The Sun. — London, England, 1861-12-31 00:00:00

VOA EY 31ARKET A ND CITY NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocK. S The year which is now terminating has been characterised by numerous monetary and commer- si cial events of importance. Several circumstances have combined to depress trade and to check spe culation. A very quiet tone has, therefore, per vaded most departments of business, and the results have not been of a very remunerative character I either to the mercantile or manufacturing interests. Under the circumstances, however, even greater prostration might have been apprehended when the civil war in America and the international question that has arisen between this country and the Federalists are taken into consi deration. In the course of the past twelve months numerous failures have occurred, especially et among the Greek interests, when the crisis took 1 place in the Levant trade. In other branches of V business suspensions have also been reported, and is no less than five provincial banks have succumbed, etc and in some instances with heavy liabilities. Seve et ral cases of commercial fraud have also been revealed, but they will be too fresh in the recollection of the public to require recapitulation. It is a source of regret that the prospects of the new year are so clouded by the uncertain issue of the American question, which naturally tends to increase the corn- FI: mercial dep ress i on w hi c h h as so long prevailed. F The public markets for Foreign and Colonial Pro duce have been closed during the past week for the Christmas Holidays, but they reopened to day. Privately a limited business has been done in most of the principal staples, but prices have shown little or no change of importance. A fair amount of business was reported in the Liverpool Cotton mark e t y es t er d ay, an d prices 8_ were firm. The sales were 10,000 bales. Some important changes have occurred during the year in the situation of the Bank of England. The stock of bullion was larger on Wednesday last than at any other period of the year, the total being £15,755,933; the lowest point attained was on the 23d of January, viz., £11,521,580. The reserve of notes has also reached its maximum during the last few days, the aggregate being £10,022,130, whereas on the 17th of July it was only £4,913,935. The largest stock of other securities was £22,836,483, on the 2d of January, and the smallest, £10,194,997, on the 27th of Novem ber. The rates of discount were highest in January and February, viz,, 7 and 8 per cent., and the lowest point, 3 per cent., was reached on the 7th of November last, and no subsequent alteration has taken place. With regard to the progress of affairs in France it may be mentioned that the bullion there in January was £13,986,827, and in December £12,996,609 ; the highest aggre gate being in June, when it was £16,498,347, and the lowest in November, when it stood at £11,410,290. The rates of discount, which were 6f per cent. during the financial crisis in October, have since receded to 5 per cent., and an improving tendency is still reported. About £32,000 in gold was sent into the Bank of England yesterday. The half-yearly meeting of the East and West India Dock Company will take place on the 10th inst., for the declaration of a dividend, &c. There is an increase of £905 in the traffic receipts of the South-Eastern Railway for the past week, and £BOl on the Brighton. The traffic receipts of the Northern of France Railway from the Ist of January to the 16th inst., amounted to £2,451,630, against £2,339,799 in the corresponding period of 1860. The improvement established yesterday in the value of the English Funds has not been fully main tained, • sales having been effected this morning which produced symptoms of reaction. It may be mentioned that the greater proportion of the busi ness now transacted is in options, owing to the un certainty felt with regard to the effect that may be produced at any moment by the receipt of later advices from America. Consols at one time receded to 901 -f-„ but since then a decided recovery has taken place, viz., to 90 I- both for money and the account. The New Threes and the Reduced remain at 90§3 ; Bank Stock has advanced to 236; India 5 per Cent. is firm at 103 k 104, but the June Ex chequer Bills are flat at Bs. to lls. prem. Extreme quietude has prevailed in the Foreign Market, and prices have shown no material altera tion. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 761 to 771 ; ditto, 1868, 671 to 68 ; ditto £lOO Bonds are firm at 70. The Italian Loan at 65, and the Spanish Certifi cates have advanced to 5 1 , 7 ,- A very limited amount of business was transacted in the Railway Share Market to-day, but prices generally exhibited a slight upward tendency. Eastern Counties, Midlands, North Eastern (Ber wick), have advanced 55.; and Great Westerns and South Easterns, 10s. ; London and South Western, however, have declined 15s. The Foreign and Colonial undertakings have been very inactive. Great Luxembourg brought 9 ; Great Western of Canada, 9; Great Indian Penin sula, 98 ex. div. ; Enst Indian, 981 99 ex. div. ; and Bombay and Baroda, 971 ex. div. Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares have been neglected, and prices are nominally unaltered 1!!1 ai lull FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK. Dank Stock 3per Cent. Redu ce d A nnu i t i es 9Ol # per Cent. Consols Annuities New 3 p er C ent. Annuities # 901 # India Stock Ditto 6 per Cent. Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent — Ditto 5 per Cent 97/ Ditto 5} per Cent r Ditto Debentures, 4 per Cent., Oct., 1863 Ditto 1859 98f Consols for Account, Jan. 9 March. 90! _Jun 9. Excheq uer Bill s, £ l,OOO 2d.... 8 11 Ditto £5OO ..... 11 Ditto S 11 FOREIGN FUNDS-01414 O'CLOCK. s'ardinian 6 per Cent. Spanish Cert. o f C oup. not funded Turkish 6 per Cent. Ditto £lOO Bonds Dividends on the above payable in London. Milan, 6 per Cent., 1861 66 Consols, Money TWO O'CLOCK.9OS I Ditto Account all 1 10s. ail all 48 50 49/12 11 34 SO 6 8 1 li 2 23 24 1 1# pP 7 8 d pr I td 2 4 1i 1 1 pm 254 , 8f JOINT-STOP THE WEATHER. PROBABLE BEFORE THURSDAY. North Britain Variable, chiefly westerly,moderate, fresh. Ireland N.E. to S. and S.S.W., variable, light, moderate. Central Similar, foggy. East Coast • chiefly. South England. N.E. to S. and S.S.W., moderate, fresh; fine. METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS. This Day, D. tetween 8 and B. E . M. 'F. C. r. S. 9 a.m. Nairn 3041 39 37 S. 5 90. 3 Aberdeen.-- 30'41 35 34 W.S.W. 3 9 m. 2 Leith. 3046 35 33 N.W. 2 3m. 1 Berwick 3046 33 32 W. 5 Bb. 2 Ardrossan 30'51 84 32 E.S.E. 2 5 C. 2 Portriish 130.51 34 32 S. 1 2b. 1 Shields ...... , 3047 38 36 W.S.W . 2 2 c. 2 Scarborough Galway ' 3048 37 36 3018 30 Calm 0 9m. 1 W. 1 8 o. Liverpool 3,50 37 36 S.S. E. 1 9 f. 2 1 Valentia . 3043 35 31 E.N.E. 1 1 b, . 1 Queenstown 3016 43 42 N.E. 3 7 0 Yarmouth 3043 37 36 N. 3 5 c ., : 2 3 London D over 3042 40 39 E. 5 90. Portsmouth 4 i Portland Plymouth 3035 40 39 E. Penzance iO. 2 30'37 4 4 42 E.S.E. 4 4 8 9 I 3 EXPLANATinx —ll 11-- ....___ X:XPLANATION.-B. Barometer, corrected and reduced 032 deg at mean sea level ; each 10 feet of vertical rise causing about 1-100th of an i ach diminution, and each 10 deg above 32 deg causing nearly 3-100ths increase. E. Exposed thermometer in shads. M. Moistened bulb (for evaporation and dew-point). D. Direction of wind (true-- not magnetic). F. Force (1 to 12—estimated). C. Cloud (1 to 9). I. Initials :—b:, blue sky ; c., clouds (detached); f , fog; h., hail; 1., lightning ; m., misty (hazy) ; 0., over cast (dull) ; r., ra i n ; s., snow ;t., thunder. S. Sea dis turbance (1 to 9). AVE EXTRAORDINARY SHOOTING CASE IN ,VERP OOL. — WiImer, the man of colour, charged with ;tempting to shoot a man n arced Dalton in the street, was ;ain brought before Mr. Rs flies, at the Liverpool police- Rut, yesterday. A police off.cer, who had examined the Ills in the street, to see if the re were any marks similar to opse made by bullets, deposed that he had found one mark, Lich had exactly corresponded to the indentation which , uld be made by a pistol shot. The prisoner was corn led for trial on the c}' -go of &Ito:Wed murder. Li' aga Cou ♦ thol whi 4. 