The Sun. — London, England, 1858-02-08 00:00:00

7,1 .7 e 7, 7 7 1 - , 4) ANI .61 • . • 774. j,2., .6." "4. AiITD COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE, CITY, Two o'CLoerc. The noceunts from the manufacturing districts received this morning state that business during the past week has not been quite so active. At Birmingham retail traders cemplain sadly of the dearth of orders ; there are, however, signs of re turning activity , and a good spring trade is expected with North America. Business at Manchester, owing to the rise in the value of cotton, has not been brisk, buyers for exportation acting with great caution. For the Indian and German markets there is a fair demand, and some little improvement has taken place in printing cloths ; buyers, however, still hesitate to give the advanced rates demanded by manufacturers. The lace trade at Nottingham has been very quiet. A few orders for home con sumption have been executed in the warehouses, but beyond this there is 1 ttle change to report. In the hosiery trade there is no improvement to Import, business being unusually dull. In the glove branch, however, a slight improvement has taken place. At Leeds the demand for cloths was very inactive in the various balls, only a moderate amount of business was transact-d, but although prices are generally firm, there is not the animation which in more prosperous times has been usual at the commencement of the spring trade. The wool trade at Bradford has been active, and a fair business is reported in yarns, at full rates. Piece goods are quiet, and there is little or no demand for exportation ; and the late rather unfavourable accounts from the United States have for a time destroyed the hopes ent r tallied of a revival of trade with that Country, and it is now generally believed that little will be done until the fall trade commences. The carpet trade at Halifax has con tinued steadily to improve, and a very fair amount of trade has been reported at fully late quotations. Wools also have shown an upward tendency in prices. The hosiery trade at Leicester has exhibited symptoms of improvement, more particularly for goods suitable for hems use, but for export tberg is very little doing, and great numbers of the opera tives aro still unemployed. Accounts from Liverpool mentionthat the Cotton Market on Saturday closed with a very animated appearance, and prices cf most descriptions ad vanced id. per lb. The sales amounted to 12,000 bales, 5,000 of which wore taken by the speculators, and 1,000 by the exporters. The Railway Share Market closed quietly, and quotations were with out any material alteration. The Indian Loan Bill has not led to so much Conversation in City circles as might have been ex pected, locking at the amount the Leadeuhall- Street authorities require, arid the proposed manner of raising it. Although the operation is likely to b e more extensive than was generally anticipate], its probable influence upon the money market, will not, it is ima.;ineJ, prove very important, inasmuch as the debentures are to be issued periodically, and the investing public will be glad to take them in preference to the shares of any new joint stock schemes that may be bronAit, out. The particulars of the plan have yet to be made known, but 013 general opinion appelrs to be that the expediew of borrowing in the way pro posed is the most satisfactory that could be adopt-2d. The demand for money continues vary quiet, and it is thought that the Bank Directors, on Thursday next, or in the week following at the latest, will reduce the minimum to 3 per cent. O wing to time provision made for the engage ments due on the 4th of the month, the last B ank return exhibited a slight diminution in the reserve of notes, but a further mere iPe nyiy li ,"n be expecte'l, w,th regard to a " tulliJa, no doubt, can be felt but that a considerable accumulation w yet take place. Under these circumstances a lower rate of discount may be anticipated, especially as the terms of doo rs con tinue i per cent. under the existing quotation at the nation4les'ablishment. The Bank of France have made a further relixati Mi, - viz., to par cent., and in most the other continental a l° l3 eY markets indications of greater ease are apparent. The Cape Town Railway and D)ck Company have received information from their engineer, Mr. Brownger sem to December 30 in which he states that h e had c pleted his survey of the difficult Port'on of the railway-18 Miles in length rand succeed.-d in obtaining a line without very heavy works. " Mr. Brownger adds, "as regar Is the works on the remaining portion of the line, I expect that they will prove to be of quite a light description." I have ob served with pleasura that the goods traffic consist ing of produca from the interior appears to be very Considerable, and will be undoubtedly a source of large revenue. Although business in the English Sto3k M Arltet continues very quiet, the quotations are steady, awl during the morning no alteration whatever has . place. A few investments have been made, but beyond adding to the strength of the market " impreeiion was produced. The interest now attaching to the proceedings in Parliament, and ," alaziety . felt to ascertain whether the questions t o be discu,sed will lead to any Ministerial difficul restrain the speculators from extending their e fi ll gagemente, notwithstanding the continuous in of gold and lower rates for money. Consols for transfer were 96 to 96i, then 931 96, and are now a gain 96 to 901 For account prices have been 96 k I. New 3 per . Cents. are 9G a, and the Reduced 96 Bank Stock is firm at 227, and India ditto Exchequer Bills are 29s to 325. premium, the 100' A , and India ditto 20 s to 22 5. premium. th - Kathor numerous transit:Urns are recorded in fi r e „.,, P ' r ei4n market. Turkish 6 per Ce nts. are ver y 99i to 100, and the 4 per Cents. are 103 k to 6 ; Spanish 3 per Cents. are 43i ; and the ertiticates ; Russian 41 per Cents. have been dealt at 991 to 100 ; and the Sardinian at 9J to 45 k ; Peru v i an are 801 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents. ri a nd Dutch 4 per Cents. 100 to 1001. l Sto following are the nominll prices of Foreign 79 ; 3 - ', :--Mexica3, 20/ 21 ; Peruvian V I per Cents., c e ; ditto 3 per cents., 54 56 ; Russian 5 per s Ins : , 111 113 ; duct° 4i per C ts 99 100 ; Panth 3per Cents 43 43/ ; Ditto Deferred, 25i26. P „A. very limited business has Wen transact,d in ” Railway Share Market this morning, a slight 11:n provernent, howev e r, is visible in one or two of the.„_ leadi ng li nes . G rea t N ort h ern , G rea t ....wstern, and North Briti s h advanced about ss. inidlaud s , and North Elstern (Leeds) declined 5s ; an'l Oxford, Wore, seer, and Wolverhampton 1/. Most of the other English lines dealt in realis,d former quotations. The Foreign and Col,nial lines are very quiet. The French undertakings are at nominal quotations. E ist Indian have improved. 103. ; and Great Indian Pcninsula ss. The Canadian lines are unaltered iu value. lI RITISH FUNDS.—CLOSING PRICES—THIS DAY, (From tht O l ficial List:) I LIA - Business doze. tock 3 3 perT ......nt. K. educed Annuities. IT Ior Lent Consols Anmaities 96 A :is. 6A 5k L" c per Cont. A n nuities 96iWi / ag Annuities, expire ctt - Jan. 1860... 2 1-16 Ditto 30 Years, expire 10th Oct., 1859 1 13-16 / 4 1) (1 , 1 ,,°, 30 Years, expire sth April, 1.885 PIA 1 meek 213 4,4 Honda, Cl'loti ... ........... ......._••••• 20 22 )itt 0, - 0 , under t,lOOO 2l 25 p 1 ..- p sols telr A c c o tt v. t • 96A i i QL 'adque 1-3111 a, tad.4000 s(it.) .• . . :32 29 p El Lail ..... —. • ..... • ExelleqUer Bonds,. 1858, ai per Cent— IOJ6 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY. 4 o,ill ', nes Bond s , 6 p er Cent. 99 1 , ,0 x d er tivi _ t• 41 . 10 s Bands, 6 per Cent.. lO4 i n D 'i. Bowls ' 41 per Cent — • p .ttO A ccount °rtilguese Beads, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841 —4l2o:ato 18 )3, 3 per Cent 45 Sands, ,-..., St., 5 per ••• _ a . . I ;l l t_ a t ; H"( 1 IA" ''' Cent . 1 1 0 1 0 "93/ .46 per Cent. ii`."'an Bonls, 5 per Cent. ... 90,i :0 .;"uiliitotlaktoktt',3 per Cent. ....... 4'3., i i .p°,:t'sh Committee Cart. of Coup. not fun. 5 1 s"ds. t p Ditto ,k,un cent 100 99 UltSn Quea°ratiteed i per Cent 1)44 ', Account * lO3l 4A 3 1 x Dutch 4,, tiN:,..i,aen_ds, on the above payable hi London. 0 0. 4 ti "" c. ." 