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

Pound. more than incomes from professions, yet rateable property must have a Legacy Duty laid upon it to make all equal and fair. The ingenious i Chancello r , h owever, had scarce l y ru bb e d hi s bruises from thi s f a ll th an h e per p e t r ates another. .The grand reason why no difference could be made in favour of professional and trade incomes was, that they could not possibly be fairly valued ; yet a few days roll on, and down he comes to the Rouse 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 i n hi s great B u d ge t speec h , b u t h e opens it again, and invites them back without apology when pleading for Legacy Duties on entailed prop er t y. I ‘ l -r• GLADSTONE has fairly bewildered the ise, and a l mos t every one e l se , on thi s su bject. T The only thing di sc er n ible is, that, in regard to ta:rle:paecryty in comparison he has dealt so gently with landed comparison with personal property, at very soon the old clamour will be renewed if Legacy Duties are to be retained at all ; for as suredly it will never be endured that beside an equal Income Tax, a tradesman's or a medical m an's children should pay Probate and Legacy Duties amounting to 3 per cent., and a landlord's we althy heir should pay a Legacy Duty of only per cent., an d th a t , t oo, on a va l ue es ti ma t e d by t he extent of hi s lif e i n t ere st on ly ! There will be many a fight yet of town and country on this question. Against Succession Duties on land there lies but one serious objection—the difficulty, of an heir's raising money when he first enters on an estate ; a difficulty which Mr. GLAD STONE partly meets by spreading the small pay 'lent for this class over eight years ; and which every prudent parent might easily provide against y a life assurance equal to the amount of duty Against Succession Duties on strictly P e rsonal property there is, on the other hand, the grand objection we have already so frequently adverted to, that they are taxes on capital itself. T hey absorb into unproductive taxes the very 1 , capital which should produce income, sustain ex penditure, and thus generate revenue. Succes sion, taxes on personal property do, in fact, kill t he goose which lays the golden eggs. With suc cession 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 ea nie income as before. Mr. GLADSTONE must, another session, if the progress of events tide hirn over this, reconsider and modify these duties e ntirely; or lie must be prepared to abolish them. It is, however, worth while to cast a glance at his first grand pretext for playing fast and loose W ith these serious questions. He triumphantly to ld Mr. DISRAELI that the twopence difference nearly, which he ignorantly proposed to make be tween precarious and certain incomes, was already already paid ninepence in the pound, while trades men and professions only paid sevenpence, and the difference was due to the Burdens on Land ! We thought that old figment had been utterly dis carded. Even the Times seems afraid to endorse Mr. GLADSTONE'S statements on this subject, and no wonder. Poor rates, highway rates, and tithes ... . L ' i nr• DISRAELI had consigned to the winds ; his , ur eath wafted away these burdens as feathers, and they have never since been heard of. They went into 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 With the occupation, the landlord's rent is net so f at as they are concerned. Mr. GLADSTONE has, h owever, enumerated, as a part of the deductions to • tuade from the gross rental, several charges which generally are not proper deductions, or which, at least, need not be. One was abatement inrents! Why it serves a landlord right if he has to pay Income Tax for such a thing. What a system is this to Justify, even by implication,—a system of such literal rack-rent, that the tenant lives as the Political and game-preserving serf of his landlord ! Who, except in cases of clear calamity, ever hears of manufacturers or shopkeepers begging for abate ments on rent ? Mr. GLADSTONE ought to have -told the Sir Roberts and the Squires that all such deductions from gross rental might be not evaded, but meritoriously avoided, by long leases at rea sonable rents. When have we ever heard of petitions for " abatement" from the Lothian far- Iners ? 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 FITZWILLIAM, he does it by borrowing looney at 3 per cent., and charging the tenant 5 Per cent., an operation which, in Lombard-street, would be deemed perfectly satisfactory, and cer tainly no deduction from a man's tax-paying Power. Insurance, too, which the proprietor of s hips, and cargoes, and trading stock must equally Pay, is, so far as land is concerned, simply nil. And it depends wholly on the landlord whether ter not he agrees with the tenant to insure the houses and buildings, in which case he would receive his rent net so far as relates to th a t . We all know instances of this being , (lo ne. His deduction for clerks, bailiffs, sub agents, ac., we must think a somewhat fan ;4.lll one. Partly, the tenants would reply, the theof these gentlemen you tax yourself with 40 better, we must prefer to deal directly W ith the landlord himself ; partly, that, if gentle men choose t o retire from the personal manage -1)174 of their own estates, they should not com plain of the price of a life of ease ; and partly, that even the funds, or any property, cannot alto tether escape parallel charges ; t h ey are, h owever, at trivial. The most serious item, no doubt, is ally charge s . H ere , however, two considerations al ° nee occur. One that no property is entirely free from them ; the man engaged in business at t o tensiVely can as little dispense with his solici reZ a s with hi s banker. The receipt stamps also, cl eileY transactions, from the comparative fre iicY with w hi c h mo n e y and stock, too, change e o l f all ,.: 8 , may approach pretty nearly to the amount a ruPs for law proceedings in connection with r eal h ta u , 1 -r oPerty. But a second, and more impor consideration is that landlords and their of W a Yer s have hitherto been the great opponents ti tle n ,l. Y effective step towards the simplification of s e t ' „ They have chosen a system of mortgages, h av ,een., ts, and incumbrances of all sorts ; they tho light to hide all these incumbrances