4 Wot BRITISH POSSESSIONS. Closin Price. IBusin At:antic & Se: Lawrence, ,Boin.,llitroda.Cent Ind' 5 per cTht.. .. 18 Do - Do. ?J4 ;Buffalo and Lake Huron 104 : Do. New [0 Do. Preferunce ,n Buiralo,Brant.VGodriell p. et. bds. Aug. 1,1 a '0 'Do. do. July 1, 1573 '0 Do. do. June 1, 5 C!cutta..tS.Eastn. (1,1 ) 10 Cape,Eastn.Prov. (Lim ) !O Cape Town & Dock Seri], 9 Ceylon Guarantd. 6p. c. 74 :Demerara.. ....... 0 lEastn. Bengal p i . sp. :oak East Indian, gu. 5 p. c. 10 Do. F Shares Ext..... 10 Do. Jubbulpore )0 Do. 44 p c. Debentrs 10 10 D Do. o. 5 18 p.c. 65-1870 Deb., 1864 :ock'G rand Trunk of Canada )0 Do. 6 per cent. Pref )0 Do. 2d Pref. 6 per et )0 Do. 6 per et. Dcbentr )0 Do. 7 per cent. 1862 10 Do. do. 1867 10 Do. do. 1872 ok Gt.lndiaPenin.gua.sp.c :0 Do. New gua. sp. c... Ick Gt. South.of India(Lim; guaranteed 5 per cent. 10 Do. do. 104 Gt. W. of Canada Shares: 104 Do. New )0 ,Do. 6 p.c. '73 wltli't opt. )0 Do. 54 p. c. do. '77 d 0... 10 IDo. 54 p. c. do. '7B d 0... lek Madras guar., 44 p. c... Ick Do. do. 5 per cent .... , ek Do. 41 p. c. Extension 0 Do. 5 ock Melb.Corp. 6 p. o. Bnds. :0 Newßrunswick t Canda ityArLand(Lim.)g.6pc, Class A Capital Sharei Do. do. Land d 0...... 20 Do. do. B Capital do. .. IDo. do. Land do. ...... Oude (Limited) ........ ;oek Scinde . ••• • 1 10 Do. Punjaub e, 1C Do. Do. cc ick Do. Indus. St. Flo. .0 Trinidad (Lim.) Scrip.. Larel Railways. 0 81 99i 197; —d 31 4 } d c! , lf 5 1 id 101 20d 100 101 98 100 99 101 100 101 18 19 54 50 5 45 50 30 31 34 38 29 32 29 32 100 101 08 ff f d 99 100 81 oils 112 11} 89 91 99 :00 91 03 5 7 4 8 flOO 15 all 100 1 10l i 1021 1 id! 1:95 100 a 1d FOREIGN RAILWAYS. 20 Algerian .., ..... 10 Antwerp & Rotterdam. 20 Ardennes ....... .. 20 Bah.&S.Fran..Lim.7 p.c. 5 Belgian East. Junction 20 Beziers to Graissessac.., Carmeaux Mine & Rani 100 Copiapo ...... •••• 10 Ditto Extension 20 Dutch Rhenish ........ 20 Eastern of France .... 20 Grand Rus. Guar. 6p. c. 20 Do. do. 20 Great Central of France) 20 Gt. Luxem., Con. shs.. 20 Italian Junction ..... 20 ',Jerre & Turnhout . 20 Lyons & Geneva ... 20 Namur & Liege ....... Pref. ......., 16 !Northern of France.... 16 I Do. New Shares ...... 10 !Norwegian Trunk Fret 20 Paris,Lyons, . n Mediter 20 Parts & 0r1ean5........ 20 I' Recife & S. Fran. (fern. gua. 7 p. ct. lim ...... 20 Riga & Dunaburg...... 20 )loyal Dani5h.......... 5 Royal Swedish ....... 4 , Do. 7 per cent. Pref.... 20 Sambre & Meuse ...... 10 Do. 54 per cent. Pref..... 20 San Paulo, Bin, g. 7p. c. 20 i S.Aust &Lomb Venetin 20 Southern of France.... 20 S. East Portugal 7 p ct. 81 West Flanders .. ~.... 10 Do. 54 p. c. Preference.. 20 W. & N.W. of France .. 1 20 West , rn of Austria.... 20 j Western of Switzerland 6 Wiesbaden .......... 6 Do. 8 per cent Pref.. 20 Zealand all all all all all 1 all 1 all 6 6i d 11 13 9 8 7 1 par d 254 t6i Of 7 9i 10 20 21 8R TTIS - Alfred Consols (Philack; ;British Iron - !Clifford - !Devon G. Cons. (Taoist ) - ! East Bassett (Ill og an)., - !East Caradon ...... - ,E. Russel (Tavistk. - Gam..tStAubyn(Gwen.; - Great South Tolgus - G.Wheal Alfa. (Philael( - G. Wheal Vor (Helston) - ;Grenville - Herod's- Foot - I Ilingston Downs - ;Lady Bertha ▪ !Margaret (llny Lelant) - 'North Downs - !North Frances (Illogan - Basset( 1110 ;An) , - North Wheal Crotty - Par Consols (St. Blazey) 10 j Providence (Uny Lelnt.) - ; Sortridge Cons. Min. Co. - ;South Caradon(St Cleer) - IS. Cam Brea (Illogan) 1 :S. Dev. Iron &Gen., Lim - IS.Wheal Fran. (Illop;an) - Stray Park 5 ! Tamar Lead Min .0 ! Tin Croft - Vale of Towey (Caren.) 1 - ;West Basset (Illogan) - IW. Caradon (Liskeard) - 'West Seton - !Wheal Basset (Mogan)! - Wheal Buller(ltedruth)l - When! Edward (Cals.), - Wheal nifty ( U.L elant); - I Wheal Mary Ann (Men.) - ;Wheal Treiawney (Lis.) 6.8.6 8.12 4.11.6 1.10.4, 2 114 1.14.0 1k • 10.6.7 1 II • 5.9. G all 1 18.1'4.9 2719.; 13s 6dl 1.7.2 3.2.10; 2.14.6 7.4.0 551 17a Hi 11 4 33 22 9 91 19 8 f if 20 21 88f 39} 8 10 39i 40i 50 62 5 4d ' E S'.- 1 2 28 32 3C5 875 51 53 281 t9l 21 St 18 20 31 41 FOREIGN MINES. A) Australian 1 BonAccord Copper, Lim. 20 Brazil St.J.dcl ltey,Lim! 5 Do. Land and Mining Co. l Clarendon Cons.MiaCo 40 ICobre Copper ,Copiapo 1 DunMoun.Cop.Ming.Co, 2 'Fortuna. 20 !General 2 !Gt N. Cop. of S. Austr I Kapunda 3 Linares 5 Lusitanian 1 Mariquica 1 N.lthineCopoiS.Aus.L j 20 Pontgibaud Silver,Lead! Mining and Smelt... 5 Port Philip 1 Scottish Austrin. (L.) ! 0114 United Mexican 1 Worthing (Limited) I Do COLONIAL GOVBRNMENT SECURITIES. Can. Gov. 6 p.c. Ja. &J ulyl 1877-9 I 105 Do 6p. cent.lBBo-2 100 Do. 6p. cent.lBB3-4 100 Do. 6p. c. Feb. & Aug. 100 Do. 6p. c. Mar. & Sept. 100 Do. 5 per cent lOO -- Cape G.Hope, 6 p 0,1880 100 Do. 1890 100 N.B.Gov. p.c. Ja.&July 100 Do. Bp. c.Ap. & Oct. 100 N. S.W. Gov. sp. 00866 100 Do. sp. 0.4871 to 1876 100 Do. p.c., 1888 & upwde 100 Nova Scotia Gov. 6p. c sterling, 1875 S. Au5,G6p.c.1878.& up Vlo.Gov. 6 p.c. Jr. &Julyl Do. do. 6 p.c. Ap.&001 1 105 108 Nosi 8i 104 107 104 107 106 cls 108 97 90 106 108 108 110 98 100 97 99 97 99 no I 100 1 104 106 DOCKS. 3ok Commercial lOO - )ok Do. 4 per Cent.Pretillin lOO )ck East and West India )ok rondo" 1 1024 1034 stock Commercial stock Do. 4 per Cent.Pret.Min stock East and We et India stock rondo" stock St. Katharine.. stock Southampton stock Victoria. I 20 Do , New. 01•.• 100 100 1 - 130 123 125 100 58 61 1581 100 60 63 100 100 2 98 100 ld pr 'II BANKS, 190 Agra&UnitedSery ice Ilk 60 85 87 40 Australasia all 59 61 25 Bank of Egypt all 204 214 100 Baak of London ....... 50 62 64 20 Bank of Turkey 3 50 British North American all 20 Chtd.Bank of India, &c. all 194 20 25 Cli.Mer. of In. Lou. do Ch. all 11 83 100 City 100 Colonial ..„ .. ... .... 25 20'11 Com. Bank of Canaria.. all 100 Commercial of London . 20 -- 20 Eng. ' Scot., & Aus. Ch.. all 174 17) 20 Gen . Bk .or Switzerland all 20 Lon. Char.Bkof Austral all 23) 244 20 Do. new l5 34 4 50 London and County 50 London Joint Stock 20 London and S.Airican lO 1 id 100 London & Westminster 20 67 69 100 Nat. Prov. of England 42 20 Do. new 50 , National Rtrik .....• .. 25 20 /New South Wa1e5...... all 25 I Orient. B. Corporation . all 50 52 20 Ottoman Bank.... all 17 18 100 Provincial of Ireland .. 25 10 Do. new 25 South Australia ..,,,.. all 25 Union of Australia .... all 38 39 50 Um,' , of London 100 Unity Mutual.. AI ISCELLAWROUK --- 10 Anglo-21 exican Mint ..I all 134 144 10 Atlantic IL MI. Stm (Id)! all 1 2 1000 Atlantic Tel. (Limited) ' all 25 Australian Agricultural 19 25 27 10 Berlin Water (Limited) all 5 54 50 British American Land 40 60 B.&l.Mag. Tel. A. (Lim.) all 29 32 20 Do. 8,7p.c.ti111852 (Lim.) all .18 20 20 Do. C. (Limited) all 9 11 324 Canada Land all 100 103 10 Chan.lslands Tel. (Lima all st. Cop.6lin.ofEng.&Smltg all 25 Do. Pref. 74 per cent all 16 17 at. Crystal Palace at. Do. Preference at. Do. 6 p et. Perpet. Deb lOO 102 105 20 E.lndia Irrign. & Canal 1 4d 4pm st. Electric Telegraph 25 Do. New l5 5 English &Aus. Copper all 2) 3 15 Gen. Steam Navigate m 14 —-- 1 Great Ship Limited) all 4 II 1 Do: 174 pct Preference - all 4 1 5 Lon. District Tel. (Lim.) 44 4 L.G. Omnibus Co. (Lim. all 14 1) 20 Madras Irr. and Canal.. 1 14 24 10 Med. Exten. Tel. (Lim. all 31 91 25 National Die. Co. (Lim.) 5 i i 1 d 20 Nerbu.Coal&lron (Lim ) 5 15 id 10 Netherlands Land all 5 Do.B p.c.Pref..iss.atl dis ! all i t 100 N.BrANovaScottaLand 81 10 15 1 N.B.Australasian (Lim.) all 1 14 1 Oriental Gas (Limited). all 11 If 1 Do. New Shares (Lim.). a ll 11 l! 10 Orintl. In. Steam (Lim.) 10 61 7 at. PeellLLnd.&Min.