The Sun. — London, England, 1868-02-19 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND iOMMERCIAL INTELLMMNfTii. CITY, Two O'CLOCK. The stock Markets, with some exceptions, are more cheerful than they were yesterday, though no particu lar improvement has been established. The Funds have recovered a point, and they are comparatively firm. In the Foreign Market the principal feature is further depression in Egyptian, Rus sian, and Portuguese stocks, while Turkish are steady and Spanish good. As to railways they are steady, and Caledonians have imp rove d 2 p er cen t. Metropolitan stock has undergone considerable fluctua tion upon the refusal of the Lord Chancellor to inter fere in the case of the injunction granted by Vice- Chancellor Wood. The discount demand is quieter, and the rate for the best bills is rather lower, at 4 1 , per cent. Consols are firmer at an advance of being quoted at 92/ to 921 for money and account. New and IZetliiced Three per Cents., 93 to 93 ; India Five per Cents., 111-/ to 112±. Bank stock 248 to 250. Ex chequer Bills, 15s to 20s prem. Foreign Stocks are a shade firmer, with the excep tion of Egyptian and Russian, which are very flat. The 1864 bonds of the forme': are 2 per cent. lower, at 85 to 86,1 ; the Viceroy's 7 per cent. bonds, 11 lower, at 73 to 74- ; the .9 per cents., 11, at 88 to 83 ;: and the Railway Debentures 1, at 90 to 91. Russian (1866) are / lower, at 88 to 89 • and Portuguese scrip 1, at I prem ex div. New Spanish are 4 better, at 35 to 30i ; Greek are 12 to 12/ ; Mexican, 151 to 161 ; Turkish, 32k to 32 1; Italian, 43/ to 44 ; Chilian, 92i. to 93i- ; Peruvian (1805), 74i to 75i ; and ditto (1862), 91 to 92. The New Honduras Loan is steady, at to 1k prem. American Securities are good. United States' 5-20 Bonds are k better, at 71/ to 72. Erie Railroad, do to 50. Illinois, 881- to 89. Atlantic and Great Western Railway Debentures have receded to 26A- to 271, but the Consolidated Mortgage Bonds remain firm, at 251 to 2G. Metropolitan Railway stock was at 110, and imme diately fell to 1071, on telegrams that the Lord Chancellor refused to interfere with the injunction granted by the Vice-Chancellor, costs to be reserved to the hearing. There has since been a recovery to 1081 ; other railways are steady, at the following prices :—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 127* to 127/ ; Midland, 1074 to 107/ ; South Eastern, 71/ to 72/ ; London and North Western, 1184. to 1181 ; Great Northern A, 1081- to 1093 ; Great Eastern, 291 to 29 i ; Great Western, 451 to 452 ; Brighton, 45/ to 1 16 1 ; Sheffield, 42± to 42/ ; and North British, 341 Lo 354- ,• Caledonians are very firm, at 801- to 81 1_ In Bank Sto c k s littl e b us i ness i s d o i n g. Chartered Mercantile is A lower, at 28 to 29, but London and County is 1 higher, at 511 to 521- ex div. ; Con solidated stea d y, at j to prem. ex di v . ; L on d on and Westminster, 671- to 68k ; Oriental, 411 to 421 ; Union of London, 34 to 35. Forei g n Mining Shares are steady. St. John del Rey, 20 to 22. Port Phillip, 1± to 11. Chontales, 1 to 1i dis. Miscellaneous Shares are rather dull, and business is very restricted. Anglo-American Telegraph is quoted-at 192 , to 191, being k higher. Hudson's Bay is lower, at 14k to 141 • and London General Om nibus is, at 1i to A further sum of £74,000 in bar gold and sove reigns was withdrawn from the Bank yesterday for export. The Mexican dollars by the West India packet have been disposed of at 50d per ounce, showing no change. The City of Florence is stated to have contracted a loan of £720,000 with a French house, at 84 per cent. ; the price to be par. The liquidators of the Oriental Commercial Bank have declared a first dividend of 2s 6d in the pound, Payable on February 21st and 22d. The interim dividend of the Australian Agricultural Company is announced, at the rate of 7 per -cent. per annum. The directors of the Agra Bank (Limited) have de clared a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum, f ree of income tax, for the year ending 31st December, 1867, on the new capital, or A shares, of the bank. That p or ti on of the bank ' s capital which i s represente d y B, or " reserved," shares, will not (in accordance with the articles of association) participate in the pay ment of dividend until after the present year. The traffic receipts of the Metropolitan Railway for t he week ending the 16th instant amount to £4,500 148 11d, or an increase of £316 5s 9d. The Great_, Luxemburg increase is £461 4s 11d. Ihe increased activity in the Liverpool Cotton Market has had a remarkable effect upon the receipts o f the Atlantic cables, the receipts for the seven days of the last week having been as follows :—Feb. 9, Sun day', £614 ; Feb. 10, Monday, £1,218 ; Feb. 11, Tuesday, £1,734 ; Feb. 12 IVednesday, £1,793 ; .„„l'el). 1:3, Th urs d ay , £1,176 ;Feb. ' 14, Friday,Xl,6l3; -reb. 15, Saturday, £1,443 ; total for the week, £9,591, or at the rate of £1,370 per diem, including Sunday ; but taking the six working days, an average of 1,496 ; The average daily receipts, from the open ing of the telegraphic line on the 28th July to the , 15 th February instant, have been £1,035 ; but from the Ist December, when the alteration in the tariff of charges was made, to the 15th February instant, the rate has been £1,175 ; whilst from the Ist tinuary last to the 15th instant the rate per day has been £1,265, thus showing a very large increase of receipts, and the best possible assurance of the taking s of the future. Thefollowing is the substance of the Metropolitan and St. John's Wood Railway Company's Report :—" The directors have much pleasure in reporting that the line and stations from the Swiss Cottage to Baker-street ,are practi ca ll y comp l ete d , an d that the opening of the 'ioe for public traffic may be confidently looked for In the course of a very few weeks. The Metropo litan Railway Company have made the necessary ar rangements for working the traffic as soon as the St. John's Wood line and their own new works in L aker -street station have received the approval of the °ard of Trade. The gratifying fact stated by the general manager in the last half-yearly report of the Y ATe tropolitan Railway Company, that the growth of the aminersmith traffic is so great that the guarantee ing companies will not only be relieved from the pay- Inent of rebate, but may anticipate a considerable hsurplus of profit divisible among their own share olders, confirms the opinion which the directors h av e b e w ays entertained of the ver y grea t t ra ffi c w hi c h may expected.vir.g from th e a l rea dy p opu l ous an d d a il y im proving i district which the St. John's Wood Railway 11 1 serve. The report of the engineer and the eneral st a t ement of rece i pts and expenditure to the 31st December last are appended." The following is from Mr. Sam Wendel's weekly circular dated Manchester, F e b ruary 18 t h :—" Th e f urtherincreased value of cotton with the large sales have forced up prices both for yarns and goods to an extent that has almost put a stop to business, and the rates now quoted are nominal, yet considerable firmness is shown by producers." THE ORDNANCE. —The Admiralty have ordered 300 old 8-inch guns of 65 cwt. to be immediately con verted into 64-pounder Palliser rifled guns for the use of the navy. FASHIONABLE MARRIAGES.