The Sun. — London, England, 1866-12-20 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND r IOMMERO!L NIT fr '4 ri TWELVE O'CLOCK, REDUCTION OF BANK RATE. The minimum rate of discount is now 3k per Cent., the directors of the Bank of England having shortly after noon announced the change in their Oficial quotation. To very few this will be of little advantage, as it is a positive indication of a de pressed and demoralised trade. From all parts of the United Kingdom there are complaints of para lYsed enterprise, of vast numbers of men unem ployed, and men "on strike" owing to trades' unions, because their masters have not full employ 'tient for them, nor the ability to pay the wages. Many of the traffic returns from the principal rail- W ays, and trade circulars of most classes, report s tagnation, and thus it happens that there is a plethora of money, a large proportion of which is, under existing circuinstauees,.idle and unproductive. A. rise rather than a fall in the rate of discount Would have been a matter for congratulation, as suming that it had been occasioned by a legitimate extension of industry and commerce. The following notice has been issued by the gyrational Discount Company, Limited. The com pany is now allowing the following rates for money on deposit, viz : —2k per cent. per annum, repayable on demand ; 24 per cent. per annum, repayable at 7 days' notice ; and 24 per cent. per annum, repay able at 14 days' notice. The Massilia has arrived from Alexandria with £ 5 1.6,729, in specie and gold dust, principally from Australia. At a meeting held to-day of the General Credit and Finance Company of London, Limited, the reso lution passed at the meeting of the 27th November last Was confirmed, for the purpose of reconstructing the company and reducing the liability of the share holders. The following is the resolution : "Resolved,—That the report of the directors now read be received and adopted ; and that the sanction of the com pany be given to the declaration by the directors of a dividend of 6s. per share, in respect of the current year end ing the 31st December, 1866, including the sum of 2s. per Share already paid on account thereof ; and that the com pany be wound up voluntarily, as on and from the 3 1st day of December, 1866 ; and that James Macdonald, of No. 27, Austinfriars, in the City of London, gentleman' end Robert Jackson Butler, of the same place, gentleman, b e appointed liquidators, for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the C o mpany, and distributing the property ; and it having been stated to this meeting that a new Company, oa lied The General Credit and Discount Company, Limited, uas bean duly formed and registered, with a nominal capital of £2,000,100, in 2,000,010 shares of £lO each, and that it is proposed to transfer to such new company the Whole of the business and property of this company, after Providing for a dividend not exceeding 6s. per share, in cluding the 2s. per share already paid, in respect of the year "ding Dec. 31, 1866, and after selling such portion, if any, of the assets of this company as may be necessary, f or the purpose of satisfying dissentient members, in con sideration of the new company assuming all the liabilities of this company, and paying the sum of £1,500,000 by means of a credit of £7 10s. per share on 200,000 shares in th e new company, which shares aro to be allotted to or for the benefit of this company) that the pro -I.3°Bed transfer be and the same is hereby approved ; a nd that an authority bo and the same is hereby conferred on the liquidators of this company to accept, in coin- Pensation for such transfer, 200,000 shares in the said new company, each credited with £7 10s. as paid up thereon, for the purpose of distribution the ongst the members of this company ; and that purchase-money for the shares of the dissentient luembers, if any, be payable to them under the 161st section of the Companies' Act, 1862, be raised by the liqui dators by sale of the shares in the new company which :would have been distributable to such dissentient members . 111 ease they had not dissented ; and, in case of these prov insufficient, then by a sale of some portion of the assets of this company." Tim last week's Railway receipts, ascertained up to this day, are in round figures as under : a reat Western 1866. 1865. Nk ) erth Western 71,379 70,429 ° th Western 119,018 118,490 Br ighton 1a 19,820 17,858 so 47,072 49,674 -o ath Eastern 21,907 20,830 , Great N ort h ern , t ancashire and Yorkshire 44,153 39,846 ~•no r th Eastern ristol an d E xe t er 6,891 6,419 68,789 69,176 ~'N ( „ 41 atnehest er , Sheffield, and Lincoln '21,261 20,114 t'reat Eastern — I Gl asgow and South Western ', 8,447 7,859 L andon, Chatham, and DoTer These returns, when compared with those o f the corresponding period of last year, are in nest instances of a favourable character. On the great Western there is an increase of £950, ° ll the North Western of £528, on the South- Western of £3 ; on the Brighton of £1,962, on the South Eastern of £1,077, on the Great Northern e l £4,483 ; on the Lancashire and Yorkshire .of 4 ,307, on the Bristol and Exeter of £472, on the 4 anchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln of £1,147, a nd on the London, Chatham, and Dover of £5BB ; vhile the Midland shows a decrease of £2,602, the western Eastern of £387, and the Glasgow and South 'Vestern of £699. The shares of the Belgian Public Works Com my are steady at prem. Another small parcel of gold, viz., £5,000, was ikon yesterday to the bullion office of the Bank of „, The movements during th e G azet t e wee k h ave been insignificant, the amount received b e i ng ' 27 ,000, and that withdrawn £lO,OOO. The Germania has arrived with specie to the a mount of £112,127 from New York, viz., £32,700 f or England, £79,027 for France, and £4OO for llalnburz. The biddings for bills on India took place yester day at the Bank of England. The proportions allotted were—to Calcutta, 7,15,000 rs (£71,500) ; a nd to Bombay, 5,85,000 rs. (.£58,500). The minimu m price was fixed, as before, at ls. 11d. per r upee upon all the presidencies. Tenders at the minimu m will receive in full. 111 Birmingham, a meeting was held yesterday of le creditors of Mr. John Jones, of Bircbhills, and Of the Spring Vale Ironworks, Wolverhampton, 1141 0 failed in the early part of the year 1865. It /as anticipated at the time that the estate would realise 20s. in the pound. Mr. Edward Dixon, ,ehair man o f t h e Staffordsh i re and Wolverhampton 15anking Company, presided. A proposition was made on behalf of Mr. Jones to pay ss. in the 1 3t1 Ind by annual instalments of £lO,OOO. After alta ° l l lg deliberation this proposition was accepted, a considerable number of creditors refused 4 ' t h vote. Before the acceptance of the proposition report was laid before the meeting by the com ii3littee of investigation to th e e ff ec t th a t th ey h a d eti. unable to obtain any. satisfactory account of a tra nsaction with the Commercial Union Life Company, and also with r e g ard to t w o Chan ' ~el )* suits. ti The committee of the St o ck E xc h ang e have ar- Al ‘'ed at a very sens ibl e d ec i s i on upon th e su bj ec t o f 1. • Watkin's reported failure, and the assumed I : 4l aexion of the rumour with the house. F ar too ll eh has been made o f the a ff a i r , an d cre dit i s d ue to t he executive for the pains they have taken i n eluc idating L l the matter. The committee have ad teased the following letter to Mr. Watkin Committee-room, Stock Exchange, London, Dec. 19, 1866. tr,ivr--Your, letter of the 15th instant, calling upon the lilt/lige° of the Stock Exchange to trace out the real 41 41 10 r of a rumou r t o y our p re j u di ce w hi c h was i n circu it the has on F r id ay l as t , h as b een l a id b e f ore my