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

w 1 4,M1 MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLoca. 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 6.1 d. 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 475,000/. 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 Ciroulation £18,581,360 Decrease 98,980 Bullion -. 11,306,338 Increase 226,760 Rest 3,205,482 Increase 12,454 Public Deposits 4,428,440 Increase Other Deposits Increase Seven-Day and other Bills Decrease 82,713 Government Securities 9,780,376 Decrease 475,000 Other Securities 18,360,761 Increase 219,492 Notes unemployed 6,556,625 Increase 797,440 ' 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. Periere 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 forming the Austrian Railway Society. On the formation of the Madrid Bank of Credit it is probable that M. Isaac Pereira 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. Routes for the account declined 30e., and 250. for money, equivalent to per cent. At Vienna a better state of affairs exists, the 5 per Cents. have risen and the 4i per Cents. I. Bank Shares, Old fell 41, and New Scrip rose lfl. Aus trian Railway Shares advanced 20., and those of the Credit Mobilier are steady at 110. Exchange on London, 10.49 ; on Paris, 1281 ; and on Augs burg, 1111. 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 be 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 an 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 n 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 Allan)? 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. The English Stock Market has continued in active, and Consols have been 88# all day. The New 3 per Cents. have been 89 to 894, the Reduced 8S to 88i. Bank Stock was again marked 205. Exchequer Bills brought 6s. to 3s. discount, being an advance of Is. 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 par Cents. are 83k, being rather flatter, and the New Scrip is heavy at 3} discount. Vene zuela Deferred Bonds are 11i, Grenada Active 19, and Mexican 19,E to 194. Spanish Deferred are 21#, and the Passive 71 to 7i. The following are the nominal prices of foreign stocks: Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6i to 7 ; Mexican, 19i to 19T T ; 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 96 ; Spanish Three per Cents., 40k to 40i ; ditto Deferred, 211 to 21i ; ditto Certificates, 4i to 3 ; ditto Passive, 71 to 7i. 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 Lines are about the same as previously. In other descriptions of Shares the dealings have Presented no feature of interest. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE 0 CLOCK ( Prom the ()Pal List. ; nnsineA done. Bank Stock „ ............................... - ••• " 31par cent. Reduced Annuities ...... .. BB i New 3 per Cont. Annuities ..... B9i 1 9 rion.ols :or Account Si Etehequer Bills, 24d. QlOOO . fhnnll ... 7 3 . Ditto Bonds, 11 4 58, 34 par Cent 974 1859 ~ 11 PRIM OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOt K Grenada New Active, 14 per Cent. litexican 3 per Cent. Ditto Account SplT,ll4. P.01.4(19, 3 per Cent ... .......... ...... Ditto Account ...................... ... ........ Ditto Pow Deferred, 3 per Cent. DittoAocount Ditto Passive Turkish Bonds, 6 per cent — Ditto for the Account ............... Ditto New Scrip, 4 per Cont. Ditto Account Venezuela Bonds, 41 per Cent — Ditto Deferred, 14 per Cent......... uividends on the above payable in London. TWO O'CLOCK. Console BBi THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EV EN INO DECEMBER 22 55. V tr . Os ' Attp` 4 4 SUN OFFICE, Six o'clock. with the City of London, from the re•buildiag 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 ho promised them faith fully that he would devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office, Mr. T. HAWES' (a former chairman of the Metropoli tan Commissioners of Sewers) name was next placed be fore the meeting, and a letterifrom the candidate, stating his qualifications for the office, was read by the h on secretary. Mr. MORELANB, his seconder, having introduced him to the meeting in a few words, Mr. HAWES as briefly addres.ed the meeting, pledging himself efficiently to discharge the duties of the office. Mr. Hum . advocated the claims of Mr. Jobb, Ckair man of the Metropolitan Commission of Sowers, to his appointment to the office of Chairman of the Metro politan Board of Works. That gentleman must "•e better acquainted with — the various schemes and plans that bad been brought forward relative to the carry ing out of works such as would devolve on them than those gentlemen who bad been proposed for the office unconnected with that Commission. Mr. PASCAL also advocated Mr. Jebb'a claims to the appointment. Mr. JEBB, in addressing the meeting, begged to dis abuse the minds of the board from certain statements that ha I been made relative to who he was. Ile was a distant relation of Colonel Jebb not his son. He 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 bis 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. He thought it presumption on the part of any person not a civil engineer to put himself forward as the bead of any particular party relative to the superiority of any one system of sewerage and drainage over the others. The Hon. SECRETARY said that by mistake the name of Mr. Arthur Rose bad been omitted from the list. Mr. FEW moved, and Mr. DREW seconded, the nomi nation of that