The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-31 00:00:00

- -- , _.„ ___. _ _ • -,.. . - ' . TIIE SUN, LONDO ...._.... _. ______ . ._........._.-- . _ 4.y.) I MARKET NEWS—(THIS DAY.) ' SHARE MARKETS. LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. . —....—.0„.--... . CORN EXCHANGE. (THIS DAY.) shr. Paid. Rittman. Leasing Closing Prices Business Compans. thisflay. this day. The quantity of English wheat on sale in to - day's mar- .is - ,vino failed ket was very limited, but in good condition. All kinds BRITISH RAILWAYS. . t --....—..... sold readily, at an advance in the prices of Monday last a 50 all Bedford and London & The sum- from ls to 2s per quarter, and a good clearance was ----a—a-- 5 S O t. 100 311 '-' E ' its, one of ' effected. Bletchloy.... N. West. ••• ... St. 100 Buckghamsh. L.&N.W. ... ... Shr. Paid. RAILWAYS. Closing Prices Business done We were extensively supplied with foreign wheat ; this day. this day. il . y L d i e n s t was only nevertheless the inquiry for that grain was rather active, .....-- ' 20 21 201 1 6 per cent. 'Gt.Nrthu. 130 —HO 125 at from 2s to 3s per quarter above Monday's currency. There was very little doing in floating cargoes, owing to St. 100 Aberdeen.. ............ 25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. I summon Neils. Direct ... —. c d o al in eJ g e r. . Caledon.., .„. ... the high pretensions of boiders. 20 8,, Anib Nottng. Bost. 25 Do all Do. New... There was an improved inquiry for barley, the value of 4 41 4. 4 i x d and Eastu. Junct... 25 all Distr.& Dn.Fr Gt. Westn 28 30 a Monday, which had an upward tendency. 50 all Belfast & Ballymena. ... ... 100 all lirtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New. Although the transactions in malt were limited, pre- 13' all • • Wolverh. & , Bulaing. Railway & Berw. ... ... vious rates were well supported. Stour Valley. ... 71 81 a clerk in , 50 all thin & Selby Y. &NIVId 100 102 A steady business was doing in oats, at is per quarter 31 28 Birkenll. Lancsh. & ifirruative. 13 —ll gig 25 all Do. 4 Shares. Do 5O —52 advance on Monday's prices. Cheshire Juuct 124 all Do. 4 Shares. Do 25 26 not incur- Beans and peas were dull ; but barrel flour was is to 2s 273 all Do. Chesh. & Birk., 13i all Lon.&Greenw S. Eastern 13 131 them ; for dearer. £5O and .' , 25 Cons. 15 17 ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. 251 eld a situ- 22 18.1 Do., £2O 20 100 Lowestoft gr. Wheat. Barley. Matt. Oats. Flour. 25 30 Blyth &Tyne original came open English .. 1,430 2,960 2,210 3,650 I,CBO £25 (issd. at £45) 88••• ••• 4 per cent. Norfolk ... ... 20 tuo Do. 6 per et. . ... incur such Irish .• • • GO 8,150 _ St. 100 Bristol and Exeter. """' 90 Foreign .. 15,6;0 3, , I-0 8 re , , 13,050 hr i all Nfa,nch Bxtn. L.&N.W. confidence St. 100 Cale,donian. ....... —5 0 i- 5 1 50 49i 50 . d 4 ' . —x and Matlock & Miolld. 2g 2Exd 2a Keep their SMITHFIELD. 50 all Chester & Holyhead. 10 14 131 50 all Aiddlesbro' & 'itekto,a& 50 all Cork and Bandon... 8 - - .3 10 Redear Darlingt. ... ... rIFE. To-clay's market was well supplied with beasts, the 20 all Cork, Black, &Pass. ••• •••' 10( all Nlidld.Bradfd Aidland.. 89 —9l ;Ault. general condition of which was by no means first-rate. All 20 12 Cornwall —.— 50 all Northern and tiff, sad it bree is moved off slowly, eta decline in the prices obtained 10 3 Cried - Junction ,13 •,•,; ••• Easternsp.c. E. Count. 54 56 tlie same on Monday of 2d p er 81bs. Amo ng s t the supply wore 100 50 45 Dublin&BelfastJuue. ..' 40 50 es. Do. 6 per et. Do —.- ._ oxen from Portugal. Sheep, the numbers of which were 25 all Dundee Perth&Aber wcen their 50 all Do. Fixeds p€ Do a consider- tolerably good, were dull, and 2d per Slbs lower. The (leen Juustion 7 8 25 all ?rest. &Wyre L. &N.W. and their • lamb trade was heavy, at 2d per 81bs less money. Prime 25 all Do. New ... ...&,Ln&Yk ... xd istrates at small calves were scarce, and quite as dear. Inferior 25 all East Anglian 142 —15 t 121 12 Do. 1 Shares. Do . xd calves, as well as pigs, commanded very little attention. 18 all Do., (£lB E & H).... ••• ••• could send. St: 100 Roysin.&Hit. GtNorthn ... ... of Powis. • • Mulch cows sold at 141. to 101. each, including their 20 all Eastern Counties lig - ili il l g St. 100 Do.Sbepth.St Do ...... ... ... ... re and sho small calf. St. all Eastern Union, A 25 18 Shef.Roth.azlG Laneash& Per Sibs to sink the °Tale. Stock Goole g. 5 p.c. Yorksh. ~,, ... blame on s. d. s. d. S. d. S. d. St. 10(' Do., B. Stock "' '. 12 9), S. Staffordsh. • A.MClean 3 —21 d letion as a Inferior Beasts.... 3 o to 3 21PrimieSonthclown 410 5 0 25 8i Do., Now A ••• ••• 50 all Wear Valleygr Stoekt. & Le violence Second quality__ 3 4 3 6/L arge crse. calves 4 6 5 2 St. 100 E as t Lancashire 5B 60 58i gi 6 per cent... Darlingt. ... ... Prime large oxen 3 S 4 0 Prime small d 0... 5 4 5 8 St. 100 Edinburgh& Glasgow 54 56 51 25 all Do .Do ..... .... 27 29 61 71 61 Prime Scots, &c. 4 2 4 4iLarge hogs 3 0 4 2 10 5: Ediub. and Peebles._ .i.„; — 0...; St. 100 Wilts&,Somrst GtWestn. ... ... , .. N _l_ v_e_-_,-- 01.,,,,.. C g ft k igm al! ru-trlrpra A I A 0 R+ 110 mi :... 13...1 I. AT. MI n dr. , ...." ''—' .. 20 ____ .... Aberdeen .•.. ....... Ararbg Nottng. Bost. and Eastu. Juuct Belfast & Ballymena Bi rm ing. Wolverh. & Stour Valley. Birkenlid. Lancsh. & Cheshire Juuct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and Cons. Do., £20..... ....... Blyth & Tyne original £25 (issd. at £4s' Bristol and Exeter. Caledonian Chester & Holyhead, Cork and Bandon... Cork, Black, & Pass, Cornwall Crieff Junction ... )üblin&BelfastJuuc. Dundee Perth &Aber (leen Junction. Do. New.., East Anglian. Do., (£lB E & H)., Eastern Counties.... Eastern Union, A Stock Do., B. Stock— Do., Now A East Lancashire Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles... Edin. Pr6h & Dundee Forth & Clyde June., 'Glasgow & S. Westen,l -Great Northern Stk.' Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.(lre.) Great Western Irish South-Eastern Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds Lancash.andYorksh Do., Fifths D 3., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby.&Soutlipt London & Blackwall Loud. Tilb. &Stliend. 1.40nd. Bright & S. Cst. Loud, and N. Westu. Do. Fifths Do.lo/. M&B Do. Eighths London and.% Westn Do., £5O Do., £4O Ludiry& Coleraine Lndndrry. & Eunisk. \lanch.Shef.& Liueln Do., Man. &, Lin. Un. • • )o. Birmng. & Derby G. West. (Irc.) Do. Half Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do., Bury Extension, Nwpt.Aberg. & Hrfd. Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warreupoint j and Rostrevor. Norfolk Northu.Counties Un 'North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 Do., 2 A Deferred Do., 4 B Guarantee( North London Do. New £lO N.&S.Wstrn. ,Hamp stead, and City Jn North Staffordshire, North Western N. & S. Westru. June Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester 4 Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central , Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Bi r rug Do, L, & N. Western Guaranteed St eak Shrewsby. & Uerefd Shrewsby. & Chester (N. W. Min ;., Do. Halves,l. a Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& D,fully paid up at per cent , mouth Devon youth Eastern South Wales S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do Per Sibs to sink the ofrals. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts.... 3 oto 3 Second quality.... 3 4 3 6 Prime large oxen 3 S 4 0 Prime Scots, dlc. 4 2 4 4 Inferior Sheep ...3 6 3 8 Second quality ...3 10 4 4 Prime crse.-wlled.4 6 4 8; s. d. s. d. PrimeSouthclown 410 5 0 'Prime erse. calves 4 6 5 2 Prime small do._ 5 4 5 8 Large hogs 3 0 4 2 Small porkers 4 4 4 8 Suckliugealves ..22 0 29 0 Quarter old pigs 21 0 27 0 , 5s 4d to 65 10d. 1 tho Court ,ra,dict the 56 60 834 84 71 73 118 - 120 82 - 86 71i • 71 Lambs TOTAL SUPPLY. WY.) Beasts •. v .... • . 1. 1 38 Sheep .•• • • • 2,290 Calves; .. • • .... ..•. .. 140 Pigs .. • • ... ••••••• • • • • • • 300 10s., the is Mr. H. 83 88 10 32 u 10 12 p 58 - 594 Bt-- 8d NEWGA.TE ANI The general demand ruled quotations : Jerk, that Insolvent who was iu conse nt defen said his !ant), but dant) was efendaut) h all pos hough ho Per Sibs by u. d. s. d: Beef, inferior 210 3 2 Do., middling.....; 4 3 6 Do., prime large .3 S 3 10 Do., do. small 10 4 0 Pork, large 3 4 4 2 Lamb 1i• =l. - i• .. - .. 7g - 7g 93 —93 93i 94 2 tt —14 d Fa, d 73 75 14 13 12 11,d1 ng an un un der tho vas urged .• ..-"" ••• plaintiff is an in would be rt above. igi 55 - 56 30 - 32 • .. • •• DAY.) • ..... ... d 7 5d lge Wells st exami- '''-' ••• 6 8 40 43 3$ 340 ... 296 isinghall prop , rty stimated bankrupt - ... her cases - ... 50 54 Par iP - 7 - 74 26 - 28 76 80 48 - 52 50 - 55 50 55 3s 13 15 64 —i, I 10 lz 4 13 15 566 576 30 32 4 2d 4 5 Staines, Wok. &W ok Stockton & Darling. Stockton & llartlepl. Taff Vale . Do. £lO shares. Do. Pref., No. 1 'flames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford&Liineriek West Cornwall West End of London and Crystal Palace West Loudon. Wimbledn & Croydon York Newctl.&Berw. Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purchasej York & N. Midland j 27 - 30 14 - 2 174 184 4 - 5 21 - 23 5 - 6 6 - 7 614 62i 9i 94 51 - 43 - - 44 ,E SHARES, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1854. ADELPHI THEATRE. THE MONEY-MARKET. A very excellent farce of pure English elements, entitled the Moustache Movement was brought out here last night, and met with a degree of success which it eminently de served. The name of the piece indicates the materials of which it is composed. It is a peculiarly hirsute produc tion, the moustache being the pivot upon which the whole of the fun turns. The first object seen is a butcher at the garden gate stroking his moustache ; the maid, when she takes in the family supply of meat, compli ments him on his labial decoration; he feels much gratified, but vows that he will cultivate it as long as it is genteel, but he fears that it is being adopted by the tripe-seller, and vows that if it descend to the cat's meat-man, that he will absolutely shave. Then comes the baker with a similar ornament, but he con siders it good for his health—that is his excuse. We have then Mr. Cornelius O'Pake, who arrives in search of Cap tarn Attamont Kidd, for having run off with Eliza Swasser, his cousin ; he attacks the waiter in mistake, because, lake the rest of the world in general, and Captain Kidd in particular, he indulges in a moustache. Anthony Soskins, a lawyer's clerk (Mr. Keeley), appears with a moustache of a most military character. Mr. Cornelius O'Pake returns, and takes him much to his annoyance, for the waiter. Captain Kidd does the same thing for the same reason. Louisa Fitz-Johnson, a milliner (Mrs. Keeley) is betrothed to Anthony Soskins, of whose moustache she is passionately fond, but owinl_, to some cleverly managed mistakes, and to their rhapsodies being as descriptive of the moustaches of tht• captain as of the clerk, they both believe themselves to be in love with the same individual. At length the mystery cleared up, and the greatest secret of all is told—a severe trial to the constancy of Louisa Fitz-Johnson. Tho mous taches of her lover, Anthony Sykes, are false ; according to established custom—particularly towards the end of a per formance—true love triumphs, and a double wedding is the result. The banns may be supposed to be put up, and the curtain comes down—butlbefore it does so, Mrs. Keeley, as Louisa Fitz-Johnson, speaks a cleverly written parody on the epilogue to "As you like it," in which Rosalind dis courses on beards. The acting was admirable throughout. Mrs. Keeley, although sustaining the character of the piece as broad farce, was at times really fine. Her performance was a skilful combination of earnestness, truthful feeling, and the ludicrous. Mr. Keeley, as Anthony Soskins, was, as he ever is, excellent. The performers did their best for the success of the piece, not forgetting the scene-painter, who gave us a very excellent view of a country road. (From the Times City Article.) The first excitement of a declaration of war having passed, the money-market may be expected, in the ab sence of any sudden intelligence, to subside gradually from the agitation of the last ten days. The capricious ness of its movements has rarely been more exemplified, since three weeks ago a rapid rise was reported, while the British fleet was sailing from Spithead, and the mere formal notification of the event of which that armament was the precursor, and which had been regarded as in evitable for the past three months, has been followed by a fall such as is rarely exceeded at the most critical periods. Either the confidence recently entertained, or the panic to which it has given place, must con sequently appear absurd. Such circumstances are discreditable to a commercial community, and it will be well for the public to consider whether they are to be repeated. The general causes that must operate on the money-market can always be foreseen with sufficient accuracy to prevent disturbances of this kind, if people will pause to recognise them. Of course, on the receipt of extraordinary news violent fluctuations must be looked for, but during the heaviest period of the fall just witnessed there was a remarkable dearth of in telligence, and the daily decline of one or two per cent. went on without any one having pretended to attribute it to any new revelation. A contagious impression that the existing rates seemed considerably above the usual fancies entertained of " war prices" was all that could he detected, and among those who have been rushing to sell probably not one has asked himself how it is that this discovery has only just been made, or what are the precise effects that a certain annual expenditure for hos tilities must be expected to have either on the general state of the discount market or the current value of the funds. The sooner these points are mastered the better. The primary question is, whether the annual expenses of the war are likely to exceed the annual gains of the country from the course of trade, and thus to necessitate ship ments of bullion to the amount of the deficiency, and a consequent contraction of the circulation. If this result is experienced the funds must necessarily fall, but in the opposite case, no matter what may be the temporary dis asters sustained, nothing can prevent a rise ; and the idea that 80, 90, or even 100 is not the price which individuals had previously conjectured as that which would prevail during a European contest will have no influence in pre venting it from being maintained. Hitherto the princi pal, if not the only explanation offered for the existing depression, has been that the public have begun selling, and consequently that it will be severe and permanent ; those who give this reason having entirely omitted to show what the public are subsequently to do with their money. If it had been remembered that this money must find its way back to the market, either in the shape of banking deposits or some other form, and. thus pro duce a feeling of great ease, which would soon manifest its effect on the Stock Exchange, they would at once have seen the groundlessness of the attempt to raise alarm on that score, and would have been brought back to the one predominant consideration, namely, whether there is any cause to anticipate a steady diminution of our stock of gold. Whatever May be the opinion warranted on that point, it is by keeping it always in view that the instances of vague fear exhibited in October last, and repeated in the present month, can alone be averted; and although the materials for arriving at a conclusion respecting it are not positive, they are enough to lead to a considerable degree of certainty. Supposing, for instance, the war to become not only serious, but chronic, and to involve an additional cost even of 10,000,0001. per annum, the problem to be determined is, how far the drain for that expenditure will be mitigated, and whether, after allow ing for everything, the balance will be beyond the siir dins usually at our disposal for foreign outlay ? The only way to ascertain this probable surplus is to estimate the yearly investments we have been acelstomed to make, not merely in foreign loans and public under takings, but also in great works at home not imme diately of a remunerative character. Advances for foreign purposes of course take so much capital direct from the country, and extensive home undertakings operate in a similar manner, by causing the population to be employed in the manufacture of other than exportable articles, while they are consuming imported food and raw material for clothing. Now, there is reason to believe that on an average of several years the annual totals sent direct to foreign countries in the shape of loans, &c., cannot have been less than 15 or 20 millions, to say no thing of the series of quiet investments in American secu rities, which, in a very short space, have reached an aggregate of probably 40,0001. on European account, England doubtless being by far the greatest holder. At the same time, our own public works have been extended on a scale never before known, and the increase of our shipping, even during the last year, has been neatly 400,000 tons. Under these circumstances, the ques tion whether 10, 20, or 30 millions can be spared for a war loses much of its terror. During the struggle no foreign loans of any magnitude are likely to be taken, and even such small ones as may be introduced can only originate in the fact of the money-market being the easiest that can be found. All outlays for industrial works in foreign countries will be suspended, and at home only schemes of immediate necessity will be undertaken. Meanwhile our trade will go on, and Australia and California will still pour forth their supplies. Hence our yearly surplus of profit must still accrue to us, especially under the prevailing economy always induced by troublous times, and, with every extraneous channel of investment cut off; a perio dical creation of 10,000,0001. Consols, if it should be found desirable, in place of increased taxation, would not only be absorbed without difficulty, but would actually be welcomed. Even the money thus raised, moreover, would not be immediately felt as a dead loss to the country, since it would be partly laid out on home la bour fur military stores, although, of course, this labour might be more profitably expended .in the creation of articles far commercial interchange. It must also be borne in mind that when we speak of 10,000,0001. per annum it is a very largo amount even for a severe war. The public never think of a European conflict without taking their data from the period when the na tional debt was increased nearly 400,000,0001. in 15 years, and when, owing to the reckless