The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-21 00:00:00

MARKETS.

BIRMINGHAM CORN MARKET, THURSDAY. —At this
market to-day the supply was short. There was a thin attend-
ance, and few buyers. Wheat was ls. dearer, both English and
foreign. Barley, oats, peas, beans, and maize were firm, and
without alteration in price.
METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY.—Not-
.

withstanding that there was only a moderate supply of stock
on sale, owing to the detention of French and German beasts
at the waterside, the sales effected were on a limited scale.
Neyertheless, the rates current on Monday were fully realised.
In reference to beasts, there was a fair supply. The demand
was dull, but prices were maintained, the best Scots and crosses
being sold at 6s. per 81bs. The market was moderately sup-
plied with sheep, which came to hand in poor condition. The
inquiry for all descriptions was inactive, at previous quo-
tations. Calves and pigs experienced a steady sale,
at prices tending upwards. Per 81bs. to sink the offal:
-Coarse and inferior beasts, 3s. Bd. to 45. 6d. ; second quality
ditto, 4s. Bd. to ss. Od. • prime large oxen, 6s. 2d. to ss. 4d. ;
prime Scots, drc., ss. 10d. to 6s. Od. ; coarse and inferior sheep,
3s. 6d. to 3s. 10d. ; second quality ditto, 4s. Od. to 4s. 6d. ; prime
coarse-woolled sheep, 4s. Bd. to ss. 4d. ; prime Southdown
ditto, ss. Bd. to 6s. Od. ; large coarse calves, 3s. 6d. to 48. 6d. ;
prime small ditto, Is. Od. to Is. 10d. ; large hogs, 4s. 4d. to ss. 2d.;
neat small porkers, Is. 6d. to 6s. 2d. Quarter old store pigs,
225. to 265. each. Arrivals.-English :-Beasts, 670 ; sheep,
3,480; calves, 35 ; pigs, 10. Foreign : Beasts, 480 ; sheep,
4,500 ; calves, 220 ; pigs, 180. Total : Beasts, 1,150 ; sheep,
7,980 ; calves, 255 ; pigs, 190.
BRISTOi, CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY. -At this market
to-day there was a fair supply of mutton. Good sheep were
in demand, at Bd. to 80. ; all sold. Beef, 725. top price.
The demand was good ; all sold. Store cattle were about the
same as last week.
METROPOLITAN HAY AND STRAW MARKET, THURS-
DAY.-The market to-day was fairly supplied with hay and
clover. The demand was moderately animated, at the annexed
quotations :-Prime old hay, 1275. 6d. to 1355. ; inferior ditto,
110 s. to 120 s. ; prime new hay, 1153. to 1255. ; inferior ditto,
100 s. to 1108, ; prime clover, 130 s. to 140 s. ; inferior ditto,
115 s. to 1255. ; prime new second-cut clover, 120 s. to 130 s. ;
inferior ditto, 110 s. to 116 s. ; and straw, 30s. to 345. per load.
COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE MARKETS, THURS-
DAY. -Sugar-The market is moderately active, at firm quota-
tions, Superior white crystalised Martinique, duty 65., 355. 6d.
to 365. ; low middling to good yellow syrups, duty ss. 3d., 265.
to 278. ; good middling to fine brown syrups, Penang, 225. to
248. 6d. ; low yellow, 255. per cwt. Coffee steady. Native
Ceylon, good ordinary, 48s. ; fine ordinary to fine baked, 498. to
535. Tea is purchased to a fair extent, at full pfices. Rice
quiet at late rates. Saltpetre -Business doing at 9to n lbs. ;
Bengal at 248. 6d. to 255. 6d. short prompt. Cotton is in rather
better demand, at improving prices. Hemp firm. New Zealand
flax rather more saleable, at previous rates.
LONDON OIL MARKET, THURSDAY.--Linseed, 30s. London
and Hull on the spot ; 295. 9d. last two months Hull. Rape,
425. for English brown in all positions to the end of the year.
LONDON TALLOW MARKET, THIIRSDAY,-Tallow sells
slowly, but at full prices. Y. C., spot, 435. 6d.

