The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LON_3ON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 9, iF4ci

1 marvellously improbable. That the refusal of AR-
MERO, the Minists r of Marine, to apologise with due
obsequiousness to the Infante Don ENRIQUE for his
discourteous behaviour at Cadiz, should have nipped the
new-born rose of French domination "i' the bud," or
even have " fed on its damask cheek " in secresy, is
equally preposterous. The two principal rumours,
however, to which we have referred are much
more rational. The first, if correct, reflects dis-
gracefully upon the Court. On the 30th of Novem-
ber the salt contract between the Government and 1
IM. SALAMANCA. terminated. M. Moss was obdurate
in his refusal to renew this grant, and in its renewal
were said to be implicated the pecuniary interests of
the Duke DE RIANZARES. According to many cre-
dulous individuals, this obstinacy of the Minister of
Finance was the immediate cause of the resignation
of his colleagues. According to others, that resigna-
tion was attributable to a very different and an in-
finitely more creditable circumstance. Senor
PAcuEco, the avowed leader of the Conservative
Opposition in Congress, and Fiscal of the Supreme
Tribunal of Justice, had applied according to an
official custom for permi-sion to visit Cordova, for the
purpose of personally superintending his re-election
by his constituents. That permission had been re-
fused by Senor CANEJA, the Minister of Grace and
Justice, and in consequence thereof Senor PACHECO
instantly tendered his resignation. The report was
prevalent that it was the disinclination of Queen
Isanem,a, at the earnest solicitation of the Icing
Consort, to accept the resignation of t enor
PacnEco, which had determined the Minis-
try generally to resign. Whether these con-
jectures be literally correct or not, it is certain
that the first prejudices of the SOVEREIGN have been
conquered, that the resignation of the Fiscal
of the Supreme Tribunal has been ultimately ac-
cepted, that ISTURITZ and his colleagues have been
reinstated in office, and that all this has been
accomplished through the instrumentality of the
Count DE BRESSON. Is anything further wanting to
divulge the efficiency of the French representative in
the Iberian metropolis ? Are not the manacles
which had been concealed by the gala-dress of
the Ministers now sufficiently disclosed ? Are
not the contemptible Afrancesados bound
to the imperious and volatile will of a
foreign population by the ties of gratitude as well
as by the shackels of sycophancy ? Are not the
anticipations of England verified in this disgraceful
transaction ? Are not the Spanish millions under
the arbitrary control of a feudatory lord acquired
by marital chicanery ?
There is a solitary consolation in these recent
proceedings at Madrid ; it is, however, only an antici-
patory consolation. If the information received is
credible, the King Consort has evinced a disposition
for independent action, which may be developed in
the end to the redemptian of the Government. Sup-
posing that the circumstances which we have
described be correct, :his Majesty has displayed
a character singularly contrasted with the
feebleness of his predecessors. It is earnestly to be
hoped that he may not emulate the partial idiotcy cf
the Prince of the ASTURIAS or the weakness cf
CUAELES IV., but that he may assume to himself a
moral and mental importance most calculated to re-
dound to his own honour and to the salvation
of his native land. We are not disposed,
however, to repose much upon the promises
of improvement in the nature of a Spanish
Bourbon. This is not the moment, inieed,
to indulge in such day-dreams. When the country
of the CID is subjected so entirely to the pleasure of
a French monarch ; when the streets, which rever-
berated with the wail of that pathetic lamen-
tation, Ay di mi Alhama ! are paced by
the obsequious parasites of a Gallic Ambas-
sador ; when the whole of Spain is oppressed
with a bondage as entire as that of BOBADIL, it is not
the most fitting time to indulge in thoughts which
may possibly prove the mere hallucinations of the
fancy. The Spaniards must do something more than
wonder and conjecture.

On Friday we alluded to the statement made by a
Contemporary as to the steps that have recently been
taken for the purpose of foreclosing many mortgages
affecting estates in Ireland. We pointed out the ex-
traordinary sufferings that would be thereby oc-
casioned to many families, the great and unnecessary
expenditure that would be thrown away in useless
litigation, the evils that would ensue in consequence
of so large a part of the rental of the country being
locked up in the coffers of the Court of Chancery, and
the impossibility of any considerable portion thereof
being, in the present state of the law, made applicable
to the effecting of permanent and valuable improve-
ments, the employment of labour, or to those acts of
charity that are now so imperatively demanded. The
abatements of rent, which every well-disposed land-
lord is disposed to make at the present crisis, in order
to bear his portion and participate in the losses of his
tenantry, would be thereby effectually prevented. In
fact, it is scarcely possible to conceive a greater
national calamity than would be produced by such a
panic becoming general amongst the holders of charges
affecting Irish property, and pressing with undue
rigour, or taking active steps to compel the imme-
diate payment of the principal of their debts. There
is no just reason why such a panic should be originated)
and yet the number of cases in which proceedings
have been actually instituted, so far beyond the
usual average, would indicate that such a feeling is in
existence and spreading rapidly throughout the land.
Its further extension, ita continuance, must be in the
highest degree irjurious to all parties; and it becomes
the duty of every one anxious for the national
prosperity, and the welfare of individuals, to expose
the groundlessness of such fears and the impossibility
of their realisation.

