The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-05 00:00:00

Vauxhall ............ 51. per cent. 100 0 0
West Middles° . . . 51.55. pr cut. 63 12 9

COIJRSE OF EXCH./
Amsterdam C.F. 12 4
Ditto, at sight • • .... 12 1
sotterdan► 2 U. 12 4%
Antwerp • • ............ 25 85
Hamburgk II.B. 1310%
Altona
Paris, 3 days' sight .. 28 55
Ditto, 3 months...... 25 85
Marseilles • • • • • • • ..... 25 90
Bourdeaux ..... . 25 90
Frankfort on Mains .... 121
Petersburgh, 3 U 5.... .

dsIGE.—(T HIS DAY).
Gibraltar
Leghorn . ..
Genoa ..•.
Milan ..•..... ......

Naples .. .... • • 40M
Palermo, per os .. 120%
Lisbon.. .. •... 53%
0p0rt0.... • • 1,3%
Rio Janeiro • • ...... • 26

Bahia ... ...... .......

Buenos Ayres .. ••.. • .

Berlin • ......... •• ••
Vienna, "effec.flo•. •... 10 5
Trieste, ditto..... ..... ld 5
Madrid 35%

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

PAM= OF BULLION, PEE oz.
Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin •. 0 0 0
New Dollars .•.... 0 4 10%
Spanish Doubloon., .. 0 0 0
Silver in bars ...... • • 0 5 0 %

Barcelona •• •• ...... •.

Seville.. ..

COLONIAL BANK-THIS DAY.)
The usual half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of
th• Colonial Bank took place this day at the London
Tavern, in order to receive the report on the proceed-
ings of the corporation, and for the election of five di-
rectors and one auditor.
Mr. Caulfield took the chair.

The SECRETARY having read the advertisement con-
vening the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said that he was happy to say that
the report which would be submitted to their notice was
a very short one, but, short as it was, it would show that
the affairs of the company were in a very satisfactory
state.

The SECRETARY then read the report, from which it
appeared that the debts due by the bank were—
Circulation ... £206,425 11 8
Deposits, ... ... 713,951 15 9
Paid-up capital ... ... ... 500,000 0 0
Profit 19,486 13 9

Total
And the assets were—
Specie ••• - £263,346 13 0
Due to the Bank, on bills purchased and
discounted in the colonies ... 716,598 9 6
Due on cash credit in the colonies ... 147,636 0 5
Due in London, on bills remitted ... 240,349 310
Balance of bad and doubtful debts ... 51,231 19 3
Bank premises and furniture ... ... 18,295 16 7
Balance of preliminary expenses ... 2,505 18 7
The balance of bad and doubtful debts was much on
the decrease, and it was proposed that out of the
19,483/. 13s. 9d. profit, 7,000/. should go to pay a divi-
dend of IL 10s. per cent. for the half-year ending June
30, 1846, which would give a dividend of 3 per cent. per
annum on the paid-up capital. The nemaining sum it was
proposed to place to the account of bad and doubtful
debts, in order that the total might be reduced as much
and as soon as possible. It afforded much gratification
to the directors to be enabled to Eay that, in spite of
many adverse circumstances, the profits were still in-
creasing, and had every appearance of continuing to
do so.—The report was unanimously received.
The CmaiamAN then proposed that the dividend
should
payable on and after the 11th inst., which was
agreed to.
The CIii.IRDIAN then said that the directors who re-
tired in rotation we A. Hankey, Esq. ; Wm. T.
Hibbert, Esq.. charrii •
Esq.; Abraham- J..arel, Esq.; Thomas Master-
man,
Esq., auditor. These Roberts, Esq. ; Henry Barkly,
again offered themselves foerntemen being eligible, had
Their names were then se the vacant offices.
and carried without opposition.
separately put. to the meeting,
Mr. J. Fletcher having been elected a director
room of P. M. Stewart, Esq., M.P., dee in the
was elected auditor in his room. This eased, Mr. Ellice
ness of the day. closed the busi-
Mr. HARRISON, a proprietor, expressed his satisfac
tion at the conduct of the directors ; as did al so other
proprietors, and a vote of thanks having been given to
the chairman the meeting separated.

