The Sun. — London, England, 1854-01-18 00:00:00

PRINCE ALBERT AGAIN ! (From the Times.) Many people may be aware—and many people, We trust, are not aware—that for some time past rumours have been afloat to the effect that the Prince Consort has meddled in the most out rageous manner with the affairs of the State. It has been said that Prince Albert has cancelled instruc tions prepared by the Ministers at home for Lord Stratford at Constantinople ; it has been said that, When Ministers refused to admit of these altera tions, the Prince despatched a messenger on his own account to the East, concurrently with the emissary of the Foreign-office, and in contradic tion of the despatches of which he was the bearer ; it has been said that Prince Albert warned the Russian Ambassador of the contemplated move ment of the combined fleets into the Black Sea, and thus enabled the Czar to save his ships by Withdrawing them to Sebastopol ; it has been said that the reigning Prince of Saxe Coburg, not the Autocrat of All the Russias, is the ogre of whom united Europe should stand in dread. Saxe Coburg will invade us all, Prince Albert pre- Paring the way for the triumph of that great military Power by his most " base, bloody, brutal," and perfidious machinations. For the last few weeks the town has been entertained with such skimble-skamble stuff as this. A portion of the press has not been ashamed—though we are almost ashamed to record the fact—to give Publicity to as silly and unsupported a calumny as any which we can remember during a long course of years. What are the proofs ? There can be no proofs of these charges as they stand at present. Has the Queen turned Queen's evidence ? --or Lord Aberdeen ?—or Lord Clarendon ?—or Lord Palmerston ? or Lord Stratford ? Who heard the order given to " Jerningham" to bring the garters ? No man of candid mind could originate or for a moment entertain against his fellow any accusation not susceptible of proof. In the pre sent case it is absolutely impossible that there should be anything like direct testimony. What is there of circumstantial evidence ? Is there so much of proof in either shape as would induce a Jury to convict a little boy of stealing a pewter Pot ? " But everybody believes it," says Tom Foozle, of the Travellers, to Sir Marmaduke Olodpole, of the Carlton. We simply reply, that a few months ago everybody believed that tables Were endued with prophetic power, and were in the confidence of the Prince of Darkness—whether they are made of rosewood, mahogany, or even walnut, mattered not. Is there any man in the three kingdoms who could put down upon a sheet of paper such grounds for believing in the guilt of the Prince Consort as would induce any other person of sane mind to admit the fact as true ? Raised eyebrows, shrugged shoulders, pre sumptions by the cartload, are not arguments, still less proofs. If they were, there is not a plan in all England who might not be executed at the Old Bailey for participation in the Acton murder ere six weeks were out. The accusation as it stands is one far more inju rious to the Queen and to her Ministers than to the Prince Consort. What is he, after all, but the first subject in the realm ? If the Queen have be trayed her coronation oath—if Lord Aberdeen and his fellows are traitors to their country—English history is not devoid of p rece d en t s w hi c h may guide our conduct even under such circumstances as these. These, however, are very grave matters indeed ; the people of England are happily endowed With too great a sobriety of temper, as well as with tae clear a judgment, to proceed to such extremi ties without due cause, and without very sufficient Proof. No one presumes that in the confidence of married life the Queen and her husband may not converse upon public affairs. When the English nation deliberately accept a foreign Prince as the consort of their Queen they must needs accept this consequence, —this inconvenience, if they will. It is a lesser inconvenience than would arise from the adopti on o f any ot h er course. B ut, b ecause it is not to be expected from human nature that two persons in so intimate an alliance should never Open their lips to each other upon subjects of the greatest interest to them both, does it therefore fol low that th e P r i nce Consort must necessarily be mad enough to propose, and the Queen be mad enough to acquiesce in, suggestions contrary to the inte rests of the country ? Besides, what becomes of the Ministers of State and of majorities in the Houses of Parliament ? The wicked and silly people who Bet these rumours afloat were so ill-instructed in their trade of calumny, and so ignorant of the 'natter in hand, that at the outset they literally confounded together as the same thing the Cabinet Council and the Privy Council. Because Prince Albert was a member of the " Privy Council," therefore he was supposed to exercise a great and decisive influence upon the councils of the Cabinet. Such is the state of this ridiculous controversy, Which was hatched up by the despair of one extreme political party, and greedily caught up by another. The same rum our w hi c h accuse d th e Prince cast the province of accuser upon Mr. Roebuck. " Roebuck was to get up in the Souse of Commons, and then we should see what we should see." We had just the same reason for believing that Mr. Roebuck had under taken the f unc ti ons o f accuser as we h a d f or be lieving in the guilt of Prince Albert. The real nature of the case, as far as Mr. Roebuck is concerned, may be seen in another portion of our columns this day, in the form of a most manly and sensible letter which he has just ad dressed to th a t one o f our con t emporar i es f rom Which he had received his brief. " Rumour," Ys Mr. Roeb uc k, " h as t a k en an unwarran t a ble liberty with my name." His is not the only name with which rumour has of late occupied itself, and lich in th e same way . W e h ave no d ou bt th a t a ew days will silence the most obstreperous and determined grumblers among all those who have stood forward t o b r i ng accusa ti ons w ith ou t p roo f a gainst an innocent man. Th e P r ince Consort is surely well aware by this time that he has nothing meows do with the duties of government. He well that any attempt to step out of his legiti mate province would be firmly repelled ; and he is far too wise a man to sacrifice his well-earned po- Pilarity for any such foolish schemes of political ,Power as his calum n i a to r s ha ve i m p u t e d t o him. As to what remains, when the mob of accusers W ho have been so busy with his name have re covered from their temporary vertigo, they will be eager to make him fulsome amends for their pre vious injustice. THE HORSE GUARDS. (Front the Morning Advertiser.) In any discussion of the subject of Coburg In fluences at Court which may take place in the Souse of Commons, it is to be hoped that the question of the Horse Guards will not be mixed uP with it. The state of affairs at the Horse Guards must form a separate subject of itself for the attention of the Legislature. Should any in quiry be ordered into that subject, and witnesses examined, the public curiosity, as well as that of the army, will be abundantly gratified by the reve lations which will be made. We are much mis taken if the Commander-in-Chief does not, in the supposed case, appear in a light which will be the reverse of dignified. Not only is his manner represented to be captious and crabbed ; but he goes through the business of his high office, as if labouring under some unaccountable con fusedness of mind. This, it is un n e cessary t o say, is exceedingly unpleasant for those who have business to transact with them. But, in addition to this, if report speaks truth, he has not only been in the habit of placing himself, but also Prince Albert, in a wrong position in the eyes of his subordinates ; for it is said that a common re mark of his is, when expressing a wish, or giving instructions, that the Prince wishes so and so to be done. An inquiry would settle the point, whether Or not it be true, that General Brown, the late A djutant-General, on being spoken to by Lord 11,ardinge in this strain, replied, on one occasion , with great emphasis, that he was aware he had sworn allegiance to her Majesty, but that he could not recognise the authority of the Prince in any /natter connected with his office at the Horse Guards. If the reports in question be correct, Lord Hardinge has not only acted in a way unbe coming his position as regards himself, but has made a very injudicious and uncalled-for use of the nam e of the Prince. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, Jan. 18.--Wind this day s.t Noon, S.W. ; light airs, and dull, cloudy weather. PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 17.—Wind, S.W. Sailed—H.M. steamer Volcano, Eastward. SOUTHAMPTON, Jan. 17.—Wind, S.W. Sailed—Mag dalena (s), for the West Indies. FALMOUTH, Jan. 17.—Wind, W.S.W. Arrived—Java, from Batavia , Thor, Bahia ; Sierra Nevada, Havannah ; J. J. Cobb, Baltimore, with loss of sails, leaky, and part of cargo thrown overboard. Off Port—•Colgrean, from Cochin. GLOUCESTER, Jan. 16.—Arrived—Prince of Wales, from Quebec. BRISTOL, Jan. 17.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Josephine, from New York ; Rialti, do. SHIELDS, Jan. 17.—Wind, S.W. Arrived —Cawton, from Girgenti ; British Tar, Dalhousie. SWANSEA, Jan. 17. -Wind, S. Arrived—Lady Pirie, from St. Jago de Cuba ; Pascoe, do. CLYDE, Jan. 15.—Arrived—Statira Morse, from New York ; Vortex, St. John's, N.B. ; Home, Montreal ; Shan don, Savannah ; Cordelia, New York ; Advice, St. John's, N.B. ; Lord Byron, Dalhousie ; Emily, Newfoundland ; Dart, do. ; Mohongo, Philadelphia ; British Princess, St. John's, N.B. NEWHAVEN, Jan. 17.—Arrived—Boadicea, from Callao. TROON, Jan. 17.—A rrived—Eliza, from Calcutta. ABERDEEN, Jan. 16.—Arrived—Margaret Milne, from Cape of Good Hope. HALIFAX, N.S., Dec. 29. —The Patriot, of and {or Port Medway, from Nevis (cargo —rum, logwood, coffee, and pimento), was fallen in with, Nov. 2, on the southern edge of the Gulf Stream, in a sinking condition, and the crew taken off by the General Washington, from Jamaica, since wrecked at Prospect. Dec. 31—The Margaret Price, from Sydney, C. 8., for Augusta, has been lost at Little Hope; crew saved ; cargo, coals. STRANGFORD, Jan. 14.—A full•length gipsy figure hea.,l, with gipsey hat, scarf round the crown of the hat, and belt round the waist, and a pack of cards in the breast, has been picked up at Newcastle, inside the South Rock Light. The John, of Belfast, from Maryport, which drifted on to the beach, 2d January, and canted over, has been righted ; and having one foot list in with high ground inside, it is hopod she will hold on. A head board, 10 or 12 feet long, black, with City of Worcester, in gilt letters, shaded in blue, has been picked up at Bully Quenton Point. MARANHAM, Dec. I.—The Auguste Marie (French brig), from Cayenne to Caere, to load cattle, has been totally lost on the shoals, called the Pregnicas ; master and one man drowned, the rest of the crew saved. SHARE MARKETS.-(THLS DAT). BRITISH RAILWAYS. Paid) St. 20 100 st 100 100 all all all RAILWAYS. 50 50 20 20 all all 1100 1100 Closing Prices yesterday. 20 - 21 !Aberdeen ........ Ambg. Nottng. Bost. di Eastn. June....... Belfast & Ballymena Birmng. Wolverh & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh di Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O di £25 Cons Do., £2O. Blyth & Tyne original £25 (iss. at £45).... 'Bristol & Exeter Caledonian. Chester & Holyhead .Cork and Bandon !Cork, Black. E Pass 'Cornwall Dublin&BelfastJuno 'Dundee Perth &Aber- 4i - 514 9 96 12 10 d 16 18 6 5 d (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, WedlleSl9.7, 10.30 A.M. 94 - 96 52 -53 14 - 16 14 - 15 8 - 9 dem Junction ....... Do. New . jEast Anglian (£25 L. I D dr E. &I. & D.) 0., (XlB E. & H.) 'Eastern Counties Eastern Union,A. stk. IDo., do. 8...... . Do.NewA(lateThirds) East Lancashire (Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edinb. Prth. &Dundee Forth and Clyde June. Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern Stk A. Stock Do., B. Stock Sth. &West.(lre.) Great Western (Irish South-Eastern. Lancaster &Carlisle Do., Thirds La.ncash. &Yorkshire Do., Fifths Do., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv. Crsby. &So utbpt London & Blackwall bond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond. Bright. & S. Cst. London & N. Western Do. Fifths Do. ,16/. 5h.,M&8... C Do. Eighths London 4e S. Western Do., £5O Do., .£40.. . ....... Lnndrry. iColeraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch. Shef. &Lineln. Do., Man. &Lin. Un. Midland 4i - 5 12 - 1 - 3i- 42 26 - 28 61 - 63 61 - 63 21 - 22', 83 - 84 58 - 60 127 - 129 100 - 102 81i - 82 92 - 95 1 124 - 4p 63 - 13 634 71 - Wind, S.W., fresh breeze, and fine. The United States steamer Pacific was off the Great Ormshead at 9.30 this morning, with dates from New York to the Rth. She will arrive about 12 o'clock. Arrived—Dauntless, from Buenos Ayres; Premier, Mazagan ; Argus, New Glasgow, making much water. HOLYHEAD, JAN. 17. The hull of the John O'Gaunt has disappeared. All the crew were saved, after remaining on the rocks till 2 p.m. QUEENSTOWN, JAN. 16. Wind, S.W., strong breeze. Arrived—Ellen, from Halifax ; Mercury and Queen, Mauritius ; Wandsworth, Moulmein . Superior, St. Michael's ; Ernesto, Marinopoli ; Helena Catterine, Ara cabo ; Iris, St. Michael's. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Wednesday, 10 a.m. Wind W.S.W., hazy ; tide, last hour's ebb. Arrived-17th—Jean Baptiste Marie, from Santander ; Furet, Gravelines ; Thetis, Calcutta ; Queen (s), Gir genti ; British Queen, Guernsey ; Leander, Caen; Dili gence, Rouen ; Rose, Guernsey. Sailed—Belgium (s), for Ostend. DEAL, Wednesday, 9.35 a.m. Wind, W.S.W., fine. Passed—Lamartine, from Trieste, for London. Anchored—Eliza and Charlotte, from Manzanilla, for Bremen, on account of ice in the Weser. Sailed—The Tigris and Joseph Howe, both for the river; the Electric Flash, for St. Michael's. 12i -13 i MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) 7i 8 par —gyp 97i —98 i 1014 102 1 d par par i p g a 75 77 13 12 di 10 9 di CORN EXCHANGE. Notwithstanding that the show of English wheat in to day's market was very moderate, the demand for all kinds was exceedingly inactive, and to have effected sales lower prices must have been submitted to. We were well supplied with foreign wheat, which moved off heavily, and the quotations had a downward tendency. In floating cargoes, very few transactions took place. Barley Was crull;andlower to purchase. In malt next to nothing was doing. There was a moderate sale for oats, at Monday's currency. In beans and peas very few transactions were reported. Flour was dull, and rather lower. 12i St. 50 40 21 - 22 61 -61 i 33 35 Do. Binning. & Derbyl Midland G. West. (Ir.) Do. 2 Shares Newcastle &Carlisle Newmarket.... ....... Do. Bury Extensions Newpt.Aberg.&Htfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint' & Rostrevor Norfolk.. Northn. Counties Un North British North Devon, No.l Do., No. 2. De., A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North London N. & S. Wstn., Hamp -1 stead, and City Jn North Staffordshire North Western N. do S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester 54 56 i d par 5 4 d 2i - 3 i 6 8 47 49 31 3i d 29A —30 i 8 10 - 24 6 - 52 ... 55 5 sicl 8 8A 1 d par Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Birmg Do., L. & N. Westn Guaranteed Stock Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves, do Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B,C, & D, fully paid up at per cent South Devon South Eastern ... South Wales S. Yorksh. RivsrDun 35 - 37 2.2 100 100 100 100 English .. Irish .... Foreign .. ARRIVALS THIS WEER. Wheat. I Barley. I Malt. f Oats. 410 ) 480 I 780 I B asiaess done this day. 53 21 12i 13 994 1011 i 61i i 48 7 x in St. 20 12i St. 12i 12i 25 12i 124 12i St. St. 30i 30 100 100 ,100 6 100 - I 190 17,080 320 WHITECHAPEL. Flour. 750 3,800 — 420 10,090 b The supplies being large, the general demand ruled heavy at this market to-day, at the following quotations : Beef from 2s 10d to 4s 2s ; mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 8d ; veal, 3s 6d to 4s 10d; pork, 3s 4d to 4s 10d per 81bs by the carcase. all 100 all 15 2.2 all 16i 100 8 100 91 - 93 56 - 57 55 - 60 55 60 2i 2dis 13 15 64 74 10 12 Do Staines,Wok.,&Wol,:. Stockton & Darling Stockton & Hartlepl Taff Vale Do. £lO shades all all 10i 100 100 15 8 10 100 100 100 100 all 100 BOROUGH HOP. About an average business is doing at our market, and prices are well supported. St. 10 St. 25 20 174 20 20 20 20 all 51s. 100 20 111, 100 Do. Pref., No. Thames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford&Limeriek. West 'West End of London and Crystal Palace West London 14 16 59 -- 60 32 33 3 -- 2 d 4 5 ii 7 _ io 2i 2il 14i - 15Ai 5 - 25 - 27 64 7A IWmbledon &Croydon York Ncwctl. &Berw. Do. Extensions....... Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland.. 6 - 7 63 64 9 4 3 / 4 4 d' 45 46 2i 2 d 1 3i 2id 12 - 14 lid 3 3ip id p - P 21 2tp 3 d 1 d id 2 ld 594 if 19 i 20i 'Co 20 id paa 91 - 10 . 6-64 lfi - li 11 - 1 a in ad 10 25 10 AM 30 20 1 40 1 10 1 1 x in a in x in 25 100 100 20 10 20 20 33 I ... pPi K in all 13.5 24i all 15 16 all all all all all 15 11i all all all all all 122. 7i - 8 321 = . 32 a in 8 -- 9 14# -- 14#1) 45 - 47 39 - 41 308 - 308 3 1 cil 18 19 1 x in zin a in gi - iii x in 3 1 d 5 6pl x in = x in 20 50 20 25 20 10 20 35 10 22i all all LINES LEASED AT FTXRD RENTALS. Leasing Closing Prices Business Shr. Paid RAILWAYS. Compans yesterday. this day. 50 all Bedford and Ln.&N.W. Bletchley St. 100 Buckghamsh L. &N.W. 101 103 50 all Clydesdale Jc Caledon ... 50 52 St. 100 E.Lincoln. gr 6p. cent ... . Gt.Northn 140 143 25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. Neils. Direct. ••• 25 all Do. New Do ••• 25 all Glstr.&Dn.Fr. Elt.lrestn 3O 32 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New Railway & Berw.. 50 all Hull & Selby Y.&N.Md. 109 111 no 25 all Do. i Shares Do . 12i all Do. 4 Shares. Do 27 28 121 all Len.&Greenw S. Eastern 134 —14 i 20 all Do. Preference Do 244 254 St. 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent... Norfolk St. 100 Do. 6 per ct... Do 54 all l(anch.Bxton. Lu.&N.W and Matlock & Midld 2j 3 50 all Mieldlesbro' & Stckton Redcar Darlingt. 100 all Midld.Bradfd Midland... 99 100 50 all Northern and Eastern sp.c. E. Count.. 60 62 5 all Do. 6 per ct Do • ••• 54 all Do.Fixedsp.e Do . . ••• D E • G r 0 0 0 . 8 0 :4 1 . 0 4 g. W 5 Shares.. p. Yre c D L .o &Ludt Yk 2 1 ) alll2. S 100 Roy s t n. & Hit. Gt.Northn 140 143 5 100 Do.Shepth.St. Do l4O 143 2 , Shef. Roth. & Lancash.& Yorksh — 12 9?, S. Staffordsh.. MrMClean 2 14c1 50 all WearValleygr Stockt. & 6 per cent ... Darlin g . . 25 all Do.. Do 11. _ . St. 'OO Wilts&Sonsrst Gt.Wes — t . n 95 97 96 5 ENTERING LANDSMEN FOR THE NAVY. Yesterday, by Command of the Lords of the Admiralty, placards were extensively circulated throughout the metropolis, Inviting landsmen to enter for the Royal Navy. The description of men to be entered is as follows :—They lust be between 19 and 24, active, stout, and able bodied ; five feet seven inches in height, and in all re -BPects h ealthy and fit for the naval service ; the pre ference bein g given to those young men who have been used to boats. In addition to the Royal Naval Rendez vous on Tower -hill, and the Crocodile receiving-ship off the Tower, men will be received and entered by their nlooking appli ca ti on on b oar d t h e fl ag-sh i ps at any of the al ports, or at the rendezvous at Liverpool and Bristol, and s t the agents for transport at Leith. The ships now manning are the Diamond, Boscawen, Juno, - erincess R oya l , F ro li c, D u k e of Wellington, St. Jean d' Acre, Medea, and Cyclops. A NEW CRIME.—The Parlament° of Turin states from Florence that a crime of a new kind was committed there last week in the public audience hall of the Cri- Zama). Tribunal, when the crucifix used by the judges to administer the oath to witnesses was discovered to have be en 4 _ stolen j us t a few minutes before th e j udges had ken their seats. The perpetrator of this audacious act has not yet been discovered. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 18, 1854, Agua Fria ... • Anglo Austria. Gold, Anglo Californian Australasian Australiar Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd.Dachy of) Blamarvon Iron and Coal British Austria. Gold British Iron Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm Do. Cocaes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons's Creek Cobra Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo . Copper Min. of Eng. Do. Pref. 7i p. cent. English and Austin. Copper Smeltg. Co General Gt.NuggetVoinSerp Do. Registered Great Polgooth Lake Bathurst , Liberty Linares Lo nd. &Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. Co Mariquita ........ Mexiean&S.Americn New Granada New Linares Mining and Smelting Co Nouveau Monde Pontgiband Silver Lead Min. & Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymney Iron Do. New Santiago de Cuba.... South Australi an Tin Croft .......... United Mexican Waller West Granada West Mariposa.... . Worthing Mining 01 Australia Yuba 2i - 3 iii 1 - 1 . 2 i 6i 7i 9 i 10 par i p 140 142 i ^ id JOINT-STOC 99 - 101 * - i P 9i 10 15.1 161 9 —10 i 12 14 d — p 23 24 17 19 d 94 97 31 4i dis - P d... par d - Ap 13 4 d 2 3 -- d -- 9 - 11 Australasia British Colonial Bank and Loan Company British N. American Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Austral., and China Chrtd. fink, of Asia. Colonial Commercial of Lond English Scottish and Australian Chrtd.., London Chrtd, Bnk . of Australia London and C ounty London Joint Stock Lond.andWestminst National Provincial of England i d i 8 10 54 64 2 3 29 31 d 45 47 I 2 13 # 4 65 75 4 6p 2 -- 2idl 14 1 -- 16 d. par 2 i ta lo ... ii I - - id ... •.. Par ip id par # p 31 33 9 10 id 5 7 3 3 - - a A - ... Do. New ............... National of Ireland.. New South Wales Oriental Bank c o: „ . p0rati0n............ P ro vincial of Irela n d Do. New ... R o yal Australn. Bk g . and Gold Imp. South Australia,,,,,, U n ion of Australia.,, Do. New Union of London Union of Madrid i i di MISCEL 1001 100 FREE TRADE FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY. Last evening a very fully attended public meeting was held at the Prince of Wales Tavern, Brixton, to receive an explanation from a deputation of the directors of this successful society. On the motion of Mr. JONES, seconded by Mr. UNwIN, the chair was taken by !K BANKS. Aubin 'Joel and Iron Australian Agricult. Australsn.Pcific Mail Australn. Royal Mail Berlin Water Works Brit. American Land Brit. & Coln. Smelt;. and Reduction Co Canada Company Crystal Palace Do. New Crystal Pal, of France Eastern Steam.... Electric Telegraph (A) Do. (B) Electric Tel. of Irel Gen. Steam Navigat• General Screw Steam Irish Beetroot Sugar Magdalena St. Navig. Nat. Pt. Steam Fuel Netherlands Land N. S. W. Coal & Inter` Stem. Nay. Co N. B. Australasian Do. New Nrth.of Europe Steam Peel Rr. Ld. 6t Minrl. Peninsular & Oriental 78 - 80 B. EvaNs, Esq., who, in rising to address the meeting, said he accepted the office of chairman with pleasure, as he felt very great interest in promoting the freehold land movement. He wished success to all, but to this one in particular, because its affairs had been prudently ma naged. The directors were men of the greatest integrity, their secretary, he knew, was a gentleman who had great experience in freehold land societies, and such was the high estimation in which he was held in Herefordshire, that he had received from the gentlemen of that county two handsome testimonials, not alone for his assiduity in furthering the freehold land movement, but for his exer tions in improving the morals and education in that locality. The benefits to be derived from entering a freehold land society were far greater than any found in investing hard-earned money in a savings' ba❑k, where the directors had been known to decamp with the funds, and the unfortunate depositors left without a remedy. The interest received where the security was undoubted was about 2/. 