The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-07 00:00:00

THE• PRESS.

WEST INDIES.

The Magdalena, with a West Indian mail, reached
Southampton on Wednesday.
At Jamaica (Sept. 17th) cholera still prevailed in
a few parishes. Otherwise the island was healthy.
The waters bad been very uncertain, some parishes
having received fine rains, whilst in others a regular
drought existed. The general elections had just
commenced, causing great excitement. In Bar-
badoes the cholera was decreasing. The Royal Mail
Company's steam-ship Teviot, engaged in the gulf,
is reported to have had seven deaths on board from
yellow fever. At Antigua the weather continued
favourable to agricultural operations, but the next
crop was expected to be a late one. The island was
healthy. Governor Elliott was very ill in Trinidad.
The people of Greytown have expressed a wish that
their town should become a British colony. H.M.S.
Argue, which had arrived at Jamaica, brought im-
portant despatches to the naval commander on the
station, to the effect that a considerable American
squadron had beeu despatched from the United
States to Greytown, but with what object appeared
not to be known.

From Mexico we learn that Santa Anna was in
the capital, energetically engaged in augmenting his
troops. The province of Tamaulipas was in a state
of revolt, and the insurgents bad gained a trifling
advantage over the troops. A reinforcement of
400 men had been despatched from Vera Cruz
to Tampico, which would at once quell the incur•
rection. General Concha was daily expected to
arrive at Havannah, and great preparations were in
progress to receive him.

GREAT EXCITEMENT was occasioned on the Paris Bourse
recently by the discovery that a number of forged shares
and other securities had been thrown into circulation.
Several complaints having been made to the authorities
the police were ordered to investigate the matter. Suspi-
cion soon fell on an unlicensed broker in the cuulisse, named
M—. His movements being closely watched, it was as-
certained that he had purchased a small house at Belle.
ville, to which he repaired from time to time secretly.
Some police agents who were lying in wait yesterday week
near the house saw a carriage drive up to the door, and
M— alight from it. On his entering the agents fol-
lowed and arrested him. The house was fitted with a most
extensive apparatus for the fabrication of forged shares and
securities. M—, on finding himself discovered, drew
out a pistol from a drawer and was about to discharge it at
his own head, but was prevented by the police. Ile was
the same day lodged in prison.
AN ACTOR NAMED DESHAYES, and a student-friend
named Lefevre, went one evening last week to take a walk
on the hill of Montmartre, and continued their walk until
nightfall. While returning they perceived seven men ad-
vancing towards them in such a way as entirely to block
up the road ; and these men immediately began to assail
them with stones and sticks, at the same time calling to
them to give up their money and watches. The two young
men attempted resistance, but were struck with great vio-
lence, and their money forcibly taken from them. Seeing
that they were in serious danger they deemed it prudent to
take to flight. The thieves pursued, but could not over-
take them. A complaint having been made to the police,
measures were taken for arresting the gang. It being
assumed that the footpads would continue their depreda-
tions in the same place, two young-looking police-officers,
dressed in the uniform of pupils of a college, were sent to
walk about Montmartre, whilst a number of other officers
were placed on the watch. For several nights no signs of
the thieves were seen, but on Saturday the two disguised
officers were suddenly assailed by several men. They
pretended to be greatly terrified, and retreated so as to
give their comrades time to join them. All at once they
turned against the assailants, and the other officers soon
came up. The thieves, a moment surprised, took to
flight, but were pursued, and four of them were captured.
One of the prisoners avowed that the gang was the same
as that which robbed the actor and his companion.
ARRANGEMENTS are in course of completion for the
conveyance of the French Emperor's band, belonging to
the Guides, to London, where it is intended to give a grand
concert on behalf of the widows and orphans of the soldiers
who may fall in the East. Such an international demon-
stration cannot fail to he gratifying to the two Govern-
ments, and to the English public at large. It is intended
that the concert shall be given at the Crystal Palace on an
early day next month.
CONSUMPTION OF Bits/kn.—Estimating that there are
24,000,000 of bread-consumers in Great Britain and Ire-
land (leaving out the 4,000,0(0 potatoe-eaters), and allow-
ing each person one and a half loaves per week, it is
36,000,000 of loaves Admitting that each quarter of wheat
makes 138 loaves of bread. it requires 168,656 quarters of
wheat per week. To this add 10 per cent. for flour, used
in other articles, and it gives 295,521 quarters as the
weekly consumption of wheat, or 53,367,092 quarters
annually. London and its suburbs, with its 2,000,000
population, consume 3.000,000 loaves weekly ; and. with
flour, require 24,626 quarters of wheat. A quarter of
wheat will give 501 b. of flour per bushel, of the quality
which makes best second bread-4001b. altogether—and
the quantity of flour w ill make 134 quartern loaves. A
quarter of wheat ground into flour, and taking out only
the rough bran—say shout Albs. to the bushel—lain yield
is:llA. per bushel of such flour, and that will make ill
loaves to the quarter. A quarter of wheat ground down
into rough meal, without taking any bran, will give 621bs.
or 631bs. of meal per bushel, and that will make about
166 loaves of healthy good brown bread.