The Sun. — London, England, 1853-12-14 00:00:00

of ordinary Site hatred [ties." j „ etaus" e line, who c ells of the r, d been '' e ‘ to row" soldier 05 acted s ° with those ) the prisol pa per au . pa per co: . to come t whistle the Izarainat"ll u . a nd 11 iehancellori .e Court PI dent of the 07-Gener&l d s G a illar Dea l ; M. d°, e Court °I ee, ivtgranting i i •., of 1 - 1 ! n ties on the :nglish resto' 00f. f?r g t , si ttin OOL fo r Iv • le inallg li no , as in co—ch :0 , for wh i st . \To been xe d for t.ft, h e )ing 011 , wi S i r be I °l l e ni • o f the i n . the 00 ; 0 :arriages Bourne ; f i t s . lovern.l%oo, 200 Doll, °P ted at 7. ithollt ed 01 s t ;. at oP 7 en 6f , r-aO. Ir12;103. ana re, g. • ga tge• a ltd S th ,; ; 5 927E o f We sterlL ; 637 E 6 %, end Genokt. o bilier, 70° Ce tugsWY cl itdr r and e 01 1 Agrao hA; lowa foo. ht that Ir k •i i Iho rota th is 7 ru ssia, (4 ,1 ; t arriv ea t i,) reach i n t he an d vn, fer s a nd preYl 4l oe )urc Ca" lose in lyl/1 rlin' I te of to rent that 0 lers to .141 pn expreg e . s and thisi;? facts. :Lt. been oT t - if to its eu t ., 0 ,1 ecelesis s- oe invent. 0, t e ttin 011 ,, s made:d Jour-Lino i to alle l e , übjeet ew Pr ;equencl t . 3 . 6s , )f the 3 .:j0 The $ .17 , 0 0 narks Woo meat of th e • ° the elee oviov oppos e w ty A 131014 , 00 the elec.x„f " your, - . int Reroi ' ;ate B 3 ' o o, :essrg. D'af e pu al moil ° Di bl'eh e " A et oieeb,,joe f the Ow' 30 11' in the t oo is have IV Le elasselo°•tio 3.e— -'1 ri Vli tA t • .. I s tates ,b d balli sP 130 Intel": " he provolof Dreven t 190 l e atres , je ce o , rap ose r or e PrizBB „JO tare g° 0$ the I T n ee • s - talo ztyoP' r fi last fo a the dire, 0 240 r lo of oy-iton o ug ofro: g a atlr ii ,f4 ion°, A g t v s place o lo? are t ° olf ,ct th e roe ora the has 1300 11 Do' I I? roga pre aal a ii f the t • of 5° joriti oa rod )4 tb ° 1 1111° ! o rtes. by the PO clO ll ba n OP a ro p 1" , nd 3 7 Ile s tire 1 ,,v0 a ds rll n 3 pa rtseo ts littio eve n so- - 0 lid 1 31 r rho r e to, forin rel q uar:o i the ts 1 it sl eo c° Ito l° w- co pTo ' il 0° to eth 1 , Woe vAi e " 0 d e e °3"l3 oft" ~itioo .0 b° It nu 1/lelc ft . s lll legr agl a 0, ot hr—trAti olgc° tar: irll9,lneli wee — , 3 11 000-1 o f g+11) MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. • The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 2,500 Surat were taken on speculation. The market was steady, and closed without change in prices. The sales comprised 3,250 American, 100 Pernam and Maran ham at 70. to 7d., and 3,500 Surat at 3gd. to 4-id. per lb. Railway shares were steady. The public sales of tea have gone off without spirit, at the previous rates. Tallow is very firm. The letters by the Overland Mail are expected to be delivered next Friday. It is _probable that there will be a very largo number of Australian etters. Bills of exchange upon the principal continental cities were taken yesterday afternoon at rather ewer rates. Paris, 90 days, brought 25 2n to 30, Amsterdam, 11 151- to 15:1, liamburgh. 13 5 to 4, and Trieste 11 32 to 36. The conduct of the Portuguese Government in periodically deducting from the dividend paid to the bondholders, has met reprehension so perse veringly and unequivocally in this country, that it Would be mere iteration again to dwell upon the subject, as far as our views are considered. It is, however, highly satisfactory to have any evidence that the question . is viewed in the same light among the Portuguese themselves. A speech delivered in the Chamber of Deputies, at Lisbon, by Senor Antonio Carvalho, Honorary Minister of State, one of the Judges of the Supreme Tribunal of Lisbon, and Deputy to the Cortes of the Portuguese nation, is, perhaps, stronger than could have been expected, considering the official position of the party. It appears that this gentleman ranks as one of the most upright of the Portuguese judges, and the best of her statesmen. In politics he is a moderate Conservative, and has advocated the navigation of the Douro, opposed the acts of the two dictator ships, and stood forward as an advocate of good faith and public credit. With a few such men in th e Cortes as Senor Carvalho, we should not de tiPair, of early restitution of past deductions, especi caally should those men find admission into the Council of the Sovereign. The speech was Very elaborate, and it is impossible to do more here than glance at it. The following, however, la an interesting portion " I think the conversion was necessary, but I wish it had been made by legitimate means. I have already heard in this place the conversion compared to a mercan tile treaty (concordata); but that has not the same ana logy, the concordat does not oblige the dissentient cre ditors to rebate (AlvarA of 14th of March, 1780, and law of 15th of February, 1791). Rebate must not be confunded with (rateio), apportioning into shares. " The base of finance is a good administration of the public revenue, it is a well understood-economy ; so also 18 security, fidelity, and punctuality in the satisfaction of obligations, the fountain of credit. In public trans actions of this nature there are not different rules for the State and for private persons ; there are not two scales and two weights, there arc not two different pro bities. " It it a generally accepted maxim that conversion Cannot, nor ought it, be made, except under certain re quisites, the concurrence of the creditors being the essential condition. With what right can the debtor Irripose conversion and reduction upon his creditor without offering and proposing to him the option of receiving or converting ? A forced conversion and re di:talon, imposed but not accepted, is an act of despot ism—it is an act of insupportable violence. How, without violating the good faith of contracts, justice, and the sentiments of honour and national pride, can the debtor say to his creditor, who had assisted him in his necessities, labours, and agonies---` Thy titule of 100, whatever shall be its value in the market ; when the depreciation itself proceeds from the acts of the debtor himself, and not the creditor, will be worth 60 ; that is, I reduce thy credit to 60 nominally ? You lose 40 per cent., because that is my pleasure, and do not ,uumplain, because then I will make and decree an abso lute bankruptcy, and you will not receive anything : Obse rve that on my side is force, against which thy right shall not prevail. " Where, in what part of the world, can such a prac tice b e admitted without exciting- loud clamours ? "The conversion and reduction of the interest of the internal and external debt was made with precipi tation and injustice. _ _ "It is from these two financial operations—capitali aation and conversion—that our greatest discredi t both within and without the country proceeds ;, it is from them, and only them, that at the present moment Our progressive discredit proceeds, and not those causes to which erroneously or deceitfully it is desired to attribute it. "It is to facts, and not to professions and words, that prudent capitalists give credit. Does the Government Pay and satisfy its. obligations punctually ? Does it ob serve a rigorous and indefectible system of well under stood economy and good administration of the public r evenue ? Does it endeavour by proper means to de 'c'elop the national resources ? Does it respect property hid fulfil contracts ? Satisfying all these conditions, it credit ; otherwise, evevy discontent is invoked a gainst it." .„ There has been a very h eavy market for English t o and the quotations have further declined ± IA) per cent. The political news is sufficient to t he for this, as others vise there is no change in "Ile money market. Con sols have been 941 to the New Three-and- a-Quarter per Cents. 964 " 13 j• Exchequer Bills as e Gs. to 9s. premium, and In • la Bonds 2s. to ss. premium. There is a little activity in Foreign Stocks, but prices in some cases evince more weakness. Rus rr..o Bonds, however, b.; we been in favour, the t ve per Cents. being 1 per cent. better, viz., 112/ 0 114. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. are firm Zt 98g. Sardinian Bonds are marked 901 ex div. r Panish Stock is rather depressed, the Three per being 464 to 46 i i , and the New Deferred 2 to 22k. The Certificate is also lower, 54 to 5/. f Pe ruvian have declined to 69, and Grenada De ierred are flatter at 8 and Chilian Bonds are 3 , Brazilian Five per Cents. heavy at 98, and d.e Four-and-a-Half per , Cents. steady at 93i, j ex dencl. There have been no bargains in Mexi cali or Dutch Bonds. Railway Sh ares h a ve gone lower generally, in do ing with the funds, and there has been less 2'ng in them. The decline generally is about 4 t cent., but in the Midland, North Western, d shares Caledonian it is to 1 per cent. French have ve verybeen dull, and Belgian are merely no minal. In the Gold Mine Shares there have been a few 3 ,, bar gains at the previous. rates. " Australian Bank Shares are generally goer, and there has been an advance of 1/. to 21. '!outh Australian. fi ery little business has been done in the Austra ti2l Land Companies' Shares, and Peel River con reque flat. British American Land, owing to the red of gold discoveries of some value, and cor xuaration of former news, have been done at a a t rise, namely at 80. IIItI TISTI FUNDS THKS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. ( From the Ofteictl List. ) Thudness done. 8 Der a 944 --e ilt• duced Annuities shut 95., icrt Cent. Consols Annuities 9q, i 3 1: 34 Per Cent. Annuities 05i India Abal F• • sth Jan., 186 sties, 4zpne 13°8 . dOOO 114) p a A co uso R f R= 1 1„ -- ' c ' r CiDening 18th Jan. --e..eqner Bills, I.d. £lOOO 6 9 p . £5OO sm all .................................................... 