colleagues, has occupi e d th e i r a tt en ti on d ur i ng th e grea t er par t o f e t . ll ' th ree l ast s i ttings. Tho explanations given by Mr. I, lB ewood wore entirely satisfactory to the committee. t " „ tele gram f orwar d e d b y hi m to hi s agents i n Manches -4 w as sent in cypher, and contained a strictly confiden itquiry as to the truth of the rumour, and he did his t to circulate the contradiction as soon as received. p r foll owing up the investigation the committee have bee n ' ve nted, by the vague an d genera l c h a r a cter of th e ev i 1 4 ° : Ice, from t rac i ng th e rumour i n a t ang ibl e s h a p e t o any 1 4 111 ber of th e S toc k E xchange. Althoug h , h owever, the I ) , ( ! itt rY of the committee has boon ineffectual for this pur -1 they cannot, in justice to their fellow-members, re frora stating that the evidence adduced as to the 1 •tiaracter and amount of business done, far from support -4'Lc°,xlpletely disproves the existence in the London v ai t ' e t of any systematic or concerted plan to depress the t o llB of South-Eastern stoc k , as asserted in your circular +, sh areholders. Tho depreciation which has so long with so seriously affected a ll secur iti es may b e a tt r ib u t e d ljtt°rgreater justice to the uneasiness of the public, and the want of confidence occasioned by the disasters and 'closu res of the la s t f ew months. I beg, in conclusion, to assure you that, should you obtain any clue, the com mittee will readily afford every assistance in bringing to punishment the originator of tho scandalous falsehood.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) MATTHEW FLOWER, Chairman of the Committee for General Purposes of the Stock Exchange. E. W. Watkin, Esq., M.P. P.S.—A copy of this letter will be sent to the news papers. At a meeting held to-day of the London and River Plate Bank, Limited, the following report of the directors was adopted : " Notwithstanding the severe monetary crisis of the pre sent year, the directors, in presenting their Fourth Annual Report, are happy to be able to congratulate the share holders on the continued success of the bank. The an nexed statement of accounts, made up at the head office and branches to the 30th September, 1566, shows that after payment of expenses and making ample provision for all contingencies, the directors are enabled to add £30,000 to the reserve fund (raising that fund to £130,000), and to recommend a dividend for the half-year of 5 per cent. and bonus of 2i :per cent., making, with the interim dividend and bonus paid in June last, 15 per cent. for the year. There will then remain an undivided balance of £lO,lll 2s. 8 , 1., to be carried forward to Profit and Loss New Account. Two O'CLOCK. According to Reuter's telegram from Paris to day, the French Rentes were 69f. 30c. A further advance of per cent. has taken place in the value of the English Funds, Consols being 89i 4 for money and 894 for the account. The upward movement has been very much stimulated by the reduction of the other markets, there has also been a certain degree of buoyancy. The New Threes and Reduced Annuities are 88/ 4 ; An nuities, 1885, 13 ; Exchequer Bills, Gs to lOs prem. ; Bank of England Stock, 2491 250 ; India 5 per Cents., 1074 ; ditto Enfaced 4 per Cents., 841 ; ditto 5 per Cents., 1001 ; and ditto Bonds, 20s. prem. Atlantic and Great Western Railway Debentures are steady at 54 SG, and the Consolidated Mort gage Bonds at 411 42. Bank Shares are in moderate request, and with out any material change in prices, Consolidated being at 41 ; London and County at 63f 61 ; London Joint Stock 42i ; and Union of London at 43k 44. In Miscellaneous and Finance Shares there has been a moderate amount of business transacted. Anglo-American Telegraph have declined to 16k ; City of Moscow Gas to 14i- ; while Ebbw Vale have improved to 12i ; and the General Credit to 4i Foreign Stocks generally have sympathised with the buoyancy iu the Consol market. Turkish 5 per Cents. have advanced f to 32; 33k, Mexican Stock ; to 18f ; Spanish Certificates, fto 13f I ; and the New Russian Loan Scrip 1 to 1 11 prem. A firmer tone is apparent in the Railway Share Market, consequent upon the reduction in the Bank rate of discount. Midland have improved ; South Eastern, Great Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and Manchester, Sheffield, and London, each f ; Great Eastern , and Brighton and South Western each 1; while Great Northern have declined k. The Foreign and Colonial lines remain without change of importance. South Austrian and Lom bardo-Venetian are marked 151 ; Antwerp and Rotterdam 81 ; East Indian 106 106; ; and Great Indian Peninsula 105 k. MINING MARKET. THURSDAY, Two o'Clock. Business in the Mining Share Market has been moderately active, but there is little change of im portance to report in prices. Subjoined are the current quotations of some of the principal adven- ures Chiverton Moor, 4+ ; Chon:ales Gold, 2+ 3 ; Clifford Amalgamate, 5+ 61 ; East Basset, 20 21 ; East Camden, 4+ s+; East Wheal Grenville, 2 2+; Great Retallack, 10s, 12s 6d; Great Wheal Vor, 14 15; Marks Valley, 3+ 4 ; North Crofty, 2+ 3 ; North Treskerby, 2f t ; Prince of Wales, 24s 26s ; Prosper United, 211; South Condurrow, lls 13s ; South Grenville, 8s Od 108 Od ; West Caradon, 12 13 ; West Chiverton, 51 53 ; West Frances; —; West Seton, 110 115 ; Wheelßuller, 17 18 ; Wheal Chiverton, 61 7 ; Wheal Grenville, 21s 26s ; Wheal Seton, 127+ 132+; East Lovell, 11 12; Province Mines, 20 22. BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. GCVERNMENT FUNDS. 3 per Cent. Consols Do. Account, Jan. 10 B 9l 1 i 3 per Cent. Reduced BBl 1 1 New 3 per Cent B Bl 1 1 i New 21 per Cent. Jan. 1894 .— Do. 5 per Cent. Jan. 1873 — tnnuities, 30 yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 Do. for 30 yrs, expire sth April, 1885 l3 Do (Rod Sea Telegraph), Aug., 1908 — d;xeLtequer Bills, £l,OOO, 4 per Cent 6 10 pm Do £5OO lf 6 10 pm Do., £lOO & £2OO „ 6 10 pm Bank of England Stock, 61 per Cent ... 250 48} 50 INDIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Ludlam otock, 101 per Cant., AprillB74.„ Ditto for Account — Do. 5 per Cent. July, 1880 Do. 4 per Cent., Oct. 1888 Do. Certificates — Do. Enfaced Paper 4 por Cent Bll Do. 5 por Cent., Jan. 1872 Do. 51 per Cent., May 1879 — Do. Deb., 5 per Cont., Aug. 1873 Do. Bonds,4 per Cent., £l,OOO — pm Do. under £1,000 FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. %rgentine Republic, 6 per Cent iustrian Bonds, 5 por Cent, 1859 3razilian 5 per Cent — Do. 4] per Cent., 1852-58-60 Do. 1863 Do. 1865 — Do Account 7O Do. £lOO Bonds 7Ol 'Juba, 6 per Cent. )anislt 3 per Cent., 1825 — Do. 5 per Cent., 861 .• )anubian Principalities 00. Account tlquador New Consolidated, 1 per Cent — Do., Provisional Land Warrant — Do Deferred :cgyptian 7 per Cent — Do., Second Issue B3] Do £lOO Bonds — Do. 1864 B3l 4 Do £lOO Bonds B4 Do. Government Railway Debentures B5l 1 Greek 5 per Cents., 1824-5, ex Coupons )o Account Jo. Coupons Guatemala 5 per Cent. Itliian 5 per Cent 1865 Do, Account Do. Maremmana Railway 5B U.exicar. 