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

PATRON-H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT, ROYAL ^ POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. —Mrs. Beecher Stowe's Popular Work on Slavery Illus trated in an Optical Exhibition, with Vocal and Instrumental Music and New Dissolving Scenery, Morning and Evening. Lectures : By J. H. Pepper, Esq.—Half-hours with the Ancient and Modern Chemists ; by Dr. Bachhoffner, on some of the Mechanical Proper tied of Aeriform Bodies ; by Mr. Crispe, on Ericcson's Caloric Engine. Admission, Is. ; Schools, and Children under Ten years of age, Half-price. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, APRIL 4, Sheridan's Comedy of THE RIVALS. Supported by Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Howe, Corr!, W. Farrer, and Rogers; Mrs. L. S. Buskingham, Mrs. Poynter, and Miss E. Chaplin. After which MR. BUCESTONE'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PAR NASSUS. To conclude with THE TWO QUEENS. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, APRIL 4, Will be performed the Tragedy of MACBETH. Principal charac ter by Mr. C. Kean. After which will be produced a new Drama, adapted from the the French of Mons. Scribe, by Mr. Paigrave Simpson, called MARCO SPADA. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestals. THIS EVENING, Assn.. 4, Will be presented A STRANGE HISTORY. Characters by by Madame Yestris, Mrs. F. Matthews, Miss Julia St. G e "g e, Mils M. Oliver, Miss Rosina Wright, Miss Mason, Mrs. Horn, and Miss Wadhatn; Mr. C. Mathews, Mr. F. Matthews, Mr. R. Rozby, Mr. Cooper, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. Belton, Mr. B. Baker, Mr. Rosiere, BGc. To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Madams Celeste. THIS EVENING, AMU'. 4, Will be presented WEBSTER AT HOME, AN ADELPHI FARE miss F. !dukell and Mrs. L. OF THREE REMoVE4 AND A DESSERT. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster, L. Murray, Keelo. 1(4 . ; Murray, &c. After which, A NOVEDIENT. With TO PARENTS ALA UARDIANS. THE PRETTY GIRL' OF STILBERO. PEPINO THE DUMB BOY, AND PUG, HIS MONKEY. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, APRIL 4. Will be presented SALVATORI • or. the Bandit' s Dau g hter. Characters by Messrs. H. Marston, RobSoa, Diddear, Cooke, and Morgan; Mesdames Anderton and G. Gordon. After which, THE BEGGAR'' OPER t. Supported by Messrs. Parren, Roifi, Sbalders, and Mote ; Mesdames A. Phillips, Bartlett, and Gordon. To conclude with TUE LASS OF GOWRIE. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Triumphant success of the New Spectacle, which has been nightly received with the most enthusiastic approbation.—The novel and daring Feats of the Horses, and the terrific Leap of Amakosa's Steed over the Falls of the Umtata have been hailed with thun ders of applause. THIS EVENING, APRIL 4, And during the Week, the Performances will commence with the new grand spectacle entitled AMAKOSA ; or, Scenes of Eaftr Warfare ; with magnificent scenery, costumes, and appointments. To be followed by brilliant and elegant Achievements in the ARENA, supported by the most eminent Engl ah and Continental Artistes in Europe. To conclude With a Laughable FARCE. Box-ottice open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. fißro DAY --Morning 11 min. after 15 Evening 0 min.aft. 0 To-Mossow—llttorning 52 min. after 1.1 I Evening 21 min. Aft. 12 _DAILY WEATHER TABLE. MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1853. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock on Saturday !morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. 6 HASTINGS—W., fresh breeze—overcast. SOUTHAMPTON - S.W., gentle breeze—overcast. FOLICESTONE--S.W., fresh breeze—cloudy. TUNBRIDGE—N.W., strong breeze—cloudless. BASINGSTOKE—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. GREENWTCH—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. STRoori—N.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. SWINDON—W., strong breeze—partially cloudy. CAMBRIDGE—.E. strong breeze—cloudless. YARMOUTH—W., arong breeze—cloudless. THE WEATHEIL—SuN Orrics, APRIL 3. THIBMOMETEIt, IN THB SHADE. 59—highest since noon yesterday. 45—lowest this morning and during the night. 52 this day at noon. BAROMETER, went up to 29 . 87—n0w 29.72. WIND S.W.—Smart breeze, with dull weather and alight rain. It rained heavily in the night. APRIL 4. 57 highest since noon yesterday. 47—lowest this morning and during the night. 60—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, went down to 29 . 67—n0w 29.78. WIND, variable from W. to W.N.W. THE PUBLICATION OF ‘, THE SUN" COMMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON AT THREE O'CLOCK, AND THE LATE OR THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING THE DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT TILE SAXE EVENING, With all other News arriving up to the hour of Post, AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. EXPRESS EDITIONS will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the Latest Trains. Any .• "a j , 0 3 41% 4444 i trb itE ;4ll " lot 4,84 LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1853. Now or Never. It is strong language, no doubt of it, as applied to the abolition of Intra mural Interments. But matters have gone on so long and so desperately in regard to the postpone ment of the Dead-man's Question, by procastina tion after procrastination, that we are driven to the use of strong language. If we are not really now to witness the destruction, partial at least, if not total, of the horrible old system of burying thousands upon thousands of corpses annually in the midst of our crowded metropolis—we shall view the hope of reform in this particular with feelings little short of absolute desperation. The atrocity of the thing has been exposed. The cruelty of it has been laid bare. The folly of it made as apparent as the folly of suicide or of any other criminal absurdity. We have had books upon books written on it—portly volumes and portable pamphlets fly leaves and octavos. Among other books of this kind, too, we have had blue books, and plenty of them—blue books in abundance—petitions, answers of witnesses, and reports of commissioners. If ever an abuse has been thoroughly laid before the public' in all its horrible deformity and nakedness this has. Everybody recognises it. Everybody, at any rate, who is not interested in keeping up the old evil arrangement—interested, we mean, pecuni arily. For it is one of the chief horrors of the Question—this Dead-man's Question— that there are certain classes in this country reap ing profit—profit in pounds, shillings, and pence —from the interment of their departed fellow-crea tures in the very thick of the living population. It is because of the efforts made by these classes to put down any systematic attempt in the way of innovation, that the advocates of improvement have not yet succeeded. It is because of the per tinacity of these ghouls that we have not yet been able to realise our hopes of establishing a regular system of extramural cemeteries. The monstrosity of the evil has been proclaimed again and again, and yet—because of the resolute opposition of these upholders of that evil—the capital is still suffering grievously from the continuance of the abomination. But—Hope at last has sprung out of Despair. OrderS in Council to close the reeking graveyards of London have been promised by Lord PALMER STON, and that promise has some force in it, be cause Lord PALMERSTON is at this moment Houle Secretary. Under existing circumstances, therefore, we conceive that it may not be regarded as altogether idle to draw public attention more directly to the matter by the repetition of a few details already very frequently reiterated—tending to explain the character of the abuse of which we are yearning to witness the abolition. It is notorious that all the eminent medical authorities who have ever written upon the subject ' a re unanimous in the expre ss i on o f one opinion as to the effects of animal decomposition. DUPER GTE has elaborately described the disastrous nature of those effects, in his Treatise on - Medical Juris prudence. Another Frenchman, Ft:Taw - Boy, has recorded a variety of sickening facts bearing upon the same argument, in the elaborate statement upon the subject laid by him, some years ago, before the French Government. MAJENDIE, by a number of frightful experiments, proved that the most deadly poisons were produced by this species of putrefaction. ARMSTRONG has declared that the affection produced by the introduction of putrid matter into the blood so exactly resembles typhus fever, that he believes no individual could confidently