The Sun. — London, England, 1867-12-26 00:00:00

XONEY MARKET A ND - nMZIERCIAL CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. There is a very limited attendance in all depart- Meats of business in the City to-day, and the Stock Exchange being closed there is no information on this head to report. The Etna, from New York, on the 14th Dec., has arrived at Queenstown. She brings $300,000, a nd £1,500 in specie, value £61,500. A petition has been presented to the Court of Chancery by E. 11. J. Craufurd, Esq., M.P., chair- Man of the Board of Directors, to wind up the County and General Gas Consumers' Company (Limited), a company of considerable importance, stated some 11 years since, and having numerous gasworks in different parts of the country. Vice- Chancellor Malins has appointed Mr. W. J. White, of 33, King-street, Cheapside, public accountant, provisional liquidator, ass)ciating with him Mr. R. S. Parka-, the secretary. M.r. Peckham, of Great Knightrider-street, is the solicitor in the Matter. An extraordinary general meeting of the United viscount Corporation (Limite will be held on Friday, 10th proximo. The Anglo-Austrian Bank will be prepared to 'lay on and after the Ist proximo Coupon No. 4, dne on that day, at the rate of 6s. per share, free of income tax. The payment of a second dividend of 2s. in the Pound to the creditors of the Patent Carriage Corn- Pany (Limited) is announced for Saturday next, at the offices of Messrs. Johnstone, Cooper, IVinlet, and Evans, No. 3, Coleman-street-buildings. A. further dividend is announced to the creditors of the European Bank of 2s. Gd. in the pound, pay able at Messrs. Hardy,Whitmer, Gibbons, and Co.'s on the 30th and 31st inst. The liquidators antici pate being enabled to declare another distribution in January next. The Master of the Rolls has de clared a further dividend of ss. in the pound, mak ing 205., payable on the 30th inst. The traffic receipts on the Ottoman Railway for the week ending the Bth December amounted to 80 1 roubles, £1,040 245., and for the correspond ing period of last year on the same number of miles to £l,OOO ss. ld., showing a decrease of £39 rig . 3d . Messrs. Alex. Collie and Co., of Manchester, under date 24th Dec., state that the tone of this market has continued almost unchanged since last Tuesday ; and although transactions have not been i ndividually extensive they appear to have been numerous, as the desire of manufacturers to effect sales does not amount to any important concession in prices, which are only nominally lower. There is but little addition being made to stocks ; the luills generally are running full time, and by latest telegrams from the East covering rates seem to be fairly maintained. With regard to the tea trade, Messrs. William, 'lames, and Henry Thomson report that business during the past week has been extremely dull and quiet, and many of the dealers have closed their t ransactions for the year. By official returns the d uty payments last month, at the outports, were very large, making the total deliveries for the United Kingdom reach up,to,that date to 135,000,0001b5. The public sale, held on the 17th inst., was extremely B tnall, as advised in our last, and consisted only of 2,7 53 packages; prices generally remained unaltered. The China mail is expected on the 27th inst. The latest telegrams date from Hongkong to the 25th November. The arrivals have been the Coral NYmph, on the 17th ; the Star of China, on the 19 th ; the Mary Whitridge, on the 21st, from Shan g h ae the Atma, from Canton, and the Caldew, , from Foo Chow, on the 20th inst., and the Chal grove, from Canton, to-day. BRITISH FUNDS.--CLOSING PRICES. TUESDAY. GOVERNMENT FUNDS. u Per Cent. Consols Do. Account, 8 per C en t. R e d uce d 92t 1 " B9 v 3 per Cent 921 1 "Iv 21 per Cent. Jan. 1891 — 1)0. 5 per Cent. can. 1873 — A inmities, 30 yrs, expire sth Jan., 188)' — I ) J. for 33 yrs, expire sth April 1885 — 1 , Do (Red Sea Tole6raph), An,,., 1908 — ~ rchcquor Bills, £1,00(', 2 &24 per Ct 25 9 pm Do £5OO pm Do. £lOO & £2OO — Pm Ink of England Stock, 41 per Cent — 4 -'O. Account INDIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Indian :took, 104 per Cent., AprillB74 — D O . Account per Cent. Oct 1880 0 0. 4 per Cent., Oct. 1888 Do. Certificates DO. Enfaced Paper 4 per Cent — "0. 5 per Cont., Jan. 1872 DO. 51 per Cent., May 1879 — -Do. 5 per Cent., Rup. Deb., 1872 — Do. do. 1877 — Do. do. 1882 — Do Deb., 5 per Cent.. Aug. 1873 DO. Bonds, 5 per Cent., £1,000 Do. under £l,000 FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. 4r gentine Republic, 6 per Cent — trizilian SA; a strian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 1859 per Cent — ) o. 41 per Cent., 1852-56-60 Do. 1863 .„ if'• 5 per Cent., 1865 Jo Account 76 1 6 . r , Do. £lOO B on d s — 41enos Ayres 6 per Cent e D.) 2 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent ) o' l bl, 8 per Cent. . 11 411 6 per Cent — 0 0. 41 per Cent Do. -P.,0. 6 per lB67 88 1 4 Cent., B • . - "0., 7 per Cent., 1866 e Do., Scrip' £32 paid— -1) 'Lillian, 6 per Cent. b a n'isti 3p ;r Cont., 1825 'flubian Principalities, 7 per Cent 644 D° 8 per Cent., 1867 — tl'tador New Consolidated, 1 per Ceui — bYptiar, 7 per Cent 864 .„ ) o. Second Issue -- '. ..C5lO Bonds u o• £IOC Bonds BBl , Do. 1861 ' )0 ..£5 . )0 Bonds - " 0 . £lOO Bonds . • ••• —. Governm e nt Railway Debenture:, .... 93 Greek, 5 per Cent., 1821-5, ex Coups Do. Account U. Coupons r . Do. A ccount rti'iteittala 5 per Cent .. — 4, 01 5 per Cert., 1865 — ." 0 . Account ~ 72 I A '-'< 3 . Alaremmana Raiway — ex icar 3 per Cent Ditto for Account , Do. 1864 7l 3/ ` .O 6 per Cont. Anglo-French o u ntevido a l t is per Cent. • — x i urish I m p er i a l 5 per Cent - ' 6 w Granada — . -1 ,0 3 per Con — 0 . Deferred -„,"u p "0 Laud Warrants (Hectares) e ravitin 5 per Cent. 1865 — D o Account 73 21 31 "0 41 per Cent. (Uribarren) 44 per Cent.. 1862 p "0 Account fl urtl !guese 3 per Ct., 1853, '6, '7, '9,'60,'2,'3 394 4 Ilssitirt 5 per Cont., 1.822, £ St B6 4 D„0 41 p er C en t. 1850 0 41 p er C en t ., 1860 „" " per Cent., 1859 r i ° 0 er Cent, 1862 b° o : A p nglo-Dutch, 1861, £lOO Bonds — do. £B4 15s. do. 1)0 ., 1866 £lOO Bonds 8 74 4 D o ) fi ' do. £B4 15s. do ercli nian, 5 per Cent 714 Pai l i s 4 !: poi Con LI t', o Ace( unt 37i , ew Deferred Do Account 60 Passive De Accou n t I T) em. Cert. of Coup. not funded ,--, u ...ccount DO Account en " "ritish 6 C t 1854 El ,° 6 per Cent. 1856 ',O Account L i .', o £lOO Bends D ° 6 per Cent., 1862 4-,'.0 Account ue 410 f Bonds DJDo. 1863 l',' 5 per gent., 1865 331 4", Account I T 6 per Cent. 1865 5ll V -4 1 Per Cent. Guaranteed Deeducla, 3 per ' Cent. h Account _ Bo 6 per Cent.r Cent., 18 6 18 4 62 ..... Auk,. Dividends on the above payable in Londe,,. 11 ' l llii ° par Cent.' Ex 10 Florins I) m ,.?b, 44 per cont., Ex. 25f. ul l3 24 1 . . per (\Aut. Ex. 12 Gail. — Pr„ °' 4 Per Cent. Certificates ..... B5 i t - , t ich tientes, 3 Der Cent.. Ex. 25f. Ilia), 6 per Conc. 1831, Ex. 25f. — be . Account 45 41 THREE O'CLOCK. Con honey honey92l 4 WO. pant Ax e --- imill iiiiii 10111 iiiiiiiii 111111 92$ 53} 61 ~ 62 SHARE LIST,. ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS. share - Kailwaya. Paid. , Cl°Bing Business ?rine. ; thine. at IBriatoi alltl haeter 81 63 iBll st !Caledonian 10) ! 73 731 74/ 4) 3) at ;Gatuurial) - !tlork and Bandon.