We have asserted that the actual payment of their
capital would be injurious to the creditors themselves,
and at the same time fatal to the debtors. The latter
part of this Tropoqtion require's little proof to
establish. When it is considered that the whole, or
at least, by far the greater portion, of the costs,
charges, and expenses of all parties during the entire
progress of the suit would fall on the residue that
would remain for the unfortunate inheritor after pay-
ment of every encumbrance affecting his property;
that an increased number of such unreserved and
forced sales would greatly deteriorate the value of
banded property; that it would become a drug in the
market, the supply greatly exceeding the demand,
thefear ful consequences to the unwilling and reluc •
taut vendor may be easily understood. Those who
are old enough to remember the year 1798, and the
period immediately following, when, by reason of a
panic, an extraordinary quantity of real property was
thrown upon the market and disposed of at any prices
that could be obtained therefor, can state the amount
of such diminution of value, which went to a degree
that could scarcely be credited at the present time.
We have been assurel that at that period eligible
estates were frequently sold at eight or ten years'
purchase ; but it is necessary to establish that
payment of these demands would also be very injurious
to the creditors themselves.

The general rate of interest payable on charges
affecting land in Ireland may be set down at five per
cent. per annum. That is the highest rate legally
chargeable on such securities in England, but in
Ireland six per cent. is sanctioned by law, and is in
many instances actually paid on most unexceptionable
investments. The Court rate of interest in England
is fixed at four per cent., while in Ireland five per cent.
is allowed under similar circumstances. Generally
speaking, one per cent. more is obtainable there than
here on securities of equal character, and, although of
late years many loans have ban effected in Ireland
at four and a half, or, in some few instances e
believe, even at four per cent., those for which five
and a half or six per cent. are paid exceed tLem in
numbPr and amount, and the average rate may fairly
he set down at five per cent. Now this is far beyond
the rate that can at the present time be obtained even
in Ireland on satisfactory security. Were itnotfor the
heavy expenses attendant on the transfer of the
charges, the loss of time, the delays incidental to a
full investigation, of title, and the other difficulties
which the lay; interposes, that makes it not worth
the debtor's 'while, to endeavour to effect a new loan,
there is litt'ie doubt the creditors would have to accept
payment -of their principal money, or to reduce the
interest 'thereon to the extent of from one-half to one
per.cer tt. throughout the country. If they had their
capand were now seeking investments, they
wow( 4
C'l,tf_lltci with less interest, and Would

cur a certain expense to their own legal advisers, a loss
of interest, while their capital was lying idle and unpro-
ductive, pending the investigation of the title, and a
certain risk as to the validity and sufficiency of the
security they were about to accept. It, therefore, ap-
pears manifest that those who have well established and
sufficient encumbrances charged on land in Ireland
would be seriouly damaged by the present satisfaction
of their claims.

The only rational grounds for such a panic would
be the following, viz. :—a fear that the Legislature
might, by any enactment, compel the mortgagees or
owners of such charges to contribute or bear any
portion of the extraordinary burdens that may be
imposed upon lands by reason of the Labour-rate Act,
or such other measures as at any time hereafter may
be introduced for the purpose of enforcing adequate
employment for the labouring population of th•
country ; or that the landlords, whose properties are
involved, and who are paying heavy interest on out-
standing liabilities, may not be able to meet the de-
mands for interest, in consequence of the present dis-
tressed state of the country. We hope to be enabled
to show that there is no sufficient foundation for either
of these contingencies.
The first of these fears was in some degree occa-
sioned by the insane conduct of some of the proprie-
tors themselves, who, without consideration or re-
flection, demanded that the Legislature should com-
pel the mortgagees and encumbrancers, and all per-
sons drawing any incomes derivable from, or posses-
sing charges affecting lands, to participate in their
burdens, and to bear their proportion of the new rates
that are to be levied on the real property of the
country. Those persons were only desirous of shift-
ing some portion of the extraordinary expenditure off
of their own shoulders, and thought little
of the abstract justice of transferring it to those of
any other part of the community. Neither
did they consider the consequences to themselves
as the owners of such encumbered estates,

that must inevitably be the result of such an in-
equitable transfer. In the first instance, a charge on land
is in its nature essentially different from the land itself.
However prosperous the times may become, however
greatly the value of the lands may be enhanced, the
possessor of the charge can reap no benefit therefrom ;
he can only demand the stipulated interest or pay-
ment of his principal money. The discovery of a
mine, the bringing the soil into better heart, improved
methods of cultivation by which the produce may
be quadrupled, would not increase the amount of
his demand by one single farthing. As, therefore,
he cannot be benefited by the increased value of the
land, so likewise he cannot be injured by its dete-
rioration. It is not just that such should be
the case; there is no reciprocity whatsoever.
The capitalist, who lends his money on landed
security exchanges the prospect of an increase
in the value of land for the certainty afforded
to him of receiving the original sum he has