3 per Cent Do. Account Do. 1864 — Do 6 per Cent. Anglo-French — llontevidean 6 per Cent. .. — 11.00rish Imperial 5 per Cent ‘lew Granada l3l Do 3 per Can — Do. Deferrad Do Laud Warrants (Hectares) 'eruvian 5 per Cent., 1865 Do Account 7oi Do 41 per Cent. (Uribarren) Do 4, per Cent., 1862 Do Account Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853 Do 3 per Cent., 1856, '7, '9, '6O, '62, '3, Do. Account Russian 5 per Cont., 1822, X St — Do 4i per Cent. 1850 Do 41 per Cent., 1860 Do 3 per Cent. 1859 Do 5 per Cent. 1862 B5l 1 Do 5 per Cent. 1864 — Do. Anglo-Dutch, 1866, all paid — Do. do. £lO paid lO-1 1 11 Sardinian 5 per Cent Do. Account Spanish 3 per Cent Do Account Do New Deferred Do Account Do Passive Do Account 2Ol 1 Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded Do Account l3l i Swedish 4 per Cent. Do. 41 per Cent. 1864 __. ~. Do. Scrip, £6O paid Turkish 6 per Cent. 1854 79 Do. Account Do 6 per Cent. 1858 Do. Account Do £lOO Bonds -- Do 6 per Cont. 1862 Do Account 59 8f 91 Do £lOO Bonds Do 6 per Cent., 1863 — Do 5 per Cont., 1865 Do. Account T2I 3 Do. 4 per Cent. Guaranteed — Venezuela 3 per Cent. — Do Account — Do 6 per Cent., 186' , Do Account Do.. 6 per Cent, 1864 27} Ditto 1} per Cont. '' • - Dividends on the above payable in London. Austrian, 5 per Cent., Ex. 10 Florins — Belgian, 44 per cent., Ex. 25f. Dutch 2-A- per Cont. Ex. 12 Guil Do. 4 per Cent. Certificates .... French Renter, 3 per Cent., Ex. 25f. — 'titian 3 per Cont. 1831, Ex. 25f. Do. 5 per Cent. Account 55; 6} THREE O'CLOCK. Consols, Money B9; Do. Account, Jan. m 89 1 I eKEFERENCE St south Eastern (Reading Atlas., £l.O, Ditto, Fixed 4, per cent., OJ IAtt.ES. .6), - PREFERENCE 82A RES AND STOCKS. London, Chatham, &c., 6 per cent. 2d pf., 27k LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Chester and Holyhead, Ditto, 5 per cent.. 110} London and Blackwall, 79 FOREIGN RAIL WAYS. Antwerp and Rotterdam. Si Imperial Mexican, lim., 5 / i South Austrian aed Lombardo Venetian 2151 West Flanders, 71 Western and North-Western of France, 221 FOREIGN MINES. Cape Copper, Ilm., 7/ Capuli Silver, 21 $l. .John del Key, lira., 47i t Yudananiutana of South Australia, Ilm.. :1 DOCKS. I ondon and St. Katharine, 675 Surrey Commercial, 107 HANgS. Alliance, lim.. 181 1 17 Anglo-Italian, lira., 11 k Australasia, 64 Consolidated Bank, lira., 41 1 Imperial Bank, Urn.. 231 4 Imperial Ottoman, lira., 91 Land Mortgage Bank of India, lira., 21 1 Do. 5 per cent. Debentures. 1861, for 30 years, 841 London Chartered Balla of Australia, 201 London and County, 64'3 k 4 London Joint Stock, 421 3 London and VI estminster, 951 New South Wales, 411 1 Oriental Ban it Corporation. 42E1 Provincial Banking Corporation, Union of London, 43 4 MISCELLANEOUS; Anglo-American Telegraph, 161 1:1 1 Atlantic Telegraph, Dit o, 8 per cant., 771 C4' City of Moscow Gas, lira., 15i 14i 151 City Offices, Um., 1/ 2 Cotomereial Union, Insurance. 41 Credit Voncler of Englana, lira . 3 21_3 Credit Fonder of Mauritius, lima 5 1 Ebbw Vale, ,2 .} E..glish and Australian Copper Gen. Credit and Finance oi.L9ndxt, lim., 41 1 Hudson's Bay, 111 1 International Financial Society, lim.,' 2/ 3 Italian Irrigation (Canal Cavour), 61 1 Madras Irrigation and Canal (4 per cent. guaranteed by In:: dian Government), Ditto all), 19 National Discount Company, Ditto, new, issued at 5 prem.,of which 21 is to pay, 9 National Provincial Marine, lira , 1 / New Consolidated Discount, lim , I f New Zealand Loan and Mer. Agency, Um., 21 Peninsula and Oriental steam, 62 Quebrada Land, &AI, and Mning, lim., 1 Royal ALAI Steam. 5 Telegraph Conatructten and Maintenance, lira., Ditto (£l;), 13 Thames and Mersey Marine, Insurance, lira., 5 1:4 Universal Marine, insuranee. lim., 1 2/ Ylcevy of 'gypt, Ltortgage, Loan„74j share t 111 — i1a0 and .Ex eiT47.71 - 6 - 0 85 $7 at Caledonian ...... 100 118 123 1191 at Cambrian (.;ork and Bandon...— — 20 Cornwall all 4 6 at Dublin & Belfast June lOO C 5 63 st Dun„Perth,& Ab.Junc lOO 70 72 100 E.London, Scrip Certi all 100 d at 11as;ow &S. Western 100 114 :16 at Great Eastern, Ord. stk. 10u 261 27 27 6; 71 1 7 st Do. E. Angl. at. No. 2 100 5 6 at Great North of Scotland 100 at Great Northern l OO 1, (17 115 17 61 at a,. A 5t0ck...... 100 126 128 1256 181 7 at Do. B stock luo Do. New, Is. at 25 pm 10) at Gt 8, and W. of Ireland 100 90 02 st Gt. Western -Original lto 611 1.0,1 511 1 1 . 1 1 2 at D S. Val. Rail gua. 100 at Do. South Wales at Do. W. Mid.—Oxtoro 100 30 3 i st Do. Newport lOO 3) 3) st 00. - at Lancaalure & Yorkshire 100 1261 127 1251 61 674 at London and Blackwall, 100 at Lon., Brigh., & S Coasil 10') 61 87 F 4 51 at Lon., chat., and Dover 100 151 16; 18 1 at Do. Mctrop. P.:x. A lOO 10 to at Lon. & North Western 100 1181 1181 , 1181 171 181 at Lon. & South Western 100 81 t3i 811 1 at Slan., Shel., & Lincoln- 100 48 50 48 91 at Metropolitan.... 10 Do. New Bl 11 2 p 10/ 10 Do. Extension lO 10 11 I L O Metropolitan District all 83 83 Do. do. do. 10 10 Do. and St. John'sW'd 6 et Mid and 9 Do. Lt.) Share 7 11 2 I st Do, Birmin.. & Derby 100 89 JO 25 mid Kent at North British at Do. Ed., Pth., & Dun lOO 4 18 at Nth. E astern —Berwich 100 103 1(6 IC4I I 26 Do. (i.N•E puroham 16.13.1 St Do. Leeds at Do. York lOO 97 DJ 971 81 at Do. Carlisle ..... 100 25 Do. Stock. & Darling. all 34 55 348 1 0 Do. do. 1860-61 lB 9 10 p et.north London at Do. do. 1801 5 at Do. do. 1866 at North Staffordshire st N. &S. W. Junction 25 Scottish Central at Scot. N. B , Abor. stock 100 10 Do. Scot, llid, stook lOO at Shropshire Union 2222 100 at South Devon lOO 42 44 4 4 st South Eastern 20 Staines, Wok., & Wok all 8 9 et Taff Vale lOO 150 153 10 Do. C at Vale of Neath at Waterford & Kilkenny 100 10 Waterloo & Whiteha 1 6 at West Cornwall lOO , BRITISH POSSESSIONS. 100 & Saawrence all 66 68 et I Born., Baroda, A Cen.ln. 100 102 103 gu. 5 per cent 20 Do. I` shares lO id 1p 101 Buffalo & Lake Huron all 4 41 10 Do. Preference 100 Buff.,Brant,&Goderich 6 p.c. 1872-3-1 lOO at Calcutta &8. E., lim lOO at ,a; .e Town & Dock, gu lOO 50 55 00 Demerara, 7 p.c. per. p: all 101 103 It East. Bengal, gu., sdo 100 101 103 East Indian, gu. 5 p.c. 100 105 106 1061 6 20 Do. J Extension at (,rand Trunkol Canada 100 18 20 00 Do. Equip. Mort, Bonds 1 charge 6 p.c all 85 88 100 Do. Ist i'ref. Bonds all 57 69 at 7 100 Do. do deferred all 50 6 4 100 De. 2d Pr.f. Bonds all 50 51 50 100 Do. do. deterred all 100 Do. 3d Pref. stock.— . all 37 10 100 Do. do. deferred 100 Do. 4th Pret. stook 100 Do. do. deferred at Gl. India Pen. gua. sp.c lOO 106 107 1058 20 'o. Gua. 5 per cent lB 1 1 10 Do. New gua. 5 p.c 6 3 11 ' at ut. South of India gua. 5 per cent at. 41 per cent lou 91 93 at Do 204 great VV . ( s. of Canada all 111 121 201 Do. New.. 00 Do. 6p. e. Bda. pay. 1873 all 08 22 1 01 /o. 51 do. pay. 1877-8.. all 8 1 91 10 Indian Branch, limited 2 11 lid at Madras, gua. 5 p.o 100 102 103 at Do. If do at Do. 11 do lOO b 5 90 20 Do. Fifth Extension 6 at Melb. Cor. 6p. c. Buds. 100 50 Mel. & Hudson's Bay all et N.lll.C . da,6pclstpf.ba 100 82 at Scinde 100 9a 101 st Do. Delhi 20 Do. do ti f6ll 1 " at Do. Punjaub.... nes 100 98 59 994 at Do.lndus St.Flot ' 4, 100 COLONIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. British Columbia, 6 per cent., Dec.3l, 1572 100 Can.Gov.6p.c.Ja.dtJuly 1877-84 Do. 6p. C. Feb. & Aug l,O 90 92 Do. sp. c. Mar. & Sept 100 90 92 1)0. sp. c. Jan. & July 100 77 78 771 Do. sp. c. Inscribed sk 190 75 77 Cape G. Hope, 6 p.c. 1873 100 104 116 Du.Apl..tOct. 1890-1900 100 103 105 Do. do 1880-9 lOO 1(2 104 Do. Jan.&July, 1820-li 100 1(4 1(.6 Do. 5 per cent. 13 April and 15 Oct., 1900 lOO 88 90 Ceylon, Nov. 1868, 6 p.c 100 1(0 I('2 Do. 1878, do lOO 1(4 1(.6 51auritius, 6p. 6, 1873, Jan. and July Do. 1878 Do. 1882, May i 5, Nov. ii 100 105 107 Do. 1895, Feb. & Aug lOO 106 108 Natal Gov. 6 per cent lOO 96 100 N.B.Gov.6p.c.Ja.&July 100 93 92 N. S.W. Gov. 5 p•c., 186 u 100 90 92 Do. 5 p.c. 18;1 to 1876 100 90 95 Do. 5 p.c. 1888 to 1893 100 81 87 88 New Zealand, 6p. cent 100 98 100 Do. 5 per cent.... Nova &Ada Gov. 6p. c sterling, 1875 l9O 96 98 (4ueensland Gov. 6p. c lOO 92 94 924 S. A tus.Gov. 6 p,c 1868-0 100 -- - Do. 1878 St upwards 1( 0 106 108 Vio,Gov. 6 p.c. Ja &July 100 - - Do. do, A pril .1L Oct lOO 103 104 1031 1 BRITISH MINES. 2 Cam. ConsoL Cold, lira. 1 Chiverton Clifford Amalgamated 3O 51 6; Devon G. Cons. (Tavlst 1 405 415; Drakewalls 2.1.0 4 4 East Bassett (Illogan) 291 18 20 East Caradon 2.14.0 5 6 54 East Cara Brea 34 2 3 East Grenville 2.14.0 2 3 East Gunnislake 8.3.6 4 4 East Loved 3.9.0 9 10 94 E. WI Russell (Tavletk 10.8.6 21 21 Gram.