The Sun. — London, England, 1853-01-10 00:00:00

MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. . . Most of the coinitry markets held on Saturday were but moderately supplied. with wheat. Selected samples were mostly disposed of at full prices ; but all other kinds were very dull, and a shade lower. Fine barley was scarce, and held for more money. In grinding and distilling sorts next to nothing was doing. Malt was very dull, but not lower. Beans and peas supported previous rates ; but flour was offering on easier terms. The Continental markets have been in a very inactive state for most articles of grain. In the Black Sea ports large transactions have taken place in grain at high rates. The demand for flour in the United States has ruled active, at enhanced currencies. _ Very moderate supplies of English grain were received up to our market last week. The imports from abroad consisted of 5,020 quarters of wheat, 51 oats, 2,265 beans, 177 peas, 4 tares, 927 linseed, 863 rapeseed, 204 sundry seeds, 1,361 sacks and 7,010 barrels of flour. Fresh up, to-day, coastwise, from Essex, Kent, and Lincolnshire, the arrivals of wheat were on a very limited scale, and greatly out of condition. By land carriage the. receipts were trifling. The show of samples of both red and white was small ; nevertheless, owing, in some mea sure, to the pressure of foreign flour, the demand for all descriptions was in a very sluggish state. A good clear ance of the fine picked qualities was effected, at full prices; but a portion of the damp sorts remained unsold, although offered on rather easier terms. A large portion of the supply from Kent was wholly,unfit for millers purposes, without a larger admixture of dry foreign. not- For forward delivery we had very few inquiries, withstanding that the growers were mostly sellers on lower terms. With fresh foreign wheat the mar ket was very mode rately supplied, but we had a fair show of granariecl parcels. Medium parcels sold at full c urrencies, part y for shipment coastwise. All other kinds moved off slowly, but we have no change to notice in their value. Floating cargoes commanded very little a ttention, yet holders generally were firm is their demands. Fine barley was very scarce, and quite as dear as last week. Grinding and distilling sorts were heavy, at barely stationary prices. The stock of foreign barley here is trifling. Malt, the show of which was good, moved off slowly, but we have no alteration to quote in prices. The quantity of oats on offer was unusually small. The dealers, consequently, purchased for immediate wants on ly. The quotations were well supported. Beans were quite as dear as last week, but the business doing was very limited. In peas very few tranactions took place, at late figures. Flour met a very dull inquiry, and prices were the turn lower. CURRENCY PER Whaat —Essex & Kent, Red •• .. new 400 to 48s Ditto ••• • .. old 463 593 Ditto, White new 458 b3s Ditto .• • • .... old bOs 60s Norfolk and Lin coln, Red, old 481 53s Ditto, new ••• • •• "473 47a Rye—Old •••• • • ...... 31e 32s New •••••• • • •• • • 31s 33s Sekrley—Grinding .•• • • 5 , 13 28s blalting . ••••••• 31e 331 Chevalier .• • • •• • 343 35s Malt—Suffolk and Nor folk 54s ASs Brown .••• • • • • • 46s 521 Kingston and Ware b3s 60s 'ER AL IdEASURZ. Malt—Chevalier •• •• 618 to 63s Oats Yorkshire and Lineolnak.,Feed 16s 22e Potato ...... •. 2is 24. Youghal and Cork Black... 16a 24s Cork, White • • 16. 25. Scotch, Feed. .. •. 2h 25, Beans—Tick ... • ....• 32, 34s Pigeons ...... • ... 35, 401 Peas—Grey .. • • ••• • • air 35 Maple .••••• • .. • • 33 , 36s • White • ••• •• • . 33. 37. Boilers .•• • .. 365 415 Floor—Town-made... 413 465 Stittolk ••• • • • 32s 34s Btoekta & Norfolk 32s 3Ss SMITHFIELD. The imports of foreign stock into London, last week, were very good—the total supply amounting to 3,214 head. During the same period in 1852 they amounted to 3,337 ; in 1851, 2,367; in 1850, 1 ,0 66 ; in 1849, 1,035 ; and in 1848, 1,235 head. IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WEER. From Beasts. Hamburgh. ..... 14 Ostend...• • Harlingen. Antwerp... Rotterdam Nieu Diep. Sheep. 53 474 ... 189 84 Lambs. Calves. Pigs. - •., .. 303 ... .. 56 ... _ - Total .... 427 _ 53 .., 32 „ 15 •• 327 917 623 ... - .. 2,340 ... 67 ... 380 - - - The yearly comparison of weekly imports is as under : B eas t s . Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 1852.......... 609 ... 2,366 ... ... 368 4 1851 ......... . 483 ... 1,574 •• • ... 262 48 1840 ......... . 173 ..• 93 8 •• • 83 1849.......... 188 ... 817 •• • 1848......... . 85 ... 1,123 .• • 27 To-day's' market was very moderately supplied with foreign stock, and the arrivals of home-fed beasts were on a comparatively limited scale, whilst their general quality was inferior. The attendance of butchers being tolerably extensive, the beef trade, notwithstanding the prevailing mild weather, ruled somewhat active, at, in most instances, an advance in the currencies paid on Monday last of 2d per 8 lbs, at which amount of improvement a good clear ance was effected. The primest Scots sold readily at from 4s to 4s 2d per 8 lbs. From Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire, we received about 1,000 short horns ; from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshir e 1,200 Scots, short horns, &c. ; and from Scotla n d, 684 horned and polled Scots, hiefly per railway. The numbers of sheep were by no means extensive. All breeds, the general condition of which was good, sold freely, at fully last Monday's currency. The best old Downs readily produced 5s per 81bs. Calves were in moderate supply, and steady inviry at the extreme rates of Friday last. The best qualities of veal were worth 4s 6d per 8 lbs. Prime small porkers moved off freely, at full quotations ; but large hogs were neglected. Per Blbs by he carcase. s. d. s. il. Inferior Beasts ...2 10 to 3 t Second quality ...3 2 3 4 Prime large oxen 3 6 3 8 Prime Scots, &c. 310 4 2 Inferior sheep ...3 8 310 Second quality ...4 0 4 4 Prime c oarse-wlld . 4 6 4 8 s. (1. 8. (1. Prime Southdown 410 5 0 Large crse. calves 3 0 4 0 Prime small do 4 2 4 6 Large hogs 210 3 6 Smallporkers 3 8 310 Suckling calves 19 0 24 0 Quarter old pigs 19 0 23 0 FOREIGN SUPPLY. Beasts Sheep 20,500 Sheep Calves 194 I Calves 146 rigs 2lO 1 Pigs A statement and comparison of the supplies and stock exhibited and sold in Smithfield Cattl Monday, Jan. 12, 1852, and this day, Mow 1853. TOTAL SUPPLY. 1 prices of fat Le Marlet, on day, Jan. 10, Per Sibs, to sink the offals Jan. 12, 1852. 8. d. es. d C o arse and inferior beasts ... 2 6t02 10 Second quality ditto • ••• 3 0 3 2 Prime large oxen ... •• • •• • 3 4 3 6 Prime Scots, &c ••• ••• ••• 3 8 310 Coarse and inferior sheep 210 3 0 Second quality ditto ... •.. ... 3 2 3 8 P r ime coarse woolled ditt o ... ••• 310 4 0 Prime Southdown ditto ••• 4 2 4 4 Large coarse calves ... ••• 30 3 6 Prime small ditto ... ••• 3 8 4 0 Large hogs ... 2 6 3 6 Neat small porkeiv ••• 2 8 310 Beasts... ••• •.. ••• ••• 3 , 565 24,760 Calves._ ••• ... 114 • Surniza ox SALE, Jan. 13, 1851.—Beasts, 3, 19,070; calves, 100; pigs, 295. Jan. 14, 1850.—Beasts, 3,334; sheep, [22,070 ; calves, 62 ; pigs, 217. Jan.lo, 1853 s. d. s. d. 2 10 to 3 0 32 3 4 36 3 8 310 4 2 3 8 310 40 4 4 46 4 8 410 5 0 3 0 4 0 42 4 6 1 2 10 3 6 3 8 310 2,736 20,500 ,949 ; flop, NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. Notwithstanding that the supplies of each kind of meat on sale, to-day, were tolerably exclusive, the g enera l d e mand ruled steady, and, in some instances, the quota tions had an upward tendency. Per 81be by the carcase. s. d. s. d. g. d. s. d Beef, inferior ...... 4 2 6 Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 r Do., middling ...... 2 8 2 10 Do.,middling ...... 3 8 4 2 Do., prime lar g e 3 0 3 2 Do., prime ......... 4 4 4 6 Do., do. small ....3 4 3 6 Veal .................. 2 10 4 4 Pork, large ...... 2 8 3 0 Pork, small ...... 3 2 4 0 BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. Coastwise and per railway very moderate supplies of potatoes have come to hand since our last report. The general quality of the sam p le s is very inferior. The im ports last week were large, viz, 1,200 tons from Rouen, 96 ditto from Antwerp, 307 from Calais, 80 from Rotter dam, 97 from Dunkirk, and 65 from Honfleur. The de mand is in a sluggish state, as follows :—York R egen t s, 85 s t0135s per ton ; Lincolnshire ditto, 75s to 100 s; Scotch ditto, 80s to 95s ; Ditto Reds, 7 5 s to 908 ; French Whit es , 75 3 t o 90s ; Dutch, 60s to 808. WOOL MARKET. T h e imports of wool into London last week were 574 b a les from Bo ay' 1,000 ditto from Algo a B ay , 79 f rom Mb Alexandria, 106. from Hambro', 246 from Constantinople, 472 from Sydney, 17 from New Zealand, 10 from the but foreign and colonial qua- Cape, and 76 from Lisbon. We have a steady sale for English wools at full p rices ; lities are dull in sale. BOROUGH HOP. Sussex hops are in improved reque t a our quotations. Mid and East Kent quali ties are quite as dear an last week, with a very l i m it e d quantity on of Kent offer. Mid 85 and to East Kent pockets, 90s to 150 s ; Weald , s 1088 ; Sussex, 85s to 105 s per cwt. SEEDS. at , ,s y s eri d full The demand for linseed continues steady, prices. East India 51s to 52, and Petersburg 0 411 quarter. Calcutta for spring shipment is qu ted atEl r s to 52s per qr. Rape firm. Cakes support Most other articles are dull. previous r a tes. TurnlP;White, per bush. 81 to 11$ Swede .. • • ..... 