The Sun. — London, England, 1855-12-21 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLoois The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed steadily, at precisely the same rates as last week. The sales were 7,000 bales, comprising 4,000 Americans, 500 Pernam and Maranham at 6d. to 6id., 250 Egyptian at sid. to 9d., 2,000 Surat at 31d. to 4id., and 30 Sea Islands at 10d. to is. per lb. The Railway Share Market was firm, and closed at its highest point. There has been no increase in the amount of business transacted this week in Mincing-lane, and the quotations have continued heavy. Sugar has been rasher cheaper for Bengal, and British planta tion has declined 2s. per cwt. Coffee has remained dull, and some parcels at publie sales have been taken in at higher rates. Rice has sold heavily, and tea has realised 9id. for common Congou. Very little has been done in spices, the prices of which are in several instances merely nominal. For rum there has been very little inquiry, and saltpetre has receded 2s. to 3s. per cwt. from the highest point of the market. Cochineal is firmer, and tallow steady. Hemp and flax have been without particular variation, but in limited request. Accounts from Holland contain the Government monthly returns of receipts into the public treasury. The total amount for the eleven months ending the 30th November, 1855, is given at 55,021,620 florins. Compared with the corresponding period of last year, it shows an increase of 2,037,812E1., being 53,983,808f1. At the present moment, when the financial com munity are watching closely the fluctuations in the Money Market, and especially those influenced by the arrivals of gold from Australia and America, the returns of specie in the Bank of England, and the exportation of bullion to foreign countries, it is a matter of some importance to know that the " sinews of war " possessed by this country are legitimately applied, and not issued to succour the impoverished resources of our enemy. For some time back there has been a degree of mystery connected with the probable destination of certain amounts of specie transmitted to the Continent, and which, it is stated, had raised the suspicions iu Government quarters that though ostensibly forwarded on account of ordinary mercantile transactions, they ultimately reached the coffers of the Russian Treasury by an unusually circuitous route. In consequence of in formation obtained inquiry was made, and it is reported to have been ascertained that the sum of 400,0001. in gold has in this manner recently been conveyed to Russia, principally by houses whose business lies in the Levant, and who have already made themselves obnoxious to the community by their sympathies with the Emperor of Russia, while they have been enjoying the hospitality of the country and all its commercial privileges. In consequence of a statement that the Emperor of Russia has intimated his refusal to submit to the proposals for peace that have been made, the Funds have exhibited less firmness, and Consols have re mained all the morning at 88i and 881. These frequent changes will no doubt continue until some thing definite is known in reference to Count Esterhazy's progress, especially as no purchases for investment can be made until next month, to impart strength to the market. The New 3 per Cents. are 88i to 89, and the Reduced 881 to 88k. Bank Stock has further dropped to 205. Exchequer Bills are about 4s. to 7s. discount. The Foreign Stock Market is again exceedingly inanimate, except in Spanish and Turkish Bonds, though no transactions have been recorded. Dutch 21 per Cents. are about per cent. higher, namely, 632. to 64. Turkish 6 per Cent. Bonds have de clined to 83/1 and 83k, and the New Scrip ruled heavy, at 3 discount. Spanish New Deferred are 211 to 22, being 1 per cent. lower, and the Passive are quoted at 71. The following are the nominal prices of foreign stocks: Grenada Deferred Bonds, 64 to 7 ; Mexican, 191 to 19i ; Peruvian, 74 to 76 ; ditto Three per Cents., 52 to 54; Portuguese Four per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 95 to 97 ; ditto 4i per Cents., 88 to 9t3 ; Spanish Three per Cents., 40} to 41 ; ditto New Deferred, 211 to 22 ; ditto Certificates, 41. to 5 ; ditto Passive, 74 to 71. Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. report that the market for American Securities during the past week has been inactive, and prices continue to be for the most part nominal. GOTBEICIDINT SECURITIES. Redeemable. Per Cont. 1887-1868_106 United States 6 per Cont. STATE SECURITIES. California 7 per Cent. Bonds 1870... 78 SO Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) ... 90 Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds 1877... 77 79 Virginia 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 1888... 83 84 CITT BretTRITIRS. Boston 5 per Cent. Bonds (Divers) ... 90 92 Montreal 6 per Cent. Bonds 1856-1865... 83 85 RAILROAD BONDS. Illinois Central 7 per Cent. let Mortgage, not Convertible 1875... 73 75 Illinois Central ti per Cent 1875... 70 72 New York and Erie 7 per Cent. let Mort gage 1883... 98 100 For the principal Railway Shares there is a weaker market, owing to the flatness noticed in the English Securities. Great Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and Midland, are the most affected. Colonial and foreign lines are heavy, but very quiet. Mining as well as Banking Shares are supported. General Screw Steam rule firmer. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES (Prom the ONcial Lis,. ,1; , 41P. , done. Bank Steck 3 per Reduced Abunitiee„ II per Cent. Console Anutitio. S per Cent. Annuities ...„ 40n,01e for Account 8 8! E,ehoquor 1-Mh., 24d £lOOO 0” 4malt Dibto Bonds, IQSS, Si per Cent.. 972 • ~ 1852 ...... 97i PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto Small Kquador Bonds Peruvian Bonds, 4. per Cent. Ditto 3 per Cent Ditto Account i-toeds, 3 per ent ......... Ditto Account Ditto Few Deferred, 3 per cent. Ditto leceunt 2 2 Ditto Ps.seive Tiarki,t) Bonds. n per cent Ditto for the Account B 3! i Ditto New Serip, 4 per Ceut. Ditto .icsonnt 3 d 9tvidelde on the above payable in London. Mitch Exchange, 8j per Cent., 12 Cluil 64 3i 4 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates 94f THREE O'CLOCK. . 4 8 (1 ~. 401 Consols •. Ditto for the &commit Jan. 10 THS AFFAIRS OF THI BROMRGROTB AND STOIIIIIRIDOE BANICS.—A. final dividend upon this estate, estimated at 3d. in the pound, was declared yesterday in the Bir mingham Court of Bankruptcy. Debts to the amount of between 3,000/. and 4,0001. were proved during the day. This dividend, with 6d. in the pound already . paid, raakes 9d. received by the creditors of the Bromsgrove establishment. Masers. Philip and Francis Rufford were the only partners. In the matter of the Steurbridge Bank, of which Messrs. P. Rufford, F. Rufford, and C. J. Wragge constituted the firm, a final dividend meet ing is fixed for the 13th September next, when the estate is expected to realise a further dividend of 7d. or Bd. in the pound. Two dividends of la. 6d. and sd. each have already been declared, making a total of 2s. Gd. in the pound. The serai ate estate of Mr. Philip Rufford has already been realised and divided. The first dividend k roaine . a t o al of was 55., and the eecond l a. 3d., The separate estate of Mr. Wragge, which proved to be far the most productive to the creditors, has also been divided. There were three dividends —the first of Bv., the second of ss. 3d., and a final of 25., making a total of 15e. 31. in the pound. A final dividend meeting of the separate estate of Mr. Francis Rufford is fixed for 2 31 of January. Three dividends of Is., le., and itd. each in the pound, and the final is likely to produce another lc 61, thus making a total from the separate estate Gf the late member for Worcester of gs. 10d. in the pound. The estates have been realised with great' difficulty, in consequence of the unsaleable nature of the property, and the numerous questions of legal nicety and importance, which arose not only b e t ween th e e states th e mselves, but with other parties. It is a fortunate circumstance that no action or suit has ar i sen , out of these various compl i cations, e ither in Ch ancery or at common law. Small as the dividends are, they would have been much smaller but for a prudeat avoidance of itigatien. " HARD LINES." —Whence is this expression, as cam men, particularly among seafaring men, d er i ve d S. A. H.—[Line was formerly synonymous with Lot ! Thus the Bible w-rsion of Psalm xvi.. v. 6, is "The linen are fallen unto in in pleasant places yws, I have a g oodly heritage"—while in the Prayer Beak we read, " The lot hae fallen unto me in a fair ground ; yea, I have a goodly her:tay , ,,e." Hard Lines is therefore equi faleut to Hard Lot.]