The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-24 00:00:00

SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING-, FEBRUARY 24, 1853.

themselves, or the party escorted, by firing or
mortally wounding." In fact, in accordance
with the doctrine of Lord MANSFIELD, that
" there is no distinction between soldiers and
other subjects, in that respect." If this, indeed,
be so, the standing army is but an useless incum-
brance, and a very large proportion of the national
expenditure may be saved, by disbanding our army
and turning our soldiers into cotton-spinners or
agricultural labourers.
We shall, closely watch this exceedingly im-
portant case, for whatever may be the result,
principles are involved which should be forthwith
placed upon a sound and satisfactory foundation.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday, were
estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 500 American
and 1,000 Bahia were taken for export, and 500
American on speculation. Prices of American
under sld. per lb. were ird. lower than on rriday
last, other kinds without alteration. The sales
comprised 4,500 American, 1,100 Bahia at 6d. to
Gid., and 300 Surat at 31(1. to 4id. per lb. Rail-
way Shares were firmer.
The total number of acres under cultivation, in
3,697,. Of Canada West,
Of these 782,115
itnh
wereetheforty-two
yearsow sown
w 8 countieslth wheat,
was
3 6c90
the produce of which
amounted to 12,792,852 bushels. The great staple
of Western Canada is wheat, and the enormous
quantity above-stated may be increased ad libitum.
The probability is, that even this large amount is
set down at too low a figure. But assuming it to
be correct, and the price per bushel to be 3s. 9d.,
the respectable sum of 9,519,639 dollars was rea-
lised from this branch of agricultural industry
alone. Canada may well be called a great

country.
The amount of bills drawn by the Honourable
East India Company during the fortnight ending
this evening, was 61,5431. on Bengal, and 8,3751.
on Madras. Nothing was taken on Bombay.
At a meeting of the Governor and Company
of Copper Miners in England, held this day, a bill
for the amendment of the company'S act of 1851
was submitted to the proprietors for confirmation.
This was a clause for putting by a reserve fund to
the extent of 100,0001. as soon as the preference
and other shareholders was paid their dividends.
The whole of the new capital of 200,0001. was said
to have been paid up, bearing a preferential interest
of n per cent. The bill in tote was approved by
the meeting.
The course which the Bank of England may pur-
sue is still watched with considerable interest ;
but the prevailing impression seems to be that, in
order to facilitate the operations of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, loans upon Stock and Exchequer
Bills will be made during the " shutting" of the
transfer books at 2 per cent. There certainly ap-
pears to be greater ease in the Stock Exchange,
and buyers are supporting the market for un-
funded securities, which, like Stock, are
not so abundant as might be supposed, look-
ing at the quotations. The fact that the
weekly statement, to appear in next Friday's
Gazette, is expected to show a further decrease of
over half-a-million in the bullion, is commented
. upon by the speculators, but it was known that
such would be 'the case, because the Australian
Banks are sending out part of their capital. As to
the Continental demand, it is subsiding, and the
exchanges are becoming- more favourable, while
specie is arriving from the United States, where
bills on London were last quoted as high as 110.
The vessels which left Sydney and Melbourne
in October last are now dropping in, the
Three Bells, which left Melbourne on the 27th of
that month, having on board 77,803 ounces, or say.
310,0001. We have now the Bloomer, the Orien-
tal, the Alert, and the Roxburgh Castle to expect,
the total sum they have on board being about
900,0001. As to the freight of the steamers, they
may bring two or three millions, and altogether
our receipts, within a few weeks, may probably
amount to five or six millions sterling. In the
face of this, and with the knowledge that every
pound sent to our colonies fructifies and brings an
increased amount in return, it seems puerile to
regret the temporary abstraction of two or three
millions of gold. If it were taken for foreign loans,
then would there be sincere cause for regret.
The English Funds have been very firm, but
there is not much doing. The foreign political
news is rather more tranquillising, but the main
cause of the existing steadiness is a present scarcity
of stock. Consols have been 99R- / for Transfer,
and 99i alternately buyers and sellers for Account.
The New 3i per Cents. are 103 k g, and the 3 per
Cents. 1001 to 11-. Bank Stock is at the previous
rates-226 to 227.4. Exchequer Bills are looking
up, and less is heard of an intention to demand
payment rather than exchange them. The old
bills are 12s. to 175., and the advertised Bs. to 14s.
premium. An influential broker bid for a consider-
able parcel.
The Foreign Market is quiet, but well supported.
Spanish New Deferred Bonds have been 23 to g.
The Swedish Loan is at lf-; discount. The Turkish
has been firm at the advance to 1 and 1i premium,
on the belief that the arrangement for a *compro-
mise will be carried out. A new loan, on the
terms of the firman of last August, might prove a
temptation ; but after recent experience, we think
our countrymen will do best to keep out of the
affair altogether. Mexican Stock has been at 231
to 24. Brazilian New Bonds are 97i. Dutch
FOur per Cents. are .09 to i, and Russian Five
per Cents. 121.
The Railway Share Market is tending upwards
in respect to some lines. Better prices have been
obtained for Caledonian, Great Northern, Great
Western, North, Western, South Eastern, and
York and North Midland.
In French Shares there is nothing doing, but it
is understood the Bears are oversold, particularly
in Strasburgs and Northerns.
The Upper India Shares have been done at 1
premium.
The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to
this day, are in round figures as under :-
1853. 1852.
15,471 14,439
41,193 39,190

Great We5tern.........,
North We5tern.........

