The Sun. — London, England, 1854-01-28 00:00:00

11,141.11 THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. Lemee, Mr. E. T. Smith. TIIIS EVENING, JAN. 28, Will be presented PAULA LAZARBD ; or, The Ladrone's Bough ton Characters by Messrs. G. Bennett, G. Wild, Lee, Belton, and T. Mead ; and Miss Featherstone. To conclude with KING lIIIMMOUTOP ; or, Harlequin and the Land of Toys. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Bnckstone. TIIIB EVENING, JAN. 28, Will be performed THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY. Characters by Messrs. ClllP_Pendale, Compton, and Backstone ; Mrs. Fitawrniam. Miss E. Grey, Etc. After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEAR; ; or, Little Sliverhair and the Fairies, Columbine, Miss M. Brown; Harlequin, Mr. J. Marshall: Pantaloon, JAL W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CHAILZS Kam. THIS EVENING, JAN. 28, Will be performed THE LANCERS ; or, The Gentleman's Son. Principal characters by Messrs. Meadows, Ryder, Everett, H. Mellon, and D. Fisher ; Mrs. Winstanley, Miss Daly, and Miss C. Leclercq. After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AN THE MILLER AND 1118 MEN; or, King Salamander and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequ in , Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Mal in° P antaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame 'ire stris. THIS EVENING, Jan. 28, Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matt hews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes. After which, the origin al Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO KINGS. Principal cha racters by Mr. Wright a nd Madame Vestris. To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Ur. B. Webeter.—Direetress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Jex. 28, Will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melo-drama, ao , eau x, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c., new in five L ad a ppointments, called THE THIRST OF GOLD; or, THE P Areies Lowr HI AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford, O. selby, Parselle, Marsden, &c. ; Madame Celeste, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss F. alaskell, &c. To be followed by the popular and entirely New Grand Specta cular legendary Christmas piece, in two acts, with new scenery, dre.sse% machinery, and appointment.), called NUMBER NIP, or THE SPIRIT BRIDE. Principal characters by Madame Celeste, Mrs. Keeley, Miss Woolzar, •Miss M. Keeley, Miss Cuthbert, Miss C. Harding; Messrs. Paal Bedford, J. Rogers, Romer, G. Lee, &c. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, JAN. 28, Will be performed THE FIRST NIGHT. Characters by Messrs Alfred Wigan, Leslie, Linden, Harwood Cooper, and Vincent ; Miss P. Horton, and Miss Wyndham. After which, THE BENGAL TIGER. Principal characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Leslie, and F. Robson ; and Mrs. A. Wigan. Followed by THE WANDERING MINSTREL. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Alleroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, JAN. 28, Will be performed DER FREW/LUTZ. Principal character by Miss Rebecca Isaacs. To be followed by THE VIRGINIAN MUMMY. After which, a new grand Comic Christmas Pantomime• entitled HARLEQUIN AND KING NUTCRACKER; or, The World of Toys. Clown, by the inimitable Fleamore ; Harlegain, Mr. Bologna ; Pantaloon, Mr. Griffiths; Columbine, Miss Coward. Stalls. 55.; Boxes, 35.; Pit, IN. 6d; Gallery, 6d.; Private Boxes, It. I Is. 6c1., to be had of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLErS EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Sixth Appearance of Miss KATE COOKE since her return from the Continent. The Theatre nightly crowdel to overflowing attests its matchless attractions. THIS EVENING, JAN. 28, --- To commence with the Grand Chinese Spectacle, THE WISE ELEPHANTS OF THE EAST. or THE MAGIC GONG, in which Mr. William Cooke's extraordinary TraMcd Elephants appear. Followed by a Recherche Routine of Scenes of Equestrian'sm in THE ARENA, supported by the Elite of Europe's Equestrian Artistes. Concluding with Mr. W. Cooke's immensely successful COMIC PANTOMIME. written expressly for this Theatre, by Mr. NELsoN Liz, entitled BILLY BUT lON'S :JOURNEY TO BRENTFORD ; or, Harlequin and the Ladies' Favourite. New scenery, dre3ses, decorations, and appointments, magnificent Car of Industry, &c. Harlequin, Mr. H. Hemmings; Columbine, Mdlle. Christine; Pantaloon, Mr. Lehman; and Two Clowns, Mr. el. Adams and Mr. Croueste ; Sprites, Masters Gee and Bradbury. 1101.0a1C0 open from Eleven till Four. Stags Manager, Mr. W. West. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. SATURDAY, JAN. 28, 1854. State of the wind and weather at each of the following p'sces at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. FOLICESTOXE—S.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy. TUNBRIDGE—S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. GREENWICH—S.E., strong breeze—cloudless. STROOD—S.W., calm—partially cloudy. YARMOUTH—S., strong breeze—overcast. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Thursday morning at nine o'clock : LIMERICK—S.W., hard wind—partially cloud—storm. MIILLINGAR—N.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy. FOLKESTONE—W., calm—cloudless. CAMBRIDGE—S., gentle breeze—cloudless. BIRMINGHAM—S.W., calm—partially cloudy. EOLYHEAD—N.W., strong breeze—rain. WHITBY—S., strong breeze—rain. DARLINGTON—W.S.W., storm—overcast—rain. SNAP— S., strong breeze—rain. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tula DA —Morning 13 min.after 1 1 Evening 42 min.aft. 1 To.Mos.a.ow—Morning 8 min.after 2 1 Evening 35 min.aft. 2 THE WEATHER.-817X OPFIOII, JAN. 28. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 51—highest since noon yesterday. 47 —lowest this morning and during the night. 51—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30.20. WIND, W.—Light breeze, and hazy weather, with rain 4.00, at ~ ~, 11111. LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1854. Uncertainty - still clouds the probable result of the late maritime movement of the French an d British Governments. It is still questionable whether the CZAR will regard that movement as a decided cusus belli, or whether he will allow of its admitting in any way of satisfactory explanations. According to the most prevalent rumour, his Im perial MAJESTY, after all his swaggering and affected determination, is prepared so far to tem porise that he may be enabled to gain conside rably more time by a revival of Ministe rial correspondence and diplomatic negotia tions. According to this account the Ambassadors accredited by the Russian AUTOCRAT to the Courts of St. James's and the Tuileries, are to inquire if it be proposed by France and England to impose upon Turkey in the Black Sea similar conditions to those recently demanded from Russia, in short, the same de facto armistice. It is added, that upon the answer given to this interrogation rests the final decision of the CZAR under existing circumstances. In any case that decision must speedily be understood, from the course pursued within the next few days by the two Ambassadors. Supposing MM. de BRUNOW and DE KISELEFF remain quietly at their posts, the fa c t o f t h e i r so remaining after the combined fleets have actually passed through the Channel of the Bosp h orus, will constitute a sufficient indication of the Em peror NICHOLAS being enabled to listen to rea on an d prudence, rather than to the dictates of his o wn inordinate pride and the greed of his o wn impetuous and insatiable ambition. Supposing, however, that his Imperial MAJESTY should still allow himself to be carried on to the perils of a general war by the force of his blinded passions— his thus continuing to be the slave of his own evil arrogance, will be manifested by the sul!en and speedy withdrawal' both from Paris and Lon don of his two most delicately-situated ambas sadors. To the movement of these diplomatic straws, therefore, must our attention just now be most sedulously directed, in our anxiety to detect, at the earliest moment, in which direction the wind may next blow from St. Petersburgh. It is at least remarkable, meanwhile, that the Russian troops still persevere in making