The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-27 00:00:00

Fund more than incomes from professions, yet rateable property must have a Legacy Duty laid upon it t o make all equal and fair. The ingenious c hancellor, h owever, h a d scarce l y ru bb e d hi s bruises from this fall than he perpetrates another. ii.:nnfea gyrnannr of professional why no difference could be made professional and trade incomes was, that they could not possibly be fairly valued ; yet a days roll on, and down he comes to the idouse with the information that, on behalf of in comes inherited from real property, he is quite competent to value them fairly, and that suitable tables shall be duly provided if they will but grant him his new Legacy Duty. e showed the actuaries the door most contemp tuously in his great Budget speech, but he opens it again, and in v it es th em b ac k w ith ou t a p o l og y when pleading for Legacy Duties on entailed Property. Mr• GLADSTONE has fairly bewildered the Rouse, and almost every one else, on this subject. The only thing disc ern ibl e i s , that, in regard to Legacy Duties, he has dealt so gently with landed property i n comparison with personal property, t ,hat 'very soon the o ld c l amou r will be renewed if egacy Duti es are t o b e re t a i ne d a t a ll ; f or as suredly it w ill never be endured t h at b es id e an e _Val Incom e T ax , a t ra d es m a n's or a medical Dutiesee's childr en s h ou ld p a y P ro b a te and Legacy amounting to 3 per cent., and a landlord's wealthy heir should pay a Legacy Duty of only 1 3 er cent., and that, too, on a value estimated by the extent o f hi s lif e i n t eres t on ly There will e many a fight yet of town and country on this question. Against Succession Duties on land there lies but one serious objection—the difficulty, eaters on namely, an heir's raising money when he first an estate ; a difficulty which Mr. GLAD STONEn_ Partly meets by spreading the small pay :nett for thi s c l ass over e ight years ; and which erY Prudent p a rent might easily provide against b y a life assurance equal to the amount of duty required. Against Succession Duties on strictly Personal property there is, on the other hand, the g r and objection we have already so frequently adverted to, that they are taxes on capital itself. T hey absorb into unproductive taxes the very e4 Pital which should produce income, sustain ex penditure, and thus generate revenue. Succes sion taxes on personal property do, in fact, kill th e goose which lays the golden eggs. With sue "ion taxes on land it is different. The land, Whether sold or mortgaged to pay the duties, still Produces in the hands of the working tenant the ali ne income as before. Mr. GLADSTONE must, another session, if the progress of events tide him over this, reconsider and modify these duties e ntirely ; or he must be prepared to abolish them. .It is, however, worth while to cast a glance at h i s first grand pretext for playing fast and loose w ith these serious questions. He triumphantly told Mr. DISRAELI that the twopence difference 'early, which he ignorantly proposed to make be tween precarious and certain incomes, was already a cle by the nature of the case. Landholders 41 -ready paid ninepence in the pound, while trades men and professions only paid sevenpence, and the differen ce was due to the Burdens on Land! We t hought that old figment had been utterly dis tlrded. Even the Times seems afraid to endorse 'lr. GLADSTONE'S statements on this subject, and 1 1.. 10 Wonder. Poor rates, highway rates, and tithes ;7 41. • DISRAELI had consigned to the winds ; his br eath wafted away these burdens as feathers, and t h• ey have never since been heard of. They went i nto the Atlantic or the North Sea—we forget which way the wind was blowing at the time. It Was at least most clear that all these charges go w ith the occupation, the landlord's rent is net so fa r as they are concerned. Mr. GLADSTONE has, ho wever, enumerated, as a part of the deductions to be made from the gross rental, several charges which ge nerally are not proper deductions, or which, at eas• t, need not be. One was abatement inrents I Why it serve s a l an dl or d r i g ht if h e has to pay Income T ax for such a thing. What a system is this to literal rack-rent, that the tenant lives as the Political and game-preserving serf of his landlord ! W ho, except in cases of clear calamity, ever hears of m anufacturers or shopkeepers begging for abate ments 0 11 rent ? Mr. GLADSTONE ought to have told the Si r R o b erts an d t h e S qu i res th a t a ll suc h d eductions from gross rental might be not evaded, but meritoriously avoided, by long leases at rea aenable rents. When have we ever heard of Petitions for " abatement" from the Lothian far- Men ? Then, again, he spoke of repairs, fencing, and draining. Why all these are, as the rule, done by the occupier. If the landlord does them, like Earl FITZWILLIJOI, he does it by borrowing Mon e y a t 3 per cent., and charging the tenant 5 Per cent., an operation, which, in Lombard-street, W ould be deemed perfectly satisfactory, and cer tainly no deduction from a man's tax-paying Power. Insurance, too, which the proprietor of - "Ts, and cargoes, and trading stock must equally 13 ,, 4 3 7 3 is, so far as land is conce rned, sim p l y nil. ' - nd it depends wholly on the landlord whether or not he agrees with the tenan t to insure the 11e nses and buildings, in which case he would re ceive hi s ren t net so far as relates to th at. We all know instances of thi s bein g do ne. His deduction for clerks, bai liffs, sub c a g e nts, &c., we must think a somew hat fan one. Partly, the tenants would reply, the fe wer of these gentlemen you tax yourself w ith th e better, we must prefer to deal directly with the landlord himself ; partly, that, if gentle- Itie o choos e t o re ti re f rom the personal manage zaent of thei r own e states, they should not corn ,.lilLain of the price of a life of ease ; and partly, c ,'at even th e f un d s , or an y p ro perty, cannot alto tether escape parallel charges ; they are, however, it trivial. Th e mo st serious item, no doubt, is atle charges. Here, however, two considerations fre e nce occur. One that no property is entirely e from them ; the man engaged in business at all ei e xtensively can as little dispense with his tersoli oil as with his banker. The receipt stamps also, nl oney transactions, from the comparative fre hateneY with which money and stock, too, change ut a ds, may approach pretty nearly to the amount r eal tall lPS for law proceedings in connection with t ant Property. B u t a second and more . impor- L IN consideration is that landlords and their of v :_ e rs have hith er to been the great opponents ti tle 7 effective step towards the simplification of settle Th e y h ave c h osen a system of mortgages, meats, arid incumbrances of all sorts ; they th e chosen to hide all these incumbrances from 4 , 8 t tot l ight of day, not wishing to appear th e half b an k ru pt a nd nominal owners of do mains which give them social considerati on . e4t tins will, theref o re, refuse to make land "as th e o f transf er as a ra il wa y share" (which, by by land ed , Pays the same transfer stamp duties as a penal ty ete) why, they must go on to pay the f Lisu of their not unnatural pride. Many and y a pound of Income Tax is and will be paid, 4ke• th e of same reason, or even from the necessity _ g appearances. most unaccountable charge Mr. GLADSTONE • 1 48.411 'i is arrears of rent ! Alas ! a poor trades all as 110 allowance for arrears of book debts at ' until reco ver he has taken legal measures for their , gre J ---- the cost of recovery being often a ter th 'At e % an the amount of debt and Income Tax allowed The landlord, on the contrary, has credi tor a claim for one year's rent against all other c o ,„ a ! Let not Mr. GLADSTONE venture again - "ariao • `re muss n) in regard to arrears, between the A r e iuus e t and the unfortunates of Schedule D. seu t . the subject, however, for the pre sTe with makes th the full conv i c ti on th a t, if Mr. GLAD he look fairly again at the items of which tr ess 11 P his 16 per cent. deduction from the t ° 1 p er ei ne of landl or d s, h e w ill fi n d it reduced ghat cent., or rather to nothing. But, if so, os euria e gacY es °I . his boasted Income Tax and D uty Mutual Adjustment Budget ? T Ritlip, %ora• -- of TiIINEW AUSTRALIAN CONTRACT.