pronounce that it differed from that fatal disease. BICHAT has specified minutely the several influences positively destructive, or simply deleterious of all the various gases thrown off in the process of animal decomposition—sulphuretted hydrogen, deutoxide of nitrogen, chloride of ammonia, oxygen, hydrogen, azote, carburetted hydrogen, carbonic acid, carbonic oxide, and protoxide of azote. GREGORY has shown how several of these vapours " variously combined " produce empyreuraatic oil, and a multitude of of foetid vapours most prejudicial to existence. Sorrirvveon SMITH long ago wrote these words— " It is a matter of experience that, during the decomposition of dead organic substances, whether vegetable or animal, aided by heat and moisture, and other peculiarities of climate, a poison is generated, which, when in a state of high con centration is capable of producing instantaneous death by a single inspiration of the air in which it is diffused." Evidence like this might be al most indefinitely multiplied. And all these odious and baneful influences are being constantly generated in the midst of the crowded streets of London by those intramural graveyards, which are literally s o many manufactories of pestilence ! Wherever we look in this great metropolis there we are sure to see festering in the midst of the dwelling-houses of its inhabitants one of these horrible sinks of corruption. They are sown about thickly in all directions—in all localities indiscriminately—the most squalid and the most fashionable. They are in Whitechapel and May fair, in Belgravia and Shoreditch. It would be preposterous to excuse ourselves for having done ac tually nothing as yet worth speaking of in the way of effecting their removal, upon the plea that there has been any ignorance as to their evil cha racter. There is one man in London who might start up against any such shallow plea as a witness fired by no idle indignation. Fully fourteen years ago Mr. WALKER published, through the LoNaltArts, the first of those remarkable works by which he roused public attention to the Dead-man's Question, and thereby in fact constituted himself the originator of the whole sanitary movement. Hitherto this fact has been passed over, and by many persons been forgotten, or at any rate disre garded. But there it remains before the world, avowed plainly enough in the very date, " 1839," upon the title-page of that inaugurative volume —" Gatherings from Graveyards." There it re mains visible to any eye that chooses to glance at it, where it is asserted by the author in that same title-page that the book contains " a detail of dangerous and fatal results produced by the unwise and revolting custom of inhuming the dead in the midst of the living." Those words were, as long ago as 1839, written, and printed, and published. And they were not published obscurely by some eut-of-the-way establishment, without any sort of reputation, but by one of the first houses, if not the first house in the book trade of the metropolis— that of the LoNamays. If we have done nothing since then towards abolishing the system of in tramural interments, we cannot, after this, as sert that our conduct is in any way excusable on the score of ignorance I As if the purport of the volume here referred to as having originally appeared as far back as 1839 were not sufficiently indicated by the expressions above quoted, we find a motto in scribed upon that same ample title-page wonder fully appropriate, and surely, surely significant ; a motto taken from the sombre verses of KIRKE WHITE, those verses which fell from him so scan tily and gloomily like yew berries upon tomb stones. . . . . And who would lay His body in the city burial-place, To be thrown up again by some rude sexton, And yield its narrow house another tenant, Ere the moist flesh had mingled with the dust, Ere the tenacious hair had left the scalp, Exposed to insult, lewd, and wantonness ? No, I will lay me in the village ground.; There are the dead respeCted." Fourteen years have gone by, and still we are hoping—hoping--only hoping for the improve ment. SincelB39, the evil, instead of kaving been diminished, has literally gone on increasing in ex act proportion to the increase of the population ! And here is 1853, with it positively intensified in virulence, multiplied in numbers, and extended in dimensions. Are we wrong, therefore, or hasty, or extravagant in our all but despairing cry of Now or Never. Now, while Orders in Council are being prepared for the peremptory closing of these horrible graveyards one after another : now, while the Home-office is presided over by a States man as resolute and energetic as the present Chief Secretary, Viscount PAULERSTON. The proceedings respecting the late Derby elec tion have not as yet terminated. Something still remains to be done, in order to vindicate the majesty of the law, so far as the chief offenders are concerned. But, in the present instance,' it is not the mean and paltry " acceptors " of 40s. bribes, or even the subordinate agents of corrup tion that will be compelled to submit to legal in vestigation. More distinguished " quarries " will be aimed at, and if the statements made at the banquet given last week at the Derby Athe naeum, to celebrate the triumph of the Liberal party in that borough, are in any degree to be credited, the chief movers in this very extraordi nary transaction will have to answer for their conduct before a jury of their countrymen. The " Gentlemen of the Lead Works" appear to be by no means in an enviable position. The " Shrewsbury tonsor," the modern " Oi i ivEn LE DAIN," is by no means easy in his mind ; nor does the renowned " W. B." himself altogether repose on a bed of roses. A body of determined men are resolved that the truth—nay, more, the whole truth, shall be elicited—that the matter shall be probed to the very quick, and that no position, however ele vated, shall save those implicated from the penal consequences of their conduct. This is as it should be. There may be a prosecution for a conspiracy, although the state of the law with respect to bribery and corruption (perhaps one of the most flagrant instances of class legisla tion) prevents the well-merited punishment of those who endeavour to induce the less wealthy voter to " sell his birthright for a mess of pottage," to barter the sacred privilege confided to his charge—that which gives him, through his representative, a voice in the national councils - for a pecuniary consideration, or, still more degrading—for there is even in the lowest depths of infamy a deeper humiliation—for the ' means of the most beastly intoxication. If we can conceive the degradation of mind which induces a man to bestow his suffrage in opposition to his conscience for a sum of money, how much more in famous is that man who accepts of the sensual gra tifications of gluttony and drunkenness as adequate temptations ! The legal offence may be the same, whether the corrupt voter be persuaded to, uplift " his most sweet voice" in favour of the donor of a Bank of England note for 201. or 501., or of the treater to a coarse substantial meal, accom panied with an undue proportion of alcohol, British or foreign. But the latter is a more des picable vice. The free and independent elector who wallows in the gutter, and with aching head and sickly stomach votes for the party who en abled him to commit the disgusting debauch, is a meaner ruffian than a man who accepts a money bribe. Notwithstanding the well-known adage, " D 1 got, ill gone," the family of the one may possibly, though the chance be very remote, bene fit in some degree by the transaction. The un fortunate wife and children of the other must suffer by the demoralisation of the husband and father, who, on account of his excess, may suffer ix health, but must also suffer in purse from being , It unfitted f a o s r i hi t shacisailbeyeanv justly remarked, m a a n r d ko p d e , rh , a , pas most from being triulemd enteringsimilarth eLiberal scenes fa rtp farther ertr on y i other anttop tehr Derby occasions, syswuwas si et one when he must be his own paymaster. But without ph into o of which those concerned may well be proud. t was, striking and unequivocal exposure of a stupendous ' evil." Never was the infamous system more thoroughly laid bare, or the whole of the vile machinery more clearly held up to public indigna tion. The "W. B." inquiry—the prosecution and confession of MORGAN—the investigation be fore the Election Committee, terminating in the unseating of the Tory, and the substitution of the Liberal, Member—all tend to the same point. But it is the promised prosecution for conspiracy that will form the consummation so devoutly to be wished