(Lim) 100 47 50 50 Pen. & Oriental Steam all 66 68 60 Do. New 3O 9 11 20 Red Sea&ln.Tel.g.44p.c all 18 19 50 Rhymney Iron all 17 19 15 Do. New all 5 8 100 Royal Mail Steam 6O 46 48 at. Scot. Austin. Inv.(Lim.) .00 125 135 25 South Australian Land all 32 t 4 1 Submarine Tel. Scrip all 1 Do. do. Registered 11 10 Do. - do. all 4 6 10 Trust and Agency or Austrlasia.(lina)lst is. 1 id 4 p 20 Tr.& Ln.Co. of Upr.Can. 5 plp SU. K'dom Tel. Co. (lim.) 1 id pr 100 an Dleaced I. %ad .. 284 8 g SUN. LONDON, TIT ES DAY E V THE WINIWAIII GAS. SHARE MARK ET--(7111S Y). Is done Share Railways. Pe'fast and Nor. Coun hir., Wol., and Str. Val Blyth and Tyne Bost.. Sleaf.,and Bristol and Exeter , Caledonian 'Carmarthen & Cardigan ,C ark and Bandon I Cork, Birock, & Passage jeornwall Do A A gets no div, till 6p c.p an.has' Do. B been paid to B. Dublin & Belfast Juno. Dun.,Perth,& Ab. Juno East Anglian E.stern Counties Eastern Union, A stock Do Bdo do DoNw A, late E U3ds East Suffolk Edinburgh & Glasgow Edin., Perth, & Dundee & Clyde Junction (Furness IGlasg". and S. Western GreatNrthn.of Scotland !Great Northern..: Do A stock Do B do G. S. an i W. of Ireland Great Western Do Str Val gua. stock, Irish South Eastern Lancashire & Yorkshire London and Blackwall Lon., Bright ,& S. Coast [.on., Chat., and Dover Lon. & North Western Lon. & South Western L'derry & Coleraine L'derry & Enniskillen. Man., Shef., & Lincoln. AT Rryp o rt and Carlisle. Do * shares Metropolitan Midland Do New Do Birminz. & Derby Mid Gt. W. of Ireland Do. shares Mid Kent Do Cray Line Newcastle and Carlisle Newry & Armagh, def. ;Newry, Warnpt, & nos Norfolk North British Nor.Dev.Rail&Dk.stock Do A stk ; A recs'no d till 6 pc. has been pdß Do B stock Nth. Eastern—Berwick Do, G.N.E. purchase Do Leeds Do York !North London Do new North Staffordshire N. and S. W. Junction. Not. Gran. RI. & Canal Peebles Portsmouth . Rhy ney Scot aCentral Scot. J. E., Aber. stock Do Sept. Mid. stock (Shrews. and Welchpool Shropshire Union Sittingbourne & Sheer !South Devon IS. Durham & Lane. Un ;South Eastern South Wales S. York. and River Dun Staines,Wok.,andWok. Stockton & Darlington Do Do New, 1860 Taff Vale.. . Do Pref. No. 1 ThamesHavenDk&Rai, Ulster Do Do Vale of Neath Victoria sta. and Pim Waterford & Kilkenny Waterford & Limerick West Cornwall West London Do Ist class Do 2d class 'W. Hartlepool Har.&lt West Midland Oxford Do Newpor- Do Hereford all 71 8 61 6, 91 CG 1001 10: :o' 8; 10.16.4 IA 4 12.10 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 1613.4 all all 100 100 100 100 5 6 40 42 10} 11 18 19 51 52 47 50 32 34 88 00 28} 29 93 100 112 113 110 111 130 132 102 104 671 68j 55 58 IN 106, 54 56 115 116 44 46 91i 92 92 93 9 11 441 45 R [271 127! I}l6p 98 100 61 63 62i 0 991 99,1 I Id 861 88 89 94 D 7 51 41 d 101 101 88 BO • 122 124 38 40 95 97 8 p 6 4 Pi 554 564 23 34 8 d i p 0 6 5 1 6i 46 48 42 45 88 90 PREFERENCE SHARES. Share/ Railways. 99} 9 1 Paid.! Closing I Business Prices. DODO. 25 Blythe and Tyne 10 p.c. pref. issued at £5 al at Bris. & Exet. 4p.a at 101 20 Do. shares at Caledon. £lO, 41 p. cent st Do. quar. shares, No. 2 1 61 Cork & Bandon, 51 p. c. a 20 Cornwall. 5 per cent a 10 Do. lst 61 Dun. Perth, & Aber.Jun a Class Pref a at E. A r gn. Class A sp. c at Do. Class B 6 per cent et Do. Class C 7 per cent_ 101 at E. Coun. Ex. 5 p.c. No. 1 101 at Do No. 2 101 st Do. new 6p.c. st lOl at Eastern Union, 4p. c— lOl at Do. sp. c. guar lO4 at Edin.&Glas.s p.c. shares 101 at Do. 4p, c. guar. S. &i) lOl at Edin. Perth,& Dun. 4 p.c lOl at Furnese,A,per cent lOl at Glas.& S.Weet. gu. 5 p.c lOl at Great Northern, sp. 0 lO4 at D 0.5 p.c.Redm.lop.c.pm lOl st Do. 4i p. c. do lOl _ at Do.sp.c.Redn:.atsp.c.pm 101 10 Gt. Nh. of z , cot. Ist pref. al at Gt. Sn. dc W. (Ireland) 4 per cent lOl 50 Great West. (Berke and Hants Ext) 5 per cent 1 at Do. redeem. 41 p. et lOl st Do. redeem. 4 p. 104 at Do. irredeem. 4p. ct.. 104 st Do. sp. c. redeem. pref. 101 8 70. Birm. pref. shares., al 10 Do. Chester 8 p.o. pf. she al 10 Do. Chester spa pf. she al at Do. Birm. guar. stock.. 104 28f Do. Chesterguar. shares al 131 Do. do al 20 Do. do al 100 Lan. & Carl. 41 p.c. pref 61 at Lan. & York 6 p.c. stock 10( at Do.Barnel. st£s 2s Mee 104 at Do. 6p. c. (East Lan.) lO4 st Do. 41 p. a (Blackb. pur 10( st Lon.&Brig.sp.e.gu. No.i 101 at Do. 5 per cent. do. No 2 101 st Do. 6 per cent. ao lO4 at Do. 5 per cent. do. No. 4 101 at Do. 41 per cent. do. .. • • 101 5 Do. 41 p. c. pref. shares al at Do. 7 per cent pref. atk 101 at Do. 6 p.c. do(W.E.&C.P.) 101 at Do. 4p ast(div.detliF6s 101 at Do. 4 per cent, pref 104 at Lon.Chat&Dov.sp.c.pl. 10( 10 Do. West. Ex., B, 6p. a al 10 Do. Metrop. Ex. 13, a p.c. at Lon. & S. W., Coy. & Nuneaton, 5 per cent. 104 at Lon. & S.Weet. 7p. cent. at., late 3d shares .... 10( st 1)0. 4,4 per cent 2a 6d Do. (Prtsm. perpl. anna 121 of 2s 6d a t Londondy. &Cole. 1 she al 121 Londony. & Ennis. 1 she at at Man. Sh. & Lin. S per ct, 10 6 Do. £6 at Do. 34 per cent, 10 Do. redeem. 6 per 123 Mary port & Carl. 4 pr. C 121 Do. per cent .. st Midland Coe. 6p. c. stk. at Do. Con.Bris.& Bir. 6 p.c. st Do. 41 p. c. pref. stock t. 6 Do. 41 per cent. at Do. Leia andllit4per et 10 at Welk. sp. c. Ex. st. 1846 10 at Do. 51 p. c. Pref. at. 1847 10 stst Do.sWay.ValEx.stlBl7 10 Nort British, 5 per cent. 10 at Do. New gua. per cent lO 10 Do. Bor. Un. g. prf. shs 10 Do. do. do al at Nth.Dvn.Rail.&Dek.Co 1 at N•East. Cons. pref. 4 p.c lO4 at Do. 4s} r. et. redeemable 101 at Do. G. N. E. 4p. ct pref. 101 17 Do. Berwick 4p. c. pref. 101 20 Do. Leeds 6p. c. No. I • 8.1 12i Do. do. Quarters, 1848.. 1 2 5 Do. York, El. &S. P arc h . 20 North Staffordshire.. 11 10 (thymney Guarante e d: . al 81 Stottish Central. new pl al at Scottish North-Eastern m 31 p. C. pref. stock.... al at Do.Aberdeen,gua.6p.c 10( at Do. 7 1). c. pref. stock ]0( 108. South Devon, Ann, 10s. 10( 10 Do. Fixed 41 per cent at 10. 6. South Eastern (Reading at A nn., 1.0.6) at Do. 41 per cent st Do, Fixed 44 ea cent 100 st South Wales, gull.. 4p. c. 100 at Do. 41 per cent lOO at Do. do. 1859 lOO at Do. 5 per cent. lOO st S. Yorkshire, 4 p.c. gua. 100 2 p. a.O Do. 5 e. gu 13 25 Stock. & Dar. Asp. c all 25 Do. B6p. c all 25 Do. C6p. c all at Watrfd & Kilkny, 6p. c lOO at W. 311d.-Oxf tat gua stk 100 at Do. 2d do lOO at Do. Newport 5 p.c. pf.red lOO at Do. Perpet,6p. c..pf.1866, 100 nn inn [OO 1101 )0 112 )0 110 )0 104 )0 110 )0 102 )0 107 98 88 89 [O2 .91 11 101 10 74 11 20 11 10 11 15 1061 - - [3B 138 [Ol 103 [l2 115 [l2 115 36 139 .12 115 152 153 127 130 73 75 90 92 In 14 25 127 65 70 D 1 all ISP ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS. Paid" Closing ) Business Price. I done. LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Railways. !Pai d. Leasing Closing Business Co. s Price. Done. Bedford and Bletchley all Ln.& N.W .. .. Birkenhead. Buckingh 'rig nre.. Chester & H Ilyhead lOO Do. 53 54 Do. 51per cent 100 Do. Do. 5 „ 100 Do. Clydesdale Junction 100 Caledon. 101 103 Colchester, Stour Val. all E.U.&E.O 63 65 E. Lincolnah. gspr c. 100 Gr. North. 133 138 E.Union,HarwlchSlis all E,Counts. 4 41 Do. Woodbridge.... 100 Gls.Barr.&Neils.brc. 100 Caledon .. .. Do. new —. . .. . Gloster &Dean Forest all Gt. Wesi. . .. Hull and Selby all Yk.N.Mid'llo 112 Do. halves • • Do. quarters Lancaster & Carlisle 100 Ln.& N.W 195 200 London & Greenwich 100 S. Eastern 61 63 Do. Preferen .? Lou.,Tilb.&S.. -*fiend 100 Peto &Co B3 85 Lowestoft gua. t p c.. 100 Norfolk Do a per cent lOO D o. ltinc.,Bxtn.,& Matlock all LNW& M • 31 • h., Mid. Bradford Prefer,- ence stock I 100 Midland 94 96 5 Newmarkt, BuryEx 1 5. 5. 6. E Counts. par 4 p g - ua. per cent. .. 1 Northn.&Eastn. sp. c. all D o . 155 57 Do. 6 per cent. .... all Do. • • • Do. Fixed sp. c.... all Do. N. Eas tn Hartlepool 1( 0 N. E. Ber . North Western Preston and Wyre. f all kr i . i,r I 43 45 Do. 4 shares A all iDo. •-• • .. .. .. Roystn.Hitch.& Shep lOO Gt. North. 133 136 Shrewsby & Hereford 100 iTßrassey 118 122 Do. Do. South Staffordshire Wilts and Somerset lOO G t . W es t . 