The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-27 00:00:00

MONEY MA 11;,' ET

COMAIKRCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CITY, TWO O'CLOCK
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at from 5,000 to 6,000 bales, all to the
trade. The market was steady at previous rates.
The sales comprised 130 Pernam and Maranhain,
at sd. to' 6,1 d., 30 Bahia at Gil., 30 Egyptian at
70., 500 Surat at 31d. to 3id., and 100 Sea
Islands at 10d. to Is. Od. per lb. Railway shares

course.

were dull.
Great dulness still prevails in the freight market,
and according to the General Weekly Shipping
List the rates are lower than for a considerable
time past. It appears even that to Australia large
amounts of merchandise have been taken as cheap
as 40s. to 455. per ton, which is under anything
paid since the gold discoveries. Although ship
owners may be supposed to suffer by this,
there are various reasons for concluding
that they will not in reality lose so much
as would appear, owing to the moderated
wages and other expenses, to say nothing of the
risk of desertion in Australia having diminished.
On the other hand, our merchants, who were shorn
of nearly all their profit by the expenses of the
transit, may resume shipments with some prospect
of a profitable return. It is a good symptom that
at present the quantity of merchandise in course
of exportation to the Colonies is exceedingly
moderate.
The French Government, at the requisition of
the ironmasters, has resolved not to grant the re-
quest of the Northern Railway Company for the
introduction of the 45,000 tons of rails which it
requires to complete its line, but it permits 8,000
tons of English iron to be brought in at the reduced
duty of 5i francs. This has been done, we are
told, because one of the contractors has failed to
supply the quantities engaged for. To the
Southern Company the same permission has been
granted.
Accountsfrom Hamburg state that comparatively
large shipments of wheat had been made to Eng-
land, and of potatoes to France, from which it :s
inferred that our wants were greater than had been
represented. The ability of Germany, however, to
furnish us so soon must be accepted under the cir-
cumstances as satisfactory.
.A.dvices from Belgium mention that there had
been great floods in various parts, and especially in
Luxembourg, where the snow in some places had
been as much as 10 feet deep.
The English Stock market has been depressed
this morning without any large amount of sales, the
decline in the rates of exchangeyesterday afternoon
as well as the lower quotations from America being
calculated to impart a heavy tone, and the an-
nounced loan in France likewise operating. It is
probable that although the loan is to he opened to
the nation at large, as upon the former occa-
sion, our capitalists will participate by means
of their agents in Paris, and hence the brisk demand
yesterday for bills upon that city. The subscrip-
tions thus indirectly made may affect our exchanges
fora short period, but will by no means have the
same influence as a direct loan of some millions
sterling. Concerning the amount there is no de-
finite information as yet, but twenty millions ster-
ling has been named. Whatever may be the effect
of borrowing in any shape, the Speech of the Em-
peror, Louis Napoleon, has, from its vigorous and
loyatone, obtained such unmiugled approbation
that already a good effect is observable upon the
value of public securities. Consels opened at 91
to -1,-, and are now 911 a. The New 3 per Cents.
have been at 91 to 91, and the Reduced at 9U to
91. Bank Stock is heavy at M.S. Exchequer
Bills remain at 4a. to 75., and India Bonds at Os. to
12s. premium.
Foreign stocks are heavier. Mexican bring 21,
Spanish Threes are 3S and the New
Dutc h Deferre
C d
entlB,i,
Turkish Bonds are 741 to a. 4 per s.
realise 912.
The following are the nominal prices of foreign
stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexi-
can 20i to 21i ; Peruvian, 69 to 71 ; Ditto 3 per
Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 41 to
43 ; Russian 5 per Cents. 97 to 99 ; Ditto 41 per
Cents. 87 to 89 ; Spanish Nev Deferred, 181 to
182 ; 'Ditto 3 per Cents., 38 to 39 ; Ditto Certifi-
cates, 5 to 5i • Ditto Passive, 4g to 43.
This is " making-up" day in the Railway Share
Market, and the rates for " carrying over" are com-
paratively moderate, ranging from 3-16ths to
5-16ths upon some of the principal lines. There
have been transactions in the Great Western at
rather lower rates. North-Western have been also
heavy, and the other lines were flatter at the open-
ing owing to the heaviness of Consols. They have,
however, since rallied a little. The foreign lines
are lower—Paris and Lyons about 18s.
The Mining Market has been dull, but St.
John's del Rey and Cobre Copper are both firm.
In the Joint-Stock Bank and Miscellaneous
Shares there has been scarcely anything doing.

