The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-05 00:00:00

TIER DELAYS IN THE TRANBIIISS'ON OF THE INDIAN AND AUSTI?, fLIAN MAILS, VIA FRANCE AND MAR SEILLES. The Eist India and China Association, in their recently issued report, publish a letter addressed to them on this subject by Mr. De Salis, a gentleman well known for his able advocacy ai.d energetic promotion of questions of Australian in erest. Mr. De S•lis's remarks will be read in the colonies as well as as India wish great intere=st, while the sug gestions which he makes for the improveirent of a postal service, every day becoming of greater im p,rtance to the public, merit the ettly attention of the French and English Governments. It is well known that serious delays are always occuring iu the despatch of the mails from Marseilles ; and al though it admits of no question th it from thence let ets might be transmitted to London in 27 hours, their transit sill usually occupies nearly two days, reckoning from the period of the arrival of the mail packets in the harbour of Marseilles. The following is a copy of the letter above re ferred to, which is addressed to the Secretary of the East India and China Association Dawlt y Court, tirm'iri.!ge, Oct. 18, 185t3. Sir—At the suggestion of several zentiemfn connected with India and Australia, I resolved to avail myself cf abort tour I was making in the south of France, in order to inquire into the cam:es of theextraor3inary delays that have recently occurred in the transit of the India and China mails at the port of Marseilles; I accordingly pro ceeded to that locality, and now beg, upon the invitation of a member of your ass , elation, to report, for the infor maion of your committee, the results of my inquiries ; at the same time I desire to submit for their considera tion a plan for the future transit of the mails, which, while it must considerably shorten the time now occu pied in their transmission, will eff , ctually prevent a re currence of those delays which have been so justly egin- plitined of. I would premise my observations by stating that my in formation has been derived from persons in business at Lyons, Avignon, and Marseilles, and I am at the same time bound to add that I received ranch valuable intelli gence regarding the practice of the pot-office authorities at Marseilles from Capt. Roberts, the commander of her Majesty's post-office packet VA-tta, now stationed on the Marsei l-a and Matra line. Your committee will thus observe that I neglected no means of obtaining informa tion from the best and most reliable sources, and I there fore venture to hope that my suggestions, having been derived from practical men, will be fount free from all pranical objection'', and capable of being brought into easy operation, if adopted by the French and English g,,vernments. For convenience sake, I have classified my observa tions uuder distinct heads, and I commence with the Cause of the Delays complained of. It has been generally supposed that these delays have been attributable to the inertness of the French Past office authorities ; this is, however, not wholly the case, as a variety of causes have been in operation to impede the due despatch of our mai's. 0 sing to the recent large extension of the silk manu factures of France, her postal rdstions with India have assumed proportions which would hardly be credited. Teat such is the case, yourcornmittee will perceive, when I inform them that the continental portion of the India mail, delivered at klarseilles on the `nth of Scot. last, amounted to 118 boxes. It must also beyborne in mid that these very heavy mails, owing to the difficulty expe rienced by the packets in entering a very crowded pert at night timr, usually arrive ahoy tly atter daybreak, tba'• just at the very period of the day when the whole staff of the Marseilles Post office are engaled in preparing for their extensive diernal deliveries. Under such circum stances, the Marseilles officials have elected to perform their u,tral office business first, before they attend to the India mails, and hence one cause of the detention of our letter bags. Another cause is, however, also in operation. The French authorities, eepettally in the present fevered state of the rile market, exeibit a marked reluctance to permit any one part of the India mail to precede the rest ; hence it has frequently occurred that whilst the continents) portion cf the India mail was b-ing sorted and arranged, our own mail has been detained pending the completion of that operation, and has in consequence missed the 10 o'clock morning train, by which it might otherwise easily have been despatched. A third and last cause of delay exists in this, that the French Post-office at Marseilles have no authority to en gage a ~ pecial train for the despatch of the mails, and thus find themselves bound to employ one or other of the two Lx: , ting mail trains, viz., the tra;.n starting at 10 a in., or the evening train, starting twelve hours and a half after it, at 10.30 p.m.. Best mode of obviating t'e 1:Y lays complained of. Having pointed out the c t 1.1894 of these delays, I pro ceed to show how they may he he-t remedied. In the first place, , se the French government never either open or desired t ) open our mail bees, it wi I be quite clear that no ground whatever exists 'for taking them to tke Mar seil es Poet office ; on the contrary, the G vernmeiit courser, who waits the arrival of each mail packet, ought to be pertuitte.l to take the mall-, direct from the ship to the railway station ; and I am assured, on good authority, that thoir transfer from the ship to the r&ti way carriages ought always to he effected within the hour ; thus, the - posmibitty of the long detentions which have recently occurred, within the precincts f the NI sreeillee Poet-office, wi 1 be wh. lly done away with. The cogent grounds which ex et, for despatching the mail at all times by special train will he dwelt upon by me at length under a separate bead ; in the meantime, I wonl.l observe that one of the grounds put forward by the French Post office for detaieing the Eneli.h mail while they are sorting the continental mail—viz., their reluctance to allow ail one portion of the India MA to precede the other, has no jest application to the English despatA,s, which taut, under :any circum-aancee, whe ther sent on or detained, reach their de-einatioo 1 org after the greater portion of the continental letters have been delivered ; and I would for:her respectdel y sub mit for the consideration of the French authorities, that as regards those boxes destined for Lyons, the north of France, Belgium, &o , no neces ity whatev-r eats why they should be taken to the Mar- Beillei Post-effice. They ought, in co. junction with our own mails, to go direct to the railway cation, be there looked over in a bureau appropriated to the postal ser vice, and then be instantly despatched with our own to their respeceive destinations—the sorting process going on as usual on the road. Imrovetnent on the present mode of Transmitting the rine ard Mail. Under this head I ha - re drawn out a Fcbeme suggest ing several improvewents in the present.mode of transit. Thia document is appended hereto ; in the ,eantitne, it will be sufficient for me to) refer to its I , ading features, which are as follows ;—lit. No delays at MarAelipi , . 21. Despatch of the mails by a special trun. 3). No delay 3 at Paris. 4th. Sorting of the mails during their transit through France. sth. The time table annex , t 1 to my scheme s ~honing that the mails may now easily Le delivered in London witbio 28 hours of their despatch from AI Necessity for a2Epatcbirg_ Homeward Mail by a Special T 1 ain. The delays at Blarseils having been already discussed, I proceed at once to refer to tne necessity of despatching the homeward mails immediate , y on their arrival by a special train. I feet 1 assured that when our Government reflect on the present extent of our Eastern trade, and when they consider the importance it is to our-merchants not only to have early advices but also fill time to reflect upon the oriiere they must transmit by the outgoing mail, they will he of opinion that an unnecteeary delay of many hours in the transit of valuable intellig.nce may prove a very dear ecarion - iy to the public. If anything were wanting to confirm theta in the necessity which exists for putting the Marseilles service on the best footing, it is to be fi►uud in the fact that the overland route has re ceetly been selected as the ineatis of communication with our Australian ei 1 nies, and will therefore shortly con- Aqui° the channel through which ad vices relating to a trade even mole important than our Eastern commerce must reach England. Whether the whole or a portion o► ly of the typeese of the speciel train should fall on this country, it is not fur an individual to discuss ; I may, however, be permitted to observe, whether the French Government pay any portion or not of the proposed special train, that no measure it soul i tike wou►d be more popular with the great mer cantile cities of France than the acceleration of their touch-locked for silk advices. I eras assured upon good antherity that the Cnarnbers of Commerce of Lyons, RAVIT; and Bordeaux felt warmly on the delays which bad tahen place, and were quite ready t ► support to their utmost the representations they heard had been made on the subject from England. Delay of the Mail at Paris. I beg your committee's particular attention to the scg gettton wade by .ne on this head, No. 5 Much time, pro bably three hours and a half, w,uld be economised if the mails, in lieu of being driven into the Paris station of the Lyons Railway, were taken direct to the Northern sta tion Fey the circular radsay, which connects together all the French metropolitan terinin'. This means of eim muoicatii.n is extensively used I r the transit of merchan disc—whole trains proceeding now diiic; from Marseil. /es to Ilavre and Antwerp without iAoppi,,g at all at Paris. What takes plice Will, a ltigiza 4 e train way, with out diTtite, easily also be done with a !rain consiqing siitpli of a post-office carriage and tender. I therefore s ub w it, witt , all rest.ect, that the present stoppat,, , e at Park, equal to tour hours, m4y and oug!,t to be imtne eliately done away wi . b. • Sorting of our waild during their Transit through Franc.