suspension of specie payments, the Minister. found himself able to squander the strength of the nation in unlimited subsi- dies, in creating stock upon ruinous terms, and in con ducting every public establishment upon a system of pro digality such as the world had never seen. Because Eng land, under these circumstances, with one-half her pre sent trade and capital, and with a combination against her that threatened a death struggle, saw her 3 per cent. secu rities ranging commonly between 55 and 70, it seems now to be assumed that an approach to these prices may once again be within the limits of probability. It should also be borne in mind that the idea of an European war, involving, under proper management, an ex penditure ruinous to this country, presupposes, at all events, some proportionate outlay on the part of our enemies. Assuming that outlay to be practicable, a large portion of it would come, in the course of trade, into our own pockets ; but the belief that the Emperor of Russia or any of the German powers could, either by force or credit, raise any permanent supplies of great magnitude is inherently preposterous. Taking, therefore, a review of our entire position, there is apparently nothing to excite financial panic. That it is proper at the commencement of war to abstain from any estimate of the dimensions it may ultimately reach will be admitted by every one ; but, assuming that it may be protracted, for years, and that it may spread, through ascident or treachery, in all directions, and involve . . many bitter and unlooked-for disasters, there is still no ground to suppose that, with common pru- dence on the part of our merchants and an enlight ened determination of the Government to densunce all tampering with the currency, any periods of convulsion or discredit are to be apprehended. Perhaps, indeed, it is far from impossible that the range of Consols through some of the most arduous of trials will be suoh as to excite congratulation and surprise. (PROM A CORRESPONDENT.) It is long since I have had the pleasure of communi cating with you, but I cannot refrain from expressing my gratification at several articles on monetary affairs which have appeared recently in The Sun. It appears to me most important that an amendment of the bill of 1844 should be proceeded with without delay. For, without being an alarmist, I feel convinced that the war cannot possibly be carried on for any length of time under the present restrictive principles of Peel's Bills. I say this, being almost—if I may venture so to say—as good an anti-Russian , as yourself ! A Bank Restriction Act, similar to Pitt's in 1797, would enable us to carry on the war till we had Russia at our feet. But that will not, in the present feeling of the country, be resorted to till half the merchants are ruined, and half the people starved. What would be as efficacious would be the issue of one-pound Exchequer-bills, into which the Bank of Eng land notes might legally be converted in case of a drain of gold. Half the popular objection to paper money resolves itself into this :—" The bank note promises to pay; and unless you are always ready to pay 123 grains of gold for every pound, the bank is broken, national credit at an end, the country ruined," &c., &c. All this is quite nonsense, for during the twenty years when the Bank neither could nor did keep this "promise," the country prospered, and the Bank -note was always "convertible" into bread, beef, iron, tin, hay, straw, stubble, and the Times newspaper at market price. You could also buy as much gold as you liked, and gold was cheaper than any other commodity, for gold being no longer wanted for sovereigns, of which one-pound notes supplied the place, the demand for said gold diminished, and therefore it was less in the market than another commodity. The enormous taxes raised prices in many cases fully 100 per cent. ; gold scarcely ever reached half that rise of price in the Bank-note. But what I now wish to say is this : Gentlemen ob ject to a bank note which has a promise to pay, and does not keep its promise. Very well. Then let thej QUEEN, with the sanction of Parliament, issue 1/. Exchequer Notes, or National Paper-money. There's nothing in the name—which the country shall promise not to pay, but to receive for taxes. People trust to the honour and honesty of England to the amount of 800 millions, and it is incredible that we cannot trust one another to the amount of ten or twenty millions of national one-pound notes for our own conve nieece and advantage. If I were not convinced that not only the welfare and happiness of my countrymen, but also the power to cope with the great Northern Despot, depend upon the esta blishment of a better monetary system than we have at present, I should not trouble you on this 'Abject.. Retf9rd, March 27. J. T. ;AW to find, of Corn w Board, the d.•ate re stated .In•f that that tie r him to ;sr of the ;ion was •essly for was his ripe for he re- , uld not icandals 'YDS P., Sir Hanes, accom- mice of il Dud don as ;ed the tst the ;a had, party, :e God dwelt ion on 'O, and ag the ryski, 1 the cuted Irkey pre- oiler , stion t one- FOREIGN SUPPLY. Beasts • • •••• . ...• •••• . 340 Calves,••• •• •• .• .• •• • • 97 P 1.0.... • • •• •• .. • • • • ...... ) LEADENHALL. heavy to-day, at the following the carcase. s. d. s. d. Mutton, Inferior 3 2. 3 4 Do., middling 3 6 4 0 Do., prime 4 2 4 4 Veal 4 0 5 4 Pork, small 4 4 4 8 5s Od to 6s BJ. BOROUGH HOP. Good and fine hops are scarce, and in steady request, at fully last week's prices. In all other kinds very little is doing. This week's imports are 45 bales from Ham burgh, and 17 ditto from Ostend. The quotations are— Mid and East Kent pockets, 61. 10s to 121. Os; Weald of Kent ditto, 61. Os to Ti. Os; Sasses ditto, Si. 12s to 6/. 108 per cwt. COLONIAL. SUGAR.-The business done has been limited, sales not being pressed ; and the quantity offered by auction has been small. Prices have not in all cases been maintained. West India has been cheaper-ord. to goo brown Jamaica selling at 325. to 335. 6d., and grey at 355. 6d. ; but Bar badoes realised steady rates, viz., at 345. Gd. for low to 395. for fine. Mauritius, also, has been at a slight reduction in value. Mid. to good strong yellow brought 345. Gd. to 355. 6d. ; fine, 365. 6d.; low to mid. yellow; 335. to 355.; but good and fine brown was taken in at 325. to 335., low grey at 30s. to 315., and low dark brown at 28s. to 295. Madras was taken in at 6d. to 295. 6d. FOREIGN.-Havannah, No. 12: 1 1 to 13 yellow afloat was sold at 265. for Trieste. Refined has declined, brown lumps to 435. 6d. and grocery to 435. 9d. to 50s, per cwt. Refined has been duller ; brown lumps 435. 6d., and gro cery 435. 9d. to 50s. per cwt. COFFEE.-This article has continued heavy, and a mode rate quantity has been offered. Native Ceylon at auction has been taken in at 46s per cwt. Plantation Ceylon has realised 56s to 678 for iow mid and dried, Gls to 62s Gd for superior marks, 53s to 55s for f fine ord, 43s 6d to 50s for triage, 25s to 36s 6d for black, 55s to 6 !s 6d for peaberry ; but a small quantity was taken in at 65s per cwt. Telli cherry sold at 5Cs Gd to 54s for fine and f fine ord grey, at 56s 6d to 57s for dingy peaberry, at 44s to 47s for triage, and at 34s 6d to 38s 6,1f0r blacks. Mocha sold at 60s Cid for mid, 46s 6d for triage, and at 63s to 64s for fair clean garbled. Costa Rica fine ord brought 50s to 53s 6d; Quilon 51s to 52s 6d, and Padang 44s to 45s per cwt. RICE. -An active speculative demand has existed, and the advance on the lowest point of last week is about is Gd per cwt. Madras realised 12s 9d to 13s ; Bengal, 14s 6d for good mid, and Bengal to arrive 14s 3d, 14s 9d, and 15s par cwt. SricEs.-Pimento has declined id, gond ord and mid sold at sid to sd, ord and good ord at 50 to sid, and good mid and good at 6d per lb. Ginger, African, was taken in at 22s 6d, and Cayenne at 6d to 7d per lb. China preserved sold at 7d to 70 for good. Mace is id per lb. cheaper. Penang 2s 5d to 2s 8d for mid and good mid, and 2s 9d to 2s lid for good bright pale. Nutmegs have risen ld per lb. Cloves are id cheaper. Zanzibar good ord and mid bold sel'ing at 50 to 8d per lb. Black pepper is id and white Ad lower. Mid dingy to good bold Penang sold at 10d to liAd per lb. SALTPETRE.-The market is brisk at 4s to 5s advance. Bengal ord to fine 13 to 2A lbs refraction, to43s per cwt. TEA.-This article is very dull. Low to good ord Congou 11:1d to ls per lb. COCHIN EAL. -A further slight decline has taken place. COTTON.-The market is dull. TALLOW.-P Y.C. is quieter at 70s per cwt on the spot. GREEN FRUIT.-The arrivals are limited. Oranges sus tain their value, a small parcel of Lisbon, per steamer, sold by Keeling and Hunt at public sale, went at an ad vance of 2s. per box. Lemons improved ls. to 2s. per case. Barcelona nuts 2s. per bag lo,er. New Smyrna daily expected at this port-a cargo has already been re ceived in Liverpool. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, March 31.—Wind this day at Noon, S.W. ; ight pleasant breeze, and fine weat'ier. PORTSMOUTH, March 30.—Wind. W. by S. Sailed— H.M.'s st James Watt, for the Baltic, and since put back. PLYMOUTII, March 30.--Wind, N.W. Arrived—Re gatta, from Newport, U.S.;Alipoor, London, for Malta. —The Julia, from Newcastle to New York, was struck by a sea in lat. 41 N., long. 39 W. ' and foundered ; two of the crew were washed overboard ; master and six men arrived here in the Regatta. FALMOUTH, March 30.