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

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLocK. The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed steadily, at precisely the same rates as last week. The sales were 7,000 bales, comprising 4,000 Americans, 500 Pernam and Maranham at to 61d., 250 Egyptian at 5/cl. to 9d., 2,000 Surat at 31d. to 41d., and 30 Sea Islands at 10c1. to is. per lb. The Railway Share Market was firm, and closed at its highest point. There has been no increase in the amount of business transacted this week in Mincing-lane, and the quotations have continued heavy. Sugar has been rather cheaper for Bengal, and British planta tion has declined 2s. per cwt. Coffee has remained dull, and some parcels at public sales have been taken in at higher rates. Rice has sold heavily, and tea has realised 94d. for common Congou. Very little has been done in spices, the prices of which are in several instances merely nominal. For rum there has been very little inquiry, and saltpetre has receded 28. to 3s. per cwt. from the highest point of the market. Cochineal is firmer, and tallow steady. Hemp and flax have been without particular variation, but in limited request. Accounts from Holland contain the Government monthly returns of receipts into the public trPasury. The total amount for the eleven months ending the 30th November, 1855, is given at 55,021,620 florins. Compared with the corresponding period of last year, it shows an increase of 2,037,812f1., being 53,983,80811. At the present moment, when the financial com munity are watching closely the fluctuations in the Money Market, and especially those influenced by the arrivals of gold from Australia and America, the returns of specie in the Bank of England, and the exportation of bullion to foreign countries, it is a matter of some importance to know that the " sinews of war " possessed by this country are legitimately applied, and not issued to succour the impoverished resources of our enemy. For some time back there has been a degree of mystery connected with the probable destination of certain amounts of specie transmitted to the Continent, and which, it is stated, had raised the suspicions in Government quarters that though ostensibly forwarded on account of ordinary mercantile transactions, they ultimately reached the coffers of the Russian Treasury by an unusually circuitous route. In consequence of in formation obtained inquiry was made, and it is reported to have been ascertained that the sum of 400,0001. in gold has in this manner recently been conveyed to Russia, principally by houses whose business lies in the Levant, and who have already made themselves obnoxious to the community by their sympathies with the Emperor of Russia, while they have been enjoying the hospitality of the country and all its commercial privileges. In consequence of a statement that the Emperor of Russia has intimated his refusal to submit to the proposals for peace that have been made, the Funds have exhibited less firmness, and Consols have re mained all the morning at 88 ft and 881. These frequent changes will no doubt continue until some thing definite is known in reference to Cant Esterhazy's progress, especially as no purchases for investment can be made until next month, to impart strength to the market. The New 3 per Cents. are 881 to 89, and the Reduced 884 to 881. Bank Stock has further dropped to 205. Exchequer Bills are about 4s. to 7s. discount. The Foreign Stock Market is again exceedingly inanimate, except in Spanish and Turkish Bonds, though no transactions have been recorded. Dutch 24 per Cents. are about per cent. higher, namely, 631 to 64. Turkish 6 per Cent. Bonds have de clined to 83E and 83k, and the Now Scrip ruled heavy, at 3 discount. Spanish New Deferred are 211 to 22, being per cent. lower, and the Passive are quoted at 74. The following are the nominal prices of foreign stocks: Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 to 7 ; Mexican, 19j to 19 ; 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 90 ; Spanish Three per Cents., 404 to 41.; ditto New Deferred, 214 to 22 ; ditto Certificates, 44 to 5 ; ditto Passive, 74 to 71. Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. report that the market for American Securities during the past week has been inactive, and prices continue to be for the most part nominal. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Redeemable. Per Cent. United States 6 per Cent. 1867-1868-106 STATE SECIIBITIES. California 7 per Cent. Bonds 1870... 78 Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) ... 90 Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds 1877... 77 Virginia 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 1888... 83 80 79 84 CITT SECURITIES. Boston 5 per Cent. Bonds (Divers) ... 90 Montreal 6 per Cent. Bonds 1856-1865... 83 RAILROAD BONDS. Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Ist Mortgage, not Convertible 1875... 73 75 Illinois Central 6 per Cent 1875... 70 72 New York and Erie 7 per Cent. Ist Mort- gage 1883... 98 100 For the principal Railway Shares there is a weaker market, owing to the flatness noticed in the English Securities. Great Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and Midland, are the most affected. Colonial and foreign lines are heavy, but very quiet. Mining as well as Banking Shares are supported. General Screw Steam rule firmer. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ON ' CLOCK. Pram the °Reif CO, .iii-on, done. Bank Stook per tent.. Reduced Annuities._ .... Sfq 4 3 $ per Cent. Consols Anniaitie% Nero 3 per Cent. Annuities Ocn•ols !or Account BBi i E coheoner 13111 s. 24d £l000 £5OO • small 3 7 Ditto Bonds, IssB, 34 per Cent 97A ~ PP 1859 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ()Nit 0'1 , 1,0 g Spanish Bonds. 3 per Cent Ditto I .`' ew Deferred, 3 per Cent. Ditto Account 2 i 2 11 Ditto Passive 74 Tnrkibh Bonds, ci psr cent Ditto for the Account Ditto New 'crip, 4 par Cent. Ditto Account 3 d •.svopwets on the &hove navaloe in r. , ndon Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent., 12 Gull 64 3i TWO O'CLOCK. - 8 3 8 i i Console .y. — Ditto for the account BBi 881 TEM AFFAIRS OF THR BROMSGROPR AND STODRERIDGB BANKS.—A final dividend upon this estate, estimated at 3d. in the pound, was declared yesterday in the Bin mingham Court of Bankruptcy. Debts to the amount of between 3,0001. and 4,0001. were proved during the day. This dividend, with 6d. in the pound already paid, makes 9d. received by the creditors of the Bromsgrove establishment. Messrs. Philip and Francis Rufford were the only partners. In the matter of the Steurbridge Bank, of which Messrs. P. Rufford, F. Rufford, and C. J. Wragge constituted the firm, a final dividend meet ing is fixed for the 13th September next, when the estate is expected to realise a further dividend of 7d. or Bd. in the pound. Two dividends of ls. 6d. and sd. each have already been declared, making a total of 2s. 6d. in the pound. The separate e state of Mr. Philip Rufford has already been realised and divided. The first dividend was 55., and the second ls. 3d., making a total of 6s. 3d. The separate estate of Mr. Wragge, which proved to be far the most productive to the creditors, has also been divided. There were three dividends —the first of Bs., the second of ss. 3d., and a final of 25., making a total of 15s. 3d. in the pound. A final dividend meeting of the separate estate of Mr. Francis Rufford is fixed for 2 3 d of January. Three dividends of is., is., and 4d. each in the pound, and the final is likely to produce another ls. 6d., thus making a total from the separate estate cf the late member for Worcester of 3s. 10d. in the pound. The estates have been realised with great difficulty, in consequence of the unsaleable nature of the property, and the numerous questions of legal nicety and importance, which arose not only between the estates themselves, but with other parties. It is a fortunate circumstance that no action or suit has arisen, out of these various co mplications, either in Chancery or at common law. Small as the dividends are, they would have been much smaller but for a prudent avoidance of itigation. " HARD LlNES."