lent without any possibility of diminution, while, on
the other hand, the proprietor of the land.hopes that
it will still become more valuable, and that he will
have a larger surplus applicable to his own purpose a
at a future period, after payment of the interest of his
debt. Were it otherwise, he would sell such a por-
tion of his land as would produce a sum sufficient
for his exigencies, and hold the residue unencum-
bered, in place of borrowing a sum of money on the
security of all his lands. One of those parties specu-
lates for a rise in the value of land, the other in the
value of money, and neither, against whom the
balance for the moment may happen to incline, has
any right to complain, or to call on the other to bear
any portion of the consequences of his own error of
judgment. lie entered into the speculation with his
eyes open ; he must abide the result. We must con-
clude for this day, but we shall resume the con-
sideration on an early occasion.

The due administration of justice is one of the first
objects of a civilised community. To the just and
efficient operation of the criminal branch of it, the
public naturally look with greater jealousy than to
that of any other portion. Life and liberty are
affected by our criminal code. The privilege of
liberty is undoubtedly subject to serious curtailment
under the influence of the civil law ; but this is
trifling in comparison with the powers conferred by
the criminal law for depriving the subject of
his liberty. Where transportation for life, with
all the dreadful incidents of slavery—rendering
the punishment to many Par worse than the loss of
life itself—may be the sentence, following conviction
of a criminal offence, the public would be wanting
to themselves if they did not scrutiniz,-, with the
utmost jealousy, and in all its bearings, the entire
structure of our criminal jurisprudence from the
foundation to its very apex. It is but just that man
should act in this wise. Is a member of a social
community, he is called upon, and is considered, by
implication, to have abandoned his natural rights in
exchange for the conventional ones, secured by
the State. By virtue of this requisite ex-
change, the first law of nature, that of self•defence,
the most primitive of all rights, is placed under most
rigid restrictions. Man is prohibited from taking the
law into his own hands. It is ruled, that any injuries he
may receive shall be redressed through the appointed
tribunals of the country ; and, it is presumed, that the
wrongs he has suffered will be beneficently repaired.
When, then, SD much of natural prerogative is, as it
were, per force completely resigned, mankind at large,
wherever civilization prevails, will sternly require
from their respective rulers, that all laws, where life
and liberty are concerned, shall be both justly framed
and equitably administered. Righteous laws are
plants of the slowest growth. They must, to he
effective, necessarily vary with the artificial develop.
ment of different communities. To modify and al-
- them, so as to correspond with the ever-changing
phases of society, is a work of the nicest art, and
demands the influence of the highest order of in-
tellect. It is by reason of the difficulty of accom-
plishing this task, enhanced as it has been in every
age, by, at one time, the turbid passions of powerful
and selfish subjects; at another, by the tyrannical
disposition or insatiable ambition of a monarch, and
the other innumerable deranging accidents of the social
system, that justice has been frequently precipitated
from hEr seat, and the keenest miseries entailed upon
the human race.

In our land, the criminal law is first officially set in
motion by the fiat of the magistrate. It rests with
him to commit or discharge the prisoner. In this
way, his powers are enormous; far greater, indeed,
than his responsibility, which is, in fact, next to
nothing. For years, however, has our magisterial
bench been left in a most inefficient condition. Even
our metropolitan magistrates, who are well paid for
their labours, are constantly committing egregious
blunders, as evidenced by the repeated censures which
they get from the Secretary of State for the
Home Department. So much has this been felt
that we believe the Government have resolved
upon filling up every vacancy by the appoint-
ment of a person who shall be qualified, by study and
practice, to discharge these grave functions. But, if
this be determined on, and, as we think, wisely, why
not adopt the same system with the provinces, and
sweep off the legally-unenlightened Dogberrics, who
so uselessly and perniciously crowd our quarter-ses-
sions ? An unpaid body of men never answer—that
is, they never fully act up to what is required of
them. Previous habits of life, and special ignorance
of the judicial vocation, prevent their doing so. No
one can enter a country justice-room but what
he is sure to see the justice completely led by
the nose by the clerk of the court. Is not this
enough, where matters of imminent import to the
subject are hourly handled, to bring the blush to the
patriot's cheek ? Would not common sense dictate,
that, if no better substitute could be found, the clerk
and the magistrate should change places ? The
present system cannot last ; we arc literally dis-
graced by it. Motives of economy cannot be suffered,
for a moment, to war against our recommendation.
Justice should be pure and undefiled. Too high a
prica.cannot be paid for the acquisition of such a
blessing; and whether the stream of justice be
diverted by corruption, negligence, or ignorance, the
effect is not the less baneful to the citizen. Better to
have one sound lawyer on the bench than fifty
leaden-witted squires.
We have perused the report of yesterday's pro-
ceedings at the Surrey Sessions with great dis-
satisfaction. First, on account of the magis-
trates having sentenced several prisoners to be
privately whipped, and next, on account of the
inexplicable disproportion of the different sentences.

