The Sun. — London, England, 1856-04-08 00:00:00

.r ;enel been .d.. .s og• !re ° tors/ ; ?oolir,` 4. / .; rtoo, oer ad. , St; ark P dsci• se NO. ..3clr A .1 0; 841 r fair the , bicb r the ) tallf fre ister• liter• ite i• '' • th• alio% r tb• >the "Tao' Lg.; No ONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two O'CLOCK The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed very fiiinly, and, compared with Friday's range, , Prie " `of all kinds w er e quite as dear. The sales " (:). uaY were about 12,000,bales (1,000 American for export, and 2,000 on speculation) :-300 Pernam an d Maranham, 6id. to 7d. ; 350 Egyptian, 60. 4, d . ; 800 Surat, 41d. to 4/d. ; and 350 Sea ia n d s , lid. to 2s. 4d. per lb. The Railway Share Market Was firm, and business steady. ecinnierci a l a d v i ces f rom F rance report very tittle alteration in the state of trade, notwith ;ltallding -the p roc l ama ti on o f Peace. The most important matter of the week has been the reduc- Li°4 of the rate o f di scoun t by the Bank of France u per cent., which has materially assisted corn- Lag cia l enterprises. The fall in the public funds bee n di scussed in many quar t ers , an d 4111 engst the public has created a false it:lvrea :l;Ln' which has paralysed the favourable condi cf trade. On this point the public seldom 15 q 1 ire the came, as it is known on the Bourse to , f or from temporary speculations. It su ffi ces : r a t heezt that the Rentes are feeble and falling, t - tons . 4 ' for the ti me th ey suspen d com mercial opera- Meanwhile some export houses have re ceived new or d ers from En g lan d an d G erman y, arid the Packets recently arrived have brought some im 11°„rttlt.eemmissions from the United States. The r f l tne prices of merchandise which has continued :„r— -some week s i s no t arres t e d, which restricts the t:it„ 4 °llllt e of purchases by foreign agents, who hesi ‘° eve the increased price excepting for inter to requirements, while on the other hand the w anufa eturers are not inclined to lower their prices ?hwile they pay the increased value for raw mate ai 8. An ex t raor di nar y r i se has taken place in the f o dianionds in conseq ( This ri se , uence of the demand 2 r ) : lis sia•i s estimated at not less than g i ve n 2 5 per cen t. on prev i ous prices, and has b eg great impetus to the usually quiet busi - C B of the di amon d merc h an t. The demand ti r attributed - to the approaching corm:m u:4 . 01 of the E mperor. Th e same cause has increased zee orders for Lyons manufactures. It has been izinl Russia th a t th e d eman d f or F renc h manu f ac tures continues, and especially for this occa sion, notwithstanding the efforts of the old Russian lia rt Yl Which seeks to make the occasion one for pl s : lrn ing the anc i en t na ti ona l cos t u mes, for the fl o z ,Nae of excl u di ng a ll ar ti c l es o f foreign menu be'ure• The magazines for spring novelties have thgurl to show more activity, both at Paris and in Provinces. - f e . mercantile community have during the last kit" days been much disturbed by the announce ment of two or three important failures, and, al of t t . l g i _; it is generally believed that the condition th ei ra e is; on the whole healthy, there are, never cult". 8 ) serious apprehensions of further diffi- F kit ( . 14 .. After the stoppage of such large firms Oth''Yers, Walker, and Co., and Mr. W. 0 Young, 444 e . r minor casualties are almost sure to take place, mercantile credit is for a time impaired. Messrs. pSaunders and H arr i so n, and Messrs. Woolet and L„-'6l„P.:l*lt have stepped payment, and several other la 3 are sp o k en o f as b e i n g embarrassed. The e e teE k'nf a country bank are reported to have ea returned this morning, but the particulars 47 e not been allowed to transpire, and it is I °t ' l .von known whether it is a joint-stock or pri- C°,' concern. Besides this other cases are men 4rimen- ° dwhere parti e s h a i e o nly b ee n able to avert failure by the liberality and consideration of their editors. The conclusion of a protracted war, h ever, causing a complete revulsion in commer r fl ak affairs, iaiight naturally have b ee n ex p ec t e d t o e ad to •difficutties amo ng th e mercant il e i nterest, i 'd during the next few weeks the list of suspeu tiliella may be materially add e d t o ; s till no f ear i s 2, l ent ertained of a general disturbanc e in th e mercan 'lle world. The Red J ac k e t, f rom M e lb ourne, h as arr i ve d , but the amount o f go ld s h e h as on b oar d h as not yet been ascertained. This is "making-up" day in the Consol market, ti m e d the quotations of nearly all the English securi an: ere flatter. Th ere i s very li ttle specu l at i on, ' t1:141 amount of real business doing is limited. vaConsols are 921 r g, both for moneyand the 10th inst., ile th e May prices are 931 Special transfers — 4ueen made of th e f o ll ow i n g :—The New Three 9i r v ents. at 921 to 93, the Reduced Annuities at ch a and Bank Stock at 2131. The March Ex j„e.Tier Bills are l s. to 3 5. prem ., an d th os e of J ude are at par. The Bonds are 981. °r e eign St ocks are mos tly rather heavy, and teen is les s act i vity in the market. Turkish 6 per i t4 : l s. are 1 01 i for money, and 101 1 for account. ay ' 4 Per C en t s . are 101 i. Venezuela Bonds 4te e been 30. Equador New Consolidated 15, and l i l ada Def erred 71. 1 Mexican Stock is I per cen lcr wer, being 22i f. Stooks following are th e nom inal prices of Foreign 'an .-- Grenada Deferred Bonds, 71 8 ; Mexi• 6; 221 3 ; Peruvian, 78 80 ; ditto 3 per Cents., D., en ' P °rtuguese 4 per Cents., 48 50 ; Russian v ts., 104 ; ditto 41 per Cents., 93 95 ; bi a --s " 3 Per Cents.; 45A 6 ; ditto Deferred, 24i ditto Certificates, 5k ; ditto Passive, 71 1. L ea °B t of t he En g li s h R a il wa y Shares are rather ecnßequence of the. flatness of the other wi ti ;" l es• The Foreign are likewise dull, and joyous, much variation in prices. The Paris and lob i s i'' however, are 1/. to 2/. higher, and Sambre Th e v u se are ss. lower. e -Qc aidola c t Bank. Shares have been an eun y r ather Ratter. Plttrl3ll FUNDS THIS DAY AT. ON!' CLOCK ?rota the Official Lie?, ' ;11,,n , .., done. 116 4 st fbek t . aPer ‘ .ll ' eu n .s t: Rodsoed Auouities . ... .... ... 2 9 1 1 3 1 13 i 92 i i I I Alt" 3 -- mb- Consols Annuities __ halo l'er Cent. Annuities b i licmdt £lOOO • - % II t9O finder £lO9O 4 d 4 °1 2 for Account v " ( lter Bills, 24d. March. June. ClOOO 2 1 3 p I par £5OO .............. . ,silan ............ • ........ • •••• .• ... Ditt if" . .... •••••••- • ...... p al 13 ends, 1858, 34 per Cent P.,,i ta e , ,R: 9e FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLO' R. h,'"r Honda 0 1 7" to New Consolidated~ co lt b da Now Active, 1i per Cent. itt o t, 7i kt,xi eferred bi at, 3 per Cent — itu..,..t0 A.ecount 61, r ,7 11 , Sonde , 5 per Cent., 1822, £ 5t.... 106 4 . bit nos de , per Vent T ut ,. — to Account( 8 ' • 3 45 "AI Hand s 6 per cent lOll bitt, o A ' 101. i Ditt o ecouut -....Lt0 Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. lipitto Accountads ' lOll r z uela 'lo, 4t per Cent — Dit to .A.ccount ' Dividends on the above payable in ~., ‘i-„,obbsols, money TWO i; : " O'CLOCK 921 I 4 -litte Acc•nnt (3fay) 93/ 1 ...---- d a i s e / d an arrete of the French Minister of the Interior 1 5 - 41 " Le.Nord is allowed to enter France. C r i.j er e are said to be 122.000 French soldiers in the D e es, and upwards of 20,000 at Constantinople. "lacepatches were sent, yesterday, from the Colonial to,the Governor of Heligoland, and the Lord High • ?:,iiniesioner of the lonian Islands. 141 ‘,/ j elo n o, t and Lady Rosa Greville have taken the 1 01 :1 cel the magnificent mansion at Albert ate, so kRe "°*ll as " Gibraltar." The other half, it is -,..W• 11 , has b een converte d i n t o a b an ki ng h ou s e . traLdetters from Switzerland state that the weather is ex en:dinar) lY fine. The mountains are entirely free from 14 " ev the passages of the Alps, which last year were ult en as late at Jnly, are already practicable. I,iticAiseeB,Un.:tiers asserts that the question of the Holy to ,th first app aren t ca use of the war, has not been het: e u by the Conferences, but will be amicably settled i t ee n Pranc e an d T ur k e y. stn 'IOUs THE STRAND,—Yesterday morning a fire broke N ei l :M "the p rem i ses o f M r . Elli s , 401, Stra n d, an eel b no ". The house was greatly damaged, and the WZtents destroyed. " e ze.