—Whence is this expression, a s com mon, particularly among seafaring men, derived t S. A. H. —[Line was formerly synonymous with Lot Thus the Bible version of Psalm xvi., v. 6, is "The lines are fallen unto m- in pleasant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage"—while in the Prayer Book we read, " The lot bas fallen unto me in a fair ground ; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Bard Linea is therefore equi valent to Iraerd Log—Notes and Queries. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) RAILWAYS.- RATLIfit 11. Caradng Pries, yesterday. 31 3i 74 8 16 - 15 13 - 14 9 79 81 MI 55i 11 12 51 t 64 7A 11 I' 8 8 27 29 17 19 9 - 70 50i 51 9i 9i 16i - 174 80 8' 6 - 7 88 89 74 76 120 122 102 1 04 52i 6311 70 - 75 - 7 6 71 77 77i - ei 94' 96 94 -94 i, - 161 L 3 k - A -854 -86 k 7i - 60 6 6 ... • •. id 64 -64 i 36 38 i 14 41 43 : 28; 294 67 68 84 Brf 5 - 44 114 , 2 444 454 92 • 97 Si 8 4i - 54 22 - 24 00 102 72 74 42 ;4 2 57 58 312 31; 5 , 3d , 2d -- pa, is 2O 4 -- 6 manias dot , Ws day. st.ju klierneen ' kinhg Nottng 'Bort ‘ta I . Inner, .1 ,1, ,, r!f: , 1 ' ! Inning • Wolve itonr Va11ey..... e uid. LancrsL. & Cheshire Janet 11 no. Cheah. & Birk., £5O and £25 Onus 9 Do., £20.. ...... . 611 yth & T.virl origin £25 (issd. at 2 • .r,istol an' w.xet,• 1 0 Caledonian. s c um . d Ca digar Chester & . 11 i:!ork and Bandor„ II Cork, Black, & Pas 8 C‘nm wall 11 Do. A 8 Do. B Juncti , ,n, , Dun. P. & . )1 ' East Eastern Counth:s. 10 tat. "nini! 1 9t;. , .j) Doi., B. Store:. _ 1 . Do., New A. • , 7. East Kent . , tG P:clinburch & < last 611 Edinb. and Feeblor, Edin. Prth & Dux 9 Forth & Clyde Ira . 611 Furness 11 Do. Extension 10 Glasgow &S. W.f. , .11 Great N. of Scotlnd. J Great Northern „. 0 Do., A. Stock • Do., B. Stock O Gt. Bth. &West. (Ire O Great Western O Do. Stour Val Rail Gua. Stk 11 Irish South-Easterr , 11 Lancaster & Carlisle .41 Do., Thirds 7 Do. New Thirds Lancash.andYorksh ,D 3. Wst. Riding Un 11 Liv:Criny.&Southi t .11 London & Blackwai 10 Lond. Bright & S.Cs; . 10 Lond. and N. Weetn. .6 Do. Fifths . ..... . 5i ,Do.lol. ~M& 8...0 2i'Do. Eighths .. .00 London andS. Westn. 17 Do., £5O. Do., £4O 31 Lndndrry& Col ensi 11 Ludndrr- , . & Ennlalr 10 Manch.Shef.& Lincli 11 Do. Shares, No. 2s. Do., Man_ & Lin. Tin 1 Metropolitan X 1 Midland 10 Do. Binnng. &Den. 61) Midld. G. West. Ws. 611 Do. Half Shares... 11 Newcastle & Carliel. all Nwpt.Aberg. &Hrf 8 Newry & Enniskill 611 Ncwry Warrenw , ir cud Rostrovor. Norfolk .... i 0 3i Northn.Counties it. 100 Worth Britiab 1.6 all North Devon, Ni 6 ►1 No, 2 A all ; , 0., . A Deferre. , ... $ all Do., B Guaraut— it, ILK, N,Eastern—'-lierwi. 25 Kt 1)o. do. Extension 25 13 Dn.do. ?nrei; 50 a. 3 Do. Leeds.. St. ino Do. York 00 North L0nd0n..,,. p &S. Wstrn. , stead, and City J.., ;"1 North Staffordphi. North Westerh. ill & S, Wean'. .1 , 11 `tnneaton, Hineb ,nd Leicester. " , T, Wore. AL Woiv S ,rts-..,J0uth...,.. ` l ' Centrcl Acottish 10 ~ , , ,pshirp -mith Devou loath Ea.titcru. Wftler vrksh. & Rir. %)O I -unines, Wok & W 1 tookton Darli L 6 Atoll t Ilartlep rafr Valo . al r)o. Pref., No. 1..... gmes Hay. ne.& R. Ulverstone & Lanes .11 Vale of Neath... Watorfd. & Kilkenny Lll Waterford&Lireerwi ill West Cornwall ... 8 West End of London and Crystal Palace.. ill Do. A Do. B West London. Wimbledn& Croy ion tel 1 It SIGN. 11 kntwerpd:Rott,rdana tO Do. 5 p.c. Oblgs. eon. in Sli. at par till '64 0 Ardennes ......... Eagtn. June. LO Beziers to Grai mess& Bombay,l3aroda, an Central Indat.Scril al Do. dl Demerara 1 Dutch Rhenish .11 Eastern of Franco .0 Do. New lU Fast Indian, g. 5p c '.O Do. Extension Do. do. do., '59, do.. Gd. Tk of CsnadaA is ,t 1 Do. St. Lawrence 11l Atlantic do. '0 Do. Cert. of Deben, con. into Stk. till '6.. Do. Comp. 6 p. c., do 0 Gt. Ceutral of Fran al at Indian Poninsni, guar. 5 per cent. 1 Do. New 5 per cent 2 r.o. Extensions. 3 Great Luxembour Constituted Share-1 dl Do. Obligations Gt.Westernoffiansil 5i Do. New payable's7, l with option till '55 al Do. do., '62, p. '56 111 Do. do.; '76, p. '6O LI Dr.. do., '73, without option.... ill ilatuilton Toronto a) Do. per ernt. 7 LAN,- clonst k Baal 11 Lierre and Turnhout Lyons and Gencv,. , 4 Lyons 4 Mediterrn, Madras 0 Do New 31 Maria Antonia ,11 Do. do. New . . LP vanittr & I.4ear ( .70 nterest).... li. Do. (ea interott). 1 , Northern of France. dl D 0.20/. She ............. o no. Zutt„ 3p. c tide (fmy. B. & Ams.S'hs. Norwegian Trunk Pre '6 Paris and Lyons..._.. al Ditto Bonds . dl Paris and Orleans .. dl Paris and Rouen— -16 ParisCaen itz Cherbrg dl Do 5 Rome and Frascati 1 Rouen and Havre ill Royal Danish 5 Royal Swedish 11 Do. Obligations .... 13 Sambre and Meuse_ 11 Do. p. coat. Pref Scinde .111 D 0... Pi Southern of Francs 6 St. Andrew's and Quebec (A), .11 West Flanders .11 Do 5 per c. Prof .8 Western of France .11 Do .11 Zealand JOINT-S' 11 A. ustradasit6 O Bank of London 11 ltri. Col. tik.&l.m. C .11 British N. americar 5 Chartd. Bank of Asia 4 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China O City 5 Colonial 0 Commercial of Lond II Eng. Scot. & Ans. Cht 11 Loud. Chart. Bk. o Australis 5 Ditto New O Lyndon and County O Di d. &E. Bnkg. Corp, .0 Loudon Joint Stock 0 Loud. & Westminster 5 National Pro.of Eng 0 Do. New 2.; National of Irelaud 11 New South Wales._ 11 Oriental Bank of 1 5 1 1 1111.6 R0 1J e4 0 y . V7 a N 1 t ra r n5 t . 1 . t : 0 r . n.f a .. 1 : . ... 8 . 1 . 411 k .. g . d .. & Gold Imp 0 Royal British • t 1 .iontb Australia....,. 11 Union of Australia. . Do. New ... •w .0 Union 0 lomdon 76 - 8 3 - 3 • - I - I 1 - 35 -35 i 9 - 10 p 21 21i - 9 - 8 16 17 62 67 82 87 , 31 3 0' par ; p 31 3 1 21 N 24 2i - Zip 98 100 115 116 120 104 107 3 24 2 117 7 i if') 181 11 7 P 2 3 4 5 4* .45i 1: 12 i2t 6 • 7 4§l 45i IS 45 is- - 2 3 / 4 - 2h - i ..... i p ... - pm 3i - 4 • 29 30 iii - nil BANKS. 90 .2 57 - 59 li :: i'd ss : iii 17 151 161 31 - 21 I par 2p _. - ... •e ...... .• 38 - 40 38 - 39 BS - 54 11•11 .... 11.. 40 - ti . 73 - 7 5 8 9 84 al sl 22 I 1' 4. IN ;II 61 30 AI 20 11 10 al io - I al 11 (0 St. 1101 6t 25 I- 1,,, it, 10 al St. 101 50 I al M. UN 10 al 't. 10 M. 101 Br, 110; .611 t 20 al 11 _al 20 I 1 St; ( 11 50 I 4 St. I M 25 I al 10 it. 10 it. 10 50 a 1 l 5 a] LOO tO I Ai 4.11 St . lIA 3 '0 al .0 al LI , t. I 7; , .. it. to 4.) a 4t. 1 al 1) 1 0111 '5 I a t. 101 t. !,5 0 I a 1 0 I al 5 I a: 10 ..1 40 41 2011 20 I 11 18 I 4 18 L 7 ai 20 1: 20 F 20 al 20 .00 al 25 2) 25 LOO 1 71 1.00 a 20 J 5 1 4 tO4 00 &I 100 a 1 'et) +1 , I . ? - .),0 1 I 20 11 tt* al ~ •.i •0 41 •f; xl 20 al .1; 1 I V) al al %1 20 , 20 a , 20 al 8 i r.! 10 al 20 11 20 a] 20 al 1-0 100 5( 100 21 100 21 20 s.l 100' 50 F 100 21 tOO 20 it 100 t 10 al 50 THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVEN ING DECEMBER 21, I,:f NES .1 BED 1 FIX gT) - 1 4 :R NT A T:-. ELECTION OF COMMON COUNCIL MEN—(This Day.) laval. aril Military Intelligence. ItAnatArt. nCom Pa- C 0,011 P yaAer ay this .:sy Tb s being St.Thomas's•day, the election of gentlemen to fill the office of Common Councilmen for the various wards of the City took place. The following gentlemen were elected for the under-mentioned wards : 92 - P 4 94 - 98 131 133 BREAD-STREET WARD. Messrs. irawtrey, Deputy. I Messrs. J. J. Mellard. N. Maughan. ... F. Maynard. ••• D • Laurie. W. Patten. ... J. P. Snell. J. Smith. COLEMAN -STREET. Messrs. W.S.Hale, Deputy. Messrs. T. H. Hall. ... J. Davis. ... J. Perkins. W. Webster. H. W. Valiance. ... Hogg. ... T. Westball. -- 403 105 12i '3 BRIDGE WARD. All the old members again returned. BILLINGSGATE WARD. Messrs. Bower, Deputy. Messrs. Causton. Roberts. ••• ••• Graves. ••• Phillips. Slowman. -•• Williams. •.. Bo wsfield. WALBROOK. Messrs. Conder, Deputy Messrs. Murrell Dawson Fry ••• ... Rowley ... Hale BROAD -STREET. No opposition. CORDWAINEIRS' WARD. The election here was presided over by the Lord Mayor, as alderman of the ward. There was co oppo sition, and all the old members were re-elected. The elections created no excitement. As far as we can ascertain, up to the time of our going to press there was no opposition in the other wards, and, consequently the gentlemen who represented the wards during the past year were re-elected. CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Coleridge.) Upon the, prisoners Davidson and Gordon being placed at the bar, the proceedings were resumed by Mr. Montague Chambers, whe, after complaining of the unfair position a portion of the press had taken in making comments upon the charge while the ver dict of the jury was pending, proceeded to argue that the whole transaction, although it might be reck less trading was not a fraudulent transaction of a penal character. His lordship having summed up, The jury retired, and after being absent a few minutes, found the prisoners guilty, and they were sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour. SURREY SESSIONS.