The Sun. — London, England, 1864-03-08 00:00:00

ONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. The prospect of monetary affairs continues satis factory. Notwithstandi ng th at s li g h t symp t oms of activity are occasionally noticeable in the general discount market, the mercantile classes are un doubtedlylooking forward with confidence for easier rates to prevail within a short period.. The im ports of gold continue upon a large scale, and as the exports are not very considerable, the greater quantity of the metal finds its way into the Bank of England. This morning there has been a rather large inquiry for discounts, but the quota tions continue as low as 52 per cent. for the beat short dated bills. A further sum of £97,000 in gold was taken into the Bank yesterday. The share list of the Thames Iron Works Ship buildinr,Engincering, and Dry Dock Company will be closed on the 10th inst. It has been notified that Mr. Frazer Leckie and Mr. Christopher Deake Beckmann have joined the board of the Royal Naval and Military Banking Corporation. 'Die letters of regret to applicants for shares in the South-Eastern Banking Company were issued on Saturday, and those of allotment were losted this evening. During the last few days there has been a steady demand for most descriptions of foreign and colo nial produce. Sugars have fully sustained their late advance, while in coffee, rice, and cocoa the operations have been to an average extent at full rates. In tea there has been no material alteration, business having been deferred until the public sales which are advertised to commence in a few days. The tallow market has been more ani mated, and prices for both present and forward delivery have shown an upward tendency. The efficials returns relaing to the trade and navi gation of the United Kingdom for the month of 7anaary have just been published, and frum them it appears that the total declared value of the ex ports from that period has been £10,413,C86 against £8,045,155, in the latter period of 1863, showing an increase of £2,368,431. The increase is perceptible in beer and ale, coals and calm, cotton yarn, cotton manufactures, earthernware, haberdashery, and millinery, linen yarn, linen manufactures, silk manufactures, sheep and lambs' wool, and worsted manufactures. The importation of the principal articles have ih been larger as regards live animals, flax, rice, lin- -- l b seed, tallow, wheat, lour, and wine, while there 8k has been a diminution in raw cotton, petroleum, 2 raw silk, sheep and lambs' wool, coffee, sugar, tea, 2 2 , and tobacco. The shipping accounts exhibit an increase in the tonnage of vessels employed in the foreign trade for both the entries inwards and the clearances outwards, while in the coasting trade for the same period there is little change of im st portance. Two O'CLOCK. At Paris this day, according to Mr. Reuter's 11 telegram, the 3 per Cent. Rentes opened at 66f. 27c. 66 30—firm. A further decline of per cent. has taken place 11 to-day in-the market for the English funds, owing 1; to farther sales on speculative account, induced d 4 by the unsatisfactory position of continental poli tics. Consols are 91 -I for transfer and about 91 .7- ; for the Bth April. The New Threes and Reduced Annuities are 897, '4-, and Indian 5 per Cents. 1041, I I ( Bank Stock is 2371 239. There has not been much alteration in the et Foreign M ar k e t, t o -d a y, an d b us i ness i s quiet. a i Turkish 6 per Cents., 1862, are 68t 694 ; do. Con- et solides, 501 ; Mexican, 431 1--; Greek, 221 Spanish Passive, 35i; do. Certificates, 132. ; Portuguese, 481 ; and the Confederate Loan 43 45. In the Railway Share Market the dealings have w been restricted, and in several instances prices have 81 shown less firmness. Great Eastern and Great Northern A Stock have declined 10s., Caledonian et 153., and London and Brighton £l, while Metro politan, Midland, and South Eastern have im- proved 53. The Foreign and Colonial undertakings exhibit little change of importance. Bank and Miscellaneous Shares are flat. Imperial Ottoman realise 18; London Joint Stock, 401 41 ; Discount Corporation, 101 ; Credit Mobilier are quoted 11 11 prem. ; Credit Foncier of Great Britain, 1f 2 prem. ; Financial Corporation, 2 2f premium. BRITISH FUNDS —ONE O'CLOCK. GOVERNMENT FUNDS. 3 per Cent. Consols Ditto Account, April 8 3 per Cent. Reduced New 3 per Cent Annuities, 30 yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 — Ditto for 30 yrs, expire sth April, 1885 — Ditto 3 per Cent., 1859 Ditto (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug. 1908 2Ol Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO, 2.1 & 3 per Cent — Ditto £5OO Bank England Stk, 41 per C t., last 14-yr,. 2371 9 INDIiN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. India Stock, 101 per Cent., April 1874.... 217 Ditto Account Ditto 5 per Cent. July, 167 U .. Ditto Account.... Ditto 4 per Cent., Oct. 1888 Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent Cent Ditto 5 per Cent., Jan. 1872 .. 1041 Ditto 51 per Cent., May, 1879 •• Ditto:Debentures, 4 per Ct., April 1861 Ditto ditto Aug., 1866 Ditto Bonds 1;1.000 — Ditto under £l,000 FOREIGN FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK. Austrian Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto 1859 Brazilian 5 per Cent Ditto, 1839 and 1859 Ditto 41 per Cent., -- 1852-58-60 Ditto 1863 — Ditto Scrip, £55 paid lb dis Buenos Ayres 6 per Cent — Ditto Account Ditto 2 per Cent. Ditto Account Ditto Deferred Cuba, 6 per Cent. uhilian 6 per Cent. — Ditto 41 pet Cent — Colombian 6 Scrip £BO pd Danish 3 per Cent., 1825 Equador New Consolidated, 1 per Cent — Egyptian 7 per Cent — Ditto, Second Issue Greek 5 per Cent., 1824-5, ex-Coupons.. Ditto Account Ditto Coupons. — Ditto Account Guatemala 5 per Cent. Etalian 5 per Cent.(Maremmana Railway) Mexican 3 per Cent Ditto Account Moorish Impe r i a l 5 per C en t New Granada — New 2} per Cent. Jan. 1891 — Peruvian 41 per Cent — Ditto Account Ditto 3 per Cent. Ditto 41 per Cent., 1862 Ditto Account 854 Ditto Li per Cent Piedmontese, 5 per Cent.. Ex. 2 5f Ditto Scrip (1863) £42 Bs. 3d. paid — pm Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853 Ditto Account — Ditto 3 per Cent., 1866, '7, '9, '6O, 62,'3 Ditto Account 4Bl Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St — Ditto 41 per Cent 1850.. Ditto 5 per Cent, 1862 'Sardinian 5 per Cent Ditto Ac count . 3 3panish . 3 p er Cent Ditto Account Ditto New Deferred . Ditto Account... .. . Ditto vase__ — Ivo .............. — Ditto Account Spanish Cert. of Coup • not funded — Ditto Aczount htrkish 6 per Cent. 1854 Q/tat Account Ditto £lOO Bonds ............. .... . 691 Ditto 6 per Cent. 1962 Ditto Account Ditto, £lOO Bonds .. 691 Ditto 6 per C en t, 1863 ............ 67 Di tto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent .... 100 i re nez ue i a 3 per Cent. f .Ditto Account -- Ditto 6 per Cent., 1862 . Ditto Account .. _ Dividends on the above payable in Load at. kustrian, 5 per Cent Ex 10 Florins. .-- _ I,elgian 4 per Cent., Ex. 2 . 5 f. .. ut(:l2 21 per Cent., E x. 12 Gail., D -D itto 4 per Cent. C ert i f i cates utela, 2/ pe r C ent., Ex. 12 Guilders , t iten., Ditto 5 p cc er Cent., 1861, E x. 2 5 francs —' _ A ount — Peruvian Dollar Bonds, 41 per Ct. Ex. 4s. TWO O'CLOCK. 'c'tsola AT 911 Ditto A p ° ri n l e i r ceount ............. ~, 9la [1 8j 13.14. Bir., Wol., and Str. Val. al 25 Blythe and Tyne. 10 Bost.,Sleaf.,andMid.Co al et Bristol and Exeter st Caledonian lO 50 Cork and B an d on a l 20 Cornwall a l 10 D o A f A gets no dig al 10 , Do. 13 11116 ImPan•has a' been paid to B. 50 Dublin & Belfast Junc.l al 25 Dun.,PertherAb. Junc. al s t Edinburgh ez Glasgow./ 100 at tilasg. and S. Weste r n. 1 00 et Great Eastern Ord. stk 100 t Ditto A stock I 100 st Ditto EastAnglian st ; 1 00 5 4 Or;atNorthof Scotland' 100 et dreat North ern... at Do A stock it Do Bdo at Gt. S. an IW. of Ireland 100 95 97 st Great Western et Do Sir Val gua. stock 100 st Lancashire er Yorkshire 110 st London and lilackwall 100 et Lon., Bright.,& S. Coast 100 st Lon., Chat., and Dover 100 st Lon. & North Western 100 at Lon. & Sky.th Western 100 et Han., Shef., Zr Lincoln. 