The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-30 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, July 29, Two o'clock.—The contradic-
tion by the Moniteur of the war rumours has had
the effect of encouraging the market, which shows
an improved feeling, and stocks and shares are
higher. French Three per Cents,, after first. attain-
ing 691., are now at 68f. 87ic., an advance of 25c.
Italian Fives went beyond 49f., and are now at 48f.
95c., an improvement of 20c. French and Spanish
Credit Mobilier shares have each risen 3f. 75c., at
336 f. 25c. and 225 f. Comptoir d'Escompte 5f., at
737 f. 50c. ; Credit Foncier 2f. 50c., at 1,367 f. 50c.;
Paris Gas shares are unvaried at 1,537 f. 50c. ; but
Immobilicre gain 5f., at 168 f. 75c., and Suez Canal
lf. 25e., at 300 f. Railway shares are firm, but with
only a very slight advance.
Three o'clock.—The close was as follows :—.

4 per Cents
Do. end month
3 per Cents —
Do. end month 6B 85
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Credit Fonder—
Do. end month 1368 75
RAIL'

Bank Shares —
Italian Loan —
Do. end month 49 023.
Mexican Loan ll
Do. Bonds 9B 75
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
r

For Account.
Orleans
Northern ll4B 75
Lyons and Mediterranean 875
Southern 547 50
Western 563 25
Eastern
Sardinian —
Austrian
Lombard. 365
North of Spain —

Saragossa 92 75
Roman. 75

7'HE LAW RELATING TO FOREIGN
ORDERS.

------a__ _.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—The discussions about foreign decorations
may render the following points of law interesting
to your readers.
Coke lays it down that a duke, earl, &c., of
another kingdom are not to be sued by those names
here (Co. Litt., 16 b.) ; and a foreign duke, &c. is
only an esquire here (7th Rep., " Calvin's Case,"
30, 1.). But though a foreign duke, marquis, earl,
or baron is but an esquire here, yet if he be a knight
he is a knight by the law of England (2d Inst. 667,
7th Rep. " Calvin's Case," 15, 16 ; Co. Litt., 16b ;
and Year Book, 26, Ed. W., 6, and 22 Ed. 111., 36 ;
Docleridge on Nobil., 164 ; "Duke of Brunswick v.
King of Hanover," 6 Beavan 2, Fleta, lb. 11., chap.
3, sec. 9 ; Conzyn. Dig., " Abatement," 17, F 19.)
The reason of this peculiarity of knighthood seems
to be that it is a dignity not of any particular
country, but common to all Christendom, and,
therefore, juris gentunz. Thus, the right of con-
ferring knighthood was not originally a flower of
the Royal prerogative, but knighthood might be
conferred by any knight, or by a bishop, according
to the ritual contained in the Pontificate, and given
in Selden's Tit. of Hon., p. 445. But Selden says
that it has long since grown to be clear that none
can give it with us but the Sovereign, or some one
by his command or commission. But the common
law still remains by which a foreign knight is a
knight by the law of England—that is to say, any
knight created by a foreign Sovereign. Iu the
case of the Rev. Robert Peat, one of the chap-
lains of King George IV., the point arose. He
was made a knight of St. Stanislaus by the Em-
peror of Russia, and he established his right as a
knight according to the law of England. But it
does not follow that a foreign knight is entitled to
the style and title of " Sir," which belongs to Eng-
lish knights. It seems that this style can only be
conferred by the Royal prerogative, though it was
assumed by the Rev. Robert Peat. I believe no
foreign knight has assumed it since. So much for
the law regarding foreign knights. I say nothing
of decbrations, for they are unknown to the com-
mon law, being personal ornaments, like a uniform
or club button, or the badges of a Freemason, and
they denote that the wearer belongs to a particular
society, brotherhood, or sodality, commonly called
an Order.

Your obedient servant,
Temple, July 27.

GEORGE BOWYER,

WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.—The poll-
ing commenced yesterday morning at eight o'clock, and
ended at five in the evening with a majority of 91 for the
Conservative candidate. The numbers at the close were
—Colonf:1 somemet, 3,649,; Mr. Derkoloy, 8,558.