The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, • LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1836.

PRICES OF CANALS, DOCK SI OCKS,
ASSURANCE COMPANIES, &c.&c. &c.

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 20.

Number Dividend Price
of per CANALS. per
Shires. -Annum. Paid. Share.
~700 6' per cent. Ashton and Oldham...Average 971. 18s. sh. 162
1,482 . 61. Ashby.tle-le-Zouch Average 11:3/. sh. 65
1,260 Basingstoke lOO/. sh. 51
1,005 51. Breck floc,. and Abergavenny 150. sh. 90
4,00115 h. 121. 10s. Birmingham, I-16th share l7l. 10s. 206
4,00 i) Ditto and Liverpool Junct....loo/. sh. all pd 30,
6,10 .. ...... . Bridgewater and Taunton -1004 sh. all pd 64
403 5/. Cheliner and Blackwater root sh. 102
500 421. Coventry 1001. sh. 775
4,516 i;roydon Average 311.25.104. sh. 3
100
'
2,41 Oa 10s. Dudley 100/. sh. 78
100/. sh. 120
6:10 61. I)er bv
20,000
3,5751 Ellesmere and Chester Average 1331.
sh. 84
231 43 • Erewash 1 sh. 44X)
1,297 2,Y. Forth and Clyde Average 4(12.165. sh. 590
1,509 121. Grand June s°--- .„_
.. .....011. sh. 211
2,'1491 Grand Union 1001. sh. 25
1,5.1 Grand Surrey lOOl. sh.
10,000/. 41. per cent. Ditto (optional) Loan lOOl. 75
3,,410 Grand Western
POO 131. 12s. Sd. Glamiirganshire, Average cost 172/. 13s. 4d. 230
1,960 Gloucester and Berkley IOW. sh. 14
749 1(9. (;ranthain 150/. sh. 20:
3,238 11. lOs II taldersfitld Average 57/. Os. 6d. sh. 3'.
103 Kensington 100 sh. all pd. 11
1,:328 U. Kennet and Avon, Average 39/. Bs. 10d. sh. 11
2,897 204 Leeds and Liverpool 1004 sh. 51
sks' 121. Leicester l4O/. sh. 14
907 4/. Leicester and Northampton... Aver E 43/. 10s. 7
2,409 9/. Monmouthshire 1001. sh. 16
250 9/. Melton Mowbray 1004 sh. 2(
500 25/. Mersey and Irwell 100/. sh. a
3,000
247 15/. Neath 1004 sh. a
1,786 321. Oxford 100/. sh. 5'
522 121. Oakham 130/. sh,
2,400 44 Peak Forest Average about 78/. 611. 1
31,418 14s. Regent's (or London) Aver. 33/. 16s. Bd. sh.
5,069 5/, per cent. Rochdale Average 8.54. sh.
500 8/, Shropshire 115/. sh.
800 10/, Somerset Coal 1501. sh.
45.e141i. 61 per cent. Ditto Lock Fund Stock 12/. 10s. sh.
iOO 361. Stafford and Worcester 140/. sh.
500 H/. Shrewsbury 125/. sh.
300 8/, Stourbridge
3,647 1/. 108. Stratford-on-Avon ...Average 791.95. tkl. sh.
533 13/. Swansea 100/. sh.
3,762 11. Severn and Wye and Railway...Av 35/. sh,
2,60.1 in. S 2/. 10s. Treat and Mersey, 1 share 190/. sh.
8,14!)
1,0005 h./ 15/. Warwick and Birmingham 100/. sh
1,00015h.3
960 12s. Warwick and Napton lOO/. sh.
6,000 3/.103 'Worcester and Birmingham...A v. 78/. Bs. sh.
5,000 255. Wilts and Berks .. Average 67/. 10s. Bd. sh.
800 61, Wyrley and Essington 125/. sh
126 Wisbeach lO5/. sh.
90.1 1/. Wey and Arun llO/. sh.
DOCKS.
2,600 & / 3 n c Commercial 100/. sh.
5( 1,00 st) p ' '