—Notes and Querice. ELECTION OF COMMON COUNCIL MEN—(This Day.) The being St.Thomas's•day, the election of gentlemen to fin the office of Common Counci!moo for the various wards of the City took place. The following gentlemen were elected fcr the under-mentioned wards : BR/AD STREET WARD. Tlawtrey, Deputy. I NfeAsni. J. J. T.A.illard. N. Maughau. ... F. Maliiard. ... D. Laurie. I W. Patten. ... J. P. Snell. ... J. Smith. COLEMAN-STREET. Messrs. W.S.Hr.b.,Deputy. ... J. ... NV, Webster. ... C. Hogg. Messr4. T. H. Hall. J. Perking. H. W. V3llance. ... T. \Vesthail. BRIDGE WARD. All the old menib«rs again returned. BILLINGSGATE WARD. Me,irsi. Bower, Deputy. Messrs. Caogton. ... Roberts. Wil;iams. WALBROOK. Graves. Slowman. Bowsfield. Messrs. Conder, Deputy Messrs. Murrell Dawson Fry ... Rowley 110.1 e BROAD-STREIT. No opposition. CORDWAINERS' WARD. The election here was presided over by the Lord Mayor, as alderman of the ward. There was no oppo sition, and all the old members were re-elected. The elections created no excitement. As far as we can ascertain, up to the time of our going to press there was no opposition in the other wards, and, consequently the gentlemen who represented the wards during the past year were re-elected. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21 1855; naval. and Military Intelligence. THE CROSSING OP CHEQUES. original cost had been 27,800/., and the receipts being at present ineafficient to meet the current expenses, the cimmittee would be compelled to close the establishment if it were not taken by the corporation. In the discussion that followed, the adoption of the report was supported by Messrs. Towse, Abraham, T. H. Fry, and others, who urged that the establishment of baths and wash-houses would be a great boon to the poor of the City and its suburbs, that the establishment in question was advantageously situated for their con venience, and that at present the poor had to wash and dry their clothes in the room in which they ate and slept. Three or four such institutions were wanted, and it was disgraceful to the corporation that they had not been long ago established. The adoption of the report was opposed by Messrs. Anderton, Co; and De Jersey, on the ground that the corporation had at present very heavy and important calls upon their) ; that the institu tion would require the expenditure of some 20,0001., be sides the purchase money, to rut it into an efficient con dition ; that this sum would have to be borrowed ; and that in the present state of the money market it would be very impolitic to go loto the money market for funds wherewith to purchase a bankrupt trading con• cern situated beyond the limits of the City. Several other gentlemen addressed the Court, when the attention of the Lord Mayor was directed t:) the fact that only one alderman was in attendance, upon which the proceedings abruptly terminated, without hav ing arrived at any decision. The Queen of the Soeth steam-transport, Capt. Beale, with detachneente for Malta, went out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday, but the gale was so severe that she anchored at Spithead for the night. All communication with Spithead was nearly stopped yesterday, so severely did it blow, and the danger flags were up. The Canadian steam transport went into Portsmouth harbour yesterday morning to land her invalids, and be paid off out of the treneport service. The Rhadatnaethus steam-transport wee t into Pertemouth harbour yesterday from Woolwich to discharge machinery. The Indiana steam-transport went into Portsmouth harbour yesterday afternoon to land invalids, and be paid out of the transport service. At. suneet la-t evening the gale on the Portsmouth coast was freshening. The en, • boats Bustard and B'snterer, having been cop perel and inacted, were taken out of Woolwich dock yesterday morning and received into the basin, to com plete their fittings. The riggers are consequently em ployed in extra hours, so as to expedite the arrangements in fitting out for service the accumulating numbers of this usefol class of vessels, which arrive in rapid succes sion in fulfilment of the Government c intracts. The Deputy-Adjutant General of the Royal Marines went down to Woolwich yesterday morning unexpect edly, for the purpose of a special inspection of the quar ters, the gun-battery, and the general departments ap pertaining to the barracks, which he went through very minutely. He likewise visited and approved the site contemplated for the eractioe of a new hospital adjacent to the establishment, and, after partaking luncheon with the commandant, Col. Brown, he proceeded to Chatham. A detachment of Royal Sappers and Miners from Woolwich, will arrive this day at Brompton to occupy a portion of the huts. Captain Fisher, R.N., is at Rochester for the purpose of enrolling young men in the Naval Coastguard ser vice. Few have at present offered themselves. 120 Lancaster rifles have arrived at Brompton bar racks for the use of the Royal Sappers and Miners. They are destined to carry 1,000 yards, and have a short sword attached to the barrel, making a very formidable weapon. The floating battery now being built at Chatham is iu frame, and she is expected to be complete in every re spect for sea by the end of March. The Chesapeake, 50, in course of construction at Chat ham, has a large nuceber of men employed on her till 6 p.m. to hasten her fittings. Captain G. de Winton de Winton, 99th Regiment, has an extension of leave from the 23d December to Jan. 23, previous to his being appointed to the staff. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Admiralty : Captain Yelverton, C. 8., to the Brunswick, commis sioned ; Captain Henry Lyster, to the Arrogant ; commander E. Marshall, to the Devastation, commis sioned ; W. B. Pearse, paymaster to the Victory ; J. W. Maddock, paymaster to the Fisgard ; W. Weaser, to the Waterloo ; W. P. O'Brien to the Impregnable. The extent to which the view prevails that a specific erossing of cheques would impart especial securii:.y renders allusion to it necessary, although the point was fully decided as recently as February, 1852, in the impmtant case "Bellamy v. Marjoribanks." In that instance a cheque on Coutts and Co. for 2,5961. was remitted to a London solicitor to be paid to the Court of Chancery, the sender having previously taken the precaution of crossing it, "Bank of England, for ac count of the Accountant-General." The solicitor, in order to appropriate it to his own use, struck his pen through this, and wrote the name of "Goslings and C.)." his own bankers, underneath it. The cheque thus altered was paid by Messrs. Coutte, and an action was brought against them by the drawer to recover the amount. The judges, however, held that an instrument payable " to bearer " could not be restricted, and a ver dict wes given for the defendants. At the same time the remarks of the Court on that trial were such as for cibly to illustrate the discreditable anomalies of the general question, and to leave no doubt of the absolute necessity of the passing of a distinct act to prevent the continual recurrence of litigation and the daily anxiety experienced by every trader lest it should next be his own turn to be exposed to lose. There is no doubt that, under the law as it stands, a cheque purporting to he drawn to bearer cannot afterwards be made special. Indeed, without a legislative provision to that effect, the idea itself would be absurd. Nevertheless, reliance had been placed on the force of custom, at all events within certain limits, in giving such validity to theprac tice as would warrant a judgment against any one who shoell change or pay an instrument of this description without due caution ; and this reliance, which had previously been almost perfect, and which has now been dispelled altogether, was greatly shaken by the result of the verdict in 1852. On that occasion the illogical distinctions attempted to be drawn were suffi cient to indicate that nothing but uncertainty would pre vail for the future, and that the public would neither have the advantage of being informed that they must cease to attach any value to the system of crossing cheques, or, on the other hand, that the practice might safely be relied upon within certain limits. The Court, for instance, pro nounced that nothing could restrain the negotiability of a cheque payable to bearer, and hence that, even if a custom of regarding a crossing to a special banker as obligatory could be proved—which in that case it had not—it would be incapable of being supported in point of law. At the same time, however, it was clearly seen that anything tending to sweep away the protection of crossed chequei altogether would create universal incon venience and dismay, and, consequently, after a series of remarks from the Court on the valuable nature of the usage in preventing crime and facilitating all the com mercial transactions of the kingdom, it was intimated that, although a crossing to an individual banker would be legally inoperative, a general crossing such as " and Company," signifying that it must be paid through some banker, was not to be disregarded without peril. It is obvious, however, that the distinction here sought as a kind of compromise rested upon an impalpable basis, and that if, apart from all question of custom, the negotiability of a cheque cannot be restricted, the law must apply with just the same force whether the endea vour be made with regard to one individual banker or the small body of individuals comprised in the entire list of bankers. From that moment, therefore, it was plain that nothing could be depended upon in the matter, and that in every future case it would b . e 'completely a point of chance as to whether the weight for the moment would be on the side of "law" or custom." Even, hoieever, if this general state of doubt had not been created, and the validity of the crossing arid C impany " bad been left unquestioned, the public would have been in no better position. 