The Sun. — London, England, 1868-02-14 00:00:00

MOt4BY MARKET AND 7 0MIIE1tZIAL INTALLI‘,4ZN(3, CITY, Two o'CLocK. The Money Market is steady, though quiet. The rate is 11 per cent. per annum. English wheat is firm this morning. Consols are without change, at 931 to 93j- fnr money and account. New and Reduced Three per Cents., 931 to 938 ; India Five per Cents., 1111 to 112/ ; Bank Stock, 248 to 250 ; Exchequer Bills, 18s. to 235. prem. Foreign Stocks are heavy upon sales being effected on the financial news from Alexandria and the report of renewed commotions at Peru. The Viceroy's 7 per Cent. Loan is 1 lower, at 751 to 761 ; and the 9 per Cent. 1, at 90/ to 91. The Egyptian 1864 Loan is 89 to 90 ; and the Railway Loan, 92/ to 93k. There is a fall of 4 in Peruvian 1862 Bonds, at 92 to 921 ; and of 1 in those of 1865, at 751 to 761. Mexican Bonds are 16 to 161; Greek, 121 to 13 ; New Spanish, 351 to 361 ; Italian (1861), 431 to 431 ; Turkish, 321 to 32/ ; Portuguese Scrip, 1 to 11 pre ; and Brazilian (1866), 75 to 75g. Some of the speculators on the Paris Bourse are reporting that the new French loan will be emitted at 67f. 50c. If the March coupon be added of 75c. it would bring up the price to 68f. 25c. The Bey of Tunis is endeavouring to consolidate the state debts into a six per cent. stock, and he has established a commission in Paris for the purpose. The conversion will commence on the 20th inst. Colonial Bonds are very quiet. Canada Six per Cents. are quoted at 98 to 100. Mauritius Six per Cents., 103 to 105. New Zealand Six per Cents., 108 to 110. Victoria Six per Cents, 110 to 111. Bank shares are without change. Alliance are quoted at 13 to 12 dis.; Agra (A. shares), 11 to 11k; Consolidated to I prem. ex div. ; Imperial, 17f to 18 ; Imperial Ottoman, s to dis. ; London and County, 53 to 54 ; London and Westminster, 67i to 68f ex div. The ordinary general meeting of the English and Scottish Marine Company has bean called for the 21st inst., to receive the directors' report and state ment of accounts. Miscellaneous shares are scarcely noticed, dealers being almost wholly engaged with the settlement, The only movement is a fall of A. in Hudson's Bay, which are now quoted at 141 to 148. Anglo- American Telegraph, 191 to 191 ex div. Atlantic Telegraph, sto 51. National Discount, 11 to 111. In Foreign Mining Shares St. John del Reys are steady, at 20 to 22 ; Port Phillip Mining, 11 to 11 ; Chontales, par to / prem. CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. The Bank appears, from a slignt addition to tg9 amount of its private securities, to have done a little more business commercially ' • but, on the other hand, its loans to the Govern men t have fallen off, so that it may be doubted whether any considerable profit has been realised. The reserve, in fact, has enlarged to some extent, from which it may be inferred that there is more unemployed money in the market than there was last week. This is rendered the more probable from an increase in the private deposits. Although the Bank, on the daily reported bullion movements, has, in balance, lost £445,000, the actual reduction in the stock is under £150,000. It may be taken, from this fact, that the internal circulation of gold is falling off a little, as well as the circulation of notes. The following are the principal changes since the pre ceding returns : Decrease in circulation Decrease in Publie Deposits Increase in other Deposits Decrease in Government Securities 100,167 Increase in other Securities Decrease in Bullion Increase in Rest Thereon in Reserve Bullion in both Departments . 21,605,960 Reserve of Notes and C0in..... 13,102, 645 Circulation, including Bank Post Bills 24,097,687 The return of paid clearing for the 'week ending Wednesday, Feb. 12, certified by Mr. J. 0. Pocock, deputy inspector, is as follows :-- Feb. 6, Thursday Feb. 7, Friday .., 9,301.000 Feb. 8, Saturday 9,792,00 Feb. 10, Moudey 8,592,000 Feb. 11, Tuesday 8,963,000 Kb. 12, Wednesdav Total £ss, 967, 000 This is a renuction of no less than £20,228,000 from the clearing of last week : but that clearing in cluded not only an unusually he ivy settlement in the Stock Exchange, but, the adjunnents of the 4`h, which were more considerable than usual. The pre sent aggregate has no soecialtics ; and it denotes a steady, if not an improving internal trade. About £66,000 in bar gold was taken from the Bank for export yesterday. The following remarks anon the bullion market are from Messrs. Mocatta and Goldsmid :—" There have been no arrivals of any importance since the date of our last circular, and consequently transactions have been only on the most limited scale. The appearance of the market, however, is firtn, and no doubt the Present prices will be maintained. The amounts of gold- lately received have also been limited, as hardly anything is now coming from A mer i ca , and the arr i v a l s from Australia have only been on a small scale, The overland mail, due in a few days, is to bring about £90,000 of Australian gold from India, but prob a bly th e t o t a l amoun t f rom t h at country will not be very large. The demand for gold for transmis sion to France is still very active, and every day there are withdrawals from the bank—a state of things which appears likely to continue for the present." The following is an extract from the report of the Leicestershire Banking Company, adopted at the meeting on the 12th insf.:—" After making provision for ba.,4 and doubtful debts, and paying the income tags the net profit of the bank for the past year Year,illlu makes amounts to £24,929 is. Thi s sum , a dd e d t o 0£2,83 16 5 3d, the unappropriated b a l ance o f th e p rece di ng a total of £27,762 17s 3d, in which amount is included £l,6oti 4s 11d, for interest on the 2 a ranlee fund. The di rec t ors pa id a di v id en d o f the 15 s per share f or th e h a lf- year en di ng " 0 30th of June, amounting to £8,750 ; a nd they now r e commend that the dividend t2r the half-year ending the 31st of December last be Z 1 15s per share, being 10 per cent. on the paid-up capital. After the payment of these dividends and the appropriation of the interest on the guarantee fund, ins above, a balance of profit amounting to £8,656 12s 4cl will remain ; out of this amount the directors further recommend the payment of a bonus of £1 per share ; and that the balance of £3,656 12s 4d be carried forward to the current year." We have received the following from a correspon dent respecting the London and North Western Railway Sir—Tbe following particulars of the finances of the ,„ 4 0Thdo n and North Western Railway are taken from Mr. H. 4 s• Bird's ' Analysis of the Capital and Revenue of the Rail -14:T3 Of the United Kingdom,' published by Effingham -/ u ser ,. 