— m A a C . ,;: 111 g to the conditions of the new Australian three li ports, the contractors must state at which of the e a(1 Melbourne, S ydney, or Adelaide they propose to b e and they will be bound accordingly, but they will poraitc liberty to touch at either, or both of the other two s ea r ; ; ',as inay suit their convenience. If the contractl:T e fo r 4 1 '4 touch at all the three ports they must provid tot to 4 elivery of mails at the ports at which they do ded„,, ll , eh. If they land all the mails at Adelaide a e all ow - ",'°n of fourteen days will be made for the ti s m er. vi e , e`i the for the performance of the whole`ma4l of , and • ye ll a If they land them at Melbourne a deduction •-laY3 will be made, MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.) CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, including 500 Pernam and Maruham taken for export, and 500 American on speculation. The market was quiet, but steady. The sales comprised 5,000 American ; 1,000 Pernam and Maranham, at 6id. to 7d. ; 100 Bahia, at 60. ; 300 Egyptian, at 6/d. to Bd. ; and 500 Surat, at 3id. to 44d. Railway Shares were flat. In the Produce Markets this week there has been a moderate business done. Sugar has been rather lower ; coffee has maintained full prices ; cocoa has been cheaper ; rice at previous rates ; cotton firm, and also tallow. In tea there have been numerous speculative purchases. The letters and papers to the 33d February from Port Philip, brought by the Atrevida, furnish a few interesting items of news. A Geelong letter states :-- " The price of gold during the week has continued to advance, and is likely to attain a higher figure still. This change may be principally ascribed to the sudden alteration in the exchange in favour of gold to theextent of 5 per cent. The great event of last week. the finding of the monster nugget in Canadian-gully, Ballarat, has been eclipsed by a more brilliant discovery revealed to the public on Monday last, viz., the finding of two enor mous masses of gold in quartz, weighing upwards of 176 pounds troy. These magnificent specimens of our mineral wealth weighed as follows :—Larger mass, 93 lb. 2 oz. 5 dwts. ; smaller ditto, 83 lbs. 9 oz. 5 dwts ; total, 176 lbs. 11 oz. 10 dwts. They were found in Canadian gully, also within 30 yards of the spot where the first large lump came from, at the depth of about 50 feet ; and as other smaller nuggets were found in the same holes, the Ballarat diggings have completely thrown in the shade all the gold fields of modern days. The two nuggets last found contain rather more quartz than the first one, although in them the proportion of metal is supposed to exceed seven eighths. The result of these discoveries has been to attract diggers to Geelong and Ballarat from all points of the compass. The intelligence from the other fields in the locality of Ballarat is very cheering ; and when thousands set to work, where there are at present only tens,' the result of their labours cannot be even guessed at. The Government appear at length inclined to do a little to afford protection to the thousands of travellers and diggers now engaged on our gold fields. They have established a new police-station at Captain Sutherland's station, on the Moorabool, under the charge of Sergeant Lennox ; the force consisting of a corporal and six troopers, besides a sergeant. We are also to hare seven additional mounted troopers, and four extra sergeants of police in Geelong. There is also a new police force of mounted detectives, established for scour ing the different roads, &c. The late chief constable of Bunningong being appointed inspector for that part of the force to be engaged between Geelong and Bunnin- 1 gong." Freights, Jsc., at Melbourne, are thus given : Tallow, 40s. to- 50s. per ton, and 5 per cent. ; gold, 41d. per oz., delivered at the bullion office, ditto per steamer, 61d. ; wool, greasy, Id. per lb. ; ditto, washed, id. per lb. ; hides, 20s. to 255. per ton ; tallow, 11. 10s. per ton, and 5 per cent. ; oil, 3/. per tun, and 5 per cent.—Lighterage.-255. per ton from Hobson's Bay to the Wharves, Melbourne ; ditto, 50s. per ton on bonded goods, from ditto to ditto ; and 50 per cent. on above charges, on ships moored below the lighthouse.—Cart age--- ss. to 9s. per load in town, and 20s. to Coiling wood. The expectation we entertained when we yester day commented upon the proceedings at the South Sea House, that the proprietors would elect to re ceive the money for the 405,0001. of Annuities • which the company holds, proved correct, the vote to that effect having been tolerably unanimous. Many persons may draw erroneous conclusions from this course, and it will be useful, therefore, to enter upon some explanation of the motives that have probably induced it. In the first place, the directors of the South Sea Com pany have brought forward a proposal to form a " Trust Company," much wanted in this country, where private trusteeships are both unsatisfactory and hazardous. The law has, undoubtedly, eased the responsibility of trustees, by enabling them to place their affairs under the control of a Chancery Court, but this is an expensive and an indirect procedure, which a wealthy association could ob viate. Besides this, a perpetual charter, such as the South Sea Company enjoys, is most advan tageous, as offering an undying trusteeship. The Company, over and above its capital stock of about 3,600,0001., possesses 610,0001. of surplus assets, 405,0001. of which are invested in the South Sea Annuities, and the rest in other stocks. As a decision to accept new stock or money for these annuities must be come to before the 3d of next month, the proprietors have elected to receive back their money. The reasons appear simple enough. The money will be more easily divisible, and as many will not join the new Trust Company, and even disapprove it, they consider it most advisable to have the assets in a tangible form. As to the premises, they will hereafter be subject to an equitable valuation, and the new company, if formed, must pay out such of the existing proprietors as desire to secede. It is probable that for the same reasons the pro prietors will authorise the directors to claim the money for their 3,600,000/. of stock ; but this is a question that will be decided next month, and pro bably at a special meeting. These are lgiefly the motives that have influenced the South Sea Com pany's proprietors, who, otherwise, from the tone of yesterdays meeting, would evidently have taken the New 24 per Cent. Stock. The next point to consider is whether the Chan cellor of the Exchequer will be embarrassed by this resolution. We should say, not in the least. He has ample means at command, or plenty of facilities for obtaining them, and the money cannot be claimed for several months. When paid, the reci pients must invest it in some way, and the very fact of their appearing as buyers will send up the prices of whatever securities they select, and thus indirectly assist the Government. The English Stocks opened at about yesterday's quotations, but have gone worse since, although the most authentic advices from Constantinople dis prove the assertion that the Russian envoy has left. Telegraphic accounts, with late dates from Singa pore, place the Chinese question in a more favour able light, the British representative not being likely to interfere except to protect our country men. The outer wall of Nankin is said to have been breached by the insurgents, but those who look for the dissolution of obsolete prejudices rather wish success to the revolutionists. Consols have been quoted 1001 , and since 10011, for money and time. Bank Stock is firm at 229 to 230. South Sea Stock is at 115 to 116. Exchequer Bills are par to ls. premium, and India Bonds are 30s. prem. Foreign Stocks are rather heavy again. !The New Spanish Deferred Bonds realise 231. Mexican Stock has been dull at 261 I. Dutch 21 per Cents. are not higher than 65k. Russian 5 per Cents. .are firmer at 120. , The Gold Mine Shares are in limited request at about previous rates. The Land Companies' Shares are on the decline again. Australian Joint-Stock Banks are dull. The Railway Shares are rather worse, but the alteration is not material. French Shares are firm. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (.From the Official Lidt.) Business done. Bank Stock 229 30 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 5 per Cent. Annuities 126 New 3i per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 5 15-16 India Stock 264 India Bonds, under 10001. South Sea Stock ll6 15 ... 