The Sun. — London, England, 1868-12-24 00:00:00

Tn. c. 23. aeopold, 1 High. ?rincesB alked in ble cha of the Dremost Dper On instruc- )y Air. n story .ated by Messrs. realised nd Mr. figures mOVe- ie other dysteri of the oughout. b is not o many olidayst 3 season Vithin," The Reece. ;he same season• parts is Lnd Miss ews an d e, 4 4 The vag anol ausinglY Dld fire" aggres" ,o. Th e of war, ice, ah 7, Went y attra e' r cordial gay bard , [argare ° toner bay J e 6th 0f number y es ter' umber i° 1. 3 r a fters he court prison er ' le oak um n lyfollo' i bo be Pal l ), wo rk all ras wal t- I ask ew : ed. lie told him it to iq r ' rue, as b 4 , 48 rises in d pack al 3 told bi ll : r had Yu" for noney ) and, O a ock ia tile y• are ° t he dita it allot ork at ea take° Tat of uk tha t 1 , false Pr e a vieW, 1113 ,r that. OnVi et. , i f ,btairt Torks , 913 . 1 0 e gav e 13 LT P °141C 13 5 0 mot2 oe- 54 A W illi : ir, an d ; vd F;11 0 Owing 1 ? ex plos l , Also .t ther ei t e J wa tcP . of folic° 0 that °"1,0,0,0 logo° a Al b3 : / c1 shed, a d S . the A P e o was y i n v er• B rea a ". 0 g use bil ° ,l 3 er of 3°°' At ,nor o° , oo her per • 7. 0 )me evie! 1 A. C3 „111 Porton-10- co re eve °of L but „got, n g the il t ° l ) 6 Les Nv 4b ; (1 pasleP A P O ale hom - ce r n a to e 6 b el a te o ' _bail n ot , ' fort o ;fo 3 tert - P i to [le jo .tioo. 110 Giff °ru. ice llor t x ° Pa ge (I ,C co Giffo ix eo ..rears 0o ) 000 4 sta e . Hot li e l e _0, 0 0 4 , air. 13 ' 0 1 9 and 13 p wa -4 roe >robA: d or acrid rONE•Y ZAREET A ND CO AMERCIAL INTBLLIGEtit)A CITY, Two O'CLOCK. The weekly meeting, to-day, in the Bank parlour, has gone over without any alteration in the rate of discount, although it was pretty gene rally expected something of the sort would take place. Consols this morning were firm, and busi ness in the foreign shares was somewhat extensive, more especially in Turkish, Spanish, and Italian. The Railway Market was extremely dull, and for Miscellanous Shares there was little or no inquiry. Consols ars 921 for money; Three per Cent. Reduced, 921 1; New Three per Cents, 921 1 ; Bank of England Stock, 4 per Cent., 242 40. India Stock, 101 per Cent., April, 1874, shut ; ditto, for Account, 210 ; ditto 5 per Cent., July, 1880, 1111 121 ; ditto 4 per Cent., Oct., 1888 ; 1021; ditto Enfaced Paper 51 per Cent., May, 1870, 1091 1 ; ditto Debentures, 5 per Cent., Aug., 1873, 1041; ditto Bonds £l,OOO, par. In the Foreign market Italian of 1861 are higher, Turkish 5.16, Spanish New Three per Cents. 1. Honduras Railway Bonds, 891 to 90 ; Nicolai Bonds, 641 651 ; Orel Vitebsk Bonds, 78 to 781; Chilian Six per Cents. 1867, 96 to 961; Egyptian Seven per Cents. 1864, 821 to 831 ; ditto Seven per Centf. 1868, 721 734; Greek, Bonds, 111 to 12 ; Italian Five per Cents., 56/ to 561 Mexican, 144 to 15 ; Pernvian Five per Cents., 79 to 791 ; Spanish New Three per Cents., 321 to 33 ; Turkish Five per Cents. of 1865, 381 to 391 ; ditto Six per Cents. of 1865, 611 to 62 ; Vice roy of Egypt Seven per Cents., 758 to 751 ; ditto Nine per Cents., 88/ to 881. In Railway Shares prices are quoted as follows : —Brighton, 481 to 481 ; Caledonian, 731 to 741 ; Great Eastern, 411 to 411; Great Western, 481 to 481 ; Great Northern A Stock, 1071 to 1071; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 127/ to 1281 ; London and North Western, 1118 to 1121 ; London, Chat ham, and Dover, 16-1 to 17 ; Metropolitan, 103 to 1031; Midland, 1121 to 1121 ; North British, 321 to 32/ ; Sheffield, 471 to 471 ; and South Eastern, 784 to 78/. American Five-Twenty Bolds are 74/ to 741 ; Ditto 1865 Issue, 721 to 721 ; the Ten-Forty Bonds 71 to 718 ; Erie Railway Shares, 26 to 261 ; Illinois ' Central, 95 951 ; Atlantic and Great Western Railway Debentures, 401 to 401 ; and the Consolidated Mortgage Bond, 42 to 421. Alliance Bank shares are 111 to 121 ; London and County, 50 to 51 ; London and Westminster, 65 to 67 ; Union of London, 37 to 38 ; City, 12 to 121; and Oriental, 421 to 431. Miscellaneous Shares are steady. Anglo-Ameri can Telegraph, 211 to 211; Atlantic Eight per Cent. Preferential, 31 to 31 ; Hudson's Bay, 13 11-16 to 13 13-16 ; National Discount, 111 to 121 ; Luxembourgs, 10 11-12 to 10 13-16. At the Bank yesterday £3,000 in bar gold was sent in making a total of £26,000 since the date of the last return. The George Thompson has arrived off Falmouth from Port Philip, with £122,000 in gold. The Benvenue, from Melbourne, for London, with £94,000, reached Pernambuco on the 28th ult. Saturday next, the 26th inst. is one of the fixed holidays at the Stock Exchange. As far as pos sible there will be a total absence of business in the City, and it is to be regretted that incon venience must be sustained by bankers and others from the necessity of some formal attendance, owing to the occasion not having been declared a legal holiday. Railway shareholders can now demand a list of proprietors under the new Regulation of Railways Act, section 34. Mr. WiAliatn Brooks has been appointed assis tant general manager to the Progress Assurance Company. Advices from Athens say that the National Bank of Greece has suspended all discount business, without affording any explanation on the subject to its customers. A special general court of the governor and corn- Pany of adventurers of England trading into Hud son's Bay will be held at their house in Fenchurch street, on Tuesday, the sth January, 1869. At a general meeting of the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation, the usual dividand of 4 per cent. for the half-year was declared, making, with the distribution last Midsummer, 20 per cent. for the year. The voluntary liquidators of the English and American Bank (Limited) have declared a further division of the capital of £1 10s. per share, making, with the former distributions, 90 per cent. of the amount paid up on the shares. Messrs. J. S. Morgan and Co. notify that the Coupons, due on the lst of January next, of the First Mortgage Sterling Bonds of the European and North American Railway Company for extension from St. John westward, will be paid on and after that date. The Erie Railway Company have commenced a Suit against Cornelius Vanderbilt for the recovery Of 4,500,000 dols., alleged to bave been paid him to compromise the famous lawsuit of last summer, and . for other purposes, by Daniel Drew, Frank Work, and others, alleged in the complaint to have been unauthorised. The complaint is signed by Field and Shearman, plaintiff's attorneys, and sworn to by James Fisk, jun. _ _ . With reference to the addenda of the Anglo- Austrian Commercial Treaty, which raised a strong opposition on the part of the Austrian manufac turers, the Committee of Finance in the Reichsrath having referred the matter to a committee of ex perts, they have submitted modifications of the duties on manufactured cotton and wool, which VIII show 20 per cent. reduction for cotton and 10 per cent. for wool on the hitherto existing im port duties. It is understood that the committee appointed at the meeting of shareholders of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, on the 21st of October last, have induced Messrs. Robert Gillespie, Graham, Menzies, and G. Hodgkinson, M.P., to join the board of directors, and that vacancies will be made forthwith by the retirement of a corresponding Dumber of the present members of the board. The provisional directors of the " Brighton and Metropolitan Railway"—the new line projected between that town and London—invited the in habitants of Brighton to a public meeting on Mon day evening last, and on that occasion resolutions Were unanimously passed in favour of the scheme. in order to guard against the possibility of the line being abandoned by a compromise with existing interests, the subscribers have stipulated that they shall have a majority on the board. All the speakers concurred in asserting that had it not been for the conduct of the existing company in raising the fares last summer the new scheme Would never have been heard of. The directors of the Credit Foncier of England (Limited) have convened a meeting for the 6th of January in consequence of a requisition to that effect by a self-constituted committee, whose action in the matter they nevertheless consider highly in expedient. This committee have issued a series of Proposed resolutions which, in the opinion of the board, would add greatly to existing difficulties, Whereas it is affirmed if the company, were protected from vexatious interference and the directors were allowed the free exercise of their own judgment it lali,, , ht within a reasonable time be placed in a com paratively successful condition. BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. (i OVERNMENT FUNDS. a Per Cent. Consols Ditto for Account, 1 per Cent. Reduced 921 1 k e w . 