The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-22 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The Kreuz Zeitung has published a criticism of the
system of promotion in the Prussian army, in which
it condemns the exclusive adherence to the system of
seniority. It finds from an examination of the army
list, that even the lowest rank of commissioned
officers are filled by men at least ten years too old.
Active service would find nearly all the generals of so
advanced an age, that it cannot be expected they
should be able to discharge duties requiring such
activity of body and mind as those of the commander
of an army in the field.
" Every course of action contrary to nature punishes
itself, and if in this department of the army in time of
peace, serious attention is not paid to what is necessary,
individuals,
this of a tender regard to the comfort of
this one circumstance will surely plunge us at the first
opportunity into some great catastrophe. A very pre-
judicial change has been permitted since M. von Boyen
hel&office. Till that time four or five officers, whose
powers had failed, were placed on the retired list. This
practice has ceased, and those only get their retirement
who apply for it. There are at least 60 officers of
high rank, who have encumbered the army with their
inefficiency for eleven or twelve years, who would no
longer be in it had the formerly existing practice been
pursued. Formerly the feeling of despair at being
placed under the orders of incapable men, and seeing the
energy of youth despised even in subordinate posts, was
balanced by the chance of war and active service that
might repair the error. But to the reflecting such a
prospect must always be illusory; they know that an
alteration of the system would only follow some great
calamity produced by it. Experience has proved this;
since the last mobilization, not only have all the incapa-
bles been left in their places, but some have been pro-
moted to higher rank according to their seniority. Nor
could it well be otherwise ; in the moment when all is
broken up there is no time for considering reforms. May
this experience doubly warn us to act while there is
time! There are no means of getting at once out of
our present into a better one ; but that is no reason for
despairing and giving no attention to the subject at all;
but, on the contrary, to do what is possible with all our
power. It is possible immediately to remove all who
are generally reckoned incapable of service; to establish
a system of promotion based on examinations andser-
vices, and carry it out with justice and perseverance:

MINING INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Mining Journal of this day.)
The dealings in shares, during the past week, consi-
dering the abundance of money in the City unemployed,
have been very small-few shares, indeed, having
changed hands. Alfred Consols, Devote Consols, South
Tolgus, Spearne Consols, Wheal Basset, and Wheal
Lovel, dividend mines, hive been done at a trifling ad-
vance ; all others at lower rates. Bell and Lenard),
United Mines (Tavistock), West Polgooth, St. Aubyn
and Grylle, West Damsel, East B iringdon, Trebsll,
Rhoawydol, Venton, Butterdon, Wheal Golden, and
Wheal Langford are rather more in tavour. The rest,
on the second list, are generally in statu quo, and little
doing,
In the Metal Market-Copper continues in excellent
demand, both for home trade and exportation. Lead is
still dull of sale. British Tin is in good demand, and a
large business has been done: Foreign also is in request.
at improved rates. Tin-plates have again receded in
price. Spelter has been animated: 150 tons are re-
ported at 141. 55.; sellers ask 14/. 103. In Welsh Bar-
iron a moderate business doing, with an upward ten-
dency; Staffordshire more inquired for. In Scotch Pig-
iron some large speculative purchases have been made,
and an advance of 6d. per ton has taken place. Swedish
Iron quite neglected.
In the Bullion Market, Mexican and South American
dollars, buyers at 4s. 101,d. per oz. Bar silver contain-
ing gold, all gold above five grains in the pound to be
paid for, ss. Oil. per oz. standard. Bar silver without
gold, ss. 04d. per oz. standard. Bar gold, 775. 9d. per
oz. standard. Fine cake silver, ss. 54. per oz.
The silver lead miners tare pleased to see the steady
The in the price of silver, however small. A further
advance has taken place since our last publication, not-
withstanding the yield from several concerns in Corn-
wall, Wales, and else eshere, is reported to keep up the
average quantity.
The directors of the Devon Great Consols Mining
Company, at their weekly board meeting, yesterday, de-
clared a dividend of 5,1201., being 51. par share, from
sales of copper ores sampled in July and August last.