L 1,430,864 1 2

MADRID and VALENCIA RAILWAY
COMPANY. —(THIS DAY.)
An adjourned special general meeting of the share-
holders in this undertaking was held this afternoon at
the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street ; Mr. Chadwick.
chairman of the English Board of Directors in the chair.
The CUAIRMAN stated that tho present was the third
4.7,l43Ditiiatneeting of the company. At a former meeting
A N:11V1.-
• .....a-resolntioq was agreed to authorising the directors to
r ~,..,,,--,-.-:_.' ascertain the company could not be dissolved accord-
;!!=--*------/ ing to 1aW",,,.1 t it was subsequently ascertained that it
rfs:'r, -i"-:- i , could nob be legally broken up. That was the exact
1/4 ' position of th it case, and it was now for the share-
kel .'1- , .
'.....„ C'-'..,-,--1-, holders to (Wide what should be done. The directors
0\.,:. would d6tbeir best to carry out the wishes of the scrip-
kl 11 '

OLD COURD.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
THE MISERIES AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE Poox.—
A small withered old woman, whose whole appearance
denoted the most extreme distress, and who trembled
so violently that she was obliged to be accommo-
dated with a seat, named Sophia Bradfield, was charged
with having stolen a watch, valued at 24 2s. ; a watch-
guard, worth 2s. ; two seals, worth 2s. ; a watch key,
worth 6d. ; and five half-crowns, three shillings, and
sixpence, from the bed-room of a person named Norman,
who occupied a house at No. 22, King-street, Old Kent-
road, in which she and her two sons occupied a room.
On leaving his room, on the 20th ,of November,
he closed and locked the door, after having satisfied
himself that the articles in question were safe. Some-
time after the door was found open and the artielt s re-
moved. The prisoner left that day, and in her room
was found a pair of iron compasses, with which it
was assumed she had opened the door. She was
arrested at a house in the Borough, and admitted

that want had driven her to commit the crime. It ap-
peared from the statement of the prosecutor's sister,
that the prisoner got her living by painting children's
books and cheap pictures, and by shoebinding. She
had no furniture and was in great distress ; she owed
11. 13s. for rent. Her sons were 15 and 18 years oh l.
The woman transmitted a paper to the Recorder, who
desired the clerk to read it. It stated that she had long
experienced the most acute distress, that at the time
she earned only 2s. ld. one week and ls. 7d. in another.
Her sons were starving, and continually exclaiming that
they could not bear their privations longer, and that
they could not work for the want of tools. " I could
not bear it," it went on, " and I left the room, and on
proceeding down the stairs I saw the room door open,
and took the things in order to get food for my sons."
The RECORDER-Why did you not apply for relief ?
Prisoner—l applied once since my husband's death, but
they told me I was young and able to work for my
living.
The jury found the prisoner guilty of stealing the
property, and earnestly recommended her to mercy on
account of her distressed condition at the time.

The RECORDER referred to a statement made by
the woman when before the magistrate. She said, " I
took the things because my sons were in a starving
state. I have sat often two days in that room without
breaking my fast. I could endure it no longer."
The prison surgeon said the prisoner was so ill that
she could scarcely walk, and that she had been under
medical treatment since she became an inmate of the
prison. She could not be cured for some time.
The RECORDER directed the surgeon to inform the
. .

parish authorities of Bermondsey, to Which she belonged,
that at the expiration of her imprisonment she would
require assistance. The Court always made allowances
for persons driven to crime by privation. In the prison
she would perhaps have better medical attendance than
the workhouse could afford. The sentence of the Court
was that she be confined in Newgate for one month.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
(From the London New Price Current of January 5.)
SVGAR.- Business in the raw Sugar market was resumed
this day. Merchants displayed much firmness, and refusal to
sell, excepting at prices is per cwt above those that prevailed
prior to the holidays. The trade were desirous to operate, and
in both grocery and refining sorts a good business was trans-
acted, the dealers evidently having allowed their stocks to get
to a low ebb. The quantity sold in the private market
amounted to 660 hhds and tierces, and there was but a
small and indifferent assortment. At public sale 152 hhds
of Barbadoes went off with spirit at a rise on the rates of the
last auction of 6d to is per cwt. The market closes with a
firm aspect for all kinds of raw Sugar.
RZFINED.—To-day refined goods were in excellent request
by the home trade, and prices were firm—brown grocery
lumps at 645, and standard lumps at 65s per cwt. Bonded
Crushed Sugar is wanted, and first sort is selling at 33s 6d to
33s 9d per cwt.
MAURITIUS.—This afternoon the quantity submitted to
public competition was large, and amounted to 6,775 bags,
and 211 casks, the chief part of which consisted of the better
qualities of yellow. The trade were willing to operate, and
the whole sold at prices showing a rise on those of the last
auctions of 6d to is per cwt.
EAST INDIA.—For Bengal the market has an improving
appearance. By private contract to-day several parcels
were disposed of ; and at public sale 550 bags of white
Benarns went 6d per cwt. higher. Madras was in excellent
request; and 5,821 bags at public sale, all out of condition,
sold at a rise on former rates of is per cwt.

