The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-18 00:00:00

MALTA.

We have received :Malta journals to the 9th inst.
Oct the 2d, at the aiming of the Council of Govern-
ment the ordinance for the formation of a Maltese
militia force was mad in Committee, and passed
with some slight alterations. The Malta Mail
states that a project of forming a rifle
corps for the additional protection of the island was
also much spoken of. On the 3d, a grand dinner was
given by the military and naval officers to Admiral
Sir William Parker and General Ellis, on the occa-
sion of their approaching departure from Malta. The
Governor and many of the public functionaries were
present at the dinner.

STATE, OF TRADE.
(From the ,illanchester Guardiam.)
MANCHESTER, TUENDAY.—The quietness that came
over cur market last creek is a good deal increased to-
day. There is still less inquiry for yarns from the
merchants, who are evidently more dubious as to the
maintenance of prison, than they were then. The
production is too extere.iively under contract for any very
noticeable effect to be producedupon the value of.yarns by
this change of feeling; but those extreme and merely
nominal quotations which the buoyancy of a fornight ago
gave rise to, are now .more generally modified than they
were on Friday; and the bias of actual prices is slightly
in favour of buyers in some kinds of mule and water twist;
that is to say, a buyer may secure a little advantage to
himself, if not with one spinner, yet with another whose
ene.agements may be nearer their termination. As a
rule, however, much siteadiness prevails. Warps are
affected the most; for they aro to be had at a decline
of 1. per lb.—fully that, indeed, in some kinds. Next
to them cops betray Rome degree of weakness. There
is also a diminished, demand for such goods as
were lately in active request; indeed, the falling-
off is very marked; and if sales must be made, rather
lower prices must be su:omitted to; but manufacturers have
Goo many orders in hand for any such pressure to take
place. The home dealers were beginning to make rather
more inquiry for domestics, but this turn for the better
is scarcely sustained to-day. The absence of the Ame-
rican news may have tended in a small degree to quiet-
ness, though in a less degree than its actual receipt
towards the close of business hours. A more evident
cause of dulness is the ominous fact that that system of
free trade under which the great interests of the coun-
try aro making such rapid progress, is placed in sus-
pense by the Government, mid made to depend for its
continued existence upon the result of agitation and
electioneering contests. Hardly anything else has been
talked about on 'Change to-day; and men of all parties
feel that the course which Lord Derby asks the House
of Commons to allow him to pursue is fraught with most
serious evils. _ _ _

ROCHDALE, MONDA:Y.—The flannel market continues
very inaciive, with not much prospect of a speedy
change. There is no change in wool, either in price or
demand. As the manufacturers wish to produce as
little as possible under the present circumstances, they
purchase ►he raw material for immediate use only.

MACCLESFIELD, T ESDA.Y.—The position of our
staple manufactured goods, in reference to demand, con-
tinues much the same as we last noted; bat the want of
confidence on the part of wholesale buyers is much com-
plained of in the spring demand. The thrown silk
market is now a little less active for the present, but
stocks
generally are comparatively light, and prices
contiaue firm. In the raw silk market, the business
doing is
reported.
moderate. Peices are much the same as last
HALIFAX, SATUIWA:r.—We have rarely had a duller
market than to. day's. The uncertainty that hangs over
the Political world, both domestic and foreign, checks
all operations ; and the
aspect of the worsted trade is
of a most desponding character. Yarns exhibit no
amendment ; prices arcs at a stand, and the amount
produced is greatly diminished. Wcol is to be bought
on easier terms; but ths) transactions are neither large
nor numerous.
HUDDERSFIELD, TIT E.snay.—There has not been quite
so much doing in 011), market to-day as last week.
Crepes, doeskins of ]a rge patterns, and light goods
generally, suitable for spring wear, have been inquired
for. The fancy trade continues dull; a moderato busi-
ness has been done in wools, at firm prices.

A STREET PREACHER IN ROME.
A couple of casks, covered with a few planks, served
for a pulpit. A ragged audience, consisting of about a
hundred men and women, were listening with open
mouths to a sort of ecclesiastic, filthy and sunburnt in
his appearance, who was gesticulating away on the top
of this primitive erection. He was holding forth upon
the Passion. "It was," said he, " the sin of our first
father that brought on the death of our beloved Saviour.
Consequently, as we are a!! tainted with the original
sin, we aro all a party to this assassination. Yes, my
brethren, we are all of us the murderers, the execu-
tioners of our God, and we shall be punished as such,
unless we do penance." . So saying, he opened the top of
his tunic, and seizing hold of a stone, prepared for the
purpose, he fell on his knees, and lacerated his breast
most cruelly, muttering prayers all the while in a sort
of frenzy. Fired by his example, his audience Jike-
wise fell on their knees. Some struck themselves
violently, at the same time uttering frightful yells;
others sobbed aloud, and threw themselves on their
faces. Men, women, and girls seemed alike a prey to the
most violent despair, or the deepest repentance. But,
what is almost beyond belief, mothers, in their anxiety
to make their children participate in the good effects of
this exhortation, were whipping them without mercy.
The preacher, covered with blood, at length gave over,
and the people as suddenly ceased their wailings. The
scene now changed. Pale as death, gasping and foam-
ing at the mouth, the fanatic preacher cast a threaten-
ing look around him. Ho perceived Fernando and
myself observing him from afar; and quick to take ad-
vantage of this incident, he extended his arms in our di-
rection, exclaiming, " This is the way the apostles of the
Lord get treated! Heretic foreigners say to each other,
Let us go and see what that priest is after, and make
game of his sermons, since the season for laughing at the
buffooneries of Punch and Harlequin is now over 1' " I was
unable to learn the conclusion he drew from this apos-
trophe, as my friend, fearing that this holy maniac
mightincite the populace against us, took me by the
arm and drew me away. I could not recover from my
surprise. Less struck, however, by the preacher's ad-
dress than by the tears of his audience, I observed that,
no doubt, the fruits of this sermon would rejoice the„
hearts of all honest folks. " You labour under an error',s
interrupted Fernando, the religion of the Romans
i
of the nature of saltpetre that evaporates as t explodes;basks
than
and these fanatics will have no sooner turned their
than they will go and drown all those fin
feelings in
liquor, or fritter them away scorineev alter violentie
quarrel."—Rambles through Rome, bg the L
Chatelain. compunctious

The Ceylon Examiner states that lon the 13th of
January, about six, P.M a large whale was seen disporting
himself off Galle, at the distance of about time miles from
the shore. It is very unusual for these monsters of the deep
to be found in Indian latitudes.