The Sun. — London, England, 1855-12-10 00:00:00

NMI MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLocK. The Liverpool Cotton Market on Saturday closed with a hardening appearance, at extreme prices. The sales were 12,000 bales, of which about 8,000 were Americans, 1,000 of which were purchased for export; 200 Egyptian, at 61d. to 81d.; 4,000 Surat, at 30. to 40.; and 30 Sea Islands, at 10d. to 121 d. In the Railway Share Market an im provement took place in prices, but the transac tions were moderate. By the latest commercial intelligence from Aus tria we learn that the traffic on the Hungarian line of railway, from Pesth to the north, has con siderably increased in consequence of the transport of wheat, flour, rye, and other breadstuffs from that province into Northern Germany. So much is this the case that the managers have been obliged to refuse taking the ordinary kinds of merchandise until the traffic in grain subsides. From the Danube the accounts state that most fay/Durable progress has been made in deepening and clearin?: the bar at the Sulina mouth, and, in con sequence, the first portion of about 400 vessels, laden with grain, had taken its departure, and passed over the bar in safety. Before the war the commercial relations between Prussia and Turkey were of a very advantageous character to the former State, but on the commence ment of hostilities it will be remembered that both trading and financial transactions were nearly sus pended. According to information from Berlin we learn that recently the intercourse is being revived, and considerable activity has commenced in the export of Prussian manufactures to the Ottoman Porte. The Continental Bourses at the close of the week continued to maintain the general improve ment caused by the rumours of approaching peace negotiations. At Vienna the Share Market was active, and scrip was sought after at advanced prices. A rise of took place in the 5 per cent. metallics, and in the 43 per Cents. Bank Shares rose 2 florins. Austrian Railway Scrip 1 florin, and National Loan Stock fell 1. Exchange on London stood at 10.48, and on Paris at 128, both slightly re duced. The Paris opened with firmness, at previous quotations, and advanced I per cent. in the Three per Cents for the account. In Railway Shares Eastern Old Scrip rose Bf., New ditto 2f., Mediterranean 5f., Midland 10f., and West of France 2f., while Orleans fell 7f. 50c., and Lyons 2f. 50c. In other stocks no variation occurred. The advices received from New York by the steamer Pacific, mantion that the market for public securities had become very heavy. The specie movement was attracting considerable attention, for although the exportation to England had again been suspended the amount held by the city banks had not much increased. In the last return, how ever, there was an augmentation of 412,322 dollars in this department, but the loans and discounts were also larger by 282,488 dollars. During the week ending Nov. 23 the imports exceeded the exports by 326,206 dollars. In the breadstuffs markets there was also less animation, and a smaller quantity had been forwarded to Europe. The wheat trade is very dull and prices are fully 2s. to 33. per quarter lower. There appears to be a disinclination on the part of the operators at the Stock Exchange to enter largely into fresh transactions at present, as much uncertainty prevails with respect to the probable result of the negociations for peace which are re ported to be in progress. The condition of the money market is also watched with anxiety, and it is not considered unlikely that a pressure may be again experienced when the forthcoming loan in stalments are due. Consols opened at 891- to 89i, but have become flatter since—viz., 89k k for ac count. For special transfer the quotation is 89k. Bank Stock is steady at 210. The New Three per Cents. have ranged from 891 to 891, and the Reduced are 891- to 891. Exchequer Bills are marked 6s. discount, and India Bonds are also 63. discount. For most of the Foreign Securities rather lower prices are current, and the transactions have heen limited. Turkish 6 per Cents. have ruled at 848 to and 841 to 84k. The Now Scrip is flatter, being 3to 21 discount. Spanish 3 per Cents. are 39i and the New Deferred 208. Dutch Bonds are firm at 64. Russian Bonds are at full rates, the 5 per Cents. being 99, and the 41 per Cents. 90. The Committee of Spanish American Bond holders have received advices from their commis sioner, Mr. Giro, in Buenos Ayres, to the Ist of November, in which he informs them that the Financial Minister of that State had included, in the estimate of expenditure presented by him to the Congress, a vote for increasing the remittance now made to the agents in London, on account of the dividends, from 5,000 hard dollars per month to 10,000 hard dollars per month, and that the said vote had passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. Railway Shares are generally weaker, but in some instances, including the Great Western, South-Western, Midland, and North-Eastern and Berwick, Saturday's values have been realised. Paris and Lyons and Sambre and Meuse are with out any particular alteration. Great 'Western of Canada also ruled firm. Mining and Banking Securities are without any change Df importance, but Van Diemen's Land Shares have further receded. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE t... , CLOCK. ( Front the Oft.ciat Ltist. , num ines, non , Bank Stock 3 per cent. Reduced Annuities.. 3 per Cent. Console Annuities Shut 891 New 3 per Cent. Annuities ..... .. . .... Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860... Ditto 30 Years, expire 10th Oct., 1859 3 5-16 Ditto 3 i Years, expire sth Jan , 1860 3 13-16 Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1885 l6 5.16 India Stock Shut In ila Bonds, £lOOO . 6 d Consols Tor Account B9a 9 Exchequer Bills, lid. £lOOO. .—. Small Ditto Bonds, 1858, 3i per Cent 9Bh f/ 1859 JP 98i PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOI K Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St 99 Ditto 4. per Cent Ditto Small Sp tnisb Bowls, 3 per Cent — Ditto Account 39i i Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. Ditto Account 2os Turkish Bonds, 6 per cent B4h Ditto for the Account B4i Ditto New Scrip, 4 per Cent. Ditto for the account 2i 3 Dividends on the above earable in London. Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent., 12 Gun 64 TWO O'CLOCK. Consols ••• Ditto for Account ASTLEY'S AgristITHICATRE.—A drama founded upon Dick Turpin and his ride to York has been brought out at this theatre under the title of .Rookrvood, from which it may be inferred that the popular novel of Mr. Ains worth has supplied the dramatic portion of the piece. The circumstances of the "ride" constitute the principal incidents, and these are put into action, not only with considerable ingenuity, but are diffused over an entire act, during which the renowned Dick gallops ahead of his pursuers, faces perils innumerable, jumps over gates, shoots the guard of the mail-coach, replenishes the vigour of Black Bess by mouthfuls of brandy, and finally re ceives her death groan almost within the precincts of the sanctuary. All the details of this memorable hunt, so glorious in the annals of highwaymen, are, in fact, de lineated ; and Mr. Cooke deserves no ordinary praise for the vraisemblance of the dramatic pictures, and the ex citement which he manages to keep up appropos to this single adventure. A Mr. James Holloway is the repre sentative of the gallant Dick, and he portrays the chival ric features of the character with unquestionable force, his lamentation over the body of the exhausted animal which has borne him in safety over so many incredible miles of country being something more genuinely pathe tic than we look for at a theatre where the horse takes lawful precedence of the actor. The drama, upon the whole, is a good one of its kind, and quite worthy of the fame of this theatre, where such pieces as these are of a more congenial order than the Alma and Sebastop ol molodramas which have lately prevailed, from the deafen ing artillery of which it is pleasant to be relieved. ARMY MISMANAGEMENT.