FOREIGN.—A good demand existed to-day for all sorts of
foreign sugar for home consumption by private treaty, and
rather higher rates were paid. The export orders are, how-
ever, still small; but for the sorts available for that purpose
only, holders refuse to submit to any further reduction in
price. A fair demand exists for refining under bond.
MOLASSES.—Prices cannot be quoted higher for West India
at present, but the demand-has been brisker, and 22s to 26s
per cwt is the value of low to fine quality.
COFFEE.—This afternoon Native Ceylon met with less at-
tention, and the parcels offered at auction, amounting to
1,824 bags, were taken in. Holders remained firm, and in-
sisted upon former improved rates. Mocha has been In good
demand privately, and prices are on the advance for clean
sorts.
RlCE.—Bengal met with increased intention, and a further
advance has taken place in the value: extensive purchases
have been made privately, and the rates paid are 23 to 2s 6d
per cwt above those that prevailed two weeks back . the
whole on offer has been cleared off the market, indeed, the
stock is nearly all in second hands.
SPIRITS. —The market has an improving appearance for
all descriptions of Jamaica Rum ; a good demand having
prevailed from the home trade, and exporters operated with
more freedom ; the rates paid have been above those pre-
viously current. Leeward Island Rum has been in excel-
le,neetnreqsuoeslat ; the supply at market is at present small, and
prices are improving. East India has been in good
demanrda,ndaynd the rates paid are rather above those
lepornesvuiomuystlyiont:current. Demerara of strong quality has
met witiathaburlaismkp
urfdicacehiemrsbaenhet
datxevthree
has sprung
p raun
nd
gd
up,aft c stifferh
li
le fly for
homeprices.
For B
to 2s 7d to 2s 8d for common shipping Ge-
nevaraicessoardtsv.aneed6d for tine for home consumption. For British parnodv,e
sandnrtosr,p
ahndco3rns 2sdptiori3tss
with the high rates supplies being but moderate, to-
getherthe demand is active,
advance the price of all grain, caused the distillers to
Spirits being now 115 9d, descriptions,Scotch
hanlthe quotation for Corn
OlLS.—There has been a good buseinrsersisshlr as
transacted
en:
Sealtitn cash.
laln
Oil. and having a small supply, buy
stiffer rates. Cod has been only in limare compelled to pay
having a better supply there are sellers upon rrequest, and
terms. Southern is wanted, and owing to the limlter lower
supply
a further advance in the value took place. Ft,r Oli •
ve thp.
demand has been brisk, and advanced rates given. Pale;
met with ready buyers, and holders are very firm. Cocoa
Nut is in scanty supply, and being mueh wanted, prices are

