The Sun. — London, England, 1870-02-07 00:00:00

FOREIGN NOTES. THE ArSTRIAN MINISTRY, The members of the New Ministry of Cisleithan Austria appeared in the Reichsrath on Thursday, and the Presi 4ent of the Council, Herr Hasner, explained the political programme of the Cabinet, which did not differ materially from the declarations made by the five Ministers who formed the majority of the former Cabinet. The Govern ment, said Herr Hasner, will maintain the Constitution, but, desiring internal peace, they will conform to the spirit rather than the letter. It will recognise the autonomy of the provinces so long as it does not threaten the cohesion or the power of the State. It will enforce respect for liberty of conscience, but it will take care that the interests of religion are not betrayed. There is;according to Herr Hasner, a complete unity of views and sentiments among the members of the new Cabinet and the Government, which will exert itself to developo the material and intellectual interests of the country, and will move always in conune tion with the Parliament. LUSS:I. The St. Peterslury Journal contradicts the statement that the last Russian loan has any ccnncetion with the Eastern question, or the negotiations entered into between the powers respecting the concentration of the Turkish troops on the Montenegrin frontier. This jour nal affirms that so far as the Eastern question is concerned, all the powers desire peace, and in presence of the ener getic expression of this unanimous wish, it is not probable that the Turkish Government will provoke a crisis which would be as muoh opposed to its own interests as to those of Europe, INDIA. The Bombay Gazette says that there is some talk of a anrbar at Poona on the occasion of the Duke of Edin burgh's visit. The Maharajah Scindiah of Gwalior is expected to pay Bombay a visit shortly. The vacancy in the Madras Council is to be filled up at last. A despatch has been received from London, appointing Mr. J. D. Sim, C. 5.1., member of Council. The Home Government has not, it is said, communicated with the Go vernment of India either as to the employment of Indian officers in Persia, or as to Sir W. Mansfield's successor in the command-in-chief. If the sanction of the Government of India can be obtained, it is expected that the Governor of Madras and his coun cillors will pass April, May, and June this year, and three months every year, on the Ncilgherries. On the retire ment of Sir Adam Bittlestone from the bench of the Madras High Court no one will be appointed in his place, four i•rl'-'u being considered enough, PRINCE ARTIIr a IN AMERICA. On the 24th of January Prince Arthur, accompanied by Mr. Thornton, called on the President at the White House. No speeches were made at the interview, but some pleasant conversation took place, the Prince express ing his satisfaction with his visit, and the President hoping that it would continue to be agreeable. The Mince was afterwards introduced to Mrs. Grant and her father. The Prince subsequently visited the Senate Diplomatic Gallery, where ho remained some time, and after leaving the Senate ho proceeded to the House. He remained about forty minutes in the Diplomatic Gallery, and was apparently much entertained by the animated colloquy and speeches of Messrs. Butler, Brooks, Morgan, and Voorhees on the subject of General Terry's action in Georgia. Mr. Thornton gave a dinner party in the evening, at which all the members of the Cabinet and Senator Sumner were present. After dinner the families of the members of the Cahine+ and Diplomatic Corps attended the reception. THE NEW DOMINION. Thy recognition of the Red River leaders by the Hud son's Bay Company as the only legitimate Government in Winnepeg has excited much comment in Washington. No force will be attempted by the insurgents, but Canada has sent two ambassadors to Fort Geary, to reconcile the people to the Dominion. Profuse promises of a Trans-Continental or Canada- Pacific Railroad are made in order to change the rapid course of events towards annexation of the - United States. It is announced that such a bill will be passed at the February session of the Canadian Parliament, and that Great Britain may be induced to guarantee five per cent. dividend on the stock. The Minnesotans have made a counter proposal, in order to checkmate the Canadian scheme. THE TARIFF QUESTION' IN AMERICA. The American traders appear to be gradually recognising the evil influence which protection exercises over their prospects. A delegation from the hide and leather interest has lately presented itself before the Ways and Means Committee, and made a representation in favour of the abolition of the duty on hides. They urged that leather and the manufactures of leather compose, next to agriculture, the largest industrial interest in the country ; that before the war there existed a large export trade of leather to Europe, and of the manufactures of leather to South America ; but that the trade has now gone to Canada and European countries, owing to the high price of labour, and the duty of 10 per cent. in gold on ail in - Totted hides. The Caradian manufacturers, paying no ditty on hides and no internal taxes, are enabled to produce leather at prices that drive American mannfactures Irons all the markets of the world. Foreign and domestic hides do not, according. to this account, enter into competition with each other, as domestic hides are used principally for harness and leather stocks, while the Scuth American hides make the greatest staple hemlock sole leather, which forms 97 per cent. of all that kind of leather made in the country. MISCELLANLOUS NE WS. TIIE MISII SEATS. The Hon. David Plunkett's address to the electors of Dublin University is out. The Conservative can didate says ho seeks the suffrages of the electors at a time full of peril to the dearest interests. The destruction of th 6 Church is followed by the advocacy of measures having for their object the trans for of the soil from the owner to the occupier. "An educational system is proposed both for the primary schools and the universities, which, if established by law, must virtually be subject to the regulation and control of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and could only be practically carried out by the total separa tion in the pursuits and studies of the youth of different religious denominations." No Liberal candidate has yet been announced. For the vacancy at Waterford, caused by the unseating of Sir IL Barron, Mr. Purcell, an English barrister, has issued an address on Liberal principles. LORD DERBY ON RECIPROCITY. There can now be no doubt whatever about the matter. Lord Derby does without question disap prove of the reciprocity agitation. The Manchester Association would not believe it, and they have written for a denial. What they asked for they have not got. They wished that the Earl would curse free trade ; and, lo 1 he has blessed it this second time. He thus replies to their question : In answer to your note of the 20th, written by desire of the Manchester Reciprocity Association, I beg to say that a letter was written by me some days ago, of which I did not think it worth while to keep a c o py, declining an in vitation to attend a meeting, to b e h e ld in London for the reason (among others) that I was not in favour of the re imposition of the various duties on imports which had b2en abolished of late years. This, I suppose is the letter referred to in the article which you enclose. It was not published by me, nor have I seen it in print, but the o,,inion expressed in it is one which I have never eon caaled, and which I cannot disavow. THE TELEGRAPHS TRANSFER. The Times compliments the Government upon its management of the telegraphs transfer operation. Last year a bill was passed au th or i s i ng th e Mi n i s t ry o raise a sum not exceeding 87,000,000, by means of Consols, Terminable Annuities, or Exchequer Bills. But, partly owing to the state of the revenue, the arrangements with regard to the taxes, and the rec9ipt of an account from the Metropolitan Board of Works, the necessity for acting upon this authority has been lessened in great measure. The belief is that a certain amount of Consols has been created and placed on the market during the past few weeks, and that a further sum has been created to represent funds received from the savings -banks. The whole affair is now adjusted, according to the prevalent impres s ion, so that there will be no more sales of stocks. Everything has passed off smoothly and skilfully. LIMITED LIABILITY. The Railway Newt; says it is contemplated on the part of several legal and mercantile members o f Par liament to bring forward a bill in the comi ng sess i on to amend the Limited Liability Act. What are the precise reforms contemplated is not stated; but th e projectors have accomplished one step in the w ay of amendment : they have found that the law is radi cally bad. "At present both debtors and creditors have reason to complain. Assets are swallowed up in law and other expenses, and liabilities are greatly magnified, whilst the final result is not only most unsatisfactory to both parties immediately concerned, but they are involved in a tedious, dilatory, expen- Ivo, and harassing WOMEN'S SUFFRAGF: MEETING AT BRISTOL. A women's suffrage meeting has been held at Bris tol, to which several men of note sent letters. Tho most striking of these was from the Bishop of Exeter. His lordship had been asked to preside, and in excusin&jiimself from the position of chairman he °marks : 4 .1 wish well to the Women' s Suffi:age ssociation, and hope that your meeting at Bristol ybe ty success. But I should be ve r y unwilling to take 68 chair at such a meeting out of my dkose, 'iyhon -Jam' xosa. __Quurszulato .