The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-13 00:00:00

rending professed to be "descriptive of the relations
of master and man in France, and of a visit to the
Conciliation-hall at Paris, with a view to the estab •
lishment of a similar institution in this country."

LATEST

N E W S.

It appears from his account that the Conseiis
de Prud'hommes, established for the settlement of
all disputes between employers and employed, are
of very ancient date. Councils of this kind existed
long prior to the Revolution. The first was that estab-
lished by King RENE at Marseilles, in 1452, for the
settlement of disputes among the fishermen. Others
bearing the same title existed subsequently, but
for the most part the Prud'hommes were municipal
officials apppointed by the Government. This, of
course, defeated the object of the institution, but
all such councils were swept away by the hurricane
of 1789, with the exception of that pertaining tothe
sailors and fishermen, who, never having committed
their:proceedings to paper, had nothing to fear from
the loss of deeds and documents. The Conseils, in
their modern form, were established by the
Emperor NAPOLEON in 1806, in consequence of
the strikes at Lyons: Constructed by his master-
hand, and admirably adapted to the feelings and
necessities of the people, they have withstood all
subsequent changes. The councils are elected by
the trades over which they have control. The
number of members is restricted to six, with a
president and a vice-president. Three of these
members are masters and three journeymen, who
are elected by their respective bodies. Some quali-
fications are necessary on both sides. A master, to
be qualified to vote, must be twenty -five years of
age, having been a master for five years, and
having carried on business for three years in the
area controlled by the council in question.
The same rules apply to the other side with the
necessary variations. Both masters and journey-
men are qualified for the Council at 30 years of
age, provided they can read and write. Uncertifi-
cated bankrupts and convicted criminals are dis-
qualified both as electors and as members of the
Council. The method which they follow is ex-
tremely simple. On a complaint being made, a
summons is sent to the accused to appear before two
of the Prud'hommes, who sit in what is termed a
conciliated office to hear the case in private.
Their first efforts are directed to the amicable
arrangement of the matter. If, however, their
first message is disregarded, they send a second
summons at the cost of ls., and if that is still
unheeded, judgment goes by default. If the par-
ties meet and cannot come to terms, the matter is
referred to the Council, at an expense of about half
a guinea, exclusive of evidence. Care is taken by
the Council to prevent the unnecessary summons
of witnesses, and the respective parties are forbidden
to engage attorneys, but plead in person. The ma-
jority of the cases, however, are settled at the first
stage, not more than one-fifth of the whole number,
it is said, going before the full Council. The effect
of these Conseils is conducive to the interests
of both sides by the speedy settlement of those
long-pending and vexatious disputes which are so
common amongst us ; strikes are avoided, and
both parties protected from injustice. We heartily
concur in Mr. BLANCHARD'S desire to see a similar
institution established amongst ourselves, which
might effectually prevent the recurrence of those
distressing struggles which paralyse the energies
of the man of business, while they bring distress
and desolation to the homes of the labouring popu-
lation.

The following telegrams have boen received a.
Mr. Reuter's office :

PARIS, JAN. 13.

The .3loniteur of to-day publishes the usual
monthly return of the Bank of France, which shows
the following results as compared with the pre-

vious return :

" DECREASE.

Cash in hand .

45 millions.

" INCREASE.

Bills discounted not yet due .. .. 45 1-3 d millions

Advances .
Bank notes

. 69 2-3 d
. 29

Treasury balance....
Current accounts ....

" Nothing has yet transpired to confirm the re-
port of Cardinal Antonelli's resignation.
"Lord Cowley is expected to return to Paris on
Saturday next."

BERLIN, JAN. 12.
The Prussian Chambers were opened today by
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.

The Royal Speech mentions the events of Euro-
pean importance which have lately taken place,
and states that after the conclusion of peace,
Prussia, on the joint invitation of France and Aus-
tria, had declared her readiness to take part in a
Congress to deliberate on the proper means for the
pacification of Italy and the durable consolidation
of her internal affairs.

