The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-15 00:00:00

ARTISTS' BENEVOLENT FUND.

The fifty-fourth anniversary of this excellent
institution was celebrated on Saturday by a dinner
at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queev-street,
under the presidency of Mr. W. B. Beech, M.P.,
who was supported by Mr David Roberts, 11. A.,
Mr. George T. Doo, R.A., Mr. John H. Foley,
and other artists and friends of the society.
The Artists' Fund was established in 1810, ;and
received a charter of incorporation from George 1 V.
in 1827. It consists of two separate and distin ct
branches—the Artists' Annuity Fund, which As
raised and wholly supported by the contribution 0
of its members, and the Artists' Benevolent Fund,,
for the relief of the widows and orphans of the
members of the annuity fund, which is supported
by the donations of the patrons of the fine arts and
artists, as well as by the annual contributiono
of the members of the other funds. Since the for-
mation of the benevolent fund a sum of £24,721 bad
been distributed in relieving widows and orphans f
British artists, and during the past year 53 viidnvi3
received annuities amounting to £765, and 15 or'
phans the sum of £6l ss.
After the " Health of the Queen," and other
loyal and constitutional toasts had been drunk .
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the t men-
ing, "Prosperity to the Artists' Benevolent Fut, nd,"
said that among the many societies which exitited
for the relief of the distressed, and reflected so much
credit upon the country, there was none more e /Di"
nently characteristic, or more deserving the aid %lad
encouragement of every charitable person, than t. bra
invaluable institution. The great good done b)"
the asscciation was sufficiently vouched for 'by
the fact that during the year no less th.
53 widows of artists had received bent fit
from its funds. Apart from the interest which t
he
public should feel in such an institution, it must be $
matter of satisfaction to those who owed their stlP'
port to the creations of their own hands to kno
that those near and dear to them whom they left
behind would be provided for and secured agains t
want. Artists of eminence might think that the y
were far removed from casualties that would plunk ;e
themselves and families in distress, and the your ig
members of the profession might think that sickne e 0
was off; but man had not at disposal his own dna'
tiny, and it was surely better that in the hour of
health and prosperity they should make some pre'
vision against the dark days of adversity. He also
thought that those who were in the zenith of their
greatness should lend a helping hand to brother
artists less fortunate than themselves, or who were
struggling in their profession, by giving aid to ails
society, whose fuuda, he could assure them, were
administered in a most economical and satisfactory

manner.
The toast was enthusiastically responded to.
The CHAIRMAN, in giving the next toast, " The
Royal Academy," expressed his great regret that
the president, Sir Charles Eastlake, was unable to
be present, in consequence of the delicate state of
his health.
Mr. DAVID ROBERTS returned thanks, and pro;
posed " Posterity lo the Artists' Annuity Fund/
which was acknowledged by Mr. George T. D.1)(1;
Several other toasts, including " The Ladies'
were afterwards drunk. The subscriptions Or
flounced during the evening, including her Majesty
customary donation cf 100 guineas, amounted t°
nearly £6OO. After dinner the proceedings were
enlivened by a good selectiou of popular music'
ably performed by Miss Emily Spiller, Miss Poole,
Mr. Montem smith, and Mr. Sydney Naylor, under
the direction of Mr. Lawler. Miss Spiller, a young
debutante with an excellent voice, especially die:
tinguished herself, and, was rewarded with several
encoreo.

CONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

An acthe business is still experienced in discount
circles, and the inquiries at the Bank itself are also
klther numerous. The market, it is thought, will
'continue animated until the payment of the avi-
(lends early next month, Several millions sterling
will then be released, but in the meantime an effect
is likely to be produced by revenue collections and
the contracted circulation resulting from the rapid
accumulation of the Treasury balances.
From the manufacturing districts the accounts
during the past week mention that business in most
departments has contiuued dull. At Manchester
cloths and yarns were rather lower, while in the
woollen districts of Leeds, Bradford, and Hudders-
field the operations have been principally in light
fabrics for immediate requirements. A better de-
mand has been experienced for hosiery and lace
goods at Leicester and Nottingham, while in the
hardware districts, viz., at Birmingham, Sheffield,
and Wolverhampton there has been little change of
importance to report.

Two O'CLOCK.
At Paris this morning, according to Mr. Reuter's
telegram, the French 3 per Cent. Rentes were
69f. 70o.—firm.

The shareholders of the National Provincial
Bank of England assembled to-day at a special
meeting, and confirmed the necessary resolutions
for reallotting the 426 shares which have now
reverted to the bank among the members of the
board of direction. Mr. J. M. Laurie occupied the
chair.