-. pcopo ,,d immediate transfer of our Aus- View irg the trahan mails to this line, there appears no reason why proper staff s hoal not be permanently organised fortni. service. It will not be di-putet.l that, with proper ar_ p rangeni en te, the mails might and ought to reach tcli London all rea , :y sorted for the h , -me transit and delivery. The Tina Table annexed to the Scheme for the Im proved Transit of the Ma ils. The rate -toff speed assumed in this document is that adopical by the Lyons and Paris line fir their usual ex press trains—viz ,35 miles pzr, hour, stoppages included; a *toed which ought to be easily maintained by a spe e:a: express, viewing !hat such train woold carry no pas ,,sengers, and would stop only for water and fuel. It id here, perhaps, proper to state that the express rate of speed on the Lyons and Marseilles line is onl , 25 m iles per hour. As, however, this railway may be can to , be. a better running road than the Paris and Ly ins line an 1 presents, on the whole, fewer curves, I t , ink th, Gorernment might fairly ask them to adopt th accele rated r xprese rate of the Lyons and Pails line. Their capability to ran at high speeds, for their own purporte, 14 unquestioned, and in proof of it I may state tbat the train I returned in, being c nsiderably behind time, sva run over the least favourable portion of their lire at the rate of 44 mil a per hour. - The time from Paris to London is that of the uQual night train. If the South•Eayter❑ Railway Company were permitted to use its discretion in conveying the mail by Calais or Boulogue, according to the state of the tide, the transit, when Efitcted by the latter route, would be shortened by two hours. I bcg here to r x.)ress my opinion, that if a small steamer, drawing a ery light draft of water, say 2 feet 5 in., were employed to assist in taking the mails to and from the mail strainer off the port of C4lais, on nights when the tide does not permit her to ent-r the harbour, much time woul Ibo economised. My impression is, that the maintenance of such small steamer would not cost as much as the large sum paid to the numerous boatmen employed, and the service would be much more efficiently performed. The Conveyance of the Outward Mails. Viewing the difficulty and danger attendant on de spatching the mail paeketi from Marseilles during the night, and viewing also the objections which exist to altering the present hour of departure of the mail from London, I do not advocate the despatch of the outward mails by special train. I desire, howev,r, to draw at tention to the importance of accelerating this despatch, so as to ensure the wads being put on board the mail pickets, and started from Mar eilles not later than 7 a in. no the second morning after their despatch from London. Tnis is more important than would at fir,t ap p?ar ; because, if the packet be dest atched as above, she is sure to reach Malta in good time on the third day, so as to allow of her transf , rring the mails and passengers to the steamer then waiting to receive them ; whereas, if she is deta'ned at Marseilles, she reaches Malta during the night of the third day, and as the steamer to which she transfers the mails is in consequence unable to start for mindria until next int ruing, the obvious result of the delay at Marseilles is a detention of the mails at Malta amounting to 12 hours, To adr%iit of the maths being placed on board at Mar seilles by 7 a m., the Lyons reed Marseilles line ought to be induced to accelerate their present night express which now leaves Lyons at 10 30 p.m., and arrives at Mar seilles at 6 35 a.na.—a train which, it not delayed three quarters of an hour at Lyons, as is at present the cage, and run at 35 miles per hour, would arrive at Marseilles at 4.15 a.m., thus allowing ample time for the mails being on board before 7 a.m. If, however, the railway company cannot be induced to accelerate their usual night express, then the India and China mail ought as suredly to be forwarded by special train from Lyons to Marseilles. Having now gone through the leading points con nected with the transit through France of the India and China mails, permit me, in cor.clusion, to observe that I have also reported the resul'. of my ob-ervations to the Australian General Association, and I am gratified to he able to inform you that this body, feel!ng the subject to which his lett ,, r refers to be of the highest interest to the Australian colonies, are solicitous to co-•'perate with your committee, and have reedved reepectfully to press upon the a , tenion of the Government the itnoor ance of improving the transit of our mails through France. I sincerely trust that their efforts, conjoined t ) your own, supported as they will by the great mercantile interest of the country, wi l have due weight with her Majesty's government : and in this hope, I have the honour to subscribe myself, sir, your most obedient ser• vent, W. FANI DE SALIS. Ta the Secretary of the East India and China Association, &e Suggestions for the Improvement of the Transit of the E , e.tern Ma I i through France. I.st. The English government c airier accompanying each overland mail to be permitted to take the English mail bi x ls direct from the ship to the railway station at Marseilles, and al,o to have leave to make all minor ar rangemeeta requisite to carry out the above operation without delay. He is further to be allowed, weather permitting, t ) send boata out , ide the harbour for the mad, should the steamer arrive off the port at night, but be unable to enter till daylight. 21. The French government to be invited to for ward direct to the railway station, as promptly as may be, those boxes of the cantinent4 overland mail which, being destined to Lyons, the North of France, Belgium, &c., do nr.t require immediate sorting. If asmall room at the railway station were appropriated for the use of the post office as a bureau, the boxes could be there looked over and separated, thus saving the delay of their transmis sion to the poet-office in the centre of the town. 31. A special ( xdress train to be invariably started as soon as the English and French mails can be placed in the railway cat-lieges. As passengers always create delays, none to be permitted:to accompany the special ex press under any pretence. 4th. The English boxes to be placed in a poste arnbu lante, separate from the French boxes, and a proper sorting staff to be permanently organised, so that the mail might reach England ready sorted and fit for imme diate transmission into the interior. sth. Tee special ma. I train not to be permitted to enter the Paris station of the 1.3,-us Railway, but to he driven direct to the station of the Northern Railway by the Paris circular line. 'Lb. An engine to be ordered by telegraph to meet the speci:d mail train at the junction of the Northern Ralwo.y with the Circular Railway connecting the vari ous F.enet, metropolitan lines, and such engine to take the mails in direct to C dais without change of carriag.-s. 7th. At Calais a special t.tearuer is to be in readiness to convey the mails to Dover, wbence.they are to come on to Loudon by ,pecial express. Bth. The followit . g is an estimate of the time wit'iin which the mails might be delivered in London under the proposed improved means of transit : .. IT. M. Marseill?s to Paris, at 35 miles per hour, inc luding all stoppages, 534 miles l5 0 Stoppage at Paris 0 30 Park to Loudon, via Calais l2 0 27 30 9 h. So slot) as the construction of the branch line iltended to connect the port of Mar.eilles with toe rail way is fin;shed, the maili to be started from the goods terminus at the port, in lieu of from the present termi nus un the hill above the town. THE GREAT EASTERN. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. The British have always been celebrated as a most amphibious Taco. From the period when our uncivili-ed and haF-naked ancestors paddled about the Thames in their wicker coricles to the present day when our fleets are distributed all over the globe, a nautical taste bas been strongly developed in the English character. It is true that aittepiarian research has failed to discover the remains of aboriginal ship-yards under the marshes of Poplar and Thackwall, nor have the Roman authors c , trumunicated to poisteri y their admiration for the won ders of any such places as Sheerness and Portsmouth. But though mechanical skill may have given us the means of apOsong the national aquatic propensity to the best possible aisaetage, yet that propensity has no less been an essential part of the English character in all ages. There is, a natural tendency to progress in the minds of tnen. A small invention when first known may excite astonishmere, and admiration, but we soon tire of it in its original limit, and seek for it in some more extended torm. The marvel of yesterday may be the common p'ace of to-day, and the laughing-stock of to-morrow. Even the wonders of telegraphic communication have now become stale, and we begin to consider that the in vention is not such a great boon after all, as it cannot be applied to the transmission of merchandise. It is but ' a few years since we escaped from the tedious and uncer tain navigation of sailing ships, and hailed with delight the application of steam power, which rendered us at once independent of the caprices of wind and weather. Yet, now we look upon the short sea passage to the Continent, even when performed in the greatest steamers, as slow and behind the age, and dre no of submarine tunnels and fling machines to render the " through j . turney to Pars" something mote thin a figure of speech. Even the wicker coricles of the Brutii were, no doubt, considered won• dory at the time of their invention, and we do not know what odes may have been recited in their favour by the Druids. The galleys and entail sailing slaps of the Saxons and Normans were the next succeeding improvements. But the asionislimeut which was excited through out the world in the sixteenth century by the build ing of a vessel of less than a thousand tons is familiar to all who are acquainted with history. Yet vessels of a thousand tons have become commonplace, and ships of nearly four times the size constantly to be seen at our seaports. But now we have arrived at a period when a moderate increase in the magnitude of our undertakings will not keep pace with toe spirit of the day. By dou bling the size of our ships we should fail to excite the sa tteted wonder ; a more rapid progression is necessary. We are not now looking fora a d to the couip'etion of a vessel twice the size of the Himalaya, or exceeding the dimensions of the Niagara, but absolutely five !times the itrze of the largest vessel hitherto built. There was an observation made some time ago by an eminent nava! authority that the limits of naval architecture as regards size had been reached ; that it was impossible to work vessels of greater maenitude than a firstrate lineett batie ship, nil ss also men of Csclopeari proportions could be found as a crew. The difficulty is more appa rent than real, though no one can wonder at the obsir vation being snide who pays a visit to the Great Best ern. It is, indeed, impossible to conceive how that gigantic mass can be placed udder the control of men of the ortiinary s rusture, and we almost expect, as we wander about the yard, to stumble suddenly upon some of the Brobdignagians tor whom she must be intended. Upan examining the vessel, however, we see how every appliance is made use of that can possibly save manual labour. Ebe may be almost considered, indeed, as a vast automaton. Auxiliary engines are placed every where round the deck to perform the duty of the sailors ender their supeitatendence. By these her anchors will br cast and weighed, her sails spread and furled, h'er cargo stowed and discharged, and the alai for her fires brought into the stoke-hole ; in tact, she realises the true idea of a steam ship. It is very t:iflicult to realise the magnit u d e o f t h e h ul l b y a close i nspect i on. We see a certain amount of red Fainted iron side, which is opposed to us, and which conveys no idea of vastness te i3portionon eandt which our minds. E ven if we walk :-long the side every suc cessiveev n s n bu a t d a eg r u ep at e e ti i t d io o n a ofof the e obtainpays j a i ;rest Ea-tern in this way would be like walking two r three times round Kensington -oval to see a mile of tialtegs. If we go upon the deck we certainly can ob aiii a better notion of her, but it is onlv'done by coin 'arisen. We stand upon an extensive plain of iron so studded with rivets that you fancy you are wa king on :he pathway of some old French town. In this expanse ,f iron there are some d , zen extensive gaps left open fir perpose of fitting in the engines and b niers. By :ooking down these apertures we see a space like a small riaaro in de Te 123149. This we know is one of the rI3.E SUN, LONDON, IUESDAY EVENIN G, MAY 5, 1857 water-tight compartments, and if by a mental process of A rithmetic we can tnultiply the apnareet magnitude by . . 12, we may get a toleraide idea of the interior, but even by c omparisons an adequate notion of heris har d to form. Figures are tie only means of ex[laining magnitude. and to these we must have rec - ourse. She is very nearly 700 feet in extreme length, with a width of 83 feet ; the x treme breadth across the paddle-boxes is upwards of 120 feet, and the depth of the bold 60 feet. The aggregate tonnage is very nearly 23,000. She is built entirely of wrought iron, and is so rivet . ted and bolted together that sbe is like ore entire piece ; but in order to give in creased strength and stability, a second iron skin, as it is called, is placed inside the first, at the distance of 2 feet 10 inches, as complete and perfect as the outside one. This double case extends to three feet above the water line, and is divided transver-ely into small air tight compartments ; double security is thus given in case, by any accident, the outer boll might get perfo rated. In the interior, as a precaution against fire and leakage, she is divided into 12 water-tight compartments by iron bulk-heals, half an Inch thick, all entirely Pepe rated from each other. So carefully have the sides been constructed that previous to their being covered with the waierpro , f cement nearly all the seams where the plates are j fined were found to be water-tight. About 8,000 tons of wrought iron has been used in the 60,000 superficial feet of plates used in her hull. These are fastened together by 3 , 000,000 wrought-iron rivets. The manner in which ;he was constructed is very peculiar, the whole of the heavy lifting work being done by a powerful steam cradle, fitted up on purpose. Tne plates properly punched are heated to redness in the furnaces, and while in that condition are hoisted to their proper places. The white hot rivets are then immediately driven home, and the iron as it cools contracts so considerably as to render tie seams quite water-tight. The deck which, as before stated, is entirely of iron prate, sup ported on wrought- ron girders, will, when the vessel is launched, be covered to the thickness of an inch with a preservative cement, and afterwards Wankel She will be fitted with both paddle and screw engines ; the for mer of 1,500 horse power, and the latter 1,800 horse power, giving a total of 3,300 horse-power, at a pres sure of 251 b. to the square inch. Of course she can, if necessary, work up to 5,000 horse-power. The paddle engines will c insist of four oscillating cylinders, 6 feet 2 inches in diameter, and 14 feet stroke, each of which weighs more than 26 tons. Tne steam to set these in me, tion will be generated by 4 boilers, having 40 furnaces. These engines are constructed on the d:sconnectine prin ciple, by which either of toe paddle-wheels may be worked independently of the other, if required. The diameter of the paddle-wheele will be about 56 feet. The screw engines wilt certainly be the pr ncipal use ins of propelling the vessel. They cen-ist of 4 cylinder-, of 7 feet in diame ter and 4 feet stroke. The weight of each of these cylinders will be 30 tons. The number of boilers will be 6, provided wi h 72 furnaces. The screw will have four blades, each 12 feet long, and the length of the cennect ing shaft will be 150 feet, and its weight 60 tons. The consumption of coals by these gigantic engineii will, of course, be very great, but at the same time the stowage room wi l be quite in proportion ; she will be able to carry nearly 12,000 tons of coal, or about sufficient to supply her for the out and return voyage between Eng land and Australia. The total weight of the vessel when ready for launching will be about 12,000 tons, and the displacetneet of water to compensate for this weight will be about 15 feat 6 inches ; her ordinary light draught is 20 feet, and the maximum draught, when fully laden, will probably not exceed 30 feet. The accommodation is to be such as has never before been known on board ship. She will have five upper and five lower saloons ; those on the upper deck being 70 feet long and 12 feet in height, and 36 feet bread. The lower deck saloons are only 60 fr et long, but are 13 feet 8 inches high, an elevation, equal if not superior to that of most ordinary drawing-rooms. Of course, with the vast bulk of the ship :t is anticipated that there will not be any motion --at least not sufficient to disturb the stomach of even the most sensitive passengers. Under steam alone she is expected to attain the speed of 20 miles an hour. She is to carry six masts, three of which will be square rigged. They are to be of hollow wrought iron, with the exception of the mizenroast, which is to be of wood. It has been urged as an objection that it wou'd be im possible to get the compasses to act correctly in the neighbourheed of such a mass of iron. To guard aoinst such interference the corrected compasses will be kept on the mizentnast, at the height of 84 feet from the deck, and consequently suffieieetly removed from surrounding objects to be always pretty reliable. When