The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-07 00:00:00

FOREIGNERS IN DISTRESS.

The annual festival of the Society of Friends of Fo-
reigners in Distress was held yesterday at the London Ta-
vern, Mr. Sheriff Cockerell in the absence ofthe Lord Mayor
occupying the chair. The present time, when so many fo-
reigners are in London, s peculiarly opportune for drawing
attention to the strong claims which this society has, not
only on national, but on universal sympathy, for moral and
pecuniary assistance. Benevolent in design and admirable
in its administration, its objects are to grant aid to indigent
foreigners without distinction of country or religion, espe-
cially to those not entitled to parochial relief, and to furnish
gratuitous passages to those desirous of returning home,
the numbers asking for such assistance being neither few
nor far between. There are in London certain trades,
liable, like all others, to the various fluctuations of com-
merce; to which most foreigners on arriving in Eng-
land betake themselves, and the consequence is that
any temporary derangement or stoppage immediately
throws a vast number of applicants on the funds of the
society. This, owing to the suspension of our trade with
America, has been more particularly the case during the
past year. No fewer than 633 cases appear on the books of
1861, against 566 in the year 1860, while grants of no less
than 296 gratuitous passages havebeen made to disappainted
workmen eager to return home. Owing to these unexpected
calls on the funds of the society, )he directors have been'
obliged to encroach on their capital by the sale of £5OO
Three per Cents. Notwithstanding this extraordinary
measure, they found themselves on March 1, 1862, not
only without a balance, but actually anticipating the income
of the present year. A loan of £l5O bad been contracted
to restore the finances of the Almshouses for Indigent Fo-
reigners, so great had been the demand on their resources.
Under such circumstances the pecuniary prospects of the
society were anything but cheering, and it is hoped that
the annual dinner r will go far to restore a balance--
and, if we may judge from the amount collected,
we have no reason to doubt that the hope will be ful-
filled. An excellent dinner having increased the chari-
table tendencies of the guests present, the various loyal and
customary toasts were quickly disposed of. Mr. Sheriff
Cockerell then proposed " Success to the Society," and in
the course of his speech dwelt upon the forlorn and desolate
condition of a foreigner in this great city without friends or
resources, and with none or but small acquaintance with our
language. London, the great resort for foreigners whom
political offences or the pangs of want had driven from their
native land, was, he said, as inviolable asylum where the
advocate of national liberty might always find a safe re-
fuge. The casualties of shipwreck also threw many stran-
gers on our coasts, and it was the object and the pride of
such societies as these to minister to their distress and pro-
vide for their wants. Since the establishment of this society,
56 years ago, 100,419 persons had been relieved by its
agency—a fact which, joined with its unsectarian cha-
racter, strongly recommended it to the favourable conside-
ration of all nal ions. The society in the past year had
afforded a relief of £l3 each to 74 pensioners, of £2O each
to 10 pensioners, of £5 4s. each to 65 pensioners, and
of from ss. to 7s, 'e month to 9 others, while 23. aged persons
dwelling in the almshouses had received 7s. 6d. weekly ;
numerous applicants receiving a sick allowance of ss. a week.
These facts were more eloquent than words; and when, in
conjunction with them, it was stated that the funds of the
society.were not in so prosperous a condition as was desir-
able, he had not the slightest doubt that the company would
appreciate the past efforts of the society, and enable them
to renew them in the coming year. Several toasts were then
drunk, after which the secretary announced that the total
subscriptions amounted to £1,686 Bs. 6d., including a mu-
nificent gift of £lOO from the Queen. The musical arrange-
ments of the evening, under the direction of Mr. Benedict,
were of a very superior class, and were much enhanced by
the voices of the members of the Vocal Association, whose
rendering of Kueken's air " Come Dorothy," was a most
exquisite musical treat. Mdlle. Anna Whitty's " Nonm p
mesta" was excellent, as was also the duet of the Misses
" Giorno d'orrore." It is seldom such singing is
heard at public dinners, and we suspect that its presence was
due to the musical tastes and requirements of the German
guests, who mustered in very strong numbers last night.
Mr. Higgs, as toastmaster, was all that could be desired.

