The Sun. — London, England, 1865-12-21 00:00:00

NONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE, TWELVE O'CLOCK. No alteration has been made by the Bank of England directors in the rate of discount, and the Market presents an appearance of inactivity. The expectations that an advance would take place have Induced the commercial classes to obtain more ac commodation than their immediate wants required, and there is consequently very little business now in progress. A withdrawal of £22,000 in gold took place yes terday afternoon at the Bank. The Committee of the Stock Exchange have de cided upon closing the House on Saturday next. The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to this day are in round figures as under Great Western ... worth Western .. South Western ... Brighton Brighton _ 1865. 1864. £70,429 £67,613 ... 115,257 108,007 ... 22,056 21,301 17,858 16,530 Midland 49,674 46,420 South Eastern ... 20,830 19,932 Great Northern ... 37,989 34,037 Lancashire and Yorkshire ... 39,846 34,240 Bristol and Exeter 6,419 6,386 North Easte rn ... . 69,176 63,695 Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln ... 20,114 17,047 Great Eastern ... ... 33,780 31,363 London, Chatham, and Dover ... ... 7,859 6,472 These returns, when compared with those of the corresponding period of last year, are generally very satisfactory. On the Great Western there is an increase of £2,816 ; on the North Western of £7,250 ; on the South-Western, of £755 ; on the Brighton of £1,358 ; on the Midland of £3,254 ; on the South-Eastern of £B9B ; on the Great Northern of £3,952 ; on the Lancashire and York shire of £5,606 ; on the Bristol and Exeter of £33 ; on the North Eastern of £5,481; on the Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln of £3,067 ; on the Great Eastern of £2,417 ; and on the London, Chatham, and Dover, of £1,387. Two O'CLOCK. According to Reuter's telegram the 3 per Cent. French Reutes were quoted at 68f. 27c. The de l:nand held firm. The English Stock Market has been dull, but quotations have remained steady. At one time there was a tendency to a rise, but the paucity of business has prevented any important change. Consols for money are 871 f, and for the account 87 i I. The New Threes and Reduced Annuities 84 87; ; Exchequer Bills, 6s. to 2s. dis. ; Bank Stock, 246 ; India 5 per Cents., 102 fr 4 ; ditto Enfaced Paper Bonds, 148. prem. _ Foreign 'Stooks have generally been firm. Turkish 5 per Cents. are 43f I ; Mexican, ex all fonds, 25 f 4; the New Loan, 224 23 ; Greek, 151 16 i ; Spanish Passive, 28 f ; the Certificates, 151 ; Confederate Loan, 7 8 ; and Brazilian Scrip, prem. In American Securities the dealings have not been numerous, nor have quotations shown any material alteration. United States 5-20 Bonds are 66} ; Erie Shares, 591 1; and Illinois, 82i f. Business in the Railway Share Market has been rather dull. Prices, however, exhibit more firmness. Great Northern A Stock, Great Western, and Me tropolitan have each improved 10s., Midland 155., and Lancashire and Yorkshire ss. The Foreign and Colonial lines are dull at about forme r quotations. Bank and Miscellaneous Shares remain steady. Alliance are dealt in at 294 j ; English Joint Stock at 11i ; London Joint-stock at 51k ; London Fi nancial at 204 20j. ; and Overend, Gurney, and co. at 214 221 ; London Steam Towing Com pany, Shares are quoted 11 2 prem. ; British Con vention Bonds of Mexico 65 70 ; English and American Bank, 21 24 prem.; Colonial Company, Pax 1 prem. ; Atlantic and Great Western Rail- W ay Consolidated Mortgage Bonds, 1 11 prem. BRITISH FUNDS-r-ONE O'CLOCK.. GOVERNMENT FUNDS. D Der Cent. Consols - Do. Account, Jan. 9 '; ‘ ,Per Cent. Reduced B7 3 N ew 3 per Cent 873 7 3 qev? 23 per Cent. Jan. 1894 — Do. 5 p er C en t. J an . 1873 annuities ; 30 yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 Do. fo r 30 y rs , ex pi re sth April,lBBs — ~ Do (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug., 1908 — '-xchequer Bills, £l,OOO, 3 per Cent. 6 2 die Do. £5OO • D DO £lOO and £200 'atik of England Stock, 5 per Cent Do Account 1 111 )1AN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. In dian,, Stock, 103 per Cent., Apri11874... Shut 4 ‘ , 0 Account ~ '1; 0 7 5 per Cent. July, 1870 Cent., Oct. 1888 4 - 1 ,0. Certificates — '- 1 „0. Enlaced Paper 4 per Cent Do. 5 per Cent., Jan. 1872 "0. 53 per Cent., May 1879 Cent., Aug. 1866 — O. Bonds, £l,OOO l4 pm Do. under £l,OOO FOREIGN FUNDS -ONE 0 CLOCK. t tl atrian Bonds, 5 per Cent, 1859 l'azilian 5 per Cent — DO. 41 per Cent., 1852-58-60 Do. 1863 , Do. 1865 11,,u0. nos A yr es 6 p e r ida ent l3 pm , eC ,„ 0 . Account 0,,,,.°0 1 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent ) 27 3 Alan 6 per Cent 0 1- ', 0 - 3 per Cent Le_ombian 6 per Cent. B2 üb a? 6 per Cent. a kish 3 per Cent, 1825 — '''. l , ol . 4 per Cent, 1863 — I) ' - ' O . 5 per Cent., 1773-77, £25 paid — a N a ubian Principalities leo Account - 1 0 ador New Consolidated, 1 per Cent — ' 1 ' 0 . 7 Provisional Land Warrant — I WPtian 7 per Cent — ,„ 0 ., Second ue 923 '" 0 £lOO Bon d s h Do. 1864 — ti,.*"o £lOO Bonds — ' h e ck 5 per Cents. , 1824-5, ex Coupons D ° - - Account b °. Coupons — G 0 . Account taternala, 5 per Cent. — , 1 ; 1 : : £B6 paid — i t Z : • 1839 and 1850 — 1) 1 _41 5 per Cent, 1865 e• Account • .C. Maremmana Railway • . 0 0 S crip, £674 paid — it a ,„,.? Per Cent., 1864 - '" - ican 3 per Cent — Ac "0 • count 1) 0 Do 1864 223 g II ' per Cent. Anglo-French — kt o 0 French Scrip, Ex. 25f 20c — 11 0 ° „,., t evidea,n 6,,per Cent., £3O paid W N e -o 2 ' Bl 3. Imperial 5 per Cent o ra - p nada D ° per Cent b° Deferred D 0 ° Land Warrants (Hectares) ij o aXer Cent, 1864 — t'e,. 4 ~. - u alanteed, 4 per Cent — D o 'via ll 44 per Cent — D° • Account 8 • b o erg), £45 paid, paid in Bonds — P j) 3 per Cent. (Uribarren) — 0 11 ° 4 1 per Cent., 1862 D 0 "guese 3 per Cent., 1853 ), 0 0 3 A Per Cent., 1856, '7, '9, '6O, '62, '3, 4 Cir sp , ; * 4 -eut C o a A l l 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St B9 13 3 A '4' per Cent. 1850 D o 4 9 - Per Cent., 1860 ri, 5 Pez Cent. 1859 — p 130 6 Per Cent. 1862 BBl I 9 ardi ja . Per Cent. 1864 — /3 144 5 per Cent . B Pa ti ° i . 4 ,ceount Di t ,2 . 3 per Cent D 4 O account — D 0 A N ew Deferred 6 0 A ccount b Passive b ° 4cc 44,_, ount 2B i s boll Cert of Coup not funded We e ° o unt l5l 1 dish 4 1 , D O. A , per Cent. — v4l,oPer Cent. 1864 D 0 DA c ou ' : pernt Cent. 1854 — Do D o A Per Cent. 1858 D 0 7,ecount D Do• 11 ' lo Bo n d s 0 0 6 Per Cent D o4 ,per Cent 1862 4) 0 'count 23 fl -t0 Bonulo -o 6 s D o 5 Per Cent., 1863 — D, s o Q z L e r Cent 1865 .. uo ' 4 1 ) 7 7f.35 aid - tio Account P -- , oo PI . 1 . ) o, 4 ez i , e P ia o/: , Cent. Guaranteed — O A_ per Cent. 1) „0 -. `' ° ° ll llt 'Jo. Al l ?! Cent., 1862 I o llnt i . ,i.n.:, L eir ioi , uends on the above payable in London. 'Ali itent es , 5 ..,_ kit) Ac v"r Cent., 1861, Ex. 25f. ° ° l lnt 65 Cor is _, 3 TWO O'CLOCK. bou: A for money " ..., . t 873 4 43 I edge, o f the It the John Lord been Ba •oss of h e de- LctionS last, a are for in his igage ratify. a long Y path ich he It and far the cape o rout of riew of sserablo thardo, diffi' 7onag e t ared rho a- i s sub hick, A Italian ;ht that should it caw_ udience and to cer- ace Yes he per- wa rd in stage° reached nd as he whi ch up a nd oumfer „9 121. 