The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-17 00:00:00

PADDLE-SLOOPS, &C.

Inflexible... 6 ... 160 ... 373 Coin. Popplewell.
Fury ..... 6 ... 160 ... 515 Com. Tatham.
SCREWS, &c.

Highflyer 21 ... 233 ... 250 Capt. Moore.
Niger l3 ... 170 ... 400 Coin. Heath.
Wasp l4 ... 170 ... 100 Com. Ld. J. Hay.
With the:lo line-of-battle ships, manned and commanded
as they are, the Russian fleet in the Black Sea would
have just as much chance as the transports of the poor
Turks ; and, accompanied by the dashing frigates and
sloops, it might well be said that the `•impregnable" Sebas-
topol would not save the Russians from utter destruction,
but that Sebastopol would become another Sinope, with
this difference, that the Russians, superior in numbers
as they are, would have to encounter a foe more worthy
of their prowess, and our gallant seamen and marines,
as they are wont to do, would not retire from the port
until they had planted their pennants on its ramparts.
It is idle, then, to delude the French or the English
with any statement to the effect that the British fleet is
not in a condition to enter the Black Sea. It is not
the fact. Admiral Dundas's fleet is ready for any ser-
vice on any sea.

METROPOLITAN SEWERS COMMISSION

A special Court was held yesterday at the Sessions-
house, Newington-causeway---Mr. R. Jebb in the chair.
The Secretary read the financial statement, which
showed that the available balance on the 10th instant
was 47,321/. Os. Bd.
Estimates fur rates of 6d. in the pound were received
for the following districts :--Western division of West-
minster, Spitalfields, Wapping and Nightingale-lane
level, Hackney-brook level, Lower Wapping level, Poplar
and Blackwhll district, and Holborn division.
The Court was mainly called for the purpose of dis-
posing of summonses issued to persons in the Surrey
and Kent districts, to show cause why they should not
pay certain arrears of sewers rates.

. The proceedings were much of the same character as
have been repeatedly reported in this journal, the parties
summoned complaining that they were charged a large
amount in sewer-rates, without having the slightest
benefit in the shape of drainage. One gentleman, a
Mr. Watson, of the Clapham-road, said that there was
no drainage from his house but there was to his house,
inasmuch as a sewer which was intended for surface
drainage only had most offensive matter passed into it,
which found its way on an overflow into his cellar, and
the stench from it was most intolerable. The Commis-
sionersbut had done some works in the neighbourhood, .
ht
they had only aggravated the evil. The nuisanacdeemri,he
be removed by passing a connecting. drraoiLl!
Effra River into a sewer in the Old n
Ke
. considertion.
The Chairman said that plan was under
He thought it right to mention
that
but 45,6001.
the sewer rates of
the Rent and Surrey districts
producedare miles.
per annum for a district of 2
The defendant said was sharply rebuked 1
it they got relief; he did 1136iosthgecuare if it cost 145,0001.,
by the Chairman,
who °Wats o n denied that his demea-
upon awildlichis conduct was disrespect-
ful to the Court:
nour was at all disresMrPe.. tful, when he was cut short by
the Chairman ig_ tat the matter was disposed of,
and he must p8:117, It tne
de 7te ; neon this he left the court
t. n were
anything
bbeat
PfiZer oases of a similar deserip do
A num- t o r -"mining parties being told they must
heard, the o°ln
nav the
the. so as to put the Commissioners in poss.es-
deficient in sewerage
;(:„ of funri_Er to do what was required in the district,
which they knew to be lamentably
works.

MINING

(FENCE.

(From the Mining Journal of this day.)

A very large business has been transacted this week
in non-divider • lines, especially in such as have been
found to cont.. gold in the gossans. Reports have
been received in town of a great discovery of copper
near Tavistock, at a new mine, called Sortridge Console,
only just opened, and from which 15 tons of rich coppe
have been broken this week. At the Keswick meeting
a proposition was brought forward for dividing the four
mines belonging to the company into three distinct con
terns ; but it was overruled, and then determined to increase
the shares to 6000, by multiplying the present number by
five ; and a call of 4s. per share (6,000 th) was made.
As Cumberland in general, and Keswick in particular,
has long been known to be productive of gold, and prille
of, gold having been found by Mr. Calvert in a stream in
one of the company's mines, it was agreed to have up 5
cwts. of gossan, &c., to be tried by Berdan's machine.
In the Bullion Market,--Mexican and South Ameri-
can dollars, ss. Old. per oz. Bar silver containing gold,
all gold above 5 grs. in the pound to be paid for ss. ltd.
per oz. standard. Bar silver without gold, ss. lid, per
oz. standard. Bar gold, 775. 9d. per oz. standard.
Spanish doubloons, 78s. 6d. per oz. Columbian doub-
lonns, 775. to 775. 3d. per oz. Fine English silver,
ss. 61d, per oz.
fee Gold Mining Share Market this week has been
extremely quiet, these securities being quite neglected ;
bargains have not varied materially, but, on the whole,
the tendency has been rather in the direction of lower
prices.' The discovery of gold in several of our home
?nines, as tested by Berdan's 'machine, has caused some
excitement. but owing to the complicated;etate of the
political horizon, but little business has been done ; and
although at the early part dthe week there appeared a
disposition to speculate, yet this -feeling' has not been
maintained, and it may be generally remarked in this
branch of speculation that the market is quiescent.
Notwithstanding the deficient accounts from both Aus-
tralia and California of the operations of the several
companies, it appears that individual diggers are success-
ful. On Monday, owing to the vague reports circu-
lated of the non-success of operations in gold mining by
the companies in Australia, there was a downward ap-
pearance in this description of stock. On Tuesday, Lake
Bathurst shares, on which 1/. was paid, were dealt in
freely at ss. per share ; and up to the close of the mar-
ket, yesterday evening, there -appeared no perceptible
Improvement ; and it can be positively stated that in
many instances the directors themselves do not antici-
pate that any amelioration in the price of gold mining
shares will take place until they receive more definite
information and positive results from the local agents.
In Iron and Coal Companies, during the week, busi-
ness has been done at the following prices :—British
Iron, 8 to 10 ; Rhymney Iron, s 2; Rhymney New, 9
Charcoal Iron and Steel, par to Prem. ;
to 10 ; Blaenavon Iron and Coal, 12 to 10 ; Rhenish
Coal,Mount Carbon
to i dis. ; Coal, - Australasian C to dam- ;New
South Wales Coat, to dis
In Miscellaneous Shares .th market has been quiet,
and devoid of feature.