80``The total paid-up capital, exclusive of leases, on the Aare June, 1867, was £49,320,756 ; but as dividends are in vo, created by the companies whose lines are leased or t o ,:!ecl by the London and North Western, it will be safer ~,....'lecard this total of the main line only, and to lake the Z,,/c_r_egate sum which constitutes the entire paid up capital R P 6 7,.whi c h the gross profits are received. This amount is t,„ 1 _65.168, on which the gross profits are set down at ,0",_,00.,154, from which the woiking expenses,X3,l3l,olB, or be deducted, leaving the net profit £3,520,136, 30 , 11 67* more than S ner ce n t. f or th e y ear en di ng J une Z i et o u tt l 'i a t l i a ti o r a l i n g etenteetr months preceding June 30, 1867, th e cap i t al raised was £6,583,861, and the addi k eaPital expended a 202 158 according to r. a that of £40 40,496 of D. A foot note . is appended, statin e , the C ,496 . of this sum was for the capital to ether companies ompantes transferred, whereby rentals Pay 4 b le e" of £171,246 per annum have ceased to be • The note also states that the capital expenditure, ap e pe tl a ti g lines taken over, but not included in leases, sem eie ' i to be £3,235,777. The explanation is not ext, as Mr. Bird implies by saying that the capital C 2a i tr / including 777. leases taken over, appears to be un +Ui1,1).7? here is an ill us t ra ti on o f t h e necess i ty o f -i ns i st i ng l capi t natal of all the expenditure which is added to elnit a a l ev ery half-y ear . I t i s use l ess to ta lk a b out c l os i ng wh ere th a ecounts. Th ey never can b e a b so l ute l y c l ose d, tied e concern t approaches the magnitude of the London a Nor 17 1 , but ,e etr , in . estern Railway ; there is no difficulty in 't in g every particular of recent expenditure, and then' eh atn „ . .,ie seen w h ether or not working expenses have been divae'Ltte capital account, to enable the company to pay be er , 4u 3 which have not been fairly earned. All tbat has pb„, ‘ lar ge(' to capital, so far as the accounts show, would 0 "r to b e _ 'Pita! Itenin transferred from other companies ... £4,040,496 IL e k 419,413 4 %41 " e w°rics 1,423,141 44d w orks 289,108 hi s ttnie,a amount is given as t T he la t i O . t . al exp .. e . nd 4 i 6 tu , t 2 r . e o _, 2, _h l u s .n t B ashu,,,_the actual facts are stated, we are not jus ified . ai th 7g that either of these items is correct, and especially u .e four millions transferred from the capital of i ot !t. fur n iZes ; there surely could have Leen no diflicu ty ingthe names, with the amounts paid to each com tilt; lai4nltuireiruroving all doubt abon: tha appropriation of incess ), ac )anied Wales ;ess of n eases untess .heatre •manta le ac- ss the Roya 1 1 birth 3MaiUS ce on y Otho y and 7eet on ed by , Ber- Wilts. recent ►ected e, St. 12t, for M.P., erday, Peel mber- it resi . Peni- - ed in a few 3e, on 'or the t the d the t their yehip's 111. p., afford- their L New —The e, Car s been rs, and rcle of d suc of his DENTS. Tressed mfmed of the to the looked lament .obably mmons iolastio uer, to hen he down COICII- ►ps are and in Zoulla ,übular d, and ; place. —2s. a, ie low lied/cal ues to ct as 25 no way fruitful the last 330. ivered ries of ;. Paul, ;, Hart ildren, m. At d, the =bled excel hat the , uld be , able he r 1868 own to The )oks of r main- to each Ames of the gentry ;reateet report , Com [ported A oats, totals, to the South -00111- accord [gh th© f Hun- IPANY 'S Lrd pas' veatber, and the at of the Lieut. - ,ehalf Of ceylo°' left the d i CO w Ly ; an d essa,tiell Mrrenc e AleO . •ht place Y o ur ; Of the uve y to ►nks for American Securities are firm. United States 5-23 Bonds are / better, at 718 to 728. Erie Railroad, / higher, at 49 to 50; and Illinois /, at 89 to 90. There is not much doing in Railways. The favourable effect produced by the refusal of Vice- Chancellor Wood to interfere with the payment of the reduced dividend due to-morrow continues. The present price of Metropolitan is 107/ to 108 ex div. of 2/ per cent. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1261 to 127 ; Midland, 106/ to 107 ; South East ern, 721 to 73 ; London and North Western, 119 to 1191; Great Northern, 108 to 109 ; Great East ern, 301 to 30/ ; Great Western, 461 to 47 ; Brigh ton, 461 to 47 ; Sheffield, 421 to 43 ; Caledonian, 763 to 771 ; London and South Western, 84 to 86 ; and Chatham, 19 to 191. The South-Eastern Railway dividend for the half year is at the rate of 4 per cent.; the South Devon, 3 per cent. ; and the North Loudon at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. BRITISH FUNDS —TWO O'CLOCK. ' GOVERNMENT EUNDS. I per vent. Consols Do. Account, March 5 934 por Cent. Reducod Now 3 per Cent 934 New 21 per Cent. Jan. 1894 Do. 5 per Cent. den. 1873... — tnnuities, 30 vrs, expire sth Jan., 1880. Do. for 30 yrs, expire sth April 1885 — Do (Red Sea Televaph), An,., 191 E (chequer Bills, .£l,oof 2& 24 per Ct — pm Do £5OO — pm Do. £lOO & £2OO — pin Bank of England Stock. 41 per Cent 249 Do. Account INDIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Indian Mock, 104 per Cent., April 1874 — Do. Account Do. 5 per Cent. July, 1880 Do. 4 per Cent., Oct. 1888 Do. Certificates Do. Enfaced Paper 4 per Cent Do. 5 per Cent., Jan. 1872 Do. 51 per Cent., May 1879 Do 5 per Cent., Rup. Deb., 1872 DO. do. 1877 Do. do. 188 9 lO3l Do Deb., 5 per Cent., Aug. 1873 Do. Bonds, 5 per Cent., £l,000 Do. under £I.OOO FOREIGN FUNDS—TWO CLOCK. Ar;entine Republic, 6 per Cent Austrian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 1859 Bra,2.lian 5 per Cent O. 41 per Cent., 1852 — Do. do., 1858 — Do. do., 1863 651 Do. 5 per Cent., 1865 Do Account 7 si i i Buenos Ayres 6 per Cent — Da 2 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent ) Cuba, 6 per Cent. Odilian 6 per Cent — Do. 4} per Cent 00. 6 per Cent., B • Do., 1867 Do., 7 per ,Cent., 1866 — Do., Scrip £32 paid Cit mbian, 6 per Cent. fhinisti 3 par Cent., 1825 D tnubian Principalities, 7 per Cent 7O Do 8 per Cent., 1867 Hivador New Oonsolidated, 1 per Cent — t:gyptian, 7 per Cent — Do. Second Issue — D. , . .£5OO Bonds Do. .£lO6 Bonds — Do. 1861 Do. .£550 Bonds B9 fICI Do. £lOO Bonds , .... 92 Government Railway DebPntures ..... 931 1 Greek, 5 per Cent., 1821 1 5, ex Coups. Do. Account Do. U oupons _.. Do. Ac,csunt, — Guatemala 5 per Cent .. Honduras Gov. Rail. Loan., 10p. Ct., -£2sp Italian 5 per Cert., 1865 Do, Account Do. Marommana Raiway BlexicaL 3 per Ceut Ditto for Account Dn. 1864 Do g per Cont. Anglo-French Permian 5 per Cent. 1865 Do Account 7sf 61 6 Do 4i por Cent. (Uribarren) 4 1 ....... , . Do 4 per Cent., 1862 Do Account PortNguese 3 per 0t.,1853, '6,7, '9,'60,'2,': 391 i Do. do., I.' 67 391 .1 Do. do., Scrip, £lO paid —pm Rassian 5 per Cont., 1822, £ St — Do 41 per Cent. 1850 ~. Do 41- per Cent., 1860 Do 5- per Cent., 1859 Do 5 per Cent, 1862 DO. Angio-Duteb, 1864, £lOO Bonds B9 Do. - do. £Bl 15s. do — Do., 1866, £lOO Bond5... Do. do. £B4 15s. do B5l Sardinian, 5 p.n. Cent. _ Spanish 3 per Con . .. • Do, Account Do 'New Deforroa . Do Account Do Passive — Do Acc.aut Do Coin. Cert. of Con, . nut funded Do Account 'Tii -lash 6 per Cent. Do Account Do 6 per Cent. 1858 Do Account Do £lOO Bonds Do 6 per Cent., 1862 6ll Do Account Do £lOl Bonds 64 31 Do. 1863 Do 5 per Cent., 1865 324 .1 Do Account Do 6 per Cent., 1865 534 4 3} Do 4 por Cent., Guaranteed Venezuela, 3 per Cent. Do 6 per Cent., 1862 Po 6 per Cent. 1864 — Do. 4 per Cent. Certificates c.... — Dividends on the above payable in London. French Rentes, 3 per Cent., Ex. 25f. — Austnan a par Cent. Ex 10 Florins Belgian, 44 per cent., Ex. 25f. Dutch ii per Cent. Ex. 12 Guil , — Do Account B6 Italian 5 per Cent. 1831, E. z5l. Do. Account 431 TWA O'CLOCK. Consols, Money 931 I Do. Account, March .. 93} 1 111ARKETS—( 2 his Day.) CORN. The general tendency of the trade continues in the direction of increasing firmness. From the country markets quotations are rather firmer, and in some cases higher. From abroad rates also came the turn against buyers. At Mark-lane this morning there was a fair attendance and a moderate inquiry for the several kinds of produce, with light supplies and rather a strong tone about prices. English wheat was held firmly, the better qualities, in some cases, were rather dearer. • Foreign wheat also well held, with an upward tendency in the value of best samples. Flour sold in retail without any material change in value. Barley, beans, and peas remain without much change and firm. Oats in steady request, and the turn dearer. Linseed and rapeseed a slow sale, at late rates. NEWUATE AND LEADENHALL. POULTRY.