Few of our readers probably remember the trial 01
an action for libel under the name of " Houldsworth, v.
Gibson," which took place about three weeks ago. A
full report of it appeared in our paper of the 9th of De-
cember, to which we refer those who may wish to re-
fresh their memories on the subject. It was a case pe-
culiarly illustrative of the benefits of Lord Campbell's
amendment of the law, which enables defendants to plead
the truth of their alleged defamations. The libellous
matter was contained in an article published in the Ply-
mouth and Devonport Weekly Journal, and alleged that
certain persons, who had once been members of the
Royal Western Yacht Club, had been expelled that asso-
ciation on the ground of their being blacklegs. It set
forth the proceedings taken by the club previous to the
expulsion, and, commenting upon them, made some se-
vere, but by no means extravagant, remarks upon the
character and conduct of the offending members. Of
these remarks the plaintiff in the present case, who is
one of the ostracized, complained, and with great
appearance of honesty, put his case before the
constitutional tribunal,—a jury of his peers. The
newspaper proprietors 'ustified themselves under the
new law, and rested th defence upon the truth of their
assertions. They tra the career of their opponent
and his confederates back for several years, and found
them in various parts of the continent, and also nearer
home, practising a system of what appeared to be
fraudulent gambling and disgraceful knavery. To prove
these facts at the trial, they were compelled to bring
witnesses from a considerable distance at a great ex-
pense ; and we are informed that their disbursements
for this and other necessary purposes do not in the
whole fall much short of 2,0001. Their labour, however,
was not in vain. The jury took the same view of the
case as the Royal Western Yacht Club and the Plymouth
and Devonport Weekly Journal, and declared, in sub-
stance, that the alleged libel was not a defamation, but a
correct description of the plaintiff and his friends. In
other words, their verdict was generally for the defend-
ants. The law, as everybody knows, gives costs to the
successful suitor, whether plaintiff or defendant, for the
double purpose of encouraging the prosecution of honest
demands and of preventing attempts at extortion. The
payment of costs, in principle, may be considered in the
light of a fine imposed upon persons who attempt
to avail themselves of the power of the law to
unworthy ends. It is a fine, too, which can be
enforced by seizure of goods, and, in default of these,
by imprisonment. So far may justice be satisfied. But
whilst the abstract idea is thus fully carried out, the
persons in whom it is developed too often receive but a
very imperfect satisfaction. They are invested with a
right to be reimbursed their expenses incurred against
their will, and in consequence of proceedings to which
the event has proved them not to be amenable ; but the
mere right is sometimes their only compensation. Even
the law cannot squeeze blood out of a stone, nor make a
man pay money that has not got it. A man of straw, in
hatred and malice, or with a knavish design, or, as in the
case before us, with a desperate attempt to patch up a
broken reputation, may sue any respectable person. He
hardly hopes to get a verdict, and rests contented with the
reflection that he cannot be much the worse for failure,
having nothing to lose ; on the other hand, he may win.
But the defendant in any event, is sure to suffer. If the
verdict passes against him, he has to pay damages and
costs to ; if for him, he escapes only the former, for as
to the latter, there is none but he who can pay. In this
predicament precisely stand the proprietors of the Ply-
mouthnewspaper in" Houldsworth v. Gibson." The plain-
tiff is a person, as we are informed, quite unable to pay so
professional
ther eo f
oat
srrsieiaoti
no,
ajhl judge
gains.
1.
iser
sef r.
eotTm
vhehorisys,
as, s e t
t 2
is,
tO OO.f . ;
speedily and,disclosed
be iyuf
manneriliakregie a sum
ytoetrel
iaflei
in fact, though not in theory, the whole expense
falls on the innocent party, contrary to justice, and
directly against the intention of the law. Such a result
is extremely inconvenient, even in a public point of view.
There is no duty of a public journal at once so delicate
and so dangerous as that of exposing fraud or miscon-
duct in individuals. We do not fear the accusation of
partiality or undue regard to self-interest, when we say
that the calm unflinching discharge of this duty is most
essential to the well-being of society, and
y, ought to be
upheld and strengthened by all possible means It
n
seldom happens now, whatever may have been do
.
former days, that a wilful or malicious libel a
"aron! in
e sin a
public print of any reputation. The worst cases arel
never more than instances of negligence. But
ex
are numerous of dishonesty detected and vill any amfp es
rus-
trated through the agency of newspapers. The public,
we know, can expres its gratitude in a fitting mann
when once convinced that there is good occasion for er
It seems to us that a good occasion is always pare it.
in every case of fraud exposed. Here the apparent
Journal has been the means of showing up a party of
blacklegs (for such the verdict of a jury bas pronounced
them to be) who had insinuated themselves into good
society, and who might have done more extensive mis-
chief but for the exposure. The people of Plymouth
and its neighbourhood are, without question, indebted
to them. Yet, for all return, they are mulct in a
sum of 2,0001., and have only the beggar's satisfaction
of being honest men. Surely this is a hard case.—
Times.