100 50 Maryport and Carlisle. all 1i Do t shares ~ all Metropolitan all 107110 S, et Midland Do New et Do Birming. & Derby 100 50 Mid. Gt. W. of Irelano a, 25 Do. i shares 25 Mid Ned 10 Do Cray Line st North British et Edin., Perth, & Dundee 10 et Nth. Easteru—Berwick 10 25 Do, G.N.E. purchase 16.1 st Do Leeds lO4 st Do York st Do Carlisle lOl st North London 10 Do New 0 .16.1.N0rth Staffordshire 10 N. and S. W. Junction al et Scottish Central st Scot N. E., Aber. attic! , 10 st 1)o Scot. Mid. stock lOl 10 Shrews. and Welchpoo: al at ! Shropshire Union at South Delon lo{ st 'South Eastern at South Wales st S. York. and River Dur, 10 20 z.Staines,Wok.,anclWok al 25 Stockton lz Darlingtot, al 25 Do 1 .15 Do New, 1866 st Taff Vale . . lO 10 Do B 1 .0 Do C Ulster ~... 20 I Si 9 0 83 85 O 120 121 11 I - - 11 6 7 11 11 El fl 36 38 16 17 04i 451 107 109 47 •8 47 49 7 8 gi 109, 6) 71 10 t 104 33 4 t 107 i 108 09 100 51 52 96 OS 53 64 1 24 46 o I 101} 102 3.4 —1 0 Vi 67} 0 891 90} 121 127 1 2 p 11 774 78i 11 1G :1t )0 123 126 )0 4 < 44 )0 98 10u 11 - )0 1 53,E "4 )0 i 34 20 )0 I VOI el 0 100 102 I di 9i I 37 38 7 9 10 3 _7_B_ p )0 163 165 85 6 t 8 3 3#p 11 - - 25 Do 2.10 Do st Vale of Neath st Victoria sta. and Pim lOO at Waterford & Kilkenny 100 at West Cornwall lOO at W. Hartlepool HarAR lOO at West Midland -Oxford 100 st Do Newport 100 st Do Hereford 100 91 91 22 24 ;SIONS. Railways ItLando St Lawrence al Born.,Baroda,t.Cent Ind 1 Gu. 5 per cent... Do. New . ...... 1 Do. E. Shares... 'Oi Buffalo and Lake Alison al 0 Do. Preferonoe ...... / Buffalo, Brant,&Godricl ) , 5 p. ot. bds. Aug. 1, 1872 0 Do. do. July 1, 1872 10 0 Do. do. Juue 1, Is:q 10 t Olcutta.&S.Eastn.(l.hu, 10 ,t Cape Town ct Dock Scrij 10 )ck Eastn. Bengal g-u. 6p. ( 10 ck East Indian. gu. 5 p. c. 10 0 Do. do. G Ext..... 11 0 Do. do. H do. .. 11 ck Grand Trunk of Canada 1 Do. Ist Pref. Bonds.. al 00 Do. ao. deferred-- al 00 Do. 2d Pret. Bonds.. al 00 Do. do. deferred...... al 00 Do. 3d P, ef. stock ... al DO Do. do. deferred__ al DO Do. 4th Pref. stock... al DO Do. do. deferred-- al ock Gt.lndlaPentn.gua.6p.c 10( 10 Do. New gua. sp. a... P Do. January, 1862 .. wk Gt. South.of Indla(Lim guaranteed 5 per cent. 10i 104 Gt. W. of Canada Shares al 104 Do. New ...... t 1 0 Do. 6 p.c. '73 with't opt. al )0 Do. 5i p. o. do. '77-8.... al .0 Indian Branch Limited 1 ak Madras. guar., sp. c. .. 101 ak Do. 41 p. c. Extension ' k De. 46 d 0.... to DO: Fifth )ck Melb.Corp. ap. a. Buds. 10 Ilelb. & llobson'a Bay. a] 10 Do. 7p. c. Mortg. Bds. a] 10 Newßr urswiok Canda Class A. and B. lal N. Rl.C'da6 pa Ist pi bds it ;oak Saluda ) (it oak Do. Delhi I ri-4-' . 1( tO Do. do ... ' ~, st Do. Punjaub .. c' : .. t 4 Do. Du. ........ I+O' ll )ok Do. Indus. St. Flo.) - ~ ;OLONIAL GOVEEt' p.c.J &J cll 1877-61 IC , Do. 6p. c. Feb. & Aug. 101 -- Do. dp. c.Mar. & Sept. 101 Do. Ep. c. Jan.&July. lr Do. 5 Inscribed stoct IL Cape G. Hope, 6p c,1873 101 Do.Ap &Oct. 1880 101 Do. 189 C 101 Do. Jan. & July, 1691 101 Ceylon, N0v.1878, 6p t 10t. Mauritius 6 per cent lOO Natal Gov. 8 per cent 100 N..13.G0v. 6 pm. J a.&July 100 101 Do. 6p. c.Ap. & Oct. 100 S. W. Gov. 5 p 1.,18u( 101 99 100 Do. sp. e.,lBti to lB7f 10C 99 10 Do. d 0.4888 &upwds 100 99 100 New Zealand 6 p cent. 100 108 110 Nova Scotia Gov. 6p. 0. sterling, 1875 lOO .( Queensland Gcv. 6p. e lOO - S. Aus G6p.c.1678.& up lOO (0) 11l 6 p.c. Ja.&July 100 - Do. lo sox. An.&Oct, 10( ;0 101 103 )0 IN 102 JO 59 101 OC 89 in (00 80 91 )0 106 108 10 108 110 )0 110 112 10 108 109 10 111 113 0 106 308 O lf,B 110 O 101 103 O - (04 106 10 111 SHA'RE MARKETS.--This day. ORDINARY SHARES AND STOOKS. Share'K. Cicc7cien.g Business BRITISH POSSE BRITISH i26i 6 i 126 Ir9} 891. 101 i 2 107 991 9 COk 90 I 1041 1 104 I 1031 100 PD INES. 2 I Cambrian Consol. Gold I - uhflord Amalgamated.) - - Dcvcn G. Cons. (Tavist.) - East Bassett (Illogan).. - East Clogau Gold Ltd. - - East Caradon 4.14.11 30/ 314 - East Cam Brea... 3.4.0 7 76 - E. W'lltussel (Tavistk.) 8.9.0 41 41 Gam.,itSt.Aubyn(Gwen 'At 10 11 - 1 0 reat South Tolgus l7s 4 46 - C. Wheal Vor (Ileiston, 40 31 33 - ;Grenville 0.19. i 06 7 - qierc•cl's-Foot , 8.12 A 5 37 - II irgston Downs 4.18.0 4 46 - Lady Bertha - Margaret (Orly Lelant 9i 17 19 - Marke Valley.. Myndy Iron Oro (Lim ) 2/. 1 d - New Setup 192 83 95 - North Downs 2l 11 2 - N. Wh Basset(illo. , ;an, 3.1.0 2 21 - North Wheal Crafty - Par Consols (st. Blaze , Providence( Uny Lelia) 10. - !South Caradon(StCleer, 1 - S. Cana Brea (Illogan) Fran. (Illogan, 18.1 - ;Stray Park 30.1 - I t?amarSity. Lead Min 'fin Crort West Basset (Illogan) 1 - Cr radon (Liskear) 5 - West Seton - Wheal Basset (Mogan) 5- - Wheal Buller ( itedruth) 11 - Wheal Kitty(U.Lelant)j 2.0 WhealLudcott - Wheal Mary Ann (Lien ) 8 - Wheal &ton 5Bl - Wheat Trelawney (Lis ) 7 - ?Wheal Union 3.17 I id 35 11 . 5 1 570 680 10 65 70 .6.71 44 46 Li 1 440 i6O 1R.91 65 60 7.61 2S SO 9 20 20f 6 11 12 i 21 23 I 83 88 4 185 195 0 874 92) D. 6 31 37 0.8 2) 3 13) 14) 175 185 24 21) 2) 21 63 i 6O - 1031 41 PREFERENCE SHARES. Bristol and Exeter 4 per cent. stock, 91 Midland 4! per cent. pf. stk. rd., 102 PREFERENCE SHARES AND STOCKS. London, Chatham, &c., 6 per cent. 2dpf., es LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Chester and Holyhead, 662 FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Bahia and San Francisco (lim.) gua. 7 per cent., 17i Namur and Liege gua. 111, per annum, 81 Sambre and Meuse, 51 per cent. pt., 9 San Paulo (lim.), gua. 7 per cent., Ditto (all), 2I South Austrian and Lombardo Venetian, 20k FOREIGN MINES. Yudanamutana of S. Australia, llrn., 3k 21 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. &Mance Bank of Lon z. and Liverpool (Um.), Ditto, new, 331 3 Bank of Egypt, 27 Bank of London. 164 a 5 Chartered &ler. of India, London, and China, 07f - 8 Consolidated Bank, lim., 10i East London, lim., 71 English and Swedish, Um., 74 imperial Ottoman, 18 London, Buenos Ayres, and River Plate, 501 London and County, 57 6 London Joint Stock, 414 901 Metrop. and Prov. Bank (lim.), 24 Scinde, Punjaub. and Delhi, Jim., Ditto, new, 74 Union of Australia, 534 DOCKS. 47i 7 107} / 126 j Business done Closing Price. 1 59 £1 WO 1031 101; 8p 1 p 71 p 1 p 11 51 81 11 74 84 - - )0 101 )0 103 )0 1051 0) IC4 5 I 1 lil 20! 11 73 Vi 11 57 61 11 66 63 11 5J 63 11 49 51 11 33 Et LI 26 28 11 22 t 5 0 103 1044 2 I I )0 103 104 11 95 10 18 11 104, 11 92 94 11 85 87 2 p 1p )0 1024 IC3I )0 97 09 )0 1,2 96 a 155 bs 11 1 a 3 5 ,00 82 84 100 103 100 100 102} 103} 2 # 1p all 102 i 1031 400 Loo 198 10) MEM' Si CURITIE 1 2 I li Victoria, 99 MISCELLANEOUS. Anglo-Mexican Mint, 201 Australian Mort. Land and Finance, lim n 2: 1 Berlin Water Works, lim., 8/ Commercial Union (insurance), 9} Contract Corporation. lim., 5. Discount Corporation, limited, 101 Gen. Credit and Finance of London, lim n 7} Hudson's Bay, 18f International Financial Society, 121 1 Intercolonial Royal Mail Steam, Rm., 8 Ditto (all), 5f Italian Irrigation (Canal Cavour), 3 Joint-stock Discount, liin., 61 London General Omnibus Company, 2/ London Mercantile Discount, Man., 6f Mercantile Credit Association, lim., 121 12 National Discount Company, lim., Royal Mail ,Steam. 8 f. Societe l'inanciere d itgypte, lim,, 5 Thames and Mersey Marine (Insurance), lim., Van Diemen's Land, 11 Liverpool Cotton Market --This Day, Market very dull and drooping. Sales, about 3,000 or 4,000 bales; imports, 16,704 ; previously, 5;391. The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight Is 175 to 176 per ceut., and the premium on gold is about 61 per cent. At these rates there is scarcely any Prat on_the importation of gold from the United States. POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day, THIS SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 8, 1864. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES. HOLBORN VALLEY IMPROVEMENT, The Select Committee of the House of Commons to whom the above bill was referred met yesterday for the first time. The committee consisted of Sir David Dondas (chairman), Mr. Howard, Colonel North, Mr. Banks Stanhope, and Mr. Blake. Mr. Hope Scett, Q.C., the Recorder, and the Common Sergeant of the city of London, appeared on behalf of the Corporation of London, who are promoters of the bill. There were 13 petitioners against the bill, but the greater part of them were unrepresented by counsel. Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., in opening the case for the promoters, said that was a bill to authorise the Cor poration of London to construct a viaduct over the Holborn-valley with new streets end other im provements connected therewith, and was only to carry out the provisions of a previous act of Parlia ment which was passed last session for the regula • tion of the coal and wine duties. These duties were to be continued for ten years longer, and, after de fraying existing charges, it was stipulated that the first charge on those continued duties were to be applied to the raising of a viaduct over the Holborn valley to Ely -court. Tee scheme they had in view was, as money was to be provided for this object out of the 41. coal dues, that this work should be carried out under the authority of the Corporation of Lon don. Having referred to a map, the learned counsel said it was intended to commence the viaduct near the Old Bliley, and to be continued over the Holborn-valley. It was also intended to form a new street in continuation of that already in pro. gress from Farringdon- road to the new metropolitan meat market. There was to be another new street from near St. Sepulchre's Church, and terminating also in Farringdon-street. There was also to be an improvement near West-street. There would also be a raising of the road between Farringdon-street and Farringdon-road, commencing near Newcastle street for a length of about 270 feet, up to a summit at the crossing of the new street to the new metro politan meat market. It was proposed to stop up, either wholly or partially, the following streets : Snowhill, Field-lane, Great Saffron-hill, between Holborn-hill and Charles-street, and the southern end of King -street and Ely-place. The increase of the traffic in this direction caused the Corporation to seek some improvements, and they offered prizes for the best plans, to effect that object. He found that 18 were sent in, some of them proceeding by the east, and some by the west, but the Corporation of London had selected one which had received the public approbation. The main feature of the scheme was the construction of a viaduct between Skinner-street and Holborn, and removing the houses on both sides, which he believed would make one of the finest streets in London. It would be 80 feet wide, with a gradient of not less than 1 in 94; but varying to lin 264. The roadway approached more to the south than to the north, as a better gradient would be secured. There would be one or two arches near Farringdon-street, with a head• way of 21 feet, which would open a view to St. Sepulchre's Church. There would be access from the footpath to the roadway by steps, which would be about 25 feet. The Corporation would also en deavour to comply with the intentions of Parlia ment in the erection of houses for the workieg men who might be deprived of their houses by this im provement, There would be means of access for carts and waggons on the east by a communication with the high level road in Skinner-street near Angel-court, by a street 60 feet wide, and with a gradient of lin 45. The estimates have been prepared in this way, one including the alteration of Shoe-lane and the other excluding it. The estimate for the viaduct between Holborn and Skinner-street and between Hatton-garden and Sc. Sepulchre's Church was £900,340; the estimated returns from the re sale of property was £551,630, making the net cost £348,710. To which must be added, for the con struction of the viaduct, £75,882, making the total net co©t £421,592. With the widening of Shoe lane to the extent of 40 feet the estimated cost was £127,938 ; to that there would be a credited return of £58,455, making the net cost of the property £69,483; to this must be added the cost of construc tion, £6,500, making the total net cost .£75,983, So that, including the cost of widening Shoe-lane and the entire works in connection with this scheme the total estimate was £500,575. To effect these objects the fourpenny coal duties were appropriated to them as the source of their expenditure, and he believed, from the evidence th a t wou ld b e g i ven by the City Chamberlain, th e y s h ould prove tha t t h ese coal dues would be sufficient to meet this expendi ture; but even if there should be a deficiency, which they did not apprehend, it would be a very small one, and the Corporation of London would be able to make it up from other sources. The learned counsel then referred to the petitions which had been presented against the bill, amongst which was that of Mr. Charles Meeking, whose property would be required. He objected to the powers of the City Improvement Act, and be required a notice of two years before giving up the property. But while he wished to keep the corporation out of possession of the property for two years, he wanted the corpora tion to be compelled to complete the work with i n five years. Thero was n o question of public prin ciple to discuss, as the whole was a matter of detail. The Chairman wanted to know what was to be done with the traffic going east and west while all all this was going on. ---- Mr. Hope Scott, n -, said that would be a ques tion rather for the surveyor than him; but if he would ,allow him to tended to open a new street b efore they close d up the main artery. make a sug ges tion, they in. Mr. Haywood, Surveyor to the Commissioners of Sewers for the city of London, said his attention had been drawn to the traffi c of the streets of the City, and he had been eng aged by the committee to investigate the plans Which were sent in, and carefully considered the wh o l e of them. Holborn hill at the present time had a . gradient ranging from 1 in 12 to 1 in 17. I n Ski nner-street the gradient varied from 1 in 20 to 1 in 24. The scheme he proposed to remedy the present evil was ex plained a plan. Am ongs t iaduet, which would t p h la e i m ne o d st by pr h o i m m in b e y ntwasthe reference require the whole of the property on both sides of the ivay to be taken down from St. Sepulchre's Church to Hatton-garden. Farringdon-street would also be crossed by a bridge, and new streets would be formed in connexion with the viaduct. He then went into a public explanation of the scheme as detailed by Mr. Hope Scott in his open. ing t , ddress. After hearing further evidence, ___ The room was cleared, and the com m i ttee delibe rated with closed doors, and upon the readmission of the public, The Chairman stated that the commit tee were of will he taken into con s id eration to opTinhioeneltahuastesthe p r eamble of the bill was p rove d. day. ATTEMPT. TO UPSET A TRAIN.