0. / my' so rt A of th e from th e 18 09 " ood and or other esday• Soeieti; c are ' 9 ; )f one bition n derile gt me 'do e all n eat )etter d swi ne. ifined t° he la r g e ineast oo arly 15 ! j udg eP ding t" Com ber , titer, ling 111°: tries vro pren3sll° wellt giceo bi or Oil the b : Lool 3 °' )0 1 r* or Orr on ; s-1 :t bes t t• oatris Sall r the b° . jechda pi best Ple Is for - ilver °P t ' the bes o >recl hors notwitila ather, 311 shed: ac o• ff ere - !l e d e 0 %bi bi "0 in , i s i 00511 co rd rrre. h SHARE MARKETS.—This Day. ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS. Railways. Bristol and xeter Caledonian Cambrian .... Cork and 8and0n...... Cornwall Dublin & Belfast June Dun„Perth, & A b.Junc. E.London, scrip Certi. 43 95 125 26 94 96 13 15 4i 54 68 72 70 72 1281 Do. Glasgow do S. Western Great Eastern, Ord. stk. Do. E. Angl. st. No. 2 Great North of Scotland Great Northern DJ. A s tock • • Do. B stock 113 115 42 13 71 fk 1214 127 145 145 Do. sew, is. at 25 pm GtS, and W. of Ireland Gt. Western Val. Rail gua. Do. South Wales Do. W. Mid.—Oxford Do. Newport Do. Hereford. Lane shire & Yorkshire Landon and Blackwall Lon., b'righ.,& S Coast Lon., Chat., and Dover 92 94 53; 99} 601 61 3J 10 33 37 0.1 , 05 1211 122 k 9) 12 102 101 36 38 50 52 1241 125] 951 96} 61% 63 1371 LB O 3 lip 14 11, 103 104 Do. Metrop. Ex. A.. Lon. dz North Western Lon. & South Western Man., Shet., & Lincoln, Metropolitan. Do. New • Do. Extension...... Metropolitan District. Do do. do. Do. and St. John'sW'd Mid , and Do. £9 Share Do, Birmin.. & Derby %lid Kent .. North British Do. Ed., Pth , & Dun Nth. Eastern—Berwick Do. (I.N•E purchase Do. Leeds Do. York Do. Carlisle Do. Stock. & Darling. Do. do. 1860-61 North London Do. do. 1864 Do. do. 1865 . North Staffordshire N. & S. W. Junction Scottish Central Scot. N. E , Aber. stock t , o. Scot, Mid. stJck Shropshire Union South Devon Jouth Eastern Staines, Wok., & Wok Taff Vale Do. C Vale of Neath 1211 123 f 131 9 t 55 57 7 29 1101 134 71i 7 4, 10ii 1051 36 37 10 11 p 126 128 2 2,p 2 2tip 74 75 11 12 148 15 66 68 112 1H Waterford & Kilkenny 1 Waterloo & Whiteha 1 West Cornwall Closing I Business Paid.! price. done. 421 1 1274 64 146 4 59 SI 91 1221 i I 90i 90 366 7 1251 95 f 6 el 1386 981 71 1222 3-1 22 5 BRITISH P Atlantic & St. Lawrence Born., Baroda, Cen.ln. gu. 5 per cent... Do. N' shares Buffalo dz Lake Huron Do. Preference Buff.,Brant,&Goderichl 6 p . .c. .872-3- Calcutta As S. E., lim ...:ape Town & Dock, gu Demerara, 7 p.c. per. p: East. Bengal, gu., 5 do East Indian, gu. 5 p.c. Do. J Extension Grand Trunkot Canad a Do. Equip. Mort, Bonds I charge 6 p.c Do. Ist Pref. Bonds Do. do. deferred Do. 2d Pr, t. Bonds Do. do. deterred Do. 3d Pref. stock Do. do. deferred Do. 4th Pref. stock Do. do. deterred Gt. India Pen. gua. sp.c o. Gua. 5 per cent Do. New gua. 5 p. a Gt. South of India gua. 5 per cent D . 41 per cent Do Great Wes. of Canada-1 DJ. New Do. 6 p. c. Bda. pay. 18731 Do. 54 do. pay. 1877-8 Indian Branch, limited) Madras, gua. 5 p.o Do 41 do Do. 4; do Do. Fifth Extension Melb. Cor. 6 p. c. Bnds. Mel. & Hudson's Bay N.l{l.e'da,6pclstpf.bs Scinde Do. Delhi o es I Do. do i. 4. Do. Puniaub a., Do.lndus St. Flo COLONIAL GO VER, British Columbia, 6 per cent., Dec. 31, 1472.... Can.Gov.6 p.c.Ja.& July 1877-84 - Do. 6 g. c. Feb. & Aug Do. 5 p. c. Mar. & Sept Do. 5 p. c. Jan. & July Do. 5 p. e. Inscribed sk Cape G.Hope, 6 p.c. 1873 Do.Apl.&Oct 1890-1900 Do. do: 1889-9 Do. Jan.&July, 1690-9 v Do. 5 per cent. 15 April and 15 Oct., 1900 Ceylon, Nov. 1868, 6 p. c. Do. 1878, do Mauritius, 6 p. C, 1873, Jan. and July Do. 1.,78 Do. 1882, Mayls, Nov. Do. 16VO, FeO. Natal 'iov. 0 per cent N.8.G0v.6 N. S.W. Gov. 5 p TOM , Do. 5 p.c. 18:1 to IB7t Do. 5 p.c. 1888 to 189.! New Zealand, 6 p. cent Do. 5 per cent.... Nova Scutla Gov. 6 p. c ' sterling, 1875 Queensland Gov. 6 p. C S. Aus.Gov. 6 p,c 1868-1, Do. 1878 & upwards "Vic,Gov. 6 p.c. Ja &July Do. do, A pril & Oct 55 57 71 75 8 9 147 150 3 4p 101 104 49 51 ISSIONS. 59 61 102 103 0 tp 10 11 75 80 99 101 65 70 100 103 102 IC2 103 104 par ip 32 33 88 90 68 63 55 60 56 53 50 55 45 48 40 44 32 31 31 33 103 IC4 i i P t I P 104 1024 16i 17 4 Sid v 3 15 13.4 1 4( 1 1011 1021 93 95 89 91 63 65 82 81 101 3 / 4 102 i 101 , , 1024 I - I ti 10, 102 'KENT SECUI 96 98 94 96 94 96 82 8 81 83 104 106 104 106 11.4 105 105 1(7 90 92 10) 1(2 1(6 198 103 105 10601 108 1.6 l lui6 96 99 96 08 1 0 102 93 05 8) 01 103 105 84 85 10) 102 103 104 106 108 105 106 BRITISH MINES. 2 Cam. Consol. Gold, lim. 1 Chiverton Clifford Amalgamated 3O 22 234 Devon G. Cons. (Tavist 1 575 505 Drake avails 2.1.0 East Bassett (Illogan) 291 18 20 East Caradon 2.14.6 8/ 01 East Carn Brea 3f a 51 Nast Grenville 2.14.0 3 34 East Gunnislake .. 8.3.6 4 1 East Loved 3.9.0 14 15 E. WI Russell (Tavistk 10.8.0 3 31 Gam.& StAubyn(G wen. 66 5 7 4 Great L 2c.ey, limited all 20 21 Great South Tolgus 0.14.6 11 2 Great Wheal Busy 14.9.6 3i 4 G. Wheal Vor (Heist ‘l, 4(1 34 35 Grenville 8.18.0 31 4 Herod's Foot .... 8.10.0 36 38 Hingston Downs 5.10.6 51 51 Margaret (Uny Lelant 13.17.6 5 7 Marke Valley 4.10.6 4 41 4 alwyndy Iron Ore, UM 2} 21 I,d - New Seton - North Roskear N.Wh'l Bassett (Illogan 4.4.0 1 1 North Wheal Crotty 2.13.( 1 11 Prosper United 7.1.6 Pr .vidence Uny IMant 10.6.7 38 40 S. Caradon (St. Cleer) ll 420 410 South Condurrow 3.2.0 if :1 S.Wheal Fran. (Mogan 18.18.9 20 25 - Stray Park 35.15.6 10 12 Tin Croft 9 19 20 5 Vigra and Clcgan, dm all 5 7 West hassett (Mogan W. Caradon (Llskeard 9 9 11 West Chiverton ll 771 824 West Seton 474 190 200 Wheal Bassett 'Mogan 54 95 1(0 Wheal Buller (Redruth 16 31 371, Wheal Mary Ann (Men. 8 4 6 Wheal Seton Wheal Trelawney (Lis. 7 181 19 PREFERENCE Bristol and Exeter 4 per cent. stock, Great Western, 4 per cent irred 81 Great Western, Chester gua. stock, - Ditto, ditto, 8 per cent. pf. stock, 166 North hastern, Cons. pref., 4 per cent., Ditto, 41 per cent:red., 8i FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Bahia and San Francisco (lien.) gua. 7 per cent., 141 Dutch Rhenish, 231 Great Luxembourg, 16 N. Rail of Buenos Ayres, gua. 7 per cent., 51 Ottoman (Smyrna to Aidin), 10$ South Austrian and Lombardo Venetian, 17 West Flanders, 71 LA IC,E;S. 89 ,FOREIGN MINES Fortuna (Urn.), 3 r Frontino and tsolivia•Gold, lim.,'2e Mcnt. Aureos Brazil Gold Min. Co., BANKS. Agra and Masterman's, Um., 571 7 * Alliance, lim.. 19 Bank of British Columbia, 47 Bank of Egypt, 29* Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China. 241 Chartered ter. of India, London, and China, 47 Consolidated Bank, Urn., 10* Eng,ish Joint Stock, Um., llj London and Brazilian (11m.), 4E4 London and River Plate, Ditto. new, 13} London Chartered Bank of Australia, 23i London and County, 79k London Joint Stock, 51} Oriental Commercial Bank, Rm., late N. F., 3 MISCELLANEOUS. Atlantic Telegraph, 8 per cent. gua., 3f Company of African Merchants, lim., 3f Credit Fonder and Mobilier of k nglano , 81 f East Indian Land Credit and Finance, lim., Of East India Irrigation and Canal, ft Ebbw Vale, 13 English and Foreign Credit, 41 English and Scottish Marine, lim., 4 Gen. Credit and Finance of London, lira., Hudson's Bay, 17 Imperial Mercantile Credit A sso., Um- 7f International ociety, lim., 6a f Italian Irrigation (Canal Cavour), Ditto, 6 per cent. Bonds, redem. Ib7o, issued 90, 83 Joint Stock Discount. lim., 8/ f London Financial Association, Bin , 201 London General Omnibus Company, lira., 3f Natal Land and Colonizati_n Co., National Discount company. 