99' ... 100 i i ... 100$ ... 100 i i g B South Sea Old Annuities South Sea New Annuities 3 per Cent. Annities, 1751 Consols for Account, lst June Exchequer Bills lid. £lOOO £500 1 p par Small Ditto Advertised 1 p par 3 d par PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Austrian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ......... Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent B4 Mexican 3 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent l2O Ditto 46 per Cent..... 1046 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent S pan i s h Bonds, 3 per Cent 4Bi Ditto for the Account 49 Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. 23s i 3 Ditto Passive (Converted) Swedish Loan 98 Dutchßelgia Belgian 4x! Exchange, eC,en2tl. per Cent. ...... 651 D u t c h Exchange 4 per Cent. Certificates 97 THREE O'CLOCK, 1001. E 1001 it Consols Ditto June Account ANCIENT STONE COFFIN. —On Tuesday evening last, while workmen were excavating some ground in Hay. don-square Minories, they came upon a stone coffin at a c onsiderable depth below the surface. It was five feet in length by two feet one inch in width, and 20 inches deep. The outer coffin of stone inclosed an inner one of lead, which contained dust and the upper part of the skeleton of a human being, supposed to be that of a female, and about four feet nine inches in length. The body is conjectured to have lain there for several centu ries past, especially as on the ground where the dis covery was made the monastery of St. Clair formerly stood, but has been removed upwards of 400 years. it is said that on the very spot, that portion of the moans ' tery denominated "T he p rior y for minor nuns" stood, and from which the Minories derived its name. SHARE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY•) BRITISH RAILWAYS. Agua Fria Anglo Californian Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy of) British Austrin. Gold British Iron Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm Do. Cocaes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons's Creek Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo Copper Min. of Eug. Do. Pref. 7i p. cent. English and Austin. Copper Smeltg. Co General Great Nugget Vein Great Polgooth Lake Liberty Loud. &Califoru. Gold Quartz Crush. Co Mariqui ta ........ Mexican&S.Americn New Granada Nouveau Monde Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymney Iron Do. New Santiago de Cuba South Australian Tin Croft . .... United Mexican Waller West Granada........ West Mariposa Yuba l — iP P par 1 P 31 -- 3 P par -- P d g 7 —9 4 - 51 4t 5i 31 -- 32 par -- 46 --47 P l 1 9 t A -- 10 4 65 -- 75 8 -- 9p i n t i a RAILWAYS. Closing Prices this day. Ban us done this day. 2 IA 15 17 1B ljp cl— par t P d— par 8 8A Pi 1$ 13;) 1 6 28 PI 7 8 6 7 par s P 9 11 1 5 5A '—,l ll 1 1: o p JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia B6 87 87 6 60 all British N. American _ 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China g id. 100 25 Colonial. ..• 100 20 Commercial of Lond. -- 20 10 English Scottish and Australian —11 p 20 121 Lond. Chart. Bk. o Australia 2f 3 p 151 50 20 London and County 50 10 London Joint Stock 100 20 bond. & Westminster _ 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia and India AO 221 National of Ireland 25 all Oriental Bank of Corporation 5l 53 53 25 5 Do. New — 100 25 Provincial of Irelau 10 all Do. New — 5 1 Royal Aultraln.Bkg & Gold Imp Co 1 d par 25 all South Australia 5O 52 25 all Union of Australia.. 77 78 77i 24 Do. New 8 $0 10 Union of London 40 all Union of Madrid__ MISCELLANEOUS 100 35 Australian Agricult. 70 73 20 8 Australsn.Pcific.Mail 10 6 Australis. Royal Mail 50 38i Brit. American Land 68 72 100 32. Canada 65 70 5 5 Crystal Palace 3 3, 3 / 4 p 81 8 4 2 Crystal Pal. of France 1* 3 20 1 Eastern Steam — 1 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir — 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat — 20 14 General Screw Steam ... 20 5 Irish Beetroot Sugar 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 10 2 Netherlands Land — „, 20 7i Nrtb.ofEuropeSteam 50 all Peninsular & Oriental 77 76 77 G 7 5 50 25 Do. Do. ... 42 100 GO Royal Mail Steam . . . 25 25 South Austral . Land 41 43 43 1 all Submar. Telegraph 5 2 Univeral Emigration and Colonization.", . 100 284 Van Diemen's Land 184 19, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVEIVI_N___"G:?> ' syOR-Pill2V G INTELLIGENCE. Shr. P Md It. 100 ,t 0 8i A I all 1 I 28 :7il all 22 1 84 St. 100 St. 100 50 all 50 • all 20 All 50 .45 25 an 5 all 5 all 18 all 20 all 25 all 5 8. ;5 all ;t. 100 0 all >t. 100 .0 __l4; St. 100' St. 100 St 100 St. 1001 St. 100 St. 100 St. 100 12 11 50 all 16 11i ;t: 100 - .94 16 A 11.1 all . 0 all .14 all it. 100 it. 100 !O 12 [0 1 . ;t. 100 all all it. 100 8 4i , it. 100 it. 100 i 0 47i1 ;5' 171 it. 100 6 3 .t 5 16 3t. 1100 5 1 all it. 100 L 6 13 [6 8i 8 all 8 5 o 17i all .0 10 it. 100 ft. 100 ;t. 100 ;t. 100 ;t. 100 !.0 8 !61 all L 3 all !O all :0 6i ;0 all ;t. 100 i 0 all I 1611, 5 I 19 31 i A A. b in e b r g d . e - . Post. & Eastn. Junc ' trmng. Wolverh. Stour Valley • kenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & £25 Co Do., £2O ristol & Exeter aledonian. Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon—. ork, Black. & Pass. • üblin &Belfast June. undee Perth &Aber deen Junction East Anglian (£25 L &E.&L.&D.) De., (£lB E. & U.) Eastern Counties Eastern Union, Class A. hits E. U. Sh Do., d 0............ Do., B. & C..... East Lancashire East & West Ind. Dk & Birming. June__ Edinburgh & Glasgow 'Edinb. and Peebles Ediub. Prth. &Dundee Glasgow & S. Western ' Great Northern Stk Do., A. Stock ••• Do., B. Stock t. Sth. &West. (Ire. ) rest Western... 'ash South-Eastern. ncaster & Carlisle e., Thirds ncash. &Yorkshire 0., Fifths . ...... Do., Wst. Riding Un. Leeds Northern • v. Crsby. & So utb pt. London & Blackwall Loud. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond.Bright.&g.Cst. London & N. Western Do. Fifths Do. ,16/.5h.,M&8... London & S. Western Do., £5O • Do., £4O ndrry.&Colerainc Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Hauch.Shef.&Lincln. Do., Man. &Lin. Un. Do. Birming. & Derby Hidla nd G. West. (Ir.) Do. Shares ..... Newcastle & Carlisle.. Newmarket Do. Bury Extensions Newpt.Aberg.&Htfcl Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warreupoint & Rostrovor Norfolk Do., New-- ....... Northn. Counties Un North British North Devon, No.l Do., No. 2 . . Dc., A Deterred... Do., B Guaranteed North Staffordshire.. North Western........ N. & S. Westrn. June. Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton..... Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Birmg Do., L. & N. Westn Guaranteed Stock Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves, do Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union South Devon South Eastern South Wales.... S. Yorksh. River Dun Do. Stockton di Hartlepl Thames Haven Dock and Railway 17 Val() of Neath.... all Waterfd. d; Kilkenny all Waterford&Limari ck 13 West Cornwall 21s. Wmbledon &Croydoli 1 Woodford .. 100 York Newell. & lerw. 20 Do. Extensions 11i Do. G.N.E. Purchase 1 100 York di N. Midland 28i - 29 5i - 6i 10 - 14 7 - 6 :11 21 -- 22 3i -- 2i 102 -- 104 1 69/ -- 704 23} -- 24 21 -- 21. •-- ... 4 . - 5p 8 - 9 4 44, 131 -- 13 101 -- 11 7;- 7i 731 - 741 53 - 116 73i - 74 - 30 . -- ii 88 89 55 57 134 - 136 112} 1131 901 -- 91 94 g 8 96 1 13 —l4k p 79 801 41 4 d 3 —2l d 164 17 A - 104 - li - 89 - SJ -12 - 29 - - 74 - 51 53 P 4 3 d - _ 84 9i 53 55 31 —2/ d' 35 36 52 - 96 r - 60 - 64 - 76 ldis - 19 3id 214 75 37 144 2i Si 15 —15 i 104 33 34 10 1(4 4 ci par 704 -71 A 71i 6id 13 9a 63 61 6.31 PREFERENCE SHARES. Aberdeen ........ Do., No. 2, 7 p. c... Bris. & Ex. 4 p. Q. St, Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £10..... . Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5 per cent... Cork &Bandon 53 p.c. Dundee Per thiliA Ler deen Junction....... East A nglian (£3los; 6 per cent. Do. (25) 7 per cent.. Do. (C 7 17s) 7 p. ct.. Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do., No. 2 Do., New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union, Scrip • Guar. 6 per cent 1 EastLancash. 6 p.cts ' Ediub.PrLb..