92 94 Wimbledn t Croydon, all L.&Brgtn, Bl 91 )0 93 95 4 - oo I 100 I zoi 21.1 6 fii '37 139 102 104 92 94 [O9 lii 107 109 1 lipm O 199 101 )0 i 98 100 [3.4 4 dia par idis ipm ; 22 23 132 13(i 10 10i 23& 2{ 99 101 99 101 98 100 85 88 274 281 31 33 31 33 42 45 123 125 121 123 100 102 118 122 NING, D!? , CEM.BER 31, 1801. Loq cm 100, d THE PRINCE 01 0 TVALES. 'ERSONAL 2LIITS OF THE PRINCE CONSORT. A few personal traits may be added to our brief sketch of the Prince who was on Monday laid in his splendid tomb. Professor Goldstuker, a fellow-student with him at Bonn, remembers him as the only prince who was a real reader there. " I believe," says the professor, in a letter which we are allowed to quote, he never missei a single lecture." It was not the way with princes at Bonn. During the first years of Prince Albert's residence in England, he gave much time to a thorough study of English law and of our con stitutional history—reading the best authors, abstracting their accounts, and, by help of good guides, discussing the principles contested and established in our several civil wars. Few English gentlemen know the statute book so well as he knew it. It is no great secret that in the inter views between Prince Albert and the Emperor Napoleon the former thought it his duty to Europe to endeavour by argument drawn from the history of events in England to engage the Emperor in a more constitutional course than he has yet adopted in France. The Emperor bad, we be lieve, the highest respect for the intelligence of his illus trious adviser. In thinking of what was most characteristic and indi vidual about the late Prince Consort, we feel in the same difficulty as one who would point out the characteristic features of a beautiful face and head, where every part is perfect and all the parts are in equilibrium. That which perhaps most characterised Prince Albert mentally was his singular power in acquiring knowledge ; he was truly "wax to receive and marble to retain" impressions. Though of late he had not much time, he read the best books and papers—knew the last literary and artistio gossip —could chat about the lion of the season with the familiarity of a club lounger. His knowledge of personality was very great ; of portraits, of biography, of family history, and of all the illustrations of such studies, engravings, memoirs, carica tures, ballads, and the small scraps of literature, he was amazingly fond. The trait which personally distinguished him from other men was his daily and hourly interest in the education of his children ; not only the moral education, which no English parent ever does or, under any circum stances, ought to neglect ; but the ordinary training of the school-room. Of course the royal princes and princesses had many masters and mistresses, but their chief instructor was the Prince. He not only furnished a general plan for their instruction, but superintended it himself—not only ap pointed to each one his and her teachers, but thought it his duty to read every book which any of them was about to read. Of how few English gentlemen could the same be said.-44thenceum. Baron Viethighoff has left Wallace's Hotel for St Petersburg. EXTRAORDINARY DEATH IN A RAILWAY CAR RIAGE.—On the arrival of the 5.45 mail train at Plymouth on Monday morning James Nolan, a seaman on leave from the Victory at Portsmouth to join the Royal Adelaide at Devonport, was found dead in one of the compartments of a second-class carriage from a severe fracture of his skull There was no other person in the compartment, and hi luggage, money, and watch were found with him. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—An ordinary general meeting of this society was held yesterday in the council-room at the gardens, South Kensington—Mr C. Wentworth Dilke, vice-president, in the chair—when about 50 candidates were elected Fellows, The chairman ad dressed the meeting on the great loss sustained by the society in the lamented death of their president, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, and read the spontaneous and grac , ous communication from her Majesty the Chen, through Sir C. B. Phipps, which we have already laid be fore our readers. He also read an address of condolence to her Majesty, which had been prepared by the Council and forwarded in the usual way. The cordial thanks of the meeting were, on the motion of Judge Des Barres, seconded by the Rev. Joshua Dix, tendered to the Council for the promptitude with which they had acted for the society on this melancholy occasion. The ballot of Fellows was then proceeded with, and among those elected were the follow ing :—The Earl Brownlow, the Countess of Shaftesbury, the Dowager Viscountess Ashbrook, the Lady Claud Hamilton, Lieutenant-General Sir G. Bowles, K.C.8., Major. General W. L. G. Williams, Captain S. Dawson Darner, M.P., Captain Album Cuninghame, &o. Twenty-five American trotters have just arrived at Havre, w hich were purchased for the imperial stables. Prince Napoleon has selected five of them for his stud, and five for the King of Italy. Five splendid hunters purchased in England have likewise arrived at the imperial stables in 'NI Baia COMMISSION OF 14 LINACY.—(Trus DAY.) (134 fore Commissioner S. Warren, Q.C.) ELEVENTH DAY. Dr. Forbes Winslow was this morning examined as to the state of mind of Mr. Winiham. The learned gentle man was called and examined by Mr. Montague Chambers. He entered at length into the results of two interviews he had with Mr Windham, at which the subject of his con duct both before and after marriage was spoken of. The cutting down of the timber at Fellbrigg. and his friendship for Mr. Roberts was also alluded to. During the whole of both interviews the doctor said Mr. Windham was very erratic, and also gave signs of mental imbecility. Mr. Chambers—Dr. Winslow, after those interviews, do you consider Mr. Windham to be a person of sound or un sound mind ? Dr. Winslow—Of unsound mind. Mr. M. Chambers—Do you consider him capable of managing his own affairs ? Dr. Winslow--I ccnsidor him to be incapable of either taking care of himself or his property. Mr. Chambers—That being your opinion, is it confirmed by the evidence you have heard giVen in this case ? Sir H. Cairns—l object to that question being answered. My learned friend has sot the right to put it. Mr. Chambers pressed the question. The Master—l think the question is one infringing the province of the jury, and that the witness cannot be called upon to answer it. The cross-examination of the witness is to bo taken by Sir IL Cairns. POLICE I NTELLIGENCE.—(27tis Day MARLBOROUGH -STREET. A WATCHMAKER CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY PAWN ING A GOLD WATCH.—William Bittner, watchmaker, of Charles-street, Middlesex Hospital, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt, with illegally pawning a gold watch, entrusted to bim to repair, the property of Mr. Edward Villiers, 59, Frith-street, Soho, who is a gold jeweller. Mr. 