The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-18 00:00:00

pIE_SITN, LONDON, MON'IDAY EVENING DECEMBER is IAB4.

MONEY MA R- KE T

AND

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

TY, iNV 0 o'CLOON
The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday
were estimated at 5,000 bales, all to the trade.
The Market was heavy, without change in prices.
The sales comprised 4,000 American, 300 Pernam
and Maranham, at 5-4 d. to 61d., 150 Egyptian, at
sid to 70., and 500 Surat, at 3d. to 4W. per lb.
Railway shares were firm.
In Mark Lane this morning wheat is up is.
to 2s.

The accounts from New York show no improve-
ment as regards trade upon those previously to
hand. In the week ending Dae. 2 the value of
the imports exceeded the exports by almost 300,000
dollars, and this was attributable to the falling off
in the specie shipments, which in the same time
were 390,703 dollars. In foreign products the
business was limited for most articles. Forth-
nately, however, tho., imports were light, and on
this account more confidence was felt on the part
of holders.
The intelligence from San Francisco is again
more favourable as regards commercial affairs, but
the hope was expressed that the imports would not
be'incrensed in consequence of the improvement in
the priees of some articles, as stocks generally were
sufficiently „large. The reports upon the agricul-
tural operations of the year are highly satisfactory,
and exhibit in a new light the vast resources of the

country.
Accounts from Berne state that a letter had been
received by the Master Armourer of Zurich, from
M. de Colette, the Secretary of the Government at
St. Petersburg, inviting workmen and armourers
from Switzerland to join the Russian regiments.
All expenses to their destination would be paid,

with a salary of about 401. per annum, and they
would be placed at the head of the workmen in the
regiment.
The formation of a railway in Scinde appears now
to be secured, the energetic and able projector of
the Upper India lino flaying developed, after ma-
ture arrangements and careful investigation, his
plan for a line, commencing at the port of Kurra-
elle., and proceeding up the valley of the Indus

to Hyderabad. The importance of the undertaking
practical men will immediately comprehend,, and,
politically as well as industrially, the results
can scarcely be over estimated. At a public meet-
ing, held at Kurrachee on the 28th August, the
whole question was brought under review.
The commissioner of the province, Mr. H.
B. E. Frere, presided, and most of the
influential, official, and other residents attended.
On this occasion it was demonstrated upon the
most conclusive data that the country is particu-
larly favourable for a railway, a survey having been
Made a year or two since. As to the port, its na;
tural advantages are very great, and the difficulties
which existed are stated to be capable of removal,
if the trade of the port should justify the expense,
and it had been proved that vessels could enter and
leave during the monsoon months. The meeting
pasSed a resolution expressive of their sense of " the
incalculable commercial and political advantages
which such a work would confer on the pro-
vince," and expressing a hope that the Go-
vernment of India may be solicited to as-
sist the undertaking by the grant of the
" same privileges as may be conceded to under-
takings of a similar character in other parts of
India." The increase in the trade of the Punjaub
has been immense, and besides the transport of all
the Government stores and troops, Major Pteedy
informed the meeting that as the proposed railway
was to be constructed entirely in his collectorate, he
considered it his duty to bear testimony to the
great commercial advantages likely to be gained
by it, in the transport of large quantities of•
grain of all descriptions, which are produced in
such luxuriance in Upper and Middle Scinde. The
quantity of grain which might be exported from
Kurrachee was immense. When Sir C. Napier was
here—in the year of the Irish famine—he offered to
have ready 11;000 tons of grain at Kurrachee for
transmission ; and such a quantity might and could
have been spared without interfering with the
consumption of the country. The cost of carriage
now was so great as actually to piohibit nrain as
an export. The price of wheat and grain was at
Shilmrpore .and_liplo:a.baGl-just- one half ita price
in Kurrachce, the navigation of the Indus ren-
dering attempts to bring. grain down as an ex-
port very hazardous. Major Preedy instanced a
case whew out of seven boats laden with grain
which started from Kotree, but one arrived in Kur-
rachee, the other six being Jost ; if one or two boats
only out of a batch of six or so were Ipst, it was gene-
rally considered a good;venture. lie looked, there-
fore, upon the grain transports alone to give a large
return—a return farexceeding what Lieut. Chapman
had allowedtowards theprofits of a railroad in Scinde.
Personally unacquainted with railways as he was, he
could not speak to the nature of the country as being
well adapted or otherwise, but if flat, hard, and
level plains were required, ho was certain there
would be no better country for a railroad than
that over which the proposed line was intended to
pass.
Mr. Hardy Wells, the canal engineer in Scinde,
enters elaborately into statistics in a letter to Mr.
Frere, and it would be easy to multiply proofs of
the deep interest with which the undertaking was
regarded. The line is to be 110 miles long, and
the capital 750,000/.2 of which 150,000/. is reserved
for India, and it is expected the Honourable East
India Company will guarantee 5 per cent. as a
minimum interest for 99 years.
The railway meetings announced are the fol-
lowing :

Company.

