The Sun. — London, England, 1855-12-22 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. TW , •, The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday re mained steady. The sales were 7,000 bales, 1,000 on speculation, and for export, fair Uplands rea lised 7id., Mobile 6d., and Orleans 61d. The Railway Share Market has experienced a decline from the prices of Thursday, and the tone of the market was less firm. The Bank of England Return completed for the week, ending December 15, presents some interest ing changes, as the increased issue of 475,0001. au thorised by the order in Council is brought into the account. The alteration produced is exhibited in the large increase in the reserve of notes. The bullion shows a satisfactory increase. In the'next balance•sheet some of the items are expected to show some important variations. Active Circulation Decrease Bullion Increase Rest.. Increase Public Deposits £18,581,350 98,980 11,306,338 226,760 3,205,482 12,454 4, 428, 4 40 Increase Other Deposits Increase Seven-Day and other Bills Decrease 82,713 Government Securities 8,780,376 Decrease 475,000 Other Securities 18,360,761 Increase 219,402 Notes unemployed 8,556,625 Increase 797,440 F A telegraphic despatch from Madrid concerning the recent concession of the Spanish Government to form an establishment at Madrid on the same principles as the Credit Mobilier of Paris, which has gone the round of the newspapers, states what is incorrect. It is not with the Credit Mobilier of Paris that they have treated in this matter, but with M. Periero personally. That gentleman had volunteered, upon the invitation of the Govern ment, to assist in establishing such a company in the same manner as he has assisted in ferming the Austrian Railway Society. On the formation of the Madrid Bank of Credit it is probable that M. Isaac Pereire will be nominated president, and M. Emile Pereire a member of the council of adminis tration. There is very little of importance from the Foreign Bourses. At Paris business was dull yes terday, and the French Funds falling. The 3 per Cent. Rentes for the account declined 30c., and 25c. for money, equivalent to 3 / 4 per cent. At Vienna a better state of affairs exists, the 5 per Cents. have risen 3 / 4 , and the 4 3 / 4 per Cents. I. Bank Shares, Old fell 48., and New Scrip rose lfl. Aus trian Railway Shares advanced 2 3 / 4 f1., and those of the Credit Mobilier are steady at 110. Exchange on London, 10.49 ; on Paris, 128 i ; and on Augs burg, 111 k. During the week ending Thursday last the ex ports of the precious metals from London consisted of 1,0001. and 2,800 ounces of gold to Mogadore and Boulogne. The shipments of silver were 60 ounces only. Although the negotiation of the New Russian 5 per Cent. Loan is a subject of the highest impor tance to this country, it does not appear that the details of its progress will be allowed to transpire, or at least so freely as could bo wished ; and, in deed, this is not so much a matter for surprise, when the humiliating terms upon which its nego tiation is attempted are taken into consideration. A 5 per Cent. Stock issued at 85 is of itself au admission of the straits to which the Czar is reduced, but even if it meets with favour among Continental capitalists, which the friends of Russia so anxiously desire, it is pretty clear that, upon the most liberal estimate, the money will not be obtained even at 82. The contractors will, of course, take advantage of the Autocrat's necessities, and will require a large bonus for their exertions on his behalf, while the charges, commissions, cost of transmission, &c., will materially reduce the aggregate of the capital subscribed. Still, as before stated, under this head, there can be no doubt that the Treasury at St. Petersburg, the depletion of which must long since have been foreseen, will temporarily be supplied with means, and there is likewise a probability that will, in some degree, be procured indirectly from this country. There appears to be no possi ble plan for avoiding this unpalatable contingency, for while so many wealthy States maintain their neutrality capital can always be drawn from Eng land, although the transaction may be attended with proportionate sacrifice to the parties con cerned. Besides the mercantile facilities, which will render this comparatively easy, there are yet other arrangements that can be made instrumental in assisting Russia in her financial distress. We allude to the partisans of Alexander, now enjoying the hospitalities of this kingdom, and who have not hesitated to exhibit the feelings of consideration they entertain towards our enemy, and, being in many cases affluent and influential, are enabled through their connexions on the Continent directly to participate in the new loan. The attempts of our Government to impose obstacles, if such were contemplated, would possibly be ineffectual ; and even if they were successful in the highest degree in preventing assistance being given by residents in England, even then the loan may be secured among the monied classes in Germany and Holland. We are led to the consideration of this branch of the subject by a statement made in reference to an inquiry reported to have been set on foot by the English Govern ment in reference to the late efflux of bullion to places abroad, the commercial relations of which are not altogether of the most satisfactory descrip tion. Tho English Stock Market has continued in active, and Consols have been 88g / all day. The New 3 per Cents. have been 89 to 89k, the Reduced 88g- to 881. Bank Stock was again marked 205. Exchequer Bills brought Gs. to 3s. discount, being an advance of ls. The market for discount ac commodation is rather easier, and there is an ex pectation in the Stock Exchange that a reduction may- before long be made in the rates. No change of importance has occurred in the Foreign Stock market, which is likewise dull. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 83i, being rather flatter, and the New Scrip is heavy at 31- discount. Vene zuela Deferred Bonds' are 11/, Grenada Active 191, and Mexican 191 to 19i. Spanish Deferred are 21g, and the Passive 7i to 7i. The following are the nominal prices of foreign stocks: Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 to 7 ; Mexican, 191 to 194. ; 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 41 per Cents., 88 to 90 ; Spanish Three per Cents., 401 to 401 ; ditto Deferred, 211 to 21i ; ditto Certificates, 41 to 5 ; ditto Passive, 7i to 71. Railway Shares rule very quiet, but in the Eastern Counties, Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, and North-Eastern (Berwick), a slight advance has been obtained. Foreign and Colonial Linn are about the same as previously. In other descriptions of Shares the dealings have presented no feature of interest. PRITDSII FUNDS Tim DAY AT ONE 0 CLOCK. f Props the 05cia1 List. Bnginex- done. Bail Steck Siper C,lilt. Reduced Annuitias......•• I Nan 3 per Cont. Annuities ..... . Ooniols for Account BBi i Exchequer Bills, 20. £lOOO. •••••• .•• 4•4••• anv:11.....- 7 3 Ditto Bonds, IPSS, 34 per Cent 97i ~ 9 t 1859 . . 91 PRICK OF TOREIftN FUNDS AT ONB 0'0140 , , I. Grenada New Active, li per Cent........._ 19i K 1 tica , 3 per Cent. Ditto Account ... ....• .......... •—••• ... 10i i Sp-nisi. B o wls, 3 per Cent Ditto Account ......... Ditto Few Deferred, 3 per rent. ......... Ditto Account .... ............................. 2 i Ditto Passive Turkibta Bonds, 6 per cent Ditto for the Account B3} Ditto New Scrip, 4 per Cent. Ditto Account 3./ a Venezuela Bonds, 4i per Cent — Ditto Deferred, 1 1 per Cent. . ..... .• . lli •_ _ • . olv)meadi on the above payable In London TWV O'CLOCK. 181 Consols SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) RAILWAYS. ~.