-- - - - I 0 Vrnwall all 2 4 at '.ublin Bellast 100 7f 76 at un„Perth,& Ali.Junc.! ceo I 70 72 100 !.Lououn, r)erip Cv:tl.! all - I 100 - - d e l et 1 611,184°w &S. Western ' 07 I at Great Eastern, Ord-its-1 toe 3'l 31,' 31) at Do. E. Awri. at. No. H 100 7 8 ; 7 at Grrat North °I Seotlan,:! 100 1.3 6 I at Great Northern lOO 1147 Oi ! 108 st 1.4,. A stock lOO i 1.0 111 I ill at Do. 13 Sleet= 1'..0 123 145 at Do. New, Is. at 25 ccii 10 - at Lit S, and IV. 01 I.celaua 10u 96 98 it W. IVt , tern 1..0 44 iq 44 1 1 st Do. S. Val. (tali gut. 100 - at Do. South Wales .... 1;:0 A Du. V. IlAti.-0:410ru 100 25 34 at Lto. Newl.ort it Do. Htreford lou - - at Lancashire d. lort;rtir 10u :21 t 22 ; 1211 2) 2 at Ibiudon and Blitekv,al) - - at Lon., 8ri411., S Coa, 10 11 50 et Lon., Ghat., and 1.),/,'el 10) 18 114 lr-1 at Do. Metrop. Ex. A lOO - - at Lou. & North Wester: tl4o 113) 11l 1311 11 13) at Lon. & Sonta Weitei, 100 75 77 , 71$ at Man., Sliel., & Liriooi, 100 44) 151' at Metropolitan all 115 117 "1161 1116 1 at Do. New - st Do. Exteu,iwi all 105 106 105) 61 6 at. ) Di,. all • - - 77 IC ( do. .10. 10 10 Do. and st. Jolin't;Nt , o 1$ - - st Midland - I Do. £9 Share 7 - - at Do, Birmill.. e IM't, ) 100 70 72 - I slid Kent . . all - - et ;North British et I Do. Ed., Pth., & Dun. 100 - - st 'Nth. Kaitern -Berwick 100 98) 991 981 91 25 I Do. t4..:4*.E puroliaat !6„13.4' - at Do. Leeds et Do. York lOO 90 92 911 at Do. Carlisle at Do. Stock. & Darling all I'ao 132 35 Do. do. 1560-61 lB I -••- ( et North London .. 10•4 I il3 115 - Do. do. 1863 5 . lO I - 10 Do. do. 1866 . 5 1 lip! st Stallordsliire iO6 5) 61 el &S. IV. Junction - Ocottish Central - ;icot. N. E . Aber. stool lOU - Jo. Scot, Mid. at Jek - SnropAilire Union at South Devon )00 42 14 at 4soutti E.,:stern . lto 67 571! 671 7 1 20 I 'taines, Wok., .t Won all 8) 9, at raw Vale 145 .50 10 Do. C 5 - Neath - - ! Waterford & Kilkeun) 100 10 Waterloo & Whitelia 6 - - 4'r:A Cornwall l,-;0 BRITISH MINES. Cam. Consol. Cold, Lim. 1 Chiver tan Clifford Amalgamated SU 51 6 0 Devon G. Cons. (Taoist 1 1,0 130 Lrakewalls 2.1.0 East Bassett (Illogan) 2:4 10 12 East Caradon 14.0 t 6 'll:ast earn Br , a 3l 2 21 East Grenville 2.14.0 11 2 East Gunuislake .. 8.3.0 t 6 East Loved 3.0.0 8 9 E. WI Russell (Tavistk• 11.7.6 15 2 tlani.tt StAubyn(G wen. , 16 4 5 4 'ireat Laxey, limited all 17 18 Great South Tolgus — Great Wheal Busy 11.9.6 G. Wheal Vor (Heist- .0 10 17 ID irenvilie • 0.0.6 1/ 10 tierod's Foot .:ss 37 Gingston Downs 5.10.61 2t 21 Alargaret (Uny Lelaut , l3 17.6' 6 S sl lake Valley 4.10.0 41 51 4 dwyndy Iron Ore, liar 81 2/ 10 S ton 56. 60 70 oral toskear . 361i0 5 7 -1.1V14 Bassett(lllogan 1.4.0 North tVheal Crotty j 2.13,0 2 3 Prosper United 1 8.11.0 2 21 Providence ,Uny Lelan ti 10.6.7 20 81 I S. Caradon (St. Ulcer) l/ ',93 410 , South Coudurrow 's.2.o 1 1 —3. Wheal Fran. (I 110gan,18.18.9 375 120 iiray Park . 5,5.18.1, 4 6 Pin ..... V 13 14 Vigra and Clogau, lira all est Bassett (11to;.;•an l6 1 W. Caradon (Liskeardl 11 10 2 West Clii7erton ll 66 68 West Setou 175 115 1:135 Wheal Bassett 'Mogan. 55 65 95 Wheal Buller (Itcdruth 16 16 1 Wheal 31ary Ann (31en.1 8 18 23 Wheal Seton Wheal Trelawney 5.17.0 6 8 BRITISH POSSESSIONS. Atlautto St.Lawretice all 53 05 Boin.,Baroda, s Cen.lnt tOO 1(4 105 go. 5 per cent Do. F shares lO p ip 04 Buffalo .Ss Lake Huron all 3} 4 tO Do. Preference 100 Bud k Brant 3Goderich I - p.o. .672-3-1 lOO 68 71 st ()sit:rata k S. E., litn.. tee st wl e town & Duck, gu. IW. 18 02 00 Demerara, 7 p.c. per. p all 90 1(2 3t ofast. Bengal, gu., sdo luu (.3 i 1 4 East 1., dtaa, gU. 5 p.c. 100 110 1104 1111 t } CO Do. J Extension .. 15 st rand Fruukof Canada 100 17 18 100 Do. Equip. Mort, Booth 1 charge 6 p.c alt t 3 15 100 Do. Ist Frei*. Bonds all 50 52 100 Do. do deferral 100 Do. 3d Pret. it n u all 40 45 100 Du. do. deterred - 100 Do. 3d Pref. stook. all 12 S 4 100 Do. do. deferred 100 Do. 4th fret. stock 100 Do. do. deterred et ludia Pen. gua. sp.c. leo 107 108 109} i t )a ,0. Gus. 5 per cent lB 2 r 40 Do. New gua. sp. c 6 2 t et it. South of India gua. 5 per cent st D 4f per cent lov 92 94 at Do 20/ treat tics. of Canada all 15} 151 lci 17 201 Do. New .. . all - 100 Do. 6p. o Bits. pay. 1873 all 95 07 100 Jo. 54 do. pay. 1877-8.. all 85 s 7 10 Indian Branch, limited 3 f I st 11adras, gua. 5 p.o 100 100 102 st Do. 42 do lOO 93 95 st Do. 41 do lOO 89 91 29 Do. Fifth Extension 5 st Melb. Cor. 6p. c. Ilnds., 100 50 ,Mel. Ilobson's Bay..! all st N.Rl.C'da,6pc lstpf.ba ' tOn 83 35 at 'Seincie 100 100 101 104 sr Do. Delhi 20 Do. do f :11 1 5 81 Do. Punjaub.... :1,,1 100 99 100 at. Illo.lnclua St. Flo 100 65 57 ';OLONIAL (10VEII.NXIENT ilriti4ll Columbia, 6 per; i cent., 1)00. 31, 1672 100 Can.Gov.6 p.c.Ja.ZLJ uly 1877-81 - po. 6p. c. Feb. & Aug 1 0 101 1(3 103 !Do. sp. 0. Mar. .e Sept; 100 101 11Q31 Do. sp. c. Jan. Sr July. 100 90 92 91 Do. sp. c. Inscribed sk' 100 Si) 91 ;Cape (*.Hope, 6 p.c.1073, 100 IC2 104 Do.Apl.&Oct.lBoo-19uu 100 1106 108 Do. do 1880-9 100 101 1( 6 Do. Jan.&July, 1890-91 100 107 IC9 Do. 5 per cent. 15 April and 15 Oct., 1000 lo' t 5 ‘.7 'Coylon, Nov. 1868, 6 p.i - Do. 1878, do lOO 11) 110 1 ] ;Mauritius, 6p. a, 1873, Jan. and July Do. 1678 .. lOO 106 108 h 3. 1882, May 15, Nov. ,5 100 105 107 Do. 1895, Feb. & Aug lOO 107 10j !Natal 'iov. 6 per cent lO9 1(4 106 ;N.B.Gov.6p.o.Ja.StJulyl 100 15.,•3 i t s Y. B.W. G'ov.s p•c.,1866 100 Do. 5 p.c. 1871 to 1876; 100 98 09 9.31 Do. 5 p.c. 1888 to 1895; 100 97 1 1 New Zealand, 6p. cent' 100 Do. 5 per cent.... Nova Scotia Gov. 6p. c. sterling, 1875 l9O 102 1041 -- IQ,ueensland Gov. 6p. c. 100 103 11.6 104 d. Aus.Gov. 6 p,0.1868-0 100 -- - Do. 1878 & upwards 1: 0 110 11 - Vic,Uov. 6 p.O.Ja &July 100 - - Do. do. April & Oct lOO . 110 112 111 LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Buckinghamshire, 94 t ,EI 4 'EItENCE SHAKE Y. Great Eastern, E. Counties Ex., No. 2, 75 Great Northern, s.per cent. rd. at 10 per cent. pm., 105} tkREFhRENCE Slt ARES AND STOCKS. London and North-Western. 6 per cent., 109} couch Eastern, 5 per cout. Charlng-crosd, t 861; 92 otti:lGN L 1 1 ,21) Dutch Rhenish, 20,1 Ditto, 24 Ditto, new. 2 1 Great Luxembourv, F/ Mexican, lira., 4 1-16 FOREIGN MINES. Chontales Gold and Slicer Mining, Jim., 3. I lion Pedro, Nor ,h Del Rey, 21 pm Port Phillip, , 1 Rossa Grande, Yudan.auutana of South Australia, lim. BANlib. Agra, lint., A, 7A Australasia, 51 1 Baltic of Rm.. 54 Imperial Ot.ornan, 91 London and River Plate, Ditto, new, It London Chartered Baltic of Australia, 231 1 London Joint Stock, 35 Ditto, new. 23 London and estminster, 68j:1 Midland Bank, lint., 191 New South Wales, 45 5t Unioa of Australia, 514 MISCELLANEOI:b. Anglo American Telegraph, 19 A Agto- Mexican mint, 16 Atlantio Celegraph, -Dit , o. S par rent., 8,4 Bombay Gas, lint., Ditto, no .v, 2i Credit woncier of England, llm.. 3 3-.6 1 Ebbw Vale, 10 E,;yptiatt 9 per Cent, Viceroy Loan, gus by Egypt. Gov., 91 Ditto, Scrip, 14 Gen. credit 41.14 Discount, itm.. 5 1 -ls International Financial aocicty, Dm., 2 11-16 Peninsula and Oriental Steam, 53 5 Ditto, ne w , 1867, 5/ Royal M ill Steam. 621 Telegraph Construct. and Maintenance, Um., 15 Thames and aleraey Marine, insurance, ltia., 41 United Kingdom Telegraph Co., Hal, 3 1 Upper Assam Tea, lint . DEATH OF A CENTE'ARIAN. A. Cornish man, who has attained the age of 101 years, was buried at Truro on Monday. The deceased was by trade a thatcher, and enjoyed good health up to a fortnight ( f his death. THE NEW FACTORY ACT.