicable policy has been upheld by other States. No Power in Europe has interfered with or insulted or thwarted France; every change of Government has been accepted; every advance indicative of friendship has been courteously received. And vet France keeps up 600,000 men and a first-rate fleet for the purposes of defence ! The results of such a policy are obvious. The world will not believe that the French people make these sacrifices merely to insure an independence which nobody threatens. When, year after year, fleets and armies are the constant objects of solicitude, when the levy of con scripts never fails, and the dockyards ring continu ally with the construction of new engines of war, then Austria, Prussia, England, and the whole of Central and Western Europe, are forced to be on their guard also. Three millions of men are under arms in a Continent where the most cynical poli tician would not dare to say he expected war. But the strangest features of the situation is, that the people which by common consent is held responsible for the unquiet state of Europe proves to be the most indisposed to war of any. Every one who watched the French during the late hos tilities with Russia must have perceived that there was no keen appetite for victories and bulletins. They were, no ',doubt, satisfied with the result of the campaign; but there was certainly little en thusiasm or love of military exploits for their own sake. The Italian scheme , of the Emperor brings out this feeling still more strongly. Public opinion has never but once since 1851 pronounced itself I boldly, unmistakeably, and effectively, and this is against a war with an old enemy of France, in a cause calculated to kindle the fancy of a military people, and with a prospect of creating a confede ration of vassal States to the South of the Alps. Every device has been used to stir up the desire for conquest. The glory of overthrowing Austria, braving the anger of the German Powers, and per , haps placino• a Bonaparte on an Italian throne, was to be realised by one bold stroke. For this the Emperor harangued in the provinces last autumn, exhibited the strength of his fortifications to the English Parliament, made his preparations in silence, and threw off the mask with ostentation. The efforts of the Imperialist press for the last two months have been incessant, while any opposing arguments have been forbidden by a special circu lar of M. Delangle. But all has been unavailing, and the Court is now obliged to recognise that, except a small band of adventurers, the whole French nation is resolutely bent on peace. This is a fact most creditable to the French character, and most reassuring to Europe. It in dicates that a better spirit has come over a race heretofore made restless and hopeless by a long succession of political calamities. The men of this age have lived down many evils, and seen the fal sification of many gloomy predictions ; but hardly the most sanguine would have ventured three months since to hope for the pacification of Europe as the consequence of a moral change in the French people. The cause of this change in the French people are not difficult to trace. Their most no table quality is the ease with which they adapt themselves to any pursuit. They worked our Par liamentary system for years, and at one time the Chamber of Deputies was, for ability and influence in the world, the rival of our own House of Com mons. The spirit with which even our national amusements have been introduced into France, though originally uncongenial to the people, shows the versatility of their minds and tastes. But the most important imitation of the English has been in their habits of industry. Only since the acces sion of Louis Philippe to the throne can French commercial prosperity be said to have come into being. Before that time all was stagnation. The maritime and colonising spirit of the old monarchy had passed away, and the manufacturing and trading of the present day had not begun. In deed, the progress within the last 15 years has been immense. French exports have increased at a greater rate than the English, and, even with a reckless Government and constant alarms, France is able to bear a taxation which would have crushed her in the days of M. Guizot's Ministry. The consequences of prolonged peace and retrenchment would be so wonderful that we can hardly venture to predict them. They would probably in twenty years place France among the first manufacturing nations. They would develope her commercial marine, and endow the country with lines of steamers like those of England. They would link every Continental State to France by lines of railway, and make Paris the centre of European business as well as of civilisa tion and amusement. What, indeed, might not an energetic and gifted people do with a territory twice as large as Great Britain, and commanding the German Ocean, the Atlantic, and the Mediter ranean.? As for soil and climate, France stands almost alone in excellence. One of the most myste rious decrees of Providence is that so small a por tion of the earth's surface should be fitted for the highest development of man. Russia is barred up by its snows ; Spain and Italy are intolerable dur ing a great part of the year ; the whole tract of the United States is exposed to extremes of temperature which try the frame severely. France is just in the latitude which combines every advantage with the fewest defects. Under a bright sun and in a tempe rate air its people have attained the highest point of civilisation, and they make their industry cor respondingly eminent. The artistic ability of France is without a rival, and as the world becomes richer there is an ever increasing market for articles of taste. England may be distanced in the production of cottons or hardware, but there seems no prospect of the monopoly of art being wrested from our neighbours. Then the wines of France are the wines of the world, and form a branch of production which must every year become more important. Here are the elements of a prosperity beyond cal culation ; and it is to this supremacy in the arts of peace that the French people may aspire if they can compel their rulers to give up the barren and inglorious part to which they have so long devoted their country.