Date. Place.
Caterham Dec. 20, King William-st.
Great Central of Franco Dec. 22, Paris.

Great Luxembourg
Ditto

Dec. 19, London Tavern.
Dec. 22, Brussels.

Lake Constance end Basle Dec. 27, St. Gall.
Northern of France

West Flanders Deo. 28, GE, Moorgate street.
Ditto

The English Securities have been depressed
chiefly on account of the uncertainty respecting
the Foreign Enlistment Act, and-the course which
Ministers will take if defeated. Consols have been
at 91a to 914. The accounts from the Crimea are
not in many respects so satisfactory either as could
be desired, although the arrangements to protect
our troops will, it is hoped, soon plaoe them in a
snore comfortable position. The prices noware 911
for Consols. The New 3 per Cents. have been done
at 91i to 91/, and the Reduced at. 911 to I. Ex-
chequer Bills have been firm at 4s. to 75., and
India Bonds at 9s. premium.
In the Foreign Stock market Turkish Scrip has
again become flat, being Off to 7 discount. Spanish
New Deferred Bonds have realised 19, Venezuela
3i per Cent. Stock has been done at 21k, and the
Deferred at 9. Grenada Active Bonds are lb, and
the Deferred 51. Equador realise 31. Dutch 2i-
per Cents. are 614, and the 4 per Cents. 91f.
The followini, are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 51 to 51 ;Mexi-
can, 211- -to 21a ; 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
4i per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred,
18/ to 19/ ; ditto 3 per Cents., 39 to 39 f ditto
Certificates, 51 to 512 ; ditto Passive, 4g- to 4g.
The Railway Share Market has experienced a
general reaction. Caledonian and South-Western
have receded 10s. to 11., Lancashire and Yorkshire
108., and North-Western and. Midland, 10s. to 15s.
The Great Northern and South-Eastern are steady.
In the foreign market, East Indian Extension have
been in favour, and Great Luxembourg rather
flatter.
The Foreign Mining Shares have been nominal,
the Banks are lower, and the Steam and Land
Shares are cheaper, but with no actual transactions.

Bimasn FUNDS THIS DAY IT ONE O'CLOJts.
(!Prom the 0641

Bu-Ines! dono
3 per C ent. Reduced AnnuitieS....
New 3 !Der Cent. Annuities
Low! A ruluities, Expire 50 Jan.. 1860
Dittc. 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 4 1-16 3-17
India I. 9ads, /ice() . •
Ditto, under £lOOO 9
Consols : Account, 10th Jauuary
Exel..eciner Bills, 21,1.
a 101........................ . _ 7 4 p
• IV) ................................. 7 4
finia1:........ ...
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ON E ti'CLOC
3}
Equaclor Bonds ................... . .......
Grenada Ponds, V per Cent .•.•• •l5
Grenada Bonds, Deferred
Spanish tow's, 3 per Cent
Ditto Now Deferred, 3 per Cent l9
Turkish.: ter:p 6 per cent...
Ditto for. the Acc0unt.................
Venezuela Bonds, 3,4 per Cent. ..••••••• ••• •••
21
Ditto Deferred, 1 per Cent ..................
•ivithaids On _me above pavnble in LOD,ion.
Dutch _Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Guil at
Deo? 4 -Der Cent. Certificates...—.
HALF-PAST T.
Consols 9li II

LATEST NT-2, S

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

PARIS, MONDAY MORNING.

The Moniteur publishes a despatch from Ad-
miral Hamelin, dated Sebastopol, December 9,
announcing that General Montebello bad arrived
on the Bth, and that General Liprandi's corps
had abandoned the heights near Balaklava, and

retired to join the Russian army on the north of

the Tehernaya.

The Candia, Ripon, Thames, and Nfagara, with
5,000 French troops on board, arrived at Con-
stantinople on the Bth, on their way to the Ciimea.

We have received, by way of Semlin and

Vienna, the following despatch from Constan•

innple, dated the 7th inst. :
" From the 28th of November to the 3d o

December 'no guns were placed in the newly

constructed batteries, the weather being so bad

and the mire so deep.
"The Turks had arrived at Rilaklava, and it
was found very difficult to provide food for them.
" The Russian army had quitted the valley for
the heights commanding the Tchernaya.
" Deserters say that the Russians suffer much.

