The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-02 00:00:00

DIXOINTEY MARKET AND oommEßa lAL INTELLI GEN CE, I Shr. CITY, Two O'CLOCK. Letters from Liverpool report that the Cotton Market yesterday closed with a steady ap pearance, and values were fully maintained. The sales amounted to about 9,000 bales, 1,500 of w hich were taken on speculation, and 500 for export. The Railway Share Market closed firmly, a nd prices were without any material alteration. Respecting the condition of the Money Market tte following is from the Bankers' Magazine and Commercial Digest : The course of financial and mercantile affairs during . n ." 18 Past month has been of the most chequered character. with a farther advance in the rate of discount from 8 to 10 per cent., the occurrence of a crisis, and the Pepeneion of the Bank Charter Act, it may readily L 'a supposed the position of business has not roo satisfactory, while the number of failures which uoe taken place have created general gloom attd despondency. In this condition of things the issue °, l the Government letter has produced some benefit, bet " has not yet bad time to eff.tct a full resuscitation, the anic having progressed too far to render its operation immediate. The consequences of the late suspensions, dangeroue as they have been, have not proved so Pernicious as might have been anticipated, though the character and importance of the houses show the effect of continuous high rates of discount upon the com mercial community. A steady restoration of confidence 110 yr appears to be expected, but it will, under any L tcumstances, be slow and progressive, the shock give n hY the late revulsion having created excessive apprehen -11°o• The speculators have not been so active during t hispanic as they were in that of 1847, although, never theless, unfounded rumours have from time to l ime been ci r culated with respect to the position of " O usts whose credit still remains undoubted. The index of the precious metals, and the advice of additional remit tanaea from Australia, will assist to ease the condition n the money market, the recovery in America being ewise calculated to facilitate the movement. At one Period during the crisis it was almost impossible to l egociat e paper a t a ll, an d the charge, under the most favourable circumstances, was 12 and 13 per cent. Within the last few days greater readiness has been Manifested to discount, and the quotation by the prin ,aiPal brokers is now a fraction below 10 per cent. The imports of the precious metals continue on a large scale, And sovereigns are returning from Scotland and Ireland, the run for gold in those localities having terminated. Although additions are still being almost daily blade to the list of failed firms, they are not of very great importance, and they are in most instances the result of suspensions abroad. The situation of commercial affairs in Hamburg and the North of Europe generally is most deplorable. Discounts are almost unobtainable, and money is being sent from London to enable some of the principal firms to provide for engagements failing due. The re action upon the connections of these foreign houses in this Country must be most embarrassing, and much eYropaffoy is felt for such firms as Messrs. Hermann eox, of London and Liverpool, who stopped yes terday because the humiliating alternative is pro doeed by events over which they have had no con trol. Animmense mass of protested bills has been re ceived from various parts of the Continent, and every mail brings most distressing accounts to our mer- C hants engaged in trading operations with the north of Europe. It may yet happen that numerous ether failures will take place before the end of the Year, and it is perhaps as well that the public should .. 13 e prepared for them, because such casualties, al though they must occasion deep regret, need not necessarily retard the gradual subsidence of the crisis. If unfavourable symptoms are still mani fested in particular departments, others of an en couraging character are apparent elsewhere. For instance, the influx of gold into the Bank continues, the effect of which will soon be perceived. A ;lipid improvement in the position of the Bank of Eagland, such as that now going on, will enable the Directors to give increased facilities to trade by additional discount accommodation, and Perhaps at lower rates. We learn by accounts from ?aria that the reduction of 1 per cent. in the terms there has been productive of much good. It has inspired confidence, and already business has slightly improved, although December is not generally c haracterised by much activity. The same benefi cial results, it may be presumed, would follow a Similar movement here, although it would not pre -1431A failures, nor cause a sudden resuscitation of trade. Temporarily, the demand for money is brisker, and the applications both in Lombard street and at the Bank are very numerous, but this increased pressure is attributable to the pre- Parations in progress for the payments on the 4th Of the month, which, in the aggregate, will repre sent a very large amount. When these engage bunts are met, there is some prospect of the money barket being more sensibly relieved than at any time since the commencement of the crisis. 50 25 00 25 St. 50 St. St, 20 20 10 St. There has been a good deal of fluctuation in the English Stock Market to-day, although the changes have not been very important. The market is evidently rather unsettled, but this must be expected as the account day is approached, when the operations during the past month have been on such a large scale. Consols for transfer and the 7th proximo have been 90i 91, and since then 91k. They are now about 91i and for the January account 92. The New 3 per Cents, and the Reduced Annuities have been 89i and 90k. Bank Stock is well supported at 218. .Exeheqtter Bills are 4s. discount to par, the Bonds 98t, and India Bonds 335. discount. A. moderate amount of business has been done in 1001 Foreign Securities, but prices are rather unsteady. lee Turkish 6 per Cents. are 91i 92 ; ditto 4 per Cents. tro Brazilian 5 per Cents. 99k , ditto 4i per Cents. 94i, Chilian 6 per Cents. 1011 to 10*, 20 Danish 3 per Cents. 83i 84, Russian 5 per Cents. 20 105 k to 1061, Spanish New Deferred 25k, and Dutch 4 per Cents. 96k. The following are the nominal prices of Foreign Stocks --Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexi can, : 1 8i 19k ; Peruvian 44 per Cents., '76 77 ; Ditto 3 per Cents 51 53 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents., 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 104 106 ; ditto 4 ;_t per Ce n t s ., 95 t o 97 ; Spanish 3 per Cents, 402 " 44 ,; ditto New Deferred, 25 26i. „' r ather limited business has been reported in the Railway Share Market, and a further slight 20 downward movement has taken place. Eastern 20 Counties, Great Western, Lancashire and York- 20 Shire, North Western, South Western, North I 9) British, and South Eastern declined 10s. ; and 10 Brighton, Id., most of the other lines were at lower E quotations. The Foreign and Colonial under- 20 takings are flat. Paris and Lyons have receded 5 ss. ; and Lombardo-Venetian ss. ; East Indian 20 declined 10s; Grand Trunk of Canada, 1/. ; and 33' Great Western of Canada, 6s. Geelong and Mel- g bourne improved ss. 20 Mining Shares are quiet. United Mexican are 1 6 0 3 i ; Wheal Mary Ann, 49 ; and Wheal Edwards 20 6i 7i. 20 20 Joint Stock Bank Shares are firm. Bank of Aus tralasia improved U. ; London Chartered of Aus- 10 tralia, 105. ; and Oriental Bank, ss. 20 The Miscellaneous Shares are quiet. Canada 20 Land advanced 1/., and Royal Mail Steam 10s. 10 I 20 BRITISH FUNDS.