tICES.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING
(Brom the Ocial Loa•
Business done
Bank Stock 2O7A
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities... .....
New 3 per Cent. Annuities;
India Bonds, £lOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO
ConsoLs for Account, 10th January .......
t?acchequer Bills, 244.
21000
Exchequer Bonds 1858, 3i per Cent.
Ditto ' 1859, „ ..... 99
?DICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Vexican 3 per Cent.
Spanish Bow's, 3. per Cent 384
Ditto New Deferral, 3 per Cent. lB4
Spinisli Committee dort. of Coup. not fun 5 p c
larkish Script paid up in full
Dittcrfor the Accounts..... ....
Dividends on the tm) payable in London.
French Routes, 4i per Cent. '
ritto 3 per Cent ••• ......... -
D utch
blxellange, 24 per Ceut. 12 Gull .
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates..,..

9 12
91} a

67f 50c Ex. 25f

911
TIMER O'CLOCK.

.... ..... z. .......
Ditto, January Acc•raut ...... •••••-••• 91/ d

CT-TRTSTMAS PANTOMIMES.

,~„_

ntt; EtY LA.N

At length. Old Drury is itself again. Last night
Mr. Smith, the talented and enterprising lessee, com-
menced his managerial career under the most auspicious
circumstances, and so crowded an audience it has seldom
been our fortune to witness within the wallsof a theatre.
Long before the doors were opened a crowd was
assembled at each of them, which forcibly reminds d us
of the palmy days of the drama, and within ten minutes
after the doors were opened the theatre was crowded to
suffocation in every part. It has seldom fallen to the
Int of IllanaVrg to commence a season with such bril-
liant auginies of success as those hell forth last night to
Mr. Smith. Great praise has for the last two seasons
been awarded the lessee for the manner in which he has
produced his pantomimes ; but the praise that will
follow his present effort will far outrival all previously
bestowed, and we have not the slightest doubt but that
his Christmas offering this year—Jack and Gill—
will bring a large and ample return to the treasury for
the vast expense, the time and trouble it must have coat
to have placed such a magnificent pantomime on the stage.
After the performance of Lillo's lugubrious tragedy of
George Barnwell, which we, as a compliment to the audi-
ence, who sat it out like heroes, do hope has been
played for the very last time, the prompter's bell rang
for the overture to the pantomime. The first few bars put
an end to the discord, and the boxes, pit, and gallery
rose at once to their feet, and uncovered as the band
gathered into the full swell of the National Anthem.
We have seldom seen a finer burst of national feeling
than on this occasion. Every stanza wes received with
cheering and waving of hats and handkerchiefs, and a
hearty encore was called for. This of itself was a favour.
able omen—an encore forthe overture ! yet such it was, and
the compliment was richly merited by the arranger,
Mr. Tully ; for within our recollection, and it extends
back vividly to the time of Grimaldi, we cannot call to
mind a better production. The French " Partant pour
la Syrie," seasonably introduced towards the end of the
overture, awakened the energy of the British Lion, and
produced quite a demonstration.
The name of the pantomime which we have
already half disclosed—is in full, Jack and Gill (or Jill),
Harlequin King Mustard and the Four and Twenty
Bl,acicbia•ds baked in a Pie a' long name, and
of infinite promise to all those who are not too old
to remember, or not too young to road, the
time-honoured ditty of " Sing a Song of Sixpence."
Jack is in love with Jill (or Gill)—that is a matter of
Jill, too, is in love with Jack—not so much a
matter of course as the other, as too many pining and
unappreciated lovers of either sex will testify. Jill's
father, who is dead, has left a will, and in this testa-
ment it is decreed by the defunct old gentleman,
doubtless a wizard, that until Jill can make a pie she
shall not take a husband. Jack, in despair at this ill
news, catches " four and twenty blackbirds" and gathers
" a pocket full of rye," with which ingredients he
fondly hopes they may between them be enabled "to
make and bake" the pie that shall entitle him to
obtain the much-enainoured Jill as a future partner
his fortunes. But mortal calculations go fer
nothing, unless blessed and sanctified by "the
skies ;" and Jill's ignorance of the culinary art is
worse than that of a quondam cook at the " Fielding."
What to do 7—thinks Jack, as, in agony, he rubs two
lucky sixpences together, which, incontinent, and to his
great astonishment, become a shilling—and a magic
shilling- to boot, that, to his still greater astonishment,
conjures up the spirit of Mrs. Glasse herself, who com-
forts him in his affliction and assures hint of his pie and
partner. What does the friendly Mrs. Glasse but—as
though prophetic of that lore which since has made
a Soyer—animate the fruit, preserves, &c. ? Under
the tempting shapes of female fairies, young and
pretty, these delicacies, thus metamorphosed into
something still more delicate, undertake the cause
of Jack, and promise that Jill (or Gill) shall be his
own. Jill, returning borne, finds a whole army of
friends in the kettle, saucepan, fryingpan, and the
rest of her kitchen utensils, which, personified and en-
dowed with life and motion, become at once her slaves
and counsellors. These teach her the various steps that
lead to consummate cookery, and conduct her, moreover,
to the palace of King Mustard, whose army of sauces,
epices, zests, and condiments is unreservedly placed at
her disposal. Now would Jill be sure to triumph but
for the jealousy of Queen Vinegar, who treacherously
entices her away to the abode of Chutnee, Sultan of All
the Pickles, whose subjects are the natural enemies of
the " sweets." The fruit-fairies, however, are not un-
mindful, above ground, of Jill's welfare, or inactive
in her cause. They induce Jack to upset his pail
of water ; and tido, by ovule myotcrioua sympathy,
finds its way into the recesses of the salt mine,
I wiz