"It is difficult to express adequately the regret
with which the Indian navy regards the retirement
of its commander-in-chief. The feeling is deep
and universal, and offers a marked contrast to the
temper of mind with which earlier removals were
regarded. In the rough but forcible praseology of
the service itself, Commodore Wellesley is loved for
that he has never committed an act of injustice.'
Were the commodore not retiring ostensibly 'on
leave,' the navy would have got up an ovation to
him of no ordinary kind. The commodore has won
the public regard by the liberality with which he
has identified himself with us, proving himself ever
ready, with no thought of self, to aid every work of
usefulness or benevolence amongst us. We sin-
cerely trust that higher honours are in store for
him at home, and that he may be spared many
years to their enjoyment—a hope in which every
reader of these columns will heartily join.
" The Phoenix describes Mr. Laing on the occasion
of delivering his budget as looking as well as at
any time since his first arrival in this country.
The hon. gentleman, itis true, does not outwardly
present the semblance of robust health, but if our
experience of India entitled us to offer an opinion,
we would say the appearance of the hon. gentle-
man was that of one to whom the climate had, in a
short time done its worst, and failed to knock
over, and who, if he does not overwork himself,
need not dread another hot season in the country.
Thinking thus, we shall be glad to hear that Mr.
Laing has not decided on going to England this
year, but has made up his mind to spend the en-
suing hot months at a sanitarium not so distant
from Calcutta as to preclude his keeping watch over
the working of the financial system he has initiated,
and the completion of which he must naturally
desire to effect under his own supervision. We
hope, therefore, that the rumour that Mr. Laing is
not unlikely to spend the summer months in Dar-
jeeling will turn out to be a true rumour. To those
who have had the pleasure of hearing Yr. Laing,
We need not say that he is a most agreeable public
speaker. Indeed, bating a little feebleness of voice,
there are few, very few, parliamentary men of the
present day who could manage torender a financial
statement, of nigh two hours' duration, as pleasant
to listen to as wits Mr. Laing's budget speech.'

" We trust very earnestly that Mr. Laing may
continue with us for some years to come. He is
better than a merely able man; he is an honest one.
Shaking himself clear of the notion that India is to
be governed for the interests of England, he avows
himself fiuu.,i.al tiuotoo of thmilliono hero, o,utl
in doing so, he is ,taking the very surest measures
to make the relations of the two countries profitablA
in the highest degree to each. A policy of selfish•
ness brings with it its own Nemesis, a fact which the
press of Calcutta cannot yet clearly recognise.
"According to the Hurkaru, Mr. Laing goes
home by the first June steamer, and hopes to re-
turn to Calcutta again in November. The honour-
able gentleman's health has much improved of late,
but his medical advisers are averse to his running
the risk of staying through the rains, and it is for
the interest of the public that their recommenda-
tion should be attended to.

Major-General Cunninghame, C. 8., commanding
Scinde Division, has been transferred to the Bengal
presidency, and will be appointed to the command
of the Lahore division. The military community
at Kurrachee are under the greatest obligations to
this officer for the many improvements he has car-
ried out in the camp, and his departure will be
greatly deplored.
" The court-martial upon Paymaster Smales, of
the Inniskilling Dragoons, is still dragging along.
The exposure of a great scandal seems imminent in
connect on with this case.