—CLOSING PRICES—THIS DAY. (Prom eke Officsai List:) _ Business dome, Bank Stook 2lB 16 8 per Cent. Reduced Annuities _ E l 190 90 h4 - ,1, 0 i 3 per Cent. C onsole Annuities New 3 per Cent. Ann uities Loup Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860 — Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1885 l7i India Stock. 2lB la tin /thuds. 41000 Ditto; under £lOOO 2 ,3 Onsols for Account 9Oll 18 90 1A i ®Ex ' , enuer Bills, tad, ar 4 d 41000 ........... ..... ........................ p Exchequer Bonds, 1858,► 36 per Cent 9Bi Ditto, 1859 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY. Braznian 5 p er C en t. Ditto 1852, 4i per Cent. Do., 1529 an d 1839, 5 per Cent .. Bacnos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent. B5 0 linen Bonds, 6 per Cent l62i 11 Danish Bonds, 3 per Cent., 1825 B3l 4 Mexican 3 per Cent — Ditto Account • Russian Bonds, 1822, i; St., 5 per Cent._ 1061 51 Eardinian Bonds, 5 pest Cent. SPknish Bonds, 3 per Cont. Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. Spanish Committer. Cert. of Coup. not fun. 5/ Ttt •I:1,11 ii. - nds, f; per celtt 9l • I, 0,: Acco - o, mta. Guar intbod. t per Cent. Ditto Account (Dec. 16) Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 21 per Cen,`,., 12 Guilders Do. 4 per Cent. Certificates ........ 7 1 1 1 113AUCLOCK, Consols, money Ditto account (December 7) TUE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EV ENING, DECE.M:BE,R 2, 1857. SHARE MARKETS—Ihis Day.) RAILWAYS• Closing Prices this day; Business dons this day. Paid RAILWAIre. 10 Ambg. Nottng. Bost. & Eastn. Junc....... all 'Belfast & Ballymena all Btrmng. Wolverh 6 Stour Valley 100 Birkenhd. Lancsh di Cheshire Junet all Blackburn ....... all myth & Tyne original £25 (iss. at £45)... 100 Bristol & Exeter 'lOO Caledonian 100 Chester & Holyhead all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black. & Pass all Cornwall all Do. I 8 Do. B 45 Dublin &Belfast June all Dun. P. &Aber.Junc 100 East Anglian all Eastern Counties 100 EasternUnion,A. stk 100 Do. ' do. B. 8i Do. New A 17i1East Kent ... 100 ;East Lancashire ..... . all ;East Suffolk 4IDo. .................. 1 100 !Edinburgh & Glasgow all 'Edinb. and Peebles... 'lOO Edhib.Prth.&Dunder all Forthand ClydeJunc. 100 I Furness 100 Glasgow & S.Western all 'Great N. of Scotland 100 iGreat Northern 100 Do., A. Stock 100 IDo., B. Stock 100 Gt. Sth. &West.(lre) 100 GreatW e stern. 100 'Do. Str.V.R. gna. St all Irish South-Eastern. all Lancaster &Carlisle. 14i Do., Thirds 12 Do. Now Thirds 100 Lancash. &Yorkshire 6 Do., do. F 116 I Do., Wst. Riding Un all Do. Southport. all London & Blackwall 100 Loud Bright. &S. est. ;100 London & N2Wo3terli all Do. Fifths I all Do.,laSh.,M&B , 0 5 Do. Eighths 1 100 London & S.Weatern all LndneliTy.d/Coleraim all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 100 Manch.Shet&Lincln., 1 Metropolitan 1 Do. J. L. Ricardo't arrangement 1100 Midland 100 Do. Birming. & Derby all MidlandO.West.(lr.; I all Do. Shares. ...... all Newcastle & Carlisle all Nowpt.AborgatHrfd 9 Newry & EnniskilleL all Newry, Warrenpoint & Rostrovor 1 100 3 Northn. Counties Un 100 North British 100 North Devon, Rail. 6 Dock Stock ...... 100 Do., A Stock 100 Do., B Stock 100 N. Eastern— Berwick all Do. do. Extension .„ 16i Do do. G.N.E.Purch. ' all Do. Leeds 100 Do. York 100 North London 31.1 N. &S. Wstu., Ramp• stead, and City Jn 17 North Staffordshire 1 all North Western all N. &S. Weatrn. June. 100 Oxford Worcester 6 Wolverhampton 1 16 Portsmouth 10 (Scottish 100 Scottish Control 100 Scot. N.E.Abrdn. St 100 Shropshire Union 6 Sitingbourne &Sheer. 100 South Devon 100 South Eastern all Do. 4i per 3 . Shares 100 South Wales all S. Yorksh. River Dun 10 Do all Staines,Wok.,&Woll all Stockton' & Darling.. 15 Do. do., 1854 5 Do. do., 1855 16i 'Stockton & Uartlepl 100 'Taff Vale.. 1 100 Do. Pref., No. 1 22 Thames Hay. D. &R all Vale of Neath all Waterfd. & Kilkenny all Waterford&Limerick all West Coinwall.. , all I 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 iWmbledon&Croydon 41 - ri 8 - 8 62 - 63 ".." o•-• 8/ - 91 84 - 861 761 -76 i 29 .- 31 7 - 9 ..• .•• 3 - 5 ... - ... 8i - 18 54i -55 i 42 - 44 27 - 30 17 - 18 83 - 90 59 - 60 26 - 28 88 - 90 9 - 10 92 - 93 76 - 78 120 - 122 1 97 - 99 51 - 513 58 - 62 72 - 76 7 - 8P 7 - 8 P, 91. -91 t - 511 ,102 - 104 95 - 95 ... lhd ^ i d 88 89 ... ^". re 4 36 = ie 83 -83 i 57 - 59 ii - ii 57 - 59 3/ - 3t 48 - 49 92 - 93 2i -2, 50 - 51 80 - 82 90 - 93 8 - 9 , i - 41 28 30 8 6 d 03 105 213 224 45 47 4 3 d 32 34 63 633 78 FO 12 14 d 8 6d 9 11 86 38 261 -1 - ilq 7 - 9 2i - 3t - 52 BRITISH POSSESSIONS. all ;Atian. and St. Law. ' 9 Bombay, Baroda, and Cen.lnd,guar. 5 p.c. all Do. 18 Buffalo & Lake Hur 100 Buff., Brnt. & Godch 100 6 p.c.bds., 1 Aug.,'72 . Do. do., 1 July, 73 100 Do. do., 1 June, '74 2s. Calcutta and S. East. 2s6d Central Oudo (Lim.) lOs Ceylon A shares 1 Do. B. do. „ all Demerara . 2s. Eastern Bengal 100 East Indian 15 Do. C Shares all D 0.4 p.c.Bnds.,'s7 all Do. do. do. '59, do. all Geelong & Melbourne guar. 5 per cent. 100 I Gd . Trunk. of Canada all i Do. 6 p. c. Deben all ( - It. In. Pen. g. 5 pore 4 Do. Now. guar. 5 p.c. all ,Gt. Wcstn. of Canada 10 Do. Now all IDo. Bds., payable '57 do., '76, p.'6o all iDo. do., '73, do all 'Do. do., '73, without option all Madras, guar. 4 P.C all Do. do., 5 per c. 10 i Do. 44 p. c. Exton. 5 Do. 3d Ex., g. sp.c. 5 I Do. 4th Ex., do. ••• ••• a - i 7d' - 1 17i 55 4i 28 i ••• - ••• i - i 106 -- 107 i f - lin 19} -19 i 38 -- 40 72 -- 75 21 -- 211 1 -- 1p 18f -18 t 2a -- 20 ss. , lOude (Limited 5 1 I Seinde, guar. 5 per C ;€0 all Do 103 - 108 103 - 108 100 -- 102 I 18 -- 20 20} -- 21A1 1 -- dl ddpi d p is = iipl 261 13) 20 St. 10 10 10 Paid RAILWAYS. 100 100 all 100 all 100 si 1 Leasing Companies, Buckghamsh Clydesdale Jc. Col.Stour Vy. E.Lin.g.6 p.c E. Un. H. Sh. Glas. Barr. & Neils. Direct. Do. New Glstr.&Dn.Fr Hull & Selby Do. Shares Do. Shares Lon. &Greenw Do. Preference Lon. Til., &S. Do. Bark. Sh. Manch.Baton. and Matlock Mdld. Bradfd. Newmarket BuryE.G.spc. N.&Est.s Do. 6 per et.. Do.Fixedsp.c Prest. & Wyre Do. Shrs. A Roystn.& Hit. Shrews.& Her S. Staffordsh.. WearVal.g6pe 28 I .11 iDo. St. 400 !Wilts&Somrst Closing Prices this day Btudneas thja day Ln.&N.W. Caledon Gt.Northn E. Count. Caldonian. Gt. Westn. Y. & iDo S. Eastern. Peto &Co. Do Ln.&N.W it Midld Midland E. Count.. IDo IDo ..... Do L. &IS. W Do Gt.Nort T. Brassey M. MClean Stk.dtDar. Do Gt.Westn 88 - 9 2 93 - 95 12 - 14 128 - 132 - 4 lica 156 .--. ••• 12 1 3 ••• 23 —24 89 91 1 3d 89 - 9 1 id IP 51 56 126 ••• - 130 73 - 8 83 - 9 ... - ••• 30 - 32 PREFERENCE SHARES. all Blyth and Tyne 10 p. c.pref. (issd.at 501.) .00 Bris.&Ex.4 P.C. St. 5 Do. 4 per c. Shares 100 Caledn. £lO 4 p. c 100 Ches. & Ho. 5 3 / 4 P.C 100 Do. do. 5 per cent all Cork&Bandons 3 / 4 p.c all Dun.Perth.&Aber.J 100 E. Anglian Cls. ASh 100 Do. do„ Cls. B 6p. c 100 Do. do. Cls. C 7p. c 100 Eas.Co.Ex,sp.c No.l 100 Do. No. 2 100 Do. Now 6 pr. c. St all East Un., G. 6 p. C all Do. 51., 0 per cent all Do. 10/. Debentr.Sh all Do. do. 4 per cent 100 East Lancash .6 p.cts all E.drW. York. J. sths 9 Ediu. dr Gl. sp. c. Sh. 100 Ed.Prth.&Dun.4p.c. 100 Furness, 5 p. c 100 Glas. & 5.W.G.5 p.c 100 I Great Northn. 5 p.c 100 Do. 5 p. c. Redeem, at 10 p. c. prem 100 Do. 4 3 / 4 per cent 60 Do. 5 p.c., Red. at 5 p. c. prom. all Gt.N .of Scot. Ist Pm 18 Gt. S di W. (Ireland) 18 Do. 4 pert. Pref. St. 6 Gt.W.(B.&H.Ex.spc 'lOO Do. con. red. 4 3 / 4 p. c. 100 Do. con. red. 4p. c. 100 Do. irred. 