There has been no particular movement to--
day in the market for the English funds, which
continue firm with a buoyant tendeney. Consols
are 921 exactly for money, and 921 for the 9th
proximo—being nearly -If per cent. higher than ou
Saturday afternoon. This improvement has been
occasioned by a better feeling among the specula-
tora who have been encouraged to effect a few pur-
chases. The New Threes and Reduced Annuities
are 918 ; the 5 per Cent. India Stock is marked
1071 108 1; and the 4 per Cent. Debentures are
100. Exchequer Bills for March are quoted par,
and for June 2s. prem.

Owing to the settlement considerable activity is
witnessed in the Foreign Market, but the operations
were chiefly of a formal character. Numerous bar-
gains have taken place in Greek, which have
ranged from 391 to 40, the latest prices
being 391 1, while the Coupons are 18!
19. Mexican are also very animated, and the
quotations have been 371 389, and the current rates
are 371 38 ; Turkish 6 per Cents., 1858, were
marked 701 1'; do., 1862, 711 4 ; do., 1863, are
nominally steady, and the New Scrip is also at
steady prices; the C3nfederate Loan is not better
than 29 14 dis. ; but the New Venezuelan Loan is
1.1 2 prem.
In the Railway Share Market the settlement
of the accounts is the principal business alluded to,
and in several instances prices have shown a slight
upward movement. South Western have advanced
68. Caledonian, South Eastern, London and Black-
well, North Western, and South Eastern have im-
proved 108., while Great Western have declined ss.

In the Foreign and Colonial lines there has been
110 changeof importance. Bahia and San Francisco
realise 20; Recife and San Francisco, 16s; East
Indian, 1101.

Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares are
dull, and show no material change in values.

BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Bank Stock 232k 3k i
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 921 2 I 2
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
Annuities, 30 yrs, expire r9th Jan., 1880 —
Ditto for 30 yrs, expire sth April, 1885.
Ditto (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug. 1908. 21a
India Stock .
It Ditto 6 per Cent
Ditto Debentures, 4 per Ct., Oct„ 1863 100 a
Ditto ditto April, 1864 100
Consols for Account, July 9
March June, 2 1 pr. Ct.
Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO 21 per Cent.. par 2
Ditto £5OO 2
Ditto Small

--- . -
FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Brazilian 5 per Cent
Ditto 41 per Cent., 1852-58-60
.'hilian 6 per Cent
Ditto 41 per Cent.
Danish 4 per Cent., 1863
Egyptian 7 pet Cent lOOl 100
Ditto, Second Issue
Greek 5 per Cent., 1824-5, ex-Coupons 391 40
Ditto Account 39140/ 39140 a 3911
Ditto Coupons l9 20 191
Italian 5 per Cent. (Maremmana Railway) 81 80#
Mexican 3 per Cent
Ditto Account 3B 9 81 1 8 1
Moorish Imperial 5 per Cent
New Granada l6 15 161
Ditto 2 per Cent
Ditto Deferred 9t
Peruvian 41 per Cent.
Ditto 41 per Cent. 1862 9Ol 90 1
D'tto Account..
Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853
Ditto 3 per Cent.llBs6) '7l'9) '6O, 62 491 1 ,
Ditto Account 491
Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St —
Ditto 3 per Cent., 1859 581
Ditto 5 per Cent., 1862
Spanish 3 per Cent
Ditto Passive
Ditto Account
351 41 51 I
Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded
Ditto Account .....
_._!!.. ... 121
Turkish 6 per Cent.. 1854
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1858
Ditto Acc0unt...........
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1862
Ditto Account .. 72 1
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent lO2l
Venezuela, 3 per Cent
Ditto Account.. 261
Ditto 6 per Cent., 1862
Ditto Account 591 601 591
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Italian, 5 per Cent., 1861, Ex. 25 francs 72/
Ditto Account 73
THREE O'CLOCK.
t
Consols Money
Ditto Account 92/ 1

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
Market firm. Sales, about 6,000 bales, Import
1,517; previously 3,019.

Rotterdam is about to have a German theatre, a
thing in which London has never succeeded.
THE. GRAND CONSERVATIVE BANQUET.—We
understand Mr. Disraeli has accepted the invitation
of,th,3 executive committee, and will be present at the anni-
Versary festival of the National Conservative Registration
Association, to take place at Willis's Rooms, on Friday,
-the 26th inst., the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, C.B.
in the chair.