gentleman. Mr. CHALMERS, the seconder of the Hon. J. Percy, M.P., urged his claims as a gentleman of ability, energy, and integrity. That gentleman was absent, not knowing the 'carious candidates were expected to be present to state their opinions to the board. Major LYON, in proposing Mr. Roebuck, raid they wanted the best man they could find to fill the °See of chairman, no matter who he was or where he came from—a gentleman possessed of integrity, honesty, tact, and time to bring to the discharge of the important duties of that office. At the former meeting of the board it was c.nisidered by many that it would be a disgrace to the members of the board to go out of the board to find a chairman. He thought they had since seen that that was a mistake, and it would be an error, then, attempting to take a gentleman from themselves. It was, therefore, from no want of respect to them that ho and others sug gested taking Mr. Percy, Mr. Roebuck, or Mr. Baring. The latter gentleman had declined the office. He thought it was objectionable, then, taking a member of Parliament for either of the metropolitan boroughs, or a gentleman con eected with the Government. He thought this first objection did not affect Mr. Roebuck, and with regard to the lat ter, he (Major Lyon) believed him to be less influenced by a Government than any other they could select. (Hear.) It had been said, "Take care in doing a kind ness to Mr. Roebuck you do not inflict a cruelty on him ;" but he was happy to say that that gentlemaa had in formed him he never felt better in his life than he did then. He believed Mr. Roebuck to be a gentleman of business habits, and capable of presiding over any public body. Mr. ROEBUCK said, that ho had not solicited this office, but had been asked to come forward, and had done so with ratber bad feelings on his mind. Hitherto when ho bad had to appeal to the suffrages of the people, no man had been able to say that he had had any other personal consideration in that appeal than an honest ambition to fill the office of a representative, and which should only distinguish every gentleman who aspired for such an honour. (Hear.) He had served the country for 23 years without pay or reward, and he certainly had felt a little hesitation at accepting that office from the pain it had given him of pay being attached to it, having hoped that his life would have been passed without the slightest possibility of any imputation being made on him of being influenced by place. (Hear.) Still, how ever, he thought circumstances justified his makiag that appeal to them that day to fill the office of their chairman, because that board was a great experi ment at self-legislation. Hitherto the elective body had been confined to the legislation for the country, but here they had an executive one, and it had been always said by the enemies of the people that they were unable to govern themselves in an executive man ner. (Hear.) He believed there were many diffi culties presented themselves to them in doing so, and it seemed to him that a man who had given up the whole of his time to the business of Government was a man eminently qualified to take the load as their chairman in propounding a scheme of self government in execu tive affairs. It might be said that he had not that ca pacity for business that their chairman ought to pos sess, but it appeared to him that his education that of a lawyer and a legislator give him that qualification. Their duties would be to do certain things, but before that to weigh and understand evidence that would be brought before them, and the man who had been trained during the whole of his life to the investigation of evi dence was the man for that purpose. (Hear.) The hon. and learned gentleman then referred to the many thorny investigations he had conducted to show his business habits, especially that relative to the corrupt cainpro mises made at elections (which he conducted withor.t a division in the committee), and that of the committee on the army before Sebastopol, in the course of which the committee only divided twice. (Hear.) After alluding to some other matters, and that his health permitted his undertaking the duties of the office he said he would cheerfully devote his time to them if they elected him, but not at the expense of his seat as a representative of the people. It he were called on to give up one, he would resign all pretensions to fill their chair. (Cheers.) The various gentlemen who proposed and seconded the remaining gentlemen addressed the meeting in sup. port of their claims, after which these gentlemen ex pressed their views on the duties of the office, and the manner in which they should be carried out. Mr. TIMAITES remarked that, if elected, he would make arrangements to devote hie whole time to the duties. Some difference of feeling existing whether the board should at once proceed to the election or adjourn to Wednesday, a resolution was proposed for the immediate election. The board divided, when the numbers were—For the resolution, 21 ; against it, 6. The thard then proceeded with the election, after various absurd propositions bad been put to the meeting as to the best course to pursue to reduce the number of candidates to two. Ultimately the names were put singly. Each of the candidates whose name was put to the vote denied being connected with the Metropolitan Sewage Company. The numbers wore then taken and declared to be— For Mr. Carden 0 For Mr. Corrie l2 For Mr. Deputy Harrison For