—On Wednesday, the Ist proximo, the new act on factory extension will take effect, and has reference to factories in the United Kingdom where 50 or more persons are employed There are temporary and permanent modifications in the tatue. THE SUN, LON t THURSDA Y E V EKING, DECEMBER 26, 1867. MANCHESTER riIUCATION COMMITTEE. The Committee on Education, which holds its sittings at the Manchester Town Hall, has decided upon taking such action as shall result in the reintroduction of the bill prepared under its auspices, and which in the last session of Parliament was introduced into the House of Coril mons by Mr. Bruce, Mr. W. E. Forster, and Mr. Alger non Egerton. Arrangements are being made for a Conference, to be held in the Town Hall, Manchester, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 15th and IGth of January next, and it is hoped that the committee will secure the attendance of the most influential friends of education, of all political parties and religious denominations. The bill introduced last session, and the provisions of which will bs discussed at the Conference next month, is per missive in its character•, and, when passed, it may be adopted by the ratepayers in nny borough or district. When so adopted, i' . the administration of the fund; in the of school committee, elected by tile to -I; ) • in m cipal born and by the ratepayers in othe. d have power to call upon the overseers, or local authority, to levy a rate for educational purposes. It adopts existing schools as the basis of its operations, and onlycontemplates the establishment of new schools, on the failure of voluntary effort to supply, after due notice, any deficiency of school accommodation. Trustees or managers may, under the provisions of the bill, place their schools in union with the school committee, either as free schools or aided schools, and receive payment per head for the attendance of the scholars on compliance with such conditions as will secure the efficiency of the schools and protect the rights of conscience ; but with out the sehool committee acquiring thereby any right to interfere with the internal management, disci pline, or instrxction, in such schools, otherwise than to see that the conditions of union are com plied with by the managers, and thus what is commonly called the religious difficulty is entirely avoided. The principle of the bill is local rating, for the support of free and aided schools, with local administration of the funds ; union of existing schools without interference with their internal management ; and security for the rights of conscience, without violating the convictions of school managers ; a power of appeal being given in all cases to the Queen in Council. It is proposed that Mr. Bazley shall, when the bill is in committee, introduce certain clauses, with a view to compel the attendance of children at school. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FREEDOM or WOE" SIIIP.—A prize is offered by this association for the best " scheme of operations " for awakening Church authorities, seat-holders, and the nation at large, to the wrong and mischief of excluding the great mass of the people—the working classes—from the national churches by the pew system. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST GREEK FIRE AT THE Go- VERNMENT OFFICES. —At the offices of the Board of Trade, the Privy Council, and other Government esta- blishments, the precaution has been taken of having the flooring leading to the several departments strewn with sand, and supplies of sand kept in readiness in the event of the buildings being attempted to be destroyed by means of Greek fire. THE EASTERN FISHERIES. —Taking the season as a whole, it is feared that the herring fishery on the eastern coast this year will not prove quite up to the average, as, since the 20th ult., when stormy weather set in, the quantity of fish secured has been comparatively small. The sales made during the last few days have been at from £l7 to £2l per last (13,200 fish). CONSISTENCY.—A political scene, which in any other country and with any other actor would be thought extraordinary, was witnessed in Ballymoney, County Antrim. An Orange soiree was held at which Mr. John Rea, of Belfast, who had been specially invited to attend, made a speech, in which he avowed the utmost sympathy with the Orangemen, eulogised them as the stalwart sup. porters of liberty, complained that he had been misrepre sented to them, and declared his intention to devote him self to their interest for the future. Only a month has elapsed since Mr. Rea delivered a vehement speech in Belfast, denouncing the Fenian executions, and declaring that had be been in Manchester he might have been one of the prisoners. He has all his life been ranged with the Liberal party fighting fiercely to overthrow Orange in fluence. The apparently irreconcilable inconsistency may, perhaps, be accounted for by the supposition that he is endeavouring to promote the formation of a great Democratic league in. the North—an object which other politicians have in view in contemplation of an Irish Re form Bill. FORTUNE OF THE LOTTERY. —Not a little amuse ment has been afforded to the Viennese lately by .an eccentric illustration of the humours of the lottery. The day after the drawing of the quarter-million prize, a trimestral sensation in Vienna, the intelligence spread far and wide over city and suburbs that a female under-cook in the light pastry department of that good and great institution, the Archduke Charles Hotel was the owner of the £25,000 number, and soon a host of congratulators assailed Mr. Schneider's domain, and insisted upon visit ing the culinary department, in order to offer their heart felt and disinterested felicitations to the Lady of the Rolling Pin. In vain she denied the good fortune ascribed to her—her denegations were received with respectful, incredulity, and attributed to great astuteness of charac-` ter ; assurances of friendship, protestations of affection, were showered upon her ; and she was overwhelmed by half a dozen marriage proposals in the course of an after noon. How many beautiful and accomplished girls have waited a life-long without one such request being addressed to them ! The cream of the joke is, of course, that she really had not even possessed a 'share of a lottery ticket, far less drawn the first prize, and that the whole mystifi, cation was got up by some cynical young lions of finance as a test of Viennese character. As the supposed favourite of fortune is neither young nor fair, let us hope that she closed with one of the numerous offers made her by her enraptured suitors. MR. MASON AGAIN.