The Sun. — London, England, 1853-10-06 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, Ocr. 6, Will be performed THE STRANGER. Supported by Messrs. G. V. Brooke, A. Younge, Morgan, and G. Burt; Mesdames An derton„ 'Vickery, and Belton. To conclude with THE FOUNTAIN OF BEAUTY, in which lass Featherstone and Miss E. Ormond will appear. Reduced prices us usual. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Xas.n; This Theatre will OPEN for the Season on MONDAY NExr, the 10th October, when will be performed Lord Byron L.TrageLly of itiAIiDANAPALUS, wit . other Ilatertairanents Fall Particulars in future Almouncements. open on Thursday, the 6th instant. The Box-of:Hoe wil THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster —Directress. Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING S OCT, 6, Will be performed GENE VIEVE. Characters by Messrs. Fortelle, O. Lee, Leigh Murray, C. S'elhy, 11.!dford, Keeley, 0. Smith, &c. ; lass . Woolgar, and lars. Keeley. Atter which, will be presented SARDANAPALIY. To be followed by THE CAMP AT CHOU/IAM, To conclude with COMING OF AGE. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. The new and Classical Burlesque the greatest triumph ever achieved. Crowded audiences nightly prove it; powerful attraction, while enthusiastic approbation greets its gorgeous effects, The Fall of Phaeton, and his destruction on the banks of the River Po, are pronounced by the Press and the Public the most perfect and beau- Ulla Tableaux ever witnessed in this Theatre. Re-engagement of those wondrous Artistes, Signor CARLO and Signor FRANCOIS, whose extraordinary perl.rmances on LA PERCHE surpass those of all other Artistes who have appeared. • THIS EVEN MG, OCT. 6, And during the week, will be prevented (the 22d time) the New Classical Burlesque, entitled JUPITER'S DECREE, AND THE FALL OF PHATON; or, THE FIERY COURSERS OF THE SUN, supported by the entire strength of the Company. New and original Scenes in the Circle, introducing Signor CAR. LO and Signor FRANCOIS. Concluding with (95:h time) THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W W eat. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 1853 State of the wind and weather at each of the following p)a►cea at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. SOUTHAMPTON — S., strong breeze —rain. TUNBRIDGE —S., gentle breeze —scud—rain. GRF,ENwiett—S.E., gentle breeze —overcast. STBOOD—S., gentle breeze —partially cloudy. SWINDON—S.W., fresh breeze--cloudy. CAMBRIDGE—S., fresh breeze—cloudy. YARMOUTH—S., hard wind—rain. The return from the following places indicates the state of the weather on Tuesday morning at nine o'clock : MtrixiNGAR—S.W. hard wind— ra i n . FOLKESTONE—S.W., strong breeze—over c ast. BIRMINGHAM—S.W., stormy—rain. CREWE—S.W.. strong breeze—cloudy. HOLYHEAD—W.S.W., heavy gale—overcast—rain. DARLINGTON—S.E., strong breeze—overcast—rain. BRAT—S., strong breeze—rain. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tate DAT —Morning 50 min.after 3 Evening 8 min.aft. 4 To•Moaaow—Morning 29 min.after 4 I Evening 50 min.aft. 4 THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, OCT. 6. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 58—highest since noon yesterday. 50—lowest this morning and during the night. 51—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'45. WIND, N.W. Light airs, and thick, hazy weather. •:=4 Tin t 1 t~~ ~+ 0 Aill. LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1853. We are now gravely told by the ABERDEEN organ that " the EMPEROR of Russia has declared for peace." It acknowledges that " the announce ment may probably appear incredible, after what has been proved respecting the nature of the ori ginal aggression," but adds that it " can state, upon undoubted authority, that the sentiments of the CZAR, as expressed at Olmiitz by his own lips, are not only in favour of a pacific settlement, but are reconcilable to a great extent with the conditions proposed by ourselves." It may be so. The Times should be good authority on anything emanating from Russia just at present. It has well merited the confidence of its Imperial Mas ter, and is entitled to the most unreserved dis closures from the party on whose behalf it has made such energetic exertions and incurred such an enormous amount of obloquy. It has evinced, too, unquestionable discretion on behalf of the cause which it had undertaken to advance. For what stone did it leave unturned to promote the interests of the AUTOCRAT and damage those of the SULTAN f What portion of information did it not apply to the same Purpose, twisting and turning it in every possible form, now bringing it forward in the shape of foreign correspondence, again of in telligence gleaned and collected from well-informed continental journals, accompanied by notes and comments—at one time in the shape of editorial remarks, at another, of elaborate letters from con venient correspondents, who were ready to predict the inevitable downfall of the Ottoman Empire, and to prove that England should make the best of that which could not by any possibility be averted, or even long postponed. At intervals the blessings of peace were chaunted in dulcet strain; befitting an Arcadian bard, save that, in place of green fields and lowing herds, it sung of unnumbered bales of cotton, and power-loom s worked two-and-twenty hours per day, the human machines attached being allowed the odd two hours for rest, refreshment, and recreation— all, in fact, that could please the smooth ma nufacturer, who thought the Government of the world, and the position of England in the scale of nations of but trivial importance, when compared with the supply of additional calico to the banks of the Don or the Dnieper, or the clothing of the hordes of Cossacks and Calmucks, who owed fealty to the benignant and gentle NICHOLAS. Anon, it struck the lyre with bolder and more vigorous hand, when it dwelt on the honours of war in terms that might have sufficed to harrow up the soul of every member of the Peace Congress, and made the broad-brims quiver on hairs standing erect like " quills on the fretful porcupine." Surely after such unwavering fidelity, such efficient services, bestowed, toe, with such total disregard of characters, the obedient journal is at least entitled to the meed of early and authen tic intelligence, as the least return for all it has performed, and all the serious risks it has en countered. That the ordinary penny receipt stamp, which will come into operation from and after the 10th instant, is destined to exercise a material influence in the every-day transactions of life, is certain. Every person of moderate means will require to keep a stock by him ; and it is by no means im possible that they may constitute a new paper currency of small denomination, that would prove exceedingly convenient to the community, more especially during the comparative deficiency of the copper coinage that must arise during the state of transition to the decimal system, and which indeed is already spoken of. When every transac tion amounting to 2/. or upwards will render necessary the use of one of these stamps, it is scarcely necessary to say that they will generally be accepted. The humblest person will thank fully receive that for which, although he may have no use of it himself, he is certain of obtaining full value from any tradesman or shopkeeper with whom he deals. They will also afford opportu nities of liquidating small accounts by post that are now frequently obliged to stand over, greatly to the annoyance of the creditors. Indeed, there will henceforward be no plausible excuse for the neglect of such claims. The postage-stamps par tially performed this duty ; and we read in the pages of our amusing contemporary, Household Words, an interesting narrative of a tour, during the course of which the writer was rescued from a very