The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-06 00:00:00

btrb Nbition. SUN OFFICE, Six o'clock. THE NAVAL EXPEDITION AGAINST THE RUSSIANS IN THE PACIFIC. ADMIRALTY DESPATCHES. The following additional details respecting the late naval engagement in the Pacific have been forwarded to us from the Admiralty H.M.S. Pique, Lat. 46° 2' W., long. 179° 32' W. 19th Sept., 1854. Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that on Thursday, August 31st, Rear-Admiral Febvrier, Des Pointes decided upon carrying into execution the plan of attack against the outer defences of the harbour of Petropaulovski, as had been arranged between him and the late C o mmander-in-Chief, whose untimely death on the preceding day had stopped the movement of the ships. The weather being calm, it was determined that the three frigates should be placed in position by the steamers, The Virago was therefore lashed between the Pique and the Forte, while the Presi dent was taken in tow astern. In this manner the ships proceeded towards the batteries, and were dropped in succession into the best positions that could be reached, for the tide inshore was found rather stronger than was anticipated. The three batteries forming the outer defences of the entrance of Petropaulovski were, a five-gun battery on the extremity of the peninsula forming the harbour ; an admirably constructed fascine battery of 11 heavy guns, placed at the water's edge on the opposite shore ; and a three-gun bat tery at some distance further out on the same side. As this battery, from its raking position, was ex pected to give much annoy ante, the President's marines, under Captain Parker, R.M., had been placed on board the Virago, and were landed to take possession of the battery immediately after the ships had been anchored. Although greatly im peded by the almost impenetrable brushwood, the marines and some seamen, both French and Eng lish, who were sent to their support, soon reached the battery, which they found deserted. The guns were rendered unserviceable, and the party re-em barked under the cover of the Virago. In per forming this service this vessel became exposed to a heavy fire from the Russian frigate in the inner harbour, which did her some damage. The battery at the extremity of the peninsula being most exposed to the fire of the ships was soon silenced, and as it was directly in a line with the town and frigates in the harbour, much damage must have been occasioned by the shot which Passed over this battery. A breeze springing up in the afternoon enabled the Forte and President, the two outer ships, to take up fresh positions somewhat nearer the low battery. The guns of all the ships were now directed upon this battery, and from the Forte especially a rapid ricochet fire was maintained, until at length the battery ceased firing, although the enemy were not driven from their guns. The ships now ceased firing, and were moved out of range for the night, the Virago taking the Forte in tow, and the President and Pique hauling off by kedges. Although all the ships received shot in their hulls and rigging, the Forte alone suffered any loss i n me n. An unfortunate shot passed across her quarter-deck, killing one man and wounding several others. 11. In the interval between this first attack and the subsequent operations on the 4th of September, several consultations were held between the French rear-admiral and the captains of the two squadrons. 12. Some information having been obtained dur ing this interval as to the position of the batteries not visible from the ships, and also as to the inte rior of the town and the strength of the garrison, it was considered that an attack upen the north end of the town by a landing party would probably meet with success, and lead to important results. 13. With a view to occupying the enemy's atten tion as much as possible, it was determined to adopt a simultaneous attack on a battery of five guns placed on the low part of the peninsula, and likewise on a round fort at its northern extremity, at which place the marines and seamen were to land and endeavour to get possession of the bat teries and the heights surrounding the town. 14. Owing to the largo number of men required for the landing party the guns of both frigates could not be manned, and the President's guns being lighter than the Pique's, and, therefore, re quiring fewer men to work them, I went on board the ship, taking with me the remainder of the Pique's ship's company. 15 . On the morning of September 4, the landing Party, consisting of about 350 men from each squadron, besides officers, was placed on board the Virago, the which vessel then la shed alongside the Forte, the boats for the disemb arkation being placed on opposite side, and the President being taken i n tow astern. 16 . The batt er i e s commenced fir in g as soon as the ship s came within range, and did considerable damage especil - lly to "ot•ue masts and yards of the fri g ates, but the Forte's. A shot struck the Vi rago's deck, but, fortunately, it glanced upwards, otherwise the havoc on her crowded deck might have proved serious. - 17. The President having been anchored about GOO yards from the Saddle Battery on the centre of the ; Peninsula, opened a heavy afire upon it, notwithstanding which, the enemy continued work ing their guns with the greatest determination, retiring occasionally under shelter of the sloping platform on which the guns were placed, and re turning again to their guns as soon as the fire from the ship slackened in the least ; however, at length the battery was silenced. 18 . In the meantime, the Forte had been placed ePPosite the round fort or gorge battery, which she Eed ilY silenced, and thu s enabled the marines and seamen to b e landed from the Virago. 19 . For an account of th e occurrences on shore I must refer to the enclosed letter from Captain Burridge. 20. The Forte, Virago, and Obligado brig covered the re-embarkation of the landing party, the fir e fro m the brig was very effective in check ing the adv ance of the enemy. 21. As so on as the embarkation had been effected, all the ships moved out to their anchorage in the bay. 22. Although this attack proved unsuccessful, I trust that the gallantry displayed by Captain la Grandeire of the Eurydice, and Captain sßurridge, 'and the officers and men wider their command, ;yin be appreciated. 23. The marines and seamen on the right gal lantly gained the ridge of the hill, in spite of the steepness of the ascent, and in the face of a heavy fire. But, unfortunately, the dense brushwood in Which many of the enemy were secreted stopped any further advance in that direction, and on the left the gorge was found so strongly defended; not merely by musketry, but likewise by guns and field pieces, that it could not be forced from that quarter!; besides which, we have, since leav ing the harbour, received information from the Prisoners taken on board the Sitka, which leads us to believe that the numerical strength and compo sition of the troops forming the garrison, were far superior to what we had been led to suppose. 2 4. Before closing this letter, I cannot refrain from bearing my tribute to the conduct of Captain Burridge and Corn. Marshall, from whom I have received the most cordial assistance throughout the operations at Petropaulovski. The coolness of the former officer during the retreat, and the em barkation of the landing party was the theme of general admiration, and Commander Marshall has been_. unwearied iu hi s exe rtions in turning the ships mad covering the lan.cling Parties his Tose, Tilt SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 1854, being the only steamer attached to the two squad rons, has had A, double share of work to perform. 25. 