The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-17 00:00:00

MON,EY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. 2 CITY, Two o'CLocx. J Letters from Liverpool state that the Cotton 50 Market y es t er d ay c l ose d f i rmly, and prices of Ame - "i ricans were 3-16 d. and Brazils per lb. dearer St. than last week. The sales were 20,000 bales, 2,000 25 of whi c h were ta k en for export and 8, 000 on specu- 25 lation. The Railway Share Market was quiet, at St. A slight d ec li ne on S atur d ay ' s ra t es . St. A meeting was held yesterday of the creditors of st. Mr. G. B. Rocca, whose failure we announced on 2 "t c . ii the 31st of December last. The balance-sheet 20 presented gives the total liabilities at 77,634/. 12s. 10 id., whil e th e asse t s arc stated at 20,8961. 2s. 10d. 10 It is expected that a dividend of about 4s. 6d. in 25 FA. the pound w ill be realised. 20 About 10,0001. in gold was withdrawn from the SL Bank of England yesterday for transmission to the t. continent in payment for sil ver , but it is now 25 thought these purchases will temporarily receive St. some check, as a large remittance from the West 20 Indies is daily anticipated. The latest advices re- St. ceived from Mexico, via New York, however, re- io port f res h i nsurrectionary troubles in Puebla, -(t' which may interfere with the transit of specie to St. the, port of shipment. st. The Emperor's speech at the opening of the French st. Legislature is more satisfactory than was anticipated, Sl as it was f eare d th a t some new financial operation St. Would be necessitated by the impoverished state of st. the treasury. The only hint at anything of the St. kind is reference to the new tax proposed on mov- 50 able property, but at present it is not known how 16 this will be levied. It is expected that railways St. will be included, but as the war tax is to be remitted 16 the effect of the new measure will not be so 20 severely felt. There has been a stormy meeting of the Black- I t .. wall Rail way C ompany to-day. A dividend of 20 3s. 6d. was proposed on the revenue of the halt- 10 year, which had i mprove d over th a t of 1856. A st. ' long disoussion took place in consequence of the 2 5 . propos a l t o l ay out 116 , 0001. f or th e convenience t of the Victoria Dock and the Southend and Tilbury 10 Railway Companies, but who proposed to give an 10 annual interest of 6 per cent. with cutting, and to St, guarantee a net total of 4,0001. a-year. The dis- St cussion was g o i ng on when our reporter left. 2 50 E At the adjourned meeting of the importers and NC dealers in Tea, held this day, it was stated by Mr. gi Moffatt, M. P ., that the deputation had been cour- , teously received by the Chancellor of the Exche quer, but there seemed no hope of their inducing 5 him to remove the present war tax on tea. They F. thought, in that case, it would be better to get a fixed duty to save that disturbance to contracts which Was likely to arise. They therefore proposed a fixed duty of ls. 4d. a lb. for the next three years. The ": loss on this would not be more than 130,0001., which would be more than made up by the increased con sumption through the trade being more regular than it would be by a fluctuating duty. A resolution to this effect was proposed and was passed unani mously, and was as such to be conveyed to the Chancellor as the views of the trade. The English Stock Market has remained in ra ther a weak condition, in the absence of any new influence to affect them. Sales, however, have been less numerous, and the general appearance of the market has been quiet. The dearness of money and the continued drain of gold still prevent buoyancy, and until some favourable change takes place no material, imerovement is likely to be es tablished. Cceasols for money have been 931 a, 93 , and 93i ; while for account the dealings have been at 931 to 931, and the Reduced at 93/ to 94. Bank Stock is 2161, and India Stock 220 to 221. Exchequer Bills are par to 3s. premium. Foreign Securities are exceedingly dull. Turkish 6 per Cents., however, have been firm at 95 to 95k, and the 4 per Cents. are marked 1011. Vene zuela Deferred are 151, Portuguese, 45, and Bra zilian 5 per Cents., 1021 to 1031. The following are the nominal prices of Foreign Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 7 ; Mexi can, 22 4- ; Peruvian, 80 1 ; ditto 3 per Cents., V ( 55 56; Port uguese 3 per Cents., 43 5 ; Russian 20 5 per Cents., 108 10 ; ditto 4i per Cents., 96 8 ; 10 Spanish 3 per Cents., 40,1 ; ditto Deferred, 241 ; ditto Certificates, 6i ; ditto Passive, ItO bi 6. 18 25 25 50 St. St. 20 20 10 St. The dealings in the Railway Share Market have 18 been of a very moderate character, and previous . 2 , 9 i prices have in most instances been supported. - I . `4'd Bristol and Exeter have advanced it. ; Caledonian, 10a. ; Great Western, 10s. to 15s. ; Lancashire and 1 0 0 Yorkshire, ss. ; North-Western, ss. ; and Midland, 20 bs. The other lines dealt in realised previous 20 values. The French lines are at nominal quota- 1 0 , tions, no business having been reported in them. 20' Grand Trunk and Great Western of Canada rule 20 firm, as also Great Luxembourg, .Namur and Liege, in and Sambre and Mouse. 100 In Mining Shares there is very little business 20 doing, and prices are quite nominal. St. Joint Stock Bank Shares rule very inactive. 1( 2 ) 0 ° English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered im- 20 proved 10s ; London and County, Unity, Mutual, 201 and Western Bank of London were dealt in at about I V previous quotations. 100 In Miscellaneous Shares, the only feature to 1 1/ , n report has been a decline of about 2/. in Can a d a 'Land ; Australian Agricultural, London General 20 Omnibus Company, South Australian Land, and , 2 2 ° 0 Tan Dieman's Land, brought full rates. I 20 aßrnsa FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. (Prom the Official ListO Bluntest. done Bank Stock 3 per cent. Reduced Annuities 93i 4 31 3 rer Cent. Console Annaitie, 9 33 New 3 per Cent. Annuities 94 Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860... Ditto 30 Y ears, expire sth April, 1885... 18 10-16 India Stock ................................. . 220 21 Consols tor Accoun t .. Bxchequer Bills, ............... ••• ••• •• 934 £IOOO £5OO ....................... P ................ par 3 p 8m all Ditto Bonds, 1858, 34 per Cent......... par 3 p Ditto, 1359 98 A PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. IO2A 3A Ditto New, 1852, 4:1 per Cent. Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841 Ditto 1853, 3 per Cent l5 Turkish bonds, 6 per cent Ditto Account Ditto Guaranteed. 4 per Cent. Venezuela, Bonds, 41 per Cent Ditto Deferred, 1:1 per Cent. Dividends on the above payable in Loci( n . TWO O'CLOCK. Consols, money 93A Ditto Account HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE HOUSES OF PARLIA MENT.—Yesterday morning, shortly before ten o'clock, her M a j es t y , accompan i e d by his Royal Highness Prince Highness the th e P r i ncess R oya l, and her Serene the P r i ncess of Hobenlohe, v i s i te d th e ne w Houses of Parliament, where the illustrious visitors were received by ir Benjamin Hall, Sir Charles Barry, and other °fficSia ls• Her Maj es t y returned to Buckingham Palace LurrAnv.--The receipts of the Lunacy Commissioners in the year ended the 31st of July, 1856, amounted to 14,491/., and the The Master in payments to about 13,1581. oCaliancery charged wit the winding up of Cameron's Laughor u ny toook Steam Coal and Swansea and to make a l call of 2l , Compan y proposes on the 23d inst. • per share upon the contributories. THE Sraxisa Lo AN state that the representative:—T he Madrid journals of the 9th paid into the Treasury hai of MM. Mires and Co. had the loan of 300 millions of reoafl the second instalment of half on the 16th, the last day 4 La e nd was to pay the other MR. FREWEN AND RIS SE A d* are informed that Mr. Frewen has not yet resigned S ussex . The hon, member liaini7iltaiped it in order that his seat for East he might vote for the reder eal of the i ncome tax, which house. co nsideratio n o f t h e qu th e A deputation of licensed victuallers waited u o p Sir G. Grey on Saturday, to know wh e th er they po-ssenssed the right of calling in the police to clear their hous es of disorderly persons. Sir George s a id at presentu the licensed victuallers did not possess the right, but t he would give his serious attention to the su bj ect. THE WAR WITH CHINA..