011 - ..z., , per Cent., 12 Guilders 100 — . t• CertificatesA - Co nsale, money 't tMEB O'CLOCK U ensols account (M 95 arch 4) 1t..... Mines, Banks, and Miicellaneona Shares are exceedingly quiet, and prices show little variation. London Chartered Bank (if Australia have receded 5 3. • Union of Australia, 10s. ; E is ern Steam, 1/. ; anal South Australian Land, 38 to 38k. - t w , I4 4 I TE ELF.crIoN —Ttio polling commenced in the t ow ' ) polling distriett- for the berough—RA-hill and the A t A n of Reigate —on Saturda - i morning at 8 o'clock. r:,*`)'eloelt the returning officer, Mr. T. Martin, pro- C e d to the Town-ball, and made the followiug dtcla ir,olou of the final close of the poll :—Rawlinaon, 212 ; L) ulton, 116 ; bionsOn, 95. THE SUN, LONDON HONDAS EVENING, FEBRUARY 8, IS-58. SPORTING NOTES. LITERATURE. LAW INTELLIGEIWE.—(This Day.) SUELLS OF KNOWLEDGE. ilfenzoirs of Be ranger. Written. by himself. 1 ROLLS COURT. NEVINS V. B3ADLEY. Taking into consideration the frequent alternations of frost and rain, the different animals that have early Spring engagements evince wonderful fitness. Nearly every training establishment can show a clean bill of health, and has everything in order to reopen the racing campaign. Perhaps the Epsom horses will sweep off many of the stakes contested during the next two months, for their number is large and their condition surprisingly forward. Lien Land, too, has not allowed his team to be idle, and his dashing mode of training seems to have had good effect. His horses have been out day atter day, and frost or IMO w they have always done steady exercise. With the speedy Englemere and the clever Amelia, Ben is likely to be fortunate : he has, too, several very useful platers, and with his "jumpers" he seems likely to farm certain steeplechases. Little Tom is now with him to complete his education before taking honours at Liverpool. The reports from the North are equally satisfactory. Industrious Mr. Pickering, of Beverley, and others who have an eye to early racing, have forced their work of pre paration, whilst the succession of sheeted regiments which have been seen on the Berkshire Hills show that trainers are no longer idle, and that the cosey comforts of the winter's firz...side are at least interrupted. From Newmarket the accounts are somewhat gloomy, for there are comparatively few horses in the town, and a large ;oommercial failure has recently caused the inhabitants to suffer much pecuniary incon venience. Death, too, has laid low some of the principal and most respected inhabitants ; he has touched old and young, and there is really something very mournful in the number of persons whom you may meet in the street at tired in deep mourning. I believe that there is scarcely a family in the town that is not clai in all the trappings and the suits of woe. As the spring returns the aspect of Newmarket will become brighter and more cheering. The signs of preparation for the season are variously displayed. Every " open day" is use! for the purpose of putting the young %Mc " through the mill," and Flatman, Sly, and Ted Sharpe, booted and spurred, are frequently seen galloping through the town, and the news is rapidly spread by the " Man at the Corner" that there is going to be another trial. vol. Hurst and Black-eV. e aftsmtntr pointslaeoi nic e et ootiptfhi memoirs, hand,:et bayi u :slee l aad a s ens raa, outline,tatrtchnreeaeaee, u iesry a s The memoirs of one so eminent in the literary world--one who first raised the numble profession of chamomile to the dignity of the poet—who has l ] nfaeaotsd: are ediaretnahnttaedei showingui called,r cypress,etwroscharacter r en o i L acar a aartt s ceptthien s ynag o : had the honour of enduring persecution for his a th a ie d o o t ae v t n : l ci f t y a h e y i a l i e e ft littleho exchanged r affording us any minu'e or satisfactory knowledge of written them. by his N o " w e n r pic ture rather of what he was than of what he did, it is full of interest. The pictures of his early life and its vicissitudes—of his steadfast refusal to com promise his independence by accepting the favours offered to him by wealthy or powerful friends—of his persistence in setting forth his opinions when most dangerous to himself, so long as he deemed it to the public advantage, all tend to prove the elevation of his character, and the purity of his patriotism. English readers will find something to forgive in the few remarks that are introduced about England, but it must ba remembered that he belonged to the generation Chit naturally felt embittered ; and Beranger himself, notwithstand ing his democracy, was not tco wise to be dazzled by the glory of the first Empire. Many of those who admire the ease and graoo of Beranger's verses will be surprised to learn that he composed them very slowly, "having never," he says, "composed more than fifteen or sixteen songs ie. the year, some of them in a few hours, but the greate-t number with deliberation and care. But many years were far from being so abuniant. The time of the'r composition was a matter of caprice ; and I have known eight or nine months to pass without the production of a single verse, even at the time when I was most diligent." Though disclaiming the praises lavished on his genius, Beranger evidently felt the effect of his songs on the people, and cnerished his chosen path. " I was born in a greater or less degree a poet, fitted to excel in a peculiar style, and I did not at first perceive that that element of poetry which was in me could find scope in this species of composition, which was much less studied than practised. Reflection at ]enght taught me Its capabilities. Song, moreover, opened up to me a path in which my genius could develop itself at ease. I ecaped by it from academical requirements, and I had at my d'sposal the whole dicti. nary—of which, according to La Harpe, four-fifths are excluded from our poetry." Devoting himself to his favourite pur suit, and surrouuded by congenial spirits, the life of Beranger, as drawn by himself, slisws a picture of content and freedonr from care rarely accorded to those who mingle in the literary and political worlds. The simplicity of his tastes, and his habit of saying "I am poor." among the wealthy, pre vented his limited income from being a source of annoyance to him, and the strict economy he exer cised, left him the mesns of benefitting others. It seemed as if he had started in life with the opinion men usually form at its conclu-ion, of the futility of a search for happiness, which he himself expresses in his chanson of Le Bon heur, after pursuing the chimera through both bern'.splier es— The merits of this cause were disposed of by a judg ment of his Honour the Master of the Rolls last term, and the only point in the cause remaining to be disposed of by his Honour this morning, was the question of costs in the cause. This was a suit between partners for the dissolution of their partnership. His Honour said that he had allowed the question of costs to stand over in th© hope that the parties would enter into an amicable arrangement and settle the costs themselves, but as they had not done so, he would now dispose of them. He had again read through the papers in the cause, and he had nothing to add to the op:nion that he formerly expressed at the hearing, and in delivering judgment in the cause. His Lordship dismissed the bill, with costs. PEILLON V. BROOKING', At the sitting of the Court this morning, his Honour the Master of the Rolls took occasion to mention this CaUSP. His Honour said that he had reconsidered this case, and he was of opinion that the agreement entered into between the parties could be very well carried out prac tically, and that it should be so carried out. Tnere was no objection to the agreement, so far as it related to the arrears of interest. His Honour pa , sed the usual decree for carrying into effect the agreement. Costs of all parties to come out of the estate. POLICE INIgiJJGENCE.— (This Day.) MA RLBOROUGH-STREET. ANOTHER WONDER.