The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-25 00:00:00

gibetnita# •Jurt

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1149,

To-day the Overland Mail leaves England for
Hindostan. It will convey to the northern portion of
our Oriental dominions the gratifying intelligence of
the thanks yesterday voted to the conquerors of
Moultan and the victors of Goojerat by three great
assemblies—by the Court of Proprietors in Leaden-
hall-street, and by both Houses of the Imperial
Parliament. Those expressions of the national gra-
titude to the heroic soldiers who have gained the late
glorious campaign in the Punjaub were uttered
without any reservation whatever by the Lords, the
Commons, and the Indian Stockholders. Even the con-
scientious opponents of war—those humane gentlemen
who are fascinated by the beautiful but utopian doc-
trine of " arbitration"—abstained from any indecorous
attempt to detract from the unanimity or to diminish
the earnestness of the panegyrics pronounced upon
his Excellency the Governor. General, upon the Right ,
Hon. the veteran Commander-in-Chief, upon Sir
JOSEPH THACRWELL, upon Sir WALTER GILBERT,
upon Major-General WILLIAM WHISH, as well as
upon the several officers, non-commissioned officers,
and privates, under their command, both native and
European. It was felt that the gallantry, the skill, and
the fortitude exhibited by every one who had been
engaged in the late transactions north of the Sutlej had
entitled them to the cordial and unconditional felici-
tations of their countrymen. It was perceived that
the two most conspicuous achievements of the cam-
paign were so important in their character, and so
brilliant in their execution, as to be numbered hence-
forth amongst the most glorious events in our
Asiatic history. The seizure of Moultan is an enter-
prise so remarkable as to vie with the capture of the
Sogdian Rock by ALEXANDER. The battle of
Goojerat is worthy of being ranked as the
crowning triumph of the brave old warrior
who has served his country faithfully and nobly
during more than half a century—who has dictated
terms to the Celestial EMPEROR—WhO has planted
the banners of England on the vanquished shores of
China whose sword has so often proved victo-
rious, and especially on the memorable occasions at
Sobraon and Ferozepore. In the taking of Moultan,
it should be remembered that our troops were suc-
cessful notwithstanding the almost impreg-
nable nature of the fortifications, and in spite of
the formidable abilities of the redoubtable chief-
tain MooLRAJ. In the victory of Goojerat,
moreover, it should not be forgotten that the grand
army under Lord GOUGH, numbering only 25,000
men, were disproportionately opposed by upwards of
60;000 antagonists. Neither should it be lost sight
of that those antagonists were the coalition of the two
most warlike nations on the Asiatic continent, the
Seikhs and the Affghans.
_ _

While the meeds of commendation were awarded
without stint to the conquerors of the Punjaub by
the most distinguished members of both the Legislative
Chambers at Westminster, we were rejoiced to observe
• that Avery express and particular panegyric was reserved
s'‘,oo-11/he young officer by whose precocious abilities
;,7:i.,74o:laeroic daring the recent rebellion was first re-
' :44:5".4- The extraordinary genius for military enter-
_'displayed by that soldier whose name is already
• chi:ol-I'cled among the illustrious, obtained the homage
.au44o-ilis parts and his patriotism. The House of
li:;rds was forcibly reminded last evening, by the
Marquis of Lospow__
Ag l that Major EDWARPES is

an officer who, eight or nine years ago, was a boy in
England, who only eight years ago received his ap-
pointment as Lieutenant, and who has subse-
quently assisted in every action in India,
in one of which he was wounded. Alluding to
the praises bestowed upon the rising star of
our Eastern empire by the Lord President of the
Council, his Grace the Duke of WELLINGTON de-
clared that he entirely concurred in the observations
of the Noble Marquis as to the conduct of Major
EDWARDES and the other youthful officers engaged in
the late transactions. "My Lords," exclaimed the
Duke, with all the earnestness of genuine admira-
tion, "these officers did their duty with advantage to
the public, with honour to themselves, and have im-
mortalised themselves by their conduct." Im-
mediately afterwards the great military autho_
rity of the age pronounced these emphatic syl-
lables—" It is impossible, my Lords, to
speak in too high terms of Major EDWARDES
and the other gentlemen engaged in those services."
Nothing is wanting to testify to Lord Gouou and his
heroic companions in arms the approbation of a grate-
ful country. Their splendid deeds of valour have
been acknowledged by the Company, by the Parlia-
ment, and by the Administration. Their glory has
been proclaimed by the Duke of WELLINGTON, by
the Prime Minister, by the President of the Council,
by the President of the Board of Controul, by the
Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses (Lord
STANLEY in the Lords, and the Marquis of GRANBY
in the Commons), by the Right Hon. Sir ROBERT
PEEL, and by other distinguished members of the
Legislature. All that is now required is the practical
confirmation of these tokens of national gratitude by
the display of a discriminative munificence by the
SOVEREIGN.

