The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-22 00:00:00

MR. KINGLAKE.

An invitation was recently given to this dist in-
guibhed writer, by the directors of the Athenum,
to deliver one or more lectures in Glasgow under
their auspices. We have been favoured with the
following copy of his reply :
" House of Commons, May 18.

Sir,—Your letter was addressed to me at one of
my clubs, and that is the reason why it remained
many days without an answer. I assure you lam
much flattered and gratified by the invitation which
you have had the goodness to convey to me on be-
half of the Glasgow Athenaeum. lam so circum-
stanced at present that I cannot command the time
necessary for appearing in public in Glasgow, but I
hope you will assure the members of the Athenaeum
that I am highly sensible of the honour which they
kindly proposed to confer upon me. As a small
and humble proof of the feeling with which I re-
ceived your letter, I have taken the liberty of re-
questing my publishers to send to the Glasgow
Athetmum, in my name, a copy of the third edition
of the 'lnvasion of the Crimea.'—l have the honour
to be, sir, your most obedient servant,

" A. W. KINGLAKE.

" John James Muirheael, Esq., Chairman, &c."
The kindness which prompted this gift will be
duly appreciated not only by the members of the
Athenaeum, but also by the citizens at large. Let
us hope that Mr. Kinglake may find it convenient
on some future occasion to visit our city, where we
are sure he would meet with a cordial reception.—
North British .llail.

The Plan for Supplying the Confederate

Armies.

The following is the plan of the Confederate
Secretary of War for supplying the Confederate
armies with food :—" 1. Let the people in each
county, parish, or ward, select at a public meeting,
as early as convenient, a committee of three or
more discreet citizens, charged with the duties
hereinafter mentioned. 2. Let it be the duty of
the committee to ascertain from each citizen in the
county or parish what amount of surplus corn and
meat, whether bacon, pork, or beef, he can spare for
the use of the army, after reserving a supply for
his family and those dependent on him for food.
Let this committee fix a price which is deemed
by them a just compensation for the articles
furnished, and inform the citizens what this
price is, so that each may know, before delivery,
what price is to be paid for the articles furnished.
Let this committee make arrangements for the
transportation of the supplies to soma convenient
depot, after consultation with the officer who is to
receive them. Let the committee make delivery of
the supplies on receiving payment of the price, and
assume the duty of paying it over to the citizens
who have furnished the supplies. 3. Where
the duty of the committee is performed in any
town or city at which there may be a quarter-
master or commissary no further duty need be
required of them than to deliver to the officer
a list of the names of the citizens and of
the supplies which each is ready to furnish, and
the price is fixed ; whereupon the officer will, him-
self, gather the supplies and make payment. 4.
Where the supplies are furnished in the country the
cost of transportation to the depot will be paid by
the Government, in addition to the price fixed by
the committee. 5. As this appeal is made to the
people for the benefit of our brave defenders now in
the army, the department relies with confidence on
the patriotism of the people that no mole than just
compensation would be fixed by the committee, nor
accepted by those whose chief motive will be to aid
their country, and not to make undue gains out of
the needs of our noble soldiers."

LORD CLYDE.—It affords us much pleasure to
learn that Field-Marshal Lord Clyde is much improved in
health, and not the remotest danger is anticipated, His
illness has been greatly exaggerated.

WRECK OF A FRENCH SCHOONER AND A
STEAMTUG NEAR CARDIFF.—On Tuesday the
French schooner Marie Rosa, of Vannes, bound from Car-
diff to Alicante, NI ith coals, was driven ashore on the
Penarth Head, near Cardiff, during the violent gale from
the N.E. The steamtug Spirit of the Times went to her
assistance, and, after an ineffectual attempt to get the ship
off, was also stranded. Both became wrecks, but the crew
were saved by the Coastguard. The gale continued blow-
ing until about midnight, when it gradually abated. Seve-
ral other vessels wera slightly damaged.

BOAT ACCIDENT IN PENARTII RoADs.--Three
lives have been lost by an accident near the Holmes,
in Penarth-roads. The captain of a vessel lying in the
roads and four of his crew were returning in a boat to their
vessel on Wednesday evening, the wind blowing fresh,
when the boat was swamped by coming in contact with a
mooring shackle, and the five men were seen struggling in
the water. The captain and one man had a hairbreadth
escape, succeeding in catching a rope thrown to them from
the ship, and were hauled on board in an exhausted state.
The ship's boat was instantly manned, and sent to rescue
the three others, but the poor fellows had all sunk. The
bodies have not yE t been recovered.

