The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-07 00:00:00

SPAIN.

A private letter from Madrid, of the 31st ult.,
says :

" His Excellency Lord Howden has been giving
series of farewell dinners previous to his departure for
London, which takes place to-morrow. Mr. Otwai
becomes Charge de Affaires. His generally understood
and intimated by Lord Howden himself to his Merida
that his return to this Court is more than doubtful, a°
important command in the East having been placed at
his disposal, and considering
.his paramount attachment
for his military profession, in which he is complete',
wrapped up, there is little doubt what his Lordship s
course will be, however much his services as a diplo-
ma.tist may be required at Madrid, where he leaven
many and most sincere friends, well-wishers, and ad-
mirers."

SETTLING DAY.—This has been settling day in the
English funds, and from the position in which the spe-
culators for a fall have been placed by the long.eon•
tinued rise in prices, the market was characterised by 3
degree of excitement rarely witnessed. Consols, which
closed last evening at 921, opened at 93 to 4, and,
owing to many of the operators having left their accounts
unsettled up to the last moment, a sudden pressure for
stock was manifested, which could be supplied only
with the greatest difficulty, and which caused a quick
advance to 94. From this point there were several
rather violent fluctuations, and although it was again
reached late in the day, a permanent reaction ultimately
occurred after the general transactions were arranged,
the final quotation being 92i to 93a. For the July
account the highest bargain at any period was at 931,
and they closed at 92i to The circumstance of the
transfer books shutting to-morrow rendered the demand
for the delivery of stock in each case more urgent, and
the occurrence of two failures, coupled with the distrust
occasioned by the large amounts involved from the
fluctuations between the last and the present account
having been nearly equal to 7 per cent., seemed at one
period to make it almost impracticable to complete the
necessary transactions upon any terms.—Times Money
Article.

GENERAL POST-OFFICE, MAY, 1854.—The mail packets
established under a contract made by the Government
of Canada, to run between Liverpool and Quebec, are
appointed to be despatched from Liverpool on the 10th
and 25th of each of the months of June, July, August,
September, and October next. Mails will be made UP
for conveyance by these contract packets, and such cor-
respondence will be forwarded by them as may be spe-
cially addressed " by Canadian mail packet." The post-
age upon letters sent by these packets will be 6d. for a
letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight, is. for one
exceeding half an ounce and not exceeding one ounce,
and so on, according to the scale for charging inland
letters, and such letters may be paid in advance, or for-
warded unpaid, at the option of the sender. Upon book;
the rate of postage of 6d. for a packet not exceeding A
ib. in weight, is. for one exceeding Alb. and not exceed•
ing 11b., and so on, will be chargeable. Newspapers
will be free of postage. Books and newspapers, as well
as letters intended to be sent by these vessels must be
specially addressed, " by Cailadiau mail packet.!