The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-29 00:00:00

ralty in not supplying Sir CHARLES NAPIER. with
the means of attack upon Sweaborg and Cron-
stadt, and therefore, of course, upon Hel-
singfors and St. Petersburg. To go no
further back than the 10th of May, we
find that on the evening of that date, when
speaking of the lack of gun-boats in the Baltic
fleet, we declared—" The necessity in this parti-
cular, we believe, is most urgent and imperative"--
adding, "Upon the proceedings taken by the Ad-
miralty authorities, in this matter of proper gun-
boats for the Baltic fleet, we shall keep our eyes
rivetted with vigilant and unwinking watchful-
ness." And we have kept our promise. We
appeal to our readers whether we have not
again and again pertinaciously insisted upon the
necessity of Sir CHARLES NAPIER being supplied
by the Admiralty with the means of carrying out
by gun-boats the warlike operations for which we
now learn that the gallant admiral had, from the
outset, a carte blanche from the Administration.
The words we have quoted were put forward by
us in The Sun of the 10th of May, and here is
the 29th of July—and no gun-boats sent
out, none that we can hear of even ordered,
and just 10,000 French troops despatched
but the other day towards the Baltic as
the first instalment of the military contingent !
And with a knowledge of these facts—a painful
remembrance of the solemn declaration made by
Sir CHARLES NAPIER to the Admiralty, that, even
with the powerful fleet under his command, at-
tacking Cronstadt and Sweaborg would only
have been " certain destruction." Is not
the case made out clearly against the Ad-
miralty ? We ask that of every impartial ob-
server—adding to the injury a declaration of our
firm and fixed belief that the negligence shown
by the authorities in the matter of these gun-
boats will survive as a dark blot in the history of
the present Government.

Another Ministerial defeat, or rather brace of
defeats, yesterday. The first on the Militia Bill
(No. 2), in which an amendment was carried by
a majority of 25, by which one half of the ex-
penses would be transferred from the County
Rates to the Consolidated Fund. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer, who looked very grave at the
additional and unexpected responsibility imposed
on his department, declared that the principle
which had just been affirmed by the vote of the
Committee was a very important one, and that the
Government would consider what course they
would take on the subject hereafter. It is, there-
fore, by no means improbable, that this bill
may not be pressed forward during the present
Session, unless Ministers can induce the House
to rescind the resolution at which it deliberately
arrived, that of relieving the different localities
from a moiety of the burden which they had
previously been compelled to sustain.

The second was a matter of still greater im-
portance. The Bribery Bill, which had been im-
proved and improved until its own putative
parent would scarcely know his legislative off-
spring, has been further improved until it has
become perfectly valueless. We had always
considered that until " THE BALLOT" became
the recognised law of the land there
would be but little practical utility in any
other provisions. Noble Lords and Honourable
and Right Honourable Gentlemen might make a
show of great anxiety to prevent the corrupt
practices that reflected such deep discredit on the
representative branch of the Legislature ; but
the test of sincerity was wanting so long as they
should continue pertinaciously to refuse the only
efficient remedy—that which would not merely
check, but nearly, if not altogether, abolish the
glaring evils of bribery and intimidation. It was
difficult to suppose that those could be in earnest who
repudiated secret voting, who enabled the tempter
to see that the flagitious contract was duly per-
formed, and that he received the stipulated equi-
valent for the money which he applied to so vile
a purpose—who left the man who voted
honestly and conscientiously exposed 'to the ven-
geance of landlord or employer, priest, or cus-
tomer, or even to that tyranny, the " Non-voter
influence," about -which so muchridiculous twaddle
was poured forth. While the Ballot was ignored,
and trifling enactments framed for the punishment
of offences that might so easily be suppressed, the
protracted discussions could only be regarded as
evincing a desire to hoodwink the community,
and persuade the people that there was really a
wish to get rid of the operation of any undue in-
fluences in what ought t ) be popular elections.