—As a proof of the careless. ness with which matters relating to operations in the Crimea are conducted at home, we may state, on the authority of a private letter, that 75 fine cart horses were latelyshipped o r the railway at Balaklava without a veterinary surgeon to look after them. It is scarcely to be wondered at that four of the number died on the Omni! 5 5 20 10 20 5 20 18 20 tOO 25 25 SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) RAILWAYS. Closing. -Peet' Saturday. Seems dot e thla day. RAILWATII. Xmbg. Notting. Bost. and Eastn. Jnnct lel fast $t Ballymena `Arming. Wolve rh er Atonr Valley e ihd. Lancsl.. 3 / 4 Cheshire Jnnct 00. Chesil. d< Birk. , £5O and £25 Cons Do., £20..... Rlyth & Tyn e original £25 (hod. at £45 :•, Bristol and Exeter 1 Caledonian. Calm. and Cardigan Chester dt Holyhead ' Cork and Bandon Cork, Black, dt Pas , Cornwall Do. A Do. B Clliefi Junction Duolin BelfastJurc Dun. P. & Ab • . Jnc Do. N East A.va ..an Eastern Co - anti.)9. East. 'Tni on , A Sti Do., B. Stool; Do., New ..... too East Kent Vast Lancashire Edinburgh& Gimp c , Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Prtb & Dm/ Forth & Clyde nn Furness Do. Extension......,, Gizmo vir& S ' 7,l "q* Great N. of Scotlnd, Great Northern 'Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &,West.(lre ) Great Western D. Stour Val Rail Ona. Stk Irish South-Eas'sorr Lancaster & Carlia , e Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds...... LAncasb.andVorks , Do., 'vet. Riding TTn. iLiv.ers'os.&Soutb.pt audon & 131ackwall Lon.l. Bright & S.Cst. ILond ' and N. Wo.tn. Do. Fifths ...... D0.101.1311.,M&8...0 Do. Eighths . Londou andS. Westr Do., £5) Do., .£l,O Ludndrry& Col e re i 9. Lndndrr'. & Ennisk Manch.Snef. Az Linel , Do. Shares, No. Lin. Pre Metropolitan Midland ...... , Jo. Birinn 3. &Derh. Hidld. G. West. (Ire. Do. Half Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Nwpt.Aberg. &Hrfei Newry &nnskillar Newry Warrenpohi: And Rostrevor Norfolk . Northn.Counties North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 )0., A Deferred Do., B Guarantee. N. Eastern—Berwic' Do. do. Extension .. G.N.E. Purob Co. Leeds Do. York North London . &S. Wstrn.,Ham , 1 1 stead, and City Jo.. 'North Staffordshir- North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, Hlnek y nd Leieeste - . )x, Wore., 4z. W01.v. , •(,rts-Liouth ti o .610 Central "ieottish Midland qiropsniro Ua on =ontli Devon loatb Eastern_ South Wales s. Vrksh. di Riv. Du t Atai nen, &Woh tockton St Darll -;tv:kton & 11.1rtlepi Taff Va1e...., Do. Pref., No. meg Hay. P.& R. 131verstone & Lance e • ) waterfl. & Kilkenny VaterfordlsLimer 1 , West Cornwall..... 'vest End of London and Crystal Palace Do. A Do. B West London Wimbledn & Croydon A ,Itvrer Do. 5 p.e. Oblgs. con. in Sh. at par till '64 Ardennes itolg , ao Faith. Juno, rieziers to Gr.l.'sa asa; Bombay Baroda, an fl.mtral India,Scri Do. Demerara ... Dutch Rhenish Eastern of France Do. New Cast Indian, g. 5 p c Do. gy:ension Do. do. do., '59, do.. Tk of CanadaA is Do. St. Lawrence k Atlantic do. Do. Cert. of Deben., con. into Stk. till '62 Do. Comp. 6 p. c., do. Gt. Celitral of Fran Cit Indian Peninsub. guar. 5 per cent. Do. New 6 per cent Do. Extensions... Great Luxembour , Constituted Share. Do. Obligations... . Gt. Western of Canad Shares Do. New Do. fkle., payable's7, with option till '55.. Do. do., '62, p. '56... Do. do., '76, p. Do. do., '73, without _ option iiamilton Si Toronto 1 1.)o. 6 por cent. Lake Conet. & Liorre and Turnhout Lyons and Geneva Lyons sk Meditorran Madras Do. New Maria Antonia Do. do. New Namur & Liege (.viti nterost) Do. (ex interset) Northern of France. D 0.201. She Do. 20/. 3 p. o Bd, (fmy.B. , St Ams.Shs. NorwegianTrunkPre r Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleane Paris and Rouen... ParisCaeu di Cherbrg. Do Rome and Frascati Rotten and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish....... Do. Obligations Sambre and Meuse Do. 54 p. cent. Pref iScindo Do Southern of France St. Andrew's and Quebec (A). West Flanders Do 54 per c. Pref Western of France Do „ Zealand JOINT-W rAnstra.ladiiK. Bank of London tri. Coy . iik,&1.03. C. iiritish N. American (Ihartd. Bank of Asia Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China City Colonial .......... .... Commercial of Loud. Eng. Scot. & time. Oat. Loud. Chart. Bk. 01 Australis ............. Ditto New Lyndon and County... Lnd.&E. Bnkg. Corp. London Joint Stock.. Gond. & Westminster National Pro.of Eng. Do. New ••• National of Irelaud.. New South Wales.... Oriental Bank of Corporation. Provincial of Ireland Do. New ............... Royal Australn•Bkg. & Gold Imp C 0.... Royal British South Australia Union of Australia Do. Now T 14104 9 London Ph 221 31 3i - 7i - 8 16 - 15 13 - 14 9 - 8 79 - 81 56 56. If - 12 - 4i 6 - 7 11 - 12 27 1 29 i 17 - 19 F 9 70 50i - 9} - 9i 16i -17 h 77 79 6 - 6i 88,1 891 72 - 74 , 19 21 103 1 05 50 50,11 70 -- 75 6 - 7 6 7 r 77 77i 4 1 - 6i , 94 96 94 - 94, ti 7 86 • 87 7i 6; 6 5 Id 61 64 36 38 44 46 28 30 - 634 84 - 8 5 - 44. 114 - 12 444 454 92 - 97 O• • ... •• 81 - a • 4i 54 22 - 24 1 00 - 102 72 74 43 1 5 • 2 57i 586 31 - 31 5 ?d 2d - pa 1 ... - ie 2O 3 - 211 2A - 2 par i ► - Id 351 35 9i 1041. 20 —2l 1 9 8 16 17 65 70 85 90 31 3 iP 5 51 id - 1p 3$ - 3i 21 - 3 24 24i 2 - 201 98 - 100 115 - 119 116 - 120 IC4 107 '23 24 112 - 117 6 - 7Pi 18 -19 P i 7 9 2 - 5 41 - 51 41 - 41 3 5t - 35/ 12 12t 6 - 74 1 45g g - 45 - 46 ... - ••• ... - pm - 2$ - 2 19 5 4 - 2$ St - 8j ~ ... ~;, .•• - pul 34 - 4i 20i - 30 18 - 19 BA MCP 91 54 - 56 ii : I'd ... -- ...ij 69 - i 151 -- lei 16 - 17 1 par 2p VIN - ... 37 2 39 38 - 39 53 - 54 ... -- ... ..• '" .. 40 - 42 73 - 75 8 9 30 9 $1 THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING DECEMBER 10, 1855. LINES L. ,USED 'F FIXED RENTAL?. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day). RUMWAYS. LetASIRR Compant, C Prim Eaturlay easiness this day. CORN EXCHANGE. Most of the country markets held on Saturday were dull for wheat, and prices ruled in favour of buyers. Fine , barley mostly supported previous rates ; but inferior kinds were dull, and cheaper. All other kinds of spring corn, including flour, were heavy. The continental markets still keep exceedingly high in price for nearly all articles of produce ; but the business doing continues small. Our American advices state that large quantities of grain and flour were in course of ship ment to this country. Very moderate supplies of home grown produce were received up to our market last week. The imports were only 3,630 quarters of wheat, 3,983 bar-I ley, 2,893 beans, 1,217 peas, 255 tares, 4,383 linseed, 1,483{ rapeseed, 245 mustard seed, 372 sundry seeds, 250 sacks and 229 barrels of flour. Fresh up to our market to-day, the arrivals of Eoglish wheat, coastwise and by land carriage, were on the increase, and in improved condition. As the show of samples of both rediand white was good, and as the attendance of millers was comparatively small, the demand for all kinds of wheat of home produce was exceedingly heavy, at a decline in the prices realised on Monday last of from 2s to 3s per quarter. The show of foreign wheat was very moderate. Al though the business doing was limited in the extreme, no quotable change took place in value, but the tendency of prices was downwards. Floating cargoes of grain were much neglected, though they were easier to purchase, Wo were but moderately supplied with barley. The trade, however, was heavy, at a fall in the quotations of fully ls. per quarter. - - Malt sold slowly, at from ls. to 2s. per quarter less money. The supply was good. The supply of oats was but moderate, and the demand for most kinds was steady, at late rates. There was a good show of beans, and all kinds wore dull, at is to 2s per quarter less money. Peas changed hands slowly, at a fall in value of from is to 2s per gnat ter. The flour trade was heavy, and country marks were 2s par sack lower. CURRENCY PER Wheat—Essex & sent, Red .