from o f d a y, not wishing to appear th e th e d half bankrupt and nominal owners of If % ch illing which give them social consideration. e aa „ Y will, therefore, refuse to make land " as th e % of transfer as a railway share " (which, by la p by, Pays the same transfer stamp duties as a Pe sea e state), why, they must go on to pay the len - of their not unnatural pride. Many and -b y . fo r Pound of Income Tax is and will be paid, sar i , c same reason, or even from the necessity of T h e a ppearances. n ine titie ost unaccountable charge Mr. GLADSTONE 4 14 , 11 h ' lB is arrears o f ren t! Alas! a poor trades as all, allowance for arrears of book debts at tee 11 he has taken legal measures for their Rr eate -5 -- th e cost of recovery being often tog eth erhan the amoun t o f d e b t an d I ncome Tax Iv, • The landlord, on the contrary, has creait o _ 4 c laim for one year ' s ren t aga i ns t a ll o ther e, 01443 7! Let not Mr. GLADSTONE venture again 'anal ris en) in r egar d t o arrears , b e t ween the Nlr e °r ds and to. quit th ll_w mikes ill the full unfortunates of Schedule D. Scot With e subject, however, for the pre- ST ONE • full conviction that, if Mr. GLAD fairly a ga i n a t th e it ems o f which look gro ss uP his 16 per cent. deduction from the to 1, ue°,l he of landlords, he will find it reduced ,ee el ceh t• at b e or rather to nothing. But, if so, f h • gacy Dut y is boasted Income Tax and Alutual Adjustment Budget ? TR ,IE Al, Ta Lt(I4EST INDIA PACKETS AND THE ELECTRIC .. tilQ The Government have granted permiss i on to 'nit s `vest India Mail Packet Company to l ' al ofth`Lte hoisted at Mail Castle to announce the arrival Zi4 weBt India P ackets off the Solent to the Electric iairl:•rtael'ieh Station at e Lyminton from whence L graphed to London and Southampton the two arn- or thia 'Lours Balls eff before the shi ps come to an anchor. By litatill:ectual h t arrangements can b e made for fa f ai r h,r,g the quaranti service of the, packets and o --,, t he Paspengers ne and mails. .. 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 Marnham 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 6d. to 7d. ; 100 Bahia, at 6d. ; 300 Egyptian, at 60. to Bd. ; and 500 Surat, at 3td. to 44d. Railway Share.; 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 23d 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 st ill. This change; may be principally ascribed to the sudden alteration in the exchange in favour of gold to the extent of 5 per cent. The great event of last week, the finding of the monster nugget in Canadian-gully, l'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 lbs. 2 oz. 5 dwts. ; smaller ditto, 83 lbs. 9 oz. 5 dwts. ; Jae], 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 sis troopers, besides a sergeant. We are also to have 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 gong." Freights, &c., at Melbourne, are thus given : Tallow, 40s. to 50s. per ton, and 5 per cent. ; gold, 4id. per oz., delivered at the bullion office, ditto per steamer, 64d. ; wool, greasy, id. per lb. ; ditto, washed, id. per lb. ; bides, 20s. to 255. per ton ; tallow, 1/. 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, in 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 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 3,600,0001. of stock ; but this is a question that will be decided next month, and pro bably at a special meeting. These are briefly the motives that have influenced the South Sea Com pany's proprietors, who, otherwise, from the tone of yesterday's meeting, would evidently have taken the New 2i 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 disprove the assertion that the Russian envoy hasleft. Telegraphic accounts, with late dates from Singa pore, place the Chinese question in a more favour able light, the British representative not being likey 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 1, and since 1001 1, 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 23 . Mexican Stock has been dull at 26i Dutch 2i per Cents. are not higher than 651. 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 J oint-Stock Banks are dull. The Railway Shares aro rather worse, but the alteration is not material. French Shares are firm. BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY. ( From the Official Lest.) Business done. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 994 100 993 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 31 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 ... 5 15-16 India Bonds, under 21000 South Sea Stock ....... ........... ........ 116 15 South Sea Old Annuities 99a South Sea New Annuities 3 per Cent. Annuities, 1751 Consols for Account Ist Juno Exchequer Bills lAd. £lOOO 1 p par £5OO 1 p par Small 1 p par Ditto Advertised 3 d par PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Danish Bonds, 3 per Cent. Bli 5 Mexican 3 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto 4A per Cent lo4i SArdinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 93i Spanish Bonds 3 per Cent 4Bt Ditto for the Account Spanish 3 per Cent., New Deferred 23a Ditto Passive (Converted) Dividends on the above payable in London. Belgian , q per Cent. Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Gun. ... 65 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates.. HALF-PAST TWO. 100$ 103 a Consols Ditto Juno Account REPORTED ATTEMPT TO ENCLOSEHAMPSTEAD-ITEATH. —Yesterday, it having become known that a bill was about to be introduced into Parliament for the enclosing of Hampstead-heath for building purposes, the North London Anti-Enclosure Association and the influential inhabitants residing in the immediate vicinity of this suburban resort held meetings on the subject, and a most vigorous opposition is to be made to any attempt to exclude the public from their long enjoyed privilege of roaming over this heath. The nature of the proposed enactment is in the shape of a private bill to alter the wording of a will, and extinguish the public right. On four previous occasions the House of Lords have refused to give their assent to a similar enactment. EXTRAORDINARY CASE OP MURDER AND SUICIDE.