Three person', aged respectively 18 years, 23, and 24,
having slept one night in Kingston workhouse, the
next day stole three loaves, in the hope of being sent
to prison. The Chairman ordered them twenty-
one days' solitary confinement, and a private whip-.
ping. Supposing they sought the shelter of the prison,
on account of its better fare, instead of the work-
house, is not 21 days' solitary imprisonment, of itself,
a commensurate punishment for stealing one loaf?
Why aggravate the sentence with the degradation of
corporal torture ? For anything that appears in the
report, the prisoners were not old cffenders.
What can the magistrates expect will be the issue ?
These men will, in all probability, leave the prison
degraded and hardened, and bent upon committing
some felony, which will send them out of the country.
It is a vulgar error to conceive that, in awarding
punishment, the law regards merely the
prevention, in future, of the like offences.
It has another, and a higher aim, at least,
it should have, viz., by the effect of the
punishment, to reform the character of the offender.
It is against human nature to suppose that men of
twenty-four years of age will be reformed by bodily
laceration.

Again, a boy aged seventeen, pleaded guilty to the
charge of stealing a Dutch cheese. lie had not been
in the workhouse, like the others, above alluded to-
neither, as they, did he plead want as an excuse. His
sentence was fourteen days' solitary confinement, and
a private whipping. He therefore got a milder sen-
tence, by one week, than the others, between
one of whom and himself, the difference
in age was only a year. To a considerate
mind, a week's solitude in a prison is
a severe ordeal to pass through. Yet the worthies of
the Surrey Sessions weigh these matters so indiffer-
ently, that, it seems, in their judgment, as light as a
feather in the scale, and appears to be quite hap-
hazard whether the heavier offence, rebus sic stanti-
bus, receive a more lenient sentence, or vice verse
We sicken at these legal incongruities.

The Post Ampt Gazette of Frankfort has the fol-
lowing from Berlin, dated the 29th ult. :—" Our
Minister for Foreign Affairs has just received an
energetic protest from Lord PALMERSTON against
the suppression of the republic of Cracow. M. DE
KAMPTZ has received instructions to proceed without
delay to Vienna, to regulate there the commercial
relations with reference to the incorporation of Cra-
cow with the Austrian monarchy."
According to a letter from Galicia, in the Angs-
bnrgh Gazette of the 2d, the last royal decree in fa-
vour of the peasantry, and by which the obligation of
forced labour is still further diminished, has diffused
much satisfaction among that class of the population.
In the same letter it is stated that the incorporation of
Cracow has inspired so much confidence as to the
future tranquillity of that town, that house property
has risen one-third in value.

Madrid papers of the Ist have arrived. They are
wholly taken up by the discussion of the late Minis-
terial crisis. This crisis is important, as showing
that the Queen of SPAIN supports with impatience
the yoke of the Afrancesado party, and that Senor
ISTIMITZ and his colleagues are not in reality the
Ministers of the Queen of SPAIN, but the Ministers
of the KING of the FRENCH, forced on the reluctant
Q►JEEN by the French Viceroy, Count 13nEssoN.
The War-office was completely destroyed by the
fire of the 29th ult. " The magnificent edifice," says
the Tiemp, " which was formerly the palace of the
' Prince of the Peace,' and has since served as the re-
sidence of most of the Secretaries of State, is, at
the present hour (December 1, three at night), but a
heap of ruins. The papers, valuable furniture, silver
articles, and coffer of the Minister of War, have be-
come a prey either to the flames or to the avidity of
those who could not reach places usually impene-
trable to the applications of misery —a sight both
mournful and shameful I At present we cannot enter
ino further details."

According to the Clamor Publico the loss sus-
tained by the fire amounts to above 30,000 piastres.
The accounts from Portugal are to the 25th. At that
date no action had taken place between the troops of
SALDANUA and those of DAs ANTAS. The Marquis
of LoIJLE, it is said, was endeavouring to induce Das
ANTAS to give battle without delay.
MADRID ‘LSA, DEC. I.—The Three p..r Cents.
341 at the close, paper offered ; Four per Cents. at 21;
Five per Cents. at 21i, there is money; Diflit, without
interest, q; Paper Coupons 19k, there is money.