—A marriage is arranges between the Comte de Puliga, Councillor de la L 6 gation d'ltalie a Paris, and Miss Henriette Sansom. daughter of Mr. Charles Sansom. Also, between Mr Edward Mansfield, of county Kildare, Ireland, and Miss Magruder, sister to Lady Abinger, and niece of Major General Magruder, late of the ; also, between Captain C. Lapriniandaye, •-u-a, to Lord Napier, and Miss Blanche Marchant, daughter of Lieutenant General Sir Gaspard Le Marchant, late Governor of Madras ; also, between Mr. Julian Goldsmid, M.P. for Honiton, .., 11 c1 Virginia, elder d aug ht er o f th e l a t e M r. A. banker of Florence ; and between Mr. .",.rancis William Lo w th er , Fl ag Li eu t enan t to Ad m i ra l S ir Baldwin Walker, Commander-in-Chief at Sheer ,,,liess) and Miss Louise Beatrice de F on bl anque , daughter of Mr. George Barrington de Fonblanque According to Reuter's telegram from Paris to 'ay, the French Rentes were 68f. 95c. Dull. ~ BRITISH FUNDS—TWO O'GLOCK. k II OVERNMENT FUNDS. 'l3,er tient. Consols 8 Lio. Account, March 5 921 1 leer Cent. Reduced 92/ 31 zi e W 3 per Cent 93 21 31 e r l,v' 21 per Cent. Jan. 1894 74/ 4 ."°. 5 per Cent. Jan. 1873 4 .,!luities, 80 yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 — . 0 . for 33 yrs, expire 6th April — E,.`"T (Red Sea Tele g raph), Au,.,., 1908 — ' c uoquer Bills, £l,OOO, 2 per Ct. — pm Do £5OO — pm' I 3 Do. £lOO & £2OO l3 17 pm t i ,nk of England Stock, 4/ per Cent .1-'O. Account /„. I NDIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIEe. India tock, 10/ per Cant., April1874 - " 0 . Account D D O • 5 per Cent. July, 1880 °. 4 per Cent., Oct. 1888 Do. Certificates — Do. Enfaced Paper 4 per Cent D ~°• 5 per Cent., Jan. 1872 ..., 0 , T 1 • or,f per Cent., May 1879 --• ---(3 5 per Cent., Rep, Deb. , 1872 D o. do. 1877 — Do do. 1882 — D o • D o • Deb., 5 p er C en t., A ug . 1873 , Cent., £l,OOO • Bonds, 5 per 'Jo. und er £ I,OOO •• YOUEIGN FUNDS—TWO CLOCK. rg3entine Republic, 6 per Cent — `lre t rian Bond s , 5 per C en t . 1839 43 r zilian 5 per Cent — Do.4i Per Cent., 1852 — U do.,18;8.. 1; 0 . do , 18'i(' — ''''''• do., 1863 — 1) °• •5 per Cent , 1865 — Do Account . 74if Cuba, 6 per Cent. °Lillian 6 per Cent — Do. 4f per Cent — 00. 6 per Cent., B • Do., 1867 Do., 7 per ,Cent., 1866 — Do., Scrip £32 paid C . mbian, 6 per Cent. Danish. 3 p !r Cent., 1825 D inubian Principalities, 7 per Cent — Do 8 per Cent., 1867 — Fkquador New Consolidated, 1 per Cent — d:gyptian, 7 per Cent — Do. Second Issue — D'. .£5lO Bonds _ _ _ — Do. LIOG Bonds BB Do. 1864 Do. £s')o Bonds.. B6 f Do. £lOO Bonds ..... 87k 8 7 Government Railway Debentures ..... 894 90i Greek, 5 per Cent., 1824-5, ex Coups — Do. Account - Do. Coupons Do. Account Guatemala 5 per Cent .. — Honduras Gov. Rail. Loan., 10p. Ct., £2sp It 4 ;iau 5 per (7er t., 1865 — Do. Account ~ — Do. Marcum - ulna ltaiway — 51.)xicar. 3 per Cent _ Ditto for Account Do. 1864 — Do 6 per Cent. Anglo-French — ilontevidcan 6 per Cent. .. — Vloorish Imperial 5 per Cent New Granada — Do 3 per Cen — Do. Deferred e — Do Laud Warrants (Hectares) Peruvian 5 per Cent. 1865 Do Account 75 44 5} Do 44 per Cent. (Uribarren) Do 44 per Cent., 1862 Do Account Ports wuese 3 per Ct.,1853, '6, '7, '9,'60,'2,': , 40 Do. - do., 1=67 Do. do., Scrip, £lO paid lpm Russian 5 per Cent., 18z2, £ bt B6i 7 Do 44 per Cent. 1850 Do 44 per Cent., 1860 Do 8 per Cent., 1859 Do 5 per Cent., 1862 Do. Anglo-Dutch, 1861, £lOO Bonds B9 Do. do. £B4 15s. do. Do., 1866, £lOO Bonds B9} 81 Do. do. £B4 15s. do Sardinian, 5 per Cent Spanish 3 per Cen . Do Account Do New Deferred Do Account Do Passive Do Acc. tint Do Corn. Cert. of Cou; . not funded Do Account. Tu:kish 6 per Cent. - Do Account Do 6 per Cent. 1858 — Do Account - Do £lOO Bonds — Do 6 per Cent., 1862 — Do Account Do £IOC Bonds 63; Do. 1863 — Do 5 per Omit., 1865 — Do Account Do 6 per Cent., 1865 Do 4 per C en t. , Guaranteed Venezuela, 3 p er Cent. — Do 6 per Cent, 1862 Do 6 per Cent. 1864 Do. 4 Der Cent. Certificates ..... — llividends on the above payable in Londo I, French Reotes, 3 per Cent., Ex. 251. — Austrian o per Cent. i 10 Florins Belgian, 44 per cent, Ex. 251. Dutch 24 per Cent. Ex. 12 Gull Do Account — 'Wirth 5 per Cent. 1831, Ex. 25f. — Do. Account 44 34 TWO ITOLUCIE. Consols, Money 924 4 Do. Account, March .. 924 4 FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. This morning about three o'clock a fire of a very distressing character, and unfortunately attended with fatal consequences to an octogenarian, broke out in the premises of Mr. Henry Dewry (private), situate at 66, Stepney-green. It appears that at the above-named time the neighbours were aroused from their slumbers by the springing of policemen's rattles and a cry of " Fire." Upon proceeding to the spot it was found that the second floor was in flames. Information was, therefore, despatched to the fire-escape stations, and also to the metro politan fire-engine stations, and in the course of a few minutes numerous land manual engines and steam engines (one by Merry weather and Sons) attended, and by great exertions on the part of all present the fire was confined to the part of the premises in which the catastrophe took place. Upon the salvage corps entering the room they found Mr. John Leathwaite, 81 years of age, burned to death. The body was removed to the dead-house to await the coroner's inquest, which it is expected will not be held until Friday. The origin of the fire is unknown. RAIL TVA Y ACCIDENT NEAR CLAPHAM J C7WN.—This Day. we are informed that an accident, of which we have not yet received the full details, took place this morning to a train on the South Coast syr tern near Clapham Junction. It is stated that the engine and some of the carriages rolled down the embankment ; but, although some passengers were hurt, it appears that the accident was not attended with any serious consequences. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. kustralls. and New Zealand, via Southampton... —Feb. 19. Ditto, via Marseilles 2l Ditto, via Panama ....... .......... ........ ...Feb. %S. Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video March 5. Ditto, by French packet Capa Verde, by Brazil packet March 5. Cape of Good lope. Ascension. and St. Helena Feb. China. Penang, and Singapore. via Southampton Feb. 19 Ditto, via Marseilles Faikla,nd Islands March 5. Gibraltar, via Southampton Feb 19 India, via Southampton Feb 19 Ditto, via Marseil es Malta, Egypt, sac. Ditto, Marseilles... Feb. 22. Mauritius, Cape of Good lope, and Natal, via Southampton ...Feb t,) Ditto, Alarseides March ,5 Newloandla d Portugal March 5 Ditto, by priN le ship to Oporto .. Ditto Ato to Lisbon United States, t anada, California, &c., by British packet Ditto, by L Lited States packet Ditto ditto 'New York) Ditto ditto rlit.w York) Ditto dittt (Baltimore) Ditto, by Canadian packet Feb 21. West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffa West Indies and Pacilio (except Mexico and Baha mas) Cuba and Mexico ....Feb. 28. Bahamas, via New Yor . March 2. Bermuda, via Halifax GAMING TABLES IN GERMANY.—The Prussian Government, not having been able to obtain from the lessees of the gaming -tables at Wiesbaden, Ems, and Horn berg their consent to the cancelling of their contracts, has resolved to terminate those privileges by a legislative measure. It has presented a bill to the Chamber of Deputies at Berlin, fixing the year 1872 as the limit to the existence of those establishments, and even authorising the Government to suppress them at an earlier period by a royal ordinance. No indemnity is to be allowed to the persons bolding concessions. FISII CULTURE IN FRANCE.