The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-30 00:00:00

itself into a question of confidence was there so de-
cisive, so overwhelming a majority. In a House
consisting of 453 Members, or rather, including
tellers, of 457, there was a majority of 157
against the Government. Only 148 gentlemen,
linoluding place-holders and expectant.l, could be
found to support a Ministry that once numbered
so many followers, and which was known to bask
in the sunshine of Court favour. The blow was
too tremendous to permit any hope to remain of a
reconstruction or modification of the Cabinet, of any
arrangement, in fact, that would keep Lord Annn-
DEmNr, or, we may add, the Peelite section, in
office. They have been weighed in the balance and
found wanting, and great indeed has been the fall.
We shall not follow the example of many of our
contemporaries by speculating as to the party
whom her MAJESTY may honour with her com-
mands to undertake the formation of a new Minis-
try. It is her constitutional prerogative to avail
herself of the assistance of any one of her subjects
whose powers may best enable him to undertake
the task of extricating his SOVEREIGN from the dif-
ficulty and embarrassment in which she is placed.
We only trust that there may be no undue inter-
ference from any quarter—interference which may
revive the old struggles between Court and Coun-
try, and which would be better suited for the meri-
dian of some petty German despotism than of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

♦ great desideratum, long indicated in these
columns, is about to be supplied ! Justice is at
length about to be done to the meritorious soldier.
A badge of honour is to be instituted, which shall
be open to all ranks in the Army, to which the
deserving private may aspire as well as tie Gene-
ral or Field-officer, and which will not be despised
by the latter, however profusely decorated or
covered with badges of distinction. Twenty years
since this course was earnestly advocated by the
hero of Meanee and Hyderabad—one who
understood the feelings of his men as well as
any commander that ever lived. Sir CHARLES
NAPIER clearly and unanswerably pointed out the
superiority of a well-devised system of rewards to
the degrading and inhuman punishments so strenu-
ously insisted on by pipeclayed martinets—men
who never faced an adversary in the field, or smelt
gunpowder fired in anger, but who declaimed on
the necessity of " the cat," and the impossibility of
assenting to the abolition of corporal punish-
ment. It will easily be conceived that love
may be a much more powerful stimulant
than fear. We see it in school-boys,
who, despising the chance of a flagellation,
will not vex a kind friend, or endanger an honour
which may reasonably be hoped for. The private
soldier is not that demoralised and brutalised being
that his detractors represent, nor would he remain
insensible to such influences. The heart long de..
pressed by the hopelessness of his position would
speedily throb with a desire to earn a decoration
that would be treasured by his children and
family as the memorial of his services and deserts.
It would be still more highly-prized if bestowed by
the unanimous approval of his fellow-Soldiers--of
his own peers, as we are gratified to perceive to be
the intention.

We believe it was Sir NEIL DOUGLAS, who,
when in command of the 79th Highlanders, insti-
tuted a regimental order of merit, which was attend-
ed with the happiest results. There were two
branches of the order, distinguished by silver and
bronze medals—the recommendations to which were
made by committees of serjeants and privates, who
strictly scrutinised the claims of all aspirants to the
coveted distinction. These medals might be for-
feited for any military offences, such as insubordina_
tion, drunkenness, or neglect of duty. But the
man who had earnod them by good conduct took
additional pains to preserve them. Men who had
previously been considered as incorrigible were
totally reclaimed, and became, from the worst, some
of the best-behaved soldiers in the regiment. The
dulairal of a modest was punishment more dreaded
than extra drill, the black hole, or oven the cat
itself. There should, unquestionably, be some pri-
vileges attached to the possession of the decora-
tion, which we trust will be the case as soon as the
regulations now under consideration shall be de-
cided on. However small the value, they would
be cherished by the soldiers who had obtained them
, as the reward of meritorious conduct.

NIONEY 11ARKF,`T

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK.

