The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-11 00:00:00

THE METEOR.

The Courrier du Barre of the Bth inst., has the
following :
" Yesterday, at a few minutes before 5 o'clock, a long
train of fire, taking, by its undulations, the form of a
serpent, was visible in the heavens, which it lit up the
more vividly as daylight was on the wane. This track
of fire took a direction from north-west to south-east,
and at the moment its head, which had the appearance
of a ball of fire of the diameter of a shell of about ten
inches, appeared to approach the ground, a loud explo-
sion was heard, and for nearly 20 minutes a pale light
spread over the atmosphere, accompanied by a transpa-
rent and light smoke, which gradually disappeared with-
out any sulphurous smell reaching the persons best
placed to observe this beautiful meteorological pheno-
menon.

" We have questioned a number of persons who, like
ourselves, witnessed this apparition, and who all fancied
they saw the globe of fire fall at a short distance from
where they stood. One of our friends who was return-
ing from Cape de la neve assures us that the explosion
took place far out at sea, and this version is corroborated
by other testimony from persons whose occupation had
led them to the sea-shore.
"If an aerolite fell from the meteor after its explo-
sion, it will be very difficult, we think, to ascertain where
it fell. Some idea may be formed of the elevation at
which it appeared from the fact that it was seen at
Rouen at the same hour as at our town."
The Journal dc _Rouen of the Bth of January
thus describes the apparition :
"A most rare meteorological phenomenon appeared in
the atmosphere of our town about 5 o'clock yesterday
evening. At that hour a globe of fire about the size of
a man's head appeared darting, along at great speed in a
direction fcorn north-west to south-east, when it was
seen to fall. It was especially observed that in its pas-
sage through the heavens the globe in question shot out
sparks of fire which, formed a luminous tail, which did
not disappear for at least 20 minutes after the principal
body of the meteor. The curious electrical phenomenon
which we have just described was witnessed once before,
it will be remembered, at Rouen, some years since, on
a summer's evening."
The meteor was seen at Ramsgate.

The Borough compter was sold by auction on Wed-
nesday last.
Major Phillips, of the Royal Artillery, died on Tues-
day last at Bath.
Lieutenant J. Green (1809) has been nominated to
the out pension at Greenwich.
LORD MILTOWN'S ESTATES.—The produce of the two
days' sale has been 101,3501.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME.—A very interesting lec-
tore upon "The Importance of Time ' was delivered,
on Wednesday evening, by Mr. Grant, before the young
men of Messrs. J. F. Pawson and Co.'s establishment.
Previous to the lecture prayer was offered by Mr.
Tucker, and at the conclusion a doxology was sung.
The rate for money in the Stock Exchange yesterday
on short loans was 5 per cent., but in the arrangement
of the account there was at one time some pressure, aed
in occasional instances dealers were obliged to pay as
much as 7 per cent. To carry on their operations till
February. The general charge, however, up to that
period was at the rate of 5i per cent.
The Paris letters describe continued firmness in the
rate of exchange consequent upon the demand for bills
on Loudon to pay for the recent large purchase of Mexi-
can silver for the Bank of France. The transactions on
the Bourse are limited, owing to the principal banking
firms being unwilling to operate during the present state
of suspense, and the speculators, therefore, it is stated,
have command of the market.
RlGA.—Letters from Riga yesterday reach to the 3d
inst., and describe a continuance of the Baltic navigation
in consequence of the unusual state of the weather.
Altogether seven vessels had arrived at that port laden
with salt, and several more were expected. The tem-
perature, however, had just become colder, and there
were now five degrees of frost.
GENERAL SCREW STEAM COMPANY.—A special meet-
ing of the General Screw Steam Company took place
yesterday, at which a resolution was passed authorising
the directors to apply for a supplemental or additional
charter to confirm the payment of 21. per share made to
the proprietors, to convert the shares of the company
into shares of 181. each. It was also agreed to allow the
introduction of a clause authorising the reduction of the
shares from time to time by repayments, if the same be
necessary, provided the operation shall not bring them
below 51. each. The discussion generally related to the
future prospects of the undertaking, but, as it was a spe-
cial meeting, no information could be afforded. In-
quiries made respecting the opening of negotiations with
the Government for the rechartering of steamers were
consequently not replied to.
CANADA.—The advices from Canada brought by the
New York steamer on Wednesday furnish another
illustration of the reckless course of trading which
was pursued by many houses in that colony until the
facilities for credit were arrested by the war. Messrs.
Cuvillier and Co., of Montreal, who suspended some
months back for 116,913/., have issued a circular
stating that the first estimate of their assets was much
too favourable, and that they now do not show a divi-
dend of 3s. in the pound. They add that, with the
assi:tanee of friends, they are able to make an offer of 3s.
in three half-yearly instalments of ls, each.
CASE OF PALMER, THE SURGEON, OF RUGELEY.—On
Wednesday last, in the Birmingham District Court of
Bankruptcy, Palmer, the surgeon, charged with the mur-
der at Rugeley of Mr. Cook, by the administration of
slow poison, was declare I a bankrupt. The petitioning
creditor, upon whose application the fiat was issued, is
Mr. Spittle, of West Bromwich, his debt consisting of
money lent. Mr. Brown, of Bilston, is the solicitor for
the bankruptcy. The adjudication will be disputed, and
the bankruptcy in no way interferes with the sale of the
bankrupt's stud, which is appointed to take place at
Tattersall's on Monday next. On inquiry, it is ascer-
tained that no attorney of Birmingham was ever em-
ployed as an agent for the Midland Counties Assurance
Offioo.