'Villiers said that on the 20th of last November he entrusted a gold watch and clock to the prisoner to repair. The prisoner brought home the clock, but not the watch, and when he sent to the house where he resided, he found that he had removed. He (Mr. Villiers) had since found that prisoner had pledged the watch, and on sending a friend to the prisoner he gave him the duplicate. Mr. Henry Burrige, a friend of Mr. Villiers, said the prisoner gave him the duplicate relating to the watch, which had been pledged in Cranbourn-street, Leicester square. Inspector Hubbard asked for a remand, stating that there were several other cases to be preferred, and it was granted. Numerous complaints have from time to time been made at this court by persons who have entrusted watches to the prisoner for repair and been unable to get them back. The extreme earnestness—we had almost said vehemence—with which the !limes, for two or three consecutive days after the death of the Prince Consort, appealed to the Prince of Wales to decide instantly and finally in favour of a life of honour and usefulness in preference to a life of frivolity and folly, has induced many persons to suppose that his royal highness was hesitating as to the choice he should make, and that his tastes and habits are not such as his royal mother could wish, or the nation approve of. Under other circumstances it would have been gross impertinence in us to thrust ourselves forwards as the defenders of his royal highness; but, as most erroneous notions about his life and conduct have been prevalent for the last few days, and as our journal is published among a community which has lately had the best means of knowing what the tastes and habits of the Prince of Wales really are, we are sure we shall be pardoned if we give public expression to what we know is the universal opinion in Cambridge on the subject. During the time the Prince resided at Madingley and Cambridge, his daily life was so completely before the public ; there were so many ways of as certaining how he spent his time, and everything connected with him was so completely free from secrecy and seclusion, that if there had been anything to find fault with in his conduct, it most certainly had been known to ourselves and the Cambridge public; and therefore, considering the unreserved manner in which he lived among us, it is proof positive that his conduct was irreproachable when we are enabled to assert, in the most emphatic man ner, that we never once heard even a whisper, de.. preciatory of his royal highness's tastes and habits. We declare, without fear of contradiction, that while the Prince of Wales was at the University he proved himself to be a good and amiable young man, a true English gentleman, and It prince wholly free from every thing approaching to a debasing tendency. No parent could wish his son to behave better, and now that his time of trial has come, we feel confident that his royal highness will be found neither unwilling nor unfit nor unable to console and assist his bereaved mother, and to fulfil the warmest hopes of the people.—Cambridge lndepen den' THE REPLY FROM AMERICA. Lord Lyons had not received on the 18th inst. the despatch sent out to him in the Europa —that , is certain. The Africa, which should have left on the 18th, was detained by his lordship until the 20th. It is scarcely possible, however, that that steamer can bring the answer of the Federal Go vernment to the Europa's despatch. It is almost certain that the despatch will reach Washington by the 19th, and the following is a statement of the names of the steamers which would leave the United States for the next 20 days after the de spatch had arrived out; their dates of sailing, and when their news will be due in England : Names of When they When their Steamers, leave the ' news is due United States in England. Africa Anglo-Saxon Glasgow Hansa „ 21 )9 3 Europa ), 6 Jura City of Washington.... ~ 28 ) f 9 Teutonia It 28 America Nova Scotian City of Edinburgh .... ~, 4 I) 16 Niagara If 8 The Anglo Saxon, Jura, and Nova Scotian sail from Portland, and their news will reach us from Londonderry. The Europa and Niagara will sail from Boston and Halifax. All the rest will sail from New York. The news brought by all the New York and Bos- ton boats will reach us from Queenstown, except that of the Hansa and Teutonia, which will reach us from Southampton. Each of the above-named steamers may bring from Cape Race three days' later news than that which it brings from its port of departure. The news brought by the Bavaria from Cape Race is nothing more than the effect produced in America by the version of the English journals, published between the 28th ult. and the sth inst., of the nature of the despatch, and their comments on the Trent outrage. These journals were carried out by the City of Washington and Jura steamers, and the deliberations of the Federal Cabinet must have been also on the news and opinions received in this way. It is not probable that the Cabinet will decide on their answer to the British Govern- ment until they have rece i ve d some farther intelli gence as to the feeling of Europe generally on the Trent affair, and of course Lord Lyots will give Mr. Lincoln and his advisers a reasonable time to decide on their answer to his demands. It will be seen from the above dates as to the leaving of steamers from America that the Europa will leave Boston within s ix days of the reception of the despatch, and the answer of the Federal Cabinet, to be sent by that steamer, must be given in five • days. The Europa's news, as has been already stated, will not be due before next Monday. News had reached New York that the Southern steamer Vanderbilt had run the blockade, and landed at Havannah Messrs. Hunter and Soule, who were sent to Europe by the Confederates, in the room of Messrs. Slidell and Mason. They were about to be conveyed to St. Thomas in the _ ... Royal Mail steamer Clyde. If this is true those two gentlemen may be expected to arrive in the steamer which is now hourly due at Southampton ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCOTCH IRON TRADE. (From Tholburn's Circular.) The iron trade continues to manifest an irrepressible ex pansion. The quantity of pig iron produced in the last twelve months has been 1,035,000 tons, showing an increase of 35,000 tons over that of the preceding year. During the year the total deliveries amounted to 927,00 tons, and ex hibit an increase of 24,000 tons when compared with those of 1860. The stock has therefore increased 108,000 tons, and is now (exclusive of Carron) 535,000 tons, lying in the makers' and warehouse-keepers' stores. It must not, how ever, be forgotten that it is only here the stocks of iron have accumulated, and when a great demand for the article shall arise, it is from Scotland alone that a proml,t supply can be obtained. The fluctations in the price have scarcely exceeded 2s 6d either above or below the average price of 49s 3d per ton for the year, and were chiefly governed by conflicting ope rations fora rise or a fall. The lowest price reachedwas 47s in March, the highest 61s 9 f in August. The malleable works, foundries, and ship-building yards on the Cyldo have, as well as other branches of industry, felt, though not as yet severely, the disastrous effects of the American revolution. Sti I the quantify of iron used in the local consumption has been only 3,000 tons less than that in the last year. Meanwhile, the year, gloomy from its first hour, grows full of shadows at its close. But should war arise, we have the melancholy, but still satisfactory consolation, that we shall engage in the same in defence of a just principle, and to assert alike the interests of the world's commerce, and the rights of our common humanity. CII4IVGES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMAS. Many changes have taken place in the represen tation since the commencement of the year which is now drawing to a close. New members have been during that period elected for the following places : ABERDEENSHIRE—Mr. William Leslie, in the room of Lord Haddo, who became the Earl of Aberdeen ANDOVER—Mr. Henry Beaumont Coles, in the room of Alderman William Cubitt, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds BANFFSHIRE —Lieutenant R, W. D. Abercrombie, in the room of Major Duff Gordon, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds BOLTON—Mr. Thomas Barnes, in the room of Mr. J. Crook, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds BRADFORD—Mr. William Edward Forster. in the room ' of Mr. Titus Salt, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds CARLISLE - Mr. Edmund Potter, in the room of the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Bart., deceased CORK—Mr. Nicholas Philpot Leader, in