" Every evening the garrison opens a fire of
artillery on the French position, and makes sorties,
which are always repulsed with loss.
" During the day the enemy's fire is slack.

" The soldiers are, congtruct:iug huts..

"In the morning of the 2d the Russians at-
tacked an advanced guard of the 50th Regiment,
which retired. The Rifles advanced to its assist-

ance, drove back the Russians, and forced them

to quit their positions.
" The Turks are srffering from sickness.
" The cholera has reappeared among them.
" Omer Pacha had orders to send 30,000 men
with all speed to the Crimea.

"On the 30th of November an insurrection

broke out at Latakia, in Syria, among the moun-

taineers.

" The Governor marched against them with

2,000 men, and, being killed by a shot, the sol-
diers retreated."

Advices from Munich of the 15th announce
that King Louis has been seized with an apoplectic

fit at Darmstadt.

Later advices state that the condition of his

Majesty was improving.

VIENNA, DEC. 17.
Letters from the seat of war state that the Rus-

sians have abandoned their first line of defence

before Sebastopol, and have retired behind the
Chernaya—with what object is not known.

Advices of tho 16th announce the official pub:
fication of the treaty with the Western Powers.

BERLIN, SUNDAY, DEC. 17.

The Austrian,- English, and French envoys

separately presented yesterday to Baron Man-
teuffel the ratified treaty of the 2d December,

with separate notes, inviting the adhesion, of

Prussia thereto.

THE BILGE OF SEBASTOPOT•

ENGLISH CAMP, HEIGHTS OF S 13ASToPOL, Dec. 3.
We have had rain, perpetual heavy rain, ever since the
date of my last letter. Nothing enlivens our dulness
but an occasional sortie of the enemy, and in the inter-
vals we have to endure, as we best can, the severities of
the weather. Occasionally we get a few hours dry wea-
ther, about once a week ; but for the remaining six days
and three-quarters the air is close and `` muggy," the
wind in gales, and the rain in torrents.

Last post I tried to tell your readers something of the
state of the camp ground, and the only change worthy
of remark since then is, that the water, instead of form-
ing mud, collects in ponds and marshes, and invests the
unfortunate occupants of each. Even if we were young
ducks, such an amount of "slop" would be incon-