—A meetin g was held at the British Institution, City-road, last night, to consider the war with China, and to protest against a standing army. Mr. In grain L oc kh art t oo k th e chair, and resolutio ns to . the effect th at the b om b ar d men t of Canton and the ex pedition to Persia were iniquitous and unnecessary, were carried, an d a petit i on to t h e H ouse of Commons embodying the resolution was agreed to, SHARE MARKETS—(This Day.) RAILWAYS. Closing Prices ye3tcrday. 4h - 4i or• ... 8i - 9 68 - 70 91 - 96 63. - 63 36 - 37 • . • "... ••• --' ... -- ...p 10i -- 11 19 -- 20 9i -- 10 40 -- 44 28 -- 30 71 - 6 96 - 93 55 j -- sf;. ••• ••• 34i - 35 .# • 95 - 97 7 - 8 93 - 94 78 - 80 124 - 126 [ll - 113 67f - 68,E 64 - 66 69 73 6 7 p 6 7p 981 99 ad • •• 6 - 61 108 - 109 1 1074- 107 0 1 1 21 - 21 I 104 - 1 # - # EOli - 105 3i 7:: 54 82 - 83 53 - 55 13 - 14 51 56 3i 3ld 41 87 31d 2 193 63 102 Easiness done this day. 108 27 51 lid 19 761 • 14 42 Paid; RAU.WATs. 9A Anibg. Nottng. Bost & Eastn. Junc all Belfast & Ballymena, all Btrmug. Wolverh. & Stour Valley 100 I Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Juliet all 'Blackburn all Blyth & Tyne original £25 (iss. at £45) 100 Bristol & Ere.;er 103 Caledonian-- ...... . 100 Chester & Holyhead all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black. & Pass. all Cornwall all Ds. A 8 Do. B ......... 45 DublindißelfastJunc all Duu. P. &Aber. June 100 East Anglian all Eastern Counties 100 EasternUnion,A. stk 100 Do., do. 8..... ....... . 84 Do. New A............ 174 East Kent ......... 100 East Lancashire ...... all East Suffolk ......„ 4 Do. 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow all Edinb. and Peebles 100 Edinb.Prth.&Dunde, all Forth and Clyde June. 109 'Furness ...... ........ 100 Glasgow dr S.Western all Great N. of Sco' ' .ud 100 Great Northern ..... 100 Do., A. Stock ..... 100 i Do., B. Stock ..... 100 Gt. Sth. &West. (Ire. 100 !Great Western. ...... 100 Do. Str.V.B. gua.St all Irish South-Eastern all Lancaster & Carlisle. 141, Do., Thirds 12 Do. New Thirds 100 Lancash. &Yorkshire 6 Do., do. F. £lO 4 Do., Wet. Riding Un all Do. Soutb.port. all London dr Blackwall 1100 Lond. Bright. &S. Cst. 100 London &N. Western all Do. Fifths all Do. ,16/.5h.,M&8...0 24 Do. Eighths 100 London & S. Westerr all Lndndrry.dreoleraini all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 109 31anch.Shef.dtLinclr 1 Metropolitan 1 Do. J. L. Ricarr'o' arrangement 100 Midland ........ ..... 100 Do. Birming. dr Derby all Midland G.West.(lr.) all Do. 3 Shares all Newcastlo tic Carlisle all Newpt•Aberg.dcl3rfd 9 Newry di Enniskillen all Newry, Warrenpoint di Rostrevor 100 N0rf01k........... 33 Northn. Counties Un 100 North British 100 North Devon , Rail. Dock Stock 100 Do., A Stock 100 Do., B Stock 100 N. Eastern - Berwick 23i Do. do. Extension 161 Do do. G.N.E.Purch. all Do. Leeds 100 Do. York LOO North London . . ... 31.1 N &S Wstn stead, and City Jn 173 North Staffordshire all North Western.. all N. dr S. Westrn. Junc. 100 Oxford Worcester 61 Wolverhampton..." 16 Portsmouth 10 Rhymney 100 Scottish Central 100 Scot. N. E. Abrd u. St 100 Shropshire Union 4 Sitingbourne &Sheer all South Devon ..... 100 South Ea5tern......... all Do. 4i per c. Shares 100 South Wales.... 17 S. Yorksh. River Dun 7 Do all Staines,Wok.,&Wok all Stockton & Darling i 15 Do. do., 1854 3 De. do., 1815 165iStockton & Hartlepl 100 Taff Vale 100 Do. Pref., No. 22 Thames Hay. D. &R. all Vale of Neath all Waterfd. & Kilkerly all Waterford&Limerick all West Cornwall.. all West End of London and Crystal Palace all Do. A. all Do, B all West London all Do. First Class all Do. Second Class._ all Wmbledon &Croydon BRITISH a'l Atlan, and St. Law. 9 Bombay, Baroda, and Cen.lnd,guar. 5 p, c. all Do. 11 101 Buffalo & Lake Hur, 100 Buff., Brut. & Godeh. 100 6p. c.bds., 1 Aug,,'72 Do. do., 1 July, '73, 100 Do. do., 1 June, '74! 2s. Calcutta and S. East.; 286 d Ceitral Oudo (Lim ) lOs Ceylon A shares , 1 Do. B. do. all Demerara 2s. Eastern Bengal 100 East Indian 15 Do. C Sbares all D 0.4 p.e.Bnds.,'s7 all Do. do. do., '59, do. all Geelong & Melbourne guar. 5 per cent. 100 Gd. Trunk, of Canada all Do. 6p. c. Deben all Gt. In. Pen. g. 5 per e 4 Do. New. guar. 5 p.c all Gt. Wcstn. of Canada S Do. New all Do. Bds., payable '57 all Do. do., '76, p. 'GO all Do. do., '73, do. all Do. do., '73, without option all Madras, guar. 41 P.C all Do. do., 5 per c. 10 Do. 4i p. c, Eaten. 5 Do. 3d Ex., g. sp.c, 5 Do. 4th Ex., do, ss. Oude (Limited) 5 Seiude, guar. 5 per c all Do FOR 0 all Antwrp & Rotterdam 0 14 Ardennes. 5 all Belgian East. Junct. 0 16 Beziers to Graissessac 6 all Carmeaux& Toulouse Coal Mines and Ry 10 12 Dutch Rhenish 0 all East3rn of France 0 a'l Do. New '0 2s. Euphrates Valley '0 13 Gt. Central of France :0 17 Great Luxembourg G 4 Ita'ian Ju-ct'on 0 all Lake Const. & Ba' ;0 all Lierre a-d Turnhout ;0 6 Lombardo-Venet'ln 5 all Lucca & Pistsp.c.p. 9 all Lyons and Geneva 9 all Lyons & Mediterran. 13A all Maria Antonia 0 all Do. New !O all Namur & Liege !O all Do. do. 6p. c. Pre'. 6 all Northern of France 10 all NorwegianTrnk.Pre !O all Paris and Lyons 9 all Paris and Orleans 9 7 Ree;fe dE can Fran (Perham.) g. 7 p. c 0 7i Rome and Frascati :0 all Royal Danish 5 all Royal Swedish !O all Ss.mbro and Meuse 0 all - Jo. 5i p er cent. pref 9 all South ern of Fri. nee 8i all West Flanders... .0 all Do. 5A per c. Prel 9 all W.& N . W. of France '0 6 Western ofAustria !O all West. of Swit zer l and 6 all Wiesbaden ......... 6 all Do.B p. cent. pref ) .,0 all , Zealand ......... JOINT-STO, all 'Australasia - I IS. Bank of Egypt 50 Bank of London all Bri. Col, Bk.& Ln. Co all British N. American 6 C.Bk.of Ind.Au.&Ch 50 City 25 Colonial ........... 20 Commercial of Lend. all Eng. Scot.SzAus.Cht. all Lou. Ch. Bk.lf Aust. all Ditto New .......... 20 London and County 53 Lud.&E.Bnkng.Corp 10 London Joint Stock 20 Loud.andWestminst . 35 National Pro. of Eng. 10 Do. New ............ .• • 22 National Bank ...... all New South Wales .... all Oriental Bank Corp. 15 Ottoman Bank ...... 25 Provincial of Ireland , all Do. New 1 R.Aus.B.&G.lna.Co all South Australia all Union of Australia 23 Do. New 10 Union of Loudon 5 0 Unity M u t ua l . **** 5 0 ,Westra 13k.pf LOnd. , 86 34 24 18.; 6'2 93 100 50 100 100 20 25 20 100 10 .6 := 6.i 32 - 33 88 - 90 1011 s} 2a I 93 3 THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDA 96 - 99 98 - 102 11 - 13 134 - 137 3i - 44 I'6 - ifi 12 - 13 23 - - 21 10i - 110 3 - P 2i - 92 - 94 - P 55 - 57 !13 . 6 -7- iii 1381 71 135 k ii 101 Hi 1101 i LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Paid) RAILwAys. 1 Leasing Companies Ln.&N.W. Cal don ... E.U.&E.O Gt. Northn E. Count. Caldonian. Do Glt.lireatn Y. & N. 31, Do Do S. Eastern. Do Peto &Co Do Lo. diN. W di Midld E.ComIL. Do !Do.— ..... Do L. dt . W Do Gt. No.:thn T. Bracey M. MClean I Stk. &Dar. ,Do Gt.Westn. 'CE SHARES. 52 -- 94 oi 99 5i - 61 I - 115 - AP 12 - 12 Fa L Fa Lii - lii 1 1 .12 - 114 1 1 " - 106 62 -6! 9 i -10 j •• -. ... 6 - G 93 - 95' 83 = 85 9 9 -- 101 101 -10 i 16 -- 174 10 -- 10; 75 -- 77 191 -- 20; PI -- 103 14 -- 15 134 -- 136 136 - 139 1114 - 117 - 158 65 - 616 134 99 - 101 89 - 91 - 4 -- lip ••• '-'" 1163 - 105 92 94 11 id ••• .• J. .id r l.OB - 109? 114 - 118 105 - 110 65 - 70 17 - 18 23} - 24. 100 - 103 10 - 104, 27i - 284 2 - 3p ••• ....... •I• 3 - 3f MINES. 213 --223 6i -- 74 155 -- 165 460 -- 480 15i -- 16:1 103 -- 11 3 5( -- 61 I 4-- 1 i 18 -- 20 343 -- 35 3 ' 61 -- 7 1 25A -- 243' 9 10 111 -- 340 -- 350 7 8 340 - 350 1 - 4 - 4$ 230 250 351 - 36? ; 155 - 165 295 - 305 270 - 290 41 - 4,1 19 - 21 46 - 48 19 - 21 Closing Prices Business this day. PREFER' all Blyth and Tyne 10 p. c.pref. (issd.at 50/. - 103 Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St 5 Do. 4 per c. Shares. 