3 per Cent New. 21 per Cent. Jan. 1894 Do. 6 per Cent. dan. 1873 '"•llluities, SO yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 — Do. for 30 yrs, expire sth April 1885 — E Do (R e d S ea T e l egrap h) , Aug., 1 90 8 — Icllo quer Bills, £l,OOO, 2 per Ct — Pm Do, .£5OO Do £lOO & £2OO Pm 11441 :of England Stock, 4per Cent r , 0 0. ou r ','lttlada 4 per Cent. Bonds — 431ter-Colonial Uranium INDIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. India stock, 10i per Cent., April 1874 Do. Opening, for Account 2lO Do. 5 per Cent. July, 1880 Do. 4 per Cent., Oct. 1888 Do. Certificates Do. Enlaced Pape' 4 per CAnt — Do. 5 per Cent., Jan. 1872 Do. 5i per Cent. May 1i79 lo9f i D.) 5 per Cent., Rup. Deb. 1872 — Do. do. 1877 — Do. do. 1882 D.. Dab., 5 per Cont., Aug. 1873 .„ 104} Do. Bonds, 4 per Cent., £l,000 Do. under £l.000 FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. Argentine Republic, 6 per Cent ... . Do., Scrip £45 paid .. Austrian Bonds ö per cent 159 - Brazilian 5 per Cent — 03. 44 per Cent., 1852 — Do. do. 1858.... Do. do., 1860 — Do. do., 1863 67i Do. 5 per Cont., 1865 — Do Account 784 i B ..enos Ayres 6 per Cent. D 0 '2 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent ) 514 Cuba, 6 per Cent. o,..iltan 6 per Cent — ')o. 4i per Cent...... ......... .. 7l Do. 3por Cent., Do. 6 per cent. 1867 Do. 7 per Cent., 1866 C lo übian, 6 per Cent. Dan sia, 3 por Cent., 1825 Dan wian Principalities , 7 per Cent — _ ___ _ - Do 8 per Cent, 1867 Equador New Consolidated, 1 per Cent y taltilJ t 7 per Cent — Do Second issue ••• •• Jo. £su. Bowls — Do. £lOO Bonds ••••• -- Do. 1864 Do. Account Do. £5OO Bonds Do. £1.06 Bonds B5 41 English Scrip, ;1868 731 Do do. £45 pd — die Goyanment Railway .oebouture6 Greet 5 per Cent., 1824 5, ex Coups — Do. Account Do. Coupons Do. Account Gaatemala 5 per Cent .. — Honduras Gov. Rail. Loan., 10p. Ct., all pd Italian 5 per Cent., 1665 — Do. Account ~ Bl} Do Maremmana Railway Iblexicar. 3 per Cent — Ditto for Account Do. 1864 — Do 6 per Cent. Anglo-French — tiontevideau 6 per Cent. . — Moorish Imperial 5 per Cent New Granada l4} Do 3 per Cen Do. Deferred Do Laud Warrants (Hectares) I Peruvian 5 por Cont. i. 865 - Do Account l9} i Po INguese 3 per Ct., 1853, '6, 7, '9,'60,'2.'b Do. do. 1867 Do. do. Scrip, £2O paid Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St Do 4} per Cent. 1850 Do ili per Cent., 1860 Do 3 per Cent., 1859 Do 5 per Cent., 1862 Do. Anglo-Dutch, 1864, £lOO Bonds 9O Do. du. £B4 15s. do — Do., 1866, £lOO Bonds Do. do , £B4 15s do Do Nicolas Railway 651 Sarlinian S per Cent Do 4i per Cent. (Uribarren) Do 4f per Cent.. 1862 -. — Do Account Spnish 3 per Con Do. Acc , iunt Do. 1867 Do. Account Do. New Deferred Do. Account Do. Passive Do. Com. Cert. of Coup. not funded Do. Account Swedish Provincial Mortgage Loan Do Government, 1864 - Do do, 1868 Do de, 6crip — pnr Turkish 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 4} Do 5 per Cent. 1865 Do Account Do 6 per Cent., 1860 6ll 2 Do I per Cont., Guaranteed Venezuela 3 per Cent.: Do. Acc. ant Dividends on the above payable in Loudon Austrian o per Cent. Ex 10 Florins Belgian, 44 per cent., Ex. 251. Dutch 2* per Cent. Ex. 12 Gail, Do. 4 per Cent. Certificates .... French Rentes, 3 per Cent., Ex. 251. Account - It%lian 5 per tient. 1851, zsi. • Do. Account 56 6 CLOSING PRICES. 0011F11:8, Money 92± xd Do. Account, Jan. 5 92± xd MARKE7 S-2 MS DAY. st Bristol and Exeter 4 p.cent. 100 86 88 it Caledonian Qrs., No. 2 lOO it Do. Scot. N.E., 4i per cent lOO ... st Do. Aberdeen, gua, 6 p.c lOO st Do. do. 7 per cent lOO ... at Do. do. Ordinary lOO 7$ it Do. Midland st Do. Dundee and Arbroati lOO 20 Cornwall, 5 per cent gua all it, Dundee, Perth, and Aber deen Junction lOO 195 107 st Do. Ist Class preference lOO ... st Glas. & S.W. gua. 5 per ct lOO ... it (It. Eastern, E.C. Ex. No.l 109 97 100 it Do do No. 2 100 96 9) it Do do 6 per cent 100 196 108 it Do East Anglian Asp. c. 100 luo 1011 st Do do B 6 do. 100 it Do do C 7 do. 100 it Do do No. 1, 5 p.c. 100 100 103 it Do E. Union 4p. c. gua. 100 89 71 it Do Norfolk 5 p.c. Ex. 1846 100 sti Do do 5 p.c.Way.Val. 1847 100 it Great Northern, 5 per cent 10 , it Do 5 p.c., rd at 10 p. c. pm. 100 .. 4 st Do 41 do do do 109 1071 7 it Do 5 do at sp.c. pm lOO st Do Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax, 6 per cent lOO etl Gt. Nrth of Scotland, let pf 100 . 4 . et Great South. and Western (Ireland) 4 per cent lOO 96 :7 stj G t.West.—Orig.& Jnt.-Itent chg., per gua. 5 p.c lOO 102 104 it Do. Orig. (B. &H. Ex). 5 p.c. lOU 95 100 st Do do 41 per cent. 1850— 100 82 88 st Do do 4 do do it 100 do 5 per cent. rodent lOO 93 95 941 st Do do Birmingham gua 100 63 72 st Do do du pref... 100 it Do do Chester gua lO3 st Do do do 8 per cent lOO 150 169 st Du de do 5 do 100 95 100 st Do South Wales, gua. 4 p.c. 100 444 it Po do 41 p.c lOO st D o do 4 4 1850 lOO st Do do 5 it Do West Mid. Oxford Ist g lO2 lOs 112 it Do do 2d gua lOO 106 108 it Do Newport, Ist g. 5 p.c lOO 33 92 st Do do 22 do 100 st Do gua. 51 per cent. 1863 100 44 , 100 Lancaster & Carlisle 41 p.c. all . 4 . at Laucash. & Yorksh. 6 p.c. 100 1 0 135 it Do Barnsley, £5 3s 10d p.c. 100 44 . 444 it Do 6 p.c. (East Lancashire) 100 130 135 et Do 41 (Blackburn porch). 100 97 100 st London & Brighton, 9p. c. guaranteed, No. 1 lOO at Du 5 per cent. gua. No. 2. 100 it Do 6 do do lOO 120 it Du s do Ni. 4. 100 it Do 7 per cent 1 0 st Do 6 du (W.E. & C.P.) 100 st Da 4 do 1859 lOO at Loudon, Chatham, & Dover 5 per cent st London and C. and Nuneaton b per cent lOO 109 111 it Do Bedford &Cambridge lOO 8 91 st Do Shrewsb'y & Welchp'l lOO 88 91 st London and 7 p,e late 3d shares, lOO 141 146 25.62. Do (Portsm. perp ans. 2s6d) all ... it Mau., Shel., &Lineln. 6 p.c lOO 111 117 1141 6 Do st Do 31 per cent lOO 60 65 10 Do redeem. 6 por cent it Mid. Consolidated., 6p. c lOO 130 135 it Do Bristol& Birm., 6p. c lOO 1.0 132 it Do 41 per cent. redeem lOO 97 109 et, Do 41 per cent. irredeem lOO 97 99 it Du Leicester &Irchn, 4 p.c lOO 80 91 it North British, 5 p.c. No.l lOO it Do E. &G.4p.e. S. & D st Do N. 8., No. 2, 5 per een.t lOO it Do Border Union, 01 p.c lOO st N.-Eastern—Cons. 4 p.c lOO SG Si st Do 41 per cent. redeem-- 100 93 95 •it Du G.N.E. 4 per cent., lOO 17 Do Berwick capital 8 13.4. ... 20 Do York, H. &S. purchase lO 10 101 it Do Stektu & Drling. A 5 p.c lOO 103 110 it Do W, Hartlepool 11. and IL 100 87 82 20 North Staffordshire 10s c. Devon Annuities, 1 s all 91 101 10s Do Tavistock Anus., 10s all 9 10 lOs Do Fixed 41 per cent all 8 1.0.6. S. Last. (head. Anns., 1.0.6) all 22 23 22a it Do 41 per cent lOO 4 . 4 . 