incursions across the Danube into Bulgaria, while the Admirals of the combined fleets in th e Black Sea deem it advis able to reinforce their already powerful armament by summoning after them the vessels previouslyleft behind at Buyukdere. Whatever be the upshot, therefore, of passing occurrences, we have the satisfaction of knowing that at last the guardians of the national honour are on the alert, and that in any event we are fully prepared. It cannot for a moment be said that the con viction of JOHN CHARLES TAPNER must neces sarily be erroneous, because it was wholly founded on circumstantial evidence ; and, because there w as not a single particle of direct proof of his being the perpetrator of the sanguinary outrage. We readily admit that there may and frequently have been cases in which the mind might arrive at as satisfactory conclusions as if the eye had witnessed the entire transaction, the corpus delicti being committed in the broad light of day, and in the presence of numerous specta tors, all of whom might be received as credible and trustworthy witnesses. But, though there have been many such cases, where there would have been a manifest failure of justice, if such testimony had been altogether rejected—it cannot be denied that there have also been numerous instances in which innocent persons have been unjustly condemned—aye, and suffered the extreme penalty of the law— men whose characters were subsequently exo nerated from every stain of guilt, not the slightest blot remaining on the escutcheons of those who were once held up as objects of popular execration, and a word in whose favour would be regarded as treason against the majesty of the people. In these cases the popular voice had unanimously convicted the supposed culprits, even without trial, and the indignant " judges " were quite ready to carry the precepts of their celebrated brother " LYNCH" into practical opera tion on the slightest provocation. The great value of the " trial by Jury" (we had written this without reflecting that TAPNER was de prived of that inestimable privilege, but shill not now erase it)—we may add of most other tribunals --is that it interposes an obstacle to the summary execution of the sentence indicated by the popular outcry, and to a certain extent at least insures a calm investigation into all the facts supposed to bring the offence home to the party accused. But even this safeguard has but too often proved inadequate. As we have stated, there are nume rous cases on record where men have been im properly convicted on circumstantial evidence, and it is therefore essential that such evidence should be received with the greatest caution ; that every link in the chain of proof should be strictly tested, and that the accused should receive the full benefit of every reasonable doubt. In the present instance there was not a single strong presumption—nor, as we have already stated, anything that, taken per se, led to a reasonable inference of the guilt of the prisoner. Now we believe we are justified in stating that it is the unanimous opinion of our own venerable Judges that no combination of slight or immaterial circumstances—none of which would alone suffice to raise a decided opinion of the traverser's guilt—would warrant a conviction. The "presumptions" must be very strong indeed, and in some instances almost irresistible, to jus tify so extreme a measure as the public execution of a fellow-creature. But in TAPNER'S case what do we find ? Nothing that necessarily leads to such a decision, or even bears strongly on the case. There are unquestionably matters to excite grave suspicions, to render further investigation expe dient, but that is all ; and TAMER now awaits the completion of his awful sentence on grounds which, in his native country, would not be con sidered sufficient to condemn a previously-con victed pickpocket for the larceny of a pocket handkerchief. 'For what are the facts so strongly relied on by the Procureur in his very zealous and very elo quent,, but not very fair or very impartial, speech to evidence ? First, that the murder was cora mitted at an early hour of the night, between 9 and 11 p.m. it was said—a matter which may readily be conceded so far as the prisoner was concerned, although we do not see that it was very Clearly established by the medical testimony, which alone bore upon the point, and which was founded entirely upon the contents of the stomach of the deceased. The next matter strongly relied on was that the prisoner had been seen in the neighbourhood of the locus in quo, at or about the time when the assassination was supposed to have been perpetrated. Now, admitting for ar gument's sake that this was true, and that TAPNER was really the person seen by Miss DE JERSEY and the other witnesses, although none spoke positively as to his person save Mrs. ELRINGTON, who exchanged a few words while he was rapidly following a female, of what importance is it so far as the issue is concerned ? There was nothing really to show that TAMER was the person referred to by the other witnesses, who were unable to identify him distinctly, but, supposing that it were so, what did it prove ? Certainly not that the man was guilty of a mur der immediately after the time he was thus seen. It was shown that the Canichers in which Mrs. SAITJON'S house was situated was a street much frequented—that the prisoner might have had to go there on his ordinary business, and, indeed, we believe that it would have been in the direction of the Vale Road where he alleged that he was visiting the night in question. Surely his pre sence in such a place could not justify the tre mendous conclusion at which the Procureur arrived. He asked, with an air of triumph, " Now, what was he doing there ? That is what I should like to know. That is what I should like to have heard from the defence. It was a fact that was irreconcileable with the inno cence of the prisoner !" Good GOD ! was there ever such an awful inference drawn from such slender premises—such a tremendous superstruc ture erected on so fragile a foundation. If TAP NER was in a street at nine o'clock, in which a murder was sometime afterwards committed, he must be guilty of that murder, unless he could produce unexceptionable evidence to show where he was, and how he was engaged. Is there a single one of our readers who could bring forward witnesses to prove where he was during every hour of a particular night in last October ; and would it be just or reasonable, that because he could not do so, he should be convicted of the threefold crime of murder, arson, and robbery ? The thing is absurd. If such a doctrine could for a moment be tolerated, no man's life would be safe for a single session. The innocent would share the scaffold with the guilty; and yet we find a man of education, ability, and eloquence, a man looked up to, and respected by every one of those who were to decide on the life or death of the prisoner, so carried away by hiszeal andenergy as to lay down emphatically the terrible conclusion, that such a fact "was irreconcileable with the innocence of the prisoner I" Nay, more, to say that "thepro seen tion could not account for him, but he could account for himself !" Then, according to this novel principle, it may become a capital offence to be unable to account for every moment of time ! It is not the duty of a Crown Prosecutor to prove the guilt of the prisoner. It is the accused who must establish his innocence But TAPNER did offer a reasonable explanation. He produced a witness, MARGARET GAHAGAN, to show where he was and how he was occupied during the time the murder was committed ; and if her testimony were credited the prisoner's evidence would be established. This was laid down by the Bailiff, and even by the Procureur himself. But, for sooth, she was a tainted witness, and could not be credited. She stated he came back about 9 o'clock. The person supposed to be TAPNER was walking in the Canichers, in the direction of her lodging, about this time. This trifling variation of time— a few minutes only—is not sufficient to throw doubt on her testimony—to show that she has been guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, and TAPNER of murder, arson, and robbery. It is well known to every person accustomed to criminal business how utterly impossible it is to obtain, even from witnesses manifestly desirous of telling the truth, any accurate statement of time ; and even a con siderable variation in that respect would not be considered to justify a doubt upon testimony in other respects aPparently trustworthy. But, again, a d m itti ng th a t it was TAPNER who was seen by Miss DE JERSEY, we fearlessly assert, that so far from "the fact being irreconcileable THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 18,54. with his innocence," as asserted by the Procureur, it goes far to establish that innocence—to show that the person who was in the street when the deceased bolted the door after the witness could not have been the murderer. It was argued that a forcible entry was not achieved, and therefore that the door must have been opened by Mrs. SAUJON for the admittance of the murderer. But how was that established ?