>r-..... . ft ta. Ainbg Noctng. Bost and Eastu. BOragt & Ballymena. Binning. Wolverb i'tour Vali. y Latwel..l l • fheshire Jtinct Chest,. Birir., £.50 and £25 Conk, Do., ..... &Tyns origitia £25 (isid. at £4. Bristol and filxoter... Caledonian Cal in. And Ca •• di gar Chester dc Holyhtia.• Cork and Bandon Cork, Black, & Pats Cnrnwall Do. A Do. B Ci ieff Junction.... I )nolin&BelfastJune. Dun. P. & Jnc. Do. N"w East At glian Eastern Counties. East. Tnion, A MI Ds., B Stoat— Do New A.. ... Eagi Kent Last Lancashire .„. Edinburgh & Glasg , Edinb. and Peebles Edin.Prtt, &Duna •• ,Forth Clyde Jou , _ Furness Do. Extension IGLasgow&S. Wear Great N. of Scotlnd. Great Northert Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.(lrc ) Great Western Do. Stour Val Rail Qua. Stk Irish South-Eatton Lancaster It Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds__ I Lancash and York a) !Do., Wst. Riding Ur) 'Av. Orsby .&Southi t London & Blackwal Loud. Bright & S.Cs • I I, on d •an d N. WoMtn. 'Do. Fifths ...... 'Do. Eighths . London and S. West!) Do., £5O. Do., £4O Lndndrry& Col oral:, Lncindrrr. & Elanls - 4 Manch.Shef.k !Awl - Do. Shares, No. • . & Lin. P Metropolitan Midland . TOO Do. Birmng.&flerl all Midi& 0. West. (I re. ' all Do. Tlalf Shares.. Newcastle & all Nwpt.Aberg. Newry At Rnniskill ail Newry Warrenpoir,; and Rostrevor. 1 .0 Norfolk orthn.Cormties Tl,, 'North British North Devon, No. 3 I 10., No. 2 ! , 0., A Deferreo Do., B (Inarante.: N. Eaistern—Berwl.. Do. do. Extension Dodo. (I.N. E. 'lurch Do. Leeds Do. York North London 7.4.&S.Wstrn.,flani - stead, and City Jn.. North Stafrordshir North Western._ N. & S. Westrn. Jun , : Nuneaton, riinck 1. and Leicenter..... Ox, Wore., he Wolv l'ortfc-oouth ..it, o ,i;ish Central Scottish 'Midland ;•Ihropehire Un-ot• South Devon South Eastern South Wale 6 Yrkeh. Riv.Dn, 1)0 :itaines,Wok,&Wok tockton & Darli St.?.kton ii linrtlep Taft' Vale Do. Prof., No. 1 Thames Hay. rl.k R Ulverstono & Lancs Vale of Neath Watertl. & Kilkenny' aterford&Limerii.k West Cornwall West End of London and Crystal Palace Do. A Do. B West London. Winibledn & Croydon ntic drip% Rott •rdA Do. 5 p.c. Oblgs. con. in Sh. at par till '64 Ardennes 4elglan Eastn. Juno. Boziers to Gra;mv•nsa• flombay, Baroda, bn Clnntral Do. Domerara )utcl , Ithcnish Eastern of France Do: New East Islian, g. 5 p Do. Fr',,ensiot , Do. do. do., '59, do . 04. Tk of Cana.laA ie Do. St. Lawrence & Atlantic do. Do. Cert. of Deben., con. into Stk. till ! )o. Comp. lip. c., do. Gt. Central of Fran Gt Indian Peninen guar. 5 per cent. New •5 per cent Extensions. Great Lnzembonr• Constituted Share` Do. Obligations... Gt. Western of Canal Abans Do. Now 0.. Has., payable'67, with option till '55 Do. do., '62, p. '56 Do. do., '76, p. '6O DG. do., '73, without option Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent. Lahr , C',onst. & Lierre and Turnhout Lyons and Genova Lyons & Moditerran 'Andras Do. New Karla Antonia 1)o. do. Now ... Namur & Liege (witi. , ntorest) Do. (ox interest) Northern of France. D o .201. Shs. Do. iO/. 3 p. o &it (fmy.B.&Ams.Shs. NorwegianTrankPre Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleans.... Paris and Ronan... ParisCaon & Cherbrg. Do Rome and Frascati Ronan and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Do. Obligations Sambre and Mouse.. Do. 5i p. cent. Prof iSeindo Do ... Southern of Franey.. St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) „. West Flanders Do 54 per c. Pref Western of France Do IZaaland JOINT-S' Australasia Bank of London Col. Bk.&Lr. C. British N. American (hartd. Bank of Asia Chrtd. Buk. of India, Australia,i 6111;; City Colonial Commercial of Loud Eng. Soot.& Ann. Cht Loud. Chart. Bk. of Australis r . ) , it n toNoL Lyndon County.. Did. &E. Bnkg. Corp. London Joint Stock . Loud. & Weatminster National Pro.of Eng Do. New National of Ireland New South Oriental Ban) , of Corporation PrGviIICIAI of Ireland Do. New Royal Anstraln.Bkg Mold Tmp Co Royal British s.,nth Australia Union of ilustralia Do. NM Ualon o London .•ri•JeQ yesterdal, 22 23 3j 3j 7 8 16 - t 5 l 3 - 14 9 - 8 79 81 55 55, .•. „ .• ...... ••• 56i -- 4 7i 11 12 8i 27 29 17 • 19 - 70 50i 51 9i 9i 16i -17 i 80 85 6 - 88 89 74 76 120 122 102 W 4 32} 53 70 761 6 7 6 7r 77 77i 6} 6f 94 96 931 944 14 ldi ik 85 - 86 8 7 6} b 3 i ni 1 id 631 - 641 36 • 38 41 43 28; 29j 67 - 68 84 8 , 1 5 - - 114 -12 4 i 444 454 92 - 97 8# 8i 4i - 54 22 - 24 100 102 72 74 11 2 57 58 314 3:1 6 - 3d 2d - pa, 4 - 6 :lON. 71 -- 8 3 211 3 20 1 - i 1 34f to n 9 21 - 214 • 91 16 17 82 87 132 87 3 3 4, 51 51 per /p 31 1 - 3 21 - 3i 24 - 24 i1 2 - 2#l) 98 • 100 115 - 111 116 - 120 104 106 23 24 112 - 117 8 1 81 t 441 -_ 5g _ 12 6 - 7 45 - 45} 43 - 45 ... - pm 18} -19 i 2 - 21 1 - 2 8 - 8 ••• "... ••• 1 woe ill .i. - Pm - i . 3i - - 4 iii : 30 lit - BANKS• 90 67 - 69 ii -2 I'd *ii : -61 16i 17 154 16 34_ d par 2p , . . 39 41 38 - 39 83 - 54 ••• ..... IV 40 - 42 . 72 - 75 8 9 30 1 31 Bnointai al • - Ida day. Bedford and Blotchley 13uckghmnsh. Clydcsdal o .Ic. Col. Stour Vy. Sud. and Hal. E. Lin. g. 6 pc E. Un. H. sh. Glas. Barr. & Soils. Direct Do. New Glstr.ds Dn. Fr llrtlpl. Dk. & Railway Hull & Selby Do. Shares. Do. Shares. Lou. & Greanw Do. Preference Lon.,Til., & S. Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per et. Manch. Bxtn. and Matlock Middlosbro' & Redcar. Mitild.Bradfri Newmarket Bury Eaten N.& Est.s p. c. Do. 6 per et. Do. Fixeds p Brest. Az y:e Do. Shr.. A Royetn.k Hit. Shot Roth and Gooleg.s p.c. Shrews.kller S. Staffordsh . Wear Valleygr 6 per cent._ Do Wiltek`.`•orarst 100 ' 100 all all l 4 LOO all all 00 .00 THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22 1855 , tf; e I a C Oiln mar yester lay Bunness this day btl) Leaain t Compans London N. Wo‘t L.&N. W. E. Un. E. C Ot.Nrthn. E. Count. 'Osldonian.l Gt. Wiwi, Yk. New. Berw. Y. 307111. Do Do S. Easter Do Pato k Co. Norfolk Do L.& N. W & Midld. Stckton & Darlingt. Midland En. Coon. E. Count Do Do L. lc N.W Ot North Lancash & Yorksh. T. Bro.asey M. Mclean Stook t. & Datil n gt D 0...... . . '~aW~ RAIIWATO. PREFE Aberdeen Do. N 0.2, 7 p. o. Myth and Tyne 101w] c. prof. (hied. atsOl Bris. & Ex.! p. c. St. Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Guar. 5i per cent . Do. do. Prof. No. 2 Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Cork ckßandonsAp.c Dun.Prth Al);;r. J Z. Anglian Cls. A Sh Do, do. Cls. B 6 p. e Do. do Cis. C 7 p. c Eastern Counties Ex 91 24 5 10 all 2 100 100 tension, 5 p. c. No Do. No. 2. .0 St. 20 i 0 St. 1.2 i 1:4 10 6 12/, 12A 12; St. St. 100 100 100 100 100 'lOO St. 16, 5 St. 20 12 25 20 St. 100 till •11 SHARE:, 107 - 109 104 -• 106 90 •- W ii :-.4 15 - 16 5f - Of - Do. New 4 r . c. St ast Iln., G. 6 p. c Do. 51., 10 ner cent Do. 10/. Dehontr./31, Do. do. 4 per cent._ ?nut Lanca , L. 6 p. atm tt..&NV. York. J. sthe Prth.&DunAp.e Furness p - - ... - .. 57 - 51 Dias. & S.W. 0.5 p. c. Great Northn. 5 p. Do. 5 p. o. Redeem. at 10 p. C. prem. Do. 4 p. c. Do. 5 p.c. Scrip, Red. 5 p. c. pm... tit. N. of Soot. Ist Pre qt. S. f3W. (Ireland) Do. 4 por a. Prof. S , Wooto. (Berke & Manta Ex . 5 p. c) Do. con. rod. 4i p.c Do. con. red. 4 p. a. Do. irred. 4p. c. Do. Rirm. Pref. Sh Do. Choster 8 p. c.P.S. De. do. 5 p. c. do Do. Birm. Gus. Stk Do. Ches. Gus, Sh Do, do. do lia 2 115 1 105 107 99 -101 par 4 . 9 10 6 6A Pa 87 77 71 75 80 98 91 15i 168 9. 10 66 —6i 17 18 88 9 12 1 4 d i 18 130 132 Do. do. do Lan. & York. F. £2' Do. 6 p. c. Stack ... Lon. & Brigh. G. 5 p.c. Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Now Guar.6 p. c Do. do. 5 per cent Lon. &N. W., Coy.. Nuneaton 5 p. ct. Lon.& S.W. 7 per ct Londy. & Color. ISh. Londy. & S; . Man., She., & in Novi, £10:. Do. £6 all 101 100 100 100 100 100 100 1100 1100 , farypt .SzCarl.4p o Do. 4i por cent r)o 'lid. Consol.6 p.c.St Do. Consol. Bristol Birm. 6 per cent. Do. 4i p. c. Prof. S. L D Do. Bret. 4 i per cc , Do. 5/. Pr , f. 4 p. c Ditto L. & H. Prof. St Norfolk Debenture o.Prpf. 4 p. e. Sto Do. 5 p.c. Ext Do. 5A por ct. pref.... Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British N. E. Berw, 4 p.c. P Do. do. do 1)o Leods6p.c..No. l Do. do. Quarters 4 Do. York FL& q. Pox. North Staffordshire. Oxford, Worcester, • Wnlverh.Xls, f p.r Do R. Prof. 101. Sh. Scot. Cont. ,Now South Devon ...... ... -- ... ••• '''.. IWO ' ... '.... ...P 12{ 12 a . .. *•.. 86 54 111 - 133 91 - : 43 If - 14 4 - ,I 97 - 99 88 - 96 2i - 34 Do. fixed, 4 per cen S. Eastern (Readi, Ann.) of £1 OR. Rol. Do. 4 , , per cent Do. Fixed 4i p c eh. S Wales Ona. 4p. c. Do. do. 4. p. S. Yorkell, 4 p.e.Guar. Stock.& Dar.. 5 p c. Do. do. do Stock. & liartl. g. F P. c. till Jnly 1. ,Watertd. & Kilk. 6 p i = is 36 - 96 11 di. 4f 13 - 14 IV • Ph' 214 - 92 - 94 8t -- 94 •• 4 - ltr ... - ... 2i - 2 t NINES. 1 all I i.nglo Austrin. Gold ... I.oa' all Anglo Californian 20 6 kustralian 1 all tristralian Cordillon - 1 lall Ave Maria 1 i all linden (Gl.fluchy of 6 SO all Blmnarvon Iron and Coal 20 14 British Iron ¢ 6 35 26 Brazilianlmp.(issne at £5 pm.) 30 all Do. Cocacs & Culab 2 3 20 15 Do. St. John Dolßo 27 29xd z d 1. Clarendon Cons. Min Co. of Jamaica 4d 40 all Cobre Copper 64 68 5 1 Colonial Gold ....... . St. all Copper Min. of Eng 30 35 45 all Do. Prof. 74 p. con , 24 23 1€ Clopiapo 2 1 4 Fortuna —id 20 all General l4 —l6 1 all it.NuggetVeinßeg. # 44 all Great Polgooth 14 21 5 all Gt Wheal Vor United 1 • V 1 all Liberty 3 all Linares — 5 14 Lusitanian — P 1 all Wariquitsh 1 all New Granada 1 all Nouveau Monde 20 all Pontgibaud Silver Load Min. & Smolt. 5 1 Port Philip — 1 all '4narta Rook — 50 all Rhymney Iron 2O 22 z d 15 all Do. New 6 8 s d 30 13) Santiago de Cuba 44 4i 1 all South Australian 1 all so. Scrip — 1 f Do. 10 per cent Prof 10 9 Croft . 4 4i 28f all United Morie,an 4 4 1 all %%Taller — A 1 all West Mariposa..,,, — 1. 12e. Worthing Mining of Australia — ••• 1 adl Yuba •• ••• MISCELLANEOUS. 25 19 Australian A gricult. 28 30 1P all Aus:raln. Royal Mai, . . lu 84 Berlin Water Works 74 50 40 Brit. American land 47 - 50 1(X) 424 Canada 135 140 la 7 40 St. leo Canada Goy. 6p. et Jan. and July llO 1104 1104 5 all Crystal Palace 2 2f 5 5 Do. Preference 4l 4 4 all Crystal Pal.of Franc 1 1 Duston Iron 0re..,,. 20 11 Eastern Steam...... 5 all En. &Aue Cop Sm Co lf 11 25 24 Electric Telegraph 2O 22 1 all Electric Teleg. of Ir. .• 5 all Gen. Iron Se Collies ••• [5 14 Gen. Steam Navigat. 1C all General Screw Steam 0 10 Irish Beetroot Suga 20 10 Magdalena St. Navin ••• 10 all Mediteran. Rico. Tel. 8 - 10 [0 9 Mexicau&S.Amerion. 54 6 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam no' z d 10 5 Netherlands Land 1 14 10 all Do. Do. 5 1 Do. 8p c P iss at Id# dill— par 2 1 N. S. W. Coal ds Inter steam Navigat. Co. 100 80 New B. dr N. S. Land 1 all Y , B 20 15 Nrth. of EuropeSteare . 1 all Orient a l G as. 4 - 14 1 2s. Do. "New Shares" all Peel Rr. Ld. & MinrL 21 24 5Q all Peninsular & Orients. •• 50 10 Do. New .,,,, .• ..p 2 all Portland Iron Co ... 100 60 Royal Mail Steam 1 all Scot. Austral. I nvest lf -_1 1 4 Ditto New all South Austral:Land 30 3 1 al: Sabmar. Tel. Scrip g 20 all Do. Registered . 1 25 5 ['rusty • 1.00) 28 Tau Dieman's Land 154 92 - 9.4 94 - 98 I'3l - 133 ••• . ioa iaa iii ---- ii 110 - 115 2} - 2i 89 - 0. spsar 67 ip 131 I:'3 - 3; • 2i 30 - 31 80 - 85 METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS (This Day.) The adjourned meeting of the members of this board for the election of a chairman took place to-day at Bur. lington•house. Mr. Nicholay, chairman pro tem, , in the chair. There was a full attendanoe of the members of the board, but few of the public were present. The list of candidates contained the names of 18 gen tlemen. Mr. WILKINSON (hon. secretary) read the minutes of the former meeting, which were confirmed by the meeting. A letter was read from Sir B. Hall, in answer to an application to him by the hon. secretary, for the pur pose of permitting the use of Burliagton•house for the meetings of the board till further notice, and a vote of thanks was in accordance passed to the hon. baronet for his kind permission. The names of the members of the board were then called over, and but five only were found to be present. Mr. ens& FEW rose, and was proceeding to make some remarks relative to the proceedings of the last meeting respecting the salary to be paid to the chair man, but was reminded by The CHAIRMAN that the first thing to be done at this meeting was to elect a chairman. Mr. FEW then withdrew his remarks till a subsequent period of the meeting. Sir J. SHELLRY called attention to a letter he had for warded to the chairman, retiring from the election of the chairmanship, in consequence of the resolution passed at the former meeting, believing a gentleman who was a member of Parliament would not be eligible. Ile therefore preferred retaining hie position as a member of Parliament than becoming at the expense of that seat the chairman of the board. Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said he considered Sir J. Shelley misunderstood the intention of the board. No objection would be made to a member of Parliament as chairman if be possessed the required qualification for the office. Sir J. SHELLEY said he had not canvassed for a single vote. If he bad known at the former meeting that Mr. Roebuck would have become a candidate, he (Sir J. Shelley) would not have had the presumption to have offered himself a candidate in opposition to that gentleman. A letter was then read from Sir John Shelley, M.P., addressed to the Chairman, intimating a wish that his name might not appear In the list of candidates, and as signing as a reason for that request the resolution come to by the board at their meeting on Wednesday, the effect of which was, as it appeared to him, that no one engaged in the public service was eligible for the ap• pointment. _ _ Sir J. SHELLEY !aid he still withdrew his name. The Hoo. SECRETARY then read the following list of gentlemen who had forwarded their names as candidates for the offize of Chairman :—Messrs. Barker, Booth, Buckton, Burch, G. F. Carden, Sir C. C. D'Crespeigny, Mr. Corrie, Deputy Harrison, Messrs. T. Hawes, R. Jebb, W. J. Neale (barrister), G. Offer, Hon. Joseph Percy, M.P., J. A. Roebuck, M.P., A. Syrnond, , , J. Thwaites, and T. Turner. Mr. BAKER withdrew his name, and the following gentlemen having no mover or seconder, were erased from the list :—Messrs. Booth, G. H. Buckston, Sir C. C. D'Crespeigny, Neale, and Symonds. Sir J. SHELLEY moved, and Mr. CHALMERS seconded, Mr. G. F. Carden. Sir J. SHELLEY moved, and Major LYON seconded, Mr. Corrie. Mr. HILL moved, and Sir J. SHELLEY seconded, Mr. Deputy Harrison. Sir J. SHELLEY proposed, and M r. MORLAND seconded Mr. T. Hawes. je l b l b r . . HUNT proposed, and Mr. PASCAL seconded, Mr. Mr. Howse moved, and Mr. Scow seconded, Mr. Offer, who, however, withdrew with the convent of the meeting. Major LYON proposed, and Mr. CHALMERS seconded, the Hon. P. J. Percy, M.P. Major LYON proposed, and Mr. HUNT seconded, Mr. Roebuck, M.P. Mr. DIFANGER moved, and Mr. COLLINSON seconded, Mr. Thwaites. Captain BURBLEM moved, and Mr. CORRIZ seconded Mr. Turner. Mr. FEW was then called on, and said it appeared to him that the feeling of the last meeting was werthy of consideration, to get a modification of the clause relative to the payment of the Chairman, and moved the following resolution :—" That before proceeding to elect a chairman, this board desires to record its opi- Mon that it is expedient that the provisions in the Aot (18 and 19 Vic. c. 120), compelling the election of a paid chairman should be repealed, and that any candi date for that office be required to give a pledge, that if elected he will resign his po.ition as chairman in the event of Parliament repealing the provision i❑ question. (Cries of "Oh, oh.") The CHAIRMAN ruled that the resolution could not then be entertained. The