—A letter from Mr. Mason, ex-envoy of the Confederacy in Europe, in reply to the invitation of a certain Colonel Graham, formerly of Texas, to settle in Jamaica, has appeared in the Virginia papers. Mr. Mason refuses to settle in Jamaica himself or to ad vise others to do so, inasmuch as "it is his hope and be lief that a time must come when the r,ekless and unscru pulous party in power at Washington will be overthrown, anti the Southern States again remitted to full and exclu sive control over their respective populations, without foreign intervention." What he means by this " full and exclusive control over their populations," he explains fur ther on by expressing his confidence " that the intelli gence, wisdom, and, more than all, the experience of our people in regard to negroes would make them devise some system of legislation by which, without again reducing them to slavery, they would be made to discharge the incumbent duties of a labouring class." All this, being turned into plain English, means that he looks forward to the time when the South will be enabled to put in force the black code which most of the States drew up at the close of the war ; and that this expectation is shared by the great body of the white population' there can be very little doubt. If the Dettlocratic party should get into power before the traditions of slavery have died out, en 1 before the negroes have acquired enough education and intelligence to be able to protect their own rights, there can be little question that this expectation would be realised, which is as strong a reason as can be given why the Republican party should carefully avoid whatever seems likely to take from it the confidence of the masses. —New York Nation. " Christmas Day in the Workhouses" is, of course, always good for rather over two columns. Then there are descriptions of the Christmas dinners which have been given, through the kindness of the benevolent, to the poor who have not yet taken up their lot within the workhouse walls. The attractions of the Christmas amusements are described at a length which contrasts in a remarkable de gree with the unfeeling manner in which this class of matter is treated at any other period of the year. The fine arts, so terribly neglected in the parliamentary session, are now dealt with in such a way as to make ample amends for the sins of omission which have characterised the past. Two or three columns of " East London Distress " seem to cast a heavy gloom over the recorded incidents of this festive season. The resolutions of the Pan-Anglican Synod were fortunately issued only a day or two ago, and they occupy nearly five columns in some of the papers. A writer on " Railway Engines Abroad " has deemed the topic of sufficient importance to devote three columns to it. Close alongside it is a letter on the wheat crop of 1867 —not a satisfactory one, as we are now finding out. The evidence before the Trades Union Commission holds out capitally. An elongated description of British Honduras will be thoroughly appreciated after the lovers of the legi timate drama have witnessed the pantomime. Those who wish to know how religious denominations flourish in the United States are presented with some light and pleasant reaaing in the shape of a pile of statistics. To counterbalance the possible effect of figures on the nervous system, the scis sors have been ruthlessly employed on the pages of " Ne Thoroughfare," " London Society," " Cassell's Christmas Annual," and works of a kindred nature, for these have contributed column after column to the morning's matter. One paper, which usually publishes a " summary," finds nothing whatever in the world's intelligence to include under that heading ; another condenses the news from the uttermost parts of the earth into three paragraphs averag ing s 1 lines each. So much for the "topics. of the day" in. Lond.on; now for those of the proviwefo, EXAMINATION OF THE FENIAN, FINITY. BOW-STREET.--(THIs DAY.) Michael Finity, a ferocious-looking personage, was charged on remand with using wicked, mali cious, . and seditious words and expressions against our Sovereign Lady the Queen. Mr. Poland, instructed by Mr. Hodgson, the solicitor to the Treasury, appeared for the prosecu tion, and Mr. Ricketts, solicitor, defended. To accommodate the prisoner's solicitor, the de positions taken at the last examination were read or er. Mr. Poland—Did the prisoner say. Mr. Somen, in what way the Queen would be shot? Witness—lie said the first time she went to the house. Mr. Poland—He did not say by a bullet or not. Witnes—No. Cross-examined by Mr. Ricketts—l don't think he was drunk. Ile had a wife and little child with him. I did not see any fellow-workmen of there. They were principally men working on the railway works. I have known him about five years. For the last twelve or thirteen months he has not much used my house. He never did much. I never heard him say anything when be was sober, unless you put him out, and then he would talk as he did on that night. There was no one to dispute with on this occasion. He was shout ing out at the top of his voice. Ido not think that any one spoke to me. I do not know Mrs. West. I did not hear any female speak. I have no bar maid. My wife and daughters assist in the busi ness. George Balderstin, cross-examined, said that he heard prisoner say he would shoot the - Queen the first time she opened Parliament. He was not drunk. He thought it extraordinary conduct. He was in the house from 9to 11 o'clock. He heard the man while he was passing, and he looked at him. He thought it odd conduct. He worked for the Midland Railway Company. Thomas Lintot stated that he lived at 5, Hull street. He was a ganger on the Midland Railway. On the 14th he was in the public-house where the prisoner was. He was damning the country and all in it. Witness said then you are damning me. He said he was not. He did not appear drunk. This was soon after 10 o'clock. Cross-examined—He did not appear to be sober. He might have been excited. His manner impressed him that he was sober. Thomas Wood said he lived at No. 2, South wark-street. He was a valveman at the Imperial Gas Works. He then confirmed the statement made at Mr. Somers 'sby the prisoner. A witness, Huckel, was called, and he stated that he had never heard the prisoner at the gasworks say anything seditious whatever. He thought him a harmless man. This was the last witness, and Mr. Ricketts com mented upon his evidence, and said if it had not been for the late detestable crime at Clerkenwell, would Sir Thomas have entertained this charge as it had been entertained ? Sir T. Henry (emphatically)—Certainly. Mr. _Ricketts here said that he should satisfac torily prove that the prismer was drunk, and ha been so all the latter part of the day, and that he should call witnesses who would confirm this state ment. He trusted that after hearing this evidence Sir lhomas would discharge him. _ _ A witness named Mack, working at the Impe rial Gas Works, deposed that he had been drinking at various public-houses in the neighbourhood of the gasworks, and that they all got pretty nearly drunk. This was after four o'clock. When pri soner left him he thought he was drunk. Michael Lowry and Mrs. West gave confirmatory evidence. Mr. Poland said that it was wrong to suppose that the Treasury had taken up this matter. They really were only watching the case upon the infor mation of persons who thought it their duty to come forward. Under all the circumstance; he should hardly ask that the prisoner should be sent to trial, but that he should be bound over. Sir Thomas Henry said he thought that Mr. Poland had taken the right course, and that no jury would convict the prisoner, therefore he must find two sureties in each, and the imprisonment he had undergone he richly deserved for his drunken habits. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day. MARLBOROUGH-STREE r. ONSLAUGHT ON THE POLICE—A BEGGARS' MEET ING.