—which of her neighbours heard the knocking at the door, or its opening by her ? If it occurred at that late hour it would have been remarked, and, considering the extraordinary indus try displayed in collecting the materials of the pro secution, would certainly have been brought for ward. But there was nothing of the kind. An explanation has, however, been given. Miss DE JERSEY distinctly declared, that during the even ing, while at Mrs. SAUJON'S, she heard a noise as of some person opening and shutting the door. The Procureur argued that " the presumption was that the prisoner looked in that moment, and hearing voices, withdrew." Now this appears a very far-fetched conclusion ; it seems far more probable that the murderer then entered and con cealed himself in the bed-room. This would fully account for the absence of a forcible entry, and would establish beyond the possibility of doubt the innocence of TAPNER if he were the person seen by the witnesses. Next, as to the turpentine bottle, on which so much stress was laid, and on which several of the Jurats justified their decision against the pri soner. How was it attempted to be shown that the bottle even belonged to TAPNER. First, that a label from the shop of a druggist named " CUMBER" was on the bottle, and also another label from the shop of a Mr. BENISFORD, that CUMBER'S label had on it " the gargle to be used frequently," and BENISFORD'S, " GODFREY'S Cordial," and that Mrs. TAPNER had had a gargle from Mrs. CUMBER'S many months ago, and about nine or ten months previously a penny worth of GODFREY'S Cordial from BENISFORD'S. But even if both were clearly proved, and the latter was not 'by any means so, how could it establish that it was TAPNER'S bottle ? A lady lodging at Mrs. SeuJoN's had a gargle from CUMBER'S 12 months before, which would have a similar label, and surely she might have had a little of GODFREY'S Cordial in the bottle subse quently, or, even if it were TAPNER'S, it might have been left in the house when he was lodging there in July. On this point it is sufficient to say, that the Bailiff, in his able charge, declared that " the evidence, although it amounted to a very strong probability, fell short of certainty, and yet the majority of the jurats, in the judg ments which they had carefully written out, with out waiting to hear the charge of the Bailiff, relied on the ownership of the bottle as bringing the crime home to the prisoner. The proof most un questionably " fell short of certainty r Ho w, then, can the decision be justified ? The last point relied on by the Procureur as of importance was the possession of money by the prisoner, the day afterthe murder, when, as alleged, he had none previously. It was shown that he paid 131. on that day. Now, in the beginning of Sep tember he applied to the witness BLAKEMORE to get him 201. or 301. in gold and notes. This Was more than a month before the murder, and before the receipt of his salary. It was proved that, on the Ist October, he had 81. ; on that day he re ceived 301: in round terms for his salary ; he also borrowed 7/. from ELLEN GARAGAN, and MARGA RET swore that she returned him Si. which he had previously given her. Here, then, was within a few shillings of 501., while all that he was shown to have paid was 391., and 31. in his possession when arrested, making a total of 421. Nor was it proved that Mrs. SAUJON had any money in her house on the night of the murder. True, she had three months previously received 501. and some odd shillings, but she was in debt at the time. She owed eight quarters on her house, which was to be paid out of this 501., and she might have lent or otherwise disposed of the balance. It was argued that she ought to have 381. remaining, but it was just as probable that she had only the 1/. found in her drawer after her death. There was really no evidence that she had been robbed of money. If the argument of the Procureur were good for anything, it would prove that TAPNER should have had 381. after the murder, whereas he was only shown to have had 131. We cannot conclude this part of the case without referring to the opinion of Sir MATHEW HALE, to the effect that unless it could be shown that the money hadactually been robbed from some body, its possession by TAPNER, although unex plained, could raise no presumption against him. That Learned Judge lays it down as a rule " most prudent and necessary to be observed " in the ad mission of circumstantial evidence, (2 HALE, 290), "never to convict a man for stealing the goods of a person unknown, merely because he will give no account how he came by them 1" And yet the possession of money not proved to have been stolen is sufficient to justify the convic tion, and possibly the execution, of one of her MAJESTY'S subjects, a well-educated young man, who had previously maintained a respectable cha racter We have thus examined the chief points relied on by the Procureur. No real weight could be given to the discovery of some stolen goods con cealed in a field—several hundred yards from the prisoner's residence ; and the Procureur himself admitted that all the others, " although not alto gether immaterial, although they might raise sus picions and support presumptions, were not suffi cient to convict." There were but four points on which he relied, and these were -Ist. The supposed presence of the prisoner in the Canichers at the time of the murder. 2nd. The finding of the turpentine bottle, sup posed to belong to him (but which the Bailiff said was not proved) under Mrs. SAUJON'S bed. 3d. His possession of 131., unaccounted for after the murder, but which was not proved to have been stolen from any one. 4th, The finding of a barometer and other things, taken from Mrs. SA 'JON'S house, con cealed in a field 400 yards from the prisoner's residence. And is it on such grounds that the ignominious death—we had almost called it the legal murder —of one of her MAJESTY'S subjects is to be jus tified ? We cannot believe it possible that Lord PALMERSTON will suffer the sentence to be exe cuted. We have, from our necessarily limited space, been unable to enumerate the points at any length ; but let any unprejudiced person, who retains a doubt, peruse attentively the powerful and convincing argument of Mr. FALLA, and we venture to say that he will arrive at the same conclusion as ourselves, that the guilt of the pri soner was by no means established, and that the sentence couldnot be carried out without greatdan ger of sacrificing an innocent man—of destroying that protection to her MAJESTY'S subjects which it is the sole object of penal laws to afford. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.—The Royal Mail Company's steam ship afternoon from St. Th omas , w hi c h port she left on the Medway, Captain Baynton , arrived this 7th inst. The Midway has been absent from England about 18th months, doing duty on the inter - colonial station. She has returned fo r the purpose of under going a thorough repair. On her voyage to Eng land she spoke the brigantine Othello, off St. John's, New Brunswick, on the 9th January, bound to Jamaica ; and on the same day a Norwegian ship. Yellow fever is reported to have recommenced at St. Thomas, and cholera had to a fearful extent raged in that and adjoin ing islands. The American ship Hermann, Captain Skinner, from Callao, bound to Baltimore, with a icargo of guano, put into St. Thomas on the sth inst. n an almost sinking state. The Hermann sprung a leak three days before making that port, and encountered severe stress of weather. Considering the nature of the ship's cargo, the authorities prudently objected to the same being landed in the port, in consequence of the un healthy condition of the island at present ; she there fore Proceeded to Water Island, and ran into shoal water. Another vessel (a barque) has gone to relieve her of her cargo, after which she will most likely return to port to be surveyed. TEE VACANT OFFICE OF BRIDGEMASTER.