The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-22 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET .y. ND COMMITECTAL INTEILRIENcE. CITY, TV 0 o'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, including 500 Ameri can, 70 Pernam and Maranham at 61. to 61d., 250 Egyptian at sd. to Bd., 500 Surat at 3d. to 30., and 30 Sea Island at 111 d. to ls. 4d. per lb. Railway shares were quiet, but firm. Colonial produce has been rather quiet this week. The markets close to-day for the holidays, and do not re-open till Jan. 2. Sugar has been steady iu price, and some of the foreign descriptions have been a shade dearer. Coffee has been rather dull, though most descriptions maintain their prices. In tea only a small business has been done. Spices have been at nearly the previous rates. Rice has continued quiet. Saltpetre has been rather dearer for the better kinds. Cochineal is up fully Id. per lb. Hemp and flax are very dull, and also oils and iron. Tallow has been heavy, but yesterday it was slightly firmer, having recovered to 635. 6d. to 635. 9d. per cwt. It appears by the report of Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co., that a good deal of business has been transacted in American securities, especially the Virginian and Pennsylvanian bonds. The current prices are as follows : _ Redeemable. Per Cent. United States 6 per Cent. Bonds 1862...101 102 United States 6 per Cent. Bonds 1563...1033 1093 United States 6 per Cent. Inscribed Stock ... 1 867-1868...107 103 Pennsylvania 5 per Cent ... 73 75 Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds 1877... 78 80 Massachusetts 5 per Cent. (Sterl. Bonds) 1868...101 102 South Carolina 5 per Cent. Bonds (Baring's) 1858-1868... 93 95 Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds)... 93 9 4 Alabama 5 per Cent. (Sterl. Bonds) 1858-9-66... 83 irginia 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) ...1888... 87 89 Virginia 6 per Cent. Bonds 1886... 82 84 Kentucky 6 per Cent. 1865... 88 90 Canada 6 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 1876,..109 110 LOINS OF CITIES. Boston 4i per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) ...100 101 Montreal 6 per Cent 1857-1865... 83 New Orleans 6 per Cent. 80nd5.... 1893... 82 RAILROAD BONDS. Great Western of Illinois 10 per Cont.,. , Ist Mortgage _ 1868... 61 62 Pennsylvania Central R. Rd. 6p. Cent... 1880... 89 90 New York and Erie 7 per Cont. Ist Mort gage lB6B-1869-100 101 New York and Erie 7 per Cent. 3,1 Mort gage 1883... 76 77 New York and Erie 7p. Cent., Convertible 1862... 70 Northern Indiana 7 per Cent. Ist M0rt ........_ ___ gage (Gosehen Branch) 1868... 75 Terre Haute and Alton 7 per Cent. Ist Mortgage 1867... 75 The Stock Market has been a little firmer since the commencement of business, but the transac tions entered into are not of magnitude. The idea that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has an in tention of selling Savings-bank Stock to some .amount, substituting Exchequer Bonds or a new security, whether well or ill founded, naturally has the effect of depressing the Stock Market. The bankers would look upon such a measure as the receipt of deposits and their retention in the Treasury as an interference with their busi ness, and the Stock Exchange dislike the assumption of new powers by Government that will allow in any shape of the sale of securities without a special rote of Parliament. It may perhaps be unfair, however, until the subject is duly considered upon official information furnished, to come to premature conclusions, or even to attempt forming a judgment; but with Mr. Gladstone's known disposition to innovate, and the fact that the Savings Bank de posits exceed 33,000,0001., the distrust that is manifested in some quarters is the more easy to understand. Consols have been 91k to and are now 91i The New Three per Cents. have been marked 91i to and the Reduced 91 to I. Bank Stock is worth 208 k, being steady. Exchequer Bills are 4s. to 75., and India Bonds 9s. to 12s. premium. Foreign Securities have been rather firmer gene rally. Mexican Bonds realise 24. Peruvian 694 to and Chilian 100 i. Turkish Stock has risen from 74k- to 751. Spanish New Deferred Bonds have been 18i to 19. _ The following are the nominal prices of Foreign Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexi can, 21 to 21i ; Peruvian, 68 to 70 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 41 to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 97 to 99 ; ditto 4 per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred, 18i to 19 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 381 to 39i ; ditto Certificates, 5i to 51 ; ditto Passive, 41 to 4g-. 'lke Railway Share Market has been without any particular change, but the dealings are, in some instances, at a slight rise. There is no absolute activity. Iu Foreign Shares there is more doing. Luxembourg are better maintained. The Mining Market is dull. The Joint Stock Banks are much livelier, and at full quotations. The Australian and Canada Laud Shares are at full rates, and Scottish Australian higher. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOJK. (From the Ogicial List.) Bu , iness done Bank Stock 2061 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities.... ......... 914 1 3 per Cent, Corsols Annuities New 3 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuitie3, Expire sth Jan., 1860 4.5-16 Ditto 30 Years, Expiro 10th Oct., 1859 41-16 India Bonds, £1000 Ditto, under £lOOO 9 12 Consols for Account, 10th January Exchequer Bills, lid. £1000 Small 4 7 Exchequer Bonds 1858, 3i per Cent. — Ditto 1859, ~ PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Chili= Bonds, 6 per Cent... ....... Mexican 3 per Cent. Ditto for the Account 214 Peruvian Bonds, 4,i per Cent. 69 i i Spanish Bowls, 3 per Cent — Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent l9 18i Turkish Scrip, paid up in full Ditto for the Account Dividends on the ahovo payable in London. HALF-PAST TWO. 91g Consols_ SAVINGS-BANK FUNDS. The statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Thursday night, on moving a resolution for a change in the present system for dealing with the funds of savings banks, caused the English funds to open yesterday at a decline. There is reason to believe, however, that no ground exists for this adverse movement, and that it origi nated in an erroneous impression that the contemplated measure is intended to give the Government increased power to sell or otherwise deal at pleasure with the savings-bank stock now standing in the names of the commissioners, and which amounts to a total of about 33,000,0001. So far from this being probable, the pur port of the bill in quarters likely to be well informed is understood to be, that about two-thirds, or 22, 000,0001., of the savings-bank stocks now held shall be abso lutely cancelled, and that in place of that amount a Go vernment money debt shall be created, bearing the same rate of interest (3 per cent.), and for which half-yearly warrants shall be issued to the commissioners, in the same manner as dividend warrants have been issued to them heretofore. The process, therefore, will merely be to change the form of the debt from as inscription in the Bank of England books to an inscription in the Treasury books ; and one of the advantages to be gained is, that the liability of the Government to the savings bank de positors will thenceferth assume its true form. At this moment the amount of stock held by the commis sioners on account of the savings banks does not represent the actual liability of the country by nearly 3,000,0001., and an apparent deficiency, w hi c h h as an objectionable look in such matters, has therefore always to be estimated. This deficiency has ori ginated in the fact that the Government hold them selves bound to pay all deposits in full, whatever may be the fluctuations from time to time in the value of the securities in which those deposits have been in vested. They are therefore liable, whenever the funds are low, to sustain all the consequences of the deprecia tion, and, as the deposits always increase when, in con sequence of money being abundant, the funds are high, and as invariably diminish in times of pressure, the Go vernment purchases and sales of stock are necessarily, i n a majority of instances, made at the most unfavourable moment. By avoiding any fresh investments of future receipts, and holding them as they would be held by a banker, the Treasury will prevent all recurrence of the mischief, while by retaining one-third of the deposits in their present form of stock the means will exist, as usual, of meeting by sales any excess of withdrawals over de posits that may meanwhile have to be met.