&Dunde: 5i per cent Glasgow & &Western guar. 5 per cent ' Great Northr 6p. c Do. 5 p. c.,Redeem , at 10 p. c. prem Gt. Smithn. dzWestn. (Ireland) Eighths... Gt. Westu. (Berke Hants Ex. 5 p. c.).. G. West. fixed 4} p c. Lan. & York. F. £2O, Do., 6 p. c., Stock... London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. e... Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, 5 p. c., 1852 Do. New Gov... °p.c. Lor don & S.Western, Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler. a Shares .. Loudy. & Ennis. a Sli & Lin., iShares, No. 1 Do. Now, £lO Do., £6 ..... liMarypt. &Carl. 4 p. C. Do. 4i per cent. Do .. Hid. Coma. 6 p.c. St Do. Cousol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per Do. Pref. 44 per cent. Norfolk Extension 'Do. Guar. 5} per et Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British North Staffordshire Oxford Worcester & Wolverh. £15,6p. c. Do Shrews& Birm. N. G Sbreusby. & Cheater (Nor.W.Min),B p. c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Readiu 4 Ann.,) of RI. 09.6 d S. Yorksh. 4p . e. Guar Waterfd. &Kilk. 6p. c York Newcastle and Borwick,4 p.c.Pref. IDo York& N.ls.Uaud k S. Purch. 92 -96 88 - - 92 a 107 - 1091 li;ii 17 iio 19S -20 i iPm , - 5S' 4-- 41 5 .- 54 ISp - 21 p 1i - 2 p - 15 18 - 18 31 - 3. Lo —l3l 12 - 113 -8 4 i I 61 - 7 1 106 108' -hp 15 - 154 xd xd igi .:- 1.E7 3i -- 4 p 10 -- 11 131 -- 141 8 - 9 10/- - lli I 1' 112 i 10GA 150 - 152 it - 1 P 1 118 - 120, 115 - 117 25i - 26 2 i p 10 - 11 17i -- 184 i -- 1 p 15 -- 16 par — #p 261 268 194 204 id P 104 106 • P FOREIGN. A ntwerp&Rotterdam itelgiauEastn. Junct. Beziers to Graissessa Charleroi & Erquolin. Dijon and Besaugon Dutch' Rhenish East Indian . . Do. Extension .... Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of Frau Gt. Wes tern of Canada, Shares Lucca & Pistoja sp. c pref.....•••• ••• ...... 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. &Ams. Shs.) NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen & Cherbrg. Quebec &Richmond Rouen and Havre Sambre and Meuse._ Do. 5} p. ct. pref Sth-Eastrn. of France Southern of France Upper India Scrip West Flanders Do. N I per c. Prof._ Western of France_ West. of Switzerland 01. ...... Ole 9 4A all 1 OAL: 1 11 id i P 14 15 2i 3 p 1} 1 die 4i 5t p 1 lip 2 1 24? li 2p par i pi 7 4 4A 11 lf a 1d 2 —2lp 7 - 7i 35i - 361 14,E-14 -9; 17 - 17, 41 - 43 431 - 44, 36' - 37 4' - 5. I( - 21 - 21. St - 94 (. 5 - G sxd idis par 10 - 28i 6i 6 103 70 69i 21i # 131 10i 30 1 88i 9 8 55 L 35 6 5 1121 90i pm 80 i 105 I 1171 t 181 an n 89 90 891.1 9 37 30 i 75k 4i I EPSOM RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH) THE OAK S. CATHERINE HAYES DOVE . . . MEMBERS' PLATE, Young England Honesty Won in a canter. Seventeen ran. Helena ran, though not on the card. 64 34 64 all NI all 5 all 71 2 66 all 6i all .0 all all it. 1100 5 I all 6 all ;t. 100 .6 6 it. 100 3t. 100 ;t. 1100 0 I all ;t. 1100 4)1 5 2il all :5 I all ,0 I all I 6 I 3 I L2?l, all L 2. all 12th 8} 100 St. 100 .6il 5 Kt all 5 all 2 all 3t. 100 ZO all St. 100 .5 l2 8 all LO all 10 10 25 all 10 11 .0.6 all 5 I 3 >t. 100 5I 5 10 LO 3 5 3 ?A 4 ,N) all :0 '3 !O an "A 1 5 an No 10 )A 15%1 61 1 0 15 LO 10 5 2 5 3 35 i i i 534 f 601 21 20/ 35i 27 61 71 MINES. all I 13.5 244 all 15 10i all 30 1 10 23i1 Four ran. LATEST BETTING. C to 4 ag,et Misletoe (taken). 2to 1 agst Catherine Hayes (taken). 6to agst any other. ORDER OF RUNNING, Members' Plate—Two. The Oaks—Three. Railway Plate—Four. Derby and Oaks Stakes—Five. Foreign Visitors's Plate—Six. ARRIVALS. Railway Plate all here. Derby and Oaks Stakes all here. Dove, Jessamine, Zuleika, Jolie, Duero w, Ileriot. SU.RLEY SESSIONS-(THIS DAY.) ',Before Thomas Puckle, Esq., and a Bench of Magistrates.) ALLEGED ROBBERY BY A SOLDIER. George Martin, 23, a private in the Scotch Fusiliers, was indicted for stealing a sovereign and two lead pencils from the person of William Alderton. The prisoner's defence was paid for by two female servants at the West-end, who were in court during the trial, watching it with great anxiety. Mr. Charnock and Mr. Robinson were instructed to defend him. Frosecutor, a simple sort of a young fellow, said he met the prisoner in a csffee-house at the Mint, on Satur day night the 7th inst., and had several pots of beer, and brandy and gin with him. They afterwards went to a barber's where they bad more gin and beer, and re mained there until near three o'clock on Sunday morn ing. When they left there they proceeded to Fisher's coffee-house in the Blackfriars-road, and had more brandy and soda water. Prosecutor here fell asleep, and when he awoke up he missed tne soldier, and on examining his pockets he found that his sovereign and two pencils were gone. From information he received he went to the Tower, and went before the Commanding-officer with the prisoner, whom he gave into custody- In cross-examination—Prosecutor said he was very much in liquor when he was in the barber's, that lie hardly knew what he was about. He had, however, a faint recollection of having the sovereign when in Fisher's coffee-house. He speke to several females, and treated them, and the might have robbed him. Elizabeth Breoks, a young woman who said she was a dressmaker, assisted Mr. Fisher in his coffee-house on Saturday night and Sunday morning. She recollected the soldier and prosecutor coming in and being served with brandy. The latter fell asleep, when the soldier came to her by the fire, and said that the prosecutor had a sovereign in his poaket, and he might as well have it as any one. Sli told him several times to leave her. At last he said he must be off, as he must be in barracks before prayers. He then ran o ut of the house. She did not wake up the prosecutor, or say anything until he told her he was robbed. The witness so prevaricated in her eviden ce that it was doubtful whether she was not the person who com mitted the robbery, and the jury at once refused to be lieve her, and acquitted the prisone r . The atter immediately quitted the court, with the two servants and his sergeant. AN INCORRIGIBLE YOUNG T RlM—Henr y Ti n g e y , a young lad who has been twice c onvicted, pleaded g uilt y to stealing 7 lbs. of pork, from the shop of Eli Collins, at Camberwell. The Chairman sentenced him to three months at Wandsworth, and to be once privately whipped. SHERIFFS COURT.--(THIS DAY) (Before R. Gurney, Esq., Q.C.) The cases in the list this morning were wholly devoid of general interest, the on l y point arising being one in which the defendant pleaded that he had been absolved from a portion of the deb t by passiug through the Insol vent Court, and paid the alleged difference into Court. The amount of the deb t was not disputed, but although the plaintiff produced a co py of his schedule, and ten dered thereupon his oath aros thatarose, it was a true copy, and a question who has an extensive con- Mr. W. R. Buchana n, nexion in the Insolven t Court, being present here in another case, said that if the case was under the 1 and 2 Vie., the copy of the schedule must be sealed with the seal of the Court, or there must be a certificate of adju dication and on extract of the schedule bearing on the point. His Honour said that he would grant an adjournment for the production of the document, but it must be at the expense of the plaintiff. Au adjournment therefore took place. ASTLEY'S. Th e crowded and. fashionable audiences that nightly assemble to witness Fife on the Turf, is the best crite rion of the admirable efficiency with which the peice is produced. To particularise the various excellencies in the different departments of the omusements would be to repeat the programme. We cannot, however, con clude our short notice without expatiating some little on the matchless equestrianism of Miss Emily Cooke, a young lady whose grace, activity, and daring render her fully entitled to the rapturous applause with which she is nightly recalled. 