'Mile on board the President on the 4tla September, I received the most zealous support from Commander Conolly and Mr. Roberts, mas ter of that ship. Lieutenant Morgan, the gunnery officer, was disabled by a wound from a splinter soon after the battery opened fire, and his place in charge of the main deck was filled by Lieutenant Grove, of the Pique. 26. Lieutenants Bland and Marshall, of this ship, commanded the Pique's seamen on shore, and were among the last to leave the beach ; and Mr. Fitzgerald, mate, had charge of the Pique's launch, and did good service with her gun during the embarkation. 27. - The French officers and seamen engaged were distinguished for the order with which they advanced, and the steadiness and fortitude they displayed during the retreat and subsequent em barkation. 28. I enclose a list of the killed and wounded, both ou board the President and among the land ing parties, and I also send a copy of the list of killed and wounded in the French squadron. 29. On the 7th Sept., the combined squadrons sailed from Awatska Bay, and when outside the harbour chased and captured the Russian Govern ment steamer Amadis and the Sitka Russian mer chant vessel. The former vessel was dismantled and burned, and the latter is now in company with squadron. She was last from Ajens in the Sea of Ochosk, and had several Russian officers and Go vernment civilians on board. She was built at Hamburg for the Russo-American Co., and has a miscellaneous cargo, amongst which is a consider able quantity of gunpowder and flour. 30. My present intention is to water at Van couver's Island, and then proceed to San Francisco, to await your further orders.—l have, (5.7 c., (Signed) F. W. G. NICOLSON, Captain. Her Majesty's Ship President, Awatska Bay, Kamschatka, sth Sept. 1854. Sir,—lt is my duty to report to you the events connected with the landing party from her Ma jesty's ships placed under my command, and those of his Imperial Majesty under the orders of Captain La Grandiere, of I'Eurydice. The Allied Forces, consisting of divisions of ma rines and small arm men, nearly 700 strong, were on board her Majesty's steam-sloop Virago by five o'clock yesterday morning, when Captain La Gran disre reiterated the plan of attack already;made known to me and the captains of companies, which was to the effect that the Marines were to ascend the hill, to be assisted by the seamen of the Forte and Eurydice. The seamen of the Pique, Presi dent, and Virago were to proceed by the road to the left of the Marines, with a view to storming the batteries in the town that commanded the pas- sage of-the gorge. Having done so, they were to reform and await further directions. The gorge battery on the beach having been silenced by the guns from the Forte, we were landed directly under the hill. The enemy were strong in position - and numbers on the hill, from which they commenced firing immediately on our landing. The Marines were formed as quickly as possible, under Captain Parker, R.M., and sup ported by the seamen as they landed, ascended the hill, which was very steep, and covered with thick jungle. From these circumstances the enemy had a great advantage. Never theless they were driven back, and we took up their first position. When half way up the ascent the Marines and the French Riflemen went to the right of the bill, the left and centre being held by the seamen of the Pique, President, and Virago, and those of the French ships. The left was cleared of the enemy sufficient to take up a position on the flank. of the 2-gun and 3-gun batteries in the rear, which had kept up a sharp fire of round shot and grape down the gorge. Driven from their guns by our musketry, they re tired to log houses, from which they kept up a harassing fire of musketry on our left. The right had by this time advanced up tho hill and gained the ridge which led to the Saddle Battery, then en gaged by her Majesty's ship President. In effect ing this our loss had been most severe, owing to the number of the enemy that had been strongly posted on the top of the hill and on our flanks. We had advanced some distance along the ridge when Cap tain Parker, R.M. was killed while gallantly lead ing on his men, and Lieutenants M'Callum and Clements, R.M ~ were wounded ; and about this time our men began to fall back, and, after many attempts to rally, the incessant fire kept up com pelled them to retreat towards the beach. A small party formed behind the gorge battery to cover the retreat ; but, as the boats had to be brought within range of the enemy's musketry, many of our men fell during the embarkation. The casualties on the part of our allies will no doubt be made known to you by the Commander in-Chief. Their gallant conduct on the advance, and their steadiness in the retreat was much to be admired. First Lieutenant Le Feb vre, of the Eurydice, was killed while advancing towards me, and the gallant conduct of several of the French officers, whose names I regret being unacquainted with, came under my observation. Among the losses we have to deplore on this oc sion, none can be more deeplyregretted than that of Captain Parker, R.M. He was a good soldier, and an honour to the corps. Flag Lieutenant E. A. Howard was severely wounded while acting as my aide-de-camp ; Lieutenant George Palmer, of this ship, was wounded while leading the company under his command. Li eutenants M'Callum and Clements, R.M., and Mr. Robinson, mate, all of the Pique, were wounded at the head of their men. My thanks are due to all the officers, as well as the men that were employed under my command. The difficulties of the land and the jungle were more than they could contend against, while an unseen enemy was firing upon them from all sides. Subjoined is a list of the landing party, and the casualties that were sustained, and it only remains for me to express a hope that you will consider we did all that was in our power on the occasion. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) RICHARD BURRIDGE, Captain. To Captain Sir Frederick Nicolson, Bart., H.M.S. Pique. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO o'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at about 6,00 G bales, including 400 Surat taken for expert. The market was tame, but closed without change in prices. The sales comprised 5,000 American, 50 Pernam and Maran ham at 6W. to Gad., 150 Egyptian at sd. to 70., and 700 Surat at 3hl. to 4d. per lb. Railway hares were steady. The parties interested in lighterage and in the coasting trade feel much aggrieved at the attempt of the dock companies to reverse the previous cus tom, and charge lighters and craft entering to re ceive ballast or goods with the payment of rates, and a statement has been drawn up explanatory of the grievance. From this we extract the fol lowing : "The St. Katharine's Dock Company, the East and 50 West India Dock Company, and the London Dock 20 I Company have all given notice of bills, in which, amongst 20 other pecuniary arrangements, it is proposed to quote 10 the clause in the St. Katharine Dock Company's adver- 50 tisement as an• example of the whole, to enlarge the 25 powers of the Dock Company with regard to the levying 25 of rates, in respect of lighters and other craft frequenting St. or using the docks, basins, locks, or cuts of the company, 20 and in respect of the ballast or goods received by or dis- st. charged from such lighters or craft, and to repeal all provisions of the before-mentioned acts, or any of them, St. whereby such lighter or craft, or the ballast or goods 25 received by or discharged therefrom, are now exempted St. from the payment of rates to the said company.' St. " A great transit trade is now carried on through the 3 1 port of London. Vessels are continually arriving from 1 6 0 t. the East Indies with linseed and other seeds, or fro m various places with flour, grain, or other commodities, a s t. portion of which is transhipped to Holland or France. St.i By a late regulation which put an end to the claims of st.o the meters, all seeds and grain are now allowed to be st.t transhipped without measurement or paying dues of any Bt. kind, from the ship which brought them into the river St. to the ship which is to carry them away. Aided by this change in the claims of the City, the transit g trade has latterly extended very much. It em- 161 ploys a great many labourers ; it employs ships ; 16 it brings ships hither which would otherwise go st. 