100 Caledn. £lO 44 p. c, 100 Ches. & Ho. 54 p. c. 100 Do. do. 5 per cent (01 Cork &Bandonsip.c. all Dun.Perth.&Aber.J. 2 E. Anglian Cls, A Sh. 100 Do. do. Cls. B 6p. c. 100 Do. do. Cls. C 7 p. c. all Eas.Co.Ex,sp.c No.l all Do. No. 2 all Do. New 6 pr. c. St all East Un., 6p. c all Do. 51., 10 per cent all Do. 101. Debentr.Sh all Do. do. 4 per cent 100 East Lancash .6 p.cts all E.&Yr. York. J. sth: 5 Edin.dtGl. 5 p.c. Sh. 100 Ed.Prth.&Dun.4p.e. 100 Furness, sp. c 00 Glas. & 5.W.G.5 p.c 00 Great Nortlin. 5 p.c 100 Do. 5 p. c. Redeem at 10 p. c. prem 100 Do. 4i per cent 60 Do. 5 p.c., Red. at f p. c. prem. all Gt.N .of Scot.lst Pre 100 Gt. S &W. (Ireland; 15 Do. 4 per c. Pref. St. 6 Gt.W.(B.&II.Ex.Spc 100 Do. con, red. 44 p.c. 100 Do. con, red. 4 p. c. 100 Do. irred. 4 percent. 103 Do 5 p. c. red. pre:. all Do. Bhm. Pref. Sh all Do. Chester Bp. c. P. S all Do. do. 5 p. c. do 100 Do. Birm, Gua. Stk all Do. Chesh, Gua. Sh all Do. do. do all Do. do. do FlOO Lan.& York. 6 pc.St 100 Lon.&B. C. pc.No.l 100 D0.,P.,0 p.c.St.No.2 100 Do. Now Guar. 6p.c. 100 Do. do. sp. c., N 0.4 100 Lon. & N.W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 p. ct 100 Lon. & S.W. 7 perct late ::(1 Shares all Londy. & Color, 4 Sh all Londy.& Ennis..z Sh 100 117,, S. , &L. 6p. Cont 44 Do. do. do. £6 1 100 Do. do, 31 per cent. all Marypt. /in Carl. 4 p.c. all Do. 44 per cent 10; Do. do 100 Mid.Consol.6 p.c. St 100 D0.C0n.13r.8ir.6 p.c 100 Do. 44 p. c, Pfec. St 100 Do. L. &1 4 . Pref. 5:, all New.,Aber., &c., pr 5 p.c.red. 5 p.c. pm 8 Do. Pei pet. 6 ct all Korf k.Deb.4 p.c. Sh 100 Do. sp. c. 184 C 100 Do. 54 p.c. pf., 1847 100 D0.Wy.V.5p.c., 1 8 4 71 100 North British 3; Do. 71. Preference ... 1C) N. E. Berw. 4 p.c.Prf. Do. do, do 13 Do. Leeds 6pc No.l 9 Do. do. Qrs., 1848 10 Do. York H. &S. Pur all North Staffordshire 100 Ox., Wor. & Woly. 6 p.c. Ist guar. 100 Do. 6p. c. 2d guar all Scot. Cent,New Pref 100 Sc.N.E.Aber.g.op.c, 100 Do. do. 7 p.c. pf. St. 10) Do. do.C4 p.c. pf. St all South Devon all Do. fixed 44 pr cent an. S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. 100 Do. 46 per cent all Do. Fixed 46 p.c. Sh 100 S. Wales Gua. 4p. c 100 Do. do. 44 p. c all S.Yorksh.4 p.c.Guar all Stock. &Dar., sp, c 15 De. do. do. all Stock. & Hartl. g. 5 p.c. till July 1, '56 all Waterfd& Kilk. 6 pc. St. 100 26 13 20 St. St. St. St. St. BRITISH 2'l2;Al:red Cons. (Philk.) IA (British Iron ..... 20 'Condurow (Cambrn.)' 1 Dev. Gt. Cnsls. (Tay.) 14s Great South Tolgus 103 G rt. W. Alfrd. (P.iilk.) 7 IGrt.W. Vor Bs6dlLady Bertha 76 N. Frances (Illogan) ... N. W. Basset (Mogan) 6115 North Wheal Crofty 1} Par. Cons. (St.Blazy) 9 Porkell's U. (Wend.) 6s. ,Sort. Cons. Min. Co 26 IS. Caradon (St. Oeerl 2 S. Cam Brea (Illogn. 19 S.W. Fmnees(Tllon. b n.) 4i Tam. S. &L. Min. Co. 9 Tin Croft • 40 lUn.Mires (Gwenr , ,p' 12s 6,V. o: Towoy (Canaa-. 1 jW. Basset (Iro:n)., 20 IW. Caradon (Liskrd.' 5k IWh. Basset (Mogan.' 5 IWh. Buller (Rdrath. 5i Wh. Edward(Calstk., l li 7s Wh. Kitty (U. Lint. ' 8 WlLMa.Ann(Menht. 1 4 Wh. Trelawney (Lis.) FOREIGN 7 Australian 27 Bra.zilianlmp.(issue( at £5 pm) all Do. Cocaes & Cuiacl: 15 Do. St. John Del Rea 4 Clarendon Con. Min. Co. of Jamaica all Cobra Copper 16 Copiapo all Fortuna all General all Linares 1 Lusitanian all Mariquita all New Granada all Novcau Monde all Pont. SiLLdM. Sm' 1 Port Philip 1E Santiago do Cuba all South Australian all Do. Scrip all Do. 10 p. c. all (United Mexican MISI 19 Australian Agricult. all Australn. Royal Mail all Berlin Water Works 40 Brit. American Lar 32i Canada 100 Do.Go.6pc.Jan&Ju l :c ' 100 Do. 6p. c.Feb.&Aug. 10() D 0.6 p.c. Mar.&Sept. all Copper Min. of Eng. all De. Pref. 71 p. cent. all Crystal Palace all Do. Preference all Crystal Pal, of France Dustou Iron Ore 18 Eastern Steam 100 EleetrieTelegraph all Electric Tel. of Irel. all En.diAust.Cop.SmCo 10s. Eur, & Ind.Jetn. Tel. all Gon, Ir. Sc. 14 Gen. Steam Navigat. 5 London Discount all Lond. Gen, Omnibus 10 Magdalena St. Navig. all Mediteran. Elec. Tel. all Mexican& S. Amerien 5 Nat. Discount Co 5 Do. New 5 Netherlands Land.,, all ID*. Do. all Do.B p e.Pf. iss. at 1 d 1 Do. Do. 80 New B. &N. S. Land 100 N. S. W. Gov.s p. c o l). all N. B. Australasian 17i Nrth.ofEuropeSteam all Oriental Gas ..... Sc. Do. New Shares all Peelßr. Ld, dz Minrl. all Peninsular di Oriental 10 Do. New all Ithymney Iro n all Do. New. GO Royal Mail Steam._ all Scot. Austral. Invest all Do. New 100 S.Aus.Cov.6p.e.bds. all South Austral. Land 1 all Submarine Tel. Scrip all Do. Registered 5 Trust&Ln.Co.U.Can 28, 1 2 Van Diemen's Land 100 V.Go.6p,cJan.4 July MINES. -1 r 11 1 I 3 3t 18 20 P 55 57 12 H id - N - p ii - i i '' = ii 4 - 4} ,INEOIJS. 22 - 23 4i -- 5i 40 -- 45 L4O -- 145 LlOl -- 111 33 - 37 2G - 28 2* - 2ix-d 5k - 54 ••• ''''''. •• • 6‘ - 9 1 la ii ..• - ••• 34 - 41 x d ill ii i - ip x d 1 1 3 4 4 4i id api 4 - 4i - i 3O li i - 1$ - iP 66 - 68 3 - 4p 23 - 25 1 6 - 8 64 - 66 lh - li lk - 1 ••• - 35 - 37 I = 1 14 - 16 ... .- ~,. No. 188 Present THE TEA DUTY.—Meeting this Day.) The adjourned meeting of the merchants 2nd traders connected with the tea trade was held this afternoon at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, to receive the report of the committee, appointed at the meeting yes terday ; Mr. Moffatt, M.P., in the chair. Amongst those present were Alderman Sir J. Duke, M.P., Mr. Gregson, M.P., and Alderman Sidney. The CHAIRMAN informed the meeting that immedi ately after the adjournment of the meeting yesterday, the committee met, and after a full discussion of the question, they came to the conclusion that prompt and efficient action was necessary, and of seeing the Chancel lor'of the Exchequer, and of impressing on him that it would be a breach of faith to the trade if the Government de parted from the Act of 1853, and if they saw an oppor tunity to agitate that point or any other that might be for the benefit of the trade, without materially affecting the fiscal condition of the country. It was considered desirable to have an immediate interview with the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer and enforce on him the views of the trade, and they accordingly waited on him yesterday without notice. The right hon. gentleman received them very courteously, and they informed him of the fee►ing of the trade on his proposed mode of dealing with the duty. It was also suggested to him that it would be very desirable to avoid the continual gradation in the duty for the next three years, but that a fixed and immediate duty for the three years should be substi tuted, and then fur it to come down to ls. (Hear.) From the calculation the committee had made, they considered the duty should be fixed at ls. 4d. per lb. for the next three years—(hear, bear)—which would give a loss of 130,0001. only. The Chancellor of the Exchequer in. formed the committee that, as regarded the departure from the act of 1853, he was ♦ery sorry for it, but that he could Rot help it, and that as regarded the second proposition he received it with favour. He said that he saw difficulties in his own scale of averages in the rate of duty. He thought the proposed fixed duty too low, but he rather liked the plan of a fixed duty for the next threeyears. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, he thought, had said as muoh as could be expected from a person in his position. Mr. GREGSON, M.P., moved, and Mr. MATTHESON seconded, the following rosolution :—" That this meet ing views with deep regret and disappointment any de parture from the provisions of the act of Parliament by which the duty on tea was fixed at ls. 3d. for the ensa- l ug year. That an alteration to any higher rate of duty involves a serious inconvenience in the arrangements made for importations of tea from China, and deplorable disturbances of existing contracts which have been ex tensively made thronghout the 'United Kingdom upon the faith of that act ; but that, owing to the alleged exigencies of the State, it reluctantly acquiesces in the recommendation of its committee for the adoption of a fixed rate of Is. 4d. per lb. for the three years next ensuilg, as, although that alteration involves loss on existing contracts, it prevents any fur ther fiscal disturbance )f the regular position of the trade until the final reduction of duty to ls. per pound, as proposed by her Majesty's Government. The resolution was supported b y A lderman Sir J. DB artM.P., and Alder man S IDNEY, and agreed to unanimously. On the motion of Mr. K7RIKUAN HODGSON, seconded petition to the H ouse o f foregoing resol u ti on , was adopted. enso t N he , a Commons, bby Mr. SMITH embodying Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting terminated. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. DECLARATION OF 111/ POLL—(THIS DAY). FOR THE AMENDMENI or MR. NORRIS. No. of Proprietors. Capita, Votes. Total Votes. 256 present. £719,733 3,893 2,094 proxy. 3,448,183 21,72 S . _ 2,350 £4,167,913 •• AGAINST THE AUENDMENT. CaPtal. Votes. 335 629 2,311 6poo 28 25,626 ISSESSIONS ••• - ... 13 - I P, li 16 195 98 94 96 94 96 par i t p I - 14 p 111 - 112 2 -21 p 21i - 22 50 - 52 81 - 83 21 - 211 - 1p 25 -254 i 21 - 3p, 99 - 100 ' 118 - 123 ,118 - 121 108 110 19} 20 21 —22 f par 1 p iP li - 2ip .IGN. .511 - 6i 2i - 3ip 4i - SA 32 -32 k 9i par 4 —44 y cif *6i 7 - . 4, - iO £O, - 9 193 - 20 361 - 37 9 - i 54 - 54 53 - 55 ia 1 18 - 20 8 - S 8, - 9 ._ • - pm 4f - 4i 9j - 10 32 - 33 I - lip BANKS. 6 1 4 -7--- F)8 d --- p al 59 61 •• •• ."--"' ••• li i d 68 70 -- .. 181- igi 18i -- 19 181 -- 18/ ii . 46 37 38 1 idis ..• 60 - 62 7 - 9 ..• 11 9 d 10 6d 94 63i i 41 10 9i 93i 124 5 68 i i 99k i 6 108 i i 8 107 i 8 10s loti 5 35i 6 83i j 54 86i 76i 63} 3 82k 214 41 254 29 i 321 25 50 25 12 100 Buckghamsh. 100 Clydesdale Je. all Col,Stour Vy. 100 B.Lin. g. 6 p.e all E. EU. 11. Sh. 100 iGlas. Barr. & I Neils. Direct. 100 Do. New all I • Glstr.&Dn Fr • all Hull & Selby. all Do. Shares. all Do. Shares. all Lon. &Greenw all Do. Preference 100 Lon. Til., &S. 5i Do. Bark. Sh. all Manch.Exton. and Matlock 100 Mdld. Bradfd. 5 ilNewmarket BuryE.G.spc. all N.& Est.s p.c. all Do. 6 per ct.. all Do. Fixed sp.c all Prest. do Wyre all Do. Shrs. A 100 I Roystn. di Hit. all Shrews.& Her all S. Staffordsh.. all IWearVal.g6pc all ,D 0... 1100 IWilts&Sonirst £341, 619 EVENIC4, FEBRUARY 17 57 THE THEATRES. LYCEUM. A triumphant success signalised the first performance at this theatre, last evening, of Mr. Westland Marston's new five-act play, entitled " A Life's Ransom." A success at once dramatic, histrionic, and managerial. Nothing could possibly have gone off better altogether. The house was literally crowded throughout—pit, boxes, and gallery. The audience—evidently, for the most part, the pick of the playgoers of London—were as attentive as they were enthusiastic and discriminat ing. Nothing whatever flagged. Tile performers, one and all, were well up in their parts. And—strange to tell, strangest of all to tell in regard to a new play—the piece itself appeared to our watchful observation no where at all to require the least degree of pruning. We are not simply writing all this in sheer good humour— we are penning each syllable bluntly, in soberest truth and justice. Drawing not upon our imagination for our facts, though we are compelled, it so happens, un fortunately, to draw upon our memory for our argument. Had the printed copy of Mr. Marston's very charming and effective drama reached us betimes this morning, we should have selected from it with.peculiar satisfaction to ourselves, and, we doubt not for one moment, to our readers signal gratification also, passages which must have justified to the full every word of commendation, besides attesting, in a remarkable manner, the ripened powers of one of the most accom plished dramatists of the day. A worthy contemporary of Bulwer Lytton and of Sheridan Knowles, Westland Marston had already proved himself to be,by the produc tion (among other elegantand scholarly dramas) of "Anne Blake" and the "Patrician's Daughter." His new play produced last evening at Mr. Dillon's Theatre with almost unexampled success—a success almost unex ampled, we mean, in unanimity and completeness— cannot but tend very materially to elevate and strengthen its author's already high and solid reputation. Sym metrical in construction, diversified in character, replete with pathetic incidents and dramatic situations, " Life's Ransom" is written throughout with true poetic feeling, and with all a master's evidence of the skill, the art, the grace, the verve, the finesse requisite in the con stitution of the genuine playwright. And such Mr, Marston unmistakeably is. The period of "A Life's Drama" is immediately at the close of the reign of James the Second. The scene—the southern coast of England. The principal characters, five in number, may be readily enough indicated. The plot, in which the fortunes of the dramatis persona be come entangled and intertwined, although simple to the ast degree when told, has about it, while in course of being evolved in word and action upon the stage, an appearance of intricate and at times almost bewildering elaboration. Situated somewhere in the neighbourhood of Torbay, are the old ancestral estates of Basil, Lord levadals (Mr. Charles Dillon), a noble of ancient lineage, but one who is deplorably impoverished. The property of the family having fallen into irretrievable dilapidation dur ing the Civil Wars, by reason of the exertions made on be half of Charles the First by Basil's father, an ardent Royalist. So utterly decayed, in truth, that the young lord, on succeeding to the title finds that ruin to him seems to be the only result of the Restoration. The embarrass. ments of the house increasing only with the lapse of time during the reigns of the two last of the Stuarts—Charles the Second and James the Second. Added to the misery of hie pecuniary involvements, Lord Revesdale has in curred the hatred of the evil genius of the drama Ban croft (Mr. Stuart), a country magistrate. Besides which the ruined peer is grievously troubled by his sister Felicia (Mrs. Charles Dillon) rejecting the offer for her hand preferred by Lord Norrice the Prime Minister, through whose instrumentality, in all likelihood, the fortunes of the family might have been restored—his influence being paramount at Court, and the King's readiness to redeem the estates of Revesdale being a matter of absolute certainty in the event of the Premier's intervention. Not merely, howe ver, is Lord Norrice rejected as a suitor by Felicia —but he is rejected (to her brother's mingled shame and indignation) in favour of the opposing suit of Arthur Ringwood (Mr. M'Lien), the son of Matt/teas Ringwood (Mr. Barrett), a wealthy brewer and country gentleman. The ruined patrician haughtily rejects the notion of any such plebeian alliance—his sister remaining true, however, in spite of all this, to the loved and lov • ing Commoner. Leaving Revesdale for a while in dud geon, Basil hears afterwards, through Bancroft (who has followed him for the purpose of conveying to him the agreeable information)—that his estates have been sold during his absence—that old Ringwood has been the purchaser—that young Ringwood is more than ever in favour with his lordship's sister, Felicia—that all kinds of villanous rumours are afloat in regard to the two latter, hinting that Cupid has tripped up Hymen plodding to the Altar ! Infuriated by these insinuations, Basil (who, in an earlier part of the story, has saved Arthur's life, by sheltering him at Revesdale, when the young man had become inadvertently involved in Monmouth's miserable failure of a Rebellion)—denounces the ingratitude of the friend who is indebted to him for his existence, and, in a paroxsym of indignation, lets Bancroft into the secret of Arthur's traitorous participation in the insur rection. Bancroft, whose evil heart cherishes a deadly hatred against the young Ringwood, immediately pro poses his betrayal to Lord Revesdale. Instead, however, of finding his suggestion is received with favour, he finds himself spurned with all the scorn of the noble heart of the patrician, and flung aside with withering disdain as a " Bloodhound." Inflamed with rage Bancroft