ehairman must be first elected before they could proceed with other business. The Hun. SECRETARY then rend the application of Mr. Carden, and called upon the mover and seconder of that gentleman to address the meeting in favour of that gentleman, but these gentlemen declined; and Mr. Carden having been called on, addressed the meeting in support of his claims to the office. Major LYON, the seconder of Mr. Corrie, said a few words in support of that gentleman. Mr. Connie asked the support of the board on the grounds cf his being a professional gentleman, be cause p3inte would daily arise requiring the gen tleman wbo filled the office of chairman to have a knowledge of law, to prevent mistakes from occurring. If not a qualification, they would, he trusted, be of opinion it was not a disqualification his being a lawyer. Secondly, that his prosent position as a magistrate and his abilities to fill that office, was proof of his capacity to discharge the duties that would de volve on their chairman. He considered the act unless modifications were made in it by Parliament would ulti mately increase the amount at present paid by the rate payers. He thought the chairman should be a gentle man unconnected with the representation of the country. If they elected him he would devote the whole of his life to effectually discharging the duties of the office. He valued the position the office would confer on the holder more than the salary. Mr. H. L. TAYLOR, asked Mr. Corrie, if he were elected f he would resign his present office a 3 police magistrate. Mr. CORRIE—Yes. Mr. HALL urged Mr. Deputy Harrison's claims to the office as being a useful man. That gentleman bad been for years connected with public boards and had bad ex perience as a member of that board, who had carried out considerable improvements in the City of London. Ho was also one of the Commissioners of Sewers for the City. He was a man of strong common sense and emi nently qualified for the office. Sir J. SHELLEY the seconder was called on to address the meeting in his favour, but declined setatng, he only seconded Mr. Deputy Harrison as a matter of form. Mr. Deputy laiutraorr said he looked upon his no n.ination to tbati lace as a desire on the part of those gentlemen to pay a compliment to the City of London He detailed his experience on public works connected with the City of London, from the re-building of Lon don•bridge to the present time. Objections might be taken to his appointment to the chair from his being in business, but if they elected him he promised them faith fully that he would devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office, Mr. T. HAWEB' (a former chairman of the Metropoli tan Commissioners of Sewers) name was neat placed be - fore the meeting, and a letterlfrom the candidate, stating his qualifications for the office,lwas read by the hon. secretary. Mr. Monar,AND, his seconder, having introduced him to the meeting in a few words, Mr. HAWES as briefly addressed the meeting, pledging himself efficiently to discharge the duties of the office. --- Mr. HUNT advocated the claim of Mr. Jebb, Chair man of the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers, to his appointment to the office of Chairman of the Metro politan Board of Works. That gentleman must be better acquainted with the various schemes and plans that bad been brought forward relative to the carry log out of works such as would devolve on them, than those gentlemen who had been proposed for the office unconnected with that Commission. Mr. P►SCAL also advocated Mr. Jebb's claims to the appointment. Mr. JSBB, in addressing the meeting, begged to dis abuse the minds of the board from certain statements that had been made relative to who he was. He was a distant relation of Colonel Jebb not his eon. Ile was Chairman of the Metropolitan Com mission of Sewers, and repudiated having used his influence as tutor to the Duke of Cambridge to ob tain this appointment, assuring them that he relied alone on his qualifications to fill that office to obtain their suffrages. He was by profession a barrister. His special claim on them arose from his thorough knowledge of the sewerage and drainage of the metropolis. [We will gin the conclusion in our late edition.] THEC GRAND DUKA: NICHOLAS OF RUSSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 11th inst., says:—.. " I have already sent you an account of the betrothal of the Grand Duke Nicholas. He was born on the Bth of August, 1831, and the Princess Alexandra, daughter of Prince Peter of Oldenburgh, to whom he is affianced, on the 12th of June, 1838. The trousseau of the future Grand Duchess is exhibited at the Oldenburgh Palace, on the Neva Quay, and is visited by crowds. The Em peror has paid for it from his privy purse, owing to the comparatively small fortune of Prince Peter, and the number of children he has to establish. When princes and princesses of the Imperial house of Russia are affi anced, it is the custom to place at their disposal a Ppe cial residence, and to create for their service what is called a court— that is, to designate the principal officers and functionaries of their household. The usage, how ever, has not been fully followed in the case of the Grand Duke Nicholas, and tbis has given credit to the report which has been current for some time, that his Imperial Highness will soon he called to the throne of Poland, it being intended to declare the Grand Duchy of Warsaw independent immediately after the death of Marshal Paskiewitch. The Queen Dowager of I the Netherlands, Anna Pawlona, aunt of the Emperor, has, since her arrival, been residing in the Palace of Anich kiew. I am told that she has succeeded in establishing a sort of harmony between Alexander 11. and the Grand Duke Constantine. The Emperor is generally beloved on account of his mild character, but the Grand Duke is heartily detested ; he is likewise dreaded, his violence of character being such that he too often passes the bounds of ordinary brutality. This fault, which is gene rally so rare in a young man, is strikingly developed in the Grand Duke Constantine, who resembles in all re spects his two uncles Constantine and Michael, of de plorable memory. The Grand Duke, who is sincerely to be pitied, falls at times into paroxysms of terrible fury ; and these attacks are followed by a sort of physical and moral prostration. Do not, therefore, believe the news mongers, knows gnigv eer h ns t m ow tooho the aG w n rn e a ll nu , dn a and tit t kh h ea e t Ctohnee excesses statnotwi ntn f e o which t he Polandwill the Emperorvi - lence of his passions may carry him, ever to confide to him the task of directing either the whole or part of the empire." THE FIRE IN MINT-STREET, SOUTH WARK. DISCOVERY OF THREE BODIES IN THE RUINS. _ _ Yesterday forenoon, shortly after 11 o'clock, as the men were employed in searching the ruins of the pre mises occupied by Mr. Bygrave, furniture broker and blacksmith, No. 25, Mint-street, Southwark, which were destroyed by fire on Thursday morning, they discovered the bodies of Lydia Thompson and herichild, about six years old. They also found the body of a newly born infant, all which were removed to the workhouse to await a coroner's inquest. Mrs. Thompson, it seems, was the first person who discovered the fire, and having alarmed the other in mates, who got upon the adjoining houses, it looks somewhat remarkable that the poor creature was unable to effect her own •cape, unless it was that in conse quence of the sudden fright she was seized with the pains of labour, and whilst in that state gave birth to the in fant found in the ruins. _ _ Mr. Henderson, the chief officer of the Fire Brigade, has minutely examined the ruin, and from his experi ence as a practical fireman there is no doubt entertained that the fire commenced in the adjoining premises, and not in Mr. Bygrave's. The melancholy event has created a painful sensation throughout the neighbourhood. COWES, ISLE OF IVIGIIT.