The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

, _ ___ THE SUN, LONDON, S MONEY MARKET 5 HA,:t. , .l'; . M A.R ii __spET S -- k nursdiy.) .- LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS,RAILWAYS. S hr. Paid RAILwArs. Leasing closing Prices Business Companies. Thursday Thursday 2....51a Closing Prices I Business done COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Shr, Paid RAILWAYS. - Thursday. Than lay. St. 100 Buckgha.msh, Ln.&N.W. 92 -94 • St. 100 Clydesdale Jc. Caledon... 95 - 97 941 6 CITY, Two O'CLOCK. ... ----""'"' 25 all Col•Stour Vy. E.U. &E.O 12 -14 171 10 ambg. Nottng. Bost. St. 100 E.Lin. g. 6 ;Le Gt.Northn 128 - 132 The City presents quite a holiday appearance, & Eastn. June...-. 4 i - Si 5 all E. Un. H. Sh. E. Count. 31 - 4 50_ __ all Belfast & Ballymena 8 - 81 St. 100 Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. although a large number of merchants, &c., Btrrang. Wolverh. & Neils. Direct. and their employes are compelled to attend, I 131 all Stour Valley ~, 68 -70 et 100 Do. New Do • - ••• owing to the depatture of m ails this evenin g St. 100 Birkenhd. La.ncsb. & 25 all Glsta&Dn.Fr. Gt.Westn • . for India and China via Marseilles, and to the - ... Cheshire Junct ••• - .•. 3 50 all Hull & Selby. V. & N.lll. L.;5 - 106 , 25 all Blackburn - 94 25 all Do. 1 Shares. Do Cape by H.M.S: Lyra. The banks, too, must 25 all Blyth & Tyne original 121 all Do. 1 Shares. Do . - ••• be kept open, but it has been resolved to _ £2s (iss. at £45).... . 2 : -__ g 12 1 all Lon.&Greenw S.Eaatern l2 -13 St. 100 Bristol & Exeter...-. * 1 20 all Do. Preference Do 23 -24 close the private establishments at 3 o'clock. The St. 100 Ca1ed0nian.............. 811 - 82/ 811 2 St. 100 Lou. Til., &S. Peto &Co 92 -94 93 shops, or the principa l p art of them, are shut, and, St. 100 Chester & Holyhead 33 •-• 35 10 91 Do. Bark. Sh, Do 1 - j d 50 all Cork and Bandon.... 7 - 9 51 all Mancleßxton. Ln.&N.W judging from appearances, the few which remain 20 all Cork, Black. & Pass. ••• - ••• and Matlock & Midld 2l - 21 open, except fruiterers, &c., might just as well be 20 all Cornwall 3l - 41 1. 1 4 St. ,100 Mdld.Bradfd. Midland... 89 -91 90 i closed, little or no businem being transacted. 10 all D 4 A - ... 611 51 Newmarket 10 8 Do. B - 1p The Stock Exchange being s h ut " b y order of 50 45 Dub li nlißelfastJunc. ••• - ••• 50 all N.diEst.s p.c. Do 54 - 56 551 5 25 all Dun. P. &Abet- s lime. 8 1 - 8 .2 1 the Committee," the Fugds remain at nominal quo- 50 all Do. 6 per et.. Do ... - .., St. 100 East Anglian . , .... ... 18 1 - 19 50 all Do.Fixedsp.c Do tations, although an improvement would no doubt 20 all Eastern c o unties_ _ 571 - 581 581 71 25 all Prest. &Wyre L. &N . W .,. - ... be established, in consequence of the Bank of Eng - St. 100 EasternUnion,A.stk. 40 - 41 121 all Do. 1 Shrs.4 Do • - ••• St. 100 Do., do. 8........ ..... 30 - 32 St. 100 Roystn.di Hit. Gt.Northnl.2B - 131 land return, if the markets were open. 25 81 Do, New A. - ••• 17 - 18 10 all Shrews.& Her T. Brassey 71 - 7i 7} i The weekly return of the Bank of England mad e 25 171 East Kent .. .........12 all S. Staffordsh- M. MClean 81 - 9 up to Wednesday, the 23 d inst., shows some 20 st. 100_ East Lancashire ...... 91 - 93 50 all WearVal.g6pc StkasDar. _ - ... aii East Suffolk ... ..... ... ....., ••• 25 all Do Do 3Ol - 311 31 very satisfactory results. The improved strength 10 4 Do. - • . St. 100 !Wilts&Somrst Gt.Westn. 182 - 8 4 of the establishment having warrant ed the direc- St. 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow 61. - 6 2 PREFERENCE SHARES. 0 all lEdinb. and Peebles - - ••• tors in affording increased accommodation to the • .A. 100 ,Edinb.Prth.&Dunde, 29 - 30 29f 30 25 all Blyth and Tyne 10 p. commercial community by the reduction in their 0 all IForth and Clydejunc. ... - ... c.pref.(issd.at 50/.) ... - . St. 1.00 Furness ... .. ........ . ••• - ••• minimum rate to 8 per cent. The reserve ofSt. 1.00 Brie. StEx.4 p.c. St. 89 - 91 St. 100 Glasgow & S.Western 85 - 91 20 5 Do. 4 per c. Shares.. ... - ... notes has been increased by about one million and 10 all 'Great N. of Scotland 9 - 91 St. 100 Caledn. XlO 41 p. c. 94 - 96_ 951 4 a half, and the buillion by over a million and a st. 100 ,'Great Northern St. 100 Do., A. Stock - 84 82 3 St. 100 Do. do. 5 per cent... ... -- ... quarter. In the other securities there is also a st. 100 .Do B. Stock 122 - 123122} 3 6.1 all Cork&Ba,ndonslp.c. ... - ... marked improvement, the reduction being over one St. 1 100 I Gt..Ath.&Westare) 96 - 93 ei all 1 un.Perth.&Aber.J. 6 - 61 St. 'lOO !GreatWestern. M - 541 51 31 4 1 i million. The active circulation has been dimi- St. 100 E. Anglian Cis. A Sh. ... - - St. 100 ',Do. Str.V.R. gtia - .S . i, 53 - 62 St. 100 Do. do. Cis. B Op. c. 105 -- 110 nished by about three hundred and eighty thou- 12 all Irish South-Eastern. •-•- ... St. 100 Do. do. Cls. C7p. c. 106 - 112 5C all ' Lancaster &Carlisle. 76 , - 79 . , sand, and in both the public and private depart- St. 'lOO Eas.Co • Ex,sp.cNo.l 105 - 108 163, 143 Do., Thirds. ....... - 106 ments a striking improvement is perceptible. 161' 12 Do. New Thirds ... 7 - 81;' St. 100 Do. New 6 pr. c. St. 121 - 124 1231 Active circulation - 931 931 i 20 all East Un. G. 6p. c. ... - ... Decrease. - i 5 all Do. 51., 10 per cent. ... - ... Bullion - • •• 10 all Do. 101. Debentr.Sh. ... - .. Increase - ••• St. all Do. do. 4 per cent... ... - ... 1.14 all London & Blackwal 51 - 61 51 6 Rest - ... St. 100 Lond.Bright&S.Cst 105 - 106 105 1 5 Increases all E„&W. York. J. sth ... - ... 17 • 208 St. 100 London &N. Weston. 96 - 961 961 1 1 A 6 a 10 9 Edin.& Gl. sre c. Sh. ... - ... Public deposits - ••• St. 100 Ed.P r th.&D an .4p. c . 67 - 69 Increase - ••• Other deposits 15,151,818 121 5 Do. Ei g hths l - i e 4 St. 100 Furness, sp. c - ••• ••• St. 100 Glas. & 5.W.G.5 p.c .. - • Increase - 94 1 93 4 i St. 100 Great Northn. 5 p.c. 115 - 117 Seven-day and other bills - ... St. 100 Do. sp. c. Redeem. Decrease - „••• , „„, , at 10 p. c. prem.... 106 - 108 107 Government securities - .) 9 orl t St. 100 Do. 44 per cent _ ... 97 - 99 97 8 Increase 10 ' 1 ' ' - 100 60 Do. 5 p.c., Red. at 5 I Do. J. L. Ricardo 13 p. C. prom. Other securities - ". - 10 all iGt.N.ofScot.lsthe. 91 - 104 Decrease 7,426,670 St . 20 18 Gt. S& W. (Ireland) ... - ... Notes unemployed - 89 881 9Si 9 St. 100 Do. Birming.&Derbs 63 - 64 6311 20 18 Do. 4 port. Pref. St. ... - • . Increase • 1,669,495 ,50 I all Midland G. West.(lr.) ••• - ••• 50 6 Gt.W.(B.drH.Ex.spc 5i -.6 The Bombay mail arrived at Malta on the 23 d 25 , all Do. 1 5hare5......... ... - ••• St. 100 Do. con. rod. 41 p.c. 86 88 100 all Newcastle &Carlisle.. ... - ••• St. 100 Do. con. red. 4p. c. 81 - - 83 inst., and is expected here on Monday. 25 ; all NewptsAborg.&Hrfd. 12 - 13 St. 100 Do. irred. 4 per iont. 81 - 83 82 I 50 ! 9 Newry & Enniskillen ... - ..• St. 100 Do sp. c. red. pref. 93 - 95 95 BRITISH FUNDS.-CLOSING PRICES-THURSDAY. 20 1 all Newry, Warronpoint 8 all Do. Birm. Pref. Sh,. 91 - 91 (From Ms O ffi cial Lise:) 1 dr Rostrevor ••• - ••• 10 all Do.ChestorBp.c.P.S. 151 - le; Businesedore. St. 100 Norfolk.. 59 -6160 5% 10 all Do. do. sp. c. d 0.... 94 -91 15 nk Stock - 3 1, ,, St. 100 Do. Birm. Gua, Stk. 67 - 69 68 9 3 net tent. Reduced Annuities - 50.4 49/ 26 all Do. Chesh. Gua. Sh. 171 - lal New 3 per Cat. Annuities 931 1 1 St. 100 North Devon, Rail. & 133/4 all Do. do. do Bl - 91 ledia Bonds, 1.:1000 - Dock Stock ........, ... ... - ... 20' al Do. do. do - 13/ 134 •Ditto, under 13000 2O d St. 100 Do., A Stock ......... ... - • ..- St. 100 Lan.& York. 6 pc.St. ... - ... COL Dols for Account - -•• St. 100 Lon. &B. G. 5 pc.No.l ... - ... • x..,-,, Hills, 2td. St. 100 I.l . ..Eastern- Berwick 95 - 96 951 a 5 St. 100 D0.,P.,5p.c.5t.N0.2 .s. - E ... /11000 . ...... par 3d 1 p 25 all Do. do. Extension _ ... - ••• St . 100 Do. New Guar. 6p.c. 132 - 137 tiOne 1 P 25 I 161 Do do. G.N.E.Purch. 21 - li'l St. 100 Do. do. sp. c., N 0.4 112 - 115 8 sell - 521 52 St. 100 Lon. &N. Cov. di Fichequer Bonds, 1858,34 per Cent..., - St 100 Do. York B3 - 84 831 13 i Nuneaton s r . et... ... - ... Ditto, 1259 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS-THURSDAY. 10 31.1 N. &S. Wstn., Hemp- late 3d Shares ... 150 - 160 Bratman 5 per Cent. - •• • 121 all Lundy, Color. 