—A RIVAL TO FRIKELL I—Burnet Acorn, a German tailor, who gave his address Little Windmill—treet, was charged before Mr. Bingham with endeavouring t obtain a sum of money from the cele brated Physician, Wiljalba Frikell, under threat of pro claiming to the world the secret of one or more of his astonishing feats of legerdemain, if the same were not paid him. Mr. Henry Garrett, of Alfrel-place, Bedford-square, a musician at the St. James's Theatre, said a letter, which he now produced, had been left at the theatre directed to Mr. Firkell, and was opened by the latter in his presence and afterwards handed to him The letter, which was haneled to the magistrate, was some what lengthy, written in a rather familiar style, but in broken English, headed " Dear sir," and to the effect that the writer would really feel himself obliged to enlighten the world on some of Mr. Frikell's secrAsp which were equally known to the wrier, espe cially the bat trick, it he (Mr. Friker) did not imme diately pay him well for his silence on the subject. Backing up this communication with his presence on Saturday fur Mr. Fr ikea's decision, and hoping for the largess he had sripu!ated for—the price for keep'ng sealed his lips on the tricks which have astonished so many, and leaving Mr. Frikell still without a public rival or competitor—the defendant presented himself at the theatre, when he found himself quickly in the hands of a constable, and—presto ! the scene rapidly shifted into the interior of the Vine-street Station-house, and thence into the police-court on the present charge. There was another witness, but from the particulars of the charge as described, it was considered unnecessary to take his evidence, as he was not atlo to give any new feature to the case. The first legitimate events of the year will be decided at Lincoln on Thursday and Friday next, and under the new managements mere satisfactory meeting than usual will be celebrated. Besides, too, the races will be regarded with more than ordinary interest, for they will afford a slight criterion of the "form" of some of the principal stables. The new scale of weights for the Queen's Plate has been sanctioned by the master of the horse, but it is questionable whether the alteration will be advantageous• Heavy weights are sadly unpopular. The New Turf Reform has not been thrown out. After Laving been repeatedly sent up to the L . _,rds for reconsideration and revision, and, a ft er having undergone nearly as many alterations as Theseus' ship, it is about to be adopted. I have used the word about advisedly, for the new bill has not yet been officialy announced, and doubtless some additional clauses may yet be intro duced into it before it becomes law. With certain provisions of the bill I cannot agree. The attempt to suppress p.p. betting will be as about effectual as an effort to extinguish a fice with a water n Caine under the p • p • tau e l n f t p t - of re,lme .Betting ch ooseettnog c et " play or pay ," no ru l es out I not be carrie d on without a mutual understanding and confidence bets dencebewtiwtheena b l layers and ak er backers,ands that e d v 7 1 designation will be bound in honour to pay, th oug h hi s horse do not run, if at the time it can be shwa n that he knew he was entering into a p.p engagement ; and the ceinreitteee of the New Room at Newmarket and of Tat termall's will be oornp,lied, if t''ey .%i.t o preserve that gulariey aid cot:w ithout which tuff specule tens cannot be carried on, to take ceguiz ince of every dispute regpeet'ng bees that have been ma to play cr pay, although they were not made on races that are p.p. The new rules respecting p.p. beta are tno,t unjust to bookmakere, aed, in fact, they will render bookmaking impracticable. F..,r what purpose Lord Derby made his motion to abolish p.p. betting on band cape prior to the publication of the weights, I cannot conceive, and I can hardly believe that shou d a person bat on the Cesare. witch Stake?, for instance, prior to the publication of the weights, that he will have either the elts:re or the power to evade payment if his horse should not run. To show how p rnicioue such a restrictive rule Is likely to become, I will suggest a very probable case. Prior to the publication of the weights for the Cesarewitch, A takes of B 400 to 10 about a curtain animal. When the weights are announced, that animal may be deemed leniently handicapped, and is advanced to, perhaps, 10 to I. A lays C 200 to 20, and aferwarde some acsident occurs, and the animal does net run, In that case A would receive 201. from C, and poor busy B would be done out of hie " tenner," having, in fact, laid A 400 to 0. Seoul I such a case, and many such an one will wise, be ever brought before the onainittee at Tattersalt's, how, in justice and in fair play, could they decide against B I And, even if they did, would not every person regard A as soneeth:cg worse than a mere defaulter, and as one wi.h whom it would be desirable not to have any transactions I A person who woull take advantage of the new rule?, in the manner indicated above, would be scouted by every individual on the turf, although be would be supported by the "rules and orders" of the committee at Tatt,r- Jodi's and of Newmarket. Such a man would never obtain admittance to the Victoria Ciub. That the rules have been revised with much care I readily acknowledge, and I cordially appreciate the good intentions and c3rnmendab.o a al of the gentlemen who undertook so onerous and disagreeable a welq. They doubtless expected that their lab Airs would receive some adverse criticism, and are, perhaps, scarcely ann' yed at being what the Admiral, who holds with so much tact and atil,ty the helm of racing affairs, once uncourteoutly I designated "popinjays for every scribbler." It is as easy to stop p. betting by legislating as to stem a torrent by l oo ki ng at it. Mr. Bingham said the charge, as it stood, cool I not be borne out against the defendant for endeavouring to obtain money by threats, or perhaps even false pre tences. It• was possible he might know the means by which the hat trick, or any other trick, might be per formed, but the difficulty was to do it ; if he coal, let him do it, and set up for himself. He should think the reputation Mr. Frikeil had obtained wc.uld make him proof against such persons and their attacks, and that he noel i afford to laugh at such and treat them with the utmost contempt. His worship —then telling the pseudo rival of Wij dba Frikeil to be cautious how be annoyed by ►etters or otherwise the complainant cr az , y other person, and if he repeated his visits to the theatre with such motives he should, if brought before him, certainly put him uuder recog nisances for future good behaviour —discharged him. de:eLciant left the court apparently ♦ery much chop-fallen at not meeting with a Inure profitable result from the letter. "Le vois to Bien, I.t-bas, la-bas. L. - .-bas, la-has, dans cea nuago, Ildas ! (lit l'nomme, onfin vietx et las. C'est trap d•inutiles voyage:." The translation is faithful and elegant, and the appendix, with ti , e le, ters it contains, is a valuable addition. It is a w(.rk which will probably obtain a large circula•ion It re, wh,re the French chanson nier is held in more esteem than more ambi•ionc poets among his c -nntr:in n. ... The acceptanceA for the Sprig a t r.dicaps are n:ime tinily satisfact or y. T hose for tke Ch e -t er Cup show how widely the ability an d di scr i m i n ation displayed by Mr. Tophatti i n a ff ix i ng the weigbts have be en appre elated. I, to o , h ave cause f,,r gratulat i on , f,r the vet) , horses which I se l ected as being wor thy of notice have accepted, anti of th ose , th ree are n ow the leading favourites, whil s t ot h ers in which I expresse d ra y want of cot,fidet e,t h ave e i tl:er receded several pints iints in the b,ttting cr have been knocked out a!together. I have extended my "notes" beyond their usual litnit,, and must, therefore, postpone the remarks which, when I tat down to write, I intended to make on the Handicap and Derby horses, A FRESII MAN. February 8. ACCEPTANCES for THE GRA) Run Feb. 11. Di, D STEEPLE CHASE, Lincoln. .tance, tour Eni:eg. Age lb Findley a 9 9 ComA 6 9 8 Althorpa . a 9 8 by Mavnet a 9 7 A 9 7 W etthorpe a 9 6 Shylock Battle a 9 5 itiaktuaid Evington Lass (struck out on _ _ Age , t lb Weathercock a 11 7 Tom Gurney a 11, 0 Ing.unar a 10 10 01'D .g Tray a 10 6 Metis Lilford Maley ............ alO 1 Morgan Rattler a 10 0 The Fox ......•••••• 6 9 12 Kirv c ourt We , ton ....... a 9 12 Whaley Sampson 9 9 the 61 - ;) --- -- a 9 10 LLOYD'S SIIIPPING,—(This Day.) for, Calcutta. LONDON, Feb. 8.-Wind this day at noon, E. ; light . ed-Mithades, from bre Q e tr z Arrived-Gaunt let, from Monte Video. Sailed-Sunbeam (ss), for Fer nanlo Po. clear y eb.siv6ne.d.a.t-sh!,:d As. w ._ CaCll°allov.Es'SaFielebd-r"-AnalVelia Msr;a, l a N n s d T o fine v N W A : A Tit , i- FALMOUTH, Feb. G,-Wind .-,,re cveu- VY 00U Vine, from Mauritius. -Wind NT - um BELFAST, Feb. G. -Wind -• •' .-Arrived--Phca nian, from New York; Femora ( ‘ vssi, from London, with machinery slightly damaged. PORTSMOUTH, Feb. 7.