—James Wilson and William Crompton, two rough-looking fellows, were charged before Mr. Knox with behaving in a disorderly manner, Crompton being further charged with assaulting Police-constable John Moore, 193 C. Sergeant George Appleton, 26 C, said—About 9 o'clock last night my attention was called to the British Stores beer-shop, in Gerrard-street, Soho, by hearing a great noise. On looking in I saw about fifty persons, nearly all of them known to me as beggars, drunk, hallooing, and fighting ; and as soon as I entered the house with a constable there was a general onslaught on us, and pots were thrown at us. Finding we could not cope with the persons I sent for some of the inhabitants, and they assisted me, and we got the persons out. Wilson then re fused to go away and I ordered him to be taken into custody, and while Wilson was gone to the station, Crompton returned with some of his companions and set to shouting and hallooing. Mr. Knox —Were both the prisoners concerned in the onslaught on the police, and were they both drunk ? Sergeant Appleton —They were. John Moore, 193 C—At nine o'clock last night I went with the sergeant to the British Stores, and saw a number of drunk and disorderly persons. On getting them into the street they set to shouting and hallooing,*.and would not go away. After taking Wilson to the station, I returned and took Crompton into custody, and on the way to the station he set to kicking and plunging, and kicked my legs from under me, and we had great difficulty in getting him to the station, and he nearly tore the nail cff one of my fin gers . Mr. Edward Yeomans, - an inhabitant of Gerrard street, said—Having been sent for by the sergeant, I went to the British Stores, and there saw between forty and fifty of the lowest persons in Lon don. I persuaded the persons to leave, and as soon as they got outside they began quarrelling, shouting at the tops of their voices. Wilson abused me, saying that he had killed many a better man than me, and Crompton said that he had paid for a pint of beer, and he was -- if he would not break every pane of glass in the place. Mr. Knox—Has the attention of the authorities been called to the house ? Sergeant Appleton—lt has ; they had made the place a meeting place yesterday, having got plenty of money and got drunk. Mr. Yeomans-I'm told that they beg all day and leave the money they get with the landlady on their leaving the house to get a bed in the casual wards, and that they call for their money the fol lowing morning. Mr. Knox fined each of the prisoners 40s. or a month for their disorderly conduct, .and committed Crompton for a month without a firie for assaulting the constable. James Doyle, alias Bryan, one of the same class as the other prisoners, was brought ul ) for behaving himself in a disorderly manner and br , caking a pane of glass of the value of 405., the property of Mr. Bentley, of Wardour-street. The prisoner went into Mr. Bentley's house, in sulted the customers because they wcwild not give him beer, and then on being put out ot' the house deliberately smashed a pane of glass in the window. Mr. Knox committed the prisoner for a month without a fine. A number of persons were brought bei'ore Mr. Knox this morning; charged with being dr uuk disorderly. Whereand incapable, and di:la.c and the charge was only for , drunkenness the offenders qther cases Mr. Knox, were discharged, and in the - lns id e ration, im taking the festivo tiqa*Cal ilito t.- posed slight fines, chief warder of the Westminster He 1 130 of Correc tion, Tothill Fields. A solicitor appeared from the Visiting ' Justices to prosecute. Mrs. Howe said on the 14th of Nov ember she passed into No. 3 prison, C section, to see the work taken by Warder Lambert, and th ,e prisoner passed into the room to the oakum scale. She was suffering a term of two years' impisotiment, when she got to the scale she had not pickK:d her day's oakum, and the warder at the scale ask ed her if she was excused. She said "No ; bhe had been 'stated' for the doctor." She turned .!.cund. to the warder and directed her to put the prisoi-er f own as No work until inquire." Prisoner wag th 'n told to stand by the scale. She did so for a mL nitif,, and then suddenly picking up a 21b, weight, tiu , :w it with all her might at witness, striking her on the arm. She picked up a 11b. weight and also threw it, but witness ducked her head, and it passed. over By Mr. Arnold—Could not suggest any motive for it except that prisoner had been reported before by another warder for having forbidden things without permission. filer character was bad during the whole time. Mr. Arnold inquired why the prisoner had not been brought up before ? Mr. Walley, the solicitor, said the visiting justices considered the matter on the 16th, and thought it too serious for any punishment they could inflict, and ordered her to be brought up at the expiration of her term. Mr. Arnold said it was just a case that came under Jervis' Act, where the prisoner should have been brought up at once, and at the expiration of the term inflicted for the offence sent back to finish the original term. He found that when the pri soner was sentenced to two years, she had insulted a witness in court and ordered to find bail for three months. Prisoner seemed to be a person of ungovernable temper, and it was necessary to re press exhibitions of this sort in a prison, where the utmost discipline should be kept. He sentenced the prisoner to three mouths' hard labour. THAMES. WESTATINSTEIL 1 VIOLENT ASSAULT IN A PRlSON.— : Margaret grape o f t ,,_ . wad charged with assaulting Mr 4. Charlotte IJowe, gate. . A CHAPTER OF MISTAKES.—SamueI Crosby, a seaman, was brought before Mr. Paget, charged with assaulting David Crutchley, a police-constable, No. 188 K. The complainant said that on Satnrday night the prisoner met him in the Back-road, Shadwell, and represented that he had lost his way, and wanted to reach Green's Sailors' Home, in Poplar. He directed hiim which way to go. The prisoner said that he wished him to act as pilot and convey him to the Home. He told the pri soner he could not leave his beat, and the prisoner departed. Some time afterwards the prisoner re turned to him on another part of his beat, and again demanded that he should conduct him to the Sailors' Home. He again refused, and the prisoner knocked off his helmet. He picked it up and took the prisoner into custody. Mr. Paget—You say this occurred on Saturday night, why was not the prisoner brought before the magistrate sitting here on Monday ? Witness—This is Monday. Mr. Paget—No, you are wrong. Witness—Yesterday was Sunday. Mr. Paget—No, you are wrong again. Witness, throwing his arms up with a sudden burst of recollection—l beg pardon, yesterday was Christmas-day. On Christmas-eve the prisoner accosted me. The prisoner said he was on a voyage from Pic cadilly to Poplar, and found himself at the Horns, Kennington. That was not his latitude or longi tude. He tacked about, and steered again for Poplar. He found himself in Shadwell, and spoke to the police constable, who was drunk, and he could tell him the exact position in which he stood. The prisoner then went into a long harangue, which the magistrate patiently heard, and then sentenced the prisoner to seven days' imprisonment. TERRIFIC GAS EXPLOSION.