Algiers 30th November, which appears in the Presse,
says—

" You have, without doubt, heard that our prisoners,
respecting whom there has been so much anxiety for the
last fourteen months, have just been restored to us.
There are ten, including a woman who was eight years
ago captured at the gates of Oran. The following are
their names. Render several families happy by publish-
ing them as soon as possible—Lieut.-Colonel Courby de
Coguard, Lieut. Laraze.), Sub-Lieut. Thomas, Dr.
CabaSse, Lieut. Morin, of the 15th Light Infantry ;
MarLhal-des-logis chief Barbut, of the 2d Hussars ;
Tetarp, a hussar ; Trott& a chasseur of the Bth bat-
talion ; Michel, of the 41st of the line ; and The.eie
Gilles. Lieut. llillerin, of the 41st, died on the eve of
the liberation. It is M. Dilaard, captain of the Vidoce,
who was charged with the whole of the enterprise, and
who has conducted it so well. M. Durande, an enseigne
de vaisseau, received the prisoners in his balancelle, and
conveyed them to Djemma-Ghazaouat,where we left them
in good health."
The following interesting account of the manner
in which th&se unfortunate persons were restored to
their liberty appears in another letter from Algiers,
published in the same journal :

"About a month ago a letter from M. de Cognard
reached the Governor of Mililla, informing him that for
a sum of 30,000 f. the person who had charge of the pri-
soners would consent to their evasion. As such a sum
was not to be found at Melilla, a letter was forwarded
to the General at Oran, who immediately sent for the
Commandant and a discreet officer. Durand, a young
enseigne de vaisscau, was the person designated. At Oran
cases of money were put on beard the Viiloce for Me-
lilla, at which place Durande took the command of a
balancelle (a small fishing vessel). The V6lece was
sent to Cadiz to be placed at the disposal of A. Dumas,
and the French artists who accompany him. We
left Oran on the 14th, and returned to Melilla on
the 27th, having passed a few days at Cadiz, Tan-
giers, Gibraltar, and Tetuan. Hardly had we cast
anchor when a Spanish officer (Captain Conna,
of Melilla) arrived in a boat, and announced the
deliverance of the prisoners, and the departure in the
balancelle of Durande. I transcribe the recital made
by the Spanish officer to M. Dumas, and which, with the
aid of an interpreter, M. Dumas wrote down under his
dictation. The day before yesterday, Nov. 24, two Arabs
arrived with a letter, announcing that the prisoners were
at four leagues from the point of Bestinza. The signal
announced for the following day was a great fire. I
set out for the point of Bestinza, which is four leagues
from Melilla, in a Spanish boat, with M. Durande, and
we waited at the distance of a pistol shot from the
shore. At first we saw four or five men arriving on
horseback, and who made signals. I then landed alone,
and approached them with the Arabs who had brought
the news. They told me that the prisoners were only
half a league off. Three-quarters of an hour after-
wards they arrived, ten in number, including an old
woman, who had been eight years in captivity. They
were on horseback, and the men were dressed in the
remains of their uniform. The eleventh had died
on the road of fever. M. de Cognard alighted, and held
me in an embrace for a quarter of an hour. He then
told me to regain my boat, for fear the Arabs should in-
t( nd to play me false. I replied that I would remain,
being resolved to take him and his companions back
with me, or to remain a prisoner with them. An Arab
was then taken on board to convince him that we had
the money. Some difficulties were made, but finally
we brought the prisoners to Melilla, and yesterday after-
noon they left, with M. Durande, in the balancelle for
Djemma-Ghazaouat. We did not (continues the officer
of the Veloce) stop longer than to shake hands with
Captain Coppa, and on our arrival at Djemma-Ghazouat
found that Durande had landed all the prisoners. An
instant afterwards we had the satisfaction of shaking
hands with M. de Cognard, Dr. Cabasse, and the other

officers. We did not find M. Durande, for he had had
the courage to perform twenty-seven leagues in his poor
balancelle, for Oran, to:announce the success of his mis
sion to the General. In the evening there was a grand
banquet at the camp, at which 120 officers sat down, in
honour of the prisoners. As soon as it was over the
Veloce left for Algiers."

In reply to the questions put by the National on

the subject of the purchase of corn for Algeria from
M. RomsculLD, which we published on Saturday,
the tlfoniteur Parisien says that the hostilities in
Algeria at the end of 1845 had prevented many of the
tribes from sowing their seed in time, and that this
circumstance, with the visitation of locusts and long
drought, had considerably reduced the native pro-
duce; that the war department has, in consequence
of the dread of scarcity in France, acted wisely
in obtaining a supply of corn from abroad, and
that to do so the Minister had applied to M.
ROTHSCHILD, as he would apply to our merchants ;
that at a later period considerable purchases having
been made elsewhere, at advantageous prices, for
Algeria, the corn destined for that colony has been
delivered at Marseilles for internal consumption ; that
the Minister had not Invited competition, as, by
showing the want of corn by the French Govern-
ment, it would have led to a rise in foreign markets;
and, finally, that the Chambers only have a right to
be informed by the Minister of the price at which be
purchased."
The Constitidionnel Ins the following from Brest :

