The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-12 00:00:00

'AY EVENING, MARCH 12, 1863_._

FRENCH CUSTOMS.

The Director of Customs has just published re-
turns, showing the imports and exports during the
mouth of January last, and comparing them with
the imports and exports for January, 1862, and
1861. An analysis of these returns will indicate
the articles of which the imports and exports have
increased and those which have diminished. Among
the articles of which the importation has increased
raw cotton figures for a value of 12,260,5601
against 2,580,380 f in 1862, and 27,977,840 f
in 1861. The importation of raw silk in-
creased likewise in January to 23,765,413 f from
13,203,315 f in January, 1862, and from 12,521,715
in 1861. The importation of raw wool increases
considerably, being 11,814,903 f in January last,
4,010,700 f in 1862, and 6,030,600 f in 1861. The
quantity of the articles imported is in proportion
with the value, the same average price being adopted
for the three years-1863, 1862, and 1861. The
other articles of which the importation has increased
are cast-iron, hemp, cochineal, oil, tallow, hides,
cattle, and wrought metal. The importation decal
has diminished, the value imported in January last
being being 8,653,0001, against 8,964,0001 in Janu-
ary 1862, and 6,349,000 in 1861. Farinaceous ar-

titles figure for 6,733,738 f in January last,
27,612,663 f in 1862, and 5,419,840 f in 1861. Next
come colonial produce, cocoa, coffee, and sugar. The
object of reducing the import duty on these articles
appears to have been attained, and the importation
is equal to the consumption, if it has not exceeded,
it as is generally supposed among the retailers
of those articles. The importation of articles of
British manufacture has likewise diminished.
Woollen stuffs figure for 3,891,300 f in January,
1863, and for 5,173,409 f in 1862. Cotton cloths for
502,706 f in January, 1863, and for 1,584,031 f in
January, 1862. The importation of machinery like-
wise diminished. Among the exports wrought silks
have increased from 17,000,000 f in 1862, and
26,000,000 f in 1861, to 28,000,000 f in January last.
Woollen stuffs exported have increased from
7,000,000 f in 1862, and 14,000,000 f in 1861, to
17,000,000 f in January, 1863. The cotton cloths
exported in January last figure for 2,815,000 f,
1,904,000 f in 1862, and 3,166,000 f in 1861. The

export of linen and hempen thread has likewise
increased, as well as dressed skins and hides,
brandy, refined sugar, and raw wool. The list of
articles of which the export has diminished
is not as long as that of last year.
Wine figures for 11,628565 f in January last, for
12,616,702 f in January, 1862, and 10,711,608 f in
1861. The Director of Customs proposes henceforth
to publish the monthly returns of the imports and
exports. The imports amount for the month of
January last to 162,000,000 f, and the exports to
175,000,000 f. The import duties collected in Janu-
ary last amount to 11,113,000 f. In January, 1862,
they figured for 11,899,000 f, and in January, 1861,1
for 8,130,000 f. The drawback paid in January last
amounts to 4,419,000 f, and in January, 1862, to
1,700,000 f. Gold appears to be coming hito the
country, and silver to be leaving it. The gold
imported in January last amounts to 51,000,000 f,
and the gold exported to 27,000,000. The silver
imported amounts to 10,500,000 f, and the silver
exported to 16,000,000 f.

Liverpool Cotton, Market--This Day.
(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
LIVERPOOL, March 12.
Market strong. Sales about 7,000 bales. Im
port, 735; previously, 9,220.

FRIGHTFUL OCCURRENCE AT HASTINGS.—The
wedding celebration festivities here concluded with
a procession of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, a display of
fireworks, and a huge bonfire on the hill, behind the ruins
of the castle. All this went off well, and about half-past 11
o'clock nearly the whole of the people had returned home. At
a quarter to 12 o'clock a respectable tradesman named Stace,
a poulterer, carrying on business in Castle-street, a ent on
the hill, and, in the temporary absence of those who had
charge of the smouldering embers, he rushed into the midst
of the burning heap. Only two or three lads were then in
the neighbourhood ; they raised an alarm, but before the
unfortunate man could be extricated his flesh had been quite
charred. He was removed to the infirmary, where he soon
expired. It may naturally be expected that this has cast a
terrible gloom over the otherwise joyous proceedings of the
day.