GAROTTE ROBBERY.—John Wilson was charged
at the Manchester police•court on Wednesday with
robbing Mr. Walter Chapell, coach painter, of a purse con-
taining 2s. and some pence. About 11 o'clock on Sunday
night the prosecutor stopped to strike a match in Bale-
street, Mosley-street, when he was seized round the neck
by the prisoner with two other men, and thrown down and
robbed. He followed them into Oxford •street, where the
prisoner was captured by a policeman, but the other two
escaped. Mr. Ellison, the presiding magistrate, said that
the prisoner was not known to the police, and as he did not
think a jury could be convinced of his identity he would be
discharged.
ANOTHER OVERFLOW OF THE THAMES.—Yes-
terdey another high tide overflowed the banks of
the Thames ; several of the low lying wharfs in Lambeth,
Southwark, and Shadwell were laid under water, and the
basements of water-aide premises were inundated. The
afternoon's tide was also unusually high, but not suffi-
ciently so to occasion much damage. It was, however,con-
sidered prudent to construct dams and take other precau-
tions to prevent damage, should another overflow occur.
This extraordinary rise in the tide at new moon springs is
to be attributed to the north-easterly gales, which have
driven immense bodies of water from the North Sea into
the estuary of the Thames.

COST OF LIVING IN ENGLAND.—The following
account of the value of labour and the prices of the
necessaries and luxuries of life in the early pal t of the 16th
century is from papers in the Record-office :—" The Chan-
cellor's salary was £2OO per annum. Speaker of the House •
of Commons, £lOO. The king's chief carver had £5 ; his
chief surgeon 40 marks per annum ; librarian, £lO ; cup-
bearer, £2O . , . . Minstrels were paid 6d a day and
he marshal of the minstrels, 4id a day, and 10 marks per
annum. . . . Superior workmen, or freemasons, brick-
layers, plumbers, joiners, had in the long months 6d a day
in the short, 6d ; if on board wages, 4d and 3d. The ordi-
nary agricultural labourer was paid from Easter to Michael-
mas 4d without meat mad drink, and 2d with, and the other
part of the year lid with his board. . . The yearly
clr,thing of a chief shepherd is valued at 55., of a woman
servant, 4s, and the same for a woman or child. . . The
price of gunpowder was 31e1 or 4d per lb; saltpetre, 4d. A
hand gun cost 9s ; a great copper gun with two chambers,
j:35 ; two iron guns, £26 6s Bd. . . The price of provi-
sions for the navy was estimated as follows : biscuits, 5s the
100; beer, 6s 8d the pipe; dried cod, 38s 4d the 124 ;
salt, 5d a bushel ; oatmeal, 10d and some 14d
a bushel; oil, 10d a gallon. In the navy the admiral had
108 a day; captains and treasurer, 3s 6d ; under captains,
Is 6d; clerks, Bd, and some ls ; master and pilot, 30s a
month; master surgeon, 13s 4d a month; quartermaster,
7s 6d ; quartermaster gunner, Os 8d ; soldiers and marines,
ss. Coats for the navy, 4s; jackets, 20d.

SILK.—It is an interesting historical fact that
although the rearing of silkworms and the unravel-
ling of the thread from them to be manufactured into arti-
cles of dress, was first practised by the Chinese, the intro-
duction of this branch of industry into Europe was die to
Justinian, who in the year 550 first succeeded in having
the eggs brought to Constantinople. Mulberry trees were
planted and every attention bestowed OR the tearing of the
insects. In a subsequent reign, we arc informed by Giboon
that such was the progress made, that China silk was suc-
cessfully competed with by the new industry. Spreading
into Greece, it did not extend further till the 12th century,
when, on the sacking of Corinth and Athens by the King
of Sicily, it was introduced into Italy, and from thence, in
the latter part of the 15th century, the rearing of silkworms
was first prosecuted in the south of France. There it was
deemed of such imp ,rtance by Henry IV, that he rewarded
v-rsons who had been engaged in the manfacture of silk for
12 years with patents of nobility, The value of silk at Rome
in Julius l're ear's time was that of gold—a pound of silk
being w, rth the same weight of the precious metal. Jus-
tiniaa's labour was not in vain, as Europe has since realised
its advantages, and it is now a remarkable, but for Turkish,
economists a gratifying, fact that at the present day the
district of Brousa occupies the foremost rank for the pro-
duction of this valuable fllament.—Levant HeMl d.
In the United Kingdom it is believed that gig+
many as 30,000 persons are bliud,

.

