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

RUSSIAN FINANCE.

The substance of the following important ukase of his
Imperial Majesty the Autocrat or All the Russias ap-
peared in our paper of yesterday:—
" By command of his Imperial Majesty, the Directing
Senate heard the report of the Minister of Finance of
the Ist of April, under No. 2,035, in which he presents
for due publication a minute confirmed by his Imperial
Majesty of the 31st of March last, containing the opinion
of the Council of the,Empire to the following effect :
The Council of the Empire in the department of eco-
nomy and in general assembly, having examined the

tati-rnent of the Alini.ter of Finance relative to the

laying aside, out of the bullion capital of the department
of credit billet., of a sum of 30,000,000 of silver rubles
for the purchase of public securities, and acknowledging
for its own part the utility of this step, because it ap-
pears a convenient and promising means of extracting
out of the immense bullion-fund (more than 14,000,000
of silver rubles, or nearly 20,000,000/. sterling), hitherto
dormant, important advantages for the empire, foresees
no obstacle to the adoption of it, on this sole condition—
that the said advantages mast be applied exclusively to
the extinction of the various debts of the empire.
" From this point of view the measure offers the fol-
lowing results:—
" 1, That the bullion capital, in its fixed amount, is
in no respect diminished, but only a portion of the coin
in it replaced by securities equally solid and valuable,
and which moreover bring in a constant income, and
enjoy universal credit through Europe.
" 2. The quantity of coin of our bullion capital, after
setting aside the part appropriated to the purchase of
securities, is still so enormous, that, judging by our ex-
banks, it cannot but be
dpecerimenedcem,u;affilenthtattorotfhefouninterrupte
d conversion of the
billets de credit ; but even should a necessity arise for the
increase or the quantity of coin in the bullion market,
then the aforesaid securities offer thereto every con-
venience, by the ready sale of the same for cash.

"3. The use of the advantages which may accrue
from such an operation, being exclusively applicable to
the extinction of the debts of the empire, promises to
the Government new means for the satisfaction of its
engagements, and consequently a corresponding alle-
viation of the national burdens. Considering these
things, the Council of the Empire has given its opinion
as follows:

" From the separate capital fixed by the 7th and
17th paragraphs of the Imperial manifesto of the Ist
of June, 1843, for the conversion of the billets de credit
into cash, a sum should be set apart to the extent
of 30,000,000 of silver rubles for the gradual purchase
of public securities, Russian and foreign, here and
abroad.

" 2. These securities, as they are bought, are to be
reckoned as belonging to the said capital at the value
paid for them, and are to be preserved together with the
ready money.
" 3. The interest or rentes of these funds, accruing
from these securities, and, in fine, all the profits of the
operation, should be devoted to the extinction of the
foreit_n and interminable debts of the empire ; but, in
the event of the purchased secarities falling 2 or 3 per
cent. below the price at which they were purchased, a
portion of the said dividends or rentes is to be reckoned
to the account of the bullion capital, till it equals the
money laid out, using for the extinction of the debts of
the empire only the residue.
" 4. If, for the conversion of the billets de credit, a
necessity should be foreseen for the increase of the
quantity of coin, then the purchased securities are to be
immediately converted into cash by sales of the pur-
chased funds on the exchanges of Europe.
" 5. But if, at the sale of any part of these securities
or the re&mptiou of them by drawing out, a smaller
sum should be realised than that at which they were
estimated, then the deficiency is to be made good from
the accruing dividends, and, if these be insufficient, out
of the Imperial Treasury.
" Signed, for the President of the Council,
" COUNT SCWASCiIOFF.
" The original signed by his Imperial Majesty.
" St. Petersburgh, March 31, 1847."

DREADFUL FIRE AT DINS, NORFOLIC.—TEN
HOUSES BRRNRD DOWN. ATTLYBOROUGIi, APRIL 29.
Between the hours of one and two o'clock yesterday after-
noon, a fire of a most devastating description, involving a
serious loss of property, broke out in the town of Diss, twelve
miles distant, and so fearful were its ravages that at one
period the entire destruction of the place was apprehended.
It originated in a carpenter's workshop,
in the principal or
High-street, through some of the workpeople burning a
quantity of shavings,
and h
the chimney-pot, it communicated to the roof, which was
thatched. Strenuous efforts w
i, early fire
re made by the inhabitants
e
to stay its progress atstage, but owing to the high
thte blazing up the flue out of
wind which prevailed, and the combustible character of the
building, the flames travelled with astounding rapidity over
the erection, and extended to a row of new houses, which ad-
joined the flaming property on either side. These belonged
to a Mr. Dyson and Mr. Finchman, and were occupied by
tradesmen. In vain were attempts made to tear off the
roofs, with a view of arresting the conflagration. The flames
raged from house to house, and in less than an hour after the
alarm was given, no fewer than ten of them had fallen a
sacrifice to the devouring element, producing, as may be
conceived, the greatest consternation in the town. The en-
gines stationed in the neighbourhood were energetically
brought into operation, and by being worked in commanding
positions, certainly had the effect of rescuing much property
from destruction. For hours, however, the flames raged in a
very alarming manner, and it was only by a continual supply
of water that they were kept at bay. The owners of the
buildings destroyed are said to be partially insured, but the
unfortunate occupiers will be great sufferer&
A few days ago four large vessels sailed from Ilam-
burgh for New York, with 2,000 emigrants, chiefly poor Pea'
Oast and workmen and their families..