hisses through his teeth a vow of vengeance. Revesdale is dismayed—repents the hot words by which his own friend and his sister's love has been betrayed inadvertently— hastens back to what was once his home to urge Arthur to escape from danger by instant flight. Scarcely, how ever, has he learned the falsity of the hideous rumours about Felicia by finding that she has been actually mar ried to young Ringwood, scarcely has he had time to im plore the bridegroom to escape from certain death by his immediate departure—when Bancroft arrives with his myrmidons. Ringwood is arrested. Felicia declares her resolution to share his captivity. Basil is announced to be the Accuser. It is the close of the fourth act— and Lord Revesdale, stricken to the heart by his own apparent turpitude falls, with a cry of anguish, insen sible upon the stage as the curtain descends. The fifth act reveals the deep and passionate significance of the LIFE'S RANSOM—Lord Revesdale sacrificing himself to redeem those his words of fury have unintentionally betrayed. Bancroft consents to connive at the escape of Arthur and Felicia on condition that Basil reveals to him (after they have actually left the shores of England) the name of some "one" of the daring conspirators against King James, who have actually signed the requisition to the Prince of Orange. This Basil does, as we have said, by heroically denouncing his own name in defiance alike of death and torture saving Arthur and Felicia by giving his life as their Life's Ransom ! The villanous Bancroft, however —as all villains do invariably, both on and off the stage—exam in having outwitted his antagonists by intercepting the fugitives a little way out in the channel and so securiog them "all" in his gr;rn clutches. Everything appears to have gone wrong with the hero and heroine of the piece. It is the close of the last act. There are heard behind the scenes the cheers and the tramping footsteps as of the approach ing army of James—the roll of drums and the boom of the cannon. The fugitives do return in point of fact, and Bancroft is in the midst of his exul tation when—lo ! the situation is instantly reversed, from one of defeat to one of triumph. Ringwood and his bride have been intercepted and brought back, not by the Royalist emissaries, but by the fleet bringing the Prince of Orange and his troops over to England. As Mr. Macaulay writes as the first sentence of the first page of the third volume of his history—" The revolution was accomplished." The scene opens at the back—discover. ing to view an exquisite panorama of Torbay, with the Dutch vessels gliding in and dropping anchor—and on the left, upon the conspicuous elevation of the landing place, surrounded by his courtiers, and soldiers, and attendants—William The spectacle, as a tableau, is eminently picturesque, and was greeted accordingly by the audience last evening eith unaffected delight and admiration. Nothing further in regard to the plot of the drama remains to be related. It is to us now as a tale that is told. An exquisite tale, told exquisitely. The curtain which had fallen upon each preceding act with loud applause, fell upon the last amidst very gene ral and unmistakeable enthusiasm. The two principal performers were summoned before the footlights, and duly welcomed—Mr. Charles Dillon having again won for himself new histrionic glory, by his noble and affect ing impersonation of Lord Revesdale. Lastly, but not "least" among the incidents of the night—the Author being loudly called for, bowed from one of the private boxes in acknowledgment of the very cordial acclamations which greeted his appearance. HAYMARKET. Another new piece was produced last ni g ht a t thi s theatre. This last is an intense little drama, entitled "A Wicked Wife," and is evidently from a French piece, which, by its obsequious abuse of revolutionary doctrines, has probably been produced lately to support "The Empire." The plot and interest rest on the efforts of a very noble wife, Madame De Langeais (Miss Rey nolds), who, in order to conceal her husband, who has been denounced as a Royalist during the Reign of Terror, professes an ultra-Republicanism, and forsakes nature and virtue for the current republican patriotism and sublime doctrines of liberty ; and pretends to endure the overtures of Citizen Rozaire (Mr. Rogers), an emissary of Robespierre, and renounces her husband and her children. All this time the husband is concealed in a closet, and comes out in the intervals of the visits of the guardians of liberty and equality. The principal parts were excellently sustained by Miss Reynolds, Mr. Howe, Mr. Rogers, and Mr. Compton. The success of the piece was decided, and there cannot be a doubt about its proving a great attraction. ADELPHI. A new piece entitled "Barney the Baron," written in America for Mr. B. Williams, was brought out here for the first time upon an English stage with great success. Of course the whole of the piece rests upon Mr. 'Wil liams, who personates an Irishman who has the luck to win a German estate in a lottery, and then is frightened out of his bargain by the rightful heir telling Paddy that the place is haunted. The whence Were greatly pleased with this dramatic trifle, which was giv en out for repetition every evening until further notice. STRAND. For some time past a piece has been running in Paris called "Les Pauvres de Paris," and last night a trans lation of it wa-: produced at the Strand Theatre, under the title of "Pride and Poverty ; or, the Real Poor of London." The drama commences with a prologue, the scene of action being at the house of Vernon, a banker, who, on the eve of a fraudulent bankruptcy, receives a deposit from a shipwrecked emigrant (Ranger), and devotes the property of the dying man to his own purposes. The family of the emigrant are consequently reduced to great hardships, and the piece terminates by the villains hav ing to make restitution of their ill-gotten gains. The drama is thoroughly French in every respect. It WAS most effectively played by ail engaged iu it. The English authors of the piece were loudly called for, and Mr. Benjamin Barnett and Mr. J. B. John stone appeared before the curtain. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Da: LONDON, Feb. 17.—Wind this day at noon S.— Light breeze and fine mild weather. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 16.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—H.M.S Colossus, from Lisbon. Sailed—True Briton, for Syd. ney, N. S. W. FALMOUTH, Feb. 16.—Wind E.S.E., fresh.—Arri ved— H. &LS. Eagle, from Plymouth. Off the port—Volant, from New Orleans, for Havre. COWES, Fab. 16.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Cito, from Pernambuco. Jratsii - , - Feb. 15.—Wind E.—Sailed—Willing, for Lyme and Rio Janeiro. CARDIFF, Feb. 16. —Wind E. —Sailed—Svaohoide, for Sydney ; Hazard, Rio Janeiro. EGRIMSEY, Feb. 16. —Wind E.—Arrived—George Ro gers, from Mobile. SHIELDS, Feb. 16.—Wind S.—Sailed—Augnata, for Rio Janeiro. SWANSEA, Feb. 16 .—Sailed—Spy, for Fernando Po. QUBEN4TOWN, Feb. 16. —Wind S.E.—Sailed—Salum, for Melbourne ; Marion, Barbadoes. BEAT:MARIS, Feb. I.—Wind E.—Sailed—Vesta, for Moulmein. • BELFAST, Feb. 16.—Wind N. W.—Sailed—lllidia, for Baltimore. HULL, Feb. 15.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—lda and Emma, for Havana. ZANTE, Feb. 3.—The Arethusa, from Constantinople, for England, put into Chere, on the S.E. coast of this island, with one mast sprang and rather leaky, but has proceeded. The Scotsman, from Ennis, went on shore on the north coast of this island on the 27th Jan., is sunk in deep water, and there is no hope of saving -either hull or cargo. NEW YORK, Feb. 3.—The British ship Pembroke, lay ing at Savannah on the 25th Jan., a l ongs id e the enn7 Lind (s.), heeled over and sank the latter. ELSINORE, Feb. 13.—The Neptune, of and from Wis mar, for Leith, went on shore on Falstertoe Reef on the Bth inst., but got off after throwing about 400 barrels of wheat overboard, and put in here on the 10th inst. Wind S. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Tuesday Morning. Arrivcd—Charles Devonport, from New Orleans ; Da nube, screw steadier, Palermo; Araxes, screw steamer, Alexandria. QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 15. Wind S.E. Sailed—ladem, for Melbourne ; Marian, Barbadoes„ (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday, 9.41 a.m. Wind S.S.W. ; tide half ebb; fine. Arrived—Charles Tennant, from Dunkirk. Sailed—Lady Bute, for Rangoon; Queen Margaret, Sin gapore. DEAL, Tuesday, 9.37 a.m. Wind S.S.W. ; moderate. Passed—Wizard King, from Calcutta, for London. Passed in tow—Scotia, from Sydney, for London. Sailed—Harkaway, for New Zealand. DISMISSAL OF A MEDICAL OFFICER FOR CRUELTY.— Ye-Aerday a special meeting of the directors and guar dians of the parish of Marylebone wag held to receive the report of a committee appointed by the board on Friday to consider a charge of cruelty preferred against Mr. Parnell, one of the out-door district surgeons. The evidence brought forward seemed to confirm the charge that he had cruelly neglected to prescribe for a female patient, whom he declared to be hysterical from laziness, and that the following day she died. The report recom mended the dismissal of Mr. Parnell from his office, which was agreed to. A coroner's inquest is to be held on the body of the woman. LIBERALITY OF TEE LICENSED VICTUALLERS,—THE CASE Or MB. THOMAS GROGAN.—On the 14th of De cember last, the Feathers, Wyld-street, Drury-lane, was totally destroyed by fire, and the proprietor, Mr. Thomas Grogan, deprived of his sole means of subsis tence, the house, though insured, being the property of one of the great brewers. His brother tradesmen, with characteristic liberality, have come to his st;d. A. meet ing has been held at the Falcon Tavern, Fetter-lane —Mr. Chas. Ireland, Past Governor, iu the chair—at which resolutions were adopted to appeal to the body to raise subscriptions to re-establish him in business. This appeal has been generously responded to, and it is con fidently anticipated that a sum will be re a li se d creditable to the Licensed Victuallers, and sufficient to accomplish their benevolent purpose. Mr. Grogan is generally and , favourably known, having been nearly SO y ears i n th e l trade, a long time a member of th e I ncorpora t e d S o ciety, and a life subscriber to the schools and asylum, Already about 50, including some of the most influential in the trade, have subscribed and proffered their assist ance. Some of the morning and weekly papers have considerately stated his claims. Mr. Charles Ireland, Masonic Hall, Fetter-lane, is appointed treasurer. A POLICEMAN WHO STOLE A GOLD WATOII.—At the Liverpool police-court, on Saturday, Edward Maguire, recently dismissed from the Liverpool police force for misconduct, was charged with stealing a gold watch, valued at 261., from a master printer, named Mathews. The prosecutor was stupidly drunk on the night of the 4th of October, and taken into custody by the prisoner and "booked for safety." When sobered, he missed his gold watch and gold guard, no clue to which was ob tained until Friday, when the prisoner was apprehended while attempting to pledge it at the shop of Mr. Byford, pawnbroker. He was committed for trial. THE CLERXENWELL INCUMBENCY.—The senior church. warden, after refusing all overtures to fix an early day for the election to this incumbency, has at length issued a notice calling a vestry for the 30th March. Although an earlier day (19th inst.) had been named by the junior warden, in compliance with the request of the Bishop of London, it has been dcemed advisable to waive all dis• pute on the point by waiting till the 30th proximo. TESTIMONIAL TO THE CRIMEAN COMMISSIONERS.—At the last meeting of the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, reference was made to the Liverpool ad dress to Sir John M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch, and it was suggested that, inasmuch as Lord Palmerston, whilst acknowledging the great value of their services in the Crimea, has intimated that their services are not of such a nature as to require any particular recogni tion on the part of the Government, there might be some public testimonial calculated to show the sense which the people entertain of their merits. ACCIDENT TO RISTORI.—A letter from Naples states that Bistori, the well-known actress, who a short time since appeared in several of her best characters at the Lyceum theatre, has met with a serious accident. The writer says :—" I am sorry to report that Ristori, who performed for the last time on Tharsday night, in the part of Phadra, fell forward upon the lamps in the fourth act, and cut and burnt herself most severely. She was to have left for Rome immediately after the perform ance, but is now detained at Naples. It was the subject of a discussion in the Council whether she was to be per mitted to perform Marie Stuart, but his Majesty put his negative on it." PEPRESENTATION OF LEEDS.—As it is pm featly un derstood that Sir George Goodman will not resume his Parliamentary duties, in consequence of his increasing infirmities and precarious health, the constituency of Leeds has been looking out for another representative. The Conservative party are going to fight the borough with Robert Hall, Esq., Recorder of Doncaster, who is much respected in the town ; while the Liberals are yet rather undecided as to the selection of a proper man. One section of the Liberal party looks with favour on W. E. Forster, Esq., manufacturer, Burley, near Otley; and it is understood that as soon as the new writ is moved for in the House of Commons, Mr. Forster will be placed in nomination for the borough. He is not unknown to the constituency of Leeds, nor indeed to the West Riding generally. His unflincLing and devoted advocacy of every work of philan thropy, his extensive knowledge of manufacturea, and his constant efforts to advance the political and social condition of his fellow men, have ren dered Mr. Forster's life eminently serviceable. On all political and social questions, his views are broad and catholic. His views on the subject of national edu cation are liberal and generous, and have been formed with a desire to benefit all, rather than isolated portions of eociety.elAnother section of the liberal party, repre sented by Mr. Baines of the Leeds Mercury, have also, it is rumoured, got a candidate "bottled" forthe occasion but his name has not yet been allowed to transpire.— Manchester Guardian. CONFESSION or A MURDERER AT HALIFAX.—On Saturday afternoon a middle-aged man, named James Smith, by trade a blacksmith, made the following con fession of murder at the Halifax borough police-office : "I have come to give myself up. Another man and my. self killed the governor of Carlisle gaol about 14 yea rs ago by throwing him over the banisters. I have been statement, being r e g uneasy in my conscience many years, and now I am de termined to get rid of it." Policc—ergeant Thompson suggested to Smith the propriety s e : very e a l nv idn careful what be said, as the charge he h a d laid against himself o w a a u s t i o o n n e , o h f o w t h e the e g r r , a v h e e s t r e c p h e a a r t a e c d t e h r i . After at Carlisle that he and his accomplice were undergoing two mont h s ' incarceration for poachi ng On bein g where tim ex e am e i h n h e a d eri b u y ee M tly r : s cr u im pe e rin w te a n s dpeenrtpeptreaatresdo.n a sho r t Smith seemed inclined to withdraw what he had said, or reduce it to a charge brought againstoek him at a public. house. case m i g ßut g t o l 2 e beforesuperintendent the m agi afterwards made by the police eliciteded bias informationup, which,a t the the chars l trates, and the inquiries if e p i o t e t failed he p rtios establishoner.One of the mo s t ' have been disclosed is, that toldSmith e, about a fortni gh t ‘ which cast ,fellow-workman suspicion important facts -workman age) that he purposed writing to his a ellow brother at Carlisle, to inform him that be intended re turning home if the murder at the gaol had b ee n for gotten. Th e p r i soner is a native of Carlisle, b u t he left that neighbourh oo d a