The Sun. — London, England, 1866-05-30 00:00:00

1/111011A.L TABIAWONT SOUSE OF LORDS.—LAST EVENING. The LORD CHANCELLOR. took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. INDIAN OFFICERS. Viscount LIFFORD presented petitions from different officers in the Indian Army, complaining of the non-fulfil ment of the promise given in favour of their claims, and praying for redress. INNOVATIONS IN THE CHURCH RITUAL. The Marquis of - WESTMEATH gave notice that on Tuesday next he would call attention to the innovations in the Church commenced in the dioceses of London, Exe ter, Durham, Chester, and othe r places, and asked the right rev. prelates questions in reference to the same. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lynvi Valley Railway, the Ly nvi Valley Railway and Ogmore Valley Railway, and the Manchester and Stockport Railway Bills were severally read a second time. The following bills were read a third time and passed : —Macclesfield and Chapel-in-le-Frith Road Railway ; Ebbw Vale, Beaufort, &c., Water Bill ; Merry bent and Darlington Railway ; and Nelson Local Board. PUBLIO- SCHOOLS BILL. Earl CLAREN DON, on moving the second reading of this bill, said that it was admitted that reform was impe ratively required in the national schools. The fact was that the system adopted in some of our schools was de fective and demanded Parliamentary influence. The r eport of the commissioners would furnish valuable sug gestions, and would be of great advantage in dealing with this subject. The bill which he now called upon the house to adopt was the same that had come from a select com mittee of their lordships' house, andithe object of it was to infuse new life and give extended powers to those intrusted with the administration of national edu cation in the country. With a view to carry Out the object contemplated it was proposed to transfer the power vested in the existing governing body to the special C012:MiS8j01110fS, and the machinery by which the adminis tratils functions were to be exercised were such as would i n sure efficiency in the practical operation. The noble lord then adverted to the costitution of the body of special commissioners as a guarantee of the able manner in which the duties of their office would be discharged. The Earl of DERBY, without taking so strong a view as other noble lords did of the shortcomings of the founia adreltted that in many respects they were tion schools, capable of being improved, and he would offer no opposi tion to the bill in its present stage, but would suggest that a special commission should be appointed to report thereon. Lord HOUGHTON complained that art and science were not represented on a special commission. The Earl of CLARENDON was ready to accept Earl Derby's suggestions. The bill was read a second time and ordered to be com mitted on Tuesday next. Earl RUSSELL moved that the house concur in an address to the Crown for an inquiry into the alleged pre valence of bribery in the borough of Lancaster proposed by the House of Commons. The noble lord said the sub ject was a very difficult one to deal -with, for a looked amongstas large class of the community bribery was a venial offence, like poa chin g or smuggling. The object of the address was to institute inquiries specially reported by the committees in the House of Commons. He inti mated his opinion that it was desirable to disfranchise places notorious for corruption and bribery. Earl GREY moved, as an amendment., a series of re solutions to the effect that inquiries had already been in stituted into the prevalence of corrupt practices at elec tions, and it was found that bribery was extensively car ried on in various boroughs in England and Ireland. He -was therefore desirous that there should be a general in quiry into election proceedings throughout the country by means of a Royal Commission. The Earl of HARROWBY thought the best way of dealing with the matter was by disfranchising the per sons found guilty of bribery, and not the places. The Earl of DERBY said the question was one of great difficulty and delicacy, and required, therefore, much serious consideration. Their lordships were placed in a very embarrassing position, for they must either reject the request of the Commons, which was chiefly interested in the matter, or agree to a resolution which they must feel, was useless. He had no wish to throw obstacles in the way of the Government, but ho would suggest a short ad journment of the discussion to enable :them to consider whether a more practical course could not be adopted, v ibilst the opinion of the Commons on the subject was undoubtedly entitled to the utmost respect. Earl RUSSELL, in consenting to this suggestion, inti mated that his opinion on the matter remained unchanged. The failure of the law did not arise from any defect in it, but from neglecting to follow up the recommendations of the various commissions, which had faithfully discharged their duty. The remedy of disfranchisement applied to St. Alban's and Sudbury had been most effectual, and he hoped that either the places where corrupt practices were reported to prevail, or the classes of electors who were proved to be guilty, would be disfranchised. He had no. objection to the adjournment of the debate until Friday -week next. The debate was then adjourned. • Several bills were read a first time. Thai' lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COADIONS—LAsr EVENING. The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Great Yarmouth Fish Wharves and Tramways Bill WAS read a third time and passed. LONDON GAS BILL. On the motion for the third reading of this bill, Mr. AYRTON moved that the third reading be post poned for a fortnight, or until the evidence taken before the committee was printed and in the hands of members, who would then have an opportunity of judging of the mei - its of the bill. Alderman LTJSK. supported the proposition. Mr. .DODSON saki the bill was one simply for raising additional capital, and that being the case it would be un fair to object to the third reading of the bill, especially as it passed through committee as an unopposed bill. The motion was then withdrawn, ant the bill read a third time. HARBOURS OF REFUGE. Mr. PEASE asked the President of the Boaid of Trade whether her Majesty's Government proposed to take any action in the construction of harbours of refuge, having special reference to the report of the commissioners on har bours of refuge, 1859, and to the annual returns of wrecks presented to this house? Mr. M. GIBSON said Government did not propose to take any course different . to that already pursued with re spect to harbours of refuge. Money had been advanced for the improvement of various harbours, which it was ex pected would fulfil the object of harbours of refuge. The Wreck Register, he thought, did not show that any great number of these wrecks was to be attributable to the want of harbours of refuge. OYSTER FISHERIES. Mr. H. SEYMOITR asked the President of the Board of Trade if it was his intention to introduce this year a bil to afford more adequate protection to oyster fisheries ? Mr. M. GIBSON said such was his intention. THE BELLEROPHON. Mr. H. BAILLIE asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it was true, as reported, that the Bellerophon, with on ly six guns on board, out of her complement of 14, was 18 inches below her proper and estimated draught of -water ? --- Mr. BARING said such a statement was quite un founded. On the contrary, the ship with her full comple ment o f glllll5 on board, came down to within half an inch of her given draught. THE REFORM BILL. _ Col. C. LINDSAY asked the Chancellor of the Ezelle quer whether, in the ev ent of the Redistribution of Seats Bill becoming law, he would make the constituen c y o f Abi ng don the principal to wn of the proposed new Elec toral boroughs, considering that Abingdon was the central town of the proposed group, the county town of Berkshire, and possessing a borough-proper population more than double that of the borough-proper populations of either of the two boroughs included in the same group. