The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-12 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

The Cologne Gazette of the 10th positively con-
tradicts the report of a loyal Congress to be held at
Berlin.

BELGIUM.

BRUSSELS, APRIL 9.—Count Banzou, delegate of
the committee of the creditors of the Spanish debt,
who has been here for some days, has had the honour
of being admitted to a private audience by bis
Majesty. The interview was long, and is said to
have been full of interest. The Count is charged by
the committee of the creditors of the Spanish debt to go
to Madrid for the purpose of substantiating their claims.
On his arrival at Brussels, he immediately sought
an interview with Senator Cogels, the President of
the Antwerp Committee, who recently went to Ma-
drid for a similar object. Count Ranzaw has been
received hy M. d'lloffsehmidt, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, and other persons in office, with the distinc-
tion which naturally -attaches to the representative of
the important interests of Belgium, England, and
France, as well as of Holland.
Much attention has of late been paid to the state
of the working classes, and numerous improvements
have been made in their constitution. Though we have
no Health of Towns Bill, the authorities are by no
means negligent of the immense importance of a
healthy tone in all things. The Minister of the Inte-
rior has just addressed a circular to the provisional
governors on this subject. lie proposes the forma-
tion of special funds in all the communes for draining
and supplying them with water. Another point espe-
cially brought under their consideration, was the pro-
priety of forming private associations for the con-
struction of dwellings suitable to the working
classes and poor, and the formation of new streets in
healthy quarters.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Gaut dian.)
MANCHESTER, APRIL 10. The actual occurrence of
blows between Denmark and Germany has been felt on
our Exchange to-day, in an increased backwardness to
operate for the countries affected by the event. In-
peed, political causes have tied up the hands of buyers,
for all markets betwixt the Baltic and the Mediterranean;
while for Russia and the Levant the purchases have
been on a very limited scale. An increased stagna-
tion has consequently prevailed in yarns adapted to
the continental trade. Water twist continues in a pecu-
liarly depressed state. The absence of buyers renders
the prices of the yarns referred to, in a great degree,
nominal; purchases may, however, be made on reduced
terms. In India yarns there is a diminished business,
as compared with last week, and prices are barely steady,
except in the lower qualities of 40's, of which the sup-
ply scarcely equals the demand. The demand for
goods has also fallen off, though by no means in the
same degree as that for yarns, nor in so great a degree
as was anticipated in the morning. The inquiry
is mostly confined to shirtings, from a 64-reed down-
ward, to printing cloths and other light fabrics; and,
though fewer are wanted than was the case a week ago,
still, being now better supplied with orders, the makers
are little disposed to accept any offers at lower rates.
Heavy goods continue in their previous state of de-
pression. It may bo noted that there has been little
more inclination to purchase for the Eastern
and some other markets in the latter part
of the day, than in the forenoon. The turn
out, on account of the relay system, at some of
the large milli at Stalybridge, is not yet at an end. In
one concern, a few hands resumtd work to-day ;it is
not improbable, however, that a general turn-out may
take place before the conclusion of the week. Tnere is
also, we believe, some uneasiness on this score at Bolton
and at Mossley.
RocuoALE, APRIL 9.—We have had another ex-
tremely dull market few merchants have attended,
and the sales have been very limited. In wool there
has been very little doing, and prices may be quoted the
same as last week.
HUDDERSFIELD, APRIL 10.-L-There has been a rather
dull market to-day, although we do not think that the
-general trade is good. Several mills in the neighbour-
hood are working double time, and it will require some
weeks to emplete the orders on hand. Wool maintains
its !nice, and stocks are low.
HALIFAX, APRIL 7.—We have no change to report
this week in any department of trade, every branch re-
maining pretty much as it has been for the last week or
two.