for—that will " cap the climax." Much as we respect the decision of a Select Committee of the House of Commons, there are subjects on which we should greatly prefer that of a jury of twelve men, assisted by one of the Judges of the Superior Courts. There is a natural reluctance on the part of those who have themselves been concerned in electioneering transactions to hurl too weighty a stone against a detected brother—a tendency to soften down into " indiscretion" that which before another tribunal might be called by a sterner and a harder name. We rejoice, then, at the promise so distinctly made at the Derby banquet, and we hail the un equivocal admission made in favour of the Ballot —the most important of all the branches of Par liamentary Reform—by one whose great experi-. ence constitutes him one of the best witnesses that could be found as to the best means of materially mitigating, if not entirely eradicating, bribery, corruption, and intimidation. From what has already transpired with respect to the Derby and other elections, it is manifest that the existing laws on the subject are not sufficiently stringent ;to meet the acknowledged evil. There must, then, be some new legislation on the subject ; and as " prevention is better than punishment," why not endeavour rather to remove the temptation to the crime than to subject the offenders to stringent penalties ? The Derby demonstration will, we trust, produce a considerable effect, not merely among representa tives, but among the represented. The argu ments there adduced must have considerable effect in persuading all those anxious to promote "purity of election" to demand " the Ballot" in all its in tegrity, as the only means of achieving that great desideratum. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 1853. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princesses Helena and Louisa, took a drive on Saturday afternoon in an open landau and four. The Equerries in Waiting, Major-General Buckley and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, attended on horseback. Prince Albert rode out on horseback on Saturday morning, attended by his Equerry in Waiting. His Royal Highness, attended by. Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, visited the British Museum in the afternoon. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the Prin cess's Theatre with their presence on Saturday evening. The royal suite consisted of the Duchess of Wellington, the Hon. Mary Seymour, Lord Waterpark, Major- General Buckley, and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros. The Queen's Private Band attended in Buckingham Palace after dinner on Friday evening and performed the following compositions : Overture, " Le Brasseur de Preston" Adam. Selection, " Gustave" Auber. Terzetto, " Azor and Zemira" Spohr. March, ‘" Occasional Oratorio" Handel. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, also the ladies and gentlemen in waiting and the domestic household, attended divine service yesterday in the Pri vate Chapel at Buckingham Palace. The Hon. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley officiated. The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, visited the Duchess of Cam bridge and the Princess Mary on Saturday at Kew. Viscount Palmerston arrived •in town on Saturday morning, to attend the Cabinet Council, from Broad lands. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Gladstone, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert and Mrs. Herbert arrived in town on Saturday from Wilton House, Wilts. M. Musurus, the Turkish Minister, paid a visit to the Earl of Clarendon on Saturday, at the Foreign-office. The Committee on Education of the Queen's Most Hon. Privy Council met on Saturday at the Privy Coun cil-office, Whitehall. Present—The Lord President, the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert. A deputation on the subject of the repeal of the Man ning clause of the Navigation Act had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell on Saturday, at the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Mr. Hudson, M.P., Mr. Taylor, M.P., Mr. William Lester (Hartle pool), Mr. William Steuart (South Shields, Newcastle), Mr. Charles Cowen (ditto), Mr. Simon Campbell (North Shields), Mr. James Burgess (Sunderland), Mr. Thos. Smith (Middesborough), Mr. James Paton (North Shields), and Mr. Robert Young. Despatches were sent on Saturday from the Colonial office to the Governors of Australia. Despatches were received on Saturday from the Go vernors of the West Indir Islands. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office, from the Governors of Victoria, Malta, and Gib• raltar. A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the Foreign-office, Downing-street. The Ministers present were the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord T. Russell, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, the Right Hon. Sid ney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The council sat three hours. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had a dinner party on Saturday evening at his official residence in Down ing-street. The guests were Lord Wodehouse, Lord Lyttelton, the Bishop of Quebec, the Provost of Eton, Sir Charles Trevelyan, Mr. Walter, M.P., Mr. Fitz gerald, M.P., Mr. R. Phillimore, M.P., Mr. E. Ball, M.P., Sir Stafford Northcote, Mr. Trevor, Mr. Ander son, &c. THE LATE DUKE OP WELLINGTON.—On the decease of the late Duke of Wellington, there remained in the possession of his family three Ribands of the Order of the Garter. The latest worn by the lamented hero has recently been presented to, and graciously accepted by, her Majesty. A second, of very old and historical inte rest, is retained in the family ; and the third has just been sent by the present Duke of Wellington to the Marquis of Londonderry, upon whom, it will be remem bered, the Garter of the great duke was conferred by the Queen. LORD PALMERSTON AND THE GRAVEYARDS. — The present Secretary of State for the Home Department, Lord Palmerston, is pursuing his determination to close the metropolitan graveyards with vigour. On Thursday an order was received, signed by Mr. Waddington on behalf of his lordship, announcing that it was the inten tion of the Home Secretary to report to her Majesty in council the necessity for closing the graveyard of St. Botolph, Aldersgate. founded on a report which has been made by Dr. Sutherland, in consequence of the complaints of parishioners, that the most offensive effluvium emanated from the enormous number of bodies in the ground, which, in consequence, stands five or six feet above the level of the street, having been used for interment upwards of 500 years. GOLD.—The imports of gold to-day by H. M. steamer Vulcan, which sailed from Sydney the 23d of Novem ber, and the New Orleans, which left Melbourne the 17th of Denember, amount in gross to 140,6001. The quantity brought by the latter vessel is 25,650 ounces. Shipments of specie by the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Bengal amount to 85,3001., of which 70,0001. is silver for Bombay, Calcutta, and Penang, while the only important quantity of gold appears to be 13,0001. for Alexandria. THE PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL COMPANY.—AC cording to a statement of Mr. Stebbing, the president of the Southampton Chamber of Commerce, at a puhlic meeting held in that town last week, the Peninsular and Oriental Company spend every year in Southampton above 200,0001., which was thus detailed—viz., in the purchase of ships' stores about 24,0001.; in provisions, 14,0001.; in the payments of their engineering establish ment, 31,0001.; to shipbuilders, 11,0001.; to their officers, 25,0001.; to seamen, 45,0001.; in salaries to clerks and agents, 5,0001.; to engineers, artificers, and others, 45,0001. The Royal Mail Company, according to Mr. Stebbing, spend in Southampton about 130,0001. in a year. AN AUSTRALIAN SHIP ON FIRE. Intelligence was communicated to Lloyd's on Saturday of a most serious fire having taken place on board the ship Adelaide, bound to London from Adelaide, which narrowly in volved her loss, with a valuable cargo of wool, and more than a ton bbnd a half of gold. The alarming discovery was made on Feb. 4, when the ship was making her course to the Cape. The fire was raging amongst the bales of wool, and all exertions at the time seemed to fail in suppressing the destructive element, which kept burning until the 11th, keeping the crew in the most painful suspense. At length they succeeded in getting the vessel to the Mauritius, and, being placed in a safe position, her gold was removed and the deck scuttled, when the fire was extinguished. Her cargo was then got out, and it was ascertained to have suffered severely. After making good the damage she has sustained, she will resume her voyage to England. THE CONTINENT.