17 Ocean Si arine Insurance). 241 Otago and Southland Investment, 2. Ottoman Gas, lim., 3f Overend, Gurney, and Co., Ihn., Ili 21 Union Marine, Liverpool, lim., 41 The Price of Gold. The quotation of gold at Paris is about per mile pm., and the short exchange on London is 25.121 per £1 sterling. On comparing these rates with the English Mint price of 43 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold ix about 2-Itths per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advic:s from Hamburg the price of gold is 424 per mark and the short exchange on London is 13.41 per £1 atcrlinJ. Standard gold at the English Mint price is, therefore, at about the same price in London and Hamburg. the course of exchange at New York on London for bills al 60 days' sight is about 10 per cent. At these rates there is no profit on the importation of go'd from the United States. 100 3j 100 all 100 100 100 16.13.4 HIE SUl', LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, lEEE. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—This Day OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Blackburn.) THE ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER IN LAMBETH. Mr. Metcalfe made an application to the Court for the postponement of the trial of the prisoner Shirley, who stood indicted for attempting to murder Mr. llus by shoot ing him with a revolver. The Court asked the grounds for such an application. Mr. Metcalfe said the case would present various pecu liarities, and the prisoner had not yet had time to collect together the materials for his defence. The Court granted the application. THE RUSSIAN ROUBLE NOTE FORGERIES. The prisoners charged with feloniously having in their possession 500 forged five-rouble notes of the Russian em pire were brought up this morning. The council engaged for the prisoners having addressed the jury on their behalf, the learned judge summed up the case, but the jury had not returned their verdict when we went to press. NEW COURT. (Before the Recorder.) The court was occupied this morning in disposing of a case of indecent assault. The prisoner eventually pleaded guilty to tho attempt, and he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour. THIRD COURT. (Before the Common Sergeant.) Francis Gayton, lately in the service of Mr. Bennett, the jeweller of Cheapside, surrendered to an indictment, charg ing him with embezzling certain moneys, the property of his employer. It appeared that the defendant had been sent home with some jewellery, and for some time he did not account for the money as he had left it at home. Afterwards he spoke to the cashier, and asked him if he would take the money, and he replied that, as far as he was personally concerned, he had no objection, but that he had received orders not to do so. The jury found a verdict of not guilty. Martha Smith was indicted for feloniously wounding Ann Gordon, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm. The prosecutrix and the prisoner both belonged to the " unfortunate" class, and the injury was inflicted after a drinking bout at a low public-house. The prisoner, in defence, said she was greatly aggravated by the prosecutrix. The jury found her guilty of unlawfully wounding. The common sergeant sentenced her to six months' im prisonment. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. A STRANGE CHARACTER.—Thomas Blackwell, a crazy looking man, was charged before Mr. Knox with being drunk and disorderly. Edgar Adams, 148 0, said that about one o'clock that morning he was passing through Silver-street, when he heard the prisoner making use of bad language. He told the prisoner to desist, and asked him what the was matter, when he replied that he was looking for his walking-stick, and again began making a great noise, being at the time drunk. As the prisoner refused to go away and disturbed the inhabitants of the street, he took him into custody, when he set to making use of the vilest expressions, and said if he could only get a knife he would cut his (wit ness's) - fingers off. Barnes, the gaoler, said he did not think the prisoner was in his right mind. All the property he had with him was a bag full of rubbish. The prisoner, who appeared to be lame, said he had been bitten in the knee by a dog. Barnes said the prisoner had once before been charged at the court and sent to the House of Detention that the state of his mind might be inquired into, and he believed it was then stated that he was sane. The prisoner said he had nowhere to sleep. Mr. Knox fined the prisoner 10s. or seven days. THAMES. THE SMOKE NUISANCE ACT—ANOTHER Bow COMMON NUISINCE.—AIfred Vosper, the proprietor of oil works and a brimstone refinery in Bow Common-lane, Limehouse, appeared before Mr. Paget to answer an information and summons taken out by Mr. Edward Worels, the superin tendent of the K division of police, for using a furnace so constructed as not to burn or consume its own smoke. Mr. William Sandison, engineer, by direction of the Home Secretary, inspected the defendant's works on the 28th of June last, and again on the Ist November. There were fifty furnaces under evaporating pans. There was no smoke consuming apparatus attached, and smoke poured out in volumes. There would be no difficulty at all in applying a smoke consuming apparatus to the furnaces. The defendant promised to make the necessary alterations when he made the first inspection, and nothing had been done. Inspector Bean of the K division, who accompanied Mr. Sandison on the Ist of November, said that dense volumes of black smoke issued from the centre shaft of the defend ant's premises. It was the greatest nuisance on Bow comm n n _ He had seen the road opposite covered with smoke. The nuisance continued up tin yesteruar --- ------ A Solicitor, on the part of the defendant, said that his client had suggested improvements and had tried various plans for the consumption of smoke, but they failed. The cost could not be abated all at once. Mr. Paget thought there had been very gross neglect on the part of the defendant, and fined him £4, which was paid. MARKETS—This Day. METROPOLITAN CATTLE. There was a la* supply of beasts on offer here to-day, in fair average condition. All breeds met a dull sale, at a decline in the quotations, compared with Monday, of from 2d to 4d per Blbs. Scots and crosses sold at 4s 8d to 4s 10d per 81bs. Sheep, the show of which was seasonably good, moved off heavily, at 2d to 4d per 81bs less money. The best Downs changed hands at 6s 4d per 81bs. The demand for calves vas in a depressed state, and prices gave way 4d per Blbs. The top figure was 4s 8d per 81bs. Pigs were very dull, and 2d per 81bs cheaper than last week. In mulch cows next to nothing was doing. Per 81b to sink the offal. d s d Crse. & inf. beasts... 3 2 3 6 Second quality do ..3 8 4 2 Prime large oxen ..4 4 4 6 . Prime Scots. &c.... 4 8 4 10 Crse. and inf. sheep. 3 8 4 4 Second quality do ..4 6 5 2 s ds d Pme crs-wool sheep 5 4 5 10 Prime o'thdown 00.6 u 6 4 La-ge coarse calvcs.3 8 4 2 Prime small d0......4 4 4 8 Large hogs 4 4 6 Small porkers 4 8 5 0 Lamb ....Os Od to 0 - 3 Od. Suckling calves, 19s to 20; and quarter-old store pigs, 30s to 32s each. Head of stock on sale. Total supply. Foreign supply. Beasts 2,010 I Beasts Cows. - 110 Cows. Sheep Calves 2.0 Ca ves l6O 110 Pigs 370 Pigs MEAT MARKETS. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The supplies of meat on sale here are very extensive. A good business is doing, as follows :—Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 6d ; mutton, 3s 10d to 5s 4d; veal, 4s Od to 4s 8d; and pork, 4s 4d to 5s 8d per 81b by the carcase. SOUTHALL, Dec. 20.—There was a good supply of fat stock on sale here to-day, and the trade was very inactive at our quotations. Beef, from 3s 6d to 5s 2d; mutton, 4s Od to 6s 6d; veal, 4s 4d to 4s 8d; and pork, 4s Od to 5s Od per 81b. to sink the offal. ROMFOHD, Dec. 20.—We were well supplied with stock, and sales progressed slowly, as follows :—Beef, from 3s 6d to 5s 2d; mutton, 4s Od to 6s 4d; veal, 4s 2d to 4s 8d; pork, 4s Od to 5s Od per 81b. Suckling calves, 17s to 20s; quarter-old store pigs, 29s to 32s ; and milch cows, £l5 to £l9 each. HAY SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £4 Os to £5 ss; clover, £5 5s to £6 108 Od ; and straw, £1 16s to £2 Os per load. Trade inactive. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £4 Os to £slos Od; clover, £5 5s to £6 lOs Od ; and straw, £1 16s to £2 2s per load. A moderate supply. WHITECRAPEL.—Meadow hay £4 Os to £5 ss; clover, £5 5s to £6 lOs Od; and straw, £1 16s to £2 Os per load. Supply moderate. Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day. Cotton market quiet. Sales about 8,000 bales. THE WARDMOTES—This Day. The annual election of the members of the Court of Common Council took place to-day in the vari ous wards in the various wards in the City. In most of them the old candidates were returned without opposition. In Farringdon ward the pro ceedings did not partake of the unanimity that pre vailed. Several new candidates were anxious for the honour of a seat in the civic parliament. DESTRUCTIVE FIRES (THIS DAY).—This morning a fire broke out in the premises of Mr. James Scott, greengrocer, at 150, High-street, Hoxton, which was nearly attended with fatal consequences to four persons. The flames commenced in the shop, and rapidly ascended. The inmates were rescued by the police and neighbours, and the firemen very quickly extinguished the fire. An unoccupied house, 3, Paxton-villas, York-road, Holloway, was burned down, supposed to be by an incendiary. The volunteer and brigade engines turned out, but all their exertions did not save it. Two or three other fires also occurred, but the damage done at each was inconsiderable. THE JAPANESE COMMISSIONERS IN LONDON.— Yesterday evening the Japanese Commissioners visited Lloyd's Underwriters' Rooms. Rear-Admiral Halstead, the secretary, conducted them through the establishment. They afterwards paid a visit to the Bank of England. The Japanese were seven in number, and were attired in the costume of their country, wearing twQ swords each. LITERATURE. Once a Week. Christmas Number. Ihe Christmas numbers of our weekly and monthly serials usually show them at their very best, in due accordance with the brightness and pleasantness of the holiday season. The Christ mas number of awe a Week is no exception to this rule, and it iE replete with interest and amuse ment. We have high-wrought romance, tragedy, comedy, farce, and melodrama, with all the ex traneous aid that the poet and the illustrator can give them. " Oar Brown Passenger," by Henry Kingsley, is told with all his accustomed force and fire, and it is a sufficiently exciting narrative, recording a meeting with an iceberg in the dead of a lovely night. The Brown Passenger, who turns out to be a Real-Admiral incognito, throws off his reserve, and cones boldly to the rescue, supply ing the place of the captain, and organising the pas sengers to supersede the cowardly crew. Mrs. Wood, the authoress of " East Lynne," gives us a story of " A Ches: with Silver Mountings," which is also in part a sef, story. " The Golden Wedding in the Workhouse . ' is a page from " the short and simple annals of the poor." " The Ace of Hearts" is a somewhat disnal story of Dutton Cook, and as no Christmas nunLber could be complete without its ghost story, we lave an account of the practical service rendered ly a ghost detective. " Christmas Thoughts on Copkery" are so very sensible and appropriate, that we hope our fair chatelaines will take care to act upon them during the new year. Chambers's Journel, containing an extra Christmas Number. The numerous readers of this valuable periodical will be delighted to meet with the addenda here presented to them in the shape of a collection of tales entitled " Waiting fox the Host." The serio comic strain in which they are told is most amusing, and quite_ a pantomimic effect is produced by the rivalries and vigilance of the two aspirants for the vacant chair of state. Some of the tales told at the table are very interesting, and " Wait ing for a Suitor" is perhaps the most momentous one. The readers of the general part of the maga zine will be glad to learn that they are to be fur nished with another tale by the author, of the " Clyffard of Clyffe," which exciting narrative will be completed in the December part. There is much to attract attention in this part of Cham bers's Journal; and we can confidently recom mend it to the notice of the numerous class who seek for diversion at this holiday season, and can not fail to meet with it in these varied contents. Ltstley's Royal Theatre. The title of the pantomime this year is an exten sive one, of " Harlequin Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son, Pope Joan, and Little Bopeep ; or, Old Daddy Long Legs, and the Pig that Went to Market, and the Pig that Stayed at Home." It is, like its suc cessful predecessor, " Jack Spratt," comprised of a variety of well-known nursery rhymes ingeniously dovetailed together, and the little folks, for whom this entertainment has been specially constructed, may depend upon meeting some old friends in new and unexpected situations. The pantomime com mences with the submarine retreat of Mother of Pearl, where the frolics of the Mermaids and the Fishes revels are disturbed by a message from E. T. Smith, who, having tried everything on earth to. make his pantomime the best in London, has, at the last moment, determined to seek the assistance of those who are even deeper than himself ; his request being granted by Mother of Pearl (Miss Britton). The scene ends with a grand movement of the Small Fry, and a show of Fish not to be equalled even at the Crown and Sceptre at Greenwich. The second scene is the Hazardous Post of Pope Joan and Caid Castle, by moonlight. In this, after being treated to an amusing Game of Dominoes and a few odd tricks of the Dice, we are introduced to the Knave of Hearts (Mr. Templeton), whose notorious tart stealing propensities are interfered with by the ap pearance of Pope Joan (Mr. Atkins), who, disgusted with the badness of her three suits, Hearts, Spades, and Clubs, determines to throw up her cards unless she finds an improvement in her fourth, and, to effect this, she changes the ;third scene to cue - r alate — Or Diamonas, — where, after having been a little cheered, as most ladies are by the prospect of matrimony she summons to her board a variety of old friends and a splendid