The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-28 00:00:00

• , . THE SUN, - ----_—.............................. in the rates to Europo during the wea,'and the among ”; (I, N 7 - E 1 NI Art x I ' l "' SU ARE MARK ETS. LINES LEASED AT FIXED lit.l iNTALP, "o . a . 9....9 .;-.. N 1 I ,_ s .it, of tonnage engaged is moderate. indigo, —We are as yet without any public sale. AND (THIS DAY.) . Lea s ing modes v flees Vastness __ __ -aa• Stu Paid, RAILwAYt -- COMMET:CIAL INTBLL.TGENCE. RAILWAYS. . THE BOMBAY MARKETS. _._____________ esteril ay. this day. • ...........—. ........... --...-4---.!... -,.....--. Pitom THE 14TH TO THE 28TH NoV. ';hr. Paid. RAnwAye. Closing Prices Busineos ione ' Compans. Y ()ITV - , TWO o'CLOCK.. 50 all !lel ford and London Sz. The stringency in the money market noticed in our yesterday. this day. Bletchley ... N. West. ... ,••• last report has increased during the fortnight, and au The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were —-- ------ -- St. 100 Ruckghan.lish. L.&N.W. 95 100 advance of 1 per cent. has taken place in the rate of dis- estimated at 6,000 bales, including 500 American Si*, 100 A1.er,1,- , r 20 —20 i 100 tilydesdal e Jc. 'jaledon... 98 100 count at the several banks. Advances on security of St. 1.00 E. Lincoln gr. and 20 Sea Island, taken for export. The market 12i 8•:, A.mbg. Nottng. Bos'. 6 per cent. It.Nrthn. 130 135 Government paper cannot now be had under 5 per cent. 5 0 all u a e n if t , l ts E t lst u J ym un e t a . : .. 4 . i 5 ... Our import markets in British manufacture, and i ll closed steadily, at previous rates. The sales corn2s all alas. Barr. & Caldonian. general, since the despatch of th e last mail seem to prised 4,500 American, 200 Pernam and Maran- 13/ all liirmin g . Wclverh. & Neils. Direct „„ ••• 25 all Do. NCW. Do ... ••• have assumed a more deplorable aspect than was re- Stour Valley ......., S 84 P Business Itra,nsacted during the past fortnight ham at sd. to 6id., 150 Egyptian at 51d. to 74 2 d., 31 ?9, 1 , I.lirkenhd. Lancsli. 4 25 all Glstr.eiDn.Fl Cit. Vrestn ... -- ••• - 100 all llrtlpl. Dk. & 'Vic. New., is very limited. Twist is in the same dilemm a as piece 1,000 Surat at 3.1. to 41; and 40 Sea Island at 11d. Ches4ire junct l3 —l2 o Railway & 'Servs. ... ••• goods, except some favourite marks (orders for which to ls. sd. per lb. Railway shares were steady. 274 all Do. Chesh. & Birk., 50 all Hull & Selby • I .Y. &NW. 103 -- 105 being received here) for transmission, which have met The amount of bills drawn hero by the Hon. £5O and 1,'.25 Cons. 16 —l7 25 all Do. i Shares. Do ••• ...... •.• 22 19 Do., .£21..... ....... ~ 7 6 with purchasers at or even above the current rate of the 123 all Do. i Shares. D 0... East India Company, during the past fortnight, 25 30 Ply '‘,ll &Tyn)origina day. Sales about 1,050 bales mule, and 383 bales 12i all Lou.& Greenw S. Eastcsrn 13 —l3 water, with stocks on hand. was 545,2641. 13s. 3d. , X 25 (isscl. at .£45) -.— ... 20 all Do.Prefcrence Do 23 — 2 4 St. 100 Bristol au - Exeter... 93 95 Our metal market remains more firm. The intimation at length given of the amount St. 100 eel 1 'onian 6oi - 614 10 all Lon., Til., &S. ?do &Co. 11 lli cc Our market for piece goods has not much altered for of the French loan, twenty millions sterling, will 10 As. Catmarther. and Car ' at. 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Norfolk... ... --* ••• England, and any change has unfortunately been dir•an . tend to confirm the impression entertained that St. 00 Do. 6 per ct. against importers. 50 all Che ' ster Cz Holyhead iii -- 143 Freight, owing to the nu merous arr i va l s d ur i ng th e the English money market must b e un f avoura bl y 50 a ll Cork and Bandon 9 11 N Matlock & Midld. 2 2 all ',ranch. Bxtn. L.&N.W. 1 fortnight, has declined ; und er our l as t quo t a ti ons , th e i n fl uence d . S pec i e will b e remitted by capitalists 20 all Cork, Black, & Pass ... ... and Ma 50 all Niiddlesbro' & Stckton& 2 16 Cornwell ••• ••• present rate for Liverpool and London is 3/. per ton. and speculators anxious to participate, and ex- 10 ) 1i Crieff Junction Redcar. . Darlingt. ... Exchange on England has varied little since last... ... me all Nfidld.Bradfd Z.fieland.. 91. 93 pecting to derive some profit; and since the in- 50 15 Dublin&BelfastJunc. 4 3 mail. The ruling quotations have been 2s. to 2s. 04d. 25 all D•indeePerth&Aber 50 all Northern and for China paper, and 2s. Old. to 2s. 5-16 d. for document stalments will be periodical, we may calculate ale n Junction 6l —74 Easternsp.c. E. Con.'t. 57 —• 59 e bills. that the Bank reserve will be trenched upon, 25 all Do. New ••• ..• 50 all Do. 6 per ct. Do_ ...... ... -- ... --.. St. 100 East Anglian l4i 15} s(' all Do. Fixecls pf' 00 •.' "". ". all Eastciat C Ort titles ..... 11 11 4 11 i 25 all ?rest. & Wyrc .&N.W and kept lower for some time, unless our 20 CHINA. imports of gold continue on a large scale from Aus- St. 100 Eastern Union, A &Ln&Yk „.. ... Since last despatch we have not received further tr a li a , an d th ere i s a resumpt i on o f specie arrivals Stock - 30 12 6 all Do. i Shares. Do ......... ... ... . St. 100 Da., Stock 2O 22 St. 100 iloystn.&llit. 3tNorthr 130 155 intelligence from Europe. from the United States. Altogether the position 25 83 Do., Now A. . 25 18i 3hef.Roth :tin% Gancash& The c English and. American Plenipotentiaries in ..... i Goolog.sp.c. Yorksh. ... _.:•• of the money market is both interesting and sug- Et. 1.00 il:zoit Lanmshire 7O —72 12 9: , S. Statlorclsb. ~Mikan 2 1 1 -- : 4 01 ri China, accompanied by a gentleman attached to gestve, and every o ne w ill b e anx i ous t o l earn i f we the French Legation, left Shanghai for the Peiho St. WO Edi n b urg h& (Ha ne y 53 55 10 N Mint). and Peebles._ ... .• 6 per cent... Darlingt ... ... on the 11th ult. It is quite uncertain when this can carry on the war by taxation or terminable loans St. 100 Edin.Prth 6tDunde, 19i 204 Z.' I ;), 1 : 1 : : ") :T r oi e :th r :0 1 I n: Y r: : 3 : t t : W .O II CI L : 9 3° 2 7 a 'orth & Clyde Jun , _., •.. expedition will return, but letters from Sir John instead of the more conventiooal system resorted to 10 1 r 67 69 t. 100 411asgew &S. wes t er.' Bowring may be looked for before the despatch of by our ally. The nunnnr 1-11,1 Tnrir,.., ;. ~,,-:-..._ - .„.- -•-- - CA I .AI Since last despatch we have not received further intelligence from Europe. The English and American Plenipotentiaries in China, accompanied by a gentleman attached to the French Legation, left Shanghai for the Peiho on the 11th ult. It is quite uncertain when this expedition will return, but letters from Sir John Bowring may be looked for before the despatch of the next mail ; for, whatever may be the state of the country near Peking, his Excellency will naturally be most anxious to communicate intelli gence of it. We cannot regret this voyage to the north, though the avowed leanings of Sir John to the fortunes cf the Manchow give every cause for apprehension lest his interference should be other than beneficial to the public interests. The Peking Gazette has been so often proved guilty of the grossest misrepresentation of facts, that we place no faith in statements found in late issues, of Imperialist successes over the followers of Tai-ping-Wang. It is, ho Never, generally be lieved that the fleet of Canton junks (formerly pirates, but taken into the Imperialist service) which left . Shangliao for Nanking a s:iort time ago, succeeded in passing Chin-keang-foo, and as Tao ping-Wang had no squadron sufficiently trained to oppose them, Imperialist possession of parts of the Yang-zekiang abovo Nanking has been to a certain extent complete. But with the river's banks the career stands checked, and in the course of a short time a return to the south may be safely calculated on ; the clinpaign proving of no political effect whatever, further than that of more and more ex asperating the people of the districts harried by express license of the so-called Imperialist Govern A squadron, supposed to have been piratical, found by the American steamer Queen in a bay of the island of Lantao, between Hong Kong and Macao, has been destroyed. Admiral Stirling had determined on ferreting out the huge nest discovered by the Spartan's bnts on a recent occa- CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 6,000 bales, including 500 American and 20 Sea Island, taken for export. The market closed steadily, at previous rates. Tho sales com prised 4,500 American, 200 Pernam and Maran ham at sid. to 6id., 150 Egyptian at 51-d. to 7d., 1,000 Surat at 3kl. to 4d.,.and 40 Sea Island at 11d. to ls. sd. per lb. Railway shares were steady. The amount of bills drawn here by the Hon. East India Company, during the past fortnight, was 545,264/. 