0 wing to the facilities afforded by the j pint stock banks, and their small branches, no person in London of the slightest acuteness can have any difficulty in passing a cheque through some bank, if it be left open to bins to choose any that may be convenient. It is true that these facilities are to be re garded with satisfaction, but they completely alter the state of affairs that prevailed when banking accommoda tion was limited. A special crossing would, therefore, under any circumstances afford the only protection, and after the recent intimation of Lord Campbell it is useless to calculate upon any remedy, except the rational one of introducing a measure to secure, beyond controversy, those advantages which it was hitherto hoped had been secured by cu-tom, and which all admit to be inestimable. —Times' City Article. On Tuesday, 28 men of the Wicklow Rifles volun teered into the Royal Artillery. They were all fine active young men, and were at once attestel. The following draughts are under orders ter Malta and the Crimea, from the Limerick district!--9th Regi ment, 3 subalterns, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 95 rank and file ; 17th Regiment-4 subalterns, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 35 rank and file ; 39th Regiment-1 Cap fain, 2 subalterns, 1 serjeant, 54 rank and fi'e. Colonel Crutchley, the Commandant of the Provisional Depot Battalion at Parsonstown, has received an order to get in readiness another draught, who are to proceed immediately to Malta. The draught is to consist of 11 officer-, 3 serjeants, and 137 rank and file. The foll,w ing are the officers who are under orders to aceompany the draught, viz.:-21st Fusiliers Major Boldero ; Lie,otanants Stephens, Cr , ssiman, Connell, and Sher wood. 57th Regiment—Ensigns Houghton, Sewell, Einly, and Waller. 63d Regiment—Ensigns Gordon and Sproule. The Exeter Association for the Relief of the Wives and Children of Soldiers serving in the Est have just issued their first statement. Since June, 1854, they have received 1681. 12, ad., of which 1631. le. 10d. has been expended, leaving a balance in hand of 51. 10a. The number of soldiers' wives relieved was 25, and the number now receiving relief is 7. The association is at present in wa-t of funds. CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Coleridge.) Upon the prisoners Davidson and Gordon being placed at the bar, the proceedings were resumed . by Mr. Montague Chambers, wha, after complaining of the unfair position a portion of the press had taken in making ooruments upon the charge while the ver dict of the jury was pending, proceeded to argue that the whole transaction, although it might be reck less trading was not a fraudulent transaction of a penal character. His lordship having summed up, The jury retired, and after being absent a few minutes, found the prisoners guilty, and they were sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour. SURREY SESSIONS.—(This Day.) (Before J. E Johnson, Esq., and a Bench of Magistrates.) AN UNGRATEFUL THIEF. —Sarah ITTestcott, 50, was indicted for stealing a gold watch sad chain, the pro perty of Joseph Scott. Sarah Scott stated that she was t . a wife of the prose cetor, and on the sth of October the prisoner came to drink tea with her a No. 9, Devonshire-street, New ington-causeway. At the time her ha-band's watch and chain was laying on the table in the sitting-room, and no other person entered the house. The prisoner left about nine o'clock, and after she was gone witness missed the watch and chain. She gave information to the police ; and some time afterwards she went to Croydon, at which place the prisoner said she lived, but c'.uld get no tidings of her. In Novetuber last she re ceived information that the prisoner was in cestody at Croydon for felony, and on going there witness saw in her possession a gold ring which she missed at the time with the wsteh. The megistratee sentenced her to a month's imprisonment for that offence, and at the ter inL,ation of that, pnr:ishment the constable took her into en stody for stealing the watch and chain. She acknow ledged hating stolen the watch and chain, and said that she pledged them for 21. 10.. Win. .A.lfre-11 Radford. r..,istant to Mr. Wm. Radford, nawnbroker, Kennington-park, said that on the 6th of October the prisoner pledged the watch and chain with bun for 2/. 10'. Daniel Rowbottom, police-constable 489 A, stated that he received information of the robbery, and at the termination of the former sentence at Croydon, he went to Wandsworth House of Correction and apprehended her. She confessed the robbery, and said she was in d is tress. _ _ The jury found her guilty, and the Court sentenced her to six months' hard labour in the House of Correc tion. John Jones, 24, described in the calen 'ar as a car penter, was indicted for stealing a horse-rug, the pro perty of Thomas Gee. The jury found him guilty, and the Court sentenced him to two months' hard labour at Wandsworth. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.) MARY LEBONE. Maxi!FuL PosaßßSlON.—James Brenton was placed at the bar before Mr. Long, charged on suspicion of hav ing stolen a quantity of lead. Port , -r, 55 D, deposed that between 5 and G yesterday evening he met the prisoner in Pickering-place,Bayswater, and on asking him what he had in the handkerchief which lie was carrying, he replied, "Nothing but a little tea and sugar, and a drop of gin." Upon examining the handkerchief witness found therein the articles named. Prisoner was then questioned as to what else lie had, as the front of his coat seemed rather bulky, but as he gave a very unsatisfactory answer, he (witness) pulled open the gamest, and saw concealed in the front thereof EOM() lead, newly cut, weighing nearly 14Ibri. He alleged that it was given to him by a man whom he accident ally met, and with regard to whose name or address he (prisoner) of course had no knowledge. The magistrate sent the prisoner, whose account of the transaction he could not for a moment believe, to hard labour in the House of Correction for a month, for the unlawful possession of the property. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) Dec. 21.—Wind thiP, day at noon, E., strong breeze and fine clear frosty weather. POi,TSMOUTH. Dec. 10.—Witr,1 S.E., a gale—Arrived —Alabama, from Callao; Julia, Rio Janeiro, fur Ham burg ; Princess, Bahia. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 20.—Wind E.—Arrived—Malabar, from Mu.dras Pearl, Quebec. Sailed—H. NIA Salarns.n der, for the Cape of Good Hope. FALMOUTH, Dec. 20.—Wind S.E., strong gale.—Ar rived—Ville do Pasco, from Callao. DARTMOUTH, Dee. 20.—Wind E.S.E.—.Arrived—John Taylor, from Whampos,. SHIHRNRSS, Dec. 20. The Spanish steamer Indepen dents, from Cadiz to London, with sugar, caws on shore here this morning five miles from Exmouth bar and is breaking up ; all hands saved. Her machinery broke down ye.terday about 40 miles from land. WEXFORD. Dec.o. The Isabella of Cork, from New port to Waterford, ran on the rocks , at Kilmore, on the night of the 18th inst., and went to pieces. B/113[1,1%15, Dec. 20.—The Margaret and Ellen, from Liverpool to Aluivrch, was totally wrecked, on the night of the 18th inst., at Point Lynes ; crew and part of cargo saved L VERPOOL, Dec. 20.—The Koh-i-Nour bite been laid on Traureere bank. The Underwriter, fr om N ew Y or k, drifted foul of the Norfolk Hero, for Smyrna ; the latter lost bulwarks, &c. (PEE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH,: SOUTHAMPTON, Vri(lay Morning. Arrived.- South. Western (a ), from Jersey. Sailed.—Port Glasgow, for Poole ; Violet, Australia ; Argyll, (e.), Carents.u; Charlotte, Guernsey ; Sylph, (s Dablin. LITERPOoL, Friday Meruing. Wiwi S. Arrived.—Rattler, from Lisbon; Magra, Kingstown. HOLY lIBAD, Deo. 20. Wind S.S.E. Arrived—Lonna, (R. I.), from Oporto ; Magrica, Lis. bon ; Eugene Julio, Nantes ; Sea, Santander. (BY SDEILLEINIC AND BRITIEFI TELEGRAPTL) GRAVESEND, Friday, 9.54 a.m. Wind E.S.E. ; tide, 3 hones flood ; frosty. Arrived, Doc. 20. Jane, from Ostend; Nord America, New York ; Providence, Gravelines. Sailed—Racaia, for Pernambuco. DEAL, Friday, 9.27 a.m. Wind S.S.E., strong. A large screw steam-transport, from westward, anchored last night and proceeded this morning ; her number not known. TRH LA.TES DR. W. F. CHAMBERS, LATE PHYSICIAN TO TUE QUEE24.