6 6 9 9 P P .. b ............................... 'n., 4 i I . C . E OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. nzilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.. ellilttall 33cmde "'kw, s Cent . 1 852, 4A per - A x( 1 GI- Cent 8 I'e etlada onds, Deferred 103 1,- Blllrian Bonds, 4i per Cent. 41,tilisian Bonds, 1822 5 per Cent. £St ll2l 14 Ditto 4i per Cent ' 'alCa..:linia. n Bonds, per Cent 9Bs 90A x (I epa a u i lli s s ii ll isr li oncia3 per Cent 46 i T El New Deferred, 3 per Cent. Leh Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 54 i p c Dividends on the above payable in London. Con sols for O penin; 18th Janu ar y LF-PAS O. 94i TW 3 x - t•nrET NEWS—(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. b I.o•Clay'a , 'ngli e h , blarket was very rioderately supplied with Intl,. -,.. wheat. For all kinds the demand ruled steady, at J An or, a „ , . Not .trY 8 prliCes. 14 wi— ' sta naing that the show of foreign wheat was I ,g e, and that the imports continue liberal, that grain ee,, e( tt l. off freely. Many of the holders refu ed then sell the tuve'Letsan advance of from is to 2s per quarter ; ce A. 31 doing was not large. higl4:ng cargoes were in fair request, awl the turn °°43l6lilail was Tng. r l doe for barl e y, a t extreme rates. In malt Nr e 'etatiere in good request, but all other articles were Elvi s , 44 4 a .. Forte :: Wheat. 1,250 AIIatVALB TELIS WEEK. Barley, Bralt. I Oats. 4,790 4,5 , 0 2490,510 400 — 1, 3,400 1b,290 29,9 g; Flour. 1,540 1,400 s 5,950 brl ~.• WRITECHAPEL. tell 6 general demand ruled. firm to-day, as follows : Ifit°l74 28 1 0d to 43 2 • mutton, 3s 2d to 48 8d ; veal, ase ' la ci . to 48 10d ; p or k , 3s 4d to 4s 10d per Ribs by the vi r HOP. 144 e I° ll4 / 1 11e to 13 hao ROUGH a very inactive dead for all ut) Psi th e p r i ces of which are barely au an pPortvd, - SHARE MARKETS-(THIS DAY). BRITISH RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. Aberdeen ............. Ambg. Nottng. Bost. Eastu. Belfast & Ballymena Birmng. Wolverh. Stour Va11ey......... Birkenhd. Lancsh. Cheshire Junct...... Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & £25 Do., £20...••••• !Blyth & Tyne original £25 (iss. at £15).... Bristol & Exeter...... ,Caledonian.... Chestcr & Holyhead Cork and Bandon Cork, Black. & Pass Cornwall Dublin&BelfastJunc. Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction .. Do. New .. . East Anglian (.25 L. & E. & L. & D.)..... Do., (MS E. & ! Eastern Counties..... lEastemUnion,A. stk. Do., .do. 8............. ID o.NewA(lateThirds) !East Lancashire ... Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles... Edinb. Prth. &Dundee Forth and Clydaunc. Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern Stk.. !Do., A. Stock IDo., B. Stock Gt. S th. &West. (Ire.) Great Western.. Irish South-Eastern. , Do., &Carlisle Do., Thirds... 'Laneasn. &Yorkshire Do Fifths . ...... Do., Wst. Riding Un. Leeds Northern..... .. Liv. Orsby. & So nth pt. London & Blackwall Loud. Tilb. & Loud. Bright. & S. Cst. London & N. Western Do. Fifths Do. ,16/.5h.,1N1&8...0 Do. Eighths London & S. Western Do., £5O •• e• Do., ..... Lndndrry. &Coleraine Ludnarry. & Ennisk. Manch.Shef. &Lineln. Do., Man. & Lin. Un. Midland ... Do. Birming. do Derbyl Midland G. West. (Ir. ), Do. A Shares ..... Newcastle da Carlisle.. Newmarket............ Do. Bury Extensions Newpt.AbergAlltfcl. Newry & Enniskillen INewry Warrenpoint & Rostrevor N0rf01k............ Northn. Counties Un North British ..... North Devon, No.l Do., No. 2 Dc., A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North L0nd0n...,. .., N. & S. Ws tn. , Hamp stead, and City Ju North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, Hinckley,) and Leicester 'Oxford Worcester ,SLI Wolverhampton—. Portsmouth Scottish Central.. Scottish Midland.. Shrewsbury dr Hiring. Do., L. & N. Westn. Guaranteed Stock... Shrewsby. dr Herefd. Shrewsby. dr Chester (Nor. W. Do. Halves, d 0....... IDe. Oswestry ..,...... Shropshire Union.... Do. A, B,C, & D, fully paid up at per cent. South Devon South South Wales... ...... S. Yorksh. RivcrDuv D 0...... . ............. Staines,Wok.,ezWok.l Stockton Sz, - Stockton & liartlepl Taff Vale Do £lO shades. Do. Prof., No. 1 Thames Haven Dock aud. Valo of Noatii Waterfd. & Kilkenny Watcrford&Limorick West C0rnwa11......., West End of London' and Crystal Palaee ! west London Wrubled on &Croydon J l York Newctl.4 Berw. Do. Extensions...—. Do. G. N. E. Purchase York & N. Midland... Closing Prices yesterday. 22 -- 24 5i - 5i 9 - 10 11 - 93, 17 - 19 5i - 97 -99 SGI - 5Gi 16t 14 - 16 46A -47 A Si - Si - 3k -- 131- 13 A 42 - 44 31 - 33 65 - 67 61 - 66 223 = 233 85 3 / 4 - 86 3 / 4 60 - 62 29 - 131 04 - 106 832-- 91 - 98 1 14 -15 p 68 -68 A 6a 6A*i 13i -- 14 1 1 p 100 101 1031 —103 i par 4 p P 78 79 12 11 d 11 9 d 25 - 26 - -d 64 - 64. 37 - 39 54 56 4d par 4 — 3 6 d 26 3 r 6 8 53 55 3 -36 d 346 356 8— 10) li - 24 66 - 76 51 ... 53 5I sid 8A _9 pai 2 p 39 - 40 91 - 92 56 - 57 60 - 62 55 60 2 4dh: 14 - 16 7 - 8 11 - 12 3i - Sad 16 18 63 64 33 34 2d •—• par 4 5 27 - 30 2i 34 15 16 6 - 8 28 - 30. B• :r .j 8j 65 66 8i 8 a 31 -- 3d 49 50 FOREIGN. Altwrp & Rotterdam Belgian East. Juuct Beziers to Graissessac Central of Italy Charleroi & Erquelin Demerara Dijon and Besa9on Dutch Rhenish East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Juliet. of France Gd. Trunk o f Canada Sin's. and Bonds._ Gt. Central of France Gt. Westn. of Canada Shares Do. bonds(l i55.)1857 Do. bonds (2 i55.)1862 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent Lake Coast. & Basle Lucca and Pistoja, 5 per cent. pref. Lucxembourg Do. (Railway) Do Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. cent. pref. Lyons & Mediteman. Madras Maria Antonia Do. New .... .. Vlolbourne Dk. & By Namur & Liege (with, interest Do. (ex interest) ,Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds [fmy.B.,SLAnis.Shs.] Nor wegianTrnk. Prof Paris and Lyons Do. bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg Paris Caen& Cherbrg Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambro and Mouse Do. 5 per cent. pref S.E. of France Southern of France_ St. Andrews & Quebec Upper India Scrip West Flauders Do. 5 per c. Prof Western of France West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealan , l ......... 21 lid 1 24 - 13 - 15 2i —31 p 2 lid 4 4 p P p liP 21 3 p 2 —l. d p id I par 1 pl 101 11 6i -- 7 2 11 21 id ip i - Ipl 81 - 8,1 35 - 36 72 -- 8i 16i --17 p 47 42 33r 31 id 20 par 1 9i - 6 - 7p 4 3id LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Leasing Closing Prices B u siness Shr. Paid AMWAY'S. Compans. yesterday. this day. 50 all Bedford and Ln.&N.W. Bletchley -•— St. 100 Buckghanish. L. & N.W. 101 103 50 all Clydesdale Je. Caledon... 51 52 St. 100 E.Lineoln. gr 6p. cent Gt.Northn 142 145 25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. Neils. Direct. ••• , 4141 25 all Do. New Do 25 all Glstr.&Dn.Fr. A.lYestn 3O 32 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New Railway & Berw.. 50 all Hull & Selby Y.&N.Md. 10 . 9 111 25 all Do. Shares Do 544 —55 i 12i all Do. Shares. Do 27 28 12i all Lon.&Greenw S. Eastern l3 14 20 all Do.Prefercncc Do 24i —25 St. 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent... Norfolk R. 100 Do. 6 per et... Do — all Manch.Bxton. Ln.&N.W and Matlock & Midld 2l 3 3 50 all Middlesbro' & Stckton & Recicar Darlingt. 100 all Midld.Bradfd Midland... 99 101 50 all Northern and Easternsp.c. E. Count.. 60 62 5 all Do. 6 per ct Do • 4109 5. all Do.Fixedsp.c Do .. . 2-j all Prest. &Wyre L. &Is. W • &Ln&Yk I n 12 Do. A Shares. Do S; 100 Roystn.&Hit. Gt.Northn 113 146 SL. 100 Do.Shepth.St. Do 113 146 2) 18 Shef. Roth. & Lancash.& Goole g.5.p.c Yorksh — d 12 9i S. Staffordsh.. MAlClean 2 lid 50 all WearValloygr Stockt. & 6 per cent Darling. 