" There is nothing new in naval movements ; hut the
scantiness of our stores is such, that there has been the
greatest difficulty in fitting out the Dant.6 frigate. There
is not enough of flour and wine in store to supply three
months' provisions for the Boussole corvette, bound to
the Antilles on a pressing mission. It is unheard of
that, on the departure of a vessel from the first port of
France, her captain should be told You are to take in
at Martinique the wine necessary to complete your stock,
and which we cannot give you.' Some time back there
was not enough of coals for the Flambeau steamer,
bound for Cherbourg. The stores' department at last
succeeded in supplying what was wanted."
The Bourse opened on Monday with some degree of firm-
ness at the closing quotations of Saturday, but some heavy
sales to realise profits had a tendency to bring down prices;
and at the close both Threes and Fives were quoted lower,
the former at 801. 75c. (the Coupons on this stock are de-
tached to-day); and the latter at 118 f. 10c. The market
closed as follows :-Three per Cents., for cash, 80f. 85c. ; for
Account, 80f. 75c. ; Five per Cents., for cash, 1181. 15c ;
for Account, 1181. 10c. ; Bank of France Shares, 3,505 f. ;
Neapolitan, 1021. 50c. ; Spanish Fives, 33% ; Ditto Threes,
not quoted.
ItaiLwAvs.-The Share Market has also shown less firm-
ness to-day, and at the close of the day the lines were
generally called lower. For cash-Paris and Orleans,
1,250 f.; Paris and Rouen, 885 F.; Avignon, 8801.; Vierzon,
590 f.; Strasburg and Bale, 2181. 73c.; Boulogne, 445 f. ;
Northern, 610 f. ; Bordeaux, 557 f. 50c. •, Montereau, 3401.;
Fampoux, not quoted ; I'aris and Lyons, 5071 60c. ;
I'aris and Strasburg, 4821. 50c. ; Nantes, 4901. ; Dieppe,
352 f. 50c. •
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 8.

Boulogne and Amiens, 133/4 —Luxembourg, 3/4—Namur and
Liege, 31/2—Northern of France Constituted, UN—Orleans
and Bordeaux, 73/4—Paris and Lyons Constituted, s—Paris
and Strasbourg Constituted, 41A.

Lord John Russell arrived in town this morning from
his country seat, for the purpose of receiving different
deputations.

DEATII OF LADY CAROLINE DRUMAIOND.—This
benevolent lady expired on the 4th inst. at her residence,
in Fitzroy-street, Fitzroy-square, at the advanced age of
80, after a lengthened illness.
THE ABORIGINES PROTECTION SOClETY.—Yester-
day Lord Palmerston received a deputation from the
Aborigines Protection Society, charged with presenting
a memorial, craving his Lordship's persuasive influence
with the French Governmet t in favour of the natives of
the Georgian and Society Islands, and more especially
that the acknowledged independence of the latter might
be permanently secured. The deputation, consisting of
Samuel Gurney, Esq., the president of the society,
James Bell, Esq., its treasurer, Dr. Wright, D.D.,
Henry Christy, Esq., S. Woolmer, Esq., E. Martin, Esq ,
and several other gentlemen, received a cordial assurance
that his Lordship's sedulous attention would be given to
the subject.
DREADFUL OCCURRENCE.-011 Wednesday morn-
ing, the body of a man was found, in a literally roasted
state, in the hot ashes, at Mr. Dixon's works, Govan. It
appears that the ashes, as they fall from the furnace,
sink into a bed of successive layers, forming a mass,
which is constantly in a heated, if not smouldering sate,
and emitting noxious gases. The deceased was a poor,
houseless creature, supposed to be a foreigner, and of
whose name or connexions nothing is known. He had,
however, been frequently seen about the works, and it
appears was in the habit of making the ash- heap his
bed, having no place of shelter, and finding comfort in
its warmth. It seems probable that, on the occasion in
question, he had been overpowered, perhaps suffocated,
by the gas from the rubbish, after laying himself down,
and, while in a state of stupefaction, or rather, it is to be
hoped, after life had totally ceased to exist,theburning
of the body had gone on by a slow process, until found
in its partially consumed state, with the integuments, it
is said, crumbling to the touch. A more shocking and
deplorable result of destitution has seldom occurred.—
Glasgow Railway Journal.
FOOTRACE FOR lOU—Yesterday, the walking
a
match between East, of London, and Powell, of II amp-
ton ton (two well-known pedestrians), to contend over
-
six-
teen miles of road, came off near the Dog and Partridge,
at Bedfont. Powell took the lead, and performed nearly
seven seven miles in one hour, and ultimately won, he cover-
ing the sixteen miles of road in less than two hours and
a half, at a fair toe and heel walk.

ROYAL BOUNTY.—The overseers and churchwar-
dens of Windsor have receive() a communication from
the Hon. and Rev. C. L. Courtenay, domestic chaplain
to the Queen, that her Majesty graciously intends to
place in the hands of the parochial authorities there the
sum of 2501., to be distributed amongst the needy and
distressed parishioners on New Year's-day, in meat,
bread, coals, and blankets. The objects of the royal
bounty are to be selected by the parish officers, and the
distribution is to take place in the New Riding-school at
the Royal Mews, in the presence of her Majesty and the
Prince Consort.

