The Sun. — London, England, 1863-12-24 00:00:00

;. the le bf lice o% ,ion of age (11 re th e :en uP astiug . 3tle to )rinci" .room , cl an d y 1186 ent of C on- per' by the inoiPa l d I1r• whole 9) the unraork and OA Mea t Thos. Liver- if June 23d of single ;en tha i n all care of 2,i.dent, 3 Misa lace on, Paris, is, iS at tho of the 2 soya- yes no simplY kets so ra, Urr L ndays. on all re novi stone" is 0.1 0 is, old be flit )ebeia" s itce- f f inz 0 1° o :i . o ct . 3ra ti°ll; ph oto ' to it atS gilt' nll‘ pltA llee. ate ` °.: tre at '' The : de And d ttar is' a dded uch hal Lia untiL ution ted gr. dent for the ere :irgb* XONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. . CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. REDUCTION IN THE BANS RATE. The directors of the Bank of England at their weekly court to-day have reduced the minimum rate of interest and discount from 8 per cent., at Which it was adjusted on the 31 inst., to 7 per cent. This important measure has not occasioned much surp r i se , because the recent tendency of monetary affairs prepared the public for it, if not this week, On Thursday next at latest. The return to ap- Pear this evening is understood to be exceedingly favourable es regards the bul lion, the reserve of notes, and the " other securities." 0 wing to the easier terms lately cur rent in the general market, the bulk of the discount business has been negotiated there, the Bank being excluded from its ordinary share. The necessity has thus arisen for a relaxation, and it will no doubt give an incentive to commercial and other en terprises after the holidays. About £121,000 in bar gold was taken into the Bank yesterday. The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to tbis day are in round figures as under :- 1863. 1862. Great Western forth-Western South-Western Brighton Midland 42,428 40,340 South-Eastern Great Northern .. .. 33,262 29,211 Lancashire and Yorkshire.. 35,621 31,614 Bristol and Exeter North-Eastern Msnehester, Sheffield, and Lincoln.. 16553 14,910 Olaszow and South Western 7,537 7,800 Scottish North Eastern 4,940 4,688 These returns, compared with those of the same Period of last year, are, with one or two exceptions, extremely favourable. On the Great Western there is an increase of £2,873 ; on the North Western of £7,165 ; on the South Western of £2,332 ; on the Midland of £2,088 ; on the South astern of £1,318 ; on the Great Northern of £6,051 ;on the Bristol and Exeter of ;on the North Eastern of £679 ; on the Manchester, Shef field, and Lincoln of £1,643; and on the Scottish North Eastern of £262. The Brighton, however, shows a decrease of £1,217 ; and the Glasgow and South Western of £263. Two O'CLOCK. At Paris this morning (according to Mr. Reuter's telegram) the 3 per Cent. Rentes were 66f. 3:5c. Heavy. The annexed circular has been issued this morn ing : 40, Lombard-street, Dec. 24, 1863. Gentlemen,—We have to inform you that we have made arrangements for the combination of our business with that of our friends, Cunliffes & Co., of 24, Lombard-street, on Ist of January next, under the style of Alexanders, Cun h ills Company. The business will be carried on both at 40 and 24, Lombard , street, until the 15th of next month, When it will be conducted solely at 24, Lombard-street, dt until the premises in course of erection at 30 and 31, Lom bard •street are completed. Trusting that under the new st arrangement we shall receive a continuance of your favours, We remain, yours, faithfully, A, &G. W. ALEXANDER I & CO. 1 The effect of the reduction in the Bank rate at the Stock Exchange would probably have been great er had it not occurred on the eve of the holi- dt days. There is naturally a disposition to look for- Ward to the future with increased confidence in ° Consequence of the altered aspect of monetary affairs, but the chapter of accidents is taken into consideration, and the continued diminution in the stock of bullion at the Bank of France is not lost light of by speculators who are in the habit of el taking every circumstance into careful considera- at, Lion. There is, nevertheless, general buoyancy prevailing in all the markets, and most of the 1! favourite securities are at enhanced ,quotations. Consols are about 1-• higher, being 9lt t- for money, and 91a for the account. The New Threes s and the Reduced Annuities are 91- -1; and Ex- chequer Bills, 9s. 4s. die. India Stock, ex div. for the opening of the transfer-books, is marked 218; I ndia 5 per Cents., 1.064 I ; and the Debentures, 991 In the Foreign Market increased buoyancy has Prevailed, and business is more active. Tarkish 6 Per Cents., 1862, are 71 1 ; do. Consolides, 47 / 48 Mexican, 3 1 4 ; Greek, 25/ ; Spanish Passive, 33 i e ; Portuguese, 49 1; Italian, 704 ; and the Confederate Loan, 37 39. In the Railway Share Market the operations have been moderately active, and prices have in most instances tended upwards. Caledonian, Great Western, Brighton, and South Western have ad vanced 55., and Great Northern A Stock, £1 ; Metropolitan and South-Eastern, however, have declined ss. The Foreign and Colonial lines remain at about former rates. Bank and Miscellaneous Shares continue in fair request at full prices. London and Westminster realise 801 2 ; London and Colonial 361 1; Crystal Palace Stock is quoted 33; ; National Shipping Company, /to 1 prem.; Pacific Steam, 1.1 prem.; Contract Corporation, 3/ 41 prem.; and Consoli dated Discount, 1/ 2 prem. BRITISH. FUNDS-ONE O'CLOCK. Bank Stock — per Cent. Reduced Annuities oiper Cent. Consols Annuities i lew 3 per Cent. Annuities India Stock, 1874 Ditto 5 pet Cent. 1 8 7 0 Ditto 4 per Cent. 1888 ... Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent .. Ditto 5 per Cent Ditto 5i per Cent Ditto ditto April, 1864 99k , Ditt o ditto Aug. 1 864 or 66 — .wink Stock for Account Ditto Bonds £l,OOO Ditto under £l,OOO Consols for Account, Jan. 7 9ll f I India Stock for Account, 5 per Cent — Exchequer Bilhi, £l,OOO, 24 & 3 per Cent 9 4 dis Ditto £500 Ditto Small FOREIGN FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK. Austrian Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto 1859 ...... .• per en Brazilian Ditto, 183 and C 1 t ........ 859 ................ Ditto 4} per Cent., 1852-58-60 ...... Ditto _ Ditto 1863 no s Bu e ° criP, 1863, £3O paid ~.,.. ~ EgYptia n A. 71" 6 Per Cent 93 f Ditt o , s eo P: u t d . Cent lOO i Greek 5 per Cenl7 l6- .... — Ditto Account ... 18 24'6, ex-Coupons — Ditto Coupon s Ditto Account ...... Guatemala 5 per Cent. Ditto Account Italian 5 per Cent. plarein . na . .............. • • • Mexican 3 per Cent ........ —wa Yi 7 8 i ...... Ditto Account .... Moorish Imperial 5 per Cent .............. 371 1 , i i i New Granada ........................ — l3l __. Ditto 2 per Cent. Ditto Deferred ...................... 81 Ditto Land Warrants (Hectares) ...... Peruvian 3per Cent. ............ -- Ditto Account ...................... Ditto 4} per Cent., 1862 ........ 88,1 ; Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853 .......... Ditto Account.. ............ Ditto 3 per Cent., 1856, '7, '9, '6O, 62,'3 Ditto Account ...................... 49h Ditto, 1863 ........................ Ditto Scrip, £l5 paid li Pm Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St 92 Ditto 41 per Cent 1850 ... • —. Ditto ' 1860 Ditto 3 per Cent., 1859 Ditto 5 per Cent. 1862 Sardinian 5 per Cent ..... ••••••• Ditto Account Spanish 3 per Cent Ditto A ccount ...... Ditto New Deferred .Ditto Account .. Ditto Passive ................ Ditto Account Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded — thtto Account ~ ,N, edish , 4 p er Cent .............. 11;rkish 6 p er C en t. 1851 .............. — t Ditto Account B9l Ditto 6 per Cent. IS S 01 Ditto Account I litio 6 per Cent. 156'..: ....ilitto Account V ( nczuela 3 per Cent. - J)it to Account — Ditto 6 per Cent., 1862 Ditto Account Dividends on the above payable in London. Dlittch22, per Cent., Ex. 12 Gail 6,5a ) uto Account... French Itentes, 41 per Cent., Ex. 25f , itte • coount. . Ditto Scrip (1863) £42 Bs. 3d. paid — Pm Consols Money TWO O'CLOCK ..... Ditto Account SHARE MARKETS.