The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-23 00:00:00

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY, 2.30 A. 31.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Vale4z, with the Peninsular mails, has just
arrived.

The Valotta's dates are—Gibraltar, Nov. 16th ;
Cadiz, 17th ; Lisbon, 19th ; Vigo and Oporto,
20th.

She has on board 25 passengers, about 1,8001. in
specie, and tire usual cargo.
The Lisbon' exchanges for three months (this
packet are quoted—London, 541 to ; Paris, 520
to 518 ; Amsterdam, 431, Hamburg, 49 ; and
Genoa, 51. A f air amount of business had been
done on London ; most of the paper was taken, and
more money offming than by the last tow packets.
On the continent the transactions were trifling ;
Portuguese Three kner Cents., 40i to 41a ; Bank of
Portugal shares were in demand at 10 to 8 milreis
discount per share ; Bank of Oporto shares 19 to
20 per cent. prem.; and Lisbon Bank notes 1 per
cent. discount.

From Oporto we le.larn that wine shipments had
somewhat slackened, sot the same time there was a
scarcity of British shit ►ping.
Business in generals Pas dull. There was a reac-
tion in the sugar market, and large quantities were
being purchased for s hipment to England ; the
price has consequently :tdvanced. Oil was also ad-
vancing in price, although the crop of olives was
abundant. Fish oil was also being purchased in
large quantities for the Eziglish market.
Exchange for the packet was done from 54f to
56, according to date and rate of paper. A good
amount of business w as done, and paper remained
over.

The elections for the members for the municipal
chambers for 1856 au, i 1857 commenced on the
18th, and matters went off tamely. It was ex-
pected the majority would be in favour of the
Conservatives.

Several shipments of Brazil sugar have been made
here for England, in cons equence of the recent rise
in prices, and wheat ship meats still continue, with-
out any renewed signs of the panic which was got
up to see if the Governm aent could be induced to
take the false step of 811.9 pending the exportation,
instead of allowing, as it .does, both exportation and
importation of grain.

THE ADULTERATION 0 FOOD.—A return was pub-
lished yesterday (on the -motion of Mr. Wise, M.P.)
showing the number of detections made of the adultera-
tion of tea, coffee, cocoa,, chocolate, and pepper, from
1844 to 1854, &c. As ite 'garde tea, there were 12 cases
detected within that period, and 4 convictions ; as re-
gards coffee 4,259 detections (whereof 863 in 1853, and
342 in 1854), and 851 convections ; as regards cocoa and
chocolate, there were no detections of adulteration made;
and as regards pepper, th ere were 272 detections of
adulteration and 192 convictions. In one case only does
imprisonment appear to have been inflicted on the guilty
party.
COURT OP COMMON COlTMlL.—Yesterday a court (the
first during the present mayoralty) was held for the
despatch of public business. There was an unusually
large attendance of members, and the strangers' gallery
was overcrowded. The Lord Mayor, on taking the
chair, said—Gentlemen of the Common Council, in
occupying this position for the first time this day, I beg
to assure :fOll that I highly appreciate the honour of pre-
siding or er the deliberations of this Court. (Hear.)
During ray year of office I shall do all in my power to
insure o rder and regularity in our proceeslinge, with a
view to the proper conduct of our business, and I rely
upon ran to afford me that assistance in carrying out
y object which you have ever given to my prods,.
essors. (Cheers.)
Tan Pc,pe's TAXES.—At Benevento the other day
the trades people refused to pay a new tax just levied ty
the Papa 1 government, and one of their chief men was
arrested This measure created great excitement ;
crowds, assembled and proceeded tumultuously to the
bishop'
s residence, demanding the rescue of the prisoner.
The bi shop, Cardinal Carafa, recommended the crowd to
pray t o the Virgin Mary that she might inspire him and
advise
im how to act. The crowd obeyed, went to the
cathedra ii, prayed an extempore prayer on the subject,
and the a, as tumultuously as before, went to ask the
cardinal if he bad received the expected inspiration.
The cardinal then referred them to the delegate, and the
latter,, getting frightened, consented to their demand'.
Since, then, however, the Roman government has ar
plied& to that of Naples for permission to send a fevi
corn panies of soldiers to the principality, and "it is ex-
Peu tea there will be no difficulty in restoring order."