25 all Do Do 3l 32 St. 100 Wilts4Somrst Gt.Westu 99 100 100 Si r.; 17 THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1853. Easiness done this day. 56 I 5 i i 13i a 42 83i i 67/ 8k 101 1031 3 2 1 i 774 64 3i 49,} 9 i Agua Fria .... Anglo Austrin. Gold Anglo Californian Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy Blvenarvon Iron and Coal British Austrin. Gold British Iron Brazilianlmp. (issued at £5 pm Do. Comes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons's Creek Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo Copper. MM. of Eng Do. Pref. 7 p. cent English and Austin Copper Smeltg. Co General Gt. Nugget VeinScrp Do. Registered Great Polgooth Lake Bathurst Liberty Linares Lond.kCaliforn. Gold Quartz Crush. Co Nlariquita Hexican&S.Amerien New Granada New Linares Mining and Smelting Co Nouveau Monde t , Pontgiband Silver' Lead MM. & Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymney Iron Do. New 30 20 1 40 1 10 1 1 13.5 246 all 9 all all Santiago de Cuba , South Australian Tin Croft ... United Mexican Waller West Granada all all all all 12s. 1 1Vest Mariposa Worthing Mining 01 Australia IYuba..., JOINT-STOC. Australasia British Colonial Bank and Loan Company British N. American Chrtd. Buk. of India, Austral., and China Chrtd. Bnk. of Asia. Colonial Commercial of Lond. English Scottish and Australian Chrtd... London Chrtd. Bnk of Australia London and County London Joint Stock Lond.andWestminst National Provincial of England Do. New 25 100 100 • 20 50 50 100 100 20 10 20 35 National of Ireland New South Wales Oriental Bank Cor poration Provincial of Ireland) Do. New Royal Australis. Bkg. and Gold Imp. Co South Australia Union of Australia Do. New Union of London Union of Madrid d d —par 4p a d 3 -- - O r d d d d 10 - 12 i— $ d 8 10 66 3 37 39 id par 45 47 11 g R 12 70 SO 7 0 p 15 20 20 20 100 1 25 1 100 2 3 d 14 —l6 • ep ••• ••• lA ld A d d— 4cl ... -Ad par 74 sk par— 4 --' 2P id —. P 31 33 9 10 7i 5 7 4i 4fi g ,li. i d BANKS. 82 - 84 id gdis it:Us li id A 1p 42 - 44 48 - 50 i d— par 75 - 77 71 - 8i :01Is . 47 = 48 ... .-. 75 - 80 - 2i p 1 2 - 24 17- i 6 13 3/4d. i - .3P ••• ,:• • - IP 4 -- lip 39 -- 41 par -- p 15i -- 164 2i 43i 4 76i 5i 7k I 4g LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, Dec. 14.--Wind this day at Noon, N.E. ; light breeze and fine. The barometer has fallen 1 inch this week (from Fair to Rain), or from 30 deg. to 29 deg. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 13.—Wind, E.S.E. to S.E. Ar rived—Parkfield, from Callao, for London ' • Hendrik Hud son, London, and sailed for Now York. Off Port—Marion, from London, for Bombay.—The Neptune, from Cardiff to Bremen, which put in here on the 11th, has been sur veyed, and is come into the harbour to discharge, being FOWEY, Dec. 12.—Wind, E. Arrived—Wm. West and John Wesley, from London, and both sailed for St. Michael's. OFF DOVER, Dec. 13.—Beile Limegno, from Africa. PENZANCE, Dec. 12.—Wind, E.S.E. Arrived—Skellef tea, from Monte Video, had slipped anchor and chain in the roads ; Greyhound, from London, for St. Michael's, with loss of anchor and chain in Princes' Channel. CORK, Dec. 11.—Wind, S.E. Arrived—Rocroy, from St. John's, N.B. Hurl., Dec. 13.—Wind, E.S.E. Sailed—Superior, from Calcutta. BRISTOL, Dec. 12.—Arrived—Eliza. from Buenos Ayres. OFF PlLL.—Evergreen, from Quebec, for Gloucester. LEITH ROADS, Dec. 11.—Arrived—Pomona, from St. John's. PORTLAND BAY, Dec. 11.—Arrived—Lucie Marie, from St. Übes. OFF THE BOLT.—Fortune, from Valparaiso. BELFAST, Dec. 12.—Sailed—Condor, for New York. WELLS, Dec. 13.—A mainmast, with lower rigging, yards, sails, &c. (the topsail maker's name G. J. Knaggs, Whitby—topgallantsail maker's name Fancer's & Co., West Hartlepool), and piece of a stern , have been brought in here by the Economy (s) of this port, from a vessel sunk on Burnham Flats. FALMOUTH, Dec. 12.—The Observer, from Smyrna to Antwerp, which put in hero with pumps choked, on the 10th, has been surveyed, brought into the pier, and will discharge part of cargo. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 12.—The Margaret Roberts, of Milford, was in contact off the Lizard yesterday, with the Fortune, from Valparaiso to London—the former vessel sunk ; crew on board tho Fortune, which lost jibboom, and had her bows chafed. HELsrNGrons, Dec. 3.—The Neva, of Hull, from Umea to London, was picked up off Aland, derelict, 23d Nov., and carried into Karingsund ; she is dismasted and other wise damaged, but made little water. (BY ELECTRIO TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY, 11 A.M. Wind, E. moderato, and cloudy. ArrivedSirene, from- Meinel ; Alfred, Now York. QUEENSTOWN, Dec 12. The Zoe, from Maritius, for Bristol, in working out this morning, grounded on the Western Bank, near Cam den. After running two or three hours she got off and proceeded. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, WEDNESDAY, 10 13 A.M. CUSTOMS RETURN. Wind, E., fine ; three hours' flood. Arrived—Giraffe, (s.), from Rotterdam; Mercury, (s.), Bordeaux ; Neptune, (s.), Hamburg ; Belgium, (s.) Os tend ; Trident, (s.), Hamburg. DEAL, WEDNESDAY, 9.14 A.M. Wind, S.E., by E. fresh. Passed—Panama, Rio Janeiro ; Elizabeth, Sylva ; Vi vid, Terceira—all for London. Anchored—City of Manchester, from Callo, for London. DEATH OF THE PRINCIPAL OF BRASENOSE COLLEGE. —lt is our painful duty to record the death of the Rev. Richard Harington, Principal of Brasenose Colle g e, Oxford, which melanch o ly event took place yesterday morning at twenty minutes past seven o'clock, and after an illness of three days' dura tion. The deceased was apparently in good health up to Wednesday last, when he attended a meeting of the street commissioners. In the evening of the same day he also attended a meeting of the University Architectural Society, and took part in the discussion. He was out in his carriage on the afternoon of Friday, and returned home to dinner, during which he was seized with a pain in the stomach, which he treated as a slight bilious attack, He did not leave his house on Saturday, ; on Sunday be kept his bed, and called in medical aid. The disease under which deceased was labouring was inflammation of the bowels. He gradually got worse, and his phy sicians, Dr. Acland, Dr. Jackson, and Mr. Wood, remained with shim the whole of the last night, and until death terminated his sufferings this morn. ing. Dr. Harrington was formerly an under-graduate of Christ Church, from which he was elected to a fellow ship of Brasonose College in March, 1822, having, in the Michaelmas Term preceding, obtained a first class "In literis humanioribus." Ho was a tutor and fellow of Brasenose College for a period of eleven year; when lie succeeded to a college living which he held until 1842. In that year he was elected Principal of Brasenose Col lege, on the elevation of the Rev. Dr. Ashurst Turner to the see of Chichester. He was an active and indefati gable county magistrate. It is, however, in his posses. sion as the connecting link between the university and the city that his loss will be the most severely felt, for he mingled more with the citizens, and more earnestly joined in every measure calculated to be to the mutual interest of both bodies, than any other member of the university. He was in the 53d year of his age, and has left a widow and family. CITY CORPORATION COMMISSION. Contrary to general expectation, the commissioners did not hold a sitting yestehlay. At the last adjournment day (Friday) there were several witnesses waiting to be examined, among them Mr. Browne, the Conservative agent at many of the recent civic elections ; but an they were not called until after the usual hour for adjourn ment, they expressed their willingness to attend o.n tl:e following Tuesday, rather than be compelled to condense their evidence, or to give it in the absence of Mr. Labou chere, the chairman, who left the room before the hour for adjournment had arrived. Mr. Cornewall Lewis then said that Mr. Browne had better give his evidence, as the commissioners might not hold another sitting before that at which the corporation would be entitled to bring forward their evidence. Mr. Browse, however, declined, observing that he would rather take his chance of being heard on another day than be obliged to give important evidence in a hur ried and condensed manner. Mr. Cornewall Lewis subsequently stated that there was considerable doubt as to whether the commissioners would sit again for some time ; but that if they sa.t at all next week, they would meet, not at the official resi dence of the First Lord of the Treasury (where they then were), but at the Privy Council Chamber, on Tuesday, at 12 o'clock. No intimation having been given in the meantime that the commissioners would not hold a sitting yester day at the usual hour, a number of persons, who stated they had business before the commissioners, attended at the Privy Council Chamber at 12 o'clock, but the mes sengers there said they had not been informed as to whether the commissioners were to meet or not. It was stated, however, that a messenger had gone to the residence of Mr. Cornewall Lewis to make inquiry. After the lapse of a short time the messenger returned with an intimation that the commissioners would not sit that day, and that it was not known when they would sit again. We believe, however, that the com missioners have now taken all the evidence which they consider necessary against the corporation, and that they will not meet again until after Christmas, in order that the corporation may have time to prepare their case, so as to reply to the whole of the evidence adduced before the commissioners. It is stated that, for the con venience of the public, in all probability the remainder of the inquiry will be prosecuted in the City. Mr. Acland, the secretary to the Municipal Reform Association, who was the first witness examined, expects to have an opportunity afforded him to " call witnesses to corroborate his evidence" before the commissioners adjourn to consider their report. FREE-TRADE FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY. Last night a numerously attended meeting was held at the Camberwell Hall, Grove-lane, Camberwell, to hear an explanation from the directors of this successful society. Among the gentlemen on the platform we observed Sir Henry Winston Barron, Bart., chairman of the society, Colonel Dickson, the deputy-chairman, Captain John Bishop-Culpeper, Major-General Sir William R. Clayton, Bart., John Lloyd Clayton, Esq., R.N., Henry E. Canney, Esq., F. A. Daviss, Esq., W. Dick inson, Esq., John Gate, Esq., Thomas A. Pott, Esq., Fleming, E sq ., F re d er i ck West, Esq., ---Vigers, Esq., Belcher, Esq., Dr. Evans, and many other highly influential gentlemen. The chair was taken shortly before 8 o'clock by Sir Henry W. Barron, Bart. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of the evening, said he believed there was scarcely a gentleman in that meeting who was not fully acquainted with the general working of freehold land societies. Their general objects being to purchase large tracts of land, and to deal it out in small parcels. To dwell further on that point would be an act of supererogation. One of the great advantages was that th© land purchased by this society was sure to be of the best description, and, after the drains had been laid down, and the roads made, it was alloted to the shareholders. Generally, among old fashioned builders, it was not considered politic to have wide spaces, or to have the slightest thought about the drainage. Happily a better system was now afloat. This society made it a rule that no land should be given out that was not fully approved of by the society's sur veyors. The next point, and he would touch upon it but slightly, was the want of house-room, particularly in small districts, great numbers having to put up with houses of a very uncomfortable, disagreeable, and un wholesome description. To remedy such a state of things, this society placed it in the power of all to obtain sufficient land of the best description to build a good and substantial house. (Cheers.) By this means alone would the moral condition of the population be improved. His (the chairman's) experience led him to say that there was no question that the industrious classes required better accommodation, and that want was only to be supplied by freehold land societies. This society offered land at a cheap rate—at an almost imper ceptibly small rate. By monthly contributions a free hold could be obtained, also a vote, with which this society scorned to interfere ; and it was a proud thing for a man to say this is my own freehold, this is my own land. The success attained by this society had been gained by none of the societies, now in existence in the same space of tithe. In four months we have disposed of between 1,600 and 1,700 shares, and the subscribed capital amounted to upwards of" 60,000/. The payments upon every share had been duly made ac cording to rule, and many had paid down the whole 401., thus showing that the directors had public confidence. Now, no society had met with such success as that—no society had had in four months such a quantity of shares taken up as that. For saying that freehold land so cieties had improved the moral and physical condition of the population he (the chairman) had the highest autho rity—the authority of a committee of the House of Com mons, which elicited from a very influential. gentle man (Mr. Stephens) the fact that freehold land societies and cheap excursion trains had greatly diminished drunken ness, and produced habits of forethought and prudence in Birmingham, where these societies were first started and where they were best known. That alone ought to be sufficient to secure the patronage and support of all. The hon. baronet concluded by saying that some of the best men in the country were with the freehold land societies. (Cheers.) Mr. VIGERS then explained the nature and situation of the two attractive estates, the property of the society. The one in the immediate vicinity consisted of ten and and a-half acres. It was intended to make some altera tion on the plan previously laid down, but he would not pledge that all those alterations would be adopted, but they would be referred to the committee, and he did not think they would make much alteration. (Cheers.) The estate he was speaking of consisted of 345 plots ; the maximum depth was 105 feet—the minimum, on an average, 60 feet ; the frontage, 16 feet. A 40/, allotment was sure to realise a ground rent of 21. Now, al6 feet frontage, with a depth of 56 feet—the price in this neigh bourhood was from ss. to Bs. a foot—was to be alloted at 4s. per foot, securing at least 60 per cent. profit. The Beckenham estate consisted of 17 and a-half acres, and 78 plots. It was near the Crystal Palace, where land was bringing a guinea a foot. This estate would be alloted at 81d. per foot ; in fact, securing the fortunate shareholder a profit of 300 per cent. (Cheers.) Col. DICKSON, in moving the first resolution, said --After the very able speech they had heard from the chairman, he would detain them but a very short time. By the plan of this society, the poor man could obtain land with as much facility as the rich man. (Cheers.) All the poor man had to do was to abstain from his glass of gin, smoke one cigar a day less, invest the sav ing, and the result wonld be, that in a short time he would find himself the possessor, in this great and power ful country, of a freehold—an object he should think of the greatest, the highest ambition. (Cheers.) It had been most truly said that it was an exceeding gratification to see the possessor of small capital entering into compe tition with the possessor of immense wealth accumulated in the Indies, with the great Manchester cotton lord, and the large owner of shipping at Liverpool, for the possession of a freehold. He felt a pleasure and a pride in bearing testimony to this ; and he (Col. Dickson) thought there could not be a nobler or more worthy motive by which an individual, placed in humble circum stances, could be actuated. We had had a revolution, but he rejoiced to say a peaceful, not a violent revolution, caused mainly by freehold land societies. He advised all to invest their savings in the land—it was the safest, the surest, and the best. Loss could not occur, but on the other hand a profit of cent. per cent. was sure to be the result. It was one of the chief objects of this so ciety to do good to their fellow-men. (Cheers.) The resolution he had the honour to move was to the follow ing effect :—" That freehold land societies hold out the greatest possible inducement to the cultivation of habits of temperance, industry, and forethought amongst the industrious classes, by furnishing them at the smallest possible cost with a plot of freehold land on which to invest their savings." Mr. DAVISS had great pleasure in seconding the reso lution, which, having been put to the meeting, was car ried unanimously. • Mr. CANNEY then briefly moved the second resolu tion : ---" That the Free Trade Freehold Land Society is well calculated to secure the objects contemplated in the first resolution, and in its past management • and success, combined with its total freedom from all politi cal bias, furnishes a good guarantee of its safety and future prosperity." The resolution having been seconded by Mr. COOK, was declared carried. Dr. EVANS said it gave him great pleasure to move the third resolution. He advised all to possess them selves of the 40s. franchise, for he thought it would soon be increased to 50s. or 60s. He was sum such an in vestment would return a large profit. The resolution was as follows :—" That this society is entitled to the support of the public at large, and of the inhabitants of this district in particular, being situated in its immediate locality, and a very eligible site for distribution among its members." Mr. FLEMING briefly seconded the resolution ; as in the preceding case, it was carried unanimously. Sever.al questions having been asked and satisfactorily answered, _ _ Captain BISHOP-CULPEPER then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman. It having been carried, The CHAIRMAN begged heartily to thank the meeting for the honour conferred upon him, and again begged to commend the object of this meeting to the serious at tention of them all. The proceedings then terminated. AMERICAN REPUDIATION.