ONE Y MARKET

AND

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE,

• CITY, TWELVE o'CLocK.
As it is imagined in monetary circles that the
measures adopted by the Bank directors will im-
part steadiness to the discount market, an inclina-
tion is evinced on the part of the joint-stock and
private establishments to secure business at the new
quotation. The mercantile community are, there-
fore, once more in a position to discount their bills
in the open market on the same terms as those re-
quired at the Bank itself, and if the specie move-
ment should improve, as many appear to expect,
facilities may be offered which will enable capi-
talists to find employment for their resources in the
negotiation of commercial securities. At present
business cannot be concluded under 4 per cent,, but
altogether the aspect of affairs is less unsettled
than it was before the minimum was adjusted at
that figure.
Two alterations in the minimum rate of discount
within a week had prepared the public for an un-
favourable Bank return, and the results are not
more important than most persons had anticipated.
The principal feature is a considerable addition to
the amount of discount business transacted, and
which, in fact, is the cause of the measures forced
upon the Executive. The movements in the notes
and gold, although adverse, are comparatively
limited. Subjoined are the particulars :
Active Circulation .. £20,683,110
Increase .. • • • • 45,500
Bullion .. .. 14,629,451
Decrease .. .. • • 123,690
"Zest 3 152 019
• • .. •• •• ••

Increase - -
Public Deposits
Increase ..
Other Deposits..
Increase ..
Seven Day and other Bills ..
Decrease ..
Government Securities ..

13,367
.. 7,610,278
• • 875,141
.. 13,983,654
.. 256,098
•• 585,205
30,101
. 11,151,395
•No alteration.
Other Securities .. .. 20,236,420
Increase .. 1,283,695
Notes Unemployed .. 7,661,395
Decrease .. • • .. 82,920
During the last day or two there has been very
little activity in the Foreign and Colonial Produce
Markets. On Wednesday business was suspended
owing to the "Derby," and even yesterday the

operations were on a very limited scale. Sugars
have exhibited a slight decline, while good and
fine descriptions of coffee have maintained previous
rates. In tea, rice, fruits, and spices there has been
litte alteration. Tallow has been in fair demand at
about previous quotations.
A circular has been issued by the London and
South African Bank announcing the issue of the
5,000 new shares of £2O each, resolved upon at the
recent meeting of proprietors. The allotment is to
be made in the proportion of one new share for
every four shares now held at a premium of £2 each.
The instalments are to be paid monthly, and will be
completed on the 20th November next.
Dulness is still the prin2ipal characteristic
of the market for the English Funds, speculative as
well as bonaltde dealings being very much curtailed.
Although bffairs appear inactive quotations con-

tinue steady, Consols being 93: for money, and
921- 4, less the dividend, for the account. Consi-
dering the recent alteration in the rate of discount,
the unfavourable Bank return, and the tendency of
the specie movement, the market has exhibited
greater strength than might have been expected.
Transactions have taken place in the New Threes
and Reduced Annuities at 91: e ; in Bank Stock
at 235; and in Exchequer Bills 4s. die.; India 5
per Cents. are 1091 110 k, and in the Enfaced 5 per
Cents. at 1071.

