The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-28 00:00:00

in the rates to Europe during the week,"and the amoun of to-I , 9g^ n il:' ..iaJ.- We area: blic Ati AL THE BOMBAY MARKETS. FROM TITS 14TH TO THN 28111 NOV. The stringency in the money market noticed in our last report has increased during the fortnight, and an advance of 1 per cent. has taken place in the rate of dis count at the several banks. Advances on security of Government paper cannot now be had under 5 per cent. Our import markets in British manufacture, and in general, since the despatch of the lat mail seem to have assumed a more deplorable aspect than was re ported. Business transacted during the past fortnight is very limited. Twist is in the same dilemma as piece goods, except some favourite marks (orders f,r which being received here) for transmission, which have met with purchasers at or even above the current rate of the day. Sales about 1,050 bales mule, and 383 bales water, with stocks on hand. Our metal market remains more firm. Our market for piece goods has not much altered for England, and any change has unfortunately been against importers. Freight, owing to the numerous arrivals during the fortnight, has declined ; under our last quotations, the present rate for Liverpool and London is 3/. per ton. Exchange on England has varied little since last mail. The ruling quotations have been 2s. to 2s. O'd. for China paper, and 2s. O'd. to 2s. 5-16 d. for document bills. CHIN A. _ Since last despatch we have not received further intelligence from Europe. The English and American Plenipotentiaries in China, accompanied by a gentleman attached to the French Legation, left Shanghai for the Peiho on the 11th ult. It is quite uncertain when this expedition will return, but letters from Sir John Bo4vring may be looked for before the despatch of the next mail ; for, whatever may be the state of the country near Peking, his Excellency will naturally be most anxious to communicate intelli gence of it. We cannot regret this voyage to the north, though the avowed leanings of Sir John to the fortunes of the Manch° w give every cause for apprehension lest his interference should be other than beneficial to the public interests. The Peking Gazette has been eo often proved guilty of the grossest misrepresentation of faots, that we place no faith in statements found is late issues, of Imperialist successes over the followers of Tai-ping-Wang. It is, however, generally be lieved that the fleet of Canton junks (formerly pirates, but taken into the Imperialist service) which left Slaanghae for Nanking a short time ago, succeeded in passing Chin-keang-foo, and as Tae ping-Wang•had no squadron sufficiently trained to oppose them, Imperialist possession of parts of the Yang-zekiaaag above Nanking has been to a certain extent complete. But with the river's banks the career stands checked, and in the course of a short time a return to the south may be safely calculated on ; the campaign proving of no political effect whatever, further than that of more and more ex asperating the people of the districts harried by express license of the so-called Imperialist Govern ment. A squadron, supposed to have been piratical, found by the American steamer Queen in a bay of the island of Lantao, between Hong Kong and Macao, has been destroyed. Admiral Stirling had determined on ferreting out the huge nest discovered by the Spartan's boats on a recent occa sion, but before proceeding to work made applica tion to the Viceroy at Canton for some official sanction. This was readily given ; but before the expedition could start the Chinese diplomatist gave the pirate leaders warning, with offers of rewards to join the Imperialist service. There had been negociation on the subject before. o doubt hat Admiral Stirling's reported intentions caused the sealing of the compact ; the bulk of the fleet went forthwith to Fatshan, and it is thought they will be successful in recovering the town from the insurg its who have now held it for a third of a year and up wards. Such is a specimen of the methods adopt , ,d by the Imperial Government to protract the evil day—a day which must come at last, for it is im possible for matters to revert to their old position of comparative quietude with them. At Canton the rebels hold their position, and all attempts of the Imperialists to dislodge thorn are futile. EXCHANGE AND BULLION.—Cantos : On London, 4 8 ; on Bombay, 240 Rs. ; on Calcutta, 241 Rs, ; Carolus Dollars, 25 per cent. premium. Shangha,e, Nov. 5 : On London, 65 to 6 5 ; on India, 311 Rs. ; Drafts on Canton, 26 discount ; Gold, $2l-15 per T. ; Sycee T's., 2-9 premium. Opium.—Canton, November 9.—Patna, $350 ; Benare, $355 ; Malwa, $460 ; Turkey, $3BO. Shanghae, November s.—Malwa, $365 ; Patna, $245. EGYPT. ALEXANDRIA, Dec. 19.—The Valetta arrived here yesterday, with the Marseilles portion of the London overland mail of December 9, and returns to-day with the Marseilles portion of the Calcutta mail of November 20. The Euxine, with the Southampton portion of the mail, has not yet arrived, and the steamers are detained at Suez until she does come in. The body of the late Lord F. Fitzclarence, which reached Cairo from Bombay on the 13th, will not be brought down to Alexandria for another week, and will be taken to England by the next mail with Lady Fitzclarence. Said Pasha, the Viceroy, has postponed bis de parture for Upper Egypt until after his reception of the Hon. C. A. Murray, Minister-Plen,ipoten tiary in Persia. Said Pasha has frequently and publicly expressed his great dislike to Mr. Murray, and it must be with very bitter feelings that he finds himself under the necessity of showing him any attention. His Highness continues to be sorely pressed for money. On the 10th of April., accord ing to the Sultan's firman, Said Pasha with have to pay six months' tribute in advance, or up wards of 140,0001. sterling, to the Bank of England or of France, on account of the Turkish loan, and if his Highness has such difficulty in meeting present expenses, he will have to resort to some the S extraor dinary means in orde r to carry out ultan's orders by the 10th April. THE MEDITERRANEAN. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27. By the Peninsular a nd Oriental Co mpany's steam-ship Tagus, Captain J. K. Joy, w e h; live dates from Alexandria to the 9th, Malta the 12th, and Gibraltar the 18th inst. The Tagus put into Vigo on the 231 in consequence of bad weather., The Tagus brings 51 passengers, among - whom are Lord Melville, and on freight 29 package s of s p ecie, 145 boxes of or anges, 20 cases opium, '299 bales and cases silk, and a general cargo. From Gibraltar we have accounts to the 18th inst. The Royal mail steamer Magdalena, with the 18th Regiment (Royal Irish) on board, passed through the Straits at 10 a.m. on the 15th inst. The screw transport Cosmopolitan, five days eight hours from Portsmouth, with wooden huts, shot, &c., arrived at Gibraltar on the 15th, and, proceeded for Balaklava. The screw steamer Orantes, from Malta and Tunis, touched at Gibraltar ors the 16th, bound for Liverpool. The Gibraltar Chronicle of the 18th inst. says— " The British steam transports Cumberland and John Bowes, which put in here, the former on Saturday after noon, and the latter yesterday morning on their way to the East, for the purpose of coaling, have left for their destination. Both are laden with wooden huts for the use of our troops before Sebastopol. "The Alraa steam transport, with a number of medi cal, commissariat, and other officers, s tores, sc., for the and Crimea, will a rrived abut the same time as the entnberland, proceed this afternoon, after taking in a supply of coal, for her destination. Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-sloop Hecla, 6 gums, Commander Hawker, which arrived yesterday from Portsmouth, is to be stationed here." At Gibraltar exchange on London was quoted 511 ; Paris, sf. 42c. ; Marseilles, sf. 440. • Genoa, sf. 48c. At eight days' sight, on Madrid', dis. ; Cadiz, 1 dis. ; Malaga, -I prem. ; Seville, prem • Alicante, Vaencia, and Barceona, par ; Spanish pillared dollars, 3 per cent. prem. Lady Blantyre and family have arrived at Stafford House from Erskine House, N.B. Lord Blantyre will arrive in London early in the ensuing week . MANCRESTER, TIIESDAY.—Today was blank, a few members met, but tra nsacted no business. A match at billiards will be played at Mr. Roberts' Room, 28, Cross-street, on Tuesday next, January Eld, between Mr. Bowles, of the Union Club, and Mr. S with, of this town ; 1,001 up for 251. a side. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' BENEVOLE" vT INSTITU TION. —The half-yearly general court of governors of this institution was heldyesterday at the Lo radon Tavern; Sir James Duke, Bart., M.P., in the chair., The secre tary, Mr. Charles Nash, read the report, which congratu lated the meeting on the steady progress of the society. The subscriptions for the past year showedi an increase of 621. ls. over the previous year. The tot. al income for 1854 had been 5271. 25.: the expenditure, !231/. 125.9 d.; leaving a balance in favour of the nm soc adey iet at the last gene . In compliance wit h the suggestio ral meeting a system of registration for tibe benefit of members bad been established. The committee re gretted that they could not recommend th e election cf more than one annuitant ; four candidates h ave been pro posed—Mrs. Frances Drayson, Mrs. Charlotte A. Phillips, Mr. John Goss, and Mr. A. lla:t•rison. The report having been adopted, and the committee and officers for the past year unanimously re-elected, meeting proceeded proceeded to the ballot, which .resulted in the election of Mrs. Phillips to an annuity of 251. a year. Thanks Laving been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1854. MONEY MARK_ET 2,2 At Ait ELIA I (.1' 3hr. CITY, TV7 0 o'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 6,000 bales, including 500 American St. and 20 Sea Island, taken for export. The market 11 closed steadily, at previous rates. The sales corn- 50 prised 4,500 American, 200 Porn= awl Maran- 13i ham at 52d. to 6id., 150 Egyptian at 51d. to Id., 31 1,000 Surat at 3d. to 4d., and 40 Sea Island at 11d. to Is. sd. per lb. Railway shares wore steady. 271 The amount of bills drawn here by the Hon. 22 East India Company, during the past fortnight, 25 was 545,2641. 13s. 3d. St. The intimation at length given of the amount St. of the French loan, twenty millions sterling, will 10 tend to confirm the impression entertained that 50 the English money market must be unfavourably 50 influenced. Specie will be remitted by capitalists 20 and speculators anxious to participate, and ex- 10 petting to derive some profit ; and since t h e in- E stalments will be periodical, we may calculate that the Bank reserve will be trenched upon, 25 t_ and kept lower for some time, unless our imports of gold continue on a large scale from Aus tralia, and there is a resumption of specie arrivals from the United States. Altogether the position •f the money market is both interesting and sug gestive, and every one will be anxious to learn if we can carry on the war by taxation or terminable loans instead of the more conventional system resorted to by our ally. The rumour that Turkey is anxious to issue the remaining two millions of the loan which the Sultan's firman authorises, and wishes the French Government to assist by guaranteeing the interest, is another circumstance that will illus trate what we may expect in the future. Indeed, we can scarcely come to any other conclusion, see ing the vast expenditure incurred by all the Con tinental Governments, than that money will be in active demand, save for commercial purposes, dur ing the next few months, if not permanently while the war lasts. There is satisfaction in reflecting that .a large portion of our expenditure has gone hitherto among our manufacturers, shipowners, and artisans, but in the payment of cattle, grain, and other necessaries, more cheaply and conve niently obtained in Turkey and the neighbouring countries, there must throughout the contest be large sums disbursed. If there be any counter advantage derived in this instance beyond the great blessing of administering to the comfort and health of our troops, it will be firstly in giving an impulse to agricultural and commercial enterprise in the Ottoman and other territories, where pre viously there was absence of all incentive, neither due protection to property existing, nor prompt payment being afforded ; and, secondly, in enabling the Government at Constantinople to purchase in England the clothing and materiel of war which its army so greatly needs. In this way the founda tion of a steady and profitable interchange may be laid, susceptible of great extension after hostilities cease. Au official document has been issued, showing the amount expended by the various Railway Companies in the obtainment of their Acts of Parliament, and from the abstract it is shown to have been, in some instances, considerable, al though, owing to the absence of returns from the principal companies, it is difficult to arrive at any result. Tlae English Stock Market has been very quiet, and there is no speculation going on. A few pur chases for investment have been made in the New Three per Cents. at 91} to 91k, and the Reduced Three per Cents. at 90i to 91-/. Back Stock has been. firmer, at 209 to 2093. Exchequer Bills have been ss. to 7s. premium. Consols, which were purchased rather freely late yesterday after- 50 noon, upon a rumour that there was to b e a Peace 7.50 Convess at Vienna, have been steady this morning 20 at 9 Li to 20 The foreign investments are mostly firm :—Tur- .2,°5 kish Bonds have risen to 75i, and 76 for account, although done at 75 to for money, an immense " ccmataugo," which shows the extent and bearing ofth a apeculation recently. Spanish New Deferred BonAs have been 13s f. The promi..3 retrenekt ineut of expenditure, sale of clergy lands and fund ing into permanent home stock of the onerous float ing obligations, are all calculated to inspire confidence, but not a word is said yet about the Cer tificates. , This, probably, is to come when Espar ter(' feels his pesition to be stronger. French Four and-a-Half per Cents. have been dealt in at 92k with the Exchange at 25 3 / 4 . Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. are 611. The following are the nominal prices of foreign stooks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexi can, 201 to 21i ; Peruvian, 69 to 71 ; Ditto 3 per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 41 to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents. 97 to 99 ; Ditto 4i per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred, 18k to 18 ; Ditto 3 per Cents., 38± to 38i ; Ditto Certifi catees, 5 to 5i ; Ditto Passive, 4 to 41. The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to this day are in round figures as under : 100 1853 ' 1854. 20 25 £63,311 £55,64 2 95 14,731 11,827 25 12,045 10,898 North-Western * South-Western * Brighton Great Western Midland* South-Eastern Caledonian Great Northern Lancashire and Yorkshire* North-Eastern * Christmas week. 29,025 27,291 15,649 14,145 100 11,258 9,646 20 23,569 18,544 5 19,276 17,892 • 20 30,252 27,520 The half -monthly account is being adjusted in the Railway Share Market, and prices are tolerably firm. There is no business doing except in con nection with the settlement. The Mines, Banks, and Miscellaneous Compa nies are mostly nominal, but Crystal Palace have improved BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. (From the (*dal List. ; flu mess done Bank Stock: 209 A 3 per Cent. 