—The fact of attention having been called to American repudiation, as exemplified by the people of Mississippi, renders it necessary to correct a common error on the part of writers in the United States, who are accustomed to describe that State as the only remaining delinquent in the Union. So far from this being the case, no less than four of the States out of the 31 which constitute the nation, continue to deny their debts, while among the remainder there is one which, although exceedingly prosperous, pays only a fraction of its dividends, and another that has forced its creditors to accept a most inadequate compromise, under a threat that in the event of non-compliance they should never receive a dollar in any way. The four repudiating States are—Mississippi, Michigan, Florida, and Arkan sas, and the additional two who are still in default, al though they have not resorted to direct repudiation, are Illinois and Indiani. In none of the first four cases has there been anything to distinguish one from the other in point of open depravity, and the circumstance of Missis sippi having been most talked of seems actually to have arisen from the existence of a considerable body among her citizens who aid every now and then the efforts of the suffering claimants to agitate the question. On the part of the others not the slightest manifestation of re turning ho nes t y h as - ever been noticeable, t h e only one on of them th a t cons i ders it even worth while to to a defenc e b e i ng Fl orida, whose attempte d j u stification Federaltification is simply suc h as to throw the del i nquenc y 0o the v Government, since her plea is, that the an con tracted when sha was merely a territory the authorities at and that, under those circumstances , ... Washington are alone responsible for it• loan an not w r: s State, 1 about 3 per mille discount (WV PRICE OF GOLD. —T h e which, at the English Mint P t o g tl old ie l a a t s t P t a a r r i i s ff • isb ounce for standardgives an ex f c 3 h l an l g 7 e s o . f l 2l d .o . 9 p i er ; per at cent . short dearerb eing By advices from Hamburg 2 and, s .0 o, the i t follows exchange that a gold,t goldoParis. i s aobno Londonut of 31. 17s. 100. per ounce for standard I. a, .r ka,nd, the which,he exchange e t h h a e n g E e n g a t lish Mint price in Paris than in Lont gold, gives an Londonhamburg • f gold is 4 fple3r..3m dearer in Hamburg than in that gold is 0.16 per cent. York on exchange at short ' being 13.2' 4 ', it follows exchange is 110 per cent., and, for bills at 60 days sight ..L oil d on London. The course of , at New on the par o lows that the exchange is f exchange between England and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows no minally 0.42 per cent. in favour of England ; and, after making allowance for charges of transport and difference of interest, the present rate leaves a profit on the impor tation of gold from the United States, MINES. MISCELL. Aubin uoitl and Iron Australian Agricult. Australsn.Pcifio Mail Australn. Royal Mail, Berlin Water Works.: . Brit. American Land' Brit. & Colu. Smelti. and Reduction Co ;Canada Company Crystal Palace Do. New Crystal Pal. of France Eastern Steam Electric Telegraph (A) Do. (B) Electric Tel. of Irel Gen. Steam Navigat General Screw Steam Irish Beetroot Sugarl Magdalena St. Navig.l Nat. Pt. Steam Fuel' Netherlands Land N. S. W. Coal k Inter- Stem. Nay. Co N. B. Australasian New Europe Steam Peel Itr. Ld. & Minrl. Peninsular & Oriental Do. do. Portland Iron Co Royal Mail Steam.... Scot. Austral. Invest. South Austral. Land Submarine Telegraph Van Diemen's Land THE BIRMINGHAM CATTLE SllO GP: Yesterday the Birmingham exhibition of fat cattle, pigs, and poultry, under the patronage of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and the nobility of that and the adjoining counties, was opened at Bingley Hall, Bir mingham, and was certainly one of the most splendid shows of the kind that has ever taken place in the king dom. The immense building, erected especially for these exhibitions, was admirable and most tastefully arranged for the occasion, affording the exhibitors and the public the utmost possible accommodation which could be ex tended. In point of number and quality, the fat cattle far excels those of former years ; but the most extra• ordinary improvement is evinced in the poultry depart• ment, where a splendid collection of almost every de scription of domestic and fancy fowl is to be seen. The number of birds is nearly deuble the .quantity exhibited last year, and constitutes one of the main attractions of the exhibition. There were last year one thou sand three hundred pens of this description of farm produce, a number which was then quite unapproached ; but now the entries are 2,275. If it be borne in mind that the present contributors, who come from all parts of the country, and even from Ireland, with the excep tion of some 50 or 60, are all amateurs, and that the sales of birds exhibited amounted yesterday, before four o'clock, to 1,0001., some idea may be formed of the wide area over which the poultry mania is diffused, and of the intensity of its symptoms. One of these dealers sold a cock and hen (Bramah Pootras) yester day for 1201., the auctioneer, with a boldness which reminds one of poor George Robins, declaring that " they were thrown away at that price." It would therefore appear that, notwithstanding all the ridicule poured upon it, the poultry mania still rages among us with epidemic fury. It has given an extraordinary interest to this year's show at Birmingham, for such a collection has never previously been brought together ; and, however absurd may be the present mode of forcing forward a branch of farmyard economy hitherto as absurdly neglected, there can be no doubt that in our usual wild extravagant way we are perfecting the best breeds of poultry in the world. In DorKings, especially the dark gray, there is a won derful display. The Spanish and game varieties are also exceedingly well represented. Malays, which generally form weak parts of poultry exhibitions, are here ex ceedingly strong. As for Cochin Chinas, they are larger, more awkward upon their legs, and heavier than ever, and, therefore, will no doubt be considered more beauti ful by discriminating judges. The black and white va rieties are chiefly in vogue at present, but none are without their special admirers, are feathered and " fuffed" out, while those in others have discolourations of the legs, or some blemish equally fatal to their repu tation and standing as fowls, At this season of the year, when turkeys rise so much in estimation and in price, it may not be useless to point out that the wild American species, distinguishable by its bronzed wing, carries the palm away at all our recent shows for weight and excellence. Being close-feathered birds, they do not look so large as they are in reality. An erro neous impression appears to prevail, that because wild in America they are troublesome to domesticate, but this we are assured is not the case. A cock and two bens exhibited weigh 551 lbs. Of the show of fat cattle and pigs, it may be said it is everything that could be desired, and reflects great credit upon the breeders and feeders throughout the country. The winner of the gold medal for the best ox or steer is Mr. W. Heath, of Ludham-hall, Norwich, in former years a very successful exhibitor at the Smithfield Club shows. The animal which has gained him this distinc tion is a young Hereford of such extraordinary beauty, that the judges have with unquestionable propriety given it the preference over Mr. Richard Stratton's, which won the gold medal last week in Baker-street. Mr. Robert Beman's Hereford, which ranked second in her class in London, has only been highly commended, the first prize being carried off here again by Mr. Heath, for an animal which, though a year younger, must be at least 10 inches thicker behind the shoulder. In the porcine department Prince Albert's litter of pigs has been again selected for the chief prize. During the day the ball was visited by the aristocracy and gentry of the surrounding counties, and, up to four o'clock, no less than five thousand persons were admit ted, the charge to non-subscribers being five shillings. The award of prizes took place on Monday evening. The judges of cattle were Mr. Booth, of Yorkshire ; Mr. Halse, of Molland ; and Mr. H. Chamberlain—of sheep, Mr. Wm. Sanday, Mr. V. Barford, and Mr. John Meire—of pigs, Mr. John Moore, Mr. Wm: Torr, and Mr. J. C. Etches—of poultry, the Rev. Wm. Wingfield, Gulval Vicarage, Penzance ; G. J. Andrews, Esq., Dorchester ; Mr. Baily, London ; the Rev. R. Pulleine, the Rectory, Kirby Wiske, near Thirsk ; Wm. Symonds, Esq. ; Mr. Thos. Challener, of Burnt Leys, near Work sop—of pigeons, Mr. T. L. Parker, Birmingham, and Mr. Hale, Handsworth. PRIZES.