44 it Do Fixed 41 per cent lOO it Taff Vale No.l 100 145 150 it Waterford& Kilkenny, 6pc 100 41 43 METROPODITAN CATTLE. Large supplies of moat were on sale hero to-day, in cluding some choice qualities for Christmas consump tion. A fair average business was passing, and prices ruled firm. BOROUGH HOP. The market presents a more animated appearance. Fine qualities have been in request, and for medium grades there has been a healthy inquiry. In prices no change has taken place. WOOL. In low wool sales have passed off steadily, at full quota tions. In colonial wool, by private contract, a moderate business has been passing, at about late rated. English wool has been quiet, but firm in price. • LIVERPOOL COTTON. December 24.—Sales probably 10,000 or 12,000 bales. Market quiet and unchanged. The House of Commons will adjourn on the 29th of December to Tuesday, the 16th of February, for the despatch of business. The House of Lords, which stands adjourned to Thursday, the 11th of February, will be ad journed on that day to Tuesday, the 16th of February. THE ELECTION RIOTS AT BLACKBURN.--The trial of Thomas Fallon and Daniel Duxbury, who were indicted for the murder of Thomas Whittaker, at Blackburn, on the 17th November, took place at the Liverpool Assizes yesterday. The jury, after an absence from the court of three hours, returned a verdict of Not Guilty. A lady, the wife of an officer, gives her experi ence of the plains in a book she calls " Absaraka," which, being interpreted, means "Home of the Crows." It is by this name that a place in the Territory of Wy oming was known to the Indians, and it has so captivated the authoress that she hopes to make it the name of what will one day be A STATE of the Union. The Crow In dians, the original owners, were partially dispossessed by the Sioux and Cheyennes. The object of the book, and the reason of this notice, is that it clears the character of Col. Carrington from the imputations of cosi ardice and in competency, cast on the affair of Fort Philip Kearney of Dec. 21, 1866, wherein 81 of the men under his command were massacred by the Sioux and Cheyennes, near Fort Philip Kearney. The facts are that an expedition was sent out in May, 1866, under H. B. Carrington, to secure by forts the new route to Montana by Wyoming. He built Fort C. F. Smith and Fort Philip Kearney, but as peace prevailed when he went out, he was unprepared for the incessant hostility, for the harassing attacks to which his trains were subjected, and the constant loss of stray men and horses. He applied then to Washington in vain for reinforcements. It was after an attack on a wood train that he sent forth a party with strict orders to rescue and defend the train, but not to pursue the Indians. The offi cers in command, unable to resist the temptation to follow the retreating Indians, pursued till the party was drawn by the feint out of reach of the fort, when it was surrounded, every man falling, the officers, it is said, by their own hands. A second party sent out to assist arrived too late, for the Indians (about 1,500) were then dancing and yelling about the mutilated soldiers, and invited the rescuing party to come down and be scalped too. Reports were circulated that this massacre occurred within sight of the fort wherein Col. Carrington, with two companies, remained so terrified as not even to admit through the gates the soldiers who reached it flying for refuge. These tales are shown to be untrue ; and the authoress, though with little literary skill, achieves her purpose of clearing away such imputations. Mr. E. Hepple Hall arrived in New York on the 30th of October last, having left in February, 1867, on a tour of the world, which he had then completed. He has taken voluminous notes, which from so practised a pen are likely to take the form of a most interesting book of travels He crossed the Atlantic in time for the opening of the Exhibition in Paris, whence he sailed for Egypt, reaching Abyssinia Then in on to time fo India, the wherealr y h operations e spent o somef the British Army. weeks, lec tures,duriwwhhe n ich h h e e From Japan he made the trip via San Francisco to Now o iv e e ee re d d ed a t s o eri C es h o in f a hi a g n h d ly o la n op t u o la J r apa. York in 34 days, 12 of which were passed in the Overland route across the Continent. While on his travels he pub lished that excellent guide to America, " The Great West." Being editorially connected with the New York Times, he furnished that paper, as well as the Chicago Evening Journal, with graphic descriptions of China and Japan. Mr. G. W. Curtis is delivering a lecture on "Morals in Politics," wherein he mentions Captain Kidd, the renowned pirate, in illustration. Recently he de livered this lecture in Salem, where some of Butler's friends, taking Kidd to be a hit at their hero, hiss)ed down the lecturer, who was compelled to explain that Kidd was not introduced for the occasion, but had always been there, the lecture having been composed in New York long before the fight in Maseachussets over Butler's return. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, IE6B. JOINT-STOCK BANKS. '' Closing Business Share NAME. Paid. Price. done 10 Agra Limited, A all 111 121 124 ' 2 10 Do B lO 5 6 50 Albion 100 Alliance, Limited 20 Anglo-Austrian 20 Anglo-Egyptian, lint all 17 13 174 20 Anglo-Hungarian 20 Anglo-Italian 1866, limited 10 6 4 40 Australasian 20 Bank of British Columbia all' 11 13 20 Do issued at 2 pm....., 5 ... ... '25 Bank of Egypt 20 Bank of Otago, lint. 25 Bank of South Australia all 31 33 50 Bank of Victoria, Australia 25 37 3J 10 Bank of New Zealand all 17 19 50 British North American , all bl 63 20 Chartered of India, Austra lia, ,nd China all 20 21 25 Chartered Mere. of India, Loudon, and China all 291 301 30 20 City l9 11 12 100 Colonial 25 40 42 10 Consolidated, lint. 4 1 1 4 13-16 SO Delhi and London, lint SO East London, lira 6 1 i 01 20 English and American, lint 10 ... ... 20 English Bank of Rio de Ja neiro. lira lO ld pr 20 English, z cuttish, and Aug • tralian Chartered 284 Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Corporation all ... ... 281 Do n ew if i f 100 Imperial, lint 2O 17 18 20 Imperial Ottoman lO 4 1 111 1 1 15 lonian all 27 29 25 Do new b pr 1p 20 Lnd Mortgage of India, lint 4 31 34 100 Do sp. c. Debs.lB6s, 30 all 76 78 62 30 London Bank of Mexico and South America, lint. 20 9 7 121 100 London and Brazilian, lint. 45 21 32 20 Do new 71 64 21 100 London & River Plate, Rm 4O 7 9 25 Do new 10 11 11 20 London Chart, of Australia all 221 231 50 London and County 2O SO 51 20 Do new, iss at 20 p.m, 16 pd ll ... •.. 50 London Joint Stock 1 35 36 35 4 3 20 London and South African al 1) 12 100 London & S.-Wester; lint, 20 ... ... 50 London & Venezuela, lint._ 121 ... ••• 100 London and Westminster 2O 654 664 661 3 100 Do Scrip, iss at 10 pm 2O 621 6il 63 100 Merchant, lint 25 7 i 10 Metropolitan, lint all 63 71 100 Midland, 1int...... 2O ld pr 5 National of Australia . . 25 National of Liverpool, Ern l5 ... ... 100 National Provinc. of Eng'd 42 ... ... 10 Do 50 National.. 3O 54 56 20 New South Wales all 42 44 20 North-Western 75 25 Oriental Bank Corporation all 424 424 42/ 50 Provinc. Bank. Corpo., lint lO 6 if 44 f 100 Provincial of Ireland 25 91 03 10 Do new.. all ••• ••• 100 Stand. of Brit. S. Africa, lint 25 14 12 100 Do issued at 6 pm. 10 ... ... 