105 125 Mustard, 8r0wn ...... 75 95 Ta r ' W hite , new• •• • 7 5 rd lOs eeMlnter,new.... 4s 64 As Od Canary,ng •••• • • • . Os Od Os Od R 3 ,4 gru r s er quarter • 451 478 Clove r , Re i;," ••"• • • • 28s 34s white Eng. (cwt.) 380 bOs Forei gn R _ •'•••• • • • 385 505 Red...... 388 5081 Trefoil 315 495 ••••• • • • • 'ira 304 Carraway, new • • .... 38s 415 Coriander, new .• • 10s 12s Hempseed, per quarter 32$ 85 Linseed, Eng.-lowing • • bBs 6s Cr u shing .. • • .... 47i 52s Baltic •• • • ...... 475 505 Odessa ••. • •• 48s 52s Linseed Cake, pr. ton — English • • . 91 Os 10' Os Foreign, per ton Si 105 101 55 Rape Cakes, pr ton 41 158 51 Os Rapeseed, New, prlst 23 , 0 s 251 Os Our mark e t 1, —as TALLOW. is 6d become firmer , and prices to-day are per cwt. higher than on this a day se'nnight. P.Y.C. on the spot is quoted a t 46 s 9d • and for delivery during the next three moaths, 47 s per cwt. Town tallow 46s per cwt, net cash ; rou g h fat 2s 7d per Blbs. 80. 46,676 16s 9d to 008 Od 1,737 63,963 1,274 70,011 47s 9d 1851. I 1852 Stock this day ••• • • • :: 1 4 ; 00 6( 3 ;' 44,452 52,583 61,246 3 Z s Od 6( t i o 313 d, to to 0040 d Price of Y. C. • • • • 1 d to 3' o B os 9 O d d Delivery last week • • 2,568 . 2,518 2,759 2,313 Ditto from June 1.. •• 65,405 61,238 66,835 67,555 Arrivals last week .. 95,8775'181 571 4,670 1,583 Ditto from June 1— • • Price of Town .. .• • • 4bll Od 415 Od 398 6d ins 6d RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.— Traffic return for the week ending J an. 8, 1853 ..... .... . .... .. ........................... 28,791 4 0 Corresponding week . last year .................. 7,775 5 6 Total of the half-year to this date, 1853. . 18,762 6 8 Total of the half-Tear to this date, 1852 ...... 15,869 13 1 GREAT EXHIBITION SURPLUS. ( From the Journal of the Society of Arts.) , Sir,—As a member of the society, ,I have perused with interest, not unmixed with astonishment, the recent re port of the Royal Commission. It has fallen coldly upon . the public, been protested against by the learned bodies of the metropolis, and is disposed of with more candour than praise by our Council. When every one was on the tip-toe of expectation to know what would be done with the surplus of the Great Exhibition, down upon their anxious upturned faces, like a shower-bath, comes the announcement that sixty-eight and a half acres of land have been purchased at Kensington Gore, for a sum which more than entirely absorbs it. They look for explanations, and they are favoured withthe ut m te is r t ly y outline of an impossible scheme, which it seems unaccountable how such men as compose the Royal Commission could ever have given their sanction to. Even assuming that an investment in land was neces sary, the selection of a site cannot be regarded as a happy one. The masses were once attracted to Ken ' sington ; but did they go there conveniently to them selves, or with the favour of the inhabitants ? Was it looked upon as a vulgar invasion or not ? and will they go again? Will students, who find it hard enough work to struggle to Somerset-house and Marlborough-house from the cheap suburbs, be able to reach Gore-house day after day ? Does the organisation of this vast me tropolis, which is constantly changing, justify so enor mous an expenditure as is contemplated for a site which, twenty years hence, may be the least accessible part of town ? It appears to me that the Royal Commission have deliberately sacrificed the surplus of which they were the trustees to the conveniences of Government. Government wanted space for the new National Gal lery, and for portions of the British Museum, and they rush with the shillings of the millions to help it, without inquiry whether such an alliance is necessary or desir able. They commit the proceeds of a great voluntary effort to a dubious partnership with State establish 's/tents, which have never been satisfactorily managed. What can the people think of an act which associates their contributions with ideas of Trafalgar-square archi tecture, picture-cleaning carried out with the scrubbing brush, railings that cost 14,0001., the jobbery, and the bickerings—extended to the surplusage of the Old Curiosity Shop in Bloomsbury ? Then, as if all this was not sufficient, the most triumphant success of modern times is to be associated with the Government School of Design, hitherto an admitted failure, and the Govern ment School of Mines, which has already had a home provided for it in Jermyn-street, far more comfortable and splendid than, by its usefulness, it has yet been able to justify. Even if these schools had given much olearer evidences of a suitable return for the vast outlay upon them, surely the Royal Commission need not' have interfered with the State as long as it felt disposed to act as their wet nurse. I feel satisfied that the applica tion of the Great Exhibition surplus to any scheme dependent on Government co-operation is a monstrous mistake. It chills all the enthusiasm of popular sym pathy ; it substitutes the idea of taxation for that of voluntary contribution ; it puts the industrial arts under the shadow of a State machinery; it refers to parlia mentary votes what every man who lives by labour would like to honour with his independent support. But let us assume that this union is a right one—that the Commission and the Government between them may properly spend 400,0001., or more, upon a site of 150 acres, without having commenced to lay one brick upon another ; what remains to be done afterwards, and how is it p ropose d to procee d ? B u ildi ngs are . to be erected, museums to be formed, a great university to be en dowed, and the learned societies of the metropolis to be brought into "juxtaposition." The most magnificent schemes must submit to the vulgar test of practicability ; for that, after all, is what distinguishes greatness from charlatanry. Mahomet went to the mountain when it would not come to him, but the Royal Commission have no such alternative. Suppose the learned societies object to be exhibited as a happy family, —the Geographicals refusing to lie down with the Geologicals, and the Asiatic s , th e Ch em i ca ls, the Enginee rs , th e Antiquaries, the Agriculturals, each preferring their own fig-tree, as they at present possess it. The Royal Commission have included these bodies in their plans without even the formality of consulting them. They make the supply of a want which they have not ascertained the existence of a plea for a land investment at Kensington. Again, take the money question,—where in the name of all that is fortunate, are the funds to come from with which to construct immense buildings, collect great museums, and salary a pompous array of professors ? It is not, surely, expected, that all this will be done by voluntary contributions. Then you fall back upon the public purse—Government interference mismanage ment, failures ! Alas ! for the Royal Commission ! They have sunk the money with which they were entrusted in a land speculation,. and they will never get it back again. Something might be hoped for if they turned market-gardeners, or if they came to terms with some " disinterested Mr. Kelk," who would cover their estate with houses. But the cheese-paring economists of Parliament will never vote supplies to relieve them from the position in which they have so hastily involved themselves. Even the first appeal to the House of Com mons on this subject excited murmurs which could not be mistaken ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had to give assurances which will not be forgotten hereafter. Yet I am willing to argue this question as if all that has been done is right, and as if all that is contemplated were feasible. What then ? Is this vague scheme that has been put forward without details, and defended by an appeal to the most doubtful continental experiences, so desirable after all ? Is it the best way of going to work for the promotion of the Arts, and of industrial education Will it most help on the objects to which the Great Exhibition was dedicated, and thus satisfy the public as to the discretion with which the Commission has discharged its trust ? I think not, and will state shortly why I think so. It appears to me, that the ques tion of industrial education has been entirely misappre hended ; that you cannot successfully teach the arts of life in schools, or safely hand over the principles upon which they rest to professors. The tendency of all col legiate systems is to dogmatise, and dogmatisms are fatal to progress. The first men in every branch of in dustry, and the best and surest instructors in it will give their lessons to apprentices in the workshop, not to pupils in the class-room. It must always be so. They will labour where the rewards of their exertions and talents are greatest • so that to inferior hands, or to pretender s , the chairs of the proposed University will be surren dered. Our schools and colleges may with advantage have the present course of instruction given in them widened. Science, in its various branches, may