The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-18 00:00:00

HAY MAItKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 12s to 41 153 ; clover
litto, 41 Os to 5115 s ; and straw, 1/ 53 to 1/ 108 per load.
A fair average supply and a heavy demand.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ 17s ; clover
litto, 4/ Os to 5/ 15s; and straw, 11 6s to 11 12s per load.
Trade rather dull.
WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 2115 s to 4/ 15s; clover
ditto, 4/ Os to 6/ Os ; and straw, it 5s to 1110 s per load.
A moderate demand.

PATRIOTIC FUND.—The Society of Odd Fellows of
Manchester and the surrounding districts, propose a
subscription of one penny per member to be made to-
wards the relief of the widows and orphans of our gal-
lant defenders in the East. This one penny will raise a
fund of one thousand pounds, thus beneficently real-
ising the virtue of unity in charity as well as in war.
COVENTRY ELECTION. Sir Joseph Paxton continues
his canvass. Mr. Hubbard is not a candidate on the
present occasion.
The Belgian Government have removed the import
duty on grain, and in consequence of the failure of the
crop the injurious palliative has been resorted to of
prohibiting their exportation. On the other hand, the
Viceroy of Egypt, tempted by existing prices, has been
selling his stores of wheat, and is stated to have resolved
that the cultivation of the land shall henceforth be free.
The purchases of wheat at Alexandria on English ac-
count have lately been very large ; and a considerable
amount of sovereigns was taken from the Bank of Eng-
land yesterday for remittance to that city.
The commercial advices by the overland mail of yes-
terday are unfavourable. The import market at Bom-
bay is still heavy from over-supplies, while at Calcutta
the recovery anticipated at the date of the previous let-
ters has not taken place ; and sales could be effected only
at a fresh reduction.
GOVERNMENT OF PARAGUAY.—The mail from the
River Plate brings intelligence of a misunderstanding
between Mr. Hopkins,.the United States diplomatic and
consular agent at Assumption, and the Government of
Paraguay. Mr. Hopkins, being dissatisfied with the
amount of punishment awarded to a, soldier who had
behaved offensively to a United States citizen, addressed
the Government in terms which caused them to with-
draw his exequatur. In addition to his consular func-
tions, Mr. Hopkins carried on those of agent-general of
a United States Steam Navigation Company at As-
sumption ; but in that capacity he had likewise fallen
into disagreements with the authorities, which had ended,
it is alleged, in a series of decrees being issued, forbid-
ding foreigners to use commercial titles, rendering it
illegal for them to hold slaves, and denying them the use
of any public lands or buildings.
TIE MAIL PACKET/{.—SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.—The
Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Atrato, Captain
Woolley, left this afternoon with the usual semi-monthly
West India and Mexican mails. She has on board 151
passengers, amongst whom are :—Dr. and Mrs. C. Fos-
ter, Drs. Cruikshank, Dickie, Gonzales, and Thompson ;
Major and Mrs. Wetherall, Lieutenant Carter, Captain
Milner, Ensign Bramish, and Rev. J. D. Mason. Her
freight consists of specie and jewellery value 6,3741., and
a very full general cargo. The Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steam-ship Madrid, Captain Cook, also left
this afternoon with the usual mails for Vigo, Oporto,
Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar. The Madrid has on board
twenty-six passengers, and specie amounting to 82,4111.,
viz., for Lisbon 44;2911., Cadiz 32,1201., and Oporto
6,0001. ; she has also on freight a full general cargo.
The United States mail steam-ship 'Washington is ex-
pected to arrive to-morrow, with the usual mails from
New York. The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship
Tamar, which arrived yesterday with the West India and
East
t o
oanndd a next
Pacific mails, has been secured by Government for the
M
conveyance of troops.' She will be got ready for sea as
soon as possible. The Peninsular n
Eecat aChinaCue xn i
pwainth the
y'ssteahmea-vshyippoNrtiuobniaofistheexped and
India Oriental
mails. _ _

EXPENSE OF THE Pooi LAWS --yesterday a return
to the House of Commons was issued showing that the
expense of the establishment for the administration of
the poor in the year, ended the sth January last, was
215,9801.

NEWSPAPERS AND ADVERTISEMENTS.—Yesterday a
return to Parliament was printed, from which it appears
that the duty on newspapers and advertisements for the
year ended the sth January last amounted to 563,739/.
against 594,1521. of tjie preceding year. In 1852 the
duty was 386,5141.