— Tines. CORK ASSIZES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, Baron Greene, in his charge to the Grand Jury to-day, said, indictments were to be sent up to them charging certain individuals with compass ing, imagining, devising, and intending to depose the Queen of the 'royal honour and name of the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom. The conspiracy of which it was alleged the persons named in the indictment were members was de scribed, he said, in different parts of the indictment in various ways. They were charged to be the combination of a certain number of persons who had entered into an association called the Phoenix Society ; the main circumstances in the ease, that the prisoners were alleged to be members of the confederacy and combination, and had thereby become guilty of the several conspiracies charged in the indictment. The Grand Jury returned two true bills at four o'clock against Murty, Monaghan, Wm. O'Shea, Denis O'Sullivan, Mortimer Downing, Daniel McCartie, Jeremiah Donovan, Ross a, an d P atrick Donning for treason and felony. ELECTION OF CHAPLAIN To ST. PANCRAS WORK HOUSE.—Yesterday a ballot took place for the election of a chaplain to St. Pancras Workhouse, in the room of the Rev. Thomas Pugh, resig ned. The res ult was—the Rev. 'H an ly Ball, 6. Thq Lev. J. K. J en ni ngs was declared duly elected. andJ. liihJeen Rev.ning s 53 votes; the Rev. Pet er p zascott, 12; The Head Mastership of the King's School, Canterbury, has been conferred upon tho Rev. John Mitchinson, M.A., of Pembroke College, Oxford. The Anglesey has arrived from Melbourne with 24,699 ozs. of gold, valued at about £98,800. The Morning Light is now 92 days out, with £54,800, and the Tornado 61 dam with 4116,700. • 10 Antwerp & Rotterdam all 44 54 20 Ardennes all p 20 Bah.&S.Fran.,T, ini.7p.c 3 4 1 d 5 Belgian East. Junction all / I 20 Beziers to I Graisseasae. all --- 5 Carmeaux Mine & Rail all 11 24 20 Dutch Rhenish 6 Eastern of France ....„ all 26 264 264 20 Euphrates Valley 2s. p 20 Great Central of France all 20 Gt. Luxem., Con. shy all 6/ 64 10 Italian Junction .. - 8 20 Lake Constance & Bale all 20 Lierre and Turnhout all 20 Lombardo Venetian 8 4 4p 84 20 Lucca& Pistoja, 5 p.e.f all 20 Lyons and Geneva 334 Maria Antonia all 20 Do. do. New 20 Namur and Liege all 81 20 Do. do. 6p. e. Prof all 191 2 16 Northern of France 20 Do. New Shares 10 Norwegian Trunk Pref all 84 94 20 Ottoman, gua. 6 per cent 7 -- - 20 Paris,Lsons, and Medit all 32/ 321 20 Paris and Orleans , ,„,. all 51 53 20 1 Recife& S. Fran. (fern.) I „ 1 / d gua. 7p. et. (Lim.) 20 'Elva and Dunaburg j 4 --- 10 Rome and Frascati .• , 20 Royal Danish all 5 Royal Swedish 4 Do, 7 per cent. Pref. 20 Sambre and Meuse all G. 7 10 Do. 54 per cent, Pref. . „ all 91 s i 20 Southern of France 84 West Flanders all 5 1 10 'Do. 54 p. c. Preference 20 W. & N.W. of France all 23 2 20 Western of Austria .. - 6 20 Western of Switzerland all 6 Wiesbaden 6 Do 8 per cent. Pref all 20 Zealand all -- BRITISH POSSESSIONS. 100 Atlantic &St Lawrence, 1 all 80 85 81 Leased at 6 par cent.. 18 Born„Baroda&Centlndil 134 4 4 d gu. 5 percent 18 Do 1 all 18 Do. Addit. Capital A 6 4 d / 18 Do. Do. B 44 4 Id 41 1002 204 B B u i D i ff ff oa a .l l No o ,e a ßl n vr d Late Huron all 7 74 ant. &Godrich 1 164 10 0 1 8 - 5 go d t 6 p. ct. bds. 1 Aug., 1872 ) 100 Do. do. 1 July, 1873 100 82 86 190 Do. do. 1 June, 1874 100 80 84 20 Clcutta.&S.Eastrn.Lim. 1. 3. 0. par i p 20 Cape,Eastn. Prov.(Lim.) 2s. 20 Cape Town & Dock Scrip 2s. 1 8 pip 20 Central Oude (Limited) 2s. 6d. 20 Ceylon Guaranteed °p.c 2 4 4 p 174 Demerara 20 Eastern Bengal.gu.sp.c 5 4 1 p Sock East Indian, gu. sp. c lOO 1024 1034 103 1 £3 Do. C Shares all 20 Do. E Shares Ext l5 4 I p 20 Do. Jubbulpore 5 100 D0.44p.e. Bds. pay.'s9 all - 20 Geeo n g, & Corporation3lel .gua 5p . c a ) all ioo _ 194 _204 Sto. {Geelon g per cent. Bonds ) Stock Grand Trunk of Canada 100 35 36 351 41 100 Do. 6 p.c. Deben.,pay.'7B all 74 76 100 Do. 6 per cent. I'ref lOO 93 95 20 GtlndiaPenin.gua.sp.e all 101 1(2 1004 11 20 Do. New, gua.s per cent 4 par 4 p A 20 Do. do - 20 j Gt.S.of Ind.Lim.—Scrip 1 2, ____ _ ( guaranteed 5 per cent. ) 204 Gt.W. of Canada Shares all 16 164 16 154 204 Do. New 100 r Do. Bonds pay. 76, wit h 1 all 100 105 ( opt. till '6O 100 Do. do. '73 till '6O :100 Do. do. '73 without opt all Imo 105 103 0100 Do. 54 p. c. do. '77 do 20 Madras, guar., 44 p. c all 17 18 20 Do. do. 5 per cent all 19 20 20 20 Do. 41 p. C. Extension l5 18 t l9 20 Do. Third Ex. gua.s.p.c lO ' i 20 Do. Fourth do. Stock Melb. Corp. 6 p.c. Bonds 100 Newßrunswick&Canda. 20 Ry.&Land(Lim.)g.fpc I Class ACapitl.Share lO -- --d • Do. do. Land do 1 20 Do. do. B. Capital do llO -- --d • ,Do. do. Land do ! 1 2s. Northof India Tramroid i ___ __. , Limited, Scrip 20 20 ;Dude (Limited) 1 ss. ..._. 