Mr. Hawes. For Mr. Jebb. l4 For Hon. J. Percy — 4 For Mr. Roebuck l7 For Mr. Rose For Mr. Thwaites 26 For Mr. Turner The names reduced by the persons lowest on the poll were put to the meeting until the list had been reduced to two, na mely Mr. Deputy Harrison and Mr.Thwaites. The numbers were, for M r . Deputy Harrison l3 Mr. Thwaites 26 The question was again put : For Mr. Thwaites Against him s h ow i n g a majority of the votes present in accordance with the act in favour of that gentleman, when the chair man declared him duly elected, and congratulated them on the choice they had made. Mr. Tuivsn'Es thanked the Board for the honour con ferred on him, promising them he would do his utmost to discharge the duties of the office. The meeting shortly after separated, arrangements having previously been made for the next meeting of the Board on the let of January. MONEY ORDERS FOR THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA. GENERAL POET OFFICE, Dec., 1855. The Postmaster General having authorised the officers of the British Army Post-office stationed at Constantinople, Scutari Hospital, Head Quarters of the British army (Crimea), and Balakava, to draw Money Orders on the several post-offices in the United Ki n gdom at which Money Orders are paid, postmasters are instructed to pay all such orders whenever the neees sary advice, made out in conjormity with the standing regulations, and on the usual printed form, has reached their hands. This regulation is confined to the issue of Money Or ders, and consequently, no Orders must be drawn upon the offices above-mentioned. ROWLAND HILL, Secretary. THE GRAND DUKI' NICHULAS OF BUSS7A. A. letter from St. Petersburg, of the 11th says _:7— " I have already sent you an account of the betrothal of the Grand Duke Nicholas. He was born on the 8:h 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 compsratively small fortune of Prince Peter, and the number of children be 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 spe 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 i n th e case o f th e G ran d Duke Nicholas, and this has given credit to the report which Las been current for some time, that his Imperial Highness will soon be 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 Qeeen Dowager of fthe 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 bet veen 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 ; ho 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 s mongers, who announce that the Crown of Poland wid be given to the Grand Duke Constantine ; the Emperor knows him too well, and the excesses to which the vio 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 'll o'clock, as the men were employed in searching the reins 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 her:child, about six years old. They also found the body of a newly-born iefant, 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 hou , e•, it looks somewhat remarkable that the poor creature was unable to effect her own escape, 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 Firo 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. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) RAILWAYS. iitAILWA TI. .I.tkb t . - 4 Wc !.g Po. r dune:. lelfaqt Wolvorh Stour Vall‘l , sirk o _a) d. Lancoh. & Cheshire Junct )o. Cheih. & Birk. £5O and £25 C,.nc Do., alyth & Tyne origina'l £25 (bled. at .£4;:l Bristol and Eiretor 1 Caledonian Cann. and Cat digau Cheater di Holylica , i Cork and Bandon... Cork, Black, & Pas Cornwall Do. A Do. B Duolin&Belfast,Junc Dun. P. & Ah Jne Do. Now East Anglian Eastern Counties.. fTnion, A BO B, Stout► Do., New A East Kent Esst L.9.nes.shire Edinburgh & Glasgeu Edinb. and Peebles Ellin. Frth t&Dund , e Forth & Clyde Jun:. Furness . Do. Extension Glaszow&S. West- Great N. of Seotind. Great Northern Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.(lre Great Western Do. Stour Val. 11.101 1 Gua. Stk Irish South-Elul:or , Iclncs.ster & Cavil Feel I Do., Thirds.. .... . Do. New Thirds__ Lancash.andYorkFil Da., Wet.RidingiTh ILiv.Crsby.&Southi t London & Blackw , l Lonti. Bright S,Cs . ILond. and N. WeAn. .Do. Fifths ...... D0.101.3h. „hiT&B ..0 De. Eighths . 1,011(1o% and S. Westn Do., 454. Do., £4O Lndndrry& Colerdl Lndndrr-.& Elm:0 Mancli.S . nef.k Linen. Do. Shares, No. Do., Mart. k. Lin. Tin Metropolitan Midland Do. Birnang. &Doe; Midld. G. West. Ors Do. Half Shares Newcastle & Nwpt.Alierg. &Flrf Newry & nniskillr Newry Warrenpoin. and Itostrevor....., Norfolk Northn.Cowitios North British ,,,_.,,,. North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 _ _ A Deferre Do., B Guarani N, Eastern—Berwi , Do. do. Extension „ G.N.B. ?ureh Do. Leeds Do. York North London N.S l S.Wstrn.,flaint stead, anti City Ju.. North Staffertishir North Western....... N. & S. West ru. June Nuneaton, Hinckley and Leicester.. Oa, Wore., & Wolv. eurtgraouth Central SeottiehMidland 4}lrOpElliiio UD OD Routh Devon South Eastern South Writs Yrksh. fs Air. Du, Do. - 4taines,Wok. &Wok toekton & Darli Stu ton d< Hnrtlept Taff Vale . Do. Pref.. No. 1 P , pnaes Thy. P.& R Ulverstone & Lance Vale oi Neath Watertl. & Kilkunn!‘ Waterford&Limoncir West Cornwall.. West End of London and Crystal Palau,- Do. A Do. B West London Wirabledn & Croydon ~ twerk } a tt , r 4 P.m Do. 5 p.a. 013lgs. eon. in Sh. at par till ' 4 Ardennes selg ,pia a tn. Jun, 3osiorstooDraws:sea Bombay, Baroda, att ' Do. Demerara Dutch Rhenish Eastern of France Do. New ,Bast Tnrlian, g. 5 p c Do. Ert,enslon.