• r~ .~ ~~ ~!. persons nixtrnt *De - tin FebrUary 4tn I am already engaged with work to be done here." Mr. Mill also wrote wishing success to the meeting ,• as did also Sir Charles Mike, Mr. Jacob Bright, and Professor Masson. A resolution was passed express ing pleasure at the news "that Mr. Jacob Bright and Sir Charles W. Dilke, Bart., intend to bring in a bill to remove the remaining electoral disabilities of women." THE NATIONAL SOCIETY AND EMIGRATION. A meeting has been held at Westminster of the National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the Established Church. It was attended by the Bishops of Win chester, Gloucester and Bristol, the Earl of Harrowby, the Earl of Carnarvon, Earl Nelson, the Archdeacons of Middlesex, Westminster and Buckingham, Canon Gregory, Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Beresford Hope, Mr. Talbot Towell, and others. The Society expressed itself desirous of co-operation with the Government, and reasserted its conviction that religion is the only true basis on which the educa tion of the people of this country can rest. THE PP.OPER DISTRIBUTION OF CHARITY. A minute was lately issued by the President of the Poor-law Board, recommending a joint action between the authorities of charities and boards of guardians in distributing relief to the poor. To con sider what steps should be taken with regard to this course, a meeting of delegates from various boards of guardians of the metropolis has been held at the Holborn Workhouse. The chairman of the meeting said that from inquiries made it had been found that Mr. Goschen's suggestions of a joint working between charities and guardians were impracticable, and the meeting had better take into consideration what steps should be adopted to prevent charities and boards from being imposed upon. The persons connected with charities had declined to furnish information, though they had been willing to receive it. A resol ution was passed to the effect that a deputation should be sent to the President of the Poor-law Board with the visw of laying before him the practical difficulties in the way of carrying out his minute. REVITAL IN LANCASHIRE. The state of trade in the cotton district has been much livelier during the last few weeks. Productio* has been largely increased, mills which have long been stopped have got to work again, and there is much hope in a better future. The Economist says there can he no doubt that this improvement is a real one. Since this time last year there has been a distinct, though small, decline in the price of raw cotton, and a clear, though again small, advance ill the price of the manufactured article. The differ. rence is not great, but it is just the fraction that con verts a loss into a profit. There is no doubt that the position of Lancashire has greatly improved, and there is reason to hope that the amelioration will continuo. Lancashire wants cheaper cotton and an increased demand. The latter condition of prosperity is fulfilled, and though the supply remains doubtful i the prospect is csrtaniW not without hope. IRISH CLTIIICAL LIFE. More pleasing stories are told of the blessings of life amongst the Irish. A. correspondent of the Globe says that a few days ago a clerk of a parish church received a letter ordering him, en pain of death, to deliver another epistle to his rector. The terrified clerk obeyed, and delivered the enclosure to the clergyman. It proved to be also a threatening letter, With a view to his own security the rector at once fortified his house against attack, and procured an escort of constabulary to and from his church on Sunday week, whereupon the officer commandingthe constabulary in the district received in his turn a notice threatening him with death in the event of his complying with a similar request on the next Sunday. This is a sad story, but is the writer quite sure that the threatening letters are not a hoax ? Why should the rector, who has been forty-one years in the parish, receive such an epistle just now ? TILE SUEZ CANAL. At the annual meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, the chairman said that ho had received letter from an eminent official of the Suez Canal, informing him that by the middle of the month the Serape= rock would be cut through to a depth of twenty-three feet, and that then there would be that depth throughout the canal. Mr. S. R. Graves, M.P., said that in England it was a matter of considerable moment as to what might be the effect of this new channel upon her commerce. There was no doubt that some of the Southern ports of Europe would benefit largely by being brought so near to "Western India, and probably there would be some interference with British trade in consequence ; but there was no need of alarm at a time when our maritime supremacy was so conspicuous as at present. The energy and enterprise of our steam mercantile navy would fully counterbalance all disadvantages. COUNTY COURT BUSINESS. There is a wonderful difference in the amount of business transacted by the carious county courts. Some proceed to work deliberately, others "polish off" their cases with terrific rapidity. A return of the average number of " trials' got through at the larger courts shows that some dispose of fou. or five times as many cases as others. A ottingliarn, tor instance. " bustles through' . an aCerage of 38 :1 suits, whilst the city of London can do no more than 80; Salfori lies an ark raise of 300, whilst the score of Manchester is only Flu ; Birkenhead disßoses of 210 to Liverpool's 111. Newcastle's figure is 110, whilst Stochton and Middlesborough rise to 250. Hull has an average of 113, East Stonehouso 140, Brighton 170. One of the London courts only a few weeks ago performed the wonderful feat of " trying " 350 causes between half-past ten in the morning and half-past ono in the afternoon, and of these only three came before the udge. rcolvollasrsG THE CURILEIN'CY. Mr. Andrew Coventry read a paper at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on "A method of Economising our Currency." The scheme he suggests is a startling, if not altogether a novel one. He proposes to adopt the project of John Law, by which a bank was to be privileged to issue notes on the security of land, substi tuting gold, however, for land. Gold would then remain the basis on which our currency rested, not circulating, however, but lying in a bank, to be had there at all times in exchange for notes, if required to be sent abroad, or for jewellery. Mr. Coventry is of opinion that were a bill passed to disqualify gold under legal penalties for currency or in barter within the kingdom, in four years the public would not only have practically endcrsed his project, but have discovered its advantages. In Mr. Coventry's scheme the silver remains untouched. His project is simply to make gold, in the form of bars, the basis of our currency, and then to exempt them wholly from active service where paper can do their work. TIIT: GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY. The Great Eastern furnishes an admirable example of a line redeemed from ruin by careful management. But a short time ago this railway paid nothing, and was heavily in debt. Since the Marquis of Salisbury assumed the chairmanship, judicious economy and strictly good policy in dealing with capital and revenue have gradually brought things round; and now a dividend of 1 per cent. has been an nounced, with £25,000 over. Had not Lord Salis bury been so careful of the credit of the company, 1 per cent. might have been divided, with £4,000 over. The Railway News thinks there is nothing to prevent the Great Eastern from being a 3 per cent. line in three or four years, and every probability that it will become so. " This dividend would make its stock worth £7O, and the investor now at £4O would thus get a large return in profit, even if the dividends in the interim only gave a moderate interest on the money. It seems to us that this stock offers the minimum of risk, with the maximum proportion of rise in price to the first cost." The Railway Times says it is generally understood that the Marquis of Salisbury will retire from the chairmanship at the next half-yearly meet