—(This Day.) (Before J. E. Johnson, Esq., and a Bench of Magistrates.) AN UNGRATEFUL THIEF. — Sarah Westcott. 50, was indicted for stealing a gold watch and chain, the pro perty of Joseph Scott. Sarah Scott stated that she was the wife of the prose cetor, and on the sth of October the prisoner came to drink tea with her at No. 9, Devonshire-street, New ington-causeway. At the time her husband's watch and chain was laying on the table in the sitting-room, and no otber person entered the house. The prisoner left about nine o'clock, and after she was gone witness missed the watch and chain. She gave information to the police ; and some time afterwards she went to Croydon, at which place the prisoner said she lived, but could get no tidings of her. In November last she re. ceived information that the prisoner was in custody at Croydon for felony, and on going there witness saw in her possession a gold ring which she missed at the time with the watch. The magistrates sentenced her to a month's imprisonment for that offence, and at the ter mination of that punishment the constable took her into custody for stealing the watch and chain. She acknow ledged having stolen the watch and chain, and said that she pledged them for 2/. 103. Win. Alfred Radford, assistant to Mr. Wm. Radford, pawnbroker, Kennington-park, said that on the 6th of October the prisoner pledged the watch and chain with him for 2/. 10s. Daniel Rowbottom, police-constable 489 A, stated that he received information of the robbery, and at the termination of the former sentence at Croydon, he went to Wandsworth House of Correction and apprehended her. She confessed the robbery, and said she was in d is tress. The jury found her guilty, and the Court sentenced her to six months' bard labour in the House of Correc- John .Tones, 24, described in the calen , !ar as a car penter, was indicted for stealing a horse-rug, the pro perty of Thomas Gee. The jury found him guilty, and the Court sentenced him to two months' hard labour at Wandsworth. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--(This Day.) IVIARYLEBONE. UNLAWFUL POSESESSION.—James Brenton was placed at the bar before Mr. Long, charged on suspicion of hav ing stolen a quantity of lead. Porter, 55 D, deposed that between 5 and 6 yesterday evening he met the prisoner in Pickering-plaCe, Bayswater, and on asking him what he had in the handkerchief which he was carrying, he replied, "Nothing but a little tea and sugar, and a drop of gin." Upon examining the handkerchief witness found therein the articles named. Prisoner was then questioned as to what else he had, as the front of his coat seemed rather bulky, but as he gave a very unsatisfactory answer, he (witness) pulled open the garment, and saw concealed in the front thereof come lead, newly cut, weighing nearly 14Ibs. He alleged that it was given to him by a man whom he accident ally met, and with regard to whose name or address he (prisoner) of course had no knowledge. The magistrate sent the prisoner, whose account of the transaction he could not for a moment believe, to hard labour in the House of Correction for a month, for the unlawful possession of the property. The Queen of the South steam-transport, Capt. Beale, with detachments for Malta, went out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday, but the gale was so severe that she anchored at Spithead for the night. All communication with Spithead was nearly stopped yesterday, so severely did it blow, and the danger flags were up. The Canadian steam transport went into Portsmouth harbour yesterday morning to land her invalids, and be paid off out of the transport service. The Rhadainantbus steam-transport went into Portsmouth harbour yesterday from Woolwich to discharge machinery. The Indiana steam-transport went into Portsmouth harbour yesterday afternoon to land invalids, and be paid out of the transport service. At sunset last evening the gale on the Portsmouth coast was freshening. The gun-boats Bustard and Banterer, having been cop pered and masted, were taken out of Woolwich dock yesterday morning and received into the basin, to com plete their fittings. The riggers are conseq uen tly em ployed in extra liburs, so as to 'expedite the arrangements in fitting out for service the accumulating numbers of this useful class of vessels, which arrive in rapid succes sion in fulfilment of the Government contracts. The Deputy-Adjutant General of the Royal Marines went down to Woolwich yesterday morning unexpect edly, for the purpose of a special inspection of the quar ters, the gun-battery, and the general departments ap pertaining to the barracks, which he went through very minutely. He likewise visited and approved the site contemplated for the erection of a new hospital adjacent to the establishment, and, after partaking luncheon with the commandant, Col. Brown, he proceeded to Chatham. A detachment of Royal Sappers and Miners from Woolwich, will arrive this day at Brompton to occupy a portion of the huts. Captain Fisher, R.N., is at Rochester for the purpose of enrolling young men in the Naval Coastguard ser vice. Few have at present offered themselves. 120 Lancaster rifles have arrived at Brompton bar racks for the use of the Royal Sappers and Miners. They are destined to carry 1,000 yards, and have a short sword attached to the barrel, making a very formidable weapon. The floating battery now being built at Chatham is in frame, and she is expected to be complete in every re spect for sea by the end of March. The Chesapeake, 50, in course of construction at Chat ham, has a large number of men employed on her till 6 p.m. to hasten her fittings. Captain G. de Winton de Winton, 99th Regiment, has an extension of leave from the 23d December to Jan. 23, previous to his being appointed to the staff. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Admiralty : Captain Yelverton, C. 8., to the Brunswick, commis sioned ; Captain Henry Lyster, to the Arrogant ; commander E. Marshall, to the Devastation, commis sioned ; W. B. Pearse, paymaster to the Victory ; J. W. Maddock, paymaster to the Fisgard ; W. Weaser, to the Waterloo ; W. P. O'Brien to the Impregnable. On Tuesday, 28 men of the Wicklow Rifles volun teered into the Royal Artillery. They were all fine active young men, and were at once attests 1. The following draughts are under orders for Malta and the Crimea, from the Limerick district;--9th Regi ment, 3 subalterns, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 95 rank and file ; 17th Regiment-4 subalterns, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 35 rank and file ; 39th Regiment-1 Cap tain, 2 subalterns, 1 serjeant, 54 rank and file. Colonel Crutchley, the Commandant of the Provisional Depot Battalion at Parsonstown, has received an order to get in readiness another draught, who are to proceed immediately to Malta. The draught is to consist of 11 officers, 3 serjeants, and 137 rank and file. The follow ing are the officers who are under orders to aceompany the draught, viz.:-21st Fusiliers Major Boldero ; Lieotenants Stephens, Crisman, Connell, and Sher wood. 57th Regiment—Ensigns Houghton, Sewell, Etnly, and Waller. 