21 101 10 -a A Y 27, 1853. EPSOM RACES —THURSDAY. The contrast iu the appearance of the Downs to-day and that -which Whey presented on Wednesday last was most stri king; instead of the countless multitudes of spectators who covered the broad plain when the Derby was run, t be attendance was almost wholly confined to the amateu rs and business men, who mustered again in the enclosu re. Of ladies few were to be seen either in the Grand Stan d or in private carriages in the course. However, shotild the glorious weather which has lasted up to the prest .nt time continue, we may expect that a brilliant assem.l olage of ladies will be present at the Oaks, a race peculiar ly devoted to and patronised by the fair sex. The day wax much warmer than on the previous day —scarcely a breeze tempered the heat of the sun, which shone with a sin nmer fervour until the termination of the last race at live o'clock, when the scorched and dusty visitors hasten ki from the course. The sport was generally good, but with the single ex ception of Lord Derby's Dervish winning the Two-year old Stakes, and being backed immediately afterwards at 20 to 1 for the Derby, '54, there was nothing of impor tance in the events to affect future interests. The races were decided as follows : EPsoN FOUR-YEAR-OLD-STARES of 50 cove each, h ft ; colts, Bst 111 b ; and fillies, Bst 61b. New Derby Course. (6 subs.) Duke of Bedford's Hugo by Weatherbit (F. Butler) Walked over. TWO-TEAR-OLD STAKES of 10 80V8 each, with 50 added ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 31b. Winners extra. Half-a mile. (20 subs.) Lord Derby's Dervish by Cowl, Bst 71b...(F. Butler) 1 Lord Bruce's f by the Libel—Splitvote, Bst 31b 2 Mr. Drinkald's Jack Frost, Bst 71b (Templeman) 3 Lord John Scott's Lady Audrey, Bst 81b (including 51b extra (Whitehouse) 4 The following also ran : Contender, by John o'Gaunt Evasion, Victorine, Mouser, Hermitage, Mirabeau, and Diable Boiteux. Betting.-6 to 4 agst Dervish, sto 2 agst Mouser, 6 to 1 agst Splitvote filly, 8 to 1 agst Lady Audrey. Won very easily by a length. Half a length between the second and third, and a head between third and fourth. GRAND STAND PLATE of 100 Soire., added to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each. Winners extra. Derby Course. Lord Glasgow's Doublethong by Assault or Bird cather, 3 yrs, Est 71b (Carroll) 1 Mr. Delamere's Madame Landes., 3 yrs sst 12113 (Ashman) 2 Mr. Saxon's Calot, 4 yrs, 7st 71b (including 51b extra) (Clement) 3 Mr. Owen's Stamford, 5 yrs 6st 131 b (Wells) 4 Mr. Begbie's Follow-me-Lads, 5 yrs, Get 121 b (Rickards) 5 SELLING STARES of 5 sovs. each, with 50 added ; for 2-yr-olds and upwards. Optional selling weights. New T.Y.C. Three-quarters of a mile. 9 subs. Mr. Armstrong's Sabra by Pantaloon, 4 yrs (401.), 7st 91b Mr. Hodgson's Eccentricity, 3 yrs (401.), 6st s Blb (Halls) 2 Mr, French's Ada, 3 yrs (401.), Est 81b...(Palmer) 3 Lord H. G. Lennox's Determination, 2 yrs (401.), 4st 101 b (Fordham) 4 Tho following also ran :—Saville, Peach, c by Epirus out of Empress. Betting-6 to 4 agst Determination, 3to 1 agst Ada, 4to 1 agst Sabra. A good race with the four placed. Won by a length, half a length between the second and third. The winner was afterwards bought in for 150 guineas. HER MAJESTY'S PLATE of 100 guineas (for mares only); three-yr-olds, fist ; four, Bst 9!b ; five, 9st 21b ; six and aged, 9st 51b. Great Metropolitan Stakes Course. Two miles and a quarter. Mr. H. Coombe's Nervous, by Alarm, 4 yrs (S. Steggles) 1 Mr. Greville's Adine, 4 yrs (Flatman) 2 Mr. Vickers's Psaltery, 3 yrs (Castleman) 3 The following also ran :—Bloomer, Augusta, The Siege, Prevention, Lady-in-Waiting. Betting-6 to 4 agst Augusta, sto 2 agst Adine, 3to 1 agst Nervous. A capital race up the Straight with the first two ; was won by a head. The others beaten off at long intervals. COBHAM PLATE of 50 sovs (handicap) for all ages. Win ners extra. Now T.Y.C. Three-quarters of a mile. Mr. Fiennes' Old Rowley, 4 yrs, 7st 71b ...(Flatman) 1 Mr. Powell's Anne Page, 3 yrs, sst 71b (Wells) 2 Mr. Reeves Abdallah, 6 yrs, 7st 101 b (Charlton) 3 Captain Barnett's May-fly, 3 yrs, Est (Corderey) 4 Mr. J. H. Newman's Alecta, 2 yrs, sst 41b (Cole) 5 Betting—Even on Anne Page, 5 to 2 agst Old Row ley, 4 to 1 agst Abdallah, 10 to 1 any other. A fine race from Tattenham Corner with the first three, Old Rowley winning by a neck, the second beating the third half a length. The others far apart. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. The arrivals of English wheat, coastwise, up to our market this week have been very moderate, viz., 1,790 quarters. Fresh up, the receipts were limited, and the show of samples, of both red and white, here, to-day, was small. Although the weather is fine for the growing crops, the demand for all kind of wheat of home produce ruled steady, at full Monday's prices. There was a slight improvement in the inquiry for forward delivery qualities. The imports of foreign wheat have exceeded 26,000 qrs. Medium qualities wore tolerably firm, chiefly for country consumption, at full quotations. Other kinds were held somewhat firmly. Floating cargoes were quite as dear as last week. Scarcely any English barley was on show, but the supply of foreign was large. Most descriptions were a slow sale, but not cheaper. Malt sold somewhat heavily, on former terms. The show of oats was seasonably good. All kinds suet a slow sale, at late rates. Beans, peas, and flour wore held at full prices. SMITHFIELD. The supply of beasts on sale here to-day was seasonably good, both as to number and quality. For all breeds the demand was in a sluggish state, at Monday's decline in the quotations. The general top figure for beef was 4s 4d per Sibs. With sheep we were fairly supplied. On the whole, the mutton trade was steady, at unaltered currencies. The primest old Downs realised 4s 8d per 81bs. There was an improved sale for lambs at full prices, viz., 5s to Gs 4d per Sibs. The supply of calves being large, the veal trade was less active, but no change took place in value. Pigs sold slowly, at barely late rates. Milch cows, were in steady request at from 171. 15s to 20/. each, including their small calf. Per Sibs to sink the offals. a. d. a. d. a. d. a. d. Inferior Beasts.... 3 oto 3 2 rime Soutlidown 4 6 4 8 Second quality.... 3 4 3 6 Large erse. calves 4 0 4 6 Prime large oxen 3 8 310 Prime small d 0... 4 8 5 0 Prime Scots, &c. 4 0 4 4 Large hogs 3 4 3 8 Inferior Sheep ... 3 8 310 Small porkers 310 4 4 Second quality ..4 0 4 2 Suckling calves .. 20 0 25 0 Prime crse.-wlled.4 2 4 4 Quarter old pigs 19 0 24 0 Lambs 58 Od to Cs 4d. TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY. lICASIS .. •• • • .... .. .•• • • • 1,040 Beasts I • • .• 300 Sheep End Lambs ..•• ••.. 9,200 Sheep ..•• .. .. .. •.......•• 700 Calves .. •••. •• • • ........ 350 Ca1ve5........ ........ 310 riga ....... ...... ....... 330 Pig 5.......... . — Scotch—Beasts .....• ....•• 36. LEADENHALL. prices were well supported. the carcase. s. d. s. d. Mutton, Inferior 3 6 3 10 Do., middling 4 0 4 2 Do., prime 4 4 4 6 1 Veal 3 10 4 10 Pork, small 4 0 4 4 5s Od to 6s 4d NEWGATE AND The trade ruled steady, and Per 81bs by s. d. s. d. Beef, inferior 210 3 0 Do., middling 3 2 3 4 Do., prime large 3 6 3 8 Do., do. small 3 8 310 Pork, large Lambs BOROUGH HOP. We have still to report rather an active inquiry for all kinds of hops, the prices of which aro freely supported, as follows :—Mid and East Kent pockets, 120 s. to 168 s. ; Weald of Kent, 115 s. to 1265. ; and Sussex, 112 s. to 1265. per cwt. COLONIAL. SUGAR.—There has been very little doing and prices have slightly declined for British Plantation. At auction St. Lucia sold at 31s 6d to 335 for ord to good brown, 33s 6(1 to 35s for ord to fair grey, 35s 6d to 37s 6d for good grocery. Barbadoes went at 345 6d to 39s for low mid to fine. These rates are about 6d lower. Crystalised Deme rara brought 380 to 38s Gd for good. Refined has been firm at 47s to 49s for grocery lumps. Mauritius went 6d lower for about 12,000 bags, good and very superior yellow selling at 36s to 38s 6d, low to good mid at 33s Gd to 35s 6d, and fine brown at 328 Gd to 33s 6(1, white 41s to 418 Gd, Bengal went at 388 to 38s Gd for fine yellow Dhoba, and 34s to 35s for low yellow, and 32s to 338 for brown. Foreign Paraiba has realised 19s, and a cargo of yellow Savannah, No. 154 sold at 255. Manilla brought 18s for Muscovado. COFFEE.—The market is firm but inactive. The latest sales of Plantation Ceylon have been at, 60 s to 66 s f or g ood colony, 73s for fine, 55s to GOs for low mid. and mid., 50s to 52s Gd for triage, and 66s to 70s for peaberry. Native is at about 47s Gd. Mocha was taken in at 698 Gd for good yellowish, and Rio at 41s for good ord. m ixed. COCOA. —Trinidad has been rather lower, fair grey to good rod being 30s to 378 per cwt. RlCE.—Scarcely any business has been done. SALTPETRE.—BengaI 61 per cent. refraction, has been sold at 275. COCRINEAL.—Prices tend downwards. COTTON.—There is a firm market. TEA.—The demand is good, at higher rates. TALLOW.