The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-06 00:00:00

would represent the produce of the new penny
receipt stamp. Any person capable of working a
sum in subtraction could tell the amount. But
for that the public are to be greatly inconvenienced,
and double supplies must be provided. We hope
that this absurd regulation will be altered. It
must be so if the commercial community bestir
themselves, and represent in the proper quarter
its inutility and absurdity.

NORFOLK is to enjoy the honour of being the
first English county appealed to for its Agricul-
tural Statistics. It is solicited to serve as the
model county on this side the Tweed, to enable
our Legislature to pass a satisfactory and well-
considered Act on this subject. ' We trust that it
will not disappoint the expectations of the country,
and those expectations are high. It is the county
which enjoyed, during his long-protracted life, the
princely and intelligent example of THOMAS WIL-
LIAM COKE, which saw Holkam Park converted
from a wilderness to an agricultural garden, and
an estate consisting largely of poor light soils, ren-
dered one of the best cultivated and most pro-
ductive in England ; which beheld the agricultural
intelligence of the whole kingdom annually
assembled at the Holkam sheep-shearing a
gathering at which nobles and tenant-farmers, and
agriculturists from other countries also, mingled
in free and hearty intercourse, inspected the model
farm of their generous host, and the farms of
intelligent gentlemen around who had followed
his example, and returned to their respective
farms, counties, and countries, enriched with a
knowledge of the results of all the costly experi-
ments which were constantly in hand, at the
expense of the wealthy and public-spirited Lord
of Holkam. Those who are so frequently calling
on Mr. MECHI to produce his balance-sheet, and
who would wish him to guarantee himself a profit
on all he does, may remember with advantage
that Tiros. Wm. COKE, the father of Norfolk, we
might almost say of British agriculture, was accus-
tomed to avow that he never wished or expected to
gain anything by his splendid experimental farm.
It was carried on to verify everything worthy of
trial at the cost of a landlord who could afford 'it,
on behalf of tenants whose capital ought not to be
exposed to risk ; and it was carried on till it has
almost changed the face of the county. Septe-
genarians now can hardly identify some parts of
it. It is true, Norfolk farmers have yet much to
learn ; but it is also true that they have learned
very much, probably more than the same number
of their brethren in any other part of England ;
they have long employed every kind of agricul-
tural horse machinery; the steam-engine, though
not so fast as in Scotland, is making its way
amongst them, and the agricultural productions
of the county are perhaps more varied than those
of most counties in England.
Probably amongst the tenants of the Earl of
LEICESTER, not one ,will be found unwilling to
make the required returns. We have no doubt
that the son fully sustains the system of his vene-
rated father. That system was one of long leases,
we believe seldom less than twenty-one Years; ab-
solute political liberty ; license to destroy the in-
jurious game ; and for the landlord to regard a
large produce with exultation, not as furnishing a
claim for higher rent on his part, but as establish-
ing rather a claim on the part of the tenant, for
any man, according to the Earl's favourite adage,
" deserved the country's gratitude for making two
ears of wheat grow where one grew before." The
farmer who had made most of his farm felt most
sure of a renewed long lease on terms at least as
favourable as before. Nor can we believe that the
landlords are numerous who would raise a tenant's
rent because of the excellence of his cultivation,
and the consequent largeness of his production.
They know that there must have been a propor-
tionate outlay of capital to obtain it. They know
that a secure rent from a well-cultivated estate is
better than a rent which impoverishes and dis-
courages the farmer, and brings the land into their
hands at the end of the lease deteriorated in value;
they cannot wish to set before the other tenants a
premium on slovenly farming, and a penalty on
high cultivation and improvement of the estate.
The farmer need not fear, we believe, to return
freely and openly the entire amount of his pro-
duction of every kind. However, even the
hazard, imaginary as we think it, of exposure of his
business to his landlord, the farmer's sole fear,
even this is considerately saved him on the pro-
posed plan.
The returns are to be made in two schedules to
a statistical committee of each Board of Guardians,
and to be collected by the relieving officers, to be

issued the first week in October, and collected
again the first week in November. Individual
names are not to be given, and the results alone
are to be made public. This was the course
adopted in Scotland, and with such success that
in three entire counties, Roxburgh, Haddington,
and Sutherland, only three individuals declined
giving the information requested, and they now
probably regret that they did so. Of course it
will not be difficult for the relieving officers to ob-
tain the information pretty accurately at second
hand. The number of acres sown by a farmer
with each kind of crop, and the number of his
stock, are open, with tolerable accuracy to all
eyes ; but the desideratum is to accomplish the
object with the thorough good will of the farmers
themselves. They will share most largely in the
general benefit of the knowledge obtained, and it
is highly desirable that they should co-operate
with the enlightened confidence that the farmer
will be the greatest gainer by holding in his hands
a reliable summary of the agricultural statistics of
the kingdom.
There is hardly a branch of trade throughout
Britain, hardly any interest indeed whatever, to
which the course and prospects of agriculture are
a matter of indifference ; the probable abundance
or scarcity of food enters into the calculations of
every one who has anything to make, to buy, to sell,
or to convey about the kingdom or the world. The
present year is, perhaps, the one which, since the
repeal of the corn laws, most reminds us of the
old panics (and other tricks too) by which gam-
bling speculators endeavoured to raise the price of
corn till it would suffice to open the ports. We
think the price at this time is in great part a panic
price ; one which the large buyers will uphold, of
course, if they can, till they have disposed of their