—During the month of March 145 vessels 265 -w . ,"eked. In the month of Jan. the number was ta - (11,4-CloifnsFB4. Feb. 174 ; making a total in the past three ROALTH OP M. BEIM., M.P.—Our readers will be 1 7 e ', 4) , learn th a t t h e h ea lth of ou r es t eeme d re p ro - Live, John Bright, Esq., is gradually although slowly ibfr We only give utterance to the general feel the country when we express the hope that hit P l' "?" llsl 3fereed withdrawal- from the tear and wear of ‘l4l46ll3 i'tar life may be attended 14 . the happiest Nidte Y q hi I and that he may ere long be again in possession d - aY tumid good health.—Manchester ko4ralner of - 7 1 r, • •.: sZ 4-A, .1_ • • ;. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) RAILWAYS. 'aid_( RAILWAY/. Closing Prtco4 yoste,r,,lo 21 28 91 - 4i >;.. •~ .. - 9 174 -- 184 15A 121 -- 1:3 90 92 gli 61i 18 19 10i 10# 3l 38 24 - 36 76 - 78 61 63 29 30 88 - 92 6i - 7 94 -- 95 79 81 123 = 125 105 'O7 64 65 Rg 60 70 T 5 6 7f) 6 7 88 58i, 711 7f . 102 11:4 1014 102 pa►r -- % R par pl 95 uor id 741 75 13 45 • ,} ii : 16 53 - 55 Si - Srt 35 36 78i - 794 - - 54 34 - 3 15i - 16 .464 • ?7. 88 - 90 6; 6 lot 11:?1 28b 29b 1 'O3 I C3 73 75 46 '8 136 4b, 72 —72 bi 69 - ?L I 4 2 4 - 5 37 20 21 43 - 54 6A 7i • • • ''' • ... - ....p) AP • 'orl , er ~ .. ?' Vubg. Nottng. Bert .net tea , t‘. •inact,.. iil ;f:k, I:7" ll '.a' al -44 ming. Wg , lve h tour ;,rkalh'i. lieautr, June... al' J. Cheo;.. & Met • £5O and '2 5, 19 Do., all :1 yth &Tynavr'gl £25 (lead. at t 1 100 , sristol IWO )aledontan.... .• 61 P ' ;Ann. ntni Oa diga.? all %ester & , all ;, i rk and Bandc ,- , al ;nrk, Black, &Pas 18 ,l,ruwall all Do. A 8 Do. B lA riefr Junction.„ : ),:bliTx&Bolfruit.frfiic. All Ilan. P. &A. - Jov. 100 Faust Ai:Allan 411 Eastern Conntios 100 fast. Tni or, A St, it... De., B A' Do., New I 10 East Kent LOO I.uscashire , LOG !dint urvh&Gasiv all Edinb. an 4 Pee'olot, LOO ?din. Prtt 31. 9 'ortl. & all ?unless. all to. Extension 100 Glasgow& S. Wi•st all Great N. of Scotlnd. 100 Great Norther.,„ 1.00 Do., A. Stock,..,„ ; 1 00 (►o., B. toe 1130 4t. Sth. &Wesialr. , JOO Great uksteru 1100 i)p. Roar Val Ra'.: Ghia. Stk.. all Irish South-Fatter':. all f‘Lncroter Ai Carlisle 14;. Do., Thirds . 8 Do. New Thirds 1010 I...hneastA. an dYork .)3. Wet. Riding lir all tilv:Crs'ny.StSontli;•t an Condon & Rlackwall [OO r.ond. Bright & S.Cst. 100 {And. and N. West , 16 Du. *Fifths .. 5i Do.101.811.„M&I 3 C 2 Do. Eighth. ... 100 London and E 3. Wean all Do., at, all Do., £4O 111 :.tolndrry&Colerain all ;And.ndrr^.St , Ennish. 190 Asnoll.Eihef.k Lima • 429. D van. &Lin. TT 1 Metropolitan 100 Midland ...... . 1.00 )o. Birmag. & Der all 111d1d.G.West.(1m. all )u. Half Shares__ till Newcastle& Carli,ile all Nwpt.Aberg. &tied Si Newry ArEnniskillel sll Newry Warrenpoin; 4nd Roetrevor j. •)0 Norfolk ...... 3i Northn.Conntiee .(10 North Britie Nth - 0 ,von Rai+. Et .00 Dock Stock 1.00 ►o., A Stock All )6., B Stock all Do.; IV) N. Eastern-13er 211 Do, do. Extensioß 15 De.do. G.N. ?u , c,`, a'l Be. Leeds 100 Do. York. 100 North Lowden 1 , ; . &S. Wstru.. larr, stead, and City . North Staffordshir Vf.rti) Wemtern. •31) N.& S. Weet ' 4 n — nea - ton, Hind; Leicester..., I px, Wore., t Wolv 6 ',,rtFcao nth littottish Ce%tes'; LO . • Scottish Midlozo.' 1X 4r) ropshiro a limit') Devon. Soath Eaetern .00 wAlet , VAAL Ito 6 g , P nem,W, k SEW 0 1, Stockton & Darli le. • '4s., .kton & Flortlef: 1 • TAIT V:00 ..... 1 41 Dn. Pref., N. L._ 2 T' A.Tnes 'lnv. n.& Ulverstone & Lams all Valu All Watertl. Kllkenns All Waterforrlditimer—‘ all (West Cornwall...,. all West End of London and Crystal Palae.,.. all Do. A ......,... . .. ' 3 Do. B 6 *est London. . all IWimbledn&Croyden, LO .0 LO 40 20 0 t all t 4 IC 11 3 14" . I 15 00 all k 11 I '.O 16 2f: 2P •••1 .00 9 I *ll 6 14 I ZO,. ► At 5i FOREIGN. ~ ntwerotl / 4 1 4.(stt rti Do. 5 p.c. Oblgs. con. in Sh. at par till '64 Ardennes . ••• sulgian Ea stn. Jung. tiers to Om 88'.88M ►:mbay, Baroda, ap rientral Indis,Eir Ti Do. Demerara t bite} exti eh !astern of Franc, . no. New............ Rast Tndian, g. 5 P. 1. 1 :7`,e - rsi . Gee ong Melbou ne guar. 5 per c nt.. Do., Len. allot., do. Tk of Cana. , ftA Cert. of DeLet.. eon. into Stk. till Po. Comp. 6 /4 e., (lc Gt. ein.tral of Frau ce ft. Indian Pentevi!' Great Luxembonr, Constituted Share' Do. Obligati on . _ - '. Do. ro-is. orftd. Sh.l at.Wosterr of al Rh arm. , r. Do. New Dc. payable'ls, , with option till 'SF.. Do. do., '62, p. '6R... Do. do., '76, p. Dc.. do., '73, without option Hamilton & Toronte Do. g por cent. Lake Const. 1& BRA , Lierre and Turnhout Lucca v Fist. 5 p. c.p. Lyons and Gen , v+, Lyons & Msditsrm , NadraF, guar. 4 p.c Do. New 0., sp. s Do. 4i p. e, Exten Maria Antonio Do. do. New Nsmur & Liege (wit' , nterest) Do. (ex intenst).„ Northern of Fr.inz'o D 0.201. Sho. Do. 204 3 p. o RrU (fmy.B.daAnui.Shs. NorwegianTrinkPrs Paris and Lynns,..„. Ditto Bonds Paris and Orlemur Rome and Frascati Royal Danish Do. Obligations Sambre and Meuse Do. 54 p. cent. Pref Scind., guar. 5 p. c Do Southern of Franca St. Andrew's and Quebec (A).. West Flanders De 5 1 rer c. Pref. & N. W. of gr‘no West. of Switzerland' Wiesbaden .. Zealand Badness done thla day. 81 9 par 2 P 4i bi t 2i 1 1 !" 2 - 2 2/ PI 10 - 40 A 12 • 14 1 22A 23 ! 22 - ••• St 75 77 854 S 6 '. 6 -6; 21i - 34 25} - '26 --- 3 1 99 - 100 11/ - 122 118 - 123 107 103 240; 115 120 ~.d - - n Ili 12 20 204 - 9 11 3 4 - 7.1 6 - 7 401} -- 41 12 . t 2 ••. 10 .53 15.3 ••• - ••• 52 - 54 io ••• '''. 14#-7 15 ig ... 2 - pm 4i - • • • '''' ..• -.." 19 - 194 10 I all 5 11 , sll Lo ,01 '0 sit 10 all 20 all 10 all 10 all 10 5 5 all 4 all to LO till t( 5 ZO all 10 all 841 e.l! S)3 O Ali 6 all tO ell JOIST-811*X11k 0 it Anstralagls , ...... 97 '49 25 5 Bank of Egypt 1i - 1i 6 i 10e 50 Bank of London .... 63 65 40 l<ri. Col. Rk o &L u . io al Kritish N. American „.. • ... 25 5 Chartd. Bank of Agit 20 1 Chrtd. Flnk. of Indi.., Australia, &China _ 4 100 50 City ...... - 66 100 L Colowal . 100 2C Commercial of Load, 2C Rns'..oot.&Aus.Cht 16 16i 20 all Lond. Chan. ilk- 0 Australia - 174 20 6 Ditto New 50 20 tendon and Con nie • ... • • 341 3/ 10C 50 Lnd.&E.Bnkg.Corp. par -- 2 P 50 10 London Joint St .- • • 100 10 London and Paris 3 2 d 100 20 Loud. & Westnanste: 100 A'. National Proof Eng 2C; 10 Do. Now 51) - Nation& o' •.• 20 all New Routh Wales—. 39 41 40 i 21 all Oriental Bank of 44 20 5 Ottoman Bank hj 2p 01 • lix st.p Royal British •• ••• 25 4.• 25, .6: 01,on Australia 7O - 72 . Vs , 7i - - 84 50 • nun, , •f I,om - ion , 30 Western Bk of Low 2 6-4 THE SON. LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 8. 1856. .* to' 3t 1.,11 Izr all 4• 1.00 5 all 10.1/4; fit. 100 1 All al a►l! 9.11 s zti 4ii 3.11 St. 10.; At 101 1.40 S all 4.. 1' I 2alcl it. 1 , ,fl 5 I 16 11 100 RatiLwATr. Wiltsk'!orirtit Legaix Compaq= London I N. Wo•t. L. &N. W. Pale4tou... E. Un. Az E. Count. Caldoni,vq. Gt. Weral Y. New. & Y. &N I.‘ Do., .... „. Fs. Rte; Peto & Co Do LAN. W & Midll. S'tektor.& I )arlirr , % 1111141%,,i En. Conn. K. Count. Do nu G. &N. W Do (fit North, Lamest& ok Yorksh. 1 1 . Brassey , Nl.MCleso Stockt. Dar ingt atWestn. C *dm •. . I • yesterday 97 94 u 8 11 - 13 ii ... 