The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-15 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET

We are by no means advocates for " the rights
of women," according to the American significa-
tion of the phrase. We are not at all inclined to
break a lance on behalf of the " strong-minded
females" who are desirous of engaging in the
occupations hitherto monopolised by the sterner
sex. Acknowledging the peculiar and vivid elo-
quence with which many ladies are gifted, we still
submit with equanimity to their exclusion from
the Senate,' the bar, and the pulpit. Holding in
grateful recollection the tender care and attention
that has often assuaged the anguish of the bed of
sickness and of pain, that has alleviated the sor-
rows of the sufferer, until returning convalescence
enabled him to dispense with the services of the
diligent nurse, whose assiduities so greatly con-
tributed to the " happy recovery," we would
not wish to see a female relative acting as a sur-
geon, or even as a physician. We feel that
woman's true position is in the domestic circle—
that it would be a dangerous experiment to sanc-
tion her over-stepping the conventional limits
which restrain her within the sphere of which she
is the ornament and the delight. Literature,
painting, music, arts that can be cultivated by the
fireside—avocations that may be pursued without
crossing the threshold—are essentially feminine
occupations ; but the female politician, the female
orator, the brawler, who would dispute publicly,
if she dared, these, one and all, are our detesta-
tion. Nor do we support " bloomerism" in any
form, or the attempt to assume the martial
"troisienies" in public or private, actually or
figuratively.
We have made the above candid confession of
faith in order that our views may not be misun-
derstood or misinterpreted when directing public
attention to one of the many wrongs to which
women are subjected—a wrong that might easily
be redressed, without in any degree overstepping
the recognised boundary or departing from the
legitimate distinction between the sexes. The
grievance to which we allude—for that it is a
grievance, and a very serious one, no person can
deny—received a practical illustration on Mon-
day, which incontestably demonstrated the ne-
cessity of a legislative remedy.
At the sittings at Nisi Prius, before the Lord
Chief Baron on that day, the case of SARAH
CHURCH V. SMITH was called on. It was an inter-
pleader issue for the purpose of deciding whether
certain goods which had been seized in the house
occupied by and generally reported to belong to
the plaintiff, and which had been seized under a fi fa
at the suit of the defendant, against a third party,
named MILTON, were her property or not. It is
manifest that the issue was not properly framed,
that it did not raise the real question between the
parties, which should have been whether they
were the goods of MILTON or not. So far as the
defendant was concerned, it signified little to
whom they belonged, if not to MILTON. His
sole claim consisted in their being MILTON'S pro-
perty, and, therefore, justly liable for MILTON'S
debts ; and if they were the property of any other
person in the world, he could have no possible
right to seize or dispose of them according to the
general, but, as it appears, very erroneous rule.
The issue directed was, " Whether they were the
goods of SARAH CHURCH ; and thus an abortive
trial was occasioned, and a very romantic incident
brought to light, in which, as the Chief Baron
quaintly remarked, " The plaintiff lost her suit,
and found her husband !"
It appeared that the plaintiff had been married,
but had been deserted by her husband, of whom
she had not heard for 14 years. During that
protracted period she had received no comfort or
assistance from the man to whom she was legally
united. She was compelled to earn her own
livelihood by her own exertions, and yet the
fruits of these exertions, by a legal fic-
tion, became the property of her husband,
and might at any moment have been seized for
his debts, or carried off and squandered by him.
That which had been acquired by the indefatig-
able industry and laudable efforts of the aban-
doned wife might have been transferred to deck
the apartment of a mistress, or put to any other
use, however repugnant to her feelings. As a
married woman, she " could not sue in her own
right ;" she could not hold property unless vested
in trustees, by a complicated and expensive pro-
s• Even when by the prudent precaution of
friends and relatives, property had been vested
1°37 a prenuptial settlement in trustees, for her sole
and separate use, free from the debts, control, and
interference of her intended husband that only
expressly designated in the deed was protected—
the money that could only be paid on her receipt
might be seized the moment it reached her hands,
the furniture purchased with that money—nay,
more, apparel might be taken away,
the bed her
d from
under her, the dresses taken
so
l wearing
from her, and whatever the wealth and station to
entittlhedro,
ushghe might be left destitute,
misconduct of her
the
husband without being entitled to any relief either
wa
nh cha
Ims she entitled,
nakedas
against him, or those who were his • t
ms ruments.
Surely when a man has evaded his liabilities for
many years he should have no claim to the col-
lateral privileges. Marriage, like property, has
" its duties as well as its rights," and if the former I
are neglected, the former should not 1?e capable
of being enforced. Let it not be sa id that a
• the Ecclesiastical
remedy may be obtained m
Courts. The mere assertion is 2n insult to those
who have not the means of obtaining a decree,
and who are not aware that without ample funds
any appeal to these notorious tribunals is
worse
than nugatory. A married woman is very
un-
fairly The
fairly treated under the present system.
laws relating to " Bacon et femme" in the old
digests require considerable modification. We
have had many legal reforms of late years, but
in no point is it more urgently required than in
the law of coverture, by which tardy justice may
be afforded to injured and neglected females.

