The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-24 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLocit. Advices from Liverpool state that the Cotton E Market yesterday closed firmly, but quietly, and prices of all descriptions were without any ma- SL terial alteration. The sales were estimated at 25 7,000 bales, of which 500 were taken on s patula- 25 Con. The Railway Share Market manifested a St. dull appearance, and prices tended downwards. st. s The colonial produce markets have opene d rather o t. quietly this week, but most of the principal staples 20 are in good request at full rates. H olders of sugar TI are firm and evince no dispositio n to press sales. 10 Tea is quiet, and the determination of Sir G. C. 50 Lewis not to modify his scale of duties has had :t5 ~ little effect on prices. The current values of most 20 of the other articles are maintained with firmness. .S . t. Messrs. Smith and Charles' tallow circular, dated last evening, states : 25 "The market opened steadily this morning at 675. for St. March, and 555. for April and June. Later in the day the 20 market was rather easier, and left off for Y.C. for March, 10 665. 6d. ; April, 60s. 6d. ' • April and June, 555. (buyers) ; St. October and December, 535. to 533. 6d. The trade has bought very sparingly during the past week. Tho price of all other descriptions being much below that of Y.C., the consumption is supplied from them." There is no new feature to report in connection with the money market. The inquiry continues active, and there is not likely to be any relaxation until after the 4th proximo, when a heavy mass of commercial paper will have to be met. The full charge of 6 per cent. is in most cases demanded, but no difficulty is found in ob taining accommodation, the market being well supplied. It is still expected that an improvement will soon take place, and even the Russian railway project is not considered so discouraging a contin gency as at first, because the payments on account of capital are to extend over a period of 10 Years.. The yearly subscription is little over four millions sterling, which, divided among five countries, viz., Russia, England, France, Holland, and Prussia will not create such a depress ing effect as nlanyimagine. There can be no doubt that it will be _undertaken, as the concessionaires themselves..are!infludntial.enough - to support it in the first instance if necessary, and await a favour able opportunity for inviting public subscription. At the meeting of the Londonderry and Ennis killen Railway Company, just held, a report was read showing a disposable balance of 5,527/. 15s. Bd., after payment of interest on Government loans and ordinary debentures and temporary loans, which sum would be sufficient for the payment of the 3 per Cent. on the 101. shares, and to pay a dividend of ss. each, or 4 per Cent. per annum on each of the original 121. 10s. preference half shares. At the meeting of the London, Tilbury, arid Southend Railway Company, to-day, a favourable report . was read, showing a net balance of 14,9751. 12s. Bd. of receipts over expenditure during the year 1856, being about sufficient to meet the gua ranteed interest. The Barking line was expected to be opened in the autumn, and would be worked by the Eastern Counties Railway Company. The report,was adopted. The transactions in the English Stock Market have been very limited, and prices remain without the least variation of importance. The buoyancy 'of the Funds, the specie arrivals, and general monetary prospects impart strength to the mar ket, but speculation for the rise is dull, and prices are not easily influenced. Consols for money have been 931 for account 931 94, and for April 94i a. The New 3 per Cents. have been marked 94i I, the Reduced 94 941, and the New 2i per Cents. 78. Bank Stock is 220, and India Stock 222. Exchequer Bills are 3s. premium, and the advertised bills to be paid off or renewed are ls. to 2s. prem. Foreign Securities are very inactive. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 95k being firmer ; but the 4 per Cents. are nominally without alteration. Portu . geese 3 per Cents. are 44/. French 3 per Cents. 70f., with the exchange at 25f. 25c. ; and Dutch 2i per Cents. 65. Mexican Stock is flat at 21k. The Committee of Mexican Bondholders have 5 received advices from Mr. Whitehead, dated Mexico r o . the 19th ult., from which they learn with great 25 :regret that M. Serdo's resignation had on the 3d 10 ult., been definitively accepted by the President, and on the sth had been made public. No L eo one has yet been named to succeed him. The 18 President had, however, signified to Mr. White- 18 head that effect would be given to the arrangement 20i negotiated with M. Serdo, of which the committee 100 expect to hear further by the direct packet due next week. With the exception of some small amounts re- 100 ceived at Mazatlan, Colima , Arc. ( 4,598 ) , which Mr. E •Whitehead himself had in hand, he feared that no 20 remittances were likely to come forward just at pre- V i sent, in consequence of several recent aggravations 20 of the political condition of the country. St. The following are the nominal prices of Foreign 100 Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6. 7 ; 100 can, 22k ; Peruvian, 80 81 ; Ditto Three per I 20 Cents., 55 56 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents., 41 46 ; St. Russian 5 per Cents., 109 111 ; ditto 4 per Cents., 100 97 99; Spanish 3 per Cents., 401 ; ditto Deferred, 20 5,; ditto Certificates, 6! ; ditto Passive, 20q L4..61. • 100 201 ,The Railway Share Market has been very active, t oo and for almost all the principal lines higher 100 rates have been realised. Caledonian and 10 Q North-Western rose 55., Lancashire and York- 20 shire, Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, Mid- 20 land, North British, and South - Eastern 10 s., and cfo/ Great Northern and Great Western 1/. Bristol 20 and Exeter, North-Eastern Berwick, and Oxford, 20 Worcester, and Wolverhampton, declined about 2' ss. For the Fore'gn and Colonial undertakings higher rates were also realised. East Indian, Great . Luxembourg, and Paris and Lyons improved bs., and Grand Trunk of Canada and Royal Danish 10s. Mining Shares have been very inactive, and :there is no alteration in prices to report. In aoint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shales ..business has been inactive. Coiamercial of London rose ss. ; Electric Tele graph, National Discount Company, and North of E u rope Steam realised f ormer quotations. :BRITISH FUNDS.—CLOSING PRICES —THIS DAY. (Frain the Offictal List:) • Z&nk Stook Peon... , done no 181 .3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 94 A t`per Celt. Consols Annuities 33i i 4 New 3 per Cent. Annuities 94 i A i Kew 21 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860... 21 - Ditto 30 Years, expire sth Jan., 1860 21 Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1885 lB 9-16 f India Stock Consols for Account ...... .. 94 3 1 1 4 Sgehequer Bills, 2id. • £lOOO . ......... ..... ...... . Ditto Advertised 1 d 2 p Ditto Bonds, 1858, 31 per Cent 9B. 98A Ditto, 1859 ............ • ............... - PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY. 41razili'ul Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto New, 1852, 41 per Cent. . -AG Irenada New Active, 21 per Cent. Ditto Deferred ................. . ideu• .......... Ica n 3 per Cent byitto Account . ................. .. -"‘uguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 18* 7 ,3 Ditto 1853 Ru ss i a , 13 . 3 per Cent DittO, 4einpde, 1 C 822, E. St., 5 per Cent Sp an i, A , ~., .per Cent. 9Bl Tlirki, h itrantinitteeper Cori. cen o t f Coup. not fun. 6 1 1 P C Ditto Acco ds ' 6 D ult it tio to 431. e n tra un nt t e . e .. 4;4, . ;;;;-aeut..•..... ...... 9-51 I Velietne4la A ct e d . .......... ! ........... . ........ 101 i Ditto Defer red ' If per dent of Defe rred' § per Cent. . 44 French Rentes, 1 1, t ,, h " ri ebeve ovum, in bond( 11. Ditto 3 per Con tt: s'ent. ...... :Dutch Exchange, 2i .... . ........... .... a 'jr went., li Gull_ 65 Consols, money 21/REB O'CLOCK , Ditto, Account .. ************** 934 ***** 93i 4 IRON, HARDWARE, AN D *R. LuETAL TRADE PENSION SO- I ClRTr.—This society, established 18 43 for th e p ur pose I t of a ff ording permanent re li ef to deleae members and their widows, a n d wijVi now numbers 25 ng and necess it ous men and 40 women pensioners, at a the average annual cost of 1,2751. 