& StAubyn(G wen. 66 5 6 4 Great L txey, limited all 17 18 Great South Tolgus 0.14.6 Great Wheal Busy 14.9.6 G. Wheal Vor (Heist , u 40 15 16 15 Grenville 8.18.0 14 If Herod's Foot llingston Downs 5.10.6 21 31 Margaret tUny Lelant 13 17.6 2 4 - arke Valley 1..10.6 3 1 41 4 vlwyndy Iron Ore, Hui 34 24 lid Sewn North Roskear N.Wh'l Bassett(lllogan 4.4.0 North Wheal Crofty 2.13.(, 24 32 prosper United 7.1.6 Pr,vidence UnyLelant 10.5.7 21 26 I S. Caradon (St. Cleer) l4 300 320 South Condurrow 3.2.0 4 14 S.Wheal Fran. (Mogan 18.18.9 18 22 Stray Park - fin Croft.... 9 1 2 5 Vigra and Ch,gan,lim all ? 1.4 West I , assett (Mogan _ W. Caradun (Ltskeard 12 12 .4 West Chi rerton ll 54 56 West Seton• 47,E 115 125 Wheal Bassett 'Mogan 51 65 75 Wheal Buller atedruth 16 18 20 Wheal Mary Ann (Men. 8 10 12 Wheal Setou __. Wheal Trelawney (Lis 5.17.0 7 9 THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1866. SHARE MARKETS,—This Day. (`!:Dr.'lTstY 911 ARES AND STOCKS. Hallways. Closing Business Price. ( dene. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—This Day. OLD COURT. (13,Zoye th 111 , .Torclor.) CHARGE OF STEALING A LETTER. Edward Barrow, clerk, was indicted for stealing a lotter, the property of the Postmastei-General. From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner held a responsible position in the service of the Post-office, and received a salary amounting to about .£l9O per annum. His duty was to travel with the mail between London and Ipswich on the Great Eastern Railway. From certain circumstances coming to the knowledge of the Post-office authorities it was thought desirable to post a test letter for Ipswich, which was put into the bag before it went into tho possession of the prisoner, and on the arrival of the bag at Ipswich the letter was found to be missing. The letter contained a half sovereign and some postage stamps. It was alleged that the prisoner went to the Railway Hotel and thoio changed half a sove reign, which was identified as the marked coin which had been fastened up in the letter. The defence was an actual denial of the whcle theory of the prosecution. The prisoner alleged that ho never elianged half a sovereign at the Railway Hotel, but that is pay ment for refreshment supplied to him he gave a sovereign. With respect to the letter, his counsel urged that as other persons had access to the bag, it was too much to say that he must therefore have stolen it. Other persons had keys to the letter-bag, but the Solicitor-General, who prosecuted, said the prisoner was the only person who was engaged sorting the letters while they were being conveyed to Ipswich by the train. At the close of the case the prisoner was acquitted. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--This Day. 31ARLBORdUGH-STREET. A WOULD-BE StuctnE.—Mary Brown, a respectable looking lderly female, was charged before Mr. Knox with attempting to commit suicide by throwing herself into the Serpentine. John Labrun, a labouring man, living at Blyth-lane, Hammersmith, while passing the Serpentine this morning about 7 o'clock, on his way to his work, saw something in the water, and on going up found it was the prisoner. He got her out of the water, and took her to the Humane So • ciety's Receiving House. Thomas lloxon, park-constable, No. 13, said the pri soner told him that she was sorry that she had not drowned herself, and that she would do so. The prisoner said she was sorry for what she had (lone. She had been ill for some time and could not sleep, and went out for a walk. She had a husband in Australia, and he remitted her money to keep her. She had no re lations of her own. Mr. Knox—Then it is not want that has caused you to act as you have done ? The prisoner said it was not; it was only illness. Mr. Knox said ho would remand the prisoner, and Ser geant Cowdy, of the Park Constables, could make in quiries respecting her. A PIG DEALER AND HIS HORSE.—George Arnold, a pig dealer, of 22A, Blundell-street, Caledonian-road, appeared to answer the complaint of Mr. John Colam, secretary of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr. Thos. Descorix, residing at No. 11, Bruton-street, Berkeley-square, said—on the 7th December I saw the defendant driving JI horse attached to a wash- cart, near St. Martin's church. Through the defendant nearly coming in collision with an omnibus, the collar of his horse was seized, and Mr. Descorix then observed a large wound under the collar of the horse. The horse was in a very bad condition and had other sores about it. The defendant said there were no wounds on the horse when he brought it out. He had only bought it the day before for £3. Dobie, officer of the society, said he want to the defen dant's stable, next door to a " knacker's," and examined the horse, and found a large wound on its breast. On tel ling the defendant the wound was an old oneand hadbeen blackened over, the prisoner said it had. The horse which had once been a good one was old and in low condition. The defendant admitted that the barrel of wash weighed 16 cwt. The magistrate said that a good horse got from hand to hand till it got into such hands as the defendant's, and at last droppod down, being quite worn out. It was cruel conduct to a poor thing. The defendant said he had now sold the horse. Dobie said tho defendant had sold it for £3 10s. The defendant was fined 40s. or a month. THAMES. WILFUL DAMAGE—SINGULAR DEFENCE.—Mary Holden, a respectable matron, was brought before Mr. Selfe charged with wilfully and maliciously breaking a pane of glass in a gas lamp, the property of the Commercial Gas Company. A police constable of the K division said the prisoner came to him last night in Park-street, Bromley, and asked him to take her husband into custody for assaulting her. He saw no assault committed, and as there were no marks of violence on her person, ho refused to interfere. The prisoner then said if ho would not take her husband into custody she would be flocked up, and in his presence took a stone, threw it at a gas lamp, and broke one of the panes of glass. He then locked her up. The prisoner said that last night she had a good supper ready forhorhusband, and ho came home drunk and abused her. He took a knife up and threatened to stab her. He also accused her of infidelity, and with having dishonoured him on many occasions by her criminal intercourse with other men. Her husband grossly libelled her, and told great untruths. She had boon the mother of nine chil dren, and brought them up properly. She was a chaste wife, and had not been unfaithful. She went out to obtain protection of the police. She could not obtain any protec tion from her husband, and she committed the offence with which she stood charged to enable her to make an appeal to the magistrate. Mr. Selfe said the only answer he could make to the ap peal was to punish the prisoner for wilful damage. Ile could not permit the Commercial Gas Company to suffer because the prisoner had quarrelled with her husband. If she could pay for the glass she had broken at once he would not fine her. The Prisoner—No, I cannot pay any money. Mr. Selfe—l fine you Is., and you will also have to pay 2s. 6d. for tho glass, or be imprisoned for five days. Reform Demonstration at Whitechapel. Last evening there was a reiorm demonstration, held at the instance of the Tower llan - llets branch of the Reform League, at the Pavilion Theatre, Whitechapel-road. The audience was a very large one, the admission being by ticket. Mr. BEALES occupied the chair, and on making his appearance on the stage was greeted with loud cheers. He was accompanied by Colonel Dickson, Messrs. Baxter Langley, George Potter, Bradlaugh, Rothwell, Connolly, Cohen, Wicherlow, Bowkett, Weston, Mantel!, Davis, and the Rev. J. Thomas. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that he was rejoiced to meet the men of East Lon don, for the reform movement had met with many earnest supporters at the East-end. He congratu lated the meeting on the present position of this movement for securing to the great body of the people their constitutional rights as regarded the franchise. (Cheers.) The most talented, philosophi cal, and respectable of the Tory publications, the Quarterly Review, had stigmatised the Reform As sociation as a most arrogant society, which disgusted all who were not members of the association itself. If he could judge by the warm recection which the Reform League had met with at the va rious meetings held in England, Scotland, and Ire land, they might congratulate each other upon the enthusiastic manner in which the people had taken up the question, while, on the other hand, no one had ventured to convene meetings to oppose it ; and so far as he was aware only one man, Mr. Bass, had ventured to raise his voice against it, in a room attached to his own brewery, but which was com pletely drowned by the disapprobation of the meet ing. It could not be alleged that among the hun dreds of thousands of men, including merchants, capitalists, clergymen, and others, who supported this movement, there were not many who had some thing to lose. He repelled with indignation the charge that had been made against him, that he had rendered the cause unpopular, nor could it b said to be unpopular when they saw an English, an Irish, and a Scotch Reform League. He claimed for every man morally responsible the principle of the suffrage, which was the only thing that could place the people in the position of free citizens. Their meetings, which had been distinguished by the greatest regard for law and order, had abundantly refuted the charges made against the people by those who only wanted an excuse to continue the system of oppression which had existed. It had been said that manhood suffrage would enable the working classes to domi nate over all other classes. That was merely an as sumption based upon the opinion of their opponents that the interest of the working classes was opposed to that of all other classes of society ; and, secondly, that if they had the suffrage, they would use it for evil purposes. If the first assumption were correct, it only proved how imperative reform was, because it was evident that the interests of the governing classes were opposed to the working classes. He denied that there was the slightest reason to believe that if manhood suffrage was granted it would be used for evil purposes. Shame upon those who made the allegation, and shame upon the working classes if they submitted to it. (Cheers.) Had there been any instances of manhood suffrage in America or any of our colonies being used for evil purposes 2 It had been conclusively shown by Mr. Hutton, for many years a member of the Australian Government and legislature, that before the introduction of man hood suffrage and the ballot the elections presented the same features of violence and immorality as existed in this country at the present time—a sys tem which had been completely put an end to by the adoption of those two principles. Yet there were members of parliament who sneered at the re form movement, and among them the member for the Tower Hamlets. (Hisses for Mr. Ayrton, and cries of " He'll be turned out next time.") Then, again, the Adullamite member for Lambeth had thought proper to sneer at America, and to say, " God forbid this country should ever be brought to the condition of that country." Just conceive a man sneering at a country which had just conducted with remarkable ability one of the most gigantic wars on record, and yet immediately it was ended had set itself to work, and had already reduced the public debt by £30,000,000, while in time of peace our Government had never been able to reduce our public debt, which was incurred for the most part in foreign wars, in any appreciable degree. (Hear, hear.) Conceive a man sneering at a country in which every child was educated at the expense of the State, and in which pauperism did not exist, when, if he chose to look around him, he would find the most frightful pauperism and the most deplor able ignorance. (Hear, hear.) He concluded by urging upon them that, inasmuch as par liament would never reform itself, it was their bounden duty to support the Reform League, which would enable them to bring such a pressure upon the legislature as must compel them to do the people justice. (Cheers.) Mr. GATES then moved, and Mr. BRAND seconded the following resolution :—" That this meeting, whilst expressing its unfeigned contempt and in dignation at the means resorted to by a Tory faction, aided by a clique of sham Liberals to stifle and overthrow the moderate measure introduced by the late Government, records its want of confidence in the present Ministry, and pledges itself to accept at their hands no measure as a settlement of this ques tion that does not fully and satisfactorily restore to the people their natural and constitutional rights— manhood suffrage, registered and residential, and protected by the ballot." Both the speakers were working men, and made very effect ive addresses. The latter, with respect to the claim made to limit ,he franchise to the household suffrage, put it to the meeting whether, supposing a prosperous trades man occupying a house for a long period of his life was suddenly reduced by unforeseen calamity to occupy lodgings, he was less competent to vote for a member of Parliament than he was before. Mr. BRADLAUGII supported the resolution in a speech which produced considerable effect. The resolution was also supported by Mr. MANTELL, and carried by acclamation. Resolutions were also passed to the effect that a petition to Parliament, based upon the first resolu tion, should be presented, and that the meeting record its earnest thanks to the champions of the cause of the people—William Ewart Gladstone, John Bright, and John Stuart Mill--with others, in and out of Parliament, who supported them in their efforts on behalf of their toiling fellow-country men, and who vindicated the character of the working men from the most infamous slanders. All the resolutions were agreed to. The other speakers were Mr. Jones, Mr. Baxter Langley, Colonel Dickson, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Davis. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. State of Trade. NOTTINGHAM, Dec. 19.—1 n the hosiery trade general business is firmer ; the home market is looking up, and in the foreign department several shippers are hero with or ders to a fair extent. Yarns have still an upward ten dency ; some houses have advanced ls. per bundle, but the rise is not yet general. The Pall-Mall Gazette, in an article on foreign competition, remarks :—" In cotton hosiery it is well known that Germany and the Alsatian provinces of France have long been in the habit of supplying English haberdashers with the commoner and coarser fabrics at a rate with which Nottingham and Leicester cannot compete; and we are assured that they are now beginning to rival and to surpass us even in the finer articles." There is a good deal of truth in the observation, although our manu facturers will not admit the superiority of the foreigners in the finer articles; but the statement may not be with out its effect in the present complicated relations between employers and workmen. The lace trade is just in that condition that any change must be for the better. Tho dulness may be partly attributable to stock-taking, which checks activity in business; but the trade is no doubt in a very depressed state. TILE AUSTRIAN AR3ll.