• .. new 62s to 793 •..... old 75s 848 Ditto, White new 60e 843 Ditto .. old 78s 90s Norfolk itnd Lin __ coin, Rod, old 78s Ma [PERIAL MEASURE. Malt—Chevalier .. •• 1105 to its Oats Yorkshire and Lincoinsh.. Feed 265 30s Potato • •. 28s 34s roughal and Cork Black. 253 28s Cork, White .•... 265 30s Ditto new 62s 60 • Rye—Old •• •• •• •• •• •• —e —s Scotch, Feed. • • • . 278 348 Beane—Tick .........415 465 New 50s 533 Barley--Grinding ... • • 883 425 1 Malting ...•.•• .. 4 l e 44s Chevalier.... . . 44s 46s Melt—Suffolk and NOT folk .. •••••••••• 74s 828 8r0wn............... G4s 70s KingstonandWare 78s 80s Pige0n5.......... 46. 6r's Feu—Grey .... •... 41s 44s Map1e........... 43s 463 W1i1te......• •• •• 50s 54s Boilers • .... —.. bls 58s Flour—Town-made... 75s 77s Suffolk . ..•..... 68, 60s Stooktn & Norfolk 58s 60s METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The total imports of foreign stock into London last week amounted to 4,545 head. In the corresponding week in 1851 we received 5,831;. in 1853, 4,795; in 1852, 4,869, in 1851, 3,628; in 1850, 5,734; in 1849, 3,720 head. IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WHIM From Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. Harlingen 240 ... 635 ... ... 7 ... 7 Dordt 23 ... 52 Rotterdam 2lB ... 671 ... Medemblik 6l ... 1,822 Nieu Diep l9 Elamburgh 3O ... Amsterdam — Ostend Antwerp -- .., Oporto ... 170 ... -- •.. - 29 ... - 70 ... - 309 ... - - •.• 4 ... 58 ... Total.— 791 ... 3,619 99 ... 7 The yearly comparison of weekly Imports is as follows : Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 1854 1,098 4,461 ... 274 ... L 853 9BB ... 3,655 ... 128 21 In reference to our comparative table of stock shown, we may observe that the great Christmas market was hold in Smithfield this day last year ; but that it will not be held hore till Monday next, when a fine supply of stock is expected to aii:ve. The arrivals from Ireland last week, direct by sea, amounted to 72 beasts and 150 pigs. There was a moderate show of foreign stock in to-day's market. The supply of Irish, via Liverpool, amounted to 300 beasts and 600 sheep in good condition. From our own grazing districts the receipts of beasts fresh up this morning were but moderate. In their general quality, however, we observed a great improvement. For all kinds we had an active demand at prices fully equal to those paid on Monday last, and a good clearance was effected. The arrivals of beasts from Lincolnshire, Liecestershire, and Northamptonshire amounted to 1,600 short; horns ; from other parts of England SC) of various brecls, and from Scotland 250 Scots. Amongst the foreign supply were 130 Spanish oxen. With sheen we were but moderately supplied as to quality, but their number was seasonably good. On the whole the mutton tralo was in a sluggish state at last Monday's decline in price. The top figure for Downs was 53 per 81ts. The supply of calves was moderate, and the veal trade ruled steady at 2d per 81bs above Friday's currency. The best veal ntlisod 5s 2d per 81bs. Pigs, the show of which was tolerably good, sold slowly, yet prices were well supported. Per Me to sink tho offals. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts.... 3 Bto 3 10 Second quality.... 4 0 4 .!, Prime largo oxen 4 6 4 10 1 Primo Scots, dm 5 0 5 2 Infor'or Sheep ...3 4 3 6 iocond quality ...3 8 4 2 Primo erso.-wlled. 4 4 4 6 a. (1. s d. I r PrimoSoutbdown 4 0 5 0 ,ILarge erse. calves 4 0 4 8 i Prime small do._ 410 5 2 Large hogs Small porkers 4 6 5 0 (Suckling calves 23 0 30 0 ;Quarter old pigs 22 0 28 0 FOREIGN SUTTLI. Beasts•• ...... . •• .• .. • 575 TOTAL SUPPLY. Beasts .. •• • • . . ibeep ...................22,880 Sheep .• •• •• • ...... ....... 1,380 Calves 135 I Ca1ve5...................• 107 -- A statement and comparison of the supplies and prices of f..t stock exhibited and sold in Smithfield Cattle Market, on Monday, Dec. 11, 1854, and in the Metropolitan Market this day, Monday, Dee. 10, 1855. Per Blbs, to sink the offals,_ _ _ Dec. 11, 1854.1)ec.10,1855. - s. d. s. d. s. d. s. Coarse and inferior beasts 3 6to 3 8 3 Bto 3 10 Second quality ditto ... 310 4 6 4 0 4 4 Prime largo oxen ... 4 8 410 6 411 Prime Scots, &c ... 5 0 5 4,5 0 5 2 Coarse and inferior sheep 3 8 3 10,3 4 3 6 Second quality ditto 4 0 4 4 3 8 4 2 Prime coarse woolled ditto 4 6 4 10 1 4 4 4 6 Primo Southdown ditto .. 5 0 5 2 1 4 8 5 0 Lambs , 0 0 0 0 : 0 0 0 0 Largo coarse calves 4 0 4 10,4 0 4 8 Prime small ditto ... 5 0 5 6'4 10 5 2 Largo hogs ... 3 4 4 10 4 4 (+Teat, small porkers 4 4 5 0 4 6 5 0 Beasts.., 6,181 4,888 Sheep 22,820 22,880 Calves... 107 135 Pig5.................. 240 510 SUPPLIES ON SALE, Dec. 12, 1853.—Beasts, 7,037; slicer, 25,830; calves, 253; pigs, 295. December 13,1852.—Beasts, 6,271; sheep, 20,570 ; calves, 220 ; pigs, 310. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. Since our last report the supplies of meat on sale here, slaughtered in the metropolis, have been very moderate ; but over 35,000 carcases have been received from Scot!and and various parts of England, includi 50 from the Con tinent. Rather an extensive business has been transacted, as follows : Per Sibs by tho carcase. s. d. s. d. Roof, inferior 3 2 3 6 Do., middling 3 S 310 Do. prime largo 4 0 4 4 De., do. small 4 4 4 8 Pork, large 3 10 4 4 s. d. s. Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 6 Do., m;ddling 3 S 4 0 Do., prime 4 2 4 6 Veal 3 6 4 10 Pork, small ' 6 5 4 BOROUGH HOP. We have no speculation going on, owing to the immense stocks in the hands of the growers and factors. Fine hops are selling at full prices, but all other k ;nds aro dull. Last week's imports were 160 bales from Hambro'. ➢iid and East Kent pockets, 3/ lOs to 6/ Os per cwt ; Weald of Kent, 3/ 5s to 4/ 15s ; Sussex, 31 Os to 4110 s. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. As the arrival of potatoes havebeen extensive since Mon day last the demand is heavy, and prices aro rather droop ing. York Regents, 95s to 1 lOs ; Scotch do., 75s to 953 ; cups, 753 to 80s ; Essex and Kent, 75s to 95s ; Lincolns, 70s to 755; Blues, 75s to 80s per ton. Last week's imports were 3 sacks from Antwerp, 29 bags from Antwerp, 8 baskets from Rotterdam, and 100 tons from Jersey. WOOL. Wo have to report a slight improvement in the dmand for nearly all kinds of English wool, but more especially for short wools, at very full prices. Both foreign and colonial qualities, however, are very dull, on former terms. Last week's imports were 94 bags from Hanaburgh, 20 from D.ffi, and 852 bales from Port Philip. The following aro the current rates of English wool : Down tegs, is ld to is 3d ; half-bred hoggots, is ld to is 2d ; do. wethers, is Od to is ld ; Kent, fleeces, is Id to is ltd; combing skin, 10d to is Id ; Down ewes, is ld to is ld ; Leicester fleeces, lld to is 00; flannel wool, is Od to is 2d ; blanket wool, 9d to is Od per lb. Bedford and Bletchley Bnckghamsh. Clydesdale Jc. Col. Stour Vy. Sud. and Hal. E. Lin. g. 6 pc. E. Tin. H. Sh. Glas. Barr. & Neils. Direct Do. New Glstr.