under furl sail she will spread some 6,500 square yards of can vas. The standing rigging is to be of iron-wire rope, some portions of which will be eight inches in cir cumference. The Great Easter) is chiefly in tended for passenger traffic, and is to be fitted to accommodate 800 of the first class, 2,000 second class, and 1,200 third class—in all 4,000 passengers, and if used as a troop-.hip it is said she can take nearly 11,000 men, baggage and provisions included. Ample boat-accommodation will of course, be provided for the whole number of her passengers. In addition to 20 lirge boats on the deck she will carry, suspended aft her pa 4 - die-boxes, two small iron screw steamers, each about 100 feet long, and nearly 70 tons burden. They can beraised from or lowered into the water. by small auxiliary en gines provided for the purpose. These steamers are in oi-peni,able adjuncts to a sh p of this size, AS it would he impossible for her to cross even a moderate bar, and there is no deck that would take her in. The snipping and unshipping of passe gers and cargo would be a mat ter of great difficulty without them. She aid he one of the first vessels tbat has been launched completely fitted, arid wi h engines, masts, and evert thing on board, nor, c)uld it be done in her case if the launch was to take piece in the ordinary way, but this is not the case. She will belowered down an inclieed plane into the river by hydraulic presses, an operation which will occapy at least a day or two. She is to be ready for launching in August, and will take hg trial trip to America about the middle of that month. The arrangements for the no vel m •de of launching, the ultimate success of which °pee raii el we cannot but think problematical, we will reserve for our nr-x, notice on this subject. We (Bristol Advertiser) are informed that it is no longer a matter of uncertainty from which Pert the Great Eastern will sail Milford Haven has been se -1 rated as the favoured spot—no other harbour in the kingdom being able to afford her accommodation. Our iutormant states rhatthe moorings for this mighty levia than are now being laid at Neyland. HONOURABLL CONDUCT. TESTIMONIAL TO DONALD MACDOUGALL, ESQ., OF INVERNESS. (From the Caledonian Mercury.) A large assemblage of the personal and business friends of Donets Macdooga 1, Esq , of Inverness, met within Carrick's Royal Hotel, on Thursday last, for the purpose of presenting to him a testimonial of respect. The more immediate object of the testimonial Will be learned In m the proceedings at the meeting. Among the company present were—the Hon. the Lord Provost ; Sir James Campbell of Stracathro ; Bailie Wright; John Gilmour, ; James Gourley, E-q. ; A n•lrew Wingate, jure, Esq. ; William Wingate, E-q. ; John MiDonald, Esq. ; John Anderson, Esq ; John Harvey, ; John Wilson, Esq. ; James Arthur, Esq ; Walter Scobie, Esq. ; John Robertson, Esq. ; William Weitheari, Esq. of Edinburgh; Valiance, Esq , of Edinburgh ; Robert Forrester, E4q., &c , &o. Sir J. CAMPBELL, addressing Mr. Macdougall, said— It is my pleasing duty, sir, in compliance with the re quest of the gentlemen who have taken the mere imme diate charge of the arrangements for the present occasion, to beg your acceptance of the articles of silver plate now before me, in testimony of the high respect of a number of mercantile names and firms in England and Scotland, who have benefited by your most creditat le, honourabl-, and self-denying conduct in paying the balance of your obligations of 1837, for which You were no longer legally I:able. It is within the knowledge of the gentlemen present, sir, that upwards of twenty years ago, when you were but a young man, and little more than entered upon your career in business.on your own account, hav ing met with disappointments and losses, to which mer cantile pursuits are always liable, you found yourself in such pecuniary difficulties as made it prudent and neces sary, while at the 'same time most honourable on your part, to submit your affairs to your creditors. Tne re sult was an arrangement made to the entire satisfaction of your creditors, by Which you were to pay a compo i• tion on your liabilities, which was acknowledged to be the ample value of the assets of your estate. That ' composition was punctually and honourably paid,,and although your means were thus but limited, the confi dence of your friends was not denied you—your credit was completely restored. Since that period, sir, you have applied yourself to the prosecution of your business with great energy, industry, and skill, and with most praiseworthy economy. But you have had great mo tives to encourage you onward. With the ordinary am bition for success, without which there seldom is progress in any work, you have had an interesting family to pro vide for, and you have had also, sir, the noble aspira tions for independence—you would " owe no man any thing" by any interpretation, legal or moral. We are rust here to-day to acknowledge the practical result of your exertions, and to testify our mote of your merito rious and honourable conduct by presenting to you these articles of plate. We beg you will accept them, sir, with our earnest prayer that you may long l ive to enjoy them, with all the pleasing associations they wilt ratur ally carry with them ; and that they may go down through generations in your family, as a testimony to your weeth, and to the estimation in which you have been held by all who knew ycu. Mr. MACDOUGALL in reply said —Sir James Campbell, your kind and flattering remarks have so overpowered me, that I fear I shall scarcely find words adequate to the expression 4 what my full Highland heart at pre sent feels. It is to me a source o f no or di nar y gratifica tion, I will net say pride, to have the honour of meeting so many honourable men ; but instead of glorifying my self on this occasion, I ought to give humble and devout thanks to the Source whence all blessings flow, that He bas so preserved my health and nerved my arm as to enable me, though with a severe struggle, to do a simple act of justice, and to pay each man his own. Sir James and gentlemen, or I may be permitted t o sa y kind j friends, a sense of u-tice ought to compel me to acknow ledge that I am utterly undeserving of this magnificent testimony of your approval and good fteing. I ought rather to have presented each of you with some tangible expressi p i , o f my ratitude and respect for the kind for bearance you exemplified when circumstances over which I bad no control necessitated me to deprive you of a con siderable portion of what you were justly entitled to re ceive, and which I have been so tardy in repaying. Had it not been for your kind consideration upon that occa sion, I ni . ght possibly, at the present moment, have been a poverty-stricken and heart broken outcast, instead of a prosperous man. It is to you, then, I owe . my present I POSiticn ; for since the first moment the idea of pay- ing all in full entered my mind, till the present time, I Providence seems to have prospered me ; and if it is an I unwonted occerrerice tor a man to do this, sorely there ought to be no merit attached to the act, it being a simple one of dirty. Even in performing that duty, if merit be attached to it, I must give the credit not to myself, but to the excellent szat - nple I had in early life set before me, by the single-hearted Christian whom I ever revered as the best of fathers, and who, like myself, was beset with difficulties:, compounded, but lived to do as I have done now. His honesty of principle was a ►l be had to bequeath me—all I inherited from him. Thack God, my practice in this case has not disgraced the memory I venerate. However, t y this act I have gained what is precious to me—your approbation ; and I beg your acceptance of my more than thanks, from an over flowing warm heart, for those beautiful, useful, and costly specimens of the silversmith's art. I can assure you the recollection of this day will be engraved on the tablets of my memory ; and should it be God's good pro viderce to spare toy dear children, I shall band these down as an heoloom to them, and should any of them be at any time what their father was—unfortunate—this example of their forefather. shall, in language not to be misunderstood, teach them the wise and glorious lesson, " Go ye and do likewise " Tue testimonial consisted of a silver tea service, and several other articles of plate, atnong which was a superb silver salver, bearing the following inscription :—" Pre sented, with a tea service and other articles of silver plate, to Donald Macdougall, Esq , Inverness, by a ❑umerous circle of commercial friends, as a testimonial of their re• epect, and more particularly as an expression of their sense of his honourable conduct in paying the balance of his obligations of the year 1837, frein which he had been fully discharged.