10s. per cent., while in free hold land societies that sum was nearly doubled, and with a far better security, and this f .ct alone was one which deserved the greatest consideration on the part of every man who had the foresight to provide for a rainy day. One of the benefits conferred by the society to those resident in this locality was, that it placed it within the reach of all to obtain a freehold near the metropolis. The Vassall-road, and Camberwell New road, were now considered to be in the suburbs of Lon don, but the great progress which building was now making, would soon incorporate these places as parts of the metropolis, and this society was so fortunate as to have secured an estate a few feet from the house in which they were assembled. He believed he was cor rect in stating within three miles of the Standard, in Cornhill. The surveyors were present to afford every explanation that might be required, and should any gentleman feel disposed through him (the Chair man), to put any questions to those gentlemen, he had not the slightest doubt but that they would re ceive a satisfactory answer. He had great pleasure in calling upon the secretary, Mr. Smith, to address a few observations to the meeting. (Cheers.) Mr. SMITH then proceeded to explain the nature and objects of the Free Trade Freehold Land Society. All or most of them remembered the first establishment of freehold land societies ; they had now increased to a very great extent—indeed they sprang up like mushrooms, and like mushrooms they would perish, unless they had that security which the public knew how to estimate—a really good and bona fide board of directors. Freehold land societies were originally started for a political object, but that object was fast falling into the shade. The society with which he had the honour to be connected had no such object— it was open to anybody and every body, to Whigs, Tories, Radicals, &c. &c. No man joining was asked to what party he belonged; whatever his political opinion might be, that opinion, he main tained, was entitled to respect. (Cheers.) The great object this society had in view was to see how far they could turn his saving to the best advantage, not only to provide him with land, but to enable him to get a freehold house, a freehold home—(cheers) not lease hold, but that which would be his heir's for as long as the world would last. (Cheers.) When a working man possessed a freehold, he would find even the peer, at the time of an election, glad and anxious to shake him by the hand. (Laughter.) This society had purchased two estates ; they might have purchased twenty, but when land was so greatly increasing in value, the directors deemed it prudent to hold their hands, until they could do so with advantage to the shareholders. The security that land societies offered was far to be preferred to savings banks, where the de positors got a mere trifle, and the security was not so great as had been imagined ; land, as Mr. Cobden said, was the safest investment in the world, because it could not run away. (Laughter.) The Free Trade Land Society was not established for the mere purpose of put ting money into the pockets of the directors ; they had a higher and a nobler object in view, and although they had been established so short a time, he was sure he could not be contradicted in stating that no society had ' done so much in the same period of time. He would not present,ato o n r m e y s u grr. gentleman n t tt h li inde ed, esah e mießa i m ns t 7 h e f ete e rh o e y e f le would t w h eell surveyor,nmeeting disposed e b n e l o e t t i t u t t oo g t h h a gs e n i pun n k ee as h r e tko i u i mos l f e o no , g frot i ah s r n i oi eulogising those twnnhtdhee them selv es. ors ehdwdior should - length into the plans of their estates. The Camberwell estate of 101 acres would be divided into 345 plots, the maximum depth was 105 feet, the minimum 56 feet, with a frontage of 16 feet, some more but none less. Land in the immediate neighbourhood was fetching ss. to Bs. per foot, and when the drains are laid down and the roads made, they would be allotted at 4s. per foot, or 60 per cent. profit. The Anerley estate consisted of 78 plots, each plot containing nearly a quarter of an acre. The maximum depth was 280 feet, the minimum 138 feet, the average would therefore be 199 feet. The fron tages on this estate varied from 65 feet to 52 feet 6 inches, the average therefore would be 58 feet. This estate was situated about a mile and a half from the Crystal Palace, in the vicinity of which land was now fetching 1,0001. per acre, or one guinea a foot, and this attractive estate would be alldtted at W. per foot. Within the last few days, 50/. premium had been offered and refused for an allotment on the estate, so any person joining the society as a commercial speculation would have no reason to be disappointed with his investment. Mr. J. JONES, in moving the first resolution, said he thought that if he attempted to address the meeting, after what they had heard from the chairman, the secre tary, and the surveyor, he would not be tolerated for a moment ; the preceding speakers having completely exhausted the subject. He would, therefore, merely move the resolution, which was to the effect that the success that had attended the progress and principles of the Free Trade Freehold Land Society was based on secu rity, and also alluded to the estates they possessed. Mr. DICKINSON briefly seconded the resolution, which having been put to the meeting, was carried unani mously. _ _ ••• ••• idie 1i idis 2 lid i - iPI 42 - 44 _ _ Do. do. Portland Iron C 0..... Royal Mail Steam.... Scot. Austral. Invest. South Austral. Land Submarine Telegraph Van Diemen's Laud 4 4 - 46 78t 9 i d- par 7 7i - 8 = i 6 - 43 - 45 ii = ii 19} 20 75 1 -lA p 1 1 - 13 p 16 u - 18 - 13 2 -- la par e The second resolution, that the society was worthy of support, was moved by Mr. UNWIN, and seconded by Mr s PMOR, and carried in a similar manner. Mr. JONES said, to show the value the exe cutive committee attached to the purchases made, they had immediately doubled the number of their shares, and in six weeks after the purchase had beer► completed, the number of paid up shares had increased to a very large extent. The SECRETARY then announced that the ballot was fixed to take place at the Whittington Club, on the 30th, and all shares taken prior to that time, would participate in it. Thanks having been voted to the chairman, and a number of shares taken up, the proceedings terminated. THE SUSPECTED MURDER IN HOLBORN.—Yesterday an inquest, adjourned from that day week, was resumed and concluded before Mr. Brent, deputy coroner, at the Wil liam the Fourth, Brook's-market, Holborn, on view of the body of Mary Anne Allan, aged 63, a spinster, who was living in apparently destitute circumstances, in a back room of the second floor, No. 4, Beauchamp-street, and who was discovdred on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 8, laying on the floor, with two severe wounds on her nose and forehead, which led to her death, and which are alleged to have been inflicted with some blunt instru ment. The evidence adduced yesterday, In addition to that which appeared this day week in The Sun, threw little light on the object of inquiry, and the jury returned a verdict, "That the deceased was found dead, with cer tain wounds and injuries upon her nose and head, and that her death was caused by them, and an effusion of blood, but by what means the said injuries and wounds were caused there was not sufficient evidence to show." THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT HUNSLET. —The ad journed inquest on the body of Mr. Thos. Longbottom, who was found drowned in the River Aire, at Hunslet, in the West Riding, on the morning of Sunday, the Bth inst., under such mysterious circumstances, took place on Monday night last. The following outline of this tragic affair embraces many facts omitted from our previous notice :—Some time ago Mr. Joseph Long bottom, father of the deceased, purchased some land of Mr. F. Armitage, of Harlington, Barmbrough, near Doncaster, farmer, and commenced sinking a coal pit there, being joined in the undertaking by his sons Thomas (the deceased), William, James, and Edward. One of the consequences of this was the formation of an intimacy between two of the sons, Thomas and William, and Miss Armitage, and a cousin of hers. The interference of water in immense quantities led to the abandonment of the coal-pit scheme, and the family removed to Himslet, where some collieries were taken and worked by them. They resided in Jocelyn-terrace. The front door of the house was ap proached by a stone platform, below which was a garden, the platform being protected by iron palisades. On Christmas-day Thomas and William terminated their courtships of the two females, namely, by marriage at St. George's Chapel, Doncaster. We have already de tailed the circumstances connected with the finding of the son Thomas, drowned on Sunday morning, and his wife on the platform fronting the house in a state of in sensibility, both having come out of their chamber window, and being injured by the spikes protecting the platform from the garden. The wife was not so far recovered as to be able to give evidence on Monday night, and the facts connected with the finding of the body having been deposed to, the inquiry was adjourned for a fortnight. FlRES.