—In class one, for Herefordshire oxen, the first prize was awarded to J. Ackers, Esq.; age, 3 years 11. months. In class 2, for Hereford steers, the first prize, also a gold medal, was awarded to Mr. W. Heath, of Norwich ; age, 2 years, 11 months, and 3 weeks. In class 5, for short horn oxen or steers, Mr. Richard Stratton obtained the first prize ; and in class 7, the first prize and medal was awarded to Mr. J. 11. Lees. For Devon oxen, in class 9, the first prize was awarded to the Right Hon. the Earl of Leicester; and for heifers, Mr. Umbers was successful. The first prize for long horns (cows or heifers), in class 13, was awarded to Mr. Chapman, of Upton ; and for fat oxen, to his Grace the Duke of Beaufort. Alexander Campbell, Esq., obtained the first prize for his Scotch oxen, and the second was awarded to the Duke of Beaufort. First prizes for the various breeds of sheep were obtained by the Marquis of Exeter, Mr. Turner, of Barton ; Mr. Beman, of More ton-in-the-March ; Mr. John Williams, Berkshire ; Sir Robert Throckmorton, Bart. ; the Hon. R. Curzon, Mr. B. Twitchell, Mr. Thomas Hemming. PIGS.—The first prize, 101. and silver medal for "fat pigs not exceeding ten months," was awarded to his Royal Highness Prince Albert ; age, 9 months and 18 days. The first prize for pigs not exceeding 15 months, was obtained by Mr. Sadler, Wiltshire, and his breed ing-pigs were alike successful. The second prize, for the latter description, was awarded to the Duke of Sutherland. The following, amongst the many exhibitors of poultry received prizes :—The Countess of Chesterfield, the Earl of Dartmouth, Lord Berwick, Lady Calthorpe, G. R. Collis, Esq., Viscount Hill, Lord John Scott, the Duke of Sutherland, and the Hon. R. C. Hill. The annual dinner took place last evening at the Royal Hotel. The Council of the Birmingham and Midland Counties have determined, in addition to the Christmas show, to hold a triennial exhibition of stock for breeding purposes, and agricultural implements. The first show will take place in the second week of June, 1854, when prizes will be awarded for cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs. The Council, in establishing a second exhibition, are desirous of encouraging the improvement of agricultural stock generally, and the prize list will be framed so as to be well calculated to promote this object. Young stock only will be eligible to compete for prizes, and this prin ciple, which will form the main feature of the list, ap-, pears to be absolutely necessary to give to the meetings a strictly practical and useful character. / THE LIVERPOOL ELECTION PETITION.—The Liverpool Albion states that the petition against the return of Messrs. ECorefall and Liddell has been withdrawn, XALACCA STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. PITLO PENANG, OR PRINCE OF WALES' ISLAND. SINGAPORE AND MALACCA. The British possessions in the Straits of Malacca, cor. sist of Penang, or Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore, and Malacca. Penang is a small island in 5 deg. north latitude, lying off Reddah, on the west coast of the Malagan Peninsula. Singapore is situated at the ex treme point of the Peninsula, and Malacca is a territory situated on the west coast, between Penang and Singa pore, about 120 miles to the north-west of the latter place. At the end of last century much inconvenience was felt from the absence of any port in these seas for the Honourable Company's China ships to obtain the various productions of the Malagan Archipelago, so well adapted for interchange in China, as well as for those ships and the vessels of the royal navy to refit and refresh. Ceylon at this time was in possession of the Dutch. By treaty with the Malagan state of Keddah, in 1783, the island of Penang, in the fair way for vessels from India to China, was taken possession of by Captain Light for the Honourable Company. At first the settle ment was used for commercial purposes, and as a station of refreshment for men of war. In the commencement of the present century it was proposed to establish ex tensive dockyards at the island, not only to repair, but to build ships for the royal navy, for which purpose it was supposed the place had peculiar advantages. As it had become a valuable position, and had extensive pro spects, the _Court of Directors in 1805, sent out an establishment of officers for its government, including a governor and three members of Council, with a large staff of civilians appointed for the island itself, and quite unconnected with the India services ; and in 1807 his late Majesty George 111. granted a charter constituting a Royal Court of Justice, which administered English law exclusively to Europeans as well snatives. The hopes which had b een ra i sed as to the greatadvan ag _ a t es of the island for s hi p b u il ding weresoon disappointed, and the settlement remained thenceforward to depend its own resources as a pl ace o f trade, and ha on Go vernment able;to protect the inhabitants, it sooT)a attracteda considerable trade from the Malagan countries. Malacca is the oldest European settlement in India, having been conquered from the Malays in 1511, and held ever since by European powers. Situated in a cotn manding position, and having extensive fortification s and a large garrison, it was the chief Portuguese settlement to the eastward, and was held by that nation till 1641, when, in alliance with native states, the Dutch, after long-continued efforts, succeeded in dispossessing their, rivals, and were enabled to keep possession till the end of last century. During these two periods the station was valuable only as a trading port. Agriculture, far from being encouraged by the Portuguese, was absolutely prohibited by the Dutch in favour of their chief posses sion, Java ; but under the tyrannical and monopolising rule of both nations, the trade of the surrounding native countries was forced to its port. The establishment of Penang in 1786 was, however, at once a severe blow to its prosperity, and was followed in a few years by its almost total annihilation. In 1795 a force was sent by the English against the Dutch possesssions, in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of the French republicans, whose armies then occupied the low countries. Ceylon, Malacca, and the Spice Islands were tak en p ssess i on o f to be held in the name of the stadtholder. By the treaty of Amiens, Malacca and the Spice Islands were restored to the Dutch —the latter were at once taken, but the former remained unclaimed, and when the war broke out afresh its restoration became impossible. The establishment of Penang had materially affected the trading prosperity of Malacca under the Dutch, and when that settlement was occupied by the English, its interests were entirely lost sight of, in favour of its younger rival. So completely was this policy carried out, that in 1807 the extensive fortification of Malacca was demolished, to prevent the station from becoming dangerous in the hands of an enemy, and its population was invited to remove to Penang, as a preliminary step to the total abandonment of the settlement. The inha bitants to a man refused to move, and in consequence of the difficulties in the way, of the withdrawal of protection and governinent, a small provisional establishment was kept up under, a resident and a commandant, who ad ministered the affairs of the settlement under the old Dutch court of justice. Agriculture remained little better than under the Mitch', and trade, except with the Mala gan countries in the immediate neighbourhood, almost entirely disappeared in favour of Penang, which con tinued to be an extensive shipping port, and in a few years became also the seat of an extensive tropical agri culture. The production of nutmegs and cloves was confined to very narrow limits in these seas. The Dutch early became possessed of the countries of growth, and en forced a most rigorous monopoly, which raised the prices of these spices to rates far beyond what they had been even before the discovery of the passage of the Cape of Good Hope. All other nations, European and native, were prevented from obtaining seeds for planting, and indeed from dealing in those spices, When the English occupied the Malaccas, from 1796 to 1803, advantage was taken of the opportunity to procure seeds, to at tempt to introduce the cultivation elsewhere. Penang wa3 fixed on as the most suitable locality for the experi ment, and after many ydars' trial the nutmeg and clove tree were established. The cultivation now forms a very valuable branch of local industry on that island. The Island of Java was conquered by the English in 1811, and was held for a few years, with the Spice Islands, which had been a second time seized. Under the administration of Sir Stamford Raffles, English in fluence was extended throughout the Indian Archipelago, and there was every:appearance of the formation of an extensive empire throughout South-eastern Asia and the neighbouring :islands, when these flatt er i ng prospec t s were destroyed by the restoration of Java and the other Dutch possessions. Malacca was soon after, in 1811, reclaimed, and thus the English were virtually excluded from entrance to the Archipelago. To obviate the in convenience, and to endeavour to continue the influence lately established, it became necessary to advance be yond Penang. That island being at the extremity of the Straits, is in a manner excluded and commanded by Malacca, then again under the Dutch, and in accordance with the monopolising spirit of their policy, likely to be a serious impediment to English trade with the native states. On the 6th of February, 1819, the Island of Singapore was occupied by treaty with the Malagan chiefs, and an English settlement formed under the management of Sir Stamford Raffles. It is Situated at the extremity of the Malagan peninsula, and, f rom it s commanding position, and the liberal and far-sighted policy of its founder, it soon became a successful colony. In four years its population increased from 150 to 13,579, by census of 1823, and the trade returns from , January to December, 1822, amount to 8,568,172 d o t s .