155., held its annual ball last night at Willis's Rooms, under the his of , his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, & c . zeal and i energy of the members of the trade, in forwardi ngf the may be inferred interests of the institution, the fact that nearly 400 ladies and gentlemen were r p om e sent. E. Laurent's band was in attendance, and the whole r proceedings were carried out satisfactorily to the Hum e _ one visitors, and realising a considerable accession to i i uncle of the institution. 1, SHARE MARKETS—(This Day.) RAILWAYS. Closing Prices this day. Bigness done this day. Paid] RAILIVATS. Nottng. Bost. 8 I & Eastn. all I Belfast & Ballymena all Birmng. Wolverb. dr Stour Valley 100 Birkenhd. Lancsh. 6 Cheshire Junet all Blackburn all Blyth & Tyue original £25 (iss. at £45) 100 Bristol dr Exeter 100 Caledonian 100 Chester & Holyhead all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black. & Pass all Cornwall all De. A 8 Do. B ......... 45 Dublin&l3elfast Juno. all Duu. P. &Aber.Junc 100 East Anglian all Eastern Counties 100 EasternUnion,A. stk 1 00 Do., do. B 8i Do. New I 173 East Kent ........... 100 East Lancashire ...... all East Suffolk 4 Do. 100 Edinburgh dr Glasgow all Edinb. and Peebles 1 100 Edinb.Prth.&Dunden' all Forth and Clyde June. 100 'Furness ....... . 100 Glasgow & S.Western all Great N. of Scotland 100 Great Northern 100 Do., A. Stock 100 [Do., B. Stock 100 Gt. Sth. &West. (Iro.) 100 Great Western. 100 IDo. gua.St all 'lrish South-Eastern all Lancaster dr Carlisle. 14i Do. Thirds 12 Do. , New Thirds 100 Lancash. &Yorkshire 6 Do., do. F. £l6 Do., Wst. Riding Un all Do. Southport. all London & Blackwall 100 Loud . Bright. dr S. Cst. 100 London &N. Western all Do. Fifths all D0.,16/.Sh.,M&B 0 23 Do. Eighths 100 London dr S. Western all Lndndrry.dtColerainel all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 100 Manch.Shet&Lincln.l 1 Metropolitan 1 Do. J. L. Ricardo's arrangement 100 Midland ...... 100 Do. Birming. & Derby, all Midland G.West.(lr.) all Do. Shares ......... all Newcastle &Carlisle all Newpt.Aberg.&Hrfd 9 Newry & Enniskillen all Newry, Warreupoint & Rostrevor 1100 Norfolk.. 33 Northn. Counties Un 100 North British 'lOO North Devon, Rail. & Dock Stock 100 Do., A Stock 100 Do., B Stock 100 N. Eastern -- Berwick 23i ID°. do. Extension 164D0 do. G.N.E.Purch. all Do. Leeds 100 Do. York WO North London 31.1 N.& S. Wstn., Hamp stead, and City in 173 North Staffordshire all North Western.. all N. &S. Westrn. June. 100 Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton 16 . Portsmouth 10 Rhymney ,100 Scottish Central 100 Scot. N.E. /thrall, St 100 Shropshire Union 4 Sitingbonrne &Sheer all South Devon 100 South Eastern all Do. 43 per c. Shares 100 ISouth Wales... ....... . 17 S. Yorksh. River Dun 7 Do. all Staines,Wok.,&Wok. all Stockton & Darling 15 Do. do., 1854 3 Do. do., 18N5 I.oi Stockton & Hartlepl 100 (Taff Vale 100 Do. Pref., No. 1 22 Thames Hay. D. &R all , Vale of Neath ...... all iWaterfd. & Kilkenny all IWaterford&Limerick all !West Cornwall all West End of London and Crystal Palace all Do. A all Do E all West Loudon all Do. First Class all Do. Second Class all Wmbledou &Croydon BRITISH all Atlan. and St. Law. 9 Bombay, IlAroda, and Cen.lnd,guar. 5 p.c. all Do. 104 Buffalo & Lake Hur 100 Buff. Brut& God ch 100 6p. ds., 1 Aug. ,'72 Do. do., 1 July, '73 100 Do. do., 1 June, '74 2s. Calcutta and S. East. 2s6d Oentral Dude (Lim.) 108 Ceylon A shares 1 Do. B. do. all Demerara 2s. Eastern Bengal 100 East Indian 15 Do. C Shares all Do.4i p c.Bads. ,'57 all Do. do. do. '59, do. all Geelong & Melbourne guar. 5 per cent. 100 Gd. Truuk. of Canada all Do. 6p. c. Deben all Gt. In. Pen. g. 5 pert. 4 Do. New. guar. 5 p.c. all Gt. Westn. of Canada 8 Do. New all Do. Bds., payable '57 all Do. do., '76, p. '6O all Do. do., '73, do all Do. do., '73, without option all Madras, guar. 4i p.c all Do. do., 5 per c. 10 Do. 4i p. c. Exten. 5 Do. 3d Ex., g. sp.c. 5 Do. 4th Ex., do. ss. Oude (Limited) 5 Scinde, guar, 5 per c 0 I all I Do all kutwrp & Rotterdam 14 Ardennes... all Belgian East. Junct. 16 Beziers to Graissessac all Carmeaux&Toulouse Coal Mines and Ry 12 Dutch Rhenish all Eastern of France all Do. New 2s. Euphrates Valley 18 Gt Central of France 17 Great Luxembourg 4 Italian Junction all Lake Const. & Bale all Lierre and Turnhout 6 Lombardo-Venetian all Lucca & Pist.sp. c.p• all Lyons and Geneva all Lyons & Mediterran. all Maria Ante - .lla all Do. New all Namur & Liege all Do. do. 6 p. c. Pref all Northern of France. all NorwcgianTrnk. Pre, all Paris and Lyons all Paris and Orleans 7 Recife & Sau Fran. (Perham.) g. 7 P. C. 7i Rome and Frascati all Royal Danish all Royal Swedish all Sambre and Meuse all Do. 5i per cent. pref all Southern of France all West Flanders all Do. N per c. Pref all W.& N. W, of France 6 Western of Austria all West. of Switzerland all \Wiesbaden ............ all Do. Bp. cent. pref. all Z eal and ....... JOINT-S' 0 all lAustralasia ... **** ;5 18i , Bank of Egypt 1 ••• 50 Bank of London ) all Bri. Col. Bk.& Ln c D all British N. American . ' 0 6 C.Bk.of Ind. Au. &ch 0 50 City " 0 25 Colonial O 20 Commercial of Lond :0 all Eng. Scot. &Aus.Cht 9 all Lon. Ch. Bk.of Aust, °,O all I Ditto New 50 20 London and County X) 50 Lud,&E.Bnkng.Corp 50 10 London Joint Stock.. 00 20 :Lond.ar dWestminst. 00 35 \National Pro. of Eng. 0 10 'Do. New ............... O 22 ..14a.tional Bank ...... O all ,New South Wales ~.. 5 all , Or i en tal Bank Corp. O 15 Ottoman Bank ...... O 25 Provincial of Ireland 0 all IDo. New.......... 5 1 111.Aus.B. &G. Im.Co. 15 all South Australia...... 15 all ,Union of Australia -2,121D0. New............ 10 Union of Loudon ..., 50 ; Unity Mutual ........ 50 11Votru 131 i,,;.: Loud. 44 - 4,1 8i - 91 (9 - 71 81 - 9 91 - 96 67i - 68 36 .- 37 p 10i --10 i 19 -- 20 101 -10 A 47 -- 52 32 -- 34 *6 98 - 99 56 -- 57 iii = io 94 - 96 7 - 8 93. - 94 81. - 83 123 • 125 111 - 113 69 - 694 64 - 66 72 -- 76 j ! 7 -- 8 pl LOOT -- 104 d -- par 61 - 61 108 A -109 i 103* - 109 21i - 22 10f- 11 I - 1 ,105 - 1051 37 - 841 - 844 541 - 55i1 ii - ii 57 - 59 3i - 31.1 41 - 45 881 - 891 34 - 20 1 2i - 24 194 - 64) - 65. 98 - 102 "iA. - 40 8 10 - 11 28 - 29 106 108 261 27; 50 51 21 lid 18 19 77 - 78 85i - SGA 4i - 3AI 4 - 3 - d 12 - 14 40 - 42 i6i = ii 7 -- 9 2 - 3 51 - 6 i ::: -4 ISSESSIONS. i - 1 I) 11 2 p }95 98 94 96 94 96 Par i P 1 - lip llt - 114 2/ - 2,p 21:( —21 i 49 51 80 82 21i 211 lap 251 251, 2 3, 1 0 119 1 8 12300 118 12; 408 110 191 201 211 221 par # p iP . 2 -- 2ip 6k - 6i ••• 4 --44 p 5 f p 32i 33 9i 104 par ip 41 --41 p 61 Gi 1•• ....... A •• 6i eh, 29 -- 30 8i - 9 20 -20 A 37i - 3 n 9 - 94 56i -56 i 55 - 56 id- ip - 20 1 - li 81 - 8 1 81 - 8i - pm 44 - 4i 9 - 10 32 -3 2 i - liF BANKS. 97 - 9i id -59 - 61 11 id 68 70 ••• 18 - 19 181 - 19 18 - 18, ••• 47 49 37i 38 ! par —•P , ••• 6 0 .- 62 7 - 9 fi 9`l 10 8d 10 20 20 25 20 20 50 10' 20 20 20 LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS, Leasing Companies Closing Prices this day. Paidl EA, LWAYS. Buckghamsh. (Clydesdale Je. .Stour Vy. E. Lin. g. 6 p. c. E. Dn. H. SL. , Barr. & Noils.Direct. Do. New !Glstr.&Dn.Fr. Hull & Selby. Do.. Shares. Do. Shares. Lon. & Greenw' Do.Preforence Lou. Til., &8. 1 Do. Bark. Sh. 'Lanch.Bston. and Matlock Bradfd. Newmarket BuryE.G.spc. &Est.s p.c. Do. 6 per et Do.Fixedsp.c Prest. & Wyre Do. A Shrs. A Roystn. & Hit. Shrows.& Her S. Staffordsh WearVal.g6pe Do WiltsdiSomrst 93 - 93 98 - 102 11 - 13 134 - 137 31 - 44 foo 111 - .. - 13 • 23 - 24 103 - 110 - P 2i - 2i 92 - 9 4 P ,55 - 7 'di 1. iii 8 - 9 , 9 - 9i ii - 33 88 - 90 Ln.&N.W. Caledon E.U.ZsE.O i3t.Northn E. Count. Caldonian. Do.. it. Westn. Y. & N.M Do Do S. Eastern Do Peto &Co Do Lti.&N.W. dc Midld. E. Count Do L.dr/S.W Do Gt.Northn' T. Brassey M. MClean Stk.ezDar Do Gt.Westn PREFERENCE SHARES. Blyth and Tyno 10 p. e.pref. (issd. at 50/.) Bris.&Ex.4 p. c. St. Do. 4 per c. Shares Caledn. £lO 4i p. c Ches. & Ho. 5i p. c Do. do. 5 per cent Cork &13andon5ip.c 1 D un.Perth. &Aber. J E. Anglian Cls. A Sh Do. do. Cls. B 6p. c Do. do. Cls. C 7 p. c Eas.Co.Ex,sp.c No.l Do. No. 2 Do. New 6 pr. c. St. East Un., G. 6 p. c. Do. 51., 10 per cent. Do. 10. Debentr.Sh. Do. do. 4 per cent East Lane asb .6 p. cts E.&W. York. J. sths Edin. & Gl. 5 p. c. Sh. Ed.Prth.&Dun.4p.c. Furness, 5 p. c Glas. & 5.W.G.5 p.c Great Northu. 5 p.c Do. 5 p. c. Redeem at 10 p. c. Do. 44 per cent Do. 5 p.c., Red. at 5 p. c. prem. Gt.N . of Scot.lst Pre Gt. S & W. (Ireland) Do. 4 per c. Pref. St. Gt.W.(B.&H.Ex.spc Do. con. red. 44 P.C. Do. con. red. 4 p. c. Do. irred. 