13s. 3d. The intimation at length given of the amount of the French loan, twenty millions sterling, will tend to confirm the impression entertained that the English money market must be unfavourably influenced. Specie will be remitted by capitalists and speculators anxious to participate, and ex pecting to derive some profit ; and since the in stalments will be periodical, we may calculate that the Bank reserve will be trenched upon, and kept lower for sonic time, unless our imports of gold continue on a large scale from Aus tralia, and there is a resumption of specie arrivals St. from the United States. Altogether the position 25 of the money market is both interesting and sug- st: gestive, and every one will be anxious to learn if we 10 can carry on the war by taxation or terminable loans St. instead of the more conventional system resorted to ' st, by our ally. The rumour that Turkey is anxious St to issue the remaining two millions of the loan s Bt ,.. Airman which the Sultan's authorises, and wishes st'.' the French Government to assist by guaranteeing St. the interest, is another circumstance that will illus- r'4t. trate what we may expect in the future. Indeed, 12 we cau scarcely come to any other conclusion, see- 50 ing the vast expenditure incurred by all the Con- 1.6;, tinental Governments, than that money will be in i t active demand, save fo r commerc i a l purposes, slur- 14 ing the next few months, if not permanently while 20 the war lasts. There is satisfaction in reflecting T ! that a large portion of our expenditure has gone St. ,hitherto among our manufacturers, shipowners, 2(,), and artisans, hut in th e p a y men t o f ca ttl e, grain, 12; and other necessaries, more cheaply and conve- St; 50 niently obtained in Turkey and th e neighbouring 40 countries, there must throughout the contest be 25 eion, but before pro - ceeding to work made applica tion to the Viceroy at Canton for some official ' sanction. This was readily given ; but before the expedition could start the Chinese diplomatist gave the pirate leaders warning, with offers of rewards to join the Imperialist service. There had been negotiation on the subject before. IN o doubt but Admiral Stirling's reported intentions caused the sealing of the compact ; the bulk of the fleet went forthwith to Fatshan, and it is thought they will be successful in recovering the town from the insurgents who have now held it for a : third of a year and up wards. Such is a specimen of the methods adopted by'the Imperial Government to protract the evil day—a day which must come at last, for it is im possible for matters to revert to their old position of comparative quietude with them. It Canton the rebels hold their position, and all attempts of the Imperialists to dislodge them are futile.- EXCHANGE AND BULLION.—Canton On London, 4 8 ; on Bombay, 240 Rs. ; on Calcutta, 241 Rs. ; Carolus Dollars, 25 per cent. premium. Shanghae, Nov. 5 : On London, 6 5 to 6 51 ; on India, 317 Rs. ; Drafts on Canton, 26 discount ; Gold, $2l-15 per T. ; Sycee T's., 2-9 premium. Opium.—Canton, November 9.—Patna, $350 ; Benare, $355 ; Malwa, $460 ; Turkey, $3BO. Shanghae, November s.—Malwa, $365 ; Patna, $245. 100 Al , er,hien Ambg. Nottng. and Eastn. Junct.. all llelfast & Ballymena_ a ;9 ll ilt' £5O and 1:25 Cons. 19 Do., ....... 30 Myth &Tyn)origina? £25 (iced. at £45; 1100 13ristol and Exeter, 1100 Caledonian..... 21s. Caimarther. and Car digan all Chester & Holyhead all Cork and Bandon.. all Cork, Black, & Pas, 16 Cornwall 1. Crieff Junction , 15 Dublin&Belfsestiunc, all Dundee Perth&Aber Been Junction... all Do. New...... 100 East Anglian all Eastern Counties.... 100 Eastern Union, A Stock . 100 Da., B. Stock 83 Do., Now A 100 East Lancashire 100 Edinburgh & Cdasgov. 92 Edinb. and Peebles... 100 Edin.Prth eaDunde) 1 'orth & Clyde June, 1100 ilitSgOW &S. WeSterlt 100 4reat Northern ; 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. Stock ;)0 Gt. Sth. & \Vest. (I re. ; 100 Grey Western 100 Do. Stour Val. Rail Gua. SJe all Irish South-Eastert 1 all Lancaster & 14i Do., Thirds 4 Do. Now Thirds__ ' 100 Lancash.andYorki•l. 19:-. Do., Fifths "01.4 1)1. ' Wet. Riding Ile all Liv.Crsby.&Sontlii , i all London & Bfaelt was 100 i.cpid. Bright ek ••;.ost 100 I,ond. and N. We, , t,, 12 Do. Fifths ... 1 Do.lo/.Sh.,M&tt_. Do Elrtitha 100 I,ondmiten - 13. iVeste, 422 Do., 1.2:i . r0 14 Do. £1')..,• all f,ntll)drry&Coleraiile all f..ndudrry.& Enniss . 100 vi:anch.Sll,f.k.Linclu 4.; 00., Man.& Liu. CI, 100 Midland 100 , so.l3lrning.&Derb:, all Midld. G. West. (Ire, ) 22t Do. Half Shares..... , all Newcastle & Carlisle. Newinkt. Bury Exton. 21' Nwpt.Aberg, & gra 8 lCowry & Enniskille) Nowry Warre).)point' ,t.nd rtostrevor., 100 Norfolk iortlin.Coanties Ult. 100 North British alll North Devon, No. 1 all 1)0., No. 2 all Do., A A Deferred all Do., B Guarantee) 100 N.Eastern—Berwicli 20 Do. do. Extension .. 13 00. do. G.N.E. Parch all Do. Leeds 100 Do. York all North London .. Do. New .i.. 510 11 lF N.&S.Wstru.,Hamp stead, and City Jn.. 17? North Staffordshire., all - North Western.. all N. &S. Westrn.Juny. 1 Nuneaton, Hinckley and Leicester.. .00 I Oxford, Worcester,& Tirolverliampton 6 lr'ortsmouth .00 icottish Central . .00 ScottishMidiand all ihrewsby. & al , 111ropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& paid up at per con 111 youth Devon ' 00 loath Eastern ill south Wales . 5 Yrksh. do Rh , . Dur 5 ....... large sums disbursed. If there be any counter t. advantage derived in this instaxee beyond the great blessing of administering to the comfort and 1- health of our troops, it will be firstly in giving an 54 impulse to agricultural and commercial enterprise 25 in the Ottoman and other territories, where pre- ' e t. viously there was absence of all incentive, neith er tr' due protection to property existing, nor prompt payment being afforded; and, secondly, in enabling 20 the Government at Constantinople to purchase in St. • England the clothing and materiel of war which its s 2( t ) . army so greatly needs. In this way the founda- 16 tion of a steady and profitable interchange may be tg laid, susceptible of great extension after hostilities 8 cease. St. An official document has been issued, showing the amount expended by the various Railway Companies in the obtainment of their Acts of Parliament, and from the abstract it is shown to have been, in some instances, considerable, al though, owing to the absence of returns from the principal companies, it is difficult to arrive at any result. The English Stock Market has bean very quiet, and there is no speculation going on. A few pur chases for investment have been wade in the NO ST Three per Cents. at 91f to 91k, and the Reduced Three per Cents. at 90i to 91k. Bank Stock has been firmer, at 209 to 2094. Exchequer Bills havo been 53. to 7s. premium. Consols, which were purchased rather freely late yesterday after noon, upon a rumour that there was to be a Peace Congress at Vienna, have been steady this morning at 914 to a. The foreign investments are mostly firm :—Tur kish Bonds have risen to 75'1, And 76 for account, although done at 75 to 1 for money, an immense " contaugo," which shows the extent and bearing of the speculation recently. Spanish New Deferred _Bonda have been 13(t 3. The promised retrench ment of expenditure, sale of clergy lands and fund ing into permanent home stock of the onerous floating obligations, are all calculated to inspire confidence, but not a word is said yet about the Cer tificates. This, probably, is to come when Espar tero feels his position to be stronger. French Four and-a-Half per Cents. have been dealt in at 92/ with the Exchange at 251. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. are 614. The following are the nominal prices of foreign stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexi can, 20 to 21i ; Peruvian, 69 to 71 ; Ditto 3 per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 41 to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents. 97 to 99 ; Ditto 41 per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred, 18k to 18 ; Ditto 3 per Cents., 38/ to 38 ; Ditto Certifi ea:tea, 5 to 5 ; Ditto Passive, 41 to 4i. 20 20 10 10 St. 10 St.. •25 8 itaine,s,Wok. &Wols i tockton & Darlin ; l. Stockton St Hartlopl 100 rail' Vale 9 Do. £lO shares 100 Do. Fre . f., No. 1 21 rhs,mei Haven Doct and Railway all Vale of NOath all Waterfd. & Kilkenn) all Waterford&Limcrick 18 West Cornwall. . 3 West End of London and Crystal all West London Inds. Wimbledn &Croydon, all 3i 8 2s. 67 - 69 891 - 5'0 : : 77 - 79 123 - J 25 89 -- 91 70 70; 53 - 62 72 - 77 6 - 8 6 - 8 72 - 734 -- 5i 691 701 701 1 25 ex arra a PREFLaM. 100 (Aberdeen..., 10 1 .) Do. No. 2,7 p. c 30 Myth and Tyne lOper' c. pref. (issd. at 501) 100 ;Brig. & Ex. 4 p. c. St. 5 Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO all Chester & Holyheaii Guar. 5i per cent all Do. do. Pref. No. 2 all Do. do. Pref. No. 2 all Cork tzßandonsip.Q; all Dundee Perth &Aber: doen Junction • ell EastAnglian (X 31052 - 100 94 2: i)*6 74 8A 106 108 100 —100 i d a d d if 81 9 • 81 0 —80 l 734 I 21 1.41 -; 4i - 6. 10G1 I . 6 per cent all Do. (.C5) 7 per cent 2 Do. (e 7 17s) 7p. c ~ tll E4stern Counties Ex-I 1 tension, 5 p. c. No. 1 All Do. No 2 . all Do. Now 6 r . c. s-, all Eastern Union, Seri' ! - i 1", 12t - 241 - '24 GS 69 41 - 42 1 , 1 par 10i 9. 24 49 - 51 31 3A 31 32 8 10 17i 20 20 20 Antwerp &Rotterdam . Belglan Eastn. June. Beziers to Graissessae Bombay, Baroda, and. Central Inclia,Serip Central of Italy Demerara 'Dijon ard Besancon. 'Dutch Rhenigh Eastern of France . Do. Now East Indian De. Extension Do. , q p. c. Lids., pay '57, convertible Do. do. do., '59, do Gd. Jur et. of France Gd. Tk of Canad , ,A is. Do. do The last week's railway receipts ascertained up WU ICI this day are in round figures as under : 100 1854. 1853, 20 2.3 463,311 £55,642 25 14,731 11,827 25 12,045 10,398 ___ North-Western* South-Western* Brighton Great Western Alidland* South-Eastern Caledonian Great Northern Lancashire and Yorkshire* North-Eastern 29,025 27,291 15,549 14,145 k ch f 11,258 9,646 20 23,569 18,544 19,276 17,892 2 . 61 30,252 27,520 101 14 all H)o. St. Lawrence & I Atlan:c 'Do. Cert. of Deben., con. into Stk. till '63 Do. Comp. 6 p. c., do. Gt. Central 0. Franc:: Gt. Indian Penin..ula Do. Now 5 per cent Gt.Westernof Canad • Shares Do. 1303., payable's7, with option till '55 Do. do., '62, p. '56 'Pc do., '76, p. '6O . Do. do., '73, without option .. . . Itlamilton & Toronto IDo. 6 per crnt. * Christmas week. The half-monthly account is being adjusted in 100 the Railway Share Market, and prices are tolerably 100 firm. There is no business doing except in con- 100 nection with the settlement. The Mines, Banks, and Miscellaneous Compa nies are mostly nominal, but Crystal Palace have improved Lake 63nst. & Basic Lucca 6t Pistoja 5 P.C prof Great Luxembourg BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CILOOk. (From the Official List. ) Thriness dons thnk Stock ... 209 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities.... ........ 90i lk New 3 per Cent. Annuities Consols for Account, 10th January Exchequer Bills, 24d. 1.1 64 73i 74 ! 7 6,3 44 4 12 —12 i 52 53 52 E 4 par aP pd 4i 4id 6 60 ~. .... ~. 31 - 32 90 98 61 63 8 Rap 44 46 12 - 14 681 - 694 28i -22 i .•• - - i ... I ( 1 35 - 37 21060 , . ~ 7 2500 . 5 Smal! 6 Exchequer Bonds 1858, 3i per Cent. — Ditto 1859, „ PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.... ..... ... Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent — Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent.... lBi i furkish Scrip, paid up in full Ditto for the Account 7si 6 Dividends on the above payable in London. French Relates, 4h per Cent. 92f 250 ex. 25f 50 Belgian Bends , q per Cent. ex. 25 fr Dutch Exchange, *4 per Cent. 12 Gull Ditto 4 nor Cent. Certifieates...„ HALP•FAST TWO, Console .• 3 isj 17i 4 - 41 - 20 - 2 6 7 - ••• 6 . - 7 ei 6 11 li ~. - ...t: Ad-ip P _ 3 3o 311 (1 4 1 51 1 - P 7i 8 - 9 7d 10 84 I iP I 4'P par ip 161 171 id ip 2 d • par 2 d par 2 it par, ... dis 2f 3A 2i 2k ad 1p Constituted Shares Do. Oblig ations Lyons and Gcneva Lyons dz Moditerran sladras Do. New 20 20 20 20 I 10 2 all d par. Maria Antonia Do. do. New . Is,Telbourne Dk. & Ry. Namur & Liege (with interest) - Do. (ox interest) Northern of France D 0.20/. Shs.late Char leroi and Erquelines guar. 3i p. c. & red. at 22p. dm.. 88 yrs. from 1 Jan. 1854 Do. 201. 3 p. e (fmy.B.drAms.Shs.) NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds . ...... . Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen.— ParisCaen ds Cherbrg. Rouon and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Meuse Do. 5i p. cent. Prof Southern of France ISt. Andrew's and of the confusion by rt tehaer .Admi i r r a a l lt ß , oy in es e h o a o s s , or i i t un i n s ne stated, been ordered which wh i ch prevailed v A isi d tn ni d thatatY B dp a o l r a t k I l e a y s at month, during t t the e p fe r a o r o f e u e l d storm andth the duties ßo a r . the an t t r o a n t s a p k o e r t upon department, h iaself f connected with il 4 l l,3 r o elie h v e e ar the th g a a t llan c t ap o t ffi ai c n er Con stantinople.mati,thaolAdiniralS t" f ° l' r Nr' . l e w • ' Quin h as re ceived an appo i ntment in the same service. HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT s. ,a7h O o n is W k e n d o n w e n sda t y o last tile Leeds p o li ce as a despera t e character, a Powerful follow, named L BuIi, EED dock of th e Leeds Courthouse, chargedwaswthpalac murderous i nth the assault and robbery late the previous night. About , midnight on T ues d ay an e ld er ly farm servant, named James Cr oss l ey (who had sold a load of wheatin the . town, and was returning home with the money he had received for it) ca l led at the Black Bear, in the en of the town, an d was served with a glass of ale. II L. e drank it at ti e d oor of the bar, and while doing so ob served that Bull and several women were in the tap room. Not liking their appearance he hastened out quickly, followed by Bull and two of the women. Bull knocked him down by a heavy blow upon the head, seized him by the throat, and beat his head against the ground, swearing that if the poor fellow attempted to cry out he should be murdered at once. Bull was as sisted by the two women, and the three, after beating the him until rifled his pockets of 141. 10s. lqd., took his cravat from his neck, and his hat from his bead, and then ran away. Crossley was subsequently found in a sad state, and conveyed to the chief police-office. There he described his assailants, and Bull and a female named C.,;1e,01i : 1 1',:i', lki; O.IIC , 7, ppl ~ , I tt':, : ~ ..I. *NO:I,' of th, !Ato.un prop: I • fy, licyA ever, vat , fot;;, , : ::r; ,, '1i.,;13,•i I ~ :lca . The evidence against Collinson was inconclusive, and Ishe was discharged; Bull was eon - pitted for trial at lie York Anizos. Quebec (A) West Flanders Do 51 per c. Pref Western of France 1 West. of Switzerland) Wiesbaden Zealand 6i - 7 31 31i 12i -- 12 8i -- 9i 19i -19 i 46 -- 48 38 -- 40 ". pm 20i -21 i id —1) 2k --I % d 71 -- 7 ••• - ••• ... - pm 3i -: 1 ii - 5iP 10 St. St. 5 . 150 20 50 20 25 i6l I - rii !K BANKS. 80 -- 82 ... -- ... ••• ld—id 3 2id 21i 22 35 - 40 A°. st. st. St. 38 - 40 j Guar. 6 per cent all 'Do. 51., 10 ner cent. all Do. 101. Defientr.Sh. all Do. do. 4 per cent 100 East Laneash.f3p.cts. all East and West York shire June. Fifths all EdinbPrth.&Dunde,. 4 per cent. 100 Glasgow &S.Wcsterr Guar. 5 per cent ' 100 ,Great Northn. 5 p. c 100 Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. C. prone... 100 Do. 4 p: e. 84 Gt.N. of Scot. Ist Pref all Gt. SouthuALWestm. (Ireland) Eighths) 7 Do. 4 per C. Prsf. St 6 Gt. Westn. (Barks & Hants Ex. 5 p. 100 Do. con. red. 4, p. c . 100 Do. con. led. 4p. c. LOO Do. irred. 4p.c. all Do. Dirm. Pref all Do. Chester Bp. c.P.S. all Ds. do. 5 p. c. d 0... WO Do. firm. Gua. Stk. all Do. Ches. Gua. Stk. all Do. do. do all Do. do. do 6 Lan. & York. P. £2O 100 ,Do. 6p. c. Stock ! 100 London and Brightm Guaranteed 5 p. c 100 Do. Prof., sp.c. St 100 Do. New Guar.6 p. c 100 Lon.