The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-27 00:00:00

throe led. revived, ►or't the er to a 'idate. Paris 22. iit Pire . rm A t• Tad t tit i 1 hal/ l that ractor ra. to posed_ lagur i , 9,9( )0) List ate. ent/ e )rtil 1- "T 1 la )vez al 7tl to 'vex.. a ibje et aai id ,uasi a, Bari c, -eda. a, Dipl o der•- to but it me s it. K ing it for de. 'la ssi is ot ba wd ler . Di. t :now! a redirs h ire I e 311 th e ►yer r'g )rci n g 3f ;he rest isiti 14t1 I : ig ion of da t ed ace in inia, is Bodine, %docia, Royal ice. Henna, .and ame (2 . Court t Hon. Alder , Mr. mos of er said n the diffi tot de laking ) then rsonal r class hat of lan 35 calen. AY.) , •was [ With led to MARKET NEW'-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. The loading country markets held on Saturday were rather scantily supplied with wheat. Most kinds sold steadily, and prices had an upward tendency. There was more inquiry for barley and oats, at full quotations ; but beans and peas were offering on lower terms. The flour trade was tolerably firm. On the Continent the demand for wheat and flour has been rather inactive of late ; in prices, however, no mate rial change has taken place. Advices from New York to the 15th inst. state that flour was very dull, and 12i cents per barrel lower. The arrivals of English grain up to our market last week was very moderate. From abroad we received 18,646 quarters of wheat, 7,705 barley, 8,698 oats, 2,062 beans, 12 peas, 276 tares, 1,306 linseed, 4,760 rapeseed, 967 sundry seeds, 5,545 sacks and 21,249 barrels of flour. Very moderate supplies of English wheat were received fresh up to our market to-day, coastwise and by land carriage, whilst the condition of most of the samples was by no moans good. The market opened firmly for all kinds of wheat of home produce, and, as the attendance of errantry buyers increased, the trade became healthy, at, in some instances? an advance in the quotations of Monday last of is per qr. At that improvement, a fair amount of business was transacted. . For forward delivery there was an improved inquiry, and the currencies were fully supported. Notwithstanding that we were well supplied with foreign wheat, especially with American qualities, the trade was firm, and transactions in good Baltic parcels were reported e.t is per quarter above last Monday's currency. About 60 vessels laden with wheat, barley, and beans, have leached Falmouth since the beginning of last week. Nearly the whole have changed hands, at very full prices. With barley, both English and foreign, we were well supplied ; yet the inquiry for all kinds ruled steady, and the quotations had an upward tendency. The show of malt was good, yet there was rather more inquiry for that article, at full currencies. There was an improved sale for both English and Irish oats. Good sound corn was the turn in favour of sellers. The supply of beans was moderate. The transactions Were on the increase, at full prices. The sale for peas was steady, at previous rates. There was more business doing in flour, at extreme 'Notations. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. Whist—Essex & Kent. Red •••• new 75s to 87a Ditto— ........ old Ids 87a Ditto, White new 76s 90s Ditto.• •• .... old 80s 91s Norfolk and Lin coln, Red, old 75s 86s Ditto new .....• 741 861 Era—Old ............ 51s 52s New ............ 505 51s Earley—Grinding ••• •• 355 393 Malting ......... 405 445 Chevalier— • •• 455 478 kalt—StiffolkandNor folk............ 66s 71s SrOwn . • • •• •• •• 60s 628 KingstonandWare 73s 75s Malt—Chevalier .... 758 to 761 Oats Yorkshire and Lino°lnsh.,Feed 28s 32s Potato • 31s 34s Youghal and Cork 81ack.•..... 28s 30s Cork, White ..... 27s 33s Scotch, Feed..... 32s 35s Beans—Tick . 43s 51s Pigeons •... 47s 61s Peas—Grey ..•• 44s 48s Maple. •..... 47s 52s White.•• .• •... 58s 64s Boilers 60s 65s Flour—Town-made... 70s 75s Suffolk .... 60s 68s Stookta & Norfolk 62s 72s SMITHFIELD. The imports of foreign stock into London last week were tolerably good—viz., 2,775 head. During the corresponding period of 1853, we received 3,590 ; in 1852, 1,824 ; 1851, 1,994 ; in 1850, 1,228 ; in 1849, 2,616 ; and in 1848, 1;020 head. IMPORTS MO LONDON LAST WEER. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. ... 11 ... 12 4 ... 3 From Beasts. Harlingen 491 ... New Diep 47 ... Ilamburgh 34 ... isztworp 2O .., Ibtterdam 297 ... 1,270 ... 161 ... - 149 ... - T0ta1.... 889 1,621 ... ... 250 ... 15 The yearly comparison of weekly imports is as under : Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 1853 5Ol 2,824 250 15 1852 566 994 ... 257 ... 3 1851 447 1,438 206 ... 3 1850 439 ... 1635 ... 154 ~. 1849 644 1,869 ... ... 103 ... I To-day's market was rather scantily supplied with each bind of foreign stock ; nevertheless, the demand for it ruled heavy, and the prices of beasts and sheep had a downward tendency. For the time of year the receipts of home-fed beasts 'fresh up this morning were rather extensive, and we ob served a decided improvement in their general weight and condition. Although the attendance of buyers was tole rably numerous, the demand for all kinds of beasts was in a depressed state, at a decline in the prices of Monday Jest of fully 2d per 81bs. In some instances the quota tions gave way 4d per 81bs without effecting a clearance. The top figure for the best Scots was 4s 6d per 81bs. From Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire, we received 2,300 Scots and shorthorns ; from other parts of England, (00 of various breeds ; and from Scotland, 500 Scots, chiefly per railway. We were seasonably well supplied with sheep. All breeds met a very dull inquiry, at prices barely equal to those obtained on this day se'nnight. The extreme figure for the best old Downs was 5s per 81bs. The condition of most breeds was by no means first-rate. The few calves on offer changed hands freely, at a rise of id per Ms., The best calves were worth 5s 8d per 81bs. Pigs—the supply of which was very moderate—moved , oft slowly, at barely stationary prices. Per Blbs to sink the offals. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. inferior Beasts.... 3 2to 3 4 Prime Southdown 4 8 5 0 Second quality.... 3 6 3 8 Large crse. calves 4 6 5 2 Prime large oxen 310 4 2 Prime small d 0... 5 4 5 8 ?rime Scots, &c. 4 4 4 6 Large hogs 3 0 4 2 Inferior Sheep ...3 0 3 4 Small porkers 4 4 410 Second quality ...3 6 4 2 Sucklingcalves ..22 0 29 0 Prime crse.-wlled.4 4 4 69uarter old pigs 21 0 27 0 FOREIGN srmr. TOTAL SUPPLY. 'beasts . .. 4,1531 8AA5te....•••...... • . •... • 686 Sheep ........ ..... • • ....21,870 Sheep ..•• .. •.• . 1 .. .1,400 A statement and comparison of the supplies and prices of fat stock exhibited and sold in Smithfield Cattle Market, on Monday, Feb. 28, 1853, and this day, Monday, Feb. 27, 1854. Per Blbs, to sink the offals. Feb. 28, 1853. s. d. s. d. Coarse and inferior beasts ... 3 oto 3 2 Second quality ditto ... ... 3 4 3 6 Prime large oxen ... 3 8 210 Primo;,Scots, &c ... 4 0 4 2 Coarse and inferior sheep ... 310 4 0 Second quality ditto .. . ... 4 2 4 6 Primo coarse woolled ditto 4 8 4 10 , Prime Southdown ditto ... 5 0 5 2 Large coarse calves 3 2 4 2 Prime small ditto ... 4 4 4 Largo hogs 210 3 2 Neat small porkers ... 3 6 4 0 Beasts... 3,704 Sheep 16,760 Calves... 64 Feb. 27,1854 s. d. s. d 3 2to 3 4 13 6 3 8 13 10 4 2 ;4 4 4 6 30 3 4 ;3 6 4 2 14 4 4 6 48 5 0 46 5 2 S 4 5 8 30 4 2 4 4 410 4,463 21,870 102 410 Strrrtira ex SALE, March 1, 1852.—Boasts, 4,144; sheep, 20,870; calves, 141; pigs, 350. March 3, 1851.—Beasts, 3,347 ; sheep, 18,780 ; calves, 156 ; pigs, 350. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. The arrivals of conntry-killed meat continue extensive. With meat slaughtered in the metropolis we are fairly supplied. Generally speaking the demand is steady, as fbilo ws Per Blbs by the carcase. s. d. s. d. Beet, inferior 3 0 3 4 33 0., middling 3 6 3 8 Do., prime large 3 10 4 0 bo., do. small 4 2 4 4 Perk, large 3 4 4 2 s. d. s. d. Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 8 Do., middling 310 4 2 Do., primo 4 4 4 8 Veal 310 5 0 Pork, small 4 4 5 0 BOROUGH HOP. Owing to the large supplies of foreign hops pressing for sale, the demand is inactive, at our quotations. Last week's imports are 225 bales from Antwerp, and 413 from Ostend. Mid and East Kent pockets, 91. Os to 141. Os ; Weald ,of Kent ditto, 61. Os to 81. 8s ; Sussex ditto, 61. Os 4 , 13 71. 125 ; and foreign, Si. Os to 71. Os per owt. