The Sun. — London, England, 1853-04-08 00:00:00

TATIONAL DEBT-THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. The rise of prices this morning affords no proof that the plan of the Ch ance ll or o f the Exchequer is approved onits intrinsic merits, since such an event when carried beyond a certain point would simply denote any given proposition to be needlessly favourable to the fundholder and Proportionably less advantageous for the country. An ?pinion that this is the Case in the present instance has in fact been almost universally expressed in the city, and when it is recollected that the 'idea of an issue of Exchequer &nds for 20 years, bearing no higher interest that 21 per cent., was yesterday welcomed by all parties as a measure alike calculated to be convenient to the capitalist and beneficial for the nation, it will be under stood that disappointment must have been felt at a pro posal which, while it will effect a far less annual saving, will i nvolve the co n ti ngency o f a ddi ng 10 per cent. t.) 1 g r eater portion o f th e N at i ona l D e b t. I t appears 1 : 0 1'n the r eso l ut i ons now published that the first part of the scheme provides for paying off the following stocks which unnecessarily -re-ent form distinct features o f the liabilities, v name.y --1-1 lit due to the f• - :!o - ith Sea Company, at • 3 per L'3,682.78:1 Old South s.A. A • 3,010,873 at (Jar° Now South f-3-aea.' ditto, 'at'ditto .I.l.§oatitiltklii:SielatiLt,liittite(3),, 1751, at d itto 2,137,931 1729, at ditto 70,292 £10,0P,133 t171.0t01;. atulle holders of these are to have the op!on instead— money for ,every 100/. Stock, or of taking 821, 10s. New 31 per Cent. Stock guaranteed against reduction for 40 years—namely, till the sth J anuary, 1894, an d wh i ch will yield an annual 110/. Two i nte'.est of 2/. 17 s. 9 1 . ; or, - and-a-half per Cents. guaranteed till sth Ja -1001. nuary, 1894, and yielding annually 21, 155.; or, Exchequer Bond, hearing 21 per cent. for 10 years —namely, till Ist S eptem b er, 1864, and 21 per Cent, for an. additional 30 years—namely, till September, 1894. irlt will therefore be observed that while the annual f rne'g to the country from this conversion, supposing quer Bonds of 21 per cent. to have been success - 21 Ycifer ed, would have been 50,0001., it will, if 1101. cf lo i_/ ,o p o e o r , o . o c o e i n . t ; stock should be claimed for the whole only amount to 25,0001., and at the cost 2. adding I,ooooooi. to the principal of the debt. Be -4:0:1141! ° t r ills however, it appears. that all holders of Con- Reduced (the aggregate amount of which .is 4,028,474/.), al. e to have the power, by giving notice anY time before the 10th of October next, to commute t hose stock s for either of the three descriptions of new tosecurities now to be created, so that supposing the whole be converted under this l dte Two-and-a-Half per Cent. Stock to be the oPn:enhan the saving of inte rest effected would be but a quarte r per cent. (since 1101. Two-and-a -Half per Cents. cl would y p ieled the holder 2/. 15 .), and a further load of 49 , 4 00,000/. would be added pa,th.e permanent obligations of the country. So strong ': has prevented the feeling on this Point throughout the day that 1 4 7 8 prevented the advance in quotations from being at sin ce to what would otherwise have been witnessed, ad o „ c ," o general impression has prevailed that its final 1 1 ., 1 ; 4 la is out of the question. For a long time when a 8 ll at a Stock tle doubt that a period was approaching w 1 0 ) :F.c e cep a t t e dg with th e Reduced, per cent. guaranteed for 40 years would -ayntdheinparties interested in place of Consols finding that these terms are offered go w-te O 0 unnecessary possibility of an addition of tlipnh,Oliosol. to the nominal capital of th e na ti ona l d e bt, apart from th e i r un i versal and instinctive d emo it aversion to such an i ncrease, feel that they must con as an act of great improvidenc e . At th e same tim e it is t o be assumed that the three classes of securi ties can be shown to have been calculated as iieqkuelivy tealents ; and hence, although no explanation is cause the proposition for the Two-and-.a lialt per Cent , Stock to be tolerated, sufficient will Probably be urged when the Chancellor shall make his statement to show that it has not been put forth with consideration. The first of the three alterna tives---narnely, 82/. 10 s. of a Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Stock for every 1001. of Consols, is wholly in accordance with the tendency of public opinion ; and t he same may b e a l so sa id w i th regard to the transfer able Exchequer Bonds. Even in these cases, however, it is believed that the terms are unnecessarily give the e able and especially that it is impolitic to giv w e er h of holders of Consols and Reduced the unlimitedtlexperiment Making the conversion before anypar partial rue, has been tried to ascertain that point.. true, the tenth paragraph of the proposed resolutions provides that no amount of Exchequer Bonds shall be issued exceed ing in the whole the sum of thirty millions ; but as the seventh para g raph states that every holder of C onso l s d Reduced may commute his stock either for th e aew Three-and-a-Half per Cents., the N ew Two-and /zialf per Cents., or Exchequer Bonds, it is to be a nsamed the limit merely signifies that in . the case of the la i tter a fresh application to Parliament will be necessary,. itfbtihaellyp,rohp l for them should exceed the sum named. oowsaevser it may be remarked that although for I le iea.sons described a strong feeling of disappointment l 1 47 - C a sirn m p a i n e ife n s m te i d s , it is within the power of removal Two of the offer to grant the 1101. 1 s a-nriswen°;tujeladt:a-lialf per Cents. The other two pr i o t p m os u a st warm satisfaction, a and lie deemed des ir b able l.l7l4 t e h d at w n it • h hatever changes m ltietiellelocry°o7:::::: a full discussion of the question y , the mercan riityngare two much . gratified to find a Chan bold] 141 e Exchequer departing from routine, and "t l ', to •• • on orioinal but perfectly sound experi tha . crawls' e them on the whole with any other 4 a favourable opinion. —Times City Article. ORTING NOTES.—No. COCO VIII. ,_4l.eeti bout -01 l the b es t d ay ' s rac i ng ever seen at the Spring n yesterday. no on the D owns o f E psom came off T he field s lar for the two pri nc ip a l r a c es e ge, and th e results very close and p ec uliarly ,re interest ing.unusually The Trial Stakes afforded a ra s t u ed said not to his 'very easy defeat of the celeb Thi r s pr w is a e s toPhe ring finished an i n diff erent f our th. Hobble Noble, who y w t h h o e Day's stable, was . running, and I think tha r t o s m uch_ o m . n ust ha v e been the case. out The winner_ Lascelles, from five times last year and John on every occasion. capsizing all judgment in the matter, row, by way of the large-strided Ephesus and he defeats . very cleverly heat gun before named. He is well Frantic, besides the great Touchstone, out of Cara, and probably bred, being by will do a few good things where the distance is short. The City and Suburban Handicap afforded a splendid race with three, a n d proved myu j d ent in this bout t o be very correct, fo r I gave the race to Ethelbe r t, an d placed Jouven ce an d Pancake very close up. Now these three r an h ome together, Ethelbert, in the last stride, making a dead h ea t o f i t with Panes, ' lie, In the : and Jouvence not beingtheaten more than h a lf a lengt, de ciding, heat Eth e lb er t won very cleverly, by a short neck. This p er r ormanc3 of the winner is undoubtedlysuperior, Pancake, as he conceded his year and eleven pounds to I nd gave we i g h t away to every horse of his own age the race. If top much of the " steel" has not been taken out of him by these severe races, he will be tole rably sure of carrying off the Newmarket Handicap next week, for which race, however, Contentment andNerza m ust not b e f orgotten, the three, in my opinion, having the rice all to themselves. The Two-year -old Stakes resulted, rather unexpectedly, ie... in favou r of Village Lass, a remarkably well-bred c au,li ter of Pyrrhus the First, the strain on the dam's side Much better being through Provost and Martha Lynn. blood it would be difficult to find. The stable did not support th e horse for a shilling that I am aware o f , an d their want of confidence led me to believe that she was of no account. tary engagement. At the p resent time she has not a soli- The Great Metropolitan. Stakes in its decision did not produce contentment so much desired by a large Portion tatthe public. The great " pot," Contentment, after having been backed at 5 to 4 go off very well in the start, laid forward throughout the race, but when the important moment arrived for the final strug_gle , ,. compounded, and was beal.en about a length from Gad play about, the iiv,in_ner, who disposed of Richmond (second) Snowdon