1 Sh. ... .-- .. Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent. 96 20 171 North Staffordshire.. 34 - 3 4 20 all North We5tern........121 all Londy.&Ennis. 4 Sh. ... - ... ... - ... 134 .3 14 Mexican 3 per Cent l9l St. 100 M., S.,&L„ Op. Cent. 11.1 - 117 Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cent 76 5 10 all N. &S. Westrn. June 8•- • 9 01 6 41 *o. do. do. £6 ... .. 1 - 1 Ditto Account 77 St. ,100 Oxford Worcester & St. 100 Do. do. 31 per cont. 63 - 66 Russian Bonds, 1822, E St., 5 per Cent.- - Wolverhampton..... 30 - 31 31 12, all Marypt. SiCarl.4 p.c. ... - ... Ditto, 41 per Cent. 971 20 16 Portsmouth lO -8 d 121 all Do. 41 per cent •-• • • sp•nish lioNas, 3 per Cent. . 42 10 10 Rhymney ••• ••• 126 101 Do. do. Ditto Now Deferred, 3 per Ceir. - St. 100 Scottish Central lO4 - 106 St. 100 Slid.Consol.6 p.c. St. ... - ... s uDitto Account . . 26 St. 100 Scot. N.E.Abrdn. St 24 - 25 St. 100 Do.Con.Baßir.6 p.c. 130 - 131 130 1 St, 100 Do. 44 p. c. Pref. St. 95 - 97 Turkish , ;ends, 6 per cent. - 48 s 10 I 6 ISitingbourne &Sheer. 4 - 3 ‘ St. 100 Do. L. di 11. Pref , St. 85 - 87 Ditto Account 954 4 i 4 33 - 35 10 all New., Aber., &c., pr. Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. St. 'lOO -South Eastern 69 - 70 691 9 1 5 p.c.red. 5 p.c.pm. ... - ... Venezuela Bonds, 41 per Cent Dividends on the above payable in London. 10 all 'Do. 44 por3 . Shares ... - 1, , 10 all Do. Per d . 6 pr. ct. 104 - lli Belgian 21 per Cent., ex. 25 francs - 7 9 1 x° 10 all Norf b. 4 p.c. Sh. ... - ... 20 all S. Yorksh. RiverDnn 12 -11 s St. 100 Do. sp. c. Ext. 1846 ... - ... .00. 46 per Cent.. ex. 25 francs ... ...... 96 e - 6 d 20 10 1D0..... St. 100 Do. 51 p.c. pf , 1847 ... - ... 1 ttitEß O'CLOCK. 20 all IStaines,Wok.,&Wolt, 9- 11 ' St. 100 Do.Wv.V.sp. 5,1847 ... - ... Consols account, Jan, 8 93llxd 25 all 'Stockton & Darling.. 35 -37 St. 100 North British Icl - 103 101} 25 15 Do. do., 1854 - ••• 7 3 4 Do. 71. Preference... ... - 25 5 Do. do., 1855 - •• • St. 100 N.E. Berw. 4 p.c.Prf. 93 - 95 . MARKET NEWS.-(rins Day.) ... 161 Stockton & Hartlepl. ... - •., 17 81 Do. do. do ll - / St. 100 'Taff Vale... .......... ... - ... 20 13 Do. Leeds 6 pc. No. 1 ... - . _.„ St. 100 Do. Pref., No. ........ ... - ... 121 9 Do, do. Qrs., 1848... ... - ... COVENT GARDEN. 25 22 Thames Hay. D. &R. ... - ... 25 10 'Do.York 1.1.& S. Pur. 11 - i Most descriptions continue in good supply and fair re- 20 all Vale of Neath....„... 194 - -20 t 20 20 all North Staffordshire.. 211 - 2 20 20 all Waterfd. & Kilkenny ... ... St. 100 , Ox., Wor. & Wolv. 6 quest, at full quotations :- 50 all Waterford&Limerick ... - ... p.c. Ist guar..,.... 111 - 112 112 FRUIT. Pineapples, per lb. 4s 6dto 64 Filberts, per 100 lb 40s to 50s 20 all West C0rnwa11........ .., - ... St. 1 100 Do. 6p. c. 2d guar_ 101 - 103 Coloma I do., ea. Os Od to Os Od Cobs., p. 100 lbs. Os to Os 10 all (West End of London St. 1100 Do, do. Debeetr. St. ... - ... Grapes, per 1b......356d to 8s Almonds, p. lb. Os Od to 104 ' and Crystal 'T - 9 81! all Scot. Cent• New Pref. . - ... Foreign do Os Od to Os Od Walnuts, per 100 213 to 5i 0(1 5 I all I Do. A P a l ac e.. 3 - 31 St. 100 Sc.N.E.Aber.g.6p.e. 110 - 112 110'11 Melons, each 0s Od to Os Od Pi ge, pe ilea Os to O ' s Od 5 all I Do. B - 6 St. 100 Do. do. 7 p.c. pl. St. 1.02 - 101 Peaches, p. doz. Os to Os Od Strawbe rries, r p er '2O all West London - , -•• • St. 100 Do. d 0.34 p.c. pf. St. 68 -72 Nectarines, do. ...0a to Os Od pottle - ••• 25 all South Devon 94 - 101 Apples, p. h. ay. is Od to 286c1 Gooseberries, per 20 all Do. Second Class... ... - •.. 10 all Wmbledon &Croydoe ... - ..• 10 all Do, fixed 44 pr cent. ... - ... Pears, per doz ...ls to 4s oa half sieve ....Os Od to Os Od Oranges, per 100..4s 63 to lOs Currants, p. h. sv. Os 03 to Os BRITISH POSSESSIONS. Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. 22 - 22 2 St. 100 Do. 44 per cent 94 - 96 954 Lemons, p. doz. is 03 to 230 d Plums, per do. 03 03 to Os Od - % Apricots,p. do & oeod to Os 03 Green gages, per h.sv.Os to Os WO all Atian. and St. Law. ... - ... I St, 100 Do. New 41 pr. cent ... - ... Cherries, per lb. Os to Os Od Raspberries, p.potl. Od to Od 18 9 'Bombay,Baroda. and Cen.lnd,guar. disc. l4 - 14 104 4' f St. 100 .Wales Gua. 4p. c. ... - ... VEGETABLES. 18 all ;Do. - ••• Greens, p. doz. bun. 2s to3a Od Shallots, per lb. 6(1 to 83 20 all '.Yorksh.4 p.c.Guar ... - Cabbages, do. is 6d to 2803 Horseraddish, p. b. 1860 to 4s 20 18 B , liffjilo , ,.& Lake Hur. I 61 - 6 d 144 i 100 100 Lute , Brut. di Go3ch. ug ,. , , 72 180 - 85 •25 all Stock. &Dar., sp. c. ... - ~, Savoy do.,p. do. Os OdtoOs Gd Parsley, per do. 2d to 4d 25 19 Do. do. do. - ••• Cauliflowers, do.lBod to 38 Od Celery, per do is Od to is 6d 100 100 St. ,103 Waterfd& Kilk. 6 pc, _ - ~, Brocoli, p. bun. is Od to is 3d Beet, per doz. is 03 to 2., Od 6DPo•c..bddos.,"llJAuly, '73 75 -80 100 100 , Do. do., 1 June, '74, 75 - 80 $ 77 BRITISH MINES. Potatoes, per ton 803 to 140 s Parsnips, per do. Os to Os Od 20 2s. Calcutta and S. East. I ... - ... 4 New do., per cwt. OsOd to Os Small salad, un. 03 to 03... '2/ 12 Alfred Cons. (Philk.) 12 -13 20 2s6d:Central Oude (Lim.)l . . - ... Peas, per h siev Os Ocl to Os Od Mushrooms, p. ptl.ls6 I to4s 03 20 14 British Iron - 7 20 10s 'Ceylon A shares I 1 . 1 --• 11 Turnips, per bunch 2d to 4d Artichokes, each ...6 1 to 8d ... 20 Condurow (Cambrn.) 100 - 110 20 1 I Do. B. do Carrots, per bunch... 411 to 6d Lettuces, per scr. ls 64 to 28 174 all ;Demerara . I ... -- ••• ~ 10 1 Dev. Gt. Casls. ( Tay.) 420 - 440 Cucumbers, each Os to Os Od Endive, per doz. is to is 6d 20 2s. 'Eastern Bengal - 11 k ... 271 East Basset (Hogan) 90 -- 100 Garlic, per 1b......63 to Os 80 Radishes, p.d.bun. is to 2sod St. 100 ' ,East Indian 115 - 111 nq 10 I t - Hee Great South Tolgus.. 131 - 144 Sorrel, per sieve Od to Os Tomatoes, per hsv.oB to Os 0d... 1113 Grt.W.Alfrd.(Philk.) 4- 5 Spinach, p. d0...1s Od to 2s 6;1 Walnuts per 100 ...ocl to 03 12 0 15 , Do. C Shares lf -- 2p 17 00 all D 0.41 p.c.Bnds. '57 ... - ... ••• 71 Grt.W. Vor (Holstn.) 1 -- 1 Brussels sprouts, per Chillies, per 1001 s 5d to 2s 0.1 100 all - Do. do. do '59, 'do ... 13s Lady Bertha - 1 half do 2s 03 to 3803 Capsicums, per 100 Os 03 to Os 20 all 'Geelong & Melbourne ... 71 N. Frances (Mogan) 8 - 9 Onions, p. busb.Os 03 to 0303 Rhubarb, p. bun. Od to 03 ... ... N.W.Basset (Mogan) 114 - 121 ! guar. 5 per cent..,.? 131 -19 i 18f 19 ••• 6115 North Wheal Crotty 4 - 5 New do., per bunch Od to 03 Asparagus, per 100 88 to 108 St. 100 IGd.Tru nk. of Canada, 43 - 45 444 4 5 French beans, per Seakail,perpun .2s 6d to 3s Od 100 all Do. 6p. c. Deben... l 80 - 85 81 2 i ... 14 Par. Cons. (St.Blaxy) 17 - 19 half-sieve ... Os Od to Os 03 Turnip greens, per _, 9 Porkellis U. (Wend.) 4 - 5 Leeks, per do 23 to 3d bush Oa Od to cm Od 20 all Gt. In. Pen. g. 5 pare. 214 -22 21/ i ... 6s. Sort. Cons. Min. Co. 11 -1/ 11 20 4 Do. New. guar. 5 p.c., 1 - lip 5i NEWGATE AND LEADENFIALL. . . . 24 S. Caradon (St. Cleer) 340 - 350 20i all Gt. Westn. of Canada 19 -10 A 191 1 1 Turkeys, 5s Od to 25s Od ; Poults, Os 03 to Os Od; Geese, 201 104 Do. New lll - 1 4 , 3 2S. Corn Brea (Illogn.) 34 - 44 5s Od to 78 03 each ; Goslings, 5s Od to 7s OJ ; Duck- 100 all Do. Bds., payable '571 ... - ... ... 19 S.W. Frances(lllogn.) 220 - 233 224 lingo, 2s Od to 3s Od; tame rabbits, Is 00 to is 93 each; 100 all j 1 o. do., '76, p. '6O 505 - 110 5 46 l'am. S. &L. Min. Co. 4 - 1 wild do., I.od to is 2d ; Pigeons, ii oto 101 each ; large 100 all Do. do., '73, do. _lO5 -no 10 9 Tin Croft 3 - 4 Surrey Fowls,7s to lOs; barn•door d0.,4s 03 to 580 d; Chick- 100 all 'Do. do., '73, without! ... 40 Un.Minee (Gwennap) ... - _ sus. 4s Od to 6s 03 per couple; Capons, Os Od to Os; Hares, option ,101 - 103 ... 1286 V. of Towoy (Camay,; 4- 1 21 65 to 386 d; Grouse, 3s Od to 4s Od each - Pheasants, 20 all ;111a,dras, guar. 41 p.c 19 - 20 ... 16 W. Basset (Illogan).. 21 - 22 214 28 9d to 38 63 ; Partridges, Is Od to is 6d ; Woodcocks, 3s 20 all ,' Do. do., 5 per c..,, 211 - 224, ... 20 W. Caradon (Liskrd.) 100 - 1104 .011 to 38 63 ; Snipes, 03 to is; Teal, Os 83 to Os 100; Wild 20 10 ; Do. 41 p. c. Exten. 43 - 1 P'' 101 5 4 Wh. Basset (Mogan). 145 - 155 'Ducks, 2s Od to 2s 6d; Widgeons, is Od to is 61; Plovers, 83 20 5 ' Do. 3d Ex., g. sp.c.' 1 - 1/p' 5i 6 ... 