4 per lent. 1100 Do 5 p. c. red. pref. all Do. Birm. 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. al Do. do. do 100 Lan. & York. 6 pc. St 100 Lon. &B. G. 5 pc.No.l. 100 Do. ,P.,5 p. c. St. No. 2 100 Do. New Guar. 6p.c. 100 Do. do. sp. c., N 0.4 100 Lou. (Sr N.W., Cov. dt Naneaton 5 p. ct 100 Lon. & S.W. 7 perct. late 3d Shares all Londy. - dr Color. 3 / 4 Sh. all Londy. &Ennis. , Sh. 100 M., S., &L. 6p. Cent. 4 3 / 4 Do. do. do. £6 . 100 Do. do. 3i per cent all Marypt. & Carl. 4 p.c. all Do, 4 3 / 4 per cent 10 3 / 4 Do. do. 100 (Aid. Consol. 6p. c. St 100 Do. Con. Br. Bir. 6 p.c 100 Do. 4 3 / 4 p. c. Pref. St 100 Do. L. &H. Pref. St all Now.,Aber., &c., pr 5 p. c. rod. 5 p. c. pm all Do. Perpet. 6 pr. ct all Norf k D eb. 4p.e. Sh 100 Do. sp. c. Ext. 1846 100 Do. 5 3 / 4 p.c. pf , 1847 100 Do.Wv.V.sp. ~1847 100 North British 3i Do, 71. Preference 100 N. E. Berw. 4p. c.Prf. 8i Do. do. do 13 Do. Leeds 6 pc. No. 1 9 Do. do. Qrs., 1848 10 Do. York H. &S. Pur all North Staffordshire 100 Ox., Wor. & Wolv. 6 p.c., Ist guar. 1100 Do. 6p. c. 2d guar 100 IDo. do. Debentr. St. all 'Scot. Cent. Now Pref. 100 iSc.N.E.Aber.g.6p.e. 100 Do. do. 7 p.c. pf. St. 100 Do. d 0.31 p.c. pf. St all South Devon all Do. fixed 4 3 / 4 pr cent all S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. 100 Do. 4 3 / 4 per cent 100 Do. Fixed 4 3 / 4 p.c. Sh 100 Do. New 4 3 / 4 pr. cent 100 S. Wales Gua. 4p. c. 100 Do. do. 4. p. c all S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar all Stock. &Dar., sp. c 19 Do. do. do. it. 101 lWatorfd&Kilk. 6pc i*i =-- io •.• - ••• 90 - 95 ,••• -- ... 5/ - 6i LO5 - 110 LOB - 115 LOS - 108 LO2 - 105 Ll 9 - 122 ei -- --7 WI 11li --118 92 i 103 91 108 - 110 101 - 103 61 - 63 91 -10 i - g i := - 4 85 -- 87 80 -- 82 80 -- 62 93 -- 95 9 -- 15i -- 162, 94 -- 9i 66 -- 68 17i 9f -- 9i 131 -13 i 132 - 137 110 - 113 150 - 155 .••- • • • - i 1 60 -- 6 5 87 6 126 - 131 94 - 96 84 - 88 jo t __. il5l 96 = 16i 90 92 1 ii 1 d - 4 ,1 21i - 22 109 - 111 99 - 101 1 - 05 - 107 65 - 70 94 -10 i 25 10 L 0.6 21 - 22 81i 91 3 1291 301 110 101 100 BRITISH MINES. . . 2112, Alfred Cons. (Philk.) 133/4 -- 14 3 / 4 1 20 14 'British Iron ... 20 Condurow (Cambrn.) 100 110 10 1 Dev. Gt. Cnsls. (Tay.) 430 450 ... 27 3 / 4 East Basset (Dogan) 90 100 ... 1455 Great South Tolgus 134 14 ... 1113 Grt.W.Alfrd. (Philk ) 4] -- 5 ... 76 Grt.W. Vor (Helstn ) 1 -- 2 ... 13s Lady Bertha ... Th. N. Frances (Mogan) 8 10 8i 9 N.W.Basset (Mogan) 11 3 / 4 12 3 / 4 1 ... . 6115 North Wheal Crofty 4 3 / 4 5 ... 13 Par. Cons. (St.Blaxy) 19 20 ... 9 Porkellis U. (Wend.) 4 5 i ... 6s. Sort. Cons. Min. Co. 1 i 2 ... 2 3 / 4 S. Caradon (St. Clear 335 345 ... 2S. Carn Brea (Illogn. 4 5 .. 19 S.W. Frances(lllogn. 220 2 30 . 5 4 3 / 4 Tam. S. &L. Min. Co. i 1 10 9 Tin Croft 3 4 ... 40 Un.Mined (Gwennap) ~. •.. .. 1256 V. of Towoy (Camar.) 1 i ... 1 3 / 4 W. Basset (Illogau) 22 23 ... 20 W. Caradon (Liskrd.) 100 110 ... 5h Wh. Basset (Mogan). 160 170 ... 5 Wh. Buller (Rdruth). 280 290 ... 5 3 / 4 Wh. Eclward(Calstek) • 7 73 n6i 18 161 ... 117 s Mi. Kitty (U. Llant) 16 ..., 8 Wh.Ma.Ann (Menht.) 48 -- 55 50 49 4i Wh. Trelawn°Y(l FOREIGN MINES. 20 'a lAustralian 1 10s. Bon Accord Cop. (10 4 d - - pr 35 27 Brazilianlmp.(issued at X 5 pm) 30 all Do. Comes & Cuiada ... ... 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 11 13 1 ' 4 Clarendon Con. Min. Co. of Jamaica . -- ...d 40 all Cobre Copper 39 -- 41 383 9 ... 16 Copiapo - 12 1 all Dun Mountain Cop per Mining Co, 2 all Fortuna - id 20 all General 3 all Linares 5 14 Lusitanian 1 all Mariquita 1 all New Granada 1 all Noveau Monde 20 all Pont.Sil.LdM.& Smlt 5 6 5 1 Port Philip •••. ..• 30 16i Santiago de Cüba 28i all United Mexican 3l 3 3 / 4 3 3 / 4 14 34 all Antwrp & Rotterdam 1 I 18 Ardennes all Belgian East. Junct 16 Beziers to Graissessac all C a rmeaux&Toulouse Coal Mines and Ry 12 Dutch Rhenish all Eastern of Franco all Do. New 2s. Euphrates Valley 18 Gt. Central of France all Great Luxembourg... 4 Italian Junction all Lake Const. & Bale all Lierre and Turnhout 6 Lombardo-Venetian all Lucca & Pist.sp.c.p. all Lyons and Geneva all Lyons & MacMorran. all Maria Antonia all I Do. New all Namur I,z Liege all Do. do. 6 p. c. Prof. all Northern of France all NorwegianTrnk.Prei all Paris and Lyons all Paris and Orleans , 7 Recife & San Fran , (Perham.) g. 7 P. c 7i Rome and Frascati all Royal Danish all Royal Swedish all Sambre and Meuse all Do. 5i per cent. prel all Southern of Franco, i all West Flanders all Do. 54 per c. Prof all W.&N.W. of Francel 0 6 'Western of Austria._ 0 all , West. of Switzerland 6 all ,Wiesbaden 6 all , Do. Bp. cont. pref. 0 all Zealand ....... .. 1 all 5 18C 0 all iO all o' all !CI all 0 \ all : ;0 20 50 ;6 10 xi 20 po 35 20 10 DO Vi 0 all 15 all 20 .0 all 6 ;5 all ;5 all JOINT-STO Australasia. , Bank of Egypt Bank of London' Bri. Col, Bk.& Lu. Co British N. American IC.Bk.of Ind.Au.&Ch City IColonial '•Commercial of Lond Eng.Scot.&Aus.o at Lou. Ch. Bk.of A ast. Ditto New London and County Lnd.&E.Thakng.Corp Londou Joint Stock. Lond.andWestminst. National Pro. of Eng. 'Do. New , National Bank New South Wales ;Oriental Bank Corp iOttonien Balm Provinc al of Ireland; Do. New... R.Aus.B. SLG.Im.Co. South Australia Union of Australia ' ?-, Do. Now ,Union of London .... 'Unity Mutual MeotP 2 Bic of Lond 53. - 6i ..... ••• - 1 '''''. • • • 4 - 5 - 25 -25 i ,I , .... ... ii = 4 3 -3? I i 5 18i - 19 35 - 3 5 : 8 - 9 34 -33 i 49 - 51 2* lid' 134 -- 154 4 -- 1-- i 7 -- 8 204 -- 21 4t -- 5 25 -- 26 .. - .. BANKS. 80 85 5 4d 40 45 G 9 18 - 186 18 - 186 MISCELLANEOUS. 900 Atlantic Tel. (Lim.) 19 Australian Agricult. all Australis. Royal Mail (all. Berlin Water Works '2 Do. New iss. at $/. d 40 Brit. American Lancl. _32 i,Canada _ I 100 Do.Go.6pc.Jan&July all Copper Min. of Eng. all Do. Prof. 7§ p. cent all Crystal Palace all Do. Preference all ,Crystal Pal. of France 0 all Eastern Steam t. 100 , Electric Telegraph , 1 all Electric Tel. of Irel, 5 all lEn.&Aust.Cop.SmCo 0 10s.*r. & Ind.Jctn. Tel. 9 all I Eur. &Am. Stm.(lim.) 0 all Gen. Ir.Sc.Col.(lirn.) 5 14 Gen. Steam Navigat. :0 5 London Discount 4 all Lond. Gon. Omnibus !,0 10 Magdalena St. Navig. LO all ,Mediteran. Elec. Tel. LO 8i `Do. Extension Toleg. 10 all !Mexican& S. Americn .?,5 5 (Nat. Discount C 0.... 10 6 Netherlands Land , 10 all i Do. Do. 5 all po.B p. iss. at I d. 5 2 'Do. no. 80 New B. &N. S. Land 100 N.S.W. Gov.s p.e.D. all N. B. Australasian... I all Nrth.ofEuropoSteam all Oriental Gas 10s. Do New Shares all Peelßr. Ld. do Minrl all Peninsular (Sg Oriental 10 Do. New all Rhymney Iron tio Royal Mail Steam all Scot. Austral. Invest. 100 S. Au% Gov. 6 p. e.bds. all South Austral. Land all Submarine Tel. Scrip all Do. Registered 5 Trus. Ln. Co. Up. Can 28i Van Dlemou's Laud 50 50 50 1O) ..• --; ••• 22 -- 23 •• - ••• 4 -- 5 30 - 35 118 - 125 105 - 107 27 - 32 23 - 25 - 3 - 4 • II•1 • ... •w 1100 - 105 •• --• •• 1 -1), •• "."" •• p• .""' •• 2 1 3i - 3 •• ''"" • •• e• --* . li I 2 3 " 3 2 3 lid 16 16 1 i 4 - 5 I I - lit ia ip 1i - 2i 74 - 76 6 - 7 21 - 23 ••• •.