108,667 g 4 per cent. East India
3,23,i,3101/. 505. p. et. London
Ditto Bonds
,380,0001. 51. per ct. West India
2,‘.:01 3!. Gs. 4d. Bristol Average 1471. Ps. sh.
61,324/. 5/. per cent. Ditto Notes, various amounts
'.352,752 3 per cent. St. Katharine Stock
5110,0(X) 41 per Cent. Ditto Bonds
200,000 4 per cent. Ditto Bonds for 10 years
Shoreham Harbour
Deptford Pier "0/. sh. 31. pd
BRIDGES.
1,600 11, Hammersmith 5O/. sh.
7,231 Southwark, 01.1 Av. tall. 2s. Bd. sh.
1,7451 1/. 15s. ~, Ditto, New, of 71 per cent. 5O/. sh.
5,0 "'
00
5,000 1/. 2s. Ditto, Old Annuities of 81. (3O/. pd
5,000 1115.:41. Ditto, New Ditto of 71 40/. pd
60,000/. 51. per cent. ritto Bonds
0,000 1/. Vauxhall Av nage 701. 10s. 3d. sh.
/ AS:URANCE COMPANIES.
9,000 3/ 10s Albion 500/. sh. 50/. pd I
511,000 [5 FILLTit°I Alliance, British & Foreign 1004 sh. 10/. pd 1
50,000 6 per cent. Ditto, Marine 100/. sh. 5/. pd :
24,000 1l per sh. Atlas 50/. sh. 5/. p 4 ,L
1,2110 Ish. 41. Birmingham Fire O5O/. sh. 55/. pd 110.
20,000 41 per cent. British Fire 250/. sh. 50/. pct 40
12,000 61. percent. British Commercial 511/. sh. 5/, isl c:
5,000 7.1. per cent. Clerical, Medical, &c. Life, Kash. 211 pd 3i
4,0410 26105 County 100/. sh. 0/. pd 42
10,000 ss. Eagle 5O/. sh. Si. pd 6
5 per cent. 10001. sh. 250/. pd 375
2(XI ['and 301 bs.l Economic Life
2,271 si/. per cent. European Life 00/. sh. all pd 2'2
50,000 2s. Ditto, New 'V. sh. 2/. pd 1/.125.
,000,000/. 7/. per ct. Globe Stock 1:-8
20,000 1/. Guardian
'
40,000 Fire 5 t
ir - • pc '1 Hope
Ate 8 p ct. 50/. sh. 5/. pd 6
2,400 5/. 7s. (id. Imperial Fire 5001 sh. 50/. pd 120
7,500 Os. Imperial Life 100/. sh. 10/. pit 10
13,458 10s.fid per sli. Indemnity Marine Da sh. Si. pd 17
2,020 31 les Kent Fire 50/. sh. all pd 02
31. Ditto Life 79
10,1411) 16s. Law Life 100/. sh. 10/. pd 28
3,900
1 0911 Londe-a, Ship .5/. sh. 12/. 10s. pd 15
30,0 sl 51. per cent. Palladium Life 501. sh. 21. pi 2/70 041
259,001 Is. (id. Protector Fite "0/. sh. 2/. pd 1118 s 0d
2,500 I/. Provident Life lllO/. sh. 10/. pd 191
100,000 ss. Rock Life 00/. sh. 21. pd -a
080,2204 5/. per cent. Royal Exchange Sto, k... 202
Sun l2lO
6,000 5 per cent. University Life lOO/. sh. Si. pd 51
50,003 4 per cent. United Kingdom Life 2/. pd
JOINT STOCK BANKS
5,01)0 Australasia 4O/. sh. 40/. pd
10,0)0 10 per rent. Bank of Birmingham 5l/. sh. 10/. pd
10,000 10 per cent. Birmingham Bank .. . 5Ol. sh. Si. pd
18,000 2 per cent. I,ontion and Westminster...loo/ sh. 151. pd
3,000 Lancaster 100/. sh. 20/. pd
25,1100 0 per cent. Liverpool 100/ sh. 'lOl. pd
30,0)0 71 per cent. Manchester anti Liverpool] . lOO/. sh, 10/ pd
Discount
'26,000 6 per cent. Manchester 100/. sh. 20/ pd
20,000 8 per cent. Provincial Bank of Ireland 1004 sh. 25/. pd
2011, ( 0 5 per cent. National Bank of Ireland s'l. sh. 1241. pd