& Dn. Fr Hrtlpl. Dk. & Railway Hull & Selby Do. Shares. Do. Shares. Lon.& Greenw Do. Preference Lon., Til., & S. Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per ct. Manch. Mtn. and Matlock Middlosbro' & Redcar. Midld.Bradfd Newmarket Bury Exten N.& Est.s p.c. Do. 6 per ct. Do. Fixeds p • Prest. & Do. Shre. A Roystn.& Hit. Shot. Roth and Goole g 5 p.c. Shrews. &Her S. Staffordsh Wear Valloygr 6 per cent Do Wiltsklo,nrst London t!i N. West. L.&N.W. Caledon... E. Un. & E. C Gt.Nrthn. E. Count. Caldonian. Do Gt. Vi estr Yk. New. & Berw. Y. &NM Do Do S. Easter Do Peto 3; Co Norfolk IDo L.& N. W & Miclld. Stckton & Darlingt. Midland.. 'En. Conn. E. Count Do Do L. & N.W Do Qt Northn Lancash & Yorksh. T. Brassoy M. hiClean Stockt. & Darlingt Do 1141,Weetn. 90 - 93 94 - 98 iio = li ••• ....... 165 iii = a' 1121 -117 i 21 - 24 6 par in 65 67 128 - 132 71 - 3 -- 2i 30i -31 i 80 - 85 PREFERENCE SHAREh. Aberdeen Do. N 0.2, 7 p. C. . Birth anclTyno 1 Opfn c. pref. (issd.a.tso/ Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhea ' Guar. 5i per cent.. Do. do. Prof. No. 2 Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Cork &Bandonsip.e Dun.Prth .4/ Aber. J S. Anglian Cis. A Sh Do. do. Cls. B 6 p. c. Do. do Cis. C 7p. c. Eastern Counties Ex. tension , 5 p. c. No. 1 Do. No. 2 . Do. New 6 p. c. St. East Un., G. 6 p. c, Do. 51. 10 Der cent. Do. 1.01. Debentr.Sb. Do. do. 4 per cent_ East Lanes 6 p.cts E.&W. York. J. sthe Ed Prth. &D un.4 p.c Furness 100 all 104) 100 100 Chas. &5.W.G.5 p.o Groat Northn. 5 p. Do. 5 p. o. Redeem. at 10 I)._ c. prem. Do. 4i p. 0.... .... . . Do. 5 p.c. Scrip, Red. at 5 p. c. . Gt.N. of Scot. lat Pre Gt. S. &W. (Ireland) Do. 4per c. Prof. St Gt. Wostn. (Berke & Hants Ex . 5 p. c) Do. con. red. 4h p.c Do. con, red. 4 p. c. Do. irred. 4p. c. Do. Birm. Pref. Sh Do. Chester 8 p. c.P. S. De. do. 5 p. c. do Do. Birm. Gus. Stk Da. Ches. Gus. Sh ' Do. do. do D. do. do Lim. &York. F. £2' Do. 6 p. o. Stock Lon. &Brigh. G. 5 p.c. Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. New Guar.6 p. c. Do. do. 5 por cont.. Lou.&N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 p. ct.. UHL& S.W. 7 por ct. Londy. & Color. l j Sh. Low - V.& Ennis.. Sl Van., Shef., & in. Ncw, £lO 4 I no. £6 100 100 100 100 100 1100 100 all 11 Al el all 10; iOO Warypt,& Carl. 4 p o nu. 4 per cent no I Consol.6 p.c.Si. Do. Consol. Bristol Birm. 6 ph cont. Do. 4i p. c. Pref. S Do. Pref. 4 per cep , Do. 5/. Pr. f. 4 p. c Ditto L. & H. Pref. St Norfolk Debenture Do.Prcf. 4 p. o. Sto Do. 5 p. c. Ext Do. 5A per ct. pref Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c North British N. E. Perw, 4 p.c. P Do. do. do Do Leeds 6 p.c t.No. Do. do. Quarters 4 Do. York Ff.& Pnr North Staffordshire. Oxford, Worcester, Wolverh..£ls, 6 p.c Do R. Pref. 101. Sh. Scot. Cent. ,New Pro South Devon Do. fixed, 4i per con S. Eastern (Remind, Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4i per c0nt..... Do. Fixed 4i p c sh. S. Wales Gus. 4 p. e. Do. do. 4i p. e.... S.Yorksll.4p.c.Guar. Stock. & Dar. , 5 p. c. Do. do. do Stock. & Hart]. g. 5 1 r. o. till July 1, '56 NV &tend. & Kilk. 6 pc all all all 12e 107 - 109 104 106 80 85 90 - 92 6 - 6 15 - 1,6 • •• ..". ... 5i - 64 t , 11 - r 2 57 - 59 11:3 115 105 - 107 99 101 Par iP 9 9i ... ..... . , 6 6i 86 88 78 82 78 82 9+ 15i 164 94 10 G 6 —63 17 18 124 —13 A hd 1:10 132 *so .... N. • *II .... •••• ... ..".. NO ... --- ..pl 121 -12 i 30 - 132 91 - C 3 2 - 16 4 - 46 ••• 98 - 100 88 - 21 - 34 i 4d ••• .". 95 - 97 13 - 14 4 1 -- Pa' - 2'4 9) - 931 9 -- 94 4 - 2/ spa .•. - ..• I - 1 I = 1 - 5i 2i 2i 21 -- 31 30 32 id i p 63 67 27 32 3 id 18 20 1(1 14 16 1 • id h - 71 I 7 1 I A _ 123 - 8 4t - 41 v a 4 - 4i I : 1 Aria Fria Anglo Austrin. Gold 'Anglo Californian Anstrolian t nstralian Cordillera Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy of, Blesnarvon Iron and Coal British Iron Brazilianlmp. (issued ate pm.) Do. Cse‘aes St Cnlabf• Do. St. Johr Del Roy Clarendon Cons. Min, Co. of Jamaica Cobra Coppor .., Colonial G01d..., Copper Min. of Eng Do. Prof. 7i p. cent., Copiapo. Fortuna General Gt.NuggetVoinßeg. Great Polgo nth .... Gt Whoal Vor United Liberty Linares Lusitanian Ilariquita .... .. New Granada Nouveau Monde Pontgibaud Silver Load MM. & Smolt Port Philip Quartz Rock hymney Iron Do. Now iantiago de Cuba south Australian Do. Scrip. Do. 10 per coot Prof Pin Croft ............. United Mexican Waller West Mariposa Worthing Mining o Austr9.ll4 Ynhn BANK OF AUSTRALASIA. MEETING THIS DAY. The half-yearly meeting of the directors and proprietors in this corporation was held this day at the offices of the Bank, 4, Threadneedle-street. The minutes of the last Court having been read and confirmed, The SECRETARY road the repert, from which it ap peared that the accounts as to the gold discoveries were very encouraging, and would lead to the belief that a great increase of trade would follow the late depres sion. The Company's branches were in a prosperous state, and the provision made for bad debts would be more than sufficient. A dividend of 4/. per share for the half-year was re commended. Resolutions adopting the report, and also for the pay. ment of the dividend of 4/. per cent., were passed unani. mously. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro. ceedings. LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. (Sittings at Guildhall, before Lord Campbell and a Special Jury.) JACKSON V. THOMPSON. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, owner of the BACOII 0 sy, Antwerp and London steamer, against the defendant, owner of the Rubicon, brig, to recover 1631., amount of damages sustained by the steamer by the brig coming into collision with her as she was moored in a tier of vessels opposite the entrance to the St. Katherine Docks, on the 17th March, 1854. The case presented no features of 'interest to the public. The Court of Common Pleas was occupied in hearing an action relative to the purchase of Railway Shares, and the Court of Exchequer an action brought by the Merchant Tailors' Company v. Truscott, for erecting premises near the plaintiff's school, in Suffolk-lane, City, whereby the light was obstructed. DEPARTURE OF POLISH VOLUNTEERS. A detachment of 44 Poles, including eight officers, sailed on Saturday from Deptford, on board the Ottawa steamer, for Turkey, to join the Division of the Cossacks of the Sultan, commanded by General Count Zainoyski, which is now in the British service, and forming part of the Turkish Contingent. The men, who were seen on board by Captain Szulczewski, agent to the division, and wore military coats, caps, and trowsers, exhibited a martial look, and appeared in high spirits at th e pros pect of soon facing the armies of their most unrelenting tyrant. The present is the fifth transport of . Poles from England since the war commenced, thus making a total of 400 Polish volunteers, among whom there were about 200 prisoners taken at Bomarsund. As the steamer was leaving Deptford Dockyard, several hundred work men assembled, and gave three cheers for Poland, wishing the Pules speedy success in their undertaking. THE POLISH COSSACKS. (From the Examiner.) Recruiting is, we believe, going