LONDON METAL MARKET, THURSDAY.—MetaIs are quiet
Tin firm at £l2B for Straits. Spelter, £l7 6s. to £l7lox. Chi
copper, common bars, £6l.

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, THURSDAY.—Opening Re-
port.—This market opened with a fair inquiry to-day, at yes-
terday's prices on the spot. Probable sales, 10,000 bales.
There was less offering to arrive, and buyers were at last night's
closing rates. Imports, 8,534 bales. Closing Report. - This
market closed with a very firm tone, on the rumours of the capi-
tulation of Metz. The sales on the spot were 120,000 bales.
There was more demand to arrive, and prices were id. dearer
than last night's closing prices.
MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, THURSDAY.—This market
is reported as being dreadfully easier in prices to-day, and the
recent nominal advance has again been lost, and there is the
prospect of even lower rates than those accepted during last
weeks. The amount of daily is again very limited, and
await a more favourable opportunity. The cotton market in
Liverpool is again also easier, and this fact warrants buyers here
in holding aloof for a little time.
BRADFORD TRADE REPORT, THURSDAY.—This market
during the past week has been tolerably good. There continues
to be a fair demad for many descriptions of English wool, and
particularly for wethers. Lincoln, Leicester, Irish, Kent, and
north wethers are all saleable, at fully late rates.
Low sorts are also in request. There is a full sale
for downs, halfbreds and hogs of all sorts. Prices keep quite
firm, and the rates is the country make it impossible
for staplers to replace at an advantage. Worsted
yarns for the export trade are still very little wanted,
and the loss of the import branch of the trade is
seriously felt. The home trade, however, is all the better in
consequence, and keeps a great deal of machinery in full em-
ployment. Prices have not suffered much, as spinners
are obliged, from the firmness of the raw material,
to maintain quotations. Operations from stock may possibly
be done at a trifling reduction. In piece goods there is rather
more inquiry for Germany, and the Americans continue to buy
to a limited extent. The home trade is quiet, and prices re-
main nominally unchanged.
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE REPORT, THUM-
DAY.—The meeting of ironmasters at Birmingham to-day was
well attended, and was characterised by a cheerful tone. The
peace rumours which are still clung to are received with great
satisfaction, and in view of the possible cessation of hostilities, the
prospects of the trade are hopeful. The orders given out since
the quarterly meeting have not been very numerous, but it is
anticipated that the season will be a busy one.