—The accounts from the continent on Saturday were not of much importance, but there seems to be increased confidence with regard to an early adjustment of the Turkish question. At Paris the rate of exchange continues to show a more favourable tend ency for this country. From St. Petersburgh the quota tion remains steady, and exhibits no sign of an adverse movement. The Odessa letters of the 21st of March state that business was generally quiet, but that there was rather more inquiry for wheat. Confidence was entertained in that quarter also as to the final settlement of the dispute between Turkey and Russia, but, never theless, it is added there had thus far been no relaxation in the military preparations. By accounts from Madrid ' last. l i t o a a rw e e a r r g e t a b t h b reo ua rrangementsbeforetht e f for Cortex the u p Tuesday CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were estimated at from '7,000 to 8,000 bales, of which 2,500 American were taken for export and on speculation. The market closed tamely ; prices of all kinds were slightly in favour of buyers. The sales comprised 800 Perham and Maranham, at 6d. to 6d. ; 180 Bahia, at 6d. to 6d. ; 100 Egyptian, at 6fd.. to 13d. ; 300 Surat, at 3d. to 41d. - 50 Sea Island, at Is. 9d. to 2s. ld. ; and 6,000 American. Railway Shares were dull. The Corn Market is firm to-day. The following particulars of the Fruit trade are furnished by Messrs. Houghton. and Levy, of Liverpool " Opinions have been expressed that the high rates de manded for old Currants would have the effect of con siderably checking the consumption ; but we think, from the fact that in 1840 and 1841, when Currants ranged from 75s to 80s., the demand was greater than at a later period when selling at 28s. to 345., will be sufficient proof to show that high prices will not have the effect imagined. Our latest advices from the Currant growing countries, state, in consequence of the mild weather, many of the Vines have thus early commenced to shoot, and the new leaves, as well as the shoots, show in seve ral districts symptoms of the disease, the former being covered with blight, and the latter being deprived of their usual freshness and elasticity. In countries where the same disease had before shown itself, viz., France and Italy, experience proves that wherever it made its appearance it continued for several successive years, and it is recorded in the Zante Chronicles that a similar disease attacked the vineyards of that Island in the be ginning of last century, and that it continued for three consecutive years, and attaining its highest degree of in tensity in the second. The planters therefore look for ward to the forthcoming crop with most anxious appre hensions. The arrivals to this port during the month consists of about 170 tons from all parts. The condition of the Silk market is thus described by Mr. Henry W. Eaton : " March may be considered the quietest month experi enced by the silk trade for some time, which, however, may be attributed to perfectly natural causes, viz., the extent of previous operations, and the holidays usual at this period. Prices have continued firm, and it will be seen that the deliveries exceed those ever before reported, or what the most sanguine expectations could have anti cipated. In Chinas, early in the month, a few parcels changed hands, Isaltees from 17s. to 195., and Taysaams, 14s. 6d. to 17s. The accounts from China up to the Ist February, received this morning, report further sales of about 1,000 bales at previous rates, leaving an unsold stock of all sorts of 1,100 bales. The ex change had continued to advance, which it was feared would tend to check shipment generally. The exports of new silk, from Ist July to date, were 21,783 bales, against 14,400 bales at the same period last season. The quality, generally, appears good, but the fault of endyness in the particular sort before alluded to, has not diminished in the slightest degree. The letters from Calcutta, of the 19th February, state that a high price had been given for filature silk, but that the usual shippers of the current sorts were holding back in consequence of the high rates asked, and which, with very few exceptions, would leave a loss in this market. In Brutias, the imports have been under 100 bales, which have been sold chiefly for export. Persian silk remains without alteration, being still taken rather freely in the absence of suitable Bengals. Italian silk seems more neglected than ever, and some few bales of raws have been reshipped. The demand for China and Bengal thrown silk for export continues unabated." Advices of Saturday from Hamburgh state that business was dull. The rate of exchange was 13 3. Money was very abundant. Discounts 21 to 2/ per cent, At St. Petersburgh on the 22d ult., the weather was exceedingly cold. The Navigation, however, was expected to open at the end of this month. The letters per Great Britain are not of later date. -- The American letters are just delivered. - - - The English Stock Market has been steady, but inanimated. Consols realise 991 to par for Transfer and . loo tog for Account. Exchequer Bills of June are 7s. and those of March 7s. to 10s. premium. The New 5 per cents. have been quoted at 125. These are but rarely dealt in. East India Stock is at 262 to 262 a. The foreign intelligence appears to be tolerably satisfactory. The advices which the Committee of Mexican Bondholders have received from Mr. Falconnet, by this packet, are dated Mexico the 3d ult. The 70,000 dole. per balance of the cotton licenses, had not yet left Mexico, owing to there having been, as yet, no conducts to Vera Cruz ; and in the present provisional state of the Govern ment in Mexico, it was 'of course impossible to make any progress in matters depending on the action of the Executive. T'ifteen States had al ready given their votes in favour of General Santa Anna for President, so that he had already a majority, and it was thought his election would be nearly unanimous. The packet appears to have 26,200 dollars for Messrs. Baring, Brothers, and Co., on account of the dividends. In Mexican Bonds there is a large business doing, and they have ruled at 261, to 27--being very full prices. Grenada Deferred Stock is like wise in request at 11 ato /. Brazilian Old Bonds have been marked 100 ex. dividend. Peruvian Scrip keeps at 3i to 4 premium, and Venezuela Deferred Stock is quoted 17. The Spanish Certi ficates have risen I to i---being 8i to 9. The Swedish Loan is if discount, and the Turkish merely nominal. The New Deferred Spanish Bonds are at 24i. Portuguese 4 per Cents. are marked 39g. Russian Bonds are quoted 1171, French 3 Rer Cents. 80, with the exchange at 25 5, and Dutch 4 per Cents. 97. The Australian Gold Mine Shares are flatter, especially the Great Nugget Vein. The Californian are higher, and in demand. The Metcalfe (Jamaica) Mine are up to 16 and lei premium, and the Port Royal and Jamaica Company's Shares are sought after. We have been requested to state that there is no foundation for the report alluded to in the Daily News that the Directors of the Australian Consols Gold and Copper Mines Company were disposing of shares. The capital stock of the Company, nearly 60,0001., has long ago been fully subscribed. It may be observed that this is an Australian Land Company which derives part of its income from the payment of Royalties and Mineral Leases from the Corporation to whom they are granted, and not a Gold Company as stated in the same paper. The Land Company's Shares are neglected, and are nominally at about the previous rates. The Shares of the new Australian Banks are very depressed, and the Chartered of India, Aus tralia, and China have fallen to / premium. The London of Australia are to a discount. Railway Shares are firm generally, but there is very little doing. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official LW.) Business done. 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9n IC3 991 IC3,} ICO New 5 per Cent. Annuities 125 India Stock India Bonds, £lOOO 43 Ditto, under £IC3O 43 Consols for Account Exchequer Bills, lid. June. March. £lOOO £5OO 7 10 7 Small 7 10 7 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. lOOl x d Ditto New, 1852, 4i per Cent 984 Equador Bonds 5l Grenada Bonds, Deferred, Ditto Ex Dec., 1849, Coupon.. Greek ex over-due Coupons Mexican 3 per Cent 2 7 12 61 7} i i Ditto Account April 15, 274 4 Peruvian Bonds, 1849, 4i per Cent — Ditto Scrip Portuguese 5 per Cent. 4li 24 i Ditto, 4 per Cent 394 Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ........ Ditto, 4i per cent lo3t Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun Bl 9 4 p e Swedish Loan li d Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 24 4 p Venezuela Bonds 3i per Cent — Ditto Deterred, 1 per Cent l7 French Rentes, 3 per Cent Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent 66 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates. ..-• 97 xi:l THREE O'CLOCK. Consols 991 100 Ditto April Account ' IC) COLLISION IN THE IRISH CHANNEL.—On Saturday night last, about 9 o'clock, a collision, which might have been attended with fatal results, took place in the Irish Channel. As the Prince Arthur steamer, belong ing to the City of Dublin Packet Company, with the mail and a great number of passengers on board, was proceeding on her course towards Holyhead, she was, when about 15 miles from Kingstown, run into by a brig, about 200 tons burden, in full sail, the steamer at the time going at the rate of 12 or 15 miles an a hou e r. The bowsprit of the brig ran into the starboardapehddalmi box of the steamer, causing a tremendoust ves selsotgheether gone e disabled, and The steamer was, however, completely st av staving in dear, the oqrubartotebr-radeigckbtbloiaavte. Fortudnoawnelcy: tow by her Majesty ' taken s Theaseedbyburning red lights, was after lying for about to Holyhead at a quarter steamer Paisley, and brought . . to 9 o'clock yesterday morning.l The brig, which was an hour ina crippled condition, os steamer a h m e r e r c o w u a r s s e i ;ler its being discovered there was no knife at hand to cut the lashings of the canvass cover of the larboard quarter deck boat, which it took five minutes to lower. The con fusionnot muaenhd inured, panicen p b r o o a c r e d e d t r e brig had no lights, so that the collision took place within four minutes from her being seen by the captain and mate of the steamer, who kept a good look-out. It seems no life-preservers were on board. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA The season opened on Saturday evening with the avourite opera of Masaniello. The caste was the same as in former years, with the exception of Fenella, which was played by Mdlle. Melina Marmet; a lady not exactly, new to an English audience, as she was one of the ballet corps enlisted at this theatre in its first season. The part, which is well fitted to display the powers of a pantomimic artiste, was, in her hands, nothing but the tame and conventional peasant girl of a hundred ballets, Her action is rather graceful than energetic or expres". sive, and displayed not the least trace of originality or dramatic power. Nevertheless, the lady may turn out to be very useful in the ballet department. Signor Tam berlik sung and played the hero-fisherman with all his usual fire and energy, and few who witnessed his per formance would have imagined that he had had scarcely time to rest after a long and more than usually severe journey from St. Petersburgh. He gave the celebrated barcarole, in the second act, with a power and sweet ness which at once evinced that his voice has not suffered from a St. Petersburgh winter, what ever it may have done for that of other tenors. In the duet which immediately follows, he and Formes were encored, and deservedly so, for we have rarely heard - these two great artists put forward their powers with , more success. For some reason or other, the celebrated air which Masaniello sings over his sleeping sister was omitted, probably because Signor Tamberlik felt that after his recent fatigue it would be wiser in him to hus band his powers for the last act. If so, the unabated energy and spirit with which he went through the con cluding scene was a sufficient justification, and the loud applause which marked his exit at the head of the insur gents, battle axe-in hand, showed that the audience fully. pardoned him for the omission of one of the most favourite morceaux of the opera. Formes invested the ungrateful part of Pietro with a character of ruggedness and perversity quite in keeping with an envious and malcon tent insurrectionist ; his singing of the music allotted to it was unexceptionable, and in the concerted pieces and chorusses his magnificent voice came in with great effect. The graceful and pleasing Mdme. Castallan was the Elvira, and sang the part with all her usual sweetness and expression. Signor Mei its Alfonso, sang better than he played, which is not saying much ; and Signor Rommi bestowed on the little part of Borella all that care and attention which have made this gentleman one of the most favourite and useful seconder of the establishment. In the orchestra this year we miss two of its great orna ments, Bottesini and Piatti ; but it is still under the leadership of Mr. Costa, and therefore though not so com plete, it is as efficient as an orchestra can be. The over ture, one of Auber's most successful, and on Saturday night magnificently played, was encored. Of the chorus we cannot speak in so entirely favourable terms. The prayer Pietade o Cielo, at the end of the third act, sung with beautiful precision and harmony, secured, we own most deservedly, the usual encore ; but the market chorus and the Tri umphal march at the close of the fourth act, were scrambled through in a most unsatisfactory and discredit able manner. The other chorusses were no more than tolerable. We should certainly recommend the directors to bestow more care and attention on this most important department, as of late years we have noticed a consider able falling off therein, which, if continued, will consider ably mar any success they may obtain in other particulars. As for the ballet, we did not witness the divertissement in the first act, and, consequently, are scarcely in a posi tion to say whether the assurances held out by the programme in this respect have been carried out. Cer tainly we are not inclined to augur much from what we saw in the tarantella. On the whole, Saturday night was all that might be exp ec t e d, b o th by management and audience, from the first night of a season. Though the field is now clear and undisputed, the direc tors have still an arduous task before them, which will require as earnest vigour and ceaseless care as any of their former campaigns. So far they have achieved success by the most legitimate and praiseworthy means. The Royal Italian Opera has forced itself into its present proud position by sheer merit and excellence, against the force of public opinion, and in spite of what at one period of its career was nothing less than public prejudice. We have no appre hension that now, with " no rival near the throne," the directors will attempt to relax the standard of excellence which they themselves have set ; but we cannot help warning them that any such attempt will be fatal to the continuance of the public support. On Thursday night II Barbiere introduced a new tenor, Sig. Lachesi. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT (THIS DAY.) The April sessions of the Central Criminal Court were opened this morning before the Lord Mayor, the Re corder, Aldermen Carden and Cubitt, the Sheriffs, under Sheriffs, and other civic functionaries. The RECORDER, in his charge to the grand jury, said he regretted he could not congratulate them on the lightness of the calendar, for though it was not more than ordinarily heavy in regard to the character of the offences, there was about the average number of cases to be tried. There were only five cases which he thought it necessary to allude to as presenting anything of a peculiar nature. The calendar contained no less than three charges for murder. Two of these had been post• poned from the last sessions, and they would not, there fore, come before the grand jury. The other was an in dictment against a young woman for the murder of her child, and if the evidence adduced before them was the same as that which appeared on the depositions, there could be no doubt that she inflicted certain injuries upon the child ; but, as it lived some time afterwards, they would have to consider whether there was sufficient evidence to show that the injuries inflicted by the wretched mother •were the cause of death. There was also another case in which another wretched woman was indicted for assaulting her child with the intention of murdering it ; and when she was prevented doing more than she actually did, she stated that it was her intention to take the life of herself as well as that of her child. If that was proved to the satisfaction of the jury, it would be their duty to find a true bill for the full charge. The next case was that of a young man, who was in dicted for wounding his aunt, with the intention of mur dering her ; and