embarrassing and unpleasant position in a small village in North Wales, by the possession of a few postage stamps, and finding a person, even in that remote district, who understood their use, and was willing to give money in exchange. Their exchangeable value was, however, greatly impaired by the regulation which imposed a penalty on any person who sold or disposed of them without a license, and the consequent limi tation of the demand to those that might be re quired for the personal use of the individual who might accept them in payment of any demand. No prosecution was ever instituted for the sale of these substitutes for money, and a similar right, or at least immunity, will no doubt be afforded to persons dealing in the new receipt stamps. In deed it appears by the New Stamp Act that such an exemption was contemplated by Parliament, as it expressly provided that " Persons authorised by the Postmaster-General may sell postage stamps, or carry about the same for sale, without being subject to any penalty." The use, therefore, of such stamps would be materially promoted, and the public convenience provided for, by the power thus virtually conferred upon any person of re ceiving money in exchange, and everything that could be desired would be achieved if the postage and receipt stamps were convertible, so that either would free a letter, or justify the acknowledg ment of payment of a sum exceeding 2/. sterling, or a cheque made payable to order, or at a distance exceeding ten miles from the place where it is made payable. . There is no earthly reason why this should not be the case, or why one should not answer the purpose of the other in every case. And yet we find by an unaccountable instance of perversity that such is not to be the case ; but that a stamp specially prepared must be used for receipts, while the old postage stamp must be resorted to for the transmission of letters through post. Now, we ask what can be the meaning of this most absurd and vexatious regulation I The object of the Legislature was to ensure the payment of a cer tain duty on the transmission of every letter, and the signing of every receipt. The duty was the same in each case, and surely that object would be accomplished under whatever name the money was paid. The receipt into the Exchequer would be as useful, whether it went under the head of " Post-office," or of " Stamps." The money should be paid in each instance. What then can be the purpose of maintaining an absurd distinc tion where there is no real difference? Nor is the matter itself so very, improbable as to induce us to doubt the statement thus put for ward on "undoubted authority." We have seen and heard enough of the professions of mode ration on the part of the CZAR, not to feel any degree of surprise or astonishment at a n y assertions he inay choose to put forward. Like his great prototype, " the wolf in the fable," he had ample justification for any extremities to which he might pleas e to proceed, and any indulgence which he might feel disposed to show was owing, not to the merits of his a d versary, but to the unbounded benignity and clemency of his own disposition. When such claims were put forward by a servile herd " the God of the Russians," as by a refinement of blasphemy he was termed, might surely s p ea k o f hi s own kindly disposition, and of his pacific inclinations. Besides, the Great Nortlaern Despot possibly finds that matters do not run quite so smoothly as he had anticipated. Be did not perfectly understand the dispositions of the Anglo-Saxon race when he imagined that bt)cause ho had secured the co-operation of the _ It may be asserted that the distinction is re quired in order that the Chancellor of the Ex chequer may be enabled to state exactly the pro ceeds of each branch of the revenue—that he may have the additional element to guide his cal culations, as to future fiscal changes. Never was there a more ridiculous reason assigned, a more untenable argument put forward. It is one only worthy of the philosopher who thought the cat and her kittens required different modes of entrance, and that the latter could not make their way through the same passage as their parent. It is quite clear that if the entire quantity of stamp s sold were known, and the number that were applied to postal purposes also ascertained (as it would be without difficulty), the balance IVOTICE —ln consequence of a misapprehen- i "good and excellent" First Lord of the Treasury, Ilion, Mr . . BENTLEY ends it necesss7 . to state, that his rew I plan for publishing New Novels at one third of the price usually and of " the leading journal," he could- do as he charged for them, refers only to works of fah) , liatrAFTLlt to be thought proper in all respects. He has at length published by him, and not to those already published. " MARGAR ET ; or, P ttEJUDICE at HOME, and its VICTIMS." 2 vole , 75., will be the first new work published upon the new plan, I made the discovery that Englishmen are not quite and will be ready on THURSDAY, O c t o b er 13. that the voice of public opinion in the Western Isles will penetrate into the inmost recesses of the Cabinet, and that no Minister can venture long to resist " the pressure from without"—more potent than even the hug of his own bear. He has also made the unwelcome discovery that Turkey is even better prepared for the contest than he had supposed possible ; and that with such assistance as she can and will receive from the Maritime Powers, she may defy his utmost exertions, and possibly retaliate by carrying the war into his own country—that the co-operation 'of the Times and ABERDEEN, coupled even with the tergiversation and treachery of Austria, are inadequate to the complete carrying out his nefarious projects. He ' has never been very scrupulous as to the complete correspondence of his " sayings and doings," and a slight concealment of his intentions—nay, even a postponement to a more convenient season, of the partition of Turkey—may possibly suit his pre sent views. It is therefore very probable that he would now thankfully accept the original Vienna Note, coupled with an interpretation or ex planation of its provisions, which would go far to remove its objectionable character, and to place it in a very different light from that in which it was viewed at Constantinople and St. Petersburgh by REDSCHID PACUA and Count NES- I SELRODE--MS high sense of " dignity " alone pre venting him from receiving it with all the modifi cations. But he threw off the disguise too soon for this purpose. Any future negotiations must be based on a document complete in itself, which may be read, and its meaning understood, with out any reflected or borrowed light from collateral " explanations." Any such compromise would be worse than useless—it would merely postpone the evil day, and allow the unscrupulous and un conscien tious invader to carry out his plans on the first favourable opportunity, which would but too soon arise. In such case " the snake would be but scotched, not killed." The elements of disturbance would remain with undiminished force, to burst into flame at an untoward time. We cannot think so much of the dig nity of the man who thought so lightly of the dignity of others. He has got himself into the scrape, let him wriggle out of it as he best can. He may rest assured that, under any circum stances, he cannot be more disgraced than he has already been through his insolent and domineer ing manifestoes, his unwarrantable aggressions, and his grasping cupidity. These may leave in delible brands on his character, notwithstanding the submissions he may now make. Pity it is that the indomitable pride of a single human being should be capable of inflicting such calami ties on the whole family of mankind—that all must suffer for the faults and perversity of one. But such is the necessary consequence of des potism, which must be