—We announced on Tuesday the death of this eminent member of the medical profession, which took place at his residence, Hordle House, near Ly mington, Hants, on the 16th inst. Dr. Chambers was born in India, in the year 1786, and was the eldest son of Mr. W. Chambers, a gentleman in the civil service of the East India Company. The deceased came to Eng land when very young, and received his education at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge, where ho obtained high honours. On lea v i ng Cambridge hn came to London and entered at the Windmill-street School of Medicine, and in due time he was admitted a licentiate in medicine. Dr. Chambers was for many years one of the physicians of St. George's Hospital, and had up to the time of his retirement, in 1848, one of the most lu crative practices in the metropolis. NEW STEAM YACHT.—There is now, at Summers and Day's iron ship building-yard at Northam, Hants, an iron paddle-wheel steam-yacht, just completed for Mus tapha Bey, the heir apparent to the Pachalic of Egypt, in which his Highness intends to cruise in the River Nile. She is most beautifully fitted up, and her build and machinery embody every improvement of modern v i euc e. She is only 200 tons burden, and her engine o p w er is that of 50 hor-es only. Her name is Mustapha • Bey. She is scarcely so large as an Isle of Wight steamer. Captain Almo nd, of the Peninsular and Orien tal Company, is appointed to take her out to Alexandria, for which he is to receive a handsome gratuity. The crew with which he is going to navigate her to Egypt will only number six persons..,ek, and T u The l‘ t lu e a ta weekp ha after ßey she will have her trial trip next will leave I Englmid for the River Nile. Captain Almond is the youngest commander in the Peninsular and Ori• ental Company's service. MILI CIA. The 4th Lancashire Mihtia, 1,100 strong, left Dublin on Wednesday for Belfast. The, Roscommon Militia embarked on Thursday on board the Megmra steam-transport, at Kingstown, on the way to Berwick-on-Tweed. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day). CORN EXCHANGE. ?ince Monday the receipts of English wheat, coastwise and by land carriage, have been very moderate, and the supply of that grain fresh up to-day front Essex and Kent was small. Although the show of samples was limited all kinds of wheat of home produce moved off slowly, but without leading to any change in the quotations. Over 10,000 quarters of foreign wheat have come to han I this week. That artiale was excessively dull iu sale, and almost nominal in price. Floating cargoes were much neglected. Fine barley was held at Monday's currency, but other kinds were dull and rather drooping. We had a slow sale for malt at late rates. The oat trade was very dull at barely Monday's prices. Beans, peas, and flour were almost nominal. ARRIVALS THIS WM. Wheat. Barley. f Malt. Oats. now nisrash ... 2,330 5,940 1 3,240 1,110 020 Irish .• •• I --3,930 / roceign 1 ; 10,490 — 1 14,010 2700sks 1 4030 ~ METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. Although the supply of beasts was very moderate for the time of year, the beef trade was in a moat depressed state, and prices were fully 4d per Sibs lower than on Monday. The show of sheep was trifling, but more than equal to the demand; indeed so little was doing that the quotations were almost nominal. As regard calves there was no sale for them, and prices were very uncertain. Pigs sold heavily at late rates. Mulch cows were very dull, at from HI. to 191. each, including their small calf. Per Sibs to sink the offals. s. d. s. d.l s. d. A d. Inferior Beasts.... 3 4to 3 6 ( PrimeSouthdown 4 S 5 0 Second quality.... 3 8 4 O i l arge crse. calves 4 4 4 8 Prime large oxen 4 2 1 6Prinae small d 0... 410 5 0 Prime Scots, &c. 4 8 4 10(Largo hogs ...... 10 4 4 Inferior Sheep ...3 4 3 6,Small porkers 4 6 5 C Bocoud quality ...3 8 4 2,S ue kling calyes..23 0 30 0 Prime arse. -wiled.4 4 4 6,Quarter old pigs. 22 6 28 0 TOTAL SUPPLY. 1 FOREIGN SUPPLY. Becita .. •• • • ........ • . 1,110 %beep .•• ....•• 2:800 Calves . .• •• .. 200 Beats.... •• • • 180 •• •... •• •• ...• •• 100 Plgs...• •• •• •... •• .• • ..... NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. very great, and a good busi The supplies of meat were news was transacted, as follow Par 81bs by the earcano. s. 4. s. d: Beef, inferior 3 2 3 6 Do., middling 3 8 4 0 Do. prime largo 4 2 4 4 ilo , do, &mall 4 fl 4 8 Fork, largo 3 10 4 4 ... R. (I. 8. CI. Mutton, inferior 3 '2 :3 6 Do., middling 3 8 4 0 Do, mime 4 2 4 6 Veal 3 8 4 8 Pork, small 4 6 5 4 BOROITO-fl HOF. The finest new hops moved off steadily, and, in soma instances, prices have an upward tendency. Inferior hops are a dull sale at lase rates. Mid and East Kent pockets, 3/ 5s to GI Os per cwt ; Weald of Kent, 3/ 0$ to 41 15s ; Sussex, 2: 13s to 4110 s, COLONIAL. TB A.- market has been dull, common congou ruled firm at 91d to 90 per lb. The public sale of 7,200 packages went off slowly, part only sold without altering previous quotations. SUGAR.—The public market closed on Friday the 21st and reopens on Wednesday, 3d January, 1856. There has been rather more disposition shown to transact business. West India, Demerara, sold at steady prices, 44s to 45s per cwt. Barbadoos good bright grocery, 31s, but 47s to 48s wei o offered for middling yellow, but refused, importers requiring 4., to 5s advance on that quotation. Madras middling to fine grainy yellow realised 50s 6d to 52s 6d; . good middling white Ms to 54. 6d ; good and fine white 533 61 to 5k 6:1; and soft white Benares kind 50s Gd to 52. per cwt. Bengal sold at lower rates, via., low to good yellow Cassipore 46s 6d to 49a ; middling to fine yellow Mauritius kind 453 to 47s Gd per cwt. Penang brown brought 40s and 47s per cwt for good grocery. There was but little done in the refined market. To-day there were several purchases in Bastards and at steady rates. COFFER —Rather more inquiry has existed for Planta tion Ceylon which has brought full rates, also Costa Rica Native Ceylon remained quiet, good ordinary 51s 6d to 52s 6,1. Plantation low middling mixed pale to good mid dling bold coloury 61s to 65s 6d. Blacks aOs to 345, and Triage 41s to 551 per cwt. Cocoa.—The Market has been firm at public sale, a par eel of Grenada was bought in at 52e to 545, and Trinidad at 52s to 61s per cwt., being above the offers. Rims —There have been steady inquiries for this article, and previous rates were fully supported. Java, middling broken to good white, realised 18. 6d to 20s 6d. No trans actions were reported in Bengal. SPICES.—Tke Market generally has been firm, and higher prices were realised for most descriptions. Pimento ordinary and good ordinary 3id to 41d, and middling to good 41d to 4id per lb. Pepper—Singapore, good bold white sold readily at lid per lb. Nutmegs—Batavia, good m iddling brown 2. 9d to 2s 10d, wormy is sd, Singapore an d P e nang, good middling 2e 6a to 2s 10d, and wild in shell 8d per lb. Mace—Batavia, middling to good 2s 2d per lb. Ginger— African small taken in at 24s Gd to 25s per cwt. COCHINEAL—This article has been much inquired after. Teneriffe good silvers brought 2s 8d to 3s 9d, and 3s lid to 4s ld for Blacks. Honduras Blacks 44 lid to 5s per lb. SALTPETRE.—The demand for the better kinds of this article has been large, and prices ruled firm. Bengal 9to 9i lbs refraction, good colour and crystal, sold at 335, British refined 38. to 38e Gd per cwt. Ruse. -The market remaining extremely dull. TALLOW.—The fluctuation in this article has not been extensive. P.Y.C. on the spot 65s 6d to 67s Gd per cwt. The latest quotations were spot 67s 3d, and spring 68, per cwt. GREG r FRUIT.--The Christmas demand is good, prices well supported for all kinds, the stock being light. Two cargoes oranges, from St. Michael's, sold by Keeling and Huat, at public sale, went at an advance of 3s to 4a per box. Lemons are scarce, owing to want of arrivals. Nuts of every description meet with a good sale, and contrary to expectation the trade generally has been better than was anticipated from the present political and commercial state of affairs. SUICIDE IN THE RIVER Las.—Yesterday morning, shortly before eight o'clock, the body of a female, appa rently about 40 years of age, was discovered embedded in th'e ice on the surface of the water of the River Lea, Lower Homerton. The deceased was respectably dressed in a dark brown merino dress, Paisley shawl, black drawn bonnet, and cloth boot. ME ROri:t LITAN BOARD OF WORKS. The following is an authentic statement of the names of the gentlemen who have up to the present time offered themselves as candidates for the chair manship of the Metropolitan Board of Works :—Mr. Jobb, the present Chairman of the Sewers Com mission ; Sir John Shelley, M.P. ; Mr. Thwaites, of Southwark, a member of the present Commission of Sewers ; Mr. Turner, of Hampstead, returned to the Metropolitan Board ; Mr. Currie, the magi strate, returned to the present Board, and also a member of the Sewers Commission ; Mr. Symonds, of the Metropolitan Building Board, Adelphi ; and Mr. T. Hawes, a former chairman of the Sewers Commission. LIST OF MEMBERS OF METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS. Atkins, Charles—District of Plunstead and Lewisham, Rushy-green, Lewisham. Barnett, Captain, R.N.