if the circumstances detailed in the depositions were proved before them, they would be justified in this case also in returning a true bill. There was a case of more difficulty—a charge of manslaghter committed on the high seas. A Lascar sailor, and another sailor named Harrison were indicted for murdering a Las car on b oar d a ship. It appeared that some personal violence was inflicted on the deceased by way of correction ; aid he might here mention that the commanding authority on board a vessel was perfectly justified in adMinistering correction to any of the crew, when that was necessary for the preservation of order and the prevention of mutiny; but still no man, either on the high seas or elsewhere, was permitt e d to use more violence than was absolutely necessary. If they should be of opinion that unnecessary violence was used, as undoubtedlyappeared from the depositions, and that death ensued in consequence of it, they would, in that event, return a bill for manslaughter. It seemed that the alleged violence was committed on two separate occasions—on the first by the Lascar, in the absence of Harrison ;. and on the second by Harrison, in the pre sence of the Lascar. Now, according to the law, in a case of manslaughter, there could be no accessory before or after the fact ; therefore, unless both were present at the time when the offence was committed, they could not be jointly indicted for manslaughter. The deceased Survived both assaults, but he died on the subsequent day. The question for the decision of the jury was, whether he died from the injuries he received, and, if so, which of the accused parties it was who caused his death. The magistrate before whom the matter was investigated seemed to be of opinion that both could be indicted on a joint case of manslaughter ; but he (the Recorder) thought that was not sustained by the facts which had been adduced. As Harrison did not witness the first assault, he could not be held responsible for that ; and, on the other hand, if the death of the man was to be attributed to the violence employed on the subsequent occasion the Lascar could not be indicted for manslaugh ter. The evidence was extremely conflicting, but as the grand jury had not to try the case, they had better send it for further inquiry, if they considered there were some grounds for the charge. The next case was also one of considerable difficulty. It was a charge against a young woman for concealing the birth of her child. By the act of Parliament, in order to constitute the offence, there must be concealment, and the body of the child must be dead. The facts of that case were somewhat curious. It appeared that some persons labouring on a canal saw a woman plunging in the water as if she were drunk. Two of them rescued her, and as she was being dragged from the water, the body of a child was seen to fall from her person, but from what part it was not dis tinctly stated. There were, however, other circum stances, which left little doubt that she was delivered of the child a very short time previously, at a house in the neighbourhood, e neighbourhood, that house presenting unmistakeable signs of a birth having taken place. The next squestion f was, whether the child was alive or dead. alive, the offence would amount to co n e could ce t h n m urder t b e ut h if they were of opinior that it was dead, s e indicted for the leer charg o e birth. There wa4 onlyone of a young woman who, in --- the th r e ca c s o e n wh a i l c m h e h n e felt o t i s t necessary to ns entios—tht rbite thde. person f on ou of found a a fit of jealousy, threw some a vitriol oo man with whom she had formerly cohabited. him in the company of another woman, and in a moment and jealousy threw the vitriol at him. o desperationof Pa rliament made it an offence of f e l ony to Thethrow act co rrosive fluid of any description on another per son ith intent to do him some grievous bodily harm, or to disfigure him. It appeared not improbable that her intention was to injure, not the woman, but the man in whose company she was; and if that were so, she could not, according to recent decisions, be indicted for committing the offence with intent to do grievous bodily harm. This, however, involved a point of law which had been frequently discussed, but it might be advantageously discussed again ; and unde r th e c i rcumstances it would Y perhaps be better to send the case for futher investiga tion by the petty jury. The learned Recorder then re mitted the grand jury to the discharge of their duties. THE SHIP ADELAIDE.—The Mauritius papers contain an account of the arrival of the sailing ship Adelaide, from South Australia for London, with a valuable cargo of gold, wool, copper ore, &c., after having narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire. The conduct of Capt. Tremaine and the crew is mentioned in terms of great praise. The greater part of the cargo had been dis charged, including the gold (40,660 ounces) and the wool, the latter considerably damaged. SPORTING- INTELLIGENCE. SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCCIV. With respect to future events, but few changes were brought about at Northampton ; the only "moves" of any note being the sudden elevation of Ruby to the position of premier for next year's Derby, and the ad vancement of Mr. Parr's Metropolitan "pot" to 7 to 2, taken. On Friday, Contentment was all the go, nothing else went down, 3 to 1 was taken freely as long as layers could be found. On Saturday he was in immense force, both east and west, and sto 2 was booked to some extent. It struck me as being particularly in dicative of which way the wind lay, when I observed several of the Arlington -street magnates, who, during the last month or two, have made a dead set against him for all his engagements, not looking quite so con tented as usual, and instead of being anxious to lay, as heretofore was the case, doing quit t'other, and nibbling quietly all the threes they could. Yesterday the furore had not abated in the least, and as little as 2 to 1 was taken about this wonderful animal. The only other horse in force for the Metropolitan is Snowdon Dunhill, about whom not more than 6 to 1 is to be obtained. Peggy and Pug Orrock are inquired after occasionally, but not backed - for much ; both will run very forward in the race. Deerhound and Terpsichore (the latter especially) are very "fishy." The list of fixtures for the present week embraces no less than eight meetings, viz., Croxton Park on Tues day and Wednesday ; Cheltenham Steeplechases on the same days ; West of Scotland Steeplechases on Tuesday ; Wensleydale Steeplechases on Wednesday ; Epsom Spring Meeting (Metropolitan) on Thursday ; and Steeplechases on Friday ; South of Scotland, and Leices tershire, Northamptonshre and Warwickshire Farmers' Steeplechases on Friday ; and the meeting of the Liver pool Hunt brings the week's sport to a terminus on Saturday. CROXTON PARK MEETING.—This aristocratic and ex clusive meeting is marked to commence t o - morrow at half-past one ; but, considering the want of punctuality of the gentlemen jocks, probably half-past two will be nearer the mark. All the seats in the neighbourhood are full of company, and an unusual attendance of the aristocracy will be the consequence. The first stake is the Scurry Stakes, which has yet to close and name. The second on the list is the Granby Handicap of 20 sovs. each, h. fr. about a mile and a half, The subscrip tion list numbered 65, 44 of whom were `non-contents. The top weight is Russborough ; his running is ex tremely doubtful. Warwick, in consequence of his acci dent on Monday week, when en route to Lincoln, is an absentee. Sir Robert, Faux Pas, Heriot, Harp, Harrier, Ronunerator, Caurire, Jack-in-the-Corner, Humphrey, Old Rowley, and perhaps Galvanism and another or so will be found at the post, and will no doubt furnish the best race for the Granby we have had for many years. I have notmarked Gladiole as a starter, believing that she will be reserved for the Gold Cup on the following day, and that her stable companion, Humphrey, will repre sent Lord Chesterfield's interests. Taking the running at Lincoln between Harp and Caurire as perfectly true, the latter ought again to beat the former ; and to the best of these two or Humphrey I shall look for the winner. P.S.—The Heriot has a first-rate gentleman jock up, is meant, and with Humphrey will probably fill the first and second places for the Granby Handicap. THE CITY AND SUBURBAN HANDICAP.