The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-02 00:00:00

THI FUNDS.

. - -----
;Consols opened this morning at the leaving off quo-
tations of yesterday, 92i I- for the Account ; Reduced,
90/ 91; Exchequer Bills, 1 dis., 1 prem. ; Bank Stock,
177} 178 ; India Stock, 253 255.
In the Foreign Market Spanish Active is heavy,
owing to the prices coming lower from Paris near f per
cent. ; Spanish closed 241 I, at present 231- 24 ; Por-
tuguese left off 33f 34, opened the same ; Three per
Cents. 23f 24 ; Colombian, same as left off at. 24; ;
Mexican also 28f 29 ; Brazilian, 7l f ; Belgian, 100}
101:k ; Dutch Two•and-a- Half per Cents. 51' 52
ex. div. ; Five per Cents., 981 99. t
PRICES OF STOCKS TH IS DA} AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Bank Stork
3 per Cent. Cons.
New 314 per Cent... ...... .... 3 per Cent. Annuities, 1751 New 5 per Cent. , — Exch. Bills, .£1,600......1 pm. par
Bank Long Annuities toexpire Ditto 500 ..1 pm. I dis.
Jan; 5, 1861) l4 I-I6 Ditto Small 1 pm. I dis.
Oct. 10, 1859 -- Ditto Commercial — Jan. 5, 1800 Ditto Advertised ..... --
Jan. 5, 1850 Bank Stock for Account ... April 5, 1880 — India Stock for Account .. Jan. 5.1870 - Consos for Account....... 9N RICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE (.) CLOCK.
Austrian Bonds — Peruvian Bonds Belgian Bonds
Brazilian Bonfls
Ditto Account
Buenos Ayres Bonds
Ditto Account
_—
Chili= 30n3
—; Prussian Bonds
litto teen:.nt - Russian Bonds, 1822.......... ' 172
:aunt ;7.E.: Ads — , Ditto Account
L.:l
Ditto tcro'. nt — Ditto Metallic _
VT v 3: • d 5,1824
I:31:1 Icto.nt 24 , Ditto Account. .21% 3, 4
Oanish 'IC, 3 •
Ditto Meer nt —; Passive ....................... Cl 4
"Defprred ll%
Greek Bonds...
Ditto Bonds, 1825 -- 4 per cent. —f. —c.
Ditto Account — ----. 3 per cent. —f. —c.
Mexican Bonds, 5 per Cent ; --- Exchange. —f. —c.
Ditto Account 1 Dutch, 2% per cent. 5214%
Ditto, 6 per Cent.
Neapolitan — Ditto Accsunt....„ .
PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
aid
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway Company 70. Per Share.
4.7,4ga
Brighton Railway 9O 17yi
London and Croydon Railway Company 141. 168. 6d. lii%
ahnchester and Birmingham Railway 25 13%
N rth Midland Railway Company 95 SI% 3
South Eastern and Dover Railway Company l5 0%
Canady Company 32 - 2111' 98%
PRICES OF IRISH STOCKS. DUBLIN, DECEMBER 31.
3 per Cent. Consols
iji_per Cent. Stock
Ditto Reduced
Ditto New, 1830 ......... 95% City of Dublin Stearn Comp. --.
3% per Cent. Debentures... Sitiii National Insurance Company -
Bank Stock -
Grand Canal Stock - Ballast Office Debentures, 4 -
Royal Canal Stock

RALF-PAST ONE.
It is stated in a French paper that accounts received
from Monte Video, bring the affecting intelligence of the
assassination of an officer and seven men belonging to
a boat of the French squadron, which was driven by the
bad weather on the coast of Bande Oriental, sonic
distance from the camp of General Echaque. The
French papers say, " It is to be hoped that the Go-
vernment will lose no time in taking energetic measures
for the honour of France."

An expectation prevails among the monied interest
that at the weekly meeting of the Bank Directors, which
takes place this day, a discussion will ensue respecting
the alteration of their discounts. This has had the effect
to keep the Consol market firm, although little has been
done in the course of the morning.
Consols at present may be quoted at 921 Account ;
Exchequer Bills 1, par ; India Bonds 4 discount ; Bank
Stock 1771.
In the Foreign Market Spanish Active has been
the chief operation during the morning, in consequence
of the report in the French papers that the, Spanish
Government intend to withdraw their bonds given as a
security for loans. The prevail;ng opinion is, that it is
only a ruse to frighten the bondholders ; nevertheless,
Spanish Stock receded to 23/, at present 24 ; Portu-
guese improved to 33/ ; Three per Cents., 23k- ; Co-
lombian, 24 ; Dutch Two-and•a-Half per Cents.im-
proved, owing to its coming 9 per Cent. higher prem. ;
Holland, .52i ex-dividend ; Five per Cents., 97.
No arrivals as yet from New York.