—The Lord Mayor has ordered the'notice for a common ball, for the election of bridgemaster, in the room of Mr. David Gibbs, deceased, to be postponed until the decision of the Corporation is taken as to the desirability of filling up the office. It is also said that a similar course will be adopted in the instance of the vacant comptrollership. CUSTOMS.—The principal officers of the Customs at the several ports throughout the United Kingdom have received directions from the commissioners to transmit to the Comptroller-General with all practicable despatch the account of charges of management paid out of the Customs revenue in the quarter ended the sth inst. MONEY MARKE AND COIIIM.E.RCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 1,000 were taken for export and on speculation. The demand was moderate, and was freely met at per lb. de cline. Railway Shares were steady. The opinion of the Russian merchants here is exemplified in the following remarks of Messrs. Smith and Charles : " Generally, our market has been quiet with a drooping tendency all this week. The present price depending on the issue of political events, operators are moved by the reports circulated from day to day in the public newspapers, and our market fluctuates ac cordingly. Holders, however, are very firm, and in most cases, regarding war as imminent, are not disposed to offer tallow for sale until more positive information is received." In the weekly return of the Bank of England made up to the 21st inst., the changes are not so numerous as previously. The loans and discounts were further reduced, and the deposit accounts were smaller. The bullion shows a slight increase only. Compared with the previous week, the changes are as follows Active circulation £22,271,495 Increase 330,670 Bullion Increase 27,134 3,333,780 37,967 2,646,783 Rest Increase Public Deposits Decrease Other Deposits Decrease Seven-Day and other Bills 567,210 13,894,599 245,893 1,232,096 Decrease ............... Government Securities...... Decrea5e............... Other Securities ........... Decrease ............ Notes unemployed......_„ Decrease ............... 233 13,537,638 106,387 14,297,849 365,446 7,135,195 307,820 The weekly circulation of all the private banks in England up to the 7th inst., was 3,911,4151., against 3,833,5001. in the previous week, and of the Joint Stock Banks 3,061,0331. against 3,036,367. Bills of exchange were yesterday afternoon nego tiated at barely the rates of the previous post-day. At 90 days, Paris was done at 25, 271 to 32i ; Am sterdam at 11, 154- to ; Hamburgh at 1 3 , 4 i to ; and Trieste at 12, 35 t o 54. Temporarily, the demand for gold to be sent to Paris has subsided and most of that brought by the Roxburgh Castle, from Austra]ia, has been paid in. Messrs. Haggard and Pixley report, how ever, an active inquiry for silver. The shipments of specie direct from London during the week ending the 26th inst. were very large, viz., 2501., and 353,800 ounces of silver coin, and 284,500 ounces in bars. Gold was exported to the extent of 4,031 ounces. All this went to the Continent. The Undaunt e d, which left Geelong, Sept. 30, has arrived with 35,000 ounces of gold. The dates are old. BRITISH MrNEs.—The following is the report of Mr. J. S. Lane :—There is an extremely inactive market to-day, and prices are nominally without alteration. East Russells, 61 ; Alfred Consols, 26; Great Tregun e C on sols, ai ; Hugos, 1 /. ; West Sortridge Consols, ss. ; Sortridge Consols, 265. 6d., 255.; Poltimores, 1 ; Tremollett, ; Molland, The English Funds have been rather buoyant ' again, with a fair business doing. Consols, which ' opened this morning at 90k have since been done at 90/ and 91. The New 3/ per Cents. have realised 914, and since 92 and 92k. The Three per Cents. have been 90k to 91±. Bank Stock is firm at 21.7. Exchequer Bills are maintained at 9s. to 12s. premium. Foreign Securities are rallying. Russian Five per Cents. have been done at 105 i. and 1061, and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 89 and 89k. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have been quoted 60i to ' 61 1 A Spanish Deferred have been quoted 19. Mex]can are steady at 23, and Grenada De ferred have been done at R. . ---- --•-: -- The Railway Market is about to A per cent. better for a few of the English lines, but there is scarcely anything doing. French shares are rather heavy and cheaper. The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not officially quoted, are as follows :—Jamaica, par to premium ; Metcalfe, to premium ; Sue River, discount to par ; Port Royal, to .1 premium. The Gold Mine Shares have been dull, the Aus tralian Banks at about former rates, and the Land Companies' fluctuating. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK ( Prom the Official List. ) Business done. Bank Stock ........... ............. 217 per Cent. Reducsd Annuities 9l 90i 14 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9OB 1 90 1 New 3 1 per Cent. Annuities 9l 2.1 2a India Bonds, £lOOO . . Ditto, under £lOOO par Console for Account 15th Feb. 9og 1 90i Exchequer Bills, ld. £lOOO $12500 Small 9 12 9 12 9 12 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent BO Grenada Bonds, Deferred Mexican 3 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 1822, sper Cent. £St 106,i 5i Ditto 4i per Cent B9 Ditto Sinall Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent... B6i Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent l9 Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 2b per Cent. 12 Guil 614 60i Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates ... TWO O'CLOCK. Consols Ditto February Account 90$ i 90i i PRINCE ALBERT. We must apologise to our readers for troubling them with another word upon the odious calumnies which have been lately set on foot with regard to the Prince Consort. One of these precious inventions— it was just as good as any of thern—was, that Prince Albert was in intimate correspondence with our Ambassador at Vienna, Lord Westmorland. However the Fo reign-office might seem to ma n age the busine ss of the nation in external matte rs , it was, in point of fact, the Prince Consort who really pulled the strings at Vienna—or elsewhere—and all fo r the interest of the House of Coburg With reg ard to Vienna, the accusation w as a s pecial one, and has called forth a special reply from Lord Westmorland himself. One of our contemporaries, which has earned an unenviable notoriety by disseminating this scandal, asserted that if Lord Westmorland would speak out, he could a tale unfold. He h as d one so , and here is th e result :—" I have not h a d any comm unication, directly o.t indirectly, with the ill ustr i ous perso nage alluded to since I came to Vienn a . I never rece ived a letter from the Prince containin g one wor d upon politics, publ ic men, or public affair s . T he on l y letters with which his Royal Highness has honoured me have related to matters of art and benevolence."