--The up mail train on the North Devon Railway on Monday night had a narrow escape from an accident, which, had it occurred, would probably have had very ser i ous results. On arriving a b ou t a quar t er of a mile beyond Y eo f or d t h e driver of the e ng i ne saw an obstruction on t h e line, into which, before sp ee d cou ld be reduced, the t ra i n ran. There were one or tw o severe j o lts, but the t ra i n passed safely, a w ooden gate, w hi c h h ad been un atondhawyeebbieneinmeeaduiasteedly pulled up. The obstructi on was f oun d by hung and placed across the rails, and upon it a heap of large stones had been piled. The wheel of the engine had scattered the stones and cut through th 3 gate, the impetus sufficing to keep the train on the metals. There was ano ther gate close by across the line. While the train was stopped Geo. Nott, a labourer in the employ of Mr. James Daw, farmer, of Stokey Down, Crediton, came up to Jas. Stanbury, the fireman, and inquired the reason the train was stopped. Stansbury having suspicion, laid hold of Nott, but he resisted very violently, and drew a knife from his pocket, at the same time asking him (Stanbury) if ho was going to kill him. The prisoner was taken on to Crediton and on his way to the police station hs said he was guilty, and expressed his sorrow for what he had done. There was no obstruction on the line 40 minutes before the train came up. On Tuesday he was brought before Mr. 3. Silifant, at the Court-house, and, after hearing the evidence of the engineer and the fireman of the train, he was committed for trial at the next aesizee.—iglimmill raper. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. OBTAINING MONEY BY MEANS 0/ A FORGED ORDER. —John Watson, clerk, 1, John-street, Berkeley-square, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with obtaining by means of a forged order on the London and Westminster Bank the eum of £l7, at 262, Oxford•street, with intent to defraud Mr. John Dickenson Bette. Mr. 'William Woollens, cashier to Mr. Betts, grocer, of 262, Oxford-street, said that on the previous evening the prisoner, whom he had known as being in the employ of Mr. Ball, a grocer, in Duke-street, Manchester-square, entered the shop and presented an order for some goode, and an order for the payment of the sum of 10s. on the the Stratford-place branch of the London and Westminster Bank, signed Bateman, and countersigned Cecil James Ball, the prisoner saying "This is for you." He gave the prisoner the money, £l7 10s., and after doing so, having a little suspicion as to the genuineness of the signature, re marked to the prisoner that it was a curious lookiag cheque, as the words "on demand" were written twice. The pri soner said, " That is nothing to me—rve nothing to do with that." The prisoner then walked to the counter to get the goods, and he (witness) told some of the assistants to detain him while he went to Mr. Ball to see if the cheque was genuine, and on going to Mr. Ball's he found that the signature wai a forgery, and that the prisoner had left Mr. Ball's employ on Saturday last. Mr. Cecil James Ball, managing the business of his father, James Ball, grocer, of Duke-street, Grosvenor square, said the prisoner had boen in his father's employ, but was discharged on Saturday last. The signature to the order was not written by him, but it was somewhat like his writing. Mr. Tyrwhitt inquired whether the signature was Lord 13ateman's 1' Mr. Ball said it was not. He had seen Lord Bateman write several times and cashed his cheques, he being a customer. He (Mr. Ball) always countersigned the cheques on the back, and Mr. Betts cashed them for him. Edmunds, 198 C, proved taking the prisoner into custody at the corner of South Audley-street (the prisoner having bolted out of Mr. Betts' shop), and said on telling him the charge, he said that he had been sent with the order by a pock-marked man. One of ➢lr. Betts' assistants took the money all but half a sovereign from the prisoner, and the half sovereign he (the constable) found in the prisoner's mouth, he having attempted to swallow it, but being pre vented doing so by his grasping his throat. Mr. Tyrwhitt remanded the prisoner, who had no ques , Lions to ask, for a week. THAMES. FEMALE HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—Margaret Cavanagh, an Irish Cockney, who has been frequently in custody, and has been summarily convicted several times in this court. was brought before Mr. Paget on a charge of highway robbery, which was committed in a very daring manner. Mr. George Myner, a master lighterman and barge owner. said he was also the proprietor of a house of public enter trinment called the White Swan, in Brunswick street, Blackwell. Last night, a few minutes past twelve, he was on his way home, and when he was within a few yards of his own house he was accosted by the prisoner, who tapped him on the shoulder and made some overtures to him. He repulsed her and walked on. She immediately clasped him round the waist with both arms and put her hands into his pockets. His money was gone in an instant. He had £3 165., including three sovereigns, in his pockets. He was then close to the Ship public-house, in Brunswick street, and called out " Mr. Caton," or Tom Caton. The landlord of the Ship came out, and he said to him " Tom, lam robbed ; this woman has stolen my money." Tho prisoner was going away, and he seized her, and gave her into custody. A man was near her when she first accosted him. Mr. Thomas John Caton, landlord of the Ship, said he heard the prosecutor call out " Tom," and went into the street. Mr. Myner had hold of the prisoner, who dropped some money. Mr. Myner said "I am robbed ; she has taken all my money." Mrs. Caton brought out a lighted candle. He took it from her, searched the street, and picked up a half sovereign. Mr. Myner—There was a half sovereign among the cash taken from me. Mr. Richard Hornblower, No. 12, Norfolk-street, Black wall, shipwright, said he heard the noise in Brunswick. street, and looked for the money that had been thrown away. He picked up a silver Sixpence on one side of the road and a penny on the other, which he took to the station-house and gave to the police inspector. The prisoner, on being called for her defence, said she had nothing whatever to say. Mr. Paget committed the prisoner for trial. MARKETS—This Day. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 lOs Od ; clover, £4 Os to £5 lOs Od ; and straw, £1 2s to £1 lOs per load Trade slow, C UMBERLAND.—Meagow hay, £3 Os to £4103 Od ; clove►. £4 Os to £5 108 Od ; and straw, ail 4s to 108 per load A slow sale. WHITECHAPEL —Meadow hay, £3 Os to £1 lOs ; clover, £4 Os to £5 10a Ud ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 lOs per load. 'frade dull, COLONIAL. TEA,—.A. moderate amount of business has been tran sacted in the private market, and prices generally aro well maintained. A large quantity is announced for public sale within the next few days. SUGAR.—The demand for raw sugar has been rather active, and prices have been well maintained. Refined goods, owing to the small quantity on offer, realise high rates. COPFEE.—There has been a steady demand for colonial descriptions, and good and superior qualities realise fully former quotations, _ _ _ RICE.—A moderate amount of business has been re-. corded in East Indian, and quotations in most instances are well maintained. TALLOW.