—District of St. Giles, &0., 14, Woburn-square. Bevan, Thomas B.— ney-road. Boyson, Ambrose—Newington, 28, Newington-place Bursletn, Henry, J. P.—Paddington, 14, Kensington-Gar dens-terrace, Carpmes.l,_ William—District of Wandsworth, 4, Old- 5 Elizaboth-terrace, Hack• square, Chalmers, Francis, J. P.—Chelsea, Cheyne-row, Chelsea. Collinson, Edward—St. George the Martyr, 95, Blackman, street. Con ie, \Viliiam—St. Pancras, 10, Gloucester-terrace, Re. gent's-park. Ciellin, P.—St. George's East, St. George's-street, St, George's Ea-t. Dalton, W. IL—St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 28, Cockspur-st, Davis, Lewis—Woolwich, Plumstead. Dennis, William—lslington, Twyford-villas, Caledonian. road. Dixon, Benjamin— cial-road East. D'lffanger, Thomas—St. Marylebone, 5, Melina-place, St Joh n's-wood. Doulton, Frederick—Lambeth, High-street, Lambeth. Drew, Bei jail—Bermondsey, Bermondsey-street. Few, Charles—District of Strand, 2, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden. Hall, Thomas Henry, City, 44, Finsbury-square. Harrison, Deputy Edward—City, 82, Col th -nin Hawkos, William—Kensington, 21, High-street, Ken singtott. Howe, W. A. H —Shoreditch, 99, Kiegsland-road. Hunt, Henry A.—St. George, H a vever-square, Parlia ment-street. Irvine, Alexander L.—C am b e rwell, Smyrna-lodge, Park road, Old Kent-road. Knight, Simon Blackwell. Lyon, Major William—St. George, Hanover-square, 22, Park-lane Misken, Williara—Distri c t of Rotherliithe, Szc., Lower road, IZotherhi.the. Moreland, Joseph—St. Luke's, Middlesex, 18, Old- street, St. Luke's. Nicholay, J. A.—St. Marylebone, 82, Oxford-street. Offor, George—District of Hackney, Grove-street, Hack ney. Pascall, James—Clerkenwell ' 1, Queen's -road , Pentonville Savage, Johu—lsli ng t on , 54, Th,,ruhill-street. Sedey, Robert B.—District of Holborn, 54, Fleet-street. Shelley, Sir Johu V., M.P.—St. James's, Westminster, 5, Park-lane. Snow, W. E.—Mile-end. Old Town, 25, Tredegar-square, Mile-end. Stevens, V.— --, 26, 13e11-yard, Temple-bar. Taylor, 11. ]O, Queen-street, Cheapside. Talor, Robert—Lambeth, 3, Lambeth-terrace. Thwaites J.—District of St. Saviour (also Greenwich), 61, High street, Southwark. Turner, Thomas, J.Y. -- Hampstead, Hampstead. Willie, G. S.— --, 16, Mausell-street, Goodman's fields. Ware, J.—Bethnal-green, 3, Trafalgar-place, West Hackney-road. Wilkinson, Josiah— St. Pancras, 2, Paper-buildings, Tem ple. Wright, Alexander—District of St. Margaret and St. John, 55, Millbs.uk-street. Mr. Thwaites appointed to two places, which makes up the 25. ~ 3, Norway-Place, Commer COULT OF COMMON COUNt IL. YeAerda , y a court was held for the despatch of public business. TILE LATE VISIT OP TUE ICING OP SARDINIA. Upon the motion of Mr. T. Parker, the address of the corporation to the King of Sardinia, and the answer of his Majesty thereto was ordered to be entered upon the minutes of the court. - THU COIDION SERGEANT. A somewhat lengthened discussion took place upon a report of the officer s a nd clerks committee, recommend ing that on the resignation of the . Common Sergeant he should be allowed a retiring pen:oon of 1,000/. per an num. The Recorder had received a communication from the Common Sergeant, which was a formal resig nation of his office, but he seemed unwilling to hand it to the Lord Mayor until the question of the learned ser jeant's retiring allowance was settled. Mr. H. L. Taylor asked the Recorder whether, if the court did not agree to the report, he would put in the resignation or not. It was decided, h owever, on a division, that the Recorder need not answer this question. Mr. H. L. Taylor then moved as an amendment that the Common Sergeant NI called upon to resign his office before the court take into consideration the subject of his retiring allowance. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Barkly, and further supported by Messrs. ROBS and Gresham. Alderman Farebrother and Wire, and Messrs. Lott, Blake, Dakin, kc., supported the original resolution, which, on a divi• sion, was carried by 59 against 38. The report was then agreed to. The Recorder, immediately after the court adopted the report of the committee, handed to the Lord Mayor the resignation of the Common Sergeant, which was read, and ordered to be entered on the journals of the court. THE BATHS AND WASH•HOUSES IN GOULSTON-SQUARE. Mr. TOWSE (the chairman of the coal, corn, and finance committee) brought up, and moved the adoption of, a report from the members of the committee to whom had been referred various petitions on the subject of the baths and wash houses in Goulston-square. The re. port stated that the court ought not to lose so favour able an opportunity cf commencing a good work at a moderate outlay as was presented in the off er by th e present proprietors of the baths and wash-houses to dis pose of the same to the corporation for 11,5001. Their MEDICAL REFORM. Yesterday a deputation of the members of the Pro vincial Medical and Surgical Association, consisting of Sir Charles Hastings, Drs. Webster, Wynter, O'Connor, Henry ; Messrs. Brady, M.P., Headlatn, M.P., Bet tomley, Lord Nunneley, &c., waited on Sir' George Grey, at the Home-office, for the purpose of ascertaining the intentions of Government on the question of medical reform. Mr. Headlam introduced the deputation. Sir CLIARLES HASTINGS, as president of the association, said that it was the wish of the deputation to call the attention of Government to the anomalous and unsatis factory state of the laws affecting the medical profession. On the 18th of last May they had waited on him for the same purpose, when ho (Sir George Grey) was kind enough to express his determination to send a copy of the bill then about to be introduced into Parliament by Mr. Headlain to the universities and medical corporate bodies of the United Kingdom, and to send along with it the scheme of the bill propounded by the professors of the University of Edinburgh, and to request the opinions of those bodies on the two bills in question. The association, though unacquainted with the precise terms of the replies given by the medical colleges to Sir George's questions, were yet able to surmise that the great preponderance of opinion was in favour of Mr. Headiam's bill. With the sentiments of the universities they were not so well ac quainted, nor did they attach any great weight to their opinions upon medical reform. They appreciated the advantages of a university degree, and would encourage its acquisition by all medical students ; but they main tained that the power of licensing should be exclusively , confided to the medical profession through duly anther rise(' representatives. It was because Mr. Headlam's bill would, while affordingvaluable advantages to the univer sities, vest the examining and licensing powers in the medical colleges alone, subject to the supervision of a medical council, that the association approved of it ; and at its last annual meeting resolved to give it, if re-intro duced, their determined support. They would, however, give an equal support to any Government bill, whatever might be its det tile, which would secure uniformity of examination and qualification, freedom of practice throughout the United Kingdom, a due representation of the great body of the profession, and a proper system of registration. These reforms the association sought purely on public grounds. In speaking to Sir G. Grey it was not necessary to detail the confused state of the laws by which the medical profession was supposed to be regulated ; but they felt bound to observe that seve ral important acts lately passed imposed duties on and afforded privileges to legaily-qualified medical practi tioners, thereby excluding a considerable proportion of the profession, including many of its most eminent mem , berg, and likely to complicate the working of those acts. Indeed the progress of sanitary reform made medical reform an absolute necessity. The laws as they exist in reference to the medical profession, however suited to the times of their enactment, and when each division of the TJuited Kingdom bad its separate legislature, were nose unjust, harassing, and productive of discontent and agitation. It was from such a state of things that they prayed the Government to free them by getting a plea sure of medical reform passed into law next session. Sir GEORGE C Rat, in reply, stated that he bad laid the answers wlech he had reeeived fiord the cor porate bodies before Mr. Headlarn, and he thought that the best course fur the association now to adopt would be to get that gentleman to re-introduce his bill, with whatever. improvement those replies may have