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. The arrivals of potatoes by land carriage have been less extensive since our last report ; yet the supplies on offer Are Vbd. About an average business is doing. Last - week'slmports were 420 tons from Rotterdom, 4 from 'Dublin, 1 from Sligo, 40 from Belfast, 1 from Tralee, and 2 from. Waterford. The quotations to-day are as fol lows : —Kent and Essex Regents, 120 s to 150 s ; Scotch ditto, 120 s to 135 s ; ditto cups, 1003 to 120 s ; Irish 1003 to 1203 ; foreign, 100 s to 120 s per ton. WOOL. The public sales have been well attended by buyers i n ' the past week, whilst the biddings have ruled steady, at fully the openinc , prices :—Port Philip—Clean sheep's has realised is 2d to is lOid ; pieces, lld to is 5d ; scoured, le 6d to is lld ; broken, is ld to is 5d ; hoggetts, la exl to is 100. Hobart Town—Clean sheep's, is 3d to is 8d ; lambs', is 4d to is lOid ; damaged sheep's, is 4d to is 7d ; grease, 8d to lld ; pieces, 10d to is 3id ; fleece, le 4d to is 8d ; skin, 10d to is 2d. New Zealand— Hoggetts, is 4d to is 8d ; clean sheep's, is 4d to is Bd. Algoa B a y—Scoured sheep's, is ld to is 7d ; grease, Sze., 7cl to is 3d. Sydney—Clean sheep's, is 4d to is 81d ; damaged, is Od to is 6d ; combing, is 6d to is 10d ; frease, 7d to is 3d. Adelaide—Clean sheep's, is 2d to "!B 6d ; lambs, s4d to is B id per l b. Several p arcels of "'reign wool have been withdrawn ; those sold realised lid to is 2d per lb. Privately very little is doing, and low English wools are rather cheaper. Last week's imports were 141 bags from Hamburgh, 148 bales from the Cape, 14 from Ostend, 1,540 from Algoa Bay, 980 from Sydney, 56 from Leghorn, 23 from Mog,adore, 136 from Bombay, and 44 from Alexandria. SEEDS. The demand for clover seed is steady, at full quotations. Spring tares are very firm, and about an average business in linseed. Other seeds are dull ; but cakes command extreme quotations. Turreo,White, per bush. 228 to 249 Swede • • • • • • • • • • 22s 259 Mustard, Brown • • • • • • 12s 14a White. new • • • ... 14s 169 Tart44Wlnter,new.. • • 8s Od 950 d Spring • • • • • • • • •• Os Od Cs Od Canary, per qtlarte.r .. 54a 60s Rye ram • • •• • • • • • • • • 28s 349 Cgover,RedEng. (cwt.) 66s 68a White .. • •... • • 54s 80 a Foreign Red... • • • • 56s 72a White • • • • 643 96s Trial], .. • • ..... • •• 388 353 Carraway...... —•• .. 42s 48s Coriander.. ...... —17 s Hemmed, per quarter 42s 44s Linseed, Eng. Sowing•. 595 63s Crushing .... •• • • 555 58s Baltic, •• ••..• • .. 505 555 Odessa .. • ... —• • 515 57s Linseed Cake, pr. toe— English .. . 91 101 111 Os Iforeign,por ton 910 s 111 . 104 'Rape Cakes, pr ton 61104 710 s Rapeseed, New, pr lst 30104 32 es TALLOW. -• The demand for tallow is by no means active ; never theless, prices are well supported. To-day P.Y.C. on the spot is 63s per cwt. There is very little doing for forward d e li„ r y. Town tallow, 61s 6d per cwt. net cash. Rough fat, 3s 4id per 81bs. 1850. 1551. 1857, 1853. I 1854. 36,979 623 Od to 003 Od 1,644 78,782 1,671 92,446 Gal 6d Stock this day • . . • • • Price of Y. C.: .. Delivery last week • • I)itto from June 1.... Arrivals last week.. ittotrom June 1.... ?rtos of TOWnAttp.t• 1'38,513 36s 6d to 395 Ed 015 . 74,751 281 I 67,756 11%64 41,115 378 9d 38s Od 1,576 75,C93 51,226 36,956 1 368 Od lo 44s 3d 365 3d Ito 445 6d 2.681 2,059 85,594 78,799 91,692 ”a 64 1.122 . 6811 100,286 75,127 j 38a hi 451 Vtt N. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) BRITISH R AILWAYS. RAILWAYS. 4berdccn Ambg. N'ottng. Bost and Eastu. Belfast & Ballymena. Birming. Welverh. Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. dt Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., Blyth & Tyne original £25 (issd. at £45) Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon Cork, Black, & Pass Cornwall Crieff Junction Dublin&BelfastJunc Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junsticn Do. New East Anglian • 0., (£lB E & H)..„ Eastern Counties Eastern Eldon, A Stock .. ~,.. . po., B. Stock Do., New A.. East Lancashire Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Prth. & Dundee Forth & Clyde June. lasgow &S. Western Great Northern Stk. Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. BcWest.(lre ) Great Western Irish South-Eastern. Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds Lawash.andYorksh Do., Fifths Da., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby.&Southpt Loudon & Blackwall Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond. Bright & S.Cst. Loud, and N. Westn. Do. Fifths Do.lo/.5h.,M&8...0 Do. Eighths London andS. Westn. Do., £5O Do., £4O Lndndrry& Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch.Shef. & Lincln Do., Man. & Lin. Un Midland Do. Birmng. & Derby Midld. G. West. (Im) Do. Half 'Shares Newcastle & Carlisle. Newmarket Do., Bury Extension. Nwpt.Abeig. & Hrfd. Nswry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Norfolk Northn.Counties Un North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 Do., 4 A Deferred 0., B Guaranteed North Loudon Do. New £lO N.&S.Wstrn. ,Hamp stead, and City Jn North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Bi i mg Do. L. & N. Western Guaranteed Si e k Shrewsby. & Herefd. Shrewsby. & Ghester (N. W. Min ; Do. Halves,'" e. Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& D,fully paid up at per cent South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do Staines, Wok. &Wok Stockton & Darling. Stockton & Hartlepl. Taff Vale ......... Do. £lO shares. Do. Pref., No. 1 Thames Haven Dock 1 and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny WaterforchtLimerick West Cornwall West End of London and Crystal Palace West London Wimbledn & Croydon York Newctl.&Berw. Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland Closing Prices this day. 204 -- 21 5 - 51 8 - 9 11 dis, 17 - 19 6i - 96 - 98 551 - 564 15 - 14 13 - 13,1 ili -- ie 7i - ii 7- -ii iii ---: iii 66 - 68 60 - 64 ... -- ... 22 - 24 bBA 96, 84 - 86 131 - 133 99 - 101 822 - 83 92 95 —136 p 12 13 p 67i 68 6g 61c1 fii - ii 'Bi -- 8i Par -- i P 96i -- 974 104 -- i P O - 105 d i -- # r 82 -- 83 8i -- 7Acil 10A -- 9Acl 226 21 1 . 64 36 - 38 55 57 d par 5 4id 2i 3 6 - 8 E 7 - 50 3g 301 34 ~. 35 11 F 6i - '4 53 - 55 i - i - si' 8 - 8i 34 - 35 89 91 51 - 56 55 - 60 55 60 3 2d 16 18 8 9 12 13 3i ^ 321 d 14 16 63 64 35i 36 2 d par 4 5 30 = 32 23 - 2j 151 15i 51 - 6i 24 - 26 6 - 7 6 - 7 70A 714 —74 d 4 3d 50 51 Business done this day. PREFERENCE SHARES. St. 100 Aberdeen.. • ••• St. 100 Do. No. 2,7 p. c. ..„ 25 30 Blyth and Tyne 10 per c. pref. (issd. at 500 -_ St. 100 Bris. & Ex. 4p. c. St. 20 5 Do. 4p. c. Shares St. 100 Caledonian £lO 99 - 101 100 15 all Chester & Holyhead Guar. 51 per cent._ 1 7 i 64 64 Cork &Bandons4p.e. .„ 64 all Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction 31 all EastAngliaa (X3los) 6 per cent 3 34 3i 5 all Do. (£5) 7 per cent 4 4 7i 2 Do. (£7l7s) 7p. c p 6't all Eastern Counties Ex tension, sp. c. No. 1 1 lip pm 6i all Do. No. 2 1 1 p pm 10 all Do. New 6p.c. St l3i —l4 20 all Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent 5 all Do. 51., 10 per cent 10 all Do. 10. Debentr.Sh- St. 100 East Laneash.6 p.cts. 5 all East and West York shire June. Pref 5 all EdinbPrth.&Dundee 51 per cent. St. 100 Glasgow &S.Western Guar. 5 per cent....... — St. 100 Great Northn. sp. c. 119 121 1194 St. 100 Do. sp. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem lO9 111 10 10 Do. 41 p.c. Scrip 4 p 10 6 Gt.N. of Scot. Ist Pref 64 all Gt, Southn.&Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) 8 84 20 4 Do. 4 per c. Pref. Sh. 50 6 Gt. Westn. (Berks & Hants .Ea. 5 P. 6 4 —.4 7 St. 100 Do.cov. red. 4i p.c. 98 100 St. 100 Do. con. red. 4 P.C. 90 95 St. 100 Do. irred. 4p. c 94 96 16 6 Lan. &York. F. £2O id par St. 100 Do. 6p. c. Stock 20 13 Leeds N. 6p. c. No.l 121 9 Do. Quarters, 1848 St. 100 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c St. 100 Do. Pref., sp. c. St. 50 all Do. Convertible, sp. c., 1852 — ..• St. 100 Do. New Guar.6 p. c St. 100 Lon. &N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 50 5 London &S. Western Con. Thirds 24 3 1231 all Londonderry& Coler 1 Shares 121 all Londy. &Ennis.lSh l2 13 25 all Han., Shef., & Lin , I Shares, No. 1. 10 all Do. New, £lOlO 121 all Niarypt.& Carl. 4 p.c. par 9 . 410 p 6 41 Do. .£6 12, all Do. 41 per cent • • •• • St. l2 100 4 2 10 4 D B o i r m. • C o n 6 s per o l .6 c p e . n e t. . St. St. 100 Do. Consul. Bri s t o l & • —• • • 16% 5 Do. Pref. 41 per eent 14 10 6 Norfolk Debenture . 41 St. 116 Do. Pref. 4p. c. Stock , St. 100 Do. sp. c. Ext. . . . ..