share more equally with literature the attention of our youth ; but any at tempt to introduce into this country the technical edu cation of the Continent, must prove an egregious failure. There is not only no adequate proof that the want of such a system is felt, but the whole weight of evidence is in the other direction. Even the facts collected by Dr. Lyon Playfair abroad tell more against than for the views of the Royal Commission • and I do not hesi tate to say, that an inquiry of the kind, less partially conducted, would have dealt a decisive blow against the whole scheme. In this country our experience runs en tirely in the opposite direction. We have never tried anything of the sort without its being followed by a disastrous break-down. We have taken and still hold the highest place as an industrial community, without any such aids. Our great manufacturers and engineers, for the most part, look down with disdain upon the feeble efforts made to help them by a body which, if they really wanted the thing done, they would begin by dis pensing with. They know very well that if technical education was desired, they themselves must supply it ; nor will they readily consent to spoil the training of the workshop by making it a school, or that cf the school by turning it into a workshop. Except in very rare in stances, the two things are incompatible, for when labour commences, scholastic instruction terminates ; and in learning to earn his bread by his own industry, the boy becomes a man. He will give or take information upon equal terms, but he can no longer be taught. I believe in the desirableness of a more liberal, and less purely classical, or mathematical course of education in schools and colleges. I believe in a more open and expansive system of study at our Universities ;#I think the exist ing machinery may be made more useful, and more ap propriate to the wants of the age : but a new university, new professo rs hip s , new degrees, and a new curriculum, can no mo re b e made respectable in the eyes of English men, than a new empire or a new aristocracy. The whole thing would have a Brummagem character at once, and even the west end site, the enormous expenditure, and the influence of museums and galleries of art, would not save its reputation. If more science is wanted in this country, the want will create its supply in the natural way, without any State forcing ; if scientific men do not meet with adequate encouragement and support, it is because they have not condescended to give to practice the full benefit of their abstract labours. Among a free community like ours everything that is worth knowing soon finds its way into print ; and a large, intelligent, and increasing body of readers offers to intellectual effort the strongest incentives on the one hand, while the pressure of necessities, as they arise, sti mulate on the other. Our system of voluntary associa tion for the promotion of all public objects, guarantees us against the neglect of any flagrant evils in our social state ; and it is far better that we should try to improve and strengthen the means we have got for accelgrating the progress of the arts, than to embark all our resources in new and doubtful ventures. As a member of the Society of Arts, I feel indignant at the treatment which it has received from the hands of the Royal Commission. The scheme of the Great Exhi bition originated in our Council—its success was largely due to members of that body. The early responsibilities of the undertaking were allowed by the Commission to rest heavily upon us, and if a strong claim existed on the appropriation of the surplus, it was ours ; yet we are coolly placed on a level with all the rest of the world, and a formal application which we made was not even formally replied to. I am not surp r i se d, t h ere f ore, at the guarded to ne of independence with w hi c h t h e R eport of b the Commis sion has been treated b y t h e Council. The freedom of a correspondent writing on his indivi dual responsibility exempts me from their reserve ; and it is well that the conflict of opinions on such matters should find vent in theSo w c h ie iu ty h 's th J e o ß u o rn a a l l. c I do not question the sincerity with d _ y have sought to discharge b e e t e h n ei d r ev u el t o ie p s ed ; b a u a l zy think ehim their scheme, so far as it ha s o u v n e k r the in l a sO na ,o b o b o a / g .— el the d s e til a li t ng ic s e u n r s p n l i u g s to c o r i i : A the and masses—sunk mourna sses— [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Diseases of the Kidneys, Blad der, &c.—Dr. Denis Cronin has removed from Leicester place to 35, Bruton-street, Berkeley-square, where he may be consulted, as usual, from ten till two, on his treatment of affections of the ki dne y s, bladder, and prostrate gland, in their connection with diseases of the stomach and liver. Urinary Analysis (the importance of which to the successful treatment of disease is now fully acknowledged) conducted daily, in accordance with Dr, D, Cronin'o new theory. THE um nil) STATES. ARRIVAL OF THE AFRICA. The British and American Royal Mail steam-ship Africa, Lott, commander, arrived in Liverpool last night direct from New York, having left that port at noon on the 29th ult. She brings 51 passengers, 104,000 dollars in specie on freight, and the mails from the United States and Canada. The Africa, in steaming up the Mersey, ran foul of a ship, by which considerable damage was sus tained, and great detention in the landing of our newspaper dispatches. By this arrival we have four days later intelli gence than that brought by the American mail steam-ship Arctic on Wednesday last. We have to state that the health of the newly elected Vice-President King had considerably un proved, and that great hopes are now entertained of his recovery. In Congress nothing of interest had transpired, it having been arranged on the adjournment that no business of importance should be entertained till after the close of the year, the last week of which were usually kept as holidays. By the Africa we have news from California to the Ist, conveyed by the American steam-ship Uncle Sam. She reports that there was then on the way to the United States specie to the extent of nearly three millions in gold dust. The news from the mines continued to be very favourable, the rebuilding of the lately burned portion of the cities was progressing very fast. Business was good, but produce and other articles of import commanded high prices. Intelligence from the Sandwich Islands to the 6th of November had also reached New York by the same vessel. The news is, however, unim portant. From the West Indies we have also news via New York. From Jamaica, the dates are to the 22d of December. The island is re ported more healthy, and business unchanged. From Barbadoes we learn that the yellow fever is very prevalent, but business fair. Gore. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, 1853. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Business generally is reported to be very active. Money had been easier, and was abundant, and readily obtainable for all business purposes. Stocks were in good demand. United States Sixes, 1856, 1084 to 1 ; ditto 1167, 1191 to 120 ; ditto 1862, 1131 to 114 ; ditto Fives, 1865, 1071 to 108. EXOHANGE.—A fair business was done in Foreign Ex change for remittances by the Africa :—On England, 1094 to 110 ; France, 513 • Hamburgh, 364 to 37 ; Bremen, 80k; Amsterdam, 414 to I ; Antwerp, 5 13 1; Frankfort, 414. Corrox.—A middling business had been done in the Cotton markets of the Union between the sailing of the Arctic, on the 25th, and the Africa, on the 29th. The Canada's news from Liverpool of the 10th of December, which reported a decline of 4d. to id., had greatly de pressed the markets, and prices had declined nearly g upon all descriptions. The market on the departure of the Africa was very flat, and prices had still a downward tendency. The Asia's news of the 18th would probably improve its character, as she took out accounts of a rise of 4d. per lb. in cotton. BREADSTUFFS.—A very active business has been done both in the United States and Canada in flour, wheat, Indian corn, and Indian meal, in con sequence of the advanced prices and active markets in England, reports of which arrived out by the Canada from Liverpool, of Dec. 11. (Ile transactions have been large, except in flour, at advanced prices for export and speculation. It is stated that three firms at Rochester hold over 100,000 barrels of flour, upon which ss. per barrel will be, netted in the recent rise of prices. PROVISIONS.—A good business is going forward in the chief articles of provisions. Prime mess beef com mands from 9 to 10 dols. ; pork is in good request, with but small stocks. Holders are firm, and sales are par tially held for higher prices. Lard was in good demand; butter heavy ; cheese dull, at Bc. to 9c. ; hams, 10c. to 11c. _ IRON.—The market continues very steady, and prices firm. Scotch pig, 28 dols. to 28 dots. 50c. cash ; Eng lish bar, 65 dols. FREIGHTS.