the room of Mr. Sergeant Deasy, promoted to a seat on the judicial bench in Ireland FINSBURY—Mr. William Cox, in the room of Mr. Thos, Slingsby Duncombe, deceased FLINTSHIRE Lord Richard Grosvenor, in the room of the Hon. Thomas Edward Lloyd Mostyn, deceased LEICESTER—Mr. William Unwin Heygate, in the room of Dr. Noble, deceased LONDON (CITY or)-11r. Western Wood, in the room of Lord John Russell, raised to the peerage LINCOLN—Mr. C. Seeley, in the room of Major Gervaise Waldo SiLthorp, deceased MARYLEBONE-Mr. John Harvey Lewis, in the room of Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., who accepted the Chiltern Hun dreds MONTGOMERYSHIRE—Captain Johnson, in the room of Mr. David Pugh, deceased NOTTINGHAM—Sir Robert Clifton, Bart., in the room of Mr. John Mellor, appointed to a judgeship in the Court of Queen's Bench PEMBROKE—Sir Hugh Owen, Bart., in the room of Sir J. Owen, Bart , deceased PEMBROKESHIRE—Mr. George Loi t Phillips,in the room of Viscount Evelyn, who became Earl Cawdor PLYMOUTH --Mr. NV. Morrison, in the room of Viscount Valletort, who became the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe RICHMOND—Sir Roundell Palmer, Q.C., Solicitor-Gene • ral, in the room of Mr. Henry Rich, who accepted the Chil tern Hundreds. SELKIRKSHIRE—Lord Henry Scott, in the room of Mr. A. E. Lockhart, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds SLIGO—Mr. Charles William O'Hara, in the room of Mr. C. W. Cooper, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds SUTHERLANDSIIIRE—Sir David Dundas, Q.C., in the room of the Marquis of Stafford, who became Duke of Sutherland TINEMOUTH—Mr. Richard Hodgson, in the room of Mr. Hugh Taylor, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds WOLVERHAMPTON —3llr. Thomas Matthias Weguelin, in the room of Sir Richard 33ethell, who became Lord Chan cellor WORCESTERSHIRE (Eitsz)—Mr. Foley Vernon," in the room of Mr. H. J. Hodg etts Foley, deceased WILTSHIRE (Sount )--Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Hervey Bathurst, in th.e room of the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, raised to the petxrage. During the last sessian a third seat was given to South Lancashire, for which /t 1 r. Charles Turner has been re turned. Birkenhead win; created a Parliamentary borough, and Mr. J. Laird has boer t returned. By the death of Mr. Cie orge Granville Vernon Harcourt a seat for Oxfordshire is still vacant, The following gentle men will be entitled to take their seats at the commencem an t of the approaching session:— Mr. C. Turner, for South Lancashire ; Mr. W. Morrison, for Plymouth ; Mr. Ch arl es Seeley, for Lincoln ; Mr. E. Potter, fur Carlisle; Mr„ 'William Cox, for Finsbury; Sir Robert Clifton, Bart., for Nottingham; Mr. J. Laird, for Birkenhead; Mr. Foley Vernon., for East Worcestershire; and the new member for Oxfordshire, whoever he may happen to be. DEATH OF THE 11F.T. MR. HOLLOWAY.—This unhappy man, whose name has recently been so much before the public, was t: xken ill of fever on Christmas-day, and died yesterday in t pm House of Correction, Coldbatii- . fields_ > 7 4 - ) k AEROLITHS. In a curious paper published by M. Haidinger, Director General of the Geological Survey of Aus tria, we find Le following curious calculations con cerning meteorites, or stones falling from the casmical regions upon our globe. Admitting that the weight of these bodies; falling annually upon the earth is 450,0001b5., or 450 millions of lbs. in 1,000 years, Baron Reichenbach has started the question whether in the course of centuries our globe might not undergo such modifications in weight as mate rially to affect its connexion with the solar system Now, as our earth weighs about 131 quadrillions of pounds, the formation of a meteoric agglomera- tion equal to our planet would require about 3,000 trillions of years ; hence any change like that con templated by Baron Reichenbach would occur within a space of time far beyond our imagination to conceive. But M. Haidinger turns his attention to another question, asking whether, if our globe in the course of one solar revolution receives an in crease of matter equal to 450,0001b5., this increase might not have been kimilar in weight, in describing any orbit of equal length P Mr. Greg has proved that meteoric falls are less :regnant at the time of perihelion than at the time of aphelion ; but it must also be recollected that the sun itself moves with considerable velocity through the stellar space. Taking these data into account, M. Haidinger calcu lates that the weight of meteoric matter existing and moving about in every direction within the space limited by the earth's and sun's motions during one year is equal to 450,0001b5, multiplied by one billion 218,460 millions, or about half a trillion of pounds. The weight of the earth is to 450,0001b5. of meteorites as 24 millions are to unity ; but a far greater proportion of solid matter distributed into small bodies would be obtained, were the great number of shooting -stars and fire-balls taken into account, which appear in our atmosphere, and many of which do not apparently deposit solid matter. According to Professor T. H. Newton, of Yale College, U.S., not less than ten millions of meteors of this description enter our atmosphere every day. This would make 3,650 millions of shooting-stars and fire-balls per annum,— G AN UNNiTURAL An inquest was held on Friday last, at the Double Lock Inv, Exeter, before Mr. R. R. C rosse, county coroner, on the body of a young woman named Piper, about 19 years of age, who drowned herself in the Exeter canal on the 19th inst., through the brutal conduct of her father. The evidence showed that the father had always behaved with great cruelty, eild turned her out of doors for no reason, and had threatened her life. The deceased's mother corroborated this. My husband has always treated her very cruelly. When I told him what had happened to my daughter, and that I had seen her mantle and bonnet, he said, "I am d--d glad of it, and if it is she who is drowned I'd stay up all night to make her coffin. Now I shall be happy." It appeared that the deceased had subscribed to an insurance company, by which her representatives became entitled to re ceive a 1 ls. on her death. It was thought, how ever, that there was no evidence to show that the father had deliberately driven his daughter to com mit suicide with the view of getting this money. A policeman said that when the body was found the father, Samuel E. Piper, was present, and he did not seem the least concerned. In witness's absence he tried to take the earrings out of his daughter's ears. A juryman said that he heard the father a second time propose to take the earrings out of his daughter's ears ; in fact, it was almost the first words he uttered when the body was dis covered. He (the juror) replied that if he attempted to do so he would kick him into the canal, where his daughter had just come from. The coroner said he should not have wondered if he had done so, for he could easily imagine that the feelings of any Englishman would not have been kindly at such an exhibition of heartless conduct on the part of a parent. The coroner then summed up the evidence, and in the course of his remarks he said that of all the melancholycases which had come before him this was the most distressing. If it were true that the father had driven his daughter out of her mind he did not know how they should meet the case. He could only wish that their verdict would reach him, but he was afraid it could not. All they had to inquire into was how this girl came into the water. A jaror.