ing, and that Sir E. Watldn will succeed him. THE CEREAL RESOURCES OF THE WESTi The .Field has an article under this head, referring to the diversion of a large portion of the popu lation of this country from agricultural pur suits, whereby, it alleges, our cereal products have become greatly insufficient for our own consumption. It states that notwithstanding the disturbing effects of the war, the cereal resources of the United States have been developed in a remarkable manner. This has resulted from an exclusive application of mechanical contrivances for sowing, reaping, thrashing, and the emigration of farmers in search of cheap and fertile land, which has rendered the cultivated area of the United States nearly equal to that of the United Kingdom, France, and Prussia combined together. The writer estimates that the resources of the United States in cereals, after deducting eight bushels for the consumption of each person, will be equal to the demands of any probable increase in the population of Europe within the present century, and leave a surplus to be sent to Eastern Asia. THE RUSSIAN roncrs. At tll3 present time when we are told that a con : iderable reduction is actually being made in the forces of Great Britain, it is interesting to inquire into the state of the army of some great European power. Taking for instance that of Russia, and referring. to the sketch of the state of the Czar's forces, Given by the Invalid, the organ of the War-office at - St. Petersburg, we are astonished at the vastness of the numbers of Russian troops when compared with our little army. This year the active army of Russia consists of 726,000 men, or about 10 per cent. of the population capable of furnishing recruits, in which are not comprised the people of Finland, the Caucaug. .Cs...—oftrts of Siheria,and the THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 7, 1870. uossaeirs; TIIe reserve - Tire - 8 is over bllOllO, all well drilled. This largo reserve appears to be beyond its usual footing. To this active and reserve army must be added the Cossacks, who famish' n time of war .tiJa regiments of cavalry, twenty-four battalions of infantry, and two hundred guns—in all 300,000 men, a respectable addition to a fighting force. In April next Russia will possess nearly a million breech loaders, constructed on various principles. There are factories at St. Petersburg that can turn out half a million of metallic cartrides per diem. All the field batteries are furnished with guns on a new system, and all these improvements, it is said, have been effected in a most economical manner. FISK ON THE GOLD GAMBLE. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT. One of the inconveniences of the American Constitu tion is that no sooner does one President get nicely settled in office than public opinion is disturbed by speculating for another. Governor lloffman, of New York, will, it is thought, be the Democratic candidate at the next election. The prospect, if he wins, will not be a cheery one for Englishmen. It was he who, in his capacity as Governor of the State of New York, placed the control of the Erie Railway in the hands f Fisk, Gould, and Co., refusing to veto the measure to that end, notwithstanding the remon strances from the respectable portion of the com munity. THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. At the ordinary meeting of this body—Mr Chas. B. Vignoles, F.R.S, the president, in the chair—a paper was read "On the statistics of railway ex penditure and income, and their bearing on future railway policy and management," by Mr. J. T. Harrison, M. Inst. C.E. In reviewing the past progress of the system advantage was taken of the half-yearly returns made to the Board of Trade under the Act of 1867-68, by 20 of the principal railway companies in England and Scotland, which represented about 85 per cent. of the entire capital expended in the United Kingdom. These com panies, arranged according to the preponderance of income derived from passengers, were the Metropo litan, Chatham and Dover, Brighton, South Eastern, South Devon, Cornwall, South Western, North London, Bristol and Exeter, Great Eastern, Great Western, North Western, Great Northern, North British, Lancashire and Yorkshire, Midland, Cale donian, North Eastern, Manchestar, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, and Taff Vale. The most striking feature of this traffic was the large numerical pro portion of third-class passengers, and, with few exceptions, they yielded the largest amount of revenue. The author was, however, of opinion that where low fares filled the trains a moderate difference in them effectually sorted the passengers, and tended to increase the demand for first and second class tickets for long journeys. Attention was next drawn to the goods traffic, to the great importance of favourable gradients where the mine ral traffic was in excess, and to the probable ad vantage of improved communication between the Northern and the Welsh coal-fields and the metro polis. It was shown that the train mirage receipts depended upon the character of the traffic, that when the receipts from passengers and merchandise predominated they were high, but lowest when minerals formed a proportion of it, which was ac counted for by waggons generally run empty in one direction. As regards the expenditure, it was stated this averaged about 48-1 per cent. of the gross re ceipts on nearly all the lines ; that the maintenance of works, rolling stock, and locomotive power gene rally exceeded 50 per cent. of the total expenditure, the other heavy item being about 30 per cent. for traffic expenses. Omitting the - Metropolitan and the Cornwall lines, the maintenance of way for twelvemonths varied from 611. to 93. per train mile, or, deducting £56 per mile for constants, the cost ranged from 41d. to 61d., averaging about old. per train mile. Carriage repairs toss from lid. to 21d. per train mile with few exceptions. The total locomotive charges were generally from Bd. to 93. per train mile. The repairs amounted to about 313. per train mile when the mineral traffic was heavy, and to from 21d. to 3d on the passenger lines south of Loudon. Under the head of " running expenseP the item of wages was strikingly similar on all lines, being about 213. per train mile. The cost of fuel per train mile was very variable and was de pendent quite as much on its value per ton as on the quantity consume I. On the southern lines, where the consumption was small, the cost was 3d. or 43. per train mile, while on the northern lines, where the consumption was high, but the price was low, it was only about 23. TIF.3 actual consump tion on the Great Western, North-Western, and Great Northern might be taken at 401 b., on other lines havi!ig a mired traffic at 5 . 01 b., while on mine ral lines where there was much shunting and pilot ing it rose to 601 b. per train mile. The percen tage of net revenue on the total capital expended exceeded 5 per cent. per annum on eight lines, was between 4 and 5 per cent. on fo'ir, 31 to 4 per cent. on other four, 3 to 31 per cent. on two, and on'y in two cases was it under 3 per cent. Two large funds for the investment of capi t al were con sidered, and it was stated that whereas the Na tional Debt, amounting to 750 millions sterling, realised a return of 261 millions per annum, or 31 per cent., the capitalexpended on railways, amount ing to 500 millions sterling, gave a return of 20 millions, or 4 per cent. per annum, while a sum nearly equal to the interest on the National Debt was annually expended in labour and materials. Iu ex2lanatiou of the large outlay which had been incurred on account of railways during the last 20 years, it was observed that the general traffic had in that period increased 240 per cent., and the goods traffic 400 per cent., while the capital expenditure had only increased 120 per cent. This augmented traffic had demanded an extensive increase in the rolling stock, sidings, and station accommodation, and as the traffic was still on the increase the closing of capital accounts, however desirable, must be delayed. Other points affecting the value of railway property were then considered, including excessive first cost and the burden of a high rate of interest on borrowed and guaranteed capital, for which two remedies had been suggested —one that the Government should take upon itself the responsibility of the loan capital, at a market price ; the other, an association among the leading railway companies for the same purpose. The means for increasing the income were then dwelt upon, the large field open for retrenchment in the annual expenditure, and the circumstances under which branch lines, inexpensively constructed, were likely to prove a remunerative investment for capital. It was announced that the discussion would be taken at the meeting of Tuesday, the Bth instant. [ADVERTISEMENT. I —Holloway's Pills and Ointment.