—Times' City Article. SCOTCH LEGAL APPOINTMENTS.-Mr. Craufurd, the present Solicitor-General, will be appointed to the va cant seat upon the bench. There being at present an Earl of Crawford there would be inconvenience in his prefixing " Lord" to his name, and he will therefore take his seat as Lord Ardmillan. Mr. Mackenzie, the Sheriff of Ross, obtains, with the full satisfaction of the profession, the gown of Solieitor-General.—Edin buTql4 WitresBo, - . 20 20 10 10 St. 10 St. 25 20 20 20 1.00 25 St. 20 St. 19 l 14 20 Si 2s St. 20 St. St. 10 GA SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) R'AILWAY'S. loosing Prices 1 yesterday. Business done this day. RAILWAY!. Aberdeen &rag. Nottng. Bost and Ea,stn. Belfast k, Ballymena. Rirming. Wolverli. & Stour Valley ..• ••• •• Birkenhd. Lanesh. Cheshire Junet Do. Chesil. di Dirk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., £20.. Myth & Tyn3origina .£2s (issd. at £45, Bristol and Exeter... Caledonian Carmarthen and Car digau Chester Zs Holyhead Cork and Bandon Cork, Black, &Pams Cornwall Orloff Junction D übli n Belfast June ' , Dundee Perth &Aber, deep Junction Do. New East Eastern Counties Eastern Union, A Stock .......... ,De., B. Stock Do., New A........ East Lancashire Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Pr Lb & Dundec Forth & Clyde June. Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock t. Stb. &West.(lre Great Western Do. Stour Val. Rail Gua. Stk Irish South-Eastern. Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds Lancash. andlrorksh Do., Fifths Da., Wst. Riding Un Liv.Crsby.&Southpt London & Blackwal Lond. Bright kS.Cst . Loud. and N. Wostn. I Do. Fifths Do.lo/.5h.,M&8...i Do. Eighths London andS. Westn Do £5O Do:, £4O Lnducl rry& Coleraine Gndndrry. & Ennisk. Maueli.Slief.& Lineln Do., Man. & Lin. Un Midland Do. Birmng. & Derby liidld. G. West. (Ire, ) Do. Half Shares Newcastle & Carlisle ' Newmkt.BuryExten Nwpt.Aberg. & Hrfd Newry &Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoini and Rostrovor Norfolk Nortlin.Countics Un North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 Do., 2 A Deferred Do., a B Guaranteed N. Eastern—Berwick Do. do. Extension Do.do. G.N.E. Porch. Do. Leeds Do. York North London Do. New £lO Y. &S.Wstrn. ,Hamp stead, and City Jn North Staffordshir North Western N. & S. Westrn. June, Nuneaton, Hinckley and Leicester......., Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central . Scottish Midland Shrewsby. & lierefd Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& paid up at per con South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yrksh. & Riv. Due, Do 'Raines, Wok. &IVol tockton & Darling. Stocktou l'aff Vale .. Do. £lO shares... Do. Prof., No. Thames Haven Doe] , and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenn3 Waterford&Limerick West Cornwall West End of Londonl and Crystal Palace West London 1 Wimbledn & Croydon 20 -20 i 44 - 5 8 - 13 -12 16 - 17 7 - 6 93 - 95 60.1 - 60:1 131 , - 14 9 - 11 .4 - i -7, 14 15 - 11i - llg 28 - :30 19 - 21 70 - 72 53 - 55 5i -: loi 67 - 69 89 - 90 77 - 79 L 23 - 125 90 - 92 70 70 58 - 62 72 - 77 6 - 8• 6 - 8 73 -73 i 5i - 51.1 71 84 1 .06 —lO7 .00 —100 i d— 1 d d 83 84 9 8A 9 8 d 23 - 24 68i 69 41 - 42 id par 10i 94 1 li 24 49 - 51 31 32 8 10 14 66 7 3. 746 66 44 126 —12 t 52 53 52 54 par ip Ad 4 d 6 63 P 31 - 32 60 - 62 8 - Bip 43 - 45 11 - 13 583 - 59 28, -29 i; ••• ••• i i d 35 - 37 3 - 31 1G 17 4 - 4? 2 20- 6 - 7 6 - 7 FOREIGN. Antwerp&Rotterdam Belgian Eastn. June. Beziers to Graissessac Bombay, Baroda, and Central India. Scrip Central of Italy Demerara Dijon and Besancon Dutch Rhenish Eastern of France Do.. New East Indian Do. Extension Do. 4? 2 - p. c. Bds., pay '57, convertible Do. do. do., '59, (lc ' (Id. Junct. of France!, Gd. Tk of CanadaA is. Do. 4 4 3 •• • Do. St. Lawrence & Atlantic do. Do. Cert. of Deben., con. into Stk. till '63 Do. Comp. 6 p. c., do. Gt. Central of France Gt. Indian Peninsula Do. New 5 per cent. Gt. Western of Canal" Shares ... Do. Bds., payable's7, with option till '55 Do. do., '62, p. '56 Do. do., '76, p. '6O Do. do., '73, without option Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cult. Lake Coast. & Basic Lucca & Pistoj a 5 p.c prof Great Luxembourg Constituted Shares Do. Obligations Lyons and Geneva Lyons & Mediterran Madras Do. New l‘faria Antonia Do. do. New Melbourne Dk. do Ry. Namur & Liege (with interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France D 0.201. Shs.lato Char leroi and Erquelines guar. 33 p. c. & red. at 2211. dux. 88 yrs. from 1 Jan. 1854 Do. 201. 3 p. s Bde (fmy. B. & Ams. Shs.) NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen ParisCaen & Cherbrg Rouen and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Meuse Do. 5i p. cent. Pref Southern of France St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) West Flanders Do 54 per c. Pref Western of France West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealand JOINT-STO Australasia .......... .. British Colonial Bauk an d Loan Company British N. Americ an Chart& B a nk of Asia Chrtd. Bnk. of Ind ia, A us t r alia, & China Colonial Commercial of Loud : English Scottish an" Australian Loud. Chart. Bk. of Australia London and County London Joint Stock Lend. & Westminster National Provincial of England Do. New National of Ir e l an d New South Wales Oriental Bank of Corporation ! Provincial of Ireland Do. New Royal Australn.Bkg. & Gold Imp Co South Australia Union of Australia Do. New .... Liza 4 9llol LOndpit..", - 11 - id-hp ... -- p 3/ -- 31 d 30i -31 i 4A -- 5A 1 -- Ljp A -- i 13 - 7i - 6fl 8 - 9 -- 7d 10 81 1: i - 0 161 17} ... ... ld 1p 2 d par 2 d par 2 d pari ... die 3i 3,i 2:j 2i i d 1p ... i . d par 6i - 7 iii = iii 12f -12 i 8A -- 9A -19 -19 i 46 48 38 40 —• 20A pm 2li i P 2i li i d 7t 7i ••• - - pm ••• ••. ••• 3i 4 ••• d 5 sipi i6i -17' 'X BANKS. ld— d 3 - 20 21i - 22 35 - 40 38 - 40 ... 41 - - :ii 67 - 69 tt THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22, 1854. LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. RAlLwillta. Leasing Compares, Cl y o e s s iu te g ra P a r y io :' Bedford and Bletchley Buckgbalusli. Clydesdale ;lc . E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. Glas. Barr. Sr, Neils. Direct Do. New...... Olstr.d; Dn. Fr iirtlpl. Dk. & Railway hull & Selby Do. Shares. Do. 4 Shares. Lon.&Greents !Do. Preforme d Lon.,Til.,&S. Lowestoft gr. 1 4 per cent. Do. 6 per ct. Ilanch. BAIL and Matlocli Nfiddlesbro' & Redcar Northern and Eastcrnsp.c. Do. per et. Do. Fixeds p & Wyre Do. a Shares. lloystn.&llit. Shef. Roth .anei Gooleg. 5 p.c. S. Staflordsh. Wear Valleygr 6 per cent Do Wilts&gomrst London & N. Wcfst. L.SLN.W. Caledon... Clt.Nrthn. Caldonian. Do Gt. Westn Yk. New. St Berm. Y.&NMd Do Do IS Easter', Do . Peto & Co. [Norfolk.. L.& N.W. & Midld. Slat° n Darliugt. Aidlaud..' E. Count IDo r 4. &N.W &LuSLYII Do at North'. Lancash Yorksh. q.Melcan l itockt. Darlingt. IC4tWestn PREFERENCE SHARES. 97 - 100 94 - 96 5t - 61 i -- it 4- 4 P 12i -- 134 60 - 65 114 - 116 107 - 109 99 - 101 6-6 91 96 89 91 91 93 9 104 16 17 10 101 71 73 181 191 94 9i 131 141 14 id 133 135 ••• '. He 2i - 3 p 11 4 . :-_- iii 133 135 ld - 90 104 - 106 100 - 102 90 - 92 3 - H .. -- ••• 1 id 112 - 114 11 13 id par 22i —22 i 95 100 15 —lB is -- ii, 95 - 100 98 - 100 130 - 135 i:63 -- 105 13 -13 i 23 - 24 11 - 11 . 2 - 2i 91 -- G 3 57 - 59 iao .1 - : li - - 36 - 31 92 - 94 94 i Business this day. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. Fresh up, to-day, the arrivals of English wheat were very moderate, and the chow of samples of both red and white was small. ' As the attendance of both town and country millers was limited, the demand was in a sluggish state, at Monday's currency. The show of foreign wheat was small ; nevertheless, sales progressed slowly, at late rates. In floating cargoes, very little was doing. We had less inquiry for barley and malt, at barely sta tionary prices. . . The oat trade was firm, and, in some instances, the quotations had an upward tendency. Beans and peas were very dull. Flour was unaltered in value. ARRIVALS THIS WEER. Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oath. I flour. 2,329 2,050 2,2:0 930 1 810 2,070 2 — ,67 ) — ; 470 I 7,48) 1 120 sks 1760 brla English .. Irish •• • • Foreign .. SMITHFIELD. Although the supply of beasts on sale to-day was very moderate, the demand for all breeds ruled inactive. In prices, however, scarcely any change took place. We were very scantily supplied with sheep, which moved off slowly, at barely late rates. Calves—the number of which was limited--were dull, at Monday's currency. Pigs corn mantled very little attention, on lower terms. Mulch cows were heavy, at from 14/. to 191. each, includ , ing their small calf. Per Sibs to sink the offals. s. d. s. d.' Inferior Beasts.... 3 6to 3 S Second quality.... 3 10 4 6 Prime large oxen 4 8 410 Prime Scots, <Sze. 5 0 5 2 1 Inferior Sheep ...3 8 310 Second quality ...4 0 4 4 Prime crse.-w110d.4 6 410 TOTAL sumr. s. d. a d. Prime Southdown 5 0 5 2 Largo crse. calves 4 2 5 0 Prime small d 0... 5 2 5 8 Largo hogs 3 2 4 0 small porkers 4 2 4 6 Suckliugcalves ..22 0 29 0 Quarter old pigs 20 0 27 0 Beasts ..•• •• ............ 1,064 Sheet , ••• •• ..... • •• • • •... 3,500 Cal, A••••••••• • • • • • • • • • 290 Pigs •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 400 FOREIGN SUPPLY. 8ea5t5......... ........ . 315 Sheep ....... 550 Calves.••• •. • • ..•• 212 .. •• •• NEWGATE AND The supplies were large, a acted, as follows : LEADENHALL. .nd a good business was trans- Per Blbs by e. d. s. d. Beef, inferior 3 2 3 4 Do., middling 3 6 3 8 Do., prime largo 3 10 4 2 Do., do. small 4 4 4 8 Pork, large 3 0 3 8 the carcase. s. d. 0. d. Mutton, Inferior 3 4 3 8 Do., middling 310 4 4 Do., prime 4 6 4 8 Veal 3 3 5 0 Pork, small 3 10 4 6 ]3OROUGH HOP. Fine hops continue to command full prices ; but all other kinds aro very dull. The imports of foreign hops, this week, are 122 bales from Antwerp, 697 from Ostend, 23 from Hambro', 23 from Calais, 177 from Rotterdam, 320 from New York, 6 from Dunkirk, and 25 from Bre men. New Mid and East Kent pockets, 15/15s to 221 Os ; Weald of Kent ditto, 151 Os to 161 lOs ; Sussex ditto, 141 10s to 15110 s per cwt. COLONIAL. SUGAR.—There has been a steady demand for West India, especially for the grocery and refining sorts. Bar badoes, at auction, sold at 368 6d to. 37s for mid to good yellow, at g7s for fine, and at 30s 6d to 37s for low. De merara found buyers at 34s to 47s Gd for crystalised low to good, aid at 328 to 33s Gd for brown. Mauritius was taken in at 32s to 33s per cwt. for low to mid yellow. In Madras not much has been done, and Bengal, at auction, went heavily at 38s to 38s 6d for mid, white Benares at 37s 6d for damp, and at 31s Gd to 34s for ord to good like Mauritius. Privately, there has been some inquiry for Brazil. Yellow Havannah brought steady prices, viz., mid to fine bright yellow 33s 6il to 362, grey and low yel low 32s to 34s 6d, good and fine brown 31s to 325, washed, 30s to 375, and damaged 303 6d to 43s 6d, but florettes were taken at 37s to 395. Bahia was held at high values, low to mid soft white being taken in at 33s Gd to 345, damp at 32s to 345, and low foxy to good brown at 28s 6d to 30s 6cl per cwt. Refined brown lumps ruled at 42s Gd to 435, and grocery at 43s to 49s per cwt. COFFEE—The market generally has been dull. Planta tion Ceylon, at public sale, realised 568 to 57s for low mid to mid, 53s to 55s for fine to f fine ord, 51s to 57s 6d for f fine ord, and small to mid colory bold 45s for good ord brownish, 41s to 50s Gd for triage, and 59s to 643 6d for peaberry. Native Ceylon has been heavy at 45s to 46s for good and fine ord. Rio has been taken at 42s to 44s per cwt. Bahia went at 40s 6d to 43s for ord to good ord. lticE.--The market has been dull in the absence of public sales. White Bengal has been at 15s 3d to 16s 6d, and good pinking Madras was at 14s to 14s 6d per cwt. SPlCES.—Pimento realised 5d to Sid for mid and good, and 5d for good ord per lb. Malabar pepper sold at pre vious values. African ginger brought 23s for mid rough coated. Zanzibar cloves sold at sid to 50 for ord dark to good, and 3id to sid for damaged. TEA.—Not much has been done ; common to good sound congou has been sold at 9id to 10d per lb. SALTPETRE.—The better kinds have met with a readier sale at firm rates. Bengal low, 9l lbs, brought 24s • mid, 74 lbs, 26s • and good, 5 lbs, 29s per cwt. Calcu tta, low to fine quality, 23s 6d to 29s per cwt; and Bombay, fq to 9i lbs, 20s Gd to 23d Gd per cwt. COCHINEAL—There has been an advance of ld per lb. Honduras blacks, mid and good selling at 4s to 4s 6d, sil vers ord to geed bold pea green at 3s 2d to 3s, and Teneriffe silvers at 3s 5d to 3s 7d per lb, TALLow—This article is a little firmer, being 63s 6d to 63s 9d per cwt. on the spot. GREEN FRUIT—A brisk trade is doing, owing to the Christmas holidays. Two cargoes oranges at St. Michael, sold by Keeling and Hunt at public sale, sustained the ad vance of late. Lemons scarce, parcels have been purchased at Liverpool for the London market. A fleet of fruit ships are due, the bad weather off the coast of Spain and Portu gal, as well as in the Channel, has checked arrivals, the want of which is felt at this season of the year. LLOYD'S SHIPPI:IVG-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, Dec. 22.—Wind this day at Noon, W.S.W. ; fresh breeze, with dull, hazy weather. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 21.—Wind, W. Arrived—H.M.S. Arrogant, from the Baltic ' • H.M.S. Euryalns, do. ; Merge, London, for Sydney, N.S.W. with loss of bowsprit and mizentopsail yard ; Northumberland, London, for New York; Northutebetlaud, d 0 .., for Melbourne, and left for Southampton ; Roso (s), Limerick. Sailed —Royal Victoria (s s), for the Crimea. DARTMOUTH, Dec. 21.—Wind, W. Arrived—Martha Jane, from Shields, for the Cape of Good Hope. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 21.—Wind, W.N.W. Arrived — Maria Christina (Spanish steamer), from London, for San tander; John Oldham, Honduras; Penelope, London, for Geelong ; George Marshall, do., for Port Philip. FALMOUTH, Dec. 21.—Wind, W. Arrived—Blarney (s), from Rotterdam, and left for Liverpool. SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 21.—Wind, W.S.W. Arrived— Saladin, from London ; Sylph (s), do. ; Shamrock (8), do., and both left for Dublin. DOVDR, Dec. 21.—Wind, W.N.W. Arrived—Gross herzogin Alexandrine, from Newcastle , for Constantinople, with damage. Off Port—Anna Mary, from Sydney, N.S.W. ; Tellers, Shields, for Marseilles ; Venice, Cha rente; Wilhelmine, Bremen, for Baltimore. YARMOUTH, Dec. 21.—Wind, W.N.W. Arrived— Telegraph (s 8), from Antwerp, for Hull, with loss of an an ancho r and 40 fathoms of chain, hause-pipes broken, and short of coals. HARWICH, Dec. 21.—Wind, W. Arrived—Regina, from Newcastle, for Constantinople, very leaky ; H.M.S. Horatio, from Sheerness. sailed—Several of the outward bound. SWANSEA, Dec. 21. —Wind, W. Arrived—Ocean, from Dantzic. Sailed—Clara, for Sydney, N.S.W. BRISTOL, Dec. 21.—Wind, W. Arrived—Maria, from Demerara; Ann, St. Vincent. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Friday, 10.57 A.M. Wind, W. ; fresh. NeOwff Port —J ames H un t , f rom A n ti gua ; E. G. S cran t on, York. The Louisa, from Africa, for Liverpool, is on shore near Llanelly, 21st' inst. ; crew saved. QUEENSTOWN, Dec. 20. -W e had a heavy gale all last night from N.N.W. (BY BIIBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) Wind W GRAVESEND, Friday, 9.55 A.M. strong. , W. ; tide, low water; weather cloudy, blowing Arrived, 21st—Lord J. Russell (s), from Harlingen ; City of London (s), Dunkirk. DEAL, Friday, 9.37 a.m. Wind, W. by N. ; hazy. An chored—Doras, brig, from the north, for westward ; King Alfred, from London, for St. Michael's. Passed —Anna M a ry, from Sydney, for London; Aero lite, from Shanghai, for London. THE FRENCH LOAN.—The mercantile letters from Paris state the expected loan to be still the principal subject of attention, although some persons are disposed to think it may possibly be delayed till March. ARRIVAL or GOLD.—The Raphael has arrived from Sydney with 1,073 ounces of gold and 18,000 sovereigns, making a total of 22,2001. RACING FIXTI MA: 'RES FOR 1855. Coventry Salisbury Doncaster 13 Warwick Sp r i ng 2O Epsom Spring 22 Northampton 27 Croston Pa r k 29 IL. Malton l9 Newmarket F S 23 .Y. Bath Epsom 22 * Manchester 30 Stockbrid e 'L lWinchester 22 1 Newcastle 26 .LY. Thirak ..15 AP: Newmarket C 9 Catterick B r idge 11 York Sp r i ng 17 M. Chester Spring 1 Newmarket S S 8 * Shrewsbury 10 Ascot . 