„ Do. tlo. do., '59, do.. Gd. Tk of Canada A iN Do. St. Lawrence k Atlantic do. . ..... Do. Cert. of Deben. con. into Stk. till '63 Do. Comp. 6 p. c., do Gt. Central of Fran Gt Indian Peninntlr guar. 5 per cent... Do. New 5 per cent EXtenSio llB .. Great Luxembourr. , Constituted Shan* Do. Obligations Gt. Western of Cannd Clin.rps Do. New...... Do. Bak, payablo's7, l with option till '55 Do. do., '62, p. '56 Do. do., '76, p. '6O D. do., '73, without option Hamilton & Toronto I Do. 6 por cent. & Bash, Lierre and Turnhout 'Lyons and Geneva Lyons & Moditerran Nfaolras Do, New Maria Antonia Do. do. New Namur Liege Nit} interest) Do. (ex interost) Northern of France. Do .20 /. She Do. 20 7 . 3 p. (fmy.B.&Ams.Shs. NorwegianTrimkPre Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds .. Paris and Orleans.... Paris and Bolton ParisCaen&Cherbrg. Do Rome and f'rasoatt Ronan and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swell ish Do. Obligations ~ !Sambre and Meuse, 54 . p. cent. Prel ScindO - Do Southern of France St. Andrew's and Quebec (A). West Flanders Do 64 per c. Prof Western of France Do Zealand O •• JOINT-S' Bank of London Col. Bk.StLn. C. British N. American Cbartd. Bank of Asia Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australis., dt Chini; City Colonial BANKS , 90 $1 57 - 50 ii = w'd - 65 e• -- •.. 166 17 15 3 / 4 166 36 26 d Commercial of Lond. Eng.geot.. l / 4 Amt. Cht Lond. Chart. Bk. o! Australia Ditto New 11-radon and County Lna.&E. Bnkg. Corp London Joint Stock Loud. Westminster National Pro.of Eng Do. New National of Ireland. New F,outh Oriental Bank of Corporation. Prc.vincial of Ireland Do. New Royal Anstraln.Bk.g Onlri Imp Co Royal British south Australia Union of Awitralta 73 75 Do. New 00 00000 8 9 , Uaivn o Loadoa ° 80 a a I par 2p •.. -- ~.. ••• • ii - 4i $8 - 39 53 - 54 - - .. ... "°. sr FOlostnß Mims yesteralq. 22 23 3/1 3 7i - 8 16 - 15 l 3 14 9 • 79 - 81 55 - 55; 11 - 12 $i - 4i - 74 11 - 12 8i 8i 27 -- 29 17 - 19 Fg - 70 50 -51 i 9t - 91 16i -17 i 80 - 85 - 7 88 - 89 74 - 70 120 122 102 W 4 52 53 70 - 751 6 ._ 7 ! 6 7 77 - 77 .•• sp 94 90 98f 941 14 lo ti 85 - 86 8- 7 1 6i 5i is 36 63i - - 64 4 38 •c• "." 41 - 43 if; l 294 67 - 68 8e - 5 4i - 12 44* 451 92 97 4i - 22 - 24 100 102 72 74 42 . 1 4 11 2 57 88 31i - 31; fi 3d 2d pa) 34 - 3G • •• '..... .... "". • • • 4 - 6 ;TfN. 74 - 8 3 - 2i.1 3 - 244-i 1 id 341 351 9 10 p 21 214 9; - 8f 16 - 17 62 67 82 - 87 3 - 3 5i Si par -- ip 2f - 3tt 24 - 2 4 f 2 -24 P 98 - 100 115 - 111 118 - 120 104 106 23 -- 24 112 - 117 8 - 9 p, 181 - 14 P 2 - 3 4 41 35; - 35 12 - - 6 - 7 45 - 45 6 - iti ... - PM i • - 194 2 - 21 21 - 2 g - 8 i.... i p ••• - Pm .36 - 4 ••• - i 2 - 9 . 6 -- 30 Ist—i •l Rastas.* dm a rile day. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Dec. 18.—The Kalisch correspondent of the Gest. Zeitung writes that the Russians do not attribute any very great importance to the fall of Kars. Riza Bey, the new Turkish Minister at Athens, has arrived here from Paris. Count Gyulai, the military adlatus to Marshal Radetzky, has left this city for Milan. In the secret consis tory held yesterday at Rome the Archbishop of Vienna has been proclaimed Cardinal. Dr. Oppolzer has written to one of his colleagues that he is not without hopes of saving Paskiewitch's life. What he understands by a " perforirendes " ulcer is a sore that destroys soma of the coats of the stomach, but which an effort of nature, assisted by art, may heal. The premium on the shares of the Credit Bank, which are not to be distributed before the middle of January, has gradually fallen from 20 per cent. to 12 per cont. ; but this will appear very natural when it is considered that 10 per cent. on the enor mous sum of 647,000,00011. is now lying as a deposit in the National Bank. Yesterday evening the com pany ceded shares to the amount of 1,000,00011. to five Frankfort firms—Bethmaun, P. N. Schmidt, Goll and Son, B. H. Goldschmidt, and Konigs warter. The premium paid is said to have been a high one. Twenty-one of the first Berlin firms have also taken shares for 3,000,000f1. at a consi derable premium. The Credit Bank is a perfect nuisance to non-speculators, as nothing else has been talked of for the last fortnight. That knotty point, the one-share question, is not yet settled. METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS. (This D ay. ) The adjourned meeting of the members of this board for the election of a chairman took place today at Bur lington•house. Mr. Nicholay, chairman pro term., 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 Burlington•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. CEIAS. FEW rose, and was proceeding to make some remarks relative to the proceedings of the last meeting respecting the salary to bo 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. SHELLEY celled 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. He therefore preferred retaining his 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 he possessed the required qualification for the office. Sir J. SHELLEY said he had not canvassed for a single vote. If he had 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• poi n tme nt. Sir J. SHELLEY said he still withdrew his name. The Hon. SECRETARY then read the following list of gentlemen who had forwarded their names as candidates for the office of Chairman :—Messrs. Balker, 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. Symonds, 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. 