pack of well-known trumps, for the purpose of arranging the evening's amusement. Here the subject of the pantomime is determined, and after the introduction of a Grand Feu de Cartes Vivantes, a Pas Seul by Madlle. Frederic, and a great deal of very amusing shuffling, the cards are cut and the hero of the opening introduced in scene ' 4th, Interior of the Village Piper's Dwelling. Here, of. course, Charity meets with its own re ward. Tom's mother (Mr. Russell), forced to see beyond her nose; Tom (Miss Caroline Parkes) is just in pudding-time, and is started by the grate ful fairy to save his sweetheart Bopeep (Miss Louisa Laidlaw) from the designs of the youth ful Giant, Little Long Legs (Signor Milano), whose sheep-stealing practices have long been notorious in his neighbourhood. Scene sth is Bopeep Meadow, attached to Lambkin Farm, where Bopeep is found asleep, Longlegs guilty of sheep-stealing, and Tom the Piper very fond of a pretty girl. There idleness is very pro perly punished, and a number of very pretty tails are finished, and a black sheep worn-out not to be so black as he is painted. Tom, endowed with a magic pipe, is despatched by the friendly fairy to the domains of the wicked Daddy Longlegs, whose destruction has to be accomplished by the peculiar means mentioned in history previous to Tom being married to his lovely but intolent intended wife, Little Bopeep. This scene is terminated by a Pas toral Fete, introducing the magnificent stud of horses peculiar to this establishment ; a Grand Arcadian Ballet, and an illustration of Old English Sports, on which a vast amount of expense has been carefully expended. The scene 6th is Pork Pie Pavilion and Daddy Longlegs Castle. Here, Tom the Piper meets with the Pig who went to Market, steals the Pig previously stolen from his Father by the wicked Longlegs, exhibits some very strange airs to that young gentleman, ]eads him a good dance, and ulti mately gains admission to the castle through the influence of one who proves himself to be a greater goose than himself. Scene 7th is the Grand Hall Staircase of Daddy Longlegs. Here Tom puts every body's pipe out but his own. The Thies are turned, and Daddy Longlegs, taken by the left leg and thrown down stairs as directed, the whole ending with a most ex tensive Hop, which is taken in consequence. Scene Bth. The Retreat of the Fairies leads to the Grand Transformation Scene, entitled a Coral Reef, invented and painted by Mr. C. Brew, whose name is a sufficient guarantee for the excellence of this artistic production. In addition to the characters in the 9ening already mentioned may be added the following :—Good Temper, Miss Nellie Nisbitt ; Good Cheer, Miss Louise Smart ; Dew Drop, Miss Dormer; Fun, Miss Nelly Smith ; and Music, Miss Harriet Pelham. The Pantomime characters are as follows :—Harlequin, M. Vestris ; Pantaloon, Mr. Beckingham ; Sprite, Mr. Sextillian ; Columbines, Miss Emma Corti and Miss Grosve nor ; Harlequina, Miss Esther Austin ; Clown, Mr. Rowella. The music is by J. H. Tully, Esq., and the whole produced under the direction of Mr. J. H. Friend. The scenery by Messrs. Charles and William Brew. In the comic business Mr. Rowella, the clown, writes all the comic scenes, and is the pivot on which all the funs turns. Donato Frere, the one-legged dancer, is here, who astonishes us with his extreme agility, with waltzing, &c. An extraordinary action was tried in the Court of Exchequer yesterday, Messrs. Pearce and Oounteze, coach-builders, of Long Acre, sued a woman named Brooks for a sum of money on account of a brougham, which they said they had sold to her. The defence was that the brougham had been hired, and, fur ther, that it was lent by the plaintiffs, as they well knew, to enable the defendant to carry on her vocation as a pros titute. The evidence was of a conflicting character, and strangely significant. Finally the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, on the ground that the plaintiffs sup plied the vehicle toler as a prostitute. Shocking Murder near Blairingone (From the Scotsman.) The immediate vicinity of Blairingone—a village in the parish of Fossaway and county of Perth—has just been the scene of a cowardly and premeditated murder. The facts, so far as at present known, ap pear to be these :—Messrs. Wm. Muirhead and Son, bakers, Alloa, have in their employment a carter named Alex. M'Ewan, whose daily duty is to drive a bread cart to various towns and villages in the vicinity of Alloa—his practice being to leave home early in the morning, his cart being laden with bread, returning in the evening to his employers with his en'pty boxes and cash drawn from sales. On the morning of Monday last M'Ewan left Alloa with his bread cart, intending to proceed to Dollar and Muckart, then returning by the Dollar road on to Blairingone, from there to Forest - Mill and Clack mannan, and home to Alloa, calling on various dealers or customers in each place. In the course of his daily journey, the carter received money from the customers of his employers, and these payments it was his wont to account for on his return home after his day's work. On the present occasion, all seems to have gone well with M'Ewan, both at Dol lar and Muckhart.. On returning from the latter place, M'Ewan had to pass, on his way to Blairin gone, through a bleak and wooded road—a road little frequented, and particularly dreary at this season of the year. There is a bridge on the road, known by the name of Vicar's Bridge, and at this stage on his journey M'Ewan arrived safely between the hours of 4 and sin the afternoon. At this point an assassin was waiting in ambush the arrival of the poor carter. At what must have seemed to him an opportune time the ruffian stealthily emerged from his hiding-place, directed the muzzle of a loaded gun or pistol behind the ear of the unoffending tra veller, fired, and fatally wounded his t victim. So sure was the aim that part of the face of the carter was blown away, and his head otherwise greatly shattered. Whether the carter had fallen from his seat after having been shot, or whether he was dragged from the cart to the ground, is at present uncertain. Be that as it may, unappalled by the frightful tragedy, the assassin, doubtless in accord with his premeditated plan, proceeded to the work of plunder. He rifled M'Ewan's pockets of all the money they contained, the amount of which is not yet known, and then left his bleeding victim to die on the public road. The horse and cart duly ar rived at a house of call at Blairingone, and the horse paused there, but its usual guide was missing, and the cart was stained with blood. These circum stances caused immediate inquiry, and on search being made the unfortunate carter was found to the east of the village, frightfully disfigured, and life fast ebbing. Questions were put to him, but he comprehended them not, and a faintly-uttered " Where's my horse ?" were the only words dis tinctly articulated. Medical aid was sent for, but proved of no avail—the murdered man dying in the course of the hour or two after having been struck down. Intelligence of the tragedy soon spread, and the police were immediately on the alert to discover the perpetrator of the murder. News of the event was telegraphed to the Perthshire authorities, and every effort will doubtless be made to discover