There is not much animation in the Foreign
MarZtet, and prices are depressed. Turkish 6 per
Cents., 1862, are 71/ 1; ditto Consolides, 51 f 4 ;
Greek, 314 32 ; ditto Coupons, 141 15; Spanish
Passive, 344 35 ; ditto Certificates, 124 i ; Portu-
guese, 491 4 ; Russian, 921 1 ; Mexican, 35136;
and and the Confederate Loan -1 to 1 prem.
in the Railway Share Market the operations
have been very limited, and in several instances
prices have exhibited less buoyancy. Great
Northern, North-Western, South-Western, and
North-Eastern (Berwick), have declined about 55.;
and Lancashire and Yorkshire, 10s. ; South-Eastern,
however, have improved about £l.
For the Foreign and Colonia 1 undertakings there
has been a moderate enquiry, at about previous

quotations.
Joint=Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares
generally show a slight improvement. Chartered of
India, Australia and China, have advanced to 29k,
London and Westminster to 79, and City Bank to
108. Italian Irrigation 6 per Cent. Bonds r,mained
steady at 29.
BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Bank Stock 235
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
New 21 per Cent. Annuitie5....
India Stock
Ditto 5 per Cent llO 9/ 101 9/
Ditto 5 per Cent
Ditto 51 per Cent.
Consols for Account, June 9 92/
Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO 21 per Cent 4 die
Ditto £500
Ditto Small par
FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Brazilian 5 per Cent
Ditto 41 per Cent., 1852-58-60
Buenos Ayres 6 per Cent
Ditto Account.. 941
Chilian 6 per Cent.
Ditto 41 per Cent
Egyptian 7 per Cent lOO/
Ditto, Second Issue
Greek 5 per Cent., 1824-5, ea-Coupons..
Ditto Account 3ll 21 11
Ditto Coupons l4l 1 1 i
Italian 5 per Cent. (Maremmana Railway) 79
Mexican 3 per Cent
Ditto Account. 36 151 a
New Granada
Ditto Deferred lO /
SlDitto Land Warrants (Hectares) 8
.t. A uvian 41 per Cent.
Ditto 41 per Cent, 1862
Ditto Account BBl
Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853
Ditto 3 per Cent., 1866, '7, '9, '6O, 62
Ditto Account...... . .
X' . .
Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, it............ . 49-3
1
Ditto 41 per Cent., 1850 ...... -1/
Ditto 5 per Cent., 1862 ..... ;
Spanish 3 per Cent
Ditto Account 54/
Ditto New Deferred ..
Ditto Account
Ditto Passive
Ditto Account 35 4/ 5 41 I
Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded
Turkish 6 per Cent. 1854 —
Ditto Account BBl
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1858
Ditto Account .. 70h i
Ditto, £lOO Bonds 73
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1862
Ditto Account
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. IC3I 3
Venezuela, 3 per Cent
Ditto 6 per Cent., 1852
.. 561 5/
Dividends on the above payable in London.
French Rentes, 3 per Cent., Ex. 25f..... 69f. 75c.
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols, Money
Ditto Account 92k } xd

The Emperor of Austria has commuted the
punishment of Count Ferdinand Zichy to imprisonment
for one month in the house of the Provost Marshal. (The
original sentence was "hard labour for one year, and loss
of nobility.")
THE RIVAL SPARROWS.—In the interior of the
Tyne Dock waggon shops the attention of one of the
workmen was, about a week ago, attracted to the move-
ments of a pair of sparrows engaged in constructing a nest
in a hollow where two girders meet for the support of the
iron roof. For several days they laboured most assidu-
ously in preparing their abode, when, by some sudden
freak, the progress of the tiny fabric was suspended. A
few mornings afterwards thy ears of the workmen were
saluted by loud chirping and the flattering of wings, and
torn what transpired subsequently, it was evident that
the female bird had severed the connubial bond, and en-
listed the affections of another, who now vigorously con-
tended with the rejected bird for possession of the nest.
for
several hours the conflict continued, until the usurper
proved the strongest. The rejected bird shortly afterwards
returned and hovered about the spot,o speedily
watching
Dm opportunity for revenge. This occurred, for
in the course of a short time the newly -joined pair left
for a brief period. In their absence the defeated-j
approached the nest, and, placing his back beneathPwarf°
the feathery mass, raised it from its resting
place and sent it to the ground. The surprise of the other
birds, on their return, at beholding the demolition of their
dwelling appeared to be great, and was arousing to observe.
Notwithstanding this disaster, however, they commenced
to build a second nest in the same place, the rejected mate
watching their proceedings with apparent interest. After
two days of incessant labour, they again left for a short time,
and taking. advan! age of their absence, the disappointed
bird again demolished their feathery residence. The birds,
an their return, commenced to build their third nest, in
which work they are ACT cligagedt-4//ta 6a""ft

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