` Dutch influence was this checked, and Malacca, which had - been partially reviving, suffered a fresh relapse. The port of Penang also was seriously affected by the new settlement, which soon drew off all the trade from the eastward, and had it not been for the very liberal arrangement of landed tenures, which attached a pro portion of the large European population to that island, and afforded inducements to agricultural enterprise, the settlement must soon have shared the fate of Malacca. After long obstinate resistance to English influence in the Archipelago, more particularly to the establishment of Singapore, the Dutch at last acquiesced in the treaty of 1824. Singapore was recognised, and a new arrange ment was made, by which th e E ng li s h gave up B coolen, their chief pepper f ac t ory , established in 16 e 8 11 4 - and the other stations in Sumatra, in exchange for An ima ginary Ma lacca and the small D u t c h f actor i es in India. line was drawn to the south of Singapore, on the north of which the English were to be confined, while the Dutch retained a ll t o t h e south. s hitherto been gove rne d b y a Resident directlyn apo d re er lad e Supreme Governm en t, b u t a f ter this treaty u wa n s joined with Malacca to Pen ang , an d the three settlements were incorporated under the style of the " Government of Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore, and Malacca." The civilians of Bencoolin were transferred to the new settlement, and the Government was conducted on the principles of the Penang Presidency till 1829. The great expense of these settlements, and the little advan tage derived from them by the Honourable Company, early drew the attention of Lord William Bentinck. In 1829 he visited the Straits, and at once reduced the establishment from the rank of a fourth Presidency to that of a dependency of Bengal. Under this arrange mentfe- the civil establishment was brok r ef e up— t a we ew e e ffi n, cers were retained for resent duties, sioned, and no new appointments_ have-sinrecesbeenrmi;.de. The nature and conditiontneftthhnessee SetfrailtnsdSiaettplermepenert.s are diametrically opposite to and Singapore are now Originally desert islands,,oFwing their states entirely and purely English colonies, ris.e and capital of Europeans. exclusively to the ente P If these were suddenly wi thdrawn, in a few years ruin and desolation wouldysoon depend s o p n rea E Europeans, o o p v e e a r n s, thesenot natives.islands, This difference which, un like be en recognised from the earliest periods by the ehstasablishment of Royal Courts of Justice, and the a dministration of pure English, in contradiction t o Indian law, not only to the inhabitants of the towns, n I n di a , but also to the country district s. -- in s ettlements continued to be governed by the old c ivil servants o f Penan g and Bencoolen, butin the cour se of time these have nearly disappeared. The question now arises how these vacancies of the old ser vants are to be filled, and on what principles the future governments are to be conducted. The condition of these settlements is so distinct from that of British India, that it does not appear to be ad visable to introduce the system of Governm e nt a s found expedient in India Proper. The prosperity and im portance of these islands depends entirely on Europeans, and in consequence the system of government should be applied more especially with regard to the administra tion of justice suited to their peculiar wants. The system of India is entirely different, and quite inapplicable. It is evident, th e refore, that the civil serv an t s o f the Hon. Company, with Indian experience, and with the tradi tional opinions of the Indian service, if sent here would find their previous training unsuited for the work to be performed, and after their time of residence would re turn to their duties without gaining that experience suitable for either of the regular branches of the service. The peculiar nature of these settlements has placed them beyond the scope of the interests and care of the Indian Government. Since the abolition of the Hon. Company's exclusive right of trade to China, there can be no further necessity or use in keeping up stations in these seas, involving the Indian Government in much expense for objects which are not only without advan tage, but on the contrary, positively involving them in political combinations quite foreign to their true inte rests. Under the necessity, therefore, of providing military protection the expense for troops must re main a char ge on it s resource s. The internal interests of these stations cannot be expected to I meet with that attention their importance demands. 4i - i - li - ~~~ ,~ tlndeed so little has been thought of thee% invickuable possessions, that at the very time that the tilde orthese settlements amounted to 7,000,000/. Lord Wm. Ben tinck expressed an opinion that theyouglit z t a O la b il e . placed a on the same footing as any Bengal on this footing they have been kept ever since, and even now, with a trade of ten million sterling, and conse quently of enormous value to the mother country in a commercial point of view, they are looked upon by the Indian Government as of no value whatever. At first the vacancies in the local civil service were filled by military and uneovenanted offices. The chief duties were official,under the Queen's Court, and there fore there was no room for exclusive feelings; but after a short time military officers were alone employed. These taken from their regiments were placed to perform the duties of police magistrates with the most extensive even to the trial and punishment of p ersons jurisdiction,accused of felony, and this without any previous training or opportunity of acquiring knowledge of subjects so foreign to their professional habits and ideas, and they were even appointed to take charge of stations, like Sin gapore, with a large population and great mercantile interests. This was, however, abandoned in 1847, and a few Bengal civilians were appointed to the vacant posts. At each settlement there is now a governor, and a resident, who also performs the duties of collector and judge, and an assistant'resident whose duties are almost solely judicial in her /siajesty's Court of Judicature, as justices of the peace. Under these there are two super intendents of convicts and two land surveyors. The office of resident is considered to be necessarily con fined to covenanted servants, and as vacancies were soon expected. Bengal civilians were sent down to fit them for the duties by a previous training. The prospects of promotion did not answer the expectations of these gen tlemen, and they consequently did not remain. In order to provide for future vacancies, two plans present themselves, either t o re - es t a bli s h on a very reduced scale the old Penang civil ser vice as before, by direct appointment and not through Haileybury College, or to employ gentlemen found qualified by training and knowledge for the duties re quired of them. The circumstances of these settl emen t s are so entirely distinct from those of India that none of the objections, which are so strongly urged in India, apply here to the appointment of uncovenanted officers. The old services being extinct, the regular services not extending so far, it cannot be said that any injustice will be done to the civil services by not placing these settlements within the limit of their exclusive privileges. In former years the difficulty of retaining the services of their officers at a time when they were allowed to trade, and not depend on salaries, caused great inconve nience to the Honourable Company, and, in consequence the system was devised of binding all in heavy penalties not to leave the service without permission, while on the other hand, they were to receive all the officers in planndyiaoh.fastThnheoeirwad,sebv by change formerly on th e p ar t of the com ant. s Andofthe questioncircumstances, turnedarises in as fa vourtoAthneyadmvaainvtearsgaetioofn retaining the n t act h u eex i c s, olusirvecoud b