Dunhill' made strong play the greater . of the distance and nearly over powered his jockeyrel3eeeveral tirnes. The result of the "Met" shad the co pnin, li oneyw tr o j of sseonnadeinigontrheorwifinvneerp'soisnttasbilne the betting for theelDt aeisrboyalnanoneinitance as little as 9 to I was taken. Rich to th e ra nk of second fayourite for the Cheste tentment right out of the market r Cup' and sent Con thmoesDt oerfbtyh.e Ring is not particularly hard bit, am o d r ing list men are winners. It is • said that the winner is Captain Scott. The other principal l - A .. e r races require no remarks. It 8 th Newmarket Craven Meeting commences on ~,Londay I , may as well review the first day's racing at once. The Craven Stakes will bear usual, open the perform ance, after which will entries for both of which. stalie r r have ela not as yet closed. eaThhe Thirty-ninth Riddlesworth Stakes of 200 sous. I o , h ft, over the A.b. M , will fall to the lot of one of 4ord Clifden's nominatio 2 . • The 100 says. Sweepstaku stakes, over the D. M., will be Won by Filbert, should he iiet'bekept for more important races later in the week ; in ° his absence, War Whoop Will do the deed. have N Sweepst a k es of 50 h, D. M., will probably athan a s the winner, each, l'he Produce Stakes of 300 sous. each, h ft, R. M., Will be a walk over for the Duke of Bedford's Diomedia. In the Matches Frantic, Bst 121 b, is, I fancy, capable of beating , be rash CaracaL Bst . 71b. over the flat • and I shall enough to t. ' llie the Miss Sarah filly in preference to Gossip over the D. M. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. 6/tRIOUS ACCIDENT IN CLEBBENwELL.—Yesterday, as c inae men were employed in taking down one of the 'louses in Ray-street, Clerkenwell, which is to be cleared r onl ay v for they-street, purpose of forming the new thoroughfare flo c • arringdon-street to Coppice-row, Clerkenwell, the ring suddenly gave way. At the time, there were on it three men, of the names of Daniel Murphy, Michael Mu rPhY, and Daniel Connor, who were precipitated a depth of 16 feet, and who were instantly covered with the rubbish and materials of the building. As quick as possible, several of the labourers were en; aged to extri cate the poor fellos, which was done promptly. They 'were found in an exhausted state, and were immediately placed on shutters on which they were removed to St. tartholornew's Hospital. None of them were found to haveerio any bon es b roken, but they had suffered very Ter e sus injuries int erna l ly, when they were put to bed. ex ~h the. were h ortunate men,opes this morning of th e u l t i mate recovery unf 1 11 1 E FR ENC H EMPIRE. The_Government proposes to augment the Charge for the education of day . scholars in the colleges. The price now charged is 100 f. per annum, which by the new measure will be raised, it seems, to an average of 166 f. 55e. In an article on this subject, the Steele has expressed a fear that this increase of charge will operate prejudicially against the pro gress of education as regards the University system, and necessarily throw the education of a large por tion of the youths of France into the hands of the priesthood. The Constitutionnel 'of yesterday notices the article of the Siecle chiefly, however, with the view of showing that the present price charged is unequal to the cost, and . therefore it is right to increase it. It says : "We have made the calculation of what a day-pupil and a boarder cost at each of the colleges of Paris." Every one can verify its exactitude, as we have based it on the printed account of 1851. We fearlessly submit these results to the consideration of the Siec/c. We-are persuaded that this information will provo to our con tradictor that the adminiti•ation of Public Instruction would have failed in itq duty had it any longer tolerated a system so disastrous to the estahlis` - ments of the State. The price of a boarder in the colleges of Paris is 1,0001., and that of a day-pupil 100 f. At Louis-le-Grand, in 1351, the boarder cost 1,013 f. Ode., or 13f. 69. c. more than he paid; the day-pupil cost 131 f. 67c., or 81f. 07c. more than he paid. At the college Napoleon the boarder cost 1,0371. 25c., or 971. 25c. more than he paid, and the day-pupil 2371. 91c., or 167 f. 91c. more than he paid. At the College St. Louis the boarder cost 1,042 f. 40c., or 42f. 40e. more than he paid, and the day-pupil 211 f. 84c., or 111 f. 84e. more than he paid. At the Colleges Charlemagne and Bonaparte, which re ceive only day-pupils, each of them cost 190 f., or 90f. more than he paid." The Moaiteur de l' Arrnee says :—" It appears decided that the translation of the remains of the Emperor Napoleon I. from the chapel Saint- Jerome, where they are at present deposited, to the monument now being terminated under the dome of the church of In-valides, will take .place on the 4th of May. The sth of May being Ascension day, the Bth is fixed for the inauguration of the tomb, and the ceremony will be celebrated with great pomp. It is said that the various corps d'arines will be represented there by deputations. Workmen are to be immediately occupied in remov ing the wooden constructions and materials which encumber the Court of Vauban, behind the church of the Invalides, as it is there that will be the prin cipal entrance to the monument, the entrance by . the Court of Honour of the hotel being more espe cially appropriated to the church itself." The members of the Legislative Body assembled yesterday in their bureaux to continue the exami nation of the Budget for 1854, and to name a com mittee of 14 members, two from each bureau, to prepare the report. The following were the mem bers nominated :-Ist bureau—Baron de Bussieres, M. Gown ; 2d bureau—M. Faure, Baron Paul de Richemont; 3d bureau—M. Devinck, M. Randoing; 4th bureau—M. Lelut, M. Monnier dela Sizeranne; sth bureau—M. Alfred Leroux, M. Bertrand (Yonne); 6th bureau—no member yet appointed ; 7th bureau—M. Vernier, M. Schneider. Lord Cowley, the English Ambassador, has just sent a letter to M. L. Delarne, shipbroker, at Dieppe, announcing to him that the English Go vernment had given orders to its Consul at Havre to present .10/ (250 f.) to Francois Terrier, com manding a fishing-boat of Dieppe, for his humane conduct in saving the crew of the English sloop Dolphin, who had abandoned their vessel in a sink ing state in the Channel. The Senate met on the 6th, M. Troplong in the chair. Cardinal Mathieu and Count Curial, who were absent at the opening of the session, took the oath. General Count Bonet and Viscount de Suleau, admitted in the sitting of the 19th ult., also took the oath and their seats. Count de Casa blanca presented the report on the bill relating to buying in the jouissance shares of the canal com panies ; and the Marquis d'Audifret a report on the budget of the Senate for 1853. The Minister of State, in conformity with Art. 8 of the Senatus- Consulte of Dec. 25, 1852, and by order of the Emperor, placed on the bureau the register con taining the civil acts of the Imperial Family, in order that the Senate may have the act of the civil marriage of the Emperor inscribed on its registers. General the Marquis de Grouchy presented the report of the committee charged to examine the bill for calling out 80,000 men in 1854. The Senate declared that it did not oppose the promul gation of the bill. The decision proposed by the committee of accounts in the regulation of the budget of 1852, was then agreed to. M. Bret pre sented several reports on local bills, and the Senate declared that it did not oppose their promulgation. The rest of the sitting was taken up with reports on petitions. We read in the Moniteur :—" A report has been circulated that the Government has an idea of pro posing a change in the conditions of civil marriage. This report is without any foundation. The expe rience of sixty years has proved the wisdom of onr civil laws on that important matter." The Assembles Nationale has received from the Minister of Police a second warning on account of an article published in its number of the sth, be ginning with the words, "M. le Comte de Cham bord," which tended, says the warning, to disavow the national sovereignty. The article incriminated gave an account of the movements of some of the members of the ezi r ßoyal family. The Minister of Police has sent a second warning to La Mode, that journal having disregarded the first warning, and continued in thB course which led to it. Mme. Pretti, aunt of M. TMers, has just died at Menton, in the Sardinian States, where she had resided for many years. She was in her 90th year. The journals of the departments continue to give accounts of the shock of earthquake of the Ist. At Dinan it was severe, and lasted nearly three seconds ; two slighter shocks were afterwards felt at intervals of half-an-hour. At Granville it lasted about 15 seconds, and threw the inhabitants into the greatest alarm ; alll the houses were shaken, and the furniture deranged. The shock was pre ceded by a heavy rumbling noise. At Cherburg two shocks were felt, one of which was strong enough to crack the ceilings of several rooms and the windows ; doors and furniture were violently agitated. At Mayenne and the neighbourhood the shocks lasted nearly 15 seconds, and were accom panied by a noise like that of a heavily-laden wag gon passing over the pavement. At Nantes the earthquake was principally felt in the western part of the town, where the houses are built on a rocky foundation. Several persons who were in bed and asleep were awoke by the noise, and by the move ment of the doors and windows. In all the places mentioned the oscillation bad a direction from the N.E. to the S.W. At the Bourse yesterday there was an active market for Rentes and Bank Stock, with a general rise in prices, which closed firmly, and with an up ward tendency. For cash the Three per Cents. advanced 505., and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 30c. ; for the account the rise in the Three per Cents. was 45c., and in the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 35c. Bank Stock advanced 1.5 f. At the conclusion of business the prices were—For money, Three per Cents., 79f. 80c. ; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 300. For the end of the month, Three per Cents. 