10,000 National Provincial Eng. lOO/. sh. 251. pd
:9,000 10 per cent. Gloucestershire. • 50/. sh. 7)1. pd
6,000 Ilampshire 50/. sh. 5/. pd
GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES.
500 1112 s Bath 2O/. sh. 1)1/. pd
5,000 6/. per cent. British as 40/. sh. 16/. pd
5,000 15.a:.,idteir{c,c.15!..} Ditto Provincial '2Ol. sh. 19 pd
'Bl4 5/ lOs Birmingham 5O/. sh.
4,250 21 Os Bristol 9O . sh.
1,500 Brighton 2Ol. sh.
750 Dttts, New 90/. sh. 18/. pd
2,471 5 per cent. Brighton General 20/ sh. all pd
4,000 • 31. Continental Consolidated ' 100/. 511/. pd
1,000 10/. City of London lOO4 sh. all pd
I,l'oo 61. Ditto, New
I,MIO 4/. 10s. Equitable .... 4414 pd
10,f 00 51, per cent. Imperial 5O/. sh.
800 5/ per cent. Isle of Tnanet 251. sh. 20/. pd
2,350 Pd. per cent. 1 ndependent 9O/. sh. ail pd
1,500 71 per cent. Leeds 9O/ sh. 20/.lxl
9,000 3/. per cent. Phcenix sts'. sli. 30/. pd
1,000 41. per cent. Ratclift' 100/. sh. (10!. pd
4,000 ...... South Metropolitan s'l. sh. 131. pd
8,200 5/. per... cent. United General 5O/. sh. 45/. pd
210 54 per cent. Warwick ,
4110 8/. per cent Wakefield 25/. sh.
12,000 3/, Westminster Chartered 5O/. sh.
6,00 I 12 Ditto, New . 50/. sh. 10/. pd
860 Yarmouth 201. sh. 181. 1)11
WATER WORKS.
4,500 Birmingham 251. sh. 125/. pd
4,433 51. East London lOOl. sh.
4,500 2/ lOs ((rand Junction ....Averae.e 41/ 135.4 d. sh.
2,000 21. Kent lOO/. sh.
338 10/. Liverpool Bootle 9204 sh.
1,500 2/ lOs Now River London Bridge Water Annuities
6,486 1/. Menchester and Salford .lOOl. sh.
1,003 4 per cent. South London 1001. sh.
.3,300 3/. West Middlesex ....Average (13/. 12s. 9(1. sh.
1,360 1/ Lis York Building Co. Lessee Prop 100/. sit.
IRON RAILWAYS.
2,500
7,500 Birmingham, Bristol, and Thames Junction
Bristol and Exeter al
Bolton and Leigh
Calcutta and Saugur 5O/. sh. 2/. pd.
Clarence lOO/. sh. 100/. pi
Forest of Dean 5O/. pd
Grand junction 100/. sli, 401. p r
Great Western lOO4 sh. '2O/. pd
liartlepool • 1001. sh. 100/. pil
Hull and Selby 5Ol. sh. 5/. pd
Leeds and Selby 100 sh.
Leicester and Swannington _XI. sh. all pd
Liverpool and Manchester-1001. sh. 100/.1.11
Ditto Quarter Shares 05/. pd
Loughborough .. ..... Average 142/. 17s. sh.
London and Brighton
Ditto ditto (Gibbs') ...201. sh. 1/. pd
Ditto ditto (Rennie)
London and 13Iackwall 501. sh. 3/. pd
London and Dover 501. sh. 1/. pd
London and Gravesend 20/ sh li. pd
London and Greenwich O/. sls. 204 pd
London and Birmingham ...1001. sh. (10/. pd
London and Southampton ....0/. sh. PL. pd
London and Croydon 5/. pd
Northern and Eastern lOO/. sh. 3/. pd
North Midland lOOl. sh. 51.1x1
Preston and Wyre 'O/. sh. :3/. pd
Stockton and Darlington lOO/. sh.
'Mantes Haven 5O/. sh. 2/. 103. rid
York and North Midland 5O/. sh. 1/. pd
MINES.