25 Union of Australia all 48 49 100 Union of Ireland, line 50 Union of London THE FENIAN FIASCO. A few days ago a startling paragraph appeared in the papers describing a flying shot from a carriage of a train by a supposed Fenian, at the engine-driver. The following letter may throw some light epon it. It appears in the Dublin Evening Mail :—" An alarming telegram of yes terday d scribed a flying shot at a railway train, which was believed to provo that at least one armed Fenian was coming back, per Sunday day mail, to invade Ireland. It is a curious but indisputable fact that a young friend of mine, ten years old, and a ' fine boy of his age,' came by that identical train from London to Holyhead, and amused himself en route by snapping off caps at passing trains and other objects of inter,st. On leaving school for the Christ mas holidays, he had been presented with a toy-gun, guilt less of powder and shot, but fitted with a percussion lock for cap. It is not a deadly weapon, when you examine it closely, as I did yesterday; but it can make a noise, and at a dis tance looks formidable. SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. JAMES DISRAELI. The death or this gentleman took place quite suddenly on Wednesday morning about three o'clock. He had suf fered for some months past from frequent attacks of heart disease, but latterly he had been so much better as to attend at Somerset House, where he held the post of Commissioner of the Board of Inland Revenue, and he transacted business as late as Tuesday afternoon. About three o'clock in the afternoon he left Somerset House, and he appeared then in good health, but soon after two on Wednesday morning he suffered from an attack of heart disease, which lasted with great severity until his death. The deceased gentleman was appointed to the Board of Inland Revenue in 1858 ; and previous to that he was for some years treasurer of the County Courts of Lincolnshire and Derbyshire. Mr. Disraeli was the brother of the Right Hon. B. Disraeli (ex-Prime Minister), and of Mr. Ralph Disraeli, one of the registrars in Chancery. The deceased gentleman was a widower. SHARE LIST. ORDINARY t3iIAANS AND STOCKS. Share Railways. Pad. Closing Business Price. done. st Bristol and Exeter ...... 100 15 77 at Caledonian ... 100 731 711 at Cambrian. 20 Cornwall all 31 31 st Dublin & Belfast 100 77 79 st Dun„Perth, & Ab•Junc lOO 70 72 2 East London all 7 9 40 Do 15 - Do 10 - - et Glasgow &S. Western lOO 90 91 et Great Eastern .. st Do. E. Angi. No. 2 lOO 7 8 st ' Great Northol Scotlansl lOO 15 6 et Great Northern lOO 106 107 st Do. A stock lOO 107 108 1071 et Do, 13 stuck et GtS, and W. of Ireland lOO 50 97 et (it. Western -Original lOO It; 481 481 et Do. South Wales ll.O 60 18 at Do. W. Mid.-Oxford lOO 25 28 st Do. Newport lOO 28 31 at Lancashire & Yorkshire lOO 1271 .281 127 k at Lon., lirigh., AS. Coast lOO 48 481 481 8 10) Do Scrip - - st 1.0 n., Chat., and Dover Lou 16Z 171 161 17 st Do. Metrop. Ex. A lOO - st Lun. 6; North Western lOO 1111 1.2 112 111 st Lon. .1; South Western lOO 87 t 9 3,1 8 st Man., Sbef., A Lincoln lOO 471 43 at Metropolitan st Do Extensiln 100 93 109 98 10 Do. New rd 10 10 lul st Metropolitan District. all - 10 Metrop. at. John's V( col 6 - - at Miniaud st Do, Birmin. & Derby at Nortu British . ..... 100 62 43 st Do. Ed., rth., & Dun lO9 - - at N or. , :astern -Berwick lOO 10l 109 21" Do. G. N.E purchase 16.11.4 - - St Do Leeds ...... st Do York lOO b 7 83 871 at Do Carlisle st Do Stoc t. & Darling lOO 1,7 129 127 st North Lon :on .. 10 Do New 1868 .. 2 11 2 p st North Staffordshire lOO 64 63 at North and S.-W. Junction 100 103 106 10 Do New £lO shares 7 ... • • st Rhyinney st Shropshire Union 1 0 65 40 st South Deeon st South Eastern l9O 79 701 20 Staines, Wok'ham, & Wok all 12 12 at tau vale AO Do. C • 5 3 4 st Waterford & Kilkenny lOO tO Waterloo & Whiteha.l 6 - - RAILWAYS-PREFERENCE SHIRES AND STOCKS. RAILWAYS.-PREFERENCE SHARES AND STOOKS. With Dividends contingent on the Profits of each separate year. st Caledonian 41 p c gua. at Do Scot. Con. min. 7p c lOO • at Do 41 p irredeem all at Do 4p c con. issued at SU 65 ••• ••• at Great Eastern 4/ per cent. 100 77 81 et Do 5 do, 1862 lOO 3 s el st Do New 5 do, 1863 lOO 67 90 st Do du 6 do, 1864 100 84 83 84 st Great Northern, 5p c irred. 100 at Do Permanent 5 per cent. 100 at Do Boston & Sleatd, 4/ pc 100 at Great West., W. Midl., 6p c 100 86 90 at Do Joint perpe. 5p c, 1865 100 85 90 at Do do 6p e irred., 1866 100 103 105 104 84 2J Do Vale N eath perp. 5p e all 191 201 at Kent Coast, 6 per cent, B lOO L 5 Lane. and York. New 41 per cent till July, 1871 2 1 at Lond., Brig., &c., 41 pc, 1858 100 at Do do 4 do, 1860 100 it Do do 41 do, 1861 100 ~, at Do do 41 do, 1863 100 ~, at Do do 6 do, 1865 100 „„ at Do No. 6 6 do, 1866 100 at Do No. 7 6 do at Lond , Chat., &c., 2d, 6 p.c at Do Metrop. Ex., B 6 p.c Do do C 6 p.c at London &N. Western, 5p e 100 lOs 110 at London& S. Western, 41 p c 100 03 98 10 Man. shef.& Lin., 5 pc, 1865 all 181 at Metropolitan 5 per cent lOO it Midland, A 5 per cent pref lOO 105 107 st Do B 5 do 100 106 107 is Do 6 p c opt. to cony. to . . Ord. Stk., Sept. 1, 1869 all 14 lip 18 Do Woolly. Now Snares 16 i 22 Doi p o con. into Old Stk.,. Aug. 31, 1872 Bk 1 lip et ,North British, E. and No. 1, 6 per cent lO st Do £lO guaranteed, 1861 101 et Do E., P.,& Dun., 2d, 4ps 10$ at Do r.. & G , No. '2, 6 p.a et Do N. 8.. i per cent, 1861 100 st Do E. & G. , No. 3, 5 p.s at Do E. & G., (Ordiry) 44 p • 100 6$ 67 met North Eastern, 45 per cent 10$ 95 97 at Do Stock. & Darl., D 100 112 114 at North London, 45, per coat (Max. 5 per cent) at North Staffordshire 6p c lOO at South Eastern, 45 pc, 1859 100 at Do 5 do 1861 100 ... at Do sdo (Ch. Cross) 1863 100 ... at Do 5 do, 1864 at Victoria St. & Pimlico, 45 pa 100 ... RAILWA.YS.-LL.NES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS' at Birkenhead lOO 92 01 100 Do. 44 per cent. Prefer all 101 103 at Buckinghamshire at Cheater and Holyhead lOO 34 66 at Do. 31. per cent. at Do. 6 do. at Clydesdale, guaranteed lO6 at Colchester Stour Valley at East Lincoln, gua. 6p. c lOO 133 134 20 Gloster and Lean Forest all . a Gt. Easn., Newni., &c., 3 p.c 100 ~,, ... .. • a Do. E. U. Harwich, 4 p.c 100 60 7 7 . 2 at Dodo. Woodbrg. Ex., do. 10 69 72 at Gt. West ,W. Mid., Here.! lOO 95 97 66 Hull and Selby all 109 111 at Lancaster and Carlisle lOO 211 213 213 at London and Blackwall lOO 93 93 at Do. 4* per cent lOO at London, Cnat., &c., 4i pc. 100 ... at Do. Com. Fund, b do lOO ... ... ... at London and Greenwich at Do. do. Preference lOO ... .., at London, Tilbury, & South 100 78 b 2 at Lowestoft, gua 4 per cent lOO 79 83 at Do. do. 6 do. 61 Stanch., Buxton, & Matlk all 6 61 at 61 iclland, Bradford, Pref lOO 92 94 10 Mid Kent Cray Line) 30 Northern& East., 3 per cent all 63 36 30 Do. do. 6 do. all ... ... at N. Eastara —Hartlepool at N. West. A perp. pref, 6p. c lOO 101 110 at Du B nuninium lf p.c lOO ... . at Nutting. &Grauth. lt. OZ C lOO 92 o 25 Preston and W yre. ... Royston, Hitch., and Shep lOO 133 135 at Shrewsbury and Hereford 10 103 136 10 Do do 6 2} 2p at S. Yorksh. and River Dun 100 93 100 at Do 4 per cent gua lO , 79 81 at Do , 4 du at Vict. Station and Pimlico lOO 175 180 at West Cornwall `2O West Loudon, Class A all 13 14 20 Do do B all ... ... 