The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-01 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1075 .. 1076 25
Geneva..
Southern 7OO 701 25
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard .. 537 60 .. 538 75

LOSS 01 HM.S. CONQuEROR,IOI GUNS.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

The following letter has been received by a resi
dent in Dover from one of the crew of the Con
queror:—

"Rume Bay Islands in the Bahamas,
Jan. 1, 1862.

" One of the finest screw line of-battle ships in
her Majesty's service—the Conqueror, 101 guns—
three days ago in the highest state of discipline and
preparation far war, with nearly 1,400 persons on
board, is now a useless wreck. Luckily, the weather
is tolerably fine, or we should have fared badly, the
current having sent us 20 miles out of our
reckoning.
"We ran ashore on a coral reef, and in spite of
all our exertions, there she lies—the water up to
the lower deck, her sides bilged in, and her back
broken.

" We have sent a boat to Nassau, and another (in
which this is to be sent) sails to-morrow morning
at daybreak for Jamaica, in time, I hope, to save
this mail.

" We are all ashore now, with the exception of
the commander, one midshipman, and ten men. We
have all been working hard to get the provisions
ashore, and shall be able to save all our gear (pri-
vate, I mean), with the exception, of course, of our
ale and wine, all of which the captain saw hove
overboard, himself lending a hand. The spirits in
the spirit-room, wine, &c., were next broached and
started over, and all hands set to work clearing the
ship. •

" I have no time at present to say much, as it is
very late, and this is the third night that I have
passed without sleep—the first two of which were
passed in the open air, on deck ; so I must now bay
' Good night, and good bye' for the present, hoping
that these few lines will set you at ease in case you
hear any exaggerated yarns about hands being 'oat.
" EDWARD P. WILLIAMS.
" For the benefit of °tines, you might make it
public that all hands are saved."

OXFOBDSHLRE ELECT lON.

OXFORD, FRIDAY.

The polling for this county took place this day,
when a great degree of excitement prevailed
throughout the various districts, Owing to the
excellent arrangements of Mr. Davenport, clerk of
the peace, the voting was conducted with the
greatest regularity and order. At Oxford there
were three booths for the accommodation of the
1,298 voters in that district, and voting took place
simultaneously at the following places :—Banbury,
Chipping Norton, Deddington, Witney, Bicester,
Nettlebed, and Testworth. At an early hour Ox-
ford was alive with vehicles of every description,
and there was a general desire on behalf of the par-
tisans of both candidates to have first blood.

At each of the Oxford booths the polling was
carried on with great spirit by the Dashwoodites,
who preponderated by about 3to 1. The Oxford
majority was, however, nullified by the preponder-
ance of the South Oxfordshire country, the known
stronghold of Colonel Fane. The early part of the
morning saw Sir Henry Dashwood in a decided ma-
jority, but as the slips arrived from the various
country places the candidates were stated to be ex-
ceedingly close upon each other, a supposition which
proved to be quite correct.

The result of the contest will be found in the fol-
lowing figures, taken from the announcements of
Colonel Fane's committee, from which it will be
seen the colonel was, at the close of the poll, in a
good majority.

F. D. Majority.
Testworth 309 .... 83
Oxford
Witney
Banbury
Chipping Norton.. 142 .... 184
Deddington
Bicester l7l .... 112
Nettlebed ... 224 .... 134
Total—Fane 1,914
Dashwood

Majority for Fane 192

The poll closed at five o'clock, but it was not
until late in the evening returns could be attained.
The official state of the poll will be duly declared
by the High Sheriff upon the books being made up.

The King of the Belgians leaves Buckingham
Palace to-day for Osborne.
The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland arrived
yesterday at Stafford House, St. James's, from Lilleshall,
Salop. The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland, who has
been staying in town a few days, returned to Cliefden, near
Maidenhead, yesterday. _ .. .

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury and
family come to town on Wednesday next from Hatfield
House, Herts. .

The Marquis and Marchioness of Bath are enter-
taining a salect party at Longleat, Wilts. His lordship is
expected in town early next week.
The Earl and Countess de Grey and Ripon have
arrived at their residence in Carlton• gardens from Studeley
Park, near Ripon, for the season,
Lady Emma Talbot was safely delivered of a
son yesterday morning at the residence of the Earl and
Countess of Derby, in St. James's-square. Here ladyship
and infant are progressing favourably.

Sir John Ramsden, M.P., has left Byrum, York-
shire, on a visit to the Right Hon. Edward Horaman, at
his seat in Yorkshire.

The Baron and Baroness de Kelburg and Madlle.
Piccarde have left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, for
Switzerland.

The Right Hon. W. F. Cowper, M.P., and Mrs.
Cowper have arrived at their residence in Curson-street,
from visiting viscount and Viscountess Palmerston at
Broadlands,

LITERATURE.