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the hen. gentleman seemed to think the Government had a ° ,, ser r ?tion in the matter ; such was not the case. The pro 13etime to fix upon the central town of a n y particular group would be in committee on the bill. POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANKS. Lord E. CECIL asked the Chancellor of the Excheque r whether it was the intention of the Government to esta blish savings b anks,annuity, and insurance offices wher ever money or d er om e xisted in th e unitedee Kingdom; savings banks offices already i n tention of the mgdorn; and whether it was the were to r a i se th e remunera ti on of all postmasters who vi e savulg willing. to undertake the man agement of money order,banks, an d i nsurances o ffi ce s, with a view to an increas e 8 of those o o ut the country ? offices through- The CHANCELLOR of the EXcg oEfQUER did not see multi the necessity for the introduction multiplication of these and 240 general measure with regard to the any sweeping or offices. In 1865 300 savings banks of order offices had been established, and at the end he believed there were 3,500 money order offic es a : d t year sav i ngs b an ks, and 2,000 insurance offices in existence, The question respecting. the salaries of the postmasters had been settled by the authorities of the department RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. Mr. BUXTON asked the President of the Board of Trade what the result had been of the official inquiry respecting the railway accident thht occurred at the Caterham Junc tion, April 30, by which three lives were lost and several persons were seriously injured ? Mr. M. GIBSON said the report of Col. Yolland, the Government inspector, would be laid on the table in a few days. The summary of the report, however, watch t the accident had resulted from the practice of starting ains by hand signals, which practice bad been g i v en up by the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway. A copy of the report had that day been sent to the company. THE LICENSING SYSTEM. Mr. JAMES asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was the intention of the Govern ment to introduce during the present session a bill for altering the system of licensing publichouses and beer houses, and for placing them upon an equality as regards the sale of liquors. Sir G. GREY said he had such a bill prepared, but as the present state of public business .would render it impos sible to pass it this session, he did not therefore intend to introduce it. THE BANK OF ENGLAND. In reply to Mr. ABROYD, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said in England a far greater amount of business, with a less re serve, was transacted than in France. With respect to the inquiry touched upon, he did not think that the present time, which was within a fortnight of the return issued by the Government with respect to the suspension of the Bank Charter, and when the circumstances that had led to thatproceeding were still to some extent in existence, was the propermoment to say whether or when an inquiry of the nature alluded to should take place. BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS. Mr. H. VIVIAN moved resolutions to the effect that persons found guilty of bribery should be henceforth dis qualified from exercising the franchise or sitting iu Parlia ment. Mr. BAXTER moved an amendment, to the effect that in any case where any voter is reported by an election committee as having received a bribe the Attorney-General be required to examine the evidence, and to prosecute the persons who had offered or given the bribe, should the evidence, in his opinion, be sufficient to render a convic tion possible. Mr. POWELL, who had been a member of the Galway Election Committee, spoke of the extreme corruption which.had taken place at the last election. He thought that if the subject was taken in hand with courage, firm ness, and ingenuity, a remedy for the evil might certainly be found. _ Mr. OSBORNE said if he wanted any proof of the lan guid indifference with which the house treated questions of bribery and corruption, he need not go farther than the present evening. He would beg hon. members who had lately been introduced to the house to mark the contrast between yesterday evening when bribery - was brought for ward, and this evening when they w ished to deal practi cally with it. The contrast was mo st marked. But at the outset he must protest in the stronges t lan g ua g e a g ainst the insinuations which were thrown out by the hon. member for Birmingham when he said any hon. gentle man who voted and was — The SPEAKER called the hon. member to order, and said it was contrary to the rules of the house to refer to any debate of the present session. Mr. OSBORNE—The hon. member stated the same thing not in debate, but if he recollected rightly in a pas sage of his famous Primrose-hill letter, where he threw aspersions upon every hon. member who voted for any thing but his favourite project. The reason why he voted as he did last night was that he considered one of the greatest evils of the constitution of this country was the in sending members to Parlia actual prevalence of bribery Parlia ment. They were about to try a very pro b lemat i cal expe ri. it would regard to the group i ng o f b oroughs. He be lieved would prove highly problematical with regard to the future expenses o f e l ec ti ons. He was f ort ifi e d i n that opinion by an old "whip" of that house, Sir William H ayter, who said it w ou ld qua d rup l e th e expense o f elec tions. (Hear, hear.) The ti me was come w h en th e y sh o uld examine the whole electoral machinery with regard to a revision of the law re l a ti ng t o bribery. He was not going into the origin of bribery for members of Parliament, although he had lately been looking into the history of it. Mr. Cooke attributed the origin of bribery to the Whig party. (Laughter.) Mr. Cooke said at the time bribery was instituted the Tory party held all the land, and the only way they could fight the intimidation which the Tories exercised was fighting by means of the wealth which the Whigs possessed. Tbey all knew that Sir Robert Walpole used bribes with members of Parliament. Most men bad their price ; but since that time the practice was changed, and instead of the members getting the quid pro quo, the electors received it. The same stanza written then held good now : " He who would gain the votes of British tribes, Must add to force of merit force of bribes." (Laughter.) It was well known it was vain to deal with questions of bribery. Bribery had increased, was increas ing, and the question was how it could be diminished. It could not be dealt with by the resolution of the hon. member, nor by the amendment to that resolution. It was part of the policy of the Government—he did not mean the present Government, but English Governments generally—to make the expense of a seat in Parliament as high as possible. There was a great deal of insincerity on the part of public men upon the subject; and the policy of the day was to make that house a particular pre serve for rich men. One of these rich men went to the honourable member for Lewos (Mr. Brand), or to the honourable and gallant member for the county Dublin (Colonel Taylor), their two respected and highly venerated "whips," and said he wanted a seat. They asked what money he had. (Laughter.) These were facts. The rich man replied ho was prepared for a good outlay. (Renewed laughter.) This rich capitalist then went down perhaps with the meritorious feeling that he was going to raise his fellow-cieatures in the social scale, and a good many of them sought to raise their families and get them into what they called good society. This capi talist went down and debauched the whole borough with his lavish expenditure. Ho asked whether they were not guilty of the most palpable insincerity and hyprocisy when they came to talk of bribery in that house. Let them look at the sums of monoy which members subscribed for local purposes. He knew one member who paid £2,000 a year for what he called charities and dinners. He knew another member who paid £BOO, and when ho asked him why ho did so, his answer was that he Nrould have no chance of being returned without doing it. (Laughter.) They had heard of the borough in East Lincolnshire referred to last night, where 700 voters received £35 per head, which amounted to £25,000. This was an instance of how the big fish got through the net. He thought he had his eye upon this particular borough, although he would not name it. (A. laugh.) What was the abstract of the last election ? Why, it was only £2,199 7s. 11d. That was the abstract of the expenses where £25,000 were spent