5 Hampton l3 Bibury 2O JU. Newmarket Carlisle Worcester 5 I Nottingham l9 *Lancaster , 5 1 Goodwood 31 AUGUST. North Staffordshire 7 I *Lewes l6 Brighton Brighton Club 10 *Egham 28 *Wolverhampton 13 *Derby 2B *Reading l4 SEPTE Warwick . Doncaster . *Leicester . MBER. Newmark e t F 0 2i •Nerthedlerton 27 OCTOBER. *Chester 2 *Warwick A u t umn 16 I *Wrexham 4 *Richmond l7 Bedford 4 I Newmark e t H 22 Newmarket S 0 NOVEMBER, *Liverpool 6 I * Shrewsbury „ 13 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. Lord DENMAN took the oaths and his seat. Lord MONTEAGLE gave notice that to-morrow h e would move for certain returns relating to Exchequer bonds. Lord WYNFORD put a question to her Majesty's Government respecting the occupation of the barracks at Dorchester by convicts, to the prejudice of the militia there assembled for training. The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that the cause that led to the occupation of the barracks at Dorchester, was the fact that the cholera raged with great violence at Millbank; it was therefore thought necessary to order the eunvicts to Dorchester. He was happy to say that the cause that had led to the occupation had ceased, and orders had been given for the removal of the convicts. That removal had taken place, with the exception of eight or ten, who were kept there for the purpose of cleaning up the barracks. THE BLOCKADE OF RUSSIAN PORTS. _ _ The Marquis of SALISBURY put a question to the Government, not on the notice paper, respecting the blockade of the Russian ports in the White Sea, the Baltic, and the Black Sea, and made a statement relative thereto, but neither the noble marquis's question nor statement was heard in the gallery. The Duke of NEWCASTLE appealed to their lord ships whether the course adopted by the noble marquis was either in accordance with the practice of that house or the convenience of the public administration. There was a certain class of questions connected with the public administration of this country on which her Ma jesty's Mii iiters should be prepared to give answers, and it was the practice of noble lords to give notice in writing or otherwise of the questions which they intended to put ; and no Minister of the Crown had a right to complain of having any such questions put to him, un less this customary courtesy was departed from. (Hear.) But the noble marquis had made a statement respecting the effects of the blockade which had been established in the White Sea and the Baltic, and respecting what he represented as the ineffectual blockade of the Black Sea—subjects which were of a most delicate nature, and which not only were intimately connected with affairs of this country, but touched another country with which we were in co-operation and alliance. A noble marquis not then present—the Marquis of Clanricarde—had more than once during the last session referred to the blockade of the Russian ports, especially those in the White Sea, but it was after giving due notice ; and he on those oc casions admitted, when it was stated that negotiations were going on with France at the time, that it was not a fitting topic to be then discussed in their lordship? house. (Hear.) If he (the Duke of Newcastle) could not answer the question just put to him, he admitted that it was on that principle, and he, therefore, felt bound to decline thus answering in that house a question in which the Government of France was interested as well as her Majesty's Government. (Hear.) He should not be called on to give answers there on such subjects without having the opportunity of referring to the Go vernment of France or to his colleagues. He, however, demurred to the statement mad e by th e noble marquis respecting the effects of the blockade in the Black Sea and the Baltic. (Hear, hear.) Should the noble mar quis think proper to bring the question before the house in proper form, either he (the Duke of N ewcas tl e ) or some of his colleagues would be prepared to reply to him ; but this was much too serious a question, with respect to our trade and the alliance of France, to be entered upon in that way. With respect to the Black Sea, he must decline to answer the question put by the noble marquis. The Earl of ELLENBOROITGH believed that by the strict rule of the house the question put was irregular. These questions were only acquiesced in, or tolerated by the house, with the view of preventing unnecessary motions. When a question was put to the Government unexpectedly, it was the custom to desire the noble lord who put it to give notice, and then an answer would be given. The Earl of DERBY, although he concurred with his noble friend with respect to the custom of the house, did not think his noble friend behind him (the Marquis of Salisbury) was open to the charge of having made any elaborate statement, for he had only occupied the atten tion of the house for a few minutes. He was surprised to hear the noble duke say that the question of the block ade of the Russian ports was unconnected with his de partment. He thought the noble duke presided over the War Department, and he thought the blockade was an operation connected with the war ; there. fore, if there was one Minister who should be pre pared without notice to state whether or not her Ma jesty's Government had practically or not enforced the blockade, that one was the Minister of War. He was not surprised that the noble duke was not pre pared to answer all the questions and statements of the noble marquis ; but these were questions that re quired explanations. The noble duke might say that this was a most delicate subject, and he might refuse pro spective information ; but the question put to him was not a prospective question. It had been announced over and over again that orders had been sent out to enforce the blockade of the White Sea, of the Baltic, and of the Black Sea. Answers to that effect had been given by the First Lord of the Admiralty and others ; and the First Lord of the Admiralty had repeatedly announced to Parliament that the most stringent orders had been sent out to enforce the strictest blockade in the Russian ports, not only in the Baltic but in the White Sea. When it was considered that this was a measure for carrying on , the war, they were justified in asking the question, whe ther or not the Government bad taken the proper course to give practical effect to it. It did not appear to him to be a very unreasonable course, or one that exposed his noble friend to censure, to ask for information on a sub ject which materially affected not only the war, but our commercial interests. It had been stated on many occa sions that orders had been issued for a strictenforcement of the blockade in theßaltic. But in the Baltic, although we might enforce the blockade, we could not atop trade, for it might be carried on by neutral powers. Yet this was first attempted. The trade in the Archangel ports was not interrupted till August, and the trade in the Black Sea ports at Odessa and elsewhere was practically as uninterrupted as if we had no war. Every blockade was injurious to our own and to other nations as well as to the enemy—so was every battle. In every warlike ope ration, as well as in every operation of trade, we should consider the injury done not only to our enemy but our selves. But the Government determined that they would institute a blockade, and that they would stop the trade. EarIGRANVILLE rose to order. Heprotestedagainst the course pursued by the noble earl. His noble friend (the Duke of Newcastle) had objected to a question put to him, not because he was unwilling to answer it, but because it was a question of such a delicate nature that a Minister should not reply toit offhand and without notice. It was a very important question ; but if due notice of it was given, there would be no objection on the part of the Government to its being put. Such being the answer given by the noble duke (the Duko of Newcastle), the noble earl rose, and there being no subject of dis cussion regularly before their lordships, proceeded to make statements. That course was clearly out of order. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of DERBY—I bow to the objection on the ground of irregularity, and as there is no question before your lordships, I will postpone my observations till the discussion comes on this evening, when we shall have to consider the measures we have taken to carry on the war. THE MILITIA BILL. The Duke of NEWCASTLE, on rising to move the second reading of the Militia Bill, and that the standing orders be suspended, in order to allow of its being passed through committee, said—Though in the course of the discussion on the bill now in the House of Commons (the Foreign Enlistment Bill), the bill of which I now move the second reading has been not only repeatedly referred to, but discussed at some length, your lordships will naturally expect some observations from me in ex planation of its objects. During our present short sit ting both sides of the house have concurred in the neces sity for establishing a reserve for the forces serving under Lord Raglan, in some place or places nearer than the shores of this country, and so distant from the seat of war. I apprehend that it is not only desirable that we should have in reserve men such as we are about to establish at Malta, that is, the additional four companies to each of the regiments on active service, but that a further reserve should be created in the shape of entire battalions not now employed. Your lordships are aware that though the army of this country consists of a hun dred regiments, a great proportion of them are employed in the colonies and in the Indian service ; and although those which were serving in the colonies have been ; reduced, as well as those in India, a great pro portion of the army reserves remain at their former amount. Under these circumstances, the Government think it of great importance that they should be enabled to send forward to the seat of war those regiments which at present constitute the important garrison of Malta, the lonian Islands, and Gibraltar. It is for this purpose the present bill has been introduced. It has been carefully worded, and that is its object. The accommodation in the barracks and other buildings in Malta will be em ployed for the reserve of the depots of regiments serv ing in the Crimea ; therefore, so far as Malta is con cerned, beyond a single regiment no service there will be required. In Gibraltar and the lonian islands the case is different, and without this bill it would be impossible, with respect to the public safety and the service, to reduce these garrisons. The garrison of Malta has been set down at five regiments ; the same proportion is given for the lonian Islands ; and the same for Gibraltar. At present Malta has not that number, for we have, with respect to Malta, somewhat antici pated the decision of Parliament. Though this bill seemed to be misunderstood when you discussed the Foreign Enlistment Bill, your lordships must discard the idea that it is at all compulsory. It was stated as an objection, that if the bill passed it would be difficult to obtain under it volunteers for the service. I can assure the house that the greatest readiness has been shown by militia regiments in coming forward for the service re quired. (Cheers.) Voluntary offers have been made so general that there has been hardly an exception.— in fact I know not of any exception. The voluntary offers for foreign service have been more numerous than can be required. (Hear.) When I say foreign service, I do not mean service for the colonies, for which this bill is sought, but service for the Crimea. We have not thought it desirable to ask for power to accept these foreign services. The bill was not drawn with that in tention, and it will not bear that construction. If the Government would attempt to employ it for such a pur pose, my noble friend would be the first who would say we are straining an Act of Parliament. This bill is in its character entirely voluntary. It not only requires the colonel of the regiment to propose that the body he commands be sent out, but it requires the consent of every man in the regiment. (Hear.) But the principle goes further ; for it is not only proposed that the consent should be voluntary, but the particular place must be specified, so that if a militiaman volunteers for Malta, we shall not have the power to send him to the lonian Islands or to Gibraltar. The noble earl has said that we have power by the bill to send out the whole of the militia without leaving depots at home for keeping up the service. There is no doubt that, as at first introduced, the bill might have been open to that construction, but as it at present stood, as amended by the Commons, not more than three-fourths of any regiment of militia could b© accepted for foreign service, one-fourth being re quired to remain as a depot. Another improvement which has been introduced is, that a limit of five years is placed upon the volunteering, that being the limit for which the militia regiments were originally enlisted. Observations have also been made as to the non-neces sity for such a measure as this at the commencement of the war, but I repeat what I have already stated more than once, that it is at the beginning and not at the close of the war that these additional powers and exertions are required. It is not fair, as has been done by the noble earl on a former occasion, to compare our condi tion at the present moment with that of 1808. The com • parison ought in justice to be carried back to 1803. (Hear.) The object of this bill is to enable the Govern ment to have au additional reserve in addition to that of the new battalions to bs added to each regiment. The noble earl (Earl Grey) requested on a previous even ing that I would, on moving the second reading of the bill, afford some information as to how far the powers given by Parliament last year for increasing the strength of the army had been complied with. I will endeavour to afford the noble earl this information. Under the provi sions of the Militia Act, the payment made upon the en rolment of each man in the militia was an enrolment fee of 10s., and a sum of Bs. 6d. for other expenses. Under this act a man who had been enlisted for five years could be discharged either with a view of entering the army, er for any purpose of his own, upon the repayment of the sum of 18s. 6d., and finding an efficient substitute in the militia regiment, from which he sought to be dis charged. The first step taken -by the Government to encourage the recruiting from the militia into the army was upon the 3d of March, by the repayment of the en rolment fee being remitted in cases where the man sought to be discharged for the purpose of entering into the army. A further step was taken on the sth of April, shortly after the declaration of war, when the payment of the whole sum was remitted if the man seeking to be discharged enlisted in the army before the time for the annual training of tne regiment to which he be longed, and at the same time a further sum of lls, was to be given to the man to compensate him for any pecu niary loss to which he might have been exposed by such a step. In May another regulation was made which removed the whole of the-restrictions with respect to the removal of the soldier from the militia to the line. In the course of the months of June and July 18 regi ments of militia were embodied, and those relaxations were attended with an increase in the number of recruits; but later in the year the amount of recruiting fell off to a great extent. In the month of November a cir cular was issued to each of these 18 regiments, calling upon them to contribute towards the regular regiments of the army 25 per cent. on their number, and with a view to encourage this enlistment an additional bounty was offered to every recruit, and an ensigncy in the army was offered to every officer who could bring with them 75 men. Since the 25th of November 45 addi tional regiments had been embodied, 36 in England and nine in Ireland. Those nine Irish regiments being em bodied before they are enrolled, it will be impossible to look for any immediate recruiting from them. From the English regiments, which will be completely embo died in the course of a fortnight, we expect to derive the same advantage of 25 per cent. as has already been derived from the regiments previously embodied. The whole numbers obtained from the militia up to the time of issuing the circular calling for 25 per cent. of recruits does not exceed 7,000 men ; with the view