—In the poultry trade there is not much change. Really prime fowls are scarce and dear, while rough are plentiful, and have to be cleared out at moderate rates. Pigeons have slightly improved in price since the de cline in the early part of the week. We quote as follows :—Fowls, coftimon, 2s 6d to 8s 6d ; Snrrek, 4s to 7s; Irish, is to 9d to 28 ; gosling; 8s to 98 ; ducks, 4s 6d ; pigeons, 9d to 1s ; turkeys, 7s to 14s ; rabbit; tame, is 6d ; wild, is to is 3d. Wild Fowls in moderate supply and in fair demand. Ducks 2s to 2s 3d, widgeon is 9d, teal is 6d, woodcocks 33 6d to 4s each. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. MEAT.—There is a demand for prime small mutton, and also for small superior carcases, but fat, heavy sheep are a dragging sale. Wo quote prime, 4s 2d to 4s 4d ; middling, 3s to 3s 10d. The beef trade is dull, and a prime sizeable Scot body would hardly exceed 4s, at the same time there is very little rough meat under 3s 4d per stone. Medium sorts sell at 38 8d slowly. Prime small veal is scarce, and worth 5s to 5s 4d ; large, 4s Bd. Pork dull, at 3s 4d to 4s per stone of 81bs by the carcase. BOROUGH HOP. Henry Turnbull and Co. report that the market con tinues very quiet for all sorts, and;where sales are pressed lower prices are submitted to. The Continental markets generally rule dull, and prices are in favour of buyors, transactions being only for immediate consumptive re quirements Yearlings and old hops are neglected. COTTON MARKET. LIVERPOOL, Feb. 14.—Sales to-day probably 8,000 bales. Market quiet. COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE. SUGAR. —The market opened with a quiet ton; pur chases being made sparingly for all purposes. COFFEE. —The demand is still confined chiefly to coloury qualities, and these sell steadily at full prices, whilst finer and secondary sorts go off languidly at rates favouring buyers. TBA.—The market is strong for all qualities below medium, with a good demand. PRO VISIONS. _ . Butter.—Th ere i s not_ a very animated demand, but prices cannot be quoted lower, although buyers occasionally have the advantage in prices. We quote best Friesland, 126 s to 130 s, but with very little selling at the higher Sgure. The bacon market has fluctuated considerably. Water ford sides, after being depressed to 535, have risen to 57s to 58s. CHEM remains Without essential change, and only a limite4 trod* is doing. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENIN c. FEBRUARY 14, 1863., 85 $7 76 77 20 30 3 4 746 756 70 72 100 1(2 30 rit 0i 71 15 0 108 ‘OO 119 110 1221 143 leo 10u liu V 6 9i 40 45 47 3..) 29 3. N5l 4t) 4tl) • 18t 11l 11 14 ; 10 ;14 87 t 9 i 2 13 ilO 111 ; flueiness thme. 77 64 301 IS;9 114 47 CI 19 . i t 54 , 42 ,071 8 1001 1 10 , 4 7i 721 i 3 LAW INTELLIGE TOE—This Day. THE POWER OF RAILWAY DIRECTORS TO ISSUE DEDMT TURES.—In the suit of Fountaine v. the7Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway Company, Vice-Chancellcr Wood was called upon to decide what ought to be done with a number of debentures which had been issued by the company when the full amount they had authority to raise had been bor rowed. The case involved a very nice point, and one of great importance both to shareholders in railways and those who advance money for them on debentures. The directors of the line in question had issued a debenture for £5OO beyond the limits of the borrowing powers of the company. Subsequently two debenture - creditors ob tained judgment and issued execution, • seizing on the property. The directors, then issued other debentures, and paid cf these debts. .The ques tion was whether those debentures were valid. By the Act it is provided that power should be vested in the directors to renew debentures and to issue new deben tures to the amount of those paid cif. This power is, how ever, to be exercised under certain limits, the consent of a general meeting of shrxcholders being neeessain except in the case where the money is borrowed to pay off old debentures.—His Honour held that the debentures issued subsequent to the payment of the old dAenturcs were valid, • notwithstandin g that the general meeting of the shareholders had.. not been - convoked. The debentnr es issued in excess cf the 'borrowing powers of the company he held to be void. NON-DELIVERT OF MACTIINE7.7. —At the Nisi Prigs sittings of the Court of Common Pb.as, Guildhall, the case of the British Columbia Saw Mills Company v. Nettleship has for two days occupied the attention of Lord Chief Justice Bovill and a special jury. It was an action to recover damages for loss sustained by the non - delivery of some machinery. The plaintiffs in the spring of 1865 chartered the defen dant's ship Kent to carry to Vancouver Island some machinery to set tip a steam saw-mill there. The ship- Ment was to be made partly at Liverpool, but the bulk of the machinery was to be received from lessrs. Forrest and Barr, engineers, at Glasgow. The value of the machinery was about £5,500, and there was to be a lump sum of £1,225 for 350 tons of freight, with £3 10s. per ton for extra freight. The machinery was placed in packages, and one of these, which was numbered 43 in one list and 46 in another, never arrived at its destination. This particular package was 9 feet long by 2 feet broad and deep ; it weighed 2i tons, and contained spindles and other pieces of machinery, which were worth at Vancouver Isla,nct £5OO, and without which the remainder of the machinery would be useless. The plaintiff laid before the the jury a great deal of evidence to shew the way in which the shipment of the various packages had been checked. According to the documents, the package 43 appeared to nave been shipped, and the mate's receipt had been given for it. The defendant's counsel called no witnesses, but submitted that the box was of such a size and weight that it could not well have been lost or mislaid, and that if it had been placed on board in the Clyde it must have been found on board at Vancouver Island. He also commented upon the fact that it appearedupontheplaintiff's evidence that there had been a mistake in reference to the shipment of one package, and that the lists of packages appeared to have various alterations and corrections in them ; and he sub. mitted that this might account for the package 43 appear ing in the lists as having been shipped when in fact it had not been.— The jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs. —The Lord Chief Justice said that he perfectly agreed with the finding. BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.—An action in the QUeen's Bench, Jackson v. Smith, has been tried at the Sheriff's Court, Red Lion-square, for a breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff alleged that she " was ready and willing to marry" the defend an t, an d h e wou ld not. She laid her damages at £l,OOO. The defendant did not appear, but it came out that he had lately married " very comfortably off," and kept cabs. The parties had resided at Kensington, and did not appear to be very young. The jury assessed the damages at £6O. HEAVY COMPENSATION CLAIM.—A compensation case, Leech v. the Metropolitan Board of Works, was heard before Mr. Tinder-Sheriff Burchell. The claim exceethd £B,OOO, and was for property at Kensington, to make some important public improvements in that locality. After a view, a verdict by consent was agreed upon for £5,000. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day. :GRAVESEND, Friday Morning. Arrived, Feb.lo.—Granton, steamer, from Hamburg. Arrived, Feb. 14.—Jubilee, steamer, from Guernsey; Shangtung, from Table Bay ; Souvenir, s t eamer, from Caen ; Brownlow, steamer , from Hull, for Ri o Janeiro. Sailed—Neva, steamer, for Dunkirk ; Colo gne, steamer, for Boulogne. DEAL, Friday Morning. Passed, Feb. 13.