79f. 850 ; Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 103 f. 350. Bank Stock, 2,715 f. Railway . Shares also participated• in the general improve ment of business, the prices having advanced on all the principal lines. Northerns closed at 903 f. 50c. ; Paris and Strasbourg, 845 f. 50e ; Orleans, 1,046 f. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons, 952 f. 50c ; Paris Rouen, 1,050 f. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 815 f. ; Western of France, 752 f. ITALY. Letters from Rome to the 31st ult. state that although the solemnities of Easter were much im peded by the continued rain, still a great crowd of persons attended, from seven in the morning, the services performed in the Sixtine Chapel, and in that of the Chapter at the Church of St. Peter's. On Holy Thursday the Pope gave his solemn bene diction within St. Peter's, on account of the bad ness of the weather ; but on Easter Sunday, the rain having ceased for a few hours, he gave it from the top of the balcony of the façade to an immense crowd. The rain in the evening prevented the illumination of the cupola of St. Peter's, but it took place on the Tuesday night with what is called the change, that is, in the place of the gentle and white light of the first illumination, which lasts for about an hour, succeeds in a moment the lighting-up of the whole building. Agents of M. de Rothschild had been at Rome for some time, and a rumour was in circulation of a new loan by the pontifical Government. It appeared nearly certain, these letters state, that this loan was signed on the 30th ult. The conditions were not known. SPAIN. We have received the Madrid journals of the 2d, but they are without interest. The result of the sitting of the Senate which they contain having been given yesterday from an express communica tion. The Chamber of Deputies was occupied with the verification of electoral returns. The Clamor Public°, of the 2d, was seized at the post-office and at its bureaux. GERMANY. A letter from Berlin of the 4th says :—" The seizure of the last number of a weekly journal was in consequence of the publication of au article re presenting the recent plot to have been of small importance, which is considered a want of respect to the authorities. The Hygienic Association, which has just been dissolved, was in existence for four years. The 10,000 members composing it paid a very small sum weekly, and were entitled to medical attendance in case of sickness. All the directors and delegates of the Society have been summoned before a tribunal. The reasons assigned for the dissolution of it are ,its political tendencies, and the encouragement given by some of its mem bers to conspirators. -. Ladendorff, one of the conspirators, has been arrested at Frankfort-on- Oder, and brought here. The persons arrested, on being taken to gaol, could not at first be sepa rated, and had to content themselves with the ordinary prison fare ; but they have since been placed in different rooms, and allowed to procure food at their own expense. The principal accused are subject to the strictest surveillance. No one is allowed to speak to them, even in presence of the officers of the gaol ; but they are allowed, under the superintendence of the law authorities, to cor respond with their families and friends." Count d'Armoinspeng, Councillor of State of Bavaria, on extraordinary service, expired at Munich on the 3d. A letter from Vienna of the Ist, in the Post Am 't Gazette, says :—" It may be affirmed that the transformation of the Ministries with supreme charges at the Court - is close at hand. The Im perial sanction to the change is about to be pub lished, as well as that which relates to the reorgan isation of the supreme charge at the Court for the military adininistration (hitherto Minister of War). The title and rank of Minister of State would ap pear to be reserved for the future as a recompense for long and faithful services." A letter from Pesth, of the 31st ult., says : " Yesterday our police had a placard posted up in the streets announcing that whoever should deliver up, dead or alive, the captain of robbers, named Rozza Sandor, should receive a reward of 10,000 florins. This man, employed by Kossuth during the revolution in ungary, is now lurking in the forests of Transylvania, between Mulbachet and Clausenburg." MARKET NEWS-(THIS .DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. Up to our market this week the arrivals of English wheat have been very moderate—viz., 2,540 quarters, mostly from Essex and Kent. Fresh up to-day they were on a limited scale ; hence the show of samples was trifling. For all kinds we experienced a sluggish inquiry, but no change took place in the quotations. For forward delivery very little was doing. From abroad rather over 15,000 quarters of wheat have come to hand. Selected qualities sold slowly, at last week's currency. In low and middling kinds next to nothing was doing. Floating cargoes commanded very little attention. Barley—the supply of which was slightly on the increase —met a slow inquiry at Monday's prices. We had an inactive inquiry for malt ; nevertheless, prices were supported. Oats—the supply of which was moderate—sold to a fair extent, at late figures. In beans and peas very few transactions were reported. The imports of foreign flour having been extensive, the trade ruled dull, at barely Monday's quotations. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. What. ) Barley. DI alt. 2,540 1,310 1,790 English .. Irish •• • • Foreign .. Oats 1 Flour. 2,0e,0 1 2,150 7,40 4,10 1 11,670 sIC 7,890 brls 1%020 i 4,680 THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 1853. SMITHFIELD. The supply of beasts on offer in to-day's market was chiefly the refuse of Monday, and in very middling condi tion. Owing to the change in the weather, the demand for all breeds ruled steady, and, in some instances, the primest lots produced a trifle more money. We were but moderately supplied with sheep, in which a fair average business was transacted, at extreme rates. The best old Downs, in the wool, were worth quite 5s 2d per 8 lbs. From the Isle of Wight, 220 lambs came fresh to hand ; but the supply from other quarters was far from extensive. The trade was by no means active, at from 5s to 6s per 8 lbs. Calves—the number of which was good—moved off slowly, and the currencies had a downward tendency. Pigs changed hands at late figures. Milch cows were in fair request, at from 151. to 191. each, including their small calf. Per Sibs to sink the offals. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts ...2 10 to 3 0 Second quality ...3 2 3 4' Prime largo oxen 3 6 3 8 Prime Scots, &c. 3 10 4 0 Inferior sheep ...3 8 3 10 Second quality ...4 0 4 4 Prime crso.-w110d.4 6 4 8 s. d. s. d. ) Prime Southdown 4 10 5 2 Large crse. calves 3 4 4 0 Prime small do 4 2 4 4 1 Large hogs 210 3 2 Small porkers 3 6 4 0 Suckling calves 20 0 24 0 Quarter old pigs 19 0 24 0 5s Od to 6s Od. Lambs TOTAL SUPPLY. Beasts 925 Sheep and Lambs 5,800 Calves 3OO Pigs 320 FOREIGN SUPPLY Beasts Sheep Calves . Pigs 220 500 222 NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. The supplies on offer were but moderate, and there was a slight improvement in the demand, at full prices. Per Slbs by the carcase. s. d. S. d. B. d. s. d. Beef, inferior 2 6 2 10 Mutton, Inferior 3 4 3 Do.,middiing 3 0 3 2 Do.,middling 3 8 4 0 Do., prime largo 3 2 3 4+ Do., prime 4 2 4 4 Do., do. small ....3 4 3 6 Veal 3 4 4 4 Pork, large 2 10 3 4 I Pork, small 3 6 4 4 Lambs BOROUGH HOP. We havo a slightly iruprovod.,demand for really fine hops at fully last week's prices. In other kinds, a steady busi ness is doing, at our quotations. Mid and East Kent pockets, 126 s to 160 s ; Weald of Kent, 110 s to 126 s ; Sussex, 105 s to 1153 per cwt. COLONIAL. SuaAn.