THE ILLUMINATIONS AT MANCHESTER.—At
Manchester, on Tuesday night, owing to the
crowded state of the streets during the illumination, some
very ead accidents occurred. A man named Richard Kay
was crushed t) death. Another man, who had two loaded
pistols in his pockets, one of them a revolver, was shot
through the lungs by one barrel of the revolver exploding
accidentally. He was carried to the Infirmary, where he
died during the night. A youth, aged 16, had one
hand shattered by the accidental explosion of firearms. The
hand was amputated at the Infirmary, and the patient bore
the operation well. In all, more than a dozen persons were
taken to the Infirmary during the night in consequence of
accidents more or less serious.

THE GUARDS.—The brigade of Guards was
assembled at Hyde-park on Tuesday to fire a feu de
joie in honour of the Royal marriage. In the barracks
various entertainments were provided. At St. George's
the captains regaled the men of their companies with a Bri-
tish meal of beef, plum pudding, and porter; the health of
the Prince and Princess of Wales was drunk with loud
cheers, the band playing national airs during the dinner.
The non-commissioned officers, and the wives and children
of the men, were entertained by the commanding officer,
who, on the occasion of the procession entry of the Prin-
cess, provided, together with the officers of that battalion,
accommodation by which 500 persons were enabled to view
the procession, which was enjoyed by the friends of the offi-
cers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the Cold-
stream Guards.
THE BEACON FIRE ON MALVERN HILLS.—The
fire lighted on Tuesday night on the top of the Wor•
cestershire Beacon, the highest point on the range of Malvern
Hills, was a complete success, which after the disappoint-
ment that was experienced in 1856, was the more gratify-
ing. The torchlight procession started from the Abbey at
7 o'clock, and, the night being favourable, was seen for
many miles. At Worcester, which is eight miles distant,
the fire of torches could be clearly traced as the bearers (300
in number) winded their devious way up the heights. This,
as seen from the vale of the Severn, was a most beautiful
sight. The procession extended nearly half a mile. The
top of the hill was reached soon after half-past 7, and the
torchbearers assembled round the pyre, which was 60 feet
high, the area of the base being 60 feet by 40 feet. The
mass of combustibles had been freely sprinkled with petro-
leum and tar, and; it immediately Heated. The flames
rapidly spread. Gradually they increased until they
ascended in a column to a great height, lighting up the
clouds, which reflected the lurid glare, visible at an im-
mense distance. Answering fires were lighted at several
points on the Malvern range and on Bredon-hill, and other
distant eminences, and from Worcester the light was very
brilliant. It was seen from that city still burning, though
with decreased light, up to near midnight. Before the fire
was lighted up a discharge of rockets took place, and these
were also seen from Worcester.
The receipts of the annual ball just given at the
Opera Comique, for the benefit of the Dramatic Artists'
Fund, have exceeded, it is said, 30,000 f.
A fine painting, representing the adoration of
the Shepherds, supposed to be by Lesueur, has been die-
covered at Basouge-de-Chemere (Mayenne).
THE QUEEN AND THE LEWS CALAMITY.—We
(the Northern Ensign) are gratified in being en-
abled to publish the following letter, and are sure it will be
perused with loyal satisfaction throughout the north
"Windsor Castle, Feb. 21, 1863.—5ir,---I have had the
honour to submit to her Majesty the Queen your letter of the
16th inst., together with the list which accompanied it, of
the subscriptions to the fund for the relief of the widows
and orphans of the Lews fishermen who perished in the
late gales. I have been commanded by her Majesty to for-
ward to you the enclosed cheque for £5O to aid these poor
widows and orphans; and I am directed to request that
they may be assured of her Majesty's sincere sympathy.
I have the honour to remain, your obedient servant, C. B.
Puirps.---Sir J. H. Maxwell, Bart."
UNITED STATES MA IL Sy.e—s
yesterday
from Inman
Lisvteerapomoslhfiopr
Etna, Captain Brooks,sailed
New York, with the United States malls. Besides the
mails she took out a full cargo and a fair number of pas-

sengers.
LEICESTER, llth.—The hosiery trade in several
departments is becoming more animated, although business
has been this week partially interrupted by the general
holiday. In the rural districts trade is quiet. The yarn•
market is firm, and high prices continue to be made. No
stocks of hosiery or yarns are on hand. In the wool-
market there is no material change, Business remains
pretty generally quiet and prices without important
alteration.
The Ost•Deutsche Post of Vienna states that two
persons concerned in the robbery of jewels and
papers of the value of 24,000 florins, which was committed
in May last at the residence of the Prince de Schwarzen-
berg at Vienna, have just been discovered. All the objects
stolen, with the exception of about 8,000 florins worth,
have been found in their possession.