AINSWORTH'S NEW STORY.—Part IL, in

Bentley's Miscellany.
The second instalment of Mr. Ainsworth's new
serial romance of " The Lord Mayor of London,"
like the second drinking song in Othello, is even
" more excellent than t'other !" Our Novelist's
hand is evidently in for the running of the race
upon which he has here adventured. And when-
ever he is "i' the vein" we know by a delightful
experiesee enough at what a pace he can go ! Ex.
gr. his ever-famous " Ride to York" in " Rook-
wood," written off at a single sitting—night
and day —as fast as pen could fly over
paper. Here, in " The Lord Mayor of Louden"
—a story of which we have in this February
number of Bentley five additional chapters—Mr.
Ainsworth describes his scenes and personages of
a hundred years ago with a gusto. Beckford again
flits across the stage, in the midst of the pageantry.
The cleverest incident described in the instalment
before us is the interview between the two brothers
—the poor old scapegrace elder brother brought
out of his strange hiding-place of Little Ease in the
Old Guildhall, and the good-hearted, open-handed
younger brother, the Lord Mayor himself, Sir
Gresham Lorimer. Here, however, are twin forms
(arcades ambo!) from that same old Guildhall, more
familiar to us. We give the extract because every-
body will be glad to know what the Author of
" The Tower of London" has to say about—

GOG AND MAGOG. -
In opposite angles, at the west end, and upon octagonal
columns, stand the two guardian giants, yclept Gog and
Magog. Old Strype pretends that these mysterious figures
represent an ancient Briton and a Saxon, and some believe
them to be of no greater antiquity than Charles the Second's
day ; but we reject these notions altogether. Their origin
is buried in obscurity. We suspect they were fashioned by
Merlin, or some equally potent enchanter. If they were tried
by the Groat Fire, they came out of it uninjured. Gog is
armed with a halberd, and Magog with a poleaxe, from which
hangs a ball set round with spikes. Their mighty limbs, gro-
tesque attire, bushy black beards, penthouse-like brows
overshadowing great protruding eyes, which seem ever
disposed to wink at you, and wondrous lineaments in which
ferocity is so happily blended with joviality and merriment,
must be familiar to all. Familiar also is the veracious
legend connected with them. We all devoutly believe, that
at dead of night, when the clock strikes one, these marvel-
lous images become suddenly instinct with life, and, leap-
ing down upon the pavement, look out for supper, regaling
themselves upon whatever eatables and drinkables they
may be lucky enough to meet with, searching for a terrified
apprentice in the Little Ease, and sometimes, when hard
pressed, devouring a beadle, great-coat, three-cornered hat,
staff and all.

Later on in the present instalment of the story we
find this interesting account of—

THE LORD MAYOR'S STATE-COACH.
The gorgeous state-coach, in which our Lord Mayor
rode, still exists, and constitutes a principal feature in the
annual civic show. Since good Sir Gresham's day, a hun-
dred Lord Mayors have ridden in it, and we hope it may
serve to convey a hundred more to Westminster and back.
Though richly gilt and burnished, it is not gaudy, but has
a grand, imposing, courtly appearance, and seems fitted for
the City sovereign, or for any other sovereign. Indeed, it
formed the model for the royal state-coach—still likewise
in use—constructed for Georgo 111. in 1762. Built about
four or five years previous to the date of our story, in the
somewhat cumbrous but handsome style of the day, hung
very low, having large windows calculated to afford a full
view of those inside it, panels covered with exquisitely
painted emblematical designs, and elaborately carved wood-
work, representing Cupid sustaining the City arms, this
state-coach, by its antiquated air and splendour, carries
back the mind to another age. The paintings on the panels,
replete with grace and eloquence, are by Cipriani; that on the
right door exhibits Fame presenting the Mayor to the genius
of the City ; while on the other doer is depicted Britannia
pointing with her spear to the shield of Henry Fitz-Alwin,
the first Mayor of London, who enjoyed his office for the
long term of 24 years—namely, from the first of Richard I.
to the fifteenth of John. Until of late years the roof of
this magnificent carriage was surmounted by a carved
group of boys supporting baskets of fruit, but an accident
deprived it of this ornament. The original cost of the
coach was upwards of a thousand pounds, which will not
appear surprising, when its size and the splendour of its
decorations and fittings are taken into account. The ex-
pense of keeping it in repair is by no means trifling, but
this is now borne by the Corporation, whose property the
coach has become.

The bulk of the February instalment of the
romance consists of an elaborate description of
divers incidents in the Lord Mayor's show, par-
ticularly the procession. And in enditing that
gorgeous description, the romancist seems to have
dipped his pen less into a standish than into a
painter's colour-box.

PROSPECTS OF THE IMPORT

MARKETS.