Not even Mr. BANKEs who, as the representative
of that party which considers it would be most de-

sirable that Manchester and all our great towns
should be levelled with the ground, feels it his duty
to come forward as the champion of every traitor
Sovereign, who indulges in the amusement of bom-

bardinghis capital ; not even Mr. BANKES, we should

suppose, can now venture to defend the proceedings
of GeneraI,FILANGIEBI, or to deny that the atrocities

. . _
committed by the Neapolitan soldiers under his

command at Catania were such as cannot be paral,
leled in the annals of civilized warfare. The Neapo.
litans " massacred thousands of the peaceful inhabi

tants after the troops had retired from the city; neither
age nor sex was spared. Wrecked villages and
smoking houses marked the route of Neapolitans and
Swiss for miles. along the coast. The troops under
FILANGIERI pushed forward, firing the houses as they
adranced, burning those within, and killing those without.
Still the Neapolitans continued the burning until at
length the whole principal street was on fire, and when
all further resistance had ceased, the cathedral, the uni-
versity,the HOSPITAL, and most of the' palaces and public
buildings were in flames. The ill-fated survivors of
this once noble city were given over to the tender
mercies of the conquerors, and a general pillage
ensued, which lasted from the dawn of the 7th inst.
until the afternoon of the Bth, during which time
burning and destruction of life and property were
carried to the most fearful and wanton excess, espe-
ciaEy on the 7th, when the most atrocious massacres
were committed, and neither age nor sex was spared
by the unbridled soldiery."
After the perpetration of these frightful atrocities,
who can place any reliance on the solemn assurances
of FILANGIERI or his promise-violating master? They
both declared that the war should be conducted
according to the practice of civilized nations, and that
the rights of humanity should be observed. The per-
petration of these atrocities abundantly absolves the
British and French Admirals from any pledges they
have given FILANGIERI and the King of NAPLES;
and if, after the perpetration of the hor-
rors of Messina, " the voice of humanity
imperatively called for some expedient to prevent a
repetition of such devsatation at other points," much
more loudly does the voice of humanity and justice
call upon the English Government to interfere now
that the horrors of Messina have been incalculably
surpassed by the unheard-of atrocities perpetrated by
the organized band of thieves and assassins, the

drilled Lazzaroni whom FILAISGIERI and his master

have trained to plunder and incendiarism, to rape
and murder ! If the interference of England and
France to compel a cessation of hostilities in Septem-
ber last was right, the abstinence from such inter-

ference at the present moment must be wrong. The
Sicilians occupy precisely the same position with
regard to Naples, and to England and France, which
they did at that moment. They are still in their
right. We may be told of what is commonly, but
most improperly, called " the mediation" which has
since taken place, and of the rejection of the terms
offered by the " Mediating Powers." That so called
mediation was, in fact, no mediation at all. There
were no Sicilian Plenipotentiaries present at the
conferences, the Sicilians were never heard, and that
' is not, properly speaking, a mediation in which only
one side is heard; neither can that be called a decision

of the mediating Powers, which is in fact merely a

proposition made by one of the belligerents to another,
of which a neutral Power undertakes to be the bearer.