- W incl E. S. E. A rrived - Petra, from Bilboa ; her Ma j est y's yacht Victoria and Albert, , from Antwerp Lher Maj es t y ' s ships o:borne, Curagoa, Lapwing, and Valorous, from Antwerp ; Parsee, from London for bielbourne, an proceeded for Southamp ton. Sailed-Czsr, for Sydne d y. N.S. „ v ,.. ; sVon Laffett Lohsen, Geelong ; Signal, Hong Kong ; Reserve, Jamaica; Abeona, Havannah. T. . __ l l DOVER, Feb. S .- Vv ina N. W. - Arrived-Her Ma -1 ' t '.; Fairy, from Antwerp. Ma jesty'. Y Feb. 7.-Wind E.S.E. -A rr i ve d P L YMOUTH,-Thomas Mansell, from ol Cun o na ; Celt (a , ), -"lie of Good Hope. Sailcd-Brakel, for Cey ln. n (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) PLYMOUTH, Monday Morning. A letter received here from St. Ives states that tho St, George steamer of London ;las put in with boiler burst, master and engineer killed, sevens firemen injured. SOUTHAMPTON, Monday Morning. Wind) Havre ;• Tamar (s), ou b E.S.E. (s) A rAlexandriaivej Fe alliance n 6 At rived, Feb. 7--L: Poole and Le Coq, from Cherbourg: Pars3e, London ; R an ger (s), Dublin. 1i— DELAY OF THE REFORM BILL It is calculated that there w.ll be enough—and more than enough—of p 03E• lug matters which will not bear delay, t o occu py Par liament till Easter—which. is unusually e a rly this year —when the Reform 8.11 will be introduced with a much better chance of being considered as it s i m portance deservei than it coul d be in the very first days of a busy nd excited session,—ObseiTer. RAILWAY IN7ELLrGENOE. GREAT WESTERN. The directors of this company have just issued their general statement of receip's and expenditure to the 31stof Deo., 1857. Itsbows that 12,903,7711. had been received on shares, including 1,341,979/. on irredeemable 4 per cent. stock, 129,0001. on re deemable 4 per cent. stock, 1,780,4571. redeemable 4i per cent, stock. 1,013,9571. redeemable 5 percent stock, and 400,4921. preference stock, which has been issued for advances redeemable under special agreement. The receipts on debentures cnd loans amount to 10,622,283/. making the total receipts lon capital account 23,526,0541. The total expen diture amounts to 23,253 027/., and consists of 10,873,795/, paid in respect of tie Great Western, Oxford, Barks and Hants, Windsor,and other lines, for locomotive stock, &c. ; 155,785/. paid in respect of the Uxbridge and Henley branches ; 6,733,0171, expended on the Birmingham, Dudley, and Wol verhampton lines ; 1,643,8741. on the Wilts, Som erset, and Weymouth lines ;44,831/. on the Didcot Deviation, including engine house and- sidings ; 135,006/. on narrow-gunge rails from O x f or d to Ba singstoke ; 30,7091. ou th e W es t ern F or k a t Read ing ; 15, 229/. on bridges (in lieuof level crossings) ; 2,826/. on the Acton and West London Junction ; 2,054,8181. in subscriptions and disbursements for the South Wales, South Devon, Glocester and Dean Forest, Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth, Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, Cornwall, Shrewsbury, and Chester, Sh rews b ury an d Bir mingham Railways, Amalgamation Act, Wycombe line, Plymouth Great Western Dock 4, and North Metropolitan, and 1,563,1341. under votes of the proprietors for new rolling stock ; 836,853/. new station at Paddington, 643,3611.-82,9191 for Bull's Bridge and other stations ; making the total ex penditure as above 23,253,027/., leaving a balance of 273,2071. The total expenditure on capital ac count during the half-year amounted to 137,6221., and during the preceding half-year 238,445/. The revenue account for the half-year ending the 31st Dec. last on the Great Western lines shows that 847,4521. had been received, including 7,050/: rent from Bristol and Birmingham Railway and divi dends on Cheltenham and Glocester trainroad, 14,7011. for use of plant, 3,3121. interest ou cash balances of the revenue account, and 6,349/. rent of Great Western hotel and other property. The expenditure—which includes 18,589/. for Govern ment duty, 14,8851. rates and taxes, 3,500/. legal and Parliamentary expmise , , and 1,500/. reserved for doubtful debts—amounted to 339,264/., or 41.58 per:cent. of the receipts, leaving a balance for the half-year of 508,1881. To this sum is added 10,0111. balance from preceding account, 3,483/. balance of revenue fer he half year from Keunot and Avon Canal, and 14,6341. dividends on shares in the South Devon, South Wales, and Dean Forest Railways ; total, 536,318/. From this sum is de deducted 183/. for additional w)rks ; 20,188/. gua rauteed annuities to Wilts, Somerset, and Wey mouth Railway, and Kennet and Avon Canal Pro prietors; 16,894/. renteharges for Glocester and Dean Forest . , Hereford, It ,ss, and Glec3star, and Wycembeßailways, and for the Paddington estate; 9,533 g. loss on lease of South Wales Railway ; 2,000/, proportion of loss on Kennet and Avon Canal to the nth of June, 1836 ; 232,750/. in terest on d bsntures and loam ; 1,3311. interest en Berks and Hants shares ; 1671. interest on Hen ley Railway subscriptions; 104,304/. dividends on Great Western preference shares ; and 16,310/. for d-ficieccy during the half-year on Shrewsbury lines ; making together 433,692/ , and leaving a di , p,sable balance of 102,6251. Out of this sum the directors recommend a divid.nd at the rate of 2 per cent, per annum on 8,237,276/, which will absorb 82,3731., and leave a balance of 20,233/. for the next account. The tr , ffil receipts for the h.. 1 1-year ending the RA le_ c Luber last on the SereTsbury lines 3meuuted to 128,642/., after deducting 0,8171. for their proportion of expenditure in respect of traffi ; evil. the Birkenhead line. The working and otucr expenses aluoutited to 76,026 e, leaving a halaneeof 52,6161. towards the p ,yment of 19,903/. interest on debetatere4, and 48,938/. dividends for the half year on the Shrewsbury prefenui,:e and guaranteed shares, making toge her 08,950/ , and leaving a de ficiency of 16,3401., which is charged above in the Great We,stern general revenue account. At the corresponding period of 1856 the deficiency on the Shrewsbury lines amounted to 14,8691. On comparing the revenue receipts of the past half-year on the Great Western lines with those of the corresponding period of 1856, 847,452/ , againzt 795,3531, an increase is shown of 52,0 and in the expeuses— 339,2541. against 309,3501. —of 29,914/., and in the ne'.. receipts of 22,1851. This incre xse is no doubt less than might have been ex pected, and would probably have been more were it not for the general depression of traffic on railways in Great Britain during the latter part of 1 tst year, which depression was estimated to affect those rail wit) s in the aggregate to the extent of 350,000/., 'he givatar part of which weield probably have been profit. The traffic on the Greet Western lines will no doubt go on increasing. In the year 1842 it amounted to 575,000/. ; in 1852 to 969,862/., and in 1857, to 1,616,401/. In 1852 the working expenses amounted to 301,668/., and in 1857 to 638,5211., leaving a profit on the work ing in the former year of 608,1911., and in the latter of 927,8841. It appears that the subject of working expenses has occupied the attention of the directors since the opening of the whole-of the Great Wereenilines in Ju'y, 1857, at which time those lines were breu;lit into full work ing order, and that considerable reductions in the exp,mscs have bean made, but they could not be brought fully into oper aion until about four monls of the past half-year had expired, so that the full extent of those reduct'ons will not be known until the end of the current half-year. On comparing the working expense's of :the past half year with those of the first half of 1857, 339,261/. against 349,2571., a decrease in the expenses, is shown of 10,0001., notwithstanding that the traffic for the pest half•year amounted to 78,499/. more than in the first half of 1857. It is expeAed that the pi eseut reduced expenditure can be m untamed unt 1 there is a considtraVe increase iu the traffic over all the lines. It also appears that the whole of the interest, preference and other charges be longing to the helf-ycar have been paid out of the list half-year's myelin', aud wdl cAitinue to be so charged every ha'f-year in future, in consequence of the whole of the lines autherised, in Parliament having been coaaph ted in July last. With the ca pital account nearly dead, all the preference and other charges fully paid out of revenue, an increase of traffic, and a reduction in working and other expenses, must tend to increase the dividend on the old stock. Independently of traffic, there is a maet,r which has bet n proposed and co c -irns every unguaranteed. shareholder in the Great Western Company ; it is the conversion of the mortgages