in bribery. That was the career of a capitalist in this country. (Hear.) What was the case in Ireland? He know a member of Parlia ment who told him he was afraid to go there, for it would cost him £4OO to repair the east window of the chapel. He saw by an old Irish Act of Parliament, the 35th of George 111., sec. 19, that a member of Parliament was not allowed to give any entertainment or any donation to charities, or chapels, or anything else. Let them look at the constitution of the house. He wanted to know how peers were made, and why they were made. Englishmen were in the habit of sneering at the Continent, and more espe cially at some Italian States, where] they said titles were purchased, and where, if a man got a railway, he was made a marquis. Take the "Peerage," turn over the leaves, and look at the peerages which had been conferred from Pitt to Palmerston. For what were they conferred? For nothing more than that the mon who received them were lavish of their money at elections. Let them look at the Cortupt Practices Act. What was the use of it ? The big fish broke through, and only the little fish were caught. (Hear, hear.) They saw how it was always found that though the rich man paid the money he was not cognisant of it. How could a man spend money and not be cognisant of it ? No candidate's legitimate expenses ought to exceed £5OO. There had been 50 petitions for bribery this session, but half of them did not come on. They were managed behind Mr. Speaker's chair. ,The dirty business on one side was set off against the equally dirty business on the other. (A laugh.) He was long of opinion that while they retained the present tribunal to judge of election petitions those practices would continue. If they wished to get rid of this social rinderpest they must get rid of the present form of tribunal for trying election petitions. They might employ the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, or if the house wished to keep the power in their own hands, it might nominate a p ermanen t comm i ttee, not o f members, but of men qualified for the purpose, and who would try cases on the sp o t. A no th er t hi ng wh i ch he was inclined t of electors a advocate was the necessity o f m aki ng pena l the beforecanvass ing example and aa the se t iu issue hi g o h f the places,w r it ( H e o e u a l r d , hear.) Until the not be expected that the poor man would feel it wrong to abstain from the opportunity of putting He had no faith in the amendment, pu althoughmgmoney in his pocket. he had in the exertions of his hon. friend ; but le would promise hn that, if he met with any encouragement from the a bill should be drawn by which canvassing shouldusebe in penal, and the power of adjudicatin g upon election peti tionsade withdrawn, once and for ever, from members of that honse. (Hear, hear.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to the resolu tions, because the law was sufficiently strong as it at pre sent existed. 'To carry out the resolutions proposed it would be necessary to pass an act of Parliament and ap point new courts of j ustice, and althou g h he did not disse nt from the spirit of the motion, he was not prepared to go to this length until it was brought forward in a more com prehensive form, and for that purpose he would give the subject serious consideration. or ted the resolutions, and Mr. SCOURFIELD supported thought that every person guilty of bribery should be for ever disfranchised. Alderman LUSK was satisfied that the only effectual way of preventing bribery was to adopt the ballot system. The debate was carried on for some time by Mr. Smollett, Mr. P. Urquhart, and Mr. Newdegate. Mr. VIVIAN, taking into consideration the remarks of the At torney-General, ivould not divide the house on the resolutions he h a d i n t ro d uce d , b ut trus t e d that at a future time and er esolutions would be embodied in act of Parlia ment,isi w r. i ntroduced by the G overnmen t. AX complained of the time wasted in bringing forward moti ons „, h the speeches of the'. then withdrawing them. He reviewed which proved to him '''. tahneous members during the debate, prac tised. He p ro p ose d that extent to whi c h bribery is ore any gentleman took his seat in the h ouse h e should make declaration upon his honour that, to the best of his knowledge, no more money had been expended on his election than that which was re corded in his return. He was convinced that persons out side would say there was a want of earnestness on the part of the Government. Sir G. GREY defended the Government from any want of diligence, but thought there was wisdom in the with drawal of the resolutions after the promise of the Attorney- General to give the substance of them his earnest consi deration. Sir G. BOWYER said that, in the many discussions which he had heard on the subject of bribery, it had always struck him that no one had considered the reason of the real difficulty of the question. The real difficulty was that the offence of bribery belonged to that class in which there was no one to complain except a third party, who had great difficulty in ascertaining the fact, and pro bably still greater difficulty in proving it. Another diffi culty was that the offence of bribery cast no sort of slur on those who were guilty of it. It had been suggested that Parliament should declare the offence disgraceful; but that was impracticable, because it would be legislating for opinion. Prosecuting an unfortunate voter, and making an example of him, did no good at all. The rule of disfran chising a borough where malpractices had existed was very hard, because a portion of good men were disfranchised. The best way, in his opinion, to deal with the subject would be to impose a proportionate punishment, and to make the member declare upon oath what he had expended. If it was shown that he had expended anything beyond a tariff of fair and reasonable expenses, calculated according to the size of the borough, he should then be held to have been guilty of bribery. He was to some extent a believer in the ballot, which would very much discourage bribery, and render it much more difficult. To put an end to it altogether he believed was impossible. He thought the time had come to deal with the question sincerely and boldly, and every proposal which tended to put a stop to bribery and corruption ought to be favourably considered by the House. The subject they dropped. ' On Mr. WHALLEY rising to propose a motion in con nexion with Roman Catholic lotteries, The house was counted, and not 40 members being pre sent, the house adjourned. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN. The adjourned Wharncliffe meeting of this com pany was held yesterday at the Euston Station Mr. Brown-Westhead in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said the first bill he had to sub mit was conferring additional powers on the Lon don and North-Western Railway Company in re lation to their own undertakings and the undertak ings of other companies. The bill had been ap proved at a former meeting, but subsequently cer tain clauses relating to the Aylesbury and Bucking ham Railway had been struck out, and, therefore, it was necessary in its alterated state, he should submit it again to the shareholders. A formal resolution approving the bill was then agreed to. The next was a bill for vesting the undertaking of the Cockermouth and Workington, Railway Company in the London and North-Western Rail.. way Company. The Solicitor read the heads of the bill, from which it appeared that the London and North- Western Company were to pay the interest on the preference shares and debentures, and a dividend on the ordinary shares of the Cockermouth Com pany at the rate of 7 per cent. for the year 1866, and of 8 per cent. for 1867, of 9 per cent. for 1868, and at the rate of 10 per cent. in subsequent years. The bill was approved. The CHAIRMAN then moved that a bill be ap proved for vesting the undertaking of tbe White haven Junction Railway Company, and for con ferring upon the last-named company running powers over the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway. The company were to pay the interest on the debentures and preference shares, and to guarantee a dividend of 10 per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares of the Whitehaven Junction Company. Mr. WILLIAMS protested against guaranteeing high rates of interest on such lines. The London and