—This day. ORDINARY SHARES AND STOehg. i Closing I Business Share Railways. Paid. Price. done. 13.14. 1 Bir., Wol., and Str. Val. 25 (Blythe and Tyne. 10 Bost.,Sleat.,andM id.Co at Bristol and Exeter at Caledonian .•.•_.. 50 Cork and Bandon 20 Cornwal A l .. g .. e . ts no di 10 Do A ti tip c.p an.has 10 Do. B been paid to B. 50 Dublin & Belfast June. I 25 {Dun.,l'erth,& Ab. turn { at ,Edinburgh & Glasgow. st Ililaeg. and S. Western. at ! GreatEastern, Ord. stk at i Ditto A stock at Ditto East Anglian et st GreatNorthof Scotland aL ,Great N orthern • at r Do A stock at Do B do at Gt. S. and W. of Irelan ! st Great Western ...... • • at Do Str Val ua. stock st Lancashi.T & Yorkshire at ;London and Blackwali et 'Lon., Bright.,& S. Coast at Lon., Chat., mid Dover at Lon. & Nor' h Western st Lou. & Sw.th Western, st { Man., Slid., & Lincoln.) 50 {Maryport and Carlisle. 124 I Do t shares at 'Metropolitan st Midland 8.4.0 Do New st Do Birming. & Derby 50 Mid. Gt. W. of Ireland 25 Do. 4 shares 25 ,Dlid Kert _ 8 8i 8 Si 82 F 4 123 121 1201 10 I— Do Cray Line st North British at ,Edin., Perth, & Dundee st INth. Eastern—Berwic ,, 25 Do, G.N.E. purchas , at Do Lecds st Do York at Do Carlisle...... •• • • at orth London 10 I Do New 4.15.4 North Staffordsh"'e 10 N. and S. W. Junction at :Scottish Central at iScot. N. E., Aber. stock st Do . Scot. Mid. stock 10 , Shrews. and Weichpooi at ;Shropshire Union at ,South Devon • • at South Eastern st ,South Wales at ,S. York. and River Dun 20 Staines,Wok.,andWok 25 Stockton & Darlington 25 Do 25 Do New, 180 G st Taff Vale. . . 10 Do B 10 Do C 50 Ulster 25 Do 2.10 j Do st ,Vale of Neath st Victoria sta. and Pim I s t j W aterford 8; Kilkenny I st West Cornwall st iW. Hartlepool Har..tß 1 at West Midland -Oxford at Do Newport at Do Hereford 6i 7 37 39 16 17 96 98 107 109 49 50 45 47 7s 8a 125 ‘27 131 132 134 136 97 99 641 611 111% 1111 72 74 7i 1 081 43 44 107; 1071, 101 1(2 491 50i iTia Fl2l 1291 130 a j i liP 97 DO 521 E3l 25 15 1026 103 585 50 i 89 9) 119 121 1 2 78 78 11 11i 122 126 42 14 98 100 61 62 32 33 951 tl6i 97 ' 91 48 9 158 1 5 21 Oi p 83 86 170 175 BRITISH POSSESSIONS. Closing Shan Railways Fwd. Price. Business don. 100 It lantio &St LAWI'CIaCt all 60 (2 Bom.,Baroda&.Cent Inc lot 106 107 bkt Gu. 5 per cent... 20 Do. New 20 Do. E. Shares.. 405 Buffalo and Lake Huron all 6 61 ' 10 Do. Preierance 100 Buffalo,Brant,&Godricl , IU ,, 6 p. ct. bds. Aug. 1, 187tc 100 Do. do. July 1, 187., 100 10U Do. do. June 1, 10 100 et .31cutta,t S. Eastn. (I,i; , 100 104 1( 8 106 at Cape Town Dock Sail 100 101 103 stock Kamm. Bengal gu. sp. 100 108 109 stock East Indian. go. sp. c. ion 117 118 20 Do. do. G Ext..— 15 20 Do. do. H do. stock Grand Trunk of Canada Nu 20 21 101 100 Do. Ist Pre(. Bonds all 73 15 100 Do. uo. deferred all 51 61 100 Do. 2d Fret. 8013 , 18 all 65 67 100 Do. do. deferred all 50 53 100 Do. 3d P. el. stock 100 Do. do. deferred all 38 42 100 Do. 4th Pref. stock all 27 29 100 Do. do. deferred all 22 14 stock GLlndiarenln.gua.sP.c 100 1t,85 1095 20 Do. New gua. sp. 0 l2 12 11 20 Do. January, 1862 stook Gt. South.of India(Lim guaranteed 5 per cent. 100 1055 106, 205 Gt. W. of Canada Sharer all 10 101 205 Do. New ....... 18 11 104 100 Do. 6 p.c. '73 with't opt. all 92 95 100 Do. 55 p. c. do. '77-8 all 86 88 10 Indian Branch Limited 2 1 jn 24 stock Madras guar., 5p.0. .. 100 106 ;07 stook Do.ll p. o. Extension 100 100 101 stock DC. 44 do.. ...... 100 06 100 20 Do. Fifth Extension. 2 -- stock Melb.Corp. 6p. o. Buds. 100 50 3lelb. & Hobson's Bay. all 57 59 574 100 Do. 7p. o. Hong. Bds. all 20 Newßruns.wick do Candi, Class A and B all 3 5 N.ll.l.C'da spo lst pi bds 100 82 84 stork Soinde .......... (100 106 107 stock Do. Delhi lOO 116 1(.7 zu Do. do • t 2 lip at Do. Punjaub _; all 1055 1t.,61 lOU nook Do. Indus. St. Flo.) 1 1 / 1 1 lOl 103 COLONIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. k.,an.uoy.ts p.e.J a. stiJull 1877-St . l3O 1( 5 106 106 3 I Do. 6p. c. Feb. & Aug. 100 I( 3 I( 5 I Do. 6p. c. Mar. & Sept. 100 3 5 Do. sp. 0. Jan.&July. 100 13 04 I Do. 5 Inscribed stock 100 9: 93 ICape G.flope, 6 p 0,1873 100 106 108 Do.Ap & Oct. 1880 100 109 111 Do. 1890 100 109 111 Do. Jan. & July, 1891.. 100 112 114 Ceylon, N0v.1878, 6p c 100 ' 110 112 :Mauritius 6 per cent .. 100 106 108 Natal Gov. 6 per cent.. 130 1 , 8 110 —. 'N.B.Gov. 6 p.a./ a.&July 100 104 106 Do. 6p. c.Ap. & Om. 100 - N. S.W. Gov. 5 p 1,163 , i 100 100 102 - Du. sp. c.,lBti to L;,( 100 101 102 I Do. d0.,1888 &upwds 100 1013 1023 New Zealand 6 p cent. 100 110 112 INova Scotia Gov. 6p. C. sterling, 1875. lOO 105 107 Queensland Gcv. 6p. c. 100 11l 113 IS. Aus G6p.c.1878.8; up.. 100 111 113 Via. Gov. 6 p.c. Ja.&July 100 107 109 Do. io 6 p.c. An.&Ont.. 100 lO9l 1104 ) 1091 lO 91 BRITISH MINES. 2 ;Cambrian Consol. Gold 1 id 1 ILlitiord Amalgamated.. 55 Deven G. Con.. avist., 1 550 670 East Bassett (Illogan).. 30 t 8 60 59 1 East Clogau Gold Ltd. ss. Id par 'East earadon ...... 1.14., 27 28 273 East Carn Brea.... .. . 3.4.0 6 6 3 / 4 E. W'l Russel (Tavistk..) 8.9.0 5Si 5 1 1 IGam.&St.Auhyn(Gwen.; 580 8 10 IG rest South Tolgus.... 17s 4 4i G. Wheal Vor (11elston 40 12 13 !Grenville .. 6.16. e 4 4o j Herd's-Foot 8.12 07 39 ll ingston Downs 4.18.0 23 3 Lady Bertha Margaret (IJny Lelaut 9i 14 16 Slarke Valley.. 4 Myndy Iron Oro (Lim ' 21; 13 New Setun • North Downs 2 I 1 14 '1 Basset (111o2;an 3.1.0 2, 3 North Wheal Crotty Par Consols (St. Blaze) , , 20 r Vrovidence (Uny Lelnt., 10.6.7 42 44 ;South Caradon(St.Cleer 13 415 525 earn Brea (Illogan) — Fran. (Illog,an 18.18.9 60 65 - ,Stray Park 3 0 .1 7.6 2 8 3 0 6 Vamar Silv.& Lead Min. 44 ,fin Croft 9 18 19 ! West Basset (Illogan) l3 93 103 ' W C rzclon (Liskeard; 5 18 20 West Seton Wheal Basset (Mogan 53 85 90 Wheal Buller ( Redruth) 5 223 273 Wheal Kitty (13.Lelant; 2.0.6 - ;WhealLudcott I W heal Mary Ann ( * Men ) 8 113 12 Wheal Seton . . 583 150 160 I Wheal Trclawney (Lis.) 7 21 22 !Wheal Union 3.17 23 21 PREFERENCE SHARES. Great Western Orig. 4} per cent. pf., 100 i Midland 41 per cent. pf. stk. rd., 103 PREFERENCE SHARES AND STOCKS. London and Blackwall, 4i per cent. stk., 101;2 London, Brighton, &c., IA per cent., 1858, 105 Metropolitan 5 per cent., 107 LINES LEASED Al' FIXED RKNTALS. North Western, 17} FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Antwerp and Rotterdam, 8i Bahia and san F r ancisco (Um.) gua. 7 per cent., 181 Eastern of France, 18 Namur and Liege, gua. 6 per cent. pf., 201 N. Rail of Buenos Ayres, gua. 7 per cent., 101 Ottoman (Smyrna to Aidin), 12 Paris, Lyons, and Mediterranean, 37 Turin and Savona, 4 FOREIGN MINES. Cobre Copper, 29: United Mexican (lira), 61 6 1 . - JOINT-STOCK BANKS. Bank of Wales, Um, 9 1 British 08 tis l hand American Exchange (lirn.), 191 City, Consolidated Bank, lira., 101 East London, Rm., 71 European Bank, lira., 31 Hindustan, ohina, and Japan (lira.), 311 Imperial Ottoman, 18 1 Land Mortgage Bank of India, Um., 41 London and Brazilian (lira.), 53 1 London and County, 561 1 London Joint Stock, 171 London and South African, 261 London and Westminster, 806 National Provincial of England. Ditto, ditto, 281 Scinde, Punjaub, and Delhi (lino, 7 1 7 Ditto, new issued, at £1 10s., 41 MISCELLANEOUS. A us tralian Copper, 11 E g lish and nee of London, lim.. 01 7 Gen. Credit and Ina ' glacial Society, Him., 91 1 International Ceylon Crystal 1870, issued 90, 87 J Italian om bt .i Ditto, new, 6* II 'rn s t t t l o o r c , r k i 6 g t./ D a e t i r i s o c n ou ( cent . i t ß 6 a o . l i n ( d ''' s ' , v re u d r em . L L, o , n ria d o o n n D F i i s n t a r n ie z t i , n T l Telegraph (lira.). . ion, litre., 231 Madras Irrigation and Canal, 31 National Dimeount romp may, lira., 9 fr ) Rio de Janeiro City ImproventPnts, ;.,71 South A !limn Mortgage and Investment, 61 RACING FIXTURES FOR 1864. Lincoln SpringFEBRUARY. 23 Sprin g 1 Chelmsford Spring MA.II.CI I . Nottingham .... lb Derby Spring 3 York Spring Liverpool Shrewsbury APRIL, Croston-park 1 Newmarket C raven .... 11 Epsom. Sprirg .. 