The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-24 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S.

Last evening will long be remembered as the night
on which the Battle of the Alma was produced at thio
theatre. On our entering the theatre it was evident
that great preparation had been made in order to give
due effect to the spectacle. We well remember the
furore caused in London by the Battle of Waterloo, but
the success of last night far outrivalled it. At the mo-
ment the curtain rose, a war-steamer was seen lying at
Southampton, all ready for her living cargo. The distant
sound of the military band is heard, and immediately
regiment after regiment (and they are not the usual
stage regiments) arrive, amid the sheers of the
populace. To give effect to this incident, an in'
dined platform, nearly as broad as the stage itself,
descends from the stage into the circle, so as to cover
the whole of the orchestra, the musicians being forced
to take their place on one side. The soldiers do not enter
as usual by the wing, but by the circle, and then march
in order up the inclined plane, till they embark in the
vessel. By this simple contrivance a reality of multitude
aed of distance is obtained, which gives a novel effect to
the picture, and the sight of the soldiers rising, as it
were, from the milst of the audience causes a general
excitement. This closes the first act, and the enthusiasm
of the audience was so excited, that it was not until Mr.
Cooke, in obedience to the call, bowed his acknowledg-
ment of the compliment, that silence wax restored. The
second part of the play is near the height's of Alma, where
the Battle of *he Alma, with which the, piece concludes,
takes place ; the platform is again turned to even more
effective account. The heights of Alma are at the back
of the stage, surmounted by the Rirssians. The Allied
Forces proceed through the circle, and mood the plat-
form, as before, till the Cossacks n-Jake a sally down into
the ring, when two conflicts take place—one on the
stage, and the other below, so that the whole theatre
becomes a field of battle. The defeat of the Cossacks in
the ring allows a general ascent upon the stage, and the
heights, which are actually vary steep, being carried
triumphantly, one of the most 'magnificent tableaux ever
seen is produced. At the termination of the piece the
cheering was tremendous. "Mr. Cooke again came for-
ward to receive the applause which be most richly de-
served, and after he bad reti red, Mr. West, the talented
stage manager, also received similar compliment. The
piece was given out for repetition every evening, amidst
the cheers of a crowded house.

CONSECRATION OF A NE W CHURCIL—OR Friday last
the Bishop of Oxford co,nsecrated the new church at
Tyler's-green, in the parish of High Wycombe, about
three miles to the north of that town.

NEW CHURCH IN VICTORJA-STREET.--The new church
of St. Andrew, at the western end of Victoria-street, is
approaching completion, and in a few weeks will be
ready for consecration. It will contain 1,100 sittings,
appropriated
of aan d
portionentirely o
of the
Aofnwehcicclhesioaostoicwalildl district, ntricut,consisting
western division of St. Margaret's parish, has been as-
signed to the new church., of which the Rev. Charles
Abbot Stevens, M.A., a tion of the Dean of Rochester,
will be the first incumbet at.
THE FRENCH Loss A.T ALMA.—The Moniteur of yes.
ter-day contains the gene ral list of officers of all arms
killed or wounded in the battle of Alma, and also a
statement of the gross 'French loss on that occasion.
One hundred and thirty-a ix French were killed, of whom
four were officers. The wounded numbered one thou-
sand two hundred, including sixty-one officers.
BRITISH BENEFICENT I/ iSTITUTION.—Yesterday a court
of the governors of this institution, which has been esta-
blished for affording peraa..anent incomes of 301. per an-
num to the widows and u ranarried orphan daughters of
military and naval officers, professional men and others,
who have moved in a superior station of society, was
held at the offices, 63, Lincelu's-inn-fields-- Sir Felix
Agar, V.P., iu the chair. The report stated that the
prospects of the institution were most encouraging. A
large number of ladies (01) were now receiving relief,
and the funds admitted the addition of three more to
the list.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO A GENTLEMA.N.—A. very painful
sensation has been cause& at Clifton, near Manche,ter,
by the death of Mr. Ellis Fletcher, of Clifton Hall,
the owner of a very extiinsive and valuable property,
known as the Clifton estates. The unfortunate gentle-
man bad only recently attained his majority, and came
into possession of the oetates. On Friday he had
been over to Shackerleycum-Tyldesley, a short distance
from Clifton, where a large portion of the property is
situate, and in returning home in the evening on a very
spirited horse, he either fell or was thrown from it, and
very seriously injured. Ile was taken up insensible and
conveyed to his residence, where he died yesterday
morning from concussion of the brain. A coroner's in-
quest will be held to-morrow (Tuesday), when additional
particulars will probably transpire,

IciONEY

AND

OM MEB OIAL INT i-LL GENUE.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 7,000 bales, including 1,000 American
taken for export and on speculation. The market
closed heavily, with prices of all kinds unchanged.
The sales comprised 5,750 American, 180 Pernam
and Maranham at 6id. to 60., 300 Bahia at 61,1 d.
to 60., 100 Egyptian at 61d. to Bd., 700 Surat at
3d. to 40., al:lrd 80 Sea Island at ls. 2d. to 2s.
per lb. Railway Shares were flat, at lower prices.