—The establishment of pisciculture created last year at Chateauroux (Indre) by the Administration of the Ponts-et-Chauss6es, under the direction of M. Naline, overseer of works belonging to that department, :and with the object of restocking the rivers Indre and Creuse, has already produced important results. The salmon and trout fry bred last year have boon placed in the two rivers, with the exception of a few specimens of each, which have been kept in basins at Cha teauroux in order that their progress may be watched. Some of the young salmon there have already attained a length of nearly five inches. The establishment of Hu ninguo (Haut-Rhin) sent this year to Chateauroux 11,000 fecundated eggs of that fish and 2,000 ,of trout, all of which are now hatched, or nearly so. THE PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDIT URE. —The account of the gross public income and expenditure ci the United Kingdom for the year ending 31st December, 1867, and of the balances in the Exchequer at the close of the year, show that the total revenue was £68,663,515 4s. 11d. The excess of total expenditure over income was £1,265,540 125., making t0gether.£69,929,055 16s. 11d. The total ordinary expenditure was £69,499,055 16s. Ild. The expenses of fortifications, provided for by money raised per the 28th and 29th of Victoria, cap. 61, amounted to £430,000. The balances in the Exchequer at the commencement of the year amounted to £6,361,937 3s. 3d. at the close of the year they w;.-Ire £4,363,030 Bs. 10d. LIFEB OAT SERVICE.--ST. IVES, CORNWALL, Wednesday Morning (By Telegraph).—Mr. E. Grenfell, banker, reports that the St. Ives lifeboat, of the National Lifeboat Institution, this morning saved the crew of five persons of the Gipsoy, of Chepstow - , wrecked off this place. A gig had previously gone off to the rescue, but bad capsised anel drowned one of her crew. The lifeboat picked up another of the men. She shipped some tre mendous seas, - which washed overboard the coxswain and two of the crew, who were some minutes in the water, but who were fortunately soon got into the liiui~vat again. PREFERENCE S a ARES. Midland, Leicester and Hitoben, 46 per cent., BS6 FOREIGN RAILWAY: San Paulo, gua. r per.cent.,lBl ti lia r b e f a a r t udxeSmanboNu'rragn,coiu, gu k 7 per cent., 15 Prit Chontales Gold and Silver Mining, ,lien., 31 uon redro. Nor Ii Del Rey, 2i Frontino and Bolivia Gold. lira., Port Philip, 1a St. John del Rey, Urn , 21 a BANE b. Agra, lim., A, 111 Consolidated, lira., 4 9-18 Imperial Ottoman, 9 9-16 Loudon and County, 52 Ditto, new, 27 London Joint Stock, 34 London and 11 esti - flinger, 03 Ditto, Scrip, 401 Oriental Bank Corporation, 42 MISCICLLANEOws. Anglo American Telegraph, 192 I • Atlantic Telegraph, 49 Dit, o, 8 par cent., 106 ti Berlin Water Works, 11m., 13} City of Moscow Gas, lim., 81 Couimercial Union, Insurance, 51 Credit eoncier of England, lim . 3 3- . 6 Crystal Palace, Ditto, 6 per cent. perpetl. deb., 109 Egyptian 9 per Cent., Viceroy Loan, gua. by Egypt. GOYt 88} Eyyptian Corn, and Trading, Urn., 1* Electric and International Telegraph, Ditto, new, 13i English and Australian Copper, Fore-street Warehouse. lim., 1!:1 Gen. Credit and Discount, iim., 5k Uudson's Bay, 141 Land Securities, lim , 11 Emidon deneralOmnibus Company, Um, 2 National Discount company. llt New Quebrad*, 5-i6 North British and Mercantile Insurance, 17i Peninsuta and Oriental Steam, 58 Di to, new, 1867, 5/ t',/ Royal M. Steam, 67/ Viceroy of Egypt (Mortgage) Loan) 74k 3k The Price of Gold. The quotation of gold at Paris is about at par, and the short exchange on London is 25f. 12;c. per £1 sterling. On camparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3 its. 101 id. per ounce for standard <4 - oil, it appears that gold is nearly two-tenths dearer in Pans than In London. The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight is about 1091 per cent. At this rate there is no profit on the importation of gold from the United States. ELECTIQN OF CORONER FOR WEST MIDDLESEX. —This forenoon the nomination of candidates took plac e in front of the Town Hall, Brantford. Tho show of hands was in favour of Dr. Diplack, and the polling was fixed to take place en Friday. COMIESPONDENCE PROM PAUL (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, TUESDAY, Feb. 1.O! One official paper follows another in repudiating the idea that any organic change in the Government is con temjdated. The Pays smartly rebukes the journals whick usually support the Government, with having spoken of measures of which nobody has any idea, and the propaga• tion of which could only disturb Imperial institutions. This is specially intended for the France. M. Piel, in the Constitutionnel, is equally indignant with his quos ego, "At a moment, he says, when everybody admits the talent and authority with which the thought of the Emperor is interpreted to the Corps Ldgislatif, people speak of changes in the Government, and of projected modifications, I know not how vague, in our institutions. Go to the source of these rumours and you will find they have no object but to draw attention to the journals that produce them." The definition which this passage gives of a French Minister's function is worthy of %.;e—" to interpret the thought of the Emperior." It is eu...ous that similar promises of extended freedom have prevailed in Algeria, and they have been contradicted with equal tunphasis. Parisians, notwithstanding, persist in .half .::editing the rumours. The French Government rewards its supporters in the press by a monopoly of judicial advertisments. This sub ject gave rise to a long debate. M. Berryer moved an imendment, with a view to consult simply the public interests in making the announcements required by law. PraCtically, the rule he would enforce would oblige the tribunals to designate for the receipt of the advertise ments the journal or journals of the arrondissement or department interested in the subject of the announce ment. He was defeated by 125 to 101 votes. The result was'&erta,in bef9Te,hand wh e n th e Ministers opposed the motion, but a minority of 101 is, on such a subject, worth noting. The military law, although so recently promulgated, Is tieing actively put into operation throughout France in the formation of the moveable National Guard. This is not the only indication of the determination of the Emperor to be ready for any event. The arsenals, the establishments for provisioning the army, and the clothing depots are centres of extraordinary activity. All this, of course, creates surprise, and if ex ternal politics were not so eminently favourable for peace, it would create commercial embarrassment. The papers which support the Government proclaim that it is acting on the Roman maxim, "Si vis pacem para helium ;" but the apology is transparent. The public attribute the military urgency to the alarm produced by the battle of Sadowa. No sooner had that occurred than the Government set itself to work to fill up the gaps left by the administration of Marshal Randon, and replace all the material of war reduced by the expedition to Mexico; and at this moment of peace it is preparing for war as vigorOusly as if it were at hand. In connection with French politics, a prize is offered for the best essay on a curious subject. Two thousand francs will be awarded to the writer "who shall trace the best line of conduct for the French people to follow in order to guarantee the enjoyment in the elections of complete legislative sovereignty." The manuscripts must be sent 'ii, before the Ist April, to Deputy Marie. The Monde expresses some anxiety about Admiral Farragut's fleet visiting Florence, Naples, and Caprera, and, indeed, about its presence in the Mediterranean at all. The Avenir National remarks that the United States have had a Mediterranean squadron for fifty years. Admiral Farragut's fleet cruises in the Mediterranean by the same right as the French fleet cruises in the Gulf of Mexico, and the fact has no more significance. M. Creppo, a French deputy of