—In freights there is not much business doing. To Liverpool—Cotton, Id. per lb. ; flour, 3s. 3d. to 4s. ; grain, 11d. to 114 d. ; beef, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 9d. ; heavy goods per ton, 30s. to 355. WEST INDIA MAIL. THE YELLOW FEVER IN THE WEST INDIES. The Royal Mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain W. Vincent, arrived in Southampton on Saturday morning, at 11 a.m. bring the usual British and foreign West India; a.m., and Pacific mails, in charge of Commander Langton, Admiralty agent. The Magdalena had a long voyage out, and having been forced to put into Madeira by stress of weathr only reached St. Thomas' on the Bth December, and Kingston, Jamaica, on the 13th, nearly a week overdue. The homeward passage from St. Thomas' has occupied upwards of 17 days. We regret to state that the Magdalena has been very unhealthy during the voyag?, and has lost seven of the crew, one " distressed British sub ject," and two passengers from yellow fever ; the following being a return of the fatal cases : " Edward Biggs, seized on the 14th of December, at Kingston, Jamaica, with symptoms of a very severe character, which terminated in black vomit. Died Dec. 17. " G. Spanton, distressed British subject, received on board at St. Thomas', suffering from dysentery. Died Dec. 24. "C. W. Hahn, passenger, received on board the Magdalena on the 19th December, at St. Thomas', from the Trent, apparently in good health, but on the 20th was seized with evident symptoms of yellow fever, and, notwithstanding the assiduous care of Dr. Symonds, continued to sink till the 25th of December, whefi he died. " M`Carangedh, passenger, aged about 20.—This lady was also received from the Trent at St. Thomas' appa rently in good health, but on the 20th of December was labouring under yellow fever. Her mind was so in fluenced by fear that nothing could dispossess it of the apprehensions of death, and it was with the greatest dif ficulty she could be induced to adopt the measures pre scribed by Dr. Symonds for her relief. She died on the 26th of December. " R. F. Duke, purser of the ship, taken ill on the 23d of December. Was much alarmed, and the nervous sys tem appeared to have sustained a severe shock. His disease baffled every kind of treatment resorted to for its subjugation. Died Dec. 27. • "John Pillow, barman, taken ill December 25th.— Seemed completely under the influence of fear, and medicines appeared to be of no avail. Died Dec. 28. " Jane Machme, stewardess, taken ill on the 25th of December.—Fear seemed to be the chief element to contend with. Of all the organs the stomach seemed to be most affected and most difficult to deal with. Died Dec. 30. _ "`William Rider, AB., aged 30, taken ill December 28.—0 n the previous night, during the middle watch, the deceased, after getting wet through, imprudently laid down in his wet clothes and went to sleep with his head on the steam chest. The next day he was in a burning fever, but the seat of the disease seemed chiefly centred in the brain. He became quite idiotic, and died Jan. 3. " James Clarke, head waiter.—Constitution appeared shaken by the too frequent indulgence in ardent spirits, was taken ill December 26, and his disease assumed a form combining yellow fever with delirium, tremens. Died Jan. 7, at 1 a.m." The symptoms of seizure of nearly the whole of the above cases were identical, the patients when first taken complaining of violent headache, pains in the back, limbs, and lower extremities. Captain Vincent, the commander of the ship (among others) has had an attack of yellow fever on the voyage, from which he providentially recovered, and this, with the fearful mortality above given, caused a perfect gloom throughout the vessel for many days, which was only to a certain extent dispelled on his recovery. The prompt and skilful exertions of Mr. C. J. Symonds, the surgeon of the ship, are highly spoken of throughout the Whole of this trying voy age. The sailors and firemen of the Magdalena, with few exceptions, have continued very healthy, which is in a great measure attributable to their not being allowed to go on shore at St. Thomas's or Jamaica, and to indulge in excesses into whi c h too . frequently seamen in the West Indies plunge themselves, to the destruction of their constitutions and the hazard of their lives .in times of epidemic fever. _ _ _ _ _ Upon. the arrival of the Magdrgena this morning, she was at once visited by Mr. Wiblin and Dr. Harvey, the quarantine and deputy quarantine officers. The surgeon being questioned on oath, and having declared that the last 'case of yellow fever occurred on the 26th ult., and the last death on the 28th, and these dates being more than ten days since, pratique was instantly granted, and the mails and passengers landed. Another death took place on Saturday evening after the vessel had been granted pratique, Mr. Brewer, the chief steward, having breathed his last. His malady was bilious or yellow fever, previous to which, however, he sustained a severe accident. Among the deaths on board the company's ships in the West Indies, reported by this packet, are those of Mr. Jones, hief officer of the Dee ; Mr. Os borne, chief officer of the Esk (a nephew of Captain Chappell, R.N., secretary of the company) ; Mr. Kergeaven, fourth officer of the Conway ; the chief engineer of the Dee, and two engineers of the Thames, names unknown. The Demerara Royal Gazette, on the subject of the mortality among the shipping from fever, says " The daily mortality among seamen must press some remedial measure upon the Government. Our merchant ships lie in the stream of a tidal river, exposed to the hourly contami na ti on of the filth of a filthy city. The deposit under our wharves gives it at all times an im pure effluvium ; coupled with hot berths on board, heavy night dews, a little intemperance, and the annoyance of musvitoes, there is no wonder that this tropical scourge sets its seal on so many of our unfortunate seamen.' The garrison, like the city, is comparatively quite healthy." From Barbadoes we learn that the yellow fever had not ceased its ravages, and the death of Colonel O'Brien is reported by this mail. The West Indian of the 4th ult. stat 3s : " With sincere regret we hear that the mortality among the officers and men landed from her Majesty's ship Dauntless continues to a dreadful extent. Since the death of Mr. Flood, the first Lieutenant, the fever has carried off three more officers (making 13 officers in all), viz., Mr. Crispin, midshipman ; Mr. Kent, second lieutenant ; and Mr. Davis, third engineer, and several seamen. Additional cases of a severe typo are brought on shore daily.': The latest reports of the state of the Dauntless mention that'her crew were still very sickly, and she had lost 13 officers and 60 men. "About 110 men of the crew had been landed and placed under canvas on the ground aback of the Brick Barracks at St. Ann's. It has been the misfortune also of the mail steam-ship Great Western to have had yellow ever among her crew for some time past, and she had lately lost her second officer, Lieutenant R. Dudman, from that malady, and since her arrival in Carlisle Bay from Demerara several of the crew were reported ill. The troops of the garrison were still under canvas, and reported in good health." St. Thomas' was very sickly, but the fever was chiefly confined to the shipping. The island of Grenada continued healthy. Mr. Holligan, who had been suffering from yellow fever at Barbadoes, had resigned the office of Attorney-General of Gre nada. St. Vincent also continued free from disease, and the Ist of December was observed as a day of general humiliation and thank sg i v i ng f or thi s merci ful preservation. From Martinique we have papers of the latest dates. The yellow fever . still pre vailed in that island. From Guadalope we have received L'Av enir (Pointe h Pitre paper) to the 4th of December. The yellow fever had committed sad havoc among the officers and soldiers of the garrison of that town. It has been forbidden by a Government order for persons to be in the str ee t s of any of the towns after 11 o'clock at night, and all taverns and grog-shops are to be closed at 10. The Admiral was at Trinidad in the Cumberland on the 14th of December. On the morning of the 28th of November a pro nunciamento took place at Tampico, and was effected without bloodshed, the civil governor be ing deposed and driven out. The new authorities had issued a decree reducing the export duty on specie two per cent. The whole country, with the exception of the cities of Mexico and Vera Cruz, was reported to be in a state of insurrection. There appeared to be a general feeling throughout the re public in favour of a reduction of import duties, and also of the duty on circulation, which is three per cent. from town to town. THE FRENCH EMPIRE. The Moniteur announces the official reception at the Tuileries of the Tuscan, Baden, and Hanove rian Ministers. The same paper mentions, too, that M.Kisselef, who hitherto held only the station of privy councillor on extraordinary mission, charged with the direction of the Russian embassy, has received the title of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the Grand Duchy of Baden. The following electoral colleges are convoked for the 30th January, in consequence of vacancies oc casioned by one cause or another :—Basses Alpes, Cotes du Nord, Eure et Loir, Gard, Ille et Vilaine, Mayenne, Oise, and Bas Rhin. Captain Belvege is