—The supply of British plantation has been larger, and prices have receded. Crystalised Demerara has been sold at 31s 6d to 39s for ord to fine, and at 33s to 34s for refining. Yellow Havannah afloat realised 245, and white 30s. Brown Pernambuco afloat, and for a near port, was sold at 19s Gd. Refined leas been lower for both gro cery and refining samples. East India Mauritius has been offered to some extent, and has gone 6d lower, good to fine yellow at 36s 6d to 39s Gd, and mid at 34s to 35s 6d, and ord to fine brown at 33s to 33s Gd. Bengal was sold also at a decline, low to fine white Benares 35s Gd to 38s, and Date sort, good mid to fine yellow, 35s to 36s Gd. Madras sold at 29s for common brown, and at 33s to 34s for good mid. _ . . _ COFFEE.—The market has been dull for most descrip tions, but there was more inclination yesterday to do busi ness. Mocha was taken in at 54s to 555, but since has been sold at 71s to 71s Gd for mid small berry. Rio good ord pale has realised 435, and fine ord dark 465. Native Ceylon has been sold privately at 47s 6d to 48s, and Planta tion by auction at 50s to 53s for fine and good ord dark grey 53s Gd to 54s Gd, for fine ord to bold 53s to 565, for fine ord mid colory 46s to 503, for triage, and 32s to 38s for low. Madras went at 54s 56s for good. Calicut sold at 68s to 78s for mid and good, and 61s to 71s 64.1 for peaberry. Jamaica good ord pale went at 49s 6d to 50s for the quali ities ranging up to ,fine fine ord. colory. SALTPETRE.—There has been a fine business doing, superior kinds of Bengal selling freely at 29s Gd to 30s for 4i to 2il per cent. refraction ; Madras si per cent. went at 25s Gd. SPlCES.—Nutmegs are still much in request, and mace is fully as dear. Pimento has been firm, with a good de mand ; mid and good at 5d to Gd per lb. Penang good and fine. Nutmegs 2s 10d to 3s 9d. RlCE.—There has been a moderato demand for Madras, lower prices being submitted to. Mid and low mid sold at 9s to 9s Gd. Bengal was taken at lOs to lOs 6d for mid and good white. INDIGO.—The market has been firm. COCIIINEAL,—There has been a brisk demand at full rates. COTTON.—The market has been firm, but with a fuller supply. TEA.—Green has been active, at advancing rates. Ord sound congou has been in demand at 100. per lb. TALLOW.—Y.Y.C. has been lin !request as 455. Gd. per cwt. GREEN FRUIT.—The change of wind has brought seve ral arrivals, but prices have been well sustained. Two cargoes oranges at St. Michael's, and two parcels Lisbon sold by Keeling and Hunt, at public sale, went at prices similar to those obtained last week. Lemons are much wanted. A cargo of Seville sours, landed in tolerable con dition, have met with a ready sale. No alteration in the the price of nuts. STREET PAVEMENT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, --The accounts of an improved system of com pound metallic pavement which the London papers have recently represented as having been introduced with such success into various cities of the United States, possess. ing the advantages of freedom from noise, mud, or dust, led us to hope for the adoption of some such im provement in this metropolis, where evils of this nature have been so long complained of as not only offensive to passengers, expensive to ratepayers, but highly injurious to the goods of most of our shopkeepers in this street, when we have been alter nating from granite to M'Adani, and from M'Adam to Wood, for a series of years. We have now granite again, in the shape of an alleged improvement of blocks, placed in diagonal rows, a specimen of which has but just been completed. Notwithstanding this alleged improve ment, large ruts and holes are already making their ap pearance in many portions of the street, which must lead to fresh disturbances in the way of relaying, and, con: sequently, fresh expenses to ratepayers, and incon venience to passengers. We are in the habit of priding ourselves in this country on our common sense ; but, for a practical people, we are slow in opening our eyes to the importa tion of any novelty outside the old rut of routine, whe ther from vulgar errors or national prejudices. It is to be hoped, however, that by the aid of the press, which gave us this information, the scruples of even parochial boards, and others interested in confirmed abuses, some of your more intelligent readers may be induced to open their eyes to the evils of our paving system, and to prevail upon those who have control in such matters to follow the example of our Transatlantic brethren, in this improved mode of " mending their ways," and who in this, as in many other instances, have proved them selves less scrupulous of a dread of novelty and innova tion than the inhabitants of more ancient European States. Trusting also that we may have your powerful aid for this purpose :7 -1 remain, sir, your obedient ser vant, A MARYLEBONE RATEPAYER. Oxford-street, April 7, 180. THE STARE MARKETS. BRITISH RAILWAYS. Closing Prices Yesterday. Bits'ness (low this day. It.uLwirs. Aberdeen............. Ambg. Nottug. Bost & Eastn. June....... Birmng. Wolverh & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh & Cheshire Juliet__ Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & £25 Co ns.... Do., £2O Bristol & Exeter Caledonian. ...... Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon Cork, Black. & Pass Dublin&Belfast June Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junetion Do. New . all East Anglian (X 25 L. & E. & L. & D.) all Do., (£lB E. & 11.) all Fastera Counties all Eastern Union, Class A. late E. U. Sh 811 Do., do.. all IDo., B. & C.. 1.03 !East Lancashire ...... all East & West lud. Binning. June Edinburgh & Glasgow &flub. and Peebles Ediub. Prth. &D undo Glasgow & S.Western Great Northern Stk Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West. (Ire.) Great Western. . Irlsh South-Easters. Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds. Lancash. &Yorkshire Do., Fifths Do., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern._ Liv. Crsby. & So nth - pt. London & . Blackwall Loud. Tilb. & SthencL Lond.Bright.&S.CsL i London & N. Western Do. Fifths Do. JO/. SI 1. ,M London & S.Western Do., ••• ••• Do., £4O Lndndrry. &Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Mauch. She f. &Lin cln Do., Man. & Lin. Un. Midland.. ....... Do. Birming. & Derby Midland G. West . (Ir.) Do. i Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do. Bury Extensions Newpt.Aberg.&Htfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint & Rostrevor Do., New ••• Northn. Counties Un North British North Devon, No.l Do., N 0.2•• • Dc., A Deferred Do.,rt 1 Staffordshire Guaranteed N. & S. Westrn. June. O x ford Worcester & Wolverhampton Scottish Central S co tti s h Midland Shrewsbury & 13irmg Do., L. & N. Westn Guaranteed Stock Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. ••• Do. Halves, do Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yorksh. River Dun • wst or n .. .:. . N North Do Stockton & Hartlepl. Thames Haven Dock and Rai1way......... Vale of Neath......... Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford&Limerick West C0rnwa11........ Wmbled on &Croydon Woodford ....... York Newctl. & Borer. Do. Extensions....... Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland.. Aberdeen ..... .. • Do., No. 2, 7 p. c.. Brie. & Ex. 4 p. c. St. Do. 4 p. c. Shares .. .Caledonian £lO ..... Chester & liolyhea Guar. 5i per cent.. Cork &Bandon 5A p.c Dundee Perth &Aber. Been Junction EastA nglian (.£3los; 6 per cent. ..... Do: (R 5) 7 per cont.. Do. (.Z7 17s) 7 p. et.. Eastern Counties) x- O ' " 'i N ) O l2 ' P ... c .. . N°. 1 D Do., New 6 p. c. St.. Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 por cent.... EastLancash. C p.cts. Edinb.Prth.&Dundee 5A per cent........... Glii.s - gow dr S.Western guar. 5 per cent.... Great Northn. 5 P.C. Do. 5 p. c., Redeem., at 10 p. c. prom .... Gt. Southn. drWestn. (Ireland) Eighths... Gt. Westn. (Berks dz Hants Ex. 5 p. c.).. G. West. fixed 4. p c. Lan. di York. F. £2O, 'Do., 6 p. e., Stock... London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. e... Do. Prof., 5 p. C. St. Do. Convertible, 5 p. c., 1852 .... ..... .. . Do: New Guar. 6 p.c. London & &Western, Con. Thirds LO Londonderry& Coler. 6 Shams di Loudy. & Ennis. ,? t Sh .11 Manch. ,Shef. , & Lin., Shares, No. 1...... all Do. Now, £10......... 3 Do. £6 .. 'Marypt.&Carl. 4p. c. Do. 41 per cont.__ 1D0..... ....... ..... Consol. 6 p.c. St. Do. Consol. Bristol dc' Birm. 6 per cont.... Do. Pref. 4, 1 1 per cent. Norfolk Extension... Do. Guar. 5i per ct.. Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British North Staffordshire Oxford Worcester dz. Wolverh. £15,6 p. c De Shrews& Birm. N. G. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min),B p. c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Reading Ann.,) of £1 08.6 d. S.Yorksh.4p. c. Guar. Waterfd. &Kilk. 6p. c. York Newcastle and Berwick, 4 p.c.Pref. Do. York& N. Midland H & S. Parch 29 -- 61- -- 63 9i -- 10/ 73 63 d 21 -- 22 33 -- 23 a 103 -- 105 651 --65ixd 22A -- 23 18i -- 193 li - 2ha 8 --- 9 - 51 1 3i 4 13i -13 g 10 -11 7i - 8 73 - 75 55 - 57 74 - 76 32 -- 31 62 -- G 4 83 - 84 48 -- 50 123 - 125 108 -- 109 93 -93 A 61 -- 74. 92 -- 94 1 13 -- 134) 74/ -- 78/ 4/ -- 41(11 3i -- 3 16i -- 161 1 9i -- 93 -- 2 1 p 104 -4- 1(,5 -121 i 2 31 p -- lip 91i -- 5 -- 4 d 4 -- 3d 10i -- 11 19 -- 21 30 -- 31 3h -- 3 d 76/ -- 741 43 -- 45 51 - 53 31 - 34 - 3 (1 31 - 8 -9,; 53 - 53 2i 2 d , 35 —36 4i - 3d 8 8 2 —3i p 54 —54 i 98 100 61 - 63 65 67 73 76 dis 18 20 9 10 14 15 34 3 d 21 22 77 —77 a 37 39 - 14~ — 44 13i 19 21 31 3i 9 144 15i 9 29 31 94 91 1 d ip ... 69 i — 110 i 0 1 7 d z 2id 6 2 61 PREFERENCE SHARES. FORE: Antwerp&Rotterdam BelgianEastu. Juuct. Charleroi & Erquelin. Dijon and Besan2on Dutch Rhenish East Indian ... Do. Extension .... Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Gt. Western of Canada Shares Lucca & Pistoja sp. c Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. ct. pref Lyons & Mediterran Madras Namur & Liege (with, interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds (fmy. B. & A ms. Shs. ) NorwegianTrunkPref, Paris and Lyons Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg PaiisCacu & Cherbrg. : Quebec &Richmond Rouen and Havre Sambre and Meuse Do. 5i p. ct. pref Southern of France Upper India Scrip West Flanders Do. 6i per c. Prof Western of Franco West. of Switzerland Zea1and............ 1100 s- LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Shr. tam. Leasing Closing Prices Business Compans. Ytster day. this day, 50 all Bedford and London & Bletchley.. .. N. West 301 all Birm. & Oxfd. guarantee.... Gt.Westn 301 all Do. withoutg,r Do 301 all Birm.Wolv. & Dudley guar. Do 301 all Do.vrtht guar. Do St. 100 Buckghamsh. L.&N.W. 105 107 50 all Clydesdale Jc. Caledon 53 —54 St. 100 E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. Gt.Nrthn. 152 154 25 all Glstr.& Dn.Fr Gt. Westn 323 333 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New. Railway & Bcrw. 50 all Hull & Selby Y. &NMd 112 114 25 all Do. J Shares. Do 56 57 124 all Do. Shares. Do 273 -- 283 13i all Lon.&Grceuw S. Eastern 131 144 20 all Do. Preference Do 253 —263xd 20 all Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Norfolk 193 x d 20 all Do. 6 per et. Do 26 27 53 all Ilancli. Bxtn. L.& N. W, and Matlock & Mid d. 2/ 33 50 all ,liddlesbro' & Stektou & Redm;ir . Darliugt. 100 all Nfidld.Bra:lM. .11idland lO5 107 50 all Northern and Easternsp.c. E. Count. 64 C 6 50 all Do. 6 per et. Do 50 all Do. Fixeds pc Do — 25 all Prest. & Wyre L. & N.W &Ln&Yk 123 113 Do. 3 shares. Do — St. 100 Roystu.& Hit. GtNorthu 149 131 St. 103 Do.S:leptii.St Do 149 151 25 18g Shef.Roth.and Lancash & Goole g. 5 p.c. Yorksh. 12 93 S. Staffordsh. M.MClean 1 d 50 all Wear Valleygr Stockt. & 6 per cent... Darlingt. 25 all Do Do 323 334 St. 100 Wilts&Somrst GtWestn 1023 —103 i MINES. 1 all Agua Fria ll —IA p 21 10s. all Anglo Californian 10 2 Australasian —ll p 20 5 Australian 4 5 p 1 all Australian Cordillera 1 all Australian Freehold. 3 3 dis— p p 1 • 1 all Ave Maria dis— par 1 all Baden (Gd. Duchy of) par p 1 all British Austen. Gold A pl 3 20 13.5 British Iron 6 8 35 24 Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm 5 53 30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiada 61 6i 61 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 30 —3l 1 3 Carsons's Creek par 40 all Cobre Copper 47 48 5 1 Colonial Gold — 23 33 14 Copiapo 6 St. all Copper Min. of Eng B5 95 25 all Do. Pref. 73 p. cent B3 g p 5 all English and Austin Copper Smeltg. Co l3 1 d 20 all General l7 1J 2 all Great Nugget Vein 1 —23 p 3i 4 3 all Great Polgooth. 1 all Lake Bathurst ldis— par 1 all Liberty — p 1 all Lond.&Californ.Gold Quartz Crush. Co 1 3 d 1 all Mariquita, .. . ... d— par 10 9 Mexican&S.Americn. 8 -83 1 all New Granada - P 1 all Nouveau Monde 1 - lip 2 5 1 Port Philip * pla 1 all Quartz Rock par p 50 all Rhymney Iron 24 —26 p 15 Do. New 7 8 30 10i Santiago de Cuba 63 73 63 1 all South Australian par 3 p 10 7 'Pin Croft 283 all United Mexican 64 6i 1 all Waller id .-3p 1 all West Granada — 3 p 1 all West Mariposa par 3 p 1 all Yuba - 1$ JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia 92 93 50 all British N. American 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China 11 I.flp 31 100 25 Colonial 100 20 Commercial of Lond — ... 10 English Scottish and Australian 2/ 2i p 121 20 122 Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia 3 - 4 p 161 50 20 London and County 50 10 London Joint Stock 100 20 Loud. & Westminster „. 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia and India 50 222 National of Ireland 25 all Oriental Bank of Corporation. 542 —ssl 2 xd x d 25 5 Do. New . 100 25 Provincial of Ireland 'lO all Do. New . 6 1 Royal Australn.Bkg & Gold Imp Co dis par 25 all South Australia 5O 52 50 25 all Union of Australia 77• 732 Do. New 8 9 50 10. Union of London 40 all Union of Madrid__ • ._ MISCELLANEOUS 100 35 Australian Agricult. 99 102 20 4 Australsu.Peific.Mail 10 5 Australu. Royal Mail 384 Brit. American Land 100 32,1 Canada — 6 5 Cry.tal Palace 4 2 Crystal Pal. of F rance -- 20 1 Eastern Stea.rn 1 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir — 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat — LOO 50 General Screw Steam 20 2. Irish Beetroot Sugar „. 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 10 2 Netherlands Land 20 22 Nrth.ofEuropeSteam „. 50 all Peninsular& Oriental 50 25 Do. WO 60 Royal Mail Steam 25 25 South Austral. Land 52 54 521 1 1 Suhmar, Telegraph 5 2 Univeral Emigration and Colonization ... 100 28,i Van Diemen's Land 22 23 LLOYDS' SHIPPING -(THIS DAY.) LONDON, April B.—Wind this day at Noon, N. to N.W., fresh breeze, and cloudy, with a slight fall of rain. DEAL, April 7.—Wind, W.S.W., stormy. Arrived— Daniel Webster, Canton Harpye, and Jan Van Brakel, New York ; Falcon, Pitt, Bermuda ; Amana, Wake, Alexandria. Arrived from the Ri ver —Olb ers, Harriet , Plantagenet, and Johan Georg, for Sydney, N.S.W. ; Ariel, Henderson, Launceston, V.D.L. ; Gevalia, Liberg, Calcutta ; Planter, Prior, Demerara ; Runswell, Hawkins, Quebec. LIVERPOOL, April 7.—Wind, W.N.W. Arrived— Arequipa, Askew, Valparaiso; Parker, Kennedy, Deme rara ; Mina, Reid, Trinidad ; Ann Wise, Honduras ; Glaneus, Gales, Caldera ; Lotus, a nd H o l yoa k e, New Or leans ; Diamond, and Persian, Apalachicola ; Brothers, Murphy, Savannah ; Constantine, and S. Y., New York ; Parliament, Sampson, Boston ; Jessie, Powder, Newfound land ; Danube, Newton, Alexandria ' • Persian (s), Con stantinople ; Malcolm, J a y, T r i es t e ; Zacharias, Burgos. Off Port—Majestic, Af r i ca; Saratoga, Farnandez • Elea nor Thompson, and Mary Pleasants , —. The Welcome, of Newry, went ashore three miles S. of St. Bees' Head, yesterday, and unless the weather moderates, will become a wreck. WIIITEHAVEN, April 6.—The Sprey, arrived hero from Dublin, reports having see n a vesse l b ottom up—St. Bees' Head bearing N.E. about 14 miles. COWES, April 7.—Wind, W. Arrived—Mercurius, Callao. PORTSMOUTH, April 7.—Wind, W. to W.N.W. Ar rived—H.M.'s steamers Sidon and Arrogant, from a cruize. Sailed—Patrick Henry, New York. FA* MOUTH ' April 7.—Wi n d, W.N.W ., strong breeze. Arrived—Beata, and Anna, Alexandria ; Ruby, and Alex ander, Odessa ; Augusta, Ibrail ; Albert, Johnson, Galatz ; Constantia, Aricula, • St. Sebastian. SailedFortuna, Havannah. PLYMOUTH, April 6.—Wind, W. Sailed—Euphemus, Melbourne. GUERNSEY, April s.—The Trois Susannes, of Barcelona, from Rouen to Cannes, with empty pipes, was wrecked on the night of April 4, on rocks N.N.W. of this island, and filled ; the captain and two men drowned. The vessel has since been towed in the bay near Proquaine. MARYPoRT, April 6.—The Osprey (smack), of Ramsey, Isle of Mau, which was towed on the beach here on the 3d, has broken up. CORK, March 6.—Wind, N.W. Arrived—Hellespont, Galatz ; Pescador, St. Michael's. Sailed—Balmira St. Michael's. , QUEENSTOWN, April 6.—Wind, W.S.W. Arrived— Mariner, Mazagan ; Alert, Port Lagos ; Anna Maria, Bilbao. PARis, April 7.—The Marie and Pascalino, of and from Bayonne to Rouen, foundered April 2, four miles off the Taur du Tour' ; crew saved. LAURICULLEN, March 23. A brig is on shore near Strysten, and between the Porter Islands a schooner was seen firing signals of distress. A steamer was seen about two miles off Fancier, March 18, working into the ice. On its becoming dark the smoke from her changed into fire, which speedily increased, and raged fearfully to two o'clock the next morning, so that the steamer is supposed to have been burned. STRAKUND, April 3.—A ship, a brig, and a schooner, with all sails stowed, were seen, about three miles off Ancona Lighthouse, drifting from N. to N.E. in the ice, March 29. DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF HUSTANTON HALL, NOR FOLK.