&N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 p. 5 Loudon &S. Westerr 41_ -- 43 68 - 70 8 - 10 Con. Thirds all Londonderry& Coler A Shares all Lowly. & Ennis. ASb all Nlan., Sher., & in f Shares, No.l. all Do. New, £lO 4! Do. £6 M it N. dim 2 0 12i 25 - 20 25 10 I.ok all • Aarypt.&Co.rl.4p c all Do. 4i per cent I.oi_ Do 20 20 211 20 25 21 q I 5 LOU Consol .6 p.e.St. 10e Do. Cousol. Bristol & Ttbra. 6 per cont.- 11 Do. Pref. alq per cent 10 Norfolk Debenture 00 Do. Prof. 4p. c. Stoct 1.00 Do. 5 p.c. Est (00 Do. 54 per ct . pref... , WO Do. Way. Val. sp. c :00 gorth British 100 N. E. Rem, 4 p.c. P. 5 Do. do. d 0.. .. 13 Do. Leeds 6 p.c N 0.1 9 Do. do. Quarters 4£ 10 Do.Yorkll.& y. Put.. all North Staffordshire,. 100 Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh.Xls, fjo.c. all :=cot. Cont., New Pre 10 Do. 5 per cent....,,,, all South Devon 1 DA. fixed, 4i per cent all •S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of 1:1 Os. 6d. 100 Do. 4i per cent....,,, all i.Yorksh.4p.e.Guar. all S Wales Gua. 4p. c , all Do. clo. 4 p. c. all Stockton and Dar lington, 5 per cent 5 00. do. do. all Stockton and Hartle pool, guar. 5 p. c. till lst July, 1856 4 WatorfciAKilk.gp.c. all Agua Fria all Anglo Austrin. Gold all Anglo Californian 6 Australian all Australian Cordillera all Australian Freehold. all Ave Mania,...Re all Baden (Gd.Dhy of, all Blwnarvon Iron and Coal 13.5 British Iron 5 Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm........ all Do. Cocaes & Cuiada 15 Do. St. John Dcl Rey 1 C.lrsons's Cvelr Clarend nCons. Min Co. of Jamaica • all Cobre Copper 1 Colonial Gold.. all Copper MM. of Eng. all Do. Pref. 7i p. cent. 16 CoPiapo.... ..... all English and. Austin Copper Stneltg Co Fortuna all General., all Gt.NuggetVeinßog 4 Great Polgooth all Liberty . all Linares. all Kariquita.. ........ 9 Ylexican&S.Amerien., all New Granada...,,,, ,. all New Linares Mining and Smelting Co all Nouveau Monde all Pontgiband Silver Lead MM. & Smelt 1 Port Philip all quartz Rock all lihymney Iron all Do. New 11; Santiago de Cuba..., all South Australian 74 Tin Croft ...... all United Mexican all Waller all West Mariposa 12s. Worthing Mining of Australia all Yuba 60 - 63 Ogre - ".xd 1.13 -- 115 !OS - 110 99 - 101 40 5 3 St. 2i 25 - 91 22 If 35 iiiISCEL] - 104 - 17 - 101 - 73 - -19 i - - - i li 135 184 91 134 11 133 20 20 20 10 2h- S r - ni - ip [33: 1 135 id §ii los, 100 102 90 92 a 3i .. ••• 1 id 111 - 113 12 14 id -- `2 Par 95 } 100 15 —lB ••• ••• id iP - f ... IA i - R t -1i - 101 1001 901 5 7 6 7 2i 2 it li 30 82 i i id par 46 48 50 65 a a :01:18 all Aubin Coal and Iror 17 . l ustralian Agricult. 4 A ustralsn .Pci fi c.Mai: all Australis. Royal Mail 54 Berlin Water Works 40 - Brit. American Land 1 Brit. dz Coln. Smelt& and Reduction Co 32?., Canada 100 Canada Gov. 6 p. ct Jan. and July all Crystal Pala ce all Crystal Pal. of France 5 Eastern Steam 21 ElectrieTelegraph(A) all Electric Teleg. of Ir. 14 Gen. Steam Navigat. all General Screw Steam 10 Irish Beetroot Sugar 10 Magdalena St. Navig, all Aediteran. Elec. Tel. all Nat. Pat. Steam Eno 5 Netherlands Land... 1 N. S. W. Coal 4 Inter Steam Navigat. Co. all N. B. Australasian 121 Nrth. ofEuropeStoam all Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl. all Penhisular& Oriental 45 Do. Do. all Portland Iron Co , ?o; al Mail Steam ~ it 6eut. all '24outh Austral.Lan all Sabraar. Telegraph all Do. Registered. aiii, , TAl!Ple.mo4'll land 31i THE SION, LONDON, T:HURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBI4_74It 28, 1854, THE FRENCH AI 2IY IN THE EAST. The French Minister of War has addressed the following circular to the prefects of departments, generals in command of divisions, and military in tondants " Paris, Dec. 26. "Gentlemen --Several persons having written to in form me of the articles which they intended eending asgifts to our soldiers in the East, and to inquire how they were to send them, the government of the Emperor accepts with pleasure these manifestations of national gratitude, which honour alike the brave soldiers who are the object of them and the citizens who desire to show their lively sympathy for the groat cause which we support in the East. I desire, therefore, that the greatest publicity may be given to these generous offers, and that each per son may be acquainted with the employment assigned to the objects which be sends to the army. I have decided that articles shall be addressed to the intendants of the military division', who shall have a receipt given for the same by their agents, shall classify them according to the nature of the service for which they shag be destined, and shall at once forward them to the port of Marseilles, and from that place to Constan tinople. A notice will be inserted in a journal of the locality to the end that all gifts may be known, registered, and receipted, according to a form prepered fur the purpose. A copy of every form shall be forwarded to my office, where they will be centralised by a commission composed of the following persons :—MM. Derrican, councillor of State, president; Bouaisser de Bornouie, military in tendant ; de Tablay, lieut.-colonel of the staff ; and de Franconiere, lieutenant-colonel of the staff and chief of my Cabinet. I thank you, gentlemen, for the care which you have been pleased to take in seconding the intentions of the Emperor by encouraging the generous enthusiasm of the persons under your administration. The Government has largely provided for all the wants of our army ; but it is exceedingly agreeable to it to see the soldier, who are fighting so far from their country receiving these marks of gratitude from their countrymen, who thus recompense so many fatigues and sacrifices.— Receive, Gentlemen, the assurance of my roost distin- Huished consideration, VAILLANT, Marshal of France." STATE OP TRADE. (Frona the Manchester Guardian of yesterday.) MANCTIESTER, Dec. 26.—This being the Christmas holiday week, we have had a comparatively scanty at tendance on 'Change to-day, and the market must be described as a quiet ona ; yet, as rec , ards prices, marked by a general steadine-s. Among the dullest articles in yarns are 24's and 28's warps, and 20's and 30's water twist. IIALIFAx, Dec. 23.—The market in our Piece llall has been very dull to-clay, and there is little doing, either in words, yarns, or pieces. ROCHDALE, Dec. 2.3,—We have a very thin attend ance of buyers in the market to-day, and a limited amount:of business transacted at last week's prices. HUDDERSFIELD, Dec. 26.—The last market in the year has not been an improvement on its predecessors. There has been very little done in the way of business, and few orders given out for new year's account. EGYPT. ALTAANDRIA, Dec. 19.—The Valetta arrived here yesterday, with the Marseilles portion of tke Loudon overland mail of December 9, and returns to-day with the Marseilles portion of the Calcutta mail of November 20. The Euxine, with the Southampton portion of the mail, has not yet arrived, and the steamers are detained at Suez until she does come in. The body of the late Lord F. Fitzclarence, which reached Cairo from Bombay on the 13th, will not be brought down to Alexandria for another week, and will be taken to England by the next mail with Lady Fitzclarence. Said Pasha, the Viceroy, has postponed his de parture for Upper Egypt until after his reception of the Hon. C. A. Murray, Minister-Plenipoten tiary in Persia. Said Pasha has frequently and publicly expressed his great dis'ike to Mr. Murray, and it must be with very bitter feelings that ha finds himself under the necessity of showing him any attention. His Highness continues to be sorely pressed for money. On the 10th of April, accord ing to the Sultan's firman, Said Pasha will have to pay six months' tribute in advance, or upwards of 140,0001. sterling, to the Bank of England or of France, on account of the Turkish loan, and if his Highness has such difficulty in meeting present expenses, he will have to resort to some extraor dinary means in order to carry out the Sultan's orders by the 10th April. THE MEDITERRANEAN. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27. By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Tagus, Captain J. K. Joy, we have dates from Alexandria to the 9th, Malta the 12th, and Gibraltar the 18th inst. The Tagus put into Vigo on the 23d in consequence of bad weather. The Tagus brings 51 passengers, among whom are Lord Melville, and on freight 29 packages of specie, 145 boxes of oranges, 20 cases opium, 299 bales and cases silk, and a general cargo. From Gibraltar we have accounts to the 18th inst. The Royal mail steamer Magdalena, with the 18th Regiment (Royal Irish) on, board, passed through the Straits at 10 a.m. on the 15th inst. The screw transport Cosmopolitan, five days eight hours from Portsmouth, with wooden huts, shot, &a., arrived at Gibraltar on the 15th, and proceeded for Balaklava. The screw steamer Orantes, from Malta and Tunis, touched at Gibraltar oa the 16th, bound for Liverpool. The Gibraltar Chronicle of the 18th inst. says— " The British steam transports Cumberland and John Bowes, which put in here, the former on Saturday after. noon, and the latter yesterday morning on their way to the East, for the purpose of coaling, have left for their destination. Both are laden with wooden huts for the use of our troops before Sebastopol. "The Alma steam transport, with a number of medi cal, commissariat, and other officers, stores, &c., for the Crimea, arrived about the same time as the Cumberland, and will proceed this afternoon, after taking in a supply of coal, for her destination. " Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-sloop Hecla, 6 guns, Commander Hawker, which arrived yesterday from Portsmouth, is to be stationed here." At Gibraltar exchange on London was quoted 511 ; Paris, sf. 42c. ; Marseilles, sf. 44 c . ; G enoa , Bf. 48c. At eight days' sight, on Madrid, dis. Cadiz, dis. ; Malaga, prem. ; Seville, # prem • Alicante, Valencia, and Barcelona, par ; Spanish pillared dollars, 3 per cent. prem. Lady Blantyre and family have arrived at Stafford House from Erskine House, N.B. Lord Blantyre will arrive in London early in the en suing week. MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—To•d:ty was blank, a few members met, but transacted no business. A match at billiards will be played at Mr. Roberts' Room, 28, Cross-street, on Tuesday next, Jaenary 2d, between Mr. Bowles, of the Union Club, and Mr. Smith, of this town ; 1,000 up fer 251. a side. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITU TION.—The half-yearly general court of governors of this institution was heldyesterdayat the London Tavern; Sir James Duke, Bart., M.P., in the chair. The secre tary, Mr. Charles Nash, read the report, which congratu lated the meeting on the steady progress of the society. The subscriptions for the past year showed an increase of 621. ls. over the previous year. The total income for 1854 had been 5271. 25.; the expenditure, 2311. 125.9 d.; leaving a balance in favour of th& society of 2951. 9s. 3d. In compliance with the suggestion made at the last gene ral meeting a system of registration for the benefit of members had been established. The committee re gretted that they could not recommend the election of more than one annuitant ; four candidates have been pro posed—Mrs. Frances Drayson, Mrs. Charlotte A. Phillips, Mr. John Goss, and Mr. A. Harrison. The report having been adopted, and the committee and officers for the past year Inia.nlino,lo3, ro.elt.ctcl, the rzfoting procled to the bartt, which resnited in the election of Mr s . Phillip s to an annuity of 251. a year. Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting feparAtecl. • MINES. par 2 p 14 16 1 —li par ip 14 —l6 i i 8 ... 9 i - IT 7 - 1 I - i ••• ••• 15 - 16 23- t 5 6 - S - 3 1 - 1i 1 - 2 21 - 3 A 36 - 37 2/ 2d ••• - ••• 100 - 105 -109 i --31 lie 3i ii i = iii ... - ••• i "- 11 ... .... ••• i _ 1 ii - 2i 2 - 2i 61 -- 63 lj - 3? - 39 - 1 -. 1 111 •.= MARKET NE 6/S-(TAIL DAY.) MEAT MARKETS. NEWCIATE AND LEADENHALt.—Tho trade was tolerably firm, and the quotations were well supported. Beef, from 3s Ld to 4s 6d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; Veal, 4s 0,1 to Gs Oct ; Pork, 3s 0,1 to 4s Gd per Blbs, by the carcase. SO►JTHALL, Dec. 27.—A very limited supply of stock was on sale to-day. Sheep moved off steadily, at full prices. Otherwise, the demand was in a sluggish state. Beef, from 3s 4tl to 4s 10,1 ; Mutton, 3s Gd to 5s 0:1 ; Veal, 3s 10d to 4s 10d ; Pork, 3s Oil to 4s 4d per 81bs, to sink the offals. ROIIFORD, Dec. 27.—Our market has ruled inactive, yet prices D.re tolerably firm. Beef, from 3s 4(1 to 5s 01 ; Mutton, 3s 41 to 5s 01; Veal, 4s 01 to 5s Od ; Pork, 3s 4(1 to 4s 4d per 81bs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 21s to 26s each. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 21 15s to 41 12s Gd ; clover ditto, 31 Os to 5/15s ; and straw, 11 2s to 1/ Ss per load. Trade rather dull. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 16s to 4/ 16s; clover ditto, 3/ Os to 5/15s ; and straw. 1/ 43 to 1/ 103 per load. A fair average supply and a moderate demand. WIIITECHAP.EL.—Meadow hay, 2115 s to 41 14s; clover ditto, 31 Os to 6/ Os; and straw, 11 33 to 1/ 8s per load. Trade steady. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, Dec. 28.—Wind this day at Noon, N.W. there was a slight frost during the night, with a light fa] of snow. The Margaret Malcolm, from Peterhead to London, was run into by the Mariner, schooner, of Perth, and sunk off Woolwich. Tho Express, from Cardiff to Singapore, was fallen in with, abandoned, on the 24th October, in tat. 36 S., 23 E., by the Ann Bridson, arrived iu the Downs, w hi c h se t fi re to and left her. ja w % y2ob,,Nw-;piranitg,whale,ie Helena which repairs. The Dorothy, from the Mauritius to London, wan, in PORTSMOUTH', Dec. 27.—Wind, W. Arrived—Abigail, .S.rc.,WanA .tracks e put h i r nt a oSt. from Quebec ; Northumberland, from Southampton, for Melbourne. 1 PLYMOUTH, Dec. 27.—Wind, N.W. Sailed—George Marshall, for Melbourne ; Charles and Jane, Boston. FALMOUTH, Dec. 27.—Arrived—Leopold 1., from Ha. vannah. ILFRACOMBE, Dec. 27.—Wind,N.W. Arrived—Vienna, from St. Domingo, for Liverpool, assisted in damaged. GLOUCESTER, Dec. 27.—Arrived—Tamarac, from Riebi bud°. SWANSEA, Dec. 27.—Wind, W. Arrived—Countess of Bective, from Cuba. SHIELDS, Dec. 27.—Wind, W. .Sailed—Elizabeth Mor rison, for Havannab. BELFAST, Dec. 26.—Wind, W. Arrived—Annie Hall, from Shediac. (PEE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Thursday Morning. Wind, N. ; fine breeze. Sailed—lstria, for Constantinople. WATERFORD, Dec. 26. Wind, W.N.W. Arrived-- Jennett, from Now York. (Br SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Thursday, 10.37 a.m. Wind, W.N.W. ; tide, two hours' ebb ; weather, fresh and fine. Arrived, Dec. 27—San Francisco, from Cavalla ; Dora, Messina ; Spirit, Terceira ; Pilot (s), Hamburg; City of Norwich (s), do. ; Holland (s), Ostend. Arrived, Dec. 28 —Baron Osp (s), from Antwerp ; Rain. bow (s), Rotterdam ; Teaser, St. Malo ; Kossuth, Cal cutta ; Union, Cadiz ; Stratford, Mauritius. Sailed—Queen of Sheba, for Bermuda. DEAL, Thur.3day, 9.57 a.m. Wind, N.W. ; moderate and fine. Anchored—Pekin, from Calcutta, for London. Passed—Benjamin Greene, from London, for Mauritius ; Samuel Conard, fro:n Shields, for Martinique. THE CRIMEAN ARMY Pl:MD.—Among the many seasonable and appropriate gifts to this excellent fund is one from the most noble the Marquis of Breadalbane, who has given directions to Mr. Crate, of Nut Ford-place, wine and spirit merchant, to forward from his cellars four puncheons of line Scotch whisky, for the use of the Highland Brigade in the Crimea. It is understood that this generous contribution is to be consigned to Sir Colin Campbell, the brave and esteemed chief of this gallant corps. DINNER TO THE PooL—Besides the provision of old English fare on Christmas-day for the poor in the work houses, the poor who struggle to keep out of theworkhonse were supplied, to some extent, with the means of keep ing the feast, as between the hours of 8 and 11 on Christmas morning there were given away, at the Soup kitcken, Ham-yard, Et. James's, no less thanl,2oo lbs. of beef and mutton, and 600 lbs. of plum-pudding, so that 300 families received each 41bs. of the former, and 2 lbs. of the latter, accompanied in each case by a half quartern loaf, a quart of beer, and a packet of tea or coffee. To make the treat more liberal, Messrs. Huntley and Palmer had seat a supply of biscuits, which were dealt out to each. The materials were given by various tradesmen of the metropolis, assisted by money from others ; and we doubt not these generous contributors enjoyed their own Christmas dinners none the less from the circumstance of their having sent a portion to those who had nothing prepared. ROGER AND THE BRITISH TROOPS IN THE CRIMEA.