North-Western ran all the risk of contingen cies and the uncertainty of realising the amount guaranteed. A SHAREHOLDER said he came further north than Mr. Williams, and knew it was necessary for them to secure allies in working traffic in connection with their Lancaster and Carlisle Railway. The White haven Junction line had already earned and paid much higher dividends than 10 per cent. The bill was approved. A bill was then approved for conferring further powers on the Great Western Railway Company in relation to their own undertaking and the under takings of other companies. The main clauses, so far as this company was concerned, referred to the Hereford and Shrewsbury line, and gave power to the North Western Company to enter into traffic arrangements in respect of the Tenbury line. The next was a bill to incorporate the Harborne Railway Company, and to authorise the making of the Harborne Railway. The bill which authorised traffic agreements with the company was then approved. The CHAIRMAN submitted a bill for conferring further powers on the South Staffordshire Railway Company with respect to their capital. The North Western Company had provided a considerable por tion of additional capital for that undertaking, which they leased at 4i per cent., and the object of the bill was to enable them to guarantee a rate of interest on £2oo,ooo,Which would make it available for the purposes of the company. A resolution approving the bill was agreed to, and the meeting was adjourned to Wednesday, the 6th June. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 30, 1866. Quay, and works on each side of the river Dee, in connection with the railway and dock. The bill was approved. SHIINwSBURY AND POTTERIES JUNCTION, MOLD AND DENBIGH, AND SHREWSBURY AND NORTH WALES. The NV harncliffe meetings of these companies, appointed to be held at the offices, Westminster chambers, on Monday, were held pro forma only, and, in consequence of the bills not being ready, were adjourned until Tuesday, the sth of June. VALE OF NEATH. A Wharncliffe meeting of this company was held yesterday at the 'Westminster Palace Hotel for con sidering a bill for the amalgamation of this company with the Great Western Railway Company —Mr. Vaughan in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said in consequence of the bill having only just come into committee the directors were unable to lay the bill before the shareholders, and he proposed that the meeting be adjourned till June 12. A SHAREHOLDER wished to know the terms of the bill, and whether the Great Western guaranteed them 51 per cent. The CHAIRMAN said the bill was practically the same as the one last year. The company had a mini mutt of £85,000 per cent. from the Great Western, which the directors calculated would make up the dividend to about 5i per cent. At all events, it would give them a dividend ranging from 51 to 5f per cent. The motion for the adjournment of the meeting was then carried. CHESTER AND WEST CHESHIRE JTJNCTION. A Wharncliffe meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Westminster-chambers-- Mr. Kyrkepenson in the chair. The CHAIRMAN moved a resolution approving a bill for authorising the company to make extensions, which was carried. The Solicitor read the heads of a bill for granting to the Great Northern Railway Company running powers over a portion of the Newton and Campstall Branch Railway ; authorising the two companies to execute certain works; enabling the Great Northern and theXidland Railway Companies to become joint owners with the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin colnshire Railway Company of that company's God ley and Woodley branch; and transferring to the three companies the powers of the Chester and West Cheshire Junction Railway Company. The CHAIRMAN said the only clause which con cerned this company was the running powers clause. The bill was agreed to, and the proceedings ter minated. WREXHAM, MOLD, AND CONNAH'S QUAY. A Wharncliffe meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Westminster-chambers — Mr. Kyrkepenson in the chair. The Solicitor read the heads of a bill for autho rising the Chester and West Cheshire Junction Rail- way Company to make extensions of their railway . at Chester and to the river Dee and to Neston re spectively; and to raise further moneys, and for changing the name of the company. The bill authorised the company to raise in shares £270,000, and to borrow £90,000. The bill was approved.' The next bill was for confirming certain articles of agreement between the Buckley Railway Com pany and the Wrexham, Mold, and Connah's Quay Railway Company, and to authorize the latter com pany to construct docks and works at Connah's CENTRAL WALES EXTENSION. A special general meeting of this company was held on Monday at the offices, Westminster-cham bers, Victoria-street i Mr. W. F. Maitland in the chair. Mr. Dean (the secretary) having read the notice convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN explained that they had to con sider two agreements, one for the working of the railway by the London and North-Western Com pany, and the other for the working of the Neath and Brecon Railway. The agreements provided that the London and North-Western Company should work both lines, taking 50 per cent. of the gross receipts for the goods and minerals carried, and 40 per cent. of the gross receipts for passenger traffic. The remainder would go to the Central Wales Extension and the Neath and Brecon Com panies. The agreements would require the ap proval of the Board of Trade. The Solicitor having read the heads of the agree ments, The CHAIRMAN moved formal resolutions ap proving them. Lieut.-Colonel F. BECKFORD WARDE seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, and the proceedings terminated. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD & LINCOLNSHIRE. The total expenses of this company's railways and canals, including rents, tolls, duty, &c., from Jan. 1 to May 20,1866, amounted to £197,548, as against £172,337 for the corresponding period of 1866. The proportion of the South Junction receipts accruing to this company from Jan. 1 to May 20 amounted to £15,190, as against £14,047 for the correspond ing period of 1865, and the expenses to £8,844 as against £7,170. ATLANTIC AND GREAT WESTERN. The traffic receipts on this company's lines, 507 miles in length, for the month of April amounted to $133,510, or £22,251, for passengers, mails, &c., and t0 * 5261,023, or £43,505, for freight ; total, $394,533, or £65,756, v. $343,408, or £49,000, in April, 1865, and $181,034, or £22,630, for April, 1864. The sterling money was calculated at the exchanges of the respective dates. Scotch houses were buying limited quantities of fancy goods, and this was the only department in which there was animation. Makers of these goods are kept fully employed, and the whole industry of the town and neighbourhood is likely for a time to be well sustained, as a large Government order will be competed for in a few days, which will require some lengthy operations before it can be completed. The demand for common Yorkshire woollens is as flat as it was ever known to be ; and wool is only brought to meet immediate requirements, though the languid nature of the demand does not shake prices. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, May 29.