venient.
But, seriously speaking, the miseries and discomforts'
of camp life are now beyond all powers of description.
There is no one comfort or necessary which in England
would be thought essential to a man's safety Welch we
have not to do without. Tolerable shelter from the
weather, or sufficient health to bear its depressing in-
fluences with impunity, are luxuries which few in
camp possess. We thought we were always sure
of rations, but even the supply of these is becoming
precarious. In the gale which destroyed so many of
our vessels immense sapplies of stores of all kinds
for the army were lost. The deficiency of biscuit has
now been made up by shiploads of Turkish biscuit
from Constantinople ; bet it has only just arrived, and
the roads are in such a condition that it is almost
impossible to get any up to camp • consequently several
of the divisions have been on half-rations of bread one
day and ou half rations of biscuit the next, and so, alter-
nately, for the last five days. The whole camp have
been on half-rations of rum, though there never was a
time when it was more required, Of course, when it has
been so difficult to get up food for the men, the horses
have been but badly fed, and are dying off fast, and our
chances of getting up supplies diminish in exact propor-
tion with the number of the horses. Very few are in a
condition to work, and those must, of necessity, te kept
for the use of the artillery. If the weather keeps on as
it is at present, and we get no supplies of mules and
horses, the whole camp will be on half rations, and bri-
gades must be employed to carry up these. When
troops in winter quarters have double work and half
food, it requires no prophet to say what will become of
them ; and the position of the Allies will be really
hazardous in the extreme, unless we receive immediate
reinforcements. We want large and quick supplies of
everything which an army can want, and cannot do
without. Men, horses, ammunition, warm clothing,
carts, &c. Don't for a moment let your readers imagine
that I ant purposely drawing a disheartening picture. I
have always striven to avoid such a Miarge ; but now
the truth must be told. It is better that the public
should learn the true state of the case through the press
than suddenly discover it by some terrible reverse to
our arms out here. With the allied generals to com-
mand, and a proper amount of troops, we could
;
sweep the Crimea in three months .but while the na-
tions and governments at home are besotted and drunk
with the vain notion that we have only to bow ourselves
in order to overcome immense forts and armies we shall
do nothing—not even hold our own. Depend upon it
the English never made a greater mistake than in un-
dervaliiing the enmity of the Reesians. That the Rus-
sian soldiers will ever compete with ours, either in
courage or discipline, is ridiculous to suppose ; but
still they do possess both courage and discipline in a
high degree. Their numbers are formidable, and made
even more so by being treated lightly. No one doubts
but that we shall capture Sebastopol and conquer the
Crimea, but at th 3 same time no one that knows anything
about it imagines we shall do either without a tremen-
dous struggle, the very episodes of which will be
" Alma" and " Inkerman. ' The English must make
up their minds for a determined encounter if they wish it
to be a glorious one.
I am extremely sorry that, in addition to our other
hardships, the cholera is again show:ng itself with con-
siderable virulence. At present it is most entirely con-
fined to the naval brigade and the newly-arrived drafts
and regiments, such as the men for the Guards and
light divisions, the 40th, 97t1i,
that
eephtfßho
therefore,
lea s:
eiboa scour re
eege em
Under these circumstances it is hoped and supposed
and 9th Regiments.
regardedve .nruiitlitonnhaocesdtr eaeictxscotiuierininTri
aft:ol time,atismd.lft
to
Boy!) I thosertrd ‘aiv)oao
nti
srgno: otao
aes,
considerable extent. The return r of the disease has sur-
prised our medical offi a cers great deal' u
up to the
25th November not a case
hzui,,ong
the
occurred an
English or French for three weeks, though amcwg the
Turks it was awfully prevalent 26th 'lcy lost
five or six men from the natal .
On the
brigade, and onthel
27th it appeared among the i
at
night of the 29th we lost 49 risen, n, regitnent3'
On
and eight of these
cases occurred among the mounted staff. troops, w hick
had not been ashore more than 24 hours, Since the
29th we have had an average loss of 3ror 35 men ver
ra.
diem. By the majority of the medical office
rs it
on as merely temporary outbreak of the is looks, d
disease,
caused among the newly-revived troops by the total and
sudden change in their mode of life, and in this light
it
ought certainly to be received. Any way, another month
will witness the commencement of cold weather, whenit
we may fairly look forward to being free from the
dreadful pest. In the meantime a few sanitary precau-