appointed chief of the naval division at Newfoundland, and Captains Clavaux and d'Ubrage receive seats at the Board of Ad miralty. Authority is given for the holding of Synods, metropolitan and diocesan. The ... death of Madiai, the martyr, of Florence, is announced by the Opinione, of Turin, in terms of just reprobation for the bigotted Grand Duke and his Government, which, it is needless to say, no Paris journal dare reproduce. The Turkish Ambassador has received his cre dentials. Abd-el-Kader has received permission, at the request of the French Ambassador, to go to Constantinople, to have an audience of the Sultan. The grand ball to be given to the Emperor by the Senate, is fixed for the 25th inst. Preparations on a grand scale are being made for this event at the Palace of Luxembourg._ . The Pays has a long article on the recent depres sion in the public securities. The object of this ar ticle is to show that the depression is neither to be attributed to a want of confidence in the Govern ment, which, says the Pays, is the strongest that has ever existed in France, nor to the state of the finances, which it represents as exceedingly bril liant. There is riot, according to the Pays, the slightest political cause for the fall, which it de clares is to be traced to over speculation. The Aithassado2s of Bavaria and .Wurtemberg have presented their credenfals to the EmPeron They coiduc:;ed in the carriages belonging to the Court, and accompanied by the Introducer of Ambassadors, by w:Aom they were presented to the Emperor. It is believed that the disappointment with re spect to the hit cess Carols. Vasa was near costing the French Minister (M. de Lacour) his place. It appears that the diplomatic agent was, to the last moment, unacquainted with the unfavourable turn matters had taken, and of the probability of the preferred suitor being Prince Albert of Saxony. A letter from Vienna received in Paris mentions that a person connected with the German Court wrote, about two months since, to the F renc h Minister at Vienna, in order to warn him of what was going on, but that, owing to some unfo r t una t e accident, or, as is also alleged, by design s the letter did not reach its destination. The matter was managed with so much caution and secrecy that the party most interested was not aware of the fact, and the French Minister rennined t o the last persua d e d that the Princess Vasa was to be the future Em press of the French. - By private letters received from Brussels, it is stated that the Belgian Minister of War has given notice to the French officers in the service of that country that they will receive permission to return to France with a peasion for past services. There is an exception made in the case of those who have become naturalised Belgians, and who are allowed to remain in the servic e . I t will be remembered that a similar measure wa s a d opted some time since with reference to the Polish officers in the same service. The Emperor seems determined that people shall is be gay. , The political worldentering on the season of balls and fetes. Each Mi n i s t er will give a ball, in conformity with th e expressed wishes of the Emperor, and each will gi ve thea '''anouet. The Minister of Finance has had precedence, as is but just. He had given a dinner i I nner to upwards of 50 guests. Most of the and there was a v• - ::y fair Ministers were prase it, Sprinkling of Senators, D of State, and members of e mt p h u me ti rs. es ßei , pl - oc n omr d adto C inc o c u an n odrp cill ps o .u rs gand, Protestant minis costs, by the Tri bunal of Troyes, for havin ters, sentenced to 1 6 f. fine and 6. made part, as chiefs and directors, of an association of upwards of 20 persons, who assembled on sta:;ed d a y s , a t E s ti s sac, for religious purposes , appealed against, that de cision f Paris. On Satur daythe to the when their advocate, M. Berthelin, stated that the persons who composed the meeting were bond fide Pro testants, that the two ministers had been invested by the General Consistory of Meaux with the necessary powers, and that the community had been actually i ns t a ll e d by the authorities in the hall of one of the municipal buildings. When ' the new mayor was appointed, in 1852, they had been deprived of the use of that hall, and obliged to remove to the house of a carpenter, named Solay, where they continued to meet until the 13th June, when the prefect of the department ordered their meeting place to be closed. M. Gaujal, the Attor ney-General, defended the decision of the Court of Troyes, contending that those Protestants were Socialists, who assumed the mask of religion to disguise their subversive designs, and that the prin ciple of freedom of conscience had nothing to do in the case. The Imperial Court rejected the appeal, and confirmed the decision of the first judges. Among the recent cases tried at the Correctional Police Court of Paris for language offensive to the Emperor, was one charge against a man of having called Louis Napoleon "Boustrapp,." The Court was at first exceedingly puzzled to know the meaning of that strange term applied to His Majesty, and which, it was thought must conceal some formidable menace against the Chief of the State. It was however, at last explained thus--Bou, meant Bou logne ; Stra, Strasburgh ; Pa, Paris—and was sug gestive of the three important events in the career of the Prince. Another case was that of a man who had in some wine-house, and before some person, drawn lines with a knife across the effigy of the Emperor on a sf. piece. As the line was drawn across the neck, the act was taken as expressive of malicious motives or designs. SPAIN.. Our dispatches from Madrid, of the 4th instant, state that the Moderate opposition electoral cora mi%tee had diminished in number to 54 ; it was, in conjunction with the Pr o g ressist committee,. about to try the question of the legality of the steps taken against them by the authorities, in order to prove whether the responsibility of the agents of Govern ment was, real or not.. r A decree on the press of a somewhat liberal nature was about to appear. Madrid Bourse, Jan. 4.—The Three per Cents., 421; Deferred, 23i ; Exchange on London, 51 paper. Private letters from Madrid, dated the 4th, state that the Government had submitted to the Supreme Council of War and Marine an expOstulation ad dressed by General Narvaez to the Queen on the subject of the mock mission which has served as a pretext for exiling him from Spain ; and that the opinion of the Council has been asked as to whether the writer may, not be prosecuted criminally for the language made use of in that document. The General is residing at Biarritz, near Bayonne, in the house of a friend. It was still doubted whether the Cabinet would last till the elections. The civil governors of pro vinces have been consulted as to the feelings of the country, and as to the probability of the Govern ment having a majority in the Chamber of Depu ties. If the contrary be shown, it is thought the Ministers will retire. • GERMANY. On the 7th instant the Second Chamber was en gaged in the election of its president. Two scru tinies not having given the majority to any of the candidates, a third was taken, and produced 154 votes for the Count de Schwerin, and the same number for M. de Kliest Rezow. The question was settled by ballot in favour of the count, who announced his acceptance of the office. A letter from the Baltic, in the Cologne Gazette, states that the Grand Duke of Oldenburgh has not assented to the treaty of Warsaw, but that on the contrary he has expressly reserved his hereditary rights so far as relatei to the duchies. MR. _FARADAY'S JUVENILE LECTURES AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. The closing lecture of the series was delivered on Saturday to a very large assembly of young persons and adults. A considerable portion of the course having • been occupied with illustrations of the action of the atmosphere upon such bodies as carbon and hydrogen, on this occasion the lecturer confined his remarks and experiments on that subject. The combustibility of sulphur and of phosphorus was clearly exhibited, the former being connected for that purpose with charcoal, and the experiments terminated with the action of oxygen on both substances, as being, in its pure state, the most powerful instrument of combustion. This was the old story over again, Mr. Faraday observed ; but the ques tions put to him at the close of the lecture showed that it was impossible to repeat it too frequently. The im portance of phosphorus was shown as an element in the fabric of the human body, and its necessary pre sence in the vegetable kingdom, in order to replace ani mal waste. Great stress was laid upon chemical affi nity as the source of many of the operations which were constantly taking place around us, and this was amply illustrated by examples. Sulphuric acid was now intro duced as the strongest of what are termed the acid powers, formed by the union of sulphur with oxygen as the largest other ingredient. To show the strength of this substance, a blue liquid in a large bottle was by the application of one or two drops of the acid changed into a red one. With the same view was exhibited the influ ence of sulphuric acid in destroying