20 Do do C all 61 74 at Weymouth and Portland lOO ... ... at Wilts and Somerset DOCKS. et East and West India lOO 117 119 st London and St. Katherine lOO 53 55 100 D oDeb. stock, 4 per cent , al,; .., ... IdiHymn Freehold Land it Dock lOO 31 36 it Southampton lOO 71 76 Dl §ttrrey Cialraercial MISCELLANEOUS, 10 Anglo-American Tel., lim all 21f 211 211 10 Anglo-Mediter. Tel., lim 10 1 1p 101 4 10 Anglo-Mexican Mint all 1$ 16 151 at Atlantic Telegraph lO 26 28 271 8 at Do. 8 per cent. lOO 70 74 25 Australian Agricultural 25 Australian Mort. Land and Finance, lira. 10 Baugarah Tea Estates, lim 8 7 id 10 Berlin Water Works, lim all 131 14 10 Do. New 6 3 61 100 Bolckow Vaughan, lint. 5 Bombay Gas, lira. all SI 4 5 Do. New 4 11- 01 5) British American Land 44 16 18 st B. and I. Magnetic Tel., lira lOO 167 172 20 British Indian Tea, lira all 21 31 20 British Ship Owners 7l 29 Canada Company all 67 72 10 Canadian Loan and Invest ment, lim ri 21 11d 20 Ceylon Company, lim 20 Do. A shares 10 City Discount, lim 6 44 21 26 City of London Real Pro perty, lim 8 41 Sid 30 City of Milan Improv. lint all b 10 25 City of Moscow Gas, Um— all 2 3 50 City Offices, lim 2B 21 ) 233( 1 50 Colonial, lim. Do. 50 Commereia: Union (Assur) 6 i ip 10 Company of African Mer chants, bin. 20 Continental Union Gas, litn all 17 18 25 Copper Miners of England, pref 71 per cent. 100 Corporation of London Bonds, 1877, 41 per cent. all 104 105 100 Do. 1879, 4; per cent. all 104 1051 100 Do. 1882, 44 par cent. all 1031 1041 10 Credit Fon. of Eugiand, lim. all 14 21 50 Credit Fon.of Mauritius lint lO 8 2 d at Crystal Pa lace lOO 1) 21 201 20 st Do. Preference lOO 96 101 st Do. 6p. c Petpetual Deb lO9 105 110 107 20 Darjeeling, lim. I 0 Eastern Assam, lim. Bl ... ..d 30 East Indian Land Credit and Finance, lim, 20 East India Irriga. & Canal all 17 is 32 Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron, and Coal, lint. 100 Egyptian 9 per cent. V'roy Uua. by Egypt. Gov all 88 89 881 1 20 Egyptian Com. & Trad. lim 6 41 48 at Electric & Inter. Telegraph 100 247 242 ;i42 10 Do. New 8 10 12p 3 Eng. & Austral. Copper, lim 24 15 English and Foreign Credit 74 & 48 100 Eng. and Scot. marine, lim. 8 ... ...d 10 Fairbairn Engineering 5 11 Ild 20 Fore-streetWarehouse,lim l2 pr 1p 100 For. & Col. Gov. Trust and Loan Scrip, issued at £B5 all 831 841 831 50 Gellivara, lim 10 General Credit & Dis., lim 7l 2 - If 15 General Steam Navigation 14 23 29 50 HOlll5 & Col Marine In. lim. 5 44 Sid 10 Hong Kong and China Gas all ... ... 20 Hudson's Bay all 131 13. i 131 20 Imperial Land Co. of Mar seilles, lint 25 Indo-European Tel., lim lO ... • ... 20 Interna. Financial Soc. li m 5 11 11 20 Interna. Land Credit, lira 6 6 44 50 Italian Land 6 11 4d 20 Italian Irri. (Canal Cavour) all 3) 4 100 Do. 6 p. c Bds., redeem 1870, issued 90 all 63 1:6 50 Land Securities, lim 5 34 215 25 London African Trading lO 7 5d 25 Lon. & Caled. Marine, lim 6 ... ...d 10 London County Land and Building, lim. 5 Loud. Provincial Tel. lim all 31 34 1 Do. Prefer. 10 per cent. all 4 •IP 50 Lond. Financial Asso., lint 30 23 221 4 Lond.Gen.thunibus.Co.lim. all 1/ 2 60 Lond, and Glasg. Engineer and Iron Ship, lim 25 22 17d 20 Lond. & Provincial Marine 2 Id pr st Madras Irriga. & Caul. Gua. sp.c. by India Gov. lOO 105 107 10 Mauritius Land, Credit, and Agency, 1im...... 10 Mediterra. Exten. Tel., lim all 4 4/ .50 Merchant Shipping, lim. 50 Millwall Iron Works, Jim l2l ••• 10 Natal Land and Colonisa tion Co,. lim. 25 National Discount Co., Jim 6 12 121 25 National Prov. Marine, lim. 4 4 3d 10 National Steam Ship, Jim. all Si 91 20 Nerbudda Coal & Iron, lim. 6 3 25 10 New Consolidated Dis. lim. 3 11 Id 5 New Quebrada, lim. ........ .4.4.0 4 4 34 25 New Zealand Loan & Mer. cantile Agency,lirn ........ 21 2 11 , 25 New Zealand Trust and Loan, lim. 10 Northern Assam Tea, lira 5 7 5 10 Do. B st North Brit. Austral., lim lOO 46 51 50 North Brit. & Mercan. In 65 18 1 18 1 25 Ocean Marine (Insurance) 5 141 15 50 Oriental Financial, lim ll ... .-d 5 Oriental Gas, lim. 5 Do. New 10 Otago and Southland In vestment, lim 5 Ottoman Gas, lim all 11 21 10 Panama, New Zealand, and Australian It. Mail lint all 2 21 6 Do do. at Peel R. Land & Miner!, lim 100 80 32 50 Peninsu. & Oriental Steam all 49 51 60 60 Do. New 1867 lO id pr 25 Renter's Telegram 24 30 3bp so Ithymnoy Iron 15 Do. New 25 Rio do Janeiro City Ina.,lita all 17 4 18 4 20 Do. Gas, lira all 23 24 100 Royal Mail Steam 6O 46 47 46 at Scottish Aust. Invest., lim lOO 107 112 st Do. Ip. c. Guar. Pref lOO ••• •• 20 Societe Fin. d'Egyp te, li m lO 7 65 20 Societe Gen.de l'Empire Ot ll 3 4p 60 S. African Mort. & Inv., lim • ••• ••• 25 South Australian Land st Submarine Telegraph I Do. Scrip all 11 20 Telegraph Con. & Main., li ra ,:all 1 6 161 165 16 20 Thames and Mersey Marine (Insurance), lim 2 21 2; 20 Trinidad Petroleum, lim s4 ... ... 10 Trust & Agency of A.us.,lim I ; 1p 10 Do do. do. all ... ... 20 Trust & Loan Co., U. Canada 5 id p 60 Union Marina L'pool, lim 5 4 41p 20 Union Steam Ship, lim all 22 24 15 United Discount Corp., Km 6 11 045 4 16-16 6U. Kingdom Tel. Co., lint. all 41 61 4 5 Do. 10 par cent. Pref. all st 34 p 20 Universal Marine(lu.), lira $ 1 111) 10 Upper Assam Tea, lim all s 4 30 Van Dieman's Land 2Bl 7 3 00 Viceroy of Egypt, 7 per cent. (Mortgage) Loan all 754 764 764 58 i 50 Warrant Finance, lim. l2 12 104 00 West India and Pacille Steam, lim 2O 4 gd 20 West London Wharves and Warehouses lO ... ... ll't.,Lve4in..t.. titIYbIitNAINNT SXCURITIN6 - - ----."----- Britisb Columbia, 6 per 100 _ - Do. 1895.. l5O -.- Can.Gov.6p.c.Jan. 9 . l ;July 1877-81 - Do. 6p. c. Feb. & Aug lOO 105 10 - Do. sp. o. Mar. & Sept lOO 195 10 - Do. sp. c. Jan. & July 100 93 94 95} 1 - Do. sp. c. Inscribed sic lOO 90 92 - Cape G. Hope, 6 p.c.1873 lOB 102 104 - Do.Apl.&Oot 1890-1900 lOO 111 113 - Do. do 1880-9 0 lOO 107 109 - Do. Jan.&July, 1891 •••• 100 108 116 - Do. 5 per cent. 15 April and 16 Oct., 1900 lOO 103 102 - Ceylon, Nov 1878, 6 p.c lOO 10 8 110 - Do. 1872, do lOO 105 107 - Mauritius, 6p. 0, 1873,- - Jan. and July - Do. 1878 ........ - Do. 1882, May and Nov lOO 106 108 - Do. 1895, Feb. & Aug lOO 106 08 - Melbourne Corporatn., 1867-75, 6 per ctnt - N.13.00v.6 p.o.Ja.&July •• 160 102 101 - Natal 6 p at, Apl & Oct lOO lO7l -Do6 p c. May & Nov lOO 106 168 N. S. W. 5 p'o., '7l to '76 lOO 99 101 - Do. 5 p.c. 1888 to 1896 lOO 99 100 1001 t - Do. 5 p.c. rd. '6: to '75 lOO 99 101 - N.Zealaud, 6p. ct. 1891 lOO Do. 6 per cent.... DoJan,Ap I, July, 0 t lOO 974 98} -- DJ 6p c. Mar & Bept '9l lOO 108 110 -- Do June & Dec , 1.91 .•• lOO toy i d - Do Prov. 1 Aucild. 1 . „ - scriei 1& 2, 189 G... ) - - - Nova Scotia 6p. c.J an... - and Jnly, 1875 - Do 18::6 lOO 101 lea - Queenslnd. 6p. c. 'B'2-5 lOO 1(8 109 108 - DO 1891 - S. Austral. 6 p 6.1869 77 lOO Do 1878.91 lOO 108 110 Do 1893 19u8 10) 107 108 - Tasmanian np 6, 1895 lOO 1 0 6 107 Do rd. 1893 to 189/ - Victoria 6p.0. Ja.&July lOO Do. 1891 lOO 112 113 Do. do, April & Oot 9OO 109 110 10d} THE LATE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. Another batch of papers was added on Wednesday to the large quantity already issued with regard to the expe dition to Abyssinia. One is a long account by Mr. Rassam of his mission to King Theodore from the time he entered Abyssinia until his release from captivity. The other is a report by Consul Cameron respecting his imprisonment in that country. The same tale has been told so many times that it would be of no interest to our readers to give even a summary of the sufferings which were under gone by both Mr. Rassam and Consul Cameron, especially as there is nothing new in either of the accounts. In reply to Mr. Rassam, Lord Stanley (the then Foreign Minister) under date December 5, informs him that, as some compensation for the suffering which he underwent, as well as a testimony of appeciation of good service, her Majesty's Government had resolved to present him with £5,000. They also notified their intention to give £2,000 each to Dr. Blanc and Mr. Prideaux. To Consul Cameron Lord Stanley sent the following answer : " Foreign Office, Dec. 7, 1868.