—1 n shipping yarns we have had a rather better feeling to-day, with more disposition for business. The prices offered are still low, but at the same time a healthier feeling is indi cated by the fact that people are disposed to operate to a fair extent. There is an impression that for long-stapled yarns prices have touched their lowest point. In home trade trade yarns there has been a moderate amount of business. Indeed, manufacturers for some time past have supplied themselves so sparingly that they are almost compelled to pur chase in order to keep their machinery going and to complete passing orders. Prices generally are re ported unchanged, but manufacturers who have been compelled to buy say that practically they have found yarns about id. per lb. against them as compared with the lowest rates of last week. Still, there are many depressing influences which the mar ket has to struggle against, and though a more cheerful feeling is generally spoken of an existing rise, it is too soon to speak of any established, in values. In cloth, durin g the whole of the past week and up to yesterday,owing to the constant disturbance of the money-market, and finally to the stoppage of the Consolidated Bank, this market was exceedingly de pressed, and prices had a downward tendency. To day there is a better feeling prevailing generally, and considerable offers have been made for cloths, at a shade higher prices than were current last week. Great inconvenience has been caused by the stoppage of the Consolidated Bank at Manchester, consequent on the decision of the London board of directors on Sunday evening. Many people had the whole of their balances locked up in it, and we heard of one depositor who had many thousands of pounds in it, and yet had not £5 in cash available yesterday , morning for business purposes. Such persons, how ever, would not find it difficult to get accommoda tion to a limited extent at other banks. The branch here was originally called the Bank of Manchester, and was one of the joint-stock banks established by Royal Charter. It had a disastrous failure about 30 years since, and the affairs took about 15 years to wind up ; but the charter was never allowed to ex pire, and the bank was resuscitated by means of new capital and was carried on for years with much caution and circumspection by a directory who had been taught something by experience till its con nexion with London firms under the title of the Consolidated Bank. In fact, the Manchester branch has been conducted up to the last with great pru dence, and was iu a perfectly sound and healthy condition, doing a large and profitable business. It is said down here that the London board com mitted themselves to the arrangement with the London bank, not only without the concurrence of the directors in Manchester, but absolutely without their knowledge. CARDIFF, 28th.—The steam coal proprietors of the district are well off for orders, and fresh ones are coming in freely. During the past week the want of tonnage at the docks seriously impeded operations, but, now that the wind has changed from the east, a goodly arrival of vessels is expected. There is a brisk demand from the foreign markets, especially from Italy, France, Austria, and Prussia, and freights to those countries have advanced consider ably. The home trade is also characterised by much activity, and increased quantities are being sent by rail to Birkenhead, and to the metropolitan and midland markets. In the local sale of house coal there is no change to notice. In the iron trade the works are fairly employed in executing arrears and orders that have come in recently. Business is very quiet, and the utmost caution is used by makers and buyers. Contracts from the foreign markets come in slowly, and scarcely any business is being done on homeaccount. In fact there is no probability of trade assuming anything like activity until the prevailing difficulties which surround it are removed. The in quiry for pig iron has slackened, and the tin-plate works depend on old orders to be kept going. LEEDS, 29th.—To-clay's woollen market has been very quiet, even for a between-season period. There was about an average attendance in the cloth-halls, but none of the parties recognised as usually leading off extensive operations were present. Buyers seem deterred by the fear that the commercial panic has not yet passed away. A few scanty lots of spring goods, scarcely deserving a better name than remnants, were sold to-day at whatever priceswere offered. The best demand seems to be for low unions of the. Sattara and other makes. Inquirers after samples for next season's goods were most of them unsatisfied ; but manufacturers have made large deliveries, according to order, and at the warehouses stocks are now get ting large of all goods of the beaver and other heavy classes in a variety of shades. In the white-cloth hall there was only a moderate supply of heavies, but sufficient to meet the day's requirements. NOTFINGHA3I, 29th.—There was a firmer feeling in the yarn market at our Exchange-hall to-day. The attendance was about an average, and fine nnmbers of lace yar,ns were held at full prices ; for coarse numbers the demand was slow, but late rates were quoted. The demand for hosiery yarns underwent a slight improvement, and previ ous rates were maintained. In silks scarcely any thing doing, but prices remain firm. The demand for brown nets continues very flat at unaltered rates; prices for this description of goods are still below prime cost. ROCHDALE, 28th.—The flannel market has been more lively than for some time past, but it was more on account of th e num b er of b uyers and manufac turers present th an b ecause o f a re invigorated de mand. Some of the representatives of London and Last night the 49th anniversary conversazione of this association was held at the Institute, Great George-street, Westminster. On this occasion the invitations were limited to the number which the rooms could conveniently accommodate, so that the crowding which has so often marred the comfort of these gatherings was quite avoided. Mr. John Fowler, as president of the institution, received the visitors, who, with the exception of a few scientific noblemen and gentlemen, consisted almost entirely of the chief engi neers of England, and the foremost of those whom we may call the sub-engineers--the great contractors who carry out in practice what their professional brethren have devised in theory. All the rooms were thrown open on this occasion, the staircases ornamented with statues and flowers, and the walls of the apartments themselves hung with a most valuable collection of modern paintings, which had been lent for the evening by the diffe rent members of the institute. Some of the most famous of recent English paintings were thus brought together, and as a mere picture gallery the display would have possessed attractions for fifty times the number that were invited to witness it. In the lower room beyond the institute were ranged the collection of working models, plans, and draw ings, usually shown on the occasion of these meet ings. All of these were new, and some exceedingly interesting. The working model which, beyond all question, excited the most interest was shown by Mr. Penn, under a glass case. This was a miniature counterpart of the engines of the Northumberland, finished off with such minuteness and care as is seldom bestowed on any but the most costly scien tific instruments. Near this was placed a very beautifully executed model of the new floating docks intended for St. Thomas's, West Indies. By this plan, which consists simply of a series of pontoons connected by stout wrought-iron girders, a ship may be easily and safely lifted out of the water and raised above its surface for repairs in a large and perfectly secure floating dry dock. The one now being sent out to the West Indies, ani the model of which was shown last evening, though only cost ing £85,000, is equal to raising a vessel of nearly 4,000 tons and 330 ft. long. When the question of foreign, or rather colonial docks for our ironclads is so much urged by all nautical authorities, this plan of floating them up by cheap pontoons seems to be deserving of the attentive consideration of the Admiralty. Some useful adaptations and improve - mentsof the principle of the sewing-machine were also exhibited. One of three by Messrs. Neats and Clark is made to work with the utmost ease and facility on the stiffest descriptions of leather. The heaviest kinds of harness or stoutest sorts of boot soles are stitched with almost as much rapidity as ordinary clothes. Another adaptation of the same principle was shown by Mr. Thomas as applied to the sewing of leather gloves. A minute but perfect model Of an hydraulic machine for cutting coal was shown by Messrs Carrett and Marshall. This very simple and compact contrivance, with a supply of 30 gallons of water a minute at a pressure of 3001 b., can do the work of 20 men per day, and at no further cost than that of its first price, which is as low as £125. In the examination of these and other models, and inspecting the fine collection of pictures, a very pleasant evening was spent, and it was late before the company separated. SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—Two and two, we have often been told, in politics do not always make four, and it is evi dent that whatever the value of the two bills now united in Parliamentary wedlock, the result is not the sum of them, or an addition to either. The