-30th April, 1857." After presentation of the testimonial, the company dined together in the hotel—Sir James Campbell in the chair, and John Gilmour, E q., croupier. Appropriate and «xcellent speeches were delivered by the Chairman, the Lord Provost, and ether gentlemen ; and the even ing was spent in the most harmonious and happy manner. A COURT SERMON AT THE TUILERIEI A Paris correspondent of Le Nord says : The sermons preached during Lent by the Reverend Father Ventura, in the chapel of the Tuileries, before the Emperor and Empress, have obtained great celebrity, and are much spoken of, though the, text has not yet appeared, to make us acquainted with what was really delivered by the celebrated preacher. Whilst awaiting the publication, which is being prepared by Father Ventura, the following is an analysis of the sermon he pr4acheri on Easter day, only a few days subsequent to the , entene9 pronounced by the Council of State against the Bishop of Moulins. I think tha analysis will be no unacceptable novelty to your r ad , rs " Crucifixes in iogrotitate, vivit in rirtute Dei. " One of the most touching prophecies of David is that wherein he aenounces that the flesh of the Messiah shall live and flourish again. In fac , ,, death and corrup tion could not detein that fl sh, united substantiaby with the Word, which is the life and the vivifying prin ciple. We have been witnesses in our day of a fact anal igous to this grand and divine event. allowing for the distance, however, between the finite and the in finite.—l mean the fell and restoration of the empire. "As Jesus Christ was condemned by the justice of Pagan R nne, so EurOpean diplomacy had surrounded the empire with its prseteriane and sealed its rein with an official seal. They bad even dem eed that not one of the members of the imperial family should ever be able to ascend any European throne. They had forgotten only one thing, which was to affix to the act the signa ture of God. And I I the empire rises anew at a mo ment when nothing permitted ,stich an event to be fore seen, when any one predicting it might have passed for a =Oman. " I. Tne cause of the restoration of the Empire. "The French nation is the eldest daughter of the Church, not because its members were the first to profess Christianity, since Italy was Christian be fere France, but because France was the first to consti tute herself as a Christian nation, in her laws, in her political Existence. She has also been the set tier of the church. Therefore the great and holy pontiff Zacharias gave to Charlemagne the Latin empire, the empire of the west, the Christian empire. Through the fault of that monarch's successors, the successors of him the greatest of Christian princes, the empire passed from France to Germany. " But as St. Thomas teaches—Niltil quod per acci dens proceditur is durable. The empire is essentially French. At an epoch when the German fen pire had long since ceased to be, when there was, as has been so well said, neither empire, nor saint, nor Ronan, Pius VII., the worthy successor of St. Zacharias, restores the empire to France. It was not merely that he caused the sacred unction to flow upon man, he raised up an empire from its ruins. Diplomacy, joining in chorus with heresy and leer du lite, laughed at the ineffiacy of this unction Bit Go•i, in His turn. made a laughing-stock of it. Q , a habitat in coelis irridebit eos, et Dominus subaannabit eos. The empire is reborn. But as Jesus Christ again rises from the tomb with a better life, so the secood empire is more beautiful than the first. The first was the terror of nations, the second is their hope. Tne first reigned by the reason of force, the second reigns by the force of reason ; the first made war only in order that war might better be recommenced ; that empire was war. The second makes war solely to attain peace ; the second empire is peace. Proud Alhien, who had laboured so powerfully to overibrow the first, has be come the most faithful ally of the second. The mercer) tile genius o Eegland has glowed with admiration for the warlike genius of France displayed in the Crimea. We have seen the great power of the north come to Wee shelter under the shadow of France in the congress of Paris, and consign to her the care of her interests and dignity. The French may well be proud to see their country again placed at the head of the world. ."11. The condition of the E.npire's duration. " Christus resurgent jam non moritur ; mors illi ultra non dominabitar. Tne Christian empire shall not perish so long as it shall continue what it is. " The condition of its duration is that it shall preserve the christian sap infused into it by the holy pontiff Zacharias. The mission of the present empire is to re move with prudence, and by degree?, but with firmness. the pagan elements which are in the bosom of society. and to cause Jesus Christ to reign throughout the world. "The cepituleries of Charlemagne always bear these words : Domino nostro Tem Christo. It was less the reign of a man than the reign of Jesus Christ. " It appertains to no one to give advice to the Em peror, His disposition is so religious, his prudence so exalted, that we may answer for the future from the past. We are assured that he will not quit the path ID which be has hitherto walked. Not only has he restored Franca to her rank among nations, restored to Europe her equilibrium, and has preserved the lesser nationalities , but in tha religious sphere espe• cially he has fulfilled his mission. lie has de livered two-thirds of the French youth from the oh ligation of passing under the yoke of a pagan instruc tion ; he has just enacted a law the full effect of which few persons yet comprehend, and which will have the happiest influence over families (.he bifurcation of studies). Whilst the Empress fulfils the mission con fided to in c a u s i ng p rac ti c al catholicism to reign at her the curt, tte Emperor will perform his proper mission by establishing this same catholicism in the laws. Thus his crown will descend and touch the brow of hie son, that child of blessedness. The Emperor will be the happiest of husbands and the most fortunate of fathers, as he is the mo-t powerful of monarchs, and his glory iu hla present time will the prelude ef &Arms eta., glory." THE CASE OF MISS SMITH. Several contradictory statements have been cir cula-ed relative to the time and place of the triai of Miss Madeline Smith. We believe that nothing has yet been fixed in either respect ; but the ac cused bas taken advantage of a provision in the law, known as "running letters," whereby she must be indicted within 60 days, and t: ied within 40 more, or else discharged. The CI own, however, has the power of postponing the trial for 40 days more by " criminal letters," so that practically 140 days altogether may elapse hef , re trial ; and the ordinary course of ciirninal proctdure seldom re quires a longer period of preparation than is really gained by this mode of forcing on thi, trial —North British Mail.--A correspondent of a contemporary says :—" Miss Smith was brought through from Glasgow on Thursday, I believe, and lodged in the prison of Edinburgh. Meanwhile, her trial, which is expected to take place iu the last week of May, is looked forward to with uo ordinary degree of expectancy. All sorts of rumours are afloat bear ing on the character of Miss Smith and the young Frenchman L'Angelier, whom she is accused of having poisoned. It is, of course, out of the ques tion to place any reliance upon those stories, but it is said that the evidence at the trial will be of a very startling n&ure—so much so indeed that it may be deemed advisable to conduct the case with closed doors. I conversed the other day with a person who saw and talked with Miss Smith on the day of L'Angelier's death, and, of course, be fore it was known to her, or any suspicion had arisen regarding it, and he informed me that the young lady was as gay and fascinating as he had ever seen her. In little more than a week after wards she was committed to prison. Those who profess to be acquainted w.th the circumstances of her connexion wish L'Angelier, so far as these are known to the family, are very sanguine as to her acquittal ; but whatever the result may be, the trial will be one of the most exalting that has taken place in recent times." The annual general meeting of the graduates of the London University will be held it the Freemason's Tavern this evening. James Russell, Esq., M.D., will preside. Ms. APSLET PELLATT AND THE ELECTORS OF SOCTRWARE.—Last evening a meeting war hell at the Lecture Hall, Fair-qtr -et, Hortielydown, for the purpose of presenting a memorial to Mr. A. Pellatt, late M.P. for South mark. Mr. Howard was in the chair, and pre sei.ted Mr. Pellatt with an address, expressing approval of his conduct in and out of Parliament. In acknow ledging the compliment, Mr. Pellatt sai3 that he hay received numerous expressions of sympathy at the re sult of the late election from friends on both sides of the house. He then referred to measures he had introduced or supported and vindicated in opposition to the measure brought forward by the great dock companies as one which would deprive numbers of :lightermen of employ ment. Mr. Pellatt was wrarmly , received. About 400 persons were present. LAW INTELLIOENCO.—May 4. VICE CHANCELLORS' COURTS-MAY 4. (Before Vice-Jhancelior Sir J. STUART.) BRVMFIT V. MORTON. This was a bib for the sre. ific performance of an agreement dated on the 6th of December, 1856, by which the plaintiff agreed on or before the sth of January then next to assign to the defendant "the two inessuages or public-house called tl , e Cider Cellars, being No.. 20 and 21, iu Maiden-lane, Covent-garden, for the residue of two several terms of 60 years and 21 years, for whieh the plain iff held. the sauna under leait s, of whi.th terms 38 years and . . 