the murderer and bring him to speedy justice. Whe ther the police have as yet succeeded we do not know, but already they have apprehended on sus picion two well-known characters, named Bray and Bell—the former an Englishman, a dealer in horses, and sort of under-contractor for railways ; the other an Irishman, a poacher, and otherwise of bad repute. As may be supposed, the crime has caused consider able excitement in the district. The deceased carter was a faithful servant, was very generally respected, and leaves behind him a wife and child to lament his untimely death. The Fire and Loss of Life in Aldgate• 4 Mr. Wm. Payne, the coroner for London and Southwark, opened an inquest at the Mitre, Mitre street, Aldgate, on the bodies of the sufferers who perished in the fire that occurred the preceding day. The inquiry created great excitement, and after the foreman and jury were sworn, they proceeded with the coroner to view the charred remains, and upon their return to the inquest-room the first wit -m=s-tatierrW7tl3 _ _ Mary Simmonds, wife of Daniel R. Simmonds. The Coroner, before any evidence was adduced, said that according as the law at present stood, no one was allowed to make fireworks or any other combustible material without a licence. They would hear the evidence, and then say whether there was any blame attributable to the owners of the premises. Mr. A. J. Murray, solicitor, of great St. Helen's, attended to watch the case. The witness proceeded to say that in August last a man named Cohen took the back room for an office. He also had a room on the second floor. From April last he carried on no business whatever. His Christian name was Emeline. A gentleman named Ashbury, who had lodged in her house, brought him to her, and recommended him. In August he said he wanted another room as an office to carry on the business of a cigar and cigarette merchant. [A letter was handed in by Mr. Case, the chief clerk, which went to show that he had addressed a circular to certain persons, in which they set forth that being large importers from St. Petersburg, he would be happy to receive their orders by post or wait upon them to see them personally.] As witness was going out into the back-yard she heard a loud puff, and then saw flames on the staircase. Witness rushed out, but her clothes caught fire. She went to the dairy close by. Mr. Levy lived in the same house. Mr. Cohen and a strangegentleman were inthe house when this happened. The only part of the premises destroyed was the office, but the other rooms were scorched or deluged by water. Mr. Cohen was now at the London Hospital. He was found in the yard and was still alive in that institution. On Saturday evening she saw some packets of paper resembling tissue, which were hung in the office, and Mr. Cohen said that if she liked she might put them in a box, as they were Chinese fireworks. She, in consequence, put the whole in a box and placed it near the fireplace. By the Coroner—She received no instructions from Mr. Cohen to be careful, and was not cau tioned that the paper was dangerous or explosive. Mr. Cohen let the other person in, whose name at present is unknown. _ _ _ Thos. Davis, of 3, Sussex-place, Leadenhall-street, said that he was sweeping some chimneys when he heard a cry of " Fire." He ran to No. 7, and found the gentleman lying on his back, and he tried to lift him up, but his skin cracked. lie tried to get assistance, but no one would help. .His clothes, and even his shirt, were in flames. He procured a cab and took him to the hospital, but he was unable to say anything as to the origin of the fire as they went along. Police-constable Walpole said that upon hearing the cry of " Fire," he went to the house, and saw flames coming from the first floor back. He sent for the turncocks and firemen, and they quickly at tended. He knew nothing of the Chinese fireworks. Chas. Levy, of 10, Bookham-street, New North road, a cabinetmaker, said that he knew Mr. Cohen by sight. He was in partnership with his father. He knew nothing about the business, and he found the money for Mr. Cohen to carry on the cigarette business. On Friday his mother showed him a sam ple piece of paper, and he understood that an offer had been made to Mr. Cohen to dispose of some, and that he could sell it wholesale. His brother told him last Saturday that there was a great quantity of the Chinese fire-paper in the office. He had seen the two bodies but could not identify them. He be lieved that one was that of his father. The Jewish professional watcher at the hospital told him that Mr. Cohen had stated that a gentleman had lighted a cigarette, which he threw down, and that it acci dentally fell into the box, and caused the explosion. Imagining the door being locked he jumped out of the window. The gentleman who dropped the light was either the party who introduced the material or was going to purchase it. Mr. Bisentman, 157, High-street, Bow, said he had known Mr. E. Cohen since April last. When he first came there he said that he had b een "hum bugged" by his partner, and was very badly off, as he had spent about £5O which he brought over to this country. Witness lent him about £4O, and he 54 75 4k 32 i i 3 3 1 i 4} ,ITIES. knew he had Chinese fire-paper in his rooms for some time past. On Fridayhe said he had got some Chinese fire-paper in the place, and he thought that he would be able to give him a considerable sum of money off what he owed him the next day. He knew nothing respecting the origin of the fire. He thought that the paper in bulk would explode and cause great damage if a spark was dropped on it. Sigismund Sheener, of Fairfield road, Bow.—He knew Mr. Hiemms, who lived in New North-road and had an office in Bury-court. He was a general merchant. He last saw him alive on Monday, in Bury-court. David Frankenstein, hotel keeper, said he knew Mr. Hiemms. His Christian name was Julius, and he lived in Herbert-street, New North-road. He did not know that he was missing. Some rings he had seen induced him to think that the body was that of Mr. Hiemms. Mr. Inspector Jacob said that hearing the cry of " Fire" he ran to the spot, and upon getting into the house found the two bodies, and it was ascer tained that he was a poor man, and was still missing. James Ford, sub-engineer of the fire brigade, said that he had heard the fire was caused by an ex plosion of Chinese fire-paper. Mr. James Sydney, managing clerk to Mr. A. J. Murray, said he had not the least doubt but that one of the deceased was named Isaac Julius Hiemms. The learned Coroner summed up, and said it ap peared that neither of the two persons whose deaths they were inquiring into caused the fire wilfully, and he must say that those papers had been intro duced most improperly into such a building. The jury, after consulting, returned a verdict of Accidental Death," and the proceedings terminated. Railways in Queensland. On the 27th Sept. last Sir George F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., &c., Governor of Queensland, accom panied by the Minister for Lands and Works, the Colonial Treasurer, and many others, went to Rockhampton in order to . inaugurate the Great Northern Railway of Queensland. Before turning the first sod, the Governor said, in answer to an address presented by the Mayor and Corporation of Rockhampton, that