7 I Newmarket Fi rs t Sp r i ng 25 , POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day. The Coroner for Central Middlesex and the Parish Authorities of St, Pancras. ETHNO: MARLBOROUGH-STREET. -- --- The disputed question arising out of the dismissal of the coroner's summoning officer by the St. Pan cras vestry, was resumed yesterday at the ordinary vestry meeting. The CHAIRMAN, Mr. Churchwarden Taylor, pointed out the position in which the matter stood at the present time. There were before the meeting a resolution, to the effect that the report of the com mittee presented last week should be adopted, and that the vestry should proceed to the appcintment of a beadle in the room of Murray, and nave him duly sworn in by the magistrates to discharge the duties in reference to inquests ; and ar amendment, to the effect that the question of the legality or otherwise of Murray's dismissal, he not having been allowed to be heard, should be referred to the OMNIBUS ROBBERY.—Henry Walker, a well-dressed young man, who described himself as' a carver, of High street, Reading, was charged before Mr. Knox, with steal ing a purse containing two rings and some money from the pocket of Mrs. Susannah Moore, a lady residing at 8, Brewer-sttreet, Pimlico, while in an omnibus in Park-lane, Mrs. Moore said—Yesterday afternoon about five o'clock, I was in an omnibus at the bottom of Park-lane, near the Marble-arch, the prisoner sitting next to me. After get ting about half-way down Park-lane, I having my hands in nay muff, I was induced to look at the prisoner in con sequence ot his touehing me. I observed that the prisoner was looking me hard in the face, and that his hands were under my cloak. I thought it very su picious, the more so as the prisoner got up and left the omnibus in a hurried manner, and on putting my hand into my pocket I found my purse and contents were gone. Mr. Knox—On which side of you did the prisoner sit? Mrs. Moore—On the right hand side of me, on the side where my pocket was. Directly I discovered my loss I spoke to the conductor, the prisoner making off just at the time, and the conductor and a gentleman caugh the pri soner and brought him back. While the prisoner was away I searched the omnibus with a lady who was in it, bat could find nothing of the purse. The prisoner pro tested his innocence, but after being placed in the omnibus by the conductor the purse was found at his feet. Edward West, conductor of one of the Royal Oak omni buses, said—The prisoner got in at the top of the Edgware road, and on going down Pack lane got out in a hurried manner without giving me notice, and was going away, not having paid me my fare. In consequence of what the lady said I seized the prisoner, and he fell. On getting up he made off, but, accompanied by a gentleman, I pursued him down Chapel-street into Mount-street, where we stopped him, and the only remark he made was, "He is gone ; I'll come back with you." We then took the pri soner back to the omnibus, and not seeing a constable till we got to the Victoria Station, there gave him into custody Mr. Knox—Where was the purse found ? Conductor—On the prisoner being put into the omnibus, after it had been searched by the ladies, he went to the far end, and at his feet the purse was found. Mr. Knox—That was away from where the prosecutrix had been sitting? Conductor—lt was, sir. John Parish, 140 B, said—The prisoner was given into my custody by the conductor, and the purse and contents were handed to me. The prisoner gave his address at Reading. I have ascertained that the prisoner has been seen in company with men at the Elephant and Castle, and that he is an associate of thieves. Mr. Knox (the prisoner asking no questions)—Remanded him for a week. solicitor. Dr. COLLINS said that on a prelims occasion the coroner had spoken to him with reference to nume rous complaints by medical men, to the effect that they had not received their fees for making pest mcrtem examinations, alleging that the St. Pancras vestry must consequently be very negligent. was therefore surprised that Dr. Lankester should be led to come forward now and make an attack upon a public body like that, and support the re instatement of Murray. Mr. WELLBY said that Murray had been grossly misrepresented. The beadle was a persecuted man, against whom unscrupulous means had been used, and was therefore deserving of the support and sympathy of the vestry. Dr. Lankester was a gen tleman better qualified than any present to form correct opinions as to the character of the man, and he had declared that Murray was an excellent officer and a sober, steady, and honest man ; and if he were discharged the public in general, and the parish of St. Pancras in particular, would suffer for it ; and if they did not rescind the resolution for his dis missal, they would everywhere be set down as great noodles. A stormy discussion ensued, which resulted in the amendment being lost by 16 to 22. Capt. CAMERON moved a second amendment, to the effect that the question as to whether the resolu tion dismissing Murray was legally carried should be referred to the solicitor. He contended that it had not been carried, inasmuch as the bye-laws of the vestry provided that the amendment should be carried by two-thirds of those who voted,and not by two-thirds of the vestry; therefore the 27 who voted for the amendment for rescinding the dismissal of the officer-40 only voting—must necessarily con stitute two-thirds. The chairman declining to vote ceased to be a vestryman for the time being. There fore he considered that the amendment had been legally carried. JENKINS concurred in Captain Cameron's opinion, and seconded the motion. The amendment being put to the meeting, was lost by 23 to 13. The original motion was then put, and carried by a large majority, and The proceedings terminated. MARKETS--This Day. MARK-LANE. IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES.—Wheat, 41s 2d ; barley, 32s 6d ; oats, 19s Od ; rye, 29s 4d ; beans, 34s 9d ; and peas, 33s 7d. THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 40s 6fl; barley, 33s 5d ; oats, 19s 4d ; rye, 29s 8d ; beans, 35s 6d; peas, 33s Ild. ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 112,204; barley, 113,124 ; oats, 15,301; rye, 30; beans, 5,537; peas, 1,864 quarters. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1863. iCIETY. At a meeting of this society on Tuesday evening —Mr. Crawfurd in the chair—a paper was read by Mr. F. Galtom "On the first steps towards the domestication of animals." He stated that the object of the paper was to discuss the character of ancient civilisation as indicated by the domesti cation of animals—whether there was a golden age of ad- vanced enlightenment, or whether extraordinary geniuses have existed who taught their contemporaries to domesticate animals; or whether it was possible that the instinct of saveges, combined with the qualities of the animals domes tica`ed, sufficed to originate every instance of established domestication. The latter view of the question was the one taken by Mr. Galton, who proceeded to consider the condi tions necessary to domestication, and to notice varieties of instances in which wild animals have been tamed by savages. The condi lions under which he considered wild animals may become domesticated, when briefly stated, were—that they should atound in a wild state, that the natives should be hunters, that the animals should be hardy, that they should have an inborn liking for man, that they should be comfort loving, that they should be found useful to the savage , ' that they should breed freely, and that they should be gre garious. In support of these positions Mr. Galton adduced the evidence of several travellers, combined with his own experience, and he mentioned many curious instances of the taming of animals by savage tribes, either for their use or for show, or merely as pets. The Indians of North America were stated, on the authority of Sir John Richardson, to bring up young bears, the women giving them milk from their own breasts; and the women in the interior of South America are said by Mr. Wallace to suckle and rear young monkeys. Mr. Galton is of opinion that the gregariousness of all our domestic species is the primary