—lt is expected that in Austria shortly military service will be made compulsory for all, with the exception of such of the clergy as shall have been ordained and only sons who have to support their parents. Liability to service will last from the ago of 17 to 45 ; the first three years in the Landsturm for home service, the next three years in the regular army, then three years on furlough, three years in the first reserve, and three years in the second reserve. From the age of 32 to 45 the men will belong to the Landsturm, or militia. WESTMINSTER. PLUNDERING SHOPS.—W. Marlowe and John Riley, two rough-looking youths, were charged with robbing shops. Mr. Collins, shirtmaker, Sloane-square, said that on Tuesday evening he saw the prisoner Marlowe examining some shirts hanging at his door, in company with another man. Immediately afterwards prosecutor found the shirts bad been stolen, and he then went out into the streets in search of the prisoner. In about half an hour after he saw the prisoners coming up George-street, Chelsea, pith a bundle. Prosecutor, entertaining the belief that it con tained his shirt, followed, when they set off running, and Marlowe threw the bundle over a wall, and he and his companion escaped. The bundle contained a blanket, but no shirts. Police-constable 200 13 proved taking the prisoners las night. Prisoner Marlowe —This young gentleman by the side of me knows nothing about it. Ho was not there. Mr. Collins—l cannot be positive of Riley's identity. I believe him to be the man. Marlowe was remanded; Riley entered into recoguisances ,o appear on Wednesday. MARKETS. —This day. METROPOLITAN CATTLE. Our market to-day was well supplied with boasts for Christmas consumption. On the whole, the demand for most breeds ruled steady, at full prices. Tho top quota tion was 5s Gd per 81bs. Sheep, the supply of which was only mcderate, moved off steadily, at full quotations. The best Downs and half-breds realised 6s 4d per 81bs. There was a fair demand for calves, at previous rates. Prime small pigs were steady; but large hogs commanded very little attention. The numbers on offer were by no means extensive. _ _ Per 81b to sink the offal. dsd s d s Crse .S; inf. beasts... 3 8 3 10 Pme crs-wool sheep .5 2 5 10 Second quality do ..4 0 4 8 Prime S'thdown ao 6 0 6 4 Prime large oxen ..4 10 5 2 Large coarse calves 4 8 5 4 Prime Scots, &c.... 5 4 5 6 Prime small do 5 6 5 10 Crse. and inf. sheep. 3 10 4 2 Large hogs .3 6 4 0 Second quality do ..4 4 5 0 Small porkers 4 2 4 0 Lamb....os Od to Os 01 Suckling calves, 20s to 238; and quarter-old etore pigs, 283 to 308 each. Head of stock on sale. Total supply. Foreign supply. Beasts 3,904 I Beasts 4,0 Cows ** C0w5..... Sheep and lambs 3,400 Sheep and Limbs Calves l2) Ca ves .. 97 Pigs 2 4 ,) Pigs 54 MEAT. NEWGATE AND LEADENUALL.7 - The supplies of meat are good, and mostly of prime quality. The trade is steady, prices well supported. Beef, 3s 4d to 5 8 Od ; mut t on, 3 s 6d to 5s 2d ; veal, 4s 4d to 58.4 d; and pork, 3s 4d to 4s 8d per 81b by the carcase. HAY. SMITIEFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 5s to £4 Os; clover, £4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £1 Hs to £2 4s per load. A slow trade. CI73II3ERLAND.—Meadow hay, £3 5s to £4 4s Od; clover, £4 Os to £5 12s ; and straw, £1 184 to £2 4s per load. Supply moderate. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £3 5s to £4 4s ; clover, £4 Os to .£5 15s Od ; and straw, £1 16s to £2 4s per load. Trade inactive. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Pills. —Dark and cheer less indeed is the present season, when the weekly deaths are far above the average. The cause is probably diffused through the dense damp fogs which have been so preva lent of late. These Pills purify the blood which has been contaminated by foul gases, and give tone to the nervous system, whereby typhus, typhoid, gastric, and bilious fevers are warded off. Holloway's Pills are also the best known promoters of digestion, the surest regulators of the liver, and the most valued and effective of all aperients. When health is impaired, with loss of appetite, vigour, and sleep, this medicine will be found a certain restorative, and will rarely fail to effect 10. complete cure. A BAD SHOT. About the time that the State of Texas declared herself free of Mexican rul• , , and cam 2 to the conclusion that she was a little better able to manage her own affairs than to have them mismanaged any longer by " Granny Mexico" —a disunion, by the bye, in which the whole world, bar Mexico, agreed—there lived near the then almost unknown town of Austin two backwoodsmen, horse-breeders, hunters, graziers, and farmers, whom we will call Grady and Long. Each held a large tract of land, and were cele brated among the scattered population of this wild region for their skill with the rifle, and their superior breed of horses. These two men sincerely hated each other; they wore not in open enmity, 'tis true, but a secret jealousy rankled in their bosoms—Grady's horses invariably won the first prize at all trotting matches, while Long took ditto for sharpshooting. Many were the attempts made by Long to win the horse trophy also ; but the progeny of Old Nell, a famous trotting mare, the property of Grady, were not to be beaten—each year Old Nell dropped a foal, and each year Long's stock was No. 2. his superiority with the rifle at " long range" did not make amends fur this; Nell's stock were in demand in the market ; in vain he offered Grady fabulous sums for the dam, but Grady couldn't see it. One day Grady was returning from Austin in a two horse waggon ; ho overtook Long upon the road, stalking along with his deadly rifle upon his brawny shoulder ; he invited him to ride, which invitation Long accepted. The onversation ran, as usual, upon horseflesh, and Long made another offer for Nell; useless—Grady never would part with her. The road ran along a ridge of open up land, overlooking a portion of Grady's " improvement." Upon the bank of a small stream, a long way across the fields, Long espied Old Nell, standing under the shade of a sycamore, and apparently ruminating upon the mutability of horse affairs in general, and her own in particular. "D— it," remarked Long, with more force than polite ness, "what a fine broadside shot !" "No man living could kill her at the distance," quietly remarked Grady, turning his " quid." "I'll bet five dollars I can," said Long, slapping the stock of his long " kill-devil." " Couldn't risk it for the money," said Grady ; "but if you say ten dollars you may shoot her at once !" " Done !" said Long, placing the " tenner" in Grady's hand. He alighted ; here was a chance to rid himself of an "eye-sore" at a cheap rate ; Taking deliberate aim, he fired ; when the smoke cleared away there stood Nell, quiet as an elderly brood mare should who had a bellyful of tender prairie grass. " I knew it was too far," meekly remarked Grady. " Too far! Thunder! I cam blow her eye out at the distance. Give me another shot 1" " Yes, for another ten," said Grady. Another exchange of wealth took place. Long carefully loaded his piece, and again fired—result, the same ! " No use, Long ; too long a range." "Never mind the range," said Long; if she don't kneel over this time, Bill Long won't shoot any more, that's all." Another " tenner" changed hands ; another shot was fired by the thoroughly-excited Long. Nell did not deign to raise her head at the report. Long was wild, and offered double for one shot more. " No," said Grady, " I won't risk it again ; a chanco shot, you know, might reach her." _ _ " Chance ! 11 . -11! Do you mean to say that I can't hit that mare from hero 7" " So it seems ; at least if you have, she is a wonder of patience," said Grady. " Well, I'll bet I've hit near her," said Long. " Don't feel inclined to bet," said Grady, but we'll go and see." Hitching the team, they started across the fields to try and trace Long's leaden missives. Long, in his eagerness, reached her first—a look satis fied him —"Damnation ! Grady, your mare's dead!" "I know it," said Grady ; she died two days ago--the boys propped her up against that tree, thinking some fool would like to shoot at her ! In consideration of your liberality, you may have her skin if you will take it off !" Long took himself off !