20 Sciude 20 I Do. 20 Do. New ti 0 10 4 d 1 i 20 Do. Punjaub 20 Do. Indus. St. Flo tC,,„" ilO 1 d 20 St. Andrews & Quebec A 18 103, 1 Trinidad(Limited) Scrip i 1 Id par BRITISH MINES, Mines. Paid. \ B usines s Price. B Don n e e . s Closing _ 2O - i l c A p or l n f i t r di e su d hr C rlo o ri Consols n s ol s(Ph il ack 2.11.10 6 4 71 1 16 2 31 (Camborne). 20 - - 10 !Devon G. Cons. (Taoist.) 1 465 475 - East Bassett (Illogan). 30 215 225 - Great South Tolgus 17s 12 14 - G.WhealAlfd.(Phillack) 11.18.8 21 31 - G. Wheal Vor(Helston) 91 * - Lady Bertha - North Frances (Mogan) 81 7 8 - North Wheal Crofty 7.9.4 9 101 - N.Wh'l Basset (Mogan) nil. 11 121 114 I -- Par Consols (St. Blaxy) 11, 14 151 - Porkellis Unit. (Wend.) 9 - - - Sortridge Cons. Min. Co. 6s - SouthCaradon.(St.Cleer) 24 450 460 - South C. Brea( Illogan). 2 2} 21 - S Wheal Fran. (Mogan) 18.18.9 205 215 5 Tamar Silver and Lead Mining Co 44 11 2 10 Tin Croft 9 34 4 - United3lines(Gwennap) 40 - -- - 'Vale of Towey (Carm ) 12s 6d 4 1 - West Basset (Illogan) ll 21 23 - W. Caradon (Liskeard) 2O 75 80 - Wheal Basset (Illogan) 5l - - - Wheal Buller (Redruth)l 5 125 135 Wheal Edward (C al s.). 1 54 21 3} - Wheal Kittv(U. Lelant)l 1.7.2 11 12 - Wh'l Mary Ann (Mexhe) 8 49 51 - Wh'l Trelawney (Lisk.) 44 31 33 FOREIGN MINES 20 Australian 1 Bon AccordCopper,Lim lOs { 1 p 35 Brazil. Imp. (is. at £5 p ) 27 1 1 20 Do.St.Jobudelßey,Lim l5 11 12 5 Do. Land and MiningCo all 11 2} 1 Clarendon Consols Min ing Co. of Jamaica - - d 40 Cobra Copper al l 36 38 - Copiapo l6 10 12 1 DunMoun.Cop.Ming.Co all * i 2 Fortuna 20 'General all 23 24 3 ILinares all 91 10} 5 ILusitanian 1 IMariquita all i 1 New Granada all - - 1 N.RhineCop.of S.Aus.L 10 4 1 p 20 Pontgibaud Silver, Lead Mining and Smelt all j 4 5 5 Port Philip 1 4 4 30 !Santiago de Cuba l6/ 1 1 28.2.84 United' Mexican COLONIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Paid. Closing Business Share Securities. Prices. Done. -- Can.Gov.6 p.c.Ja. & July 100 114 115 1141; - Do. 6 p.c.l4l).&Aug. 100 112 114 - Do. 6p.c.Mr..ir Sep. 100 112 113 - N.B.G 0v.6 p.c. Ja. &July 100 1114 1124 - Do. 6p.c.Ap. & Oct. 100 - - - N. S.W. Gov. sp. c. Deb. 100 1021 1034 102/ - NovaScoar GGv. 6 p.c. St. Deb. redeemable, 1875 100 1114 1121 - S.Aus.Gt.6pc.Jan&July 100 111 112 - Vict•Gov.6p.c.Jan&July 100 - - 1121 4 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. Sharei Joint-Stock Banks. Paid. Closing i Business Price. Done. 100 Agra&UnitedServiceßk 50 - - 40 Australasia all - - 93/ 25 Bank of Egypt all 24} 241 241 1 100 Bank of London 5O 45 47 40 Brit. Col. Bk. & LoanCo all - - DO British North American all - - 20 Chtd. Bank of India, &c 10 1} 1 d 81 100 City 100 Colonial 25 - - 20.11 Com. Bank of Canada all - - 100 Commercial of London. 20 - - 20 Eng., Scot., & Aus. Ch. all 16} 161 20 Gen. Bk. of Switzerland all - - 20 Lon.Char.Bk.otAustral. all 23 234 50 London and County - - 50 London Joint Stock - - 100 London & Westminster. 20 - - 100 Nat. Prov. of England. 35 - - 20 Do. new lO - - 50 National Bank 25 - - 20 New South Wales - - 25 Orient. Bk. Corporation all - - 40 20 Ottoman Bank all 21 214 20 4 Provincial of Ireland - -- 10 Do. New all - - 25 South Australia - - 25 Do. New - - 25 Union of Australia all - 25 Do. New 2O - -- 50 Union of London lO - - 100 Unity Mutual 55 . - 100 Western Bk of London 50 214 2111 291 MISCELLANEOUS. I 1 Miscellaneous. Anglo-Mexican Mint' Atlantic Tel. (Limited) Australian Agricultural Australian Royal Mail . Berlin Water Works Do New, issued at 25 die British American Land Brit. & Irish Mag.Tel.A. Do. B, 7 p. c. till 1862 Do. C. Canada Land Chan.lslands Tel.(Lim ) Cop.Min.ofEng.&Smltg Do. Preference 75 per et Crystal Palace. Do. Preference Eastern Steam Electric Telegraph Eng. & Aust. Cop.St.Ce Europ. & lud.Junct.Tel Europ.&Arn.Stm.(Lim ) Gl. Iron ScrewCol.(Lim Gen. Steam Navigation. London Discount Lond.Gen. Omnibus Co. Mediter. Electric Teleg. Med. Exten. Tel. (Lim.) ,National Discount Co Netherlands Land Do do Do 8 p.c.Pref.,iss. at idis. N.Br. &Nov aScotiaL and N.B.Australasian (Lim ) North of Europe Steam Oriental Gas Do. New Shares Peel River Land & Min. Pen. & Oriental Steam. Do. New Red Sea & Ind. Telegr. Rhymney Iron Do. New Royal Mail Steam Scot. Austrin.lnv.(Lim ) South Australian Land. Submarine Teleg. Scrip. Do. do Registered Tr. dpLii.Co.of Upr. Can. Vau Diemeu'a Laud I Paid.) Closing Zuriness don. p ce. 13 14 220 250 32 34 2i 34 361 38 1 19 21 14 15 128 133 9 10 24 25 11 11 41 6 103 104 Par P 11 li 11 d 11 li 5 6 ' I #d, 1 2 1 14 1 I . 1 cue par 2 3 84i 1 B4 13 13} p 234 244 7 • 74 62 64 1124 125 Sei 371 i 1 1 9 U Share} Share) MARLBOROUGH-STREET. STEALING A FOWL—A MORNING'S AMUSEMENT.— Kate White and Catherine Johnson, two smartly-dressed girls, were charged with having in their possession a large and venerable live cock, supposed to be stolen. The case created a good deal of merriment, the constable who stood in the box with the bird having some trouble to keep it quiet. Robinson, 151 E, said that about seven that morning he was in Hetford-street, Fitzroy-market, when he saw the prisoners go up to where a group of fowls were collected, and, after some difficulty, White seized a large Cochin China cock and put it under her shawl, and go as far as Howland-street with it. He went after her and asked White what she had got under her shawl, when she replied " Nothing," but the very moment the cock set up a crow as if to contradict her. She then said it was her own, and that she was going to take it home, but believing it belonged to Mr. Hewitt, residing in the street, he took them back to the shop, where it was identified. In answer to the charge Kate said she had, of course, been out with her companion enjoying themselves, and coming home they thought to have a lark, so she suggested that she should try and catch one of the fowls, and after some trouble she succeeded in getting hold of the cock. (Laughter.) The constable said the girl at the time was pinching its beak. (Laughter.) Kate said that was only because it made such a noise. She could, however, assure his worship it was only a joke. It was no use to her. Mr. Bingham said he supposed not to eat. He was not, however, satisfied that it was only a joke, and should order them to pay 10s. each for the unlawful possession. THAMES. FRAUD ON RECRUITING SERGEANTS.