reason why many of them are extinct in a wild state. The wild herds, he observed, would inter mingle with the tame ones, some would become absorbed, the others would be killed by hunters, who used the tame cattle as a shelter to approach the wild, Besides this, com fort-loving animals would be less suited to fight the battle lof life with the rest of the brute creation, and it was there fore to be expected that those varieties which are Lest fitted I for domestication would be the soonest extinguished in t he wild state. He believed that every animal had its chance of being domesticated, and these which fulfilled the cond tions before named were demonstrated long ago. It would follow, there fore, that the animal creation possesses no more animals worthy of domestication, at least for such purposes as savages care for. Tho elephant appeared to be an ex ception to the rule that domestication has always been per formed by savages. The African elephant is untamed, and is not even alive; but three of the conditions of domestica tion are wantißg in Africa, for the elephants are not there sufficiently abundant, nor is the character of the country such as to admit cf their easy capture, and the animal would be useless to savages, especially in an open country like Africa. In conclusion, Mr. Galion said ho saw no reason to suppose that the first domestication of any animal, ex cept the elephant, implies a higher civilisation among the people who established it than that of barbarian hunters. He could not believe it to have been the result of a precon ceived intention, followed by elaborate trials, to administer to the comfort of man. Neither could he think it arose from one successful effort made by an individual, who might thereby justly claim the title of benefactor of his race ; but, on the contrary, that a vast number of half unconscious at tempts had been made throughout the course of ages, and that ultimately by slow degrees, after many relapses and continued selection, our several domestic breeds became firmly established. Professor OwEN said he agreed generally with Mr. Gal ton respecting the conditions required for the domestication of animals, though there .ere a few exceptions to the rule. He noticed, in the first place, that the period of the domes tication of the turkey and of the guinea-pig in Europe was distinctly marked, as those animals were introduced into the Old World from America; and yet, as they were most probably previously domesticated by the Mexicans, that fact could not be considered a proof that they were not originally tamed by man in a savage state of life. The domestic cat, however, was an exception to the condition that domesticated animals were in their wild state grega rious. There are, he observed, two species of wild cats, one of which inhabits a district extending from Scotland across the north of Europe into China and Japan; the other is the wild cat of Persia ; and it is from the latter stock that the majority of our domestic cats have sprung. H e conceived that the domestication of the cat indicated an advance in civilisation greater than was exhibited by savage tribes, for the use of the cat in destroying rats and mice could not be experienced until there was an accumulation of grain or other food to be preserved. With respect to the elephant he did not agree with Mr. Galion in his explanation of the, cause why there were no tamed elephants in Africa. It was well known the Carthaginians employed trained ele phants in war, and the abundance of those animals in Cen• tral Africa was proved by the large quantities of ivory imported from that continent, which greatly exceeded the ivory obtained from Asia. Thus, it could neither be owing to the incapacity of the African elephant for domestication nor the smallness of their numbers that negroes did not tame the elephants of Africa. Mr. PooLE and Mr. GOODWIN considered the question from an archwological point of view, from which they were inclined to believe that the domestication of animals, especially by the Egyptians, was not caused either by their utility to man or by the other conditions insisted on by Mr. Galton. Many of the creatures that were tamed and worshipped were rather hurtful than useful to man. Mr. Markham, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Bates, from per sonal observation among the savage tribes of South Arne rice and in the East, were of opinion that the domestication of animals was never undertaken by tribes in a perfectly savage state. Mr. CRAWFURD expressed the same opinion, and with regard to the African elephant, he contended that the cause of its not having been tamed and rendered useful in that country was to be attributed solely to the stupidity and want of capacity of the Degrees. Mr. GALTON briefly replied, and the meeting adjourned. WESTMINSTER. THE NEW SYSTEM OF SWINDLING lII' PRESENTING SHAM CHEQUES TO SHOPKEEPERS.--A gentleman con nected wirh a West-end very extensive and old established firm, applied to the magistrate for advice how to act in the following matter. Applicant said that a man of fashionable exterior came to the house he represented, and made a trifling pu , chase of goods, for which he paid. He then selected some other valuable articles, and desired them to be sent to hie resi dence at Chelsea. Mr. Arnold—Did he pay for them ? Applicant --No, Sir. Mr. Arnold—What was the understanding about pay ment when the goods were ordered ? Applicant—He selected the things, and having done so, said they were to be sent to his house, when they would be paid for upon delivery. Mr. Arnold—What subsequently occurred? Applicant—Our porter took the goods to his address and delivered them, and although we had taken all necessary precaution, we were defrauded, for he gave the porter a cheque for the amount, which was valueless. Mr. Arnold—What instructions have you given your porter ? Applicant—That he was not to part with the goods un less he received the money, and he considered a cheque the same. Mr. Arnold—What did they say at the banking house? Applicant—That they knew nothing of the drawer, and that similar cheques had been presented by other trades- men. Mr. Arnold—After you found the cheque was bad did you go to your customer ? Applicant—Yes, and found he had suddenly disappeared. The clerk said to the magistrate—There is already a war. rant against this offender. Mr. Arnold—That is sufficient. (To applicant)—Notice will be given you when he is taken. THAMES.. DASTARDLY OUTRAGE.—Thomas Davies, a watch maker, was brought before Mr. Partridge charged with violently assaulting James Hilton, a police-constable, 457 K, who was completely disabled from the injuries he re ceived, and whose right hand was bandaged. The prisoner and others were drunk and disorderly in Narrow-street, Ratcliff, at two o'clock this morning, and upon the policeman requesting them to depart and go home, one of the party pulled his coat off, gave it to the prisoner, and knocked down the constable. When Hilton rose he was knocked down again. The prisoner then gave hia friend's coat to another person, and struck the police-constable, and felled him a third time, and when ho was down trampled on his hand. The constable again rose, and the prisoner, who was like a madman, rushed upon him, threw him and fell upon him. Another constable, named Thomas Bonce, No. 246 K, came to the assistance of Hilton, took the pri soner off him and secured him. The other ruffians, who were as cowardly as they were brutal, ran away when the second police constable approached, and crept into their dwellings. After some further evidence, in the course of which it was proved that the disturbance originated in apublichouse from which the rioters were turned out, end that a woman was brandishing a knife and threatening to have blood for her supper, Mr. Partridge called upon the prisoner tor his defence. He gave a general denial to the charge, and called a man named Joseph Powell, who stated that the prisoner was a ►ery respectable man and a teetotaller. Mr. Partridge—He was drunk last night. Witness—He only drank gingerbeer and brandy. Mr. Partridge said that was very likely to make a man inebriate& This was a very serious charge, and if police constables were not protected in the discharge of their auty no decent man would enter the force. The prisoner was a dastardly ruffian. He fined him £5, and in default of pay ment, two months' imprisonment. THE CAT A FOREIGNER.