b out the time w hi c h be Saes _e the commission of thi s crime, and for some ye ars p as t has resided i n H a lif ax. Th e i nves tigation of then Mr. is being b. being v i gorous l y prosecute d b y the police, d Superint en d en t P earson h as communicated authorities at Carlisle. and the STEAM GUNS AND RIFLE BATTERIES, We recently extracted from Colburn's United Service _Magazine of the present month some re marks in reference to the steam gun, which is there represented as having been invented so far back as the year 1500, according to a rude sketch and manuscript description, by the celebrated Italian ti p i ri a ee i nfoterr InstituteuLp ewo upwards of n r a d r s d oolfdrtaeh three Vinci, ? ceeec e nI found ou centuries, es d s, in thereforeas the the l finir, t a h r uin nt o ig f t. mation we ha ve h a d of its adaptation to war pur poses has been from recent American papers, by which we are informed that the Government of the United States have been constructing steam batte ries on board of thei r war s eamers'ever since our recent misunderstandi ng w i th those States, shot and shell proof; four e ng i nes to each,sub mergedwithWe a re however, happy t c. icable t erm i nation of t propellers, o find that &c., t eh these misunderstandings has removed all prospects of our experiencing the effects of such steam batte ries, not so much from an apprehension of the con sequences, as from a desire to preserve amicable relations with our transatlantic brethren ; for we have reason to believe that there has been for some time past, at Woolwich, a rifle battery designed by a gallant countryman of our own, Sir John Lillie, which is applicable to military as well as naval warfare, and with which a much more continuous fire may be maintained by the agency if of gunp ow d er ; w h erea s,we may judge from the exhibitions of Perkins's steam-gun, the discharges from such an engine cannot last more than a few minutes, intervals of hours being required to re produce the great pressure of steam necessary for such purposes. This rifle battery will, moreover, not only deliver a far greater number of balls within a given time, but with much m o re certain effect than any that can (as we have reason to believe) be produced by ten times the number of sailors, or soldiers, as at present provided. With such economy in men and money, such an increase in the destructive powers of our land and sea forces, we shall have no great reason to be ap prehensive of any encounters with steam-batteries, unless far greater improvements in such engines of war have been devised than any with which we have been heretofore acquainted. But as the march of intellect progresses so rapidly in the new world, and as Brother Jonathan is not likely to adopt the crude or antiquated ideas of the old in matters of this-nature he may probably astonish the public, wh e n we this-nature , a expect it, by explosions of vapour unknown or unheard of in the less en lightened quarters of the globe. If, nevertheless, gunpowder gas can be substituted for steam in propelling a shower of balls from guns of any calibre, without intermission, as thus represented, we must repeat that we see nothing to be appre hended from an encounter with steam-batteries, but what may result from the culpable negligence of those to whom the proper development of objects of such paramount national importance, as this appears to be, may have been confided. THE FRENCH REFUGEES IN LONDON. The Coustitutionnel contains the following power • ful denunciation of a certain class of political re fugees residing in London. We reproduce in fall this article, which proceeds from the pen of M. Granier de Cassag,nac. We must premise, however, that the events described below could not have created any sensation i n Lo n don, as the manifes tation referred to has not been mentioned by any of the English papers, whose notice of M. Worcell • was confined to a brief obituary notice : " The p ,litical refugees in London have once more, by a solemn and religious act, made the world acquainted with their principles and their projects. At the funeral of the Pole Worcell, who died a short time ago, the refugees, .di vided into nations, followed their respective banners. The French were drawn up behind the red flag, the flag of blood. It was carried by Gomet, and followed by DOrou, condemned to death by the Court of Assizes of Douai for at tempt at assassination on the person of t he Emperor. The Italians followed their tricolor flag. It was carried by Domenico Lama, the most intimate friend of Pianori, the assassin executed at Paris, and over it floated a streamer of black crape, placed there by the hand of Clerici, the assassin of the Duke of Parma. Then followed eighteen individuals who had escaped horn Cayenne. In the cortege figured Mazzini and Ledru Rollin ; and the latter, sur rounded by Clerici, Lama, and Deron, pronounced over the tomb of Worcell a speech appropriate to his audience. The world had never before wit nessed a similar spectacle or profanation, a funeral in which the chief mourners were murderers. There was a time when the quality of political refugt e excited the pity and respect of mankind. We speak of the period of the French emigration to London or Brussels during the French Revolution and the Restoration ; of the period of the Poli-h or Spanish emigration r.ia t aga o ssrmpjab P fytet a isiroau r ile i nien s i roi d ,hbmhaa u l ad r cee onpi hands sv were bsten h ierdo e ceea g na etou Morelia fu v autie e rth r s nua n soh m gi a sedr e aaao n tdguri t cgda o aeo f pc arrJriurnit Lallynsai edc y But s ag T e cnuz a o di 1 e re entot mis guided, ts e o k m gw r i uld dishonoured them. What sentiments can be in spired or merited by the political refugees of Lon don, who have fallen to that degree that they pub licly adopt or tolerate as standard-bearers hired as sassins ? It is assuredly impossible that all the refugees can in the bottom of their heart accept such a disgrace. In their ranks are men of talent and of profound knowledge, who devote long and painful labours to the desire and hope of deserving the esteem of posterity. Such minds and hearts cannot consider themselves intended by nature to be the followers of knackers and cutters-up of hu man flesh. But why do they remain silent Q why do they not openly wash their hands of this blood and shame t We sincerely honour the customs and the laws of England ; we honour the respect, how ever exaggerated, paid by those laws and cus toms to individual liberty. We are nevertheless persuaded that it was rather want of attention than theory which permits these terrible manifestations, this tranzy of crime. The practical good sense of it s laws English nation would revolt at the idea of laws affording protection to assassins, to their pro ject., and to their attempts on civilised society and on honourable governments. The English nation, so moral and religious, would be offended iu its honourable pride were it to know that its constitu tion obliges it to elbow in the streets men with stains of blood on their clothes, which they openly display, and of which they boast. We know no thing more respectable or sacred than liberty of conscience or of opinion, and we conceive that ardent minds consider no sacrifice or effort too great that tends to preserve intact such a treasure. But wo do not hesitate to ask of all h ones t men, o f a ll countries or political parties, whether the sight wit nessed in the streets o f L on d on, and protected by English laws—namely, the unfu r li ng o f th e fl ag o f murder in a great city, the honours of a funeral ceremony publicly offered to assassins—is to be in terpreted as the result of liberty or of licence ?" MARKET NEWS.—(This ray.) MAJORITY IN FAVOUR OF THE AMENDMENT. 2,1t31 3,826,2;7 23,287 2,339 LAW INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.) COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Before Mr. Commissioner Evans.) IN EE J. W. ROBSON.