4 percent. Do 5 p. c. rod. pref. Do. Birm. Pref. Sh Do.Cliester Bp. c .P.S Do. do. 5 p. c. do Do. Birm. Gua. Stk Do. Chesh. Gua. Sh Do. do. do Do. do. do. Lau. & York. 6 pc. St. Lon. &B. G. 5 pc. No.l Do. ,P., 5 p.c. St. N 0.2 Do. New Guar. 6p.c. Do. do. 5 p. c., No. 4 Lou. & N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 p. et... Lon. & S.W. 7 perct. late 3d Shares Lon dy. & Color. Sh Londy. &Ennis. Sh S.,&L. 6 p. Cent Do. do. do. £6 Do. do. 31 per cent. Marypt. is Carl. 4 p.c. Do. 4. per cent Do. do. Consol. 6 p.c. St. Do. Con Br. B it% 6 p.c. 1 Do. 44 p. c. Pref. St. Do. L. &IL Pref. St. New. , Aber. , &c., pr. 5 P. e. rod. 5 p.c. pm. Do. Perpet. 6 pr. ct. Norf k .D eb. 4 p. c. Sh. Do. 5 p. c. Ext. 1846 Do. 54 p.c. pf., 1847 D 0. Wv. V. sp. c., 1847 North British 7t. Preference N. E. Berw. 4 p. c.Prf Do. do. do Do. Leeds 6pc No.l Do. do. Qrs., 1848 Do. York H. &S. Par North Staffordshire Ox., Wor. & Wolv. 6 p.c., Ist guar. Do. 6 p. c. 2d guar Scot. Cent. New Pref. Sc.N.E.Aber.g.6p.e. Do. do. 7 p.c. pf. St. Do. d 0.31 p.c. lA. St South Devon Do. fixed 4. pr cent. S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4a per cent Do. Fixed 4a p.c. Sh S. Wales Qua. 4 p. c Do. do. 4a p. c S.Yorksh.4p c.Guar Stock. &Dar., sp. C Do. do. do. Stock. & Hartl. g. 5 p.c. till July 1, '56 Waterfd& Kilk. 6 pc. 92 - 94 o -1 - - 1.66 .6 1 &,i 110 - - 1 - - 115 ". -- ". -- -- ip iP 121 -12 i 75 - 76 lii ilo 11l - 113 16 4 4 - 106 62 - 64 10 - 104 6 - -- 6 A 93 - 95- 84 -- 99 -- 101 10 -- 101 18t -- 174 101 -10 i 75 -- 77 193 --201 j 91 -- 10 1 1 14 . -- 151 131 -- 136 137 - 140 115 - 118 1156 - 158 1 2- 65 -ip --6 .31 - 136 99 - 101 89 - 91 -f - - lip s l liOi - -7- loi 52 -- 64, ih _ id ... - 1 - 107 - 109 114 - 118 105 - 110 65 - 70 17 - 18 23i - 100 - 10 - 104 iii - 28 2 - 3p ••• -- ••• 3 - 31 MINES. 21i- 22' 6i -- 74 L 55 -- 165 150 -- 470 15 -- 16} 9i - 10. - 6 -- 6i -- 1 17 -- 19 33 -- 35 -- 7 23 -- 24 8i • 9i la -- 330 -- 350 7i 8 340 -- 360 1 -- 111 4 -- 4$ 230 -- 250 -- 1 35 -- 36 160 -- 165 ,280 -- 300 ,270 -- 290 1 4 - 41 - I 19 -- 21, 1 46 -- 48 1 19 -- 21 BRITISH i 2/ 12 11013' 1 18s6d' !Alfred Cons. (Philk. British Iron Conduraw (Cambrn.) Dev. Gt. Cnsls. (Tay.) (Great South Tolgus Grt.W.Alfrd.(Philk ) Grt.W. Vor (11elstn ) .lady Bertha N. Frances (Illogan) N.W.BAsset (Illogan) North Wheal Crofty Par. Cons. (St.Blaxy) Porkellis U. (Wend.) ISort. Cons. MM. Co IS. Caradon (St. Cleer; S. Cam Brea (Illogn.: S.W. Frances(lllogn. Tam. S. & L. Min. Co, Tin Croft Un.Mines (Gwennap V. of Towoy (Camar. W. Basset (Illogan). W. Caradon (Liskrd. Wh. Basset (Illogan. Wh. Buller (lldruth. Wh. Edward(Calstk. Wh. Kitty (U. Lint. IWll.Ma.Ann(Menht. Wh. Trelawney (Lis. I G 1 151 ao 12s 6. 21i 2 7E41 10 1 6 i -... . v FOREIGN MINES. ] 20 7 Australian 35 27 Brazilianlmp.(issued i at .£5 pm) 30 all Do. Cocaos & Cuiada 3 3t i 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 19 21 1 4 Clarendon Con. Min. Co. of Jamaica la p 1 40 all Cobro Copper 56 58 56 1 i . . 16 Copiapo 2 all Fortuna 20 all General 3 all Linares 5 1/ Lusitauian p 1 all Mariquita 1 all New Granada 4 0 1 all Novean Monde 20 all Pont.Sil.LclM.& Smlt 8 10 5 1 Port Philip 30 15i Santiago de Cüba 1 all 4outh Australian . ... ... A 1 all Do. Scrip 1 all Do. 10 p. c, Pref 284 all United Mexican . .3i —4/41 4 MISCELLANEOUS. 25 19 Australian Agricult. 22 24 221 3 \ 10 all Australn. Royal Mail .. . ... 2 10 all BerlinWaterWorlus 5 5i 58 50 , 40 Brit. American Land 40 -- 45 I 100 321 Canada St. 1100 Do.Go.6pc.Jan&July 1104 111 1101 1 St. 100 Do. 6 p.c.Feb.&Aug. ... ... St. 100 D 0.6 p.c. Mar.&Sept. ... . • Sls. all Copper Min. of Eng. 35 40 25 all Do. Prof. 71 p. cent. 26 28 5 all Crystal Palace 2l -- 24 21 5 all Do. Preference 4 all Crystal Pal, of France ... ... 1 1 Duston Iron Oro •• ..• 20 18 Eastern Steam.. r ... ... St. 100 Electric Telegraph 1 all Electric Tel. of Irel. ... ... 5 all En.&Aust.Cop.SmCo 11 11 10 10s. Eur. & Ind.Jctn. Tel. ... ... 25 all Gen. Ir. Se. Col.(lim.) ... ... 15 14 Gen. Steam Navi g at. ... ... 20 5 London Discount ... 1 Id 4 all Loud. Gen. O m nibus' 41 —4/ 4/ 20 10 Magdalena St. Navig.l ... ..... ... 10 all Moditeran. Elec. Tel. ... ••• 10 all Mexican & S America id 2i 3 4 251 5 Nat. Discount Co - p 541 x d 25 5 Do. New 10 5 Netherlands Land 1 11 10 all Do. Do. 10055 5 1 t. l a aooBo l ll l l D DNNN o co..sw:B B .Dw. p ßAo.. c.Pf.iss.at ld 34 -- 4 4 u S4 sot N ray .. sl S a . psi. La aen. F :1 1 P .... a i r —_—___ i i P . • 1 1 20 174 Nrth.of Eur o p e S team ... ...d 125 111 1 all Oriental Gas -1/ 1 ss. Do. New Shares it 4p I 5 all Peelßr. Ld. & Minrl 2 21 50 all Peninsular & Oriental ... —67 A 50 10 Do. New ... • .. ...p 144 14 50 all Rhymney Iron 15 all Do. New. 6 8 100 60 Royal Mail Steam -.- 1 all Scot. Austral. Invest. 14 ii 14 1 1 all Do. New St. 100 S. Aus. Gov. 6 p.c.bds :: ... -- 25 all South Austral. Land 35 5 7 1 all Submarine Tel. Sc r ip I _ 1 1 all Do. Registered 20 5 Trust&Ln. Co. U •Can . . _ 100 28A Van Diemen's Land 14 16 St. 100 - V,(.40,6p.ch.n0k July ... ...--. .... Business this day. 91 6:i I 10 191 104 a 48 93 4 4 804 2 681 1 91 1 100 H G 1 a 1081 9i 9 &i i i 21 105 1 id 361 G 7 i 83i 44 31 4 18 761 7k I I 124 12 i 1121 13i 17i 50 81i 1 211 5 23i 23 18f 19 30 81 1 311 2 47 6f 79. 8i 381 15. i i Do . , Do. i PM AUSTRALIA The official opening of the new Parliament look place on the 25th of November. The day was.ob served as a general holiday, the streets wore deco rated with flag- , , and the roofs and windows of the houses were crowded with people. The pathway s were lined with military and police. As his Ex cellency left his residence trumpes sounded, and a salute of 19 guns was fired. The Parliament-house was densely packed with ladies and gentlemen, and, what with Ihe decorations and the var:ety of dr, wies, the effect was striking. Dr. Palmer, the former Speaker of the Legisla tive Council, had been re-elected to that position. Dr. F. Murphy had been elected Speaker of the Assembly. The following account is given of the proceedings :-- " His Excellency, in his address, expressed the satisfac tion he felt at having the opportunity of congratulatingthe Assembly upon the attainment of the object—self-govern ment—for which the country had struggled for many years; and also his confidence in the people of Victoria not only valuing the pthilege, but preparing to meet the increase of responsibility which it imposed on all, and to throw off that apathy with which political affairs bad hitherto been too generally treated, and in doing which they would con duce to the happiness and prosperity of the whole country. He pointed out that it would be their constant duty to watch the operation, and to amend the defects, of the fundamental law from which they derived their existence and powers. The circum stances under which the charter was prepared and granted rendered it likely that many changes would be necessary, but he should only call upon them to alter those which actual experience demonstrated were necessary. He did not approve a partial reform, w ith o ut the component parts being considered, b u t w hil e he would not recommend a recasting of the electoral division of the country until the results of the census, proposed to be taken during the sum mer, wore ascert a i ne d , th e i r a ttention would be drawn to the patent imperf ec ti on an d inequality of the electoral franchise, and they would be asked to extend the basis of the suffrage, and to amend the law regulati n g the registra tion of electors. He impressed upon them the desirabilit y of promoting publi c wor k s , es pecially railways, and of extending muni c ip a l i ns tit u tions, measures for securing which would be sub m itt e d to them. Prelimina r y s t ep s had been taken for extending the lines of electric tele graph to the northern and western frontiers, so as to connect all the principal towns and gold fields with Mel bourne, which would be proceeded with upon their sanc tion being obtained. Provision for the construction of roads and for the improvement of the main lines of road, which would require a large expenditure ; the amendments in the operations of the Municipalities Act, which experience had shown to be desirable; the subject of the agricultural capabilities of the country ; the ma nagement of the Customs and merchant shipping, the latter including provision for the examination of masters and mates in the colonial marine, and for the better pro tection and management of seamen would be placed before them, and would require their attention. He also directed