—There has been a strong inquiry for P.Y.C. for both present and forward delivery, the quotations on the spot, 41s Gd; March, 41s Gd to 41s 9d; April, 42e; and last three months, 44s per cent, THE CONVICT HALL. In reference to the case of the murder of the convict's wife, at Birmingham, three weeks ago, particulars of which, and of the husband's trial at Warwick assizes, have been already reported in The Sun, we have now to add that the horrible circumstances are exciting an unprece dented interest in the county, and persons who have no sympathy 'with foul crimes are using every effort to procure a remission of the sentence of death on the ground that the prisoner's provocation was intolerable, and that great allowance should be made for the anguish of an iej tired husband, smarting under such a wrong as that which he bore. A great mass of evidence has been laid before Sir George Grey which was advisedly kept back from the jury, because it did not amount in law to proof that the provocation was of such a nature as would reduce the prisoner's crime from murder to manslaughter. There were many witnesses at Warwick, but they were, for this reason, not called. They prove that the wretched wife left the comfortable home her husband had provided for her on the very day of her marriage,was next day brought home by her parents, and that she visited on the third day a man named Joy, for whose society she eventually left her hus band at the end of the first week of her married life. Her husband was brought to the door of the theatre on the Saturday night and saw them com ing out together, and asked her what she meant. She replied in Joy's presence, " I mean what you see r " and attempted to strike him. The man be came incensed, but did not know what to do. He grieved for a month, frequently seeing his wife at her mother's, and implored her to return. At last on the 16th February he visited her, and after an affectionate interview he shot her. In the interval it is now proved that she had been receiving the visits of Joy, and that adultery had been repeatedly committed, and that after she was shot and before her death Joy actually was with her in her bed room at her mother's. All this may well have un settled the husband's mind. At all events, it has produced great commiseration for the prisoner at Birmingham. The excitement in the various manu factories, where the workmen crowd to sign peti tions for mercy, is very great. We understand the legal and medical profession are sending up sepa rate memorials, and that the solicitors' memorial already numbers 100 signatures, while the general town memorial is signed by many thousands. These documents will reach Sir George Grey this morn ing. The prisoner's employer, Mr. J. S. Wright, and others, with the counsel and solicitors iu the case, have seen unremitting in their efforts. The old Star Chamber in the House of Commons has been alloted to the Parliamentary reporters for a club room, in which they will be able to get all the delicacies in and out of the eeason, and be at peace for a moment from intrusion.—Court Journal, CORK V. GALWAY.—A correspondent writes to us : —"lt is said that as Galway, from its port being un safe and want of cargo or trade, was unsuitea for the packet station, there are three rivals in the field, Cork with its magnificent harbour, Foynes at the mouth of the Shannon, and Waterford, the latter ports in which Mr. Malcolmson, the great steamship owner, is much interested. The gene ral opinion is that Cork is the beat adapted, and that if it was made the terminus, there would be lines of steamers from Bordeaux, Nantes, and Cherbourg to meet the American steamers there. Naval and Military Intelligence. THE NAVY. The iron paddlewheel steamer Lizard, 'employed in har bour duty between Chatham and Sheerness, has been selected by the Admiralty to be experimented upon with Capt, M'Killop's coffer-dam, or portable dock, in order to test the merits of that invention. The Lizard having been placed an the gridiron to ascertain the state of her bottom will be floated into the steam basin to-day, should the gale at all moderate, and will be placed in the dock to-morrow in order to save the spring tides. The Bombay, 67, 400 horse power, which was to have been undocked at Chatham during the present week, is now ordered to remain in dry dock for a month longer, and in the meantime she is to be made ready as soon as possible for commission. During the time she has been in the ship wright' hands she has been fitted with an entirely new description of apparatus, from the plan of one of the officials in the dockyard, for more expeditiously and safely lower ing the boats at sea. The date at which the Bombay is now ordered to be undocked is the 7th of April. Tho Ariadne, 26, 100 horse power, Capt. E. IV. Vansit- tart, having been inspected at the Nore by Vice-Admiral of the White Sir C. Talbot, K.C.8., naval Commander-in- Chief, has discharged the whole of her powder and shells into the magazines at Upnor Castle, and yesterday the War Department transports Marl l'orough and Bomarsund landed her heavy 68 pounder and Armstrong guns at the Ordnance Wharf, Chatham. The orders previously given for the Ariadne to be paid off in Chatham harbour have been countermanded, and she is now to be paid off at the Nore, and afterwards placed in the third division of the Steam Reserve in the Medway. The crew of the Ariadne ate now busily employed in dismantling the ship and returning her stores into the dockyard. Notwithstanding the length of time she has been in commission, the vessel is in excellent order, and her condition reflects the highest credit on Capt. Vansittart and the officers under him. Yesterday a large party of convicts arrived at the St. Mary's convict establishment, Chatham, from Leeds, to be employed on the works now in progress for the enlargement of the dockyard. Admiralty orders have been received at Chatham for the paddlewheel steamer llermes, 6, 830 tons, 220 horse power, attached to the third-class Steam Reserve, to be broken up, the Lords of the Admiralty having decided that she is not to be sold, as was previously directed. A portion of the Channel Fleet, consisting of the screw line-of-battle ship Edgar, 80, bearing the flag of Vice-Admi ral Decree, C. 8.; the iron plated screw steamships Warrior, 40, Black Prince, 40, and the Defence, 18, arrived at Port land on Saturday. The Hector and Prince Consort have been in port some days. The following appointments were made yesterday at tho Admiralty :—Henry M, Barkley, midshipman, to the Princess Royal ; Robert F, Smyth, assist.-paymaster, to the Rattlesnake ; Russell Hill, assist.-paymaster, to the Pem broke ; Dr, Alexander Mitchell, acting assist.-surg., to the Excellent ; John Lambert, assist.-surg., to the Implacable ; _ _ William Oliver, chief engineer, to the Asia, for the Royal Sovereign, vice Taylor; W. J. Ibbett, chief engineer, to the Aeia, for the Prince Regent; and Adam Dann, chief engineer, to the Pembroke. PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY. Yesterday the annual general meeting and 42d election, in connection with the Society, took place at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The ballot for the e!ection of pensioners opened at one o'clock and closed at four, when the chair was taken by Mr. Coe, of the Bank of England, who declared the result of the ballot to be as follows :—For the ordinary pensions —Mrs, Elizabeth Cartherine Ruth Smith, 6,247 votes ; Mrs. Mary Ann Watford, 5,757; Mr. Daniel Carter, 5,592; and Mrs. Elizabeth Harley, 5,149. For Biggs pension —George Wright, 4,817. Franklin pension—Goorge Elliott, 4,G25. Whittingham pension —Mrs. Mary Willoughby, 4,623. Fley pension —H. W. Rentoul, 3,787. IThe CHAIRMAN having declared these parties duly elected pensioners on the funds of the institution, the business of the general meeting was proceeded with. Mr. J. S. llonsoN, jun., the secretary, read the report of the committee of management for the past year,whieh stated that the annual festival connected with the charity had taken place in April last, under the presidency of Viscount Enfield, M.P., and had realised £3OO to the funds, while the committee had the satisfaction to announce that the next an niversar3 festival, which will take place on the 6th of the next month, would be presided over by Mr. Chas. Dickens, who for the second time has responded to the wishes of the committee, and consented to preside on the occasion. The annual and life subscriptions had amounted to £956 18a, being as increase of £lO over the preceding year, though not equal to the amount received in 1861. The funded property of the institution consisted of £8,901 17s lodged with the National Debt Commissioners, with £273 Gs 3d as the inte rest of that sum for the year, and added to the principal, to gether with £1,915 Ile 5d in the Three per Cent. Consols, making a total of funded property of £11,090 14e 82. Seven pensioners had died during the year, three of them being over 80 years of age,and the number at present on the funds was 25 males and 46 females, of which number 14 were recipients of Biggs's Charity, and eight were inmates of the Printers' Almshouses. Tim amount paid in pensions during the year had been £846 4s, being £2O 10a in excess of the previous year. The eight pensioners elected that day was the utmost number to which the committee could for the present extend the benefits of the institution, but they hoped that by in creased support they might soon be able to add to the num ber. The total receipts for the year had been £1,509 2a 4d, and the expenditure .