Had Sicily been represented at those conferences, and
had the Sicilian Government refused to ratify the
terms agreed to by the Sicilian Plenipotentiaries, then
indeed the mediating powers might have been Justified
in withdrawing from further interference, bat such
was not the case. And let it not be said that Sicily
was not to be considered in the light of an independent
state ; so far as England and France were concerned,
she was clearly an independent state.. They had
acknowledged and saluted her flag, they had been the
bearers of an offer from the Sicilian nation to the
Duke of GENOA of the Crown of Sicily. How then
can they pretend to deny the independence of Sicily ?
Had the Duke of GENOA accepted the offer, he would
have been at the time of the conferences King of
Sioux, and the mediating Powers would not surely
have ventured to hold conferences with the Ministers
of the King of NAPLES on matters affecting the rights
of the King of SICILY without the presence of a Si-
cilian Plenipotentiary. It is clear, therefore, that
Sicily occupies, in relation to the mediating Powers,
precisely the same position which sbe occupied in the
month of September last ; we therefore, in the name
of humanity, call upon the English and French Go-
, vernments to at once interfere for the purpose of
stopping the perpetration of these horrors, and of
forcing,FILANGIERI to conduct his operations,according
to the rules of war observed among civilized nations.
The claims of Sicily, however, upon England are of a
still stronger character. It was under the mediation
of England that the old Sicilian constitution was
reformed in 1812, and the new constitution was
guaranteed by Great Britain to the Sicilian people ;
and at that time, be it recollected, the Sicilian people
remained faithful to the British alliance and expelled
the invading army of Muria; to whom the Sicilian
Bourbon King, FERDINAND, the grandfather of the
present FERDINAND, would have betrayed the British
troops in the island. The duty of Great Britain to
protect Sicily in the enjoyment of her constitutional
rights is so manifest, that in 1814, Sir W. A'CO-neT,
the British Minister at Palermo, declared in the name
of his nation, that Great Britain could not refuse, at
the invitation of the Sicilian nation, to declare herself
the protectress of the constitution of 1812; and again,
of the Bth September, 1816, when the King of
NAPLES began tampering with the Sicilian constitu.
tion, Lord CASTLEREAGH, writing to Sir W. A'CoURT,
ness the RINCE EGENT),
says, " His Royal ighdir
H f
mortification l
to thisperceive
duty to
ainlitheorfuegreh, csohnoturladryhetohahvies
thesee(w
lP
that any attempt should be made so to reduce the
privileges of the Sicilian nation as to expose the Go-
l
vernment of England to the reproach of having
contributed in Sicily to such a change of system as
shall ultimately lessen the liberty and the happiness of
its inhabitants, as compared with their previous situ-
ation." On that occasion the King of NAPLES solemnly
never bound thi
vs eyl fa tnoy Gt
arxe
ea
st Britain,
inSicily
among
1-y bey o
on d t htehr
e matters,
perms-
nent dotation fixed at. 1,847,687 ounces (an ounce is
lO .
Sicilian r
pi tis ha)r e
That without
provisionthe choanss ebnete
nofu t.
oh:
lated. Taxes to an amount infinitely
ogethexceedinger
thethe
dotation have been levied without calling together
Sicilian Parliament, and thus, that which Sir W.
A'CounT declared, and which the King of NAPLES
admitted, would be a case calling for the interter-
ence of Great Britain has arisen. So much for the
right—now as to the policy of interference. M.
ODLION DAsitoT has interfered in the affairs of some,

avowedly, "to maintain French interests in Italy.
Has not England also interests to maintain ? The
Marquis of LANSDOWNE declared the other day, and
it was with shame we heard him make the declara-
tion, that we had only a few steam-boats in the
Sicilian waters for the protection of British subjects
and British commerce, but they were not to interfere
between the belligerents. For the protection of
British commerce, forsooth ! How can British com-
merce be carried on with Sicily, if all her ports are
destroyed by FILANGIERI ? How, for years to come,
can Messina or Catania carry on commerce ? The
interest of Great Britain, to put the question on no
higher ground, commands immediate interference
to prevent the further destruction of Sicilian ports,
and to force from the King of NAPLES ample com-
pensation for British property destroyed at Messina
by the bombardment which took place, without notice,
in September last. if France is justified in interfer-
ing in Rome to protect French interests, and to
maintain French influence, then is it the duty of
England to interfere in Sicily to protect English
interests, and to maintain English influence. And
let it not be said that the maintenance of English
influence in Sicily is a matter of no consequence.
We felt the advantage during the whole of the last
war of having Sicily as an ally. Had Sicily been,
instead of an ally, an enemy, NELSON could never
have fought the battle of the Nile. There has been
for years past, on the part of the free nations of
western Europe a jealousy—and by no means a cause-
less jealousy—of the increase of the power of Russia,
more particularly of the presence of a Russian fleet
in the Mediterranean. The King of NAPLES is at
this moment acting under the influence and by the
assistance of the Emperor of RUSSIA. He is as
completely under the command of the Emperor of
RUSSIA as is the HETMAN of the Cossacks; for Russia,
Austria, and Naples are bound up together in an in-
timate alliance, and should the King of NAPLES suc-
ceed in conquering Sicily, all the ports of that island
will be, in case of war, open to the Russian fleet and
closed against the British. The independence of
Sicily guarantees the freedom of the Mediterranean
to all the nations of the world, but Sicily, under the
domination of the King of NarLEs, is the outpost of
Russia, and means—British communication overland
with India cut off, and the Levant a Russian lake.