'to Holland or Belgium ; it supplies cargoes to the 194 screw steamers that keep up a continual communica- 14 tion with all the neighbouring continent ;it extends ge- 20 neral trade, and promotes the prosperity of all the peo- 111 ple along shore—wharfingers, storekeepers, publicans, St. provision dealers, &c. If the dock companies levy a tax St. on the lighters that remove these goods from the ships Tg or dock to the small vessels in the stream, and to the 12i wharves of individuals, to be put on board ships going s t , to the continent, they will inflict, we believe, a ruinous 50 blow on the transit trade. It is carried on in corspeti- 40 tion with Holland. We have latteily succeeded in this 25 competition, but if the companies lay their heavy band 25 on the trade, it will, we believe, be very much dimi- Sts nished, if not annihilated. That will stop ships coming 8 12 s to the docks. It will compel those who have an interest in such cargoes to stipulate that they be unloaded in the 50 " stream, and the dock companies will inflict a serious 25 injury on themselves." 100 6 2f 50 20 The Foreign Exchanges were scarcely supported yesterday afternoon. Paris, however, were firm at 25 321 to 37i for 90 days' paper. Amsterdam was quoted 11 17i to 174 ; Hamburg, 13 51 to 6 ; and Trieste, 12 35 to 40. In silver there has been nothing done, and the price is nominal for both bars and dollars. Accounts from Berlin state that many of the bankers at Vienna had applied for allotments in the Prussian loan, and that the total subscriptions amounted to far more than the sum to be allotted. From Athens we learn that the political and com mercial relations between Greece and Turkey had been resumed, and that an ambassador had already been appointed to proceed to Constantinople. The Frankfort Journal positively denies that there is any secret article to the new Treaty be tween Austria and the Allies. In letters from Kisheneff, dated the 28th ult., it is asserted that the prohibition by Russia of the exportation of wheat would ruin many Austrian merchants who had entered into contracts after en gaging fer . supplies from the heavy stores accumu lated at Novoselitza. . The position of the National Bank of Belgium, on the 30th ult., had changed but little compared with October, the specie and circulation having each been augmented about 2,000,000 francs. The ship Phoenician has arrived from New South Wales, with dates of August 31. These are not so recent as others previously to hand. The amount of gold on board is 4,204 ounces, 2,7501. Partly owing to the settlement of the account, which takes place to-morrow, and partly to the strong impression in some quarters that peace is to be patched up under the new Austrian Treaty, public securities are still advancing. The " options" come off this afternoon, and a good deal of stock is likely to be " called" for. The parties who sold lately are compelled to buy back, as the Hebrew capitalists are investing apparently. The closing of the transfer books, prior to the dividend payments, and the assertion that Government will require neither loan nor taxes for the present, also encourages the Bulls. Consols have been 921 to 93 for transfer. The New 3 per Cents. have been 91 to 911. Bank Stock has been heavy at 208. East India Stock has been firm at 234. Exche quer Bills have been 3s. to Gs. premium, and Ex chequer Bonds 991 .3. The foreign securities have generally benefitted by the advance in Consols, and altogether there is a better feeling. Mexican have been done at 21/ and Peruvian at 674 to 4. In these securities there are more local circumstances to operate than 17, general matters. Brazilian New 4 i per Cents. 20 have been at 1. Spanish 3 per Cents. have E realised 381 to 394 and the New Deferred 20 19k to /. The Committee's Certificate has been at 20 per cent. The advices from Madrid as to the 20 large majority obtained by the Ministry are con- 100 sidered very satisfactory for the future prospects 100 of the bondholders. The Turkish Scrip is 6 i 20 to 4 per cent. discount. 25 The following are the nominal prices of Foreign 25 Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5/ to 61 ; Mexi- 25 can, 21i it° 211 ; Peruvian, 67 to 69 ; ditto 100 3 per Cents., 47 to 49 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 40 to 42 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 95 to 97 ; ditto leo 0 per Cents., 86 to 88 ; Spanish New Deferred, 20 1N- to 19;1 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 381 to 39 ; ditto 5 Certificates, 5 to 5i ; ditto Passive, 4-i to 41. 5 20 ! An improved market has existed for Railway Shares, owing to the advance in other securities, 100 and the favourite lines were all higher. Bristol and Exeter have risen 4 to Great Western about 100' 4, Lancashire and Yorkshire to 1, and Midland, 100 North-Eastern, and Great Northern in proportion. 100 The Foreign lines have participated in the improve- 20 , ment. 100 In Mining Shares there has been scarcely any- 20 thing doing, but nominally they maintain the 5 previous rates. The Joint Stock Banks are without 20 alteration. In Miscellaneous shares there has been rather more doing, but the quotations have not 4 risen generally. 20 20 BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.-CLOSING PRICES, ( Brom the Official List. ) Business done Sank Stock 2OB 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities... 9ll 1 i 1. 1 3 per Cent. Cor sols Annuities O2l 3 2i 3 i Now 3 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860._ 411 India Stock India Bonds, £lOOO .......... Ditto, under £lOOO 7 Consols for Account Exchequer Bills, lid. 21000 — 36 .000 3 6 Small Exchequer Bonds 1858, 3* por Cont. 994 1 Ditto 1859, „ PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent — Ditto New, 1852, 4} per Cent 9 21 i Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent , .... 56 Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent — Ditto 5 per Cent ?dexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cont. P or t ug uese Bonds, 5 per Cent — Ditto ex, all over due Coupons . R.ussian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. XSt 97 Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 39A i 8i 91 Ditto Now Deferred, 3 per Cent • Ditto for the Account l9i i Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. 51 ) p c Turkish Scrip 6 per cent... Ditto for the Account 6. a d Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 2A per Cent. 12 (hail 6l THREE O'CLOCK. 93 I Ditto, Consols Account St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 10 5 20 20 Advices from Constantinople of the 20th of November irention the safe arrival in the Bosphorus of the steam transport Melbourne, having the transport, Cadaceus in tow. The Melbourne rode out the gale at Balaklava without injury to her hull or machinery, but with the 1 loss of masts, which she would get replaced at Constan tinople before returning to the Crimea. Yesterday advices were received, under date Gibraltar N ov . 