purchasers ; but a price which, notwithstanding
the smaller extent of the wheat crop last year,
and also there is too much reason to fear a dimi-
nished yield per acre, cannot be maintained when
the facts of the actual home and foreign supply
become fully realised. Of course we may be mis-
taken ; but just iu this appears the value of the

desired returns. We should, in knowing with

certainty the actual average of the wheat crop,
compared with other years and seasons, have by
far the most important element in the calcula-

tion placed beyond doubt. If, however, every
one else could act with so much more certainty
provided he possessed the proposed statistics, how
much more the farmer ? He would see at a glance

which kind of produce was likely to be in excess

or deficient, and could shape his business arrange-

ments by knowledge rather than by guessing.
And not only would they apprise him of the

probable supply and demand of the several articles
which he manufactures ; with a little care and a

few more columns, the returns might inform him
of the different principal modes of cultivation in
_ _

different districts, and the changes of modes, the

various kinds of manure used, or newly intro-
duced, with their effects, and al] the general agri-
cultural usages and variations in the kingdom.
We should not be surprised if the present attempt

issues in a series of annual Blue Books, invaluable
- -

;o the farmer, and beneficial to us all.

FEES PAID BY MILITIA OFFlCERS.—Yesterday a re-
turn to Parliament was printed, showing the fees
charged on commissions by deputy-lieutenants and
other officers in England and Wales. In Middlesex the
fee by a deputy-lieutenant is 10 guineas ; a colonel of
militia, 91. ; lieutenant-colonel, 71.195. ; major, 61. 18s. ;
captain, 51. 17s. ; lieutenant, 41. 16s. ; ensign and
second lieutenant, 31. 15s. ; and surgeon and assistant-
surgeon, 51. 17s. and 41. 16s.
GOLD.—The Alverton has arrived from Sydney,
whence she sailed the Ist of June, but the gold she
brings is valued only at 2,0001.
THE HARBINGER.—The General Screw steamer Har-
binger, which leaves Southampton to-day (the 6th), for
Port Philip and Sydney, takes out only 5001. in specie.
She has jewellery on board valued at 5,0001.

'‘T-ONT-Ii MARKET

CITY INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday.
were 6,000 bales, including 500 taken on specula-
tion. The market closed heavily without any mate-
rial change in prices. The sales comprised 240
Pernam and Maranham at 6id. to id., 200
Egyptian at gd. to 10d., and 500 Surat at 2id. to
4d. per lb. Railway shares were inactive, but
closed at an improvement of 1 per Cent.
Indigo went off much the same as yesterday.
Tallow is flatter.
It appears that in the provinces, and very justly,
too, there is much dissatisfaction evinced at the
constant changes in the proceedings of the Bank of
England, but no measure has so much elicited dis-
approbation as that adopted about a fortnight since
when the Bank lent money at 4 per Cent. on
stock, although a few days after it raised
its terms to 4l per Cent. We have no hesitation
in affirming that this misled numerous par-
ties, and that they felt confident the Bank con-
sidered itself in an improved position, and would
not be under the necessity of making any further
advance. There are, indeed, parties who think the
Bank had stock to sell, and wished to support the
funds, but such temporary expedients do more
harm thangood, and damage the commercial interest
whoever else maysuffer. It should be the rule of any
bank, much less of a national establishment, to
avoid frequent changes. Preferable even is strin-
gency maintained for awhile, than a high charge
one day and a low rate the next. The main fea-
ture just now perhaps is politics, for all traders
keep a larger balance at command than otherwise
they would do, while the manner in which the
large amount of bills that fell due on the " fourth"
was met shows business to be in a remarkably
healthy state. We are not inclined to open a crusade
against the Bank of England. It is trammelled by
the Currency Act in a way to render its managers
timid upon the least pressure, and hence, when it
offered loans on stock at 4 per cent., and kept its
discount rate at 41, the demand for accommoda-
tion became in a moment excessive, because the
large houses thought it a good opportunity, and
and had little reliance in the charge being kept
long at one point. This day the Bank Direc-
tors have not made any change in the rate,
and we expect their stock of bullion has in-
creased, although the amount perhaps did not
come in sufficiently early—having to be assayed—
to appear in the weekly return which will be pub-
lished in to-morrow evening's Gazette. On the
other hand, there is not much expectation that
money will be cheaper between this and Christmas,
and it may be dearer. A settlement of the Eastern
question would at once cause specie to be sent to
the Continent again in discharge of debts that are
temporarily delayed, especially for grain, but we
imagine the Austrian and other loans on the tapis
will not find favour here.

The Oriental Bank has this day declared a
dividend for the half-year to June last, at the rate
of 12 per cent, per annum, after payment of which
there is a good surplus upon the six months'
profit.