'Reduced Annuities New 3 per Cent. Annuities Consols for Account, 10th January Exclieqt g,r hills, 24d. 7 £5OO . '.;nia.li. . 5 Exchequer . Bonds 1858, 32 per Cent. — Ditto 1359. . PRIfDE OF FOB,EIG.N FUNDS THIS DAY. Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent............ sNnist. Poßds. 3 per Cent — Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent lBO 1 rarkish Scrip, paid up in full Ditto for the Account 751 654 . • ,v , (1.,n& m of above payable in Lon-tor, French Bentes, 44 per Cent. Belgian Bonds 44 per Cent. ox. 25 fr ...:uteii Exchange, 2t per Cent. 12 Gull 6l/ I:Itto 4 rer Cent. Certifleates THREE O'CLOCK. ' 4 ln _stale Ditto, January Acoonnt Rear-Admiral Boyes has, it is stat f ed t , h b e een ee o e r f d es e i r o e n d lty in consequence o by the which prevailedAdmira at Admiralty, in during the fearful storm takelast r u n p o o n i t t h, hi t el o se p lf ro t c h e e ed d f e r t iim es h ll nt officer at Con- Stopfor W also hear that Captain Michael connected with the transport department, and Rear- Admiralwh Constantinop le , visited t h d a a v v n t stantinople. ~ e d il p l ot r ro e t heve t e gallant a e es d service.ay last Qu H in l h Gu as vir r a e y ce rt iv o e ß d Buli, who is known to the B a E n it ayp,p43 o i n tment ij LEEDS. _i n o t h u e same w ed a powerful follow, named dock of the Leeds Courthouse, charged Leeds police as a desperate character,w was it with a murderous placed i n the 4 assault midnight andoe Tuesday robbery late a n the eld e r p l r y e vfiaorums servant,nig ht. named About St James Crossley (who had sold a load of wheat town, and was ret urn i ng h ome with the money in h© th ehade 220 i .', received for it) ca ll e d at th e Black Bear, n the -1,_„,,0n of the town, and was serve d w ith a glass of ale . lie 100 drank it at the door o f th e b ar , and whi',e doing so.ob. 20 served that Bull and severa l wome n were in the . tap room. Not liking thei r a p pearance he hastened out 20 quickly, followed by Bull an d t wo o f the women. Bull knocked him down by a heavy blow upon the head, 50 seized him by the throat, and beat his head against the ..,,, 0 ground, swearing that if the poo r f e ll ow a tt e mpted to 1t f ..,.; cry out he should be murdered at on ce . B u ll was as- -I-' silled by the two women, nod the three, after beating 20 him until he was helpless and bleeding profusely from 50 the ears, rifled his pockets of 141. 10s. 10id., took his 20 cravat from his neck, and his hat from his head, and 25 then ran away. Crossley was subsequently found in a aid state, and conveyed to the chief police-office. There 100 h e described his assailants, and Bull and a female named 10 Collinson were at once apprehended. None of the 5 stolen property, however, was found upon either of them.. The evidence against Collinson was inconclusive, and 25 she was discharged ; Bull was committed for trial at ; 25 le York Assizes, 1 50 SHARE M (THTS itAIL Paid.l RA.ILWATN. k.RKETS. D A Y.) W i~si b. 'Closing Prices it* day. 100 Aberdeen . 3, 2 Nottrg. Bost and Eastu. Junct. all Belfast & Ballymena. all ;liming. Wclverh. & Stour Valley 296 liirkeulid. Lanesh. di Cheshire .Janet all Do. Ci esh, dr 'Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. 19 Do., ..... 30 Myth & Tyn3 original £25 (issd. at 15) 1.00 Bristol and Exeter 100 Caledonian 21s. Carmarthen and Car digan all Chester Zs Holyhead all Cork and Bandon... all Cork, Black, & Pass 16 Cornwall 16 Crieff Junction 45 Dublin&BolfastJunc all Dundee PerthdrAber deem Junction all Do. New 100 East Anglian all Eastern Counties 100 Eastern Union, A Stock 111 Do., B. Stock 86 Do., New A 100 East Lancashire 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow 94 Minh. and Peebles 100 Ediu. Pith dr Duude ; 1 forth & Clydo June. 1.00 Glasgow &S. Western 100 Great Northern 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. Stock Sth. &West.(lre.) 100 Great Western 100 Do. Stour Val. Rail Gua. Stk.. all Irish South-Eastern, all Lancaster & Carlisle 141 Do., Thirds 4 Do. New Thirds 100 Lanestub xmlYorkbli 19. Do., Fifths ?1 Do., Wst. Riding Un all Liv.Crsby.&Southpt all London & Blackwali 100 Gond. Bright tz S.Cst. 100 Loud, and N. Westn. 12 Do. Fifths 1 Do.lo/.5h.,M&8...( 26 Do. Eighths 100 London andS. Westn 426 Do., £5O 34 Do., £4O all LndwlrTydr Coleraine all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 100 Manch.Shef.& Lincln 44 Do., Man. & Lin. Un 100 Midland 100 Do. Birmng. &Derby all Midi& G. West. (Ire 4 226 Do. Half Shares all Newcastle & Carlisle 54 ewmkt.BuryExten 2 L Nwpt.Aberg. &Hrfd 8 Newry & Enniskillen all Newry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor 1(10 tiorfolk 3? ortlin.Connties Un. 100 North British all I North Devon, No. 1 all Do., No. 2 all )0., 6 A Deferred all Do., B Guarantee -100 N. Eastern—Berwiel , 20 /o. do. Extension 13 )o.do. E. Pure], all Do. Leeds 1.00 Do. York a h North London ..... 8 Do. New £lO It &S.Wstrn.. stead, and City In 17i North Stas)rds l kir; ail North Western ... all N. &S. Westrn. June. 1 Nuneaton, Hirrekl6y and Leicester 100 Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton 6 rortsmouth 100 Scottish Central 100 cottishMidland all ihrewsby. dr Herefd al Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& paid up at per 0., • 01 south Devon %att.. Eastern dl South Wales 5 Yrksh. & Riv. Dun 5 Do 8 Staines, Wok &Wok 11 tockton & Darliay. Stockton 6/ Hartlepl 100 Pair Vale 9 Do. £lO shares. 100 Do. Pref., No. 1 21 Thames Haven Dock and Railway all vale of /Tooth all Waterfd. & Kilkenny' all Waterford&Limerick 18 West Cornwall 3 West End of London and Crystal Palace all West London. ills. Whnbledn &Croydon 20 20, 4a 5 8 - 84 13 - 12,1 16 - 17 7 - 6 93 - 95 601 - 61 14 - 15 9 - 11 4 - 3 . 61 - 74 14 - 15 11 - 114 28 - 30 20 - 22 71 - 72 54 - 56 19 , 1 - 204 67 - 69 901 - 911 77 - 79 123 - 124 89 - 91 691 701 58 - 62 72 -- 77 6 -8, 6 -- 8 73i 5i -- 54 0 I -- -. 7i 81 106 108 1001 101 d d I 831 —84 A 9• 8 1 9 80 241 - 25/ 68i 69 41 - 42 id pa►r 171 49 - 51 n 3A 31 ... 32 8 10 11 6A 74 75 61 6f 44 4 12/ 121 52 --- - S 4 par in Ad 6 6§ P 31 - 32 96 - 98 61 - 63 8 - Sii 45 - 47 12 --- 14 58 - - 59 28A - 29 i - i (1 35 - 37 ••• •• 3 16i 17 4 - 20 - 92' 6 - 7 i* = f FOREIGN. all Antworp&Rotterda.m h Belgian Eastn. June. - i - 3' I Beziers to Graissessac 2s. Bombay, Baroda, and Central India,Serip ... Central of Italy all Demerara 4 I Dii on and Besancon.. 10 Dutch Rhenish all Eastern of France 10 Do. New all East Indian 2 Do. Extension all Do. 4 p. c. Bds., pay '57, convertible all Do. do. do., '59, de 10 Gd. Juliet. of France 126 Gd. Tk of CanadaA is. all Do. do 1,11 Do. St. Lawrence & Atlantic do. all Do. Cert. of Deben., con. into Stk. till '63 all Do. Comp. 6p. c., do. 10 Gt. Central of France all Gt. Indian Peninsula 1 Do. New 5 per cent. all Gt. Western of Canad- Shares all Do. Bds., payable's7, with option till '55 all Do. do., '62, p. '56 all De. do., '76, p. '6O all Do. do., '73, without option all Hamilton & Toronto all Do. 6 per cent. 11 Lake Court. & Basle, all Lucca & Pistoja 5 p.c. prof 12 Great Luxembourg Constituted ShareF , all Do. Obligations , i 0 Lyons and Geneva 12 Lyons & Niediterrau 16 Madras 2 I Do. New 31. I Aaria Antonia ... all Do. do. Now 2 Niel-bourne Dk. &Ry all Namur & Liege (wit) interest).... all Do. (ex interest) all Northern of France. all D o .20/. Shs.late Char leroi and Erquelines gu-tr. 3 p. c. & red. at 22M. (I'll-. 88 yrs. from 1 Jan. 185 4 all Do. 201. 