As we observed yesterday, the third reading of
the Navigation Bill was carried in the Commons,
after an animated debate, by a decisive majority of
61. The Protectionist party, it will be remarked,
offered the most determined opposition to any pro-

gress in free-trade principles, and clung to the last
vestiges of monopoly with a zeal and devotion wor-
thy of a better cause. They had abstained from
contesting any of the details of the measure in
Committee, being resolved to exhibit their hostility
to the entire Bill in the strongest point of view. It
was manifestly, the champ de battaille, on which
they staked their entire strength, being anxious, if pos-
sible, to render the majority in the Commons so slight as
to justify the rejection of the Bill by the Lords. In
this, however, they have totally and entirely failed.
Public opinion has been too clearly and unequivo-
cally manifested on the question. No doubt can
remain as to what must be the result of a " collision
between the Houses." The success of the measure
may, perhaps, be retarded for a brief period, but it

cannot possibly be averted. The nation, to which a
free and unfettered trade in goods and commodities
has been granted, will not be satisfied to continue a
monopoly of the right of carriage to any class or
interest. It has been solemnly decided that hence-
forth impost shall be levied for the purpose of
revenue only, and not of protection, and Par-
liament will not stultify itself by sanctioning a
"principle" in one respect, while it legislates in
another instance on totally different and conflicting
grounds. Why should we be anxious "to buy in
the cheapest and to sell in the dearest market" if we
neutralise these advantages, and deprive ourselves of
the inestimable blessings within our reach, by con-
tinuing narrow and short-sighted enactments, founded
chiefly on hostility towards another nation, and
perhaps partly on the exploded doctrine that the
national wealth was increased in proportion to the
poverty of other countries, which should therefore be
injured in every possible manner. A fair and gene-
rous emulation, an honourable and manly competition,
that desires a clear stage and no favour, is now re-
garded as the rule by which our dealings should be
regulated, and we will abide by that just and equit-
able principle, and act fairly and honestly towards the
entire world.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM, in his lucid and powerful
address, placed the question in the clearest light, and
distinctly exhibited the injurious results of the navi-
gation code, under the various Acts (more than 140
in number) that had from time to time been passed
since the introduction of the more stringent enact-
ments during the Protectorate. On each of the
grounds argued by Mr. WALPOLE—" the historical,"
" the economical," and " the national"—the Right
Hon. Baronet proved that these laws had not been
productive of those beneficial results erroneously
ascribed to them—that England had flourished despite,
and not in consequence thereof. The almost con-
temporaneous authorities of ROGER COKE and Sir
JOSIAH CHILD, who wrote shortly after the pe-

rind when these restrictive laws were enacted,

showed that their immediate effect was "to drive
British shipping out of the trade both of Russia and
Greenland"—" to destroy our Baltic trade and greatly

to diminish our general trade ;" while Sir MATTHEW
DECKER, with half a century's addition' experience
of their working, said that, " although the object of
the law was to increase the number of our seamen
and to add to our shipping, it produced exactly oppo-
site effects"—" that it had greatly diminished the
tonnage of our shipping, as well as the number of our
seamen, while at the same time, through advanced
rates, great injury had been done to the interests of
the country ;" while the authority of ADAM SMITH
—so happily termed by the Hight Hon. Gentleman
the NEWTON of political economists"—is no
less decisive. Although that profound reasoner (as

we have already repeatedly pointed out) was induced,
in one part of his great work, to support the ex•

elusive system on the principle " that defence is of
much greater importance than opulence"—an opinion
that has been so triumphantly adduced by the Pro-
tectionists—he, at the same time, and almost in the.
Same paragraph, showed that he was fully alive to
their injurious effects to trade and commerce, and
their deteriorating influences upon the national
wealth, and that "we sold less dearly and bought
more dearly" in consequence. But, even on the point
of " national defence," the great economist does not
at all times maintain the same opinion ; and in a
subsequent part of his work he more than doubts
whether these laws had really the effect of " strength-
ening our national defences." He says—
" England, it must be observed, was a great trading
country—her mercantile capital was very great, and
likely to become still greater and greater every day,
not only before the Act of Navigation had established
the monopoly of the colony trade, but before that trade
was very considerable. In the Dutch war, during the
government of Cromwell, her navy was superior to that
of Holland; and in that which broke out in the begin-
ning of the reign of Charles IL, it was at least equal, if
not superior, to the united navies of France and Hol-
land._ Its superiority, perhaps, would scarce appear
greater in the present times, at least, if the Dutch navy
was to bear the same proportion to the Dutch com-
merce now which it did then. But this great
naval power, could not in either of these wars be owing to
the Act of Navigation. During the first of them the plan
of that Act had been but just fotmed, and, though before
the breaking out of the second it had been enacted by
legal authority, yet no part of it could have had time to
produce any considerable effect; and, least of all, Mat
part of it which established the exclusive trade to the co-
lonies.'
- - -