The Liverpool cotton market yesterday was steady,
with a moderate demand. The sates amounted to 6,000
bales, of which 500 were taken for export and on specu-
lation. There was no material alteration in the quota-
tions. The Railway Share market ruled quiet.
The letters for the mails by the Boomerang clipper
ship to Australia must be posted in London on the sth
of February, viz., Monday next.
A real! from Constantinople arrived at Marseilles yes-
terday morning, and may be expected in London to-
morrow, the 31st inst.
Letters to go by the Walter Hood to Sydney must be
posted to-morrow.
The number of vessels arrived in the Thames yester-
day was 64 from foreign parts, 7 from Ireland, and 5

BRITISH TUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCr.c.
(.&onl thc Oficial Lia.)
Bei iness done
Bulk Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuiti36... .......... •• 914 i i i
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 180 -16
India Bonds, £l000
Ditto, under £lOOO ll
Consols fur Account, Bth February
Exchequer Bills, 2FI.
21000
2500 .: 4 7
Small
exchequer Bonds 1858, 3. per Cent. —
Ditto 1E59, „
PRICII OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLO .I.K.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent lOO
Equador Bonds
Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent.
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1811
Ditto 4 per Cent
Russian Bonds, 4. per Cent
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent —
Ditto Now Deferred, 3 per Cent l7i
Turkish Bonds, 6 per cent
Ditto for the Account..
76i
invidends on the above payable in London.
Mitch Exchange, 2,1, per Cent. 12 Gull
HALF-PAST Two.
Consols
Ditto, February Account

Accounts from Hamburg state that French agents
were there endeavouring to hire German carpenters and
shipwrights at very high rates, but that the workmen
were generally not released from their turn for military
service, and their departure was consequently opposed.
In the City to-day nothing else has been spoken of
but the triumphant majority against Ministers, at
which, indeed, the highest satisfaction is expressed, and
the result is looked upon as being well calculated to
inspire confidence. Among the appointments that would
be held as a fitting concession to public opinion, would
be that of Gen. Evans in some position that would make
his talents available in connection with the war. On the
Continent, it is believe,', the defeat of the Ministry will
have an excellent moral influence.
The English Stock Market has been very quiet and
rather heavy, Consols being 91 to for transfer, and
914 to a for account. Until the new Ministry is formed
there is not likely to be much business doing. Bank
Stock is worth 2104 to 212. Exchequer Bills are 4s.
to 75., and India Bonds lls. to 14s. premium. Ex-
chequer Bonds have been at 994.
The Foreign Securities have been without particular
change. Turkish Bonds have been at 761 to 4. Por-
tuguese 4 per Cents. are at 414. Peruvian Stock is 7074
to 71. Equador Bonds have been done at 4, and Old
Brazilian at par. Spanish New Deferred are worth
I 17.. Rneeian 4i per Cents, are 894. Dutch 2i per
Cents. bring 624.
The following are the nominal prices of foreign stocks :
Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexican, 21 to 211 ;
Peruvian, 70 to 72 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 49 to 51 ; Por-
tuguese 4 per Cents., 41 to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents.,
100 to 102 ; ditto 4i per Cents., 89 to 91 ; Spanish New
Deferred, 174 to 17i ; ditto 3 per Cents., 36.1 to 36 ;
ditto Certificates, 4,1 to 47i ; ditto Passive, 3 to 4i.
The Railway Share Market is firm, and the settling
•f the account occupies chief attention. Caledonian,
North-Western, and one or two others of the favourite
lines, only hare keen dealt in. There is in many cases
no interest charged for carrying over shares. The
French lines are heavy.
Mining Shares aro nominal, as well as Banks. Peel
I River is steady.

The next public sales of colonial wool are fixed to
commence on the 15th of February. The quantity ar-
rived is about 29,000 bales, and any further supplies
will be added that may be received meanwhile.
The circular issued yesterday by the trustees appointed
to wind up the estate of Messrs. Morewood and Rogers,
who suspended on the :3d inst., shows liabilities for
180,0001. A first dividend of 2e, 61 or ss, is expected
to be paid ill March.