• 1 31 - 33 k. 7 i •;• ••• 8i -- 94 121 2 1051 6 Vtittion SUN OFFICE, Six o' Clock. THE PIEDMONTESE ELECTIONS. The Siecle, in an article on the Piedmon tese elections, most urgantly recommends the extreme left to support the Government, under the penalty of seeing the ultramontane party march to victory through their divided ranks ; it represents union under present circumtances as a question of life or death both to the partisans of constitutional government and the advanced libe erals. It concludes with the following lively appeal : "Let us not forget that a vast conspiracy is organised, not against the revolution, to use the expression of our adversaries, but—and this is much more serious—against those principles which can alone henceforth consoli date Statess, and prevent the return of fresh revolu tions. Let us leave abusive language to our adversa ries. They call us unbelievers, and accuse us of plot ting a violation of the sanctuary, in order to get at the key of the strong box. Never mind. Let them enjoy the innocent pleasure of railing by way of consolation for the checks they have met with for three centuries. Their fury is a good sign—it seems to borrow a rather bold similie from a contemporary publicist, as if they had swallowed all the canons of the church. Let us be calm, and take care not, by any untimely divisions, to open the breach to the common enemy. The Sardinian ministry and the opposition will understand the necessities of the situation, and will postpone all irritating discus. sions, and act in unison for the attainment of a common purpose." THE LEVIATHAN. The operations, towards launching the Leviathan, this morning, were confined to making everything ready for another effort to-morrow at rt . a.m. Ad vantage has been taken of this pause to make fresh arrangements, and, above all, to do away with the hindrance and loss of time caused by lengthening the beams by which the force is applied from the hydraulic machines to the cradles. A number of fresh piles have been driven to form a base for the additional rams to act against, and to-morrow morning eight of these powerful hydraulic machines will be in operation, being four more than were used on Monday. An examination of the vessel has taken place, and everything is re ported to be satisfactory, and it is confidently ex pected that by three o'clock to-morrow afternoon this magnificent specimen of naval architecture will be afloat. In order to prevent any disappointment to-morrow every precaution that human forsight can suggest will be taken. The workmen will be employed during the whole of to-night in order that the necessary arrangements may be thoroughly completed. It is stated that the hydraulic rams are now so perfect that without the use of additional aid the vessel could be propelled by them into the water. Mr. Brunel and . his assistant arc exerting them selves to the utmost to accomplish the launch to morrow, and we sincerely trust that perfect success will reward their labours. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.— (This Day.) MARLBOROUGILSTREET. ROBBERY AT AN A lICTION-1100M.—Wes. Williams whose real name is Emile Ponti, an Italian, was placed at the bar, before Mr. Deaden, charged with stealing a leather dressing-case and fittings, the property of Mr. E. R. Thomas, auctioneer, No. 35, Leicester-square. Mr. Thomas stated that, on Thursday last, he had an auction at his rooms in Leicester-square, and just before the sale commenced he looked over the lots and saw the dressing-case, now produced, safe. A few minutes afterwards he had occasion to put np the lot to which the case belonged, when it was nowhere to be found. He instituted ingairies about it, and yesterday morning he received information from Mr. Bourne, a general dealer, in Princes-street, that he had purchased the duplicate of a dressing-case, answering the descrip tion of the one stolen from his room from a man having the appearance of a foreigner. David Long, clerk to the prosecutor, identified the dressing-case as the one stolen, and preyed that he had seen it safe in their rooms on the evening of Thursday las'. He missed it ten minutes afterwards. There were several persons in the room, but he could not swear the prisoner was one of them. Hr. Bourne, 33, Princes-street, proved purchasing the duplicate of the dressing-case from the prisoner on Friday last. Last night the prisoner camo again to his shop when, from what he had heard from the prosecutor, he gave the prisoner into custody. The prisoner had previously asked him to buy some more dup'icates, which he declined. The prisoner, who has only just come out of prison, was remanded for a week. TfIA.MES. St . uo . °SILTING SHOALS IN TIIII RIVER.—SCANDALOUS r a ry t - tten a d n ed at t t o or p n r e o y sec fr u o te m o t r h ee e named Henry Johnson, John Beddy, and James Crawford, for unlawfully throwing a large , quan tity of mud into the River Thames, near Cearlten, to the detriment of the navigation. Mr. Stuchberry laid this was a proceeding under the Thames Conservancy Act, and there wn,s the greatest diffioulty in discovering offences of this nature, while the mud barges were drifting up and down the river. Tee conservators had been put to great inconvenience and much ( aliens° by the scandalous and dangerous practice of which he now complained, and which, if it were not stopped, would ser i ous l y i mpe d e th e nav igation of the river, and be ruinous to the interests of the greatest pert in the w or ld, the port of London. The men were in the employ of a contractor for removing mud from the West India Dock, and instead of con veying the mud to Charlton and wheeling it across planks on to the shore, they have, to save themselves trouble, thrown it into the river. Thomas Hall, a Thames police-constab l e, said that between five and six o'clock on the preceding evening he boarded the barge Edmund in Blaskwall-reaoh, and took the prisoners int o cus t o dy. They were all busily engaged in throwing mud out of the barge with scoops. They admitted having thro en 19 tons of mud into the river, and wanted to give him money and settle it with I him. The prisoners admitted that they had thrown mud into the river, and said they did it to lighten their barge which was sinking. The crew of the Thames-police gallq, which boarded the barge, said the barge was not sinking. There was no water in her. Mr. Stuchberry—Sholls have been created in the Thames by this system. There is no knowing the amount of injury done in the dusk. Mr. Selfe said the prisoners had been guilty of a most wanton and mischievous act, for which they deserved severe punishment; and he gave notice that if another case of the kind wag brought before him, and was made out, he should impose a fine of 201. He inflicted a penalty of 51. upon each prisoner ; but at their earnest request, their premise not to offond again, and on the plea of poverty, and that they bad families to maintain, he mitigated the penalties to 50s. each, and said it was the last time be should allow any offenders of this kind to escape so easily. MARKET NETNE.—(TiIis Day.) CORN EXCHANGE. An unusually small supply of English wheat was on sale in to-day's market. For all kinds there was a steady consumptive demand, at fully Monday's advance in the • quotations. The show of foreign wheat was seasonably extensive. Fine new samples moved off steadily, at extreme rates, and the value of other kinds was well supported. Floating cargoes of grain were in steady request. Barley and malt realised full prices, with a steady in quiry. The imports of foreign oats continue on a liberal scale, yet the demand for most descriptions was steady, at full prices. B ea ns, peas, sndllour realised Monday's currency. ARRIVILLS TUIS WRNS. Wheat. Bar!ey. \ Malt. I Oats. 530 2,28 0 3,780 I 1,010 100 Flour. 1,660 English ..... Irish ........ Foreign•.... 5,710 I 7,024 31,130 500 mks BOROUGH HOP. There is a fair consumptive demand for nearly all kind' of hops, at very full prices. WrirrECHAPEL. The trade generally rulod steady, at our quotations : Beef, from 3a Od to 4s 4d ; mutton, 33 2 d to 4 s 6 d ; veal, 3s 6LI to 4s 6d ; pork, 3s 8d to 5 s 4d per Blb s b y th e carcase. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—abis Day.) Doe. 2.—Wind this day at noon, S.W. ; PLYMOUTH, Dee. I.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Sea Lark, from London for Adelaide. Sailed—General Williams (ss), for the Cape of Good Hope. SHIELDS, mi L ld OND wea o Dec. I.—Wind W. —Arrived—John Dowse, LONDON, and hazy. from Buenos Ayres. SWANSEA, Dec. I.—Wind S.—Sailed— Gentoo, for 8 taLligTrle. , Dec. I . —Wind N.E.—Arrived—Jason , from Callao ; Eliza, Buenos Ayres ; San Demetzi, Ta ganrog. SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. I . —Sailed—New Great Britain , for long Rong ; L E ITH, Dec. I . — Wind S.W.—Arrived—John R itson, from Callao ; Wanderer, Q uebe c. HARTL EPOOL, Dec. Theodora Be brend, from Gibr altar. Euxine (8), f or Pl ymou th an d India. l•--Wind W.S.W.--Arrived — LEITH, Nov. 'z2.—The Witch, from Riga to Leitb, which went on shore on the south-east coast of this island o n the night of the 16th November, has been got off, after discharging part of her cargo, and into Steldhaimer, w h e re s h e will discharge the remainder to repair. THE BALLOT IN AUSTRALIA. The Ballot Society held a meeting yesterday, in their rooms, Guildhall-chambers, General Thomp son, M.P., occupied the chair ; and among those present wore, Sir John Hare, Mr. Whitehurst (vice-chairman), Mr. Elt, Mr. Richardson, dre. A favourable financial report having been made, Mr. STAVELEY, a gentleman from Geelong, made a statement. He said he was a resident in Gee long, the second town in the colony of Victoria, returning members to both houses' of the legisla ture. Both those houses were elective, andelected by the ballot. Last October he took part in elec tions for both ; and acted as scrutineer for Judge Polman in regard to the Upper House. The voter, on entering the polling booth, received from the returning officer a printed paper, containing the names of the candidates. He then entered a pri vate box, resembling a pawnbroker's box, where he scratched out the names of the candidates he did not mean to vote for, and then folded the paper and dropped it into a box. The chairman, while he sat to give out the papers, and afterwards, while summing up the votes, was attended by poll-clerks and scrutineers. He believed that the elections by ballot elicited the real sentiments of the constitu ents of all classes. The people were more indepen dent than in England ; but even in the colony many voters would have been coerced under the old system of voting. There was a social influence heyond that of the landlord and the lodger, which the ballot put an end to. If an elector wished to vote a plumper, he erased all the names except one. If he left on the paper more candidates than there were members to be elected, his paper was disre garded ; his vote was lost. A. MEMBER asked—Could not a voter use two papers, folding one inside the other before he dropped them into the box ? Mr. STAVELEY replied that such could not take place, as the voter received only one paper fromthe returning officer. The expences of elections under the ballot are very small. I have known them as low as 231., but I believe they are under 100 i. on an average. The money is spent in advertising and rooms for meetings. Nothing is known of the result of the poll during its progress. I remember that the popular candidate, who had been a member before, was in a great deal of excitement lost he should lose his election ; and yet he was found to be returned 300 or 400 at the head of the poll. Two of the members were returned against general an ticipation. Before the adoption of the ballot there was much difference of opinion on the subject. Now the opinion is very general in its favour. After some conversation, thanks were unani mously voted to Mr. Staveley for his communi cation. • THE BANK CHARTER ACT• (Prom the Morning Post.) To perish in the arms of a theory is better than to live divorced from it. This is the sort of wisdom which we are condemned to hear now-a-days from the devoted people who rush fanatically to the rescue of the Bank Act. Lord Eglinton and the gentlemen of Scotland, too, are used by way of illus.ration of the sin of acting independently of the doctrines of political economy, and they have been gibbeted in the columns of a contemporary as connivers at the commercial profligacy of the age and as offenders who seek to skin over the diseased places in the national system. Now, it seems to us, with all submission, that the restoration of confidence to the peasantry and artisans of Scot ' land, and the rescue of their small havings from the grasp of a bankruptcy court and its attendant lawyers, was a greater object than was the expo ! sure of a badly conducted joint-stock bank ; and that the prevention of national insolvency was ' more worth compassing than the vindication of a monetary theory. An outcry of empirical means ! Routine must be adhered to at all risks. Why, we remember when these very same . people could not find breath enough to ' swell the cry against routine. Routine and ad hesion to systematic processes were the bane of the country. Our answer to all this is—firstly, that in such a fearful emergency. as that which the country has just come out of, empirical means must be resorted to ; safety by an instru ment, and at any price, is the first object. Secondly, the empiricism has been perfectly successful, and has effected its object without damage to any body. Is it not so ? Confidence is restored, money is brought b ck into active circulation, the exchanges have turned, gold is flowing steadily into the Bank of England, the special issue of notes has practi cally come back into its hands, failures have well nigh ceased, end the stoppage in the mass of the banking and commercial houses of England has been averted. All this has been effected by the simple relaxation of a restrictive clause iu the Charter of the Bank of England. Sorely we are justified by that one fact, oven if we had no argu ments wherewith to back it, in assuming that that restrictive provision, and its indirect action, had some not inconsiderable share in the production of the evil state of things to which its suspension his brought instant relief and given immediate remedy. To-morrow Parliament meets, especially and ex ceptionally convened, to take these maLere into consideration, and there are two or three circum stances to which we would direct their attention. There has been among our neighbours on the Continent very great monetary pressure as well as among ourselves. In France, Belgium, and Ham burg there has been great difficulty. Franco, an empire which for more than half a ceatury has been exposed to the shock of perpetually-recurring revolutions, and to the exhaustion of gigantic mili tary operations ; and Belgium, a kingdom but lately created, have each maintained their position better than Great Britain. The Bank of France, the management and organisation of which we have been accustomed to see perpetually abused in the columns of some of our contemporaries, is, and has been throughout, in a far better position than the Bank of England ; neither have the capitals nor the greet commercial towns of either France or Belgium exhibited such break-downs under pres sure as those of Great Britain. Where are we to look for the reason of this difference ? Let us turn our attention, first, to the organisation of bank ing. We find an absence of that particular machi nery the operation of which in England is found to act so powerfully, not