8 years, or th-reaboUts were unexpired, subject to the yearly rents of 1541. and 501. respectively, and to the covenants in such leases contained and free from all encumbrances." The agreement also con tained stipulations that the defendant should take the tenant's fixtures, and the stock of ale, porter, win-S, and spirits on the premises at a valuation, avid that the defendant should accept the assign ment before mentioned "w.thout requiring evi dence of any title prior to the above-mentioned leases," and that he should "not make any objec tion thereto, notw.thstanding any recital, state ment, or covenant flirein contained, or by reason of the leases being derivative or under le ises." It appeared that the plaintiff was not entitled to all the premises comprised in the lease for 60 years, but that he was entitled to a part only thereof, and th tt such part, together with all the premises com prised in the term for 21 years, had been assigned to him in 1854, for the residue then unexpired of the two terms of 60 years and 21 years, except the lsst seven days of each of such terms, at a rent in the one case of 101 and in the other of 501. The other part of the premises compris , d in the term for 60 years had been demised, iu 1836, by the per son in whom the ti le to that term was then vested, to one Levy, and it was now usedas a Jewish syna gogue. It also appeared that the defendant at tended at the office of the plaintiff's s licit >r, in company with his own solicitor's clerk, in order to sign the agreement before-mentioned, and on tint occasion an abstract of the plaintiff's title to the pre mises which formed the subject of the case was handed to the cle , k, who looked merely t.t one or two pages at the commencement of the abstract, but did not examine the abstract suflicien ly to make himself .equainted with the pl,intiff's title, and in a few minutes afterwards returned tbo abstract to the plaintiff's solicitor. The plaintiff delivered an ab stract of his title to the defendant on the 11th of De:;einber last ; and, after some correspondence tween their respective solicitors on the subject of the defendant's requisitions as to the plaintiff's title, the defendant on the 4th of F...br uary declined to complete his purchase. The bill was then filed. Mr. Craig and Mr. Roge- s were for the plaintiff; anti Mr. Bacon and Mr. Bazalgette fur the de fendant. _ _ Toe Vice-Chancellor said that the plaintiff asked for the specific performance of an agree rent to purchase certain leasehold property. The defer); lant ed that on the production of the title the plaintiff was shown not to have such a leasehold interest as was described in the agreement - . The question turned on the language of the agn-em-irit as applied to the pl intiff's title. The plaintiff's coutontion was that th.: defendaqt at the !ime of signing the agreement had sufficient in'ormation as to the nature of the interest ha was purchasing to bind him to his contract. There was no ambiguity in the description of the property to be purchased by the defendant. The difficulty was as to the uttitte of the plaintiff's intere which was de scribed in the agreement. The original lease, creat ing the term of 60 years i❑ No. 21, Maiden-lane, reserved a rent of 1541., whereas the lease mid r which the plaintiff held reserved a rent of 1501. But that was not all. The defendant, on investi gating the plaintiff's title, foiled that the lase creating the term of 60 years comprised other pro perty which was now underet to one Levy and used as a Jewish synagogue, and that this property was not comprised in the agreement of the 6t of Dec mber last. Thus the defendant by no defAult of his own would be liable to he evicted from a part of th premises comprised in the agree recent in case of a breach by Levy of any of the covenants contained in the lease creating the term of 60 years. To expose a purchaser to such a risk there ought to be a certainty either from the language of lhe agreement or upon the evidencethat he was aware when he signed the agreement he was purchasing subject to such a risk. Here there was no such evidence, nor did the agreement on the face of it show that the plaintiff's interest was exposed to such a risk. There was also nothing in the evidence which would justify the court in hold lug that the production of the abstract on the occa sion of the agreement being signt•d would fasten the purchaser with notice of the plaintiff's pecular title. It was a case in which it was impo4sible that the court could decree specific performance ; but, as the defendant had shown a want of caution and pru dence in the matter, and as a good deal had been done by him in respect of hiving a valuation made of the fixtures and stock to be taken by him, the b 11 would be dismissed without costs and without prejudice to either party's right to any action at COURT OF COMMON PLEAS—MAY 4. (Sittings in ainco—Rtster Term.) DENIS V. MORLEY ♦ND COBBET. In this ca-e Mrs. Cobb-ttt move.i for a habeas corpus to bring up the body of her busban I, now in the Queen's prison, in order that he might be ena.led to move for a rule for a new trial. The action was iu ejectment, tried before Mr. Justice Williams, in which the vcr.lict was f. mud fir the plaintiff. A long affidavit filed by MrA. Cobbett was then read by the Master, setting forth the grounds upon which she wished to move for a new trial. The Lord Chief Justice—Your husband in this affidavit does not show that he is riot in a erudition to apply to the court through learned counsel. Mrs. C )lAett—l should be very happy if any gentleman would do it. There is a gross conspiracy against my husband. All the counsel I have spoken to about it say, "You are right, but you avid. never succeed, because all the judges are against you." The Lord Chief Justi. , !e—l fear the court has no power to grant such a habeas. Mrs. Cobt.ett—Oh, yes. Chief Baron Pollock in a similar c tse in which my husband was con cerned said be could have a habeas ; and Mr. Jus t ce Williams gave my husband a habeas at ch,m bers. The Lord Chief Justice—ln what court did you ever obtain a hat eas ? Mrs. Cobbett-011, 50 or 60 habeases, my lord, in all the three courts. I have moved for a habeas to bring my husband up in all the courts. I was never refused a habeas. The Court always held I had a right to apply for one. The Lord Chief Justice—We understand there was a doubt expressed on the subject by Mr. Baron Parke • but have sent to inquire. Af er a short interval, his lordship said the inquiry had been made, and the Court found that, although at one time a practice had grown up of granting applica tions very much at Mr. Cohbett's instance, the matter had since been reconsidered, and the Court of Exchequer had come to a resolution that such applications as the present could not be granted, and the Court of Quain's B• nch had concurred in that rule. • The Court feat that this practice was ir regular, and they must also be bound by the rule laid down in the other courts, which was only go:n; b ack to the old decisions. The learned judge refereed to the case of Mr. Hunt, who made a similar ap plication to be brought up on a habeas from Il chester gaol, to show cause against a rule, which was refused. Mr.s. C.,bbett—My husband was imprisoned 12 years wrongfully for a contempt of the Court of Chancery, and I moved for 56 habeases, and he was discharged at last. The Lord Chief Justice—lf he is wrongfully im uo:sonecl, no doubt you can move for a habeas. Mrs. Cobbett—He is falsely imprisoned now. The Lord Chief Justice—The Court is of opinion that they have no power to grant this application. If you wish to move on other grounds we will hear you. Mrs. Cobbett said she was not then prepar,d, and retired from the court. [ADVERTISEMENT.) —The indefatigable researches of Dr Livingstone have suddenly made us acquainted with one of the happiest people in the world, of whose very existence little was hitherto known in civilised Europe generally. In their ailments they never have recourse to cod liver oil, and they are equally independent of physic and the physician, for Dr. Livingston found their staff of life to be the Revalenta Arabica Food, which keeps them perfectly free from disease, " consumption, scrofula, cancer, &c., having been scarcely heard of, and the smallpox and measles have not been known for 20 years " In England also the Revalenta Arabica has pro duced a wonderful improvement in the health of the people, removing cough, consumption, asthma, ebility, indigestion, (dyspepsia) constipation, nervous, bi !ions, and liver com plaints, and restoring the faculty of digestion, and nervous muscular energy to the most enfeebled, as proved by testi monials from the celebrated Professor of Chemistry Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr Shorland ; Dr. Harvey ; Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wurzel.; Dr. ingrain ; Lord Stuart de Decies ; the Dowager Countess of Castlestuart, and 50,000 other well known individuals, whose health has been restored by this useful and economical diet, after all other means of cure had been tried in vain for many years, and all hopes of recovery abandoned. Its effect ou the progress of population is most favourable as exhibited by the Registrar-General,show ing for Loudon an average of 1780 weekly births against a mortality of 1200, leavinga happy gain of 580, or near 50 per cent, in favour of progress ; a result most cheering to all classes, as it opens a fair prospect that by the more general use of Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food the Europeans will soon enjoy the same freed m from disease as the West Africans. It is sold in canisters, 11b., 2!. 