on rapidly for this corps ; and, as the men who offer themselves are generally tried soldiers, they are shipped at once for the head-quarters, near the Danube, with out going through the expensive process of training in this country. It seems not improbable that the numerous desertions which are reported by the cor respondent of the Times as having recently occurred at Sebastopol (after a long cessation) may have been occasioned by the Poles in the Russian army hear int, that the Polish corps was at length in course of effective organisation. The subjoined letters have been sent to us for publication : 89, Grosvenor square, Nov. 29,1855. Sir,—The very kind letter which you have been pleased to address to the chaplain of the 2d Regiment of the Division of Cossacks of the Sultan, which I have re ceived orders to form under British authority, and which will be composed of Poles, has been forwarded to me by the editor of the Examiner, with a 51. note enclosed therein. Permit me, sir, to thank you most heartily for the attention you have bestowed on an undertaking which, for as much as I know, was not intended to go beyond the circle of my own countrymen, as the idea was started at a meeting where Poles only were assem bled. Your donation, however, has imparted to the un dertaking a new character, from the manner i❑ which it has been bestowed, and the distinguished name attached to it. Your example has been met with imitators, and on that account it calls for more than ordinary grati tude on our part. Another gentleman, of true British and generous feeling, the Rev. Edmund Mortlock, has written me a letter, which I trust will be agreeable to you to read.-- (The letter in question, which encloed a donation of 251., appeared in our last week's impression.) My ever to-be-lamented and most amiable friend, Lord Dudley Stuart, has, during the last twenty years, by untiring exertions, kept up the sympathy of the British public towards alleviating the wants and sorrows •t my countrymen in exile. " Let the British public now accept, in return for their generous and benevolent assistance, our eagerness to join the valiant sons of Great Britain in that mo mentous war, which I at least may be excused for think ing cannot, without Poland's co-operation, terminate to the satisfactio❑ of either the honour or the interests of Great Britain and her Allies.—l am, Sir, with great esteem and regard, your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) L. ZAMOYSKt, General Commanding the Division of Cossacks of the Sultan. To Walter Savage Landor, Esq. I have to request that you will permit me to send a copy of this letter to the newspapers. SlR,—Altbongh you attribute to me merits to which I am ill entitled, I must overcome my sense of demerit, and must raise no objection to the publication of the letter in question. It it can move the sympathy of one more British heart, neither my cares nor your noble exertions will have been misapplied. With ardent wishes for the prosperity of Poland, in which the world is implicated, believe me, Sir, your most obedient servant, WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR. Bath; Dec. 1. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Dec. 10.—Wind this day at noon, N., mode- rate breeze and frosty weather. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 9. —Arrived—H. M. Ships Blenheim, Osborne, Vivid, and Fi re Q ueen , from Dover and Calais ; Manilla (s. tpt. 152), Constantinople; Telegraph (s. tpt. 184), Marseilles ; Queen of the South (s. tpt.), South ampton. Sailed—Ad e l a id e ( s. t ranspo rt 133), Deptford ; Sibelle (tpt. 5), do. ; Europa (s. tpt. 55), Plymouth and Malta. COWES, Dec. 9.—Wind N. by E.—Arrived—St. Thomas ;packet), from Porto Plato ; Washington, Rio Janeiro. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Mon(lay Morning. Arrived— Atalanta (s), from Havre ; Maitland, Lon don ; Maria, Havre. Sailed.—City of Limerick, for London. LivEttroot, Monday morning. Wind N. Sailed—Martin Luther, for New Orleans ; Sea Witch, Monte Video ; New York, New York ; Eleanor, Maran ham ; Maria Ignasia, llavannah ; Pride of Canada, Charleston ; Egyptian (s, s.), Constantinople. QUEENSTOWN, Doc. 8. Arrived—Alabama, and Richard and Harriett, from Callao; Villa Nova, Port Lagos ; Georgiana, Quebec ; Eliza and Ann, St. John's, Now Brunswick ; Die Brent, Alexandria. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Monday, 9.56 a.m. Wind N.V. ; tide two hours' flood, with slight snow. Arrived, Dec. 9.—Mary Ann, from Dieppe; Elswick, Antwerp. Arrived, Dec. 10.—Adelaide (s. s. tpt. 138), from Malta. Sailed.—Gesina, for Constantinople. DEAL, Monday, 9.30 MITI. Wind E.N.E., light and variable, with snow. Passed, Dec. 9.—Galilee, for Rio Janeiro ; Frederick VII., Constantinople; Ceres (steamer), Oporto—all from London. FRANKFORT.—The National Gazette of Berlin states from Frankfort that the Bank of this latter city has re duced its rate of discount from 41 to to 4 per cent. FIRES.—Last evening, a fire broke out in the exten sive rope and cable works belonging to Mr. Burchfield, situate in Turner's -buildings, Penny's-fields' Poplar. The fire commenced in one of the stores, a building about 128 feet long, and was not extinguished until a consider able amount of property was destroyed. Amongst the principal sufferers were Mr. Burchfield, Mr. Spring, fur niture dealer, and Mr. Ford, 2, Turner's-buildings. The main factory of Mr. Burchfield was, fortunately, not injured. —yesterday afternoon, some alarm was excited by a report that a fire had taken place in the House of Commons. In a very few minutes the West of England engine and firemen attended, and after some time it was found that the fire was confined to one of the flues, and by the timely application of a few pails of water the fire was extinguished. No damage was done to the building.—Ors Saturday night a fire of a serious character happened in the extensive range of pre mises belonging to Messrs. Jones, Brothers, shoe manufacturers, 17, Addle-street, Aldermanbury. The following is Mr. Braidwood's official report : —Messrs. Jones, Brothers, 17, Addle -street, Alder manbury, wholesale boot and shoe manufacturers ; the shop on ground floor and three floors over burned out, and about half of roof destroyed ; the cause of fire is un known ; the contents were insured in the Sun Fire Office ; it is unknown whether the building was in- ' sured orinot. No. 16 in the same street—Mr. Widdell, embroiderer ; the second third floors, the side wall, and upper part of the building considerably damaged by fire, and the contents below by water ; insurance unknown at present. No. 56, Aldermanbury, Mr. A. Low, baker, furniture considerably dama g ed by wa t er ; i ns ured, building and contents in the Sun Firs Office. Ditto, ditto, R. Aldis, first floor ; stock considerably damaged by water, and furniture by removal ; insured in the Unity Fire Office. The police of the City force rendered essential aid to the firemen, by keeping an immense crowd of opectatoro out of danger. SEEDS. Fine clover seed is in steady request, at fully last week's prices, but inferior parcels command a limited said. Canary and linseed realis3 extreme rates, and most other articles are selling at full quotations. Turnip,White,per bush. 22s to 25s Carraway (new) .• •• .. 429 445 Swede .. ••..•• .• —s —s Coriander" • .... •• .. 245 3( a flusterd, 8r0wn.... • . 12s 20s Hempseed, per quarter 543 60s Vihite, new .• .• Es lis Linseed, Eng.iowing • • --2 Tiires,Winter, new.... 6s Ed 7s 6d Crushing •••• • • •• 785 859 Old• •••• • • • .... •• —s —a Baltic •••••• • • •• — s Canary, per quarter .. 