3 p. e Bclr (fmy. B. di A.Ens.Shs. all NorwegianTrunkPref 14 Paris and Lyons all Ditto Bonds .. all Paris and Orleans.... all Paris and Rouen._ 10 ParisCaen & Cherbrg all Rouen and Havre 20 Royal Danish 3 Royal Swedish all Sambre and Meuse all Do. 54 p. cont. Pref 10 'Southern of France 14 St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) all West Flanders all Do 5A per c. Pref , 12 Western of France 16 West. of Switzerland all Wiesbaden 20 Zealand 20 10 20 20 ,J 0 INT-S 9 all Nustradasia all British Colonial Bank and Loan Company all - British N. American 5 Chart& Bank of Asia 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China 23 Colonial 20 Commercial of Lond 16 English Scottish and' Australian all Lona. Chart. Bk. of Australia 20 London and County 10 Loudon Joiut Stock "l 0 Loud. Sr, Westminster 35 National Provincial of England 10 Do. New 22, National of Ireland ail New South Wales all Oriental Bank of Corporation Provincial of Ireland sii 00. Now 1 Royal Australn.l3kg, St, Cold Imp Co all south n = , stralia all liaion of Australia., .............. 6i 1a - •~~(1 d— i p -.-- P 3t -- 31 d 30A -- 31 4i -- 5A i -- liP par ip ii = . 6i v i 8 - 7 ..... ••• 7d - iP - par ip 16/ - 171 is -it; 2 d par 2 d •-- par 2d -- parl .• """ •*, ~ ail; 2/ 3 2i 21 i a iP . d 6a 7 33 -3~ 1.2 f -- 12 Rh - 94 181 - 19 45 47 37 39 pm 20i id iP 2fl 2} lid 7t 7i ••• ''.... ... - pm ..• - 3i -- 41 get ••• .. i:4 :: iii Ili BANKS. 80 -- 82 i'd -: i-d ''' ••• 3i 2idl 21i - 22 -- 37 - 39 41 -- 43 68 - 70 8 •- - 10 Btudnats done 1 5 0 this day. LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Luvi , ng Compass P'47 . li7C , this day. 144 all Bedford and Bletcbley 100 Enckghamsh. 100 Clydesdale Jc. 100 E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. all Glas. Barr. & Neils. Direct all Do. New all Gilstr.& Dn. Fr a ll iirtlpl. Dk. & Railway all 'Hull & Selby all Do. 4 Shares. ali Do. Shares. all Lon.&Greenvi all Do. Preference, all Lon.,Til., &S. 100 Lowestoft gr.l 4 per cent. WO Do. 6 per ct. all Manch. Bxtn. and Matlock all Middleebro' & Redcar. . all Midld.Bradfd all Northern and Easternsp.c. all Do. 6 per ct. all Do. Fixe(ls p all Prost. & Wyre London N. Wert. L. &N. W. IGt.Nrthn. rialdonian. Do Wostn la. New. lerw. V. &Nlid Eastern Do Peto &Co. Norfolk.. N. W. & Midi& l iStekton & ' Darlingt. E. Count Do L.&N.W. &Ln&Yk 4tNorthn :,ancash.k Yorksh. 6.3lClean kockt. Darlingt r)o all Do. Shares. LW Roystn.&Hit. 18$ Shef.ltoth.anci Goole g. 5 p. c. 94 S. Staffordsh. all Wear Valleygr 6 per cent... all Do.. (X) Wiltsk,[lomrst liltWastn 100 Aberdeen 100 Do. No. 2, 7 p. c.... 30 Blyth and Tyne 10 per c. pref. (issd. at 501) 100 Bris. & Ex. 4p. c. St. 5 Do. 4p. c. Shares 100 Caledonian £lO all Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent all Do. PrAf. No. 2. all Do. do. Pref. No. 2. all Cork &Bandons ip.o all DundeoPerth &Abe deen Junction all EastAnglian (£3 los 6 per cent all Do. (£5) 7 per cent. 2 Do. (X 7 17s) 7p. c. all Eastern Counties Ex-, tension, 5 p. c. No. all Do. No. 2. all Do. New 6 r. c. St all Eastern Union, Seri Guar. 6 per cent..' all Do. 51., 10 per cent. all Do. 101. Debentr.Sh all Do. do. 4 per cent... WO East Lancash. 6p. cts. all East and West York-, shire June. Fifths all EdinbPrth.&Dundoe 20 20 20 25 4 per cent. LOO Glasgow &S.Western i Guar. 5 per cent.... LOO Groat Northn. sp. c. LOO Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem LOO Do. 4i p. 84 Gt.N. of Scot. Ist Pref all Gt. Soutl &We stm. (Ireland) Eighths)... 7 Do. 4 par c. Pref. St 6 Gt. Westn. (Barks & Ilants Ex. sp. c).. 6 100 Do. con. red. 4i p.c. 94 .100 Do. con. red. 4p. c. tOO Do. irred. 4 p.c. ... 91 all Do. Birm. Pref. Sh... 91 all Do. Chester Bp. c.P.S. 16 all Do. do. 5 p. c. d 0... 10 kl.lO Do. Birm. Gua. Stk. 71 ail Do. Ches. Gua. Stk. 16i all Da. do. do ... 94 all Do, do. do l3 6 Lan. &York. F. £2O If 100 ID°. 6p. c. Stock 133 100 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. a , ... 100 Do. Prof., sp. c. St ... 100 Do. New Guar.6 p. c ' 100 Lon.&N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 p. ot I 5 London &S. Westernl Con. Thirds all Londonderry& Coler Shares 911 Londy. & Ennis. Sb all Ilan., Shef., & i Shares, No. 1. ... all Do. New, £lO . 1 4i Do. .£6 all Ifarypt.Stearl.4p c all Du. sti per coat 1N Do 100 Aid. Consol .6 p.c.-St. 100 Do. Consol. Bristol & Biqa. 6 per cent...,) 11fi Do. Pref. 4i per cent 10 Norfolk Debenture _ .. , too Do. Pref. 4p. c. Stook 100 Do. sp. o. Ext 100 Do. 54 per ct.prof 100 Do. Way. Val. sp. c !00 Nortk British 100 ‘T. E. Borw, 4 p.c. P 5 Do. do. do. 13 Do. Leeds 6 p.c Ne .1 9 Do. do. Quarters 46 10 De. York & `4. r. all North Staffordshire 1(X) Oxford, Worcester, Si W01verh.415,610.c. all Scot. Cent. , New Prel 10 Do. 5 per cent all South Devon 1/ De. fixed, 4i per cent, all S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d . 221 , 100 Do. 4i per cent 95 all 3.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. 15 all 3 Wales Gua. 4p. c. all Do, de. 4 p, c all Stockton and Dar lington, 5 per cent 5 Do. do. do, Id all Stockton and Hartle pool, guar. 5 p. c. till let July, 1856 4 Waterfd.&Kilk.6p.c. 48 - 160 98 - 109 130 - 135 164 : 1456 13 -13 i 23 -24 11 -11; 2 1 1 - 2j ••• ..... .. 9'2 - 94 57 - 59 iio = li ••• --- 2i —2• d 36 - ii. 01 - 93 PRE FEKENCE J 7 - 100 94 - 96 if - 61 - pl t - p 121 - 134 111 - Ili i - iP 133 135 - is [OC iva 100 - 102 90 -92 3 - Si 1 id 14 par • • 221 100 • 18 - ... - irP MINES. all Agua Fria all Anglo Austrlu. Gold all Anglo Californian _ . 6 I Australian all Australian Cordillera all Australian Freehold all Ave Maria all Baden (Gd.Dachy of, all Blmnarvon Iron and Coal .. 13.5 British Iron 5 Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm all Do. Comes b,•, Culafia 15 Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons's C'eqk Clarendon Cons. Min - Co. of Jamaica . _ all Cobro Copper .... 1 Colonial Gold all Copper Min. of Eng all Do. Prof. 7:1 p. cent. 16 Copiapo .... all English and Austin Copper Smelt Co i Fortuna. all General all Gt.NuggetVeiolteg 4 Great Polgooth. all Liberty all Linares all Maricinita 9 Mexican&S.Americu all • New Granada all New Linares Minini and Smelting Co all Nouveau Monde all Pontgiband Sllre: Lead Min. & Smelt. 1 Port Philip .... all Quartz Rock . all fthymne.y Iron _.. all Do. Now lli Santiago de Cuba all South Australian 7. Tin Croft .... ..... .... all United Mexican .. all Waller all West Mariposa _. 12a. Wortking Mining o: Australia . •• all Yuba AEI SC= all Aubin Coal and. Ir•L' 17?, ustralian A gricult. 4 ustralsn.Pcific.Mai. all Australn. Royal Nlail , 51 2 . rlin Water Works 40 'rit. American Land' 1 Brit, & Coln. Snicltg.l and Reduction Co.. 32: 1 , Canada LOO Canada Gov. 6p. ct. Jan. and July all Crystal Palace all Crystal Pal, of Franc, 5 Eastern Steam 21 EleetricTelegraph(A) all Electric 'l'eleg. of Ir. 14 Gen. StearnNirvigat. , all General Screw Steam, 10 Irish Beetroot Sugar 10 Magdalena St. Navig. all Mediteran. Elec. TeL all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 5 Netherlands Imnd...i 1 N. S. W. Coal &Inter. Steam Navigat. Col all N. B. Australasian... 12 Nrth. of En rope Ste aro all Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl. all Peninsular& Oriental 45 Do. Do. all Portland Iron Co 60 Royal Mail Steam all Scot. Austral. Invest all South Austral. Land all Submar. Tclegi•aph .►1 Do. Registered ?Ku Dleatet.'a this day. •7; t T re _ Al lfl447l 70,',011110111 n SUN OFFICE, Six o'Clock. TATTERSALL'S. (THIS EVENING.) CHESTER CUP. 1000 to 20 agst Arthur Wellesley. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. 9 to 2 agst St. Hubert. DERBY. 10 to 1 offered on the field. 14 to 1 agst Rifleman (taken). 20 to 1 agst Wild Dayrell (taken). 20 to 1 agst Dirk Hatteraick (taken). 25 to 1 agst Flatterer (taken). 25 to 1 agst Cruiser (taken). 28 to 1 agst Polydore (taken). 