banished from the world before we can hope for permanent tranquillity or the realisation of the aspiration that, ' When kings assert their right, The men who make the quarrel be the only men to fight." would represent the produce of the new penny receipt stamp. Any person capable of working a sum in subtraction could tell the amount. But for that the public are to be greatly inconvenienced, and double supplies must be provided. We hope that this absurd regulation will be altered. It must be so if the commercial community bestir themselves, and represent in the proper quarter its inutility and absurdity. NORFOLK is to enjoy the honour of being the first English county appealed to for its Agricul tural Statistics. It is solicited to serve as the model county on this side the Tweed, to enable our Legislature to pass a satisfactory and well considered Act on this subject. ' We trust that it will not disappoint the expectations of the country, and those expectations are high. It is the county which enjoyed, during his long-protracted life, the princely and intelligent example of THOMAS WIL LIAM COKE, which saw Holkam Park converted from a wilderness to an agricultural garden, and an estate consisting largely of poor light soils, ren dered one of the best cultivated and most pro ductive in England ; which beheld the agricultural intelligence of the whole kingdom annually assembled at the Holkam sheep-shearing a gathering at which nobles and tenant-farmers, and agriculturists from other countries also, mingled in free and hearty intercourse, inspected the model farm of their generous host, and the farms of intelligent gentlemen around who had followed his example, and returned to their respective farms, counties, and countries, enriched with a knowledge of the results of all the costly experi ments which were constantly in hand, at the expense of the wealthy and public-spirited Lord of Holkam. Those who are so frequently calling on Mr. MECHI to produce his balance-sheet, and who would wish him to guarantee himself a profit on all he does, may remember with advantage that Tiros. Wm. COKE, the father of Norfolk, we might almost say of British agriculture, was accus tomed to avow that he never wished or expected to gain anything by his splendid experimental farm. It was carried on to verify everything worthy of trial at the cost of a landlord who could afford 'it, on behalf of tenants whose capital ought not to be exposed to risk ; and it was carried on till it has almost changed the face of the county. Septe genarians now can hardly identify some parts of it. It is true, Norfolk farmers have yet much to learn ; but it is also true that they have learned very much, probably more than the same number of their brethren in any other part of England ; they have long employed every kind of agricul tural horse machinery; the steam-engine, though not so fast as in Scotland, is making its way amongst them, and the agricultural productions of the county are perhaps more varied than those of most counties in England. Probably amongst the tenants of the Earl of LEICESTER, not one ,will be found unwilling to make the required returns. We have no doubt that the son fully sustains the system of his vene rated father. That system was one of long leases, we believe seldom less than twenty-one Years; ab solute political liberty ; license to destroy the in jurious game ; and for the landlord to regard a large produce with exultation, not as furnishing a claim for higher rent on his part, but as establish ing rather a claim on the part of the tenant, for any man, according to the Earl's favourite adage, " deserved the country's gratitude for making two ears of wheat grow where one grew before." The farmer who had made most of his farm felt most sure of a renewed long lease on terms at least as favourable as before. Nor can we believe that the landlords are numerous who would raise a tenant's rent because of the excellence of his cultivation, and the consequent largeness of his production. They know that there must have been a propor tionate outlay of capital to obtain it. They know that a secure rent from a well-cultivated estate is better than a rent which impoverishes and dis courages the farmer, and brings the land into their hands at the end of the lease deteriorated in value; they cannot wish to set before the other tenants a premium on slovenly farming, and a penalty on high cultivation and improvement of the estate. The farmer need not fear, we believe, to return freely and openly the entire amount of his pro duction of every kind. However, even the hazard, imaginary as we think it, of exposure of his business to his landlord, the farmer's sole fear, even this is considerately saved him on the pro posed plan. The returns are to be made in two schedules to a statistical committee of each Board of Guardians, and to be collected by the relieving officers, to be issued the first week in October, and collected again the first week in November. Individual names are not to be given, and the results alone are to be made public. This was the course adopted in Scotland, and with such success that in three entire counties, Roxburgh, Haddington, and Sutherland, only three individuals declined giving the information requested, and they now probably regret that they did so. Of course it will not be difficult for the relieving officers to ob tain the information pretty accurately at second hand. The number of acres sown by a farmer with each kind of crop, and the number of his stock, are open, with tolerable accuracy to all eyes ; but the desideratum is to accomplish the object with the thorough good will of the farmers themselves. They will share most largely in the general benefit of the knowledge obtained, and it is highly desirable that they should co-operate with the enlightened confidence that the farmer will be the greatest gainer by holding in his hands a reliable summary of the agricultural statistics of the kingdom. There is hardly a branch of trade throughout Britain, hardly any interest indeed whatever, to which the course and prospects of agriculture are a matter of indifference ; the probable abundance or scarcity of food enters into the calculations of every one who has anything to make, to buy, to sell, or to convey about the kingdom or the world. The present year is, perhaps, the one which, since the repeal of the corn laws, most reminds us of the old panics (and other tricks too) by which gam bling speculators endeavoured to raise the price of corn till it would suffice to open the ports. We think the price at this time is in great part a panic price ; one which the large buyers will uphold, of course, if they can, till they have disposed of their purchasers ; but a price which, notwithstanding the smaller extent of the wheat crop last year, and also there is too much reason to fear a dimi nished yield per acre, cannot be maintained when the facts of the actual home and foreign supply become fully realised. Of course we may be mis taken ; b u t just iu this appears the value of the desired returns. We should, in knowing with certainty the actual average of the wheat crop, compared with other years and seasons, have by far the most important element in the calcula- tion placed beyond doubt. If, however, every one else could act with so much more certainty provided he possessed the proposed statistics, how much more the farmer ? He would see at a glance which kind of produce was likely to be in excess or deficient, and could shape his business arrange- ments by knowledge rather than by guessing. And not only would they apprise him of the probable supply and demand of the several articles which he manufactures ; with a little care and a few more columns, the returns might inform him of the different principal modes of cultivation in _ _ different districts, and the changes of modes, the various kinds of manure used, or newly intro duced, with their effects, and al] the general agri cultural usages and variations in the kingdom. We should not be surprised if the present attempt issues in a series of annual Blue Books, invaluable - - ;o the farmer, and beneficial to us all. FEES PAID BY MILITIA OFFlCERS.