634 68s Odessa •••••• • • • • —5 .= Rye grass.. .••• • • • 249 30s Linseed Cake, pr. toe— Clover,Red Eng. (cwt.) —s —s English .. —l4l 103 15 0 0 5 8 White .......... —s —s Foreign,per ton 131103 14 8, 1 04 Foreign Rel.. ••.. —s —s Rape Cakes , p r ton 7 11 0 03 94a White.... —e —sißapeseed, New, pi qr., 0 Trefoil, new., .• ...... 403 4691 TALLOW. We have had a very inactive market for tallow silica Monday last. To-day the dema nd is heavy, and P.Y.C. on the spot is selling at 66s 6d to 67a per cwt. "tough fat has fallen to 3s 7d per 81bs 1852. 1853. 1855 Stock this day •• • • Price of T. C •• Delivery last week •• Ditto from June I .. • • Arrivals last week.. Ditto from Janel .• •• Price of TONirt -• •• .• 68,45 H 48,819 .166 9d to 46s Od —a Od ite —8 Od 3,15 3,323 b 7,455 j 57,188 290 ; 1,926 89,372 65,309 39j 61 49i 31 , ) 42,140 33,577 ? 18,960 bbs 9dzo 64s 6d to 669 6d 56s Od —5 Od 'to 67s Od ) 1,347 2,011 2,751 58,067 43,618 72,508 i 11,165 1,376 688 76,900 i 41,175 143,753 583 01 1 653 6d , 673 Od 10 St. 20 20 25 20 10 25 10 1.0.fi 20 5 St. 25 MISCELLANEOUS. 26 19 xuetralian Agrieult. 27 28 I(' all luslraln. Royal Mai' lu 81 Berlin Water Works 6 . 1 -- 7 a 30 40 Brit. American Lane 100 324. Canada.,_ 145 150 St 100 Canada Gov. 6p. of Jan. and jely 1.09 110 110 5 all Crystal Palace 2l 21 21 5 5 Do. Preference 4 4 4a 4 all Crystal Pal. of Franc( 1 Duston Tron 0re..... 20 11 Eastern Steam — 5 all En.&Aue Cop Sm Co 1 11 25 24 Electric Telegraph... 1 all Electric Tolcg. of Ir. „. 5 all Gen. Iron Sc Collier 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat. 1C all General Screw Steam ... 20 10 Irish Beetroot Sugar 20 10 Magdalena St. Navig 10 all Mediteran. Elec. Tel 8 10 10 9 Mexican&S.Americn 51 61 61 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fu& 10 5 Netherlands Land.... 1 11 10 all Do. Do. 5 1 Do. 8p c P iss at 1d 4 dia— par 2 1 N. S. W. Coal & Inter. Steam Navigat. Co. 100 80 New B. &N. S. Land 1 all N. B. Australasian I 1 20 15 Nrth.ofEuropeSteare 1 all Oriental Gas 4 1 2s. Do. " New Shares " . . all Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl. 2 1 21 50 all Peninsular& Orients 69 50 10 Do. New 2 all Portland Iron Co 100 60 Royal Mail Steam 74 1 All Scot. Austral. Invest 11 —1/ 1 Ditto New — F. 2 all iouth Austral:Land 87 sli Submar. Tel. Scrip 5 all Do. Registered I 20 5 ' Trust& L. C 0.17. Can 3.00 281,'V! picavey_lea4 0 Is isk li i die 103 j 4 LITERATURE. The Rouse of Elmore : a Family History. 3 Vols. Hurst and Blackett. This work is apparently the fi rs t pro d uct i on of its author, and displays unusual talent. It i s a strik ing and original story, owing its attractions rather to the vigour of the style than to the qualities of the characters, and the narrative is rather powerful than pleasing. The characters are strongly marked, if not natural, and the events startling and im pressive, if not of ordinary occurrence. The plot of the story, however, and the incidents of the in • troduction, render a degree of singularity in the chief ...eters not only probable, but imperative. It is not likely that a family of children, brought up under the sole tuition of a gloomy and misanthro pical father, in a desolate 1101150 by the sea-shore, without being suffered to have any intercourse with strangers, would not be peculiar in their disposi tions, and that th e i r c h arac t e rs would not be dis tinct and individual. Their father, the head of the unfortunate " House of Elmore," driven frantic by the desertion of his wife, retired with his four children to a spot where he trusted his misfortunes and disgrace were unknown. He selected a lonely house on the cliffs which lie named " The Rest," as if his undisciplined mind and unforgiving spirit could find repose in loneli ness. Well may the writer exclaim " What a crude misnomer--' The Rest !' Is there any rest but the grave for the descendants of Adam ? Is not peace of mind and body a fabled invisible on this side the mysterious mark drawn by the Great Hand ? Go not, 0 man, to the wildest solitude where no other human footstep but thine own has trodden and say, ' There will I rest,' for life is not rest, not peace, not content, and they abide not on the earth where thou dwellest." Throughout the whole tale there runs a similar strain of sorrow, a mournful foreboding that pre vents the reader from trusting to any promise of a happy termination. The evil genius of the book is Jacques Varidon, a false friend of the father of the hero, who joins him in his solitude, and whose fatal influence transforms the father into a drunkard, the youngest son into a miser, banishes the heir from his home, and deprives the hero of his inheri tance. The daughter, a cold-hearted, evil-disposed girl of surpassing beauty, he encourages in her faults till they lead her to a fatal conclusion. The mazes of the plot we will leave the reader to unravel. A long train of misfortunes meet and finally over whelm the unhappy Luke Elmore. Deprived of his first love, he loses the wife to whom he was devotedly attached, under most painful circum stances ; his eldest brother who is crippled for life by an accident of his causing, he sees deprived of his inheritance and struggling with poverty. His youngest brother hecomes a miser, whose strongest affection is for the evil spirit of the family, Jacques Varidon. His sister is a source of sorrow z:nd shame, his fatherdiesmistiusting him, and at length he finds himself a lonely exile in fcreigu lands with the stain of accidental murder on his hands. The reader may picture this remarkable narrative, de scribed with power and feeling, delineated with skill and passion, with all the accessories of minor characters and incidental occurrences to relieve the gloom of the main story, and be will be able to understand the vigour and originality of the work. The admirers of the melodramatic school, they who love to be startled, impressed, and fascinated by a re lation of the crimes and. errors into which the passions of mankind will lead them, rather than to be inte rested and elevated by a picture of the virtues they may attain, will find this work one of the most talented of its kind. But the impression it leaves on the mind is not pleasing ; a wild and weird-like character pervades it, a kind of fatality, as though it were hopeless to struggle with destiny, as though a doom rested on some unhappy ones that they could not overcome. Such moralising is more akin to the mysticism of the old German roman cists than to a clearer reason and a brighter faith. Tho incidents of the hero's life were appalling and bewildering, but let us believe they aro uncommon. Let us also believe that more self-control, a less violent temper, a nobler purpose, and a firmer pur suit of right, uninfluenced and undeterred by temptations or disasters, would have enabled him to steer clear of many of the severest calamities of his life. Let us also believe that if there is no rest but the grave for the children of Adam, from the sorrows brought upon them by the faults of others and the cares of life, a firm pursuit of duty and a Christain faith will give to tho most tried and troubled, rest for the spirit from the bitterness of remorse, and the evil consequences of passion and crime. THE ARTEI S OF THE RUSSIAN PEASANTRY. Tho low tone of morality prevailing throughout the Russian empire is painfully evident to all who have travelled much in that country. Among the lower orders there exists a general tendency to lying, cheating, and pilfering. Among the higher classes an equal disregard of truth obtains, 