5 Wh. Buller (Rdruth). 280 - 290 6 to lsOd each ; Guinea Fowls, Os Od to O s ; Roastin g p i g s, 5s 20 5 Do . 4th Ex., do, 1 -Ihsii 7s Wh. Kitty (U. Llant) 14 -16 54 64 54 ... 54 Wh. Edward(Calatck) 61 -7/ Al to lOs 0.1 each. O s tend fresh butter, - s to - s Od ; 20 ss. Oude (Limited) ' - ••• ... English do., is 2d to is 4 d per lb. ; E n g lish e gg s, 14s 20 5 Scinde, g uar . 5 p er c.' 21 - 3p i ... 8 Wh.Ma.Anu(Menht 41 Wh. Trelawney (Lis . ) 23 - 25 ) 45 - 48 Od. to 16s 00; French do., 12 s to 13s Od p er 120; Leverets, 20 all Do 1 ... - I . 2a 6d to 3s ed each. - FOREIGN MINES. NEWPORT. FOREIGN. Beef, from 38 Od to 4s 4cl; mutton, 386 d to 48 Sd ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 3s 2d to 4s 6d ; pork, 3s 8d to 5s Od 1.0 all Antwrp & Rotterdam' 64 - 61 61 i 20 71 TAustralian - a 8 Per Sibs., by the carcase. 20 18 Ardennes.. ••• --- ... 1 lOs. Bon Accord Cop. (li.) id - par WHITECHAPEL. 5 all Belgian East. Junct. 1 - 11 35 27 Brazilianlmp.(issued Beef, from 2s 10d to 48 4d ;mutton , 3s 6d to 4s 8d; 20 16 Beziersto Graissessac ... - at £5 pm) 30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiada ... - ~ lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 3s 2d to 4s 81 ; pork, 6 all Carnicaux&Toulouse ''' . Coal Mines and Ry. 3/ - 41 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 10 - 11 10 38 Od to 5s Od per Blbs, by the carcase. 20 12 Dutch Rhenish BILLINGSGATE. 20 all Eastern of France - 27C0. of Jamaica...... ... - ...d Turbots, 28 Oa to 103 • Brills, is Od to 55 each; Salmon, 20 all Do. New - _ 40 all C obra Copper 37 -39 Os Od to Os Od per lb ; Cod Fish, 2s 01 to lOs each ; Soles, 43 20 2s. Euphrates Valley ... ... - .. • •. • 16 Copiapo - 12 .. to 2s 6d per pair • • Trout, Os Od to 00 or lb •; Lobsters, 6d to 20 18 IGt. Central of France ... - ,„ • 1 all Dun Mountain Cop -3s 6d Crabs, 6(l ' to 2s 6d; Whitings, 28 Od to 103 per doz. ; 20 all !Great Luxembourg.- 7 - 71 per Mining Co. ~, id - i p __ Common Oysters, 16s to 20s • Natives, 40s to 59s per bsh. ; 10 4 Italian Junction 2 all Fortuna . 1 - 10 Mackerel, 50s to Os per 100' ' Smelts, ls ed to Os 03 per d0z.;20 all General - 141' 15 • Skate, 6d to Od per lb; Shrimps, Os Od to Os Od per gallon • 20 all Lake Coast. & Bale ~. - .. : .. d 3 all Linares 20 all Lierre and Turnhout ... -8; - - 81 5 li Lusitanian Bloaters, 4s Od to Ss Od per 100 ; Fresh Herrings, 6s Oci to Os per 100 ; 4 -4 1 p 10/ 20 6 Lombardo-Venetian 1 8 11 -13 Scotch dc., Od ; Sprats, 6s Od to OsOd. per 1 all Mariquita bushel; Doreys, is 03 to 58 each •, Haddocks, 4s to 120 pet 5 all Lucca & Pist.sp.o.p. ..- .. 1 all New Granada doz.; Pike 6(1 S i t s uae: a n c , h 6 ; cl per lb ; Prawns, 5s Od to 7e; and Geneva 26 - 27 * - I Mullets, ois'sd to ; 20 all Lyons ... 20 all Lyons & Mediterran. ... - ... 1 all Noveau Monde 6d per Its ; Flounders, is 6dPtlaoicOes,o all Pont.Sil.LdM.&Smlt • 5 - 6 . 54 i 4d to Is each; Halibut, 331 all Maria Antonia - ••• 5 1 Port Philip OctOcl per doz. ; salt fish, • Od per lb ;Eels, 8d to ls' Carp, Is to 5s ; Tench, sl to 58 10 all Do. New ••• - ••• - per brace; Garnets, Od to Os. '2o all Namur & Liege - 2 281 all United Mexican 20 all Do. do. 6P. c. Pref. 191 - 20 34 - 44 1 BREAD. 16 all Northern of France.. 371 - 38 38 The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from 10 all NorwegianlYnk•Pref 8 - 9 1 9 MISCELLANEOUS. 74 to 8d ;of household ditto, s.td to 61c1 per lb loaf. 20 all Paris and Ly0n5,..... 33/ -34 341 . low 900 Atlantic Tel. (Lim.) ... - .. HIDES AND SKINS 20 all Paris and Orleans.,,. 52 - M • 25 19 Australian' Agricult. 24 - 26 24i Market hides, 561 b to (Alb, 3/(1 to -d ; 641 b to 721 b, 31(1 20 7 Reeife & San Frau., to 31c1; 721 b to 801 b, 363 to 8 p 9 10 all lAustraln. Royal Mail ~„ - ... -; 801 b to 881 b, 35d to 31(1 ; (Pernam.) g. 7P. C. d - 10 all BerlinWaterWorks.. 4 - 5 ' 881 b to 961 b, 343 to 4ct ; 961 b to 1041 b, 4d to 4 - 1 d ; 1041 b 10 71 Rome and Fresostl.. ... -' :.•s iT to 1121 b, 41d to 413 ; upwards, -d to -d ; horse hides, 20 all Royal Danish . ........ 146 - " 10 2 Do. New iss. at 5/. 3 ... - . . Bt. 1 4 00 0 1 13 D r o i . t G . 1 22 10 37 - 115 3225 113 1.1 -s 93 to Os -d ; Calf skins, light, 2s 60 to 48 03 • ditto 5 all Royal Swedish 1 - i, 71. 100 2sst. :11 3 1 2 1 1, DC Canada oop. pe Prof.er M ii i o p f . Eng. 27 oA ;P e e r . i J ean an& La Ju n l d y 1 3 1 ° 04 - 3E - 111 1101 11 1 full, 7s Od to 7s 6d ; Polled Sheep, 48 6d to 6s Od , ' Keats, 20 all Sambre and Meuse 7 --- ' 1 3s 6d to 4s 3d; Half-brads, 38 6d to 4s 3d; Downs, 2s 9.1 to 10 all '3o. 54 per cent. prof 7 -- 221 3s 4d ; Lambs Os to 08 Od ; Shearlings, Os Od to Os Od. 20 all Southern of France 2li - 22 -- 84 all West Flanders 4i - 5 5 all Crystal Palace HAY MARKETS. 10 all Do. 54 per c. Pref .81 - 9 5 all Do, Preference Smrrunum.-Meadow hay, 2/ 108 to 41 Os; clover 20 all W.& N. W. of France 261 - 274 4 all Crystal Pal. of France ... ii- ..._-. 44 4 20 6 i Western of Austria.,, - ••• 3/ 10s to 51 5s ; and straw, 1/ 6s to 1/ lOs per load: 20 all i West. of Switzerla 7. 20 all Eastern 5team......., „„ - „ -. ••• Supply good, and trade rather dull. 6 all 'Wiest aden - 105 1 all Electric Tel. of Irel. ... - CUMBERLAND. -Meadow hay, 21 12s to 41 Os; clover, 6 all Do. Bp. cent. pref. ... -- ••• ••• 31 12a to 5/ 5s ; and straw, 11 5s to 1/ lOs per load. 20 all Zealand 5 all En.&Aust.Cop.SmCo li - 11 I i • - 2.. n----- 2.. n---- 10 10s.!Eur. & Ind • Jetn. Tel. ... _ Trade less active. Supply moderate. VirmEonArEL.-Aleadow hay, 2/ lOs to 4 1 Os ;clover, JOINT - STOCK BANK S. 9 all jEur.&Am.Stin.(lim.) 41 - 51 54 44 20 .0.1 Con. Ir. Sc . Col.(lim.) „, _ ... 3 1 10s to 5/ 5s ; and straw, 11 5s to 11 98 per load. - 40 all !Australasia 179 - 81 15 14 !Gen. Steam Navigat. ... - , A slow inquiry, at barely late rates. 125 1811 Bank of Egypt - 311 151 20 5 London Discount ... 11 16: d 34 ......•••••••••-s•-"2"'-......------ 100 50 !Bank of London 4O -45 4 all I Loud. Gen. Omnibus 34 -34 large 4 5 ( 0 1 all Bri.Col. Bk .(1t Ln. 0 10 'Magdalena St• Navig. ... - .... usi3•-Of this Co. • ••• - •• Tau NEW WING TO SO MERSET HO .all British N. American ... - .. 10 all Mediters,n. Elec. Tel, ... - ... addition to Somerset House , the whole of the external 20 8 I C.Bk.of Ind•Au.(eCe. ~, - ...• a 10 86 Do. Extension Teleg. ... - ... works have been finished, with t he exception of six ' de -100 50 ,City 56 - 60 10 alt Mexican & S.Americn ... - ... - gently designed iron candelabra in front, which are sur- 00 25 'Colonial - ••• 23 5 Nat. Discount C 0.... 21 - 11.1 3 mounted with elliptical glass lamps. 00 20 Commercial of Lend ... - ... 201 10 6 Netherlands Land._ 1 1 -14 Two of these are 10 all Do, Do. - 3 - placed at the entrance doorway of the ne 7.7 building, and 20 all . Eng.S ., eot.&Aus.Cat. 18 - 186 5 all Do.B p c • Pf.isaat 13. 21 - 3 two others at each end of the carriage entrance, which 20 all ILon.t . . Bk.of A ast. 171 - 181 171 20 all Ditto New 5 2 Do, Do. - 1 d is on a line with Wellington -street. At the rear of the County - 271 50 20 Ifsonden and „, - „.. 100 80 Now B. &N. S. Land 16 - 18 edifice, which forms one side of Somerset House, a very 50 'Lad .&E,Bnkng.Corp ... - ... St. 100 N.S.W.' Gov.s p.c.D. . . - _ 95 6 ' great improvement has been effected ; for instead of the : " . 6 10 ',London joint Stock. ... •-- ... 281 1 all N. B. Australasian... .1 - i two lower stories of the old building remaining as they 00 20 Ihond.andWestminst. ... - ... 453 4 20 all rth.ofEuropeSteam ... - did for so many years in comparative darkness, the • 6 . 0 35 tNational Pro. of Eng. ... - ... 1 all rieutal Gas - -11 ground has been levelled to the basement, the inclined 1 20 10 Do. New ............... ... - ... 1 105. o New Shares /d - ip way leading to the river judiciously narrowed, and an 50 221 National Bank - 21 24 area 27 feet wide been formed, by which a large body 20 50 all Peninsular & Oriental 72 - 74 7;3 of light is thrown into the lower apartments. There is 25 ell Oriental Bank Corp. 32 -34334 24 3 50 10 Do. New 5-6 p' 154 yet a very considerable amount of work to be done inso all Ethymney Iron all New South Wales .... ... - _ 100 60 Royal Mail Steam 5l - 56 the lower portions of the new wing in connection with 100 .45 IProvinc al of Irelan , 20 20 Ottoman Bank ....... 1 . 8 . / -- 1 .. 