ammonia and in charring wood. A few drops of the acid were also poured upon some syrup of sugar, which in a few seconds as sumed the shape of a black and almost solid mass. Thus it was observed, by means of chemistry, they gained a knowledge of the wonderful powers of sulphuric acid, composed of an inert and apparently indifferent substance called sulphur, and of another inert and apparently indif ferent substance called oxygen. Separately these appeared incapable of exercising any important influence, but their mighty powers were developed by chemical affinity. He then proceeded to speak of the metals. They were, he said, thirty or forty in number, including some of the strongest bodies in nature, and were all elementary, and all, apparently at least, opaque. B u t w h a t h e c hi e fl y desired to show was their combustibility. Iron was a very combustible substance ; so combustible that but for one little circumstance, the Crystal Palace would have burnt down spont aneous ly, i n consequence of the share which iron had in its composition. The combustibility of zinc was then shown by experiment ; some shreds of that metal, in the form of a tassel, when placed in ajar of oxygen burning like paper. The combustibility of iron was illustrated by the friction of steel. Copper and tin were burnt at a small charcoal furnace. Antimony, after burning for some time at the same. furnace, was thrown down upon a white frame which lay upon the floor, where it continued to burn in globules until all was consumed. A similar experiment was performed with iron. The ques tion might be asked, said the lecturer, why, if these metals were so combustible, they were not used as fuel? The an swer to that question illustrated the extraordinary diver sity which existed in nature. Such bodies as carbon, when burnt, produced substances of a volatile nature, which mingled with the atmosphere ; but as soon as burning metals had cooled they assumed a condensed and even solid form ; so that lead for example, after be ing consumed left behind it, in the form of oxide of lead, a substance weighing more than the original one. This was proved by experiment ; and to show one of the uses of oxide of lead, the lecturer exhibited a piece of glass about an inch thick, two-thirds of which, he said, were composed of that substance. Mr. Faraday terminated his interesting expositions by expressing a hope that what his juvenile hearers had heard, would prove the foundation of a careful and progressive acquaintance with the science of chemistry ; a hope which seemed to be borne out by the rush instantly made to the appara tus, and the thronging of fifty eager young inquirers around the lecturer. DEATH OF MR. EDWARD SEGUlN.—lnte4ligence has been received of the death of Mr. Edward Seguin, at New York. This young vocalist was one of the earliest pupils of the Royal Academy of Music in Hanover square, where he distinguished himself very considerably. He made his debut at her Majesty's Theatre, in Crima rosa's opera of "Il Matrimonio Segreto," in which, even by the side of Lablache, his voice and style created for him not only a highly flattering reception, but also led to a call at the close of the opera. Subsequently his services were retained by Mr. Bunn for Drury-lane, where he again distinguished himself in "La Sonnam bula," " Gustavus," and many other operas, in which he played in conjunction with Madame Malibran. Mr. Bunn's operatic experiments at this period did not receive much encouragement, and as favourable overtures were made to Mr. Seguin for himself and his wife (formerly Miss Childe, a pupil of the Royal Academy of Music) from America, they left about 14 years since. The suc cess of Mr. and Mrs. Seguin during their sojourn in America was highly satisfactory, the widow, with four children, being left in very comfortable circumstances. VICTIMISING THE YANKEES.—There has recently been arrested near St. Louis, United States, a man calling himself Houghton, who had a short time before victimised some wealthy citizens of Bloomington, Illinois, out of about 50,000 dollars, under the pretence that he was a wealthy gentleman from Leeds, England, and was about to establish a bank there under the new banking law of the state. A large portion of the property has been re covered. He had pursued his business in many places, with much skill and address, for some time. BRITISH AND FOREIGN SHIPPING.—Although the com parative statement of the number of ships, both British and foreign, which entered inwards and cleared outwards with cargo from and to places within the limits of the East India Company's charter, in the years 1851 and 1852, issued on Friday by the London East India and China Association, exhibits an aggregate increase of 40 ships inward in 1852 as compared with the year 1851, it must be borne in mind that this return for 1852 includes no fewer than 97 foreign ships, whilst the return for 1851 is confined to British ships exclusively ; deducting, there fore, the excess of 40 from 97, there is an actual decrease of 57 British ships inwards in the year 1852, as compared witli 1851. As regards the ships cleared outwards, the year 1852 shows an increase of 155 as compared with 1851 ; but as this latter was a year in which the decrease, as compared with its predecessor, 1850, amounted to 222 ships, to have recovered but 155 out of a loss of 222 shows a decrease, as compared with 1850, of 67 ; to which add the inclusion, now for the first time, of foreign ships, in number 61, and we have a diminution in British ship ping outwards of 128 ships. What would have been the deficiency, but for the attraction to Australia (the in crease to that one destination being no less . than 230 ships) it is easy to estimate. REPORTED DEATH OF M. MADIAL—TIiC Florence correspondent of the Opinions of Turin writes that Fran cesco Madiai has died in the prison into which he was cast for reading the Bible with his family and friends. FIRE AT GREAT TEY.—APPREHENSION OF THE SUP POSED INCENDIARIES.—On Saturday evening last, about half-past seven, a fire broke out at Buckles Farm, Great Tey, the property of the late Rev. James Brown, and occupied by Mr. W. Kemp. Immediately on receiving intelligence of the outbreak, Mr. D. Leaper, the Cogges hall agent of the Essex Equitable Fire Office, proceeded with an engine to the scene of conflagration, and, with a good supply of water at hand, was' able to preserve the dwelling-house, stabling, cow-house, granary, gig -house, and piggeries from destruction. The property consumed consisted of a barn (at the back part of which the fire originated), two cattle sheds, stacks of wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, and hay ; six loads of threshed and unthreshed wheat in the barn were partly consumed ; and the barn utensils, including a threshing and dressing machine, were also destroyed. Suspicions attaching to two young labourers, named George Breed and Alfred Carey, from Coggeshall, they were at once apprehended. On Monday the prisoners were brought up at the County Magistrate's Office, and were remanded till Monday. The only motive that can be assigned for the act is the fact of Mr. Kemp having had a threshing machine at work on his farm.—Essex Standard. THE QUART AND PINT BOTTLE QUESTION.—On Satur day, at the Brentford Petty Sessions, William Bayliss, landlord of the Railway Hotel, at Twickenham, appeared to answer an information laid by the Inspector of Weights and Measures for selling a certain quantity of beer in quart and pint bottles which were not of the imperial measure. Evidence was given of the purchase at the defendant's hotel of bottles of the usual size, commonly called quart and pint bottl es , an d it was alleged that th e law had been infringed by reason of these bottles not holding full quarts a n d pi n t s. Th e b ench said, ashune dreds of people with th e i r eyes w i de open were in the habit of purchasin g th ese b o ttl es, well knowing the g hey did not contain the f u ll measure , th ey s h ou l d not convict the defendant. The agents of the brewers who supplied the publicans were the parties i n f au lt, if any, and theref ore the present information must be dismissed, LITERATURE. Broornhill ; or, the County Beauties. 