1 ribory, corruption, and peculation pervade every public department, and the tenth commandment is held in no manner of esteem. With such examples be fore him, and with a priesthood little superior to himself in manners or morals, the degradation of the peasant is a natural consequence. With no provision for his religious or secular education, the Russian mougik has no resources beyond mere animal gratification ; and he does not consider that he has duly honoured his patron saint, or done his duty to his country, unless he has drowned his senses in vodka on each of the church festivals which figure so extensively in the Russian calendar. This habit of drunkenness is encouraged rather than repressed by the government and the landed proprietors. Both are directly interested in its development ; the former because it swells the large revenue derived by farming out of the " otkoop" or licence to sell intoxicating drinks ; the latter, because it increases the profits derived from the sale of their grain t 3 the distillers, or from its conversion into spi r it on th e i r own es t a t es . The Government has utterly failed in devising any check upon the dishonesty of its officials, but among the traders in the principal towns a system has long- been in existence which to a great extent keeps in abeyance the national vices among at least a portion of those they employ. This desir able object is attained by the establishment of " artels." The artel is a voluntary association of a number of men, varying according to the custom or the exigencies of the occupation they follow. They are governed and their profits divided ac cording to regulations agreed upon among them selves, and have generally a head, elected from among their own body, called the " starost," or elder, who has the chief management of their affairs. They frequently board and lodge in com mon, but this is generally done when they are 03- cupied at a distance from their families, the Russian workman being often employed in the towns during the summer, returning to his village in the winter, when the season for out-door labour is ended. The members of these associations are called " artel stchiks," and the peculiar feature of the system— that in fact iu which its effect on the morals of the people depends—is the responsibility of the whole artel for the acts of every individual composing it, so far as those acts concern the relations between each artelstellik and his temporary employer. The consequence is that a breach of honesty by an artel stchik is rare—a failure of redress from the artel almost unheard of. One well-known class of artelstchiks is that em ployed by merchants and trader as collecting clerks. These men are not only of tried honesty, but supe rior in intelligence and education to ordinary serfs, having some knowledge of reading, writing, important arithmetic. B es id es th ese , there are iinp artels of carriers, s ome of whom co ntract for the conveyance of goods to distant parts o f the empire. There are also artels of woodcutte rs, an di cr afts, and in o f carpenters, masons, roofers, and of other handicrafts, all cases the system is found to w o a r r k te w i, el b l n , t n e o l t so oi f i e ly r for the individuals composing the - their employers. Lave no m eans of ascertain ingmen comprised in these associations the average n umber theall trading of ef c onsiderable, as almost but it or mastin a nufactlaring towns contain several artels ; however, carried t o its highest perfectionrainnicoipnlgei the Moravian breth ren e t c h t e :o whose religious tenets f orm of Southern Russia, the basis of an union which takes the form of ono large family. The results achieved by this syste m commen d th s elves to the attention of all wh o cons id er th e social and moral elevation of the working class as one of the great problems of the day, and who be lieve the principle of association to be one of the most promising means of attaining that end. The time is happily gone by when every such sug gestion was either summarily sneered down, or discussed merely as a psychological curiosity our lot is cast in better times. It may be true that Robert Owen's theory of " human perfectibility" was but the dream of an enthusiast, and that he learned to his cost the " living in parallelograms" was not a panacea for all social evils. It may be true that Louis Blanc's " organisation of labour" met with an unlucky illustration in the national workshops of 1848 we do not therefore utterly condemn the labouis of those men as a farrago of revolutionary fustian. Earnest and practical so cial economi s t s, w h ose num b ers are steadily increas ing, diligently labour to separate the wheat from the ch a ff, an d t o e l uc id a t e the causes of those failures, and it is to such men we address ourselves, confident that every fact tending to throw a light on the important question at issue will prove of interest to them. THE BAATIC CHARTER ACT AND MERCATOR." (From the Derbyshire Courier. A letter on the Bank Charter Act, addressed the editor of the Times, has been placed in a pro minent position in that journal. It is sign e d " Mercator," and is said, with what truth we know not, to be written by Lord Overstone, the Mr. Jones Loyd, who indoctrinated Sir Robert Peel with the principles of the Bill of 1844. From the tone and tenour of this letter woare of opinio n th a t th e report as to i ts authorship is cor rect. The evidence given by Lord Overstone be fore the Parliamentary C omm itt ees a pp o i n t e d t o inquireinto the causes of the commercial distress of 1817 1 is remarkable for the total absence of any expression of regret f or th e overwhelming distress which had just swept over t h e country. Himself a commercial man, and fully cogn i sant o f t h e ru i n in which commercial houses older and of a higher character than that by w hi c h ho had become the possessor of immense wealth, an d of the attendant distress in which thousands of the industrious classes had consequently been involved, Lord Over stone had no feelings of commiserati on to express for the sufferings of his fellow -countrymen. " The Bank," he said, "were not firm enough in main taining their position." Theyincreased the e v il by "yielding to the pressure of the times." The public ought to be taught that " they must man age their own affairs under all the regulations a nd restrictions which a metallic currency is subject to." " Measures of pressure are the only true and only sure correctives " of monetary difficulties like that of 1847. He is " not prepared to suggest" any cure of the evil. R u i ne d f am ili es an d starving operatives act as "correctives." He is moved by these things " as rocks are, When foamy billows split themselves against Their flinty ribs ; or as the moon is mov'd When wolves with hunger pinched howl at her brightness. I'm of a solid temper, and, like these, Steer on a constant course." Lord Overstone's pamphlets have the same cha racter; they are hard, dry, and illogical. There is no sympathy expressed for the people. No regret even that stern necessity obliges him to advocate " correctives" which entail misery. Ne generous or benevolent hopes of a better day for the masses inspire him. His pamphlets are just suck as Sir Giles Overreach night write on the Currency. Of the same nature is the recent communication to the Times. Mercator's letter tells us that "the public is more intelligent, the question better un derstood" than in 1847. We rejoice in the con ♦iction that such is the case. The press understands the Currency Question better