and loans into a 4 per cent. debenture stock, for which the company have parliamentary powers. If this could be ac complished it would not on l y save the principal officers much time and anxiety, and the company expense in meeting the leans, but add newly 11 per cent. to the dividend, and consequently about 201. -to the marker , value of the 100/. stock. The money market is now more favourable for such an opera tion than it has been for years past, and it appears to be the interest of the shareholders to give it all the assistance in their power. Some years ago a few of the large railway companies endeavoured to convert their mortgages into a debenture stock at 3i per cent ,\ but the, public considered the rate -too low, the intere-t of money rose tom after, and remained high until lately, so as to preclude the possibility of converting mortgages into a debenture stock, even at 4 per cent. It seems there is an objection to railway'debenture oak, not on account of its security, but on account of the delay and expense of transfer, as compared with the transfer of Government stock, but it h a s been suggested that the difficulty might be obviated by means of an arrangement with the 3ank of ri ce land, and a short Act of Parliament, if necessarEy. NORTH-EASTERN. The directors of this company propose to recom mend the proprietors at the Ensuing meeting to declare a dividend-for the half -3 ()Aron the Berwick stock at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum ; on the York stock, of 4 per cent. per annum ; and on the Leeds stock, at the rate of 21 per cent. per annum. iviA•Li Day,) CORN EXCITA.NGE. Only moderate supplies of wheat were on sale in most of the country markets held on Saturday, nevertheless the demand for all kinds was in a sluggish state, and prices ruled in favour of buyers. Fine barley supported previous currencies, but other kinds were dull an, drooping. In other articles very little business was transacted. The French and other continental markets continuo heavy, yet very little change has taken place in prices. In the United States produce almost generally has ruled about stationary. Only moderate supplies of English grain were received up to our market last week. Tho imports from abroad amounted to 3,67 d quarters of wheat, 25,090 barley, 3,812 oats, 2,485 1402n5, 50 peas, 'lO tares, 6,220 linseed, 5,815 rapeseed, 20 mustard-seed, 418 sundry seeds, 1,763 sacks and 6,434 barrels of flour. The quantity of wheat received, fresh up to-day, from Essex and Kent, coastwise, was only moderate, and the receipts by land carriage from the whole of the near counties were limited. The show of samples, therefore, was far from extensive. The trade was not so heavy as on Monday last ; nevertheless, sales progressed slowly at about that day's decline iu the quotations. The general condition of the samples was tolerably good. We were well supplied with nearly , all kinds of foreign wheat. G,;:od and fine qualities were held with more firmness ; but the business doing in them was only mode rate. Inferior qualities ruled heavy, at barely late rates. Floating cargoes of grain met a dull inquiry. - - Fine malting barley was disposed of at full prices. Grinding and distilling sorts met a dull inquiry at late rates. Malt was heavy, but no actual fall took place in its value. There was a fair inquiry for good sound oats at full quo- tations. Demp parcels were much neglected. For beans—the show of which was only moderate—we had a slow inquiry on former terms, to is. per quarter less money. Peas changed hands slowly, yet prices wore supported. The flour trade was very slow at last week's quotations. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. Wheat—Essex sz. Kent, i Malt—Chevaller ... • 66s to 685 [tad new 401 to 465 pats • : -Yorkshire and Ditto... • .... old 433 53, Ditto, White new 503 553 Ditto.. ••.... old 5 is 58s Narfolk and Lin coln, Red, o'd 441 508 Ditto new •• 46s 51s Rye—Old •• •• —I —s i New •• •• •• 32s 365, Barley—Grinding ••• •• 30s 313 1 Malting ..• •• 36s 38s Chevalier— •• • • 393 423, M a lt—Stafolk and Nor folk •• • • .• 603 68s Brown 54s 56s Kingston I,nd Ware 608 663 Lineolnsh., Feed 20s 233 Potato. Youghal and Cork ...... 18s 22s Cork, White ... • • 19e 28e Scotch, Feed. •• .. 20s 24s Leans—Tick .•• • • .... 35s 38 Pigeons Peas—Grey • • 37s 391 Maple . White. •• • • —... 408 41s Boilers .• • . Flour—Town-made... 41 s 43 Butiolk •.• • . 34s 38s Itoaktn & Norfolk 31s 353 METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The total imports of foreign stock into London last week wore 680 head. In the corresponding week in 1857 we received 1,257; in 1856, 93S ; in 1855, 789 ; and in 185 1., 1,982 ; in 1853, 2,932 ; in 1852, 3,210 ; and in 1851, ,419 head. IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WREN. From Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. Rotterdam 3O 141 ... 41 Harlinireu Oporto Antwerp ()stead 58 ... ••• ••• ••• Total... 330 .. 224 ... - ... 126 ... Elie yearly comparison of weekly imports is as follows : Beasts. Sheen. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 1857 617 352 —23 i) ... 827 23 SS 1855 553 ,„ 107 ..„ 144 ~. [854 ... 644 1,3 , ;2 = 275 1 1853 . 1,988 375 21 1852 582 2,151 475 2 The show of foreign stock here to-day was very limited, and, with the exception of the calves, in moderate condi tion. The whole of the supply was disposed of at fully last week's currency. There wan a fair average arrival of Both English and Scoth-fed beasts fresh up to this morning's market, and the quality of most breeds was tolerably prime. Owing chially to the favourable change in the weather the beef trade ruled steady at fully last Monday's quotations. Tho general top figure for beef was 4s Bd, but some superior lots valued at 4e 101 per Blbs. From Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire we received 2,0'0 Scot, :.ad short-horns ; from other parts of 12,.,glanci, 800 of various breeds; from Scotland, 700 Scots; and from Ireland, 270 oxen. We were again very moderately supplied with sheep, in the condi; icn of which we obi erved very little improve ment compared with most previous weeks. The mutton trade was iu a healthy state, and prices generally were well supported. The primest old Downs sold at 5s 2d per Slbs. Ths few calves in the market moved off steadily at very full prices. The top quotation for veal was 5s 2d per Sibs. Some sma'l porkers sold steadily at full prices. In other kinds of pork very little was doing, on former terms. The supply was alai❑ Per nibs to sink the offals s. d. s. d. s. 4. s. Laterior Beasts.... 3 4to 3 6 PrimoSonthdown 410 5 2 Second quality.... 3 8 4 o:Large erse. calves 4 2 4 S Prime large oxen 4 2 4 4Prime small do 410 5 2 Prime Scots, dm. 4 6 4 B,Large hogs Inferior Sheep ...3 4 3 B,Smallporkers 4 2 4 6 Second quality ...3 10 4 0 Suckling calves 19 0 26 0 rinae crse.-wlled.4 2 4 B;Quarter old pigs 19 0 26 0 TOTAL SUPPLY; FORHION SUPPLY. Beasts Sheep and lambs 14,755 Calves Beasts Sheep awl lambs 200 Calves Pigs 2731 Pigs k statement and comparison of tloa supplies and prices of fat stock exhibited and sold in the Great Metropolitan Cattle Market, on Aonclay, Feb. 9, 1857, and this day, Monday, Feb. 8, 1858. Per Sibs, to sink the ofECs. Feb. 9, 1857. ,Feb. 8,1858. s. d. s. d. d. s. d. Coarse and inferior beasts :3 4to 3 63 4to 3 6 Second quality ditto ~. 3 8 4 0,3 8 4 0 Prime large oxen 4 2 4 8,4 2 4 4 Prime Scots, &e 410 5 04 6 4 8 Coarse and inferior sheep 4 0 4 4,3 4 3 8 Second quality ditto 4 6 4103 10 4 0 Prime coarse woollod ditto ... 5 0 5 2 4 Prime Southdown ditto ,„ 5 4 56r 10 5 2 Large coarse calves 10 5 0 4 4 2 4 Prime small ditto 5 2 5 6,4 10 5 2 Large hogs 3 8 4 4 1 3 2 4 0 `eat small porkers „.. ~„ 4 6 5 2;4 2 4 6 Boasts... ,„ „, „, 3,211 3,733 Sheep and lambs 15 900 11,785 107 99 Pigs ... ... 210 273 Surnma oN SAMS, Feb. 11, ISM—Beasts, 4,153 ; sheep and lambs, 23,789 ; calves, 62: pigs, SO. Feb. i 2, 18f , 5.—Beasts, 3,693; sheep and lambs, 17,320; olives, 67 ; pigs, 420. NEWGA.TE, AND LEA.DENTIAL - The arrivals of most. kinds of meat from Scotland and the provinces have been seasonably good since Monday last, and the supplies slaughtered in the metropolis are only moderate. A fair avelage business is doing gene rally, as follows : Per Blbs by the carcase. s. d. 5...1. s. .1. s. god, inferior 210 3 2 Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 6 Do., middling 3 4 3 6 ( Do., middling ..... 