____
It cannot surely be asserted that the writer of the
opinions above cited considered the maintenance of
these laws essential to the safety of the country.
While, however, we would abolish every exclusive
privilege, we agree most fully with the Hon. Member
for Glasgow, that every restriction and impediment
that now injuriously affect the shipping interests,
should be also removed. Every owner should, as Mr.
MACGREGOR truly remarked, "be at liberty to man
his ship in whatever way he thought most advan-
tageous to himself. The stamp duties on insurances,
bills of lading, and charter parties, ought to be abo-
lished ; all interference with the victualling of British
ships should cease; and the light-house dues should
be put on the same footing with the United
States of America." The timber duties, that act so
prejudicially to the British shipbuilder, should be
either wholly or partially repealed, and then, indeed,
we should have no cause to shrink from a fair and I
open competition with other nations. If the rrotec-

tiouists had directed their effort, to these points,

they would have fully succeeded, and the British
shipowners, although not unduly favoured, would
least be freed from all the di3advantages and im

ments with which they now have to contend.

pc;th

LLOYD'S S RIPPIN G.—('l' HIS DA Vri
LONDON, APRIL 25.—Wind N.W., light breeze and
fine, but cloudy.
DEAL, APRIL 24.—Wind N.N.E.—Arrd. City of
Glasgow, Brown, Calcutta; Agnes, Fox, Trinidad.
Arrd. from the river and sld. Miranda, Moxted, Barba-
does; Walker, Cokton, Quebec. Sid. Helen Mary,
Singapore; Portley, Quebec.
OFF THE WIGHT, APRIL 24.—Merwede (Dutch trans-
port), Curacoa for Helvoet.
GUERNSEY, APRIL 21.—The Active, bound to New-
foundland, which got on Castle Comet Rocks 19th inst.,
was partly discharged yesterday, and warped into the
harbour, where she is discharging the remainder of her
cargo; she has lost her keel, has her fore foot broken,
and her bottom is supposed to be considerably damaged.
LEITH, APRIL 23.—Wind S.W.-81d. Mayflower,
Quebec.
PoßTsmouTu, APRIL 24.—Wind N. to S.W.—Arrd.
her Majesty's ship Ringdove, Bombay, and sailed for
Plymouth; British Queen, Stables, Cardiff for Cronstadt,
with loss of bulwarks, sails split, upper works strained
and making water. Off port, Kilblain, Shaw, China.
LIVERPOOL, APRIL 23.—Wind N.N.W.—Arrd. Rock-
shires, Mc Leary, Savannah; Carl Emil, Utrichsen, St.
Croix; Clutha, Langster, Charleston. 24th, Fenella,
James, Baltimore. Ski. lithe, Thompson, Demerara;
Sarah Birkett, Proddon, Port-au-Prince; American
Lass, Newfoundland. Off port, Charlotte, Hottinguer.
Columbus, Isaac Wright, Jamestown, Sea, Roscius,
London, Ann Henderson, General Sale, John Bull, Wi-
nifred, Colonist, Earl Harwood, Viceroy, Helen, Eliza
Kiilick, North Carolina, Mary Imrie, Themis, Holywood,
Ann, Dumfries.
ARDROSOAN, APRIL 21.—S1d. Warner, St. John's,