£1,488 Gs 10d, leaving a balance in hand of £2O 152 6d. On the motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Wells, the report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted; and the officers for the year having been appointed, A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. The Pope and his Visitors. Sir George Bowyer, in the following letter to our chief contemporary, contradicts the absurd and ridiculous paragraph which has been going the round of the papers, and which was given as a curiosity in 71w San of yesterday. The hon. baronet writes :. Sir,—Under this heading I see in the Times of this day , an extract from a French paper comaining some gross mis takes. The Pope presents not his slipper, but his hand, to be kissed at audiences in every case. The ceremony of kissing the foot (derived from the ceremonial of the ancient Imperial Court) is only performed on certain occasions. At audiences you kneel, or rather genuflect on one knee, but you do not remain kneeling until the Pope motions you to rise. His Holiness never keeps any one kneeling, and I believe no nun ever knelt before her confessor except in the confessional. Ladies, both Protestants and Catholics, are received at audiences by the Pope as well as women of humble condition. It is not true that " everything is pre pared to astonish and disconcert the visitor." On the con trary, everything is plain and unpretending. There are the half dozen Swiss guard and footmen in the hall, the chamberlain in waiting, and one of the noble guard in the antechamber, and the Pope receives visitors without any attendant, as the chamberlain retires after announcing the visitor or visitors. In fact, the Holy Father gives audiences more like a bishop than like a sovereign, and no sovereign gives so many audiences to persons of all classes, from the highest to the lowest, as the Pope. It is absurd to suppose that M. J. Merode always speaks to the Pope kneeling. His Holiness often gives audiences in his private room, sitting at hi s writing table. I shall be much obliged if you will publish this letter.—Your obedient servant, GEORGE BOIN'YER. MR. FERRAND is thus described in the Court Journal by the Parliamentary Sketcher, who says —He is one of those downright haters whom Dr. Johnson loved. lie speaks with such intense feeling, and pummels his antagonist with such vehemence, that you admit him to bo thoroughly in earnest, though you cannot always ad mire his taste or endorse his statements. Most people re. member him as he was, when he had his bout with Sir James Graham. Most people thought he would toned down a little with age, and that his views of men and things would have become more moderate. But this is a mistake. He is now what ho was at the beginning of his Parlia mentary career, and what it. is clear that ho ever will of very great ferocity, very honour be—a politio,an able and w t ill-meaning, but awfully inclined to be lieve anything to the prejudice of the Whigs, and of Whig officials, and proclaiming it to all the world upon very shallow evidence which convinces few besides himself. As you listen to him, even without looking at him, you can read his character —the character of a self-asserting, obstinate man, with plenty Af good feeling for poor men, and no end of enmity for sk mie powerful men who have thwarted him and whom be bt lioves to be always bent on grasping or retaining favour at the expense of principle. This is Mr. Ferrand's doctriut): he fears the Whigs even when they offer gifts; and as to Whig Admirals, Whig Controllers and Surveyors of tho. Navy, Whig Lords of the Ad miralty, both Junior Ind First, he holds them in utter abomination. This yo u hear proclaimed from a ringing, sonorous voice, which now and then approaches a bellow. If you look at the speak er, your eyes light om a rugged face, with moustaches which uld to its ruggedness ; bright, fierce eyes, which glare upon. the Ministerial benches; hands which seem to long to throttle the Junior Lord and the Admiralty Secretary at till very least; and a well-set, well knit frame which towers :up from behind the front Oppo sition bench, and seems the embodiment of a tenacious, dogged purpose. It is thitt member wbo now declaims against Admiralty officials for interference at Devonport elections, Devonport being tho place which enjoys the honour of having Mr. Ferrand as a representative. THE CONTENTS OF A PRINCE'S — PURSE.—The Due d'Aumale was ont hunting, between Chudbury and Evesham, and lost his purse, containing £9 i n gold, 20s. in silver, and a few shillings' worth of postage stamps. William Stait, groom to Mr. C. Ra ndell, of Chadbary, was going to Evesham on horseback the same morning, and found the purse and its contents, which he delivered to the Duke, who rewarded him with a mvereign for his honesty. The Star Life Assurance Society, The twentieth annual meeting of the members of the Star Life Assurance Society was held yesterday at the offices, 13, Moorgate -street. City. Charles Harwood, Esq., chairman of the Board of Di rect Ors, presided. The usual preliminary business h av i ng b een t ransac t e d , the annual report of the directors and the report of Mr. Jenkyn Jones on the affairs of the society were read to the meeting. The directors' report was road by Jesse Hobson, Esq., the Secretary, as follows : The Directors of the Star Life Assurance Society, in again meeting their constituents, have great pleasure in being, able to present a most gratifying report, at this, th e twentieth annual, or fourth quinquennial, meeting : Tee figures which will be presented to this meeting will refer not only to the operations of the society during the past yeas, but to those which have occurred since its estab lishment in 1843. The directors have to report, that during 1863 they received 1,195 proposals for assurance; of this number they issued 956 policies for the sveurancs of £353,310, yieldine: in annual premiums £13 ; 114 16s. Id., the highest amount paid for new policies in any year since the foundation of the society. The directors have been compelled, reluctantly, to decline many of the prop - isals which have been submitted to them, as being, in tbeir opinion, not eligible for assurance. As a further illustration of the advance of the company, the following comparative result is given of the four com pleted cycles of five years which have elapsed : No. of Sums Pol cies. Assured. Premium. First period, to 1848.... 2,204 £690,277 £22,606 15 11 Second period, to 1853..2,832 923,156 30,280 9 7 Third period, to 1858 ... 