AUSTRALIAN POSTAGE.—The South Australian Postage
Reform Bill, with the exception of one clause in it, has
passed the Legislature of that colony. Its main provi-
sions are an uniform charge of 2d. on all intra-provincial
letters, and 6d. on all extra-provincial letters. A single
letter must not weigh above half an ounce. Newspapers
are to pass free through the post, except when they are
directed to be left at the post office or to the town where
they are posted, when a penny each is to be charged.
SAILING OF THE PACIFIC STEAMER. LIVERPOOL,
DEC. 14.—The United States mail steam-ship Pacific,
Capt. Nye, sailed from Liverpool for New York this
morning, about 10 o'clock, with the usual mails, a full
cargo, and 101 passengers.
SAILING OF THE ALPS STEA3IER.—LIVERPOOL, Dec.
14.—The screw steam-ship Alps, Captain Wickman,
sailed from Liverpool for Boston and New York this
morning, about 10 o'clock.
CHRISTMAS-DAY.—The tradesmen of Hadlow have re-
solved to close their shops on the Monday after Christ-
mas-day, as a relaxation from business, and to give their
assistants an opportunity of visiting their friends.- —Maid-
stone Journal.

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
----

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 2,000 Surat
were taken on speculation. The market closed.firmly,
with prices of all kinds fully supplied. The sales
400 American, 50 Pernam and Maran-
choammp,ri
as
te d 63.
i d,
. to 61d..; 150 Bahia, at 6/d. ; 400
Egyptian, at 51. d to Bd.; and 3,000 Surat, at 21d.
to W. per lb. Railway shares were firm.
No intelligence has been received yet of the ar-
rival of the Overland Mail at Marseilles.
A letter, of which the following is an extract,
has been received by the directors of the Austra-
lian Consols Gold and Copper Mines Company,
from Mr. Spurling, their manager in Sydney, dated
15th September, 1853 :
"I have now the pleasure to inform you that the
estate (Segenhoe) is very valuable, as nearly half of it
is broken up, but from the scarcity of labour it will
require a very great deal done before it can be again
brought into cultivation. The house is in very bad
repair, and will require some hundreds of pounds to put
it in order. This, however, I shall be able to inform you
more fully of when I have the property mapped and
measured. According to my instructions, I believe,
if it were wished, the Government hero would grant our
company a charter as an agricultural company. I would
therefore, if not already done, urge upon the committee
the necessity of altering the title of the company without
delay. I believe the Segenhoe property would, if put
up by auction, realise upwards of 200,0001. as an agri-
cultural estate, the land being very good.
" Gold is again being found more plentiful than ever,
and, consequently, labour becomes still more scarce ;
and as to the companies who have sent men out here,
there is not one that has kept them. Mechanics are re-
ceiving here and elsewhere from 1/. to 1/. 15e. per day.
Gardeners from 4/. to 51. per week, and labouring men
10s. per day.
" It would appear that this company has not fallen into
the error of many of the Australian companies by sending
out men to the colony at great expense, only to base the
value of their services on arrival. It appears also that the
local government has intimated to the manager that a
charter would be granted if desired. This is a step in the
right direction, the colonial executive being the proper
parties to judge what associations ought to be encouraged
in the colony. We understand the Newcastle and Upper
Hunter Railway will pass through the several properties
belonging to this company."
There is scarcely any business doing in the Eng-
lish Stocks, . and the quotations are exceedingly
heavy. Consols have been 941 i ; the New 31 per
Cents., 06i to i ; and the 3 per Cents., 94i to i.
Exchequer Bills have been 4s. to 75., and India
Bonds 3s. premium—a decline of ls. to 2s. The
report of a French loan, now more positive, has
an injurious influence upon the quotations.
In Foreign Securities, there has been scarcely a
bargain. Sardinian have been done at 001 ex div.
Spanish new Deferred at 22. Belgian 2/ per
Cents. have been dealt in at 641, and Dutch 4 per
Cents. at 96. Mexican, Peruvian, and the rest are