41 1 104 -1.16 - 13 110 - 115 2 i - n 93 55} •. •t 134 136 71 7i 3 2d 31i - 32 en,tars. this dsy. THE MILITAR OF INQUIRY. difficulty in recollecting the precise words Lord Lucan ' made use of, in consequence of my suggesting to him his making provision for providing some covering for the horses. It was then he said, "You think I have not thought of that my self. I have a good mind to put you under arrest. His lordship used warm words that might have brought forth warm words in reply. The finish of the conversa tion was that said to him, "I have only spoken as one gentleman would to another, and you have no right to use there words to me." That was all I said. Your lordship then ordered me to join my regiment, and I replied I was the field officer of the day, and then you told me to join my picquet. I don't profess to recollect the precise words that were then used, but I have no doubt there are those who do. Lord Lucan—What were those harsh words of mine ? Colonel Griffiths—l have said I can't remember. I know you used very strong language, and that you be came very excited. Major Connelly was the first I spoke to on the subject. Perhaps be can recollect what I t.aid to him. Major Connelly—l was parading the picquet at the time. Meeting This Day. The Board resumed its sitting this morning at a quar ter-past 11 o'clock. Lord Lucan, who appeared in an excited state before proceeding with his case, said he considered it due, not only to hiniself, but to the other gallant officers who would find themselves is a similar position, to call the attention of the Beard to an article published this morn ing the Times newspaper. The paper had been put into his hand since leaving home, and he had not had time to read it thoroughly, but he had read sufficient to enable him to say that a more improper artimle in itself, from its injustice, from the manner in which it had allowed itself to comment upon all that transpired yesterday, upon the manner in which it had allowed itself to scan and sift the evidence of the different witnesses, and to compare what bad transpired yesterday, and that already pub lished in the report to which he objected, and the alle gations he was endeavouring to rebut, for the manner in which it had brought forward the evidence of those per sons he proposed to examine, the Times had had the audacity to bring it forward as established evidence to meet that which he had brought forward, and he did not hesitate to state that a wire disgraceful article had never appeared in any paper before. If the paper pretended to be the leader of publie opinion is England, he was satisfied there was not an Englishman who would wit feel ashamed of writing such an article. Having said that he called the attention of the Beard to it, and asked them to interfere if they could, and prevent the repetition of such pending the inquiry. The Board having conferred together, The Assistant-Judge-Advocate said that it was a mat ter requiring consideration, and that the Board would deliberate on it and give him their answer in the after part of the day. _ _ _ 114} Colonel Griffiths—l told the officers of my own regi• mot immediately after th• interview every word I said. I have not communicated with them since respecting it. I did not say one word more before the commissioners than was extracted from me by the questions they put to me. The evidence I gave then was in seif-d,fence, t,. show that I had not neglected the interest of my own regiment. Lori Lucan—Did you make any official complaint to your Brigadier Col. Griffiths—No ; I made none to any one. Lord Locan—Had y oi not 95 men at this, time sick —present and ah'oent ! Colonel Griffiths—l dare say I bad. I can't say if I had or bad not. [We will give the conclusion in our last edition.] PREFERENCE S. HAR - - St.! 100 Aberdeen . 118 --• 122 100 Do. N 0.2, 7p. c I 115 11:0 118 19 St. 100 Do. Debentures ... 84 90 at, Myth and rynelOp.-.. c. pref. (issd.at 501 ... •.. 3t. 100 Brie. & Ex. 4p. St 93 - 20 Do. 4 p. c. Shares - St. li!O (....alodonian £lO .96 - 'PS d *ll ,- ;hes. &Flo. On. 5i pc 15i 164 94 6.11 Do. de. Pref. No. 2. ... `is al/ Do. do. Prof. No. 2.. all Cork drliandons4p.c • al Duu.Prth Aber.J. 51 6 10 2 3. Anglian Cle.ASh .. - St. 100 Do. do. Cle. B 6 p. e.,105-- 110 108 St. 100 Do. do Ole. C7p. c. ••• Eits.Co.Ex,spc No j Pm Do. No. 2 1.0 all Do. New 6p.c. St , 2,t 124 ZO al , 1 1 . last Un., G. 6p. c • ... 5 all De. 51., 10 per cent - JO all Do. 101. Debentr.SP. et. all Do. do. 4 per cent ... - 10 Ir.set Lancash. 6 p.ctr all 0. kW. York. J. sth , - 10 1 Edit. & (31. 5 p.c. sh. - ••• , t 100 P , 14 Prth.S6Dutt.4p.e C 9 - 71 70 1 20 all Furness • -- ••• it. I+>> vas. p.c it, 100 Great Northn. 5p e 116 a 8 117 St. 100 Do. sp. c. Bodeen, at 10 p. c. prem. 107 - 109 108 74 It. 100 'Jo. 4i p.c 1.02 - 104 1024 12% j 76 De. 5 p.c. Scrip, Red at 5 p. c. . lO 7t 10 t :R.N. of Scot. 1 stPr , t) St. 100 it_ q. */ W. (Ireland' 20 11 De. 4per o. Pr?f 'lO 6 lt. W.( 6. t El.Fxspe 6 - 64 St. 100 ..)o. con. red. 41 p.u. 94 - 96 96 St. 100 =l,. con. red. 4p. c P 6 - liB t. 100 Do. irred. 4p. e. • - - St. .100 Do. sp. c. red. pref 98 - 100 10 all Do. do. do. ... - ••• 101 Birm. Pret. 9.4 10 O - all Do.CtiesterBp.c.P. , ; l 6 1 74 0 all Do. do. sp. c. do. 10 100 St 100 Do. Birm. Gua. SO 74 - 76 0, all DI. Cho,. Gus. Sh.. 191 204 134 1 al! Do. do. do 94 - 104 al Do. do. do 144 tst 16 6 Loin. &York. F. 4-3 j - ;t-• 10, ' no. 6p. o. Stock 36 131 it. 100 I,on.&Krigh. G. 5 p.... - 3t. p ro f., 5 p . c . St ( n o. New Guar.6 p... 00 Do. do. 5 per cent - S . 10. r•ori.&N. W., Coy. yucca' sp. et St 100 %mt.& F. W. 7 per ct ; 4 1 I,ondy. At Colo . 4Sl‘ Londy.& St. 10 4.,`1 ,k. L. New,l (. / •.. 6 • 1)0. viary-pt.& Carl . - • • :24 all 4A per cent._ •to 110 .4. Lit' 'f id. Clongol.6 nx t. Fr p, I''s - 1:7 st. In' Do. 4i p. c. Pref. 95 -97 16 all ,110. i'ref. 4 j pct. (v•. 5 all Do. 51. Pref. 4p. c. ..• St. 100 Ditto L. &11.Fref. c . j Aber., &e., pr. t 1 1. 0 0 411 .1 , s N p erf . c olk re l d ;one s P at e tiir . it. 100 Do. Pref. sp.a. St ek St. 100 Do 5 p.c. Ext..„ St. 100 irk.. 54 per et. pref. -- •.. St. 100 'Do.Way. Val. 5 p.. , -- St. 100 'North British lO2 -104 St. 100 N. E. Rerw, 4 p.c P 91 -94 17 7 Do. do. do 54 - 54 20 13 IDe Leeds 6p. - 126 9 IDo. do. Quarters - 25 10 Do.Yorkll.& Per 1' - Id 20 all North Staffordshire St. Mil ox, Wo ‘r.W lil p 106 - 108 10 , 94 Do R. Pref. 101. Sh. - 3i all Scot. Cent. , New Pr , 2all South Devon l a. • 154. 1.0 14 ID°. fixed, 4,4 per con' ... 1.0. all S. Eastern (Read'', Ann.) of £1 Os. 6(1. 224 23i St. l(s' Do. 44 per cent._ 98 - 100 St. 1.00 , Do. Fixed 44 p c sh. 94 10 St. 100 IS 'Wales Gna. 4p. c. 1.0 all Do. do. 44 p. c.... - 20 all I S. Yorksh.4p.e.Guar. . 25 all 14ock .& Dar., sp. c. . . 27 15 15 Do. do. do 1 2p 26 all Stock. & Herta. g. t p. el. till July 1, 'SA S 44 ;Watertd.&Kilk.6pc - 24 Lord Lucan said that he would submit to the Board the course he intended to pursue. He should proceed with the examination of Colonel Griffiths, and after that with the examination of Sir R. Airey, -when he should submit himself for examination. Having done that, he should ask the Board to give him a short time to pre pare his reply on his case. The Assistant-Judge-Advocate, after conferring with the Board, said they would give an answer to the noble lord at a subsequent period of the day. The Assistant•Judge-Advocate handed to his lordship a written paper, on which CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.) OLD COURT. (Before the Recorder.) William Buckland, 20, ship carpenter, pleaded guilty to several indictments charging him with' having, by means of false pretences, obtained sums of money, and also with a felony. The prisoner had, it appeared, gone to several persona' houses and stated that he had been a ship carpenter on board one of her Majesty's ves• sels, and was entitled to prize money ; and borrowed money of them, which he said he would repay as soon as his prize money was paid to him. One person he took with him to the Admiralty, and pretended to inquire about the money, and going in at one door made his escape by another. In one instance he got a suit of clothes upon the same pretence, and absconded with them. The felony he committed at a house where he had obtained a lodging. Lord Lucan said he understood the Court to ask him whether he could produce Lord Raglan's order for the cavalry's being employed on transport duties, and what it amounted to. He said he thought he could. His own letter acknowledged the receipt of it, and it in formed Lord Raglan how he intended to carry out his lordship's orders. He received from Sir R. Airey, the Quartermaster-General, a letter dated 12th of December, 1854, in which he stated that as the cavalry horses were not occupied in field operations, Lord Raglan hal di rected that 500 horses should be employed in conveying provisions for the infantry to the heights. General Peel—What was the duty of the horses ? Lord Lucan—The horses were divided into different parties. They had to leave the camp about 8 o'clock in the morning and go to Balaklava, a dragoon leading each baggage-horse with their own saddles of the regi ment, because there were no pack saddles to be hal. After that they proceeded to each division of the camp with previsions. General Peel— What weight did each horse carry ? Lord Lucan—As there were no pack-saddles Le in formed Lord Raglan they could not carry more than one hundred weight. Had there-been pack-saddles each horse could have carried 2 cwt. The way the horses were worked