„ St. 100 Do. 5 1 per ct.pref . St. 100 Do. Way. Val. sp. e. St. 100 North British i St.2o 1 ; 0 11 o N x o f r t o r h d a v ff o o r i c •d e st s h e i r r k . . •. : 105 Wolverh.Xls,6p.c. 104 106 15 15 Do.. 4 - 1 P 8i all Scot. Cent. ,New Pref 8 all Shrews. &Birm.N.G. 9i —lo 10 all Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min), 8 p.c. 16k —l7 16g 10 10 Do. 5 per cent lO 101 3 25 all South Devon l3 —l5 1131 10D. Eastern 14 e.fixed,4i ote per agn n: id --p 1.0.; S A St. 100 Do. n n dp o e f r X ce l nt O. . 5 .. 6d : 2..3 k 24 . 1 . 20 all S.Yoriish.4p.c.Guar• 17 —l9 25 all Stockton and Dar lington, 4 per cent. •.• 25 5 Do. do. do. • • 12* all Stockton and Hartle pool, guar. 5 p. c. till Ist July, 1856 ... •• • 5 3 Waterfd.&Kilk.6p.e. 14 d St. 100 York, Newcastle,and Berwi ck ,4 p.c. Pref. 94 97 17 SDo 34 4 25 10 York&N.Midlandll. Furaimm , -- id 96 7 5i 1041 a i i 12f i THE SUN, LONIDON, MONDATVEVENING, FEBRUARY 27, 1854. KHIVA.--RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. THE CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY. Paid.' Leasing Compans. Closing Prices this day. Business this day. A recent traveller in the East gives the following par ticulars respecting the territorial acquisitions of Russia in her Eastern frontier. They derive additional interest from the announcement lately made by telegraph of the alleged taking of Khiva by the Russians :—The policy of territorial aggrandisement which has ever characterised the Russian cabinet has not been confined to Europe alone. A powerful motive has never been wanting to stimulate aggression in the east. The Russian frontier has been advanced for a thousand miles along the western shores of the Caspian from the Don to the Araxes, while upon its eastern coast, and upon Khivan territory, two forts have been erected, with the ostensible object of protecting Russian fishermen from Khivan slavery. It is difficult to define the precise limit of the progress of Russia in this direction, but an irregular line drawn from the south-western angle of the Sea of Aral, west by south to the Caspian, may be laid down as the boundary beyond which the influence of Russia over the wandering tribes who inhabit thesteppeis no longerpredominant. Theriver Emba is, however, professedly the southern frontier of the recently-acquired Tartar province, which extends in an easterly direction to the borders of China, comprising an area equal to the whole of the south of Europe. This vast territory contains a wandering population of about four - millions, composed for the most part of Kirgheez Cossacks, Calmucks, and Turcomans. Nothing can be more cheerless than the aspect of the steppes upon which these nomadic tribes pasture their camels— throughout its entire extent not a tree is to be met with or a single fixed habitation to be seen, with the exception of a few recently established Cossack posts. Camel thorn and wormwood scrub afford but a scanty herbage ; water is extremely scarce • a distance of 200 miles often intervenes between the brackish wells, while extensive saline deposits are to be met with in every direction. In winter the cold is intense, and the snow covers the ground to such a depth that cattle are sometimes starved to death before the return of spring. Then for a short time all is verdant and fresh, and caravans leave Khiva and Boukhara with merchandise for the Russian fairs. During summer the burning heat parches up every green thing, and the arid desert is almost impassable. In autumn the caravans return. There are two principal routes from the east of Russia into the countries of Cen tral Asia. It is not long since I myself witnessed upon the borders of Orenburg the division of a large party of Khiva and Boukhara merchants returning laden with the spoils of the west. The greater portion took the route by Astrakhan and Mangishlak, as involving a shorter land journey. Miserable native craft ply be tween Astrakhan and the landing place on the eastern shores of the Caspian, near which is the small Russian fort of Alexandrofski. It is about 480 miles from this fort to Khiva, one of the most trying deserts for camels in Central Asia. In some places the road attains a considerable elevation, water and pasture are both unusually scarce, and or eight or nine days not even the black tent of a Kirgheez is visible. The accounts which Mouravieff and Abbott give of this desert are such as might fairly strike dismay into the heart of the most intrepid traveller, and much more of a Russian general at the head of an invading army. Indeed, although this route was preferred on account of its short ness by my Asiatic travelling companions, the difficulties which it opposes to the transport of an army are so great as to render the invasion of Khiva from this direction a matter of utter impossibility. This has been long re cognised by the Russian Government, who have concen trated all their "materiel" at Orenburg, and who, ever since the celebrated expedition of Peroffski, have been bent upon again attempting under happier auspices the enterprise which then so signally failed. Fortunately for Khiva nature has interposed such stupendous ob stacles in the way of the scheme of invasion that even Muscovite perseverance and hardihood can scarcely be supposed already to have overcome them. Although Orenburg is the most fruitful province in Russia, and is therefore the best adapted as a starting point for an in vading army, the desert which intervenes between it and the Sea of Aral is almost precisely similar in character to that between Khiva and the Caspian. The pasturage is in parts finer, and the banks of the river Emba form a sort of oasis in the desert, and nearly divide the distance. The time occupied by caravans in making the transit of this desert from Khiva varies considerably, but it is never less than five weeks. The Kirgheez supply the camels, and are the cause of innumerable delays to the unfortunate merchants, who are not unfrequently robbed by them into the bargain. This miserable race, how ever, though too restless and independent in their to do more than own a nominal allegiance to Russia, however ill-disposed they might feel towards an invad ing army, could never be formidable to it in a warlike point of view. Weak and cowardly, they are treacher ous and vindictive, and would no doubt content them selves with removing their flocks and herds from the line of march. The inclemency of the weather and the dif ficulty of feeding his men compelled Peroffski to retreat after he had reached a point half-way between the Emba and the Sea of Aral. At whatever time of year the expedition might be undertaken, the latter difficulty must always exist to a very great extent, for even the Cossacks at many of the posts which must necessarily be well garrisoned to keep at bay the Kirgheez and Turco mans, have occasionally run short of supplies. Unless, therefore, the inhabitants themselves can be induced to sacrifice all their worldly wealth to a power which can exercise no real authority over them, and voluntarily deprive themselves of their only means of subsistence to satisfy the wants of a host of invaders, I cannot see how the march can be accomplished ; for to suppose that the entire commissarist of an army sufficiently strong to capture Khiva can be conveyed from Orenburg across the most terrible country in the world to that city seems to me, in any case, and more especially from what I know already of Russian commissariat arrangements, absurd. The Khivan army consists of upwards of a hundred thousand men, and though, from what little we have heard of their prowess, they do not seem the bravest troops in the world ; yet if the condition of the Russian army, after some months of intolerable hardship, be con sidered, even the cowardly but savage Khivans might prove their equals. Under any circumstances, an expe dition such as that against Khiva would be heard of long before it could reach that distant city, and after the ex perience of Peroffski would certainly not again take place in the depth of winter. Of 10,000 men that ac companied the Russian general on that ill-fated enter prise 8,000 are said to have perished in the snow-drifts. I am, therefore, inclined to look with considerable suspi cion upon these floating rumours, and to regard them as having been originated in the usual way by Russian agents. But that there is an expedition contemplated on the part of Russia, I have no doubt, and, probably, in a few months, we shall hear more authentic accounts of its progress. Of its political importance there is no occasion to speak. The tendency of Russia has been to encompass the Caspian, and by uniting the provinces of Ghilan Mazenderan and Astrabad with Turcomania, to consolidate her influence upon the northern frontier of Persia, and gradually