There was, however, one clause that afforded
some kind of guarantee against corruption, so far
as it could be obtained from oaths or declarations,
or verbal pledges of any description. It was true
that there might be many opportunities of evading
it, that persons not very scrupulous might com-
pound with their consciences in a variety of ways.
Still it was something, and showed that all
the attention was not bestowed on the voter ;
but that if the former might be compelled
to swear that he had not been bribed, the
latter should, in like manner, be called on
to declare that he had not bribed, nor would
he tempt the humble elector to commit wilful and
corrupt perjury. That salutary provision was,
however, expunged from the bill by a majority of
40 ; and Ministers thus encountered a second de-
cisive defeat, on the same day, in the House
of Commons. Nor did even these palpable
slights satisfy their opponents. No subsequent
attempt was made to get rid of the entire bill,
which, emasculated and mutilated as it was, only
passed by a majority of 7, there being 10/ for,
and 100 against, on a final division.
The proceedings of the Upper House were
scarcely more satisfactory. The Public Revenue
and Consolidated Fund Charges Bill,:one of the most
useful measures of the session, was recommitted,
and passed with amendments. Now, as this was
a money bill, relating to a matter exclusively
under the jurisdiction of the House of
Commons, any amendment, however trivial,
is a virtual rejection of the bill, as the amend-
ment must be thrown out as a breach of privilege.
Here, then, we have another bill lost, in which
Ministers prided themselves in no ordinary de-
gree, and for which they were really entitled to
much credit. The Noble Chancellor of the Duchy
of Lancaster declared that on Monday he would
be prepared to announce the intentions of the
Government with respect to this bill. The only alter-
native is, that a new one should be intro-
duced, and passed rapidly through the House
of Commons, and again sent up to their Lord-
ships, or that it should be added to the long
list of matters " postponed in consequence of the
war." If the former course should be adopted,
as we earnestly hope it may, we must make up
OUT minds to another Maynooth debate—another
melancholy exhibition of perverse bigotry and
rabid intolerance, with perhaps a possibility of
Messrs. SPOONER and NEWDEGATE succeeding in
their object.
Surely there have seldom been so many unto-
Government
ward occurrences during one day to any
that enjoyed the confidence of
Parliament so far
as to be entrused with the
control and
expenditure of 3,000,0001. sterling.
Three of their favourite measures, either neutral-
ised or lost, if not
at one fell swoop," at least
within a few hours.
events may We trust that these painful
be received as
swarnings, to improve
and strengthen their
position,
so as to render
themselves more worthy
popular support. If
they merit the approval of the
rest assured that they will receir)eptlhea,
tt hoefy
their
representatives.

GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION .—lt
appears, from the
00e bor rn
advices received yekerday
Victoria, that, in addition to the 11- colony of
0/. in the hands
of her Majesty's Commissioners of Emigration,
3e7m7i1,,,0141.,
a further sum accruing. for the year 85 there was
emigration
purposes. making a total of 871,0141. applicable to
purposes. At the average rate of 6,00,2 q. as the
of
each vessel for every 400 passengers, it is thus shown,
that about 140 vessels can be chartered, and aboutwn
56,000 emigrants sent out to the colony, out of the pro-
ceeds of the revenue applicable for such purpose to the
close of 1853.
AN AUSTRALIAN EMIGRANT SHIP ASHORE.—MEL-
BOURNE, May 2.—The Antoinette Cezard (French ship),
from London, in making the Heads, struck on the Cor-
sair Rocks, and was afterwards run aground in Swan
Bay, where she remains with her hold full of water.
Part of her cargo has leen transhipped into lighters and
iftessuors.

MONEY MA RKE T

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were es-
timated at 8,000 bales, including 2,000 taken for
export and on speculation. The market was steady,
but freely supplied, and closed tamely. Railway
Shares were dull, at rather lower prices.
The position of the Bank of England in the
week to the 22nd inst. was changing more de-
cidedly towards ease, and the reduction of dis-
counts demonstrates this, although from the dimi-
nution in the bullion it might be inferred by some
that such was not the case. Tho dividends, how-
ever, as well as the exports to the Continent,
would account for this. In the Public Deposits
the large decrease that occurred must be re-
ferable to the quarterly disbursements, war
expenses, and perhaps also the repayment
of advances obtained from the Bank. This
view seems to be borne out likewise by the
diminution in the Government Securities. As the
demand for gold is rather subsiding, and the
amounts that come forward will go into the Bank,
if the exchanges continue as firm as they were yes-
terday afternoon, there will be the greater proba-
bility, with fine weather and a good harvest, of the
minimum rate of discount being lessened, even
though the war drags on. Compared with the pre-
vious week, the changes were as follows :