Newfoundland.
SUNDERLAND, APRIL 23.—Wind S.—Arrd. Effort,
Moulmein. Sid. Wave, Quebec, Swan, ditto; Mary and
Dorothy, ditto.
HARTLEPOOL, APRIL 22.—Wind E. to S.—Sid. Par-
thian, Batavia; Caledonia, Valparaiso.
COWES. APRIL 24.—Wind variable.—Arrd. Leontine,
Arleen, Batavia; Bolivar, Hagero, Ciudad Bolivar,
both for Bremen; Dante, Forster, Porto Rico for Bremen.
23d, the Bolivar, from Ciudad Bolivar to Bremen, put
in here this evening, and the master reports having been
chased in the Channel yesterday by a Danish brig of
war, probably the Ornen, which sailed hence 21st inst.
SCARBOROUGH, APRIL 24.—The George and Mary
(sloop), of and for Boston from Stockton, was struck by
lightning off Robin Hood's Bay last night. and set on
fire, when the crew abandoned her, and at three o'clock
this morning they saw her go down.
HASTINGS, APRIL 24.—Wind N.—Arrd. Camper•
down, Cumberland, Calcutta ; Southampton.
SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 24.—Arrd. Jupiter steamer, left
Gibraltar 15th, Cadiz 16th, Lisbon 19th, Oporto 20th,
and Vigo 21st.
FALMOUTH, APRIL 24.—Wind N.N.W.—A rrd. 23d,
Christian VIII., Niolsea, Batavia, for Hamburgh ; Emelie,
Boster, ditto, for Altona; Lord Stanley, Peters, Bom-
bay; Commercial, Henderson, Semarang; Sophia, An-
derson, Rio Janeiro, for Hamburgh; Mina, Lenau, ditto;
George Ann, Brown, Pernambuco; Courier, Havighorst,
Buenos Ayres, for Bremen ; Christian, Taggenbrcck,
Maranham, for Hamburgh. 24th, Broad Oak, Shelford,
Bahia; Sophia Elizabeth, Jorgan, Rio Janeiro, for Ham-
burgh; Adeline, Spland, ditto; Cneetak, Cook, Per-
nambuco. Off port, Actif, Ekman, Rio Janeiro.
The Rose brig, from Newcastle, for St. John's, New
Brunswick, with foremast, bowsprit, and main top-mast
carried away in a gale of the 6th inst., was spoken 15th
inst. in lat. 49 N., lon. 13 W., and on her return to
the Channel by the Isabel, from Antigua, bound to
Liverpool, which put in here to-day with foremast car-
ried away, bowsprit, main and mizen top-masts, top of
yards, boats, &c. on the 15th inst., while lying to under
a close reefed main top sail.
OFF SWANAGE, APRlL.—Australasia, Cornell, Hobart
Town.
LIMERICK, APRIL 23.—Wind N.W. to W.—Sid. Con-
gress, Quebec; 22d, Quebec packet New York, John
Hawkes, Boston; Fame, Quebec; Thetis, ditto.
NEWRY, APRIL 23.—Wind N.—Sld. Seraphine, New
York.
SHIELDS, APRIL 24.—Wind S.W.—Sld. 23d, August
Adolph, New York; Olinda, Point de Falle.
WEXFORD BAY, APRIL 23.—Arrd. Native, Doyle,
Norfolk V.
CASTLETOWN, APRIL 21.—Sid. Vixen, Boston, United
States.
BRISTOL, APRIL 24.—Wind S.W.—Arrd. Feliza,
Smith, Trinidad.

MON EY and COMMERCI AL NENtr.
CUT, (21.1:i leT EA TO 11! L
There was .4 quiet ufailv.t fur cotton, at Liveri. of
yi,sterday; the sales were estimated at 4,000 bates, in-
cluding 1,000 for export and on spzculatuon. Prices re-
main as tiLAuf,•ti on Friday.—Railnay Shares were again