to absorb that kingdom in pursu ance of her systematic policy until, pressing upon the northern slope of the Hindoo Khoosh, and after having crossed impassable deserts, she may deem her armies all the more competent to climb impassable mountains, 1 and find their reward and repose in the sunny plains of India. The report of the dire( :tors states : "That they have the l )Leasure of announcing that the various works are so far advanced as to leave no doubt that the opening will to ke place at the latter end of May next. Of course an undertaking of such magnitude and novelty cannot be e x . yected to be complete in all ts details at its first ope: ning ; but it will be so in , ts general effect and in all the leading features which have been announced to the public, with one excep tion only, viz., that, .011 ring to an unforeseen engi neering difficulty in till, proposed construction of the tank towers, those to veers will have to be re-built, and until this is done I`.lte jets of water in the lower basins cannot be pl: tyed. This will not affect the beautiful series of fo un tains in the building and ter race-gardens, and therefore, although the full effect of the unrivalled system of water- works designed by Sir Joseph Paxton cannot be at once displayed, in all other respects the entire scheme of the palace, gardens, and park will be substantially completed, producing, as the directors confidently believe, a result surpassing, in grandeur, beauty, and interest,. all the most sanguine anticipations that have been form( el daring its progress. In order to attain this result, a ionsiderably larger expenditure of capital will be requir. id than was foreseen last year. Sir Joseph Paxton's repo rt, annexed, explains in full detail the causes of this inc. !eased expenditure, which may be stated generally as follows :-1. The great delay and difficulties caused by the unseasonable weather and ac cidents have occasione d large extra expense not only in themselves, but also in the exertions necessary to make up for lost time, so as to insure the opening in May. 2. The extraor Binary rise in wages and in the price of materials haf affected large portions of the work, which did not a denit of being let by definite con tracts. 3. The progress of the scheme has shown the necessity for embracin; objects not contemplated in the original estimates, sue le as the widening of roads and construction of new ipproaches, carriage stands, &c., beyond the precincts of: the company's original grounds. These indispensable improvements, without which carriage access from I aendon would have been almost impossible, would have been attended with a much larger expense, owing to the greatly enhanched value of all property adjoining the palace, had not the directors fortunately r secured for the company a lease for eighty-four years, .ef the Dulwich Wood, immedi ately opposite to the bu ilding, at a rental of 3,0001. a year. This lease gives them the control of property which is invaluable as a security - against the creation of nuisances near the palace, and as a site for hotels and other enter prises in connection with it, and at the same time saves heavy expense in the 'construction of approaches, and leaves the company in possession of land which is already worth consid , erably more than the stipulated rental. 4. The elabor Tete manner in which many of the courts and other departments connected with the fine arts and industrial exhi:bition have been carried out has considerably increased their cost. For instance, the idea of the Pompeian Court has been expanded from that of a refreshment room, with some decorations in the Pom peian style, to that of the complete and accurate repre sentation of a Pompeian house, under the direction of SignorAbbate—a work which may be fairly stated to be of the greatest possible varere to English art, as well as to all those branches of manufacture which are allied to art, and in which beauty of design and colour is an es sential element of success. On the whole, considering the magnitude of the operations, and the very substan tial and perfect manner in which they have been con ducted, the directors believe that their completion for a sum not exceeding one miliion sterling, will be a result in which this may well bear comparison with other great public undertakings. The present amount of share capital is 750,0001., of which 700,1501. has been received. The amount expended up to the present time is 679,720/., the details of which are given in the following statement :—Land, deducting 55,488/. received for re-sales, 50.240/. ; purchase and removal of the original building, 95,000/. ; construction of the main building, 135,050/. ; tunnel, heating apparatus, &c., 24,536/. ; wings of the Crystal Palace, water towers, &c., 34,090/. ; hydraulic works, fountains, laces, Arte sian well, &c., 93,670/. ; park, terraces, gardens, &c., 98,214/. ; new roads and approaches, &c., 4,350/. ; interior of building, plants, garden works, fountains inside the palace, &e., 6,450/. ; natural history illustrations, 11,17 6/. ; Fine Arts Courts--Pom peian, Alhambra, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Mediaeval, Renaissance, Italian, and Byzantine, 52,5001.; collection of sculpture, 32,060/.; sundry fittings, 7,0001.; general expenses, 35,314/. ; total, 679,720. The direc tors, having carefully considered the best mode of rais ing the additional capital required, have come to the conclusion that the most advisable course is to issue among the proprietors, rateably, 50,000 new shares of 51. each, giving one such new share to each registered holder of three of the present shares, with a deposit of ; 11. 10s. per share on allotment. REPORT OF SIR JOSEPH PAXTON TO THE DIRECTORS ON THE CAUSES OF THE INCREASED EXPENDITURE. 4 Crystal Palace-office, Rock-hills, Sydenham, Feb. 6, 1854. Gentlemen—ln accordance with the minute of the board of the 25th January, referring to me the question of the total expenditure of the company, I beg to report to you that I have gone very carefully and minutely into all the details requisite to arrive at the amount of the company's capital expenditure, which I find to be 997,3721.: and I now beg to subjoin the best explanation I am enabled to give you with regard to the large increase in the proposed cost of the undertaking which appeal's, on comparing the piesent aggregate with the estimate of June, 1853, when it was considered that the share capital of 750,0001. would be sufficient for the completion of the works. Amount of increase on the estimate of June 1853. A. Reconstruction of the main Building.— The increase arises from the necessity of putting in new staircases from the basement storeys, of further strengthening portions of the building, and sundry other additions, in all amounting to B. Wings of the Crystal Palace.—The increase is entirely in order to provide a larger exhibit ing area, and the outlay will certainly be amply repaid : it amounts to C. Water Towers.—Doubts having arisen as to the strength and capacity of these towers, it has been thought the safest course to take them down and rebuild them on a larger scale.. It is difficult to estimate the total increased expense thus occasioned, but from engineering and other opinions I have taken, I cannot state it at loss than D. Heating Apparatus.—The increase is for heating the wings, not previously contemplated, but now found to be necessary partly for the reason stated in B .. E. HydranlicWorks.—There is a very oonsiderable increase in this item. It is caused, in the first place, in conse quence of our taking the supply of water from an Artesian well instead of from the Lambeth Water-works as at first proposed, thus saving the company a large annual payment for water rent This addition I estimate at £o,ooo Some additions have been found ne cessary to the plan for the cascades, computed at . 3,000 For the iron pipes, valves, and fit tings connected therewith Sundry artistic decorations, such as dolphins' heads, mercuries, &c., and my design for temples at the source of the cascades will an occasion an in crease of Sculptured figures and ornamental vases required to be distributed over the cascades Arrangements to provide against risk from fire F. Ground and Terrace Gardens.—The increase here is attributable to an enlargement of the original design to an extent of 58 acres G. Roads and Approaches H. Interior of the Palace.—The increase here will be entirely caused by the construction of seven Industrial Courts of a character not contemplated in June last, and by other ac commodation rendered necessary for exhibi tors, and amounts to I. Geological Illustrations.