—Yesterday morning, a little before six o'clock, a fire, attended with great loss of property, broke out at the residence of Hado w Patrick Douglas, Esq., No. 49, York-terrace, Regent's park. The inmates were aroused by a strong smell of fire, and on proceeding dowtt stairs found the ground-floor stairs on fire, and with some dif ficulty managed to make a retreat. The London Fire Brigade engines from Watling-street, King-street, and Well-street were quickly on the spot, but, owing to a very scanty supply of water from the West Middlesex mains, the fire spread rapidly. It was not subdue d until it had destroyed the ground floor, and until t he front rooms on the second and third floors were burned out, and the rest of the building severely damaged. The fire originated from the flue of the hot plate. Another fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Richard Wiseman, No. 1, Wilstead-street, Somers-town. The fire was not ex tinguished until the front shop and upper part were destroyed ; cause unknown ; contents insured in the Sun. Another fire broke out at M r. J. Peat's, Blue Anchor Tavern, which did considerable damage ; cause unknown. One also happened at Mr. Taylor's, 118, Church-street, Bethnal-green, caused by an explosion of gas ; and, lastly, one broke out at No. 2, Corbett -court, Gracechureh-street, in the occupation of Mr. Davis, boot maker, caused by an explosion of gas in the flat floor, 151 i 61 i id I P - 1$ - IRp 37 - 39 hd ---- ip 14 - 15 Loss OF THE JOHN O'GAIINT.—LIFEEFoory Tuesday. —Accounts were received here this morning of the total loss of the well-known ship John o'Gaunt, on the rocks near Rhoscloyn, about five miles S.S.E. of Holyhead, at an early hour this morning, together with several of her crew. The John o'Gaunt sailed from Canton, under the command of Captain M'Donald, on the sth of August last. Before reaching St. Helena Captain 'Donald died, and the command of the ship devolved on the mate (Affieck). All went on well until the ship made Holy head this morning, when she unexpectedly struck, as above stated. The latest accounts from Holyhead state that seven men and Captain M'Donald's widow had been saved, and also that there were 14 men still alive on the rocks. The number drowned is not stated. The John o'Gaunt was the property of Messrs. Gladstone, of silk this port, and had a large and valuable carg o o f t ea an d . THE ARMY. CHATHAM, JAN. 17. Robert Fimley, private of the Royal Marines, was tried on M:aiday by a district court-martial (Major H. Brewster, 76:11 Regiment, president), for disabling him self from being a soldier by cutting off the fore finger of his right hand, on the 4th of December last, during the time he was under medical treatment in Melville Hos pital. The wardman Goodchild produced the finger, which was enclosed in a bottle, and which had been taken off below the second joint. It appeared during the temporary absence of Goodchild from his room, the prisoner entered and took up the hatchet which Good child kept for cutting wood, and laying his finger on a table chopped it twice before he succeeded in taking his finger off, as the cuts in the finger denote. The pri soner had been only six months in the service ; his cha racter during that time has been very bad. Private Ed ward Poole, alias John Smith, of the Royal Marines, was next tried for deserting on the 21st July, IS4O. During his absence he had enlisted into two re giments, and he had been tried, and was marked with the letter D on hi- , arm. He enlisted in 1848 in the Royal Marines, and his character is had. Reuben Giles, 51st Light Infantry, was tried for de serting from the depot at Chatham on the 14th July, 1853, taking part of his regimental necessaries with him. It appeared that on the 30th of August last he enlisted in London in the 10th Hussars in the name of Smith. After four months, the prisoner gave himself up as a deserter from the 51st Regiment. Colour-serjeant Murray gave the prisoner a good character. He has been seven months in the service. The ser.jeant from the 10th Hussars also spoke highly of the prisoner's conduct during his stay with them. The issue of the above trials will not be known until the proceedings are confirmed by the Lords of the Ad miralty and the Horse Guards. Captain Campbell's company of the Royal Artillery embarked this day for Sheerness, to do garrison duty there. The following officers also embarked :—Lieut. Woodthorp and Lieut. Hutchinson, Captain Campbell in command, Lieut. Singleton being away on leave of absence. The above is succeeded by the arrival of Captain Henry's company, 11th battalion, from Wool wich, and taking up their quarters in Brompton Bar racks. o were kers at ck Sea issians i terri m Vae ?ect of in the ,opgal- oming )int of hard, f their .e than result y good :os. A :en de itier of ty." Le per ace on occa o was heatre Binary ) Inte ritable ade on at the ember .ces for tion to nfirm, An edit of 'or the ris for ;eneral to the which in the credits in the mence- Lrm to )sed at ,y, the main f. 706., f., and month. t 100 f. , 997 f. ; Paris 870 f. ; tern of ; Great Shares as been by the , ulation ersi ties I Nice, in mat o. For om are thich is ;embly, ear, or all cou nties of .orship, Rabbi, is re ;sembly whose 3 of the all the )ending incil of for the p. The ►y royal he exe- lounces dvocate ms, bat i r y into , in the ace is in brigan b night, d. At 50c. per ;o, corn )rn at S horitie o of corn iibition 2 years its shall xecuted his bed the Was ughter, ad sus- The re to the The a to oc of her 1 Spain •opertp• were to in two he Nest e First sting of lal 811 1 I to so .s COM' ng cer o been ) deter .osecut- abuses I. The power, ,horiti• ive the at if it differ- Jesuits factory been 3 Era' a can' anube , aa , a offt on it ;ent to I COLONIAL MARKETS. (Front the London New Price Current of yesterday.) SUGAR.—To-day a b ( - rood demand was experienced for West India sugar, and the rates obtained were fully equal to those of Friday, for both grocery and refinery qualities, operations are 625 hhds, &c., including the public sales, which went at firm prices, 270 hhds Barbadoes, fine yellow at 395, mid to good 35s to 37s 6d, low 33s Gd to 34s 6d, 16 hhds Jamaica ord yellow 34s 6d ; 254 hhds, and 50 bars Demerara, brown at 32s Gd to 345, good yellow 36s 6d to 37s 6d ; crystallised, fine 39s to 41s, audord to good 35s to 38s 6d per cwt. COFFEE.—Prices are on the decline for Native, and 49s has been accepted, good ord Costa Rica, went at 55s to 59s 6d for fine ord to mid, being full prices ; Mocha sold easier—common greenish clean at 59s to 59s 6d. TEA.—In congou purchases have been on a small scale ; supply is larger, and prices declined ld per lb. for inferior. In green the trade has operated with reluctance. To-day the tea market presented a dull aspect, and is Id to is lid in the value of low to good ord congou. SPutrrs.—To-day, proof Leewards is selling at 3s 2id to 3s 3d, Demerara according to strength 4s 6d to 4s 9d, and Jamaica 5s to Os. Brandy brisk, Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1851 at Os 7d to 9s 9d per gallon. TALLOW.—Transactions in Russia for all purposes have much decreased since this day last week, and prices are de pressed; sales on the spot having been—P.Y. candle of first quality at 60s 9d. to 61s, and for delivery at 618 to 62s per cwt, at which transactions have been limited. Town tal low is held for 60s 6d. to 61s cash, but has been dealt in with caution. OILS.—Pale Seal at 40/ to 41. Straw 36110 s to 391, and other sorts 341 lOs to 361. Cod 361 lOs to 371. The scar city of Southern continues, and prices to advance, ruling at 421 to 461 for low to fine. In Linseed prices have fallen to 33s to 33s 3d on the spot, and 34s to 34s 6d for delivery. Cocoa Nut is cheaper. In Olive, purchases are increasing, and market firmer, Gallipoli realised 621 to 631, and other sorts 571 to 661 per tun. THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday, Jan. 17. — The Royal mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain Abbott, sailed this afternoon with the usual West India, Pacific, and Central American mails, in charge of Lieutenant Barrow, R.N., Admiralty agent. She took out 85 pas sengers, among whom are Captains Ellis and Anderson, Lieutenants Mahon, Murphy, Ryan, Patterson, and Rumley ; Ensign Richardson, Captain Taylor, General Barrios, Dr. Burke, &c., and a full cargo of English, French, and German merchandise, with specie valued at 3,0001. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Sultan, Capt. John Weeks, took her depar ture from the docks to-day for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, with a fair number of passengers, and specie valued at 1,0001. The Himalaya, Captain Kelloch, will leave on Friday for Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria ; the Iberia on the 27th, for the Peninsular ports ; and the Rajah on the 27th, for Gibraltar, Malta, and Constantinople. THE MEDITERRANEAN—SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 17. — The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Co lombo, Captain G. Brooks, arrived this day at twelve o'clock, and landed mails from the following places, in charge of Lieut. Purves, R.N., Admiralty agent. Dur ing the homeward voyag e of the Colombo she expe rienced fine weather and light head winds from Alexan dria to Malta ; from Malta to Gibraltar very heavy westerly gales, with rain and hail storms ; Gibraltar to the Needles, fine weather. Her dates of sailing were:— Alexandria, Jan. 4 ; Malta, 7 ; Gibraltar, 12. The freight of the Colombo consists of 1 package of specie, 1,308 bales of silk, 10 packages of elephants' teeth, 11 boxes of gum, 67 boxes of oranges, 2 cases of tortoise shell, 10 casks of Mother-of pearl, 108 bales of flax, 2 lions (alive), 25 bales of wool, and 236 packages of sundries. Her Majesty's ships.—At Gibraltar : The Cruizer, Jan. 12. Malta : The Ceylon, Spitfire, Ardent, o n m F o o n n aay: ahali Triton, an d F rench steam-frigate Albatross. ASYLUM FO N RD E - W HILL. FATHERL ESS -yearly r I of general CHILDREN, S T courtAM the governors of this asylum, instituted for the recep tion and education of orphans through the whole period of infancy and childhood, without distinction of sex, place, or religious connection, was held at the London Tavern. In the absence of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, who was to have presided, the chair w as taken by Mr. G. Alexander. The Chairman having apologised for the absence of his lordship,pro ceeded to observe upon the melanchol • ' y interest which the presence of so many widows, seeking the assist ance of the institution in the nurture and education of their children, was likely to excite in those who had a tear of sympathy for the distresses of others, and who wished to fulfil the mandate of Scripture, " Help the fatherless and the widow." The Secretary next read the report, which stated that it had been found neces sary to repeal one of the bye-laws, which prohibited the carrying • rd of the votes record ed for any candi forwl d poll, and to substitute for it one date beyond the third benefit of s i x which would give each candidate the elections, allowing his or h e r name to remain on the poll ing lists for three years. It is also of pre sent accommodation was not sufficient in point room, as the committee had to use two separa te houses for the objects of the charity ; they had, h o wever, purchased a favourable site for a new building near C r oydon , Surrey, and would commence operations so s oon as the building fund should amount to 5,0001. There were at present 12 vacancies in the number of inmates, which it was in tended to fill up from a list of 85 candidates. The __ re port was unanimously adopted, after which the poll w a s opened, and continued so for four hours. A scrutiny then took place, when the chairman announced the names of those on whom the election had fallen. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. 20 20 50 20 FOREIGN. Antwrp & Rotterdam Belgian East. Junct. Beziers to Graissessac Cen:xal of Italy Charleroi & Erquelin Demerara Dijon and Besa9on Dutch Rhenish East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Gd. Trunk, of Canada Shrs. and Bonds Gt. Central of France Gt. Westn. of Canada Shares Do. bonds(l i55.)1857 Do. bonds (2 i55.)1862 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent Lake Const. & Basle Lucca and Pistoja, 5 per cent. pref. Luexembourg Do. (Railway) Do Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. cent. prof. Lyons & Mediterran, Madras Maria Antonia Do. New Melbourne Dk. & Ry Namur & Liege (with interest Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds [fmy.B. SpAms.Shs.] NorwegianPrnk. Pref Paris and Lyons Do. bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg Paris Caen& Cherbrg Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Mouse 'Do. 5i per cent. pref S.E. of France Southern of France St. Andrews & Quebec Upper India Scrip ~ West Flanders Do. 5z per c. Pref Western of France West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealana, ....... „. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 17. Admiral-Superintendent Martin gave notice that to day some experiments would commence with the light on Southsea Castle, during the continuance of which, and until further official notice, Southsea Light is not to be considered as any guide to mariners. The Lively and Drake, naval lighters, and the buoy boat, went out this morning and anchored in various directions, at Spithead, for the purpose of taking observations of these experimental lights. A movement is again afloat among the artisans of this dockyard for obtaining an increase of wages. The high price of provisions and coals reduces the artisan in the Government employ here to a starving point, and this day an officer of the dockyard told the master shipwright of the establishment he knew of the family of a man who could not get bread to the extent required by the wages he was receiving. The Simoom - , 18, iron troop-frigate, Captain Smith, was placed in No. 7 dock to-day. Her requisite repairs are but trifling, and she will soon be out of the hands of the engineers, &c., and ready for the conveyance of troops or any other service. The new 80-gun ship Colossus, will be brought down the harbour to-morrow, and placed in No. 3 dock, when vacant, to be adapted for the screw propeller. This will be done with the utmost expedition, and the most inconsiderable expense, by an alteration of the stern only. The Geyser, 6, paddle-sloop, will be removed out of dock to make room for the Colossus. The Apollo troop-ship and transport, Master Com mander Johnson, is nearly filled up to the deck beams with provision for the Black Sea fleets. The officers and men of the Clarence-yard are working most indefatiga bly to get the vessel away; and she will leave for Con stantinople on Friday or Saturday. Those wishing to send small parcels to friends in the fleets of Admiials Dundas and Lyons should lose no time in forwarding them to the Port Admiral's office here, specially en dorsed " For conveyance per her Majesty's ship Apollo," before Friday, or on Friday morning early at latest, to insure transit. A notice has been given to the inspectors and draughts men of this dockyard that an examination of candidates for the situation of foreman of shipwrights will take place on the Ist proximo, a vacancy having been open now nearly 12 months. WOOLWICH, JAN. 17. APPOINTMENTS. Captain.—Sir Thomas Maitland, C.B. (1837), of the Victory, 101, flagship at Portsmouth, and formerly of the Agamemnon, 91, screw steam-ship, to command the Excellent gunnery ship at Portsmouth, vice Captain Henry D. Chads, promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral. Lieutenant.—Richard Carter (1853) to the Euryalus, 50, screw steam frigate at Chatham. Surgeon.—John Davidson, to the Britannia, 120, flagship of the British fleet in the Black Sea. Clerks' Assistants.—W. H. S. Batt, to the Arrogant, 47, screw steam frigate ; Alexander V. Maceall, to the Pique, 40, at Devonport ; G. M. Pedler, to the Water loo, 120, flagship at Sheerness ; Joseph H. Manley, to the Euryalus, 50, to the screw steam frigate, at Chat ham. Naval Cadet. —l\l'D. D. Yonge, to the Impregnable, flagship at Devonport. PROMOTIONS. Second Masters.