8 . 4 1 6 8 1 4 i 1 all Scot. Austral. Invest. 11 -1/ 11 a what is termed the "Stamping Department," which 10 , all ,'Do. New........"""' ... -- ... St. 100 S. Aus, Gov. 6 p. a bds. ... - - ... involves much care and sound construction. The new 5 1 111.Aus.B.&G.Im.Co. ... - ....; 25 all South Austral. Land 33 - 35 building is designed by Mr. Pennethorne, the architect.l all Submarine Tel. Seel:. i Mr. John litlk, builder, Pimlico, has the contract forlia . 49 - 61 2525 all all St_ToauitohnoAtusAtusratlriaa ..... .. . 33 - ea 1 all Do, Registered the various works, excepting the sculpture of the exte. '" 20 5 Trus. LD. CO. Up. CaD • .os - - ••• 21 Do. New ............... ... -- ••• ilt i 50 10 Union of London . s ... -- ••• " 2 Eor, which was executed by Mr. Theed.-Building ( 0 " ' d 109 284 Van Diemen's Land.. 9 - 11.' 50 Unity Mutual 1 8 ,„ •••• ... i , News. 00 U Woßtrußk of Load' ot• ""' -a, THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 18'51. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (This Day. WESTMINSTER. MURDEROUS ASSAULT.—Goorge Cox was charged with assaulting and wounding Mrs. Benland, a middle aged woman. ____ The prisoner, was recognised as a man who had been convicted and sentenced to three years' imprisonment for having killed another woman with whom he coha- bited named Ann Weavers. On the witnesses in the case being callsd, they were found to be absent. Mr. Paynter inquired the cause. The police replied that the prisoner's friends had taken them out of the way. Mr. Paynter desired the police to state what they knew of the transaction. Sergeant Wright, 6 B, stated that on Thursday night, at half-past ten, he was called to George-court, St. Anne-street, where he found the prisoner had committed a desperate assault upon a woman named Benland. They had had some words, when hs felled her to the ground by a vi o l en t bl ow, an d th en kicked her on the head with his heavy boots. She was so seriously injured that she was lying in a perfect poll of blood. Witness took him into custody, and had the injured woman conveyed to the hospital in an insensible state. Mr. Paynter said that he bad heard quite enough to determine him to remand the accused upon this very serious charge, which might result in fatal consequences. The accused was then remanded, and summonses issued to compel the attendance of the necessary wit nesses. BRUTAL CONDUCT OF SOLDIERS. —George Sloarer, a private of the Grenadier Guards, was charged with brutally assaulting several persons. It appears that a man and his wife were walking through the street, at Chelsea, last night, when the defendant and another soldier attacked them. A man named Davis said he would not see a woman ill-used in that way, upon which defendant struck him. Beth soldiers were taken to the station, but as the woman sliuld not identify the one who struck her, that charge was not preferred, b u t d e f en dant was detained for the assault upon Davis, and two or three policemen who had been much ill-treated. . Defendant, who b, , are a very bad character in the regiment, was remanded. MARLBOROUGH-STREET, THE RESULTS OF BEING A GENTLEMAN.—John Bryant and Selina Bryant, two well-dressed persons residing at No. 44, Frith-street, Soho, were charged before Mr. Bingham with being drunk and disorderly. Police-constable 150 C deposed that about half-past 11 o'clock on the night of the 24th inst., he was on duty in Rose-street, Soho, when his attention was called to the defendants, who were much the worse tor liquor. The male defendant was very noisy, and on his requesting him to go home quietly, he refused, and commenced making a nuisanceagainst the door of a private house. Witness went up for the purpose of removing him, when he struck him a violent blow on the side of the head with his fist The female defendant also pushed him about, and tried to get the gentleman away. Witness, however, after some trouble, succeeded in conveying them to the station. Mr. Bingham (to the male defendant) —What relation is the female to you Defendant—My wife, sir; but I can assure you she was not drunk, as stated by the constable. I admit being the worse for liquor, for which I am very sorry. Mr. Bingham—What are you ? Defendant—A gentleman, your worship. Mr. Bingham—Oh, if that is the case, you must be fined 20s. for striking the constable. Your wife is dis charged. The accused paid the money, and hurriedly left the court, evidently ashamed of themselves, THAMES. ROBBERY BY A SERVANT.—A young woman, named Sarah Keys, about 20 years of age, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with stealing a large quantity of wearing apparel, the property of her master. The prisoner had been in the ss,rvice of Mr. Simon Jacobs, an outfitter, No. 73, Ratcliff Highway, for about three months, and the prosecutor had recently missed articles from his stock consisting of 12 pair of trousers, 15 coats, 30 waistcoats, and other articles, which he valued at 301. and upwards. Suspicion was directed to the prisoner, and it was ascertained by the police that she had been in the practice of pawning her master's property after she had ab stracted it from his stock. She pawned a suit of clothes at one place for 1/. se. 41., waistcoats at another, and various other things at different . times. Only one-third of the stolen property was prodeced and identified. The prisoner generally pawned the goods she had stolen in the name of Robinson, and she asserted that one pawnbroker, with whom she had pawned a waist° nit, had several other articles in his warehouse which she bad pledged in the name of Robinson, The pawnbroker, a respeotaile man, who conducts his business, solemnly denied the truth of the prisoner's statement. Mr Yardley—l can't give credit to the assertion of a person charged with felony, against the oath of a man. Fray, an intelligent dett:ctive officer, said he had no doubt the prisoner had been urged to commit the robbery by an infamous old woman, who was out of the way. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and Mr. Yardley sen tenced her to four months imprisonintnt and hard labour. UM LAUNCHING-TVA YS AND CHECK-TACKLE OF THE LEVIATHAN. The difference between the manner in which these ways were constructed and that described is very great, as the following account of them will show. The first step in preparing for the launch was to clear away the mud and dirt to a regular inclination of 1 in 12 from the ship down to low-water mark ; after which, the five';' rows of piles forming each way, and varying from 25 feet long near the ship, to about 6 feet near low-water mark, were driven ; the two outer rows on each side of each way were pitched 3 feet apart, and at a distance of 20 feet inside them another row ; but these inside rows, three in number, were pitched 6 feet apart, so that the breadth of each way, viz. 80 feet, was divided into five stripes of 20 feet wide, ex .ending from the botto m e f the ship down to low-water mark. To the sides of th ese piles, just below their tops, balks of timber, called waling-Pie c es, each about 12 inches square, were bolt e d , on the outside of each row only, 11-inch iron b o lt s, and the sur f ace o f the mud over the area of 80 f ee t w i de, was then covere d w ith a layer of concrete, b are l y 1 foot thick, upon w hi c h o th er b a lks were laid, about 2 feet apart, and in lines parallel to the rows of piles ; th ese balks were also about 1 foot square and concrete was then put intotbe empty space between them, and levelled to an even surface with their tops ; so Oa: instead of the ways being constructed on " 2 feet of concrete," the whole superstructure is carried upon only " 1 foot' of this material and the support derived from the bolts in the waling-pieces against the heads of the piles. As an inst ance of the amoun t o f calculation and foresight exhibited th roughout thi s famous launching ' exploit, it may be mentioned that when the ways were conse q uen ce was, completed it was " found " that t h e y were not wide enough ; that is t o say, that they were not sufficiently down them, a n d t h e strong to carry th e great we iht about to be "lowered" that each ay was iccreased in w id t h b y an ad di t i on o f 40 feet ! which wad was was done by driving a row of piles on each side of each way, at a distan ce o f 20 feet from ea ch outer one, thus making the rows of piles in each way seven in n u mb er, and concrete, balk 3, wali ng -pieces, &a. were added, as was done is constructing the part already completed. What addition this made to the first estimate for the launch would be an interesting item ; but there can be no doubt that the total coat will form a valuable record for the archives of the Institution of Civil Eugineere, where they might be enrolled as a sort of thing to be avoided, with a salutary effect. As to the " check tackle" and m achinery, so far from th eir efficienc y hav ing been proved, or th e i r having i n a ny way been shown to be of the sli g ht est utility i n c h ec king the ship, the contrary is satisf ac t or il y prove d by the fact, that when the ship stopped a ft er her first mov ement, and at the moment it was reported that she was held by this check tackle, there was at least one foot of slack between each cradle and check.drllDa' Another circumstance has proved the complete uselessness of these costly appen dages, viz.