—Out of the strong entry of 84 whioh this stake has obtained, it is not an easy task to select the winner, I fancy, however, that he will be found in Longbow, Prime Minister, Ethelbert, or the Varmint, with a preference for the first and third named. Allegro has been strongly fancied, but I cannot believe he is fast enough to beat the lot I have mentioned. THE GREAT METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.—The field for this stake is likely to be larger than was imagined last week ; the probable starters are the following :—Candle wick, Redmond O'Hanlon, Terpischore (d), Madeline, Pug Orrock, Happy Joe, Richmond, Grapeshot, Snowdon Dunhill, Fiom ma Coul, Invasion, Ireland's Eye, Peggy, Contentment, Rosalba, Lampedo, Mr. Wreford's filly, and perhaps Gadabout, Tobolski, Deerhound, and Pan tomime. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. HOO RACES. SATURDAY. CARMERS' PLATE of 40 sovs., given by the Hunt. Heats, about a mile and a half. Mr. Cox's Old Sam, aged, 11st 41b...(Mr. Bevill) 1 1 Mr. Nightingale's Black Spot, 4 yrs 13st (Owner) 2 2 Mr. Archer's Rebel, aged, 12 s t 71b (Mr. Thurnall) 0 3 Mr. Jonathan Cox's Walter Gay, 5 yrs, list 41b (Mr. Elwes) 3 0 Eight others ran. The HIINERS' STAKES of 10 soya. each, with 25 added. Eight subs. Mr. W. Reid's Harpenden, list 71b (Owner) 1 Mr. Wilshere's Bayonet, list 121 b (incl. 51b extra) (Mr. Elwes) 2 Mr. G. Bishop's Cardinal, list 71b...(Capt. W. Peel) 3 CLARET STAKES of 15 soya. each, 10 ft, with 25 added, for three-year-olds and upwards. Weight for age. About a mile and a half. Eight subs. Mr. T. Parr's Selina, aged, list 51b (Capt. Little) 1 Mr. Shafto's King of Troy, 4 yrs, lOst 101 b (Mr. Bevill) 2 Mr. Marson's Montenegro, 4 yrs, lOst 101 b (Mr. Thurnall) 3 The SCURRY STAKES of 5 sovs. each ; 71b each. The winner to be sold for 40 sovs. Half a mile. Eleven subs. Mr. Leigh's Manufacturer (Capt. Little) 1 Mr. M. Halsey nd The Black Man (Mr. Prime) 2 Mr. Hussey's Carbuncle, aged (Mr. Bevill) 3 HANDICAP STAKES of 15 sovs. for beaten horses. Half a mile. Mr. Archer's Rebel, aged, list (Mr. Elwes) 1 Mr. Nightingale's Black Spot, 4 yrs, 12st...(Owner) 2 BETTING AFTER THE RACES. CHESTER CRP.— 30 to 1 agst Braxey (taken). DERBY.-12 to 1 agst the Reiver (taken to 1004.). 20 to 1 agst Contentment winning the Metropolitan Stakes and Trifle the Chester Cup. 9,000 to 15 and 3,000 to 5 laid agst Contentment win ning the Metropolitan Stakes, West Australia the Two Thousand, Trifle the Chester Cup, and Orestes the Derby. 15,000 to 10 against Contentment winning the Metro politan Stakes, Sittingbourne the Two Thousand, Braxey the Chester Cup, and Honeywood the Derby. 20,000 to 25 and 8,000 to 10 agst Contentment winning the Metropolitan Stakes, West Australian the Two Thousand, Trifle the Chester Cup, and Umbriel the Derby. 7,5000 to 5 agst Longbow winning the City and Suburban Handicap, West Australian the Two Thou sand, Lady Evelyn the Chester Cup, and Orestes the Derby. NEWTON SECOND SPRING MEETING. SATURDAY. The GRAND STAND HANDICAP of 3 sovs. each, wick 20 added. Second to save his stake. One mile. 11 subs. Mr. Tempest's Jupiter, 5 yrs 1 Mr. Moore's Ploughboy, 4 yrs Four others ran. FREE HANDICAP SELLING STEEPLECHASE of sovs, each, with 30 added. About three miles. Mr. H. Harding's Royal Blue, aged 1 Mr. H. Harding's Miss Purdon 2 Two others ran. The Newton Selling Race was won easily in two heats by Augean, beating Criuple Rate, Ploughboy, and Fusilier. TESTIMONIAL TO THE LESSEE OF DRURY- LANE. On Saturday afternoon the corps dramatique of Drury lane Theatre presented Mr. Smith, the present lessee, with a very handsome gold snuff-box, of fifty guineas' value. The inscription on the inner lid ran as follows: " Presented by the ladies and gentlemen connected with the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, during the season 1853, as a mark of respect to E. T. Smith, Esq., lessee." Mr. STIRLING, the stage-manager' in presenting Mr. Smith with the box said, amongst o ther things, that their speOulations in 'Gold had been eminently successful, and that when the old ship " Drury " was running into shallow water, and shoaling upon " Sands," such sands, instead of proving quicksands, had turned L o e utas honourt o auri ferous as the modern "digging s. exertions the Mr. SMITH, in returning thanks, gratefully ebx acknow ledged the compliment paid him, and spoke in the high est terms of the cordial unanimity that existed amongst- b t h e e then l ladies es s and u g n eztrn a e n n d b y throughw hom hadh w e ho se old " craft" had been so gloriou,s,lyconkterpoltlinagflopatc.me towards h alluded, in most impressive language to the cruel and m im en se tiz w ed he a n, recent arbitrary conduct pursued by the at tlththe eleventh instance n ce theatrical of it a s e establishments , xercised he had gone to considerable expe a n n s d e i n d p i i c e t c e e d , t i li ts ey pe i rf nt o e r r m p a o o se e d e, had received from their office, in a communication he version he had transmitted e, they admitted that the wholly unobjectionable. to them for pre-perusal was applause, by e• He concluded, amidst much his best friends, hoping that he should ever the pub] . • do his duty to gheotutir,:ganudp ai n a nt ft l Ir ee s e wr 'e r . ' a continuance of it,, and,'by so doing, long merit their patronage. --Sunday Times. THE OVERLAND MAIL.— STATE OF TRADE.—The com mercial advices by the Overland Mail were again rather discouraging, the markets for manufactured goods both at Bombay and Calcutta showing continued dulness, notwithstanding an abundant supply of money. From China the accounts are rather more favourable, and al though at Canton business had been suspended by holi days, at Shanghai there were symptoms of improvement, and prospects were considered good. A notification had appeared in the Pekin Gazette, which was looked upon as indicating a disposition on the part of the Govern ment to legalize the opium trade by substituting increased fines, which may be regarded as equi 'valent to Customs' duties in place of the exist ing punishments for its introduction, the wants of the Imperial Treasury in consequence of the rebellion hav ing suggested the alteration. Subjoined is the document in question :—" On the 27th day of the 11th moon the high commands were received as follows : --` A memorial has been presented by the Censer Chang-Wei, stating that the laws against opium are inoperative by reason of their excessive severity, and proposing to abate the punishments and increase the fines. Let the nine Great Ministers and High Chancellors of the General Council of State take this matter into mature consideration, and report the result of their deliberations to us. Respect this.' " MARKET NEWS--(THIS DA T) CORN EXCHANGE. Although most of the country markets held on Saturday were but moderately supplied with wheat, the demand for all kinds ruled very inactive, at barely stationary prices. In barley and malt, the business doing was comparatively small. The sale for oats ruled steady, but beans, peas, and flower met a dull inquiry. The latest advices from New York represent the demand for flour as in a very inactive state, on former terms. _ In grain next to nothing was doing. Throughout the Conti nent, the trade has continued dull. Up to our markets, last week, the receipts of English grain were but moderate. From abroad, we received 26,562 quarters of wheat, 1,270 barley, 634 oats, 4,725 rye, 2,018 bean s , 33 t ares, 34 linseed, 8 mustard seed, 16 sundry seeds, 990 sacks, and 8,967 barrels of flour. The quantity of wheat received fresh up to this morn ing's market, coastwise from Essex and Kent, was very moderate, but in somewhat improved condition. From the east coast, the arrivals were very limited, and the receipts by land carriage from the Midl an d C oun ti e s and other parts of Englan were comparatively trifling. Notwithstanding that the show of samples of both red and white was small, the demand for all kinds was far from active ;—nevertheless nearly, or quit e , th e - w h o l e of t h e supply changed hands , at prices equal to those of Monday last. There was a slight improvement in the demand for wheat for delivery during the present month ; but, as the growers generally demanded higher rates than the millers were disposed to give, the business doing was trifling. The show of foreign wheat, ex 'granary, as well as from fresh arrivals, was seasonably extensive. For good heavy parcels we had a moderate inquiry, at full currencies; but low and middling kinds commanded very little attention. Floating cargoes of wheat—the number of which was no means large—moved off steadily, and previous rates were well supported. With both English and foreign barley we were but moderately supplied. Malting parcels generally changed hands at full prices. In grinding and distilling sorts very little was doing, at late rates. Malt, the supply of which was moderate, moved off slowly, on former terms. The aggregate supply of oats was very moderate. All qualities sold steadily, but we have no change to notice in the quotations. Very few English beans were brought forward; yet the sale for them was inactive, at late figures. Peas were in short supply, and sluggish inquiry, on;_ previous terms. We were well supplied with most kinds of flour, - the quiry for which ruled in ac ti ve , a t f ormer currencies. A CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. Wheat—Essex & Kent, Malt—Chevalier 61s to 6 3 ' Red •• •• new 42, to 480 Oats Yorkshire and Ditt0..........., old 50s 54s Lincolnsh. i feed 16s 22 ' Ditto, White new 44s 548 Potato Ditt0........ old 49s 60s Youghal and Cork Nctriolk and Lin- Black l6s 19' coin, Red, old Cork, White Ditto new ...... Scotch,Feed 2ls 25 ' Rye—Old •••• • • .. Beans—Tick 348 35 5 Pigeons 36 414 , arley —Grinding ... Malting . Chevalier .. . Walt—Suffolk and Nor- 47s 53s 37s 478 29s 31s 29s 31$ 28s 30s 31$ 34e 358 38s Je Peas—(rep 3le 35 3 Maple 33e 3 6s White..• •• •• .• 36, 403 Boilers • folk .. .. .. ••• . .. 54s 588 Flour—Town-made... 418 4 ° Brown ...•. .. .. .. .. .. 468 528 Suffolk ••—.. .. .. 318 3 , 47, Kingston and Ware 57e 60s Stookta & Norfolk 34s S' SMITHFIELD. For the time of year the imports of foreign stock into London, last week, were good, viz., 2,761 head. During corresponding period in 1852, we received 1,185 ; in 185 1 ; 2,218 ; in 1850, 1,151; in 1849, 1,061; and in 1848, 1,3 93 head. IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WASTE. From Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigfii Nieu Die') ..... 344 ... Ostend l4l Harlingen 296 Antwerp 16 Bordeaux ...... 10 ... Rotterdam_ 262 1,044 Tot al .... 928 1,350 _ ... _ 161 ... 66 The yearly comparison of weekly imports is as under :--- Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pie' 205 ... 664 316 ... 400 ... 1,547 ... 232 ... 29 1852.. 1851.. 1850 272 ... 737 ... 142 .. 1849 259 F 604 ... 196 1848 526 ... 777 ... ... 92 • On the whole the supply of foreign stock in to..daY market was tolerably good, and in fair average condition.„ From our own grazing dist r i c t s th e arr i va l s of beitn fresh up this morning were d ec id e dl y ex t ens i ve, and °, full average weight. Notwith s t an di ng th a t th e attendant of butchers was tolerably good, the d e m an d f or a ll kinds beasts was in a depressed state, at a decline in the quotS tions paid on Monday last of 2d per 81bs, and a total clear ance was not effected. A very few superior Scots reali 4s 2d.'; but the general top figure for beef did not exc° 4s per 81bs. The receipts from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and CO; bridgeshire amounted to 2,000 S co t s an d s h ort horns • 10 : 1) other parts of England, 700 o f var i ous ki nds ; and; fr°' Scotland, 700 horned and polled Scots. There was a considerable increase in the supply of sheeL ); hence, the demand for that description of stock vii t heavy, at a fall in the cu rrenc i es o f 2d per 81bs. I°t very superior old downs, i n th e woo l, c h ange d hank', 5s 2d, but the general price was 5s per Blbs. Out of wool, the quotations were from 4s to, in some few 7 0 stances, 4s 2d per 81bs. Lambs, the arrivals of which We ; good, sold slowly, at from 5s to 6s per 81bs. We were well supplied with calves, for which the quiry was heavy, at 2d per Blbs less money. Per 81bs to sink the offals. 8. d. 8. u e Prime Southdown 410 5 0 Large crse. calves 3 4 4, 0 Prime small do 4 2 ; 0, Large hogs 210 1 0 Small porkers 3 6 1 0 Suckling calves 20 0 g' 0 Quarter old pi g s 19 0 2* 5s Od to 6s Od. Beasts 4 677 Beasts FOREIGN STIFFLY. 00 1 Sheep and Lambs 22, , 290 Sheep A d Calves 203 Calves ll / Pigs l9O Pigs A statement and comparison of the supplies and prices a 0 stock exhibited and sold in Smithfield Cattle MarketA k Monday, April 5, 1852, and this day, Mo n d a y, Apr" 1853. . s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts ...2 10 to 3 0 Second quality ...3 2 3 4 Prime large oxen 3 6 2 8 Prime Scots, dm. 310 4 0 Inferior sheep ...3 8 3 10 Second quality _4 0 4 4 Prime crse.-wlled.4 6 4 8 Lambs . TOTAL SUPPLY. Per Blbs, to sink the offals. April 5, 1852. April 4, 15 , s. d. •. d.,s. d. 0 . tl Coarse and inferior beast s ... 2 4to 2 6 2 10 to Second quality ditto ... ... 2 8 3 0 3 2 Prime large oxen ... • 3 2 i 4 3 6 S Prime Scots, &c 3 2 3 4'3 10 4 IL I Coarse and inferior sheep ... 2 6 2 B'3 8 S Second quality ditto ... ... 210 3 4 4 0 4 ; Prime coarse woolled ditto ... 3 6 3 8 4 6 Prime Southdown ditto 310 4 24 10 5 I Lambs ... .• • ... 4 8 60 5 0 6 , Large coarse calves ▪ 3 0 3 S 3 4 I 6 Prime small ditto ... 310 4 2 4 2 Large hogs ... .• . • 2 6 3 62 10 ••• Neat small po r k ers 3 8 310 3 6 . 11 Beasts— ••• . 3,368 440 Sheep 22,630 Calves._ ... • "• •'' ••• 178 pi gs ... 410 SUPPLIES ox SAL; April • E 7, 1851.—Beasts, 4,100 ; 0 04 1 9 3 5 ° -; Pshigee'p46l lambs, 23, 90 and p l i a .il m B b , s lB 2 s 3 o ,.l_lo ß ; ea c s a t lz 3 e5, ,7 salves, 111; pigs, 250. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. we re on a very . extensive scale for the tinle h e the supplies on offer, slaughtered ir',"d The arrivals of c ountry-killed ..meat up to these ma rkil metropolis, To -day, tolerably good, whilst the general deni"'" Blbs by the carcase. y la e s a t r e e T k as follows : tee d. s. d. ' Do.;middling 3 0 3 2 h Do., prime large 3 4 3 6 i ß a c i e n f a L d e U r inferio r B r . .......... 6 2 10 Do., do. small 3 6 3 8 Pork, largo 2 10 3 4 Lambs s. d. Mutton, Inferior 3 4 Do. prime Do.,middling ...... 3 8 4 6 Veal .. .........3 4 2 , ........... Pork, small ... 3 6 5s Od to 6s Od. BOROUGH HOP. Our market is very scantily supplied with all kin as hops, in which only a moderate business is igko follows :—Mid and East Kent pockets, 112 s to IV Weald of R ent, 100 s to 120 s ; Sussex, 95s to _ 4 4' per cwt. A n i mport of 37 bales took place from Alitv last week. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. The receipts of homegrown potatoes have been limited since Monday last ; but the imports from ab have been liberal : viz., 250 tons from Havre, 360 f! - P Dunkirk, 40 from Gravelines, 30G from Rouen, 50 l e r Calais, 4 baskets from Harlingen, and 4 bags f rom Rot✓ dam. The demand is firm, at the following quotation l ' York Regents, 115 s to 1658 per ton ; Li nco l ns hi r e ," 6 ./ to 110 s. foreign, 95s to 1355; Scotch ditto, 9 5s to 1355; WOOL. (1 During the week a full average business has been i n English wool, the stocks of which are unusually and pnces were steadily supported. Amongst the s ale . o iy l been one of 50,000 lbs. for the Belgian markets. Sline is now becoming pretty general ; nevertheless, any deel increase in the supply is wholly out of oj, 1 0 foreign and colonial wools very little isdoing ports have been confined to only 19 bales from Oaten" , ditto from Hamburgh, and 6 from Antwerp. SEEDS. Fair av erage arr i vals of floating cargoes of linseed t ie been rep or t e d s i nce our last, but the demand is less s9,:pe, Sales of Bl ac k S ea have been quoted at from 48s to 4 10 quarter. On th e s p o t Bl ac k S ea an d C alcutta are !e,V from 48s 6d to 495, and Petersburgh 470 6d per q East Indi a ra p esee d i s dull, at from 48s to 50 s . ' l l , ,' Ttunlp,White, per bush. 9s to lie C arraway, new ...... :NS IF Swede ........ • • lOs 12s Coriander, new 159 4 1 I.sustard, Brown—. • • 7s 103 Hempseed, per quarter 3 /2; White, new •• .• 7s 0d 103 Linseed, Eng. sowing.. Tsres,winter, new .. 4s 6d 5s Od Crushing 4$ 10 , Spring •• • • ...... 6s Od 6s 6d Baltic .......... Canary, per quarter .. 40s 448 Od essa • • 48 ' ,0 Rye grass.. •••••• ..•. 28s 34 s Li nseed Cake, pr. ton-- 10;0 Cloyer,RetlEng. (cwt.) 48s 633 English .. .81 1 59 iO l O White •• • .... • • 463 66s Foreign, per ton 7110 Foreign Red...... 48s 63s Rape Cakes, pr ton 61 OS 94 1 ' White.. • • 50s 7( s Rapeseed,New, prlst 2210 0 Trefoil, new.......... 264 30s TALLOW. ,It Notwithstanding that the amount of business cloillogi our market since Mond a y l as t h as b een b y no ino3ll/0,, tensive, the demand is steady, and prices have an oroov tendency. To-day P.Y.C. on th e spo t i s selling °,"esdi' 44s 9d to 45s per cwt. Town tallow 44s to 45s not rough fat 2s 6d per Sibs. 1849. 1850. 1881. T 1852. ------4, 51,,, 36,281 4%882 ;;19c1,' 40s Od to 3"s 6d r„ 0`) 00s Od to 35s 9d 40;010 1,296 1,19 S n 62/, 84,083 94,724 :0" 1,269 276 o 94,846 101,072 411 64 558 04 stock this day Price of Y. C. .... Delivery last , week .. Ditto from June 1.... Arrivals last week .. Ditto from June 1.... Prieto or Town .2,8049 39s 6d to 00s Odi 899 87,U6 1,470 108,282 411fril 30,558 36s 9d to 37s Od 1,613 8,3180 88,627 NS Od - o