The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-19 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, May 18.—The markets are still suffering
under the influence of the adverse news received
yesterday from Mexico, to the effect that recruiting
was being carried on in the Northern States of
America for the army of the revolutionary party in
that country. This untoward intelligence—which
is regarded by speculators as likely soon to cause
the re-opening of hostilities—combined with the
arrival of the English Funcs with a fall of per
cent., has affected transactions in nearly all the de-
partmenfs, and there is little probability of even the
depreciated rates of yesterday being realised.
Three per Cents. are now at 67f. 45c., and the
shares of the Credit Mobilier at 735 f.—a further
fall of 6f. 75c. Italians has been done at 65f. 75c.
The market closed as follows :

4} per Cents 96
Do. end month
3 per Cents. 67 45
Do. end month 67 50
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month

Italian Loan 65 75
Do. end month 65 75
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes 438
Home Debt —
Deferred

Bank Shares 3695
Credit Foncier 1280
Roman —

Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern lO6B 75 ... 1067 50
Lyons and Mediterranean__ 897 50 ... 897 50
Southern 6OO 598 25
Western .527 50 ... 528 75
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard 5lB 75 518 75
North of Spain 255 252 50
Saragossa 350 347 50
Ditto to Barcelona —

The Paris Omnibus Drivers and Conductors.

_+. _,

The drivers and conductors of omnibuses have not
yet struck work, but they persist in demanding from
the company, who have the monopoly of these
vehicles, some improvement of their present condi-
tion. They are perfectly justified in doing so, for
few classes of men are so overworked. There is not
a more laborious calling than that of the omnibus
driver and conductor. The one, ever nailed to his
seat, guiding his horses through the numerous impe-
diments of crowded thoroughfares, liable for one-
fourth of the damage caused by the vehicle, or a fine
for the accidents that he may be the involuntary
cause of. The other, standing erect on the step, or
climbing to the roof, delivering correspondence
tickets to those who call for them, giving change
for gold and silver, and aware that any mistake
made in the hurry and confusion of the operations
will be paid out of his day's wages. These men
work on an average 17 hours daily. When by
chance they get one day's leave of absence their
wages are stopped. For absence without leave a
fine of 30f. 50c. is exacted from them ; for omitting
the signal, sf. ; for ten minutes late at the depot, lf. ;
and so on for the rest. The carriage begins to ply
at 6 50 or 7 15 in the morning, and continues to do
so till past midnight ; and while there are regular
relays of horses—each carriage having five pair—
there are no relays of men. It is proposed to have
three drivers and as many conductors for two
vehicles, so that the day's work shall be from 10 to
11 hours, instead of 17 or 18. A person remon-
strating the other day with a conductor for some
trifling ebullition of temper was answered :
"I beg your pardon, sir, but I am half dead from fatigue
and want of sleep, and I hardly know what I am saying.
We have not rest enough."

A person who was formerly in the employment of
the Omnibus Company writes to the papers to this
effect :

" I will merely observe that the omnibuses begin to ply
at 7 30 a.m., and stop only at midnight or 1 o'clock in the
morning, working on an average 17 hours ; and it I add
the time necessary for the drivers and conductors to reach
their stands in the morning and to return to their homes at
night, I do not exaggerate in saying that their daily work
is 18 hours ; whereas the average day's work in other
callings is about 10 hours. These men earn from 4f. to sf.
a day, but what is this sum when we consider all the vexa-
tions and sufferings they have to undergo, exposed as they
are to all the inclemency of the seasons, with a responsi-
bility which increases according to the duration of their
labour? It is well known that the safety and sometimes
the lives of tho passengers depend on the address, the ac-
curacy, the energy, and the vigilance of the driver, who at
every instant over his long and difficult route must exer-
cise all those qualities, which cannot be expected from a
man so worn down by fatigue. It is the bounden duty of
the company to shorten the day's work, and the safety of
the passengers requires them to do so. The company have
a monopoly which excludes all sort of competition, and
the public have a right to expect that security which
hitherto has not been given to them."

The writer suggests that the company should
organise a service beginning at 4 a.m. and ending at
2 p.m.—that is, 22 hours, with two drivers and two
conductors daily for each vehicle. The first to be-
gin at 4 a.m. and stop at 3 p.m., and the second to
begin at 3 p.m. and stop at 2 a.m., thus giving 11
hours to each. Another concession the company
should make is a day's rest at least once every fort-
night, without stoppage of wages. The Government
law prohibits cruelty to animals, and the omnibus
company observe it by allowing ten horses a day to
each carriage ; but they grudge a single day's rest
to the men.—Paris Correspondent of the Times.

STEREOTYPED TALES.—A Sheffield printer offers
stereotype columns of tales to be inserted in newspapers at
4s. a column, or less than the cost of setting up the types
would be. One of these tales so offered is called " Varley
Shrubsole," and the other is " John Gisborne's Will."
These tales thus retailed at 4s. a column are hooded with
the intimation that they are copyright, and that the copy-
right will be preserved.—Banffshire Journal.
CHANGE OF MOTTO.—The Richmond Whig, whose
motto is Sic semper Tyrannis, has dropped it at the " re-
quest of the Provost-Marshal-General."