their attention to au entire change in the law restraining certain trades, especially the sale of fermented and spi rituous liquors and distillation, the evils from the prohibi tion of the latter being productive of much public immo rality. A measure to amend the laws relating to banking' and the issue of notes payable on demand would be sub mitted to them. They would perceive from the papers which would be transmitted to them that the Governors of South Australia and Tasmania had agreed to propose to the respective Legislatures a scheme for connecting Mel bourne with Adelaide and Hobart Town by means of the electric telegraph; and he anticipated that by the concur rence of the Governor of New South Wales the union of the four principal towns of the eastern colonies would be completed. A plan for the better lighting of the Austra lian coastand the maintenance of the lighthouses would be submitted for their approval. A proposal for an assimila tion of the tariffs of all the other colonies in conjunction with New South Wales had been made, full particulars of which would be communicated to them. It was his inten tion to submit to them a measure for promoting education by the establishment of an uniform and comprehensive system of public instruction based upon and in consonance with the religious sen timents of the people. before " His Excellency , in his address to the Speaker and gen tlementhhe that should the o f estimatest h eLegislative would recommend t themb Assembly,be laid o baying; informed them them, stated that appropriate considerable sums for the purposes of immigration. Great success had attended the alteration recently made in the regulations for the selection of im mi g rants b y their friends in that by co arrangements and he hoped by the extension of the system and gements under which commercial enterprise would be more directly enlisted in the service they should obtain a steady stream of assisted immigration at a cost to the public treasury decreasing from year to year. He should propose the discontinuance of the services of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, and the establish ment o f a di s ti n ct agency for Victoria in the United King dom.' His Excellency retired upon the conclusion of his speech, the House paying him the compliment, as they had upon his entrance, of rising. The House then adjourned for a short interval previous to the appointment of a committee to prepare a draught Address to his Excellency. The address was very soon prepared and read to the legislators. It coin cided in all the proposals and recommendations of his Excellency, and expressed an opinion con genial with that• of his Excellency's, that the financial credit of Victoria was most firmly established ; that her mineral treasure was still unlimited ; and that under the practical experience of the miners themselves the improved methods of working would continue to develops her mineral wealth for ages. The motion that the ad dress should be presented to his Excellency by the President and members of the committee by whom it had been drawn up was carried unanimously. The Chairman of Committees having been appeint el in the perm)", of Mr._ Hodgson, the house •af. er being asked to express an opinion as to the pro priety of members taking off their hats in the pre sence of the President, a negative one as far as re garded invalids being given, proceeded to business. His Excellency's address met with considerable adverse criticism, which did not, however, lead to any result. The Argus states that in the Legislature consi derable amusement had been occasioned by Mr. G. Duffy. By virtue of his Parliamentary experi ence he had been lecturing the raw levies, perhaps somewhat more than was quite judicious, about the " usages of the Imperial Parliament," and accord ingly it was gratifying to the lectured to see their preceptor at fault - , and (on a highly important di vision) voting by mistake with the side he had spoken against. Ho claimed, however, to have his vote recorded, not according to the side of the house at which he sat dering the division, but with the " Ayes." While preferring this claim he startled the House by addressing the Speaker sit ting and with his hat on, the practice, as he ex plained (on being called to order for it), not only permitted, but enjoined by the "usages of the Im perial Parliament." He carried both points—kept Ihis hat on and got his vote, which turned the scale, recorded with the " Ayes." The new clip of wool is corning down fast. Melville, the man concerned with other convicts in the attempt to escape from the convict guard, in the course of which two men were murdered, had been condemned to death. His fellow-pri soners were acquitted. Melville, after being sen tenced, delivered a long harangue on the horrors and cruelties which th e con victs had to suffer daily. His address had gain e d him many sympathisers, though the evidence showed him to be an atrocious villain of superior ability. The Sydney Empire reports the discovery of a rich gold field near the Manning River. " Black sand" is likely to become a most im portant article of commerce. Persons who when its valuable qualities were only known to a few would not invest in it s shipment to England now perceive that hand some f ortunes m i g ht h ave b een made by speculations in it, and are turning their attention to it. The Ovens and Murray Adver tiser remarks— " Hardly a day passes but some now fact or other in con nection with this article, its valise, and its component parts, reaches our ears. We have not yet heard of a thoroughly reliable assay of any kind having been made in the neigh bourhood, and cannot, therefore, apply to any local autho rity for confirmation or contradiction of some of the state ments which have reached us. We are now informed that this black sand contains no inconsiderable quantity of pla tinum, the marketable value of which is about equal to that of silver, and that the average peroantage of tin con tained in it is higher than we stated some weeks ago. Our information then led us to believe that the average was not higher than 70 per cent. ; we have now good reason for be lieving that it reaches 80 per cent. We must attach credit to these statements, since the raw material has risen and is rising in price, notwithstanding the fall in the price of tin, of which we were informed by the last mail. Under these circumstances we cannot but imagine that our black sand in reality is worth more than the highest price now obtained for it on these diggings, and we take the liberty, therefore, of suggesting that a fair sample should be assayed by any competent assayer, in order that the producers may have a guide as to the real value of their article. In the meantime we would advise all holders to remain so as long as possible." p uA e p e l e t a i xt v a e u l respectively goring e 3 r B l a , i i, 23, and 189 ounces had (rioigingiinsignsg. 3 The Melbourne Herald slates that three nuggets had been discovered. The weather was warm and gen i a l , w ith refresh ing showers. Improvement was noticeable in the returns from nearly all the gold fields, particularly Ballarat and Maryborough ; also from Bendigo, Heathcote, and Creswick Creeks. Respecting the gold-market the Argus says : " The supply has been good and a large business has been done, especially in bars, for which there is always a good demand, merchants preferring a small but certain profit to the chance of finding a heavy loss upon a purchase of gold dust, there being so much of adulterating the pro duce of one field with that of another. As an instance of this we may mention that nearly the whole of the gold from the Goulburn diggings finds its way to Sandhurst, and is then bought up by the gold buyers •as the produce of that field, there being a difference of nearly ls. 63. per oz. W. notice that more nuggets h ave been, turned up at Dloun- Korung, a party having discovered two weighing respec tively 381 and i 323 oz., together. with a large q uantity of smaller gold." COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. The market for imported goods had become mor favourable. The Argus say s : Th e imports which some wee k s s i nce crow d e d our mar kets have become more regular ; and although stocksthe gene re rally are very -ergo, and in many cases excessive, gu l ar demand for consumption has afforded a continuou s 1 outlet, and has impared stabili to yf il - doubted bawd, of which the bulk of stooks manyarticles ere a lufen r quality. At the