-TIIE CRYSTAL PALACE PRAIIDS. To-day was appointed for a dividend meeting, and first examination under the estate of this bankrupt, who has been convicted of extensive forgeries and frauds on the Crystal Palace Company, The bankrupt was brought up in custody, but not brought into Court, being accommodated in a private room to answer any questions necessary. His appear ance was much the same as on tha last meeting. _ _ Mr. Lawrence appeared on behalf of the Crystal Pa lace Company to tender a proof for 17,8941. The affi davit was made by Mr. George Groves, the secretary of the company, on an account prepared by Messrs. Quilter and Co., under different }loads, showing the na ture of the frauds and forgeries by which the compatiy became entitled to claim for moneys received by the bankrupt and misappropriated by him, and upon forged shares, which as between the public and the company they were liable for, the bankrupz, having affixed their seal and also entered the shares in the transfer books. As the assignees had not bad time to go into the account he should propose that the proof should be admitted, subject to investigation. Mr. G. Simon (instructed by Mr. Monk), for the assignees, objected to the form of the affidavit and to some of the items, particularly as to the forged shares, as it was not at all clear that the company were bound by them. Mr. Lawrence said th e co mpany had been well ad vised upon that point before they paid the dividend —the shares having the genuine impression of the company's seal, gave the shares all the indication of genuine share.. His Honour said there were several difficult questions in the matter, and he thought the better course would be to adjourn the dividend for a month, and it was ad- journed accordingly. No accounts having been filed, the examination was adjourned sine die. ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN A TRAIN AND Roe- BERT OF 400,0001. —The following extract, of a private letter was posted yesterday at Lloyd's :—" Cairo, Feb. 5, 1857. We had a very narrow escape last night. A conspiracy had been planned to destroy the treasure train, by taking up the rails near this city, and in the confusion of a dreadful accident to plunder the trunks of the specie, amounting to 400,0001., brought by the Pera, screw steamer. It was discovered in time, and about 130 of the ringleaders had been apprehended." THE HIINTERIAN ORATION.—The customary oration in honour of the celebrated surgeon, physiologist, and comparative anatomist, John Hunter, was delivered in the lecture-theatre of the Royal College of Surgeons, ' Lincoln's inn -fields, on Saturday last, the 14th inst., by Mr. Thos. Vormald, Fellow of the College, and one of the surgical staff of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in the presence of the elite of the medical profession of the me tropolis' and many Fellows of the t wo R oya l cc ll eges. THE NEW BARON OF THE EXGHEQUER.—Mr. Ser geant Channell, the newly -appointed Baron of the was called to the ba r i n th e year 1 82 7, and sergeant in 1840. The le arne d sergeant was a beca Exchequer, m e a member of the Home Circuit, of which indeed, since the retirement of Sir F. Thesiger from circuit practice and the elevation to the bench of Mr. Baron Platt, he has long been the titular leader. As a junior counsel the extent of his practice had been very considerable ; it became apparent, however, after his promotion to the degree of the coif, that his qualifications were less adapted for the exigencies of leading business. At nisi prius, accordingly, and on circuit, he was soon die inferiors i n l ega l erudi h hs p i rompter decision, greater t presenting a case advan tageously to a jury. As long, however, as the sergeants were allowed to keep up their monopoly in the Court of Common Pleas, Mr. Sergeant Channell retained a very respectable share of the business of that court. When the Common Pleas were thrown open to the profession at large, his practice again experienced a sensible de cline. The respect universally entertained for hie high personal character and his professional attainments has been since then evinced in a marked manner by the fre quency with which he has baen selected to act as a sub stitute for the judges when precluded from attending to their circuit duties. In this capacity the new Baron is understood to have given very general satisfaction, and there is, we believe, every reason to hope that be will prove not only a learned and painstaking, but a useful and practical judge. In the general business of the port of London during the past week there has been increased ac the importations of tea b e i ng unusua ll y l arg e. ac tivity, of ships reported i nward was 12 8 , b e i ng Tt 3 i 6 vhiet niore than in the previous week. These in cluded 13 with cargoes of corn, 11 with cargoes of sugar, and 9 with cargoes of tea, the latter com prising 101,411 packages, in addi t i on to 5,867 bales of silk, also from China. Th e num b er o f vessels cleared outward w as 110 , showing an increase of 22, including 14 in ballast. The total number of ships on the bert h loadin g for the Australian colonies is 6S. Of these 9 are for Ad e l a id e, 4 for Gee l ong , 4 for Hobart Town, 2 for Launceston, 4 f or M e lbourne, 5 for New Zealand , 1 f or Port Philip, 17 for Sydney, 1 for Swan River, and 1 for Wellington, HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 12s to 41 Os; clover do., 3/ lOs to 5/ 03; and straw, 1/ 4 s to 1 / 8s per load. A moderate supply and a slow trade. C UM B E RLAND. —Meadow hay, 2/ 12s to 4/ 4s ; clover do., 3/ Els to 5 / Os ; and straw , 1 / 4 s to 11 . 9 s per load, Both hay and straw moved off slow l y , at about last week's prices. WHITECHLPEL.—Meadow hay, 2/ lOs to 4/ Os ; c l over do., 3/ lOs to 51 5 s ; and straw , 1 / 4 a to ll 8s per load. Supply good and trade dull. COLONIAL. TEA.—No business of any importance has been transacted this week ; buyers are waiting the report of the deputation, appointed at the meeting of the trade at the London Tavern, to tho Chancellor of the Exchequer. Prices are unaltered. SUGAR.—There has been very little business doing in the markets, holders still demanding very high rates. There are moderate qualities announced for public sale during the week, and prices are expected to rule rather high. In the refined market there has been a good demand. Brown lumps realise G4s per cwt. COFFEE.—The demand for good and fine qualities of Plantation and Native Ceylon still continues, and prices have shown a slight advance on previous quo tations. RICE.—Th e mar k et has ruled rather firmer, ai , 3g f ~.. a business h as b een done in low and mid qualities c at fully firmer quotations. RUM.—No business of any acted, and prices are unaltered. . it — i n the market, TALLOW. —Thera has been less act i vity the spot is quoted but prices rule firm. Fine P.Y.C_• fict Per cwt. 54e p 68s, and for last three months has been trans. importance -- SERVICE IN THE NAVT.- 13 9 Sir C. Wood's new bill first enlistment, t together 21 years. with th e term years, of marines may enlist for a n y term not exceeding 12 ye ars , and any marine may , subject to approbation, re-engag e i PosT- His Roy a l Hi g h ness , ..... forasecond n serviceu T RIA L OF TUE SO LDIERS ENGAGED IN THE OUTRAGE AT THE CHATH AM the Commander -n-Chief, , has ord ere d t h at a d i str i ct der term the notfi court-mart i a l assemble at Chath am garr i son for the tr i a l o f the whole of those soldie rs who have been racognised as hav i ng been engaged in the outrage at the Cha th am Poet -office and the assault on M r. Dadd, the postmaster, which took place early on the morning of the 7th inst. The names of the prisoners who have been identified as having been concerned i n t h e procee dings are Denis Craigen, Thomas Hannan, Win. Kieffe, and John Mac namara, all privates in the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers. The members of the court-martial were selected from the various branches of the service at Chatham, the presi. dent being Lieut.-Col lid R. N. Phillips, of the pro visional battalion. The proceedings of the court commenced as Chatham barracks yesterday morning, and were adjourned to this day. St. 1i 12 2 i' 12,1 12 25 20 St. 25 10 1.0.61