—Dec. 21. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) DEPARTURE OF THE COURT FROM THE ISLE OF WIGHT. —Her Majesty, Prince Albert, and suite embarked from Cowes on board the Fairy at 9.30 a.m. this morning. The Royal yacht steamed out of harbour attended by the Elfin, intending to proceed to Portsmouth ; but it blew so hard that before the yachts got half-way across the Solent they were almost under water, and obliged to bear up and rua for Southampton. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. —Colonel White has taken the Pavilion ; R. Lambert Turner, E , q., Harriet Lodge ; the Rev. Mr. Valentine, Busigney House ; the Rev. Mr. Knight, Adelaide Villa. DESTRUCTIVE FlDE.—Fire ricks (one of wheat, three of hay, and one of straw) were destroyed by fire yester day at Standen Farm, near Newport. A steam thrash ing -machine was employed to thrash out the corn, and about two o'clock, while the men were at dinner, a spark from the furnace set fire to the straw, and the barn and farm-house only were saved. Fortunately the principal ricks were in the adjoining fields. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day). COVENT GARHAN. Owing to the severity of the weather, the supplies of vegetables were limited. Fruit sold on higher terms. FRIIIT.—Pine apples, English, 4s to 8s per lb; colonial do., Os to Os each ; hot-house grapes, Is Od to Os Od per lb ; foreign ditto, Oil to Os ; melons, is Oil to 2s 6d each; poaches, 2s Oil to Gs; nectarines, is Gd to 4s per dozen ; apples, is Od to 3s Od per half sieve ; pears, 2s Oil to 5s per half sieve ; plums, Os to Os per sieve ; green gages, Os per punnet; apricots, 14Gd to 5s Od per doz.; common plums, Os 01 to Os 031 per sieve ; cherries, Od to 0(1 per pound ; lemons, Gd to is Od por doz ; oranges, 5s to 12e per 100; fil berts, 9s to Os per doz. lbs ; cobnuts, lls to Os ; almonds, Os to Os per lb. ; walnuts, 8d to 10d per 100; figs, Os 9,1 to is Gd par doz ; strawberries, Od to Od per pottle ; goose berries, Os Od to Os 0,1 per half sieve ; currants, Os Od to ON 0,1 per half sieve I raspberries. Od to Od per pottle. VEGETABLES.—Greens, is 6,1 to 3s Od per doz. bunches; S ivoy cabbages, 10d to le 6,1 per dozen ; rod ditto, 3s to 5s 0(1 per do. ; brocoli, is to 2s 01 per bundle ; potatoes, 60s to 115 s per ton ; vegetable marrow, Od to Os per doz. ; peas, 3s to 5s Oil per bushel ; broad beans, is Od to is Oil per half sieve ; turnips, 3d to 5d per bunch ; carrots, 51 to 7d per bunch ; cucumbers, 2s Oil to 3s 0,1 each ; garlic, 64 to 03 M per pcurel ; spinach, 2s 6d to 48 Od per sieve ; old onions, 2s to 4s per bushel ; now ditto, Os Oil to Os per doz. bunches; leeks, Id to 2d per bunch ; shallots, 6d to BLI : horse-raddish, 2s Od to 4s 0.1 per bundle ; parsley, 4d to 5d per bunch ; celery, Os 9d to is 3d por bunch ; endive, Is 3d to 2s 3d per score ; beet, is Od to 2s per doz. ; parsnips, Os Gd to is Oil per dozen ; small ' salad, 2d to 3d per punnet ; mushrooms, 2s Od to 2s Gil per pottle; artichokes, is to 186 d per half sieve; cabbage lettuces, 9d to is Od per score ; sorrel, 6d to is per half sieve ; radishes, is to is 3d per dozen hands ; tomatoes, 3s to 4s per half sieve ; chillies, is to is Gd per 100 ; Brussels sprouts, Os Od to Os per halt sieve ; capsicums, is Oil to 28 Per 100; walnuts pickling, Gd to is per 100; cauliflowers, 4s to 78 Oil per doz. NEWGATE AND LEADENHA LL. Turkeys, Gs Od to 30s 01; Geese, 5s Od to 5s 10d each ; Ducks, 2s 3d to 3s 3d ; wild ditto, le Od to 2s 11; rabbits, 10d to 18 6d each ; Pigeons, 7d to 10(1 each ; large Surrey Fowls, Os Od to Os 0a ; middling, 2s Od to 3s 6d ; Chickens, 18 Gd to 3s Od ; Capons, 9s 0,1 to 8s 3d ; Hares 2s Gd to 3s 61; Grouse, is Od to 2s Od each ; Pheasants, 3s Gd to 4s Od ; partridges, 1s Gd to 2s Od each ; Guinea Fowls, 2s 6d to 3s Od each. Ostend fresh butter, Us 61 to 13s Od, and English Ils 6d to 16s Od per dozer lbs. English Eggs, lls Od to 13s Od; French ditto, Os 0 , 1 to lOs 61 per 120. NEWPORT. Beof from 3s 4,1 to 40 8d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 61; veal 43 Oil to 5s Od ; pork, 3s 83 to 5s Oil per 81bs. WHITECHAPEL. Boer, from 3s 4d to 4s Gd ; mutton, 3s 4cl to 4s Gd ; veal, 4s Od to 4s 10d ; pork, 33 6d. to 53 Od per 81bs by the carcase. BILLINGSGATE. Turbots, Gs 01 to 20s ; Brills, is Oil to 8s each; Salmon, 3s Oil to 3s 6d per lb ; Cod Fish, 3s Od to 12e each ; Solos, 4d to 3s Od per pair; Eels, 8d to is per lb; Lobsters, is Oil to 3s Od ; Crabs, 6d to 2s Od ; Whitings, 3s Od to 12s per doz. ; Common Oysters, 16s to 20s ; Natives, 60s to 64s per bsh ; Mackerel, 60s to Os per 100; Smelts, is Od to 3s Od per doz.; Skate, 6d to Od per lb; Shrimps, is 6d to 2s 6d per gallon; Bloaters, is Od to is Gel por doz. ; Fresh Herrings, 5s Od to Os per 100. ; Scotch do., Gd; Sprats, 3s Od to Os Od por bushel ; Doreys, 2s Od to lOs each ; Haddocks, 5s to 15s per doz. ; Pike Gil ; Sturgeon, fid per lb ; Prawns, 4s Od to Os; Mullets, Gd to is 6d ; Plaice, 4d to is each ; Halibut, Gil per ; Flounders, is 6d to Os per dozen. BREAD The prices of wheaten broad in the metropolis are from lld to lld; of household ditto, 9d to 100 per 4 lb loaf. HIDES AND SKINS. Market hides, 561 b to 641 b, *1 to Od ; 641 b to 721 h, 3id to 4d ; 721 b to 801 b, 4d to -lid ; 801 b to 881 b, 4id to 46d ; 881 b to 961 b, 43d to 5d ; 961 b to 1011 b, 5d to 54d ; 101 to 1121 b 5d to 50 ; upwards, sid to 50 ; Horse hides, 6a Od to Os Od ; calf skins, light, 2s Od to 3s Od ; ditto, full, 7s Od to Os Od ; Polled Sheep, 6s Od to 7s 6d ; Keuts, 58 Od to 6i Od ; Half•breds, 5s Od to Gs Od ; Downs, 3s 9d to 48 9d ; Lambs, Os Od to Os Od ; Shoarlings, Os Od to Os Od. HAY MARKETS. ElwarnsLD.—Meadow hay, 4/ 5e to 6/ Os ; clover ditto, 41 15s to 71 Os ; and straw, 11 5s Od to 11 10a Od per lola. A limited supply, and a steady trade. CIIMBRALAND.-31eadow hay, 41 83 to Cl 6s ; clover do., 41 15e to 61 18s ; and straw, 1/ Gs to 11 lie per load. Trade steady, at very full prices. WITITECHAPRL.—Meadow hay, 41 5e to 61 6s; clover do., 41 15s to 71 Os ; and straw. 1/ 5s to 11 10% per load. Supply tolerably good and trade firm. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Deo. 22.—Wind this day at noon, S.W., light, with fine frosty weather. (Pea XLEOTRIO TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Saturday Morning. Arrived.—Wonder (s.), from Jersey ; Atalanta (s.), Havre. --.. Sailed.—Alliance (s.), for Havre ; Despatch and South- Western (s.), Jersey. LIVERPOOL, Saturday Morning. Wind S.S.E. Arrived.—Elizabeth Bulkeley, from Charleston. Off.—Radnagore, from Calcutta; Norval, Halifax; Mona, Newfoundland ; Jessamine, St. Michael's ; Anne Baker, Alexandria ; Hobe, Charente ; Maria, Havre. Wind S.S.E. Q UE ENSTOWN, Dec. 20 . Arrived—Emerald, from New York; Englishman, Oporto ; William and Anne, Malta ; poli ; United, Coquimb o . S ag ittarius, Gali- (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Saturday, 9.0 a.m. Willa W.N.W. ; tide half good; fine and frosty. Arrived, Dec. 21—Mary Ant from Ostend; Robert and Mary, Antwerp. Arrived, Dec. 22—Janes, from Gravelines. DEAL, Saturday, 9.37 a.m. Wind N.W., light. Passed—Harriet, from New York, for London ; Evan gelist, Buenos Ayres ; Mary Holland, Valparaiso ; Fores ter, St. Vincent's; Weasel, schooner, Falmouth—•all from London. Anchored —Stately, from London, for Adelaide. 