9d. ; 21b., 4s. 6d. ; 51b , 22s The 121 b. carriage free, ou receipt of post-office order. Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent•street ; Fort num, Mast,u, and OD., IS2, Piccadilly; Abbis, 60, Grace. church-street; 63 and 150, Oxford-street; 330 and 430, Strand, London, Names of O. Dividend Price. Names of ~: Dividend Companies. 1 per - per wee. n 2 Annum. wee. i 3 Annum. z ---. £ £ Ashtn &Oldh 93 71. p. et. Peak }Vest. 78 51. Os. Birmingham 40 41. 91 Reg,en Vs •• • - 30 178 16 Coventry...• 100 11.. Rochdale.... 85 41. Derby .. •. .. 100 61. 15s. Bttird &Won. 140 281 GrandJunetn iOO 21. pr. ct. Stourbridgv. 14 5 121. 10s. Do.. 6 pr. Ct. 10 61 pr et. Severn and'Grand Union 100 7s 6d I Wye Rail. j 26 it ' 16s * Kennt & Avr, 40 63. 6 1 4 Warwick & Leeds &L , y/ 1 100 251. 4`. , 0 i Birming. i (00 21 . 25 Leicester ...• 100 Si. Virarwick & 1 Leiestr ,`,.'U \Tit 83 11.5 s I Napton.. 5 100 21 ' Lough(, rogh 143 70, , Worestr & 1 78 10s. 16% Macclesfield. 100 21. 108. 1 Birming., Neath .. • ... 100 161. W ilts & BrkE 7s. Od. 4% Oxford.. •• • • 100 WATER-WORKS. PRICE ABE'S From the Official List. EVEILY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING LONDON, FRIDAY, MAyil, 1857. CANALS. Name of Company. Berlin •• • • • East London Do 4 per Cent. Prof. Do. • - . Do. 5 per Cent. Pref. Grand Junction .... • • Do Lambeth • • .... • • • • • • New River Company .. Southwark & Vauxhall Nest Middlesex •• • • .. Do. Do, ..... • New •• •• •• Name of Company. flunzerford.... • • .... Southwark ......•• Ditto New of 7% p.c. Water 100........ . • • • • Ditto Old Ann. of St. Ditto Nw ditto of 71. Vauxhall •• Name of Company Commercial .• •... • • Do. Preference East and West India.. Grand 4urry D. & Canal 1 , 0. Loan Notes .... Do. 5 per cent. Pref. London .... •• •• • • +t. Katnarine ........ outhampton Victoria •• • • ••• • • • Ditto New .. • A`l-LIGII' Name of Company. British Frovincial ... Brighton •• :••• •••• . iiit; of London •• Equitable •..... •• .• European.... .•• •• •• I reat Central [inperlal •• .• •• •• Ditto New Ditto De , entu• es Do. Continental I stCay. no. Do. 2,1 Cap. Do. Do. 3cl Cap. Do. Do. 4th Cap. Independent . London Parl. Preferen. pncohis . ..•• •• •• Rateliff • • . Surre; Consumers United General • • Westminster Chartered Ditto, New Western A. Ditto B •... •• • • Name of Company. Albion ....•• .. •.•• •• tilliana Bri:. and For. Ditto Marine ....... Athenmum .......... Atlas 4rgus Life British Commercial .. Church of England .. City of London .. •• ClericlAcd.& Gen. Life Jounty ........ Crown • ..• .• •• •• •• •• Eagle Equity and Law...... European Life Faintly Endowment •• General .............• Globe Gresham Life . ....... Do- Do. ....... guardian ............ Imperial Fire... •• Imperial Life Indemnity Marine.... Law Fire •• Law Lite.•• •• •• •• Legal and General Life London London & Prey. Law • • Marine..• • • .... • • • • • • Med. hrilid & Gen. Life Minerva Monarch ...• New Equitable Pelican •• •• •• •• • •• •• Phoenix •.••• • . •• • • Profeseonal Life • Provident Life Rock Life..... • • Royal Exchange .... • Sun Fire ...... • Ditto Life United Kingdom .... Universal Life .• • Victoria Life ........ Name of Company. Xustralasia... Bank oi Egypt ...• • Bank of London British NorthAnicricat Ch Bk. Ind. Aust & Ch City•• •• .... • . Colonial • •• • • • • •• Commercial of London. Eng Scot & Aust. Ch. Loud. C nar. Bk. of Aus Do. New .. • • •• • • • • Londdn and County • • Lon & Eastn Bokg. C. London -Joint-Stock Londe And Westminstr Nat. Provincial of Eng. Ditto, New .. •• • • • • Ditto ditto Nationi.l Bank New oath Wales .. •• in•lentai Bank Corpora. Ottoman Bank Frovinctal of Ireland Ditto, New.• lonian—. • . • South Atustralla • • - Union of Australia Ditto Union of Hamburg Union of London...— Uni•y Mutual Western Bank o' Loud n 401. per cent , 1. per cent, 9 per cent. per cent. 51. per cent. 7/. p. c. & bs. 4 . per cent. 5L percent. tat. per cent. 6; per cent. 28 per cent. 18 per cent. l6pc. &bs ST.per cent. 20'. per cent. 101. per cent. p. ct.&bs. I. per cent. 5,!. per cent. 101. per cent. 11/. per cent. 151. per cent.l LIST OF SCOTTISH COM. Divid end per Annum. 7/. per cent. 81. per cent 81. per cent U. per cent 51. p cent 71. per cent 6/. per cent. 2341. p cent. 6y¢ per cent. 5/.per cent per cent /. per cent. 71. per cent. /. pr cer.: it. per cent. e t . per cent. per cent. 5/. per cent. 4/. percent. 5/.,ler cent. /. per cent. 61. per cant. 71. per cent. 7%/. prcent 5' per cent ISCELLANEOUS. Dividend per Annum. Gt • rer cent. 4 1 4/ per cent 81. pr cent It. 10s. 51. per cent si. per cet.t 5/, pet cent s , .per cent 61. per cent al. per cent. 61. per cent 21. per cent 71 pr. cent IVA/. per cent 61. per cent 31 per cent M. p c and 11 10/. per ct. & 12/. per cent 5/. per cent. 58. 51, per cent. 5/. per cent 6d. 1. per cent 71. per cent 1 1 A/. pr cert 0, 2 /. pr ceat., p. ,hare. lb/. per cent. 71. per cent. 7A,. pr cent. 10s. 6 per cent. Amotuit of Share. .£ s. d. 10 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 Stock Stock Stock Stock Stock 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 Stock. 5 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 15 0 0 4 0 0 Stock 100 0 0 10 0 0 lb 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 1 0 0 20 0 0 2) 0 0 5 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 130 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 Dividend per Annum. 51. per cnt. 6i. per cnt. 41. per cent. 51 per cent. It. per cnt. M. per ent 4L per cent BRIDO Dividend per Animm. 103 per cent. 11. 12s. (d. It. 9s. od. 235. Amount of Share. s. d. 10 0 0 Stock. 25 0 0 2i 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 130 0 0 61 0 0 5 1 8 Amount of Share. X s. d. 25 0 0 100 0 0 \l 5 O O O 0 ° 0 ° 60 0 0 40 0 0 70 10 3 DOCKS. Dividend per Annum. M. pr cent. 61. pr *lent. 41. per cent. 51. pr cent. 4%1. per cnt. 4 per cent. 5/. Os per c. ET AND COIC Dividend per An - num. 71. per cent 5/. per cent. 21. per cent. 21. 61 per cent. 41 per cent 10/. per cent. 31. ss. 41. 15,5. 41. 10s. per cent. SY, per cm 5/. g/. per cent. IGs Od pci‘, t sh 7 per cent. 71. per c. 71. 145.6 d. 1. p.c. & bs. 15s. 04. & bs 4s.per cent. 71. 10s. 71. 10s. 51. pr ct.& hs per share 1 483. ss. 5t4 per cent 1/. 41. per cent. G per cent. per cent 57. per cent 121. ‘er cent tl4s. p et. &bs 2s & 2s bons 20. per sh 4s. per share 18s. 8z bs. t% per cent 5 , per cent 5/. per cent. 6 A per cent ct. 51, per cent Si. per cent 12% per c. p c &bs p c & bs, l/ 14s 41. & bonus 51 & bonus. 54. & ouu, DINT -3 TOOK Dividend per Annum. ANKS. Amount of Share. £ s. d. 40 0 0 25 0 0 :00 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 ICO 0 0 20 0 0 120 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 15 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 Amount of Share. s. d. Stock. Stock. Stock. 100 6 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 Stock. Stock. 50 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 X s. d. 100 all Price Name of Company. Lank of Scotland .. • • British Linen Company Caledonian Bank .. •• . City of •-• lasgow Baak Clydesdale Bank •• • • C mmercial Bank • • Eastern Bark.. • • • • Edinb. & Glasgow.... National tank •• • • • • North of Scotland Bank Royal Bank of :4 cotl. .. Union Bank of Scot. • • Western hank........ Gliance Fire and Lice.. British Guarantee .. Caledonian Fire Insur City of , ilasgow Lite.. Co onial Life Edinburgh Life Instil' Eng. & Scot, Law Life Life Assoc. of tectland Nationa, Fire and Life North British Insur... Northern Assurdnce Co. Scottish Provincial .... Scottish Colon insrnc. Standard Life •• • . Name of Compai.y• Acadian Charcoal Iron African Steam Ship Assam •ea .. . • •• . A.uctpn Mart •• •• •• •• Australian A ; ricultur) Australian Trust •• Austraftian Royal Mall Anglo,Mexican Mint British American Land Canada ... Do. 5 per cent Bond Ditto, 5 per cent bds Ditto, 6 per cent. Ditto, 6 p c. bds 1874 Idito, 6 p c. bds 1876 Crystal Palace Ditto Preference.... Crye. Palace of France City Navigation Bonds vaectric Telegraph .. Eng.&Aus. Cop. Smelt. Eng Air's. %lag. T. Co. Equitable Beversionry bate New •• Gen. Revers. & Invest. Gen. L Sc. Col. (Lim.) Gen.-IteamNavigation London Gen. Omnibus Hudson's Hungerford ......•• Loa. Ne &Na. Maus°. London Reversionary Mex. & S. American Nat. Discount Comp •• N.S.W. Gov.sp.c. Deb. Nor. RH.. Australasian North of Europe, stip. Price's Patent Cami. Co Peel River Land&min. Pen. & Oriental Steam • Ditto New ...... Reversiorwy Int. Soc. Ditto New • • •• .• • • Royal Mail Steam.... Scottish Au=. Divest. South Australian Lana l'rnst and Lean Comp yaa Diemen's Land.. Do. Cloy. 6 kcr et.L 413. raid. Z s. d. Paid. I Price A s. d. Stock. too "6 0 tOO 0 0 50 0 Stock. 10! 50 - 0 0 20 0 0 14 0 0 COIIIPANIEs, Amount of Share. Paid, s. d. 20 0 0 20 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 10 0 0 i 0 0 0 50 0 0 Stock 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 25 0 0 60 0 0 20 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 LPANIES. 'RANCE CO. Dividend per Annum. Amount Of Share. £ s. d 'lOO 0 100 0 100 0 1 0 50 , 00 0 50 0 50 0 50 0 100 0 100 0 50 0 50 C • oco 0 20 100 0 5 0 Stock. 20 0 0 100 0 1, 500 0 0 100 0 C 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 'OO 0 0 '5O 0 0 20 0 0 5 0 0 10 0 0 6 5 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 20 0 0 ,100 0 0 'ANIES' Amtuat Share. a. d. 100 C 0 00 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 5 , 0 0 0 25 0 0 5 0 Z s. d. all 150 0 0 all 12 13 G - 100 0 , - 42 15 0 4' 41 0 0 - 43 10 0 - 41 0 0 - 52 0 0 4 , 16 0 0 - all 10 0 0} 1 4 0 0 Paid. I Prii £ s. d 50 0 0 11 0 0 25 0 0 41 all 5 15 25 0 5 a 2 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 o 5 0 5 0 5 0 0 5 7 a 1 18 40 0 a 1 5 1 all 9' 47 5 50 0 0 10 0 0 53 3) 0 0 2 10 0 2( 13 0 0 114 2 10 0 3 , t 2 10 0 6: 2 0 0 12 1) r 3! 