The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS.

lIVCECG-LA/O.—THIS DAY.
Sroait—Opinion is decidedly in favour of this article, end
rather a large business continnee to be done by Ovate con-
tract both on the spot and in cargoes afloat, and in some in-
stances ls. advance has been paid on last week's prices.
Coma remains inactive.
Tu.—The market Is firm, and prices have an upward
tender Common Congou, 12td. The stailiMes of
this 'rude for the year 1857, just made up, are very
favourable, and seem to point to higher prices. The
official tables are made up for the eleven months ending
November 30,1867, and compared with those for the nme
period last year, stand thus —The importations of the eleven
months of this year show a decreer of 145 millions ; the
total deliveries show an inertia. of 8t millions, i. s. 6t for
home consumption, and three millions for exporta-
tion. The total deliveries have been 72 million pounds;
the total impostations, 69 millions ; which shows a
decrease on our stock November 30 of 13 millions.
The quantity afloat reported by the last mall from China
showed a decrease of 7 millions. and; it is expected that a fur-
ther decrees of 3 millions will be reported by the mail now
on the eve of arrival. Our stock on hand on January 1,
1867, was 88 millions, and it is estimated that it will be, on
January 1, 1858, 72 millions, showing • decrease of 16 mil-
lions. We estimate that the deliveries for the year will
amount to about 78 millions, and the importations will prove
to be about 65 millions, and the stock on band 72 millions.
Corrox.—Holders are asking full prices.
Most articles have a firm appearance.

TALLOW MARKET (THIS DAY.)
Ths market is firm Town tsllow is quoted 53.. nett
sash; Pstsesimrs T.C. en duo spot, 63a. 3d- ; 'salary sad
Karel, Os. ; Mar* 635. 9d.

SMITHFIELD HAY MARKET.—THIS DAT.
Mr. E. J. Davis reports the supply shorter. Priers
without, elteration. Prime meadow hay, 65e. to 76e.; supe-
rior ditto, 725. to 1305.; inferior ditto, 665. to 60s. ; rowers,
60s. to 605.; clover, Ws. to 100 s.; second ant, 70s. to 00s.;
straw, Me. to 30s,

POOR RATES AND PARPERIBII.—This morning
was issued a parliamentary return containing a comparative
statement of pauperism in November, 1856, and November,
1817. On the lut day of the fourth week of November,
1856, there were 123,698 in-doer and 720,040 out-door pau-
pers in receipt of relief In England and Wales. On the cor-
responding day this year the numbers were 124,059 in-door
and 733,025 outdoor. There was, therefore en increase this
year of 13,446.
" Here we are at the last day of the year, (says
the Bath Chronicle), and we have ant had a single frost. A
week or two ago we announced th 6. gathering of ripe reap-
berries, and ears of a mond crop of barley ; at present, we
have all the symptoms of spring; birds are sitting on
theirege ; the other day, we heard of a brood of young
k' re flying about ; and somewhere up the Eiwainawick
V y there is a nest of young thrushes ; the woods are
vocal with the songs of blackbirds and other feathered
choristers; the trees are rapidly coming into bud, and some
are actually bursting into leaf ; the gardens exhibit almost
all kinds of spring flowers; in the copies are primroses by
thousands ; violets peep forth, and the wild strawberry
nukes preparation for fruit by putting out its meek white
blossoms; and lastly, not the least startling, butterflies of
various kinds venture to unfold their delicate wings. There
demonstrations cause the weather-wise to shake their heads,
and predict that we 'shall hare a smart nip for it by
and by.' "
THE MARCH OF INTELLECT.—A lady residing in
the neighbourhood of Peeshore, lately sent one of her fer-
vent' (a clownish fellow) with a book to the residence of the
Baptist minister in Pershore which she had previously pee-
mised to forward for his peru:sal. On meeting with the gen-
tleman a few days afterwards she inquired his opinion of
the work, end was surprised to bear that he had not received
it. The lady then proceeded to interrogate her servant
refueling its whereabouts, when she received the following
cool reply Well mum you seen, I took the book to the
Baptist pawson's in the Broad-stret t, as you teled ma to do;
bat error knocking end hommerin' away at his door till I
wee tired uthout main anybody hear, I thought, thinks I,
well, one pewson's as good as another surely, so I took your
book, cam, up to the vicar's." On inquiry the lady found
that her sapient servant, being unable to make any one hear
at the Baptat minister's redden., had actually left the book
at the vicarage.— Worcester Chronicle.
PROLIFIC SPEAKERs.—Scotclimen are not merely
prolific when looked at from the Registrar-Generate point of
view; they are prolific in most things. They are
prolific speakers. The amount of palaver that tales
place in a Smirk Kirk Session or a Scotch Town
Council pales knowledge. It is n luxury that can
be bad cheep. It coats them nothing, and certainly they
don't grudge it. I once attended • town-council meet-
ing where the subject under discussion was, whether an
additional six-and-dghtpence should be given to the pariah
beadle. The out, wisdom, eloquence, and loquacity of that
meeting will haunt us to our dying day. They sat am mor-
tal hours, abused each other like ptekucketa, and then, on
the motion from a corpulent bailie, adjourned the discussion
till the following month. So the unlucky beadle did not get
his increase of salary for another month at least ; probably
he has not got it yet. Per scything I know to the contrary,
they may have talked on till this very day.—Preser's Kepi-
sine, for January.
ONE OF KING GEORGE'S COMIIANDERM.—" !In
does his beat, says Mr. Franklin, looking innocently at
the stout chief, the exemplar of English elegance, who sat
swagging from one aide to the other of the carriage, his face
as scarlet as his coat—swearing at every other word ; igno-
rant on every point a parade, except the merits of s. bottle
and the looks of a woman; 4of high birth, yet absurdly
proud of his no-sneaky; breve as a bull-dog ; savage, Teufel,
prodigal, generous; gentle in soft mood; eery of love
and laughter; dull of wit; utterly unreed ; believing his
country the fleet in the world, and he as good a gentlemen as
any in it.— Tim Virginians, No. 3.