3,191 1,086,040 37,766 14 4 Fourth period, to 1863 ..4,792 1,721,252 60,031 5 0 of this number there remained in existence at the close of the year 9,370 policies for the assurance of £3,229,841 108. By the auditors' report it will be observed that the in come of the society on the 31st December last, amounted to £120,489 4s. 3d., and the accumulated fund at that date amounted to £557,361 9s. 11d., showing an increase in the fund of £72,381 los. 11d, during the year. Claims by death have arisen under 107 policies, assuring 92 persons, and the sum of £32,804 12s. ld. (which includes bonus additions of £1,469 55.) has been paid to the repre sentatives of those deceased. Of this amount, £6,000 has been reassured with other offices, thus reducing the net loss to the Star by death to £26,804 12s. ld. The claims which have been discharged, since the origin of the society, amount, in the aggregate, to £91,348 ss, sd. It is scarcely necessary to repeat, that to the valuable and general support of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion is this prosperity mainly to be attributed ; and the Directors think that it will be interesting to the meeting to be ,in formed, that a very large proportion of the assured are either members or hearers of that religious body. This being the fourth quinquennial period, the Directors are called upon, by the deed of settlement, to investigate the affairs of the society, with a view of apportioning the profits to the policy-holders. For this purpose they have in structed Mr. Jenkyn Jones to make a valuation, and give a complete and detailed report of the assets and liabilities of the society. That report, which will be mead to you, shows, as was anticipated, that the business effected is of a very profitable character, and will enable the Directors to declare a reversionary bonus averaging rather more than 60 per cent. upon the premiums paid during the past five years; the result of which, as relating to each particular policy, will be communicated to those interested at as early a period as posrible. As, however, these calculations will occupy considerable time, it is obvious that such result can not be communicated to all the policy-holders in less than two or three months. The Directors retiring by rotation are W. H. Smith, W. M. Ware, A. Bealey, and Edward Ball, Esqs., who, being eligible, will be proposed for re-election. • The CHAIRMAN sail it was with more than ordinary pleasure that ho met the share and policy holders that day, because the success of the past year's exertions had been crowned with the most brilliant success. (Hear, hear.) The new business for the year amounted to nearly 1,000 policies 0f1353,310, which would yield an annual premium of £13,114 16s. ld., which would be the largest amount paid for new policies in any yaar since tho foundation of the society. There was another matter of congratulation, and that was the increase of the accumulated ,fund. (Hoar hear.) In order to comply with the terms of the deed of settlement, the directors, with a view of apportioning the profits to both share and policy holders, had had to select a qualified gentleman to whom they could submit the affairs of the society, and the highly interesting and favourable report they had had from Mr. Jenkyn Jones fully bore out the expectations of the directors. (Hear, hear.) The bonus was a substantial one—(hear, hear)—and although he could not gratify the policyholders with the specific suns each would receive yet, he would conclude his observations by formally moving the reception and adoption of the report. The motion, having been seconded, was put to the meet ing, and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN next moved the re-election of the retir ing directors—via., W. H. Smith, Esq., J. M. Ware, Esq,, and E. Bealey, Esq., which was also agreed to unanimously. Thanks having been awarded to directors, auditors, and medical officers, A special vote of thanks was proposed and accorded to the secretary and his very efficient staff. Mr. HossoN thanked the meeting for the compliment just paid to him and his staff. They had but one ambition, namely, to see the society in the most flourishing condition. He had finished his first apprenticeship to them to-day, as the present was the eihgth annual report he had the pleasure jcreading to them. Seven years ago their annual income was £61,000, whilst it was now £120,000. Their assets at that period were £202,000, they were now £557,000, and this alone would show some exertion had been made. (Hear.) It would always be his constant endeavour to increase and extend their success by every means in his power. (Hear, hear.) He had a favour to ask those present; it was to kindly communicate to their friends that the amount of bonus payable to each policy holder could tot be ascertained for two or three months, but immediately it was known there would be no loss of time in acquainting those entitled to it with the pleasant fact. If they would oblige him so far he was certain it would save him a great deal of letter writing, (Laughter.) The Shareholders' bonne would be payable about the first week in April. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro ceedings. THE COUNTY FRANCHISE, MR. LOCKE KING'S BILL. The following is a copy of the bill prepared and brought in the House of Commons by Mr. Locke King and Mr. H. Russoll,lto extend the franchise in counties in England and Wales : " Whereas it is expedient to extend the elective franchise to many of her Majesty's subjects who have not heretofore enjoyed the same. Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's moat excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lards spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : "1. From and after the passing of this act, every male person, of full ago and not subject to legal disability, who occupies, as owner or tenant, any land or tenement situate without the limits of any city or borough entitled to return a burgess or burgesses to Parliament of the clear yearly value, or for which he is liable to a clear yearly rent of not less than ten pounds, and comprising a house of the clear yearly value of not less than six pounds, shall be entitled to vote at the election of a knight or knights of the shire to serve in any future Parliament for the county, riding, part, or division of the county in which such land' or tenement' is situate; but no such occupier shall be so entitled to vote unless ho be duly registered as such voter, nor shall he be entitled to be so registered in any year un less he have occupied such land' or ' tenement' of such value or at such rent as aforesaid, for six calendar months at least next before the last day of July in such year. "2. The act passed in the second year of King William tho Fourth, to amend the representation of the people in England and Wales, and the act passed in the sixth year of her present Majesty's reign, to amend the law for the registration of persons entitled to vote, and to define certain rights of voting, and to regulate certain proceedings in the election of members to serve in Parliament for England and Wales, and the present act, shall be construed as one act." North Country and Welsh Steam Coal, Reports of trials of Welsh and North of England steam coal have been laid before the House of Commons. Mr. Miller, chief engineer at the steam factory, Keyham, has made% full report of a series of experiments extending over four months, and states as the result that it is evident that the introduction of north country coals to be burnt in com bination with Welsh coals in equal proportions would be attended with desirable results, as means by which all the Welsh coals put on board a ship might be usefully and eco nomically burnt, smoke prevented to a great extent, and a more rapid evaporation effected ; that is to say, a given quantity of water evaporated by a given quantity of coal in lose time, and thus the steam boilers of ships rendered more powerful. There would be no difficulty in coaling a ship with the two kinds of coal, The bunkers of one Bide might be filled with north country coal, and the other side with Welsh coal. Mr. Anderson, engineer in oharge of her Ma jesty's ship Supply, reports in favour of a mixture of from one-third to one-half north country coal with Welsh. The consumption ho found the same as of Welsh coal, but there were fewer ashes. Commander Roberts of her Majesty' s storeship Wye is in favour of one-third north country c oa l. He tried a mixture in other proportions, but found this burn less coal for a given amount of work and produce consider ably less smoke, ashes and soot. Mr. Rwnble, inspector of machinery afloat at Sheerness, states as the result of experi ments on board the Fearless, as well as of his experience when out on trial with vessels at tho measured mile during the last 12 months, that for economy of fuel and prod using the greatest amount of steam pressure, the best proportion is a mixture of two-thirds Welsh and one-third north coun try coal, and that this is better than either kind of coal separately. Captain 13 roadbent, in charge of the reserve, Portsmouth, tried all Welsh, equal quantities of each, and two•thirds north country coal, and reports in favour of all Aberdare Welsh coal; he does not seem to have tried one third nt i r o y e a x nd er t i N m vo e - n t t h s ir a d r s e A g V iv e e ls n h . coal. Full de tailsonfonirtoh costouf o MISS BRADDON, THE DISTINGUISHED NOVELIST, has given 2,50 to the Dramatic College, for the building of a house, which is to bo called after one of her great literary successes, " Aurora Floyd." This will be a combined me mento of her benevolence and of her literary genius. SECOND EDITION. SUN OFFICE, HALF -PAST 4 O'CLOCK. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day, LIVERPOOL RACES--THIS DAY. £4O HANDICAP PLATE. .......... 1 Lord Douglas . Poland 3 Zara SWEEPSTAKES. Fiv© ran. TYRO STAKES. Seven ran. SPRING CUP. CITY BETTING—THIS DA T . LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 11 to 2 agst Bantam (taken) 6to 1 agst Emblematic (taken) 9to 1 agst Jerusalem (taken) 10 to 1 agst Portland (taken) • 11 to 1 agst Wee Nell (taken) 16 to 1 agst Real Jam (taken) Very little betting, SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, TATTERSALLS'.—LAST EVENING. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 6to 1 agst Bantam (taken) 100 to 15 agst Emblematic (taken) 10 to 1 aget Woe Nell (taken) 10 to 1 agst Portland (taken) 10 to 1 agst Jerusalem (offered) 15 to 1 agst Real Jam (taken) 16 to 1 eget Ocean Witch (taken) 25 to 1 agst Bell's Life (taken) 25 to 1 agst Romeo (taken) 25 to 1 agst Sinking Fund (taken) 33 to 1 agat Harry (taken) 40 to 1 agst Ireley (taken) 40 to 1 agst Leonidas (taken) NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. Bto 1 agst Lioness (taken) 15 to 1 aget Wingrave (taken) TWO THOUSAND. 6to 1 agat Fille de l'Air (taken) CHESTER CUP. 33 to 1 agat Merry Hart (taken) 33 to 1 agst Farce (taken) 33 to 1 agst Crisis (taken) THE DERBY. 9to 1 apt Scottish Chief (take 10 to 1) 13 to 1 agat Paris (taken) 25 to agat Idler (taken) 1000 to 20 aget Hollyfox (taken) 1000 to 20 agst Baragah (taken) CITY BETTING—YESTERDAY. LIVERPOOL SPRING CUP: 4to 1 agst The Monk 6to 1 agst St. Lawrence 6to 1 agat Costa Bto 1 agst Trejanus GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. sto 1 agst Bantam (11 to 2 taken freely) 6to 1 agst Emblematic 9to 1 agst Wee Noll (taken) 10 to 1 agat Jerusalem 10 to 1 agst Portland 100 to 6 agat Real Jam 18 to 1 agat Ocean Witch 20 to 1 agst Bell's Life 25 to 1 agst Romeo 33 to 1 agat Harry 40 to 1 agst Czar 40 to 1 agst Chester 40 to 1 aget Thomastown 50 to 1 aget Sir William 60 to 1 agst Reporter 60 to 1 agst Serious Case 50 to 1 agst Leonidas 100 to 1 agst Emblem (offered) THE SEFTON HANDICAP. 5 to 2 agst Persuasion 6to 1 agst Tomfoolery 6to 1 agst Farfalla 6 to 1 agat Argonaut THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STARES. 10 to 1 agst Lioness (taken freely) 11 to 1 agst Blithfield (offered) 12 to 1 agst Gardener CHESTER CUP. 10 to 1 aget Golden Pledge 15 to 1 agst Blackdown 20 to 1 agst Anfield 30 to 1 agst Muezzin DERBY. 10 to 1 agst Scottish Chief 12 to 1 agst Cambuscan 15 to 1 agst Coastguard 20 to 1 agst Blair Athol 60 to 1 agst Copenhagen AQUATICS, THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE. As the day fixed for this great national equatio event (the 19th March) approaches the interest of the public increases, and everything connected with the encounter is watched with the utmost degree of anxiety. On Friday and Satur day last the rowing of the Oxonians was eagerly scanned by hundreds of Cantabs, who took the opportunity afforded them by the Oxford and Cambridge pastimes, and visited the banks of the Isis. The impression formed by the Cambridge gentlemen seemed very unfavourable to their own colours, and many of them backed the dark blue at odds, a circum stance which has given Oxford more confidence, and induced them to lay freely the odds of 5 to 4, which can be had at Oxford for the asking. As we before stated, the Oxford crew will be in London about the middle of the week, as orders have been given to forward the boat by road to Put ney on Wednesday evening next. The crew, it is expected, will make their debut on the London waters on the following Thursday, when the London talent will have an opportunity of judging of their merits. On Monday afternoon (yesterday) a picked crew was got up to give them a turn, in accordance with the usual custom at Oxford, and a race of exceeding interest took place below Nuneham. The scratch crew comprised, besides the Presi dent of the 0.U.8.C., Mr. Carr, and several Oxford oars of groat experience, including tho Messrs. Morrison. The names, however, as given below, will speak for themselves. Damascus 1 Mrs, Nesbitt Dovedalo _ East Linn, Club Queen.......... 3 Weatherglass . ... St. Lawrence........ Atmllan Five ran. 2 LATEST BETTING. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 11 to 2 agst Emblematic 7 to 1 agst Bantam MR. CA.RR'S CREW. 23 1 E. FA.. F. ?.oL l rr l a l ism in obn g e, w ri3t o . r a t cl h, Bsenose Balliol 4 W. W. Goddard, ,Exeter 6 G. Morrison, Balliol C. R. 76 J E C I P oc C H l i a ea t i r r tr r t d o r i t , : g s i rD t B u a Br a se noseudert ik h a :a l e m T n Ern s s t ii r tTy O r k ( o cc ) F. Ro (coxswain) . a n ) 1 C. P. Roberts, Trinity 2 W. Awdry, Balliol R. H. Kelly, University 4 J. C. Parson, Trinity . 6W. B. Jacobson, Ch rist Church 6 A. R. Seymour, University 7 M. Brown, Trinity D . p oe klington, Braseno se ( stroke) C. Tottenham, Christ Church (coxswain) The river being swollen to a great extent, owing to the recent.heavy rains, and the wind blowing very strongly from the west, caused an unusual roughness on the surface, re sembling as near as possible the swell of the Thames near London. :Mr. Carr lay under the Berkshire shore at the Mile Bush until the " Varsiry Eight," which has rowed from Sandford, came within a few lengths, when he put on a quick stroke and led them through the Railway Bridge, at which point the gap had been somewhat lessened, as:the powerful stroke of Mr. Pocklington told more effectively in the rough water than the dash of Mr. Carr. Upon reaching the Corner the " eight" put on a spurt and caught up to their opponents, whose want of condition telling upon them, enabled the former to take the lead, which they maintained to the finish. The rowing of the " eight" afforded great satisfaction to those who were present, although it was observed the stroke oar lacked the dash which has been the distinguish" ing feature of the Oxford stroke for the past three seasons. Mr. Hoare, the gentleman referred to, who expected to row in the scratch crew, was unable to do so thrcugh slight indisposition. - PARLIAMENT will, it is said, adjourn for the Easter holidays on the 18th inst. THE LAST MOT OF AUBER (a very small one) is that, hearing two ladies at the Opera s ing in . discord, h e exclaimed to a friend," How difficu lt it i s, my friend, to keep two women in accord I" TURIN, Mart:h s.—Letters from Venetia continue to mention important miiitary preparations on the part of Austria. within the range of the command of Verona, which comprises the Carniola, Trieste, and Istria, there are now 100,000 me n , w ith mili tary stores s u ffi cient for 000,000 men. A further force of 30,000 men is expected. The Austrian Government intends to concentrate a large body of artillery in the Poleeina.