- There was a large meeting this day of the share-
holders of the Upper India Railway Company, for
the purpose of taking some steps for the suspension
of the call made for the Ist of November, till Jan-
uary or February next, on the Extension Shares,
in consequence of the original shares being at a
discount, and the depressed state of the money
market. The meeting agreed to the formation of
a committee to see the East India Company on the
subject, and to adopt such steps as might be
deemed advisable.

The Stock Market has been very firm, with an
improving tendency upon the report that the Em-
peror expressed himself very pacifically at Olmutz,
but it requires much credulity to believe in his
sincerity, and most people would rather act upon
his fears than trust to his magnanimity. Con-
sols, owing to some demand for money stock
within the Llast day or two, have touched
91i- and 92, but are now down again upon the
rumour that Parliament is to be convoked, that
French troops are to leave Toulon, and that if
Turkey declares war, Russia will annex the Prin-
cipalities. The current prices have been 91 to -,
and are now 91i to for account. Exchequer
Bills are 7s. to 12s. discount. Bank Stock is at
219 to 222.

Foreign Securities have been improving. Spanish
New Deferred realise 211 to 21k, and Portuguese
Four per Cents. 4214. Peruvian are 70 to 71.
Mexican have not been dealt in, or Russian.
Dutch Four per Cents. are 931.
The financial agent of Mexico in London has
communicated to the Committee of Mexican Bond-
holders the following letter from his Excellency the
new Minister of Finance :

(Translation.)

"Ministry of Finance, Mexico, Sept. 1, 1853.
"Having, by favour of his Excellency the President,
been appointed to the Ministry of Finance, of which
office I have been in charge since the 6th of August, it
has been one ormy first cares to examine how the divi-
dends of the foreign debt have been paid, as this busi-
ness had already come under my notice as member of
the old Board of Public Credit, and of the committee of
the same name of Congress.
" It was with deep regret that I found that the strait.
ened circumstances of the Treasury at the late political
revulsion in the Republic in favour of a better internal
organisation had prevented proper attention being be-
stowed on the punctual payment of what was due to the
foreign creditors, and that the dividend of the Ist of
July, 1851, as well as those of the Ist of January and
the Ist of July, 1853, were in arrear.
"His Excellency the President, to whom I represented
this, and who like myself is most anxiously desirous that
the engagements entered into by the nation should be fully
carried out, has been pleased to direct me to communicate
to you, for the information of the Committee of Bond-
holders in London, that the present administration will use
its utmost efforts to pay the overdue dividends, and to
provide for the future payments in such a manner as to
satisfy all concerned, and as justice and public policyfre-
quire.

"In the state of annihilation to which the public
revenue had been reduced, and from which it is impos-
sible to revive it as speedily as might be wished, the
Government is unable to provide immediately for what is
due ; but the measures taken for improving the finances
may perhaps enable the Government, in a very few days,
to effect an arrangement by which the generous sacrifices
submitted to by the bondholders, in accepting the de-
cree of the 14th of October, 1850, as a final adjustment
of this matter, will meet with the return to which they
are entitled, in the exact and punctual fulfilment of their
claims.

" SIERRA Y Rosso.

"Colonel F. Facio, London."

The last week's railway receipts ascertained up
to this day are in round figures as under :

1853. 1852.
Great Western
North-Western
South-Western
Brighton
Midland
South-Eastern. 20,173 19,261
Caledonian and Edinburgh and
Glasgow 17,019 14,365
York and North Midland,Newcastle
30,066 25,956
and Berwick, and Leeds Northern
Great Northern

There has been an improved feeling in the Rail-
way market, consequent upon the advance in Con-
sols, and although the dealings have not been
large, there are parties buying in anticipation of a
rise. London and North-Western have been up about
it., and Midland 10s. to 1/. Great Northern are
IL to 1/. 10s. higher. Caledonian have improved
10s. to 15s. There have been a few transac-

tions in South Eastern, York and Berwick,
and Great Western at a corresponding advance.
French shares are better than they closed last
night, as it is presumed that the fall which occurred
at Paris yesterday will be recovered when it is
known that there has been a rally here.
The Gold Mine Shares are at improved prices,
the Californian being most in request.
The shares of the Joint Stock Banks have been
heavy, but there has been an advance in the Lon-
don Chartered of Australia and the Oriental.

The Shares of the Australian Land Companies
are again very heavy, but there have not been
many sales.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
( Prom the Official List.)

3 per Cent. Consols Annuities'.
3 per Cent. Annuities, 1726
Bank Stock for Account
Consols for Account .
Exchequer Bills, id.
£lOOO .

Business done
91
2 la

215 22
911
....... ..

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.

Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent
Ditto for the Account 97
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 6O
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent. ... lOl
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent Bli
Equador Bonds
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent. 7O
Ditto 3 per Cent
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent 42.} 2
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent 921 24 90 1?i
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 2li i I i

Dividenis on the above payable in London.
Belgian Bonds 4i per Cent. ex. 25 fr 99
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Guil
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates .....

THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols 9ll
Ditto October Account