Redistribution Bill has answered no purpose but to account for its long concealment, and to justify those who insisted on knowing all about the in tended Reform. It was expected and admitted to be the weak side of the measure, and accordingly it is the side on which the attack is now made. The Attorney-General, breaking a long silence, accuses the assailants of unparliamentary practice in taking a course neither proper to an objection on the prin ciple of the measure nor yet to an objection upon detail; but a majority in a very good House has sanctioned that course and approved its reasons. The real question now is the Distribution of Seats, and it cannot be doubted that the bill is there in the most imminent peril. If, too, the tactics employed against the bill, or any part of it, be at all question able, they are the necessary reflection and inevit able counterpart of those employed from the first in the management of the bill. From the first, we re peat, Government has prided itself on the address with which it had devised, not a perfect measure, or even a complete ipeasure, but one which would pass, while a complete measure would not. Compelled to throw off this reserve, and show the whole bill, its next boast was that it had hit upon a particularly clever line of disfranchisement, and that by putting the disfranchised boroughs into groups it had spared them the stigma of utter disfranchisement, and given them also an actual consolation by a fractional part in the new aggregate constituencies. An adroit ness verging on shiftiness, and an ingenuity ap proaching to downright imposture, have been the characteristics of a measure which ought to have been eminently addressed to British candour and the national love of fair play. From the very first we said ourselves that the only chance for the bill was to make it stand on its own merits, however dis tasteful to party or to interests, and bring all the force of Government, of party, of opinion, and, if necessary, popular feeling, to push it through. The Cabinet, however, as it appears, were not prepared to run these risks ; they did not trust either their supporters or the public at large ; they would not accept the invitation to martyrdom, if necessary ; and they have adopted the second-best policy. We do not al ways call it a mistake when a man tries to do by fraud what he cannot (Id by force ; and in politics, as in war, we think a good deal to be fair that we should very much reprobate in the dealings of private life. But, as a matter of fact, Govern ment has been too clever by half. It could not possibly impose on anybody, nobody has been im posed on, and it was not worth trying. It was plain from the first that the representatives of the con demned boroughs must be aware of the secret sen tence, and were only biding their time to defeat it. They would not actually put their heads into the lion's mouth, and help to create a House of Commons more hostile and more powerful than that they now have to deal with. It was something more than dex terity and sleight-of-hand that prevailed against the old Parliament. It was revolution, and all but civil war. Compulsion was put on the House of Lords and on the Crown, and it could be put safely, for the people cared for that bill, and the people were up and doing. The present bill is to worm its way by dark and sinuous, methods. The attempt is made, and the success is before us. Nobody re spects it. Friend and foe rise against it. All re spect a bold and consistent policy ; none scruple to use any weapon whatever against that which is not. This measure, its supporters are modest and in genuous enough to tell us, does not pretend to be a good, courageous measure. It stands not upon its integrity, but on the want of it. It pro claims that it is cheating us all round with con cealments, disguises, illusions, meagre consolations, and dexterous manipulations. Accordingly it is paid in its own coin, and it stands some chance of being outwitted. The merciless exposure and pulling to pieces of which Monday evening's debate was only a sample is just what was to be expected from a bill palmed upon us, put upon us, insinuated into us, as this was to be. A real creation, as a good measure ought to be, whether of Parliamentary Reform or in the most ordinary matter of legislation, grows toge ther, improves on acquaintance, and becomes an in stitution in the mind before it can arrive at that standing in fact, The Redistribution Bill refuses to cohere, will not grow, and is falling to pieces. The " 8,000" line "of Census 1861" has disappeared. Everybody is walking over it to and fro. The Al satia for bad boroughs found just over that line has been invaded by clever detectives from both sides of the house, and found to be full of political outlaws. The groups really cannot be held together. Being devised on the grand principle of imposing on the world, and setting one party against another, they are mere pluralities, and not groups, and they read like the preferments of a defunct pluralist, who had a curacy in one diocese, a rectory u another, and • his residence in a third. There is even a centrifuga force in these discordant numbers. If there ever was a chance for Woodstock or Wellingford caring for one another, it is now hopeless, for Mr. Glad stone has sown between them the seeds of an eternal hatred. Cirencester and Tewkesbury can only wonder what Mr. Gladstone has found they have in common. Wells and Wesbury both begin with the same letter • that is really all they have in common. All Hampshire spreads itself be tween Andover and Lymington, and they pro bably have less communication than York and Lyme Regis. But this absurdity, which runs through nearly all the so-called groups, is only part of a general disregard of the first principles of grouping. A group should be a unity, and a whole. It ought to create the nearest possible thing to that actual community which the best authori ties declare to be the most Constitutional constitu ency. The bill interposes not only whole counties, but, what is a deeper gulf, populous cities, between the members of the " groups." These cities, of course, would supply the missing centre, but it would be a centre of corruption. Nature abhors a vaccum, and a void in the heart of a group will be a vacant spot in a crowded town—a very dirty place. But, as Captain Hayter illustrated abundantly, the framers of the bill must have set their faces wil fully against all chances of coherence and unity in these singular combinations. If it is their principle to group, he asks them why they don't make groups out of the materials before them. Join Marlow and Wycombe • add Woodstock to Oxford, and Abing don to Wallingford. Andover would go well with Winchester, Lymington with Christchurch, and Arundel with Chichester. Then why throw out of the window, as it were,' the smaller towns not yet risen to the franchise ? They would help to make groups as rubble and rough mortar help to fill up the intervals in masonry. Any one moderately ac quainted with the social and industrial geography of this country could frame many groups which are already groups in a very real sense of the term. Perhaps the confusion of second thoughts and a hasty change of front may have something to do with this apparent slovenliness. But there is at the bottom a worse fault. The bill is like the bad razor or the bad piece of furniture, got up for sale, and not for use. It is veneer and wax, without solidity. The materials are unseasoned, the joining just enough to satisfy the eye. Mr. Gladstone exhibits his groups, which, it cannot be denied, are make-up towns, up to the requisite figure, though, indeed, that figure is founded on no principle, and is at variance with other principles of the bill. But, as soon as the groups are scrutinised, they are found to be no groups, but a number of figures without unity of design or a common action, as in a bad pic ture. Is there no remedy for this fatal defect in the measure ? The arrangements, miscalled groups, are so undigested and so indigestible that they cannot possibly form the parts of a bill which propose to be a new Constitution, and to supply by its natural and happy character the place of ancient growth and strong prescriptions. It is proverbially difficult to make an old thing new, but antiquity ought to be imitated and unity at least affected in things that' are to take the place of old. Even a candidate in an ordinary