A jolly Jack Tar, having strayed into a show at a
fair, to have a look at the wild beasts, was much struck
with the sight of a lion and tiger in the same den. "Why,
Jack," said he to a messmate, who was chewing a quid
in silent amazement, " I shouldn't wonder if next year
they were to carry about a sailor and a marine living
peaceably together ‘," " said his companion, "or
a man and wife l"

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.
The Cotton market at Liverpool yesterday was active
again. Sales 20,000 bales, including 10,000 American
on speculation, at an advance of id. per lb. compared
with last Friday. Shares were rather fiat.
The sale of railway shares, yesterday, at Messrs.
Lamond and Co.'s, did not go off so firmly, and the
general aspect of shares was not so satisfactory as it was
last week. The following are a few of the principal

sales :

Barbadoes £0 6 6
Great Western of Bengal 0 5 0
Shrewsby., Wolyerh., and South Stafford 3 9 6
Leicester & Bedford, _Exchange Certficate 0 10 6
Great Luxembourg
Liverp. Manch. and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2 8 6
➢lanchester and Southampton, 1647. 1 10 0
Shropshire Union and Canal
North British, Extension: 1 10 0
Great Northern ...

Madrid and Valencia
Eastern Counties, York Extension 3 6 6
Shrewsbury and Birmingham ........ 4 12 6
Boston, Newark, and Sheffield 0 14 6
Paris and Lyons o 0 0
Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorset
The West India files of papers seem to afford a
satisfactory report from most quarters of the state of
the weather, and the progress of sugar making,
though we have the old complaints of the Coolies,
who are certainly not favourites, and therefore
not likely to be sought for much longer.
A suspension of Coolie immigration, if only by reason
of the heavy expenditure it occasions, appears to be
thought by no means improbable. The sugar
question had led to one or two meetings being
held in Jamaica, but we find nothing new in the argu-
ments, though there is doubtless much to com-
mend in the recommendations for economical
management, and the adoption of central fac-
tories. There may be some idea formed of
the pre sent value of West India property, from the
circumstance that two estates in Guiana, amply provided
with machinery, labour, and water power, and situated
in most favourable lccalities, having been let for 1.0001.
a year each.
The state of affairs in Mexico, as mentioned in these
accounts, differs but little from what was represented in
the American advices. If anything, however, the
position of the United States volunteers is de-
scribed as being even worse than we might
suppose, and the navy was not very efficiently manned.
It is to be feared that the intelligence of Santa Anna
having seized upon the conducta with three million of
dollars, intended for Europe, is but too true ; a report to
that effect, prevalent at Vera Cruz, being brought over
by the steamer.
The Stock Market is rather dull again. We shall
have the transfer books for some of the leading invest-
meats closing in a day or two, and this serves to show
that there is a slight preponderance in the opinion of par-
ties as to the markets receding, or at least as to money
becoming scarcer, prior to the re-opening in January.
The sales, at the same time, have not been extensive.
Consols realise 954 to 9511 for present transfer, and 951
to 951 for time. Exchequer. bills have been marked
12s. to 9s. premium. The New Three-and-a-Quarter
per Cents have been done at 961 and the Three-per-
Cent. Reduced at 941 Bank Stock is worth 2071
to 2061.
The Foreign investments have been quiet. Mexican
have improved, however, their value being at 22r} to
22* for the Active. Spanish Five per Cents. are 261 ;
and the Three per Cents. 37k. There is some doubt yet
as to the precise position of the Ministry at Madrid, and
whether M. Isturitz has had matters so decidedly his
own way. Portuguese Four per Cents., have been
marked 39 ; Belgian Four•and-a-Half per Cents. have
been 95 to 951.
The share market looks flat again, and prices are
slightly in favour of buyers, both for the home and
foreign lines. Northern of France have been down to
48 premium.
oc
PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK.
Bank Stock .2074 206%
-ed Ar -. 941/

CLOSING
PRICES.
2061/2
94%

3 per Cent. Reduce. _nns
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 95%1% 954
New 31A per Cent. Annuities 961/ IA 9614
Long Annuities to expire J an. 1860 9 15-16
Ditto 30 years, Oct. 10,1859
Ditto 30 years, Jan. 5, 1860 lO 3-16 10 3-16
India Bonds, 1,0001..
South Sea Stock IOSIA 1051 A
Ditto Old Annuities
Ditto New Annuities ... 94% 94%
Consols for Account 95%% 95%
Exchequer Bills, 1000/. 1',,4d.... 11 12 9 p 9 p

O.7*.CE CLOSINt
tRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK PRICES
Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1846 223/4 231%
Ditto, Account . 22% 22 22% 23%
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent
Ditto, Account 39 38th
Russian Bonds ••••• ...... 11114 1111%
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840
Ditto. Account ... .... .... 20/2 26%