—Delta, screw steamer, from London, for Bordeaux. Sailed—Renata, of Hull, in tow, for London, to repair damage sustained by being on shore on tho Goodwin Sands on the 11th inst. SHARE LlT'.—This Day. ORDINARY BHA 'Railways. Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Cambrian Cork and Bandon...—. Cornwall . . Dublin & Belfast June. Don„Perth, & Ab. June. • E.London, ocrip Glasgow ,Sil S. Western Great Eastern, Ord. stk. Do. E. Angi. et. No. 2 Great North of Scotlant Great Northern Do. A stock Do. 14 stock • Do. New, is. at 2 par, CRS. arid W. of Ireland WeAern -Original !tail gua. Do. out Waies Do. W. Alid..—ON ic.rc Do. Ne.wpurt L.J. lit 1.1,1 - Latism..e a fc.::;N:ai: ',Judo:A :tad Lon., .8ri5i1.,4 6 Coas, , JitaL., and I)ove; Do. Metrop. t.x. A Lon. J.-. Aorta WestAtiA Lon. k South 'Neater, Man., 6110., cQ Lioeoi:' I - L.2ll , 4mMan-- 1..)e. New Do. Exten e, ion Atetrupohlati Distrit.l Vo. - do. do. 00. and at. John't+WN alidland Do. 1 . 43 Share Do, dinuin.. ti Dvrb) {id gent . North British Do. Ed., Mit. ' & Dun. th. Eastern --Berwie., Do. (I.N•E pure!' not Do. Leed s Do. York Do. Carlisle , .... Do. Stock,& Dariiug. Do. do. 1860-61 North London Do. do. 1864 5 . . Do. do. 1866 . North Stailordshire N. 4: S. W. Junction ,Scottish Central Scot. N. E ; Aber. stool: Do. Scot, Mid.Bt;)ok Shropshire Union 6outh Devon South Euatern Staines, Wok., & Wok Pall Val e Do. C V ale of Neath Waterford & Kilkenny Waterloo & Whiteha West Cornwall ,E 8 AND STOCKS. I Paid. Clostig Prioe. 1 1(1 It a. I 7 75 77 21 35 105 C 3 44 98 100 130 134 114 138 114 11Ei 58 60 loy Ii& 58 69 44 18 71; 711 il lu 146 .50 AQUA7ICS. OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE. The Oxford crow took a long sweat to Sandford and back on Thursday, for the first time, Mr. W. W. Wood acting as coach from the stern of the boat. At starting, about 34 strokes per minute was the average, but, return ing, the crew took it more leisurely, decreasing the pace to about 23 per minute. Their time and swing are re markably good, and the utmost satisfaction is expressed at the president's selection. The following are the names and weights : st lb 1. D. Benson, Balliol ll 6 2. A. C. Yarb orough, Li u ll 12 3. R. S. Ros s , E xeter 4 J. C. Tiune, University ... 5. T. J. DeringtoL, Ch. Ch. 6. E. S. Carter, IV ;ter .- - orcest ............ 7. T. F. Willan, Exeter 8. E. G. Marden Alerton Cox. — C• R. W. Tottenham, Ch. Ch. 8 12 A telegram having been received here this morning an nouncing the sudden death of the Hon. Mr. Gordon, who rowed No. 4 in the Cambridge crew last year, Mr. F. 'Mi lan, president of the 0.U.8.C., ordered the university flag to be hoisted half-mast high at the barge in the afternoon, as a mark of respect to his memory. This example was followed by most of the college rowing clubs. The following is the text of the last letter received by the president of the Oxford University Boat Club on this important matter :_. "Harvard University, Cambridge, Jan. 30, 1868; "Dear Sir,—By the time this reaches you the answer to our last letter will b e on its way, but if you sa id no thi ng in reference to the course I hope you will do so in answer to this. I am much obliged to you for your kindness in taking so much trouble. I would agree with your opinions were I an Englishman, but as an American I will not infringe on our customs. I see in your letter that you do not think we can find a straight three mile course in England.' It seems to me that you have confined yourselves to rivers From Mr. Richards, a graduate of Cambridge, England, we learn that Lake Windermere would furnish what we desire. I should think that you would bo willing to go a few miles when we are willing to go so many. We do not see why either party should endeavour to make the other violate their customs, but that each should have the liberty to choose. Many men of our crow are unwilling to go to the expense of going over merely to train fora race, there fore the money has to be raised by subscription, and friends would not come forward should we obliged to adopt a custom foreign to us, The captain wishes me to say that there is no use trying to do anything more unless you can guarantee a course as we desire, also allow us to row without a coxswain. "Please direct the answer to this letter to R. C. Watson (City Exchange), Boston, Mass., U.S.A. '' I am afraid that there never will b e a race b e t ween us unless one is arranged this time. i hope, though, to meet you next fall in person, and that each crew will gain by acquaintance.—ln the meantime, believe me, yours very truly, "It. C. WATsox. " To F. Willan, Esq., Oxford," Bank of England Returns,—Last Evening, An Account, pursuant to cap. 32, for the week ending the Act 7th and Bth Victoria 'Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1868. P ARTMENT. 'Governmt. Deht £11,015,100 Other Securities 3,984,900 Gold Coin and Bullion Silver Bullion ISSUE BE Notes issued .....£35,378,390 £35,378,390 'LINKING D: £35,378,390 Proprietors' Capi tal £14,553,000 heat Public Deposits (including Ex chequer, Sav ings' Banks, Commissioners of National Debt, and Div. Accounts 4,055,138 Other Deposits.. 21,038,825 Seven Days and other 8i115..... 594,372 • • IPARTMENT. Governmt. Secu rities(including Dead Weight Annuity) £13,968,079 Other Securities 16,49a,309 Notes 11,875,075 Gold and Silver Coin X 13,570, 0 33 £13,570,033 HOLBORN THEATRE ROYAL.---Mr. W. J. Hurl stone, the acting manager and treasur er , announces t h at his benefit will take place on Monday next, Feb. 17. The urbanity of Mr. Hurlstone, evinced towards all those with whom he has to come itt contact, cannot fail to secure him bu roper. IMPERIAL PARLIAA ENT HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVIMING. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock-. COLONLiL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. - itlritiih Columbia, ei per cent., Dec.3l, 1872 100 - Can.Gov.6p.c.Ja.&July 1877-84 - Do. 6p. c. Feb.& Aug l,O 1.00 102 - Do. sp. c. Mar. & Sept 109 100 102 - 00. sp. c. Jan. & July 100 86 87 tl3 ; 51 - Do. sp. c. Inscribed sk 100 s 5 87 - Cape G.Hepe, 6 p.c.1873 100 103 105 - Do.Apl.&Oct, 1890-1900 100 107 1(9 -- Do. do 1880-90 100 106 108 - Do. Jan.&July, 1690-91 100 1(5 107 - Do. 5 per cent. 15 April and 15 Oct., 1900 lOO 96 97 - Ceylon, Nev. 1878, 6 p.' 100 11) 111 - Do. 1872, do lOO 103 107 - Mauritius, 6p. 0, 1873, Jan. and July - Do. 1878 ... lOO 105 107 - ;)o. 1882, May 15, Nov. ib 100 107 103 - Do. 181/5, Feb. & Aug lOO 109 111 - Natal qev. 6 per cent lOO 104 106 - N.B.Gov.6p.o.Ja.&July 100 99 10. - N. S.W. Gov.s pv.,1861) 100 - - - Do. 5 p.c. 1871 to 1870 100 98 99 - Do. 5 p.c. 1888 to 1896 100 97/ 94/ 931 6 - New Zealand, 6p. cent 100 - Do. 5 per cent.... - Nova Sootia Gov. 6p. a sterling, 1875 l9O 102 104 - Queensland GOT. 6p. c lOO 103 105 1031 4 - ri. Aus.Gov. 6 p.c. 1868-9 100 - Do. 1878 & upwards lOO 110 di - Vio,Gov. 6 p.o.Ja &July 100 - - - Do. do. a pril & Oct lOO 110 112 1121 FIRITISEi rOSSESSIONS. I•bu Auantio&St.Lawrence all 54 56 St)Bom.,Barodai&Cen.ln. 100 103 104. 1 gu. 5 per cent... 30 Do. F shares lO p fp 20; liuflalo & Lake iluron all 31 4 10 Do. Preference all 5 6 too i Bell.,llraut, &Goderich ( u p.c. ,872-3-1 lot - 68 71 OalCiltts, &S. E., lim lOO - - at a t e Town & Dock, gu lOO 18 52 100 Oemerara, 7 p.c. per. p: all 99 1(2 it East Bengal, gu., sdo 100 ,044 1051 3t East Indian, gu. 5 p.o. 100 1(9 110 pot 26 Do. J Extension 15 - - et , irand Trunkoi Canad , , 100 10/ 161 100 Dti. Equip. Mort, Bonds 1 charge p.c all 74 82 100 Do. Ist Pref. Bonds all 43 15 100 Do. do deferred all - - 100 Do. 2d Prd. Bonds all 03 35 100 Du. do. deferred all • - - 100 Do. 3d Pref. stook.