suggested to him ; and be (Sir George Grey) would be happy to give it his support. The subject was one of great interest, and the failure which had hitherto attended legislation in regard to it was, he thought, to be attributed to the difficulty of bringing medical men themselves to anything like an agreement. He had at one time hoped that Mr. Macaulay and Lurd Rntherfurd bad brought about such an agreement, but in that he bad been disappointed, and now he could not pledge the government to bring in any measure on the subject during this session. TM, WEATHER IND TIM PARES. The weather still continues intensely cold ; in fact, owing to the piercing wind, much colder than it has been for several previous winters. The thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's receiving-house in Hyde-park during the night of Wednesday stood at 23. Yesterday morning at 9 o'clock it rose to 28, but during last even ing the mercury stood only at 26, and there seemed every probability of the glass getting much lower, The wind still remained due east, and the glass at the reeeiv ing-house indicated 30.16, with a fine &ear moonlight night, showing that the present severe weather was likely to lase. In accordance with a suggestion made to Mr. Charlier by Sir B. Hall, additional officers were yester day placed at each gate leading into St. James's-park, who cautioned those entering the parks that the ice was in a dangerous state. (This suggestion of Sir Benjamin Hall was made because of the recent accident, where! y four lives were lost.) Large printed placards were hung up at the lodges, stating " The ice is still very dangerous." In consequence of the exertions of the ice men, under Deputy Superintendent Parsons, and the cautions given by the officers, only one person ventured upon any portion of the ice in St. James's-park, and he slipped and fell upon a flint stone at the edge of the or namental water, and received a severe laceration over the right eye. In the course of another day or so it is thought, if the frost should continue, that the ice in this park will be sufficiently safe. THE REGENT'S PARK.—The whole of the ornamental water in this park is now completely frozen oeer, the ice, however, in some places being only of 12 hours' for mation. During yesterday about 2,500 or 3,000 ladies and gentlemen went upon the frozen surface, and cut out several pretty figures, such as snakes, eels, &o. During the afternoon the number continued to increase to such an extent that they got upon tie newly-formed ice, when it cracked so fearfully that Mr. Superiuterl mit Williams gave orders to place poles across the most dangerous places, and drive the sliders and skaters lack. By so doing the perecne were prevented from falling through the ice, and no accident beyond a few fails leek place. The whole of the private portion of the park was not, thrown open to the public, the gates bsiug kept locked, and only those in possession of the right of eeti 6 ice will were allowed to enter. By Sunday next the ce will be in first-rate condition, presuuiiug that the pre sent weather lasts. TEE ROUND POND IN KENSINGTON GARDENS.—This pond, the favourite resort of the aristocracy, is covered with a beautiful clear surface of ice, so clear that sliding on it is entirely out of the question. About 2,500 ladiee and gentlemen amused themselves by skating, but any one who attempted to slide was sure to fall. A gentle man who was skating fell through the ice, and became immersed up to his neck. He was extricated, when he coolly took his watch out of his pocket, handed it to a lady who was with him, and recommenced skating amidst the cries of "Bravo, the hero of Inkerman." After skating for some time, the gentleman took off his skates, and ran home as fast as possible. The ice here is two inches thick already. Tue LONG WATER, KENSINGTON GANDENS.—About 3,000 sliders and eketere, including several members of the Skating Club, proceeded to this part of the royal park at an early hour in the morning, and disported themselves by' skating or sliding during the entire day. No accident worth recording took place. Tull SERPENTINE, HYDE PARK..—A vast number of persons proceeded to this place yesterday, but the ice being in a dangerous condition—only formed during the preceding night—Mr. Superintendent Williams and tke icemen drove the people off. FATAL FIRM —Between three and four o'clock yester day morning a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. R. Bygrave, gas-fitter, No. 25, Mint-street, Southwark. Before more than one or two of the inmates could be awakened, the flames had taken possession of the stair case, and made escape thereby impossible. Under these circumstances the inmates, with one exception, and n, calledmadefor the front windows, threw up the sashes, loudly for help. The moment the Royal Fire Escapes arrived, the conductor, Hall, ascended, an d safely brought down Mr. and Mrs. Bygrav e , sen. H e aga i n ascended his machine and brought down Eliza Powell and two children. The third time he was met by a sheet of fire, and was compelled to ma k e a prec i p i tate re treat. Mrs. Lydia Robinson, aged 32 years, and child, were the last persons that could be aroused from their slum ber, and both are stated to have fallen a prey to the devouring element. RgLICS FROM TIIR PARIS EXMIBITIO3I.- 3 Sr:Fre derick Futvoye, to whom we are indebted for much that is recherche in art manufacture, by the personal and assi duous exercise of his judgment abroad, has been fortu nate in culling the rarest excellences of the French Exposition for disposal in this country . With all his exertions, ho wever, he has not been enabled to be in two places at once; and this want of duality has retarded the completion of a shop which he has taken in Regent street, opposite Hanover-street, for the purpose he has in view. Nothing daunted, however, and impressed with the fact that hearts and pulses open simultaneously at this season of the year, the huge cases of articles in tended for Christmas presents having been hurried through the Custom -house by special intercession, their contents will be at once di-played. Mr. Futvoye's new establishineet must not be mistaken with the older one in Reg,eut-street, which for a while only will bear his name Spirit of the Public Journals. (Pram Me Times of this day). While a new debating body has just sprung into existence in the metropolis we have recorded a rather remarkable discussion in that ancient and rather obsolete assembly, the Court of Proprietors of the East India Company. It is seldom indeed that we find anything worth comment iu the pro ceedings of the Court of Proprietors, where some disappointed East Indian-generally regales the public with harangues about the wrongs of the iniquity of of Sattara, or exposes the flagrant of not having invented a new Royal House to take the place of the extinct family of Berar. The second subject discussed at the meeting of Pro prietors on Wednesday was, however, the absurdity of continuing any longer the system of double government, and assuredly the speaker did not lack argument to support his conclusion. He de nounced the double government as possessing neither efficiency nor responsibility, as permitting gross abuses to grow up and continue, and as ruinously and unnecessarily expensive. To ue it appears that the three years that have passed since the last India Bill have materially advanced this question towards its final solution. During that time the wants and demands of Indian government have almost entirely changed. Slowly and reluc tantly, with infinite rubbing of the eyes and avert ing of the face from the unwelcome beam, the Home Government and the Indian Government have begun to perceive that the ideas and prin ciples which sufficed in former times for the ma nagement of our Eastern empire will suffice no longer. Energy, rapidity, and decision—principles of revenue and taxation on a level with those of the most enlightened European Goveraments—a reduction of salaries to something which may more nearly than hitherto approach to the mar ket price of the talent that is demanded—an ex penditure economical in some things, ii order that it may be generous and liberal in others—a complete revision of the system of administering justice which shall combine at once simplicity and efficiency—a thorough review of the land ques tion and all its incidental extortions and enormi ties—these and many similar questions are forcing themselves upon the attention of the Home Go vernment, and bewildering it by their magnitude, complexity, and urgency. In the meanwhile our object seems to have been to create as many ob stacles as possible iu the way of rapid and consis tent improvement. In India the last act has placed an additional clog on the movements of the Government, by enlarging the Legislative Council, and giving it the dimensions and the func tions of a deliberative body. The effect of thus in trusting the making of laws to men occupied already with an overwhelming amount of business seems