of raising the strength of the militia regiments weakened by the withdrawal of 25 per cent. of the men, encourage ments have been offered in the shape of a new distribu tion of the bounty, making the whole sum payable at once instead of being spread over a period of five years. With respect to recruiting for the regular army from other sources than the militia, it has been urged that nothing more was necessary than to lower the standard and increase the bounty. If that be really all that is required, I have much pleasure in informing your lord ships that that step has been taken some weeks since-- The Earl of DERBY—The circular was only dated on the 19th of this month. The Duke of NEWCASTLE—The step was taken some four or five weeks since, and long before any sug gestion of the kind was offered by noble lords opposite. The reduction in the standard was made from 5 feet 6 inches t• 5 feet 41 inches, and it has been in operation for something like four or five weeks. The noble lord the Commander-in-Chief did not think that the reduction of 11 inches was made that it would be inexpedient is reduce it to the standard which existed during the Penin sular war, but was anxious first to see the effect of the reduction to 5 feet 41 inches. Since that time, and with the approval of her Majesty's Government, a reduction of another half inch has been made, and this without any reference to anything which has been suggested in this house. (Cheers.) The Commander-in-Chief has expressed his opinion that unless some very extraordi nary demand should arise, he could not, for sound mili tary reasons, recommend a further reduction of the standard than that of 5 feet 4 inches—the standard which is at present adopted. The bounty also was in creased at the same time that a reduction of the stan dard was made, and an increased scale of allowance was published for the cavalry, infantry, and artillery. A third course has also been adopted which bas not been suggested by noble lords, and that is of extending the age at which recruits should be received from 25 to 30 years ; and a further extension was made by which sol diers who had obtained their discharge by purchase might re-enter the service up to 35 years, 30 years having been the former limit. Earl GREY—What has been the effect of each change in bringing up the amount to the numbers voted last year ! The Deice of NEWCASTLE—It is not easy to indi cate the exact effect of these changes. I believe the most material cause of the increased recruiting has been the embodiment of the militia, and calling upon each re giment for 25 per cent. of its strength to volunteer. The reduction in the standard applies equally to the militia as to the general population. What the effect of the in creased bounty may be I am not able to state. .The army is not yet brought up to its full strength fixed by the votes of last year. There were two separate increases made last year to the army amounting together to 40,000 men; but although the enlistment has been in the course of the present year larger than in any former year, we have not yet made the full addition of the 40,000 men.llt must be borne in mind that, in addition to these 40,000 men, it is necessary to replace, not merely the ordinary casualties, amounting to 12,000 in the year, but also those casualties consequent upon the war; so that, in reality, the recruiting which would have been absolutely necessary to complete the establishment would have been something like 60,000 men. I am sorry to say we have not yet reachel that point. All I can say is, that at the present time 25 per cent, of the militia will not be sufficient for the purposes of the army and I sincerely hope that, not merely noble lords in the house, but the public at large, will, so far from throwing any impediments in the way of recruiting among the population, give every possible encouragement in their power. (Cheers.) I have no hesitation in saying that no measures which the Government have proposed that fol• foreign enlistment or that of which I now move for the second reading, will form anything like a substi tute for the enlistment from the general population. Whatever must be done, whether by the militia or else where, we must look fir large recruiting to the gene ral population of the country. Without that the army cannot be maintained at such an amount as will enable us to cope with the gigantic power with which we are engaged. As one mode of increasing the disposable forces at the service of the Government, I hope your lordships will give your assent to the approval of the measure, which, I cannot help thinking, is as right in principle as it will be effectual to the extent it goes for the purpose for which it is designed. (Cheers.) The Earl of DERBY said that it was with deep con cern he heard the announcement of the noble duke, that, notwithstanding all the efforts which had been made in the course of the present year, it had not been found possible to meet the wishes and views and second the endeavours of Parliament by raising the regular forces of the country up to the amount sanctioned at the last meeting of Parliament— that is to say, that the addition, plus casualties, of 40,000 men has not b een made. He wi s hed that he could concur as fully in the principle and in the mode by which the Govern ment proposed, by the aid of this bill, to carry out the plan, as he did in the objects which the bill proposed to effect. Bet he believed that, so far from promoting, this bill would rather tend to impede the object which all had in view, and, at the same time, be accompanied by other inconveniences, not the least of which wou ld be an enti re c h ange in ie character of the military ser vice. The militia force of this country was one intended strictly for the maintenance of the domestic tranquillity and the preservation of the country from the danger of foreign invasion, and this to such an extent as to enable the Government to dispense with the presence of almost the whole of the small standing army when occasion required its services elsewhere. The standing army of this country had always been an exceedingly small one, and had always been looked upon with a considerable amount of jealousy both by the Parliament and the people. This jealousy had, in his opinion, been pushed to too great an extent by a principle of false economy, and the result had been to a great extent the difficulty in which the country now found itself placed wit h res p ect to raising sufficient forces for the army. (Cheers.) The standing army had in fact been reduced to such an amount as made ii;not more than sufficient for attend ance on the Crown, in the case of the Guards , and with respect to the line regiments, merely sufficient to provide reinforcements or reliefs from time to time for th elarger rad portion of the army, which was exposed to service abroad to a much greater extent than any a rm y nthe world. Ta and h The o o te e c ta service i usesne alone. ofthe (Cheers.) he militia e r a . ) were The militiafo r h omwe was an service,upon the could d e alone readiness rely es sentially voluntary to ryfovroclen,ntaanadr that of the population for keeping up that militia force , and to maintai n that a w t aa th u e readiness on the part of the population it was essentially necessary that there should be a strict adherence to the terms and conditions upon which each regiment was raised. He was desirous of looking at the question in volved in the bill in two forms; first as to the manner in which it would contribute to supply reinforcements for the regular army, and next as to the consequence which it might have upon the future enlistment of the "militia. The noble duke was incorrect when he stated that this bill would not enable her Majesty to employ any regiment of militia in any foreign country other than in the Mediterranean. The variation in this bill from the , aot of 1612 was very considerable, J3y the previous 1 act the Crown was restricted to the employment of the ' forces in Europe. The present bill proposed, however, no stint or restriction whatever, even to the quarter of the world to which these regiments might be sent, and the consent required from the militia was precisely the same for the Crimea as for any other place. In 1814 his Majesty was empowered to employ the militia force in any part of Europe, as he might think fit ; the words of this bill, however, were, "any