old, has just been ar rested at Lille after crossing the frontier from Belgium, on a charge of attempting to introduce prohibited books. They have produced, at the Odeon, Alexandre Dumas " Kean." The piece was by no means well received. In the ent'ractes the audience lustily cried out for Victor ango's " Ruy Blas"—forbidden fruit being of course most tempting. One of the scenes was no doubt supposed to be specially illustrative of English manners. Kean is intro duced boxing a professional pugilist, whom he places hors congratulates eoibat. Kean A c( - m o s n t constable, le ciitenneese.si, La police in Franceng the performance, , Floes not patronise boxing, and the audience greeted this English peculiarity with the cry of " Tlve la police ,4nglaise." The belief that the Emperor of the F renc h i n t en d s t o iubstitute Ministerial responsibility for personal govern ment gains ground in Paris, notwithstanding the contra dictions of the official press. A correspondent of the Nord relates that last Wednesday M. ltoaher told the Emperor plainly that unless Ministerial responsibility were restored, he should feel it his duty to resign his portfolio. This is ?robably a daring canard, but it is significant that the course of events should suggest it. The Liberte announces among its latest intelligence that I new Convention, more strictly defined than that of the 15th September, between the Governments of France and ita'y, is under consideration. This proposed Convention would not restrict itself simply to guaranteeing the temporal power of the Pope, but would also "guarantee Italy against any risk of dismemberment by which it ,night be menaced." The Cabinet of Florence would thus be enabled to reduce its military forces to the lowest figure, And so avoid deepening the abyss of annual deficits, already Jeep enough. A very large emigration from Italy to the States in La Plata has been going on for the last few years. the total for 1867 amounted, it is believed, to about 16,000. The bulk of the emigrants are males, who go to the Republic of Buenos Ayres ; but a good many are to be found in Uruguay and the Argentine Republic. In Buenos Ayres there are 70,000 Italians, and In Monte Video 12,000. The Genoese are the leading mer chants, shipowners, and traders of these places. The emigrants generally seem to do well. It is calculated that they remit to friends at home sums amounting to two-and a-half million francs. These facts explain the importance which is attached to the treatment of Italians in the argentine provinces, on account of which they are pre paring a naval expedition to the Rio de la Plata. The relations of Prussia and Rome seem to be growing more and more friendly. A foreign telegram states that he Pope is disposed to send a Nuncio to Berlin. The Paris papers publish a favourable telegram from Madrid. In view of the distress prevailing, the munici pality have taken measures to afford employment to 4,000 persons, on works of public utility. In consequence of these measures, and of the efforts of private liberality, the condition of the populace is, according to the telegram, " far from being so dangerous as certain journals have described it." 'These efforts to content the people of Madrid have probably some connection with the rumours of Carlist movements in different parts of the country. A correspondent of the Indepcnlance Berge, writing from Constantinople, states that since the commencement of this month the strife in Crete has been renewed with fresh intensity. According to letters from the island, the Turkish soldiers had been guilty of outrages upon Vomen and children, which had roused the Christian population to the last degree of exasperation, and they were preparing for a supreme effort to rid themselves of their oppressors. The Mussulman population was a prey to continual alarms, the new administration had failed, and the situation generally was further from a pacific solution than ever. It must be remembered, however, that this account is Cretan. It will be a considerable satisfaction to the public to learn that Lord Derby, although very much shaken by the effects of the late severe attack of gout, is now better. The noble earl is weak and exhausted ; still, he is making satisfactory progress, and, according to the Herald, there is even some prospect that he will be able to resume his duties at no very distant date. The remarkable leader in Tuesday's Times, in which the P rem i er was d e fi n i t i ve l y written off the roll of life, has attracted much attention. It was curious to read of the veteran Minister only in the past tense, melancholy to learn that Lord Derby " was " not only a classical scholar, but read and wrote well more than one modern language ; that h e ha d qualities which are popular,, amongst th e mass o f Eng lishmen; and that he was " fond of racehorses and tle amusements i n which horses are concerned. This funeral sermon over the still living Prime Minister following so speedily after the leading journal had uncere moniously killed Mr. Justice Shee, has drawn down much ridicule upon the conductors of that paper. The Telegraph, of course, loses not the opportunity of having its bark at the ss T es imes. In its m ost pulling style o f wr iting, it ur Lord Derby tha t " his career is not ended, nor will his character be hi the b ands of history till it shall please God to call him." It is hoped that the Telegraph is regu larly taken in at Knowsley, otherwise his lordship will lose the assurance which reads very much like one from the comforters of Job. The Dublin Mail states that s(?,far as present intentions go, with regard to the character tif the Irish Reform Bill, it is not intended, so far, to alter the present franchise in Irish counties. It is inten ded to adopt the household rating franchise ii h s i e s olfhorboroughs ; but as no occu pi er i s li a bl e to berated not valued at a figure above adi £4, the practical minimum franchise figure will not be below £5. It is not intended to group boroughs; but whenever the constituency of a borough admits of being increased by extending its boundary to a circle of houses immediately conterminous with it, that course will be adopted. Small boroughs not capable of such extension will be disfranchise& and their representatives thrown into the county in which they are situated. The condition giving freehold, in addition to occupation votes, which now belongs only to counties of cities or towns, will be ap• Plied All 09 ini'94 ll l Viat Rhp,ll be prmovd, LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day. COURT OF DIVORCE. (Before the Right Hon. Sir J. P. Wildo and a Common Jury.) woODIVARD V. WOODIVARD AND SMITH. This was a suit instituted to obtain a dissolution of marriage on the ground of adultery, and damages were also claimed. Dr. Spinks, Q.C., and Mr. Searle appeared for the petitioner, and Dr. Swabey for the respondent. It appeared that the parties were married in 1860, and resided in the Old Kent-road at first, but after wards went to Drury-lane, where they kept a coffee house. The conduct of the wife was dissipated; and it was alleged she had formed an adulterous connection with the correspondent Smith, who was a lodger in the house. Mary Anne Clayton said that she was the sister of the respondent, and was present at her marriage in November, 18G0. They lived in Dover-road at first, and afterwards at 125, Drury-Jane. She had never visited them, and only saw them when they came to visit her parents. They used to live at Silbourne-grove, Old Kent road. Walker said that in 1866 he had apartments at No. 105, Drury-lane, and Mr. and Mrs. Grant lived in the next room. He always saw Mr. and