tione, such as the most ordinary prudence woule sug-
gest to any one, would not ba out of place. While the
whole surface of our camp round, even among the tents,
is strewed with the carcases of some 400 or 500 horses in
every stage of decomposition, we can hardly. expect our
trcoes to be free from disease. I have always advocated
the necessity for -appointing tome sanitary officers
to the camp, in order that these and other disgusting
nuisances might be abated. The duties of such surveil-
lance could be easily discharged, and would speedily find
the importance of the post in the diminution of sickness
among our troops. Heaven knows they have to endure
enough without being wantonly exposed to unnecessary
and certain dangers. Sooner or later the subject will
press itself on the attention of the authorities out here.
On the night of the 29th, when it was dark and
stormy—blowing a gale with heavy rain—the dullness
of the time was considerably enlivened by a despe-
rate sortie against the French trenches. The object
of this attack was to destroy, if possible, the
centre battery of the most advanced parallel. The
battery only mounts ten gone, but being within
120 yards of the Russian Flag-staff Battery and
round fort, is in a po ition to do considerable mis-
chief. For the last week -or ten days, however, it has
but seldom fired, and the enemy, doubtless, calculated
upon boding most.of the guns either injured Or worn
out. As it happened, none were so, and it bad merely
cased to fire horn the extreme difficulty experienced in
getting up supplies of ammunition through the thick
mud —a difficulty which increased each day. The pie-
quota in front of the works used to remain each night
within ten yards of the Russian picqu. t , thrown out to
guard the Flagstaff Battery. A little before midi ight
of the 29th, the French picquet, who have lately had con-
siderable experience in these sorties, heard an unusual
amount of noise and bustle goiter; on in the Flregestaff
Battery. Ode of them volunteered to advance, and creeping
forward unobserved, distinguished through the gloom a
body of Russians, between 2,000 and 3,000 strong, form-
ing in column in the rear of the battery. He instantly
returned, but in doing so was seen and fired at by the
enemy, who began to move forward in the direction of
the French earthwork. Fortunately, however, by that
time all in it were on the alert, and instead of waiting,
as they should have done, and firing on the enemy from
under cover, they determined upon sallying out and
meeting the Russians ,on the glacis. With this view,
the French, who were not more than 700 strong, mounted
the parapet of the battery and awaited the assault. The
foremost ranks of the Russians, as they ran up, dis-
charged their muskets " pour encourager its autres ;"
but the volley was so utterly confused and ill-directed
that not a single bullet struck the French. The
musketry instantly sheaved to our allies the pre-
cise . position of the _enenay, and taking cool aim
from the parapet of the battery, they gave, in return,
three mterderotts volleys, which told with fearful effect
among their crowded ranks. The whole coluirin of Rus-
sians wavered and batted, and the French, with more
bravery than prudence, rushed from the battery and
charged them with the bayonet. As they closed with
their antagonists the Russians, who had been' rallied by
the voice and example of their officers, fired • a volley,
which, had it been steady and well directed, would al-
most have destroyed the French. As it was, however,
it did comparatively but little mischief. Before they
bad time to repeat it the French were among them with
the bayonet, and a short but desperate struggle ensued.
Each man used his bayonet or clubbed his musket ac-
cording to his strength and the exigencies of his position,
and after a regular " scrimmage," which lasted ab out
ten minutes, the enemy gave way and rushed back to the
town in all directions. The French pursued them past
the arsenal houses to the very ditches of their batteries,-
but which, from the smallness of their force, they dared
cot then attempt to meddle with, and knowing from old
experience that they would open fire the instant their
own men were under cover, our gallant allies made aU
haste to return to the shelter of their own trenches.
Some, however, in their return (indefatigable Zouaves of
course) found time to plunder the enemy's guard-houses
of beds, blankets, cooking utensils, and so forth, all of
which were much wanted by themselves. Hardly had
they got back to their battery when all the Russian
earthworks, as if in revenge for their defeat, opened a
tremendous cannonade, and shot and shell were indiscri•
minately hurled against English and French lines for the
space of half an hour. This exhibition of valour was per-
fectly harmless; all the allies were under cover,. but never
returned a single shot, and, without showing their cosi-
tion,.allowed the stoma to sub-side of itself. Tiii sit did
gradually at a little after one o'clock in the morning, by
which t me the enemy had wasted about 500 rounds of
shot and shell, and as far as I have been able to ascer-
tain without killing or wounding a single man on the
side of the allies. In the actual contest with the sortie
party the French lest five officers and 91 men killed and
wounded. The Russians left the bodies of one officer',
and upwards of 250 men in front of the battery. The
whole affair must have cost the enemy some 600 or 700
men hors de combat, and the allies were co further
molested until yesterday morning, when they " tried
their luck" upon the English, but with no better results.
Equally distant between the right and left attacks of the
English are some broken-down huts, close under the
walls of Set astopol, called indiscriminately the " ovens"
or the "kitchens," because at the commencement of the
siege the ruins were the head-quarters of the enemy's
riflemen, and were used as places in which to cook their
rations. In my letter of the '23d I mentioned the gallant
dash made by the Ist Rifle Battalion, wlinh resulted in the
o el defeat tf the Russia,; :sharpshooters, and a nse -pent
capture of the "ovens." When the position was taken n
it was found to be one of considerable importance, as,
under cover of the huts and broken groui.d, our men
v, ere enabled to approach within eighty yards of some
of the Russian batteries. Toe redoubt and re.len wall
in particular were exposed to a haul sing fire from this
~4dot, and et course- it. wee_ eietei eemeestoeeeeeiegise A
covered way was accordingly constructed from our
left attack, and the men enabled to approach and
leave it unobserved, and by this means a strong
picquet was always maintained there. During the
night their strong and sheltered position effectually
ems/ ded ageinstsorties of the enemy frotn that quarter, and
riuring the day their Mimes kept up a constant fire upon
any who were indiscreet enough to show in the batteries.
So deadly had this fire become, that for the last four or
five due neither the redan nor redoubt have fired a shot, '
fur not a Russian could appearat ths embrasures without
instantly becoming a target for a dozen Minie bellets,
and accordingly yesterday morning they made an inef-
fectual attempt to retake the place. Tire sortie was made
at six in the morning, when about 350 of the Ist Royals
held the place. The hour was singularly ill chosen, for
it was precisely at the time when the picquet was being
relieved by 350 of the 50th Regiment, so that double oil,
usual garrison occupied the "ovens." Daring the darkness
about 1,500 of the Russian infantry issued fromthe Circu-
lar Battery, and in the confusion of relieving the picquet
contrived to approach within 50 yards of the position
before they were discovered. In an instant our mon
were in position, and remaining under cover of the ruins
and broken ground, kept up a constant fire from all
points upon the enemy as they advanced. The Russians,
contrary to their usual custom, never returned a shot,
but strove to close with the place, and delve our picquet
from their shelter. Only about 100 succeeded in the '
attempt, and instantly retreated again, appalled by the
continuous fire ‘which their unsee foes maintained.
After a moment's pause they returned to the charge
again, but with less spirit than at first, and, after a vain
attempt to rally under the fire, retreated in disorder.
Then, and not till then, our picquets advanced, and pur-
sued them with the bayonet, Making a few prisoner:.
Of course they were unable to 'pursue:them far, as the
Russian batteries amid reserves were close at hand.;