merely upon currency, but upon the activity of circulation; and we find that the Bank of France works under no legislative restriction save such as is imposed by the obliga tion of convertibility. Are we to bo told that these circumstances are to have no weight, or that they are not an important element in the con sideration of the case against the Act of 1844 ? In Hamburg alone has the magnitude of the danger incurred here been paralleled, or the actual insol vencies exceeded. In Hamburg every obligation of the Bank is represented by bullion in its coffers. The system of Hamburg goes further than ours. There is there, too, banking currency based on securities. Yet Hamburg is in the greatest mess of all. To what conclusion do these facts lead us ? Surely to these among others. Firstly, that the Bank Act of 1844 invariably aggravates monetary difficulties, and unduly hampers the nation in legitimate attempts to get out of them ; and, secondly, that neither Acts of Parliament nor the machinery of a central bank have, or can have, that power over the monetary transactions of the country which Sir Robert Peel and his followers ascribed to them. What had the amount of bank notes issued, or in the hands of the public, to do with the crisis of either the year 1847 or the year 1857 1 What has pulled down the banks that have failed Not any issue of notes, nor the command of too large a proportion of currency by aid of the Bank of England, but the reckless abuse of their deposits, which the public, attracted by the high rate of interest, placed iu their hands. Nine millions were held on deposit by those two banks in Scotland that have failed with a ciroulation which was under a million. It was out of their deposits, not their issues, that they furnished the means of creating and main taining firms, with no capital for the bank and the depositors to fall back upon but their own paper, crossed with a forged acceptance, and unrepresented by commodities. It is worthy, too, of especial remark, that the measures of the Bank of England, and the periodical augmentations inthe declared rate of interest, by which its directors were struggling to recover their gold, had the effect, so long as the public was free from alarm, of in creasing the power and influence of those discount ing banks, by bringing continually new and addi tional depositors to their counters. We confess we observe with apprehension the increased dispositions of the public to make use of their money in this way, and we receive with the most unfeigned alarm the disclosures which are forced out by our courts of bankruptcy as to the organisation and management of well-esteemed banking institutions. The control of shareholders, as ordinarily exercised, is a delu sion, and the superintendence of boards appears to be little better. How far these evils of administra tion are prevalent, whether they are exceptional or whether they are common in the banking business of the country, thrire are no means of ascertaining ; but beyond doubt Parliament ought to make it their first business to obtain such complete and accurate knowledge upon the subject as will enable them thoroughly to inform the public mind, and satisfy the nation as to the soundness or unsoundness of the s ystem under which so many millions of money are being administered. 76i 6 i 6 271 7 92 77 , 121 98 51 6 I 111 91i i 90i 11 101 2i 951 1 i 881 9 8i 351 i i 83i I f 4 3a 58# i 47i i 8 93 21 i i 3 50k 50 814 2 13i 13 101 21i 46 5a 33 62i 79 9 I St. 70 st • st. st. st. 13 12, 20 25 ii I 20 1061 7 19h 39 t 3 h 9 72 h 21h 1 31 18 1 11 10 ei I 20 30 20 7i i 1 85 4 5 SA 144 461 51 33 - 34 16} - 17. .•• - ••• 31 - 33 49 - 51 - al SOCIETY OF ARTS. Last evening a very crowded meeting of the members of this body was held at their house, John-street, A delphi. As the resolutions that were to he submitted to the meeting involved tho whole subject at issue be tween the council and the board of examiners, Mr. C. W. Mike said that the council thought it would be desirable that, upon this occasion, the chair should be occupied by some gentleman whose opinions had not been given upon the points at issue. Ho therefore moved that Mr. Bodkin should take the chair. Mr. BODKIN having taken the chair, he called upon the secretary to read the bye-laws as to spe cial meetings ; which having been done, the fol lowing expression of the council's opinion was read to the meeting : " The council consider that it will conduce to the convenience of members to give a brief summary on the points which they have proposed should be brought before the present general meeting. " The first subject is the legality of the present bye laws affecting the examinations. " Members will bear in mind that these bye-laws are new, having been passed as recently as last February ; and, during the past mouth of November, were, for the first time, about to come into operation. The attention of the council was drawn to the fact that the bye-laws were contradictory to the charter—that they were il legal. That they are illegal the solicitor of the society, who is now present, will assure the members if they entertain any doubts upon the subject. " The council submit to the members the expediency of passing new bye-laws. The proposed new bye-laws simply place the board of examiners under the control of the council, as they were before the bye-laws attempted to remove them from that control. " The council repudiate altogether the slightest inten tion of disrespect to the examiners, in suspending their functions in order to prevent an election of them con trary to the charter. " The council place with confidence their programme of examinations before the members at large." Memorials in favour of the continuance of oral examinations were presented by Mr. Baines from various places in the north. Mr. W. PORTAL presented memorials from places in Hampshire in favour of written exami nations. Mr. CHESTER then rose to move the alterations in the bye-laws. He hoped the discussion would be carried on without personality, and be confined simply to the, business matters for which the meet ing was called. The meeting was called to repeal ex isting bye-laws which were found to have been passed in misconception of the powers of the society. The council wished not to shirk the question, but to meet it openly and fairly. He believed that much censure had been passed upon the council simply from a misapprehension ; the council had no desire to suppress examinations, they merely suspended them until the constitution of the board of examiners was in accordance with their charter. The council, although not at first unanimous in their opinion, at last became so, and the subject had been debated at many meetings of the council, which had been very numerously attended. The board of examiners became almost au independent body, and its chairman need not be a member of the Society of Arts. When the board of examiners sent out the list of their successors the council should have called the society together, bat they had not time ; they therefore suspended the action of the board of examiners. Ho much regretted the antagonism that had been exhibited against the council in this matter, and the agitation that had taken place. He hoped that whatever ar rangements were come to, they would be still that the menagement of the society was left in the hands of the council. With regard to examinations the council entirely gave up the examinations of private schools, which the council considered were a purely commercial speculation, and would con fine themselves simply to institutes in