Mrs. Woodward together. He had occasionally seen respondent intoxicated. He was generally at home on Sunday. Mr. Grant said that he was a currier, and that he lodged at 105, Drury-lane, and had done so two years. Ilis wife assisted in the business. When he was first lodging there Mrs. Woodward was sometimes there. The sister was assisting then, but subsequently went away, and Mrs. Wood ward came back. Her habits were intempe rate. They occupied No. 4 room, that was a back room. No. 6 is on the same floor. Joseph Smith occupied that room. lie was a journeyman currier ; he could make about 50s. a week. He remembered Mrs. Woodward about 2 o'clock, one Sunday in April, 1866, coming up to his room. She was the worse for liquor. Mr. Woodward was below. She stayed some time in their room. She then went into No. 6 and he went with them, and Smith and he and 'Airs. Woodward hal a drop of gin on the bed. When he first went in, Mrs. Woodward embraced Smith. He fetched the gin. He saw nothing indecent, only rolling on the bed. All the evening they were either in his room or Smith's. They stayed in Smith's room about an hour, or perhaps two hours. He frequently saw her and Smith together in No. 4 ; that was his room. Mrs. Woodward grumbled, because she said Mr. Woodward neglected her. Cross-examined—There was nothing the matter with him this morning. They had lodged in Drury lane two years last January. The wife of Grant corroborated this evidence, and stated that she concealed the matter from the petitioner until she had been grossly insulted by the respondent, when, in the presence of the respon dent's brother, she revealed all. Her son also con firmed the statement. The defence was that this evidence was not cre dible, and that it was given through spite. The jury returned a verdict in favour of the peti tioner, and gave £lO damages. 7171 E METROPOLITAN RAILWA.Y COMPANY'S Judgment was given by the Lord Chancellor in the suit f Bloxam v. the Metropolitan RailwaY . Company. The ;ppeal was from a decision of Vice-Chancellor Wood, who tad restrained the defendants from treating certain pay nents made in respect of expenditure of the company, as nade out of capital and not out of income, and also rom applying for the purposes of dividend sumsof noney payable by the contractor of one of their extension ines as interest on the capital for the construction of the inc. The effect of the Vice-Chancellor's injunction was hat a dividend of only 5:3 per cent. was declared at the ate meeting of the company. The court was, crowded, ind amongst the audience were a number of the members if the Stock Exchange, the decision being looked. upon as me of great importance, and materially affecting the Pre .ent value of the company's shares. Sir Roundell Palmer, Q,C., Mr. Giffard, Q.C., and Bri3towe appeared for the appellants. Mr. Amphlett, and Mr. Turner for the respondent. The Lord Chancellor, in giving judgment, premised ;hat he had not to pronounce an opinion on the merits of the case, which would have to be decided at the hearing, )ut he had to consider whether or not the questions raised xere of such a doubtful character that the operations of ;he company in the way of p •ying dividend ought to be sus• ?ended by injunction while the whole matter was before ;he court. The points to be adjudicated upon were, Adiether the directors', auditors', and office expenses were eroperly charged in the accounts ; whether the interest ?aid on debentures ought to be charged to capital; and ;whether money received from Mr. Kelk, contractor, was rightly employed in paying dividends. The second ques ;ion, his lordship remarked, did not appear to him to be so !ree from doubt as the Vice-Chancellor had supposed. rhere was nothing in the Act of Parliament for eidding the course pursued by the directors ; hut ;he 120th and 121st clauses of the company's Act mplied that dividends could only be paid out of profits actually earned. It was true that there had Seen no direct payment of dividend out of capital, but if the directors had indirectly made the payment the prowl ;ions of the Act were still applicable, and the question must be settled at the hearing. Referring to the action taken in connection with the - extension line, the Lord Chancellor remarked that if it could have been shewn that the money received from the contractor was really divided, and would not at a future time have to be repaid, the course pursued by the directors would not have been a wrong one ; but the plaintiff undertook to say that the amount must eventually be refunded. Upon the point that the action taken by the directors was entirely a matter of internal arrangcn - lent sanctioned by the shareholders, and that therefore the court should not interfere, 11:3 lord ship remarked that it was clear, and, indeed, had been admitted, that this observation could only extend to what was not ultra. vires. A.s to the statement that the cer tificate of the creditors was a sufficient authority and proof that payment.; were rightly made, he could not construe the section of the Act as asserting this His lordship said no one could approve of the manner in which the plaintiff had introduced himself to the com pany. However, he had an actual interest, though ho m ight be; as the late Lord Justice Knight Bruce said of a plaintiff in another cause, " a person who made himself a shareholder simply for the purpose of instituting the suit." The fact that he had once acquiesced in the acts of the directors would not prevent his complaining of the course they pursued afterwards. Having referred to the injury which it was stated on the one side would he sustained by continuing, and on the other by dissolving the injunction, and remarked that if the dividend were paid it would pro bably never be recoverable, th,e Lord Chancellor held that the injunction must be continued until the hearing of the cause. No order as to costs. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.—This Day. (Before the Assistant Judge.) Robert Walter Morris, 23, describing himself as fencing master, was convicted of robbing a gentle man of his watch and chain, value £29, and was sentenced to ten years penal servitude. MARKETS—(Ihis Day.) CORN. The general tendency of the trade is firm, whilst without much activity. At Liverpool yesterday advanced prices were realised, and from most of he provincial markets the reports quote full terms. At Mark-lane this morning the attendance was mode rate, and advances of all kinds of grain, excepting maize, were light, giving support to prices. English wheat taken off slowly at the full terms of Mon day last, but samples tending in favour of sellers. Foreign wheat on stands firmly held, but purchased sparingly. For floating cargoes, stiffer rates asked, and several buying orders from the continent in the market. Flour remains as quoted on Monday. Malt unaltered in value or demand. Barley, beans, and peas maintain their previous value. Oats in good steady request, and with nominal arrivals the market is very firm. The increased supply of maize causes buyers to act cautiously, and to sell easier rates would have to be taken. _ _ TALLOW. Tbo market is dull, at 41s 9d to 42s on the spot, 42s April to June ; 43s 6d last three mouths. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. MEAL —There is not a large supply of dead meat on sale, and prices are uphold ; but owing to the weather the demand is not so good, and the market is not cleared. Monday's quotations may be reported. POULTRY. —Pigeons havo advanced in price from ls to 14 3d each ; wild rabbits aro cheaper, at 10d to is 2d ; other poultry remains as before. WILD FOWL in fair supply. Ducks, 2s. 3d ; widgeons, is 3d to is 6d ; teal, is 9d; snipes, is 6d • woodcocks, 4s. 6d. to 55.; golden plover, 2 s . to 2s. 6d. each. COTTON. • • - LIVERPOOL, Fob. 19.