13 )oth, G. H. Buckston, Sir C. C. D'Crespeigny, Neale, and Symonds. Sir J. SHELLEY moved, and Mr. CrlALasEns seconded, Mr. G. F. Carden. Sir J. SHELLEY moved, and Major LYON seconded, Mr. Corrie. Mr. HALL moved, and Sir J. SHELLEY seconded, Mr. Deputy Harrison. Sir J. SHELLEY proposed, and Mr. MORLAND seconded Mr. T. Haweß. Mr. HUNT proposed, and Mr. PASCAL seconded, Mr. Jebb. Mr. HOWSE moved, and Mr. SNOW Saconded, Mr. Offer, who, however, withdrew with the consent 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. DIFFANGER moved,and Mr. COLLINSON seconded, Mr. Thwaiteg. Captain BURSLEM moved, and Mr. CORRIE seconded, Mr. Turner. Mr. FEW was then called on, and said it appeared to him that the feeling of the last meeting was worthy 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 nion that it is expedient that the provisions in the Aot (1$ 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 position as chairman in the event of Parliament repealing the provision in question. (Cries of " Oh, ob.") The CHAIRMAN ruled that the resolution could not then be entertained. The chairman must be firbt elected before they could proceed with other business. The Hon. SECRETARY then read the application of Mr. Carden, and called upon the mover and seconder of that gentleman to address the meeting in favour of his claims, but those 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. ConnlE asked the support of the board on the grounds of his being a professional gentleman, be cause points would daily arise requiring the gen tleman who 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 present position as a magistrate and his abilities to fill that office were 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. Hs valued the position the office would confer on the holder more than the salary. Mr. H. L. TAILOR asked Mr. Corrie if he were elected whether he would resign his present office as police ma. gistrate l Mr. CORRIE—Yea. Mr. HALL urged Mr. Deputy Harrison's claims to the office as being a useful man. That gentleman had been for years connected with public boards and had had ex perience as a member of that board, who had carried out considerable improvements in the City of London. He was also one of the Commissioners of Sewers for the City. He was a ma❑ of strong common sense and emi nently qualified for the office. Sir J. SHELLEY the seconder was called on to address the meeting in hie favour, but declined, stating he only seconded Mr. Deputy Harrison as a matter of form. Mr. Deputy Etuniesorr said he looked upon his no mination to that nflice as a desire on the part of those gentlemen to pay a compliment to the City of London. Ho detailed his experienoo on publio works connected COWES, ISLE OF IVIGHT.—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 Elan, intending to proceed to Portsmouth ; but it blew so bard that before the yachts got half-way across the Solent they were almost under water, and obliged to bear up and run for Southampton. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.—CoIoneI White has taken the Pavilion ; R. Lambeit Turner, E,q., Harriet Lodge ; the Rev. Mr. Valentine, Busigney House ; the Rev. Mr. Knight, Adelaide Villa. DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—Five ricks (one of wheat, three of hay, and one of straw) were destroyed by fire yester day at Standen Farm, near Newport. A steam thra.h 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 GARDEN. Owing to the severity of the weather, the supplies of vegetables were limited. Fruit sold on higher terms. FRUIT.—Pine apples, English, 4s to Ss per lb; colonial do., Os to Os each ; hot-house grapes, -is Od to 9s Od per lb ; foreign ditto,• Od to Os ; melons, is 0,1 to 2s 6d each; peaches, 2s Od to 6s ; uectarinos, is Gd to 4s per dozen ; apples, 14 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, is lid to 530,1 per doz.; common plums, Os 0.1 to Os Od per sieve ; cherries, Od to Od per poand ; lemons, Gd to is Od per doz ; oranges, 5s to 128 per 100; fil berts, 9s to Os per doz. lbs ; cobnuts, Ils to Os ; almonds, Os to Os per lb. ; walnuts, 3d to 10,1 per 100; figs, Os 9LI to is Gaper doz ; strawberries, Oil to 0,1 per pottle ; goose berries, Os at to Os Od per half sieve; currants, Os Od to Os Oil per half sieve ; raspberries, Od to Od per pottle. VEGETABLED.—Greens, Is Gd to 3e 0,1 per doz. bunches; Savoy cabbages, 10,1 to is 6,1 per dozen ; rod ditto, 3s to 580 d per do. ; broeoli, is to 280 d por bundle ; potatoes, 60s to 115 s per ton ; vegetable marrow, Od to Os per doz. ; peas, 38 to 5s 0,1 por bushel ; broad beans, 18 Od to is 9d per halt sieve ; turnips, 3d to 50 por bunch ; carrots, 5d to N per bunch ; cucumbers, 28 Oil to 38 0,1 each ; garlic, 6,1 Lo Os 81 por pcun , l ; spinach, 28 6d to 4s 0,1 per sieve ; old onions, 2s to 48 per bushel ; new ditto, Os 0,1 to Os per doz. bunches; leeks, Id to 2,1 per bunch ; shallots, 6d to 81 : horse-reddish, 2s 0,l to 4801 per bundle ; parsley, 4,1 to 50 per bunch ; celery, Os 90 to is 3d per bunch ; endive, Is 3d to 2s 30 per score ; beet, is 00 to 2s per doz. ; parsnips, Os Gd to 18 00 per dozen ; small salad, 2,1 to 3d per punnet ; mushrooms, 2s Od to 28 6,1 per pottlo; artichokes, 18 to is lid per half sieve; cabbage lettuces, 90 to is 0,1 per score ; sorrel, Gd to is per half sieve ; radishes, is to is 3d per dozen hands ; tomatool, 3s to 48 per half sieve ; chillies, is to is Gd per 100; Brussels sprouts, Os Od to Os per