Ditto, Passive
pitto 3 per Cent. ..... 37i
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Belgian 4% per Cent .... 95% 95
Dutch, 2% per Cent .
Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certificates 93 92% 92%
PRICES or BUSINESS DONE CLOSING
PAID.
is AIL SIL4.RES AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICE,:..
Aberdeen
Amber., Nott., Boston,
and Eastern Junction 2%..... 2% is 2pi
Armagh, Coleraine, and
Portrush l%
Belfast & County Down 4% —
Birmingham and Dudley 429. ... .• —.•.• • ..... •••
Birmin. and Gleucester..loo 127% 1271%z
Ditto New 17% 31% ..• ... 3lth
Birmingham and Ox-
ford Junction
Birkenhead, Lancashire,
and Cheshire Junc.... 2:34 —
Boston, Stamfd, & Birm. 225. —
Bristol and Exeter
Ditto, New
Bristol and Gloucester... 30 „.....
Bristol and Liver. Junc.. 2%......
Buckinghamshire
Caledonian -
Ditto Half Shares 2% ......... •••• •
Cambrian & Grand June 42s
Chester and Holyhead... 27% 2514
Churnet and 81ythe...... 2 ••• ••••.•
Chester and Manchester 425. —
Cheltexham and Oxford 2 ...... •
Clydesdale Junction.. ... 20
Cork, Blackrock, and

Passages
Cork and Killarney ...
Cork and Waterford ... 11,i —
Cornwall

Ditto, Half Shares ... 2%...... •••
Cornwall & Cent'l Devon 2% _
Direct Lincoln, East Het-
ford, and Shetfd. June. 2%
Direct Northern
Direct Norwich
Dublin and BelfastJunc•
Dublin, Belfast, and
Coleraine
Dublin and Galway..... 4
Dundalk & Enniskillen 10
Eastern Counties 14/. 16s. 22% ............... 227%
Ditto New l2l. 16s 7% p......"''•' 7M, p
Ditto Perpetual, 5 per
Cent, No. 1. 6l. 138. 4d — ...............
Ditto ditto. No. 2,.. 61. 13s. 4d N _F.--
Do., York Extension.. 2
EastDereh'm andNor'ch 1 . . ....
Eastern Union 35 ..
Ditto, Quarter Shares 8A..••••
Do. Extem(Harwich) 1%...••• .........
Do., Camb. and Ely.. 2%.•—•
East Lancashire ......... 14 . ..... 18%.. ..•
Ditto. New
Do., do. (late Preston
and Ormskirk)... .. 5 ...... 9X
Do., do., New Scrip... 114 ..... 23/4
East Lincolnshire ...... 11A....•• 2IA %
East & West of England 1% — .
..............
Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 ...- —
... ••
Ditto Half Shares ... 10
Edinburgh & Northern.. 12% —
...
.........
...
Ditto, Quarter Shares 17,2
131/2.;pii
...........
..
Edinburgh and Perth... 3 ,
......
.. .
EEnlyniagnkidirenuratisili; .....• 12
2%
.....
Exeter, Yeovil, & Dorset 5%
Glasgow, Kilmar..,&Ayr 50 —
Ditto, New ......... .. 15
....._ _
Do., Ms Shares (5 per • ..... ••••..••
cent. guar.)
Glouc.,Abei ystwith, and
Central of Wales 13g......
Goole, Doncaster, &c... 425.
Grand Union (Notting- 14 P.. ...... ...
and Lynn
Great Eastern & Western 2 I "
GreatGrimsby and Shef- h....
.......
....
..
field
Great South. and West.
(Ireland)
Great 'Munster 2%......
Great North of Scotland 2%••••••
Great Northof England..loo 235
Ditto New 5
Ditto, New . .
Ditto, New
19%
Great Western
Ditto % Shares.
Ditto 4 Shares lO
Ditto Fifths 2O
Ditto, New ... 2
Huddersfield & Manches. 13 ...... —
Ditto, Extension
Hull and Selby 5O 107% 107%
Ditto M Shares
Do. Half Shares 25
Ipswich & Bury St. Edm. 11%
"Do., do., and Norwich 2 %
Lancaster and Carlisle... 50
Do. New
Leeds and Bradford
Leeds and Carlisle
Leicester & Birmingham 225. — ... ........
Leicester and Bedford... 225....•..
Leeds, Dewsbury, &c.... 22% 33
Do., Branch (Blue) ... 2% 914% 9%
Do. Extension(Green) 2 %.. ...
Leeds and Thirsk 17% IS3A.
Ditto, New
Lpool., Mnchstr &New
castle Junction
Liverpool and Bury - ... ......
London and Blackwall. 16/. 13s. 4d. 8% lA__

20%

13%

....
lA P

2%

••• •• 000000 •••• ••• 4;4

Do. New
Ditto Extension . — 7 IA ..
London, Brighton, and
South Coast
Ditto, Fifths
Do. Consol. Eighths.. 10
Do. Guarant. 5 per ct. 9
London and Greenwich 12115 s 4d
Do. Preference ...18/173 2d — ••
London, Hounslow, and
Western
London and N. Westernloo 1933/4 19 OA 194%
Do. Quarters ..
D0., do., New
Ditto Fifths