•
"Bentley's Miscellany" for the opening month of
the new year is rich in, promise and in performance tno.
The commencement of Mr. Ainsworth's " Guy Fawkes.
is, in theatrical parlance, a decided hit. Among the
new subjects included in its pages, "Stanley Thorn,"
by the popular author of " Valentine Vox," is conspi-
cuous for its vigour and originality. The hero, Stanley,
is a second " Little Pickle," having ten times the spirit
and audacity of his predecessor. Whether in his t-
ranny over the menials of his father's house—in his un-
dutiful but ludicrous contests with his father himself—
or in his exploits at Eton, where be effectually resists
the system of fagging, and concocts a plot for the, aboli-
tion of flogging, he is alike rampant and untameaule. If
continued with equal spirit, " Stanley Thorn" will take
his place with the leading heroes of Comic Romance.

EVENT G J! nom

THE MERCANTILE AND TRA-

VELLER'S ASSOCIATION..

The Directors and many of the members of this
very admirable and useful Society, dined together,
on Monday last, at the London Coffee House, Lud-
gate-hill.
Mr. Alderman Wilson, the Chairman G.f the
Society, presided. In introducing the toas.' of
" Success to the Association," the Alderman Le-
verted to the report and balance sheet of the So-
ciety which had been laid before the Annual Ge-
neral Meeting, and congratulated the Company on
the gratifying result of the Society's affairs at the
conclusion of the year, and the well-founded pros-
pects of success for future years. As this Society
addresses itself in particular to the vast body of
commercial travellers, of whom the number is esti-
mated at 27,000, it cannot be doubted that so large
a number of influential individuals spreading a
knowledge of the advantages of the Association
daily in all parts of the Empire, will eventually
enable the Institution to rank amonnst the most
important in this commercial city.
The general arrangements of the dinner, and the
excellent quality of the wines, gave general satis-
faction, and reflect the highest credit on Mr.
Lovegrove.

ROBBERY Or SPANISH

CREDITORS.

(From the Madrid Correspondent of the Morning

Chronicle.)
" MADRID, DEC. 24.—1 n the simplest language of
disgust and despondency, I announce that the Spanish
Government contemplate the robbery of the national
creditors of Spain.
Upon former occasions it was my duty to inform
you of the faithless alienation of the revenues of the
three principal Spanish colonies from the binding obli-
gations of the State—a fact never officially contradicted
by the Government of Spain ; of the creation of two
hundred millions of stock, and the probability of a
part or the whole of this sum finding its way into
the market to the certain injury of the creditor—
a statement admitted by the Government itself ;
and lastly, of numerous contracts made with pri-
vate individuals, either upon ruinous condi-
tions to the State, or, as these contracts have
been, with the view of their being sold over aoin
by persons unable themselves to realise them. In
placing these facts upon record, it was one of my prin
cipal objects to show that the morals of the gang or
party who have seized upon the govenrment of Spain
are of a piece with their politics, and that the defraud-
ing of the foreign creditor was just as much within the
scope of their dsigns as the destruction of the civil and
political rights of their fellow citizens. That no strained
or exaggerated construction ./as put upon the facts
stated, the extraordinary disclosures which I now pro-
ceed to make, will, I think, sufficiently demonstrate.
" The foreign creditors of Spain are all aware that a
large amount of Spanish stock remains in the hands of
Messrs. Ardoin, Lafitte, and successors of Haldiman,
intended for the amortization of the loan of then indi-
viduals, and which all considered as a sacred deposit
reserved to assist in the payment of the interest of the
debt. This reserve, which the creditors of Spain vainly
hoped would be inviolable, no matter what party might
come into power, or what events might occur in the
country, now exists no nmre, so far as its spoliation
depends upon the Spanish Government. The deed is
done. To-night, by the same conveyance which takes
this, Royal orders will be forwarded for the delivery of
the following sums of the Reserved Bonds alluded to
above into the hands of Don Joie Ignacio Moreno,
nephew of Don Antonio Guilermo Moreno, as represen-
tative and fiador of the late contractors of the army
21,000,000 of the Active Debt ; 29,600,000 of De-
ferred Debt ; 56,800,000 of Passive Debt ; 5,800,000
in cash.

" Besides the above round sums, Royal orders will
also be dispatched this night to the Messrs. Zulueta, of
London, to deliver into the power of the• individuals
already stated the following sums, deposited i►n the bank-
ing-house of Glyn, Halifax, and C 0..-12,003,0000 Ac-
tive ; 24,700,000 Deferred ; and 146,000,000 Passive
Stock.