8 i i 17} 85i 5 641 3i 30! A 1D0.., RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. EASTERN COUNTIES. The chairman of this company has just issued his reply to the report of the committee of investigation. He complains of the conduct of the committee in refusing to give him a fortnight to reply to their charges, and com mences by adverting to the policy and state of the Easter❑ Counties Railway in 1851, as follows : "It was on the 31st of March, 1851, that I was appointed chairman of the company. Those who remember the cir cumstances wilt not fail to boar out my assertion that your line was then in a state of decadence and disaster. Not withstanding national prosperity and the general increase of railway receipts, your traffic receipts were rapidly di minishing. Your working expenses were enormous, your dividend was nil, you were engaged in Parliamentary con tests involving inordinate expenses, you were exposed to ruinous competition on every side of you, and you were in imminent danger of having that competition carried into your own restricted territory. To some unacquainted with the facts such a description may appear exaggerated. I will, therefore, describe it in detail. "1. As to the traffic receipts. At the half-yearly meet ing held in August, 1851, the report of your directors commenced as follows : " ' The directors, on again meeting the - shareholders, have to regret that the traffic receipts exhibit a decrease, as compared with the six months ending the 4th of July, 1850, of 33,524/. 108. 7d., on the Eastern Counties line ; and on the Norfolk line of 2591. 4s. 63., their total receipts being 366,9211. 17s. 4d., as contrasted with 400,705/. 12s. sd. for the corresponding half of 1850.' "2. As to the working expenses. Tho working expenses por train mile were, for the first half-year o f 1851, no l ess than 44.6154 d. The locomotive power per train mile was 16.4054 d. These items for the first half-year of 1855 were reduced respectively to 28.7572 d. and 11.1533 d. "3. Your dividends wore nil. The accounts for the half-year left you a profit, after payment of your expenses, •f only 5,6211. Os. 4d. Your profits in 1855 were, as w e 'hall hereafter see, tenfold greater. "4. Parliamentary contests. —At that time you were in collision with almost every company in or near to the Eastern Counties. In the report from which I have already quoted the shareholders were congratulated that ' The powers sought by the Eastern Union Company for running over the Eastern Counties and the Norfolk line did not receive the sanction of Parliament.' " 5. Your legal expenses for the first half-year of 1851 were no less than 5,0001. For the first half-year of 1835 they were 1,1951. "6. This lamentable state of things was the consequence of the competition to which you were exposed. " The map affixed to this document exhibits the Eastern Counties country covered as it is at this moment by one system, and that system our own. How different the po sition in 1851 ! At that time, on the west, we were sub jected to sharp competition, conducted with all the energy and spirit of which the Great Northern were capable. They were fighting us at Cambridge • we wore retaliating at Peterborough. On our north, the East Anglian lino, with which we were at issue, was actively negotiating with the Great Northern, and subsequently concluded an ar rangement which might have cut off all our traffic from Norwich and the north of Norfolk. On our east, the Eastern Union, with which our relations were unfriendly, was threatening us to the extent of taking running powers over our line. On our south, that same company was injuring us by putting on steam-boats from Ipswich to London, running them at low rates as well for paseen gers as for goods, and giving through tickets by boat and rail to all persons coming from Norwich and intermediate stations. Even in the centre of our system we were in danger, for the Cambridge and Newmarket Railway had received overtures from the Great Northern. Thus it will be seen that at that moment the Eastern Counties had absolutely nothing beyond its line from London to Col chester:(subjec t to the competition of the Ipswich steamers), and its line to Cambridge and thence to Peterborough, at which points it was fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the Groat Northern. Now, I ask you to consider where you would have been in 1855 had that state of things con tinued ? One glance at the map will show you that the Great Northern, conjointly with the East Anglian, could have cut off the Eastern Counties from the matins north of Norfolk. The East Anglian had had powers to make a lino from St. Ive's to Ely. By Huntingdon via St. Ive's and Ely, on the East Auglian, Lynn, and the adjacent country are in almost as direct a line for London by the Great Northern as via Cambridge by the Eastern Coun ties. Further aggressions were in contemplation, by which the Great Northern would have competed with the Eastern Counties for the traffic of the great and populous city of Norwich, now passing exclusively over et r lines. Nor was this the whole extent of the danger. In 1851 we had a w nising, agreement with the Norfolk Railway, expiring in 1855. Our relations with the Norfolk directors were far from cordial. Terms of amalgamation had been discussed by the Norfolk, Eastern Union, and Newmarket, as against us and the Norfolk had even threatened to put an end to our contract at once. A year or two preceding, the Great Northern had leased a line from Hitchin to Royston with the obvious view of tapping' the Eastern Counties at Cambridge. Many will remember the Parliamentary con test which arose out of this extension. The Great Northern was within seven miles of Cambridge. Had the Groat Northern been successful (as under such circumstance was certain) in another application to Parliament for leave to make the line to Cambridge ; or, had they obtained powers to make a branch from Shopreth to some pole t of the Cambridge and Newmarket line which had received overtures from them, if that junction had been made a short lino from near Newmarket to Thetford must hate fol lowed, and you would have had a direct line from Lot den to Norwich, Norfolk, and great part of Suffolk, via the Great Northern Railway. These wore the difficulties and perils of your position when I became your chairman. My first efforts were directed to the accomplishment of some arrangement which should change the position of the Eastern Counties line with regard to its neighbours. It seemed to mo that by embracing all the minor competing lines we should fortify our own position against our groat antagonist; hut that, otherwise, the opposition must over • whelm us. I recommended, in consequence, a policy of peace and of friendly relations—a policy, calculated, as I thought, to insure the reduction of our expenses, to ex• tend our traffic, and to multiply our resources. 1 first concluded a negotiation for the purchase of the Newmarket line, thus stopping the Great Northern from entering our territory in this direction. I then proposed terms to the East Anglian. They were not unfavourable, although they involved the principle of paying a toll for all traffic passed upon that line. The Eastorn Counties guaranteed the East Anglian shareholders a minintant toll of 17,00 . 