—Market opens in a very mit ed state. Sales about 20,00 bales, at about i(1. gdyttizo. HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Feb. 18. Her Majesty went out this morning, accompanied by Princess Beatrice. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales drove out attended by the Countess of Morton. The Prince of Wales hunted with her Majesty's Staghounds yesterday. The Earl and Countess of Fife and Lady Agnes Duff arrived at their residence in Cavendishisquare yes day from Paris. The Countess de Grey has issued invitations for evening parties on. Wednesdays during. this and the en suing month. The Countess (Frances) Waldegrave will have evening t arties on Saturdays during the present month. IMPERIAL PARLIA ENT HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tms DAY. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. Mr. FAWCETT gave notice that on the 4th of March he should call the attention of the house to the sub ject of the Civil Service Examinations, and to move that the people of India hal no fair chance of competing for commissions as long as the examination was held only in this country, and in order to alter that system he should propose to the house to express an opinion that simulta neous examinations should be held in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. COAL MINES. In reply to Mr. NEATEN Mr. HARDY said he could not say at the present moment whether the Government would during the pre sent session introduce a bill founded on the report of the committee presented last year. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1868. SHARE LlST.—This Day. 0 RDIN ARY#S HAKES AND STOCKS. Railways. red.. Closing ! Business '; Price. dens. - Bristol anti Exeter .. Caledonian ....... Cumbrian Cork and Bandon...—. Cornwall Dublin & Belfast June Dun„Per th, & Ab. June E.London, scrip Ce:tl Do. Glasgow & S. Western Great E'autern,Ord.titk. Do. E. Angl. at. No. 2 (Great North of Scotlautl Great Northern Do. A stock Do. B stock Do. New, 18. at 25 pin GtS, and W. of Ireland Gt. Western -Original Do. S. VII. 'tail. gua. Do. South \Vales Do. W. Alid.—Oxtore Do. Newport. Do. Hereford..... Lancashire .t Yorkshire !London and Mackwali Brig - b., eXt S ()Weer 11-on., Chat., and Dovei Do. Metrop. Ex. A Lon. North Westerr Lon. 4 South Weston : Man., Shel., Lincoly Metropolitan.— Do. New Do. Extension,,, netropolitan District. Do. do. do. Do. and St. John's ‘V Do. Di Share Do, Oirmin.. Dgrb) mid Kent . North liritlell Do. Ed., I. ) th., & Dun Nth. Ec.steru—llerwich Do. G.N•E puroliaa, Do. Leeds . Do. York Do. Carliale Do. Stock. & Darling. Do. do. 1860-61 North Loudon Do. do. 1861 5 ... Do. do. 1t66 . North Staffordshire N. & S. W. Junction Scottish Central Scot. Isl. E , A►ber. stock uo. Scot, Mid. stock Shropshire Union South Devon South Eastern Staines, Wok., & Wok Tall Vale Do. C Vale of Nenth Waterford & Kilkend) Waterloo S. Whiteha Wet Cornwall 85 87 7s) tO 20 80 3 4 75 77 70 72 100 102 491 29} 0} 7} 15 0 103 110 11,9 110 LA IZI3 VAS .93 15} 15t 45 47 25 3J 29 3 127 11:74 46 463 19,1 15 j 116} 1 - 1 M 5 87 12 t 3 110 111 lOU 101 106 i 107 75 77 34 35 105 107 63 64 98 100 130 134 14 136 - ill 116 1 lip 66' 60 1.09 111 58 6 44 id 7'j u iv 116 5,:) COLONIAL LiOVEiiN.viEN . I' SICCUItITI6S. `1 riticb Columbia, 6 per cent., I..!ec. 31, 1572.... I Can.Gov . .6 p.c.Ja.& July 1877-b1 • Do. 6 p. c. Feb. & Aug Do. 5 p. c. Mar. .a Sept Do. 5 p. c. Jan. & J aly• Do. 5 p. c. Inscribed sk 'Cape G. Hope, 6 p.c. 157.; Do. Apl.& Oct 1890-19UO Do. do 1680-9., Do. Jau.&July, IS9O-9. Do. s . per cent. 15 April and - 15 Oct., 1900 Ceylon, Nov. 1878, 6 p., Do. 1872, do , 31aurltius, 8 R. o, 1873, J an. and J tily ' - Do. 1878 ... Do. 1882, Mayls, Nov. 151 Do. 1895, Feb. Aug Natal , iov. 6 per cent N.B.Gov.6p.c.Ja.,SzJul) N. S.W . Gov. 5.p•c., Do. 5 p.c. 1871 to 1876 Do. 5 p.o. 1888 to 1856 New Zealand, 6 p. cent, Do. 5 per cent.... Nova Scotia Gov. 6 p. c sterling, 1875 Queensland Gov. 6 p. c S. Aus.Gov. 6 px. 18684 Do. 1878 & upwards Vlo,Gov. 6 p.c. Ja &July! Do. do, April & Oct et) At 'Antic `.it. Lawrence atom., ilaroda, fi Cen.ln. gu. 6 per cent... Do. F shares Buffalo & Lake Huron Do. Preference B uti., Brant, & Goderich fi p.c. 1872-3- Calcutta & S. E., lim ~at e Town & Dock, gu Demerara, 7 p.o. per. p East Bengal, gu., 6 do East Indian, gu. 5 p. 0.1 Do. J Extension ;rand Trunk of Canada Do. Equip. Mort, Bonds 1 charge 6 p.c Do. Ist Pref. Bonds Do. do deferred De. 2d Pref. Bonds Du. do. deterred Do. 3d Pref. stook Do. do. deferred Du. 4,h Pret. stook Do. do. deterred .... I; t. India Pen. gua. sp.c. o. Gus. 5 per cent.. t.)o. New gua. 5 p. c .it. South of India gua. 5 per cent 12 41 per cent Do . .rent Wes. of Canada Do. New .. Do. 6 p. e 1345. pay. 1873 Do. .54 do. pay. 1677-6 1 Iladraa, gua. 5 P• 0 • • •• I Do. •11 do Do. do 1 . . Do. Pitth Extenciol,l melb. Cot 6 p. c. Mel. liobsoc.'s IN LH C'dx.6pclstpt.ba ude do ithith nd, g. 5 p.O sciruce. . Do. Delhi . 1 Do. do s Do. Puulaub 1 :"' Do.lndusSt.Flot 98 100 100 102 100 1021 86 87 85 87 103 105 107 IL9 106 108 105 107 06 110 111 NJ 107 103 SCS 105 107 107 JO) 109 111 IC4 tud 99 10 98 99 96 98 99 102 104 103 14.,5 110 111 110 112 ,610N6. f 4 AO IC3 IC4 P IP 3i 4 5 6 68 71 18 52 90 102 1041 :654 IC9 110 15i 161 78 62 43 45 33 33 27 29 18 19 1(9 110 16 2 16 2 IC2 !03 'A V 6 - - . I 16k VI 98 100 9i i 100 tO2 93 95 ti 9 91 83 85 1011 ICsi' 100 101 1006 1014 P 10) 101 b 7 89 109 j 2 13HITISII MINES. ICam. Consul. Gold, lim Chiverton Clifford Amalgamated Devon G. Cons. (Tavist 1 brakewalls Nast Bassett (Illogan) Vast Caradon Gast Carn Brea 'mast Grenville East Gunnislake East Loved W'l Russell (Tavistk. Cam.& StAubyn(G wen. Great L.ixey, Great South Tolgus Great Wheal Basy G. Wheal Vor renville lierod's Foot •••• ling - 6ton Downs .. . .. Margaret (Uny Ulan(' Malice Va11ey.,,,.,,,,,! . tt wyncly Iron Ore, tim e - ,v 6 ton ........ ....I forth osk ear ........ .NI.Wh Bassett (Illogaul North Wheal Crotty Prosper United.. 'Providence Uny Lelan IS. Caradon (St. Clear). south Coudurrow ...... 6.Wheal Fran. (111o,gan 6Lray Park . Win Croft. ......... Vigra and Clogan, 1V est liussett (I.llogau Caradun iskeardi West C hi vertGn West Seton . ..... IWheal Bassett ( Mogan Wheal Buller (Itedruth Wheal Mary Ann (Men Wheal Setou Wheal Trelawney (Lis 2.1.0 29; 2.14. G 31 2.14.0 6.3.0 3.9.0 11.7.6 554 5.t7.0 3 4 54 64 4ko 430 10 12 6 6 2 24 14 2 6 8 9 14 2 4 5 17 18 20 21 1} ty 35 37 21 21 6 8 41 51 21 11 60 70 5 7 2 3 2 2i 29 Si 390 410 371 1 421 1 4 6 IS 14 /i 10 12 67 69 195 -0)5 85 95 16 14 1 8 20 85 90 6 8 127 i 1181 t 45 42 21 1011 . Zer ! !'" fop ;Mt BANK HOLIDAYS BILL I Sir C. O'LOGIILEN moved the second reading of this bill, the object of which was to make the day following Christmas-day, viz., St. Stephen's day, a bank holiday, to enable the Queen in Council to make a general bank holi day without the necessity of passing an act of Parliament, and to provide that promissory notes falling due on any of such holidays to become payable the day after. There was no revolutionary principle involved in the latter part of his bill, because it was now the general rule in all the principal countries abroad. The bill he thought would be productive of the greatest general accommodation, and, therefore, he hoped the house would agree to give it a second reading. Mr. S. CAVE thought on the whole the bill would work inconveniently, and therefore he could not support the second reading. Mr. Goschen, Alderman Salomons, and Mr. Baring spoke on the question, but the bill was ordered to be referred to a solect committee. LIFE POLICIES NOMINATION BILL. Mr. LEFEVRE moved tho second reading of this bill, which was to enable persons insuring their lives to nomi nate the parties to whom the amount of the policy was to be paid when it became a claim. 