27, that her Majesty's steamer Curagoa, in com pany with the Blake and Alipore transports, with troop, had arrived that day, and passed on for the Crimea. Her Majesty's ship Curlew arrived on the 26th. A special testimonial is intended to be presented to the 23d Welsh Fusiliers for its gallant conduct at the glorious victory of the Alma. The fund on account of it has at present been collected from the Principality of Wales, the trustees !being Lord Dynevor, Sir Watkin W. Wynn, Bart., and Sir H. W. Wynn. The amount . rocoilrei Wilds! 1,1241. 20 1 33i 10 20 20 20 lt) 20 20 50 50 100 100 SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) BRITISH RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. Closing Prices this day Biudness done this day. 100 Aberdeen 8* A mbg. Nottng Bost. and Eastn. all Belfast & Ballymena. all Binning. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lanesh. & Cheshire Junct all Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. 19 Do., £2O 30 Blyth & Tyne origina' £25 (issd. at £45:1 100 Bristol and Exeter ,100 Caledonian. 1 215. Cannarthen and Car digan all Chester & Holyhead all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black, & Pass 16 Cornwall 13 Crieff Junction 45 Dublin&BelfastJuuc all to undee Perth &Aber deen Junction all Do. New 100 East Anglian all Eastern Counties 100 Eastern Union, A Stock ... 100 Do., B. Stock 83 Do., Now A 100 East Lancashire 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow 91 Edinb. and Peebles 100 - Edin.Prtli &Dundee 1 Forth & Clyde June. 100 Glasgow &S. Western 100 Great Northern 100 Do., A. Stock 100 z 0., B. Stock iOO t. Sth. &West. (Ire 100 rtat Western 100 Do. Stour Val. Rail Gua. Stk all Irish South-Eastern all Lancaster & Carlisle 10 Do., Thirds 4 Do. New Thirds 100 Lancash.andYorksh 193 Do., Fifths .. .... 11i Da., Wst. Riding Un all Liv.Crsby.&Southpt all London & ht Blackwal' 100 Lond. Brig kS.Cst 100 Lond. and N. Westn. 12 Do. Fifths .. .... 1 Do.lo/.81 1 .,.M&8... 0 23 Do. Eighths .. .. . 100 London andS. Westn 423 3 Do., £5O 34 Do., £4O .. . . all Lnndrry& Col eraine all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 100 Manch.Shef.& Lincln s 43 Do.,Man. &Lin. Un 100 Midland 100 Do. Birmng. & Derby all %did. G. West. (Ire, ) 223 Do. Half Shares ... . qll Newcastle & Carlisle 54 Newmkt.BnryExten. 191 Nwpt.Aberg. &Hrfd. 8, Newry &Enniskillen all Newry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor. 19 - 20 41 - 4t 74 - 8 12 11 d 16 - 173 7 - 6 92 - 94 641 - 611 13; -14 i 10 - 11 5 - 4 6i - 7i 14i -15 i 11 - lit 69 - 171 52 - 54 iii : icq 67 - 69 88 - 89 75 - 77 123 - 125 87 - 89 70 70i 67 - 69 70 _7 8 6' 6 -8, 6 - 71i - 72} - 5i 71 104 106 -98 i 99 id— Id 4 d d d 80i 10 :• 9di I 9 B d, 21 - 214 6 74 39 - 41 id -- loi -- 94 2 -- 2i 100 'Norfolk 3i Northn.Counties .00 North British alit North Devon, No. 1 all Do., No. 2 all Do., 4 A Deferred all Do., B Guaranteed 1.00 N.Ea,stern—Berwick 20 Do. do. Extension 13 Do.do. G.N.E. Porch. all Do. Leeds 100 Do. York all North London 8 Do. New £lO El is N.&S.Wstrn.,Hamp stead, and City Jn 17? North Staffordshire all North Western.. all N. &S. Westrn, June. 1 Nuneaton, Hinckley. and Leicester 00 Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton 6 Portsmouth .00 Scottish Central DO Scottish Midland all Shrewsty. & Nerefd. all Shropshir3 Unio full n Do. A, B, paid up at per con all South Devon .00 South Eastern all South Wales 15 S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun 5 Do 8 Staines, Wok. &Wok all itockton & Darling. 16' Stockton & Hartlepl, 1.00 Taff Vale 9 Do. 110 shares 1.00 Do. Pref., No. 1 21 names Haven Dock and Railway all Vale of Neath all Waterfd. & Kilkenny all Waterford&Limerick 18 West Cornwall 3 West Eud of London and Crystal Palace all West London 111 s. Wimbledn&Croydon 48 - 50 31 32 S 10 11 66 76 73i 746 7 13 —l3i 61 52 52 54 1 p id P 4 id 61 id—ip 29 - 31 90 - 92 60 - 62 . 1 43 - 45 11 - 13 581 - 59, 29 - 30 all Antwerp&Rotterdana l 4 Belgian Eastn. June, 8 Beziers to Graisseszae 2s. Bombay, Baroda, and Central India,Scrip, _ ... Central of Italy all Demerara 14 Dijon and Besancon 10 Dutch Rhenish all Eastern of France 10 Do. New 20 19i ..• _}.d 34 - 36 all East Indian 2 DO. Extension all Do. 4 p. c. Bds., pay '57, convertible all Do. do. do., '59, do 10 Gd. Junct. of France 122 Gd. Tk of Canada.A is. all Do. do all IDo. St.' Lawrence & Atlantic do. all IDo. Cert. of Deben. 3 - 4 17 18 4 - 4. 20 - 92 6 - 7 6' 1. - - 1 94 61 601 1i 1 i 75 688 / 5i 6i 1281 70i i 111 70 74 5 4i 13i 13 29 3 / 4 30 91 613/4 6 - - 11 4 - 3a d— i p 59 60 - P 3 - 314 -31 i 3p par, . 2 .P .a- 7 d 8 3 / 4 7 • con. into Stk. till '63 all Do. Comp. 6p. c., do. 10 Gt. Central of France all Gt. Indian Peninsula 1 Do. New 5 per cent. all Gt.Westernof Canada' Shares all Do. Bds., payable's7, with option till '55 all D•. do., '62, p. '56 ail Do. do., '76, p. '6O all Dq. do., '73, without 10 8d 11 - 91 4 a iP 1 -- - IP par IP 163 - 17 i ~ - ... Id 1P lid id 1 2 d par par --. 2p option all Hamilton & Toronto all Do. 6 per cent. 11 Lake Const. & Basle all Lucas & Pistoj a 5 p.c prof 12 Great Luxembourg Constituted Shares all Do. Obligations 10 Lyons and Geneva 12 Lyons & MediterraE 16. Madras 2 Do. Now 31A Maria Antonia Do. do. New 2 Melbourne Dk. & Ry. all Namur & Liege (with interest) all Do. (ex interest) all Northern of France all D 0.201. Shs.lato Char leroi and Erquelines guar. 3a p. c. & red. . at 2231. dui. 88 yrs. from 1 Jan. 1854 all Do. 201. 3 p. s Bdr. (fmy.B.& Am& She ) all NorwegianTrunkPrel 14 Paris and Lyons . all Ditto Bonds t Paris and Orleans all Paris and Rouen 10 ParisCaen & Cherbrg all Rouen and Havre 20 Royal Danish 3 Royal Swedish all Sambre and Meuse all Do. 5i p. cent. Pref 10 Southern of France. 14 St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) all West Flanders I all Do 5) per c. Pref I 10 Western of France 1 16 West. of Switzerland i all Wiesbaden 20 Zealand .. -- 110 die 4 41 22 - 1 a —IP [d-IP ~. '''' .. 6i I 17 16f 41 i 2f ... -- .. 6i - 7 ... _ ... 34i - 3t 34i i JOINT-STOI all I Australasia all 'British Colonial Bank 33H i and Loan Company all British N. American 5 Chartd. Bank of Asia 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China 25 Colonial 20 Commercial of Lond 16 English Scottish and BANKS. 77 - SO id—id all lAustralian Lond. Chart. Bk. of 31 2id 211 221 Australia 20 London and County 10 London Joint Stock 20 Loud. & Westminster 35 National Provincial of England 10 Do. New 22 National of Ireland all Now South Wales all Oriental Bank of Corporation 25 Provincial of Ireland all Do. New 35 - 40 36 - so 1 Royal Australn.Bkg. & Gold Imp Co.. all uth Australia all Union of Australia 2i Do. New la Union of 43444":"§ 4- 43 67 - 70 8i 9i m = si. 79 84 9t 11 30i 13} 22 li 68i THE REINFORCEMENTS. According to present arrangements the 18th Royal Irish embark on board the Magdalena steamer, for the Crimea, to-morrow (Thursday), at Portsmouth. The cavalry regiments on service are to be increased by remounts each to eight troops of 75 men. The Royal Artillery have commenced enrolling men at a height of sft. sin. at an increase of 2/. on the original bounty of 7/. 15s. Yesterday afternoon upwards of 180 fine stout young fellows, volunteers from the militia and recruits, arrived by railway and steamer, were marched to the principal recruiting-office, Delahay-street, Westminister, where they were officially and surgically inspected, and, with out a single exception, were found fit for service and accepted. There are at present no fewer than 27 recruiting parties from infantry and 12 from cavalry regiments stationed in the metropolis, each of which obtain a fair proportion of recruits. 