— One of the most extraordinary cases of murder and sui cide on record was that of Major Johnson, an officer on half-pay in Dublin. He entered his parlour, and gave his two sons (one a lad of ten, and the other of twelve years of age) each a loaded pistol, ordering them to fire at each other, or else he would run them through with his sword'; they fired, and shot each other dead on the spot. The mother coming into the room on the report of the pistols, the major stabbed her to the heart and then himself. This dreadful . affair took ;place iu 1726. THE SUN LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 27, EPSOM RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) TIIE OAKS. CATHERINE HAYES MEMBERS' PLATE. Young England Honesty LATEST BETTING. to 4 agst Misfetoe (taken). 2 to 1 agst Catharine Hayes (taken). sto 1 agst any other. ORDER 01? RUNNING. Members' Plate—Two. The Oaks— three. Railway Plate—Four. Derby and Oaks Stakes—Five. Foreign Visitors' Plate—Six. ARRIVALS.—RaiIway Plate all here. Derby and Oaks Stakes all here. Dove, Jessamine, Zuleika, Jolie, Duciow, Heriot, and Hampton. SURREY 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. Prosecutor, a simple sort of a young fellow, said he met the prisoner in a coffee-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 had 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 the 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, when he gave him into custody. In cross-examination—Prosecutor said be was very much in liquor when he was in the barber's, that he hardly knew what he was about. He had, however, a faint recollection of having the sovereign when in Fisher's coffee-house. He spoke to several females, and treated them, and they might have robbed him. Elizabeth Brooks, 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 pocket, and he might as well have it as any one. She told him several times to leave her. At last lie said he must be off, as he must be in barracks before prayers. lie then ran out of the house. She did not wake up the prosecutor, or say anything until he told her he was robbed. This witness so prevaricated in her evidence 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 prisoner. The latter immediately quitted the court with the two servants and his sergeant. AN INCORRIGIBLE YOUNG THlEF.—Henry Tingey, a young lad who has been twice convicted, pleaded guilty 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 only point arising being one in which the defendant pleaded that he had been absolved from a portion of the debt by passing through the Insol vent Court, and paid the alleged difference into Court. The amount!of the debt was not disputed, but although the plaintiff produced a copy of his schedule, and tendered his oath that it was a true copy, and a question thereupon arose, . Mr. W. It. Buchanan, who has an extensive con nexion in the Insolvent Court, being present here in another case, said that if the ca-e was under the 1 and 2 Vict. the copy of the schedule must be sealed with the seal of the Court, or there must be a certificate of adju dication and an extract of the schedule bearing on the point. His Honour said that be would grant an adjournment for the production of the document, but it must be at the expense of the plaintiff. An adjournment therefore took place. ASTLEY'S. The crowded and fashionable audiences that nightly assemble to witness Life on, the Tail, is the best crite rion of the admirable efficiency with which the piece is produced. To particularise the various excellencies in the different departments of the amusements 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. - - ELECTION OF CHAMBERLAIN. STATE OF THE POLL—FOURTH DAY, MAY 26. Scott 2,085 Sir John Key 2,060 Majority for Scott The poll was opened this morning at the usual hour. The friends of Sir John Key mustered at its opening in considerable numbers, and such was the rapidity with which they recorded their votes, that in the course of two hours and a half they had nearly succeeded in annihi lating Mr. Scott's majority of 63, the result of the former polling. Notwithstanding this, however, the friends of Mr. Scott persevered with the utmost energy, succeeding, as it will be seen, in so far recovering their position as to give to that gentleman a majority of 25 over the worthy baronet. Eight hundred and eighteen liverymen polled this day —three hundred and ninety for Mr. Scott, and four hun dred and twenty-eight for Sir John Key. Total number polled since the commencement of the contest, 4,145. The several numbers as to the state of the gross poll having been exhibited, both the candidates addressed the livery at considerable length. Throughout the whole of the proceedings much uproar prevailed ; indeed, so boisterous was the assembly, that it is not possible to give anything like an accurate account of the speeches made by the candidates. During the course of the proceedings two of the voters were taken into custody for voting, not being qualified. The fever of excitement throughout the day was intense, and at the close of the day's poll the hall was nearly filled. The poll was resumed this day at 9 o'clock a.m. COURT CIIICULAR. OSBO RNE, THURSDAY. The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe took leave of her Majesty and Prince Albert this morning, and left Osborne at ten o'clock for London, attended by Lady A. M. Dawson, Sir George Cowper. and Lieut.-Colonel F. Seymour. The Queen and Prince, with the Duchess of Kent, Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, Princess Helena, and Princess Louisa, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. drove out yesterday afternoon. Mr. Charles Coote's Band, including Messrs. Ireland, Champion, and Macfarlane, had. the honour of attending last night, and performed a selection of music before her Majesty and the royal party. The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, and attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson and Sir George Couper, arrived at her residence, Clarence-bouse, St. James's, at three o'clock yesterday afternoon, from a visit to her Majesty at Osborne, Isle of Wight. The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princess Adelaide of .Hohenlohe, visited the Duchess of Glouces ter yesterday, at Gloucester-house, Piccadilly. Lord Vaux had an interview with Viscount Pahner ston yesterday. Mr. Somers, M.P., had also an inter view with the Noble Viscount at the Home-office. Mr. W. Shortland, President of Nevis, had all inter view with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday, at the Colonial•office. The Lord-Advocate of Scotland had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence In Downing-street. _ . . The Dace of Newcastle left town yesterday, for his seat, Chnnber-park, Notts. The Queen has graciously permitted the Castlemaxtiu Yeomanry to bear the word "Fishguard" on their accoutrements and appointments, in consideration of their distinguished conduct at Fishguard in February, 1797, when a body of foreign troops landed and were captured there. ROYAL MARRIAGE.