than in 1847, and so does the public. A great portion of the press made noble efforts in 1847 to enlighten the public on the sub:ezt of the Money Laws. The Morning Post, tho Bankers' Circular, the Morning Herald, the Morning Chronicle, the Daily News, the Morning Advertiser, the Sun, the Globe, and the Standard, not to mention many provincial journals, united to condemn the existing monetary system. But a most unexpected ally appeared to prop up a falling cause. This was the Gold of California and Australia. The immediate pressure being removed, and an opinion prevailing that " the gold would sot all right," men left off think ing about the currency. And as the public ceased to read, the public press ceased, for the most part, to write on the subject. The true-hearted body of Currency Reformers, who believed as firmly as ever in their principles, were tempted almost to despair of the success. The current was against them. " Truths would you teach, or save a sinking land ? All fear, none aid you, and few understand." Some of our public papers never desisted in active opposition to the unjust and absurd Money Laws. The Sun remained staunch. The Bankers' Circular persisted in the expression of opinions hostile to the Bank Charter Act. Our own humble efforts were never relaxed. And now we rejoice to see nearly the whole of the London press again advocating Currency Reform, with the addition of a new and powerful auxiliary—the Illustrated Lon don News. Many respectable and talented provin cial journals are writing on our side. The Chambers of Commerce in various parts of England and Scot land are coming forward. A comprehensive in quiry into the subject is inevitable. - Mercator may feel assured that, in a very dif ferent sense from that in which he speaks " the public is more intelligent and the question better understood " than in 1847. This writer asks whether the English, French, and Turkish Loans are not sufficient to account for the high rate of interest. We reply, certainly not. Were there no loans between 1797 and 1.819 ? Yet the Report of the Lords' Committee on the distress of 1847 states that " the earlier practice of the Bank of England bad been to discount at a rate nearly fixed and uniform." From 1794 to 16th May, 1839, this rate never exceeded 5 nor was less than 4 per cent. In the pressure of 1839 the rate was raised for some months to six per cent., but it was reduced to five per cent. in January, 1840, and remained at four or 5 per cent. as before, till after the passing of the 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 32 (the Bill of 1844). " Prior to September, 1844," observed Mr. Horsley Palmer, the Governor of the Bank, " the Bank never re duced the rate of interest below four per cent., though there were occasions when the value of money for discount of Bills was as low as 2l per cent. in the money market." This system, in fact, produced steadiness and diminished fluctuations in the rate of discount. And now Mercator would persuade us that at the very beginning of a war, after raising a few comparatively paltry sums by way of Loan, the actual value of capital in tho money market of the world is so raised that the Bank has been obliged, in order to "follow the market," to nearly double its rate of discount in about two months ! This comes of having to make arguments to support a false system. Mercator must know that it is to the efflux of a few millions of Gold, and to that almost entirely, that the compulsion of the Bank to raise its discounts must be attributed. Like an advocate with a bad cause, ho can only " plead that general issue" for every evil in the world at the present moment—The War. Mercator tells us that the amount of circula tion " in the hands of the public at the present time is not low." By the last Bank Return the amount of active circulation was only 19,050,9001. This is low. But the low amount of the circulation does not fully represent the pressure which may occur when the circulation is diminished. In the Panic week of 1847 the amount of active circula tion was 20 , 31 8,175/.—larger than it is at present. But the pressure was then greatly more severe than it is at present, because the notes which repre sented this amount were not in reality in active ti cir culation, but were to a great extent lockedith ample p p i le the tills of bankers and others, who ol on w of Peel's means, were fearful that the bill might deprive them of the l only means money. meet ing their engagements—vizt. operation y ra ineans of " honestly" what we wish. Mercator, or Lord Oy ers 0 , I n v e e 0 , asks will Atos s 0 00 in tell l al himfew to Having said this, words. h n a n v n e e g y o . ld at its market price i i t n i s unnecessary GovernmentVe wps to hip e r follow money. lii if m intowe were the t o increaseconsidera tion of our I vCel warn m all Currency Reforers not to d e p en d 'wlhaatitonmuignhdter ha t i h V e c e n xisting system. on a mere " s us p ension of c ash payments, " nor on an y contrivance to supply the requisite circula tion for the wants of the country whil e th e conver tibility of the bank note at a fixed rate is main tained. The evil lies in the liability to have our domestic circulation restricted, the rate of discounts raised, and trade crippled whenever, by the turn of the foreign exchanges against this country, the super structure upon which our currency rests, viz., the Bullion in the Baik, is withdrawn. It is not "un limited issues " of paper that we want, nothing of the kind. The amount is comparatively unimpor tant, provided we are secure, that it shall not be suddenly withdrawn from us. Commerce has in numerable methods of economising the circulation —bills, cheques, and clearing houses. A small nominal amount of circulating medium, in active use, and rapid change of hands, does the work is well as a torpid curr ency o f l arge amoun t. This -the real question a t i ssue b etween C ur r ency "•Re formers and th e B u lli on i sts. We p roperty to have ,roperty of th© paper money ba se d on th e whole . country, and p reserve d f rom depreciation by being receivable f or taxes rio , rs tone and his - aid party wish the circulating rest exclusively on gold. mediumijo Lor d of the nation to W S A e lt c r . --- e t sairlyr:aMt.werrayr: who was for rti A FORME DEP,UnTyYSyEe died at Caftf- AT Cheltenham on the 23(1 ult., aged 93. He was well known to the army during his officia l cereer for the eculiar style of his corres p ondenc e. Re retired upon hispay of 2,5 001 . per annum, and rece i ve d from the purse, during his retirement th e sum o f 7 0,0001., Civil Servic e G azette. R EP RESENTATION OF NollTl3 STAPFORDSHIRE.—A change is likely to take place i n th e representat i on o f public c b l lf u iuc s l i l ve of interest.— North Staffordshire by the resignation of Mr. Smith Child, which is contemplated. Mr. Child signified to his committee his wish to retire a few weeks ago, and Mr. Hugo Meynell Ingram, of floarcross-hall, Stafford shire, has been solicited to succeed him in the Censer• vative interest. Mr. Ingram, however, has declined to be put in nomination, and Mr. Smith's committee.have requested th a t gen tl eman t o recons ider his desesi on re. Should Mr. Smith s till d e t erm i ne to retire from _will be fro presentation of North Staffordshire, LordSeandeo, his sue. requested to offer himself. If he should do k cess, it is said, is certain. 74 1 100 100 g2s 1 100 100 10 3i Go a 16 ; 'O, 4 )1 10 4 10 4} 20 16 20 10 all 50 all all 100' 40 50 25 20 100 100 100 20 20 FOR: IGN. 774 4 6f 95 941 I 14f 85i f 68 i 8i 24; 4