—American paper. APPREHENSION OF A BANKRUPT IN FEMALE AT- TIRE.-On Monday afternoon some excitement was caused at the Greenock Railway Station, Bridge-street, Glasgow, in consequence of the arrest of an apparently neatly attired female, who, it turned out, was a bankrupt attempt- ing to elude his creditors. The gentleman in question is Mr. Patrick Clark, the sequestration of whose sstate, we believe, was awarded on Tuesday. He is a merchant and dealer in West Indian and Russian produce, although he does not appear to have confined his attention to the com modities of either country. Clark, we understand, would have been in custody long ago had he not been so well disguised.— North British Daily Mail. A MEMORABLE SUlClDE.—Something niorethana century before Justice Halo's death, a not loss memorable suicide was perpetrated by Chief Justice Ilankford, who, wishing to throw away his life and preserve his estate to his family, ordered his park-keeper to shoot every person who should be seen in the park after dark, who on being called upon to stand should not obey the command. The order—for which some recent acts of leer-stealers fur nished a plausible pretext—being thus given, Sir William Ilankford crossed his keeper's path during a dark night, and on being ordered to stand moved away. Acting upon the directions given him, the servant fired at the retreating figure, and the Chief justice fell dead.-4 Book About Lawyers. TILE MACLURE TESTIMONIAL.—Mr. Maclure was on Tuesday presented with a silver salver and a sum of £5,000 —the proceeds of a general subscription in Lan cashire and Cheshire—" in grateful acknowledgment of the gratuitous services rendered by him as the honorary secre tary to the Central Executive Relief Committee during the whole period of the cotton famine." The presentation took place in the Town-hall. The Lord Lieutenant of the county presided, and there were also present Lord Hartington, Mr. Wood, Major Leigh, and the Mayor of Manchester. Mr. Maclure was at the same time presented with a silver inkstand and an address by the employes of the Central Relief Committee.—Manchester Guardian. A STRANGE STORY.—I knew a strange old man with something noble about him outwardlyand inwardly he might have sat for Retzsch's etching of the "Ancient Mariner," so exactly ho resembled it—who whilst living amid the Eastern civilization that had reared; him, one day found his arm moved and his finger pointing, in obedience to nerves which he could not, or fancied ho could not, con trol. The finger pointed westward, and he resolved to follow it. It brought him to a door in a town near the source of the Ohio, at which he knocked. He related hoW he had been guided there to the inmates of the house, and ho found them full of faith in his pointing finger. They e ntertained him for some days, and called in their friends, who sat around this Ancient Mariner with silent expecta tion. Again his finger pointed to the river, and to it the group followed him. There they found a raft waiting to be employed, and the old man had an impression that they must all got on it, taking tents, clothing, and provisions ; and that they must float down the river, to some place afterward to be revealed, or " pointed" to, where they were to found some kind of Now Jerusalem. Strange as it may seem, well-to-do men and woilen, old and young, em barked on this singular voyage. On the slow raft, shoved aside by hundreds of swift, amazed steamboats, they floated one or two w ee k s w i thout once landing until at length the old man s t oo d at the front and pointed to the shore. There they left the raft and made their way a mile from the river, whore they mapped out a city and built some cabins. Then the pillar of fire which had led them seemed to melt into the light of common day. One after another they departed, leaving the cabins alone as the monuments of their adventure. But I believe that none of them again lived in the ordinary way in human society; they have wandered ever since through many parts of ,the world, as if seeking for something they had lost. Lately, 1 saw some of them walking along the streets of London with the same sad:expectant look. But I doubt not they will all find their way back to the Ohio, where they belong, as castles belong to the Rhine and docks to the Mersey. Ages before them, the rod aborigines floated down the same river, following their westward -pointing finger and dream ing of fairer hunting fields. And, with only a more con ventional superstition—steamboat instead of raft - there went before them missionaries. Mormons, Owenites, and Californian gold-hunters. Did any of them any more f i nd what they sought ?—Fraser's .3fagazine for December. A WRONG ROAD TO REFORM.--The more mode rate men were agitating for universal suffrage and annual Parliaments. There is no concealing the fact now that in 1816 the general distress and discontent had led the rasher and more ignorant of the Reformers into dangerous schemes. It is on record that at the trial of two men at the Edinburgh Court of Justiciary, in 1817, it was proved that the oath administered at their Reform club in 1816 had ended with the following clause, worthy of a German secret tribunal : —" I will support the same to the utmost of my power, either by moral or physical strength, as the cause may r equ i re; an d I do further swear th a t neither hopes, fears, reward, nor punishments shall induce me to inform on, or give evidence against, any member or members, collectively or individually, for any act or expression done or made in or out of this or similar so cieties, under the punishment of death to be inflicted on me by any mem b er or mem b ers of such societies." Men, hopeless of reform by any means but force, who could sign such an oath, were quite ready to burn Bristol, or to plot with the Cato-street conspirators. That wise minister of Henry Quatre, Sully, speaking from the depth and in an age of revolution s , life's experience, of his long said, profoundly, " The people never revolt from fickleness or the mere desire of change. It is the impatience of suf fering that alone produces revolutions." Lo o ki ng b ack now, we can all see c learl y the misery that gav e r i se t o thatth e s o l troublesong d ofe delayed ItBh3e irresistible advance of re f orm .— 0 , and we can depl ore th e violence Dickens's "All the Year Round." A NEW WORK BY JAMES ORTON, already favourably known as the author of " The Three Palaces and " The Enthusiast," is now, we are glad to learn, pre paring for the press. It will be entitled, "Love in Eden." And simultaneously with its appearance from the press will be published new editions of both " The Three Palace' and " The Enthusiast.'' 1 1 .1‘ v SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—Ths Lay. ---- o CITY BETTING --THIS DAY. There was no bettingof any importance to-day at either the Victoria or Albert Clubs. The only bet that came under our nctice Was an offer of 50 to 1 against the no-. torious Mail Train for the Chester Cup. Bank of England Returns,--This Evening. An Account, pursuant to the Act ith and Bth Victoria, cap. 32, for the week ending Wednesday, Dee. 19, 1866. • ISSUE DEP Notes issued ....X32,699,545 X 32,64515 JUNKING 1): Proprietors' Capi tal £14,553,000 Rest Public Deposits (including Ex_ chequer, Sav ings' Banks, Commissioners of National Debt, and Div Accounts) 8,070,235 Other Deposits 18,181,096 Seven Day and other bills £44,531,653 I'IRTMENT. Govermut. Debt—£l.l,ols,loo Other Securities.. 