SIGNS OF INCREASING CIVILISATION.—Drinking
less wine—subscribing for a monument to Shakspeare—
admiring the cuts, but cutting the jokes of Punch and
visiting the Establishment of the Messrs. Ross and Sons,
of Bishopsgate-street, and selecting from their New In-
ventions, articles for the Toilet, as Byron says—
" To keep you beautiful or leave you neat."
GRATUITOUS PUBLIC ExmnrrioNs.—At this holi-
day season it may be interesting to visitors to the me-
tropolis to know that the following exhibitions may be
inspected gratuitously :--The British Museum, Great
Russell-street. The National Gallery, Charing-cross.
The Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln's
lon-fields ; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday ; any
qualified surgeon can write an order for admission. The
East India;llouse Museum, Leadenhall-street ; Saturday,
to the public, from 11 to 3. The Soane Museum,
Lincoln's Inn-fields ; on application for a ticket. The
Society of Arts, Adelphi ; any day except Wednesday,
upon application. London Missionary Museum, Bloom-
field-street, Moorfields ; a collection of curiosities, the
results of missionary enterprise brought from all parts of
the globe ; Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. United
Service Museum, Middle Scotland-yard ; daily, by a
member's order. Entomological Society's Museum, Old
Bond-street ; any Tuesday, from 3 to 8 o'clock. Mu-
seum of Economic Geology, Craig's-court, Charing-
cross ; daily.
DREADFUL EFFECTS OF THE LUCIFER MANUFAC-
TURE.—A case has occurred for the fourteenth time, in
Nuremberg, of the removal of the lower jaw-bone, in
consequence of disease, from persons working in lucifer-
match manufactories. The disease usually attacks girls
who, for trifling wages (2s. per week), risk the loss of
their health. The physicians have not hitherto been able
to find any means of cure for this disease; when the jaw-
bone is once attacked, however slightly, the malady is
incurable, and the bone must be removed. In this last
case, the girl had left the factory above six months, dur-
ing which time she had been at service in another town,
before the jaw showed symptoms of disease. During
the op_razioi.: she suff..red the ex:re:ll,-st Govern-
ment ought to take this subject into its earnest consi-
deration.—Hantburgh paper.

PRICES OF MALT LIQUORS.
Last night a special meeting of the Hackney Licensed
Victuallers' Protection Society was held at Mr. Homer's,

Dolphin, Hackney, to take into consideration the pro-
priety of raising the price of beer, ale, &c., in the same
ratio as the advance by the brewers and distillers. The
meeting was most numerously and respectably attended,
and included, besides the great majority of the licensed
victuallers of the district, many members of the trade '
from all parts of the metropolis, who evinced a lively
interest in the business of the meeting.
On the motion of Mr. STICH, seconded by Mr. HOMER,
Mr. Hubble was unanimously called to the chair ; and
Mr. R. L. JEcKs, the secretary, having read the cir-
cular convening the meeting,

The CHAIRMAN said the business on which they were
assembled was one of great importance to the trade. It
was to discuss what steps should be taken in consequence
of the recent advance of prices by the metropolitan
brewers, and the propriety of their also raising prices in
the same ratio. If any gentlemen present had any reso-
lution to propose on the subject, he was sure that he
would meet with a candid and impartial hearing, and
that the subject would be discussed solely with reference
to the facts of the case.—(Hear.)
Mr. J. J. HOMER said it would have given him much
pleasure to have heard the opinion of the numerous body
of gentlemen around him before expressing his own ;
but as no one else came forward, he rose to submit a
motion to the meeting on the question they had met to
consider. When he heard of the advance in price on
Saturday last, he felt that it was a subject for the con-
sideration of the trade, and that a meeting should be
held for that purpose. With that view he had imme-
diately caused a notice to be inserted in the Morning
Advertiser calling the present meeting, and subsequently
the Hackney Licensed Victuallers' Protection Society
had taken the subject up and issued the circular which
had just been read. For himself, looking at the price
of grain in this country, he had looked for this ad-
vance in prices for some time past, but there were
others who held a different opinion, and who believed
that, at present prices, the brewer:: could continue at
the old prices. He thought it was only necessary
to look at the actual facts of the case to show the