The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-05 00:00:00

EVENIN G.

firmer, and closed generally at improved quotations.
For cash, Paris and Orleanslast called at 1,218 f. 75c. ;
Paris and Rouen, 907 f. 50c. ; Avignon, 513 f. 75c. ;
Vierzon, 545 f. ; Strasburgh and Bale, 160 f.; Nantes,
395 f. ; Northern, 551 f. 25c. ; Paris and Strasburgh,
415. ; Paris and Lyons, 402 f. 50c.

BUSINESS DONE 1N FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JAN. 4.
Northern of France, 12—Orleans and Bordeaux, 5X—
Paris and Strasbourg, 44—Sambre and Meuse, 7.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.
The Cotton Market at Liverpool yesterday was
steady. Sales 3,000 bales, of which 2,500 were
American, at 444. to 6d. per lb. Railway Shares have

been rather firmer, but with very little doing.
In accounts received from Newfoundland, painful in-
telligence is given of the destitution prevailing among
many of the inhabitants of the colony. From Placentia
Bay, St. Mary's Bay, Ferryland district, Conception
Bay, Trinity Bay, and Bonavista Bay, appeals poured

in for aid from the Government, which the crippled re-
sources of the country would not allow of immediate

attention.

The Home Government have been at

Last appealed to. At St. John's, New Brunswick,
it is stated that upwards of seventy persons had arrivcd,

throwing themselves upon the bounty of the finances
there for shelter during the winter, but it had been re-
solved to send them back again with such temporary
assistance as the Governor had at his disposal. The
winter had fairly set in at Newfoundland, at New
Brunswick, Miramichi, and places in that direction.
The interesting case of " Geach v. Ingall," has led to
the publication of suggestions for placing life assurance
upo❑ a more satisfactory footing. It is contended by
some that a policy once granted by an office should, on
public.: grounds, remain unimpeachable ; or that at least
it should be impeached within a year or two, the party

insuring being necessarily much weaker than a powerful
office. We know that many offices are extremely
liberal, but in matters of such importance it is not op-
tional concession, but defined justice that is needed.
The parties aggrieved complain that in the case of

" Geach v. Ingall"—
" The opinions of the directors of the Imperial Life
Office are unshaken by the verdicts of three different
special juries, and that the highest and most solemn
justification of the conduct of Mr. Scott, the most com-
plete proofs of his integrity which the law of the land
affords, does not prevent them from still fixing upon his
memory the charge of • fraudulent misrepresentation
and wilful concealment," after having been told by
three juries that these accusations are false.
In the spirit displayed by the Imperial Office
throughout this ' litigation, the solicitor for the office
appeared before Master Walter, the taxing officer, on
the 24th of November last, and used his best efforts to

reduce the amount at which the costa should be taxed ;
the result is, that the attorney's bills against the pur-
chaser of the policy amount to considerably more than
2,0001., of which the office has only to pay 6461.
" The history of this case involves many very important
considerations to the public with reference to the present
system of life insurance, and illustrates the following
other positions :
" That no amount of candour on the part of the
assured, or of investigation or precaution on the part of
the office before granting- a policy, will preclude it from
disputing the payment after death.
" That an office is at liberty to receive premiums,
grant bonuses in respect of a policy, offer to purchase it,
and in every ether respect treat it for years as a valid
policy, and afterwards dispute its validity."
There are not any late Colonial advice. announced in
the City this morning. The news from Paris, by the
electric telegraph, caused no variation in the value of the
Funds this morning. It is believed that the larger pro-
portion of the bills which became due yesterday were
very well met indeed. Such, at least, is the statement
in the City this morning. No more failures have been
talked of, though there are fears that some, and not a
few, connected with two important trades, are in a weak
state.

The Consol Market has been very steady this morn-
ing, at from 854 S. For the February Account there
has been some dealings at from 4 to 4 per cent. con-
tinuation. Exchequer-bills have reached 17s. premium,
and East India Bonds are at Bs. premium. Bank Stock
is heavy at 187.
In the Spanish Five per Cent. Bond Market there has
been a rally to 204, and in the Three per Cents to 294.
The Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have been quoted
at 544, the dividend deducted. For the Mexican Bonds
the prices have receded from 18 to 171 for the accounts.
Brazilian Five per Cents. have been sold at 80.
In the Railway Share Market this morning business
has been somewhat confined. The prices have changed
but in a trifling degree.
At the meeting of the South Sea House proprietors,
held this morning, the only business done was the
reading of the financial accounts and the declaration of
the usual dividend.