—Sir,—I have to inform you that her Majesty's Government have decided to sup- press the appointment held by you of her Majesty's Consul at Massowah, and that in consideration of the sufferings which you have undergone during your captivity in Abyssinia, and of your services being now no longer required, the Lords of the Treasury have been pleased to sanction the grant to you of a special pension at the rate of _£3so a year, to commence from this day." TILE CELEBRATED RITUAL CASE, The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council have given judgment in the most important case of Martin v. Mackonochie. It was an appeal from the Arches Court, the appellant being Mr. John Martin, and the Rev. A. H. Mackonochie, M.A., vicar of St. Alban's, Holborn, the respondent. Sir R. J. Phillimore, the Dean of Arches, delivered a judgment in which Mr. Mackonochie and his friends concurred. Mr. Martin and his friends appealed. The case was heard before the Judicial Committee on the 17th of November. the judgment in the Arches Court was pronounced by Sir R. J. Phillimore on the 28th of March last, and the appeal was on two of the charges—the kneeling and pros trating before the consecrated elements and the use of lighted candles. In other respects the judgment was acquiesced in by both parties. With respect to the kneel ing or prostrating, it appeared from the evidence that Mr. Mackonochie, when officiating in the " Order for the Administration of the Holy Communion" twiceknelt down or prostrated himself before the communion table while saying the prayer of consecration, once after the consecration of the bread, and again after the conse cration of the wine ; and another officiating minister did the same in his presence. The allegation as to the use of lighted candles during the cel-bration of the Holy Eucharist was admitted. The following reason was alleged for the appeal to their lordships :—" Because every clerk in holy orders of the United Church of England and Ireland, in administering the sacraments and other rites and cere monies of the Church, is bound to use the form and order prescribed for the same in the Book of Common Prayer, without any addition, alteration, or omission ; whereas such kneeling or prostration before the consecrated ele ments, and such use of lighted candles as are respectively proved or are admitted, in the said cause, are additions to or alterations of the form and order as prescribed aforesaid." The judgment of the court was delivered by Lord Cairns, who announced that the decision was against Mr. Macko •o'hie and the practices at St. Alban's. The banns of marriage between eighty-eight couples were proclaimed in the parish church of Dundee on Sunday. The supporters of Mr. Chichester Fortescue, Chief Secretary for Ireland, and member for Louth, have deter mined to re-elect him, without putting him to the inconve nience of appearing on the hustings. THE ARREST OF THE EARL OF ROSSE.—The two policemen, particulars of whose interference on a late occasion with the Earl of Rosse and party were published at the time in the Guardian, have been tried and dealt with as their impudent freak deserved. Constable Burke has been reduced to the lowest rank, and the sub•constable summarily dismissed, the decision of the court being rati fied by the inspector -general. Constable Dawson, Roscrea, is now in charge of the Annagh station, in place of Burke. —Nenagh Guardian. An insurance society upon a novel principle is about to be started. It is an adaptation of the principle of the Manchester Steam Boiler's Association ; and it will enable colliery proprietors to insure their works against explosion. The immediate effect of this proposal has been to make the pitmen declare that they will not work unless they are insured too. They say that the masters, being sure of a pecuniary compensation in the event of accidents, will get careless about ventilating their works, and that thus the lives of the pitmen will be in much greater danger than before. PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO SIR WILLIAM STIRLING-MAXWELL.—A numerously- attended meeting was held in the Royal George Hotel, Perth, a day or two ago, for the purpose of taking steps for presenting Sir William Stirling-Maxwell with some token of respect. The following resolution was unanimously ageeed to : " That a piece of plate, bearing an inscription upon it, stating the purpose, and by whom subscribed, be pre sented to Sir William." The meeting was most enthu siastic, and many regrets were expressed at the defeat of the hon. baronet. COUNT BISMARCK AT HOME.—A letter from Stettin gives the following account of Count Bismarck and his estate at Pomerania :—" No one thought anything about that country before the Chancellor in 1867 bought his property there. At present the melancholy steppes which border the Baltic arewell-frequented, and Vertain is now spoken of as Sans Souci was formerly. The railway from this town to Kceslin ought certainly to burn tapers in honour of Count de Bismarck. His residence is simply a grand seignorial mansion, large and comfortable, but without any architectural style, the ideal of the dwelling of one who is half countryman and half townsman. In front is a garden laid out with great regu larity ; and further on is a large park which is well stocked with game. The count frequently invites the neighbours to hunting.parties, at one of which he had that fall last autumn which might have proved fatal to Prussia. The sea is about fifteen miles off, and during winter the north wind must be particularly keen there. You will be astonished to learn that the proprietor of this domain is engaged in numerous commercial pur- suits. The Minister of his Prussian Majesty sells wool, manufactures tiles and bricks, and distils brandy. Hi s sheep-walks aro renowned, and the proceeds of the shear ing are sought for far and near. One of these days you will hear that he is making paper, as he has entered into partnership with one of the principal men of ICwslin, DI. Behrend, to establish a factory where this article . will be produced by a new process. I believe that the firm Bismarck and Behrend is going to make their produce from bark. The vast woods of Vartzin, Wussow, Cho.. mitz, and Charlottentha ] , will furnish thq raw mAtilkg is ibunclanot" EXTI?AO_RDI.2VARY DISPUTE BETTVEEIV THE MEMBERS FOR .2VOTTINGHAM. ---~- An extraordinary state of affairs has arisen in Notting ham in reference to the position of the two representatives for the borough. It will be remembered that a petition was drawn up on the part of Mr. Seely, one of the defeated Liberal candidates, against the return of Sir Robert Clifton, Independent, and Colonel Wright, Con servative. A few days before the borough petitions could be finally lcdged, Colonel Wright and Mr. Seely travelled to London together, the latter gentleman's business being connected with the petition. They had some conversation together, which was continued the next morning at the hotel where Colonel Wright was staying. The effect of it was that Mr. Seely withdrew his support from the petition, which was 'afterwards burnt. Sir Robert Clifton here appears upon the scene, and what the hon. baronet saw and heard created such an impression on his mind, that in reply to a telegraphic despatch from a meeting in Nottingham as to the real con dition of affairs, he stated that he had defended Colonel Wright against the intimidation of Messrs. Seely and Richards, the latter of whom is an election agent, and meant to call the attention of the House of Commons to the subject. The telegram was posted on the walls of the town, and as great excitement prevailed during the following day, Colonel Wright was communicated with, his reply being simply that he had not resigned. Sir Robert Clifton then wrote a letter to one of the local papers, repeating his charges of intimidation and coercion, and again threatening to bring the case before the House, defying Mr. Seely to disprove what be said. In the course of a few days Colonel Wright published a letter in the local papers, in which he said that he told Mr. Seely, in consequence of Dr. Quain having advised him that parliamentary duties would be dangerous to his health, he should not remain long in Parliament, petition or no petition. Colonel Wright also said : "On hearing this, Mr. Seely at once said he should withdraw his support the petition, and I was afterwards informed that it had been burnt. Mr. Seely's conduct in the matter, as far as I was concerned, has been, in my opinion, per fectly fair and honourable. As to stories about threats and intimidation, they are altogether too absurd to require notice. If I do not remain long in Parliament it will be on the sole ground of my health." This letter created much surprise among members of the colonel's party, and has had the effect of inducing Sir Robert Clifton to write the following to the Daily Guardian :—" Colonel Wright's letter has caused me utter astonishment. In my former communication I challenged Mr. Seely to publish an account of his conduct to Colonel Wright. He has not answered that challenge. A man who refuses a challenge is a coward. I await his r. ply. If he does not answer this appeal he shall have his next chance in the House of Commons. The decision of that assembly shall decide the veracity of my former communication.