p ar t or pl ace out of the United Kingdom." Whatever might be the intentions of the Government, the words of the bill would give power to send the militia, with their con sent, to the Crimea, just as well as to Gibraltar, Malta, or the lonian Islands. Nor did the proposed bill offer a desirable mode of reinforcing the army in the Crimea in the most efficient manner. The noble duke himself would not deny that the great error which had been made in the course of carrying on the war had been that the Government had not provided an efficient reserve. They had sent thirty, forty, or fifty thousand men to the Crimea, but they had no reserve at hand to support them, At the present moment the garrison of Malta was reduced very much below its ordinary strength, and the same ho believed was the case in the lonian Islands. On a previous occasion he bad ventured to express his approval of the suggestion which had been made—and which he believed originated is that old-fa shioned quarter, the Horse Guards —(a laugh)—rather than with the new Secretary of State—for forming addi tional battalions to the regiments serving in the Crimea, one-half of which was employed as an advance guard and reserve in the Mediterranean, and the other half to be detained in England as a depot and for the nu cleus for obtaining reinforcements for the army. By this arrangement the battalions at home would supply and prepar e the raw recruits, and send them forward, first, to the garrisons of the Mediterranean, whence they would advance, as required, to the scene of action, where they would be valuable as trained soldiers. Now, if the object of the Government were to have in these garrisons as larg e and as available resources of militia, to fill up the barracks with regiments not to be sent forward to the scene of war, but regiments only available for those particular garrisons to which they were to be sent, it appeared to him that the proposal was one which defeated the very object the Government had in view. The object of the Government, so far as he could understand it, was not only to garrison the islands of the Mediterranean, but to have in each of those ports the largest available force to assist in the Crimea when their services were required. By this bill they would displace a certain number of troops which would be in those garrisons, and they filled those garrisons with troops which could not, according to the intentions of the Government by this bill, be sent to the Crim ea . In his opinion it would have been infinitely better to have a small military force constantly in those ga rr i.. sons—he cared notlinw small—and to use every exer tion and inducement to encourage the militia, not to embark as a body for foreign countries, but to! enter as recruits into the regular army, and thus keep up a supply of half-trained men, ready to recruit the ranks of the army. He was not disposed to quarrel with the , noble duke, nor to discuss with him at what time it was determined by the Government to increase the bounty or to lower the standard, and still less was he disposed to claim any credit on the part of those opposed to the Government for having induced them to adopt those measures. They were steps with the propriety and ne. cessity of which he fully and entirely concurred. But the effect of the present bill would be to a great extent to neutralise all the beneficial results which might have been expected from the adoption of such a course. It had been said that this was a volunteer plan, although it certainly did not appear to be very like a volunteer plan, wh en each regiment, as they bad been informed, had been called upon and required by the Government to send 25 per cent, of its forces as recruits to the army; and it was only since that requisition had been made that there had been any large amount of recruits for the array from the militia. Perhaps the noble duke would not refuse to answer this question—although he did not appear die. posed to afford much information in that manner— whether in the case of the militia regiments to be sent into the Mediterranean garrisons any encouragement was or was not to be given to those regiments furnish ing recruits for the line f There appeared to him to be this double difficulty in connection with the proposed bill. If those regiments were sent out and no permis sion given to the men to volunteer into the line, the Go• vernment would be keeping a large force in the Mediter ranean garrisons for a warlike purpose for which it was utterly useless. Supposing, on the other hand, that there was an intention to give encouragement to the men of those regiments to volunteer into the line, then the Government would run the risk of sending out those regiments of militia to be most materially weakened, and, consequently, of leaving those gar risons unduly weakened, in consequence of the encouragement to volunteer which was so afforded. These were the alternatives between which he thought the Government were thrown by the introduction of this bill and sending the militia into the Mediterranean. The noble duke had said, if those regiments were first formed for foreign service, then they could afterwards accept volunteers for them, He (the Earl of Derby) had no doubt whatever that men who had had a little training, and had formed a taste for military practice, would be found perfectly ready to volunteer into the line from those regiments, and by that means they would obtain more efficient service. But what be was looking at was not the immediate pressure, nor the existing willingness of the militia to volunteer, but how far, if the Govern ment passed this measure, they could obtain the credit of any military part of the population ? When the Ge vernment first enlisted those regiments of militia, there ,were certain conditions under which they were to be embodied. These were, in the event of foreign invasion and war, and the Government had felt it necessary to ask the special assent of every regiment, and every man in each regiment, previous to his being sent out of the country ; and nothing could have been more proper than the course thus taken. (Cheers.) He had no doubt they would find many of those regiments quite as ready to go to the Crimea as to any of the gar risons abroad. But that was not the question. The question was, what were we to do with the agricultural population, if it once became known that, in joining the militia, they were entering a service under the name of the militia, but which might turn out to be something like the regular service of the army ? Do not tell him that it was voluntary with respect to indi viduals. It was, practically speaking, not voluntary. (Hear.) Depend upon it there would be, in the pre sent circumstances of the country, no great reluctance on the part of many a man now in the militia to plead his own private circumstances and inconvenience for the purpose of escaping from that which would be put before him as a duty, though it was a duty which he never undertook. Well, he might go ; the man now in the militia might go ; but they would find country gentlemen, and persons employed in trade, hesitating very much to enter the militia in future, if they were to have that moral screw placed upon them in the shape of an invitation to volunteer into the regular service. His noble friend behind him suggested to him what Was to become of a man with a family and with small means, who had insured his life, and who had entered into the militia, not conceiving that it would be any very sanguinary bns iness. His life might be risked by going to an unhealthy climate, and to call upon a man so circumstanced to enter into an arrangement which he never contemplated, he thought was push ing the voluntary principle to the very extreme. (Hear, hear.) A very considerable alteration had been made in this bill by an amendment introduced into it at the instance of a right honourable friend of his in another place, whereby a limitation was put as to the of ! any militia regiment to be allowed to go abroad. lie (the Earl of Derby) thought it was a matter of importance to keep up that which ought n ever proportion great r e a to be broken—the connection of the militia regiments with the country, and even with the county. Send out the whole of a militia regiment —say the Royal Bucks or the Royal Staffordshire—and they at once broke up the connection of the militia with the whole