—There is a steady inquiry, but not much activity, in the market. P.Y.C. has been at 475. Gd. per cwt. on the spot. GREEN FRUIT.—The warm weather is in favour of consumption. Four cargoes oranges from Lisbon have been received, a portion of which sold by Keeling and Hunt, at public sale, went at a reduction of 4s. to ss. per box. Lemons sustain their value. Nuts in fair demand, although buyers supply themselves for immediate want, awaiting the reduction of duty to lay in stock. MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA.—GENERAL POST-OFFICE, MAY, 1853.—The lino of contract packets heretofore con veying the mails to Australia, via the Cape of Good Hope, every alternate month, having been withdrawn, provision has been made for forwarding the mails of June by the clipper barque Stratford, the owners o• which have entered into a contract for that purpose with the Postmaster-General. The Stratford will be dispatched from London on the morning of the 4th of June next ; and all letters and newspapers for South Australia, Vic toria, New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land, reach ing London previous to her departure, and not addressed to be sent by any othee vessel, will be forwarded by the Stratford. Postmasters will cause this arrangement to be made known as extensively as possible ; and care must be taken that letters and newspapers to be con veyed by the Stratford are forwarded to London and not to Plymouth. The packet rates of postage will be chargeable upon all letters transmitted by the Stratford; but uo charge will be made upon newspapers, THE UNITED STATES. NEW YORK, MAY 14. Since the adjournment of the American Senate and the inauguration of the new Administration there has l been the usual lull in political excitement which follows those quadrennial periods of our history. Although our journals make scarcely an allusion to what is actually occupying. the attention of the Cabinet, the President has been constantly and anxiously occupied with our foreign affairs. The Cuban matter has been one that called for the early attention of the Government, and on several occasions, and for hours in succession, the dis cussions of the State Council have been devoted on this subject. Although Vie difficulties of San Juan de Nica ragua were temporarily settled by the intervention of the commander ofan American-sloop of war, still matters are there held in abeyance, which happen at the present time to be the subject of correspondence between the British and American Governments. Another matter has excited a good deal of interest in the Cabinet. A difficulty has been felt in the choice of a commissioner for the Sandwich Islands. The present administration deem it to be a matter of a good deal of importance to watch the political aspects of those islands, and General Pierce is desirous of instituting new and more intimate relations with their Government. There is a considerable party in this country looking with interest to the annexation of the Sandwich Islands, and it is quite possible that some slight collision may occur with Use French authority there during the pre sent year. But far beyond the Sandwich Islands—some thousands of miles—other scenes are opening which seem to sug gest subjects of still deeper interest. In anticipation of the sailing of the American squadron to Japan, several splendid clipper ships have been put in requisition at San Francisco for a commercial expedition to accom pany the Government ships, and it is said that upwards of 1,000 of the citizens of California are prepared to ad venture themselves in these vessels with the idea of private speculations. It is even said that, perhaps, with the impatience of delay which characterises that new region, the clipper ships may have already reached the chores of Japan before the squadron makes its rendez vous there ; and I have seen one gentleman who has risked a large sum in this expedition, who informs me that the movements of our national vessels will have no necessary connection with those of the fleet. But nearer home, on our frontiers, we are likely to encounter difficulties with Mexico of a somewhat serious character, unless the Dictatorship of Santa Anna is cha racterised by a spirit of moderation he has never before shown. The dismembered and broken state of that Con federation presents a lamentable picture to the world ; and I fear that inordinate temptations to aggression and possession may inflame an inordinate spirit of cupidity on the part of our people. In the meantime, the Spanish question, and the mis sion of M. Loup, the newly appointed Minister, form the subject of conversation in nearly all political circles, although far less ls said about it in our newspapers than might be expected. I hare often been surprised, during the last year or two, that the recent and rapidly increasing intercourse between us and the Americano-Spanish nations, has not attracted more observation and elicited more remark. A vast number of families of pure Castillian or of mixed blood, from Mexico, from Central America, and from the States of the Southern Continent, are pressing in upon us this spring, and I have observed that all those I have conversed with seem to feel that there is but one country in the western world which promises much poli tical security for life or property, and that that country is the United States. Capital is flowing in every month, literally by the million, from the Americano-Spanish world. lam not sure whether the sale of estates and commercial interests in Mexico, Central America, for in vestments as well as emigration to the United States du ring the last four years, has not been nearly as great as our entire importation ofgold from California. There is hardly a seminary for young ladies, or a classical or scientific school for boys in our whole country, that does not number some children of such families among its pupils. Marriages between the people of the United States and persons of those nations have become quite common, and I am disposed to think that no writer, and perhaps few observers of society, have given due importance to this admixture of races of which I speak. To the future historian this will be a subject of very deep interest, and to the philosophical statesman it must even now present, or soon will, matters of profound in terest. In this case it seems to be the destiny of our Anglo-Saxons in America to overshadow their neigh bours in political, in commercial, and in social influences, as this same race has overshadowed other nations where they have got their foothold in other portions of the earth. The Government has already got one of the surveying parties of the three great routes for the Pacific Railroad into the field, and the other two will soon be started. A munificent sum was appropriated by the last Con gress for the purpose of surveying three different routes to the Pacific. This appropriation was made under the impression, which has now become universal, that no great period of time can elapse before a railway will be begun (and perhaps several) to the Western Ocean. So great is the demand for topographical experience, that the Government has, with all the pains it has taken to train' up a corps of engineers, found it exceedingly diffi cult to get the necessary companies together. Foreigners of talent and experience, without regard even to citizen ship, are crowded into these expeditions ; and there is reason to believe that we shall have during the next two years a flood of light poured over the topography of that vast region that stretches from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. 1 The latest announcement that has been made by American journalism comes. from the chief organ, in New York, of all fanatical organisations, that the free trade, which England and the democratic party in the United States are so industriously attempting to diffuse, is the chief obstacle to the emancipation of the American slave. This monstrous idea is sustained by no proof and enforced by no argument ; and even this same jour nal attacks with very great virulence the notorious negro orator, Frederick Douglas, because a day or two ago, in the Anti-Slavery Convention in this city, he advocated the doctrine of free trade. But, despite all this raving, the policy of free trade has become one of settled conviction in the minds of the American people, and the time has come when we can no longer travel back on the road to monopoly and protection. —Times Correspondent. SCIWOLS.