2 530 ....

MO
10,000
2,000

30,000
30,040
2,000
2,100
2,1(10
1,500
5,100 9 per cent.

70 144/.
10,000
45,n00
12,000

30,000
20,(X)0 3 per cent,
25,000
20,1,00

20,000
12,500
2,000
1,(00 ('l. per cent.
8,000
6,00,1 ......

8,000
4,000
10,000 .....
2,000
10,000 31. s.
6,0 0
10,000
10,000 . .....
20,0 v I 1/..105.
6,000 „, ..... .
11,000
10,000

B,aoo . .....
2;1.10 3/.
20,000
6,155

11;500

..Stock
..Stock

1,1
3;
18
15

30,000

1,000
1,500
;00

5.1
1:3
14
251
311
2-2

•
Lkg/
138
.271
51

.......
Albion Copper ......
',/. sh. 21. pd
Alien 15/. sh. 101. lOs p 0
Anglo Mexican, iss. 51. pm.... 100/. sh. all pd
Ditto Subscription •,)/. pd
Bol.mos 150/. sh all od
Brazilian Imp. iss. 5/. pin. 35/. sh. 204 p 4
Macaubas ti (:ocaes United ....25/. sh. 20/. pd
Ditto St. John liel Rey 901. sh. St/. pd
lolivar Copper Company "0/. sh. 21,4: pd
Ditro Scrip, 41. ptl
British Iron . . so/. sh. stl pd
British Copper 5l. sh. 31/. pd
Cata Branca.... tif,/. pd
Candonga - /. pd
Copiapo 2Ol. sh 124./ pd
Coltimbian, iss. Si. pm.
English l2/ Its. pd
General Mining Association...2o/. sit. 15/. ;A
Mexican Compriy 10,1. sh 511. pi
Polberou Consols ill. sh. Si. pd
Real del Monte, Unregistered
Ditto Loan Notes 150/. pd
United Mexican, iss. 2 pm ....401. sh. all pd
Ditro Scrip
Ditto Subscription '2l. pd
Ditto New Scrip 5/ pd
Union Gold, iss. 21. 55. pin.... 203/. sh. 44/. pd
West Cork su/. sh. 50/. pd 36
LITERARY I NSTITU nONS.
London, with, Bronze Time* 75gs. sh. 21-
Lond,in University lia7/. sh. all pd 25
Russell osgs. sh. S
King' College ...1001. pil 30
MISCELLANEOUS. •

• L
51
151
r 5?

10,000 ....
10s. Australian Agricultural....loBl. sh 2f'l. pd 40
1,030 11. Auction Mart 50/. sh. 19
6,0i10 British American Land Company ... 13/. pd 1.3
10,000 0/ per Cont. Canada Coin,)any 100/. sh. 201. pd 38
200,000 51. per cent. Upper Canada Loan 4pm
City Bonds, 4 per cent lO3
15,000 It. per cent. “encral Steam Navigation ...15/..h. 13/, pd Liii
U. per cent. Hudson's Bay Stock
2,000 a London Com. time Rooms Av. 751. sh. 19
New Brunswick Land Company 98/ pd 2,51
2,754. 5/. per c'nt. Reversionary Interest 50c...1001. sh. 100/. pd 132}
2,633 5/. per cent. Ditto New 100/. sh. 451. pd 771
4,000
10,000 Van Diemel.'s Land lie!. sh. 17/. pd 151

LIST OF SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES,
MAY 14, IS3(.
BANKS. _ _

1.500,00 V. 6/. p. et. Ilan': of Fcotruli 63/. 6s 8.1. sh. all pd 2041.
2,000.011-I. 58 p. ct. Royal of Scotland 100/. sh. all pd 4701.
500,0.M1. l p. et. British Linen Company 100/. sh. ,11 pd 2401.
3,000,0:x1. 61. p. ct. Commercial ' "iOOl. sh. 1001. pd 160/.
5,1)00,9(.01. sp. et. National Mit sh: 101. pd 1531.
2,00 t.o,tel. 41. p. ct. Glasgow Union 2'o/. sh. 501. pd MY.
tiooooo/. 4p. ct. Western of Footialut 2OOl. sh 30/. pd 371.
'=S'.e,foNINSURANCE COMPANIES.
p. li. fl et. Scottish Union 2Ol. sh. 11. pd 2.!s
000 hp. et. Hercules
I'B,ollo sp. ct. Insurance Co. of Scotland —JO/. sh. all pd 71 Os,
50,000 6 p. ct. North British
. - 200/. sh. Ili/. pot 15/.
...,.. _._ .-.