—W.S.W. Arrived—August, Jacmel ; Bilboa, Havana. Off Port—Arrived—Brilliant, Port Philip; General Taylor, New Orleans for Havre; Sea Nymph, New York for Antwerp ; Woodcock, New York ; Wm. Fotheringham, London for Calcutta ; Niord, Moulmein, and sailed for Liverpool ; Adele, Oswald, Zan zabar and sailed for Hamburg ; Haite, Ja.emel and sailed for Hamburg. DARTMOUTH, March 30.—W. Sailed—Sarah, Genoa. Off Port.—Arrived, Barham, Mamas. LIvERPOOL, March 30.—The Bona Dea, of this port, was passed derelict 26th March, lat. 41, long. 15, by the Chase ley, arrived here. PENZANCE, March 29.—Wind, squally. Arrived—Nor thumberland, Port Philip. QUEENSTOWN, March 29.—Wind, S.VT. Arrived— Emperor, from Maulmain ; Juno, New York; Waterton, Bermuda, with convicts. THISTED, March 21. The sloop Delphin, of and from Stavanger for Lumfiord (cargo salt), and the sloop Alle mine, of and from Christiansand for this place (cargo tim ber), were steamed off the Agar Canal, March 25 ; erews saved. ELSINORE, March 27.—H.M. steamer Odin, from the North Sea, passed the Sound yesterday forenoon, and in the afternoon JI M. steamer Vulture arrived from the same quarter and proceeded. During the night H.bi. steamer Miranda returned here from the Baltic, and is now coaling in the Roads. The arrivals from the North Sea are pro ceeding successively, but several vessels from the Baltic are still wind-bound in the roads. Wind S.W. very light. SWANSEA, March 30.—Wind W. Arrived—Thomas Bell, from Cuba. SHIELDS, March 30.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Cyno sura, from Caravesara ; St. Pierre, Gravelines ; Maria, Harlingen SUNDERLAND, March 30.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Ber nardus, from Delfehaven. HULL, March 30. Wind, W. Arrived—Griffer Grietje, from Antwerp ; Albatross (s.), ditto. HARWICH, March 30.—Wind, N.W. Arrived—Damsel, from Medemblick for Ipswich ; H.M.S. Cuckoo, sailed for Sheerness. PALERMO, March 22.—The Tiber (s.s.) sailed hence, March 18, for Marseilles and Liverpool, but returned the same day with injury to screw, and is discharging to ascer tain damage and repair. KERTEMINDE, Mirch 25.—The John Ingo, of Newcastle, bound to Kiel, with coals, was stranded on the Scaw Reef in the morning of the 21st March—crew saved. NEW YORK, March 4.—The Q ueen Victoria, arrived here from St. Juan de Nicaragua, reports having passed, 14th March, in lat. 38 N., long. 75 W., a vessel, apparently a brig, bottom up, painted green. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Friday, 10.30 a.m. Wind, W.N.W. ; moderate, and fine Arrived-the Foam, from Loo Choo Foo; Rothesay, Pernambuco. Sailed—The First of March. The screw steamer Sarah Sands, that was ashore at Woodside, was got off this morning without sustaining any damage ; one man was killed by the breaking of a hawser. Off Port—Prospero, from Pernambuco ; Champion, East Indies ; Skerge, yacht ; William Russell, barque ; and Clara Wheeler, ship. -----_ (BY SIIEMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Friday, 9.45 a.m. Wind, W. ; tide, low water ; weather fine. Arrived, 30th—City of Rotterdam (s), f ro m Harlingen ; Ocean (s), Havre; Caledonian (), Ramburgh. Sailed—Alar (s), for Dunkirk; Eagle (0, Boulogne ; Southampton, New Yolk. DEAL, Friday, 9.19 a.m. Wind, N.W. ; fresh and fine. Passed—Regina, for St. Helena.; Fortunate, for Valen cia ; Harriet Irving, for Newport ; Victoria Rogia, for Sydney ; R. Matthews, for ConAantinople—all from Lon don ; Standorings, Shields, for Venice. Sailed—Lisbon, for St. John's ; Commodore, Jamaica. SOUTHERN WHALE FISHERY.—The Australian advices received yesterday mention that the Southern Whale Fishery Company's ship Samuel Enderby had arrived at Sydney with 1,000 barrels of bowhead oil and 90 of sperm, be' ides 8 tons of whalebone, the whole being estimated at 7,0001. The ship had been out 14 months, duriog tLo Lrt; of which 4L-: had taken nothidg,. That which she ultimately secured was taken in the Sea of Okhotsk. The company have recently agreed to wind up, after losing three-fourths of their capital, but there will now be some small amount to divide among the shareholders aver the liquidation of all claims. PREFEREN I I.bercleen Do. No. 2, p. c. Blyth and Tyne 10 per c. pref. (issd. at 50/, Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St. Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent Cork &Bandons4p.c Dundee Perth &Aber , deen Junction EastAnglian (X3los) 6 per cent Do. (.£5) 7 per cent Do. (X 7 17s) 7 p. c Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do. NQ. 2 Do. New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent Do. 51., 10 par cent f • 101. Do Debeutr.Sh- East Lan cash. 6 p. cts. East and West York shire June. Pref... Edinb Prth.&Dundec 5.4 per cent. Glasgow & S. Western Guar. 5 per cent... Great Northn. 5 p. c. Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. preen... Do. 4 11. c. Scrip Gt.N. of Scot. lst Prof Gt. Southn. &Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) Do. 4 per c. Pref. Sh Gt. Westn. (Berks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c) Do. coy. red. 4A p.c Do. con. red. 4 p. c Du. irred. 4 p. c Lan. & York. F. £2O Do. 6 p. c. Stock Leeds N. 6 p. c. No.l Do. Quarters, 1848 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, 5 p. c., 1852 Do. New Guar.6 p. c Lon. &N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton London & S. Western Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler. Shares Londy. & Ennis. A Sh van., Shef., & Lin , Shares, No. 1. Do. New, £lO . Do. £6 Aarypt.& Carl. 4 p.c Do. ~I per cent Do Consol.6 p.c.St. Do. Consol. Bristol & Pairm. 6 per cent Do. Prof. 4i per cent Norfolk Debenture Do. Pref. 4 p. c. Stock Do. 5 p. c. Eat Do. 5 per ct .pref Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c North British North Staffordshire Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh.Zls, 6 p.c Do scot. Cent., New Prof Shrews. & Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min), 8 p.c. Do. 5 per cent I South Devon. r Do. fixed, 4 per cent S. Eastern (Readinp, Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d, Do. 4 per cent. 3.Yorksh.4p.e.Guar Stockton and Dar lingtou, 4 per cent, Do. do. do, Stockton and Hartle. pool, guar. 5 p. c. till Lit Jaly, IS3O Waterfd.Szii.;ll;..6ll.e Vork,Newcastle,and Eerwielc,4p.c.Pref 'Do York&N. Midlandli, FUrchesnotti oi : ..98 6 61 3 31 4 4a par — i p par p 11 121 23 - 24 3 —3l xell 16 ::liald 103 - 105 9 - 9i 6/ 7.1 ad 64 - 7 92 - 94 87 - 89 87 - 89 Id pa) 125 130 .•• • • xd - 2i p 51 6i 3. 9 d - par 125 130 14 lid ••• xd • xd ... xd ▪ xd ... xd 93 - 96 Pi 8 - 9 16 -17 9i - 104 11 - 13 - P 21i -22 i 15 - 20 2 - 1 ti 85 - 90 3/ - 3i = 841 3i 41 4 70j 3 118 19 80 Ili 70i 1# 1 68 1 i I i :: 11i 41 :: 7 a i 93 i 934 i 3 4 i 1R 73i 4 3 181 i 19 553 iiii 291 84 9 a d 101 76 10 5 20 20 FOREIGN. 9 3 8 2s. Antwerp&Rotterdam Belgian Eastn. June Beziers to Graissessael Bombay, Baroda, and Central Ind ia,Scrip Central of Italy Charleroi & Erquelin Demerara Dijou and Besancon Dutch Rhenish. East Indian Do, Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula 'ad. Junct. of France Grd. Trunk of Canada Do. Debentures Do. do 3t. Central of France Gt. Western of Canada Shares Do. Bonds (Ist is.)'s7 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent. Lake Coust. & Basic Lucca & Pistoj a 5 p.c. prof Luxembourg (Railway)... Prof. Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. ct. prof Lyons and Geneva , Lyons & Mediterran, Madras 'laria Antonia Do. do. Now Melbourne Dk. & Ry Namur & Liege (with interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France i Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds (fmy. B. & Ams. Shs.) NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbouigi ParisCaeu & Cherbrg Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Satilbre and ➢ieuse... Do. 51 p. cent. Pref. Southern of France.. St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) West Flanders Do .5A per c. Pref Western of France West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealand h igua. Fria Anglo Austrin. Gold' Xnglo Californian ,kustralasian Xnstralian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy of) Blaenarvon Ir. & Coal rirAish Austria. Gold British Iron . Brazilian Imp. (issued at £5 pm — Do. Cocaos & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Roy Carson's Creek Clarendon Con. Min Co. of Jamaica Cobro Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo topper Min. 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 !lariquita 4exicau&S.Americn New Granada Now Linares Mining and Smelting Co Nouveau Monde . Pontgibaud Sijver Lead Min. & Smolt. Port Philip Quartz Rock nymney Iron Do. New Santiago do Cuba Fouth Australian rin Croft United Mexican Waller West Granada West Mariposa Worthing Mining of Australia. ..... Yuba 4,j d - 1 6 4 d id i P 44 3d 4 13 d— p 10— 5 d 4}— 4d 20 - 21 ... ... par 1 p dis 5 2i 3i 2 lid 4 3 d I.f /d 6 - 6i 7 2s 74 - 8 4 104 - 11 pi 41 -- 43' 32 -- 34 26i • - 27 -- pm ... ...... ... lel "par 61 - ... - ... ~. - pm 2i 31 —2 p d '6i - iiii -l iP d— p 1 /d 1 2 6 4 9 11 d 6 8 3 44 - 2 29 31 * # di 39 - 41 f - li 10 -12 50 - 60 2 - 4p li - 2t - 2 A - 9i - 101 5i - 6i i - i - - -. i - 1 - jlt 28 - i ( 1 - lip 30 10 2 i - 2t a 00 42. 