The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-05 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Nov. 4.—The Bank of France has re-
duced its rate of discount to 7 per cent., the charge
for advances on Securities still remaining as before
at 8 per cent. The market opened with firmness,
and Threes, for the Account, improved to 65f. 10e.
Sales for realisation have since caused them to re-
cede, and they are now unvaried at 64f. 95f. The
Mobilier, which had been done at 900 f., is now at
890 f. The Railway Market has been similarly
acted on ; and many of the lines, which at first went
up, are now a shade lower. The market closed as
follows :

41 per Cents .. 91 95 Italian Loan —
Do. end month.... Do. end month 65 85
3 per Cents
Do. end2rnonth.... 61 95 New Mexican .... 481
Credit kobilier.... 890 Russian
Do. end month.... 885 Austrian
Bank Shares 3395 Spanish Threes....
Credit Foncier 1165 Rome Debt -
Roman

RAIL'

rAYS.

Cash. Account.
835 842 50
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean 887 50 .. 892 50
Southern 5BO 887 50
Western ..

Eastern •• . •
Sardinian ..
Austrian
Loirbard
North of Spain
Saragossa..
465 .. 465
Ditto to Barcelona

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT
WEEK.—MOW:ay—Entomological, at 7. Royal Institu-
tion, at 2, general monthly meeting. Tuesday—A nthropo.
logical, at 8, Inhabitants of Yiti Islands,' Mr Plitchard ;
' Astronomy of the Red Man,' Mr Bollaert. Zoological, at
9, Anthrophoid Apes,' Professor Huxley; Balrenidos in
Museums of Holland and Belgium ;" New Species of
Grampus," Mr Flower; Birds of Palestine,' Rev H. B,
Tristram. Syro-Egyptian, at 7x, 'Fragments of Egyptian
Sculpture, Portico, Bath Museum,' Mr Bonomi. Ethnolo.
gical, at 8, ' Report of Proceedings at Bath ;" Rude Tribes,
S. Ir dia,' Dr Shortt ; ' Fixity of Type,' Rev F. W. Farrar.
17ccLusdly—Sooiety:of Literature, at 41. Geological, at 8,
' Fossil Corals from Jamaica,' Mr Diracan ; Correlation of
the Irish Cretaceous Beds,' Mr Sate; 'Earthquake at St
Helena, Aug. 15, 1864,' Sir C. Elliott, Fridry-.A.atrono-
mical, at B.—Athenccu7n.
FORCED TO TIIE " ALTAR."—Oa Monday morn-
ing, a youthful couple, with attendant groomsman
and bridesmaid, set out for the register-office, at Merthyr,
to be united in the holy bond of matrimony. On the way,
however, it was deemed necessary ) screw their courage to
the sticking point to bravo the trying ordeal by a draught of
some stimulant. For the purpose of accomplishing this the
whole party turned into an inn, and called for the necessary
liquor. Whilst musing on the approaching end of his bachelor-
he )d the bridegroom suddenly got up and sworethat ho would
not bo a fool nor a " deluded victim" that day. The bride
demanded an explanation, and her beloved said that, after
giving the matter consideration, he had come to the conclu-
sion that the sacrifice was greater than ho could bear, and
ho could not, nay, would not marry her. The ladies were in
a fix, when the groomsman hit on a plan, and told the ladies
to go and walk boldly into the register office. They did so.
Hiving persuaded his friend that he had got rid of them, he
got the bridegroom to welk !nto the street with hir, and
cautiously ho led him towards the dreaded gozl. When close
to it the faithless swain turned into a publichouse, but was
promptly stopped by his best man, who, on this occasion,
proved his better man, and seh..ing him with a firm grasp,
carried him across the road and thrust him into the office,
where he was confronted by his trembling spouse, and
awed into obedience by the presence of the registrar,
who speedily bound them "indissolubly firm," Some
time ago a couple went from Peurheolgerrig to be
married, but the bridegroom walked off with the money
which the bride had given him to pay the registrar, and lost
it in playing pitch and toes with his companions. The
wedding had thus to be put off till the next day, when the
young woman kept a sharp look out for her lord, nor lett
him till she had secured Ms person if not his allegitruce.—
Brtsto‘ .P 94.