63d Regiment—Ensigns Gordon and Sproule. The Exeter Association for the Relief of the Wives and Children of Soldiers serving in the Eatt have just issued their first statement. Since June, 1854, they have received 1681. 12s. 6d., of which 1631. ls. 10d. has been expended, leaving a balance in hand of St. 10s. The number of soldiers' wives relieved was 25, and the number now receiving relief is 7. The association is at present in wat,t of funds. London R. N. Went. L.ScN. W. Caledon... E. Un. E. C Gt. Nrrt., E. Count. Caldoninu Do (it. Res7D yk. New. & Berw. Y. &N M Do D 0..... S. East, !pet° k Cr) Norte k Do. L.S/ N. W & Stcktou narliTigt. Coun. E. Count. Do Do L. & N.W Do Qt North* , Lancash Rt Yorksh. T. Brassey 141. MClean Stockt. & Darlingt Do tltW, 110 115 ti 4 8') par 55 --- 57 130 - 3 - 3 4 - 30 - 31 80 - 85 ,JE SHAH, 107 - 109 104 - 106 90 -92 93 - 95 15 - 16 5 - 6 t' l P 4 I 11t 57 - 53 15 7 115 101 107 99 101 par 1.. 9 10 6 - 6A 85 - 87 78 - 82 78 82 9f 9i 15f - 164 9A 10 66 -6; 17 - 18 8i - 9 124 - 1 13C 132 ... -~ .p l i i - - i2i • •• • •• '''' 111 - 133 91 - V 3 - 4 - 46 97 - 99 88 -90 2/ - 31 ••• - 0 - 96 13 14 id - pav 21i -22 i 92 - 94 8i -- 91 - . 2 _ idl MILITIA. The 4th Lancashire Militia, 1,100 strong, left Dublin on Wednesday for Belfast. The Roscommon Militia embarked on Thursday on board the Megara steam-tra.nspert, at Kingstown, on the way to Berwick-on-Tweed. , MARKET NEWS.—(This Day). CORN EXCHANGE. Zinc° Monday the receipts of English wheat, coastwise and by land carriage, have been very moderate, and the supply of that grain fresh up to-day from Essex and Kent was small. Although the show of samples was limited all kinds of wheat of home produce moved off slowly, but without leading to any change in the quotations. Over 10,000 quarters of foreign wheat have come to hand this week. That article was excessively dull in sale, and almost nominal in price. Floating cargoes were much neglected. Fine barley was held at Monday's currency, but other kinds wore dull and rather drooping. Wo had a slow sale for malt at lat , 3 rates. The oat trade was very dull at barely Monday's prices. Beans, peas, and flour were almost nominal. Wheat. 2,350 ARRIVALS TIIIB WBNE. Barley. I Malt. Oats. } Flout 5,940 3,240 1.110 820 I 3,930 1 27006119 14 , 010 I 4030 brs Crtg',lsh .. trish '.. roreigri j ! 10 490 I METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. Although the supply of beasts was very moderat3 for the time of year, the beef trade was in a most depressed state, and prices were fully 4d per 81ba lower than on Monday. The show of sheep was trifling, but more than equal to the demand; indeed so littlo was doing that the quotations were almost nominal. As regard calves there was no sale for them, and prices were very uncertain. Pigs sold heavily at late rates. Mulch cows were very (lull, at froni 111. to 19/. each, including their small calf. Per albs to sink the offals. s. d. s. d.I s. d 1. Interior Beasts.... 3 4to 3 6 Prime Southdown 4 8 5 0 Seco ud quality.... 3 8 4 0 Large crse. calves 4 4 4 8 Prime large oxen 4 2 4 6sPrime small do 410 5 0 Primo Scots, &c. 4 8 410 Large hogs Inferior Sheep ...3 4 3 6,Small porkers Second quality ...3 8 4 2Suckling calves-23 0 30 0 Prime erse.-wlled.4 4 4 6 Quarter old pigs. 22 0 28 0 TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY. Reacts 1,110 Beasts— . 180 sheep 2,800 Sheep •• •• 6' 0 JIJ 1 s,. Calves 200 Ca1ve5.................... 100 NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. very great, aud a good busi- Tho supplies of meat were ness was transacted, as follov Per ,albs by s. d. s. d. Beef, interior 3 2 3 6 Do., middling 3 8 4 0 Do. prime large 4 2 4 4 De , do. small ..„4 6 4 8 fork, large 3 10 4 4 the carcase. s. d. s. d. Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 6 Do., middling 3 8 4 0 Do., prime 4 2 4 6 Veal 3 8 4 8 Pork, small 4 6 5 4 BOROUGH HOP. The finest new hops moved off steadily, and, in some instances, prices have an upward tendency. Inferior hops are a dull sale at late rates. Mid and East Kent pockets, 3/ 5s to 6/ Os per cwt ; Weald of Kent, 31 Os to 41 15s ; Sussex, 21 16s to 4110 s. COLONIAL. TEA.—The market has been dull, common congou ruled firm at 94d to 9iil per lb. The public sale of 7,200 packages went off slowly, part only sold without altering previous quotations. SUGAR.—The public market closed on Friday the 21st and reopens on Wednesday, 3d January, 1856. There has been rather more disposition shown to transact business. West India, Demerara, sold at steady prices, 44s to 45s per cwt. Barbadoes good bright grocery, 51s, but 47s to 48s were offered for middling yellow, but refused, importers requiring 4 to 5s advance on that quotation. Madras middling to fine grainy yellow realised 50s 6d to 52s 6d; good middling white 54s to 54s 6d ; good and fine white 53s Gd to 54s 6d ; and soft white Bemires kind 503 Gd to 52s per cwt. Bengal sold at lower rates, viz., low to good yellow Cassipore 46s 6d to 49s ; middling to fine yellow Mauritius kind 45s to 47s Gd per cwt. Penang brown brought 40s and 4 7s per cwt f or good grocery. There was but little done in the refined market. To-day there were several purchases in Bastards and at steady rates. CorFER —Rather more inquiry has existed for Planta tion Ceylon which has brought full rates, also Costa Rica Native Ceylon remained quiet, good ordinary 51s Gd to 52s 6d. Plantation low middling mixed pale to good mid dling bold coloury 61s to 65s Gd. Blacks 308 to 345, and Triage 41s to 55s per cwt. CoooA.—The Market has been firm at public sale, a par cel of Grenada was bought in at 52s to 545, and Trinidad at 52s to 61s per cwt., being above the offers. Ries —There have been steady inquiries for this article, and previous rates were fully supported. Java, middling broken to good white, realised 18s 6d to 20 s 6 d. No trans actions were reported in Bengal. SPICES.—The Market generally has been firm, and higher prices wore realised for most descriptions. Pimento ordinary and good ordi nar y 3 i d to 4 id , and middlin g to good 4id to lid per l b. Pe pp er—Sin g a p ore, g ood bol d white sold readily at 7d p er lb. Nutme g s—Batavi a , good m iddling brown 2s 9 d to 2s 10d, worm y is sd, Singapore and Penang, good middling Is Os to 2s 10d, and wild in shell 8d per lb. Mace—Batavia, middling to good 2s 2d per lb. Ginger—African small taken in at 24s Gd to 25s per cwt. COCHINEAL. —This article has been much inquired after. o B f l o a r c k t h s 4s b Teueriffe good silvers brought 2 a 8 d to 38 9d, and 3s lid to e l t i t d e r to kinds sser of this 4s s l A d L,r fo p r ß ß T E l Blacks. h H e n dur a demand Honduras article has been large, and prices ruled firm. Bengal 9to 94 lbs refraction, good colour and crystal, sold at 33 5, British refined 38 s to 38s 6d per cwt. Rum.—The market remaining extremely dull. TALLOW.—The fluctuation in this article has not been extensive. P.Y.C. on the spot 66s 6d to 67s 6d per cwt. The latest quotations were sp o t 67' s 3d , a nd spring 683 per cwt. GREEN FRRIT.—The Christmas demand is good, prices well supported for all kinds, the stock being light. Two cargoes oranges, from St. Michael's, sold by Keeling and Hunt, at public sale, went at an advance of 3s to 4s per box. Lemons are scarce, owing to want of arrivals. Nuts of every description meet with a good sale, and contrary to expectation the trade generally has been better than was anticipated from the present political and commercial state of affairs. SUICIDE IN IN THE RIVER LEA. —Yesterday morning, shortly before eight o'clock, the body of a female, appa rently about 40 years of age, was discovered embedded in the ice on the surface of the water of the River Lea, Lower Howerton. The deceased was respectably dressed in a dark brow n merino dress, Paisley shawl, black drawn bonnet, and cloth boots. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Dec. 21.—Wind this day at noon, E., strong breeze and fine clear frosty weather. PohTsmourH, Dec. 20.—Wind S.E. a gale—Arrived —Alabama, from Callao; Julia, Rio Janeiro, for Ham burg ; Princess, Bahia. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 20.—Wind B.—Arrived—Malabar, from Madras ; Pearl, Quebec. Sailed —H. M.S. Salaman der, for the Cape of Good Hope. FALMOUTH, Dec. 20.—Wind S.E., strong gale.—Ar rived—Ville de Pasco,_ from Callao. DARTMOUTH, Dec. 20.—Wind B.S.E.—Arrived—John Taylor, from Whampoa. SHEERNESS, Dec. 20. - The Spanish steamer Indepen dente, from Cadiz to Lond on , w ith sugar, came on shore here this morning five miles from Exmouth bar and is breaking up • all hands s a ved. Her machinery broke down yesterday about 40 miles from land. WEXFORD, Dec. 20. The Isabella, of Cork, from New. port to Waterford, ran on the rocks at Kilmore, on the night of the 18th inst., and went to pieces- RZA.IIMARIS, Dec. 20.—The Margaret and Ellen, from Liverpool to Alm wch, was totally wrecked, on the night of the 18th inst., at Point Lynes ; crew and part of cargo saved. _ _ _ . L VERPOOL, Dec. 20.—The Koh-i-Noor has been laid on Tranntere bank. The Underwriter, from Now York, drifted foul of the Norfolk Hero, for Smyrna ; the latter lost bulwarks, &c. (PEE ELECTRIC! TELEGRAM) SOUTHAMPTON, Friday Morning. Arrived.— South-Western (a ), from Jersey. Sailed.—Port Glasgow, for Poole ; Violet, Australia ; Argyll, (1.), Carentan ; Charlotte, Guernsey ; Sylph, (s.), Dublin. LIVERPOOL, Friday Morning. Wind S. Arrived.—ltattler, from Lisbon; Magra, Kingstown. HOLYHEAD, Deo. 20. Wind S.S.E. Arrived—Louisa, (a. a.), from Oporto • Magrica, Lis bon ; Eugene J ulie, Nantes ; Sea , Santander. On SUBMARINE AND Emma TELEGRAM) GRAVESEND, Friday, 9.54 a.m: Wi n d E.S.E.'; tide, 3i hour's flood; frosty. Arrived, Dec. 20. Jane, from Ostend; Nord America, New York ; Providence, Gravelines. Sailed—Racaia, for Pernambuco. DEAL, Friday, 9.27 a.m. Wind S.S.E., strong. A large screw steam-transport, from westward, anchored last night and proceeded this morning ; her number not known. — THE LATE DR. W. F. CHAMBERS, LATE PHYSICIAN TO THE QUEEN. —We announced on Tuesday the death of this e minent member of the medical profession, which took place at his residence, Hordle House, near Ly mington, Hants, on the 16th inst. Dr. Chambers was born in India, in the year 1786, and was the eldest son of Mr. W. Chambers, a gentleman in the civil service of t an East India Company. The deceased came to Eng land when very young, and received his education at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he obtained high honours. On leaving Cambridge he came to London and entered at the Windmill-street School of Medicine, and in due time he was admitted a licentiate in medicine. Dr. Chambers was for many years one of physicians of St. George's Hospital, and had up to the the time of his retirement, in 1848 , one of the most lu crative practices in the metropolis. N E w STEAM YACHT.—There is now, at Summers and Day's iron s hiuilding-yard at ortham, Hans. an iron pa ddle-whe p el b steam-yacht, just completed for t Mus tapha Bey, the heir apparent to the Pachalic of Egypt, in which his Highness intends to cruise in the River Nil e . She is most beautifully fitted up, and her build and machinery embody every improvement of modern sc i ence . She is only 200 tons burden, and her engine power is that of 50 horses only. Her name is Mustapha B e y. She is scarcely so large as an Isle of Wight steamer. Captain Almond, of the Peninsular and Orien tal Company, is appointed to take her out to Alexandria, for which be is to receive a handsome gratuity. The crew with which he is going to navigate her to Egypt w ill only number six persons. The Mustapha Bey will have her trial trip next week, and the week after she will leave England for the River Nile. Captain Almond is the youngest commander in the Peninsular and Ori• t (natal Company's service. li 8J 5 67} i 11i lli i 40 39i i PREFE Aberdeen Do. N 0.2, 7 p. 0... lythandTynslOpel c. pref. (issd. 507.' Brie. & Ex. 4 p. c. St. Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Ohester & Holyhon.:' Guar. 5i per cent Do. do. Prof. No. 2 Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Cork &Bandonsip.c Dun.Prth 0 3r Aber. J T. Anglian Cis. Ash Do. do. Cls. B 6 p. e Do. do Cis. C 7p. c Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No. 1 Do. No. 2 . Do. New C p. c. St. PAgt Un., G. 6 p. c. Do. 51., 10 per cent Do. 161. Dcbentr.Sl). Do. do. 4 per cent 1 East Lan cash. 6 p. eta &W. York. J. MI. rf;(1. Prth.&Dun.4p.e Furness Gies. &5.W.G.5 p.c Great Northn. 5 p. Do. 5 p. c. Redeem at 10 p. 0. prom Do. 4A p.O Do. 5 p.c. Scrip, Red. 10 - St. St. 100 all 1u 100 100 11 , 2A St. it 5 p. c. pm... ()t. N. of Scot. I at Pre Gt. S. ix W. (Ireland' Do. 4 por c. Pref, Westn. (Berke • I-tants Ex . 5 p. e) )o. con. red. 44 p.c. )1, con. red.. 4 p. c 'b irred. 4p. c. no, Birm. Pref Sb D ()nester Rp. D ~ do. 5 p. c. D Birm, Qua. Stk D Ches. Qua, Sh.. D. do. do. D. do. d 0......... &York. F. D. 6 p. c. St , c 1; Len. & Itrigh. G. 5 p. . Do. Pref., 5 p. e. Do. New Guar.6 p. Do. do. 5 per cent Lou. &N. W., Coy. lunoaton 5 p. et & 3. W. 7 per ct ~ only. Lonely. & Ennis. . Shef., & Lit) few, £lO 100 100 100 100 100 100 8114 25 10 L. 0.0 ►o. 4ftrypt.,St Carl. 4 u w. 4i percent.... , •141.. Consol.6 p.c. s•' , Consol. Bristol Rirrii. 6 per cent. po. p. c. Pref. S D°. Pref. 4 § per co I Do. 5/. Prf-f. 4 p. c.. IDitto L.& H. Pref. St ,Norfolk Debeliture H I pm Pia Do. Pref. 4 p. s. Sto , . Do. 5 p. e. Eat Do. 5 per et. pref Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c North British Berva, 4 p.c P Do. do. do Do Leeds 6 p.e Da. do. Quarters 4 Do. York q. & r North Staffordshire. Oxford, Worcester, • Wolverh.Xls, 6 ps Do R. Pref. 101. Sh. 92} die Scot. Cent. ,New Pre South Devon Do. fixed, , 4 per cen S. Eastern (Readini Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4 1 , per cent Do. Fixed 4i p c sh S. Wales Gua. 4 p. c Do. do. 4i p. e.... S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. qtock.& Dar. ,5 p c. Do. do. do Stock. & Flartl. g. P. O. till July 1, '56 ,Waterul. & Kilk. 6 p e ItETWRP. 1 all A.nglo Austrin. Gold ... - ••• I.os . all Anglo Californian ... I - 4 1 10 6 kustrslian 1 all kustralian Cordillera .. , - - 1 all Ave Maria. - 1 all Baden (Gcl.Duelly of 4 - 4 i 0 all illsonarvon Iron and , Coal . - ••• , 20 14 British Iron 4 - 6 45 26 Brazilianlmp.(issue.' at £S pin.) tO all Do. Cocaes & Cuiab 24 3 10 15 Do. St. Johr Dsl RA' 28 - 30xd 281 x d I ; Clarendon Cons. Min Co. of Jamaica.,,.,. Ad- iP 10 all Cobre Copper 64 - 68 5 1 :!olonial Gold. ... it. tll l'opper Win. of 13, 30 35 45 all Do. Prof. 7i p. co , 24 25 LC t'optapo . l9 ' , O 2 1 i 'ortuna ?I) alt 'leneral - 14 16 1 all It•NuggetVeinß,a , i _ 0 41 all Great Polenoth . ll 21 5 all Gt Wheal Vor United 1 I all Liberty ...„ ........ . 4d 3 all Anares . II 7 i 5 11 Lusitanian i- i P I at. Wariquitta ........ ._ i 1 all New Granada - 4 I all Nouveau Monde.... 1) al' Pontgibaad Silver Lead MM. & Smelt. ... - ... 5 1 Port Philip - ... I all 4nartz Rock i -4) all Thymney Iron 2O - z 2 x d 15 all Do. Now 6 8 x d 30 13. i lantiago de Cuba.., - 45 I all =total. Australian... . i ... 4 1 all Do. Scrip... 4 2 1 1 Do. 10 per cent Prof ... - ... 10 9 Pin Croft .. - 4i 281 all United Mexican 4 - 4i 44 1 1 all 'Waller 1 all West Mariposa I - 1 12s. Wortlaing Mining of Australia - ... 1 40 1 Yuba ... - ... • MI be ELLAN 800 b. '25 19 Australian Agricult. 