31 all 50 40 25 25 8/ 2s [OO 474 17t all 111- 2/ 2s 1.00 100 100 100 all LOO 15 212 s 20 20 50 20 all 515., 100 20 138 100- It. 100 St. 100 25 30 ,t. I 100 5 all 6 all l 64 6i 3, 3 4 1 all 5 all 7i 2 6 all 6 all LO all :0 all 5 all 1.0 all It. 100 5 all 5 1 all 10 10 10 6 6j all t.llOO 0 I 13 ft. 1100 ;t. 100 I all .231 all ',5 1 all [0 all 6_ 4 2i all 2 104 ICllOO' h. 100 .6i 5 ID 6 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 20 all it. 100 l 5 8i 8 [0 .o 10 5 all .06j all It. Roo 0 all 5 all 5 5 2i all J It. 100 .71 5 b I 10 131 12i „ 56 s a 11l I.oi 43 6 pm pm 11i 105 x d 101 2 9i ii clis a Si 10 20 10 20 20 50 1 20 35 all 13.5 241 j all 15 31 31 6d i . = i•d *i -- i* DINNER TO THE EARL OF ELGIN.—A complimentary dinner is to be given to this nobleman on Thursday next, by gentlemen connected with our Canadian dependen cies. It is expected that the entertainment will be a very brilliant affair. Lord John Russell has consented to take the chair ; and among the noblemen and gentle men who have already signified their intention of being present may be mentioned hisiExcellency James Bu chanan, United States Minister at this Court ; the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl Grey, the Earl of Ellesmere, the Earl of Durham, Lord Glenelg, Lord Ashburton, Lord Monteagle, Lord Stanley, M.P., the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, M.P., Sir George Grey, Bart., M.P., the Right Hon. Sidney Her bert, M.P., the Right Hon. Sir John Pakington, M.P., the Right Hon. Edward Ellice, M.P., the Right Hon. Sir Gore Ouseley, K.C.8., the Right Hon. Sir James Stephen, the Hon. Francis Hincks, Prime Minister of Canada ; Mr. Frederick Peel, M.P., Sir Francis Head, Lieut.-General Sir James M'Donnell, Sir Emerson Tennent, Mr. Bernal Osborne, M.P., and a list of nearly 50 other members of the House of Commons. CASINO DE VENISE.—Mr. Packer, the conductor of the band at the above-mentioned popular place of amuse ment, gave a grand bal masque last night, which was a bumper, and went off with great eclat. The dance music was particularly good, including many popular favourites and pieces composed expressly for the occa sion, namely, the " Corbeille d'Oranges" quadrille, by Montague ; the " Eugeni6" schottische, by Marriott ; the " Viv 6 Paris" quadrille, by Tinney ; the " Floral" fête polka, by Anderson ; the "Doneraile" waltz, and the "Isola Bella" quadrille, by Mrs. H. St. Leger, the finale of which was encored. THE TURKISH EMBASSY.—Much activity continues to prevail at the Ottoman Embassy, in Bryanston-square, where despatches from the seat of government at Con stantinople are constantly arriving. The Minister, M. Musurus, in his progress to the Drawing-room yester day, was loudly cheered, and also saluted by many of the spectators taking off their hats to the Envoy as his equipage proceeded to the Palace. THE WELLINGTON STATUE AT THE GUlLDHALL.—Yes terday the Wellington Committee connected with the Corporation of the city of London, met at the Guildhall for the purpose of choosing one from the six models ori ginally furnished, wh ich will represent, in a marble me morial, the noble D uke and his exploits during a long series of years. The committee, of whom a largenum tboerthwraeseprbesyenttb,rfierestspdeeacirdaeted t v o o reduce the ln s t ix te ca fi n r d s i t d c a a te s s t there we ' re for Bell 23, for Foley 19, for Behnes 15, for Adams 9, and for Smith a nd Thomas none. In the second there were for Bell 19, for Foley 12, for Behnes 6, and none for the other candidates. Finally, it ap peared that there were 19 for Bell, and no one for the other candidates ; that gentleman was, in consequence, declared to be the successful competitor. The pro ceedings then terminated. We understand that it is the intention of the Corporation to permit the public to view the whole of the specimens without cost, but that an order from one of the members of the committee will be necessary. They will be on view only a few day. The rejected models, we understand, will be placed either in the newly-opened Orphan Asylum at Brixton, or in some other place be longing to the Corporation, which the Court of Common Council may appoint. SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAlLWAY.—Traffic; return for the week ending March 26, 1834 £3,091 17 1i Corresponding week last year CORK AND BANDON ItAmwAY.--Traffic return for the week ending March 25, 1854 £2l6 1. 10 9 4. 419 13444 i 4 g WctiONit naratimmitstiliisucts 1.7 . 6 6 9 all all all all 12s. 4i I 3 2i i 4 281 i M 21 20} 8 1 anew 101 x new li II 1 SOUTH SEA COMPANY. The proprietors of South Sea Stock met yesterday, Mr. C. Franks, the Sub-Governor, presiding, for the purpose of general business, and also to take th e o pi n i on o f th e majority on the bill now passing through the Legislature for winding up the original company, and organising ano ther to carry out the administration of trusts. In opening the proceedings, the Sub-Governor stated that it had been usual, at ordinary half-yearly courts, to present a detailed account, showing the goneralposition of the company. Th e last occasion on which that course was pursued was the sth of January, but since that period the condition of their affairs had become so totally altered that he had considered it desirable to prepare a statement in a general form, containing the latest information. This document was in a shape to show simply the assets and liabilities of the South tea Company, and the surplus to be ultimately divided, and the items condensed in the shortest space, were as follows : ASSETS. Cash in hand Exchequer-bills (actual amount, irrespective of in terest, premium, or discount)... ndia Bonds (stated on the same terms)... 34 per Cents. 150,0001. (valued at yesterday's price, and ex. div. viz., 86) 3 per Cent. Reduced 5,0001. (valued at yesterday's price, viz., 85D 3 per Cent. Consols, 501. 18s. ld. (a small nomi nal amount, valued at yesterday's price, viz., 86) Loans repayable with interest (money advanced in the shape of loans upon stock, generally at the rate of 3 per cent.) Old South Sea Annuities to be received on the sth of April Due to the company by the Government, in refe rence to the 3 per Cent. Annuities of 1751, and Old South Sea Annuities Value of the company's premises at thz old esti- mate Making a total of 3,349,0001., or in round num bers.. 4,275 LIABILITIES, 197,10 113,488 25,000 £3,350,000 Half-year's dividend on Old South Sea Annuities, due the sth of April Unclaimed bonds Unclaimed dividends ou South Sea Stock Unclaimed dividends on South Sea Annuities Arrears of Taxes, &c., applicable to 1853 Liabilities on the amount in the hands of the com pany not yet claimed on New South Sea Annui ties, 1751 £41,078 17,095 25,000 10,000 200 175,934 Making a total of 269,0001., or in round numbers £270,000 Taking the assets at 3,350,0001., and the liabilities at 270,1:00/. the amount remaining was 3,080,0001. It was a satisfactory feature that the assets were principally such as might be described as money assets, and not liable to fluctuation, the only stock held being about 150,0001. In dealing with the surplus of 3,030,000/. the purchases of South Sea Stock made by the court from trustees and others would have to be taken into account, and, these having reached 1,038,5181. the amount represented by pro prietors interested in a final distribution would be 2,621,2651. The result was that the assets would yield a little over 1171. per 1001. stock. The only expenses would be those incurred in winding up the company, which were likely to be very small. In answer to questions the Sub-Governor intimated that the amount set down for unclaimed dividends—via., 42,0001. (and half of which has probably been unrepresented for nearly a cen tury), will have to be retained, in case claimants shall come forward and establish their right to payment. The whole sum, making allowance for 10,0001. to be arranged, does not exceed 1 per cent, on the capital of 3,000,0001., and hence it is considered a question of small importance. The next half-yearly dividend will be at the rate of those previously declared, and the directors considered it gratify ing that, although they had to contend with great difficul- ties, they had been able to bring the assets into such order. With regard to Exchequer-bills, no loss had yet been incur red. They had been taken at 3s. 6d. per cent. as an investment suitable to the employment of the company's funds at a period when it was considered advisable to avoid risk. Although the premium of these securi ties had since reached 205., it would not have been easy to dispose of them, while a further reason for holding them was, that they would at a fixed date, if the money were required, be repaid at par. Of the 2,700,0001. originally taken 60,0001. only had been sent into the market, 50,0001. having been sold at 18i., and 10,0001. at ss. premium. The Court then proceeded to the consideration of the bill for distributing the assets of the South Sea Company, and arranging an association for the administration of trusts. According to the statement of the Sub-Governor, this bill has received favourable consideration in the House of Commons, and stands for the third reading to night. Previously to its introduction into the House of 'Lords, in compliance with the regulations, the necessary sanction of the great majority of the proprietors was now sought to bo obtained. The bill with its several clauses having been read, one dissentient, Mr. Parnell, objected to its