" Lastly, a Royal order will be issued to-night to
Messrs. Ardoin and Ricardo to hand over the deposits
remaining in their hands, the whole of the stack stated
being intended to be put into circulation to pay—hear
it, ve defrauded and outraged creditors of Spain !
thirty-two reels the fanega fur barley to contractors, who
are now buying the same at eight.
" The villany of this proceeding, for it cannot be de-
fined in the ordinary terms of decorum, only permits me
to ask one question, and to make one remark more, and
the former is this—will Messrs. Ardoin and Ricardo
lend themselves, or become a party to such a disgraceful
transaction as this ? It so, which it is scarcely possible
to contemplate, then only one remedy remains for Mr.
l'aradi, to stand forth in defence of the creditors ; for
the creditors themselves, and, amongst the rest, the
cheated and ruined officers of tbs British Legion, to
maibargo every bond of these that hands can be laid
upon. I have only to add the hope that the antidote
reach its destination as soon as the poison, and help
at lout to mitigate, if not prevent, its full effects."

THE NEW CONVENTION-ELEC-
TION OF A DELEC;ATE FOR BIRMINGHAM.

BIRMINGHAM, TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
The General Convention of the working classes arts
again begii.l.'ing to assemble. A public meedeig, of
the Chartists of Birmingham was held on Monday last,
for the purpo so of electing a Delegate as the repre-
sentative of the, working men of Birmingham.
The CHAIRM A.N, in opening the business, stated that
the Convention would assemble on Wednesday (to-
morrow), for the .solemn purpose of deliberating what
steps shall be taken' to rescue Frost, in the event of his
condemnation. A fetter had been received from the
'Convention, counsehlog them to elect no Delegate who
was not prepared to r.s.k his life in an organized attempt
to rescue Frost, if Mum! guilty.

After some discussion,. Mr. ANDREWS proposed that
Mr. Edward Brown ghoul d be elected the Representa-
tive of the Working Classes in the General Conven-
tion, which was to meet on Wednesday.—(Cheers.)
Mr. BROWN said the poste was a post of danger, and
he that went to the present Convention did so with a
rope round his neck. They ,had neither Attwood nor
Muntz, nor the middle classes to back them. They
were thrown upon their own re:. sources, and it appeared
that the Government were determined to put them
down by brute force.—(Hear, he, sr.) From what lie
knew of the intentions of the new Convention, how-
e7er, he could say that a fearful and desperate strug-
gle was at hand.--(Cheers.) If the working classes
had done their duty, Frost would not now have been
in prison. No ; rather would the base Government
have been now on their trial befoie the people for high
treason.—(Cheers.) Let the working classes say they
would perish rather by the sword than by hunger—let
them say they were ready to go forth fully armed—and
ho would follow them even unto death. He would, not,
however, Qvixote-like, fight against a windmill.—
(Cheers.) I( they elected him he would do his duty.
--(Cheers.)
Mr. PORTER said they should send a cool and calcu-
lating man. The times were ominous. He was not
prepared to dischme particularly the intentions of the
Convention ; but he would say thus much, that ere long
an attempt would be nude which would shake society to
its centre, and astonish all Europe for the daring and
courage of the act.—(Sen cation, and cries of " Hush.")
A desultory conversation of great length ensued, after•
which Mr. Brown was declat'ed duly elected a delegate.

THE PRIESTHOOD AND TOE DEVIL'S LAWS.
—You are all aware that public me stings cannot be got
up without expense, and it struck my mind that the mi-
nisters of the Gospel were the most likely persons to
apply to for assistance in our present object. Well, a
companion and myself called at the Vicarage. The
Viear was not in ; he was at church ; we must call
again. We accordingly did so. The servant who came ,
to the door told us, " Master cannot speak to you till
he knows your business." We said we had come to
him as a minister of the Gospel, to assist us in getting
bread cheaper for our families. The message was
taken in, and in a few moments the servant returned,
and said, " Master can do nothing for you."—
(Laughter.) Nothing disheartened, I said to my friend,
the Curate, perhaps, is the better chap, we'll even
try him." He came very kindly to the door, and we
said something to him of tie same import as to the
Vicar. " Abe," said he, "it I'3 the duty of a Christian
minister to assist the poor when l'hey are right. But I
am quite of a different opinion. All the evils that have
been created have arisen from the passing of the Re- '
form Bill, and to repeal the Corn-laws would make
things ten times worse.'—(Loud laughter.) We then
thought we would try the Dissenters, and we called
upon the Methodist parson. We had half an hour's
chat with him, but he did not seem to understand the
subject. He did not think the repeal of the Corn-laws
was what was wanted. He thought it would be to
injure the agriculturist, without much mending us. At
last he said, he should like the law altered thus far-_
take away the duty altogether, and go upon the prin.- 4
ciple of barter. We immediately said that is all we
wanted, and he gave us half-a-crown —(Applause.)
Mr. Jones wished us every success, and gave us two
shillings.—( Loud applause.)—Speech of James Sped-.
ding, a hand-loom weaver at Kendal.
A decent married woman, named Jane Scott,
was committed for trial yesterday at Marlborough-
street Office, on a charge of stealing one red herring,
value one penny, the property of Thomas Jay, of No.
31, Little Pulteney-street, -St. James's, green-grocer.
The prisoner entered the .shop under pretence of asking
some frivolous question, and was observed to secrete the
herring under her arrn. She made no defence.