3 8 4 2 Do. prime large 3 8 3 10 Do., prime .4 4 4 8 Do., do, small ....4 4 4 Veal.... 3S 4 8 Pork, large 3 2 3 10 Pork, small 4 0 4 BOROUGH HOP. The show of nearly all kinds of hops continuo tolerably extensive. Thu dennnd generally may be considered steady, but it is almost wholly confined to present wants, at full prices. Last week's imports were 21 bales from Hamburg, and 50 bales from Boulogne. Mid and East Kent Pockets, ids to 120 s ; New Weald of Kent do., 568 to 70s; Now Sussex do., 523 to ties; Year lings, 21s to 50s. BOROITGR AND SPITALFIELDS. Since Monday last very moderate supplies of home grown pote.tones have come to hand, coastwise and by hnd carriage. Frcru abroad the imports have fallen off—they having consisted of 68 ; tons from Rouen, 40 tons from Dunkirk, 89 tons from Calais, 80 tons from Groningen, 60 tons from Antwerp, and two tons from Rotterdltn. The demand has not improved, nevertheless.; prices aro well supported. York repents, 120 s to 170 s per ton ; Essex and Kent, 120 s to 1403 ; Scotch, 80s to 130 s; ditto cups, 75s to 85s ; middlings, 503 to 60s; Lincoln's, 1 20 s to 1504; blues, —s to -- s ; foroign, 65s to 85s. WOOL. The next public sales of colonial wool are appointed to commence on the 25th inst., when the followingquantities will be offered :—Sydney, 5,1'43; Port Philip, 3,924 ; Ade laide, 390 ; Cape, 12,033 ; New Zealand, 7 ; East Indian, 1,100--total, 2,010 bales. By private contract there is very little doing i❑ any kind of wool, and tne quotations are almost nominal. Last week's imports were 1,093 bales from SydneY, 924 from the Cape, 231 from Algoa Bay, 185 from Mogadore, 1 , 0 i 4 from Taganrog, 196 from Olessa, and 45 from Kur rachee. SEEDS. The market for cloverseod continues to improve, and prices are slightly on the advance. Trefoil is in active re quest at eirSauce I rates. Tares are hold for very full prices. eanaryseed and all other descriptions move off steadily at extreme rates. Cakes are rather dull. Tarnip,White,per bash. 15s to 154 •Swede •• • 20a 23 , instard, Brown.— .. 104 15, White, new .• .. 16s 224 fares,Wlnter,new....se Od 539 d Canary,per quarter .. 783 834 aye ; Truss (new) .• 234 30. CloTer,liedEing.(eWt.) 598 7 3 White .• • • ...... 62s 78 4 Foreign Red.. • • .. 57s 694 White .• Gis 78. Trefoil, new.......... 21s 25.1 Carraway ....... .•• .. 44/ 468 Coriander ........ •... 2Gs 30s Hompseed, per quarter 40+ 41s Linseed, Eng.iowlng 70, 72s Crashing ........ —a —s ... 491 53s Odessa ......... 520 530 Linseed Cake, pr. ton— English ... 9' 10s 10 50 Foreign, per ton 10 0, 10 15, I Rape Cakes, per ton 51 15 , 51 10 .IRapeseed, new, pr qr. 68s 70, TALLOW. We continue to have a very inactive demand for all kinds of tallow, and prices are rather lower than on Mon day last. To-day B.Y.C. on tho spot is selling at 52s per cwf. Rough fat is ?s 4.t per Sib. stock this day 38,157 39.0G5 1,62 , ', 0,12. 57,, 0,1 6 ;rice of Y. C I, 92 0,1, Oelivery lit week ..; 1,747 2,122 Oltto from Juno 1....! 75,658 58,851 Arrivals Lost week.. 1,641 717 Ditto l corn :unel .... 90,390 61,916 Price of Town -• 64, 9.1 5S 9d 23,472 53s Cdt' —s Od 10,522 24,182 3d tu ',23 nd tc Od --s Od 1,639 2,215 SG,G63 80.628 432 3,403 80,2 5 91,698 65s 6,1 54s 3d 817 93.0,0 632 59,94) 53i 6d THAMES, CHARGE or STAunt.No.--Theodore Robert Krolft, a German seaman, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with stabbing another German, named Straus, the keeper of an infamous house, N. 1, Albert-place, Shad well. It appeared that last n'ght there was a row in the comolatnant's house betwets some Lreign sailors and the loose w.:raan dwelling there, in a hich Mrs. Strauss joined. Tile prisoner made a blew at the landlady, and her husband went between them, when the prisoner made a blow at Strauss with a knife, and stabbA him on toe head, inflicting a severe wound, from which the blood &Ned copiously. Flo was remeved to the surgery of Mr. Ros.., in Shad well, who dressed his wound. The prisoner threw the knife away. and cmcealed himself in the same neighbourhood. He was taken into cus tody. The knife was found in the street ; the blade was stained with blood. The prisoner made some remark in brAan English, relating to the character of the prosecwor's house. Str,itres—lt's a lie, a lie. Mr. Yardley (indignantly)--If you make use of that language again, sir, I wilt turn y)u out of court. Do you think, air, you follow a legal occupation in keeping a brothel. If you can find no better occupa tion the sooner you go back to your own country the better. The stab was dearly proved, and it appeared there Wa3 a most desperate row in the house of the pro secator, which one of a most infamous character. Mr. Yardley said, that bad as the people were who kept tie house, they must not be stabbed. There was no doubt the prisoner used his knife in a mo,t disgraceful affray. lle fined the prisoner 10d., and in default of payment, 14 days' impri6onmenti. EXECUTION OP CHRISTIAN SATTLE.R. The execution of this unfortunate and wretched crimi nal, took place this morning at eight o'clock in front of New gate. From an early hour a great number of persons as sembled in front of the gallows, and till the hour fixed for the execution, amused themselves in the usual inorleid manner. The officials of the gaol were in attendance shortly aft, r seven o'clock, a: ad shortly after Kanis the unfortunate . man was conveyed to the press-room and there under. went the operation of pinioning. At eight o'clock the death-ball commenced tilling, and Mr. the ordinary of Newgate, having commenced reading the burial service the proc - asSion moved towards the drop. SAttler having taken leave of the Sheriffs, the signal wag given, the drop fell, and offended justice was satis fied. The body after langiog an hour was cut down by Calcraft and will, in ca,f)rmity with the sentence, be interred within the walls of the prison. RESPITZ OF MELLOR.—From inquiries made last Evening at the Kirkdele Gaol, our correspoodent learned that a communication had been received from Sir Geo. Grey respiting the execution of the condemned Mellor for a worith.—lllanchester Guardian. THE WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND ST. MARGARET'S SERVICES.—Yest - relay evening the sixth of the West minste-r Abbey services, designed for the benefit of the working classes, was held in the rave of the venerable buldirg. In order to provide accommodation for those who are unable to obtain admission into the abbey, special services have been inst.tuted in St. Margaret's Church, and both edifices were last night filled to over flawirg. At the abbey there was, as usual, full choral service, prayers being said by the Rsv. J. C. Haden, M.A.., one of the minor canons ' • and the les-tne were read by the Very Rev. Dr. Trench, the Dean of Westminster. The Rev. Dr. G. Mobeiley, head master of Winchester College, was the preacher. He silected for his text the Bth chapter of St. John's G ospel, the 331 and following verses. The preacher made a most earnest appeal to his vast congre gation to emancipate themselves from the state of sin and slavery, assuring all who heard him that the prayer of even the most profligate would be heard. An anthem from the B iok of Kings having been sung, the congre gation dispersed. At St. Margaret's Church, adjacent to the abbey, Archdeacon Sinclair preached to a large congregation. ASYLUM FOR FEMALE ORPHANS, LAMB3TIL—Her 11 yal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, attended by Baron Knesebeck and suite, visited the chapel of this institution yesterday morning. Five young women, of whom one is in the service of her Majesty, were present, and received the customary certificate of good conduct, together with a purse containing five guineas. The sermon on the occa sion was preached by the morning preacher, the Rev. John Jessopp, M.A., chaplain to his Majesty the King of the Belgians. The chapel, which contains upwards of 1,100 persons, was crowded to overflowing, many being compelled to stand for want of room. Her royal highness, at the conclusion of the service, intimated to the secretary that Kew Chu rch had been greeted at het request for a sermon on bdialf cf the fends of the c h ar ity, her wisher a r ti o ) y at l M highness j h:ie ss s ° s then P went overP shoal preach a o n n d th e l x ,t pr o e c s c s a e s d ion. the institution, and complimented the matron on the healthy and cheerful appearance of the children. APPOINTMENTS. —The Queen has appointed Mr. Ham mond, her Majesty's Advocate-General for Jtrsey, to the office of Bailiff of tl at island, vacant by the death of Sir T. Le Breton. We understand that the appsint ment was offered, in the first instance, to Mr. Cezey, the bailiff of Guernsey, who declined to