contents, and urged that the proper course would have been to confine it to the dissolution of the company. On taking the votes of the proprietors of South Sea Stock, both separately and in the character of trustees, a large majority approved the measure. At the close of the meet ing the sub-governor and directors wore specially thanked for their services. THE PRESTON STRIKE. A meeting was held at Preston on Wednesday night to consider the state of the town with reference to the strike. A resolution was passed in favour of a compro-. mise, to be effected by mediation, and the following gentlemen were elected as a committee to take the mat ter in hand :—Sir George Strickland and It. T. Parker, Esq., members for the borough ; J. W. Patten and J. Heywood, Esqrs., representatives of the northern divi sion of the county ; Rev. J. 0. Parr, Vicar of Preston ; T. B. Addison and T. Birchall, Esqrs. ; Messrs. J. Lowe, J. Greenwood, T. Dixon, Corless, M. Satter thwaite, Margison, R. Hitchen, R. Dickson, Dick, J. Woods, E. King, W. Cliff, T. Swindlehurst, jun., and T. Tipping, with power to add to their number. A meeting was held at the Manchester Corn-exchange on Wednesday evening, Mr. Alderman Heywood in the chair, at which deep and earnest sympathy was expressed in the resolutions for the operatives of Preston, with ap probation of their general conduct in the strike and pain at the proceedings taken against their delegates. The speakers included several delegates, and one of them said the operatives of Preston had apparently fallen back a little from their demand of 10 per cent., offering to take the average price of a district round Preston, but in reality, he though this would be more than 10 per cent. advance. RAILWAY TRAFFIC .RETURAT,. THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending March 19,1854 £17,152 14 6 Corresponding week last year 14,185 9 5 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week endinc , March 26, 1854 £17,523 5 2 Corresponding week last year lB,lOl 15 7 CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending March 26, 1854 £4,065 11 2 Corresponding week last year 3,230 15 1 Increase in 1854 £B34 16 1 GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week ending March 25, 1854 £5,016 4 8 corresponding week last year 4,329 9 7 Increase in 1854 1:686 15 1 INDUSTRIAL AND REFORMATORY INSTITUTION. —Yes' terday a fancy fair, for the benefit of the above institu tion, was held at the Hanover-square Rooms, under the patronage of the Marquis and Marchioness of Westmin ster, the Marquis of Blandford, the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Earl of Dartmouth, the Countess of Derby, Lord R. Grosvenor, &c., &c. A series of stalls were tastefully arranged, so as to display a large collection of fancy needlework, &c., as also many articles manufactured by the inmates of the institution. At the principal portion of the stalls the ladies patronesses presided s who were favoured throughout the day with a very numerous attendance of visitors, which produced a considerable accession to the funds. This institution has been established for lads above sixteen years of age, in BeaumOnt-place, New road, as an auxiliary to the Ragged Schools in that locality, in order to provide them with profitable employment. They are taught the following trades— viz., blacksmiths, turners, and carpenters, and in which branches, although the institution has only been esta blished about a year and a half, some excellent specimens have been produced. At present the in mates consist of only 18 lads, who have been admitted, after the usual probation for two weeks. There is, how ever, accommodation for 50 or 60 lad:4, but which would require an outly of 7001. per annum. To effect this object, as well as to clear off a debt of 3001., the pro moters and patrons are using every exertion, in further ance whereof this fancy sale, which will - be continued thin day, opvcially devoted. ~ £140,252 2,640,000 'lOO,OOl 129,000 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.) THE POOR-LAW BOARD. Mr. BAINES then entered into some explanations of his present position. He said that be had introduced the Removal and Settlement Bill in a form which was in accordance with the recommendations of 1847, and had been asked whether it referred to Irish paupers. He had replied that it did not. When the bill was within a few days of the second reading, some Irish re presentatives had addressed a memorial to Lord Pal merston, and had obtained a decision that Ireland ought to be included in the bill, a decision given without his being aware of it. On reflection he had been satisfied that no personal disrespect was intended to himself, but having at heart the interests of the bill as it stood, and as the Irish members and others thought that this bill was to be moulded to include Ireland, while he was con vinced the Irish question was not ripe for legislation, he conceived that, by retaining his office, his character and efficiency as a public servant would be impaired. Acting upon these grounds, continued the ri g ht hon. gentlemen, I did, on Tuesday last, send to the noble earl at the head of her Majesty's Government my resignation of the office which I have so long held. (General cheering,) In the course of the day I received from th a t noble e::;.;1 a most kind letter, to which I have his permission to refer, and one passage of which runs thus : " I very sincerely hope you may be induced to recon sider the decision at which you have arrived. At all events, I hope you will agree to suspend the execution of your present intention until it be seen whether anything can be done to remove the difficulties connected with the present state of the measure to which you refer." Upon the receipt of that communication, I not only considered the case again most anxiously, but I deter mined—for a man's own feelings are not always to be trusted in his own case—to refer myself to the judg ment of two gentlemen, whom I am proud to call my friends, a noble lord and a right hon. gentleman, whose characters for personal and political honour stand as high as those of any gentleman in this house. The ques tion which I put to them was this—" Looking at all the facts of the correspondence which has now passed, I begged to ask your opinion whether I can, with honour to myself, without injuring my efficiency as a public man, and without disadvantage to the public service, retain the office I now hold." I determined to be guided by their opinion. They favoured me with their opinion, and I acted upon it ; and the following day I commu nicated to the noble lord at the head of Government the result of my own consideration and the advice I had so received ; and it is with the noble lord's permission, again, that I read a passage from the letter I wrote in reply to the one I had received from him : " As your lordship is pleased to express an opinion that serious inconvenience to the public service would be occae sioned by my retirement at present, and as I find that the friends with whom I have confidentially advised upon thio subject consider that I may remain without injustice to my own character, I beg leave so far to qualify the decision which I had formed yesterday as to adopt the suggestion kindly made in your lordship's note, remaining in my office at present. I feel, however, that I must request per mission to renew the tender of my resignation hereafter, in case I find that I am unable to acquiesce in the ultimate decisions of the Government with regard to the Settlement and Removal Bill, and the other questions connected with it." (Loud cheers.) That was the letter which I sent to the noble earl. The house will now see the position in which I stand. I have nothing to add. I hope I have not gone very far wrong in the matter. It is my earnest desire to be quite right. The hcuse has all the circumstances before it, and I leave theta to its candid consideration. (Loud and general cheering.) Mr. FRENCH explained that no disrespect was in tended to Mr. Baines by consulting Lord Palmerston without apprising the former. Lord PALMERSTON—I can assure the house, and my right hon. friend will believe me when I do so, that no man who has any knowledge of the personal cha racter and high feeling of my right hon. friend could suppose that whatever course be, upon full considera tion, might think it right to pursue was not a course which he and those who might advise him would deem to be most consistent with his private honour and cha racter. (Hear, hear.) lam glad that the decision of those by whom he agrees to be guided has b een suc h as he has described. But I can assure him that those who have the happiness to be his colleagues in the Go vernment would consider it a great misfortune to them selves and to the country to have lost the benefit of his able services and exertions in the important department which he has so well for the country administered. (Cheers.) I mu sure it is unnecessary for me to say that, in the transaction which led to the doubt upon the mind of my right hon. friend, nothing could have been further from the thoughts of any of those who had anything to do with it, and I speak most particularly for myself, than to do anything which could for an instant have impressed upon the mind of my right lion, friend that there was the slightest want, on the part of his colleagues, of t hat regard and respect for hint, individually and offi