3:fr. Alderman LAWRENCE objected to the bill, which he looked upon as one to enable a man to provide for his wife and family at the expense of his creditors. If tho bill passed, all a man would have to do to put his money out of the reach of his creditors was to effect a life assur ance with it, when he could go on and gamble with his capital as much as he pleased, provided he managed to keep himself solvent for only twelve months. If he did that he was quite secure that the large amount for which he might insure his life would, at his death, only be paid to his wife or his nominee. (LEFT SITTING.) LONDON GAZETTE.-LAST EVENING. THE PRINCE OF WALES'§_COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEB. 15. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Seal of the Duchy of Cornwall appointment Edward Goode, of Saint Austell, Esq., Sheriff of the county of Cornwall. DO WNING-STREET, FEB. 15. Tho Queen has been pleased to appoint John Gardiner Austin, Esq., to ha Colonial Secretary for the colony of Hong Kong. ADMIRALTY, FEB. 17. Mr. Henry Laughrin has this day been promoted to the rank of First Class Assistant Engineer in her Majesty's Fleet, with seniority of 13th February, 1868. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEaALL, FEB. 17. The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade have receivod, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a despatch from her Majesty's Minister iu Japan, reporting that th 3 foreign repros nta tives in that country have given their assent to an arrange ment with the Government of the Tycoon, by which the opening to foreign trade of the city of Yedo and the part of Neegata is deferred till the let April next, instead of taking place on the Ist January last, on which date the five years' postponement allowed by the London agreemen t of June, 1662, expired. THE UNITED STATES RAILROAD SCREW SPIKE. The importance of obtaining security in railway travel ling is a subject every one can appreciate, and every in vention which renders accidents less frequent cannot fail to interest. The Iron Age of Jan. 30 devotes much of its space to an explanation of a new description of screw spike for railroads, intended to supersede the common driving spike. A company has recently been formed in New York for its manufacture, and are at present engaged in preparing tools for putting in the screws with ease and rapidity, which it is believed will reduce the cost to below that of driving the ordinary spike. The Iron Age gives a cut which clearly shows that the contrivance is simply a wood screw with a double-hooked head. "It is designed to hold the rail more firmly to the tie, and to avoid work ing loose as the present description of spike does, and in this way to prevent the starting of the rails, which is the cause of so many accidents. "That a screw is a more secure fastening than a nail, it is of course unnecessary to argue—the extent to which the one has displaced the other where strain or traction is in volved is the eviience of this, and it only seems strange that a principle so simple and so obvious should have been overlooked in fastening down iron rails ou wooden ties or sleepers. "In urder to remove the rail it will only be necessary to reverse tho screw one quarter; and when replacing it, turn the screw back to its original position, when the rail will be held as firmly as before. The ties will thus be saved from the injury of splits, checks, an I the numerous holes made in them by repeatedly drawing and replacing spikes in which water will collect, causing their rapid decay. By the use of the screws, therefore, the durability of the ties will be greatly increased and equalized. Be side; when the rails are loose the ties are cut by the re peated blows made on them by the rails, and are thereby materially damaged ; on the contrary, where the screw is used the rails are held so firmly in their place that this in jury is prevented. The saving to railway companies in ties alone, it is estimated, will more than pay the whole cost of the screws. Where none but soft wood can be obtained for ties, the screw manifestly possesses a still greater advantage over the spike. " It is also calculated that in consequence of the screws holding the rails to the ties so firmly, a lass number will be required than of ordinary spikes, also a very great saving will be realised in the wear of the rolling stock and rails. The considerable losearising from loose, bent, broken, and missing spikes, will be almost entirely pre vented. Besides, where the screw is in use, in addition to the saving of time in relaying ►ails, a much less number of men are required to watch the track and keep it in re pair, thereby causing a great saving." Mr. Hilliard, trackmaster of the Erie Railroad, writes that the new spike will prove cheaper, not only from the greater cheapness in relaying iron, but from the much longer endurance of the ties where screws are used. He gives, in addition to the reasons already cited for advo cating the use of the screw spike in preference to all others that be has seen in use for twenty-four years on railroad tracks, the following: —" In relaying iron it will be done much quicker. Yon simply give the screw one fourth turn back, lift the old rail, replace it with a now one, then turn the screw back as before ; while the old fashioned spikes must be drawn from the ties, and now holes made every time a nail is replaced—and every spike driven in a tie is, as we trackmen term it, death to the tie.' I think the ties will last at least four years longer where the screws are in use, as they keep the ties up firm to the base of the rail, thereby preventing pounding ; whereas the common spikes draw out as the ties settle, allowing the rail to bend and cut in the tie." Mr. Featherby, trackmaster of the New York Central Railroad, says : " I know they ars safer than the com mon spikes, and a great saving of both lifesa and d u o d eo p hf property— at least spikes —saying fif n ty oth pe in r g co o n f t e . c i o n n t o ie m s y , a i n n d l q ab u o it u e r firm ness of the rail, obviating the immense jarring which caus that a ed by l o C os sy and e spi ke sa rails—and spring yet so g cu iv t i s o t g ho ties—caused track connected long desired." Another source of economy in the use of these screws is that they can be drawn and re-used frequently, while spikes are necessarily crooked in drawing them from the wooden ties, and aro commonly cast aside as scrap. If it be true, as we suppose is unquestionably the fact, that accidents involving great loss of property, and heavy damages for injury and death to individuals, have been caused by the defective fastening of rails, then an !J avan- . tion which avoids such danger may well be paid for as a premium on a policy of insurance against such losses, and, therefo r e, o n the very lowest gr ound pecuniary _ interest., the use of these spikes will be wise and eno nomica SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.-Thi LINCOLN RACES—Tms DAY. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRA.PIL) BLANKNEY STAKES, Da Vere ••••••• MariCityl Carton %.6 00000000000 3 Seven ran. crry II AND ICA P Reindeer ...................................................... ... L a dy Zetl an d ................... ............................. ... 2 Skylark ................................................... Seventeen ......... . 