.
IM p
O 5 . et, raledoniau Fire 1001. sh. MIA 15410 s
5,(" op. et. Edinburgh lace 100/. oh. 101. pcl 14/10s
100,000 4p. ct. West or Scotland lOl. pc! 9/ 103
511SCELLA NE4) Us
4,510 ......... rah, and Gila, Un. Cana1...50/. sh. all pd '221.
Ditto Allocated 45;1. Ai. all pa 65/.
5,100 5 per cent. Eslint,.*Joint Stock Water Ti/. sh all pd 3711.
Carrot: Iron Company a:',ol. sh. all pd 41,,11.
000-h. 15 per cent. Shotts Iron Fouroterv.. 5O/. sh. :W. Pd dal.
0,000 3 per cent. Etlitibu--1) & Leith Glass O/.sh. 16/. pd Sit.
4,t,00 10 cent. pet.,
Edinburgh Coal Gas .51, sh. all pd 95/.
4,Kiti Id per cent. Glasgow Gas 251. sh. all pd 601.
750 6 per cent. Leith Coa: Gas ~oi. all. all lot 371.
1,2,0 h per cent. Edinburgh and Dalkon!) IZailw,ty...so/.sh. 601.
3,000 51 per cent. Equitable Lo,..lCompany., 2:i/ all, 9/. pd 101.

POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

TO THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS Of HIS MAJESTY'S
TREASURY.

The following document was yesterday laid before both
Houses of Parliament :
" Fourth Report of the Cammissioners, appointed by a
Treasury Minute of the 9th May, 1833, to inquire into
the mode of conducting the business of the Post-Office
Department.

" We have had under our consideration the general ma-
nagement of the post, and we feel convinced that it would
be impossible for us to propose any substantive alteration
in the number of clerks employed, the mode of conducting
the business, or any of the complicated machinery of the
department, without, in fact, putting ourselves in the situa-
tion of Postmaster-General, and devoting many months to
the investigation. We have, however, sufficiently informed
ourselves on the subject to be satisfied that an alteration in
the present system is absolutely necessary, and that the su-
pervision of a Board properly constituted, and subject to
the control of the Treasury, would tend much to a more
regular and satisfactory discharge of the business of this

important department.
" It -appears to us that it is the strong tendency of the
present system to place all the duties and powers, both of
control and execution; in the hands of a single subordinate
officer ; and, although we are not disposed to undervalue.
the services of Sir Francis Freeling, vet we cannot think
that this is the proper and satisfactory constitution of any
public department. The Duke of Richmond, indeed, broke
through the practice he found established of leaving the
management almost entirely in the hands of the Secretary,
and was in the habit of constantly attending and transact-
ing business in person ; and we have reason to believe that
his successors have followed his example. But the public
has no security against a recurrence to the former system ;
and when we consider how ineffectual any control over such
a department must be, without an intimate knowledge of
its details, we feel satisfied that as long as it is vested solely
in a high officer of state, liable to be removed with every
change of Administration, it is not likely that it will be
much more than nominal.

!. We, therefore, recommend that a Board of Commis-
sioners, with a responsible chief in Parliament, should be
substituted for the office of Postmaster-General. We pro-
pose that the Board shall be constituted on such a principle
as to make it necessary for the department to be under the
immediate control of the Commissioners ; and, with this
view, we recommend that all correspondence, except what
relates merely to matters of detail and ordinary occurrence,
shall pass through them by letters signed by themselves,
and that no money shall be paid but by drafts with their
signatures. We are of opinion that all the officers of the
department, whether surveyors, superintendents, or comp-
trollers, should act only through the Board, and that no
clerk or officer should hold any other situation, or receive
any pay, fee, or emolument, but the actual sum put down
against his name, and considered commensurate to the duty
he performs. We also recommend that a record of all
official acts done by the Board shall be regularly kept, and
that an annual Report be made to the Treasury of any
alterations in the preceding year, of new expenses incurred,
and of the general state of the revenue.
" It nay be said that a Postmaster-General can do all
that is here recommended ; but, looking to other depart-
ments, we are convinced that, in practice, it would not be
done by an individual. We consider a Board to be pecu-
liarly calculated to conduct the management of such a de-
partment as the Post-office, which requires daily attend-
ance, constant supervision, and a general control of the va-
rious branches connected with' it ; and we express this opi-
nion with the greater confidence, as wo find that all those