28 - 30 10 all Aushlaln. Royal Mai _ - 10 SA Berlin Water Works 6% - 74 50 ;6 Brit. American Lan. 47 - 50 100 , 2t) Canada . - 145 140 St. 100 Canada Gov. 6p. et Jan. anti ,i sly 1095 1104 1104 4 5 all Crystal Palace 2 - 24 24 5 5 Do. Preference.. 44 -4/ 4t 4 1 41 0 1 C D r u ys st t i l Pal. of n o f O F r ran e ... e : .... -- ... 20 11 Eastern Steam - 5 all En.&Aus Cop Sm Co 1i 1 25 24 Electric Telegraph 2O - 2 1 all Electric Teleg. of Ir. ... ••• 5 all Gen. Iron Sc Collier ... ••• 1 2 1 : 0: 5 a 1: 1 0 4 0 1 mag G I r i she Gene ralu.aiteenanSteam Beetroot e t lCw .N V S a i t t Steamg v t g . ::••• '.": :::::: 151 10 all Mediteran. Elec. Tel 8 - 10 10 9 Wexican&S.Americn. 55 - 6 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fun; ..• - ... x d 10 5 Netherlands Land.... 1 14 10 all Do. Do. - 3 5 1 Do. 8p c P hos at 1d 1 dis - par 2 1 NT. S. W. Coal & Inter. Steam Navbrat. Co. .., - ... 100 80 New B. &N. S. Land . . - ... 1 all N. B. Atistralasiax .4 --i 20 15 Nrth.ofEuropeSteans .. - ... 1 all Oriental Gas I 14 1 2s. Do. " New Shares " . - ... all Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl. 24 - 24 50 all Peninsular& Orienta . - „. 63 •• 50 10 Do. New ... - ...p 13 2 all Portland Iron Co ... - ••• 100 60 Royal Mail Steam - ••• 1 all Scot. Austral. Invest l4 -1/ 1 a ll D-301tathtbu Now 4 - iP stral.:An 4 36 - 38 1 al Sabmar. Tel. Scrip 3 i 20 all • KelnStertot ... 25 5 l!rust& L. Co.U.Can. ... -- ... ' loo k 28 van Diemolfs_land 15 i jth'l; j ii, 21 i tion. I 8 5 E. THE CROSSING OF CHEQUES. The extent to which the view prevails that a specific crossing of cheques would impart especial s ecuin.y renders allusion to it necessary, although the point was fully decided as recently as February, 1852, in the impoitant case "Bellamy v. Marjoribanks." In that instance a cheque on Coutts and Co. for 2,5961. was remitted to a London solicitor to be paid to the Court of Chancery, the sender having previously taken the precaution of crossing it, "Bank of England, for ac count of the Accountant-General." The solicitor, in order to appropriate it to his own use, struck his pen throuli this, and wrote the name of "Goslings and Co." his own bankers, underneath it. The cheque thus altered was paid by Messrs. Coutte, and an action was brought against them by the drawer to recover the amount. The judges, however, held that an instrument payable "to bearer could not be restricted, and a ver dict - was given for the defendants. At the same time the remarks of the Court on that trial were such as for cibly to illustrate the discreditable anomalies of the general question, and to leave no doubt of the absolute necessity of the passing of a distinct act to prevent the continual recurrence o f litigation and the daily anxiety experienced by every trader lest it should next be his own turn to be exposed to loss. There is no doubt that, under the law as it stands, a cheque purporting to be drawn to bearer cannot afterwards be made special. Indeed, without a legislative provision to that effect, the idea itself would be absurd. Nevertheless, reliance had been placed on the force of custom, at all events within certain limits, in giving such validity to theprac tice as would warrant a judgment against any one who should change or pay an instrument of this description without due caution ; and this reliance, which had previously been almost perfect, and which has now been dispelled altogether, was greatly shaken by the result o f the verdict in 1852. On that occasion the illogical distinctions attempted to be drawn were suffi cient to indicate that nothing but uncertainty would pre vail for the future, and that the public would neither have the advantage of being informed that they must cease to attach any value to the system of crossing cheques, or, on ' the other hand, that the practice might safely be relied ' upon within certain limits. The Court, for instance, pro nounced that nothing could restrain the negotiability of a cheque payable to bearer, and hence that, even if a custom of regarding a crossing to a special banker as obligatory could be proved—which in that case it had not—it would be incapable of being supported in point of law. At the same time, however, it was clearly seen that anything tending to sweep away the protection of crossed cheques altogether would create universal incon venience and dismay, and, consequently, after a series of remarks from the Court on the valuable nature of the usage in preventing crime and facilitating all the com mercial transactions of the kingdom, it was intimated that, although a crossing to an individual banker would be legally inoperative, a general crossing such as " and Company," signifying that it must be paid through some banker, was not to be disregarded without peril. It is obvious, however, that the distinction here sought as a kind of compromise rested upon an impalpable basis, and that if, apart from all question of custom, the negotiability of a cheque cannot be restricted, the law must apply with just the same force whether the endea vour be made with regard to one individual banker or the small body of individuals comprised in the entire list of bankers. From that moment, therefore, it was plain that nothing could be depended upon in the matter, and that in every future case it would be 'completely a point of chance as to whether the weight for the moment would be on the side of "law" or custom." Even, hov,.ever, if this general state of doubt ,had not been created, and the validity of the crossing " and Company" had been left unquestioned, the public would have been in no better position. Owing to the facilities afforded by the joint stock banks, and their small branches, no person in London of the slightest acuteness can have any difficulty in passing a cheque through some bank, if it be left open to him to choose any that may be convenient. It is true that these facilities are to be re garded with satisfaction, but they completely alter the state of affairs that prevailed when banking accommoda tion was limited. A special crossing would, therefore, under any circumstances afford the only protection, and after the recent intimation of Lord Campbell it is useless to calculate upon any remedy, except the rational one of introducing a measure to secure, beyond controversy, those advantages which it was hitherto hoped bad been secured by custom, and which all admit to be inestimable. —Times' City Article. METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS. The following is au authentic statement of the names of the gentlemen who have up to the present time offered themselves as candidates for the chair manship of the Metropolitan Board of Works :—Mr. Jebb, the present Chairman of the Sewers Com mission ; Sir John Shelley, M.P. ; Mr. Thwaitcs, of Southwark, a member of the present Commission of Sewers ; Mr. Turner, of Hampstead, returned to the Metropolitan Board ; Mr. Corrie, the magi. strate, returned to the present Board, and also a member of the Sewers Commission ; Mr. Symonds, of the Metropolitan Puilding Board, Adelphi ; and Mr. T. Hawes, a former chairman of the Sewers Commission. LIST OF MEMBERS OF METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WO.,i,KS. Atkins, Charles—District of Plurnstead and Lewisham, Mushy-green, Lewisham. Barnett, Captain, 11. N.—District of St. Giles, &c., 14, - . Woburn-square. Bev.,n, Thomas B. , 5 Elizabeth-terrace, Hack ney-road. Boyson. Ambrose—Newington, 28, Newington-place. Burslern, Henry, J. P.—Paddington, 14, Kensington Gar- dons-terrace, Carpmeal, William—District of Wandsworth, 4, Old square, Lincoln's-inn. Chalmers, Francis, J. P.—Chelsea, Cheyne-row, Chelsea. Collinson, Edward—St. George the Martyr, 95, Blackman- btreet. Corrie, William—St. Pancras, 10, Gloucester-torrace, Re- gent's-park. Crellin, George's East, St. George's-street, St. G _wrge's East. Dalton, W. H.