—that at every renewed attempt to launch, and with everything slack, and nothing to stop her b ut "friction," it has b een found nearly impossible to start her, or keep her in motion with the overwhelming power applied to get her along. Instead of carrying on a set of vagaries (di gn ifi e d by th e t i t l e o f ex periments) with a couple of pieces of balk, some rails, and a few tons of iron, in order to discover (1) the amount of friction of metal upon metal, which, by-the-by, I remember was done some thirty years since by Morin and others, it i would have been far better to have profited, in this n• stance at least, by the experience of others. I should think Mr. Scott Russell must feel happy in having no shard of the responsibility of Vas disastrous experiment in launching resting upon his shoulders. —Correspondent of the Builder. LLOYD'S ditlPPrifijr..7. — {thig Day.) LONDON, Dec. 26.—Wind this day at noon, N.W.; light breeze and hazy. COWES, Dec. 25.—Wind W . —Arrived—Peerless, from Havre for New Orleans. QUEENSTOWN, Dec. 25.—Wind S. W.—Arrived—Colum bia, from Callao. GLOUCESTER, Dec. 25.—Wind S.W.—Arrived — Joshua and Mary, from New York. MILFORD, Dec. 5. Wind CLYDE, Dec. 24.—Wind S.W.—A rr i ve d—Clara, from Newfoundland. N. W. —Arrived —Douglas, from Prince Edward's Island. af HULL, Dec. 2l.—Wind W.—Sailed—President, from Port-au-Prince, (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Saturday, 10 a.m. Wind N.W., fine. Arrived—Wonder and Atalanta, steamer, from Jersey ; Alliance, steamer, Havre, ---Sailed—Despatch, steamer, for Jersey ; Havre, steamer, Havre. LivEttPoor., Saturday Morning. Wind N.N.W. Off—Scottish Chief, Wind S.W. QUIIENSTOWN, Dec. 21. Ar;l;edLide, from Constantinople ' • Medora, Mauri tius ; Wellington, Callao ; Pers everan t, V e nice ; Nor wood, Callao ; Anjo de Guarde, Caziz. (Br SUBMARINE AND BRITIS H TELEG RAPH.) GRAVESEND, Saturday M or fling. Wind W.; 14 hours' ebb ; W ea th er h azy . Arrived, ee. 25—Sylph, from B or d eaux. Arrived, Dec. 26—Rosa, from Guernsey. DEAL, Saturday, 9 a.m. Wind N.W.; light, hazy. Anohored - Tanjore, from Leith for Matanzas. Sailed—Berbice, from Campbell for li.illeton. rtirb 4.s7attto n SUN OFFICE, Rix o'Clock. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, DEC. 22. It is whispered that there will be another and more important reduction of the Austrian army in the spring of 1858, if no new clouds should appear in the political horizon. The conviction that the Credit Bank must realize a large sum of money by the sale of preference shares of the Theiss and Western Railroads has led to a very consider able advance in the price of the shares of that institution. A few days since Credit shares were hardly to be disposed of at 190, and to-day they are in great requeit at 207. The English lady who for some time was in the General (Civil) Hospital of Vienna was a Miss Stewart, and not as has been stated Miss Night ingale. A joint-stock company has been formed at Verona and Milan, with a capital of six millions of lire (200,0001.), for making advances to Bilk spinners, dealers, and brokers. Two-thirds of its value will be advanced on all silk deposited. The company is to i eceive 6 per cent. per annum, and 1 per cent. provision every three months. TEE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. There is little or no improvement traceable in the accounts from the manufacturing districts this week, and the condition of some of them is even less satisfactory than it was some weeks ago. At Birmingham the utmost quietness prevails in almost every branch of trade. The factors' orders have been getting smaller for several weeks past, and during the last few days a very limited number of orders has been given out. The falling off in the orders from the agricultural districts has begun to be now observable, while with the manufac turing districts there is scarcely any business doing. At Bradford several additional failures in the wool trade have been announced, A large open air meet ing of operatives was held at the beginning of the week, but the opportune attendance and explana tions of one or two leading manufacturers had the effect of pacifying the workpeople present. About 1.000/. bad been subscribed for the purposes of re- lief, the distribution of whichhas since commenced. At Belfast there is a considerab:e increase of appli cants for parochial relief ; it is computed that inde pendently of the muslin weavers between 500 and 600 women and girls obtain assistance in this man ner. At Carlisle hundreds of handloom weavers are reported to be unemployed, and those who occasion ally get employment have to submit to further re duction in prices. Many of the factory hands are suffering great privations, and there is a marked increase in the numbers of women who go from door to door seeking alms: At Clitheroe the state of things is rather improving, there being now only one mill not running full time. At Chorley trade is said to be on the whole decidedly wors and the sufferings of the operatives are not exceeded by those of any other town in the country. At Halifax matters are still in a very unsatisfactory state, and only some of the smaller manufacturers have recom menced running short time ; but although numbers of people are unemployed the working population are better off than those of other districts, and it has not yet been found necessary to open soup kit chens cr adopt special measures of relief. At Liverpool more failures have occurred, and there is no improvement whatever in the condition of the humble classes. At Leicester things are much the same as they were reported last week. At Man chester the applicants for Poor-Law relief aro still increasing. At Middlesborough, in the Nord' Riding of Yorkshire, a strong body of miners and puddlers who have been thrown out of employment by the contraction of operations iu the iron trade made a threatening demonstration in front of the mayor's house, demanding " work or bread," but the chief magistrate succeeded in dispersing them fur the time, and on a renewal of the demonstration a detachment of military were summoned from York, which effectu tlly prevented any disturbance At Middleton the distress continues, but the state of trade appears rather better, for the mills gene rally are working fuller hours. At Macclesfield there is no improvement in the staple trade beyond a little more employment in one or two establishments. The number of rations served out from the soup kitchen is on the increase. At the north-east ports the shipping is said to be in a more depressed condition than it has ever been since the repeal of the corn and navigation laws. Shipping is generally slack at this period of the year, but at this season, on account of the low freights, an immense amount of tonnage is laid up, and consequently a great number of seamen on shore ate unemploye -1 . The people, however, c.m duct themselves with exemplary patience. At Old ham the labouring population continued in a very depressed state, and the applicants for poor relief weekly increase. At Preston the working hours of the mills remain about the same as last week, but a rather more gloomy feeling prevails owing to the prospect of an extension of the hours