competitive examination for, we will say, the Inland Revenue Service, ought to have pro duced a better paper than this. Or let us suppose that it has been found necessary to re-arrange the " rides " of the excisemen ; any clerk might have divided the kingdom better. He would not have made composite boroughs as wide as the old city, On which it was said it might be taken, and its in habitants not hear of its capture for days after. This part of the measure must be amended, or growing majorities will roll against it, like the in creasing waves of a rising storm. We know not why it appears to be assumed that no material alteration can be admitted without the sacrifice of the bill. Already a good deal has been said and done towards a better Distribution of Seats, and as Government clearly had no plan, no principle, pos sibly no scheme at all of their own at the opening of this Session, it is so far fortunate that there is really nothing to be lost or destroyed. The groups to be sacrificed are really no more groups than the capricious arrangements a child may make with its toys on the nursery floors to sweep away and forget as soon as made. Founding new institutions, and those institutions the very basis of this great empire, must be a work of time and labour ; and the re quisite time and labour have not yet been given to it. POST.—There appears to be very little doubt con cerning the acceptance on the part of the hostile armed powers of the invitations of the neutral Powers to meet in Conference at Paris. In draw ing up the positions for a Conference, his Excel lency M. Drouyn de l'Huys carefully avoids any conditions which would make it absolutely impossible for either Austria, Prussia, or Italy to approach negotiations for a peaceful solution of difficulties, and in accepting none of the powers positively en gage themselves in any way. But what will be the effect of this interval of peace-making endeavours on the three armed Powers ? As regards Austria, that Power has nothing to lose, and ail to gain, by preparing further for what is known to be her de fensive attitude. Despatches coming from Vienna continue to assure the Cabinets of Europe of the decision of his Majesty Francis Joseph and his ad visers not to assume the offensive, but to await the enemy with a force which is now estimated at about 800,000 men. In the next three weeks or a month Austria:will be able to complete the defences round Vienna, in Venetia, and towards the Prussian fron tier. The military influence at the Vienna Court does not urge war, but strengthens the Emperor in his decision to maintain the integrity of the empire, and not to listen to the proposed cession of Venetia; and yet this will be the great difficulty when the Conference meets, for in the estimation of the mili tary politicians of Austria there is no territorial com pensation which can compensate for retiring from the strong place of Venetia, which all Germany would be inclined to defend, as Napoleon 111. learnt when he halted at Villafranca. Then, as regards the effect of a Conference truce on Prussia, that Power can support a suspension of proposed hostilities with out complaint. The Prussian people are so univer sally opposed to war that it may be convenient for the King and Count Bismarck to have an excusefor retiring from immediately threatened hostilities; and, on the other hand, for proving, from the failure of negotiations—if such take place—that Prussia must fight. It is the effect of the Conference on Italy that we are more particularly anxious to take into consi deration ; since the King, Government, and people of Italy are in a position widely different from the Sove reigns, Cabinets, and people of Austria and Prussia. KiugVictor Emmanuel is the heroic personification of the nation's desire to complete the emancipation of the Italians from foreign rule. Neither the So vereign nor the Governraent of Italy, under existing circumstances, possess legitimate control over the excited popular will. The statesmen of Italy appear to have been hurried on by a tide of warlike enthu siasm, which some of the best friends of Italy deeply regret. The reports which reach us from all corners of the Peninsula show such a universal patriotism as seldom presents itself in the history of a nation. The whole youth of the country is asking for arms, for one great object, viz., to drive the Austrians out of Venetia. There is nothing similar to this feeling in the armed hosts of Austria and Prussia. They might be disbanded to-morrow, to the applause of the people, for in Germany no one wants to fight save the military factions at Courts, and the idle overgrown armies—men ,weary of dull garrison life, small pay, and slow promotion. The perils of Italy are augmented by the Conference in more ways than one. We hear of the revival of the reactionary priest party in various large towns. In Naples seve ral arrests of Ultramontane Bourbonists have taken place, and the police are employed in tracing out the origin of a wide-spread plot to cause domestic trouble should Italy be engaged in a foreign war. Brigan dage is also again holding up its picturesque head, and the Roman Committee is reported to have re ceived funds for reviving its old work of plunder, murder, and anarchy in the Two Sicilies. It is only natural that Austria, finding herself threatened by Italy, should seek to create in King Victor Em manuel's constitutional dominions hostility towards the Government, through the influence of her old priestly and Bourbonic friends. No doubt the exiled Grand Duke of Tuscany, the ex-King of the Two Sicilies, and the loyal people of Parma and Modena, together with the Papacy, are holding communica tions at Vienna, under the hope of events restoring that which their devotion to Austria and Church influence made them lose. All these influences, it is reasonable to suppose, will strengthen Austria in a policy at the Conference which must end in obliging Italy to commence hostilities. Another peril for Italy is that Austria and Prussia may make friends at the Conference,. and then Italy would be left alone with the sword drawn, and be eventually precipi tated into hostilities by an enthusiastic patriotism which may be more honest than wise. We cannot but applaud the efforts made by the neutral Powers to bring about a peaceful solution of differences be , tween three great Powers who have armed to settle the quarrel by the immense sacrifices of war ; but, whilst we hope the Conference will prove a success, we cannot help fearing that Venetia will be the great difficulty, because all that is reactionary in Europe is now strengthening Austria's obstinacy and pride. TIIE CROPS IN CORNWALL.—There is promise of an abundance of hay, the crop looking particularly well throughout the county. Wheat- is doing very well, and has been immensely benefited by the recent mild showers. Oats and barley cannot be reported of so favourably, still they have made considerable improvement during the past few days. Potatoes, generally speaking, are turning out very middling. American Financial News. :From E. F. Satterthwaite and Co.'s Weekly Circular, May 23.) The Africa brought us our custothary advices from Nei York to the Bth inst. The payment of interest on the 5.20 Bonds had given further ease to the money market, and balances were difficult of employment on Govern ment or first-class railway securities, at from four to fife per cent. The Bank returns again show a very loge ad dition to the deposit and amount of specie ; and th e demand for advances on commercial account being small the banks were compelled to look to Government bo nds as an investment of their surplus means. United Stat es 5.20. Bonds were last quotedlo2 ex coupon and other stocks werefirm in proportion. In railroad stocks there was bu t little change, New York Central, Erie, and Illinois being with out alteration, but Readings were in demand at an a dvance of about two per cent. State stocks and railroad bends were in but small demand. Via " Greencastle " we have received the following quotations, being to the 12th May : United States 5-20's lO2 Erie, Common ......... 73 1 I Illinois Centrals 122- Gold ..................... 