country. Depend upon it, with regard to the militia force, considering its peculiar character, constitution, and duties, it ,was of primary importance that you should connect them not only with the country, but also with the county, and with all denominations of men within that county, from the highest to the lowest in rank. (Hear.) Leave no root in the county, no nucleus, no means of reinforcing the militia, and they broke up its connection altogether with the county, and entirely altered the whole character of the force. (Hear, hear.) This bill professed to be founded on the 54th Gee. 111., c. 1, in which there was an especial io prov a i c i been inserted in this bill, on the suggest ion sion, preci se ly t o the effect of the provisoinonofwhhishn?ght hon. friend is the other house, namely, pro hi b iting more than three-fourths of any militia regiment going He contended that was an inten. out of the country. tan error. He did not om itt e d ; that it wahs n d o is eretion of the Govern. tional blot on the part part of the act of 54th Geo. 111., w of the Goverhnimchenhta; t dh h es at n i s t tu w di as . ously desire to interfere wi t h t e men • lied lee vital ,at a matter of principle, to o t It was with great reluctance that hhejechtadtobetehrte bill he thought cons iderable t ou g ht cons iderable latitude should be given t v ital pri ncip le than Govern. Foreign Eulliestrheannt wasßi 1 l l involved v ed upon that bill matter of went in the means they took for re inforcin g the army at this crisis. He did not intend to o ffer any oppo sition to this bill, but he thought it was not unreasonable, seeing that in the year 1814, by the act of 54th Geo. 111., not more than 30,000 of the militia were allowed to be employed at one time out of the United Kingdom hmen should be now t amountof the militia is l like 15,000 —that a p this country was so much inferior t o w h at i t was i s 1814. Be objected to this bill, fir s t, b ecause it w as imposed, of when something the tot total not the most efficient or advantageous mode of re cruiting the strength of the army ; and next, upon the ground that, even altered as it had been, it alto . gether changed the character of the militia, and ex posed us to serious risk —not now—not in the present year—not under the present excitement —but in future years in reference to our ability in keeping up the permanent supply of the militia. (Hear, hear.) He thought, too, the Government would find themselves under considerable difficulty ivben they came to deal with H the question o f b oun ti es . H e thought there would be some difficulty in apportioning the amount of bounty to be given to a man volunteering into the militia and to another volunteering into the line. But that was a question with which the Government would have to deal. The proposition of his right bon. friend in another place was that not more than three-fourths o f an y m iliti a regi ment should ever be sent abroad at any one time ; and he (Earl Derby) was told that considerable amusement was excited in another place when, on the question be ing as ked how many were to remain at home, the answer was o ne-fourth. (A laugh.) It would be very well if that were the case; but as the bill was worded it would appear that not more than three-fourths of the "establishment" of a militia regiment were to be permitted to serve out of the United Kingdom at one time. Conceiving the " establishment" of a regiment te be 1,200 men, if OX arm 107 61 100 k 17A 17 424 69 i 8i Aberdeen Do. No. 2, 7 p. c.... Blyth and Tyne 1.0 per c. pref. (issd. at 50/) Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St. Do. 4 p. e. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 51- per cent Do. do. Prof. No. 2. 1 Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Cork ezßandonsp.e Dundee Perth &Aber4 deen Junction EastAnglian (X3los) 6 per cent Do. (X 5) 7 per cent Do. (.E7 17s) 7 p. c Eastern Counties Ex-, tension, 5 p. c. No. 1 Do. No. 2 Do, New 6 r. c. St. Eastern Union, Seri Guar. 6 per cent .. Do. 51., 10 per cent. Do. 101. Debentr.Sh- Do. do. 4 per cent... East Lancash. 6 p.cts. East and West York shire June. Fifths Edinb Prth. &D undo e 4 per cont. Glasgow & S.Westerni Guar. 5 per cent Great Northn. 5 p. c Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem. Do. 4,1 p.c Gt. N. of Scot. Ist Pre? Gt. Southn. &Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) Do. 4 per c. Pref. St Gt. Wostu. (Berks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c) Do. con. red. 4 p.c Do. con. red. 4 p. c Do. irred„ 4p.c. Do. Birm. Pref. Sh Do. Chester 8 p. c.P.S. Ds. do. 5 p. c. do Do. Birrn, Gua. Stk Do. Ches. Gua. Stk De. do. do Do. do. de ~,...••• ••• Lan. &York. F. £2O Do. 6 p. c. Stock London and Brightor Guaranteed 5 p. c Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St Do. New Guar.6 13. c, Lon. &N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 p. ct London & S. Western Con Thirds Londonderry& Coler Shares Londy. & Ennis. 3 Sh Han., Shef., & Lin., Shares, No. 1. Do. New, £lO Do. .C 6 Nfarypt .& Carl. 4 p c Do. 4,i per cent Do \lid. Consol .6 p.c.St. Do. Consol. Bristol & Diem. 6 per cont , Do. Prof. 4.J; per cent Norfolk Debenture Do. Pref. 4 p. c. Stool: Do. 5 p. c. Eat Do. 54 per ct. prof._ Do. Way. Val. 5 p. e Nora' British Y. E. Berw, 4 p.c. P Do. do. de Do. Leeds 6 p.c ;N s.l Do. do. Quarters 48 Os. York EL & r. North Staffordshire.. Oxford, Worcester, Wolverh..£ls, 610. c. Scot. Cent., New Peel Do. 5 per cent South Devon Di. fixed, 4 per cent 3. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4 per cent S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar S. Wales Gila. 4 p. c Do. di. 44 p. c Stockton and Dar- lington, 5 per cent Do. do. do.I Stockton and Hartle-'I -------- - pool, guar. 5 p. c. till Ist July, 1856, Watcrfd.&Kilk.6p.c. MINES. i ... 1 "----- - a ••/ 5 7 6 7 2 1 3 30 —32 ' it id — par t 46 48 50 55 par 2 p 14 16 1 1i par ip 14 16 i i 8 ... 9 ! -- h i - i 15 - 16 1 --- I 23 - 25 I - 8 i i - l - 3 1 1 - 2 21 - 3 -- - EOIIS 36 - 37 ii 1 - ia ... --• ... 100 - 105 09 -- 114 -- 31 iii : iii i = ii • • • ••••- • • • ii = ii - pi 2 - 2i 61 - 63 37 - 39 - 1 - 1 ii ~,, 13- Agua Fria ..... A.nglo Austrin. Gold Anglo Californian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Avo Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy of, Blxnarvon Iron and Coal British Iron Brazilianlmp. (issued at £5 pm Do. Cocaes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons's Ci •cpk Clarendon Cons. Min Co. of Jamaica • Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copper MM. of Eng Do. Prof. 7i p. cent Copiapo ....... English and Austin Copper Smeltg Go Fortuna General.. Gt.NuggetVeinßeg Great Polgooth Liberty Linares i(ariquita Aexican&S.Americn. New Granada New Linhres Mining and Smelting Co Nouveau Monde Pontgibau d Silver Lead Min. & Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock coney Iron Do. Now Santiago de Cuba South Australian Tin Croft . United Mexican Waller West Mariposa Worthing Mining ol Australia Yuba raise: i all .übin Coal and Irsu 17 Australian Agricult. ) 4 Australsn.Pcific.Maii ) all Australn. Royal Mail ) N . Berlin Water Works ) 40 Brit. American Land 5 1 Brit. & Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co D 321 Canada t. 100 Canada Gov. 6 p. ct Jan. and July 1 5 all Crystal Palace all Crystal Pal. of France D 5 Eastern Steam 5 21 ElectricTelegraph(A) 1 all Electric Teleg. of Ir. 5 14 Gen. Steam Navigat. 0 all General Screw Steam 0 10 Irish Beetroot Sugar 0 10 Magdalena St. Navig. 0 all Kediteran. Elec. Tel. 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel , 0 5 Netherlands Land—,, 2 1 N. S. W. Coal di Inter.l . Steam Navigat. Co. 1 all N. B. Australasian._ 121 Nrth. of Europe Steam 5 all Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl. 53 all Peninsular& Oriental SD 45 Do. Do. 2 all Portland Iron Co 00 60 Royal Mail Steam Scot. Austral. Invest. 25 all South Austral. Land 1 all Submar. Telegraph 1 all Do. Registered, 10 Van Dienwn's Lane CR. 100 19& 11i all all 100 100 100 100 all 4 all all all 100 a Th 8? I/ 1i 17? all all 1 all Ills. all 3 28. 20 20 20 33i 10 16 2 20 10 20 20 50 50 100 100 20 10 20 35 6O i 23i 68i i 22 i 35 37i 8 5 10 St. St. 5 20 12i 25 20 SL 20 20 20 25 30 20 1 1 10 5 St. 25 all 100 18 all all WO all all 10 w 0 wo WO all all all all 13.5 5, all 15 ti i all all all 11 all all all all 12s, 3 1 is li 2 39 8 i