of labour ap pearing rather more remote. At Padiharn, also, there is very little alteration in the time of running the mills. At Rochdale there has been symptoms of a slight improvement in the cotton trade in the outskirts of the town. The prtsture on the paro chial funds is still, however, on the increase, and in Wardleworth therm is a larger increase than before. At Rossendale distress is on the increase, and the number of applicants for relief greatly augment !el. At Stafford the staple trace is nut under so much pressure as those of other places. There is a good deal of stagnation in business, but this is expected to be only transient. The colliers on strike in South Staffordshire came to a resolution on Tues day last to return to work on the following day, being satisfied that the recent reduction of their wages was owing solely to the reduced price of iron in the market. The colliers in North Stafford shire have not repeated the disturbances of 1 ist week, which are said to have been instigated by men from other counties, and appear willing to as sent to the reduction of 6d. per day in the wages. At Sheffield there has been little more employment at some establishments, owing to its being Christ mas week, but for the great majority of workmen there is no change for the better. The local fail ures are unimportant. At Swansea the trade of the port is increasing. The North Shields' sailors held a meeting on Wednesday at which they determined to resist the reduction of their wages from Si. to V. 10s. per voyage in the London coal trade, although many of them are already out of employment, and some suffering severe privations. The iron trade in Yorkshire continues extremely depressed, and operations are confined to the nar rowest possible limits, only a few establishments completing large orders are on full time. The coal trade is materially affected by the stagnation in manufactures, and the demand, usually good at this season of the year, has greatly fallen off. No tice of a reduction of wages has generally been given, but the abatement has hitherto been quietly submitted to. A letter from Rome of the 19th states that the Princess Helena of Russia had had an audience of the Pope on the previous day. She went to the Vatican with her suite in the state carriages of the Russian ambassador. THE VACANCY ON THE IRISH BENCH.—No announce ment has yet appeared as to the new judge, and all sorts of guesses are made on the point. It seems to be generally believed that Mr. Fitzgerald will accept the place. The ages of the Irish judges are such that otter appointments must, in the nature of thiogo, soon claim attention. Chief Justice Lefroy is 83, Jndge Perrin 82, Judge Moore a few years less, Mr. Justice Ball is 70, and Baron Richards over that age. Judge Pennefather, the oldest of all, has reached 86, and, notwithstanding his physical infirmities, is one of the clearest intellects on the bench I A BANKER COWHIDED BY A LADY IN WISCONSIN. — A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, writing from Janesville, Dec. 5, says :—" On last Tuesday the good people of Janesville were furnished with a hit of excite ment, growing out of the cowhiding of Mr. John P. Hoyt, a well-known banker of this city, by Mrs. Cla rinda A. Andrews, the proprietress of a milinery spore. In the morning, as Hoyt was passing up West Mil waukie-street to his office, Mrs. Andrews saw him from her store on the opposite aide of the street, arid stizing a stout cowhide which she bad provided for the purpose, crossed the street, and the following conversation en sued :—Mrs. A. 'ls your name II(yt ?' H. (bowing politely), 'lt is, madam.' Mrs. A. ' You have acted the traitor to me and my husband.' And without fur ther ado the lady proceeded to administer a severe fla gellation, laying her whip over Hoyt's face and shoulders with an emphasis which was feelingly appreciated by the recipient. The proceeding of course collected quite a crowd, and the bystanders interfering, Hoyt escaped from the clutches of Madame A. A warrant was pro cured from the police-court, and the lady brought before that tribunal to answer a charge of assault and battery. The sapient dispenser of law in that court fined her 50 dollars and costs, which sum was promptly paid by the citizens. The cause of the difficulty was alleged sharp practice with a mortgage and bad faith on the part of Hoyt." THE LATE EVAN° !MICA L CONFERENCES IN B gRLIN. A Berlin letter, dated Dec. 20, says :—Three months have now elapsed since the close - of the Evangelical Conferences in this city, and numerous events of the liveliest interest to England have since then occupied public attention. Before, how ever, the subject has fallen into oblivion with the general reader I will venture to claim admission for the following remarks connected with it, on the score of its importance to that numerous p or ti on of your readers, the religious world in England. The conferences have also soma claims to respect from the world at large from having been un succes, from having been what their originators professed they should be, and from their not having co s t more than the expenses were estimated at in ad vance. To begin with the last point first—viz., the ex penses. At the final sitting of the local committee for the management of the conferences the total expenses were stated to have been 3,942 th. 15 albg. (4411. 7s. 6d.), of which the fitting up of the Gar rison Kirche amounted to 932 th. The contribu• tions from all quarters amounted to 3,214 thalers, of which 1,000 had been contributed by the muni cipality of Berlin ; the whole sum, in fact, which that body had voted was 1,500 ; but, as the balance of the total expenses was covered by the 1,000, it was decided by the local committee not to draw the remaining 500. In the same way the King's offer of a second pecuniary contribution, if the expenses should not be covered by the forthcoming subicriptions, remained unavailed. No resolution has as yet been come to with regard to the balance and the proceeds of certain articles still on band, it being thought advisable to give a little time for the possible appearance of further claims on the committee not yet brought in. The evangelical conferences were what their originators intended they should be—viz., an as sembly of Protestant Christians from all countries ; for, according to the printed lists, which, however, do not contain nearly all tb e names of those who took part in the proceedings, Prussia contributed 876 members, other German States 103, England 166, Franca 12, Spain 1, Italy 2, Hungary and Bohemia 7, Switzerland 11, Holland 10, Belgium 4, Denmark and the German Duchies 11, Sweden 2, Russia 12, Turkey 2, and Greece 2. Thus, Europe altogether sent 1,222, Asia 3, Africa 3, America► 23, Australia, 3. The total of these printed names amounts to 1,254, of whom only 689 belonged to the clerical profession. The only European States of any consequence that did not contribute any quota at all to the above number were, naturally enough, the Papal States, Austria (the Crown lands), Por tugal, Naples, and ruscauy. The above figures, 1,254, have, however ; no reference at all to the number of hearers present at the conferences, of whom no account was kept, but their numbers can be guessed at, as the Garrison Kirche is capable of containing 4,000 persons, and during the eight meetings that were held was on the average two thirds full. The conferences were also un succes, inasmuch as the object aimed at by the originators was more than fully attained. Among the results of the confe rences may be mentioned the extension of brotherly love, sympathy, and co-operation among the Pro testants of different churches, the attainment of distinct information on statistical and other points, the knowlepge of successful or defective institutions within the church, the publication of hardships, re quiring alleviation, the promotion of truth and tole. ration by the intercommonication of views and con victions by men desirous of concurring in unity rather than of seeking divergence and disunion, &c. Though the conferences may have been a long way off what many simple-hear, ed aq pious persons, particularly Germans, took theta to be—viz., the dawn of a Christian millennium, the commence ment of a new era of