300 volunteers from Dublin are expected to arrive to-day. Two of the Ordnance hogs were towed from Purfleet to Woolwich yesterday, each having on board 1,000 of the usual barrels of Mini 6 rifle ball-cartridges, to be put on board a steamer loading at the Royal arsenal with stores and munitions of war for conveyance to the llf Crimea. About 120 tons of ammunition, 60 tons of shells, a quantity of horse hammocks, halters, squad bags, &c., arrived at Southampton yesterday, for immediate de spatch to the Crimea, chiefly by the Magdalena. The Bahiana steamer, just arrived with the mails from Brazil, has been taken to convey troops to the Crimea. The Crcesus, 2,500 tons, daily expected at Southampton with mails from Australia, has also been chartered, and she will be despatched immediately on her arrival with troops to the Crimea. g Yesterday morning, so very zumerons were the ap plicants for service in her Majesty's ships fitting out and in commission, that police constables were stationed at the doors of the naval rendezvous, Tower-hill, to pre vent the over-crowding of the reception room. A large number of fine athletic young men were entered for general service, and will be sent to her Majesty's ship Excellent at Portsmouth, and Fisgard, at Woolwich, for instruction. About 100 volunteers from the Militia into the line passed through Southampton yesterday. They belonged to an English Militia regiment in Dublin, and they had volunteered into the 7th Regiment, stationed at Win chester. All the men had a very warm large scarf, with which they were supplied for their passage in the Dublin steamer to Southampton. A. further number of volunteers from the Monmouth Militia, 75 in number, together with Lieutenant Peirse, have volunteered for active service with the 23d Fusiliers in the Crimea, and have joined the depot previously to proceeding to head•quarters at Balaklava. 390 men have volunteered from the Militia stationed in Ireland, and have been attested at the Dublin Police 'curt. The inhabitants of Bristol have petitioned the Home office to be allowed to form a volunteer rifle corps, and a similar desire exists in Sheffield. Orders have been issued for the Militia regiments now doing garrison duty, who have given volunteers to the line, to send recruiting parties into their respective coun ties to enrol volunteers. ROYAL CORNWALL RANGERS.—We understand that the Royal Cornwall Rangers Militia is amongst the re giments which are about to be embodied in consequence of the war with Russia. THE WEST EssEx. MILITIA.—The members of the West Essex Militia Staff, stationed - at Chelmsford, have received an intimation to hold themselves in readiness, as the regiment will probably be embodied for permanent duty.—lpswich Express. _ _ _ COWES.—Further detachments from the depot bat talion at Parkhurst have embarked here since our last, for conveyance to the Crimea. The men were animated by the greatest enthusiasm, which serves to show how little is known of Englishmen by those who say we are not a military nation.—Portsmouth Gazette. TEE NEW ARTILLERY BARRACKS AT IPSWICEI.—This depot is intended to afford accommodation for the regi ment of Suffolk Artillery, which will assemble on the 14th inst. We understand that the arrangements, un der the superintendence of Mr. R. M. Phipson, archi tect, will be ready by the time nareed for the reception of the regiment with its stores, guns, &c.—lpswich Express. BARROWS FOR THE CRIMEA.—Mr. John Sutton, tim ber dealer, Chester-road, Derby, has received orders from Messrs. Peto, Betts, and Brassey, to make an unlimited supply of "Navvy barrows" for the Crimea. The instructions are to forward as many as possible up to Saturday, the 9th—the order extending over one week —so that they may be ready for shipment on Tuesday next. WAR MOVRIIRNTS IN LIVRRPOOL.—The splendid fast•sailing paddle-steam-ship Arabia, Captain Judkins, sailed on Monday night, about seven o'clock, for the seat of war. She carried out several packages of flannels, stockings, and such like comforts, for the use of our soldiery ; these have been contributed by the pa triotic liberality of a few private individuals, and afford an example worthy of imitation. Several of these pack ages, we understand, were consigned to the care and dis posal of Sir Colin Campbell. The Arabia proceeds direct to Dublin, where she will take in ammunition and stores, and, after a few hours' delay, she will sail for Marseilles, when there to embark French troops for the Crimea. The South American Company's new screw steamer Imperatrice, 1,800 tons, Captain Cox, is ex pected to be ready by the end of next week to proceed to Cork, to embark a regiment for Sebastopol. A rumour has prevailed that the Philadelphia Company's steamer City of Manchester, Captaia Wylie, had been taken up for the transport servioe ; but at present there is no foundation for the report. Recruiting for both ser ♦ices is going on briskly in town. The 2d Royal Lan cashire Militia Regiment is to be embodied immediately, and will assemble at head-quarters, Waterhouse-lane, Everton, next week. A second vessel, the Lady Jane, of 400 tons, belonging to Messrs. Fernie Brothers, is being loaded here with hay, for the cavalry iu the Crimea. —Liverpool Standard. A. HERO.—We read in the Salut Public of Lyons : "There is now here a sergeant-major of the Zouaves, who was in the battle of Inkerman where he received three wounds while fighting like a lion. At one moment he was surrounded by seven or eight Russians ; he de eps tolled five of them and then fell with three lance wounds in his body and lay for dead. Fortunately he was found after the battle, and from tie attention he has met with he is now in a complete state of convalescence. He had been before decorated with the miltary raedal ; he has now received the cross of the Legion of Honour, and enters with his present rank into the Imperial Guard." THS RUSSIAN PRISONERS.—In consequence of an ap plication made by M. Th. Barbey, the extensive ship owner of Havre, to the Minister of War, 40 of the Rus sian prisoners taken at Bomarsund, who are ship car penters, have been allowed to leave Aix to be employed in the yards of M. Lefoulon at Honfleur, and M. Gui bert at Nantes, where vessels are now building for the above house. By a singular coincidence, the first vessel they will work on at Honfleur is to be called the Alma. moderates they will again put to sea. The embarkation of troops was discontinued on account of the heavy swell in the roadsted." The same paper of the Ist December announces that the Andromaque had sailed the night before, and the frigate Cleopatre on that morning, at eight o'clock, with artillery, stores and troops for the army of the East. All the ships are to leave in the first week in December. The sailing vessels are to be taken in tow by the steamers. A Letter from Brest of the Ist December says— " We have no arrivals or departures to announce, but he greatest activity preyails in the port. The Rine Blanche and Chimdre were taken out of the basin yes terday. The Duguesclin and Iphigenie are at anchor in tho roads." TBE AUSTRIAN TREATY OF ALLIANCE We extract the following remarks from a letter re• ceived from Paris this morning : " In my letter ofyesterday I mentioned that the French Government is perfectly satisfied with the treaty of alliance I just concluded between Austria, France, and England, and that in high quarters here it is considered as a great triumph gained by the diplomacy of the Western Powers. At the palace of the Tuileries on Saturday evening,when the telegraphic despatch announcing the signing of the treaty was received, a large party happened to be assembled, to whom the Emperor read the despatch, a midst the hear t y con g ratulations of his g uests. The text of the treaty has not yet been made public, and it is probable that its precise words will not be allowed to transpire till after iptusrrpaotrifitcoaftitohne document lsthie,ofhtohweepvreer: sent month. perfectly well.kliowe% fo l r t th is t b h o n n t a if ficl ß e u a se t i r n e d at o y n o o ff t ensiv and defensive ;its demands