civil l s e er: lad ice e . punishable by ordinary course of law, as in the Queen's colonies. But if it is considered necessary that persons should be bound down by particular agreement, it will be easy to make it a stipulation previous to employ ment in the Straits, as was form er ly d one at 13encoolen. That every one should enter into a covenant with or without advantages as an equivalent. At Bencoolen it was found necessary to employ a number of gentlemen in the country, not regularly appointed from England ; and in order to bind them to good behaviour they were obliged to execute covenants which differed in some re spects from those of the regular services. If it should be thought necessary, every officer, previous to appoint ment to any office of trust, can be required to execute such covenant. This will place his services sufficiently under the command of Government to prevent any evils which might be anticipated from want of due controul. This plan, without interfering with the rights or privi leges of the Indian services will effectually answer the purpose of securing properly qualified officers, for all the duties of the Straits employment. THE CRYSTAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the wea ther, which renders it almost impossible to approach the Crystal Palace in consequence of the depth of the mud, we a day or two ago visited Sydenham, when we found the works, so far as the building is concerned, apparently rapidly approaching to completion, though as yet the centre transept is filled with an enormous mass of scaffolding to enable the workmen to cover it in from the elements—an operation which has long since been completed in the rest of the building ; and, judging from present appearances, we see little reason to doubt that it will be ready to be delivered over by the contractors to the company by the close of the year, to enable its decoration and furnishing to be pro ceeded with, so that at least al arge portion of the edi fice, containing the most interestiug exhibition ever brought before the public—not even excepting that of 1851 itself —may be opened early in May next. On entering the building by the Norwood entrance of the central transept, the spectator is at first struck with the busy scene before him, and the great height at which men are working, in seemingly the most conscious se , curity—a height which would unnerve many a brave man to mount, even by the most secure staircase. Turn ing to the right, the busy scene is soon left behind, and nothing worthy of notice is met with until the Pompeian House excites attention. This is an exact represen tation of one of those magnificent structures destroyed by an eruption of Vesuvius, in about the 80th year of the Christian era. Excavations and descriptive accounts of travellers have of late years made us pretty well ac quainted with the general form and magnificence of the houses of Pompeii and Herculaneum, but no description could have given us so good an idea of the luxury o the age as the house now completing at Sydenham. Entering by the vestibule, the visitor finds himself in the atrium, or common family room. This has the appearance of being open to the sky, but is, of course, protected from the weather by the roof of the Palace. It is most beautifully enriched with cornices, supported by winged angels, and other devices, elegantly gilt ; and between these are a series of elabo rately executed hunting pieces. The walls are also deco rated with most exquisite bijou paintings illustrative of mythological subjects, including centaurs, floral devices, &c. Here will stand the impluvium or cistern, and an ornamental fountain. On either side of the atrium are smaller rooms, also most exqui ysa iatetelY gem a of eapnadrt an elaborately apartment. aed This beyondislikewisefinished—eachi is the peristyle, a n t t i h n e g t ob or p ei , n g real andp r surrounded by a no bl e collon!,de, opentyet a the e floor Using in mosaic. The decoration is not e entirelyag paved com pleted ; but lan t y nno. more gorgeous, more artistic, or more harmonious, can scarcely be imagined, and the whole reflects the greatest credit on Signor Abatti and his coadjuto rs , who have been engaged upon the work. The ex • o f tenor the house is yet unadorned, but that, too, will, we doubt not, ere long present a very handsome and attractive appearance. Beyond this house we come to a complete winter garden, in which camelias, geraniums, &c.—many of them in full bloom, i nterm ixed with plants of larger growth —are arranged in most artistic and pleasing forms ; but whether they are placed in the positions they are meant permanently to occupy we are unaware, though in their present situation they form not the least of the attractions which the Palace offers to the visitors. At this portion of the building, considerable brickwork foundations are being proceded with in the centre of the flooring, designed, we believe, for the fountains with which the winter garden will be ornamented. Beyond a view of the galleries, and of the country from them, n othing more of interest is to be found in the southern transept of the palace. On making his way to northern transept, the visi tor comes on the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Alham bra Courts, which are advancing rapidly to completion, under the direction of Mr. Jones—though the latter, as yet, presents a very inadequate idea of what it is likely _ to become. In the Egyptian' and Greek Courts the pro gress is more sa tisfactory, the: decoration of each being very far advanced. The pillars in the Egyptian C our t will be richly coloured and covered with hieroglyphics and figures of a most extraordinary and curious descrip tion. The restoration of the friezes of the Parthenon, in the Greek Court, is highly interesting ; and the colours of the horses, men, &e., stand out in bold relief from a dark blue ground, surrounded by a border of gold. The imitations of Sienna and other marbles, por phry, &e., in their courts, are all excellent, bei ng executed tinder the superintendence of Signors Bononi and Monti; who are engaged to assist in carrying out the designs of Mr. Jones. On the opposite nave of the northern portion of the building, the renaissance, me diaeval, and Byzantine courts are being c onstructed under the direction of Mr. Digby Wyatt ; but though en ough has been executed to show that they • will be of great interest, and that the workmanship will be of the most florid and minute nature, they have scarcely made sufficient progress for us to think it de • sirable to enter into any description of them, beyond stating that the relievos, friezes, carved windows, &c., already executed are sure to command more than the various visitors. Th e numerous halls, approaches to them, and galleries above, are filled with a large col lection of ;statues, sphinxe s and modern, all o f great busts, casts, &c., ancient interest, but which it would be unjust specially to allude to until they are more metho dically arranged than at present. Proceeding to the extreme end of the central tran • Sept, we come to the principal entrance to the grounds, to which we descend by steep flights of gra nite steps, 100 feet in breadth, flanked on either side by enormous sphinxes in stone, 14 feet long and seven high, standing on granite pedestals. This and two similar entrances, about 20 feet narrower, to the right and left, conduct us to the principal terrace, un derstood to be 2,000 feet in length, 60 broad and 18 deep. From this terrace a few a dditional steps lead u s to the gardens, which, with the intended fountains, are in a considerable state of forwardness, though the weather, when we last visited them, prevented our making that examination we should have wished, and deterred us from attempting to call upon our friend Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, who, we hear, is making most extraordinary progress with his reproductions of the Megatherium, Plesiosaurus, and other monsters, " which geology teaches us to have existed at some far distant era of the world's history. We shall, however, do ourselves the pleasure, at an early period, of again visiting the Palace, when we hope that better weather will enable us to lay before our readers more detailed particulars of the out-door works. At present the only drawback to the appearance of the Crystal Palace from the exterior are the towers for the waterworks, which are generally understood to be com pleted, though we hope not, as we are quite sure a little ingenuity, if it could not render them absolutely orna mental, could go far to give them something of a decent - artistic and architectural appearance,—Morning Past. WSPA f; tt , t~. Paid) 100 100 all all all 1100 1100 'lOO ,100 1100 l(X31 42 34 all all LOO 40 25 25 St. 100 - 100 474 17 all 100 50 25 100 St. 6} 25 LOO LOO 16 11:1 all 17i all 10 1 2.2 100 100 100 100 2.21 all 1G 100 8 100 20 St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 all 51s. 100 20 11 100 17?., 20 20 20 20 20ii 'Co 20