After payment of the same, there remains a balance of
20,7081. 3s. ld.
At Par Consols meeting, the accounts for May, Jane,
July, and August, showed-Balance last account, 2,0571.
17s. 3d.; ores sold, 18,0761.33. 3d.; sale of materials,
83/ 17s. 61; sundries, 981. 14s. 9d. = 20,3161. 13s. ld.
Mine and Merchants' bills, 13,125/. 19s. 104.; by divi-
dend of 401. per share (5,1201.); leaving balance in
favour of:adventurers, 2,070/. 13, 3d.
At Wheal Buller bi monthly meeting, on Tuesday, the
accounts showed-Copper ore sold, Aug. and Sept.,
5,327/. 14s. 6d.-Labour cost, Sept., 548/. 14s. sd. ; Oct.,
8701. 7s. 2d. ; merchants' bills, 6741. 93. 4d. ; lords'
332/. 19s. 8d -leaves profit on the two monehs, 2,0911.
3s. lid. ; add balance in hand, last account, 1.3451. 6e.
64., makes 4,2461. 103. 5d.-dividend, 3,200/., leaves
balance to next account, 1,0461. 10s. sd. A dividend was
declared of 121. los. per 256th share.
At Wheel Reeth meeting, on Tuesdap. the accounts
for July, An gust, and September, showed-Balance
from last account, 774/, 10s. I Id. ; ores sold (less
dues), 3,4051 155..--=4.2801. 55. 11d.-Mine costs and
merchants' hills,
,2,754/. 123. Id. ; dividend of 21. 103.
per share (6001.), leaving balance in favour of adventu-
rers, 8251. 133. 101.
At Wheal Lovel meeting, on the 7th instant, the ac-
counts showed-Balance last account, 238/. Is. 2.1.; ma-
terials sold, 4151 181. 2d ; tin sold, 2,0981. 6s. 84.;
carriage, 211. 185.51.; sundries, 21 ss. 64...2,7761. 9s.
114.-By labour cost, July, 488/ 17s, 5d.; August.
440/. 83. Id ; September, 582/ 183.: lord's dues, 87/. 81.
7d.; by dividend (21. per share), 860/.: leaving balance
in hand, 316/ 17s. 104.
At the Providence Mines meeting on Wednesday. the
accounts showed-By copper sold (less dues, 51. los.
7d.), 971. 14s. 94.; tin sold (less dues, 80/. 10s. 24.),
1.739/. 19, 54.; on account of tin sold, not delivered,
300/4 sundries, 10/. 75.; balance to end of July, 41/.
15s. 1d.=e2,189/ 16s. 3d.-Mine cost for August, Sep-
tember, and October, 1,367/. 3s. 64.; carriage, 60/. 11s.
7d.; merchants' bills and coals, 4011. 183. Bd.-showing
balance in favour of adventurers, 3601. 2s. 6.1.-By divi-
dend of 10s. per share now declared, 2804: leaving
balance to credit of next account, 80/. 2s. 6d.
At Alfred Consols bi-monthly meeting, on Tuesday,
the accounts showed-Ore sold, 3,083/. 18s 64.-Costs
and merchants' bills, 1,5041. 7s. 91: leaves profit, 1,579/.
10s. 91-deduct dividend, 1,5361., makes 43/. 7s. 10d,;
add balance in hand last account, 263/. 7s. 10d , leaves
now in hand to next account, 296/. 185. 9d. A aividend
of 6s. per share was made.
At the Tregardock Mine meeting, on Thursday, the
accounts showed-September cost, 611. 18s. ; October,
68/. 4s. 34 =,130/ 23. 31-3alance in hand last meeting,
891. 17s. 10d.; calls received, 10/. 155.: leaving balance
against the mine, 29/. 91..5d. A. call of 105. per share
was made.