—Robert Smith (1846), serving in the Cyclops steam frigate, at Sheerness, and Matthew Richards (1849), recently serving in the Spy, 3, brigan tine, on the West Coast of Africa station, to the rank of masters. The Volcano, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Commander Robert Coote, has arrived at Portsmouth from the coast of Africa, and is ordered round to Woolwich to be paid off at this port, having been in commission since Decem ber, 1850. The Vulcan, iron screw steam troop-ship, Commander Edward P. B. Von Donop, having landed all the re mainder of the soldiers, women, and children, she brought home from the West Indies, commenced delivering over the old stores she also brought home to-day, and expects to leave Woolwich in a few days for Portsmouth to be employed again in the conveyance of troops. The African steam-vessel left Woolwich yesterday for Sheerness, on her return from towing the Melampus, 42, frigate, to this port. The Prometheus steam-sloop, in the outer basin, has been painted, and has her guns mounted, and is, in every respect, ready for sea ; but it is now said that she is to be taken to Sheerness, and will be stationed there as an advanced war-steamer at that port. Ths Janus steam-sloop had her steam up in the inner basin' to-day, to try her engines, preparatory to her being taken to Sheerness to be used as a gunnery ship for the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers. The Lords of the Admiralty have allowed the officers entering seamen for the Royal Navy a discretionary power to enter young men of 5 feet 61 inches in height, if, in every other respect, eligible ; and eight were entered on the books of the Fisgard flag-ship at this port, yesterday, and six or seven to-day, a proof that there will not be so much difficulty in manning the navy as has been anticipated by many. The greatest difficulty hitherto experienced is owing, in a great measure, to the strictress with which the rules laid down for the officers . entering men have been adhered to, and the registered young men entering the line service or returning to such employment as they can obtain for their subsistence. The Phoenix steam-sloop, was lashed alongside the coal hulk yesterday, in the stream, and worked her engines slowly for an hour, previous to being taken in hand by the engineer department. The damage re ceived by this vessel during her late voyage to Beechy Island and home from the Arctic Regions, although considerable, does not extend to the engines ; they worked satisfactorily during the trial of them to-day. VOLUNTEERING SEAMEN. The threatening aspect of affairs renders it necessary that the utmost activity and discretion should be used at the present time with respect to the entry of seamen for the navy. We have the Royal George, Princess Royal, Cressy, Euryalus, Pique, Dauntless, and Race horse now fitting for service at the different home ports, requiring an aggregate of some 2,500 blue jackets, out of which number scarcely one-fifth are yet on the books of those ships. Where 2,000 seamen are to be picked up is a question few can answer. That there are ten times that number of men fit for the sea service to be found in the United Kingdom no one will doubt ; but are we Seeking them in the right places ? The old system of sending a lieutenant from each ship to Portsmouth, Plymouth, or the Thames, must fall under existing cir cumstances, since there are not seamen enough in those places (unemployed) to man a launch, much more to fill up the compliments of the ships in want of them. It occurs to us that the lieutenants should be commissioned to visit all the small seaports from Poole to Padstow, instead of standing like mutes outside the dockyard gates waiting for seamen to come to them. In addition to what they can do, we think every coast guard officer stationed at or near the fishing towns and villages should be deputed to volunteer men and boys for the navy. Handbills and posting bills should be sent to them for circulation throughout the whole length of coast, and the expenses defrayed by Government. The Vulture steam-frigate, Captain Glasse, has been doing much for the cause at Greenock and other places in the west. The Nautilus, apprentice brig, and Lady Flora, revenue cruiser, have al ready entered some s t o ut boys. The unfortunate mishap to the Medea renders our east coast unfurnished with a proper ship for this purpose ; but, no doubt ' place her will soon he sup plied by the Magicienne or some other suitable ship. The levy of 2,000 men and boys, already noticed, added to th e 8 , 00 0, proposed as an increase to na vy, being nay ; being in all 10 , 000 , i s a lar e num b er to b e raisedandd disciplined time to cateh g the ships of the Great Bear when the breaking up of the ice frees them from their winter quarters. The complements of the stationary guardships should be increased without delay by volunteers for general service, who should be trained as soon as possible, and kept in readiness to supply deficiencies in the seagoing ships. I we really are in earnest, and have any intention of manning our ships efficiently, we must have recourse to all the means within our reach. We must immediately set about forming a ready and effectual reserve for the hour of need ; otherwise we may have a Russian fleet scouring our coasts, and only a handful of half-manned ships prepared to meet them.—United ?Service Qazette. PREFERENCE SHARES. Aberdeen Do., No. 2, 7 p. c 131yth & Tyne 10 per ct. pref. (iss. at£so) Bristol & Exeter 4 pr cent., stock Do. Do., shares . 1 ••• --. ••• bi - iiii 6 -- 6 4 -- 41 5 - 5i i -- i P 1 -- lip 1 -- lip 13i -- 141 2 - 2i iiii - lió 109 - 111 i- i P 8 - 8i 101 -- 103 95 —lOO 98 100 I id -- par 1 138 -- 140 Ledonian £lO., Chester & Holyhead Gnar. 5i per cent... Cork&Bandou 52 P.C. Dundee PerthdzAber deen Junction....... EastAnglian (£3los) 6 per cent Do. (25) 7 per cent Do. (£7l7s) 7 p. ct Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do., No. ..... Do., New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent Do. £lO Deben, Sh EastLaneash. 6 p. cts East & West Yorksh Junction Fifths Edinb. Prth.&Dundee 4 per cent. Glasgow & S. Western guar. 5 per cent.... Great Northr 5 p.c. Do. 5 p. c., Redeem., at 10 p. c. prom Do. 4. 1 percent. Scrip Gt.N. of Scot. ,lst Prof Gt. Southn. &Westn. (Ireland) Eighths... Do. 4 per ct. pref. St. Gt. Westu. (Berks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c.).. Do. con. & red. 42 p.c Do. do. 4 per cent.,. Do. irredeem. 4 p. c. Lan. & York. F. £2O, Do., 6 p. c., Stock... Leeds Nn. 6p. c. No. 1 Do. Quarters, 1848._ London andlßrighton Guaranteed 5 p. 0... Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, sp. c., 1852 Do. New Guar. 6 p.c Lond. & N. W., Coy & Nun., 5 per cent London di S. Western, Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler Shares . ..... ...I Loady. & Ennis. Sh Manch.,Shef.,&Lin., _ . i Shares, No. 1...... Do. New, £10......... Do., £6.— ..... ...... Marypt.&Carl. 4 p. C. Do. 42 per cent.— ... Do ...... Mid. Consol. 6 p.c. St Do. Consol. Bristol d; Birm. 6 per cent I Do. Pref. 4i per cent Norfolk Debent. Sh Norfolk Extension Do. Pref. 5i per ct Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British North Staffordshire Oxford Worcester d; Wolyerh. £15,6p. c. Do Scot. Cen., New Pref Shrews& Birm. N. G Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min),B p. c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Reading Ann.,) of £1 Os.6d. S. Yorksh. 4p. c. Guar. Waterfd. &Kilk. Bp. c. York Newcastle and Berwick, 4 p. e. Pref. 'Do York& N. Midland H & S. Purch MINES. OUR NAVAL COMMANDERS. We have recently had occasion to show that the naval arsenals and dockyards of this country are prepared to send forth, at a very short notice, a fleet of extraordinary magnitude and power, con sisting not only of the ancient wooden bulwarks of England, but possessing the advantages which the application of steam has given to naval tactics and navigation. It has also been announced that the Admiralty contemplate a large and immediate addition to the seamen and marines serving in the navy ; and we presume that, in addition to the vote which will be taken o n the meeting of Parlia ment, the Government are Prepared to adopt the necessary means for the encouragement of volun tary enlistment. In France measures of equal vigour are taken for the augmentation of the navy. Orders have been sent down to some of the 'ports to call out all the seamen between 24 and 40 years of age for the imperial service. The large reserve of seamen employed in time of peace in the Newfoundland fisheries will be ordered for naval duty, and the greatest activity prevails in the dockyards, where several screw line-of-battle ships and large frigates will be launched in the course of the present year. Everything denotes active preparations for naval warfare, and, as we are satisfied that our ships arc in good order, and we trust that crews will be found to man them, the next consideration is, who is to command them ? We turn to the 11 avy List for an answer to this question, and, without the slightest disre spect to the veterans who fought the battles of their country in the beginning of the present