when he first saw Rockhamp hampten, in 1860, it was a small hamlet of wooden huts, with scarcely 500 inhabitants, who had re cently settled down in the primeval wilderness. He recollected wellthat what Lord Macaulay has termed " a rude kind of patriarchal justice, which was, how ever, better than no justice at all," was then admi nistered in a canvas tent whenever a magistrate happened to attend. On his second visit, in 1862, the population had trebled, and the hamlet had grown up into a thriving township, with about 15,000 inhabitants. On that, his third visit, he learned with much pleasure that their population had again more than trebled during the brief inter val that had elapsed since his second visit. He saw around him a flourishing town of nearly 5,000 inha bitants, with public buildings of every kind— churches, schools, a mechanics' institute, a post office, a telegraph-office, and numerous banks and warehouses. He found a judge of the Supreme Court, surrounded by the leading members of the colonial bar. He was welcomed by a mayor and aldermen, and he remarked with great satisfaction in the wharves which lined their noble river (the Fitzroy), in the well-ordered streets of their town, and in the other signs of material prosperity, the rapid progress of those advantages which municipal self-government, when prudently and vigorously administered, was certain to confer. He entirely agreed with them in attaching high importance to the great public work which was to be initiated that day. It was acknowledged in every quarter that the pressing need of the colony was the improvement of their internal communications. With this object the colonial Parliament had decided that two trunk lines of railway should be carried into the interior—one for the southern districts, from the head of the naviga tion of Moreton-bay (Brisbane), and one for the northern districts, from the head of the navigation of Keppel-bay (Rockhampton). It was well known that in 1862, in consequence of his urgent represen tations, the Imperial Government annexed to their northern territory an additional area larger than the United Kingdom, and that during several years he had spared no pains to push on two enterprises cal culated to be of great advantage to the interests of the north ; he meant the establishment of steam communication through Torres Straits, and the ex tension of the electric telegraph from Rockhampton to their north-western frontier, where it will meet the international line, which will ultimately connect Australia with Asia and Europe. Both these pro jects had received the sanction of the colonial Legis lature in its last Session, and both would be carried into execution forthwith by his constitutional Mini sters. The report of Mr. 11. T. Plews, chief engi neer, states that the Great Northern Railway will run from Rockhampton nearly due west with the interior, passing through Westwood and other townships, and traversing the extensive Leichherdt district, and will eventually reach Clermont—a township on the Peak Downs, distant 220 miles from Rockhampton ; thus opening up a vast terri tory, and enabling squatters to convey their wool speedily and cheaply to the port of Rockhampton. The Empress of the Seas, with 550 immigrants and a large quantity of railway plant, and about 50 navvies for the Great Northern Railway works, had just arrived in Keppel•-bay—the port of Rockhamp ton. She is . one of the celebrated Black Ball line of clippers, belonging to Messrs. T. M. Mackay and Co., and was consigned to Messrs. Morgan and Allen, of Rockhampton. STATE OF TRADE. LEEDS, Dec. 19.—There has been a moderate attendance in the cloth halls this morning, and, with Christmas immediately in view, a satisfactory business has been done. The weather, being a little colder than of late, and therefore indicative of win ter, was not without its effect in inducing a few purchases of heavy goods. Taking the market, however, as a whole, purchases were of a miscellane ous character, and included as many light fabrics as those more adopted for the present season. A few sample parcels of spring goods were also bought, but there is a lack of such—at least, those which present any novelty in the halls. The flax trade keeps active, and late prices are supported. LEICESTER, 20th.—There has been an average amount of business doing in hosiery goods during the past few days. There is, however, a further slackening in the demand, as is always the case at this season. In the rural districts business is quiet, and operatives not generally employed. Wools are unaltered in value, with a fair market. In worsted yarns there is no change ; prices are firm, and spin ners tolerably employed. Cotton yarns are firm, at high rates. NEWPORT, MONMOUTHSHIRE, 19.--The iron trade of the district is somewhat buoyant for the time of year, and there is no slackness of employment at the works, the mills and furnaces being kept in active operation to clear off old orders. The last two mails from New York brought some specifications on American account, but the trade with the States continues to show great fluctuation, and this is likely to be the case for two or three months longer. Bars are stiffening, and makers decline to accept orders except at full list prices, Veryfew transactions have to be reported in pig iron ; nevertheless, the market tends in favour of sellers as far as Welsh pig is con cerned. In tile f plates, charcoals are more inquired after, and colie l i command a moderate sale. There have been some considerable shipments of steam coal, and it is expected that the new year will bring with it an increased demand. NOTTINGHAM, 20th.—There has been a falling off in the demand for all classes of lace goods during the past few days. The plain net trade continues dull. A few curtains are finishing ; in other respects the cotton fancy trade is very quiet. The silk depart ment is also flat. Very few mechlins or quiltings are finishing, and there is no improvement in the de mand for black silk laces or narrow edgings. Stocks of all kinds of goods are low, as manufacturers have for some time past been making only to order. The hosiery trade continues exceedingly brisk for the time of the year. There are plenty of orders on hand, and'the prospects for the new year are cheering. Yarns are firm, and prices remain unaltered. Eggs are now dearer in France than they have ever been known. They are selling at the rate of ls. 9d. per doz. THE FIVE-FOLD-M-lIRDII. MAIDSTONE, Thursday. The trial of Southey was resumed this morning. Mr. Poland and Mr. Philbrick, instructed by Mr. Pollard, the solicitor to the Treasury, appeared for the prosecution. Mr. E. T. Smith and Mr., Blake Ellis, instructed by Messrs. Gold and Son, solicitors, 1, Serjeants' Inn, Chancery-lane, repre sented the prisoner. Josiah White, the stepson of the woman with whom the prisoner had been living, gave evidence as to his interview with Southey, when he applied for the children, •and took them to Starr's Coffee house, Red Lion-street, on the evening of the 7th of August last. The photograph produced was that of Mrs. White. Miss Elizabeth Clifford, the daughter of the pro prietor of the coffee-house, proved that the prisoner inquired on the evening of the sth for a bed, and came again on the Monday and paid for the bed, bringiig the children with him afterwards about ten o'clock. (The case was proceeding when we went to Press.) SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day, LONDON, Dec. 21.