—A positive argument for the foreign introduction of cats may b e founded on the terms in which they are mentioned amo n g st th e old Welsh laws of Rowell the Good (943 A.D.) They were evidently scarce at that time, for it is there laid down— " The worth of a kitten until it shall open its eyes is one legal penny; from that time till it shall kill mice. two legal pennies; after it shall kill mice, four legal pence, and so it shall always remain." A law of one of our own Edwards made the killing a cat punishable with death—a remnant of barbarism only expunged from the statue-book, we believe, by the late Sir R. Peel. Both the ancient Welsh and our own law concurred in a curious penalty for killing the king's cat, " the guardian of the royal barn." The offender was mulcted in a heap of corn sufficient to cover the defunct animal when held up bp the tip of its tail with its whiskers touching the floor.—Once a Treek„ AN OLD BUSIIMAN'S description of his being los, for nine hours at night in a snowstorm.—The snow was blinding me, the air was so thick that I could not see a hundred yards before me, and all the fences were now buried in the snow-drift. I fired off my gun, I shouted, but no answer. I floundered on, not knowing where I was steer ing, for I was quite lost. And if I had tried to make back tracks' the darkness and the heavy falling snow prevented me seeing my spot-. I tried to keep to a straight line, hoping at last to find some familiar object. On I toiled, sometimes the snow-drifts in the hollows four feet deep, always above my knees ; and so great was my exertion, that in operspirationandshouted, poured about an h our more I f e l t m y se lf beaten. And although L should recko n th ere was th en a t least 13 deg. cold Cel sius , off the my g un in streams. No on ams. Again was nI fired off b me e o ns likely to be out round here on such a night, and even if a cottage window had been blazing within 200 yards of me I could not have seen it. I cou ld k eep no no t e o f ti me , but I fancy it must have been near midnight when I reached another clump of trees, and being now faint and overmas tered, I sat down at the foot of one with my back to the wind; but as soon as I had sat down a complete revul sion came over me. My blood seemed all at once to stagnate, my head reeled, my eyes appeared to be starting from their sockets, and a drowsi ness which I had never felt before crept upon me. I f e lt my life depended on moving on. If I could struggle on till the morning I might be saved. But I reckoned it still wanted eight hours to sunrise. To push on was my only alternative, and I again struck out into the waste of snow. The cold had caught one of my hands, and I had lost the use of it, an d my ears and nose felt just as if I could have snapped them off like icicles. I becre weaker and weaker. Suddenly my foot struck against an obsta c l e . It was a s u n k en fence. Tho snowdrift here just reached to my waistcoat pocket, and it took me a quarter of an hou r to clear th e f ence. Th e cold seamed eating into my marrow. My feet appeared to hang cei my legs like lumps of lead. fily senses seemed going. I was becoming light-headed, and when I ruse again I reeled like a drunken man. A kind of languid indifference stole over ma. I almost longed to sleep the sleep of death. In the early evening I had felt frightened. Now hope had vanished and / dashed on with reckless exultation. Such curious thoughts came into my head ; trifling incidents of the past, long since forgotten, crowded on my mind, and the whole history of a life seemed to be condensed in the few hours of that dreadful night. I thought of suicide and loaded my gun. And then I dashed my gun in the snow. I was no longer master of myself, my whole disposition seemed changed, I moved mechanically as in a trance.—Vde 6:pring and 6uneener en Lapland. NEIVGATE AND LEADENHALL. The supply of meat on sale at these markets is moderately large. The .trade, generally speaking, is slow, at our quotations, Per Sib. by the carcase. stied _nferior beef .. 2 10 3 2 Middling do. .. 3 4 3 8 ['rime largo do. 3 10 4 0 Do. small do. .. 4 2 4 4 Large pork .... 3 6 3 10 Inferior mutton. 3 6 3 10 adsd Middlingmutton 4 0 4 4 Prime do . 4 6 4 8 Veal Small pork 4 0 4 4 Lamb MEAT MARKETS. SOUTHALL, Dac. 23.—The suplise of stock were seasonably extensive, and the trade ruled heavy, as fol lows :—Beet, from 3s 2d to 5s Od ; mutton, 3s 8d to 6s Od ; veal, 4s Od to 4s 10d ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; and pork, 4s Od to 4s 8d per Blbs, to sink the offal. ROMFORD, Dec. 23.—Prime stock moved off steadily, at full prices; otherwise, the trade was in a very inactive state. Beef, from 3s Gd to 5s Od ; mutton, 3s 10d to 6s Od; veal, 4s Od to 4s 6d ; and pork, 3s 10d to 4s 8d per 81bs ; suck. ling calves, 12s to 20s ; quarter-old store pigs, 20s to 26s ; and milch cows, £l4 to £lB lOs each. METROPOLITAN CATTLE. There was a very limited supply of beasts on sale in to day's market; nevertheless, all breeds moved off heavily, at Monday's currency. Steep—the show of which was small—were very dull, but not cheaper. The top figure for Downs was 6s per 81bs. The few calves on offer changed hands slowly, at late rates, viz., from 4s to 5s per 81bs. Next to nothing was doing in pigs, on former terms ; while mulch cows were nominal in price. A portion of the stock was unsold at the close of busi Per Blbs. to a s. d. a. d. Crse. &inf. beasts 3 6 3 10 Second quality do. 4 0 4 4 Prime large oxen 4 6 4 10 Prime Scots, &c. 4 10 5 0 Crse. & inf. sheep 4 0 4 6 Second quality do. 4 8 5 2 Suckling calves, —s to —a 20s to 26s each. TOTAL SUPPLY. iness. link the offal. s. d. 8. d. Primecrs-wool d 0.5 4 5 8 Pa l e. S'thdown d 0.5 10 6 0 Largo orse. calves 4 0 4 8 Prime small do 4 10 5 0 Large hogs 3 6 4 0 Small porkers , 4 2 4 6 ; and quarter-old store pig*, Beasts Cows Sheep Calves .. igs FOREIGN SUPPLY. Beasts ... 92 Sheep and lambs 220 Calves .... Pigs BOROUGH HOP. The amount of business passing in hops was by no means extensive. Prices, however, rule firm, good and fine parcels especially being held at extreme rates. The market is but moderately supplied with home-grown produce, and the show of foreign parcels on offer is at present less abundant than for some time. Mid and East Kents.. £5 Os to £9 Os per owl Weald of Kents ...... 4 108 to 6 6s $) Sussex .... 4 10s to 6 Os ~ Yearlings Olds Belgian Bavazian American HAY MARK2T S. SMITHFIELD.—AIeadow hay, £3 Os to £4 lOs Od ; clover, £4 Os to £5 lOs Od; and straw, £1 6s to £1 lOs per load. Trade steady. CUMBERLAND..—MearIOW hay, £3 Os to £4 1246 d ; clover, £4 Os to £5 lOs Od; and straw, £1 6s to £1 108 per load. A fair demand. WHITECHAPEL. — Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4los Od ; clover, £4 Os to £5 1280 d ; and straw, £1 6s to £1 10s per load. Supply tolerably good. Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day. Cotton market remains quiet and steady. Pro bable sales about 3,000 bales. Week's business, 21,000 bales. Americans id dearer on the week ; others generally steady. SHIPPING—This Day. LONDON, Dec. 24.