The Royal Speech then recalls the manifestation
of the desire for a reform of the Federal Constitu-

tion, and says—
" Prussia will always consider herself the natu-
ral representative of the effort (Streben) for in-
creasing the strength of the nation and efficaciously
promoting German interests in general. The Prus-
sian Government wishes that the action of the
Federal Diet should, in its relations with the con-
stitution of separate States, be confined within the
strict limits of competent intervention. Prussia,
therefore, thinks it her duty, in reference to the
constitution of Electoral Hesse, to recommend the
re-establishment of the Constitution of 1831, after
removing all the articles which may be contrary
to the Federal Act, as being in accordance with
that principle."
The Prince Regent further said that, united with
his German confederates, he is constantly endea-
vouring to obtain for the German provinces of Den-
mark a legitimate constitution conformable to the
recognised common law of the country, and to have
the interregnum settled in a satisfactory manner.
The projects of law to be submitted to the Cham-
bers relate to the question of the land tax, the pro-
vincial representation, the limitation of the electo-
ral districts, matrimonial rights, general liability
to military service, and the financial measures con-
nected therewith.

In conclusion, the Prince Regent said—
" It is not the intention of the Government to
violate the bequest (Vermachtniss) of a great period.
'I he Prussian army will in future be also the Prus-
sian people in arms."

MARSEILLES, JAN. 12.

General Montauban, Commander-in-Chief of the
French expedition to China, arrived here on Tues-
day evening, and would embark to-day, with his
staff, on board the Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Company's steamer for Alexandria.
Madame Bourbaloii, the wife of the French Am-
bassador in China, would also leave by the same
steamer.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.—Tan. 12.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPON'DE'NT.)

COWES VOLUNTEER RIFE CORPS. A public
meeting was held in the Town-hall, Cowes, on
Thursday evening. The hall was filled to excess.
William George Ward, Esq., of Northwood Park,
was called to fill the chair, and in an able speech
explained the business of the meeting, and advo-
cated the formation of a volunteer rifle corps for
East and West Cowes and neighbourhood. Sir
John Simeon, Bart., the Rev. R. E. Hughes, T. P.
Mew, Esq., the Rev. J. B. Atkinson, P. L. Powys,
Esq., M.P., and several other gentlemen, addressed
the meeting, and were enthusiastically cheered.
The feeling was unanimous in favour of the move-
ment, and neither men nor money seem to be want-
ing to carry out the object. A committee was
formed, who meet at the Town-hall this evening for
business, and to enroll the names of the volunteers.
We never saw such an universal feeling in favour
of any object before—the entire population take it
up as one man.

MADRID, JAN. 11.

On Monday last the Spanish army was one league
from Tetuan. An attack of the enemy had been

repulsed.

FRANKFORT, JAN. 12.

In to-day's sitting of the Federal Diet the mili-
tary committee delivered its report, on the proposal
of the Wurzburg Conference, for the fortification
of the coasts. On the demand of Pru3sia the vote
was deferred for a fortnight.

VERONA, JAN. 11.

It is stated that a violation of the boundary
having occurred at the frontiers of Modena, Major
General Lippert has proceeded there.
Field-Marshal Lieutenant Crenueville has left for
Descnzano, to join the committee for the regulation
of the Sardinian boundary, the seat of which is at
Peschiera.

The continued rains have stopped the wsrk on
the Cowes and Newport Railway for a short time,
but all is now on the move again. A vessel is dis-
charging a cargo of the permanent rails. About
one-fourth of the entire quantity required has
been already landed.
The steam floating bridge from -East to West
Cowes is being most successfully worked, and is one
of the greatest benefits that was ever conferred on
the two towns and the neighbourhood generally.
It will also greatly benefit the towns of Ryde and
Yarmouth. We understand that two four-horse
coaches are to be put on to run from West Cowes
to Ryde.

FRANCE.

PARIS, THURSDAY.

The Emperor yesterday received letters written
to his Majesty by the Prince Regent of Prussia, on
the occasion of the recall of the Marquis de Mous-
tier, and also a, letter in which the Grand Duke of
Saxe Weitnar notifies to the Emperor the birth of
a Prince, son of Prince Hermann of Saxe Weimar.