Active circulation £20,656,525
Decrease 26,440
Bullion 13,633,677
Decrease 190,195
Rest
Increase
Public Deposits 2,058,785
Decrease 1,149,170
Other Deposits
Decrease. 46.574
Seven-Day and other Bills
Decrease 62,779
Government Securities 11,810,383
Decrease
Other Securities 13,819,415
Decrease 415,511
Notes unemployed 6,244,485
Decrease
There was an improvement yesterday afternoon
in the ratesat which bills of exchange were quoted
upon some of the principal continental cities.
Ninety days' paper was taken at 25 25 to 25 39
on Paris, at 11 16.1 to 17 on Amsterdam, 13 6/ to
6A. on Ham burgh, and 12 28 to 32 on Trieste, being
lower for the last named.

A large portion of the gold lately received from
Australia has been taken for exportation to the
Continent, but the demand is slacker at present.
Spanish Pillar dollars are at ss. 3d. and Carolus at
6s. per ounce.

The prices of American securities, as reported by
Messrs. D. Bell, Sou, and Co., are as follows :

Redeemable. Per Cent.
United States 6 per Cent. Bonds 1868...1081 109
United States 6 per Cent. Inscribed

Stock 1867-1868...1082 109
Pennsylvania 5 per Cent.
... 79 81
Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds 1877... 821 831*
Massachusetts 5 par Cent. (Sterling
Bonds) 1868...101 103
Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 92 93
Alahama 5 per Cent. (Ster. Bonds) 1858-9-66... 83
Virginia 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 1888... 90 92
Virginia 6 per Cent. Bonds 1886... 92 94
Canada 6 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 1876...1061 1071
LOANS OF CITIES.
New Orleans 6 per Cent. Bonds 1893... 79 81

RAILROAD BONDS.
Pennsylvania Central R. Rd. 6 ner
Cent 1880... 90 91
New York and Erie 7 per Cent., 2d Mort-
gage, Convertible 1859... 90 91
New York and Erie 7 per Cent., 3d Mort-

gage 1883... 81 83
New York and Erie 7p. Cent Con vertible 1862... 77 79

* Ex Dividend.

The exports of bullion from London direct during
the week ending Thursday last comprised 1,460
ounces of gold, together with 5001., and 129,630
ounces of silver, all to the Continent.
_ .

The ship Ajax arrived from Melbourne brings
100,000 ounces of gold.
The English stock market has been firm, although
the report that Austria had requested the Turks
to quit the left side of the Danube occasions some
doubt. Consols which were 92i A for transfer are
now 92t I. For time they have been 921 and are
now 921 1. Exchequer Bills are par to 33. pre-
mium. The New 31 per Cents. have been 93 to I.
Bank stock is firm at 212. Exchequer bonds have
been done at 881.
Foreign stocks are extremely dull and rather
lower.. Spanish 3 per Cents, are ni, and the New
Deferred 18-R. Brazilian 5 per Cents. are rather
firmer at 99g. These are the only bargains officially
noted.

The following are the nominal prices of foreign
stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 to 6i ; Mexi-
can, 24.1 to 242- ; Peruvian, 66 to 68 ; Ditto 3 per
Cents., 50 to 52 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 39 to
41 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 97 to 99 ; Ditto 44- per
Cents., 81 to 83 ; Spanish New Deferred, 181 to
181; Ditto 3 per Cents., 36 to 374 ; Ditto Certi-
ficates, 3 to 4 ; Ditto Passive, 31 to 4.
Railway shares have been at fuller prices gene-
rally, and in York and Barwick, Brighton, Cale-
donian and Midland, there have been several
bargains. The foreign lines are nominal.
Mining shares are neglected, Banks heavy, and
Laud shares very quiet.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES
(.From the Oficial List. )

itqainess done
tiank Stock
per Cent. Reduced Annuities 92
3 per Ceut Consols Annuities 921
34 per Cent. Annuities 934 3
India Bonds, £lOOO . ....... .....
Ditto, under £lOOO 5 p
Consols for Account 17th August 92.)
Exchequer Bills, 24d.
£IOOO
small 4 /3
Exchequer Bonds, 1858 .
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
'razilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 994
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 371 x d
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lB# x d
Dividends on the above payable in London.
TWO O'CLOCK.
Consols 921
Ditto August Account 921