1. a-year, which was less than the earnings of the line, and undertook to work it at a rate not exceeding the rata of the Eastern Counties. I next turned to the Great North ern, and early in 1352 I completed an arrangement with that company, whereby competition ceased, and an imme diate increase of tolls was effected. A territory for each company was defined. The Eastern Counties undertook for 14 years the responsibility of the Hitchin and Royston line, paying 16,800/, a-year for the use of it, but obtaining all its revenue. Thus the Eastern Comities were protected at Cambridge, one of the most important points of their system ; and the Groat Northern conceded to them en) per cent, on traffic received at Peterborough through the Easternrounties, and passed over the Great Northern line. By these arrangements the Eastern Counties was saved upon the nerth and west. Ou our cast, at a somewhat later period, I was able to open a negotiation with the Norfolk and Eastern Counties, fur a permanent agreement. That negotiation resulted in au arrangemint Whereby the Eastern Counties t oo k th ose li nes, on a lease of 9:19 years, upon the principle of purchasing the stock of the Eastern Union, working the whole system, and di viding the profits. The working expenses at the time were 41 per cent. on the receipts. Under the agneenent the Eastern Counties take 46 per cent. of the gross receipts to cover the working expenses, and the balance, or remain ing 54 per cent., is divided in the proportion of 1-7th to the Norfolk, 1-7th to the Eastern Union, and 5-7ths to the shareholders of the Eastern Counties. The Committee of Investigation attempt to throw discredit upon this trans action by stating that the deduction for working expenses was taken too low, and that 45 per cent., not 41 per cent., was the true percentage of cost in 1853. They write (page 4) — 'The present chairman sets them down as 411. Bs. sd. per cent. The half-yearly assets, ending the 31st of Dec., 1833, show that sum as the percentage, but that was nut the true percentage—it was near 45 percentage.' Now, see how easily a plain statement can confound the wrong and dispel the evil intent of this insinuation. The meeting of proprietors at which this amalgamation was con sidered and agreed to was held on the 19th of December, 1853. The last accounts of the Eastern Counties then be fore us were the accounts for the year ending the 30th of June, 1853. Those accounts show the working expenses to have been precisely as I stated them, 411. Bs. sd. per cent. This arrangement, when completed, opened out to us clearly and uninterruptedly the whole railway system of the three great counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It afforded us additional means of protecting ourselves from any future attempt at rivalry upon our west. As it checked the chance of external competition, so it consoli dated our internal strength, and enabled us to work the system of the Eastern Counties as ono harmonious whole." Looking at the operation financially he states that the gross receipts of the Eastern Counties and Norfolk were, for the half-year ending the 30th of June, 1851, 306,921/ ; the working expenses, 203,358/.; and the interest on guar antees and loans, 152,939/ • leaving a balance of 5,624/. They were then without dividends and with desperate prospects. For the purpose of showing the present posi tion of the company he deducts everything that does not appertain to the Eastern Counties sad Norfolk Company. The half-year ending the 30th of June, 1855, showed the gross receipts of the company (as amalgamated) to be 591,3551., deducting 12,2361. for the receipts of Cambridge and Bury lines, 23,015/. f or th e receipts of the East An glian, and 84,4791. for proportion of the Eastern Union, together 119,7311.; leaving 471,6241. as the gross receipts of the Eastern Counties Company and Norfolk alone. Theo to gross expenses of th e ama l gama t e d com panies amounted 311,7191., from which 50,2911. is deducted for the expenses f of the oter lines, leaving the gross working expenses of the Eastern Counties and Norfolk 261,4281. Thustt obtained in 4 years an increase of 105,00. on h yhalf yearly revenue, at a cost of 53,0001. additional expenses. These additional expenses included the interest on all their purchases—viz., the interest on the Newmarket and Bury, purchased on the Harwich lease, and on the unproductive works. " As regards dividends, t what have been the results ? In the first half-year a , as I have already shown you, the balance to ear of 1 i cied between the Eastern Counties and the Norfolkbeveadsivsl,624/. Os. 4d., and you had, conse quently, no dividend. On the last half-year the balance n your favour on your revenue account was 55,731/. 15s. 6d., exclus i vely your own; or a tenfold increase in four years. , g The chairman then goes into a history of the Tilbury and Southend Railway, and states that it was obviously for the advantage of the Eastern Counties Company to have an interest in every line running from London into Essex. He defends the policy pursued with regard to that undertaking, and states that, instead of the profit on work ing the line, as stated by the committee, being only 4001. during the past half-year, it would be 3,000/. With regard to Lowestoft harbour he states that the traffic between London and Lowestoft has increased from 4,346/. in 1850 to 16,2331. in 1854, or 11,8871., while that between London and Yarmouth had increased from 16,8261. in 1850, to 33,4801. in 1854, showing au increase of 16,6531. So that Lowestoft, instead of " taking away the traffic from Yar mouth," has very nearly doubled itself within four years. He defends the traffic arrangements for the conveyance of cattle and fish, and contends that it pays the Eastern Counties Company. He then goes into an elaborate state ment with regard to the Suffol lines, and contends that the committee were the cause of inducing the landowners to extend the line from Raddiscoe to Yarmouth, and from Beccles to Lowestoft, by means of which the distance from London to Yarmouth will be shortened by 30 miles. With regard to the Woolwich line, Mr. Waddington contends that there is no part of the Eastern Counties line that pays so well, and that the receipts from the Woolwich-gardens brought to the company 3,000!.o in the coursef months ; and as t o th e 1,5002. expended on the ancing- saloon in tie gardens, he thought it would Kaye been better had it not been incurred, but that, at all events, the company had gained by it, and it would be available for a goods shed when not required for the garden. He then ad- verts at some length to the four Hackney -wick branches, together 2i miles in length, which cost .56,000/., stating the cost was exceedingly low, and that no one can foresee how much the I,,nd will increase in value for manufactur ing purposes. He explains that the purchase of the Ipswich boats was unavoidable, on the amalgamation of the Eastern Union Railway with the Eastern Counties Company be. twoen Ipswich and London. An explanation is also given of the Harwich steamboats and their advantages in deve. loping the traffic. The remaining portion of Mr. Waddington's reply, in respect to the permanent way and other matters, will re ccive a farther notice. Spirit of the Public Journals. (From the Morning Post of this day.) The Guards, in the memorial which they have presented to the Crown, and which, through the medium of the column s o f our own' journal, and those of our contemporaries, is now placed in ex tense in the hands of the public, have care f u ll y re stricted the case for which they demand considera tion to the effect which they anticipate will be pro duced upon their prospective car eer and ultimate position by the Royal Warrant of October 6, 1854 ; but they can hardly expect that the public, to whom they appeal tacitly, as they do to the Crown aloud and professedly, will place their considera tion under the same restriction, or will confine their view of the subject within the same narrow limit. The Guards must surely be aware that their constitution, and the privileges which attach to them, have often been the subject of animadversion and complaint, and that there are among those who turn their attention to questions connected with military organisation a considerable number of persons who entertain strong objections to the principle of privileged regiments. The memorial which the Guards have, as it seems to us, some what incautiously put orth, will unquestionably call into renewed activity the opinions of these people, and the Guards must be prepared again to meet—pressed with less of reticence and forbear ance—the objections to the organisation and the privileges of their body which were submitted by Colonel Dunne and others to the Parliamentary Committee on Army and Ordnance Expenditure in 1850. Had