mines there was au active demand for gooth. The roads were in good order, and carriage cheaper. The yield of gold for the week ending the 30th of November was 46,011 ounces, making the receipts for the year 2,397,900 ounces, equal to 11,141,116/. SHI PPI NG. The Hero, from Loudon, arrived at Geelong, Nov. 22. The Thomas hoyden, sailed from Sydney for 'Manilla, Nov. 24. On the Ist of Decemb-r, at Melbourne, the wreck of the Lawrence Frost was sold by auction for UV. The Edward Oliver, hence ; the Light of the Age, from London ; and the Crishna, from Batavia, have arrived at Sydney. The Briscus, from Glasgow, Nov. 20, and the Lucy from the Mauritius, have arrived at Melbourn". The Raritan sailed from Melbourne for Bombay, Nov. 22 ; the Black Swan, 24th, and Echo, 26th, for Callao ; the Nestorian, 26th, for Calcutta, and the Carribean, 28th, for Guam. SYDNEY, Nov. 2d. Exchange—The present rate is 11i f. per £ sterling for six months' sight bills on England. No Australian Bank bills at 30 days' sight have been offezing of late ; nominal value of 11 45-10Jf. per £ sterling. On Singapore 2 78- 100 f. to 2 80-100 f. per dollar. Specie and Gold—Sovereigns continue readily saleable at 12-f. each, and Mexican dollars at 2 80-100 f. Australian gold, in ingots of 23 carats and upwards, much wanted, and would readily fetch 47f. per dollar weight (about 416 grains troy). LONDON, TILBURY, AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY. MEETING THIS DAY. The general meeting of the proprietors of this under- taking was held this afternoon at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street; Mr. J. N. Daniell, Lg., in the chair. The report and accounts, which had been already pub lished in The Sun, were taken as read. The CHAIRMA.N, in moving the adoption of the report, said it gave an account of the railway from the com mencement to the present time ; and he considered that the result had been very satisfactory, when they recol lected the whcle of the line had not been worked more than six months. The directors were doing all they could to make Southend a favourite place of resort. Mr. NELSON seconded the motion. After some discussion the report was received and adopted. A. SHAREHOLDER asked when the Barking Extension would be opened ? The CHAIRMAN said it could not be opened till the Autumn. A resolution was then submitted to the meeting and agreed to, converting or consolidating the shares known as " Barking Extension Shares," and "New Shares, first issue," in respect whereof the whole money subscribed shall have been paid up into a general capital stock, to be divided amongst shareholders according to their re spective interests therein. A resolution was passed empowering the Eastern Counties, and London and Blackwell Railway, and the London, Tilbury, and Southend Company to raise 50,0001. for completing the Barking extension. After the transaction of some other business the meeting separated. Sporting Intelligence. TATTERSALL'S—MONDAY. Although we were enabled to compile a somewhat long list of quotations, yet the actual business trans acted was very limited. Time was principally occupied by the settling of the Lincoln accounts. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.-9 to 1 was once betted against Minos, but at the close he was supported at 8 to 1. E;cape, whose retrogression we recorded a fortnight ago, advanced to 100 to 8. In City circles he had been backed for some money at 100 to 7. Jean du Quesne was in much request at 20 to 1. Early in the afternoon 25 to 1 was taken about Freetrader, but at the close 20 to 1 was booked. Two THOUSAND.-5 to 1 was offered on the field, 6 to 1 wool! have been taken to money about Lo'la. The odds quoted against Vedette were booked four or five times. DERBY.—The principal investment was that which caused the return of Blink Bonny to 14 to 1. At first 25 to 1 to 101. and 20 to 1 to 501. were laid against her, and at last 14 to 1 to 1001, was taken. Zuyder Zee seemed to have an upward tendency at the odds quoted. 22 to 1 was betted against Bird-in-the. Hand, and after wards offered. Kent was firm at 28 and 30 to 1, the latter odds being withdifficultyobtained. CLOSING PRICES. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. Bto 1 agst Mr. Mellish's Minos (taken) 10 to 1 agst Mr. Hodgman's Etuivrant (offered) 12 to 1 agst Mr. Cowper's Omar Paella (taken) 100 to 8 agst Mr. Buchanan's E.cape (tak freely) 100 to 6 agst Count de Cunchy's Jean du Quesne (20 to 1 taken freely) 20 to 1 agst Mr. Barnett's Freetrader (taken) 20 to 1 agst Mr. Hyltou's Teddesley (taken) 25 to 1 agst Mr. J. Htnderson's Harry Lorre quer (taken) 30 to 1 agst Mr. Denihon's Wanderer (taken) _ _ _ The following seven were backed for 100 even against the fiel.l:—Minos, Emigrant, Hopeliss Star, Omar Pac E-cape, Jean du Qoesne, and Little Charley. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES 7 to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Skirmisher (taken) 7 to 1 agst Mr. Mellish's Adamas (tak and off) 10 to 1 agst Mr. T. W. Redheal's Sir Colin (t) CHESTER CUP. 40 to I agst Mr. Howard's Yellow Jack (taken) 50 to I agst Mr. I. Daft; Zig-zsg (taken) 1000 to 15 against Captain White's Giiiiver (taken) Two THOUSAND GUINEAS STASES. sto 1 apt Lord Clifden's Loyola (take 6to 1) 7to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Vedette (taken) DERBY. 14 to 1 agst, Mr. W. I'Anson's Blink Bonny (t) 15 to 1 agst Mr. Douglas's Tournament (taken) 16 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's M.D. (taken) 16 to 1 aget Lord Clifden's Loysli (taken) 18 to 1 agst Mr. W. S. S. Crawfurd's Zuyder Zee (taken) 22 to 1 aget Bird in the Hand (taken and (ail) 30 to 1 agst Lord Londeshlrough's Kent (tak) 30 to 1 agst Mr. J. H. C. Wyndham's Glen masson (taken) 40 to 1 agst Mr. E. Parr's Lambourn (taken) 40 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's colt by Surplice — Blue Devil's (taken) 40 to 1 agst Mr. C. Harrison's Strathnaver (tak) 11 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Colonist (taken) 1000 to 15 agst Lord Portsmouth's Henry VIII. (t) 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Mellish's Adamas (taken) 4 to 1 to 1501. was taken about John Scott's " lot,' Mr. Howard's "lot," and M.D. 8 to 1 to 1001. was taken about Mr. Howard's " lot' and M.D. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE —Sandhcy is scratched. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Feb. 21.—Wind this day at noon, S.E.— Light breeze and fine. PORTSMOUTH, Feb. 23.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—H.M.S. Industry, from Lisbon; H.M.S. Melampus, eastward, and left for the westward in tow; H.M.S. Bulldog, east ward, with damage. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 23.—Wind E.— Arrived.—H.M.S. Hawk, from Portsmouth, for Dublin. Sailed—Harkaway, for Auckland ; Merrimac, Calcutta. FALMOUTH, Feb. 22.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrivod—Gen. Pelissier, from Newcastle, for Alexandria . COWES, Feb, 23. —Wind S.E.—Sailed—Forefers, for the Cape of Good Hope. DUNMORE, Feb. 21.—The sloop Margaret Alioo, from New Ross, for Milford, with granite, sprung a leak off Steltes, and was beached here in a sinking state last DUMFRIES, Feb. 21.—The Henrietta Helen, of this port, from Maryport, which got on Blackshaw Bank on the 4th inst., drew part of her cargo, was floated off, and taken into Glencyle. YARMOUTH, Fab. 23.—The Prussite, from Marseilles, for this port, which sunk at the entrance of the harbour on the 20th Jan., bas been raised and brought in. SWANSEA, Feb. 23.—Wind B.—Arrived—Walkington, from St. Vincent; Hampshire. Cuba. LIVERPOOL, Fob. 23.—The Byzantium, from Honduras, reports passing a derelict schooner, of 150 to 200 tons, with black hull, green inside, decks off, mainmast gone, fore mast standing, apparently timber laden, and not long in that situation. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday, 10. a.m. Wind S.E., fine. Arrived—Belgique, steamer, from Antwerp ; Alma, steamer, Sunderland. Sailed—Le Coq, steamer, for Cherbourg. LivElirooL, Tuesday Morning. Wind S. Arrived—Medina, from Smyrna; Fortunata Paroda, Naples. Sailed—Thor, for Alexandria ; Sardinia, New Orleans ; Robin Hood, Dunkirk; Sappo, Demerara; Revenge, St. Michael's. Off—Tigris, from Calcutta. QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 22. Wind S.W. Asivmeydr—na.Anguata, and Frederic, from Alexandria ; Coa, KINGSTOWN, Feb. 23. Wind S.W. Sailed—Thalia, for Trieste; Killarney, Gibraltar. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH. TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday, 10.5 a.m. Wind S.; tide, three hours' flood ; fine. Arrived Feb. 23.—Buchanan and Barrack, from Madras ; John Peile, Islay ; Glenbenbrat, Fiume ; Betsy and Strath Clatha, Seville ; Carolinda, Cherbourg; Ellen, Dunkirk ; Elizabeth, Leghorn. Arrived Feb. 24.—Rhine, steamer, Boulogne. Sailed Feb. 24.—Queen of Sheba, Melbourne. DEAL, Tuesday, 9.20 a.m. Wind S. S. E. , moderate. Passed, Feb. 24.—H.M.5. Iris, from Sheerness, for westward. Passed, Feb. 23.—Quickstsp, for New York ; Crescen da, for Santander—both from London. Sailed.—Warrior Queen, British Merchant, and Nep tune, with all the outward bound, except Constanti.a, de tained with damaged windlass. SALE OF M lISIOAL INSTRUMENTS.—The celebrated col lectiou of musical instruments formed by the late Mr. James Goding, of Belgrave-square, was disposed of on Friday, by order of the executors, by Messrs. Christy and Mason at their great room in King-street, St. James's-square. The instruments brought good prices IMP P.IAL PAR LIA.IVI HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YEsTERDAY.) PROBA.TES AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRA- TION BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the nccond read ing of this fell, w Lich he said was: intended to rem: ely t.o evil which had been cried out against fur many S eats as art-it g bents the numerous pet y jurisdictions (for the :oast part ecclesiastical) existing throughout the country in regasi to the granting of probst es of wills and let`era of administration. As he stated on a former evening, there w.re no fewer than a hundred different courts which cx,rcied this jurisdiction, besides which there were other courts whose jurisdiction was rather of a theoretical than a practical character. There was the Prerogative Court of Canterbury sitting in London, and the Prerogative Court of York sitting at York, each of which ex srcised in iteown province a certain jurisdiction in cases where the deceased possessed property out of the locality over which the jurisdiction of the inferior court Extended. This was a state of things which in practice was found to be extremely inconvenient. It was obviously inconvenient that the next representa tive of a person dying in Lancashire, for instance, should not know, as regarded third parties, whether the probate should be taken out at Lancashire or at the Pre rogative Court at York. Another grievance in the con stitution of these courts was that they all possessed con tentious jurisdiction. There was a great number of other .small matters requiring remedy, but with two points would he content himself, the inconvenient multiplica tion of small courts throughout the country, and the in convenient mode of procedure in the larger court in Lon don. In the first place, he proposed to abolish all the existing courts ; because, supposing the present Prero gative Court to be as perfect as its greatest admirers could wish, stall he thought it was the general opinion that the court should be her Majesty's Court of Probate, and not the court of any ecclesiastical authority. He therefore proposed to abolish all heal jurisdictions, and to constitute one Queen's Court of Probate, reserving the question of who was to be judge for future con sideration. As he did not see where the present practice of the Prerogative Court could be improved, he proposed that it should be adopted, giving the judge power to make new rules when they might be necessary. In order to exclude all suspicion that the patronage had anything to do with legislation, he intended that the whole of the present staff of the Prerogative Court should retain their offices, subject only to the usual reasons for retirement. But the great change he proposed was that, instead of having disputed questions of fact tried in the present im perfect mode, they should be decided by oral evidence taken before a judge, oran issue sent before a jury. With regard to matters of detail, they should all be left to the judge; but with regard to the great questions, he pro posed that they should be dealt with in the well known constitutional mode, viz., by the issue to be tried on the circuit; so that it. would have the advantage at once of the intellect of the judge and the common sense of the jury. He proposed that all non contested matters should be left where they now were, and that they should be confined, as they now were—an exclusive privilege to the proctors and advocates of the courts. This part I of the plan would, no doubt, create great difference of opinion, maiely on account of the exorbitant fees alleged to be charged by the proctors. Compensation had been suggested, but the case of the six clerks showed what ex orbitant sums might be paid under that arrangement ; he therefore proposed instead that the proper authority should have power to reduce the fees. His opinion of the proctors was that they filled a very useful interme diate place between the court and the public, and that if their office were abolished some equivalent must be created in connection with the court. When they came to contentious business he proposed that the cases should be thrown open to the profession generally. He in tended to abolish all the district and diocesan courts, but to, retain the district offices for the registration of uncontested will's. The number of districts would be thirty-six, instead of twenty-seven, as at pre sent. Uncontested wills he proposed to be fled in the district, and a list sent up every fortnight to London, and in case of small wills c attested, say under 2001., he proposed that jurisdiction should be given to the county courts. With respect to personal and real estate, he did not propose that the distinction now existing shoell be removed, but that in case of dispute the inheritor of real estate should be cited before the Court of Probate. He proposed also that there should be a place of security in London in which wills might be depo-ited during the life of the testator. There were besides the points to which he bad alluded a number of other details into which he would not then go. There only remained for him to jus tify the appointment of the judge of the new court. He proposed that the judge should be one of the Vice-Cban cellors. He was quite aware that in stating this be should perhaps raise a storm of opposition in many quar ters. The Court of Cbancezy was undoubtedly very unpopular in many quarters ; even, however, giving tho utmost credit (for the sake of argument) to the views of these persons, he pointed out that he did not transfer the probate jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery, but merely gave to one of the Vice-Chancellors of that court the office of judge of the Court of Probate. This was doing more than what had already been done in a case of bank ruptcy jurisdiction, in which, up to the time of the ap poiuttnent of the Lords Justices, one of the Vice-Chan cellors had acted as a Court of Review. He would pro ceed to state why he selected a Vice-Chancellor as judge. He felt perfectly sure that he should have had an easier task, so far as outcry from an opposition went, had he preferred the establishment of a new court, with anew judge at a large salary, and all the paraphernalia of a court of justice. Originally he had framed the bill with-a view to the creation of such a court, but in considering the matter and the amount of duty which would be cast on the judge of such a court, he had felt that be could not ask their lordships to pass such a bill. The j edge of the Prerogative Court sat for the disposal of non-contentious business 25 times—or at the outside 30 times—during the r year, and the average length of these sittings was two hours each. At other times the judge was occupied in deciding contentions cases, in which having to wade through long masses of written evidence great length of time was necessarily occupied. All this would, however, be swept away, and there would be only left to the judge the one contentious business and the duty of deciding, where a verdict was unsatisfactory, upon the granting of a new trial. There being then a necessity for a new judge, whose duties would be thus light, the question was, to whom should those judicial duties be given ? There was only achoice between one of the Vice-Chancellors and a common dew judge. Between these two personages there did not seem to him room for a moment's hesitation. The common law judge bad to go on circuit twice, and would not improbably