union with the society. He hoped the meeting would not be led away by the misrepresentation that the exami nations had been suppressed, as also by the circular i-sued by the late board of examiners, which he criticised severely. Ho spoke as expressing the opinion of the council that the examination should be by means of written papers, and not by oral examinations. It was a mockery to bring men from a distance to be examined. The council did not wish to centralise ; wherever therewas an institute there might likewise be a local board. The council applauded the movement by the universities as regards the granting of honorary degrees, and would be willing to pecuniarily assist candidates for that honour. Mr. J. GRIPTITH FRITH seconded the motion. The Rev. Mr. MITCHELL wished to know ween the discovery was made as to the illegality of the bye-laws ? A. satisfactory answer was given, when it was asked whether the matter had been submitted to counsel for opinion? Mr. Tooke, the solicitor, explained that he had no doubt upon the point, and therefore did not deem it necessary. After some discussion, the alterations in the bye-laws were carried by a large majority. Mr. BAINES then rose to move a resolution, declaring the society's belief in oral in preference to written examinations. He concurred in the confining the examinations to the moral effect the visits of the examiners had upon the mem- I,ers of the various institutes, especially iu the Leith, where there was a ready .and steady pur suit of knowledge in class instruction, and he looked upon the examinations which the York shire Union took up with warmth and earnest ness, as being indebted in a great degree to the peisenel exertions of Dr. Booth, and he believed that little would be done unless the society sent down examiners to conduct the examinations. By sending their examiners they would prevent petty local and personal prejudices from inter fering in examinations. Mr. WATTS seconded the resolution. - .l.llesre. Crease, Webster, W. Hawes, Arlkin son, S. Morley, Dr. Carpenter, and others, took part in the discussion. Dr. BOOTH at length rose, and read the reso lutions that were passed with reference to the formation of local boards for the arrangements of examinations. He explained that the resolutions passed by the society had to be ignored, as they were impracticable. Mr. COLE was in favour of oral examinations where practicable. Mr. WILKINSON moved an amendment, leaving the whole matter in the hands of the council, which, having been seconded, was carried. After some discussion as to the council's re fusal to allow Dr. Booth the use of the columns of the society's journal, the chairman was thanked, and the meeting separated. THE WOOL MARKET. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 1. The unfavourable state of business referred to in our last report has existed during the whole of the past month with increased intensity, and it may well be regarded as one of the most serious ordeals in a commercial point of view which this country has ever encountered. Almost each day has brought accounts of fresh disasters, including many firms of old standing and undoubted respectability, caus ing universal mistrust, and threatening the standing of the Most prudent trader. Under such a state of pressure, with the Bank of England minimum rate of discount at 10 per cent., and a much higher one in the open market, sales of nearly all kinds of produce have, been almost out of the question, and have for the most part been made under circumstances of necessity, and the Exchange has been frequented more to discuss the news of the day than for the purpose of business. In the wool-market, with the exception of one or two forced sales of small amount, there has been literally nothing doing beyond the sale of a few bales in hand for immediate wants, and prices are altogether nominal. It is a source of great satis faction to notice that the wool trade has stood its ground so well, very few failures having occurred, aid only one firm of any particular standin g , exclu sively in the trade of English on commission. The public sales of colonial wools have been going forward in London since the 12th ult., and, consi dering the very unfavourable circumstances, the result must be considered in the highest degree satisfactory. On the most current kinds of tine colonial the decline is 2d. to 21d. per lb., and on o ther sorts up to 4 d. pe r lb., the home trade takinga larger proportion than usual. These salesales close on the 4th inst. , to be followed by public of low descriptions on the Bth and following days, but the quantity is not important, being about 4,000 bales of East India, and pro b a bly a couple of thou sand bales of low foreign. The present extremely hig h rate of i nterest must prove a barrier to an y business, but it can only be regarded as temporary, and there seems reason to expect that an immediate relation will supervene, It will no doubt take some time to recover from the present shock, but we look forward to a healthy trade, and in our next report we expect to be able to quote prices with some degree of precision. Imports of Foreign Wool—From the Ist Jan. to ' the 30th Nov., 1857 , 156,467 bales • from the Ist Jan. to the 30th Nov., 1856 , 125 , 414 bales. THE HEIGHT OP ASSURANCE.—At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce which took place in this city on Friday one of the members who rose complained in strong terms of the want of bank accommodation in Glasgow, while that gentleman had been allowed to overdraw his account in the Western Bask by 60,000/.1 Some of the members, as a mark of disapprobation, rose and walked out Of the room.--(40.4g0F2 Daily 31a41i Captivity of Two Russia% Princesses in the Caucasus. Translated from the Russian. By H. Sutherland Edwards. Smith and Elder. This little volume will furnish a fund of informa tion to those desirous of becoming acquainted with this episode of the late war. The accounts must be authentic, as they have been communicated by the captives themselves, and evidently in an im partial manner. The hardships and sufferings they underwent, in some sort inseparable from their po , eition, did not prevent the Georgian ladies from giving praise where it was due to . i their enemies, nor did their uncertain fate render them ndiffeient to what passed around thew,. The saddest circum stance related is that of the in fant Lydia being killed in the forced march immediately after the prisoners had been taken. This was partly accident, but the conduct of the man who had charge of the mother was very reprehensible. The description given of the Seraglio of Schamyl Which the prin cesses p asse d se ven months) is very interesting, and it is written in a pleasing style, such as does honour alike to the author and the translator. Added to the work are a portrait of a its tra n a sa r t a i o c. a s t e t e Russian ny book, Schamyl, a . plan of his house, an d a m ap of his ter rtt of which increase this i s M. Verdereveky, to whom the 'princesses r e l a t e d every particular worthy of notice concerning their cap tivity. The English reader is indebted to Mr. Edwards for rendering available so interesting a work, which, iu an agreeable form, brings before him an account of events and personages that is worthy of attention, and which otherwise might not have been easy of attainment. iydn's Oratorio, " The Seasons," arranged by yinceut Novello. Novello, Dean-street, Soho. This popular work forms one of Novello's ori ginal octavo editions, and is presented in a cheap, classical, and perfect combination, which requires no recommendation to induce the public to pa tronise it. Mr. Novello has done much to a,dvance the diffusion of sound and elevating music, and to render the highest productions of the Divine Art accessible to all ; it is therefore gratifying to fmd that the circulation of his publication is increasing rapidly. The Angler's Instructor. By_ William Bayley. Longman and Co. If we were inclined to the " weakness" of Isaac: Walton, we should certainly pin our faith on the explicit and straightforward directions contained in this little book. It explains the mysteries of lines, rods, and baits, describes the habits of fish, points out their haunts at the various seasons of the year ; and, in short, is one of the best compendiums of the kind that has fallen in our way. If we ever dedicate a day to "tickling trout" or hooking gudgeon we shall certainly put Mr. Bayley in our pocket before starting. Colburne's New Monthly.