3 ran. ROTUNDA CLUB AND COMMISSION EXCHANGE Three Doors from Blackfriars Bridge, Surrey Side, OPEN DAILY. Messrs. Fisher and BoyneWs, IV. Atkin; F..3fitcl/en and Co., IV. Leach, and others, will bo in attend ance daily. Applications for membership may be rnade to any of the above gentlemen, or to the Secretary, 3, Black. friars-road. A nnual subscription, Five Shillings. N.B.—The wires of the Electric and International Tele graph Company are now laid on, and aro open for trans mission of messages to all parts of the kingdom. PROGRAMME OF HARROW SPRING FLAT RAcms AND STEEPLECHASES. THURSDAY, Feb. 20. A Selling Stake of 3 sovs each, with 20 addA ; three year olds 7st, four Bst 71b, five and upwards 9st ; mares and geldings allowed 31b ; the winner to 'oe sold f or 50 sovs, if entered for 30 allowed ?lb ; about 5 furlongs. The Trial Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 30 added, for tree and three year olds ; two year olds 6st 71b, three ast ; mares and geldings allowed 31b; any winner of a rac e value 60 sovs 41b, 100 121 b extra; five furlongs ; 12 subs. Finesse 3 yrs, Junaita 2 yrs. Pocket Hercules 3 yrs, Sugarstick 3 yrs, Mexico 3 yrs, Bouquetiere 3 yrs, Chari— vaH 3 yrs, Ellen 2 yrs, Kicksey Winksey 2 yrs. Bumbottt 3 yrs, Thorndyke 3 yrs, Esher 2 yrs. A. Hunters' Stakes of 3 sovs each, 2 ft, with 20 added; five year olds list 71b, six and aged 12st ; qualified geu_ tlemen riders allowed 51b ; about three miles. Rochester aged, Jessica Cromer (h b) aged, Bagshotl br g (pedigree unknown) agc A Plate of 50 sovs (fland Age st lb Dick Turpin (dr) ... 4 8 12 Goodfellow ... 4 8 7 Pakrita ... 4 7 12 Venturer 5 7 12 Wild Bee 5 7 9 Red Riband ... 4 7 9 Rally ... 5 7 7 Excitement ... 4 7 7 Summertime 4 7 7 Easby ... 4 7 4 Marquis of Wor cester Veni h b) 6 yrs, Camillus 6 yrs, b) aged, Mick Alter aged, ;d, Strike aged. icap); about six furlongs. Ago st lb Dignity ... 4 6 10 Lady Pam... ... 4 610 Vicious ... ... 4 6 Gaiety ... ... 4 6 7 Ned of the Hill S... a 6 7 Triana 3 6 4 The Shrew ... 3 6 4 Adjutant ... 3 6 0 Finesse ...3 6 Bumboat ... 3 5 11 Mexico ... 3 b 12 Primula ... ... 3 512 John Bull .. 3 "" ...4 7 2 ...4 7 2 Mischief ..: ... 6 7 - 2 Dutch Admiral ... 4 7 0 Bouquetiere ... 3 6 12 Milly ... ... 4 6 121 The Priory Steeplechase Hat the fund), with 40 ad, ... 5 13 Norrington ... 3 51Q Tyrone ... ... 3 510 Bahia ... 3 5 7 I Mr. Pitt ... ... 5 (dr) ndicap of 5 soya each, 2 ft (to Med ; about two miles. Age st lb Age st lb Comberton ... a 13 0 Oldminster a 10 5 Sir Bobby ... al2 10 Wedding Peal ... 610 4 Helice (inc 71b ex) 611 12 Order ... 410 4 Patience .. ... b) all 2 L or d W a ld egrave 610 4 Woodbury Hill Oa all 0 Clarina .. alO 0 Bal ham ... all 0 Puebla ... 610 0 ArlescJtt all 0 Tom Coke... ... 510 0 Spatchcock a 10 12 Bedlamite ... 4 10 0 Kronberg ... 610 12 Miss Emma ... alO 0 Ace of Trumps ... alO 10 Flying Spur ... alO 0 Pineapple ... a, 10 10 Ned of the Hills ... a 10 0 Waterperry ... alO 9 Signal ... alO 0 Tottie (inc 71b ex) 510 7 Countess 8010 ... 510 0 Gorsehawk alO 5 Belle of Kars ... 610 0 A Selling Steeplechase Handicap of 5 soya each, 2 ft (to the fund), with 30 added ; the winner to be sold for 50 sous ; any winner after Feb. 14 71b extra ; two miles ; 14 subs. Age st lb Age at lb Eheu a 12 7 Leicester ... a 11 0 Ganymede... a 11 12 Bandoline a 10 10 Serious Case all 9 Strike ... alO 5 Love in a Mist all 5 Belle of Kars ... 610 4 Rapture ... all 4 Holkar ... 610 0 Swindler ... a 11 4 Miss Franklin 6 10 0 Beverley all 4 Signal ... alO 0 FRIDAY. A Selling Handicap of 3 sous each, with 20 added ; any winner after the publication of the weights 71b extra; about five furlongs. The Middlesex Grand Open Steeplechase Handicap of 10 soya each, h ft (in case of acceptance), with 100 added ; about three miles. Age st lb Globule Sprite a 11 11 Sinite 1, 11 3 Patience Huntsman a 11 3 Arlescott Bishopton Tottie (inc. 51b ex) 5 10 12 The Harrow Steeplechase P any winner after Feb. 6 (at Age et lb Comberton a 13 0 Columbia :.. a 12 0 Helice (including 71b extra) Patience .. Spatchcock Kron berg 6 10 12 Ace of Trumps B g by T he Chicken, dam by M.D. Countersign Old Warrior Waterperry Portfire Acolyte Broomstick A Plate of 40 sous (Handicai noon) 7lb extra. Age st lb Age st lb Goodfellow 4 8 12 Vicious ... 4 7 0 Lady Clinton Dawdle Practitioner a 8 2 Gaiety ... 4 6 10 Columbine 4 8 2 The Shrew ... 3 6 10 Venturer 5 8 0 Diligence 3 6 10 Red Riband Wild Bee 6 7 12 Adjutant ... 3 6 7 Harlington Age st lh Oldminster Lisbryan Kronberg Gelort 5 10 7 Miss Emma Puebla Knight of Down() 410 7 Caustic late (Handicap) of 40 soya; , noon) 71b ea ; about 2 miles. Age st lb Chipney 6 10 7 Gorsehawk Novice ... alO 5 Wedding Peal Order ... Tom Coke... Knight of Downe 4 10 0 Rod in Pickle Holkar 6 10 0 Belle of Kars The Dictator a 10 0 Little Peevish Flying Spur Signal Miss Emma 1); a winner after Feb. 6 (at thout half a'n2ile. Paulinii ... ... 4 710 Mexico .. ... 3 6 4 Easby ... ... 4 7 9 Bumboat ... ... 3 6 4 Veni ... ... 4 7 7 John 8u11... ... 3 6 4 Marquis of Wor- Lady Zatland (dr). 3 6 , I cester ... ... 4 7 7 Betlow Lass ... 3 6 0 The Hackler ... 4 7 4 Norrington ... 3 6 0 13ouquetiere ... 37 4 13a1vie ... ... 35 10 Dutch Admiral ... 4 7 4 Sister toGlowworin 3 5 10 The Stand Plato of 4 0 sous ; two year olds 6 st 101 b, threa 9st 51b, four lOst 4 1 b, live and upwards 10st 71b ; th q winner to be sold for 80 soya ; if eatered for SO soya allowed 71b 30 1210; any wiuuer of 50 sots 4.10 e x t ra. Half a mile. Kittle Coates 2 yrs (30 sovs), Rugby Lass 4 yrs (50), Primula 3 Z3O), Bclvie3 (80), Mandicity 2 (50). Inheri tance 3 (30), Tubal Cain 2 (30), Practitioner agod ( 30 ), Proctor 3 (30). RACING FIXTURES FOR 1868. FEBRUARY. Lincoln Spring ML tusfield Derby Spring • Harrow 2O MA Rua. L'verpool Spring M 3 (Lelmsford Spring M 10 Surewsbury Spring 10 West Drayton l2 Warwick Spring Margate Epsom Spring Meeting Croxton Park •... Northampton AP. Bromley Spring Durham Hendon l3 Newmarket Craven Knighton l4 Abergavenny M. Chester Wiachester York Spring Doncaster Spring 1 Salisbury Jui West Drayt0n............ 1 Croydon 2d Summer ... 3 Manchester 3 Ascot Summer 9 Beverley, Hull, and East Riding lO Windsor Summer JTJ, RP I C N eo h " o an e r th i t c m e e nf s s ra t e f a lr r t a S u . . m . m . . e . r . ...... .... 1 2 2 73 N D Ca e o r w w li m n sl a e u rk oy et al J o u o ly rp .... . 1 7 5 Liverpool July .................. le 'RIL. Catterick Bridge ...... I Lewes Spring Thirsk Curragh April Newmarket Ist spring Bath Croydon Ist Summer llarpenden Epsom Summer 23 2k 27 31 19 21 23 26 Newton Hampton Newcastle 23 Bibury Club .. 23 Stockbrid ge 1 2-t Alexandra Park 3tl LY. Odiham, le Stamford Radcliffe ..... 2O Huntingdon: 2l Nottingham July Southampton Goodwood AUG Brighton Brighton Cl u b 46 Lewes Summer 7 Wolverhampton ll Stockton Plymouth Windsor August li= l3 Eg I 18 Hastings York August SEPTI Baden Warwick September Abingdon 3 Leicester Doncaster September 8 Brecon Richmond Hampton Autumn l5 °OTC Bedford 1 1 Bromley Autumn Newmarket 2d October 5 Chelmsford Autumn NOVE AJST. Dover Oxford Scarborough Canterbury Derby Summer Weymouth Lichfield Tunbridge Margate 3l MBER. Kelso l.l Hendon Monmouth . . Newmarket Ist October 2.1 Walsall West Drayton Royal Caledonian Hunt and Western M IBER. Cleltenham l3 Ealing - No wmarkot Houghton 19 1 Worcester Autumn.,., 27 ',AIBEIt . Shrewsbury Autumn 9 Leamington and Warwickshire Hunt l7 RETIREMENT OF TUE DUKE OF BEAUFORT FRO THE PIJEF.—Wo believe that the whole of the Duke of Beattfort ' o stud will shortly be brought tO the hammer. I ShAre 20 st st 100 LL <oi to too 190 100 100 'Co 100 100 , SSES 100 100 100 all 100 100 SC 2 107 a i 72 It 99i 2 95i 6 1031 103& 1004 f 1021 97 1.515