All the iron mills and forges in the Wolver-
hampton district are reported to be steadily occupied.
A NOTABLE BANKRUPT.—A first sitting was held
before Mr, Registrar Roche in the case of Peregrini
Taylor Bingley, late Paris agent to the South Eastern
Railway Company. The liabilities are about £4,000, and
most of the creditors are resident in Paris. On their
behalf it was asked that the sitting should be adjourned,
as the case could not be properly investigated unless
they were present or represented. This was
opposed on the part of the English creditors, who
urged that an adjournment on such a ground would be
equivalent to a postponement sine die. His Honour said
it was well known that intercourse with Paris was com-
pletely stopped—in fact, the whole commercial law of
France might now be said to be in abeyance. Acting on
the precedent in other cases, in this and other Courts, he
would adjourn the sitting for a month.
THE ECLIPSE CF DECEMBER 22.—Mr. Hind has
published a Nautical Almanac Circular with reference to
the path of the total phase in regions which are con-
veniently accessible. After crossing the Atlantic
Ocean, the shadow of the moon passes across
the south of Portugal and the Straits of Gib-
raltar to Algeria, reaching its most southerly limits
in about longitude 4 degrees east of Greenwich, where
the southern boundary of the shadow-path is in about
34 2-3 degs. north latitude. Thence the shadow passes
to Sicily, the northern limit passing slightly to the north
of Mount Etna, and so, touching the extreme southern
point of the Italian Peninsula, by the south of
Turkey, past Thessaly. The most important parts
of the shadow's path are those across the south
of Portugal and Spain, in Algeria, and across
Sicily. The chief towns which lie close to the central
line are Odemira, Silves, Almodovar, Tavira, Ayamonte,
Huelva, Palos, Xeres, Cadiz, San Fernando, Arcos, Este-
pona. and Marbella, in the Spanish peninsula ; Oran and
Ratna, in Africa ; and Syracuse, in Sicily. Incredible as it
may seem, the Admiralty have refused the use of
a ship to convey the astronomers and others who
had volunteered to observe the eclipse. It will
be felt by all that the chief misfortune here
is not the loss of the opportunity of making
observations likely to throw light on the subject of solar
physics. Important as the results of well-concerted ob-
servations would in all probability have been,
we could better have sacrificed the result of the
observation of fifty total eclipses thau have suf-
fered the shame of such paltry parsimony to
rest for ever as a blot on the scientific repute of England.
To all ages the story will be handed down that in 1870
England seemed to have forgotten the traditions of past
munificence in the cause of science, and that when 60
generous men volunteered their services, at no unimpor-
tant sacrifice, England could not find a corner
for them in all her navy Where George 111.
could be generous, insomuch that under his
auspices ships were sent to the Antipodes to observe a
transit of Venus, a Liberal government in this 19th
century can risk the reputation of the country through
a miserly economy. But then there is war, and who can say
what risks this country might not run if any one of her ships
should be employed to leave observing parties at Gibraltar or
Syracuse, and to transport them back again to England?
The prospect is terrible indeed. Yet unless we err, this
country has done more than that in the cause of science
when Europe was in arms from the North Cape to
Gibraltar and Matapan. France also when in the throes
of a terrible revolution, and threatened by armies on all
sides, could employ Delamore and Mdchain to measure
an arc of the meridian, under circumstances of such
difliculty and danger that the completion of the task
is among the wonders of science. Truly our boasted pro-
gress is of questionable value if the spirit which has ren-
dered it possible is to be thus forgotten. The Popular
Science Review.

BREAK FAST.—EPPS'S COCOA.- -GRATEFUL AND COM-
FORTING.—The very agreeable character of this preparation has
rendered it ageneral favourite. The Civil Service Gazette re-
marks :—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which
govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a
careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa,
Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately
flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors'
bills." Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only in
tin-lined packets labelled—JAMES EPPS & CO., Uomceopathi
Chemists, London.—Advt.

THE WA R.