—Times. LOSS OF THE BRAZIL SCREW STEAM SHIP OLINDA. Scarcely had the excitement caused by the loss of the ill fated Tayleur subsided, when the inhabitants of Liver pool have been startled by the announcement that the South American and General Steam Navigation Com pany's screw steam ship Olinda had been driven on shore and was likely to become a wreck. The Olinda, sailed from Liverpool on Thursday morn ing, having been delayed from Tuesday, for the Brazils and the River Plate, with a very valuable cargo, and several mail bags. Yesterday morning, at an early hour, she was driven on a ledge 6f rocks known by the name of " Harry Furlongs." A despatch from Holyhead to the agents, Messrs. Millers and Thompson, received yesterday from Captain Hirsk, states that yesterday morning, at 4.40, an officer, with Lloyd's agent, called upon him and informed him of the Olinda, being up on the rocks in question. He immediately started in the Chester and Holyhead Railway boat Cambria to the Olinda, and found her up to between decks in water, with seven of the crew on board, the remaining portion having left the vessel. Having taken charge of and landed the mail bags, he despatched the boat for the remainder of the crew, but they had left her in the meantime, but the steamer picked them up in the Molfie life-boat, and towed them into Cemeas Bay, where they landed. When the steamer left there was a heavy sea on the rocks. At the time she went ashore, it was blow ing a very severe gale from the S.W., with very thick weather. The Olinda had about 20 passengers, and a crew num bering 40, who we are happy to say have all been landed in safety. She had also on board small quantities of specie and jewellery. It is expected she will become a total wreck. Her loss, it is stated, is fully covered by insurance. Immediately on receipt of the news in Liverpool, the agents despatched the steam-tug Dreadnought, with Captain Green, of the Braziliera (s.s.) on board, to ren der every assistance, and subsequently sent the Consti tution (tug), with 30 lumpers in tow, for the purpose of taking out the goods and lightening her. GREAT CONFLAGRATION AT BANKSTDE. This morning, at half-past 4 o'clock, and for several hours, a most destructive fire raged on the bank of the Thames, Southwark, causing very great destruction of property. The discovery was made on bond the Lon don Fire Steam Float, which was lying nearly opposite the premises attacked by the fire—viz., those of Messrs. Jones, Sills, and Co., coal merchants, No. 54, 55, and 56, Bankside. Only a few minutes elapsed before the building, which was composed chiefly of wood, was in one sheet of fire. The reflection brought most of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade engines to the spot ; but, as usual, a very short supply of water could be obtained from the mains of the Southwark Water Company. The large floating steam-engine from Southwark-bridge was brought from the station, and proved very efficient. The destructive element spread to the house of Messrs. Farmers, grocers, No. 53, Bankside, destroying several houses in rear of Messrs. Jones's premises, occupied by poor persons, who have lost a large portion of their fur niture by removal and breakage. By dint of great exer tion on the part of the fireman, under the direction of Mr. James Braidwood. The flames were subdued by 9 o'clock. The following is Mr. James Braidwood's official re port :—Called at half-past 4 o'clock to the premises of Messrs. Jones, Sells, and Co., coal merchants, 54, 55, and 56, Bankside. Building and contents destroyed ; very short of water ' • cause unknown ; premises insured. Ditto No. 53, Mrs. Farmers, grocer. Building and contents burned ; insurance unknown. Crown-court, i3ankside, 1 to 5, let out in tenements. Seriously damaged, roofs burned off, and furniture da maged by removal. THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. -- We regret to learn that his Grace the Duke of Norfolk's health is in an unsatis factory state, and excites the uneasiness of his family and friends. To this cause is to be ascribed the resignation of his high office of Lord Steward of her Majesty's Household.—Sheffleld Independent. NEW METROPOLITAN CATTLE M.ARKET.—Yesterday a deputation, composed of Mr. R. Hewitt, of Dodford ; Mr. R. Sheppard, of Stowe, near Weedon ; and Mr. W. Shaw, of Cotton End, near Northampton, extensive graziers, and Mr. W. Gray, agent of Sir C. Wake, of Courtenhall, near the last-named town, waited upon the Lord Mayor, to present a memorial, praying for an alteration of the Monday market to Tuesday. The Lord Mayor promised to take care that the memorial should be laid before the next Court of Common Coun cil, with an earnest recommendation on his part that its prayer should be taken into consideration at a very early period. The deputation having thanked his lordship for the kind and courteous manner in which he had re ceived them, and for the expression of his views in con nection with the subject which they had brought under his notice, withdrew. THE CONTINENT.—The mercantile letters from Paris and other parts of the continent express a more confi dent feeling, but without assigning the slightest reason for it beyond the fresh pretexts for delay employed by the Emperor of Russia. From the French provsncial towns the accounts of the state of trade are bad, and several failures have taken place at Lille and Miilhouse. ST. PETERSBURG.—Letters from St. Petersburg of the 19th inst. confirm the recent statement regarding the issue of a large amount of additional paper money, and mention also an increase of Treasury bonds. These measures had not yet produced any unfavourable alte ration of the rate of exchange, owing to the heavy ex ports going on from Odessa. AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY.—The meeting of the Australian Agricultural Company was held yes terday. J. H. Ravenshaw, Esq., took the chair. After the report was read, the chairman made some observa tions, to the effect that the coal of the company was now selling at 18s., whilst in 1852 it only fetched 103. 6d. Mr. Odenheimer had been sent out to make a thorough sur vey of the company's property, and till the report on that subject had arrived, the directors would cease to sell the lands of the company. Out of the surplus re venue for the year 1852, of 23,3141., a dividend of 1/. ls. per share was agreed to, and the report was adopted unanimously. ObEsso..—The accounts are to the 16th, and by tele graph to the 20th, at which latter date freights had sud denly renewed their firmness, and, after having a short time previously been at 85s. per ton, had advanced to 105 s. The news from London and Paris had created great apprehensions that war with the allied Powers could no longer be evaded, and business had experienced a decided check. The annual statement of the ship ments from the ports had just been completed, and showed that the exports of wheat during the past year were of unprecedented amount, the total being 2,327,000 quarters, or about 360,000 quarters more than in the famine year of 1847. In addition, there were exported about 250,000 quarters of Indian corn, 185,000 of rye, and 150,000 of linseed. B s o td A uh ß tai D ee hwoeFel-n hithertoe I e n e s sary occurredte separate consequence in the t t h h e e foundTRADE. ich ha v - e and mercantile m ar i ne d e p ar t men t s o f th e B oar d ro increasing T Tlaa ß yd r several branches pertaining to the above establishment, and to direct their operations to distinct public offices. The statistical department, which it may be recollected was first instituted at the suggestion of its late secre tary, Mr. 0-. R. Porter, is to be under the management of Mr. A. Fonblanque, assisted by Mr. W. Drummond Oswald ; and the duties of that branch of the establish ment will be removed, in the course of the present week, to No. 2, 'Parliament-street. The averages of corn and wheat, as well as all exportations and importations between this and foreign countries, are registered in this office. The Board of Trade at present compre hends the general, statistical, mercantile, marine, rail way, and the arts and sciences departments, the offices for conducting which latter establishment are situated at Marlborough-house, Pall-mall. THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 27.—The Penin sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Iberia, com manded by Captain Bradshaw, left this afternoon with the usual Peninsular mails. She took out 3501. in specie for Gibraltar, and 20 boxes ditto for Lisbon, of the value of 13,5001., and a general cargo. The Penin sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship (screw) Rajah, Captain Cooke, which has been lately built for the above company by Messrs. Mare and Co., of Blackwall, and which has hitherto been employed in conveying coals from Cardiff to this port, for consumption by the com pany, also left this afternoon for Constantinople. She took out specie to the value of 3,8581. for Constanti nople, 6,0001. for Malta, and a small quantity of jewellery for Smyrna. Amongst the cargo were some stores for the Naval Hospital at Malta, and thirty guns (twenty four pounders) consigned by the Ottoman consul in London to the Turkish-Government. FIRE IN CLERKENWELL.