—On Tuesday morning, Hustanton Hall, the seat of Henry Lo Strange Stylonian Le Strange, Esq., situ ated within 16 miles of King's Lynn, was destroyed by fire. The fire originated in the sleeping apartment of the only female servant left in the hall, the family being abroad. The flames were first seen to issue from the building about four o'clock in the morning. A con siderable part of the furniture was saved. Hustanton Hall has long been regarded as one of the most an cient and interesting family mansions in the county of Norfolk. GALLANTRY REWARDED.--The Emperor of France, by decree of the 12th ult. has awarded a gold medal of honour of the second class to Lieutenant-Charles Pear son, of the English Royal Navy, commanding the coast guard of the Langton station, for the courage and de votedness displayed b y hi m i n assisting, on Dec: 17, 1852, the crew o f th e wrec k ed French ship the Nouvelle' Lamm. 25 25 St. 50 50 20 11A 10 St. St. St. St. 10 26S Pi 20 50 20 10 1 100' 100 all 100 all 100 all 113 100 lli all all all 1100 - 100 474 17i all 100 100 all 3 100 100 100 100 100 21s. 1 100 20 11 100 AG = 108 .04 - 1061 .9 20 d - 3g 3 4 - 4 A - 11 - 2 p - 14 pl t- 151 18i -- 19 3 1 - 3i; ii = 1 t . 2. 6 .11 - 113 - 8 - 71 - 108 Ad-P 51 -1i53 --- ad --- ad .50 - 153 34-3 r 10 - 11 13j - 138 8 - 9 10/ - 111 i - 4 P, 1149 —lslxd; - g P 22 -23 108 - 110 25 - 26 3 P 10t -- 1 1 4 17A -- 1 8 3 liP 14 -- 15 p:tr P 251 -- 26 19 -- 201 id spar 101 -- 103 6 -- 54 P aril :IGN. 1 id 14 14, 2 2i P I 2 2 diB 56 6 p 1p 2. 2g p 1. 2 p I --z pl 8 4 1 1 - 47- - 2 par p 9 —lip 2 2ip 7i 8 5 6 361 36. 14 -- 15 8i -- 91 18/ -181 p 42A -- 43. 41. -- 42 i -- 33 33h 4, -- 5 p -- 20 -- 2 1 p 91- 93 4 - sjp l - P idis p - 10ip id ad 1 100 5 100 all 100 6 100 100 65i x cl 13a f 83 i 49 02.1 A 77i 7 i pm 1201 1 3.41 76 6i 63 36 51 31 76i 71 x a 60 i i 127:1 DEPOSIT AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY. The fist general meeting of the directors and share holders of the Deposit and General Life Assurance Com pany was held yesterday morning at the company's offices, No. 18, New Bridge-street, Blackfriars, the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Drumlanrig, M.P., in the chair. Mr. C. W. BEVAN (the secretary) read the advertise. ment convening the meeting and the report of the direc tors, which said : " In accordance with the provisions of the deed of settle ment, you have been summoned here to-day to receive the report of your directors on the business transacted from the date of the complete registration of your company to the 31st December last, together with the account of receipts and disbursements for the same period, which, having been certified by the auditors, will, it is confidently anticipated, receive your entire approval; and although, as will be seen, a period of scarcely six months and eleven days has elapsed from the date of Mr. Bevan's appointment as secretary, and which may be justly termed the time when wo really c•mr menced business, it will be found, on the comparison which wo aro about to make, that an amount of busi ness. has bee n d one w hi ch has greatly surpassed our most sanguine expectations. Pursuant to th 3 provisions cf the deed of settlement your/ directors have col:suited their actuary, and he rep irti that the basineas done by the company justifies the declaration of a dividend, by way of interest upon the paid up capital of the com pany, at the rate of 51. p:r cent. • and the directors thereupon recommend that a die - idend of that amount be declared up to the 31st Decenibtcr last. Your director,; have much pie isure to report that no claim has iris 3n from death up to the present time ; a fact which, considering the number assured (203), must prove as satisfactory to the members as it is gratifying to your directors, and which it is hoped may be taken as an evidence of the care with which the business has been conducted by your directors, assisted by the medical officers. Having disposed of those matters which are provided for by the deed of settlement, your directors pass with lively satisfaction to other topics of great interest to the shareholders, the poli of policyholders, and the public in general, disclosing as th e y d o the superior advantages offered by this society to all classes —advantages which are not surpassed by those of any a s . surance office in the kingdom; for not only does this offi es carry out all the new improvements in or belonging to other companies, but it has been expressly established to open a new era in life assurance, and thereby to offer to the numerous classes of society who most need, but who have hitherto been deprived of them, all the benefits arising from a combination of a savings bank with an assurance ; company, namely, by the establishment of .the deposit system of life assurance. In setting forth these ad vantages, and the consequent claims of your company to public confidence and support, your directors think it right that a short statement should be made of the reasons which induced the establishment of your company. There had long been wanting means by which the middle and hum bler classes of society might avail themselves of the benefits accruing from life assurance, but up to the establishment of your company no such means existed. It occurred to the promoters of this system, that an institution which could combine the advantages of a savings bank with those of a life assurance company was such as must induce those classes of society to avail themselves of ail the benefits ac cruing from life assurance ; and accordingly they consulted the justly distinguished actuary, Mr. Neison, and after great care and labour the present system has been produced. In the ordinary system of assurance (as carried out by other assurance companies) a person wishing to assure his life must pay a certain sum, according to the age next birthday, and if he wishes his family to reap the ad vantage of such assurance whenever he dies, he must continue regularly to p a y th e same sum every year, until death, and then his representatives, and not he, reap the benefit of it, or perhaps the policy is disputed, and no body gets any benefit, but all his savings are lost, and his widow and family deprived of them ; but what has been, and is justly considered, the worst and most cruel feature, and the chief obstacle to the universal adoption of assurance by that class of society most in need of it, viz., the middle and the industri ous , i s th a t i n the ordinary system if a per son fail to continue his payments regularly as they become due, whether from care l essness, inability, never mind fr om what, and however distressing the cause, that moment his previous payments and hard-earned savings, however large, become forfeited to the company, and his misfortunes serve to benefit the pockets of his more fortunate co-assurers. So, again, if the person assured doubt the solvency of the office to which he has paid his money, and for that, or any other reason, desire to withdraw from it, he must also sacrifice the whole or a very large part of what he may have paid, and will, of course, from his increased age, if ho wishes to assure in any other office, have to do so on less advantageous terms. Such is not the case on the deposit system, for he can draw out his payments at any time. The indisputability of policies was the last new feature in the improvement in life assurance, prior to the establishment of your company; and the company which was the first to establish it has received the fair reward due to such an improvement. The deposit system is the next and by far the most excellent of any improvement, and it is to be hoped that that class of society for whose benefit it has been established will give to this company that sup port which the admirable and benevolent principles of this system so richly merit. By this system the premiums are always the available property of the assu re d." . The report, after giving illustrations of the working of these principles said— " Having thus briefly stated the chief feature in this com pany, the directors refer with satisfaction to the following statement of the business done, and which, on comparison with other offices, as hereafter shown, must be highly gra tifying to all interested in the company, as it is to them selves :—From the 20th September, 1852, to the 31st March, 1853, a period of six an d a half months, the number of proposals received amounted to 344, assuring 155,7721. 10s., of which there had been accepted 203. assuring 83,490, and producing an income of about 6,0001. per annum ; accepted and not completed 39, assur ing 12,1171. 