half sieve ; capsicums, is Od to 2s per 100 ; walnuts pickling, 6d to is per 100 ; cauliflowers, 48 to 7s Oil per doz. NEWGATE AND LEIDENHALL. Turkeys, 6s 01 to 30s Od ; Gocso, 5s 0(1 to 5s 10d each ; Ducks, 2s 3d to 3s 3d ; wild ditto, is 9d to 2s 31; rabbits, 10(1 to is 60. each ; Pigeons, 7d to 10d each ; large Surrey Fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; middling, 2s 01 to 3s (3(.1 ; Chickens, 1s Gd to 3s Od ; Capons, 4s Od to 83 3d ; Hares 2s 6(1 to 3s 6(1. ; Grouse, is 9d to 2s Od each ; Pheasants, 3s Gd to 4s Od ; partridges, is Gd to 2s Od each ; Guinea Fowls, 2s 61 to 3s 0(1 each. Ostend fresh butter, lls Gd to 13s Od, and English lls Gd to 16s Od per dozer Ihs. English Eggs, lls Od. to 13s Od; French ditto, 9s GI to lOs 63 per 120. NEWPORT. Beef from 35 4d to 43 8d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 6d ; yell 43 Od to 5s 0(1 ; pork, 3s 8:1 to 53 ud per Blbs. WHITECHAPEL. Thief, from 3s 4d to 4s Gil ;mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 6,1; veal, 4s Od to 48 10d ; pork, 3s 6d. to 5s Od per 81ba by the 03XCaSt). BILLINGSGATE. Turbots, 65 0;1 to 205 ; Brills, I s 01 to Fs each ; Salmon, 3s Od to 3. 6(1 per lb ; Cod Fish, 3s 0(1 to 12. each ; Solos, 4d to 3s'Od per pair; Eels, 8(1 to is per lb; Lobsters, Is 01 to 3s Od ; Crabs, 6d to 2s Od ; Whitings, 3s Od to 12s per doz. ; Common Oysters, 169 to 20s ' • Natives, 60s to 64s per bsh ; Mackerel, 60s to Os per 100 ; Smelts, is Od to 3s Od per doz.; Skate, 6(1 to Od per lb; Shrimps, 15 6d to 2s Gd per gallon; Bloaters, 1s Od to is 6d per doz. ; Fresh Herrings, 5s Oil to Os per 100. ; Scotch do., Gd; Sprats, 38 Od to Os 0(1 per bushel ; Doreys, 250 d to 10. each ; Haddocks, 5s to 15s per doz. ; Piko 6d ; Sturgeon, Gd per lb ; Prawns, 4s Od to Os; Mullets, tkl to is Gd ; Plaice, 4(1 to Is each ; Halibut, Gil per 115 ; Fleundors, 15 Gd to Os per dozen. BREAD The prices of wheaten broad in tho metropolis are from lld to 116 d ; of household ditto, 9d to 1011 per 4lb loaf. HIDES AND SKINS. Market hides, 5611:t064113, aid to Od ; 641 b to 72n, 3id to 4d ; 721 b to 801 b, 4d to 4kd ; 801 b to 881 b, 44d to 44d ; 881 b to 961 b, 44d to 5d ; 961 b to 1011 b, 5d to sid ; 104 to 1121 b '4l to Sid ; upwards, 54d to 50 ; Horse hides, Gs Od to Os Od ; calf skins, light, 2s 0(1 to 3s Od ; ditto, full, 7s Od to Os Od ; Polled Sheep, hs Od to 7s 6d ; gents, 5s Od to Gs Od ; Half-breds, 5s Od to Gs Oil ; Downs, 3s 93 to 4s 9d ; Lambs, Os Od to Os Od ; Shearlings, Os Od to Os Od. HAY MARKETS. tiMITRFIELD.—Meadow hay, 4' 5s to 6/ 03 ; clover ditto, 4/ 15s to 71 Os ; and straw, V 53 Od to 11 103 Od per lc:Ad A limited supply, and a steady trade. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 41 8s to 616 s : clov3t do., 4' 15s to 61 183 ; and straw, 11 Gs to 11 lls per load. Trade steady, at very full prices. WIITTFOFIAPZL.—Meadow hay, 41 53 to 6' 63; clover .10., 4/ 15s to 71 Os ; and straw. 11 5s to 1/ 103 per lo a d, Supply tolerably good and trade firm. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) Lotinow, Dea. 22.—Wind this day at noon, S. W., light, with fine frosty weatiter. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Saturday Morning. Arrived.—Wonder ), from Jersey ; Atalanta Havre. . - - (8.), for Havre ; Despatch and South- Western. (s.), Jersey. LIVERPOOL, Saturday Morning. Wind S.S.E. Arrived.—Elizabeth Bulkeley, from Charleston. Oft —Radnagore, from Calcutta ; Norval, Phlifax Mona, Newfoundland ; Jessamine, Si. Michael's ; Anne Baker, Alexandria ; Hoe, Charente ; Maria, Q UEE NSTOWN, Dec. 20 . Wind S.S.E. Havre. Arrived—Emerald, from New York; Englishman, Oporto ; William and Anne, Malta ; Sagittari us, Galt poli ; United, Coquimbo. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPU.) GRAVESEND, Saturday, 9.50 a.m. Wind W.N.W. • tide half flood ; fine and frosty. Arrived, Dec. 21—Mary but 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. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. EASTERN COUNTIES. The chairman of this company has just issued his reply to the report of the committee of investigation, lie complains of the conduct of the committee in► refusing to give him a fortnight to reply to their chargei, and com mences by adverting to the policy and state of the Eastern 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 will not fail to bear 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 sharehelders, have to regret that the traffic receipts exhibit a decrease, as compared with the six months ending the 4th of July, 1850, of 33,5241. 108 7d.. on the Eastern Counties line ; and on the Norfolk line of 259/. 4s. 61, their total receipts being 366,921/. 17s. 4d., as contrasted with 400,7051. 