was perfect destruction to them. They were in a bad condition, and their ribs were greatly ex posed, so that they were in much greater danger than horses in good condition. General Peel—ln your letter you allude to the double forage. What was the forage duty of the horses? Lord Lucan said that what was meant by double forage duty was, that the light dragoon horses bad to carry both for themselves an others. They had to make double journeys. Colonel Griffiths was then called and examined by Lord Lucan—He said he was unable to state the day or month when he was examined by the Crimean Commis sioners, Sir J. M`Neil and Colonel Tulloch. The day on which be was the field-officer fur the day, on the 16th, two days after the storming Sebastopol, he went to Lord Lucan to ask his order for the picquet. It was not ready. Lord Lucan then referred to a coat he had on. In the cour3e of the conversation he said, "My Lord, I fear that if something is not done immediately for my horses, they will suffer considerably, and I shall lose the greater part of them," having already hst a considerable number. You replied, "Do you Of ukg have not thought of that alreaoy. I have a great mind to put you under arrest." My impression, at the time, was, and is still, that the threat to put rue under arrest was for making that suggestion to yon.. There might have been warm expressions used by me towards your lord ship, but I did not use them before your lordship bad used harsh words to me that called them forth. Lord Lucan said the witness was not giving h full an swer. -He was not informing the Court of all that The Recorder sentenced him to 12 months' impri- sonment. Henry Lambert, 18, clerk, pleaded guilty to several indictments for having stolen orders for the payment of 501., and ill. 55., the property of Win. Bunce Greenfield, his master. The prisoner had beep clerk to the prosecutor, who is a stockbroker, and used to make up his Stock Exchange balance, which he did for a greater amount than was due, by prosecutor receiving checks fur the amount. In answer to the Court, the prosecutor said that the defalcations amounted to about 3001. The prisoner had also falsified the books. He, however, wished to re commend him t• mercy, upon the account of his youth. He had been two and a half years in his service. He first had his suspicions aroused as to the prisoner's honesty from the fact of his giving some women into custody for having robbed him. _ _ The Recorder said he would take time to (milder the sentence. Jas. Chitty, 31, printer, and Mos. Hopkins, 24, brick layer, pleaded guilty to having committed a burglary in the dwelling-house of David Gibbons, and stealing a desk and property valued at 141. 103, his moneys. Chitty was, it appeared, a ticket-of leave man, having been transported in 1849 for ten years. He came back about two years ago, and since that time had been haty-t -ing about the str,ets at night, with women, for the pur poses of plunder. When apprehended he made a most murderous attack upon the officer with a Me preserver. Ropkins was not known t , ) the police. Chitty 'was transported f)r 14 years, and Hopkins sentenced to 6 years' penal servitude. M. KOSSUTEL—The requisition inviting M. Kossuth to lecture in Edinburgh has been numerously and most respectably signed during the last two days, and will in all probability be forwarded to London this (Monday) afternoon.—Scoesman, . . . . The Etna, 16, fl bating battery, which was launched at Chatham dockyard on Saturday afternoon, has been taken under the sheare, for the purpose of having her masts placed on board. She will be taken to Sheerness dockyard, for the purpose of being ready for sea. COURT Or COMMON COUNClL—Yesterday a committee of the whole Court met for the purpose of con , odering the provisions of the bill introduced by Government for the reform of the corporation. The discussion, which laeted se►eral hours, was conducted with closed doors. THE Ai AMIS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Monday —The Perlin sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Tagus, Captain Weeks, left this day, with the usual Peninsular mails, general cargo;speolefor Lisbon to the ►mount of 5,9001. for Cadiz 1,0001.; and 23 passengers, amongst whom are Captain Evans, R.A., and Mr-2. Evans. A return moved for by Mr. Glyn shows the total of country circulation withdrawn since the passing of the Bank Charter Act to have been 735,409/. The provision which allows two-thirds of this— namely, 490,2721.—t0 be replaced by Bank of England notes was acted upon in December last by an issue of 475,0001. THE ROYAL ACADEMY.—It is rumoured that the Royal Academy has had, or will soon have, notice to quit its present tenement. It will either have to build for itself a home out of its accumulated funds, or the Go vernment may still continue its favour, and assign it a new habitation at the public cost. SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE CALEDONIAN RAILWAY. — CARLISLE, Monday Morning.—A. serious accident has occurred on the Caledonian Railway, to the mail train from London to Glasgow, Edinburgh, &c. The boiler of the 5.4 a.m. train burst this morning near Kings moore. The driver and stoker were killed, but none of the pas sengers were injured. The passeogers were taken back to Carlisle. The line is completely blocked up at Rocks chffe. passed. Col. Griffiths—l am convinced of this. I nor any man would ask a favour of a person in a disrespectful manner. I certainly should not do so. Lord Lucan submitted that was not a full and pro per answer to the question, and it would be necessary for him to examine Cul. Griffiths further. Lord Lucan—You recollect the storm of the 14th November t Col. Griffiths— Yes. Lord Lucan—What ground did your regiment occup3? Col. Griffiths—The lowest of all. Lord Lucan—Was that the first encampment ? Colonel Griffiths—l can't say. The ground was wet and low ; and as an instance of that I saw a goose on one occasion swimming about there in the water and mud. Lord Lucan—You know perfectly well that on the hill the Heavy Brigade occupied two different grounds of encampment ? Col. Griffiths—The Greys had three encampments. Lord Lucan--I wish to ask you whether, on the 14th Nov., you occupied the first ground we took up on going up the hill, or whether you had moved ? Col. Griffiths— I am certain it was the first ground. Lord Lusan—Did you keep a Journal during the autumn and winter of 1854 55 ? Col. Griffiths—l male a few memorandums. Lord Lucan—Are they priAuc stile? Col. Grilhihs—l don't think 1 c mild get them. Lord Lucan—Are they in England ? Col. Griffiehe—No, certainly not. Lord Lucan—Do you recollect that as soon as the weather permitted, after the storm of the 14th, you changed your ground to a position near Sebastopol ? Col. Griffiths—l bad net changed when I spoke to ' you about the horses. After the storm of the 14th I moved t, a position near Lord Raglan's quarters. It was only a quarter of a mile, at the furthest. Lord Lucan—ln your evidence before the Crimean Commissioners you state that not only west Col. Hodges and Lord W. Pallett, hut others. Inform the Court who they were to whom you allude as being present MI that occasion. Gil. Griffiths—lt is so long ago, and I have not asked any officer if he bend it. I stated to the oonansissieners that so and so was present, and I state so now, but wl:o they were I am unante to reinemb r. I believe, how ever, that your lordship's son and Coh Walker were present, and that toe isterview took place between ter, ai,d eleven o'clock in the morning. Lt ri Luc ill—Do you recollect when and how often you met your 13rigadier-General, and the other officers commanding in the heavy brigade, whilst on the Hill 1 Colonel Griffithe—l have no recollection of meeting ar y of them previous to the 14th, or of having done so whilst oa the Hill. Lord Lucan—Do you recollect any differences occur tinz between yourself, General Searlett, and myself, in consequence of some remarks you made about takieg the saddles off. Colonel Griffitks —I don't recollect it now. Lord Lucan—D ,n't you recollect it ? Witne=s, on consideration, said he did. Lord Lucan—Was it a mean of commanding . officers ? Colonel Griffiths—No ; I think it was in the morning' It was very damp at the time, and General Scarlett moved the brigade. I had not received nay order through a mistake. I was sent for. Lord