8,994 8,933
6,955 7,430
21,677 20,507
9,533 10,021
8,462 7,838

South Western
Brighton
Mid1and..............................
South Eastern
Caledonian

1
-
Cmat Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire 16,550 15,660
York and North Midland
Newcastle and Berwick 8,994 8,933

These traffics, considering the severe weather,
are to be regarded as very encouraging.
The Gold Mine Shares are looking up • and the
Copper Companys of South Australia also incline
towards an advance.
The Land Companies Shares are very firm, and
there is more doing.
In the Joint Stock Bank Shares of Australia
there have been numerous transactions at rising
prices.
The following is from Messrs. Tredinnick's cir-

cular
" The statistics of sales of copper ore in Cornwall last
Thursday, and that of the corresponding sale for the
previous month—from which it will appear that
1,216 tons of ore, and 84 tons of fine copper,
was the produce of the former over that of the
latter ; this is a forcible and telling fact upon the divi-
dends to be declared -during the present and next month
by these mines. The rise in the standard during the past
few months has enabled many an old and tottering mine
to hold its head up, whilst others just meeting the cur-
zent cost of working, have commenced to pay divi-
dends from profits realised. Lodes can be wrought and
tribute pitches set, which formerly remained idle from
the low price of the produce, and all of the tribute bar-
gains pay better, whilst most of them yield double of
the profit to the adventurers."

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
(From the Official.Lizt.)
Business done.

Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 31 per Cent. Annuities...-.. ............
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6f
India Stock
Consols for Account 10th March. 904
Exchequer Bills lid.
£1000................ ......................... 12 17
£5OO l2 17
Small 0. l2 20
Ditto Advertised lO 14 8
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto New, 1852, 4 per Cent 97
Mexican 3 per Cent..
Ditto for the Account 24
Peruvian Deferred 3 per Cent 63
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 23i
Spanish Passive (Converted) si $
Swedish Loan 1
2 d
Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 1 i p
Dutch Exchange 2i per Ceut
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates..._ ..... 4
THREE O'CLOCK.

Consols
Ditto March Account 99g i

SINGULAR SUICIDE IN THE WAKEFIELD HOUSE OF
CORRECTION.—On Monday night a suicide was com-
mitted by a lad in the Wakefield House of Correction.
The lad was about 14 years of age, named Henry War-
rasa, and he had been committed to that house for two
months as a rogue and vagabond. Shortly before half-
past seven o'clock, the usual time for mess, he hung
himself at the handle of the bell in his cell, with a small
piece of cocoa fibre. On the attendant visiting him at
half-past seven he found him suspended, but not
quite dead. He died a short time afterwards,
though he was immediately cut down and means were
tried to restore him. The deceased had gone to York
to witness the execution of the murderer Waddington ;
he had also seen the body of the child for whose murder
Waddington was executed, and was an associate of a lad
who has since that execution committed suicide in the
workhouse at Sheffield. It cannot be known whether
Warrass intended to commit suicide or not. Since his
admission to the prison he has given no evidence of a
vicious temper, and the circumstance of his choosing so
shortia time before he would be visited by the attendant
contributes to produce the impression that he was only
trying
had a fatal result. The deceased was confined in a cell
an experiment—one which, unfortunately, has
by himself, and with the exception of three hours each
afternoon for instruction, his confinement Wan altogether
solitary.

ELECTION COMMITTEES-(THIS DAY.)

CLITHEROE.
The committee re-assembled at eleven this morning.
The examination of witnesses in support of this peti-
ion was proceeded with.

ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN
RAILWAY (THIS DAY.)

SUN OFSICE, 3 P.m.

An accident occurred to the up-express train
from Bristol, near Ealing, caused by an axle being
broken, by which Mr. Gibbs, one of the directors,
was killed, and another, Dr. Prichard Smith,
had a rib broken.

Mr. ANuff, a passenger, had his finger broken,
and two other passengers slightly hurt.
Two other directors were in the same carriage
as Mr. Gibbs and Dr. Smith, but escaped without
injury, as did all other passengers in the train.

THE LATEST ARRIVAL FROM THE DIGGINGS.

The Three Bells arrived in the Downs yesterday from
Port Philip, whence she sailed on the 28th October with
77,803 ounces of gold, worth fully 310,000/. Other ves-
sels, bringing large quantities of the precious metal,
must also be close at hand. Several weeks back we pub-
lished a statement of the total quantity of gold actually
known to be on its way home from Australia, which we
now repeat, viz. :

Where from.

Date of
sailing.
Chowringhee Melbourne Oct. 23
Three Bells Ditto
Oriental Sydney Oct. 21
Alert Ditto Nov. 1

Bloomer Ditto
Roxburgh Ca..stle....Port Philip

Total ounces

Gold. on
board. Oz.
63,713
77,803
7,119
43,132
10,700
108,000

Nov. 3 ...
Nov. 15 ...

. 370,467

The value of this at 41. per ounce is 1,481,868/. O.
hese vessels the Bloomer and Three Bells have arrived

the Chowringhee put into Pernambuco, and sailed
thence on her homeward voyage on the 21st January ;
and it may be fairly assumed that the whole of the out-
standing vessels will come in almost immediately. Con-
siderable interest is now expressed to learn the amount
of gold now afloat and on its way to England, but as the
above sums include the entire shipments as yet ad-
vised, it is clear that any further shipments must form
the subject of mere conjecture. Between the present
date and the end of the first week in March, it is con-
fiently expected that the Sydney steamer will be in, and
that she will be quickly followed by the Great Britain ;
but it must not be forgotten that all vessels, whether
sailing craft or steamers, have to encounter the most
serious difficulties in getting away, and that consequently
the period of their arrival is involved in uncertainty.
Some people estimate that the Sydney and Great Bri-
tain steamers must now be on their way home with fully
three million sterling in the precious metal, and pro-
ceeding to enumerate the sums known, and others pre-
sumed to be shipped up to this date, they arrive at the
conclusion that thena cannot be less than from five to six
millions sterling worth of gold actually en route.