—Yesterday a re turn to Parliament was printed, showing the fees charged on commissions by deputy-lieutenants and other officers in England and Wales. In Middlesex the fee by a deputy-lieutenant is 10 guineas ; a colonel of militia, 91. ; lieutenant-colonel, 71.195. ; major, 61. 18s. ; captain, 51. 17s. ; lieutenant, 41. 16s. ; ensign and second lieutenant, 31. 15s. ; and surgeon and assistant surgeon, 51. 17s. and 41. 16s. GOLD.—The Alverton has arrived from Sydney, whence she sailed the Ist of June, but the gold she brings is valued only at 2,0001. THE HARBINGER.—The General Screw steamer Har binger, which leaves Southampton to-day (the 6th), for Port Philip and Sydney, takes out only 5001. in specie. She has jewellery on board valued at 5,0001. '‘T - ONT-Ii MARKET CITY INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday. were 6,000 bales, including 500 taken on specula tion. The market closed heavily without any mate rial change in prices. The sales comprised 240 Pernam and Maranham at 6id. to id., 200 Egyptian at gd. to 10d., and 500 Surat at 2id. to 4d. per lb. Railway shares were inactive, but closed at an improvement of 1 per Cent. Indigo went off much the same as yesterday. Tallow is flatter. It appears that in the provinces, and very justly, too, there is much dissatisfaction evinced at the constant changes in the proceedings of the Bank of England, but no measure has so much elicited dis approbation as that adopted about a fortnight since when the Bank lent money at 4 per Cent. on stock, although a few days after it raised its terms to 4l per Cent. We have no hesitation in affirming that this misled numerous par ties, and that they felt confident the Bank con sidered itself in an improved position, and would not be under the necessity of making any further advance. There are, indeed, parties who think the Bank had stock to sell, and wished to support the funds, but such temporary expedients do more harm thangood, and damage the commercial interest whoever else maysuffer. It should be the rule of any bank, much less of a national establishment, to avoid frequent changes. Preferable even is strin gency maintained for awhile, than a high charge one day and a low rate the next. The main fea ture just now perhaps is politics, for all traders keep a larger balance at command than otherwise they would do, while the manner in which the large amount of bills that fell due on the " fourth" was met shows business to be in a remarkably healthy state. We are not inclined to open a crusade against the Bank of England. It is trammelled by the Currency Act in a way to render its managers timid upon the least pressure, and hence, when it offered loans on stock at 4 per cent., and kept its discount rate at 41, the demand for accommoda tion became in a moment excessive, because the large houses thought it a good opportunity, and and had little reliance in the charge being kept long at one point. This day the Bank Direc tors have not made any change in the rate, and we expect their stock of bullion has in creased, although the amount perhaps did not come in sufficiently early—having to be assayed— to appear in the weekly return which will be pub lished in to-morrow evening's Gazette. On the other hand, there is not much expectation that money will be cheaper between this and Christmas, and it may be dearer. A settlement of the Eastern question would at once cause specie to be sent to the Continent again in discharge of debts that are temporarily delayed, especially for grain, but we imagine the Austrian and other loans on the tapis will not find favour here. The Oriental Bank has this day declared a dividend for the half-year to June last, at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum, after payment of which there is a good surplus upon the six months' profit. - There was a large meeting this day of the share holders of the Upper India Railway Company, for the purpose of taking some steps for the suspension of the call made for the Ist of November, till Jan uary or February next, on the Extension Shares, in consequence of the original shares being at a discount, and the depressed state of the money market. The meeting agreed to the formation of a committee to see the East India Company on the subject, and to adopt such steps as might be deemed advisable. The Stock Market has been very firm, with an improving tendency upon the report that the Em peror expressed himself very pacifically at Olmutz, but it requires much credulity to believe in his sincerity, and most people would rather act upon his fears than trust to his magnanimity. Con sols, owing to some demand for money stock within the Llast day or two, have touched 91i- and 92, but are now down again upon the rumour that Parliament is to be convoked, that French troops are to leave Toulon, and that if Turkey declares war, Russia will annex the Prin cipalities. The current prices have been 91 to -, and are now 91i to for account. Exchequer Bills are 7s. to 12s. discount. Bank Stock is at 219 to 222. Foreign Securities have been improving. Spanish New Deferred realise 211 to 21k, and Portuguese Four per Cents. 421 4 . Peruvian are 70 to 71. Mexican have not been dealt in, or Russian. Dutch Four per Cents. are 931. The financial agent of Mexico in London has communicated to the Committee of Mexican Bond holders the following letter from his Excellency the new Minister of Finance : (Translation.) "Ministry of Finance, Mexico, Sept. 1, 1853. "Having, by favour of his Excellency the President, been appointed to the Ministry of Finance, of which office I have been in charge since the 6th of August, it has been one ormy first cares to examine how the divi dends of the foreign debt have been paid, as this busi ness had already come under my notice as member of the old Board of Public Credit, and of the committee of the same name of Congress. " It was with deep regret that I found that the strait. ened circumstances of the Treasury at the late political revulsion in the Republic in favour of a better internal organisation had prevented proper attention being be stowed on the punctual payment of what was due to the foreign creditors, and that the dividend of the Ist of July, 1851, as well as those of the Ist of January and the Ist of July, 1853, were in arrear. "His Excellency the President, to whom I represented this, and who like myself is most anxiously desirous that the engagements entered into by the nation should be fully carried out, has been pleased to direct me to communicate to you, for the information of the Committee of Bond holders in London, that the present administration will use its utmost efforts to pay the overdue dividends, and to provide for the future payments in such a manner as to satisfy all concerned, and as justice and public policyfre quire. "In the state of annihilation to which the public revenue had been reduced, and from which it is impos sible to revive it as speedily as might be wished, the Government is unable to provide immediately for what is due ; but the measures taken for improving the finances may perhaps enable the Government, in a very few days, to effect an arrangement by which the generous sacrifices submitted to by the bondholders, in accepting the de cree of the 14th of October, 1850, as a final adjustment of this matter, will meet with the return to which they are entitled, in the exact and punctual fulfilment of their claims. " SIERRA Y Rosso. "Colonel F. Facio, London." The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to this day are in round figures as under : 1853. 