—The marriage of his Royal High ness Prince Henry of the Netherlands, brother of the King of Holland, with the Princess Amelia Maria Da Gloria Augusta, of Saxe Weimar, daughter of the Duchess Ida of Saxe Weimar, and niece of the late Queen Adelaide, was solemnised on Thursday, the 19th in@t., in the Chapel Royal at Weimar, according to the rites of the Protestant Church. COURT OP COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a court was held for the dispatch of busi ness, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair. The court was not numerously attended, probably in conse quence of the intense interest excited by the election of Chamberlain in the Great Hall. A report delivered in to the court on the 14th of April last, for a further instruction with reference to the order of the 10th of June last on the freedom question, was considered, and eventually ordered to be received, proceedings in reference to non-freemen to stand over in the meantime:. Upon the motion of Mr. R. C. LAMBE, it was ordered that 500/. should be paid out of the City's cash to the Wellington memorial fund. A report from the library committee was brought up by Mr. Lucas Houghton. It recommended an appli cation to the Lord Mayor for the purpose of 'requesting his lordship to call a public meeting in aid of the pro ject. His lordship having expressed his readiness to do so, the further consideration of the matter was ad journed. Several other matters were disposed of, and the court adjourned. MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA. GENERAL POST•OFFICE, MAT, 1853.—The line of contract packets heretofore con veying the mails to Australia, vui 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 of 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 other 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 conveyed by the Stratford are forwarded to London and not to Ply mouth. The packet rates of postage will be chargeable 'upon all letters transmitted by the Stratford ; but no charge will be made upon newspapers. ROBBING A DEAD POPE.—We read the following in the Bilancia of Milan, under the date of Rome 2d : " A very painful discovery was made the other day in the Basilica of Lateran. Those who are acquainted with the locality will recollect that Pope Martin V. lies buried in the nave. The body having to be removed in conse quence of certain architectural repairs in progress, the coffin was opened in the presence of the Chapter. To everybody's surprise, nothing was found but the bones of Martin V. ; the rings, the gold and silver chalices, the tiara, all studded with precious stones, had disap peared. Their 1 - xtense U ttie poffia lad been verified abolit'soYeari ago, PRIZE PIANOFORTES. Recently we have been favoured with a view of three exquisite and costly pianos, about to be transmitted across the Atlantic by the manufacturers—Messrs. William Stodart and Son of Golden-square—for the pur pose of display in the New York Exhibition. They are, of course, of different characters—one being a "grand," another a "square," and the third a "cottage" piano forte. The Grand is a seven octave instrument encased in walnut wood, the mouldings round the top and bottom being of carved rosewood. Elegant pannelling is intro duced along the sides and elliptic end—the centre of each containing a shield in a circular framework. The instrument is supported by solid walnut legs, designed with admirable taste, and altogether, both in tone and external appearance, bears evidence of being in all re spects a masterpiece of skilled workmanship. The Square is in every way dissimilar from the noble pianoforte just mentioned. Its principal characteristic is its com pactness. The conspicuous beauty of its case consists in the bold and massive carving of the rosewood. Be a:des these peculiarities, the instrument possesses others still more remarkable. Although unusually small in dimensions—being only five feet two inches by two feet six inches—its tone is singularly powerful. Added to which, we find on examination that the principle of the action is altogether differentfrom that which has hitherto been adopted in the construction of other square piano fortes ; among other things, for example, the movement of the two pedals is capable (without altering the qua lity of tone) of giving greater effect to the crescendos and diminuendos. It appears that this novel result is produced by the simultaneous action of the ham mer-rest and the key-board one diminishing the force of the blow from the hammer, and the other lessening the depth of touch—thus enabling the per former to exercise greater command over the fortes and pianos, and doing this by what has been termed " a gravitation action" by the manufacturers. The Cottage is noticeable among the three as quite a curiosity. But it is not only curious—it is also eminently beautiful. Cased in walnut, it is decorated, besides, with satinwood, richly carved in the style of Louis Quatorze. Curtains of blue satin cover the doors both at top and bottom, the former displaying the "arms" of the United States in the loveliest coloured embroidery. Again, instead of being cut out of ebony and ivory as usual, its keys are of tor toiseshell and mother-of-pearl ! Altogether, these three exquisite pianos—while extending the reputation of the Messrs. Stodart— cannot fail to reflect credit upon our English manufactures. SUMMER CIRCUITS OF THE JUDGES, 1853. Yesterday, the judges of the several Courts of Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, assembled in the Exchequer Chamber, it being the first full Thurs day of the term, for the purpose of determining and ar ranging the several circuits upon which they will re spectively proceed to bold the ensuing summer assize of oyer and tern - liner and general gaol delivery in and for the several counties and cities of England and Wales. At the conclusion of the deliberations of their lordships the following arrangements were finally made : NORTH WALES AND CHESTER CIRCIIIT.