—Wind this day at noon—South- Westerly; light breeze, and cloudy weather. (BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning. Arrived, Dec. 23—Isolotilla, from Soderham; Rebecca, and Mary Elizabeth, from St. Michael's; Alice, from Mauritius • Cuspin, from Guernsey, Alexandria; from Lisbon; Mauritius; from Boulogne. Sailed, Dec. 24—Lord Russell (steamer), for Dunkirk; Orwell (steamer), for Nassau. DEAL, Thursday Morning. Anchored— Johanna Ettina, from London, for Genoa; Alexandra. from London, for Akyab. passed—Neablem, from Demerara for London; Earl Grey, from the west, for the north; City of Bombay, from Calcutta, for London. The French Academy has decided that the recep lion of M. de Carn6, who replaces M. Biot, shall take place on the third Thursday in January, and that of M. Dutaare, who replaces Duke Pasquier, three weeks after. The Brussels journals announce that the Court balls for the present season are to take place on the 6th, 13th, and 27th January, and 3d February. The Duke de Brabant left Brussels on Sunday for Nice, where his Royal Highness intends to pass the winter. A letter from Genoa states',tbat an Austrian bri gantine, the Castello, 218 tons burden, laden with corn, was wrecked three night s since by running the nevi , pier at the en tranc e of the port. The crew, &moiet ing of e i g h t m en, were Bawd. but there is every r eason to fea r th at th e captain has perished. The accident appears to have been caused by some mistake, as, thonzh t he ni g ht was dark, the yea was not ro ugh , against THE CITY REMEMBRANCER, At length a day, the 14th January, at a meeting of the Common Council to be specially convened, has been ap pointed to elect a Remembrances for the corporation of London, in the room of Mr. Tyrrell, who retired from the office about six months ago, after a service of more than half a century. By a recent resolution of the Court of Common Council, the salary has been fixed at £1,500, with an annual allowance besides of £4OO for office expenses. The emoluments, which until now have been fluctuating, amounted to about £2,000 a-year upon an average. There are eight candidates in the field namely, Mr. James Crosby, solicitor, admitted 1828 ; Mr. George C. Oke, as sistant-clerk at the Mansion-house justice -room, and author of several legal works of re,,ute; Mr. Samu e l s pot _ forth, Parliamentary agent and solicitor, admitted 1850, Mr. John R. L. Walraisley, Parliamentary agent and soli citor, admitted 1810; Mr. Henry T. Riley, M.A., Cam bridge, barrister, called in 1847, and editor and translator of Liber Albus ; Mr. James Pearce Peachey, barrister, called in 1851, and for three years lecturer on conveyancing to the Law Society ; Mr. Woodthorpe Brandon, registrar of the Lord Mayor's civil court; and Mr. H. E. Brown, Parlia mentary agent and solicitor, admitted in 1840. The long in terval which has elapsed since the vacancy arose, and dur ing which it was uncertain whether or not the office would be amalgamated partly with that of the City Solicitor and partly with that of the Town -clerk, has operated to prevent some of the candidates presenting themselves until the eleventh hour. Others, age* were unwilling to undertake the labour of canvassing the Common Council, about 260 in number, so long as it remains a matter of doubt that the RemembrancershiP would be maintained as a separate department of the corporation, as it had been from the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Some are understood to have declined on principle to canvass at all, preferring to de pend on their good repute, even where the coveted prize is equal in emolument to the office of an Under-Secretary of State, but without its precarious tenure. This being so, it is feared that some members of the Common Council promised their votes when the field of choice was compara• - tively limited, and that the wholesome rule of deur digniori, which ought to be above all other considerations, may not be allowed to prevail in the puLlic interest. It would be difficult, perhaps, to understand how many arts are practised on these occasions in the interest of particular candidates for offices in the corporation, down to the em ployment at times of paid electioneering agents. It is not uncommon for a man to lay himself out for a place of emolument or honour before it is really vacant, and that because its possessor happens to be moribund or advanced in years. A rumour was recently current in the city that an inhabitant of a ward canvassed for the gown which an alderman, who was ill, was supposed likely to give up and that the moment the alderman heard of the proceeding he declared his determination to retain his gown until the last. In the matter of the Rememb rancershi p efforts Trite as unconscionable are being made to carry the election tan! particular way. It rests with the Common Cowl, aedd especially with the new body which has just been t to baffle such artifices, and see that every one of the e c e ca recent dates has a fair chance. The choice they election of a Commissioner of Police on gene,ra embranc r tion. There is no reason why gay.emade s a atisfac - that of a rill do, Remembrances should not gain equal approbation, and that it pro vided it proceeds oa public considcrattons alone. ~-_- _ JUDGE JEFFRIES,OF NOTORIOUS MEMORY (point ing with his cane to a w h o was about to be tried), said "There i s a great rogue at in theehnidmols man to whom he po inted, lookg at aid, `=fit whick end, my lord?" CY N ICAL PIIILO SOPIIER has rtmarked—" If A we all had windows to our breasts to-morrow, what a de mand there would be for blinds I" The Court Journal. Established 34 years.—See the Court Journal of Saturday, which contains a vast amount of exclusive news of public interest, and perfectly original Courtly, Fashionable, Theatrical, Naval, Military, and Sporting Intelligence, Club On Dits, ; not to be found in any daily or weekly paper.—Prise 3d. ; Stamped, , 61—W. Thomas, 26, Brveiges-street, Strand; ne ws-agents ; and at the Railway Stations. s old by all 49i 16i 132 i 2 I 108 k 44 11381 71 102 i 2 504 50 1121 11i I 130 i i 966 i i •CRASY. 1 GRESIIAM L• BUL' (According to the Saturday Review.) From " Pelham" to " Caxtoniana" there has been one long soliloquy. It is clearly in the light of halt regret, half-apology for early faults, that we are to read the analysis given in this significant Preface of the earliest of the Bulwer Lytton novels. We have the frank avowal that it was written " at that crisis of thought and feeling, common enough to the boyhood and early youth of all men of genius, when all the elements of thought are unsettled, when crude impressions are hastily received as truths; and in striving, first, to think for themselves, they question all the oracles of human fate, and dange rously interpret the ambiguous answers accorded to their own passionate inclinations." In the " Dis owned" we are next toad to see " glimpses of a much loftier tone of mind, of greater capabilities for pathos, of grander ideals of human character, and the nobles aims of human life." The mystery of "Devereux" is derived, for variety, " not from the inferior sources of external incident, but the complicated secrets of the human heart." Iu the character of Aubrey, "our rea,4on is satisfied not so much by the probability of the events as by the consummate analysis of mind and motive by which the events themselves grow naturally and inevitably out of the idiosyncrasy of their agents. Of " Paul Clifford" the design has never been apprehended before. "In form a burlesque, in essentials a tragedy," it is " a satire upon crime," a burlesque upon the false shows of civilised life, " a genial appeal to the conscience of communities to adjust our codes to the reform of criminals as well as to their punishment." Shallow critics have been all along unaware of its ethical depth— Our author must often have smiled, whether in scorn or sadness, at the shallow criticisms which represented this work, so full of a cordial philosophy, so marked by elevated btnevolence, and so rounded into th e very moral wh i ch a ll our s tatesmen have since laboured to shape into Acts of Parliament, as a vicious representation of heroes and high- waymen Nor is " Eugene Aram" without those traits o self-portraiture Which bespeak the mind of the novelist passing through a further phase of culture. There is here the imaginary study of evil in its effects upon a temperam ent like Clifford's in romance, but with far higher gifts of mind—"the effect of a single crime upon a magnificent intellect." In ideal view Godolphin," on the cont rar y , we have the view of the same influence in a less tragical aspect. " In one there is the picture of a life blasted, in the other the picture of a life frittered away." In both we see, as it were, the physician experimenting upon