Lucan—There was a Ideating of officers, as I have mentioned, at which Colonel Griffiths was repre sented by Major Suilivan. (To w tne-s)—Do you not recollect meeting osnamanding•officers in Lord. W. Paulett's tent on one or two occasions during Sir William's absence at Scutari. Colonel Griffiths—l don't recollect being at any meet ing of commanding officers when we were in the front, but I believe I was in the plain of Kadekoi. Lord Lucan said, that in examining the witness on this point he wished to show that these meetings were with reference to sheltering the hones. (To witness.) —Can you say that this altercation took place the same day as that on which the cavalry removed ? Colonel Griffiths—lt took place the day I was the field officer atter the storm of the 14th. Lord Lucan—Did you not say, in a very loud tone of voice, " You are not speaking to me as a gentle man," before any thing was said about arrest? Colonel Griffiths—No, my lord. Lord Lucan—Did you subsequently make use of these words, or any words like them ? Colonel Griffiths—Yee, I did. Lord Lucan —State to the Court what they were ? Colonel Griffiths—l said that I had only addressed you as one gentleman would another, and that you had no right to use the expression you had to me. Lord Lucan—What were the expres ions ? Colonel Griffiths—l have stated them already. Lord Lucan—(to the Court)—l am rather at a loss how to proceed, being unaccustomed to this sort of ex. amination. (To the witness)—Yeu are requested to repeat the expressions to a hich you have allu ed. Col. Griffiths—l have done that before. Sir W. Rowau—You are asked to repeat them. -- Col, Griffiths---I have done so already, I - have a THE BOILER EXPLOSION IN PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD. —The inquest on the bodies of William Pearman, Robt. Wright, and John Williams, who were killed at the ex plosion on Saturday, was opened yesterday afternoon, before Mr. J. W. Cooper, the borough coro• er. Rich]. Parrot died on Sunday night, and James Lee on Mon day. Two other poor fellows are not expected to live. WINDSOR, April 7.--The birthday of his Royal High ness Prince Leopold was celebrate-1 here to-day with the customary honours. Royal salutes were fired (by the town bombardier) in the Bachelors' Acre, from the cor poration ordnance ; also from the batteries of Fort Bel videre and the Royal Adelaide frigate on Virginia Water ; and the hells of the Chapel Royal of St. Geor2e and St. John's Church sent forth merry peals through out the day. THE SEIZURE OF GOLD Dear AT LIVERPOOL.—An in vestieation took place on Saturday at the Sheffield Court of Bankruptcy, before Mr. Com-nissioner West, into the claim of a Jew rained Solomon Nathan to gold dust of the value of 1,2001., seized on board the Light ning at Liverpool, by the messenger of the Court of Bankruptcy, on suspicion of being the property of a bankrupt—Nathan Salaman, of the firm of Marks and Salaman, of Sheffield and Australia, merchants. The owner-hip to the gold dust not having been properly made out, the inquiry terminated by its being un !ler stoo i that Messrs. Baines would detain the geld dust until a clear title was established to it by some one. DREADFUL CASE OF SCALDING.—Last evening, Mr W. Csrter held an inquest at the Queen's Arius Ta• vern, Guildford-street, Southwark, on the body of E'iza Welch, aged two years, the daughter of a poor woman, residing at Bedford-row. From the evidence of the mother of the deceased, it appeared that some short time back an elder sister was nursing the infant., when she let it fall on the fender, and a kettle of boiling water was upset, scalding the poor infant in a most dreadful .nanner about the head, face, and hands. A little boy, who was standing by the fire, was also seriously scalded, but had partially recovered. Mr. Nash, the parochial surgeon, attended the deceased, and milk, arrowroot, beef-tea, and wine were supplied from the workhouse, but she sank and died on Thursday last from the effects of the scalds. Verdict, Accidental death. LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP WOODCOCK.—Advices have been received at Lloyd's of the wreck of the Ame rican ship Woodcock, Captain Lambert, while on her voyage from New York to London. The disaster oc curred by the vessel going on shore near Dungeness on Thursday morning. Endeavours have since been made by her Majesty's steamer Magicienne to tow her off, but without success. The Woodcock was laden with a mis cellaneous cargo, consisting chiefly of flour, wheat, oil cake, &c. The latest despatch received reports that all attempts to save the ship were suspended, she having become waterlogged, and that the crow were endeavour ing to save as much as possible of the cargo. LAUNCll.—Yesterday afternoon the ceremony of launching the Victor Emmanuel from the ship-yard of the Victoria Foundry Company, Greenwich, was per formedin the presence of a vast number of spectators. Miss Airey, eldest daughter of Professor Airey, under took the task of naming the vessel. The principal dimensions of the vessel, which is built of iron, are length between perpendiculars, 160 fee t ; ditto over all, 185 feet ; breadth of beam, 27 feet ; depth of hold, 16 feet ; draught of water, 12 feet. The tonnage is about 600 tons old measurement. She has a splendid saloon costa. for the accommodation of passengers, and is adaptd o fo i r s carrying 1,000 tons of measurem ent g Her fitted with an auxiliary screw steam propelier. seh engines are of 90-horse power. Her name was suggested by the recent visit of the King of ia Sardin t f o this coun try. Her Majesty's gun-boat Fidget, ei.e two vesse l s which the above company are under contract to bui d f r Government, was launched a few minutes after the Victor Emitat.uel. This is the first gun-boat built at Greenwich. Her sister boat, the Flirt, is in a very for. ward state, and will soon be ready for launching. The dimensions of the Fidget ere--length between perpendi cular,, 100 feet ' • b re adth, 21 feet 1 0 inches ; depth, 6 feet 6 inches; d raug ht of water, 4 feet ; tonnage, 212 tcrne, 18 i 101 I 76 62 1i 64i 5 41 17 87 i Si 101} 74i 44; 21 it 1543 31 Isi 79} 81 .57 61 72 I S 14i MINES. 1 all I ,4'u ri ~ . . ..• 1 all thglc Austria. Gore" • !.0a - all .Angle Californi!.r ?0 7 knstrslian l. ti 1 .11 A.lstraßap Cord;ller 1 all 'are Maria . ••• 1 all Radon (Gd• Duchy o' i 0 all Rleettar. iron & Coa' 20 l 4 British iron 3 - 5 4 15 21; l - trazilis.nlmp.(iss*w' at 43; pm.) all Comes sr Cuial• 24 3 20 l 5 Do. St. John Del Re , 24 - 26 (Ilarendon Cons. Min Co. of Jamaica h 40 all Cobre Copper 66 - 69 5 1 Colonial Gold St. all Copper Min. of En 34 - 33 35 all Do. Pref. 74 p. 080 26 27 le Copiapo • l9 ?1 14 Fortuna 3 - Id 14 20 I all 'lent-al l4 - 16 1 all :4t • NtiggetVoinTh - 4i a ll r 4rAn t Polvonth . 14 5 all Gt Wheal Vor Unite 1 1. all Liberty •• ••• 3 all Linares 74 •- 8 5 14 Lusitanim ....... 4 1 all Mariquita a ll New Granada ..... .• t all 'Nouveau M0nde..... . -0 ail Pontgi.Sil.lkLe.Min. 10 - 12 Port Philip all Quartz Rock — 0 all ithymney Iron ... 19 - 21 204 15 a ll Do. New ...... • 5 7 30 _l3O Rsntimttn de ' 7 ll l * 34 - . 6s. Sort. Coss. Min. Cc 24_ - 1 all .onth Australian. 1 all Do. Scrip - 1 Do. 10 per cent Pre* 44 Tam. S. &L. Min. Co. 24 3 If) 9 ho Cr0ft...... 4 -- 44 ?Si all United Mexican ... • 31 - 4i 1 all .'raller a ll West Mariposa 1 12 a . Worthing Mining o - Australia 1 all Yuba.. ----- 513.SCELLANNOUb. --------- _._.___-----_._.__ 35 19 Australian A gricult. ,31 - 39 ----- , IP all Aus train. Koval Mail ... ...... ... 10 all Berlin Water Works 61 - 74 ei i 50 .0 itrit. American Land , -. . 100 2 Canada .... .. l4O -- 145 gt. e 10 0.00.#1p.e. YeTA 7nI Y 1 ' 9 4 110 St. 100 Do. 6 p.c. Feb & Aug 7 -- 109 St, 100 Do. 6p.c. Mar k Sept 106 - .03 a a, i • ,rysta) Palace 24 - 21 24 5 all Do. Preference 54 -- 51 4 ,11 Crystal Pal. of France ,„, - . 1 6 Duston• Iron Ore ... - ... 10 13 Eastern Steam ..... - 5 al) En.&Aus Cop Sm Co 14 - 2 St. 100 Electric Telegraph 'B7 - 89 89 1 all o.lectric Teleg. of Ir ... „ 5 all Gen. Iron Sc Collier ~. ••• k 5 14 c?en. Steam Navigat. ..„ - - 18 all General Serevr Stearn ..• -- 4 all Loud. Gen. Omnibus ,31 - 31 34 11 - 10 Magdalena St. Navin ... 10 all - viediteran. Elec. Tel. 8 - 10 0 9 4exicau&S. America. 55 - • g 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel ) ~, . • ~ 3.0 5 Netherlands Land.