10s.; declined or withdrawn 79, for 42,5951.; 3 and under consideration 23, for 17,5701. Your direc tors may also feel justly proud of the confidence placed in the company by the public, not only on account of the large amount of assurance business transacted, but also that every share in the company has been subscribed for, with the exception of .1,400. (These have been taken up since the issue of the report.) The directors are happy to state that they have secured a lease for 21 years of their present excellent premises for the small rent of 225/. per annum, the taxes being likewise very low. Your directors beg to state that they have succeed od in appointing, and are continuing to appoint, a large number of influential agents throughout the country. In Leeds, Birmingham, unwall, and the West of England, the principles of your company have met with marked appro b ation, and have led to valuabl e results. Your directors aro a l so h appy to state that in Indi a the deposit feature of your company has been looked upon. as particularly applicable to that country. Your directors have received the highest tes timony to that effect from persons of the first stand ing and known judgment there. Your directors can not conclude this report without bearing testimony to the ability, integrity, and untiring energy of their secretary, Mr. Bevan. Through his exertions and his connections during the short time he has had the management of the company, the directors are in debted for the rapid disposal of the shares, and the large amount of business done. Your directors have, also, to congratulate the company on the acquisition of their present excellent and noble chairman, for whose constant presence, attention to the interests of the company, and business-like habits, your directors cannot feel too deeply indebted, and which the shareholders and members cannot too highly appreciate. In conclusion, your directors beg to state th a t it w ill b e th e i r constant study to conduct the affairs of the company in such a manner as to merit the approbation of the policyholders and shareholders, and the public in general. Your directors beg also to state that, being anxious to court the strictest investigation into the solvency of the company, as well as into its principles, and particularly into it s new feature, the deposit system, 'they have instructed th e secretary io write to Mr. Wilson, M.P., and request the favour of his being examined re lative to this company by the committee of the House of Commons which has been appointed to investigate as surance companies. Y our di rectors have only to ld that they hope to receive, in the discharge of their onerous duties, the cordial co-operation of every ono interested in the com pany, and trust that each policyholder and shareholder will determine to bring one policy at least per annum, which would be sufficient of itself to make any company." A. balance-sheet was also read, which showed that the re ceipts from premiums had been as follows :—ln September,. 81/. 12s. 10d. ; O c t o b er, 13 4 1 . 9s. lid. ; November, 3281. 2s. 2d. ; December, 4891.135. 10d. ; January, 2721.185. ld.; February, 3371. 4s. ld. ; and March, 8701. Gs. 2d. The total receipts from all sources to the 31st December were 6,966/. ss. ld., and the expenditure (including preliminary expenses, calculated to run over two years, of 2,5001), 4,0011. 13s. Id. The CHAIRMAN said it now became his duty to move the adoption of the report, and he could assure them he would, in discharging that duty, address them but very briefly. On the first occasion of meeting the pro prietors, it would ill become him to make a speech or enter into details which, upon coming before the world, should appear like a puff. Their report would speak for itself ; and he thought they might well challenge inquiry into their position and prospects from the plain unvarnished tale it told. He hoped they would all agreed with him as regarded the satisfactory na ture of the report. The accounts were made up to the 31st December—about the time when he first took his seat at the board—and he was, therefore, now speak ing of matters b e y on d hi s control ; but from the inter course he had had with his brother directors since joining the board, and his knowledge of them, he was perfectly ready to take his share of the responsibility attaching to those accounts. (Cheers.) In drawing up the report, and laying the accounts at the present time before the public, they, of course, laboured under some disadvan tage had been occasion, short ag e established; and that disadvantage would have almost equally attended them tupon time e n this tthe e company P whether their accounts had been made up to the 31st De cember or 31st March, though their business had made great progress during the past three months. Their ex penditure was necessarily comparatively high as com pared with their receipts, they having been, during the months of May, June, July, and August, incurring ex penses in the formation of the company, whilst they did not commence business until September last. Of course, when their business first commenced, it was not very large, but he was glad to say that it had gone on gradti all increasing, so that, whereas their receipts in Septem ber were only 811. 12.3. 10d., they amounted in March s t t o a t B e 7 m o/ e . n 6 t s t . o 9 l d i a . v e I t I o c m c a o k n e s , i d a n e e e that hopeda th mostat the resultstifyh of each month would continue to increase, as he had no doubt they would. At the same time, he could assure them that the di rec t ors were most anxious, and would do all in their power, to conduct the affairs of the com pany with the utmost economy consistent w ith the effi ciency of the office. Allusion had been made in the re port to the fact that an application had be en ma de to Mr. Wil son to allow Mr. Bevan to be examined before the co mm i ttee of the House ofCommons on life assu rance. As a good deal of jealousy ex i s t e d w i th respect to o deservenew reproach, thoffices,e a ect nd were an x i ous th at b oth th th e e c i o r m ac m tu it a t r e y e, ( i as some w ere th ought to M a m r. n Bevane d be f o a r n e d Ir. N e i son ) s h ou ld b e ex before order that their preten sions and prospects might be submitted to the fullest in vestigation, it being to their own interest, if fallacies existed in their Calculations, to have them corrected. He should use his influence with Mr. Wilson to have those gentlemen examined ; but as of course. there would be a number of other offices in the same position —and only a limited number of witnesses could be ex amined—he could not say how far he might be successful. It would, however, be his great anxiety to get them ex amined, because he thought it was only an act of justice to the society to endeavour to get everything connected with it brought before the public. (Loud cheers.) Being fully convinced that the inquiry must result to the advantage of the assurance companies, he would not further detain them, but move that the report and statement of accounts be received and adopted. Mr. ROGER Swine, a holder of 2,700 shares, seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. RIDDELL, seconded by Mr. STEER, a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the paid-up capital was declared. The retiring directors and auditors having been re elected, Mr. STEER then moved that a sum of 1;500l. be. al lotted to the directors as a remuneration for their ser vices, which lie said had been given so far with the greatest zeal, at a sacrifice of their personal and p:ivat affairs. Mr. PETTER seconded the ruotima, which was . car.-Icd unanirasualy. Mr. PRINSEP moved that the sum of 19 g,n7rn‘a3 each be the re - rill:lei ation given to the great deal of their time to the emam coamts of the company. Mr. C. GURNEY seconded the motion, which waS Who ti; v 3 a :tton of the vz- agreed to unanialcu6ly. Mr. Sanu - i - DA:v, of the Times Life Assurance Compa,n3-, returned thanks on the - part of the auditors. Having had some considerable experience in life assurance matters, he could not help saying. that he was somewhnt astonished at the largeness of the business which this company had transacted during the comparative short period of its existence. Mr. CRACKNALL returned thanks for the re-elected directors. Mr. PECK returned thanks for the re elected auditors. He had great satisfaction in` seeing theyery satisfactory statement of accounts which had been laid before the shareholders. He had no hesitation in saying that, to his knowledge, no society had in so short a period done such an amount of business at so little expense. He had great pleasure in being connected with such a com pany. (Hear, hear.) Mr. SHERIDAN then rose to move a vote of thanks to the chairman for his service as chairman to the com pany. From the position of the noble lord they might have expected that he would have been deficient in business habits. On the contrary, however, he had scaacely ever met any gentleman better able to act in his present capacity, and ho had great pleasure in bearing testimony to the very efficient manner in which the noble lord had discharged his duties as chairman. The motion having been seconded, was carried with acclamation. The CHAIRMAN returned thanks. During the short