— all 27 29 100 Do. do. deferred - 100 Do. 4th Frei. stook 130 Do. do. deterred - - at t; t. ludia Pen. gua. sp.c :00 IC9 110 1094 I 11 o. Cola. 5 per cent lB 14 2 p 10 Do. New -ea. 52. c 6 14 2 at t. South otindia . gua. 5 per ccut at 11,, 41 per cent too 94 06 et Do 204 :rent IV. s. of Canada all 16/ 161 20i Do. New .. ...... all - -- 130 )o. p. 1.;613- pay. 1871 all t , B 100 WC cm. 54 do. pay. 1877-8 all 91 91 et :Madras, gua. 5 p.c 100 100 102 b 26 8 5• s : t i N3lll. D ee D l : : 0 0 : b1. ... a. b .l l4 du ' i l t b oo h ros roploL*;. C. lu n aiu si y i db e .s u :l 1 1 1 1 a00 0 : 00 00 5 1 8 E 1'4 3 93 91 9 --95_ 5 •ll p. et 'Gude &Ithiik'nd,g.s po 100 1)4/ 1(5) t Cie I 100 100 1(4 4 St Do. Delhi • 100 1001 10{ fl ICOI 20 Do. do .l ;1,1 15 I at Do. Punlaub.... 100 10) 101 t Do. Indus St.klo: 81 ' 100 87 89 BII.ITI SU MINES. Cam. Consul. Gold, Inn, 1 Chiverton 81 3 4; 3 1 Clifford Amalgamated. SO 51 61 Vevon G. Cons. (Tavist. 1 440 430 brake walls 2.1.0 - -6 1 East Bassett 29l 10 12 ;East Caradon 2.14. 0, 6 6 4t;ast Carn BrPa 3l 2 24 '6a:A Grenville . 2.14.0 I} 2 East Gunnislake 8.3.0 1 6 'East Loved 3.9.0 8 9 E. W'i ltussell (Tavistk 11.7.6 11 2 t.tam.& StA übyn(G wen. 66 4 5 4 Great Lzorey, limited., all 17 18 Great South Tolgus 0.14.0 Great Wheal 14.9.11 G. Wheal Vor (11eist ,, a 40 20 21 Grenville 9.0.6 11 Herod's Foot 8.10.0 35 37 ll ingston Downs 5.10.6 21 2/ Margaret (Uny Lelant 1317.6 8 6 Starke Valley 4.10.6 41 51 4 Ilwyndy Iron Ore, lim 31 21 I.i .;•tew S ton Niorth toskear 4.Wh Bassettallogan 4.4.0 North IVheal Crotty Prosper 8.11.0 2 21 Provid.ettoe,UnyLelaint 10.6.: 29 31 S. Caradon (St. Cleer) ll 390 410 South Condurrow s.Wheal Fran. (Mogan 18.18.9 371 424 stray Park . 35.15.6 l'ln Croft 9 13 14 Vigra and Clogan, am_ all IV est ltassett (Iliog an W. Caradon (Ltakeard 1 ± 14 12 West Chirerton ll 67 69 _ West ..... 171 195 405 —. Wheal Bassett 'Mogan 54 85 95 tVheal Buller atedruth 16 16 19 Wheal Mary Ann (Men 8 18 20 Wheat Seton ,trltr-4! Trelawney Lis 5.17.0 6 8 rKEFEICENCE SLIARI6B AND STOCKS. Great Eastern 4i per cent., Ditto, new 5 per cent., 1863, 5 I EU GN"LtAIL WAYEt. Antwerp and Rotterdam, g Daunt awl Situ Francisco, gua.:,7 per cent., 16 Great Luxembourg, Di San Paulo, litn., gua. 6 per cent., MI South matrian axed LonWardo Venetian, 14 West Flanders, 8 FORICIGN MINIc Anglo Brazilian Gold, 2-16 Port Phillip, 1 7-16 St. John del Rey, lim , 20} DOCKS. London and Si. Katharin BAb e, 50 AT,ra, lim.. A, 111 Alliance, Hui., 121 1 Australasia, 661 British North American. 49 Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China. 18 Chartered iler. of India, London. and China, 29 Imperial Ottoman, 9. Loudon and Brazilian, lira., 13; London Chartered Bang of Australia, 23 London and County, 51} London Joint Stock, 341 London and 11 estininster, 68 1 Ditto, Scrip, 4 Oriental Bank Corporation, 42 Union of London, 341 miscELLAkricous: Anglo American Telegraph, 191 Agte-Mexican Mint, 17 Continental Union Gas, lim.. 13) Credit feoncier ot lim.. 31 East India Irrigation and Canal. 161 Egyptian 9 per Cent., Viceroy Loan, glut. by Egypt. (govt., 9 11 It uuson'b Bay, 141 Nation Discount company, 111 Thames and Mersey Marine, Insurance, lira., 43 SUPPOSED LOSS OF A BALTIC STEAMER.- The screw steamer Smyrna, of Hull, commanded by Captain Hveissel, and belonging to Messrs. Sahlgreen and Currall, of London and Hull, is supposed to have been lost in the gales of last week. The steamer sailed from Pa n t s i c, bound for London, with a cargo of wheat, on Sunday, the 26th of January, and put into Christiansund on Sunday, the 2d of February, for a supply of coals, sad to wait more favourable weather. She proceeded from that port the following Wednesday, and has not arrived in port, although two steamers which left Christiansund three days after her have reached across, the one having arrived in Hull and the other in London on Monday last, without having seen anything of the missing boat. The owner yesterday received a telegram stating a boat marked "Smyrna," of Hull, a steamer's hatch with wheat attached, and several letters addressed Captain Hveissel, had washed ashore near the Scaw. There is reason, therefore, to fear the steamer has foundered during the severe hurricane which raged in the North Sea and Cattegat the end of last week, No tidings as yet have been received of the safety of the cre THE HOUSE. This being the first meeting of the House since the adjournment at the end of the autumnal session, a goodly number of Peers assembled, amongst whom were no less than eleven bishops, the Duke of Cambridge, Earl Russell, &c. THE LAND T.ENURE IN IRELAND. The Marquis of CLANIIICARDE gave notice that he should submit to the house a bill as to thy, land tenure in Ireland if the Government did not move in the matter. PROMISSORY OATHS BILL. The LORD CIIANCELLOR. introdue&l this bill, which was read a first time. The second readirg will take place on Tuesday. The house then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING. Parliament reassembled this evening, but in consequence of its meeting merely after an ordinary adjournment, there w•as not the slightest formality observed. The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter before four o'clock, but it was not until ten minutes past four that any of the occupants of the Treasury bench appeared, and then Mr. Walpole entered the house, followed by Mr. Mowbray. Tho Chancellor of the Exchequer entered the house at 25 minutes past four, and was warmly congratu lated by his friend. NEW MEMBER. Mr. FINCH took the oath and his soat for Rutland. NEW WRITS. A new writ was ordered to issue for Stoke-upon-Trent, in the room of Mr. B. Hope. A new writ was ordered to issue for the University of Cambridge, in the room of Sir C. J. Selwyn, who has ac cepted the office of one of her Majesty's Justices. A new writ was ordered to issue for Ralston, in the room of Sir J. Brett, who has accepted the office of her Majesty's Solicitor-General. _ NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. HUGHES gave notice that on Monday next he should move for leave to bring in a bill relating to Sun day trading in the metropolis. TEE ALABAMA CLAIMS. Mr. LEFEVRE gave notice that on the 4th of March ho should call the attention of the house to the correspon dence on the Alabama claims. SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION. Col. SYKES gava notice that on an early day ho should call tho attention of the house to the best means of intro ducing scientific education into schools. MALT TAX. Col. BARTTELOT gave notice that on the 25th of February he should move for a committee to inquire into the Malt Tax. PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. DODSON gave notice that on Tuesday next he should call attention to Private Bill legislation, and moved a resolution on the subject. SCOTCH REFORM MIL. Mr. BAXTER asked when it was likely the Scotch Reform Bill would be introduced ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said most probably on Monday next. THE ALABAMA CLAIMS. Mr. WATKINS asked whether the Government would produce all the additional information in their power before the discussion took place on the subject of tho Alabama claims? Lord STANLEY said there was only one despatch, and that had appeared in the newspapers. METROPOLITAN FOREIGN CATTLE MARKET BILL. Lord R. MONTAGU moved the second reading of this bill. Mr. M. GIBSQN said that before the bill was road a second time he wished to make a few observa tions on it, as it proposed to place upon all the foreign cattle brought into the metropolis the new and serious restriction. He considered the bill contained a very dangerous principle, and if it should be read a second time, the bill should be referred to a select committee, where evidence could be taken as to the effect the provisions of it would have upon the consumers of meat. Lord R. MONTAGU said the bill was merely a pro tective and preventive one against cattle plague, and if it was read a second time there would be no objection to its being referred to a select committee. The bill was then read a second time. PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS (EXTRA RECEIPTS) BILL. Mr. HUNT moved the second reading of this bill, the object of which was to direct that all extra receipts be paid directly into the Exchequer. The object of tho bill was to cause the excess of all votes of money by Par liament to different departments to be paid into the Ex chequer, without being directed to other purposes, so that Parliament might be fir 4 consulted in all matters requiring the outlay of public money. The bill was read a second time. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in moving fcr leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to election petitions, and for providing more effec tually for the prevention of corrupt practices at parliamentary elections, referred to the manner in which controverted elections were treated by the Grenville Act, and also to the measure introduced by the late Sir R. Peel in 1839, which was repealed two years after it had received the Royal assent. Matters went on until the year 1848, when the house decided to giyo s.legalcharac ter and shape to all matters of controverted elections, and appointed a committee of elections, who should have the power of appointing the members to try the merits of election petitions, and that the members so appointed should have the power of examining witnesses on oath. If it was not thought advisable to depart from the fundamental principle, he did not think a better tribunal could be found than that which then existed. Yet it had failed to give satisfaction, and it had been the intention of Her Ilaj-sty's Government to deal with the matter last year at the same time that they dealt with the matter of Reform. But the matter was found to be of such an extensive nature that it was thought pro per to introduce a separate bill. In that bill the Govern ment proposed that Mr. Speaker should constitute a panel of eminent gentlemen of the long robe, and whenever an election petition was presented to the house that, by an order from the Speaker, a tribunal from the panel should investigate the charges of the petition, and that that investigation should be made on the spot. The house, however, accepted the principle of the bill, but ob;ected to the tribunal. The bill was referred to a select committee. Various propositions were made and con sidered, one of which was that the tribunal which should try the merits of an election petition should be one of the highest in the land. The recommendations of the select com mittee had been fully considered by Government, and the bill he now asked for leave to introduce was in strict con formity with the recommendations of the select com mittee. However, her Majesty's Government had not been able to consult the judges on the subject, and when it was considered how much their time was occupied, he hoped the kouse would not insist on thrusting the duty on the judges, but he must say the Government had received the refusal of that august body to become the judges of a court for the purposes of deciding the merits of an election petition. He thought that as one of the recommendations of the committee, viz., to incapacitate an English gentleman found guilty of bribery from sitting in the House of Par liament for seven years, and if found guilty a second time that he should be totally incapable of ever taking his seat therein again, was a matter of sufficient importance to have induced the judges to have taken up that duty. However, as they had been met by a refusal in that quarter, the Government proposed to form a now and original tribunal, and that was to appoint three members of the learned profession, with a salary of £2,000 per annum each, who would be come the Judges of the Parliamentary Elections Court, and that all appeals from revising barristers should be dealt with by the now tribunal. He concluded by asking for leave to introduce the bill. Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN said he was afraid they would not be able to deal satisfactorily with bribery at elections where the expense of proving it was thrown on the candidates. With respect to the judges' refusal, he could only say for himself that he looked upon it in a favourable light, because if the house were to make them the arbitrators in political matters, they would lose that confidence which the public now so implicitly placed in them. He felt certain that the house would give its best consideration to the measure, and without fettering himself to any of the proposals he should wait until the bill was regularly before them before entering at length into the many serious matters that surrounded the motion. Sir F. GOLDSMID said he should. have an amendment to move when the bill was in committee that would se cure that:the pure candidate would receive that which was his light. Mr. WHITBRED thought it monstrous to say that the work proposed by the select committee could not be done by the judges. (Hear, hear.) Sir R. COLLIER thought that, considering the nature of the provisions of the bill, it was greatly to bo desired that such important matters as would arise on those elec tion inquiries should only be dealt with by the judges, and not by a tribunal constituted as the Government pro posed. Mr. R. GURNEY said he had heard the announcement of the Government with extreme regret. If the election petitions were not to b 3 dealt with by the judges, ho hoped the house would well consider before they removed them for c3nsideration to au inferior tribunal. Mr. LOWE was rather disposed to resent the protest of the judges, and doubted whether they had mere right than any other public servants to refuse duties imposed on them by Parliament. If the judges were not numerous enough to discharge their additional duty, which was very possible, let their numbers bo increased but it they were Parliament ought not to be deterred by their remonstrances from putting this duty upon them. That they were over worked was no reason for transferring this important function to a vastly inferior tribunals, which, as he showed, would discharge it very inadequately, and at considerable expense. Lord CRANBORNE defended the conduct of the judges in this matter, as eminently wise and patriotic, and argued that as most of them had been active party men, and might still be supposed to retain party predilections, to throw these semi-political duties upon them would be to weaken the unlimited confidence at present vested in them. It was idle to shove them into the dirtiest part of English life and expect them to come out clean. Even the dimi nution of bribery would be dearly purchased at such a price. Sir R. PALMER thought the judges had done no more than their duty if their motive for protesting against this semi-political function was a belief that it would weaken public confidence in their administration of the law. But he denied altogether that the fact of their having been aetive party men would affect their conduct as judges iu any matter. Arguing against the employment of judges, he pointed out that as election petitions usually all came together after a general election, it would be necessary . to have four or five nevk judges to try them with the neces sary expedition. That