—A return which has just been printed in pursuance of an address of the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Bright, gives a comparative view of the number of day schools and Sunday schools, and of day scholars, in England and Wales, in the years 1818, 1833, and 1851, with the population of those years, and the proportions they bore to the population. It appears that the number of day schools in 1818 was 19,230 ; in 1833, 38,971; and in 1851, 46,114; and that the num ber of day scholars in 1818 was 674,883; in 1833, 1,276,947 ; and in 1851, 2,144,377. The number of Sunday schools in 1818 was 5,463, with 477,225 scho lars; in 1833, 16,828, with 1,548,890 scholars; and in 1851, 23,498, with 2,407,409 scholars. The proportion of day scholars to the population was, in 1818, as 1 in 17'25 ; in 1833, as 1 in 11 . 27 ; and in 1851, as 1 in 8'36 ; and the proportion of Sunday scholars to the population was, in 1818, as 1 in 24 . 40 ; in 1833, as 1 in 9'28 ; and in 1851, as 1 in 7'45. A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.—The following appears in an Austrian journal :--" The judicial authorities of Lisko, in the circle of Sanok, in Gallicia, received information a few days ago that several dead bodies were secreted in the cellar of the house of a Jew named Leib Fried. An examination of the cellar was immediately ordered. It was found to have no door, but the entrance to it was blocked up with a considerable quantity of firewood. When the wood was removed the staircase was seen to be broken down. The cellar was, however, entered, and it turned out to be very deep and large. By the side of one of the walls was a quantity of earth, and lying on it was the naked body of a woman aged about 40. Near another wall the corpse of a young girl aged about 15 was discovered ; it was covered with rags. In the centre of the cellar was the dead body of another woman, covered only with a chemise. The two'former vrere lying with the face downwards, and were in a perfect state of preservation ; in the latter, putrefaction had commenced. Medical men, on examining the bodies, could discover no trace of violence on them, and they declared that the woman had not died from hunger. The Jew Leib Fried asserted that he did not know that the bodies were in the cellar ; but he was arrested, and a searching but secret investigation has been com menced." GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY LITERARY SOCIETY....A report, embracing a variety of interesting details respect ing this newly-formed institution, has just been issued by the committee. It is gratifying to find that the facts disclosed reflect no less credit on the employes of the company than on the directors, and that while the latter not only sanctioned buteffectively promoted the formation of the society, the former have eagerly availed them selves of the advantages placed within their reach. The society started in March, 1852, with 113 members, and now it possesses 178. At that time the library con tained 730 volumes, but it has since been gradually in creased to 1,376 volumes. The funds of the society are also stated to be in a very flourishing state, and the cir culation of the books has steadily increased. The report contains a long list of donations in money, books, &c., received by the society in response to an appeal from the committee to gentlemen connected with the company. COLONEL SIDTHORP "AT HOME."—The South Lin colnshire Militia assembled at Grantham last Tuesday, for 28 days' training, causing no little commotion in the town. The men mustered tolerably, and many appeared smart lads. On Wednesday, Colonel Sibthorp, who commands this regiment, arrived on the ground at about eleven o'clock. After the names had been called over, and the articles of war read, he made a spirited address to the regiment, in which he expressed a hope that each individual would feel as he did, that it was an honour to be a soldier; that they would cultivate and endeavour enforcement painof discipline. He t o maintain a friendly and brotherly feeling with the in habitants of the town ; that, by a cheerful performance havingf talietyhoNrvioty for the uldspare en h f im rc t o o l. exercise duty, ciseh a u tho r ity He said it should be his study impartially t the comfort and happiness of every o ne i n t h e opromote regiment, promised that they should have a band, most gallant allusion to the fair sex. The and made a dress was cheered by the men, and colonel's ad- much gratification to the civilians appeared to afford pro nounced him a "brick." The present, who the civic body, the o ffi cers, and th e has been feasting seems to enjoy the fun, especiall y men, and everybody benefit from the generous those who reap any spirit of our gallant M._ outpourings of the martial P.—Lincolnshire Timm ISSTITUTION OF CIVI The paper read was " Dyke Bridge, on the Grea J: Cubitt Idames Meado This bridge, for ca,rryi gable branch of the Rive; scribed as being erected the navigation intersect el that, although the clear s] between the-abutments, actual span of the girders The structure consisted for each line of rails, car: it trussed girders, each composed of a top tube strut, of cast iron, opposing horizontal resistance to compression, and a bottom tie, of wrought iron links, exerting tensible force ; these were connected vertically, by alternate diagonal struts and ties, of cast and wrought-iron re spectively, dividing the length into a series of 14 equila teral triangles, whose sides were 18 feet 6 inches long. The top tubes rested upon the apices of equilateral, or A frames, fixed on the abutments, and each pair cf gir ders were connected by a horizontal bracing at the top and bottom, leaving a clear width of 13 feet for the pas sage of the trains. Each tube was composed of 29 cast-iron pipes, of inch metal and 131 inches diameter at the abutment ends, increasing to 18 inches diameter, with 2i inches metal at the centre of the span—the ends of the pipes being accu rately turned and fitted, so as to give exact contact of the surfaces, where they were connected together by bolts and nuts. The lower tie consisted of wrought iron links eight feet six inches long, of the uniform width of nine inches,' but varying in number and thickness, according to the tensile strain to which each portion was subjected ; the abutment portions having each four links of nine inches by a inch. The diagonal tie links varied from nine inches by 15-16 inch to nine inches by inch, and, in order to accord with the relative strains, were distributed in groups of four, for the first three lengths from the ends, and then in couples for the next four lengths, on each side of the centre. The cast-iron diagonal struts had a section resembling a Maltese cross, the area being in proportion to the compressive force to which they were subject. The bearing pins at all the intersections were 51 inches diameter, carefully turned and fitted into bored holes. The links of the lower tie were supported, in the middle of each length, b y a pa i r of wrought iron rods, la inch diameter, suspend e d f rom each side of a joint pin traversing the top tube ; and by means of nuts and washers they could be made to bear a portion of the weight of the platform of the bridge. The trusses were so arranged, that all the compressive strains were received by the cast iron, and all the tensile force was exerted by the wrought iron ; the proportions being such, that when the bridge was loaded with a weight equal to one ton per foot run, which co ns id era bl y exceed that of a train entirely composed of the heaviest locomotive engines used on the Great Northern Rail way, no strain could exceed five tons per square inch of section. The total weight of metal in each pair of girders com posing the bridge was 244 tons 10 cwt., of which 138 tons 5 cwt. were cast iron, and 106 tons 5 cwt. wrought iron, which, with 50 tons for the platform, &c., made the total weight of each bridge 294 tons 10 cwt., or 589 tons for the whole structure ; and the cost, excusive of the masonry of the abutments, and of the permanent rails, but including the staging for fixing and putting together, and the expense of testing, was 11,0031. In a series of experiments to test the stability of a pair of the trussed girders, at the works of Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and Co., where they were constructed, the following results were obtained : With a weight of 446 tons regularly distributed, which was equal to 11 ton per foot run, plus the weight of the platform, rails, &c., lowered seriatim on the 13 compartments, the ultimate deflection in the centre was nearly 61 ; inches. With a weight of 316 tons, equal to one ton per fo o t run, plus the weight of th e platform, &c., as before, the ultimate deflection at the centre was 41 inches. When the bridge was fixed in its place, a train of waggons, loaded up to one ton per foot run, extending the whole length of the platform, caused a centre deflec tion of 2:` 4 3 - inches. The deflection caused by two heavy goods engines, travelling fast, and slowly, waa 24 inches ; and that produced by a train of five of the heaviest locomotive engines used on the Gr ea t N or th ern R a il way was 24 inces in the centre. The proportions of the several parts of the structure were originally given by Mr. C. H. Wild (Assoc. Inst. C.E.), and had been only slightly modified by the au thor during the execution of the work. IMPORTATIONS OF SUGAR, &c.