—There will be an increase here in consequence of the construction of a second island, and the extension of the plan for the preparation of extinct animals and geo logical works K. Sundry small items.. £6,500 LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, Feb. 27.—Wind this day at Noon, W.'; light breeze, and fine, clear weather. The Clarence (schr.), of Caen, was fallen in with 9th inst., in 41 lat. and long. 11., with lower masts gone below the rigging, and a flag flying haif-way up the stump, but apparently perfect in her hull. R AMS GATE, Feb. 26 . — Arrived—Abina, from Amster. dam, for Surinam, to stop a leak hi the bow. Sailed— Chevalier, for Melbourne. P LYMO UTH, Feb. 26 . — Wind, S. 0. Arrived—Queen of the South (s s), from India . Sailed—Nimroud, for Sydney, N.S.W. ; Parsee, Adelaide. COWES, Feb. 26.—Wind, N. Sailed—Helen, for Roi J a neiro ; Kingfisher, Havannah. PORTSMOUTH, Feb. 26 .—Wind, N.N.W. Arrived_ H.M.'s et. Rhadamauthus, from the eastward ; H.M.S. Diligence, Queenstown H.M.S. M e , g i c i enne , DOVER, Feb. 26.—Wind, N.N.W. to N.E. Arrived— Exchange, from Falmouth, for Newcastle, with damage having been in collision. Sailed— Vi o l a , for Matanza; after repairing. The Harbinger, Mont rose to Bar ce l ona , has put in here leaky , having been on shore. FALMOUTH, Feb. 26.—Wind, N. Arrived—Jenny, from Rio Janeiro ; Maria Heinrich Pernamb uco, w ith jibb oon carried away; Heinric h NVergeland, Al exan d r i a - Un daunted, Berdianaki , and sailed for L ondon; Ann Stainton, Taganrog; Cornelia Wilhelmma, Ibr a il , f or Li mer i c k . Off Port—Norden, from Honduras. —Arrived—G eo , D ou th wa it e , GLOUCESTER, Feb. 25. Kertch. Sailed—William, for Sydney. DARTMOUTH, Feb. 26.—Wind, E. Sailed—Regina des Beiges, for Genoa. BRIDLINGTON, Feb. 23. — Wind, E. by N. Arrived — Bertha, from Dordt, for Newcastle, in t ow , w ith l oss o f sails, spars, and leaky ; Lofthouse, London, for Sunder land, towed in with loss o f sails and bulwarks, having been in collision with the Bertha: ; Ligo, Lond on , f or Whitb y, with loss of anchor and chain. S UNDERLA ND, Feb.n 25.—A steamer's life-boat, m a rked " Blanche" on both s ides, and painted blue outside and yellow inside, with a blu e bottom, was picked u p o ff Scar borough 23d Feb., and landed here, by th e Duchess of Northumberland, arrived at this port. HALIFAX, N.S., Feb. 16. — The wre c k of a derelict barque, under close - re efed main topsail, other sails furled or blown away, with a round stern, topgallant bulwarks ainted white, an d boats all gone, was pas se d 29th J an. about 20 miles south of Cape Saddle, by the Commodore' ' arrived here from Boston. The Canada (8.) arr i ve d h ere this day from Liverpool ; .reports having passed through considerable quantities of ice and lost several of her paddie floats. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, Jan. 13.—The L a d y Charlotte Guest, from Mauritius to Falmouth, foundered 23d Dec., in lat. 30 S., long. 40 E.; . crew saved by the Maranon, ar rived here from the Mauritius. CAGLIARI, Feb.l6.—The Allison, from Odessa to Queens. town or Falmouth, which put back to this port 2d. Feb., will have to discharge the whole of her cargo, part of which isdamaged. 11,000 1-67,500 29,500 15,000 26,000 4,000 3,872 Total increase in departments under my charge £1.83,372 L. Fine Arts.—Messrs. Jones and Wyatt, un der whose superintendence the courts and gallery of sculpture have been prepared, have reported to me that the amount of increase under this head willbe M. General Charges.—There will be a consi derable increase in the amount of these charges in consequence of the postponement of the open ing and the expenses of application to Parliament for the diversion of parish roads, and compulsory powers to enable us to construct new roads and approaches, undoubtedly necessary to the succors of the undertaking. The amount of this is 50,000 14,000 £247,372 Estimate of Juno, 1853 750,000 Total £997,372 Having now given you, as nearly as I can, the causes of the increase in the cost of the Crystal Palace and park, the following general observations occur to me : First.—The estimate of 750,0001. was framed with the best knowledge we then possessed of what would be the requirements of the undertaking, but more careful and attentive consideration, and the development of the scheme, brought out many absolutely necessary features which were not foreseen, but which are decidedly requisite for the completion of this great object. Secondly.—l assure you most confidently that every thing has been done with the strictest regard to economy, combined with stability and efficiency, and that none of the additions causing the increase could be dispensed with without serious detriment to the ultimate success of the company, both in a pecuniary and national point of view. Thirdly.—From the intimate knowledge I have now a:- quired of all the details, I have no doubt that the comple tion of the works within the amounts now proposed may be confidently relied on. Fourthly.—The undertaking will have cost, in round numbers, a sum of 1,000,000/. ; and I think tho share holders as well as the directors , on reflection and observa tion, will not fail to perceive that so grand a plan, com. prising the erection of certainly the largest building in Europe, the formation of an extensive collection of objects of art and science, and the preparation of ornamental gar dens to the extent of upwards of 200 acres, will not suffer, ags regards cost, by comparison with any other scheme, whether of a public or private nature.-1 am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, JOSEPH PAXTON. To the Directors of the Crystal Palace Company, (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Monday, 10.30 A.M. Wind, W.S.W. ; fresh breeze, and fine. Arrived—Pyreole (s), from Nantes. There was no arrivals yesterday. Sailed—Corrido for Pernambuco; Orleans, New Orleans• Dryad, Lima ; Middleton, St. John's, N.B. ; Arctic, New York ; Almelo, San Fr3IICiSCO ; Kate Hunter, New Or leans ; United, Honduras ; Maria M`lntyre, Hobart Town. RAILWAYS. Bedford and Blotchley Buckghamsh Clydesdale Jc. E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. Glas. Barr. & Neils. Direct Do. New Gistr.& Dn. Fr Hrtlpl. Dk. & Railway & Selby Shares. 'Do• 4 Shares. Lou. & Greenw Do. Preference Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per et. Manch. BAIL and Matlock Middlesbro • & Rcdcar Niidld.Bradfd Northern and Easternsp.e. Do. 6 per et. Do. Fixeds p e Prest. & Wyre Do. Shares. Roystn.& Hit. Do. Shepth . St Shef.Roth.anci Gooleg.s p.c. Staflordsh. Waal. Valleygr 6 per cent Do Wilts&Somrst London & N. West. L.&N.W. Caledon... Gt.Nrthn. Caldonian. 'Do Gt. Westv Yk. Now. & Berw. Y. &NPlid Do Do S. Eastern Do Norfolk.. L.& N. W. Midid. Stcktou Darlingt. E. Count . D 0... Do L. &N.W &Ln&Yk Do Gt Northh Do Lancash Yorksh. MCloan Stock t. Darlingt Do GI tWestn. 99 - 101 48 - 50 140 - 142 iO -: 32 104 —lo6xd 52 —53 „ 26 —27 „ 13 134 24 —25,,xd, 2i - 3 —ad 98 100 59 - 61 138 - 142 ... -. 2i - 11 . . xd 2 . 9 —30 i„ 95 97 FOREIGN. Antwerp&Rotterclam Belgian Eastn. June. Beziers to Graissessae Bombay, Baroda, and Central India,Scrip Central of Italy ICharleroi& Erquelin Demerara Dijon and Besancon Dutch Rhenish East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Grd. Trunk of Canada Do. Debentures Do. do Gt. Central of France Gt. Western of Canada Shares Do. Roads (Ist is.)'s7 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent. Lake Const. & Basle Lucca & Pistoja 5 p.c pref Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. Pref Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. ct. prof Lyons and Genera Lyons & Mediterran. Nladms Maria Antonia Do. do. New Melbourne Dk. & Ry Namur & Liege (with interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds (fmy. B. & Ams. Shs.) No rwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen do Cherbrg Quebec dz Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Meuse Do. 5i P. cent. Pref Southern of France St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) West Flanders Do. 5i per c. Pref ' Western of France West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealand Agua Fria Anglo Austrin. Gold Anglo Californian Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy of)1 Blaenarvon Ir. & Coal Fsritish Austrin. Gold British Iron Brazilianlmp.(issued at .