merely nominal.
The last week's railway receipts ascertained up
to this day are in round figures as under :-
1853. 1852.
Great Western
North-Western 46,108 44,686
South-Western
Brighton
Midland
South-Eastern
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire 17,505 17,410
This is settling day in the share market, and,
owing to the decline in Consols, prices rule lower
in some instances. Caledonian, however, have
been about the same, Great Northern 10s. lower,
and North-Western steady. French shares have
dropped, owing to the reaction at Paris, and Bel-
gian do not maintain the improvement of yesterday
afternoon.
The Gold Mine Shares are neglected. Santiago
de Cuba have been lower.
The shares of the Land Companies have been
very quiet, and the Banks are also dull.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK,
(From the Official List.)
Business done.
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 943
New 31 per Cent. Annuities 96} 4 k
India Bonds. 'I:1000
Consols for Opening 18th Jan. 94i k
Exchequer Bills, ld.
~.. 4 7 p
£lOOO
~

2500
Small

5 9 p

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent ........ 90A x d
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. 22
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Belgian Bonds 4 per Cent. ex. 25 fr
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Guil —
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates
HALF•PAST TWO.
Consols for Opening 18th January x d

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(TIIIS DAY.

- -
LONDON, Dec. 15.—Wind this day at Noon, N. ; mo-
derate breeze, with snow.
PLYMOUTH, Dec. 14.—Wind, E.N.E. Arrived—Victory,
(emigrant barque).
SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 14.—Wind, N.W. Sailed—Cal-
cutta (s), for Cape of Good Hope.
TORBAY, Dec. 14.—Wind, E., strong. Arrived—Kath-
leen, from Pembray, for London, leaky.
LOWESTOFT, Dec. 14.—The Emily, Sunderland for Rot-
terdam, has put in here ' • drove athwart a smack in enter-
ing, and received slight damage.
SWANSEA, Dec. 14.—Wind, E.S.E. Arrived— William
Gales, from Cuba.
DOUGLAS (Isle of Man), Dec. 13.—The Swift, from
Whitehaven, arrived hero on the 11th inst. very leaky,
and must discharge.
BELFAST, Dec. 13.—The Susan and Ann, of Arbroath,
from Riga, arrived here, had been aground in the Caledo-
nian Canal.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, 10 A. 113,

Wind, N., moderate, and dull,
Arrived—Virgin del Pibar, from Bilboa ; Horsburg,
London.
Put into Beaumaris, Dec. 14, the brig Dagger, from De-
merara, for Liverpool, short of provisions.
QUEENSTOWN, Dec. 13.

Wind, N.E. moderate.
Arrived—Olive Branch, from Seville, for Liverpool.
Sailed—Perseverance, for Savannah.

(BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, THURSDAY, 10.15 A.M.
CUSTOMS RETURN.
Wind, N.E., snowing ; two hours' flood.
Arrived—Leonne, from Gravelines; Cecilia, Bondholm ;
Dart, Rotterdam ; Moselle (s), Antwerp ; Baron Osy (s),
do Sailedarl of Auckland (s), Rotterdam • Concordia (s), do.
—City of Rotterdam (s), for DUnkirk ; Mangalore,
Port Philip.

DEAL, THURSDAY, 9.21' A.M.
Wind, E.N.E., very strong, thick, with snow.
Passed—Ottoman, from London, for Malta ; Christia,
London, for Malta ; Northope, London, for St. Übe's ;
British Isles, London, for Demerara ; Thalestris, London,
for Port Philip.