—Wind this day at noon—South. Westerly; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather cloudy. CARD - IFF, Dec. 20.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Flora, for Rio Janeiro. FALMOUTH, Doc. 19.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Posendon. from Rio Grande. CLYDE, Dec. 20.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Greenock, from Mauritius. BRISTOL, Dec. 20.—Wind W.—Arrived—Forest Fairy, from St. Michael's. OFF PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 19.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—, Kensington, from London for Boston. HOLYHEAD, Dec. 20.—Wind W.—Arrived.—Cherub, from Liverpool. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 19.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Her Ma jesty's ship Industry, from Woolwich. LIVERPOOL, Dec. 20.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Queen, from Quebec. HULL, Dec. 20.—Wind S.—Arrived—Gilbert Wheaton, from St. Michael's. LBY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. I GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning. Arrived, Dec. 20.—Proserpine, from Guernsey ; Alfred, from Dunkirk ; Baron Osy, steamer, from Antwerp. Sailed.—Lord J. Russell, steamer, for Dunkirk. DEAL, Thursday Morning. Passed in Tow.—Kent, from Melbourne, for London; Alice Tainter, from Kurrachee, for London. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton Dec. —. Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. 32. Brazil a4d Cape Verds. by British packet Jan. 4. Ditto, by French packet Dec. 22. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena... Dec. 22. China, Penang. and Singapore. via Southampton Dco. Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. 27. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Dec. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Dec. Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via Southampton. Dec. 27. Ditto, via Marseilles .. Dec 21. Mauritius, via Southampton Ditto, via Marseil.e 3 . . Jan. 5. Newfoundland Portugal .Jan 4. Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon.. . United States and British North America, by Bri tish packet Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, via Curk Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry.. Dec. 22. West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teneriffe ..Jan. 10. West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico Dec. 2) Cuba and litexico Dec. `-'O. Bahamas, via New York. Jan. 11. Bermuda, ditto . Jan. 17. RACING- FIXT JANI TRES FOR 1866. ARY. Manchester FEBIC Lincoln 2O ARY. Nottingham Spring 27 ;,Cll. MA: Derby Spring 1 Liverpool Spring Warwick Spring Doncaster Lewes Spring Croxton Park l6 Northampton 2O Windsor Spring Newcastle Spring 2B AP Newmarket Craven 2 Durham Catterick Bridge Abergavenny ... Chelmsford Spring Thirsk lO Epsom Spring Newmarket Ist Spring l6 Chester Curragh 24 Y. Epsom Summer l5 Uxbridge 2l Manchester Ascot Summer 29 Ascot Spring 1 Salisbury Bath 8 Harpenden lO York Spring JU] Windsor Summer 5 Newton Hampton Odiham Bibury l3 Stockbridge Chelmsford l9 JU. Carlisle Newmarket July Pontefract Abingdon Reading AUG Liverpool Beverley 2O Ipswich Huugerford Newcastle-on-Tyne 26 Curragh 26 Worcester SLY. - bown Royal Corp lB Stamford l9 Winchester 2l I Southampton 25 Huntingdon LIST. Brighton 7 Brighton Club Lewes lO Egham 14 Wolverhampton l4 Stockton l5 Oxford l6 Hastings 2l York August 2l Plymouth Lichfield Devon and Exeter . ..... 28 Tunbridge 2B Derby Summer 2B Weymouth BO SEPT] Warwick September 4 Curragh Leicester 6 Doncaster Canterbury lB _ OCT( Northampton 2 Newmarket 2d October 8 Curragh NOVE Lincoln Liverpool iktBER. Richmond Monmouth Manchester Autumn 24 Newmarket Ist October 26 Walsall IBER. Newmarket Houghton Worcester , 22 ~ BCI MBER. I Shrewsbury Leamington Hunt ll. The biddings for £350,000 bills on India took place yesterday at the Bank of England. The pro portions allotted were :—To Calcutta, £225,800 ; to Madras, £2,420 ; and to Bombay, £lOO,OOO. The minimum price was as before-Is. Hid on Cal cutta and Madras, and Is. 110. on Bombay. Ten ders on Calcutta and Madras at ls. 111,-d. will re ceive about 62 per cent., and on Bombay at . 2s. about 13 per cent. ; above these prices in full. The terms thus obtained indicate a reduction in the demand for means of remittance to the East. The Stock Exchange Committee have appointed Thursday, 28th inst., a special settling day in the shares of the Chontales 'mold and Silver Mining Company, which are to be marked. FOURTEEN HUNDRED IRONWORKERS THROWN OUT OF EMPLOYMENT.—A dispute has arisen at Middles borough between the workmen and the employers of the firm of Hopkins, Gilks, and Co. (Limited). On Monday the whole of the works were lying idle, and some 1,400 men who depend upon the rollers for a supply of metal ceased work. THE ALPINE CLUB.—The Rev. Leslie Stephen, M.A., who has been elected president of the Alpine Club for the ensuing year, was educated in Trinity Hall, Cam.- bridge, where he graduated in 1854, being 20th wrangler. Shortly after taking his degree he was elected to a fellow ship in his college, which he now holds. FEES IN THE COMMON LAW COURTS.—An Act of Parliament will take effect from and after the 31st inst., to collect all fees in the superior courts by adhesive stamps. Last year the fees received in the three Common Law Courts amounted to £96,778 Is. 9d. In the Court of Queen's Bench yesterday a Ali ss Saunders sued a Mr. Short, a money-lender, for breach of promise of marriage. Letters about as absurd as are usually read in such cases were put in, and the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for £2OO. BUSINESS IN NEW ORLEANS. -- The Picayune says As evidence of the great business transactions in this city we may state two facts. One house in Canal street, engaged in the wholesalse and ready-made clothing business, sold for the month of October last goods to the amount of $450,000. During that month one banking house paid over its counter an average of $1,400,000 pg day. Last Saturday, to this bank, twelve hundred cheques were paid between bank hours, the total amount of which was 61,700 ? 000. We doubt if as large a business as this wasever done before in this city by one bank." FENIANISM IN THE KITCHEN.—A " Citizen," writing to the Montreal Herald concerning the circulation of "Fenian bonds," in Canada says :—" The writer was shown ono recently in the hands of a servant girl. It was a $4 bond, and most beautifully got up. lam in formed that these bonds aro selling freely in this city and at Quebec, and that there can be no difficulty in dis posing of a vast amount of them. Although these bonds will never be ;redeemed, the infatuated purchasers are of opinion that it will free Ireland from the yoke of British rule, and they would be willing to sacrifice the last shilling _ to accomplish this object." !ss ad )ss Lac ;sty ock rai and hed den Ls of had and rin ath- nni, rain The. Dos Col. Ma- Luis the ider , the wed, land. .ce at the ()ugh, e en joined B1:10ra A heart, Share 100 at I 20 '204 10 100 OSSK 100 100 100 all 100 100 100 [lOO 2 100 100 190 100 100 1( 0 100 100 1031 171 I 1011 2