—St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 28, Cockspnr-st. Davis, Lewis—Woolwich, Plumstead. Dennis, William—lslington, Twyford-villas, Caledonian- road. Dixon, Benjamin— -, 3, Norway-place, Commer ci al-road East. D'lffanger, Thomas—St. Marylebone, 5, Melina-place, St. John's- wood. Doniton, Frederick—Lambeth, High-street, Lambeth. Drew, Beriah—Bermotidsoy, Bermondsey-street. Few, Charles—District of Strand, 2, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden. Hall, Thomas Henry, City, 4S, Finsbury-square. Harrison, Deputy Edward—City, 82, Cornhill. Hawkes, William—Kensington, 21, High-street, Ken sington. How's, W. A. H —Shoreditch, 9). Kingsland-road. Hunt, Henry A.—St. George, Hanover-square, Parlia ment-street. Irvine, Alexander L.—Camberwell, Smyrna-lodge, Park road, Old Kent-road. Knight, Simon -- Blackwell. Lyon, Major William—St. George, Hanover-square, 22, Park-lane Misken, William—District of Rotherhithe, &c., Lower road, Rotherhithe. Moreland, Joseph—St. Luke's, Middlesex, 18, Old street, St. Luke's. Nicholay, J. A.—St. Marylebone, 82, Oxford-street. Offor, George—District of Hackney, Grove-street, Hack ney. Pascall, James—Clerkenwell, I. Queen's-road, Pentonvillo Savage, John—lslington, 54, Th,rnhill-street. Seeley, Robert B.—District of Holborn, 54, Fleet-street. Shelley, Sir John V., M.P.—St. James's, Westminster, 5, Park-lane. Snow, W. E.—Mile-end Old Town, 25, Tredegar-square, Mile-end. Stevens, V,— --, 25, Bell-yard, Temple-bar. Taylor, H. L.—City, 10, Queen-street, Cheapsido. Talor, Robert—Lambeth, 3, Lambeth-terrace. Thwaites J.—District of St. Saviour (also Greenwich), 61, High street, Southwark. Turner, Thomas, J.l'.--Hampstead, Hampstead. Wallis, G. S.— --, 16, Mansell-street, Goodman's fields. Ware, J.—Bethnal-green, 3, Trafalgar-place, West Hackney-road. Wilkinson, Josiah— St. Pancras, 2, Paper-buildings, Tem ple. Wright, Alexander—District of St. Margaret and St. John, 55, Millbank-street. Mr. Thwaites appointed to two places, which makes up the 25. • COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a court was held for the despatch of public business. THE LATE VISIT OF THE ICING OF SARDINIA. Upon the motion of Mr. T. Parker, the address of the corporation to the King of Sardinia, and the answer of his Majesty thereto was ordered to be entered upon the minutes of the court. THE COMMON SERGEANT. A somewhat lengthened discussion took place upon a report of the officers and clerks' committee, recommend ing that on the resignation of ens the Common Sergeant he an should be allowed a retiring pion of 1,000/. per - num. The Recorder had received a communication from the Common Sergeant, which was a formalto hand i resig nation of his office, but he see med unwilling t to the Lord Mayor until the question of the learned ser jeant's retiring a llowance was settled. Mr. H. L. Taylor asked the Recorder whether, if the court did not agree to the report, he would put in the resignation or not. It was decided, however, on a division, that the Recorder need not answer this question. Mr. H. L. Taylor then moved as an amendment that the Common Sergeant be called upon to resign his office before the court take into consideration the subject of his retiring allowance. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Barkly, and further supported by Messrs. Ross and Gresham. Alderma n F a rebrother and Wire, and Messrs. Lott, Blake, Dakio &c., supported the original resolution, which, on a divi sion, was carried by 59 against 38. The report was then agreed to. The Recorder, immediately after the court adopted the report of the committee, handed to the Lord Mayor the resignation of the Common Sergeant, which was read, aor and ordered to be entered on the j ourna l s o f t h e cou rt. THE BATHS AND WASH-HOLTSES IN GOIILSTON-SQUAR E . Mr. TowsE (the chairman of the coal, corn, and finance committee) brought up, and moved the adoption of, a report from the members of the committee to whom had been referred various petitions on the subject of the baths and wash-houses in Goulston-square. The re port stated that the court ought not to lose so favour able an opportunity of commencing a good work at a moderate outlay as was presented in the offer by the present proprietors of the baths and wash-houses to dis pose of the same to the corporation for 11,5001. Their (iriginal cost had been 27,8001., and the receipts being present inf-afficient to meet the current expenses, the , c onmittee would he compelled to close the establishment, if were not taken by the corporation. In the discussion that followed, the adoption of thei report was supported by Messrs. Towse, Abraham, T. 11. Fry, and others, who urged that the establishment of baths and wash-houses would be a great boon to the poor of the City and its suburbs, that the establishment in question was advantageously situated for their con venience. and that at present the poor had to wash and dry their clothes in the room i❑ which they ate and slept. Three or four such institutions were wanted, and it was disgraceful to the corporation that they had not been long ago established. The adoption of the report was opposed by Messrs. Anderton, Cox, and De Jersey, on the ground that the corporation had at present ♦ery heavy and important calls upon them ; that the institu tion would require the expenditure of some 20,000/., be sides the purchase money, to put it into an efficient con dition ; that this sum would have to be borrowed ; and that in the present state of tho money market it, would be very impolitic to go into the money market for funds wherewith to purchase a bankrupt trading con cern situated beyond the limits of the City. Several other gentlemen addressed the Court, when the attention of the Lord Mayor was directed to the fact that only one alderman was in attendanCe, upon which the proceedings abruptly terminated, without hay ing arrived at any decision. MEDICAL REFOR3I. Yesterday a deputation of the members of the Pro vincial Medical and Surgical Association, consisting of Sir Charles Hastings, Drs. Webster, Wynter, O'Connor, Henry ; Messrs. Brady, M.P., Headlam, M.P., Best, tomiey, Lord Nunneley, &c., waited on Sir George Grey, at the Home-office, for the purpose of ascertaining the intentions of Government on the question of medical reform. Mr. Headlam introduced the deputation. Sir CHARLES HASTINGS, as president of the association, said that it was the wish of the deputation to call the attention of Government to the anomalous and unsatis factory state of the laws affecting the medical profession. On the 18th of last May they had waited on him for the same purpose, when he (Sir George Grey) was kind enough to express his determination to send a copy of the bill then about to be introduced into Parliament by Mr. Headlam to the universities and medical corporate bodies of the United Kingdom, and to send along with it the scheme of the bill propounded by the professors of the University of Edinburgh, and to request the opinions of those bodies on the two bills in question. The association, though unacquainted with the precise terms of the replies given by the medical colleges to Sir George's questions, were yet able to surmise that the great preponderance of opinion was in favour of Mr. Headlam's bill. With the sentiments of the universities they were not so well ac quainted, nor did they attach any great weight to their opinions upon medical reform. They appreciated the advantages of a university degree, and would encourage its acquisition by all medical students ; but they main tained that the power of licensing should be exclusively confided to the medical profession through duly autho rised representatives. It was because Mr. Headlam's bill would, while affording valuable advantages to the univer sities, ♦est the examining and licensing powers in the medical colleges alone, subject to the supervision of a medical council, that the association approved of it ; and at its last annual meeting resolved to give it, if re-intro- duced, their determined support. They would, however, give an equal support to any Government . bill, whatever