1852. Great Western North-Western South-Western Brighton Midland South-Eastern. 20,173 19,261 Caledonian and Edinburgh and Glasgow 17,019 14,365 York and North Midland,Newcastle 30,066 25,956 and Berwick, and Leeds Northern Great Northern There has been an improved feeling in the Rail way market, consequent upon the advance in Con sols, and although the dealings have not been large, there are parties buying in anticipation of a rise. London and North-Western have been up about it., and Midland 10s. to 1/. Great Northern are IL to 1/. 10s. higher. Caledonian have improved 10s. to 15s. There have been a few transac- tions in South Eastern, York and Berwick, and Great Western at a corresponding advance. French shares are better than they closed last night, as it is presumed that the fall which occurred at Paris yesterday will be recovered when it is known that there has been a rally here. The Gold Mine Shares are at improved prices, the Californian being most in request. The shares of the Joint Stock Banks have been heavy, but there has been an advance in the Lon don Chartered of Australia and the Oriental. The Shares of the Australian Land Companies are a g ain very heavy, but there have not been many sales. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. ( Prom the Official List.) 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities'. 3 per Cent. Annuities, 1726 Bank Stock for Account Consols for Account . Exchequer Bills, id. £lOOO . Business done 9 1 2 la 215 22 911 ....... .. PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto for the Account 97 Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 6O Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent. ... lOl Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent Bli Equador Bonds Mexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent. 7O Ditto 3 per Cent Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent 42.} 2 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent 921 24 90 1?i Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 2li i I i Dividenis on the above payable in London. Belgian Bonds 4i per Cent. ex. 25 fr 99 Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Guil Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates ..... THREE O'CLOCK. Consols 9ll Ditto October Account COURT CIRCULAR. BALMORAL, OdT. 4. Her Majesty went out walking yesterday morning, attended by the Viscountess Canning. In the afternoon her Majesty, with the Princess Helena and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, drove in an open carriage. Some of the younger members of Mr. Farquharson's family came from Invercauld to pass the afternoon with the Princes and Princesses. The dinner party yesterday included her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Augusta Bruce, and the Hon. Mrs. Gordon. The Marquis of Lansdowne arrived in town on Tues day night from the continent. The Lord Chief Justice of England has arrived at Stratheden-house, from his seat in Roxburghshire. LITERARY PENSIONS.—The Queen, on the recommen dation of the Premier, has just granted a pension of 1001. to Sir Francis Head, and of 1001. to the widow of the late Mr. Moir (Delta). The Cabinet will meet, for the first time since the re cess, to-morrow. All the Ministers are expected to attend. • APPROACHING MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—The con templated matrimonial alliance between Lord Frederick Fitzroy, youngest son of the Duke and Duchess of Grafton, and Miss Wiscombe, is understood to be fixed for the 25th inst. MARRIAGE IN HIGH LlFE.—Yesterday the marriage of Richard Penrudack Long, Esq., son of Walter Long, M.P. for Wiltshire, and Charlotte Hume, only child of W. W. F. Hume, M.P. for the county of Wicklow, and grand-niece of Quintin Dick, Esq., many years M.P. for the borough of Maldon, was solemnised at St. George's Church, Hanover-square. The ceremony was performed by the Hon. W. J. Broderick, rector of Bath and chaplain in ordinary to the Queen, in the presence of a numerous circle of both families. After the religious rite had been completed, the company left the church and proceeded to the resi dence of Quintin Dick, Esq., Curzon-street, Mayfair, where they partook of a splendid cleje4ner provided for the occasion. After the health and happiness of the bride and bridegroom had been drunk by the guests with much enthusiasm, the happy couple took their de parture for Compton-park, Wiltshire. The brides pre sents are stated to have been most numerous and costly. The trousseau was magnificent. The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, accompanied by the youthful Lords Albert and Ronald Leveson Gower, have arrived at Lochinvar House, from Dun robin Castle, en route to the south. The Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford are staying at Tarbet House, Inverness-shire, where they have been receiving a suc cession of visitors. The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton are entertaining a succession of visitors at Brodrick Castle, Isle of Arran. Lord Stanley of Alderley, who has been amongst the visitants, has left for the south. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and the Ladies Grosvenor arrived. at Eaton Hall, near Chester, on Saturday, from visiting the Earl and Countess of Eglinton, at Eglinton Castle, and Sir Michael and Lady Shaw Stewart, at Ardgorvan, N.B. His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Countess of St. Germans, are expected shortly to be the guests of the Right Hon. W. F. Tighe and Lady Louisa Tighe, at Woodstock. Lord Brougham has left Paris for his chateau near Cannes, where the noble and learned lord intends to remain until after Christmas. SHERIFFS COURT-(THIS DAY.) (Before S. T. Hall, Esq., Deputy Undersheriff.) LONSDALE'S EXECUTORS V. SMART. This was an action to recover the sum of 41. 17s. 4d., the amount of an attorney's bill. The defendant is a licensed victualler in the Borough. It appeared from the evidence that the defendant was the owner of several houses at Stepney, near one of the stations of the Blackw•all railway, and in consequence of the smoke and steam from the engines, and the cinders falling on the premises, the value of the property was so much depreciated that defendant instructed Mr. Lonsdale to apply to the Company either to purchase the property or to make some compensation. After some consultations Mr. Lonsdale said that at that time (1849) the law was in a very unsettled state as to nui sances of this description, and it was resolved that the plaintiff should memorialise the board of directors. Mr. Lonsdale did not further interfere, and the result of the application to the board was not made known. Mr. Nicholls, the managing clerk to Mr. Lonsdale, the deceased, was called for the plaintiff, and proved that the work was done, and that defendant had pro mised to pay, but afterwards objected, on the ground that he had only interfered for the benefit of the credi tors. In cross-examination, he said that the work was done for Mr. Lonsdale, since whose decease the business had been conducted by Mr. Yetts, under the firm of Yetts and Lonsdale, but Mr. Yetts had not purchased the debts, as Mr. Lonsdale's affairs were being wound up, under an order in Chancery, and he (witness) was appointed to collect the debts. The name of Lonsdale was retained only to draw the attention of clients, and obtain an introduction of Mr. Yctts. Mr. Lonsdale, the son of the de ceased, confirmed the evidence of the last witness as to the work done. The defence was that defendant had not derived any benefit from the work done, and that if the bill had been taxed it would not amount to more than 2/. The defendant was called, and his evidence was to the effect that he had not retained Mr. Lonsdale, but the business was done cnly in a "friendly way." The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff for 4/. 108. 