—Yours, R. J. CLIFTON.—London, Dec. 21." 13EFO.RE THE PANTOMIME. The Daily News gives an interesting description of a visit to Covent Garden Theatre before the pantomime. "At noon," says our contemporary, "the great place was in the full tide of busy work. Quietly dressed young ladies peeped in at the stage-door, and read the call-paper----' Boarding school at eleven for half-past '—and ran in, or retired slowly, as the announcement did or did not affect them. Gentlemen with the blue line of much shaving running down their cheeks, and with hair cropped close for character-wigs, exchanged silent nods with the door keeper, pushed thr_ugh the swing-door, and went upstairs. Messages and notes for the lessee arrive every few minutes, and are forwarded to him on the stage, which is full of people. The foot-lights are lit, and clown, pantaloon, and harlequin are all practising their comic business for the eventful night. The walking gentle men who are to be beaten, the boys whose heads will be cut off, the young women whose stage babies are to be boiled, the aged wanderers who are to be stimulated into activity by an application of the clown's hot poker, the in teresting citizens who will be tripped up upon the same psblic functionary's buttered slide, are all lounging about the wings. Three or four pretty young ladies are sitting on chairs with their backs to the auditorium and watching the business ; two gentlemen, with open books in hand, and one who beats time on his fingers, stand, also with their backs to the place where the public sit, and give directions and instructions to the men and boys who are to act as pantomimic foils. Two of the private boxes nearest the stage are occupied, and a flood of daylight comes down from the unshuttered windows behind the galleries. Otherwise the vast space is dark and shadowy; boxes, dress-circle, and stalls are swathed in brown holland, and look mysterious in their cavernous emptiness. The desolate waste suggests the uninhabited country on which Robinson Crusoe and Friday were thrown, far more than the stage, where a theatrical shoeblack is busy at his box, and where the pea-jacketed clown speedily usurps his place, to wrench the foot and otherwise maltreat a subdued-looking Min, whose appearance and demeanour sugge. ts a greengrocer who waits at evening parties, and who has been some time out of an engagement. The set scene behind, representing Lord's' on a fashionable day, reminds one a litt'e of the large picture by Gustave Dord Play at Baden.' The figures are the same size, and the wistful interested attitude of one stout gentleman, with mutton chop whiskers, who is apparently about to try to catch a cricket-ball in his mouth, recalls the British Philistine of the French artist. Nor is the analogy weakened by the fact that at a comparatively short distance, and under all the disadvantages of a hybrid light, which is neither day an r gas, this picture, or rather this group of pictures, looks admirably real. The disposition of the male and female figures in and about the grand stand, their attention, and the general life-like attitude they have been placed in, will, if we mistake not, go straight to the heart of the gods on Boxing Night. Some twenty dogs are chained on the stage while the Messrs. Payne and Mr. Paulo are at prac tice, and these, after some preliminary growlings, fall to in real earnest, and have to be separated by main force as theyare making their teeth meet in each other's hides. It is like having a practical conundrum put before you t..) be shewn theatrical proceedings such as these, with any view of your understanding their bearing on the pantomime. We preserved a discreet silence ; and whether these dogs are to teach Friday's father the impropriety of cannibalism, or to shew the advantages of civilisation by flying at each other's throats, were as much mysteries to us when we left the theatre as when we became aware of the pre sence of canine company on the stage. Up many stone stairs, and after glancing through the armoury and the dressing-rooms of the rank and file, we are in the property shop at the top of the entire building, and over what seems from the inside to be the roof of the theatre. The armoury looked every bit as real, though not so extensive, as that of the Tower. The wooden effigies of life size, and each wearing a knight's full suit, are as rigid and unmeaning at one place as the other, and the rows of helmets and breast and arm plates on the wall were all real metal, and as capable of good service as those worn in veritable battle. The dressing rooms are like a school—clean, bare, and comfortless, and with plain wooden desks all round them, the name of the person sitting at each being chalked on the wall above. The desk lifts up and is a looking-glass ; and as we took the liberty of peeping into one of the drawers,we may men tion that the school books consisted of a pair of soiled silk stockings, a stick of black cosmetique, and a pair of stage dancing shoes. Up in the property room everything is unreal and grotesque. Men in paint-bespattered suits of canvas are energetically painting, gilding, moulding, modelling, drying. Robinson Crusoe is very prevalent now, and Man Friday too. The latter's relatives are represented by the most hideous array of false heads, faces, and busts it has been our good fortune to see. We trust we break no confidence when we say that certain ostriches which we saw stomachless and forlorn will be ridden by certain blacks who are unsurpassed for frightfulness, and that a procession of Amazons and Aztecs will be enough to make one dream of horrors through the winter. Some of the Amazons—stout men of jocund aspect and great knowledge of life —are choosing their heads, and writing their names inside the ones which fit them best, at the time of our visit. We are able, moreover, to testify, from personal experience, that the putting on and taking off a false pantomimic head is a process peculiar in itself, and that the latter part of it has a tendency to turn the nose aspiringly upwards, and pro duces, indeed, the same ridgy effect upon the human countenance as was attributed by Pip to Mrs. Gargery's wedding-ring. Heads and faces are everywhere. They lie on the floor in heaps, surmounted with gaily-coloured feathers for the swell.' savages, and they are sorted according to squints and mouths upon shelves and tables. The other cannibals will come up in the course of the day and suit themselves in their turn, each man claiming the privilege of wearing the same head as long as the panto• mime runs." THE VACANT LORD-LIEUTENANCY.—The death of Lord Belhaven renders vacant the office of Lord-Lien tenant of Lanarkshire, which is likely, we learn, to be filled up by the appointment of Sir Thomas Edward Cole brooke, of Crawford, Bart., member for the northerr division of the county. INDIAN 111731 OUR.