The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-10 00:00:00

DENMARK.

COPENHAGEN, Aug. 6.
The text of the Danish Constitution enjoins that

At noon the members of both Houses assembled

in the saloon of the Folkething, the foreign corps
diplomatique taking up their stations is the am-
bassadors' gallery. Shortly afterwards the King
entered, accompanied by the Crown Prince, the
Ministers, and the Court, and, taking his stand in
front of the throne, read the following speech :
"To our faithful Danish Rigsdag, sour Royal
greeting.

" Although the Session, to which we have sum-
moned our faithful Rigsdag in accordance with
article 27 of the Constitution, must bo immediately
prorogued on account of circumstances, we have yet
felt the necessity of opening this
.R;
;iattag in person,
and of assembling round us the chosen of the
people.
" Notwithatan?:,ng the courage and endurance
with which
our valiant army and fleet have fought
to upb
'.;111 Denmark's right and honour, and not-
'
w'..thstanding the readiness with which the entire
r people has borne every sacrifice for the salvation of
the country, the war waged against us by a superior
force will nevertheless compel us and our people to
the hoaviest and most grievous concessions. For,
as all Europe leaves us without assistance, we have
seen ourselves forced to yield to numbers, and to
endeavour to terminate a war, the continuance of
which under existing circumstances, would only
entail
our beloved people and oountry greeter
IP:dses and misfortunes, without holding out the
prospect of any improvement in our position.
"Nevertheless, we w:I1 look towards the future
placidly in full reliance upon our faithful Danish
people, entertaining tte firm hope that brighter
days will not fail if King and people unite to heal
the deep wounds inflicted upon our beloved country.
" We rely especially on you, gentlemen, the elect
of the nation, to labour faithfully with us fcr the
welfare of the country, and wish you in all your
endeavours the blessing of heaven "

His Majesty then quitted the Chamber, scum
panied by the cheers of the members.

FRANCE.
BOURsE, August 9.—The market has been rather
more animated, with a further slight improvement
in prices. Threes, for the Account, are now at 66f.
45c, Mobilier have advanced to 1,015 f. Railway
Shares firm, with a slight rise on some of the lines.
The market closed as follows:

41 per Cents .. 94 60
Do. end month....
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 40
Credit Mobilier 1010
Do, end month 1011 25
Bank Shares 3395
Credit Fonder
Roman

Italian Loan 6B 15
Do. end month 6B 25
Dittu Threes

New Mexican .„.. 56 25

Russian
Austrian

Spanish Threes.... -"*"
Home Debt ......
Deferrel ........
RAILWAYS.
Cash. Account.
885 882 60
980 985 --
915 917 50

Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
New ditto
Southern .. 640 -- . :
641 25
Western -
Eastern
Sardinian ........ 348 75 • • 346 25
Austrian
Lombard
441 535 _ 537 50
North cf Spain ...... 25 .. 441 25
Saragossa ..
605 -- • • 503 75
Ditto to Barcelona .... 235 -- .. 240 —.

DROWNED WHILE BATHlNG,—Franoino Mauer°,
assistant underwriter to the Thames and Mersey
Marine Insurance Company, was accidentally drowned on
Friday, the sth inst., while bathing in the Thames, off
Richmond, where he was spending the summer months.
Only one man was near to witness the sad disaster, which
took place at Duke's.hole, a place 15 feet deep, and well
known to the inhabitants, but which,
it is to be regretted,
was not marked out as a warning to bathers. The deceased
gentleman was very well known at Lloyd's, and was greatly
beloved and respected.
,
A WIFE SOLD FOR A SHILLING.—On Monday
Hannah Parkes, boatwoman, was indicted at the
.Jhester Assizes for unlawfully marrying Samuel Thomp-
son, her former husband, Thomas Parkes, being then alive.
A witness named Rachel Woodward, the wife of a boatman,
stated that the prisoner was sold for a shilling in "Brum-
magem" fair, where she was taken with a halter round her
neck. This was done by Thomas Parkes, her alleged former
husband, and consented to by the prisoner, who had " had
enough of him." She was bought by Samael Thompson,
who married her, and afterwards Henry Noon took her to
wife. These marriages took place some years ago, since
which time Parkes had died. The jury returned a verdict
of acquittal,

THE SLATE QUARRIES OF WALES. —The demand
for slate continues far in advance of the supply, and
where good slate is produced there are 12 months' orders
on the books at the piesont time. A number of companies
hive recently been promoted with the view of commencing
operations on new ground, but, with very few exceptions,
complete failure has been the remit. In ono instance no
less than £30,000 was expended, and the deluded share-
holders found in the end that there was no vein of slate
whatever in the property, and, in fact, they might as we:l
have thrown their money into the sea. Many of the
schemes that have failed were no doubt promoted with the
express object of securing "preliminary expenses," and
after the promoters had secured their bait nothing more
was heard of them. Certainly, some half a dozen substan-
tial projects have been brought forward, and, with the
good and honest management which prevails, the share-
holders have a fair expectation of getting a reasonable
return on the capital. Slate quarries, like mining generally,
require a special knowledge of the geology of the district,
or else disappointments are pretty certain to be the ulti-
mate result.

after new elections have taken place the Itigsdag
(or Legislative Assembly for the kingdom alone)
shall be convoked within two months at latest. The
Rigsdag therefore met proforma to-day, unexpected
solemnity being imparted to the proceedings by the
King opening the session in person with a speech
from the throne,