The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-09 00:00:00

FRANCE.

The Emperor received yesterday, at the Palace
of Compiegne, a letter from the King of Prussia
announcing the birth of the son of Prince Frederick
Charles Nicholas of Prussia, and of the Princess
Maria Anna, nee Princess d'Anhalt ; also, a letter
addressed to the Prince Imperial by the Regents of
the Republic of San Marino.
The Emperor has conferred the Grand Cordon
of the Legion of Honour on the Prince of Monaco.
The fourth and last series of guests to Com-
piegne left Paris yesterday, those of the third
series having quitted the Palace the afternoon.
before. Immediately after their departure the
Emperor and Empress made a carriage excursion
to a spinning-manufactory, near Thurotte, to inspect
a newly-invented method of weaving flax. Their
Majesties returned to the Palace at half-past four.
The dinner that evening did not take place in the
Grand Gallery, but in the small apartment called
the Salle de Don Quichotte, on account of the pic-
tures on the walls which represent the principal
episodes in the life of the hero of La Mancha. The
only persons at table were those composing the ser-
vice of honour. The following is a list of the
guests :—The Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Madame Drouyn de Lhuys, M. Rouher, the Mar-
quis de La Valette, the Duke de Persigny, the
Chevalier Nigra, Count Sormani, the Duchess de
Castiglione-Colonna, Baron and Baroness d'Hogh-
wart, the Duchess de Tascher, the Princess de
Beauffremont, the Duchess d'lsly, the Duke,
Duchess, and Mlle. de Bassano, M. and Mme.
Vultry, General and Mme. Fleury, Count de
Nieuwerkerke, Count de Flamarens, Count and
Countess de La Poeze, Count and Countess La
Valette, Count and Countess Le Hen, M. and Mme.
de Boureuille, M. Cornudet, Generals Montaudon,
Ameil, and de Courson, M. Hely d'Oissel, M. Aube-
pin, M. Fremy, M. Nisard, M. Octave Feuillet, M.
Robert Fleury, M. Nicolet, M. de Billing, M. de
Bear; M. de Courcelles, M. de Viel-Castel, Count
and Countess de L'Espine, and M. and Mme. Cornu.
The King and Queen of Portugal, it is thought, will
arrive at Compiegne to -morrow. They are ex-
pected first to alight at the Tuileries, on arriving
from Germany.
BOURSE, Dec. B.—Two7o'Clock.—The Bourse
opens on a more buoyant market, notwithstanding
a further fall on the London market. Threes, for
the Account, show an advance of sc.—at 68f. 921 c.
At 65f. 35c. Italian Fives have a similar advance.
Credit Mobilier Shares are quoted at 888 f. 75c., an
improvement of sf. Immobiliere Shares continue
in good demand at 555 f., with a gain of 3f. 75c.
In the Railway Department Northern Shares main-
tain their progressive movement, with a further rise
of sf.—at 1,135 f. The new Austrian Loan remains
quoted at 346 f. 25c., with a premium of if. 25c
Three o'clock.—The market has closed at the fol•
lowing quotations :-
4.} per Cents 97 12/
Do. end month —

Roman
Ottoman Fives 43 60
Mexican Loan 49i
Do. Bonds 333 75
Russian —
Austrian

3 per Cents. 6B 85
Do. end month CB 90
Credit Mobilier

Do. end month BB5
Bank Shares 3800

Credit Foncier 1330
Italian Loan 65 05

Spanish Threes
Home Debt -
Deferred

Do. end month 65 25

RAIL

Cash. Amt.
... 832 50
... 1130
... 571 25

Qrleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian , 212 50
Austrian
Lombard ... 422 50
North of Spain — ... 165
Saragossa 197 50
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman

..".- ---. •• •

... 155 --

Substitutes for Dear Meat.

-- -,....___-

TO TILE EDITOR OF TAE SUN.

SlR,—The prices which are now being charged
for butchers' meat, poultry, fish, and other articles
of food, have been the source of great misery to
many, who at all times find it difficult to make
both ends meet, but who are now driven to their
wits' ends to provide for their little ones. Indignant
at the butcher-monopolists we naturally look around
to see whether we are not able to find a substitute
for the meat on which they have put such an exor-
bitant price. The season of Christmas naturally
reminds one of dried fruits, of which such large
quantities are imported into this country. A good
currant-pudding would be no unacceptable dinner
to children, and many mothers of families, whose
means are limited, would find a currant-pudding
make an agreeable variety in the household fare.
But here comes another difficulty : currants are not
cheap, and yet I have learned from various sources
(some of IN hich are official) that the import price
of currants, duty paid, ranges from 21d. to 4d.
per lb., whilst the retail dealer charges from sd. to
9d. per lb., something like cent. per cent. How is
this to be explained ? Whilst butchers' meat con-
tinues at the present price, the vendors of articles
that may be made in some degree a substitute for
it, would show their wisdom by selling their com-
modities at a fair and reasonable price.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

CELTO-GREEK.