pi-ssed.
The letters and papers by the steamer from the West
Indies were delivered after business hours yesterday
afternoon, and their contents generally are much of the
tenor to which we havo for some time past been
accustomed. The seasons in many of the colonies ware
rather favourable, tied so far there is good promise of the
next crops; while even money matters were in Jamaica
and other plsces not so bad as might be supposed. The
Bank of Jamaica had declared a dividend of three per
cent. for the halt-year, and appeared to be doing well,
despite the competition of the island cheques, which
being issued by Government had displaced Bank
paper. The Planters' Bask, whisk is being
wound up, would meet all demsnds, but whe-
ther the shareholders will save any thing from the
wreck may be admitted as doubtful In older to bring
the colony into a healthy condition, its government
must be conducted on more economical principles, and
for this we shall soon see all parties agitating with one
accord.
Cape of Good Hope accounts of February 21 re pre-
sent affairs on the frontier as being quirt. There had
been rules and regulations made public for the settle-
ment of the Fingoes and other coloured inhabitants in
the new district of Victoria, and they reflect credit on
the inhabitants.
The accounts from Germany state that the Schleswig-
Holstein troops had entered Jutland.
The report of the Amsterdam Stock Market states
that prices were without any material alteration. The
Dutch papers contradict the report that the Limburg
contingent had been called upon to march to Holstein.
Great complaints are made in the City that the River
Plate question is still unsettled, and the apathy and want
of tact displayed by the French and English Govern-
ments is constantly and warmly commented on.
Upon the subject of the dried fruit trade in London,
we have the following remarks by Messrs. Witherby and
Hanson:—" On presenting last month the Board of
Trade returns for 1848, we stated that the consumption
of currants in 1849 might possibly reach 21,000 tons,
or 2,000 tons more than that of 1848. But as there is
already an increase of 600 tons in the London delivery
alone during the first 15 weeks of 1849, it seems likely
that the year's consumption in the United Kingdom
will much exceed our expectations, and at the close of
the present season, allowing for further direct supplies,
we shall not have much more fruit on hand than existed
in September last. Several circumstances concur to
favour this opinion, but particularly the expectation
that, owing to the destructive effects of the late frosts,
our reoueed stock of raisins will be expended much
sooner than seemed likely to be the case a
month ago ; and therefore that currants will be
in more demand than usual during autumn. More-
over, the direct shipments to Holland and Germany
having been nearly 2,000 tons less than those of last
year, we may expect, if there be a cessation of hosti-
lities in Germany, the continental demand to revive,
and to take off some of the fruit which, but for the un-
settled state of the continent, would have been shipped
thither direct."
In Mark•lane today only a moderate business is
doing in Corn, and at barely Monday's prices.
There was a trifling decline yesterday afternoon in
the terms upon which bills were negotiated on Frank-
furt, but the rates on Paris were higher, and on most of
the other continental cities firm. It cannot be expected
that there should be much doing just now in the ex-
changes, and some predict an exportation of bullion when
affairs abroad become more settled.
Tire Money Market is exceedingly easy at present,
and the three or four hundred thousand pounds in specie
sent to America had not the least effect in enhancing the
terms for advances. Perhaps the abstraction of one or
two millions might occasion some change, but assuredly
it would not bring about a pressure. Loans upon stock
for a month or two have been made as low as 1* to
per cent. per annum, and four months' bills of the
highest class arc said to have been negotiated at the rate
of 21 per cent. per annum, or even cheaper.
The Funds openecrwell this morning, Consols realising
92 to 1, and the market has preserved an appearance of
tolerable buoyancy, although the intelligence from Den-
mark is not altogether favourable. People seem now to
regard the chance of this power protracting the struggle
against Germany as being very small, and on that ground
scarcely believe that the struggle can be much longer
protracted. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents.
have realised 9l -a, and the Three per Cents. 90i f.
Bank Stock is worth 193,i. Exchequer-bills have been
455. to 48s. prem., and ledia Bonds 695. to 70s. prem.
The Mexican Government is stated to have trans-
mitted through Messrs. Manning and Mackintosh bills
to the amount of 65,000 dollars towards the dividend,
and the report sent home by Mr. Robertson is also said
to be favourable. We have, however, nothing official
up to this hour.
An extensive business has been done in Mexican
Bonds at 1 per cent. rise, the quotations from 301 *,
having advanced to 311 I. Equador have been
4* 4 ; and Grenada Deterred 38. Buenos Ayres
have been quoted 39, and Chilian 91 to 92. Peruvian,
nominally, are 65 to 67. Russian Stock has been firm
at 1051, and French Three per Cents. have been quoted
56, with the exchange at 25 35.
Railway Shares, though not brisk, have been rather
fluctuating. Caledonian have been in favour, and are
again higher. Midland have receded. North Western
and Great Western are much the same, and also Brigh-
ton, See. St. John del Rey Mine shares are rather
higher.
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)

Bank Stock 1931 A
'3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
3 per Cent. Consols Anns ........
New 334 per Cent. Anns ......... ......
Long Annuities, Exp. Jan. sth, 1860 8 9-16 8
Do. 30 Years, Expire Jan. 5, 1860 B:%' 8 13-16
Consols for Account .... 92% 92
Exchequer Bills. I%d. 2d.
March. June.
1,0001.
500/ — 45 48 p
Small — 45 48 p
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.

Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent
Ditto Small
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent ., 92 91
Equador Bonds 4lOB
Grenada, 1 per Cent
Do. Deferred
Mexican Bonds, 1846, 5 per Cent.
Ditto for the Account 301/2 31 30791/E I/
Russian Bonds. 1822, 5 per Cent... 1051,4
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent.........
Ditto for the Account
Dividends on the above payable in London.
French Rentes, 3 per Cent 5Cf.
Exchange
Belgian 414 per Cent
BUSINESS DONE IN RAILWAY SHAREz; AT ONE O'CLOCK
RAILWAYS. PAID. PER. smelts.
Aberdeen
Bristol and Exeter
Buckinghamshire...... ...... 16/. 4s dis.. to
;aledonian
East Anglia, 25/. L. & E.,
and L. & D
Ditto 18/ E. & H lB ......
,

Ditto, 31. 103., E. & H... 3% 21% to
Eastern Counties
Do., New Guar. 6 per cent. 10
Do., Northern & Eastern... 50
Do., 5 per coat.
Ditto, New
Edinburgh and Glasgow
Great Northern
Do. IA A Deferred ..... ... 12% 5 ...... to
great North of England 100 2341% 234 to 235
Great Western 100
Ditto, Half Shares ...... 50
Ditto, Quarter Shires -
Ditto, Fifths 2O
17% ...... to
__.

Do. New 17/
Hull and Selby
Ditto, Half Shares ...... 25 49% to 50

I ,ancashire and Yorkshire ... 93
...... to
Ditto. Thirels...•.. ........ ... 15
Leeds and Bradford 5O .....100 IA to
Lond., Bright., &South Coast 50
Do., New, guar. 6 per cent. 5
London & North Westem....,loo .....132
DI. New Quarters.
London and s. Western...—. 50 .....

Ditto. Thirds I 16/. 13s. 4d 4% dis. to
Manchr, Sheffield, and Linc.100
Do., New 10/. Preference.. 10 .....11 to
Midland...... .....100 ...73 72% 731,4 to 72
Ditto, 50/. Shares ..... ...... 25
Midland, Birm., and Derby... 100
Midland, Consol. Bristol and
Birmingham, 6 per cent.... 100 12314...... to
North Staffordshire..... 171%1 133i3 ... .. t 4,
-.hrewsbury and Birmingham 11
South Eastern
Ditto, Registered No. 4.... 10 ..... 71A 3
South Wales
York, Newcastle, and Berwick 25
Do. and Newcastle Exten. 20
Do. G. N. E. Pur. or Pref. 8
York and North Midland .. 50
FOREIGN RAILWAYS.
Central of France (Orleans
and Vierzon) ..~
East Indian
Great Indian Peninsular 105....... %....., to
Northern of France l3 ...... 11 ...... to
Paris and Rouen
MINES.
Brazilian Imperial ..... ..... 241......
Ditto St. John Del Rey ... 15 ..... 11141/8.. to
JOINT STOCK BANKS.
Australasia

COURSE OF

EXCHANGE.

Amster, ...... • 12 214
Ditto, at sight
licttcidatu .. •
25 70
Harnburgh ••31.8. 13 12U
Altona. ..... •• ...•
Valls, 3 days'sight •. 25 40

Gibraltar.. •..... ......
Legh0rn........ • • .. • .

Genoa
‘iilan .•• • •
Venice........ • . • .....
Naples .. • • • • 403
Is'alermo, peroz.. 117
Messina .. 120
Lisbon.. .. 53%
Oporto b 3%
Itlo Janeiro ........ . --
Buenos Ayres .. ••.. • • --

Ditto, 3 months .... 25 G 5
Marseilles •...... 25 €5
, . 25 65
Frankfurt or Maina..., 12134
Petersburgh, Sil. ltble 36
Berlin • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Vienna, effec. tio • • • • • • 11 36
Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 11 36
Madrid • • ........ 49
Cadiz • • • ............
Bilbao.. • • • • .. • • ...... --
lTarc"ions► • , • • • • , • • • • •
Seville • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •••••

New York, 21 days'eight ,
Philadelphia .. .. • • ....

PRICES OP BULLION, MI 0i
Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9
P.rtagal Gold Coin •• 0 0 0
Apanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0
New Dollars •• 0 4 lOW
';ilver in bars ...... •• 0 4 1]

The Dowager Lady Catington died on Sunday
night, at her residence in Bath. bhe was tie widow of
the Rev. Walter Trevelyan, barn in 1770. end married
the late Lord Carington in the year len, his Lordship
being then in his eighty-sixth year.
We understand that a son of Mr. Reynolds, the
Member for Dublin, has been appointed to ft situation 0;
the Mint Of the Value of 4001 per annum.