WHAT HAS ADMIRAL WILKES DONE ?—This is
an interesting question to solve. Admiral Wilkes
hom made a great noise in the world, and some trouble too,
Tile was busily engaged in finishing the narrative of his
South Sea expediti n, and was returning home from Africa
'when he fell foul of Mason and Sltdell, and created immense
excitement thereby among the diplomats and commentators
upon international law all over both hemispheres. 'When
Admiral Goldsborough failed to accomplish what was ex-
pected of him in the Chesapeake, Admiral Wilkes got oom-
niand of the flotilla in the Jamesß River,
was intrusted , but he
snodtwuis
with
the in doing anything there.
Then h
around the West Indies,
the charge of a flying squadron
and people expected to see the rebel
privateers swept off the
sea at once ; but, with the exception of an occasional growl
from a newspaper in Nassau or Bertunda' we heard very
little of Admiral Wilkes's proceedings until he seized the
Peterhoff' which caused another row in England. Certainly
he has not diminished the number of the rebel sbipsaovfe bpreeeyn.
As far as they are concerned his fleet appears to have
a flying squadron indeed, for they have always kept clear of
the privateers. Now he has seized one of our own vessels,
the Vanderbilt, which was destined for a special service,e, and
has made her his flagship. If he would let the Vanderbilt
alone, and content himself with seizing the rebel Alaoama
or Florida, and turn one of them into a flagship, it would
be much better. It seems evident that there is no chance
of either of these vessels or any other privateers being got
rid of until some one else besides Admiral Wilkes is put in
command of the flying squadron.—New York Hcreld.
The Breslau Gazette relates the following :
" The Grand Duke Constantine every day receives
all the foreign journals in one packet, and he is most parti-
cular in opening it himself in order that no important piece
of news shall be kept from him. One day, lately, there was
found in the packet that day's number of the Ruch, the
journal of the National Government of Warsaw. How could
the paper have got into the well-sealed packet coming from
abroad ? That no one has yet been able to discover. it
this should continue,' the Grand Duke is said to have ex-
claimed, we shall be beaten even if we had ten armies. All
our troops will be of no avail so long as we shall not have
disooyered this National Government "

PREFERENCE SHARES.
Midland 41 per cent. pf. stk. rd., 103
West Midland gua. Shares 5 b per cent. 1863, 2i

PREFERENCE SHARES AND STOCKS.
Great Eastern, 5 per cent., pt, 106 f i

LINES LEASED Af FIXED RENTALS.
Lancaster and Carlisle, 2071

FOREIGN RAILWAYS.
San Paulo (lien.), gua. 7 per cent.,
Ditto (ail), 22

FOREIGN MINES.
Santa Barbara Gold Mine (Um.), 1.
Yudanamutana of S. Australia (lim.), 3i t
JOINT-STOCK BANKS.

Australasia,
Ditto, new, 311
Bank of New Zealand, 11
British and American Exchange (lira.), 811
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China„:29h
English and Irish (lim.),
English, Sco!ch, and Australian Chartered, 231
Imperial Ottoman, 191

DOCKS.
East and West India, 145 6

MISCELLANEOUS,
Crystal Palace, 371
East India Irrigation and Canal, 54
Great Ship lim. 174 per cent. pref.,
Italian Irrigation (Canal Cavour),
Ditto, 6 per cent. Bonds rd. .870 issued 90, 454
London General Omnibus Company (lim.), 11
Natal Land and Colonisation Co., lim., 51 1
Oriental Inland Steam, Um., 41 i
Rio de Janeiro City Improvements, Ditto (Z 2,) 34
Royal Mail Steam, 631
S. African Irrigation Investment (lim.), 4i
Van Diemen's L‘nd, 141

"The Polish National Government," says the
wOepreinnioonloNngaetrzonanay/eR, `u`sasciatnasprecisely as though there
r A
whichl is fired
etter froimn
o
Warsaw states that it has just ordereoclatnhde.
establishment
each district of tribunals, the competency
by a decree. The judges are bound to conform
enactments of the penal code promulgated at the sameto timetil
by the National Government. The Russians, asmaywell
be seen, have no longer anything to do in Poland, where
their presence only serves to disturb legal order."
EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY IN AN AUSTRALIAN
SHIP.—A very remarkable discovery has just been
made in one of Messrs Green's ships recently arrived in the
port of London. The ship Result was being overhauled a
day or two ago in the London Docks, when the skeleton of
a man was found standing upright. He was dressed, but
all his flo h had dried up on his bones, and his clothes there-
fore hung loosely about him. On searching him a sum of
,twelve shillings in silver was found in his pocket, but no
other property of any kind. It is supposed that the man
had not the means to pay for his passage and secreted him-
selfla in
some part of the vessel, and was either suffocated or
t lt! consequence of the manner in which the cargo was
}"l.este ahe found it impossible to escape from his place of
"""netuent.