On our side the loss was only four men killed as 17
wounded ; the enemy in prisoners, killed and wounded,
must have lost at the least 200 men. Prisoners say three
officers were severely wounded. Perhaps two sorties of
a strong garrison were never so vigorously repulsed, and
with such comparatively slight loss to the besieging
force, as these two attacks on the English and French
lines. For the next week or fortnight, at least, they
are likely to let us alone.
Beyond these two affairs the actual progress of the
siege has not advanced. The enemy have finished the
two new earthworks mentioned in my last letter, and re-
paired the old. ones. The fire from all these batteries,
when " provoketriby the victories of the Allies, seems,
to Ray the least, as strong as over ; indeed, judging from
an attentive survey of the place, I am sure I am within
the mark w hen I bay that to the south the defences ofSebas-
topol are fully 100 guns stronger than when we opened
our fire on the 17th of October. We may starve out
the town or carry it by assault, but mere battering will
never reduce it if vie kept on firing for the next twelve
months.

The French battery on the beights of Inkerman (on
our extreme right) is quite completed, as far as the earth-.
work is concerned, , but since my last letter, owing t•
the heavy state of the ground, it has only been possible
to mount one more gun. Five out of the ten long 32.
pounders are now in position, and arrangements, which
it is not for the interest of the service to detail, have been
completed, by which it is expected that all the rest will be
placed before the 6th inst. Great hopes aro entertained
from this battery, and certainly not without reason.
Situated on a most commanding eminence on the north
of the valley of Inkerman, it looks down on every
house' in the town, and every ship in the harbour.
The rear of the Russian works it will injure—the ship-
ping it is almost certain to destroy. Yet, as I have
seen batteries from which even more was expected than
from this Inkerman battery, turn out to be, complete
failures, I do not allow myself to be over-sanguine as to
the results. On one point, however, I am much pleased
with' this battery—namely, that it is, though far from
the town, on the north side of the valley of Inkerman,
and this is one more step towards the complete
investiture of the whole place. Until that is done I
fear it will be a long time before I shall have to
inform your readers of the •" Capture of Sebastopol."
Only one Russian deserter has come over to us this
week, but two French and three English soldiers, I
am sorry to Bey, have deserted to them. Our rene-
gades, I am informed, were a private from the 79th
High;aeders, a private from the 33d (er Duke of Wel-
liegs.on's) Iteei,nerit, and a p: irate fro:n the .83:1 or
Cetinauglit gangers. This makes about twenty of
our soldiers and one sailor who has e behaved with
similar baseness and treachery since the siege com-
menced. All the three men I have mentioned left upon
the night of the Ist of this month, and it is to their in-
forma:ion that- the attac't upon our picquet in the
,4 ovens" is attriterted. If this is s:), after finding an
unusually strong force in the pace, and the lamentable
faikra of the attack upon it, the deserters are sure to be
ea,ged by the Russians, as spies sent fur the. purpose
of giving false iiiforination.
The Russian deserter seemed a plain, sensible man.
He stated that though provisions were not abundant in
the town, they were by no means scarce as yet'. Powder
Mid ammunition he said were getting very scarce, and
that to supply the wants of the former the Russians had
withdrawn all their mines which bad been placed under
, the earthworks in case of their being carried by assault.
The latter statement is just probable, as the Russians

have certainly fired away an incalculable quantity of
powder, shot., and shell since the siege began. By
some, however, the story is regarded with extreme
suspicion and as a rase of the aiemy, who being really
short of provisions wished to end the matter by enticing
us to an assault. This conject►rre is very probsble, for
it is well known that the RusAans have ail the mills and.
apparatus in Sebastopol for making any amount of pow'
der and 'Shot ; and if they were short of the materials
for either, I scarcely thi►►k they would waste their ammu-
nition in the feckless manner they do, not only when
there is no necessity for it, but when-it does not and
cannot do us the lcast.harm.