3 7 981,900 Gold Cola and Bullion Silver Bullion £32,699,543 :PARTMENT. Goveruint. Secu rities(including Dead Weight Annuity) £13,011,222 Other Securities 19,825,202 Notes 10,599,060 Gold and Silver Coin £44, 551, 653 SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE —This Day. LONDON, Doc. 20.—Wind this day at noon—South- Westerly ; light breeze, and cloudy weather, with a dense fog. FALMOUTH, Dec. 19.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Maid of Perth, fur Rio Janeiro. PORTSMOUTH, Dee. 18.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Dundee, from London for Jamaica. LIVERPOOL, Dec. 19.—Wind N.l7.—Arrived—Lord Raglan, from Monte Video. Sailed—Estelle, for New York. (13r TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning. Arrived, pec. 19. —Daybreak, from 110 ; Henry Reed, from Calcutta; Aurnaut, from Dunkirk; Pride of England, from Calcutta ; Speedy, from St. Michael's ; Superior, from Quebec ; Maria, from Odessa. Arrived, Dec. 20.—Refuse, from Dahoust ; Baron Osy, steamer, from Antwerp ; St. Bode, steamer, from Dantsic ; Nora, steamer, from Rottendam ; Triton, steamer, from Boulogne, Returned, leaky, Evening, for Cuba, from Shields. DEAL, Thursday Morning. Passed, Deo. 19.—Emerald, from Loudon, for Cardiff ; British Crown, from London, for Port Phillip. Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day. Market steady. American rather dearer. Sales probably 15,000 or 20,000 bales. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DIIE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton Deo. 20. Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. 13. Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet. ..... Jan. 4. Ditto, by French packet Cape of Good lope, Ascension, and St. Helena... Deo. 28. China, Penang. and Singapore, via Southampton Dec 20. Ditto, via Marseilles Dec. 28 Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Dec. 14. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Deo. 23. Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via Southampton. Dec. 20. Ditto, via Marseilles .. Dec. 23 Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Dec. 23. Ditto, via Marseilles Dec. 23. Mauritius, via Southampton Dec. 20 -.— Ditto, via Jan. '9. Newfoundland Por tugs) , Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon.. United States and British North America, by Bri . . _ Usti packet. Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp- ton _ Ditto, via Cork . Ditto, oy Canadian packet, via Londonderry „Dec. 1. Vest Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe ....Jan. 3. West Indies and Pacitio (except Bahamas and Hondurai) Dec. 29. Baliam,..A. via New York. Jan. Cuba aid Mexico Dec. 29 Bermuda, via Halifax Jan. lb. THE " IMPERIAL SPEAKER" is the title of a new cheap publication, which contains a variety of choice ex tracts from the most celebrated authors. The first part is a very attractive ono, and we have no hesitation in saying that the best penny readings for the people will be found in the Imperial Speaker. At a meeting to-day of the Canada Company, the following report was submitted to the shareholders : Referring you to the circular of 22d ult., I beg to inform you that Robert Gillespie, Esq., has signified his intention to offer himself as a candidate for the office of governor at the elec tion to take place on Thursday, the 20th instant, at two o'clock. I transmit herewith a statement of lands disposed of and moneys received in Canada from Ist January to 23d November last, compared with the transactions during the period iu 1865, together with an analysis of the lands sold and leased from Ist January to 31st October last, dis tinguishing the quantity in the several townships, and the average price obtained per acre, contrasted with the estimated value in 1854. The directors propose a division out of the assets of £2 a share, free of Income Tax, payable the 10th January next." Mr Grant-Duff, M.P., and Mr. Grote, the his torian of Greece, were nominated for the rectorship of Aberdeen University at a general meeting of students. On a division being takers in mass there was a majority in favour of Mr. Grant-Duff. The election, however, is de cided not by a numerical majority, but by tho majority of "nations." There aro four nations, viz. —Angus, Buchan, Mar, and Moray. In caso of an equality of votes, the casting vote devolves upon the Chancellor of the Univer sity, the Duke of Richmond. The election takes placo to-morrow, the 21st inst. A correspondent of the Manchester Gnardiala says : --" I hear that Mr. Pope Hennessy will be gazotted to a valuable appointment early in the new year." d i a The health of the Bishop o f L on d on h as so far improved that he hopes to b e a bl e t o h o ld his Christmas w or i d ll in b a e ti h o e n id on in S t u h n e d C a3 h ' Chapelt in person. The ordination Bishop l The of Norwich is aiso better. CONSUMPTION OF CIIEESE.—At a champagne breakfast given the other day by a great provision dealer, it was incidentally stated that 821,250,0001 b. of cheese is consumed annually in England. Under the fes tive circumstances described, one ought s not perhaps to be particular to a million or two, but surely the figure is much exaggerated. If all persons ate cheese, this would give an allowance of 40 lb. annually to each—about 12 oz. weekly. But, as everyone knows, a very large part of the popula tion never touch it, and the quantity which must therefore be consumed by the cheese- eaters, becomes something in credible. We must at least hope that the statistic is incor rect. Cheese, especially of the cheap sort consumed mainly by the agricultural population, is a very imperfect form of food; and as it it is all but proved that a largo proportion is never digested, it practically becomes an expensive one. idea Mo is More over, if this startling figure be correct, a painful suggested, not only of widespread poverty which fails to procure animal food, but of ignorance or indolence which k it —The Lancet cannot or would rather not coo • . ----- ARREST OF HANOVERIANS.—The Prussian Go vernment has caused 30 young Hanoverians to be arrested at Hamburg. They had arrived in that city to embark for America in order to avoid the military service. The most absurd story now current in Paris is as to Cardinal Richelieu's head. It appears that the ci-devant deputy, M. Armez, who presented the Government with the mask which was enclosed in the cardinal's tomb at the Sorbonne with so much pomp last Saturday, is not the only person who flatters himself he has the veritable and genuine article. An oppo s iti on h ead is in possession of another senator, M. Merimee, who fondly dreams that his is the real head, and produces no end of old parchment documents in defence of his conviction. Accounts from Berlin mention the formation of an influential committee for establishing, under the auspices of the Prussian Government, an important lino of steam communication between Germany and the United States, via Southampton. A weekly line of fast steamships carrying the Prussian and other continental mails is to de part from Geestemunde (the Hanoverian port close to Bre merhaven, recently acquired by Prussia) , and , calling at Southampton, proceed to New York and rice versa. Each of the seven ships, to be contracted for i n England and France, is to be capable of carrying 100 first-class, 100 second-class, and GUO third-class passengers, and 1,000 tons freight. The three American yachts competing in the great Atlantic Ocean yacht race aro expected to arrive at Cowes about the latter end of this month. Some Prussian officers will shortly be sent to America to acquaint themselves with the latest improve ments in the naval departments of the United States. ac- L,sty with oon, and rAng issia rch- fol t. F. .s. F raW eavy 'ace's Miss 1, for the ss of ft the nave :orts. Hat- eiv- ancS, .Itoll zany w l tho aril er see UC I c)01