—Yesterday morning a fire broke out in the premises of Mr. Loveday, a beer-shop keeper, situated in Exmouth-street, Clerkenwell, but from what cause is at present unknown. A police-con stable of the G division discovered the fire, and having aroused the inmates, sent off for the Royal Society's es capes and the engines. The escape was soon in front of the burning premises, and several engines of the Brigade and that of the West of England Office followed. The firemen then found that the whole of the lower part of the premises was wrapped in a broad sheet of fire. An abundant supply of water was procured, from which the firemen set their engines to play, but the flames could not be conquered until the bar and parlours were burned out, and the upper part of the building damaged by fire and smoke. The property of Mr. G. Hendley is also damaged by heat and smoke. Mr. Loveday was insured in the Guardian and Mr. Hendley in the Sun Offices. FIRE AT THE TURKISH EMBASSY.—Yesterday after noon, between the hours of four and five o'clock, con siderable alarm was caused in the immediate neighbour hood of Bryanston•square, in consequence of a fire break ing out in the extensive mansion, known as the Turkish Embassy, situate at No. 1 in the above-named square. The discovery was made by one of the inmates by seeing smoke pouring through the apertures in the second floor. An alarm was instantly raised, and information was despatched for proper assistance, and in the course of a few minutes the brigade and parish engines attended, when the firemen went to work, and with the aid of several sweeps succeeded in arresting the progress of the fire, but not until the girders, joistings, floorings, and buttons were burned on the second floor, and con siderable damage done by water, &c. It was exceed; ingly fortunate that the outbreak did not take place in the dead of night, for if it had the results might have been most disastrous. The origin of the fire has been traced to a foul flue. The premises were insured in the Globe and other offices. ERRATUBI.—In the second leading article of Wednes day last there was a misprint. In the last paragraph, commencing The boroughs, read Ten boroughs. The Yorkshire boroughs return 31 members, and are 18 in number.. THE OVERLAND MAIL. Papers from Bombay to the 29th Dec., and from Hong Kong to the 11th Dec. have reached London to-day by the Overland Mail. INDIA. (From the Bombay Times of Dec. 29.) Our advices from Burmah are up to the 3d inst. For some days previous rumours were afloat of a conspiracy having been detected at Rangoon. I t was, from all we can learn, determined that at the full of the moon (22d ultimo) 500 men armed with knives were to mix with the large mass of worship pers who at that period visit the Pagoda, which, in our possession, serves the double purpose of a for- tress and place of worship. They were to seize upon the fortress, overcome the garrison, and fire a gun as the signal of success, upon which their fellow-conspi rators were to fire the commissariat godown, and taking advantage of the confusion the conflagration would cause, massacre the troops, and plunder the city ; but information was g iven to the authorities, and on the date of the expected outbreak 50 men of H.M. 80th Regiment, and a company of the 9th Madras Native Infantry, embarked on board the Nemesis steamer, with the avowed intention of at tacking some dacoits, but as soon as darkness came on they disembarked, and proceeded quietly to oc cupy the commissariat godown. The different guards were all doubled, artillery was posted, a double supply of ammunition was served out, the muskets of all the soldiers were loaded, and every thing put in readiness ; but these preparations seem to have alarmed the conspirators, for the ex pected outbreak did not occur., The next morning, 80 men of the 80th marched to Kemmendine, and took seven prisoners and some stands of arms. It is said that a governer for Rangoon, in case of the success of the outbreak, had been sent from Ava, but that he decamped on hearing of the plot being detected, and that his robe 3 of office were found in the bazaar. Some people appear to despise this conspiracy, but the ex tensive preparations which the Government made for the occasion tend to prove that there was cause for alarm. The Governor-General left Calcutta for Pegu on the 9th inst., intending to return about the 18th proximo. The formation of a bullion de pot has been ordered at Pegu, and Ass.-Surg. Boy cott, Deputy Assay Master of the Calcutta Mint, has proceeded to that city to carry out the inten tions of Government. We regret to state that the health of Sir John Cheape, who commands the forces in Burmah, is very precarious ; while suffering from illness he fell from a window and fractured his collar-bone, and it is expected he will in consequence be obliged to vacate his command. Intelligence from the north west is not very important ; no news of the further operations, of the Russian army, which we mentioned in our last summary had reached Khiva, has been received, but accounts have reached us of the murder of Naib Mahomed Hoosen, for many years the confidential adviser of Nusseer Khan, Meer of Khelat. The Naib was in his fifty-eighth year, and his murder is imputed to the machinations of a Sirdar named Moola, Ahmed. It is also alleged that Dost Mahomed of Kabul is encamped at Candahar with a large army. It is not known for what purpose he has left the seat of his government, but the probability is that it is merely to pass the winter season. We regret to state that Lieutenant Godby of the Guide corps was severely wounded on the 2d inst., at Murdan, near Peshawur, by an Afredee under his command, who stabbed him with a sword. The cause of the attack is not stated, but the would-be assassin was cut to pieces on the spot by the native officers and men who happened to be present at the time. The latest accounts represent Lieut. Godby as out of danger. A large body of Persian troops have marched from Shiraz to Bushire, which port has been blockaded by the Hon. Company's sloop Clive. The schooner Constance and steam-frigate Auckland have been despatched from Bombay to the Persian Gulf. From Peshawur we learn that the Afreedees have given in, the blockade of the Kohat pass having starved them into submission. The construction of the fort at Bazeed Khel proceeds briskly, and by the latest accounts all was peaceable. In the action of the 29th ult., the Boree tribe had suffered severely, and it has been ascertained that they lost four of their most powerful chiefs, besides other of lesser note. The Punjab remains quiet. We regret to announce that the news from Madras still gives sad accounts of the famine which prevails in the northern districts of that presidency, consequent on the scantiness of the recent monsoon. The fol lowing is from the Madras Atheneum of the 20th inst. :—" We have just had intelligence of one of the most important events that have happened for years in this presidency. The Rajah of Nagpore died on the 11th inst., without natural. heirs ; and as the British Government had steadily refused to allow him to adopt a successor, the whole of the magnificent valley of Berar lapses into the pos session of the paramount authority. The Nag pore State is half the area of the Madras Presi dency, and is perhaps without exception the finest country in the world. Immediately on the death of the Rajah, five companies of the 10th N. 1., and a detachment of artillery, were marched into the city, where all was peaceful on the follow ing day, when our advices left. The body of the late Sovereign was burnt with the usual ceremonies on the 12th instant." The ship Alfred, with pas sengers and troops bound for Calcutta, touched at Vizapagatam for fresh provisi ons an d water, and on the 4th inst. put to sea again ; she was seen to the eastward on the following morning, but un fortunately struck on a reef about 30 miles north of Bimlipatam. She was got off, an d h er comman d er let her drift down opposite Bimlipatam, the troops and passengers were all disembarked ; the vessel had been beached, and two steam tugs had left Cal cutta to tow the ship to that port. During the absence of Lord Dalhousie in Burmah, the Honourable Joseph Alexander Dorin, first ordi nary member of the Council of India, has been nominated President of the Council, and Governor of Bengal. We are happy to state that Colonel Outram, C. 8., has been appointed an ordinary . Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General. The Mar quis of Dalhousie has published selections from the records of Government relating to the resignation of his office of Commander-in-Chief by the late Sir Charles Napier. The work in question must con vince the warmest admirers of the late Sir Charles Napier, that in his dispute with the Governor- General he was most decidedly and unquestionably in the wrong. The establishment for the electric telegraphs has received the sanction of Government. Dr. O'Shaughnessy to be superintendent on a salary of 2,000 rs. per mensem, and 10 rs. per diem travelling allowance ; there are to be four in spectors first class, twenty of the second class and a like number of the third class. Of local matters the most important is the arrival of Lord Elphin stone, our new Governor, who reached our shores on the evening of the 25th, and assumed the reins of office the next day. The ex-Governor Lord Falkland, returns home by the present mail. Mr. Knight, the aeronaut, the uncertainty of whose fate we announced in our last, has, we are glad to say, been saved. The steamer Lowjee Family was on her way to Surat at the time of his descent, and her captain, observing the balloon fall into the sea, took the bearings of the spot and picked Mr. Knight up at about ten o'clock at night ; he conveyed him to Surat, and hence arose the uncertainty and unpleasant surmises which we published. Her Majesty's frigate Fox, bearing the flag of Commodore Lambert, sprung a leak while in Ceylon, and has just come to this port to get repaired. The Army of Exercise assembled at Poona has broken up, and his Excellency, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, has issued a very compli mentary order on the occasion, expressing his entire approbation of the perfect acquaintance with their field and other duties evinced both by the officers and soldiers. His L'ordship, it i s sa id , proceeds almost immediately to Scind e , t o in spect the troops, arc., in that province. In our summary of the 11th September, we published a copy of the report called for by the Go vernment from the judges of the Sudder Adaw hit, as to the accuracy of the statements made . on the subject of th e a d m i n i strat i on of jus tice in the Company' s C our t s b y the Bom b ay Association. In our present issue we insert the reply of the Association to the report ; it contains a complete refutation of the statements made by the Sudder Adawlut to Government. Even the enemies of the Bombay Association have been compelled to praise, in very high and flattering terms the letter we are noticing, and to censure the conduct of the judges of the Sudder Adawlut in attempting to mislead the public, and in sup pressing the truth in the manner in which they have done. Thsre is no change in the money mar ket, and trade in general is dull. THE TREASONABLE LETTER. We are informed from a good source, that when the question of unconstitutional interference at Court is brought before Parliament, it will be sought to save the illustrious party at present responsible for the approving and grateful acknowledgment of the Muloch treasonable letter, from the serious effects of the answer, by Colonel Grey taking on himself the responsibility. The House will be assured that the Prince merely wrote on the letter, "To be acknowledged," and that the sentiments feeling, and language of the answer, were Colonel Gre'y's own.--morning Advertiser. CABINET COUNCIL. —A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign Office Downing-street, yesterday. The Ministers present were the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell. the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Lord Chan cellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll , Viscount Palmerston, th e Earl Of Clarendon, the Duke of New castle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The Council sat three hours and a half. The Marquis of Clanricarde has arrived at Carlton terrace, from Portmuna Castle. Lord Ab er d een (P rem i er ) has issued cards for grand dinners at A rgy ll H ouse on Monday next (full dress, for the Que en ' s S peec h) , an d on Saturday, Feb. 4 . Lord Dudl e y St uar t, M.P., we believe, has left the head-quarters of the Turkish Commander-in-Chief, Omer Paella, to whom his Lordship was furnished with letters of introduction from Lord Stretford de Redcliffe, on his return to this country. The Countess of Leicester and infant daughter are going on favourably at Holkham Hall. The Duchess of Sutherland leaves Trentham Hall on Monday, for Stafford House, St. James's, to attend her Majesty, who will proceed in state from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords on Tuesday, at the usual hour, to open the session of Parliamentin person. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll arrived at their new residence in Carlton-terrace yesterday, from a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle. The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor have arrived at Stafford House, from Calvely Park, Cheshire. The Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter arrived in Grosvenor-square yesterday, from a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle. The Russian General and Diplomatist, Count Orloff, who is understood to be on the eve of departure from St. Petersburg on a special mission to our Court, as well as to the other Western Powers, was sent over some years since on an extraordinary embassy to our Sovereign. COMMERCIAL. REPORT ON TEE STATE •F THE BOMBAY MARKETS, FROM THE 14TH TO THE 27TH DEC., 1853. Our Money Market has remained without change during the last fortnight. Money has been in little de mand, and rates of discount remain unaltered. Among the causes contributing to this easy state of the market, so unusual at this season, especially in native quarters, we may note the greati decrease in the import of opium from Malwa, and consequently in the duty payable to Government. By the last returns published by the opium agent it appears that the passes granted up to the 14th inst. have been for only 4,029 chests against 13,194 chests at same date last year. The deficiency in the transit duty is thus above 36 lace of rupees. Government Securities maintain former rates, and Joint Stock Shares have advanced. To-day's quotations are as under : Government Five per Cent. Loan of 1841-42, 1014 to 1021 ; ditto Four per Cent. Loan of 1835-36, and ditto Four per Cent. Loan of 1842-43,101 to 101 i; Bank of Bombay Shares, 40 per cent. premium; Oriental Bank Corporation, 89 to 90 ditto ; Commercial Bank, 37 ditto. Exchange.—The rates have been sustained, but few transactions have taken p l ale. Bank rates are 2s. Id. Baring Bros. credit' 2s. ld. 3-16 d., and the best local drafts at six months' sight 2s. lid. to 2s. id. 5-16 d. per rupee. On Calcutta at sixty days' sight Rs. 99 per cent. On China at sixty days' sight the rate is nominal at Rs. 233 per hundred dollars. Freight has continued steady ; the shipments of lin seed going on having kept up the rates to 3/. to Liver. pool, and 3/. to 3/. 2s. 6d. to London. Two vessels are now loading for China at Rs. 17 per candy. CHINA. (From the Overland China Mail of Dec. 11.) THE REBELLION.