I am glad to say that yesterday an official inquiry was
made into the dreadful state of the Avon hospital-ship,
to which I alluded at the close of my last letter. It
has resulted ir. her being ordered to be cleaned, and pro.
teed at once with the sick and wounded on bOard to
Scutari. had this order been issued t fortnight ago, I
believe i. would have saved many lives.

BALAK LAVA, ONE P.m., DEc. 3.
The Turkish garrison of this pace are dying off at the
rate of some 150 a day. It is not at all uncommon to
see the corpses of these unfertiJnate beings, who have
been stricken down by cholera on their way to the hos-
pital, lying. along the road side. Be4les this dreadful
disease, typhus fever and dysi.tery are making terrible
havoc among their racks. Hal the huts in this place
I arc filled with their dead and dying. I have neither the
time nor inclination to narrate the horrors "6f this kind
which I witness daily ; and if I were to do so, I am
sure your readers would be but little obliged to me for
such a disheartening ta!o of ,voe and suffering. Out
here, God help us, we have all got accustomed to
these " horrors of war." All the Russian peasantry :von
and women taken in the two villages round 11alaklaVa
have been put on board the Ardent, to be sent round
and landed to the north of Seb,stopl. The poor
wretches seemed delighted to get away,

easier.

Aft g .i!: T 1V 6; WS-CT/I.IS D.AI".;

e--- --

COPS EXCIIANGE.

Tho country markets held on Saturday were brit mode-
rately supplied with wheat, in which a steady business was
transacted, at an advance in the quotations of from ls. to
23. per .quarter. Earley was in improved request, and
rather dearer. • Most other articles were rather dull, but
not cheaper.
Advices from New York to the sth inst. state that about
an average business was doing in wheat and flour. The
continental markets have been in a very inactive state, at
but little alteration in the quotations.
The arrivals of English grain up to our market last week
were very moderato, with the exception of barley. From
abroad wo received 2,991 quarters of wheat, 3,571 oats,
2,t41 beans, 210 peas, 635 tares, 511 linseed, 1,877 rape-
seed, 131 sundry seeds, 4,77 i sacks, and 1,768 barrels of
flour.

Fresh up to-day the arrivals of English wheat coastwise
and by land ,a,riage we e • n a moderate scale, and their
general quality .va by Lo :Weans extensive, and many of tie
leading millers being rather short of stock, the demand for
all kinds ruled steady, at an advance in the prices obtained
on Monday last, of fully.ls per quarter ; but the trade was
not to say brisk, nod much difficulty- was experienced in
effecting a total cLarance.
The show of wheat was comparatively small. '.Bost
descriptions 'moved off steadiFy, at an improvement in the
quotations of fe..yu Is to 2s per quarter.
Floating cargoes of grain off Falmouth were held on
higher terms.
_ _

We wore fairly supplied with English barley ; but the
show of foreign was limited. An ad Vallee, of 13 per quarter
upon the rates current on Monday last, but was reluctantly
raid by tho

Thosalo fur watt was far fro►u active, at last week's
quotations. _

Ilre had a goad deniand for oats, the prices Of whirl
were lR per (hilter higher than on this day sc'nnigbt.
The sa.'.e for beans was heavy, but we have no actua]
decline to notice in their value.

Peas sold slowly, at the late decline.

We have no change to roport in the value of flour.

CURREN'CY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE.
Whoer—Esiex Kent. iMalt—Chovaller 715 to 733
Red +• new 72i to 85. i Oats -7 Yoriuthlre and

Ditt0..•......... old 76s 833
oitto, White new 80s Ms
Ditt0........ old 81s 90s
Norfolk and Lin-
coln, Red, old 63s 7J3
Ditto new ...•.. G 3 s 7:ls
Rye—Old ............ —s —s
NNW •• • • .. 483 503
Barley—Grinding..... 32s 34a
Malting ..-••••••• 33s 3,3 s
Chcvalfer .. •• • 37s 395
Malt--Sulrolk and Nor-
folk.. .• • •• .. 62s 67s
Brown ............• has co-
KingstonandWare 68a 70i,

SMITH

Lincolusb., Peed 275 30'
Potato ...... 28s 32.
_ Youghal and Cork
81ack....... 25s 30,
Cork, White .. 28s 32.
Scotch, Feed. .. 28s 32s
Beans—Tick ......... 415 45£
Pigeons 45s 50,
Peas—Grey 375 49.
Maple ........... 413 43,
Whit 0........... 46s 488
Boilers 485 51,
Flour—Town-made... 68s 73s
SaffoLt .......... 641 62,
titocktnif Norfolk 543 56.

'IELD.