3 vols. Colburn. There is something very attractive about this novel ; it is simply narrated without affectation or display—its purport being to chronicle the spring time of two, fair sisters, who "grew in beauty side by side" in the shelter of their country house. From that peaceful retreat they passed into the troubled scene of society, where their 'careers were singularly unfortunate. Ellen the elder had, in deed, finished her brief role as young lady before Flora was introduced. , It would . have been f ar better for both, sisters to have appeared together, as many mistakes might not have been committed by them had they thus acted. Ellen was deceived by a most despicable character, who was actually engaged to his cousin, while he trifled with the , affections of the fair Miss Mulcaster. Subse quently, excited and maddened at the idea of ap pearing to wear the willow for such a man, Ellen was married to an old friend and playfellow, in spite 'of the entreaties of-her friends ; she was unhappy and dejected, conscious she had neglected her duties, and at last sunk into an early grave. In the bloom of youth and loveliness she was laid to rest in the stately halls of Caversham, amid her husband's ancestors. Flora was nearly broken hearted at losing her only tie to life, but time at last soothed her grief. The character of this heroine is by far the most pleasing of the two ; she has more energy, gaiety, and brilliancy about her manner ; likewise she had better feelings and higher principles than her unfortunate sister. Both lovely to an unusual degree, —both surrounded by ad mirers, pouring into their young, inexperienced minds every species of false praise and insincere adoration, without a relative to counsel, or a friend to advise,—their position was very trying. In the balance, however, the youngest was not found want ing, while the eldest was, with all her haughtiness, very vain, and quite aware of her own value. With different circumstances Ellen•might have done well, but it was Flora's triumph to make the best of all that happened to her. The former sunk under the world's_ trials, and yielded to its temptations ; the latter had faith to endure her afilictions, and spirit to rise and overcome all difficulties. Her lot was as painful as her sister's ; for many years she had to encounter misunderstandings on all sides ; death did not snatch her from the scene of her labours ; she had her work to finish, and it was not, till nearly ten years after our first meeting her as a gay, light-hearted girl that any prospect of peace is offered to her. The most agreeable part of the story is, perhaps, the episode of the aunt of the sisters, Mrs. Tronbridge, who had brought them up from infancy, at their grandfather's estate. She had been engaged in early youth to a favourite friend of her father's, but owing to the young man's godmother not leaving him her property, as had been anticipated, the relentless Mr. Henea g e refused to allow any further intercourse. Twenty years passed away, the father had long since been consigned to his family vault ; the sorrowing and disappointed Mar garet yet led a single life, when her faithful and at tached lover at last returned. It was a struggle to the affectionate aunt to leave her nieces, but at last she yielded, and departed for India, whither they were compelled to return, in consequence of a bank failing in which Mr. Tronbridge had placed his money. The character of Cecil is very well given, likewise his brother deserves approbation ; it is to be feared that there are many to serve as proto types to Lord Allwyn Conyers, thoughtless, un principled, and reckless, was really designing evil, perhaps, but perfectly indifferent when it does re sult from their actions. On the whole, few can fail to be interested in the perusal of these volumes, for their heroines are not fabled houris, or emanations of a poet's dream, but life-like creatures, whose lot is cast in the world around us. Many such may be seen daily in our paths, if we except their sur passing loveliness, for it is an acknowledged fact that, when the novelist would pourtray the beauty of the face, he best succeeds who draws inspirations from imaginings ; but when lie would describe the sorrow of the heart, reality will afford the best suggestions, forthe experience of every age attests that, while many may doubt the vraisembla,nce of beauty, none will deny the truth and sober earnestness of suffering : " We must devote a few lines of description to the lovely creature now standing before us. Sho was plainly dressed in white, though the elaborate simplicity and per fect freshness of her toilet displayed more foreign than English taste. The corsage a tenfant showed the long and slender waist to great advantage ; and the bright (carlet opera cloak, as she held it negligently round her, con trasted well with the snowy neck, the soft and alomst transparently pale complexion, with but a faint tinge of colour on the rounded cheek. Every feature was faultless : the low forehead, the nose and chin, chiselled as though modelled by a Grecian sculptor, accorded well with the curved and haughty upper lip. When in repose, beautiful as was the face, the expression of the mouth was hardly pleasing until she spoke or smiled, and then it changed to one of extreme softness and gentleness. " We must now describe, as concisely as possible, our favourite Flora. If one sister was a perfect specimen of a brunette, the other was as completely a blonde ; no one could look at her and for a moment mistake the country and nation whose child she was. Her features were not so faultless as her sister's ; they could hardly indeed bear a comparison with them. Still, though the nose might not be Grecian, and the forehead a shade too high, the sweet ness of the well-cut mouth, dimpled chin, and bright coral lips ever beamiir , with smiles, and the joyous light of eyes of that rare shade of veritable turquoise blue, constituted Flora an undoubted beauty, without the addition of the brilliant pink and white complexion, and clouds of golden ringlets, which, curling,.naturally increased her resem blance to the celestial beings the old artists so delighted in pourtraying." Reginald Selwyn, ; or, Lights and Shadows of Lite rary Life. By Alex. H. P. Girvan. Saunders and Otley. After a perusal of the first few pages of Mr. Gir van's production, which posesses considerable merit, it is impossible not to feel a strong desire to devour the contents of the whole; the' reader is led on by an irresistible impulse from chapter to chapter, so great is the interest felt in the adventures of the hero. The author avows in the preface that his object in publishing the work is to strip the literary profession of some of the absurd illusions with which it is often invested by those who are ignorant of a writer's struggles and vicissitudes, with the view of inducing the young and ambitious not to relin quish certain and remunerative employment for the precarious livelihood derivable from letters. Reginald Selwyn is a young man of refined percep tions and cultivated mind. He has been brought up under the fostering care of a friend of his de ceased father—a Mr. Merton, who, not succeeding in his profession as an advocate, has retired to a small secluded village on the sea coast. He has a pretty daughter, called Cecilia, and it is almost .eediess to add, that the two juveniles become ar- dent lovers, and that their election for each other strengthens with their growth. An inward con sciousness of superior mental faculties, combined with the applause which a maiden speech had elicited in a discussion society, unfortunately in duced Selwyn to select the calling of an author for his advancement in life ; and neither the persuasion. of his guardian nor the tears of Cecilia could alter his determination. So after many blessings from Mr. Merton, and professions of endearment by Cecilia, lie pro ceeds to London, buoyed up by the brilliant prospect which he conceived would open to him. He reaches that universal haven of strugglinggenius, aftermany discouraging reverses obtains literary employment at the magnificent remuneration of 2/. a-week. Proud of his good fortune, he visits his native village with the inten tion of claiming the hand of Cecilia, but lie finds that he has been supplanted there by a beau from town, a Mr. Villiers, who bears the reputation of being rich and well connected. Selwyn returns to London in the gloomiest of moods. The next event in his life is certainly somewhat startling. On his way to his lodgings one night he hears the pitiable cry of a female—he runs down a squalid, dirty street, inhabited by the refuse of the neigh bourhood, and there discovers an unfortunate creature, who had been turned out o f h er l o d g i ngs , belly , ill-used by a baud of int ox i ca t e d an d in furiated wretches. He releases her from their grasp, and subsequently discovers that she is his mother, whom ho had long supposed was dead. H . e rescues her from her degradation, and pl aces her under his own roof. To add to his misery h e is thrown out of employment. His motheradourens_ him with an intensity w hi c h isi a ale,edmes. Thatt unnatura o I,f and, in order to relieve his anxiety, endeavours to otis thain in tafil ess o b f ot m h i b n y d, th a e ri a s i i d ng of f l r i o e n r n consciousnessacieredhd ea t t ul. h -- , ekror which cannot be w ip e d away cessant labour, soon mad e inroads upon h d and the body soon yi e ld e d up its spirit,t. Selwyn is once more thrown f r i en dl ess on the world. is on the point of committing suicide He when fortune begins to smile th roug h the murky cloud that seemed to hang around his future A play that he ° f one had long ago w r itt en, and a cepted by the manager lmost. of for th gotten, is ac e West-end theatres. H e i s present when the production is first submitted to thelpufblic ; it is s uccess f u l, an d the author i s called sooner does he than s t i h ic e audience i s startledbyle a h ore the curtain ; b u t n o make is no oth er than Cecilia, who, being overcome by the sudden recognition of her former lover, swoons away in one of the boxes. Selwyn renews the intimacy so long broken, and learns that sh e b ecame t h e w i fe o f Mr. Villiers, who sadly neglected her, and who had died from the effects of dissipation, leaving behind