of the Western Powers, com ply with the just peace within a cer the four guarantees, a ta n i d n stapkeceifistendpstirutoeconclude masiseoloifd Austria will make common cau se with England and The France in coercing her. n treaty ge is n er a t l o ict o e supposed is into operation T tthat period within which the i at i is variously will ohuy be w i s t t h a i t e e d t , h b r t e i e t m n on t t h h e s fromm meantime u t t h i m e e dayA Austria ia h ,whichauikt e d w a b s y s i g G n e e r d m a n t u y V , i e i n s n t a o . I take steps at St. Petersburg with the Government, in t the hope of bringing the Czar to terms ; but in a of their failing, Austria will at once adopt coercive mea sures. It has been objected to the treaty that it throws . the whole decision of th e c ase into the hands of Aus tria ; that the four points are very indefinite, and that Austria may put such a construction upon them that their acceptance will b e com pl e tely illusory. B ut it must be remembered, i n th e fi rs t pl ac e, that we are not acquainted with the p rec i se t erms o f th e treaty, so that it maybe much more stringent in that respect than is imagined ; and secondly, that when Austria entered into the treaty she knew perfectly well what construction the Western Powers put upon the four points, and upon what terms they would agree to a peace founded upon them. But, besides this, we have a still stronger gua • rantee that Austria will not allow the peace to be a de lusion. There is no country that has a greater interest in having the question settled on a satisfactory footing than Austria, and there is no country that h a ' s greater reason to dread the vengeance of Russia in the event of her Win au opportunity Of showing her FOREIGN: 121 - 12 - 84 911 19 19ip :16 48 37 39 pm 204 214 Id par 21 lid 76 8 ••• "" ... - pm ••• ... 4 d G p ••• 5 s *a ''''' is} = A FRENCH . REINFORCEMENTS. Detachments from the 24th, 29th, 33d, 34th, 38th, and 51st regiments of the line arrived yesterday in Paris. After having remained a few hours at the bar racks of Bonilla they left in the evening for Lyons.' Detachments of the 41st and 48th regiments of the line also passed through for the same destination. Detach ments from the 44th, 53d, and 55th regiments of the line will arrive to-day, and leave in the evening for the south. They are all under orders for Aix and Avignon, whence they are to proceed to the army o the East. We read in the Nouvelliste de Rouen : "A. detachment of 320 Fusiliers from the 48th of the Line, destined for the 6th Regiment, serving in the East, will leave Rouen to-day, Dec. 4, en route for Aix. 80 men (40 Grenadiers and 40 of the Light Companies) are required from each regiment of the Imperial Guard." The Journal de Toulouse announces that the two war battalions of the 49th of the Line had received their marching orders ; the 2d was to leave Toulouse on the sth of December, and the let battalion and staff the day after. They are to march to Nimes, and wait there for further orders. We read in the Sentinelle Toulonnaise, of the 30th ultimo "The 2d detachment of the 4th Company of the wag gon train, with four guns, and 230 men of the 10th Light Infantry, embarked yesterday in the Andromaque, about to sail for the Black Sea. The transports Chande nagor and Giraffe continue to take on board materiel of artillery. The Calypso and Sane have been obliged to put back front drool of mat*, AR non as the wild 72f II 2 i 105 a 994 9 1100 Via 51 814 2 21 i 681 1 1 1 E° Si - FRENCH SHIPS ON TIIE STOCKS. The Moniteur de la Flotte eves the following list of vessels of different sizes, as being now on the stocks : " Bretagne, steam line-of-battle ship, Ist rate ; Alc,e stras, Arcole, Imperial, Intrepide, Redoubtable, Ville de Bordeaux, Ville de Lyon, and Ville de Nantes, ditto, 3d rates ; Souverain (Ist rate), Alexandre, Tihit, Breslau, Castiglione, Massena, Fontenoy, and Eyl an (2d rates), fitting with screws. Inaperatrice Eugenie, Ardente, Audacieuse, Foudre, Impetuease, and Souveraine, let rate steam frigates ; D'A.ssas and Volta, Ist class steam corvettes ; Devastation, Tonnante, Lave, Fou droyante, and Congreve, floating batteries ; Fleche, Alarme, Fusee, Mitraille, Etincelle, Eclair, Grenade, Flamme, Dragonne, Fulminante, Aigrette, Avalanche, Tourtnente, Tempote, Redoute, Poudre, Arquebuse, Salve, and Lance, steam gun-boats ; Aigle, Rodeur, Croiseur, Podor, Dialmath, Guetteur, Pecheur, Ebrie, Grand Bassam, Basilic, Akba, and Guet'-n'Dar, steam advice boats ; Fournaise, Torche, Trombe, Tocsin, and Bombe, bomb ' vessels ; Gironde, Dordogne, Loire, Durance, Nevre, Meuse, Marne, Saone, Rhin, Isbre, Meurthe, Rhone, and Yonne, steam corvette trans ports." BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTION FOR THE RELIEF OF DEAFNESS. The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Institu tion for the Relief of Deafness took place at the rooms of the institution, in Cherry-street, on Thursday last, when there were present the Mayor, (in the chair,) R. Mar tineau, Esq., F. I. Welch, Esq., the Rev. J. C. Miller, Aldermen Baldwin and Lucy, Mr. Councillor Chance, Mr. Dufton, and others. Letters explanatory of the absence of Mr. Alderman Buckley and Mr. J. 0. Mason were read. The report showed a continued increase in the benefits conferred on the poor of the town, by means of the relief the society afforded ; 288 cases had been at tended to by Mr. Dufton, the surgeon, of which 145 had been cured, 98 relieved, and 45 were incurable. The number of 3,578 patients had, from the commencement of the institution, received gratuitous relief. The Treasurer's- statement showed that the balance in hand was 751. 12s. 10d.—The Rev. J. C. Miller moved the first resolution, which, with the others, will be found in our advertising department. He observed that he felt it to be the duty of the ministers of religion to hold themselves at the call of a committee like the present, or of a gen tleman like Mr. Dufton, who had devoted so much valuable time to the relief of such a serious bodily ail ment as they had heard described. He felt it important in these days, when there were so many religious insti tutions calling for zealous Christian aid, that they should not forget there were others which had' claims upon them ; and they should not slacken their zeal in behalf of those which were merely of a philanthropic cha racter. He had no doubt if all those who had obtained relief from that institution could have been present, they would be able to give much interesting infor mation as to the great value and importance of such an institution ; and it afforded to Mr. Dufton matter for pleasurable reflection that during the last few years be had been the means of supplying relief to so many hun dreds: It was a great satisfaction to know in Birming ham to feel (and he said so without any invidiousness to other medical gentlemen of the town) that they pos sessed one person to whom they could apply with full confidence in any case of deafness. In Birmingham they were very well off with regard to the medical staff. Generally speaking, there were few towns in the king. dom that were better off in this respect. He would net elevate Mr. Dufton at the expense of other gentlemen, but having made the ear the organ of his particular study, he (Mr. Miller) had reason to believe, from his own experience, that he would be found a kind, skilful, and generous member of his profession. One• of his -(Mr. Miller's) objects, therefore, in attending the meeting, was to offer his own personal gratitude to Mr. Dufton, and to bear his testimony in favour of the institution. Mr. Welch seconded the notion, which was passed.