—The following appears in the Advertiser (of all other papers) :—" I am glad," said the Rev, Dr. Young to the chief of the Little Ottawas, "that you do not drink whisky, but it grieves me to find that your people use so much of it." " Ay, yes," replied the chief, and he fixed his eyes expressively upon the doctor, which communicated the reproof before he uttered it, " we In44*use a great deal of whisky, but jtm,dAnot maim it.'t THIRD EDITION. NOTICE. The Third Edition of " The Sue" of last Evening was published in time for delivery in town at 7.15 p.m. SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLecK. SPAIN. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) MADRID, Dec. 21. Senor Figueroli has issued a decree for making useful alterations in the law relating to buyers and seller, and abolishing the fees hitherto paid to the State employees. Another decree is promulgated modifying and reducing the Poll tax. HUNGARY. PESTII, Dec. 24. To-day the Minister of the Interior issued an order to the Municipalities of the kingdom to n, ake the customary preliminary arrangements for the elections to the Reichsrath within 20 days. The Empress left here yesterday. FRANCE. ST. NAZAIRE, Dee. 24. The Transatlantic Company's steamer Nouveau arrived here to-day with 48 passengers. Her dates are—Colon, Dec. Ist; St. Martha, 3d; and Martinique, 9th. Bank of England Returns. An Account, pursuant to t] cap. 32, for the week ending I ISSUE DEP he Act 7th and Bth Victoria, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1868. PAATMENT. Notes issued .....C32,191,935 Governmt. Debt.Xll,ols,loo Other Securities.. 8,984,900 Gold Coin and Bullion Silver Bullion X 32,191,935 X 32,191,935 BANKING Proprietors' Capi tal £14,553,000 Rest 8,078,051 Public Deposits (including Ex chequer, Sav ings' Banks, Commissioners of National Debt, and Div. Accounts 6,899,705 Other Deposits )7,850,962 Seven Days and other Bills 434,187 II'ARTMENT. Governmt. Secu rities(including Dead Weight Annuity) £1.4,124,874 Other Securities 18,339,395 Notes 9,251,750 Gold and Silver Coin ... 1,099,688 X 42,815,705 £42,815,705 NK MAY, Deputy Cashier. Foreign Mail kaciEet List. MAILS DUE.] Mistral's. and New Zealand, via Southampton Jan. 2. Ditto, via Y vseilles Ono 25 Ditto, via Pt...ama Brazil, Buenca Ayres, and Monte Video Jan. 4. Ditto, by tereneti packet ...... Del 22. Cape Yells. by Brazil paetet Jan. 4. Cape of Good Ll,pe. Ascension. and St. Helena.. 2S. China, Vensai;, ; , and Singapore, via Bouthampton Jan. 2. uilbraitar, via Southampton india.via Southampton unto, via Mansell ea Malta, 6gypt, dee. Deo. 25. Ditto, Marseilles.. Des. 31auritlus, Cape ox Good Hope, and Natal, via Scuthaull ton Ditto, Marie' , D:c. U. Newfoundland Portugal Jan. 4. United States, Canada, California, &0,, by British . _ packet - --Deo 19 Ditto, by Canadian packet Deo 25 Ditto, by l i.ited States packet Ditto (Litt( (Baltimore) West Indies and Pacific (except Mexico and Balla- mas) Deo 2) %Vest Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Tenerife Jan. 4 Falkland Islands Culm and 31exieo Balia.nas, via New fork D r 3. Bermuda, via Halifax . The Price of Gold. The quotation of gold at Paris is about at par, and t.ie - short exchange on London is 2M. 20c. per £1 eterling. On comparing these rates with the English Mint price of 100. per ounce for standard gold, It appears that gold is ab.ut 1-ioth per cent. dearer in London than in The course of exalimge at New York on London for bills at 60 days' siglit was on the last date about 1,01 per cent. At this rate Lhere is no profit on the importation of gold_ from the UM; cd states. COURSE OF EXCHANGE—Last Evenzng. Amsterdam Short ... 11 191,- ... 11 191 Do Rotterdam — ... 12 1 ... 12 11 Antwerp — ... 25 371 ... '25 421 Brussels lia tuburgh — ... 13 101 ... 13 101 Paris Ditto Mraseilles Prankfort-on-the-Main ... 120} ... 120} Vienna — ... 12 20 ... 12 31.1. Trieste — ... 12 20 ... 12 321 Petersburg Copenhagen,. ...... .. Berlin ... 6 261 ... 6 271 Madrid.. Cadiz Leghorn ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS OF THE BIBLE.—The Rev Dr. T. S. Conant has recently delivered two lectures on this most interesting subject before the Long Island His torical Society at the Packer Institute. The first lecture was devoted to the general nature of these ancient manu scripts, their authenticity, and the best means of preserv ing them for the good of mankind ; and the second gave a more detailed account of several of the oldest and most valued documents. The first, not in point of time, but as that first generally known, is called the Alexandria manu script. About the commencement of the 17th century, Cyril, Primate of Alexandria, afterwards Patriarch of Constantinople, discovered in the Alexandrian Library a manuscript written in the Greek characters of the fourth century, containing the entire Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, with several other semi-sacred writings. About the year 1623, being influenced by the services which had been rendered to him by the then English Ambassador, he proposed to send this manuscript, which he valued very highly, as a present to King James First of England, but the execution of this design was delayed by the intestine troubles which disturbed Cyril's autho rity, until the year 1628, when it reached England as a present to then reigning monarch, Charles I. Being at first placed in the King's private library, it once narrowly escaped destruction by fire, and in the year 1753 it was de posited in the Library of the British Museum, where it now remains. It is believed, both from notes and traditions regarding the origin of the manuscript, and from internal evidence of which itself bears, to have been the work of a pious Greek woman residing in Alexandria named Theckla and it is believed to have been executed about the middle of the Fifth Century. It is written upon vel lum of a quality very fine and soft, and the formation of the characters is remarkably delicate and beautiful. The manuscript ;has suffered by the action of time and previous want of care in its preservation. Several of its leaves are gone, and others aro mutilated. The ink with which it was written has faded until in many places it is scarcely legible, and the vellum itself is decomposing, so that it is difficult to handle it without injury. The library of the Vatican at Rome contains a manu script of the Old and New Testaments, which has been there from the foundation of the library, and it is not known from whence it came or by whom it was exe cuted. It is written on very fine vellum in the Greek character, and the original writing, where it is still visible, is exceedingly fine and graceful, but the writ ing has been retouched since it was first placed in the library, and the original penmanship is only visible in a few instances. It is now regarded as the oldest and most authentic version of the original Scriptures in existence. Formerly scholars and others were allowed access to it, but latterly it has been guarded with jealous care, and but few persons can obtain even a sight of it. The Sinaitic manuscript was discovered by Pro ossor Tischendorf, at a monastery on Mount Carmel, while engaged in searching for ancient manuscripts. He first chanced to come upon some fragments of it in 1848, but could not then discover the remainder. In 1832 ho returned to the search, but still was unsuccessful, and not until 1839 did he succeed in obtaining the remain der. It is similar in character to the two previously de scribed, but has suffered considerable mutilation. By Professor Tichendorf's persuasion the monks in whose possession it was were induced to present the manuscript to the Czar Nicholas of Russia, and it is now preserved with great care in the royal library at St. Petersburg. Dr. Conant spoke of the incalculable value of these different manuscripts in enabling us to obtain a correct understand ing of the Holy Scriptures, and urged that means should be taken to secure, if possible, their preservation from urther decay and destruction.