—CANTON AND AMOY. Quiet prevails at both of the southern ports, and the restoration of the constituted authorities at the latter place has been a matter of gratulation to the residents. There has been no very reliable in telligence about the progress of the rebels since last despatch of the mail. A report, however, was brought from Sh ang h ae b y th e L a d y Mary Wood, that, after being defeated by the Imperialists at Sinchow, in Peeheelee, the insurgent army con tinued to advance, and had at the end of October reached Jinkew, about sixty miles from Pekin. Pekin is presumed to be well garrisoned, and we learn from the son of a Chinese g entleman, re cently arrived from the capital, that its stores of rice are sufficient for three years' consumption, the present price being high, but not exorbitant. Of other provinces, we learn that Kiangsi and Ngan-hwui are now quiet, matters proceeding in their usual course, as if they had never been in fested by rebels, who (that is, bands claiming to belong to the Nanking body), are now committing ravages in Hupih, their object, according to the accounts we have received, being mainly plunder. They, came near Without entering the capital of the province, but set fire to a c ity t o th e wes t o f it. From Shanghae our intelligence, on Chinese authority, is comprised in two short papers—the one being a proclamation by Hii Nai-chaou, Go vernor of Kiang-su (formerly Literary Chancellor in Kwang-tung), to the people of S'ianghae, promis ing rewards for the apprehension of any rebels, and, at the same time warning the inhabitants against harbouring or abetting them—also declaring that the soldiery shall be punished for any misconduct on their part that may be reported to the com manding officers. The other paper contains miscellaneous memo randa, some items of which are, that— The Fokienese chief Li cuts men to pieces, and. steeps their hearts and entrails in wine—a figure of speech not very flattering to Generalissimo Li Hien-chi. The rebels have made a census, according to which the population remaining in the city ii 80,000. [ln 1850, according to a correspondent of the Chinese Repository, it was variously esti mated at from two hundred thousand to half a million.] About 300 of the orderly inhabitants have been recently slain by the rebels ; and about 100 of their spies have been taken and put to death by the Im perial troops since their arrival. Rice is sold to the poor at 27 cash a catty. The commissariat is supplied by the people of Pu-tung, the articles being hoisted over the wall at the Little) East Gate. Amongst foreigners there has been nothing very exciting since Mr. Consul Alcock issued the notifi cation given in our supplement, against those who had endangered what he terms " the foreign settle ment," by " supplying the insurgents in the city, night after night, with cannon and other munitions of war ;" until the Imperialists sent a body of troops to intercept " three large guns in their way from a foreign hong," when the volunteers and Bri tish marines mustered and rescued the guns, after killing—we conceive most unjustifiably—several of the Imperialists. Trade still continues to be carried on under the provisional regulations of the Consuls of Great Bri tain and America, the countries chiefly interested. in it. An Austrian vessel has, however, entered. and cleared out with cargoes without account ing for the duties, there being no consul of that country at Shanghae. Tonnage of all flags is in request, and the only vessel disengaged has been chartered for England at 6/. Whatever may be the result with imports, which would have be,en greatly overdone even without the rebellion, the exports from all China of tea and silk are now con siderably greater than at the same period last year. COMMERCIAL. CANTON MARKET-DEC. 9, 1853. IMPORTS. The import market still remains dull, and without symptom of improvement. EXPORTS. The same inactivity continues as at the departure of the last mail. Exchanges and Bullion —On England ss. ld. to ss. lid. for 6 months' sight ; ss. for short paper. On India, Co.'s accepted, 236 R. to 237 R. Sycee, 1 per cent. premium. Gold, $2l 50c. per tael. FREIGHTS.—To England, 4/. 10s. to Si. A clipper ship has loaded at Si. for tea and Si. 10s. for silks. To the United States, nominal at $l5. SHANGHAE MARKET, Nov. 27, 1853. IMPORTS.—We have but little alteration to report fir the import market. EXPORTS.—Teas.—Since the departure of the last; mail, our market has been fully supplied. EXCHANGES AND BULLION. On England.—After the departure of the Lady Mary" Wood on the 22d Nov. great fluctuations took p lace in Es,- change up to the arrival of the Audax on the 11th Nov.. The treasure brought by her had a sudden effect,. and the rate immediately receded from 6s 6d to 6s 3d, finally rallied again to 6s 4d to 6s sd, and at the departure' of the Nymph on thel9th the closing rate was 6s. The ar-• rival of the Lady Mary Wood on the 24th with a million anc7. half of treasure on hoard had but little effect in lowering' rates, the lowest point reached being ss. 10d., and wo may quote 6s. as the closing rate for this mail. Om India—Company's rupees have been equally variabl',, the last quotations being 285 per 100 dols. Drafts c Canton, 18 to 20 per cent, discount. Gold, per bar, $175 ; sycer, $l2O ; Mexican dolla rs, 20 per cent, discount. FREIGHTS.--To England, 4/. to 4/. 10s.; to the Uni tect States, $8 to $lO, but tonnage is very scarce. THE WEST INDIES. The Royal mail steam-ship Medway, Captain B. Baynton, arrived at Southampton at 4 p.m. yest day from the West Indies, having left St. Thorns s s on the evening of the 7th inst., - six days after t departure of the Solent with the last mails. The Medway comes home as an extra steamer •ta undergo repairs. She brings no passengers, mains, or specie, and but a small . quantity of cargo. The Royal mail steam-ship Orinoco, with tb to outward mails of the 17th of December, reache St. Thomas's on th e 3d o f J anuary, from Soutt ampton. This steamer brings but little news from tl2 9 several West Indian colonies additional to that ii ceived by the last packet. The yellow fever was auain commencing at Sit- Thomas's, and that island, with some of the s• cur rounding smaller islands, was likewise being frig ht fully ravaged by cholera. Up to the sailing of the Medway 791 deaths had occurred in St. Thom: ►s's alone. The following shows the number of deaths ioc curing daily since last accounts : Total from our last IN TOWN. Wednesday, the 4tb, from noon ...... 32 Thursday, the sth .................... 43 Friday, the 6th ........................ 47 Saturday, the 7th, to noon ...... . ....... lB IN THE COUNTRY. From our last to the 4th, afternoon... 95 Total .............................. 791 The last steamer brought news that the chol had broken out at Nevis, and it was feared that ; it would spread among the whole group of the nor th em and windward islands. The American ship Herm ann , C ap t a i n Ski nn em , put into St. Thomas's on the sth of January in am . almost sinking state, laden with a cargo of guar 10 , , bound to Baltimore. The proposed removal Of troops from several, o f the West India Islands was creating great dissatis faction, and in some places considerable alarm, among the inhabitants. From Jamaica, Barbadoes, Demerara, and otl xer colonies we have no accounts, no fresh arrivals fr those places having taken place since the depart' are of the Solent. RAILWAY BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.—Yesten lay, the following bills were passed by the examiners Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway ; Shrewsbury and Chester Railway ; Whitehaven, Cleabor, and Egrem ont Railway ; Whitehaven Junction Railway ; Barns rd Castle and Bishop Auckland Railway ; the Cam 34) ,clc Railway ; Cork and Bandon (Bantry Extension), 31; ib hereon Branch ; Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Wo rot tershire Railway ; Swansea Vale Railway ; Nortb. as id South Western Junction ; Carlisle and Silloth Ba t y a pa Dock (for Incorporation) ; Ardrossan and Glasgow- /aid South Western. The standing orders were decl taaed " not" complied with in the case of the Shrewsbury • and Hereford (for power to lease the line) and Fm mess Railway. A SAD FATE.-.Anna Maria Jones, authoress of the "Gipsy," and other popular novels of the day, die d on Tuesday at No. 17, Saha bury-place, Bermondsey, i a the most abject poverty. Her remains await, in all p robe,- bility, a pauper's funeral. LATE RUE A. telegi eveni ng , there this the explat the fleets Orloff has The Tr 1 5 at K a ff; the ° r i m , tisk of a ( From 1 Merchant Turkish i It was battle to , .issue was It was two islan The su 13 here, on i We hear ships, ar the lion ef Sebas. kithorit across h( self in ho out of hi dockyard nties d( tnoved f batteria When th 110 offi cc loised to told hit' 'ays qu hours, but six tai] La!