1000 to 15 agst Rambling Katie (taken). POLAND. TheUndependance Beige publishes the following letter from Hamburg, of the 22d. inst.:— " We received the night before last the Warsaw mai of the 11th. It was stated in that capital that the last order from St. Petersburg enjoined the military en gineers to terminate the additional works of the citadel of Alexander, commenced three months ago, in the first fortnight of January next. Marshal Paskiewitsch had ordered the organisation of three parks of flying arti'. lery. The Inspector-General of that arm in Poland, Lazareff Stanischtsheff, whom he had cspeciaFy charged with that organisation, returned on the 10th to War saw, to report to the Marshal the result of his inspection in the Government of Mohilev, where one of those batteries had been completely organised at Bodrujsk. It appears that, in the two provinces bordering on Prus sian Poland, the number of Russian troops is very small. A few squadrons of cavalry, which arrived there lately, only stopped a few days. Detachments of Lancers and Cossacks assist the Customs officers in repressing smug cling, which ie orgarde oi l on a large scale along that frontier. The recruits of the now 10,y, <l,vreed by th. Czar, are intended to create a second grand army of reserve, which is to be concentrated at Moscow and in the neighbouring provinces. Those recruits are not to be incorporated into the reserve battalions of the regi ments formed, in virtue of an imperial ukase, issued in March last, with the soldiers sent home on unlimited furloughs. Those battalions are included in the different divisions of the corps of infantry of the six active armies which Russia has now in the field." THE FRENCH ARMY IN THE EAST. The French Minister of War has addressed the following circular to the prefects of departments, generals in command of divisions, and military in tendants : " Paris, Dec. 26. " Gentlemen—Several persons having written to in formine of the articles which they intended sending as gifts to our soldiers in the East, and to inquire how they were to send them, the government of the Emperor accepts witk pleasure these manifestations of national gratitude; which honour alike the braVe soldiers who are the object of them and the citizens who desire to show their lively sympathy for the great cause which we support in the East. I desire, therefore, that the greatest publicity may be (riven to these generous offers, and that each per son may be acquainted with the employment assigned to the objects which he semis to the army. I have decided that articles shall be addressed to the intendants of the military division., who vhall have a receipt given for the same by their agents, shall classify them according to the nature of the service for which they shall be destined, and shall' at once forward them to the port of Marseilles, and from that place to Constan tinople. A notice will be inserted in a journal of the locality to the end that all gifts may be known, registered, and. i eceipted, according to a form prepared for the purpose. A copy of every form shall be forwarded to my office, where they will be centralised by a commission composed of the following persons :—MM. Darrican, councillor of State, president; Bons:Liver de Bernouis, military in tendant ; de Tablay, lieut.-colonel of the staff ; and de Franconiere, lieutenant-eolonel of the staff and chief of my Cabinet. I thank you, gentlemen, for the care which you have been pleased to take in seconding the intentions of the Emperor by encouraging the generous enthusiasm of the persons under your administration. The Government has largely provided for all the wants of our army ; but it is exceedingly agreeable to it to see the soldiers who are fighting se far from their country receiving these marks of gratitude from their countrymen, who thus recompense so many fatigues and sacrifices. Receive, Gentlemen, the assurance of my most distin , guished consideration, " VAILLANT, Marshal of France."— MARKET . .NEWS-(THIS DAY.) -,_ MEAT MARKETS. NEWOATE AND LEADENHALL.—The trade was tolerably firm, and the quotations were well supported. Beef, from 3s 2d to 4s 6d ; Mutton, 3s 44 to 4s 8d ; Veal, 4s Od to gs Od ; Pork, 3s Od to 4s ad per 81bs, by the carcase. SOUTHALL, Dec. 27.—A. very limited supply of stock was on sale to-day. Sheep moved off steadily, at fall prices. Otherwise, the demand was in a sluggish state. Beef, from 38 4d to 4s 104 ; Mutton, 3s 6.1 to 5s 04 ; Veal, Ss 104 to 4s 10d ; Pork, 3s Od to 4s 44 per Sibs, to sink the offals. ROMFORD, Dec. 27.—Our market has ruled inactive, yet prices are tolerably firm. Beef, from 3s 4tl to 5s Od ; Mutton, 3s 44 to 5s 04; Veal, 4s Od to 5s Od ; Pork, 3s 44 to 4s 4d per 81bs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 21s to 26s each. EAT MARKETS. SlifITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ 12s 6d ; clover ditto, 3/ Os to 5115 s ; and straw, 11 2s to 1/ 8s per load. Trade rather d ull. CIIIIBMILAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 16s to 4/ 16s ; clover ditto, 3/ Os to 5/15s ; and straw. V 4s to 11 103 per load. A fair average supply and a moderate demand. WHITSCHAPRL.—Meadow hay, 2115 s to 41145; clover ditto, 31 Os to 61 Os; and straw, 1/ 3s to 1/ 8s per load. Trade steady. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DIY.) LONDON, Dec. 28.—Wind this day at Noon, N.W. ; there was a slight frost during the night, with a light fall of snow. The Margaret Malcolm, from Peterhead to London, was run into by the Mariner, schooner, of Perth, and sunk off Woolwich. The Express, from Cardiff to Singapore, was fallen in with, abandoned, on the 24th October, in lat. 36 S., 23 E., by the Ann Bridson, arrived in the Downs, which set fire to and left her. The Dorothy, from the Mauritius to London, was, in lat. 20 N., long 36 W. struck by a whale, which carried away bowsprit, Lc., and she put into St. Helena for repairs. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 27.—Wind, W. Arrived—Abigail, from Quebec ; Northumberland, from Southampton, for Melbourne. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 27.—Wind, N.W. Sailed—George Marshall, for Melbourne ; Charles and Jane, Boston. FALMOUTH, Dec. 27.—Arrived —Leopold 1., from Ha vannah. ILFRACOMBE, Dec. 27. —Win d N.W. Arrived—Vienna, from St. Domingo, for Liverpool, assisted in damaged. GLOUCESTER, Dec. 27.—Arrived—Tamarac, from Mehl bucto. SWANSEA, Dec. 27.—Wind, W. Arrived—Countess of Bective, from Cuba. SHIELDS, Dec. 27.—Wind, Sailed—Elizabeth Mor rison, for HaVall nab. BELFAST, Dec. 26.—Wind, W. Arrived—Annio Hall, from Shediao. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Thursday Morning. Wind, N. ; fine breeze. Sailed—lstria, for Constantinople. WATERFORD, Dee. 26. Wind, W.N.W. Arrived— Jeunett, from New York. (By SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESBND, Thursday, 10.37 a.m. 'Wind, W.N.W. ; tide, two hours' ebb ; weather, fresh and fine. Arrived, Dec. 27—San Francisco, from Cavalla ; Dora, Messina ; Spirit , Terceira • Pilot (s), Hamburg; City of Norwich (s), do. ; Holland (a), Ostend. Arrived, Dee. 28 —Baron Osy (a), from Antwerp ; Rain bow (s), Rotteriam ; Teaser, St. Mato ; Kossuth, Cal cutta ; Union, Cadiz ; Stratford, Mauritius. Sailed—Queen of Sheba, for Bermuda. DEAL, Thursday, 9.57 a.m. Wind, N.W. ; moderato and fine. Anchored —Pekin, from Calcutta, for Londow. Passed —Benjamin Greene from London, for Mauritius; S a muel Conard, from Shields, for Martinique. DINNER TO THE PooL—Besides the provision of old English fare on Christmas -day for the poor in the work houses, the poor who struggle to keep out of the workhouse were supplied, to sonic extent, with the means of keep ing the feast, as between the hours of 8 and 11 on Christmas morning there were given away, at the Soup kitchen, Ham-yard, St. James's, no less thanl,2oo lbs. of beef and mutton, and 600 lbs. of plum-pudding, so that 300 families received each 4lbs. of the former, and 2 lbs. of the latter, accompanied id each case by a half quartern loaf, a quart of beer, and a packet of tea or coffee. To make the treat more liberal, Messrs. Huntley and Palmer had seat a supply of bisduits, which were dealt out to each. The materials were given by various tradesmen of the metropolis, assisted by money from others ; and we doubt not these generous contributors enjoyed their own Christmas dinners none the less from the circumstance of their having sent a portion to those who had nothing prepared. Tag Cannwg ARMY FUND.