was an increase not needel by the general business of the country, Lir. HENLEY expressed a strong jealousy of the pro posed transfer of jurisdiction to a court of law, fearing that the end would be to give the House of Lords the ulti mate decision in election matters, and believed that gene rally election committees decided honestly. Mr. AYRTON thought the judges by their protest had saved the house the trouble of discussing an untenable proposition. The same objections made agaiust election committees were urged iu turn against every court of law and equity, and ho exhorted the house to consider how the present system (which he defended) could be improved ra ther than how to abandon a jurisdiction which had always been held to be one of the most important privileges of a representative body. At any rate he strongly deprecated its transfer to a second or third rate tribunal. Mr. BOUVERIE, while justifying the. Government, held the discussion to have shown how great were the difficul ties attendant on a change of jurisdiction. It was abso lutely impossible for the judges to undertake this duty, nor it was necessary, for the present tribunal, as a rule, was by no means so imcompetent to ascertain the truth as was represented. Mr. GLADSTONE pointed out two considerations in favour of a transference of jurisdiction —one that commit tees could only deal with the questions between the two candidates, and could not enter on a general examination of the manner in which the electoral franchise had been exercised in a particular borough; the other, that by the present system the immense advantages of a local inquiry were sacrificed. To the principle of a transference of jurisdiction he did not object, but it must be to the supe rior judges. The question he held to be—would the house give this power•to the highest authorities of the law, or retain it in its own hands ? The defects of the present system would be raised to a maximum by the creation of an inferior tribunal. Mr. BRIGHT denied that the case was so desperate as to require the house to give up this important privilege. But for the prevention of bribery he preferred to trust rather to the inevitable enlargement of constituencies and the adoption of the ballot. Mr. Berkeley, Sir M. Beach, Mr. Locke, Mr. Bonham Carter, Mr. Cioldney, and Mr. D. Griffith also made observations, and the bill was then brought in and read a first:time. The house adjourned shortly after half-past seven o'clock. MR. BAINES, M.P. On Wednesday the annual meeting of the mem bers of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce was held. The report having been read, Mr. BAINES, M.P., addressed the chamber. He remarked that he always attended those annual meetings of the chamber with the greatest interest. Individual members of Parliament, and the Legisla ture generally, had their attention kept alive to com mercial questions by the action of the various cham bers of commerce in the country; and the Associated Chambers of Commerce exercised, especially by means of deputations, a great influence on all the department of the Governments. (Hear, hear.) He had listened with much interest to the extremely comprehensive and minute report which had just been read, and in almost all the points to which it referred he felt pleasure in being able to concur 1 with those by whom it had been drawn up. Be fore referring to the first subject with which the report dealt—namely, bankruptcy reform —he would, with their leave, make a few remarks upon the general state of trade in the country. Not , withstanding what was said in the report, he thought they might congratulate themselves that trade in Leeds was considerably less depressed than it was in most of the other great towns of the . country. As far as he knew, there was much less distress in Leeds than there was in London, Liver pool, Manchester, or Birmingham. And this, he thought, might be ascribed in part to the varied industries th tit were carried on in Leeds, and in part —he might say in a greater degree—to the spirit of prudence and moderation which distinguishes its inhabitants. The depression of trade during I the last twelve months had not, however, been confined to England; it had been felt all over ' Europe ; and it became rather an interesting ' question to consider the source from which this depression had sprung. Two years ago they were all in the highest spirits; the greatest confidence was felt in all monetary operations,in all commercial transactions, in the firmness of joint-srock com - panies. That confidence was now almost entirely gone ; and a very large sum was locked up in the Bank of England from distrust in the operations of trade, and in the various companies in which money was formerly employed. They had witnessed the failures of banks, the stop page of joint-stock companies, and the disastrous position to which many railway companies had been reduced—the effect of that necessarily being to damage public confidence, and greatly to impair the means both of the upper and middle classes. In considering whether this remarkable contrast did not admit of explanation, he had no hesitation lin repeating the conviction he had expressed on former occasions, that it was in a great mea sure owing to the excessive speculation, to the overtrading, to the unreasonable confidence of past times, that the present state of matters had been brought about. The confidence, in the first place, was well founded. Several years of good trade—the result of a singular combination of causes—had existed, and had fairly and properly induced a feeling of confidence throughout the whole of the mercantile community. Then came that fever which frequently supervenes upon confi dence. What was in the first instance a reasonable confidence, was carried to an unreasonable extent ; credit, justly given to begin with, was afterwards given where it was not deserved ; and undertakings, calculated originally to benefit both private indivi duals and the country, became, as in the case of many joint-stock companies, wild in the amount 1 of their speculations. From the imprudence then committed the country was now suffering ; and he referred to it for the purpose of ex pressing a hope that a lesson of moderation for the future would be learned from it. (Hear, hear.) It was impossible to ignore the fact that Leeds took a great part in the general mania—he might almost call it—for speculation which then existed ; and that we had much reason to be ashamed of the dreadful consequences entailed by the failure 1 of one of our banks ; but he had some hope • that more moderation and prudence was exercised , in Leeds than in many other large mercantile and manufacturing towns, and that as a necessary result there was a decidedly higher tone o f commercial morality. (Hear, hear, and great applause.) With regard to bankrupt c y legislation, he thought they did quite right to endeavour to make the law—at present exces sively defective--Ps effective as possible. (Hear.) He confessed he had better hopes than those expressed in the report, that a great improve ment upon the law of bankruptcy might be made in the present session. lle urged the matter frequently upon Sir John Rolt's attention last year, and, in conjunction with Lis friend Mr. Beecroft, he should be glad again to promote the question ; but, after all, most could be done by deputations from chambers of commerce. The subject should never be lost sight of for a moment ; deputation after deputation must be sent to London until the Government felt that the mercantile com munity were quite resolved to have a bankruptcy law which would protect the interests of creditors. (Hear, hear.) Allusion was made in