(From the Circular of Messrs. Joseph Travers anf Sons.)
The probability that the consumption of articles of food
and luxury throughout the present year will be far more
satisfactory than was generally supposed a few months
back, continues to be strengthened, The accounts from
Manchester confirm the best hopes that have been expressed
from time to time, and at a great meeting at that city on
Thursday one of the leading speakers expressed his convic-
tion that "the distress resulting from the present want of cot.-
ton had beengreatly exaggerated by the press." In London,
the same day, another experienced merchant (Mr. Schuster)
avowed that " in his opinion the want of raw material in the
cotton trade had not been felt at all." Most persons, in
fact, seem to be agreed that, although the operatives in
Lancashire are suffering from restricted employment, the
evil is less than they would have to endure if the enormous
rise in the price of cotton had not prevented the revulsion
that would otherwise have occurred from the over-ship-
ments of manufactured goods to the East and elsewhere
during the past two or three years. Another important
and gratifying consideration presents itself in the results
of the French Treaty. The increased trade with France
has already been on a scale to compensate for two-
thirds of the loss of our foreign trade with the
United States ; and there can be little doubt that
if M. Fould should succeed in his determination to
place the finances of France in a sound position, the confle
deuce thus to be engendered will be followed by a further
development of this traffic to a much more remarkable ex-
tent. At the same time, every account from India increases
the cheerful view of the financial situation, and of the capa-
bilities of the East with regard to cotton and other staple
products. The products of the home revenue, and of the pro-
bable character of next budget, as likewise are good as could
have been e petted, notwithstanding the expenses forced
upon us by the conduct of the Washington Government.
Estimating these things together, with the statements of
the remunerative character of the business in the woollen
districts, and the certainty of the life and traffic that will
be witnessed throughout the whole country on the opening
of the International Exhibition, there is solid ground for
trusting that, in the face of all contingencies, the employ-
ment of our population will be such as to enable them to
enjoy a full average of the articles of food and luxury to
which, under the effects of free trade, they have become
accustomed. A fine harvest seems alone essential to secure
this consummation, and thus far in every respect the signs
in the agricultural districts are of good promise.

NARROW ESCAPE OF TEDDINGTON, THE WINNER
OF THE DERBY IN 1851.—The Elberjeld Gazette says:—
" On Monday week the Belgian steamer Baron Osy arrived
at Antwerp from London, having on board two very valu-
able horses, which had been purchased in England for the
Emperor of Austria, and were then on their way to Vienna,
under the care of an English jockey. One of these horses
was the renowned Teddington, winner of the Derby ill
1851, for which the Emperor had paid the enormous sum
of £1,700. In Antwerp harbour preparations were made
to land the horses. Whilst the Custom-house officers were
engaged in inspecting the effects of the passengers, a loud
cry and a splash were suddenly heard, Teddington had
fallen into the water. The steam-boat people had placed a
board without railings from the vessel to the quay for the
horse to walk ashore upon; but the fiery animal, feeling
the insecurity and weakness of the board, made a backward
plunge, and fell from a height of 25 or 30 feet into the
Scheldt. The horse sank to the bottom, but fortunately
rose again to the surface, when he was seized by the head,
and after a struggle of about half-an-hour's duration was
brought to land. Though apparently uninjured, he must
have suffered by his involuntary bath in such cold weather."
MARRIAGE LAW DEFENCE ASSOCIATION„—ThiS
ecclesiastical league, organised to oppose the bill for making
lawful marriage with a deceased wife's sister, has ceased to
have a public existence. The committee have discharged
their officials, sold their desks and inkstands, ane let the r
offices, No. 26, Parliament. street, London, to Messrs. R.
Morrison and Co., engineers and founders, of Newcastle-
upon-Tyne. The reason alleged is, that they could not
afford the expense attendant on the position they had as-
sumed. The public did not support them. The signatures
to petitions in favour of legalising such marriages have
been 1,095,814; those against, 142,137.
JENNY LlND.—During her concerts at Bath this
week, Madame Lind has stayed most of her time at Clifton.
We hear that she will not complete her tour in the provinces
without giving the Bristolians a second concert. On her
last visit it will be remembered she was too ill to go
through the programme, her efforts to do so being quite
painful to the audience, who fully appreciated her gene-
rosity in giving the proceeds of the entertainment to the
Hospital and Infirmary.—Era.
THE WAGES QUESTION IN THE NAIL TRADE.--
On Monday and Tuesday meetings of the nail forgers of
the Lye district were again held at that place, and were
very ruinerously attended. It was resolved at the former
meeting that there should be a general strike, unless the
20s. rate was paid by the masters. In order, however, to
show their desire of conciliation, the men resolved first to
visit the masters, and ask if they would consent to pay
the ordinary rate of wages. This was done, and at the
meeting on Tuesday it was announced that the masters
had expressed their willingness to pay the 20s. rate,
thus putting aside the probability of a strike. There were
some four or five dissentients among the masters, and
the hands in their employ were accordingly put on strike.
It was also resolved to take measures to put down the
truck system. In those quarters where this system PT
vails, the men being put on strike, it is resolved to solicit
contributions from the shopkeepers, as they also would
gladly see the system put an end to.—BirminghamDDalyily
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