—Among the many seasonable and appropriate gifts to this excellent fund is one from the most noble the Marquis of Breadalbnne, who has given directions to Mr. Cram, of Nutford-place, wine and spirit merchant, to forward from his cellars four puncheons of fine Scotch whisky, for the use of the Highland Brigade in the Crimea. It is understood that this generous contribution is to be consigned to Sir Colin Campbell, the brave and esteemed chief of this gallant corps. TILE STRONGEST MATERIAL FOR GUNS. i POSITION - -- ; bai bee :1.. .- temporary : Sir,—The Government has shown wisdom in giving Mr. Nasmyth their support towards developing his plans. I have no 'doubt that under his hands the capabilities of wrought iron for gun metal will be brought out to the uttermost, and his skill and ability will leave nothing undone to insure the best possible result. I would, however, take the liberty of sug gesting to Mr. Nasrnyth that there is a material far superior to wrought iron. I allude to oast steel. A bar of good English iron, one inch square, will sus tain a weight of about 25 tons ; a bar of ordinary cast steel of the same size will sustain 60 tons. The power of cast steel to resist wrenching asunder is to that of wrought iron nearly as Ifq to 10k, and, cast steel can be made perfectly uniform and homogeneous throughout its mass, whilst with wrought iron, uni formity of texture, and solidity, espeeially in large masses, can only be approximated to, and many imper fections must at all times exist when large masses of wrought iron are required, and which can only be formed by welding together a number of small pieces. The objections to cast steel are these is difficult to obtain it in large masses, for it is only procurable by melting steel in clay crucibles, usually containing about 401bs. each, and two of which occupy one melting fur nace. I have se far improved upon this process, that I obtain 561bs. from each crucible, and I work four such crucibles in each furnace ; that is to say, one melting furnace will yield 2 cwts. of cast steel, and therefore to cast an ingot ,fitted for being drawn under the steam hammer into a gun capable of carrying a ball of 3 cwt. 250 such melting furnaces and 1,000 crucibles would be required, supposing the gun to weigh 25 tons, and the contents of all these crucibles would have to be poured very quickly into one large cylindrical iron mould to form the ingot. Whether it be possible to arrange matters so as to enable this to be done I leave it to the great manufacturers of cast steel in Sheffield to decide ; but my own impression is that it is not merely possible, but a simple question of having a sufficient number of well-disciplined workmen and a suitable workshop, for the melting fur naces do not occupy much space. In this manner one ingot of from 25 to 30 tons weight could be produced daily at one such establishment ; and the next question is, Can such an ingot be drawn under the hammer into shape I This Mr. Nasnayth can decide. Another ob jection to the use of cast steel is, that when manufac tured sufficiently soft to insure toughness and strength it is porous in its structure and full of cavities, which, though they close up under the hammer, never unite so as to hAromA and wben the cast steel is made sufficiently hard to form a solid ingot, rree iron, olio va - ou s internal structure, the steel is then brittle, like cast iron. Now I offer to show Mr. Nasmyth or the Government authorities how to make cast steel, which shall form a perfectly solid ingot and yet possess the utmost strength, and I can furnish Mr. Nasmyth with ingots of this steel to be rolled and formed into tubes of given dimensions, which, when bored ,and tested by hydraulic pressure, shall sustain double the strain of that which any wrought iron tubes of similar dimensions can undergo without yielding. This cast steel. including the expenses of melting, crucibles, materials, &c., would not cost more than 361. per ton, and supposing that it is possible to cast so large an ingot and to draw it into shape when cast, and then to bore it, the guns thus formed would be all but imperishable, and not liable to the wear and tear which the weaker materials of wrought or east iron are subject to. Besides the strength and tenacity possessed by cast steel in its ordinary state, it may readily be made still tougher and more tenacious either by simply anneal ing it at a dull red heat for some hours and then allow ing it to cool slowly covered with sand or ashes, or more readily by bringing the mass of steel to a temperature of 610 degrees, and then suddenly immersing it in cold water.—l am, sir, your constant reader, ROBT. MISHET. West Dean Steel Works, Coleford NAVVIES AND RAILTVAY PLANT FOR BALAKLAVA. The following letter has been addressed to a con :en9ora7 _ _ Sir,—The Wildfire, with her " navvies" and railway plant, was, I perceive by a late Daily News, still at Birkenhead, waiting a wind--and wait she way for a month ; or if she sails, he that time before she gets out of the Channel. Any one who has paid attention to events knows that in ordinary years, if a vessel does not leave the Mersey before the second week in No vember, unless she is a clipper, the great chance is when she does leave she may be knocking about for six weeks before she gets clear. What are these railways for if they are not to be availed of in the present emergency ? To say nothing of the exigency, at a less cost by far than " finding" and paying ss. per day to each " navvie," and the hire of the vessel during such detention, the whole plant and men could be despatched per rail by the "shortest route" to Marseilles, and thence per steamer to Balaklava. Small steamers—the class now in requisition for a winter voyage—(we are always in extremes)—offer little better alternatives than sailing vessels, as they oaenot sheer in heavy weather.—Yours, &c., Dec. 26, 18L ( 5 )1 , 1 1 . E WHO KNOWS THI Mum WELL. 7NIST.RY. ‘• ~f cuo.titutionai government iu England to the position occupied by the present Ministers. We a s k o f t h em that they will look at that position from no party point of view, but that they will judge of it solely with refer ence to those great constitutional principles which are the traditions of English government, and which, after all, are the only true safeguards of English liberty and English greatness. There is no doubt whatever that at this moment the Ministry continue in office solely by the forbearance of men strongly opposed to them. They chose to stake their official existence upon the passing of the Foreign Enlistment Bill. It has been abundantly proved by an analysis of the division lists that this measure was carried solely because a large number of men, strongly opposed both to the Ministry and the measure, abstained from voting upon one or other of the divisions by which the fate of the bill was deeided. We do not now inquire whether those who absented themselves acted right or wrong. We certainly do not question either the honesty or the patriotism of their intentions. We merely call attention to the indisputable fact, that a very large number of members of the House of Commons