— Lumbago, derangement of the kidneys, disorders of the liver, irregularities of the bowels, and all excruciating pain s of the muscles and nerves are relieved with astonishing rapidity by the use of this extraordinary ointment. The affected parts. previously fomented with warm water, have only to be rubbed briskly with this soothing ointment to obtain instant ease, which perseverance in the same course will confirm in a thorough cure. Whilst the ointment over comes the local ailments, the pills remove all constitutional disturbances, and regulate every impaired function of any organ throughout the human body. The cure is neither temporary nor superficial, but permanent and complete, and the disease rarely recurs, so perfect has been the pun fication performed by these searching yet harmless pre pat ations. Dtr BARRY'S Delicious Health restoring Revalenta Arabic& Food, which contains three times the nourishment of he best meat, saves fifty times its cost in other remedies, restore perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, res fleshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the more enfeebled, removing speedily and effectually indigestion (dys pepsia), habitual constipation, diarrhoea, hemorrhoids, liver complaints, flatulency, nervousness, biliousness, fevers, sort throats, catarrhs, colds, influenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpit'ltton, heartburn, head ache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea, and sickness, sinking fits, coughs, asthma, bronchitis, incipient consumption, scrofula, tightness of the chest, pains at the pit of the stomach, between the shoulders, Ste. We vote a few out of 0 8,000 cures : —'fhe Pope's health restored by Du Barry's Food, Cure No. 68,411. Rome, July 21, 1868. —The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's Revalt nta Arabic& Food, of which he consumes a plateful at every meal. It has - produced a surprisingly beneficial effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot praise this excellent food too highly."—From the Gazette du Midi, July 25. Cure No. .9,832: "Of .Fifty year. indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness at the stomach and vomiting. Maria Jolly. Wortham, Ling, near Dias, Norfolk Cure No 47,121: Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage Waltham Cross, Berta, of extreme nervousness, indigestion gatherings, low spirits. and nervous fancies. Important Caution —Beware of the many unsavoury and more than sloppy imita tions to which, without authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously attached In tins, at is lid; Ilb 28 9d; 2 lb Is 6d; slb Ils; 12 lb 228 24 lba 4 s.—Also I U BARBy's RDNALENTA A RABIC& CHOCOLATE POWDER is packed in tin canisters: for 1! cups at 2s, for 24 cups at 3s 6d, for a 8 cups at 6s, for 2eB cups at 30a, for 576 cups at 55s —being about one penny per cup. The 30s and 55s tins are sent free of carriage in England on receipt of Post Office Orden— ., Akin' Du BARRY and Co., No, 77, Regenhatreet, London; and a Grocers and Chemists. AIUERICAN FINANCE. (From the Anglo-Amerzcan Times.) In our last we commented to some extent upon the U. S. Funding Bill of Mr. BOUTWELL, and also upon the U. S. Consols Clearing Centres, as planned by Mr. CHARLES BOWLES, of Paris. The objec tions we brought forward to certain sections of both plans have been strongly commented upon by many of our American readers, whose ideas we now propose to present in defence of the feasibility of a 4 per Cent. Loan. The first ground taken by these gentlemen is to the effect, that, however doubtful such an experiment might have proved six or eight months ago, or even at the present day, the posi tive gain in confidence evinced not only in the United States, but in Europe, now indicates that public opinion is rapidly changing. We are assured that it is not to London alone that Mr. BOUTWELL will make his appeal should Congress decide to adopt his scheme, nor to foreign bankers as a class, but to the people through the bankers as public servants, more especially on the continent of Europe, where much the largest proportion of United States securities are now held—Germany and Holland alone controlling four-fifths of the total amount, of which the lowest estimate is over $700,000,000. It is the growing opinion of German bankers, how ever much against their own interest, that the pro posed conversion would be successful with actual investors, and the amount being small that it would be mainly taken among the smaller holders, that the fortune-making upon the Frankfort Bourse by speculation in Five-Twenties is at an end, and that the bankers must be content with their regular business commission. This result has already been strenuously opposed by these money kings, as also by their agents and wire-pullers in the United States. Opposed to that influence ; however, is the experience of those members of Congress who have travelled in Europe during the past year, and have had the opportunity of judging for themselves. Our critics claim that all the Americans who have most carefully investigated the subject in Europe and America maintain the same opinions as those expressed by Mr. BOWLES, differing only more or less as to the time when the conversion can be offered to the world with a fair prospect of success. This is furthersupported by thefact that the amount to be applied for in Europe will be considerably less than that now actually held, and is no new investment, but simply a conversion of the existing bonds. Supposing the total to be $1,500,000,000, by the new banking law $000,000,000 will be at once absorbed, leaving only $900,000,000 to be offered, first by the American nation itself, which, reckon ing savings banks, insurance companies, trust loans, may be safely counted upon, with private inves tors, to take up at least $400,000,000, the more so that the present amount of U.S. Securities held in Europe could be reduced one-third, and yet leave an ample margin to absorb all that would be offered from the other side. To exemplify the value of the Clearing Centres, we are told that in the new Russian Loan just brought out by the ROTIIS CHILDS, " a marked point of interest is the triple currency feature, similar to that proposed by Mr. CHARLES BOWLES for the new United States Consols. These new Russian bonds are payable in francs, sterling, and roubles, at fixed rates ; but negotiaUe in other currencies or money centres, only at the rate of the day when negotiated. o No better evi dence could be educed of the correctness of this policy. While striving to give them the largest scope, it is necessary to centralize such loans as much as possible. Paris and London are the only true centres, to which Frankfort and Amsterdam, though they should be even temporarily larger dealers, are still subordinate.' " While we admit the force of these comments, and bow to the experience of those who have made them ; while we feel as confident as any of our critics, both as to the worth of the bond and the ultimate success of the loan, we do not think that bonds bearing 4i per cent.woukl as yet be largely pur chased in Europe, though a considerable portion of the Five-Twenties held on this side might be con verted into the new securities. It may be that Mr. BOWLES and the numerous supporters of his opinions are right, as they are for the most inn practical fivauciers, and Mr. BOUTWELL certainly has good cause to believe in the success of his scheme, yet we still believe that European ignorance will de feat American calculations. The question is purely one of ignorance, as we have repeatedly observed, for no man who thoroughly understood the sub ject, who knew the country and people of the Re public, would hold any European security whatever in higher e3tima;ion ; yet in England even Indian securities are preferred. We grant the growing knowledge, we grant the beneficial effects of General GRANT'S Administration, and his outspoken declaration, as well as that of Congress, against green back payment, but our argument is, that, though changing, aye, rapidly changing, public opinion is not yet sufficiently formed in Europe to make Mr. BOWLES' plan of a 4 per cent. loan successful. It might be a question for consideration at Washing ton whether it would not be advisable to postpone the proposed conversion into 41 per Cent. Bonds, for a year hence it might be accomplished at 4 per cent. However, the question of will soon be settled by the actual test of experience, and if the prof ortion is absorbed in America, calculated on by our critics, Mr. BOUTWE.LL will in all probability be successful. It is most desirable, on political as well as on financial grounds, that small holders, that is, the mass of the people, should be invited to subscribe, and the ad vantages offered by the Great Republic freely brought to their notice. POLITICAG AND ELECTION NEWS.—In the Missouri Legislature on the 18th of January bills were introduced abolishing capital punishment, and removing the State capita to St. Louis.