—The Lord Chief Justice of England, the Right Hon. Lord Camp bell. SOUTH WALES AND CHESTER CIRCUIT.—The Hon. Mr. Baron Platt, his lordship joining Lord Campbell at Chester, after proceeding through the circuit of South Wales. NORFOLK CIRCUIT.—The Right Hon. Sir John Jervis, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and the Right Hon. Sir James Parke, one of the Barons of the Exchequer. HOME CIRCUIT.—The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Baron, Sir Frederick Pollock, and the Hon. Mr. Jus tice Cresswell. • MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—The Right Hon. Sir Edward Hall Alderson, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, and the Hon. Mr. Justice Maule. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—The Hon. Mr. Justice Wight man, and the Hon. Mr. Justice Erle. OXFORD CIRCUIT.—The Hon. Mr. Justice Coleridge, and the Hon. Mr. Justice Crompton. WESTERN CIRCUIT.---The Hon. Mr. Justice Talfourd, and the Hon. Mr. Baron Martin. VACATION JUDGE.—The Hon. Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams will remain in town as the Vacation Judge, to dispose of interlocutory matters during the absence of the judges on circuit—in fact, sitting as a judge in full Court. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND MID-WESTERN.---An influential and numerous meeting of landowners was held on Monday at Thame ; the Earl of Macclesfield in the chair. Mr. Voules, one of the directors, explaine d that the Mid- Western line was designed purely reference to the urgent demand for railway accommodation in the dis trict through which it was intended to pass. Lord Car rington moved a resolution to the effect that the meet ing was deeply impressed with the necessity for obtaining direct, distinct, immediate, and uninterrupted communi cation with the metropolis. He said there seemed perfect unanimity in the southern districts in favour of the scheme. He then pointed out at considerable length the great advantages that would result to the district from the establishment of railway communication. It would bring them into direct communication with some of the richest mineral districts, and they would have coal abundant in supply and moderate in price. Their case in Parliament might be simply defined as presenting an overwhelming, uncontradicted, and pressing case of public necessity on one side as against railway mono poly on the other. (Hear, hear.) He could not but believe that the impartial and intelligent committee to whom the question was referred must report in favour of the line. Mr. Hammersley seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously, as were also other reso lutions which were embodied in petitions to both Houses of Parliament, in favour of the undertaking. The pro ceedings concluded with a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman. LYONS AND GENEVA.--It appears that the French Government has decided that this line shall commence by a junction at Lyons, pass on to Arnb4rieux, thence by a curve to Culoz, where it meets the Rhone, and is then to pass along the right bank of the river to Geneva, keeping within the French frontier. A branch line is to be formed from the main line at Amberieux to Bourg and Macon, where it is to join the Paris and Lyons Railway. When this and other lines are completed, Geneva will be placed in railway communication with Marseilles, Bordeaux, Paris, Nantes, Havre, Holland, Belgium, and other places in France, also with Ger many. The plans and sections have been completed by , the State engineers in a manner satisfactory to all par ties, and it is stated that the authorities of Switzerland have agreed to subscribe 2,000,000 T. (80,0001.) towards the undertaking. RISE IN THE WAGES OF SPITALFIELDS WEAVERS.-It is notorious that during the last seven years the Spital fields weavers have been subjected to many reductions— indeed so wretchedly low has been the price of their labour that the poverty of that class of workpeople has been proverbial. The weavers have, however, been making an effort to share in the general improvement in the silk trade. Several manufacturers have already made a small advance, and are willing to advance a trifle more on the Ist of June next, provided others in the same branch of the trade will do the same. But some manufacturers seem to consider that the favourable turn in trade is wholly for their benefit, whilst on the other hand the weavers seem determined to participate in the Improvement in this generally -depressed branch of industry, and the movement has the commiseration of the clergy and other influential persons in the district. The Rev. Allen T. Edwards, incumbent of St. Matthias, .Bethnal -green, has on many occasions kindly lent the school-room for their meetings, and has generously allowed subscriptions to be received by Mr. Kelsey, schoolmaster at S t. Matthias's schools, St. John-street, Brick-lane, Bethnal-green, for the purpose of aiding the weavers in their present struggle, such aid being ren dered necessary by thu unwillingness "of some employers to accede to the just demands of the operatives. THE SR ARE MARKETS. BRITISH RAILWAYS. Clo.ing Prices Y esterday. RAILWAYS. 28A - 6 - 10 - 104 7 6d 21 22 d —2 d 102 104 691 701 23 24 21 22 .-. . . - 6 pm, 8 -- 9 6 -- 6i 4 -- 44 13_i -13 i 10i -- 11 - is = 74 -- 75 53 - 56 73 -74 i 30 = 32 88 - 89 55 - 57 135 -136 113 -- 114 90i- 911 7i -- 94 -96 1 791 14ip 1 4t -- 4' A 3 -- 2i A 16A -17 91 1 — 2p 104 -- 1054 114 -- 1181 2 -- 2Ap P 891 -- JO I 54 -- a d 44 -- 4 d 12 -- 13 19 -- 21 29i -- 301 31 -- 2id 744 -- 75 42 44 51 53 P 4 3d 21 31 81 53 55 31— d 1 35 36 - 41 it Sf 524 - 534 1 96 - 98 60 - G 2 64 - GG 73 76 1i 1 d 17 19 8i 13 15 31 d 204 744 —75 i 361 37 13. 14, 4 2 1 34 15 15 ii 01 104 1 34 —34 i 10;-- 10 a par 701 -- 711 7i -- 61 d 23 -- lid 63 -- 64 Liuiluegs done this day. 100 1 Aberdeen Ambg. No:Ang,. Boa & Eas;:u. Junct Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. Cheshire Junct. Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., £2O Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead Cork and Itaulou Cork, Black rock and Passage D übl i n & Belfast June Dundee Perth&Aber deen Junction Do. New East Anglian (1:25 L and E. & L. & P.) Do. Do. (181. E. &t H.) Eastern Counties Eastern Union, Class A. (late E. U. Sh.) Do., do Do., B. azd C East Lancashire East & West Ind. Dk & Binning. June..] Edinburgh & Glasgow) 1 Edin. and Peebles 100 Edin. Pith. &Dundee 100 Glasgow &S. Western 100 Great Northern Stk 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. Stock 100 'Great Southern and Western (Ireland) 100 ' Great Western 11 a i u s ; Irish a s tu r t a: r t li s all e le. 111 Do., Thirds 100 I Lancash.& Yorkshire 15 Do., Fifths 111 Do., Wst. Riding Un all ILeeds Northern all ;Liv.Crsby.&Southpt all ' London & Blackivalll 3 Loud. Tilb. & Sthend. 100 Lond. Brigt. &S. Cat. 100 London &N. Western 12 Do., Fifths 1 D0.,£10 Sh.M.&B. C 100 London &S. Western 42a Do., £5O 34 Do., £4O all Londerry. &Coleraine Lnelndny. & Ennisk. Mauch. Shof. &Lineln I Do., Man.& Lin. Un t 'Midland Do. Birming. & Derby Midland G. West. (Ir.) Do.. Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do. Bury Extension Newp. Aberg.kHftd Newry & Enniskillen Newry, Warrenpeint, and Restrevor Norfolk Do., New Northn.Counties Un North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 Do., 1 A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Scottish Central See aish Midland Shrewsbury & Birmg. Do., L. & N. Westn. Guaranteed Stock. Shrewsby.& Hereford Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves do Do. Do. Oswestiy Shropshire Union South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yorksh . River Dun Do. Stockton & Hartlepl Thames Haven Dock and Railway* Vale of Neath • Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford& Limerick West Cornwall W imbledon&Croydn Woodford York Newctl.&Berw Do. Extensions Do. G. N. E. Purchase York & N. Midland.. 100 all I 100 5 100 all 18.1 100 100 all all all 100 all 3i 100 all j all 100 100 100 100 1/.18 1 100 13 9a 63 1 i PREFERENCE SHIRES. Aberdeen . I Do., No. 2, 7 p. Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St.' Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 54 per cent. Cork&Bandon 5A p.c. Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction E. Aug. (705.) 6 p. c. Do. (£5), 7 per cent. Do. (£7 178), 7. p ct. Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do., No. 2 Do., Now 6 p. c. St Eastern Union Scrip Guar. 6 per cont East Lancash. 6 p. cts Edinb. Prth. & Dund Glasgow &S. Western Guar. 5 per cent Great Northn. 5 p. c Do. 5 p. c., Redeem at 10 p. c. prem Gt.S outhn. & Westn (Ireland) Eights Gt. Westn. (Berks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c.) Great Western, fixed 4i per cent 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 Guar. 6 p. c London &S. Western, Coi. Thirds Londonderry & Coler Shares Londndry. & Enuisk 5hare5........ Blanch., Shef. ,& Lin., Shares, No. 1 , Do., New, £lO Do., £6 _ . MarYpt. & Carl. 4 p.c. Do. 4. per cent__ Mid. Consol. 6 p.c.St. Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent.... Do. Pref. 41 percent. Norfolk Extension... Do. Guar. 51 per ct. Do. Waveney Valley 5 per cent North British ..... North Staffordshire.. Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £15,6p. C. Do. Ihrowsbuly & Birm New Guaranteed Shrewsby. dr Chester Nor.W. (Limn), 3p.c. Do. 5 per cent. South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Reading Anu.) of £1 Os. 6d. S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. Waterfd.&Kilk. 6p. c. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 4 p. c. Pref Do York & N. Midland, 11. & S. Purchase._ 92 - 96 107 - 109 108 -- 110 19i -20 i) P iP 61 -- 6 4 -- 4 1 5 sj i 41 , i li -- 2A p li -- 2 p 14i -- 15 18 -18 i 31 - 3g ... xd 130 131 1.2 - 113 - - 7 4 LO6 - 108 __p_ iP .53 - 154 167 3 - 4p 10 - 11 13/ -- 141 8 -- 9 lOi -- 11 A -- 150 - 152 i - i P 118 - 120 115 - 117 25A - 26 , 2,} 2A p 10/ 114 174 184 i 1I; 15 16 )ar 1p 2,C;),! 19 —20 A sP 101 -10 C. 5$ - P t FOREIGN. Antwrp. &Rotterdam 'Belgian Eastn. Junct. Charleroi & Erquelin Dijon and Besancon Dutch Rhenish. East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Gt. Westn. of Canada Shares Lucca and Pistoja, 5 pc:: cent. pref ' Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. cen:,. pref Lyons & Medterran Iliadras Maria Antonia IDo. New. Namur & Liege (with interest Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds• (fmy.B.StAms.Shs.) Norwegian Trnk. Prof Paris and Lyons Paris and Orleans Paris and Boren Paris and Strasbour Pari s Caen &Cherbrg Quebec & Richmon Rouen and Havre Sambre and Meuse._ Do. 5i percent. pref. Southern of France Upper Ir dia Scrip West Flanders per c. Pref,.. Western of France... West. of Switzerlardi New Zealand... 1 - : 1 1 - li 14 - 15 2 1 - 3 pp 1 - 1 5 - 51, p 11 - 1g p 2 -2h p li - 11 2 par i p 7 — 7 1 — 4 1. 1 d 2 -- 2i pj 7 7i 354 364 17 171 41 43 43 44. 37 4 . —54 p 20 21 8 04 ••• ••• 6 iP 4A 5 Aa par 164 10ip, -- 2 all all 100 100 10 all all G 3. pm 801 105 1174 tlB xn 1:now I new 891 90 8* 37 751 4j MINES. 1 all Agua Fria 10s all Anglo Californian — p 10 2 Australasian par— 1 p 20 5 Australian 1 all Australian Cordillera par— p 1 all Australian Freehold. 1 all Ave Maria 1 all 13aden(Gd. Duchy of) 8 d P 1 all British Austria. Gold — P 20 13.5 British Iron 'l 9 35 24i Brazilian Imp.(issued at £5 pm.) 4 51 51 30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiaba 5 • 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 31 —32 6 all Carson's Creek par— P 40 all Cobre Copper 46 —47 5 1 Colonial Guld ... 11 Copiapo 96 101 101 10 St. all CopperMinersof Eng 65 75 25 all Do. Preference 8 9 p 5 all English and Austin Copper Smel tg. Co 2 —ll d 20 all General l5 —l7 all Great Nu gge t V e i n — p 3 all Great Polgooth — 1 all Lake Bathurst 6d— H p 1 all Liberty par— 4 p 1 all Lond.&Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. Co — 6 1 all Mariquita Bd par 10 9 Mcxican &S. Ammic . 8 1 all New Granada ft 4P igi 1 all Nouveau M on d o — I p 5 1 Port Philip — pll 1 all Quartz Rock A - P 50 all Rhymney Iron 25 —27 276 15 Do. New 7 8 30 10i Santiago de Cuba.,,, 6 1 all South Australian par —A P 10 7 Tiu Croft 9 —ll 286 all United Mexioau 5 58 1 all Waller d 1 all West Granada 1 all Weal Mariposa....... id 1 1 all Yuba par JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia B6l -- 878 87 50 all British N. American, ... 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India,i Australia, & China! 