period he had occupied his present position, he had always felt great interest in the affairs of the company, and so long as he continued at its head he should always give to it great attention, and take care that the strictest investigation should always be paid to all matters connected with it. He felt seriously the re sponsibility devolved upon a person occupying his posi tion, and he should always use his best efforts to dis charge it in a proper and efficient manner, and he hoped that next year, at their next annual meeting, he should have to report an even more flourishing state of things than on the present occasion. For a society so young nothing could be more satisfactory than their present position, and they might rely on the unwearied efforts of himself and his brother directors to place the company in a still more enviable position. Mr. KNOX, a director, said if it was not too late he should like to propose a vote of thanks in', acknowledg ment of the services of two most valuable officers, namely, their secretary and actuary. It was to the ex ertions of Mr. Bevan since his appointment to the office, of secretary, that they were indebted for the present suc cess of the office, and while they looked to him to put forward all his zeal and energy to increase the business, they expected Mr. Neison, the actuary, to exercise a proper check upon him, and to see that the business done was safe and good. They were aware that they undertook a certain class of business, which experience had proved to be the most profitable—that of diseased lives—on which additional premiums were charged for the additional risks, and in taking those risks they had much to be guided by Mr. Neison, and he believed that no gentleman could snore safely guide them as to the amount they ought to charge for the risks they ran. (Hear.) In conclusion, he begged to propose a cordial vote of thanks to their actuary and secretary for the zeal and ability they had displayed in their past exer tions. Mr. MACLEAN seconded the motion, being assured that the zeal and ability of Mr. Bevan and Mr. Neison would overcome all difficulties, should any arise, in the trans action of their business. Mr. NEISON begged to aoknowledge the compliment, though he hoped that no difficulties would arise, as Mr. Maclean had suggested they might ; but should they arise, he trusted that the untiring energy, zeal, and ability of Mr. Bevan, as well as any intelli gence w hi c h he (Mr. Neison) might possess, would carry them safely through. He was happy in being connected with that company, and he felt assured that the truth of the prin ciples on which it was founded would be rapidly and extensively acknowledged by the public. He was not one of those who thought that life assurance was over done. Indeed he felt certain that a large number of offices, directed by men of intellect and energy, were yet wanted to meet the legitimate wants of the public. Their report showed that they were already securing a arge and important business, and all experience showed that the success of a life office was wholly dependent. on the extent of its business. Indeed, there was no ex- ample of a pure life office failing, and if a large busiricsA was obtained, it was impossible to do so. Assurance offices stood in a most anomalous position amongst the commercial undertakings of the country with regard to the largethe enormously large—amount of profits they had made. He did not mean to say that if an assurance office was confined to the issue of policies on 100 lives it would not Etil ; but if they counted their policies by thou sands it could not do so ; and he had no doubt that by the energy of Mr. Bevan they would very shortly be so counted in this office. (Cheers.) Mr. BEVAN also returned thanks. He felt very deeply the kind terms in which Mr. Knox, a gentleman whose good opinion he should always be anxious to deserve, ghad spoken of him. When he had come into this com pany some persons had been advised not to have any thing further to do with the company, as he was a rash man, and did business in a rash manner. To disabuse the shareholders of any such impressions, he thought he had only to refer to the amount and to the quality of the business which had been done by the company in the last six months. The business of the office was done in the most cautious manner. All proposals were referred not only to the medical officers, but to a special proposal committee, and afterwards to the full board of directors, before it came to the secretary's hand to be executed. He was proud of the present position of the company, and thought that as they had begun they might continuo to go on. There was a wide field open, lie believed, for life assurance, and any company might succeed if it had a proper and respectable directory, and if its affairs were managed with energy and discretion. Notwithstanding the absurd statements which had been made' by Mr. Wilson in the House of Commons, he believed that so far there had not been a single instance of what might fairly be called the failure of an assurance company ; for the moment that the actuaries of any company found it necessary to report to the directors of a company that they were no longer in a position to carry on their affairs, there were plenty of companies ready to buy their business, and give them a handsome premium for it. For instance, there was the London and Joint-Stock Provincial, which had lately merged into the Legal and Commercial ; and certainly no office of any respectability- would think of taking upon it the affairs of any office unless they had ascertained the amount of the liabilities, and were satisfied that they were justified in incurring them. The old offices were not doing one-tenth . of the business of the young offices. Letters reached him every day from persons in the country—agents of the old offices who spoke of throwing up their positiens, because the old offices would go to no expense in extending their 'busi ness. The fact was they traded on their capital, lending it to Government and in other channels, and troubled themselves very little about Life Assurance. . This principle of Deposit Life Assurance was most valuable, as was shown by the fact that no sooner had it been advertised, as being the basis on which this company was about to transact their business, than another com panyalso seized upon the Company ;bu the principle,ati, in fact, and adventured themselves on a Deposit i no more right to the title to it than a Savings' Bank. They did no more than a Savings' Bank ; in fact, they would take a deposit of 1,0001. and pay 5 per cent. Wilson was up e n witht . t i T ie o s show u bjec t huofwlifwe assurance, acquainted h e hart actually never heard of the existence of the deposit principle until he (Mr. Bevan) had written to him. (Laughter.) A ga i n, of the various companies stated to fail, he might give them an instance. Over the way an office was started aans(tihweaSscneopwtrec—aliltedthtehne Sceptremergedienf EnglandtotheSt.ishTShcaetpwtreas, i only c o n w e e r c e o m c o p n a c n e y r , n e a d n , d it y n et ot it ha w vnot i a n s r g eckoned as a b s ro t u h g r h ee et ifailures, active e e e f x a i c e t ten b n ei e n . g f Iu na,ilh,esobyafdaroanslythto thank them very sincerely for the honour thy had done him, and to assure them that he should they eto work ni g ht an d day to raise this company into the most prosperous sperzisEp condit s i ai on fi he hoped that t would rememb er th at they had it ine p rheas theird spreading shareholders Nvaerkto oewb e of hi g h serv i ce to the company by. ledge of its principles, and that they would endeavour to push its business whenever and wherever they had an opportunity. The proceedings then terminated. ii the evening the directors and their friends, to the number of about 150, dined together—Viscount Druin lanrig again presiding, supported on his right and left by two of the members of the committee of the House .of Commons on Hie assurance, Mr. Cowan, M.P., and Mr. Chambers, M.P. A number of loyal and appropriate toasts were drunk; but there was nothing in the various speeches relative to the company beyond what we have given above, excepting an assurance from Mr. Cowan that the House of Commons was fully impressed with the importance of the life assurance question, and that the new offices might depend upon having a fair and im partial hearing before the committee. The proceedings of the evening were much enlivened by the vocal exertions of Miss Pyne, Mr. Donald Sing, Mr. Lawler, &c. &c., who were engaged for the occ asion. Mr. Higgs officiated as toastmaster. THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE. —According to the Poole journals, the earthquake on Friday night I:ast'was felt in all the Dorset and Ilawpshire coast towns, down as far as Weymouth. • ...* oa, ley the of at s he the of he e 0 of to ?,.ei l esg o 0 iw 1)1 0, r ag sfa St. 5 St. 20. St. 15 5 03 10 20 St. 16 St. St. 1.0.61 2 S i