—There is a proposition before the Illinois State Constitutional Convention to abolish the Senate, and to vest the Legisla tivo authority of the state in a single body, to be called the Legislative Assembly, composed of 300 members. The Legislature of West Virginia met at Wheeling, Jan. 18. The Senate organized by electing the Hon. D. D. T. Farnsworth President and E. W. Morse Clerk—both Republicans. In the House, William M. Welch, a liberal Republican, was elected Speaker, by two, majority over Putnam, Republican. William P. Hubbard, Republican, was elected Clerk by eight majority. The Senate is largely Republican, and in the House there are 24 Demo crats and 32 Republicans.--The vote in favour of the Amendment in the Lower House of Ohio on the reception of the resolution adopted by the Senate was —Yeas, 57 ; against 55 nays. Messrs. Bates, Hill, and Kleinschmidt, and Cunningham, Reform Republicans, voted in the affirmative. The result was received with cheers by the crowd in the galleries and lobby.—General Reynolds re ports that the Texas Senate will consist of eighteen Re publicans and twelve Democrats ; the House of Represen tatives of fifty-one Republicans and thirty-nine Democrats. —ln the New. York Legislature resolutions have been in troduced opposing treaties for the avisition of foreign* territory, without the consent of the House of Representa tives.—The Maine Legislators, on the 18th of January, elected Lot M. Morrill, United States Senator for the full term. In the Senate, the vote stood for Morrill, 27 ; Reed, 3 ; in the House, for Morrill, 100 ; Reed, 20.—The Rhode Island House of Representatives ratified the Suf frage Amendment, Jan. 18. The Senate ratified it in June last.—ln the Kentucky House of Representatives on Monday, Jan. 17, a . message from the Governor, an nouncing the rejection of the Suffrage Amendment by the New York Legislature, was received with great applause. —ln the contested case of Van Wyck v. Greene, the Election Committee of the United States House of Re presentatives agreed upon a report, Jan. 18, giving the seat to Mr Van Wyck.—On Jan. 18, is the lowa Legislature the Hon. G. G. Wright was elected United States Senator for six years, by a vote of 117 *publicans to 19 Democrats. James B. Howell was elected by the same vote to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Grimes. The Senate ratified the Suffrage Amendment Jan. 19 and the House Jan. 20 by 83 to 20. The growing magnitude of .the United States may be gathered from the evidence just given by Mr. Kennedy, who superintended the census of the last de cade. He was asked to estimate the cost of certain sche dules which, according to the bill now before the Senate, mutt be supplied. According to Mr. Kennedy's data, the paper, for the population in agricultural schedules, that is not one-half, being only the largest two out of eight, will amount to 23,000 reams of folio post, at a cost of $141,000, or six-fold the cost of all the schedules of the two previous census. To distribute these schedules, and the necessary instructions, will require the mail for two months to carry from seven to ten tons of extra mat ter, while the expense, great as it must be, will be trifling compared to the cost of printing the information gathered as required by the bill. It is not easy to take the census k over e, vast a space. (From the Anglo-American Times.) Messrs. Fisk and Gould were examined on the 22d of January by the Congressional Committee at Washington. Gould was reticent, and little could be extracted from him, but Fisk went " straight off" with his narrative. Ho commenced by stating what the management of the Erie Railroad was, and proceeded to tell how he and Gould had decided to accompany General Grant, who was then on his way to Boston, to ascertain, if possible, the policy of the Administration on Finance. They gave the President a supper, and talked on finance for three hours. Fisk concluded that the President was working up the subject of finance, and learnt that he favoured specie payments and cheaper gold. He naively shows how opposed General Grant's views were to his specula tions. They saw Mr. Boutwell, but could get nothing satisfactory from him. Then he told how Butterfield was decided on for Assistant Treasurer of New York, after Gould had determined to put up gold, and through Corbin's influ ence he got the place. "If you want to know about Corbin," said Fisk, "when he goes into anything he wants to take ail. He takes shelf, nails, and boards, as well as goods, withers :tithe touches," and nearly killed Gould and Fisk, Corbin conceived the idea .)f working through Butterfield with Gould and Fisk, firmly bAieving he could regulate the Government, but as Fisk expressed doubt about run ning up gold he was by them at first left out. Gould began at 137, Mrs. Grant having $500,000, Gen. Porter $500,000, and Corbin $1,500,000, and it was then Fisk came in ; but gold had settled down to 131, so Gould was in a fix. It was then Fisk was consulted, and be got up the ring, commenc iug to buy through Heath and Co., but he soon discovered he bad all he could to carry. In an interview with Cor bin he found that Mrs. Grant's half million dollars had . been sold, and a cheque for $25,000 forwarded, and it was represented that theywere doing a great national good as well as aiding the Erie road to secure a large transport of grain. Fisk thought Corbin bad got all "nicely fixed up." This was on the Monday before the black Friday. While in company with Corbin he was imposed on, but when away ho lost confidence in his being "right behind the throne." as he pretended. He got a letter sent by a special messenger from Corbin to General Grant, who reached Washington and met the President on Wednesday morning. Gen. Grant half read it, then loft for 15 minutes, and returned, saying "All right," words immediately telegraphed back to New York. On that day gold closed at 141. On Friday morning Mr. Belden introduced Speyers, who was to execute any orders on Belden's account Fisk might give. Gold was then 143, and Fisk told Speyers to get some quickly at that price. directing Speyers to buy all he could. Away he started, but before he got to the room gold was 160. Speyers, seeing it had risen 15 in half an hour, thought it would go up to 2(0, and bought at 160 a good cartload. An article then appeared in the New York Times, which Fisk read ou his way down town, which made him feel rather weak in the knees, knowing the effect it would have at Washington ; and so it proved, for Mr. Boutwell called at the Executive Mansion, and in fifteen minutes afterwards the order, which struck like a thunderbolt, was sent to New York to sell four millions dollars of "live gold," Fisk acknowledging that he would prefer carrying 40 millions of short gold to 4 millions of the "real stuff, which is a good deal heavier." At that moment Speyers was still picking up gold at 160. Down went gold to 141, but Speyers continued to pick it up at 160. " The next thing I saw, continued Fisk, was Speyers rushing into the office with his cravat off, and without any shirt collar, and his hair sticking up straight what little there was loft of it. He did not have over 10 or 15 hairs. Said lie, "Mine Gott! The whole ting ish played out! I haves fifty millions at 160, and it ish now selling at 141. What shall Ido ?" About that time my own affairs had got a little disorganised, and I was not as much interested in Mr. Speyers's business as I was in my own. I told him, " You fool, have you not any better sense than to be standing there and to buy my gold at 160, when it was down to 141 ; if you find any amusement in it s I suppose you might as well keep right straight on." As it was getting hot where we were, I told Gould we had better go to some milder clime, and the first thing we saw on getting out by the back door were accounts placarded about the crazy broker, Speyers. By that time Fisk had become pretty mad, and he rushed off to Corbin, from whom he demanded " if this was some sharp trick to wipe us off the face of the earth." What situation are you in, asked Corbin ? It looks, answered Fisk, as if we were ruined. Corbin quieted him down, and said he would go to Washington and have all the gold withdrawn from the market. Mrs. Corbin also thought there was some mistake, adding that Mrs. Grant had written to close these gold transactions, as they made her husband nerv ous. Corbin started for Washington to be back on Mon day morning, and that was the last Fisk saw of him. The Committee often asked the question whether any Go vernment officials were in connection with the clique? and Fisk's invariable answer was that all he knew he got from Mr. and Mrs. Corbin relative to the posi tion of General Grant's family in the matter ; but General Butterfield had a share, Gould carrying $1,500,000 of gold for him. When asked what had be come of Mrs. Grant's half million, General Porter's half million, and Corbin's one and a half millions, Fisk replied they had gone with all the rest, "where