we been the advisers of the Guards we should certainly have recommended them to put up quietly with the clippings of their privileges— very trifling, even on their own showing—which may result from the Royal Warrant of 1854, rather than revive with new activity questions which had been shelved connected with the relative positions of themselves and the Line. We are not among those who consider the existenceof privileged regi ments objectionable. On the contrary, we entertain a strong opinion th a t some suc h corps as t h e Household Troops is an indispensable adjunct to Sovereignty, and a necessary part of the splendour of the Crown, and we should be extremely sorry to see them—whether upon military or upon eco nomical grounds—reduced to the level of the Line. We are quite satisfied that the Guards should exist as a privileged corps of the army ; that an officer of the Guards should have the advantage in his upward progress of passing over the two steps of lieutenant and major ; that there should be a greater proportion of officers to men than in the Line, and that a colonel and a lieutenant. colonel in the Guards should receive respectively 4200/. and 4881. annually, while officers of corresponding rank in the Line only receive 6001. and 3101. With this organisation of the Guards we are quite satisfied, but with the constitution of the corps we are not satisfied ; and to the mode in which it is recruited, both as regards officers and men, we see the strongest objections. The strength of the Guards in officers is maintained, with the exception of cases of exchange, by the introduction from time to time of raw young men, who obtain their privilege cal r fng commission in consideration either of the cal h and social position, or of the political inte rest, of thtir families. There is no other qualifi cation required, nor is it necessary that in any other respects the officer-recruit of the Guards should be superior to him of the Line. As regards the men, they are taken equally direct from the mass of raw materials presented by the general population, regard being had only to their height aud personal appearance. Now, all this does not atallaccord with our view of the mode in which it is proper or desirable to constitute and maintain a corps of Royal Guards ; and we believe that when the rest of the army, and the public at large too, come to think the subject out, and get their perceptions clear in the matters they will discover that it is not the organisation of the Household Troops, nor the accordance to them of privileges, as Royal Guards, that they object to, or complain of, but the principle upon which the body is recruited. Let that be amended, arid let the exhibition of talent or excellence of service be the passport to the enjoyment of the privileges of the Guards, instead of mere wealth or family coil flexion, and we believe we should hear no more cries of jealousy or complaint from the Line, and economists would cease to bore the house or worry the Minister for War with objections to the cost of the Blues or the Grenadiers. Let us Fee what is the practice of our neighbours in this matter. France, systematic in her military organisation, has in her army two bodies holding high distinctive position, and enjoying peculiar and separate privileges. The first in place and in rank is the squadron of the Cont-Gardes n Cheval, a corps of the picked cavalry, employed as the personal guard of 'the Emperor, and attached peculiarly to the service of the Palace. It consists of 137 men, including officers, whose grades appear to corre spond very nearly with those of our Guards, and it takes precedence of every other arm of the service. The next is the Imperial Guard, consisting of -1 General of Division commanding. 3 Generals of Brigade. 1 Military Intendant. 1 Colonel Chef d'Etat Major, 2 Chefs d'Escadron d'Etat Major. 6 Captains of the Etat Major. 1 Assistant-Intendant of the First Class. 2 Assistant-Intendants of the Second Class. Two Brigades of Infantry, formed— Tile first of 2 regiments of Grenadiers, three bat talions. Tho second of 2 regiments of - Voltigeurs, three battalions. 1 battalion of Chasseurs. One Brigade of Cavalry, formed of -1 regiment of Cuirassiers, of six squadrons. 1 1 regiment of fif Horse oe u nr i s d de e a s Ar , mr :e f t r, x yo s ,f g ot u fw a a d o v r o o n b s a . regimentl battalions.ttali battalions, n regiment and a depot. 1 company of Engineers. We have set forth the composition of the French Household T roo p s th us i n detail, because it affords a remarkable ill us t rat i on of the principle of organi sation upon w hi c h t h e entire service of our Allies is based. Our readers will observe that there is not a single component part of the Grand Army which is not represented in this picked and privi leged corps. The Garde Imperial() is, in fact, in itself an army in miniature, exhibiting all the qua lifications for movement and administration pos sessed by the great machine of which it is an epi tome. And what arc the conditions of admission to this splendid adjunct of Imperial Sovereignty ? Of what is it composed ? Young gentlemen of family, who take service as an occupation rather than as a profession, and who prefer the Guards because a commission in them enables them to live in London society, to frequent Tattersall's and to attend regularly at Epsom and Ascot, or the eons of wealthy manufacturers or tradesman, who put their money in it as an investment, yielding a moderate interest iu money, and a large one in • social advancement ? Neither. A French offieer cannot enter the Imperial Guard unless he can give satisfactory proof, not only of his professional com petency, but also of his conduct and character in all respects ; nor is lie qualified even then, unless he either has served two years in a corresponding rank in the Line, or has been distinguished by some special brilliant service. A s regar d s Priv o ate aL the Imperial Guard i s r e cru it e d b y men who in the last year of their service in the Line, and have besides a general high character, an excep tion being made, however, in favour of th ose deco rated with the Legion of onour, or the military medal, who are eligible at any period of service. We should like much, we confess to see corps of Royal Gua r d s constituted somew hat upon u these admirable a n d comprehensible p ri n ciples. At present the officers of our Guards have no other claim to the privileges which make they the object of envy to the Line than that they bought them with their money. The Ensigns of the Guards that fought at Waterloo were accorded the privi lege of jumping over the grade of Lieutenant for distinguished service on that memorable day, and the privilege has been handed down by sale and purchase ever since. A very good tenure, and one which constitutes, we suppose, that very trouble some and c ostly stumbling-block to all reform, a vested interest ; but we tiast, for the credit and internal peace of the army, as well as for the sake of the position before the public of the corps itself, that we wh u e a li rd b s ° w th ill th a e tt ° ai ffi n . o s f e t e he th e time ßoyal G an d holdaed privates shall yet the privileges of their O r d er b y a title of a higher nature than any of those which they assert at present. BANKERS' CHEQUES.—Last evening a lecture on this subject, to which a recent decision of the Court of Queen's Bench has give n cons i derable interest, WAS dell. vered at King's College, by Professor Leone Levi. We art compelled to reserve till Monday our report of the lecture, as well as a more extended notice of the air. cumetances under which it was deliTered. I U '0 U U) 5 5 20 10 20 5 0 18 204 in t) 10 rs 20 0 100 100 100 20 10 10 4i 20 50 10 20 FOR_ 87i 8 74 ni I 91f 94i 4 67i I 1011 42 3i 117 i 7 24 I 7i I VI ao 25 12!. 12'4 20 sll all 10) too all all all 1. 0 -: 1 II