—Last night, about 10 o'clock, there was a tremendous explosion of gas in the dwelling-house of Mr. Samuel French, No. 46, Exmouth-street, late Holmes-street, Stepney. There was an escape of gas in the back parlour, and Mr. French, instead of carefully open ing all the doors and windows, went into the apartment with a lighted candle. A loud report followed, the front door was blown off the hinges into the street, nearly every pane of glass in the window smashed, a panel of the shutter covering the front window shattered, and the back of the house blown out. Mr. French, who is upwards of GO years of age, was seriously injured by the explosion, and his face and head were scorched. Great fears are entertained that the calamity will prove fatal. He is a most respectable and worthy man, and has been in the service of Gusler and Co., the wine mer chants in Fenchurah-street, for 35 years. BILLIARDS AND CIIESS.—It is somewhat humili ating to reflect that eminence cannot be attained, even in the art of knocking about three ivory balls with a stick, without the devotion of a lifetime. It is the more humi liating when we consider that in the prosecution of this art not the slightest mental of urt is required. Neither chess nor whist can be played, even moderately well, by an arrant fool ; but a billiard-table will be found in every well-conducted lunatic asylum iu the kingdom. Billiards require a well-strung and well-disciplined condition of body, so that between hand and eye the most perfect sympathy may exist. Chess is a contest of brains ; bil liards, of steady nerves and correct eyesight. Chess is a great mental, billiards a great manual, effort.—Saturday Review. RARE CAITHNESS BIRDS.—The John O'Groat Journal describes a unique collection of Caithness birds to be seen at present in the office of that paper. The speci mens are ten in number, forming eight species (there being a male and female of two of the species), and belong altogether to the insectivorous order of birds. First in interest aro a pair of pied flycatchers, migrants from African to British shores, and so rare even in the more congenial climate of England, that the Rev. F. 0. Morris says concerning them—" Like the majority of ornithologists, I have never seen this species alive." There is also a specimen of the spotted flycatcher, a female, which was shot in a garden in Wick, on the 15th of May last. Only a few specimens of the cole tit (Parses ater) have as yet occurred in the county, and the indi vidual here shown is the first recorded example. A pair of common redstarts, male and female, aro here shown ; but the former has not acquired the full adult plumage, the colours being less brilliant than those exhibited by_ the adult male in his nuptial dress. There is a fine example of that curious little bird, the tree creeper, and another of the whinchat, a bird closely allied to the wheatear, a nu merous and well-known Caithness species. An extremely rare bird in these northern parts is the tree pipitt shown here, whose song is described as possessing considerable "compass, variety, and sweetness." Last, but not the least lively and graceful, is a specimen of the willow warbler, one of a family of birds but little known iu this, for the most part, treeless county. THE POACHER.—We may picture him to our selves, if we like, lurking in sequestered den—half cave, half cottage—built into the hillside, and protected by a spreading oak, and there will be no one to disturb our vision. We may imagine him a good sportman, a self-taught naturalist, sober, and, in his own eyes at leas', honest and industrious. Last, but not least, let him stand 6 feet high, be a model of strength and activity, with a frank, bold countenance, a merry blue eye, extremely white teeth, and a smile that would subdue a duchess. Our fancy may paint him as we like, and nobody, we repeat, can contradict us. T hat is a poacher of the golden age, before modern preserves, modern battues, or percussion caps weere invented. But as we do not believe in the "starving peasant" theory of poaching, still less do we believe in that romantic and pic turesque ideal which modern novelists do still oecaiioualTy present to us. The poacher of the old school, if Ito over existed, with his Allan-a-Dale swagger and Robin Hood like generosity, is as extinct as Dick Turpin. To him has succeeded.the poacher of tthe iron age; member of a ruf fianly gang, whose business is to fill the dealers' shops in town and country, and to get drunk on the proceeds. Th ese gangs vary in number and daring, from the to -sawyers of Loudon down to the provincial art:sts,who are shoemakers or ratcatchers by day, and poachers only by might. The cream of the profession, we fancy, sully not their hacds by any meaner occupation, not at least during the days of their glory—" in the season of the year." These men, making some large town or village in a good game cowl ' try, or perhaps London itself, their headquarters, carry on operations in a systematic and wholesale fashion. They have their spies and underlings in the neighbour hood of all the larg.: preserves, from whom they receive :I-curate information as to the quantity of game, the likeliest covers, the movements of the keepers and the character of the local police. In fact, their precautions and their organisation are exactly the same as those 'v regular gang of housebreakers.—Cornbill Ma- EGYPT AND ABISSINIA. The following intelligence, from a correspondent of the Pall-Mall Gazette at Alexandria, dated the 12th inst., may serve to throw some light on the movements of the Egyptian troops on the coast of Abyssinia : " I have lately obtained several items of infor mation from a native Abyssinian which go to con firm the supicions I expressed of Ismail Pacha's intrigues with Tussoo-Gobazie; but I must first correct a mistake into which I was led in a former communication which appeared in the Pall- Mall Gazette of the sth u't. It was not Yahula G,ita in person who ` was at the Musafir Khaneh at Cairo, and who .has ben p::ssing back wards and forwards bAwem Abyssinia an 1 Egypt, but a trusty friend of his, named Mikhail. The story of Yahula Geita is this —he was governor, on the part pf Theo l ire, of Arm tchuho, a district, as I understood, between Gondar and Walkait, and un able to resist Theodore alone. Tusso G )bazie leagued with him, and both turned t 3 the Egyptians to save then; from Theodore. A year ago Yahula Geita had the misfortune to fall into the hands of Theodore, who at first pardoned him, but after wards charging him with maintaining intelligence with Tusso Gobazie, put him in chains. Mikhail still Passes as Yahula Geita's servant. He left Cairo on the 2d inst. for Massowah. He was there last Dec., and it was on his return to Massowah in January that he learned the news of his master's clpture. He stated that this was the cause of his long stay at Massowah, and that he only cam 9 here again, on the strength of former visits, to obtain the favour of the Viceroy, which is not very likely, any more than that his Highness would place him in the Musafir Khaneh unless he had some special claim on the Viceroy's hospitality. I observed to my in formant that the suggestion did not account for Jasfar Pasha's solicitude for Yahula Geita's ser vant, and his bringing him on with him to Sua kin, and sending him thence by steamer to Suez. Is not Mikhail,' I said, come from Tussoo Goba zie, with whom the Vieeroy . ls said to be friendly'?" To which the answer was, As you seem to know it, what is the use of telling you?' My present inform ant corrected me when I said, Tussoo Gobazie,' and pronounced the word Tirsoo,' which name, he said, was given to this Gobazie from bis having promi nent teeth—from