12s. sd. for the corresponding half of 1850.' "2. As to the working expenses. The working expenses per train mile were, for the first half-year of 1851, no less than 44.61541. The locomotive power per train mile was 16.4054,1. These items for the first half-year of 1855 were reduced respectively to 28.7572 d. and 11.1533 d. "3. Your dividends were nil. The accounts for the h alf-year left you a profit, after payment of your expenses, of only 5,624/, Os. 4d. Your profits in 1835 were, as we shall 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 5,000/. For the first half-year of 1855 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 were retaliating at Peterborough. On our north, the East Anglian line, 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 wore 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 passen 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,(subject to the competition of thelpswich steamers), and its line to Cambridge and thence to Peterborough, at which points it was fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the Great 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 entire north of Norfolk. The East Anglian had had powers to make a line 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 our lines. Nor was this the whole extent of the danger. In 1851 we had a w 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 Hitohin to Royston with the obvious view of ' tapping' the Eastern (3eunties 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 Great 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 Shepreth to some point of the Cambridge and Newmarket line which had received overtures from them, if that junction had been made, a short line from near Newmarket to Thetford must have fol lowed, and you would have had a direct line from London to Norwich, Norfolk, and great part of Suffolk, via the Great Northern Railway. These were the difficulties and perils of your position when I became your chairman. My first efforts wero directed to the accomplishment of some arrangement which should change the position of the Eastern Counties line with regard to Per neighbours. It seemed to me that by embracing all the minor competing lines we should fortify our own position against our great 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. I 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 Eastern Counties gnaran teed the East Anglian shareholders a minimum 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 rate of the Eastern Counties. I next turned to the Great North ern, and early in 1852 I completed an arrangement with that company, whereby competition ceased, and an imme diate increase of tolls wag effected. A territory for each company was defined. The Eastern Counties undertook for 11 years the responsibility of the Hitchin and Royston lino, paying 16,8001. n-year for the usa of it, but obtaining all its revenue. Thus the Eastern Counties were protected at Cambridge, one of the most important points of their system ; and the Groat Northern conceded to them 20 per cent. on traffic received at Peterborough through the Eastern:Couuties, and passed over the Great Northern line. By those arrangements the Eastern Counties was saved upon the ncrth and west. On our east, at a somewhat later period, I was able to open a negotiation with the Norfolk and Eastern Counties, for a permanent agreement. That negotiation resulted in au arrangement whereby the Eastern Counties took these lines, on a lease of 939 years, upon the principle of purchasing the stock of the Eastern Union, working the whole system, and di-. siding the profits. The working expenses at the time were 41 per cent. on the receipts. Uudor the agreement the Eastern Counties take 46 per cent. of the gross receipts to cover the working expenses, and the bilance, 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. Thu 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 nor 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., 1853, show that sum as the percentage, but that was not 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 wore 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 one harmonious whole." Looking at the operation financially he states that the I gross receipts of the Eastern Counties and Norfolk were, for the half-year ending the 30th of June, 1851, 306,921/ ; the working expenses, 203,3581.; and the interest on guar antees and loans, 152,939/ ' • leaving a bal ance o f 5 , 6241 . 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 aad 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. fer the receipts of Cambridge and Bury lines, 23,0151. f or th e receipts of the East An glian, and 81.4791. for proportion of the Eastern Union, together 119,7311.; leaving 471,6241. as the gross receipts of the Eastern Counties Company and Norfolk alone. The gross expenses of the amalgamated companies amounted to 311,7191., from which 50,291/. is deducted f or the ex p enses of the oth er li nes, leaving the gross working expenses of the Eastern Counties and Norfolk 261,428/. Thus they had obtained in 4 years an increase of 105,000 1 . on the half yearly revenue, at a cost of 53,0001. additional expenses. These additional expenses included theinterestonalltheir purchases—viz the interest on the Newmarket and Bury, purchased on the Harwich lease, and on the unproductive works. " As regards dividends, what have been the results ? In the first half-year of 1851, as I have already shown you, the balance to be divided between the Eastern Counties and the Norfolk was 5,6241 . Os. 4d., and you had, conse quently, no dividend. On the last half-year the balance in favour on your revenue account was 55,731/. 