6d. HOLMES V. WING. This was an action to recover the amount of a ba lance of rent. Mr. Robinson appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Torre for defendant. A verdict for plaintiff. The other cases were struck out. CO IVES, ISLE OF WIGHT.—Oct. 5. (PRO3f OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) DESTRUCTION OF SHEEP BY RAPE.—Sir Richard Simeon lost 118 sheep last week by the shepherd folding a flock on some rape. There were nearly 900, of which 118 were dead when they were found. THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—An application was last evening made by the secretary to the Cowes Local Board of Health for leave to break up the streets to lay down the wires through the town to the corner of Bath-road, near the Royal Yacht Squadron House—which was granted. The original intention was to have the station at the point where the Newport road joins the road from West to East Cowes ; but it having been pointed out that the shipping agents and yachtsmen would pre fer it nearer the Parade, the company have made the necessary alteration. PARKHURST BARRACKS.—DANGEROUS PRACTICE.—On the numerous field-days the troops are reviewed in the ground to the south of the Grand Parade. On Satur day fully 1,000 men were on the ground, and went through a sort of sham-fight, during which whole columns discharged pieces through the hedge which divides the field from the high road between Cowes and Newport, frightening the horses in the different car riages. One poor woman nearly lost her life from a team of horses starting off with a waggon. She was knocked down by one of them, and but for the spirited exertions of two gentlemen who were on the spot, the waggon, which was heavily laden, would have passed over her—as it was, she was seriously bruised. This is but one of many similar accidents caused by the dis charge of fire-arms so near the public road. We have no doubt but this has been done without a thought, and that it has only to be publicly noticed to be discon tinued. RATE OF INTEREST ON THE CONTINENT.—The rise in the rate of interest continues to extend on the conti nent. The national banks of Sardinia and Prussia have already announced an advance of 1 per cent. ; and the advices to-day state that the Bank of Warsaw has adopted a similar step. At Paris it has been considered certain for some days past that the Bank of France will increase its rate from 3 per cent. to 4 per cent. almost immediately. MONEY MARKET.—There was increased ease in the supply of money yesterday, both in the Stock Exchange and out of doors. The drain of gold to the Continent is suspended, and, owing to the recent arrivals from Aus tralia, the Bank returns, after the present week, are expected to show an improvement for the first time since the 25th of June last. The payment of the divid ends, however, will be likely to interfere temporarily with any subsequent augmentation, even supposing the turn in the tide to be maintained. LISBURN ELECTION.—It is stated that Mr. Jonathan Richardson, of Ingram, the Tory candidate, has retired, and that Mr. Walter Stannus, son of Dean Stannus, will offer himself in opposition to Mr. Jonathan Joseph Richardson, of the Island, the popular candidate. ADVANCE IN THE PRICE OF BRANDY.—The Cork Constitution of Tuesday states that "during the past week a smart demand sprung up for brandy, the con sumption having increased, as it is recommended in cases of cholera. It has consequently risen in price, and is now fully 50 per cent. higher than it was some months since What could be purchased then at 6s. per gallon s now 9s. 6d, The import duty is 15s. additional per proof gallon. FURTHER ADVANCE IN THE PRICE OF WHISKY.— The price of whisky was on Monday fixed at 7s. Bd. to 7s. 9d. per gallon at Cork. There has also been a con- hiderable advance in the price of brandy within the last week, several sales having been made at 9s. 6d. in bond. SHETLAND KNITTED WORK FOR THE QUEEN.—Some of the most splendid specimmis of knitted work that have yet left the Shetland Isles were sent south per steamer, for Balmoral, on Tuesday week. They con sisted of silk and worsted veils, silk shawl, worsted polkas and sleeves, with similar articles for the young Princesses, &c. It is said the order was given by her Majesty after seeing specimens of Shetland work with the Duchess of Sutherland. LATEST FOE i]!GN NEWS. FRANCE. A council of Ministers was held at St. Cloud on Tuesday morning. The funeral of M. Arago took place yesterday. A brigade of infantry marched with the procession, and the Emperor was represented at the ceremony by Marshal Vaillant, Grand Marshal of the Palace. The Emperor knows well how to do honour to dis tinguished merit of every class ; and it was by his desire that they were there. General Cavaignac, and the veteran poet Beranger, also attended. Though it rained incessantly, at least 3,000 persons followed the funeral procession to the Cemetery of Pere la Chaise. In addition to M. Arago, -the Academy of Sci ences has just lost another of its members in the prrson. of M. Auguste St. Hilaire, of the section of Botany, at the age of 74 years. M. Arago was in his 69th year when he expired. Monseigneur Sacconi, the Pope's Nun c i o i n Ba varia, is to succeed Monseigneur Garoboldi as Apostolic Nuncio at Paris. In a few days is to take place the inauguration of a temporary chapel for the celebration of the orthodox Greek worship. It is on the express ap plication of the Ottoman Ambassador at Paris that the French Government has accorded this autho risation to all the Ottoman subjects of that creed. The Christians of the Church of the East—Molda vians, Wallachians, Servians, Bulgarians, &c.— have spontaneously united together to meet the expenses of this chapel, and to support a Greek priest to officiate. Vely Pacha placed his name at the head of the subscription, and a numerous de putation of the Christian subjects of the Sultan waited on the ambassador, to thank him for the protection which the Ottoman Government has vouchsafed to afford to them in the matter. At the moment when there appears a desire to repre sent the Turkish Government hostile to the Chris tians, it is impossible to applaud too much the ini tiative thus taken at Paris by Vely Pacha, who in this circumstance has only been the faithful inter preter of the sentiments of toleration which dis tinguish the Sultan towards his subjects. The Prefect of the Ariege has addressed a circu lar to the sub-prefects, mayors, and commissaries of police of that department, reminding them of the regulations concerning cafés, cabarets, and wine shops, and recommending them to exercise a close surveillance over such establishments. The provincial journals give deplorable accounts of the state of the vintage. It has commenced in most of the communes of the Maconnais, where, although here and there the crop of some vineyards may be pretty fair, the general result is so unsatis factory that many growers put their grapes toge ther in order to have but one pressing. In many of the communes round Lyons the whole crop has been lost, but in the immediate neighbourhood of that city the crop will produce about a third of that of ordinary years. In the western and southern parts of the department the quantity will be a fair average return. In the communes of the canton of Villefranche the majority of the owners of vine yards have abandoned the crops to the pickers, who will even scarcely derive wine enough to repay them for their trouble, and the wine will be of the very worst quality. At Sancerre, near Bourges, the crops have also completely failed. A letter from Cannes (Var) states that the late change in the weather has been of great service to the olives, which this year are not at all affected by the worm. The crop, however, will not in any part be more than two-thirds of an ordinary one. The crop of figs is much compromised ; it is very backward, and the sun has not power enough to dry the fruit. There was a further considerable fall in the price of public securities at the Bourse yesterday, caused by unfavourable reports from London, and by a report that the Bank of France had called on the depositaries of railway shares on loan in that estab lishment for additional security. The Three per Cents. opened at 73f. 25c., and fell to 72f. 30c. They closed at 72f. 50c. for the end of the month. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed at 99f. 50c. ; Orleans Railway shares, ex dividend, 1,120 f. ; Rouen, 995 f. ; Havre, 482 f. 50c. ; Great Northern, 815 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 890 f. ; Paris and Lyons, 870 f. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 702 f. 50c. ; Western of France, 692 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 585 f. ; Great Central, 500 f. ; Lyons to Geneva, 500 f. ; Shares of the Bank of Credit Mo bilier, 695 f. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The French Government received on Tuesday night fromViennalateleo•raph dispatch*c on firmingthe intelligence with respect' to the resolution adopted by the Divan to refuse all further concession, and to declare war against Russia rather than yield. The liebats states that at a second meeting of the Divan, held on the 26th, it was decided that th e negotiations were exhausted, that preparations for hostilities were regulated, and a solemn proclama tion of war decreed. The Oesterreichische Corr espondenz announces the arrival of the Constantinople mail of the 27th at Trieste. The advices were that an immediate declaration of war was not improbable, although expectations were indulged in that mutual concessions might still be made. There were six English, one Sardinian, one Nea politan, ono Austrian, one Prussian, and four French war steamers lying in the Bosphorus. It is said on good authority that the French Go vernment decided, at the Council of Ministers held at St. Cloud, on Tuesday, that a corps d'arniee of 30,000 men shall be embarked on board the Atlantic squadron, and sent out to Constantin ople, there to be landed. General Canrobert will, it is understood, have the command of this body. : i n is said also; that troops from England are to be embarked in Admiral Corry's squadron, and that their destination is likewise to be Constantinople. Strict orders have been given to suspend all leave of absence or furloughs through out the French army, at least for some time to come. On Tuesday the Emperor of the French, in a conversation with M. Firmin Rogier, the Bel gian representative at Paris, on the affairs of the East, terminated his remarks by saying —" Be certain, my dear Minister, that the matter, once entered on, will not be long." It is worthy of remark that a counter-order was dispatched by electric telegraph to General de Guyon, of the French service, forbidding him to proceed to Warsaw, whither the Emperor of Russia had invited him to witness the manoeuvres of the Russian troops. Several English officers of rank had been ob served in the neighbourhood of the Turkish camps, apparently occupied in reconnoitering the force of the Turkish troops, and the state of the army in Roumelia and Bulgaria. Omer Pasha had established a cordon round his troops along the right bank of the Danube, to keep off the cholera, which had this good effect further, that it enabled him to prevent the influx of re fugees, runagates, and vagabonds into his camp. The Assemblee Nationale of yesterday publishes a second article in reply to the fierce attacks made upon it by the other Paris journals, for stating that the Eastern question at present looks somewhat more pacific. It says : " We shall not return on what we have already said o the Patrie, as we should fall into a polemic which would have no interest for the public. In spite of the more or less alarming news which circulate, and not withstanding the incidents which take place, we believe in the maintenance of peace, and we think that the con ciliatory views of the great Powers of Europe will lead to a solution favourable to all interests, and satisfactory for all the amours propres engaged in this conflict. E ven should we be mistaken, and our hopes not be realised, where would be our crime ? What ! when we seek to tranquillise the public mind by endeavouring to make our readers partake of our confidence in the maintenance of peace, we are called bad citizens ! In clearly showing that we wish for peace, in demonstrating that it is both possible and probable, we favour a cause inimical to France ! Really, we cannot understand the sense of the attacks which certain journals direct against us. If they entertain other wishes than ours, we do not dispute their liberty to express them. For our parts, we shall be to the end the partisans of a pacific solution, because, in the situation in which Europe is placed, war appears to us the most frightful of all the calamities that could fall on our country. We cannot close our eyes to the light, and we see clearly that revolutionary passions only wait for a signal to resume their work of destruc tion, and their enterprises of 1848. It is because such is our constant and lively conviction, that for 7 months past, through all the incidents and all the difficulties which have arisen, that we maintain that war is impos sible. In retaining this line we are conscious that we defend the true interests of France and of Europe, and that we are in accord with the intentions and views of Governments and statesmen. It is this which consoles us for having fallen into disgrace with the Patrie and the Constitutionnel. Time alone will show whether our previsions are correct, or whether they were only an error of our conscience and of our reason." The Constitutionnel, after giving the telegraphic dispatch from Vienna dated the 3rd, announcing that the Sultan had si g ned a declaration of war b against Russia, says :—" Some information which we have received permits us to add to these details. At the reiterated request of M. de Bruck, the in utonedieulitAraret:.iaewtlZ t p he iv n n o n te m o e f t Vienna.?n the 2 T s i t i h e nit.tern Divan was unanimous in deciding that the Porte could then less than ever, in pretation given to that documentpr es e n b c e y o t f b the h Cabinet - of St. Petersburg, accept it, without its having indicated first received th e modifications by Res chid-Pacha. The determination was to be com municated to the ambassadors of the Four Powers. The Divan also decided that a Grand Council should be convoked for the next day to examine the situation. That meeting took place the next day, and this is what is said to have been decided ; first of all, it was resolved that the system of nego tiations was exhausted ; next, all the measures ne cessary for the last preparatives of defence were regulated ; lastly, it was declared that the moment had arrived for making, what was called at Con stantinople, the declaration of war. It is this without doubt which the Vienna dispatch indicates by the general terms, that the Divan had come to resolutions in the sense of war." The German Journal of Frankfort has the fol lowing, dated Warsaw, the 29th ult. :—",The Em peror of Russia, accompanied by the Hereditary Grand Duke, arrived here yesterday afternoon at two o'clock from Olmutz. At half-past four o'clock His majesty continued his journey to St. Peters burg." This- is a somewhat extraordinary statement after the announcement received by telegraph of the de parture of the Emperor of Austria and the King of Prussia to Warsaw to meet his Majesty, and of the Emperor of Austria having been invited by His Majesty to attend the military manoeuvres, which are about to take place near that city. A letter from Cronstadt states that new troops are constantly arriving on the line of the Danube, and that the forwarding of ammunition is going