Tirs, a tooth (Arabic, dhirs ?). Before Mikhail left on the 2d another Abyssinian ar rived at the Murafir Khaneh. He is called the Feta Awrari (prefect) Garrad for several years past, and was, up to his departure from his post, the Wakel, or personal agent, of Theodore with Hailo, the governor of Hamasein. What lam told about him is, that Theodore lately directed him to pro cure money from Hailo, and to come with it to Debra Tabor, but that Garrad, doubting Theo dore's intentions towards him, thought it better to escape ; and having just sent his family to the thermal springs at Ailat on the plea of his wife's ill hea Ith, in another fortnight set off with followers to bring them back, joined them, and proceeded to Massowah. The English at Zulla wanted to get hold of Garrad, but Hassan Bey, the Governor of Dilassowah, claimed hi m as his guest, and sent him on to Cairo on his way to Jerusalem ! I am not yet apprised of his having left the Musafir Khaneh. It is probable that our people saw him at Massowah or Zulla, as he came on to Suez in one of the Azizieh boats under charter to as. " Now, it is singular that the Viceroy should all of a sudden be seized with a desire to afford protec tian to Abyssinian refugees, and to facilitate the pilgrimage of Abyssinian Christians to Jerusalem. One cannot be sure, but I cannot help thinking that Ismail Pasha is playing his cards for cutting into the north provinces of Abyssinia the first day he finds the road open. Observe, between Matamma and Massowah the territory is under Tirsoo Gobasie; then Hatnasein is just above Massowah, and a good place to reside in; and the two guests lately arrived at Cairo are intimately connected with those districts, the one having relations with Go bazie, and the other with Hallo, with whom, as is reported, he has been Theodore's agent for several years. The Viceroy is said to be nervous about our proceedings in Abyssinia, and will be delighted to hear that Lord Stanley has empha tically announced that we shall not retain any por tion.of the country, or stay a moment longer than is necessary to obtain a release of the prisoners. Our presence there would prevent that of the Vice roy's troops, and put a stop for ever to slavery. A very shrewd native here, who knows the Soudan well, remarked to me that if the English remained in Abyssinia the Pasha would be driven away by the inhabitants. About a week ago the Viceroy wrote, under his own seal, a very pressing letter to Theo dore, urging him to give up the prisoners, otherwise he would have his country taken away from him by the English, and as the English were a very powerful nation, he (the Viceroy) might be com pelled to join them. The Coptic Patriarch has also been ordered to write to Theodore, and the Arme nian Archbishop of Jerusalem—the prelate men tioned in the Blue Book—has likewise had to try his hand. The former is stated to have represented to Theodore the degradation to which the Abyssi nian Church would be subjected under the English who would leave it no freer than the Coptic Church is in Cairo. All this to try and get us out of the way of his Highness, who dreads our presence near the Soudan. The letters will be without effect. There is no one Theodore distrusts more than the Egyptian Viceroy." COINAGE OF KINGS OF KENT. That extraordinary repertory of old English relics, the receding sea-beach of Cheshire, has lately (so we are informed by the Atheneum) disclosed two interesting, and we believe unpublished, coins of the Saxon period, which a young collector, Mr. J. R. Allen, of Liverpool, has the good for tune of securing. The earlier in point of date is a sceatta, a variety of a well-known but puzzling type, which has been referred by numismatists to two early kings of Kent,—viz., Ethelbert the First and Second, but without certainty, inasmuch as no name appears upon it. A. second, and also unpublished variety, occurred here two years ago, but the present is a fine and perfect example, weighing 17 grains. The presence of these presumably Kentish coins at so distant a locality is remarkable, as such have hitherto been discovered only in the south-east of Eng land. The other piece proves to be a halfpenny of Edward the Confessor, the place of mintage being represented by s v, probably Southwark or Southampton. So rare are the Saxon halfpennies that, previously to the celebrated " Cuerlale find," only two were known—those published in Ruding's " Annals of the Coinage." It is a noteworthy fact, that of the various coins found here, and which represent every portion of the national history, from the intercourse of our ancestors with Carthage in pre-Roman times, downward, the Saxon prove to be in by far the finest condition ; and whilst elsewhere such occur in hoards more or less large, here they re-appear singly ; in point of fact, where lost by their former owners, the admixture of arboreal matters in the soil from whence they are washed fortunately pro tecting them from excessive oxidation. A more specific description of the above-named pieces will be given in Mr. Ecroyd Smith's annual report of the archeological discoveries on the Cheshire shore, supplied to the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. Sir W. Gordon Cumming, Bart., has entered the army as ensign and lieutenant in the Scots Fusilier Guards. Mr. C. Sykes, M.P., has returned to Branting. ham Thorpe, from staying with Sir John and Lady Gwen doline Ramsden at Byrom, South Milford. HER MAJESTY'S Theatre is to be immediately rebuilt on a magnificent scale. SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS.—The annual dinner of this flourishing association, which has been devised for the keeping together in a professional and social band the younger members of the body of civil engineers, was held on Friday evening last at the Bridge House Hotel, and was fully attended. The quotation of gold at Paris is about at par, and the short exchange on London is 25f. 15c. per £1 sterling. On o impariug these rates with the English Mint price t Z. 3 rrs.loid. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold Is about 1-:oth per cent. doarer in Paris than in Lon don. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, PROGRAMME OF EALING STEEPLECHASES. THURSDAY, Dec. 26. The Selling Steeplechase . Plate of 40 sovs; four year tide 11-st 71b ; five list 121 b, six and aged 12st; the winner to be sold for 60 sovs; if for 40 sovs allowed 71b, 30 121 b; about two miles. The Ealing Plate (Handicap) of 4') sovs; winners of any , steeplechase after Dec. 20 (at ten a.m.) 71b extra; about two miles. Age st lb Age st lb Trumpeter ... 612 7lP e i gno i r g ll 2 HeHee 5 12 4 Useless a. 11 Shiite a 12 3, Puebla 5 11 0 Harold 5 12 21 Toni Coke ... 4 10 12 Trap 11 12 Pearl ... 4 10 12 Orleton (11 h) ... all 10 Caustic ••• 10 10 Gorsehawk a 11 9 W e ddi ng Peal ... 5 10 IA Foxholes 511 9 Joker ... 510 10 Savannah ... 6lt 9 Little Peevish ... 414 10 mirreine 4I t 7 Crafty ... •.. 410 10 ileurlys ... a 11 7 ••• 10 10 The Robber ... a 11. 4 • Faint Heart ... 