- ) li - 21 10 all Do. Do. 5 2 Do. BpcPissatld• 4 - tp 100 80 New B. & N.S. Land 118 - 22 1 an :4 .P. Australasian,- 1 •-- i 20 15 Vrth.efEuropeStaam 1 all :hien, e.l Ga 5.......... 1 1 --- !5 1 2s. Do. "New Shares" 1 - Sp i pm 6 at :'oel Rr. lA. & Minrl. 21 - 3 50 al) Peninßulark Oriental ... - ~. 50 10 !".),..;. New..... ..... . ~. - ...p te'.3 60 '.royal Maii !Steam ... ... --, .- I al , Scot. Austral. Invest. 14 .- 1 1 ' i 0 itto New ............. , i - 41 . 25 all . "wrath Anstrn.l.T.Ata '7 - 39 33 al: liibmsr. Tel.Serip... i 11 ?i) Kb._ *, iteiiii4t,STid . .. I} 1 i 1 E , 'rust& 1,.'`10.13-‘ l, , 7. 10C , 2c i . ..., Dif,,,,,°‘ i... , wi 16 '- 17 .-) “. V,Gollp,c,JanSauly ... .-- „. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YEsTmr.DAy). The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool• sack at five o'clock. The Earl of MALMESBURY gave notice that on Thursday he should ask a question of the Secretary of State for War respecting the return of the cavalry and artillery horses from the Crimea to this country. AUSTRALIAN POSTAGE. The Earl of HARDWICKE rose to put a question to the Postmaster-General with respect to Australian postage. He said that he had on a former occasion made an inquiry of the Government on this sub ject, and he was told that the regular departure of the usual mails for Australia and this country had been in terfered with in consequence of the war. In 1852 a system of steam navigation for the purposes of postal communication from Australia to this country was es tablished. Although that communication was not com pletely satisfactory to the colonists, it nevertheless did answer the purposes ofaregular steam communicatiop, giving in every alternate month a communication by the I-thtnus of Suez to Australia on an average of only 04 days. That communication was, however, stopped in 1554, and from that year to the present time he might 8.. y that no regular communication for postal purpsee existed. The conveyance of the malts was by merchant vessels and other inferior ship , . From letters he had received from the other side of Suez, he was informed that the steam postal communication had not been interfered with in consequence of the war, for the vessels that had ereviously been engaged in the service were since em ployed in commercial pursuits elsewhere. The Austra Tian colonies had presented a memorial upon the subject to the Lords of the Treasury, and had shown the strongest dispo,ition to defray a large proportion of the expenses of a regular steam communication. The Government bad advertised for tenders, and many tenders had been received by them for the conveyance of the Australian mails. The colony of Victoria bad proposed to advance a sum of 50,000/., and New South Wales 20,000/ , towards the expenses. The Government, in their advertise. ments, omitted to specify the particular route, but had left that important point in doubt and uncertainty. lie would sincerely impress on the Government the importance of this communication, when it was considered that from Melbourne alone 1,000,0001. of gold had been received within the year. He wished to inquire what progress had been made by the GeNernment in this subject ; and concluded by ask ing the noble duke to lay upon the table the memorial of the General Mercantile Association of Australia to the Lords of the Treasury with respect to this question. The Duke of ARGYLL said he was fully impressed . . with the great importance, he might indeed say the ab solute importance, of establishing a regu'ar postal com munication between Australia and this oountry. Tenders had been sent i❑ to the Admiralty for the conveyance of the mails by steam communicatior, and these tenders were at present under the consideration of the Govern ment. It wets true that the Treasury minute did not specify the particular route the mails were to take becau , o they thought it much better to leave it an open question for the - present, in order that they might be better able to test the respective advan tages of each. The Government were not disposed to put the motion off, but they thought it absolutely ne- cessary to have the as , -ent of the colonists themselves beforehand, as it was expected that they would d 3• fray half the expenses. He had not the least abjection to lay the memorial the noble earl opposite had moved for on the table of their lordships' house. THE CURRENCY. The Earl of EGLINTON rose to call the attention of the Government to the expediency of issuing a Royal cmlmitsion to inquire into the operation of the laws which regulate the cu , rtncy of the United Kingdom. He feared that many of their lordships might have viewed the notice be had given on this subject with some feeling of alarm, as it was a subject very difficult to understand, and from which most men therefore naturally shrank ; but he assured their lordships that he would abstain from indulging in any vague theories or long calculations of figures, and would merely endeavour to convince them that a searching inquiry into the system now es• a- Wished was, if not necessary, at all events desirable. He thought the present a proper time for inquiry on the subject, on account, i❑ the first place, of the position in which the Bank charter now stood. The present charter was established in 1844 for 10 years, after which it was liable to be terminated by one year's notice. The Bank might consequently be said to be now waiting for a new charter, and he believed that few persons would desire to see a new charter granted without the subject under going a most searching investigation. Another reason which made him think that this was a proper time for commencing this inquiry was the circumstance that a peace was now about to commence which was likely to be enduring, from the prostration of . the Northern agvres- sor and the intimate aliance of the great countries of Europe. The country was now, probably, on the •ve of a career of considerable commercial enterprise, and of a state of internal tranquillity and content almo,t unpar- - allel-d, and on this account, too, he thought the period favourable for inquiry. In 1848, in consequence of the severe monetary crisis which took place in the preceding _ . year, committees of both houses were appointed to in quire into the c iuses and amount of the distress which then spread ruin over the country. Both committees were equally anxious to discharge their duty properly ; but the result was, that they agreed to report diametri cally opposite. Theirl lordship ' committee resolved in favour of a relaxtion of the act of 1344, while the committee of the House of Commons came to the resolu tion that no change in the system should take place. These conclusions were come to in both instances by narrow majorities, and that circumstance formed a good and sufficient reason why the subject shou!d now be taken up by a Royal commission, which would be free from party spirit., which necessarily attached in some degree to Parliamentary committees on this matter. lie was rather unexpectedly fortified in his notion that in quiry was necessary by the opinions of some of them who were supposed to be the strongest advocates of the present system. In a late debate in another place the Chancellor of the Exchequer was reported to have said . "I, neverthelets, fully admit that the operation of the Bank Act of 1844 is afit subject for investigation by a committee of this house when its proper time shall have arrived, and when the circumstances shall appear to have arrived, and when the circumstances shall appear to be favourable for the prosecution of such an inquiry. I quite agree that there are many part: of the operation which require a complete investigation by a competent tribunal, and I shall be quite willing, when the proper time arrives, to assent to the appointment of a committee on the sub ject." . Sir C. Wood also said : " I am far from saying that such inquiry is undesirable." He was aware that those gentlemen guarded themselves against pledging themselves as to time, but they both admitted that inquiry was desirable. He pressed this !natter on their lordships' attention, because the system as at present constituted had been tried and had failed. The act of 1844 had not worked well, but bad failed in preventing over-speculation, and bad proved inefficient when the danger arose. Since the passing of the act there hail been a