—WiIIiam Shep herd, alias Charles Roots, alias George Roots, a tall young man, was charged with obtaining ls. from William Lloyd, and Is. 6cl. from Charles Berry, by means of false and fraudulent pretences. Lloyd is a sergeant in the Royal Marines and said, Yes terday morning the prisoner came to me on Tower-hill, and said he wanted to enlist. I asked him his name and address, to which he replied George Roots, No. 10, Ber mondsey-street. I enlisted him, and gave him a shilling, and took him to Westminster. The prisoner also said he was not married. I asked him if he had ever served in the army, navy, Royal Marines, the forces of the East India Company, her Majesty's naval coast volunteers, or the militia, to the whole of which he answered in the negative. He was examined by the doctor, passed his examination, and I left him with another sergeant. Charles Berry, a sergeant in the Royal Marines, said the prisoner was left with him, and he took him and gave him 18. 6d., and directed him to bring back 2d., the 18. 4d. being his day's pay. The prisoner did not return with the change, and when ho inquired for him he ascertained that he had absconded. He went to Hungerford-market, and found the prisoner on board a penny steam-boat on his way to London-bridge. 'He told the prisoner that he ought to be ashamed of himself, and that he had made the poor re cruits pay 3d. for his dinner, and then ran away. The pri soner then led him a dance all over the Borough, and could not find out his houso. He then took the prisoner to the station-house adjoining the Southwark Police court, and the prisoner again said his name was Charles Roots, and that he lived at No. 10, Bermondsoy-street. The inspector of police said, " I know you don't live there," and the prisoner then said his real name was Shepherd, and that he lived at No. 1, Park-striet, Bow. No Park-street could be found in Bow, but an Upper Park-street was dis covered in Bromley, and the prisoner's wife was found at No. 5, and she handed to him a parchment certificate of her husband's discharge from the Land Transport Corps on the 7th August, 1856. The discharge was put in, and the prisoner, on being called upon for his defence, said he was out of work, and imposed upon the two sergeants to obtain a few shillings to procure food. Mr. Paynter said the prisoner had told a great many falsehoods. He sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six weeks. A report continues to be circulated in Paris, that Prince Napoleon will shortly . replace Prince Jerome, as President of the Court of Ministers, or will be consiituted Vice-President. THE METROPOLITAN BOROUGHS COMMITTEE.— The adjourned meeting of the electors for !the discussion of the scheme of the Metropolitan Boroughs Committee for obtaining seven additional members for Marylebone, and for dividing this and the other metropolitan boroughs into smaller constituencies, will take place this evening at half past seven o'clock. CAPTURE OF A SHARK IN THE TYNE.—On Tuesday afternoon, about two o'clock, a young shark was caught in the Tyne, at Jarrow, by Mr. David Campbell, blacksmith of Jarrow. The receding tide had left the shark in the bight of the slake, and after lying there for three or four honrs it was discovered nearly dead, and of course an easy subject for capture. The shark is quite a young one, measuring nearly five in length. REGISTRATION or BIRTHS, &C., IN IRELAND.— Ireland is to receive, at the hands of the present Ministry, the benefit of a bill for the registration of births, deaths, and marriages. Power is g iven to the Ldrd-Lieutenant of Ireland to form new districts, to appoint registrars and deputy-registrars, and, in a word, to organise all the machi nery requisite for the attainment of the important object contemplated by the bill. THE DISASTER TO THE CALAIS STEAMER.—The Board of Trade have ordered a formal investigation, under the provisiens ofthe Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, into the circumstances attending the rec9l , casualty to the Royal Mail steam-packet Prince Vveacriek William, and which is to be held at the Cnstora Rouse, a‘t Dover, on the 23d ins' taut. 100 10 Stock, Stock tit 4 4 7 3 4 101 all all all 15s. all all all all all all IMPERIAL PA ZLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER. took the chair at twelve o'clock. • PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Findhorn Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. The following bills were considered and ordered for third reading :—East Suffolk Railway, Lands Improve ment Company, Weymouth and Meicon* Regis Markets and Pier, the Salford Borough (No. 2), and theEcton and Welton Exchange Bills, were read a second time and ordered to be committed. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented praying for the esta blishment of Intermediate Schools between the Upper and Lower Schools in Ireland ; for the separation of certain Poor-law Unions ; from a Chamber of Commerce, in favour of Lord John Russell's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill, by Lord john Russell; from various places to the same effect ; for the adoption of Vote by Ballot and Extension of the Suffrage ; against the Government Reform Bill ; for the repeal of the hop duty, &c., &c. TRAMWAYS (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the house going into committee on this bill, Sir ROBERT FERGUSON said that he wished the bill to ga through committee pro forma and be reprinted. The bill was accordingly committed pro forma and the house resumed. BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, Mr. BAINES said that the strongest feeling prevailed in the district which he represented in favour of the bill, which he believed, with some alterations that might be made in committee , would remedy the evils which were admitted to exist, and which were the ground of complaint from one end of the country to the other. From the state ment of one of the Commissioners in Bankruptcy, it ap peared that there was a waste of no less than 50 per cent. of the assets of the bankrupt. There was also a strong feeling in favour of abolishing the difference between bank rupts and insolvents, and the complications of the present law, which this bill would effect. The bill proposed to do away with no less than 20 acts of Parliament on the subject, and consolidate into one act of Parliament the whole statute law. The measure further proposed to faci - Mate voluntary arrangements which were most difficult at present, and also to reduce the expenses attendant on bank ruptcy and insolvency proceedings. The ATTORNEt-GENERAL concurred in a consi derable degree with the remarks ofthe hon. member. With regard to the principle of the bill, he thought there was no doubt they would receive the sanction of the house. With regard to some points there was much difference of opinion, and he suggested that after the second reading of the bill it should not be proceeded with _further until the bill in the House of Lords came down to this house, and then both measures would be before hon. members. _ Mr. VANCE approved of the bill generally, and parti cularly that part of it which related to dealing with the effects of a deceased bankrupt; but he objected to the pre - ference given to friendly societies over other creditors. He was also oivosed to some other parts of the bill. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD agreed with the leading principle of the bill, and particularly with the provision which proposed to terminate the difference between bank rupts and insolvents, and to do away with that nuisatice— the Insolvent Court as separated from the Bankrupt Court. Mr. W. CRAWFORD said that a large and influential meeting had been held in the City o f L on d on on thi s subject, and a committee was appointed to investigate the merits of the bill of the Lord Chancellor and that of Lord John Russell. That committee comprised a number of those engaged in trade, and they came to the resolution that the former ought to be rejected, and the latter adopted, as being a greater benefit to the commercial community. Mr. COWAN approved of the bill, and expressed a hope that a provision would be introduced by the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) to prevent fraudulent debtors flying from their creditors and evading their just claims by becom ing nominally traders in Scotland, and availing themselves of the Scotch laws. Mr. MOFFATT approved of some portions of the bill, but objected to others, and considered that it should be referred to a select committee. Mr. AKROYD supported the bill, and considered the present bankrupt law was quite inoperative. He was anxious, however, to see some . provision made by which an examination might take place into the character of a bank rupt who was not able to pay the whole of his debts. He thought such provisions were necessary to protect the com mercial community against those who engaged in gambling in trade. . Mr. HEADLAM and Mr. CROSSLEY supported the bill. Lord J. RUSSELL said he was happy to perceive that the bill was so favourably received by the house, and he had no objection to adopt the s ugg estion of the Attorney- General, by not proceeding further with the bill after its present stage until the other bill was before the house. Ho would almost despair of success if the bill were referred to a select committee, and he thought, considering the consti tution of the house and the assistance they would receive from the learned Attorney-General, that they were quite competent to decide on a bill of this description. There was no political principle involved in the measure, and they must admit that it was of great importance to a commercial coun try like this, where, he was sorry to say, gambling existed to a large extent, that the principle of the bankruptcy laws should be settled. The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed this day fortnight. REGISTRATION OF COUNTY VOTERS (SCOT LAND) BILL. Sir E. COLEBROOK moved the second reading of this bill. The LORD ADVOCATE said that as the blll could be fully considered in committee, the Governinvat would not oppose the second reading. If the Goverment Reform Bill passed the second reading, it was prrposed to bring in the Scotch Reform Bill before 'Easter. ELECTION, Scc.,i3lLL. On the motion of Mr. COLLINS, this bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed pro forma to morrow. LUNATIC POOR (IRELAND) BILL, On the motion for going into committee on this bill, Colonel GREVILLE moved that the house resolve itself into such committee this day six months. He strongly objected to the bill, which had widely de parted from the recommendations of the committee on this subject. He strongly objected to the bill, as introducing the principle of taxation without repre sentation, and to different other provisions. Lord NAAS deprecated the opposition given to the bill at this stage, when its principle was discussed on the second reading. He contended that the bill carried out the spirit, and, in the important points, the letter, of the report of the committee. He defended the composition of the com mittee, which could not be accused of anypartiality towards the political party of which he was a member. The prin ciple of the bill was to vest the appointments in the grand jury, who he considered were the best fitted to exercise this duty. The Uovern:ment had adopted the recommendation of the committee us to the propriety of removing lunatics from gaols and workhouses to lunatic asylums, where they would receive proper medical treatment. To show the necessity for making additional provision for the poor on this subject, he would mention that no less than 3,500 lunatic poor in Ireland were without proper accommoda tion. it was to be hoped that these asylums would re ceive, in addition to paupers, persons who could contribute something towards their support, but could not avail them selves of private lunatic asylums, which in Ireland were very costly. In fact, with the exception of the appoint ment of a central body, they had carried out the recom mendations el the commission. Ho quoted the authority of the report in question to show that there was the greatest necessity for the amendment of lunatic asylums in Ireland. The instructions of the privy council were systematically disregarded, and the management of these institutions was at variance with that adopted in the modern management of such asylums. It appeared that there were 53egover nors of lunatic asylums in Ireland, of whom only 276 last year attended, and the fact was that these institutions were generally managed by two or three persons residing on the, spot. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD said that the motion of the gallant member would throw out the bill, and as he con sidered they were called on to legislate on the subject he would suggest to him to withdraw it, and he (Mr. Fitz gerald) would bring forward the motion which stood on the paper in his name. He strongly objected to different pro visions of the bill, and in the first instance to the power it proposed to confer on the Lord Lieutenant, the power of erecting lunatic asylums without even consulting the grand juries. He contended the principle involved in that provi sion would not be tolerated in this country, and he strongly recommended the formation of a central board to have a controlling power in reference to this matter. He considered that a select committee would be the most proper body to refer the bill to, instead of submitting the details to a committee of the whole house, who could not carry out the necessary alterations with the same efficiency. Colonel GREVILLE said he would consent to the withdrawal of his moticn. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. Mr. FITZGERALD then moved that the bill be referred to a select committee ; that it be an instruction to the com mittee that they have power to make provision that the costs, charges, and expenses of providing for and maintain ing the lunatic poor in Ireland shall be raised by a rate or rates to be made, assessed, and levied in the same manner as the rates for the relief of the destitute poor under the Irish Poor Relief Acts. Mr. BRADY supported the amendment. He did not wish to throw the bill out, but to improve it so as to ren der it efficient in dealing with a question of such vast im portance. Sir W. SOMERVILLE also supported the amendment. Col. FRENCH trusted the noble lord (Lord Naas) would agree to the course suggested in the amendment. Mr. OSBORNE considered the bill was so defective that he did not think it could be ever made a good measure. He strongly objected to the power conferred by the bill on grand jurors, who were a fugitive body, and were elected by the high sheriff, himself a fugitive official. Besides, there was no security that the whole grand jury system might not be abolished, and then they would have to confer th e power in question on another body. He urgod on the noble lord (Lord Naas) to accede to the proposition for referring the bill to a select committee. Mr. GREGORY advocated the bill being referred to a select committee. Lord NAAS said the hon. member for Ennis misrepre sented one provision of the bill, namely, giving an absolute power to the executive to erect lunatic asylums without the authority of grand juries. That was the state of the law at ipresent ; but he, proposed that grand juries should have the power to appear before the lord lieutenant to show ground against the erection of lunatic asylums in their locality. He would accede to the wish of the Irish members, and consent to the bill being re ferred to a select committee, but he trusted that legislation on the subject this session would not be shelved. After some further discussion, Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD said that he would not move the instruction to the committee, as he understood it would be