At the Lamherooe Wheal Maria general meeting, on
Thursday, the balance-sheet showed-Receipts on
calls and ore, 24,240/. 6s. PA.-Cost to end of Octo-
ber, 24,320/. Os. 3d.: leaving balance against the mine,
701. 13s. 4d. The liabilities were 735/. I Is. 63., and as-
sets (including 150/. estimated value of arsenic sold),
8051 18s. 2d.: showing a balance in favour of the mine
of 70/ 61. Bd.
The bi-monthly meeting of the Coed Mawr Pool (lead)
Mining Company was heldTh last week at their offices,)
Adam-street, Adelphi
diture from the coirme. accounts showed an expen-
r 7s.
eent of 1,978/. 12s. 7d., leav-
ing a balance of
At Tremar Mine meeting,sdo.n the 10th inat., the ac-
counts showed-Balance las 1051. 7s. 4d.; call
made 10th Sept. (received on 891 shares), 445/. 10s.=--
6504 17s. 4d.-August cost, 1781.
125.: leaving balance to next aceonnst:,;2SsBert. ditto, 2131.
10s. 4d., and
133 shares in the hands of the committee. A. call of 1/.
per share was made.
At the Wheal Oak meeting, on the lath last,, the
4%4. 1441-
accounts showed-Balance last account, 1201, 3s". 44.
labour cost for seven months, to end Aug., 533/,
8091. Bs. sd. Cash in purser's hands, 53/ 11
received for tin, 541. 133.; on shares relinquished, 14:/'.
Bs. 64.; call of ss. on 998 shares, 249/. 10s.: leaving
balance against the mine, 437/. 25. 2d.
At Great Wheal Baddern Mine quarterly meeting on
the 14th inst. the accounts showed-Balance from last
account, 3921.35. Id.; engineers' fees for erecting stamp-
ing-engine, 441.; journey to Cornwall. 71. 75.; interest,
6/. 6s. 104.; labour cost for August, 355/. Os. 7d.; Sep-
tember, 3614 7s. 6d.; October, 371/. 7s. Id.; merchants'
bills, 2031. 19s. 3d =1,7411. 11x. 4d. Materials sold, 11/
78- 3d.; lead sold, September, 450/. 7s. 84.; October,
4421.
10a. 2d.; November, 4461. 3s. 9d.; black-jack, 391.
18x. 6d.; tin, 34/. 183 2d.; mundic (not invoiced) 2101.;
leaving balance against he mice of 106/. ss. 104., to
liquidate which and carry on the operations a call of 23.
per share was made.
The report of the ISieerbrook Sough Company showed
on capital account-Receipts from calls, 14,9181. 63.3 d.;
and after clearingahlleexry pense-f agents and Parliamen-
tary expenses, niscin
building, &c., to get the mine
into regular working, there remained a balance of 209/.
12s. Bd. On the revenue ace, urt
ceipt oresamounted G,391;1:_ appears th.it the re-
paying expenses of alining. rates
iseind sundries, in
(r, s. 3'l. ; and after
all 481/ 193. 14., dividends have I;een‘ sa,
of 5.2531. ss. Ild. ; leaving a balenecipof 66t(1)/the amount
8
i;,t, thean thee nd ati-
of '
making the total balance available, 8711. 105. 1114'. 3d"
At Wheal Eoys rnct‘ting, onit.ohme 1341
Anvil i
counts sheirefl-ledsaur cost, f
Sept., 4141 181. 10,1.; materials, 1851. 12s. 54. 6004
lls. 34.-Call, 2671. 103.: leaves hidane, against the
mine, 333/. ls. 34 , to liquidate which a call of 10s. per
share was made.
At the Devon and Cnurtenay Mine meeting, on Tues-
day, the accounts showed-Balance against the company
last account, 30/. 103. 44.; Sept. cost, 503/. 18s. 6d.;
October, 4531. 19s. 3d. = 988/. 18e, 14.-Call made in
Sept., 812/.: leaves balance to next account, 1764 Bs. ld.
A call of 4s. per share was made.
At the Runnaford Coombe meeting, on Monday, the
secounts showed-Balance from last account, 301.45. 94.;
calls, 218/. 145.2481. 183, 9d.-By labour cost Sept.,