cen tury, we must be permitted to remark that the same services cannot be expected of them now. To begin with that fine old specimen of a British sailor, Sir Byam Martin, the Admiral of the Fleet —whose sons are admirals and gr andsons post captains —we find that he received his first com mission as post- ca pt a i n i n th e y ear 1793, and that his standing in the navy considerably exceeds 60 years. We have 21 admirals now on the active list, the oldest of whom hoisted his flag in Ibl4, and was posted in 1795, whilst the youngest officer of this rank was posted in 1804, just half a century ago. The vice-admirals amount in num ber to 26, all of whom were posted between 1805 and 1810, so that the youngest on the list must have been at sea fifty years ago. The rear admirals number 17 to each division of the fleet, or 51 in all. Their senior is Sir Phipps Hornby, whose captain's commission dates from the 16th of February, 1810; and their junior, Admiral Montagu Stopford, who got his flag only last month, is a captain o f th e Bth o f Ap r il, 1825. We must infer from these facts, without entering into private or personal considerations, that there cannot be a flag officer in the navy on the active list much under 60 years of age ; and it was ascer tained, when the matter was brought before the Naval and Military Commission some years ago, that the average age of these gallant veterans was considerably above 70. The reason of this state of things is obvious. These officers are the hardy survivors of the greatest maritime war ever carried on by this country. In their youth an immense number of ships were in commission, promotion was rapid, most of them were posted at an early age, and rendered services which fully entitled them to enjoy for life the honours and emoluments of their profession. Hundreds of their contempora ries have already dropped off in the course of nature, but these veterans are still sufficiently numerous to fill the entire list of senior officers established by the present regulations of the navy, and it is not till we descend to the two lowest classes of rear-admirals, of the white and of the blue, that we fall upon men who can be said to be in full possession of the strength and vigour of manhood. The other day, when the Admiralty very properly appointed Sir Edmund Lyons to he second in command of the fleet in the Levant, he was considered what is termed a young admiral— and, in fact, it was only four years ago that he got his flag. But Sir Edmund Lyons dates his cap tain's commission from the 7th of June, 1814— nearly 40 years ago ; and, though we have no doubt he is in the full enjoyment of his powers, an officer of his standing should hardly be so near the bottom of the list. To exemplify still further this state of things, we shall borrow from the same official authority the following list of flag-officers in commission, with their respective commands and the date of their seniority Nore—Vice-Admiral the Hon. J. Percy, Captain 25th of September, 1806. Portsmouth—Tice-Admiral Sir T. J. Cochrane, Cap thin 23d of April, 1806. Devonport—Admiral Sir John Ommanney, Captain 16th of October, 1800. Cork—Rear-Admiral Sir W. Carroll, Captain 6th of December, 1813. Western Squadron—Rear-Admiral Corry, Captain 23d of July, 1821. Mediterranean—Vice-Admiral Dundas, Captain 13th of October, 1807, and Rear-Admiral Sir E. Lyons, Cap tain 7th of June, 1814. North America Vice-Admiral Sir G. Seymour, Captain 29th of July, 1806, to be succeeded by Rear- Admiral Fanshawe, Captain 17th of October, 1816. Pacific—Rear-Admiral Moresby, Captain 7th of June, 1814. to be succeeded by Rear-Admiral Price, Captain 13th of June, 1815. South-east Coast of America—Rear-Admiral Hender son, Captain 9th of October, 1815. East Indies—Vice-Admiral Sir Fleetwood Pellew, Captain 14th of October, 1808. West Coast of Africa—Rear-Admiral Bruce, Captain 16th of November, 1821. Seniority is the sole law of promotion for flag officers in the British navy ; and, without injustice to individuals, it probably cannot be altered, although the result is that a considerable disadvani tage is incurred by our navy in comparison with those foreign navies in which younger officers may be raised by merit to the highest ranks of their profession. This enormous superincumbeut weight of senior officers, bequeathed to the country by the last war, which ended 40 years ago, has naturally a discouraging effect on younger and more active men. Nay, the effect of the Admiralty regulations is not only to perpetuate these veterans on the active list, to the exclusion of their juniors, but, in many instances, to cause junior officers to. be carried over to the retired list, merely because they have not been afloat the time necessary to. qualify them for their flag. Thus, within the last few days, Lord Hardwicke, a captain of 1825, and an officer of very high character, has been shelved by the immutable rules of seniority on the list of retired Rear-Admirals because he wanted four months to complete his time afloat. It is not un common to meet with naval officers, scarcely of middle age, who foresee that, unless very special circumstances intervene, they will share the same fate. So that the present condition of our list of flag officers is, that we retain as for active service a. class of officers many of whom it would be absurd. to send to sea, and that we consign to the retired. list officers very much their juniors, who are a loss to their profession, and who surrender their chance of future service with the utmost regret. It is impossible this state of things should con tinue if the navy is to be put on a war footing, and, even without that demand on our naval re sources, the public service has in some instances we could name, suffered considerably by the ap pointment of Admirals to active duties who had better have remained over the club fire in Pall mall. The only effectual remedy is a liberal super annuation of officers who have in their time de served well of their country, and who are still entitled to the utmost consideration of the Govern ment and the nation ; and we' think a further at tempt should be made to clear the list of senior post-captains of such officers as are not desirous of immediate employment at sea. Upon the com mencement of naval hostilities by a country which proudly cherishes its ascendancy on the ocean, after an interval of almost 40 years, it is impossible that some diffi cu lti es o f this sort should not arise. The Navy List contains in every rank of the ser vice officers fully capable of emulating the most glorious exploits of their predecessors ; but the, stagnation of a long peace and the accumulated arrears of the service at a former period have sus pended the natural course of advancement, and means must be found to bring forward officers whose age, education, and energy qualify them for all the duties they may now have to per form.—Times. SERIOUS COACH ACCIDENT.—An accident occurred on Friday to the coach which plies between St. Katherine's and Lochgoilhead, by which the driver is so much in jured that he is not expected to survive. While on the way to Lochgoilhead, and when crossing the hills, the wheels got out of the regular road track, and the ma chine upsetting, tumbled over the face of a steep hill, and made several somersaults before reaching the bot tom. There were only two passengers and the driver — Miss Morrison, daughter of Mr. J. Morrison, auc tioneer, of this city. and Mr. Peter Ferguson, temper ance missionary of the Gorda's, neither of whom are seriously hurt—in fact, both escaped with but a. slight bruise or two. After the young lady and Mr. Ferguson had recovered from the shock they went to the kelp of tiladriver, who was badly hurt and almost speechless. He was only able at that time to say, " I'm dying — look to the young lady." Mr. Ferguson and Mists Mor rison, having taken the cushions out of the conch, laid the unfortunate man upon them, an d at once proceeded to the nearest farm house for assistance, which they were fortunate in procuring. Tbey then set out for Loch goilhead, and after a walk o f about six miles through ' deep snow, reached an inn, where a carriage was pro cured and proper medical assistance despatched to the wounded sufferer. It is hoped that the driver, who was well known upon the road, and universally esteemed, may yet be brough t round, though i n the me an ti me h e is in a dangerous state.—North Br i tish, Daily Mail. ~:.::~. .I