A. STUPID Hoex.—We copy the following from
the Montrose Standard. The Fly, 14, Commander R.
A. Oliver, when last heard of, was at Auckland, New
Zealand, rather a long way from Newfoundland. It
could not be the " Spy," 3, brigantine, Lieut. Comman-
der Western, for she has been reported for the southern
division of the west coast of Africa:—" STRANGE Oe
CURRENCE.—HER MAJESTY'S SLOOP FLY.—A bottle

wss found on the margin of the basin on Tuesday las
after the tide had receded, and upon examination, li
was discovered to contain the following intelligence.
written in pencil, on a piece of paper, about three in.
ches square:—` December 8, IB4B.—Her Majesty's ship
Fly, off Newfoundland, foremast gone, six feet water
in the hold, cannot live many hours, guns thrown over-
board.—J. Smith, Coxswain. As her Majesty's sloop
Fly, which carries 14 guns, was at sea on Dec. 8, 1848,
according to the list of vessels in commission, and as it
is far from being probable that any one would forge
such a document and place it into a sealed bottle, merely
for the sake of creating unnecessary alarm, there is
every reason to believe that that the bottle has boated
across the Atlantic, and been carried along the east
coast of Scotland to the place where it was found.
Bottles with facts of wrecks have been known to drift
across from the northern coasts of America in less time
than two months, by a current that sets from the west-
ward, so that the time favours the supposition that the
intelligence is real. Still, however, it is strange that
we have not heard of the loss of the sloop of war Fly,
and possibly those who aro acquainted with the matter
will
inform us whether this intelligence is correct or
not."
THE WEATHER IN SCOTLAND.—SinCe our last we
have experienced an interruption of the genial weather
with which we had for some time previous been fa•
voured, the last three days having been cold and bois-
terous. Friday was bright and pleasant, but, during the
night, the wind veered round to the south-east, and, on
Saturday morning a strong gale was blowing from that
direction, accompanied with rain. During the whole
day, and on Sunday, the gale continued, occa-
sionally rising to the force of a hurricane, and a
considerable quantity of rain fell. Yesterday, how-
ever, the weather was not so boisterous, but the
air continued cold and damp, and the sky
clouded. Previous to this change agricultural ope-
rations were progressing favourably, and it is satisfactory
to think that they are in a state of great forwardness.
Potato planting has been proceeded with to a consider-
able extent, and the sowing of oats, even in late districts,
is nearly finished, whilst almost all farmers have laid
down their barley crops. The wheat-plant presents a
fine healthy-looking braird, and is coming up with great
regularity. Pasture grass gives promise of an early
crop in most quarters; but we are afraid that the cold
and ungenial weather of the last few days will have
operated rather unfavourably to its growth.—Edinburgh
I Advertiser.
ENCROACHMENT OF THE SEA NEAR ULVERSTON.
—During the recent high tides and gales a strip of land,
not less than twelve, and in some places twenty, yards
broad was washed away along the west and south coast
of the Isle of Walney. The loss is estimated at about
two acres in each half mile; a serious privation for the
landholders and farmers. It is said that encroachments
of this description, which are unfrequent, are greatly
facilitated by the farmers themselves, who are constantly
removing the stones forming the beach, to sell for paving
and other purposes. No fewer than fifty vessels are al-
leged to have been freighted with these stones, during
the last year, fur Fleetwood, Liverpool, and other places.
Should the inroads of the sea extend, the lowlands will
shortly be entirely inundated at every spring tide, and
the island will then be divided each time into three parts.
Lancaster Guardian.
Yesterday a ballot was taken at the East India
House for the election of six directors, in the room of
Lieutenant-General Sir James Law Lushington, G.C.8.;
George Lyall, Esq.; Elliot Macnaghton, E,q ; John
"Petty Muspratt, Esq.; Martin Tucker Smith, Esq., M.P.;
and William Wigram, Etq., who go out by rotation.
At six o'clock the glasses were closed and delivered to
The scrutineers, who re ported that the election had fallen
on Sir Robert Campbell, Bart.; William Joseph East-
wick, -
wick, E.g.; Sir James Weir Hogg. Bart., M P.; Lieute-
nant-Colonel William Henry 6)kes, John
I.Cla.s. rer onAt
Whiteman, Esq.; and Sir Henry Hillock,
India
.
Court of Directors was also held atoutrhte East
were voted
House, when the thanks of the U
unanimously to Lieutenrt-General Sir James LAN
Lushington, G.C.8., Chairman, and Major-General Sior
r
Archibald Galloway, K C. 8., Deputy- Chairman, f
their great past application she! attention
the to the affairs of the
during year.
East India Company
ABERDEEN liattLwAT.-11 e are glad to learn that
the works are being resumed, and carried on with con •
tederable spirit. A number of hands are being employed
in sinking the piles for the remaining piers of the via-
duct across the Dee. The town council of Montrose has
come to an agreement with the directors regarding the'
conatzuetion of the branch line to that town...-Aberd,e6n
Haat&