£5 pm Do. Cocaes 6t Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carson's Creek Clarendon Con. MM Co. of Jamaica Cobro Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo Copper MM. of Eng Do. Pref. - p. cent English and Austrin Copper Smeltg. Co General Great Nugget Vein Do. Registered Great Polgooth Liberty Linares Lond. &Californ.Gold Quartz Crush. Co Mariquita Mexican&S.Americn New Granada New Linares Mining and Smelting Co Nouveau Monde Pontgibaud Silver Lead Min. dt Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymney Iron Do. New Santiago de Cuba .. F.outli Australian 'Tin Croft, United Mexican., 1 Waller ~ West Granada West Mariposa , Worthing Mining o; Australia Yuba JOINT-S' Australasia.. British Colonial Bank and Loan Company British N. American Chart& Bank of Asia Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China Colonial Commercial of Lond. English Scottish and Australian Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia London and County London Joint Stock Lond. & Westminster National Provincial of England Do. New National of Ireland New South Wales Oriental Bank of Corporation Do. New Provincial of Ireland Do. New Royal Australn.Bkg. & Gold Imp Co , South Australia Uni6n of Australia Do. New Union of London Rubin Coal and Iron Australian Agricult. Australsn.Peifie.Dfaill Australn. Royal Mail' Berlin Water Works Brit. American Land Brit. & Coln. Smoltg. and Reduction Co: Canada Crystal Palace Do. New......... Crystal Pal. of France Eastern Stearn Electrit Telograph(A) Do. (B) Electric Toleg. of Ir Gen. Steam Navigat General Screw Steam Irish Beetroot Sugar Magdalena St. Navig. Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel Netherlands Land N. S. W. Coal di Inter Steam Navigat. Co N. B. Australasian Do. New Nrth. ofEuropeSteam Peel Rr. Ld. & Mina Peninsular & Oriental Do. Do. Portland Iron Co Royal Mail Steam Scot. Austral. Invest South Austral. Land Submar. Telegraph Do. Registered Van Diemen's Land ii. = 43 ii ---- 75 - 80 -1 p 1 - p 17 -- lBxd ... - S. 3 2d ... --- ... par— i p ..• -- .. id PI ••• - •.. i - IP li 1$ 38 40 iar k 1 d px( 13 —l4 His worship, the Mayor of Liverpool, J. B. Lloyd, Esq., entertained to dinner, on Thursday evening, the Town-hall, about 50 gentlemen, amongst whom were three or four magistrates, and several members of the own council. 3i ad 1 1. 3id i P 31 - 2k - Zip - PI 5~ 4~di 2i - 24 , - 1 I> ... - ... - 1p dis 41 4i 1 lA 1 1 i d par 71 7i 2 . 61 io i 74- 8i 12,4 - 12ipi 42 44 34 —36 xd 284 —28 t pm 3 1 d ld par . d 8 ... ... ... pin __- 1 1 3 s 5 1 -: Vd ES. k - 1 - - I - - —1 1 Id 1 —11 a 7 9xd 4 - -2; 28 - 30 a - 42 44xd Ad— A 11 —l3 60 —7O 4 - 6 pl li -2, id par 1/ it d 11. 12 ... i ... $ d 6 6i i— i d id 17 - 19 --- V 28 -30 P 8 -10 34 - 4 - 5 3 - 3 6 - al BANKS. 76 - 78 ... -- d 2 lid 3 2id i id - 44 - 46 40 - 42 67 - 69 7 - 7i 6,000 (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Monday, 9.51 a.m. Wind, W.N.W ; fine ; tide, two hours' fl oo d. Arrived.—Lion, steamer, from Harlingen ; Ravens. Diana, steamer, from R o tt er d am bourne, from Antwerp ; QUEEN STOWN, Feb. 25. _ Wind, W. ; fresh, Arrived-- Cressida, from Mauritius ; Barie, from Ma• rianopoli. Sail9d—Vonukt, for London. 50 25 14 20 20 all all all all all 100 12 100 100 18i1 9 all 7 3 8 2s. 20i 100 20 8i 10 20 10 20 20 10s. 10 20 50 1 20 35 1 10 1 1 50 50 100 100 20 50 20 25 20 10 20 35 10 22', all all ad 30 ad 6i 7 7t 8 3i 4 8 i 8 4 3i 45i 5 i 1 73a 4i 6i 6 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. CITY MEMORIAL TO LORD ABERDEEN. Lord Aberdeen received a deputation from the city on Saturday, at Downing-street, to present a memorial on agricultural statistics, which is believed to be one of the most influential, in regard to signatures, which has ever emanated from the city of London. The following gentlemen composed the deputation :—Messrs. John Masterman, M.P., Alexander Matheson, M.P., T. A. Mitchell, Gregson, M.P., F. W. Russell, M.P., Johs:lngrain Travers, R. W. Crawford, W. S. Lindsay, Jiihn Alton,. James Caird, John Gladstone, Louis Huth,.A. RAP, J. D. Powles, &c. Mr. MAs'tizumerr;presented the memorial, and stated the great importance of its object to the commercial in terests of the country, which was manifested, in so far as the city was concerned, by the numerous and very influential signatures appended to it. He trusted that his lordship and the Government would be enabled to effect such arrangements as would secure the object sought by the memorialists —the collection of accurate returns of the agricultural produce of the country. Mr. GREGSON, in following Mr. Masterman, said that he had mentioned the subject in the house last session, and received a satisfactory reply from the President of the Board of Trade. Since then some inquiries had been instituted, and returns had been delivered from three counties in Scotland. Similar experiments bad been made in two counties in England, and every disposition had been shown on the part of the President of the Board of Trade to make progress in obtaining this information. He might state that the return should be obtained and published with as little delay as possible after harvest, in order to their being of any practical value, for in regard to the Irish returns the value they possessed was much impaired by the fact that they were not delivered till 15 months after the harvest to which they referred, thus telling us the quantity of corn at our disposal three months after it had been consumed. He might offer as a striking illustration of the value of such returns, in comparison with the cost of obtaining them, the fact that the quantity of corn annually sold in this country was estimated at 40;000,000 qrs4",mpon which a fluctuation of only ls. a qr. amounted to 2,000,0001. sterling. Correct returns would, in great measure, check excessive fluctua tion. An objection had been made, that the returns might be viewed as inquisitorial in their nature ; but it had been satisfactorily shown to the farmers, by Mr. Pusey and Lord Ashburton, that they were the parties who would be chiefly beriefitted. He could not presume to enter into the detail of the mode of carrying the project into effect. The Tithe And Enclosure Commission-office had been suggested as an already organised body, with com pletely qualified officers in every part of the country, whose services might be made available in this inquiry. At present there was an uncertainty to the extent, as stated in the memorial, of 1,000,000 of tonnage as neces sary to carry the supplies needed from abroad before next harvest. The expense nationally would be nothing, compared to the magnitude of the object and the impor tant interests at stake. Lord ABE EDEEN said—Hitherto experiments have been made with a view to test the practicability of collecting accurate returns. Those made in Scotland have been very successful. In England the same system has been tried in two countries, Norfolk and Hampshire. At first it was not attended with the same success, as much opposition was offered, and more would have been if the returns had been made compulsory. It is therefore desirable to avoid mea sures which might appear compulsory. lam happy to say that now there is every prospect of the experiment being attended with perfect success. I have therefore no hesitation in saying, that enough has been done to prove that a system may be extended generally through out the country, though I am not prepared to say by what machinery. The importance of the object is fully admitted, and its practicability proved. The time and the mode of inquiry are, therefore, now the only points to be determined. The question of expense would have to be submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but on that point I do not anticipate much objection. Mr. LINDSAY, after what had fallen from Lord Aber deen, felt it unnecessary to urge this matter at much length, his lordship having signified his concurrence with the views of the memorialists. He would therefore only add that the signatures to the memorial were those of men representing the most important interests in the city of London, and who did not put their names to any document the object of which they had not fully consi dered. As an extensive shipowner he was personally cognisant of the evils attending the want of reliable in formation on this important subject. To illustrate this he might refer to the great fluctuation occasioned in freights by this uncertainty—those from Odessa having varied from 60s. to 170 s. since last harvest. This was an instance of the manner in which the want of statistics of the year's produce operated in shipping, but he was aware that it acted no less injuriously on most of the other great commercial interests of the country. Mr. CAIRO, in reference to what had been said by Lord Aberdeen on the objectionable