1281 The following is the return of the New York Banks Discounts. Specie. Circulation. Dep osits. April 28, 245,017,692 8,24 8 3,937 25,37 8 71 8 7,280 202,,,,,„'4 0 May 5, 253,974,134 10,914,997 25,415,677 210 , 373,a " CHICAGO - AND ROCS ISLAND. The board of Directors of the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad Company have resolved to issue $2,600,000 of the bonds or obligations of the Company (convertible into stock) and dispose of them to the stockholders at the rate of twenty per cent. of the par value of the same. The bonds will be apportioned to those stockholders pro rolA 11 1, 11° shall be registered as such on the closing of the trans° books on the Bth day of May, 1866. The payment of the twenty per cent. of the par by of the bonds must be made at the office of the company uJ the 12th day of June, 1866, at which date the bonds ill' be ready for delivery. The transfer books will be closed on the Bth day °I May, and re-opened on the 12th of June, 1866. PRICES OP STOCKS AND BONDS AT NEW YOR K ' U. S. Gov. Securities. per Cent. Loan 6 per cent. 116 Do. 6 do. Coup. Bonds9l Do. 5 do. do. Do. 6 do. do. 1 111 8 888 6 876 7 481 1 11 09 1 1 9 956 t ttt 0 0 00 Do. 6 do. Registered 03 5.20 6 do. Coupon Bonds xlBB2 102 to 10 5.`20 6 do. do.§ 10.40 5 do. do. x 1 1 9 8 0 8 44 102 5 to o j 6 § New issue. State Securities. Alabama, 5 per cent. ... ... ... ....b California, 7 per cent., New, 1877 ... ... 107 to lu°o Georgia, 6 per cent., 1872 ~, .„ ... 95 to 9 Illinois, Int. Imp. 6 per cent., 1860 ... ... 97 to 1 00 00 Do. 6 do. 1879 ... ... 97 to 6/ Indiana State, 5 do. ... ... ... 85 I Do. 21 do. ... .„ .., 70 to 1 96 Kentucky, 6 do., 1869-72 .., ... 94 to 9 6 Louisiana 6 do. ... „, ~, 96 to , Al Maryland 6 do. 1870 ... ... 10 0 to IX, Massachusetts 5 do. ... ... „, 94 to ~1, Missouri 6 per cent. Bonds. 1872-86 ... ... 74 to ~,6 New York 5 do., 1872-77... ... ..• 94 t° 85 North Carolina 6 per cent., 1873 83 to A g ••• ••• Ohio 6 do., 1870 ... ~. ... 94 to do. 6 do., 1875 ... 93 to ' 67 do. 6 do.. 1881 95 to g 9 Do. Do. 6 do., 1866 97 to 83 Pennsylvania 5 do. 86 to 6 do. 5 do. Coup., 1877 ... . 8,5 to. ni Tennessee 6 do. do., 1892 ... .:, 90 t Virginia 6 do. do., 1886 ... ... 68 too y t. Railroad Bonds. p er Ce p Atlan. & Gt. Wstrn 7 per ct. (Ohio Section) Ist 85 Mortgage) 1876 ... ... ... ... 83 to , 01 Cin., Ham. & Dayton, 2d Mort. 7 p. cent., 1880 100 to 1 0 0 Chic. & Rock Is. Con. let Mort. 7 per cent., 1870 99 to 99 Erie, Ist Mortgage 7 per cent., 1867 x ... ... 9 8 ' 1) 99 Do. 2d Do. 7 do. 1879 ... 98 to 97 Do. 3d Do. 7 do. - 1883 „. .. 96 to ,I Do. 4th Do. 7 do. 1880 ... ... 91 to 95 Do. sth Do. 7 do. ... ... ... 93 to 90 Galena & Chicago, Ist Mort. 7 per cent., 1882 9 7 to 91 Do. Do. 2d do. 7 do. 1875 9 6 " 0 104 Illinois Central, 7 per cent., 1875 .. ... 102 to ..-... Little Miami, Ist Mort. 6 per cent., 1883 .. -- 1 06 Michigan ••• ••• 1 % Michigan Central, 8 do. 1869 ... . 105 t ° - S Do. do. 8 do. S. F., 1882 ... 1 06 to Do. Sn. & N. Ind. 7 p. c. M. Sk. Fund, 1885 ... oto 91 New York Central 6 do., 1883 ... .. 90 to „,, do. 7 do., S. F., 1876 ..: Do. .... 101 t° lu 9i Do. do. 6 do., 1887 ... ... ... 90 to 103 Do. do. 7 do., convertible, 1876 .. North Indiana, 7p. c. ... . o . ..: 95 to 9 6 Do. Goshen Branch, 7 do.. 1868 ... ... 95 to Pittsburg, Fort Wayne, and Chicago, Ist I fit) to 191 Mortage, 1912 ... ... ... ... I 1-- 93 Pennsylvania Cen., Ist Mort., 6p. c., 1880 ..• 96 to 94 Do. 2d Mort., 6 do., 1874 ... 93 to 90 Reading Mort. Con., 1880 , ... . o . ... 88 t'E P 95 Do. do. Non-Con. 6 do., 1870 92 to 1 01 Do. do. Con. 6 do., 1886 ::: 104 to c i ov. We have to note a further depression in the L° ll , e y, market for American securities during the past IsT 00 Some considerable amounts of stock have been placculovi the market, and the apprehension that, when our de , quotations are known in New York, a correspond in g l , o o 102 to 96 pression may take place there, has deterred buye rs , o ra coming forward so freely as they otherwise would ' o bi done to avail themselves of the large profit that W ° I accrue on shipment of bonds and shares to New Y °/1 : mai ntained there. On advices received t o-u 741 by the Hibornian, which are to the evening of the 12th ill s ; quotations show a difference of quite six per cen t ", c t United States 5-20 Bonds and ten per cent. in Illinois 3', Erie Shares between the two markets, as 5.20's at 102 4 ' t0 New York would work out with exchange at 1411 eq' o e 711 here, while the closing quotation is 611 to 65. 111 0 0 same way Illinois and Erie Shares respectively sll,or, stand at 861 and 521, while the closing price for tb° vier is 76 to 4, and for the latter 424 to 1 only. , St tog OFFICIAL TRANSACTIONS FOR THE WEER.—Unite d 6 per Cent. 5.20 Bonds, 1882: Thursday, 66 51 1& Friday, 664 6; Saturday, 66 51 ; Monday, 65 i ; dny, 644 5 ; Wednesday, 654 44 4. Virginia 6 r ' iv JO Dollar Bonds : Thursday, 46 ; M o nday, 42 ; TrlcsdTas,, 3. Atlan. and Gt. Western (N. Y. Sect.) Ist Dirt' fisoli -1860 : Thursd a y, 701. Atl an . an d Gt. Western C ° [.• 1; dated Bonds, 1895 : Thursday, 50 41 4 ; Friday , d a d' Saturday, 52 ; M on d a y, 50 3 ; Tuesday, 50 49 51 ;., 451 nesday, 51. E r i e Sh ar es, $lOO, all paid : Thurs d Y4 3 ; 6 5 ; Friday, 451 4 ; Saturday, 451 5 ; Monday, 431 con' Tuesday, 414 24 2 ; Wednesday, 421 4 4 lllinois sr., tral Shares, all paid : Thursday, 774 44 ; Friday, jorea' turday, 771; Monday, 76 4 ; Tuesday, 761 1 st 61 ; nesday, 731 6 f 6 1. Institute of Civil Engineers. COUNTRY MARKETS. LEEDS—TUESDAY. 4 ,6.0 094- The arrivals this week are not large and the 00 0 tions in wheat are very small, at rather 'less mooo last Tuesday. No material change in other articles;o3o, The average prices for the week ending MaY 28 t d, Wheat, 51s 80 per qr.; barley, 43s Od ; oats, 295 73 MARKET HARBOROUGH.—TuEsDAv• riU Old white wheat, 53a to 56s ; new red. 46s to 0 7301 stone. Barley; fine, —a ,• other kinds, 28s to 380 P e ol Oats, new, 22s to 30s ; old, 28a to 34s per qr. 13 0135 ' 50s to 535; new, 44s to 48a per qr. LIVERPOOL—TUESDAY/ At tc-day's market we had a small attendance of n f he and country dealers, and the business done 113 ,,, 5 ,, $ lO merest retail character. Wheat and flour, , o cow" demand, at previous rates. The same may be sa reee otmeal, beans, barley, and peas. Indian corn ill, .00 and a fair quantity sold at 30s to 30s 3d per 4811/1°- American. MELTON MOWBRAY.—TuEsDAY. stone; White wheat, 53s to 56s ; red, 46s to 50$ pa,' 33$ 4 ,11, Barley for malting, 36s to 398 per qr ; feed, as ' t) erfr 30 stone. Oats. old, 28s to 345; new, 22s to 30$ P Beans, old, 50s to 535; new, 44s to 48s per qr. 1 0 SHEFFIELD—TUESDAY. 'O S° ' 1 The show of wheat was moderate, and 13 051 00 done at about recent prices. Very little barley 5b 1 and prices much the same as of late. Oats bils ir ' 180 6 0 i Red wheat, per load of 3 imp, bushels sOd to 9 0 ,A White do do iga Od 'j79 ri New red do do ... J os 6d 00 Od New white n ° ,/ a 08 al Beans dO do .17 0 -- 4 0 Od Peas, per qr. •• • 3 Bs 0 370 o a Grinding barley, per qr 3 , its 0,1 42 0 „d Malting barley, c o Ws 9,c 1 „, 32$ v Oats, do 278 v,.., F10ur....16 td to 24 Od per 1411), BRISTOL—TUESDAY. t : kV ‘ l f i e There was only a moderate supply of Trb,e tt , l „T a ~,0 mand was quiet, and late rates were paid. - 193 Q "'n'oow" i small show, and business may be written t t ' vtV There was a scanty supply of oats, whic h --celd : fo ile late rates. In beans a tolerable trade was '-- J. best qualities were rather dearer. of . Births. BROOKER—OR the 28th inst. at at Soutbsea, the Wife Commander E. W. Brooker, a son. do' ~, LI,„0 HOPKINS—On the 28th inst., at 47, Norfolk-sle.,,ita' Dn." 172, DNu;Wrn.iatihne, owife s e o f n W . m. B. I. 11°p kin° C .Ell33 ' tlio HARKER—On the 28th inst , at 'Uplands, SY' wife of George Harker, Esq . ~ of a son. Marriages. „ to y Ab 11°" (; Flt_zw—WAnDELL—On the 22d inst., at St. is , v e, i l Kensington, James Robert, eldest son of the ••••? 3l. Frew, Ballyeonnon, county Kildare , t Q ), 3 0 Pn ij iir rd' ll7 Steward, youngest daughter of the late -11 ' '. Esq., sth Dragoon Guards. ,00 ct. v- 0 , STOCKMAN— WESTBROOK—On the 24th 105 k., nt "i i _bridg l , i Church, Eton, Mr. L. Stockman , Or. C road, to Fanny, eldest daughter of Yr. Chas. Ty of Eton ,, Deaths. D. 0 BARING—On the 26th inst., a t Nice, the Lion. .1 II- °. aged 26. 4. .. Sir * A 61' FORBES —On the 28th inst., i n wrimpole-sa*---p.n age., Forbes, Bart., of Pitsligo and Fettercairn, -''', 01 fil, . la AN •-) 11Z London: Printed and Publ ished by WILLIA ... „, DN.ol ° i of No. 112, Strand, Painter, at Tt11. 4 SUS °till:co Strand, in the Precinct o f the SaVoY, in Middlesex.—Wednesday,May3 o , 1866.