the woodbine twineth ;" anti, when closely pressed about Mrs. Grant, he still answered, he only knew what "that old thief Corbin" said. Finally, ho acknowledged that the only mistake made was in not learning what that letter con tained, which Corbin sent to the President, and it was there they were over-reached. Fisk's evidence tallies with his former statements, but adds nothing to the story of the gold gamble, only confirming his assertion that Corbin was " the biggest toad in the puddle," and un warrantably used the President's name. After lying in the Monarch in state the remains of Mr. Peabody were formally delivered to Governor Chamberlain, of Maine, last Saturday, being borne by ten British seamen to the funeral car. Captain Commerell addressed a few appropriate words to the Governor, who made a telling reply, closing with the remark that the Monarch had achieved a greater victory than her guns could ever win. Admiral Farragut commanded the fleet and the whole Legislature of Maine, together with many State and municipal deputations, were present. Last Tuesday the coffin was rem 'ved from Portland to Pea body, where it arrived at 5 p.m., and was deposited in the Peabody institution to await the final obsequies next Tuesday. If we may be permitted to apply an expression of Artemus Ward to so venerated an object of public re gard as the late Mr. Peabody, we might remark that he can truly be considered "the much-buried man." The American papers give the following account of the way in which ha was embalmed in Loudon :—" The process consisted in first iejecting all the arteries with a solution of arsensic and corrosive sublimate, and after the lapse of 21 hours with a saturated solution of tannic acid. By these means the softer tissues were actually converted into leather, and decomposition effectually arrested. Into the cavities of the chest and abdomen there was also introduced a paste of arsenic, camphor, and alcohol, and the coffin was lined with a layer of animal charcoal." The' Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has just published a report on the cause of the depression in the metal trades. What interests us in this is the asser tion that American iron manufactures in some instances i beat those of Birmingham in the colonial markets, not be cause they are cheaper, but because they are better. This is passing strange and worth weighing in America. Iron and steel are there much dearer, and labour is more costly, therefore the article manufactured which can supplant that from Birmingham must have great merit. The report attributes it to till American " novelty of construction and excellency of make." To a lumberman the quality of his axe and its adaptability for the work required is of primary importance, not the cost, for his work is done better and cheaper with one good axe than with half a dozen bad ones. If the report is correct, iron and steel can bo exported from England, manufactured in the United States after paying a heavy duty, and the products sold in Canada more readily than similar ar ticles from Birmingham. The first necessity for arrest ing a decline in commercial prosperity is to ascertain the true cause, no matter.how distasteful, and to keep this well before the mind in searching for a remedy, and this report is of value, dealing as it does with the real causes of the depression. A disastrous storm raged over the United States on the 17th January. At Cave City Station, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, groat destruction was caused to life and property. Eight persons wore killed, and eighteen were more or less injured. Many houses were blown down and trees torn up. We presume this is the tornado which, on the previous day desolated the Red River, and was followed by intense cold. The same re sult ensued throughout the Western States, for no sooner did the storm pass away than the mercury fell from 42 dog. to zero. A large number of persons were killed, and reports of disaster were coming in from all directions. Accompanying the rainfall wore hailstones the size of wal nuts, and inundations followed from the sudden rise of the rivers. The water in the Scioto was higher than has been known for 20 years, and between Columbus and Cin cinnati the trains were stopped, as the bridges had been washed away. The storm passed over St. houis, and produced a panic at the " Varieties Theatre " and the Olympic," people trying to escape injuring each Miler. At Albany, in New York, there was a drizzling rain, but the Hudson felt the influence, and rose so as to overflow the docks and streets, to the surprise of the people, who were not aware of the cause. While General Butler was exerting himself in the Senate to upset Mr. Bingham's Amendment on the Bill for the re-admission of Virginia, the lion. Rcverdy John son made his first appearance in the Chamber since his farewell speech on his departure from England. Ono of those who most cordially welcomed him was Senator ilummer, with whom he had a long and pleasant chat ; and it is noticed that while on these friendly terms with the man who denounced his treaty in the celebrated speech, he never approached the Kentuckian M'Creery, who cast the solitary vote in its favour. Mr. Johnson has a pleasant way of meeting his political foes that is, if the Lairds can be regarded as his foes. AMERICAN PRESS. The New York Tribune says :—" Jem Mace and Tom Allen have violated a law which is on the sta tute book of every State in the Union, against prize-fighting. But in giving and accepting a chal lenge to fight for the Championship of America, near Orleans, they have presented an opportunity to the police of that city, which we hope will not be lost sight of at the time the fight is to come off. The Irish Giant,' O'Baldwin, who was participant in a prize-fight on the soil of Massachusetts last sum mer, is now serving out his term in the State Prison for that offence. If the police and magistrates of New Orleans will sec to it that Mace and Allen are dealt with in the same manner, they will put the decent people of the country under obligations to them. Since they have published in advance their purpose of violating the law, they ought to be nabted as soon as they make their appearance in New Orleans." 'Ti .e Yale Courant gives the interesting 'riper read by Professor Verrill, at the December meet ing of the Connecticut Academy of Sciences, of which the following is an extract :--" In 1867 an expedition under Count Pourtales was fitted out by the U. S. Coast Survey. Since then two other expe ditions have been sent. They dredged mainly in the Gulf Stream region between Florida and Cuba. Col lections of interest were thus made,which are deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology in Cam bridge, and which have been as yet only partly de scribed. The corals (in part), the hydroids, hobo thurians, crinoids, bryozoa, and brachiopods have been examined by Pourtales, the star fishes and sea urchins by Alex. Agassiz, and the Odhiurians by Theodore Lyman. The shells, worms, crustacea, and other corals in large numbers remain to be de scribed. The most remarkable things obtained were a cyathophyllum coral of an order supposed to to have become extinct in the Carboniferous—a living Paleozoic form ! Several species of large Brachiopods, itself au early form, added to the ancient look of this fauna. A Voluta junonia, large arid brilliant in colour, came from a depth of 350 fathoms. . . . The bearing of these discoveries upon the science of Geology is evident. Many of its theories will have to be at once remodeled. We may no longer regard colour in a fossil shell as evidence of a shallow water deposit; nor may we believe any longer that fossiliferotts rocks must themselves have been formed in water not, over 300 fathoms in depth. So, too, the discovery of Tertiary, Cretaceous, and even of Paleozoic forms of animals still living, shows us, on the one hand, how unsafe it is to pronounce on the identity of two widely separated formations in age because of a few species common to both ; and, on the other, it impresses us with the remarkable permanence of species in nature. Sir Wyville Thompson be lieves that the foramiuiferous deposit he examined, and which is now forming, is a continuation of the English Cretaceous ; and he expects thathe Eozoon, the oldest form of animal life existing in the rocks, but which is also reported to exist in theTertiary,will ere long be dredged, still living. Lastly, in the region north of Scotland, we see two depositions going on side by side, the one forming a sandstone, the other chalk ; and the sole condition which determines the character of the rock as well as of its fossils is a difference of temperature of 15 deg. to 20 deg., a result entirely opposed to all geological hypotheses heretofore accepted." The Scientific Press of San Francisco, discussing the Aerial Steam Navigation Company, states—" At a meeting of stockholders of this company, Dec. 17, 1869, Messrs. Eugene