likely materially to check the course of use ful legislation, and to raise up an opposition rather official than constitutional, and thus to delay and obstruct in a much greater degree than formerly the progress of useful legislation. The hand that has held the reins of Government so firmly and for so many years is about to relinquish them, and the loss that India will sustain may be estimated by the slow and irresolute measures which have suf fered the Santal rebellion to continue for so many months the opprobrium and the menace of the Go - vernmen t of Bengal. It should be the task of the Home Government at such critical moments to breathe its own life and vigouriuto the flagguag ener gies of its Indian deputy; but the Home Government of India cannot inspire life and vigour into others, for those are the very qualities which its constitu tion forbids it to possess. It is framed on the nar rowest principles of jealousy, and the weakeet and most exploded notions of checks and balances. At the end of the last century the East India Com pany had become too greedy, too scandalous, and too unscrupulous to be any longer tolerated in the form of a mercantile association exercising absolute and irresponsible power over India. The form wee preserved, but the substance was altered. With the national propensity to adhere to what exists, and rather to encounter any inconvenience or any ab surdity than effect any vital or radical change, it was determined that because the East India Com pany had shown itself unfit to govern it should continue to exercise all the functions of govern ment, only under the control and superintendence of a Minister of the Crown. Any other nation would have reasoned that if this body was so in competent for its duties that it required another body to take care of it, it were better set aside, and the superintending body put in its stead. Tue notion of treating a Government of a mighty em pire as a lunatic requiring the care of a committee, or a child placed during a perpetual infancy under the custody of a guardian, was a thoroughly Eng lish idea worthy of the nation that had almost de clared the Prince of Orange a Regent for King James, and still carries on the business of Parlia ment in the Norman French of the Plautagenets. The effect was what might have been expected—a stagnant and inert conservatism, which seems to think to this day that it has accomplished all the objects of a civilised and Christian Government, if it does not fall very far behind the ablest of its Manomedan or Hindoo predecessors. Its standard of excellence has been deplorably low, and, as is generally the case with people who set up to them selves a low standard, humble as its aspirations have been, they have been far beyond its perform ances. A system of revenue management founded on inequalities, oppressions, and absurdities which Akbar would have regarded with disdain is not yet eradicated from the Presidency of Madras, where whole districts of the best land remain desolate be cause Government exacts a rent too heavy to be paid. Export dutiesareimposed on Indian produce,and the tools of the artificer must be taxed before they can be used. The administration of justice is bur dened with every conceivable technicality, and the practice of the criminal courts seems to rest upon confessions extorted by torture. But, while moving thus slowly in the march of improvement, the re lations to each other of -the constituent parts of the Indian Government have gradually changed. The Company has become less, and the Board of Control more powerful, and now the same jealousy which invented the Board of Control in order to fetter the action of the Company, seems to retain the Company in order to neutralise, as far as may be, the powers of the Board of Control. To us the whole thing appears to be founded on a confu sion of ideas, or rather on the application of that which is true in one case to another to which it has no analogy. Because the system of checks and balances is found to be applicable to legislative proceedings it is assumed that it must be equally valuable to executive Government; whereas, in the first, circumspection is more valuable than de spatch ; and in the second a single mind acting promptly and decisively is the thing most to be desired. The double Government is not onlyin efficient, but irresponsible. It wears a perpetual mask, and nobody can tell whence its measures proceed, and whether the Company in whose name they are carried on is the unwilling victim or the ready coadjutor of the Board that is privileged to fight behind its shield. THE SOUND DUES. Mr. Marcy, the Forei,;, , l Minister of the United States, has addressed the following despatch to th• Danish Government : Department of State, Washington, Nov. 3. Sir,—l proceed to communicate the President's reply to the proposition of the Danish Government to the United States to join in a convention with other Powers interested in the "Sound Dues," at Copenhagen, for the purpose of deliberating on that subject. The friendly relations between Denmark and the United States have never been interrupted. The Presi dent cherish es an ev id ent di spos iti on t o sus t ain and strengthen them, and he would extremely regret that just right determin a ti on to assert what he bel i eves to b e a right in an unexc e pti ona b le manner shou ld b e regar d e d as an indication of disrespect for Denmark, or a want of a proper appreciation of her friendship. The exactions of foreign commerce at the entrance into the Baltic have been a productive source of revenue to Denmark, and it is very natural that she should struggle to retain it. If these exactions were founded in right the United States would be the last Power to interfere with her enjoy ment of them. It is not 'unposed to discuss the question of rid=hi in cornmunicAion ; that has already bee❑ dune, and the United States have adopted the conclusion that they are under no obligation arising from international l aw, treaty, or stipulation to yield to this claim. Denmark, on the contrary, has adopted a different sad an opposit e conclusion. It is readily conceded that both nations are anxious to arrive at a satisfactory solution of this vexed question. The subject interests several other Powers—indeed, all maritime nations—and Denmark has invited them to be represented in a convention, to assemble this month at Copenhagen, to consider a proposition to be offered by her to capatalise this revenue and to apportion among commercial Powers the sum to be paid for this renunciation of the present mode of collecting it. The United States have been respectfully invited to send a representative to the proposed conven tion. Without at all questioning the fair intention of Den mark in proposing this measure, the President feels con strained, by a sense of duty, to decline the acceptance of this invitation. The convention is to assume as the basis of its proceeding the very right on the part of Denmark which the - United States deny. It is assem bled without any power to pass upon the right of Den mark to levy a contribution upon commerce, but only authorised to adjust the sum to be paid by each nation in lieu of the collections theretofore assessed upon their respective vessels and cargoes. The United States, however, contest their liability to pay any contribution whatever. The main question at issue between this Government and that of Denmark is not how much bur den shall be borne by our commerce to the Baltic, but whether it shall be subjected to any burden at all. The proposed tribunal, it will be perceived, by the restriction upon its jurisdiction, is expressly precluded hour deliberating and deciding upon the only serious question at issue between the United States and Den mark. This is n,t, however, the only difficulty which pre v« nts the President from consenting to be represented in the convention. In claiming an exemption of our ships and heir cargoes from taxation by Denmark at the Straits of the Baltic the President is vindicating a great national principle of extensive and various application. If yielded in one instance it will be difficult to maintain it in others. If exactions upon oar trade at the entrance into the Baltic were acquiesced in by the United States, similar exactions might, on the same principle, be de manded at the Straits of Gibraltar and Niessina, and the Dardauelles, and on all great navigable rivers whose upper branches and tributaries are occupied by different independent Powers. Tile President cannot admit the competency of such a tribunal as that proposed by Denmark—as lie won] I do if this Government were represented therein—to deaf with a principle of such vast importance to the whole commercial v. ur!d. -There is another ground of objection to joining in the proposed convention quite as controlling as either of the foregoing. The Government of the United States will never consent to the pretension that the New World is to be appropriated to adjust the political balance of the OW. It is clearly stated