who usually oppose the pre sent Ministry, and who are known to dislike their F other, t Foreign Enlistment Bill, neglected, from some motive or give effect to their opinions by voting the rejection of the measure. Had they done so, and had Ministers kept their word, we would not now have either a Foreign Enlistment Bill or a Coalition Cabinet. This establishes the proposition, that Ministers hold office at this moment by the forbearance of their politi cal opponents. How far this may be to Ministers credit able, or to the country a safe state of affairs, we will not now stop to inquire. Unhappily there is ranch more than this. Lord Aberdeen oontin ues P r i me Mi n ister, because the House of Commons, or at least a large num ber of its members, are content to abandon the right or the duty of expressing their opinions. We can understand very well that members of that assembly generally giving their confidence or their sup. port to Ministers should hesitate to displace them by an adverse vote even upon a measure of which they di g . approved. To feelings like this we believe Ministers owe nine-tenths of the votes which were given for th e Foreign Enlistment sill. There would, of course, be no difficulty in understanding the motives which migh influence men generally opposing the Ministry to sup port a ministerial measure of which they approved. But the case with which we are dealing is one widely different from either of these—it is that of men who, disliking both the Ministry anti their measure, yet, from one motive or other, abstained from voting against it. Tt does not need many words to prove that exactly to the extent to which such absete.:e prows ila , the functions of the House of Commons are, in truth, virtually in abeyance. If the number of members thus withholding themselves upon a division on a vital question be con siderable, we may fairly say, that upon that question the opinion of the House of Commons is, in truth, not taken at all. The assent of the House of Commons is not given to it. The forms, indeed, of the constitution and of Parliament may be observed ; but all that can give to those forms vitality, or meaning, or life, is wanting. _ _ _ If this be a correct view of the proceedings upan this measure we are justified in saying that Ministers hold office, not merely by the sufferance .of their op. ponents, but by the abeyance of the constitutional func tions of the House of Commons. It is a very serious question to ask, whether this be a safe state of things We have a Ministry existing only by the voluntary abdication of their duties on the part of the represen tatives of /the people. The action of the popular branch of the Legislature would be fatal to their official life. They can only prolong that life by lulling into inaction the House of Commons. Tills is in itself a grievous and a great calamity. We are old-fashioned enough to believe that popular opinion and popular feeling, expressed in the Parliament, con stitute the very soul and breath of our Engli,lGovern 'neut. We are sure that the national sanction to the resolutions of Ministers is that which is best calculated to give them weight and authority, not only at home, but abroad; and that in our free and happy constitu tion the approval of the rapresentativeA of the people , 2;ive; to those resolutions a moral influence which the decisions of despotic Governments never can cow• maul. in troth, is the advantage in a free Go vernment which more than compensates for the many and obvious inconveniences that attend the public discussion of its measures. The resolves of the British Government are those of the nation, aid not merely of its rulers. _ _ _ But all this is log if we have a Ministry that depends for its existence upon the inaction of the House of Commons. Let us take this very Foreign Enlistment Bill as an example. Is there any pretence for saying that the nation represented in Parliament has assented to its passing ? We do not merely say that its passing at all was a surrender, on the part of those who voted for it, of their own opinions to the wishes or the conve, nience of Government—this is an assent, although an extorted one—but let us test, by the numbers of the divisions, how far even such an assent as this was really given by "the Commons in Parliament assembled." Upon the second reading of this bill 241 votes were given for the measure, 202 against it. Ministers could only induce 241 members of the House of Commons to record their assent to this measure—very little more than one-third of the house. Never was there an occasion upori which Ministers might more confidently have reckoned upon the presence of those who thought with them. The crisis .was one of the deepest national elav —.44.5...a "41. Yon AO A di. monstration of earnestness in supporting the Sovereign it might have been expected that a full attendance of members would have marked the interest felt by the nation in the war. No party stimulus was neglected to bring up the lagging to the support of the Ministry. Circulars were issued headed with the unusual but signi ficant announcement— 66 Certqin important and DECISITE divisions." Every effort was made to summon ministerial sup• porters to their post, and after all this, for a meuure which they professed to think so essential that without it they could not carry on the war, the Ministers of Queen Victoria were scarcely able to obtain the votes of a third of the House of Commons. This is a position in which the Government of an Eng lish Sovereign never should be placed. To escape adverse divisions is but a poor triumph for a Ministry in a crisis like this. Deserted benches tell against the country, if not against Ministers, in the division. For their measures Ministers ought to command the cordial and enthusiastic support of Parliament and the country. This is something very different from the sullen silence with which a large proportion of the House of Commons have barely permitted the ministerial measure to pass. The absence of so many members of " the great council of the nation" is no good omen for the country. We do not inquire sanction people. whether that absence was wise or not. We only state a proposition about which there can be no dispute—that more Ministers than c o o n u e l - (l h it n r o d o not fbr the representatives to Let Parliamentary divisions he counted as they may, we repeat that such a Ministry does not command that na tional sympathy and support without which no Ministry can manage the affairs of England with success. On the contrary, it is plain that Ministers succeed in holding office only by reducing to practical inaction the sentiments and opinions of at least one-third of the House. of Commons itself. We may speculate upon the matter as we p!ease, but hero is the plain fact. Our Parlia mentary Governme nt is one which is carried on by members of Parlia ment staying away. We earnestly recommend this fact to the serious consideration of Lord John Russell, and those who, like him, still profess 515 a tt a chment to the Parliamentary system established al l the revolution of 1683.