liemediaesss tom all property, w hi c h s h e inherited. It is needless say that Selwyn and Mrs. Villiers it wasbec.onohme husband and wife. His happiness appeared then of brief almost reached its climax • but to have Pt "~: h rikest., duration. The lady dies, and Selwyn s ee his agonised feelings by engaging in a lif e . s ment. The income of his wife havin g p t ,' . him, he enters Parliament, and becomes an e ir , orator and practised debater ; and, enventulyTatV rISZAV , a - ''' Minister of the Crown. His attainments make him an object of attraction in the gay assemblies of the aristocracy. Lady Emily Davenport, a beautiful and rich widow, looks upon him with a more than favourable eye, notwithstanding the claims of the wealthy and titled lovers who throng around her. Selwyn also secretly entertains a passion for the fascinating widow, and by accident they become aware of their mutual affection for each other. The result, of course, is a matrimonial alliance. Though some may be disposed to think that the good for tune of the hero militates againEit the professed object of the book, no one will deny that his trials and misfortunes are enough to damp the most ardent spirit, and to lay prostrate the most robust frame. All those who would wish to get an insight into the " ups and downs" of literary life, cannot do better than peruse this last new novel. Musical Directory, Register, and Almanack, and Royal Academy of Music Calendar, for 1853. This is one of the most complete and comprehen sive little annuals which has come under our notice. Addressed to and compiled for the musical world, it contains, in a neat compact form, almost every species of the information which can be useful or interesting to the professional or amateur. The most_prominent of its contents are a history of the Royal Academy of Music, with a list of all its professors and associates, and of all the students who have received their instruction in the institu tion, a list of musical societies throughout the kingdom, a register of music published during the year 1852 ; and, finally, a list of all music a l profes sors, musical instrument makers and music sellers throughout the kingdom. Besides the usual feast days and holidays, the calendar contains the dates of notable musical events, and the births and deaths of eminent distinguished men. Considerable in dustry has been evidently called for in the compila tion of such a mass of information, perfect and co pious in every branch ; and the arrangement is so convenient, that reference can be made at once to any point without the slightest difficulty. We have not the least doubt that this little work will meet with the success it deserves, and that in course of time it will become a perfect library of reference in musical matters. Lit er 7,twe; es 4,, • - . Vic+~► SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCLX. ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-FOURTH DERBY. In the last number of the notes I gave a full, true, and particular account, in all but two respects, of the gem of Scott's lot ; of whom, however, I forgot to state, that he possesses remarkably fine strong quarters ; is, to use a peculiar sporting phrase, "as long as a town ; " and has most superb action. He is in excellent health, and doing slow work. I will now proceed to a consideration of the others in this potent stable. Mr. Jaques's ch. c. iIIIRWORTII, by Irish Birdcatcher out of the Wasp (Neasham's dam), by Muley Moloch, dam by Emilius out of Bee-in-a-bonnet, by Blacklock, was purchased some time since by his present owner of Mr. Wilkinson—the breeder and nominator—for a stiffish sum. He has not been exposed to the public gaze as yet ; nor will he be before the Derby day. His name was mentioned for the first time in connexion with the great Epsom event at " the Corner " on the 21st of last June, when 25 to 1 was booked by a gentleman , who, if he had not been so ver y m o d es t i n his demand, might have obtained 1,000 to 30. He has been backed, but not to any extent, at prices fluctuating between 33 and 25 to 1, off and on, ever since. Latterly, he has been inquired after by several of the "knowing ones," but little business has been done, however, in consequence of the price not being long enou g h. Al though I cannot, at the present time, believe that he is equal to the task set him on the 25th of May, yet I can affirm turn, if he trains on all right, that he will out to be at least on a par, if not superior to his half-brother, Neasham, in his best day. He is a remarkably strong slashing animal, and goes free as air. He is doing fair work, considering the time of year ; and barring his legs, which I am afraid will not stand a very severe pre paration, is one of the finest-looking animals engaged in the Derby. Mr. John Scott's b c ROSENFELD, by Sleight-of-hand, out of Leaconfield's dam, has not run in public hitherto, nor is there much chance, I believe, of his doing so in "the good tiine coming." Mr. Harrison is the proprietor of a couple of well-bred animals—b. c. DRUM MAJOR,. by Melbourne, out of Giselle, by Emilius ; and b. c. HEADY, , by Melbourne out of Susan, by Elis—from both of whom nothing sa tisfactory is expected in the Derby fray. Lord Londesborough's ch. c . T HE MAYOR OF HULL, by Shawn Buidhe out of Zulima, was purchased between three and four months ago of the nominator, Mr. Co nolly, and on the Sunday (!) evening preceding the New iii.rket Houghton Meeting, Ms name was quoted for the first time in the odds—his noble owner, I believe, book ins 5,0001. to 1001. The Mayor is a:somewhat showy looking horse, and may possibly achieve some triumphs in the handicap department, but is not the sort of animal to don the Epsom laurels. He may start for the Derby all probability that will be his first race—but I am confident it will be to no purpose. Mr. Nicholl's bl. f. HONEY -DEW, by Touchstone out of Beeswing, by Doctor Syntax, dam by Ardrossan, out of Lady Eliza, notwithstanding her splendid pedigree, will, lam afraid, never be of much service. She has not exhibited her beauties to the vulgar eye as yet, and I entertain just a diminutive idea she never will ; or if she does stand training, it will only be for a short period— at least such is the opinion of _ _ _ THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. RACING FIXTI FEBE Nottingham Spring Hereford Carmarthenshire Hunt. Liverpool Spring... Doncaster Spring... Salisbury Warwick Spring Croxton Park Epsom Spring Nqwmarket Craven . 11 Chester 3 Newmarket Sec Sp lO Liverpool Hunt ll Shrewsbury • . Ju Newton 2 ATot 7 Hmpton l5 B verley, Hull, &c l5 JIJ Newmarket. Worcester.. Carlisle (3). Liverpool... AUG .... 5 8 9 Brighton Brighton Club.... Wolverhampton . North Staffordshire... Reading • York ....... 24 .24 or 25 ...... 29 ....... 30 SEPT: Warwick 6 D9ncmter Bedford Leicester Lanark .................... 2L Manchester........ 22 Newmarket F. 0....... 27 Northallerton .. 29 OCTOBER. Chester Autumn 4 Richmond. I Newmarket S. 0 lO Newmarket. ........ -• . 19 ........... 24 NOVEMBER. Worcester 1 Warwick Autumn, ..... 16 Epsom Autumn 3 Shrewsbury ....... Cowbridge Hunt,,....., 9 Aberystwith ..... ..... L ... 23 ast week Liverpool Autumn 9 Epsom Newton Hereford Carmarthen Liverpool .. Doncaste r., liirkha m ... Abergavenny.. Cheltenham.... S TEMPLE JAND . ...... 19 1 ....... 26 I FEBIII ...... 18 1 MA] CHASES. fARY. Oundle ..................... 28 .tTARY. Coventry •• • . 23 XH. Wetherby Chipping Norton Birmingham . 11 . 15 • 28 APRIL. 1 I Epsom 5 Liverpool Hunt NOVEMBER Cowbridge Hunt t irßnoou yrakonoefrl k‘si re en, set Thousand them selves A. GRATIFYING SIGN OF THE TIMES.--One of of w t i li t : most hopeful signs of the present age is the instruction of The G ein Ryase r 1 which the most exalted persons in the c o un try their leisure moments to the intellectual Prince Albert's the humbler classes of the people.• n of all nations, European Lectures, for the ins c thetruGremat Exhibition, of in . . fauill devote found an eloquent voice among he at first of his Ewbhriicnhgh,oisn,RionyaDl Devonshire, before ear,,s last, eared as a lec turer working e tailors of out of Lord Goderich thatss il w : lBg la t b h o e urs on of n ti o t r e . Scotland, and the Earl f ~ or d er to teach mech ani cs of what importance it in _ . 4x Carlisle, ks ego, Lord John Russell app to cultivate • oofkfiAnHgreagyplltieh:sphleould be carried _effectively. and improve the Hull sed world ;and last poetical and literary tastes of the working classes. Only a few wee withe a learnedv tohueited wonders make t c o ordero f 0 f t h ta' Warren, Esq the in London con turer in Leeds ; the week ..y ~ the well-known au- Q.C., anticipated his lab turing for upwards of three we ek vkeiral yn t h te e ours as criminal j d b • u ge y lee the Hull Literary ree hours before the members of intellectual dev 1 and philosophical e opulent of Society, upon the vertiaer.the present age.—ffull Ad- ME f;, . „. RES FOR 1853. ,TIARY Coventry Spring 22 Kiplin Coates Leamington Catterick Bridge Northampton (2) Abergavenny 'RIL. York Spring Malton Newmarket F. S Bath Manchester (3) Epsom Bibury Stockbridge. Winchester Newcastle fStamford Nottingham Goodwood ... 17 - 28 ... 29 ... 30 ... 18 .... 24 Radcliffe Derby ... Eccles.... Lichfield. 22 . 23 . 24 . 28 ;MBER.