moral poisons in their effects upoe his ideal self. Nor are we on any account to lose the truthfulness and finish of the " high-bred cynicism of Saville, or the elegant effemi nacy into which the original genius of Godal• phin himself subsides, as the indolence of the epicurean gradually prevails over his finer nature. In "Ernest Maltravers" we pass on to " the type of the poetic intelligence, working out its highest ultimate destinies through the scenes and probation of actual life." In what passes between Maltravers and Evelyn is represented " that epoch in the poetic mind when, wearied with the actual world, the poet yearne for return to his early dreams, seeks to renew his own youth, and forgets that he cannot regain their former freshness, nor link inex perienced hope with the memory of errors and the fulness of sorrowful knowledge." It is in' the re lation with Alice—that is to say, " the restoration of art to nature"—that " the ideal intelligence, long at war with the practical world, is reconciled to it. " Zanoni"—the first inkling of a vein of thought in Sir Edward's imagination which has since teemed in the more astounding marvels of the Strange Story"—dawned upon the author's brain as the "illustration of external life by symbolical phi losophy." Current rumour points to the no less potent sympathy said even now to elist between the same imaginative genius and spirit manifesta tions of a more vulgar kind. Such magical bias, however, is declared to be in its origin" no gloomy criminal art, but a mastery over the lawful secrets of nature, to be attained but by dauntless will, by self-conquest, by the subordination of flesh to spirit" If his successive creations, from " Pelham'' downwards, may thus be viewed as so many reflec tions of the author's self, as in a room with many mirrors, the same law of impersonation holds even more strictly true as a key to his latest publication. Passing by the practical lessons of the " Caxtons " and "My Novel," as the expression of his sager manhood, we have in " Caxtoniana," the didactic statement of ideas which he has at other times habituated himself to clothe with the personality of fiction. By far the larger part of these two volumes may be read as simple soliloquies or confessions. Never, perhaps, since Rousseau, has a philosopher or moralist thrown so much of himself into his re flections, even when giving them their most abstract or general form, and using least commonly the first person singular. To any keen interpreter of casual hints and intimations, nothing more is wanting for a complete mental image of the writer or the man. Years which have added the last perfection to that polished style—chastening its early exuberance, and sobering the youthful tendency to inflation and bom bast—have but matured the habit of studying the world by the inner light of his own consciousness. It is in the microcosm of his own sentiments and yearnings that the very universe seems alone capable of being read and understood. What ever changes may go on without are as no thing to the importance of the alternations and vicissitudes which mark the development within. Tne laws of mind and morals are to be studied, not in reality, but in type, and that type not far to seek. Into whatever fountain Narcissus turns to gaze, there is, changed as it may be by time, the same individual image still. As Sir Edward himself says of Montaigne, "it is his own human heart, as he has tested it though his own human life, that be first analyses, and then syntheses. And out of that analysis and that synthesis he dissects into separate members, and then puts together again, the world.' Of what avail to him are the multitude of books, save as they " serve only to enforce his own opinion s and illustrate his own experience of life 2" POACHING AFFRAY NEAR MACCLESFIELD.--. At ini A . x. about 4 o'clock on Monday morning a desperate encounter took place on the Siddingtou estate, four or five miles from Macclesfield, between 12 or 14 gamekeepers and nearly twice having received in.. their number of poachers. On the previous night the keepers of Mr. J. B. Glegg, Withingion l ialL formation of a body of poachers hathveinegstbaeensmeenr. neighbourhood, mustered in force and started doff in p ursu i t They traced the poaching gang t o being suitably armed, continued Davenport, Capestborne Ilan, where they fell in with the keepers on that estate, together with those of the adjoining landowner, Mr. J. Dixon, Astle Hall. The keepers united their strength, and ber their search. About 4 o'clock they came upon two fortoid a setting nets in a field in the occupation of m r , j ble gangs Siddington. It was pitch dark, and their k abezWright, o f t h e strength of their opponents, pounc e d keepers, unaware the two ga ngs closed and compelled the upon them, but aloof. The latter summoned their a watchers to stand but the poachers replied with a antagonists to surrender, regular tnelse then ensued. 1 volley of large stones, A and the confusion the keepers n the darkness of the night fear of hitting the Were chary in striking through Jess cautious, and set fellow-watchers ; but the poachers were hard blows before upon each other, exchanging many perior in number and discovering their mistake. though su leaving four of weapons, they made a general retreat, These the their number wounded on the ground, keepers a quantity of c took into custody. A hare, a rabbit, and The keepers e n tting and sticks were found upon them. tended furscaped marvellously, many of the blows io poachers. 'rho th e m falling on the heads of the unlucky T four captured men, Joseph Wilson, Joseph Clayton, Thomas Fitton, and Hubert :Mss, were brought up at Macclesfield on Tuesday. They made no defence, but Muss and Wilson compla ined of the brutal ill -usage they received at the bands of t he keepers, 18 or 19 of whom (they averred), armed w ith s p ears several feet long, and double-barrelled guns , cut and slashed right a nd left. "Wilson showed some ugly wounds on his head and face, and Moss had the back of his hand severely cut, he said, with a spear. no justices sentenced the prisoners to three months' hard labour each, and expressed an opinion that if the borough police officers did theirve them, the game pre duty under the powers w hi c h the rece nt Poaching Act ga serves in the neighbourhood of Macclesfield would be le ss infected 0 Lii midnight marauders. The steam despatch boat Eclaireur has lust r€- ce i ve d orders to tak e p art in the works for laying dou n the new submarine telegraph line between Cartir :Una and Oran. The operations will commence on t h e al-rival at th e former place of the Dix D3ecrnbre, which has gone Eto l au d to bring over the c ai e , _ 4 lig CE SOU] 3TY, The annual general meeting of the share ant I policy holders in this society was held yesterday at the offices, 37, Old Jewry, Cheapside. The chair was occupied by W. Tabor, Esq., chairman of the board of directors. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read, The following report was then submitted to the meeting : " The directors have to state as their report for the financial year ending July 31st, 1863, that as many as 4,228 proposals have been made to the office for assu rances, amounting to £1,732,235. " That of such proposals 3,508 have been accepted and completed, yielding £37,347 13a. Bd., as new premiums fur the year, exclusive of annuities. "The general income for the year has been £162,537 12s. '2d., of which £12,147 6s. sd. is from interest of in vestments. _ _ The amount paid during the year for deaths, including bonuses, has been £55,533 13a. 6d. , " The current funds remainingaccumulated and invested, after payment of the charges of the year, and ey_clusive of share capital and deposits, amounted to £374,671 13s. sd. " The accounts have been examined monthly by the assigned auditors, Messrs. G. H. Lad bury, W. W. Venn and William Whiteloc k, and have been fo und and certi : fied to be correct. T hese g entlemen again b eg to offer t h em selves for election , " The directors re tirin g , but again offering th em selves for election, are , Edward Solly, William recommendedH enr Henry T horn t b h y w the ait board e and l as William l t l h i aeml list 'labor, r o r, election. E s qs. and aro " The above report comprises all the essential results o f the past year, and presents to those who are acquainted wi t h assurance business, such evidence of the activity and pros perity produced by the extensive and su ccessful organisa tion of the society, as cannot fail to b e deemed highiy satis- factory." The CHAIRMAN said it now became his duty to move that the report be received and adopted. He did not know there was anything that called for remark, but he could not resume his seat without congratulating the meeting upon the success of their operations during the past year, which he thought were unparalleled in the annals of life assurance. Their premiums kept on increasing, and they had completed fresh proposals yielding. £37,347 13s. Sd, (Hear, hear.) Such an amount of new business had, he thought, never been exceeded by any ether office, and the fact showed that the foundation of the establishment was sound and reliable. (Hear, hear.) Their accumulated fund had also shared in the general increase, and it now amounted to nearly £400,000. (Hear, hear.) Their large increase of business had been most legitimately obtained. There had been no amalgamations, no purchases, but all had been done in the most regular manner, During the last week he had examined their securities for money advanced, and he had also been to the Bank of England, and seen that the amount standing in their name was cor rect. (Hear, hear.) With these few observation s, he would conclude by fo rma ll y mov i ng t h a t th e r eport sub mitted to the The motion having be en seconded, Mr. W. adopted.t opportunity pa ss without expressing the pleasu re h e f e l t at the success to thanztduring a , 4,213 new t e h n e e l) wia past pmryoeenpa immense that During thatndd th e attendedtnuninitiatede theyth e i their acdo could lod operationsfl form proposal, representing such a circumstance would create, as every rop represen ting as it did the he ad of a family, h a d to be dealt os a with singly and separately. It was most satisfactory to know that their increased business had not been produced by a malgamation, an d that each new assurer had attend ed personally at one or other of their offices, and had undergone an examination by the medical gentleman appointed for the particular district. The utmost care was taken in the selec tion of lives, and to ;that fact much of their prosperity was to be attributed. Such had been the success of their operations that, in some towns, they had secured every life fit for insurance, and this in a field, in many instances, which others had failed to cultivate. The Gresham was really and truly an European office; be would not say they had not a governor or a consul insured in their office, but they had been insured previous to their appointment—(hear)—in fact, the whole of those assurers had been obtained without in one instance going to the colonies for them. (Hear, hear,) It was the happiness of the board to have the advice of a gentleman of great breadth of mind, and he might truly say that it was owing to the untiring energy of his friend Mr. Farren—(hear, hear) — that the Gresham had been brought to its present pitch of prosperity. lie ventured to predict that the office would still grow, still extend itself, and large as it at present was it was destined yet to become larger for the future. (Hear.) The CHAIRMAN put the question for the adoption of the report to the meeting, when it was enthusiastically carried. Mr. WILLIAMS moved the re-election of the retiring directors, viz., Edward Solly, Esq., William Henry Thorn thwaite, Esq., and William Tabor, Esq. He said they were all gentlemen of tried ability, and it would be im possible to obtain better or abler servants. (Hear, hear.) The motion having been seconded was put to the meet ing and carried unanimously. Mr. THORNTHWAITE, on the part of his brother directors, returned thanks. He said it was their greatest pride to see the office in its present flourishing condition, and their past successful labours would only animate them to fresh exertions for the future. (Hear, hear.) This concluded the business of the meeting. A POLICYHOLDER said before the proceedings terminated he trusted they would award a v ote of thanks to their worthy and esteemed chairman. ( Hear, hear.) He had invariably discharged his duties in the most c ourteous and had . had re, the and the more they k new affable manner; and he had g reat pleasure in moving that the best thanks of the meeti n g be presented to him. The motion having been carried, The CHAIRMAN returned thanks for the compli men t , but at the same time h e must say that much of th e i r sue cess was attributable to their admirable and able actuary and gentleman_ s h e a C p r t i a n r e y s l o ‘ f ir k . n F ow ar in re g n.(.liea r, hear.) fur They inan3, )ea th at of him the better th ey liked him. This being the case, be had great pleasu re i n moving a c ordial vote of thanks to Mr. Farren. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BEansAni. said it would afford him great pleasure in seconding the motion. The coAxamAN having put the motion, and declared it carried , Mr. FARREN said he had t o t h an k th e mee ting for -himself and also for hi s staff, b ecause the latter He rendered him the most essential servio: sup. nee d hardly tell them that the two znal wete his ports that he depended upon for sucee d ee as agents. own staff and the gentlemen who 9 : the soundness Those gentleman. felt a settled confidence in advocated and of the society, and they most unhesitatinglywelland justly paid aided its extension. Everybody was well with the energy and for services rendered, and this, couy in the offices, was one o f perseverance of every one engag eo ed uld only thank the meet the secrets of their success. Se co uld awarded him, but at the ing for the compliment theyhp resent that his constant en same time he could assure deavour would be to all the operations of the Gresham. enlar t e g rzeinated. The proceedings T HE ro ,T:rsS INSURRECTION, bT. PETERSBURG, Dec. 21. The trial of Count Stanislaus Zanoyski is not closed; the statement of his condemnation to death is altogether false. HE SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN QUESTION. HAMBURG, Dec. 22. A great popular assemblage of Holsteiners is to take place to-morrow at Elmshorn, in which depu tations from all parts of the country will take part ; the intention of the meeting is said to be to pro. claim Duke Frederick. The Price of Gold. ..---.--- ~..________ __ The quotation of gold at Paris is about 3 per mine pm., and the short exchange on London is 25.30 per £1 sterling. On comparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3 t 7 s. toAd. per ounce for standard gold, it appe.x that gold is ab i o l u y t a 2 d - v l t O c t e l s is tr t. o e m r cent. London b d u e r a g re t r h i e n price o than in Paris. and the short ex c h ange on London isgl°3l:lsiisic4l4l2lpsetrcrrnliaLl! standard gohl at the English flirt price is, therefore, about 1-10th per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburg. 60 "I d `l a ie ys Tu i, r ig l it o .ig t at i e s x.c l ll 6 a i n t g o 'e l6tt London fur bills at Preinianim n profit gold is 49A t o 491 p er cen t. At these rates there s on the import a ti on of go ld from the United Sta tes. the ° JUDGES' CHAMBERS.—At the Judges' Chambers yesterday four learned judges attended. Mr. Justice Shea heard summonses of the Court of Qucen'e Bench, and was assisted by Mr. Justice Blackburn. Zo day (Thureda-i) the Chambers will be closed till 'Wednesday morning. THE RUBBER or LIFE --FOR 25,000 PEOPLr ! Twenty-five thousand persons are engaged in Peru in 611- tainiug India-rubber to 014)14 the f0ic 1 ,4, 11 dentud, RIP It icess visit rued 3 e of P are Park, 3ter- amity nteS rence tour m ad© lord- nor' n, at mains tired enefit Arcla and street, igbli Alez- yes• 3raeli isit to ?.ome high 3ared mane Ea the fining• ,a 1 has‘ Lorrovr rlc ~:; i ■