20 0 20 0 0 7, 2 0 0 40 0 1 0 e li 10 0 0 I 1 , 0 21 o 10 0 10 0 0 0 10 0 5 fel 0 4 10 0 0 - 5 0 0 Paid. I Fri, Z s. d. 18 15 0 1 , 50 0 0 5 60 0 6 50 0 0 - 25 0 0 2 20 0 0 - 20 0 0 2! 50 0 0 - 10 0 0 3' 20 0 0 41 35 0 0 7 , 11 0 0 - 50 0 - 22 10 0 - au 15 0 0 25 0 0 2 10 0 - 30 0 - 10 0 0 2' 50 0 0 50 0 0 3! 'RICES• Paid. I Fri, X s. d. 100 0 0 196 100 0 0 230 2 10 1 3t 10 i 0 131 10 0 0 14 100 0 0 248 10 0 0 1151 5 0 0 5! 100 0 0 191 2 10 0 5/ 100 0 0 IZB 50 0 0 10.1 50 0 0 11 0 0 '7l 2 0 0 I/ 10 0 0 251 2 0 0 It 3 0 0 6/ 15 0 0 29 .3 5 0 4/ 3 0 0 61 1 4 0 2/ o 0 36 O 0 11 0 0131 0 0 111 0 201 Paid. 1 Pri, Z s. d. 2 0 0 30 0 0 20 0 0 19 0 0 25 0 0 all all 40 0 0 32 10 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 all 5 0 0 0000 all all 100 0 0 22 10 0 100 0 0 all 14 0 all Stock .5 0 0 100 0 0 all 17 10 0 I 0 0 0 all 20 0 0 60 0 0 all all 5 o 28 10 0 PRIVAT;3 AND JOINT-STOCK BANK The Bankers' Iffagazine furnishes the returns of circu hltion of the private and joint-stock banks in England and Wales for the four weeks end:ng the 11th of April, 1857, and gives the following as the average weekly cir• culation of those banks during the past month, viz. : Private banks Joint-stock banks 3,151,453 Average weekly circulation £6,914,231 On comparing the above with the returns for the pre ceding month, ending the 14 h of d a ch last, it shows— A. decrease in the circulation of the private banks of £124,160 A. decrease in the circulation of the joint-stock banks of 111,393 Decrease on the month and, as compared with the return for the correspond ing period of the preceding year—viz., April 12, 1856, it shows— A. decrease in the circulation of the private banks of An increase in the circulation of the joint-stock banks of £95,152 21 361 Decrease on the year £73,78/ On comparing the above with the amounts of the fixed issues the following appears to be the comparative state of the circulation : The private banks are below their fixed issues £753,284 The joint-stock banks are below their fixed issues Total below the fired issue SHIPPING RETURNS. The shipping statistics of the Board of Trade for the month ending the 31St of March present tx raordinary evidence of commercial activity. The arrivals were very numerous, and the clettrancet : i outward were also on a scale to indicate that valuable returns, either in specie or produce, must continue due to us. Subjoined are the totals : Entered inward : TONNAGE FOR MARCH. 1855. 1853. British vessels 229,910 290,266 United States' vessels Other countries 29,612 85,212 1857. 347,262 86,216 13 ~437 338,086 451,666 565,915 The clearances outward were : 1855. 1856. 1857. British vessels United States' vessels Other countries 100,965 150,339 151,267 552,951 70.1,922 792,911 With regard to the coasting trade it appears that, the - agiiregatecapaci.y of the vessel- entered inward in March, 1855, was 872,860 tons ;in 1856 it was 954,763; and in the preseht return it is 988,306 tons, including 9 foreign vessels, of an aggregate burden of 1 ,7 1 7 tons. lee. The clearances outward were 923,034 tons in March, 1855 ; 990,072 in 1856 ; and 1,065,897, including 11,936 tons of lolegn, in 1857. _ _ _ _ Country Markets. CHELMSFORD-MAT 1. Wheat to-day experienced a rather better sale, and the best samples must be quoted is per qr. dearer—inferior as rot week. Sp ing corn firm. Wheat, white, old, per s. a. 5. a. qr. 33 71 I Oats, per qr 24 30 ne w .... 36 70 I Peas, Partridge 41 43 old 3L 61 White 39 46 new.... 31 61 Boiling 39 45 Barley 35 46 Dun 37 39 iy 2 Chevalier 40 64 i Beans, Tick 35 39 5 35 45 Harrow ticks 39 47 s °4 Halt Grinding . 73 77 Mazagan 34 3 6 i,i, _ Chevalier 75 79 Ditto, new... 34 37 red, Official Statement of the Qua; in the port of London, fro [ce. April 27 to May 2, both in, EL-MAY 4 Entities of Corn, &c., received )m the following 1,o) ts, .elusive. rc m _ p:„ ..; . . 3 . 4 8 ' i 1 i ~.5., •3 A 0 pcl 04 M. • Colchester — ( , 380 ( — t -- C .- -- 200 ' Harwich 749 605( -- 13 suo Leigh - 75 ;N . IA lialdon 1 878, 9 f 1001— 307 1 384 COLC. ESTER- MAT 2. , Prices to-daywore as follow :—Wheat, white, 60; to 665; 7s red, 52.3 to 60s; barley, 44s to 48s ; oats, 25s to 283: boao, 3 Mazagan, 34s to 36.4; mithlle and small, 36s to 44s ; peas, white, 38s to 426 ; grey, sOs to 425. 3s KIRKCALDY—MAT 2. To-day we had a better supply of wheat and oats than on last market day, but only a few sacks of barley. Sales quick for wheat and oats at is to 2s advance. Barley slo w I t 4 sale at last week's prices. Price. Wheat. 1 Barley. 1 Oats. 1 Beans. First 64s Od I 42s 0.1 r 3)s Od ; Os 0 1 Second s2s Od I 38s Od I 2tis 61 , Us oa 4 Third 34s Od 1 34s Od I 25s of 1 Os 0 56 Oatmeal, 36s to 38s per bag of 2801 b . the close of the market, Walleend, &o. Braddyll l6 6 Framwellgate l6 0 t] (Atop lB , 0 Kepler Grainge . l7 , •!„ Laulbton l7 6 ,Lumley 16 ‘,3 u Plummer l5 Peusher 15 0 Russell's Eletton 16 6 'South lletton 17 0 Stewart's. 18 0 Cassop l6 6 illartlepool Iletton l6 6 ,leugn tiall .......... l5 9 iCelloe 16 9 tees lB 0 I Whitworth l6 0 t, 72 ; sold, 50. COAL L►MARK Prices of Coals per ton at s d Buddle W. Hartley l7 9 IA Howard's West Hartley • Netherton l7 9 Bebside's Hartley 17 9 rautieht Moor l3 3 Tantield Moor Bates 13 ,N West Ilartley Grey's 16 Wylam Walleentl, Leo. Eden Gosforth • J 5 Cl Harton Northumberland E 15 CI Riddell l5 0 2 Wharucliffe i 4 6 - Eden Main l6 a Belmont 15 6 Ships at marke LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAY 4. STOCK EXCHANGE. -The market is steady to-day, with * IX ? good business doing at a slight advance on the quotation/ • of Saturday. Eastern Counties, 11/. 16s. 3d., 4--Edin burgh, Perth, and Dundee, BA-Lanca-hire and York shire 1014 g g -Liverpool, Crosby. and Southport , l Loudon and North Westerns, 105 4 -London and South im Western, 101-Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, • Midland, 82$ -North Eastern, Berwick, 210- Oxford, • Worcester, and Wolverhampton, 144-South Eastern, 2!I -Dutch Rhenish, d.- Gland Trunk of Canada, 16/. 15, 13s 9d., ii-Great Western of Canada, BIRMINGHAM, MA. T 4. vi STOCK ExcHANGE.—Great Western Birmingham Gti ranteed Stock was sold at 72—South Staffordshire Rail - way shares at 9/ 3s. 9,1. per share, and Shropshire Unica Stock at 49. Closing prices : —Stour Valley, si 9—Ditto Gualanteed, 64 s—London and North Western Eighth s ' 4 3-16 die—Midland, 82 —South Staffordshires, 9i 93 1 6 co. per share. MANCH ESTER, MAY 4. STOOK EXOHANGK.—There was a good general business , and the market was active, at rather better prices. Helens, 41 per cent., 7h prem.—Sheffield, 59i—Dover' 22i East Lancashire, 93 —Ditto Now, dis. —lllii laud, 8 24_" Leeds, ling—Grand Trunk, 164—Great Northeen A, Caledonian, 3 t 9-16—Loudon and North Western, 100 Great Western, 664—Leeds New, 1-16 prem. [ADVERTISEMENT.]-11o)ha ay's Ointment and Pil l° astoundit , g Reinecits fur Sore Legs.—Extract of a letter Iron) Mr. Taylr r. dispensing chemist, Etnsworth.----" Te Professor Holloway. Sir,—ln consequence of the 0 1 ; traordinary cute Effected by the use of your p lla ointment on Ann Macey, I deem it necessary to se' quaint you will it. She was seventy afflicted with sore legs, and after using endless remedies , without. benefit., she was induc , d to try your medicaments ; and th e result was perfectly astounding, for, after a fe /r ar,plications of them, her leg was perfectly cured. Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the wor ra ld at Professor Holloway's E lablishrnents, 244, Std , London, and 80, Ms.iden-Isne, New York ; by Slunpa, Constantinople ; A. Gaidicy, Smyrna ; and Muir, Malta. BIRTHS. OF 7 A SON. hl3 On the 2d inst., at Wimbledon, the wife of the R eT. 40— M. Brackenbury. On the 3d inst., at 30, Leinster-gardens, Hyde-park, 11114. - - Stewa t Pixley. •tt On the 3d inst., at 10, Pembury-road, Lower Claptoof wife of Herbert Moxon, Esq. OF A DAUGHITER. On the 2d inst., at Boughton, Northamptonshire , Granville Howard Vy , e. On the 3a iLst., at 72, Glocester-street, Eccleston-eV ae the wife of William Goodenough Hayter, Esq. • On the 4th inst., at B. ulah hill, Norwood the wif e Frederick Lamb, Esq., of Melbourne, Victoria. MARRIED. re l On the 16th ult., at St. Paul's Church, Malta, - O to Cocker, Esq , surgeon, 2d Battalion the Royal Regime g;11. Mary, eldest daughter of Edward Delamain, Esq., St. our's Jersey. On the 30th ult., at St. Mary's Church, Grassendale, elf tain Edward Augustus Ing'efield, F eldest Ape, the late Rear-Admiral Samuel Hood Inglefield, C. 8., ttoo Fanny, second daughter of Edward Johnston, Esq., A" Hall, nerr Liverpool. D I E D. ur4 ,00 On the 19th ult., at Gibraltar, from the effects of ; l ee fever, in the 29th 'car of his age, Captain Wm. Wilbe, agan, Royal Artiery, only surviyibg son of Captain Sir h Hagan, . On the ILI:I 2d inst, at his residence, Ryelands, Lancaster Jonathan Lunn, Esq., in his 79th year. the On the 3d inst., at his residence, 31, Hoxton-square, 11ev. Thomas Faucourt, aged 56. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO I 'O 14r. of No. 112,•Strand, Printer, at Tire Sun Ogicet 112, Strand, the Precinct of the Savoy , in of - Middle :Jr, Ttregiay, May 5, 1857. t 1 corp.., Paid 4% 107 25 34 I I