The Tipperary Artillery were embarked in
steamers from the Medina Wharf on Wednesday,
and the Durham Militia landed and marched to
fill their places at Parkhurst Barracks the same
day.

PARIS BOURSE.—The market has been very
buoyant, and Securities of all kinds in demand.
Threes opened at 68f. 55c., and improved to 68f.
85c. Mobilier varied from 757 f. 50c. to 777 f. 50c. ;
Lombard, 563 f. 75c. to 568 f. 75c.; Austrian,
535 f. to 537 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 911 f. 75e. to 927 f.
50c. ; Orleans, 1,382 f. 50c. to 1,390 f. ; Southern,
507 f. 50c. to 515 f. ; Northern, 920 f. to 925 f.
The following were the last quotations:-
4f per Cents. 96 80 I Credit Foncier.... 720
Do. end mouth I Belgian 41 . —
3 per Cents 6B 651Piedraontess (5) .. 84 75
Do. end month 6B 75 Roman Bl 75
Bank Shares 2825 Austrian
Credit Mobilier 775 Spanish Threes
Do. Account ..... 762 60 Home Debt 42

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT

NDI?,THERY RAILIVA

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

A fatal accident occurred this morning, the 13th,
on the Great Northern Railway, near Redford
Junction, Nottinghamshire, to a Mr. William New-
ton, a person employed by the company as a timber
loading overseer. The unfortunate man was knocked
down, and was run over by nearly the whole of the
carriages of a passenger train, the left leg being all
but separated from the body. Medical aid was
promptly summoned, but the shcck and the injures
were of so severe a character that after lingering a
short time he died. He has left a widow and
several children.

ROWLEY Y. ROWLEY.—This case, which has
attracted f 43 much attention at the Westminster Police-
court, is at an end. It has been determined by both parties
to let the proceedings drop.

The will of Lord Macaulay was proved on Tues-
day, at Doctors' Commons, by his lordship's executors, ac-
companied by the family solicitor. His personalty was
sworn under £BO,OOO.

M. Chatelain, ex-private secretary of Count
Walewski, has been appointed head of the statistical do
partment at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

FOREIGN GRAIN AND FLOUR.—Day paid at Hull
last week :--L79 ss. on 1,585 qrs. of wheat ; £424 3s. on
8,483 qrs. of barley ; 16s. on 16 qrs. of beans ; £l5 16s. on
318 qrs. of peas ; £5 2s. on 102 qrs. of oats ; and lls, 71d.
on 31 cwt. of wheat flour.

THE KENT ELOPEMENT.—We are assured, on
the best authority, that there is no truth in the statement*
that Mrs. Smith Bannerman and her paramour, the Rev.
Mr. Green, had sailed from England in the ill-fated Blerx
Castle. The guilty pair were seen in England after the
data of the wreck alluded W.—Milne/wrier Groirdian.

A letter from Boston (II S.) dated the 28th ult.
8-_ys:—" Fanny Kemblo is here, reading Shakspere with
eminent success, every reading being crowded with the elite
of our aristocracy—weaning some people who have brains,
and more who have money. She is just as popular as when
she first read hero in 1819. She acts as well as reads her
chief characters. Her Shylocic is perfect—l never saw a
better one on State-street, which is our Rialto."

The Prairie I)og brought from the Western
Prairies of America by the llon. G. F. Berkeley has been
presented by the proprietors of the Field to the Zoological
Society of London. The animal does not resemble a dog,
but is more like a large rat, and this specimen is the only
one at present in England Its habits are peculiar; it bur-
rows in the earth, and makes a sharp noise something like
the bark of a dog, and hence its name. There is some
doubt as to its proper zoological name.

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1860.

INDIA.

COMMERCIAL.

INDIA AND CHINA.

We have received our letters and papers from
Calcutta to December 8 and from Hong Kong to
November 30.