ci ally, to which he is so justly entitled. (Hear, hear.) I happened not to be present in the council at the time, but the moment I got the decision of the cabinet I corn municated it to him, as well as those from whom the m•emorial mile. But, so far from its being the intention of the - aitritiet, as I understood it, that any chango.hould 110 made in my right hon. friend's bill, I distinctly stated, and I requested my noble friend opposite, with whom I had been in communication, to communicate with my right hon. friend as to the best manner in which the obj ect of the memorialists could be accomplished. I never for one instant considered that it was essential that a change with regard to Irish paupers should be made in tile same bill which my right lion, friend brought for ward as to English paupers. There were a variety of circumstances which might, on the one hand, require fuller information before any measure might be devised, and. which, on the other hand, would require that mea sure to be entirely distinct from the bill of my right hon. friend. I can only repeat the pleasure that her Majesty's Government derive from the decision which my right hon. friend has come to ; and lam sure the country would concur with us that it would be a great _misfor tune at any time, and more especially at the present moment, to lose his valuable services. (Cheers.) Mr. T. DUNCOMBE confessed that it was with sur prise and great regret that he read that morning of the resignation of his right hon. friend the President of the Poor-law Board. (Hear.) It would be in the recollec tion of the house that, when the present board was formed in lieu of the old Poor Law Board, they were told that they were henceforward to have an officer placed in that house—a minister to whom the house might apply for the information it required —an important person, who was not to be treated as a mere subaltern of the Govern ment, and kept in utter ignorance of all the decisions of the Government. (Hear,. hear.) Now, he really thought that the explanation which had been given by the noble lord (Palmerston) was not saitisfactory to the house, even if it was satisfactory to the right hon. gen leman—(cries of " Hear")—because the right hon. gen tleman had not been treated with the consideration with which he (Mr. Duncombe) maintained he ought to have been treated. He little dreamt that there was flirtation going on between Tiverton and Tyrone. (Cheers and laughter.) Ho did not know that there was this great Irish cloud ready to burst over his devoted head. All he wished now to say was, that he thought the right hon. gentleman had extricated himself entirely from every charge and imputation of a personal nature. The right hon. gentleman had been placed in. a most painful as well as a false position. So likewise bad that house, the several deputations, and the public. It was impos sible that the house could discuss the question as it then stood. It would be playing Hamlet without the part of Hamlet, to proceed to deal with the poor law and to omit all reference to the Irish and the Scotch poor. Therefore, he suggested that if the Government had not arrived at any decision on the point—if there was to be no removal of the whole poor of the three kingdoms— that the whole question should be postponed until the next session. He (Mr. D.) was delighted to hear that the right hon. gentleman's resignation had been delayed, and that the country would have the benefit of his ser vices for some time longer. But come when that resig nation might, he (Mr. D.) was bound to say that when it did come the Crown would lose an efficient Minister, and the poor would lose a • sincere and considerate riend. (Cheers.) After some observations from Mr. PACKE and Colonel DUNNE, Mr. DISRAELI—As the right hon. gentleman has appealed to the sense of the house in this matter I think, perhaps, it may not appear unimportant if I state that, so far as I can collect the feelings of lion, gentlemen who sit on this side of the house, the right hon. gentleman has made a statement which in every respect has left his honour untarnished. (Hear, hear.) I congratulate the house and the country, therefore, upon the right hon. gentleman's resumption of that office, which for the mo ment we believed him to have quitted, and the duties of which he has discharged in a manner to entitle him to public confidence and private respect. And I can say that the right hon. gentleman has moreover caused the administration of an unpopular law to be treated with respect by the country. On my own part, however, I must say, that when I heard this morning from a quarter which is reckoned as authoritative, though not so much so perhaps with regard to those individuals of subordi nate rank as with respect to those having a seat in the Cabinet—(a laugh)—and being in a still more exalted po sition—l must say that I did not feel in such complete despair on the subject as I know was felt by lion. gentle men on both sides of the house. For it is a remarkable circumstance, that within the space of less than a twelvemonth no fewer than five members of the present administration have felt it to be their duty to resign office, and then, almost immediately after, to return to their respective posts. (Laughter.) Last spring we had a Lord of the Treasury, an officer of the Irish Government, and a clerk of the Ordnance, who created considerable alarm by quitting those posts to which they had only just succeeded—(laughter)—and we had not quite recovered from the tremors of the spring, when, in the autumn, something occurred of the same kind, still more appalling ; for a statesman retired from office, whose retirement occasioned great consternation, n o t alone in ibis country, but over all Europe, and whose prolonged absence of three days might have produced the most unfavourable effect upon the negotiations then pending to avert a most just, but, as I believe, a most unnecessary war. (Laughter.) We are now threatened with the loss of one of the most respectable members of the administration, and the country to be deprived of services the loss of which would be universally deplored. In all these cases, however, those hon. gentlemen had returned to office. Ido not object to this ; but I would suggest to her Majesty's Government, that in the course of the recess they should devise some machinery by which to terminate the internal bioltorbag that exists among them, and to reconcile the members without ite being made known to the house and the country. (A. laugh.) If it could not be terminated, of course it would become a painful necessity that it should be made known; but where there is such a preponderance of good feeling in the administration, reconciliation cannot be difficult ; and, at any rate, it would be highly desirable to invent some machinery which would enable them to avoid these pitiful expositions. (Laughter, and hear.) A court of arbitration would, perhaps, be difficult and doubtful ; but it might be tried. I do not know who were the noble lord and the hon. gentleman who produced the re conciliation in this case, in a manner which I am sure has so pleased the house ; and it is probable, therefore, that their politics may be of a character to prevent them accepting the office of arbitrators. (Laughter.) But perhaps the youngest bishop might be selected for that office. (Laughter.) His great authority and large ex perience would doubtless exercise that benefical influence which the country so much desires, and prevent a repe tition of these scandals. (Laughter, and hear.) Or, some great diplomatist might be adopted—(a laugh)— Sir Hamilton Seymour, I think, is disengaged at this moment. Either of these might be referred to by the Cabinet in such a case. (A laugh.) If this suggestion should be underrated—and I make it in a friendly spirit —it may prevent a repetition of those scenes which we roust all deplore, and which the Government, notwith standing all its strength and union, must at this moment feel to be rather awkward. (Laughter, and hear.) PUBLIC PROSECUTORS. Mr. J. PHILLIMORE postponed the second reading of his bill on this subject for a month, as he understood the Government intended to take the matter into con sideration. _ INCOME TAX BILL. On the third reading of this bill, Sir J. PAKINGTON rose, and said that when the Chancellor of the Exchequer made his financial state. meat he declared that the ordinary revenue of the coup. try would be insufficient to defray those expenses of war which had already become certain. The right hon. gen tleman, therefor; proposed to double the income-tax. It was true that the tax was only to ,Pe doubled for six •months in the first instance, but, under all the circtun stance, he was justified, for the sake of greater simpli city, in speaking of the tax as being doubled. The right hon. gentlem an t h en sought to i mpose on the country double ithe amount of a tax wh i ch, according to his own authority, was unequal ; oppressive, a n d inquisitorial in its nature. The honourable member for Evesham (Sir 11. Willoughby) on a former even ing moved an amendment which at any other time would have been a most fair proposal in reference to the merits of the plan of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but under the circumstances of the country he declined to press it to a division, and the house acceded to the proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with the