accept it. Colonel Neal, her Majesty's Consul at Varna, is appointed Consul at Patras. Mr, Horatio Sutler is appointed British Consul at Varna. THE RETURN of SIR ThoMAS ASIIBURNHAM,—This ' mining Mr. Warren wiil ask the First Lerd of the Treasury whether it is true that General Asliburnham proceeded from China to India in pursuance of i nstruc• rions trout home, and whether be has since returned to England, and, if so, under what circumstances, whether voluntary, or whether he has been recalled ; and, in the latter cane, whether there be any objection to state on what grounds ? WEAR VALLEY. The proprietors of this railway held their half yearly meeting at Darlington on Friday ; Mr. 11. P. Smith in the chair. - fie capital account shoved that 828,1G8/. had Leen received, and 827,1691. expended, leaving a balance of 9991. Mr. A. Kitt:Ling and Mr. H. Peas', the retiring directors, were re-elected, and also Mr. R. Wilson, as auditor. It was resolved that the Stockton and Darlington Railway 0, m p any be requeAed to remit the usual dividend of 6 per cent. per annum to the share holders of the company. After expressing their approval of the Stockton and Darlington Company's Bill, the meeting sepa rated. COLNE VALLEY AND HALSTEAD. It appears the works on this rue are to be imme• diately proceeded with by Mr. Munro, the cor, tractor. HULL AND SELBY. The directors of this companystate in their report that the balance in hand for the last half-year is 33,8391., and they recommend that a dividend be declared at the approaching meeting of 21. 93. 6d. on each of the whole, or 50/. shares ; of 11.4•. 9d. on each of the half or 25/. shares ; and of 12s. 4/id. on each of the quarter er 121. 10s. shares, subject as usual tD the deduction of income-tax. LONDON AND MANCHESTER TRAFFIC. It appears that, after considerable discussion, an agreement for the avoidance of the existing com petition for the above traffic and the restoration of more peaceful relations betw e en Great Northern, Manchester and Sheffield, and London and North- Western Companies, was signed by Lord Chan(los at Euston-square en Tuesday last, and on the same day rec Dived the seal of the Great Northern direc tors. The directors of the Manchester and Sheffield Company met on Fiiday at Manchester als o t o sea l the agreement, but separa4ed without that formality having been gone through, because, subsequent to the signature of the agreement by Lord Chandos, an alteration having reference to restricting and defining the number of third-class trains to be run was inserted in the agreement by Mr. S w ift, the solicitor of the London' and Notth-Western Com pany, which condition was refused, and the matter in dispute remains for further discussion. FRE VCR D rsPAT CH. The foll , )wing ie a tramilatlon of the despatch from th=3 French Mini,ter for Foreign AtfairF, which Lord P.linerston laid (.n the table of the House of Commons on S itulday COLTsiT \YALEWSKI TO COUNT PERSIGNY. " Paris, Jan., 20, 1858. " Monsieur le annte,—The preliminary proco?il ings in-tituted on the criminal attempt of which the person of the Enperor has horn the object, are pursuing their course, and we shall ere long learn the definitive re alt ; but there is one poll :A on which, even at present, we can hare no doubt ; this attempt, like those which have pi ecJled it, has been projec': d in England. " It was in England that, Plated formed the design of attacking the Emperor ; it was feom London that, in on affair the valection of which is still frezlh, Mazziui, Ledru Rolin, and Campa nella directed the hired bravos whose hands they had armed. It was then.) alFo that the author:l of the late conspiracy have preparAl at leisure their means of action, studied and fabricated the in struments of destruction of which they made use, and it was thence that they started to execute their plan. " In est eblishsng these facts, I hasten to add how much the Government of the Emperor is pe netrated with the sincerity of the sentiments of ()- probation which they have raised in England. It is equally convinced that, with such proofs of the abusa of hospitality before them, the English Go vernment and people will from the present under stand how far we are justified in anxiously consi dering them (fondes a nous en prsoccuper). " No one appreciates and respects more than ourselves the liberality with which England loves to practise the right of asylum towards for,igner. , , vie time of political struggles. Francs has on her part always regarded it as a duty of humanity never :o close her frontiers to any honourable misfortune to whatever party it might belong; and the Govern ment of his Majesty has no intention of exnplainittg that its adverirics can fiud a refuge on Eug!i,ll. so 1 Nirl live then peace:tbly, under the protector' of British laws, while remaining faithful to their opiiiionz, oven to their passions. " But, Monsieur le Comte, how widely - different is the attitudrt of the adepts in demagogy estab lished in Eagland ! It is no longer the hostility of erring parties manife3ting itself by all the C'x m,ses of the pres 3 and every violence of lamuage ; it is no longer even the labour of the fact ions stud: tug to agitate public opinion and to provoke disor der ; it is assassination reduced to a doctrine, preached openly, practised in repeated attempts, the mo , t recent of which has just struck Europe with stupefaction (yield de frapper 1' Europe de stupeur). " Ought, then, the right of asylum to protect such a state of things? Is hospitality clue to assas sins? Ought Engltsh legistation serve to favour their designs and their manoeuvres, and can it con tinue to pro' ect persons who p'ace themselves by flagrant acts without the pale of common law, and expose themselves to the ban of humanity ? " In submitting these questions to the Govern ment of her Britannic Majesty, the Government of the Emperor not only discharges a duty towards it self, it responds to the sentiment of the country which demands such a proceeding under the pros. sure of most legitimate anxieties (qui t'y invite sous 1' empire des plus legitimes preoccupations), and which in a circumstance where joint responsibility (solidarite) between all nations and all Glvernments is so evident, believes that it has the right to count upon the co operation of England. The recurrence and the perversity of these guilty enterprises sub ject France to a danger against which we are all bound to provide. The Government of her Bri tannic Majesty can assist us in averting it, by giv ing us a guarantee of security, which no State can refuse to a neighbouring State, and which we are authorised in expecting front an ally. Full of con fidence, moreover, in the exalted reason of the Eng lish Cabinet, we abstain from all indications as re gards the measures which may be sttitable to take to satisfy this wish. We rely in this matter en tirely on them (the English Cabinet) for the care of appreci sting the decisions which they shall judge the most proper to lead to this end, and we congra tulate ourselves (nous nous complatsons) in the firm persuasion that we shall not have appealed in vain to their conscience and their loyalty. " You will b 3 so good as to read this despatch to Lord Clarendon, and give him a copy of it. — Accept, &c., (Signed) "A. WALEWSKI." TIM ALHAMBRA PALACE. —Yesterday evening we visited the old Panopticon, in Leicester- guars, now called the Alhambrr. Palace, %Lich has lately been opened by Mr. E. T. Staab, of Drury-lane, for the purpose of giving evening lectures, in conjunction with the best d e scription of sacred music. The lecture, oar , delivere as it was a dv e rtised, the "ir augurative sermon," wd by the Rev. Mr. Rutherford, of N ew eaEt'e-upon-Tyne , and was folio wed by the perf‘rmance of Ilandel's " Messiah." We refrain from era casing eitl er the sermon or the music, and will therefore merely observe upon that which is undoubtedly ix° Those wbo have visited the buildirg and are acquainted with ita general features can imagine the effect of wel!