The total imports of foreign stock into London last
week were 3,999 head. In the corresponding week in 1853
we received 6,316 ; in 1832, 4,436 ; in 1851, 4,277 ; in 1850,
5,124; in 1849, 2,383; in 1843, 3655; in 1847, 2,884 head.
The show of foreign stock here to-day was very mode-
rate, and greatly out of condition. With home-fed beasts
we were seasonably well supplied, and their general quality
was well suited for Christmas consumption. Notwith-
standing that the trade was by no means so active as on
Monday last, that days prices were supported. The
primest Scots were worth 5s 4d per Sibs. From the
northern grazing districts, we received 800 short horns;
from other parts of England, 900 of various breeds ;
and from Scotland, 200 horned and polled Scots.

The supply of sheep was tolerably good, the time o
year considered, and some breeds were of heavy weights.
On the whole, the mutton trade ruled steady, at fully las
weeks currency. The primust Old Downs readily produc-
ing 5s 2d per Sibs.

Calves—the supply of which was very limited—moved
off steadily, and the quotations had an upward tendency.
Pigs met a slow sale, and the quotations were rather

SPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WKEIC.
From Beasts. Sheep. Lambs.
Nieu Diop 75 ... 429 ...
Kampen ..... 32 114
Hamhurgh 21 46
Rotterdam,.._ '430 ... 916
Oporto
Amsterdam — •••
Harlingen
Antwerp

127 -
931

Calves. Pigs

193 ... 1

5 ...
--- ... 69 ...

T0ta1.... 1,130 ... 2,593 ... 269 ... 7
The yearly comparison of weekly imports is as under :
Beasts. • Sheep. Lambs. Calves Pigs.
1853 1,136 ••• 4,628 ••• 462 20
1859 235 •• • 3,782 419
1851 607 ••• "' • ••• 3 155 363 152

1850- ...... L 73 ”, 4,1 q

355 ... 29

11149 419 1:660
Per Sibs to sink tho Urals.

295 ... .14

s. d. s. d.i s. d. s d.
'lnferior Beasts.... 3 6to 3 BPrimeSoutlidown 5 0 5 2
Second quality.... 3 10 4 6 Large crse. calves 4 2 5 0
Prime large oxen 4 8 410 Prime small d 0... 5 2 5 8
Prime Scots, &e. 5 0 5 41Large bogs 3 4 4 2
Inferior Sheep ...3 8 310 imall porkers 4 4 4 8
Second quality ...4 0 4 4 Sucklingealves ..22 0 29 0
Prime erge.-wlled.4 6 410 (limiter old pigs 21 0 28 0
TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY.
Bes.sts .. •• • • ............ 3,133 I 8ea5t5......... ........ . 760
sheep .......• ........ —17,100 1 Sheep ............ ..... ~. 1,750
Chlv a:..••..••.. • • • • • • .. 133 1ea1ve5......
.... •

A statement and comparison of the supplies and prices of fat
stock exhibited and sold in 'Smithfield Cattle Market, ou
Dionday, Dec. 19, 1853, and this day, Monday, Dec. 18,
1854.- Per Slbs, to sink the euitis.

. _
Dec.
s.
Coarse and inferior beasts'
Second quality ditto 3
Priuso largo oxen ... 4
Prime geots, are 4

25
St.
20
St.

19, 1633.1D0c.18,1854.
d. 8. (118. d. s, d
2to 3 -4_3 6to 3 S
6 :3 10 3 10 4 6
0 4 6;4 8 410
8 4 10 5 0 5 4

Coarse and inferior sheep ...
Second 'quality ditto
Prirno eoarsc v.-oolled ditto ...
Prime Southdown ditto
Lambs
Large coarse calves
Prime small ditto
Large Logs
scat small porkers

3 43
4 44 0
4 101 6
5.25 0
0 01) 0
4 64 2
5 0;5 2
4, 0.3 4
4 10,4 4

Beasts...
... 3,530
Sheep 15,950
-Calves... 69
Pigs 285
Surmise oN Sus, Dec. 20, •1552.—Beasts, 2,776 ; sheep,
15,170; calves, 192; pigs, 259.
December 23,1851.—Beasts, 1,232; sheep, 12,200; calves,
167 ; pigs, 369.

60
161
161
St.

3,133
17,100
133
305

312 s

St.
23
25
50
St.

20
10
10

20
St.
St.
I 0
OA

St.
10
St.
25

10
5
20
20

20
20
20
20
100

all
111 s.

20
it)
20
20

10
20
20

50
50
100
100

20
50
20
25

all
8
2s.

all
all
11
all

3.6 i!
fib

all
all
2
10