The following summary is from the Bengal
Hurkara of December 8 :

The advent of the Right Hon. Mr. Wilson is the
principal event since our last summary. On Satur-
day, the 3d inst., Mr. Wilson took his seat in the
Legislative Council, and on Monday last a deputation
of about 60 gentlemen presented an address from
the Chamber of Commerce and the Indigo Planters'
Association. Thepublic therefore have had some op-
portunities of ascertaing the metal of our new Mini-
ster of Finance ; and the opinion formed of him is
that he is just the man for that important office.
A veteran financier, he comes amongst us at a time
when the people of India, and particularly the
European community, are groaning under the bur-
dens imposed by the rulers of the land, with the an-
ticipation of further unjust and partial measures.
We had no confidence, we could have no confidence in
the pseudo financialists of the ex-company's govern-
ment. Greedy of gain, the laws of political eco-
nomy were set at nought, and so long as money
was procured, but little thought was bestowed on
the means used to accomplish that object. Now, at
the head of the finances of the state we have a man
both theoretically and practically acquainted with
his business, and the measures he adopts will doubt-
less be approved by all classes of the community.
. .

The Legislative Council recommenced its meet-
ings on Saturday last. After the long vacation of
two months, the Council should have sat on the 12th
November, but neither on that day, nor on the two
succeeding Saturdays, could a quorum be formed.
The council assembled again yesterday. A bill
was introduced by Mr. Harrington " to continue
in force for a further period of one year Acts 14,
16, and 17 of 1857." These are three of the Mutiny
Acts. Having been read a first time, the standing
orders were suspended, and the bills passed through
the other stages.
The campaign on the northern frontier of Oude is
nearly terminated. Yesterday the Government fur-
nished the press with the following information :
" On the 30th of November, Colonel Bulwan Sing,
commanding in the hills, attacked and killed Beni
Nladho and his brothers in the Danni valley," and a
brigadier in the Terai has captured two elephants,
with 14 boxes of ammunition, the magazine of the
late Nana. The rebels fled into the jungle, throwing
away their arms. On the 3d inst. Brigadier Holditch
reported that Munnoo Khan was in confinement,
Buldeo Sing, captured, and that Ummer Sing, the
brother of Kooer Sing, with about 200 followers,
had surrendered on the previous day. The brigadier
reports, on the sth, that Davie Deen and Gunga,
leaders of the Nusseerabad Brigade, were prisoners
in camp ; that the Nusseerabad Brigade had sur-
rendered to Jung Balls door, and that 350 men de-
livered up by the Nepaulese, were on their way to
the camp.

CALCUTTA, DEC. 8.

Our last ivas dated the 22d ult., and we have since been
in receipt of commercial intelligence from home of the 3d
of November via Galle, which still appears very unimpor-
tant, and without any inducement for operation in our
markets.

Exports—The market remains muck about the same as
represented in our last. Stocks of almost all staples continue
moderate, and supplies are arriving very gradually; previous
prices are still maintained, and shippers entertain the same
disinclination as before to operat: in face of late accounts
from home. For America, a very moderate business has
been done ; but shipments for France, which had almost
been suspended, have been resumed, but to a very moderate
extent.

Imports.—Operations for the Upper Provinces continue
very moderate, and although there is no particularly favour-
able intelligence from the up-country marts, there are buyers
at low prices.
The Money Market continues easy, and accommodations
available on favourable terms. No change at the Bank of
Bengal since our last. The rates continue as before.
Government Securities.—As has been long since anti-
cipated, the English rates are now ruling the market here,
as they would indigo, silk, and other important articles of
produce. The news of a rise of 2d. at home brought by the
last mail has improved the Five per Cents. about 2. They
were selling at 11 to 118, and are now freely being taken at
9t09 4. Five and a half per cent. paper is at 48to 4 12.
Sicca Four per Cent. Rs., 25 is 25 8 per cent. dis. Com-
pany's Four per Cent. Rs., 23 to 23 8 per cent. dis.
Exchange on London.—A rather large business has been
done for this mail in China drawn bank bills at 2s. lid. ;
and Jardine, Matheson, and Co., China drawn bills, at 2s.
1 3-16 d. Somo Treasury bills have changed hands at 2s.
Old. to 2s. Oid., and discount bills at 2s. lid. At the
closing of the mail bills became rather scarce, and declined
from 2s. lid to 2s. id. The local banks have drawn at
2s, ld.