most sincere desire unhesitatingly to furnish the Crown with the means of carrying on the approaching war. He (Sir J. Pakington) thought that at this particular time honourable members were hardly free to press upon the house their own individual opinions on the merits of the plan of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for they must feel that, under present circumstances, the attention of foreign nations was directed to their proceedings, and he for one should have been extremely sorry if iany course had been taken in reference to the proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer which in the slightest degree should have carried with it the ap. pearance that they were not acting as one man in sup plying the means necessary to carry on she war with vigour. (Hear, hear.) Having thus fulfilled the duty they owed to the Crown, it still became them, looking to the objectionable nature of the tax and to the whole circumstances of the financial arrangements of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer during the past year, to con sider, not at the present moment whether the increased income-tax was really required to defray the expenses of war, but whether the management of the finances by the right hon. gentleman had not been such as to lead to the necessity of the increase for the purpose men tioned ? (Hear, hear.) The main reason why the right hon. gentleman was called on to double the income tax was, that a war was about to be commenced with an empty Exchequer. But why was the Exchequer empty ? First, because of the financial operations of the right hon. gentleman at the commencement of the last year ; and, secondly, because he brought down to the house in April what might fairly be called a peace budget, at a moment when the Government were in possession of information which might have made them feel certain that war with Russia was inevitable. (Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer had explained the mode in which he proposed—at least for a time—to defray the expenses of the coming war. The right hon. gentleman meant to rely mainly on the in creme of direct taxation, and had told the house that anything like a recourse to direct taxation was to be the very last resource. Under these circumstances, he (Sir J. Pakington) thought he was justified in endeavouring to show the house that the state of public affairs at the time when the Chancellor of the Exchequer brought for ward his budget last year was not such as to justify him in anticipating a continuation of peace, and therefore he ought then to hav e g u ar d e d mos t care f u lly th e existing resources of the country. (Hear, hear.) In order to show the ho use w h a t i n f orma ti on was i n th e possession of the Government at the time when their financial plans were brought forward last year, it would be neces sary for him to refer to the papers laid on the table of the house, including the secret negotiations with respect to the Eastern question. Upon the Eastern question, however, it was not at all his intention to raise a debate. Tise.gifaffsis eadimerb.la e should read Was from a despatch froth Sir H. Seymour to Lord J. Russell, dated Jan. 7, and received Jan. 19, 1853; it was to the following effect : "Orders have been despatched to the sth corps d'arinee to advance to the frontiers of the Danubian provinces, without waiting for their reserves ; and the 4th corps, un der the command of General Count Dannenberg, and now stationed in Volhynia, will be ordered to hold itself in readiness to march, if necessary. General Luder's corps d'arini , e, accordingly, being now 48,000 strong, will receive a reinforcement of 24,000 men soon after its arrival at its destination, and, supposing the 4th corps to follow, the whole force will am oun t, a t l eas t, accor di ng to official re turns, to 144,000 men." The next extract he should read was contained in that remarkable collection of papers known as the "secret correspondence." The extract was from a despatch from Sir H. Seymour to Lord J. Russell, dated January 22, 1853, referring to a conversation held with the Emperor of Russia on the 14th of the same month, just seven days after the date of the despatch he had first read : "The Emperor said, `For my part, I am equally dis posed to take the engagement not to establish myself thoro —as proprietor, that is to say—for as occupier I do not say. It might happen that circumstances, if no previous provi sion were made—if everything were left to chance—might place me in the position of occupying Constantinople.' The Emperor assured me that no movement of his forces had yet taken place, and expressed his hope that no advanco would be required." This statement of the Emperor of Russia, that no move ment of his forces had yet taken place, might be con sistent with the statement made a week previously by Sir H. Seymour, for, though orders had been given for the advance of 144,000 men to the Danubian provinces, it might be that the troops had not then moved. Never theless there was such a discrepancy between the two despatches as ought to have attracted the attention of the Government. The next despatch he should quote was also from Sir H. Seymour to Lord J. Russell, dated Feb. 21, 1553, and related to another conversation held with the Emperor of Russia on the previous night at a party of the Grand Duchess's. The Emperor then said:— " The sick man is dying. We must come to some un derstanding ; and this we should do, I am convinced, if I could hold but 10 minutes' conversation with your Minis ters—with Lord Aberdeen, for instance, who knows me so well; who has full confidence in me, as I have in him." There he repeated that the sick man was dying, and lie repeated it in a manner to prove pretty clearly that his meaning was that if he did not die it would only be because he would be killed. (Hear, hear.) Sir Hamilton Seymour in that despatch not only reported what the Emperor of Russia said, but gave his own opinion on the snbject. He would read to the house the warn ing which Sir H. Seymour gave the Government, and the construction which ho put upon the language of the Emperor : " It is hardly necessary that I should observe to your lordship that this short conversation, briefly but correctly reported, offers matter for most anxious reflection. It can hardly be otherwise but that the Sovereign, who insists with such pertinicity upon the impending fall of a neigh bouring State, must have settled in his own mind that the hour, if not of its dissolution, at all events, for its di sso• lution, must be at hand." . • • " ilupposing my suspicion to be well founded, the Emperor's object is to engage her Majesty's Government, in conjunction with his own Cabinet and that of Vienna, in some scheme for the ultimate partition of Turkey, and for the exclusion of France from the arrangement. Here was a distinct warning and an explicit construc tion of the language of the Emperor of Russia, fairly communicated to her Majesty's Government. What followed ? On the very same day the Government re ceived another despatch from Sir H. Seymour dated the 22d of February—the former being dated the 21st ; but they both arrived together, and in that despatch Sir H. Seymour's anticipations had actual; been fulfilled, y for in,a conversation w hi c h he held w ith the Emperor the next day the Emperor made the very suggestion which Sir H. Seymour had befo re stated would pro bably be made. Th e E mperor threw out a proposal for partitioning the estate of the dyitig man , and suggested that Egypt and Candia should be the spoil of England. The next despatch to which he would refer was of an older date, a n d one which was well known—he meant the despatch in which Colonel Rose assigned his reasons for demanding the fleet to be sent to Vourla. He wrote thus : me to re l q v i la te ic s li t the a( Turkey " The G ran d v " Constantinople, March 7, 1853. evidently inte izier said that the Russian Government led to win some important right from h i s andsquadron asked wouldßritish de destroy r a o d y m. h ,i her independence, i t n o d e b p r .i e n n g d e n n i? c to Vourla-b a ' tio y from Malta. _booting this intimate convic tion that if the Sultan wore not supported on this occasion IN he • ould call to his councils a Ministry selected under 411 331411 influence, I informed his Highness that I would tell your Lordship that I felt convinced that the safety of Turkey required the presence of the British squadron in those waters. DI. Bendetti said the same as regards the French squadron. But these assurances did not tranquiliso the Grand Vizer's mind. He thought that Turkey would be lost before an answer could arrive from England and France. The Russian Government had not kept faith with her Majesty's Government ; instead of withdrawing or al lowing her troops to be stationary, she had advanced them up to the Turkish territory, ordering provisions for those troops in the Turkish provinces, without having ever de clared war, or stated her cause of complaint against the Porte to the Porte—a thing unheard of among and con trary to the rights of civilised nations. She was taking other warlike measures, maritime as well as military, on a very great scale, unmistakeably with the view of over coming Turkey's independence, or making war on her." This was received by her Majesty's Government on the 19th of March. The next despatch was out from Consul - -