—" The end of an 111- starred Visit" cmitinu€s the fortunes of Susan Chase. There is not so much interest in this por tion of her adventures, as it is merely a recapitula tion of events that had been previously mentioned. Su-an starts at last for England, atter having been very much disappointed in the conduct of Mr. Cunene, who had not improved since lie had been married to Emma. Mr. Leicester is an example of an honest niture, which contrasts favourably with a selfish and unprincipled man like Carnegie. Although full of melancholy details, this story pos sesses considerable interest, ou account of the skill with which it displays character, and the likely man ner in which the chief circumstances are introduced to our notice. Sir Nathaniel continues his "Notes on Note Worthies," and carries them back to the days of Hippocrates. "The Press ia America" gives a history °fits rise and progress in transatlantic states. " The Land Revenue of India, and the Village Sys tem," is the title of a long and important article on the government of Hindostan. Mrs. Bunby continues her translation of the Swedish voyage round the world, and describes Singapore and Hong Kong. "The Baths of Lucca," are brou g ht to a conclu sion by the agreeable writer, who takes the name of Florentia. A melancholy love story is told in this part. " The Fergusons of Castle Ferguson," is the title of a Kerry legend of rather a gloomy chlracter. " Suggestions for the Re-establishment of Posting," is an amusing paper, suggesting that railways should be superseded as a mode of convey ance for the wealthy. Nicholas Michell has some spirited verses entitled " Bound for India." MISCELLANEOUS MAGAZINES. Thin; Edinburgh Magazine, has several interest ing papers. It opens with an article on the meeting of PArli ptient, chiefly on the Bank Charter Act, on wh,uli =ubjtat it expresses bold and sensible views. The " Sketches of the Isle of Man" are continued in a aa?ly ple,aaing story, " The Castle Mona." The her ine is en 11-iress, whose mother encourages the addresses of a baronet, while au old affection exists b_t:Teen the fair Isab9l and a neighbour's son. Fortrmatily her father is wiser than her mother, and devises a test for the rivals by pretending to have but his fortune. All romance readers may antiefpate. the result. "Dr. Living,stone's African travels" furnish the subject of a paper which gives a comprehensive summary of his adventures and story character.i is not .without ts interest, entitlea trleiseenagr researches. supernaturalAriotiie r the " Leg,nd of the Hundred Yews," and relates to an of l tradition of a family curse. The " Cos moirlii.e's Sketches" and the " Tangled Talk" are coutiontd in their usual strain, and there are several other articles on matters of social import ance.—The _Eclectießeview has also a notice of Dr. Livingstone'a work. Dr. Doran's recent book is criticised at some length. " Systematic Theology" and " The Indian Mutiny" are among the titles of the remlining papers. —The Irish Metropolitan Magazine has a number of tales and sketches, many of them possessing interest. "Hugh Miller, " Gaspa.rino," and " Peninsular Rambles, are among the most attractive. There are some pleas ing Narses on Shelley, something in the style of Longfellow. The serials of " Davenport Dum," " Paved with Gold," and " Ask Mamma," are • continued in their usual styles, melodramatic and comic. Routledge's " Shakspeare" has reached the sixteenth part, which completes the "Merry Wives of Windsor," and comprises the whole of " Much Ado about Nothing."— The Bio graphical portion of the English Cyclopcedia comes down to the commencement of the letter Y. This valuable and comprehensive work has therefore nearly reached its conclusion. JUVENILE BOOKS. The lava! Kings; or Overbearing. By the author of " Sidney Grey." Kent d Co., Fleet-street. This is another of those charming little stories which have added so much to the attractions of the juvenile library. It is scarcely so pleasing a tale as "Mia and Charlie," or so interesting as " Sid ney Grey ;" but it is perhaps more instructive. Its object is less to show virtues than faults, and though we do not find any of the little group now introduced to our acquaintance who are worthy companions of Mia, or Sidney, yet the prototypes of Maurice and Emma may be found in most nur series or schoolrooms. It is the story of the family of a Welsh clergyman, whose father took the three orphans of an early friend under his protection. They all made grand plans of what they would do and give up for the strangers ; but, as is too often the case in real life, they found it much easier to make large sacrifices than little ones. The eldest boy, Maurice, was used to being head and manager in everything, and could not endure interference, and the consequence WAS, that when three reserved, sensitive children arrived, they were ordered about and received with so little cordiality that their faults of reserve and discontent were increased. How all their faults brought their own punishment, and how they learned through trouble and suffer ing to bear and forbear, is told with great interest. The novelty of the scene and names will add to the attractions for its young readers, who will find both '.ensure and profit in its perusal. The Thousand and One Days, a companiont: the Arabian Nights. William Lay, King William street. A volume of Oriental Tales, compiled under tho supervision of Mies Pardo°, is sure of receiving a warm welcome from all lovers of those gorgeous fables of the East, that appear to possess that magical elixir that they tell us of in their pages. The titles of these stories, some of which are not altogether strangers, are very attractive, and the illustrations add greatly to the attractions of this captivating volume. The Diapj of Three Chiidrem. Edited by Catherine Bell, author of " Cousin Kate's Story," Edmonston and Douglas. 'lbis little volume is translated from the German by a young lady, and it has been slightly altered to adapt it to the comprehension and interests of English children. For, as it is inten ded for very young readers, it was t h ou ght advisable to present them to scenes and customs to w hich they were accustomed. It is a v er y pleasing . little work, i 1 prettily illustrated,and style that will m favourite with chi ldren. wri tt e n in a simple e st likely make it a Jules Gerard, the Lion, Killer. Illustrated edition. W. Lay, Icing William-street. Our old friend, Jules Gerard, has re-appeared in a new edition. It is a handsome volume with numerous engravings, and will form a very accept able Christmas gift to the lovers of sport and adventure. IGN. 33i