The arrivals of ships in the Thames during the
last two days have comprised 71 vessels from
foreign parts, arid 5 from Ireland, besides 3 colliers.
The following particulars of the Russia trade,
are furnished by Messrs. Smith and Charles :

"The only public announcement of interest with re-
spect to the suppression of the overland trade, which has
been made since our last circular was written, occurs in
the leading article of an evening newspaper of the 20th :
—` The measure which our own Government has bad
under consideration to check the objectionable trade
which Prussia has permitted Russia to carry on through
a pretended neutrality has been a substantial proof to
the Government of Prussia that she could no lougertrifle
with us.' "

The heavy expenditure to which the country is St.
now subjected by the unavoidable expenses of the 25
war, and the possibility of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer having to raise fresh means ere long, '"
10
causes those who look to the future, before enter- St.
ing upon new financial arrangements, to discuss 10
with interest the means that may be pursued. The St.
experiment of a bonded debt falling due at stated
periods has now been fairly tested, and, to St.
the extent of six millions sterling, may be St.
pronounced successful, but whether a further issue St.
of four or five millions early next year would be St.
absorbed is the controversial point. Seeing ~
the continuous drain upon the Government re- hl
sources which even a successful war must occa- 167
Rion, further borrowing in one shape or other prior 16
to the commencement of the Baltic operations St.
would .appear indispensable, for we dismiss alto- 196
gether the idea of fresh taxation, especially with the 12-t)
prospect offood maintaining its enhanced price until 114..
the grain trade is released from the artificial fetters st:
imposed by the belligerent powers. Next as to the St.
power of the money market to take more Exchequer 20
Bonds, we should incline to augur favourably, the 11
non-creation of Government Stock by means of ,
loans having thrown into other channels the great 50
corporations as well as private capitalists having 40
surplus cash periodically to, invest. The prejudice 25
in favour of national securities will cause them, 2sst.
in whatever shape they may be issued, to „3/
obtain a preference comparatively to the shares st.
of public companies, and now Exchequer Bonds st.
are understood, the way is, in a manner, 50
paved for them. There is another part
of the war and money question, however, which 6
may be regarded as of the greatest importance, 2r
viz., the Currency. Just now, and although money to
is temporarily easier, the discount of best paper 2,0
being obtainable at 411 per cent., the bullion in the
Bank of England is much lower than it should be
to meet all the requirements of the 1844 Act, con-
sidering the large amount of gold imported, and
the fact that "the precious metal leaves
this country almost as fast as it arrives,
has a significance that cannot be disregarded. The
following extract from the Bankers' Circular gives
a view of the subject that seems to be just and well
timed. The wi iter observes as a sequel to some
considerations connected with the policy of the
Bank during the last war :
"It is therefore of vital importance to inquire into
the system of finance by which the present war has to be
conducted. Mr. Gladstone, like Mr. Pitt, has been
compelled to rely chiefly upon the Bank of England,
and he has intimated his intention of making the present
generation pay for the war. There would be no objec-
tion to this principle if Mr. Gladstone had to deal with
a monetary system such as existed in Mr. Pitt's time ;
but the whole system has been thoroughly changed.
Mr. Gladstone has to deal with a fixed money
circulation, bequeathed by the late Sir Robert
Peel, to the extent of 31,000,0001. sterling ; and
which can only deviate from that amount to the ex-
tent of the surplus of gold held by the Bank over
14,000,0001. By a reference to this source of money
circulation for the convenience of the public during the
past two years we shall be able to form an opinion of
the future prospects of our ability to meet the exigen-
cies of war out of the annual revenue. In the week
ending, the 10th July, 1852, the surplus amount of
coin and bullion in the issue department of the Bank
above 14,000,0001. of notes issued upon the debt due
to the Bank was 21,878,7651., making the total power
to issue notes 35,878,765/. •
" On the 31st of December last the surplus amount of
bullion and coin in the issue department of the Bank
had fallen to 15,180,0301., reducing the total power of
issue to 29,180,080/.
"The returns of the Bank to October the 7th, 1854,
show the surplus of bullion and coin held in the issue
department to be 12,350,0301., giving to the Bank the
power of issuing notes to the extent of 20,3.50,030/.
Thus we find that the power of the Bank to is, ue notes
at these three periods, and the actual circulatiom, stand
as follows :

Power of Issue. Actual Ciroulation