" General Showers is about-to commence opera-
tions against the insurrectionary tribes of the
Cossyah Hills.
" The Nawab Ikram-ood-doulah, a member of the
royal family of Lucknow, and one of his agents,
have been found guilty of forgery of certain papers
purporting to be a title to a pension for alleged ser-
vices during the mutiny. The delinquents were
heavily fined."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Times of India.)
May 12.—Money is still abundant. The Bank has re-
duced its rate to 6 per cent. for loans on deposit of govern-
ment securities and for the discount of private bills. Rates
on England have still a downward tendency. The busi-
ness done for this mail is as follows : Bank bills, 2s Oad to
2s ; first class local credits, 2s Old to 2s Clad ; docu-
ments, is 0 5-16 d to 2s 0 d ; the lower are the closing rates.
Government securities are a shade lower, and are now worth
as follows : Fours, 951 ; Fives, 105 ; and 51 per Cents., Mi.
IMPORTS,—We have to report another fortnight of con-
tinued activity in grey goods, which have charged hands
to a largo extent, generally at the rates quoted in our
last. Importers met the demand very freely up to the ar
rival of Galle telegram on the Bth, being apparently anxious
to reduce stocks before the rains. The advices then to hand
being of an encouraging nature induced more firmness on
the part of holders, and prices for many staple makes have
since advanced two annas per piece. Dealers have now
more confidence in the maintenance of prices, and are pur-
chasing with more spirit than hitherto, being anxious to
lay in stocks to hold over the rains in anticipation of higher
prices then ruling. Bleached and printed fabrics are still
dull, and unchanged in value. Twist is in excellent de-
mand at advanced rates. Metals of all kinds are dull of sale,
and nominally unchanged in value.
ExxonTs.—Corrox.—Our market for this staple has
continued firm throughout the fortnight, and chiefly in con-
sequence of adverse winds preventing the arrival of sup-
plies prices gradually but steadily advanced up to the Bth
inst., when Broach sold for Rs. 231, Dhollera Rs. 226, and
Oomrawuttee Akote Rs. 216. On the following day (9th
instant), the mail of 18th arrived, and her favourable ad-
vices at once caused a sudden anl material advance, and
we hear of several purchases effected at extreme rates, such
as Rs. 240 for Dhollera, Its. 220 for Compta. We do not
think, however, that much business will be done at the
prices now demanded by dealers, more especially as supplies
are now arriving more freely in consequence of a change of
wind.
FEEIGHTS.—The past fortnight has been an unprece-
dentedly dull one for this season of the year. Arrivals
from England, and more especially from Australia, have
continued to increase the already heavy supply of tonnage
in our port, while a long continuance of southerly winds
has kept back the country craft laden with cotton from the
northern ports. To add to this a partial strike among the
cartmen and coolies rendered it almost impossible for seve-
ral days to screw and ship cotton, These influences have
combined to make freights very dull, and although the
rates we quote are nominally almost the same as those in
our last circular, still very I ttle business has been trans-
acted. We quote rates as dull at—To Liverpool : • Cotton,
£3 2s. 6d. ; seeds, £1 15s, To London : Cotton, £2 15s. ;
seeds, £2 Pi. 3d.

The will of Colonel Sir William Loeleyer Free-
stun, K.C.T., of Belvidere, Weymouth, Dorsetshire,
and of Gloucester•square, London, was proved in the
principal registry, on the 23d ult., by his relict,
Josefa Benita Lady Freestun, sole executrix. This
military officer had served with distinction in the
Peninsula on the staff of General Sir De Lacy Evans
and in Syria, and received the Spanish orders of
knighthood of Charles 111., San Fernando, and
Isabella. Sir William represented Weymouth
in Parliament from 1847 to 1859, and also
held the offices of magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant
for Dorset. The testator, who only attained to
his fifty-eighth year, died at his town residence in
April last,having made his will the month preceding
which is very brief, and disposes of the property,
real and personal, principally to his relict. There is a
singular bequest to Lord Palmerston of a watch
and appendages, worn by Sir William (the testa-
tor), and which he (Sir William) requests that his
lordship will do him the honour to accept. To his
faithful nurse he leaves a legacy of £360, and a
liberal bequest to another servant. The testator
has also commended to the kind consideration of
lii. relict his brother Charles, residing in Tasmania,
and the widow of his brother Edward of Western
Australia.