15s. 6(1 your ~ exclusively your own; or a tenfold increase iu four years. " 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 lOW. during the past half - year , it would be 3,0001., With regard to Lowestoft harbour be states that the traffic between London and Lowestoft has increased from 4,346/. in 1850 to 16,233/. in 1854, or 11,8871., while that between London and Yarmouth had increased from 16,8261. in 1850, to 33,4801. in 1854, showing an 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 fo r th e 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 Suffolk lines, and contends that the committee were the cause of inducing the landowners to extend the line from Fladdiscoe 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 o f the Eastern Counties lin e that p ays so well, and that the receipts from the Woolwich -gardens brought to the co m p any 3 , 0001 . i n the course of four months ; and as to the 1,500/. expended on the dancing saloon in the gardens, he thought it would have 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 56,0001., stating the cost was exceedingly low, and that no one can foresee how much the land will increase in value for manufactnr 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. tween Ipswich and London. An explanation is also given of the Harwich steam-boats 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 ceive a farther notice. all all All Ali 8 i i i 17i 64i 3k 30 i ti 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 columns of our own journal, and those of our contemporaries, is now placed in ex tenso in the hands of the public, have carefully re stricted the case for which they demand considera tion to the effect which they anticipate will be pro duced upon their prospective career 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 C rown 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 forth, 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 'sso. 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 now activity questions which bad been shelved connected with the relative positions of themselves and the Line. We are not among those who consider the existence of privileged regi ments objectionable. On the contrary, we entertain a strong opinion that some such corps as the Household Troops is au indispensable adjunct to Sovereignty, and a necessary part o f th e s pl en d our 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 1,2001. and 4881. annually, while officers of corresponding rank in the Line only receive 600/. 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 cairving commission in consideration either of the w eal h and social position, or of the political inte rest, of their 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. Is 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 awl personal appearance. Now, all this does not at allaccord with our view of the mode in which it is proper or desirable to. constitute and maintain a corps of Royal Guards ; land 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, and 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 con nexion, 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 see 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, am.l enjoying peculiar and separate privileges. The first in place and in rank is the squadron of the Cent-Gardes a 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 tho 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 tal ions. The 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 regiment of Guides, of six squadrons. 1 regiment of Gendarmerie, of two battalions. 1 regiment of Horse Artillery, of five battalions, and a depot. 1 company of Engineers. We have set forth the composition of the French Household Troops thus in detail, because it affords a temarkable illustration of the principle of organi sation upon which the 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 Imperiale is, in fact, in itself an army in miniature, exhibiting all the qua lifications for movement and a dministration pos sessed by the great machine of which it is an epi tome. And what are 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 sons of wealthy manufacturers or tradesmen, who put their money in it as an in vestment, yielding a moderate interest in money, and a large one in social advancement ? Neither. A French officer 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 he 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. As regards privates, the Imperial Guard is recruited by men who ate 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 those deco rated with the Legion of onour, or the military medal, who are eligible at any service. We should like much, period of confess, to see . we cor corps of Royal Guard s constituted soniewhat upon these admirable and comprehensible principles. At present the officers of our Guards have no other claim to the p r i v il eges which make them t h e o bj ec t of envy to th e Li ne than that they bought them with their m oney. The Ens i gns of the Guards over the grade of Lieutenantfor that fou g ht at W aterloo were accor ded the privi lege of j ump i ng distinguished serv i ce on that memorable day , and the privilege has been banded down by sale and purchase ever since. A very good tenure, and one which constitutes, we suppose, that very trouble some an d cos tly stumbling-block to all reform, a vested interest; but we trust, 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 shall yet see the time when both the offi. cars and privates of the Royal Guards will attain and hold the privileges of their Order by 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 given considerable interest, w ee deli vered at King's College, by P rofessor Leone Levi. We ar3 compelled to reserve till Monday our report of the lecture, as well as a more extended notice of the oire oumstanees under which it was &lima! 5 5 20 10 20 ZO 18 )0 16 20 100 100 100 20 20 100 100 3 , 1• R 87i 8 74 52j a 91i 94i 4 55i 5 67# i 1011 42 31 57i 7 241 * 7i i NJ '