.ere - dwells the pickled Sultan. The salt thus
invaded melts into salt water, and disappears ; the
" Temple of Salad" is discovered, where sweets and
sours are cunningly united, and the pie of the " four•and-
twenty blackbirds" is made evident, with raised crust
and other inviting paraphernalia. Such is the beauty of
this scene that Mr. Smith was called upon the stage to
receive the applause of the delighted audience. Jack and
Jill, being now happy, are transformed into Harlequin
and Columbine, King Mustard into Clown, and Queen
Vinegar into Pantaloon, and a certain salt•rock into
Sprite, another Columbine, or Harlequiva, joining the
motley throng, without rhyme or reason. M. Milano
made an excellent Harlequin, and Columbine found a
most graceful representative in Mdlle. Boleno ; Harry
Boleno made his bow to a London audience again as
Clown, after an absence of several years ; and it must
have been gratifying to his old friends to observe
that there was no abatement of his vigour and
agility, no falling off in his exuberant animal spirits.
The finest piece of all is the last scene, rightly entitled
"an illuminated page in the history of England." We
need not say that it refers to the glorious achievements
of our countrymen in the Crimea. The scene repre-
sents the British, French, and Turkish standards
grouped together, flanked by two medallion pictures—
one of the battle of Alma and the other of that of
Inkerman ; the marching in of the juvenile bands

of the Fren,:h and English, playing. in succession
" Gcd save the Queen," " Partaut pour la Syrie,"

and " Rule Britannia ;" the performance of the
first of these airs again called forth the loyal feelings
(f the audience ; and the gorgeous scene that fol-

lowed the reconciliation of all parti,s in the grand
scenic climax was alone worth going to see ; so
gorgeous was it, so resplendent with all the brilliancy
that we are accustomed to associste with magic illusions.
All up the sides of the stage are revolving and illu-
minated columns, and in the centre is a Tempe of Fame,
which also revolves, in the niches of which are splendidly
attired allegorical females ; to all this is added various
coloured lights, producing an effect that defies de-
scription.

The success of the pantomime was never for a moment
in doubt—it is one of the best we have seen for many
years, and will, we are convinced, enjoy a long run, and
well repay, the expenditure, lavish as it evidently has
been. The house was filled in every part, and the ap-
plause and laughter were incessant.