—A return, obtained on the motion of Mr. Moffat, contains an account of the quantities of sugar imported into the United King dom, and the quanties retained for home consumption, together with the rates of duty charged thereon and the net revenue accruing therefrom, in the years from 1800 to 1852 ; and also a comparative statement of the average prices of British plantation and foreign sugar (ordinary yellow Ilavannah) for the same series of years. The return, especially as regards refined sugar and sugarcandy, is incomplete in many of its parts, since the records for some of the earlier years were destroyed by fire. Of the remaining figures we extract the follow ing :—The total of unrefined sugar imported into the United Kingdom from 'British W est India, East India, and Mauritius, and from foreign parts, amounted, in 1800, to 3,233,806 cwt., and in 1801 to 4,081,366 cwt., of which latter quantity by far the largest portion viz., 3,831,017 cwt. came from British West India, while East India and the Mauritius contributed 61,314 cwt., and 189,135 cwt. were imported from foreign colonies. In 1810 the quantity of unrefined sugar imported from British West India amounted to 3,879,823 cwt. ; 49,240 cwt. caine from East India and the Mauritius, and 991,460 cwt. from foreign colonies, making a total of 4,920,523 cwt. for that year. In 1820 the total of unre fined sugar imported amounted to 4,269,676 cwt., to which the various ports abovementioned contributed a similar proportion to those of 1801 and 1810. In 1830 the total of unrefined sugar imported amounted to 4 ,916,004 cwt. —namely, from British West India, 3,913,268 cwt. ; from the Mauritius, 485,710 cwt. ; from British East India 213,494 cwt. ; and from foreign colonies, 303,532 cwt. In 1840 the total was 4,035,845 cwt.—viz., from British West India, 2,202,833 cwt. ; the Mauritius, 545,009 cwt. ; and British East India, 482,824 hwt. ; while the importations from foreign colonies had risen to 805,197 cwt. In 1850 the importations from British West India amounted to 2,587,420 cwt. ; from the Mauritius, to 1,003,290 cwt. ; from East India, to 1,220,359 cwt. ; and from foreign colonies, 1,350,523 cwt. ; snaking a total of 6,291,535 for the year 1850. The total fur 1852 amounted to 6,896,761 cwt. OLD PENINSULA SOLDIERS.—Who has not read of Rifleman Harris ?—Rifleman Harris has no pension ? He fought at Copenhagen, the Netherlands, and Penin sula. He was rendered unfit for service by the horrible Walcheren fever, and yet he has no pension ! At 73 years of age he makes shoes in James-street, Golden square, and a hard matter it must be at such a time of life to make and mend enough to keep life and soul together. George Parfect, of the 9th Foot, entered the army in 1805. Twelve years later he was discharged, after being pre sent in every modern engagement with the 9th Foot-- that noble Regiment which, from the battle of Almanza in the War of Succession down to the terrific struggle with the Sikhs, was always foremost in victory. He has eight clasps, and is old, feeble, and destitute, with a sick and aged wife ; but he never " had the luck" to be wounded, and so he has no pension ; but grubs on with a poorhouse allowance of 3s. a-week. James Egerton was one of the smartest men in the Rifles. Few men were more prominent than Egerton in the performance of the constant and harassing duty which fell to the lot of that dis tinguished corps. From Roleia to Waterloo, he was foremost in the strife. The war at an end, he was dis missed—with a pension ?—no, not a sou. He becomes a sort of job workman in a harness-maker's shop. Ac cident brings him near the person of his great com mander when a ruthless mob assails him because he un flinchingly maintains his political opinions. The life of the duke is in danger, Egerton rushes to his side, and boldness rewards of hishim front the ani m ation e ats ear es the v o a f g h a i b s o g n e d s s t . 0 re s a The nd d t u h k e e with a sovereign. He seeks a pension ' • the rules of th e service are against a compliance with his prayer, and some years afterwards the poor fellow is seen, an am bulatory sandwich, between two placards. Need we multiply instances of the wretched fate of the good men and true who survived scathless the dangers and fatigues and privations of the Peninsular War and the struggle in the Netherlands ? Have we not said enough to vindicate their claim to be remembered b e y b t l h u e s i h r c fe e r un ; 2 coun try, after a lapse of nearly 40 years . nation that for so long a period have made the acci dentservices to pass unrequitted. To could suffer merit and cruelty and a folly, for it has acted it as a pre once a or worse still, a that personal exposure, of war the only passport tobountyhas . been at pre mium upon his of t em ptation to that self - inflictio n of in j ur y , which pre maturely disqualifies the soldier for the fulfilm ent duty. • The past, unfortunately, cannot be remedied— there is no help for the thousan d s w ho have gone to their graves pauperised, cursing the folly which led them to take arms for a State which so unequally recognises good service ; but the remedy of the present is in the hands of the Secretary-at-War, and he may now honour ably atone for his folly in other repects by obtainin g some stiped for the remnants of the war. METROPOLITAN SEWERS COMMlBBlON.—Yeeteraday a special court was held at the Lecture-hall, Greenwich, a the commissioners in atte n d ance b eing the chairman Messrs. Gibson and S m ith . M r. Coggin, the clerk went an available bal ance of 50,9991. - The payments of accounts, stated that th ere was at the present mo now authorised amounted to 5,0641. Mr. Repton and Mr. Sandham, who had been retained to argue the cases o d f re c s e s r el in th o e r court r i t uh a a t bi c tail ons ts ide o ra f btblee l a e b n o gth ve o d n ist b li e c hlf t a s,ad o - f their respecti ve c li ents, who, they said, had been sum moned to show cause why they had not paid the last sewers rate. These parties urged the oft-repeated com plaints of defective drainage, and its deplorable results in the shape of effluvium and disease ; they also detailed the particular grievances under which the district la boured in respect of drainage, and desired either that new sewers, &c., should be constructed, or that the rate might be rescinded as regarded themselves. The Chair man said that while the commission acknowledged th e at present no available fund out of which. inefficient drainage of these localities, yet that t to hehad at apply a remedy. The works required in these districts, in order effectively to drain them, were not of a trifling descrip tion. Several thousand poun ds w ould, in fact, be te re quired to do this, and the ra te u pon the district did not produce this. The order of the co urt must be, that the rate. parties do pay the ra • I'M ENElLVB• rr lfus) 24, „:„....'.. t es t , i ., 'A Deser' . I': . of th(T.aiTe• ,rk iat No. , in Itailwa.y;" - hy Mr. ms • ....., 7 1 , • , Esq., in tile...chaise. n, ,, - th , - it 4 way across, 4: nen! T Trerimi . ear New,:.. .. ' jle- i 4 - 0 at a po -, _iert., .. —•• . 11_ 40 . .ach oth• ..• No neutA7 . ' , space, me •- . eil at sigh .. was only .',. ' 6 inches, 't '. 3 was 240 f .. fiches. . ?f i t lof two sepa . . elibaform 9, one ied upon two pairs of Warren's ,1 it ii ce ° b it to oi ; elii e , of rf 101 g 61 i 361 i . 1 . 2