PROPOSED PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS IN MANCHESTER.
A resolution was passed by the Manchester Town
Council on Wednesday, on the motion of Mr. Alderman
Barnes, seconded by Mr. Alderman Hey wood, to the effect
that a great public as well as private advantage would
he secured if the privilege were granted of transferring
Government securities, and receiving the dividends
thereon in that city, and in all other towns in which a
branch of the Bank of England has been established ;
and it was determined to memorialise the Government
on the subject.
TRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETINGS. WOLVER-
HAMPTON, Wednesday.—The first quarterly meeting of
the iron trade was held at Walsall yesterday, and the
second in this town to-day. At the former, which is
attended chiefly by saddlers' ironmongers and hardware
manufacturers, the attendance was good, and accounts
were generally settled satisfactorily. The attendance to-
day at Wolverhampton was numerous, but business was
represented to be as not over brisk ; some orders were
however received in town this morning by the Baltic,
from the United States. Lord Ward has issued a cir-
cular, in which he fixes the price of his best cold blast
pigs at 51. 12s. 6d., and it is expected that other makers
will follow his example. Rates of manufactured iron
are nominally the same as last quoted. In consequence
of a proposed advance in the rates for the carriage of
iron ore from Worcestershire into South Staffordshire,
the London and North-Western Railway have advanced
their freightages to the level of those charged by the
canal companies ; and those ironworks which have rail-
way sidings will be more particularly affected by the
proposed advance, as they will be charged 11d, per ton
in excess of those who have no siding accommodation,
and take deliveries at railway wharves or stations.
The new rules for the regulation of coal mines are
already unpopular among all parties and excite general
discontent.
IRON MASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING.—BIRMINGHAM,
Thursday.—The third of the meetings of the ironmasters
of this district for the current quarter was held here
this afternoon. The attendance was large, but the
trade was again somewhat quiet. There was, how-
ever, a fair amount of business done, although there
was some hanging back on the part of consumers, wbo
do not require iron for immediate use. The principal
makers are understood to be tolerably well supplied
with orders, and as soon as commercial concerns fairly
settle down there may be expected to be more of a flush
of orders. Pig-iron was reported to-day to be a shade
flatter, and purchases were said to have been effected at
a lower quotation, but this seems to have been chiefly
in respect of inferior qualities, all the better kinds still li
commanding what are regarded as the trade prices. It
should be stated, too, that although this meeting was
somewhat (lull the tone was good, and all the principal
members of the trade are agreed in opinion that there is
no probability of prices receding, the more especially as
all raw materials maintain their prices. For tin plates
there is a brisk demand ; the price is quoted from 345.
to 355. per box.
THE IRON AND COAL TRADE.—The usual quarterly
meeting of the iron trade will be holden this week,
and there is no doubt that the prices fixed upon at the
Preliminary meeting held on the 27th
1 ultimo,o/., will be
and sheets
adhered to, namely, bars, 91., hoops,
ies feared that a
ill, per ton. It is by some part
further advance may be considered necessary, and
this, they hope, will be avoided. With iron at a re-
munerating price, fluctuations are best avoided. They
derange the regular course of orders which are received
from the Continent, and eventually bring on a reaction.
A middle course is the best suited at all times to the
general interests of the trade. It often happens that
some difference of opinion exists as to the propriety of
declaring an advance at times like the present, when the
demand is good; but the majority of iron-masters appear
to be of opinion that we must wait till spring arrives,
to see what orders come in from the United States and
other places, before the trade will be justified in ad-
' vancing the price. It must be confessed that the rela-
tive position of the producers of pig iron and the manu-
facturers of malleable iron differs materially to what it
did a few years ago ; the margin of profits of the latter
has been very much narrowed owing to the high rates
demanded for pig iron, coupled with the high price of
fuel and the rise in wages. The demand for coal is
brisk, and the price firmly maintained. Good ironstone,
the produce of the district, is eagerly sought after, and
naturally advances with the price of pigs. Great ac-
tivity is manifested by the colliery proprietors to carry
into effect the requirements of the late Act of Parlia-
ment to prevent accidents in collieries, and Mr. Brough,
the newly-appointed Government Inspector of Mines for
the district, has given notice that it Will become hie
bounden duty to enforce the penalties of the act in all
cases where the law is not strictly carried out. The spe-
cial rules regulating the conduct of the men are now in
force, and we hope the employer and employed will
unite in carrying out the provisions of the act, which
are for the mutual benefit of each.—Welverhanipten
Chronicle.