The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-20 00:00:00

FRANCE.

.DECREE AGAINST THE BISHOPS' LETTERS,
PARIS, AUG. 20.

An Imperial decree has been published to-day
condemnatory of the Bishops' letters on the subject
of the elections, and declaring them an abuse of
ecclesiastical authority.
The, preamble of the decree states that it is based
upon the articles of the Concordat and the Papal
Bull of December, 1801, the apostolic decree of 1802,
and the declaration of 1682, establishing as a funda-
mental maxim of French public law that the Chief
of the Church and the Church itself have control
solely over spiritual and not over temporal and
civil affairs. The last basis quoted in the deoree
states that the bishops and archbishops are not
empowered to deliberate together or pass common
resolutions without the special permission of the
Government.

BOURSE, Aug. 19.—The arrival of Consols with
a rise of 91 has tended to maintain the firmness
before apparent in this market, but without causing
any further improvement in prices, Threes are
now unvaried at 67f. 65e. Little doing in Railway
Shares, and up to the present time the variations
have been but trifling. The market closed as
follows :

11 per Cent 5......, 96 85 Italian Loan 72 85
Do. end month.... Do. end month 72 70
3 per Cents ..... 67 85 New ditto
Do. end month.... 67 85 ' Do. end month 72 75
Credit Mobilier.... 1125 Russian
1)0, end m0nth....1123 75 Austrian
Bank Shares 3385 Spanieh Threes....
Credit k oncier Home Debt -
RAILWAY%

Cash. Account.
Orleans lO2O .. 1020
Northern
New. ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1031 25 .. 1030
Geneva 492 50 .. 492 50
Southern 712 50 .. 716 25
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard ........ 555 .. 555
North of Spain
Saragossa .. 680 .. 652 50
Ditto to Barcelona ... . 355 . 365

A RUSSIAN-AMERICAN ALLIANCE.—VIENNA,
Aug. 17.—The Presse says :—" We hear that com-
munications have been received from an English source,
according to which we must prepare ourselves for the ap-
proaching ratification of an offensive and defensive alliance
between St. Petersburg and Washington. This eventuality,
should this somewhat speculative information be confirmed,
would principally affect the bearings of the Mexican and
Polish questions."
METROPOLITAN BENEFIT SOCIETIES ASYLUM.

•Tne Fancy Fair and Ball, arranged at this

Institution for Monday and Tuesday,was so successful that
the festivities were continued on Wednesday, and thu efforts
of the ladies to swell the Endowment Fund were most un-
tiring. The chief feature of the soiree was the spirited
rendering, by Miss Emma Wallington, of several Poems
by Eliza Cook, and one on Poland, written by herself. An
excellent glee choir, sang at intervals ; and on the grounds
during the day, the bands of the Duchess of Kent Lodge.
Staleybridge Odd Fellows, St. Bartholomew School, and
Finsbury Rifles, entertained the visitors, thoroughly
arousing the neighbourhood of Ball's-pond-road from its
mu d quiet. There are now six candidates for admission to
the Asylum, from whom one is to be elected at the half-
yearly meeting, fixed for the 28th inst,, at Salter's Hotel,
Victoria-street.

HOPE DEFERRED MAKETII THE HEART SICK.

—At a recent examination of Mr. Logie, farmer,
blurrayf hall, on his sister entering the box to be examined,
the following conversation took Owe between her and the
opposing agent :—Agent—" How old are you r' " Oh,
weal, sir, I am an unmarried woman, and I dinna think it
richt to answer that question." The Judge—" Oh, yes,
answer the gentleman how old you are." Miss Jane—
" Wed a weel, I am fifty." Agent—" Are you not more ?"
" Wed, I am sixty." The inquisitive writer still farther
asked if she had hopes of getting married, to which Miss
Jano replied, " Wed, sir, I winna surely tell a lie—l hinna
lost hope yet;" and she scornfully added, " but I widna
marry you, for I am sick tired o' your palaver already."
E jtr—naU3 n
bdeewr im telirt..-
The examination then proceeded.—Duncice Courser.
A kiLIGHT COItiFUSION CE p
head of Neuter's Telegrollt, the Courtl
ingly announces that "the Atchclukt; (sick
1714 ac copied the throlie Of CzA,:ccc,