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

A PARIS RESIDENT'S IMPRESSIONS.
The following letter has been received from a young
lady resident in Paris :
" Paris, 11 October, 1870.—(En temps de Siege.)
" Dearest A—, It is wretched to write thus, in
extreme doubt whether your friendly eyes will ever read
my few words, but I think you will be glad to have some
news of us, and a little of that talk with me which it is as
difficult now to establish between us, as if I were in some
lonely spot on the other hemisphere. So the letter shall
try its fate, le jeu vast bien la chandelle. Its depar-
ture does not promise to be speedy, for in the last twelve
days only one balloon containing letters has been able to
leave Paris on account of the contrary winds, and you
may thus guess the pretty accumulation of letters lying at
the Rue Jean Jacques, and how this one will
have to :be ,there while waiting its turn. No walks
to catch the half-past five o'clock post ; no
busy clerks stamping letters to waltz tunes in
the bureau. There is scarcely anything to do there. One
guichet remains open, and behind sits a man with his
hands before him on the newspaper. We write " Par
ballon monte " on our letters ; we mustn't use envelopes.
It doesn't matter when we write or when we post ; we
never, never can have answers ; we feel a million miles
from everywhere. We are tied up within our
walls, and cut off from the whole world,
where Dieu salt qua may be happening—
and we only say and feel. How odd ! how very odd !
how awfully odd ! I feel as if Paris were a little island sur-
rounded by the ocean ; but the ocean is made of dark blue
men with spiked helmets, and the iron band they have set
round us is tightening, and tightening. But our Paris
army, and our forts, and our Mobiles are behaving so
admirably, and the glorieux enemy cannot succeed
in getting up their hideous batteries around
us. But there—l must not say anything of
so martial a strain, or my letter will look sus•
picious to those who most likely will open it before
it reaches your hands, and you will never get it at all. But
I must tell you how strangely quickly we have got accus-
tomed to the cannonading. We thought before that we
never should, and though, but three weeks ago and
I heard it for the first time.(we happened to be alone at
the moment), we started, and flushed, and trembled with
feelings of no small horror, we now listen to it
almost as a normal thing. The guns have been
roaring from the Mont Valerien during the last few days,
and we can see the puffs of white smoke that issue from
it at every coup. Looking from the windows through
opera glasses is a favourite occupation ; we look at earth-
works, barricades, camps, and trenches, casemates and
cannon, but not a single Prussian yet. In the Place
Courcelles there are 9sone barricades and a huge battery.
You can never know how queer it all is. The consoling
thing is that we shall have lived it, and shall be lionised
in our own estimation for ever afterwards. F--: says
she always felt she was born to be a heroine
The siege has supplied us with plenty of inspiriting ex-
citement and—may I say it, in spite of its terrible
menaces--a great deal of amusement. The fight for meat
is something tremendous. There are queues of for-
midable length at the butchers' shops, and Katrine
has to stand for hours, beginning at six in the
morning, to get a joint. The quantity is fixed now for
each person at 100 grammes a day, which makes for our
family of seven a little over a pound and a quarter ! And
this can only be had on presenting a card procured from
our mairie, which is stamped by the butcher, and prevents
anyone going twice in one day. Of fresh butter there has
not been a bit in all Paris since the siege began, three
weeks ago, and the salted compound whose nastiness is
difficult to define is five francs a pound. Milk is most
difficult to obtain, cheese and ham impossible, vegetables
are getting rarer and rarer, and fowls are fourteen francs
a piece. But still we shan't starve for there are loads of
bread and wine and groceries in Paris, and the meat being
dealt out so carefully will last long. Horse and ass are
being eaten ardently, but we have not brought ourselves
to taste them yet, and in the latter case I should fear for
our minds. Enfin, you may imagine how glad we are,
with all this, to have got over a great case of smoked,
preserved, and potted things from England Our preserved
milk is a precious boon, and with a bravery excited by
necessity, we are getting accustomed to odd plats.
We are hardly getting accustomed, however, to
the noise and tumult brought around our house
by the siege. From six in the morning
our Place is full of National Guards at drill, of cantines
and cantinieres, drums and trumpets beaten and played
vociferously ; the whole culminating in shouts of " Yive
la Republique." The cantinieres of the Garde Nationale,
are volunteers ; and appear in the most dashing costumes,
a bunch of tricolour ribbons in their hair, and tricolour
feathers in their free-shooters hats. M-- has
gone into the Garde Nationale, and with him
our last civilian friend has gone, excepting E— who
has not yet been called out,—guns having run
short. M. -- mounts his guard on the ramparts with
the rest, twenty-four hours at a time, sleeping when off
duty in open tents, which, in the wind and rain we have
occasionally, cannot offer much luxurious comfort to our
defenders. M. M-- is camped in some distant place in
the Bois de Boulogne, and can never come to us. F—,
as I told you, I think, is tending the wounded prisoners
at Sedan (how far away Sedan battles seem !), and every
one else we know is away. Thus to return to our one
friend. M-- spends long afternoons with us, and we
all talk of the siege with ever-renewed ardour. Poor
P-- will soon be marching towards us with the arm&
de la Loire, to deliver us from our enemies, it is fervently
to be hoped. How long may all this go on ! Our hearts
turn sick when we hear surmises of it continuing on into
the winter. What will become of us if it does ! It is now
more than three weeks since we had our last letters from
England, and the Grande Rue, Boulogne, and all that
time of course, K— has not heard of her children. I
cannot tell you how I long to hear from you. I need not
ask you to think of us often. Love to all yours. F--
sends her love.—l remain, your affectionate friend,