•ho have preceded tis in their inquiries into this subject

have arrived at the same conclusion. We refer, especially,
to the Report of the Select Committee of Finance, pre-
sented in 1797 ; to the 9th Irish Report of the Commis-
sioners of Inquiry into Fees and Gratuities, in 1809 ; and
to the 18th and 19th Reports of the Commissioners of Re-
venue
,Inquiry, in 1829. We agree with them in recom-
mending that the Board shall be composed of a Chief and
subordinate Commissio.ners ; but we are of opinioh that
three of the latter would be sufficient, one of whom might
occasionally visit Dublin and Edinburgh.
" We are not without hopes that when the Commis-
sioners have made themselves practically acquainted with
the machinery and various duties of the Post-office, they
will feel justified in proposing to your Lordships a reduc-

tion in several branches of the establishment ; and we are
satisfied that such suggestions can be most safely acted
upon when they come from those whose experience gives
weight to their opinions. We believe, therefore, that we
shall most usefully discharge our duty by proceeding to in-
vestigate those larger branches of the subject, to which we

have not yet directed our attention, such as the Steam-
packet Establishment, and other questions, of a general
nature ; but we are persuaded that your Lordships will

egree with us that very dangerous consequences might
ensue, if, on the examination of a Commission tempo-
rarily appointed, your Lordships were induced to make
reductions in the establishment in London, which, in prac-
tice, might be found inapplicable to the service required.
" It is with these feelings, and upon the best considera-

tion that we have been able to give to the subject, that we
recommend to your Lordships, even in the present session
of Parliament, to give directions that a Bill may be prepared
which will enable the Treasury to appoint a Board of Com-
missioners for the management of the Post-office.
(Signed) " DUNCANNON.
•.:• " H. LABOUCHERE.
" SEYMOUR.

Office of Woods, July 23, 1835.
We have appended some evidence to this report, which
has been received at different times from various officers of
the Post-office. We think it advisable to postpone ex-
pressium an opinion on the subject to which it refers until
your Lordships have taken into consideration the recom-
mendations which we have now made.

" Fifth Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the Post-Office Department, by a Treasury Minute
of 9th May, 1835.
" Your Lordships, having referred to us several memo-
rials, complaining, of the high rate of Postage charged for
the conveyance of Commercial Lists and Prices Current,
we have proceeded to investigate this subject, and to consi-
der whether certain facilities might be given for the trans-
mission of periodicals of this nature without injury to the

revenue.
" This question engaged the attention of a former Com-
mission appointed to inquire into the Post-office Depart-
ment : after examining several merchants, brokers, and
officers of the Post-office, they presented two Reports to
the Treasury in May last, stating the result of their inquiry.
" From these Reports, and the evidence which accom-
panied them, we have received much valuable information.
" We have also obtained the opinion of Lord Lowther,
who is intimately acquainted with all points relating to the
transmission of Prices Current.
" We agree generally with the suggestions which he has
made, and beg to submit his Report and evidence for your
Lordships' consideration.
" By the Act 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 44, the Postmaster-
General is authorized to contract for the conveyance of
certain unstamped publications, formerly circulated under
the privilege of the Clerks of the Roads. Very few publi-
cations have, however, been sent under this authority, and
the rates of composition which have been demanded by the
Postmaster-General are so high as to amount almost to a
prohibition.
" We find that in France, and generally on the Con-
tinent, the circulation of Prices Current, at a low charge, is
encouraged by the Government, and we are of opinion that
any facility which can be given for the transmission of mer-
cantile information must tend to promote the commercial
interests of the country ; we, therefore, beg to recommend
to your Lordships, in the first place, that English Prices
Current, and publications of a similar nature published in
this country, be permitted to pass through the medium of
the Post-office without the imposition of a charge so high
as to impede their general circulation.
• " We are aware that from the immense correspondence,
the number and size of newspapers, and the heavy bulk of
Parliamentary and official documents, it would be impos—
sible, under the present arrangements of the Post-office
Department, to give to all mercantile publications that fa-
cility which might otherwise be desirable : nevertheless we
are of opinion, that the conveyance by post of Prices Cur-
rent, under-certain restrictions, will not materially add to
the weight of the mails, or occasion much inconvenience by
the additional duty which will be imposed on the clerks of
the Inl.lnd Office.
" Lord Lowther, in his Report, recommends that Prices
Current should be permitted to pass free through the
Post-oflice, but that they should be required to be printed
on paper bearing a stamp. His Lordship proposed that
twopence should be the maximum rate of duty charged, and
contemplated the reduction of this duty to one penny, if it
did not admit eventually of a still further reduction. We are
also of opinion that it would be more convenient. that the
charge for the transmission of these publications should be
iu the nature of a stamp, as this tax would be collected
with much greater facility and certainty than a postage, and
avoid the additional duty which must otherwise be imposed
on the Post-Office.
" With respect to the amount of duty to be imposed, we
felt inclined to suggest to your Lordships, that the charge
should not exceed a halfpenny ; but, when we take into
consideration the reduction which is contemplated in the
Stamp Duty on Newspapers, we fear that it may be deemed
inexpedient, at present, to permit the transmission of Prices
Current fir a less charge than that which is imposed on
Newspapers.
" We hope; however, that after the proposed system has
come into operation, and its effect been experienced, your
Lordships may find it practicable to permit the free trans•