—Mr Martineau, in proposing the next re solution, said that he had been a subscriber to the in stitution since its commencement, and the expressions of gratitude he had constantly heard from those who had been relieved through its agency were frequent, unanimous, and of the warmest kind. In conclusion, he bore witness to the esteem in which Mr. Dufton was held, and the sacrifices be had made for the welfare of those sufferers who had been under his treatment.—Mr, Alderman Baldwin seconded the resolution, in support ing which Mr. Alderman Lucy stated that he had la boured under deafness since he was a child, and spared no expense in obtaining relief ; but he had received more permanent relief under Mr. Dutton than under any one else. Thanks having bee❑ voted to Mr. Coun cillor Chalice for his continued services as honorary secretary, and thanks having been accorded to the Mayor for presiding, the proceedings terminated,—Mid lewd Counties Herald. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. To-day's market was very moderately supplied with English wheat ; nevertheless, the demand for all kinds was in a sluggish state, at Monday's prices. There was a fair supply of foreign wheat on offer, and the sale for all descriptions ruled very inactive, at barely stationary prices. We were well supplied with barley, in which only a limited business was doing, at late rates. Malt was very dull, and rather lower to purchase. The sho .v of oats was extensive. All descriptions wore heavy, and the quotations were barely supported. Beans, peas, and tour commanded very little attention. ARRIVALS THIS WEIS. Barley. ( Malt. Oats. i Flour. 1.410 880 2,190 1 430 16,280 5,130 I 2250aks. Wheat. 720 Knglish .. Irish .. •• Foreign .. 3,970 BOROUGH HOP. Selected new hops move off steadily, at very full prices All other kinds aro a dull sale. WHITECFIAPEL. Each kind of moat moved off slowly, at barely stationary prices. Beef, 3s 4d to 46 6d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; veal, 4s 01 to 5s 2d; pork, 3s 4d to 4s &I per 81bs. by the carcase. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, Dee. G.—Wind this day at Noon, W.S.W. ; moderate breeze, and fine weather. OFF MARGATE, Dee. s.—lndia, from Hobart Town. RAMSGATE, Dec. s.—Wind, W.S.W. Arrived—Wal demar, from Leith ; and Hertha, Newcastle, both for Rio Janeiro. OFF DOVER, Dec. s.—Wind, W. to W.S.W. Arrived —Soren, from the Cape of Good Hope. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. s. —Wind, W.S.W. blowing hard. Tho Liverpool, for New York, has not sailed, as reported. FALMOUTH, Dec. s.—Arrived—Jose, from Havannah ; Temperance, Mazagan. GLOUCESTER, Dec. s.—Arrived—Osprey, from Quebeo ; Prince of Wales, do. GRIMSBY, Dec. s.—Arrivod—Eliza Jane, from Richi bucto ; Regent, Quebec; Wm. Watson, do. SHIELDS, Dee. s.—Wind, W. Sailed—Martha Jane, for the Cape of Good Hope. SUNDERLAND, Dec. b.—Wind, W.S.W. Arrived — Jeannette, from Batavia ; Princess Sophia, Ceylon; Re netts, Aden. WHITRHAVEN, Dec. s.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Trou badour, from Demerara ; Repeater, Savannah. BLYTH, Dec. s.—The Atlas, of this port, from Dunkirk, has been got off the sand, without much apparent damage. YARMOUTH, Dec. s.—The Rovigno, of Trieste, from Falmouth to Hull, struck on Hasborough Sand yesterday, and came off and sunk. YARMOUTH ROADS.—Arrived—Eder, from Riehibucto ; Harold, from St. John's, N. 8., both for Hull. LIVERPOOL, Dec. s.—The Courier, of this plait, was all well off Cape Chersonese, Noy. 16. QUEENSTOWN, Dee. 4.—Wind, W.S.W. Arrived— Punjaub, from the Cape of Good Hope; Avalanche, from Callao ; Jas. Cruikshank, do. CAPE TOWN (Cape of Good Hope), Sept. 22.----The Chan cellor, from Bombay to London, ran ashore about 15 to 20 miles B. of Stray's Point, on the night of the 12th instant, and went to pieces the following day ; two men were drowned, but part of cargo saved. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH) LIVERPOOL, Wednesday Morning. Wind, N.W. ; fresh breeze. Arrived—Atlantic (s), from New York, with mail of 25th ult., despatches not landed ; M. J. Ward, Mobile. Off—Contest, from Bombay ; Robina, Callao ; Secret, Singapore ; Rosario, Buenos Ayres ; Marquis of Chandos, Honduras ; Susan, Halifax. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Wednesday, 10.17 a.m. Wind, W. ; tide, one hour flood ; fine. Arrived, sth—Maria, from Guernsey ; Agnora, St. Übes ; Reliance, Guernsey ; Leonne, Gravelines; Gipsy, Experiment, and Iris, Guernsey ; Varoon, Callao. Arrived, 6th—Stadt Dordrecht (a), from Dordt ; Ocean (a), Havre ; Seine (a), Boulogne ; Warburton, Prince Ed ward Island ; Lily and Hero, Guernsey. Sailed—Albion (s), for Bou lo g ne ; Belgium (s), Ostend. - DEAL, Wednesday, 9.35 a.m. Passed—John Banks, from Melbourne for London ; Naiad, from Terceira for London. The Puzzle, schooner, received' orders and. proceeded to Hull. THE WELTIIER.—DUBLIN, Yesterday.—For nearly a week past it has been blowing a succession of violent gales here, accompanied occasionally by drenching showers of rain, sleet, and hail. The hills about Dub lin were on Saturday still capped with the snow that fell some days previously. Since then however, the temperature, as regards cold, has considerably mode rated, and, although this morning the storm continues to rage from a northwesterly point, the atmosphere, is light, and, for the time of year, comparatively mild and warm. The. London mails arrive very irregularly, the weather in the Channel being even more severe than it ill one Wide L I T .E .R A T U lt B . Popular _History of British Messes. By R. M. Stark. Popular British Conchology ; a Familiar History of the Molluscs inhabiting the British Isles. By G. Brettiogham Sowerby. Lowell Reeve. We have frequently had occasion to commend the very excellent series of popular scientific works issued by Mr. Reeve. Each volume is embellished with numerous illustrations, beautifully coloured, which considerably enhance its value, - rendering the explanations doubly interesting. The students of the two works above-mentioned will learn, perhaps with surprise, what marvels are connected with the lichens and mosses they tread under foot in a coun try ramble, and the shelly habitations of the "creeping things" they would otherwise consider unworthy of attention. As a means of rendering some among the wonders of nature more attractive and intelligible to the unlearned, the volumes of Mr. Stark on British Mosses, and of Mr. Sowerby on British Conchology, are v aluable additions to Mr. Reeve's excellent series. Arvon ; or, The Trials. By C. Mitchell Charles, author of " Hamm and Catar," dr,c. 2 vols. Routledge . and Co. This work is entitled a legend, but it may rather be considered an historical romance. The author is already favourably known by his earlier produc tions, which display much vigour of style and ori ginality of construction. His favourite epochs are evidently an c i en t • ' and although this tale is not , like his first, of an antediluvian era, it relates to a comparatively a n ti quar i an period. The year 134 . 