— The celebrated French tenor Roger, late of the Grand Opera at Paris who is making a professional tour in Germany, in which he visited Hamburg last week, seeing in the Paris paper l'hlustration the appeal of the well known Coatesse do G-- to the public, to send a supply of cigars and tobacco as a Christmas present to the British and French troops in the Crimea, imme diately wrote to offer his contribution of one evening's profit at the theatre, and fixed on the opera of La Dame Blanche, in which he would have to sing the aria "Oh quel plaisir d'etre soldat." As the circumstances were well known at Hamburg the house was crowded, and Roger sent to Paris a bill for 1,500 francs. BAYONETS AND RAMRODS FROSt MANCHESTER.—It is understood theta spindle and flyer manufactUrer of this city has received from the Government an order for the manufacture of 80,000 bayonets and 130,000 ramrods ; and that those articles are to be finished and delivered with the utmost possible despatch. In Birmingham and elsewhere, we are told, bayonets have always been made by hand ; but the gentleman in question satisfied himself some time since that his machinery was capable of turning•out weapons equal, if not superior to those made by hand ; and the Government seems to have gladly availed itself of the facilities offered for the speedy manufacture of any required number, whether of bayonets or ramrods.—Mauchester Guardian. MEDICAL PRACTICE IN FRANCE.—A man named Ber thier was lately tried before the Court of Assizes of the Ain for illegally acting as a medical man, and for exciting one class of citizens against the other. It appeared that when the cholera vies raging at Rillieux, this man pre sented himself and declared that he had an infallible remedy for the disease. The people, in the end, would only listen to what be said, and refused positively to accept any aid from two medical men sent to the com mune by the prefect of the Rhone. and whom Berthier represented as ig . noramuses. Unfortunately every patient that the prisoner treated died under his bane's so that there was not a single extenuating circumstance in his attempt to cure. The jury having found him guilty, the court condemned him to:a year's imprison , meat and 000 fr, Ane. FOREIGN. JOINT-STOI all Australasia all British Colonial Bank and Loan Company all British N. American 5 Chartd. Bank of Asia 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & Chine 25 Colonial 20 Commercial of Lond 16 F.nglish Scottish and Australian all Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia 20 F.ondou and County 10 London Joint Stock 20 Loud. & Westminster 35 National ProvinCial of England 10 Do. Now 22! National of Ireland all New South Wales all Oriental Bank of Corporation 25 Provincial of Ireland all Do. New 1. 1 ;nip all 4onth Australia all Union of Australia 24 Do. New ltl Cra,.9u of LondoWittlei TILE STRONGEST MATERIAL FOR GUNS. Cie following letter has been addressed to a con tona;D:;rary r,—The Government has shown wisdom in giving Aire Nasmyth their support towards developing his plats. I have no doubt that under his hands the cape abilities of wrought iron for gun metal will be hrernght out to the uttermost, and his skill and ability . leave w nothing undone to insure the best possible resu t. I would, however, take the liberty of sug gest in . g to Mr. liasinyth that there is a materi a l f ar sal - et:nor to wrought iron. I allude to cast steel. A bar .of good Engli s h i ron, one inch square, will frus tum a weight of about 25 tons ; a bar of ordinary cast, steel of the same s i ze will sustain GO tons. The pc:e'er of cast steel to r es i s t wrenching asunder is to that; .of wrought iron nearly as 191 to 101, and cast stettl can be made perfectly uniform and h'omogeneous throstighout its mass, whilst with wrought iron, uni fornt ity of texture, and solidity, especially in large masi es, can only be approximated to, and many i mper . fectic tns must at all times exist when large masses of wrost ;ht iron are required, and which can only be form d by welding together a number of small pieces. The c bjections to cast steel are these :—lt is difficult to obta!i: a it in large masses, for it is only pro curable by melt . a )g steel in clay crucibles, usually containing about 40Ibe:, each, and two of which occupy one melting fur nace.. I have so far improved upon this process, that I obi: tin 561bs. from each crucible, and I work four such cruci 0 les in each furnace ; that is to say, one melting furna c e will yield 2 cwts. of cast steel, and therefore to cast a a ingot ,fitted for being drawn under the steam baron no. into a gun capable of carrying a ball of 3 cwt. 250 s ueh melting furnaces and 1,000 crucibles would be regroired, supposing the gun to weigh 25 tons, and the ct rn tents of all these crucibles would have to be poureit very quickly into ono large cylindrical"iron mould. to form the ingot. Whether it be possible to ;i Ingo matters so as to enable this to be done I leave it to the great manufacturers of cast steel ,;a1 Sheffield to decide ; but my own impression is that- lit is not merely pessille but a simple question of h eing a sufficient number of well-disciplined works ni tn and a suitable workshop, for the melting fur naces do not occupy much space. In this manner one ingot oil from 25 to 30 tons weight could be produced daily at, one such establishment ; and the next question is, Can such an ingot be drawn under the hammer into shape r: This Mr. Nasrnyth can decide. Another ob jectio a to the use of cast steel is, that when manufac tured 1 .ufileisiet/yees o ft to Ineuro toughness and strength it is p c rous in its structure and full of cavities, which, thoug:i they close up under the hammer, never unite so as to p ecome solid ; and when the cast steel is made sufficies it!y hard to form a solid ingot, free from the por „us in fie rnal structure, the steel is then brittle, like cast Now , I offer to show Mr. Nasmyth or the Garet nment authori ties how to make cast steel, which shall form a perfect,l y soli3 ingot and yet possess the utmost strength, and I c tn furnish Mr. Nesmyth with ingots of this steel to be rt lied and farmed into tubes of given dimensions, whicii, when bored and tested by hydraulic pressure, shall su stain double the strain of that which any wrought iron in bes of similar dimensions can undorp w:t.4.out yieldiel •. r&s cast steel. including the expenses of melting; , crucibles, materials, &c., would not cost more than 3e 1. per ton, and supposing that it is possible to east so larl re an ingot and to draw it into shape when cast, and t; le a to bore it, the guns thus formed would be all but irap erisbable, and not liable to the wear and tear which t,' le weaker materials of wrought or cast iron are subjec ''to. Besides the strength and tenacity possessed by ow t steel in its ordinary state, it may readily be made still tf other and more tenacious either by simply anneal ing it a: u dull red heat for some hours and then allow ing it t 3 cool slowly corered with sand or ashes, or more readily , by bringing the mass of steel to a temperature of 610 &legrecs, and then suddenly immersing it in cold water..---I am, sir, your constant reader, ROBT. MUSFIET. Wegl, Dean Steel Works, Colctad. NVAV p IE2 AND RAI T, W AY PLANT FOR ALAKLA The following letter has been addressed to a con tempos.; .ry Sir,— -The Wildfire, with her " navvies" and railway plant, eas, I perceive by a late Daily News, still at Birke al lead, waiting a wind—and wait she way for a month, •.; or if she sails, be that time before she gets out of the- , Channel. Any one who has paid attention to events. knows that in ordinary years, if a vessel does not 1€ we the Mersey before the second week in No vember, unless she is a clipper, the great chance is when she doses leave she may be knocking about for six weeks before ,she gets clear. Wimt are these railways for if they are not to be availed:. of in the present emergency ? To say nothing of the exigency, at a less cost by far than " finding" and pa,yinz ss. per day to each " navvie," and the hire of the vesseL during such detention, the whole plant and men could. Ise despatched per rail by the " shortest route" to Marseilles, and thence per steamer to Balaklava. Sma2l steamers—the class now in requisition for a winter• voyage—(we are always in extremes)—offer little better alternatives than sailing vessels, as they cannot sheer ta heavy weather.