mission of Prices Current by post, if printed on paper bear-
ing a halfpenny stamp.

From- the evidence of the Secretary of the Stamp-Office
and the Solicitor of the Post-office, we are induced to be-
lieve that our recommendations can be readily carried into
effect b3eauthorizing the Commissioners of Stamps to affix a
stamp bearing a certain duty on Prices Current intended
for circulation by post, (such publications, when unstamped,
not to be made liable to any penalty,) and by givin:- a
power to the Postmaster-General to allow them to go free
of postage if so stamped.
" It will be proper, at the same time, in order to protect
the Revenue and guard against frauds, to authorize the
Postmaster-General, with the concurrence of the Lords of
the Treasury, to define what publications shall be permitted
to circulate as Prices Current, and to make regulations with
respect to the form in which they shall be received.
And, further, to prevent their becoming a vehicle for
advertisements, it has been recommended that strict rules
should be laid down that they should contain nothing but
the names of the articles to be sold, and-their prices, and
that the names and residences of the sellers should be
excluded."

" If Prices Current are allowed to circulate on payment
of a halfpenny stamp, we think that they should be re-
stricted to half an ounce in weight, which would be suffi-
cient for the ordinary purposes of trade ; and a higher
stamp duty might be required for anything exceeding this.
In case, however, they should be subjected to the same
charge as newspapers, it would be unfair to impose a re-
striction on them which did not equally apply to news-
papers._

. .
" We regret that we are unable, at present, to submit to
your Lordships any general plan for the transmission of
foreign Prices Current. The question is embodied in the
other propositions which have been made by the French
Government ; and, when the result of the negotiation now
in progress is made known, we shall be glad to take the
subject into consideration, if your Lordships desire that we
should do so.

" DUNCANNON.
" H. LABOUCHERE.
" SEYMOUR.
Office of Woods, April 11, 1836."

SUICIDE OF THE HON. BERKELEY

CRAVEN.

A cpnsiderable sensation has been produced in the
fashionable sporting world by the suicide of the Hon.
Berkeley Craven, so well known on the turf, who put a
period to his existence by shooting himself through the
head with a pistol, at his residence, No. 17, Connaught-
terrace, Edgeware-road. The particulars of the melan-
choly affair are as follow :

The deceased, it appeared, was a loser by the Derby
stakes to an enormous extent ; some say as much as
30,0001. As soon as the result of the rase became known,
he was observed by his friends to be excessively agitated,
and in this state he left Epsom, and arrived at his residence,
the same (Thursday) night. He flung himself on the sofa
in the parlour in a state of mental distraction, and all at-
tempts to solace him being in vain, the domestics were
forced reluctantly to leave him, and retired to bed at a late
hour. About six o'clock on the following (yesterday) morn-
ing, one of the female servants came down stairs, and on
entering the parlour a most appalling spectacle was pre-
sented to her view ; the body of her master was found ex-
tended on the floor, deluged in blood, which had flowed from
a frightful wound in the head ; and near him lay a large
duelling pistol, with which it was evident the deed had been
perpetrated. Mr. Griffith, a surgeon, residing at 39, in
the same terrace, was immediately called in, but could ren-
der no assistance, the unfortunate gentlem* having been
dead some time.

From an examination of the wound it appears that death
mist have been almost instantaneous ; but it is rather ex-
traordinary that the report of the pistol was not heard by
any of the inmates. He was about fifty years of age.
Information of the event has been forwarded to Mr. Stir-
ling, the Coroner, who will, hold an inquest on the body
this day.