1 is the date se l ec t e d, and the scene is laid in Brit tany, at the time when the rival claimants for the dukedom, the Earl of Montfort and Lord Charles Blois, nephew of the King of France, were for the possession of N an t es , thechief town fightin' g f Brittany. The interest of th e narrative does not, however, rest with the leaders of the factions. The reader is somewhat startled at openin g gof the story to be introduced to no less than th ree yout h s _ of undiscovered parentage, residing at the court of the Earl of Montfort, then Duke of Brittany. This extraordinary coincidence is subsequently ex plained by two of them being brothers. The plot is somewhat elaborate, and, to add to the diffi culty, we are led to suppose, and, indeed, it is stated by one of the parties interested that one of the three is Edward Arvop, the brother of the hero, while in reality it is his companion who is Edward Arvon. This intricacy of plot will, no doubt, be very attractive to many, and certainly it has the recommendation of arousing the reader's attention, for it would be difficult for the most ex perienced novel reader to foretel the conclusion. The heroine, Alice de Leon, is a very attractive character. She is the niece of Sir Herve de I4on, a haughty and violent man of much power, one of the councillors of the duke, who, on some provo cation, went over to his rival and surrendered Nantes to him. In youth he had committed many crimes, of which the greatest was the accusation of murder, which he had brought against his for mer friend, Henri Arvon, knowing it to be false. The poetical justice by which his unrelenting per secution of the supposed child of his victim leads him to kill his own long-lost son is powerfully drawn. The style and language is quite modern, which, if not so correct, is certainly more agree able to the reader. It is an interesting romance, in which love and hate, private quarrels and public war, escapes and murders, plots and discoveries 2 romance and history, are skilfully blended. Railway Reading. The great demand that has arisen of late years for cheap literature-, more especially for works of fiction, has given rise to a rapid increase in the publication of shilling volumes. While the benefits of education for the lower classes are now generally admitted, and while none can deny a taste for reading to be an elevating and profitable acquisi tion, yet there are many disadvantages attending the perusal of works of this class. In the first place, the copyright question having been so long in so unsatisfactory a state, many foreign works of a questionable tendency have been among the novels selected for publication, and secondly, the lowness of price, when the works were original, have necessitated their being of a very second-rate character. This would signify very little to those who had opportunities of a better kind of reading, ' who, directed by a cultivated taste, would be quite above their influence. But those who would most eagerly peruse these volumes as the only ones within their reach, the half-educated of the upper lower class would be those most unable to see their faults and absurdities, and most likely to be charmed with the wild romance or exaggerated sentiment of their stylo. Aftet loadini; a rew or such works, those of a higher class, should they obtain them, would appear dull and tame. Hence forward they would only seek fresh excitement, and require it of a more stirring kind. Even should they possess no decided fault in the moral they are very apt to disgust the reader with real life; and instead of teaching him that "life is earnest," and showing him that " we can make our lives sublime," they tend to make him dissatisfied with his position in the world, and to take away his interest in practical life. The obvious method to counteract the influence, it is to be feared, very largely exercised over the lower reading classes of the community by these pernicious works, is the publication of novels of a high class and standard character, with the prestige of well-known names. Novels are no longer what they were. A hundred years ago none but the most trifling and silly could have devoted their time to their perusal. Now, genius of the highest class, taste the most refined, and knowledge the most varied, unite to produce works that elevate, while they enthral and in struct and fascinate the reader. There no longer exists a dearth of works of fiction of the highest class ; and could they be brought to supersede the worse than nonsense now so freely circulated the benefits would be very great. It is, therefore, with much pleasure that we see that many respectable publishers are meeting the demand for cheap literature with a re-issue of many standard works, formerly published at a high price. Conspicuous among th ese we ma y men tion the production of the " Waverley Novels," now publishing at eighteenpence each, by Messrs. Black, of Edinburgh. The " Select Library of Fic tion," published by Chapman and Hall, contains works ot a superior character, and of great attrac tions. Among those now ready we may mention " Mary Barton," a novel of deep and thrillingin terest ; the " Blithedale, Romance, by the well known American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne ; " The Head of the Family," by th e talented writer of " Olive;" and the lively and clever " Bachelor of the Albany." Those who wish for standard romances are also supplied by Messrs. Routledge and Co., who are now bringing out the novels of Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, in monthly volumes. The entire series will be included. Two sets of Cooper's novels are also being published—one by Messrs. Routledge and Co., and the other by Mr. Hodgson, the founder of " The Parlour Library," which has been so long in existence, and includes, among many others, the works of G. P. R. James and Mrs. Marsh. Among recent American works issued in this country, one from the pen of Miss Mcln tosh sustains her chara c t er as a simple and pleasing domestic writer. " Ida May," a story of the slave states, is also an attractive and truthful tale, while a new romance entitled " Fashion and Famine" is one of the sentimental and unprofitable class 'above alluded to. The fifth edition of G . . Warburton's celebrated " Hochelaga , " and Miss Pardoe's " City of the Sultan," have recently ap peared at one shilling and sixpence each. In the „ Railway Library, " Rookingham, a well-written and interesting novel, and one of the . most enter taining of Mrs. Gore's clever s tories, " Pin Money," have been lately included. Among naval novels we may mention the " Albatross," by Kingston, and "Singleton Fontenoy," by J. Hannay. " Sybil interesting story, a somewhat impro bable but nteresting story, by Mrs. Grey, and " M odern Flirta tions,' by Miss Catherine Sinclair, are also among r ecen t reprints. With such works as we have mentioned widely circulated among romance readers let us hope that the good will conquer the evil, and th a t t ra nslations of French novels, and tales of which n and murderers but tha t are the the works heroes, o f ourw illo l h o i n gh ge w r a b Y : i tolerated, e first rate romancists, who in thi s century have eclipsed of gest and h taste all their predecessors, may fulfil their noblest task—the elevati on o f the literary highest the people. HO? DRYING NUISANCE NEAR pe G s : iseale sla gn h Yesterday, at the Surrey Sessions, William Trower and Jacob Mass, extensive hop factors and dryers, were in dicted for carrying on the business of drying and colour. ing hops in furnaces, or kilns, by means of sulphur, o the premises, Queen's Head-yard, High-stre?t, South wark ; such being a publio nuisance a T n .h d healths of the inhabitants, more mates of Guy's Hospital adjoining. whole day, and excited great interesetseit, great i n j urious f s _a t O elastt t he e t md o at t i nh h n y e e . eminent medical gentlemen were Several r of the wards were Drs. Taylor and Letheby. o a f n d t the hospitalc ontended adjo adjoin tbhye the e ck phuric acid from the defen da nt's health of the patients, and,taleedxeaerad,inheadd t of io a n ,child. Dr.D . LethebyTaylor f ' after nearly an jury, prosecution factory affected the r o o f s e d c e u f t e i n o d n all t ts la a ' t pr th e m e issue4l - rh e defence. A good many The defendants w other witnesses were also called on ere t ea l, fondants guilty.. caused e th d e th p e ro d s e e a cu th . each h n bound sid over went igunodiately. hour's deliberation, found the de they undertaking to abate the in their own recogni p s n a n n s ces in 500/. to appear for judg. t when called u 1 I