— Yours, &c. ONE WHO KNOWS ruElVlansEr WEEL„ Dec. .26, 1854. GUN COTTON. The following letter has been addressed to a con ,empora ry Sir,— -The successful introduction of gun cotton in the Austria a artillery has caused a general anxiety to learn whethar any similar experiments have been made in our own set vice since the first discovery of this powerful ex plosive, at which time, though no official statements were published, it was generally understood that the too rapid combustion burst the guns, and proved gun cotton to be inapplicable to the artillery then in use. As the hesitation, which I should otherwise have felt in addressing, any suggestions en the subject to a public journal, is removed by the publicity already given to the matter by a letter in yesterday's Times, I would ♦enture to ask, knowing how much the very obviousness and simplicity of the process will sometimes interfere with its trial— 1. Whether the experiment has been made of using a wad of gun cotton over the charge of powder ? And, if, in this case, the gradual ignition of the coarse powder would not have overcome the vis inertize of the Nall and forced it forward in the tube of the gun before the gun cotton could explode ? The danger of bursting would be further diminished by wrought-iron grins ? 2. Whether fulminates and explosives of a far more formidable nature than any now in general use might not be safely used in the filling of shells, if these ma terials were carefully wrapped up and packed into the shell with gun cotton ? No blow, short of that caused by propulsion from a gun, would produce heat enough to exp.tode the cotton.—Yours, &c , No CHEMIST. Oxford and Cambridge Club, Dec. 27. COLT'S REVOLVERS. The folrowing letter has been allresseci to the Editor of Times : Sir,—ln Cu; Times of the 10th inst. was published a note from a c ?rrespondent containing- an extract from a letter purpor.ing to come from St. Petersburg, in which the writer makes'ithe following statement :—" Co!. Cult has been or is still here with his machinery to make re volvers." Whereupon, without any further delay, lam attacked by various journals in terms of severe condem nation. Through the Times I beg the privilege of answering the statement and the attacks. It is not true that I have furnished arms or machinery to the Russian Government, or that I have contracted to furnish either arms or machinery to that Govern ment. The only truth in the letter, as regards me is, that I have been in Russia, as I have been in the other great States of Europe during the last two months. Ever since my armoury has been established in Lon don, both it and my own skill have always been at the service of the Goverrunent, and it rests with them to employ either or both to their fullest extent. My offers to the Government to manufacture any description of arms at prices much less than are paid to others have been sufficiently public already, and should afford a complete answer to all complaints against me of the sort referred to. It is not my fault if all my facilities are not now devoted to the British Government.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, SAMUEL COLT. 1, Spring-gardens, Dec. 27. PRIVATE AND JOINT-STOCK BANKS. The Banker's Magazine furnishes the returns of circu lation of the private and joint-stock banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending the 25th of Nov., 1854, and gives the following as the average weekly cir culation of those banks during the past month, viz. : Private banks .......................................... £3,946,163 Joint-stock banks ....................................... 3,134,898 Average weekly circulation £7,081,061 On comparing the above with the returns for the pre ceding month, ending the 28th of October last, it shows— A decrease in the circulation of the private banks of A decrease in the circulation of the joint-stock banks of R 20, 3 7,9 4,844 Dacrease on the month And, as compared with the return for the correspond ing period of last year—viz., November 26, 1853, it shows— A decrease in the circulation of the private banks of An increase in the circulation of the joint-stock banks of £21,831 Decrease on the year 11,028 £7,803 On comparing the above with the amounts of the fixed issues, the following appears to be the comparative state of the circulation : The private banks are below their fixed issues The joint-stock banks are below their fire' issues 2661,292 190,959 Total below their fixed issues ....• £852,251 LONDON AND GRKENIVIcH RAILWAY. —The dividend p ro p ose d to he deolared by the directors of this company on the unprivileged shares for the half-year ending the 31st inst, is 6a. Ucl, per share, free of income tax. POSITION OF TIIE MINISTRY. Let us earnestly entreat the attention of all lovers of constitutional government in England to the position occupied by the present Ministers. We ask of them that they will look at that position from no party point of view, bnt that they will judge of it solely with refers enco to those great constitutional principles which are the traditions of English government, and which, alt er all, are the only tree safeguards of English liberty and English greatness. There is no doubt whatever that at this moment the Ministry continve in office solely by the forbearance of men strongly opposed to them. They cboso to stake their official existence upon the passing cf the Foreign Enlistment Bill. It has been abundantly proved by an analysis of the division lists that this measure was carried solely because a large number of men, strongly opposed both to the Ministry and the measure, abstained from voting upon one or other of the divisions by which the fate of the bill was decided. We do not now inquire whether those who absented themselves acted right or wrong. We certainly do not question either the honesty or the patriotism of their intentions. We merely call attention to the indisputable fact, that a very large number of members of the House of Commons who usually oppose the pre sent Ministry, and who are known to dislike their Foreign Enlistment Bill, neglected, from some motive or other, to give effect to their opinions by voting the rejection of the measure. Had they done so, and had Ministers kept their word, we would not now have either a Foreign Enlistment Bill or a Coalition Cabinet. This establishes the proposition, thet Ministers hold office at this moment by the forbearance of their politi cal opponents. How far this may of affairs, we will not be to Ministers credit able, or to the cou n t ry a safe eta te now stop to inquire. Un happily there is much more than this. Lord Aberdeen continues Prime Minister, because the House of Commons, or at least a large nura• her of its members, are content to abandon the right or the duty of expressing their opinions. We can understand very well that members of that assembly generally giving their confidence or their sup port to Ministers should hesitate to displace them by an adverse veto even upon a measure of which they dis approved. To feelings like this we believe Ministers owe nine-tenths of the votes which were given fur the Foreign Enlistment Bill. There would, of course, b e no difficulty in understanding the motives which mi g i t influence men generally opposing the Ministry to sup port a ministerial meagure of which they approved. But the care with which we are dealing is one widely efferent from either of these—it is that of men who, disliking both the Ministry and their measure, yet, from one motive or other, abstained from voting against it. It does not need many words to prove that exactly to the extent to which such :eh:sena:3 prevails, the functions ,f the Hoese of Commons are, in truth, virtually in abeyance. If the number of members thus withholding themselves upon a division on a vital question be con. siderable, u-c may fhirly say, that upon that question the opinion of the House of Commons is, in truth, not taken at all. The assent of the House of Commons is not given to it. The forms, indeed, of the constitution