fraternity, toleration, and love throughout the pale of Protestant Christen dom, the foundation-laying of a new church to St. John, as already there are churches - in the spir tof St. Peter and St. Paul ; though they may have been none of those, they were nevertheless really confer ences of Christians, and they impressed all who attended them with a conviction that the promoters and participators in them were in earnest and sincere, and were taking the right road to attain their ends. Further it may be stated that these conferences, held as th-y have been under the open patronage and undisguised favour of a king, in a large and imposing building, freed from the trammels of bureaucratic control and police surveil lance, have become a religio-political Power which has been more or less recognised in its working and efficiency by foreign States. Not only did foreign religious bodies depute some of their mem bers to be present for the sake of communicating their own wan - s or collecting information, but also churches and Governments sent petsons thither to " watch the proceedings" and propagate their views. Thus the Danish Government, for in stance, found itself induced to commission a most able man, the probst (rector) of Ton dern, t 3 attend the c •nference , s and vindicate the course it has taken in Schleswig, in depriving so many German ministers, professors, and schoolmasters of their pow s among a population that spe iks only German. (Out of causiaeration for the King of Piussia and his Government, thisand every other subject, such as the position of the Protestants in the AuFtii +n dominions, that could possibly have a political tendency imputed to it were treated in com mittees apart from every public sitting of the conferences.) The opportunity of so many men of d;fferent nations and languages meet ing together for a common object was, more Jver, duly turned to account to organise for future activity a network of committees for the various portions of Protes'aut Christendom, with appropriate agents for the acquisition of correct information on subjects connected with religion. How sadly deficient Eng land has hitherto been in correct views of foreign matters may be seen in these two instances. fee Evangelical Alliance some time back forwarded to the Assembly of the Scandinavian Churches a repre sentation of grievances based on a totally groundless foundation, and accordingly received a most un answerable refutation of its statements. It has now sent an agent into Schleswi g to inquire into the truth of the matters complained of and their causes, and has arrived at the truth. The same with our Government, which has hitherto most blindly backed up the Danish Government in its maltreatment of the Gelman Duchies. It has lately sent a trusty and intelligent agent into Holstein to inquire iuto the real slate of the case, and now finds otcasion, from his report, to reverse its previous practice. The precedents that suggested these conferences at Berlin in thisyear were the conferences of Christians held in London in 1851 and in Paris in 1855. The encouragement to hold them here. emanated from the King of Piussia ; the actual invitation to at tend them was issued by the Berlin Committee of the German Branch of the Evangelical Alliance ; but it was the hearty response made to this invi tation by the Evangelical Alliance in England and the numerous suffrages it collected in favour of the Berlin Conferences which made the latter pos sible, and contributed so much to their prestige. It has been often asked what is the object of the Evangelical Alliance In the absence of any dis tinct formula put forward by the Alliance itself, I conclude from its various transactions and the expressions of its members that its object is to render patent the catholicity of doctrine that lies hidden under the diverse forms of Protestanti‘m, and thus deprive of its weight the Romanist's objection that Protestantism has no church, no creed, and no real entity. As a first act towards a creed common to all Protestants, the Evangelical Alliance has designated nine points of doctrine on which both our esta blished churches in Great Britain and all denomina tions of Dissenters concur. These nine articles have subsequently found numerous adherents in the rest of Europe, and it is for the purpose of in creasing the number of those adherents and of pro mo:ing Christian toleration, brotherly charity, and Protestant unity that the conferences lately held here and elsewhere were got up. Of the incidental advantages arising from the late Berlin Conferences the Prussians will doubtless, derive a larglr portion-than our countrymen, who are more accustomed to the arts of public life. MARRIED 'WOMEN.—Front Thursday i?exl, the Act passed in the late session to enable married women to dispose of reversionary interests in personal estates will take effect. It is declared that after the 31st of Decem ber inst., it shall be lawful for every married woman, by deed, to dispose of every future or reversionary interest, whether vested or contingent, of such married women, or her husband in her right, in any personal estate whatslever to which she shall be entitled under any instrument made alter the 31st of December 1857 ; and also to release or extinguish any power which may be vested in or limited or reserved to her in regard to any such personal estate, as fully and effectually as she could do if she were a iv/me sole, and also to :elease and extin_ gulch her right or equity to a settlement out of any per sonal estate to which she, or her husband in her light, may be entitled in possession under any instrument, save and except that no such disposition, release, or extinguishment shall be valid unless the husband concur iu the deed by which the same shal be effected, nor un. less the deed be acknowledged by her in the manner prescribed. The provision is not to extend to any rever,ionary interest to which she shall become entitled by virtue of any deed, will, or instrument by which she shall be restrained from alienating or affectin g the same. The deeds permitted by this act are to be aeknowledged in the same manner as deeds under the 3d and 4th Wm., cap. 74, for abolishing fi nes an d recover i es . The powers of disposition given by this act are not to inter fere with other powers, nor to extend to settlements of married women upon their marriage. The new law is , not to extend to Scotland. WHY AM I ALWAYS INVITED OUT ON CHRISTMAS-DAY? 1 • (From the _Humorist.) . . I cannot tell why I am. I am not rich, lam not handsome. I have nothing to leave, and very little to give away. I have no expectations. I atu not exactly young. I don't keep a carriage.. I have not the smallest label of a title stuck on to my name. Then why am I always invited out. o.n- Christmas-day ? I have so many invitations that, if I had the same number of heads as a , hetit of postage-stamps, I believe there vtoukl be a dipper for every one of them on that day. How is it ? Why there's Cormudgeon, the young Cur, as we call him. He is well-connected. He is so rich that he might sleep on a mattress of bank-notes every night, and not feel the pressure in the least. He has so many uncles and aunts in the peerage that they are almost numer ous enough to fill a " ledger" by themselves. There is a baronetcy at his feet, into which he cannot help tumbling some day ; and he has legs, and a nose, and a mouth, and a pair of eyes, as drawn as his salary at the Circumlocution Office, and we all know what a handsome figure that is. Well, notwithstanding all these attractions —and he wears pegtop trousers into the bargain, which, perhaps, are the very loudest pegtops about London—it is as much , as he can do to get an invite on that universally dining-out day, the 25. h .of December. I did hear that last year he dined 'at fhe Hercules Club in solitary grandeur all by hi m _ self. He was the only men in. this monster-gran-: diose dining-room on that day, and had the whol e corps of twenty-two servants and thirteen boys (all• of them in livery and crested buttons) to wait upon him. lam told that it was a moat affecting sight, especially when his plate of plum pudding was brought in. It was a thin , slice, with a sickly blue. flame that seemed to be dancing in - derision over it. The butler had