Sullivan, Thomas N. Cazneau, Henry F. Williams, and Simon L. Jones were appointed a committee to receive subscriptions for one thousand shares (one -tenth of the capital stock of the company) at the rate of $lO per share of the par value of $lOO, said shares to be unasses sable. The funds thus raised are to be devoted ex clusively to the construction of the first aerial steam carriage, and to be deposited in the Bank of Bri tisk Columbia, to be disbursed upon requisition of Mr. George K. Gluyas, Engineer of Construction. The working, drawings, &c., can be seen at the office of Gen. Thomas N. Cazneau, No. 321, Cali fornia-street, where subscriptions will be received. No invention for navigating the air has before re ceived such positive indorsement from engineers of reputation, or so liberal encouragement from pro minent capitalists as Marriott's Avitor, which now sccrns sure of being thoroughly tested on a large scale MONEY AND BUSINESS. (From the Springfield Republican, Jan. 22.) The abundance of money at the East is oppressive, and t at the West is more than sufficient for the ordinary de • mends of circulation. The New York banks last week received an increase of deposits of about $12,000,000, of which $2,000,000 was specie, $4,000,000 legal tenders, and $3,000,000 National Bank notes, the rest being loans. The increase in deposits since the New Year has been over $24,000,000. The rates for money at New York have been at 6 to 7 for ordinary collateral and 5 for Go v. rnment Bonds. At Boston the banks are loaning at 7, good outside paper is current at 7} to 8, while choice names are honoured at 7. Suspicious paper pays about as high as ever. The supply of personal securities from Providence, Fall River, and the smaller cities on the eastern coast is quite large. This plethora of money is being made the excuse for the circulation of a memorial, requesting Congress to authorize the issue of bonds bear. ing 3 and 65-100 per cent. interest, to be presented to the banks in exchange for National Bark notes. The banks ask to be allowed to hold the bonds as a part of their reserves, as though they wore notes, and to have the right also to present them to the Government at any time for conversion into currency. This pro position, if carried out, would have these results : —The banks, instead of holding their reserves in the shape of non• interest-bearing bank notes, would receive in terest on them of 3 65-100. On the other hand, the Government would exchange a large debt on which it did not have to pay interest for one on which it would have to pay the above rate and the principal of which it would have to hold itself ready to pay on demand. This mon strous proposition, that the Government take all our loose change and pay us interest right along and the principal On demand, could never have arisen except after long schooling in the idea that the Government is a savings bank, obliged to undertake the investment of the surplus capital of a whole nation. In fact, the memorial is avowedly made " in view of the fact that there is no op portunity offered to the public, at the present time, for con verting the non-interest bearing promises of the Govern ment into its interest -bearing obligations, except by pur chasing United w St i a th tes go ß v o e n r d n s m i e n n t t h s e th m e aket at a n r topayi p n r t e e m re i s u t m." oa tllaseiitr°cbirlicgualat°trhYag media? Ought not the Mint-master to stamp on every penny piece a promise to pay 3 and 65-100 interest on it, lest, perchance, the holder should not [have the interprice to invest it in business ventures, and should through his own sloth let it wear out in his pocket? In the present case, if the national bank note currency piles up in New Y ork, it can at least be returned to the vaults of the outlying banks that issued it, or it can be deposited in ono bank or several, which might issue on it certificates of deposit, as the Government does upon the gold deposited w it h it by private parties. Or it might be invested in 5- 20 'Fi even at a premium, in which we see nothing that should be more appalling to a national bank than to the thousands of private individuals, who are every day buying those bonds and congratulating themselves that they have got theiz money's worth. The Bank of Montreal took one million of them on Tuesday, and other Canadian parties $400,000 more. This memorial is said to have been largely signed by the national bank officers at New York, who thus hope to gratify their greed by keeping up the price of interest. The brokers and the great public, which banks were made to serve, have turned on it a deservedly cold shoulder. Speculation is another use to which to put this money, and a revival in that phase of investment is looked for in the gold market. A speculation, caused by the ease of money, would probably return the capital thus absorbed to the more legitimate channels of business when it was demanded. Gold, however, has not yet felt this impetus so much as was anticipated, and has continued very dull and heavy throughout the week. It stiffened a little on Mon day, because the Senate tabled the bill for the admission of Virginia, it was alleged. We thought the time had gone by when the premium on gold was quite so accurate a ba rometer of the nation's faith in its own preservation. Fo reign politics are accredited also with setne.influence on the market. Government Bonds had a down turn on Saturday with the lower price of gold, but have since recovered rather more than was lost, and on Tuesday were de cidedly firm. On the day of the lowest price here they were highest in London, 62s touching 871. In our re smile two or three weeks since we casually noticed that our bonds were higher in London than British Consols A writer in the London News having, by some unusual dispensation of American arithmetic and sympathy, ar rived at the same conclusion, it was thought sufficiently important to cable his result over to us. Of course the American public laughed at the jolly greenness of the British to require enlightenment on so plain a matter. But here comes the London Times of January 4, comment ing on the disparity of American 6 per Cents. at 86 and British 3 per Cents. at 92, still ignoring the difference in exchauge, which, when added, briugs our bonds up t 95 The policy of Congress is yet so crudely defined as to have little effect Qll our bonds At /191110. The twat prominent A finance bills agree pretty well as to what measures should be accomplished, but disagree as to the order of accom plishment. Mr. Boutwell says—(l) Pay the debt, and (2) thus extinguish taxation; Mr. Sumner (1) Reduce taxation that (2) we may the more easily pay the debt. On the question of free banking, however, there is more drifting and groping and less concert. The Southern Legislatures are in session and occasion some fluctuatiois in the prices of the securities of those States. Virgin ia has the means to pay her interest, and promises to do so promptly. South Carolina Bonds are in request, by insurance and other Corporations doing business in that State, to deposit with the State Treasurer as a pledge of their solvency. This State has also put her foot on all railroad schemes, a cause of depreciation that operates sadly in Tennessee, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. The last named State promises to imitate South Carolina, and thus secures au advance in her stock. In fact, the whole line of Southern securities is strong an d gradually, through much fluctuation, improving. 31°re speculation has been engendered in stocks than in gold by the present ease in money. Cleveland and Pittsburg has advanced from 884 to 92, Merchants' Union expres 3 from 32-i to 36, and New Jersey Central, which a few months ago was 127 and since dropped to 95, has re covered to 105. Rock Island has fallen from 105 to 93 ' Express stocks aro all active, United States being a strong card. Cumberland coal, an old speculative stock, is reviving' and bin largely dealt in at an advance. In breadstuff3 flour has arrived sparingly, and holders have not been dis posed to press sales, except iu some cases from the wharf ; but the rapid decline of wheat has enabled the local millers to undersell the Western stacks, and prices have, conse quently, given way, the lowest point being reached on Sa turday last. Wheat has been pressed for sale, and on Satur day as low as $ll2 was accepted for No. 2 iu store, when the demand became active, and there has been som e reaction. Corn is in light stock, and new is coming forward sparingly, but there is scarcely any demand, and prices have been weak and unsettled. The receipts of oats are quite large for the season. In other grains a period of much depression has been felt, but the close is more steady The market for hog products during the past week ba s been devoid of any excitement. Some hopes were enter tained of a reaction in a speculative way on the leading articles, but lard has scarcely varied, and though pork