the report to one subject on which he had some doubts—the ad visableness of the telegraphic communication of the country being taken iu hAud by c+QT O E II)32 Qut I t A' was quite true that the Post-office had been ad mirably managed as a department of the public service ; but at the same time it was questionable whether a departure from the general rule of indi vidual enterprise was desirable in the case of the telegraph. (Hear, hear.) He should be sorry to see a stop put to private tele graphic communication, and he doubted much whether the passage of all telegrams through the hands of Government officials would be in accordance with the feelings of the country. He had some doubts therefore on the subject, although he had not given the matter that full and complete consideration to enable Lim to express a decided opinion upon it. As to the tribunals of commerce, he could not help thinking, after the information he had received as to the admirable manner in which they worked in other count; ies, that they certainly ought to be established in England. (Flear, hear.) After expressing his phasure at the notice taken in the report of the abuse of accommodation bills, time Lon. gentleman concluded by declaring his belief that by continuing the good work they had so wel commenced, chambers of coinnE-rce would aid. greatly in the amelioration of the commercial law of England, and if of the commercial law, there fore of the commercial interests of the country. (Applause.) SPORTING INTEL LIGEIVOE—This Day. VICTORIA CLUB BETTING—THIS DAY. LINCOLN HANDICAP. 6to 1 agst King Charming (taken and offered) 9 to 1 agst Purveyor (taken and offered) 100 to 6 agst Grey Stocking (taken) 100 to 6 agst Cauthleen (taken and offered) 20 to 1 agst Artesian (offered--25 wanted) 100 to 3 agst Skirmish (taken and offered) 100 to 3 agst Lady Zetland (taken) 100 to 3 agst Snowdrop (taken and offered) 100 to 3 agst Ainsley (taken and offered) 50 to t agst Easby (offered) LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL. 13 to 1 agst Fan (offered) 100 to 6 agst Tennyson (taken) 100 to 6 agst Tke Lamb (taken and offered) 100 to 6 agst Daisy (offered) 18 to 1 agst Pearl Diver (taken) 20 to 1 agst Chininey Sweep (taken) 25 to 1 agst Tirsculanum (taken) 25 to 1 agst Despatch (taken) 25 to 1 agst Helen (offered) 100 to 3 agst Shakspeare (offered) 100 to 3 agst Huntsman's Daughter (taken) 40 to 1 agst Moose (offered) 50 to 1 agst Port Royal (offered) 1000 to 15 agst Sea King (taken) CHESTER CUP. 15 to 1 agst Viridis (taken and offered) 20 to 1 agst Abergeldie (taken) 25 to 1 agst Beeswing (taken) 25 to 1 agst Paul Jones (taken) 30 to 1 agst Weather Star (taken) . 60 to 1 agst Viscount (taken) 60 to 1 agst, Contempt (taken) TWO THOUSAND. 5 to 2 agst Rosicrucian (taken) Bto 1 agst Paco (taken) 25 to 1 agst Blue Gown (taken) THE ROTUNDA CLUB AND COMMISSION EXCHANGE, THREE DOORS FROM BLACKPRIARS BRIDGE, SURREY SIDE, IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Annual Subscription Five Shillings. Responsible Bookmakers desiring Stands should apply immediately (as the number will be limited) to the Secre tary, 3, Blackfriars-road. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. HORSES STRUCK OUT OP THEIR ENGAGE MENTS. Nov. 26—Wings of the Wind, cut of the Handicap hur dle-race at Croydon. _ _ Feb. B—at 10 a.m., Metallique, out of the Bentinck Me morial Stakes at Goodwood; after 6 p.m., Beanstalk, out of the Nottingham Handicap. Feb. 10—at 9 a.m., Cabin Boy, out of the Open Steeple.. chase at Birmingham and Moreton-in -Marsh ; at 9 a.m., Lizette, out of the Erdington Plate at Birmingham ; at 9 a.m., Corkscrew, out of the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Birmingham ; at 9 a.m., Nothing More, out of the Notting ham Hurdle-race; at 9 a.m., Switcher and Sinite, out of Birmingham engagements; at 9 a.m., Garus and Trump Card, out of Birmingham engagements and Nottingham Hurdle-race ; at 9 a.m., Violet, out of all engagements in Mr. Den's name; at 1.15 p.m., Moldavia and Polecat, out of all handicaps published to date ; at 3.30. p.m., Beauty, out of the Nottingham 'Spring Handicap ; at 4.45 p.m., King of Hearts, out of Shrewsbury and Derby Steeple chases. Feb. 11—at 9 a.m., Dick Turpin and Lady Zotland, out of Harrow engagements ; at 9 a.m., Frost, out of all en gagements ; at 9 a.m., Flyfisher, out of Birmingham en gagements; at 9.35 a.m., Sweet Willie and Tribune, out of the Nottingham Haudizap ; at 1.30 p.m., Violent, out of the Gone-Away Plate at Lincoln ; at 5.55 p.m., The Rock, Proserpine, and Sister to Vedette, out of Notting ham Handicap. Feb. 12—after 6 p.m, The Squire, out of the Lincoln shire and City Handicaps at Lincoln. Feb. 13—at 9 a.m., Hopviae, out of Hurdle-race at Liu coin. DERBY SPRING MEETING. THURSDAY, Feb. 27. The Great Midland Steeplecbaso (handicap) of 100 sovs added to a Sweepstakes of 15 sovs each, 10 ft, and 3 only (to the fund) if declared to Messrs. Weatherby only on Pet). 11, by 12 noon ; winners of a steeplechase after Feb. 5, at 1 p.m., once 81b, twice or more 121 b extra; the second to save his stake. About three miles and a half twice over the brook. 30 subs. The highest weight accepting being list 131 b, it has been raised to 12st 71b, and the others in proportion. Age st lb Age st lb Benazet 12 7 Greenland ... a 11 10 Globule ... al2 6 Wooabury Hill ... a 11. 8 U.'heNun (in.Blb ex) al2 4 Moose ... ... all 6 The Tiger... ... al2 1 Risk ... 11 1 Tennyson ... 5 11 13 Mrs. Allan •.. 5 10 8 Farnane 5 11 12 The Great Midland Spring Handicap of 100 sovs, adied to a sweepstakes of 10 sovs each. Three-quarters of a mile. Ago st lb Age st lb Bismarck ... ... 48 12 Secrecy ... ... 46 8 Python ... ... 4 8 4 Valorous ... 16 8 Sweet Anne ... 5 7 10 Thermometer 4 6 8 Moonbeam ... 4 7 4 Sister to Vedette 4 6 7 The Last Rose of I Van Diemen ... 36 0 Summer ... 3 7 2 Substance ... 3 6 0 Lady Lambton 4 7 2 Spendthrift ... 3 5 10 Cauthleen ... 4 7 0 Sugarstick ... 3 5 7 Innerdalo ... ... 3 612 i NOMENCLATURE. The following names have been given:— Mr. W. C. Bland's B. yearling c. by Mouravieff, out of Fox glove, by Drogheda, out of Blue Bell Moncrieff. Lord Virostmorlaud's T wo-yrs-old. B. c. by Carbineer, out of Catalpa Percussion Ch. f. by Nutbourne, out of Miss Vivian Cocoa Nut F. by Master Bagot—Britanuia, by Catosby Oceans. Oh. f. (sister to Longdown) by B at tle B. f. by Dundee, out of iler liness Roy a lt y Ch. f. by Nutbourne, out of Anspach B. f. by Master Begot, out of Grillade s p ik e Mr. G. Whittington l s Lavendor B. off. Perfume, Musk), ue,2y Fenton, .... . Lady The following assumed name has been registered :—Mr. John Denman. The assumed name of Tilsby published in last Calendar should be Tilsly. FORFEIT LIST..-The forfeits of the following horses have been paid :—llouri, Carthusian, C. out of Maid of Lyme, Libertine (to - qualify), National Dance, and Deer slayer. RACING FIXT RES FOR 1868. Lincoln Spring FEBR 18 Hinsfield Harrow 2O VARY.; Nottingham Spring 23 I Derby Spring Urverpool Spring M 3 0 .elmsford Spring M 10 Surewsbury Spring lO West Dray ton l2 Warwick Spring CII. Bromley Spring 6 Durham Hendon l3 Newmarket Craven Knighton l4 Abergavenny ..... 16 Margate Epsom Spring Meeting 24 Croxtou Park Northampton Ohoster 6 Wiachester York Spring D onca ster Spring SaEsbury JU IIL. Catterick Bridge l6 Lewes Spring Thirsk Curragh eipri '1 2l Newmarket Ist Spring li7 West Drayton 1 Croydon 2d Summer Manchester 3 Ascot S um mer 9 Beverley, Hull, and East Itiaing lO WiticlNX 0 1 41 Zig 'mil 16 Bath Croydon Ist Summer Harpenden Epsom Sumuter Newton • l7 Hampton Ne weutlo 23 Bibury Club 0get...... 23 Stockbridgo Illux=dra Parki o w. i , 80 .......iblad ......4.44111 at ihrze 20 St at 100