16 100 25 Colonial — 100 20 Commercial of Lon don — In 10 English,Scottish,and Australian —16 p 11 20 121: Loud. Chart. Bk. o Australia 2l 3 p 15 i 50 20 London and County ... 50 10 London Joint Stock ... 100 20 Lond. do Westminster 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia and India 50 221 National of Ireland 25 all Oriental Bank of Corporation 52.6 —53 A 25 5 Do. Now — 100 25 Provincial of Ireland 10 all Do. New — 5 1 Royal Australn.Bkg di Gold Imp, Co 6d— par 25 25 South Australia .. 25 all Union of Australia._ 77i 786 771 ... 26 Do. New Bl 50 10 Union of London — 40 all Union of Madrid MISCELLANEOUS. 100 35 Australian Agrieult 75 77 74 6 20 8 Austrlasn.Pcific.Mail 10 6 Austmln. Royal Mail .. 4 38Ai Brit. Americo. Land 68 • 72 100 :326' Canada 65 70 5 5 Crystal Palace 2l 36 88 8 4 2 Crystal Pal. of Franca 20 1 Eastern Steam — 1 1 Electric. Teleg. of Jr 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat 3l 50 General Screw Steam 1 20 5 Trish Beetroot Sugar, 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel' 10 2 Netherlands Land,..,) •... 20 76 Nrth. of EuropeSteanl 50 all Peninsular &Orieutal 77 6 50 25 Do. Do. 100 60 Royal Mail Steam - _ 25 25 South Austral. Land 43 -- 45 43 1 1 Submar. Telegraph ' 5 2 Universal Emigration and Colonisation I 100 281,Vau Diemen's Land ll9 20 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 fully Monday's prices. There was a slight improvement in the inqriry for forward delivery qualities. The imports of foreign wheat have exceeded 26,000 qrs. Medium qualities were 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 met a slow sale, at late rates. Beans, peas, and flour were held at full prices. ARRIVALS IHIS WEEK. 1 English " l 'h ,gti . B"lr71e0Y. Malt. Oats. Flour. 1 0 Irish .. 6,010 Foreign 26,120 8,630 14,790 970 aks 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 81bs. With sheep we wero fairly supplied. On the whole, the mutton trade was steady, at unaltered currencies. The primest old Downs realised 4s Sd. per 81bs. There was an improved sale for lambs at full prices, viz., 5s to 6s 4d per 81bs. 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 wero in steady request at from 171. 15s to 201. each, including their small calf. Per Slbs to sink the offids. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts ...3 oto 3 2 Second quality ...3 4 3 6 Prime large oxen 3 8 310 Prime Scots, die. 4 0 4 4 Inferior sheep ...3 8 3 10, Second quality ...4 0 4 2 Primo crse.-wlled.4 2 4 4 Lambs s. d. s. d. Prime Southdown 4 6 4 8 barge tree. calves 4 0 4 6 Prime small do 4 8 5 0 Large hogs 3 4 3 8 Small porkers 310 4 4 Suckling calves 20 0 25 6 Quarter old pigs 19 0 24 0 5s Od to 6s 4d. TOTAL SUPPLY. FORUM' SUPPLY Beasts 3OO Sheep Calves 3lO Pigs — Beasts Sheep and Lambs 9,200 Calves Pigs 330 Scotch—Beasts 36. NEWOATE AND LEADENIIALL. The trade ruled steady, and prices were well supported. Per Blbs by the carcase. s. d. s. ti. s. d. s. d. Beef, inferior 210 30 I Mutton, Inferior 363 10 Do.,middling 3 2 3 4 Do.,middling 4 0 4 2 Do., prime large 3 6 3 8 I Do., prime 4 4 4 Do., do. 5ma11..„3 8 3 10 Veal 3 10 4 10 Pork, large 343 10 I Pork, small 4O 4 4 Lambs BOROUGH HOP. We have still to report rather an active inquiry for all kinds of hops, the prices of which are 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 126 s 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 Gd to 33s for ord to good brown, 33s Gd to 35s for ord to fair grey, 35s 6d to 37s 6d for good grocery. Barbadoes wont at 34s Gd to 39s for low mid to fine. These rates aro about G 1 lower. Crystalised Deme rara brought 38s to 33s Gd for good. Refined has been firm at 47s to 49s for grocery lumps. Mauritius went Gd lower for about 12,003 bags, good and very superior yellow selling at 36s to 38s 6d, low to good mid at 33s 6d to 35s 6d, and fine brown at 32s Gd to 33s Gd, white 41s to 41s 6d, Bengal went at 38s to 3ss Gd for fine yellow Dhoba, and 31s to 35s for low yellow, and 32s to 33s for brown. Foreign Paraiba has realised 198, and a cargo of yellow Havannalt, No. 15.1 sold at 255. Manilla brought 18s for Muscovado. COFFHE.—The market is firm but inactive. The latest sales of Plantation Ceylon have been at, 60s to 66s for good colony, 73s for fine, 55s to 60s for low mid. and mid., 505 to 52e Gd for triage, and 66s to 70s for peaberry. Native is at about 47s 6d. Mocha was taken in at 69s 6d for good yellowish, and Rio at 41s for good ord. mixed. CocoA.—Trinidad has been rather lower, fair grey to good red being 30s to 37s per cwt. RlCE.—Scarcely any business has boon done. SALTPETRE.—BengaI 6i per cent. refraction, has been sold at 275. COCHINEAL. — Prices tend downwards. COTTON.—Thore 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. LLOYD'S SHIPPMG-(TRIS DAY). LONDON, May 27.—Wind this day at Noon, N.N.W. light pleasant breeze, and fine clear weather. The bare: muter is now rising. BRISTOL, MAY ''6.—Wind, E. Sailed—London, Now York ; Chalco, Africa. SWANSEA, May 26.—Wind, S.E. Sailed—Saitelope, Teneriffe. MISTED, May 20.—The Stork, of and from Dundee to Riga, which was on shore on Wangsaastrand 7th Oct. last, was got off on the 18th inst., and proceeded to Elsinore. PLYMOUTH, May 26.—Wiud, variable. Sailed—Parope, Pernambuco. Cal cu HI SELDS, May 2G.—Wind, N. b y W.- Sailed—Burnah; tta. PARIS, May 2 7.--Tlle Elisha Denison, of New York, New Orleans to Galveston, to load for Havre, was wrecked on Galveston Bar during the hurricane of the 2d inst., and was expected to be a total loss. SPORTING INTELLIGENCI7. EPSOM RACES-THURSDAY. The contrast in the appearance of the Downs to-day and that which they presented ou Wednesday was most striking ; instead of the countless multitudes of spec tators who covered the broad plain when the Derby was run, the attendance was almost wholly confined to the amateurs and business men, who mustered again in the enclosure. Of ladies few were to be seen either in the Grand Stand or in private carriages on the course. How ever, should the glorious weather which has lasted up to the present time continue, we may expect that a brilliant assemblage of ladies will be present at the Oaks—a race peculiarly devoted to and patronised by the fair sex. The day was much warmer than on the previous day —scarcely a breeze tempered the heat of the sun, which shone with a summer fervour until the