character of compulsory measures, expressed his belief that a system could be adopted, which he had indeed already prepared, but at that time felt it unsuitable to present to his lordship, by which this objection might be obviated. The main ob ject was to get trustworthy returns at an early period after harvest, and in such a mode as should admit of an easy check on their accuracy. From his personal acquaintance with inquiries of this nature, he had no hesitation in saying that a system might be introduced by which all these important objects would be secured. The great fluctuations already mentioned sufficiently proved that, in comparison with their value, the cost of collecting these returns was a trivial consideration. As a further instance of this he might add that the corn crop of the British Islands of 1853 is, when valued by the average prices of this week, worth 40 millions ster ling more than it was in the first week of harvest, so entirely are we without reliable information as to the real value of our crops. Accurate information would certainly not remedy the injurious effects of bad seasons, but it would equalise prices, permit of timely arrange ' ments for adequate supplies, and prevent those sudden fluctuations which all admit to be so injurious to com merce and trade. Such statistics were already obtained in the continental States and in America, as also in our own dominions in Ireland and in Canada. He could confirm what had been stated of the great importance to the agricultural interest, with which he was more imme diately concerned, of trust worthy agricultural statistics. Mr. RUSSELL shortly urged the importance of the sub ject, which was fully acquiesced in by Lord Aberdeen, and the deputation then withdrew. THE CRYSTAL PALACE. According to the announcements issued, Saturday was the day fixed for closing the works to all visitors—the press, of course, excepted. As might have been anticipated from the extreme fineness of the weather, and the intense interest taken in the progress of this gigantic structure, a large number of visitors availed themselves of this last chance of seeing the progress of the works. The various avenues leading to the palace were quite thronged with vehicles and equestrians, and among the latter were an unusual proportion of the gentler sex. Stabling accommodation for the horses and carriages was hardly to be obtained in the neighbourhood. indeed the inhabitants of Norwood seemed quite over whelmed, and to calculate with something like fear what the rush of visitors would be when once the palace was fairly thrown open to the public. About 14,000 or 15,000 visitors paid at the doors during the course of the day. The Greek, Roman, and Pompeian courts, as. being the most advanced, were the greatest objects of attraction, while the Alhambra, which will far surpass them all when finished, received on Saturday only a cursory glance from some of the more adventurous explorers. The gardens, though in a very backward state, and at present damp and inconvenient to walk about in, were much patronised, as were also the extraordinary geological productions of Mr. Water house Hawkings. It is intended to open the building to the public on the 24th of May next ; though, of course, at that early time very considerable portions of the inte rior adornments must be unfinished. Indeed, if the company can manage to get the building any way pre sentable by the 24th they will have accomplished a very miracle of labour, quite in keeping with the whole scheme. The men work at the interior until nine o'clock each evening, and the heads of departments speak confi dently of all being tolerably ready by the time mentioned. It is said that her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort will be present at the public opening, which will be of the most imposing nature, and on a scale of grandeur hitherto unattempted. FALL OF PART OF THE OLD CITY WALL OF EDIN BURGH.—Loss OF LIFE.—On Wednesday afternoon last, about 3 o'clock, a large portion of the wall of Edinburgh, supposed to be from 300 to 400 years old, gave way, and overwhelmed several persons in an immense mound . of earth and stones. The wall here bounded . the ancient city on the side of Canongate, and faced Leith Wyp e d e — ee a very steep and narrow street, inhabited .b y dense population. It was from 25 to 27 feet in h heigh as t a a on h t ig h h e side of the street, but on the other side_ t th e e re w cope. The bank, reaching to within five feet f weight of the embankment, to which o a considerable ad dition had been made some years ag , had evidently had the effect of pressing the wall o t utw a o e a u i n d s s, as on being d to , be about plumbed a few weeks . ago, eight the top, f while the eight inches off the line near pres sure seemed to be increasing from the accumulation of moisture within. Operation s had been going on fo r th e drainage of Leith Wynd for some time, 19r the safety of which beams of wood were placed against the w a ll as b ut t ress es. The drain having been carried past, a new stone pillar was inserted in the wall, with the expectation of giving it solidity ; and the suppo r t s were removed on Wednesday forenoon, just three hours b e f ore t h e acci dent. The fall took place without Warning of any kind, so that those who were on the spot had no time to escape. The wall fell acro ss th e entire street, the cope s tones breaking into th e w i n d ows of the shops oppo site. In falling, the wall carried with it a great part of the embankment, so that the debris formed a huge mound, which, fro m it s we i ght and solidity, and from the position of the street, appeared to be the work of days to remove. The width of the gap at the top was fully 20 yards. The sufferers were chiefly children. Two were extricated alive, but one of them is awfully muti lated, and is not expected to survive ; and two were, in the course of the night, taken out dead. Two workmen were injured by falling stones, but not seriously. It was feared that several other persons seen to be in the im mediate neighbourhood a few moments before the acci dent had been crushed in the ruins, but up to Thursday afternoon no more bodies had been found, and no in quiry had been made at the police-office for persons missing. The work of excavation, however, was not completed, so that the exact extent of the calamity could not be ascertained. The event has occasioned great ex citement in the neighbourhood, and considerable reflec tion that the wall had been suffered to remain so long in the dangerous position it has for some time done. 6,000 20,000 5,000 ~ c ., n ~!5p , 11., A p„ -. , 4 1-, f ~ Y .* r 4 vr,.v.,- ~,_ ~l %+: ►~ {l v~ -:... - AFFAIRS OF i 4 The Emperor of Russia seems resolved to put a bold face upon the difficult and perilous game he is about to play against the united forces of the most powerful States in Europe, against the cause of peace and order which he once professed to de fend, and against the interests of his neighbours, his allies, and his own subjects. According to the last information we have received, the Imperial Guards, which form a corps d'armee of upwards of 30,000 men, have been ordered to the frontier of the Baltic Provinces ; and the Prussian Guards are likewise ordered to advance to the northern ex tremity of the kingdom, and to occupy Konigsberg and Memel. Upon the arrival at St. Petersburg of the answer from the English and French Govern ments to the last Russian communication, notice was at once given to our Minister at the Imperial Court that diplomatic relations would be suspended, and on the following day Sir Hamilton Seymour received from home orders to withdraw from Rus sia with the least possible delay. But it may be worthy of observation that the rupture came from the side of the Imperial Government. The St. Peters burg Gazette—an organ not usually very commu nicative on matters of foreign policy—has pub lished a complaint of the form in which the intended operations of the combined fleets in the Black Sea were made known to the Russian Cabi net, and great surprise is expressed that such a communication should have been made verbally, and not in writing. We do not know why the verbal form was preferred, though probably the French and English Ministers had their reasons for adopting that mode of communication ; but, at any rate, it is not alleged by the Russian Govern ment that the tenour of this verbal declaration was such as to admit of the smallest doubt or miscon ception. The terms of it were clear, and the object of it so undisguised that Count Nesselrode at once asked Sir Hamilton Seymour whether