commercial crisis, and greater fluc tuations of interest than ever had been known before. Ho would not go into the subject of the country banks, or into the Scotch and Irish question ; but would confine himself solely to the case of the Bank of England. By the act of 1844 the Bank of England was authorised to issue 14,000,000/. in notes, on the security of the debt due to it by the State, and unrepresented by gold in their coffers. Every note beyond that amount must be represented by gold. The Bank of England was likewise divided into a banking department and an issue department ; and thus the gold which was in the issue department to answer the notes in circulation over the amount of the 14 000,0001. WAS not available for any othere requirements in the banking department. By an part of the act the directors of the Bank were empowered to take up a certain quantity of country notes when any of the country banks ceased to issue ; and the amount id that circulation which had so ceased was nearly 500,0001. It was plainly intimated to the directors that they were to consider themselves merely as hankers ; that, as such, they were to look to their own interest, without reference to the state of the nation. Accordingly, when gold became plentiful they towered the interest in order to get their notes out to the public, and when gold became scarce they raised the rate of interest. During the last 11 years 40 fluctuations of interest had taken place, varying from 2 to 7,8, and 9 per cent. ; whereas in previous years the fluctuations were few and trifling. These fluctuations appeared to be on the increase, for during the the last four years they had amounted to 16, and during the last year to 8. The low rate of interest established in 1847 greatly encou raged speculation, and its result was to produce such a drain upon the Bank that at the end of the year the amount of gold left in it was considerably under 2,000,0001. The pressure became so great that the rate of interest was raised to 7 and 8 per cent., and Mr. S. Gurney stated in his evidence that he had been obliged to pay 9 per cent. for an advance of 200,0001 , and such was the panic that Mr. H. Palmer stated thatif the Bank had attempted to relieve itself by a sale of consols the price would have gone down to 60. But the directors, undeterred by the experience of 1847, when money became plentiful in 1852 again reduced their interest to the ridi culously low rate of 2 per cent. The same result followed, a drain of gold again took place, and the Bank again raised its interest, and at the end of last year the country was again in difficulties and numerous bankruptcies took place. According to the present system he knew that it was absolutely necessary to thesesraie the rate of interest—in other words, "to put on rew"—when gold became scarce. The Governor of the Bank, in his evidence be fore the committee of 1848, said upon this subject— “ The means of getting back the gold is by making money dear, and causing a fall generally in the price of commodities, which will bring back gold;" and " prices will fall in consequence of the increased value of money." The effect of " putting on the screw " was not only to ruin those houses which had been tottering, but also to depreciate the whole property of the country and to fos ter speculative circulation by forcing out the notes of the Bank. The act of 1844 had falsified the predictions of its promoters iu another point. The noble lord opposite (Lord Overstone), generally supposed to be its author, said, upon the question of note circulation keeping pace with the increase or decrease of gold— " The issues of the Bank of England will, under the pro visions of that bill, be made to conform strictly to the flue ' tuations of the bullion. Thus, it appears that contraction of the circulation in correspondence with the decrease of the bullion is the only measure which can afford effectual security for stopping the drain of bullion." 1-No doubt the amount of notes in circulation was regu lated by the amount of gold in the Bank, but the expec tation of the noble lord had not been fulfilled, because the note circulation was within a fraction the same in 1847, when there were 9,000,0001. of gold in the Bank, as in laio, when there were 16,000,000/, ; at the end of 1852 there was a note circulation of 2 2,000,0001. with 19,000,0001 of gold ; at the erd of 1853, a note circulation of 24,000,0001. with 15,000,000/ of gold ; in the early part of 1855 a circulation of 20,000,000/. with 13,000,0001. of gold ; and in Odtober, 21,000,0001. with only 11,000,0001. of gold. He trusted he bad now made out a fair case for the propriety, if not the neceee airy, of a searching investigation into this mat ter before a competent tribunal. He had brought forward no theory ; he had only stated undeniable fact. It could not be disputed that during the last 11 years greater fluctuations had taken place, and there had been greater over-speculation and greater monetary crises than had been ever known in modern times, and the greatest supporters of the act admitted that some in quiry into its operations were necessary. It might be said, what is the Ilse of making a change in the act of 1844 if you cannot substitute something better / But there wire many points in the act which might be Me. proved, and he thought it would be a better plan to im prove it than altoge her to get rid of it. If the act were to be continued. he thought, in the first place, that the circu'ation °tat to he released by enlarging the powers of the Bank of England, so ns to enable them to issue 11.-notes. He was as much ire' reused as any man with the necessity of providing for the convertibility of the bank-notes ; but by preventine the Bank from issuing small as well as large notes they fore d into circulation a number of s , vereigns which would otherwise remain in the Bank, end enable is to issue a greater number of notes on the security of it gold without increa lag its liability. These 11.-not, s ught to be issued upon the same footing as larger notes; th y r tight -to he a le ;al tender, but convertible into go d. 1.. 1825 the Bank was relieved from great difficulty by the issue of a number of these small notes, and many of their lordships would remem ber the statement of the late Lord Ashburton, who n commended the issue, that if 2,000,000 old 11.-notes bad not accidentally been ready he did net know what wou'd have been the result. It had been said ti at many of these 11.-notes would be forged, but be could not un derstand why they could be forged more easily ti an notes of a larger amount. In Scotland forgery had, he be lieved, been almost unknown for many years. The Scotch not only preferred notes, but had a great distrust c f gold. They knew that a 11.-note, however dirty, duly repre sented the amount of 205.; but that a sovereign might be light. There was no feeling of distrust in 1826 and 1828 of U.-notes. So far from that he could refer to the declaration of. Ministers of that day, who said that the people preferred notes to gold, and an act was passed in 1828, the 7th of George IV., by which Scotch notes were prohibited under a penalty from being ereutated across the border, these notes, although not a legal tender, baying found their way into Lancashire and Yorkshire. Another point in the present system might be advantageously changed without infringing on the main principles of the act—viz., the constitution of the Bank direction. The management of the Bank was int-usted to the governor, the deputy-governor, and 23 Bank directors, eight of whom were by turns ineligi ble for one year. He thought 1; oljectioaable ti at eight di.