termination of the last race at five o'clock, when the scorched and dusty visitors hastened 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 bang backed immediately afterwards at 20 to 1 for the Derby, '54, there was nothing of import- in the events to affect future interests. The races were decided as follows : EPSOM FOUR-YEAR-OLD STAKES of 50 BOYS each, hft ; colts, Bst 1 llb ; and fillies, Bst 6lb. New Derby Course. (6 subs ) Duke of Bedford's Hugo by Weatherbit (F. Butler) Walked over. TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES of 10 goys 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 slb extra (Whitehouse) 4 The following also ran :—Contender, f by John o'Gaunt Erasion, Victorine, Mouser, Hermitage, Mirabeau, and Diable Boiteux. Betting-6 to 4 asst 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 sovs., added to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each. Winners extra. Derby Course. Lord Glasgow's Doublethong by Assault or Bird catcher, 3 yrs, 6st 71b Mr. Delamere's Madame Landeau, 3 yrs, sst 121 b (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-Lad s , 5 yrs, ... 121 b (Rickards) 5 Betting-7 to 4 agst Follow-me-Lads, 3to 1 each agst Doublethong and Madame L an d eau , 4 i o 1 agst Calot. Follow-me-ads made the running to the road, where the lead was taken by Calot, who maintained it to the stand. Doublethong and Madame Landeau then passed her, and a good race in with the two ended in favour of Doublethong by three-quarters of a length. Four lengths between second and third. Follow-me-Lads did not pass the post. SELLING STAKES of 5 sous. 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 (Charlton) 1 Mr. Hodgson's Eccentricity, 3 yrs (401.), 6st 81b (Halls) 2 Mr. French's Ada, 3 yrs (401.), 6st Slb (Palmer) 3 Lord H. G. Lennox's Determination, 2 yrs (401.), 4st 101 b (Fordharn) 4 The following also ran :—Saville, Peach, c by Epirus out of Empress. Betting-L-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, 7st ; four, Bst 91b ; 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 (Fl Atm an) 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 iong intervals. This was the first time of the Queen's Guineas, re moved by Lord Jersey from Guildford, being run for at Epsom ; and the success of so stanch a supporter of the turf as Mr. Harvey Coombe elicited hearty cheers. COBHAM PLATE of 50 sovs (handicap) for all ages. Win. ners extra. New 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. PROBABLE STARTERS FOR THE OAKS. THIS DAY. Horse. Catherine Hayes Mentmore Lass The Queen Lady Louisa Mistletoe Miss Tennyson England's Beauty Coalition .. Hybla Sylphine Koh-i-noor Mabella Dove Jockey. Marlow. Charlton. Buznby. Simpson. Templeman. Bartholomew. H. Goater. Flattuan. Marsou. Hiett. J. Holmes. J. Mann. A. Day. Nicotine Exhibition Miss Sarah filly . Lady Margaret . Glenavon Charity was struck out on Thursday afternoon, at 1.25, and Peggy at 5.20. F. Butler. LATEST BETTING ON THE OAKS. 2 to 1 agst Mistletoe. 3to 1 Catherine Hayes. sto 1 Mentmore Lass. Bto 1 The Queen. In the course of the afternoon The Queen receded to 40 to 1, but " confidential communications" had the effect of bringing her back to 8 to 1 (taken). DERBY, 1854. G,OOO to 300 agst Dervish (taken). CAREw STAKES, Ersom.—The objection against Mr. Sykes was overruled. THE WOODCOTE STAKES.—The Empress colt, the winner of this stake has been named Woodcote. PORTRAIT OF WEST AUSTRALIAN.—Harry Hall, of Newmarket, is already engaged in a portrait of West Australian for Mr. Bowes, engravings of which will be published shortly by Bailey, Brothers. LIVERPOOL RACES.—Mr. James Manning, of New market, is appointed clerk of the scales. The appoint ment will, doubtless, give great satisfaction to the racing public. NEWTON GOLD CUP.—Selina, Little Fawn, Doubt. F. Michael, Aaron Smith ; Snowdon Dunhill, Richard Primmer, and The Bell are scratched. RACING FLXTI The figures within parent] days' :TRES FOR 1853. hesis denote the number of •acing. ..24 ..E. Bibury (1) 42 Stockbridge (1) c 2 Wii.cliester (1) 28 Newcastle (3) .25 LY. Stamford (2) 19 Nottingham (2) 21 Goodwood (4) 26 UST. York (3) 17 Radcliffe (3) 0 2 Egham (2) 23 Derby (2) 24 Eccles (3) 9. 'll Lichfield (2) 3U MBER. Lanark (2) 22 Manchester Autumn (2)-22 Newmarket F. 0. (3) 27 Northallerton (2) 29 Epsom (4).... Newton (3) 2 Ascot (4) 7 Hampton (2) 16 Beverley, Hull, &c. (2) 15 Newmarket (3) 5 Worcester (2) 5 Carlisle (3) 5 Liverpool (3) 13 AUG Brighton (2) 3 Brighton Club (1) 5 Wolverhampton (C) S North Staffordshire (2) 9 Yarmouth (2) 9 Reading (2) lO SEPTE Warwick (2) 6 Pontefract (2) 8 Doncaster (4) 13 Bedford (2) 20 Leicester (2) 21 OCTOBER. Chester Autumn (2) 4 Richmond (2) ............ 19 Newmarket S. 0. (5) 10 Newmarket H. (6) 2 NOVEMBER. Worcester (2) 1 Warwick Autumn (2)...16 Epsom Autumn (2) 3 Shrewsbury (2) 23 Cowbridge Hunt (2) 9 Aberystwith (3)..Lavt week Liverpool Autumn (2) 9 FIRE IN BIRMINGHAM. —A fire, which at itB co mencement threat ene d the most disastrous consequencesrn, broke out at an early hour yesterday morning upon the premises of Mr. Sheldon, timber merchant, of Ludgate street, Birmingham. About four o'clock a.m., flames were observed to issue from the engine -house, and very speedily th e entire property was in a state deonflagra tion ; in the course of a short time three engines from fire offices of the town were on the spot, but for the first hour there were not more than three firemen to work them, an d th e duty fell principally upon the police, who_. conducted th emselves in a praiseworthy manner. T most effecti ve kerv i ce was , however, perfornal e py . e The establishme n t o f M essrs . Elki ngton , the br,sr: electro-platers, directly opposite, who of xed `s.boge to the water works upon their premistair aes o_laY aided ere destroyed, bu'[. it is P t o g v : w ithf platertecck in n d t he chaser, extinctionan immediateof th e five. neighbour, T w h The in trade o - considerable i' ll gu n ra ot ne e e x . nee l g t insured to that amour A in the 2,000/. a nd , that he is No lives were lost. i b s el u i envdeedrstthoaodt hie that los s g a l e ] i e e d :c z o i v , s er l e o d ss by w l i York Company. 0" kill t 3 1 P ineO• c 4, .teo 7 ll, ha 9q, 41? 50 161 St. 20 20 20 10 St. St. St. St. St. St. 25 25 St. 10 6 12 124 123 St. St. 881 9 135 6 I Will2l 35 i IllsA 101 I 71 351 6