-3foraing Herald. POSITION OF THE RUSSIANS IN ASIA 11IINOR. . We extract the following from a letter dated Mosul Nov. 10 :—A-s I have seen utterly erroneous accounts in two Loudon papers as to the movements of the Russian troops under Bebutoff, I have to inform you that the, have not " entirely withdrawn across the frontier, aban doning every position which their successes at Bayazid and Kurackdei e had enabled them to occupy." I am able to contradict this statement on the authority of a letter received to-day by the English vice-consul here, from Yezdershier Bey—the son of the notori , us Bedr Khan Bey, now in Candia— who is at present at Mardeen, six days to the north of this, engaged in collecting irregular troops for the army at Kars. He says, "By the last new, from Van I learn that the Russians hive collected a large fo ce and encamped at Kozlygal, 12 hours from Van on the road from Bayezid. By this it would seem as if they intended a winter campaign—through six feet of t now." To this satisfactory di;prover of the " entire withdrawal" of the Russians, I may add an equally fiat contradiction to attJther paragraph in one of the same journ als, which states that "the Tu rks are advancin g b y f o rced marches on Tiflis from Kars and Batoum." The Turks at Rare and Batoutn were never farther from "forced marches" in their life, unless indeed it be back upon Erzeroum before the Russians, and not -upon Tiflis re hereem enitss there are any a r r iviafter then. This also I can state, on the faith of a p riv ate letter which reached myself some da y s a g o from a friend at Kars, who writes "Every thin g here is j ust as it was h nor if° a month ago; the Russians remain on their old g roun d , and we are not likely to disturb them, even if the coming snow nga allowed B a to of rn o t vneemi neither there ße . likelihood of a stir till spring." S 4 much for the with drawal of the Ros dans beyond the frontier, and the " forced marches" of my old acquaintances • upon Tiflis. ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE.---Mrs. Mary lane Evans, the widow of the Rev. D. Evans, formerly rector of Simon burn, in the county of Northumberland, has invested the sum of 5421. in the Three per Cent. Consols, to found a scholarshi p i n S t. Dav id' s College, under the denomination of the " Sinsonburn Scholarship." It will be open for competition to students training for holy orders, who shall be natives of any of the 15 counties of Wales, including Monmouthshire ; but, cateris paribus, it is provided that a native of Carmarthenshire shall have the'prefearence. WAR VESSELS IN THE FIRM-At present the Firth of Forth is the station Of a squadron of war vessels, consisting of the Edinburgh, 60 guns, carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Chads ; the Cruiser, 17, Captain Douglas ; the Archer, 14, Captain Heathcote ; and the Jackal!, tender. All the vessels have auxiliary steam power. The Cruiser, which was the first to arrive from the Baltic, took up its station on Thursday in tlae roads between Leith and Granton ; tie Edinburgh came upas far as Inchkeith on Friday, and on S4turday took an chorage higher up, saluting the Fort as it passed. On Sunday the Archer arrived about two o'clock, and saluted the Admiral's flag —Edinburgh Courant. GUN COTTON. The following letter has been addressed to a con temporary : Sir,—The successful introduction of gun cotton in the Austrian artillery has caused a general anxiety to learn whether any similar experiments have been made in our own service since the first discovery of this powerful ex plosive, at which time, though no official statements wore published, it was generally understood that the too rapid combustion burst the guns, and proved gun cotton to be inapplicable to the artillery then in use, As the hesitation, which I should otherwise have felt in addressing any suggestions on the subject to a pa bile journal, is removed by the publicity already given to the matter by a letter in yesterday's Times, I would venture to ask, knowing how much the vary obviousness and simplicity of the process will sometimes interfere with its trial 1. Whether the experiment has been made of using a wad of gun cotton over the charge of powder ? And, if, in this case, the gradual ignition of the coarse powder would not have overcome the vis inertias of the ball and forced it forward in the tube of the gun before the gun cotton could explode ? The danger of bursting would be further diminished by wrought-iron guns ? 2. Whether fulminates and explosives of a far more formidable nature than any now in general use might not be safely used in the filling of shells, if these ma terials were carefully wrapped up and packed into the shell with gun cotton ? No blow, short of that caused by propulsion from a gun, would produce heat enough to explode the cotton.—Yours, &c., No CHEMIST. Oxford and Cambridge Club, Dec. 27. CULT'S REVOLTERS. The following letter has been addressed to the Mlitor of the Times : Sir,—ln the Times of the 10th inst. was published a note from a correspondent containing an extract front a letter purporting to come from St. Petersburg, in which tb ii writer makes . ,the following statement :—" Col. Colt hrs; been or is still here with his machinery to make re volvers." Whereupon, without any further delay, lam attacked by various journals in terms of severe condem nation. Through the Times I beg the privilege of alumering the statement and the attacks. at is not true that I have furnished arms or machinery to the Russian Government, or that I have contracted to furnish either arms or machinery to that Govern malt. The only truth in the letter, as regards me is, tha; I have been in Russia, as I have been in the other 1 - , , :r0 it States of Europe during the last two months. :Ever since my armoury has been established in Lon , doei, both it and my own skill have always been at the service of the Government, and it rests with them to etn:nloy either or both to their fullest extent. My offers to the Government to manufacture any description of arms at prices much less than are paid to others have been sufficiently public already, and should afford a coltplete answer to all comp!aints against me of the sort referred to. It is not my fault if all my facilities are not now devoted to the British Government.—l am, sir, yotir obedient servant, . SAMUEL COLT. Spring-gardens, Dec. 27. TRIVATE AND JOINT-STOCK BANKS. !The Banker's Magazine furnishes the returns of circu -Ist:Jon of the private and joint-stock banks in England time Wales for the four weeks ending the 25th of Nev., 1854, and gives the following as the average weekly cir culation of those banks'during the past month, viz. : Pri veto banks ... Joint-stock banks 3,134,898 Average weekly circulation £7,081,061 On comparing the above with the returns for the pre ceding month, ending the 28th of October last, it sho.ws— A *lecrease in the circulation of the private banks of A c.ccrease in the circulation of the joint-stock b auks of £30,3 '9 Decrease on the month 4,544 £25,203 Arad, as compared with the return for the correspond in;,: period of last year—viz., November 26, 1853, it show's— - - -- - A decrease in the circulation of the private .banks of An. increase in the circulation of the joint-stock banks of Decrease on the year £21,531 14,023 £7,803 iOn comparing the above with the amounts of the fixed ismues, the following appears to be the comparative state of - the circulation : 'rib 3 private banks are below their fixed issues The joint-stock banks aro below their fixed issues £661,292 190,959 Total below their fixed issues ..... £.852,251 LONDON AND GREENWICH RAILWAY.—The dividend proposed to be declared by the directors of this company on the unprivileged shares for the half-year en iing the inst. is ss. Bd. per share, free of income tax. 20 20 10 10 St. 10 St. 25 50 50 1 1 i 25 70k 69j 704 I 25 OX Sirrg I St. 731 6; 6; 1001 1 25 5 10 St. St. 5 3 1 st, 2f 25 22 11 35 4 60 - 65 • •. ,113 118 108 - 110 99 - 101 - 96 - 91 - 53 - 104 - 17 -10 i - 73 -19 i - 9i -14 A - to 135 111 - 113 12 id i ... li 1 -- I.i - ;• . - 4 101 1001 901 - i 5 - 7 6 - 7 2i - 2 1 - 1 4 30 - 32 4 - i id par 47 49 65 par 2 p 14 16 1 oar ip 15 - 17 i - i i - q I - i 15 - 16 - a 23 25 6 - i - :q 1 1 1 - 2 2 - - d ••• ."'' • ••• --"' . '1101:103 ii 1: ii ii = ia . ••• 100 : 105 .09A -13} 3A - iii = iii ... ;.. ••• ••• 1 2i = 21 2 - 61 •- 63 11 - 2 31 - 39 - 1 .1i -12 i I 20 20 20 10 1041 3} i