-appoiuted arrangements, such as the energetic Mr. Smith alway s bringsto hear upon any u r.dertakiug with which he becomes connected. Everything news to have been clunetbat could conduce to the comfort or convenience of the audience, A magnificent chandelier, consisting of 600,000 pieces of out-glass, which we are informed, was the char.delitr ex bibited in the Paris Exhibition by Messrs. Defiles and n Co., of liounds ditcb, and cost 1,000 guineas' bags rue- pended from the centre t f the dome of the build ing, the vas t area of the basement underneath bin with a rich pile carpet of most elegant design.eg covered The in terior, indeed, literally glitters with all th a t i s e l egaL t and pleasing to the eye. SUNDERLAND AND HARTLEPOOL. A new branch line securing direct communication between Sunderland and Hartlepool was opened last week. MIDDLESBOROUGH AND REDCAR. The half-yearly meeting of this company WU held on Friday at Darlington ; Mr. A. Kitohing in the chair. The accounts showed that 90,8851. had been receired and 83,9301. expended, leaving a balance of 6,9541. in the hands of the treasurer, to be ap propriated in paying off certain loans. It was resolved to request the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company to pay the usual dividend of 0 per cent. per annum. Almsrs. J. W. Pease and F. Gibson, the retiring directors were re-el ec t e d, an d also Mr. J. Pease, the retiring auditor. The meeting then separated. ULSTER. The report of the directors of this company shows that the earnings during the past six months amount to 38,4991., the working expenses to 13,625/., interest on borrowed money to 3,9611. and interest allowed to those pro p:ietors who paid on their allotment of forfeited shares, in June last, to 7771., laaving a balance available for dividend and reserved fund of 20,1341. Out of this sum the directors re commend that a dividend of 30s. per share, less income-tax (being at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum), ba paid on the 18th inst., and that 5,0141. be carried to the reserved fund. During the past half-year 22,234/. has been received on account of forfeited shares re-issued. An 'arrangement has been entered into between the railway companies and th 3 aty of Dublin Steampicket Company, by which it is exp?cted that without disadvantage to the public the goads 'raffia between Belfast and Dublin will be more remunerative to both parties carrying it than it his been for some years past. CORK AND BANDON. The directors of this company, in their half yearly report announce a steady and continuous increase in the traffic rece'p's of tin railway. The increase amounted to 1,072/. during the past tad! year. The working expenses include an extra out lay of 5231. on the working stork. The revenue account t) the 31st Dec. shows a surplus of 1,7641., out of which the directors recomm n : a (H.. ilund on the 'Cc. 1 p..eLrcine# :II Lie i at the rAte of 4 per cent. pei . .annum, and on the No. 2 preference shares at the rate of 6 per cent p€r annum, for the half-year, leavings. sm ill balance. A ereott which has hitherto appe.ired in the books of the company is now for tire first time discontinued—viz., the intureqt on 11,6401. expended on the several Extension Bills; this item always appeared among the assets of the lillf-ycar, but the bills having expired, it could no longer be continued. Mr. W. R. Le Fanu, the engineer, reports that the permanent way and working stock are in good order and repair. The c tpital account to the 31st of December last shows that 360,256/. had been received and 258,951/. ex pended, leaving a balance of 1,3051. The revenue account showed that 7,8151. had been received and 4,3141. expended, including 4091. arrears of former accounts now paid, leaving a balance of 3,5011., to which was added 3,6491. from the preceding ac count, making 7,1501. Out of this was deducted 909/. interest on No. 1 preference shares, 6581. on N.I. 2 preference shares, 6571. debenture interest, and 1,8781. arrears of interest, leaving a balance of 3,0471. NOTICES OF MOTION AND QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS. (From the Examiner.) The fillowiLg are, we understand, a few of the notices of mlti , m ansi questions to be proposed, in the c,urse of the present, ses4ion on matters of considerabie interest to the 13citish public : Mr. Pry, member for Whyborough, to move for a tetum of the civil or other services of the Hon. C. B. Phipps, constituting the claims of that gen tleman to the honours and dignities conferred upon him, in common with Col. Inglis and other persons who have served their country with distinguished merit and gallantry in India or elsewhere. Mr. Frank, M.P. for North Bluutshire, to re quest the Secretary of State for the Colonies to in .rm the house what there is particularly trivial and insignificant in the colony of Nova Scotia to justify the recent appointment of the treasurer of the royal household to the office of its Lieutenant-Governer; and whether the administration of Sark, or Ire land's-eye, would not have been more suitable to the abilities and political experience of that noble man, as far as the public has any knowledge of them. Sir Major Cato, member for Common Dec'mum, to move an address to the Crown for the institution of an office iu England corroponding with that of Censor inanc:ent Rome, with a view to protect the public from the appointment to great offices ofState of persons objectionable on moral cmsiderations, or provide for the expeditious expulsion of such persons from their employments. Mr. Crotchet, member for Whimsey, to move the following resolution :—That, as there appears to this house to be a description of merit systema tically recognised and honoured by her Majesty's Ministers, of which the community at large is necessarily ignorant, owing to the secret, mys tcriow, recondite, and unknown nature. of the services constituting it, it is expedient that in all future distributions of honours and rewards deserts of this class should be distinguished from those of the ordinary, plebeian, and inferior stamp, such as commonplace achievements in the field of battle, with other vulgar displays of ability in arduous situations, whether in peace or war; that, with this view, it is the opinion of the house that a new species of knighthood ought to be established, to be called either the Secret Service Branch of the Order of the Bath, or the Order of Occult Merit, its members to be decorated with a black riband, symbolical of the modest obscurity of their exploits, which might be further indicated by the motto, "Nox console Sola," and that after the institution of this new crder an humble address be presented t 3 her Majesty, further to promote thereto and de corate with its insignia these noblemen and gen tlemen whose merits under the existin g protnis cuous system are confounded. with those of the vul gar and notorious species, and their patrician names tArnished by juxtaposition with plebeian ones. SirJusticeFairplayto move the following address to the Crown :—" That, inasmuch as it is now the practice of her Majesty's Governm en t t o con f er u pon the brothers, sons, and nep h ews, or lmhouses, ivcs and connexions o f noble as e - ttor n hitherto e ys, and other Howard s, Tollemaches, Ste., those little su bor dinate s commonly bestowed professionaln n upon sol ic i t situations re belong ing to the middle class, her Majesty be graciously pleased to direct thht as a just compensation to that class, some few of the higher distinguished and more offices should be occasionally bestowed upon its members, as otherwise the aristocratic families would soon possess as complete a monopoly of the small places in the public service as they now do of all the great and valuable ones." Mr. Critical to move for a return of any pensions granted by Lord Palmerston during the last year to epic, lyric, dramatic, or other poets, the return to be accompanied with an appendix ccuttaining spe cimens of the immortal verses entitling the grantees to such rewards and distinctions. Or, in the event of such return being refused, to request the Prime Minister to repeat to the house a few stanzas or pas sages from the worl.s of the pensioned bards, to satisfy the country that only literary merit of the highest order Las been encouraged at the public expense. [ADvitllTlSEMENTl—Hollowsy's Pile for invTgorating the weak, and strengthenirg the debilitated.--/ths. Faros, Neithrop, Banbury, was for eleven years cold, 'offerer from bad beeltb, lies of appetite, t xcesys.ivrieeet; oci :Ind only a par.ial use of the limbs, she trieda m en a 1 during remedies, and was under the care of Be Chat p;riod without deriving the s li ghtestftbis time she was fact was given over as incarabiles: 1 a i' n ' d after persevering educed to try flolloway'awPa: completely oured.—Sold ver benefit—in s throughou t the world, at Pro ork , by A. Stamps, Con ment, 244, Strand, London ; b w y it a li ll t ro he e i d u ic ic in r e a y s e h n o d r , t o.r t l i 7 is e t, feasor Ffolloway'e Ehta New - y . 1 • A Guiclicy, Smyrna ; and E. Muir, Malta. 4 3 tI d n t B i noo, plU:i:ler.:sne