toleave theorem. It was too much for him, poor fellow ! , Now, when I go out on Christman-dap, T try to make myself as happy as I can. I not only amus - myself, but I try to amuse others. The children meet me in the hall, and we are friends in a mi nute. No necessity for an introduction. I may have a , whistle, or a lot of Bonaparte's ribs, or a caricature, or an orange, or some friendly offering in my pocket ;. and the moment . I hold out ?my band, they come to me as naturally as possible.. We romp, and play, and dance, and are as happy as though there were no powders in the world, and there was no chance of the doctor coming to see us the next day. I make them rabbits on the wall that stand on their hind logs, and eat, and scratch their long ears with their fore paws. I cut them basket's, death's beads, &c., out of oranges and other patterns most curious and comical to behold. [ get my first and second fingers to represent the legs of a Highlander, and in that capacity, and with a handkerchief for a kilt, they scamper round the tray, and dance a hornpipe—which, for accuracy, could not be surpassed by Mr. T. P. Cooke. With the simple aid of a napkin, my hand conjures up an old woman's face that makes them die of laughing ; and their astonishment knows no bounds when, after superhuman efforts of strength, I succeed in pushing half-a-crown through the mahogany-table, and it is distinctly heard to drop through on the opposite side. . They never tire of listening to my imitations of Punch, and they - ask me again and again to bark like the dog Toby, which canine imitation is so wonderfully life-like that pussy rounds her back and takes up a defensive attitude on the hearth-rug to resist any invasion of it. Most zoologically curious are my assumption of various animals—without pride or affectation. I believe I have an en'ire poultry-yard in •my throat. My cock-crowing was, I tell them, the very identical salute of the man that made, the sun in Kentucky rise by mistake a good .hour earlier than usual. They laugh, and their laugh ing makes me laugh, until we are told , that grand papa cannot bear so much noise, and we had better go into the passage and play by ourselves. Here new games are etartt d. We have coach and hot fai up and down the hall, and al Joys rth • house ; and then on the landing there is a shriek raised for " Baste the Bear !" It falls to my lot to be the bear, and I have a very negligent keeper, for the youngster does not appear to be the least on the to As-out, nor attempt to catch any one, but seems all the time to be doubled up with excess of laughter, and, if I mistake not, at my expense tco. I only know I get a rare amount of basting, and might be the bear up to the present moment, •if the landing, after tea, had not been wanted by the young ladies for acting charades. . lam enlisted in the theatrical corps. Samehow, to the great amusement of everybody the most ignoble characters are allotted to me. The daughters of the house (they ate sweetly pretty)have a pleraure in dressing me up as grotesquely as they can. Their greatest fun consists in smothering my face in old ladies' caps and bonnet', and I have a shrewd•sus picion that that particular style of head dress does not tend much to increase my beauty, for I notice that the effect my appearance produces on the com pany is always one of the most uproarious merri ment. The old people go into convulsions of laughter, the boys clap their hands, and even the servants put their aprons up to their mouths, and, with a gutt ural effervescing sound, like the opening of soda water botttles, disappear hurriedly down the kitchen stairs. To give a sample of my general treatment, I will mention that my first character was Don-key. I was umanimously elected as the most fitting representative of that unintelligent animal, and the shouts that saluted my entrance into the drawing-room, as I trotted in on all fours with Miss Julia (aged five) on my back, and a pairof fur gloves tied on each side of my head by way o donkey's ears, and a long bell rope hanging behind me as the best likeness of a tail, were, I must say, most complimentary to my powers of itnitation. I don't know what it was that inspired me to bray, but it sounded so natural, and it so clearly went home to the hearts of everybody, that the loud explosion of laughter that ensued would have,done poor Curmudgeon's:heart good to have beard it. I am not going through each separate stage of a Christmas party. I imagine Christmas parties aro very much the same, where good feeling binds all hearts in happy unison together. There is a family likeness, I fancy, that runs through such rejoicings. The characters are very much alike, and the pro gramme of time-honoured amusements does not v try much in our honest English homes. I need only refer, with becoming briefness, to what I do on those happy occasions. . If a song is wanted, I sing. I have no voice, and so I make no fuss about it but sing. I generally get to the end of the first verse with tolerable success (and, entre nous it is something about the earth being a toper), and the audience laugh ; but I am rarely asked to go on with the second. If a hand is wanted for a game of cards, I am your man; and I can play without losing my temper, or quarrelling with my partn er because he will not play the precise card I want. If you want a good bowl of punch, ask me to brew it. [ compound it as conscientiously as I should draw up my will. As in the latter no dear one should be omitted that was worthy of remembrance, so in the former not asingle good ingredient should be left out that was dear to our recollection, and all should have their full quantities meted out to them, ac cording to their true deserts. If a dance is afoot, I am ready to dance until the house shakes again, the floor jerking up and down as though the room were a big bottle that was being cleaned, and we were the shot inside that were cleaning it. You will never see me leaning against the door, standing on my dignity, waiting for a partner worthy ofmy in ferior self, but 1 s'art off instantly, either with the' eldest or the youngest of the party. lam not above offering my hand even to a poor . deserted " wallflower.' The musicians tire before I do. I can keep it up with the nimblest of them, and during the intervals of repose I can flirt, or joke, or ask conundrums, or take off popular actors, or imitate bricks tumbling down the Chimney, or do a little bit of conjuring with the cards to amaze the young ones, or drawing one's chair up to the fire, can listen patiently to the pleasant chatter of the old dames talking affectionately about their grand children, and even if a cab is wanted I flatter myself 1 can fetch it in quicker time than anybody. The time flies gaily as a butterfly on its first day from the crysalis. I don't think—l don't do much more than I havd described. Somehow, friends seem pleased to see my face, plain as it is. Christmas-day is a day of extreme happiness to me ; I enjoy it with all my heart, and regret that it does not come oftener than once a year. Perhaps it is this sense of en joyment that makes me an acceptable guest with cut my, I others. I laugh, I eat, I drink , capers, I enter eon, amore into every passing fun, and am a perfect victim at forfeits. There is no folly. that I am not ready to be a Cork ing my face does not wake me a ngry. If I can oblige every one I am only Laugh at me as y 'liyo u eau °um , snap dragon to kissing is nothing that conies chil dren. Their society under being of making me fee l . p ar tner in. too happy to do it. not offend me. From the mistletoe, there I love ' amiss to me. for timehas the effect the younger myself , as for t h e mere feeling o f reverence makes me old people , tothose who can only,fora limited Call r lY guests and companions.me easy, be pe h li a o v d e b ti o n ' u d simp l e , foolish, weak, goodnatured, childish, if y ou I don't mind. After all they are not bad will,qualities, perhaps, Since they contribute so largely to my own enjoyment ; and who knows but they may be the very reasons why I am always invited out on Christmas-day ? And, perhaps, the absence of those same qualities is also the reason why Cur mudgeon, with his means and superior recommen dations is so rarely invited out on the_eame day.