might be its details, which would secure uniformity of examination and qualification, freedom of practice throughout the United Kingdom, a due representation of the great body of the profession, and a proper system of registration. These reforms the association sought purely on public grounds. In speaking to Sir G. Grey it was not necessary to detail the confused state of the laws by which the medical profession was supposed to be regulated ; but they felt bound to observe that Bev*. rat important acts lately passed imposed duties on and afforded privileges to legally-qualified medical practi tioners, thereby excluding a considerable proportion of the profession, including many of its most eminent mem bers, and likely to complicate the working of those acts. Indeed the progress of sanitary reform made medical reform an absolute necessity. The laws as they exist in reference to the medical profession, however suited to the times of their enactment, and when each division of the United Kingdom had its separate legislature, were now unjust, harassing, and productive of discontent and agitation. It was from such a state of things that they prayed the Government to free them by getting a mea sure of medical reform passed into law next session. Sir GEORGE GREY, in reply, stated that he had laid the answers which he had received from the cor porate bodies before Mr. Headlam, and he thought that the best course for the association now to adopt would be to get that gentleman to re-introduce his bill, with whatever improvement those replies may have suggested to him ; and he (Sir George Grey) would be happy to give it his support. The subject was one of great iLterest, and the failure which had hitherto attended legislation in regard to it was, be thought, to be attributed to the difficulty of bringing medical men themselves to anything like an agreement. He had at one tune hoped that Mr. Macaulay and Lord Rntherfurd bad brought ab mt such an agreement, but in that ho had been disappointed, and now he could not pledge the government to bring in any measure on the subject during this session. THE WEATHER, AND TIIE PARKS. The weather still continues intensely cold ; in fact, owing to the piercing wind, much colder than it has been for several previous winters. The thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's receiving-house in Hyde-park d ,ring the night of Wednesday stood at 23. Yesterday morning at 9 o'clock it rose to 28. but during last even ing the mercury stood only at 26, and there seemed r%, ry probability of the glass getting much lower. The wind still remained etre east, ate' the glass at the receiv ing-house indica`.ed 30.16, with a fine c'ear moonlight night, showing that the present severe weather was likely to ;at. In accordance with a suggestion made to Mr. Charlier by Sir B. Hall, additional officers were yester day pieced at each gate lea fin d into St. James's-park, woo cautioned those entering the p parks that the ice was in a dangerous state. (This suggestion of Sir Benjamin Hall was made because of the recent accident, where y four lives were lost.) Large printed placards were hung up at the lodges, stating " Tao ice is still very dangerous." In censequence of the exertions of the ice men, under Deputy Superintendent, Parsons, and the cautions given by the officers, only one person ventured upon any portion of the ice in St. James's-park, and he slipped and fell upon a flint stone at the edge of the or namental water, and received a severe laceration over the right eye. In the course of another day or eo it is thought, if the frost should continue, that the ice in this park will be sufficiently safe. THE REGENT'S PARK.—The whole of the ornamental water in this park is now completely frozen °ter, the ice, }weever, in some places being only of 12 hours' for mation. During yesterday about 2,500 or 3,000 ladies and gentlemen went upon the frozen surface, and cut out several pretty figures, such as snakes, eels, &c. During the afternoon the number continued to increase to such an extent that they got upon the newly-formed ice, when it cracked so fearfully that Mr. Superintend. ent Williams gave orders to place poles across the most dangerous places, and drive the sliders and skaters back. By so doing the persons were prevented from falling through the ice, and no accident beyond a few falls took place. Tile whole of the private portion of the park was not thrown open to the public, the gates being kept locked, and only those in possession of the right of entr6a were allowed to enter. By Sunday next the ice will be in first-rate condition, presuming that the pre sent weather lasts. THE ROUND POND IN KENSINGTON GARDENS.—Tbiu pond, the favourite resort of the aristocracy, is covered with a beautiful clear surface of ice, so clear that sliding on it is entirely out of the question. byAsbkoaut skating, 2,500 bu t ladles and gentlemen amused thews eive; h was skating fell through ice, the and became . one who attempted to slide was sure to fall. A gentle pocket, handed it to a coolly took his watch out of his i m in a n n Zsed up to his neck. He was extricated, when . he lady who was with him, and recommenced skating amidst the cries of "Bravo, the hero of Inkerman." After skating for some time, the gentleman took off his skates, and ran home as fast as possible. The ice here is two inches thick already. THE LONG WATER, KENSINGTON GARDENS.—About 3,000 sliders and skaters, including several members of the Skating Club, proceeded to this part of the royal park at an early hour in the morning, and disported themselves by skating or sliding during the entire day. No accident worth recording took place. THE SERPENTINE, HYDE PARS.—=-A vast number of 1 persons proceeded to this place yesterday, but the ice being in a dangerous condition—only formed during the preceding night—Mr. Superintendent Williams and the icemen drove the people off. FATAL FlRE.—Between three and four o'clock yester day morning a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. R. Bygrave, gas-fitter, No. 25, Mint-street, Southwark. Before more than one or two of the inmates could be awakened, the flames had taken possession of the stair case, and made escape thereby impossible. Under these circumstances the inmates, with one exception, madl the front windows, threw up the sashes, Fire cal led Escapes loudly for help. The moment the Royal Fire eately arrived, the conductor, Ha" ' ascended ' an d He again brought down Mr. and Mrs. B ygrave, e en. acended his machine and brought dow n he s met by a sheet Eliza Powell and two children. The third time a precipitate retreat. of fire, and was compelled to Mrs. Lydia Robinson, aged ld be aroused ' from their slum- Tfyeears and child, were the last persons that cou ld devouring element. r atri EXIIIBITION. — MrIFrederick tier, and both are stated to have fallen a prey to the RELICS FROM THE A . I. we are indebted for much that ill Futvoye, (:) w h o m manufacture, by the personal and assi judgment abroad, has been fortn saertofhis en ll i ing the rarest e xcellences of the French nd r c au c to l e t u c r si c ae h z e ceur r for disposal in this country. With all his Expositionexerti, h ow ever, he has not b een ena b led to be in tNO p la ces at once ; and this want o f d ua li ty has retarded th e completion of a shop which ke has taken in Regent street, opposite Hanover.street, for the purpose he has in view. Nothing daunted,t however, and impressed with the fact that hearts and purses open simultaneoisly at this season of the year, the huge cases of articles .in tended for Christmas p resen t s h av i ng b een hur ri ed .r through the Custo m -h ouse b y spec i a l i n t er cession,' their contents will ber at once displayed. Mr. Futvoyf 8 ne w establishment m us t no t b e m i s t a k en w ith the one i older in Regent-st ree t, w hi c h f or a w hil e only w i ll bearhis name, f r. TO its g. hr. IP, 23i i 3i I 7-- 7 =