soon have to go once a year, while the Vice.Chaticellor was constantly on the spot. Added to this, there was every reason to suppose that a Vice-Chancellor would have time to take the extra duty. Their lordships were aware that Lord Truro, when he held the great seal, issued a commission to inquire into the state of Chancery practice. Upon the report of that commission, his noble and learned friend (Lord St. Leonardo) had introduced two measures which completely altered the state of things in the Court of Chnncery. Those who knew nothing of the subject blamed the court for its delay ; but those who really un derstood the matter, the celerity with which that court got through its business, at the present day, was perfectly surprising. Taking the number of suits commenced dur ing the years which had elapsed since the passing of those acts, he found that the average number per year of suits instituted was between 2,500 and 3,000. These suits were disposed of by the Master of the Hulls and the three Vice-Chancellors, whose industry and learning were most exemplary—(hear)—and this was done in such a manner, and with such despatch, that in Hilary Term, 1856, there were but 519 causes its arrear, and in Hilary, 1857, there remained only 245. (Hear.) Occasionally it even happened that one or another branch of the court had actually got through all its business. Hence, he thought that he had sufficient ground for thinking that , this jurisdiction might be given to a Vice-Chancellor. He ought to state that no extra salary or privileges would be bestowed upon the Vice-Chancellor. U p on the subject of the granting of new trials he would say a few words. This power he proposed, as he bad already in timated, to vest in the Vice-Chancellor. In cases of misdirection, no doubt a court of common law would be better enabled to judge of the necessity of granting a new trial, but these were not the kind of cases which would be likely to arise. In any other case the care and atten tion which the judges of the Court of Chancery habitually gave to the question of the granting of new trials would render the Vice-Chancellor a competent and proper per son to exercise the discretion of granting or withholding the right of further proceedings. (Hear.) Such were the chief provisions of the bill, which, however might be its demerits, was, he thought, a better measure than any of its predecessors. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) A noble and learned friend of his had introduced a mea sure in 1844, in which it was proposed that there should be twenty-seven diocesan courts, each with a contentious jurisdiction, and two archiepiscopal courts. The diocesan courts were to be at liberty to send their cases, if they thought fit, to the archiepiscopal court of their province, and the archiepiscopal court of York might send its causes to the court of the Archbishop of Canterbury. To add to all this confusion, the old system of pleading and evidence was to be retained. Against this measure the present Lord Chief Justice and Lord Cottenham entered their protest in the journals of the house. Another measure was afterwards introduced by Lord Cottenham ; but that proposed the erection o f a new court, with the expense of an entirely fresh judicial machinery. In the year 1854, he (the hi Lor d Chacel lor) introduced a bill on the sub j ect, w passed that house. In that be propose d to transfer ch testamentary jurisdiction to the Cour t of Chancery, and in theory he believed that that measure was a correct one. Nothing was more unsatisfactory than to have courts acting under different jurisdictions. However, it was not always easy to carry out in practice that which was best in theory. Since then, in the fast session, a fresh bill had been introduced in the other house with, it was right to say, his entire concurrence. That bill proposed to erect an entirely new court of probate, and it got over the diffi culty of the want of sufficient business to occupy such a court by transferring to it a portion of the business trane acted by the Court of Chancery. This bill had shared the lot of its predecessors, and hence the introduction of the present measure. In this he had endeavoured to avoid the less satisfactory portions of those attempts at legis lation which had preceded it. Hi s lordship concluded by moving the second reading of the bill. Lord ST. LEONA.RDS complained of the perpetual changes of intention which were manifested in thesetira sures. First, the j ur i s di ct i on was to be given to th e ey qi cs t i l . M me then there wee to b e a separate court; and back to the original idea, with but little variation, for a judge of an equity court was to take the probate cases. When the idea was first started of giving this j arisdie tion to cou r t s o f equ i ty he had opposed it , but aft t e h n e same three urged th a t , if g i ven, it s hould be g d bhis to one judge on ly Th a t c l ause was then opposed bad noble friend o n th e woo l sac k, w h o now, however' be did fully adopted it. B u t as b e bad done form erl y p 0 NT . Low oppose tLi.s transfer of jurisdiction to an equity judge. The present equity system, no t w i t h standing -- what ‘Nas said ti the contrary by th ose who were ignorant of what the duty of this court consisted, w as worl.ing aclali,ally. He feared that the intiodu.aion of ne-w duties 11:1:1.t derange its working, and hone„ his or.p3;,ifi,n. 13_sides, there now existed a cxnpetent judge kf a tostaulentary court. What wns to he done with r,.-p,cl to him? li big (Alice were destroyed, be taust be con.: , eneated. Ile coul I not understand why the judge of the Prercgativo Court was allowed to spend his days int retirement, his p a y b e i ng con ti nue d, a n d a Vice eown , ancel-..r appoint e d t o d o hi s wcrk in additicu to his changes that. va s h n o d n e e v o e f r t tae been p mostr proposed. I wanton andt world un b reee ss e a ry a change for no purpose, and by which the country a - null gain H to tak e from loeiiree.at- nothirg w h atever. noble i wof a and learned estate es te i friend proposed a this country a ri g ht' which they had hitherto always possessed—the ri g ht to h ave the validity of a will tried by issue. This was a vested right, which he whielo belonged to them by the law of England, and a estatei till ajur Y of say that they on to o sted that such theircoun trymen p w e n r u so ld na nn a t o y al i d eld al u w p real b l e n a Rernintimated thatand the bill TheL h o a n d D dec c h n ie A d against cxEL L t o h would not have the effect which th e noblelearned lord supposed. Lord Sl'. LEONARDS said he certainly so under stood the matter. As regarded the extensio n o f probate of real estate, he had before observed, and would now repeat, that if they consented to that they might rest assured that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would, in addition to the succession duty, favour them with a probate duty on real estate. He would never agree that where there was no contention the heir-at -law should he called in as a party to a suit with regard to the testator's real estate. It must be remembered that those who were interested in the personal estate were sel loin entitled to the reality. With regard to the 35 district courts, he would like to know what the officers were to receive ? The LORD CHANCELLOR said it was proposed to pay them by salary. Lord ST. LEONARDS—He would be glad to be informed, then, what compensation was to be paid, and what would be the amount of the salaries. Even though the business were non-contentious, the duties to be per formed would often be very important ; and it was de sirable to ascertain whether the registrars were to be simple clerks or men of experience and capacity. In dif ferent pasts of the country, where there were neither proctors nor judge, the registrars would, as it appeared to him, be called upon to perform in many respects the duties lof both ; and the more the district courts were multiplied the more mischief might they inflict. He would reserve anything more which might occur to him until the bill was before the select committee. He could assure his nobleand learned friend that it was with great pain that he differed from him, and, being convinced that great pains had been bestowed on the preparation of the measure, he would be happy to render any assistance in his power in endeavouring to make it acceptable to the country. Lord LYNDLITTRST said he had intended to make some observations upon the bill at this stage of its pro