in the proposition which Den mark has iubtnit ted to the United States that the cot ventiou is to act upon the question relative to the Sound dues in connexion with the system of the European ba lance of power. It is more than intimated that the for iner is to be subordinated to the latter. Of the utility or wisdom cf the p o liti ca l th e o r y o f th e b a l ance o f p ower inits application to the European family of nations it is tiGt proposed to express au opinion ; but enough of its operations has been seen to impless upon this Govern. mint a fixed determination to avoid being brought within vortex. It has long been the cherished policy atlas Government to avoid such a complicity ; and the Presi dent will nut yield in any case to the slightest relaxation of it. The following quotation from the Danish document, submitting the proposition to this Government, will show the intended connexion and commixture of the two Ell Lj eets : " Besides this condition there is still another which the :Danish Government considers essential—namely, that one affair in question (the Sound dues) be not con sidered as one of commerce or money, but as a political one. This would be in accordance with the history of the Sound dues and with the part which they performed in the politics of the North of Europe. Otherwise the negotiation would be deprived of that scope and charac ter which are requisite to prevent its being fettered by questions of a secondary nature, which may be pertinent to an arrangement merely commercial and fiscal, but not to one destined to serve as a complement to treaties of peace and compromises, by , which the syste m o f p o liti ca l balance has been adjust e d.' In passing upon the political question presented by this extract this Government cannot be induced to take any part ; nor will it submit to have its interna tional rights restricted or modified in subservience to the poll ical theory with which it is intermixed in the Danish proposition. In the paper submitted by Denmark to the conside ration of this Government there is an allusion to " the sacrifice " she has made for facilitating the navigation of foreign vessels through the Baltic straits. Any expen diture she has made for the safety and facility of this navigation may constitute a❑ equitable claim upon foreign Powers for remuneration to the extent they have participated i❑ this advantage. The collections hitherto made have much more than compensated for these out lays. Wl:ile the United States would not consent to pur,:hase a right which they consider indubitable—the free use of the Baltic Sound—they would not hesitate to share liberally in compensating Denmark for any fair ciaitn fur expenses she may incur in improving and ren dering, safe the navigation of the Sound. There is undoubtedly a necessity to keep up at a con• siderable expense lighthouses, buoys, &c., for the secu rity of this navigation. For such expenses in future, disconnected from any claim for surrendering a pre t,,nded right to control the navigation of the Sound and Belts, the United States aro willing to enter into au arrangement with Denmark, and to pay a fair equivalent for any advantages to their coronvrce which may be de rived from these outlays. You are therefore in trusted to invite Danmark on this subject, and to assure her that it will receive due consideration from your Government ; but she must not expect that it will be favourably entertained if it should include, either expressly or itnpliedly any compensation for the aurreuder of the pretended right to control the free UEa by our ships of the Sound and the Bests of the Baltic.---1 am, Sir, &c , W, L. 3.I.ARCY. Sporting Intelligence. TATTERSALL'S.—THNESDAY. No business worth notice was transacted. MANCHESTER STEEPLECHASES.— JAN. 1. Wcights for the Manchester Steeplechase. About three miles and a half. Age st lb Forest Queen a 11 7 Odiham Black Swan Garland Minerva (h 5 10 Theodine Escape Little Jessie (1.1 b) a 10 4 Star of the West (h b) Louis Napoleon._ a 9 12 Cavendish (late Agis by safe guard) 5 9 10 Weights fur the Hurdle Ra, six hn Age st lb Garland . ... . Minerva (11 b) Theodine Gossip Victory (h b)•••••• 6 9 12 Harry Lorrequer 4 9 11 Beechnut Dangerous a 9 10 Cavendish Weights for the Stretford S( three miles Age st lb Blarney (h b) a 9 10 Jemmy the Black 6 9 10 Dangerous a 9 9 Harry Lorrequer 4 9 9 Victor Emmanuel (late King of Spain) Protectionist (h b) a 9 4 Marcus Sting (rate Charm ing Nancy) (h b) 4 9 4 Tam worth The Rattler (late Gaylad) ice. About two miles, over ardles. Age st lb Sally,by Safeguard 4 9 8 Peter Snipe (late Hunter; late The Moor) a 9 7 The Rattler Sting (h b) 4 9 6 Merry Monk 4 9 6 Noddy Useless oiling Steeplechase. About and a half. Age st lb Gossip Lincoln The Brewer All horses not specially the 25th inst. will remain i Age st lb The Nun Merry Monk 4 10 5 Useless rdered to be struck out by AN EXPRESS TRAIN OFF TRH RAILS.—The morning express train from Hull to Manchester, on Wednesday, on arriving at a place between Woodhead and Torside, near the Manchester corporation reservoirs, was thrown entirely off the rails by coming in contact with the end of a rail which had apparently been broken and displaced by a preceding train. The driver was running the train at a speed of about 30 miles per hour, and raw the rail pointing up i n f ron t o f h i m, but was u nable to stop in time to av o id th e consequences . Fortunately none of _ the passe ngers were ser i ous l y hurt ; and they were all soon afterwards conveyed to Afanchester by a traia o carriages forwarded from thence. IRELAND. DUBLIN, THURSDAY MORNING. THE MEATH ELECTION. On Monday the high sheriff of Meath went through the ceremony of declaring the numbers polled at the lain election and that Mr. M'Evoy was the fortunate candidate. ' The friends of this gentleman conceived it good opportunity to get up a "demonstration " at other people's expense. They rushed in a crowd through the streets of Navan, calling upon the respectable in habitants to illuminate their houses—a call which hut fe w responded to i • whereupon several shop-windows and those in private houses were smashed. The supporters of Mr. Meredyth have been " eased of panes they had for many long years. Several of these persons have been severely assaulted since the election. CLERK OF THE CROWN OF LOUTH. Mr. William Horan, solicitor ' of Dublin, conducting agent for Mr. Meredyth at the Meath election, bas, on the recommendation of Lord Bellew and Sir William Somerville, M.P., been appointed Clerk of the Crown for the county Louth. biEIIORIAL TO THH LATH BIGHT HON. JAMES GRATTAN. The late Right Hon. James Grattan having left b 7 his will the munificent sum of 4,4001. to the Queen a County Hospital at Maryborough, as well as a similar amount to the Meath Hospital, in this city, the gover nors of the former institution have already, with very creditable alacrity, testified their gratitude by the erec tion of abeautiful memorial to commemorate the generous bequest. The memorial consists of a bust executed in white marble by our talented countryrnau, Hogan, and which has just been placed in situ. It is a beautiful work of art, modelled inn fine classic style, c hiselled with great care, and in Hogan's best manner, draped with singular grace, and bearing a perfect resemblance to the features which it is designed to perpetuate. A ,_ white marble tablet, bearing the following indscrarelt"ar'le placed under the bust :._..._() This bust an tablet nom. erected by subscription, in acknowledgment I 4:4001. by the memoration of the munificent bequest v ß e ig e h r t at H ed on. The governors,. who hereby Henry j Grattan. The *t deem that the value record their sense of his generosity, deem eon of the illustrious and of the bequest is highly enha nce dthe special rea•on grants to the charitable in stitutions proposes to reduc and unhappy country.' assigned in the words o e f the the testator—' Because govern mentstitutions of this long 87neglectedied Oct. 24, 1854.' If the work Born, April 7, 17 artist it must also be obs erve d t h at • to the a r '. be a crenit the timely er ection of it is highly creditable t o th e spirit of the gentlemen who, with D r. and good feelin g s Jacob ) as their secretary, were so anxious thu s t o record their ow n and the public gratitude. OUTRAGES IN RING'S COUNTY. Patrick Kilmartin, who was waylaid and severely beaten when returning from Clare to his residence, ou the 11th inst., still lays in the county infirmary at Tulle more in a very precarious state ; be is not yet pronounced out of danger. Michael Keenahan, Michael Deven,Y, and John Keenahan, who are charged with being of the party who waylaid Kilmartin, have been committed to the county prison by Mr. Brereton, R.M.,_Parsonstown. ANOTHER ABS/ULT.—T wo m e n, name d Kieran Shea and Michael Flannery, vv ere attacked and severely brvten on Saturday night l as t at Cl ona d er i g , near the e Churches. Five persons have been apprehended and loilged in prison charged with this outrage. 1:s NM