---Al though herfather did not actually thrown her into the water he was the means of it. The eoroner—There can be no doubt of that. Another juror asked whether they could not record such a verdict as would mark the feelings the jury entertained of the case, so that some further steps should be taken against the father. The coroner replied that as there was a reporter present he thought the best thing they could do was to leave it to that gentle man to report the case fully, so that the facts might come before the proper authorities, who would or ought to take the necessary steps to prevent this man from acting in a similar man ner towards other persons. The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned," which met with the approval of the coroner. The public officer then made an application for the policy of insur ance, se that the parish, which had been put to the expense of providing the coffin, might be able to draw the money from the company. The coroner at present refused to sign any certificate. Several of the jurors expressed their opinion that the mother of the deceased had not stated all the truth, and they thought it looked very strange that she had been in the habit of paying the Id. per week into the company for her daughter. One juror said he believed something more would arise out of this inquest, and the coroner replied that he was therefore very glad they had returned the verdict recorded by them. THIS DAY'S MARKETS. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD,—Meadow hay, £2 5s to £5 clover, £3 lOs to £5 12s 6d ; and straw, £1 lOs to £1 lBs Od per load. Both hay and straw in slow request at Into rates. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £2 5s to .£.5 Os; clover do., £3 lOs to £5 15s; and straw, £1 100 to £1 18s per load. A slow trade. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £2 5s to £5 Os; clove, £3 lOs to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 16s per load. Trade dull. COAL N (Prfoes of Coal per Ton a :ARK ET. the dose of the market s. d. Bate's West Hartley 15 3 Carway and Duffeyn Malting 24 0 Do. Anthracite 21 6 Wylam ..16 6 Davison's West Hart ley ....16 9 Burnhope Gas 14 0 Tanfield Moor 13 6 Tanfield Moor Butes 13 6 Holywell 16 6 Walker Primrose 13 3 Walls End. Hartlepool.... l7 9 Hetton .. lB 3 Hough Fall 17 0 Whitworth 14 6 K elloe .. l7 6 Caradoc Trimdon Hartlepool ..17 6 Thorpe l7 3 Haswell lB 3 Shincliffe l6 6 Thornley Trimdon Th0m1ey....16 0 South Hart1ep001......16 9 , 61; sold, 15. Walls End. South Hetton 18 3 Ships at market THIS DAYS SHIPPING. LONDON, Dec. 31.—Wind this day at noon—North- Easterly; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather cloudy. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 30.—Wiad N.E.—Sailed—Her Ma. jesty'e ship Emerald, for Liverpool. FALMOUTH, Dec. 29.—Wind N.E.—Arrived—Albert, from nine() Edward's Island. CLYDE, Dec. 29.—Wind E.—Arrived—United King dom, screw steamer, from New York; Caledonia, from Montreal. KINGROAD, Dec. 30.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Baron de Castine, from Philadelphia. CARDIFF, Dec, 30,—Wind E.—Sailed—Kate Swinton, for China; Sheldrake, for Bermuda; Crimea, for Ma tanzas. TROON, Dec. 31.—Wind N.E.—Arrived—Maedonnel, from Quebec. JERSEY, Dec. 29,—Wind E.—Sailed--Albino, for Rio Janeiro. SVHITEHAVEN, Dec. 29.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Lady Gordon, from Quebec. ';BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday Morning. Arrived—Southampton, steamer, from Havre. Sailed—Georges, for Cherbourg. (BY SUBMARINE AND MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning. Arrived, Dec. 30—Kate, from St. Michael's. DEAL, Tuesday Morning. Anchored—Adelaide, from London, for St. John's. IMPROVEMENTS IN NEWGATE-STREET.—During the last few days a considerable improvement has been carried out in Newgate-steet, at the east end of it, in conse quence of the roadway having been widened several feet. For this purpose, some old and nearly dilapidated houses have been removed, and on the site in the rear of them some large warehouses will be erected. That which used to be called Butcher Hall-lane, which recently was only wide enough for one carriage to pass along, is now called King Edward-street, and it is made into a thorough. fare of about 50 fedt in width, well paved, and with a wide ' - • (-Inv% HOSIAtid. S. d '` ~' ~`~:~. , i. ii ~~„> ~: l -.. ..Sr:L. --- 412 VS 11 7 01-ffif AB kV Waiiji. Lord?ie .zifuyor of London. Ainsviorth. Tbe January number of Bentley's NiseeUc,•ny opens with a new Story from the hand of one of our most skilled and popular noveli-its. Pleasant tidings for the readers of Bentley—aNcw Tale by Hav:ison Ainsworth, and one with a title so tempting and full of promise as Ihe Lord Mayor of London ! The "second title"—to wit, "City Life in the Last Cen tury"—dissipates at once the notion some might otherwise have been disposed to entertain, thht the hero of the story The Lord Mayor of Loudari-could be no other than our old friend,Sir Richard Whit tington! And that the immortal cat of the goad old legend might appear upon the scene of the narrative as refreshingly and as thoroughly Welcome—as ever (lid the Marquis of Carabbas ! The Rigbt, Min. Sir Gresham Lorimer, Knight, is, in-i point of fact, however, Mr. Ainsworth's chosen hero: Ito and no other ,is in the present instance The Lord Mayor of London. Three chapters only of the First... Book (" Guildhall") have appeared as the bowie bpuehe in the number of the Miscellany for January:' But brief though the instalment is - it is thoroUghly delightful. It gives ample promise of the goiod in store for us in the New Year, as the thread of the narrative is unwound by the practised hand of Tale Teller, that thread of the narrative that will now from month to month be woven into the gor geous tissue of his new romance ! Exactly one hundred years are supposed to have elapsed when the story commences. We suddenly come upon the beforementioned Lord Mayor of London, the Right Hon. Sir Gresham Lorimer, Knight, Alderman for Cheapward, draper of Cheap side, successor in the Civic Chair of Sir Matthew Blakiston—upon Lord Mayor's Pay, the 9th of November, 1761, at the beginning of the memorable year of his mayoralty. With a few brilliant touch_ of his rapid pen, Mr. Ainsworth delineates in radi ant colours, as though his standish were a painter's palette, and as though he dipped into it at plea sure for all the colours of the rainbow—with a few radiant touches from his pen, we say, our novelist brings out vividly to view a crowd of new and varied characters whose fluctuating fortunes are destined to constitute the interest of his narrative. How vividly they are brought to view we may best indi cate by means of two or three brief but sparkling quotations. Here, for example, is Mr. Ainsworth's elaborate miniature of the Civic Queen : MY LADY LORIMER. The ;Lady Mayoress, it has been intimated, was a.few years younger than her husband, and being still in re markably gcod preservation, might be termed a fine woman. Her person was rather on a large scale, it is true, her features fat and rounded, and her once dimpling chin doubled, but her t ee th an d eyes were good, and she' had an agreeable smile, and a generally pleasing exp ress i on of countenance. He r size, however, was vastly exagge rated by the outrageous dimensions of the hoops sustaining her pink satin gown, which was decorated to profusion with largo bows of ribbon, cords, tassels, and wr ea th s o f flowers, and fest oone d with great bands of parti-coloured silks ; while her stature was increased in the same ratio by a surprisingly lofty head-dress, which rose full three feet above her brows, and might have over-balanced a less sub stantially built frame. This monstrous " head," the in terior of which (if we may venture to reveal the secrets of the toilette), was formed of tow, rose up smooth and straight as a wall in front, being stiffened with powder and pomatum, while the sides and back were covered with. ranges of enormous curls, likewise plentifully besprinkled with powder. Some of these curls descended upon her ladyship's ample shoulders. But we have not yet done, The towering head-dress