TREMENDOUS THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODS
IN SOUTH WALLS.-LOSS OF LIFE.

The most melancholy accounts have this week been
received of the devastation caused by a thunderstorm,
or, it may be more properly said, a series of thunder-
storms, by which Carmarthenshire, and other parts of
South Wales and Monmouthshire, have been visited.
The weather at Carmarthen on Monday was intensely
hot and sultry, and about six o'clock in the evening
it became almost unbearable. Immediately after that hour
a tremendous thunderstorm broke over the town ; the
lightning flashed with alarming rapidity and vividness,
the thunder rolled and crashed in a manner which the
oldest inhabitant had no previous recollection of, and the
rain descended in torrents. The storm raged during the
whole of the night, doing great damage to the hay and
other crops. It was hoped the next day that it had ex-
hausted its fury, and that the worst had passed ; but about
4 o'clock in the afternoon, the air began to assume that
sulphurous, dense, and fiery character, which are de-
scribed as preceding the hurricanes of tropical climates.
At five o'clock another awful thunderstorm came on,
and the rain began to descend as if—to use a familiar
phrase—heaven and earth were coming together. The
terrible storm raged with fury all night, and the next
morning it was ascertained that it had produced the
most appalling results ; the rivers and brooks over-
flowed their banks, and laid the valleys under water
to the tops of the hedges, cattle and sheep were
drowned, the wheat and other crops laid, hundreds
of tons of hay, indeed the produce of a very
extended acreage destroyed beyond all redemption,
and great damage done in every direction, to house
property and to furniture. The South Wales Railway,
below the town, suffered great damage, two bridges
having been swept away, and the traffic stopped. The
traffic over the ordinary turnpike roads was likewise
seriously interfered with, owing to the extent to which
they were flooded, and of course all kinds of agricultural
operations were at once put a stop to. Nor were these the
most serious results of the terrible visitation. Several
lives were lost. A Mr. Evans, of Clogyfran, was found
drowned in the flood, an old man and woman were
washed out of their beds and drowned at Mrydin, and it
is believed that others have been sacrificed.
On the roads to Lampeter, Cardigan, and Brecon,
bridges have either been destroyed or much damaged,
while the crops have everywhere been injured or wasted.
The accounts from Usk, Llangibby, and their neigh-
bourhood, state that the river had overflowed its banks,
carrying destruction with it. Horses, cattle, sheep,
pigs, and articles of household furniture, were on
t‘hVreede nine dil
easy
ft
sbke, saete
ine af ls
to astoi
on gondown i h
a ty, whileb
e i d e
swi
n tt hh ienr
produce, have been destroyed. Above Usk, on the road
to Brecon, it is feared, from the debris that have come
idmo
mw ne
nws
ei h the
Cfl
ao
roddi,ff that
the
trhe i v
r damagei
sin n
nh must have ve been
flooded,
and,
from objects which are seen in the water, it is feared
that serious consequences have transpired in that neigh-
bourhood.

THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF EL HA3IEE PASHA.—ln-
structious have been received by the officers of Customs
from the Lords of the Treasury that all due respect
should be paid to El Hamee Pasha, eldest son of the
Pasha of Egypt, who is expected to arrive in England
this day.—Giva Service Gazette.
STRIKE AMONG SHIPWRIGHTS.—A few days since the
shipwrights at Brixharn, in Devonshire, struck for
wages. They have lately been in the receipt of 3s. 4d.
per day, and an allowance of beer. Their present de-
mand is 4s. and beer ; and it is probable they will
obtain it, in consequence of the number of vessels which
are now beingluilt and repaired in that port.