re covered about $1 per barrel from the lowest point buyers operated with extreme caution, and the movement Was looked upon in many quarters as merely an attempt to bolster the matter. A Chicago circular says :—"Th e continued and increasing receipts of h ogs an d the "nag"; ficent condition of those being sent to market are sa d disappointments to those theorists who have been holding that by this time the number of hogs to be had would b° so small that the packing season would be virtually closed. Yet as to condition we have bad finer an d heavier hogs this week than at any time during th e season ; while as to numbers, we have had far rn o re than the market could stagger under, and a serious decline has resulted. The absence of any consumptive demand for mess pork still continues very marked. The product is essentially a fancy stock, and is only valuable for gambling purposes. In dry goods the prospect is said to be flattering, especially for an active foreign trade. (From the Wall-street Journal.) FRIDAY EVENING, Jan. 21, 1870. Tho money market is easy, and on call the ruling rol e is six per cent., with exceptional transactions of five and seven per cent. Discounts are easier, first-class doubl e signatures selling at 71 to 10 per cent., and at 10 to 1 5 per cent. for single names. Gold is heavy, and closes at 1201. The following are the quotations for specie:— Amer. silver... 96i to 97} 1 Eng. sovs 486 to 48.8. Mex. d011ar5...1031 „ 104 '2O francs 385 ~ 381 Eng. silver 470 , 480 y Thalers Five francs .... 96 „ 97 Foreign Exchange is generally firm, with a fair inquirP Sixty Days. Three Da9 6 ' London Bankers London, Prime Commercial 108;-108' ..... Paris, ankersi 515 5.22 i -5.17 i 5.16 • .... Bremen, Bankers tlamburgh, Bankers 3si-351- Frankfort, O.M. 4oi-40i Berlin and Cologne • Antwerp 5.24-5.17 i. Amsterdam, Bankers Bankers Swiss 5.22-5.17 .... i Railroad bonds show an active demand, an d Fisk and Hatch have in a few weeks closed out with the exception of about $150,000, the $2,800,000 loan of the Western Pacific Railroad. We also noto that the Kansas Pacif ic Railroad loan of 56,500,000, and the Danville, Urbana, Bloomington, and Pekin Railroad loan of $2,000,00 0 ar e almost exhausted. Railroad stocks are generally weak, the transaction s being principally in Chicago and No r th-W es t e rn, 1 1 ° ° Island, Lake Shore, Wabash, St. Paul, and the Vande r " bilt clique stocks. Some excitement has been created 13.9 the issue of an additional batch of the stock of tLieChicag ° ' Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Company, but when and to what amount are thus far matters of varied al' mour, one version having apparently no better basis tha n another. The stock was issued for paying off $1,400,000 of the old Rock Island Company's bonds, and $600,000 of the Rock bland Bridge Company, and for the completion an d equipment of the Dos Moines branch of the road. N. Y. Central Gs, 1883... 881 Tol. & Wab. Equip 7 3 i N. Y. Central Os, 1887... 87i Mil. & Pr. du Ch. Ist M N. Y. Central Gs, IL Est.. 85 Gal. & Chic. Ext 101 N. Y. Central Gs, Sub'n.. 85 Gal. & Chic. 2d M 91 X. Y. Central 75,,1876...100 Chi. &R. I. Ist M ? 6'l N. Y. Ceu. 7s, con. 76 Chi. It. I. & Pacific 7's -1 6, Erie Ist Mort, Ex 93 Cleve. & T o l. S. F un d... 9' Erie 7s, 2d Mort, 1879 B9l N. J. Central Ist M ...... 10 2 Erie 7s, 3d Mort, 1883 B4 N. J. Central 2d M....., 91 78, 4th Mort, 1880 7B Pitts. F & Ch. Ist 141.100 f Erie 7s, sth Mort, 1888 7ll Pitts. Ft. W & Ch. 2d M. 94 Long Dock Bonds Buff. N.Y. &E. lstM, '77 B3 Cl eve. & Pitts., 4th M..• 73 Ilud. R. 7s, Ist M, '69 102 Chi c. & Alton. S. F. Inc. Iled. R. 7s, 3d M, '75 99i Chic. & F. lstM. 97 Harlem Ist M, '6B '72 9B Mil. & St. Paul Ist M..• 91 0 4 Mich. C. Ist M, 69'72 ll6 Mil . & St. Paul 2d M... ° Mich. new Ist M £ss 'B2 --Marietta & Cin. Ist M... 8',./` Mich. So., 7p. 94 Morris & Essex Ist M... 100 N. Ind. Goshen Line '6B Morris & Essex 2d M... 95 Mich.S.&N.l.S.F'd7p.c. 961 Joilet & Chic. Ist M... 111. Cen. 7p. c, '70...,,, 116 Chi. & Gt. East'n n "' &Ron &T. H. let M 92 N. Y. &N. H. 65..... ... , Alton &T.H. 2d pfd Alton &T. H. 2d M. Inc 731 Peninsula Ist M......... 90 Han.& St.J.LandWrntslos' Ohio & Miss. Ist ...... 92 Han. & St. J. C on Ohio & Miss. C0n......... Chi. B. & Q., Ist M 105 Tol. P. W. Ist M. E. D..• 7 " Chi. &N. West, S. F 95 Atlantic &G.W. 2d 3/ 1 • --, &N. W. Con Cony 9O D e l., Lack. && W. 2d 2d M. 9 7,, Chi. &N. W. I n t B 7l/ Lake Shore . Div . . Bonds & N. W. Ist M 934 Cleve, P. & Ash. N. 8... Quincy & Tol, Ist Id, '75 - 70 Do. 0.8... 111. & So. lowa Ist M._ 70 Union Pacific Gold 8... 81 Gt. West. Ist M, 'BB B4 Central P.RR. Gold 8... 91 Gt. Western 2d M '93 77 Pacific RR. guar. by Mo. 914 Tol. & Wab. let M Ex 9oi Government Bonds are dull but steady, and we not., that 6's of 1861 an d currency 6 ' s are especially in don ee(' Sixes, 1861, registered ll7l to 118 Sixes, 1881, coupon Sixes, 1868, coupon U.S. Os. Pacific Railroad Five-twenties, 1862, registered Five-twenties, 1862, coupon Five-twenties, 1864, coupon Five-twenties, 1865, coupon Five-twenties, 1855, coupon, new 113 Five-twenties, 1867, coupon U.S. 5-20 Coupons, 1868 111 to 111 f T en -f or ties, registered Oregon War Lcian, Sixes 1881 to Miscellaneous Stocks are quiet, the principal transaction s being in Pacific Mail an I Quicksilver, the former closing at 41k, and tho latter at 13k. N. Y. Cent. & Hud. Er 921 Erie _ 4 _ _ Pacific Mail Atlantic Mail Reading Quicksilver ... 1 - B '' Mich. Central 11 79' W. U. Telegraph Illinois Central Cleveland & Pittsbrg. 94} Mariposa Preferred Chi. & North-West .... 73; Ohio and Mississippi '2 North-West Preferred 884 Boston Water Power lul Canton... s ,li Cumberland Rock Island 721 Cleveland and Toledo M & St. Paul Fort Wayne B7l IM & St. Paul Preferred 8 6 i Express Stocks show a good business at higher prices. Adams 631 to 64 American Merchants' Union 37 to 37.1 Merchants' Union, old Stock to United States Wells, Fargo, and Co 2l to 21-1 Adams Company's stock has been exceptionally strong , and had advanced to 641 on report that tho difference s between that company and the American Express Com pany have been satisfactorily adjusted; also that ten per cent. dividends on the Adams stock will be resumed at an early day. PRICE OF GOLD. --- file quotation of gold at Paris is about at par , and the short exchange on London is 25t. 15a. per £1 sterling. Un comparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3 fig. loid. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold at the above price is slightly dearer in Voris than in London BIRTHS. LUCE—On the 4th inst., at Halcomba, Malmesbury, the wife of C.ll. Luce, Esq., of a son. MAN:IF:as-0o the 4th inst., at 6, Cumberland-terrace, Ea" gent's-park, the Lady John Manners, of a son. MARRIAGES. ARMITAGE —FENTON On the 3d in;., at Bamford Chapol, Vernon Kirk Armitage, barrister-at-law, youngest sou of Sir E. Armitage, Hope hall, Manchester, to daughter of the late John Fenton, Esq., Trimble Hall, Rochdale. BOWSTEAD -HOLME—Ou the 3d inst., at Mardale, West morland, James C. l3owstead, only son of W. Bowgtead, Esq., Ilackthorpe Hall, to Annie, only daughter of John Holm°, Esq., of Chapel Bill. DEATHS. LUMB-011 the 3d inst., at The Elms, Cheltenham, Richd Kershaw Lumb, Esq., J.P., aged 82. MELLERSH—On the 4th inst., at Godalming, Surrey, Theft. Mellersh, banker, aged 88. Loudon : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TnN SUN Office, N 0. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in tho County of Middlesex Monday, February 7, Is7o. J ( INATIAN' 07 gerve the Rel. attn ~ r)., ,T11 S ecle,l) •ate, I 'Mewl. Pure-, '.\1•1,1, in Pc t th 3 t mts is ',; iu T 8, UR UTUAL NI (ineori 14, ItUSSELL- S VANC7I:S MO: oa or Lease Vetvoekly, mor 4 -tits free on rec ') i - ISTABLTS The rolo.T.iN,-of ressio ,, al Men. ' Weekly pftym(lll lined with the establishment, This establis' Itispd by her N and it is manl Lady Lanro, I Caroline Busse All infonaia' ton or personal Subscription Treasurer, at TIRE DEI JEWS receive APPL and DUNIR ( Puuils, for in, The systen Manual alpha' A public le when the su flossed. Applicatior other particu] Offices-1 The Invos Fire Revenue The moderat Bonus! or tl value as Si render ; them leave is gran thirty days a THE R -I- of CI road. Upwards this Hospits The Com enable thb-n numerous helpless by Bankers, street; and Waterloo VATIC Riehr Cinder the us whereby a I Girls of all a the kingdom The objell ish eduestie and laundry wise provid suitable situ The Comt entirely sus' Gedo3, 1.21 114 OYA Ope PIINDS a G RE Thies 11 establisbe( tree. BankerE street, Ma Sec, L°Nn stit, prove.° CONT 1 Messrs. I Mond, CI tioare, F 1 Liverpoo. FIP. ALTIT lytT B an saves - aft Perfect refroslain most die effectual] 8 anaptior zAti gemo tirvonsr cuarrlis, rhautnatl haartbur nmisea a fits, the pit o the most for 'rival Cure from of Lyn Cure nervor Vohs f, Cur( years' The 41 . arry? tin Clot a f •ou v 13 a 4 0 , LT 100 T 1 Pr( Trea Dt Folici cape at \\, who can tars