informal to do so. After a few words from Mr. M'EvoY and Lord C. HAMILTON, the motion for referring the bill to a select committee was agreed to. OATHS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion for going into committee on this bill, Mr. S. ESTCOURT said he considered that there should be some explanati a u given by the hon. mem b er w h o intro duced the bill. Ho supposed that the object of the hon. member was to restore the declaration of abjuration taken by Quakers, which was affected by the act of the house last session. Mr. BOUVERIE said the object of the bill was simply to restore Quakers, in regard to the declaration. they were to make, to the same position they were in prior to the act alluded Mr Br.:NTINCK could not see how Quakers could ' make any objection to the words in the declaration of ab juration. The house then went into committee. Qu olanse I there was some discussion: in which Mr Bouverie, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Sotheron Egteourt, and Mr. Henley took part, but it wag ultimately agreed to. The remaining clauses were also agreed to, and the house resumed. RECREATION GROUND BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. ST. JAMES BADDESLEY BILL. Mr. S. ESTCOURT said that the only object of this bill was to render valid marriages which had been performed in a place of which it was discovered was not duly licensed, MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BILL, On the motion for the consideration of this bill f ax amended, Mr. AYRTON moved that the bill be re-committed. Mr. CROSS said that the object of the bill was to remedy certain abuses that existed in the present system. Mr. TURNER supported the bill, and could speak from experience of the benefit it would extend to Manchester. . Sir G. B. PECHELL supported the amendment. After a few words from Mr. Knatehbull-Hugessen, Mr. S. Estcourt, Mr. Collins, Mr. W. Williams, and Mr. RidleY, the amendment was withdrawn. A clause was then added, and some discussion ensued as to the 6th clause, which was eventually struck out. Some minor alterations were also agreed to. , The bill then passed throu g h comm i ttee, and was ()Oen(' to be reprinted, with the amendments. MUTINY BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. MARINE MUTINY BILL. This bill was also read a third time and passed. COUNTY COURTS BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL. This bill was brought in by Sir S. NORTHCOTE, and read a first time. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS AND REGISTRIES (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was read a first time. VICTORIA (LONDON) DOORS. This bill was read a first time. The house then adjourned. 1111?. WHIT WORTH'S GUN. TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—Would you allow me an opportunity of correcting the impression which I find has got abroad, that cannon made by me have failed in practice? As this impression may, perhaps be strengthened by the report of the observations made in the House of Commons last week, I feel m y se lf ca lled upon to state the facts that have given rise to reports which arc really without foundation. My experitnents have fo - : some time past. been mainly directed to the subject of rifled small arms; but, as the system which I have adopted is equally applicable to ordnance of all sizes, I bored and rifled several pieces of cannon, which were supplied to me in the solid by the Government. Some of these were brass guns, which have stood the test of continued firing, and three were of cast iron, which have burst. For the strength of these guns I was in no degree responsible; they were the ordinary pieces made for the smooth-bored cannon used in the service, and proved too weak to bear the strain of firing long rifled projectiles. I should most certainly not have undertaken to rifle them if I had foreseen, or could have supposed that their failure, which w as cause d b y wan t of strength, would have been imputed to my system of rifling. Being desirous of immediately rendering all the aid I could to the service, I considered the experi ment of rifling the pieces, as they are ordinarily supplied, worthy of being trie.a, and I think I may venture to state that their 'trial has furnished re sults of no inconsiderable i . .nportance. All the guns rifled by 'me belonged to and were at the time at the disposal of the War Depart ment. I had not th means of firing cannon at long ranges, but I hoped to have been furnished with the results of experiments that would have enabled me to form correct conclusions , I hope, soon, however, to be enabled to make trial of two guns which, tin my own responsibility, I am constructing of the requisite strength, and which, I doubt not, will fully rea li se t h e ex p ec t a ti ons en tertained by those who witncsded the first experi ments iv. April, 1856, with the 24-pounder brass howitzer which I bored and rifled. At that time pro jectilrcs,varying from two to six diameters in length, hay : ing quick rotary motion, were fired with great success.