The will of Lieut.-General William Vincent,
late in the army of the East India Company on
Bengal establishment, was proved in London by
the relict, sole executrix, who first administered
thereto in the Supreme Court, Calcutta, at Fort
William, the testator having died at Mussoorie, in
British India, possessed of considerable property in
that settlement. The will, which is of moderate
length, was executed in India in 1857, and attested
by M. Kempson and A. B. Sampson, of the Mus-
soorie Schools, is purely a family disposition. The
testator has bequeathed to his relict a life interest
in certain property and estates, leaving to her
the furniture, wines, stores, carriages, and
horned cattle, together with a residence for her own
use absolutely. To two of his daughters certain
estates are bequeathed; and to his two other
daughters and his son a division in certain pro-
perty amongst them on the youngest attaining
twenty-one, or the daughters on marriage, in which
the relict takes an equal portion with the three
latter children, she being also appointed residuary
legatee.

The will of John Nicholson, Esq., of Tilling-
bourne, Surrey, was proved in London by his
brother, William Nicholson, Esq., sole executor.
The personalty sworn under £lBO,OOO. The testa-
tor, who died in December last, had executed his
will in the mouth preceding ; it is exceedingly
brief, consisting only of two folios. This circum-
stance is rather remarkable, taking into considera-
tion the large amount of property particularised and
bequeathed. Mr. Nicholson was possessed of realty
as well as personalty, and has disposed of it amongst
his family. To his motheran annuity of £2,000 is be-
queathed, and to each of his three sisters a legacy of
£20,000. All the rest of his property, both real and
personal, is devised to his brother, Mr. W. Nichol-
son, of that extensive and long established firm of
Messrs. John and William Nicholson, distillers.
The will of James Shoolbr, d, Esq., of Totten ham-
court-road, and of the Elms, Acton, was proved in
the Court of Probate on the 2d inst. by John Young,
Joseph Jordan Knight, and James Shoolbred, the
executors. The effects were sworn under £250,000.
The testator bequeathed his leasehold premises in
Tottenham court-road to his James, and the residue
of his property equally amongst his children.—
Illustrated London .1 ews.

POTATOES.—Strangely enough, as the season
hastens to a close, prices get up, prime samples now bring-
ing from 255. to 275. per boll, while retail rates are from ls.
4d. to Is. Bd. per peck —Perthshire Advet tiger.
THE COAL SUPPLY TO THE METROPOLIS.—
The supply of coal to the metropolis from the various coal-
fields in the kingdom still shows a great diminution, and
is one of the best tests of the state of trade. For the
month of May just ended the railways have carried 37,957
tons 2 cwt. less than in the corresponding month of 1861 ;
the canals, 754 tons less; but the arrivals seaborne have
increased 13,048 tons, For the five months of the current
year ending the 31st of May ult., the diminution is still
more striking, and amounts in the aggregate to 244,388
tons 9 cwt.—namely, railways, 166,360 tons 9 cwt. ; sea-
borne, 74,678 tons; and canals, 3,350 tons. For the
last month the entries into London have been
as follows : London and North-Western, 41,367
tons 4 cwt. ; Great Northern, 37,099 tons 2 cwt. ;
Eastern Counties, 13,655 tons 18 cwt. ; Great
Chatham and Dover, 148 tons
and Southend, 36 tons—total,
'Western, 6,612 tons ; Midland, 3,610 tons ; South-
Grand Junction Canal during
9Eacswtetr.n;, 214,607n1dotnonsT6iicbwurt-ye!
105,199 tons 19 cwt. Th
the same month has brought 1,774 tons 15 cwt. ; and by
sea there has been received from Nem castle 92,339 tons ;
Sunderland, 80,242 tons; Hartlepool and "West Hartlepool,
67,3E7 tons; Welsh coal, 15,350 tons ; Blyth, 2,238 tons;
Middlesborough, 4,591 tons; Duff, 627 tons; small coal.
1,330 tons; cinders, 054 tons—total, 282,287 tons. The
total tonnage for The present year is--railways. 568,968
tons ; sea-borne 1,391,970 tons; canals, 5,135 tons 10 cwt.—
total, 1,965,474 tons 19 cwt., against 2,209,863 tons 3 cwt.
for the first five months of 1861,