• ;tors should be turned out of office just as ttiey be gan to know their business, at .d ehouid be "sent to grass" for a year to forget it. He might also object to the rule by which matters of importance were deci fed by the mere majority of the &rectors. He thoureht there ought to be some sort of Governmeu t inspection and cons teed, and he was borne out in- .this opinion by the evi dence given by Mr. Glyn and Mr. Brown in 1843 before the House of Commons. The Bank of France was con ducted on that principle of Government control, and with excellent results. It had a governor and two subs governors. These office: s were nominated by the Crewn and receivel large salaries. He would not quarrel wi h their raising the rate of interest when gold was carce, because that was necessary ; but be objected to the unduly low rate of interest to which the Bank re sorted when money was plentiful. The panic of 1847 was very much brought on by the reduction in the rate of ie. terest in the previous year to 2, and 3 per cent. The Bank of England ought to be either a State Bank or separated from the State. If it were a State Bank it ought to be under Government supervision, and ought to consult the interests of the country. He was inclined to think, although he spoke with some doubt, that it might be desirable to adopt some minimum rate of in terest. Previously to 1844 the variations in the rate of interest were very few. Another improvement which could be effected by a mere stroke of the pen was in raising the amount of notes which the Bank of England was authorised to issue over and above those that must be represented by gold. In 1844 it was supposed that 14,000,0001. were sufficient for the wants of the country, but this amount would hardly be sufficient now, considering how the country had in the interval in creased in population and wealth. It would be a great relief if some step could be adopted, such as raising the note circulation from 14 to 18 er 20 millions sterling, in order to meet the increased demands of the country. The main principles of the act of 1844 he disapproved— viz., the restriet.ve elausee, and the separation of the two departments of the Beek. Up, n'h a la'tor subject be would quote the opinion expressed by Mr. Tooke at the conclusion of his pamphlet on the Bank Charter. Mr. Tooke said— " That the greater or less liability to variation in the rate of interest 4onstitntes, is thO degree next only to the preservation of the convertibility of the paper and the sol vency of banks, the most important consideration in the regulation of our banking system. That a total separation of the business of issue from that of banking is calculated to produce greater and more abrupt transitions in the rate of interest and in the state of credit than tbo (present) system of union of departments," No man, however bigotted an advocate of a mo!allic cur rency, would say that the Bank ought to be deprived of the power of issuing any notes whatever that were not represented by gold. It England had been governed on such principles for the last two centuries she would now he a small third-rate State. There could be no doubt about the expediency of issuing notes that were not actually represented by gold in the coffers of the Bank, and the only doubt was as to the limit. For himself, he obj>_•cted to naminc , a particular amount of notes beyond which no issue should take place, because when that !bait was reached distrust and discredit began. Ile be lieved there would not have been half so severe a crisis in 1847 if the Bank had had the power of increasing the issue of notes upon the 9,000,0001. of gold which it then possessed. At a later period of great difficulty there was 12,500,000/. of gold in the Bank of England, which would have warranted a larger issue of notes, and would greatly have relieved the pressure. If the provisions of the act of 1844 regulated the affairs of the Bank of France, instead of r ow meeting all its engagements, and having a stock of 8,500,000/. of cold in its coffers, the Bank of France would be 2,000,000/. minus in its banking department. WVithi❑ the last four years there had been only two changes in the rate of interest charged by the Bank of France, while within the same period there had been 18 changes in the rate of interest charged by the Batik of England. The late Lord Ashburton, in his evidence respecting the Bank of France, said— " There has been at no time any suspension of its pay ments, or any material difficulties of any kind ; and it seems to have answered perfectly well the object for which that Bank, like our own, was instituted—namely, as a bank to give proper facilities to the circulation and com merce of the country, and at the same time to be the bank ers of the Government, and to give every proper and legiti mate facility to the operation of the Government." He would rather have inquiry by committee than no in quiry at all ; but, as it was almost impossible to sepa rate the subject from the influence of party feeling, he thought the appointment of a Royal commission would be the preferable course. (Hear.) He would not presume to name the members of the commission, but would humbly suggest that persons should be sel ec t e d w h o were not pldged to any particular views on the ques tion. In conclusion the noble earl moved, " That a hum ble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty will issue a Royal commis:lon to inquire into the state of the currency of the United Kingdom." The Earl of HARROW BY, who was very indistinctly heard, was understood to say that it was the intention of the Government, as had been stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the other house, to appoint a commit tee to inquire into the operation f the Bank Act of 1844 before any revision was attempted in the present ar rangements. He admitted that there were some subjects in. re fitted to be inquired into by commissions than c rnittees, but he considered this was an inquiry peculiarly belonging to the Houses of Parliament to undertake. He did not think it desirable to enter into any discussion of the points suggested by the noble earl, but would merely say inquiry should be made before notice was given to the Bank to terminate the operation of the act of 1844. The LORD CHANCELLOR said it was usual to give notice of motions of suoh importance as this, but the notice given by the noble earl conveyed the impres sion that no motion would be made. The Earl of EGL INT ON said, he had hoped, and still hoped, that his motion would extract a more satis factory answer from the Government than had been given by the noble earl. The Earl of lIARROWBY said the only new point raised by the noble earl was his preference for a commie• sion instead of a c omm it tee. H e t h oug h t a comm i ss i on could only add to the investigation, and not supersede inquiry by committees of both houses. The Earl of DERBY said a more important question than the form of the inquiry was what were the inten tions of the Government ! All that the Government had said was, that inquiry was very desirable at the proper time and in the proper mode. He begged to ask, when was the proper time f (Hear.) His noble friend (the Earl of Eglinton) gave as a reason why the present was the proper time that the Baak was open to notice from the Government at any period, and the charter, there fore, continued only from year to year. It was very de sirable that the conditions of any new charter should be well considered. The Government assigned the most ex traordinary of all reasons for not proceeding with inquiry —that they did not intend to give the Bank notice in the course of the present year. Surely inquiry, either by a commission or a committee, ought to precede the giv. log of notice to determine the present charter. Although his noble friend did not intend to press his motion, he (Lord Derby) thought that he had a right to expect from the Government a more distinct declaration of their opi nion as to the merits of the act of 1844, and mor e definite information as to the course whic h the y intend ed to pur sue with regard to instituting an inquiry into its opera tion, in order that the country might deliberately and fully consider and judge of the question before the Go vernment proceeded to Negotiate with the Bank. The Duke of ARGYLL said that the noble lord had somewhat misrepresented the answer given in the other house by his right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, and repeate d in t h at house by his noble friend behind him (Lord Harrowby), In the House of Com ment} the Chancellor of the Exchequer distinctly an nounce change the Government bad no intention of mak ing any in the Bank Charter Act of 1844, but any hon , member of that house was extremely a th n a x t io u if s for an inquiry into the subject the Go-rem:ace would throw no impediment in its way. The right bon geutlemao did not intimate that hit thought an incoir, J ; NO It. is a' flea livi g 111 hse the the orti .11 NO 7• .1 e (G. or froPI o, omits do.. 04' rr eic• 50 th full At '11; this 8 al 71 4 3i 6j 25 Si 5 3 1 i 14 1 I