and of Parliament niay be observed ; but all that can give to those loons vitality, or meaning, or life, is wanting. If this be a correct view of the proceedings upon tl,i.; mensere we are justified in saying that Ministers hold office, not merely by the sufferasee ef their op ponents, but by the abeyance of the constitutional func tions of the House of Commons. It is a very serious question to ask, whether this be a safe state of things ? We have a Ministry existing only by the voluntary abdication of their duties on the part of the represen tatives of:the people. The action of the popular branch of the Legislature would be fatal to their official life. They can only prolorg that life by lulling into inaction the House of Commons. This is in itself a grievous and a great calamity. We are old-fashioned enough to believe that popular opinion and popular feeling, expressed in the Parliament, con stitute the very soul and breath of our English Govern merit. We are sure that the national sanction to the resolutions of Ministers is that which is best calculated to give them weight and authority, not only at home, but abroad; and that in our free and happy constitu tion the approval of the representatives of the people qivoi to those resolutions a moral influence which the decisions of despotic Governments never can com mand. This, in truth, is the advantage in a free Go vernment which more than compensates for the many and obvious inconveniences that attend the public discussion of its measures. The resolves of the British Government are those of the nation, and not merely of its rulers. But all this is lost if we have a Ministry that depends for its existence upon the inaction of the House of Commons. Let us take this very Foreign Enlistment Bill as an example. Is there any pretence for saying that the nation represented in Parliament has assented to its passing ? We do not merely say that its passing at all was a surrender, on the part of those who voted for it, of their own opinions to the wishes or the conve nience of Government—this is an assent, although an extorted one—but let us test, by the numbers of the divisions, how far even such an assent as this was really given by " the Commons in Parliament assembled." Upon the second reading of this bill 241 votes were given for the measure, 202 against it. Ministers could only induce 241 members of the House of Commons to record their assent to this measure—very little snore than one-third of the house. Never was there an occasion upon which Ministers might more confidently have reckoned upon the presence of those who thought with them. The crisis was one of the deepest national anxiety and the gravest national peril. Even as a de monstration of earnestness in supporting the Sovereign it might have been expected that a full attendance of members would have marked the interest felt by the nation in the war. No party stimulus was neglected to bring up the lagging to the support of the Ministry. Circulars were issued headed with the unusual but signi ficant announcement— " Certain important and DICISITE divisions." Every effort was made to summon ministerial sup porters to their post, and after all this, for a aneasur• which they professed to think so essential that without it they could not carry on the war, the Ministers of Queen Victoria were scarcely able to obtain the votes of a third of the House of Commons. This is a position in which the Government of an Eng lish Sovereign never should be placed. To escape adverse divisions is but a poor triumph for a Ministry in a crisis like this. Deserted benches tell against the country, if not against Ministers, in the division. For their measures Ministers ought to command the cordial and enthusiastio support of Parliament and the country. This is something very different from the sullen silence with which a. large proportion of the House of Commons have barely permitted the ministerial measure to pass. The absence of so many members of " the great council of the nation" is no good omen for the c oun t ry. W e do not inquire whethr that absence was wise or not. We only state a proposition about which there can be no dispute—that Ministers could not bring to sanction their measure more than one-third of the representatives of the people. Let Parliamentary divisions be counted a`s they may, we repeat that such a Ministry- does not command that na tional sympathy and support without which no Ministry can manage the affairs of England with success. O. the contrary, it'is plain that Ministers succeed in holding effico only by reducing to practical inaction the sentiments and opiniors of at lea-A, one-third of the /liise of Commons itself. We may speculate upon the matter as we p!easo, but here is the plain fact. Oar Parlia mentary Government is one which is carried on by members of Parliament staying away. We earnestly recoup:lend this fact to tha, serious consideration of Lord John Russell, and those who, like him, still profess an attachment to the Parliamentary system established by the revolution of 1638:—Morning Herald. POSITION OF THE RUSSIANS IN 4514 MINOR. We extract the following from a letter dated Mosul Nov. 10 :—As I have seen utterly erroneous accounts in two London papers as to the movements of the Russian troops under Bebutoff, I have to inform you that they have not " entirely withdrawn across the frontier, aban doning every position which their successes at Bayazid and Kurackder4 had enabled them to occupy." I am able to contradict this statement on the authority of a letter received to-day by the English vice-consul here, from Yezdershier Bey—the son of the notorious Bedr Khan Bay, now in Candia— who is at present at Mardeen, six days to the north of this, engaged in collocting irregular troops for the army at Kars. He says, "By the last news from Van I learn that the Russians have collected a large force and encamped at Kozlygal, 12 hours from Van os the road from Bayazid. By this it would seem as if they intended a winter campaign—through six feet of snow." To this satisfact or y di sprover o f th e "ent ire withdrawal " of the Russians, I may add an equally flat contradiction to another paragraph in one of the same journals, which states th a t "th e Turks are advanc ing by forced marches on Ti fl i s f rom Kars and Batoum. The Turks at Kars and Batoum were never farther from " forced marches " i n their life, unless i ndeed it be back upon Erzeroum before the Russians, and not upon Tifli s even i f theld ground, and coming after them. This also I can state, on the faith of a pri va t e letter which reached myself some days ago from a f r i en d at Kars, who writes "Everything here is just as it w as a o Russian s disturb ur b rem ai n on their e snow allowed of a movement. Reinforcem ents are mo we nth are ago; no ttlhikeely to d ar riving at Batoum, but neither there n or h ere is thereany likelihood of a stir spr i ng. " So much for the with drawal of the Russians beyond th e frontier, and the "forced marches " of my old acquaintances upon Tiflis. ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE. --Mrs. Mary Anne Evans, the widow of the Rev. D. Evans, formerly rector of Simon burn, in the county of Northumberland, has invested the sum of 542/. in the Three per Cent. Consols, to found a scholarship in St. David's College, under the denomination of the "Simonburn Scholarship." It will be open for competition to students training for holy orders, who shall be natives of any of the 15 counties of Wales, including Monmouthshire ; but, cceteri3 paribus, it is provided that a native of Carmarthenshire shall have theprefi ranee. WAR VESSELS IN THE FIRTH.—At present th• Firth of Forth is the station of a squadron of war vessels, consisting of the Edinburgh, 60 guns, carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Chads ; the Cruiser, 17,. Captain Douglas ; the Archer, 14, Captain Heathcote ; and the J ac kal], tender. All the vessels have auxiliary steam. power. The Cruiser, which was the first to arrive from the Baltic, took up its station on Thursday in the rcads between Leith and Granton ; the Edinburgh came up as far as Inchkeith on Friday, and on Saturday - took an chorage higher up, saluting the Fort as it passed. On Sunday the Archer arrived about two o'clock, and saluted the Admiral's Sag,—Edinburgh Courant.