410 7 The Maiden Steeplechase Plate of 30 sovs; four year ole.s llst 71h, five and upwards 12• st ; if beaten three ti'ae s previous to the time of entry allowed 71b, twice filb; half-breds allowed 71b; winners after the day of entry slb ex Ira. The winner to be sold for 50 sovs, &c. About two miles. Bronze aged, Penelope 6 yrs, Byfield (h b) aged, Signal 6 yrs, Crafty 4 yrs, Panther (h b) aged, Black Swan (h aged, Cantharides 4 yrs. The Ealing Hunt Cup, value 70gs ; four yearolds 11st41b, five and upwards 12st 41b ; half breds allowed 71b ; ners over a country up to the time of entry once 51b, twice, or of a stake value 100 sovs 101 b exra ; non-pro fessionals allowed 51b ; about three miles. Lawrence (h b) aged, Hippolyto aged, Waterperry ag".113, Leotard aged, Arlescott (11 b) aged, Meerschaum aged, Comberton aged, Patience (h b) aged, Northern Light 6 years, Snowstorm (h b) 4 yrs, Laura (h b) 6 yrs, Pixie 6 yrs, Kennett 6 yrs, Darkness (ti b) aged, Sugar Plu m (h b) 5 yrs, Sensation (b. b) 6 yrs, rfally-ho aged, Merrr Horn (h 1.) 4 yrs. The Middlesex Handicap ol added ; winners after Dec About two miles and a hal 5 sovs each, 2 ft, with. BO 20, at 10 a.m., 71b extra. 21 subs. Age st lb Hornet The Guide 5 11 7 Ace of Trumps a 11 4 Triumpher Cabin Boy (h b) Sportsman t 11 2 Garus a 11 2 Simte a 11 0 Woodbury Hill(hb) a 10 12 Vindicator a 10 10 Nabocklish Leotard a 10 10 Age at HI Kingfisher (h b) alo a Stiff Leicester 1 1 Balhatn Heurlys a 10 5 Harcourt Risk ' - 5 10 5 Joker 5lO 0 Wedding Peal 5 10 0 Signal 6 10 0 leo rvedale (h b) alo 0 Ned of the Hills FRIDAY. The Selling Steeplechase Handicap of 5 sovs each, 2 ft, with 30 added; the winner to be sold for 40 sovs; about two miles. The Local Cup, value 25gs, for horses that have never won a handicap steeplechase value 20 sous, the pro perty of persons residing within thirty miles of Landon - list 71b each ; winners of a steeplechase or hurdle race ' in 1867 101 b extra, but not penalised for both ; non professionals allowed 51b; once round the Steeplechase Course, starting in front of the Grand Stand. The Town Plate (Handicap; steeplechase after Dec. 2 ) of 40 says ; winners of any !O (at 10 a.m.) 71b extra.-, Age st lb Peignoir ... ... a 10 9 Useless ... ... alO 9 Puebla ... ... 510 7 Joker ... ... 510 5 Tom Coko ... 4 10 4 Pearl ... ... 410 5 Mountain Maid ... 4 10 5 Caustic ... ... 410 4 Wedding Peal ... 510 4 Little Peevish ... 410 4 Signal ... ... 6 10 4 Ned of the Hills ... a 10 4 Crafty ... ... 410 4 Faint Heart ... 4 10 4 About two miles. Sharpshooter Age st lb .. 5 12 7 Ace of Trumps ... a 12 0 Triumpher .• . 612 0 Helice' ... 5 11 10 Woodbury Tlill(hb) a 11 7 Vindicator... ... a 11 4 Trap ... ... a 11 4 ••• Brandy Apple a 11. 4 .... The Robber Foxholes ... Savannah ... Harcourt ... Hopvine ... ... a 11 2 ... 5 11 2 ... 6 11 2 ... 6 11 0 ... 4 11 0 He arlys ... Risk ... ... a 11 U ... 5 10 12 The Grand Ealing and South Country Steeplechase Han .dicap of 15 sous each, 10 ft, and 3 if declared on or be fore Monday, Dec. 23, to Messrs. Weatherby only, with 100 added; any winner of a steeplechase after Dec. 16 (at eight p.m.) 71b, twice 101 b extra ; about throe miles and a half ; 17 subs. Age st lb Sprite (including 101 b ex) % 12 8 Hornet Cabin Boy (n b) Arlescott (h b) a 11 7 Fairy Mount 6 11 Hippolyte thtrus a 11 2 Age st lb Nabocklish (inc. 71b extra) 6 10 11 Sylph 5 10 9 Pixie Birdie alo 7 King Alfred Captain Crosstree a 10 7 Balham • l'lo 7 Badminton S inite Bishopto n 5 10 12 The halt Bred Hunters' Stakes of 10 sovs each, 3 ft, with 100 added, for half bred hunters ; 12st each ; winuers of any handicap hurdle race or handicap steeplechase 31b, of two handicap hurdle races or handicap steeplechase, 1-fib, of three handicap hurdle races or handicap steeple- chases 211 b, few- or more 281 b extra; gentlemen riders, professiouals alb extra ; about three miles ; 21 subs. Ganythede, Kate Terry, Lawrence', Corvedale, High flyer, Arleseott, Walterstown, Meerschaum, The Miller, Patience, Northern Light, Sincerity, Kingfisher, Leicester, Orleton, Darkness, Sensation, Sugar tilutn, Emigrant, Tally-ho, and Forest Lane. PROGRAMME OF ST. ALBANS STEEPLECHASES. SATURDAY. The St. Albans Open Steeplechase Handicap of 15 soya each, 10 ft, with 100 added; the winner of the Grand Metropolitan Steeplechase at Croydon 10Ib, and the second in the same 51b, or any other winner after Nov. 22 (at nine a.m.) 71b extra; weights not to be accumu lative ; about three miles and a half ; 25 subs. The highest weight accepting being list 121 b, it has been raised to 12st 71b, and the others in proportion. Ago st lb Arlescott ... a 11 2 Cabin Boy (11 b) ... a 11. 1 Badminton ... 5 10 13 Spatcbcock ... a 10 13 Hippplyte a 10 13 Greenland ... 6 10 12 Ago st lb Sir Bobby ... a 12 7 Benazet a 12 5 Despatch a 11 13 Tally-ho(in.slb ex.) a 11 12 Hornet ... a 11 11 Chimney S vve.E.p(in7 cluditig 101 b '2E.) 511 11 Lawrence (h b) alO 9 Pensioner (pd) ... 6 11 7 llighflyer a 10 9 Sprite .. a 11 7 King Alfred 6 10 9 Patience (11 b) ... a 11. 5 Harcourt (pd) ... 610 9 Tusculanum 5 11 5 NorthernLight(u b) 6 10 9 L. S. D. ... ... all 4 Polestar ... 510 9 Clansman ... 5 11 4 Bishopton 5 V The Local Cup (the gift of the licensed victuallers in the tow and neighbourhood of St. Albans), for horses the property of persons residing within 40 miles of St. Albans, except winners of a handicap steeplechase ; llst each ; and any winner over country 71b extra. Once round the Steeplechase Course, starting in frcnt of the Grand Stand. The Maiden Steeplechase Plate of 30 sovs ; list 71b each ; if beaten three times previous to the time of starting allowed 71b, iwice 51b ; winners after the day of entry 51b extra ; the winner to be sold for 50 sovs ; about two miles. RACING FIXTI FEBR' 'RES FOR 1868. TARY. Lincoln lB Harrow 2O Nottingham Spring 25 Derby Spring Ewa. MA Liverpool Spring M 3 Chelmsford Spring M 10 West Drayton l2 Epsom Spring Meeting 24 Northampton AP. Durham Hendon ] 3 Newmarket Craven 'RM. Chester 5 Winchester l2 York Spring Salisbury l4 Lewos Spring Newmarket Ist Spring 27 West Drayton 1 Croydon 2d Summer Ascot Summer 9 Windsor Summer JU Worcester Summer No w marke t July 7 Reading Liverpool l6 13ath Croydon Ist Summer Harpenden Epsom Summer NE. I Bibury Club 23 Stockbridg,o Chelmsford Summer I Aloxaudra, Park 3O 11. Huntingdon 2l Nottingham July Goodwood. AUG Brighton Brighton Club 6 Lewes Summer Wolverhampton ll Stockton Windsor Egharn lB Hastings SEPT' Warwick Abingdo❑ 3 3 Doncastin• 8 llictiniond OCT Bedford Newmarket 21 October Cheltenham . 13 NUVJ Shrewsbury UST. York Oxford Canterbury Derby Summer Weymouth Lichfield Tunbridge ,MBER. Kelso l7 [leaden l7 Monmouth . Newmarket Ist Octobar 22 West lira} to i 29 Newmarket Houghton 19 Worcester MUER 10 :CHASES. STEEPLE JANUARY, 18682 1 i Reading • FEBRUARY. Birmingham 11,12 I Lincoln Manchester 7, 8 MARCH. Grand Military l6, 17 I Cheltenham ........ 26, 27 THE SNOW ON THE ALPS.—The Journal de Savoie of Chambery states that the quantity of snow which has recently fallen in the Alps has led to the precipitate de scent of several avalanches on the Petit Saint Bernard road. One of them overwhelmed two men, who wore dug out dead. CRYSTAL PALACE. —One Shilling Day, Wednes day, Dec. 25.—Admissions on payment, 760 ; ditto by season tickets, 805—total visitors, 1,565. treo the ,ing ince ince lice, [en- llarn lero nn 0 t at also the ,rbert most 'en to istice been 1 for vege7 and tre in poor en to ariah era— have given iving ; nor ;d by once f the Ist of tele ad on 1 out' body with I and 3art., t gift anent et to I the with hare• [ nous ;all A r the rho' four ea to sal ll3 VC 3g SUP . (:),000 froir vet Me i' the dOe i ions ;of e atter dota , ighe r ,virg The 1: , u (1, just , too, rate s from i s th° V .°. the e bill ag uP th e e th e y