—l am, sir, yours most obediently, JOSEPH WHITWORTH.' Manchester, March 14. ROYAL LITERARY FUND. The annual general meeting for the election of officers and for other business was held yesterday, at the chambers of the corporation, Great Russell street ; the Earl of Stanhope in the chair. There were also present :—Mr. Pepys, Sir H. Ellis, Mr. Cabbell, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Bell, Mr. Dickinson, Sir John Forbes, Mr. G. Gruikshank, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Gruneisen, Mr. Newby, Mr. Spottiswoode, Dr. Guest, Rev. Dr. Major, Mr. Pollock, Sir Jas. Prior, Mr. Purton Cooper, Mr. Masters, Mr. Clowes, Mr. HARRISON read the registrars' and treasu rers' reports. the report of grants during the last year, the auditor's report, and an abstract of the cash account. The following is a classification of the authors relieved during the past year :—His tory and biography, 9 grants, £315; biblical lite rature, 2 grants, £7O; moral philosophy, 1 grant, £5O ; science and art, 8 grants, £330; periodical literature, 5 grants, £175; topography and travels, 8 grants, £230 ; classical literature and education, 3 grants, £9O; poetry, 8 grants, £lB5 ' • essays and tales, 7 grants, £165; drama, 1 grant, £2O; law, 3 grants, £123; medicine, 1 grant, £5O ; miscel laneous, 2 grants, £4O. The following is an abstract of the cash account : Jan. 1. Balance in hand, £382 1 ls. 7d. ; rents of the Newton estate, £203 ; dividends on stock, £9OB Os. Bd. ; subscriptions and donations, £364 17s. ; anniversary receipts, £977 15s 6d. ; total, £2,886 4s. 9d. Grants for relief, £1,840; rent, &c., £lBl ls. 4d.; salaries, &c., £225105. 4d. ; stationary, &c., £llB 19s. sd. ; anniversary expenses, £262 12s. ; balance in hand, £20515. Bd. ; total, £2,836 4s. 9d. The CIIAIRMAN then read the following report : " The general committee desire to state, for the in formation of the general meeting, that they have received a communication from Mr. Chas. Dickens, announcing the prospect of a certain offer to the society,from a person not at present named, on cer tain terms and speculations. With these terms and speculations the committee are at present ac quainted, but expect to learn them fully at an in terview which they have agreed to hold with Mr. Dickens and another gentleman a few days hence ; and they will then proceed to give to them and to the whole subject their most careful consideration. Meanwhile the committee felt it their duty to communicate also to the general meeting the following extract from Mr. Dickens's letter on the subject : The forthcoming annual meeting, therefore, I shall abstain from attending. The friends who have been associated with me on former similar occasions will, yielding to the same reasons, also stay away. But we confide it to the fairness of the managers of the Literary Fund to make it known to the corporation at that meeting, that we do not withdraw our opposition ; that we hold it suspended only until the matter shall have been fully con sidered.' " The chairman added, that the commit tee, not having had an opportunity of learning the details of the offer, were not able to make any more explicit statement on the subject. Mr. GRUNEISEN inquired whether, in the event of the communication rendering a special meeting necessary, it would be called at once, or the matter would stand over to another year ? The CHAIRMAN replied that the committee had not considered that point, but there was not the smallest desire on the part of the committee to withhold information. Mr. GRUNEISEN suggested the propriety of sub mitting the offer to a meeting before the committee came to any decision on the subject. The CHAIRMAN observed that he considered that a very reasonable suggestion. A ballot then took place for the election of offi cers. Two vacancies on the list of v ice-presidents were filled up with the names of Mr. Gladstone, M.P., and Mr. Alfred Tennyson ; two in the coun cil with the names of Mr. G. P. It. James and Mr. Edward Foss ; two in the general committee with the names of Mr. Justice Haliburton and Mr. An tonio Panizzi. The other officers were r.ll re-elected. The usual complimentary votes were given to the registrars, treasurers, auditors, and other .offi cers, and the proceedings terminated with a S ote of thanks to the chairman. PUGILISM.--JOSEPH NOLAN, OF BIRMINGITAM, AND JOHN HICKS, OF LONDON, FOR £loo.—The contest between these men took place yesterday. Nolan wa s the victor. CHURCH RATES.—A contest took place at East Ardsley, near Wakefield, on Saturday last, for a ch . urch rate in this parish, which terminated by a majority of 22 is favour of the rate. d rating ou f 1 " I say, Sambo, does you know the key to de m p u ro st sp ira eri b ty be on R e ; S prosperity o f de ju S n o o u ; f?' gu ' —big words, e ' s ‘ s K y ey ou to massa's dickshunary. Golly, I ain't lamed nuff to I i nswer dat." " Well, chile, 'tis de darkey." THE BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILLS. — A meeting of merchants and other traders took pie (se to day, Mr. R. W. Crawford, M.P. in the chair, ups n the question of the amendment of the law of bankruptcy. At a meeting in November l as t a committee was app pointed t o consider the bills introduced into Parliament by the Lord Chancellor and Lord John Russell. After a care ful examination of the provisions of the is ro Acts, the committee ar e 'of opinion that the "fie btor and Creditor" Bill of Lord Chelmsford exhibits; 'many de ficiencies, and should be firmly opposed, while they recommend a steady support to Lord John Rui mell's scheme, which it was stated will receive some import ant additions. The committee also propose to refer the bill t o a, select com mittee, under whose superintendence every proper amend ment may be introduced. After a short di ec , ussio n, in the course of which the evils of the present sy sten 'were torcibly pointed out by Mr. S. Morley and other spec L kers, a resolu tion was carried to present a petition to 7.earliament, em bodying the views of the committee. • 24. 1! 1091