gress, but on looking round the house, he had been led to make a calculation, the result of which was, that there was just a third of a peer to each bench ; and, as he had a great objection to addressing empty benches, he should postpone his remarks till the measure was more advanced. Lord CAMPBELL said he should have followed the example of his noble and learned friend were it not that he was about to go on circuit, and that before his return the bill might have passed their lordships' house. His noble and learned friend on the woolsack might have spared himself the trouble of proving the necessity of a change ; for it was agreed on all hands that the present state of things was discreditable to the coun try. The question was, however, how the law was to be amended ? He must say he rejoiced that the bill of his noble and learned friend who last addressed the house did not receive the se.nction of theLegi-lature, believing, as he did, that it would have traduced disappointment. At the same time he was not at all satisfied with tie measure before the house, the sum and substance i f which was that where there was a contested probate the case was to become a Chancery suit. The operation of the bill would be this ; when the case came before the Vice-Chancellor, be would first have to see whether there was ground for an issue or not, which be would ascertain by means of affidavits or of viva voce evidence. If he thought there was sufficient ground an issue would be directed accordingly ; and, after the matter had been before a jury, it, would come back to him, and he would say whether he were satisfied or not. After that, there Height be an appeal to the Lord Chancellor or the Lords Justices, which would b argued like any other appeal in the Court of Chancery ; and lastly, an appeal to tbat house. Ile did not believe that mode of proceeding would be at all better than the present state of things, under which there was first the proceedings in the Prerogative Court, and then an appeal from that court to the Committee of Council, whose judgment was final. His noble and learned friend (the Lord Chancel lor) seemed to regret that such matters were not referred even nominally as well as really to the Court of Chan cery. Having ceased to be a common law judge his noble and learned friend seemed to belong to that sect of lawyers who thought that the Court of Chancery should absorb every other court. The language of that sect was, " We will absorb you ; courts of common law may still try an action for assault, or for the value of a cask of beer sold and delivered, but we will not allow it to try any question involving the validity of wills or other matters of importance." Much as he (Lord Campbell) might value the Court of Chancery he was not willing tc be absorbed in it, and be did not wish to see the Court of Probate, any more than the courts of common law, subjected to such a process. His noble and learned friend would do well to r.ci.l - that the Court of Chancery was by no means so popular that its absorbing power was likely to be viewed with favour by the public. (Hear, hear.) Hills wished— as he was sure be did—to see the professed object of the bill carried out, let him abjure the intention to make the Court of Chancery the court of probate, and propose to establish a new Queen's Court independent of the Court of Chancery. He trusted that the bill would be greatly improved in committee, and that the present session would not pass away without witnessing the accomplish ment of the object. The LORD CHANCELLOR wished to say a few words in explanation on one or two points. He had never intended to deprive an heir-at-law of his right to have the validity of a will disinheriting him tested by the verdict of a jury, and if there was anything in the bill to that effect he would be ready to alter it. As to the appeal, the reason why he proposed to make it to their lordships' house instead of to the Privy Council, was that there might be cases in which real, esti ,te was in volved as well as personal, and he doubted whether their lordships would be satisfied to have appeals on the subject of the freehold inheritance of land in this king dom referred to the Privy Conned. He would not dis cuss the other objections, as he thought they were all matters for the committee, including the question as to the judge. lie did not think be would have been jus tified in proposing the appointment of a new judge, when the work could very well be done i.y one of those at present existing. The bill was then read a second time, ROYAL MARINE FORCES BILL. This bill passed through committee. CHIEF CONSTABLES' BILL, This bill was read a second time. Their lordships adjourned at 10 minutes past 8 o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YiesTaRDAY.) THE BUDGET. ADJOURNED DEBATE. Mr. JAMES M'GREGOR then resumed the ad journed debate on the budget. He disclaimed all party feeling with reference to the financial statement, and be lieved that all the country and the house required was, that while due regard was paid to economy, the adminis tration of public affairs should be maintained in effi ciency. There could be no doubt that the country, tak• in g its tone from former decisions of the house, that the income tax should cease in 1860. If that was admitted he thought that it was the duty of the Chancel lor of the Exchequer to give the house some idea of what his estimates would be in the intervening period. That right hon. gentleman adjusted his finance by the imposi tion of taxes upon sugar and tea. Ile (gr. M'Gregor) was not a strong advocate of those great ehanges which took place in the finances of the country upon the adop t tion of the celebrated resolutions of November, 1352 ; but -he rejoiced to say that the result bad been highly successful—(hear, hear)—and he at the same time frankly confessed the intellectual superiority of those gentlemen who saw the wisdom of abrogating the duties on a multitude of petty articles, and of fixing attention upon those great articles of commerce which in fact sustained the revenue of 8 country. t tn h h: e ethee osmeueent of iy 1 lasyha T oarun h ellics e cieso resolu tions of November, 1852, were passed by an overwhelm icrnmc affectingea i j i : t r rh i toeyf,gteahnneedrEa Exchequer's ceh couldecipolicyu eor f, dis turbed without some very substantial reason s. TheB - its perpetuation. (Rear, hear.) year 1857.8 seemed to hold out a prospect of the income tax being made perpetual, but the country was opposed me He believed that if it were continued beyond 1860 it would be found to be worse even than oppressive,i nqu i s itorial, and and and that diffi cu l t i es would a rise with reg ard to it which had never yet b een mentioned. N o t w ith s t a nding the flattering manner in which the First Lord of the Trea. \ Lury was received during the recess by the merch an ts of Liverpool and M anc h ester, no sooner was Parliament opened than a multitude of petitions fro m . _ them_ were presented for a remission of the vlidarb'eTb7l obliged to so ' The Government found that they yield to the demand for r edu ced estimates were framed which permitted the remission u tthose estimates did not asked for by those petition:. the 'v ta o x u ation, and new weight of the country's afford a fulcrum on 1 21 and every vote in favour of rigid be against a deficienc y, sa 0 li c e believed that every vote would to army and navy might he oebcloingoanitiyo.nslchoented rpest.w point Lila below that at which they were reduced to fixed in s hould keep up in perpetuity suoh este- Leg peace, w these estimates. lie had yet to learn why, dur ing Kildare. He hoped that the house would bliseeoeuts as the camps at Aldershot, Colchester, and r y e the amendment which bad been proposed tCeuerragrighlit hon. gent eman (M.r. Disraeli) send Lure the and that such reductions of expenditure would be effected that we might rely on the fulfilment of all the engagements of the country and the extinction of the income tax in 1860. Lord J. RUSSELL—I should have been satisfied with taking but little part in this debate —by even giving a silent vote in favour of going into committee of ways and FOR: IGN. 35 6k 14 I 58i 8 88 44 2 19i 644 i 28 2 101 5i i 5 i i 5 1 i 61 i 21 12/ i 201 i 37i 56i I THE SUN, 100 26i 13i 20 St. St. 12 12i St. 12. 12 124 St. all 100 100 100 100 3i 100 20 12i 25 20 SL 25 10 1.0.6 100 all 100 100 all all 20 25 25 12i 100 100 all 100 all 100 100 54 all all all all all 100 all all all 100 'LON POp s TUESDA EVENING, FEBRUARY 24 1857,