on actively. The Constantinople correspondent of the Parla ment° of Turin announces that the Spanish Gene ral Prim, Count de Reuss, has entered the service of the Porte, and been appointed to the command of a division of 20,000 men. News from Bucharest, dated the 24th Sept., give sad reports of the condition of the Russian troops in the Principalities. Nearly one-fourth of them are in the hospital, or rather on the sick list, for there is but very small hospital accommodation, and wretched medical Attendance. Typhus has broken out among the soldiery, and cholera, too, has made its appearance. Their food is scanty and unwholesome, the commissariat being totally in efficient. Dysentery and local fevers have also done their worst. The soldiers are thirsting not so much for glory, as to be safe back in Russia ; and it is be lieved that letters have been received from Prince Gortschakoff, who is laid up with an attack of severe gastritis, stating that he heartily wishes the mat ter were settled, and the Principalities evacuated. General Luders is in bed, and many other officers are struck down by the prevalent diseases. The Breslau Gazette contains a letter from Vienna, which says :—" The Emperor of Russia distributed several decorations during his stay at Olmutz. Count de Buol Schauenstein received from his Majesty an order in brilliants. The Em peror of Austria invited the foreign officers who had come to Olmutz to visit Vienna. Count Buol de Schauenstein has returned here. Baron de Meyendorff has accompanied the Czar to Warsaw. The Russian ambassador at Constantinople has re ceived instructions to support the efforts of M. de Bruck to obtain from the Porte the acceptance of the Vienna note without modification." A letter from Vienna, of the 30th ult., in the Cologne Gazette, says :—" Lord Westmoreland, the English Ambassador at this court, who proceeded to Olmutz not as a diplomatist but as a general officer, was not present at the conferences which took place between Count de Buol Schauenstein, Count de Nesseirode, and Baron de Meyendorff. He was not even received at a private audience by the Czar, but appeared before his Majesty with the other Generals. The Czar received him coldly and merely said : I am delighted.' The French General de Guyon was honoured with a longer con versation, as the Emperor said to him, I regret • much not to see in person your Emperor and not to be able to say to all Europe, how much I love and esteem him. I invite you to follow me to Warsaw to be present at the manoeuvres of my troops.' The Count de Guyon at once sent a tele graphic dispatch to Paris and in a few hours the authorisation to follow the Czar arrived. The mar riage of the Emperor of Austria is fixed for the 24th of April next. Letters from St. Petersburg of rthe 24th ult. announce that the Russian Baltic fleet had re ceived orders to return to Cronstadt, and hold itself at the disposal of the Government. Accounts from Bucharest state that the harvest has been very abundant in Wallachia. 900 lbs. of wheat, first quality, sell at three Imperial ducats (36f.), and second qu a lity a t 24 ducats. Barley and oats are sold at 1A ducat for the same quantity. The crop of maize has not been so good. AUSTRIA. The project of the new Austrian loan has been communicated to the house of Rothschild. The period of the publication of the programme is not yet fixed. The project is based on a lottery, the last drawing of which will take place in 1905. A letter from Warsaw, of the 29th ult., states that the Bank had given notice that it would raise the rate of discount from five to six per cent. from the Ist. The Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, brother of the Emperor, has just been named Governor- General of the Polish provinces, of the kingdoms of Gallicia and Lodomeria, of the Grand Duchy of Cracow, and of the Duchy of Bukowina. He is to arrive there before the end of the year to assume the superior administration of these provinces. Count Goluhowski is to retain his functions of Civil Governor of Gallicia. Negotiations have been entered into between Austria and Russia for a postal treaty. GERMANY. A letter from Berlin of the 2d, in the Cologne Gazette, says :—" It may be considered as certain that negotiations have been commenced between France and Prussia to arrive at the conclusion of a commercial treaty between France and the Zollve rein. France asks the Zollverein to reduce the duty on jewellery and articles of luxury, and on her side she proposes to favour navigation, by diminish ing the duties levied at the entry of ports." A letter from Berlin of the Ist states that the Bank of that city has raised its rate of discount to 5 per cent. SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette, of the 29th ult., contains four Royal decrees ; one dividing the country into divisions for public works ; another reforming the organisation of the body of civil engineers ; the third regulating fairs and markets ; and the fourth making changes in the personnel of the judicial body. Queen Isabella had been ill for two days with a sore throat, and had had to be bled. But her Ma jesty had completly recovered, and proposed to go to the Church of Atocha, accompanied by the King, to thank God for her happy entrance into the seventh month of her pregnancy. M. de Egana, ea-Minister of the Interior, had refused to accept the post of President of the Com mission of Credits in. Arrear offered him Government. to by the A new postal treaty between England and Spain was about to be concluded. General Lara had been confirmed in the Cap taincy-General of Madrid. A Cabinet Council was to be held, for the pur pose of fixin g , a s w a s generally supposed, the day of the re-opening of the Cortes. From Madrid, on the 30th, we learn that the programme of Comte San Luis (Sartorius) has been unanimously adopted by his colleagues. The Com m i ss i on nom i nated by the Government to inquire into the question of differential duties has, says the Nacion, not been able to come to a definite resolution on the subject, one portion of it being in favour of protection to Spanish vessels, the other against it. The Government will conse quently have to decide the matter. -M. Salamanca had ieinrned to Madrid. Ile an nounced that the organisation of th e N orthern railway Company is complete. Th e concession of the line from Soucellanos to Ciudad Real has, in addition, been awarded to him. The Three per Cents. were don e at 421 ; the New T Cents. at 22i ; th e Debt of the first class at j er o, and that of th e second at 5. GREECE. The Augsburg Gazette states, on authority, of a letter from Ath ens, dated the 23d ult., that the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Isles, and the Hon. Mr. Wyse, English ambassador at Athens, had paid a visit to Zante, after which the latter returned to Athens, and the former went by a steamer to Candia. "It is probable," adds the Gazette, " that the Republic of the Seven Islands will become one of eight islands." ITALY. A. M. Moretti, a printer, of Genoa, was tried on the Ist, before the Court of Appeal of that city, for having illegally printed Mazzini's pamphlet on the insurrection of the 6th of February at Milan. Thu Court deferred its sentence until the 3d. HOLLAND. - - The following is the text of the reply made by the King of Holland to the address of the Second Chamber : " Gentlemen,—l beg you to assure the Chamber that its address has given me much satisfaction. I remark with pleasure the high importance which the Chamber attaches to the reciprocal confidence between the Sove reign and the people, and to the consolidation of the bonds which, for ages past, have attached the Nether lands to the House of Orange. Let the Chamber be convinced that its sentiments will find an echo in me, and that I highly appreciate them." THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 6, 1853