in question, which reminds one of Queen Huncaniunca's, was hung over with ropes of pearls, and other jewels, decorated with ribbons in bobs and ties, and surmounted by a plume of ostrich feathers. Ther seems little danger of such a mode as this being revived but it may be well to remark, by way of caution, that in dependently of the time occupied in its construction, the shape, which was calculated to last for a fortnight, could only be preserved by the wearer sleeping in a chair during the whole of the time. Such, ladies, wee a Lady May oress , in the times of y our grea t grandmothers. We pass by, as of lesser attraction, Lady Loritrer's two elder daughters—the homely Regan and Goneril of the story, Lady Dawes, the pretty widow, ar rayed in her pollonese of garnet-coloured hafting, and her equally pretty sister, clad in a sky-blue satin sacque, Mrs. Chatteris wife of Captain Chatteris, familiarly Tom Chatteris--we pass by both charming Olivia and Chloris (bot Die Lorimer)—to pause by preference for a while over the following graceful sketch of the Cordelia of the tale, the youngest and gentlest of the three sisters, the loveable Cinderella of a household for the most part somewhat unloveable the Fair Mellicent ! Here is the delicate limning of her form. and features, and we examine every line and tint in it with the more interest from feeling that in Mellicent we may recognise at once THE HEROINE OF THE STORY. Just turned 18, and, therefore, in the fall freshness of youth, Millicent could not be termed pretty, and yet it would be wrong to call her plain. Her beauty, such as it was, mainly consisted in fine dark eyes, jetty brows, and luxuriant raven tresses, which she had sense enough not to disfigure by powder. In this respect, as well as in simpli city of attire, she offered a very striking contrast to her showy sisters. In her mother's opinion she was stiff and ungraceful, almost ugly, stupid, shy, silent, totally devoid of spirit, and without a particle of taste. Viewed by a father's partial eyes, she had a very pleasing countenance —whether pretty or not it puzzled him to say—neither did he greatly care, for he thou g ht th ere was too much beauty already in the f j amily. e and he did not see any extraordinary advantage resulting r. it. But there were moments when Millicent's rather pale 'urea were lighted up, when her large eyes sparkled, ante .er lips unclosed with smiles to display the casket of pearls beneath them, that he thought her positively handsome—far handsomer, indeed, than either of his other daughters. But this no doubt was a mistake, and entirely attributable to his partiality. No one else dis covered these beauties, because poor, retiring Millicent. who kept in the background—" the proper place for her," Lady Lorimer said—was generally o ver l oo k e d . I t cannot be denied, however, that she had a very good figure ; tall, slight, and perfectly formed. Her rich dark tresses were taken back from her smooth brow so as to form a very pretty toupee of moderate size, while her profuse tack locks, which, when unfastened, fell down almost to her feet, were clubbed behind, and secured by a broad pink ribbon, tied in a bow. Her gown was of dove-coloured silk, long waisted, laced over the stomacher, and had short sleeves to the elbow, adorned with large ruffles. There was no other ornament about it. Her feet were quite as small and as pretty as those of her sisters, and this was the only point of resemblance between them. The only brother of these three fair daughters of The Lord Mayor of London—is the young scape grace Tradescant Lorimer, who appears as A BEAU OF THE FIRST WATER. A richly-laced, maroon -coloured velvet coat, made in the extremity of the mode, with large cuffs, and without collar, and a long-skirted satin waistcoat, embroidered and laced like the coat, set off his really fine person; while cobweb silk stockings of a ruby colour, and shoes with diamond buckles in them, were equally advantageous to the display of his leg and foot, of both of which the young fellow was not a little vain. Ruffles of the finest Mechlin lace, a deep frill of the same material, and a muslin cravat, completed his costume. A dishevelled peruke of flaxen hair assisted the rakish look and deportment he affected. But for this dis sipated expression, and his extreme foppery of manner, Tradescant Lorimer might have been termed a very hand some, elegant fellow; b u t hi s graces, such as they were, were all external, for thouga not devoid of spirit, he was shallow-pated and frivolous, devoted to pleasure, led by his equally dissolute brother-in-law Captain Chatteris, and preyed upon and duped by his other profligate asso ciates. Among the profligate associates of Tradescant figures conspicuous a personage very unlike him in outward aspect, as well as intrinsically. Here is the portraiture of this individual—instantly recog nisable as a lifelike outline of By W. Harrison JOHN WILKES. Noticeable among them—though not for good looks, for he was one of the ugliest persons imaginable, and squinted abominably —wa g a tall thin man of some three or four and thirty. He was rather more soberly attired than his com panions, and had less of the air of a petit-maitre. Though his looks were almost forbidding, there was so much wit and drollery in his conversation, and so much mobility and expression in his features, that his ugliness was speedily forgotten. His obliquity of vision gave effect to his jests. This was no other than the well• known John Wilkes, member for Aylesbury, who afterwards became sufficiently notorious. An ardent admirer of the sex, Wilkes plumed himself upon his successes, and no'—'thstanding the personal disadvantages under which he lanuured with them, there might possibly be some foundation for the boast. On the present occasion he was devoted to the beautiful Mrs. Chatteris, next to whom he sat. Yet one more silhouette must be given from this first instalment of Mr. Ainsworth's new story in Bentley, and we shall have done. It is the sketch as follows of a personage upon atteNdance upon the Lord Mayor upon his entrance—and who turns out to be no other than the famous ALDERMAN BECKFORD. Of the aldermen, the most worthy of note was a tall, stately-looking personage, whose features, rather quick and passionate in expression, and embrowned in hue as if by warmer suns than our own, were marked by a large acqui line nose and keen penetrating eyes. This was Mr. William Beckford, previously described as one of Mr. Pitt's most zealous adherents. A wealthy West India merchant, one of the representatives of the City in Parliament, and alderman for the Ward of Billingsgate. Mr. Beckford had earned the goodwill of his fellow-citizens by unremitting attention to their interests both in the House and out of it, as well as by his praiseworthy endeavours to check the abuse of malt dis tillery, and the pernicious effects of gin drinking. Some what hot in temper, no doubt owing to his West Indian origin, and apt to be overbearing in manner, Alderman Beckford could not fail to make some enemies, but those who knew him intimately, and could estimate his sterling qualities and generosity of character, wimired and esteemed him. Amongst these was Sir Gresham Lorimer. We have seldom read a more fresh and sparkling commencement to a new serial tale than this open ing of his new romance of the " Lord Mayor of Lon don" by Ainsworth. If it only should be continued and completed as it has been commenced, it will be among the happiest efforts of the gifted and popu lar author of " Rookwood " and " The Miser's Daughter." Sir Win. and Lady Freestun have arrived at their residence in Gloucester-square, from Weymouth. THE EMPEROR AND THE POPE.—We understar , ' that the address of the Emperor of the French to sembled Ambassadors on New Year's-day will announcement that the Pope will be sulDn' - "ut Position at Rome.—Press. i N ~i n r,