he was cer tain that his instructions went to the full extent of his words. It is not easy to form any certain estimate of the effect produced on the Russian nation by such pas sages in these transactions as are made known to them, although this is unquestionably one of the most important parts of the whole subject ; but, whatever may be the irritation or infatuation of the Czar, these passions will ultimately be curbed, not so much perhaps by the direct opposi tion of foreign armies, as by the reaction produced among his own subjects by the extraordinary measures to which he has already had re course. His financial difficulties began almost as soon as the operations of war ; funds were drawn in from abroad, as appeal was made to the Holy Synod for a loan, voluntary contributions were required from all classes of the population in atone which left very little option to the contri butors, and a large issue of paper money was de creed, which must before long have the effect of reducing the present standard value of the entire paper currency. Of course these pecuniary embar rassments are greatly increased by the de facto stoppage of the British trade; for as no remittances have been made from this country to Russia this winter for the purchase of raw produce in that country, the ordinary course of trade is as effectually stopped as if the blockade of the Russian ports had already commenced. The landowners who are the growers of this produce find their market cut off ; the agents who conduct the business are without their usual remittances, and all the innumerable transactions of private life which depend on this periodical arrival of foreign capital are suspended. The Russian Government, however, not taking into account the enormous inconvenience and dis satisfaction caused to the class of landed proprietors by this state of affairs, has proceeded to inflict on them two measures of a still more serious character. By a ukase of the 10th of February, the Emperor has ordered a levy of no less than 9 men on every 1,000 souls throughout the western governments of the empire, to commence on the Ist of March and to finish on the 15th of April, and by a special provision the Jews subject to the con scription are to furnish 10 per 1,000, instead of 9. This is one of the most oppressive and un usual measures which, even in Russia, has ever been resorted to by the Imperial Government. For the ordinary purposes of the military con scription the governments, or provinces of the empire, are separated into two eastern and western divisions, which are alternately called upon to furnish every other year the number of recruits required for the army. The proportion ordered has seldom exceeded 5 or 6 men per 1,000, except in 1849, when it was raised to 8 in the western, and 4in the eastern division. It must be observed that this draught of men is not made, as in France and other countries, subject to military conscrip tion, on the male population of a certain age, but on the whole population of the district, or, as it is expressed in the ukase, " 9 men on 1,000 souls." The manner in which it is carried into effect is, that the whole number of serfs or peasants on a given estate or township (Volosti) are taken into account, and recruits must be furnished by the landowner in the proportion fixed by the Emperor. As about two-thirds of every 1,000 " souls" are women or children, or men past the age of labour, the levy does in reality fall on the adult male population, and must theref ore amount to the proportion of at least 3 per cent. The popula tion of Russia in the western governments on which this levy falls, omitting the parts of th e em pi re ex cepted from it, cannot be less than 30 millions, and the number of men to be raised by this extraordinary call must therefore be from 270,000 to 300,000. It is impossiUe to conceive greater individual misery or greater public loss than must be occa sioned by this wholesale seizure of such a propor tion of the adult male population of the empire. The unhappy serfs, indeed, have no voice in the matter, and will be dragged from their homes by the inexorable will of the Czar, to lose their very names and their existence in the ranks of his army, like so many brute beasts marked out for in discriminate slaughter. But the labour of these men is the chief source of wealth in the country ; the property of the landowner consists in the num ber of his peasants ; his income depends upon their industry; the ukases of conscription are at all times obeyed with reluctance and difficulty by the embarrassed nobles of Russia ; and this extraordi nary levy triples the burden thrown upon them at the time when they are least able to bear it, and must inflict incalculable hardships on every class of society. The Government has, however, gone still further. To render this levy less intolerable to the peasantry, the Emperor has caused it to be accom panied by a second ukase, reducing the days of forced labour from three days in the week to two, which is, in other words, to reduce the rent and value of land by one-third wherever this law is applied. The tenure of land in Russia is by forced labour, and that is the only rent the lord of the soil obtains. However desirable it may be to alter such a tenure, it is clear that the mere abolition, without indemnity, of one-third of that labour by which rent is alone paid, is as direct and violent an act of spoliation and robbery on the part of the Government as ever was devised by the wildest revolutionists of Western Europe. It is unnecessary for us to dilate on these facts. They prove more forcibly than anything we can say to what extraordinary and desperate measures t h e Russian Government has already been driven, an d , if this s m tat o eo h f s, things or for one can o be supposed twosuppoyseeadrs the lasto mostof for several months, n he the w a a Uth of ori l t B y s4 of w th ill e memorable consequences o d f o tr probably be sbeeli;thaensde the o od i nutcornal condition of hi s own e dominions. —Times. THE PRESTON STRIKE. PRESTON, Feb. 25.--Few additions have been made during the present week to the number of operatives who have resumed work on the terms fixed by the Masters' Association, and some of the people employed at those terms have left the mills without notice, and have been summoned before the magistrates for breach of contract. Under these circumstances the associated masters are preparing to advertise throughout the country for " A large number of factory operatives, and young persons, of both sexes, desirous of obt a i n i ng employme n t i n f actor i es, with whom permanent engage. ments will be made on liberal terms." It appears from the returns that the number of unem ployed hands relieved this week from the Trades' Unions funds was 14,551 ; last week, 15,567 ; decrease, 1,016. The amount distributed in relief this week was 3,267/. 16s. sd. ; last week, 3,454/. ss. 10d. ' • decrease, 1861. 95. sd. The decrease in the numb er o f hands receiving re lief from the highest point is about 2,000. Part of these have been absorbed by the 21 mills which are running at terms satisfactory to the operatives ; another portion by the 32 mills working at the associated masters' prices ; and the remainder consist of those who have left the town. SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM IN ST. JAMES'S PARS.—' Last evening some alarm was occasioned amongst the; various promenaders in the enclosure of St. James's Park, in consequence of the sudden cry of " fire " being raised. It was then found that a small building in the enclosure, used as a provender store, was on fire ; and from the inquiries subsequently made the prevailing opinion is that some evil-disposed person had maliciously set fire to the place. Information of the outbreak having been despatched to the engine stations with as little delay as possible, the Brigade engines from Chan.. dos-street, King-street, and other stations attended, when the firemen went to work from the ornamental river, and eventually got the flames subdued, but not until the building and its contents were destroyeil. The loss, fortunately, is not very considerable ; but owing t o the many rumours in circulation that the barracks in Bud , case-walk had taken fire, much alarm prevailed in the neighbourhood of the Royal Park. ~.lr -tad 7011, off Paid. ioo 100 100 all all all 8/ 2sl 6i 25 50 20 20 20 10 10 2/ 2s 100 100 100 100 10 26i 13A 20 20 all 100 all 15 2/ 2s all 16i 100 St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 17 all all 14 all 51s. 100 20 131 100 13i i 82i 3 641 4 36 76 11/ i 63i i 35 70i 9# soi 1